WRITTEN QUESTION E-1783/01 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Vocational training courses.
Date: 2001-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Balearic Islands, foreign national, integration into employment, job access, social policy

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/103

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2001)

The Commission(cid:146)s Food and Veterinary Office carried out a mission in China in 1999. The mission took
note of Chinese efforts to achieve the necessary standards of compliance with Community sanitary
requirements regarding bivalve molluscs (shellfish). It concluded, however, that the Chinese authorities
were not yet in a position to guarantee the control and safety of shellfish intended for the Community
market. In particular, the monitoring system for biotoxins and contaminants in the field of live bivalve
molluscs was considered insufficient. It was therefore decided not to propose an inclusion of China in the
list of countries authorised to export shellfish to the Community for the time being.

The Union in the context of the May 2000 bilateral agreement on China(cid:146)s World Trade Organisation
(WTO) accession has stated its commitment to working in partnership with China in order to help smooth
the process of implementation of China(cid:146)s WTO undertakings. Technical assistance will clearly play a key
role, and with this in mind, the Union has a number of co-operation projects, worth € 25 million, in place
or lined up for the near future. They include a framework programme, under way since last year, which is
designed specifically to help build the capacity of China(cid:146)s Government and administration to implement its
impending commitments under the WTO. The programme consists of a series of specialised modules
targeting segments in the Chinese administration which will be dealing with different aspects of WTO
implementation (cid:129) including in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Support for economic reform and for WTO implementation has also been earmarked as a focal area for
future funding. Projects will be proposed in consultation with China, to ensure that help is targeted where
it is most useful. This could well include further activities in the area in question.

(2002/C 40 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1783/01

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Vocational training courses

(19 June 2001)

The Balearic Islands Regional Government has announced training courses for the period running from
October 2001 to October 2002. The courses will be financed by means of EU Objective 3 funds.

The regional minister responsible has indicated that the courses may be attended by immigrants who lack
work and residence permits, although they will have had to submit an application with a view to
regularising their situation.

1.
Is it possible for vocational training courses subsidised by the EU to be open to immigrants who
have no work and residence permit, even if they have submitted an application for regularisation which
has not yet been approved?

Is there any heading under which funds can be made available to immigrants who have not legally

2.
regularised as to their situation?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

In the context of promoting equal opportunities for all as regards access to the labour market, the
Operational Programme for the Balearic Islands No 2000.ES.05.3.PO.302, as well as its Programme
Complement, which was approved on 25 January 2001 at the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee
for the current planning period (2000-2006), provides for measures and actions targeted, inter alios, at
immigrants.

C 40 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

During the Monitoring Committee meeting, the Balearic Islands(cid:146) social affairs representative asked whether
immigrants without regularisation could participate in actions subsidised by the Union.

The Chair of the Monitoring Committee, a member of the programme management authority (cid:145)Unidad
Administradora del Fondo Social Europeo(cid:146) (UAFSE), confirmed that actions targeted at immigrants, and
notably actions in the field of social integration and integration in the labour market included in the
Programme Complement, could be implemented while the immigrants were undergoing regularisation.

As to the current period, the Commission(cid:146)s role is defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999
laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1), whose Article 8 is devoted to applying the
(cid:145)principle of subsidiarity(cid:146) pursuant to which implementation of the measures is a matter for the Member
States at the appropriate territorial level.

In the light of the above, and notably bearing in mind the points raised by the Monitoring Committee, in
whose work the Commission participates in an advisory capacity (Article 35 of said Regulation (EC)
No 1260/1999), the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands may implement actions to promote
social integration and integration in the labour market, including the training of immigrants undergoing
regularisation, provided this is compatible with Spanish legislation governing the status of aliens and the
regional regulations implementing these actions.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 40 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1785/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 June 2001)

Subject: Deteriorating safety at sea caused by under-crewing of ships

1.
Can the Commission confirm that cutbacks on the crewing of sea-going ships registered in EU
Member States has in recent decades led not only to the disappearance of labour-intensive maintenance,
loading and unloading jobs (cid:129) work that on European ships is usually done by crew members from South-
East Asia or the Caribbean (cid:129) but also to reductions in duties involving planning, technology and safety,
typically discharged by nationals of EU Member States?

2.
To what extent do such circumstances as over-tiredness, loss of attention and making way on calm
seas with no crew member on wheelhouse duty contribute to shipping accidents and maritime pollution?

3. Will the Commission endorse the view of the Netherlands Seafarers Trade Union (FWZ) that
European ships are running 10 % short of crew members, and that for safety reasons at least two
additional crew members are needed per ship.

To what extent,

4.
understaffed? Does the rate vary by Member State or is there a general shortfall?

in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion, are shipping inspections by EU Member States

On the basis of what arguments do ship owners oppose the enlargement of crew numbers? Which

5.
such arguments are convincing in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion and which are not?

6. What supplementary measures does the Commission still consider necessary in addition to action
taken subsequent to the Erika accident to ensure that shipping safety is not compromised by under-
crewing?

Source: TV Nederland 1, 3 May 2001, (cid:145)Netwerk(cid:146) current-affairs broadcast