do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3247/97 by Yves VERWAERDE to the Commission. Research appropriations for the development of digital television
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, VERWAERDE
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, broadcasting, new technology, research and development, satellite, television

C 134/124

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3247/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: Research appropriations for the development of digital television

Will the Commission state the amount of Community appropriations allocated for research into the development
of digital television?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 1997)

The development of European technological specifications for digital television was supported by the RACE
programme within the 3rd research and development framework programme which laid the basis for moving
picture expert group (MPEG) and digital video broadcasting (DVB) › compatible services that have already
been launched over satellites and cable networks.

Today,  the  ACTS  and  Esprit  programmes  support  digital  production  and  authoring  tools,  the  validation  of
terrestrial  and  cellular  television,  the  introduction  of  interactive  television,  electronic  cinema  and  the
development of universal set-top-boxes.

The total Commission contribution for the ACTS programme was 52 MECU including:

›  Digital production and switching of compressed bitstreams: 6.1 MECU

›  Validation of terrestrial TV: 6.6 MECU

›  Cellular interactive TV over microwave networks: 11 MECU

› 

Interactive TV (for cable, satellite and terrestrial): 9.8 MECU

›  Multimedia over DAB and GSM networks: 4.7 MECU

›  Electronic cinema: 3.3 MECU

›  Set-top box for terrestrial TV: 2.1 MECU

›  Programme guide and user interfaces: 3.5 MECU

›  Quality of service: 4.2 MECU

›  Socio-economic aspects: 0.5 MECU.

The total Commission contribution for the ESPRIT programme was 7.8 MECU including:

›  Digital production and authoring systems: 2.8 MECU

›  Technologies and services for cable networks: 1.7 MECU

›  Home-bus for digital TV: 1.3 MECU

›  Set-top box: 2 MECU.

(98/C 134/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3248/97

by Honor Funk (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: WTO ruling on the import ban on meat treated with hormones

1. What arguments did the EU use to appeal against the WTO ruling?

2. What is the task of the WTO Appellate Body (7 members)? Can only legal aspects of the Panel(cid:146)s report be
the subject of appeals?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3246/97 by Yves VERWAERDE to the Commission. High-Level Experts Group on the social and societal aspects of the Information Society
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, VERWAERDE
Subjects: information, self-employed person, social situation

3. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/167

Greece and Portugal did not supply figures for 1996. Also, there is no Greek figure for 1995. Thus, the more
recent figures for Greece and Portugal available in the report are concerning 1994 and 1995, respectively. The
ratio of taxes and social contributions reached 31.8% of GDP in Greece in 1994, and amounted to 36.2% of GDP
in Portugal in 1995.

According  to  the  figures  estimated  by  the  Commission  in  the  framework  of  its  economic  forecasts  of  spring
1997, the ratio of taxes and social contributions in percent of GDP in Greece has increased by about 1% point in
1995 and has remained stable in 1996. In Portugal, the ratio has increased by 1% point of GDP in 1996.

(98/C 102/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3159/97

by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Commission

(30 September 1997)

Subject: Structural funding

Can the Commission indicate what amount of the total structural funding allocated to Ireland over the period
1994-99 has been spent so far? What projects remain to be completed and what amount has been allocated to each
of these? Has a list of priorities been prepared between the Commission and the Irish Government?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1997)

In  view  of  the  length  of  its  answer,  the  Commission  is  sending  it  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(98/C 102/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3246/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: High-Level Experts Group on the social and societal aspects of the Information Society

Will  the  Commission  indicate  the  membership  of  the  High-Level  Experts  Group  on  the  social  and  societal
aspects of the Information Society?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1997)

The Commission is sending the information requested direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s
Secretariat.

