ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1028/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(28 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the 2000 City Twinning Programme by the municipality of Siena

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that EU subsidies include a support programme to foster the twinning of European cities and that many Italian cities, including the municipality of Siena, would be particularly appropriate for events of this kind,

Can the Commission say:

1. whether the municipality of Siena has submitted projects to benefit from funding under the 2000 City Twinning Programme?

2. whether the municipality of Siena has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0864/03, E-0886/03, E-1017/03, E-1018/03,E-1019/03, E-1020/03, E-1021/03, E-1022/03, E-1023/03, E-1024/03,E-1025/03, E-1026/03, E-1027/03, E-1028/03 and E-1029/03given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Twinning is funded centrally.

The grants are awarded by the Commission on the basis of projects presented by local authorities or twinning committees.

The grants are not paid until after the event, following submission of supporting documents.

The participation of local authorities in town-twinning activities is arranged via the publication of an annual call for proposals in the Official Journal of the European Union.

With regard to the Honourable Member's questions the municipalities of: Fiumicino (E-0886), Frosinone (E-0864), Ancona (E-1017), Florence (E-1019), Livorno (E-1020), Macerata (E-1021), Perugia (E-1023), Pesaro (E-1024), Pisa (E-1025) Pistoia (E-1026) Siena (E-1028) and Terni (E-1029) did not obtain funding for the organisation of twinning events in 2000.

The municipalities of Carrara (E-1018) Massa (E-1022) Prato (E-1027) received funding for twinning in 2000. These funds were used.

The Honourable Member might wish to contact the local authorities for further information.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0628/03

by Françoise Grossetête (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 February 2003)

Subject: Follow-up action in respect of Directive 1999/96/EC

According to the provisions of Directive 1999/96/EC(1), the Commission should have submitted a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council on the following points before 31 December 2000:

- rules laying down the introduction of an on-board diagnostic system (OBD) to monitor the operation of emission control devices;

- provisions on the reliability and durability requirements of emission control devices; and

- provisions to ensure the conformity of vehicles as regards emissions.

Are these proposals on the Commission's agenda?

If not, what action does the Commission intend to take in this field, and how would it give manufacturers the time necessary to apply the new legislation regulating emissions of industrial vehicles which will enter into force in 2005?

(1) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

The Commission's proposal dealing with the three issues raised in the question is in the final stages of preparation and adoption. It is unfortunate that it has been delayed but that is a consequence of the need to reconstruct the way in which proposals in the field of automotive construction are made to improve the efficiency of the decision making process, to take account of the need to update and simplify the Community acquis(1) and to take account of recent inter-institutional agreements.

As such, the existing annexes laid down in Directive 88/77/EEC and the amendments necessary to introduce the new technical requirements required by Directive 1999/96/EC are being recast according to the Inter-Institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 between the European Parliament, Council and Commission on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts(2).

The Commission proposal will respect the dates laid down in Articles 4-7 of Directive 1999/96/EC for the application of the measures, i.e. from 1 October 2005 for new types of vehicles and from 1 October 2006 for all types of vehicles.

(1) COM(2003) 71 final, 11.2.2003.

(2) Inter-institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts OJ C 77, 28.3.2002, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1017/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(27 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the 2000 City Twinning Programme by the municipality of Ancona

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that EU subsidies include a support programme to foster the twinning of European cities and that many Italian cities, including the municipality of Ancona, would be particularly appropriate for events of this kind,

Can the Commission say:

1. whether the municipality of Ancona has submitted projects to benefit from funding under the 2000 City Twinning Programme?

2. whether the municipality of Ancona has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0864/03, E-0886/03, E-1017/03, E-1018/03,E-1019/03, E-1020/03, E-1021/03, E-1022/03, E-1023/03, E-1024/03,E-1025/03, E-1026/03, E-1027/03, E-1028/03 and E-1029/03given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Twinning is funded centrally.

The grants are awarded by the Commission on the basis of projects presented by local authorities or twinning committees.

The grants are not paid until after the event, following submission of supporting documents.

The participation of local authorities in town-twinning activities is arranged via the publication of an annual call for proposals in the Official Journal of the European Union.

With regard to the Honourable Member's questions the municipalities of: Fiumicino (E-0886), Frosinone (E-0864), Ancona (E-1017), Florence (E-1019), Livorno (E-1020), Macerata (E-1021), Perugia (E-1023), Pesaro (E-1024), Pisa (E-1025) Pistoia (E-1026) Siena (E-1028) and Terni (E-1029) did not obtain funding for the organisation of twinning events in 2000.

The municipalities of Carrara (E-1018) Massa (E-1022) Prato (E-1027) received funding for twinning in 2000. These funds were used.

The Honourable Member might wish to contact the local authorities for further information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0015/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 January 2003)

Subject: Employees of the Commission

Will the Commission please give figures for the total numbers of employees in post for each of the last five years (including 2002 if available), together with the total wage bill and average paid per employee?

