do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3580/98 by Luciano VECCHI Foreign debts of the Central American countries hit by natural disasters
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, VECCHI
Subjects: Central America, EU aid, debt reduction, development aid, economic reconstruction, emergency aid, external debt, humanitarian aid, natural disaster, poverty













EUR-Lex - 91998E3580 - EN






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91998E3580

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3580/98 by Luciano VECCHI Foreign debts of the Central American countries hit by natural disasters  


Official Journal C 289 , 11/10/1999 P. 0065 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3580/98by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission(1 December 1998)Subject: Foreign debts of the Central American countries hit by natural disastersSeveral Central American countries, with Honduras and Nicaragua foremost among them, were recently hit by terrible natural disasters which caused thousands of deaths and left hundreds of thousands homeless and without any means of subsistence.The countries concerned are among the poorest in the western hemisphere and are likely to be deprived of all means of recovery and development for a long time to come.Given this situation, it appears wholly improbable that these countries will be able to continue to pay off the large foreign debts which are such a burden to them, and it is morally unacceptable to expect them to do so.Action to reduce, reschedule or even cancel their foreign debts - as proposed by a large number of organisations, some European governments and the countries concerned themselves - is therefore not only extremely desirable but necessary.Would the Commission agree that it should take steps directly, in conjunction with the Member States or within the international financial institutions, to reduce or cancel the foreign debts of Honduras, Nicaragua and other Central American countries?Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission(22 January 1999)The Commission shares the sorrow of the international community for the catastrophic effects of hurricane Mitch on Central America. It has indicated its readiness to participate actively in the reconstruction efforts, to which the Community has already provided [fmxeuro] 210 million for humanitarian and emergency assistance. Furthermore, although the afflicted countries do not have any outstanding debt to the Community itself, the Commission supports the initiatives already undertaken by a number of Member States to reduce the external debt obligations of these countries so as to help reap the full benefits of the long-term development and reconstruction efforts. The Commission joined other major donors in the conference that took place in Washington in December 1998 to assess the region's needs and long term strategies.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3549/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Fees of private clinics in Greece
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: DASKALAKI, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, competition law, health insurance, hospital expenses, medical institution, private sector

28.6.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 182/97

number of inhabitants born outside the EU, the country of origin of immigrants, figures for the recruitment of
labour and the age of foreign-born inhabitants. The Member States included are Belgium, Denmark, Spain,
Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Sweden but not
Germany.

Why does the Statistical Office conduct surveys of the population structure in EU Member States that exclude
the Member State with the largest population and what contribution does a survey that gives no details of
foreigners or the foreign-born population in Germany make to knowledge of the Community?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1999)

Following regular requests to the Commission for data on population by country of birth, Member States were
asked in 1996 to provide the relevant information to Eurostat. Several Member States, including Germany,
could not provide all the information requested, but given the interest of the public it was considered useful to
publish the available information in ‘Statistics in Focus’ and in the Eurostat database ‘New Cronos.’ No totals
for the whole Community are calculated, given the lack of information from Germany and other Member
States. When more information becomes available from Member States (for example after a census) it will be
put in the database.

(1999/C 182/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(1 December 1998)

Subject: Fees of private clinics in Greece

Public hospitals in Greece have raised their fees by 60-100 % and psychiatric clinics by 35 %; these fees are paid
by the insurance funds. In contrast, the fees of general clinics in the private sector have been frozen for a period
of six years despite repeated protests from the Greek Association of Private Clinics against such unfair
treatment.

Is this situation consistent with the rules on competition and is there a means of eliminating these disparities?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1999)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that possible anti-competitive practices which have
consequences mainly for a national market have in principle to be examined by the authorities in that Member
State under national competition law. The practices described by the Honourable Member appear to relate
only to Greek hospitals and clinics, so the Greek competition authorities are the most appropriate authorities
to deal with the her question.

As to the compatibility of the situation with competition rules, the Commission does not have sufficient
information to allow it to take a position.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2592/98 of 1 December 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 2544/98 fixing the export refunds on products processed from cereals and rice
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cereal product, production refund, rice

L 324/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 12. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2592/98

of 1 December 1998

amending Regulation (EC) No 2544/98 fixing the export refunds on products
processed from cereals and rice

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92
of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the
market in cereals (1), as last amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 923/96 (2), and in particular Article
13(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of
22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the
market in rice (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
2072/98 (4), and in particular Article 13(3) thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2544/98 (5)
fixed the refunds applicable on exports of products
processed from cereals and rice;

Whereas a check has shown that the published version
does not correspond to the measures presented for an
opinion to the Management Committee; whereas the
Regulation in question should therefore be corrected,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2544/98 for the
products covered by Product Code 1702 90 79 9000 the
amount 74,32 is replaced by 70,32.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 2 December
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 1 December 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 126, 24. 5. 1996, p. 37.
(3) OJ L 329, 30. 12. 1995, p. 18.
(4) OJ L 265, 30. 9. 1998, p. 4.
(5) OJ L 318, 27. 11. 1998, p. 36.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2586/98 of 1 December 1998 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, customs regulations, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit, reference price

