ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3362/97 by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia: aid to victims

The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal and material damage. In the Valencian community, Murcia and Andalucia, material damage is estimated at PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers.

In view of the extent of the damage, and its far greater social impact, since it affects small farmers, does the Commission intend to provide aid, both for the victims and to repair the material damage?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3362/97 and E-3366/97 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997)

The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) can finance the restoration of agricultural and forestry production potential damaged by natural disasters and the introduction of appropriate prevention instruments (Article 5(h) of Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 ((OJ L 374, 31.12.1988. ))). In this context, measures to train experts and increase public awareness of prevention could be eligible, as could other work carried out with the same aim.

However, the appropriate financial resources must be provided for in the Objective 1 or 5(b) Community support frameworks to permit the part-financing of the most suitable of the measures to which the Honourable Member refers.

The Commission is willing to examine proposals from the Member State to solve the problems mentioned by the Honourable Member within the framework of the funds available under the Community support frameworks for the regions concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2267/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Information on funds used to develop the north-west region of Italy in 1995-1996

What funds were allocated by the European Union in 1995 and 1996 to the north-west region of Italy (Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta) and for what purposes, with particular reference to:

1. European Regional Development Fund;

2. European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) - Guidance Section;

3. European Social Fund;

4. European Union research programmes;

5. European Union energy programmes;

6. European Union environment programmes;

7. Other European Union programmes?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1997)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3093/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (2 October 1997)

Subject: Medical treatment options for persons severely injured by chemicals

1. In which European country is adequate medical treatment and therapy available for persons severely injured by chemicals with sensitivity to chemicals?

2. In which European country is there adequate diagnosis (as for instance carried out in the Gulf War study) under controlled conditions (Environmental Control Unit) for persons with sensitivity to chemicals, nutritional intolerance or neurotoxic injuries?

3. Are there any clinics that meet the environmental standards of the Environmental Health Center in Dallas, USA (free of chemicals, no disinfection, air filtration, filtered water, furnishings of glass, steel or resin-free and turpentine-free timber, no fitted carpets, a ban on smoking and perfume, etc. see description of EHC)?

4. Are there any clinics that meet the medical standards of the Environmental Health Center (doctors experienced in environmental medicine; detoxification therapy, immune system therapy, test substances free of preservatives etc.)?

5. Is the appropriate accommodation, free of contaminants, available?

6. Is there a clinic in Europe with appropriate controlled conditions (ECU) and surgeons who are able to operate on people with sensitivity to chemicals?

7. Which European countries are financing adequate environmental clinics with public funds?

8. What value is placed in the various EU countries on the psychiatric treatment of persons injured by chemicals?

Answer (20 January 1998)

The Council has not so far received a proposal from the Commission on this subject and is not in possession of the data required to answer the Honourable Member's request for information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2928/97 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Discriminatory provisions in Belgian post-office law

Belgian law stipulates that payment orders made out to Belgian payees by foreigners without a permanent address in Belgium or Luxembourg cannot be accepted at post offices, a few exceptions apart. This means that a payment to a Belgian account holder by a Netherlands national living in the Netherlands cannot be made through a Belgian post office.

1. Does the Commission accept that this amounts to discrimination on grounds of nationality?

2. Does the Commission accept that this Belgian rule acts as an impediment and is incompatible with European rules on the internal market?

3. If so, what action will the Commission take?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997)

The Belgian postal authorities have confirmed to the Commission that, under their internal instructions, 'payment orders made out to Belgian payees by foreigners without a permanent address in Belgium or Luxembourg cannot be accepted', with a few clearly specified exceptions. They thus bear out the claims made by the Honourable Member in her question.

A provision limiting the right of postal credit institutions to accept payment orders made out by foreigners constitutes, according to the settled case law of the Court of Justice ((Case C-175/88 Biehl v Administration des contributions du grand-duché de Luxembourg [1990] ECR I-1779. )), a restriction on the free movement of services in that it primarily affects recipients of services who are not Belgians.

Such a provision is not necessarily contrary to Community law if it can be justified by the public interest. Nevertheless, the Court of Justice has adopted a restrictive approach in appraising such justifications.