Will the Commission also give figures for the number of employees of the Commission as a percentage of total employees of the Commission, Council and Parliament together, and as a percentage of total employees of all EU Institutions?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

1. The table below shows the total number of employees of the Commission, the total wage bill (total payments charged against the various budget lines including all associated costs and contributions) and the average paid per employee. Figures are only readily available for the last four years.

>TABLE>

2. Since the Commission does not have access to the figures for numbers of employees of the other Institutions, the Honourable Member will find below the proportion of posts in the Commission's establishment plan compared to the total number of posts in the establishment plans of all the institutions. The establishment plan only includes officials and temporary agents' posts.

>TABLE>

Commission: all budgets (Administration, Research and Technological Development, Office for Official Publications, OLAF, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions)

Institutions: Commission, Parliament and European Ombudsman, Council, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions and Joint organisational structure.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1480/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(2 May 2003)

Subject: Refunds on exports from Member States to the Vatican City State of beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form

A table containing data on the quantities and value in euro of products for which export refunds are granted was appended to the supplementary answer to question P-3202/02(1).

Examination of this table shows that, for exports to the Vatican City State of beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form (code 1701):

(a) in 1999 exports from Italy totalled 79,075 kg for a refund of EUR 385 731,05, equivalent to aid of EUR 4 878,04 per kg of sugar exported;

(b) in 2000 exports from Italy totalled 70,115 kg for a refund of EUR 356 906,17, equivalent to aid of EUR 5 090,30 per kg of sugar exported;

(c) no units of measurement are given for the two following sets of figures:

1. an export from France of 0,110 in 1998, equivalent to aid of EUR 44,18 and;

2. an export from Spain of 28,030 in 1999, equivalent to aid of EUR 1 268,38.

In all likelihood, the correct figures should be: (a) 790 750 kg; (b) 701 150 kg; (c) 110 kg; d) 2 803 kg, at a level of aid ranging between a more credible EUR 0,40 and EUR 0,51 per kg of sugar exported.

If one were to make these corrections, total exports would be 727 810 kg for 1998, 793 553 kg for 1999, 1 012 800 kg for 2000 and 26 435,300 kg for 2001.

Under Regulation (EC) No 419/2002(2), it should also be possible for the tabular data, extracted from the CATS database, to be used for monitoring and forecasting purposes.

It is specified in the table that the units of measurement, weights or quantities and the amounts in euro are provided by the Member States.

In the light of the above, could the Commission indicate:

- whether the data supplied by the Member States are checked and who is responsible for doing this;

- whether the quantities of beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form exported from Member States to the Vatican City State were subject to any monitoring, what form that this took, and what forecasts were made in respect of these quantities;

- whether it does not consider the level of imports to the minuscule Vatican City State to be too high, or in other words that it can be assumed these products are sold in Italy?

(1) OJ C 137 E, 12.6.2003, p. 172.

(2) OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 8.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1477/03, E-1478/03, E-1479/03 and E-1480/03given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0081/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(23 January 2003)

Subject: Pressure on the EU to withdraw a diplomatic passport used for a visit in support of the Palestinian territories

1. Is the Council aware that a number of organisations which, for various reasons, have strong links with the Israeli government, have described as anti-Semitic a visit by a delegation from the Netherlands Stop the Occupation committee to Yasser Arafat, aimed at providing support for people in the Palestinian areas colonised and occupied by Israel since 1967 and bringing their situation into line with that in neighbouring Israel, among other things by ending the restrictions on the democratically elected administration, the destruction of housing and infrastructure, the confiscation of land for colonisation by non-Palestinians and the killing or wounding of the inhabitants?

2. Is the Council also aware that as a result of the visit referred to in paragraph 1, Gretta Duisenberg, the wife of the President of the European Central Bank, has become the butt of criticism because she travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories on the diplomatic passport issued to her because of her husband's position?

3. Can the Council confirm that when diplomatic passports are issued the ordinary passport is kept by the Member State concerned for the period in which the diplomatic passport is valid, which means it can no longer be used? Does the position in this regard differ from one Member State to another or does this rule apply only in the Netherlands?

4. Does the presentation of an ordinary passport instead of a diplomatic passport mean that peaceful but unwelcome visitors who are nationals of an EU Member State have less chance of being allowed to enter countries outside the EU, so that in this case a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories might not have been possible without a delegation member holding a diplomatic passport?

5. Can the Council give an assurance that it will in no circumstances bend to pressure on the EU from organisations, such as the US Anti-Defamation League and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, to have diplomatic passports withdrawn in this or similar cases?

Reply

(8 May 2003)

The Council informs the Honourable Parliamentarian that although Mrs Gretta Duisenberg has kept the Council informed on many of her activities, details on her visit referred to in the question were not brought to its attention.

On the more general question of the issuance of any type of national passport the Council recalls that this falls entirely under the competence of each Member State, therefore it is not in a position to comment on the question raised.

