do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 421/97 by Fiorella GHILARDOTTI to the Council. Hazardous working conditions and hygiene problems in the new Council building
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, GHILARDOTTI
Subjects: Belgium, Council of the European Union, competence of the Member States, construction equipment, nutrition, occupational health, seat of institution













EUR-Lex - 91997E0421 - EN






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91997E0421

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 421/97 by Fiorella GHILARDOTTI to the Council. Hazardous working conditions and hygiene problems in the new Council building  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0014 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0421/97 by Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Hazardous working conditions and hygiene problems in the new Council buildingRecent articles in the Belgian press have highlighted considerable problems in the Justus Lipsius Building, the new headquarters of the Council's General Secretariat, concerning the working conditions in certain departments and in particular hygiene problems in the kitchens because of poor design and construction.The Council's final acceptance of the building is due to take place on 9 April 1997. In the interests of easing the burden on the Community budget, has the Council identified the areas of responsibility of the operators involved in the many stages of design and construction?Answer (1 July 1997)Under the contract of 26 Febraury 1985 concluded between the Belgian State and the European Communities for the construction of the Justus Lipsius building which was completed in 1995, it is the Belgian State and not the Council which has to carry out final acceptance of the buildings in accordance with the various specifications. However, the contract provides that the Council must give its agreement before final acceptance can take place. This can occur once the problems which are currently the subject of detailed examination have been satisfactorily resolved. At the same time, completion of the official deed of sale to the Council is being prepared.Thus, the Council is taking care to safeguard its rights pursuant to the relevant legal and contractural provisions.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 213/97 by Glyn FORD to the Council. Tamils in Sri Lanka
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Sri Lanka, civilian victim, linguistic group, violence













EUR-Lex - 91997E0213 - EN






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91997E0213

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 213/97 by Glyn FORD to the Council. Tamils in Sri Lanka  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0008 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Tamils in Sri LankaIs the Council of Ministers aware of the atrocities against the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka?What action will be taken to halt their oppression?Answer (5 June 1997)It is clear, as previous questions by other Honourable Members have shown, that the situation in Sri Lanka is complex and that atrocities have been committed against innocent communities irrespective of their origin. All acts of violence are to be condemned, particularly against innocent civilians. Rather than trying to apportion blame to one party or another, the Union believes that the only way to find lasting peace and stability is through dialogue. Violence creates only physical and mental casualties.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 396/97 by Angela KOKKOLA to the Council. Imposition of measures by the European Union on third countries in respect of the environment
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, KOKKOLA
Subjects: co-financing, development plan, environmental impact, environmental protection, frontier region, industrial project, prevention of pollution, project evaluation, third country













EUR-Lex - 91997E0396 - EN






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91997E0396

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 396/97 by Angela KOKKOLA to the Council. Imposition of measures by the European Union on third countries in respect of the environment  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0067 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0396/97 by Angela Kokkola (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Imposition of measures by the European Union on third countries in respect of the environmentIn the light of the answer given by the Commission (to my Written Question No E-2979/96) ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997, p. 37. )) on its inability to take specific measures (such as commissioning environment impact studies) in respect of projects planned by third countries on the borders of the European Union which receive EU funding and directly affect a Member State of the European Union, will the Council say whether it intends to remedy this anomalous situation in which the Union takes measures and sets strict standards concerning the environment within its own territory, but cannot exert any influence to prevent a projects which will pollute the environment of Member States of the Union?Answer (16 May 1997)The Council is aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member.In general terms, when, on behalf of the Community, the Council concluded the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context on 15 December 1996, it decided that it would deposit the Community's instrument no later than the end of 1997. Once the Convention enters into force, it will provide safeguards as to the prevention and reduction of transboundary environmental effects arising from the action of non-Member States which are contracting parties to the Convention.More specifically, when the Council adopted the Directive amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, the Council and Commission considered that whenever the Community was contemplating co-financing a project in a non-Member State, there should be an evaluation of the significant transboundary effects of that project of the environment of one or more Member States. The Commission undertook to act accordingly; the Member States undertook to follow a similar procedure whenever they co-financed projects in non-Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 422/97 by Olivier DUPUIS to the Council. EU action on China with regard to the UN Commission on Human Rights
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: DUPUIS, European Parliament
Subjects: China, EU action, UN resolution, human rights, political prisoner













EUR-Lex - 91997E0422 - EN






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91997E0422

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 422/97 by Olivier DUPUIS to the Council. EU action on China with regard to the UN Commission on Human Rights  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0073 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0422/97 by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: EU action on China with regard to the UN Commission on Human RightsWith 6 more weeks to go until the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, it seems that the EU has still not decided on action to be taken on the very serious human rights situation in China.So far the EU Human Rights Working Group has failed to reach a conclusion on what the EU should do with respect to a China resolution. At the same time, the human rights situation in China is deteriorating even further, while the so-called dialogue on human rights between the EU and China is deadlocked. For these reasons, a UN resolution condemning the human rights situation in China is needed more than ever.It seems that the Presidency of the Union is committed to such a resolution and is supported by most other Member States on this issue. However, from well-informed sources as well as from the press, it appears that 2 Member States are strongly opposed and are obstructing the consultation process.Can the Council confirm this information? If this is the case, what action is the Presidency of the Union planning to take to overcome the deadlock?Answer (27 May 1997)The Honourable Member of Parliament is correct in his assumption that the Union has not yet taken a decision on what action it will take on the human rights situation in China at the forthcoming 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.The Troika at ministerial level has met with a Chinese delegation in Singapore on 14 February 1997. This allowed the European Union to reiterate the great importance it attaches to a dialogue on human rights with China. Without engaging in any form of negotiations on the Union's principles concerning the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, it also provided the Union with an opportunity to impress upon the Chinese side its expectations for tangible improvement in the human rights situation in China.Clear examples of such improvements would be the release of political prisoners in need of medical treatment, the signature and ratification of the two United Nationas human rights covenants and allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit prisons in China.The outcome of the Troika meeting with China in Singapore, and measures taken by China to improve its human rights situation will be taken into consideration by the Union when deciding upon the course it will take at the Commission on Human Rights.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 386/97 by Per STENMARCK to the Council. The safety of ferry passengers
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, STENMARCK
Subjects: EU Member State, common position, ferryboat, maritime safety, maritime transport, national implementing measure, territorial waters, transport safety