The Commission will examine the issue raised by the Honourable Member in greater detail and, if it concludes that the restriction cannot be justified, it will take the matter up with the Member State concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3393/97 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (23 October 1997)

Subject: Agenda 2000 and the environment

How do the proposals for changes to the EU cereal regime fit with the Commission's proposals for protection of the environment?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (18 December 1997)

The Commission has not yet made detailed proposals on a reform of the cereals regime. The general outline of the intended reform is to be found in the Commission document on Agenda 2000 ((COM(97) 2000 final. )).

The Commission intends to propose a reduction of the cereals intervention from the present level of ECU 119.19 a ton to a safety-net level of ECU 95.35 a ton in conjunction with a non crop specific area payment to be established at ECU 66 a ton, multiplied by the regional cereals reference yields of the 1992 reform. These payments are calculated strictly with a view to mitigate the economic consequences of a lower intervention level.

The Commission will table a proposal enabling Member States to make the granting of direct payments for arable crops and set aside conditional on the respect of environmental provisions, allowing them to be increasingly used to pursue environmental objectives. Provided Member States make use of this possibility, the benefits to the environment could be considerable.

The Commission believes that the funding of targeted agri-environmental measures would be the most effective use of the agricultural budget for achieving environmental objectives. The Commission proposes, therefore, to strengthen the agri-environmental pillar of the common agricultural policy through increased budget funding and, where necessary, higher part-financing rates.

In addition, the Commission will propose to transform the less-favoured areas scheme into a basic instrument to maintain and promote low-input farming systems. This would be specifically relevant where the adjustment of the cereals regime and of other market organisations, in conjunction with unfavourable natural conditions, puts pressure on the continuation of this type of farming, which in many areas is seen as being a precondition for the maintenance and upkeep of the rural environment.

The Commission expects, additionally, positive environmental effects from a reformed cereals regime where the reduction of the intervention level is followed by an actual drop in market price. This would reduce the incentive for an excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides. Such extensification effects have been observed as a result of the introduction of the so-called price stabilisators in 1988 and the reform of the common agricultural policy in 1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3662/97 by Carlo Ripa di Meana (V) to the Commission (19 November 1997)

Subject: Privatization of the Rome milk company

About a year ago Mrs Adriana Spera, Rome town councillor, sent the Commission a detailed complaint about the privatization of the Rome milk company.

The complaint suggests violations of Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty, particularly the state aid used by Rome town council to offset huge losses (about Lit 250 billion) carried forward from 1990 to the present by the company. If such violations occurred, then, as confirmed by case law, the private sale procedure adopted by Rome town council under which the company would be sold to the Cirio Group would be invalid.

Did the Commission examine the complaint and, if so, what was the outcome?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 December 1997)

At the end of 1996 the Commission received a complaint concerning the grant of public funds for the financial restructuring of Centrale del latte di Roma and the conformity of the privatisation procedure envisaged by the municipality of Rome with the Community rules on public contracts.

The Commission is currently studying this matter and has therefore not yet adopted a position on the complaint.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3371/97 by Lis Jensen (I-EDN) to the Council (23 October 1997)

Subject: Implementation of the employment section of the Amsterdam Treaty

The Commission President said on 1 October 1997, when presenting the Commission proposals for EU employment initiatives, that the Council had indicated that parts of the Amsterdam Treaty's section on employment could be applied once the Extraordinary European Council Summit on Employment had been held on 20 and 21 November.

The fact that the Council seemingly thinks that parts of the Amsterdam Treaty can be applied even before the Treaty has been ratified by Member States' parliaments and, in Denmark's case, before it has been put to a referendum, is quite astonishing.

Answer (26 January 1998)

1. At its meeting in Amsterdam on 16 and 17 June the European Council reaffirmed the importance it attached to promoting employment and reducing the unacceptably high levels of unemployment in Europe, while noting with approval the agreement of the Intergovernmental Conference to incorporate a new title on employment into the Treaty. The European Council believed that 'the Council should seek to make the relevant provisions of this title immediately effective.' In the meantime, the Amsterdam Treaty was signed on 2 October 1997; it has to be ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional rules. However, it goes without saying that the Amsterdam Treaty will not enter into force and produce its effects until the national ratification procedures have been completed. Consequently, no legal act can be adopted until the appropriate legal bases are in force.

