WRITTEN QUESTION E-3510/00 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission. Receiving unemployment benefit in a Member State other than one's home country.
Date: 2000-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Sweden, free movement of workers, unemployment insurance

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/185

Will the Commission say:

(cid:129) whether it is aware of this problem?

(cid:129) whether it intends to investigate the matter further?

(cid:129) whether it intends to ensure that the national authorities comply with European law, with reference
also to the broader area including the Pontine islands and the nature reserves there, in order to protect
the environment in what is a highly man-made area and to defend the interest of inhabitants who are
living in a state of uncertainty from all points of view?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

In the specific case, since certain portions of the territory covered by Parco Nazionale del Circeo have been
proposed as sites of Community importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1) and classified as special protection areas
(SPA) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (2), these
directives could constitute the possibly relevant Community law.

However, on the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, due to a lack of grounds of
complaint on the application of Community law, no breach can be identified at present.

As for the fact that the Ente Parco has never been set up, the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is drawn to
the fact that situations of non-conformity with internal national
law are relevant only in the internal
national legal system.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 151 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3510/00

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Receiving unemployment benefit in a Member State other than one(cid:146)s home country

The free movement of persons within the European Union must be promoted and apply to all sections of
the population. EU rules exist which allow people looking for work to receive unemployment benefit in a
Member State other than their home country. The costs continue to be borne by the home country, but
the scheme has to be administered by the authorities of the country in which the person concerned is
looking for work. Every year in Sweden alone, some 1 600 people apply for permission to receive
unemployment benefit in another EU Member State.

A survey carried out in Sweden last year showed that about one in two people looking for work and
entitled to unemployment benefit in another Member State under EU rules had problems obtaining their
money in the country where they were seeking employment.

Is the Commission aware of this problem, and does it intend to take steps to ensure that people looking
for work can in future draw unemployment benefit in a Member State other than their home country
without problems?

C 151 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (1) provides detailed rules for the co-ordination of social security
schemes of the Member States when Community workers and members of their families move within the
Community. In Article 69 of the Regulation there are provisions which enable an unemployed person,
under certain conditions, to seek work in another Member State and, during that period, to retain the right
to unemployment benefit from the first Member State. During this search for work the benefits are
provided by the institution in the Member State to which the unemployed person has gone to seek work.
The institution in the first Member State is obliged to reimburse the amount of the benefits to the
institution which provided the benefits.

The Honourable Member implies that Member States are not implementing this provision properly.
However, more information is needed in order for the Commission to determine whether Community
law has not been respected properly in any particular case.

(1) Last consolidated version: Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 amending and updating
Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed
persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying
down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (OJ L 28, 30.1.1997).

(2001/C 151 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3520/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Negotiations on fisheries agreements with Cape Verde, Brazil, Senegal and Kiribati

The Commission is doing far too little as regards negotiating the conclusion or the extension of fisheries
agreements with third countries. Not only is the fleet which used to fish in Moroccan waters tied up in
port; the expiry of the agreement with Cape Verde means that a further 38 Community vessels will be idle.
The fisheries sector is accusing the Commission of allowing the Community(cid:146)s agreements with African
countries (cid:145)to die(cid:146).

What action has the Commission taken with a view to renewing the agreement with Cape Verde?

information can the Commission provide regarding the dealings which it has had with the

What
Senegalese authorities with a view to renewing the current agreement, which will expire in May 2001?

What stages are being taken to secure an agreement between the European Community and Brazil? What
species will fishing vessels be able to catch, and in which waters?

What information can the Commission provide regarding the dealings it has had with the Kiribati
Government with a view to securing a fisheries agreement?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2000)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for her interest in the renewal of the Protocols relating
to the fisheries agreements with Cape Verde and Senegal and in the possibilities of concluding similar
agreements with Brazil and Kiribati.

The Commission is pleased to inform her that, aware of the importance of renewing the protocol with
Cape Verde before it expired,
it made some preparatory contacts and subsequently took part in three
negotiating rounds. The first round was held in Brussels on 19/20 July 2000, the second in Praia
23-25 August 2000 and the last in Brussels on 6/7 November 2000.