WRITTEN QUESTION E-0869/03 by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Self-handling in Community ports and ILO Convention 137.
Date: 2003-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Labour Organisation, application of EU law, crew, freedom to provide services, ground staff, international convention, international labour law, maritime transport, occupational safety, port administration

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/157

(2003/C 268 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0863/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Leader+ programme by the City of Frosinone

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report
on the spending of EU funds. The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU
funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been
echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the City of Frosinone, urgently need to use European
funds to support innovative rural development measures aimed at enhancing the cultural and natural
heritage, creating new jobs by strengthening the local economy and improving the organisational capacity
of rural communities, can the Commission state:

1. whether the City of Frosinone has submitted projects for the Leader+ programme?

2. whether the City of Frosinone has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

The Honourable Member’s question concerns the use of funds from the Leader+ programme by the
the Leader+
municipality of Frosinone and whether
programme, whether it obtained finance for those projects and whether those funds were used.

that municipality submitted projects under

The documents in the Commission’s possession show that the municipality of Frosinone is not included in
the territory participating in the Leader+ CIP for Lazio, which the Commission approved by its Decision
C(2001) 3626 of 26 November 2001.

As a result, Frosinone could neither submit projects nor obtain finance under the Leader+ programme for
Lazio.

It should be noted that the Commission does not decide on specific projects or on the selection of the
LAGs. It decides to contribute to a programme which includes criteria for selecting the groups on the basis
of procedures which guarantee the Leader approach. The final selection of the groups and projects part-
financed is made by the Member State or the regional authority responsible in accordance with the
conditions laid down in the programme.

(2003/C 268 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0869/03

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Self-handling in Community ports and ILO Convention 137

On 25 June 1973, in view of changes identified in the port sector thanks to the introduction of new
techniques and increased mechanisation, the ILO’s General Conference adopted Convention 137 on dock
work, supplemented by Recommendation R145 and ratified by various Member States; the objective is to
guarantee that
income essentially depends on dock work are
safeguarded.

the rights of workers whose annual

C 268 E/158

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

The Convention lays down that permanent or regular work must be guaranteed, and that dockers must be
given guarantees of income stability; it further lays down that the use of supplementary workers must be
prevented when the work to be carried out would be insufficient to guarantee an acceptable standard of
living for the dockers properly speaking (cid:1) thus giving them the right to priority.

The forthcoming directive on access to the market in port services will allow handling to be carried out by
the vessels’ own crews. This means that this handling might not be carried out by the port concerned’s
own registered dockers which would cause employment problems; such an approach therefore contradicts
what is laid down in the aforesaid ILO Convention.

How does the Commission intend to make these two texts compatible, particularly in respect of those
Member States which ratified Convention 137 in good time?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

There is no contradiction between the common position adopted by the Council for the adoption of the
Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on market access to port services (1) and
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 137 on dock work.

Article 19 of the Council’s common position indicates that it in no way affects the application of social
legislation in the Member States. As previously, the latter still have the authority to adopt ILO Convention
137, if they wish. They are not required to renounce the Convention if they have adopted it.

(1) OJ C 154 E, 29.5.2001, amended by OJ C 181 E, 30.7.2002.

(2003/C 268 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0874/03

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Averting alcohol-related harm in the EU

In the Union successful attempts have been made over a long period to reduce the harm done to public
health by smoking, among other things by intervening in the tobacco market and warning in a
conspicuous fashion on product packaging of the health risks associated with tobacco. Given that alcohol
is a product posing health risks comparable to those entailed in smoking, it is reasonable to suppose that,
following the example of the Europe-wide measures implemented to deal with tobacco, similar action
might next be brought to bear to avert alcohol-related harm.

Will the Commission take the measures needed to avert alcohol-related harm, bearing in mind the
encouraging experiences resulting from the tobacco directives?

Will it set standard EU rates for excise duties on alcohol and other charges levied nationally at a level
reflecting the external costs of alcohol (and hence not the minimum level)?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2003)

The action of the Community regarding prevention of alcohol-related harm is included in the Community
public health programme (2003-2008) (1) which refers to ‘promotion of health and prevention of disease
through action on health determinants across all Community activities and policies by … preparing and
implementing strategies and measures, including those relating to public awareness on life-style related
health determinants such as … alcohol …’.