WRITTEN QUESTION P-2192/99 by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Council. Special working party to be proposed at the WTO negotiations to deal with the relationship between the liberalisation of trade and non-commercial policy objectives.
Date: 1999-11-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: World Trade Organisation, consumer protection, environmental protection, international negotiations, labour law, liberalisation of the market, non-governmental organisation, poverty, sustainable development

C 219 E/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What is the Commission(cid:146)s assessment of the French legislation regarding the registration of coaches

and buses already registered in other Member States?

2. What action will the Commission take to ensure the free movement of old and used motor vehicles to

France?

(1) OJ L 178, 17.7.1996, p. 15.
(2) OJ L 186, 25.7.1996, p. 28.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1999)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission(cid:146)s attention to the conditions regarding the type-
approval and consequent registration in France of coaches and buses previously registered in another
Member State.

After contacting the French authorities, the Commission was informed that all motor vehicles (including
coaches) were subject to the provisions of an amended ministerial order of 5 December 1996 which laid
down certain rules regarding the anchorage of safety belts, the strength of seats and of their anchorages,
and the safety belts and restraint systems for such vehicles.

The initial version of this text (Article 8) required vehicles which had previously been registered in another
Member State to conform with the requirements applicable to vehicles which enter into service on the date
they are individually approved (i.e. when the request for registration is made).

The French authorities became aware of the difficulties this provision was causing and amended the text in
question. A ministerial order was adopted on 7 September 1999. The requirements applicable to vehicles
previously registered in another Member States are now those in force on the date when they first entered
into service (and not the date of the type approval).

This amendment should remove the obstacles to the free movement of goods to which the Honourable
Member referred.

(2000/C 219 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2192/99

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Council

(23 November 1999)

Subject: Special working party to be proposed at the WTO negotiations to deal with the relationship

between the liberalisation of trade and non-commercial policy objectives

Many national organisations feel that they do not have any real opportunities to influence the decision-
making agenda or the formation of decisions on social issues. As the importance of national society grows,
political decision-makers must think harder about the legitimacy of their decisions. In particular the round
of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations which is just beginning has given rise to concern in
national organisations, which fear that these negotiations are prepared to sideline principles which are still
more important
than free trade. There has not been enough discussion yet on how to reconcile
commercial objectives with those, for example, of the environment, health and human rights in the non-
political field.

Does the Council consider it possible, and in accordance with the interests of the EU, to make it an
objective of the EU negotiators to propose the creation at an early stage in the negotiations of a WTO
working party:

1.

2.

to deal with the relationship between trade liberalisation and non-commercial political aims and
possible instruments to achieve those aims, and

to investigate the positive environmental effects of trade and the policies needed to make these more
effective?

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/115

Reply

(31 January 2000)

The Honourable Member is certainly aware of the comprehensive character of the Council Conclu-
1.
sions adopted by the Council on 26 October 1999 on the preparation of the WTO Third Ministerial
Conference in Seattle. In its conclusions, the Council emphasised the need to ensure that an appropriate
balance between the further liberalisation of trade and the strengthening of multilateral rules contributes
toward sustainable development, environmental protection, social progress, reduction in poverty and
consumer health.

2.
The Honourable Member will also be aware that environment and core labour standards featured
very high on the EU(cid:146)s agenda for Seattle. As to the former, the Council reasserted during the Ministerial
Conference that environmental considerations should be taken into account throughout the negotiations
with a view to achieving by the end of the round an overall outcome whose environmentally-friendly
consequences could be identified in the relevant parts of the final package. The Council thereby adhered to
its chosen course of action as set out in paragraph 11(g) of the conclusions it adopted at its meeting on
26 October 1999 in preparation for the WTO Third Ministerial Conference. The Council would invite the
Honourable Member to refer to those conclusions.

Regarding core labour standards, the Council strongly supports their protection and throughout the
Ministerial Conference advocated their inclusion in the Ministerial Declaration. To ensure progress on the
issue of trade and workers(cid:146) rights, the EU proposed the establishment of a Joint ILO/WTO Standing
Working Forum on trade, globalisation and labour issues, to promote a better understanding of the issues
involved through a substantive dialogue between all interested parties (including Governments, employers,
trade unions and other relevant international organisations). That dialogue should include an examination
of the relationship between trade policy, trade liberalisation, development and the fundamental rights of
workers. Such a Forum would also prepare for a ministerial-level meeting which should take place no later
than 2001. The EU offered to host such a meeting.

In its conclusions of 26 October 1999 the Council further underlined the need to involve civil
3.
society fully in that process, and to that end to continue the dialogue with it in order to take into account
its legitimate interests and concerns. The Council also stressed the importance of close contacts with the
European Parliament and national parliaments and encouraged dialogue with the organisations of civil
society at both national and European level.

4.
As to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s last question, attention is drawn to the fact that no consensus was
reached at the Ministerial Conference in Seattle on a Ministerial Declaration which would have set the
agenda for a new Round and the arrangements for the negotiations. Consultations on the scope and
framework of a new Round will continue in Geneva in due course and the issues to be covered are
therefore under discussion.
It should be noted that Ministers in Seattle widely acknowledged the
importance of the social dimension of trade and sustainable development as argued by the EU. Throughout
the process which is to follow, the European Union(cid:146)s action will be fully guided by the objectives set out in
the Council Conclusions, without prejudice to the instruments considered appropriate to achieve those
goals.

(2000/C 219 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2193/99

by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene is a highly volatile solvent which damages the nervous system and is considered to be
carcinogenic. The Commission has traditionally taken a lenient attitude towards this solvent. In Sweden,
however,
like certain other chlorinated solvents, has been prohibited in consumer
products since 1993 and in industry since 1996.

trichloroethylene,