ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0038/98 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: Second report pursuant to Article 26 of Directive 86/609/EEC

Further to the answer given to Written Question E-2376/97 ((OJ C 76, 11.3.1998, p. 102.)):

1. Will the Commission confirm that it does not intend to comply with Article 26 of Directive 86/609/EEC ((OJ L 358, 18.12.1986, p. 1.)), which requires a report to be forwarded to the Council and European Parliament 'at regular intervals not exceeding three years', a deadline which expired on 27 May 1997?

2. Will it provide details of the 'agreed statistical tables at Community level reporting the number of animals used in experiments'?

3. Given that the Member States have undertaken to introduce the agreed statistical tables by 1999, does this mean that the Commission will not be providing any further information on this matter for the next three years?

4. If so, how can this be reconciled with the provisions of Directive 97/18/EC ((OJ L 114, 1.5.1997, p. 43.))postponing the date after which animal tests are prohibited for ingredients or combinations of ingredients of cosmetic products?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (2 March 1998)

The Commission intends to comply with Article 26 of Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. Work was immediately begun on preparing the second statistical report in 1997 when it became apparent that the agreed common set of statistical tables would not be completed before the end of 1998. The report is scheduled to be available by the end of April 1998.

A copy of the agreed set of statistical tables will be forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

As mentioned above, the second statistical report based on non-harmonised data is scheduled to be available by the end of April 1998.

The Commission will incorporate the data on the cosmetic products passed on by the Member States into its 1997 annual report. Those data concern the progress made on the development, validation and legal acceptance of methods which may be used as substitutes for animal experiments in accordance with Article 4(1)(i) of Council Directive 76/768/EEC on cosmetic products, as amended by Council Directive 93/35/EEC of 14 June 1993 ((OJ L 151, 23.6.1993. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 February 1998)

Subject: Fisheries operational programme in Greece

The fisheries operational programme in Greece comprises four Sub-Programmes and a fifth for technical assistance. As there is a timetable for each of sub-programmes 1 to 4, will the Commission say:

1. what progress has been made with the sub-programmes and what measures have been taken in each sub-programme, and

2. whether there have been any delays in taking up funds and, if so, what the main reasons for the delays are?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998)

1. The progress of the four sub-programmes of the fisheries programme in Greece, in terms of financial commitments to measures by the Member State and payments (execution) is as follows:

- fleet:

financial commitments: 72% of the sub-programme payments: 36% (ditto)

- aquaculture:

financial commitments: 90.6% of the sub-programme payment: 12.6% (ditto)

- processing or marketing:

financial commitments: 64.1% of the sub-programme payment: 11.6% (ditto)

- infrastructure:

financial commitments: 63.8% of the sub-programme payment: 3.6% (ditto)

2. The above data shows that the sub-programme for infrastructure is seriously lagging behind the others in terms of utilisation of appropriations. The delays are mainly due to the time needed to carry out the investments (often two years) after the funds have been committed to the measure.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0202/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (11 February 1998)

Subject: Budget line on the family

Can the Commission state what measures have been financed under budget line B3-4108: Measures in support of the family and what the appropriate legal bases are under primary legislation?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1998)

In 1997, the Commission financed a number of measures under budget line B3-4108: 'Measures in support of the family'. The commitments (almost ECU 2.5 million) went to cover the cost of financing analysis and research into the family and family policies, exchange of experience and information among Member States on subjects connected with the family, particularly ways of reconciling family and working life; child protection measures and population studies.

The budget was implemented in conformity with the Commission communication of 6 July 1994 concerning the legal bases ((Doc. SEC (94) 1106 final. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0684/98 by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Council (16 March 1998)

Subject: The Banca d'Italia's gold and the Italian public sector borrowing requirement

The circumstances surrounding the sale of gold belonging to the Banca d'Italia to the Ufficio Italiano Cambi (UIC, the Italian Foreign Exchange Office) is only the latest in a long series of scandals which have shown Italy in the undignified role of desperately attempting to meet the Maastricht criteria.

