do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1669/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Payment of contractors and suppliers.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commissioner, deadline for payment, subcontracting

C 89 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

After examination of all the relevant elements the Commission considered that Mr Cahn(cid:146)s duties in his new
post were consistent with the professional ethics which a temporary member of staff has to respect under
the present Staff Regulations.

As a matter of broader consideration, the Commission takes the view that the present general rules and
principles relating to the external employment of temporary and permanent officials would benefit from
greater precision in order to ensure consistency and practical guidance, as well as transparency, not least to
facilitate more exchange of qualified personnel between national and Community administrations and
between the public and private sectors. The Commission will therefore examine whether, on the basis of
best working and ethical practices in the administrations of the Member States and of other international
bodies, more precise rules and procedures can be proposed and,
if so, what practical provisions and
arrangements should be made.

(2001/C 89 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1669/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission please
give a comparable proportion of payments which were completed within the 60-day period for the four
previous years (i.e. 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995)?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001.

(2001/C 89 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1670/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission please
indicate the average period of payment across all departments from the date of receipt of the invoice to
the date on which the Commission bank account was debited for payments made in the four previous
years (i.e. 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995)?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1669/00 and E-1670/00
given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

Performance and change in average payment times since 1995 (overall statistics) (1).

Performance as regards target times achieved since 1995

(Percentage of payments executed)

(cid:26) 60 days

> 60 and (cid:26) 90

> 90 days

1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

83,7
77,7
73,4
73,6
65,1

8,8
11,8
9,0
10,9
14,9

7,5
10,5
17,6
15,5
20,0
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1142/2000 of 29 May 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, perennial vegetable, pip fruit

30.5.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 129/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1142/2000

of 29 May 2000

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

the standard
In compliance with the above criteria,
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
last
import arrangements
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/98 (2), and in particular
Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
in
standard values for imports from third countries,
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 30 May 2000.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 May 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 4.

L 129/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30.5.2000

to the Commission Regulation of 29 May 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry
price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 10 00

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 30 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
999
052
068
628
999
052
999
052
999
052
204
212
220
600
624
999
528
999
388
400
404
508
512
528
720
804
999

81,9
66,1
74,0
97,2
45,2
113,5
85,3
141,9
141,9
56,3
56,3
60,4
36,0
30,5
40,0
58,4
66,1
48,6
72,4
72,4
92,2
62,0
113,0
86,2
85,9
84,4
61,3
99,9
85,6

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2543/1999 (OJ L 307, 2.12.1999, p. 46). Code ‘999’ stands for ‘of

other origin’.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Payment of contractors and suppliers.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, deadline for payment, subcontracting

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/175

The arrangements for implementing the programme have also been simplified wherever possible: flat-rate
funding for a large number of projects; new, simpler and shorter forms; user handbook available on the
Internet:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth.html.

Under the new Youth programme, uniform application deadlines apply for all actions. For action I
(exchange programmes for young people), for example, there are five different deadlines for projects
being run by the national agencies, each of which can be launched three months later. These deadlines are
laid down in an effort to ensure that the programme is run effectively, and this involves costly meetings
for the selection of projects. In addition, a large number of projects are selected by the national agencies.
All these measures should ensure that a financing contract is sent to all applicants before projects
commence.

(2001/C 53 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission indicate
when the interdepartmental working party on underperformance in the area of late payment is due to
report?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 10.

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

The Commission is sending direct
memorandum on reducing payment times which it adopted on 5 July 2000.

to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat

the

(2001/C 53 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1679/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Introduction of a Community patent

(29 May 2000)

In the recent debate concerning the communication on a European Research Area, the introduction of a
Community patent was raised.

How does the Commission propose to ensure that the Community patent is introduced as soon as possible
in the EU? What does the Commission estimate will be the eventual timetable for the project? By what
means does the Commission propose to ensure that the Community patent system becomes as unbureau-
cratic, user-friendly and profitable as possible?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

The Community patent is a priority issue for the Commission. A proposal for a regulation on the
Community patent is due to be adopted by the Commission in early July 2000. The final timetable for the
introduction of the Community patent will depend on many factors, not least on the success of the on-
going revision of the EC Treaty concerning the establishment of a new, centralised Community jurisdiction
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1606/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Sport event for kidney sufferers.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU sponsorship, health policy, organ transplantation

C 72 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1606/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Sport event for kidney sufferers

The Kidney Sufferers Sports Association intends to organise the first European games for kidney sufferers
in Athens in order to give kidney sufferers the opportunity to become involved in sport and also to make
public opinion more aware of the idea of organ donations. Given the particular nature of the participants
in these games, will the Commission co-fund the above sports event? If so, through which financial
instrument?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

Although it recognises the value of sport in promoting health, the Commission regrets to have to inform
the Honourable Member that the Community budget does not have a heading that would allow it to co-
fund a sporting event of this kind.

