WRITTEN QUESTION E-3493/01 by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission. European Parliament resolution of 11 December 1990 on Catalan.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, Commission Delegation, Court of Justice of the European Union, EP resolution, EU publication, minority language, official language

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/123

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The Commission has no information regarding the total resources, public or private, allocated by the
different cities in the United Kingdom, including Liverpool, in order to prepare bids for the 2008 European
Capital of Culture.

With regard to the possible use of resources allocated to Liverpool under the Structural Funds for this
purpose, the Commission wishes to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the decentralised
nature of decision-making that applies to all European regional development programmes. In particular,
the selection of the individual projects for support under these programmes is a matter for the regional
partnerships once the broad strategic priorities have been agreed with the Commission, and in accordance
with rules on eligible expenditures.

Many such programmes contain actions that aim to enhance a region’s image and identity, for example, in
order to attract outside investment and new jobs. In this context, it is possible that in the normal course of
their work the regional partnerships may select projects for European support in a variety of fields that
promote the image of the area and which could impinge, directly or indirectly, on matters relating to the
preparation of a bid in the context of the European Capital of Culture.

(2002/C 160 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3493/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: European Parliament resolution of 11 December 1990 on Catalan

In the European Parliament’s resolution of 11 December 1990 on languages in the Community and the
situation of Catalan (A3-0169/90) (1) the Commission was asked to take action to achieve the following
objectives:

1.

2.

3.

4.

the publication in Catalan of the Community’s treaties and basic texts;

the use of Catalan for disseminating public information concerning the European institutions in all the
media;

the inclusion of Catalan in the programmes set up by the Commission for learning European
languages;

the use of Catalan by the Commission’s offices in its written and oral dealings with the public in the
autonomous communities in question.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the resolution that, under the rules of procedure of the Court of Justice,
Catalan may already be used at the Court by witnesses and experts if they are unable adequately to express
themselves in one or the procedural languages of the court.

According to what Parliament’s and the Commission’s offices in Barcelona have to say regarding item 4
above, Catalan is used as a matter of routine in everyday work, in communications and information aimed
at the general public, in activities which they organise on their own initiative, etc.

However, only some of the literature and information published by the European Parliament at its Madrid
office has been issued in Catalan. Parliament and the Commission have tried to ensure that more of their
publications are brought out in Catalan, but this has been hindered by inadequate funding and the lack of
clearer rules. Most promotional literature and information material has been, and continues to be, issued in
Spanish.

C 160 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

What view does the Commission take regarding the achievement of the objectives laid down in the
abovementioned European Parliament resolution? Is it intending to take any specific action in order to
solve the problems concerning the inadequate funding and the lack of clearer rules on the use of Catalan
within the EU institutions? Will the Commission say whether or not Catalan has been used at the Court of
Justice?

(1) OJ C 19, 28.1.1991, p. 42.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

At this juncture, the Commission can give the following answers:

A it has not yet made an overall evaluation of the implementation of the resolution in question;

A the Commission’s office in Barcelona provides the public with information in Catalan, as the
Honourable Member himself states. The Commission is not planning to take additional measures with
regard to the issue of information material;

A it will contact the Court of Justice and will give the Honourable Member a supplementary answer.

(2002/C 160 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3494/01

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Rubbish dump in Villanueva del Carnero (León, Spain)

(8 January 2002)

The RMDSA (Recuperación de Materiales Diversas, SA) company began operating in the Castilla y León
region of Spain in March 2000, since when it has been disposing of tonnes of waste polyethylene, PVC
and powdered metal on land located in Villanueva del Carnero (Santovenia de la Valdoncina district, León,
Spain) without permission from the local authorities and, naturally, without having had the requisite
environmental impact study carried out.

The Plataforma Valle de Conforcos has lodged a complaint against an alleged contravention of
environment law and has called for a halt to any further ground, air and water pollution in the affected
area.

The company concerned now wishes to introduce a heat-treatment process for the disposal of tyres, for
which purpose it has carried out an environmental impact study that reveals a number of irregularities. It
is also feared that, at some time in the future, the plastics containing PVC which are currently dumped will
be incinerated.

Directive 75/442/EEC (1) (as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (2)) on waste requires the Member States to
take the action necessary to ensure that waste is disposed of without danger to human health and without
the use of any procedure or method which could damage the environment.

In the Commission’s view, what action should be taken in order to ensure compliance with Community
law in this area and in particular with Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Directive 85/57/EEC (3) on
environmental impact assessment?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.