2. The extraordinary meeting of the European Council on employment (Luxembourg, 20 and 21 November 1997) confirmed the guidelines of the Amsterdam European Council. It did not decide to anticipate the relevant provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam, but it concluded that, pending its ratification and in order to mobilize all available resources to combat unemployment, the method provided for in the future Article 128 of the Treaty would be applied immediately in practice and by consensus.

3. The Council, which is acting with due regard for the provisions of the Treaties in force, will, at the appropriate time, examine any proposal submitted to it by the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3485/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (3 November 1997)

Subject: The Warsaw Convention and an Essex resident held hostage in Kuwait - claim against British Airways

Given the long-standing complaint from Essex resident Mr Edward Hammett and 367 passengers of British Airways flight 149, that the airline recklessly and intentionally landed in Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in the Gulf War, will the Commission consider any possible European Union competence in relation to possible investigation?

In particular will the Commission advise on aspects of European Union law which may be relevant, given the fact passengers in France have received compensation from BA following court action there, but fellow UK residents have been denied compensation in their own country?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3485/97 and E-3487/97 given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (11 December 1997)

The unfortunate and new distressing experience of the passengers on board British Airways flight 149, which landed in Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion, does not appear to amount to an infringement of Community law. Since there is no relevant Community legislation, an investigation by the Commission would not be justifiable. For the same reason, the rights of the passengers depends upon the application of relevant national laws and the Warsaw Convention.

The Commission is, however, looking into the possibility of making further progress in air transport consumer policy. A comprehensive study assessing the conditions included in air transport contracts has been completed and recently submitted to the Commission. The Commission is now consulting all interested parties on the results of this study.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3535/97 by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Council (14 November 1997)

Subject: Hazard caused by a tank containing arsenic in Albania

During an official visit to Albania, the chairman of the Italian Senate Health Committee, Mr Francesco Carella, learned of the existence of a tank containing 800 cubic metres of arsenic at a chemical plant in Fier. The tank is on the point of disintegrating, which would cause a major ecological disaster and create a public health hazard in Albania, Greece and Italy.

Will the Council provide technical and financial assistance for the Albanian Government to have this dangerous tank repaired and removed?

Answer (12 February 1998)

Since Albania emerged from isolation, it has benefited from substantial Community assistance, amounting to ECU 557 million between 1991 and 1996. Since the eruption of the recent crisis in Albania the Council has repeatedly stated, most recently at its meeting on 10 November 1997, that the Community is determined to continue providing aid. It is clear, however, that good governance in Albania is first and foremost the sovereign responsibility of the Albanian authorities.

The Council shares the Honourable Member's concern about the specific case of arsenic stored at the Fier chemical plant. Aid programmes, including PHARE, are managed by the Commission, which is aware of the facts described by the Honourable Member and is assessing the situation; it will thus be for the Commission to arrange for the assistance necessary to contribute, together with the Albanian authorities, towards solving the problems involved.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3585/97 by Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: Standing Committee on Plant Health

Can the Commission say which organizations are represented on the Standing Committee on Plant Health?

The European Federation of Agricultural Workers (EFA) has called for some time now to be represented on this committee. Can the Commission say why the EFA has still not yet become a member of the committee?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (18 December 1997)

The standing committee on plant health was set up by Council Decision 76/894/EEC of 23 November 1976 ((OJ L 340, 9.12.1976. )), and consists of representatives of Member States with a Commission representative in the chair.

The committee carries out the functions delegated to it in the measures adopted by Council in respect of plant health, in the circumstances and in accordance with the terms laid down in the decision. Several directives, such as Directive 79/117/EEC prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing certain active substances ((OJ L 33, 8.2.1979. )) and Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market ((OJ L 230, 19.8.1991. )), have provided a mandate to the Commission for taking certain measures in accordance with the regulatory committee procedure. The standing committee on plant health gives its opinion on the draft measures proposed by the Commission in the framework of this decision making procedure.

