ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2065/00

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Recognition of qualifications

The recognition of qualifications in the EU by the Member States is an issue of great importance which has a direct impact on citizens and restricts their right to freedom of movement and establishment for purposes of work.

Can the Commission therefore say:

- whether it is possible to devise a Commission initiative to establish a European professional qualifying examination based on a single curriculum, with examination subjects laid down for each profession with the assistance of all the Member States, to be held regularly and simultaneously in all the countries, for the purposes of defining a legal status for European professionals accepted throughout the Union?

- The qualification could be issued without restriction or could be subject to a periodically determined set number of successful candidates, if it is considered necessary to make it subject to the demand on the labour market, on the basis of an analysis.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

First, the Commission would refer the honourable Member to the Commission's answers to Written Questions E-2378/94 by Ms Pack(1) and E-3037/95 by Mr Schnellhardt(2).

The Commission also believes that the question of a European examination, and hence the harmonisation of training, should be considered in the light of Articles 149 and 150 of the EC Treaty (ex Articles 126 and 127), where reference is made specifically to the exclusion of any possibility of harmonising these systems.

In the absence of Community provisions governing the content and structure of teaching in the Member States, the host Member State may require migrants to provide proof of a certain level of knowledge in relation to the requirements laid down in its legislation for admission to a vocational examination. However, in the procedures for enrolling persons with diplomas obtained in other Member States for vocational examinations, Member States must refrain from any direct or indirect discrimination based on nationality, in accordance with Articles 12, 149 and 150 of the EC Treaty (ex Articles 6, 126 and 127).

(1) OJ C 152, 19.6.1995.

(2) OJ C 91, 27.3.1996.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0947/00

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Income and social protection of women employed in shellfish harvesting

In Galicia 8 500 women manually harvest shellfish under licence from the Fisheries Ministry of the Galician regional government. The 1993 Fisheries Law of Galicia obliged the women to register for social security purposes with the Régimen Especial del Mar (Maríners' Special Scheme) as independent self-employed workers. In view of the very low incomes (on average Ptas 300 000 per annum) they earn, there has traditionally been a tacit agreement between the government and the sector under which the workers were not obliged to pay the corresponding social security contributions, which would be in the region of Ptas 168 000 per annum, or 56 % of their total income.

The Galician regional government recently stated that unless the women were able to show evidence that they had joined the Maríners' Special Scheme (Maríners' Social Security Institute), their licences would not be renewed. The workers have called for negotiations with the regional and national governments aimed at agreeing contributions based on income earned or amount of time worked (an average of four hours per day for between eight and ten days per month, ten months per year).

What are the Commission's views on workers being asked to pay 56 % of their income in social security contributions?

Is the Commission aware of other cases in the European Union where workers contribute over 50 % of their income to the social security system?

Could the Commission, at the request of the Member State concerned, provide help to ensure that these women are able to continue working without losing a disproportionate amount of their limited incomes?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the level of social security contributions is a matter for the Member States alone.

The information available to the Commission on Social Security is contained in the publication Mutual Information System on Social Protection in the Member States of the European Union (MISSOC), where details of the various benefits in each Member State may be found. This publication is directly accessible on the Internet at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-prot/missoc98.

The Commission cannot envisage an aid mechanism which would pay a portion of social security contributions. Such a scheme could not be financed from any of the Commission's budget headings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1857/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) and Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(13 June 2000)

Subject: Languages used for Council press releases

What is the Council's linguistic policy and usage with regard to the media?

Is it true that press releases issued after Council meetings are in French and English only?

In the last five years, have there been any protests from any Member State government in this connection, or any proposals that this policy should be changed?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The press releases issued by the Press Office of the General Secretariat of the Council after Council meetings or following other events which have taken place in a Council context (Association and Cooperation Council meetings, signing of agreements with third countries, etc.) are issued in all the official languages of the Union. They are circulated by both ordinary and electronic mail and are accessible on the Council's Internet site.

The original press releases are drafted during, or immediately after, the Council meeting or other event generally in English or French, depending on the background documents available.

The process of translating the press releases into the other 10 languages of the EU starts immediately. However, given the time required to complete the translations, there can sometimes be a delay before the other language versions are issued.

All these texts are made available to journalists on the spot and posted immediately on the Council's Internet site in the section Newsroom/Latest news. They are despatched by ordinary mail to some 2000 recipients as soon as all the language versions are available.

With regard to the Honourable Members' third question, the Permanent Representative of France wrote to the Secretary-General of the Council in 1998 to express his concern at what he regarded as excessive delays in obtaining translations into French.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0775/00

by Peter Mombaur (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2000)

Subject: Implementing nuclear safety programmes in Central and Eastern Europe

It appears that less progress has been reached in implementing programmes to improve nuclear safety in Central and Eastern Europe and in the CIS, PHARE and TACIS than had been originally planned. To shed light on the situation, the Commission is requested to provide Parliament with an updated break-down of expenditure hitherto, with the amounts made available every year since 1996, and with a communication on the level of the appropriations approved every year by Parliament and the Council compared with actual expenditure.

