do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2503/98 by Yvan BLOT to the Council. The situation in Kosovo and protection of the cultural heritage
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: BLOT, European Parliament
Subjects: Kosovo, architectural heritage, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, cultural policy, heritage protection













EUR-Lex - 91998E2503 - EN






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91998E2503

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2503/98 by Yvan BLOT to the Council. The situation in Kosovo and protection of the cultural heritage  


Official Journal C 096 , 08/04/1999 P. 0107 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/98by Yvan Blot (NI) to the Council(1 September 1998)Subject: The situation in Kosovo and protection of the cultural heritageMembers of the European Parliament recently received letters alerting them to the dangers of Kosovo's architectural and cultural heritage being destroyed in the event of conflict.The writer of the letter, who also wrote to the Director-General of Unesco on behalf of the association he heads, believes that giving Kosovo's buildings, both Orthodox and Muslim, world heritage status could play an important part in preventing the situation from degenerating.1. What is the Council's position on the granting of world heritage status to Kosovo's monuments?2. If it is in favour of the granting of such status, does the Council intend making representations of any kind to Unesco?Reply(3 November 1998)1. Article 128 of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates, inter alia, that:"The Community and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture [...]."Implementation of this provision requires submission of a proposal from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Since no such proposal concerning the question raised by the Honourable Member has been put to the Parliament and the Council, they cannot act officially in this context.2. The Council is, however, aware of the threats to the architectural and cultural heritage in Kosovo. The question of the protection of sights and monuments of great cultural and/or religious value has been tackled on several occasions by the European Union in its proposals on the future status of Kosovo, in particular in the context of the Contact Group. The Council hopes that these representations will help towards a resolution of the present crisis and the safeguarding of Kosovo's architectural and cultural heritage.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2729/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Taxation of savings income (COM(98)295)
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MATHER
Subjects: Spain, direct tax, fiscal policy, impact study, outflow of capital, tax on investment income

C 118/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

The Council has made it quite clear that Cuba(cid:146)s admission as an observer member to the group of African,
Caribbean and Pacific countries does not make its accession to the LomØ Convention a foregone
conclusion. The Commission would draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)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.

(1999/C 118/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2727/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Impact of proposed directive on taxation of savings income (COM(98) 295)

Following a General Affairs Council meeting in July 1998, Mr Jacques Poos was reported as having called
for a study by an independent firm of the potential effects on capital markets of the introduction of the
measures set out in this proposal.

Can the Commission confirm that such a study will be commissioned? If not, can it explain why it does not
consider that such a study would be necessary or useful?

(1999/C 118/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2728/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Taxation of savings income (COM(98) 295)

The Impact Assessment Form attached to this proposal states that (cid:145)the impact of the proposal is ... centred
on the cost of supplementary administrative responsibilities asked of the paying agents(cid:146), but makes no
attempt to quantify this cost.

Does the Commission agree that a quantification of this cost would be extremely useful for a consideration
of the potential impact of this Directive, and will it undertake to produce one?

(1999/C 118/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2729/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Taxation of savings income (COM(98) 295)

The Impact Assessment Form attached to this proposal states that (cid:145)the impact of the proposal is ... centred
on the cost of supplementary administrative responsibilities asked of the paying agents,(cid:146) and gives no
serious consideration to the possibility that capital flight could result from the imposition of a withholding
tax, despite clear precedents which suggest that this would occur and would be substantial.

1. What consideration has the Commission given to this issue, and does it propose to produce a
document detailing this consideration?

2.
Given the tremendous importance of this question, particularly in view of the suggestion made by
Mr Helmut Kramer at the Austrian Presidency Tax Conference, held in Vienna on 13 July, 1 000 billion
might be liable to the proposed withholding tax, will the Commission put in hand an independent study to
examine it?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2644/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Coordination of NGO action in Sudan
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: EU aid, Sudan, aid to disaster victims, coordination of aid, food 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. 2605/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Airline timetables and S.A. Benz
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: air transport, consumer protection, publishing, selective dissemination of information

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/11

(1999/C 207/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2584/98

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 July 1998)

Subject: EU banana arrangements

Has the USA indicated whether in its view the measures adopted by the Agriculture Ministers to counter the
WTO decision meet the requirements of the WTO decision?

