do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2648/97 by Eryl McNALLY to the Commission. Steroid prescriptions
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MCNALLY
Subjects: European Medicines Agency, drug surveillance, health risk, hormone, marketing, medicinal product, pharmaceutical legislation, public health

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/37

Can it also investigate reports that the Santa Pola Regional Government is demonstrating lack of supervision
over the landing of immature and undersize catches?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 1997)

The sale of small-sized fish has traditionally been a widespread phenomenon in Mediterranean countries. A fair
assessment of the situation, however, should take account of the fact that species from different areas can reach
maturity at different sizes. Thus fish exploited locally in the Mediterranean can reach maturity at a much smaller
size than the same species from the Atlantic. This is particularly true for hake.

The protection of small juvenile fish has always been at the centre of the Community(cid:146)s policy of conservation of
maritime  resources.  To  this  effect,  the  Council  adopted  in  1994  a  series  of  technical  measures  for  the
Mediterranean (including Council Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the
conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean (1)) which, amongst other things, specifies a minimum
landing size of hake of 20 centimetres and prohibits the retention, processing and sale of undersized fish.

It is the responsibility of each Member State to ensure compliance with the relevant technical measures under
Community  legislation.  To  that  end,  the  authorities  of  Member  States  must  monitor  landings  and  carry  out
inspections at sea and in port.

The Commission monitors the enforcement activities carried out by the authorities in Member States including
the implementation of rules concerning the minimum size for hake (20 centimetres).

(1)  OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.

(98/C 117/47)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2648/97

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Steroid prescriptions

Many patients have suffered both physically and financially from being prescribed steroids. Is the Commission
aware  of  the  strong  public  concern  over  this  issue  and  does  it  intend  to  take  any  action  to  raise  awareness
amongst patients of the risks involved with taking steroids in prescribed drugs?

(98/C 117/48)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2668/97

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Safety of steroid drugs

Is an investigation into the safety of steroid drugs to be carried out, and if so what is the likely timescale for the
investigation?

If such an investigation goes ahead, will the Commission be calling for evidence from victims of side-effects
from the drugs and if so, how will such evidence by called for?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2880/97 by Eva KJER HANSEN to the Commission. Vision requirement for driving licences
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, KJER HANSEN
Subjects: European standard, driving instruction, driving licence, medical examination, occupational health, occupational medicine, professional qualifications, road safety













EUR-Lex - 91997E2880 - EN






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91997E2880

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2880/97 by Eva KJER HANSEN to the Commission. Vision requirement for driving licences  


Official Journal C 117 , 16/04/1998 P. 0091 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2880/97 by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1997)Subject: Vision requirement for driving licencesOn 29 July 1991 the Council passed Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 1. )) which lays down a number of requirements regarding physical and mental fitness to drive motor vehicles, including a number of new sight requirements. For a first driving licence or renewal of a driving licence in Group 2, a driver must have a visual acuity of 0.8 in the better eye and 0.5 in the worse eye. Many driving instructors now find that they no longer satisfy the new tighter requirements and are therefore unable to continue exercising a profession they have hitherto exercised without any problem.Will the Commission ensure that a transitional arrangement is made whereby those people who, when choosing their profession, did not have to take these rules into account, and who probably only have a few years of working life left, can be granted an exemption?Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (26 September 1997)Directive 91/439/EEC ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991. )) sets the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle. The aim of these standards is to improve road safety, as well as to enhance mutual recognition of driving licences within the Community. The standards of visual acuity for Group 2 drivers for categories C and D (for example lorries and buses) are laid down in point 6.3 of the Annex. These standards were established with the national authorities and endorsed by all Member States in 1991 when the Directive was adopted. A recent review did not put into question the standards of visual acuity (0.8 and 0.5).The Directive requires all drivers to meet the minimum standards and does not provide for transitional periods or derogations from these standards. However, Member States may fix stricter standards if they so wish.Although the Commission had proposed to provide a clause giving Member States the possibility of renewing driving licences under the same conditions for medical standards as those which were applicable at the time of the first issue of the licence, such a derogation was not retained by the Council when adopting the Directive. The Commission will, consequently, not come forward with the proposal suggested by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2673/97 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Free trade in burglars' tools
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Germany, electrical equipment, mechanical equipment, sale, theft

C 102/88

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

The  Commission  would  however  remind  the  Honourable  Member  that,  when  its  Members  address  another
Community institution, their only obligation is to use one of the official languages of the Community.

