WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1377/99 by Werner LANGEN Law on chimney sweeping in the Federal Republic of Germany
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, LANGEN
Subjects: EU Member State, Germany, access to a profession, application of EU law, building safety, discrimination on the basis of nationality, organisation of professions, technical profession

C 27 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

It is important to remind the Honorary Member that the Commission is currently examining whether it
would be appropriate to transmit to the Council a proposal concerning the accession of the Community to
UNECE Regulations 108 and 109 and that the Council could adopt, if appropriate, a proposal to this effect
after Parliament has give a favourable opinion.

(1) OJ L 346, 17.12.1997.

(2000/C 27 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1376/99

by Ole Krarup (EDD) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: EU funding for the ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation)

Will the Commission carry out an investigation within its own Directorates to provide details of the
contributions received by the ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) from the EU? How much does
the EU pay to the ETUC as an organisation and how much money do its affiliated organisations receive?
The investigation should include contributions of all kinds, including expenses paid to members and other
affiliates for travel, accommodation etc.

The ETUC did not wish to provide information concerning the amounts which the organisation and its
members receive from the EU.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1999)

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European sectoral trade union federations do
not receive operating subsidies from the Commission.

However, in the context of calls for proposals, trade union organisations may submit requests for financial
support for actions with a European dimension in the field of industrial relations and the social dialogue.
The Commission may thus allocate funds to targeted actions of this kind which are limited in time and
which require resources over and above those available to the requesting body.

In this context, the ETUC has received subsidies for the information and training of workers(cid:146) representa-
tives on European issues in the context of line B3-4002 and for joint actions with another social partner in
the context of developing the European social dialogue (line B3-4000). In the case of these joint actions, in
agreement with and at the request of the (cid:145)employer(cid:146) party, the ETUC sometimes manages the financing.

(2000/C 27 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1377/99

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Law on chimney sweeping in the Federal Republic of Germany

A law on chimney sweeping was passed in the Federal Republic of Germany on 15 September 1969.
Among its more important clauses, the law stipulates that the remuneration for the legally prescribed
activity of borough (Bezirk) master chimney sweep is a fee governed by public law and that the law has
the effect of imposing a legal obligation to accept contracts between the borough master chimney sweep,
to whom a working district is allotted, and the owner of a house in that district. The remuneration is
prescribed to the various Federal L(cid:228)nder.