WRITTEN QUESTION P-0551/03 by Jean-Maurice Dehousse (PSE) to the Commission. Use of languages during the accession negotiations.
Date: 2003-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, accession negotiations, dissemination of EU information, linguistic discrimination, use of languages

C 192 E/200

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, two of the three helicopters that have
crashed over the last months had been co-financed by the Community through the Community Support
Framework 1994-1999 for Greece, in particular under the Operational Programme ‘Health and welfare’.
More precisely, the programme mentioned financed the procurement of five helicopters with a total cost
of EUR 17,8 million, of which EUR 13,3 million were contributed by the Community. The delivery
of helicopters began on 24 December 1999 (first helicopter) and was completed on 29 March 2000
(fifth helicopter).

According to Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles
governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents (1), every accident has to be
investigated by an independent body established in each Member State with the sole objective of
preventing future accident. A report containing, where appropriate, safety recommendations has to be
published, if possible within one year of the accident, and a copy has to be sent to the Commission. It will
be the exclusive responsibility of the Member State to enforce the possible safety recommendation to
prevent re-occurrence of these accidents.

Moreover,
in accordance with Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1681/94 of 11 July 1994
concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the
structural policies and the organisation of an information system in this field (2), if in the light of the
circumstances of these accidents the Greek authorities conclude that the expenditure on helicopters
constitutes an irregularity because of deficiencies in the tendering or contracting process (as distinct from
operational
is the Member State’s responsibility to communicate to the Commission this
irregularity, and this before the submission of the final payment claim for the related programme (‘Health
and welfare’).

issues),

it

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(2) OJ L 178, 12.7.1994.

(2003/C 192 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0551/03

by Jean-Maurice Dehousse (PSE) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Use of languages during the accession negotiations

I should like to thank the Commission for its reply to my question P-3442/02 (1) of 26 November 2002,
which I have studied with particular interest.

I note with satisfaction that ‘since the beginning of the Accession Negotiations and at the different levels,
there has been no restriction of the language regime to English or indeed to another official language of
the Union and all official languages of the Union have been available for use’.

However, I am also forced to note that, at present, the provisional text of the Accession Treaty, comprising
70 files, is accessible to Members only in the English version.

If all the languages have indeed been available for use, by what miracle is it only the English version which
has now emerged?

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 213.

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/201

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2003)

The Commission reiterates that, as stated in its answer to written question P-3442/02 (1) by the
Honourable Member, the language regime of the accession negotiations and the order in which each
language version of the Accession Treaty is presented are determined by the participating States and not
by the Commission.

Meanwhile the Honourable Member has no doubt noted that shortly after the English version of the
Accession Treaty appeared, the other language versions were also made available.

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 213.

(2003/C 192 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0552/03

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(27 February 2003)

Subject: Labour law in Slovakia (cid:1) breach of EU legislation

The Slovak Government intends to amend the country’s labour law. It plans to:

(cid:1) reduce workers’ rights in connection with notice and dismissal;

(cid:1) reduce the (special) rights enjoyed by disabled people;

(cid:1) abolish the right to minimum wages;

(cid:1) abolish severance pay;

(cid:1) abolish the principle of the five-day-week; and

(cid:1) restrict workers’ and trade union rights.

Can the Commission say whether

1.
legislation?

these planned amendments contravene European Union

2.

Does this imply a breach of the Accession Treaty with the European Union?

3. What steps will the Commission take if Slovakia fails to comply with corresponding EU legislation or
with the Accession Treaty?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The Commission is extremely conscious of the need to ensure that all aspects of the Community

1.
labour law acquis is transposed and effectively enforced in the Candidate Countries.

As regards the amendments in question, the Commission has not received any official draft amendments
setting out the current position from the Government of Slovakia. Therefore, it is currently not possible to
examine whether or not such amendments would be in line with the labour law acquis.

As regards individual dismissal, minimum wages and collective rights, there are no comprehensive labour
law directives at European level in these areas.

2.

There is no indication of breaches of the Accession Treaty at this stage.

There is no need to consider measures to be taken in the case of possible future breaches at this

3.
stage.