WRITTEN QUESTION E-1468/00 by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission. Denmark's early retirement scheme.
Date: 2000-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, free movement of workers, labour law, pension scheme, residence, social legislation

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/15

(2001/C 113 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1466/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: The use of Stevia rebaudiana bertoni

The herb Stevia rebaudiana bertoni has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener and is reputed also
to have positive medicinal benefits.

Further to a request to market the plant as a novel food, the Scientific Committee on Food in its
investigation decided that there was (cid:145)no satisfactory data to support the safe use of these products as
ingredients of food or as a sucrose substitute for diabetics and obese individuals(cid:146).

Given that there is insufficient data to support the safe use of Stevia rebaudiana surely there is also
insufficient data to limit its use and further investigation must be undertaken to prove that the plant is
unsafe for human consumption?

Can the Commission confirm the current position with regard to the marketing and use of this plant?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Plants and dried leaves of Stevia rebaudiana were the subject of an application under Regulation (EC)
No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel
food ingredients (1). This implies that this product had not been used hitherto for human consumption to a
significant degree in the Community.

In its opinion the scientific committee for food (SCF) stressed that there was not satisfactory information,
in particular with respect to the specifications of the product, and that there was not sufficient data
concerning the toxicology of the product to arrive at the conclusion that the product would be safe for
human consumption.

In such case the application can only be rejected. The standing committee approved this decision of the
Commission with unanimity.

This decision will not prevent other applicants from submitting an application.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.

(2001/C 113 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1468/00

by Ulla Sandb(cid:230)k (EDD) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Denmark(cid:146)s early retirement scheme

It is reported that the Commission has reached an understanding with the Danish Government on
entitlements under Denmark(cid:146)s early retirement scheme. However, has the Commission accepted that
Denmark(cid:146)s early retirement scheme is an arrangement based on the labour market and not a social welfare
scheme (cid:129) which would in that eventuality be covered by Regulation No 1408/71 (1)?

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

C 113 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

In 1995 the Commission submitted a proposal to the Council (1) for an amendment to Regulation (EEC)
No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed
persons and their families moving within the Community (2) inserting provisions for the co-ordination of
pre-retirement benefits. In the explanatory memorandum the Commission pointed out that pre-retirement
schemes of which the Danish efterlon forms part, are not explicitly covered by the scope of Regulation
(EEC) No 1408/71. Therefore, the Commission proposed that a separate chapter be created for these
benefits as well as provisions to ensure the aggregation of insurance periods and the exportation of the
benefit. However, the proposal has not yet been adopted by the Council. Furthermore, the Commission has
included provisions of a similar nature in its proposal for a review and simplification of Regulation (EEC)
No 1408/71 (3). This proposal is being dealt with by Council.

Therefore, pre-retirement benefits, such as the efterlon, do not yet fall under the scope of Regulation (EEC)
No 1408/71 (see for example case law C-171/82, Valentini (4); C-198/90, Commission v. Netherlands (5);
C-25/95, Otte (6)).

It should be noted, nevertheless, that the Danish government agreed recently with the Commission that the
Danish pre-retirement benefit constitutes a social advantage in the sense of Article 7 of Regulation (EEC)
No 1612/68 of the Council of 15 October 1968 on freedom of movement for workers within the
Community (7) and that its residence requirement constitutes indirect discrimination to the detriment of
workers exercising their right of free movement. Subsequently, the Danish government informed the
Commission that this requirement will be eliminated.

(1) OJ C 62, 1.3.1996.
(2) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971 last consolidated version: Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 (OJ L 28,

30.1.1997).

(3) OJ C 38, 12.2.1999.
(4) ECR 1983 p. 2157.
(5) ECR 1991 p. I-5799.
(6) ECR 1996 p. I-3745.
(7) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968.

(2001/C 113 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1469/00

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Immigration policy

Illegal immigration to Europe is increasingly taking the form of slave-trafficking, devaluing human dignity
and often costing lives.

Does the European Union bear any responsibility for this? As an area which receives immigrants, should
the European Union not develop a common immigration policy establishing clear and mutually acceptable
relations with the immigrants(cid:146) countries of origin, which will combat illegality and trafficking in human
beings, as well as illegal employment in the European Union? Will the countries applying for membership
participate in the process of drawing up and implementing these policies?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Since the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty on 1 May 1999, the Community enjoys explicit
powers in the field of immigration policy (Title IV of the EC Treaty, articles 61 et seq.). Article 63 of the
EC Treaty stipulates that the Council shall adopt within five years measures relative to immigration policy
which will concern, inter alia, the field of illegal immigration (Article 63(3) lit. b of the EC Treaty).