do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 422/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. The Millenium Bug
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: computer systems, data processing, euro, exchange of information, institutional cooperation, public administration, type of business

C 304/98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0418/98

by Paul Ru¤ big (PPE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Permanent EU representation in the ASEAN countries

A delegation from Parliament has formed a comprehensive picture of the financial crisis in Asia following a visit
to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Despite  all  the  activities  by  the  EU  and  its  Member  States,  not  least  through  the  initiatives  of  the  European
Monetary Institute, and the possible effects of this crisis on Europe, there is a need for a more positive official EU
commitment › in the form of tangible action, as well as through the media. It would be particularly useful to
establish permanent representations of the European Union, e.g. in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. This wish was
repeated in Parliament(cid:146)s debate in plenary in late January.

Does the Commission agree that a greater media presence and additional representation in the ASEAN countries
would have a positive effect on EU activities and the EU(cid:146)s capacity to influence events in the region as a whole?

Is the Commission planning any concrete measures to establish delegations in the ASEAN region?

Can the Commission give an indication of a date for this, if a timetable has been drawn up?

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

(17 March 1998)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  written  question  P-290/98  by  Mr
Bertens (1).

(1)  See page 72.

(98/C 304/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0422/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: The Millenium Bug

What studies has the Commission undertaken on the impact of the millenium bug on the EU institutions?

(98/C 304/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0425/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: The Millenium Bug

How  much  does  the  Commission  estimate  it  will  cost  to  ensure  millenium  bug  compliance  for  all  EU
institutions?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E- 0422/98 and E-0425/98
Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1998)

The Commission is concerned about the vulnerability of enterprises, infrastructures, and public administrations
to the year 2000 computer problem as well as about the possible consequences for consumers. The Commission
adopted  a  communication (1),  in  order  to  raise  awareness  and  set  out  steps  to  address  year  2000  issues.  To
complement  the  activities  being  undertaken  by  the  private  sector  and  the  Member  States,  the  Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 420/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. German tax regime
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: EU national, German Democratic Republic, Germany, United Kingdom, arts, fiscal policy, free movement of persons, redemption, sport, tax system

C 386/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1998)

It should be noted that construction of the solid urban waste transfer station in Vigo was not part-financed by
Community funds.

However, in June 1997 the Spanish authorities submitted a plan for the management of waste in Galicia to the
Commission for part-financing by the Cohesion Fund (not by the European Regional Development Fund).

The Commission is currently carrying out a detailed evaluation of the project, with technical support from outside
experts. A decision to provide part-financing could be taken only if this project complies with all Community
policies, including that on the environment.

As part of its consideration of the complaint it received, the Commission has asked the Spanish authorities for
more information. It will keep the complainants informed of developments in this matter.

(98/C 386/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0420/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: German tax regime

Two years ago the German authorities introduced an (cid:145)Ausl(cid:228)ndersteuer(cid:146) on anyone working in Germany in sport
or the arts. This levy is a flat rate at 25 %. A Briton working in Germany and paying 7 % (cid:145)Solidarit(cid:228)tszuschlag(cid:146) on
earnings has the right to reclaim 25 % from the Finanzamt since he is a UK national. In reality this is beset with
many problems.

Is the Commission aware of the tax? What is their estimate of its effects and does the Commission believe it is a
barrier to free movement which could be challenged in law?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1998)

The Commission is aware of the changes in German legislation whereby the special rate of 15 % withholding tax,
which was levied on fees paid to non-resident artists and sportsmen, was abolished in 1996, with the result that
such payments are now subject to the general minimum rate of 25 % charged in Germany on the income of non-
residents. Depending on the individual(cid:146)s circumstances, this tax may be totally or partially reimbursed following
the submission of a tax return.

Furthermore, the German taxes give rise to a tax credit against United Kingdom tax payable on this income under
the existing bilateral tax convention.

Under these circumstances and taking into account the fact that income taxes are not harmonised within the
Community, the Commission does not see a case for any legal challenge to the relevant legislation.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 407/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Aircraft safety in the year 2000
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: air safety, air traffic, air traffic control, air transport, airport, computer system, computer systems, data processing, technological change, transport company

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/59

This directive, whose requirements shall be brought into force before 13 May 2000, repeals previous directives.
The Commission continues to monitor the situation, particularly to ensure that scrap metals contaminated with
radioactive substances are not imported from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe or from the former
Soviet Union.

