WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Standardisation of flight control systems.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air space, air traffic, air traffic control, harmonisation of standards

C 225 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

of 150 676 tonnes. Reports from various quarters had suggested that Morocco had been breaking the said
agreements, employing various means to exceed the quota allocated to it by varying degrees. Highly
reliable official sources have since confirmed this. According to Eurostat, tomato imports from Morocco
over the period 1998-1999 in fact amounted to 181 542 tonnes, more than 30 000 tonnes in excess of
the negotiated quota.

Confirmation of this was provided by the Director-General for Agriculture himself, Mr Guy Legras, during
the partnership day with the outermost regions organised by the Commission under the patronage of its
President, Mr Prodi. Mr Legras stated further that the Commission lacked the human resources needed to
conduct the inspection work that would ensure that the quantity of tomatoes entering the Community
market from Morocco did not exceed the set quota.

Bearing in mind that this situation has placed European tomato producers B and above all those in the
south, where production calendars coincide with those of Morocco B at a severe disadvantage, what
measures has the Commission taken to compel Morocco to comply with its undertakings vis-(cid:224)-vis the
import quota? On what date does it intend to start charging the tariff applicable once the authorised quota
ceiling has been exceeded?

Does the Commission envisage introducing any other measures to enable it to conduct the inspection
duties assigned to it with regard to tomatoes more effectively than has hitherto been the case?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2344/99, E-2345/99, E-2346/99,
E-2347/99, E-2348/99 and P-2483/99
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2000)

The Commission is closely monitoring developments in fresh tomato imports from Morocco.

Having noted that the quantities agreed on for the 1998/1999 marketing year were being exceeded, the
Commission drew the Moroccan authorities(cid:146) attention to the importance of respecting those quantities if
the Community market was to remain in equilibrium.

During the current marketing year, developments in imports in October 1999 prompted the Commission
to request urgent talks with the Moroccan authorities. Those talks were held in Rabat on 22 December
1999 but did not lead to a solution guaranteeing that the granted quota would not be exceeded.
Accordingly, and without prejudice to future talks, the Commission, by Regulation (EC) No 2767/1999,
introduced an import licence system, in accordance with the exchange of letters between the Community
and the Kingdom of Morocco on 22 December 1994.

The Commission would remind the Member States that they are responsible for the correct application of
the rules in force concerning imports, including the setting of customs duties due.

(2000/C 225 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/99

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Standardisation of flight control systems

Some 30 different flight control systems are currently in use worldwide. This simply exacerbates the
problem of air traffic congestion. Standardising flight control systems in Europe might be beneficial both
to the environment and to the economy. What does the Commission intend to do to have flight control
systems standardised at least in Europe?

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/113

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2000)

On 1 December 1999, the Commission adopted a communication (1) on the current situation of air traffic
delays and on new initiatives to be taken to provide the Community with the air traffic management
system it needs to ensure the proper functioning of its internal market. The question raised by the
Honourable Member, regarding the multiplicity of air traffic control systems in Europe and the urgent
need for their integration, is answered in this document.

(1) COM(1999) 614 final.

(2000/C 225 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2357/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Law on supplementary honorary judges (cid:129) 276/97

It is well known that a chronic shortage of staff and structural inefficiencies within the Italian judicial
system have resulted in major delays in the processing of civil cases. To remedy this state of affairs, Law
276/97 has been used for the purpose of appointing 1 000 GOAs [temporary honorary judges] in order to
enable the civil cases which were still outstanding on 30 April 1995 to be settled within five years.

Those recruited as GOAs are mainly lawyers with approximately 35 years of professional experience. Even
today, however, there are fewer than half as many of them as was envisaged under the law by means of
which they were appointed. Judges attend approximately 35 hearings each day in rooms about 20m2 in
size and in the presence of 60 or 70 people. Honorary judges do the same job with the same degree of
commitment and responsibility as permanent
judges for an annual salary of 20 million lire plus
200 000 lire net for every judgement and settlement, although they do no receive the non-pensionable
judge(cid:146)s allowance which is paid under Law 27/81 to all magistrates to compensate them for the risks
involved in the performance of their duties.

In the light of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions?

1. Does such a difference in remuneration for what are identical duties and services not contravene the
principle of justice and equal treatment for all people which has already been recognised through the
application of Law 303/98 in respect of the appointment and remuneration of honorary appeal
judges?

2. Does the application of Law 276/97 in the absence of appropriate structures not infringe the laws on

safety in the workplace?

3. Would the Commission give its opinion on the need for a possible revision of the law appointing
GOAs with retroactive effect from 2 November 1998, so as to ensure that the total remuneration and
the judge(cid:146)s allowance paid to GOAs are equivalent to the total remuneration paid to permanent judges
of equal grade and with the same responsibilities?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2000)

The internal organisation of the administration of justice in a Member State, including the remuneration of
staff, does not fall within the scope of Community law.

Italy has transposed Community health and safety law into national law. It is for the national authorities to
assess whether health and safety measures are sufficient in the circumstances described.