EUR-Lex - 91997E0386 - EN






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91997E0386

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 386/97 by Per STENMARCK to the Council. The safety of ferry passengers  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0019 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0386/97 by Per Stenmarck (PPE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: The safety of ferry passengersThe safety of ferry passengers is of paramount importance, as has been stressed in recent years, not least owing to the large number of disasters involving ferries that have occurred in EU waters.When the Commission proposal for increased safety standards for non-SOLAS vessels was submitted to Parliament, I was anxious, as the rapporteur responsible, to steer the proposal through to the decision stage as quickly as possible. The aim was to ensure that these rules became law in all Member States as soon as possible.Parliament delivered an almost unanimous opinion in September 1996. Four months have since elapsed. For every month that passes, the risk grows that it will become more difficult to finally transpose the rules in the national laws of all Member States.Is the Council prepared to submit its proposal on this subject to Parliament as soon as possible?Answer (5 June 1997)The Council hopes that it will soon be in a position to forward to the European Parliament its common position on the Directive on safety rules and standards for passenger ships. The Council attaches great importance to the Commission proposal but would point out that it has taken some time to finalize its common position on this matter in view of the size and highly technical nature of the Annex and the difficulty of updating the text in the various official languages of the Community.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 198/97 by Bernie MALONE to the Council. Use of mercenaries in the Great Lakes region
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, MALONE
Subjects: Central Africa, Council of the European Union, Democratic Republic of the Congo, force reduction, interference, international conflict, mercenary













EUR-Lex - 91997E0198 - EN






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91997E0198

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 198/97 by Bernie MALONE to the Council. Use of mercenaries in the Great Lakes region  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0036 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0198/97 by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Use of mercenaries in the Great Lakes regionIs the Council aware of the use of 200-300 mercenaries, some of whom are French, in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa? What action does it intend to take to bring an end to their activity which serves to undermine the EU's stance on this issue?Answer (30 May 1997)The Council has taken note of the numerous reports of foreign mercenaries of different nationalities in Ziare. Commissioner Bonino reported on having seen a number during her recent visit to Kisangani on 1 February 1997.The Council expressed its position on foreign mercenaries in a declaration by the Presidency on 17 February 1997, in which is strongly condemned all interference in the conflict and called for the withdrawal of all outside and mercenary forces.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 226/97 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Council. Top level mission to Nigeria by the Dutch Presidency
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Commonwealth, Nigeria, democracy, human rights, international sanctions, military regime













EUR-Lex - 91997E0226 - EN






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91997E0226

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 226/97 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Council. Top level mission to Nigeria by the Dutch Presidency  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0041 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0226/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Top level mission to Nigeria by the Dutch PresidencyCan the Council confirm that the Dutch Presidency will shortly be sending a top level mission to Nigeria?Is the Council aware that, despite the measures taken by the Union, there has been no improvement in recent months in respect of democracy or human rights in Nigeria?Is the Council aware that the military regime in Nigeria is putting pressure on an increasing number of African countries by threatening that if they do not support Nigeria the latter will impose sanctions in terms of oil supplies and other economic cooperation projects?Is the Council aware that in early February a number of Commonwealth Ministers of Foreign Affairs met in London to discuss further measures against Nigeria?Is the Council aware that on a number of occasions the European Parliament has called for tougher measures against Nigeria, including an oil boycott?What is the purpose of the Dutch Presidency's top level mission?Answer (27 May 1997)The Council is not aware of any proposal to send a high level mission to Nigeria at this time.The Council follows closely events in Nigeria and is aware that, despite the measures taken by the Union, the situation in respect of democracy or human rights in Nigeria continues to be unsatisfactory. It is in contact with the Commonwealth and closely follows the work of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. In this context, it is fully aware of that the European Parliament has called for tougher measures against Nigeria, including an oil boycott.The Council has no information about the Hnourable Member's statement that the Nigerian military government is putting pressure on increasing number of African countries to support Nigeria, by threatening sanctions if they do not.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 199/97 by Graham WATSON to the Council. Human rights in Turkey
Date: 1997-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: Amnesty International, Türkiye, human rights, non-governmental organisation, source of information













EUR-Lex - 91997E0199 - EN






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91997E0199

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 199/97 by Graham WATSON to the Council. Human rights in Turkey  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0008 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0199/97 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council (6 February 1997)Subject: Human rights in TurkeyIn the light of the answer to Written Question E-2353/96 ((OJ C 60 of 26.2.1997, p. 7. )), what specific sources of information does the Council use to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey? Do the sources include Amnesty International, Helsinki Human Rights Watch, the IHD, the Index on Censorship, or the Kurdish Information Centre in London?Answer (5 June 1997)The Council uses information from a wide variety of sources, including published information and information made available by Member States, as well as various other governmental and non-governmental sources. These also include NGOs mentioned by the Honourable Member.