ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1501/96 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: New positions adopted by the Member States with regard to limiting the use of driftnets

The controversial subject of the use of driftnets has undergone a significant change as result of Germany's now being in favour of restricting the use of this destructive kind of fishing gear.

The Commission's intention to impose a total ban on these fishing nets from 1 January 1998 may therefore be adjusted in accordance with its proposal to change its position if a majority of the Member States so request.

Does the Commission consider that it might go along with such a majority if it supported the twelve-mile solution, which would help to reconcile the positions of Ireland and the United Kingdom despite the intransigence of France and Italy on the subject?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (18 July 1996)

When the Council discussed the Commission's proposal on the use of driftnets on 12 April 1994, ((Doc. COM(94) 131 final. )) Germany expressed support for the measure. The Commission is not aware of any change in Germany's position.

As the Commission has stated on several occasions, it has done its work in proposing a ban on driftnets in April 1994, and it is now up to the Council to reach agreement on the basis of the proposal.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1686/96 by Michl Ebner (PPE) to the Council (24 June 1996)

Subject: Expansion of voluntary fire-fighting services in the Mediterranean countries

In view of the fact that, during the summer months in particular, the Mediterranean EU countries repeatedly suffer devastating forest fires that can be brought under control only with major effort and with the assistance of a large number of volunteers, will the Council state whether it supports an expansion of voluntary fire-fighting services in the Mediterranean countries as well on the lines already found, for example, in South Tyrol, Austria and Germany?

Reply (10 October 1996)

As the Honourable Member must be aware, measures in the field of civil protection in the Community essentially come under intergovernmental cooperation, even though some measures involving training or exchanges of experts, particularly in the field of fire-fighting, are financed from the Community budget.

It should be noted, however, that on 23 May 1996 the Council held a wide-ranging debate on a Commission proposal for a programme of Community actions on civil protection, designed to contribute towards the protection of persons, the environment and property in the event of a natural or technological disaster.

Generally speaking, the important role played by volunteers in many areas of civil protection was recognized by the Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 31 October 1994 ((OJ C 313, 10.11.1994, p.1. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2057/96 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission (12 July 1996)

Subject: Recent evidence concerning health and safety aspects of mobile phones

Following recently revealed new evidence in the British media concerning the potential health and safety risks arising from the use of mobile phones, what measures does the European Commission plan to take to protect both workers and citizens from these risks?

Will this be one of the aspects included under 'new and emerging risks' in the Commission's Health and Safety Programme?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1996)

The Commission published recently a report entitled 'Non-ionizing radiation, sources, exposure and health effects', which reviews the existing literature on the subject as well as guidelines and regulations for protection against non-ionizing radiation (the use of mobile telephones is also addressed by the report). The conclusions support the Commission's approach to workers' protection as far as the prevention of risks to health from non-ionizing radiation is concerned.

The prevention of risks associated with the use by workers of mobile telephones was addressed by the Commission with the submission of the amended proposal for a Council directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents ((OJ C 230, 19.8.1996. )), an annex of which is dedicated to electric and magnetic fields. In the Commission's communication on a Community programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work (1996-2000) ((COM(95) 282 final. )), the Commission confirmed its intention to press for adoption by the Council of this proposal but up to now no progress has been made at Council level.

The Commission is aware that reports in the media have fuelled the debate on the health hazards due to radiofrequency emissions. In this context the Commission invited a group of independent experts to prepare a programme for comprehensive research into the effects of radio frequency radiation on health. This programme should be ready later this year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1932/96 by Luigi Florio (UPE) to the Commission (16 July 1996)

Subject: Number of regulations currently in force

How many Commission regulations are currently in force in the EU?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1931/96 and E-1932/96 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1996)

The Honourable Member will find details of Community legislation in force in the directory published twice yearly by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Legislative acts included in this directory are selected from the Celex database, which has been open to the public since 1981. Currently, Celex contains 1587 directives and 3188 Commission regulations in force.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1679/96 by Raymonde Dury (PSE) to the Council (24 June 1996)

Subject: Living on campsites

In Belgium, and in the Wallonia region in particular, poor people are currently to be found living on campsites.