(98/C 102/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2673/97

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Free trade in burglars(cid:146) tools

On Saturday, 12 July 1997, the Dutch daily newspaper (cid:145)De Telegraaf(cid:146) ran an article on the firm of Adalbert
Wendt in Bergheim (Germany), which is selling anyone interested the latest equipment needed for burglaries and
robberies. The article referred, for example, to instruction videos on breaking into cars and safe-cracking, for
which the necessary equipment was also on offer. The equipment includes the most advanced technical devices
that  can  currently  be  supplied  to  the  underworld  ›  thermal  lances,  electronic  safe-cracking  equipment,
Auto-Killer cases, etc., etc. and also instruction books and videos.

Is the Council aware of this and, given this shocking information, is its President considering proposing in the
near future ways of controlling and monitoring this trade within the European Union?

Answer

(7 November 1997)

The Council has no knowledge of the information quoted by the Honourable Member.  In any event, the Council
does not comment on articles in the press.

(98/C 102/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2675/97

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Data relating to Portugal in the Commission(cid:146)s (cid:145)First Report on Economic and Social Cohesion › 1996(cid:146)

In a recent report of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council on (cid:145)Implementation of the Community Support
Framework  ›  1995(cid:146),  Prof.  Dr  Jose· da  Silva  Lopes,  author  of  the  report,  expresses  doubts  regarding  certain
figures quoted in the Commission(cid:146)s (cid:145)First Report on Economic and Social Cohesion › 1996(cid:146), in particular the
13%  increase  in  Portugal(cid:146)s  per  capita  GDP  relative  to  the  European  average  between  1983  and  1993  and
especially the 8.6% increase in the period 1990-1993.

More specifically, the report states the following: (cid:145)The abnormal per capita GDP percentage increase relative to
the EU average is most probably due to the changes introduced by Eurostat in 1990 in methods for calculating
PPP (purchasing power parity).(cid:146)

In view of the importance of this matter, which is not merely statistical, will the Commission clear the doubts
raised in the report of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council and, in particular, provide figures concerning
the actual trend in Portuguese per capita GDP in the aforementioned periods, should it be confirmed that the
published figures are the result of changes in calculation methods?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2603/97 by Encarnación REDONDO JIMÉNEZ to the Commission. Statements by Commissioner Bonino on UK beef exports
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, REDONDO JIMENEZ
Subjects: United Kingdom, administrative transparency, animal disease, beef, consumer information, control of communications, export monitoring, illicit trade, market prices, sanction (EU)

3. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/61

It appears that the Commission later denied that Spain was concerned.

Why did Commissioner Bonino act in such an irresponsible way?

Has the Commissioner assessed the damage caused by her actions?

Is the Commissioner aware that her muddled statements can only exacerbate the difficult situation in the market
for beef?

Who is to deal with the economic consequences of this irresponsibility?

(98/C 102/87)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2577/97

by Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) and Jesu·s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Breaking the EU embargo on British beef

(24 July 1997)

On 2 July 1997, Commissioner Bonino reported a possible illegal sale of British beef, under embargo because of
the mad cow crisis, stating on Italian television that Spain was one of the countries of destination for this beef.

It appears that the Commission later denied that Spain was concerned.

On what investigations did the Commissioner base these claims?

What body or officials informed her that Spain was affected?

Is it normal to make statements of this kind before contacting the Member State concerned?

(98/C 102/88)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2578/97

by Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) and Jesu· s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Breaking the EU embargo on British beef

(24 July 1997)

On 2 July 1997, Commissioner Bonino reported a possible illegal sale of British beef, under embargo because of
the mad cow crisis, stating on Italian television that Spain was one of the countries of destination for this beef.

It appears that the Commission later denied that Spain was concerned.

Does the Commissioner acknowledge her mistake?

What were the reasons for issuing the denial?

What authority or official provided the new information which allowed her to change her claims?