None of the remaining issues mentioned by the Honourable Member, have been brought to the attention of the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Dolphin death and paired travelling

Is the Commission aware of the enormous public concern over the practice of pair fishing, which leads to the collateral death of hundreds of dolphins every week? Will the Commission institute a ban on such fishing during the January to March season when the situation is at its most acute, in the light of Act 12 of the EU habitats directive, which amongst other things is designated to protect dolphin and harbour porpoise?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2003)

The Honourable Member is requested to refer to the Commission's answer to Written Question P-0500/03 by Mr Davies(1).

(1) See page 209.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1611/03

by Jean-Louis Bernié (EDD) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Marketing of cereals

Apart from in France, the marketing of cereals in the European Union is not regulated; farmers can sell their produce freely and can ensure that it is perfectly traceable, in contrast to the produce of giant silos.

In France, the marketing function is a monopoly held by the storage agencies licensed by the National Cereals Trades Board (ONIC), and it is compulsory for all cereal trade to be channelled through them. The approved collectors deduct the parafiscal charges which are needed, amongst other things, for the operation of ONIC, which gives them financial support.

This situation means that producers and users of French cereals are penalised both financially and in respect of their ability to trade freely. For example, a French cereals producer is not allowed to sell his produce directly to a breeder.

The rules imposed by ONIC therefore appear to constitute a barrier to Community trade and freedom of trade.

What does the Commission think of this typically French situation?

Does it have any suggestions for resolving it?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0728/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Prestige: Community financial aid

On 19 December 2002 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on safety at sea and measures to alleviate the effects of the Prestige disaster. Paragraph 11 reads:

Calls on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to consider using all the necessary financial instruments to tackle the economic, social and environmental consequences of the wreck of the Prestige and assist the economic sectors affected.

What measures has the Commission taken or does it intend to take?

What percentage does the total Community aid granted represent of the total estimated amount of damage and prejudice caused by the Prestige?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

From the outset of the break up of the tanker Prestige on 19 November 2002, the Commission has been actively engaged in the provision of assistance and in the adoption of measures to alleviate the damage caused by its sinking.

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission Communication Report to the European Council on action to deal with the effects of the Prestige disaster(1) adopted on 5 March 2003. This report gives a comprehensive account of the Commission's co-ordinated response to the Prestige accident.

(1) COM(2003) 105 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: Landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of waste in Greece

Will the Commission say what are its views on the creation of landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of waste in Greece?

How many waste tips do not meet Community specifications?

What actions has it taken to prevail upon Greece to comply with Community legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The landfilling of waste must be done in accordance with Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste(1) as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991(2) and with Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste(3).

According to the information transmitted by the Greek authorities there are at present 33 sanitary landfill sites, which accept around 33 % of municipal waste in Greece. Another 60 % of municipal waste is disposed of in tips, that do not satisfy the requirements set by Community legislation. The national waste management plan adopted in 2000 sets out the objective to adapt sanitary landfills to the environmental specifications and to rehabilitate the uncontrolled or illegal landfills.

On the basis of this information and following a large number of complaints about uncontrolled or illegal waste disposal sites that do not comply with Community legislation, the Commission initiated an infringement procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty establishing the Community in July 2002. The Greek authorities recognised that 1 458 illegal or uncontrolled landfills were still in operation and declared that a new waste management plan was under adoption. According to their timetable all illegal landfills would be closed by the end of 2007 and be replaced by permanent installations. In this framework, the Greek authorities have solicited the aid of the European Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. A number of landfills are actually under authorisation or under construction in various regions of Greece.

The Commission delivered a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty in December 2002 inviting Greece to take the necessary measures to comply with the requirements of the provisions of Directive 75/442/EEC as amended. If Greece does not comply with its obligations under the Community legislation, the Commission will not hesitate to bring the matter before the Court of Justice.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(3) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0894/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(21 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the action programme for migrant workers by the municipality of Fiumicino

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Fiumicino, urgently need to use European funds to support migrant workers, including those from outside the Community, in order to guarantee them the best conditions in which to live and integrate with the local community, in terms of both work and social conditions, can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Fiumicino has submitted projects for the action programme for migrant workers?

2. whether the municipality of Fiumicino has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0828/03, E-0894/03, E-1126/03,E-1127/03, E-1128/03, E-1129/03, E-1130/03, E-1131/03, E-1132/03,E-1133/03, E-1134/03, E-1135/03, E-1136/03, E-1137/03 and E-1138/03given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2003)

There is currently no Action Programme for Migrant Workers at Community level. The Commission recalls that funding for measures to promote the integration of migrant workers, under Budget Line B3-4110, was suspended in 1998 following the judgement of the European Court of Justice in Case C-106/96. No funding has been awarded in this field since that date.

A new programme to promote the integration of third country nationals, under Budget line B5-815, will be launched by the Commission (Directorate General Justice and Home Affairs) in May 2003.