do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3359/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Mass redundancy.
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European social policy, Portugal, United Kingdom, clothing industry, collective dismissal, competence of the Member States

C 151 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3359/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 October 2000)

Subject: Mass redundancy

Vesticom, a clothing firm which forms part of the UK multinational Coats Viyella Clothing, is based in
Torres Vedras, Portugal, and employs almost 300 people.
It has, according to the Sindicato dos
Trabalhadores TŒxteis, Lanificios e VestuÆrio do Sul (Trade Union of Southern Textile, Wool and Clothing
Workers), announced that it intends to issue redundancy notices to the entire workforce.

Vesticom set up business in Torres Vedras almost 27 years ago, and closure will harm the whole region, by
cutting job opportunities, increasing dole queues and reducing its wealth creation capacity by PTE 1 billion.
The closure is all the more unacceptable in view of the firm(cid:146)s high quality workforce, facilities and
products.

Can the Commission tell me:

1. What measures it intends to take to prevent yet another instance of hundreds of workers being laid off

on mass by a multinational;

2. Whether the firms in question have received any Community funding, either in Portugal or the UK?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2000)

The Honourable Member

1.
announced by a company in Torres Vedras, Portugal.

refers to the problems raised by a possible collective redundancy

through the consolidating Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the
Community law,
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies (1), aims to establish
arrangements and procedures for collective redundancies together with measures designed to alleviate the
consequences of redundancy for workers.

As Portugal has transposed this Directive into national law, it is the national courts and administrative
authorities which are responsible for resolving any disputes relating to the case in point.

2.
According to the information supplied by the Portuguese authorities, the Vesticom company received
a Community contribution of € 8 477 from the European Regional Development Fund in connection with
an investment project worth € 16 960 approved on 19 March 1996 as part of the (cid:145)Industry(cid:146) sub-
programme of the operational programme (cid:145)Modernising the economic fabric(cid:146).

A search of the Department of Education and Employment(cid:146)s projects and payments databases and the
United Kingdom database for Coats Viyella, using the registered name of Coats Viyella PLC and related
trading names (2), did not find any European Social Fund payments.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) Coats; Madura Coats Ltd; Coats India; Madura Textiles; Jaeger; Viyella; Van Heuson; Ladybird; Coats Crafts UK; Coats

Fabra; Barbour Threads.
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 87/2000 of 27 October 2000 amending Annex VII (mutual recognition of professional qualifications) to the EEA Agreement
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: higher education, professional qualifications, recognition of diplomas, right of establishment, vocational training

11.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 7/3

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 87/2000

of 27 October 2000

amending Annex VII (mutual recognition of professional qualifications) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as adjusted by the Protocol adjusting
the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, and in
particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Annex VII to the Agreement was amended by Decision No 190/1999 of the EEA Joint Committee
of 17 December 1999 (1).

Commission Directive 2000/5/EC of 25 February 2000 amending Annexes C and D to Council
Directive 92/51/EEC on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and
training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (2) is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in point 1a (Council Directive 92/51/EEC) in Annex VII to the
Agreement:

‘— 32000 L 0005: Commission Directive 2000/5/EC of 25 February 2000 amending Annexes C
and D to Council Directive 92/51/EEC on a second general system for the recognition of
professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (OJ L 54, 26.2.2000, p.
42).’

Article 2

The texts of Directive 2000/5/EC in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA
Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities, shall be authentic.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 28 October 2000, provided that all the notifications under Article
103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee (*).

(1) Not yet published in the Official Journal.
(2) OJ L 54, 26.2.2000, p. 42.
(*) Constitutional requirements indicated.

L 7/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11.1.2001

Article 4

This Decision shall be published in the EEA section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal
of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

G. S. GUNNARSSON
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2404/2000 of 27 October 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1833/92 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of cereals products from the Community to the Azores and Madeira
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Azores, EU aid, EU production, Madeira, cereals, supply

28.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 276/27

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2404/2000

of 27 October 2000

amending Regulation (EEC) No 1833/92 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of cereals
products from the Community to the Azores and Madeira

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15
June 1992 introducing specific measures in respect of certain
agricultural products
the Azores and
Madeira (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1257/
1999 (2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,
Whereas:

the benefit of

for

(1)

The amounts of aid for the supply of cereals products to
the Azores and Madeira has been settled by Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 1833/92 (3), as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 2063/2000 (4); whereas, as a conse-
quence of the changes of the rates and prices for cereals
products in the European part of the Community and on
the world market, the aid for supply to the Azores and

Madeira should be set at
Annex.

the amounts given in the

(2)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex of amended Regulation (EEC) No 1833/92 is
replaced by the Annex to the present Regulation.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 November 2000.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 173, 27.6.1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.
(3) OJ L 185, 4.7.1992, p. 28.
(4) OJ L 246, 30.9.2000, p. 14.

