do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 78/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Driftnets
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: European Commission, Italy, application of EU law, fishing net, fishing regulations, professional association

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/29

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1998)

The  Commission  will  make  the  necessary  contacts  in  order  to  obtain  all  available  information  on  the  matter
described. It will not hesitate to initiate the procedure provided in Article 169 of the EC Treaty, should this prove
necessary.

(98/C 304/40)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Driftnets

Although  the  Italian  Government  has  promised  to  support  a  complete  ban  on  the  use  of  driftnets,  the  Italian
fisheries union La Pesca recently met with the European Commission seeking an exemption for driftnets of 8 km
and under.

What discussions did the Commission have with the Italian Government following that meeting? What steps has
the Commission taken to ensure that Italy fulfills its obligations to ban the use of driftnets?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1998)

The Commission did not meet Italian fishermen(cid:146)s associations recently on the subject of the length of driftnets
permitted for fishing. The Commission does not envisage any exemption to the current Community rules on
driftnet length.

The Commission is monitoring the progress of the Italian plan for the restructuring of the driftnet fleet. It is
hoped that the Italian fishermen and boat owners will strongly support the plan.

(98/C 304/41)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Incineration of domestic waste

When  will  the  Commission  be  publishing  the  draft  directive  on  dioxin  emissions  from  the  incineration  of
domestic waste?

Can the Commission give details of the main proposals which will be contained in the draft directive?

Will the Commission be making any proposals to encourage more environmentally sustainable forms of waste
management, especially recycling, reduction and reuse, over incineration and landfill?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

The Commission discussed with Member States experts a working paper on incineration of waste twice last year
and on 26 February 1998. The adoption of a proposal for a Council directive on waste incineration is foreseen for
autumn this year.
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 6/98 of 30 January 1998 amending Annex VII (Mutual recognition of professional qualifications) to the EEA Agreement
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: European Economic Area, agreement (EU), higher education, professional qualifications, recognition of diplomas, vocational training

L 272/8

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

8.10.98

DECISION  OF  THE  EEA  JOINT  COMMITTEE

No  6/98

of  30  January  1998

amending  Annex  VII  (Mutual  recognition  of  professional  qualifications)  to  the  EEA
Agreement

THE  EEA  JOINT  COMMITTEE,

Having  regard  to  the  Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Area,  as  adjusted  by  the  Protocol
adjusting  the  Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Area,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  ‘the
Agreement’,  and  in  particular  Article  98  thereof,

Whereas  Annex  VII  to  the  Agreement  was  amended  by  Decision  of  the  EEA  Joint  Committee
No  22/97 (1);

Whereas  Commission  Directive  97/38/EC  of  20  June  1997  amending  Annex  C  to  Council
Directive  92/51/EEC  on  a  second  general  system  for  the  recognition  of  professional  education
and  training  to  supplement  Council  Directive  89/48/EEC (2)  is  to  be  incorporated  into  the
Agreement,

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Article  1

The following indent shall be added in point 1a (Council Directive 92/51/EEC) in Annex VII to
the  Agreement:

‘— 397 L 0038:  Commission  Directive  97/38/EC  of  20  June  1997  (OJ  L  184,  12.7.1997,

p.  31).’

Article  2

At  the  end  of  adaptation  (c)  to  point  1a  (Council  Directive  92/51/EEC)  in  Annex  VII  to  the
Agreement,  the  words  ‘as  amended  by  Commission  Directive  97/38/EC’  shall  be  added.

Article  3

The  texts  of  Directive  97/38/EC  in  the  Icelandic  and  Norwegian  languages,  which  are  annexed
to  the  respective  language  versions  of  this  Decision,  are  authentic.

Article  4

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  1  February  1998,  provided  that  all  the  notifications
under  Article  103(1)  of  the  Agreement  have  been  made  to  the  EEA  Joint  Committee.

(1) OJ  L  242,  4.9.1997,  p.  69.
(2) OJ  L  184,  12.7.1997,  p.  31.

8.10.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

L 272/9

Article  5

This  Decision  shall  be  published  in  the  EEA  section  of,  and  in  the  EEA  supplement  to,  the
Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities.

Done  at  Brussels,  30  January  1998.

