do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Parliamentary Question E-0561/00.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU institution, abuse of power

C 151 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Parliamentary Question E-0561/00

Would the Commission given an indication as to when it may be able to provide the information it
promised to communicate in answer to Parliamentary Question E-0561/00 (1) of 7 April 2000?

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 218.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2000)

The Commission provided the information on 28 November 2000.

It regrets the delay in giving this answer.

(2001/C 151 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2763/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Funding for tuberculosis treatment in states signatory to the Convention of LomØ

How does the Commission intend to tackle the growing problem of tuberculosis in developing countries?

Given that the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease estimates that € 100-150
million is needed to make a major impact on tuberculosis in the developing countries, will
the
Commission make funds available through the European Development Fund to combat this specific
problem?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

The Commission recognises the growing problem and threat posed by tuberculosis in developing countries
and will increase investment in an effective response through available instruments.

There is increasing international attention to the major communicable diseases associated with poverty,
namely tuberculosis, malaria and acquired immune deficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV/AIDS), and unprecedented political support to address the problem. The subject has been discussed in
meetings in 2000 between the Community and the United States and in the group of eight most
industrialized countries (G8).

As a first response to the recommendations of the G8, the Commission adopted on 20 September 2000 a
communication on accelerated action targeted at the major communicable diseases within the context of
poverty reduction (1). On 28 September 2000 the Commission co-hosted with the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the United Nations programme on AIDS, a high level round table to consult
representatives of developing countries, international organisations, research groups, the pharmaceutical
industry, civil society groups and Member States. The discussions will be of great assistance in the
definition of a subsequent programme of action over coming months.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Introduction of the euro.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: euro

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/213

(2001/C 103 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Production of euro notes

1. Will the Commission state how many printing plants are involved in the production of euro notes?

2. What is the equivalent number of printing plants producing dollar notes in the United States?

3. Will the Commission state what measures have been taken to ensure that the quality of euro notes at
different printing plants within the EU is uniform?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

1.

There are twelve printing plants for the production of euro notes.

The US Federal Reserve is divided into twelve districts, each of which is authorised to issue
2.
banknotes. The Treasury Department(cid:146)s Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which currently occupies two
sites (in Washington and Fort Worth) is responsible for banknote production.

The European Central Bank keeps a close eye on the quality of banknote production, so as to ensure

3.
that notes are identical.

(2001/C 103 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Introduction of the euro

1. Will the Commission please state the average period in each Member State in which bank notes are
expected to remain in circulation before replacement?

2. Will it state the amount of notes and coin estimated to be required in each Member State, and the
ratio of such notes and coin to money GDP in each case?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

In accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Council
in November 1999, the period of dual
circulation varies between four and eight weeks, depending on the Member State. National banknotes will
cease to be legal tender on 28 January 2002 in the Netherlands, on 9 February 2002 in Ireland and on
28 February 2002 in the other Member States. The exact date for France is not known as yet, but will
probably be in the second fortnight of February 2002. Although the German mark will cease to be legal
tender as from midnight on 31 December 2001, businesses have agreed to continue accepting it until the
end of February 2002.

A total of 50 300 million coins and 14 500 million banknotes will be needed for the euro zone as a whole.
Detailed figures can be found in the table which has been sent direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat. The notes and coins represent 10,6 % of euro-zone GDP. No breakdown of this
figure by Member State is available.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Production of euro notes.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United States, euro, paper money, printing, product quality, single monetary policy

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/213

(2001/C 103 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Production of euro notes

1. Will the Commission state how many printing plants are involved in the production of euro notes?

2. What is the equivalent number of printing plants producing dollar notes in the United States?

3. Will the Commission state what measures have been taken to ensure that the quality of euro notes at
different printing plants within the EU is uniform?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

1.

There are twelve printing plants for the production of euro notes.

The US Federal Reserve is divided into twelve districts, each of which is authorised to issue
2.
banknotes. The Treasury Department(cid:146)s Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which currently occupies two
sites (in Washington and Fort Worth) is responsible for banknote production.

The European Central Bank keeps a close eye on the quality of banknote production, so as to ensure

3.
that notes are identical.

(2001/C 103 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Introduction of the euro

1. Will the Commission please state the average period in each Member State in which bank notes are
expected to remain in circulation before replacement?

2. Will it state the amount of notes and coin estimated to be required in each Member State, and the
ratio of such notes and coin to money GDP in each case?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

In accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Council
in November 1999, the period of dual
circulation varies between four and eight weeks, depending on the Member State. National banknotes will
cease to be legal tender on 28 January 2002 in the Netherlands, on 9 February 2002 in Ireland and on
28 February 2002 in the other Member States. The exact date for France is not known as yet, but will
probably be in the second fortnight of February 2002. Although the German mark will cease to be legal
tender as from midnight on 31 December 2001, businesses have agreed to continue accepting it until the
end of February 2002.