A document recently approved in Brussels by the Commission, to the effect that the Council will look into this case and that Eurostat is in the process of investigating the matter to ascertain the nature of the transaction in question, notes that in 1974, to protect the lira against attacks by speculators, the Banca d'Italia obtained a US $ 2 billion loan from the Bundesbank. The UIC purchased 543 tonnes of gold from the Banca d'Italia to underwrite the loan. The loan was paid off in September 1978, but the gold remained on the UIC's balance sheet. It was revalued over the years, but the corresponding capital gains were never taxed because, under Italian tax law, capital gains are not subject to tax until they are realized. In July 1997 the UIC -which, by the way, was in the process of being wound up- sold the gold back to the Banca d'Italia. That operation generated a capital gain of c. Lit 7600 billion, and hence the requirement to pay Lit 4000 billion in tax, part of which (Lit 3 400 billion) was paid in November 1997. Consequently the sum of Lit 3400 billion was credited to the public exchequer and duly entered against the public sector deficit, which proved to have been kept down to 2.7% of GDP by the end of 1997, in other words well below the crucial 3% ceiling set by the Maastricht criteria.

Does the Council intend to finally ascertain the nature of this transaction?

Does the Council intend to establish whether it is permissible to encourage tax revenues of this kind to be offset against the public sector deficit?

If not, does the Council not consider that this incident shows yet again that Italy has not changed its ways and is prepared to stoop to dubious accounting practices in order to enter Europe?

Answer (8 June 1998)

On the basis of the convergence reports presented by the Commission and the European Monetary Institute, and in the light of the favourable Opinion delivered by the European Parliament, on 2 May 1998 the Council, meeting at the level of Heads of State or Government, took the view that eleven Member States, including Italy, fulfilled the necessary conditions for the adoption of the single currency.

The Council's assessment took account of all relevant factors and in particular evaluated the sustainability of the Italian government's financial position.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0159/98 by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission (2 February 1998)

Subject: Bank lending rates and hotel businesses in Greece

Within the free market, the Union supports SMEs, which it regards as the mainstay of European economic development, and spends huge amounts on modernizing them. In Greece, SMEs are under threat from the monopolistic structure of the country's banking system, one feature of which is that the Greek banks charge businesses extremely high interest rates for borrowing (more than four times the rate of inflation). Greek SMEs, in particular hotels, are weighed down with enormous borrowing commitments which accumulate through the inordinate amount of interest charged by the Greek banks, unilaterally and for their own profit, leaving such businesses unable to compete in a free market.

Will the Commission ask the Greek Government to create fair competitive conditions in order to stem the drain on the resources of Greek SMEs caused by the high level of bank lending rates?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (30 March 1998)

The structure of the Greek national banking system ia a matter for the Greek authorities and not for the Commission. The Commission expects a lowering of interest rates in due course, in line with what has already happened in the other Member States, which have already completed such a course of action.

The cost of borrowing also covers the risk, however, and banks normally consider that SMEs represent a higher risk than large-scale enterprises. The Commission will at an early opportunity raise this point at the Third Round Table of Banks and SMEs, which will be set up in the near future and whose role will essentially be to develop a better mutual understanding between the two parties in their professional relations.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has furthermore contributed, by its issuing activities on the 'Marathon' market (six issues, for a total value of GRD 135 billion since the opening of this 'compartment' of the market by the EIB in 1994, representing a total of ECU 432.13 million, value as at 23.2.1998) and by its individual and global loans (ECU 2.770 million in the course of the past five years), with the aim of fostering competition and modernisation in the Greek banking sector.

In the course of the last five years, the EIB has granted global loans to some ten intermediaries in the Greek banking sector. The funds channelled in this way have been used to finance 265 projects. The EIB would be prepared to expand this activity if the intermediaries were able to demonstrate their capacity to relay these funds efficiently without delay to SMEs.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0440/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: Aegean island floods

The recent downpours which claimed several lives on the Aegean islands of Lesbos, Santorini etc. also caused extensive damage to their road networks (both provincial and rural), industrial plants, shops and offices, houses, farms and infrastructure. In response to the major problems created by the floods, will the Commission say:

1. whether it will make emergency aid available from the Community budget appropriations earmarked for natural disasters, and

2. what the possibilities are of funding from the Community Support Framework to make good the damage and erect flood protection systems?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0440/98 and E-0441/98 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (27 March 1998)

The Commission deplores the damage caused by the recent bad weather to the islands of Samos and Lesvos in Greece, but it must emphasise that the role of the Structural Funds is not to provide assistance in the event of a natural disaster. The Funds' objectives and scope are defined in the Council regulations adopted in December 1988 and revised in July 1993 and concern the financing of investment and infrastructure in underdeveloped regions, regions in industrial decline and rural regions. Only indirect support can therefore be given, where the regional authorities decided that the areas damaged by the bad weather should enjoy priority access to aid to infrastructure and investment for economic development.

