WRITTEN QUESTION E-1812/00 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Studies of the radiological effects on Ireland of the operation of Sellafield.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Ireland, United Kingdom, radioactive waste

C 72 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

2. Does it agree that it is environmentally undesirable to force goods and passenger traffic to use such

roads where much shorter sea crossings by ferry might be provided?

3. Does it agree that there are also serious safety, health, and public welfare grounds for the provision of

affordable ferry services, both passenger and vehicular, on such sea crossings?

4. Does it therefore agree that it would be proper and reasonable to treat peninsulas such as Kintyre,
Cowal and Roseneath as equivalent to islands for the purposes of applying Article 4(1) of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on Maritime Transport?

5. Does it agree that it would be lawful for the Scottish Executive, the responsible authority in the UK, to
in respect of ferry services to these and other similar

invite tenders for (cid:145)public service contracts(cid:146)
peninsulas?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the geographical configuration of the West coast of Scotland.

As explained in its communication on the development of short sea shipping in Europe (1) the Commission
also takes the view that maritime transport should be developped as it constitutes an environmentally
friendly and safe alternative to road transport. However, short sea shipping cannot be developed in breach
of Community law.

As far as maritime services within Member States are concerned, the relevant text is Council Regulation
(EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime
transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (2). Member States adopted this Regulation because
they shared the view that the abolition of restrictions on the provision of maritime transport services
within Member States was necessary for the establishment of the internal market.

The imposition of public service obligations restricts the freedom to provide services. Therefore, it was
decided that Member States could only impose public service obligations in order to ensure the adequacy
of regular transport services to, from and between islands and not between ports located on the mainland
(see Article 4 paragraph 1 of the Regulation). This provision has to be interpreted strictly as it is an
exception to the general principle of freedom to provide services. For this reason, the Commission will
only accept that when Member States have demonstrated that there is a real need for public service
obligations, they may impose public service obligations on a maritime route to, from and between islands
where there is no land alternative.

(1) COM(1999) 317 final.
(2) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992.

(2001/C 72 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1812/00

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Studies of the radiological effects on Ireland of the operation of Sellafield

Will the Commission ask the relevant British, Northern Ireland and Irish safety authorities for copies of all
studies undertaken since 1980 on the radiological effects on Ireland of the operation of Sellafield, and will
it establish a review panel to assess the reliability and current relevance of these reports?

6.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/123

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

(19 July 2000)

While Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty allows the Commission to give an opinion on whether the planned
disposal of radioactive waste is liable to have an effect on other Member States, Article 36 of the Euratom
Treaty requires Member States to communicate to the Commission information on actual
levels of
radioactivity in the air, water and soil resulting from the continuous monitoring carried out under
Article 35 of the Treaty. Such information is received on a regular basis.

Additional studies undertaken by national authorities, e.g. on the radiological effects on Ireland of the
operation of Sellafield, are not required under the Euratom Treaty or its derived legislation. Hence the
Commission has no responsibility to review and assess such studies with regard to their reliability and
contemporary relevance.

The Commission will nevertheless ask the authorities of Ireland and of the United Kingdom whether such
studies are available and how the reports can be obtained. In addition, the Commission is launching a
comprehensive two year study to assess levels of radioactivity in North European waters, on the basis of all
available information. This study will update a similar assessment (Mar(cid:237)na) concluded around 15 years ago.
The results of national studies and assessments will be taken into account.

(2001/C 72 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1815/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Labelling of turron

Some doubts have arisen in Spain with regard to the interpretation of the provisions of Directives 97/4 (1)
and 1990/10 (2) on the labelling of
food products and their transposition into Spanish law. More
specifically, manufacturers of turron do not know whether the indication of the quantities of ingredients
(almonds, honey and egg white) should refer to the quantities as used in the manufacturing process or to
the final product since the manufacturing process itself results in a certain wastage, particularly of
almonds.

Pursuant to the said Directives, what should the indication of the quantities of ingredients of turron refer
to, to the quantities used or to the quantities in the final product?

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 69, 16.3.1999, p. 22.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

Article 7(4)of Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on
the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising
of foodstuffs (1) (which includes the provisions set out in Directive 97/4/EC) states that the quantity of an
ingredient or category of ingredients used in the manufacturing or preparation of a food product shall
correspond to the quantity of the ingredient or ingredients at the time of its/their use.

The derogations provided for in Commission Directive 1999/10/EC of 8 March 1999 apply to specific
cases such as volatile ingredients, ingredients used in concentrated or dehydrated form and reconstituted
during manufacturing, or food products which have lost a considerable amount of water during
manufacturing. As regards all other ingredients, the quantity used in the manufacturing process should,
in principle, be the same as or very similar to the quantity in the final product, expressed as a percentage
of the total weight of the product.