do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2621/98 of 4 December 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 388/92 laying down detailed rules for implementation of the specific arrangements for the supply of cereal products to the French overseas departments (FOD) and establishing a forecast supply balance
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: French overseas department and region, aid system, cereal product, cereals, supply balance sheet

L 329/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5. 12. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2621/98

of 4 December 1998

amending Regulation (EEC) No 388/92 laying down detailed rules for imple-
mentation of the specific arrangements for the supply of cereal products to the
French overseas departments (FOD) and establishing a forecast supply balance

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91
of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in
respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of
the French overseas departments (1), as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (2), and in particular Article
2(6) thereof,

the quantities of products eligible for

Whereas
the
specific supply arrangements are determined by means of
periodic forecast balances which may be revised according
to the essential requirements of the market taking into
account local production and traditional trade flows;

Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No
3763/91, the forecast supply balance of cereal products to
the FOD for 1998 was established by Commission Regu-
lation (EEC) No 388/92 (3), as last amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1959/98 (4); whereas this forecast supply balance

for 1999 should be drawn up; whereas, subsequently,
Regulation (EEC) No 388/92 should be amended;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are
in accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 388/92 is replaced by
the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its
publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

It shall apply from 1 January 1999.

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

Done at Brussels, 4 December 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 356, 24. 12. 1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 267, 9. 11. 1995, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 43, 19. 2. 1992, p. 16.
(4) OJ L 254, 16. 9. 1998, p. 11.

5. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 329/15

ANNEX

‘ANNEX

Cereals supply balance for the French overseas departments (1999)

Cereals originating in third
countries (ACP/developing countries)
or EC

Common
wheat

Durum
wheat

Barley

Maize

Guadeloupe

Martinique

French Guiana

R(cid:130)union

60 000

1 500

200

28 000

Total

89 700

Total

—

—

—

—

—

Durum
wheat
meal and
groats

—

1 000

—

—

1 000

1 000

300

16 000

22 000

1 500

15 000

100 000

17 300

139 500

1 000

251 100'

(tonnes)

Malt

100

500

—

3 000

3 600
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3699/98 by Gerhard HAGER Studies on transitional periods
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: Community acquis, accession to the European Union, application of EU law, enlargement of the Union, intergovernmental conference (EU), transitional period (EU)

C 289/74

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

(1999/C 289/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3699/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Studies on transitional periods

In the run-up to the Pörtschach summit Austria’s Federal Chancellor referred to a study which had been
commissioned from research institutes in agreement with the heads of government of the candidate countries
and ‘is to contain the data needed for the calculation of the transitional periods’.

1.

2.

Is the Council aware of this?

Does it have any information on whether and where these studies have been commissioned?

Have tenders been invited, or are they being invited, for these studies throughout the Union, or is this a

3.
purely Austrian initiative?

4.

Is the Council cooperating in these studies with the material at its disposal?

Reply

(29 March 1999)

The Council is unaware of the study referred to by the Honourable Member on the data needed for the
calculation of the transitional periods.

The European Union’s general position is that accession presupposes complete acceptance of the Union’s
acquis. Accession to the Union implies full acceptance of the actual and potential rights and obligations
attaching to the Union system and its institutional framework, known as the ‘acquis’ of the Union. Acceptance
of these rights and obligations may give rise exceptionally to transitional measures to be defined during the
accession negotiations. Accordingly, transitional measures can be granted only exceptionally, will be limited in
time and scope and will have to be coupled with a plan incorporating clearly defined stages for implementing
the acquis.

It is for the Intergovernmental Conferences on accession to negotiate on the desirability of any transitional
periods and their conditions and length. It will be recalled that, in those Conferences, the common position of
the Union is adopted by the Council.

(1999/C 289/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3707/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Human stem cells and tissue engineering

Recent reports state that US and British research institutions are involved in the cloning and redesign of
‘master’ stem cells obtained from human embryos in order to produce body components.

Can the Council please confirm that no EU funds are being used, either directly or indirectly, in such

1.
research?

