WRITTEN QUESTION E-2514/99 by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Siting, in a rural tourism area (Abarán, in the Murcia area of Spain), of a waste water purification plant financed by means of the EU's Leader II programme and the Spanish Government's Future programme.
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, Region of Murcia, rural tourism, water treatment

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/155

(cid:129) Article 3: (cid:145)(cid:133) the activities of the Community shall include (cid:133) a contribution to education and training
of quality (cid:133); the Community shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality between
men and women(cid:146);

(cid:129) Article 13: (cid:145)(cid:133) the Council, (cid:133) on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European

Parliament, may take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex (cid:133)(cid:146),

the fact

that discrimination in chess-playing and coaching is not covered by
and in view of
Directive 76/207/EEC (1)
treatment as regards employment) since chess players cannot be
regarded as salaried employees, does the Commission not think that, on the basis of the above-quoted
articles,
the sexes is
discriminated against in the pursuit of sport in general and chess in particular?

legislative initiatives should be launched in order to ensure that neither of

(on equal

Does the Commission believe that it has done all it can to provide the Council with proposals intended to
eradicate sex discrimination, which is one of the priority objectives laid down in the EC Treaty?

(1) OJ L 39, 14.2.1976, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

The Commission is keen to emphasise that, just like the Honourable Member, it is very attentive to the
issue of non-discrimination between women and men.

As pointed out by the Honourable Member, sport is an area in which equal opportunities are of particular
In certain sports men and women compete in separate categories in order to ensure
importance.
opportunities for women and so one can speak of positive discrimination. In order to assemble all the
relevant information with a view to assessing whether this principle applies to chess, the Commission will
contact the competent international organisations in this field.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s opinion that this issue must be seen in the general
context of equal opportunities. A standing group of Commissioners has been put in place, chaired by the
President of the Commission; the group(cid:146)s Vice-President is the Commissioner for employment and social
affairs. The group(cid:146)s mandate is mainly to ensure that the gender dimension is taken into account in all
relevant Community policies and actions, pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Treaty (1). Besides, on 26 Novem-
ber 1999 the Commission transmitted to the Council and, for consultation, to the European Parliament, a
proposal for a Council Decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2)
and proposals for directives establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and
occupation (3) and on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial
or ethnic origin (4).

SEC(1999) 1483 (cid:129) COM(1999) 567 final.

(1) Communication from the President (cid:145)Groups of Members of the Commission(cid:146).
(2)
(3) COM(1999) 565 final.
(4) COM(1999) 566 final.

(2000/C 225 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2514/99

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Siting, in a rural tourism area (AbarÆn, in the Murcia area of Spain), of a waste water purification
plant financed by means of the EU(cid:146)s Leader II programme and the Spanish Government(cid:146)s Future
programme

On 18 June 1999 the Commission approved,
for country holiday
accommodation in the Caæada Hidalgo district, to be financed by means of the Leader II programme
(file No B.B3.080, name of Trinidad GonzÆlez Maquil(cid:243)n, 1 370 096 pesetas(cid:146) worth of funding to be
provided).

in AbarÆn (Murcia), a project

C 225 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

There are also plans for a waste water purification plant (likewise to be financed by the EU) to be sited in
the same area, less than 100 yards away from the abovementioned project. This is discouraging local
residents from undertaking subsidised conversions of their homes to make them suitable for rural tourism.

In the same location, approval has been granted for short hiking trails funded by the Spanish Govern-
ment(cid:146)s Future programme through the regional tourist board. They too are beneficiaries of EU funding.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this contradictory situation?

2. What action is the Commission intending to take in order to sort out this matter?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2000)

The Commission was not aware of these projects funded under the Community Initiative Leader II in 1999
in the region of Murcia.

However, the facts related by the Honourable Member do merit the attention of the Commission.

The Commission is making enquiries of the Member State and will keep the Honourable Member informed
about the result of this investigation.

(2000/C 225 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2522/99

by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Sprat catches

To enable fishermen to keep abreast of important decisions of significance for them, will the Commission
say how long it takes in the Commission to deal with a proposal on sprat catches, from the drafting stage
through to finalised proposal?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 2000)

The elapsed time from the initiation of work by the services to the adoption of the proposal by the
Commission may be about six weeks. This includes consultation, translation and the very procedure of
adoption. However, this time may be extended if, during the process, changes are made to the proposal
following comments by associated services.

(2000/C 225 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2523/99

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Chernobyl

I am alarmed at the decision by Ukraine to put back on stream reactor 3 at Chernobyl nuclear plant. The
Institute of Nuclear Protection and Safety (IPSN) has called for this reactor to be closed down as a matter
of urgency, as it is seriously damaged.