WRITTEN QUESTION E-3261/00 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council. Presidential elections in former Yugoslavia.
Date: 2000-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Yugoslavia, invalidity of an election, presidential election

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/67

(2001/C 163 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3252/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Complaint in Spain by milk producers against industrialists

(20 October 2000)

The Spanish Union of Small Farmers has lodged a complaint against Spain(cid:146)s industrialists on the grounds
that they have agreed to keep prices artificially low in order to maintain their levels below the intervention
prices, in other words, below the minimum price levels guaranteed to producers by the state.

The Union of Small Farmers believes that the price paid for milk by Spanish industrialists (ESP 40) is the
lowest in Europe.

Can the Commission state in what way it can intervene in support of the Spanish milk producers(cid:146)
complaint and what action it could take to meet their demands?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 2000)

So far, the Commission has received no information leading it to conclude that there is a price agreement
between industrialists in violation of Article 81 (formerly Article 85) of the EC Treaty. If the Spanish
Union of Small Farmers has such information, it could refer it either to the Commission or to the national
competition authorities, who are responsible for any application of national
law to the situation in
question.

With regard to the price paid to the milk producers, the data sent by the Member State to Eurostat for the
period from January 1999 to April 2000 (the most recent data available) show prices ranging from
ESP 44,12 to ESP 47,67 per kilo (€ 0,2652 to € 0,2865). It should also be noted that the rules lay down a
guide price which is not a minimum purchase price. The purchase price of milk at the dairy is determined
by supply and demand and the quality of the milk offered, in terms of its fat, protein and lactose contents
and the level of micro-organisms present.

(2001/C 163 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3261/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council

(23 October 2000)

Subject: Presidential elections in former Yugoslavia

The Yugoslav Constitutional Court allegedly annulled the results of the presidential elections held on
Sunday, 1 October 2000.

Has the Council already considered and is it preparing to implement serious political measures in view of
the gravity of this action?

Reply

(12 February 2001)

The Presidency of the European Union reacted immediately with a declaration to the Constitutional Court(cid:146)s
decision of 5 October annulling the presidential elections of 1 October.

In that declaration, the Presidency expressed very firmly the same day the European Union(cid:146)s denunciation
of the Belgrade Court(cid:146)s decision, the sole purpose of which was to deny Mr Kostunica(cid:146)s victory in the poll
on 24 September. The Presidency also expressed the full support of the European Union for the wish
expressed by the Serb people in its vote.

C 163 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Subsequent events have rendered the Constitutional Court(cid:146)s decision irrelevant. They have allowed the FRY
to turn over a sad page in its history in the direction hoped for by the international community and to
which the European Union in particular had actively committed itself.

(2001/C 163 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3265/00

by Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Council

(16 October 2000)

Subject: Proposal for a directive on physical agents

A new report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work highlights vibrations as one of the
most important problems in the work environment which require preventive measures by most countries.
In 1992, the Commission submitted a proposal for a directive on physical agents, including vibrations.
A European Parliament opinion on the subject has been awaiting consideration by the Council since 1994.
Will the Council set out its timetable for work on this proposal for a directive and say whether it will
complete the task during the French Presidency?

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council is very mindful of the fact that vibrations represent an important problem for health and

1.
safety at work and that it is necessary for Member States to undertake preventive work on this.

2.
The proposal for a Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure
of workers to the risks arising from physical agents, and in particular from vibration, has already been the
subject of intensive discussions in the various Council bodies. The Council would inform the Honourable
Member that, at its meeting on 27/28 November 2000, it reached unanimous political agreement on
a draft common position concerning the amended proposal for a Directive setting minimum health and
safety requirements for workers exposed to risks arising from mechanical vibrations. The purpose of this
Directive is to combat the effects of vibrations causing muscular and skeletal disorders which are now the
primary source of occupational illnesses.

(2001/C 163 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council

(23 October 2000)

Subject: Pilots above the age of sixty entering or flying over French airspace

Currently, no pilot over the age of sixty may fly over or into France while in charge of a public transport
operation. This causes particular problems for British pilots, who are clearly at a geographical disadvan-
tage.

Can the Council clarify whether France has the right to deny permission to a pilot over the age of sixty,
who holds a valid JAA licence and meets JAA requirements, to fly to other JAA countries,
including
through French air space and to French destinations? Alternatively, does France have a right under the JAA
Agreement to impose more stringent rules than those laid down by the JAA in JAR-FCL?