do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2912/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council. Austria/sanctions.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European Union membership, European social policy, extreme right, international sanctions, national minority

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/23

Reply

(22 December 2000)

The statement to which the Honourable Member refers was issued by the Prime Minister of Portugal on
behalf of the Government of 14 Member States. It was not discussed by the Council. The Council cannot
respond in substance to the questions raised by the Honourable Member since it has never taken a view on
them.

(2001/C 151 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2912/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Austria/sanctions

According to the statement presented to the APA and AFP news agencies on 26 June, the 14 EU Heads of
State and Government have decided to maintain measures against the Austrian Government.

Officially, the 14 Heads of State and Government had not yet reached a conclusive agreement on the
Portuguese initiative. The spokesman for the EU Presidency revealed on Tuesday evening that there was no
conclusive consensus. He also announced that the Austrian Government would be informed of the plan as
soon is it had been officially presented.

This approach reveals several faults:

(cid:129) two news agencies were clearly informed prior to the Austrian Federal Government. The Federal

Government had to find out about an (cid:145)Exit Strategy(cid:146) via the media;

(cid:129) there was no indication of a time-frame for the implementation of the plan;

(cid:129) a council of three wise men is to present a report on the basis of a thorough examination, focusing on
the obligation of the Austrian Government to uphold common European values, with particular
regard to the rights of minorities, refugees and immigrants.

The action of the 14 is lacking greatly in sensitivity and appears somewhat grotesque.

The Council:

1. Why did it not initially enter into direct dialogue with the Austrian Federal Government and only then

pass the information onto the news agencies?

2. How does it conceive the long since necessary conclusion of the scandalous (cid:145)witch hunt(cid:146), if it is not

even willing to set down a time-frame?

3.

If it really wishes to emphasise the common European values and to examine the Austrian Govern-
ment
in relation to the observance of minority rights, why is its commitment, as far as the
embodiment of minority rights in a charter of fundamental rights for the EU is concerned, so lacking?

4. How is it possible that France and Belgium (cid:129) two of the most avid supporters of the sanctions (cid:129)
have still not ratified or signed the Council of Europe(cid:146)s Framework Convention on the Protection of
National Minorities?

Reply

(22 December 2000)

The Council has not taken a view on any of the issues raised by the Honourable Member, and is not
therefore in a position to respond to the question.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2964/00 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. Access to information.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, dissemination of EU information, facilities for people with disabilities, physically disabled person

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/143

Lastly, the Honourable Member raises the issue of value dates. The Commission takes the view that these
arrangements are an element of competition and that therefore the customer should be informed of them.
It does not have any information on interest losses or gains as a result of this mechanism. If credit
institutions have agreed between themselves to apply the same value dates, this may constitute an
infringement of Community competition rules.

(1) COM(2000) 36 final.
(2) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.

(2001/C 136 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2964/00

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Access to information

Does the Commission agree that information for EU citizens, for example as that provided under the
Europe Direct Programme, should always be available in alternative formats, such as Braille, audio tape and
large print, for the many EU citizens, including 7,4 million blind and partially-sighted people, who cannot
read standard print?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission has taken several steps to improve access to information for blind and partially sighted
people.

Europe Direct itself represents a move away from the traditional reliance on printed information, in that it
is designed in the first instance as a free phone enquiry service based on a call centre with trained staff
specialising in Community questions.
thus gives the citizens free choice as how to receive the
information they are looking for.

It

The Commission has also moved much of its information provision onto the Internet, notably via the
Europa site, where partially sighted readers can generally use an options menu to increase the font size.
Making better use of digital technology in this context, including voice recognition and text-to-speech
software is one of the points currently being examined by the Commission with a view to improving and
developing the Europa web site.

The Commission(cid:146)s information in connection with the preparations for the euro in defining the technical
characteristics of the Euro coins and notes is available in braille, and sign language projects, for instance,
will be eligible for support under the 2001 European year of languages initiative.

