WRITTEN QUESTION P-2422/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Obstacles to the movement of goods between Spain and Portugal.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, Spain, intra-EU trade, sea fish

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/195

in the provincial authorities(cid:146)

lists of supply teachers, does service in officially recognised
3. Why,
schools only count for half (why not one third or two thirds? Does a teacher in such a school only work
half time?).

4. Why, when a teacher passes the ordinary competitive examination, are the marks relating to teaching
not recognised?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The question from the Honourable Members refers to discrimination encountered by teachers in schools
recognised by the Italian State at the time of recruitment and recognition of their period of service.

This problem does not come under Community jurisdiction. Each Member State is responsible for laying
down the conditions of access to its own public service. Disputes concerning provisions on this subject are
therefore a matter for the national courts.

(2001/C 72 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2422/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Obstacles to the movement of goods between Spain and Portugal

The recent incidents involving Portuguese fishermen and traders in Matosinhos aimed at preventing the
sale of Spanish sardines constitute a serious attack on fundamental Community freedoms, in particular the
free movement of goods between two Member States.

It appears urgently necessary for the Commission to intervene with the Portuguese authorities in order to
guarantee that those targeted by this campaign can carry on working normally.

Can the Commission say whether it has yet taken any action on this matter? If so, what type of action did
it take and with what result? If it has not yet acted, what steps will it take? Will it keep the questioner
informed of its actions and their outcome?

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

In view of the fact that the Spanish authorities, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 of
7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free movement of goods
among the Member States (1), informed the Commission of the incidents referred to by the honourable
Member, the Commission initiated the alert procedure laid down in Article 3 of the Regulation. In this
regard, it asked the Portuguese authorities to confirm the facts and to take the necessary and proportionate
measures to assure the free movement of goods. The Portuguese authorities replied within the required
time limit, providing all the necessary information about the incidents and mentioning the adoption and
introduction of measures such as increasing the number of police on the spot and holding special meetings
with those involved in order to prevent
information has been
transmitted to the other Member States.

further incidents. This exchange of

In the light of the positive outcome (cid:129) i.e. a rapid return to normality (cid:129) as a result of the alert procedure,
the Commission has decided that it is not necessary at this stage to go ahead with the notification
procedure referred to in Article 5 of Regulation No 2679/98.

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.