do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2830/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Grant aid for pig meat industry in Ireland
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: Ireland, economic support, marketing, meat processing industry, pigmeat

C 182/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

The 1998 information note on the criteria for awarding grants to twinning schemes was adopted by
agreement between the representatives of all the national schemes of the Council of European Municipalities
and Regions and of the World Federation of United Cities, who met in Brussels on 21 January 1998.

Since the programme was adopted in 1989, 24 800 town twinnings have been supported.

At the next meeting on the award criteria for 1999, scheduled for December 1998, the Council of European
Municipalities and Regions (Belgian section) will have an opportunity to submit its proposals.

The Commission examines each file carefully before it decides to reject or accept it, and it feels that various
European themes should be treated during a town twinning ceremony.

(1999/C 182/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2817/98

by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Overbooking and passengers’ rights

(17 September 1998)

In view of the repeated cases of overbooking or overselling which have occurred once more during the
summer and the harm caused to passengers by overbooking, can the Commission say:

1. whether it intends to adopt new measures to regulate this situation, and

2. whether information on passengers’ rights and the compensation due to them in such situations should

not be put on public display in the Union’s airports?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1998)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member and has therefore already taken the necessary
steps to introduce new measures by means of a proposal (1) to amend Council Regulation (EEC) 295/91
establishing common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport (2). In this
proposal the Commission suggests that information relating to passengers’ consumer rights should be
improved with clearly displayed notices at the airports.

Parliament has already finalised its first reading and the amendments are now being discussed by the Council.
A common position could therefore be reached in the near future.

(1) OJ C 120, 18.4.1998.
(2) OJ L 36, 8.2.1991.

(1999/C 182/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2830/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Grant aid for pig meat industry in Ireland

Can the Commission state what amount of grant aid was paid for the marketing and processing of pig meat in
Ireland over the last 15 years and what was the breakdown between the Irish and EU contribution?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2971/98 by Franz LINSER to the Council. Financing and implementing the Brenner tunnel project
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, LINSER
Subjects: Germany, Italy, common transport policy, trans-European network, transport network

C 118/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

Bearing in mind the speech made by Mr Monti, Member of the Commission, during the debate on the
functioning and future of Schengen at the European Parliament(cid:146)s March 1997 part-session, and the report
of the High Level Group on the Free Movement of Persons (of March 1997), which called for more
cooperation between Member States, particularly in frontier regions, and stressed the need for a proper
training policy for their officials, could the Commission state whether it intends to take action to protect
the rights of European Union citizens, with particular reference to the frontier region between Liguria and
France?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question relates to application of the Schengen Agreement and is not therefore
a matter for the Council.

(1999/C 118/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2971/98

by Franz Linser (NI) to the Council

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Financing and implementing the Brenner tunnel project

The President of the Transport Council, Dr Einem, stressed at a meeting of Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on
Transport and Tourism on 1 September 1998 that there was no need for the construction of the Brenner
tunnel.

1. What are the Council(cid:146)s reason for this position?

2. How does the Council envisage the future financing of this project?

3.

(a) What progress has been achieved with the project in respect of the approach roads on Italian

territory?

(b) Has there been any planning activity in Italy?

(c) If so, have any geological surveys or test drills etc. been carried out?

(d) If not, when is the planning work likely to start?

4.

(a) What progress has been achieved with the project in respect of the approach roads on German

territory?

(b) Has there been any planning activity in Germany?

(c) If so, have any geological surveys or test drills etc. been carried out?

