do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0583/01 by Sergio Berlato (UEN) to the Commission. Compensation for forced workers.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Second World War, indemnification, prisoner of war, war victim

C 235 E/228

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

(2001/C 235 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0583/01

by Sergio Berlato (UEN) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Compensation for forced workers

Following negotiations between German industry representatives and the association of victims of forced
labour in Germany during the Second World War, on 17 July 2000 the Bundestag passed a law
establishing a compensation fund of DEM 10 000 billion for former deportees and internees forced to
work in German factories during the war. The United States has also put pressure on Germany to set up
a fund through class civil actions which have led to a United States-Federal Republic of Germany
agreement on compensation for workers forced to work in German war industries.

The agreement provides for compensation for citizens from the Ukraine, Hungary, Belorussia and the
former Czechoslovakia, but not for Italian citizens. It should be pointed out that, under the agreement of
1944 between the Italian Social Republic and Nazi Germany, tens of thousands of military personnel and
civilians, prisoners and internees during the war, became forced workers in war industries.

The financial compensation which is available under the fund for the citizens of the countries which took
part in the negotiations could thus be denied to Italian citizens. The Italian government therefore has
a moral duty to take steps in order to ensure that Italian forced workers are accorded the dignity of fair
compensation as soon as possible.

Can the Commission say whether it intends to approach the Italian government in order to ascertain what
steps it may have taken in order to ensure that that the victims of forced labour during the Second World
War obtain full and proper compensation from Germany?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2001)

The matter in question does not come within its jurisdiction of the Commission.

(2001/C 235 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0611/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Reproductive health definition

According to the World Health Organisation, the term (cid:145)reproductive health(cid:146) includes the term (cid:145)fertility
regulation(cid:146) which includes (cid:145)interrupting unwanted pregnancies(cid:146).

With respect to the reference to (cid:145)reproductive health(cid:146) in various budget lines of the Budget 2001, does the
Commission include abortion in its definition of this term?

(World Health Organisation, Definition and Indicators in Family Planning Maternal and Child Health and
Reproductive Health used in the WHO regional office for Europe, revised March 1999).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0591/01 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Burma.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Labour Conference, Myanmar/Burma, carrying out of sentence, exchange of information, report

C 318 E/80

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

effectiveness of Community aid is diminished by the persistent conflict in the southern Caucasus. The lack
of any real economic cooperation in the region and the difficulties the country is having in building up its
economy are also factors that must be taken into consideration.

(1) COM(97) 553 final.

(2001/C 318 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0591/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Burma

Is the Commission able to ascertain whether any Member State has taken any steps to implement the
recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry into forced labour in Burma?

Will the Commission consider asking all Member States to report back on how they intend to proceed?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Under the terms of the Resolution on Forced Labour in Burma/Myanmar adopted by the International
Labour Conference in June 2000, which was confirmed by the ILO Governing Body in November 2000,
the Director-General of the ILO was to report to the Governing Body in March 2001 on any actions taken
by the ILO(cid:146)s constituents and by international organizations in response to the recommendations
contained in the Resolution.

Requests for information to this effect were addressed by the Director-General of the ILO to both Member
States and the Commission. The ILO recommendations (cid:129) which aim at the implementation by Burma/
Myanmar of the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry on the application of the Forced
Labour Convention, 1930 (No 29) (cid:129) was consequently discussed in the concerned Council instances.

EU Member States and the Commission have replied on their own behalf to the request from the Director-
General of
taken or envisaged in response to the
recommendations contained in the Resolution. Some common elements to be included in the replies
were agreed.

information regarding actions

the ILO for

The information submitted by Member States, and by the Commission, was included in a report by the
Director-General of the ILO to the Governing Body of the same organization during its 280th Session in
March 2001.

(2001/C 318 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0594/01

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Working Time Directive

1.
Under the Working Time Directive, do employers have to provide four weeks paid holiday in
addition to public holidays? Alternatively, does the four-week mandatory paid holiday include public
holidays?

2.
Are Member States permitted to exempt small firms from the Working Time Directive? If so, what is
the largest type of company which may be exempted? Which Member States have chosen to exclude small
firms from the Working Time Directive? What criteria have been used by Member States to determine
which firms are to be excluded (turnover, number of employees etc.)?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0578/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Union aid for a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, Gibraltar, construction costs, strait, tunnel

C 187 E/230

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0578/01

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: European Union aid for a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar

The recent agreement between France and Italy to build a 52-kilometre tunnel under the Alps to provide
a rail link between Turin and Lyon has once again highlighted the advantages of tunnels as an ideal means
of connecting two points which it would otherwise be difficult to link.

This situation brings to mind the long-standing desire to build a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar to
provide a permanent link between Africa and Europe and foster the economic flows which could stem
from closer ties between the Maghreb region and the European Union(cid:146)s southern flank.

Does the Commission intend to propose carrying out studies to establish the potential of a project such as
a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar, including the advantages inherent in bringing the Maghreb region
closer to the European Union(cid:146)s southern flank?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2001)

The Commission adopted the 2000-2002 MEDA indicative programme for Morocco in December 2000
following consultations between the Moroccan government and the Member States.