L 276/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28.10.2000

to the Commission Regulation of 27 October 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1833/92 setting the amounts
of aid for the supply of cereals products from the Community to the Azores and Madeira

ANNEX

Product
(CN code)

(EUR/t)

Amount of aid

Destination

Azores

Madeira

Common wheat

(1001 90 99)

Barley

Maize

(1003 00 90)

(1005 90 00)

Durum wheat

(1001 10 00)

17,00

17,00

24,00

17,00

17,00

17,00

24,00

17,00
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 96/2000 of 27 October 2000 amending Annex XVIII (health and safety at work, labour law, and equal treatment for men and women) to the EEA Agreement
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: dangerous substance, environmental risk prevention, explosive, occupational health, occupational safety, safety standard

11.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 7/23

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 96/2000

of 27 October 2000

amending Annex XVIII (health and safety at work, labour law, and equal treatment for men and
women) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as adjusted by the Protocol adjusting
the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, and in
particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Annex XVIII to the Agreement was amended by Decision No 97/1999 of the EEA Joint Committee
of 16 July 1999(1).

Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on
minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at
risk from explosive atmospheres (15th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of
Directive 89/391/EEC) (2) is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following point shall be inserted after point 16h (Council Directive 98/24/EC) in Annex XVIII to the
Agreement:

‘16i. 399 L 0092: Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16
December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of
workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres (15th individual Directive within the
meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 57).’

Article 2

The texts of Directive 1999/92/EC in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA
Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities, shall be authentic.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 28 October 2000, provided that all the notifications under
Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee (*).

(1) OJ L 296, 23.11.2000, p. 75.
(2) OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 57.
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.

L 7/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11.1.2001

Article 4

This Decision shall be published in the EEA section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal
of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

G. S. GUNNARSSON
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2402/2000 of 27 October 2000 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of rice products from the Community to the Canary Islands
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU aid, EU production, aid system, rice, supply

28.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 276/23

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2402/2000

of 27 October 2000

setting the amounts of aid for the supply of rice products from the Community to the Canary
Islands

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 of 15
June 1992 introducing specific measures in respect of certain
agricultural products for the benefit of the Canary Islands (1), as
last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (2), and in
particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92,
the requirements of the Canary Islands for rice are to be
covered in terms of quantity, price and quality by the
mobilisation, on disposal terms equivalent to exemption
from the levy, of Community rice, which involves the
grant of an aid for supplies of Community origin. This
aid is to be fixed with particular reference to the costs of
the various sources of supply and in particular is to be
based on the prices applied to exports to third countries.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2790/94 (3), as last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1620/1999 (4),
lays
down common detailed rules for implementation of the

(3)

(4)

specific arrangements for the supply of certain agricul-
tural products,

including rice, to the Canary Islands.

As a result of the application of these detailed rules to
the current market situation in the rice sector, and in
particular to the rates of prices for these products in the
European part of the Community and on the world
market, the aid for supply to the Canary Islands should
be set at the amounts given in the Annex.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92, the
amount of aid for the supply of rice of Community origin
under the specific arrangements for the supply of the Canary
Islands shall be as set out in the Annex hereto.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 November 2000.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 173, 27.6.1992, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.
(3) OJ L 296, 17.11.1994, p. 23.
(4) OJ L 192, 24.7.1999, p. 19.

