do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3207/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Investment aid for processing of organic produce
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, action programme, agricultural product, agro-industry, co-financing, competence of the Member States, eligibility criteria, marketing, organic farming













EUR-Lex - 91997E3207 - EN






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91997E3207

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3207/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Investment aid for processing of organic produce  


Official Journal C 158 , 25/05/1998 P. 0059 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3207/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (16 October 1997)Subject: Investment aid for processing of organic produceCommission Decision 94/173/EC of 22 March 1994 ((OJ L 79, 23.3.1994, p. 29. )), implementing Regulation 866/90 ((OJ L 91, 6.4.1990, p. 1, )), which lays down the selection criteria to be adopted for investments for improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products, gives priority to investments relating to organic produce grown in accordance with Regulation 2092/91 ((OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1. )).In view of the fact that the Greek Government has rejected a proposal for investment relating to the production of cider from organically grown apples - which falls under Regulation 2092/91 - on the sole grounds that funding such investment is prohibited by Decision 94/173/EC, will the Commission say whether investment in the production of cider from organically grown apples pursuant to Regulation 2092/91 satisfies the criteria laid down in Decision 94/173/EC and is eligible for aid?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1997)The Commission does not have enough information on the investment to which the Honourable Member refers to be able to judge whether it is eligible for Community part-financing under Regulation (EC) No 951/97 on improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products ((OJ L 142, 2.6.1997. This Regulation is the recasting of Regulation (EEC) No 866/90, to which the Honourable Member refers. )). This is because it is the Member States which are responsible for selecting such investments, subject to compliance with the selection criteria laid down in Commission Decision 94/173/EC of 22 March 1994 on the selection criteria to be adopted for investments for improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural and forestry products and repealing Decision 90/342/EEC.The Commission can therefore provide only a general answer on the eligibility of the investment in question, namely that priority can be granted to investments in products produced organically in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs, on condition, however, that such products are not subject to the exclusions provided for by Commission Decision 94/173/EC.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3194/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Road tax harmonization
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: charges for use of infrastructure, road network, tax harmonisation, toll, transport infrastructure, vehicle tax

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. 3191/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Abuses of a dominant position by UEFA
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: application of EU law, complaint to the Commission, dominant position, professional sport, restriction on competition, sporting event

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/163

(98/C 117/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3191/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Abuses of a dominant position by UEFA

Can the Commission confirm that it is studying carefully a complaint from the Football League that the decision
by UEFA to deny the winners of the Coca-Cola Cup entry into European cup competitions amounts to an (cid:145)abuse
of a dominant position(cid:146) under Articles 85 and 86?

Is the Commission aware that should UEFA be allowed to pursue this course of action the knock-on effect for
smaller football clubs could be disastrous, as sponsorship and television backing desert the competition?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 1997)

Yes, the Commission is investigating a complaint lodged by the football league against the Union of european
football  associations  (UEFA)  in  order  to  assess  the  compatibility  of  UEFA(cid:146)s  actions  with  the  Community
competition rules. The Commission has already informed the football league accordingly.

This assessment must be made in full knowledge of the facts, including those alleged in the second part of the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, in their correct economic context and taking into account the specific nature of
the sector concerned. The investigation of complaints must be undertaken under the established procedures ›
in this case Council Regulation (EEC) No 17/62 implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty (1).

(1)  OJ 13, 21.2.1962.

(98/C 117/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3206/97

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Rehabilitation aid for torture victims

1.  Can  the  Commission  confirm  that  there  have  been  delays  in  the  payment  of  rehabilitation  aid  for  torture
victims despite the fact that the European Parliament created a special budget line, B7-7070, in l997 making
ECU 6 million available for precisely that purpose?

2. How many of those eligible for such aid actually received it in 1997, and why have some of them not yet done
so?

3. Is the Commission aware that the average time for processing applications increased from 3 months in 1994 to
8 months in 1996 and could well be as much as 10 months this year?

4. What does the Commission intend to do to resolve these problems and how will it prevent any recurrence in
1998?

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

(17 November 1997)

1.
The Commission can confirm that, in order to provide, in line with the wishes of the Parliament, greater
transparency in the administration of its grants programmes, there have been delays in the payment of grants to
organisations working to rehabilitate torture victims.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3197/97 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Environment education
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: EU aid, action programme, developing countries, environmental protection, public awareness campaign, sustainable development

25. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 158/55

(98/C 158/67)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3197/97

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Environment education

What  funds,  if  any,  and  under  what  budget  line,  are  available  for  environmental  education  in  developing
countries such as India, Bangladesh and Nepal?

