WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1378/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. Free movement of persons
Date: 1998-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: Australia, confiscation of property, free movement of persons, hotel industry, passport

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 50/33

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Under the common agricultural policy, particularly the management of the market organisations for the various
agricultural products, it is not the Commission(cid:146)s place to give an opinion on the internal organisation of the Greek
authority responsible for controlling Community subsidies to agriculture.

Under Council Regulation (EEC) 729/70 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (1), the Member
States must notify the Commission of any bodies they decide to approve and provide information on how they
operate. This Regulation entitles the Community to inspect the activities of disbursing authorities and agencies,
which it does in close collaboration with the Member State concerned.

To date, the Commission has not been officially notified that the bodies in question are to be dissolved or their
responsibilities transferred to other national authorities. It will, if necessary, ensure that all new national laws,
regulations and administrative provisions comply with the Community legislation on cotton and tobacco and are
adequate to meet the responsibilities delegated to Greece. In particular, the Commission will ensure that under
any new system full and effective checks are made before aid is paid.

The Commission has not evaluated the contribution made by the bodies in question in providing technical support
and developing and improving cotton and tobacco growing.

(1) OJ L 94, 28.4.1970.

(1999/C 50/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1378/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Free movement of persons

In view of a recent case brought to my attention concerning one of my constituents, whose passport was retained
by a hotelier in Australia for a period exceeding twelve months, can the Commission give assurances that
hoteliers in the EU Member States do not have the legal right to do the same, since that would effectively deny EU
citizens their right to freedom of movement?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1998)

The Commission is not aware of legislation in Member States that allows hoteliers to retain the travel documents
of individuals undertaking a prolonged stay in their establishment and, in so doing, possibly giving rise to cases
similar to the one mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(1999/C 50/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1390/98

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Disabled people and the draft Structural Fund Regulations

Given that the Commission(cid:146)s proposed Structural Fund Regulations specifically require equal opportunities for
women, why did it not include a similar equal opportunities requirement for disabled people?

Does the Commission agree that, if the European Union is serious about the principle of mainstreaming disability
in its programmes, it is important to set out this requirement as clearly as possible to the Member States?