ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1010/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: Infringement by the Commune of Naples of rules relating to the award of public contracts

The Commission has brought an action against Italy for infringement of its obligations in relation to the award of public contracts. In particular, the Commission has recently accused the Commune of Naples in connection with the award of a public service contract for the collection of urban waste. The invitation to tender was incomplete and in flagrant breach of Directive 92/50/EEC on public service contracts. The various blatant breaches and omissions discovered included failure to provide certain compulsory information concerning selection criteria, provisions that discriminated against foreign potential operators, delays in providing contract specifications and the fact that the deadline set for the submission of tenders was shorter than the minimum prescribed by Community rules.

Various articles published in the local press have reported a number of procedural irregularities in connection with the award of another public contract, for the administration of the Commune of Naples' housing stock. That competition was halted by the TAR (regional administrative court) of the Campania region because it laid down excessive and discriminatory criteria which, by failing to ensure fair competition in the tendering procedure, would have had the effect of favouring the current administrator.

Would the Commission, therefore,

- check that the new invitation to tender for the administration of the housing stock finally complies with the requirements for fairness and legality?

- check the regularity of the procedures adopted for all the public contracts administered by the Commune of Naples and, consequently, ascertain whether there have been any violations of the principle of free competition?

- apply to the European Court of Justice to ensure that the Commune of Naples and the Italian State reinstate any legitimate interests that may have been infringed?

Supplementary answer

given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 1998)

The Honourable Member is requested to provide the Commission with any information he has regarding the contract for the administration of housing stock in the municipality of Naples.

The Commission cannot verify the regularity of all procedures leading to the award of public service contracts by the municipality of Naples. It can initiate proceedings for failure to fulfil an obligation under Article 169 of the EC Treaty if it has sufficient information to indicate that Community rules on public service contracts have been infringed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0685/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Safety of third countries aircraft

While the Commission's proposal for a Council directive establishing a safety assessment of third countries aircraft using Community airports (COM(97) 55 fin.-97/0039 SYN)(1) is to be welcomed, is it not the case that Community action should not be restricted to improving the safety of third countries carriers and aircraft, but should make further efforts to enhance safety standards throughout Europe?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 1998)

The proposal for a Council directive establishing a safety assessment of third countries' aircraft using Community airports constitutes only one element of the action plan contained in the Commission's Communication on defining a Community aviation safety improvement strategy(2). The Honourable Member is referred to the Communication for further details of the Commission's proposed actions.

(1) OJ C 124, 21.4.1997, p. 39.

(2) SEC(96) 1083 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/98

by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Conversion aid

Can the Commission clarify what amounts are earmarked in the budget for aid to farmers wishing to stop growing tobacco and convert to an alternative crop?

Have the funds for this budget item increased or decreased over the last three years? Will the Commission be proposing an increase or a decrease in the forthcoming budget?

Can the Commission also say what the take-up rate is for these conversion aids? Does the take-up rate differ among the various Member States?

Which are the most common alternative crops chosen?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 1998)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the current organisation of the market in raw tobacco makes no provision for Community aid for producers who want to stop growing tobacco in favour of some other crop.

As part of the reform of the raw tobacco market that it submitted recently to Parliament and the Council(1), the Commission proposes setting up a system under which the public authorities will buy back the quotas of producers wishing to abandon tobacco cultivation.

(1) COM(98) 19 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1901/98

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Victim support in the EU

Would the Commission state whether organizations exist in Member States to support victims of crime through counselling, supporting attendance at court, obtaining criminal compensation, and assisting families affected as a result of crime?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

The Commission is aware of the existence of victim support organizations in most if not all Member States. They are all structured in different ways, depending on a broad range of reasons including their relationship with the national victim support schemes. The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the European forum for victims services, an umbrella organization with participant organisations in most Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1336/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Opposition to further development of nuclear power stations in Lithuania

Could the Commission say whether funding is being given to Lithuania to develop nuclear power and what funding, if any, is being given towards the exploration of other fuel types?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1998)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that no Community funding is provided to Lithuania to develop nuclear power, nor is any Community funding being provided towards the exploration of other fuel types.

