WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2656/98 by Antoinette SPAAK to the Council. Use of languages in the Institutions of the European Union
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, SPAAK
Subjects: EU institution, EU statistics, European language, enlargement of the Union, linguistics, official document, official language, translation, use of languages

C 96/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

The following agencies and non governmental organizations (NGOs) are already supported by the Commission
for feeding programmes and food distribution in Sudan: United Nations World food programme, United Nations
international children(cid:146)s fund (UNICEF), MØdecins sans FrontiØres (Belgique), Medair (CH), Save the Children
(United Kingdom), Care International, Dutch InterChurch Aid, and Oxfam (United Kingdom). New allocations
are expected to be confirmed shortly for the following additional organisations, also for feeding programmes:
International Committee of the Red Cross, International Rescue Committee (United States), Care (Germany),
MØdecins sans FrontiØres (the Netherlands), MØdecins sans FrontiØres (Switzerland), Merlin (United Kingdom),
and Action contre la Faim (France).

The following other organisations are also supported by the Commission to provide vital humanitarian assistance
in Sudan, but in sectors other than feeding programmes and food distribution (health, distribution of relief items,
and food security programmes such as animal health, fishing equipment, seeds and tools): German Red Cross,
Goal (Ireland), Pharmaciens sans FrontiØres (France), COSV (Italy), MØdecins du Monde (France), International
Aid Sweden, VØtØrinaires sans FrontiØres (Switzerland), VØtØrinaires sans FrontiØres (Belgique), Intermon
(Spain), H(cid:244)pital sans FrontiØres (France) and International Rescue Committee (Spain).

(1999/C 96/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2647/98

by Edward Newman (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Schengen visa

1.
Since the Commission enjoys the status of observer to the Schengen Group, of which the United Kingdom is
not a member, can the Commission specify what means of appeal is available to a third country national residing
in the UK or in his or her country of origin who is denied a Schengen visa on the grounds that at least one
Schengen State has listed him or her on its (cid:145)blacklist(cid:146)?

Does this third country national have the right to know which Schengen Member State(s) is/are opposed to

2.
his/her entry into its/their territory? If yes, how can the person avail himself/herself of this right?

If this third country national feels for example that (s)he is a victim of mistaken identity or erroneous data

3.
collected, what possibilities are there to rectify any errors?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1998)

Until the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, which incorporates the Schengen arrangements into the
framework of the Union, those arrangements remain intergovernmental in nature, and so it is not for the
Commission to provide the information sought by the Honourable Member.

(1999/C 96/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2656/98

by Antoinette Spaak (ELDR) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Use of languages in the Institutions of the European Union

1. What was in the past, and what is at present, the number of pages produced in the original in a language of
the European Union, and in which languages were/are they sent for translation?

2. What is the position of the European institutions, in the light of enlargement, as far as languages are
concerned?