ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2876/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (31 October 1996)

Subject: Thermie 1993

Follow-up question on the answer of 29 April 1996 to E-0627/96 ((OJ C 217, 26.7.1996, p. 81. )).

1. What projects with what regulatory objectives are specifically covered by Project SF 423/93, which is shown on the 1993 list of approved projects with maximum funding of ECU 11 015 539 m for Phases 3 and 4?

2. What was the figure for Phases 1 and 2?

3. What other phases have been supported or could be supported in the future and with what amounts?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (7 January 1997)

1. Project SF/423/93 is concerned with the operation of a combined cycle of a 250MW gas turbine and the largest circulating fluidized bed burner in the world at the Gardanne thermal power station in France. The circulating fluidized bed allows fuel with a high sulphur content to be burnt while respecting the highest environmental protection standards and without the need for complex auxiliary equipment to remove pollutants.

This project meets the objectives of seeking balanced solutions for energy and the environment by combining the best existing technology which can be justified economically. The Chinese authorities recently asked the Commission for technical cooperation in this specific area.

2. The Commission allocated ECU 2,26 million for Phase 1 in 1991 and ECU 3,82 million for Phase 2 in 1992.

3. A final sum of ECU 2,36 million was allocated to this project in 1995 for the fifth phase. The project is now complete and the thermal power station has been operational since the end of 1995. The cost eligible for a Community grant is about ECU 97 million out of a total cost of ECU 230 million. The Community grant amounts to nearly ECU 20 million.

The brochure on this project is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2750/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)

Subject: 1995 report on the internal market

Despite the progress made in 1995 in the adoption of new decisions concerning the internal market and the application of directives concerning the punishment of infringements by effective penalties and the fact that the guidelines laid down by the Commission are approved, could the Commission draw up a report in the near future on the actual situation in the various Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 January 1997)

As stated in its communication of 3 May 1995, ((COM(95) 162 final. )) the Commission will see to it that, from now on, measures whose notification is expressly required by Community provisions stipulate the relevant penalties, and calls on the Member States to notify, within the context of monitoring the transposal and implementation of Community law, all relevant information regarding their systems of penalties. Such monitoring is designed among other things to verify that Member States have taken all the necessary steps to guarantee the scope and effectiveness of Community law, notably by ensuring that the penalty chosen is effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

If the monitoring exercise reveals shortcomings in the national systems of penalties, the Commission may institute proceedings for failure to comply with the obligations resulting from the Treaty. Such proceedings, which are based on Article 169 of the Treaty, have already been referred to in the annual report on monitoring the application of Community law, the thirteenth edition of which - covering 1995 - has now been published. ((OJ C 303, 14.10.1996. ))

The Commission is not planning to draw up a report that would duplicate the annual report on monitoring the application of Community law.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3609/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B5-331: Action to encourage transfrontier provision of equity capital for small and medium-sized enterprises

With reference to the financial year 1995 and budget heading:

B5-331: Action to encourage transfrontier provision of equity capital for small and medium-sized enterprises,

1. Can the Commission say whether subsidies were granted to associations, trade unions or employers' bodies?

2. If they were, can the Commission provide a breakdown of the exact amount of the subsidy for each association, trade union, body and activity?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (14 February 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3086/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (18 November 1996)

Subject: Research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy

What lines of research has the Commission promoted and/or financed in order to ascertain the effects of bovine spongiform encephalopathy on human health?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (20 January 1997)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answers to written questions E-1187/96 by Mrs Kinnock ((OJ C 356, 25.11.1996. )) and E-1984/96 by Mrs Breyer ((OJ C 365, 4.12.1996. )) on the same subject.

Following the second call for research proposals in the field of biomedicine and health, additional projects relating to prion diseases may be launched in 1997.

Furthermore, the Commission has just sent Parliament and the Council a communication ((COM (96) 582 final. )) on a European initiative concerning research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The document sets out the Commission's action plan for research into spongiform encephalopathies (bovine spongiform encephalopathy and subacute spongiform encephalopathies).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3644/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Article B4-320: LIFE (Financial Instrument for the Environment) - Projects on Community territory

Can the Commission give a breakdown, on an association-by-association and activity-by-activity basis, of the amount of the subsidies granted in respect of the 1995 financial year from the following article:

B4-320: LIFE (Financial Instrument for the Environment) - Projects on Community territory?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (14 February 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2852/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (23 October 1996)

Subject: Nuclear industry in the Slovak Republic

How does the Council regard the fact that no solution - in terms of funding, choice of location, technology and state of the art - has been found for the short or the long term to the problem of nuclear waste, given that this problem is beyond the technical and financial resources of the Slovak Republic?