2. Will the Council also please indicate in which EU Member States such research is permitted and what
legal and ethical controls exist?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3670/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Council. Mission expenses for EU officials
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: European official, allowances and expenses, regulations for civil servants













EUR-Lex - 91998E3670 - EN






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91998E3670

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3670/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Council. Mission expenses for EU officials  


Official Journal C 182 , 28/06/1999 P. 0117 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3670/98by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council(4 December 1998)Subject: Mission expenses for EU officialsPress reports suggest that there are plans to increase mission expenses for EU officials by up to 30 %.1. Are there really any such plans?2. What is the justification for this increase?3. What form will the increase actually take?4. What additional charge to the EU budget is likely to result from this?Reply(22 and 23 February 1999)1. The Council can confirm that the proposal(1) for a Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) "adjusting the daily subsistence allowance rates for officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States of the European Union laid down in Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities" is currently being examined by the relevant Council bodies.As stated in the explanatory memorandum, the proposal ensues from the proposal for a Regulation "adjusting the daily subsistence allowance rates for officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States of the European Union laid down in Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and introducing an annual adjustment procedure" submitted by the Commission on 23 September 1996(2), on which the European Parliament delivered its Opinion on 12 March 1997(3).2. The explanatory memorandum to the Commission proposal also states the reasons for the adjustment, arguing in particular that "the current allowances were set by the Council on 22 July 1991 (Regulation No 2232/91) following a survey of hotel rates and restaurant prices. [...] The scales fixed then no longer reflect prevailing economic conditions and this [...] means that the daily subsistence allowance rates and the ceilings for the reimbursement of hotel expenses for missions within the Member States urgently need revision."3. The scale for the proposed daily subsistence allowances is given in detail in Article 1 of the said proposal.4. The financial statement attached to the proposal evaluates the budgetary impact referred to in point 4 of the Honourable Member's question at ECU 9,8 million.(1) Sent by the Commission on 17 July 1998 (COM(98) 455 final, not published in the Official Journal).(2) COM(96) 451 final, OJ C 349, 20.11.1996, p. 8; proposal amended on 31 July 1997 (COM(97) 429 final,OJ C 277, 12.9.1997, p. 4).(3) OJ C 115, 14.4.1997, p. 77.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3674/98 by Gerhard HAGER The 1999 budget
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: Community budget, European Parliament, administrative expenditure (EU), administrative responsibility, budgetary expenditure, costing

C 289/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 1999)

The Commission is aware of the problem of harassment at the workplace in Europe. Such acts or conduct may
violate the employee’s integrity and can seriously interfere with the working environment.

At the moment European figures on mobbing at the workplace are not available. The European survey on
working conditions, conducted by the European foundation for the improvement of living and working
conditions, does give some data for related issues. For instance, it states that 2 % of workers in the Community
answer that over the past 12 months they have been subjected to unwanted sexual attention at work.

The Commission is examining the issue of harassment in the context of its preparatory work for the
implementation of the new Article 13, when the Amsterdam Treaty will come into force.

(1999/C 289/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: The 1999 budget

The draft budget, entitled ‘Budget for the taxpayer’, was adopted by the European Parliament at first reading.
Efforts were made to cut back, particularly on the expenditure side. However, the budget for Parliament was
increased by 1,7 % over the previous year. One of the reasons given was increased costs for the forthcoming
elections.

1. What specific measures are involved, and what exactly are these increases?

2. Who will have access to these funds?

Reply

(29 March 1999)

The Honourable Member is asking the Council about the increase in the European Parliament’s budget
between 1998 and 1999.

In its Resolution relating to the section of the budget concerning the European Parliament, which was recorded
in the minutes of its meeting on 22 April 1970, the Council undertook to make no amendments to the
estimate of expenditure of the European Parliament insofar as the estimate of expenditure did not conflict with
Community provisions. Consequently, the European Parliament’s budget is the exclusive responsibility of the
Parliament itself.

