do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2331/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Council. Council resolution on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: baby food, international trade, marketing

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/149

particularly in view of the conditions binding upon him with regard to the receipt and forwarding of
parcels and documents by the companies concerned.

What view does the Commission take of this and in particular the absence of any provisions protecting the
interests of those sending cross-border consignments of documents or parcels?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

There exists no Community-wide regulation with respect to the safety of the consignment of documents
and parcels transported by public or private companies or their delivery to the intended recipient. This
matter falls under national law.

(2000/C 219 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2331/99

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Council resolution on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes

Having regard to Council Resolution of 18 June 1992 on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes in third
countries by Community-based manufacturers (1) and,
in particular, to paragraph 2 and paragraph 5
thereof, could the Council please clarify the term (cid:145)competent authorities(cid:146) used in article 2?

(1) OJ C 172, 8.7.1992, p. 1.

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The term (cid:145)competent authorities(cid:146) used in paragraph 2 of the Council Resolution to which the Honourable
Member refers relates to the competent authorities in the third countries concerned, which of course
remain free to designate those authorities.

(2000/C 219 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2352/99

by Freddy Thielemans (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Food quality

Is the Commission aware that Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padana cheeses apparently contain large
quantities of copper (cid:129) up to 20 times as much as is permitted in quality cheeses with a protected
denomination of origin? It is a well-known fact that the copper salts which are probably used in cheese-
making to prevent the milk from fermenting are highly toxic. Is the Commission planning to activate the
rapid alert system?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

The Commission is aware of the facts reported by the Honourable Member. Already during a mission of
the Commission(cid:146)s food and veterinary office carried out in March 1999, this situation was brought to the
attention of the Commission and the Member States. The report of that mission (report no XXIV/1099/99)
can be consulted at internet (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports/index_en.html).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2346/99 by Salvador Jové Peres (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Tomato imports from Morocco.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU market, Morocco, agricultural market, association agreement (EU), economic consequence, fruit vegetable, import (EU), international trade, market stabilisation, tariff quota, trade agreement (EU), voluntary restraint agreement

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/111

What action does the Commission intend to take in order to ensure that the protocol is complied with in
future? How does it intend to compensate Community producers for the financial losses incurred as a
result of Morocco(cid:146)s infringement of the protocol?

(2000/C 225 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2346/99

by Salvador JovØ Peres (GUE/NGL)
and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Tomato imports from Morocco

Why has the Commission not monitored the quota nor taken the necessary action to prevent Morocco
from exceeding the volume of tomato exports laid down in the Association Agreement and in Protocol
No 1 thereto on the arrangements applying to imports into the Community of agricultural products
originating in Morocco, in particular in Article 3 thereof?

(2000/C 225 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2347/99

by Salvador JovØ Peres (GUE/NGL)
and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Tomato imports from Morocco

Why has the Commission not required Morocco to pay the specific customs duty, as it should do since the
prices of that country(cid:146)s exports have been below the entry price established in the Association Agreement
and Article 2 of Protocol No 3 to the Agreement should therefore apply?

(2000/C 225 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2348/99

by Salvador JovØ Peres (GUE/NGL)
and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Tomato imports from Morocco

Why has the Commission not taken the necessary action to ensure that Morocco adheres to the monthly
breakdown of the quota and the permitted 20 % overshoot, as laid down in Article 3 to Protocol 1 to the
Association Agreement?

(2000/C 225 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2483/99

by Fernando FernÆndez Mart(cid:237)n (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Illegal imports of tomatoes from Morocco

(16 December 1999)

By virtue of the agreements between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, Moroccan tomato
producers can gain access to the European market at a tariff of EUR 500 per tonne for a maximum quota
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2332/99 by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission. Innovative actions increasing transactional business by European SMEs accessing third markets (call for proposals 98/C 219/13).
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consortium, economic support, financial control, management, project evaluation, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 225 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

(2000/C 225 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2332/99

by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Innovative actions increasing transactional business by European SMEs accessing third markets

(call for proposals 98/C 219/13)

Would the Commission provide the following information on the above topic (1):

(cid:129) total number of projects subsidised in 1998 and 1999,

(cid:129) identity of the beneficiaries,

(cid:129) amount of funding made available,

(cid:129) the European participants in the consortia,

(cid:129) the third countries involved,

(cid:129) date of the next call for proposals.