According to the Commission, this issue has been dealt with in reports by non-governmental organizations (see answer to Written Question P-0973/96) ((OJ C 217, 26.7.1996, p. 131. )).

Can the Council state whether this issue will be addressed at the next Council of Housing Ministers, to be held in Ireland in October 1996?

Reply (10 October 1996)

The question raised by the Honourable Member does not fall within the Council's competence.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1930/96 by Luigi Florio (UPE) to the Commission (16 July 1996)

Subject: Cost of the Molitor Group

How and on the basis of what criteria were the individual members of the Molitor Group on simplification of legislative and administrative provisions in the Community chosen?

How much did the group's activities cost?

In particular, how much did each member of the group receive in respect of fees, expense allowances and any other payments?

How many administrative staff were made available to the group, and for how long?

In which places of work did the group hold its meetings, and how many meetings did it hold overall?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (13 September 1996)

The Group on legislative and administrative simplification set up by the Commission in 1994 consisted of 17 independent experts. Members of the Group were drawn from all the Member States; they were selected by the Commission in such a way as to avail of the expertise of high-level personalities with valuable experience in trade union and employer organizations, in public administration and in the academic and judicial world.

Secretarial services were provided by the Commission throughout (from 26 September 1994 to 14 June 1995).

With regard to the other questions, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer given to written question E-1987/95 by Mrs Hautala. ((OJ C 300, 13.11.1995. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2045/96 by Martina Gredler (ELDR) to the Commission (19 July 1996)

Subject: Information on the danger of infection with tuberculosis on long-haul flights

A study by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA, confirms that airline passengers on long-haul flights can be infected with tuberculosis bacteria if another passenger is suffering from open tuberculosis (BMJ 312, 1996, 1110).

Patients throughout the world who are suffering from open tuberculosis should therefore be instructed not to travel.

Is the Commission aware of this study?

Is the Commission considering forwarding the information on this risk of infection to travel agencies, airlines and specialist clinics and their tuberculosis patients?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1996)

The Commission is aware of the situation outlined by the Honourable Member, deriving from an article published in the 'New England Journal of Medicine' (1996;334:933-8).

It should be noted that, in the article, the authors emphasise the specific conditions giving rise to transmission of the disease, namely a highly infectious passenger, a long-haul flight and close contact with the person concerned.

As regards the final question, it is up to the health services of each Member State to take all the necessary measures to ensure that persons suffering from open tuberculosis are suitably treated.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2379/96 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (27 August 1996)

Subject: Eritrea's National Indicative Programme

Is the Commission aware that there are grave problems occurring in relation to the implementation of the NIP in Eritrea? Would the Commission please set out what funds have so far been committed and give an analysis of the problems which are occurring.

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (20 September 1996)

There are no problems occuring in the implementation of the Eritrean national indicative programme (NIP), but only delays due to the fact that, compared to other ACP countries, cooperation between the Community and Eritrea is still young. The first national indicative programme (35 MECU) was only signed in May 1994 following Eritrea's accession to the Lome Convention at the end of 1993.

The cooperation with Eritrea from 1994 until now must be seen in the light of the following elements:

- the political context in Eritrea, a new country in a construction phase where administrative organisations and sectoral policies are still being created,

- the shortage of qualified human resources within government institutions combined with strong reservations about foreign technical assistance,

- the reluctance to discuss any type of conditionalities (sectoral policies) seen by the new administration as undermining Eritrea's sovereignty,

- the learning process concerning European development fund (EDF) rules and procedures, and the fact that the Eritreans were lacking guidance and support as the Commission delegation could only be opened in Asmara in May 1995.

The Commission presence on the spot has helped to intensify the dialogue, and eliminate constraints and delays that were hampering our cooperation.

Out of the NIP, 5.5 MECU (16%) have been committed and 1.7 MECU are planned to be committed before the end of the year. These figures cover sectoral studies for the two main sectors of intervention identified and agreed to be included in the NIP as priorities (transport and energy) and interventions under the Panafrican rinderpest campaign.

These two main sector projects are now in the appraisal phase and the financing decision for the construction of the Nefasit - Tera Imni road (around 18 MECU) and the rehabilitation of the Massawa transmission lines (around 10 MECU) can be expected at the beginning of 1998. With those two projects 100% of the NIP will be committed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/96 by Antonio Tajani (UPE) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Customs duties on exports of Italian goldsmiths' wares

The tariff arrangements applied in various countries around the world discriminate against Italian and European goldsmiths' wares.

