WRITTEN QUESTION P-1740/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Difficulties facing EU students in Yugoslavia as a result of the bombing.
Date: 1999-09-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Serbia, Yugoslavia, crime, environmental impact, pollution, student, war

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/87

The Vilaboa transfer station in particular, the location of which was decided by the authorities in charge,
has always appeared among the nine stations in the project presented to the Commission for part-
financing. The Commission approved the project after undertaking, as part of the consideration procedure,
a socio-economic cost-benefit assessment of the project as a whole and its compatibility with the other
Community policies, in particular in the environmental area. Provided that all the conditions laid down in
Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund (1) are met, the
Commission does not believe that the Sogama Project or the Vilaboa transfer station should be halted.

(1) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.

(2000/C 170 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1739/99

by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Directive 96/0009/EC

Can the Commission specify if and how Italy has transposed Directive 96/0009/EC (1) of 11 March 1996
on the legal protection of databases?

Can it also say which countries have not yet adopted national implementing measures with regard to the
above directive?

(1) OJ L 77, 27.3.1996, p. 20.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1999)

Italy has implemented Directive 96/0009/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on
the legal protection of databases (1) by (cid:145)decreto legge(cid:146) No 169 of 6 May 1999 (2). The Commission is
currently examining this text.

The Commission has decided to bring before the Court of
Luxembourg and Portugal, to implement the Directive within specified time limits.

justice the failure of Greece,

Ireland,

(1) OJ L 77, 27.3.1996.
(2) Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 138 of 15.6.1999.

(2000/C 170 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1740/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 September 1999)

Subject: Difficulties facing EU students in Yugoslavia as a result of the bombing

A significant number of students from the Member States, particularly Greece, had embarked on courses of
study in Yugoslavia before war broke out. Those students and their families are now having to cope with
very serious problems in the form of pollution, shortage of drinking water, the collapse of infrastructure,
lack of medical care, the terrible difficulties of travelling, fuel shortages and rising crime owing to the
breakdown of society following the war. Naturally, many students are reluctant to return and there is a risk
that they will abandon their courses midway through.

C 170 E/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

The following questions are put to the Commission:

1.

In the light of the information available, does the Commission consider that current conditions are
sufficiently safe to enable EU students to continue their courses in Yugoslavia?

2. Does the Commission not agree that the best solution would be to transfer students to universities in
they avoid the mounting dangers and continue their courses

their countries of origin so that
undistracted?

3. What initiatives could the Commission take to deal effectively with the problems of these students?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 1999)

As regards the general issues raised concerning the environmental consequences for Serbia of the Kosovo
conflict, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer given by the Commission to written question
P-498/99 by Mr Watts (1) and the answer given to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s written question
E-1512/99 (2).

The Commission cannot comment on whether the conditions within a third country are sufficiently safe to
enable students from Member States to pursue their chosen studies. The question of transfer of students
from universities in third countries to those in Member States is a matter for the students themselves and
for the universities concerned. The Commission does not intend to take any initiative in this regard.

(1) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999, p. 85.
(2) OJ C 27 E, 29.1.2000, p. 103.

(2000/C 170 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1741/99

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Threats to European investments in Chile

(30 September 1999)

Information from official sources appears to indicate that Spanish firms with investments in Chile have
recently been subject to pressure from the Chilean authorities.

Does the Commission have any evidence of this? Does the Commission agree that any kind of pressure on
firms from one Member State would amount to a clear gesture of hostility towards the European Union as
a whole?

Has the Commission sought to obtain further details of these reports?

Should the reports be confirmed, does the Commission intend to take any measures in the context of the
cooperation agreements between the Union and Chile?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 1999)

The Commission is aware that the Chilean Foreign Minister, Juan Gabriel ValdØs, held a private meeting
with some Spanish company directors in Santiago de Chile.

The Commission and its delegation in Chile have never been informed that the Chilean authorities have
ever taken a fixed discriminatory position against Spanish companies, nor do they have evidence at present
that any pressure has ever been brought to bear on companies from any of the Member States.