WRITTEN QUESTION E-3639/00 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Child labour.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ACP countries, Europe, International Labour Organisation, accession to an agreement, child labour

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/197

conducting of religious service in the various faiths which totally exclude women from their holy orders.
Women may not perform religious ceremonies which are reserved for men, they may not be ordained and
are excluded from the one field in which surely everyone should have the same rights.

What is the Commission(cid:146)s view on this matter? Does it intend to adopt initiatives to strengthen equality
between men and women in this field? Will the framework strategy for gender equality (2001-2005) it has
announced perhaps include some encouragement to the religions and faiths practised in the countries of
the European Union to admit women to holy orders on an equal footing with men?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

It is not for the Commission to comment on the issue raised by the Honourable Member, as the
conducting of religious ceremonies is not a Community matter.

(2001/C 151 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3639/00

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Child labour

Can the Commission state which European countries have not yet ratified the ILO Convention concerning
the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour?

Can the Commission state which ACP countries have not yet done so?

What action will the Commission take to encourage ratification?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

The latest available information shows 49 countries have ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Convention No 182 of 17 June 1999 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination
of the worst forms of child labour. A complete list of all ratifying countries is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s secretariat.

As the Honourable Member was informed by the Commission in reply to her Written Question E-1612/
99 (1), the Commission strongly supports the principles underlying the Convention and hopes that the
widest possible ratification will be achieved. To this end, on 15 September 2000, the Commission adopted
a recommendation to the Member States on the ratification of ILO Convention 182 calling on Member
States to ratify if they have not done so (2).

It is the Commission(cid:146)s consistent policy to promote respect for core labour standards (cid:129) which include the
prohibition of child labour, including the worst forms of child labour (cid:129) in its external relations and
development assistance policy. The new agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific states and
the Community thus contains a reaffirmation by the parties of their commitment to fundamental labour
standards, including the prohibition of the worst forms of child labour.

C 151 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Moreover, the Commission funds projects in developing countries aimed at improving the situation of
children including measures geared to providing legal protection, enabling children to go back to school or
making society aware of children(cid:146)s rights. Since 1997, projects of this kind have been financed in Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Togo, Nepal and Ghana.

(1) OJ C 27 E, 29.1.2000.
(2) OJ L 243, 28.9.2000.

(2001/C 151 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3647/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Irregularities in the placing of land registry studies

(23 November 2000)

On 17 May 1999 a competition was held for 12 land registry studies, with a five billion drachma budget,
under the Second Principal Programme for a land registry of Greece now in preparation. The Commission
has recently asked the ministry concerned, the Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and Public
Works,
for explanations regarding the confusing criteria applying to selection and the awarding of
contracts under the tendering procedure.

1. What precisely was the legal obstacle in the assessment procedure by the Ministry of the Environ-
ment, Regional Planning and Public Works?

2. What explanations did that Ministry give the Commission?

3. What action does the Commission intend to take if it does not accept the explanations given by the
Ministry?

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 2001)

The Commission can confirm that
in question.
Following a preliminary examination of the matter, the Commission sent the Greek authorities a letter
about some aspects of the procedure that seemed to raise problems regarding conformity with existing
Community rules. The Commission has just received a written reply from the Greek authorities and is
making a detailed assessment of it.

it has received complaints concerning the contract

In view of the current stage in this assessment process, the Commission cannot at the moment answer the
honourable Member(cid:146)s questions with any precision.

(2001/C 151 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3650/00

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(23 November 2000)

Subject: City guides

Is the Commission aware of the scam being carried out by a company based in Spain and promoting the
(cid:145)European City Guide(cid:146)? Small traders are sent a misleading form asking for company details to be included
in the (cid:145)European City Guide(cid:146). This form, once signed and dated, commits the trader to an expensive entry
in the (cid:145)European City Guide(cid:146) for which they are then billed. For those traders who do not read all the small
print on the form, this comes as a complete surprise.

If the Commission is aware of this matter, what measures has it taken to combat this?