do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Opinion of the European Central Bank of 6 July 1998 at the request of the Commission of the European Communities under Article 5(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 of 23 October 1995 and Article 109l(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community on a draft Commission Regulation (EC) concerning minimum standards for the treatment of tariffs in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (CON/98/33)
Date: 1998-07-06
Institutions: European Central Bank
Subjects: European Central Bank, consumer price, harmonisation of prices, price index, standard

19.1.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 14/9

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 6 July 1998

at the request of the Commission of the European Communities under Article 5(3) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 of 23 October 1995 and Article 109l(2) of the Treaty establishing the
European Community on a draft Commission Regulation (EC) concerning minimum standards for
the treatment of tariffs in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices

(CON/98/33)

(2000/C 14/08)

1. On 10 June 1998 the European Central Bank (ECB) received a request from the Commission of the
European Communities for an ECB Opinion on a draft Commission Regulation (EC) on the abovemen-
tioned topic (hereinafter referred to as the (cid:145)draft Regulation(cid:146)). A document with reference number
SG(98) D/165386 containing the draft Regulation was also transmitted to the ECB.

2. The objective of the draft Regulation is to establish minimum standards for the treatment of tariffs in
the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices. Tariff prices can have a considerable impact on the devel-
opment of consumer price indices, since both the price changes and the expenditure weight of the
relevant items are often significant. Moreover, given the considerable scope for procedural differences in
the treatment of tariff prices in consumer price indices, they are a potential source of non-compara-
bility.

3. The ECB supports the measures proposed by the Commission of the European Communities.

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

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 6 July 1998.

The President of the ECB

Willem F. DUISENBERG
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2037/98 by Klaus HÄNSCH to the Commission. Allocation of EU resources to the district (Kreis) of Mettmann, North Rhine- Westphalia
Date: 1998-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, HAENSCH
Subjects: EU programme, North Rhine-Westphalia, credit, economic support, structural policy, support policy

19. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 354/129

(98/C 354/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2017/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Genetic engineering in organic foodstuffs

In the USA there has been a debate in recent months on a draft law from the USDA laying down rules governing
the manufacture of organically farmed foodstuffs (USDA National Organic Program Proposal Rule). The USDA
proposal  allowed  the  use  of  genetic  engineering  in  products  derived  from  organic  farming.  It  breached  EU
standards on 27 counts and the danger existed through the WTO, that genetically manipulated foodstuffs could
end  up  on  the  European  market  having  been  declared  as  organic  foods  and  could  mislead  consumers.  In  the
meantime, this proposal has been withdrawn. It is nevertheless an example of how easily European standards can
be undermined in the context of international trade.

1.

2.

3.

Did the EU try in negotiations with the USA to modify this USDA proposal? If so, how?

Is a mutual recognition agreement between the USA and the EU planned for foodstuffs?

If so, on what standards is it to be based? Will the EU maintain its existing standards?

4. What  value  will  be  attached  to  environmental  and  consumer  interests  in  the  negotiations  on  the  New
Transatlantic Marketplace and/or the New Transatlantic Partnership (NTM and/or NTP)?

5.

To what extent are foodstuffs to be included in the NTM and/or NTP?

6. What kind of agreements are envisaged for foodstuffs in the NTM and/or NTP?

7. What sanctions are contemplated?

8.

Is the issue of genetically manipulated foodstuffs included?

9. What timescale does the Commission envisage for an NTM and/or NTP for foodstuffs?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(26 August 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 354/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2037/98

by Klaus Ha¤nsch (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU resources to the district (Kreis) of Mettmann, North Rhine- Westphalia

Regarding the allocation of EU resources to the district (Kreis) of Mettmann in North Rhine-Westphalia, can the
Commission indicate:

1. 

the  sum  of  EU  structural  resources  received  and  their  breakdown  by  Funds  and  the  various  Community
programmes and initiatives and of EU resources allocated to the district (Kreis) of Mettmann from other
budget  lines  since  1994  for  pilot  projects,  measures  or  ›  as  direct  allocations  ›  universities,  research
establishments, undertakings and other bodies,

2. 

the number of jobs created or preserved with the aid of these resources?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2036/98 by Klaus HÄNSCH to the Commission. Allocation of EU resources to Duisburg, North Rhine- Westphalia
Date: 1998-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, HAENSCH
Subjects: EU financing, North Rhine-Westphalia, Structural Funds, economic support, regional development, research, type of business, university

C 386/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 1998)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national
authorities concerned.

(98/C 386/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2036/98

by Klaus H(cid:228)nsch (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU resources to Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia

Regarding the allocation of EU resources to the city of Duisburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, can the Commission
indicate:

1.

the sum of EU structural resources received and their breakdown by Funds and the various Community
programmes and initiatives and of EU resources allocated to Duisburg from other budget lines since 1994 for
pilot projects, measures or › as direct allocations › universities, research establishments, undertakings and
other bodies,

2.

the number of jobs created or preserved with the aid of these resources?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 386/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2040/98

by Klaus H(cid:228)nsch (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU resources to the city of Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia

Regarding the allocation of EU resources to the city of Remscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia, can the
Commission indicate:

1.

the sum of EU structural resources received and their breakdown by Funds and the various Community
programmes and initiatives and of EU resources allocated to Remscheid from other budget lines since 1994
for pilot projects, measures or › as direct allocations › universities, research establishments, undertakings
and other bodies,

2.

the number of jobs created or preserved with the aid of these resources?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.