do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2932/96 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Rising crime in South Africa
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, EU programme, South Africa, crime, economic consequence, investment, police, public safety, tourism













EUR-Lex - 91996E2932 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2932

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2932/96 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Rising crime in South Africa  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0096 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2932/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Rising crime in South AfricaIs the Commission aware that South Africa is coping with a rapidly rising crime rate?Is the Commission aware that willingness to invest in South Africa is declining as a result and that tourism, which can provide many jobs, is also stagnating, with a very adverse effect on the already worrying employment situation in that country?Is the Commission aware that the United Kingdom has given ECU 9.5 m to the government in Pretoria to combat the rise in crime?Can the Commission indicate what projects exist and how much money it is allocating to preventing and combating crime in South Africa and what each of the Member States is doing in this field?Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (10 December 1996)The Commission is concerned at the high level of crime in South Africa. It believes, however, that it is important not to over-play the impact of crime on the economy. In fact, there is no evidence to support the suggestion that investments or tourism have been damaged by criminality, or that foreigners are reluctant to work in South Africa.Nevertheless, the Commission will support the 'Assistance to policing in the Eastern Cape' programme with 9 MECU from the 1996 allocation of Budget Line B 7 - 3200, the European programme for reconstruction and development in South Africa. Additionally the British government has allocated 2.8 MECU to the same programme.The overall objective of the programme, designed to complement and support the government's ongoing process of reforming the police service, is to help create a safe and secure environment in the Eastern Cape province conducive to economic growth and social development. Specifically, the programme will improve civilian oversight of policing, improve the management of policing, strengthen the role of the community - police liaison, support human resource development in both the police service and the provincial ministry and improve the quality, distribution and management of resources used by the police.Concerning the areas of activity of the Member States, the Commission is informed, by way of regular meetings between representatives of the embassies and the Commission delegation in Pretoria, which allow exchanges of views on their respective interventions. In addition to the backing of the British government to this exercise, the Belgian, Danish, French, German and Swedish governments are also supporting the restructuring of the South African police.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2954/96 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. COM for olive oil
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: CABEZON ALONSO, COLINO SALAMANCA, European Parliament
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, common organisation of markets, exchange of information, olive oil













EUR-Lex - 91996E2954 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2954

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2954/96 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. COM for olive oil  


Official Journal C 091 , 20/03/1997 P. 0054 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2954/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: COM for olive oilWhy did the Commission not submit a discussion paper prior to the proposal for reforming the COM for olive oil as has previously been done in the case of wine and fruit and vegetables?Joint answer to Written Questions E-2953/96, E-2954/96, E-2955/96, E-2956/96, E-2957/96, E-2958/96, E-2959/96, E-2960/96, E-2961/96, E-2962/96 and E-2964/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1996)The Commission will be discussing the different options for the reform of the olive oil common market organization (CMO) in the very near future. A document will then be transmitted speedily to the Parliament and the Council for discussion before any concrete proposals are finalised.The Commission will certainly take into account the Honourable Members' remarks and questions concerning employment, intervention aid to real production, aid per tree, consumption aid, quality, impact on the environment and the specific problems of Spain and some of its producer regions.It would not be correct to comment in detail at this stage on the various options for reforms except to repeat that the new common market organisation should be transparent, simple, easy to control and should target producers efficiently.The Commission attaches great importance to quality and believes that, whatever option is chosen, there will be an important role for Member States and regions.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3096/96 by Inger SCHÖRLING to the Commission. Banana imports
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, SCHOERLING
Subjects: chemical fertiliser, chemical product, health risk, import, occupational safety, organic farming, pesticide, soil pollution, toxic substance, tropical fruit













EUR-Lex - 91996E3096 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E3096

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3096/96 by Inger SCHÖRLING to the Commission. Banana imports  


Official Journal C 091 , 20/03/1997 P. 0067 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3096/96 by Inger Schörling (V) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Banana importsBananas are wholesome but the methods of growing them are obnoxious. Where bananas are cultivated the ground is soaked with chemicals to prevent the plant's roots from being attacked. Banana plantations are sprayed both manually and from aircraft. While growing, the stem of each banana plant is wrapped in a plastic bag filled with pesticides. The toxins pollute the ground water and this ultimately disrupts the ecosystem. The people who work the plantations are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals and suffer cancer, sterility, poisoning and other damage.There are bananas which are grown toxin-free, though the supply is still small. EU rules impede imports of these bananas. What steps will the Commission take to facilitate the import of organically grown produce and, especially, bananas?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996)The arrangements for import of bananas into the Community do not discriminate in any way according to the method of production. Producers, shippers or marketers of environmentally friendly bananas enjoy exactly the same conditions as traders of bananas produced according to conventional agricultural practice.Organic bananas are currently available to consumers within the Community, although they are imported in small quantities since the market for organic produce is limited. In addition, in fulfilment of the undertaking to both the Parliament and the Council, the Commission is currently investigating the means of support which could be offered to support the marketing of fair trade bananas on the Community market. Fair trade products are goods produced according to specified criteria concerning the social and environmental conditions of production and trade.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2962/96 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. COM for olive oil and employment
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: CABEZON ALONSO, COLINO SALAMANCA, European Parliament
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, common organisation of markets, employment policy, impact study, job preservation, olive oil, olive-growing, proposal (EU)













