WRITTEN QUESTION E-2568/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. EC Committee on Driving Licences.
Date: 2003-08-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: committee (EU), driving licence, medical science, optical industry, report

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/181

The overall issue of substances used in artificial fingernail systems was already discussed in a Working
Group with Member States and stakeholders in February 2001. The Commission asked to send in scientific
data for the safety evaluation of these substances. Based on data submitted by industry a safety evaluation
of three substances was initiated. These substances (hydroquinone, benzoyl peroxide and hydroquinone
methylether) are now subject to restrictions and conditions laid down in Annex III of the Directive.

Moreover, if a Member State notes, on the basis of a substantiated justification, that a cosmetic product,
although complying with the Directive, represents a hazard to health, it may provisionally prohibit the
marketing of that product and inform the other Member States and the Commission of this (Article 12 of
the Directive). So far, the Commission has not received such an information from a Member State on a
methyl methacrylate containing cosmetic product.

The Commission will ask industry to provide information and scientific data on a possible risk associated
with the use of Methyl methacrylate in cosmetic products with a view to consulting the Scientific
Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for the Consumer (SCCNFP) for a safety
assessment if necessary. Based on this safety evaluation the Commission could then take appropriate
measures.

(1) Commission decision 96/335/EC of 8 May 1996 establishing an inventory and a common nomenclature of

ingredients employed in cosmetic products, OJ L 132, 1.6.1996.

(2) Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to

cosmetic products, OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(2004/C 58 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2568/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 August 2003)

Subject: EC Committee on Driving Licences

1.
Further to the Commission answer given on 30 April 2003 (E-1231/03), will the Commission please
address point four of the original question, namely does the Commission have a projected time frame
within which it anticipates developments?

2. When will the vision medical working group be set up? What is its remit?

Is the Commission itself responsible for appointing this group and if not who is? Who are its

3.
members?

4. When will it be asked to report, particularly on the issue of bioptic driving?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2003)

1.
No calendar has been established yet, neither for the future working group on eyesight, nor for the
specific subject of driving with bioptic lenses, since the Commission replied to Written Question E-1231/
03 of the Honourable Member (1).

2.
Through the regular procedures, the Parliament has been informed that the Committee on the
driving licence met on 22 July 2003. The Committee discussed about the terms of reference for the future
working group on eyesight and its composition. It is expected that both the terms of reference and the
composition of the working group will be finalised at the next meeting of the Committee on the driving
licence. This meeting is expected to take place in October 2003. The Parliament will be duly informed.

The members of the Committee on the driving licence propose the composition of the future

3.
working group on eyesight and its terms of reference.

C 58 E/182

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

No date has yet been set for a report to be delivered by the future working group on eyesight. As
4.
indicated before, the subject of driving with bioptic lenses is not a priority subject for this working group
as it is in an experimental stage only. It will certainly require several years of research and of discussions
before being allowed officially.

(1) See page 52.

(2004/C 58 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2575/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(6 August 2003)

Subject: Settlement of new officials in and around Brussels

In May 2004, ten new Member States will accede to the EU. That enlargement naturally goes hand-in-hand
with the recruitment of new officials from the countries concerned. Experience shows that most of the EU
officials currently employed in Brussels prefer to settle in one of Brussels City’s 19 municipalities or on the
outskirts of Brussels. However, a number of problems arise in the latter area, which lies in Flanders, i.e. in
a Dutch-speaking area. There are social problems (the presence of large numbers of European officials in
some municipalities has led to a surge in rents and house prices, with some young Flemish families being
forced to move away from their own area) as well as language-based problems. Many Flemish peripheral
areas are having to cope with the problem of French-speaking (Belgian) aliens who refuse to acknowledge
that Dutch is the language of the area. The gradual Frenchification of Flemish Brabant is a considerable
political problem. In several municipalities, known as ‘municipalities with (linguistic) facilities’, the original
Flemish inhabitants are already being reduced to a minority. The presence of a large number of EU officials
who cannot speak Dutch has frequently exacerbated this problem, not because they are unwilling but
mainly for other reasons, such as a lack of information.

Ways exist of combating this problem. New (or even current) officials might be offered incentives to settle
in nearby Walloon Brabant. They might also be made aware of the political situation on the outskirts of
Brussels and be encouraged to learn Dutch at the courses organised by the local authorities, etc.

Is the Commission prepared to consider these and other measures (cid:1) with due account being taken of the
date of enlargement (cid:1) in order to make it easier for new officials to settle in?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2003)

the regularly organised welcome meetings for new colleagues,

At
the Adminfo service (which is
responsible for both the reception of and provision of information to new officials), explains both orally
and in its brochure ‘Welcome to the Commission’ the different aspects related inter alia to settling in
various locations around Brussels, the existence of three official
languages in Belgium and of Dutch-
speaking, French-speaking and bilingual areas.

Article 20 of the Commission’s Staff Regulations provides that an ‘official shall reside either in the place
where he is employed or at no greater distance therefrom as is compatible with the proper performance of
his duties’. Within the bounds of this Regulation, the selection of a place to live is of course a matter of
individual choice. In any event, the Commission has neither the wish, the powers nor the budget to give
officials incentives to settle in particular areas.

The Honourable Member will be aware that for most officials of the Commission choosing to live in the
outskirts of Brussels, neither Dutch nor French is their first language.