ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/99

by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Appointment of a Union special representative for Tibet

The Council is surely aware of Parliament's resolutions of 13 July 1995(1), 15 January 1998(2), and 14 May 1998(3) on the situation in Tibet.

In addition to condemning the illegal Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet, the resolutions explicitly call on the Council and Commission to appoint an EU special representative for Tibet, who would be responsible for doing everything possible to carry out the Union's demands as regards the civil and political rights situation in Tibet.

Parliament, the Commission, and numerous European Prime Ministers have assured the Dalai Lama that they care about the human and civil rights situation in Tibet and wish to see genuine negotiations opened between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities, with no preconditions on either side.

Furthermore, Parliament has repeatedly asked for news of the world's youngest political prisoner, Gedhun Choeky Nyima, the 10-year-old Tibetan boy abducted by the Chinese authorities at the age of 6 after the Dalai Lama had recognised him to be the latest reincarnation of Tibet's second most important spiritual leader, the Panchen Lama.

1. Will the Council take the practical policy step of appointing a Union special representative for Tibet?

2. Will the Union act on the promises made to the Dalai Lama as regards the human rights situation in Tibet and the opening of genuine negotiations between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities?

3. Can the Council exert pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure the release of Gedhun Choeky Nyima, Nawang Chophel, and Nawang Sandrol, now being held as political prisoners?

(1) OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 162.

(2) OJ C 34, 2.2.1998, p. 169.

(3) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 223.

Answer

(24 January 2000)

1. The Council has taken good note of the resolutions of the European Parliament concerning Tibet. It has raised the Union's concerns over the situation in Tibet in its meetings with the Chinese and, in particular, in the human rights dialogue with China. That dialogue, which was resumed in 1997, is not just a means to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It aims to produce concrete results in terms of an improvement of the situation on the ground. For the Council this dialogue could produce more substantive results than the appointment of a special representative for Tibet.

2. One of the objectives of the Union, in discussing rights of minorities in different regions of China, is indeed the encouragement of dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama, hoping that such a dialogue can lead to an increased autonomy of Tibet. The Union has used every opportunity to raise this issue and will continue raising it with the Chinese side at Ministerial and official level.

3. The Council also raises individual cases with the Chinese, and presses for release of political prisoners. Gedhun Choeky Nyima, Nawang Chophel and Nawang Sandrol have been included in the list submitted and discussed with the Chinese earlier this year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1839/99

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(13 October 1999)

Subject: Shortcomings in Spain's waste management

Three months have now passed since the European Commission decided to take Spain to the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with the Community directives relating to waste management. In a communication issued in July, the Commission stated that the case was being brought because, on the one hand, they had not officially received the national plan for municipal waste management and, on the other hand, there were serious deficiencies in the plan regarding dangerous waste products that was drawn up by the relevant Spanish authority. According to the Commission communication, the plan was highly imprecise with regard to facilities for waste disposal and to the specific provisions covering certain types of waste.

Could the Commission provide a progress report on the aforementioned case at the European Court of Justice?

Could the Commission state whether or not it intends to implement measures running parallel to the court proceedings in order to press the Spanish authorities into prompt compliance with the Community directives, especially bearing in mind the serious environmental consequences that can result from non-compliance with directives covering the management of dangerous waste products?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1999)

The Commission is currently drawing up the draft application it will be lodging with the Court of Justice under the infringement proceedings the Honourable Member is referring to.

Other than the abovementioned judicial procedure the Commission has no means in law of intervening usefully with the Spanish authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1502/99

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: The Commission's intentions concerning rules on the dumping of waste carpet materials

The RECAM (Recycling of Carpet Materials) project has recently been completed after three years. The project was supported by the Commission via BRITE-EURAM programmes. The main conclusion was that if, in the next few years, there are European rules to put an end to the possibility of the uncontrolled dumping of waste carpet materials, a European system for the recycling of more than 1 million tonnes of carpet waste can be set up.

