do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 294/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Regulation 3254/91 on imports of fur from leghold traps
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: Argentina, fur-bearing animal, hides and furskins industry, hunting regulations, import restriction, international sanctions, protected species, protection of animal life, protection of animals

C 223/160

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

The specific design of Interreg for the new programming period has not been decided but it will leave sufficient
flexibility to meet the needs of the border regions, as the Member States may propose the regions to be covered
and the projects to be supported. Given the proposed reduction in the number of Community initiatives, it will
also have a very significant financial envelope.

(98/C 223/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0294/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Regulation 3254/91 on imports of fur from leghold traps

Can  the  Commission  confirm  that  a  prohibition  on  the  import  of  furst  has  been  placed  on  countries  not
complying  with  the  terms  of  Regulation  3254/91 (1)  as  from  1  December  1997,  and  can  it  supply  a  list  of
countries which export furs to the EU and would be affected by this prohibition?

(1)  OJ L 308, 9.11.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 1998)

The  Commission  can  confirm  that  Council  Decision  97/602/EC  of  22  July  1997 (1)  concerning  the  list  of
countries authorised to export pelts and derived products pursuant to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 3254/91 was published in the Official Journal.

Consequently,  restrictions  on  the  importation  of  such  goods  entered  into  force  on  1  December  1997  in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  35/97  of  10  January  1997  laying  down
provisions on the certification of pelts and goods covered by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 (2).

The information currently available to the Commission suggests Argentina to be the non-member country worst
hit by the embargo. In 1995, Argentina exported ECU 51 000 worth of beaver skins to the Community.

(1)  OJ L 242, 4.9.1997.
(2)  OJ L 8, 11.1.1997.

(98/C 223/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0296/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Anti-Israeli declarations made by European firms

1.
Is  the  Commission  aware  of  the  view  expressed  by  the  Dutch  multinational,  Philips  NV,  that,  when  it
supplies  goods  to  companies  requesting  a  declaration  that  the  goods  to  be  supplied  by  Philips  NV  neither
originate in Israel nor include any material originating in Israel, it is proper for such an undertaking to be given?

2.
Does not the Commission feel that multinational undertakings operating within European Union Member
States must be required to comply with the agreements with the Arab countries laid down in the Oslo Accords on
the lifting of the boycott against Israel?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 320/98 by Phillip WHITEHEAD to the Commission. Bulgaria
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, WHITEHEAD
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU programme, financial aid, humanitarian aid, orphan, welfare

22.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 402/9

(98/C 402/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0318/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) and Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Commission aid for newspapers in the Cyclades

(17 February 1998)

Representatives of the Association of Cyclades Island Press Owners in Greece say that in 1997 the Commission
had approved a sum of Drs. 90 million as aid for Cyclades island newspapers.

Will the Commission say:

1.

2.

3.

Is this information correct?

If so, has the money been allocated to those entitled to it?

If not, is there any possibility of financial aid of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 1998)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Members, after checking with its Office in Athens and looking at
the central accounts at headquarters, that it did not grant a subsidy to the Cyclades island newspapers as part of its
information policy.

Under this policy there is no provision for direct or indirect aid for the European press.

Relations with the press are confined to:

› purchase of space for articles on Union policies, commonly off-prints;

› training journalists in European issues by organising visits and in-service training courses. In-service training
courses are financed by framework contracts with the Maastricht Journalism Centre or the European
Journalists(cid:146) association.

(98/C 402/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/98

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Bulgaria

What action is the Commission taking to raise concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis in Bulgaria during
the on-going negotiations with the country?

With reference to the Bulgarian orphanages and the short-term aid being provided, what is the Commission doing
to assist with action necessary in the longer term?

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

(13 March 1998)

The Community principally through the Phare programme and European Community humanitarian office
(ECHO), has continued to provide substantial social and humanitarian assistance to Bulgaria during 1997-1998.