The assistance being provided in the nuclear sector by the Community directly or through the European bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD) nuclear safety account is directed towards improving the safety of the existing nuclear power plant at Ignalina.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1954/98

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Eritrea and the ratification of the Lomé Convention

Would the Commission confirm that Eritrea is not prepared to ratify the Lomé Convention? Has Eritrea given any indication of why this is the case and how does the Commission plan to proceed?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 1998)

The Commission has not yet received official confirmation in writing from the government of Eritrea of its intentions with respect to ratification of the Lome IV bis Convention.

The Commission understands that discussions within the government of Eritrea have centred around the issue of not accepting grant financing from the European development fund (EDF) or any other donor, as it does not wish to become dependent on grant financing.

The Commission attaches great political importance to the participation of Eritrea in the Lome IV Convention, to which Eritrea remains a party, and will continue to work with the Eritrean authorities on the implementation of the 7th EDF and maintain close contacts with the government of Eritrea to continue support for development efforts within Eritrea.

The Commission will continue to ensure that the government of Eritrea is associated with the current discussions and future negotiations on relations between the Community and the ACP after 2000. The Commission considers it necessary to leave all options open and give the government of Eritrea the necessary time to clarify its position on Community cooperation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2335/98

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Shipment of waste to non-OECD countries

With regard to the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing common rules and procedures to apply to shipments to certain non-OECD countries of certain types of waste (COM(94) 0678), there has been much concern expressed by exporters of second-hand clothes.

"Worn clothing and textiles" appear under Annex II (the Green List) of the Waste Shipments Regulation 259/93(1). However, does the Commission consider second-hand clothing to be waste if it is shipped abroad for its continued use as clothing? If this is the case, can it explain why?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Questions E-0016/98 by Mr Bébéar(2) and E- 0107/98 by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten(3).

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998.

(3) OJ C 310, 9.10.1998, p. 22.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2059/98

by Felipe Camisón Asensio (PPE) to the Council

(6 July 1998)

Subject: Madrid-Lisbon rail link

It has been announced that the Council has adopted a new regulation for determining the general rules governing the granting of Community financial aid relating to the trans-European networks.

What percentage of the funding could the Community provide to co-finance a study relating to the planned high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid?

Reply

(24 September 1998)

As part of the series of measures coming under the Agenda 2000 reform, the Commission has also submitted to the Council a proposal to amend certain aspects of Council Regulation (EC) 2236/95 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks.

In this connection the Commission is proposing, inter alia, to extend the current limit for Community participation in carrying out studies to 100 % of the requisite financing in certain cases.

This matter is currently being examined by the Council's subordinate bodies.

As regards the specific study referred to by the Honourable Member, the Council would point out that the Commission has competence for implementing Regulation No 2236/95.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1845/98

by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: Insurance on labour market in Sweden

Through Swedish collective agreements, the trade unions severely restrict the ability of firms freely to choose insurance companies on behalf of their employees owing to the fact that insurance companies linked to trade union collective agreements have a special status in Swedish law. Swedish competition law and labour market policy exempt these companies from the general rules on competition.

What is the Commission's view of this method of circumventing the rules designed to guarantee competition in the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 1998)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that a Dutch court has requested a preliminary ruling from the Court of justice regarding inter alia the issue whether collective social agreements fall within the ambit of the Community's competition rules (case C-115/97 Brentjens).

In that case the Commission has expressed the view that agreements which are formally concluded in the framework of collective social negotiations and which relate to subjects that traditionally constitute the legitimate object of collective social agreements (notably wages, including pensions, and working conditions) fall outside the scope of Article 85 of the EC Treaty.

The Commission cannot tell from the information given by the Honourable Member whether the Swedish collective agreements to which she refers are of such nature. The Honourable Member is invited to submit further information to the Commission if she so wishes.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1806/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Subject: Use of hazardous substance PVC in manufacture of toys

Greenpeace's claims that toys made from PVC are banned in the nurseries for children of Community officials, while as yet there is no restriction for other children, are having an adverse impact on public opinion. In Greenpeace's view, the material contains substances suspected of causing long-term serious damage to the liver, kidneys and reproductive system, and of contributing to the development of cancer.