Joint reply to Written Questions E-2846/96, E-2848/96, E-2850/96, E-2852/96 and E-2854/96 (13 February 1997)

1. The Council attaches the greatest importance to the protection of the environment against the dangers of ionizing radiation. Article 80, concerning nuclear safety, of the Europe Agreement establishing the Association with the Slovak Republic stipulates that the aim of the cooperation is to provide for a safer use of nuclear energy. This aspect of cooperation covers several of the areas to which the Honourable Member refers and includes the exchange of information and experience and research and development activities.

2. The Honourable Member might also note that at the last Association Council meeting with the Slovak Republic the Community side stressed the importance of energy and, in particular, nuclear safety, for Slovakia and its role in the country's preparation for accession. The Community is strongly committed to a high level of safety in nuclear power stations and to close cooperation to achieve this. The Community stresses the need to ensure that Slovak nuclear power stations that do not conform to internationally recognized safety guidelines are shut down as soon as possible.

3. It should also be noted that the Slovak republic has acceded to the IAEA Convention (Vienna) on nuclear safety principles and has thereby subscribed to the safety requirements laid down by that Convention.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/96 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Council (15 April 1996)

Subject: Meeting between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council Human rights

In view of the fact that the press reports on the first meeting between the European Union and the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the 'political dialogue framework' agreed between the two parties made no mention of human rights, which suggests that the matter was not raised;

Whereas human rights (in particular women's rights - we need only recall the Balabagan case) and social rights are not respected in the Gulf States and, indeed, are systematically abused, on occasions in a brutal, barbarous fashion as is frequently reported in the press;

Stressing the fact that, in its relations with third countries, the EU regards respect for democratic principles and human rights as an essential aspect of those relations, can the Council say whether the issue was raised at the above meeting and what the reaction of the Gulf States was?

If the issue was not discussed (which would go against the Council's own decisions and guidelines on the subject and the compliance requirements imposed on various countries), does the Council intend to raise this extremely important issue at the next meeting of the Joint EU/GCC Cooperation Council on 22 April 1996 in Luxembourg.

Answer (13 February 1997)

In keeping with the EU's intention to ensure that commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected by all members of the international community the issue was raised at the 22 April EU/GCC Ministerial Meeting and Joint Council.

The relevant part of the joint communiqué of the 22 April Ministerial Meeting and Joint Council read as follows:

'The GCC Ministers, while noting the diversity of systems of values, which should be taken fully into consideration, joined the EU Ministers in reiterating their continuing commitment to the promotion of human rights.' (CE-GOLFE 3501/96 (Presse 103)).

The human rights issue has also been raised at EU/GCC political dialogue meetings at Senior Officials level in February and in November 1996.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2641/96 by Leen van der Waal (I-EDN) to the Commission (15 October 1996)

Subject: Mackerel and horse mackerel catches in Ireland

In the Dutch report of the ICES mackerel, horse mackerel, sardine and anchovy working group, Copenhagen, 13-22 August 1996 it is stated that the horse mackerel catch in Ireland in 1995 was about 200 000 tonnes. According to a letter sent to the Visserijnieuws paper on 13 September this figure appears not to be in line with that country's export and stocks figures. It was suggested that the Irish fishermen had registered a considerable part of their mackerel catch as horse mackerel.

1. Can the Commission indicate for 1995 the quantities of mackerel or horse mackerel:

- caught by the Irish fleet;

- landed by Irish fishermen in the Republic of Ireland;

- landed by Irish fishermen in other Member States;

- exported from the Republic of Ireland;

- sold in the Republic of Ireland for domestic consumption;

- imported into the Republic of Ireland;

- used for the production of fishmeal, fish oil and animal feeding stuffs?

2. Can the Commission indicate how much fishmeal, fishoil and animal feeding stuffs using fish as a raw material was produced by Ireland in 1995?

3. Can it indicate the quantities of other types of fish used for the production of fish meal, fish oil and animal feeding stuffs?

4. Has the Commission undertaken inspections of horse mackerel or mackerel stocks in 1994, 1995 and the first half of 1996 and if so, what were its findings?

5. What measures does it intend to take if official figures for catches, exports and stocks in fact indicate that there have been inaccurate catch registrations?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (14 November 1996)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of the Parliament the information and data requested in so far as these are available to the Commission at present.

The Commission is aware of apparent inconsistencies between data on landings of mackerel and horse mackerel on the one hand and the figures for imports and exports on the other. The Commission is making inquiries concerning catch registration, landing and transhipments of these species.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4032/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (14 January 1997)

Subject: Unlawful withholding of stolen goods by the FYROM authorities

On 25 February 1988, Yugoslav burglars broke into the house of the former member of the Greek Parliament, Konstantinos Sapsalis (Neo Psyhiko, Attica) and carried off various valuables, mainly jewellery. On 27 February 1988, the burglars were arrested at the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) with the stolen goods in their car.

