do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3643/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Council. Electromagnetic pollution and limits to be adopted
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, electromagnetic interference, public health, transmission network

C 182/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

(1999/C 182/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3638/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(3 December 1998)

Subject: Fisheries inspectors

Can the Commission state how many inspectors are employed to monitor fish catches landed at ports in each
of the following three countries: Spain, the UK and Ireland?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1998)

The figures on employment of fishery inspectors which the three Member States in question provided for
1997 are as follows:

, Spain: 42 national fishery inspectors (of whom 32 are based in the main fishing ports) and 238 regional

fishery inspectors

, United Kingdom: 155 fishery inspectors (of whom 12 are assigned to the headquarters)

, Ireland: 24 fishery inspectors (of whom 20 are based in the main fishing ports).

It will be a duty of these inspectors to monitor fish landings.

(1999/C 182/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3643/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Electromagnetic pollution and limits to be adopted

Italy has recently adopted legislation placing limits on electromagnetic emissions which allows a specific
absorption rate (SAR) for radio frequencies of 0,04 W/kg, corresponding to a value of 20V/m as regards
thermal effects.

Environmental and consumer associations believe that the Italian delegation to the next meeting of the Council
on 12 November 1998 will supply the other members of the Council with data that far exceed these limits.

At the same time, there have been a large number of complaints from Italian citizens about the constant
growth in the number of radio transmitters, particularly since the two existing mobile phone operators have
recently been joined by a third operator which does not have access to the existing relay systems and
transmission signals. This effectively encourages the installation of new transmitters in the immediate vicinity
of urban areas, schools, markets (as is the case in Pianura, a working-class district of Naples), without any kind
of precaution being taken to avoid the lethal public health consequences, such as an increase in cases of
childhood leukemia and many types of tumour.

Can the Council say:

1. whether the Italian delegation has submitted studies whose conclusions differ from those that form the
basis of the European legislation, from the recommendations of the European Parliament, or which have
not been properly thought through;

2. whether the uncontrolled installation of GSM and other radio-frequency transmitters constitutes a threat

to the health of the local populations;

3. what the Council intends to do to prevent electromagnetic pollution in the European Union becoming

even worse?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3703/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Council. Health insurance and discrimination against women
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: gender equality, health insurance, sexual discrimination, social-security contribution, woman

C 207/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

(cid:1) Does the Commission have any figures on how many projects will actually be launched in 1999?

(cid:1) Can it say on what specific areas these projects will focus?

(cid:1) Does it also have information on the number of projects in which Austrian officials will be involved?

(cid:1) Is it already in a position to estimate how high the grant from Phare resources will be for this programme
(broken down by specific areas) and what the cost to the Member States participating will be (taking
Austria as an example)?

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

(15 January 1999)

In May 1998 the Commission presented a list of some 100 partnership projects to the Member States, asking
them to state whether they wished to be involved. It has received 360 replies and to date has found partners
for 80 projects. The specific terms of reference are being drafted. Since then a further list of 28 projects
derived from the 1998 programming exercise has been presented to the Member States and approximately
100 national officials are therefore expected to be seconded to postings in Central and Eastern European
countries (CEECs) in 1999.

The projects do indeed focus on agriculture, finance, justice and home affairs and the environment, plus
preparations for the administration of structural resources. There are two reasons for keeping the list short. All
the partnership reports drew attention to the weakness of the CEECs’ administrative capabilities in these areas,
and the Commission therefore has little choice initially but to keep the operation within reasonable bounds
until such time as procedures and rules are properly fixed.

Austria is currently responsible for three partnerships and will contribute to nine others. Grants from Phare
funds for partnerships in which Austria is involved total EUR 4 million. As a rule Member States will be
reimbursed for partnership costs incurred.

(1999/C 207/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3703/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Health insurance and discrimination against women

1.

2.

Is the Council aware that women pay higher health insurance contributions?

Does it see this as contravening the principle of equality?

