WRITTEN QUESTION E-1442/03 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The revision of the Battery Directive 91/157/EEC.
Date: 2003-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, cadmium, dangerous substance, drafting of EU law, electricity storage device, environmental protection, health risk, metals, report

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/183

What steps does the Commission intend to take to tackle the issue of urban renewal and redevelopment?
How does the Commission view the possibility of creating a support instrument within the structural
funds to help finance urban renewal and redevelopment, given the fact that the Community initiative
Urban, for example, can only be used for targeted, innovative projects? Does the Commission consider it
possible or rational to introduce a remodelled horizontal measure or to support affected towns with
Objective 1 funding? How does the Commission view the possibility of organising meetings of people
affected by urban redevelopment to discuss potential solutions and strategies, and to encourage the
exchange of experience or best practice?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2003)

The Commission considers that, in general, the problem of the renewal and redevelopment of cities is a
matter for the local authorities operating in accordance with the national provisions laid down by each
Member State.

The Structural Funds, and in particular the ERDF, have hitherto concentrated on support more directly
related to socio-economic development, i.e. productive investment which creates or maintains permanent
jobs, investments in infrastructure and investment to develop locally-generated potential.

However, the Commission does not exclude considering whether the Structural Funds could in future,
under certain conditions, provide assistance for housing as part of an urban renewal programme, provided
that this option could apply in all the Member States.

Through programmes such as Urbact and ESPON, the Commission is already providing support for
exchanges of experience and good practice between cities and is believes that this approach should be
continued, or even stepped up, in future.

(2004/C 11 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1442/03

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The revision of the Battery Directive 91/157/EEC

(24 April 2003)

A Targeted Risk Assessment Report on cadmium (oxide) used in batteries is being carried out
in
accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) 793/93 (1) on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing
substances.

At the same time, the Commission is preparing an extended impact assessment of selected policy options
for the revision of the Battery Directive 91/157/EEC (2).

Can the Commission say when the results of the Targeted Risk Assessment Report are expected to be
officially available?

As the results of the targeted risk assessment represent an essential element of the Extended Impact
Assessment of the Battery Directive’s revision, will the Commission ensure that the results will be fully
taken into consideration for the preparation of the Extended Impact Assessment?

Are Targeted Risk Assessment Reports available or under preparation on other metals used in batteries
such as lead, nickel, cobalt and zinc?

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 38.

C 11 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 May 2003)

The Commission now expects the results of the Targeted Risk Assessment on cadmium (oxide) used in
batteries conducted by Belgium to become publicly available before autumn.

So far, the Belgian rapporteur for the Targeted Risk Assessment on cadmium (oxide) used in batteries has
circulated several draft reports. The Commission intends to take the preliminary results of these draft
reports into consideration for the preparation of the Extended Impact Assessment.

Other general risk assessments on metals have been, or are being carried out on priority substances
identified in accordance with Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) 793/93 of 23 March 2003. These
include nickel (Danish rapporteur) and zinc (Dutch rapporteur). For lead, a voluntary risk assessment is
ongoing, which follows the same assessment procedures, but without a formal Member State rapporteur. A
complete list of the identified priority substances for risk assessments as well as a summary of the finalised
risk assessment reports, can be found on the following web page: http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/.

(2004/C 11 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1465/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 2003)

Subject: Company failure due to European regulations

The Portuguese press (for instance Público on 27 March 2003) has reported that the ‘Bela Olhão’ company
has had to close down because it was unable to comply with the new Union legislation laying down a
body of health rules governing the manufacture of animal feedingstuffs.

Can the Commission say what specific legislation is meant?

The press reports also maintain that the separation required by the legislation is such that two entirely
separate buildings would be needed for each operation and shared premises of any type would be
completely ruled out.

Can the Commission say whether this assertion is correct?

Can the Commission confirm that the legislation in question exists? Can it supply copies of impact
statements indicating how employment in Europe is likely to be affected by this recent legislation? Can it
supply a statement specifying the enforcement costs of this legislation both to public regulatory authorities
(at European, national, regional, or local level) and to the private sector?

Assuming that the Commission can confirm that the above information is incorrect, could it explain what
steps have been taken to dispel the misapprehensions within Portuguese public opinion?

Does it have an idea of the immense damage caused by news stories of the kind referred to above in that
they undermine support for the actions of the European institutions?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2003)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (1) of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 October 2002, as amended
by Regulation (EC) No 808/2003 of 12 May 2003 (2),
lays down health rules concerning animal by-
products not intended for human consumption. It was adopted by the Parliament and by the Council on
3 October 2002, published on 10 October 2002 and is applied from 1 May 2003.