do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1449/99 by Rainer WIELAND Breakdown of Commission staff by grade and Member State
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WIELAND
Subjects: European Commission, European official, Germany, dissemination of EU information, press, size of business

29.1.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 27 E/75

(2000/C 27 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1449/99

by Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Breakdown of Commission staff by grade and Member State

Is the Commission aware that on 27 April 1999 the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) published a
table showing the breakdown of Commission staff by grade and country?

The source given is (cid:145)European Commission, position on 1 March 1999(cid:146). The statistics published in the FAZ
contain a number of inaccuracies, in particular in the following areas:

A figure of 275 instead of 273 for Austria, 3 884 instead of 4 074 for Belgium, 517 instead of 1 326 for
Germany (!), 1 882 instead of 2 069 for Italy etc. This gives a total of 15 696 instead of the figure
indicated: 16 861. Adding up the last column gives a figure of 14 966 instead of the 16 861 shown.

What is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude towards the figures published in the FAZ and towards the obvious
inaccuracies in the light of the source quoted by the FAZ? Can the Commission make available the original
on which the publication is allegedly based?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1999)

The Commission had not been informed that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung would be publishing the
table to which the Honourable Member refers.

The table is indeed taken from the monthly statistical bulletin on the Commission(cid:146)s staff, produced by the
Commission, which is being forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament
Secretariat.

The table shows the officials and temporary staff paid from the administrative budget.

Without knowing the source of the data proffered by the Honourable Member, the differences between the
two figures could be explained by the fact that those provided by the Honourable Member do not include
the officials in the language services. The correct figure for staff of German nationality is 1 581 (517 refers
to Danish staff).

(2000/C 27 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1451/99

by Herbert B(cid:246)sch (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Financing of projects in Ischia (Italy)

Three projects on Ischia (cid:129) two in the port of Ischia and one to do with the untapped medicinal spring of
Nitrodi outside the town of Ischia (cid:129) are to be supported by the European Union. Construction has not yet
started.

Can the Commission explain:

1.

In what form are these projects being supported by the European Union?

2. How is the overfall financing being planned and what system will be used for the breakdown of

funding between the EU and the region?

3. What is the timescale envisaged for completion of these projects?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1381/99 by Mark WATTS Deregulation of public transport services
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: EU Member State, deregulation, means of public conveyance

C 27 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

(2000/C 27 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1380/99

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Income tax levied on assets in a Member State of the Union

At the request of an Austrian citizen who owns a house in Spain, I wish to ask the Commission:

1. Does this make the Austrian liable to income tax in Spain (cid:129) whether or not he lets the house?

2. Would he be liable to income tax only if he let the house to a third party?

3. Does this arrangement infringe EU legislation (e.g. avoidance of double taxation)?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1999)

The Spanish legislation provides that residents and non-residents who own a property in Spain, even if
that property is occupied by the owner and is a non-rented property, have to include in their income,
subject to personal income tax, 2 % of its adjusted rateable value. In case of non-residents the income tax is
levied at a flat rate of 25 %. For residents, the rate of taxation is the marginal rate of personal income tax
applied to taxable income (up to 56 %).

According to the convention of 20 December 1966 concluded between Austria and Spain for the
avoidance of double taxation, modified by the Protocol of 24 February 1995, and in particular Articles 6
and 24(1)(a), income from immovable property is taxable solely where the property is located, i.e. in Spain
in the present case. So, no double taxation of such income could take place for that taxpayer.

The Commission does not see how that legislation, which does not appear to contain any discriminatory
provisions, could be in infringement with Community law.

