WRITTEN QUESTION E-0314/01 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Council. Working parties.
Date: 2001-02-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, dissemination of EU information, non-government bill, operation of the Institutions, transparency in decision-making

C 340 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

preparations and processed animal protein must be certified free from specified BSE risk materials.
Derogations may be given for products from countries with a satisfactory BSE status.

A further harmonization of BSE related import conditions should take place in the framework of the
proposal of a Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council
laying down rules for the prevention,
control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE(cid:146)s) (1). The Council
adopted its Common Position (2) on this proposal on 12 February 2001.
If Parliament accepts the
Common Position of Council the Regulation could enter into force on 1 July 2001. By creating primary
legislation on TSEs on the basis of Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty, this Regulation would
offer a powerful legal instrument to regulate amongst others the third country import conditions.

Those import conditions will be based on a scientific assessment of the BSE risk in the country concerned
and of the measures needed to manage that risk. The recommendations of the international standard in
this area will also need to be taken into account. Currently,
the international standard does not
recommend BSE testing at slaughter as a measure to protect public health.

(1) OJ C 45, 19.2.1999.
(2) OJ C 88, 19.3.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0289/01

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 February 2001)

Subject: Promeuro

Will the Commission deposit in the EP library copies of the material produced by Promeuro using
EC funds?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2001)

The Commission will of course be happy to deposit in the Parliament(cid:146)s Library copies of the material
produced by Promeuro, which was made with Community financial contribution in the framework of the
Prince programme.

(2001/C 340 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0314/01

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(14 February 2001)

Subject: Working parties

There are hundreds of Communities(cid:146) working parties in which Council respresentatives meet to discuss
legislative proposals.

In order to improve transparency, can the Council:

1.

2.

List all active working parties, specifying the nature of the national and EC delegation and the
mandate of the working party?

Supply a copy of the present agenda for future meetings of each working party, which should be
placed on the internet on a regular basis?

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/19

Reply

(10 July 2001)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that committees or working parties may be set
1.
up by Coreper, or with its approval, for the performance of certain previously defined preparatory or study
tasks. The list of the various committees and working parties involved in the Council(cid:146)s preparatory work is
regularly updated by the General Secretariat of the Council. Annexed to this reply the Honourable Member
will find the latest version of this list (5916/01 + COR 1). Only those committees and working parties on
this list may meet as a Council preparatory body.

As far as the nature of the bodies in question is concerned, the name of every working party clearly
indicates the kind of issues for which it is responsible.

2.
Regarding the publication of the agendas for meetings of these various working parties, groups and
committees, the Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Written Question
P-504/01, put by Chris Davies in which it is stated that, in accordance with the Council Decision which
takes effect on 1 May 2001, the General Secretariat of the Council may make available to the public as
soon as they have been circulated the documents which are clearly not covered by any of the exceptions
laid down in Article 4 of Council Decision 93/731/EC, such as the provisional agendas of committees and
working parties.

(2001/C 340 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0362/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2001)

Subject: Xerox restructuring (cid:129) Commission meetings

Xerox is currently in the process of restructuring its European Manufacturing Operations at Venrey, in
Holland, Mitcheldean in the UK and Dundalk in Ireland.

In the light of Xerox(cid:146)s wish to soften up Commission officials so that they are prepared for bad news in
this area, can the Commission detail what meetings it has had with representatives of Xerox or companies
representing Xerox over the last three months and what meetings are planned for the future?

Would the Commission agree that, for each meeting held by Xerox, a parallel meeting should be offered to
the representatives of the employees whose jobs are under threat?

(2001/C 340 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0363/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2001)

Subject: Xerox restructuring (cid:129) advance decision

Xerox is currently in the process of restructuring its European Manufacturing Operations at Venrey, in
Holland, Mitcheldean in the UK and Dundalk in Ireland.

Can the Commission make it clear to Xerox that, should it emerge that the decisions on restructuring had
actually been taken in advance of consultation starting, that would be a clear breach of Community law
and that the Commission would take the appropriate legal steps?