do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2884/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Mutually recognized training qualifications
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: administrative transparency, adult education, diploma, mutual recognition principle, professional qualifications, vocational training













EUR-Lex - 91997E2884 - EN






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91997E2884

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2884/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Mutually recognized training qualifications  


Official Journal C 102 , 03/04/1998 P. 0143 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2884/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)Subject: Mutually recognized training qualificationsWhat progress has been made towards achieving harmonization of training standards and qualifications across Member States?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1997)Under the terms of Articles 126 and 127 of the EC Treaty, the harmonisation of training systems and vocational qualifications is outside the Community's competence in the field of education and training.In Europe, there are 'regulated' professions * in other words, those whose exercise in a given Member State is subject, by law, to possession of a specific qualification - and non-regulated professions, which can be exercised freely.With regard to regulated professions, the principle of the mutual recognition of qualifications was introduced by a series of Community directives adopted for the completion of the internal market. The transposition of these texts by the Member States has enabled certain legal obstacles to mobility to be removed and has substantially reinforced the transnational recognition of vocational qualifications.For more than ten years now, the Commission has actively supported the transparency of qualifications in the non-regulated sphere. It also recently published a Green Paper on obstacles to mobility.The Council Resolution of 3 December 1992 on transparency of qualifications ((Council Resolution of 3 December 1992 on transparency of qualifications, OJ C 49, 19.2.1993. )) defines a practical approach, aimed not at equivalence but at greater transparency of qualifications. A pilot European portfolio of skills has been developed and tested among employers and jobseekers. The Leonardo da Vinci programme supports high-quality transnational projects in this field, some of them in fact stemming directly from earlier pilot projects such as the portfolio.On 15 July 1996, the Council adopted a new Resolution on the transparency of vocational training certificates ((Council Resolution of 15 July 1996 on the transparency of vocational training certificates, OJ C 224, 1.8.1996. )), calling on the Member States to increase the transparency of such certificates by incorporating information on the content of the training received and the skills acquired. The issuing of multilingual certificates is also encouraged.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2921/97 by Bertel HAARDER to the Commission. Development aid to third world countries
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, HAARDER
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, developing countries, development aid, foreign national, human rights, return migration, right of asylum













EUR-Lex - 91997E2921 - EN






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91997E2921

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2921/97 by Bertel HAARDER to the Commission. Development aid to third world countries  


Official Journal C 174 , 08/06/1998 P. 0017 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2921/97 by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997)Subject: Development aid to third world countriesA number of Member States have found it practically impossible to return persons whose applications for asylum have been rejected (and are not refugees) to their home countries, as their governments refuse to accept their own citizens. Some of these countries' governments are also receiving considerable amounts of development aid from the EU.Will the Commission seriously consider stopping all development aid to third world governments which do not accept back their own citizens who are refused asylum in an EU country?Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1997)As far as development aid is concerned, the Commission is implementing the Council Resolution of 5 June 1997 on coherence. It is proceeding by convening meetings of experts from Member States, where all the global questions relating to the link between migration and development are currently under consideration.On the specific point of readmission, the Commission is aware of the problems created by third countries which refuse or delay the readmission of their citizens illegally present on the territory of the Member States. The Commission believes that these problems can be raised in the framework of bilateral relations between the Community and the third countries concerned. The Council can decide, case by case, that specific reference to the problems of readmission is to be included in the Community or mixed agreements with third countries. Therefore, on the basis of the mandate received by the Council, the Commission negotiates the insertion of these references in the agreements.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2882/97 by David BOWE to the Commission. Dumping - Potash industry
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: BOWE, European Parliament
Subjects: Russia, anti-dumping duty, chemical salt, common commercial policy, dumping, import, potash, trading operation

C 117/92

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

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.

(1)  OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(98/C 117/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2882/97

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Dumping › Potash industry

When Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan met the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Anatoly Chubais, in Moscow
in June 1997 to discuss trade issues between the EU and Russia, in particular problems relating to anti-dumping
duties, did the Russian Minister raise the issue of the current anti-dumping measure with regard to potash and, if
so, what was the Commissioner(cid:146)s response?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 1997)

At  the  meeting  between  the  member  of  the  Commission  in  charge  of  common  trade  policy  and  the  Russian
deputy prime minister, in June 1997 in Moscow, the issue of the anti-dumping proceeding concerning potassium
chloride was not discussed.

However, the review investigation concerning the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of potassium
chloride from Russia is now coming to its conclusion and the Commission will submit a proposal to the Council
shortly.

