do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2352/98 by Jaak VANDEMEULEBROUCKE to the Commission. Safety of agricultural vehicles
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, VANDEMEULEBROUCKE
Subjects: agricultural vehicle, safety device, tractor, transport accident, transport safety













EUR-Lex - 91998E2352 - EN






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91998E2352

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2352/98 by Jaak VANDEMEULEBROUCKE to the Commission. Safety of agricultural vehicles  


Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0044 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2352/98by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission(27 July 1998)Subject: Safety of agricultural vehiclesFollowing a tragic accident in the West Flanders commune of Kortrijk-Heule in which a cyclist was run over by a trailer being pulled by a tractor, I would like to ask the Commission the following questions:Although the tractor was equipped as required by the regulations with a number of rear-view mirrors, the cyclist was not visible to the driver. According to experts, blind spots such as this can only be avoided if there is a second person on board the tractor or if structural adjustments are made in the form of the addition of an opening at the bottom of the door to provide greater visibility.Have studies already been carried out to determine whether it would be feasible to require such structural adjustments to be made and have any steps been taken on this matter?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission(24 September 1998)The Commission is very anxious to inform the Honourable Member that it also deplores the tragic accident in the Kortrijk/Heule district that caused the death of a cyclist who had been run over by a trailer being pulled by a farm tractor.The Honourable Member must realise that the Commission is highly attentive to the problems raised by the various aspects of safety.In order to avoid that type of accident the Commission felt it necessary to amend Council Directive 74/346/EEC(1) on rear-view mirrors fitted to agricultural or forestry tractors. Those amendments were adopted on 8 June 1998 (Directive 90/40/EC)(2) and take account of the range of rear-view mirrors still used and of the conditions under which these are adjusted by the driver. These changes thus meet the wish expressed by the Honourable Member as regards improvements to the lateral field of vision from tractors.However, the Commission must confirm that the conditions under which these devices are used are equally decisive. Indeed, rear-view mirrors that have been component type approved and fitted in accordance with Community requirements and must be correctly adjusted by the driver of the vehicle if its field of view is to cover all situations and does not include any blind spot, account here being taken of any implements attached to the tractor and of its trailer loading.(1) OJ L 191, 15.7.1974.(2) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 95/69/EC laying down the conditions and arrangements for approving and registering certain establishments and intermediaries operating in the animal feed sector
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: adjuvant, animal nutrition, food industry, health control, marketing

29.8.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  270/15

Amended  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  Directive  amending  Council
Directive  95/69/EC  laying  down  the  conditions  and  arrangements  for  approving  and  registering
certain  establishments  and  intermediaries  operating  in  the  animal  feed  sector (˛)

(98/C  270/07)

COM(1998)  485  final  -  97/0213(COD)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189a(2)  of  the  EC  Treaty  on  28  July  1998)

In  response  to  the  opinion  delivered  by  the  European  Parliament  at  its  plenary  session  of  19
February  1998  on  the  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  Directive  amending
Council  Directive  95/69/EC  laying  down  the  conditions  and  arrangements  for  approving  and
registering  certain  establishments  and  intermediaries  operating  in  the  animal  feed  sector,  in
accordance  with  Article  189a(2)  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  the
Commission  has  decided  to  amend  its  proposal  as  follows:

Article  1  is  amended  as  follows:

1.(cid:217)Point  2(ii)  is  deleted.

2.(cid:217)Point  5  is  deleted.

3.(cid:217)In  point  11.2.2.1,  under  the  heading  "Facilities  and  equipment’,  the  second  subparagraph  is

deleted.

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  C  300,  1.10.1997,  p.  10.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2335/98 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Commission. Shipment of waste to non-OECD countries
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, KINNOCK
Subjects: clothing, developing countries, export of waste, international transport, textile product, third country, waste recycling

C 13/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

(1999/C 13/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2335/98

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Shipment of waste to non-OECD countries

With regard to the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing common rules and procedures to apply to
shipments to certain non-OECD countries of certain types of waste (COM(94) 0678), there has been much
concern expressed by exporters of second-hand clothes.

(cid:145)Worn clothing and textiles(cid:146) appear under Annex II (the Green List) of the Waste Shipments Regulation
259/93 (1). However, does the Commission consider second-hand clothing to be waste if it is shipped abroad for
its continued use as clothing? If this is the case, can it explain why?

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Questions E-0016/98 by
Mr BØbØar (1) and E- 0107/98 by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten (2).