L 324/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 12. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2586/98

of 1 December 1998

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain
fruit and vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/
94 of 21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the applica-
the import arrangements for fruit and veget-
tion of
ables (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/
98 (2), and in particular Article 4 (1) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3813/92
of 28 December 1992 on the unit of account and the
conversion rates to be applied for the purposes of the
common agricultural policy (3), as last amended by Regu-
lation (EC) No 150/95 (4), and in particular Article 3 (3)
thereof,
Whereas Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down,
pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilat-
eral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commis-
sion fixes the standard values for imports from third

countries, in respect of the products and periods stipu-
lated in the Annex thereto;

Whereas, in compliance with the above criteria, the stand-
ard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of
Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in
the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 2 December
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 1 December 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24. 12. 1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15. 7. 1998, p. 4.
(3) OJ L 387, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 22, 31. 1. 1995, p. 1.

2. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 324/17

to the Commission Regulation of 1 December 1998 establishing the standard import values
for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0709 90 70

0805 20 10

0805 20 30, 0805 20 50, 0805 20 70,
0805 20 90

0805 30 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(ECU/100 kg)

204
999
052
999
204
999

052
999
052
388
524
528
600
999
052
060
064
400
404
999
052
064
400
720
999

50,7
50,7
82,5
82,5
59,9
59,9

57,4
57,4
56,5
47,6
37,2
53,4
85,3
56,0
94,1
14,6
44,9
79,2
62,3
59,0
85,3
60,9
108,3
47,4
75,5

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2317/97 (OJ L 321, 22. 11. 1997, p. 19). Code

‘999' stands for ‘of other origin'.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3568/98 by Gary TITLEY to the Commission. Alleged jamming of MED TV broadcasts by the Turkish authorities
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, TITLEY
Subjects: Türkiye, United Kingdom, association agreement (EU), audiovisual piracy, customs union, freedom of expression, law relating to information, satellite communications, television, the EU's international role

15.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 297/81

In addition to this information, and with regard to the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work, the
Commission confirms that the Honourable Member’s suggestions have already been taken into account in the
amended proposal for a Council Directive (5) amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC on the
protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work, which was adopted by the
Commission on 12 November 1998 following receipt of the European Parliament’s opinion.

(1) OJ L 137, 30.5.1990.
(2) OJ L 150, 22.6.1993.
(3) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.
(4) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.
(5) OJ C 392, 16.12.1998.

(1999/C 297/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3568/98

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(1 December 1998)

Subject: Alleged jamming of MED TV broadcasts by the Turkish authorities

When last questioned about this problem, the Commission stated that hard evidence was needed before
complaints might be forwarded to the Turkish authorities over their alleged jamming of MED TV broadcasts.

As these problems affect the British-based MED TV organisation, which does not have the necessary funds to
secure detailed evidence of the source of this jamming, will the Commission itself undertake to investigate this
problem?

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

(15 January 1999)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it does not fall within the scope of the
Community’s relationships with Turkey, as they presently exist under the association and custom union
agreements, to undertake the type of inquiry which is suggested.

(1999/C 297/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3585/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NG) to the Commission

Subject: Implementation of the operational programme on natural gas

(3 December 1998)

The Second Community Support Framework for Greece comprises the operational programme on natural gas
and has a total public budget of ECU 747 million. This programmes contains the following subprogrammes: 1.
High pressure pipeline; 2. Medium pressure networks; 3. Low pressure networks; 4. Expropriations,
underground installations and remote control and management system; and 5. Technical aid.

Given that the subprogrammes have been running since 1994, will the Commission state:

1. What progress has been made and what has been the take-up rate of appropriations in the case of each of

the subprogrammes?

2. Where delays in take-up have occurred, what are the main reasons for these delays in the case of each

subprogramme?
Council Decision of 1 December 1998 appointing a member and an alternate member of the Advisory Committee on Medical Training
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), alternate, appointment of staff, physician, vocational training

C  387/2

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

12.12.98

COUNCIL  DECISION

of  1  December  1998

appointing  a  member  and  an  alternate  member  of  the  Advisory  Committee  on  Medical  Training

(98/C  387/02)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  Council  Decision  75/364/EEC  of  16  June  1975  setting  up  an  Advisory
Committee  on  Medical  Training(cid:216)(˛),  and  in  particular  Articles  3  and  4  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  Act  of  Accession  of  1994,  and  in  particular  Article  165(1)  thereof,

Whereas,  under  Article  3  of  the  abovementioned  Decision,  the  said  Committee  consists  of
three  experts  from  each  Member  State  and  an  alternate  member  for  each  of  those  experts;
whereas,  under  Article  4  of  the  same  Decision,  the  term  of  office  of  such  members  and
alternate  members  is  three  years;

Whereas,  by  its  Decision  of  29  June  1998(cid:216)(ˇ),  the  Council  appointed  the  members  and  alternate
members  of  that  Committee  for  the  period  29  June  1998  to  28  June  2001;

Whereas  the  French  Government  has  submitted  candidates  for  the  appointment  of  a  member
and  an  alternate  member,

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Sole  Article

Professor  Philippe  THIBAUT  is  hereby  appointed  member  of  the  Advisory  Committee  on
Medical  Training,  in  the  category  of  "experts  from  the  medical  faculties  of  the  universities’  for
the  period  from  29  June  1998  to  28  June  2001.

