ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0698/99

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(26 March 1999)

Subject: Structural Funds

The regions whose level of income per inhabitant is less than 75 % of that which corresponds to the average Community inhabitant are classed as "Objective 1 regions" and are entitled to substantial Community aid.

In order to work out whether this threshold has been crossed or not, the draft Council Regulation, COM(98) 0131 final(1), laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, stipulates that the figures corresponding to the last three years on which Eurostat has information will be taken into account.

The Director-General of the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) disclosed at the meeting of Parliament's Subcommittee on Monetary Affairs of 17 February 1999 that the statistical data corresponding to the financial years 1994, 1995 and 1996 already included the data corresponding to the hidden economy of the regions analysed, although he did not say exactly what criteria had been followed in order to estimate or assess this type of activity.

What proportion of the regional income corresponds to the "hidden economy" and what proportion to the "regular economy" in the Autonomous Community of Valencia in each of the years in question?

(1) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/99

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Implications of the ban on exports of bulls for bullfighting

With reference to my question E-3620/98, the Commission should bear in mind what was written by Ana Fernandez Graciani in issue No 23 of the magazine "Toros", of 15 December 1998:

"Just like last year, when the heavens gave valuable assistance to livestock farmers who were in a desperate situation by sending them a splendid year of rainfall, Spanish breeders of bulls for bullfighting will this season face less competition when they come to sell their products since the closing of the border with Portugal because of 'mad cow' disease will result in a significant reduction in the total supply of bulls."

However, will Community law allow this "miracle", which goes against the rules on competition in a single market and which will change a measure intended to protect human health into one which protects the economic interests of Spanish livestock farmers, against all the provisions of, for example, Article 30 (ex Article 36) of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 1999)

As already stated in the answer to the Honourable Member's Written Question E-3620/98(1), the purpose of Commission Decision 98/653/EC, of 18 November 1998, concerning emergency measures made necessary by the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Portugal(2) is to protect human and animal health. Any request to exempt fighting bulls from the general ban to move live bovine animals out of Portugal must be examined in the light of the likelihood that the animals will enter the food or feed chain and of the possibilities to prevent fraud.

The Commission does not share the view of the Honourable Member that there is a commercial objective to the decision to restrict the trade from the Member State concerned.

(1) OJ C 320, 6.11.1999, p. 60.

(2) OJ L 311, 20.11.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/99

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(23 February 1999)

Subject: Incineration plant for poultry droppings

The province of Forlì is the main poultry breeding centre in Italy, with so many poultry farms that the ratio of farmland, the number of heads of poultry and the resident population is completely altered, which has far-reaching effects on the environment and public health.

The four main poultry farmers in the province have agreed to dispose of their poultry droppings by building an incinerator with a capacity of 220 000 tonnes per annum.

At present the poultry droppings are disposed of by spreading them in limited quantities directly on the land, which constitutes a system of organic manuring. The only problem is the stench which could be eliminated by prior composting in small installations with little impact on the environment which could be built near the poultry farms. Incineration of the poultry droppings would deprive agriculture of an important source of fertiliser which would have to be replaced by the massive use of artificial chemical fertilisers, thereby increasing the environmental impact on an area already heavily overworked owing to intensive agriculture and at risk of desertification due to constant decline in organic substances in the soil. The plan was rejected by the Commune of Cisena but has been resubmitted to the Commune of Sogliano, the Region of Emilia-Romagna and the Ministries of Industry, Public Health and the Environment.

Does the Commission believe that such a plan can be deemed compatible with the Community objectives of protecting the soil from the risk of desertification and with Directive 85/337/EEC(1) on the assessment of effects on the environment?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 1999)

It appears, based on the information given by the Honourable Member, that the work to which he refers (an incinerator with a capacity of 200 000 tonnes per annum) is within the scope of Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(2) and, in particular, is a project of the classes listed in Annex II. Such projects should be made subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) where Member States consider that their characteristics so require. However, as concerns these projects, Member States are obliged to make a pre-assessment in order to establish whether they need to be made subject to an EIA procedure.