1. Are such toys hazardous for children of EU officials but harmless for other children?

2. What measures will the Commission take to eliminate the risks associated with the use of toys made from PVC, given that the warning "for children aged 3 and above" is deemed inadequate?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1849/98

by Anne McIntosh (PPE) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: Duty-free sales

When does the Commission intend to complete its study into the social, economic and regional consequences of the loss of intra-EU duty- and tax-free sales after 1999?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 1998)

The Honourable Member is referred to the debate in the Plenary of the Parliament on 2 April 1998 which followed a question on this subject. The Commission confirms it does not intend to carry out such a study because there is no reason to do so.

The question of the Commission undertaking such a study was also raised at the Ecofin Council meeting on 19 May 1998 and ministers did not reach agreement on the matter. At the same occasion the Commission agreed to prepare a working document to clarify the instruments available to Member States to address any consequences of the abolition of intra-Community tax-free sales.

Work on the document is proceeding. It will be made available to the Ecofin Council and to the Parliament in the near future.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1561/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council

(25 May 1998)

Subject: The clearing of Palestinian inhabitants from East Jerusalem

There is strong evidence that, since 1994, the Israeli authorities have made it increasingly difficult for members of the Palestinian community in East Jerusalem to continue living there by restricting residency rights. This appears to be one element behind a wider clearance policy.

Did the President-in-Office raise the question of clearances with the Israeli Government during his recent visit to the Middle East?

Is the Council considering making Israeli trading privileges with the EU conditional upon equal access to the EU for Palestinian exports and to the ending of the clearances from Jerusalem?

Reply

(24 September 1998)

Israel and the Palestinians have agreed, under the terms of the Declaration of Principles, not to take any action which would prejudge the outcome of the Permanent Status Negotiations. The European Union views Israeli action such as withdrawal of ID cards, settlements and house demolitions as violation of this agreement, a view it continues to make known to the Israeli authorities.

In order to follow more closely the situation in Jerusalem the EU established, early 1997, its own "Jerusalem Watch". In the framework of this watch, the Member States' Consuls General in Jerusalem and Heads of Mission in Tel Aviv regularly draw up reports on developments in Jerusalem having, or likely to have, an impact on the Palestinian character of the city.

A summary of the latest Jerusalem Watch report was published on 29 June. The summary, and summaries of recent EU Watch reports on the issues of settlements and human rights, is available on the internet web site of the Council of the EU (http://ue.eu.int)].

In a communication of 14 May 1998 to the Council on "Implementation of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and Israel", the Commission addressed inter alia the issue of obstacles to access to the EU for Palestinian exports. The issues raised in the communication are currently the subject of experts talks between the EU and Israel.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1616/98

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Discriminatory nature for EU citizens of the indivisibility of Belgian tax

Is the Commission aware that the West Flanders provincial government levies a general provincial tax, one condition of which is that the tax is indivisible and payable in respect of the whole year?

Does the Commission consider it fair that a Netherlands citizen resident in this province on 1 January 1998 who moved to the Netherlands on 4 February should nevertheless be liable for tax in respect of the whole of 1998?

Does the Commission agree that this constitutes discrimination against non-Belgian EU citizens and is an obstacle to the free movement of persons within the European Union? If so, what does the Commission propose to do about it?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1998)

For want of details regarding the nature of the tax levied by the Belgian province of West Flanders that would allow it to carry out the necessary research, the Commission is unfortunately unable at this stage to answer in full the Honourable Member's question.

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to provide further particulars so that it can give a more detailed answer.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1163/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Projects financed under LIFE II

In July 1997, the Commission selected 188 projects to be co-financed under the terms of the financial instrument for the environment (Life II).

Could the Commission state whether the projects selected included any relating to Italy, and outline their main features?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 1998)

In 1997 28 Italian projects were jointly financed under LIFE II. Just as every other year the list of those projects has been published in the Official Journal.(1) In addition a data base containing a description of all of the projects funded under LIFE from 1992 onwards is available at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/home.htm.

