do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3321/98 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER to the Council. Trial of Cuban dissidents for whom 'the motherland belongs to everybody'
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, ROBLES PIQUER
Subjects: Cuba, Lomé Convention, diplomatic relations, dissidence, freedom of expression, human rights, political prisoner, the EU's international role

C 182/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

(1999/C 182/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3318/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Information about genetic manipulation in advertising

1. What measures is the Commission planning to take to ensure that advertising informs consumers about
the genetic manipulation of soya and maize and other novel food products?

2.
Does the Commission share the Members’ view that information about genetic manipulation should be
provided at the advertising stage, thus satisfying consumers’ desire for information and transparency on this
issue?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 1999)

The information that must be supplied under Council Directive 79/112/EEC (on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate
consumer) (1) / e.g. the list of ingredients / does not extend to the area of advertising.

Only the requirement contained in that Directive’s Article 2 that labelling contents and methods must not be
such as might mislead the purchaser also applies to advertising.

The Commission does not at present envisage departing from this principle and making it obligatory for
advertising to included information on any genetic manipulation of the advertised foodstuff or of its
ingredients. The labels of foodstuffs remain, in the Commission’s view, the appropriate place to inform
consumers on a product’s various properties.

(1) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(1999/C 182/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/98

by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Council

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Trial of Cuban dissidents for whom ‘the motherland belongs to everybody’

In its reply of 8 June 1998 to Written Question E-0975/98 (1), the Council referred to the declaration by the
European Union calling for the release of, amongst others, four members of the Internal Dissidence Working
Group, co-authors of a text entitled ‘The Motherland Belongs To Everybody.’

After a fourteen-month detention in prison, they have finally been charged under legal proceedings brought by
the Cuban Government, with the request that they serve five- or six-year prison sentences.

Does the Council intend to monitor this case closely, keep Parliament duly informed, and continue pressing for
reform of the Cuban civil code to help individuals whose sole crime has been to have ‘peacefully expressed
their political views?’

(1) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 162.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3317/98 by Daniela RASCHHOFER to the Commission. Measures to improve the production and marketing of honey
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, animal disease, apiculture, food chemistry, honey, marketing, product quality, production improvement, technical cooperation

28.6.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 182/65

(1999/C 182/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3317/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Measures to improve the production and marketing of honey

Regulation 1221/97 (1) provides for measures to improve the production and marketing of honey.

Given that it specifically states on a number of occasions that it is aimed at beekeepers, the following questions
arise in connection with the implementation of this Regulation:

1.

Is it in keeping with the Regulation that, owing to the national programmes, the target group named by
the Regulation should be neglected?

2. What control mechanisms does the Commission have to ensure that EU funds are used for the benefit of

the target group in question?

3. How does the Regulation comply with the principle of transparency and targeted use, if only a tiny

proportion of the aid is channelled directly to the target group, namely beekeepers?

4. How does the Commission view the fact that, owing to the national orientation of the measures ‘to
improve the production and marketing of honey’, only some 40 % of the resources provided have been
utilised?

(1) OJ L 173, 1.7.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Regulation (EC) 1221/97 on measures to improve the production and marketing of honey allows Member
States to include in their programmes five particularly important types of measures: (a) technical assistance, (b)
control of varroasis, (c) rationalisation of transhumance, (d) analysis of the physicochemical properties of
honey and (e) applied research into improving the quality of honey. Clearly, while beekeepers are referred to in
(a) of Article 1(2), the above-mentioned measures will all have a positive effect- although not necessarily a
direct one 9 on beekeepers’ incomes.

Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) 2300/97 of 20 November 1997 on detailed rules to implement
Council Regulation (EC) 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the
production and marketing of honey (1) deals with control arrangements.

The deadline for incurring expenditure in respect of measures under national programmes for improving the
production and marketing of honey has been postponed until 31 January 1999 in the case of the first year of
implementation (Council Regulation (EC) 2070/98 of 28 September 1998 amending Regulation (EC) 1221/97
laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of
honey (2)), resulting in the carryover to the 1999 budget of part of the 1998 budget.

