do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2723/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Commission. Doubts about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Cuba
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: ACP countries, Cuba, EU relations, International Atomic Energy Agency, Lomé Convention, nuclear power station, nuclear safety













EUR-Lex - 91998E2723 - EN






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91998E2723

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2723/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Commission. Doubts about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Cuba  


Official Journal C 118 , 29/04/1999 P. 0127 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2723/98by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Doubts about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Cuba1. Is the Commission aware that work has been resumed on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Juragua, Cuba, which was begun in 1991 and stopped in 1992, although the building was described as "ramshackle" in a recent report in "The Independent"?2. Is the Commission prepared to seek information as to the safety of both the building and the reactors which, it is claimed, will be ready to go on stream within four years?3. What prospects does Cuba's observer status under the Convention of Lomé offer for the finding of a solution to this issue which will be satisfactory and safe for Cuba in particular and for the region and the world in general, and is the Commission prepared to make use of this new political relationship between the EU and Cuba?Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission(9 October 1998)The Commission is aware of the Cuban government's plans to complete the construction of the Juragua nuclear plant.Safety at the plant is a matter for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the international organisation specialising in these issues. However, the IAEA can only recommend safety measures, it cannot enforce them.The Council has made it quite clear that Cuba's admission as an observer member to the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries does not make its accession to the Lomé Convention a foregone conclusion. The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that relations between the Union and Cuba are governed by the common position adopted on 2 December 1996 and confirmed on 9 June this year.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2687/98 by Ursula SCHLEICHER to the Commission. Discharge of untreated sewage in Lisbon
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, SCHLEICHER
Subjects: Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, catering industry, pollution of waterways, urban area, wastewater, water treatment













EUR-Lex - 91998E2687 - EN






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91998E2687

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2687/98 by Ursula SCHLEICHER to the Commission. Discharge of untreated sewage in Lisbon  


Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0095 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/98by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Discharge of untreated sewage in LisbonIs the Commission aware that, according to Portuguese press reports, many newly opened waterfront restaurants in Lisbon are bypassing the public city sewage system and discharging completely untreated sewage into the Tagus? What steps will it take to curb this continual pollution of the Tagus Estuary?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(5 October 1998)Under Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991, on the treatment of urban waste waters(1), as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC(2) of 27 February 1998, Member States must ensure that sewer systems convey all urban waste waters to water reclamation works for treatment before being discharged into the recipient waters. The final deadline for this is 31 December 1998 in the case of urban areas having more than 10 000 equivalent inhabitants (an equivalent inhabitant is a unit of measurement representing the average organic load produced by one person within one day) whose urban effluents are discharged into waters that have been identified as sensitive by the Member States. For conurbations having more than 15 000 equivalent inhabitants whose urban effluents are discharged into waters that have not been identified as sensitive that deadline is 31 December 2000, while for small conurbations the relevant date is 31 December 2005.The Commission is currently checking the criteria used by the Member States, including Portugal, to identify sensitive areas in terms of water quality. It will for this purpose satisfy itself, in particular, that the classification of the Tagus estuary conforms, since it has not been identified as a sensitive area by the Portuguese authorities.The Commission has not been informed of any direct discharges of effluent from several Lisbon restaurants into the Tagus estuary. It will, in good time check that all conurbations, including Lisbon, comply with the provisions of the directive referred to above with regard to the collection and treatment of urban waste waters.(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.(2) OJ L 67, 7.3.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2646/98 by Edward NEWMAN to the Commission. Illegal immigration - asylum-seekers
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, NEWMAN
Subjects: EU programme, Iraq, Türkiye, financial aid, human rights, illegal migration, imprisonment, migrant, right of asylum, vocational training

C 118/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

The Commission objects to the measures under Law No 2538/97 because they meet the criteria laid down
in Article 92(1) of the Treaty without qualifying for any of the exemptions provided for Article 92(2) and
(3). In particular, the Commission considers that the aid envisaged by the Greek government to settle the
debts of cooperatives does not appear to meet the conditions in the Community guidelines on State aid for
rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (1).

(1) OJ C 283, 19.9.1997.

(1999/C 118/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2645/98

by Kenneth Collins (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Doæana

What information does the Commission have on the extent of damage to the proposed Natura 2000 site in
the Doæana region of Spain, following the toxic chemical spill at Aznalc(cid:243)llar? Can the Commission give
any information on compensation payable for the loss of wildlife in the national park and when were
landowners in the area, such as WWF, notified of such information?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1998)

According to the information supplied by Spain, the chemical spill at Aznalcollar contaminated 2 256 ha
of the nature park and 98 ha of the national park. The polluted water flowed for two to three days along the
(cid:145)Brazo de la Torre(cid:146), which makes up the eastern border of the national park, until it was definitively
stopped by the construction of a dam upstream. This dam, located within the nature park, held back several
million cubic metres of acidified water containing heavy metals.

Work to decontaminate the water held back by the dam is reported to be nearing completion, allowing the
water to be released into the Guadalquivir river. Work to clean up the mud laden with pollutants should
begin immediately and be completed before the next rainy season.