EUR-Lex - 91996E2962 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2962

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2962/96 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. COM for olive oil and employment  


Official Journal C 091 , 20/03/1997 P. 0056 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2962/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: COM for olive oil and employmentIs the Commission aware of the possible impact on employment of a reform of the COM for olive oil of the kind proposed by the Commission?Joint answer to Written Questions E-2953/96, E-2954/96, E-2955/96, E-2956/96, E-2957/96, E-2958/96, E-2959/96, E-2960/96, E-2961/96, E-2962/96 and E-2964/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1996)The Commission will be discussing the different options for the reform of the olive oil common market organization (CMO) in the very near future. A document will then be transmitted speedily to the Parliament and the Council for discussion before any concrete proposals are finalised.The Commission will certainly take into account the Honourable Members' remarks and questions concerning employment, intervention aid to real production, aid per tree, consumption aid, quality, impact on the environment and the specific problems of Spain and some of its producer regions.It would not be correct to comment in detail at this stage on the various options for reforms except to repeat that the new common market organisation should be transparent, simple, easy to control and should target producers efficiently.The Commission attaches great importance to quality and believes that, whatever option is chosen, there will be an important role for Member States and regions.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2994/96 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. Eligibility for Phare and Tacis programmes
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, VECCHI
Subjects: EU programme, competition, industrial development, invitation to tender, non-governmental organisation, non-profit organisation













EUR-Lex - 91996E2994 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2994

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2994/96 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. Eligibility for Phare and Tacis programmes  


Official Journal C 091 , 20/03/1997 P. 0059 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2994/96 by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Eligibility for Phare and Tacis programmesIn recent years a large number of NGOs, associations and non-profit making bodies have complained that they are finding it increasingly difficult to take part in the various schemes under the Phare and Tacis programmes, particularly in the area of contracts.Do these complaints reflect the true situation?Can the Commission indicate what percentage of participants in the Phare and Tacis programmes such bodies represent?Will the Commission take steps to make it easier for all interested parties to participate in these programmes?Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1996)Phare and Tacis tenders are in general open to every kind of organisation. In order to ensure that only the economically most advantageous offer is finally selected, however, the contracting authority applies criteria designed to guarantee that each company selected has the qualifications, experience and independence required by the project.Most Phare and Tacis programmes focus on industrial development, policy advice and privatisation projects in partner countries, so non-governmental organisations usually do not meet these criteria.On the other hand several Phare and Tacis programmes are designed for the participation of non-governmental organisations, such as the Phare and Tacis democracy programme, the Phare and Tacis lien programme and the Phare partnership and cooperation programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2937/96 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Vocational training programmes under the second CSF
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Community support framework, EU control, EU programme, European Social Fund, Greece, administrative transparency, diploma, vocational training













EUR-Lex - 91996E2937 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2937

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2937/96 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Vocational training programmes under the second CSF  


Official Journal C 096 , 24/03/1997 P. 0039 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Vocational training programmes under the second CSFThe second Community Support Framework includes vocational training programmes designed to improve standards in this area.Recently, however, there have been reports of plans by the Commission to 'freeze' these programmes, investigations in Greece having revealed irregularities with regard to the administration of funds.- What was the precise nature of the irregularities observed and in which departments or bodies was responsibility found to lie?- Have funds for these programmes in Greece in fact been stopped and what is the amount of the funds earmarked for this purpose?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (14 January 1997)Following the discovery of irregularities at the National Certification Centre, the Commission was forced to call a halt to the work involving certification of vocational training centres (KEKs). This decision was taken so as not to jeopardise the implementation of vocational training measures provided for in the operational programmes drawn up for Greece under the 1994-99 Community Support Framework.The Commission has asked the Greek authorities to take appropriate corrective action, for a new national certification system to be adopted and for the related activities to be carried out in a transparent, reliable manner. The Commission is endeavouring, by common agreement with the Member State, both to establish new certification procedures and, so as not to interrupt the flow of European Social Fund appropriations to Greece, to determine a number of measures to be implemented straightaway.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2971/96 by Riccardo NENCINI to the Commission. Forwarding agents
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, NENCINI
Subjects: charge having equivalent effect, civil service, competence of the Member States, customs profession, professional qualifications













EUR-Lex - 91996E2971 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2971

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2971/96 by Riccardo NENCINI to the Commission. Forwarding agents  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0102 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2971/96 by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Forwarding agentsThe committee responsible is currently considering the complex question of forwarding agents. The EU has recognized forwarding agents as having the status of direct representatives and thus considers them as fully representing the importer-exporter, who, as declarant, remains bound by tax obligations. Is it possible for forwarding agents to perform the duties of ancillary customs staff, given the extensive experience such agents have acquired, especially in countries such as Italy, France, Spain and Greece?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)It is for the Member States to organize their customs services and to fix the minimum qualifications for anyone entrusted with specific official tasks.The Honourable Member's attention is, however, drawn to the ongoing case-law of the Court of Justice on charges having an equivalent effect to customs duties. ((Particularly: Aprile SRL in liquidation vs. Amministrazione delle Finanze dello Stato, C-125/94. )) When private persons perform public tasks, any payments for their services are to be regarded as charges having an equivalent effect.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2918/96 by Jan SONNEVELD to the Commission. Subsidies to potato-processing businesses
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, SONNEVELD
Subjects: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, France, State aid, agro-industry, competition, investment aid, potato