(1) OJ L 319, 21.11.1997.
(2) OJ L 265, 30.9.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3328/98 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. European guarantee fund for pensions
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: application of EU law, budgetary reserve (EU), competence of the Member States, equal treatment, gender equality, migrant worker, pension scheme, population ageing, provision, social security

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/185

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the above state of affairs, what action it intends to take and
whether it is possible to include the above region in the European network Natura 2000, a move which
would make a vital contribution towards protecting these valuable wetlands from plans to convert them
into a golf course?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1164/98 by
Mr Tamino during question time at Parliament’s December 1998 part-session (1).

(1) Debates of the Parliament (December 1998).

(1999/C 135/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3328/98

by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: European guarantee fund for pensions

(10 November 1998)

Continuing speculation about the future of pensions has prompted a number of Member States to set up a
public reserve fund to finance pensions in the medium and long term.

The fund will come into operation if the social security system becomes inadequate, because of the ageing
of the population, to cover possible future discrepancies between contributions and benefits.

Does the Commission consider that it should devise a European version of this by creating a common fund
for the whole European Union, in an attempt, by analogy with the aforementioned national funds, to avoid
any future imbalances which may arise in any Member State by introducing a Community system based
on solidarity for the future of all the existing pension schemes in the Member States of the Union?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1998)

In the area of social protection, Member States are free to fix their own policies on the organisation and
operation of social security schemes, provided they comply with Community law on equal treatment for
men and women and on social security for migrant workers.

Consequently, Member States may agree to set up a public reserve fund to finance pensions in the medium
and long term, if they so wish. The Commission has no intention of promoting the idea of a common fund
of this nature for the whole Community.

(1999/C 135/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3396/98

by Marco Cellai (NI) to the Commission

(17 November 1998)

Subject: Commission competition held on 14 September 1998

Competitions are intended to select from among the candidates those who are most suitable (thus deemed
to be the best) for filling responsible positions at the Commission. That objective is therefore vital both for
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2427/98 of 10 November 1998 fixing the maximum export refunds for olive oil for the first partial invitation to tender under the standing invitation to tender issued by Regulation (EC) No 2269/98
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, olive oil

11. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 300/17

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2427/98

of 10 November 1998

fixing the maximum export refunds for olive oil for the first partial invitation to
tender under the standing invitation to tender issued by Regulation (EC) No
2269/98

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC of
22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common
organisation of the market in oils and fats (1), as last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 (2), and in
particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2269/98 (3)
issued a standing invitation to tender with a view to
determining the export refunds on olive oil;

Whereas Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 2269/98
provides that maximum amounts are to be fixed for the
export refunds in the light in particular of the current
situation
the
Community and world olive-oil markets and on the basis
of the tenders received; whereas contracts are awarded to
any tenderer who submits a tender at the level of the
maximum refund or at a lower level;

developments

foreseeable

and

on

Whereas, for the purposes of applying the abovemen-
tioned provisions, the maximum export refunds should be
set at the levels specified in the Annex;

Whereas the Management Committee for Oils and Fats
has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by
its chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The maximum export refunds for olive oil for the first
partial invitation to tender under the standing invitation
to tender issued by Regulation (EC) No 2269/98 are
hereby fixed in the Annex, on the basis of the tenders
submitted by 6 November 1998.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 11 November
1998.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.

Done at Brussels, 10 November 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 172, 30. 9. 1966, p. 3025/66.
(2) OJ L 210, 28. 7. 1998, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 284, 22. 10. 1998, p. 25.

L 300/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 11. 98

ANNEX

to the Commission Regulation of 10 November 1998 fixing the maximum export refunds
for olive oil for the first partial invitation to tender under the standing invitation to tender
issued by Regulation (EC) No 1978/97

Product code

Amount of refund

(ECU/100 kg)

1509 10 90 9100

1509 10 90 9900

1509 90 00 9100

1509 90 00 9900

1510 00 90 9100

1510 00 90 9900

—

—

—

—

—

—

NB: The product codes and the footnotes are defined in amended

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3846/87.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3324/98 by Kirsi PIHA to the Commission. Use of child labour in Europe
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, PIHA
Subjects: Europe, Europol, child labour, child protection, children's rights, drug traffic, pornography, prostitution