With regard to emergency aid to disaster victims, the Commission recalls that this form of symbolic intervention is no longer possible due to the deletion of the item (B4-3400) from the current year's budget.

As far as the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section is concerned more particularly, Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 ((OJ L 374, 31.12.1988. )) provides for restoring and prevention measures in case of natural disasters. However, due to the advanced stage of implementation of the relevant operational programmes, EAGGF amounts are almost totally allocated to concrete projects and actions, so there is practically no margin of available unallocated credits. Nevertheless, given the emergency of the situation created by the natural disasters and to the extent that the responsible authorities address a request to the Commission redirecting the priorities within the programmes, the Commission should not be opposed to examine positively this request, provided that the eligibility rules and other implementation provisions of the structural funds are respected. However, it should be clear that a possible EAGGF intervention, if any, would be quite exceptional and limited.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1085/98 by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Council (31 March 1998)

Subject: Implementation of the Association Agreement with Tunisia

Although it has been ratified by the national parliaments and the European Parliament, and entered into force on 1 March 1998, the agreement between Tunisia and the European Union has not yet been implemented in the case of the commitments made by the EU in the agricultural sector, notably with regard to olive oil, because the Council has not adopted the required implementing regulation. Is this situation not likely to harm a partnership that we have been steadfastly trying to encourage?

Answer (8 June 1998)

The proposal for a regulation on olive oil referred to by the Honorable Member was presented by the Commission on 20 February 1998 and adopted by the Council on 27 April 1998.

The Council also wishes to inform the Honorable Member that, following the entry into force of the Association Agreement, the first meeting of the EC/Tunisia Association Council is foreseen to take place during the second semester of 1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/98 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: EU support for drugs policy organizations

It has come to my notice that EU financial support was given in both 1996 and 1997 to organizations such as European Cities on Drug Policy (ECDP), whose aims include the legalization of drugs, the opening of coffee shops and the legalized prescription of heroin. Yet European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD), an association of 180 European towns and cities opposing liberal drugs policies, received no support whatsoever.

Will the Commission state which organizations active in the drugs policy field have received support, why their applications were approved and why no support has been given to ECAD? Will it also explain the drugs policy strategy on which the allocation of funding and the granting of support to organizations which make it difficult for Member States to abide by the relevant UN conventions are based?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1998)

The Community action plan to combat drugs (1995-1999) ((COM(94)234 final. )) constitutes the reference framework for activities conducted in this field by the Community and its Member States and has no bias in favour of all legalisation approach towards illegal drugs.

The Commission emphasises that the objectives of the Community action programme for the prevention of drug dependence incorporate the prevention of associated risks. The activities proposed in this field by the 'European Cities on Drug Policy' network were examined in accordance with the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and financing projects, and were supported after consultation of the committee established by the Decision No 102/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of publlic health (1996-2000) ((OJ L 19, 22.1.1997. )) setting up the programme, in view of their tie-in with certain priority measures under the programme.

The Commission invites all organisations active in the field of drug demand reduction to submit projects of Community interest, which are examined on the basis of their contribution to the objectives and priorities of the programme.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that no application for financial support has been received from the 'Europe Cities Against Drugs' network.

The Commission does not consider that the projects currently receiving support are contrary to the United Nations conventions. It wishes to point out that legislation on drug use is exclusively the responsibility of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0137/98 by Ilona Graenitz (PSE) to the Commission (23 January 1998)

Subject: Recognition of sign language in the Member States

Having regard to the EP resolution of 18 July 1988 (OJ C 187, p. 236), which called for official recognition of national sign languages in the Member States, and whereas the recognition of this non-ethnic language minority is a fundamental and important measure for the maintenance of culture, for the quality of life and, above all, for training opportunities for deaf people, I should like to know:

1. In which Member States has the national sign language actually been officially recognized or have comparable measures been taken?

2. Are those countries where this has still not occurred being supported in their efforts and, if so, in what way?

3. Is the Commission aware that, in the case of the deaf, this not only involves an issue affecting the 'disabled' but that what is involved here is a linguistic minority, which is still not recognized in many Member States 10 years after the EP resolution?

