do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 564/98 by Luigi VINCI to the Commission. Elettrolux-Zanussi industrial group
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, VINCI
Subjects: Italy, competence of the Member States, electrical engineering, free movement of goods, job cuts, labour law, production cost, right of establishment, working conditions, working time













EUR-Lex - 91998E0564 - EN






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91998E0564

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 564/98 by Luigi VINCI to the Commission. Elettrolux-Zanussi industrial group  


Official Journal C 310 , 09/10/1998 P. 0089 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0564/98 by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (4 March 1998)Subject: Elettrolux-Zanussi industrial groupTaking advantage of the fact that it has factories in various countries of the European Union, the Elettrolux-Zanussi industrial group uses the system of European tenders whereby orders it receives are produced in the factories with the lowest production costs. Lower costs are increasingly being achieved through reduced staffing and a more intensive work rhythm which is not properly compensated.In Italy the danger is that if a law is adopted to reduce working hours to 35 orders will no longer be fulfilled in Italy. Does the Commission not think that this is an unacceptable system of social dumping by Elettrolux-Zanussi? What does it intend to do to harmonize the treatment of workers within the Community and in the same business group to prevent such behaviour by companies? How will it act vis-à-vis Elettrolux-Zanussi to put an end to the practice of European tenders?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1998)Completion of the internal market means that European companies, particularly those with activities in several Member States, have a free choice of where to produce their goods and services, without having to contend with any unjustified obstacles to their freedom of movement or freedom of access to the Community market.In order to alleviate the possible social consequences of achieving this central objective of the Community, a number of measures have been adopted at Community level in recent years with a view to reducing the scope for abuse resulting from excessive discrepancies between national social systems. The directives in question cover various areas of labour law (employment conditions, information and consultation of workers, health and safety) and constitute a hard core of minimum rules to be observed throughout the Community.The directives adopted in this connection include Directive 93/104/EEC ((OJ L 307, 13.12.1993. )) on the organisation of working time, which lays down a number of minimum requirements which all Member States have to observe. However, this directive, like all the others in this field, does not rule out more favourable national systems.Under these circumstances it is the responsibility of each Member State to assess the possible consequences of initiatives likely to have an effect on production costs and to adopt the measures it considers necessary, whilst in all cases respecting freedom of movement and freedom to market goods and services.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 596/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Projects relating to the Olympic Games in 2004
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Greece, Olympic games, coastal protection, fund (EU), sports facilities

C 304/138

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

An inter-service group on off-site emergency preparedness (OSEP) was established within the Commission in
1995 with the objectives not only to co-ordinate and provide for improvements to emergency preparedness in
Eastern Europe but also to improve arrangements for information exchange within Eastern Europe and with the
Community to enable timely response to any future accident. With funding from TACIS, PHARE and ECHO
some ten or more projects have been launched to respond to these objectives and others are in preparation.

(1)  OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.
(2)  OJ L 371, 30.12.1987.
(3)  OJ L 371, 30.12.1987.
(4)  OJ L 357, 7.12.1989.

(98/C 304/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 March 1998)

Subject: Projects relating to the Olympic Games in 2004

In its reply to my Question No 3097/97 (1) the Commission stresses that it will therefore continue to ensure the
respect of the provisions of this Directive (Directive 85/337/EEC (2)) in case it would be applicable to Olympic
Games projects(cid:146). The Greek authorities plan to build six sports grounds along the coast of the Saronic Gulf for
the  Olympic  Games  of  2004.  Environmental  organisations  and  local  bodies  allege  that  these  facilities  will
destroy the region and recall that, according to the Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public
Works, a regeneration scheme had been planned there (green sites, etc.).

Moreover,  studies  co-funded  by  the  Commission  have  been  carried  out  with  a  view  to  drawing  up  such  a
regeneration scheme.

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the above, how it views this inconsistency and whether it can
guarantee that it will monitor the relevant investments and ensure that Community legislation is respected?

(1)  OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 151.
(2)  OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 1998)

The Commission has no additional information on the 2004 Olympic games since its reply to the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s previous written question E-3097/97.

Planning issues in the Saronikos Gulf area are within the competence of the Greek authorities which decide on
specific uses or development projects, and to make use or not of previous plans and studies, some of which may
have been partially funded with Community assistance. Though it would be regrettable if resources had been
wasted, new elements such as the 2004 Olympic games can certainly lead the authorities to re-orientation of
choices.