(d) If not, when is the planning work likely to start?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

The project entitled (cid:145)High speed train/combined transport North-South, N(cid:252)remberg › Erfurt › Halle/
Leipzig › Berlin, Brenner axis: Verona › Munich(cid:146) is among the projects listed in Decision No 1692/96/
EC of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport
network (1) to which the Essen European Council attached particular importance. Monitoring implemen-
tation of the trans-European network and of these projects is a matter for the Commission.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2859/98 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. Regional cultural development
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, FERRER
Subjects: EU programme, cultural heritage, cultural policy, development policy, fund (EU), heritage protection, regional policy

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/49

(1999/C 142/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2857/98

by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Inclusion of representatives from local and regional authorities in EU national delegations

The Spanish Government has stated its view that representatives of the autonomous communities cannot
be included within the governmental delegations which attend meetings of the EU Council of Ministers
dealing with matters exclusively within the competence of the regions.

This view rules out the possibility of the closer involvement of local and regional authorities in EU
decision-making, which should be achieved by enhancing the role of all local administrations in the EU in
all decision-making at Community level.

Furthermore, this is tantamount to ignoring the principle of subsidiarity and stalling progress towards a
new policy of transparency, both of which are vital to improving the Union’s decision-making procedure.

Is the Commission aware of the view expressed by the Spanish Government?

Does it believe that the opportunity exists to promote the involvement of the various regional authorities in
intergovernmental decision-making in the Council and in the other Community bodies?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1998)

The Commission takes the view that it has no jurisdiction in this matter. It feels that the question ought to
be put to the Council.

(1999/C 142/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2859/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Regional cultural development

Measures in the field of culture help promote awareness of European cultural identity and instil a sense of
European citizenship. Furthermore, they are a factor in endogenous regional development, which can play
a prominent role in job creation.

Few resources are allocated to purely cultural programmes (at the end of 1997 the figure was a mere 8 % of
all resources) or to Community initiatives to promote regional cultural development.

That being so, does the Commission not think that the budgets devoted to fostering and preserving
European culture and to stepping up Community initiatives to promote regional cultural development
should be increased?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1998)

The Commission undertakes cultural activities under a variety of heads. It has been using specifically
cultural programmes to support cultural projects with a European dimension for several years. Although
the budgetary allocation for ongoing cultural programmes is small, as the Honourable Member points out,
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2889/98 by Bernard LEHIDEUX to the Commission. Possible resumption of EU accession negotiations with Malta following the change of government there
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, LEHIDEUX Bernard
Subjects: Council of the European Union, Malta, accession to the European Union

C 135/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

Can the Commission specify whether it is possible to use works of art to pay off debts to the European
Union, as is the case in the Member States when undertakings or individuals contract debts with their
national exchequers, whether regulations exist to cover such an eventuality, and whether it is legally
empowered to deposit such works of art in national museums in the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 1998)

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

(1999/C 135/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2889/98

by Bernard Lehideux (PPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Possible resumption of EU accession negotiations with Malta following the change of govern-

ment there

Mr Eddie Fenech Adami’s National Party has just won the early elections held on 5 September in Malta.

This is the third term of office as prime minister for Mr Adami, who has always expressed his intention of
bringing Malta into the European Union. He was the originator of Malta’s membership application,
subsequently shelved by the Labour government of Mr Alfred Sant which came to power in 1996.

The new prime minister seems to wish to relaunch Malta’s application for membership of the European
Union.

1. What procedures will the new Maltese prime minister have to follow in order to resubmit his
country’s application?

2. When might such an application result in Malta’s accession to the European Union?

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

(3 November 1998)

1.
The new Maltese Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs met the Austrian Foreign
Minister in Vienna on 14 September 1998 and officially presented a request for the reactivation of Malta’s
application for Union membership.

2.
At the General Affairs Council of 5 October 1998 the Council asked the Commission to present an
update of the 1993 opinion on Malta’s request for Union membership. It should be recalled that any
decisions concerning accession negotiations with Malta are for the Council to take.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2833/98 by Niall ANDREWS to the Commission. School leaving age
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: ANDREWS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, exchange of information, length of studies, national law, school age

5.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 31/155

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

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

(1999/C 31/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2833/98

by Niall Andrews (UPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: School leaving age

Will the Commission give details of the legal school leaving age in each Member State of the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1998)

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