(1) OJ C 219, 15.7.1998, p. 23.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Following the call for proposals (98/C 219/13), the Commission awarded subsidies to four proposals
namely the proposal by EIC-CRCI Orleans (FR) regarding a Firmenpool action France-Israel (subsidy of
€ 80 000), the proposal by Excal (Spain) regarding a Firmenpool action Spain-Mexico/Argentina (subsidy
of € 75 909), the proposal by Lisburn Enterprise (United Kingdom) regarding a Compagnonnage action
N.Ireland/United States (subsidy of € 80 000), and the proposal by MLIP (Germany) regarding a Firmenpool
action Germany/United Kingdom and United States (subsidy of € 80 000).

The call for proposals did not request proponents to set up consortia. Nevertheless MLIP has associated to
the development of its action Business Link from Thames Valley, Greater Nottingham and Isle of Wight
(United Kingdom),
three German Chambers of Commerce (Magdeburg, Leipzig, Dresden) and AFG
Mecklenburg.

Due to the experimental nature of the programme (cid:145)Innovative actions(cid:146), the Commission will take a decision
on the possible launch of a new call for proposals after the results of these four projects have been
evaluated.

(2000/C 225 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2333/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Measures for the benefit of disabled people who practise sport and use IT networks

In view of the fact that the process of European unification and cooperation must not exclude any social
group, such as the disabled, that there are 37 million disabled people in the European Union, according to
figures supplied by the European Disability Forum, and that recreational sport and IT networks such as the
Internet offer the disabled great opportunities to socialise and communicate, can the Commission say what
initiatives to promote the practice of sport and the use of IT networks it has organised to date to enable
disabled people to communicate and socialise?

What initiatives is the Commission considering promoting in the next few years?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Mont Blanc Tunnel.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Switzerland, agreement (EU), environmental protection, high-speed transport, quality of life, road traffic, transport accident, transport network, tunnel

C 225 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

How does the Commission plan to address concerns that sea turtles caught in Cuban waters are
4.
shared by other countries in the Caribbean, in other words, the killing and export of shells will affect the
populations of other countries?

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

(11 January 2000)

The Commission is aware that the government of Cuba has submitted two proposals for the limited
resumption of international trade in hawksbill sea turtles for the 11th conference of the CITES parties.

Although the Community is not a party to CITES, the Commission nonetheless will make a proposal to
the Council for a common position to be taken by the Member States at the conference of the parties as
the regulation of trade in wildlife is subject to Community competence under Council Regulation (EC)
No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade
therein (1).

The Commission(cid:146)s proposal will be made in relation to the CITES down-listing criteria mentioned by the
Honourable Member, which include the impact of the proposal on the conservation of the species in
Cuban waters and elsewhere.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2000/C 225 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Mont Blanc Tunnel

In view of the tragedy earlier this year in the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which resulted in the deaths of at least
35 people, and the fact that a contributory factor in the accident was the enormous increase over the last
few decades in the volume of traffic, has the Commission made clear its willingness to assist France and
Italy in providing alternative means of transport, possibly rail, to ease the congestion which, at the same
time, would help improve quality of the environment for those people who live directly on the line of the
current tunnel route?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Increased road traffic is a general phenomenon in Europe, and the situation is even more acute in the
alpine region, which is a central, enclosed area.

In order to help ease the congestion, the Commission is supporting projects due for completion in 2001
relating to the Lyons-Turin-(Trieste) high-speed/combined transport line, the removal of bottlenecks at
Modane station, and the AmbØrieu-Modane-Turin freight line.

In addition, the inland transport agreement signed by the Community and the Swiss Confederation in June
offers the prospect of developing alternative trans-alpine routes for heavy vehicles.

Also, under the fifth research programme the Community will support research and development relating
to techniques to reduce the risks and consequences of accidents in tunnels.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2358/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Care provision and supervision in psychiatric hospitals.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Italy, appeals by private individuals, competence of the Member States, patient's rights, psychiatric institution

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/167

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question n E-2042/99 by
Mr SacrØdeus (1).

(1)

See page 121.

(2000/C 203 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2358/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Care provision and supervision in psychiatric hospitals

At the Santa Maria della Piet(cid:224) psychiatric hospital in Rome, two in-patients have recently suffered serious
injury (leading, in the case of one of them, to permanent disablement) following a fight which broke out in
the absence of adequate supervision by specialist hospital staff.

In December 1998 the judge in charge of the investigation rejected the complaint lodged by the families of
the injured patients against the authorities responsible for safety and supervision on the wards of the
hospital in question and called for the case to be dismissed.