3. What measures is it planning to take to put a stop to this discriminatory practice?

Reply

(9 March 1999)

For its part the Council has no information concerning discrimination against women of the type described by
the Honourable Member in her question. In any case, it is for the Commission to ensure the application of the
provisions of the EC Treaty and of the provisions adopted by the institutions pursuant thereto.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3790/98 by Concepció FERRER Programmes and projects aimed at SMEs and the tourist sector in Catalonia (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, FERRER
Subjects: Catalonia, EU aid, aid to undertakings, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism

C 341/12

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.1999

(1999/C 341/015)

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?

Supplementary answer
given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 1999)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat.

(1999/C 341/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3812/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Programmes and projects in the field of telecommunications, information technologies and the

audiovisual media in Catalonia

Bearing in mind the policy of transparency pursued by the Commission in relation to its spending, can the
Commission say what projects implemented in Catalonia benefitted from each type of aid available in the area
of telecommunications, information technology and the audiovisual media for the period 1994-99?

Can the Commission further specify what amounts were finally allocated to each of the above projects?

Supplementary answer
given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question P-3790/98 (1).

(1)

See page 12.

(1999/C 341/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3813/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Programmes and projects in the field of transport in Catalonia

Bearing in mind the policy of transparency pursued by the Commission in relation to its spending, can the
Commission say what projects implemented in Catalonia benefitted from each type of aid available in the area
of transport for the period 1994-99?

Can the Commission further specify what amounts were finally allocated to each of the above projects?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2619/98 of 4 December 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 2042/98 on special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for pigmeat
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: export, pigmeat, private stock, quantitative restriction, storage premium

5. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 329/9

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2619/98

of 4 December 1998

amending Regulation (EC) No 2042/98 on special conditions for the granting of
private storage aid for pigmeat

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75
of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the
market in pigmeat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 3290/94 (2), and in particular Articles 4(6) and 5(4)
thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2042/98 (3)
obliges the operators to export the products subject of a
storage contract after the end of
the storage period;
whereas this provision reduces considerably the flexibility
of
the
this support measure and, as a consequence,
interest of the operators in this operation; whereas it is,
therefore, appropriate to delete this obligation;

Whereas it is necessary that this Regulation applies from
the beginning of the period for submission of the requests
for contracts, i.e. from 28 September 1998 in order to

ensure equal treatment of all the operators taking part in
the aid for private storage scheme;

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2042/98, paragraphs 2
and 3 are deleted and paragraph 4 becomes paragraph 2.

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 with effect from 28 September 1998.

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 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105.
(3) OJ L 263, 26. 9. 1998, p. 12.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3677/98 by Gerhard HAGER Budgetary measures concerning asylum and immigration
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: Community budget, EU programme, cooperation in home affairs, enlargement of the Union, immigration, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, ministerial meeting, right of asylum

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.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2616/98 of 4 December 1998 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit

5. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 329/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2616/98

of 4 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 5 December
1998.

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 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.

L 329/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5. 12. 98

to the Commission Regulation of 4 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 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

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)

052
204
999
052
204
999
052
204
388
999
204
999

052
464
999
052
388
524
528
600
999
039
052
060
064
400
404
999
052
064
400
999

71,4
72,1
71,8
90,1
87,4
88,8
41,7
43,3
45,4
43,5
65,5
65,5

58,3
232,7
145,5
55,1
47,7
37,2
40,0
83,9
52,8
75,0
94,1
15,0
30,4
78,4
68,3
60,2
85,4
64,2
94,2
81,3

(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'.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2617/98 of 4 December 1998 on the issue of system B export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: export licence, export refund, grape

5. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 329/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2617/98

of 4 December 1998

on the issue of system B export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2190/
96 of 14 November 1996 on detailed rules for imple-
menting Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards
export refunds on fruit and vegetables (1), as last amended
by Regulation (EC) No 1287/98 (2), and in particular
Article 5(5) thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2379/98 (3),
fixes the indicative quantities for system B export licences
other than those sought in the context of food aid;

Whereas, in the light of the information available to the
Commission today, there is a risk that the indicative
quantities laid down for the current export period for
table grapes will shortly be exceeded; whereas this overrun
will prejudice the proper working of the export refund
scheme in the fruit and vegetables sector;

Whereas, to avoid this situation, applications for system B
licences for table grapes exported after 4 December 1998
should be rejected until the end of the current export
period,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Applications for system B export licences for table grapes
submitted pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No
2379/98, export declarations for which are accepted after
4 December 1998 and before 15 January 1999, are hereby
rejected.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 December
1998.