I should also like an explanation of the Commission proposals for organising implementation of the programme and an indication of technical and administrative responsibilities, including an assessment of how long it will take to bring the project back in line with the original timetable and plans.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2000)

The Commission is preparing a communication to the Parliament and the Council on nuclear safety in Central Europe and the New Independent States. This communication will address the actions carried out in the period 1990-1999 by the Commission, including the status of contracting of PHARE and TACIS nuclear safety projects and will make proposals for the forthcoming periods. The communication is planned to be issued within the coming months. As the questions raised by the Honourable Member fall within the scope of the envisaged communication, it is suggested to await its transmission. As regards the question of the Honourable Member regarding proposed reorganisation of technical and administrative responsibilities in the nuclear safety field, this matter is still under internal discussion in the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1936/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Budget Item A-3024

Could the Commission identify the organisations that receive money from Item A-3024, Associations and Federations of European interest?

In what projects are these organisations currently involved?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The appropriation under title A-3024 is intended to support information and communication activities connected with reflection at European level on the values and foundations of European integration carried out by associations and federations of European interest. It cannot be used to cover the operating costs of organisations.

Since the coming into force of the Commission's vademecum on grant management in 1999, the projects receiving financial assistance under budget line A-3024 are selected by means of an annual call for proposals, published in the Official journal and on the Europa site. This year's call for proposals was published on February 15th in the Official journal(1).

The kind of measures supported include conferences, seminars, radio and television programmes, films and videos, creation of networks, publications, and information technology products.

The projects for the year 2000 were selected in May 2000, but the financial and administrative procedures have not been completed yet. As soon as the contracts are sent out to the beneficiary organisations, the final list will be made available.

(1) OJ C 42, 15.2.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1414/00

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Projects involving genetically modified crops in developing countries

Could the Commission clarify its categorisation for projects it supports which involve the growing of genetically modified crops in the African, Caribbean and Pacific states or any other developing countries?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2000)

In the context of the Commission's development cooperation there are no projects undertaken to promote genetically modified crops in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) or any other developing countries.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1005/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 March 2000)

Subject: European Union programmes

On 26 November 1999 the Commission approved 19 national promotional and publicity action programmes to promote the consumption of milk and milk products. Spain was granted funding of ESP 1 200 million for the year 2000.

Have any proposals been submitted for a programme for the Balearic Islands? If so, what is the cost involved?

Can the Commission provide detailed individual descriptions of any programmes planned for the Balearic Islands?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 2000)

On 26 November 1999 the Commission approved 19 action plans to promote consumption in the Community and the enlargement of the markets for milk and milk products. The total cost of these promotional measures is 8 million and they are financed in full by the Community. The programmes selected are targeted mainly at young people up to 25 years and the principal themes to be developed are nutrition and the modern look of the products.

Two programmes were approved by the Commission for measures in Spain, to be carried out by the agencies or groupings Contrapunto SA 603 000 and INLAC (CCAE) 605 000.

These measures (publicity and public relations) are national and therefore cover the whole territory including the Balearic Islands. There are no specific measures for the Islands.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1412/00

by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Diamantis affair

The unbaptised child of Ioannis Diamantis, a Greek citizen of Christian orthodox faith, has been held illegally for about a year in Alexandria, Egypt, by the father of Mr Diamantis's Egyptian wife (Mr Diamantis and his wife had been married in a civil ceremony). This situation has been tolerated by Egypt's official authorities. The conditions set by the wife's father for releasing the child to his legal parents are for Mr Diamantis to become a naturalised Egyptian and to convert to Islam. Despite the efforts made by the parents, who are living in Greece, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department for Administrative and Judicial Affairs) and Interpol (which was asked to intervene in early April) no progress has been made. This unprecedented case constitutes a manifest violation of fundamental individual rights with a direct effect on European citizens who are suffering the effects of discrimination based on their origin and religious beliefs.

In view of the fact that an Association Agreement between the European Union and Egypt is about to be signed, what steps does the Commissioner responsible intend to take to bring the illegal detention of the child to an end as quickly as possible?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2000)

The Commission is only aware of the case put forward by the Honourable Member through the considerable media coverage which it has recently had in Greece. On the basis of this information the Commission is not in a position to comment in detail on either the legal issues involved or on whether or not this is a purely bilateral consular matter. However, the Commission has been informed that the child concerned has been released to the parents. If so, the matter appears to be resolved.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1341/00

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Closed areas for bottom trawling in the Cantabrian Sea

Fishermen's associations in Cantabria are concerned at the lack of information on closed areas for bottom trawling. They take the view that closed areas need to be introduced immediately since, according to scientific reports drawn up by the Spanish Institute for Oceanography, failure to adopt measures to protect areas with a high concentration of juveniles could lead to the collapse of the hake stock. The Spanish Secretariat-General for Sea Fishing requested the mandatory Commission report in December 1999.

