WRITTEN QUESTION E-1214/00 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Van Buitenen parliamentary questions.
Date: 2000-04-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, administrative sanction, fraud against the EU, written question

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/29

The first is a key action concerning the (cid:145)Cell factory(cid:146), aiming to promote the enhanced, safe and efficient
production of therapeutic substances. The second is an activity of a generic nature designed to evaluate
specific therapies in the hospital setting by means of
trials, thereby providing a
foundation for using therapies in accordance with evidence-based medicine.

large-scale clinical

Research projects now under way following calls for proposals in 1999 are looking at the best possible
therapeutic approaches to congenital metabolic disorders, congenital muscular dystrophy and rare
haematological disorders more specifically affecting children. Unfortunately, the Commission did not
receive any research proposals targeted more specifically towards the problem raised by the Honourable
Member.

New calls for proposals are due to be launched in October 2000, and again in 2001 and 2002 on the
dates published in the work programme. The Commission hopes these will attract research proposals
geared towards the improvement, efficacy and rational use of therapies specially designed for children.

(2001/C 72 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1207/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Council

(27 April 2000)

Subject: Bathing water Directive

On 12 December 1996 the European Parliament gave its opinion at first reading on the Commission(cid:146)s
1994 proposal for a directive (COM(94) 0036) (1) amending Directive 76/60/EEC (2) on the quality of
bathing water.

When may we expect the Council(cid:146)s common position enabling Parliament to give its opinion at second
reading on this matter?

(1) OJ C 112, 22.4.1994, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976, p. 1.

Reply

(18/19 September 2000)

In July 1998 delegations of Member States indicated their preference for the Commission to work out a
new proposal for a Bathing Water Directive given the fact that in the meantime the 1994 Commission
proposal is outdated.

The Council has been informed that the Commission has started an intensive consultation and working
programme with a view to present a communication by June 2000 which will take into account the
comments made by Member States, and all scientific technical and management experts concerned.

(2001/C 72 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1214/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Van Buitenen parliamentary questions

How many written questions regarding Van Buitenen(cid:146)s allegations remain to be answered?

How long have the delays been in each instance?

What accounts for each delay?

C 72 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission answers all written questions as quickly and as fully as it can, and devotes considerable
resources to doing so.

It has given 2064 answers to written questions this year, in an average reply time of 6 weeks and 1 day.
The Commission aims to answer within the deadlines identified by the Parliament (priority questions 3
weeks, other questions 6 weeks) and succeeds in many cases. In 1999 and this year the Commission
answered 20 questions from the Honourable Member, of which 12 inside the time allowed by the
Parliament. The longest reply time to the Honourable Member was 8 weeks and 2 days.

The Commission is not sure exactly to which questions the Honourable Member is referring, and is not
aware that any written questions regarding Mr Van Buitenen(cid:146)s allegations remained unanswered at the time
the Honourable Member asked his question, or remain unanswered now. The Commission has identified
six written questions asked on this subject this year preceding the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question and
forwards to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat general copies of these questions and
answers, from which it can be seen that half of them were answered inside the deadlines identified by the
Parliament.

(2001/C 72 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1240/00

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Situation of the cormorant Phalacrocorax (carbo carbo) in Directive 79/409

The EU Directive 79/409/EEC (1) on the conservation of wild birds included the species Phalacrocorax
carbo sinensis among those whose habitat is protected by Annex I. In July 1997 the Commission Directive
97/49/EEC (2) amended Annex I of the Directive 79/409/EEC and the cormorant P. Carbo sinensis was
deleted from the list.

Is the Commission planning to delete from Annex I of Directive 79/409/EEC also the cormorant P. carbo
carbo?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 223, 13.8.1997, p. 9.

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

(5 June 2000)

The sub-species of Cormorant (cid:129) Phalacrocorax carbo carbo (cid:129) is not, and never was, listed in Annex I of
Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds. Therefore, the question
from the Honourable Member is not applicable.

(2001/C 72 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1243/00

by Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Contract awarded by the municipality of Messina for the construction of a tramway funded by the

European Union

The municipality of Messina (Italy) has contracted out the construction of a tramway to be financed with
European funding worth Lit 148 billion.

There has already been a considerable delay in the envisaged timetable for the work and substantial
environmental damage has been and is continuing to be done. For example, more than 3000 trees have
been uprooted.