For  the  EEA  Joint  Committee

The  President

F.  BARBASO
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 132/98 by Kirsten JENSEN to the Commission. Plant health
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, JENSEN KIRSTEN
Subjects: European Commission, agricultural labour force, committee (EU), decision-making, plant health product, professional association, trade union, worker consultation

C 223/122

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

Community law does not prevent trade and industry from giving consumers more information than legislation
requires and thus to use information on chemical components for a better marketing of their products.

(1)  OJ L 32, 3.2.1997.
(2)  OJ 196, 16.8.1967.
(3)  OJ L 187, 27.7.1988.
(4)  OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.
(5)  OJ L 188, 22.7.1994.
(6)  OJ L 197, 3.8.1979.
(7)  OJ L 147, 6.6.1983.
(8)  OJ L 85, 5.4.1991.
(9)  OJ L 169, 27.6.1997.

(98/C 223/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0131/98

by Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Waste

Can  the  Commission  give  an  estimate  of  the  quantities  of  waste  and  methods  of  disposal  of  CD-Roms  and
computer diskettes in the Member States?

Will it include the disposal of CD-Roms and diskettes in the directive on electronic scrap?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1998)

The Commission does not have available any estimates as to the quantities of waste consisting of CD-Roms and
computer diskettes.

In view of the technical challenges linked to the recycling of compact discs, most are disposed of in landfills or
incinerated.

A  German  company  has  recently  developed  a  recycling  method  for  compact  discs  which  seems  to  be
environmentally acceptable and is already available on a commercial scale. The main obstacle to large scale
recycling operations in this field is the lack of sufficient supply of end-of-life CDs which are currently collected
only in small quantities.

A proposal for a directive on waste from electrical and electronic equipment is at present under preparation. At
this stage, it is not possible to say whether compact discs will be included in that proposal.

(98/C 223/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0132/98

by Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Plant health

With  reference  to  my  question  E-3585/97 (1)  I  repeat  that  I  should  like  to  know  which  organizations  are
represented on the Standing Committee on Plant Health.

(1)  OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 80/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Incineration of domestic waste
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: European Commission, air quality, domestic waste, environmental protection, proposal (EU), public health, toxic substance, waste incineration, waste management

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/29

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1998)

The  Commission  will  make  the  necessary  contacts  in  order  to  obtain  all  available  information  on  the  matter
described. It will not hesitate to initiate the procedure provided in Article 169 of the EC Treaty, should this prove
necessary.

(98/C 304/40)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Driftnets

Although  the  Italian  Government  has  promised  to  support  a  complete  ban  on  the  use  of  driftnets,  the  Italian
fisheries union La Pesca recently met with the European Commission seeking an exemption for driftnets of 8 km
and under.

What discussions did the Commission have with the Italian Government following that meeting? What steps has
the Commission taken to ensure that Italy fulfills its obligations to ban the use of driftnets?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1998)

The Commission did not meet Italian fishermen(cid:146)s associations recently on the subject of the length of driftnets
permitted for fishing. The Commission does not envisage any exemption to the current Community rules on
driftnet length.

The Commission is monitoring the progress of the Italian plan for the restructuring of the driftnet fleet. It is
hoped that the Italian fishermen and boat owners will strongly support the plan.

(98/C 304/41)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Incineration of domestic waste

When  will  the  Commission  be  publishing  the  draft  directive  on  dioxin  emissions  from  the  incineration  of
domestic waste?

Can the Commission give details of the main proposals which will be contained in the draft directive?

Will the Commission be making any proposals to encourage more environmentally sustainable forms of waste
management, especially recycling, reduction and reuse, over incineration and landfill?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

The Commission discussed with Member States experts a working paper on incineration of waste twice last year
and on 26 February 1998. The adoption of a proposal for a Council directive on waste incineration is foreseen for
autumn this year.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 258/98 of 30 January 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 94/98 on olive oil storage contracts for the 1997/98 marketing year
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: contract, intervention agency, intervention stock, olive oil, quantitative restriction, storage

L 25/38

‹

EN

‹

Official Journal of the European Communities

31. 1. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 258/98

of 30 January 1998

amending Regulation (EC) No 94/98 on olive oil storage contracts for the 1997/98
marketing year