As yet the Commission has received no request from the Moroccan government about the financing of
cost and feasibility studies on the tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar.

(2001/C 187 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0586/01

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Birth defects in Sicily

The paediatrics department of the Muscatello hospital in Augusta has published data for the year 2000
concerning birth defects in Sicily. The situation in the industrial triangle of Augusta-Melilli-Priolo is deeply
disturbing, since the rate of birth defects is around 6 %, whereas the World Health Organisation (WHO)
considers that rates of 2 % and above should be seen as a danger signal.

Are there any provisions for Community rules and/or measures to protect the health of those living in
highly industrialised areas? Are there any Community measures for the prevention and treatment of birth
defects?

Will the Commission take steps to remedy the serious situation described above?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 422/2001 of 1 March 2001 concerning tenders notified in response to the invitation to tender for the export of rye issued in Regulation (EC) No 1740/2000
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export licence, export refund, rye, third country

L 62/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2.3.2001

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 422/2001

of 1 March 2001

concerning tenders notified in response to the invitation to tender for the export of rye issued in
Regulation (EC) No 1740/2000

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30
June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in
cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/
2000 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 of
29 June 1995 laying down certain detailed rules for the
application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the
granting of export refunds on cereals and the measures to be
taken in the event of disturbance on the market for cereals (3),
as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2513/98 (4), and in
particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the refund for the export of
rye to all
to
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1740/2000 (5).

third countries was opened pursuant

Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 allows the
Commission to decide, in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92

and on the basis of the tenders notified, to make no
award.

(3)

(4)

On the basis of the criteria laid down in Article 1 of
Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 a maximum refund should
not be fixed.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

No action shall be taken on the tenders notified from 23
February to 1 March 2001 in response to the invitation to
tender for the refund for the export of rye issued in Regulation
(EC) No 1740/2000.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 2 March 2001.

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

Done at Brussels, 1 March 2001.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 147, 30.6.1995, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 313, 21.11.1998, p. 16.
(5) OJ L 199, 5.8.2000, p. 3.
Commission notice on reference/discount rates applicable from 1 January 2001
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, central rate, euro, financial market

1.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 66/3

Commission notice on reference/discount rates applicable from 1 January 2001

(2001/C 66/03)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

6,33 %

6,70 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,33 %

6,40 %

7,06 %

These rates are fixed on the basis of the method for setting and updating the reference/discount rates
published in Official Journal C 273, 9.9.1997, p. 3. Technical adaptations to this method were made by
Commission notice published in Official Journal C 241, 26.8.1999, p. 9. Following the adoption of the
euro by Greece on 1 January 2001, the reference rate for Greece is identical to that applied to the eleven
Member States that had already adopted the euro.

Publication of these rates is required under Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 68/2001 (recital 9), 69/2001
(recital 6) and 70/2001 (recital 10) of 12 January 2001 (OJ L 10, 13.1.2001, pp. 20, 30 and 33) on the
application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid, de minimis aid and aid for small
businesses.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.2308 — Northrop Grumman/Litton Industries) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: armed forces, economic concentration, electronics, industrial enterprise, merger control, new technology

C 66/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

1.3.2001

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2308 (cid:151) Northrop Grumman/Litton Industries)

(2001/C 66/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 22 February 2001 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
by which the undertaking Northrop Grumman Corporation (USA) acquires, within the meaning of Article
3(1)(b) of the Regulation, control of the whole of the undertaking Litton Industries Inc. (USA), by way of
public bid.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

(cid:151) Northrop Grumman: military and governmental high technology products (e.g. airborne ground

surveillance systems, air combat systems, defensive electronics systems),

(cid:151) Litton Industries: design and construction of commercial and military ships, advanced electronics,

information technology services, commercial electronic components and materials.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.2308 (cid:151) Northrop Grumman/Litton Industries to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B (cid:151) Merger Task Force,
Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat 70,
B-1000 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.
Information received from the Member States concerning organisations with significant market power under Directive 97/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (Interconnection Directive) — Notification under the Interconnection Directive 97/33/EC (1.2.2001)
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, exchange of information, public service, systems interconnection, telephone, transmission network

C 66/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

1.3.2001

Information received from the Member States concerning organisations with significant market
power under Directive 97/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997
(Interconnection Directive)

Notification under the Interconnection Directive 97/33/EC

(1 February 2001)

(2001/C 66/02)

Organisations with significant market power

Market segment

Obligation in Directive
97/33/EC (Article No)

Fixed operators
Voice Telephony
(Annex 1, part 1)

Access (4.2)
Non discrimination (6)
Cost orientation (7)
A/c separation (8)

Fixed operators
Leased Lines
(Annex 1, part 2)

Access (4.2)
Non discrimination (6)
Cost orientation (7)
A/c separation (8)

Austria

Telekom Austria

Telekom Austria

Mobile operators
Mobile services
(Annex 1, part 3)

Mobile operators
National market for
interconnection

Access (4.2)
Non discrimination (6)

Cost orientation (7.2)

Mobilkom
Austria (1)
max.mobil (1)