(1) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998.
(2) OJ C 310, 9.10.1998, p. 22.

(1999/C 13/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2337/98

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(28 July 1998)

Subject: Appointment of the European Central Bank(cid:146)s Director-General of Legal Affairs

The European Central Bank, a body which is independent of democratic control and which comprises one of the
component parts of monetary union and its currency the euro, has selected the Spaniard Antonio Sainz de Vicuæa
as its Director-General of Legal Affairs. Since this person is the legal representative of the liquidated Banco Saudi
Espaæol (Saudesbank) and also the legal adviser of another failed bank (Banesto), the monetary authorities of the
Bank of Spain and of the Economic Affairs Ministry must presumably know him and have endorsed his
candidacy.

Could the Council say whether or not the Spanish authorities have provided the directors of the European Central
Bank with information regarding the professional merits of the person in question and his knowledge of the Bank
of Spain(cid:146)s rules for monitoring credit institutions in order to prevent bankruptcies, tax evasion, deposits of (cid:145)dirty(cid:146)
money and other irregular practices engaged in by credit and savings institutions?

Reply

(24 September 1998)

This matter is the direct responsibility of the European Central Bank, whose Governing Council lays down the
conditions of employment of the Bank(cid:146)s staff on a proposal from the Executive Board.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2391/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Motor vehicle pricing policy
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: Finland, motor car, national law, tax harmonisation, tourism, vehicle tax

C 118/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

(1999/C 118/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Motor vehicle pricing policy

Is the Commission aware of the high cost of motor vehicle tax imposed by the Irish Government on private
motor vehicles, and does it believe that this tax distorts the market in such vehicles and puts many
businesses in Ireland at a serious disadvantage compared with competitors outside Ireland?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

The Commission is aware of the tax on cars under Irish legislation (vehicle registration tax, ranging from
23,2 % to 29,25 % of the (cid:145)market price(cid:146)). In the absence of Community tax harmonisation in this sphere,
this type of tax is at present governed by national legislation. The Commission considers that at the present
stage of Community law the actual level of the tax does not infringe Community tax provisions since there
does not seem to be any discrimination involved.

(1999/C 118/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2395/98

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL)
and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Installation of a hazardous waste dump in Nerva (Huelva province, Spain)

Nerva town council in the province of Huelva recently issued a licence to the undertaking Complejo
Medioambiental de Andaluc(cid:237)a authorising it to begin operating a hazardous waste dump.

Can the Commission ask the Spanish authorities what measures they have taken to guarantee that

1.
waste sent to the Nerva dump does not endanger public health and the environment?

2. What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to ensure compliance with existing Community
legislation on the environment, and above all the following Directives:

(a) 75/442/EEC (1) on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (2);

(b) 91/689/EEC (3) on hazardous waste;

(c) 85/337/EEC (4) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the

environment; and

(d) 90/313/EEC (5) on the freedom of access to information on the environment?

Can the Commission say whether Community funding has been provided to help set up this waste

3.
dump?

4.

Can the Commission say how it is monitoring the situation?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991, p. 20.
(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(5) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2419/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. EU funds London (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, EU programme, European Commission, United Kingdom, exchange of information, fund (EU)

C 96/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

These plates are misleading and illegally imitate a Community model which has been established for the
15 Member States of the Union.

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to ensure the removal of these misleading plates from
Turkish lorries engaged in international road haulage?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

The Turkish practice concerning licence plates is not incompatible with Community law or Turkey(cid:146)s interna-
tional obligations and accordingly the Commission does not intend to take any initiative on the matter.

(1999/C 96/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2415/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Leaking of a document concerning Turkey

On 9 July a (cid:145)report(cid:146) by the Commission representative in Ankara was leaked to the press. The contents of this
report › which have not been denied › raise many questions about the policy the Commission should be
pursuing and its objectivity in this instance. In this report Michael Lake who has already been transferred to
Budapest underestimates and justifies Turkish aggressiveness towards a Member State, Greece, turns a blind eye
to human rights violations in Turkey, seeks to persuade the Commission of the marginalization of Cyprus,
inveighs against the European Parliament and boasts that he co-authored a speech given by the Turkish President
Demirel.

Will the Commission give its views about the above (beyond the fact that the document has been leaked) and say
how it intends to rein in the exaggerated and partisan zeal of its official?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 1998)

It is not unusual for departing heads of delegation to express their personal views in an informal report upon
departure from a posting.

