do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3910/00 by Adeline Hazan (PSE), Anneli Hulthén (PSE), Ulpu Iivari (PSE) and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Alcohol awareness.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholism, disease prevention, public awareness campaign, public health, woman, young person

C 163 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

(2001/C 163 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3910/00

by Adeline Hazan (PSE), Anneli HulthØn (PSE), Ulpu Iivari (PSE)
and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Alcohol awareness

There is increasing evidence that more and more people start drinking younger and younger, with specific
alcoholic drinks being targeted at the very young. Much of the advertising is directed towards young
women in particular. The evidence also indicates that this is a Europe-wide problem.

What action is the Commission taking to raise awareness in the Member States of the need to address this
growing social problem?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The Commission is aware of the problems raised by the Honourable Members.

A concrete step to tackle these issues was the adoption of a proposal for a Council Recommendation on
the drinking of alcohol by children and adolescents by the Commission on 27 November 2000 (1). The
focuses on health promotion and education
proposal, which was also forwarded to the Parliament,
measures as well as on the further development of self-regulation of alcohol advertising and sponsoring
targeted at young people, which of course includes young women.

Once the Recommendation is adopted by the Council, the Commission will be able to play an active role
in supporting the Member States in increasing their awareness of the need to take action and in supporting
them in their efforts to implement the proposed measures.

(1) COM(2000) 736 final.

(2001/C 163 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3911/00

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(6 December 2000)

Subject: Revision of the Directive on the safety of toys

Recently the European market has seen the arrival of electronic toys and video games imported from third
countries, such as Pokemon, in which the heroes are endowed with supernatural properties and portrayed
in such a way that children identify with them and behave in a dangerous manner, endangering their
psychological and physical health.

Given that some Member States such as Sweden have banned the import of toys of this kind, does the
Commission intend to investigate the effect they have on the development of children and to take
appropriate counter-measures?

The European Directive on the safety of toys 88/378/EEC (1) is relatively old and thus does not cover video
games and all the new types of toy. Does the Commission intend to revise the above Directive to lay down
parameters relating not only to the physical health and wellbeing of children but also to the effect of these
new types of toy on their psychological and mental state?

(1) OJ L 187, 16.7.1988, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3945/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Euro conversion costs.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: euro, public expenditure

C 174 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(2001/C 174 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3945/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Euro conversion costs

Will the Commission please estimate the costs of converting national notes and coins into physical euro
notes and coin (cid:129) including the costs of printing notes, minting coins, amendment IT systems and so forth
(cid:129) in each participating Member State and express this as a percentage of GDP?

If it has not made such estimates itself, will the Commission please cite such estimates as are available
from private sector and academic sources, giving their full range, and pointing to the uncertainties
involved?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2001)

The Commission has not made estimates of the costs of the changeover to the euro.

The Commission is of the opinion that such costs, to be undertaken by the public authorities and private
economic actors, should be seen as an investment which accrues significant overall economic benefits as a
result of the creation of the single currency.

In addition, the Commission refers to the answer it provided to the Written Question No E-2741/00 by
Mrs Villiers (1).

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 219.

(2001/C 174 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3946/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Ecofin documents

1. Will the Commission make available the detailed forecast documents for its latest forecast equivalent
to last year(cid:146)s documents ECFIN/600/99-EN and ECFIN/599/99-EN?

2. Will the Commission list the documents that have been made available by it to the Council of
Economic and Finance Ministers (Ecofin) in the last three months?

3. Will the Commission list the documents that have been received by it from the Council of Economic
and Finance Ministers (Ecofin) in the last three months?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

1.
The Commission(cid:146)s economic forecasts were presented by the member of the Commission responsible
for economic and financial affairs on 22 November 2000. The documents ECFIN/620/00 and ECFIN/621/
00, which are equivalent to last year(cid:146)s documents ECFIN/600/99 and ECFIN/599/99, were made available
on that date and can be obtained from the secretariat of unit ECFIN-B-5 (cid:145)Forecasts and economic situation(cid:146).
Document 621/00 has moreover been published in European Economy (Supplement A; No 10/11 October/
November 2000), which is also available in extenso on the website of the Directorate-General
for
Economic and Financial Affairs: http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2718/2000 of 13 December 2000 fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 20th partial invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1531/2000
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, white sugar

14.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 314/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2718/2000

of 13 December 2000

fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 20th partial invitation to tender issued
within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No
1531/2000

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2038/1999 of 13
September 1999 on the common organisation of the markets
in the sugar sector (1), as amended by Commission Regulation
(EC) No 1527/2000 (2), and in particular the second subpara-
graph of Article 18(5) thereof,

and world markets in sugar, for the partial invitation to
tender in question.

(3)

(4)

Following an examination of the tenders submitted in
response to the 20th partial
invitation to tender, the
provisions set out in Article 1 should be adopted.

