ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4160/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (22 January 1998)

Subject: Concern about deterioration of the EU's relations with Suriname

1. Is the Council aware note of the arrest of 27 civilians and military personnel on 25 October 1997 in Suriname in response to the planning of an alleged coup?

2. Does the Council share the fear that the allegations concerning the planning of the coup of 25 October 1997 are a reaction to the international investigation and arrest warrant put out recently by the Netherlands judicial authorities concerning the Surinamese state councillor, Desi Boaters, and also a manoeuvre by the Suriname government to halt domestic criticism of the failing financial policy of the current Suriname government?

3. Is the Council not seriously concerned about the comments of the former Suriname dictator and current state councillor, Desi Boaters, that foreign powers, including the Netherlands were responsible for planning the alleged coup in Suriname?

4. Is the Council aware that the allegations made by Boaters will cause considerable deterioration of relations between the countries of the European Union and Suriname?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-4160/97, E-4161/97, E-4162/97 and E-4163/97 (18 May 1998)

The Council is only aware of the information provided by the Suriname authorities. According to this information, a number of persons have been arrested in the weekend of 25 October 1997 allegedly planning a coup.

The Council is also aware of a letter of the human rights organisation Moiwana 86 to the Inter American Commission on human rights concerning the case mentioned by the Honourable Member of Parliament.

In so far as the Council has been able to obtain information in relation to the case of the alleged suspect who came to the Netherlands Embassy in October 1997, that person was not seeking asylum.

The Council is of the opinion that should a hostage-taking case occur in Suriname the necessary measures would have to be taken in order to try to find a peaceful solution to an action of this type.

The Council is unaware of the allegations and accusations to which the Honourable Member refers to as having been made by Desi Delano Bouterse.

Furthermore, taking into account the fact that the judicial investigations referred to by the Honourable Member are still pending, the Council is not in a position to comment on this subject.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4133/97 by Wilfried Telkämper (V) to the Commission (21 January 1998)

Subject: Aid for nuclear or solar energy

How much aid has nuclear energy (including reprocessing, final storage, etc.) received to date, in total and over the past ten years, within the EU?

How much aid has solar energy received to date, in total and over the past ten years, within the EU?

What proportion of both 1. and 2. has been accounted for by Baden-Württemberg and the Federal Republic of Germany, respectively?

What debts has EdF/France incurred as a result of its nuclear programme? What has been the overall level of aid for nuclear energy in France?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (27 March 1998)

The Community's financial contribution to nuclear energy over the last ten years has been confined to the framework programme of research and development (R& D) (nuclear fission and fusion). The annual average works out at around ECU 310 million, including ECU 100 million for fission. Between 1986 and 1995, the corresponding average annual R& D expenditure on nuclear energy in the Member States as a whole was around ECU 1 470 million. As for Euratom borrowing, no grants have been made since 1988.

From 1990 to 1997, around 160 solar projects were supported in the framework of the Thermie programme. These projects related to solar energy technologies, i.e. solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and solar industrial power generation. In addition, 72 solar energy projects were granted financial support under the Altener programme during the period 1993-97. The financial contribution granted from these two programmes equals ECU 70 million, or about ECU 9 million per year. Between 1986 and 1995, average annual R& D expenditure on solar energy in the Member States as a whole was around ECU 125 million.

As far as Germany is concerned, 17 solar energy projects were implemented over that period, with a Community financial contribution of ECU 8 million from the Thermie programme. The figures for Baden-Württemberg are 4 projects and ECU 1.65 million. Under the Altener programme 8 solar projects were supported in Germany for a total of ECU 1.3 million, of which one project was located in Baden-Württemberg and granted approximately ECU 170 000. Average annual R& D expenditure on nuclear and solar energy in Germany between 1986 and 1995 was ECU 336 million and ECU 70 million respectively.

