do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 185/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Disability benefits in EU Member States
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: EU Member State, disability insurance, health expenditure, national expenditure, public expenditure, social cost, social-security benefit

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/47

2.
The Commission sees to it that European directives are properly implemented by the Member States. With
regard to Directive 92/43/EEC, it has instituted infringement proceedings against Spain for failure to transmit the
Spanish lists within the deadline. Following the delivery of a reasoned opinion in November 1997, Spain did
transmit  a  list  of  sites.  The  Commission  is  currently  examining  the  documents  provided  by  the  Spanish
authorities to determine whether the proceedings need be pursued any further.

3.
At  special  biogeographical  meetings,  the  Commission  works  with  the  Member  States  and  independent
experts to evaluate the lists of sites proposed by the Member States for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network.
Given the large number of sites proposed (several thousand), it is impossible for each of them to be examined in
situ.

(1)  OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2)  OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(98/C 304/65)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0185/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disability benefits in EU Member States

Can the Commission please indicate, on a country-by-country basis, the amount of money spent by each Member
State on disability benefits?

(98/C 304/66)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0186/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disability benefits in EU Member States

Can the Commission please indicate, on a country-by-country basis, the amount of money spent by each Member
State on disability benefits as a proportion of total government spending?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0185/98 and E-0186/98
given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 1998)

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

(98/C 304/67)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0193/98

by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission

(28 January 1998)

Subject: Zoonoses

Council Directive 97/22/EC (1) amending Directive 92/117/EEC (2) concerning measures for protection against
specified  zoonoses  and  specified  zoonotic  agents  adds  Article  15a  to  the  latter  directive  stipulating  that  the
Commission must submit a report to the Council before 1 November 1997 on the measures to be implemented for
the control and prevention of zoonoses.

Can the Commission inform me of the report(cid:146)s conclusions?

Which are the Member States which, by 1 January 1998, had still not implemented the minimum measures laid
down for salmonella in Annex III, Section I (Article 10(1) of Directive 92/117/EEC and Article 1(4) of Directive
97/22/EC)?

How many cases of salmonella have been recorded each year in poultry breeding flocks in the different Member
States since 1992? How many cases have been recorded in humans during the same period?
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 298/98 of 5 February 1998 correcting Regulation (EC) No 2350/97 fixing Community producer and import prices for carnations and roses with a view to the application of the arrangements governing imports of certain floricultural products originating in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Cyprus, Middle East, Morocco, floriculture, import policy, producer price

6. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 31/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 298/98

of 5 February 1998

correcting Regulation (EC) No 2350/97 fixing Community producer and import
prices for carnations and roses with a view to the application of the arrange-
ments governing imports of certain floricultural products originating in Cyprus,
Israel, Jordan, Morocco and the West Bank and Gaza Strip

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4088/87
of 21 December 1987 fixing conditions for the applica-
tion of preferential customs duties on imports of certain
flowers originating in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Morocco
and the West Bank and Gaza Strip (1), as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1300/97 (2), and in particular Article
5(2)(a) thereof,

Whereas checks have shown that the figures given for
small-flowered roses in the Annex to Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 2350/97 (3) are incorrect; whereas that
Annex must therefore be corrected,

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2350/97 is replaced by
the Annex hereto.

Article 2

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

It shall apply from 19 November to 2 December 1997.

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

Done at Brussels, 5 February 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 382, 31. 12. 1987, p. 22.
(2) OJ L 177, 5. 7. 1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 326, 28. 11. 1997, p. 17.

L 31/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

6. 2. 98

ANNEX

‘ANNEX

Period: 19 November to 2 December 1997

(ECU/100 pieces)

Community producer
prices

Uniflorous
(bloom)
carnations

Multiflorous
(spray)
carnations

Large-flowered
roses

Small-flowered
roses

13,91

11,27

36,84

14,62

Community import
prices

Uniflorous
(bloom)
carnations

Multiflorous
(spray)
carnations

Large-flowered
roses

Small-flowered
roses

Israel

Morocco

Cyprus

Jordan

West Bank and
Gaza Strip

10,70

12,68

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

8,29

13,65

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

11,77

10,21

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)

(cid:190)’
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 178/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Disposal of sewage and waste water
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: United Kingdom, marine pollution, pollution control measures, urban area, vessel, waste management, wastewater, water pollution, water treatment

C 223/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

(98/C 223/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0177/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disposal of sewage and waste water

Is there any EU legislation, existing or proposed, which seeks to prevent the discharge of untreated waste into the
sea when the capacity of the treatment facilities is not able to cope after heavy rain and flood waters?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1998)

Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 on the treatment of urban waste water (1) provides that the design,
construction, operation and maintenance of waste-water collection and treatment systems shall be such that they,
in particular, restrict any pollution of the recipient waters caused by installation overload due to rainstorms.

(1)  OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.

