WRITTEN QUESTION No. 692/98 by Amedeo AMADEO , Salvatore TATARELLA to the Commission. Altener II
Date: 1998-03-10
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament, TATARELLA
Subjects: EU programme, European standard, administrative expenditure, renewable energy

22.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 402/21

cooperation and development (OECD), United States environment protection agency (USEPA), Community
Member States and the Commission, recommended that a specific test strategy has to be developed for the
detection of effects of substances suspected of producing endocrine disrupter effects on man and the
environment. As part of this strategy, the need to develop a battery of screening tests was pointed out.

Besides funding several research projects on endocrine disruption, the Commission is, at this stage, working
together with other countries at OECD level to define a common strategy and to define the objectives and
priorities related to testing methods development. A major outcome of a first meeting was a consensus on the
conceptual framework for the investigation of the effects of possible endocrine disrupter substances. This
framework includes a screening level of testing for priority setting and to characterise the mechanism of action.
This approach requires the development and validation of specific in vivo and in vitro screening tests as well as
the enhancement of existing test methods and their validation. Further work on this will allow selection of the
appropriate screens and initiation of the work for its validation.

(1) OJ 196, 16.8.1967.

(98/C 402/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0685/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Safety of third countries aircraft

While the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a Council directive establishing a safety assessment of third countries
aircraft using Community airports (COM(97) 55 fin.-97/0039 SYN) (1) is to be welcomed, is it not the case that
Community action should not be restricted to improving the safety of third countries carriers and aircraft, but
should make further efforts to enhance safety standards throughout Europe?

(1) OJ C 124, 21.4.1997, p. 39.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 1998)

The proposal for a Council directive establishing a safety assessment of third countries(cid:146) aircraft using
Community airports constitutes only one element of the action plan contained in the Commission(cid:146)s Commu-
nication on defining a Community aviation safety improvement strategy (1). The Honourable Member is referred
to the Communication for further details of the Commission(cid:146)s proposed actions.

(1)

SEC(96) 1083 final.

(98/C 402/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Altener II

With reference to the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of
renewable energy sources in the Community › Altener II (COM(97) 87 final › 97/0106(SYN)) (1), could the
level of funding available under the Altener II programme be increased, and does the Commission agree that the
formulation of pan-European standards is a very important aspect of the promotion of renewable energy sources?

(1) OJ C 192, 24.6.1997, p. 16.