WRITTEN QUESTION E-2221/00 by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ill-treatment.
Date: 2000-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, child protection, domestic violence, family, gender equality, public awareness campaign, social problem

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/175

The Commission is however not in a position to take other measures to assist European companies that
are faced with American sanctions. Under the principle of subsidiarity, such assistance is a matter for each
Member State to consider, provided that Community rules on state aids and competition are complied
with.

(2001/C 81 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2216/00

by Jo Leinen (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Formal investigation concerning planned factory outlet mall in Zweibr(cid:252)cken, Saarland (Germany)

In September 1997 Helwin Peter MEP put a question (E-2966/97) (1) to the Commission asking if it
intended to initiate a formal investigation into the planned factory outlet mall in Zweibr(cid:252)cken.

In his answer of 15 December 1998 to a further written question (E-3497/98) (2), Commissioner Van Miert
said that the Commission would address to the complainants (Europaverband der Selbst(cid:228)ndigen Bundes-
verband Deutschland e.V. (cid:129) German branch of the European association of self-employed persons) a letter
stating what further action the Commission would take.

No such letter has yet been received.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

Is the matter ready for a decision?

If so, what decision has been taken?

3. When will the complainants receive a communication on the subject?

(1) OJ C 134, 30.4.1998, p. 46.
(2) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 53.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

During the investigations of the case by the Commission it emerged that the facts as presented by the
complainants, which are either based on an article in the press or have been given without providing any
source, are incorrect. The correct presentation of the facts gives the Commission no reason to raise any
doubts concerning state aid.

The Commission has already informed the complainants on 14 July 2000.

(2001/C 81 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2221/00

by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Ill-treatment

Alleged ill-treatment in all kinds of families is reported in the media with depressing regularity.

Such cases of violence, perhaps particularly those involving physical violence and ill-treatment, demon-
strate the need for an immediate response and for means of defence, which are frequently not available to
the weakest side in the troubled family.

C 81 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Has the Commission considered encouraging the provision of immediate means and mechanisms of
defence across the EU,
for example through the drawing-up of agreements with the government
departments responsible for social affairs and justice?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

The Commission is aware of the seriousness of the phenomenon of domestic violence. Since 1996, it has
undertaken a number of activities to assist the Member States in their efforts to stem this problem. In
particular, in 1999 the Commission launched a European campaign in which the Member States were
actively involved to raise awareness of violence against women in the Community. They participated in the
distribution of campaign material and in the conferences organised in Cologne in March 1999 and in
Lisbon in May 2000 which respectively launched and closed the campaign. In addition, a meeting of
experts related to the campaign was organised under the Finnish Presidency in October 1999, and took
place in Jyv(cid:228)skyl(cid:228), Finland.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to helping to solve this problem in the new Community
framework strategy on gender equality, adopted on 7 June 2000, by pledging to (cid:145)strengthen and support
the fight against and prevention of violence against women(cid:146) (1).

The encouragement of immediate means and mechanisms across Europe is one of the objectives of the
Daphne programme, which promotes the prevention and the fight against violence against children, young
people and women by transnational actions. Started in 1997, the Daphne initiative has now funded
around 150 transnational projects, of which a number directly tackle domestic violence via, amongst other
things, the setting up of partnerships and networks between non governmental organisations (NGOs) and
local public authorities across the Community. The new Daphne programme will run from 2000 until
2003 and will pursue similar objectives, ensuring a smooth continuation in this fight.

The Commission would finally like to remind the Honourable Member that
competence to propose legislative measures, as this is the responsibility of Member States.

it does not have the

(1) COM(2000) 335 final.

(2001/C 81 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2225/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Application of Article 299 (ex Article 227) of the EC Treaty

In its answer to oral question H-0413/00 (1) by Carlos Costa Neves, the Commission announced that it had
adopted the report setting out the measures it intended to use to implement new Article 299 (2) of the
Treaty and that the first proposals would be submitted before or shortly after the summer break.

Will the Commission say whether the regions of Sicily and Sardinia will be included in these proposals?

(1) Written answer 16 May 2000.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The regions of Sicily and Sardinia will not be affected by the proposals to which the Honourable Member
refers, which will apply only to remote regions of the Community as defined in Article 299(2) (formerly
Article 227) of the EC Treaty: the French overseas departments, the Canary Islands, the Azores and
Madeira.