Participation of representatives of professional organisations in this committee is not envisaged. Consultation of the professional organisations is however organised within the advisory committees which have been set up by the Commission for the main sectors of Community agriculture. The establishment of a permanent working group for phytosanitary questions is included in the planned restructuring of these committees.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3481/97 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (31 October 1997)

Subject: Application of Community law by Member States' national court

As the manner in which Community legislation is applied by the Member States' national courts is an important source of Community law, will the Commission say whether it systematically monitors the case-law of the national courts and takes account of judgments with a direct or indirect bearing on Union legislation?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1997)

The Commission regularly keeps abreast of judgments given by national courts in cases where Community law is applicable.

The information it gathers is used for the preparation of Annex VI (Application of Community law by national courts) to the annual report to the European Parliament on monitoring the application of Community law ((OJ C 332, 3.11.1997. )). This annex is generally in two parts: the first concerns application of Article 177 of the EC Treaty and the second records significant judgments of national courts of final instance.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3130/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: School milk programme

Commissioner Franz Fischler's answer of 10 September 1997 to my question (E-2448/97 ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998, p. 82. ))) on school milk was unsatisfactory. The answer completely fails to address the main point of my argument, namely that surplus fat in dairy products should not be a factor increasing the level of subsidy in Community support policy. The less fat there is in milk, the healthier its products are. Therefore for health reasons low-fat dairy products should be used rather than those with a full fat content.

In the light of the above I have some follow-up questions:

How can the Commission continue to justify the fact that, while it acknowledges the positive effects on public health of reducing fat consumption, it continues to give financial support to full-fat products at the expense of those with a low-fat content? Can the Commission afford to overlook the public health implications of milk fat? Would not subsidies to low fat dairy products alone promote the use of all dairy products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1997)

Aid for school milk is granted as part of the common market organisation for milk and milk products, which supports exploitation of the value of milk derived from its two components, fat and protein. Given this purpose, the Commission tries, in deciding what products are eligible and what aid will be granted on them, to facilitate healthy and varied nutrition without seeking to influence the choice by the beneficiaries of the aid of one or other milk product.

The Commission will assess the impact of the aid scheme on promotion of a healthy diet and act to adjust it if necessary.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3723/97 by Gianni TAMINO to the Council. Representatives of European governments at Council meetings dealing with consumer affairs



Official Journal C 158 , 25/05/1998 P. 0183



WRITTEN QUESTION E-3723/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Council (24 November 1997) Subject: Representatives of European governments at Council meetings dealing with consumer affairs Whilst respecting the fact that every Member State autonomously decides which minister or under-secretary to send to European Council of Ministers' meetings, does the Council consider that European consumers and their interests are better represented by the industry or agriculture minister, as is sometimes the case, or by the health or environment minister? Answer (16 February 1998) Designation of the most appropriate representatives at Council meetings dealing with consumer affairs is a matter solely for the governments of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1870/97 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (30 May 1997)

Subject: EU involvement in the development of As Pontes, Galicia

The government of the Spanish region of Galicia has signed a cooperation agreement with one of the principal electricity companies of the country and with the trade unions concerning the economic development of the district of As Pontes, Galicia.

The reindustrialization plan will run until 2001. The regional government will invest 300 million and the electricity company 900 million.

How could the European Union take part in this plan, what could it contribute and under what Community programme or specific measure could it consider participating in the development of the district?

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (21 November 1997)

In order to specify the final source of a possible financial contribution from the structural funds to the collaboration agreement signed by the 'Xunta de Galicia' with the electricity company Endesa and the representatives of the trade unions concerning the economic development of the Galician area of As Pontes, it would be necessary to receive an application from the authorities involved requesting specific funding for this project under an individual structural intervention programme.

Given that such a request has not been received, it would be premature to identify the specific origin of the possible funds for this project, particularly since the Spanish region of Galicia benefits from over 20 programmes financed by Community structural funds, a number of which (among them the operational programme Galicia 1994-1999) could provide financial aid to a project of these characteristics if the necessary conditions were met.