A total of 50 300 million coins and 14 500 million banknotes will be needed for the euro zone as a whole.
Detailed figures can be found in the table which has been sent direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat. The notes and coins represent 10,6 % of euro-zone GDP. No breakdown of this
figure by Member State is available.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2664/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, data protection, electronic commerce, infringement of EU law

C 103 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The Commission is in contact with the highest authorities and church leaders, and uses every appropriate
occasion to convey its concern to the Indonesian authorities. Consultations continue with Member States
on the issue.

(2001/C 103 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2664/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill

Does the Commission believe that the UK Government(cid:146)s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill http://
if enacted in its present
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldbills/093/2000093.htm would,
form, in any way breach European law?

In particular, would the Bill contravene the terms of the e-commerce Directive or any part of the EU(cid:146)s data
protection legislation?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

The Commission has been monitoring the passage of
legislation, which has now been enacted.

the Regulation of

Investigatory Powers Bill

The Commission is in the process of completing its internal legal analysis of this legislation, which is
particularly complex from a technical point of view. The Commission will examine the Act in question to
ensure full compliance with both Community legislation in the field of data protection and electronic
commerce.

(2001/C 103 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/00

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Strategy to combat legionella bacteria

In March 1999, the Netherlands was struck by an epidemic of legionnaire(cid:146)s disease. In Kapellen, Belgium,
too, people died from legionnaire(cid:146)s disease.

1. What preventive measures have now been taken in the Member States of the EU in order to prevent
legionnaire(cid:146)s disease?

Can the Commission indicate the extent to which, in its opinion, those measures provide protection

2.
for public health?

3. What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of a harmonised European policy to prevent and combat legion-
naire(cid:146)s disease? What role does the Commission see in such a policy for itself and for the current Dutch
policy?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2719/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. State aid in agriculture.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, agricultural policy, aid system, aid to agriculture, member country

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/5

In any event, the Council has not yet completed its examination of Chapter 14 (Energy) of the acquis that
the applicant countries will have to accept.

(1) See 13677/98 (Presse 431-G).

(2001/C 163 E/005)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2719/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: State aid in agriculture

What is the Commission(cid:146)s estimate of the amount of state aid paid per person engaged in agriculture in
each of the Member States each year for the last five years for which figures are available?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The State aid dossiers notified to the Commission include both individual draft aid programmes and
schemes which can cover several years, with a rather vague estimated number of beneficiaries and for
which the financial allocation is adopted each year by regional authorities and can stray from the initial
estimate (depending on budgetary resources available at the time).

In these circumstances, the Commission is not in a position to compile all the data needed to provide
accurate figures in reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question. Nor do the Community-wide figures
published by the Commission in its Eighth Survey on State Aid, based on data provided by the countries of
the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), answer the Honourable Member(cid:146)s
question, because the expenditure included covers more than just State aid as such.

However, statistical data providing a partial answer to the question can be found in the Commission(cid:146)s
Eighth Survey on State Aid in the European Union (1), in its report on Agriculture in the European Union
(cid:129) statistical and economic data in 1999 (2), and in the OECD(cid:146)s publication on agricultural policies in
OECD countries: monitoring and evaluation 1999 (3).

(1) COM(2000) 205 final.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg06/index.htm (cid:129) Agricultural statistics.
(3) OECD. Paris: OECD, 1999.

(2001/C 163 E/006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2732/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council

(3 August 2000)

Subject: Council secrecy

Apart from the Council of Ministers, which other legislatives meet in secret?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Animal testing of cosmetics.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, animal experimentation, cosmetic product, drafting of EU law, international convention, proposal (EU)

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/137

Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3149/92 require the Member States to undertake
various policing responsibilities in connection with these plans. They are also required to send the
Commission a report once each plan has been executed. Observations in the field by the various parties
involved or by any interested party are followed up by the Commission.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question states that products past their sell-by date that were not part of the
Community operation were distributed at the same time by organisations appointed by the national
authorities to distribute the Community food aid. The Commission has nonetheless sought clarification
from the authorities responsible for the plan in Finland. They must in any case send a report once
execution of the annual plan in progress in complete.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3730/87 of 10 December 1987 laying down general rules for the supply of food from
intervention stocks to designated organisations for distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community
(OJ L 352, 15.12.1987). Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3149/92 of 29 October 1992 laying down detailed rules
for the supply of food from intervention stocks for the benefit of the most deprived persons in the Community
(OJ L 313, 30.10.1992).

