WRITTEN QUESTION E-2892/03 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. More efficient systems for the certification of steel from countries outside the Community used in the construction industry.
Date: 2003-09-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community certification, EC conformity marking, building materials, building safety, harmonisation of standards, import (EU), product safety, steel

C 65 E/240

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Community competition law would, however, be infringed if two or more undertakings have agreed to
commonly restrict the availability of cheaper tickets. Also, certain price discriminations by undertakings
holding a dominant position could violate Community competition law. These rules apply both to the
maritime sector and the air sector.

As regards the cross-Channel practices referred to by the Honourable Member, it should be noted that the
Commission has recently carried out inspections at the premises of a number of operators of cross-
these
Channel
undertakings are inter alia fixing prices and trade conditions for cross-Channel
transport services.
include a thorough review of the pricing practices referred to by the
Commission’s investigation will
Honourable Member. The Commission’s position will be made known once the assessment is completed.

services (1). The purpose of

these inspections was

to ascertain whether

transport

(1) MEMO/03/168 of 3 September 2003; Press release on inspections in cross-Channel transport services.

(2004/C 65 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2892/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(29 September 2003)

Subject: More efficient systems for the certification of steel from countries outside the Community used in

the construction industry

The more efficient and strict a system for certifying steel for use in the construction industry is, the more
the safety of buildings can be guaranteed, especially in countries and regions with a high risk of
earthquakes.

Substantial quantities of round reinforcing rods and wire rods come from countries outside the
Community (e.g. Turkey, Ukraine, etc.), exported by producers who obtain type approval and certification
which, unfortunately, often do not seem adequately to ensure the safety of the products, especially those
used for building purposes, which may have dangerous consequences, in particular in areas with a high
risk of earthquakes or floods.

In view of this, will the Commission take steps to bring all the certification and type approval systems used
in the various Member States up to the strictest possible standards?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 2003)

The structural safety of constructions, whether buildings or civil engineering works, is the first of the six
essential requirements which are the basis of Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 (1),
known as the construction products directive, which is intended to guarantee the free movement of
products and their suitability for use while ensuring maximum safety.

The Directive states that products must be fit for use and that this fitness is assessed in relation to technical
specifications known as ‘harmonised’ technical approvals or standards.

The construction products directive also states that when a harmonised standard or approval exists, it
becomes binding and compulsory and must be regarded as the only reference indicating conformity with
the essential requirements, and consequently their fitness for use and for placing on the market, by affixing
the EC mark.

Structural steels, which represent a major group of construction products, have been the subject of a
specific standardisation mandate (cid:1) M 115 (cid:1) drawn up by the Commission and approved by the Standing
Committee on Construction. This mandate was given to the European Committee for Standardisation
(CEN) for the preparation of seven harmonised standards establishing the highest level of conformity
certification (level 1) so that reinforcing and structural steels could be assessed to see that they matched the
essential requirements of the construction products directive.

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/241

The construction products directive and the harmonised technical specifications which are its technical
references for implementation constitute the legal means whereby European legislation can ensure the free
movement of construction products by means of technical harmonisation which ensures the highest level
of safety and which at the same time allows them to bear the EC mark.

However, responsibility for supervising the certification and approval of products and materials bearing the
EC mark lies with the national authorities, who remain solely responsible for the safety of structures.

The harmonised technical specifications for this group of products are not yet fully available. As they are
completed by the CEN committee, the Commission will publish the references in the C series of the
Official Journal of the European Union.

(1) Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative

provisions of the Member States relating to construction products, OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(2004/C 65 E/257)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2896/03

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 September 2003)

Subject: EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

1.

Is the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation monitored from Brussels?

2. Who signed off the present conditions that must be satisfied to secure funding?

3.

Is the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation audited?

4.
How was a body permitted to draft the conditions for securing EU funding while also being allowed
to act as administrator of the fund that body being the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the
Department of Environment and Local Government of Ireland?

Are the monies employed to establish the Peace and Reconciliation fund in addition to EU funds

5.
normally allocated to Ireland from the EU?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2003)

As for all interventions financed under the Structural Funds, the PEACE Programme operates within the
legal framework of the Structural Funds’ Regulation (1). In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the
primary responsibility for the day-to-day management and monitoring of the programme lies with the
programme’s delivery structures at the regional level, mainly the Managing Authority (cid:1) the Special Union
Programmes Body (SEUPB) (cid:1) and the Monitoring Committee.

Day-to-day management is exercised within the framework of the Operational Programme document
agreed by the Commission and the Irish and United Kingdom governments, which sets out the the priority
areas for spending and their financial allocations. The document also sets out the general criteria for the
selection of projects. Future detail in this regard is provided in the Programme Complement, which is a
document drafted by the Managing Authority and approved by the Monitoring Committee.

The PEACE Programme is subject to the standard audit requirements involving both the Commission and
the relevant national or regional audit bodies. SEUPB acts as the overall Programme Managing Authority
and therefore has responsibility for all administrative aspects of the programme such as application forms,
co-ordination, guidance to intermediary funding Bodies or final beneficiaries. It also implements a number
of specific measures, while maintaining a clear administrative separation of duties in accordance with the
principles of sound management.