(98/C 223/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0178/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disposal of sewage and waste water

Is the Commission aware that several barges a day still take sewage from London down the River Thames and
discharge it into the Thames estuary within a relatively short distance of the Thanet coast? What legislation exists
or is planned to prevent such wholesale disregard of the marine and coastal environment?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1998)

The UK authorities have informed the Commission that discharges to surface waters from boats were not of
urban  sewage  but  of  sludge  from  sewage  treatment  plants.  Article  14  of  Council  Directive  91/271/EEC  of
21  May  1991  concerning  urban  waste  water  treatment (1)  calls  on  the  Member  States  to  ensure  that  by
31 December 1998 the disposal of sludge to surface waters by dumping from ships, by discharge from pipelines
or by other means is phased out.

(1)  OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.

(98/C 223/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0180/98

by Jesu·s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: International anti-drugs centre, Panama

The US and Panamanian Governments have reached an agreement in principle whereby, for a period of twelve
years starting on 31 December 1999, the two countries will jointly operate an international anti-drugs centre.
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 307/98 of 5 February 1998 fixing the maximum reduction in the duty on maize imported in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2505/97
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: CCT duties, Spain, award of contract, import, maize, tariff reduction

L 31/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

6. 2. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 307/98

of 5 February 1998

fixing the maximum reduction in the duty on maize imported in connection
with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2505/97

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the
market in cereals (1), as last amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 923/96 (2), and in particular Article
12(1) thereof,

Whereas an invitation to tender for the maximum reduc-
tion in the duty on maize imported into Spain was
opened pursuant
to Commission Regulation (EC) No
2505/97 (3);

acting under

the Commission,

Whereas, pursuant to Article 5 of Commission Regula-
tion (EC) No 1839/95 (4), as amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1963/95 (5),
the
procedure laid down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC)
No 1766/92, may decide to fix a maximum reduction in
the import duty; whereas in fixing this maximum the
criteria provided for in Article 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC)
No 1839/95 must be taken into account; whereas a
contract is awarded to any tenderer whose tender is equal
to or less than the maximum reduction in the duty;

Whereas the application of the abovementioned criteria
to the current market situation for the cereal in question
results in the maximum reduction in the import duty
being fixed at the amount specified in Article 1;

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 30 January to 5 February 1998,
pursuant to the invitation to tender issued in Regulation
(EC) No 2505/97, the maximum reduction in the duty on
maize imported shall be ECU 61,50 per tonne and be
valid for a total maximum quantity of 34 500 tonnes.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 February
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 5 February 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 126, 24. 5. 1996, p. 37.
(3) OJ L 345, 16. 12. 1997, p. 27.
(4) OJ L 177, 28. 7. 1995, p. 4.
(5) OJ L 189, 10. 8. 1995, p. 22.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 253/98 by Karla PEIJS to the Commission. Obligation to accept two currencies for the same transaction
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, PEIJS
Subjects: European Monetary System, banking system, commercial bank, euro, exchange transaction, national currency, paper money, payment, retail trade

C 304/62

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/86)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0252/98

by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Agriculture

Can the Commission confirm if it has conducted its review on the quarantine situation in the Member States, as
required under Article 10 of Directive 92/65/EEC (1), and if it will publish its results?

(1)  OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p.54.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1998)

The rabies quarantine situation was reviewed and updated by the scientific veterinary committee and a report was
issued in September 1997. A copy is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

It was concluded in this report that an alternative system to quarantine for rabies, for dogs and cats, was a viable
option  which  offered  an  equivalent  guarantee  of  safety.  In  brief,  the  alternative  suggested  system  involves
vaccination, microchips and blood testing. The Commission will make suitable proposals at an appropriate time.

(98/C 304/87)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0253/98

by Karla Peijs (PPE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Obligation to accept two currencies for the same transaction

Is there a statutory obligation for businesses to accept two different currencies (the old national currency
1.
and the euro) for the same transaction in the period between 1 January and 1 July 2002? If so, in what legislative
act is this obligation laid down?

2. Would it not be more acceptable to drop this obligation to accept two different currencies if there were a
large number of exchange points for the old national currency in commercial banks, for example?

3. Will the Commission make any recommendations on this matter?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1998)

The  obligation  for  businesses  to  accept  a  payment  is  a  question  about  legal  tender,  which  is  a  privilege  of
banknotes and, with some restrictions, of coins. Today in all Member States no one can be forced to accept a
payment by cheque or electronic means, even in the national currency. This will remain the case with the euro.

Euro notes and coins will be introduced in all participating Member States on 1 January 2002. According to
article 10 and 11 of the draft regulation on the introduction of the euro (1), these euro notes and coins will be legal
tender in all participating Member States and therefore must in principle be accepted by retailers for payment.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 186/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Disability benefits in EU Member States
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: EU Member State, disability insurance, health expenditure, national expenditure, public expenditure, social cost, social-security benefit

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/47

2.
The Commission sees to it that European directives are properly implemented by the Member States. With
regard to Directive 92/43/EEC, it has instituted infringement proceedings against Spain for failure to transmit the
Spanish lists within the deadline. Following the delivery of a reasoned opinion in November 1997, Spain did
transmit  a  list  of  sites.  The  Commission  is  currently  examining  the  documents  provided  by  the  Spanish
authorities to determine whether the proceedings need be pursued any further.