1. Is the Commission aware of the conclusion of the RECAM project, which it has helped to finance, and does it subscribe to it?

2. Does the Commission have any specific plans to introduce rules on the lines described above and, if so, what are these plans and what timescale is involved?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 1999)

In Europe each year some 1,6 million tonnes of carpet waste ends up in landfills or in municipal waste incinerators. Within the Community there is a growing pressure to stimulate material, chemical, and thermal recycling of waste. These were main objectives of the RECAM (REcycling of CArpet Materials) research project, funded under the Community Industrial and material technology (IMT) (Brite-Euram) programme. The RECAM research project attained valuable technical results that show potential for industrial application with promising environmental benefits, due to an estimated reduction of the carpet waste management costs and of the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, and to a recovery and reuse of high-quality materials. With the aim of implementing the RECAM results and in view of a sustainable waste management system, carpet industries founded the organisation Carpet Recycling Europe (CRE). CRE is announced to be active until the year 2000, but its duration might be extended. According to the information available, CRE is currently realising a demonstration installation for identification and sorting of carpet materials.

The Commission is of the opinion that the creation and development of markets for recycled materials is first of all to be done by private economic operators. The Commission is ready to assist and contribute, if there is need, to such a development, which might even lead, after careful examination, to regulatory activities. In order to discuss all questions of recycling and of promoting the recycling industry, the Commission set up, in 1999, the Recycling forum which is due to submit a final report and suggestions at the end of 1999. No specific request for discussing the recycling of carpets has yet been presented to the Recycling forum and no detailed discussion on the recycling of carpets has yet taken place.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2142/99

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: The Ariane programme and the Galician language

The Commission has made a selection of 291 projects within the framework of the Ariane programme, which is designed to encourage people to read and buy works of contemporary literature by subsidising translations and the book industry.

How many of the projects selected are concerned with literature in Galician? What are they, and how much budgetary funding are they to receive?

With regard to 1997 and 1998, how many works in Galician were subsidised under the Ariane programme, and what was the total number of literature subsidised? What were they, and how much funding did they receive? What was the final figure for total Ariane expenditure for 1997 and 1998?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

In 1999 the total budget allocated to the Ariane programme was 4,1 million. 12 projects involving translation of French and English literature into Galician were submitted. Eleven of them did not get past the preselection stage, as they did not comply with certain eligibility criteria listed in the Official Journal(1), while one project, although it passed the Commission's formal preselection scrutiny, was not included among the final choice of projects accepted. The limited financial resources were sufficient only to cover the projects with the greatest literary and cultural merits in the view of the group of independent experts from several Member States and member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA), who assisted the Commission with the selection of projects.

In 1998 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 3,3 million), no projects involving translation of works of literature into Galician were submitted.

In 1997 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 2,3 million), one project involving translation of a French literary work into Galician was presented and selected. This was an application for funding to cover translation into Galician of Les Mots by J.P. Sartre, submitted by Ediciones Laiovento, to whom a grant for the full amount requested (ECU 2 418) was awarded.

(1) OJ C 23, 28.1.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1785/99

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 October 1999)

Subject: Award of PHARE projects

1. Under the guidelines for PHARE projects, must institutions from EU Member States be taken into consideration when project contracts are awarded?

2. What is done to ensure that tenderers from the CEECs do not quote dumping prices so that tenderers from EU Member States are excluded?

3. What is done to check whether, when tenders are invited for PHARE projects, the anticipated project value is calculated so that tenderers from EU Member States also have a chance to participate and submit an appropriately costed bid?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 1999)

1. It is laid down in Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 of 18 December 1989 on economic aid to certain countries of Central and Eastern Europe that participation in invitations to tender and contracts is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the countries covered by the PHARE programme(1). The Member States' institutions may present a tender, which will be taken into consideration under the same conditions as all the others and must therefore have a commercial basis.