Mobilkom Austria

Belgacom

Belgacom

Belgacom Mobile

Belgacom Mobile

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

Germany

Greece

TeleDanmark

TeleDanmark

Sonera
Local operators
(Finnet Group)

Sonera
Local operators
(Finnet Group)

France

France TØlØcom

France TØlØcom

Deutsche Telekom

Deutsche Telekom

None

OTE

OTE

Ireland

Eircomm

Eircomm

Italy

Telecom Italia

Telecom Italia

Luxembourg

EPT

EPT

Netherlands

KPN telecom

KPN telecom

Portugal

Portugal Telecom

Portugal Telecom

TeleDanmark
Sonofon

Sonera
Radiolinja Oy
¯lands
Mobiltelefon

FT Mobiles
SFR

None

Sonera
Radiolinja Oy

FT Mobiles
SFR

Panafon
STET Hellas

Eircell
Esat Digifone

TIM
Omnitel

EPT

KPN Mobile
Libertel

TMN
Telecel

None

None

Eircell

TIM
Omnitel

None

None

None

Spain

Telef(cid:243)nica

Telef(cid:243)nica

Telef(cid:243)nica M(cid:243)viles
Airtel

Telef(cid:243)nica M(cid:243)viles
Airtel

Sweden

Telia

Telia

United Kingdom

BT
Kingston Commun.

BT
Kingston Commun.

Telia

Vodafone
Cellnet

Telia

None

(1) Both mobile operators have been notified as operators with significant market power for public voice telephony over mobile

networks.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 423/2001 of 1 March 2001 fixing the maximum export refund on oats in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 2097/2000
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Finland, Sweden, award of contract, export licence, export refund, oats

2.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 62/15

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 423/2001

of 1 March 2001

fixing the maximum export refund on oats in connection with the invitation to tender issued in
Regulation (EC) No 2097/2000

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30
June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in
cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/
2000 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 of
29 June 1995 laying down certain detailed rules for the
application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the
granting of export refunds on cereals and the measures to be
taken in the event of disturbance on the market for cereals (3),
as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2513/98 (4),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2097/2000
intervention measure for
of 3 October 2000 on a special
cereals in Finland and Sweden (5), as amended by Regulation
(EC) No 393/2001 (6), and in particular Article 8 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the refund for the export of
oats produced in Finland and Sweden for export from
Finland or Sweden to all third countries was opened
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2097/2000.

Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2097/2000 provides
that the Commission may, on the basis of the tenders
notified, in accordance with the procedure laid down in

Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92, decide to fix
a maximum export refund taking account of the criteria
referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95.
In that case a contract is awarded to any tenderer whose
bid is equal to or lower than the maximum refund.

The application of the abovementioned criteria to the
current market situation for the cereal in question results
in the maximum export refund being fixed at
the
amount specified in Article 1.

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

(3)

(4)

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 23 February to 1 March 2001,
pursuant to the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC)
No 2097/2000, the maximum refund on exportation of oats
shall be EUR 39,97/t.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 2 March 2001.

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

Done at Brussels, 1 March 2001.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 147, 30.6.1995, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 313, 21.11.1998, p. 16.
(5) OJ L 249, 4.10.2000, p. 15.
(6) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001, p. 8.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, euro, exchange rate, national currency

1.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 66/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

28 February 2001

(2001/C 66/01)

1 euro

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

7,4631

Danish krone

9,0588

Swedish krona

0,6387

Pound sterling

0,9248

United States dollar

1,4151

Canadian dollar

108,45

Japanese yen

1,5416

Swiss franc

8,244

Norwegian krone

79,71

Icelandic kr(cid:243)na (2)

1,7557

Australian dollar

2,1415

7,0978

New Zealand dollar

South African rand (2)

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
(2) Source: Commission.
Commission notice on a technical adjustment to the reference and discount rates for Greece
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, Greece, central rate, euro, financial market

1.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 66/7

Commission notice on a technical adjustment to the reference and discount rates for Greece

(2001/C 66/07)

On 2 July 1997 the Commission decided to adopt, with effect from 1 August 1997, a new method for
setting and updating the reference and discount rates (referred to below as the reference rate). Member
States were informed by letter (dated 18 August 1997) and a notice was published in the Official Journal of
the European Communities (OJ C 273, 9.9.1997).

This method sets the reference rate for each Member State on the basis of indicative rates defined as the
monthly average of the five-year interbank swap rates, plus an adjustment premium.

Following entry into the third stage of economic and monetary union on 1 January 1999 and in view of
the use of the euro by the financial markets, the Commission decided (OJ C 241, 26.8.1999, p. 9) that,
from 1 July 1999, the reference rate would be identical for the eleven Member States that have adopted the
euro.

Since Greece is adopting the euro on 1 January 2001, the Commission has decided to make the following
technical adjustment:

(cid:151) From 1 January 2001 the reference rate for Greece will be identical to that for the eleven Member

States that have already adopted the euro.

All the other aspects of the method outlined in the Commission notice of 9 September 1997 continue to
apply.

For Member States which have not adopted the euro, the method for setting the reference rates is
unchanged.