WRITTEN QUESTION E-2221/02 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Euratom safeguard inspections.
Date: 2002-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, application of EU law, nuclear safety

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/205

(2003/C 28 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2219/02

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Ageism

The British Department for Education and Skills (DFES) currently debars UK citizens over the age of 55
from applying for student loans. Does the Commission take the view that this practice constitutes ageism
and, therefore, is in breach of EU provisions to outlaw age discrimination?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2002)

The provision in the EC Treaty which refers to discrimination based on age is Article 13:

Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty and within the limits of the powers conferred
by it upon the Community, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and
after consulting the European Parliament, may take appropriate action to combat discrimination based
on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

this provision,

To implement
the Council adopted Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000
establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (1). The Directive
establishes, for the relevant field, a comprehensive system of protection against discrimination, including
on grounds of age. It also provides for cases in which differences of treatment based on age are objectively
and reasonably justified (Article 6) and as such are not incompatible with Community law. The Member
States have until 2 December 2003 to transpose this Directive into national law. However, they may, if
necessary, have an additional period of three years from 2 December 2003 to implement the provisions of
this Directive on age and disability discrimination.

Once this period has elapsed, the Directive will prohibit discrimination based on age in relation to access
to all types and all levels of vocational guidance, vocational training, advanced vocational training and
retraining,
the Directive in question does not cover
differences of treatment based on age in the field of education.

including practical work experience. However,

Nevertheless, persons who consider themselves to be victims of discrimination on grounds of age may
invoke the provisions of any national legislation in force in the national courts.

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(2003/C 28 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2221/02

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Euratom safeguard inspections

What plans does the Commission have to increase the coverage of Euratom safeguards inspections in the
United Kingdom in connection with UK plans to immobilise a proportion of its unwanted plutonium into
a stable matrix waste form?

C 28 E/206

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2002)

Euratom safeguards applies to all civil nuclear materials in the Union. Safeguards on these materials are
applied according to established Commission’s goals and objectives, commensurate with the strategic value
of the material concerned and independent of the Member State on which territory the materials are
processed or stored. The Commission will therefore attribute the necessary resources to any new civil
nuclear activities that are undertaken in the United Kingdom.

(2003/C 28 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2222/02

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Commissioner de Loyola’s calls for new nuclear plants in the EU

Is it sensible for Commissioner de Loyola to call so publicly, as she has done this year, for new nuclear
plants to be built in the EU, and indeed in the applicant countries, when Euratom’s inspectorate is
evidently operating with insufficient staff to implement properly the safeguards and security requirements
for the current nuclear plants?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

Euratom safeguards applies to all civil nuclear materials in the Union. Safeguards on these materials are
applied according to established Commission’s goals and objectives, commensurate with the strategic value
of the material concerned and independent of the Member State on which territory the materials are
processed or stored. The Commission will therefore attribute the necessary resources to implement
safeguards in the installations (existing or those to be built) of the applicant countries on their accession to
the Union.

The Commission has recently reaffirmed its position on nuclear energy in the Final Report on the Green
Paper ‘Towards a European Strategy for the security of energy supply’ (1) adopted by the College on 26th of
June 2002.

The Honourable Member may also wish to refer to the oral question H-0287/02 (2) on these issues.

(1) COM(2002) 321 final.
(2) Written reply, 14.05.2002.

(2003/C 28 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2239/02

by Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Export documents in the local language

(17 July 2002)

Is it true that customs documents (in this instance, European Community export declarations) for the
movement of goods inside and outside the European Union must be completed at the relevant customs
post in the local language and in no other?

Is it not possible for such documents (cid:1) as well as any other documents relating to the movement of
goods (cid:1) to be completed and submitted in English?

If that should not be the case, does the Commission have any plans to introduce a uniform language
system or to authorise the use of any of the official languages of the European Union?

Do the Member States have any say in the selection of the language?