WRITTEN QUESTION E-2588/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Council. Directive on the conservation of wild birds.
Date: 2000-01-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bird, protection of animal life

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/181

(2000/C 219 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2568/99

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Visual flight by night in Italy

Does the Commission intend to urge the Italian State to ensure that its competent authorities adopt valid
provisions enabling flights to be carried out in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules by Night as in other
Member States of the European Union?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

At present visual night flights are not covered by Community legislation. Each Member State has its own
requirements governing such operations and is responsible for deciding if and how they can be carried out.

As this does not appear to affect the fundamental freedoms of the EC Treaty, the Commission does not
plan to legislate in this field in the near future.

(2000/C 219 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2578/99

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: German government aid to a building concern

The German federal government is clearly giving significant economic aid to a major building concern
(Holzmann) to rescue it from having to go into liquidation. Does the Commission consider that the
German government(cid:146)s action is compatible with EU competition law?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

The German government has recently notified the proposed aid. The Honourable Member can be assured
that the case is being carefully scrutinised.

(2000/C 219 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2588/99

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Council

(3 January 2000)

Subject: Directive on the conservation of wild birds

On 1 March 1994 the Commission submitted a proposal (1) for a directive amending Council Directive
79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (2). As this proposal is based on Article 175
(ex Article 130s) of the EC Treaty, the cooperation procedure with the European Parliament applies.
Parliament delivered its opinion on 15 February 1996 (3). The Council has not yet adopted a common
position on this subject.

C 219 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Is this subject being dealt with in the Council?

If so, what progress has been made in the negotiations?

When will the Council adopt a common position?

(1) OJ C 100, 9.4.1994, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 65, 4.3.1996, p. 151.

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the reply given to Written Question 1676/99.

(2000/C 219 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/99

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Withdrawal from Schengen

By what mechanism, if any, can a Member State rescind its membership of Schengen?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-2853/98 by
Mr Bonde (1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 33.

(2000/C 219 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2604/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Promoting and safeguarding lesser-used languages

Will the Council outline its policy on the safeguarding and promoting of lesser-used languages in the
European Union and will it back new initiatives aimed at promoting cultural and linguistic exchanges
between, for example, young people living in peripheral regions?

Reply

(31 January 2000)

The Council has constantly underlined certain principles with respect to linguistic diversity within the
Community, and recalls that the Lingua action under the current education programme Socrates specifies
priority support for the least widely used and least taught languages of the European Union. Due
consideration would moreover be given by the Council to any future Commission proposals concerning
lesser-used languages.