WRITTEN QUESTION E-2904/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Employment in UK tobacco manufacturing.
Date: 2000-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, economic consequence, employment policy, public health, tobacco industry

C 113 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

supports

representative,
the decision taken by the UN Secretary-General(cid:146)s
The Council
Bernard Kouchner, on 12 August 2000 concerning the holding of municipal elections in Kosovo on
28 October 2000. It also supports all the efforts made by Mr Kouchner and UNMIK to ensure that non-
Albanian minorities are included in the electoral process and represented in future local institutions, in
order to preserve the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nature of Kosovo.

special

Via the Commission and Member States(cid:146) bilateral aid, the European Union has provided substantial
assistance to the Kosovo Serbs with regard to: security (contribution to UN police forces, support for the
creation of an impartial judicial system), the media (financial support for Serbian radio in Kosovo, cross-
ethnic and multicultural television and radio programmes) and infrastructures in the neighbourhoods or
municipalities with a Serb majority (restoration of water and electricity supply systems, building of schools,
public transport, etc.).

(2001/C 113 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2902/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council

(18 September 2000)

Subject: Number of MEPs in the European Parliament

In view of the recent statement by the leader of Her Majesty(cid:146)s Opposition in the UK that (cid:145)we could easily
knock 100 seats off the European Parliament(cid:146) (1) could the Council outline the process that would have to
be gone through to reduce the current European Parliament from 626 to 526?

Would the Council take the view that this is an easy task?

(1) Quoted in GC magazine, September 2000, p. 142.

Reply

(16 November 2000)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, under Article 48 (ex Article N) of the Treaty on
European Union, it is for the intergovernmental conference, i.e. the representatives of the Governments of
the Member States, to adopt by common accord the amendments to be made to the Treaties. It is not for
the Council to comment on the proceedings of the intergovernmental conference.

(2001/C 113 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2904/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Employment in UK tobacco manufacturing

What is the Commission(cid:146)s estimate of the number of jobs (if any) in the UK tobacco manufacturing sector
which may be lost or created as a result of provisions in the proposed directive on the manufacture,
presentation and sale of tobacco products relating to:

1. new limits on the amount of tar per cigarette;

2.

restrictions on the export of tobacco products not conforming to EU standards?

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/211

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2000)

The further proposed reduction from 12 mg to 10 mg of the tar level in cigarettes (1) continues a process
begun with Council Directive 90/239/EEC of 17 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws regulations
and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes (2). On
the occasion of the substantial reductions introduced in the 1990 directive, no negative economic or
employment consequences were brought to the Commission(cid:146)s attention. The Commission is not aware of
any evidence to the effect that the much smaller decrease in tar level presently proposed would have
serious economic or employment consequences.

As regards the proposal to apply the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide ceilings to all products whether
imported or manufactured in the Community, this provision is considered essential to ensure that no
diversion occurs, that the application of the product rules are open to control, and that a high level of
public health protection is ensured. There has been no evidence presented to the Commission of serious
negative economic or employment consequences.

However, in order to allow manufacturers sufficient time to adapt to these new Community standards, to
seek new markets or to change marketing and manufacturing processes, the Commission has proposed an
extended transitional period.

(1) COM(2000) 428 final.
(2) OJ L 137, 30.5.1990.

(2001/C 113 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2910/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(7 September 2000)

Subject: Common Foreign and Security Policy (chemical weapons in Turkey)

In its joint reply to written questions E-1203/00, E-1204/00 and E-1205/00 (1),
the Council says:
(cid:145)The specific questions referred to by the Honourable Member have not been raised within the Council
or the Council bodies(cid:146). Given the importance of the (cid:145)specific questions(cid:146) in written questions E-1203/00, E-
1204/00 and E-1205/00 for the European Union(cid:146)s Common Foreign and Security Policy, I feel it would
nevertheless be appropriate for them to be (cid:145)raised with(cid:146) the Council.

I should therefore like a reply to the following questions:

1. Will the Council now seek information from the University of Munich on the German provenance
(Buck and Depyfag) of the shell bodies used by the Turkish army in a chemical attack on the Kurdish
PKK movement on 11 May 1999?

(a)

If not, why does the Council refuse to seek information on the German provenance (Buck and
Depyfag) of the shell bodies used by the Turkish army in a chemical attack on the Kurdish PKK
movement on 11 May 1999, given the importance of this question for the CFSP?

(b)

If so, will the Council convey to the German and Turkish governments its displeasure at this
violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention?

2. Will the Council now seek information from the German Ministry of Defence on the ministry(cid:146)s help in

constructing a new military chemicals laboratory in Turkey?

(a)

If not, why does the Council refuse to seek information from the German Ministry of Defence on
the ministry(cid:146)s help in constructing a new military chemicals laboratory in Turkey, given that it
may be a violation of the CWC?