(98/C 102/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3277/97

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

(13 October 1997)

Subject: European importers of Bangladeshi textiles suffering from export duty levied retrospectively

Under the GSP imports from Bangladesh with certificates of origin are admitted to the European market on more
favourable terms.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3248/97 by Honor FUNK to the Commission. WTO ruling on the import ban on meat treated with hormones
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, FUNK
Subjects: World Trade Organisation, beef, health control, health risk, hormone, import restriction

C 134/124

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3247/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: Research appropriations for the development of digital television

Will the Commission state the amount of Community appropriations allocated for research into the development
of digital television?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 1997)

The development of European technological specifications for digital television was supported by the RACE
programme within the 3rd research and development framework programme which laid the basis for moving
picture expert group (MPEG) and digital video broadcasting (DVB) › compatible services that have already
been launched over satellites and cable networks.

Today,  the  ACTS  and  Esprit  programmes  support  digital  production  and  authoring  tools,  the  validation  of
terrestrial  and  cellular  television,  the  introduction  of  interactive  television,  electronic  cinema  and  the
development of universal set-top-boxes.

The total Commission contribution for the ACTS programme was 52 MECU including:

›  Digital production and switching of compressed bitstreams: 6.1 MECU

›  Validation of terrestrial TV: 6.6 MECU

›  Cellular interactive TV over microwave networks: 11 MECU

› 

Interactive TV (for cable, satellite and terrestrial): 9.8 MECU

›  Multimedia over DAB and GSM networks: 4.7 MECU

›  Electronic cinema: 3.3 MECU

›  Set-top box for terrestrial TV: 2.1 MECU

›  Programme guide and user interfaces: 3.5 MECU

›  Quality of service: 4.2 MECU

›  Socio-economic aspects: 0.5 MECU.

The total Commission contribution for the ESPRIT programme was 7.8 MECU including:

›  Digital production and authoring systems: 2.8 MECU

›  Technologies and services for cable networks: 1.7 MECU

›  Home-bus for digital TV: 1.3 MECU

›  Set-top box: 2 MECU.

(98/C 134/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3248/97

by Honor Funk (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: WTO ruling on the import ban on meat treated with hormones

1. What arguments did the EU use to appeal against the WTO ruling?

2. What is the task of the WTO Appellate Body (7 members)? Can only legal aspects of the Panel(cid:146)s report be
the subject of appeals?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3117/97 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Violation of the rules of democracy by the Dutch Presidency
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: European Parliament, Netherlands, Presidency of the Council of the EU, Surinam, competence of the Member States, dictatorship, extradition, oral question, written question













EUR-Lex - 91997E3117 - EN






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91997E3117

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3117/97 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Violation of the rules of democracy by the Dutch Presidency  


Official Journal C 134 , 30/04/1998 P. 0087 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3117/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (9 October 1997)Subject: Violation of the rules of democracy by the Dutch Presidency1. Is the Council aware of the request submitted by the Dutch Ministry of Justice for the international tracing and extradition of the former dictator of Surinam, Desi Bouterse?2. Can the Council explain why the Dutch Presidency of the Council has consistently refused, since March of this year, to answer written questions on the international tracing and extradition of Bouterse?3. Does the Council not agree that, given the deadline of six weeks for answering written questions, the failure to answer written questions since March tabled by the undersigned and Mr Pasty and Mr Donnay constitutes a violation of the rules of democracy?4. Does the Council realise that the questions by the undersigned and Mr Pasty and Mr Donnay were of considerable importance in the light of the obstruction on the part of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in arranging for Bouterse to be detained in Brazil on 18 July, as a result of which débacle the Dutch government was placed in a very embarrassing position, which it could probably have avoided by answering the questions?5. What guarantee can the Council give that the contempt expressed for the European Parliament which the Dutch Presidency has indulged in by simply not answering written questions since March, and not answering oral questions since January, can be avoided in future?Answer (15 January 1998)The Council wishes to draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that it can only reply to questions which come within the bounds of its responsibilities. Questions dealing with a specific request for extradition, such as that to which the Honourable Member refers, are a matter solely for the Member State concerned, in this particular case the Netherlands authorities.With respect to the time limits within which the Council replies to oral or written questions put to it by Members of the European Parliament, the deadlines quoted by the Honourable Member are not binding upon the Council, which has, however, always endeavoured to reply as promptly as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3204/97 by Jean QUERBES to the Commission. Production of durum wheat
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, QUERBES
Subjects: EU production, aid system, atmospheric conditions, durum wheat, import (EU), production aid