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC of
22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common
in oils and fats (1), as last
organisation of
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1581/96 (2), and in par-
ticular Article 20d(3) and (4) thereof,

the market

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 94/98 (3) opens
the possibility of concluding olive oil storage contracts in
Italy and Greece; whereas it has been established that
market prices in Spain and Portugal, at the production
stage and primarily for the quality of olive oil which is of
greatest importance in terms of the prices of most of the
olive oils consumed in the Community, are close to the
intervention prices; whereas, as a result, the conditions
provided for in Regulation No 136/66/EEC and Commis-
sion Regulation (EEC) No 314/88 (4) are also met in those
Member States; whereas, as a result, the conclusion of
storage contracts for this marketing year should also be
permitted in Spain and Portugal;

Article 1

Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 94/98 is hereby
replaced by the following:

‘4.
The maximum quantity that may be covered by
contracts at any one time during the 1997/98 mar-
keting year shall be 180 000 tonnes, broken down as
follows:

— 76 000 tonnes in Spain,

— 70 000 tonnes in Italy,

— 30 000 tonnes in Greece,

— 4 000 tonnes in Portugal.’

Article 2

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are
in accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Oils and Fats,

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day
following its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.

Done at Brussels, 30 January 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 172, 30. 9. 1966, p. 3025/66.
(2) OJ L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 11.
(3) OJ L 9, 15. 1. 1998, p. 25.
(4) OJ L 31, 3. 2. 1988, p. 16.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 112/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Exemption of Greece from the ban on consumption of certain entrails
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, cattle, derogation from EU law, goatmeat, health risk, infectious disease, marketing restriction, offal, sheepmeat

C 223/116

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 1998)

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

(98/C 223/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0112/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Exemption of Greece from the ban on consumption of certain entrails

Commission Decision 97/534/EC (1), as amended by Decision 97/866/EC (2), prohibits from 1 April 1998 the use
of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

This  Decision  also  bans  the  consumption  in  Greece  of  certain  forms  of  entrails  from  sheep,  goats  and  cattle
despite the fact that Greece is free from transmissible forms of encephalopathies and not a single case of disease
has appeared in the country.

If the above ban also applies to Greece, it will affect traditional eating habits which are part of local and national
culture. Moreover, young local lambs and kids are used for some of these dishes and bonemeal is not used to feed
the ruminants that cause this terrible disease. Will the Commission, therefore, consider exempting Greece from
the above Decision under these stringent conditions?

(1)  OJ L 216, 8.8.1997, p. 95.
(2)  OJ L 351, 23.12.1997, p. 69.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 1998)

On  25  February  1998  the  Commission  approved  a  proposal  to  amend  Commission  Decision  97/534/EEC  of
30  July  1997.  The  philosophy  of  the  proposal  is  to  require,  pending  scientific  advice  on  the  transmissible
spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) status of each Member State, in Member States with native cases of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) removal of risk materiels appearing on a short list.

The  Commission  invited  the  Member  States  in  the  last  standing  veterinary  committee  to  submit  a  complete
dossier on their TSE status.

A copy of a press release is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

During the Agricultural Council which took place 16-17 March 1998 the Commission proposal has been rejected.
At the same time the Council invited the Commission to postpone the Decision 97/534/EC.

(98/C 223/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0116/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Testing on animals for cosmetics products

When  does  the  Commission  plan  to  issue  its  proposals  on  the  cosmetics  Directive  to  ban  testing  on  animals
where viable non-animal tests exists or finished product testing?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 84/98 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER to the Council. "Parliamentary" elections in Cuba
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, ROBLES PIQUER
Subjects: Council of the European Union, Cuba, common position, democracy, freedom of association, freedom of expression, human rights, parliamentary election













EUR-Lex - 91998E0084 - EN






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91998E0084

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 84/98 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER to the Council. "Parliamentary" elections in Cuba  


Official Journal C 223 , 17/07/1998 P. 0106 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0084/98 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Council (30 January 1998)Subject: 'Parliamentary' elections in CubaElections have just been held in Cuba to fill 601 seats in the National Assembly of People's Power. Fidel Castro has repeatedly challenged 'imperialists' to learn a lesson in democracy from the elections in Cuba.By sheer coincidence, the number of candidates also happened to be 601. The electorate have been called on to cast a 'united vote' which consists in voting en bloc for all the candidates listed on the ballot.Does the Council consider that these elections constituted a step forward towards democracy as called for in its Common Position on Cuba? Does it consider that the Member States, which, in view of the Common Position, may perhaps be included among the 'imperialists' referred to, have been taught a lesson in true democracy?Answer (27 April 1998)The Council judges political developments in Cuba by same criteria that it applies to the European Union's relations with other countries.The Council is certainly not of the opinion that the recent general election in Cuba was a step towards democracy.The necessary attributes of any free and fair elections were denied by the lack of democratic pluralism in Cuba, as noted in the Honourable Member's question and by the failure to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression and association.In accordance with the Union's common position on Cuba of 2 December 1996, the Council will continue to encourage, using the means at its disposal, a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.The Council hopes through this dialogue to remind the Cuban authorities of their responsibilities to the Cuban people and of their international commitments; it hopes also to convince them that only genuine progress towards democracy will ensure a peaceful transition that preserves Cuba's interests.The release of dozens of political prisoners was announced following the visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul II; the Council hopes this will be followed by other practical steps towards democracy and respect for human rights.
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 245/98 of 30 January 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1832/92 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of cereals products from the Community to the Canary Islands
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU production, aid system, cereals, supply

31. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 25/11

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 245/98

of 30 January 1998

amending Regulation (EEC) No 1832/92 setting the amounts of aid for the supply
of cereals products from the Community to the Canary Islands

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92
of 15 June 1992 introducing specific measures in respect
of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the
Canary Islands (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
2348/96 (2), and in particular Article 3 (4) thereof,

Whereas the amounts of aid for the supply of cereals
products to the Canary Islands has been settled by
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1832/92 (3), as last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 2587/97 (4); whereas, as
a consequence of the changes of the rates and prices for
cereals products in the European part of the Community
the aid for supply to the
and on the world market,

Canary Islands should be set at the amounts given in the
Annex;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are
in accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex of amended Regulation (EEC) No 1832/92 is
replaced by the Annex to the present Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 February
1998.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.

Done at Brussels, 30 January 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 173, 27. 6. 1992, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 320, 11. 12. 1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 185, 4. 7. 1992, p. 26.
(4) OJ L 350, 20. 12. 1997, p. 79.

L 25/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

31. 1. 98

ANNEX

to the Commission Regulation of 30 January 1998 amending Regulation (EEC)
No 1832/92 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of cereals products from the
Community to the Canary Islands

Product
(CN code)

(Ecu/tonne)

Amount of aid

Common wheat

Barley

Maize

Durum wheat

Oats

(1001 90 99)

(1003 00 90)

(1005 90 00)

(1001 10 00)

(1004 00 00)

19,00

26,00

28,00

8,00

32,00
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 79/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Baby walkers
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: BEUC, European standard, accident in the home, consumer movement, consumer protection, early childhood, product safety, safety standard













EUR-Lex - 91998E0079 - EN






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91998E0079

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 79/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Baby walkers  


Official Journal C 223 , 17/07/1998 P. 0104 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0079/98 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (30 January 1998)Subject: Baby walkersBefore Christmas the European umbrella group for consumer organizations, International Testing (IT), published the result of a study on baby walkers. The study was financed by DG XXIV of the European Commission.After testing 31 baby walkers, IT concluded that none of them would have met the draft EU safety standard. It found that none of the baby walkers addressed the increased speed and mobility which infants achieve when they use them and the potential accidents which results, particularly the risk of falling down stairs. Some of the baby walkers studied enabled children to achieve speeds twice the normal walking pace of adults.The European Consumers' Organization BEUC has argued that the draft EU safety standard does not take into account the increased mobility associated with baby walkers, even though this is the main cause of baby walker accidents.What plans does the Commission have to address this deficiency? Will the Commission revise the draft safety standards so that they take on board the concerns voiced by consumer groups, parents and many other EU citizens about baby walkers? In particular, will it take measures to require that manufacturers of baby walkers devise ways to limit the speed which infants can achieve if they use baby walkers?Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (17 March 1998)The Commission is not itself able to revise European standards as they are produced in co-operation between parties concerned in the framework of the European committee for standardisation (CEN).As the Commission is well aware of the different problems related to baby walkers, it has taken action in order to address potential deficiencies. After agreement by the Member States, the Commission issued a mandate to the European standardisation organisations for the drafting of a European standard to take into consideration all potential safety aspects. Another action taken is the financing of the study mentioned by the Honourable Member, which will improve the knowledge of different safety dangers and will provide important data for the standardisation work.To assure that the safety of consumers and other consumer interests are fully taken into account in the standardisation process, the Commission supports the functioning of ANEC, the European association dealing with co-ordination and representation of consumers into standardisation.The Commission will continue to follow this issue closely.