4. Is the Commission planning to submit to the Council urgently required proposals on this issue?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to her oral question H-42/98 during question time at Parliament's February 1998 part-session ((Debates of the Parliament (Februay 1998). )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0861/98 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Council (31 March 1998)

Subject: Implications of the ban on tobacco advertising

Within the meaning of the directive (where the term is defined very widely as 'commercial communication'), does 'advertising' also include such events as a general meeting or press conference held by a cigarette manufacturer (or even the manufacturer of non-tobacco products with the same brand name)?

How consistent is the ban on poster advertising - a purely domestic exercise - with the intention of removing trade barriers?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0856/98, E-0857/98, E-0858/98, E-0859/98, E-0860/98, E-0861/98 and E-0862/98 (13/14 July 1998)

As the Honourable Member is aware, following a detailed debate in second reading on 13 May 1998, the European Parliament approved the Council's common position on the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products without making any amendments to it. The Council consequently adopted the Directive at its meeting on 22 June 1998.

With particular reference to the questions raised by the Honourable Member, it should be emphasized that, when discussing the Commission proposal, the Council took great pains to produce a text which took into account both the efficient operation of the internal market and the requirements of ensuring a high level of health protection.

The reasoning which guided the Council's work on the proposal for a Directive was explained in detail in the recitals and in the statement of reasons which were sent to the European Parliament before its second reading. It will be for the Member States to adopt appropriate provisions to ensure that the Directive is so implemented as to enable the desired objectives to be attained.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that it is for the Commission to ensure application of the measures adopted by the Institutions pursuant to the Treaty and that the Court of Justice is competent to interpret them and to ensure that they comply with the Treaty.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0022/98 by Christian Rovsing (PPE) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: Exclusive rights in the gas market

The state owned natural gas company 'Dansk Naturgas A/S' has legal exclusive rights to export, transmit and store natural gas in Denmark.

Are these exclusive rights, in the Commission's opinion, in accordance with the competition rules of the Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998)

The Commission cannot comment on the legality of exclusive rights in the abstract. Certain exclusive rights may be justified if their removal makes it impossible for undertakings charged with the operation of services of a general economic interest to fulfil particular tasks imposed upon them by legal measures.

If there are any such exclusive rights as mentioned by the Honourable Member they should be evaluated in the context of the implementation of the forthcoming directive on common rules for the internal market in gas, on the basis of the common political position reached by the Council on 8 December 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0588/98 by Josu Imaz San Miguel (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1998)

Subject: Incident in Equatorial Guinea

Following the recent incident in Equatorial Guinea on the morning of 21 January 1998 in Luba, on the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea), bearing in mind the confusion surrounding the events, the limited and partisan information released and the brutal and repressive response by the dictatorial regime of Mr Obiang, in the form of arrests, rape, torture, widespread looting and killing, suffered by the Bubi people and the organization representing them, the MAIB, and in view of the recent visit to the country by a Commission delegation, what is the Commission's position on this grave attack and the persistent breaches of human rights suffered by the Bubi people and representatives of the MAIB and what actions or measures has it taken vis-à-vis Mr Obiang's regime to end the repression of the Bubi people and the MAIB?

What representations has the Commission made to the rest of the international community, both governments and agencies, in an effort to end this situation?

What assistance will the Commission lend to the Bubi people and the MAIB to enable them to work on an equal footing for the democratization of the country and to fight for their survival as a people?

Does the Commission believe that the conditions exist to warrant releasing EU cooperation aid for Equatorial Guinea?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998)

In talks with the government of Equatorial Guinea on the events referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission, working closely with the Member States, has voiced grave concern at the serious human rights violations on these occasions by the police.

Following a number of approaches by the Commission, the authorities said that those who had violated human rights would be tried and punished. In addition, those found guilty of the armed attack against the police on 21 January would be brought to a public trial which Community observers could attend.

The best way to protect minorities is through the establishment of democracy. The Commission would stress the need to protect human rights whether the individuals involved belong to minorities or not. It would also point to the importance of respect for the cultural identity and rights of minorities which they must be able to exercise together with other members of their group.

The gradual resumption of cooperation with Equatorial Guinea depends on the progress it makes on respecting human rights, democratic principle and the rule of law, in accordance with Article 5 of the fourth Lomé Convention.