WRITTEN QUESTION P-2343/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Council. European shipbuilding industry.
Date: 2001-08-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Korea, aid to industry, anti-dumping legislation, common commercial policy, shipbuilding, trade dispute

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/155

Does it share the view that the signing by each Member State and by each applicant country of the
Council of Europe(cid:146)s Charter for Regional and Minority languages constitutes a necessary part in this
process of cultural preservation?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

As far as concern for regional and minority languages is concerned, the Council would recall the objective
stated in paragraph 1 of Article 151 of the EC Treaty, whereby (cid:145)The Community shall contribute to the
flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity (cid:133)(cid:146)

However, the Honourable Member is reminded that it is not for the Council to pronounce on the specific
question of the signing of the Council of Europe(cid:146)s Charter for Regional and Minority languages, since this
is a matter for the individual members of the Council of Europe.

(2002/C 81 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2343/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: European shipbuilding industry

(3 August 2001)

In its reply to my Written Question E-1371/01 (1) of 13 July 2001 the Commission informed me that,
unless the negotiations with the Korean authorities produced a solution by the beginning of July 2001, the
Commission would decide whether it was appropriate to open proceedings before the WTO.

Even though the Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy announced the suspension of negotiations with Korea
on 18 July 2001, the Commission has not yet taken nor decided to take any action against South Korea
because some Member States are reluctant to introduce temporary support measures for the duration of
proceedings before the WTO. According to Mr Lamy, the Commission considers the two measures to be
inseparable parts of a set menu. Mr Lamy also pointed out
that both he and the Competition
Commissioner Mario Monti outlined the Commission(cid:146)s standpoint to the 15 at the Council meeting of
Monday, 16 July 2001. Mr Lamy added that either there is a clear political agreement, in which case he
would have a strong negotiating position, or there is no such agreement, in which case his negotiating
position would be weak.

Can the Council say which Member States do not back the Commission strategy and why?

Does the Council not believe that it is now time to grant the Commission a clear political mandate and
that the EU(cid:146)s credibility is at stake, along with its ability to defend the interests of its industry, as well as
solidarity among the Member States?

(1) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 38.

Reply

(29 November 2001)

1.
The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the fact that at its meeting of 16 July 2001,
under (cid:145)Other business(cid:146) on the agenda, the Council was briefed by Commissioners Lamy and Monti on the
current state of negotiations with Korea concerning shipbuilding and of the discussions at the Commission
concerning the procedure under the Trade Barriers Regulation (the TBR procedure) for action at the WTO
and the proposal for a temporary support mechanism for the European Union(cid:146)s shipbuilding industry. The
exchange of views following the Commissioners(cid:146) presentation revealed a large majority (cid:129) subject to
finalisation of the details (cid:129) in favour of the action to be taken in the WTO framework; the proposal for
temporary support measures for the Community industry received a mixed welcome. The Permanent

C 81 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Representatives Committee was therefore instructed to consider the Commission(cid:146)s proposals once they had
been formally forwarded to the Council.

The exchange of views under (cid:145)Other business(cid:146) on the agenda of the Council meeting without a formal
proposal was of a preliminary and indicative nature only since it did not provide Member States with the
means to adopt a final position.

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 (1) establishing new rules on aid
2.
to shipbuilding states that (cid:145)the Commission shall present to the Council a regular report on the market
situation and appraise whether European yards are affected by anti-competitive practices. If it is established
that industry is being caused injury by anti-competitive practices of any kind, the Commission shall, where
appropriate, propose to the Council measures to address the problem.(cid:146)

This is the context in which the Commission officially forwarded to the Council and the Parliament on
30 July 2001 a proposal for a Council Regulation concerning a temporary defensive mechanism to
shipbuilding (2). The proposal is now being studied carefully by the appropriate Council bodies.

(1) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.
(2) Doc. 11335/01 (cid:129) COM(2001) 401 final.

(2002/C 81 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2344/01

by Fran(cid:231)oise GrossetŒte (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Nitrate concentration in drinking water

(27 July 2001)

In view of the harm caused by nitrates in water it is specified that nitrate concentration in drinking water
must not exceed 50 mg/l.

Some scientists now appear to be questioning that limit.

What technical and scientific bases were used to determine the limit for nitrate concentration in drinking
water?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2001)

The threshold of 50 milligrams per litre (mg/l) for nitrate concentration in drinking water, laid down by
intended for human
Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water
consumption (1), is identical to the guide value proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO); it is
the same as the threshold already adopted in the earlier directive on the same subject, Council Directive
80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 (2).

This value guarantees protection against infantile methaemoglobinaemia.

(1) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.
(2) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.