A brochure on the LIFE environment projects will shortly be published, together with a description of the most successful projects.

A multilingual brochure on LIFE nature projects is published annually, together with a description of all of the projects receiving money. A copy of the 1997 edition has been sent to the Honourable Members and to the Secretariat General of Parliament.

(1) OJ C 68, 4.3.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0953/98

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 1998)

Subject: Slow-moving three-wheeled vehicles

Under EU rules, slow-moving three-wheeled vehicles whose use on the road is permitted are classified as L2 vehicles. They are used mainly by the elderly and the disabled and have a maximum speed of 40 km/h.

From a distance, and especially in the dark, such vehicles look like ordinary cars. However, as they travel more slowly than other traffic, it ought to be possible to warn other road-users more effectively to keep clear of them in order to avoid accidents.

Could the appropriate member of the Commission say whether it would be possible for such three-wheelers to be designated as slow vehicles, so that they would have to bear a warning triangle alerting other road-users to their slowness? This would improve road safety in the interests both of drivers of the three-wheeled vehicles and of other road-users.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 1998)

Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 on the type approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles(1) provides, in particular that light quadricycles having an unladen mass of less than 350 kg are considered to be three-wheel mopeds (vehicles having a (design) speed not exceeding 45 km/h and a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3).

Therefore these light quadricycles, or "cabin scooters" are covered by the approval procedure for two or three-wheel motor vehicles and must therefore meet not only the requirements of the framework Directive referred to above, but also those of the various separate Directives deriving from the same framework Directive.

However, the Community provisions in this area do not require "cabin scooters" to be fitted with a triangle in order to warn other road users of their lower speeds, thus leaving the Member States the option of regulating that safety aspect of the use of such vehicles.

(1) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903/98

by Anne McIntosh (PPE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Common fisheries policy

Will the Commission confirm that Finland, Sweden, Portugal and Spain will have unrestricted access to the North Sea after 2002?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

Under the Acts of Accession of 1985 and 1994, the transitional arrangements governing Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish vessels' access to certain waters and resources must end on 31 December 2002 at the latest.

Unless the Council decides to make alternative provision at the end of 2002, the current "acquis communautaire" would then apply, i.e. the fleets of all Member States would have free and non-discriminatory access to the waters of the North Sea; access to the fish stocks would depend on the principle of relative stability for regulated species but would be free for non-regulated species.

It should however be noted that there will be virtually no unregulated fish species in the North Sea at the end of 2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1402/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Enfopol

According to press reports, an organization known as "Enfopol" has been set up at European level under the third pillar which, it is claimed, will have a far-reaching impact on technological development with fundamental implications for human rights, and which is said to be assembling a comprehensive bugging and surveillance system. Enfopol is reported to be forwarding draft letters and dozens of memoranda of understanding to governments and undertakings in the computer and communications industry containing recommendations setting out how telecommunications technologies should be structured so as to make any person communicating by way of worldwide data and telephone networks capable of being placed under permanent surveillance (APA 229, 27.2.1998).

Is Enfopol's existence known to the Commission? On what legal basis and under what legislative enactment was Enfopol set up?

For what purposes was Enfopol set up and what is its remit?

What forms of democratic control is this organization subject to?

What Enfopol recommendations and memoranda have been adopted hitherto? What is their subject matter and what are the reference numbers?

How can the Commission reconcile the foregoing with national data-protection rules?

What implementing measures have since be laid down by the Member States?

How does the Commission view the compatibility of these arrangements with Austrian law?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1998)

The Commission is not aware of any organisation under the name Enfopol. That acronym is used by the Secretariat General of the Council for the purpose of identifying documents dealing with police cooperation, circulated in the framework of the competent instance of the Council.

Interception of telecommunications for the purpose of law enforcement has been on the agenda of the Council for years. The latter adopted on 17 January 1995 a resolution containing a number of requirements of law enforcement agencies for the technical implementation of legally authorized interception in modern telecommunications systems. Work is presently in progress in Council on the issue of encryption.

The Honourable Member should address any further question on these issues to the Council.