In the light of the above fact:

(cid:129) does the Commission not think that the lack of care (to which the serious physical consequences of
the fight must inevitably be attributed) constitutes a violation of the patient(cid:146)s dignity and of his
inalienable rights as an individual and also indicates a lack of attention to the most basic needs of sick
people who (especially since they are patients on wards specialising in criminal psychiatry) are in need
of greater care and supervision?

(cid:129) do the circumstances described above not indicate that the families of the patients concerned should
consider applying to the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to have the matter
investigated further?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2000)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the
national authorities concerned.

(2000/C 203 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2364/99

by Hans Kronberger (NI) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Bohunice nuclear power station

According to reports in the Austrian media, a study commissioned by the Austrian government from the
University institute for risk assessment into safety at the Bohunice power station in Slovakia reveals that
Slovakia has apparently misinformed not only Austria but also the European Commission. The study also
indicates that the planned upgrading measures, on the basis of which Slovakia justified its postponement
of the closure date from 2006 to 2008, have not been fully implemented. Among other things, defects
representing a threat to public safety have been located in the reactor core areas of both units.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2400/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: asbestos, health risk, pollution control measures

C 219 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of
2.
working time (1) lays down minimum safety and health requirements for the organisation of working time
in the Member States. The Italian authorities have yet to notify the relevant implementation measures to
the Commission and the Commission has consequently brought the matter to the Court of justice on the
basis of Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty (pending case C-386/98).

3. Without prejudice to point 2 and according to the information available, the resolution of the matter
would seem to fall, in the first place, within the competence of the national authorities.

4.
The information available to the Commission does not permit a detailed evaluation of the situation.
However, from a general point of view the Commission would like to emphasise that in the context of the
(cid:145)adaptability(cid:146) pillar of the employment guidelines, social partners are invited to negotiate at all appropriate
levels agreements to modernise the organisation of work. Such agreements may, for example, deal with
issues of working time.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.

(2000/C 219 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2400/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union

The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of
pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of
asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect.

1.
Does the Council have an accurate and detailed inventory of the (cid:145)historical(cid:146) use of asbestos in the
15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Council set
about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near
future?

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

How much asbestos was produced and used in the European Union in 1997?

In the Council(cid:146)s opinion, in how many factories was asbestos used?

In the Council(cid:146)s opinion, in how many office buildings was asbestos used?

In the Council(cid:146)s opinion, in how many homes was asbestos used?

In the Council(cid:146)s opinion, in how many school buildings was asbestos used?

In the Council(cid:146)s opinion, which buildings need to be cleaned up as a matter of priority?

8. What directives has the Council drafted to achieve a rapid and efficient disposal of the legacy of
asbestos pollution?

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Council does not have the information needed to reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s questions.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2627/1999 of 13 December 1999 closing an invitation to tender for the supply of cereals as food aid
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, cereals, food aid

L 321/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

14. 12. 1999

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2627/1999

of 13 December 1999

closing an invitation to tender for the supply of cereals as food aid

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

should be reviewed and the invitation to tender for this lot
should consequently be closed,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 of 27
June 1996 on food-aid policy and food-aid management and
special operations in support of food security (1), and in partic-
ular Article 24(1)(b) thereof,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For lot A of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2465/1999 the
invitation to tender is closed.

Whereas, by Regulation (EC) No 2465/1999 (2), the Commis-
sion issued an invitation to tender for the supply of cereals as
food aid; whereas the conditions of the supply, as regards lot A

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 13 December 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 166, 5.7.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 300, 23.11.1999, p. 4.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2625/1999 of 13 December 1999 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit

14. 12. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 321/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2625/1999

of 13 December 1999

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

in compliance with the above criteria,
the standard
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
last
import arrangements
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/98 (2), and in particular
Article 4 (1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
standard values for imports from third countries,
in
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto;

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 14 December 1999.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 13 December 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 4.

L 321/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

14. 12. 1999

to the Commission Regulation of 13 December 1999 establishing the standard import values for determining the
entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0709 10 00

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 20 10

0805 20 30, 0805 20 50,
0805 20 70, 0805 20 90

0805 30 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
624
999
220
999
052
204
999
052
204
388
999
052
204
999

052
999
052
600
999
400
404
728
999
052
064
400
720
999

103,5
68,0
132,5
101,3
221,9
221,9
109,0
156,7
132,8
44,0
46,4
35,6
42,0
77,1
49,3
63,2

80,3
80,3
50,3
67,8
59,0
87,6
70,9
109,8
89,4
142,8
63,4
121,7
85,1
103,3

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2645/98 (OJ L 335, 10.12.1998, p. 22). Code ‘999’ stands for ‘of

other origin’.