(98/C 102/89)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/97

by Encarnacio·n Redondo Jime·nez (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Statements by Commissioner Bonino on UK beef exports

Mrs Bonino made several statements to the media on Wednesday, 2 July 1997 on UK beef exports to various
countries.

Has the Commission given any thought to the suitability or otherwise of such statements and their impact on:

1. 

2. 

the credibility of the Commission(cid:146)s activities as regards consumer health and consumer protection;

the Community beef markets?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2690/97 by Eryl McNALLY to the Council. Rational Planning Techniques in the Electricity and Gas Distribution Sectors
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MCNALLY
Subjects: EC Directive, economic planning, electricity supply, energy distribution, gas, proposal (EU)

3. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/91

(98/C 102/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2686/97

by Luigi Moretti (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Delays in payments

In  1995  the  Commission  adopted  a  recommendation  to  the  Member  States  on  measures  to  reduce  payment
periods (No 95/198/EC) (1). The Member States(cid:146) failure to take the steps suggested in the recommendation has
prompted the Commission recently to draw up and approve a communication on payment delays on commercial
transactions and to provide for the drafting of a proposal for a directive to be submitted by the end of the year.

Given that recipients of funds from Community programmes and initiatives are increasingly complaining about
unjustified delays in the payment of such funds by Community institutions, will the Commission explain what
measures  it  is  taking  to  ensure  that  time  limits  are  respected  in  effecting  payments  under  Community
programmes?

(1)  OJ L 127, 10.6.1995, p. 19.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Firstly,  the  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  recent  answers  to  written  questions
E-3101/96 by Mr Mather (1) and E-1568/97 by Mr Novo (2). In these answers to questions similar to the one now
put by the Honourable Member, the Commission informed Parliament of the changes made in recent years to its
payment procedures, which have generally been speeded up and made more reliable.

The Commission regularly monitors the period taken to apply procedures. In 1996, it was found that with regard
to all Commission budgetary payments, the average period between receipt of the invoice and the effective date
on which the Commission’s financial account was debited was 52 days. It was also found that, in 1996, 78% of
payments were made in 60 days or less, 12% between 60 and 80 days and 10% over 90 days.

While these results can be further improved on and steps should be taken to ensure that 95% of payment orders
are carried out within 60 calendar days, the Commission very recently approved a communication on payment
periods (3) acknowledging the principle that default interest should be paid where certain categories of payments
are made after the deadline. The practical arrangements for implementing that measure, one of which will be the
insertion  of  a  clause  in  all  Commission  contracts,  have  already  been  adopted  and  have  been  updated  since
1 October 1997.

(1)  OJ C 105,3.4.1997.
(2)  OJ C 60, 25.2.1998, p. 27.
(3)  SEC(97) 1205.

(98/C 102/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2690/97

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Council

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Rational Planning Techniques in the Electricity and Gas Distribution Sectors

What has happened to the Rational Planning Techniques Directive?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2696/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Noise pollution and sport
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: EU law, environmental protection, noise level, noise protection, sporting event, two-wheeled vehicle

3. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/93

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1997)

The Commission is extremely aware of the problem of flooding which too frequently takes place throughout
Europe. A great deal of thinking and action has taken place over the last few years in order to give the Member
States support in seeking ways to limit the risks and consequences of this type of event.

It will not fail to encourage and support the Member States in devising preventive measures and making up for
the shortcomings is the action taken in the past in order to improve river basins. This applies to the recent action
begun under Community initiative Interreg II.

In  addition  several  research  programmes  have  been  devoted  to  the  problem  of  flooding.  These  are  aimed  at
developing techniques to ensure that a higher level of safety is achieved.

However,  it  does  not  fall  within  the  Commission’s  competence  to  identify  and  monitor  risk  situations  in  the
Member  States,  since  this  falls  within  the  powers  of  the  national,  regional  and  local  authorities  within  those
Member States.

(98/C 102/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2696/97

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Noise pollution and sport

Regarding the proposals set out in the Green Paper entitled (cid:145)Future noise policy(cid:146) (COM(96) 0540), the measures
aimed at reducing noise emissions from two-wheeled vehicles could restrict, or even jeopardize the existence of,
motor cycling as a sport.