During the course of 1997, the Commission and Bulgarian authorities agreed two packages of 20 MECU each
(ESAP1 and ESAP2) for the channeling of direct financial assistance to particularly poor households and to
selected socio-educational institutions managed by the ministries of labour, education and health including a
significant number of orphanages and specialist institutions for children. ESAP2, which is still in operation, also
comprises a significant job-creation project via urban renovation projects in five selected municipalities.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 501/98 by Elly PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL to the Council. Monitoring of European telephone, fax and e- mail traffic by the US
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL
Subjects: GATT, communications industry, electronic mail, facsimile, information technology, means of communication, report, secret service, telecommunications, telephone

C 196/126

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 6. 98

Although  there  is  no  EU  arms  embargo  as  such  against  Burundi,  Member  States  act  in  accordance  with  the
Common Criteria defined in the conclusions of the European Councils of 29 June 1991 and 26-27 June 1992, on
the  basis  of  which  the  Amsterdam  European  Council  (16-17  June  1997)  called  for  renewed  and  sustained
attention in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) to developing a responsible and
coherent arms export policy throughout the Union. In the case of Burundi the competent national authorities do
not grant licences for arms exports. If arms do reach Burundi from or via a Member State, the case is investigated
by the relevant national authorities.

The Council will continue to follow the situation in Burundi and the Great Lakes Region closely, including the
issue of arms transfers.

(98/C 196/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0501/98

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

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Monitoring of European telephone, fax and e-mail traffic by the US

Is the Council aware of the substance of the report commissioned by the European Parliament entitled: (cid:145)An

1.
Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control(cid:146)?

Is it true that the United States systematically monitor telephone, fax, e-mail and telex traffic in the Member

2.
States of the European Union?

3.
Is it true that the United Kingdom serves as a relay station for this activity? If so, does this occur with the
knowledge and agreement of the other Member States of the European Union? Might the President of the Council
be able to throw some light on the matter?

4.
Did large-scale monitoring of communications channels take place during the GATT and WTO negotiating
rounds and during the conclusion of the Basic Telecoms Agreement?  If so, to what extent has this had an adverse
effect  on  the  European  Union(cid:146)s  position,  and  to  what  extent  has  this  damaged  the  commercial  interests  of
European businesses?

Answer

(30 April 1998)

The report referred to in point 1 has not been officially transmitted to the Council. The Council is not aware of the
matters mentioned by the Honourable Member in points 2, 3 and 4.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 349/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Environmental taxes
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU environmental policy, economic instrument for the environment, environmental tax, fiscal policy, single market, tax relief













EUR-Lex - 91998E0349 - EN






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91998E0349

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 349/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Environmental taxes  


Official Journal C 386 , 11/12/1998 P. 0011 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0349/98by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission(17 February 1998)Subject: Environmental taxesThe Commission has issued a communication entitled "Environmental Taxes and Charges in the Single Market" (COM(97) 0009).Will environmental taxes be set at such a level that they will not increase the total tax burden in any Member State? Will the possible effects on the competitiveness of the Community economy and its job-creating capacity be taken into account?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(8 April 1998)The objective of the communication is mainly to clarify the Community legal framework for the use of environmental taxes or charges by Member States within the framework of the single market. The communication therefore does not contain any proposal for new environmental taxes at either Community or Member State level.Member States are free to use any type of environmental taxes or charges, and set whichever rates, provided they respect the Community legal framework. The Member States normally take competitiveness aspects into account when implementing new environmental taxes or charges.If the Member States so wish, they can use the revenues from environmental taxes to reduce other taxes, such as taxes on labour. Such an approach, so called green tax reform, has been recommended by the Commission in other documents such as the white paper on growth, competitiveness and employment(1) and the proposal for the taxation of energy products(2).(1) COM(93) 700 final.(2) OJ C 139, 6.4.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 281/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Detentions under the Port State Control Directive (95/21/ EC)
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: harbour installation, international standard, maritime transport, prevention of pollution, transport safety, transport statistics, vessel, working conditions

C 310/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

fixed and mobile networks and of the consumer prices for the corresponding calls. The replies were to be sent to
the Commission by the end of February, so that an initial analysis might be available at the end of April.

(1)  Council Directive 90/387/EEC on the establishment of the internal market for telecommunications services through the implementation of
open  network  provision  (OJ  L  192,  24.7.1990),  as  amended  by  European  Parliament  and  Council  Directive  97/51/EC  (OJ  L  295,
29.10.1997).
(2)  OJ L 73, 12.3.1998.
(3)  COM (98) 80 final.

(98/C 310/56)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0281/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Detentions under the Port State Control Directive (95/21/EC)

How  many  vessels,  broken  down  by  category,  have  been  detained  under  the  Port  State  Control  Directive
(95/21/EC) (1) in each Member State?

(1)  OJ L 157, 7.7.1995, p. 1.