Electricité de France's 1996 annual report showed the company's debt to be standing at FF 133 billion at the end of that year. No breakdown is given of the different sources of electricity production. Average annual R& D expenditure on nuclear and solar energy between 1986 and 1995 was ECU 467 million and ECU 3 million respectively.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4082/97

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(16 January 1998)

Subject: Enforcement of payment demands by debt-collection agencies

According to the report on default in payments on commercial transactions, the Commission intends to draw up a legislative proposal, one provision of which will be to authorize debt-collection agencies to serve orders throughout the Community for the recovery of payment because the circumstance that in many Member States representation before the courts is reserved to the legal profession can be seen as an obstacle to the prompt and low-cost enforcement of claims.

The Austrian Chamber of Legal Practitioners however takes the view that the proposed directive will entail:

- reduced protection for creditors and debtors;

- deterioration in consumer safeguards;

- a one-sided, materially unjustified distortion of competition to the advantage of debt-collection agencies.

1. Does the Commission consider that in submitting this proposal it is acting in accordance with the subsidiarity principle and complying with the principles of necessity and proportionality?

2. Does the Commission consider that there is a need for this measure in Austria, where the legal situation is that electronic debt-recovery proceedings can be invoked to secure accelerated processing of demands for amounts up to ATS 100 000, and where it is precisely because a lawyer is involved in the execution procedure that a claim to title is a sufficient ground for the proceedings?

3. That being so, does the Commission consider the distortion of competition to the advantage of debt-collecting agencies as justified?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 1998)

1. The Commission is currently considering the content of a legislative proposal in the field of late payment. It will of course respect the principle of subsidiarity as defined in Article 3 (b) of the EC Treaty and comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality.

2. The Commission takes note of the opinion of the Austrian chamber of legal practitioners, cited by the Honourable Member, according to which the legal situation in Austria works well for enterprises. However, the Commission also noted a recent survey(1) which showed that 60 % of Austrian businesses think that the current legal system for collecting debts is ineffective, 55 % think that it is too slow, and 48 % think that it costs too much. Furthermore, 82 % of Austrian businesses think that the legal procedures should be streamlined.

3. The Commission initiative will certainly not distort competition in any way. On the contrary, the Commission's communication of 17 July 1997(2) identified a number of obstacles preventing debt collection agencies from operating on a Community-wide basis. The objective of the Commission's initiative is therefore to create a level playing field and a properly functioning single market for businesses collecting debts.

(1) European Payment Habits Survey, Intrum Justitia, Amsterdam, April 1997.

(2) OJ C 216, 17.7.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3623/97 by Pierluigi Castagnetti (PPE) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: Residence permits in Germany

A number of non-German Community nationals resident in Germany have complained that residence permits for that country are issued on the basis of applications sent in to the relevant local authority on printed forms dating back to the 70s. In order to receive a residence permit, non-German Community nationals must inter alia declare that they have an income in excess of DM 1 200.

Many nationals of other Member States working in Germany wish to continue to reside in the country following their retirement.

What should be the attitude of local authorities when pensioners with a pension of less than DM 1 200 apply for a residence permit?

Similarly, what attitude should they take to nationals of other Member States who, having been elected as local councillors, do not meet all the requirements for an extension of their residence permits?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (3 February 1998)

The Commission is not aware of the form to be used by Union citizens living in Germany when applying to the relevant local authorities for a residence permit.

Under Community law, only employees and self-employed persons who, on retirement, settle in a Member State other than the one in which they previously worked and persons not in active employment may be required to have a minimum level of resources as a condition for the issue of a residence permit. This requirement is provided for by Directive 90/365/EEC on the right of residence for employees and self-employed persons who have ceased their occupational activity ((OJ L 180, 13.7.1990. )) and by Directive 90/364/EEC on the right of residence. These Directives were transposed into German law by the Verordnung of 17 July 1997, published in the Bundesgesetzblatt on 22 July 1997. Under Article 8(2) of this instrument, the resources of a retired person or a person not in active employment are deemed sufficient if they amount to DEM 1 170 per month.

Member States may, when processing applications for residence permits, check the level of available resources only in the case of the retired people and non-active persons covered by the above two Directives.

The Commission is not aware of any cases in which German local authorities require, in breach of Community law, other categories of citizens to provide evidence of their resources.

