WRITTEN QUESTION E-0917/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council. Qualified majority voting.
Date: 2000-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, qualified majority

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/131

consequently both an environmental and a financial liability. To date 50 % of French agricultural holdings
have already applied the standards laid down by the government, even though these seem to be contrary
to EU law.

Is the Commission aware of this problem, and does it plan to take measures to clarify the situation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Since introduction of the rural development strand of Agenda 2000 (July 1999) support for investment on
agricultural holdings in the Community, and therefore in France, is restricted to those complying with
minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare (Article 5 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1)).

The standards embrace the Community rules and any complementary national provisions. Compliance
with them is checked and non-compliance debars from Community aid.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 26 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0917/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council

(24 March 2000)

Subject: Qualified majority voting

Can the Council state on how many occasions each year for the last five years each Member State has been
outvoted in the Council when a decision on a legislative proposal (directive, regulation, decision) has been
taken by qualified majority voting?

Reply

(26 June 2000)

The Honourable Member will
delegations on the adoption of legislative acts by the Council.

find below a summary of the abstentions and votes against cast by

It should be noted that this information was compiled from the monthly summaries of the Council(cid:146)s
activities drawn up and published by the Council General Secretariat.

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 (1)

B

1

1

3

0

1

DK

0

1

1

0

0

D

4

2

7

1

0

EL

0

0

2

0

0

E

0

1

7

2

0

(1)

First two months.

Abstentions:

F

1

3

2

0

0

IRL

IT

0

1

0

0

0

1

1

5

1

1

L

2

1

2

0

0

NL

2

0

1

1

0

A

1

1

0

0

0

P

2

2

4

1

0

FIN

0

0

0

0

0

S

0

0

0

0

0

UK

0

3

0

3

0

C 26 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

B

5

0

4

2

0

DK

2

6

7

4

1

D

15

9

11

2

0

EL

2

4

2

1

0

E

4

2

1

1

0

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 (1)

(1)

First two month.

Votes against:

F

3

3

3

3

0

IRL

IT

2

2

2

1

0

6

6

8

8

0

L

0

1

0

2

0

NL

2

2

14

4

0

A

2

2

3

1

0

P

1

2

2

1

0

FIN

1

4

0

0

0

S

4

7

3

0

0

UK

7

7

2

0

0

(2001/C 26 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0921/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 March 2000)

Subject: Ad hoc working party on tax fraud

Could the Commission please state what meetings have been held in the last six months by the ad hoc
working party on tax fraud established on the basis of a proposal by the Spanish Government, what
conclusions have been drawn and when the final report of this working party is expected?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

The Commission takes part in the meetings of the ad hoc working party on tax fraud referred to by the
Honourable Member and contributes actively to its work. As that working party has been set up under the
aegis of the Council, and is chaired by the Council, the Commission feels that this question should be
addressed to the Council.

(2001/C 26 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0924/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Council

(24 March 2000)

Subject: Stockholm Declaration on education about the Holocaust

What steps has the Council taken to act on the Stockholm Declaration on education about the Holocaust
in the EU and the Member States?

Reply

(8 June 2000)

The Council attaches great importance to the role of education in promoting tolerance and respect for
people, and by implication, drawing lessons from history This was exemplified by the Declaration of the
Council and the representatives of the Member States of 16 December 1997 on respecting diversity and
combating racism and xenophobia (1). Indeed, it is also important to raise awareness about these issues
among young people in general outside the formal education context, as was acknowledged in the
Declaration by the Council and the Representatives of the Member States of 24 November 1997 on the
fight against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the youth field (2). However, as far as teaching about