(98/C 310/57)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0282/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Compliance with the Port State Control Directive (95/21/EC)

How many qualified inspectors are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Port State Control Directive
(95/21/EC) (1) in each Member State?

(1)  OJ L 157, 7.7.1995, p. 1.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0281/98 and E-0282/98
given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 1998)

The number of detentions per Member State since the implementation date of Council Directive 95/21/EC of
19 June  1995  concerning  the  enforcement,  in  respect  of  shipping  using  Community  ports  and  sailing  in  the
waters  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Member  States,  of  international  standards  for  ship  safety,  pollution
prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control) (1 July 1996 to 31 December 1997)
is as follows:

Member States

Total

Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom

514
792
2080
1101
2707
1884
59
2063
3050
627
823
1030
2631
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 295/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Imports of cattle from Australia
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: Australia, cattle, disclosure of information, import (EU), live animal, livestock

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/47

The available statistics from the secretariat of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control
cover all of 1996 and 1997 and include some non-Community members, however from the information available,
the summary of detentions per ship type is indicated as a percentage, as follows:

Ship Type

Detention 1996
%

Detention 1997
%

General dry cargo
Bulk carriers
Tankers / comb. carriers
Gas carriers
Chemical tankers
Passenger ships / ferries
Refrigerated cargo
Roll-on/roll-off / container / vehicle
Other types

Total

24.84
17.45
11.84
2.22
13.17
9.57
13.45
6.56
12.69

16.76

23.59
15.73
9.23
1.67
10.98
9.23
13.41
6.56
8.90

15.07

In accordance with Article 17 of Directive 95/21/EC, Member States have supplied the following information on
the number of Port State Control inspectors (full-time equivalent) working on their behalf immediately after the
entry into force of the Directive:

Member States

No of
inspectors

Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom

1.75
6
10
43
28
12
0.55
85
7
5
3
3
12.2

Updated information is due by 1 October 1998.

(98/C 310/58)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0295/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Imports of cattle from Australia

Can the Commission confirm whether there are any shipments of live cattle from Australia to the EU and if so,
give an indication of the numbers of animals involved and their Member State destination?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1998)

So far there have been no shipments at all of live bovine animals from Australia to the Community.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 285/98 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Commission. Transport of racing pigeons
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, KINNOCK
Subjects: bird, domestic animal, poultry farming, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/69

(98/C 304/97)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0283/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Compliance with the ISM Code (Regulation 3051/95)

How many qualified inspectors are responsible for ensuring compliance with ISM Code Regulation 3051/95 (1)
in each Member State?

(1)  OJ L 320, 30.12.1995, p. 14.

(98/C 304/98)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: ISM Code (Council Regulation 3051/95)

Is the ISM Code (Regulation No 3051/95) (1) being fully implemented and enforced in all Member States?

If not, why not, and will the Commission please list all complaints received and other cases of non-compliance
under investigation?

(1)  OJ L 320, 30.12.1995, p. 14.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0283/98 and E-0284/98
given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1998)

Since Council Regulation No (EC) 3051/95 of 8 December 1995 on the safety management of roll-on/roll-off
passenger ferries does not provide for Member States to supply to the Commission information about the number
of inspectors responsible for ensuring compliance with the Regulation in each Member State, the Commission is
not in a position to provide a detailed reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

The  Commission  does  have  information  relating  to  the  documents  of  compliance  and  the  safety  certificates
issued  for  companies  and  ferries  operating  regular  ro-ro  passenger  transport  services  to  or  from  ports  of  the
Member States as at 1 July 1997. On the basis of that information it appears that Council Regulation No (EC)
3051/95  is  being  implemented  and  enforced  by  the  Member  States.  That  assessment  is  substantiated  by  the
outcome of the bilateral (on-location) consultations being carried out by the Commission with the Member State
administrations.  These  consultations  have  not  yet  been  completed  and  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the
monitoring of the implementation and enforcement of the Regulation is an ongoing process, which includes,
according to Article 8 of the Regulation, a review by the Commission of the implementation of the Regulation
and the proposal of appropriate measures by the year 1999.

(98/C 304/99)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0285/98

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Transport of racing pigeons

Could the Commission state which legal restrictions, if any, appply to the transport of pigeons to race points in
the Member States? Do the restrictions apply on both weekends and weekdays?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 414/98 by John CUSHNAHAN to the Council. Beef blockade
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: CUSHNAHAN, European Parliament
Subjects: Council of the European Union, United Kingdom, beef, free movement of goods, oral question, parliamentary session

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/97

The  Commission  would  inform  the  Honourable  Member  that  no  application  for  financial  support  has  been
received from the (cid:145)Europe Cities Against Drugs(cid:146) network.