(2000/C 27 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1381/99

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Deregulation of public transport services

Will the Commission please state the extent to which deregulation of public transport services has taken
place to date in each EU Member State.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 1999)

The Commission sponsored the (cid:145)Isotope(cid:146) research report which distinguished between (a) deregulation, in
which there is open access to the market (competition (cid:145)on the ground(cid:146)); (b) limited competition, in which
operators hold exclusive rights for particular routes or areas but have to take part in competitive tendering
every few years (competition (cid:145)for the ground(cid:146)); (c) the classical model, in which an operator enjoys an
exclusive right indefinitely without competition.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1499/99 by Hans KRONBERGER Authorisation to market Austrian products in Italy
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, KRONBERGER
Subjects: Austria, Italy, commercial vehicle, common commercial policy, market approval

C 27 E/98

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

(2000/C 27 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1497/99

by Hans Kronberger (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Groups hiring out mercenaries

There have recently been increasingly frequent reports of groups hiring out mercenaries, usually from
Europe and mainly to Africa, but also to other theatres of war.

1.

2.

3.

Is the Council aware of these activities?

Does the Council see action to combat such groups as a task to be performed at Union level?

Has the Council already taken steps to prevent such machinations? If so, what steps? If not, why not?

Reply

(22 October 1999)

The Council has taken note of the numerous reports of foreign mercenaries of different nationalities in
countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Angola and in the Western Balkans.

The Council expressed its position on foreign mercenaries in particular in its Conclusions on Prevention
and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa of 2 June 1997, in which Member States have committed themselves
to study the possibility of taking further measures to restrain their citizens from acting as mercenaries in
violent conflicts.

(2000/C 27 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1499/99

by Hans Kronberger (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Authorisation to market Austrian products in Italy

Time and again Austrian manufacturers of technical products encounter problems when exporting their
goods to Italy. These problems are due to the delay in obtaining authorisation to market these products in
Italy. (This may in fact constitute an insurmountable barrier to market access for manufacturers who, being
of a typically Austrian size, do not have the financial resources to see such lengthy and expensive
procedures through.)

It takes Austrian manufacturers of trailers for transporting semi-liquid manure, for example, excessive time
and effort to obtain certificates of roadworthiness for their products in Italy. As this measure has the same
impact as quantitative restrictions, it has an adverse effect on the free movement of goods within the
Union.

Please indicate:

1.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

2. Has it already taken action to prevent it, and if so, what action?

3. Or does it intend to do so?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1419/99 by Roberta ANGELILLI Protecting jobs at the Cooperativa Ceramica Industriale, Livorno
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, ceramics, common commercial policy, job security, public contract, restriction on competition

C 27 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

(2000/C 27 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1419/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Protecting jobs at the Cooperativa Ceramica Industriale, Livorno

The Cooperativa Ceramica Industriale in Livorno, which has 130 employees, is Italy(cid:146)s largest producer of
ceramic insulators. Recently it has been experiencing the damaging effects of the new policy being pursued
by ENEL (Italy(cid:146)s national electricity company) which is intended to increase competition between suppliers
by means of bulk purchasing, the awarding of supply contracts to a limited number of companies, and so
on.

In view of the above, can the Commission say whether or not it considers that a business strategy
constitutes a serious threat to employment on account of the difficulties which it causes to many
companies, in particular very small ones, which can no longer hope to win contracts?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1999)

On the basis of the information provided by the Honourable Member the Commission is unable to assess
whether the measures taken by ENEL to obtain products from suppliers are in breach of the Community
rules on competition or whether they are legitimate measures which entail no distortion or discrimination
and are in compliance with the said rules in that a company with ENEL(cid:146)s legal and economic
responsibilities is obliged to take such measures for the purposes of obtaining the products in question.

As a rule, a company such as ENEL invites suppliers to compete with each other on the basis of objective
conditions laid down in the specifications for public procurement contracts. Suppliers, for their part, may
submit tenders either on their own or as part of a consortium if they see this as necessary in order to meet
the requirements set by the authority awarding the contract or as a more suitable way of countering the
competition from other tenderers.

(2000/C 27 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1420/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Reorganisation of the fire brigade

This question has been transformed into an oral question O-0200/99.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1999)

The Commission does not have the information requested by the Honourable Member in its possession.
Indeed, for reasons of subsidiarity, the matters in question are dealt with at Member-State level.