Mr Lake(cid:146)s report falls into this category and its contents do, therefore, not necessarily have to conform in all
aspects with the positions of the Community.

These positions on the issues addressed in the report are well-known and there is no need to make further
comment.

The responsible member of the Commission called recently the Greek Foreign minister Pangalos in order to
ensure that there was no misunderstanding about the nature of the report.

(1999/C 96/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2419/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: EU funds London

Will the Commission please itemise all EU funding received in London since July 1994, including structural,
social, LIFE, research and other assorted Community initiative funds, their destination, amounts, and a brief
description of the projects?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2370/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. Calves eligible for premiums in Spain
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: CABEZON ALONSO, COLINO SALAMANCA, European Parliament
Subjects: Spain, calf, cattle, slaughter premium













EUR-Lex - 91998E2370 - EN






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91998E2370

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2370/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. Calves eligible for premiums in Spain  


Official Journal C 142 , 21/05/1999 P. 0012 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2370/98by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission(27 July 1998)Subject: Calves eligible for premiums in SpainWhy has the increase in the number of bull calves eligible for premiums in Spain promised by the Agriculture Council in October 1997 (650 000) been cut to 603 000 as decided by the Agriculture Council in June 1998?Is the Commission aware that these figures, that originally promised and that finally decided, are nowhere near the actual number of calves slaughtered in Spain?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission(16 September 1998)The number of 603 674 male bovine animals eligible for premiums corresponds to the figure agreed by the Agriculture Council in October 1996, which implies an increase of 9.5 % in relation to the ceiling applied previously. This figure has to be seen against a decrease of about 20 % in the Member States as a whole. The same Agriculture Council also undertook, as part of the long-term reform and with a view to entry into force on 1 January 1997, to examine, in particular, the case of those Member States which have applications significantly in excess of their regional ceilings and where the ratio between the ceiling and the number of animals slaughtered is lower than the average in the Community.In order to comply with the deadline established by the Council, the Commission proposed in the 1998/99 price package and related measures that the ceiling for calves eligible for premiums be raised to 649 896. This figure represents an overrun of at most 10 % on the number of applications for premiums for bovine animals notified by Spain. The Agriculture Council of June 1998 withdrew that proposal by once again deferring a decision on the matter, in the case of Spain and Portugal, to discussions within the framework of Agenda 2000(1) and it established as the deadline for implementation the marketing year commencing 1 July 1999.The Commission is well aware of the situation in Spain, hence its proposal in the abovementioned price package.(1) COM(97) 2000 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2388/98 by Allan MACARTNEY to the Commission. Religious freedom in Pakistan
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, MACARTNEY
Subjects: Christianity, Pakistan, Troika (EU), death penalty, freedom of religious beliefs, homicide, human rights, protection of minorities, religious group, the EU's international role

C 96/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

The aid scheme does not cover therefore all processed products containing peaches and pears and, in particular, it
does not apply to sugar-free or low-sugar products. It rather aims to support producers of peaches and pears in the
Community who thus benefit from prices higher than those paid in non-member countries for competing
products.

Moreover, the Council laid down guarantee thresholds for this aid scheme in order to avoid increased production
in view of the large availability of raw materials and the elasticity of processing capacity.

It appears therefore that the extension of Community support to new products would run counter to the aims of
the Council in instituting this aid scheme and the Commission does not intend to submit such a proposal.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.
(2) Regulation (EC) 504/97 of 19 March 1997 (OJ L 78, 20.3.1997).

(1999/C 96/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2388/98

by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Religious freedom in Pakistan

Given the recent death sentence pronounced on Ayub Masih, is the Commission satisfied that religious freedom is
adequately protected in Pakistan, and are steps being taken to monitor the situation of minority religious groups?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:237)n on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1998)

Through its delegation in Islamabad, the Commission has followed the case of Ayub Masih very closely, and has
expressed grave concern over the death of the bishop of Faisalabad.

The Commission participated in a fact-finding mission in Faisalabad and Sahiwal and met diocesan staff, the
parents of Ayub Masih and local Christians.

On 14 May 1998, the Union Troika delivered a dØmarche on the blasphemy laws to the Pakistani minister of Law
and expressed great disquiet over the existence of the death penalty for blasphemy, stressing the need to take
appropriate measures to avoid abuses.

In conceptual terms, protection of religious freedom can coexist with a blasphemy law in the legislation. The
problem resides in the way it is applied, possible abuses and the level of punishment foreseen in the legislation.