How can the EU banana arrangements be reconciled with the Commission’s desire for free and liberal world
trade without trade restrictions, and is there not a danger that third countries can use the EU banana
arrangements as an object lesson/excuse for maintaining protectionist measures on their domestic markets?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1998)

The United States have given some indication that it has some doubts about whether the revision of the
common organisation of the market in bananas will necessarily meet World trade organisation (WTO)
requirements.

The Commission believes that the revised banana regime is fully compatible with the legal requirements of the
WTO and the provisions of the IVth Lomé Convention.

(1999/C 207/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Airline timetables and S.A. Benz

Is the Commission aware of the latest piece of imaginative fiction published by the Belgian author S.A. Benz?

This novel, in a highly original style, purports to be an airline timetable. However, it is leading to some
confusion as passengers are mistaking it for the real timetable and in consequence arriving hours late at their
destinations.

Will the Commission ask the publishers either to cease and desist from distributing this publication or at least
to accompany it with the necessary disclaimer.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1998)

The Commission is not aware of the book to which the Honourable Member refers but is grateful to him for
drawing attention to such an original work.

Since the fictional nature of the book is apparent, the Commission does not share the concerns expressed by
the Honourable Member, nor is it considering any action.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2667/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Council. High-tech crime
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: action programme, child protection, new technology, organised crime, pornography, telecommunications

C 118/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

(1999/C 118/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2666/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Relations between the Council and Parliament

Both preceding Council presidencies have anticipated the Amsterdam Treaty by extending Parliament(cid:146)s
rights of consultation under the third pillar.

1.

How will the new presidency implement this practice?

2. What is the presidency(cid:146)s position on the call for Council representatives to be present during
discussions in Parliament(cid:146)s committees and to be authorized to speak on behalf of the Council?

It would enhance the coherence and continuity of Parliament(cid:146)s work if each presidency were to

3.
submit a written final report on its work. What view does the Council take of this proposal?

Reply

(27 November 1998)

The Council intends to continue the practice it has followed to date in applying the first and second
paragraphs of Article K.6 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) as regards informing and consulting the
European Parliament and taking its views into consideration. In this connection the Austrian Presidency,
like its two predecessors, will continue to consult the European Parliament on legally binding acts in the
areas covered by Title VI of the TEU.

Regarding the presence of Council representatives at parliamentary committee meetings, it may be noted
that the Council Presidency regularly attends parliamentary committees to discuss the issues referred to in
Title VI of the TEU.

The Council wishes to point out that, as in previous years, it will present a review of its action under Title
VI of the TEU to the European Parliament at the end of 1998, at the annual debate held pursuant to Article
K.6. In addition, a report on the progress of the European Union, especially in the justice and home affairs
field, is submitted to the European Parliament every year.

(1999/C 118/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: High-tech crime

The programme of the current presidency makes reference to preparatory work on a resolution on high-
tech crime.

1. What exactly is planned for this topic?

2. What exactly is meant by this term?

3.

How does the Council assess the legal status of such a (cid:145)resolution(cid:146)?

4. What is this resolution supposed to achieve in the opinion of the Council?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2603/98 by Stelios ARGYROS , Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Arbitrary treatment of Greek consumers by EYDAP
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: ARGYROS, European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: Greece, consumer protection, dominant position, supply, trading margin, water supply













EUR-Lex - 91998E2603 - EN






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91998E2603

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2603/98 by Stelios ARGYROS , Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Arbitrary treatment of Greek consumers by EYDAP  