(98/C 117/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2883/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Listing of soap and cosmetic ingredients in Latin

Can the Commission confirm reports that a directive has been introduced requiring all ingredients of soap and
cosmetic products to be listed in Latin on the product packaging?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1997)

Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
cosmetic products (1) (the cosmetics directive) as amended (2) provides for the labelling of ingredients on all
cosmetic products, including toilet soaps and decorative cosmetics.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2951/97 by Astrid THORS to the Commission. The cultivation and use of hemp in Finland
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, THORS
Subjects: Finland, agro-industry, aid per hectare, aid to agriculture, export, farm prices, hemp, production aid, storage, utilised agricultural area













EUR-Lex - 91997E2951 - EN






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91997E2951

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2951/97 by Astrid THORS to the Commission. The cultivation and use of hemp in Finland  


Official Journal C 117 , 16/04/1998 P. 0111 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2951/97 by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997)Subject: The cultivation and use of hemp in FinlandThe EU grants financial aid for the traditional cultivation of industrial hemp. Unfortunately, there are no arrangements for making use of the harvested hemp and, at least in Finland's case, there are no processing firms requiring hemp as a raw material and no export markets.Is the Commission aware that hemp is being grown in Finland without there being any market for it? What steps will it take to remedy this problem?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1997)Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1308/70 of 29 June 1970 on the common organisation of the market in flax and hemp ((OJ L 146, 4.7.1970. )), aid per hectare is granted in the Community for hemp grown from seed of varieties with an intoxicating substance (tetrahydrocannabinol) content of no more than 0.3%. The area must have been fully sown and harvested and normal cultivation work carried out. There are no requirements as to storage, processing or exportation of the harvested hemp.The area sown to hemp in Finland although increasing is very low: 2 hectares in 1996 and 74 (provisional figure) in 1997. The quantities yielded by such small areas are obviously an inadequate incentive to investment in processing facilities in Finland. Undertakings in the rest of the Community already have adequate raw material supplies and export outlets are very limited.On 20 January 1997 the Commission undertook to the Council to propose suitable measures for hemp as soon as possible. When the agricultural prices for 1997/98 were set the Council accepted the Commission's proposal that the aid be reduced by 7.5% in order to diminish the effect it has had of increasing areas grown.The Commission continues to reflect on what would be the most appropriate measures for the sector.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2890/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Importation of Bombay duck
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Bangladesh, India, fishery product, food processing, health control, health legislation, import policy, import restriction, public health, third country













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91997E2890

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2890/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Importation of Bombay duck  


Official Journal C 134 , 30/04/1998 P. 0029 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2890/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)Subject: Importation of Bombay duckCan the Commission confirm the veracity of reports that it has banned the import of Bombay Duck into the European Union from a number of third countries?What steps are being taken to ensure that this situation does not continue?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1997)Recent inspection visits by Community inspection teams have demonstrated that there is a general problem with regard to the hygienic production and processing of fishery products in India and in Bangladesh. As defined by Council Directive 91/493/EEC, laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991. )) fishery products means all seawater or freshwater animals or parts thereof, including their roes, excluding aquatic mammals, frogs and aquatic animals covered by other Community acts. Therefore, Bombay Duck which is a dried fish specialty should be included in the scope of this definition.The inspections have shown serious deficiencies in the structure of the establishments, in the hygienic quality of the raw material and in the processing operation. Furthermore a very important lack of control by the national authorities was revealed.In addition to the above findings several Member States have discovered, during the import inspection procedures, the presence of salmonellae and vibrio in fish products originating in India. This contamination results from poor hygienic practices during production or processing.As a measure to safeguard human health, the importation of fishery products originating in India and in Bangladesh was banned by Commission Decisions 97/515/EC and 97/513/EC, concerning certain protective measures with regard to certain fishery products originating in India ((OJ L 214, 6.8.1997. )). The measures will be reviewed before 30 November 1997.The matter is very sensitive, involving public health concerns. The Commission is in contact with the authorities of India and Bangladesh to get the assurance that the sanitary conditions will be improved as soon as possible, in order to remove the import restrictions when satisfactory assurances are given about the sanitary situation.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2923/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Plutonium in teeth of teenagers in Ireland and Britain
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: Ireland, United Kingdom, dental medicine, medical research, plutonium, radioactive pollution, radioactivity, young person

C 102/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2923/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Plutonium in teeth of teenagers in Ireland and Britain

A study commissioned by Britain(cid:146)s Department of Health has detected plutonium in teeth of teenagers in Britain
and Ireland, with the highest levels in those living close to the Sellafield nuclear complex.

The study, which has been published in Science of the Total Environment, examined a sample of 3 300 teeth
taken from teenagers during orthodontic treatment from Wexford to Antrim in Ireland and from Kent in England
to the Scottish Highlands. Average plutonium levels were 7 millibecquerels per kg within 75 km of Sellafield,
5 millibecquerels within 75 to 225 km and 3 millibecquerels beyond 225 km.