Although religious freedom is, at the moment guaranteed by the constitution in Pakistan, the minority religious
groups fear that an Islamisation of the State could further restrict this freedom. Moreover, the existence of the
death penalty for blasphemy can be used to threaten and intimidate minority groups.

The Commission attaches great importance to all aspects of human rights in Pakistan, and therefore to the
protection of religious freedom. It will therefore continue to monitor closely the situation and participate in all
actions aimed at improving human rights conditions in the country.
98/506/EC: Commission Decision of 27 July 1998 correcting Commission Decision 97/306/EC of 18 April 1997 amending the boundaries of the less-favoured areas in Spain within the meaning of Articles 20 to 25 of Regulation (EC) No 950/97 (notified under document number C(1998) 2279) (Only the Spanish text is authentic)
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Spain, less-favoured agricultural area, regions of Spain

13. 8. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 226/57

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 July 1998

correcting Commission Decision 97/306/EC of 18 April 1997 amending the
boundaries of the less-favoured areas in Spain within the meaning of Articles 20
to 25 of Regulation (EC) No 950/97

(notified under document number C(1998) 2279)

(Only the Spanish text is authentic)

(98/506/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 950/97 of
20 May 1997 on improving the efficiency of agricultural
structures (1), and in particular Article 30 thereof,

Article 1

The Annex to Commission Decision 97/306/EC of 18
April 1997 is hereby corrected as set out in the Annex to
this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.

Wheres the Annex to Commission Decision 97/306/EC
of 18 April 1997 (2), amending the boudaries of the less-
favoured areas in Spain should be corrected;

Done at Brussels, 27 July 1998.

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Agri-
cultual Structures and Rural Development,

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 142, 2. 6. 1997, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 130, 22. 5. 1997, p. 14.

L 226/58

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

13. 8. 98

ANNEX

Table of corrections to be made to Commission Decision 97/306/EC of 18 April 1997

Common
autonome

Wording to be deleted

Wording to be inserted

c.a. 08 Punto C

Comarca 04 - Serran(cid:146)a Baja

Comarca 03 - Serran(cid:146)a Media

c.a. 08 Punto C

199 Gabald(cid:155)n

199 Solera del Gabald(cid:155)n

c.a. 08 Punto D

901 Robledal

901 El Robledo

c.a. 07 Punto C

(*) Comarca: 02-Sep(cid:156)lveda

(*) Comarca: 02-Sep(cid:156)lveda

905 Cuevas del Provanco

905 Cuevas del Provanco

902 Cozuelos de Fuentidue(cid:157)a

c.a. 04 Punto E

903 Migjorn Gran (Es)

902 Migjorn Gran (Es)

c.a. 17 Punto G

(*) Comarca 01 - Guip(cid:156)zcoa

Comarca 01 - Guip(cid:156)zcoa
(the asterisk is deleted)

c.a. 17 Punto C

904 Baliarrin

904 Baliarrain
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2393/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Development aid
Date: 1998-07-27
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: EU Member State, EU statistics, State aid, aid system, development aid, distribution of aid, food aid

11.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 386/171

(98/C 386/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2294/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(22 July 1998)

Subject: Pork prices

Can the Commission state what the average market price for pork was, as paid to farmers in the different states of
the EU, last month (or the most recent month for which the figures are available)?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1998)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat a table containing
the information requested.

(98/C 386/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2315/98

by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission

(22 July 1998)

Subject: State aid

The cooperative I.P.T. based at Scarperia (Florence) submitted an application for funding under Law 49/85
(known as the Marcora law) in respect of which approximately L 189 000 000 was set aside in June 1997
(minimum), before the said law was challenged by DG IV of the European Commission on the grounds that it
constituted state aid. In November 1997, the government drew up a decree amending Law 49/85 to reflect the
remarks issued by the Community authorities. The resolutive opinion of the competent DG on the legislative
decree has not yet been made known and consequently measures cannot be taken quickly to safeguard the 500 or
more jobs affected.

Will the Commission, and the relevant departments, act quickly to make known its definitive opinion on the
decree in question?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1998)

At its weekly meeting on Wednesday 15 July, the Commission decided not to raise any objection to the aid in
question, i.e. No 26/98 (Law 49/85 or the (cid:145)legge Marcora(cid:146)).

(98/C 386/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2393/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Development aid

Can the Commission indicate the amount of development aid and food aid (both public and private) granted to
developing countries by the individual Member States of the EU over the last three years.