2. When tenders are scrutinised the quality/price ratio is taken into account as follows: for service contracts, a 70/30 ratio is applied to technical and financial tenders respectively; for works contracts, only tenders which score more than 65 % at the technical evaluation stage undergo a financial evaluation and the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder; for supply contracts, only tenders which the evaluation committee has found technically acceptable undergo financial evaluation, and the award is systematically made to the lowest bid among the tenders which are technically in accordance with the specifications.

Under this system of evaluation, only technically valid tenders are taken into consideration, irrespective of whether they are for services, works or supplies.

3. The budget for each project is calculated on the basis of the resources considered necessary to attain the objective set. To that end, project managers use estimates based on European market prices.

(1) OJ L 375, 23.12.1989.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2030/99

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Nuclear menace in Europe

As a result of a referendum there are no nuclear power-stations in Italy. The dangers resulting from the continuing operation of nuclear power-stations have been highlighted by the recent incident in Japan. The nuclear menace can also affect the regions and people of countries that do not have their own power-stations.

Does the Commission have a census of nuclear power-stations in Europe and wholly reliable data on their safety?

Have safety parameters been laid down for each power-station and are these ever updated?

Could the above information in addition be published?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Statistics on Europe's nuclear power stations are published regularly by the International Union of Producers and Distributors of Electrical Energy (Unipede). In addition, various countries maintain databases: in France, for example, the Economic Studies Service of the Strategy and Evaluation Directorate in the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA/DSE/SEE) operates the Elecnuc base, whose principal nuclear power plant data are published annually.

Responsibility for nuclear safety lies with the Member State under whose jurisdiction a nuclear installation falls. The State nuclear safety authority has the task of informing the public of the situation at each of the installations it monitors.

France, for example, has the monthly journal Contrôle, and the annual report of the Directorate for the safety of nuclear installations.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/99

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Update on the URBAN programme in Rome

With reference to my previous question E-0568/99(1) and to the answer given by Commissioner Wulf-Mathies on 3 May 1999:

1. Can the Commission say whether, as a result of the accumulated delays, there have been reductions in allocations from the Commission?

2. Has the municipality of Rome made up ground since the end of April and reached the commitment level of 70 % forecast by the Commission?

3. Can it provide a comparative table of the other Member States?

4. What is the final budget?

(1) OJ C 370, 21.12.1999, p. 63.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/99

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Withdrawal from Schengen

By what mechanism, if any, can a Member State rescind its membership of Schengen?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-2853/98 by Mr Bonde(1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 33.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1687/99

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

(22 September 1999)

Subject: The multiannual operational programme for agriculture and rural development in Galicia 1994-1999

The multiannual operational programme for agriculture and rural development in Galicia 1994-1999 was adopted by the Commission via Decision C(94)3596 of 14 December 1994.

This programme is divided into a number of subprogrammes, concerning respectively: (1) concentration of holdings; (2) nature conservation and measures to prevent fires; (3) agricultural production: modernisation, exploitation and improvement of food quality.

Can the Commission provide information on the level of funding allocated to each of the above programmes, for each year of the period 1994-1999?

Can the Commission provide information on the reasons which led the regional government of Galicia not to publish, in 1997, an official notice which would have permitted requests for aid under the subprogramme relating to modernisation, exploitation and improvement of food quality, pursuant to the Spanish Royal Decree No 204 of 1996?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 1999)

As stated by the Honourable Member, the Agriculture and rural development operational programme for the region of Galicia, which is part-financed by the Community, comprises three subprogrammes.

Subprogramme I, Improving the conditions of agricultural production and rural life, has funding for the programming period of 122 930 000 from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section. This is divided into six instalments, the first for 1994 of 20 530 000 and those for the next five years of 20 480 000 per year.

Subprogramme II, Protection and conservation of natural resources has total funding of 113 220 000 divided into six annual instalments, 1994: 6 600 000, 1995: 12 970 000, 1996: 21 220 000, 1997: 22 640 000, 1998: 24 120 000 and 1999: 25 670 000.