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 292, 15. 11. 1996, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 178, 23. 6. 1998, p. 11.
(3) OJ L 295, 4. 11. 1998, p. 15.
98/718/EC: Commission Decision of 4 December 1998 authorising France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to conduct only two pig surveys per year (notified under document number C(1998) 3790) (Only the English, French, German and Italian texts are authentic)
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, agricultural statistics, swine

L 342/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 12. 98

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 4 December 1998

authorising France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to conduct only two
pig surveys per year

(notified under document number C(1998) 3790)

(Only the English, French, German and Italian texts are authentic)

(98/718/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 93/23/EEC of 1 June
1993 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on pig
production (1), as last amended by Council Directive 97/
77/EC (2), and in particular Article 1(4) thereof,

Whereas four Member States have submitted methodolog-
ical documentation which, in accordance with Directive
93/23/EEC, guarantees that the quality of the production
forecasts will be maintained;

Whereas these Member States are authorised to carry out
only two surveys a year, at six-month intervals in May/
June and November/December,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In accordance with Article 1(4) of Directive 93/23/EC, the
French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the
Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland are authorised to carry out
only two surveys a year, at six-month intervals in May/
June and November/December.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic, the
Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian Republic and
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.

Done at Brussels, 4 December 1998.

For the Commission

Yves-Thibault DE SILGUY

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 149, 21. 6. 1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 10, 16. 1. 1998, p. 28.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3698/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Council. Attendance of Council meetings
Date: 1998-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: Council of Europe, absenteeism, ministerial meeting

C 182/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

(cid:1) in addition, in the area of visas, meetings are held regularly (once per Presidency) with representatives of
the applicant countries. The latest of these meetings took place on 26 and 27 November 1998 in Brussels.
A seminar on the security of documents is also planned for January 1999.

(1999/C 182/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3689/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Motifs on euro coins and notes

Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy has repeatedly stated that any
inaccuracy in the motifs on euro coins and notes will be corrected in good time so as to avoid offending
nationalist sentiment among the peoples of the Member States of the Union. One glaring inaccuracy is
undoubtedly the omission of the Greek islands on coins of the single European currency, which under-
standably engenders misgivings and bitterness among Greek citizens.

According to available information (cited in the report ‘on denominations and technical specifications of euro
coins intended for circulation’ by Mrs Soltwedel Schäfer, Doc. A4-0401/98), the coinage has already started.

Will the Commission say whether the omissions and inaccuracies in the depiction of the Greek islands on euro
coins have been corrected so as to avoid offending nationalist sentiment among Greek citizens of the Union?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 1999)

As the Honourable Member recalls, the endorsement, by the Amsterdam European Council, of the euro coins
was subject to a number of minor modifications requested by Member States.

Following discussion by the monetary committee, the revised designs were presented to the Ecofin Council on
17 November 1997. Having received the Parliament’s opinion, the Council recorded its unanimous agreement
on its common position on the technical specifications of euro coins.

Specifically with regard to islands, a minimum surface area criterion of 2 500 km2 was applied for the 1 and 2
euro coins and the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. This led to the inclusion of the island of Crete and other European
islands in these coins. In addition, the representation of Greece, in particular Chalkidiki and Peloponnesos, was
corrected.

(1999/C 182/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3698/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Attendance of Council meetings

The informal meeting of Home Affairs and Justice Ministers held in Vienna on 29/30 October 1998 was not
attended by the French and Belgian Ministers or the British Home Secretary.