do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3718/98 by Angela SIERRA GONZÁLEZ to the Commission. Sub-standard housing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, SIERRA GONZALEZ
Subjects: Spain, building plot, expropriation, marginalisation

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/147

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

2. Who will have access to these funds?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 1999)

The Commission takes the view that it has no jurisdiction in this matter.

(1999/C 142/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/98

by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Sub-standard housing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Urban redevelopment work is currently under way in the town of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary
Islands) to make way for the Las Canteras − El Confital Maritime Park, financed from Community funds
through the Operative Local Environment Programme (Programa Operativo de Medio Ambiente Local −
POMAL).

To enable this work to go ahead, the sites on which many of those living on the margins of society have
made their homes are being expropriated. However, no provision has been made for rehousing this group
of people, whilst the financial compensation they receive as a result of the expropriation is scarcely
adequate to make up for the loss of their current homes.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

Does it believe that urban development programmes affecting groups like this with serious social
difficulties should make the latter’s needs a priority, so as to avoid generating further social exclusion of
the kind created by sub-standard housing?

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 142/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3722/98

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Nuclear safety and pre-accession strategy adopted by Bulgaria

The Commission report concerning progress towards the accession of Bulgaria indicates that short term
priorities in the energy sector are inadequate and that the strategic development of the energy sector is
failing to target actual needs. Despite undertakings by Bulgaria as part of the European agreement with the
EU and the agreement on the Nuclear Safety Account to which the Community is a contributor, the
Bulgarian Government appears reluctant
to decommission the four nuclear reactors in Kozloduy
(Units 1-4) which not only are the most dangerous but also cannot be made safer for reasons of cost.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3760/98 by Honório NOVO Fisheries agreement between the EU and Cape Verde
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, NOVO
Subjects: Cabo Verde, European Union, Portugal, authorised catch, fishing agreement, fishing licence, fishing rights

6.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/75

(1999/C 320/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3760/98

by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Fisheries agreement between the EU and Cape Verde

The fisheries agreement between the EU and Cape Verde runs from 6 September 1997 to 5 September 2000.
The fishing possibilities provided for under this agreement include the allocation to Portugal of eight licences
for surface longliners and three licences for bottom longliners with an individual tonnage of less than 210 GRT.

In this context, and bearing in mind that more than a year has now passed since the present agreement was
renewed (6 September 1997), can the Commission provide the following information:

1. How many licences have actually been issued to Portuguese surface longliners? Who are the licence-
holders? What quantity of fish (in tonnes) was landed by each of the Portuguese surface longliners licensed
in the first year of the agreement?

2. How many licences have actually been issued to Portuguese bottom longliners? Who are the licence-
holders? What quantity of fish (in tonnes) was landed by each of the Portuguese bottom longliners
licensed in the first year of the agreement?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 1999)

During the first year covered by the agreement between the Community and Cape Verde (6 September 1997 to
5 September 1998), six licences were applied for and were issued to the surface longliners Atrevido, Infante
Dom Henrique, Mar Portugues, Miguel Santos, Paula Filipa and Rapazinho. No licences were applied for in
respect of bottom longliners. The only vessel to notify a catch was Atrevido, which reported landing
5 880 kilograms in March 1998.

Since surface longliners target highly migratory species, they generally hold licences under several fisheries
agreements so that they can continue to fish without interruption from one zone to another and on the high
seas.

(1999/C 320/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3761/98

by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Fisheries agreement between the EU and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

The fisheries agreement between the EU and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania runs until 31 July 2001.

In order to gain a picture of the agreement’s progress, can the Commission provide the following information:

1. How many licences for the various types of vessel and fish does the agreement earmark for allocation to

Portugal?

2. How many licences have been applied for by Portuguese vessels to date, and under what procedures?

3. What quantity of fish (in tonnes) has been landed under the licences actually applied for?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3733/98 by Brendan DONNELLY to the Commission. VAT on golf-club membership
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Spain, VAT, application of EU law, sports body, tax exemption

C 207/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1999)

The Commission has recently had a considerable amount of mail about the position of people working for
Andersen B.P.M. Ellas (S.A.) and this is now being studied.

The Commission will ensure Community law is correctly applied, by virtue of the powers conferred on it by
the EC Treaty.

(1999/C 207/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3733/98

by Brendan Donnelly (PPE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: VAT on golf-club membership

Will the Commission state whether VAT may legally be charged in Spain on membership of sporting
organisations such as golf clubs?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 1999)

According to Article 13(A)(1)(m) of the 6th VAT Directive 77/388/EEC (1), Member States exempt certain
services closely linked to sport or physical education supplied by non-profitmaking organisations to people
taking part in sport or physical education.

New Spanish legislation, in force since 1 January 1999, applies a general exemption for sports activities under
the conditions laid down by the 6th Directive. Consequently, membership of sporting organisations, such as
golf clubs, fulfilling these conditions, is exempt from VAT in Spain.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.

(1999/C 207/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3739/98

by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Agenda 2000 budget

The recent Court of Auditors’ report claims that the Commission has seriously miscalculated the cost of its
Agenda 2000 proposals and that they could exceed the EU’s budget by billions of pounds. Can the
Commission say if this is a correct assessment of what is likely to happen?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 1999)

On 29 May 1998 the Council asked the Court of Auditors to send it any comments it might have on the
financial aspects of the legislative proposals relating to the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP),
the Structural Funds, pre-accession aid and the guarantee fund for external action, presented by the
Commission as part of Agenda 2000. On 29 October 1998 the Court adopted opinion 10/98 on these
matters.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3781/98 by Manuel ESCOLÁ HERNANDO Aid for family pig farms
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: ESCOLA HERNANDO, European Parliament
Subjects: State aid, agricultural market, aid to agriculture, common organisation of markets, family farming, livestock farming, smallholding, swine

C 289/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

(1999/C 289/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3781/98

by Manuel Escolá Hernando (ARE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Aid for family pig farms

Given the current slump in the pigmeat sector in the European Union, due in large part to overproduction, the
suspension of exports to Russia and falling demand in Asia, a number of organisations have called for a range
of emergency aid to be granted to small family farms in order to ensure their survival.

