WRITTEN QUESTION P-3614/00 by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission. Swiss firms' refusal to supply spare parts to clockmakers and watchmakers in EU Member States.
Date: 2000-11-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Switzerland, clock and watch industry, spare part, type of business

C 163 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

and hence to the establishment of a democratic Palestinian society. However, throughout the latest crisis in
the peace process several Palestinian media organisations have issued calls, some designed to stir up hatred,
to fight Jewish people in the streets. They have thus played a crucial role in the escalation of the
murderous clashes of the past few weeks.

Moreover,
further EU financing is geared towards supporting the teaching and education sectors.
According to the results of a survey conducted by the (cid:145)Centre for monitoring the impact of peace(cid:146),
however, the texts used in Palestinian schools contain a huge number of anti-Semitic references. Does the
Commission consider it acceptable that EU funding is being used to foster feelings of hatred towards the
Israeli people? What measures has the Commission taken or prepared and what mechanisms does it plan
to introduce to prevent the EU funding granted to the Palestinian Authority from being misused in order
to instigate violence and hatred towards the Jewish people, foment anti-Semitism and, ultimately, under-
mine the peace process in the Middle East?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-3612/00, P-3643/00 and E-3652/00
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The Commission rejects any attempt to use the educational system as a vehicle to promote intolerance and
to hinder the efforts achieved so far by the different parties committed with peace in the Middle East. It
this particularly regrettable that school children may be exposed to intolerance and mutual incomprehen-
sion in any of the parties involved in the conflict.

None of the projects financed by the Commission in support of the Palestinian Authority have supported
the production or distribution of school textbooks. Furthermore, no request has ever been made by the
Palestinian Authority to finance curricula and textbooks. Assistance to the educational system has focused
mainly on infrastructures, equipment for schools and school libraries and direct assistance for current
school expenses (salaries, dining rooms, etc.). As regards projects financed bilaterally by Member States, the
Commission has no right of monitoring or interference, and therefore the relevant Member States may
have to be addressed individually.

The Commission has always focused its assistance on promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and human
rights in the Middle East. In this regard, Article 2 of the Community-Palestinian interim association
agreement clearly states that mutual co-operation between the parties (cid:145)has to be based on the respect of
democratic principles and fundamental human rights as set out in the universal declaration on human
rights, which guides their internal and international policy (cid:133)(cid:146). In this context, the Commission has
financed in recent years several projects aiming at encouraging and fostering dialogue between Israeli and
Palestinian youth such as encounters to promote cross-cultural dialogue and joint youth leadership
training.

(2001/C 163 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3614/00

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Swiss firms(cid:146) refusal to supply spare parts to clockmakers and watchmakers in EU Member States

1. What might be the reason for the refusal by Swiss firms, despite having offices in certain EU Member
States, to supply spare parts to clockmakers and watchmakers, even if they do not have special contracts
with those firms?

2. What tangible steps does the Commission propose to take, on the basis of existing provisions, in this
connection?

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/183

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

The Commission regrets that in the absence of more detailed information it is not able to comment on the
elements to which the Honourable Member refers or to gauge whether a breach of Community law is
involved.

(2001/C 163 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3624/00

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Payments of family allowances for migrant workers

In the case of a Turkish migrant worker employed and living in Austria, with his wife and children
resident in Belgium, is it incumbent on the Austrian or the Belgian authority to pay family allowances/
children(cid:146)s allowances?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

The EEC-Turkey Association Agreement and its Additional Protocol of 1970 contain certain social security
provisions. Under this agreement the Association Council adopted in 1980 social security provisions for
Turkish workers moving within the Community and for their families residing within the Community
(Decision No 3/80) (1).

As the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for implementing these provisions has not been adopted by the Council, the
question of whether individuals can rely directly on the provisions contained in Decision No 3/80 has
been tried by the European Court of Justice in a number of cases. As Community law now stands
(judgement of the Court of 4 May 1999 in case C-262/96 (cid:129) Sema S(cid:252)r(cid:252)l v. Bundesanstalt f(cid:252)r Arbeit) (2),
Turkish nationals falling under the scope of the above-mentioned provisions can rely on the principle of
equal treatment, as contained in that decision, for their social security rights under the national legislation
of the Member States.

In the situation mentioned by the Honourable Member, any right to family benefits for those concerned
(presuming that the Turkish migrant worker(cid:146)s wife and children are also of Turkish nationality) needs to be
answered on the basis of national
legislation in Austria and Belgium with due consideration to the
application of the above-mentioned principle of equal treatment.

In practice this means that an Austrian or Belgian institution, when applying its own national legislation
on family benefits, must put the Turkish migrant worker and his family members on an equal footing with
its own nationals.

(1) OJ C 110, 25.4.1983.
(2) ECR 1999 p. I-2685.

(2001/C 163 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3625/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: ACP ambassadors

Would the Commission clarify what the policy is on meetings with ambassadors from ACP countries? Is it
the case that they do not meet the President of the Commission, as was the case in the past?