However, we would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the Civil Defence Unit(cid:146)s website: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/civil/ which contains the (cid:145)Vade-mecum of Civil Protection in the European
Union(cid:146) which includes a description of the organisation of the emergency services in the 15 Member
States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1575/99 by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) and Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Regional Development Programme (RDP).
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: eligible region, operational programme, regional policy

C 170 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

(2000/C 170 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1574/99

by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) and
Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Regional Development Programme (RDP)

What is the deadline for the submission to the European Union of Regional Development Programmes for
the period 2000-2006 by Member States with Objective 1 regions?

(2000/C 170 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1575/99

by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) and
Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Regional Development Programme (RDP)

In view of the regional and local elections which coincide with the timetable for the preparation of the
various RDPs in Spain, does the Commission intend to extend the planned deadline for the subsmission of
RDPs for the period 2000-2006 so as to facilitate an institutional consensus and the consultation of the
social partners with regard to the RDPs?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1574/99 and E-1575/99
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 1999)

The second subparagraph of Article 15(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999
laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1) states that the regional development plans must
be submitted, unless otherwise agreed with the Member State concerned, not later than four months after
the list of eligible Objective 1 regions has been drawn up. As the Commission adopted that list on 1 July
1999, the deadline for submitting the Objective 1 plans is 1 November 1999. At the Member State(cid:146)s
request and if the Commission agrees, this deadline can be extended to facilitate preparation of the plan.

(1) OJ L 162, 26.6.1999.

(2000/C 170 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/99

by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) and
Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Regional Development Programme (RDP)

What is the position of the Commission with regard to RDPs for the period 2000-2006 submitted by
Member States with Objective 1 regions without the requisite political, institutional and social dialogue
having taken place?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 1999)

In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 15(2) of Council Regulation (EC) 1260/1999 of
21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1), Member States submit their
regional development plans after consultation with the partners as defined in Article 8 of that Regulation
(regional and local authorities and other public authorities, economic and social partners, other relevant
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1408/99 by Mary BANOTTI Job-sharing facilities
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: BANOTTI, European Parliament
Subjects: EU law - national law, job sharing

C 27 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

The Commission would point out however, that ratification of CITES by Ireland will not in itself lead to
the accession to CITES by the Community. The latter depends on the ratification of an amendment to the
text of the Convention by certain other CITES parties. The Commission is actively discussing this question
with the CITES parties concerned.

the Commission understands that draft

legislation recently tabled in the Irish
On a positive note,
Parliament (aimed at amending Ireland(cid:146)s 1976 Wildlife Act) will operate as an instrument of ratification.
This legislation is expected to be adopted in the coming months, and the Commission is hopeful that the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns will thereby be satisfactorily addressed.

(1) Debates of the Parliament (February 1999).
(2) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2000/C 27 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1407/99

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Single person travel supplement

Can the Commission indicate whether the supplements applied to single people(cid:146)s travelling costs is
contrary to Community law?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 1999)

There is no specific Community legislation on the supplements applied to single travellers. In June 1990,
the Council adopted the Directive 90/314/EEC (1) on package travel, package holidays and package tours,
the purpose of which is to approximate the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member
States relating to packages sold or offered for sale in the territory of the Community. The directive is
designed to protect consumers who contract package travel in the Community.

Article 2.4 of the Directive defines the consumer as the person who takes or agrees to take the package
((cid:145)the principal contractor(cid:146)), or any person on whose behalf the principal contractor agrees to purchase the
package ((cid:145)the other beneficiaries(cid:146)) or any person to whom the principal contractor or any of the other
beneficiaries transfers the package ((cid:145)the transferee(cid:146)). Therefore the Community text does not make any
distinction between travellers, single or not, and its provisions apply to all of them.

Generally, market mechanisms impose a (cid:145)higher price for single travellers(cid:146) on the basis that they would
cause higher accommodation costs.

(1) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.

(2000/C 27 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1408/99

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Job-sharing facilities

job-sharing in the public sector is allowed and, where possible, must be
As you are no doubt aware,
granted to someone making an application for it. However, no such obligation currently exists in the
private sector.

