WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2557/97 by Klaus-Heiner LEHNE to the Commission. The European Union's involvement in the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) in Moscow
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, LEHNE
Subjects: Community budget, European Association for Cooperation, European official, appointment of staff, contract, international organisation, pay, research body, technology

C 76/126

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 3. 98

This text lays down specific obligations with regard notably to adequate ventilation, separation of animals by
moveable partitions and detailed arrangements concerning water supply. Compliance with these obligations will
ensure improved welfare for animals transported on longer journeys.

With  specific  reference  to  on-board  watering  arrangements,  the  text  provides  for  all  relevant  vehicles  to  be
equipped  for  connection  to  a  water  supply  during  stops.  In  the  case  of  transport  of  pigs,  vehicles  must  be
equipped with water tanks and other appropriate equipment to enable them to have water at all times.

(1)  COM(97) 272.

(98/C 76/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2557/97

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: The  European  Union(cid:146)s  involvement  in  the  International  Science  and  Technology  Centre  (ISTC)  in

Moscow

The  European  staff  of  the  ISTC  in  Moscow  are  currently  under  contract  to  the  European  Association  for
Cooperation (EAC). They include the Executive Director and other managers. The EAC has informed the staff
that  it  is  unable  to  extend  their  contracts  beyond  1997.  There  are  said  to  be  budgetary  reasons  for  this.  The
European  staff  have,  however,  been  appointed  by  the  Governing  Board  until  February  1999,  although  their
payment is not guaranteed.

How does the Commission intend to ensure the European Union(cid:146)s continued involvement in the ISTC in the
future? Who is to become the financial guarantor of the contracts with the European officials employed at the
ISTC?

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

(12 September 1997)

The  Commission  has  five  persons  in  all  on  secondment  to  the  International  Science  and  Technology  Centre
(ISTC),  Moscow,  including  its  Executive  Director.  They  are  under  contract  to  the  European  Association  for
Cooperation (EAC), which has announced that it is to cease operations on 31 December.

The Executive Director was appointed by the ISTC(cid:146)s Governing Board for two years ending in February 1999.
The EAC, however, agreed to give contractual cover only until 31 December 1997. Fresh contractual cover will
therefore have to be provided, as it will for others whose contracts expire in the period 31 December 1997 to
30 November 1998.

Ways  are  currently  being  devised  of  concluding  contracts  with  the  people  in  question  for  the  period  after
31 December. The cost of those contracts has been, and will continue to be, paid from the TACIS programme
budget.

(98/C 76/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2564/97

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(15 July 1997)

Subject: EU research and support for the jojoba and euphorbia tree species

What research has the Commission undertaken into the feasibility of encouraging the growing of the jojoba and
euphorbia species of tree, both as alternative crops and as natural resources capable of industrial and commercial
exploitation?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 1997)

Two  research  projects  into  jojoba  have  been  funded  in  the  first  and  second  research  and  technological
development framework programmes under the specific programmes Agrides and CAMAR which investigated