(2001/C 113 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Animal testing of cosmetics

In the Council(cid:146)s view, what international agreements should be taken into account in drafting a directive
banning animal testing of cosmetics and marketing of products which have been tested on animals?

Reply

(30 November 2000)

It is for the Commission to determine what international commitments must be taken into account in
drawing up a proposal for a Directive.

This said, the Council informs the Honourable Member that it has recently received a proposal for a
Directive to amend to existing legislative requirements for cosmetics with a view to replacing the
prohibition on the marketing of cosmetic products containing ingredients or combinations of ingredients
tested on animals with a prohibition on carrying out tests on animals on the territory of the Member
States with a view to the production of cosmetics.

According to the proposal for a Directive, the prohibition should apply to finished cosmetic products as
from transposition of the Directive and to ingredients as soon as validated alternative methods have been
approved at Community level, but in any case on expiry of a three-year period at the latest.

The proposal is currently being examined within the competent bodies of the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2784/00 by Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Amount and use of the tobacco premium.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural guidance, financing, research project, tobacco industry

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/175

The Commission is not competent to evaluate the possible existence of facts relevant under the criminal
law, such as those reported by the Honourable Member, concerning the previous managers of the Istituto
and the possible existence of falsified State bonds.

(2001/C 113 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2784/00

by Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Amount and use of the tobacco premium

Part of the premium (one per cent before 1999 and two per cent thereafter) paid to tobacco farmers is
retained for research purposes. How much money has now accrued from that deduction since 1997, and
what funds were disbursed on what projects?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2000)

As regards the total accrued from the deductions, it should be noted that this is not a fund stricto sensu
into which the deductions are paid annually and from which monies are taken to finance action. In
practice the action initiated by the Commission is financed from the ad hoc heading Community fund for
research and information (B1-175). Its appropriations correspond to the estimates of actual incurred costs
for the financial year in question. The Commission ensures that neither appropriations nor expenditure
exceed the product of the deductions.

The amounts entered under heading B1-175 of the Community budget for the years in question were
€ 4 900 000 (1997), € 8 000 000 (1998), € 6 000 000 (1999) and € 6 000 000 (2000).

Since the fund was set up three research projects have been selected following the first call for proposals
second (Community contribution
(Community contribution € 5 900 000)
€ 6 500 000). A project list will be sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

and six following the

In addition since being set up the fund has financed 18 information projects following two calls for
proposals. A list of these will likewise be sent to the Honourable Member and Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 113 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2785/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Management of water resources

The Water Supply Association is constructing a desalination plant for brackish water on Zakynthos. The
project will be completed on a self-financing basis because to date no organisation has considered it to be
eligible for funding on the grounds that it is financially disadvantageous for consumers.

However:

(cid:129) a combination of solutions for the problem is available, such as the collection of surface water and

water from springs, storage in lake reservoirs, and controlled replacement pumping;

(cid:129) water provided by desalination is much more expensive per cubic metre than water transported by

tanker;
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2656/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Bullfighting.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Azores, EU financing, Portugal, animal show, animal welfare, bull, protection of animals, veterinary legislation

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/145

As for the second part of the question the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that
the Commission is not aware of any attempt to impose built-in interception systems on a Community
wide scale.

(1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.
(2) OJ L 117, 7.5.1997.
(3) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998.
(4) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.

(2001/C 113 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2656/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Bullfighting

Will the Commission please confirm or deny reports that a new 5 000-seat arena to accommodate the
barbaric activity of bullfighting is to be built in the Azores, with reported financial support from the
European Union?

Will the Commission also comment on the Portuguese Parliament(cid:146)s decision on 1 June to introduce a new
law that will effectively legalise lethal bullfights, for the first time in 70 years, because organisers and
participants are likely to have no difficulty in paying whatever fines are levied, from the event revenues?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 2000)

According to the information that
the Commission has obtained from the national authorities, no
Community financial support has been provided for the construction or upgrading of an arena in the
Azores.

As far as the Commission knows, the new law adopted by the Portuguese Parliament does not legalise the
death of bulls in bull-fights and continues to levy fines on those who perform such acts or organise shows
of this kind.

The Commission(cid:146)s responsibilities towards animal protection have increased under the recent amendment
of the EC Treaty (1), which includes a protocol requiring the European institutions and Member States to
pay full regard to animal welfare when drawing up agriculture, transport, single market and research
policies. In doing so, however, Community institutions and the Member States are required to respect the
legislative and administrative provisions and customs of Member States relating in particular to religious
rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage.

Bullfighting is an example where the Community is not considered to have legal competence. This domain
is therefore under the responsibility of Member States.

(1) Protocol on protection and welfare of animals, (OJ C 340, 10.11.1997).