The incineration project mentioned should be considered compatible with Directive 85/337/EEC where it complies with its provisions. Should an EIA procedure be carried out, or should a pre-assessment be made in order to establish whether the project needs to be made subject to an EIA procedure, no breach of Community law will arise. The other elements raised by the Honourable Member do not appear pertinent to the issue.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/99

by Raimondo Fassa (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 April 1999)

Subject: Commission action to promote fair trade

Parliament has adopted a report on fair trade (A4-0198/98) which lays down clear defining criteria and a set of political priorities for enhancing and protecting this important form of cooperation.

Moreover, in the resolution on the 1999 Commission work programme (B4-1072/98) it adopted in December 1998, Parliament again called for a Commission initiative for a policy to support free trade based on Parliament's report.

Given the growing importance of free trade and the need for promotion and regulation to prevent any abuse and defend the consumer's right to transparent information as well as the rights of the producer and fair trade operator, what has the Commission done so far to act on the recommendations contained in Parliament's report?

What deadlines are there for the overall formulation of a policy to support free trade starting with proper certification?

Finally, can the Commission rapidly provide a list of the projects so far financed and clearly indicate the beneficiaries, the nature of the project and its duration?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

The Commission has welcomed the Parliament report on fair trade. It is in the process of finalising a communication on the subject, which will be ready for publication shortly. Following the publication of the document, a wide-ranging discussion is expected with all those involved and interested in fair trade. After this period of consultation, the Commission should then be in a position to formulate a comprehensive policy on fair trade.

Information on the projects financed by the Commission is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1006/99

by Ian Hudghton (V) to the Commission

(20 April 1999)

Subject: Animal Welfare

What steps have been taken to monitor and enforce the implementation of Directive 95/29/EC(1) on Live Transport?

In particular, what steps have been taken to ensure that vehicles transporting animals must meet set standards regarding provision of adequate food and water on journeys?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

Member States had to implement Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 90/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport, before 31 December 1996 and had to notify their legislation to the Commission. However, Member States had an additional period of transition until 31 December 1997 for the requirements laid down in Chapter VII(3) for the means of transport referred to in points (3), (6) and (7) of that Chapter.

Infringement procedures are automatically opened when a directive is not correctly implemented.

The Commission received the requested national legislation on the subject concerned from all Member States, except for one.

Furthermore the Commission is subsequently visiting the Member States to control the enforcement of the Community animal welfare legislation. These controls include the enforcement in practice of the provision of adequate food and water on journeys.

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.
In particular concerning the Communitys policy in favour of family farm and rural society, the
Commission has tabled its policy proposition in the Agenda 2000 context. A new regulation on supportfor rural development from the European agricultural guidances and guarantee fund has been adopted bythe Council on 17 May 1999 (
1).
Regional and rural development programmes will explicitly address the development needs of the rural
society. With the Agenda 2000 reforms, rural development will be established as a second pillar of thecommon agricultural policy made available for all rural areas. Establishing the programmes at theappropriate territorial level will be the next important step before a successful implementation can start.Within the budgetary framework fixed by the Berlin European Council, the Commissions task will also beto ensure that the money available is fully used for the benefit of European rural society.
The need to regain consumers confidence in the quality and safety of foodstuffs is fully recognised by the
new Commission. A white paper on food safety, proposing a comprehensive action plan, will be presentedbefore the end of 1999.
(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(2000/C 27 E/212) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1775/99
by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission
(11 October 1999)
Subject: Membership of Commissioners cabinets
The Commission President, Mr Prodi, has told Parliament that he has given instructions that the member-
ship of the Commissioners cabinets should be multinational and should respect the principle of paritybetween men and women.
Can the Commission provide the necessary information on the membership of the twenty cabinets, to
enable the degree of fulfilment of these two objectives to be analysed?
Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission
(18 October 1999)
The Commission is sending the information requested direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliaments Secretariat.
(2000/C 27 E/213) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1795/99
by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission
(30 September 1999)
Subject: Undercutting of a Member States domestic labour force
Will the Commission explain its position on the problems that arise when domestic and foreign workers
are paid at different rates in a Member State and say what steps it might take to deal with such problems?
Like labour markets in comparable countries, the Danish labour market is highly organised and pay and
working conditions are regulated by agreements between the two sides of industry.
The free movement of workers between EU Member States is creating major problems for Danish workers
and businesses with regard to their ability to compete in the internal market.C 27 E/172 EN 29.1.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0171/99