As far as the second point is concerned, the Commission does not normally answer hypothetical questions.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0138/98 by Hugh McMahon (PSE) to the Commission (23 January 1998)

Subject: Brussels - Strasbourg flights

Is the Commission aware that a number of complaints have been lodged concerning the non-availability of economy airfares on Sabena World Airlines flights between Brussels and Strasbourg during Parliament part-session weeks? Would it be possible for the Commission to investigate whether there is an infringement of competition rules, given the monopoly on this route by the aforementioned airline?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (18 February 1998)

The Commission is not aware of any complaints on the non-availability of economy fares on Sabena Belgian World Airlines on the route between Brussels and Strasbourg during the plenary week.

Through the adoption of the third liberalization package for civil aviation the Commission created the legal framework in which the air carriers can set their tariffs freely in accordance with their commercial policy. The Commission has no competence to impose tariffs on undertakings. The Commission would however consider taking action in case of infringement of the competition rules of Article 85 of the EC Treaty - for example by air carriers fixing common prices - and Article 86 of the EC Treaty - for example by air carriers abusing their dominant position by hindering a competitor to enter a specific route by charging excessively low fares. The fact that at present only one air carrier operates on this route does not, in itself, constitute an infringement of the competition rules. The non-availability of economy air fares on the route mentioned by the Honourable Member is not limited to Parliament plenary weeks. Reduced fares are available all year round provided travellers stay over the weekend. This is not in itself a violation of the competition rules.

The Commission is however not limited to taking action under the competition rules. Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2409/92 of 23 July 1992 on fares and rates for air services ((OJ L 240, 24.8.1992. )) Member States may require airlines to file scheduled fares with the Member States. Should a fare be excessively high to the disadvantage of users in relation to the overall long-term fully allocated costs of the carrier, then the Member States concerned may intervene against the fare and suspend the application of the basic fare. Also the Commission may at any time examine whether a fare complies with the criteria set out under this Regulation on receipt of a complaint from any party with a legitimate interest.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0091/98 by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission (20 January 1998)

Subject: Abuse of dominant position in the radio broadcasting sector by the RAI

A service agreement was recently concluded between the Italian Ministry for Communications and the RAI (Italian public broadcasting company) under which the RAI was given the right to set up a dedicated radio network to carry national broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings. The other operators which had expressed an interest were not given the opportunity to submit competing bids on the basis of an open, transparent tendering procedure.

Up until 21 November 1997, Radio Radicale had held the contract for radio broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings in Italy under an agreement concluded on 21 November 1994 with the Ministry for Posts and Telecommunications, several subsequent applications for the renewal of which were rejected.

Would the Commission take the necessary steps to ascertain whether the RAI has not abused its dominant position with a view to further strengthening its position in Italy and expanding its operations into neighbouring European countries?

Would it not agree that contracts for the radio broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings should be awarded on the basis of Europe-wide calls for tenders in compliance with current Community legislation?

Furthermore, would it ascertain whether such abusive behaviour is detrimental to the interests of competitors on the national radio broadcasting market and the listener's right to plurality of information. (Ironically, the licence fee - of which the RAI is the beneficiary - is about to be increased.)

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (17 February 1998)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission's attention to the problem of the compatibility with Community law of a 'service contract' concluded between the Italian Ministry of Communications and the Italian public broadcasting company (RAI) on the establishment by the RAI of 'a dedicated radio network to carry national broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings'. In particular, the Commission has been asked to examine whether this constitutes abuse of a dominant position to the detriment of competitors and listeners, whose interests could be better safeguarded by a service contract awarded on the basis of a call for tenders.

According to information in the Commission's possession, the Italian Government approved on 16 January a draft law that would allow Radio Radicale to continue to carry broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings during the current year, with the future award of the contract being subject to an open procedure.

Accordingly, the Commission takes the view that, as things stand, the necessary conditions have not been met to justify - along the lines indicated by the Honourable Member - the launching of an investigation into the possible abuse of a dominant position.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0267/98 by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Council (17 February 1998)

Subject: Tragic consequences of the sanctions policy for the population of Iraq

The sanctions policy imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has had tragic consequences for the population of the country, and particularly children who suffer from malnutrition and a lack of drugs.