Nick Priest, who carried out the research while head of biomedical research at AEA Technology at Harwell, has
concluded  that  the  plutonium  found  in  these  samples  (cid:145)almost  certainly(cid:146)  came  from  aerial  emissions  from
Sellafield. Another possibility, he stated, was that some particles from Sellafield(cid:146)s marine discharges may have
been blown back from the Irish Sea in sea spray and breathed in through the lungs and entering the bloodstream,
before lodging in bone, teeth and the liver.

Has the Commission studied the findings of this report? Has it made any representations to the British authorities
about it?

What action does it propose to take in the light of this study and to ensure that no further radioactive pollution is
caused by Sellafield?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to her oral question H-656/97 during
question time at Parliament(cid:146)s September 1997 part-session (1).

(1)  Debates of the Parliament (September 1997).

(98/C 102/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2925/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Council

(16 September 1997)

Subject: US training for Rwandan army

The French newspaper Le Monde (August 28th 1997) has reported that the US army is providing combat and
guerilla warfare training to the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan army. Le Monde has claimed to have seen a Pentagon
report confirming this matter.

The  military  training  programme  appears  to  have  begun  in  1994.  Nine  US  military  instructors  are  currently
training 60 Rwandan officers, according to the report.

The Rwandan army has been accused of massacring hundreds of thousands of Hutus in eastern Zaire.

Has the Council made any representations to the US authorities about this report? Does it believe this military
cooperation may have breached the UN-imposed arms embargo on Rwanda in any way? What action does the
Council plan to take on this matter?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2926/97 by Anne McINTOSH to the Commission. Funding of Higher Education in the United Kingdom
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, MCINTOSH
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, EU programme, United Kingdom, education grant, foreign student, higher education, length of studies, recognition of diplomas

C 117/102

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

(98/C 117/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2924/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Laboratory rodents

A recent report by Michael Festing of Britain(cid:146)s Medical Research Council(cid:146)s toxicology unit at the University of
Leicester has shown how thousands of laboratory rodents are being sacrificed each year in toxicity tests which
are scientifically flawed.

Has the Commission studied this report?

What proposals does the Commission have to phase out the use of animals in toxicity tests and to facilitate the
development of alternatives to animal testing?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1997)

The work to which the Honourable Member refers is well known. It shows that toxicology studies often involve
the use of unnecessarily large numbers of animals, and sometimes produce data which are inadequately analysed
because of the use of inappropriate statistical methods.

Through its European centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM) of the Joint research centre
(JRC), the Commission is coordinating the validation of alternative methods at Community level and a local
point of information exchange about the state of the art of alternative methods is being built.

In addition, research into the development of in-vitro tests as alternatives to animal experiments has been one of
the priorities for the various Community Biotechnology indirect action programmes for more than 10 years.

(98/C 117/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2926/97

by Anne McIntosh (PPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Funding of Higher Education in the United Kingdom

The report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education in the UK, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing,
has recommended that emphasis should be placed on an increase in the provision of one and two year courses.

Can the Commission confirm that such study periods would be eligible for European Union funding and if there
is a minimum duration course period to qualify for EU financial assistance?

Will  such  courses,  of  one  or  two  years  duration,  be  recognized  as  higher  education  qualifications  in  other
Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 1997)

Community funding is available to support cooperation between higher education institutions in the Member
States,  notably  through  the  Erasmus  chapter  of  the  Socrates  programme  and  through  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci
programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2945/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. The internal market and 'internal' emigrants
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: EU national, acquisition of property, free movement of goods, freedom of movement, motor car, ownership, right of establishment, single market, vehicle registration













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91997E2945

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2945/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. The internal market and 'internal' emigrants  


Official Journal C 117 , 16/04/1998 P. 0108 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2945/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (17 September 1997)Subject: The internal market and 'internal' emigrantsAn Italian citizen, who emigrated to Germany forty years ago, is a Veneto regional councillor and owns a house in his town of origin, where he spends his holidays and lives when he is not working. He has been prevented from re-registering his old car or even registering a new one, by something referred to simply as circular 'DG No 65', issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport on 20 June 1997. This circular 'forbids' Italians listed on the 'register of residents abroad' to register and hence also to own cars in Italy. Can the Commission say:1. whether it is aware of the contents of this circular,2. whether this ban is compatible with the principles on the basis of which the internal market operates,3. why, if freedom of movement and freedom of establishment are granted, discriminatory restrictions are set on the free movement of goods?4. how it is conceivable that the right of purchase and hence the right of ownership can be regulated in the internal market by a 'circular' (rather than a law) and be based on the concept of 'residence',5. what steps it intends to take, after all the talk about European citizenship:(a) to prevent a citizen of a Member State residing in another Member State of the Union from being penalized because of this situation, and(b) to ensure that the 'internal market' is valid for the motor vehicle sector too?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (27 October 1997)The Commission is not aware of the circular to which the Honourable Member refers.It has contacted the Italian authorities asking for information on all the relevant legislation.It will, where appropriate, investigate the matter under the procedure provided for in Article 169 of the EC Treaty.