L 276/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28.10.2000

ANNEX

to the Commission Regulation of 27 October 2000 setting the amounts of aid for the supply of rice products
from the Community to the Canary Islands

(EUR/t)

Product
(CN code)

Milled rice

(1006 30)

Broken rice
(1006 40)

Amount of aid

145,00

32,00
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2397/2000 of 27 October 2000 suspending the buying-in of butter in certain Member States
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, award of contract, butter, purchase

28.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 276/17

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2397/2000

of 27 October 2000

suspending the buying-in of butter in certain Member States

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17
May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk
and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
1670/2000 (2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999
of 16 December 1999 laying down detailed rules for the
application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as
last regards intervention on the market in butter and
cream (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2099/
2000 (4),
for opening or
suspending the buying-in of butter by invitation to
tender in the Member States.

lays down the

criteria

(EC) No

Regulation

Commission
2280/2000 (5)
suspending the buying-in of butter in certain Member
States establishes the list of Member States in which
intervention is suspended. As a result of the market
prices communicated by Italy intervention must be
suspended in this country and the list of Member States

established by Regulation (EC) No 2280/2000 adjusted
accordingly.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Buying-in of butter by invitation to tender as provided for in
Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 is hereby
suspended in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy,
Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Ireland,
Portugal, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Regulation (EC) No 2280/2000 is hereby repealed.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 October 2000.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 48.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 10.
(3) OJ L 333, 24.12.1999, p. 11.
(4) OJ L 249, 4.10.2000, p. 20.
(5) OJ L 260, 14.10.2000, p. 6.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3363/00 by Gilles Savary (PSE) to the Commission. Family producers of natural spirits.
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common agricultural policy, family farming, spirits

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/149

(2001/C 151 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3363/00

by Gilles Savary (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 2000)

Subject: Family producers of natural spirits

What is the Commission(cid:146)s position with regard to family producers of natural spirits (or (cid:145)home distillers(cid:146))?

Is the Commission thinking of putting forward any legislation in the near future applying across the board
to all citizens in the European Union carrying out activities of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2000)

The Commission has no intention for the moment of making a proposal on the status of home producers
of natural spirits.

However, the Commission will soon be proposing the introduction of a common organisation of the
market in agricultural alcohol to the Council. Within this context, special provisions for certain alcohol
producers could be envisaged.

The Commission would also like to draw attention to Council Directive 92/83/EEC of 19 October 1992
on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages (1), Article 22 of
which stipulates that Member States can apply reduced rates of excise duty to ethyl alcohol produced by
small distilleries; these would certainly include home producers of spirits.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.

(2001/C 151 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3367/00

by Linda McAvan (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Pig welfare

Article 6 of Council Directive 91/630/EEC (1) laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs
requires the Commission by 1 October 1997 to submit to the Council a report on intensive pig-rearing
systems. Article 6 requires the Commission(cid:146)s report to be accompanied by appropriate proposals.

On a number of occasions the Commission has stated that it will publish its report and proposals shortly.
When does the Commission plan to publish the report and proposals required by Article 6 of Council
Directive 91/630/EEC?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 33.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2000)

The Commission report is nearly finalized and will be submitted before the end of this year to the Council
and to the Parliament accompanied by a proposal to amend Directive 91/630/EEC with a view to
improving the welfare conditions of pigs.

Information available to the Commission confirms that in recent years Member States have adopted
legislation for the protection of pigs providing additional measures to those required under Council
Directive 91/630/EEC.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2399/2000 of 27 October 2000 fixing the maximum export refund on wholly milled long grain rice in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2284/2000
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export, export refund, rice, third country

L 276/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28.10.2000

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2399/2000

of 27 October 2000

fixing the maximum export refund on wholly milled long grain rice in connection with the
invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2284/2000

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22
December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in
rice (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1667/2000 (2),
and in particular Article 13 (3) thereof,

(3)

(4)

The application of the abovementioned criteria to the
current market situation for the rice in question results
the
in the maximum export refund being fixed at
amount specified in Article 1.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Cereals,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the export refund on rice was
to Commission Regulation (EC) No
issued pursuant
2284/2000 (3).

Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 584/
75 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 299/95 (5),
allows the Commission to fix, in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No
3072/95 and on the basis of the tenders submitted, a
maximum export refund. In fixing this maximum, the
criteria provided for in Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No
3072/95 must be taken into account. A contract is
awarded to any tenderer whose tender is equal to or less
than the maximum export refund.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The maximum export refund on wholly milled long grain rice
falling within CN code 1006 30 67 to be exported to certain
third countries pursuant to the invitation to tender issued in
Regulation (EC) No 2284/2000 is hereby fixed on the basis of
the tenders submitted from 23 to 26 October 2000 at
250,00 EUR/t.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 October 2000.

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

Done at Brussels, 27 October 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 329, 30.12.1995, p. 18.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 260, 14.10.2000, p. 16.
(4) OJ L 61, 7.3.1975, p. 25.
(5) OJ L 35, 15.2.1995, p. 8.