WRITTEN QUESTION E-2173/03 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Compliance with EU legislation on asbestos.
Date: 2003-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, asbestos, labelling, marketing, national implementing measure

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/399

Concerning the sale of publications (paper and CD-ROM), each publication ordered by the contractor from
the Publications Office was systematically invoiced to it. As regards the database extraction service or the
sales of files in PDF format, Planistat provided Eurostat, every month from 2000, with the extracts from
the sales journal together with the invoices arranged in sequence. The list of payments made in connection
with these contracts and the details of the revenue amounts as described in the monthly reports on the
contract are being sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament’s Secretariat.

Lastly, with regard to the dissemination of statistical information and, in particular, possible participation
in it by commercial firms, it should be emphasised that, since dissemination is an integral part of the
production of Community statistics as defined in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of
17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (2), it falls within a strategy worked out in close coordination
with the Member States and especially with national statistical institutes.

The Data Shops thus contribute directly to Eurostat’s fulfilment of its public distribution service remit,
within the framework of the agreement for the distribution of statistics. They have to supply a suitable
answer to any requests submitted to them and are required to provide all Eurostat information on an
impartial basis. Agreements on the distribution of statistics have been signed with national statistical
institutes in many European countries, and an agreement has been drawn up entrusting a company with
the management of the Data Shop in New York.

Licences for the redissemination of data for commercial purposes have been signed with a series of firms
specialising in the information market. The distribution of certain data for commercial purposes in
connection with the supply of value-added information products is designed to satisfy other considerations:
its aim is to serve certain groups of special users who require Eurostat data with added value. These
specialised, professional information services are clearly not part of Eurostat’s general statistical distribution
remit. This approach is consistent with that set out in the Commission’s communication ‘eEurope 2002:
Creating an EU framework for the exploitation of public sector information’ (3) and with the proposal for a
European Parliament and Council Directive on the re-use and commercial exploitation of public sector
documents (4).

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001.
(2) OJ L 52, 22.2.1997.
(3) COM(2001) 607 final.
(4) COM(2002) 207 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0421)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2173/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Compliance with EU legislation on asbestos

In its reply to Written Question E-1551/03 (1) the Commission stated that it intended to contact the
Portuguese authorities with a view to ensuring that appropriate action is taken in order to enforce
Community legislation on asbestos (cid:1) thereby justifying the concern felt by the author of this question.

Would the Commission say when it intends to ‘ensure that the Portuguese authorities] take the necessary
measures to enforce the Directive in question’?

(1) See page 37.

C 78 E/400

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 2003)

As indicated in its initial reply, the Commission has contacted the Portuguese authorities in order to check
the allegations concerning a possible labelling error on items placed on the Portuguese market containing
chrysotile asbestos (which was added intentionally).

After conducting an investigation of the sector concerned, the Portuguese authorities have informed the
Commission that they have not discovered any asbestos-based items on the Portuguese market which have
been wrongly labelled or whose labels infringed the Community provisions in force.

As a result, on the basis of the information in its possession, the Commission cannot at present support
the argument that Portuguese items containing chrysotile asbestos have been incorrectly labelled.

(2004/C 78 E/0422)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2211/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Progress on asylum at Thessaloniki

Will the Commission please give its view on the progress made on the issue of asylum at the Thessaloniki
Summit, particularly with regard to UK proposals to create ‘zones of protection’ to process asylum
applications on or close to the borders of refugee producing countries?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2003)

The Commission regrets that the deadline (June 2003) for adoption of a Council Directive on minimum
standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as
persons who otherwise need international protection (1), set out at
the Seville European Council
(21/22 June 2002), has not been met. Therefore,
it welcomes the re-affirmation by the Thessaloniki
European Council of its determination to ensure adoption, before the end of 2003, of this legislation. It also
warmly welcomes the confirmation of the deadline for adoption before the end of 2003, of a Council
Directive on asylum procedures.

The Commission fully shares the urgency expressed by Heads of State and Governments for the Union for
finalising the first phase of the establishment of a Common European Asylum System. The Commission
will co-operate with the Presidency and the Member States’ delegations to ensure that the deadline is met.
The Commission also notes that the Council and the Commission have been invited to examine the
possibilities to further reinforce asylum procedures with a view to accelerating as much as possible the
processing of non-international protection-related applications.

The Commission is pleased with the request to explore all parameters in order to ensure more orderly and
managed entry in the Union of persons in need of international protection and to examine ways and
means to enhance the protection capacity of regions of origin. A comprehensive report will be brought
forward before June 2004 as invited by the European Council. To prepare this report, the Commission will
draw on its March 2003 Communication on the common asylum policy and the Agenda for protection (2)
and its June 2003 Communication: ‘Towards more accessible, equitable and managed asylum systems’ (3).

The Commission will also bear in mind conclusion No 11 of
the conclusions on migration and
development adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 19 May 2003, where it was
invited to consider ways to strengthen the reception capacity of developing countries, taking account of