(2001/C 72 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1607/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Illegal collection of waste oils

Directive 75/439/EEC (1) on the disposal of waste oils provides that the Member States shall take the
necessary measures to ensure the safe collection and disposal of waste oils. According to the Commission(cid:146)s
latest report, in Greece 92 % of waste oils was collected illegally and sold without any processing as fuel.

Given that Greece transposed the above Directive into national law in 1995, but has failed to ensure that
mechanisms are set up for the legal collection and treatment of oils and that the burning of waste oils
generates fumes which are harmful to the environment, what measures does the Commission intend to
take to ensure that Greece effectively implements the Directive on waste oils?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 23.

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

(4 July 2000)

from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on the implementation of
In the report
Community waste legislation (1), the figures provided for the disposal of waste oils in Greece were taken
from the study (cid:145)Economics of Waste Oils Regeneration(cid:146) done by Coopers & Lybrand (2), because the reply
to the questionnaire sent by the national authorities arrived too late to be included in the report.

The official figures provided by the Greek authorities are currently being examined by the Commission.

(1) COM(1999) 752 final.
(2) Economics of Waste Oils Regeneration, Coopers & Lybrand, the Hague, 29 January 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1610/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Structural Funds, aquaculture, committee (EU), fisheries policy

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/59

The declaration by the Presidency of the Council on the announcement of the said elections states that (cid:145)the
European Union will be closely monitoring the course of the forthcoming elections(cid:146) and expresses the
Union(cid:146)s concern for the neutrality and impartiality of the electoral process. Will the Council specify what
action it intends to take to see to it that democratic transparency governs these elections?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Honourable Member refers in her question to the Presidency declaration of 4 May on the local
elections which were held in Equatorial Guinea on 28 May 2000. These elections were closely monitored
by the Heads of Mission of the European Union, allowing for the European Union to assess whether its
concern for the organisation of a transparent, neutral and impartial vote has been met.

(2001/C 81 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1610/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture

(29 May 2000)

Article 51 of Council Regulation No 1260/1999 (1) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds
has set up a Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture, with the sole specification that it shall
be made up of representatives of the Member States.

What is the current membership of this Committee? What has it done in the period of its existence, which
is now almost one year?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

The full members of the Committee in question are in general the heads of the Member States(cid:146) fishery
administrations.

Under the Code of Conduct on the implementation of structural policies by the Commission signed on
6 May 1999 by Mr Santer and Mr Gil Robles (document PE 230 741) Parliament is officially provided with
regular information on the Committee(cid:146)s activities. The Honourable Member can obtain agendas, minutes
and documents from Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 81 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: IFOP and the Basque Country

Can the Commission provide information on the utilisation of IFOP resources in the Basque region of
Spain over the period 1994-1999?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1694/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Aid to Sweden for information concerning EMU.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Economic and Monetary Union, Sweden, public awareness campaign

C 72 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1694/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Aid to Sweden for information concerning EMU

(29 May 2000)

Can the Commission provide me with a list of those Swedish organisations which have received financial
aid since 1998 to disseminate information on EMU, stating the amounts involved?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

In 1998, a single subsidy in the sum of € 84 317 was allocated to the Stiptelser Sverige i Europa
Foundation.

In 1999, an agreement was signed with the Swedish government authorities for a sum of € 535 855,
which financed the distribution of information to businesses; the distribution of information to the public,
in particular via a government office dealing with (cid:145)questions and answers(cid:146) on the Euro; an Internet site and
basic information instruments such as brochures, audio cassettes and information points in the various
municipalities. In order to receive a list of the Swedish organisations which participated in this action, the
Honourable Member should contact the Swedish government directly.

A similar sum has been reserved for the year 2000 for renewal of the agreement once the conditions
required for its signature have been fulfilled.