Official Journal C 118 , 29/04/1999 P. 0100 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/98by Stelios Argyros (PPE) and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Arbitrary treatment of Greek consumers by EYDAP"Citizens' Defence", a civic non-profit-making organization whose objective is to protect the general public from arbitrary government measures, claims that EYDAP (the Athens water supply and sewerage company) is charging Greek consumers a sum for replacing water meters which is more than twice the cost of supplying the meters. Well-founded suspicions have been aroused, therefore, that the company is making an unjustifiably large profit. Under the terms of the contract for the work, which was awarded to the lowest tenderer, the cost of manufacturing and installing the meters was DRS 4 774 each, whereas EYDAP is charging consumers DRS 10 000 + 18 % VAT, a total of DRS 11 800 to replace them. However, under the terms of a Ministerial Decision of 1992, EYDAP is only entitled to charge a fee equal to the cost of supplying, installing and guaranteeing the use of the meters and is not allowed to make a profit.In the light of the above, does the Commission consider that EYDAP's actions constitute abuse or exploitation of a dominant position? Are its actions consistent with Community law and what does the Commission intend to do to remedy this situation?Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission(2 October 1998)As to its compatibility with Community law, the case referred to does not affect trade between Member States and so is caught not by Community law but by the domestic law of the Member State concerned.That said, the Commission is unable to establish on the basis of the particulars provided by the Honourable Member whether there is abuse of a dominant position on the market served by EYDAP.Generally speaking, the profit margin of a company selling and installing equipment must cover general and specific costs in such a way as to provide it with a net profit. In the case at issue, the incidence of those costs has not been communicated by the Honourable Member. Consequently, it is not possible to estimate the profit that EYDAP may have made.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2726/98 by Mary BANOTTI to the Commission. Soap containing mercury
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: BANOTTI, European Parliament
Subjects: EC Directive, approximation of laws, cosmetic product, export (EU), market approval, marketing restriction, mercury

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/105

all peoples as a matter of prime importance and works in close cooperation with Unesco and other
international organizations to that end, will the Commission say what initiatives it will take to have the
monuments of the region of Kosovo classified as part of the world cultural heritage and protected
accordingly?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 1998)

The Commission is aware of the threat to the cultural heritage monuments in Kosovo due to the armed
conflict.

The Commission has no competence to classify cultural heritage monuments in the world heritage list.
This is the exclusive responsibility of the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation
(Unesco) and as the Honourable Member is aware, such an initiative has to be undertaken by the
authorities of the country in question through the diplomatic procedures established by Unesco.

(1999/C 135/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2726/98

by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Soap containing mercury

Can the Commission inform me if skin-whitening soaps containing mercury are still being produced for
export from the EU? Can the Commission inform me in which Member States the manufacture of this
banned product continues?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

The safety of cosmetic products marketed in the Community is ensured by the provisions of Council
Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
cosmetic products (1) (the Cosmetics Directive). The use of mercury and its compounds in cosmetic
products marketed in the Community is prohibited through the provisions of Annex II, ‘List of substances
which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products’.

The Cosmetics Directive refers to the placing on the market of cosmetic products in the Community. There
are no provisions that cover the manufacture of cosmetic products for export to third countries. Rather, the
marketing of products in third countries is considered a matter for the legislation of the appropriate
authority holding jurisdiction in the country in question.

Further, the Cosmetics Directive does not require the notification of manufacturing sites that produce
products intended solely for export to third countries. Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to
address the question of whether skin whitening mercury based soaps are still in production for export from
the Community.

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2630/98 by Arie OOSTLANDER to the Commission. Netherlands packaging requirements for milk products that qualify for subsidies under the EU school milk scheme
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, OOSTLANDER
Subjects: EU aid, Netherlands, delivery, educational institution, packaging, price increase, skimmed milk, whole milk













EUR-Lex - 91998E2630 - EN






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91998E2630

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2630/98 by Arie OOSTLANDER to the Commission. Netherlands packaging requirements for milk products that qualify for subsidies under the EU school milk scheme  


Official Journal C 297 , 15/10/1999 P. 0027 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2630/98by Arie Oostlander (PPE) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Netherlands packaging requirements for milk products that qualify for subsidies under the EU school milk schemeAre the Netherlands packaging requirements for milk products, which give rise to additional costs far in excess of the effect of subsidies under the EU school milk scheme, not inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the pertinent regulation?If so, should such packaging not be prohibited so that the promotion of dairy products may have its intended effect?Is the Commission prepared to approach the Netherlands authorities in this matter?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission(17 September 1998)The Honourable Member's question probably refers to the provision requiring packs of full-fat or semi-skimmed milk distributed under the school milk scheme in the Netherlands to contain 0,25 litre. In this respect, the Commission can confirm that the Community legislation on the school milk scheme makes no such requirement. The Netherlands authorities introduced the rule to facilitate inspections and notified the Commission of it in 1994 as part of their national application provisions. The Commission did not comment on it. It also appears that the Netherlands authorities are preparing an amendment of the provision in question.The Commission recognises that small packs do indeed increase the cost of the product, and that this is likely to counteract the effect of the aid. However, such packaging also has certain undeniable advantages, particularly practical and administrative ones. The Commission therefore does not consider it appropriate to adopt Community rules on the matter.