In 1993, the Courts convicted and sentenced the accused. Despite the persistence of the Greek authorities, the FYROM authorities have so far refused to hand over the stolen goods.

What measures can the Commission take to restore the stolen articles to their rightful owner and put an end to almost nine years of scornful conduct by the FYROM authorities towards a former member of the Greek Parliament, bearing in mind that, although FYROM is not a Member State of the EU, it does receive various forms of EU funding?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (14 February 1997)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national authorities concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2846/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (23 October 1996)

Subject: Nuclear industry in the Slovak Republic

In the second half of the year the Slovak Republic (SR) has taken out loans (e.g. $ 150 million from a consortium of 27 foreign banks arranged by J.P. Morgan) in addition to the loans granted by the Bank for Reconstruction and the Société Général in Paris.

How great is the risk that the loans will not be repaid by the due date, for example because - in contrast to the previous year - the Slovak electricity industry (or, as the case may be, the SR) already has a balance of payment deficit of SK 27 billion in the first half of 1996?

Joint reply to Written Questions E-2846/96, E-2848/96, E-2850/96, E-2852/96 and E-2854/96 (13 February 1997)

1. The Council attaches the greatest importance to the protection of the environment against the dangers of ionizing radiation. Article 80, concerning nuclear safety, of the Europe Agreement establishing the Association with the Slovak Republic stipulates that the aim of the cooperation is to provide for a safer use of nuclear energy. This aspect of cooperation covers several of the areas to which the Honourable Member refers and includes the exchange of information and experience and research and development activities.

2. The Honourable Member might also note that at the last Association Council meeting with the Slovak Republic the Community side stressed the importance of energy and, in particular, nuclear safety, for Slovakia and its role in the country's preparation for accession. The Community is strongly committed to a high level of safety in nuclear power stations and to close cooperation to achieve this. The Community stresses the need to ensure that Slovak nuclear power stations that do not conform to internationally recognized safety guidelines are shut down as soon as possible.

3. It should also be noted that the Slovak republic has acceded to the IAEA Convention (Vienna) on nuclear safety principles and has thereby subscribed to the safety requirements laid down by that Convention.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2339/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (27 August 1996)

Subject: BSE and gelatine production in the EU

1. Are there EU standards for gelatine production and tallow extraction and processing?

2. What are the production conditions in the individual Member States?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2337/96 and E-2339/96 (20 May 1997)

1. The Council has been informed, as has the European Parliament ((PE 218.976. )), that the United Kingdom banned the use of animal meal for the feeding of ruminants within its own territory on 18 July 1988 and the use of specified bovine offals (SBOs) in the animal meat industry there on 25 September 1990, measures subsequently tightened up on 2 November 1994.

2. Commission Decision 96/362/EC of 11 June 1996 amended Decision 96/239/EC on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy ((OJ L 139, 12.6.1996, p. 17 and 18. )). Accordingly, this Decision now specifies the method of production for gelatine and tallow, liable to enter the food/animal feed chains or destined for use in cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical products, obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom, which must be followed to enable such products to be exported from the United Kingdom.

3. It is for the Commission to ensure that Community rules are applied and enforced by the national authorities.

The Commission would therefore be better placed to explain the steps taken by the United Kingdom to ensure that the inspection measures introduced by the United Kingdom are in fact enforced.

The Commission could also provide the Honourable Member with technical data on beef and sheepmeat production in the United Kingdom, on trade flows from or to the United Kingdom and on the disposal of animals infected with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3617/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Financing of certain associations from the Community budget

Can the Commission provide full details of the amounts granted, under the 1995 budget (taking all relevant budget headings together) to the following French trade-union organisation:

- Confédération Francaise des Travailleurs Chrétiens (CFTC)

at national level and to its branches in the regions and departments?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

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-3607/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B5-325: Community measures to assist tourism

With reference to the financial year 1995 and budget heading B5-325: Community measures to assist tourism,

1. can the Commission say whether subsidies were granted to associations, trade unions or employers' bodies?

2. If they were, can the Commission provide a breakdown of the exact amount of the subsidy for each association, trade union, body and activity?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

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-3641/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B4-304: Legislation and other general action based on the Fifth Action Programme on the Environment

Can the Commission provide a breakdown of the figures, for each association and activity subsidised, for the subsidies granted in the financial year 1995, under budget heading B3-304: Legislation and other general action based on the Fifth Action Programme on the Environment?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

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-3610/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B3-4010: Labour market

Can the Commission provide a breakdown of the subsidies earmarked in 1995, under budget heading

B3-4010: Labour market,

for each activity, trade union, association and works council?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.