do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3701/98 by Gerhard HAGER Impending shortage of labour
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: demographic analysis, impact study, labour market, manpower needs

6.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/67

jet printing technology for the textiles,
Another project in the same programme dealing with digital
photographic and graphic industries has developed a printing system as well as environmentally friendly
high gloss coated paper and polyester ink jet films with high light and water fastness.

Although within these projects the question of permanent paper and stable acid-based inks was not specifically
addressed, the improved know-how on printing inks and printing technology should have increased the
overall scientific knowledge in this area.

(1999/C 320/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3700/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 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 Commission 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?

Is the Commission cooperating in these studies with the material at its disposal, especially its experience

4.
and data in connection with the southward enlargement?

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

(26 January 1999)

The Commission is not aware of the specific study mentioned by the Honourable Member. On the issues
related to the accession negotiations many studies are produced. The transitional periods will be decided in the
framework of the accession negotiations.

(1999/C 320/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3701/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Impending shortage of labour

At the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Vienna Mrs Gradin referred to a study
which stated that, ‘even though the Union has 18 million unemployed today, it may face a shortage of labour
in 20 years’.

1. Was the Commissioner quoted correctly, and does she confirm this statement?

2.

If so, can she give the precise title of the study and say who wrote it and where it was published?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2627/98 of 7 December 1998 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, customs regulations, fresh fruit, fresh vegetable, import, import price

8. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 332/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2627/98

of 7 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 8 December
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 7 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 332/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 12. 98

to the Commission Regulation of 7 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
528
600
999
039
052
060
064
400
404
999
052
064
400
999

71,4
79,2
75,3
93,0
87,4
90,2
43,5
43,3
45,4
44,1
66,3
66,3

52,4
232,7
142,5
52,2
47,7
40,0
75,8
53,9
75,0
94,1
15,0
42,4
83,9
60,5
61,8
85,4
60,8
61,8
69,3

(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'.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3661/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. The millennium bug
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: computer system, dissemination of EU information, environmental risk prevention, industrial hazard, information network, public awareness campaign, public service, transport company

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/105

Will the Commission provide guidelines on how to devise and implement a programme to combat this
problem?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1999)

Due to the complex nature of the Year 2000 computing problem, the various interfaces between different
products and systems, and the enormous number of products which could potentially be affected, it is not
possible to define one standard methodology to address all aspects of this problem.

Nevertheless, the Commission’s Year 2000 world wide web site (http/www.ispo.cec.be/y2keuro) contains links
to web sites of Member States’ governments and relevant industry sectors which provide various guidelines on
how to address the problem.

(1999/C 207/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3661/98

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

(7 December 1998)

Subject: The millennium bug

It has been established that the ‘millennium bug’, a problem also known as the ‘year 2000 effect’, may affect all
types of programmable electronic systems (PESs), ranging from mainframe computers to microchips.

These systems are employed for all nature of industrial purposes at the various stages of the production
process, in the transport sector, in the public services and so forth. Furthermore, the said systems are date-
dependent and their reaction on the first day of the new millennium will be critical. For those reasons, it would
advisable to pinpoint the risks involved.

Has the Commission carried out a general analysis of the nature of the problems which may arise and of the
potential errors or breakdowns in date-dependent systems?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its communications (1) (2) on the Year 2000
computing problem and on how the Community is tacking the Year 2000 computing problem respectively.

(1) COM(98) 102.
(2)
SEC(98) 2100.

(1999/C 207/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3664/98

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

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Counterfeiting and piracy

On 22 October 1998 the Commission announced the publication of a Green Paper on combating counter-
feiting and piracy in the single market, with which it launched wide-ranging consultations on the matter with
interested parties in the Member States.

In the Commission’s view, what impact have these practices had on the EU economy?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3671/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Mission expenses for EU officials
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: European official, allowances and expenses, regulations for civil servants













EUR-Lex - 91998E3671 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91998E3671

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3671/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Mission expenses for EU officials  


Official Journal C 182 , 28/06/1999 P. 0118 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3671/98by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission(7 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?Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission(12 January 1999)If it is to annual travel expenses that the Honourable Member refers, the Commission is not planning any increase in the reimbursement of travel expenses for Community officials. The details relating to reimbursements have been sent to the Honourable Member personally and to Parliament's Secretariat. Even if no increase is planned, the total amount intended to cover the costs will be slightly higher in 1998 (estimated ECU 14,3 million) than in 1997 (ECU 13,0 million) owing to the increase in rail fares and recruitments from places of origin which are more remote from officials' place of work than in the past (enlargement recruitment).If it is to officials' mission expenses that the Honourable Member refers, Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations lays down that the daily subsistence allowance for officials on mission may be altered by the Council acting on a proposal from the Commission by a qualified majority. The daily subsistence allowance for officials and other servants of the European Communities on mission was last altered by the Council seven years ago on 22 July 1991. The proposal presented on 17 July 1998(1) provides for an increase in mission expenses to keep up with the rise in hotel and restaurant prices since 1991. The amounts proposed are lower than those applied by national authorities and other international organisations. The 1999 preliminary draft budget (PDB) already makes provision for this increase for all the institutions (except Parliament, which, by virtue of a decision taken by its Bureau, already applies allowances equivalent to or above those proposed). More precisely, an appropriation of ECU 8,6 million has been entered in Chapter A 100(2) corresponding to the estimated financial impact of this proposal.(1) COM(98) 455.(2) Provisional appropriations for various budget items of Title A7: Decentralised expenditure on support staff and administration.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3688/98 by Bill MILLER The costs of and length of time taken by Court cases
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, MILLER
Subjects: Court of Justice of the European Union, limitation of legal proceedings, operating cost

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/23

2.