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91998E3324

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3324/98 by Kirsi PIHA to the Commission. Use of child labour in Europe  


Official Journal C 207 , 21/07/1999 P. 0050 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3324/98by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission(10 November 1998)Subject: Use of child labour in EuropeAccording to estimates by the Economic and Social Committee, there are more than 5 million under-aged children working in Europe. Most of these children work in areas such as pornography, the drugs trade and sex tourism.In the light of the above, what does the Commission propose to do to investigate the real extent of the use of child labour in Europe? How is the Commission seeking by means of Community policies to help in the struggle to eradicate child labour?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission(26 January 1999)The Commission wholeheartedly condemns all forms of child labour, in particular those mentioned by the Honourable Member.Council Directive 94/33/CE of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work(1) requires the Member States to take the necessary measures to prohibit work by children. They must ensure that young people are protected against economic exploitation and against any work likely to harm their safety, health or physical, mental, moral or social development or to jeopardise their education. This Community directive was to be incorporated into the legislation of the Member States by 22 June 1996, which means that the Member States are obliged to implement all measures needed to ensure effective application of these provisions.The joint action of 24 February 1997(2) requires the Member States to criminalise and to punish the sexual exploitation of children, including the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity, the exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual activities, including pornographic performances and materials.Furthermore, Europol within its mandate on trafficking in human beings is also active in the fight against such sexual exploitation in co-operation with law enforcement agencies in the Member States.The Commission also runs the STOP programme which supports public authorities in the fight against trafficking in children and their sexual exploitation, and the Daphne programme which supports non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the fight against all forms of violence towards children, including sexual exploitation.(1) OJ L 216, 20.8.1994.(2) OJ L 63, 4.3.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3308/98 by Manuel ESCOLÁ HERNANDO to the Commission. Problems in the alabaster industry in Aragon
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: ESCOLA HERNANDO, European Parliament
Subjects: Aragon, application of EU law, dominant position, mining extraction, mining industry, mining operation, monopoly, ore processing, processing industry, raw material

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/117

(1999/C 142/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3298/98

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(9 November 1998)

Subject: Directive on the construction of shooting ranges

It is understood that the Commission is planning a directive setting out uniform rules on the construction
of shooting ranges throughout Europe. Besides safety requirements, new financial provisions concerning
high security deposits are also under discussion. A deposit of this kind might threaten the construction of a
new shooting range.

In view of the subsidiarity principle laid down in Article 3b of the EC Treaty it has to be asked how such a
directive can be adopted at EU level?

Is it in fact true that a Commission initiative aimed at harmonising the construction of shooting ranges is
planned?

If so, what are the details?

How does the Commission justify the inclusion of this sphere in its terms of reference?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 1999)

The Commission has no plans for a directive setting out uniform rules on the construction of shooting
ranges.

(1999/C 142/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/98

by Manuel Escolá Hernando (ARE) to the Commission

Subject: Problems in the alabaster industry in Aragon

(10 November 1998)

95 % of the world’s alabaster production (48 000 tonnes) today takes place in the Autonomous Community
of Aragon (Spain), in the area formed by Bajo Martín, Caspe and the lower banks of the Ebro.

However, all of the alabaster mined is exported before the manufacturing stage. This is because the mining
rights are in the hands of a small number of companies which are not based in the mining area, and which
monopolise the entire market, sending the raw material to their own factories and practising quite
unjustified prices.

In some cases, companies located in the mining area have even had to close down, following severe
exploitation problems arising from the power of the owners of the mining rights.

This gross concentration of mining rights in the hands of a few is preventing the development of
manufacturing enterprises in the places where the alabaster is mined, thus creating obstacles to job
creation and population stability.

Is the Commission aware of this monopoly on the market in alabaster?

Does the Commission intend to take measures to stop this state of affairs, in which this raw material is
generating no value added in the area where it is mined? If so, what is the nature of these measures?

Can the Commission guarantee supplies of this raw material, in proper free-market conditions and at fair
prices, to the enterprises which could be created in the mining area?