WRITTEN QUESTION E-4133/00 by Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Right of an Israeli national to play in German handball leagues.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Israel, association agreement (EU), competence of the Member States, equal treatment, foreign national, free movement of persons, professional sport

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/143

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

(28 February 2001)

Monitoring data on atmospheric pollution are regularly forwarded by Greece under the 97/101/EC Council
Decision of 27 January 1997 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks
and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States (1).

Additional data from short term campaigns and air quality modelling are also available to the Commission.
Concerning sulphur emissions (SO2), suspended particles, lead and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) the current limit
values as set out in Council Directive 80/779/EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide
values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates (2), Council Directive 82/884/EEC of 3 December
1982 on a limit value for lead in the air (3) and Council Directive 85/203/EEC of 7 March 1985 on air
quality standards for nitrogen dioxide (4), respectively, are not exceeded.

Legally non-binding threshold values for ozone are laid down in Council Directive 92/72/EEC of
21 September 1992 on air pollution by ozone (5). The Commission is aware that these thresholds are
frequently exceeded in the Greater Athens area. Exceedence of an ozone concentration of 120 µg/m3 may
lead to respiratory problems of particularly sensitive population groups. The general population was found
to experience such adverse effects from ozone concentrations of more than 240 µg/m3. According to
current scientific knowledge adverse health effects due to SO2, NO2, particulate matter and lead may
already occur if the current limit values are not exceeded.

The latest Community legislation, Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air
quality assessment and management (6),
i.e. the Air Quality Framework Directive, as well as existing
(Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (7), Directive 2000/69/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon
monoxide in ambient air (8)) and upcoming daughter Directives, will improve the protection of human
health by setting more stringent limit and target values. Corresponding monitoring requirements will
provide the public and the Commission with better information on air quality. From studies performed
under the Autoil II programme it is to be expected that additional, and in particular local measures will be
necessary to meet these objectives in the Athens area.

(1) OJ L 35, 5.2.1997.
(2) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.
(3) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982.
(4) OJ L 87, 27.3.1985.
(5) OJ L 297, 13.10.1992.
(6) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.
(7) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999.
(8) OJ L 313, 13.12.2000.

(2001/C 187 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4133/00

by Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Right of an Israeli national to play in German handball leagues

Does the Commission share the legal opinion that Israeli nationals are to be treated in the same way as EU
citizens in German handball leagues in terms of their ability to participate with the result that their players(cid:146)
passes do not need to be stamped with the letter A in accordance with Section 15 of the DHB(cid:146)s match
rules?

C 187 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

If not, does the Commission intend:

1.

in the light of
20 November 1995,

the recent negotiations with Israel on updating the association agreement of

2. mindful of the fact that Israeli sporting associations have for years participated in European football
and handball tournaments and similar major events and are thus a permanent feature of the European
(cid:145)internal market(cid:146) in sport with the result that it would be justified and consistent to create a uniform
area of service provision for sporting activities that included Israel,

to work to ensure that the above association agreement is amended so that Israeli nationals are placed on
an equal footing with EU citizens in terms of freedom of movement pursuant to Article 39 of the
EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2001)

This is a matter for the Member States.

The Euro-Mediterranean agreement establishing an association between the Community and its Member
States and Israel came into force on 1 June 2000. It contains no provisions on non-discrimination in the
area of working conditions between Israeli and EU citizens, nor does it contain measures on sport or the
participation of Israeli or EU citizens in handball matches.

There are no plans to amend an agreement which has only recently come into force.

(2001/C 187 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4136/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: 28th Adaptation on Technical Progress to the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC)

The draft 28th Adaptation on Technical Progress to the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) (1)
proposes a Category 2 Carcinogen Classification for trichloroethylene, in place of the current Category 3
Classification.

Following extensive studies on several thousands of people,
relationship between exposure to trichloroethylene and an increase in cancer?

is the Commission convinced of a causal

Industry states that (cid:145)the criteria to the preamble of the EU Labelling Guide, which says that normal
conditions of handling and use should be considered, have not been applied and that,
in the two
epidemiological studies carried out, (cid:146)the exposure situations that are supposed to have caused the German
cancers were due to abnormally high levels of
trichloroethylene far above occupational exposure
standards(cid:146). Furthermore, industry claims that (cid:145)improved practices within exposure limits should protect
workers from the hazards of trichloroethylene(cid:146).

What is the Commission(cid:146)s response to these points?

(1) OJ L 196, 16.8.1967, p. 1.