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/113

(98/C 134/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3194/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Road tax harmonization

Can  the  Commission  confirm  whether  or  not  it  has  any  plans  to  introduce  EU-wide  toad  taxes  using
harmonization powers?

Can it also confirm reports that the funds raised from such a tax would be channelled into road improvements?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 1997)

In July 1996 the Commission made a proposal for a directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use
of certain infrastructures (1) laying down a more refined and harmonised road charging system (including vehicle
taxes, road tolls and user charges) than that currently applying under the Directive 93/89/EEC of 25 October 1993
on the application by Member States of taxes on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and tolls
and  charges  for  the  use  of  certain  infrastructures (2).  The  1996  proposal  is  currently  being  examined  in  the
Council and in the Parliament.

The Commission has considered that the use of the revenue from vehicle taxes and charges, in accordance with
the principle of subsidiarity, is for the Member States to decide and need not be earmarked for investment in
transport infrastructure. However, given the need to find adequate resources for the development of an efficient
and environmentally friendly transport system and to better link charges with costs, the Commission is reflecting
on whether new pricing instruments should gradually replace existing taxes and charges and on how resulting
revenues might be reserved for infrastructure development. Any changes that were proposed as a result of these
deliberations would, of course, still have to conform to the principle of subsidiarity.

(1)  OJ C 59, 26.2.1997.
(2)  OJ L 279, 12.11.1993.

(98/C 134/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3204/97

by Jean Querbes (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: Production of durum wheat

The European Community, which was once an exporter of durum wheat, has become a net importer and the
shortfall is increasing. Does the Commission not think that this reversal in the trend is due to the change in the
system of payments to producers of durum wheat according to the production areas?

Would the Commission be prepared to propose improving this system so that the European Community could
increase its production to reduce its shortfall?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 1997)

The  Commission  considers  the  present  shortfall  in  Community  durum  wheat  production  to  be  the  result  of
exceptional weather conditions affecting both the quantity and quality of production.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3229/97 by Jan SONNEVELD to the Commission. Problems involved in obtaining refunds on agricultural products which are not consumed in full in the first importing country
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, SONNEVELD
Subjects: EU law, USSR, Yugoslavia, agricultural product, customs document, export (EU), export refund, import licence













EUR-Lex - 91997E3229 - EN






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91997E3229

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3229/97 by Jan SONNEVELD to the Commission. Problems involved in obtaining refunds on agricultural products which are not consumed in full in the first importing country  


Official Journal C 134 , 30/04/1998 P. 0119 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3229/97 by Jan Sonneveld (PPE) to the Commission (9 October 1997)Subject: Problems involved in obtaining refunds on agricultural products which are not consumed in full in the first importing countryAs a result of the political disintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union - both traditional commercial and marketing channels for European exporters of agricultural products - there has been a change in the granting of refunds. According to EU legislation, products which were imported into one constituent republic, processed there and passed on to an other constituent republic were eligible for a refund. In view of the situation today this is no longer possible, because these products are no longer registered as being used on the spot (in the importing country, regardless of constituent republic). As is the case with the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, these importing countries now use the EU customs form, which makes it explicit that the imported EU product is not consumed in full in the importing country but is exported, usually after processing.In the past the Commission adopted transitional arrangements in similar circumstances (e.g. the accession of new EU Member States), in order to enable businesses to review their commercial relations; this was in the interests of both the EU businesses and the processing firms importing products.1. Does the Commission agree that the situation described above creates commercial problems for importing and exporting firms?2. Can the Commission explain why no transitional scheme has been set up following the disintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union?3. Is the Commission prepared to introduce transitional arrangements with retroactive effect?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1997)The Commission is aware that the political collapse of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union has posed commercial problems for Community exporters.It therefore adopted in 1992 decisions containing transitional provisions likely to facilitate the duty of Community exporters to supply proof of importation into the new countries which emerged from the disintegration of these two federations.The Commission does not plan to take further transitional measures.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3170/97 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. Division into net payers and net beneficiaries
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, SEPPAENEN
Subjects: Community budget, European Union, budgetary resources, customs regulations, net contributor, net recipient, statistical nomenclature