If there are any such funds, what exactly are they being used for?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1997)

There  is  no  specific  budget  line  available  only  for  environment  education  in  developing  countries  such  as
Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Nevertheless, environment education activities could be funded under the budget line B7-6200 which covers
co-operation in the field of environment. Council Regulation (EC) No 722/97 of 24 April 1997 on environmental
measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development (1) has set the legal framework for
this budget line. It represents 15 MECU only in 1997. Up to now, no environment education activities have been
financed and no requests have been received. Nevertheless, if such requests were presented to the Commission,
they would be properly examined within the present orientation and guidelines of the Commission.

(1)  OJ L 108, 25.4.1997.

(98/C 158/68)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3199/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Recognition of the Italian (cid:145)emergency surgeon(cid:146) specialist qualification

Directive 93/16/EEC (1) lays down the rules designed to guarantee free movement of doctors and the mutual
recognition of their qualifications between Member States. The Directive specifies, in particular, which diplomas
and  certificates  the  Member  States  should  recognized  in  their  territory  and  lays  down  (Article  9)  the  rules
governing recognition of qualifications in specialized medicine that do not exist in at least two Member States.

In Italy there exists an (cid:145)emergency surgeon(cid:146) qualification, the course of study for which was altered following the
entry into force of the Directive to bring it into line with the relevant provisions.

Despite this, it appears that the Italian legal system has not provided for legislation to guarantee that emergency
surgeons(cid:146) qualifications are recognized in the other Member States.

Can the Commission confirm that Italy has failed to fully transpose Directive 93/16/EEC, at least as far as

1.
(cid:145)emergency surgeons(cid:146) are concerned?

2.

If so, what action does the Commission intend to take?

Can the recent amendment of Directive 93/16/EEC, adopted on 28 July 1997, in any way alter the current

3.
situation?

Does the Commission agree, on the basis of the above, that Italy is also contravening Article 59 of the

4.
Treaty?

(1)  OJ L 165, 7.7.1993, p.1
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3206/97 by Freddy BLAK to the Commission. Rehabilitation aid for torture victims
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: BLAK, European Parliament
Subjects: administrative transparency, aid system, humanitarian aid, non-refundable aid, torture, war victim

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/163

(98/C 117/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3191/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Abuses of a dominant position by UEFA

Can the Commission confirm that it is studying carefully a complaint from the Football League that the decision
by UEFA to deny the winners of the Coca-Cola Cup entry into European cup competitions amounts to an (cid:145)abuse
of a dominant position(cid:146) under Articles 85 and 86?

Is the Commission aware that should UEFA be allowed to pursue this course of action the knock-on effect for
smaller football clubs could be disastrous, as sponsorship and television backing desert the competition?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 1997)

Yes, the Commission is investigating a complaint lodged by the football league against the Union of european
football  associations  (UEFA)  in  order  to  assess  the  compatibility  of  UEFA(cid:146)s  actions  with  the  Community
competition rules. The Commission has already informed the football league accordingly.

This assessment must be made in full knowledge of the facts, including those alleged in the second part of the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, in their correct economic context and taking into account the specific nature of
the sector concerned. The investigation of complaints must be undertaken under the established procedures ›
in this case Council Regulation (EEC) No 17/62 implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty (1).

(1)  OJ 13, 21.2.1962.

(98/C 117/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3206/97

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Rehabilitation aid for torture victims

1.  Can  the  Commission  confirm  that  there  have  been  delays  in  the  payment  of  rehabilitation  aid  for  torture
victims despite the fact that the European Parliament created a special budget line, B7-7070, in l997 making
ECU 6 million available for precisely that purpose?

2. How many of those eligible for such aid actually received it in 1997, and why have some of them not yet done
so?

3. Is the Commission aware that the average time for processing applications increased from 3 months in 1994 to
8 months in 1996 and could well be as much as 10 months this year?