In  all  cases  however  the  obligation  remains  for  the  Greek  authorities  to  respect  Community  environmental
legislation when applicable. The Commission will use existing procedures to ensure that this will be the case.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 513/98 of 4 March 1998 fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 29th partial invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1408/97
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, white sugar

5. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 65/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 513/98

of 4 March 1998

fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 29th partial invitation
to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender
provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1408/97

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81
of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the
markets in the sugar sector (1), as last amended by Regula-
tion (EC) No 1599/96 (2), and in particular the second
subparagraph of Article 17 (5)

(b) thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1408/97 of 22
July 1997 on a standing invitation to tender to determine
refunds on exports of white sugar (3),
levies and/or
requires partial invitations to tender to be issued for the
export of this sugar;

Whereas, pursuant to Article 9 (1) of Regulation (EC) No
1408/97 a maximum export refund shall be fixed, as the
case may be, account being taken in particular of the
state and foreseeable development of the Community and
world markets in sugar, for the partial invitation to tender
in question;

following an examination of

the tenders
Whereas,
submitted in response to the 29th partial invitation to
tender, the provisions set out in Article 1 should be
adopted;

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the 29th partial invitation to tender for white sugar
to Regulation (EC) No 1408/97 the
issued pursuant
maximum amount of the export refund is fixed at ECU
44,853 per 100 kilograms.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 March 1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 4 March 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 177, 1. 7. 1981, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 43.
(3) OJ L 194, 23. 7. 1997, p. 16.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 603/98 by Bartho PRONK to the Commission. Socio-political adult education and its role in the Commission's education policy
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, PRONK
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, European citizenship, adult education, aid to disadvantaged groups, civics, cultural policy, equal treatment, regional aid, social policy

C 310/100

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

(98/C 310/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0602/98

by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 1998)

Subject: Comparative value of state pensions in European Union countries

Further  to  the  answer  given  by  the  Commission  to  Written  Questions  Nos  2620/88 (1)  and  792/92 (2)  on  the
relative value of state pensions in European Union Member States, will the Commission now provide an up-date,
calculated for a single person at his/her legal retirement age after a full contribution career, for as recent a date as
available figures permit?

(1)  OJ C 262, 16.10.1989, p. 58.
(2)  OJ C 16, 21.1.1993, p. 5.

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1998)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s secretariat first estimates in the
framework of a study by Eurostat to update (cid:145)Old age replacement rates › volume 1(cid:146) first published in 1990.
The complete methodology and final estimates for the eight Member States covered will be published in June
1998.

(98/C 310/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0603/98

by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission

(4 March 1998)

Subject: Socio-political adult education and its role in the Commission(cid:146)s education policy

Does the Commission view socio-political adult education as the basis for cohesion in the EU and if so, how does
it intend to realize this aim in its programme?

Is it true that there is no specific budget line for adult education?

Is it correct that the Commission only supports socio-political topics when they are immediately relevant to it
(e.g. the euro) but offers NGOs no possibility of financing for topics chosen by them?

What  financing  is  available  for  NGO-run  educational  programmes  on  ethical  subjects  and  problems  and  the
methodology of socio-political adult education?

Is the Commission prepared to recognize and promote socio-political adult education as an educational sector in
its own right in addition to university, vocational and school education?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1998)

The Commission attaches great importance to the development of adult education. The Socrates programme is
concerned with improving cooperation between Member States in the field of adult education, so as to promote
in adults the spirit of European citizenship, social inclusion and awareness of other Member States(cid:146) cultures.
There  is  no  specific  budget  line  for  adult  education;  it  comes  under  the  budget  for  the  Socrates  programme
(Action 3.5.A).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 555/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Regional Operational Programme for Attiki - sub- programme 1 measure 3
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, EU regional policy, Greece, flood, operational programme, public expenditure, town and country planning, watercourse













EUR-Lex - 91998E0555 - EN






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91998E0555

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 555/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Regional Operational Programme for Attiki - sub- programme 1 measure 3  


Official Journal C 386 , 11/12/1998 P. 0024 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0555/98by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission(4 March 1998)Subject: Regional Operational Programme for Attiki - sub-programme 1 measure 3Sub-programme 1, measure 3 of the Regional Operational Programme for Attiki concerns flood protection measures, including the consolidation of coastlines, the provision of rainwater ducts and the channelling of watercourses. According to the timetable, ECU 35 222 million of the public funds earmarked for this purpose should have been utilized by the end of 1997.1. What progress has been made by the projects in question?2. Which of the projects are presenting the most serious problems concerning the utilization of the funds, where are these problems situated, and what are the principal reasons for the delays?3. The actions contained in the sub-programme also include the opening of footpaths and parking spaces. What progress has been made with these particular projects?4. What funds had been utilized by 31 December 1997?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission(27 April 1998)According to the financial tables amended on 21 October 1997, public expenditure earmarked for measure 1.3 of the Attica operational programme (flood-prevention, coastline-restoration, etc.) until 1997 totals ECU 42.1 million.No changes were made to the regional programmes when the Community Support Framework Monitoring Committee last met, on 31 October 1997.For technical information and a progress report on the work, and the reasons for any delays, the Honourable Member should contact the regional authorities in Attica that are responsible for the implementation of the CSF.By the end of 1997 a total of ECU 37.9 million in appropriations had been utilised.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 545/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Cable car disaster caused by a US military aeroplane
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: Autonomous Province of Trento, United States, air safety, air traffic, civil defence, civilian victim, judicial inquiry, man-made disaster, military aircraft, transport accident













EUR-Lex - 91998E0545 - EN






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91998E0545

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 545/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Cable car disaster caused by a US military aeroplane  