EUR-Lex - 91997E3170 - EN






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91997E3170

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3170/97 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. Division into net payers and net beneficiaries  


Official Journal C 134 , 30/04/1998 P. 0103 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3170/97 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (9 October 1997)Subject: Division into net payers and net beneficiariesThe statistics on net payers and net beneficiaries vary greatly and the abovementioned division is thus unclear.How does the Commission divide the countries of the EU into net payers and net beneficiaries? What are the Commission's latest available figures on this subject? And what influence does the customs revenue account have on the definitions of net payers and net beneficiaries?Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997)The Commission's opinion regarding Member States' budgetary positions is that budgetary balances, i.e. the difference between budget contributions and budget expenditure received by each Member State, while appealing in their simplicity, are inadequate measures of the benefits resulting from membership of the Community.Budgetary flows do not capture all the benefits from membership of the Community. Community membership, which gives rise to financial and non-financial advantages as well as obligations, has a non-budgetary dimension the importance of which dwarfs the budgetary one. For example, the benefits from the pursuit of common objectives, such as trade liberalisation and European economic integration, cannot be evaluated in terms of budgetary flows alone. Moreover, flows from the Community budget invariably benefit not only recipients but other Member States in the form of return flows. Typical examples are structural funds and external expenditure, where the implementation of projects often gives rise to purchases of goods and services from other Member States.Furthermore, there is no single definition of budgetary balance. This inevitably makes possible the design of various methods of approximating the budgetary benefits from membership in the Community, and the choice of a particular method often reflects the desire to highlight a particular point of view or to defend a specific issue. As the Honourable Member rightly suggests, including custom duties in the calculation would show a sizeable net contribution for Member States with large port facilities such as Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands.Therefore, the Commission does not consider it necessary or opportune to calculate Member States' net contributions to the budget.A paper entitled 'Budget contributions, EU expenditure, budgetary balances and relative prosperity of the Member States' was forwarded to the Parliament on 14 October 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3175/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Funding the new airport of Spata in Attica
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Central Greece, Cohesion Fund, Olympic games, airport, transport network













EUR-Lex - 91997E3175 - EN






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91997E3175

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3175/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Funding the new airport of Spata in Attica  


Official Journal C 117 , 16/04/1998 P. 0161 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3175/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (9 October 1997)Subject: Funding the new airport of Spata in AtticaThe new airport of Spata is a key project for the development of Attica and Greece as a whole, especially now that Athens has been awarded the 2004 Olympic Games.The main airline using the airport will of course be Olympic Airways, and its needs should therefore be taken into account in constructing this project. However, Olympic Airways has not yet forwarded its proposals with a description of its needs, and as a result implementation of the project is being delayed.Will the Commission say whether Olympic Airways has been requested to send a list of its needs regarding the new airport of Spata - and, if so, when-, and what action it intends to take to unblock the whole affair so that progress can be made without further delay?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1997)According to the information obtained by the Commission from the Cohesion Fund monitoring committee, the project for the new Athens international airport at Spata is proceeding as planned.The same sources also indicate that the Greek authorities are currently examining the list of needs submitted by Olympic Airways.The Commission will monitor the progress of work on this project closely.