ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2573/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(16 September 2002)

Subject: Nickel allergy

Nickel allergy is the most common form of contact allergy in industrialised countries, occurring in 10 to 15 percent of women and a small proportion of men. Coins of 1 and 2 euros contain nickel in quantities that can cause people with a nickel allergy to suffer eczema on their hands. Brief contact with the coins can produce itching or irritation, according to dermatologists. Reports of allergy to euro coins began to surface in the media following the introduction of the coins.

Is the Commission aware of cases of allergy to nickel in euro coins?

If so, does it have any statistics?

Are there alternatives to the use of nickel in coins?

If so, what are the alternatives and does the Commission intend to make use of them?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2002)

The Commission is not aware of any particular cases of patients suffering from nickel allergy, which can be traced back to the handling or use of 1- and 2- euro coins.

Before the decision on the technical specifications of the euro coins was taken in 1997, the Commission consulted its Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (SCTEE), which based its conclusions on all evidence available. The SCTEE had concluded at the time that there was no evidence, which suggested that the old national coins (whose nickel content was much higher than for the euro coins) have caused any form of sensitisation to nickel of either workers handling coins or the normal consumer.

Nickel has been a very popular material for the minting of coins due to its technical properties since the 19th century. The copper-nickel and nickel-brass alloys used for the 1- and 2- euro coins do not oxidise. Due to its conductivity it allows for the reliable identification of euro coins in coin-operated machines and its three-layer structure assures the detection of counterfeit coins. Nickel greatly contributes to the higher security standard of coins and its use was therefore decided for the higher-value euro coins.

The technical specifications of the euro coins have been laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation(1). Currently and in the foreseeable future the Commission does not have any plans to propose a change of the technical specifications of the euro coins.

(1) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2769/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(1 October 2002)

Subject: Safety categories in the European road network

There is apparently a European project to divide roads into four safety categories, ranging from one to four stars. Can the Commission provide some more information about this initiative?

What is the purpose of the four safety categories?

How many roads in Belgium are being assigned to each of these categories?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2002)

Unsafe roads are one of the factors contributing to the high number of casualties in the Union.

The Automobile Association Foundation for Road Safety Research in the United Kingdom has proposed a scheme called European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP). It is planned to present the information collected and produced to the public in a simple and understandable way:

- By risk rate maps: Stretches of road are awarded between zero and four stars according to the accident rates for a certain number of recent years and then this rating is represented in different colours.

- By a road protection score: In this case, stretches of road are assessed according to the degree by which they deviate from best practice of infrastructure design. The roads are also video filmed.

The primary objective of EuroRAP is to reduce road injuries and fatalities, but also, as secondary objectives, to create risk awareness amongst road users and to develop best practice for infrastructure design for interurban roads and junctions.

Most of the British trunks roads are already represented in accident rate maps. Similarly, maps exist for trunk roads of the Netherlands and for a few roads in Sweden. To date, EuroRAP has not received finance from the Union, but EuroRAP plans to develop further their approach and transfer it to three more countries in cooperation with local automobile clubs during the next months. For this work, a grant application has been submitted to the Commission. At this point in time, no concrete plans exist to extend it to Belgium, but in the medium term this could be feasible.

To reduce the number of fatalities by 2010 by half, the Commission has proposed a set of measures in its White Paper on European transport policy for 2010(1), such as best practice of a more harmonised road engineering, black spot management and road safety audits.

(1) COM(2001) 370 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3432/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Withholding of URBAN II funding from Fiumicino

According to information from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and from the Commission, Fiumicino is currently completely excluded from Urban II funding since it is not one of the 10 first cities listed at European level or the next 20 cities

in the Urban Italia list (Law 388/2000). Urban is undeniably one of the European Union's most successful projects to date and a valuable instrument for the development of the outskirts of large metropolitan areas and urban areas in general affected by environmental and social deterioration, for example, in Milan the second city on the list.

