WRITTEN QUESTION E-1142/01 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Choice of location for the European Food Safety Authority.
Date: 2001-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Food Safety Authority, Luxembourg, seat of institution

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/49

Europe, which still bears unhealed scars from the shame of the Holocaust, has a duty to take action to
guarantee the right to freedom of religion.

What initiatives does the Council intend to take to safeguard and guarantee freedom of religion (cid:129) to
which everyone has a right (cid:129) in Europe and the rest of the world?

How does the Council plan to act to stem these cases of intolerance and religious discrimination and to
protect laymen and missionaries at work, as they daily put their lives at risk?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

During recent years the Council has devoted a lot of attention to combat discrimination. Already in

1.
1996 the Council adopted a Joint Action concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia (1).

Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union establishes as the Union(cid:146)s objective to provide citizens with
a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice (2).

In 2000 the Council adopted a Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons
irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (3) and a Decision establishing a Community action programme to
combat discrimination, 2001-2006 (4). At the European Council in Nice, the European Parliament, the
Council and the Commission adopted in a solemn proclamation the charter of fundamental rights of the
European Union (5) which recognises the rights,
In
particular, Article 10 of the Charter provides that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion, whilst its Article 22 states that the Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic
diversity.

freedoms and principles set out in the Charter.

2. Whenever in the United Nations Organisation or in the Council of Europe the relevant texts
concerning freedom of religion have to be strengthened, the Council Presidency will endeavour to reach
agreement for a common position of the EU Member States.

(1) OJ L 185, 24.7.1996, p. 5.
(2) OJ C 340, 10.11.1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.
(4) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.
(5) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.

(2001/C 364 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1142/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 April 2001)

Subject: Choice of location for the European Food Safety Authority

During the debate preceding the final choice of location for the European Food Safety Authority, the
Commission proposed Luxembourg, in order to make use of Community structures already in existence
which could accommodate the Authority(cid:146)s structure following the reorganisation of
the European
executive(cid:146)s departments, as a result of the current administrative reform.

Could the Commission therefore state whether, in putting forward this proposal, it has taken as selection
criteria geographical centrality, a solid tradition of agribusiness (cid:129) safeguarding the particular features of
the various Member States, particularly in the Mediterranean regions (cid:129), a strong industrial presence in the
food processing sector, and potential for scientific and academic research?

In proposing the above-mentioned location as its seat (cid:129) a choice which is undoubtedly reasonable if
intended to save costs and encourage synergies, through the use of pre-existing structures (cid:129) has the
Commission taken into account the independence and autonomy which the Authority must symbolise, and
has it assessed the risk that establishing its seat in Luxembourg could make the authority seem like a mere
Commission department?

C 364 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Commission takes the view that the main objective of this Authority will be to restore and preserve
public confidence in food safety. This new organisation will therefore have to be able to provide scientific
advice, support and communication services on risks in a very effective way. For this reason,
the
Commission is paying particular attention to the operational requirements for ensuring that the Authority
functions as well as possible. Its location must be such that it can be easily reached by European scientists
its scientific committees and panels (some 3 000 visits per year) and can
attending meetings of
communicate easily with the risk management bodies (the Commission, Parliament and Council). In the
event of a serious food crisis, the Authority will have to be able to provide the Commission with rapid,
ongoing scientific support in the context of the crisis centre mechanisms provided for in the new
regulation.

The Authority(cid:146)s independence will be safeguarded by various provisions in the proposal for a regulation
establishing it. Locating it in a city which already hosts a Community institution cannot be seen as
a potential threat to its autonomy.

(2001/C 364 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1144/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(11 April 2001)

Subject: Application of ISO standards in EU Member States

The International Standards Organisation was set up in 1947 to set international standards for technical,
physical and geographical quantities and units, including their symbols and spellings. ISO standards are the
result of close international cooperation and are recognised world-wide.

During the 1950s, the SI-system was created for scientific and technical units (metres, kilograms, seconds,
amperes). In 1974 all UN member countries and many entities (mostly islands) were given an official
symbol or code. ISO-3166 establishes three codes for each country or entity, a three-figure code, a code
consisting of three capital letters and one with two capital letters. If the structure of the State changes, and
provided this is recognised by the UN, the symbols may be changed.

Although ISO standards are internationally recognised, they are often wrongly used. Classic examples can
be found in the symbols used on cars and lorries, in international postal services, on traffic signs and in the
indications for currencies.

Does the Council support the full and correct use of all ISO standards by EU Member States? If not, why
does the Council not consider it necessary for the EU Member States to use all ISO standards correctly? If
so, what steps will the Council take to ensure that all ISO standards are used fully and correctly by EU
Member States?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

In its Resolution on the Role of Standardisation in Europe adopted 28 October 1999 the Council
recognised the increasing importance of
International Standards. The Council also emphasised the
the Vienna Agreement between ISO and CEN (the European Committee for
exemplary nature of
Standardisation).

Concerning the correct use of ISO Standards referred to in EU-legislation, it is the competence of the
Commission to supervise that these are correctly implemented in the Member States(cid:146) legislation.