(2001/C 72 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1708/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(7 June 2000)

Subject: Continuing violation of Rule 44 of the European Parliament(cid:146)s Rules of Procedure by the Council

I wish to draw attention to Written Questions E-0811/00, E-0812/00 and E-0813/00, tabled by me on
2 March 2000 and registered on 20 March 2000, which have still not been answered by the Council,
although the deadline in accordance with Parliament(cid:146)s Rules of Procedure expired on 3 May 2000. Is the
Council aware that in failing to answer these questions in good time it continues to infringe Parliament(cid:146)s
Rules of Procedure, and that I have, moreover, still received no answer to the (cid:145)reminder(cid:146) question tabled by
me on 27 April 2000 for failure to answer questions P-0644/00, E-0645/00 and E-0646/00? How can the
Council justify this recurrent negligence?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

The Honourable Member is referred to the replies to Questions E-1299/00 and E-1300/00 put to the
Council by Charles Tannock.

(2001/C 72 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1709/00

by Diana Wallis (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Distance marketing of financial services and electronic commerce: consistency of information

requirement in Commission proposals

The Commission(cid:146)s proposals for the above directives include provisions on the information to be provided
by suppliers to consumers.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1612/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Objective 2 areas.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, Structural Funds, economic and social cohesion, eligible region, enlargement of the Union

C 81 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Despite the existing Objective 1 framework, does the Commission believe that any fisheries projects could
be covered by this new Structural Fund in that (Objective 2) region?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2000)

Between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1999, aid totalling € 68,55 million was paid under the
financial instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG) to projects located in the Basque Autonomous Commun-
ity. That amount does not include all structural aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sector during the
1994-1999 programming period, since projects may still be carried out until the end of 2001 provided
that the managing authority for the programme selected them before 31 December 1999.

During the new programming period (2000-06), all the fisheries sector structural measures referred to in
Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 (1) may be financed by the FIFG throughout
Community territory.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1612/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Objective 2 areas

A few days ago it was stated that, in view of the forthcoming enlargement of the Union, structural aid will
no longer be payable to 62 % of the Spanish state.

Is the Commission aware of the actual impact that enlargement will have in this sense and, concretely,
how it will affect the present Objective 2 areas in the Spanish state?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2000)

The list of the areas of Spain eligible under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds for the programming
period 2000-2006 was established by Commission Decision 2000/264/EC of 14 March 2000 (1). Under
Article 4(11) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions
on the Structural Funds (2), this list is valid until 31 December 2006. It can, however, be amended during
2003 on a proposal from the Member State where there is a serious crisis in a region, without increasing
the proportion of the population within each region.

It follows from these provisions that the total population eligible under Objective 2 in Spain will not be
affected, between now and the end of 2006, by the accession of new Member States. With regard to the
period after 2006, the second report on cohesion that the Commission will adopt at the end of this year,
pursuant to Article 159 of the EC Treaty (ex-Article 130b), will analyse the situation of the regions in the
context of an enlarged Union and will propose a number of guidelines for the future of cohesion policy.

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.2000.
(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1690/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Cost of the drink milk campaign.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, budget, financial aid, food consumption, milk, public awareness campaign

C 81 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

The Commission feels it ought to point out that the Community standard for cucumbers, as set out in
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1677/88 of 15 June 1988 laying down quality standards for cucum-
bers (1) and itself based on internationally accepted standards, does not contain any rules on minimum or
maximum curvature for Class II cucumbers. Cucumbers of all shapes, straight or curved, may be marketed
in this class.

(1) OJ L 150, 16.6.1988.

(2001/C 81 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1690/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Cost of the (cid:145)drink milk(cid:146) campaign

Can the Commission provide details of the budgeted costs for the (cid:145)trendy girls drink milk(cid:146) campaign, which
was launched in November 1999 to increase milk consumption in the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

The Community did not finance the campaign with the title (cid:145)trendy girls drink milk(cid:146).

Complete information concerning promotional campaigns for milk and milk products funded by the
Community can be found on the following Commission web-site address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg06/prom/index_en.htm

(2001/C 81 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Legal aid to sue Paul van Buitenen

Has the Commission, or has the Commission not, offered free legal aid (with a possible view to suing) to
EU staff who feel that they have been slandered or discredited by Paul van Buitenen in his book?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

Under Article 24 Staff Regulations, (cid:145)the Communities shall assist any official, in particular in proceedings
against any person perpetrating threats, insulting or defamatory acts or utterances, ((cid:133)) by reason of his
position or duties(cid:146).

Based on this provision, the Commission can (cid:129) after due consideration (cid:129) be obliged to offer assistance to
members of Community staff who have been slandered or discredited. The assistance granted can consist
of the reimbursement of the legal fees due to a lawyer for suing the author of the defamation.