The Commission has no information on the specific case mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(1)  OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.

(98/C 310/75)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/98

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Prescribed Quantity systems

Which  Member  States  have  a  Prescribed  Quantity  system  which  has  been  investigated,  and  why  did  the
Commission feel that the existence of a PQ system in the British break market posed a threat to inter-Community
trade?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 310/76)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Aircraft safety in the year 2000

Pilots  have  threatened  a  worldwide  boycott  in  the  year  2000,  fearing  that  the  (cid:145)Millennium  Bug(cid:146)  will  disrupt
computer systems that keep planes in the air and prevent collisions.

Is the Commission satisfied that Member States, third countries, airlines and aviation authorities are acting with
sufficient urgency to ensure that planes do not drop out of the sky or collide in the year 2000?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 1998)

The  Commission  shares  the  concerns  expressed  by  the  Honourable  Member  about  the  potentially  serious
problems that could arise from the date change, and has addressed the issue in its communication on The Year
2000 Computer Problem (1). This is designed to try to ensure a high level of awareness on the subject and to
establish effective liaison with all the supervisory authorities for energy, transport and telecommunications and
in the financial markets and other economic sectors.

As  there  is  genuine  concern  that  the  date  changeover  problem  could  affect  safety  in  civil  aviation,  the
Commission issued a circular in December 1997 to all the Member States to clarify what actions each Member
State is going to undertake or has already put in place. Similar letters were sent to the main airline and airport
organisations (IATA, AEA, ERA, ACE, ACI).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 418/98 by Paul RÜBIG to the Commission. Permanent EU representation in the ASEAN countries
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, RUEBIG
Subjects: ASEAN countries, Commission Delegation, Malaysia, Singapore

C 304/98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0418/98

by Paul Ru¤ big (PPE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Permanent EU representation in the ASEAN countries

A delegation from Parliament has formed a comprehensive picture of the financial crisis in Asia following a visit
to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Despite  all  the  activities  by  the  EU  and  its  Member  States,  not  least  through  the  initiatives  of  the  European
Monetary Institute, and the possible effects of this crisis on Europe, there is a need for a more positive official EU
commitment › in the form of tangible action, as well as through the media. It would be particularly useful to
establish permanent representations of the European Union, e.g. in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. This wish was
repeated in Parliament(cid:146)s debate in plenary in late January.

Does the Commission agree that a greater media presence and additional representation in the ASEAN countries
would have a positive effect on EU activities and the EU(cid:146)s capacity to influence events in the region as a whole?

Is the Commission planning any concrete measures to establish delegations in the ASEAN region?

Can the Commission give an indication of a date for this, if a timetable has been drawn up?

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

(17 March 1998)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  written  question  P-290/98  by  Mr
Bertens (1).

(1)  See page 72.

(98/C 304/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0422/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: The Millenium Bug

What studies has the Commission undertaken on the impact of the millenium bug on the EU institutions?

(98/C 304/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0425/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: The Millenium Bug

How  much  does  the  Commission  estimate  it  will  cost  to  ensure  millenium  bug  compliance  for  all  EU
institutions?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E- 0422/98 and E-0425/98
Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1998)

The Commission is concerned about the vulnerability of enterprises, infrastructures, and public administrations
to the year 2000 computer problem as well as about the possible consequences for consumers. The Commission
adopted  a  communication (1),  in  order  to  raise  awareness  and  set  out  steps  to  address  year  2000  issues.  To
complement  the  activities  being  undertaken  by  the  private  sector  and  the  Member  States,  the  Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 406/98 by Phillip WHITEHEAD to the Commission. Prescribed Quantity systems
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, WHITEHEAD
Subjects: United Kingdom, bread, disclosure of information, fact-finding mission, intra-EU trade, quantitative restriction

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/59

This directive, whose requirements shall be brought into force before 13 May 2000, repeals previous directives.
The Commission continues to monitor the situation, particularly to ensure that scrap metals contaminated with
radioactive substances are not imported from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe or from the former
Soviet Union.

The Commission has no information on the specific case mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(1)  OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.