by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Agriculture

On Tuesday, 5 January 1999 the Commission Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan announced at the 53rd Oxford Conference on Agriculture that direct aid to European farmers needed to be cut so that the Union could approach the negotiating round for the sector within the World Trade Organisation, scheduled for December 1999, from a credible position.

Can the Commission say, if such steps are in fact taken, what measures will be adopted to compensate the sector, which is of great economic, social and ecological importance for the European Union as a whole and for Spain in particular?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 1999)

In his speech at the 53th Oxford farming conference, the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for commercial policy emphasised the importance of reaching an agreement on the Agenda 2000 proposals in agriculture before the start of the next World trade organisation (WTO) negotiations because this would allow the Community not only to enter the next WTO negotiations with a credible position but also to take initiatives. More specifically, he referred to the Agenda 2000 reform proposals for cereals, beef and dairy, which foresee a reduction of the intervention price combined with a system of direct payments to compensate farmers for the loss of income caused by lower prices. He also mentioned that a key issue for the Community in the next WTO negotiations will be the maintenance of the "blue box", i.e. to maintain support measures under production-limiting programmes outside the reduction commitment because these payments are a central element of the Agenda 2000 reform proposals. He also touched upon the question of degressivity of direct aids in the context of the debate on the future financial framework (2000-2006) of the Community. This was in response to calls from several finance ministers, in the run-up to the Vienna European Council, to freeze the common agricultural policy (CAP) budget from the year 2000 at its 1999 level. It will be recalled that the Commission's reform proposals foresee an increase of the costs in the first years after 2000 in order to make CAP reform possible and a decline in expenditure in real terms towards the end of the period.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0975/99

by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: Ritual slaughter of animals in religious festival

Can the Commission clarify the legal situation with regard to the ritual slaughter of animals in religious festivals in the open in Member States and how is this enforced?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1999)

Council Directive 93/119/EEC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter and killing(1), requires that ritual slaughter must take place in an abattoir and must comply with other Community public health, animal health and welfare requirements.

The Commission is aware that in certain Member States some slaughtering of animals during the religious festival of Eid-el-Kabir may take place outside slaughterhouses. The Commission has raised the matter within the standing veterinary committee. Most Member States have underlined that they have transposed the Directive in such a way to prohibit slaughter outside the slaughterhouses.

However, in a minority of Member States ritual slaughter outside slaughterhouses either takes place illegally or is subject to a certain degree of toleration by the competent authorities.

The Commission intends to raise the situation in the standing veterinary committee again and then draw its conclusions.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0752/99

by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission

(29 March 1999)

Subject: Free movement of persons who have taken early retirement in the territory of Member States

Belgian people who have taken early retirement are considered by Belgian law to be unemployed and not seeking work and, as such, cannot leave Belgian territory for more than 30 days per year even though they are not required to sign on or to accept a job. The only requirement is to send ONEM (the Belgian National Employment Office) a card where dates of leave taken must be stated even though the people concerned are obliged to be on permanent and definitive leave.

This ridiculous situation is a serious obstacle to the free movement of persons in the territory of Member States. It is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Treaties.

I know that the Commission is aware of this problem and that it has put forward a proposal to the Council which seeks to introduce contractual arrangements regarding early retirement benefits falling within the scope of Regulation 1408/71(1). The Council still has not reached the consensus necessary to adopt this proposal.

What does the Commission intend to do in order to give fresh impetus to this initiative, which has been at a standstill for almost five years?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 1999)

The Commission wishes to draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the Commission has on several occasions proposed extending the matters covered by Council Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their family moving within the Community(2) to early retirement schemes. The Commission also confirms that its proposal of 1996 failed to receive the Council's unanimous support.