The Commission has received no information on any compensation which might be payable by the
Spanish authorities for the damage caused to wildlife in the national park. However, damage within the
national park seems to have been limited, since steps were swiftly taken to contain the polluted waters at
the northern limits of the park.

(1999/C 118/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/98

by Edward Newman (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Illegal immigration › asylum-seekers

According to information published by the Migration News Sheet (July 1998) the European Union has
offered to provide Turkey with, inter alia, financial assistance for the setting up of detention centres to
hold (cid:145)illegal immigrants(cid:146).

1. Will the Commission confirm or deny that any such offer has been made to Turkey, regardless of
whether Ankara has accepted or rejected the offer?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2724/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Protection of cultural monuments of Kosovo
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Kosovo, Orthodoxy, Unesco, cultural heritage, heritage protection, monument, war

C 135/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

(1999/C 135/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2722/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Doubts about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Cuba

1.
Is the Council aware that work has been resumed on the construction of a nuclear power plant in
Juragua, Cuba, which was begun in 1981 and stopped in 1992, although the building was described as
ramshackle in a recent report in ‘The Independent’?

Is the Council prepared to seek information as to the safety of both the building and the reactors

2.
which, it is claimed, will be ready to go on stream within four years?

3. What prospects does Cuba’s observer status under the Convention of Lomé offer for the finding of a
solution to this issue which will be satisfactory and safe for Cuba in particular and for the region and the
world in general, and is the Council prepared to make use of this new political relationship between the EU
and Cuba?

Reply

(16 November 1998)

1.

The question raised by the Honourable Member has not been discussed by the Council.

In any case, such a question could be discussed in the framework not of Euratom but of the
2.
Convention on Nuclear Safety, to which Cuba (having signed the Convention on 20 September 1994) and
the Member States of the EU are party.

The objectives of that Convention are:

i)

ii)

to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety worldwide through national measures and
international cooperation;

to establish and maintain effective defences in nuclear installations against potential radiological
hasards in order to protect individuals, society and the environment from harmful effects of
ionizing radiation from such installations;

iii) to prevent accidents with radiological consequences and to mitigate such consequences should

they occur.

Article 5 states that ‘each Contracting Party shall submit for review, prior to each meeting referred to in
Article 20, a report on the measures it has taken to implement each of the obligations of this Convention’.

Neither the existing Lomé Convention nor the negotiating proposal for a future Lomé Convention

3.
contain provisions on this matter.

It is also pointed out to the Honourable Member that Cuba’s observer status at the forthcoming
negotiations is without prejudice to any future decision on its accession to the Lomé Convention.

(1999/C 135/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2724/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Protection of cultural monuments of Kosovo

(1 September 1998)

Large numbers of Orthodox and Muslim monuments in Kosovo are under serious threat of destruction as a
result of the armed hostilities in the region. Since the EU regards the protection of the cultural heritage of
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2708/98 by Françoise GROSSETÊTE to the Commission. Proposal for a directive on the distance selling of financial services
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, GROSSETETE
Subjects: consumer protection, distance selling, financial market













EUR-Lex - 91998E2708 - EN






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91998E2708

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2708/98 by Françoise GROSSETÊTE to the Commission. Proposal for a directive on the distance selling of financial services  


Official Journal C 118 , 29/04/1999 P. 0124 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/98by Françoise Grossetête (PPE) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Proposal for a directive on the distance selling of financial servicesIn view of the speech given by Commissioner Monti to the European Parliament in plenary on 19 February 1998;the European Parliament's resolution on the Commission Green Paper on financial services (A4-0048/97)(1);the European Commission's programme for 1998; andthe Communication from the Commission - Financial services: enhancing consumer confidence, of 26 June 1997 (COM(97) 0309),will the Commission provide a justification for its decision, taken in July 1998, not to pursue its work on a proposal for a directive on the distance selling of financial services?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission(5 October 1998)The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that, after examining the proposal for a Directive on the distance selling of financial services in July, it took the view that adoption should be deferred so that the matter could be explored further in the light of the points made below.First, the preparations will have to take account of the strategic review of the single market in financial services that the Commission will present to the Vienna European Council. Second, the degree of harmonisation to be achieved will have to be analysed more closely with a view to ensuring a high level of consumer protection while guaranteeing free movement of financial services provided at a distance. Lastly, there is a need for total coherence with other Community policies, especially in the field of electronic commerce.(1) OJ C 85, 17.3.1997, p. 137.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2641/98 by John McCARTIN Mackerel quota
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: Ireland, authorised catch, catch quota, fishing area, sea fish, ship's flag

C 289/6

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

Specifically for North-West Africa, after a period of intensive consultation with the African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) countries a project will shortly be presented for funding by the European development fund to
develop a fisheries information and analysis system with the six countries of the Sub-regional fisheries
commission (SRFC) (Mauritania, Senegal, Cap Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea). This collaboration aims
to improve the performance of regional and national fisheries management and to mobilize national research
institutions in the six countries with their European partners and have their research respond to the needs of
decision-makers. This project has been endorsed by the ministerial conference of the SRFC in Conakry
9-10 October.

