WRITTEN QUESTION P-1762/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Reorganisation of the DG for Energy and Transport.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, deadline for payment, operation of the Institutions, renewable energy

C 53 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

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

(20 July 2000)

The bathing water quality Directive 76/160/EEC (1) aims primarily at the monitoring of natural bathing
waters for waste water pollution, and in particular for faecal pollution. Member States have therefore the
obligation to take regular water samples and analyse them in qualified microbiological laboratories for the
presence of faecal indicators. Besides these laboratory analyses, the water has to be controlled for some
aesthetic parameters, which means checked visually for, amongst others, the presence of mineral oils and
persistent foam of detergents and an olfactory check for the presence of phenols. The control is in most
Member States performed by qualified and experienced personnel. However, it is possible that interpreta-
tion mistakes are made.

The Commission has been working intensively on the revision of the above directive since 1998. Trials on
beach surveys are carried out in most Member States, and an expert working group is working on all
monitoring aspects, including parameters and methods of analysis. The Commission will ensure in this
matter the greatest possible alignment with World health organisation (proposed) standards.

The Commission intends before the summer break to submit a communication to the Parliament and the
Council setting out the principles of the revision of the Directive. The communication will be the starting
interested parties which should culminate in the
point of a broad consultation process involving all
autumn of this year in a bathing water conference. The Commission envisages to put forward a proposal
for the revision in the first half of 2001.

(1) OJ L 312, 5.2.1976.

(2001/C 53 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1762/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Reorganisation of the DG for Energy and Transport

Further to the information given in the Commission(cid:146)s reply to Question E-0344/00 (1) and in spite of the
claim made in the reply that, overall, (cid:145)promotion of renewable energy has been strengthened in the new
organisation(cid:146), it should be pointed out that:

1.

2.

the ratio between the number of officials assigned to the energy sector (142) and those assigned to
transport
is much less favourable to the energy sector than was the case prior to the
reorganisation, when the numbers were much more equal;

(189)

the number of staff specifically assigned to renewables and energy efficiency has been cut by
approximately 20 %.

Given the repeated complaints about increasingly long delays in the processing of documents relating to
contracts being performed under various energy programmes (with particular reference to payments,
which in many cases are made over six months late), does the Commission intend to take immediate
action with a view to solving such problems once and for all? If it does, what will that action involve?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 134.

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/187

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The comparative figures presented by the Honorary Member are not complete as they disregard the
number of officials working in the horizontal services linked with the development of new energies and
demand management. Their work includes the following activities: financial management and control,
environment, technological development and dissemination and utilisation of the results of programmes
and technologies.

The delays in payments are not connected with the merger. For instance, the backlog of Altener contracts
and payments dates back to July 1999, therefore predating the reorganisation.

Quite the contrary, the merger of the Energy and Transport directorates-general has made it possible to
remedy this situation. A detailed list of payments was compiled, showing that at the end of February 2000
there were nearly 1200 financial transactions pending, relating to various Energy programmes including
for renewable energy. A task force was set up early March 2000 to catch up. To date, more than
750 transactions have been settled and 200 transactions are in abeyance pending additional information
from the contractor; evaluation of the balance will be completed shortly. In the coming weeks, work will
continue to regularise the situation so as to eliminate any remaining delays as soon as possible;

In order to prevent such situations arising in the future, new financial procedures have been put in place
within the directorate-general. They are based in particular on decentralisation of
the expenditure
authorisation process at directorate level, making it possible to shorten the administrative circuit and
strengthen the central function of financial control.

(2001/C 53 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1767/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Abduction of child, an EU national, by his Lebanese father

(31 May 2000)

the
The Greek Foreign Ministry and the Greek public have been deeply concerned recently about
abduction of the son of Mrs Alexandra Tzana, a Greek national, by his Lebanese father, Zak Serafim, and
the illegal detention of the child somewhere in Lebanon. The child(cid:146)s mother has appealed to the Foreign
Ministry to have her son, Emiliano Serafim, returned. Mrs Tzana has sole custody of her child by virtue of
judgment No 1231/1999 of the Athens Court of First Instance, which became final on 2 February 2000.
However, despite the fact that the child is a Greek national and the detention of the child in Lebanon by
his father is totally illegal, the father consistently refuses to return him to his mother.

Does the Commission believe it can assist in any way, on the basis of Community legislation or specific
agreements with Lebanon (e.g. by making representations to the Lebanese authorities or by taking other
measures through its departments), to ensure that the child is returned immediately to his legal guardian,
his mother? Is so, in what way can it assist and what does it propose to do in practical terms?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The Commission is aware of cases such as that cited by the Honourable Member occuring in several
countries in the region, in which a child is taken by one parent against the wishes of the other parent, and
in defiance of court orders. There are now other similar cases in Lebanon affecting Member States(cid:146)
nationals.