Given that it is questionable how much the sanctions policy has produced the desired results and the plight of the population is unbearable for any civilized state:

Will the Council say:

1. What is its position on this matter?

2. Does it intend to take any measures to relieve the plight of the population and particularly the children suffering from malnutrition and a lack of drugs?

Answer (30 April 1998)

The European Union is deeply concerned about the suffering of the Iraqi civilian population, and of children in particular. In has, therefore, from the outset, been a strong supporter of Security Council Resolution 986 which permits Iraq to sell oil to buy humanitarian goods for its citizens.

At its meeting of 23 February 1998 the Council welcomed the UN Security Council's decision to considerably expand and enhance the oil-for-food programme and called upon Iraq to facilitate the humanitarian relief effort.

In addition to its active support for the oil-for-food arrangement the Union is the main contributor of humanitarian relief to the population in Iraq.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0215/98 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Council (11 February 1998)

Subject: Emergency aid for North Korea

North Korea is currently facing one of the worst famines in its history. The country has food reserves sufficient only for three days and millions of citizens are in a very precarious situation, receiving only 180 grammes of

cereals a day. The situation is worse still for the 2.8 million North Koreans (one in eight) who are still suffering the serious consequences of the floods in 1995 and 1996 and of the typhoons in 1997, all of which led to the loss of a considerable proportion of the country's crops.

In view of the fact that North Korea currently needs 8000 tonnes of seed in order to sow the fields in time and thus provide food for its population, has the Council considered providing the necessary means to alleviate the extremely serious situation affecting North Korea?

Answer (11 May 1998)

The Council shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the food situation in North Korea. It is difficult to assess the seriousness of the situation, not least because the North Korean Government has not been transparent about it and because the experts from the humanitarian organizations working in North Korea are not permitted to move freely within the country.

Nonetheless, in 1997 the European Commission already decided on an aid package worth 55 MECU. The combined humanitarian aid efforts of the European Union and its partners in 1997 were a major factor in addressing this situation due to structural weaknesses in North Korea's economy exacerbated by a series of natural disasters since 1995.

There are grounds to believe that the situation continues to be serious. Against the background of the latest World Food Programme (WFP) appeal, and a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) round table discussion in May 1998 on the needs in North Korea, the Union is presently considering by what means it can contribute to alleviating the plight of the North Korean people.

While short-term measures are not a sustainable solution to the problems faced by North Korea, the Council is of the opinion that targeted humanitarian assistance will continue to have a key role in halting further decline in access to basic needs, especially for the vulnerable.

Further information about EU aid to North Korea can be found in the answer to parliamentary question E-3399/97.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: Further training of primary school teachers who have graduated from teacher-training colleges

The further training of primary school teachers in Greece is important for their professional status as it puts the qualifications of college-trained teachers on a par with those of their university-graduate colleagues. It is funded from Action 1.3.a of the 'General and Technical Education' subprogramme under the 'Education and Initial Vocational Training' programme. There are, however, problems in the implementation of the measure in terms of the small number of teachers who undergo the training, the travelling and expenses involved.

1. Since seminars are given at the end of teaching, could there not be more decentralized training centres to reduce the distance to be travelled; some participants have to travel more than 100 km?

2. Could financial compensation be provided for those undergoing training or those who have to travel long distances, particularly for unemployed college-trained teachers?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998)

According to the structural funds regulations, the responsibility for the execution of the various actions belongs to the national authorities. Nevertheless, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that training seminars are decentralised to the degree that the universities, responsible implementing agencies for this action, consider necessary and feasible, taking into consideration the quality of the training offered.

Although both the remuneration and the travel costs of the trainees are eligible expenditure according to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European social fund ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993. )) only travel costs are covered by the programme in this action. The main reason for that is the high cost of the operation, resulting from the number of the trainees (about 16 000) and the hours of training (different categories according to their practical experience).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0094/98 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission (30 January 1998)

Subject: Take-up State of appropriations from the Structural and Cohesion Funds

Can the Commission indicate in absolute terms and percentages the total take-up of appropriations from the Structural and Cohesion Funds by each Member State:

1. compared with total funds available for the entire current period (1994-1999)?

2. Compared with funds earmarked for programmes to the end of 1997?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1998)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.