do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1630/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Annual Report of the Cohesion Fund (1996)
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, activity report, economic convergence, environmental protection, implementation of the budget, less-favoured region, project evaluation, transport infrastructure













EUR-Lex - 91998E1630 - EN






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91998E1630

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1630/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Annual Report of the Cohesion Fund (1996)  


Official Journal C 013 , 18/01/1999 P. 0057 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1630/98by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission(27 May 1998)Subject: Annual Report of the Cohesion Fund (1996)The Annual Report of the Cohesion Fund (1996) (COM(97) 302 final) describes the activities of the Cohesion Fund in 1996, which turned out to be a key year in many respects, since the Cohesion Fund became fully operational and it was possible to carry out ex-post evaluation of completed projects. 1996 was also the year of the mid-term review of the eligibility of the Member States and also the first year when checks were carried out by the Commission on the implementation by the Member States of the programmes aimed at economic convergence and on the application of the principle of conditionality.Can the Commission make the Member States aware of the need for better regional distribution of investments, paying special attention to the least favoured inland, rural and urban areas?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission(1 July 1998)The Cohesion fund provides financial assistance for the poorest Member States, which have a per capita GNP of less than 90 % of Community average, to reach levels of sustainable budgetary deficits while maintaining high levels of public investment in transport and environment.The Cohesion fund has not amongst its objectives to combat regional disparities in economic activity and the Fund cannot assist specific rural or urban activities.The initiative to submit to the Cohesion fund applications for projects in the areas of trans-European transport infrastructure and environment lies exclusively with the beneficiary Member States. The Commission is not in a position to refuse a particular application for reasons of the location of a project.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1629/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Twenty-sixth report on competition policy
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: competition policy, dominant position, international market, single market

22.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 402/147

(98/C 402/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1614/98

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Postal charges for non-commercial organizations and the REIMS II system

Given that the new REIMS II system on payments made between public post offices to cover the cost of
delivering mail across national borders in the EU may, in some countries, make it likely that higher postal charges
will be imposed for international mail, will be Commission propose any special treatment for non-profit making
organizations, such as special lower rates, to help foster links between civil society organizations across the EU?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 1998)

The objective of the REIMS II agreement (Remuneration of exchanges of international mail) is to bring the
terminal dues paid between the European postal operators concerned closer to the real costs of delivering inward
cross-border mail, in accordance with the principle of cost orientation promoted by the Community.

The use of the new terminal dues will not necessarily be followed by a general increase in the national postal
tariffs paid by users, but rather will result in some cases in a rebalancing of cross-border tariffs according to the
product concerned.

Within the Community, it is up to the Member States to consider whether some support is needed in favour of
non-profit making organisations, in case of an increase in their postal charges.

(98/C 402/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1622/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Reduction of VAT due on repairs to religious buildings

Would the Commission support a call for the reduction of the rate of VAT levied on repairs to buildings used for
religious purposes from 17.5 % to 5 %?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1998)

Under current Community value added tax (VAT) legislation, Member States are not allowed to allocate repair,
renovation and maintenance of churches and religious buildings to a reduced rate of VAT. A Commission
proposal on the harmonisation of VAT rates, which will possibly tackle the question put by the Honourable
Member, is currently being prepared. In this context, the idea of attributing a reduced VAT rate to repair,
renovation and maintenance of historic buildings and churches will also be considered.

(98/C 402/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1629/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Twenty-sixth report on competition policy

With regard to the Twenty-sixth report on competition policy (1996) (SEC(97) 628 final, CES 1381/97), can the
Commission ensure that, when assessing whether a dominant position exists within the context of the EU,
reference is not made solely to the internal market alone when the reference market is international?
98/380/EC, ECSC, Euratom: Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 27 May 1998 appointing members of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
Subjects: General Court (EU), appointment of staff, member of the Court of Justice (EU)

L 171/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 6. 98

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

CONFERENCE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES

DECISION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF
THE MEMBER STATES

of 27 May 1998

appointing members of the Court of First Instance of the European Commu-
nities

(98/380/EC, ECSC, Euratom)

THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE
MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 168a thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 32d
thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article
140a thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC,
Euratom of 24 October 1988 establishing a Court of First
Instance of the European Communities (1),
Whereas the terms of office of Mr Josef Azizi, Mr Corne-
lius Paulus Briet, Mr Marc Jaeger, Mr Andreas Kalogero-
poulos, Mr Koenraad Lenaerts, Mr Rui Manuel Gens de
Moura Ramos, Mrs Virpi Tiili and Mr Bo Vesterdorf
expire on 31 August 1998;
Whereas the partial replacement of members of the Court
of First Instance should take place for the period from 1
September 1998 to 31 August 2004;
Whereas, to complete the partial replacement of members
of the Court of First Instance, it will be necessary to
appoint a judge at a later date,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following are hereby appointed judges to the Court
of First Instance for the period 1 September 1998 to 31
August 2004:

Mr Josef Azizi,
Mr Marc Jaeger,
Mr Koenraad Lenaerts,
Mr Rui Manuel Gens de Moura Ramos,
Mrs Virpi Tiili,
Mr Bo Vesterdorf,
Mr Michael Vilaras.

Article 2

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal
of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 27 May 1998.

The President

S. WALL

(1) OJ L 319, 25. 11. 1988, p. 1. Corrigendum: OJ C 215, 21. 8.
1989, p. 1. Decision as
last amended by Decision 95/1/
Euratom, ECSC, EC adjusting the instruments concerning the
accession of new Member States to the European Union (OJ
L 1, 1. 1. 1995, p. 1).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1622/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Reduction of VAT due on repairs to religious buildings
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: VAT rate, architectural heritage, church, heritage protection, religious institution, urban renewal

22.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 402/147

(98/C 402/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1614/98

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Postal charges for non-commercial organizations and the REIMS II system

Given that the new REIMS II system on payments made between public post offices to cover the cost of
delivering mail across national borders in the EU may, in some countries, make it likely that higher postal charges
will be imposed for international mail, will be Commission propose any special treatment for non-profit making
organizations, such as special lower rates, to help foster links between civil society organizations across the EU?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 1998)

The objective of the REIMS II agreement (Remuneration of exchanges of international mail) is to bring the
terminal dues paid between the European postal operators concerned closer to the real costs of delivering inward
cross-border mail, in accordance with the principle of cost orientation promoted by the Community.

The use of the new terminal dues will not necessarily be followed by a general increase in the national postal
tariffs paid by users, but rather will result in some cases in a rebalancing of cross-border tariffs according to the
product concerned.

Within the Community, it is up to the Member States to consider whether some support is needed in favour of
non-profit making organisations, in case of an increase in their postal charges.

(98/C 402/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1622/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Reduction of VAT due on repairs to religious buildings

Would the Commission support a call for the reduction of the rate of VAT levied on repairs to buildings used for
religious purposes from 17.5 % to 5 %?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1998)

Under current Community value added tax (VAT) legislation, Member States are not allowed to allocate repair,
renovation and maintenance of churches and religious buildings to a reduced rate of VAT. A Commission
proposal on the harmonisation of VAT rates, which will possibly tackle the question put by the Honourable
Member, is currently being prepared. In this context, the idea of attributing a reduced VAT rate to repair,
renovation and maintenance of historic buildings and churches will also be considered.

(98/C 402/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1629/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Twenty-sixth report on competition policy

With regard to the Twenty-sixth report on competition policy (1996) (SEC(97) 628 final, CES 1381/97), can the
Commission ensure that, when assessing whether a dominant position exists within the context of the EU,
reference is not made solely to the internal market alone when the reference market is international?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1074/98 of 27 May 1998 fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 40th partial invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1408/97
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, white sugar

28. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 154/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1074/98

of 27 May 1998

fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 40th 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 40th partial invitation to
tender, the provisions set out in Article 1 should be
adopted;

Whereas the Management Committee for Sugar has not
delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its
chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the 40th 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
47,498 per 100 kilograms.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 May 1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 27 May 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.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1071/98 of 27 May 1998 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit

28. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 154/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1071/98

of 27 May 1998

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain
fruit and vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/
94 of 21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the applica-
the import arrangements for fruit and veget-
tion of
ables (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2375/
96 (2), and in particular Article 4 (1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3813/92
of 28 December 1992 on the unit of account and the
conversion rates to be applied for the purposes of the
common agricultural policy (3), as last amended by Regu-
lation (EC) No 150/95 (4), and in particular Article 3 (3)
thereof,

Whereas Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down,
pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilat-
eral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commis-

sion fixes the standard values for imports from third
countries, in respect of the products and periods stipu-
lated in the Annex thereto;

Whereas, in compliance with the above criteria, the stand-
ard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of
Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in
the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 May 1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 27 May 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24. 12. 1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 325, 14. 12. 1996, p. 5.
(3) OJ L 387, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 22, 31. 1. 1995, p. 1.

L 154/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28. 5. 98

to the Commission Regulation of 27 May 1998 establishing the standard import values for
determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 30 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(ECU/100 kg)

204
999
052
068
999
052
999
052
204
212
388
528
600
624
999
382
388
999
060
388
400
508
512
524
528
804
999

43,7
43,7
83,7
75,5
79,6
74,2
74,2
63,3
40,2
60,0
67,5
53,1
51,7
52,4
55,5
57,7
58,3
58,0
34,0
72,8
95,6
101,1
78,3
90,6
76,0
114,1
82,8

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2317/97 (OJ L 321, 22. 11. 1997, p. 19). Code

‘999' stands for ‘of other origin'.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1747/98 by Freddy BLAK to the Commission. Danish pensions legislation still discriminating against women
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: BLAK, European Parliament
Subjects: Denmark, gender equality, national law, pension scheme, position of women, sexual discrimination

C 354/120

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

Answer

(20 July 1998)

Article  126(1)  of  the  Treaty  states  that  (cid:145)the  Community  shall  contribute  to  the  development  of  quality
1.
education  by  encouraging  cooperation  between  Member  States  and,  if  necessary,  by  supporting  and
supplementing  their  action,  while  fully  respecting  the  responsibility  of  the  Member  States  for  the  content  of
teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity(cid:146).

The  introduction  or  reintroduction  of  the  teaching  of  Latin  in  compulsory  education  curricula  in  the
2.
Member  States  is  a  matter  where  the  Member  States  are  responsible  for  the  content  of  teaching  and  the
organisation  of  education  systems.  The  Council  has  not  received  any  proposals  from  the  Commission  to
encourage cooperation between Member States on this subject.

(98/C 354/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1737/98

by Luciano Schifone (NI) to the Commission

(20 May 1998)

Subject: Commission response to the natural disaster in Campania

Campania  has  recently  been  struck  by  a  serious  natural  disaster  which  destroyed  whole  villages  and  led  to
hundreds of dead and thousands of homeless.

At the sitting of 11 May the President of Parliament, Mr Gil-Robles, expressed Europe(cid:146)s solidarity with those
who had suffered.

Commissioner Monti mentioned the possibility of some form of concrete action by the Commission.

What  appropriations  does  the  Commission  intend  to  earmark,  when  and  on  what  terms,  for  the  devastated
communes in Campania?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 1998)

The Commission would point out that it gave its views to Parliament during the emergency debate on 14 May
1998 on the disastrous floods in Campania. On that occasion it confirmed its intentions as originally expressed
and gave details. The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the Commission statement and to its
reply to written question No P-1618/98 from Mr Caccavale.

(98/C 354/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1747/98

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Danish pensions legislation still discriminating against women

Although a ban on differential treatment of men and women in respect of pensions will take effect in Denmark
from 1 July 1999, at least 450,000 Danish women will still receive lower pensions than their male colleagues.

Almost  half  a  million  women  are  already  paying  into  pension  funds  automatically  treating  women  less
favourably than men. These women will not be covered by the change in the law which comes into force on
1 July 1999.