(2001/C 136 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2967/00

by Mariotto Segni (UEN) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Regulations Nos 2408/92 and 3577/92

The aim of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 (1) of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers
to intra-Community air routes and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 (2) of 7 December 1992 applying
the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2955/00 by Emmanouil Mastorakis (PSE) to the Commission. European Union regional policy.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, enlargement of the Union

C 151 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2953/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: The outermost regions

With reference to the answer to Written Question E-0605/00 (1), in which the Commission explains its
the
intention to take into greater consideration the outermost regions for the period from 2007,
undersigned would like to express his approval of such an initiative. However, does the Commission
share the opinion of the member that the term (cid:145)outermost regions(cid:146) covers not only horizontally, but also
vertically remote regions, so that inevitably mountain regions may also in future be regarded by definition
as Objective 1 regions?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 2000)

The concept of remote regions does not appear in the EC Treaty and is consequently not taken up in any
act of secondary legislation.

Article 299 (formerly 227) of the Treaty recognises as the (cid:145)outermost regions(cid:146) only the French overseas
departments, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

A number of remote regions including archipelagos and mountain areas are eligible for support from the
Union(cid:146)s Structural Funds under Objectives 1 (regions lagging behind in development) and 2 (regions
undergoing conversion).

(2001/C 151 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2955/00

by Emmanouil Mastorakis (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: European Union regional policy

Given that the imminent enlargement equates to an increase in the extent of regional inequalities and a
reduction in the European Union(cid:146)s average per capita GDP, it is clear that the Commission must present, in
good time, an integrated proposal on the form that regional policy should take, criteria for its application
and the level of financial resources after 2006.

What are the Commission(cid:146)s plans on this point?

(2001/C 151 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2966/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) and Mariotto Segni (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Sicily and Sardinia after 2006

(20 September 2000)

The Commission has forecast that at the end of the 2000-2006 Structural Fund programming period,
Sicily and Sardinia will no longer come under Objective 1.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1981/2000 of 20 September 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, grape, import price, pip fruit, stone fruit

21.9.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 237/13

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1981/2000

of 20 September 2000

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

In compliance with the above criteria,
the standard
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
last
import arrangements
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/98 (2), and in particular
Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
standard values for imports from third countries,
in
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 21 September 2000.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 September 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 4.

L 237/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21.9.2000

to the Commission Regulation of 20 September 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining
the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 30 10

0806 10 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

0809 30 10, 0809 30 90

0809 40 05

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
999
052
628
999
052
999
052
388
524
528
999
052
064
400
999
388
400
512
800
804
999
052
064
999
052
624
999
052
060
064
066
400
624
999

85,5
85,5
85,5
145,8
115,7
69,2
69,2
70,1
70,4
54,6
62,1
64,3
84,4
58,3
226,3
123,0
206,1
57,3
87,9
205,8
76,2
126,7
85,8
56,6
71,2
129,0
190,8
159,9
61,5
64,9
61,3
69,7
125,4
249,9
105,5

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2543/1999 (OJ L 307, 2.12.1999, p. 46). Code ‘999’ stands for ‘of

other origin’.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Access to information.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Parliament, access to EU information, framework agreement

C 113 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

In that context, the possibility to refer to some maximum value within a range of years proposed by the
Commission for each Member State is not precluded. Indeed, this approach was used when establishing
allocation keys in 1998 for various fish stocks in the North Sea.

At present, the Commission has not decided whether a proposal dealing with 2001 will be required.
Discussion has been initiated with the concerned Member States. It is possible that a further non-legislative
solution may be found.

(2001/C 113 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Access to information

Following the agreement concluded between the Commission and Parliament in July, will the Reasoned
Opinions sent by the Commission to Member States now be available either to Members of Parliament or
to the general public?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2000)

The Framework Agreement concluded by the Commission and Parliament in July governs relations
between the two institutions. Annex III to the Agreement is specifically concerned with the transmission
of confidential information from the Commission and its handling in the context of Parliament(cid:146)s powers of
scrutiny.

At the same time, the Annex expressly excludes the provision of information on infringement procedures,
in so far as they are not covered by a final Commission decision on the date when the request from a
parliamentary body is received.

to the general rules of Annex III which call,

As a result, the Commission can transmit Reasoned Opinions to Parliament only after taking a final
decision and pursuant
for
fundamental human rights,
including the right to a fair trial and the right to protection of privacy;
provisions governing judicial and disciplinary procedures; the protection of business secrecy and commer-
cial relations; and protection of the interests of the Union, particularly those relating to public safety,
international relations, monetary stability and financial interests.

in particular,

for respect

The notification of Reasoned Opinions to the general public is not covered by the Framework Agreement,
which is exclusively concerned with relations between Parliament and the Commission.