The problem is particularly acute with regard to exports to the USA, where our products are subject to a 6.2% levy while competitor countries benefit from zero rates of duty under preferential arrangements.

In this sector, even apparently low rates of duty can have a particularly severe economic impact since they are charged on the basis of the overall value of the finished product. The amount payable may therefore be higher than the value added during manufacture.

Such disparities in treatment contributed to the approximately 10% fall in exports to the USA between 1994 and 1995, although the US market still takes in between 25% and 30% of all Italian exports of goldsmiths' wares.

Given the above, does not the Commission feel that the customs tariffs for the sector should be renegotiated at both bilateral level (USA Transatlantic Business Dialogue, which is already in progress) and multilateral level (WTO - revision of the Uruguay Round agreements at the Singapore conference in December 1996)?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)

The Community is currently seeking to improve generally the access of Community industry to the markets of its trading partners. The major elements of such a strategy are contained in the Commission communication entitled 'The global challenge of international trade: A market access strategy for the European Union ((Doc. COM(96) 53 final. ))'.

In the context of that exercise the Commission has been contacted by the European jewellers associations' group which, like the Honourable Member, seeks improvements in the tariffs of the Community's major export markets. The Commission shares these concerns.

In any further negotiations concerning tariff reductions at the multilateral level the Commission will bear in mind the problems outlined by the Honourable Member with a view to seeking improvements to the tariff situation. So far as the Transatlantic business dialogue is concerned, this is structured as a gathering of business leaders with an advisory function, and the appropriate course would be for the interested parties to raise this question in the appropriate issue group dealing with trade liberalisation, including tariffs.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1967/96 by Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (V) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Use of the pig growth hormone (pSt) in livestock rearing

The question of residual pSt (porcine Somatotropin, pig growth hormone) in pig meat has recently been discussed in the 'Codex alimentarius' meetings.

Has the Commission or the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products received an application for the use of genetically engineered p-Somatotropin to be authorized? If so, has authorization been granted? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1996)

Neither the Commission nor the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products has received an application for authorization to place porcine Somatotropin (pSt) on the market.

N.B. This being a product derived from biotechnology, only the Community would be able, where appropriate, to authorize it either as a medicinal product or as a performance enhancer.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2262/96 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (27 August 1996)

Subject: Effect of Directive 91/439/EEC on LGV/PCV drivers

Can the Commission provide details of whether information on how Directive 91/439/EEC ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 1. )) affects LGV/PCV drivers has been collated on an EU-wide basis?

If not, has the Commission any intention to do so?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (20 September 1996)

Council Directive 91/439/EEC ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991. )) on driving licences provides that Member States shall adopt laws, regulations or administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive as of 1 July 1996.

In the framework of the normal procedure, the Commission is collating information and verifying the implementation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2566/96 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (11 October 1996)

Subject: Funds for NGOs in Turkey

According to media sources, the Turkish authorities have suggested that the Commission stop subsidizing the activities of certain NGOs in Turkey.

What response has the Commission made to this suggestion?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (24 October 1996)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1789/96 by Mr Kaklamanis ((OJ C 322, 28.10.1996, p. 104. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1761/96 by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission (3 July 1996)

Subject: Commission's failure to apply Article 171(2) in regard to environmental matters

When will the Commission make use, for the first time, of the right to impose fines (pursuant to Article 171(2)) on Member States which the Court of Justice has found to be in breach of Community law but which have not complied with the Court's judgment?

When will the Commission impose fines on the following countries which have all been adjudged, pursuant to Article 171, as failing to implement Community law?

