WRITTEN QUESTION P-3091/00 by Karla Peijs (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The voluntary agreement proposed by the Commission on the safety of oil tankers operating in the EU.
Date: 2000-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: international negotiations, legislative procedure, maritime safety, tanker

C 113 E/240

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

In Greece, the Macedonian language has no official recognition. Despite the fact that this language is
widely used in some areas, it simply does not exist in the education system or in the mass media.

the Citizens has to promote the protection and
Does the Commission consider that a Europe of
languages? Would the Commission consider supporting projects coming from
development of all
organisations acting in favour of the Macedonian language in Greece? Which concrete actions will the
Commission propose in the context of the European Year of Languages?

Does the Commission monitor the process of signing and ratification of the European Charter for Regional
and Minority Languages? Would the Commission recommend, as the European Parliament did on 16 March
2000, signing and ratifying it?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the cornerstones of the European integration process,
and the Commission keeps a very close watch on the linguistic situation in the various Member States and
of the regional and minority language groups. It commissioned a study on this subject, which took stock
of
the indigenous regional and minority language communities. This study, called
includes an analysis of the Slavo-Macedonian community in Greece. However, very few
Euromosaic,
projects concerning the Macedonian language have been received under the measure carried out by the
Commission to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages and cultures.

the situation of

The main objective of the European Year of Languages is to encourage the citizens of Europe to develop
their language skills and to show them just how rich the European linguistic heritage is, without giving
priority to certain languages or targeting one language in particular. Accordingly, the languages concerned
will be the official
languages of the Community, Irish and Luxembourgish, and the other languages
indicated by the Member States for the purposes of the application of the Decision.

Most of the activities will be financed through a call for proposals and will depend on the projects
proposed by European associations and organisations. All the projects proposed will have to contribute to
the fulfilment of the objectives described in the Decision on the European Year of Languages.

The Commission will finance presentation events in each Member State, and a vast information campaign
will stress the rich variety of languages in Europe.

The European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages is an initiative of the Council of Europe and,
given its importance, the Commission is watching very closely the procedure of the signing and ratification
of the text by the Member States. As in the case of any initiative taken by the Council of Europe, the
Member States are free to decide whether or not to adopt the text. On the basis of the principle of
subsidiarity,
it would therefore be inappropriate for the Commission to intervene in relation to their
decision concerning the signing or ratification of the Charter.

(2001/C 113 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3091/00

by Karla Peijs (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 September 2000)

Subject: The voluntary agreement proposed by the Commission on the safety of oil tankers operating in

the EU

The Commission has recently presented a package introducing EU legislative measures for improving
maritime safety. In its Communication on the safety of seaborne oil trade, the Commission proposed a
voluntary agreement with industry. In this context, the Commission proposes a thorough discussion
between organisations representing the main operators, which effectively cuts across the current legislative
process.

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/241

Why has the European Parliament not been officially informed of, or involved in, the Commission(cid:146)s
ongoing efforts to reach a voluntary agreement with industry on maritime safety following the (cid:145)Erika(cid:146) oil
spill?

What guarantees can the Commission give that any such efforts take into account the views of the
European Parliament and other sectors of civil society?

Can there by a consistency between any such voluntary agreement reached in advance of the conclusion of
the legislative process underway in the same area?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 2000)

The Commission indicated its intention to facilitate a voluntary agreement between those involved in the
transport of oil at sea in its communication on the safety of the seaborne oil trade of 21 March 2000 (1).
In part 5.C of
the communication the possible terms of such an agreement were outlined. The
communication was addressed to the Parliament and the Council. The Parliament has thus been officially
informed of the intentions of the Commission. The Commissioner responsible for transport has also
discussed this issue in her many appearances before the Parliament(cid:146)s committee on regional policy,
transport and tourism.

Since the adoption of the communication, discussions have taken place with representatives of tanker
owners, classification societies, oil companies and oil trading firms in order to explore their willingness to
commit themselves to certain voluntary undertakings and thus encourage them to take immediate action
to improve maritime safety. These discussions aim at a voluntary agreement between the industry
representatives. Neither the Commission nor any other Community institution would be a party to such
an agreement.

This work does not undermine the legislative process underway nor does it affect the co-legislative powers
of the Parliament. As indicated in the communication mentioned above, the content of such a voluntary
measure primarily relates to areas which are outside the regulatory framework, such as chartering
practices, effectiveness of private inspection schemes, exchange of information and other co-operation
between the parties. In addition, a voluntary commitment of the character outlined above is by its nature a
non-legal instrument. Consequently, it will be superseded by any legal requirement, should there be an
overlap between its provisions and those of Community secondary legislation.

As regards the current state of affairs, discussions are still in an exploratory stage. The organisations of
tanker owners, classification societies and oil trading firms have accepted the Commission(cid:146)s invitation to
discuss the terms of such a commitment. No conclusion has yet been reached. Unfortunately, the oil
companies declined the invitation to participate in the discussions, but the Commission hopes that they
will reconsider their position and join the discussions shortly.

(1) COM(2000) 142 final.

(2001/C 113 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3098/00

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

(4 October 2000)

Subject: Commission linguistic policy and the safeguard and promotion of minority and regional languages

In its reply to parliamentary question E-1730/00, the Commission states that the timetable for a study
dealing specifically with the needs of regional and minority language communities in the European Union
(cid:145)depends on resolving the legal difficulties surrounding the execution of the budget heading in question
(B3-1000)(cid:146).