In view of this, can the Commission say whether the municipality of Fiumicino has submitted projects for Urban II funding?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Following the Commission's notice to Member States of 28 April 2000(1) on guidelines for the Urban II Community Initiative, the Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport published in the Italian Official Journal 168 of 20 July 2000 an invitation to apply for selection as one of the Italian cities to be financed under Urban II.

The invitation incorporated the eligibility criteria set out in the Commission's notice and specified the additional assessment and selection criteria the Ministry would use to rank the applications received in order of merit.

The allocation of funds to Italy for Urban II meant that only the first ten cities in the order of merit could be nominated for assistance. Their programmes were submitted to the Commission in line with Article 19 of the notice.

Thus the Commission does not know if the commune of Fiumicino submitted projects for Urban II funding, nor if it did so why its programme was not such as to gain it a place in the first ten cities by order of merit.

The Commission accordingly invites the Honourable Member to put his question to the Italian authorities.

(1) COM(2000) 1100 final OJ C 141, 19.5.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3018/02

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Heavy goods vehicle traffic through the Mont Blanc tunnel

Italy and France now appear to have agreed that two-way HGV traffic should be resumed in the Mont Blanc tunnel. This is causing concern among local inhabitants since the current operating rules (set out in a ministerial decree adopted in France) set a limit of 240 on the number of lorries that may travel through the tunnel every hour, and this ceiling is out of step with the technical limits obtaining under the current safety regulations. There are therefore calls for this figure to be revised in line with the Alpine Convention, the Transport Protocol thereto and the restrictive measures applying on the Austrian passes (ecopoints and night-time ban) and the St Gotthard route in Switzerland. Would the Commission state its views on the matter and provide any relevant information?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2002)

The theoretical number of lorries that may travel through a tunnel depends on the rules limiting the distance between vehicles, the maximum permitted speed and the specific restrictions for each tunnel. No legal limit for the number of lorries has been adopted at international level.

The Commission should very shortly be proposing a Directive on safety in tunnels, harmonising some of these elements. However, the tunnel managers will be authorised to apply more stringent rules where these are necessary to ensure safety.

Regarding the Mont Blanc tunnel, in March 2002 the French and Italian authorities said that when two-way traffic was resumed, the average daily number would be lower than it was before the fire of 24 March 1999, which was approximately 2000 lorries per day. This is well below the maximum theoretical number.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/02

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 May 2002)

Subject: Enviromental degradation caused by deforestation

The Brazilian Congress is now voting on a project that will reduce the Amazon forest to 50 % of its size.

Deforestation and the subsequent processing of the woodchips on this scale will also release huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere worsening the problem of climate change.

What is the Commission's stance regarding this issue?

Does the Commission agree that steps should be taken in order to avoid the deforestation of an area four times the size of Portugal?

Will the Commission also agree that deforestation on this scale will lead to further environmental degradation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2002)

The Commission is very concerned about the ongoing high rates of global deforestation and forest degradation and has endeavoured to promote the conservation and sustainable use of all types of forests. The Commission fully recognises the Amazon forest's importance as one of the most valuable forests of the world (especially in terms of biodiversity).

Two years ago a committee of the Brazilian Congress began debating a revision of the Forest Code, which would have changed the required percentage of forest reserve on private land only. The Brazilian Government has strongly resisted this and discussions have been put on a back burner.

There is currently no project that will reduce the Amazon forest to 50 % of its size. Neither is any vote in plenary likely to take place soon in the Brazilian Congress. Brazilian non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public opinion in Brazil and the Brazilian media have made a strong campaign against the proposals and are closely monitoring the situation.

Based on the above-mentioned, the Commission is closely monitoring the situation in the Brazilian Congress, in particular in the light of the up-coming general elections in Brazil in October 2002.

The Commission is also continuing its support to the Pilot Programme of the group of seven most industrialised countries in defence of the Brazilian tropical forests.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3009/02

by Charlotte Cederschiöld (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Data retention

The issue of keeping information must be addressed with a balanced approach as many interests are involved: industry, combating crime, fundamental rights and, not least, cost aspects. Instead of continuing down a road which risks not leading to a constructive result, would it not be better to try to address the matter through data preservation and by amending the data protection directives?