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

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1531/2000 of 13 July
2000 on a standing invitation to tender to determine
levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar (3),
requires partial invitations to tender to be issued for the
export of this sugar.

Pursuant to Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1531/
2000 a maximum export refund shall be fixed, as the
case may be, account being taken in particular of the
state and foreseeable development of the Community

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the 20th partial invitation to tender for white sugar issued
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1531/2000 the maximum
amount of the export refund is fixed at 42,558 EUR/100 kg.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 14 December 2000.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 13 December 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 252, 25.9.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 175, 14.7.2000, p. 59.
(3) OJ L 175, 14.7.2000, p. 69.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/00 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Transparency of meetings.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, executive power, public conduct of debates, transparency in decision-making

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/35

Under the Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC), water for human consumption should not contain
pathogenic organisms. This would include the pathogen legionella. Therefore, if legionella was present in
the drinking water made available to the consumers of Alcoy (Valencia region, Spain) in the past months,
then this would have been a breach of Directive 80/778/EEC. The Commission has carefully noted all the
information provided by the Honourable Member in order to investigate the case. Accordingly, the
Commission will contact the Spanish authorities to obtain more information about this case, and will
seek assurance that all the necessary action has been taken to ensure that this situation will not be
repeated.

(2001/C 235 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Transparency of meetings

Can the Commission confirm if there exists any Member State legislation or EU legislation requiring
deliberations of governing/decision-making boards or commissions to be open to the public?

This subject is particularly pertinent considering the current reform process being undertaken within the
European Union institutions.

The Commission should note that in the USA this requirement is embedded in Federal and State legislation
(See Title 5, US Code, section 552b, 5 U.S.C, sec. 552b).

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The Commission is not aware of legislation in any of the Member States requiring the deliberations of
decision-making bodies to be open to the public. As a general rule, debates in elected assemblies are open
to the public while the work of executive bodies is not. The rules of procedure of each of the Community
institutions contains provisions governing publication of their deliberations.

(2001/C 235 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3943/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Cost of bank transfers

1. Will the Commission estimate the average or typical cost to a commercial bank customer of a transfer
worth € 50 to another bank customer:

(a) within each of the Member States;

(b) between each Member State within the eurozone and each other Member State within the eurozone?

Is it the objective of the Commission that the cost of all banking transfers within the euro area,

2.
including cross-border transfers, should be the same as it is in individual Member States?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2717/2000 of 13 December 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, monetary policy, pip fruit

14.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 314/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2717/2000

of 13 December 2000

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

the standard
In compliance with the above criteria,
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
last
import arrangements
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/98 (2), and in particular
Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
in
standard values for imports from third countries,
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 14 December 2000.

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

Done at Brussels, 13 December 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 4.

L 314/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

14.12.2000

to the Commission Regulation of 13 December 2000 establishing the standard import values for determining the
entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 20 10

0805 20 30, 0805 20 50, 0805 20 70,
0805 20 90

0805 30 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
999
624
628
999
052
204
628
999
052
204
388
999
052
204
999

052
999
052
600
999
060
400
404
720
999
052
064
400
720
999

101,4
62,6
82,0
195,9
152,5
174,2
84,5
39,4
109,0
77,6
45,1
44,7
32,2
40,7
93,5
77,2
85,3

71,4
71,4
73,4
70,9
72,2
37,5
90,2
85,4
128,6
85,4
73,7
55,6
91,7
134,9
89,0

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2543/1999 (OJ L 307, 2.12.1999, p. 46). Code ‘999’ stands for ‘of

other origin’.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3951/00 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission. Use of EU funds in Spain (Canary Islands).
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU financing, fraud against the EU

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/1

I

(Information)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

(2002/C 81 E/001)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3951/00

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Use of EU funds in Spain (Canary Islands)

In the light of the report by the Court of Auditors and the irregularities in the use of EU financial
assistance in Spain, could the Commission clarify the position specifically as regards the Canary Islands?

What amount of funds does the Union allocate to the Canary Islands each year?

Can the Commission supply a more detailed breakdown of the areas receiving support?

Are the funds in question earmarked for particular purposes?

Are there any indications that the funds have not been put to the proper use?

(2002/C 81 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2041/01

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Answer to Written Question E-3951/00

I refer to my Written Question of 4 December 2000 concerning the use of EU funds in Spain
(E-3951/00 (1)). Given that, in your answer of 22 December 2000, you informed me that the Commission
was in the process of obtaining the information required to answer the question, please forward that
information to me.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 239.

