WRITTEN QUESTION E-1719/00 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE), Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Vittorio Sgarbi (PPE-DE), Luigi Cesaro (PPE-DE), Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE), Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE), Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE), Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Nisticò (PPE-DE), Marcello Dell'Utri (PPE-DE), Guido Podestà (PPE-DE), Raffaele Fitto (PPE-DE), Umberto Scapagnini (PPE-DE), Pier Casini (PPE-DE) and Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The euro crisis.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: devaluation, euro

C 72 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

In response to the request for information, the Spanish authorities stated that the projected logistical
activities estate at the Port of Valencia had been subjected to the environmental
impact assessment
procedure provided for by Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the
impact of certain public and private projects on the environment (2). The environmental impact assessment
of the project were issued on 14 December 1999. An impact study of the project was carried out as part
of the procedure. That study was laid open to public inspection.

Since there are no alternatives it should be stressed that Directive 85/337/EEC does not require the
principal customer to make a study of alternatives.

It emerges from the environmental impact statement that the potential impacts of the project on the
Albufera nature reserve have been examined. The statement concludes that the project will not affect the
reserve. The potential
impacts on the aquifer in the Valencia plain has also been studied. Since the
logistical activities estate will be mainly devoted to goods storage, packaging and labelling activities, it was
concluded that the project will have no impact on the aquifer.

In view of the above it cannot be concluded that there has been any infringement of Community
environmental law in this instance.

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000, p. 95.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2001/C 72 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1719/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE),
Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Vittorio Sgarbi (PPE-DE), Luigi Cesaro (PPE-DE),
Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE), Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE), Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE),
Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Nistic(cid:242) (PPE-DE),
Marcello Dell(cid:146)Utri (PPE-DE), Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Raffaele Fitto (PPE-DE),
Umberto Scapagnini (PPE-DE), Pier Casini (PPE-DE)
and Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The euro crisis

(29 May 2000)

The undeniable crisis affecting the euro has been, and is, a cause for great concern in all the countries are
participating in the single currency, and in the EU in general.

Can the Commission as a matter of urgency provide the European Parliament and, more generally,
European citizens, with an adequate explanation of the measures that have been, or are to be, taken to put
an end to a situation which we all hope is transitory, but which nevertheless has been dragging on for
many months?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Although a good part of the depreciation in the euro since its introduction may be explained by a
relatively high starting value (following a substantial appreciation in the course of 1998) and by relative
cyclical developments in the euro area and the other major world regions, most observers agree that the
present level of the euro, around 0.90 US dollar per euro, does not reflect present economic conditions
and it is well below most estimates of a long-run equilibrium value.

Similarly large swings in the exchange rates of the world(cid:146)s major currencies are not at all unusual in the
current free-floating system. In normal circumstances, exchange rate movements fulfil a stabilising role.
Sometimes, however, exchange rates temporarily depart
from economic fundamentals. As economic
growth rates in the United States and the euro area converge, one might expect the exchange rate
increasingly to reflect these fundamentals, so that the euro would move up towards its (cid:145)equilibrium rate(cid:146)
without the need for a policy response.

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/105

The European central bank (ECB) and the Euro-11 Group have clearly stated that the euro has a strong
potential for appreciation. While such verbal support has had only limited effect so far,
it should be
stressed that the ECB, in full accordance with its mandate as set in the EC Treaty, is concerned by the level
of the exchange rate only to the extent that it has an impact on inflation.

(2001/C 72 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1721/00

by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Council

(24 May 2000)

Subject: IGC

In his speech at Humboldt University on 12 May, the German Foreign Minister suggested that the
European Parliament might be replaced by an indirectly elected chamber of national parliamentarians and
a second chamber of senators along either the US or German model.

Does the Presidency share the view of Mr Fischer?

How many other members of the General Affairs Council hold that opinion?

Is the German representative on the IGC advocating such a proposal?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

As the Honourable Member is probably aware,
the Council has no role in the Conference of the
Representatives of the Governments of the Member States and is therefore unable to comment on work
being undertaken by the Conference. The European Parliament, on the other hand, has two observers who
are closely involved in the work of the Conference at the preparatory level.

(2001/C 72 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Turkey disputes the sovereign rights of Greek islands in the Aegean

Prompted by the NATO exercise (cid:145)Dynamic Mix(cid:146), Turkey has put the spotlight back on its long-standing
dispute concerning the established regime of Greek sovereignty over islets and island rocks in the Aegean.
In addition, it has made accusations concerning development and environmental activities by Greece in the
areas in question, many of which are funded by relevant European Union programmes.

To be specific,
in its representations to the Greek Government on Wednesday, 10 May 2000 Turkey
referred to (cid:145)military and other activities by Greece on geographical formations of disputed sovereignty in
the Aegean(cid:146).

Could the Commission say whether it agrees with this challenge by Turkey to Greece(cid:146)s sovereign rights and
whether this position accords with the spirit of the agreement which was achieved, following Greek
concessions, at Helsinki, and also with Turkey(cid:146)s current status as an applicant country?