WRITTEN QUESTION E-3098/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission linguistic policy and the safeguard and promotion of minority and regional languages.
Date: 2000-10-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, budget, implementation of the budget, interinstitutional agreement, minority language, regional language

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).

C 113 E/242

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Will the Commission say precisely what legal difficulties are involved and which financial year they relate
to?

Will it say exactly what needs to be done before these legal obstacles can be removed, and within what
period they might be removed?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The question of the existence of budget headings having no legal basis, which,
inter alia, concerns
measures in support of regional and minority languages and cultures, was thoroughly examined by the
Commission in the context of the execution of the 2000 budget and in the light of the interpretation of
the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 (1) between the European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission.

In the case of the topic raised by the Honourable Member, this examination resulted in the publication of a
call for proposals on 16 September 2000.

The invitation to tender for the study in question was published on 20 October 2000.

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999.

(2001/C 113 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3099/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 October 2000)

Subject: European report on the quality of school education

In its answer to questions E-2357/00 and E-2358/00 (1) the Commission explains the methodology
(no distinction between the data for the Flemish and French communities) it uses in its European Report
on Quality of School Education for the Belgian Federation. However, it fails to say anything about the
central issue (the distorted and unfair picture of education in the Belgian Federation).

Does the Commission acknowledge that its methodology gives a distorted and unfair picture of
1.
education in the Belgian Federation? If not, how does the Commission defend its choice of methodology,
given that education in the Belgian Federation is unequivocally the responsibility of the communities?

In the light of the division of powers in the Belgian Federation, will the Commission in future
2.
distinguish between the Flemish and the French communities? If not, why does the Commission refuse to
take account of the division of powers in the Belgian Federation and why does it not make a distinction in
its data on education?

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 2000)

The Commission has outlined the methodology used for the preparation of the European report on quality
of school education in its previous answers to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written questions E-2357/00 and
E-2358/00 (1).

The Commission obviously respects the constitutional situation of the countries involved in its studies and
reports. The Commission is fully aware of the fact that in certain countries the responsabilities for
education lie at regional level.