WRITTEN QUESTION E-3051/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding for education about wildlife.
Date: 2000-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, animal life, competence of the Member States, life sciences, teaching curriculum

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/47

However, it is the Commission(cid:146)s point of view that automatic derogations from Directive 92/81/EEC like
that applicable to agricultural diesel also have to be considered state aid if they fulfil the conditions of
Article 87 (1) (ex Article 92) of the EC Treaty, that means if they are selective (for example, a special rate
for the producers of certain crops, or for certain types of producers). Such measures would have to be
notified to the Commission under state aid rules before being implemented. If the Honourable Member has
information about the existence of selective tax measures relating to agricultural diesel, the Commission
would ask to be informed about this.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.
(2) OJ C 139, 6.5.1997.

(2001/C 151 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3046/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: EU centres for study and research

A number of EU Centres for Study and Research exist around the world, of which several are located in
the USA.

What is their purpose?

What funding do they receive?

What have they achieved over the past two years?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

There are many study and research centres around the world whose names contain the word (cid:145)European(cid:146),
including some in the United States.

However, the only research centre directly funded by the Union is the Joint Research Centre (JRC), which is
a Directorate-General of the Commission. The JRC is located at a number of sites around the Union: Ispra
(Italy), Karlsruhe (Germany), Petten (Netherlands), Seville (Spain) and Geel (Belgium).

The JRC helps implement the Framework Programme for research and technological development. Its
activities are covered in annual reports, the two most recent having the reference numbers COM(1999) 222
final and COM(2000) 366 final.

Further information on the Joint Research Centre can be found on the JRC website at http://www.jrc.ce-
c.eu.int

(2001/C 151 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3051/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Funding for education about wildlife

The Commission has acknowledged on several occasions the need to improve young people(cid:146)s prospects by
means of educational reforms and programmes. Do existing programmes provide for initiatives particularly
aimed at improving their knowledge of fauna and the natural sciences?

C 151 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that the organisation of education
systems, including the types of establishment and the curricula provided, comes under the competence of
the Member States. As stated in Article 149 (ex Article 126) of the EC Treaty,
(cid:145)The Community shall
contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States
((cid:133)) while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the
organisation of education systems ((cid:133))(cid:146).

The Commission has no power to intervene in the area mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(2001/C 151 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3053/00

by SØrgio Sousa Pinto (PSE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Discrimination against non-nationals in French law (Organic Law No 98-404 of 25 May 1998)

Can the Commission state what action it intends to take, at the pre-judicial stage or by an infringement
procedure, concerning a piece of French legislation (Organic Law No 98-404 of 25 May 1998) which is
both incompatible with Council Directive 94/80/EC (1) and unacceptable under the Treaties.

This law requires a European citizen wishing to be entered on an electoral register to declare that he has
not been deprived of his electoral rights in his Member State of origin (cid:129) a provision which is blatantly
discriminatory by comparison with the treatment of French nationals.

In addition, the requirement that candidates should state their nationality on the ballot slips is a further
grave case of discrimination on grounds of nationality, in breach of Article 12 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 368, 31.12.1994, p. 38.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

The Commission was notified of Organic Law No 98-404 of 25 May 1998, which transposes into French
law Council Directive 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994, laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise
of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in
a Member State of which they are not nationals (1), on 21 July 1998.

As part of its scrutiny of the French law to ensure its compliance with the Community legislation, the
Commission asked the national authorities for further information on the two points raised by the
Honourable Member.

The Commission is now examining the information provided by the French authorities and will not
hesitate to use the powers conferred on it by the EC Treaty if it finds that the Member State in question
has failed to fulfil its Treaty obligations.

(1) OJ L 368, 31.12.1994.