EUR-Lex - 91996E2918 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2918

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2918/96 by Jan SONNEVELD to the Commission. Subsidies to potato-processing businesses  


Official Journal C 096 , 24/03/1997 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2918/96 by Jan Sonneveld (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Subsidies to potato-processing businessesDisturbing reports have reached me from the potato-processing industry about subsidies to 'a french fry processing plant in the industrial zone of the city of Komotini, Thrace' (Greece). The total cost of the project reportedly runs to $12 million, of which $7 million consists of subsidies.1. Has the Commission been notified of this subsidy?2. Can the Commission state whether EU funds are involved in the project and, if so, in what amount?3. Does the Commission agree that regional, national and/or European subsidies have the effect of distorting competition in this case, and is it if necessary prepared to prohibit this subsidy or ensure that it is rectified?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1996)1. According to the information available to the Commission, an investment in the Komotini industrial zone for roughly the amounts mentioned by the Honourable Member for the total cost and subsidies was approved in 1995 under national law No 1892/92 on State aid for productive investments.2. No Community funds were allocated to the investment in question, which is therefore an exclusively national aid.3. The national law in question was notified to the Commission under Article 93(3) of the EC treaty and approved by it within the framework of the State aid procedure. The aid in question does not exceed the maximum rate laid down by the aforementioned law for the region in which the investment was made. Generally speaking, Community or national aid may be granted for a broad range of investments to do with the processing and marketing of agricultural products, with aid rates as high as 75% of eligible investment costs in Objective 1 regions, as is the case with Regulation (EEC) No 866/90 on improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products ((OJ L 91, 6.4.1990. )), provided the sectoral limits laid down by Decision 94/173/CE of 22 March 1994 ((OJ L 79, 23.3.1994. )) are complied with. These sectoral limits do not exclude french fries. The Commission currently has no plans to amend the Community policy in this field.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2984/96 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Question No E-0878/96 on battery cages
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, HALLAM
Subjects: application of EU law, budget appropriation, intensive livestock farming, protection of animals, recruitment, veterinary inspection













EUR-Lex - 91996E2984 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2984

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2984/96 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Question No E-0878/96 on battery cages  


Official Journal C 096 , 24/03/1997 P. 0043 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2984/96 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Question No E-0878/96 on battery cagesFurther to its answer to Written Question No E-0878/96 ((OJ C 280, 25.9.1996, p. 97. )), what steps are now being taken by the Commission or Member States, to organize inspections to ensure uniform application of Directive 88/166/EEC? ((OJ L 74, 19.3.1988, p. 83. ))Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1996)The Commission regrets to inform the Honourable Member, as already pointed out in its reply to written question E-878/96 by Mr Provan ((OJ C 280, 25.9.1996. )) and on several occasions to other Honourable Members, that the Commission is for the time being short of staff in the sector of veterinary inspection. Since the previous reply no improvement in this situation has occurred.In these circumstances, the Commission has to use its scarce resources to address a limited range of priorities.As indicated already, the Commission is ready to fulfil its obligations once the necessary budgetary funds for the employment of further veterinary inspectors are made available.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3094/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Restoration of monuments damaged in Turkish- occupied northern Cyprus
Date: 1996-11-08
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Cyprus, EU programme, Türkiye, cultural heritage, heritage protection













EUR-Lex - 91996E3094 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E3094

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3094/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Restoration of monuments damaged in Turkish- occupied northern Cyprus  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0117 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3094/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (8 November 1996)Subject: Restoration of monuments damaged in Turkish-occupied northern CyprusGreek Christian monuments in Turkish-occupied Cyprus have been devastated as part of the enforced 'Turkification' of the region. Cyprus is also a participant in the Raphael cultural heritage programme.Is the Commission prepared to consider as eligible for aid a programme taking an inventory of the cultural heritage, making particular note of those monuments that can be restored, which fulfills the conditions of the Raphael programme; i.e. is it prepared to support measures which will also benefit the northern part of Cyprus given that the wealth of the cultural heritage could, in the medium term, become a factor in promoting and improving the quality of tourism?Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (12 December 1996)The Honourable Member is aware that the Raphael programme will become operational next year and that the pilot actions launched and implemented this year were in preparation of this programme.The participation of Cyprus in this programme, as with other third countries associated with the Community, could be established as from 1998 and will be determined on the basis of an association council decision which could be concluded in the course of 1997.In 1997, which in fact will be considered as a transitional period, the Commission is prepared to receive for consideration, as in 1996, initiatives submitted by the Cypriot authorities provided they meet the eligibility conditions, which will be published in the Official Journal in the beginning of the year.