do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 325/98 by Per GAHRTON to the Commission. Rules on organic farming
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, GAHRTON
Subjects: United States, biological standard, cultivation techniques, eco-label, foodstuffs legislation, health control, import (EU), organic farming

C 310/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

Can the Commission provide me with a list of the Spanish MEPs who attended the meetings held in Spain with
EU funds provided under the Prince Programme?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1998)

The Commission is sending the list of main events organised as part of the Information Programme for European
Citizens (Prince) direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

However, it should point out that in some cases it has not been possible to state which Member(s) took part in
these events as requests for Members to attend had, in some cases, to go through the secretariats of the political
groups,  in  accordance  with  the  cooperation  procedure  in  force  between  the  Commission  Representation  and
Parliament(cid:146)s Office in Spain.

(98/C 310/62)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0325/98

by Per Gahrton (V) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Rules on organic farming

The USA is planning to introduce new rules for organic farming which allow irradiation, genetic engineering,
factory farming methods etc. which are not normally allowed in Europe in organic production.

What  does  the  Commission  intend  to  do  to  avoid  problems  in  the  WTO  for  those  Member  States,  including
Sweden, which wish to maintain stringent standards for the classification of products as organic?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 april 1998)

The  Commission  will  submit,  under  the  arrangements  provided  under  the  World  trade  organisation  (WTO)
agreement on technical barriers to trade, comments to the United States on their proposed regulation for organic
farming.

The  Community  has  well  developed  rules  for  the  production  and  labelling  of  organic  products.  Council
Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on
agricultural products and foodstuffs (1), provides in Article 11 for a regime of equivalence for products imported
from third countries. This regime is managed either by the Commission (Article 11.1) or, as is currently the case
for products from the United States, by the Member States (Article 11.6). The Community requirements provide
that  before  organic  products  are  imported  into  the  Community  from  a  third  country,  it  should  be  adequately
demonstrated  that  the  products  were  produced  in  accordance  with  production  standards  and  inspection
arrangements  equivalent  to  those  applied  to  Community  production.  Similarly,  the  draft  United  States
regulations  on  organic  farming  include  provision  for  equivalence  with  regard  to  imports  of  organic  products
from other countries into the United States.

(1)  OJ L 198, 22.7.1991.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 299/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Separate EU Ambassador for Asia
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Asia, EU aid, EU relations, diplomatic profession, economic cooperation, economic recession, summit meeting

C 196/124

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 6. 98

The  Council  certainly  shares  the  view  that  the  European  Union(cid:146)s  action  aimed  at  promoting  democracy  and
respect  for  human  rights  in  the  framework  of  the  Community  and  its  Members  States(cid:146)  cooperation  policies
should be guided by objective and equitable criteria and should be implemented in a coherent and consistent
manner.

(98/C 196/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0299/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Separate EU Ambassador for Asia

Can  the  Council  President  indicate  why,  to  date,  nothing  has  been  done  to  appoint  a  separate  EU

1.
Ambassador for Asia?

2.
On the eve of the Europe-Asia Summit in London, is the Council President aware that the appointment of a
separate EU Ambassador for Asia would, in a symbolic manner, emphasize EU unity in the light of the crisis in
Asia and that it might help towards curbing the adverse effects of the current crisis on the economic situation and
on employment, not only in Asia but also in the European Union?

Answer

(30 April 1998)

The  General  Affairs  Council  on  23  February  1998  discussed  the  European  Union(cid:146)s  response  to  the  financial
crisis in Asia. The Presidency agreed to consider appointing a Special Representative, who could visit the region
to underline Europe(cid:146)s support for those affected by the Asian financial crisis.

In the light of that discussion, the Presidency has decided to appoint Mr Derek Fatchett, Foreign Office Minister
responsible  for  Asia,  as  its  Special  Representative.  Mr  Fatchett  visited  Thailand,  Malaysia,  Indonesia  and
Singapore from 3-7 March accompanied by Mr Cloos, representative of the European Commission.

The visit was a clear signal of the importance which the European Union attaches to helping tackle the crisis
affecting Asia. It was designed to dispel any impression that Europe is less engaged than eg. the US in responding
to the difficulties facing many of our Asian partners. It also provided an opportunity to make clear the EU(cid:146)s
desire to discuss the Asian financial crisis at the 2nd Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 2) in April 1998.