Reply by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2002)

The Commission takes the Honorable Member's question to refer to the possibility of resolving the sensitive debate on the retention of traffic data in the fight against crime. The measures would be more limited and would not automatically involve the preservation of all such data. The Honorable Member also suggests amending the data protection directives.

The Commission does not think it is necessary to amend the directives in order to permit preservation of traffic data since they already permit the Member States to adopt legislative measures to restrict the scope of certain rights and obligations for reasons of public policy.

The Commission would also remind the Honorable Member that the question of the retention of traffic data has already been extensively discussed in connection with the adoption of the recent Parliament and Council Directive 2002/58/EC of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications(1)). The Commission does not consider it appropriate to resume the debate.

Finally, the Commission stresses that measures aimed at harmonising the obligations of Member States in the fight against crime come under the third pillar.

(1) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2524/02

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 September 2002)

Subject: The situation in Colombia

Figures published by Amnesty International show that in 2001 alone 4000 civilians were killed in the civil war in Colombia. Every day innocent people are caught up in the fighting and thousands of people are leaving the country to get away from the cycle of violence that continues to engulf the country. These acts of violence are not only perpetrated by rebels but also by government-protected paramilitary groups, as was revealed by a recent UN investigation into an incident in Bojaya on 2 May that left 117 civilians dead.

Given the long-standing situation in Colombia, what action does the Commission intend to take to resolve the crisis?

Will all those who have committed these acts be brought to justice by a prompt and impartial investigation?

I urge the Commission to implement in full the recommendations made by the Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights towards tackling the human rights crisis in Colombia.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2002)

Like the Honourable Member, the Commission condemns all violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and believes that only a negotiated solution will bring about a lasting peace in Colombia.

There is no quick fix to the conflict situation in Colombia, but the Commission has used, is using and will continue to use all the instruments at its disposal. Human rights, international humanitarian law, and the insistence on the need to seek a negotiated solution between the parties remain at the heart of the political dialogue the EU has with the Colombian government, be it bilaterally or at the regional level (Andean Community of Nations CAN). In this sense growth will be key to ending the conflict that Colombia also benefits from a very favourable Community trade regime (the drugs Generalised Scheme of Preferences) that helps its exporters to reach out to European markets. The Community cooperation instruments are also used to help resolve the crisis. These are focused on the support of on-going Colombian activities in the search for peace, targeting the root causes of the conflict, and providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict. Cooperation is implemented in partnership both with the Government (e.g. the Peace Laboratory in the Magdalena Medio region, worth EUR 34,8 million) or through the civil society and non-governmental organisations (e.g. Colombia is a focus country for the European Initiative for Democracy & Human Rights).

As far as impunity is concerned, the Country Strategy Paper for Colombia(1) foresees support to the administrative and judicial reform efforts of the Colombian government.

Finally the Commission, is in regular contact with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and follows closely its recommendations. It is also supporting the work of this Office in Colombia (Municipal ombudspersons support project, phase II, EUR 800 000).

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/colombia/csp.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/02

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Transposal of Directive 89/130/EEC of 13 February 1989 on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices

1. Which Member States have transposed Directive 89/130/EEC(1) of February 1989 on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices?

2. Why are the national transposal measures not published in Celex?

3. How has the Directive been transposed in the individual Member States?

4. What is the current transposal position?

(1) OJ L 49, 21.2.1989, p. 26.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2003)

Council Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom, of 13 February 1989, on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices (GNPmp), also called the GNP Directive, was notified to Member States on 16 February 1989, and set up the following objectives for them:

- to establish GNPmp according to the European System of Accounts of 1979 (ESA 79) and transmit to the Commission, before 1 October each year, the figures for GNPmp and its components so that the Community budgetary calculations can be made;

- to provide the Commission with an inventory of the statistical methods and sources used to calculate GNPmp and its components so that the Commission can check these calculations;

- to participate in GNPmp verification and improvement work within the GNP Committee.