What is the Commission's standpoint on the review of specific closed areas for bottom trawling in the north-east Cantabrian?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member.

The Commission's scientific, technical and economic committee has reviewed and endorsed the scientific position, and the Spanish authorities have contacted the Commission on this issue.

The Commission is currently in the process of preparing a proposal for an amendment to Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms(1) within which the topic raised by the Honourable Member will be included. It is hoped that the Commission's proposal will be available before August of this year.

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2104/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Lobby groups

On Tuesday, 6 June 2000, a number of lobbying organisations were camped out on the third floor of the European Parliament building in Brussels. Amongst their number were representatives of the Young European Federalists, European Movement, and Union of European Federalists.

Does the Commission feel that it is justifiable for such bodies to be in receipt of EU funding in order to lobby the EU legislature in the pursuit of a political objection? Is not this a peculiar approach to the concept of democracy?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

The three organisations mentioned by the Honourable Member have been given grants two at the specific request of the Budgetary Authority through the Remarks to budget line A-3021 the first as an international non-governmental youth organisation under budget line A-3029 and the two others as organisations advancing the idea of Europe under A-3021. The Commission has no objection to organisations in receipt of Community grants engaging in legitimate campaigning activity in pursuit of their registered objectives.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1155/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety.

There is a need to clarify and update existing food control legislation and to ensure that it covers all stages in the production chain. Certain detailed meat inspection requirements need to be reviewed (section 85).

Will the Commission shift the emphasis in meat inspection from routine control of end products to process control? If so, has the Commission already taken any steps in this direction? If not, why does the Commission refuse to make this shift in emphasis?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1122/00, E-1127/00, E-1128/00, E-1140/00, E-1141/00, E-1142/00, E-1143/00, E-1144/00, E-1145/00, E-1146/00, E-1147/00, E-1148/00, E-1150/00, E-1151/00, E-1152/00, E-1153/00, E-1155/00, E-1156/00, E-1157/00, E-1158/00, E-1160/00, E-1161/00 and E-1162/00 given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The issues raised by the Honourable Member are being studied with a view to bringing forward proposals for legislation according to the time scale set out in the white paper on food safety.

It would be inappropriate at this stage to anticipate the details of each proposal.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2244/00

by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Subject: Albacore tuna fishing in the North Atlantic

The Commission has presented its proposal for a regulation establishing technical measures to correct the situation of certain populations of highly migratory species.

Amongst other things the regulation incorporates the 1998 and 1999 ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) recommendations on restricting fishing capacity or effort in respect of albacore tuna by limiting the number of vessels which will in future be allowed to fish to the average recorded during the 1993-1995 period.

Given that the current fishing season's activity in this fishery has already commenced, it can be assumed that the Commission has received the relevant data from each of the Member States involved and has checked and validated it with a view to establishing the average number of vessels authorised in the 1993-1995 period, on the basis of which it was to fix the maximum number of vessels authorised to fish in 2000.

Can the Commission supply the total annual figures for each EU Member State with regard to the number of vessels authorised to fish and actually doing so continually and to the full extent in the albacore fishing seasons in the North Atlantic in each year of the reference period, i.e. in 1993, 1994 and 1995?

What is the average established for each Member State with regard to vessels authorised to fish for albacore and actually doing so continually during the period 1993 to 1995?

Can the Commission provide a breakdown by Member State of the total number of vessels authorised to fish for albacore in 2000?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

In the framework of the application of the International commission for the conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT) recommendation concerning the number of vessels fishing for Northern Albacore, the Commission has received from Member States the data corresponding to the reference levels for the period 1993-1995, as well as provisional data on the number of vessels they intend to authorise to participate in the fishery in 2000.

The Commission is at present checking this information with the Member States, in order to apply this ICCAT measure as soon as possible. Once the data has been confirmed it will be transmitted to the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/00

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

(30 June 2000)

Subject: European employment policy

Given the benefits of measures such as the French legislation to promote a 35-hour working week, which should be applied on a broad basis, does the Council think that it might be possible to include the question of European employment policy in the reform of the Treaties to be undertaken at the Intergovernmental Conference, going beyond the provisions previously laid down by the Council in Amsterdam?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The Honourable Member should be aware that the Council has no role whatsoever in the work of the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, and is therefore unable to comment on work being undertaken by the Conference. The European Parliament, on the other hand, has two observers who are closely involved in the work of the Conference at the preparatory level.

For a comprehensive overview of the agenda of the Conference, the honourable member should refer to the report produced under the Presidency's responsibility for the Feira European Council, as well as the Feira European Council Conclusions on this item.