(98/C 196/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0310/98

by Magda Aelvoet (V) to the Council

(9 February 1998)

Subject: Security in Great Lakes Region of Africa

Does the Council intend to support international efforts for the reactivation of the United Nations International
Commission (Rwanda) and the extension of its mandate to investigate arms flows to the Great Lakes region, as
called for by the European Parliament? Does the Council support international calls for the deployment of United
Nations  or  Organization  of  African  Unity  observers  to  key  airstrips  and  crossing  points  in  the  Great  Lakes
region?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 286/98 by Ana MIRANDA DE LAGE to the Council. Committee for monitoring human rights in Cuba
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, MIRANDA DE LAGE
Subjects: Cuba, EU body for police and judicial cooperation, civil defence, democracy, environmental cooperation, fundamental rights, human rights, international cooperation













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91998E0286

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 286/98 by Ana MIRANDA DE LAGE to the Council. Committee for monitoring human rights in Cuba  


Official Journal C 196 , 22/06/1998 P. 0123 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0286/98 by Ana Miranda de Lage (PSE) to the Council (17 February 1998)Subject: Committee for monitoring human rights in CubaAccording to recent reports, the Council has instructed the EU embassies accredited to the Havana government to set up a committee for the monitoring and assessment of the human rights situation in Cuba.Can the Council explain the nature and precise objectives of this network?In view of the above and the numerous declarations which have been made of commitment to human rights, social rights, environmental rights, pluralist democracy, etc, has the Council considered extending this pioneering and committed initiative to such countries as China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc, to which, unlike Cuba, the EU is linked by substantial and long-standing commercial ties, despite the non-existence of any relation between the cooperation concerned and any kind of democratic quid pro quo?Answer (30 April 1998)The first objective laid down in the Common Position on Cuba adopted by the Council on 2 December 1996 is 'to encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms'.To implement the task of developing a more coordinated dialogue with groups promoting civil and political rights it was decided to set up a local EU Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) based on Member States' diplomatic missions in Havana. The HRWG has two main functions: monitoring human rights issues and developing a more coordinated dialogue with local groups and individuals promoting civic and political rights in Cuba. Contacts with Cuban officials might also take place in this framework.At present, the HRWG is preparing an analysis of the human rights situation in Cuba and will make recommendations on how the EU should take forward dialogue in this area.The appointment of a HRWG to monitor the human rights situation is only one of the methods the Council uses. For the countries which the Honourable Member is referring to, other methods, like a standing dialogue on human rights or a monitoring through Heads of Mission's reports, are being applied.The Council certainly shares the view that the European Union's action aimed at promoting democracy and respect for human rights in the framework of the Community and its Members States' cooperation policies should be guided by objective and equitable criteria and should be implemented in a coherent and consistent manner.
98/174/EC: Commission Decision of 17 February 1998 amending Commission Decision 94/650/EEC on the organisation of a temporary experiment on the marketing of seed in bulk to the final consumer (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: bulk product, cereals, leguminous vegetable, marketing, production cost, seed

4. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 63/31

COMMISSION DECISION

of 17 February 1998

amending Commission Decision 94/650/EEC on the organisation of a temporary
experiment on the marketing of seed in bulk to the final consumer

(Text with EEA relevance)

(98/174/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14
June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (1), as
last amended by Council Directive 96/72/EC (2), and in
particular Article 13a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EC of 14
June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed (3), as last
amended by Council Directive 96/72/EC and in par-
ticular Article 13a thereof,

Whereas Commission Decision 94/650/EC (4) established
a temporary experiment at Community level with the
aim of assessing whether the marketing of seed in bulk to
the final consumer could bring about a substantial saving
of costs in relation to the packing, the packaging material
and subsequent disposal thereof, without resulting in any
adverse effect on the quality of the seed compared with
the level of quality achieved under the present system;

Whereas in the light of experience gained in the course
of the experiment which lasts until 31 December 1997
these statements cannot yet be confirmed at Community
level, on the basis of the information available;

Whereas it is therefore useful to extend the period of the
experiment under the same conditions with the aim of
assessing whether the above statements can be sustained
at Community level;

Whereas it is necessary not to interrupt the continuity of
the experiment;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are
in accordance with the opinion of
the Standing
Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agri-
culture, Horticulture and Forestry,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 4(4) of Decision 94/650/EC the date of 31
December 1997 is replaced by 30 June 2000 in both
places in which it appears.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on 31 December
1997.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 February 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2298/66.
(2) OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10.
(3) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2309/66.
(4) OJ L 252, 28. 9. 1994, p. 15.