WRITTEN QUESTION E-3703/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council. Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, economic analysis, economic development, restriction on competition

C 235 E/12

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

economic, regional and environmental reasons for this. However, particularly in Greece there have been
unacceptable delays and substantial cost overshoots in the projects that had been planned (tunnels, stations
in the Thriasian Plain, the Athens-Corinth line, etc.).

How does the Commission view these constant delays and cost overshoots, in view of the fact that these
do not appear to be in keeping with present Community law on public contracts and the awarding of such
contracts? How does the Commission intend to intervene so that
the Greek railway development
programme is reviewed and brought into line with the priorities agreed with the Greek Government?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

The Commission attaches great importance to the development of a modern rail network in Greece.
During the period 1989-2006, this sector should receive investment of some € 3 billion from Community
funds plus a national contribution of approximately € 2 billion.

The Greek authorities and the Commission are aware of the problems encountered both in carrying out
work on restructuring and improving the services provided by the body responsible for the Greek railways
(OSE) and in the carrying out of infrastructure projects by the subsidiary company created in 1977 to
manage them (Ergose). These have meant that the results initially expected with regard to rail transport in
Greece have not been obtained.

The Greek authorities are currently examining the measures which will have to be taken by these two
agencies to rectify this situation. These measures should include both the restructuring of Ergose and OSE
to make them more effective and compliance with Community and national law on public procurement. It
has also been clearly established that whenever the legislation in force has not been respected, related
expenditure will not be eligible under the Community Funds.

(2001/C 235 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3703/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights

Protocol 9 to the Treaty of Amsterdam (which relates to the role of national parliaments) requires that
a full economic impact statement should be provided wherever new legislation is contemplated. Since the
draft Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly proposes new initiatives which could impact on a national
level (e.g. national works councils) why has Protocol 9 not been complied with?

Europe purports to be competing with trading blocks such as Japan and the US, but in reality will such
initiatives not run counter to the spirit of Lisbon? Will they not effectively fetter the competitiveness of EU
undertakings on world markets, by adopting social practices which can only be adversely reflected in the
price and competitiveness of our goods abroad?

Reply

(7 May 2001)

1.
The Council would draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that Protocol No 9 on the
role of national parliaments in the European Union contains no obligation such as that referred to in the
question. It would emphasise that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is not
a (cid:145)Commission proposal for legislation(cid:146) to which the Protocol could apply.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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As regards the risk referred to by the Honourable Member of the competitiveness of EU undertakings
2.
on world markets being fettered as a result of application of the Charter, the Council would refer to Arti-
cle 51 of the Charter. This Article, which defines its scope, stipulates that (cid:145)the provisions of this Charter are
addressed to the institutions and bodies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and
to the Member States only when they are implementing Union law. They shall therefore respect the rights,
observe the principles and promote the application thereof in accordance with their respective powers(cid:146).

3.
As for the need, stated at the Lisbon European Council, to prepare the transition to a competitive,
dynamic and knowledge-based economy, the Council would remind the Honourable Member that the
objective here was to modernise the European social model by investing in people and building an active
welfare state (cid:145)for ensuring that the emergence of this new economy does not compound the existing social
problems of unemployment, social exclusion and poverty(cid:146).

(2001/C 235 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3723/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Article 14 Committee

Will the Commission please indicate the remit of what is known as the Article 14 Committee (set up
under Regulation 2092/91 (1), and dealing with rules for the organic production of agricultural produce
and list its members by name and function?

When and how often does it meet?

(1) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The Committee set up under Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on
organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and
foodstuffs is a regulatory-type committee referred to in Article 5 of Council Decision 1999/468/EEC of
28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the
Commission (1). This Committee assists the Commission in preparing measures it is assigned to take under
Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. The Committee(cid:146)s mandate is defined in several provisions in the Regulation
and includes, in particular, advising on implementing arrangements and updating technical annexes to the
Regulation. The Committee also discusses all questions referred by Member States or the Commission
regarding the application of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.

The Committee is made up of representatives from the Member States. These are appointed independently
by each Member State. However, the representative may change according to the matter being discussed at
the meeting. The Committee is chaired by the Commission, who for this purpose is represented by the
Director of Directorate Agro-economic legislation of the Directorate-General for Agriculture.

The names of civil servants from Member States are not annexed to the short minutes that are sent out
after each meeting. The Commission does not intend to change this practice.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999.