3.
At  special  biogeographical  meetings,  the  Commission  works  with  the  Member  States  and  independent
experts to evaluate the lists of sites proposed by the Member States for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network.
Given the large number of sites proposed (several thousand), it is impossible for each of them to be examined in
situ.

(1)  OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2)  OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(98/C 304/65)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0185/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disability benefits in EU Member States

Can the Commission please indicate, on a country-by-country basis, the amount of money spent by each Member
State on disability benefits?

(98/C 304/66)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0186/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Disability benefits in EU Member States

Can the Commission please indicate, on a country-by-country basis, the amount of money spent by each Member
State on disability benefits as a proportion of total government spending?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0185/98 and E-0186/98
given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 1998)

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

(98/C 304/67)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0193/98

by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission

(28 January 1998)

Subject: Zoonoses

Council Directive 97/22/EC (1) amending Directive 92/117/EEC (2) concerning measures for protection against
specified  zoonoses  and  specified  zoonotic  agents  adds  Article  15a  to  the  latter  directive  stipulating  that  the
Commission must submit a report to the Council before 1 November 1997 on the measures to be implemented for
the control and prevention of zoonoses.

Can the Commission inform me of the report(cid:146)s conclusions?

Which are the Member States which, by 1 January 1998, had still not implemented the minimum measures laid
down for salmonella in Annex III, Section I (Article 10(1) of Directive 92/117/EEC and Article 1(4) of Directive
97/22/EC)?

How many cases of salmonella have been recorded each year in poultry breeding flocks in the different Member
States since 1992? How many cases have been recorded in humans during the same period?
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 302/98 of 5 February 1998 fixing the maximum export refund on common wheat in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 1883/97
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, common wheat, export refund

6. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 31/9

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 302/98

of 5 February 1998

fixing the maximum export refund on common wheat in connection with the
invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 1883/97

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
of 30 June 1992 on the common organization of the
market in cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 923/96 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1501/
95 of 29 June 1995 laying down certain detailed rules for
the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
on the granting of export refunds on cereals and the
measures to be taken in the event of disturbance on the
market for cereals (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 2052/97 (4), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas an invitation to tender for the refund and/or the
tax for the export of common wheat to Ceuta, Melilla and
certain ACP States was opened pursuant to Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1883/97 (5), as amended by Regula-
tion (EC) No 2545/97 (6);

Whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95
provides that the Commission may, on the basis of the
tenders notified, in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92,
decide to fix a maximum export refund taking account of
the criteria referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No

1501/95; whereas in that case a contract is awarded to any
than the
tenderer whose bid is equal
maximum refund, as well as to any tenderer whose bid
relates to an export tax;

to or

lower

Whereas the application of the abovementioned criteria
to the current market situation for the cereal in question
results in the maximum export refund being fixed at the
amount specified in Article 1;

Whereas the Management Committee for Cereals has not
delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its
chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 30 January to 5 February 1998,
pursuant to the invitation to tender issued in Regulation
(EC) No 1883/97, the maximum refund on exportation of
common wheat shall be ECU 21,00 per tonne.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 February
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 5 February 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 126, 24. 5. 1996, p. 37.
(3) OJ L 147, 30. 6. 1995, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 287, 21. 10. 1997, p. 14.
(5) OJ L 265, 27. 9. 1997, p. 69.
(6) OJ L 347, 18. 12. 1997, p. 33.
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 301/98 of 5 February 1998 fixing the maximum export refund on common wheat in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 1339/97
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, common wheat, export refund

L 31/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

6. 2. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 301/98

of 5 February 1998

fixing the maximum export refund on common wheat in connection with the
invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 1339/97

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the
market in cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 923/96 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1501/
95 of 29 June 1995 laying down certain detailed rules for
the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
on the granting of export refunds on cereals and the
measures to be taken in the event of disturbance on the
market for cereals (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 2052/97 (4), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas an invitation to tender for the refund and/or the
tax for the export of common wheat to all third countries
except Ceuta, Melilla and certain ACP States was opened
pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1339/97 (5),
as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1884/97 (6);

Whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95
provides that the Commission may, on the basis of the
tenders notified, in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92,
decide to fix a maximum export refund taking account of
the criteria referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No

1501/95; whereas in that case a contract is awarded to any
than the
tenderer whose bid is equal
maximum refund, as well as to any tenderer whose bid
relates to an export tax;

to or

lower

Whereas the application of the abovementioned criteria
to the current market situation for the cereal in question
results in the maximum export refund being fixed at the
amount specified in Article 1;

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 30 January to 5 February 1998,
pursuant to the invitation to tender issued in amended
Regulation (EC) No 1339/97, the maximum refund on
exportation of common wheat shall be ECU 15,20 per
tonne.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 February
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 5 February 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 126, 24. 5. 1996, p. 37.
(3) OJ L 147, 30. 6. 1995, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 287, 21. 10. 1997, p. 14.
(5) OJ L 184, 12. 7. 1997, p. 7.
(6) OJ L 265, 27. 9. 1997, p. 73.