However, the Commission recently adopted a proposal simplifying and reforming Regulation (EEC) 1408/71(3), in which a new chapter has been introduced with a view to including and coordinating early retirement schemes, in line with the substance of the earleir 1996 proposal. The new proposal is scheduled to be examined by the Council during 1999.

At the same time the Commission is studying, on a case-by-case basis, whether the national legal systems respect the principles enshrined in the EC Treaty in this area as recently interpreted by the Court of Justice(4).

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

(2) OJ L 149, 15.7.1971; in 1980: OJ C 169, 9.7.1980; in 1996: OJ C 62, 1.3.1996.

(3) OJ C 38, 12.2.1999.

(4) Meints, C-57/96 27.11.1997, and Commission v. France C-35/97, 24.9.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0852/99

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 March 1999)

Subject: Economic assessment of parallel imports

Is the Commission satisfied with the NERA study into the economic impact of parallel imports?

In view of NERA's contract with the European Brand Owners' Association does the Commission recognise the possible conflict of interests and would it consider commissioning a second study?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 1999)

The Commission considers that the NERA study was well carried out and represents a most useful basis for further discussions. However the Commission has been informed that for several reasons there are interest groups which did not have the opportunity to express their views on the question of exhaustion of trade mark rights during the study. The Commission arranged a hearing in Brussels on 28 April 1999 to enable all interested circles to comment on this important topic.

The Commission considers furthermore that the study gives a complete analysis of the different aspects of the question of exhaustion of trade mark rights. There is therefore no reason to believe that any connections between the NERA institute and an interest group have affected the outcome of the study. There are no plans to commission a second study concerning this issue.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0283/99

by Claude Desama (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1999)

Subject: European identity card

Given that Article 17, and in particular its second paragraph, of the Treaty of Amsterdam concerned with European citizenship establishes citizenship of the Union, that every citizen of the Union has the right to move and reside freely on the territory of the Member States, that every citizen has the right to vote and to stand for election at local authority elections in the Member State where he resides, would it not be appropriate - since there is no European identity card - for every citizen of the Union to be able to use any other probative document, such as a residence permit? Should not the Commission modify Regulation (EEC) 1612/68(1) accordingly?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 1999)

In conformity with the rules of international public law, Community legislation at present provides only for two documents which fulfil sufficiently the legal requirement for proof of nationality of citizens of the Union when travelling in exercising the right of freedom of movement. These are identity cards and passports.

In the framework of the legislative recasting of the right of residence the Commission will however examine the suggestion made by the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968, p. 2.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0358/99

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Survey of crime in European cities

A current survey of serious crime in Austria, Germany and Switzerland shows that crime rates in the Austrian capital, Vienna, are clearly lower than in German or Swiss cities. For example, a figure of 3,9 murders per 100 000 inhabitants is given for Vienna in 1997. A similar trend is also revealed by the number of robberies where Vienna's figure of 82 per 100 000 inhabitants is clearly lower than other major cities.

Does there exist a representative survey for all major cities in the European Union showing which urban centres require particular action to be taken to make them safe areas for citizens of the Union? If not, when does the Commission plan to arrange for such a survey?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 1999)

To date the Commission has not initiated a study of the type described by the Honourable Member. The political priority established by the Member States at European Union level was to combat the various forms of organised crime. Efforts are mainly directed to gathering information on this more specific area. One of the results is the annual Council report on organised crime in Europe, which is transmitted to Parliament.

One of the difficulties of comparing statistics drawn up in the Member States is that they are not equivalent, given that there are no common criteria for measuring certain types of crime. Work certainly needs to be done in this area. It could be supplemented by studies on vulnerability to certain forms of crime originating in differences in the social or cultural environment. This type of study might obtain financial support from the Commission.

The Commission is well aware of the need for comparable statistical tools on aspects of crime, and before the summer intends to put forward a multiannual programme to promote cooperation between experts in crime statistics with a view in particular to developing Europe-wide crime statistics.