WRITTEN QUESTION E-1768/00 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. The Hallmarking of Precious Metals.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU industrial policy, jewellery and goldsmith's articles, precious metal, product quality

C 72 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Current statistical methods for determining olive oils(cid:146) geographical origin via a database contain inherent
inaccuracies which may cause oils to be wrongly classified, but the Commission is following with great
interest the research being undertaken into improving those methods.

(1) OJ L 248, 5.9.1991.

(2001/C 72 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1764/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council

(5 June 2000)

Subject: Freedom of the press in Russia

Does the Council believe that the search carried out by the FSB (the former KGB) in the offices of the
independent MediaMost Press Group is an indication of a new climate, 10 years after the fall of the Berlin
Wall and some years after the abolition of Communism in Russia?

Is the Council concerned about this attack on the freedom of the press and on MediaMost and its television
station, NTV, whose President, Vladimir Goussinsky, is also an important figure in the Russian Jewish
Community?

Will the Council ask the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to ensure freedom of expression and to
denounce such practices, unacceptable in a state based on the rule of law, is a member of the Council of
Europe and which hopes, one day, to join the European Union?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

The Council noted with concern the search carried out by the FSB in the offices of the MediaMost Press
Group. It has repeatedly stressed to the Russian authorities, notably at the EU-Russia Summit on 29 May,
that freedom and independence of the media are an essential component of any democratic, free and open
society. Respect for fundamental democratic principles is a cornerstone of the partnership between the EU
and Russia and an essential element of the PCA.

Support for consolidation of Russian public institutions, particularly its executive, legislative and judicial
bodies in accordance with democratic principles is among the principal objectives of the EU(cid:146)s Common
Strategy on Russia. The Council will continue supporting democratic reforms in Russia and closely
following developments in this area, with particular attention to the freedom of the media.

(2001/C 72 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1768/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: The Hallmarking of Precious Metals

At present, there is no harmonisation of weight limits above which hallmarking is compulsory. In the UK
it is 7,78 gm for sterling silver, whereas in Holland it is 1 gm, causing problems when selling goods there,
even when they have been marked by the Assay Office in Britain.

Would the Commission give further consideration to a practical solution to this, which would be to
harmonise the weight limit throughout the EU, thus creating a level platform in the supply of precious
metal jewellery?

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/113

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

As already mentioned in previous answers to written questions from Parliament (1), no substantive progress
is being made at the level of the Council on the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a directive on precious
metals (2). In the light of further analysis of the ruling of the Court of justice in the Houtwipper case (3), it
seems excluded to impose, on the basis of Article 28 (ex Article 30) of the EC Treaty, a system of mutual
recognition of national conformity assessment procedures based on the manufacturer(cid:146)s declaration and on
hall marking. Given the continued stalemate concerning this issue, the Commission intends to verify with
Member States the scope for a breakthrough in harmonization of national law.

(1) E-3158/98 of Mrs Ferrer (OJ C 207, 21.7.1999), E-3139/98 of Mrs Miranda de Lage (OJ C 142, 21.5.1999) and

E-3029/98 of Mr Arias Caæete (OJ C 135, 14.5.1999).

(2) OJ C 209, 29.7.1994.
(3)

Judgement of 15.9.1994 in Case C-293/93.

(2001/C 72 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1771/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Rail services in Ireland

Bearing in mind the EU(cid:146)s responsibility in developing a common transport policy incorporating rail and
road and other modes of transport, what are the Commission(cid:146)s powers in ensuring that Member States
invest sufficiently in rail services, and what are its views on Iarnrod Eireann(cid:146)s decision not to reopen
Monasterevin railway station in Co. Kildare, Ireland, despite the fact that a demand for one exists amongst
car commuters driving to Dublin on a daily basis?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

for Trans-European networks and through the structural

Through the dedicated budget
the
Commission is able to co-finance studies and investments in rail infrastructure for projects defined in the
guidelines for the development of the Trans-European transport network (TEN-T). In Ireland, the main
railway line between Dublin and Portarlington (Galway/Limerich/Cork/Tralee)
is defined as part of the
outline map of the TEN rail network. In principle upgrading and construction projects on this route could
be eligible for Community financial support, subject to meeting the criteria and priorities established in the
TEN guidelines.

funds,

The choice of investment priorities, whether or not Community financial assistance is requested, is the
responsibility of the national authorities alone.

In general terms, the Commission pursues the policy objective of promoting rail to become an efficient
transport mode and to tackle current transport related problems such as congestion and environmental
externalities. In order to implement these objectives the Commission has made proposals to adapt the
regulatory framework appropriately, for instance in the area of market opening and infrastructure charging
principles. As to the question of reopening Monasterevin railway station the Commission takes the view
that the investment decisions relating to rail commuter infrastructure should be left to the appropriate
authorities at the local or regional level.