do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1607/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Illegal collection of waste oils.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, used oil

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-1672/00 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

C 103 E/20

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The strategy of the first version presented to the Commission for Galicia embraces a whole set of
subpriorities. The following may be mentioned: more thoroughgoing structural
improvements of the
central core formed by dairy and beef cattle farming and its downstream added value chain (milk and beef
industries); support
for diversification in agriculture; development action for the various products
associated with Galicia (veal, wines and fine spirits, potatoes, etc.); more vigorous development of
complementary rural activities (unusual forms of tourism, high identity local products etc.); furtherance
of an authentic forestry sector; reduction of residue levels, improvement of agricultural treatment systems
and forest fire prevention.

These strategic rural development activities part-financed by EAGGF Guidance will be implemented along
with others in the forthcoming regional programme for Galicia.

(2001/C 103 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1672/00

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
the total amount of money paid out in 1999 to which the proportion paid within the 60-day period
refers?

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

Supplementary answer
given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2000)

The Honourable Member is informed that an analysis of the time taken for payments included in the
statistics puts the amount of payments made within 60 days or under during the 1999 financial year at
€ 39 238 million.

(2001/C 103 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Supervisory bodies for organic food

It was a severe setback to Gr(cid:246)na Konsum in Sweden when the EU introduced its regulation making all
production of organic food imported into the EU from third countries subject to an EU-approved
supervisory body. For non-Member States the situation is difficult as their own supervisory authorities
are not approved and organic products from those countries cannot therefore be marketed in the EU as
organic food. Of Gr(cid:246)na Konsum(cid:146)s 150 organic products in the summer of 1999, only eight were produced
in countries with approved supervisory bodies. The EU(cid:146)s procedures for approving supervisory bodies in
non-EU countries are considered to be either too expensive or very bureaucratic. There is now a risk that
organic food will become expensive or disappear from shop shelves. Does the Commission not consider
that there is justifiable cause for concern in this situation? Has the EU granted the international umbrella
organisation IFOAM the right to approve supervisory bodies for organic food?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1698/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Number of civil service committees.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU act, EU statistics, committee (EU)

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/177

(2001/C 53 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1698/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Number of civil service committees

In 1997, the Commission calculated that 424 civil service committees took between 4 000 and 5 000
decisions per year.

How many civil service committees does the Commission have at present and how many decisions does
the Commission estimate that they took in 1999?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

There are currently 242 committees, made up of representatives of the Member States, which assist the
Commission in exercising its executive powers.

In 1999, these committees gave more than 2 500 opinions on draft implementing measures.

(2001/C 53 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1699/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Rules governing fish handling

At the beginning of 1999, the Swedish Food Administration (SFA) announced that small fish traders had
to comply with the same stringent EU rules as the fishery industries. For small fish traders in Sk(cid:229)ne, for
example, this entailed converting their premises at the cost of several million kronor and being forced to
stop smoke-curing their own fish. One of the EU rules on fish handling is that no area in which a person
fillets fish may be entered by any other person. Neither may fish at any stage of preparation other than
fillet be taken through that area. The SFA first thought that smaller operations would not be affected but,
in 1999, concluded that the strict rules apply across the board.

Does the Commission share the view that small fish traders must comply with the same rules as the fishery
industries in regard to the gutting, drying and smoking of fish?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The rules for the hygienic handling of fish and fishery products are contained in Council Directive 91/493/
EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market
of fishery products (1), as amended by Directive 95/71/EC (2). Certain of the requirements laid down in the
Swedish legislation to which the Honourable Member refers, and in particular the rule that (cid:145)no area in
which a person fillets fish may be entered by another person(cid:146), seem to be more detailed than those
contained in Directive 91/493/EEC. Differences between Community rules and national
law could be
explained by changes that have occurred during the process of implementation of Community directives
into national law.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1673/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Payment of contractors and suppliers.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU expenditure, deadline for payment, interest, supplier

C 72 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Reply

(26 September 2000)

It is not for the Council to interfere when Member States exercise their powers to remove aliens from their
territory.

(2001/C 72 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1673/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

(29 May 2000)

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission please
indicate the cost of interest paid on late payments by the Commission in each year since its change of
policy in 1997, together with the amounts claimed in each year?

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

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

The Honourable Member is informed that the Commission only has data for 1999.

In its communication of 10 June 1997, the Commission decided to change its policy on contracts by
introducing a clause formalising the maximum period of 60 days within which payment must be made
and allowing creditors to claim interest on expiry of that period, unless payment was suspended at the
Commission(cid:146)s initiative. This measure was indeed put into practice since, in 1999 alone, 41 proposals for
commitments in respect of interest on late payment were introduced by the Commission, for a total of
€ 1 114 870, of which € 932 289 had been paid by the end of the year by means of 282 individual
payment orders.