(1999/C 289/007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2641/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Mackerel quota

Can the Commission state what is the total quota of mackerel for Ireland for the current year and how many
tonnes had been caught by 1 June 1998? How many Irish vessels are recorded as having landed mackerel and
what percentage of this catch was landed in Ireland?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1998)

The current quota of mackerel allocated to Ireland in International council for the exploration of the sea (ICES)
zone II (excluding Community-Zone), Vb (Community-Zone), VI, VII, VIIIa), b), d), e), XII and XIV for 1998 is
66 650 tonnes. The monthly catch figures sent to the Commission by Member States show that by 1 June
1998, Irish vessels has caught 45 969 tonnes of mackerel, which represents 69 % of the quota allocated to
Ireland.

Member States do not have an obligation to notify the Commission concerning the number of vessels that have
landed these catches. The Commission is, therefore, not in a position to inform the Honourable Member how
many Irish vessels are recorded as having landed mackerel. This matter should be raised with the authorities in
Ireland.

Furthermore, the Irish authorities have reported to the Commission that 17 414 tonnes of mackerel have been
landed in Irish ports by 1 June 1998. Therefore, 37,9 % of the mackerel caught by Irish vessels has been landed
in Ireland.

(1999/C 289/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2643/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Famine relief to Sudan

Can the Commission outline what steps have been taken to provide relief for the victims of the famine in
southern Sudan and whether the budgetary resources available have been a limiting factor on the EU’s relief
activities?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2642/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Coordination of action in Sudan
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: EU aid, Sudan, aid to disaster victims, coordination of aid, financing of aid, humanitarian aid, hunger, non-governmental organisation

8.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96/127

2.
Is the Commission aware of the sometimes unreasonable conditions under which visas are issued to
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for entry into a Member State of the EU? Does the Commission intend to ease
the requirements and conditions for the issue of such visas and to abolish them in the foreseeable future?

3.
Does the Commission regard the proportion of Roma people in the two countries as an obstacle to the
removal of the latter from the common list compiled pursuant to Article 100c of the Treaty establishing the
European Community? If so, why?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1998)

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

(1999/C 96/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2642/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Coordination of action in Sudan

Does the Commission consider that there is any coordination of action between national governments of the
Member States active in the Sudan in the relief of the famine and does it consider that such coordination could
improve the effectiveness of their efforts?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Most humanitarian assistance for those affected by war and drought in Sudan is channelled through organisations
(United Nations or non governmental organisations (NGOs)) working under the umbrella of Operation Lifeline
Sudan (OLS). OLS is a coordination mechanism, as well as a legal framework.

Under OLS auspices, regular coordination meetings are held, both in Khartoum and in Nairobi. Some of these
meetings are exclusively for donors, including Member States. In the view of the Commission, such meetings
serve to ensure a reasonable level of coordination between donors.

On a more general level, a revised system for exchange of information between the Commission and the Member
States on funding decisions for humanitarian assistance was introduced in 1997. This system aims to strengthen
coordination by means of a 48 › hour turn-around retransmission on Internet of funding decisions and statistics.

(1999/C 96/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2644/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Coordination of NGO action in Sudan

Can the Commission state which NGOs using EU resources are active in the Sudan in the area of famine relief and
whether there has been any effort at EU level to coordinate the work of these NGOs?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2530/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Contacts for Commission information campaigns
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MATHER
Subjects: European Commission, United Kingdom, consultancy, organisation, provision of services, research, research body, sample survey

C 96/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

The Commission considers that these restrictions, provided that appropriate implementing measures are taken at
the national level, represent an adequate legal basis for effectively dealing with situations such as those indicated
by the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997.

(1999/C 96/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2527/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Political oppression in Burma

As the military dictatorship of Burma has carried out countless atrocities against the Burmese people and the
population of the country lives in extreme poverty despite an abundance of natural resources, what action does
the Commission intend to take?

Would the Commission advocate the imposition of economic and financial sanctions against the Burmese
government?

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

(28 September 1998)

The Commission continues to press its partners to urge the government in Burma to engage in a substantive
dialogue with the opposition. In particular, this has been an important issue in recent discussions with its
Association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN) partners.

Under the common position, co-operation with Burma remains suspended and will continue to be so until
substantial progress is made towards democratisation and the respect of human rights. Only humanitarian
programmes will be funded.

In addition, outside the political framework, it has to be recalled that the Union has temporarily withdrawn
Burma(cid:146)s access to the tariff preferences granted within the framework of the schemes of generalized tariff
preferences (GSP) because of the practice of forced labour (Council Regulation (EC) 552/97 of 24 March
1997 (1)).

The Union has decided to keep additional measures under consideration, whilst prolonging the common position
on Burma. The decision regarding the imposition of further sanctions against the Burmese government has to be
taken under the Common foreign and security policy (CFSP) framework and not by the Commission alone.

(1) OJ L 85, 27.3.1997.

(1999/C 96/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2530/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Contacts for Commission information campaigns

Has the Commission purchased, in the last five years, research, polling or consultancy services from the company
Carville, Greenburg and Gould/NOP, or the UK-based organisations 2010 or the Foreign Policy Centre?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

The Commission has no knowledge of having engaged the services of the companies referred to in the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.