WRITTEN QUESTION P-0280/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Directive on renewable energy.
Date: 2000-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, control of State aid, electrical energy, market access, renewable energy

C 374 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

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

(7 March 2000)

The Commission is currently not undertaking any work on so-called (cid:145)light pollution(cid:146) around large cities in
the Community. Insofar as (cid:145)light pollution(cid:146) is a problem, solutions need to take into account other factors
such as safety and security. This could best be done at the local level given differing circumstances in line
with the principle of subsidiarity.

The Commission is very much aware that the wasteful and inefficient use of energy for lighting, including
public lighting, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production and use of this
energy from fossil fuels can contribute to global warming. In the framework of the SAVE programme the
Commission has taken a number of initiatives to promote more energy efficient lighting technologies and
reduced energy use for lighting in buildings. These initiatives range from minimum efficiency standards for
ballasts for fluorescent lighting to voluntary programmes such as the Greenlight programme aimed at
encouraging public and private companies to install energy efficient lighting technologies. In many of these
initiatives the Commission is working closely with national energy agencies which can provide appropriate
technical support. Technologies are also being developed by European industry for public lighting that can
reduce considerably the amount of energy used by such installations. To stimulate the market for these
technologies, the Commission has recently issued a mandate to the European standardisation bodies.

(2000/C 374 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0265/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 February 2000)

Subject: Observatory for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation

In the Commission(cid:146)s Communication to the European Parliament on guidelines for a Community Initiative
concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced development of
the European territory (Interreg), mention is made of an Observatory for cross-border, transnational and
interregional cooperation.

On the basis of their socio-economic characteristics and their geo-strategic situation as a remote region in
the Atlantic, what chances to the Canary Islands have of being selected as the site for the Observatory?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2000)

The Commission has not yet taken a decision regarding the location of the future Observatory for cross-
border, transnational and interregional cooperation. However, it ought to be pointed out that this will not
be a body of any significant size whose headquarters site would require discussion at all.

(2000/C 374 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0280/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2000)

Subject: Directive on renewable energy

The Commission has repeatedly failed to submit a proposal for a directive on access for producers of
renewable energy to the internal market in electricity, since no dialogue has been entered into with the

28.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/51

renewable energy industry and its representatives. Moreover, SMEs in the sector and Member States with
more generous support systems are strongly opposed to the idea. Does the Commission therefore intend to
consult representatives from the renewable energy sector as well as energy producers in the Member
States, in order to avoid a fresh confrontation between the advocates of state support and those who
favour harmonisation?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

In March 1999 the Commission presented a working paper (cid:145)Electricity from renewable energy sources and
the internal electricity market(cid:146) (1). The objective of this paper was to highlight the numerous options
available to the Community in addressing the issue of renewable sources electricity generation in the
internal electricity market. Prior to the publication of this paper, the Commission had undertaken extensive
including representatives of all sectors of the renewable
consultations involving all parties concerned,
industry (wind, solar, hydro, biomass). Furthermore, the energy consultative committee,
in which the
renewable industry is represented, had been formally consulted on the issue and gave an opinion.

Following the publication of the above working document, the Commission has again received numerous
comments on the issue from the renewable industry and other interested parties, further investigations
were made and discussions held. Indeed, in the working paper the Commission made it clear that it would
make a final decision on the issue only in the light of the reactions to the working paper. Furthermore, the
energy consultative committee has again discussed the issue in depth and will give a formal opinion in the
near future. Intensive discussion in the working group of the committee involving all sectors of the
renewable industry have already taken place.

When taking a final decision on the issue, the Commission will take all views into account, including those
expressed by the renewable industry, which are of particular relevance and importance in this respect.

(1) SEC(1999) 470.

(2000/C 374 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0289/00

by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Council

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Kosovar prisoners in Serbia

In a statement by the Interparliamentary Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe, which referred
to an EP resolution of 16 September 1999 (B5-0100/1999), the Serbian Government was called upon to
release the approximately 1 900 Kosovar prisoners still being held under appalling conditions in Serbian
gaols.

Is the Council aware that nearly two thousand Kosovars are still imprisoned in Serbia, as they have been
since the end of the Kosovo crisis?

Will the Council take effective measures to enable these people to return to their families as soon as
possible?

Reply

(16/17 May 2000)

The Council fully shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern over the fate of the Kosovar prisoners still held
in Serbia. On the occasion of the 19 July 1999 General Affairs Council, Ministers called on the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia to guarantee the International Committee of the Red Cross full access to those