WRITTEN QUESTION E-2440/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. European subsidy rejected.
Date: 2000-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Galicia, aid system, female worker, fishery resources, job creation, producer organisation, terms for aid

C 113 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

the Commission would point out that Council
In response to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns,
Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to
electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (1)
invites Member States to adopt a framework of basic
restrictions and reference levels, taking Annex I, point 3 of the Recommendation as a basis and aiming
to obtain respect of the basic restrictions given in Annex II for public exposure. The Commission will be
publishing a report on the impementation of this text in 2001.

The Council Recommendation also invites the Commission to work towards the establishment of European
standards. In this context, the Commission has drafted a standardisation mandate regarding electromag-
netic fields (EMF), covering all products, which falls within the framework of the low voltage Directive (2)
and the radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment Directive (3). Since the mandate
relates to new approach directives, the European harmonised standards produced will give presumption of
conformity with the essential requirements of the directives and all standards in Member States conflicting
with the harmonised standards have to be withdrawn.

Compliance of a product with the emission limits given in the harmonised standards is intended to ensure
that the measured EMF exposure of the human body originating from this apparatus will not, under
normal use, exceed the limits given in the Council Recommendation. So far as safety of relevant products
is concerned, there would be no need for Member States to introduce further regulation in the area of
products covered by the two directives, since transposition of these directives into national law already
covers it.

The Council Recommendation also invites the Commission to encourage research into the long and short-
term effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Initial research in this area was carried out during the
Third and Fourth Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development (R&D). Although
none of the research (covering possible heat effects and cellular metabolic disturbances due to the various
types of electromagnetic fields) yielded evidence of harmful effects on health, further results are required in
order to set the public(cid:146)s concerns fully to rest. Consequently, electromagnetic radiation is specifically
included in the Fifth Framework Programme, within the work programme for key action 4 (Environment
and health) of theme 1 (Quality of life and management of living resources). In the context of the 1999
call for proposals, five proposals were selected, involving funding to the tune of approximately 9 million
euro. These projects commenced at the start of this year and should bear fruit three years hence.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to

electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L 77, 26.3.1973).

(3) Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommu-

nications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999).

(2001/C 113 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2440/00

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

(19 July 2000)

Subject: European subsidy rejected

In August 1999, the Galician Women Shellfish Dealers(cid:146) Association (Agamar) asked for a subsidy from the
Xunta de Galiza(cid:146)s Department of Fisheries, Shellfish and Aquaculture, as part of
its programmed
development of the Community PESCA initiative, with particular reference to the section covering creation
of jobs for women. The scheme submitted by the shellfish dealers was to cultivate quick-growing (cid:145)Japanese
mussels(cid:146), rotating the crops and reinvesting the profit in (cid:145)fresh seed(cid:146).

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/97

The Commission granted the subsidy, but the Department of Fisheries, once the decision had been taken,
demanded that Agamar return the subsidy, claiming that the association had failed to meet the conditions
under which it had been granted.

Is the Commission aware of this situation, and does it intend to seek information from the Galician
Department of Fisheries, Shellfish and Aquaculture as to the reasons for this apparently arbitrary
behaviour?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

it is the
Following the inclusion of fisheries structural policy in the reform of the Structural Funds,
responsibility of the authorities designated by the Member States to take appropriate measures for selecting
and granting Community aid to projects in the context of their operational programmes, in accordance
with Council Regulation (EC) No 1263/1999 of 21 June 1999 on the Financial Instrument for Fisheries
Guidance (1) and Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed
rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (2).

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that pursuant to Article 87 (former Article
92) of the EC Treaty the Spanish authorities submitted state aid schemes to the Commission for approval
which are in accordance with Community legislation on the conditions for granting Community aid.

In this context, the Spanish authorities must ensure that the regulations,
granting aid in the state aid scheme approved by the Commission, are complied with.

including the conditions for

So far the Commission has not been approached by the beneficiaries of this project about any problem.
Consequently, the Commission is unable to reply to the Honourable Member as regards the appropriate-
ness of the action taken by the Galician authorities.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 113 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2442/00

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

Subject: Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou(cid:146)s visit to Turkey

(19 July 2000)

For Turkey to move from being a candidate country to a full member of the European Union, it must meet
the relevant democratic requirements, outstanding amongst which is recognition and respect for the
cultural and national identity of the Kurdish people. How much discussion does this major and indeed
crucial problem receive at the preparatory meetings which members of the Commission are holding with
Turkey, and specifically at the recent meetings held by Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, and earlier
meetings held by Commission G(cid:252)nter Verheugen?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

The Honourable Member rightly indicates that Turkey (cid:129) among others (cid:129) has to comply with the political
criteria for membership as defined by the Copenhagen European Council, which includes the respect for
and protection of minorities.

The Commission has reported its views on the development of these matters in Turkey (regular reports of
1998 and 1999) and will continue to do so in the framework of the 2000 report which will be issued
in November. A first accession partnership will be published at the same time.