WRITTEN QUESTION E-1283/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Exporting waste to third countries/Basle Convention.
Date: 2000-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competence of the Member States, developing countries, export of waste, extra-EU trade, hazardous waste, powers of the institutions (EU)

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/35

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2000)

The question of eligible land is a general requirement of the arable crops regime that was introduced for
environmental reasons as well as to keep production and budgetary expenses under control. As the flax
and hemp reform proposal (1) is now being discussed in the Council, as well as in the Parliament and
Economic and social committee, the final rules applicable for flax and hemp will depend on the outcome
of those discussions.

As far as short fibres are concerned, the proposal does indeed support the development of new markets
during a 5 year period through the straw processing aid. In fact, the Community finances do not allow for
high subsidies to new products that would only find their market at a very low price. Thus, the right sign
is given now to the sector: at the end of the transitional period, these productions will need to be
economically viable with the common level of support for arable crops.

Concerning the differentiated aid rate between long and short flax fibres, the proposal takes account of the
wide differences in product value and production costs between both products. Considering that long flax
fibres used in the textile industry can easily reach prices several times higher than those for short fibres
used for other outlets, it seems inappropriate to claim that both products compete in the same market.

(1) OJ C 56 E, 29.2.2000.

(2001/C 72 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1283/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 April 2000)

Subject: Exporting waste to third countries/Basle Convention

Despite international conventions, there is an increase in exports of (toxic) waste to developing countries.
The Basle Convention and regulation 259/93/EEC (1) regulate these cross-border flows of waste. According
to UNEP, in 1989 the OECD countries exported one fifth of their waste. UN rapporteur Fatma-Zohra
Ksentini says the countries which export most are Australia, the US and EU Member States the Nether-
lands, Germany and Britain. She is particularly concerned at the growing tendency to ship toxic waste to
developing countries where it is simply dumped.

How does the European Union ensure compliance with the Basle Convention and regulation 259/93/

1.
EEC, in particular:

(a) what service, and

(b) how many officials are involved,

(c) how many checks are carried out every year, and

(d) where?

2.
How much category 1 waste have the fifteen EU Member States exported to third countries since the
Basle Convention and regulation 259/93/EEC entered into force (broken down by year, exporting Member
States and countries of destination)?

3.
How much category 2 waste have the fifteen EU Member States exported to third countries since the
Basle Convention and regulation 259/93/EEC entered into force (broken down by year, exporting Member
States and countries of destination)?

C 72 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

How many infringements of the Basle Convention and Regulation 259/93/EEC have there been since

4.
they entered into force, in particular:

(a)

in which Member States,

(b)

to which third countries was the waste shipped,

(c) by which companies,

(d) what substances and quantities were involved (detailed breakdown of type and weight), and

(e) when (chronological breakdown of infringements)?

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1.

Reply

(18/19 September 2000)

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s Question is not a matter for the Council. Questions regarding the application of
the Basle Convention and Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 are a matter for either the Member States or the
Commission, within their respective spheres of responsibility.

(2001/C 72 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1285/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Subsidies to coal and nuclear sectors

to the nuclear and coal sectors. A question put

Substantial amounts in direct and indirect subsidies are granted in the Community at both EU and national
level
to the Commission in that connection on
13 December 1999 was answered wholly inadequately. The Commission moreover severely damages its
own credibility when it asserts that the claim that state subsidies have been granted to the nuclear energy
sector in the Community has not hitherto been substantiated.

1. Must it consequently be assumed that the Commission or departments of the Commission are
insufficiently aware of EU and national assistance programmes and subsidies? Must it consequently be
assumed in tabling questions that the Commission may well be unaware of the circumstances to which
they relate?

2.

An indirect subsidy to nuclear energy exists for example in the form of:

(cid:129) EU support payments for nuclear fusion research and for reactor safety and radiation protection;

(cid:129) national support payments for nuclear fusion research and for reactor safety and radiation protection;

A direct subsidy to nuclear energy exists for example in the form of:

(cid:129) the limitations on liability applicable in the Community to nuclear plant operators, with ceilings on

the cover required;

(cid:129) the expenditure in connection with safety checks on nuclear power stations, as required by Euratom;

(cid:129) the options available to nuclear power station operators in the Federal Republic of Germany of

constituting reserves (a separate question will be tabled shortly).