WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1437/98 by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE to the Commission. Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund
Date: 1998-05-11
Institutions: ARIAS CANETE, European Parliament
Subjects: Gibraltar, Spain, United Kingdom, application of EU law, pension scheme, social security

C 354/98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

(98/C 354/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1437/98

by Miguel Arias Can(cid:152) ete (PPE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund

The agreement between the authorities of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar to wind up the so-called Gibraltar
Social Insurance Fund as of 31 December 1993, a clear violation of Community law, led the Commission to
deliver a reasoned opinion against the United Kingdom, as provided for under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty.

The  result  of  the  Commission(cid:146)s  action  has  been  the  resumption  of  pension  payments  since  30  June  1996.
Nonetheless,  hundreds  of  Spanish  workers  and  pensioners  have  yet  to  receive  the  payment  of  arrears
corresponding to the period 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1996.

Given  these  circumstances,  what  measures  will  the  Commission  be  taking  to  ensure  compliance  with  the
provisions of Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1408/71 (1) and 574/72 (2), as well as those of Articles 48 to 51 and
Article 227 of the Treaty of Rome?

(1)  OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.
(2)  OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 1998)

The Commission is aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member concerning the failure to pay arrears
for the period 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1996 to some former workers affiliated to the Gibraltar pension fund.

In effect, when the Commission decided on 26 June 1997 to close the proceedings instituted against the United
Kingdom  following  the  dissolution  of  this  fund,  an  individual  letter  was  sent  to  the  6  500  persons  who  had
complained to inform them of the steps taken by the Commission since 1994 to resolve the problem. However,
they were also requested to provide information on any difficulties encountered in recovering the pensions in
order to ensure that the rights of the beneficiaries were respected.

Following this letter the Commission contacted the UK authorities with an eye to resolving the problem cases.
If the situation persists the Commission may possibly institute new infringement proceedings.

(98/C 354/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1446/98

by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

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

Further to my question E-603/98 (1) and your answer of 8 April 1998, I should be grateful for answers to the third,
fourth and fifth questions I asked. Pursuant to Article 140 of the Treaty, the Commission must reply orally or in
writing to questions put to it by the European Parliament or by its Members. Accordingly, you must provide
information in response to questions by Members of the European Parliament. Does the Commission lack the
information or does it take the line that it does not impart information to a Member of the European Parliament.

My questions are:

1. 

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