(2001/C 113 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2982/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE), Gianfranco Fini (UEN), Umberto Bossi (TDI),
Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Rocco Buttiglione (PPE-DE)
and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Council

(25 September 2000)

Subject: The fall in the value of the euro

The reports received over the last few weeks, and more particularly in the last few hours, concerning the
declining value of the euro in relation to the dollar and other currencies have given rise to serious concern
in the European Parliament.
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 as concerns the use of ESA 95 in the determination of Member States' payments to the VAT-based own resource
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, European accounting system, Member States' contribution, VAT, own resources

C 29 E/266

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30.1.2001

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council
Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 as concerns the use of ESA 95 in the determination of Member
States’ payments to the VAT-based own resource

(2001/C 531 E/14)

COM(2000) 583 final (cid:151) 2000/0241(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 20 September 2000)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 285 thereof,

(5) The Statistical Programme Committee,

established by
Council Decision 89/382/EEC (3), Euratom has been
consulted in accordance with Article 3 of the aforesaid
Decision.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty,

Article 1

Whereas:

In Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2223/96, the following
paragraph 1a shall be inserted:

(1) Article 8 of Regulation (EC) 2223/96 (1) provides for ESA
second edition to be used as the European system of inte-
grated economic accounts for budgetary and own resources
purposes as defined in Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No
1552/89 (2), while Decision
Euratom)
remains in force.

94/728

(EC,

(2) ESA second edition data are no longer available in the level
of detail required for the determination of the VAT own
resource.

(3) This does not affect the procedures agreed for the deter-

mination of the GNP own resource.

(cid:145)1a. For the purpose of determination of the VAT-based own
resource, and by way of exception from paragraph 1, the
Member States may use data based on the new European
system of integrated economic accounts (ESA95), while
Decision 94/728/EC, Euratom remains in force.(cid:146)

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter
into force on the 20th day
following its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

(4) It is advisable to use the best-available statistical data to

determine Member States’ budget contributions.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly
applicable in all Member States.

(1) OJ L 310, 30.11.1996.
(2) Repealed and replaced by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000.

(3) OJ L 181, 28.6.1989.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1989/2000 of 20 September 2000 on issuing A2 export licences for fruit and vegetables
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, export licence, fruit vegetable, grape, pip fruit, stone fruit

21.9.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 237/39

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1989/2000

of 20 September 2000

on issuing A2 export licences for fruit and vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2190/96 of
14 November 1996 on detailed rules for implementing Council
Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards export refunds on fruit
and vegetables (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
298/2000 (2), and in particular Article 3(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1877/2000 (3) set the
indicative refund rates and the indicative quantities for
A2 export licences, other than those applied for in the
context of food aid.

For tomatoes, lemons, table grapes and apples, in view
of the economic situation and taking account of in-
formation received by operators via their applications
for A2 licences, the definitive refund rates should be set
at a different rate from the indicative rates. The percent-
ages for the issuing of licences for the quantities applied
for should also be set. The definitive rates may not be
more than 50 % more than the indicative rates.

Pursuant to Article 3(5) of Regulation (EC) No 2190/96,
applications for rates in excess of the corresponding
definitive rates shall be considered null and void,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1.
For A2 export licences for which applications have been
submitted pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1877/
2000 the actual date of application referred to in the second
subparagraph of Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2190/96 is
hereby set at 21 September 2000.

2.
The licences referred to in the first paragraph shall be
issued at the definitive refund rates and at the percentages for
the quantities applied for as indicated in the Annex to this
Regulation.

3.
Pursuant to Article 3(5) of Regulation (EC) No 2190/96,
applications referred to in the first paragraph for rates in excess
of the corresponding definitive rates set out in the Annex shall
be considered null and void.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 21 September 2000.

Article 2

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 September 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 34, 9.2.2000, p. 16.
(3) OJ L 225, 5.9.2000, p. 10.

L 237/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21.9.2000

Product

Tomatoes

Oranges

Lemons

Table grapes

Apples

Peaches and nectarines

ANNEX

Definitive
refund rates
(EUR/t net)

26

45

50

34

25

—

Percentages
for the issuing of
licences

100 %

80 %

98 %

100 %

100 %

— %