WRITTEN QUESTION E-1926/01 by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Council Directive 93/16/EEC of 5 April 1993: incorporation into national law.
Date: 2001-06-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, database, dissemination of EU information, freedom to provide services, national implementing measure, physician, right of establishment

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/225

entry into the buffer zone. It condemns the brutal killings of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou and
expresses its deep concern about
including United Nations
peacekeeping personnel. The recent events have again highlighted the urgent need to intensify efforts to
promote a comprehensive political settlement in Cyprus, under the aegis of the United Nations. The
European Union reiterates its full support
the Secretary-General and his special
representative in this regard(cid:146).

the injuries sustained by many others,

for the work of

In the 1999 Regular Report on Cyprus(cid:146)s progress towards accession (1) under the heading (cid:145)the situation in
the northern part of the island(cid:146)
it was also mentioned that (cid:145)no progress has been registered in the
investigation of the death of two Greek Cypriot demonstrators in the United Nations buffer zone in 1996(cid:146).

The Commission follows closely the efforts undertaken by all candidates with regard to the Copenhagen
political criteria, in particular in the field of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Commission will make a detailed analysis of the situation in light of the pre-accession strategy as part
of the Regular Report to be published in November 2001.

(1) COM(1999) 502 final.

(2001/C 364 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1926/01

by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 June 2001)

Subject: Council Directive 93/16/EEC of 5 April 1993: incorporation into national law

Article 211 of the EC Treaty stipulates that the Commission has the task of ensuring that the Treaty is
the transposition of Directive 93/16/EEC (1)
applied. The information in the Celex system about
(to facilitate the free movement of doctors and the mutual recognition of their diplomas, certificates and
other evidence of formal qualifications) is incomplete and in some cases incorrect or out of date. Can the
Commission say what steps the Member States have taken to transpose Directive 93/16/EEC and supply
the current texts of the national laws concerned?

(1) OJ L 165, 7.7.1993, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

First of all, the disclaimer in the CELEX database clearly indicates that the documentation provided on
national
implementing measures is not necessarily comprehensive and does not necessarily guarantee
conformity with all requirements of Community law.

Secondly, the Directive to which the Honourable Member refers (Directive 93/16/EEC) (1) is a consolidation
of four directives, which had themselves been adopted after the basic Doctors Directives 75/362/EEC and
75/363/EEC (2). No additional implementing measures were therefore required of Member States at the
time of the adoption of this Directive which did not change the substantive obligations involved. Reference
can therefore be made (cid:129) under the above conditions (cid:129) to the national implementing measures referred to
in connection with the preceding directives.

Equally Directive 93/16/EEC itself has been amended several times (3).

While, in general, the Doctors Directive has largely been implemented in all 15 Member States, specific
problems still persist. This is why the Commission is pursuing infringement procedures against Germany
(1999/2065), Austria (1998/4293, 1998/4296) and France (1998/4265) for the non respect of different
provisions of the above directives.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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20.12.2001

The Commission services do undertake an evaluation of all national measures which are necessary for the
implementation of Directives and which are required to be notified to the Commission. However, the
services do not seek to maintain a single up-to-date archive of all such measures on a comprehensive and
continuous basis. Information on the development of Member States(cid:146) regimes is exchanged with Member
States in a variety of ways including through the meetings of various committees of national officials.

(1) OJ L 165, 7.7.1993.
(2) OJ L 167, 30.6.1975.
(3) Directive 97/50/EC (OJ L 291, 24.10.1997); Directive 98/21/EC (OJ L 119, 22.4.1998); Directive 98/63/EC

(OJ L 253, 15.9.1998); Directive 1999/46/EC (OJ L 139, 2.6.1999).

(2001/C 364 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935/01

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(29 June 2001)

Subject: Promotion of tourism in Europe

Replying to parliamentary Questions in the past, the Commission has never thought it worthwhile to set
up a European tourism agency.

However, for several years Europe has undoubtedly been the world(cid:146)s leading tourist destination, and
France, which received 75 million visitors in 2000, is now, along with the USA, the world(cid:146)s most visited
country.

In certain European countries(cid:146) balances of payments, tourist activities often rank first among the items
showing a surplus.

Consequently, does not the Commission think it essential and a matter of urgency to set up a European
tourism agency to promote and exploit the EU countries(cid:146) numerous tourist activities?

Can the Commission say whether it intends to propose creation of such an agency?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

The Commission is perfectly aware of the importance of tourism for Europe(cid:146)s economy, through its
contribution to both gross domestic product (GDP) and exports.

Following the conclusions of the June 1999 Council, the Commission worked in close cooperation with
the Member States to maximise the contribution of tourism to growth and employment. It is currently
preparing a communication on this topic, the purpose of which will be to set out the framework for the
future of tourism in Europe, especially with regard to Community activities based on a strategic and
cooperative approach.

However, the Commission can confirm that in the present circumstances it has no plans for setting up
a European tourism agency.