(98/C 310/75)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/98

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Prescribed Quantity systems

Which  Member  States  have  a  Prescribed  Quantity  system  which  has  been  investigated,  and  why  did  the
Commission feel that the existence of a PQ system in the British break market posed a threat to inter-Community
trade?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 310/76)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Aircraft safety in the year 2000

Pilots  have  threatened  a  worldwide  boycott  in  the  year  2000,  fearing  that  the  (cid:145)Millennium  Bug(cid:146)  will  disrupt
computer systems that keep planes in the air and prevent collisions.

Is the Commission satisfied that Member States, third countries, airlines and aviation authorities are acting with
sufficient urgency to ensure that planes do not drop out of the sky or collide in the year 2000?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 1998)

The  Commission  shares  the  concerns  expressed  by  the  Honourable  Member  about  the  potentially  serious
problems that could arise from the date change, and has addressed the issue in its communication on The Year
2000 Computer Problem (1). This is designed to try to ensure a high level of awareness on the subject and to
establish effective liaison with all the supervisory authorities for energy, transport and telecommunications and
in the financial markets and other economic sectors.

As  there  is  genuine  concern  that  the  date  changeover  problem  could  affect  safety  in  civil  aviation,  the
Commission issued a circular in December 1997 to all the Member States to clarify what actions each Member
State is going to undertake or has already put in place. Similar letters were sent to the main airline and airport
organisations (IATA, AEA, ERA, ACE, ACI).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 369/98 by Nuala AHERN to the Commission. Report by the British Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: AHERN, European Parliament
Subjects: United Kingdom, cross-border transport, export of waste, health risk, nuclear safety, radioactive waste, report, transport of dangerous goods, waste management













EUR-Lex - 91998E0369(01) - EN






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91998E0369(01)

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 369/98 by Nuala AHERN to the Commission. Report by the British Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)  


Official Journal C 386 , 11/12/1998 P. 0013 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0369/98by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Commission(24 February 1998)Subject: Report by the British Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory CommitteeHave the Commission's relevant energy, environment and transport directorates assessed the proposals set out by the British Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) in its September 1997 report on the import and export of radioactive waste involving the United Kingdom, and will the Commission make a statement on the interpretation made by the RWMAC report on Directive 92/3/Euratom on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community with regard to its implementation in the United Kingdom?(1)Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(16 March 1998)Directive 92/3/Euratom on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community is implemented in the United Kingdom by Statutory Instrument 1993 No 3031, Atomic Energy and Radioactive Substances, the Transfrontier Shipments of Radioactive Waste Regulations 1993, publication date 2 December 1993.The Commission does not have the report by the radioactive waste management advisory committee (RWMAC) on the import and export of radioactive waste involving the United Kingdom, dated September 1997. The Commission will complete this answer as soon as it has obtained and considered the report in question.(1) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 371/98 by Nuala AHERN to the Commission. Radioactive waste and Article 18 of Directive 92/3/Euratom
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: AHERN, European Parliament
Subjects: cross-border transport, health risk, nuclear safety, radioactive waste, report, transport of dangerous goods

C 304/88

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1998)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  written  question  E-4189/97  by
Mr Viceconte and by Mr Parodi (1).

(1)  OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 96.

(98/C 304/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0371/98

by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: Radioactive waste and Article 18 of Directive 92/3/Euratom

Will the Commission indicate the respective dates on which Member States submitted data on the shipments of
radioactive wastes to the Commission as required under Article 18 of Directive 92/3/Euratom (1) on shipments of
radioactive waste between Member States? When does the Commission expect to publish its second bi-annual
report on nuclear waste shipments?

(1)  OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

The  Commission  published  in  1995 (1)  its  first  report  on  the  application  in  the  Member  States  of  Directive
92/3/Euratom on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into
and out of the Community.

The second report, covering the period 1994-1995 is presently being prepared. The Commission expects that the
preparation of the report will be completed in a meeting of the advisory committee established by Article 19 of
the Directive in June 1998.

The dates at which the Member States communicated to the Commission the information referred to in Article 18
of the Directive covering the period 1994-1995 are:

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

(1)  COM(95) 192 final.

15 March 1996
1 April 1996
23 January 1996

23 June 1997
30 October 1996
19 August 1996
27 November 1996
12 November 1996
25 November 1996
3 October 1996
31 October 1996
31 October 1996
30 October 1996
29 October 1996