4. What does the Commission intend to do to resolve these problems and how will it prevent any recurrence in
1998?

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

(17 November 1997)

1.
The Commission can confirm that, in order to provide, in line with the wishes of the Parliament, greater
transparency in the administration of its grants programmes, there have been delays in the payment of grants to
organisations working to rehabilitate torture victims.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3198/97 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Second company law Directive
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: EC Directive, EU Member State, European Commission, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, company law, national implementing measure

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/23

1.

2.

Have the assessment and selection of the schemes been completed, and

how many and which of the proposals submitted with Greek participation were approved?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1997)

The assessment and selection of the schemes proposed in response to the invitation to submit proposals

1.
referred to by the Honourable Member have not yet been completed.

The Commission is therefore not able at present to give the Honourable Member the information he has

2.
asked for concerning the Greek proposals.

(98/C 174/56)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3198/97

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Second company law Directive

Does the Commission think there is sufficient basis in Directive 77/91 (1) to take action against any government
for actions taken which  were in breach of  this Directive,  in the  period  between  the coming into force  of the
Directive and amendment of national legislation?

(1)  OJ L 26, 31.1.1977, p. 1

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1997)

The Commission can initiate infringement proceedings against a Member State for failure to fulfil any of its
obligations under Community law. This principle naturally applies in the case of the legislation mentioned by the
Honourable Member, namely Council Directive 77/91/EEC of 13 December 1976 on coordination of safeguards
which, for the protection of the interests of members and others, are required by Member States of companies
within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 58 of the Treaty, in respect of the formation of public
limited  liability  companies  and  the  maintenance  and  alteration  of  their  capital,  with  a  view  to  making  such
safeguards equivalent. The question of whether or not infringement proceedings should be initiated, and what
should  be  their  scope,  can  however  be  addressed  only  in  relation  to  a  specific  infringement  by  a  particular
Member State and in relation to that Member State(cid:146)s national legislation.

(98/C 174/57)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3212/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Airline timetabling

In  view  of  the  fact  that  airlines  publish  flight  times  that  only  on  the  rarest  of  occasions  are  met,  does  the
Commission consider it should take action to regulate these timetables?

Might it consider, in the interests of improved customer information, recommending that schedules must reflect
the average performance achieved duirng the previous twelve months?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3209/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Take-up rate of appropriations under the 'Delors II Package'
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Community support framework, European Commission, Greece, Structural Funds, application of EU law, exchange of information, operational programme, use of aid













EUR-Lex - 91997E3209 - EN






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91997E3209

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3209/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Take-up rate of appropriations under the 'Delors II Package'  


Official Journal C 187 , 16/06/1998 P. 0003 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3209/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (16 October 1997)Subject: Take-up rate of appropriations under the 'Delors II Package'A succession of reports in the Greek press have pointed out that projects which are planned or being carried out under the 'Delors II Package' are in danger of not being completed because of the low take-up rate of appropriations by Greece for those projects.Greece lies at then periphery of the Union and its infrastructure needs the support of these funds, even more urgently now that the country is to host the 2004 Olympic Games.Will the Commission say:- what appropriations were originally allocated to Greece by sector (e.g. education, health, infrastructure etc.) in absolute figures,- whether they were readjusted, and- what the exact amounts are per sector that have been taken up hitherto?Will the Commission also say whether it will use any money left over in 1999 towards the cost of ongoing or completed projects that have overshot their budget?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (4 December 1997)As part of the interim assessment of the 1994-99 Community support framework (CSF) for Greece, the Commission and the Greek authorities are evaluating the progress made in achieving the initial objectives of the CSF. It is already clear that some of the major projects will not be completed by the end of the current programming period, particularly the Athens-Thessaloniki railway line and the Rio-Antirrio bridge. However, the Commission is insisting that as many projects as possible be completed within the time limits laid down.The initial allocations are given in the CSF adopted on 13 July 1994, particularly on pages 32 (by sector) and 126-129 (by programme). This document is being transmitted directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament.In the mean time, adjustments have been made inside many of the operational programmes following the procedures laid down by the Structural Funds regulations and the CSF. The current situation regarding the take-up of appropriations by programme is shown in the table which is also being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.The interim assessment currently underway and the mechanisms for amending operational programmes under the CSF should to ensure that all the appropriations will be taken up before the end of the period, i.e. before 31 December 2001 for payments.