WRITTEN QUESTION E-3970/00 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission. Asbestos.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, asbestos, public health

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/203

(2001/C 174 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3966/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Commission(cid:146)s refusal to renew freelance interpreters(cid:146) contracts

Without giving any notice, the Commission(cid:146)s recruitment service has refused to renew the contracts of
freelance interpreters of 65 years and over who wished to continue working. Freelance interpreters are
covered by Council Regulation (EC) 268/2000 (1) as far as tax obligations are concerned, but they are still
not entitled to a pension, paid annual leave or medical cover. It is thus unfair to treat them in the same
way as staff interpreters who are obliged to cease working at the age of 65.

1. Will the Commission say why has it decided not to continue employing freelance interpreters of 65
years and over, without giving any notice?

2. What is the legal basis for this measure?

Does it consider that

3.
interpretation requirements for all languages?

there are enough interpreters of a sufficiently high standard to meet

Is it endeavouring to devise arrangements to minimise the social problems facing the people affected

4.
by this measure who have contributed to the smooth running of the European Union institutions?

(1) OJ L 29, 4.2.2000, p. 13.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

1.
The Commission is unable to recruit conference interpreters over the age of 65 by reason of Article
74 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS), which states that the employment of
auxiliary staff shall cease automatically at the end of the month in which they reach the age of 65 years.
The conference interpreters employed by the Commission have all been notified of the fact that they are
now covered by the CEOS.

The legal basis of the Decision is Council Regulation(EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 628/2000 of 20 March
2.
2000 amending Regulation (EC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials
of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Commu-
nities (1), which states that conference interpreters engaged on behalf of the Commission,
like those
engaged by Parliament, should be recruited as auxiliary staff.

The Commission does not consider that its ability to meet interpretation requirements is adversely

3.
affected by the amendment of the arrangements applicable to freelance interpreters.

Yes. The Commission would point out that, in accordance with the Agreements concluded almost 30
4.
years ago with the interpreting profession,
it pays an old-age and life provident contribution of
approximately € 100 per day worked to the Scheme of the interpreter(cid:146)s choice, and that it also contributes
€ 4 a day to a sickness and invalidity insurance covering interpreters for each day that they work for the
Institutions.

(1) OJ L 76, 25.3.2000.

(2001/C 174 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3970/00

by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Asbestos

Asbestos will kill more than 250 000 EU citizens in the next few decades. The death toll will be greatly
increased by the incorporation of asbestos mortality figures from countries in Eastern Europe which are

C 174 E/204

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

soon to become EU members. Problems relating to asbestos cross national boundaries and subject
disciplines. They include: research into the early diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related diseases,
terminal care for patients, support
for the families of asbestos victims, compensation from former
employers and/or government institutions for occupational or environmental asbestos exposure, problems
arising from the continued use of products containing asbestos in our buildings, ships, railways and
the disposal of asbestos waste, raising of worker and public awareness of the risks,
infrastructure,
supervision of EU companies which attempt to export discredited asbestos technology to developing
countries and, crucially, enforcement of EU asbestos legislation. Does the Commission think that it would
be beneficial to create a secretariat which would coordinate initiatives on all asbestos issues?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2001)

The Commission does not consider it justified to create a secretariat that would co-ordinate initiatives on
asbestos-related issues.

Liaison between different Commission services responsible for market restrictions, waste, health diagnosis
and treatment, workplace protection, trade and public health has worked sufficiently well to establish a
network of preventive measures enshrined in Community legislation. These measures reduce the threat to
health posed by asbestos. In parallel, the Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environ-
ment will continue to monitor the development of the scientific knowledge on public health aspects of
asbestos.

(2001/C 174 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3975/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Defective tyres

In the United States of America, the National Highway Traffic Society Administration, which is the road
safety authority, has ordered the recall of 24 models of tyres which have shown high percentage risks of
tread separation. These tyres, produced by Firestone Bridgestone USA, a subsidiary of the Japanese firm
Bridgestone Corp., have mainly been fitted to Ford cars, but also to Nissan and General Motors vehicles.

Accidents caused by defective tyres have caused 88 deaths and 250 injuries in America, and 46 deaths and
an unknown number of injuries in Venezuela. Apparently, tyres of this type have also been sold in 16
other countries.

The firms involved apparently concealed the defects in their tyres, which it is alleged they had been aware
of for some time.

According to further very recent information, the NHTSA has also started an investigation into Goodyear,
whose (cid:145)E(cid:146) type tyres may have been responsible for 31 accidents with 15 deaths. According to Goodyear,
half of the 27 million tyres under investigation are still in use.

1.

Does the Commission know whether these tyres are also sold in the European market?

If so, what urgent steps has the Commission taken to ensure that these dangerous tyres are

2.
immediately withdrawn from circulation?