(1999/C 289/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3677/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Budgetary measures concerning asylum and immigration

According to the press (Bulletin quotidien Europe, No 7307, p. 8), following the Council of Ministers of Justice
and Home Affairs in September at the meeting with the applicant countries the latter were given information
on the budgetary measures taken by the EU in the fields of asylum and immigration.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3657/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Council. ECB sanctions
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Central Bank, economic sanctions, type of business

C 182/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

(1999/C 182/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3657/98

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: ECB sanctions

On 7 July 1998 the ECB published a draft recommendation for a Council Regulation on the powers of the
European Central Bank to impose sanctions. The said regulation will enter into force on 1 January 1999.

Article 3(8), concerning procedural rules, states that the proceeds from sanctions imposed by the ECB will
belong to the ECB itself.

Will the Commission explain whether the Statute of the ECB contains specific provisions on how these
proceeds are to be utilised?

Reply

(8 February 1999)

On 23 November 1998 the Council adopted, pursuant to Article 108 paragraph 3 of the Treaty and Article
34.3 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, a Regulation
laying down the limits and the conditions for the imposition of sanctions by the ECB. This Regulation will
apply in its entirety as from 1 January 1999.

Article 3 paragraph 9 of this Regulation stipulates that the proceeds of sanctions imposed by the ECB on
undertakings for failure to comply with obligations under regulations or decisions adopted by the ECB shall
belong to the ECB.

The Statute of the ECB does not contain specific rules concerning the use of these proceeds.

(1999/C 182/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3669/98

by Gérard d’Aboville (UPE) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Imports of canned tuna originating in Ecuador

In January 1998, the Commission initiated an investigation of imports of canned tuna originating in Ecuador
with a view to reintroducing the Common Customs Tariff duty applicable to that product (1).

Imports of canned tuna originating in Ecuador and put into free circulation with preferential beneit during
1997 have exceeded the annual average of the last three years (1994,1995 and 1996), and that justified the
initiation of the investigation pursuant to Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) 1256/96 (2).

To date, no findings of that investigation seem to have been notified either to the Member States or to the
interested parties.

Can the Commission indicate the reasons for this lack of transparency? Has the investigation been completed?
If so, what were its findings? Why have they not been notified to the Member States?

(1) OJ C 8, 13.1.1998.
(2) OJ L 160, 29.6.1996, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3806/98 by Umberto BOSSI Delay by Italian Government in setting up a guarantee fund for SMEs
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: BOSSI, European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, European Investment Fund, Italy, aid to undertakings, credit guarantee, financial aid, innovation, job creation, small and medium-sized enterprises













EUR-Lex - 91998E3806 - EN






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91998E3806

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3806/98 by Umberto BOSSI Delay by Italian Government in setting up a guarantee fund for SMEs  


Official Journal C 289 , 11/10/1999 P. 0093 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3806/98by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Commission(4 December 1998)Subject: Delay by Italian Government in setting up a guarantee fund for SMEsWith reference to its less than exhaustive answer to my earlier question E-2946/98(1) can the Commission answer the following questions:By decision 98/343/EC(2) the Ecofin Council of Ministers allocated ECU 420 million for 3 facilities for SMEs, one of which is a loan guarantee fund. So that SMEs can benefit from it, Member States must take a part in the financing irrespective of the intermediaries selected by the EIF.The Italian Minister for Industry has never taken the legislative steps for the adoption of a decree creating a national guarantee fund to complement the European one so that Italian SMEs are not eligible for European aid.Will the Commission make representations to the Italian Government so that it passes a legislative decree for the creation of the national guarantee fund?If the Italian Government does not create the national guarantee fund to complement the European one, will Italian SMEs lose any possibility of benefiting from the loan guarantee fund decided on by Ecofin on 19 May 1998?Does the Commission intend to adopt measures on behalf of SMEs penalised by national governments that do not adopt legislation enabling them to benefit from European aid?Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission(29 January 1999)One of the three facilities made available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following Council Decision 98/347/EC of 19 May 1998 on measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enterprises - the growth and employment initiative(3) is the SME guarantee facility. There is no requirement for a national guarantee scheme in order for a Member State to benefit from this facility. The facility is open to all appropriate public or private sector guarantee schemes operating in the Member States including mutual guarantee schemes. In order to ensure appropriate co-operation with Member States, the European Investment Fund (EIF), which manages the facility, will contact national authorities before implementing the facility.In the case of Italy such contacts have already been taken. As Italy does not have a national scheme, the EIF plans to launch a national call for expressions of interest in order to select eligible regional guarantee institutions as intermediaries.(1) See page 15.(2) OJ L 155, 29.5.1998.(3) OJ L 155, 29.5.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3653/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Council. Exercise of power, Community fraud and political malpractice
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: European Commission, corruption

28.6.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 182/115

Reply

(22 and 23 February 1999)

1.

