WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/99 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ridham Dock incinerator.
Date: 2000-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: biotope, bird, protected area, protection of animal life, urban infrastructure, waste incineration

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/25

(2000/C 330 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/99

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

(11 January 2000)

20 November 1999 was the tenth anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. All
Member States of the European Union have ratified this agreement. Somalia has neither signed nor ratified
the agreement. While the USA has signed the agreement it has not ratified it.

As far as is known, the Commission intends to publish a communication on the rights of children.

Does the Commission intend to draw attention in this communication to the fact that Somalia and the
USA are the only countries not to have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Is the Commission considering taking steps to encourage Somalia and the USA to ratify the agreement as
soon as possible?

If so, what measures does the Commission plan to this end?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2000)

The Commission attaches the highest importance to the support of the rights of children as set out in the
United Nations (UN).

The Commission notes that all countries with the exception of Somalia and the United States (US) have
ratified the UN Convention. It would welcome its ratification by those two countries.

Although the decision whether to ratify a UN Convention is a matter for the individual state concerned,
the Commission will continue using its close bilateral contacts with the US to bring up this issue in an
appropriate manner. However, as far as Somalia is concerned, it is evident that this country will not be
able to sign any Convention, as long as it has no government.

The UN Convention has attained an unprecedented level of ratification. With 191 States Parties, the
Convention is the first legally binding international human rights instrument which is close to universal
ratification. The Union has issued frequent appeals to the remaining States, not yet parties to the
Convention, to ratify it as a matter of priority.

However, ratification alone is not enough. The Convention also needs to be implemented through the
enactment of national
legislation. The Union is concerned at the large extent of reservations to the
Convention. It continues to make known its objections to reservations which are contrary to the object
and purpose of the Convention. These reservations raise doubts as to the true commitment of the States
concerned to implement the Convention. The Union also urges the States Parties to review regularly other
reservations with the aim of withdrawing them.

As regards a communication by the Commission on the rights of the child, no final decision has yet been
taken. Specific actions in different fields in favour of children are already in fact in place.

(2000/C 330 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/99

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Ridham Dock incinerator

Plans have been drawn up for the construction of a waste incinerator plant at Ridham Dock in the Swale
Special Protection Area, Kent.

C 330 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

Those objecting to this development point to Directive 79/409/EEC (1) and the ECJ Ruling in Commission
-v- Germany, 1989/91, Case No 13 (cid:145)Ley Bay(cid:146).

Does the Commission consider that the proposed development is in breach of EU law?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

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

(16 February 2000)

The Commission is not aware that there are currently plans to build a waste incinerator plant at Ridham
Dock in the Swale special protection area in Kent.

The Swale site has been classified by the United Kingdom as a special protection area (SPA) pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds. Member
States must take steps to avoid any disturbance of the birds, for which this site has been classified as a
SPA, as well as any deterioration of their habitats.

The Honourable Member is invited to submit further details on the nature and extent of the threat to the
birds and their habitats so that the Commission will be able to investigate the matter with the United
Kingdom authorities. In particular, it would be helpful if the Honourable Member could provide details of
the current plans regarding the proposed incinerator and the stage these have reached in the planning
process.

(2000/C 330 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2611/99

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Use of courier services in the Commission

Is it true that on 25 June 1999 the Commission(cid:146)s DG IX issued internal instructions that all express courier
consignments should be despatched by UPS with effect from 1 July 1999?

Was there a call for tenders before this decision was taken?

Who provided these services for the Commission before the date in question?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2000)

1.
The Commission can confirm that UPS handles all express mail for Commission departments in
Brussels (Lot 1) and Geel (Lot 2). The Commission departments in Luxembourg (Lot 3) use a different
contractor, namely DHL.

All three lots were published as calls for tender in Official Journal S 248 of 23 December 1998.

2.
Advance notice and information was published in OJ S 33 of 17 February 1998.

Prior to 1 July 1999, the Commission(cid:146)s express mail was handled by three contractors: DHL, UPS and

3.
Chronopost. The same procedure involving publication in the OJ was applied in selecting them.