Official Journal C 310 , 09/10/1998 P. 0083 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0545/98 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (4 March 1998)Subject: Cable car disaster caused by a US military aeroplaneIn the Val di Fiemme, in the province of Trento, Italy, a US military plane (flying very low during a military exercise) hit the cable carrying a cable car, causing a disaster which claimed the lives of 20 people, including Germans, Hungarians, Poles and one Italian.Various local authorities had already pointed out the dangerous nature of such flights, and similar events have happened in Italy in the past (for example at Casalecchio di Reno in 1990, when 12 people were killed and 90 injured, or the more widely publicized events at Ustica in 1980), without those responsible having yet been identified.The Italian judiciary has been prevented from carrying out any investigation into the accident, because it is under the competence of the US military authorities. In view of the complexity of assigning judicial competence and the possibility of conflicting responsibilities, as well as military secrecy, which constitutes an obstacle to the investigations, can the Commission say:1. whether it considers it appropriate to promote measures to safeguard the investigations and ensure the relatives of the victims that justice will be done;2. whether there is legislation designed to ensure the safety of civilians when military exercises are being carried out?Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (27 April 1998)The Commission extends its deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and naturally hopes that the investigation into this accident will be totally impartial. However, the investigation is completely outside the Community's sphere of competence, and the Commission cannot, therefore, intervene. The judicial proceedings are the exclusive responsibility of the national and military authorities.Nor does the Community have any powers as regards the protection of civilians during exercises by military aircraft, of the sort involved in the case in point, as the common transport policy deals only with civil aviation. Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents ((OJ L 319, 12.12.1994. )) does not, therefore, apply to military aviation.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 544/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Receipt of a Belgian pension
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Belgium, EU national, Italy, payment, pension scheme













EUR-Lex - 91998E0544 - EN






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91998E0544

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 544/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Receipt of a Belgian pension  


Official Journal C 310 , 09/10/1998 P. 0082 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0544/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (4 March 1998)Subject: Receipt of a Belgian pensionMany pensioners who have returned to Italy from Belgium are unable to receive their pension entitlement because the Belgian Office National des Pensions does not authorize it to be paid into a current account nor to be received by proxy, even by a close relative, despite the fact that the Decree of 15 May 1996 specifies that pensions may be paid into current accounts at banks or post offices in all EU countries, except in Italy and any other Member State where there is no agreement with banking institutions.Can the Commission prevail upon the Italian authorities to draw up agreements with banks as a matter of urgency in order to ensure immediate implementation of the decree and to launch the necessary procedures, in view of the Italian Banking Association's willingness to cooperate, with a view to remedying as soon as possible a situation which heavily penalizes Italians who have acquired pension rights abroad?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1998)The Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member's attention to paragraph 1 of Article 53 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 on the method of payment of benefits due under the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 ((Regulations Nos 1408/71 and 574/72 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community, amended and updated by Regulation No 118/97 of 30 January 1997 (OJ L 28, 30.1.1997). )). This paragraph refers to Annex 6, in which the procedures for current and sundry payments are indicated for each Member State. Sections 'A. Belgium' and 'H. Italy' indicate 'direct payment'.According to the information available to the Commission, pensions are currently transferred directly to the recipient by international postal order or cheque, or in accordance with direct agreements between the payment institution of one country and the banks of another country.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 559/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Exclusion from agricultural markets
Date: 1998-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: EU law, France, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, agricultural product, common agricultural policy, common organisation of markets, free movement of goods













EUR-Lex - 91998E0559 - EN






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91998E0559

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 559/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Exclusion from agricultural markets  


Official Journal C 304 , 02/10/1998 P. 0129 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0559/98 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1998)Subject: Exclusion from agricultural marketsCan farmers in any Member State benefit from subsidies and incentives provided by the Commission whilst at the same time exclude the produce of farmers in other Member States from their markets by intimidation?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (31 March 1998)There is nothing in Community law as it stands at present which could justify excluding farmers from subsidies within the context of the common agricultural policy even if they indulged in the activities described by the Honourable Member.However, the attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the judgement of the Court of justice of December 1997 in case C-265/95 (Commission v France). The Court found that the events which gave rise to the action, which were not disputed by the French government, manifestly created obstacles to the free movement of agricultural products from other Member States, since serious incidents, such as the interception of lorries, the destruction of their loads, violence against drivers, threats against wholesalers and retailers and the damaging of goods when on display in shops, took place year after year - and over a period of more than 10 years - and that the measures adopted by the French government were not sufficient to prevent and effectively dissuade the perpetrators of the offences from committing and repeating them. Those events were also such as to create a climate of insecurity which had a deterrent effect on trade flows as a whole.On that basis, the provisions of the EC Treaty concerning the free movement of goods and the Member States' duty to cooperate in the fulfilment of obligations arising out of the EC Treaty require them not merely themselves to abstain from adopting measures liable to constitute an obstacle to intra-Community trade, but also to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent that trade from being obstructed on their territory by actions by private individuals.The Member States are responsible for determining what measures are most appropriate to ensure the free movement of goods and it falls to the Court of justice to verify, in the cases brought before it, whether such measures are adequate.If a Member State fails to take such necessary and appropriate measures, it can be held responsible by the national court in the light of the caselaw of the Court of justice (see joined cases C-46/93 and C-48/93 Brasserie du pêcheur).