- The Netherlands, judgment of 17 September 1987 concerning protection of ground water,

- Belgium, judgment of 14 January 1988 concerning protection of ground water,

- Belgium, judgment of 4 June 1987 concerning biological control,

- Germany, judgment of 3 July 1990 concerning protection of wild birds,

- Belgium, judgment of 5 July 1990 concerning protection of drinking water,

- Germany, judgment of 30 June 1991 concerning air quality,

- Italy, judgment of 13 December 1990 concerning surplus zinc ore,

- Belgium, judgment of 13 June 1990 concerning destruction of waste,

- Luxembourg, judgment of 25 July 1991 concerning packaging of foodstuffs,

- Belgium, judgment of 11 June 1991 concerning drinking water,

- Italy, judgment of 13 December 1991 concerning toxic and hazardous waste,

- Spain, judgment of 10 December 1991 concerning packaging of foodstuffs,

- Greece, judgment of 7 April 1991 concerning toxic and hazardous waste,

- Belgium, judgment of 5 May 1993 concerning ground water,

- Germany, judgment of 10 May 1995 concerning toxic and hazardous waste,

- Germany, judgment of 11 August 1995 concerning environmental impact assessment,

- Belgium, judgment of 2 May 1996 concerning environmental impact assessment.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1996)

The Commission has not yet taken any decision on the application of Article 171 of the EC Treaty. However, a decision on a number of such cases is imminent and the Commission will keep the Honourable Member informed on the outcome.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1764/96 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE) to the Commission (3 July 1996)

Subject: Storage of radioactive material in Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia

The temporary storage facility in Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia has a licence to store radioactive material until 2027. According to statements by the North Rhine-Westphalia Government, there are no plans to turn Ahaus into a permanent facility. A new application has now been made for a licence which will effectively mean a 10-year extension.

Does the Commission share the view that any approval of the new application, if granted, must take into account the pending amendment of the Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (COM(93)0575 and COM(95)0720)? If not, does the Commission consider it reasonable for the Directive on environmental impact assessment to be amended in such a way as to give adjacent natural and legal persons in the neighbouring Member State more effective means of making objections?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1762/96, E-1763/96 and E-1764/96 given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)

All Member States operate interim storage facilities for radioactive waste, pending availability of final disposal facilities for certain categories or all types of waste. Member States are responsible for licensing and control of these installations, but protection of the population in the Member State and the Member States has to be in line with the provisions of the Basic radiation protection safety standards (Council Directives 80/836 and 84/467 Euratom). Permissible doses have been lowered in the recently adopted standards (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom) which has to be implemented in national regulations before 13 May 2000.

Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty requires that each Member State provides the Commission with data relating to any plan of disposal of radioactive waste when implementation may lead to contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State. In its recommendation of 7 December 1990 (91/4/Euratom) on the application of Article 37, the Commission proposes to include storage facilities in this procedure.

The proposed revision to Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) not only includes interim storage facilities but also incorporates more detailed procedural requirements on transboundary consultations where a project proposed in one Member State is likely to have a significant effect on the environment of another Member State. If adopted in their present form by the Council, however, these new provisions will still only apply to applications for development consent submitted to a competent authority on or after the date for transposition by Member States set out in the revised directive.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1656/96 by Yannos Kranidiotis (PSE) to the Commission (24 June 1996)

Subject: Contacts between the Commission and the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime

According to substantiated press reports, the Commission of the European Union has established contacts with the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime and, in particular, is negotiating with the so-called 'University of the Eastern Mediterranean' with a view to setting up a Documentation Centre with EU financial backing.

Will the Commission say whether these reports are true, whether the Cypriot Government has been consulted, in accordance with the decision of 6 March 1995, and what measures it is taking to avert the establishment of institutional ties with an illegal body, thus ensuring that the relevant UN resolutions and the EU's official position vis-à-vis the Republic of Cyprus are respected?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1656/96 and E-1766/96 given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (27 September 1996)

Community policy concerning the information activities for the Turkish Cypriot community was determined by the Council's conclusions of 6 March 1995: 'Cyprus's accession to the European Union should bring increased security and prosperity to both communities on the island'. The Council further considered that 'this community must perceive the advantages of the European Union accession more clearly and its concerns at the prospect must be allayed'. The Commission was invited to 'organize the requisite contacts to this end with the Turkish Cypriot community in consultation with the government of Cyprus'.

The Commission, accordingly has implemented a series of information activities, both in Brussels and in Cyprus, in consultation with the Cypriot government.

The Commission does not consider that this initiative deviates from the Community's consistent policy concerning Cyprus and in particular the full respect of the United Nations resolutions mentioned by the Honourable Member.