Professor  Maurice  BRUHAT  is  hereby  appointed  alternate  member  of  the  Advisory  Committee
on  Medical  Training,  in  the  category  of  "experts  from  the  medical  faculties  of  the  universities’
for  the  period  from  29  June  1998  to  28  June  2001.

Done  at  Brussels,  1  December  1998.

For  the  Council

The  President

R.  EDLINGER

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  L  167,  30.6.1975,  p.  17.
(ˇ)(cid:217)OJ  C  222,  16.7.1998,  p.  3.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3548/98 by Ursula STENZEL to the Commission. European Central Bank
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, STENZEL
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, European Central Bank, monetary policy

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/87

(1999/C 207/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3545/98

by Friedrich Wolf (V) to the Commission

(18 November 1998)

Subject: Tax harmonization

What action does the Commission intend to take in the field of tax harmonization and tax coordination as a
result of the changes within the Council following the Bundestag elections in Germany? Does the fact that
Germany, like other influential Member States, now has Greens and Social Democrats in its government mean
that there are renewed prospects of a reduction in competitive tax dumping in Europe?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 1999)

Measures to combat harmful tax competition received the unanimous support of the Ecofin Council on
1 December 1997. This objective was clearly reaffirmed by the Ecofin Council on 1 December 1998.

With a view to reducing the distortions that still exist within the single market, preventing substantial losses of
tax receipts and rearranging tax structures in a manner more conducive to employment, the need for
coordinated action at European level led to the adoption of a code of conduct for business taxation designed to
curb harmful tax measures.

This political undertaking has been unanimously endorsed. The Honourable Member will agree with the
Commission that it represents a positive step that should be pursued and encouraged.

(1999/C 207/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548/98

by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission

(1 December 1998)

Subject: European Central Bank

According to a recent study by the independent Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the governors of
the Member States’ central banks have too much power in the ECB compared with the Executive Board and
there is a risk that the governors might let themselves be guided too much by the needs of their own countries.
This might arise particularly when decisions have to be taken quickly.

What are the Commission’s views on this study, which also criticises the inadequate bank supervision and lack
of clear structures for crisis management?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1999)

The study in question is indeed, like other recent studies on the same subject, a valuable contribution to the
public debate about the making of monetary policy in economic and monetary union (EMU). The Commission
is of the opinion that the provisions of the Treaty and the European system of central banks (ESCB) statute on
the structure, tasks and instruments are adequate for the conduct of an efficient, stability-oriented single
monetary policy in the euro area.
Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Pakistan, cooperation agreement (EU), cooperation policy, development aid, human rights

C  17/6

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

22.1.1999

II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement
between  the  European  Community  and  the  Islamic  Republic  of  Pakistan

(1999/C  17/06)

COM(1998)  357  final  -  98/0199(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  1  December  1998)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Articles  113  and  130(cid:216)Y,  in
conjunction  with 
first  sentence  of  Article  228
paragraph  2  and  the  first  subparagraph  of  Article  228
paragraph  3  thereof,

the 

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Article  1

The  Cooperation  Agreement  between 
Community  and  the  Islamic  Republic  of  Pakistan 
hereby  approved  on  behalf  of  the  Community.

the  European
is

The  text  of  this  Agreement  is  attached  to  this  Decision.

Having 
Parliament,

regard 

to 

the  opinion  of 

the  European

Article  2

The  President  of  the  Council  shall  give  the  notification
provided  for  in  Article  23  of  the  Agreement(cid:216)(˛).

Whereas,  under  Article  130(cid:216)U  of  the  Treaty,  Community
policy  in  the  sphere  of  development  cooperation  should
foster  the  sustainable  economic  and  social  development
of  the  developing  countries,  their  smooth  and  gradual
integration  into  the  world  economy  and  the  alleviation
of  poverty  in  these  countries;

Article  3

The  Commission,  assisted  by  representatives  of 
the
Member  States,  shall  represent  the  Community  in  the
Joint  Commission  provided  for 
in  Article  16  of  the
Agreement.

Whereas  the  Community  should  approve,  in  pursuit  of
its  objectives  in  the  sphere  of  external  relations,  the
European
Cooperation  Agreement 
Community  and  the  Islamic  Republic  of  Pakistan,

between 

the 

Article  4

This  Decision  shall  be  published  in  the  Official  Journal  of
the  European  Communities.

(˛)(cid:217)The  date  of  entry  into  force  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement
will  be  published  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European
Communities  by  the  General  Secretariat  of  the  Council.