WRITTEN QUESTION E-1823/99 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Exercise of the political and legislative powers of regional authorities within the European Council of Ministers.
Date: 1999-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, division of powers, political participation, regional authority

C 203 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

(2000/C 203 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1822/99

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: EU-Africa trade liberalisation agreement

The trade provisions of the EU-South Africa Agreement are scheduled to come into force in January 2000.
However, the RSA and the EU continue to differ with regard to the interpretation of the agreement on
wine, and specifically the use of the registered designations (cid:145)port(cid:146) and (cid:145)sherry(cid:146).

It appears that the respective interpretations are:

(cid:129) on the part of the RSA: in 12 years(cid:146) time, talks will begin with a view to finding new names to replace
the terms in question, on which agreement would need to be reached. Without such agreement, South
Africa will continue to use these appellations.

(cid:129) on the part of the EU: the agreement lays down that South Africa will cease to use the terms in
question at the end of the twelve year period, and it is therefore necessary to start the search for
alternative designations now.

Can Commissioner Pascal Lamy tell me whether the trade component of the EU-RS Agreement will come
into force before the agreement on wine, and what is being done to clarify the correct interpretation of the
Agreement(cid:146)s provisions on the registered designation of origin of the wines in question?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1999)

The Commission is not of the opinion that there would be differing interpretation of the provisions of
Annex X of the trade development and cooperation agreement (TDC) agreement, which refers to wines
and spirits, although the text may not be fully appropriate from a legal point of view. Both parties are fully
committed to respecting the compromise agreement reached in March 1999 as was made clear by the
joint statement of 10 October 1999 on the wine and spirits agreement between South Africa and the
Community (1).

On 11 October 1999 the Council has taken note of this joint statement and has confirmed the wording of
Annex X to the agreement.

The overall TDC agreement is due to enter into effect on 1 January 2000.

(1)

The agreement will incorporate the agreement on port and sherry in the TDC ageement in the exact terms agreed
in March. That agreement is comprehensive for all products currently using the (cid:145)port(cid:146) and (cid:145)sherry(cid:146) names.

(2000/C 203 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1823/99

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Exercise of the political and legislative powers of regional authorities within the European Council

of Ministers

In view of
the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference to review the Union(cid:146)s treaties, and the
Commission(cid:146)s powers of initiative, could the Commission table a reform ensuring the direct presence
within the Council of Ministers of regional political bodies (autonomous communities, federal states, etc.)
endowed with specific powers (political, economic, social and cultural), when the Council is dealing with
matters of particular concern to such regional authorities?

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/59

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 1999)

Member States differ widely in their internal structures.

Under Article 203 (formerly Article 146) of the EC Treaty, they are free to choose their representatives in
the Council to suit their own particular circumstances.

(2000/C 203 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1825/99

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(13 October 1999)

Subject: Reforming the Amsterdam Treaty so as to make job creation policy a European policy

Given that within the European Union there is a correlation between low per capita income and
unemployment in the sense that in general it is precisely those areas which are less developed which
most frequently suffer from high rates of unemployment, does the Council intend, in the context of the
Intergovernmental Conference, to tackle a reform of the Amsterdam Treaty which would go beyond
Articles 125 to 130 thereof and make job creation policy a European policy, along the lines of regional
policy?

Answer

(24 January 2000)

It is for the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, and not the
Council, to determine by common accord the amendments to be made to the Treaties.

The Council reiterates that a Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
will be convened at the start of the year 2000. In accordance with the conclusions of the Cologne
European Council, the purpose of that Conference will be to resolve the institutional issues left open in
Amsterdam that need to be settled before enlargement (namely, the size and composition of the European
Commission, weighting of votes in the Council and possible extension of qualified-majority voting in the
Council).
(cid:145)Other necessary amendments to the Treaties arising as regards the European Institutions in
connection with the above issues and in implementing the Treaty of Amsterdam, could also be discussed(cid:146)
(point 53 in fine of the Presidency conclusions of the Cologne European Council on 3 and 4 June 1999).

(2000/C 203 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1828/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(13 October 1999)

Subject: Smoking as a cause of ill-health in the world and EU policy

Apart from causing cancer, fatal heart disease and a host of other illnesses, smoking is now being blamed
for male impotence in smokers between the ages of 21 and 75, according to studies by the BMA. At the
same time, research by the Athens Medical School has revealed that medical students are unaware of the
harmful effects of smoking and that one in two smokes regularly. It should be pointed out that in Greece
alone the number of young smokers increases by some 50 000 a year. In the EU the tobacco industry
spends as much in one day alone on advertising its products as is spent in one year on information
campaigns against smoking.

In view of the above, will the Commission say what action is it taking, what resources does it have
available and what policy is it pursuing in order to address the prime cause of ill-health that can be tackled
and protect the health of European citizens and young people in particular?