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WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3686/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Nuclear power plant in Ignalina, Lithuania
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, Lithuania, cessation of trading, energy policy, nuclear power station, nuclear safety













EUR-Lex - 91998E3686 - EN






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91998E3686

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3686/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Nuclear power plant in Ignalina, Lithuania  


Official Journal C 207 , 21/07/1999 P. 0110 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3686/98by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission(7 December 1998)Subject: Nuclear power plant in Ignalina, Lithuania1. Is the Commission aware that in November the Lithuanian Parliament will discuss and adopt the National Energy Strategy, which may well recommend the rechannelling of the reactors in the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, a measure which would contravene the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement and Agenda 2000? What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that the plant is not rechannelled?2. Will the Commission make any pre-accession funds allocated to Lithuania conditional upon the closure of Ignalina?3. Does not the Commission believe that the recent contracts signed by the Lithuanian energy sector for the export of 6 TWh electricity every year for the next 10 years - nearly the total amount generated by one reactor at the Ignalina NPP - will discourage the Lithuanian authorities from closing the reactors?4. What measures will the Commission take, should the Lithuanian Government begin rechannelling the Ignalina reactors?Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission(15 January 1999)The Commission is aware of the commitment by the Lithuanian government to submit a national energy strategy to the Parliament before the end of 1998 and is closely following this issue.In coordination with international financial institutions, the Commission has repeatedly urged the Lithuanian government to respect the commitments under the nuclear safety account (NSA) agreement with the European bank for reconstruction and development. In the NSA the Lithuanian authorities undertake a commitment not to rechannel the units of the Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP). In its opinion on Lithuania's application for Community membership, in the accession partnership, and in the regular report of 4 November 1998, the Commission has identified this as a priority area for action. The Commission has also expressed its concern about the energy export policy of Lithuania.The Commission has indicated its willingness to cooperate with the Lithuanian government in the preparation of a comprehensive energy strategy. This should include consideration of the consequences resulting from the closure of the plant. Provided Lithuania commits itself to an acceptable closure timetable, support financing can be made available from the Community budget. Any future Phare funds for the Lithuanian energy sector will be conditional upon the adoption of a national energy strategy in line with the NSA agreement, confirmation of the commitment not to rechannel and the adoption of a realistic closure timetable.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3675/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. The 1999 budget
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: European Parliament, adoption of the budget, draft budget (EU)

C 142/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.5.1999

It was also discussed in depth at a round table meeting of Member State and Commission health and Aids
experts in Brussels on 25 September. We are sending copies of the minutes of this meeting direct to you
and to Parliament’s secretariat.

(1) COM(98) 407 final.

(1999/C 142/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3575/98

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE) to the Commission

(18 November 1998)

Subject: Tax-free and duty-free purchases by EU officials

1. What category of EU officials are entitled to make tax-free and duty-free purchases?

2.

How does the Commission justify these exceptional provisions?

3. What level of price reduction is involved?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1998)

All officials, temporary staff or auxiliary staff holding a contract of at least one year have the right, when
they first take up their duties with one of the Community institutions in Belgium, to purchase certain
goods free of VAT for personal use. They enjoy this right for not more than twelve consecutive months
within the two years which follow their arrival in Belgium.

The goods which may be thus purchased free of VAT and the rules governing such purchases are defined
by the Belgian Ministry of Finance. Copies of the list of goods and the said rules have been sent to the
Honourable Member in person as well as to Parliament’s Secretariat.

Such purchases are a privilege granted unilaterally by Belgium. Neither the Commission nor any of the
other Community institutions which has its seat in Belgium can exert any influence over the goods which
may be purchased free of VAT or the rules which govern this arrangement.

It should be noted that both Luxembourg and Ireland grant similar privileges to Community staff when
they first take up their duties in those Member States.

For your further information, I would point out that the fiscal advantages granted to officials and other
servants of the Communities were recently reduced with the abolition of the tax-free petrol quotas enjoyed
by senior officials and the annual allowance of duty-free alcoholic beverages and tobacco, in principle
amounting to BEF 1800 and available to officials in general. Both these privileges were withdrawn by
Belgium in 1997.

(1999/C 142/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3675/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 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.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3692/98 by Anita POLLACK Agenda 21
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, EU programme, European Commission, action programme, environmental policy, local government, sustainable development, urban area

6.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/65

The liberalisation process in recent years has opened up air transport to greater competition. This has also
facilitated the entry of new low cost airlines. Allowing the consumer greater choice places the onus on each
airline to offer a product that meets the requirements of each passenger at a competitive price and serves as a
deterrent to abusive pricing.

In order to enable airlines to react quickly in this more dynamic environment, the liberalisation measures have
also introduced the principle of pricing freedom. Nevertheless airlines are not allowed to apply excessively
high basic fares. Parties with a legitimate interest may ask the Member State(s) concerned or the Commission to
investigate very high fares in the light of the applicable regulation.

(1999/C 320/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3691/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Reproductive rights in applying for accession

Does the Commission have any information on the situation of reproductive rights in countries applying for
accession? Are there any EU projects in these countries to extend family planning services?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 1999)

The Commission has not carried out any specific studies on reproductive rights in candidate countries. It is not
aware that reproductive rights are denied to anybody in the candidate countries.

The definition of family policy does not fall within the competence of the Community. It remains the
responsibility of the Member States. Notwithstanding this general principle, family planning is part of the
activities of some micro projects funded in the framework of the LIEN programme which targets non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) in the social sector.

(1999/C 320/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3692/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Agenda 21

Given the commitment to sustainability in the Treaty, does the Commission agree that it would be useful to
have a local Agenda 21 coordinator in the Commission?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 1999)

In addition to the commitment to sustainable development in the EC Treaty, the Commission and the Member
States are signatories to Agenda 21 and so have signalled their approval of the Local Agenda 21 process set out
in Chapter 28. Article 10 of Decision No 2179/98/EC of the Parliament and Council of 24 September 1998 (1)
on the review of the 5th action programme (2) has strengthened the Community’s commitment to Local
Agenda 21 which is seen as especially important in relation to urban issues. The Communication ‘Sustainable