WRITTEN QUESTION P-0437/02 by Ozan Ceyhun (PSE) to the Commission. Problems encountered by citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany when passing through the Republic of Bulgaria — specific information and witness statements.
Date: 2002-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bulgaria, European Commission, Germany, carriage of passengers, exchange of information, transit

C 277 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

At its meeting on 25 and 26 April 2002, the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted some conclusions
on combating racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, in which it pointed in particular to the importance
of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.

The Council is also currently considering an initiative from the Kingdom of Spain for supervision of levels
of training and other aspects of private security personnel within the Union.

(2002/C 277 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0435/02

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Advertising leaflet and television campaign about the euro published in Britain

With reference to a leaflet and television advertisement entitled ‘The Euro. Our Money 4 Getting ready for
the Euro’, both published in the name of the European Central Bank,

would the Commission like to explain:

(a) on what basis the ECB, a supposedly independent central bank, is taking it upon itself to provide

unsolicited information on the euro to the British people;

(b) which institution paid for the advertisement and leaflet;

(c)

from which budget the money to pay for the advertisement and leaflet originated;

(d) whether or not the decision to enter the euro is a national decision in which the European Institutions

may legally interfere?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2002)

The Honourable Member refers to a document and a television advertisement which have been produced
under the authority of the European Central Bank (ECB) in the framework of their information campaign
on the euro.

The necessary conditions to be fulfilled by a Member State for the adoption of the euro are spelled out in
Title VII of the EC Treaty.

(2002/C 277 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0437/02

by Ozan Ceyhun (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Problems encountered by citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany when passing through the

Republic of Bulgaria 4 specific information and witness statements

In connection with my question H-0793/01 and the Commission’s reply of 13 November 2001, the
Commission asked me to provide further information and details in order to assess the situation more
accurately.

I am now sending the Commission detailed information and witness statements under separate cover. I
would like to combine this with asking the Commission how, in the light of these new facts, it intends to
proceed vis-à-vis the Republic of Bulgaria as regards compliance with the Copenhagen criteria.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/47

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2002)

Following translation and evaluation of the detailed information and the witness statements presented by
the Honourable Member,
the observations contained in these
documents in the context of its assessment of the development of effective and non-discriminatory law
enforcement in Bulgaria. The Commission will invite Bulgaria to comment specifically on the problems
described by the witnesses. The Honourable Member will be informed of the reply received.

the Commission has taken note of

(2002/C 277 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0456/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Temporary shutdown of the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Netherlands, on account of safety

problems and damage to the reactor wall

1. Was the Commission aware before 4 February 2002 that the following problems existed with the
45 megawatt High Flux Reactor (HFR) of the European Community’s Joint Research Centre near the village
of Petten in the Netherlands, where:

(a) a hairline crack in the reactor wall caused by a welding error in 1984 is continuing to grow;

(b)

the reactor vessel was not designed to withstand strong explosions, yet after an explosion followed by
a pressure wave had occurred in 1987, the reactor was immediately restarted without a thorough
inspection;

(c)

in April 2001, due to an oversight, the irradiation of highly enriched fuel elements for the production
of isotopes was started without any coolant;

(d) written operating rules have been overridden where duty managers have seen fit;

(e) while working at night, staff were forced to sign a ‘declaration of loyalty’, forbidding them to disclose

facts;

(f)

instructions from the Nuclear Energy Service were not carried out;

(g) until 4 February, there was a risk that planned inspections by the Nuclear Energy Service would be

postponed until a planned close-down in the summer of 2002; and

(h)

there are general serious criticisms about attitudes to safety?

2. Why did the Commission only this week decide to endorse the wish of the Netherlands Government
to close down the Petten reactor, although serious problems as referred to in question 1 had already
existed for some time?

3. What is to be investigated while the reactor is closed down? What possible solutions will the
investigations be concerned with? Are the results of the investigations to be published, and will Members
of the European Parliament at least be informed of them?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2002)

1.

(a) The welding anomaly was detected in 1984 during a pre-service inspection. The Dutch licensing
authority (Kernfysische Dienst, (KFD)) agreed to put the vessel in operation on condition that the