WRITTEN QUESTION E-0300/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Shipbreaking yard off the coast of Guinea Bissau.
Date: 2003-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Commission Delegation, Guinea-Bissau, Netherlands, employment policy, environmental policy, multinational enterprise, the EU's international role, vessel, waste recycling

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/169

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

As I said to the Budget Control Committee on 22 January 2003, Mrs Cresson has been invited to submit
observations in response to a statement addressed to her by the Commission and, since the issue is the
subject of an administrative enquiry, confidentiality and the rights of defence must be protected. It would
therefore not be appropriate for the Commission to provide details of the contents of the statement in
these circumstances.

The statement sent to Mrs Cresson by the Commission is based on the results of thorough enquiries by the
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Commission’s Investigation and Disciplinary Office (IDOC)
over a period of years.

(2003/C 192 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0300/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Shipbreaking yard off the coast of Guinea Bissau

(7 February 2003)

On 14 January 2003 the Netherlands Honorary Consul in Guinea Bissau spoke on Radio 747AM about a
contract which the Guinea Bissau Government has concluded with the Spanish firm DDI to build a
shipbreaking yard on the Bissagos Islands. The socio-economic and political situation in Guinea-Bissau is
very difficult at present. My fear is that firms are taking advantage of the situation by concluding damaging
and inappropriate business and investment contracts with the Guinea-Bissau Government.

The Bissagos Islands as a whole form a protected area. In developing countries, old ships are dismantled
and broken up under highly unsuitable conditions, a process which causes severe environmental pollution
and has dire consequences for the health of local workers and local people, although the firms involved
enjoy substantial profits.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the plans to build a shipbreaking yard on the Bissagos Islands?

2.
Can the Commission investigate whether contracts to build a shipbreaking yard have been concluded
with the Guinea Bissau Government and whether those contracts are consistent with OECD, ILO and EU
directives governing multinational undertakings?

Does the Commission share my concern that the establishment of a shipbreaking yard will pose a

3.
serious threat to the local environment and to local employment conditions?

Is the Commission prepared to take measures to prevent damage to the Bissagos Islands? If so, what

4.
form will the measures take?

Answer given by M. Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Commission’s Delegation in Bissau learnt of this initiative informally and inaccurately through

1.
the medium of the local press and a non-governmental organisation.

Although the social, economic and political context is difficult, as the Honourable Member says, the

2.
Delegation will, without the outcome, take contact with the authorities to enquire about this project.

C 192 E/170

Official Journal of the European Union

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14.8.2003

3.

In this context the Commission can share the concern of the Honourable Member.

If this information is confirmed, the Commission could under the Cotonou Agreement examine the

4.
question raised by the Honourable Member with the authorities.

(2003/C 192 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0328/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Cultural activities on the theme of olives

(10 February 2003)

The Messinia Chamber of Trade and Industry has for the past five years been organising events on the
theme of olives, centring on the activity of ‘the olive and olive oil routes’ (cid:1) a cultural journey through the
places in which the olive is cultivated.

For future years, a proposal has been put before the Ministry of Culture entitled ‘Disseminating the culture
of olives: art, symbolism and culture’; activities include creating an international exhibition space in
Kalamata, designing and constructing a travelling museum with towed vehicles, and arranging for it to
tour, producing digital cultural material and organising tasting seminars and other events.

Could the Commission say whether actions of this kind are eligible for funding from the ‘Culture’
operational programme?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2003)

The Commission supports initiatives in the area of culture within the framework and according to the
selection criteria of the ‘Culture 2000’ programme, which is the sole instrument of the Union for funding
and planning cultural cooperation.

This programme is designed to support projects jointly developed and financed by at least three operators
from at least three countries that participate in the programme.

The Honourable Member may find additional information at the following site http://europa.eu.int/comm/
culture/eac/c2000condition_en.html.

Under Measure 2,1 of the Operational Programme Culture for Greece, a call for the submission of
proposals was published on 12 August 2002 for a total amount of EUR 2 118 000.

The Messinia Chamber of Trade and Industry submitted a project proposal on 30 October 2002, which
will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria as defined in the Programme Complement.

(2003/C 192 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0330/03

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Pensions payable to Members of the Commission

(10 February 2003)

In reply to my earlier questions about the emoluments and pensions of its Members the Commission has
given the appropriate answers. There is in fact a translation error in Article 9 of the Finnish version of
Regulation No 422/67/EEC (1), since 4,5 % of the last basic salary for each full year in office plainly denotes
the amount of pension and not the size of a pension increase (the correct word in Finnish being