3.

If so, what action does it intend to take to have the sale of such products banned in Germany, Denmark,
the UK and other EU countries?

If not, how does it intend to ensure that they can be sold without obstruction in Greece? Could aid be
made available to support the production of hemp in Greece?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3679/98 and E-4095/98
given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 1999)

The Commission received, during the last two months, complaints regarding the marketing prohibition of
hemp-based products in Greece. These products, mainly garments, are according to the plaintiffs legally
produced and marketed in other Member States (Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom).

The marketing prohibition in Greece was based on three reasons: a) the promotion of the use of illegal and
dangerous drugs; b) the violation of market regulations and c) the lack of official state approval on the sale of
certain products. The Commission is currently investigating the case on the basis of a possible infringement of
Article 30 of the EC Treaty. For that purpose, letters have been addressed to the plaintiffs requesting further
information on the facts and on the reasoning of the Greek authorities for the prohibition of the products. If
the measures of the Greek authorities are proved to be an unnecessary and unjustified barrier to intra-
Community trade, the Commission will open infringement proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty.

Council Regulation (EEC) 1308/70 of 29 June 1970 introduced the common organisation of the market in flax
and hemp (1). Commission Regulation (EC) 2814/98 of 22 December 1998 (2), modifying Regulation (EEC)
1164/89 of 28 April 1989 (3), lays down detailed rules concerning the aid for fibre flax and hemp. Any Greek
hemp textile producer complying with these rules can benefit from the Community aid.

(1) OJ L 146, 4.7.1970.
(2) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.
(3) OJ L 121, 29.4.1989.

(1999/C 325/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3688/98

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: The costs of and length of time taken by Court cases

The recent court case involving a British sugar company, I understand, took over 10 years from start to finish.
Could you explain why it took this length of time? Were costs awarded against the company?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Without fuller information, which the Honourable Member is asked to provide, the Commission has been
unable to find any case involving a sugar company on which a Community court took over ten years to reach a
verdict.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3690/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Unfair tax treatment of Greek university staff
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, higher education, holding of two jobs, national law, research staff, supplementary income, tax on income, tax system, teacher, university













EUR-Lex - 91998E3690 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91998E3690

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3690/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Unfair tax treatment of Greek university staff  


Official Journal C 297 , 15/10/1999 P. 0095 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3690/98by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission(7 December 1998)Subject: Unfair tax treatment of Greek university staffGreek Law 2530/97 lays down rules governing the status, scale of salaries and other matters relating to teaching and research staff at Higher Educational Establishments (AEI) and Technological Educational Establishment (TEI) in Greece.This Law provides that staff may be engaged in activities apart from their university teaching commitments, but that such activities may not exceed eight hours weekly; Article 3 states that a percentage (between 15 and 30 %) of the remuneration earned by university teachers from their professional activities outside teaching shall be withheld in "accounts" which constitute a form of separate fund. These funds are not for the exclusive benefit of the university body but are also available to various social organisations. The imposition of the above charge (which accounts for as much as 30 % of their remuneration) is incompatible with the Greek Constitution and violates the principle of "reciprocity", since university staff derive practically no benefits from the above "accounts".Will the Commission say whether the above is compatible with the principle of equal treatment of taxpayers, and what action it intends to take to prevent the unfair treatment of Greek university staff at the hands of the Greek tax authorities?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission(29 January 1999)The question raised by the Honourable Member refers to a situation which is not governed by Community law. Greek income tax legislation is not subject to any harmonisation. It is not, therefore, for the Commission to comment on the way the Greek authorities apply the legislation.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3693/98 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ Uncertainty about printing inks
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, VALVERDE LOPEZ
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, EU programme, new technology, paper, printing, product quality, research and development, scientific research













EUR-Lex - 91998E3693 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91998E3693

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3693/98 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ Uncertainty about printing inks  


Official Journal C 320 , 06/11/1999 P. 0066 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3693/98by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission(7 December 1998)Subject: Uncertainty about printing inksThe attempt to encourage the use of permanent paper, to prevent books deteriorating over time, cannot succeed unless the choice and quality of inks is also taken into account. Permanent paper is more absorbent and less water-resistant than acid papers and requires stable acid-based inks.Can the Commission say whether it has launched technical research into printing inks, especially those most suitable for use with permanent paper?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission(8 February 1999)In the context of the research programme "Industrial and Materials technologies" the Commission has given financial support to a project on high performance products for ink jet printing. This project concerns the improvement of the quality of prints (up to the level of near-photographic quality) through the optimisation of the interaction between paper inks and ink jet heads. It involves a number of European companies specialised in each of these fields. The project is near completion and has led to higher quality products (paper, inks, print heads).Another project in the same programme dealing with digital jet printing technology for the textiles, photographic and graphic industries has developed a printing system as well as environmentally friendly high gloss coated paper and polyester ink jet films with high light and water fastness.Although within these projects the question of permanent paper and stable acid-based inks was not specifically addressed, the improved know-how on printing inks and printing technology should have increased the overall scientific knowledge in this area.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3689/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Motifs on euro coins and notes
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: European symbol, Greece, atlas, designs and models, euro, industrial manufacturing, island, technical specification

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.