WRITTEN QUESTION E-2091/00 by José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Scientific cooperation with developing countries.
Date: 2000-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, development aid, scientific cooperation

C 89 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

additional measures concerning the official control of foodstuffs (1). Assessments have been carried out in
Member States which have included an assessment of the food control laboratories, their competencies, the
quality assurance of laboratory methods, equipment, facilities and other resources.

Article 7 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC of 14 June 1989 on the official control of foodstuffs (2) in
association with Article 3 of Directive 93/99/EEC requires laboratories to operate in line with the
international standards for laboratory accreditation EN 45000 series (ISO 17025:2000) before 1 November
1998. These assessment reports are published on the Commission(cid:146)s internet site http://europa.eu.int/
comm/food/fs/sfp/sfp_index_en.html.

In addition to the provisions foreseen in the legal framework for controls, the Commission is currently
sponsoring a scientific co-operation task under Council Directive 93/5/EEC of 25 February 1993 on
assistance to the Commission and cooperation by the Member States in the scientific examination of
questions relating to food (3). This task is looking at the comparison of laboratory methods for the official
control of foodstuffs and the comparability of control sampling and analysis data. The results of this task
will be available at the beginning of 2001.

(1) OJ L 290, 24.11.1993.
(2) OJ L 186, 30.6.1989.
(3) OJ L 52, 4.3.1993.

(2001/C 89 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2091/00

by JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Scientific cooperation with developing countries

(28 June 2000)

In the Commission(cid:146)s communication (cid:145)Towards a European research area(cid:146), the aim of which is to foster the
creation of a genuine European research and innovation community, no reference is made to the Union(cid:146)s
scientific cooperation with developing countries.

In view of the importance of scientific cooperation as a means of stimulating development and growth in
the developing countries, can the Commission explain the nature of its strategy for scientific cooperation
with developing countries for the Sixth Framework Programme?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

The absence of an explicit reference to scientific & technological
(S&T) cooperation with developing
countries from the Commission(cid:146)s communication (cid:145)Towards a European Research Area(cid:146) (1) does not signal a
change in policy. It reflects only the fact that this communication, as the title implies, focuses on issues
within the geographical boundaries of the Community.

As a matter of fact, the sizeable volume of S&T cooperation activities carried out with developing
countries in all the Research and technological development (RTD) framework programmes, underscores
the importance assigned to S&T cooperation with Asia (ASEM), Latin America & Caribbean (ALCUE), the
Mediterranean Partnership (Barcelona process) and Africa (Cairo Summit).

As for the preparation of future research activities of the Community, a general orientation document is
currently being prepared by the Commission. This document, to be released for discussion in early
autumn, will be followed by the formal proposal for the 6th RTD framework programme, in early 2001.

20.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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The strategy for R&D cooperation with development countries is being discussed within this wider
framework.

In preparing for this S&T cooperation,
take into consideration the necessary
the Commission will
complementary and synergistic use of the instruments available in the RTD and external relations policies,
specifically those pertaining to the political relations, trade and development cooperation policies.

(1) COM(2000) 6 final.

(2001/C 89 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Representation of sub-state political entities in the European Council

With a view to the reform of the Treaties, which is due to take place at the Intergovernmental Conference,
does the Council intend to take a legislative initiative to ensure the presence of ministers of sub-state
entities with political and legislative powers within the delegations of Member States, given that certain
Member States, such as Spain (unlike Germany, Belgium, Austria and the United Kingdom), still refuse to
apply the provisions of Article 203 of the consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European
Community?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The Honourable Member should be aware that the Council has no role whatsoever in the work of the
Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, and is therefore unable to
comment on work being undertaken by the Conference. The European Parliament, on the other hand, has
two observers who are closely involved in the work of the Conference at the preparatory level. For a more
comprehensive overview of the state of play in the work of the IGC, the honourable member should refer
to the report produced under the Presidency(cid:146)s responsibility for the Feira European Council.

The Treaty establishes in its Article 203 that the Council shall consist of a representative of each Member
State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member State. Determining the
appropriate representation at the various Council formations is a matter for the government of the
Member State concerned.

(2001/C 89 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2097/00

by Fran(cid:231)ois Zimeray (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Relations between the EU and Iran

On 16 September 1999 the European Parliament unanimously adopted a motion for a resolution on the
situation of prisoners accused of spying in Iran (R5-0029/99). The fifth paragraph of this resolution
stresses that the European Parliament (cid:145)insists that any dialogue between the European Union and the
Islamic Republic of Iran must be made dependent on respect for fundamental human rights(cid:146).

Nine months after the adoption of this resolution, 13 Members of the Jewish community of Iran are still in
prison; their right of defence has been violated, and they are the victims of a show trial.