In practice, all Member States achieved the objectives of the GNP Directive by transmitting each year (since October 1989, or following their accession) their GNPmp data based on ESA 79, providing the required inventory, and participating in GNP Committee work. Council Directive 89/130/EEC has been directly applied by the Member States. A formal transposition of the GNP Directive into national legislations was thus not necessary in order to comply with its obligations except in the case of Sweden. No national implementation measures where therefore sent to the Commission by the rest of the Member States.

Starting for budgetary year 2002, a new European System of Accounts (ESA 95) will be applied for budgetary calculations. Member States' obligations under this new system are defined in a proposal for a Council Regulation currently under discussion within the Council.

It is confirmed that when necessary, existing and notified, national implementation measures are mentioned in the CELEX database.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3570/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2002)

Subject: Private imports of wine into Sweden

The Swedish Government maintains that all orders of wine to be imported into Sweden must go through Systembolaget and must be subject to Swedish VAT, Swedish alcohol tax, transport and Systembolaget's mark-up.

Newspaper reports claim, however, that the Commission wrote to the Swedish Foreign Minister in early November 2002 saying that the provisions of the Swedish Law on Alcohol which prohibit individuals from acquiring alcohol abroad and having it transported to Sweden by an independent agent constitute an obstacle to trade in the Community.

The position of the Swedish Government and Parliament is that all remote sales must go through Systembolaget. The Court of Justice has also given much consideration, from the point of view of policy, to Systembolaget's retail trading monopoly in a judgement given in Case C-189/95.

What are the Commission's intentions in terms of policy with the abovementioned letter to the Swedish Government?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2003)

The Commission can confirm that a letter of formal notice was sent at the end of October 2002 to Sweden expressing the view that certain provisions in the Swedish Law on alcohol, according to which an individual residing in Sweden cannot order alcoholic beverages for private use from producers or retailers in other Member States and have them transported to Sweden, hinder intra-Community trade and may therefore infringe Articles 28 and 30 of the EC Treaty.

Systembolaget has been granted responsibility for the retail sale of wine, strong beer and spirits in Sweden. In the Franzén case (Case C-189/95) the Court of Justice stated that, according to the information provided to the Court, the existence and the operation of a domestic monopoly on retail of alcohol beverages, such as Systembolaget, was compatible with Article 37 (now Article 31). However, the Court continued and said that other provisions of the domestic legislation which, although not strictly speaking regulating the functioning of the monopoly, nevertheless have a direct bearing upon it such as the licensing system, should be examined with reference to Article 30 of the EC Treaty (now Article 28). In order to comply with the Court's judgement in relation to these paragraphs, several changes regarding the licensing system were introduced in the Swedish legislation.

It should be noted that the Court did not express itself as to whether Sweden is entitled to ban or hinder private import of alcohol for personal use from producers or retailers established in other Member States. The Commission is of the opinion that private individuals should not be hindered from purchasing wine, strong beer or spirits for personal use directly from a producer or wholesaler based in another Member State and have it sent to Sweden on similar conditions as to the rules on private transport of alcoholic beverages and sales thereof in the monopoly outlets, Systembolaget.

The Commission is awaiting the answer from the Swedish authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2612/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Seizure of the Galician cephalopod fishing vessel Viduido by the Moroccan navy

What steps has the Commission taken to obtain and guarantee the release of the Galician cephalopod fishing vessel Viduido, which was taken to Dakhla in Western Sahara, after being seized by the Moroccan navy when returning from the Canaries after fishing in Mauritanian waters under the terms of the EU/Mauritania Fisheries Agreement?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2608/02 and E-2612/02given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2002)

The seizure of Spanish vessels is an issue which falls outside the competencies of the Communities and which must find its solution in a bilateral framework. The Commission supports a solution based on dialogue. It has enquired with the Moroccan authorities who have assured that they will continue to remain in close contact which their Spanish counterparts to handle individual cases as quickly and smoothly as possible.

The Commission is pleased to know that the issue has been solved in the meantime and that the vessel is released.