(2001/C 72 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1674/00

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Resolution of Religious freedom

Following Parliament(cid:146)s adoption on 11 February 1999 of a resolution on religious freedom (B4-0131/
1999 (1)) which refers specifically to news of persecution of religious minorities in India, what action has
the Commission taken to ensure that the Indian Government protects religious minorities and that the
relevant human rights clauses in treaty agreements with India are rigorously implemented?

(1) OJ C 150, 28.5.1999, p. 385.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2000)

Since a number of attacks on Christian families and facilities in 1998 the delegation of the Commission in
New Delhi,
in close consultation with the missions of the Member States, has been monitoring the
situation regarding religious minorities in India. Particular attention has been given to assessing the
implication of any discriminatory legislative measures that could affect the freedom of faith of Christians
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1644/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. National operational programme.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, operational programme

C 89 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

The concerns expressed by the Honourable Member about the connection of solar generators to the Italian
grid have been resolved by the legal framework established by the Bersani Act (Decree-Act No 79,
16 March 1999), which transposed into Italian law Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (3).

Article 3 of the Italian Act requires the grid manager to link up to the national transmission grid all
persons who so request without jeopardising continuity of service or compliance with technical rules,
which must be objective and non-discriminatory. Reasons must be given for any refusal to give access to
the grid. Article 11 of the Act provides for measures to promote renewables; these include solar energy.

The Commission has no specific information which would reasonably establish whether ENEL abused its
position, given the absence of technical rules on grid connection.

(1) COM(97) 599 final.
(2) COM(2000) 279 final.
(3) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.

(2001/C 89 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1644/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: National operational programme

Can the Commission explain why it has referred the national operational programme back to the Italian
authorities?

Does it not consider that this will result in considerable delays for the regions (particularly Objective 1
regions) that are supposed to draw up programming supplements, thus seriously jeopardising the use of
resources for the 2000-2006 period?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

The information given by the Honourable Member does not enable the Commission to identify the
programme in question.

The Community support framework for the Italian Objective 1 areas for the 2000-2006 programming
period, approved in principle by the Commission on 14 April 2000, will be implemented through
14 operational programmes, seven regional and seven national.

The need for closer examination of a specific programme, e.g. a sectoral one, does not prejudice approval
of the other programmes, regional or sectoral. If the content of an as yet unapproved sectoral programme
has a significant bearing on implementation of
these must nonetheless
incorporate procedures taking due account of it.

the regional programmes,
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677/00 by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Citizenship of Member States.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, area of freedom, security and justice, competence of the Member States, nationality, sexual discrimination

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/71

Annual average payment times since 1995

(Calendar days)

Total number of days

1995

43,9

1996

51,5

1997

58,5

1998

55,1

1999

54,1

The Commission started registering invoice payment times in 1995. The apparent deterioration in 1996
and 1997 revealed by the statistics published is, without doubt, largely due to the increased discipline with
which departments record data in the system of accounts to monitor invoices.

(1) These statistics do not include the payment of advances to the Member States under EAGGF Guarantee which are

charged to a non-budget account when they are actually paid.

(2001/C 89 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677/00

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Citizenship of Member States

Prior to the entry into force of the 1981 British Nationality Act which made provision for citizenship to
be transmitted by descent in both the male and female line, nationality law in the United Kingdom was
based on the principle that nationality should only be transmitted in the male line. It was decided that
children born abroad to female British citizens prior to the entry into force of the 1981 British Nationality
Act can not automatically become British citizens. Children born abroad to male British citizens prior to
the entry into force of the 1981 British Nationality are, however, entitled to full British citizenship.

Would the Commission agree that the decision of the United Kingdom Government not to apply the Act
retrospectively discriminates against the rights of British women? What action can the Commission take to
correct this situation?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2000)

The Commission would point out that questions concerning nationality of a Member State are settled
solely by reference to national law of the Member State concerned. This was specified in Declaration 2 on
nationality annexed to the Treaty on European Union (1) and has also been confirmed by the Court of
justice in the Micheletti case (2).

As this is a domestic matter, the Commission cannot comment on the alleged discriminatory character of
the British Nationality Act of 1981.

For the reasons mentioned above, it is not open to the Commission to take any measure in this field.

(1) OJ C 191, 29.7.1992.
(2) Case C-369/90, ECR 1992, page I-4239.