The  Commission  does  not  consider  that  the  projects  currently  receiving  support  are  contrary  to  the  United
Nations conventions. It wishes to point out that legislation on drug use is exclusively the responsibility of the
Member States.

(1)  COM(94)234 final.
(2)  OJ L 19, 22.1.1997.

(98/C 304/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0414/98

by John Cushnahan (PPE) to the Council

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Beef blockade

Further to my previous Question (H-1020/97) (1) and the subsequent Council response I would formally request
the Council in the interest of transparency to actually answer the question that I tabled which was: (cid:145)on what date
was this request made?(cid:146)

(1)  Debates of the European Parliament (January 1998).

Answer

(8 June 1998)

At the meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture on 8 and 9 December 1997, Ireland had asked if it could
take up at ministerial level the issue of trade being obstructed in English ports. As already indicated in the oral
reply to which the Honourable Member refers, this issue was accordingly examined by the Council at its meeting
on 15 and 16 December 1997. The Commission acknowledged at that meeting that the United Kingdom was
taking the necessary measures so that products could move freely without hinderance.

(98/C 304/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0416/98

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Council

(25 February 1998)

Subject: SAFE Directive

Does the Presidency plan to have the SAFE Directive, which has been shelved for so long, adopted while it is in
office?

Answer

(18 May 1998)

In  1995  the  Commission  sent  the  Council  a  proposal  for  a  Decision  adopting  a  Community  programme  to
improve safety, hygiene and health at work (SAFE programme). The proposal was amended in March 1997 and
work continued throughout the year in the Council(cid:146)s subsidiary bodies, but it became clear that at this stage there
was no prospect of reaching the unanimity required to adopt the Decision (the legal basis for which is Article 235
of the TEC).

In the absence of any new factors, the United Kingdom Presidency has no plans to place the matter on the agenda
for the Council (Labour and Social Affairs) during its term of office.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 296/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Commission. Anti-Israeli declarations made by European firms
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Arab League, agreement (EU), international sanctions, multinational enterprise, originating product, settlement of disputes, summit meeting

C 223/160

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

The specific design of Interreg for the new programming period has not been decided but it will leave sufficient
flexibility to meet the needs of the border regions, as the Member States may propose the regions to be covered
and the projects to be supported. Given the proposed reduction in the number of Community initiatives, it will
also have a very significant financial envelope.

(98/C 223/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0294/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Regulation 3254/91 on imports of fur from leghold traps

Can  the  Commission  confirm  that  a  prohibition  on  the  import  of  furst  has  been  placed  on  countries  not
complying  with  the  terms  of  Regulation  3254/91 (1)  as  from  1  December  1997,  and  can  it  supply  a  list  of
countries which export furs to the EU and would be affected by this prohibition?

(1)  OJ L 308, 9.11.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 1998)

The  Commission  can  confirm  that  Council  Decision  97/602/EC  of  22  July  1997 (1)  concerning  the  list  of
countries authorised to export pelts and derived products pursuant to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 3254/91 was published in the Official Journal.

Consequently,  restrictions  on  the  importation  of  such  goods  entered  into  force  on  1  December  1997  in
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  35/97  of  10  January  1997  laying  down
provisions on the certification of pelts and goods covered by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 (2).

The information currently available to the Commission suggests Argentina to be the non-member country worst
hit by the embargo. In 1995, Argentina exported ECU 51 000 worth of beaver skins to the Community.

(1)  OJ L 242, 4.9.1997.
(2)  OJ L 8, 11.1.1997.

(98/C 223/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0296/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Anti-Israeli declarations made by European firms

1.
Is  the  Commission  aware  of  the  view  expressed  by  the  Dutch  multinational,  Philips  NV,  that,  when  it
supplies  goods  to  companies  requesting  a  declaration  that  the  goods  to  be  supplied  by  Philips  NV  neither
originate in Israel nor include any material originating in Israel, it is proper for such an undertaking to be given?

2.
Does not the Commission feel that multinational undertakings operating within European Union Member
States must be required to comply with the agreements with the Arab countries laid down in the Oslo Accords on
the lifting of the boycott against Israel?