The Council has no knowledge of the studies referred to in the Honourable Member’s question.

2. and 3.
The Council is currently examining the proposal for a Recommendation on the limitation of
exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields 0 Hz-300 GHz, the purpose of which is to provide a
common framework for a high level of protection from the acute thermal effects of electromagnetic fields.

It should be pointed out, in this context, that it will be for the Member States to evaluate situations where there
is exposure to electromagnetic fields and to take such appropriate steps as are necessary to protect the public.

It will also be recalled that on 3 July 1998 the Council decided to consult the European Parliament on the
proposal for a Recommendation.

(1999/C 182/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3653/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Exercise of power, Community fraud and political malpractice

The 5 November issue of an authoritative Italian weekly news magazine contains a report on a series of acts of
corruption in which the European Commission is said to be directly implicated, the very institution which
regularly condemns inefficiency, delays and cases of corruption in Member States.

According to the weekly magazine ‘Panorama’, the former French prime minister Mrs Cresson, now the
commissioner for scientific research, is caught up in a complex web of business and political interests.

It appears that Mrs Cresson’s dentist assisted her in her work in Brussels, without a regular salary but with
support from the businessman Perry, the owner of Perry-Lux, the agency now famous for being involved in
cases of Community fraud, and the prospect of possible consultancy work, which, it should be pointed out,
Cresson did not facilitate. Instead, Mrs Cresson appointed the dentist and his son under contracts as scientific
researchers. These contracts had previously been given only to the most eminent medical and scientific
authorities in Europe commissioned to write important reports.

Does the Council intend, as a matter of urgency, to respond to these accusations, and to provide all the
explanations necessary to clarify a situation which discredits all the institutions of the European Union?

Reply

(8 February 1999)

It is not for the Council to comment on the allegations contained in the Honourable Member’s question.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3790/98 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. Programmes and projects aimed at SMEs and the tourist sector in Catalonia
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, FERRER
Subjects: Catalonia, administrative transparency, aid to undertakings, financial aid, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism

C 142/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.5.1999

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-3727/98 and P-3728/98
given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1128/98 by
Mr Sjöstedt during question time at Parliament’s December 1998 part-session (1).

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

(1999/C 142/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3790/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Programmes and projects aimed at SMEs and the tourist sector in Catalonia

In view of the Commission’s policy of openness about its own expenditure, can it indicate which of the
projects carried out in Catalonia during the period 1994-1999 received all of the different types of aid
available for SMEs and the tourist sector?

Furthermore, can it state exactly how much money was finally allocated to each of those projects?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 1999)

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

(1999/C 142/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3800/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Candidacy of the President of the Court of Auditors for election as a Member of the European

Parliament

In view of the fact that within the European Parliament it is increasingly rumoured that Bernhard
Friedmann, the President of the Court of Auditors, intends to stand for election as a German MEP
representing the CSU; according to the same rumour, his intention emerged in particular during meetings
held over the last few weeks; although it is specifically stated in the Treaties that the office of MEP and
that of President or judge at the Court of Auditors are incompatible, nothing is said regarding the
possibility of a President-in-Office standing for election,

1. Does the Commission not think that, if this rumour were to be confirmed, it would undermine the

independence and the impartiality of the Court as enshrined in Article 118b of the Treaty?

2. Does the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, not consider that, in view of the text of the Treaty
and, in particular, Article 188b(5) thereof, and also the particular and sensitive tasks performed by the
Court of Auditors, it should be impossible for members of that Court (especially the President
himself) to stand for election to the European Parliament?

3. What interpretation of the letter and the spirit of the Treaties would the Commission make if the above

rumour were to be officially confirmed?