Subprogramme III, Conversion (increase) and reorientation of food quality and diversification of agricultural activity has appropriations totalling 67 380 000; 1994: 8 859 000, 1995: 10 456 000, 1996: 10 876 000, 1997: 11 668 000, 1998: 12 592 000 and 1999: 12 929 000.

It should also be noted that the Agriculture and rural development operational programme for Galicia is based on an aid scheme system.

This means that no call for tenders is required.

The Commission would advise the Honourable Member to request the various institutions concerned, in particular the Xunta of Galicia and the Ministry of Agriculture, to provide more detailed information on this subject.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1822/99

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: EU-Africa trade liberalisation agreement

The trade provisions of the EU-South Africa Agreement are scheduled to come into force in January 2000. However, the RSA and the EU continue to differ with regard to the interpretation of the agreement on wine, and specifically the use of the registered designations port and sherry.

It appears that the respective interpretations are:

- on the part of the RSA: in 12 years' time, talks will begin with a view to finding new names to replace the terms in question, on which agreement would need to be reached. Without such agreement, South Africa will continue to use these appellations.

- on the part of the EU: the agreement lays down that South Africa will cease to use the terms in question at the end of the twelve year period, and it is therefore necessary to start the search for alternative designations now.

Can Commissioner Pascal Lamy tell me whether the trade component of the EU-RS Agreement will come into force before the agreement on wine, and what is being done to clarify the correct interpretation of the Agreement's provisions on the registered designation of origin of the wines in question?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1999)

The Commission is not of the opinion that there would be differing interpretation of the provisions of Annex X of the trade development and cooperation agreement (TDC) agreement, which refers to wines and spirits, although the text may not be fully appropriate from a legal point of view. Both parties are fully committed to respecting the compromise agreement reached in March 1999 as was made clear by the joint statement of 10 October 1999 on the wine and spirits agreement between South Africa and the Community(1).

On 11 October 1999 the Council has taken note of this joint statement and has confirmed the wording of Annex X to the agreement.

The overall TDC agreement is due to enter into effect on 1 January 2000.

(1) The agreement will incorporate the agreement on port and sherry in the TDC ageement in the exact terms agreed in March. That agreement is comprehensive for all products currently using the port and sherry names.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2263/99

by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Promoting cooperation in the Barents Sea region

Cooperation in the Barents Sea region is a very important part of the Nordic dimension as far as security is concerned. The region also presents many challenges in terms of environmental, social and transport policy, which must be met if common security is to become a reality in our part of the EU and of the world.

Will the Presidency therefore state what conclusions, with a view to promoting development, cooperation and security in the Barents Sea region, it draws from the conference on the Nordic dimension held on 11-12 November 1999?

Reply

(14 February 2000)

It is well known that the Union attaches great importance to its Northern Dimension Initiative. The overall aim of the Union's ND initiative is to work with the non-EU countries in the region to enhance European Security, stability, democratic reforms and sustainable development in Northern Europe.

The non-EU countries of the Barents Sea region, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation are important ND Partners. All three participated constructively in the Helsinki Ministerial Conference and will of course be included in the deeper cooperation, foreseen in the Chairman's conclusions from the Helsinki Ministerial. These conclusions stressed that the Northern Dimension Initiative aimed to promote development, cooperation and security in the Barents Sea region, and the greater Northern European region.

The European Council in Helsinki has invited the Commission to develop, in close cooperation with the Council, and in consultation with the Northern Dimension Partner countries in the region, an action plan for the Northern Dimension.

The Chairman's conclusions from the Ministerial Conference furthermore emphasises the role of the existing regional bodies, i.a. the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in the future work of the Northern Dimension Initiative. The regional bodies are, in the conclusions from the Helsinki meeting, considered to have a specific role as instruments identifying and implementing joint Northern Dimension priorities.

Promoting development, cooperation and security in the Barents Sea region is consequently an integral part of the future work within the Northern Dimension Inititive.