Could the Commission indicate whether there are any EU directives being discussed or planned with a
view to introducing obligatory job-sharing facilities in the private sector?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1410/99 by Mark WATTS Licensing of children's entertainers
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: EU law, artistic profession, child, organisation of professions, public safety, vocational training

29.1.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 27 E/53

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 1999)

The Commission considers that job sharing can be a very useful means of improving flexibility and
reconciling work and family life. In general, it is important, however, that the arrangements are voluntary
and that all the parties concerned are fully committed and flexible enough to make the system work. In
these circumstances,
the Commission does not consider that a Community directive to require the
introduction of compulsory job-sharing schemes would be appropriate. It does, however, consider that it
would be appropriate for Member States to examine their laws and other regulatory provisions to ensure
that they do not inhibit the development of job sharing arrangements, provided that adequate security
continues to be provided to the workers concerned. This would be consistent with the 1999 Employment
Guidelines (Guideline 17).

(2000/C 27 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1409/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Can the Commission indicate what percentage of its land each of the fifteen Member States currently
designates as worthy of conservation and therefore of listing as Sites of Special Scientific Interest?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 1999)

The Honourable Member asked the Commission what percentage of
their land the Member States
designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. However, while that classification is used in the United
Kingdom, it does not exist under Community law.

On the other hand the Commission publishes a (cid:145)NaturabaromŁtre(cid:146) stating the percentage of the land
surface of each Member State that is proposed under the Community Birds and Habitats Directives, namely
Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1), and Council Directive
92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2).

This (cid:145)NaturabaromŁtre(cid:146) is updated every 4 months. It is published in the free information bulletin entitled
(cid:145)Natura 2000(cid:146) and is available on website http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/nature/natura.htm.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2000/C 27 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1410/99

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Licensing of children(cid:146)s entertainers

Will the Commission please indicate what legislation exists within the EU governing the licensing and
training of children(cid:146)s entertainers, and whether such persons are required to bring safety equipment with
them to performances? Are they also required to insure themselves to at least a minimum level?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1582/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Greening the processing of fish.
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: fish, fishing industry, intervention policy, processing industry, structural policy, waste recycling

C 170 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

(2000/C 170 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1582/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject:

(cid:145)Greening(cid:146) the processing of fish

Will the Commission consider providing financial incentives to fish processors in order to encourage them
to install plant for the utilisation of fish waste rather than encouraging industrial fishing?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 October 1999)

Contrary to what
encourage industrial fishing (meaning fishing intended for purposes other than human consumption).

the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question appears to imply,

the Commission does not

The current legal basis for financial
incentives to the processing industry is Council Regulation (EC)
2468/98 of 3 November 1998 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural
assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products (1). In
Annex II.2.4 of that Regulation it is explicitly stipulated that (cid:145)investments shall not be eligible for assistance
where they concern fishery and aquaculture products intended to be used and processed for purposes
other than human consumption, with the exception of investments exclusively for the handling, processing
and marketing of fishery and aquaculture product wastes(cid:146). The Commission has proposed that this clause
be carried forward to the next legal basis (covering the 2000-2006 programming period of the Structural
Funds).

(1) OJ L 312, 20.11.1998.

(2000/C 170 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1586/99

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Increase in medical problems caused by stray pets and farm animals in Kosovo

Is the Commission aware of the article by Ray Gutman in the Washington Post referring to the increase in
human medical problems caused by neglected stray pets and farm animals in Kosovo?

Is the Commission aware that under these conditions diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis rapidly
spread amongst humans?

Is it possible to round up stray pets and farm animals and to put them in quarantine so that their lawful
owners can collect them?

Is the Commission prepared to give greater attention to this question in its aid programmes in the form of
direct aid to veterinary surgeons and veterinary laboratories in Kosovo and presentive programmes in
consultation with the relevant medical services, for example the WSPA which is already playing an active
role in Kosovo?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1999)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern about the situation in Kosovo, and about the
health risks inherent in the present conditions for both human beings and animals.