Supplementary joint answer
to Written Questions E-3951/00 and E-2041/01
given by Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Further to its answer of 22 December 2000 (1), the Commission is sending the information requested direct
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.
Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion of an agreement between the Community and the Republic of Cyprus adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Cyprus in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth (COM(2000) 661 - C5-0577/2000 - 2000/0270(CNS))
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Cyprus, EU programme, continuing education, vocational training, young person

17.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 232/145

Wednesday 13 December 2000

3. MEDIA (cid:8) Training (2001-2005) ***II

C5-0616/2000

Common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and
Council decision on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the Eur-
opean audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA (cid:8) Training)
(10939/2/2000 (cid:8)
C5-0616/2000 (cid:8) 1999/0275(COD))

(2001-2005)

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The common position was approved. The act was accordingly deemed adopted in accordance with the
common position.

4.

Incentives for civil law practitioners * (procedure without report)

C5-0494/2000

Proposal for a Council regulation extending the programme of incentives and exchanges for legal
practitioners in the area of civil law (Grotius (cid:8) civil) (COM(2000) 516 (cid:8) C5-0494/2000 (cid:8) 2000/
0220(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The proposal was approved.

5. Veterinary expenditure * (procedure without report)

C5-0495/2000

Proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary
field (COM(2000) 542 (cid:8) C5-0495/2000 (cid:8) 2000/0234(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The proposal was approved.

6. Participation by Cyprus in Community programmes * (procedure without

report)

C5-0577/2000

Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion of an agreement between the Commu-
nity and the Republic of Cyprus adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Cyprus
in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth (COM(2000) 661 (cid:8)
C5-0577/2000 (cid:8) 2000/0270(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The proposal was approved.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3905/00 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. BSE: funding the destruction of animals.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, consumer protection, health legislation, material of animal origin, waste disposal

C 261 E/12

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

(2001/C 261 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3905/00

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: BSE: funding the destruction of animals

The Dutch audit office recently published the findings of research into implementing legislation and rules
on the destruction of animal matter. It concluded that as a result of the high charges for the collection of
matter with a very high risk fewer carcasses are being offered by producer.

Does the Commission feel that the high destruction charges are compatible with the policy aimed at

1.
guaranteeing the best possible protection for consumers?

Does the Commission feel that differences in charges between Member States are a form of distortion

2.
of competition?

3.

Does the Commission intend to take action to harmonise the funding of destruction?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2001)

The Commission attaches a paramount importance to consumer protection. The destruction of high-
1.
risk animal material is an essential measure, the costs of which should not be so high as to encourage its
evasion.

2.
Differences between Member States in the level of charges for certain services may have an impact
on the competitive position of producers. In the absence of harmonisation at Community level, and as
long as measures taken by a Member State to alleviate the costs of certain services are compatible with
Community law, in particular the rules for state aids, such differences in the level of charges are the result
of policy choices of Member States taken within their own field of competence.

A recent example of harmonisation at Community level is Article 4(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No
2777/2000 of 18 December 2000, adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market (1), as
amended, in the context of the (cid:145)purchase for destruction scheme(cid:146), provides that, except for the Community
co-financing, all costs from the delivery of the animal to the slaughterhouse until its full destruction shall
be financed by national authorities.

3.
The proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and Council laying down the health rules concerning
animal by-products not intended for human consumption (2) establishes that a report on financial support
in Member States for the processing and disposal of animal materials shall be prepared by the
Commission. This report shall be accompanied by appropriate proposals.

(1) OJ L 321, 19.12.2000. Regulation last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 111/2001, OJ L 19,

20.1.2001.

(2) COM(2000) 574 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Protection for shipwrecks.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU competence, European social policy, United Kingdom, heritage protection, metal waste, warships

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/209

Several modifications proposed by Member States to the Commission(cid:146)s proposal have been discussed, but a
decision has not been taken yet. For this reason the Commission can at this stage not predict how far the
wording will be changed in the Council Common Position and if e.g. the possibility of simultaneous
pedalling on EPACs will be required or not.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.
(2) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992.

(2001/C 151 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Protection for shipwrecks

British Navy ships that were lost at sea during the war are nowadays often looted for souvenirs by
commercial operators and used as playgrounds by leisure divers.

What plans does the Commission have for protecting these shipwrecks from such activities?

Would the Commission consider giving them the same status as war graves?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2001)

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.

(2001/C 151 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3961/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Construction of gas turbines

The Minister for Development recently announced that gas turbine units would be built in the area of
Hellinoperamata (Herakleion) for the Greek Electricity Board (DEI). This decision is contrary to decisions of
the relevant prefectural and local government bodies. It should be pointed out that the area concerned is
already polluted by fumes from a DEI plant built inside the coastal area without any operating licence
which, along with other companies in the vicinity, is causing heavy pollution in the area to the west of the
City of Herakleion. A study drawn up for the municipality concerning the environmental consequences of
the DEI plant for the region in 1998 and 1999 respectively found that nitrogen and sulphur oxide levels
had risen by 300-400 %.

Is the Commission aware of these very serious allegations, and what action does it intend to take to ensure
compliance with Community environmental legislation and to put an end to pollution in the Hellinoper-
amata region?

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

(1 February 2001)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member
and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.