To avert this threat and bring the sport of motor cycling into line with environmental protection requirements,
thereby ensuring its survival, will the Commission:

1.  determine whether the noise limits applying to moto-cross races could be based on the regulations issued by

the sports authorities?

2.  call  on  the  national  sports  federations  concerned  to  harmonize  the  noise  standards  to  be  observed  in

motor-cycle races?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Parliament and Council Directive 97/24/EC of 17 June 1997 on certain components or characteristics of two or
three-wheel motor vehicles (1) is aimed, in particular, at regulating the permissible noise level of such motor
vehicles (Chapter 9).

That Directive applies to all of the vehicles covered by Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 on the type
approval of two or three-wheel vehicles (2).

However, vehicles intended for competitions, whether on the road or cross-country, have been excluded from the
scope of Directive 92/61/EEC for the reasons mentioned by the Honourable Member. They are therefore not
subject to the Community’s requirements concerning permissible noise level.

(1)  OJ L 226, 18.8.1997.
(2)  OJ L 225, 10.8.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2667/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Survival and protection of the Cretan tracker dog
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Crete, domestic animal, hunting, protected species, protection of animals

C 102/86

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2666/97 and E-2752/97

(7 November 1997)

The  Council  would  ask  the  Honourable  Members  to  kindly  refer  to  the  reply  given  to  Written  Question
No E-1515/97 (1).

(1)  See page 3.

(98/C 102/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Survival and protection of the Cretan tracker dog

The  (cid:145)Cretan  tracker(cid:146)  is  a  Cretan  dog  to  which  there  are  countless  references  in  ancient  literature  as  well  as
pictorial representations testifying to its presence on the island since Minoan times. These descriptions together
with  later  accounts  written  by  travellers  to  the  region  are  highly  admiring  of  the  dog(cid:146)s  tracking  ability,  its
relationship to people and its unique appearance.

As this species of dog › which is part of the historic fauna of Crete › is falling in numbers day by day and is
liable to die out, will the Commission say:

1.  what measures could be taken to classify the Cretan tracker dog as an animal in danger of extinction, and

2.  what other measures could be taken to provide funding to protect the dog and help it survive?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 1997)

Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora lists habitat
types  and  species,  including  animal  species  in  danger  of  extinction,  requiring  special  management  and
conservation actions. The Cretan tracker dog is not included in these annexes which only refer to wild species.

Work  on  protection  and  preservation  of  the  Cretan  tracker  dog  would  not  be  eligible  for  support  under
Regulation (EC) No 1467/94 on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources
in agriculture (2).

(1)  OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2)  OJ L 159, 28.6.1994.

(98/C 102/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2669/97

by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Problems with the announcement of the Commission(cid:146)s Agenda 2000 programme

On 16 July 1997, the Commission announced to the European Parliament the Agenda 2000 programme, which
contains  opinions  about  the  state  of  readiness  of  the  individual  applicant  countries  to  enter  into  accession
negotiations with the European Union. However, anyone who had been following the media would have known
the substance of the opinions well in advance, as European news agencies, referring to Commission sources, had
carried details of the assessment.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2804/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Documents of Compliance (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: carriage of passengers, ferryboat, maritime safety, maritime transport, transport document, transport safety

18.1.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 13/1

I

(Information)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

(1999/C 13/001)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2804/97

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Documents of Compliance

How many companies have been refused ISM Documents of Compliance in each Member State?

(1999/C 13/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2805/97

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Refusal of ISM Safety Management Certificates

How many vessels have been refused ISM Safety Management Certificates by category in each Member State?

Supplementary joint answer
to Written Questions E-2804/97 and E-2805/97
given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 1998)

Information provided by the Member States on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 3051/95 on the
safety management of roll-on, roll-off passenger ferries indicates that no ro-ro ferries or companies have been
refused international standards method (ISM) related certificates in the Member States.

(1999/C 13/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0256/98

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

(5 February 1998)

Subject: European firms paying for forbidding documents in Turkish public tendering procedures

Is the Commission aware that European firms taking part in public tendering procedures in Turkey have to pay to
receive the bidding documents?