For instance, various agricultural organisations have proposed providing livestock farms with linear aid
amounting to 75 000 pesetas per breeding sow, up to a maximum of 120 sows per farm.

Ad hoc measures such as this are designed to assist the weakest part of the sector, which at the same time
generates the most jobs.

Does the Commission believe that it could fund proposals such as this? Could a fund be set up to support
initiatives of this nature, enabling small-scale livestock farmers to cope with the current market situation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 1999)

The common organization of the market in pigmeat in Council Regulation (EEC) 2759/75 of 29 October
1975 (1) does not contain provisions for aids for pig farms of any size.

It should be noted that any national aid programmes for pig farmers should be compatible with the common
market having regard to Article 92 of the EC Treaty and should be notified to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 282, 1.11.1975.

(1999/C 289/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3782/98

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Reform of German spelling

The reformed spelling system will shortly enter into force in Germany.

Will the Commission draw up all official documents in German in accordance with the new spelling rules in
future?

If not, why?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1999)

Yes, it being understood that it will coordinate its action on this matter with the other Community Institutions.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3792/98 by Niels KOFOED to the Commission. Robots used for milking and Directive 89/362, Chapter III(4)
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, KOFOED
Subjects: cow, health legislation, milk, milking machine, product quality

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/129

The said aid will result from the withdrawal of 1,2 million pigs from the market and, combined with other ad
hoc measures, will bring some relief to a sector whose plight has reached the extreme.

However, the Commission has yet to indicate how this withdrawal of meat from the market is to be shared out
amongst the producer countries.

What criteria does the Commission intend to adopt to share out the aforementioned 100 000 tonnes of
pigmeat amongst the producer countries? Will it take into account the production levels in each Member
State?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1999)

The detailed rules for the food supply programme for Russia are at the moment under preparation and will be
published in the Official journal as Commission regulations in the near future.

The Commission will obtain the agreed quantity of pigmeat from the markets through a tender system, which
will give the operators in Member States the possibility to make offers in the context of the food supply
programme.

(1999/C 207/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3792/98

by Niels Kofoed (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Robots used for milking and Directive 89/362, Chapter III(4)

Pursuant to Chapter III(4) of Directive 89/362 (1) on hygiene, before the milking of the individual cow the
milker must inspect the appearance of the milk. It is not possible to comply with this requirement, however, if
robots are used for milking. Nevertheless, more than 400 robots are used for milking in the Netherlands,
Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the UK.

What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that the rules are applied uniformly throughout the Union?
Will the Commission amend the directive to allow the use of robots under certain conditions? Is the
Commission considering measures to enforce the current rules?

(1) OJ L 156, 8.6.1989, p. 30.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 1999)

The Commission has been informed of the existence of the milking robots to which the Honourable Member
refers. They allow each animal to be milked when it wishes; while the milk cannot be visually inspected by a
human operator as a result, it does represent progress both in terms of animal welfare and the farmer’s
improved quality of life. Physical or chemical sensors should make it possible to assess the quality of the milk
as accurately as a visual examination alone.

The Commission intends to evaluate the objectivity of these advances and their compatibility with the highest
levels of food safety, which must of course remain paramount. As part of a more general project to simplify the
veterinary health directives, the Commission will make inspection visits to Community milk establishments
and, based on the resulting reports, will amend the rules if necessary.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2684/98 of 11 December 1998 fixing the maximum export refund on wholly milled medium round grain and long grain a rice in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2565/98
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, rice, third country

L 337/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 12. 98

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2684/98

of 11 December 1998

fixing the maximum export refund on wholly milled medium round grain and
long grain A rice in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation
(EC) No 2565/98

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of
22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the
market in rice (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
2072/98 (2), and in particular Article 13(3) thereof,

Whereas an invitation to tender for the export refund on
rice was issued pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC)
No 2565/98 (3);

Whereas Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No
584/75 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 299/
95 (5), allows the Commission to fix, in accordance with
the procedure laid down in Article 22 of Regulation (EC)
No 3072/95 and on the basis of the tenders submitted, a
maximum export
this
maximum, the criteria provided for in Article 13 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 3072/95 must be taken into account;
whereas a contract is awarded to any tenderer whose
tender is equal to or less than the maximum export
refund;

refund; whereas

in fixing

Whereas the application of the abovementioned criteria
to the current market situation for the rice in question
results in the maximum export refund being fixed at the
amount specified in Article 1;

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 maximum export refund on wholly milled medium
round grain and long grain A rice to be exported to
certain third countries of Europe pursuant to the invita-
tion to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2565/98 is
hereby fixed on the basis of the tenders submitted from 7
to 10 December 1998 at ECU 124,00 per tonne.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 12 December
1998.

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

Done at Brussels, 11 December 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 329, 30. 12. 1995, p. 18.
(2) OJ L 265, 30. 9. 1998, p. 4.
(3) OJ L 320, 28. 11. 1998, p. 46.
(4) OJ L 61, 7. 3. 1975, p. 25.
(5) OJ L 35, 15. 2. 1995, p. 8.