do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/03 by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission. European Carrefours.
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, administrative expenditure, dissemination of EU information, information network, information policy, support policy

C 70 E/196

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

The withdrawal of subsidies manifestly conflicts with the new information strategy adopted in 2002.
The Commission seems to take the view that the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation on
1 January 2003 is a sufficient condition for this withdrawal.

What financial support systems does the Commission propose to introduce?

Are any other measures planned to enable these bodies to operate?

(2004/C 70 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/03

by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: European Carrefours

Can the Commission explain why the Directorate-General for Press and Communication has announced
the sudden termination of operating grants to the 138 members of the European Carrefour Network?
Will it reconsider the decision and ensure that funding continues into 2004?

(2004/C 70 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/03

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 November 2003)

Subject: Funding for European Carrefour

I understand that DG Press and Communications has recently decided to cancel the current contracts with
the European Carrefour organisations and to offer them replacement contracts without
the annual
operating grant of EUR 20 000 for 2004. I understand that the relevant financial rules have been in force
since 1 January 2003, yet the European Carrefour were not informed of this decision until 29 September
2003.

The European Carrefour constitutes an essential source of information about the EU, and it would seem
that this is an inopportune moment for such a change in policy, given that they are in the process of
preparing public campaigns on enlargement; the new Constitution and the European Parliament elections.

Why was such a decision taken, and how does the Commission envisage that the European Carrefour will
be able to function in 2004 with such a reduced budget?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3007/03, P-3068/03, E-3112/03, P-3153/03,
E-3240/03, P-3265/03, E-3287/03, E-3301/03, P-3389/03 and P-3403/03
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2003)

The Commission would thank the Honourable Members for their questions and wishes to make the
following points.

The thirteen hundred general public information relays which are run on the Commission’s behalf by the
Directorate-General for Press and Information all receive logistical aid in the form of technical support
services in kind (1) which, it has been confirmed, will continue.

Only the 270 or so host structures of an information relay belonging to the rural
information and
promotion carrefours or Info-Points Europe have in the past received a flat-rate annual operating grant.
This grant was awarded on the basis of an agreement signed with the Commission which was renewable
annually by means of a supplementary agreement.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3306/03 by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission. Fluoride in drinking water.
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, drinking water, fluorine, food safety, water supply

C 78 E/518

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0538)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3306/03

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Fluoride in drinking water

The 1998 Drinking Directive (98/83/EC (1)) lays down a limit of 1,5 milligrams per litre for fluoride in
drinking water.

Can the Commission provide the number of Member States, or regions within Member States, that
currently add fluoride to their drinking water supply? What are the rights of EU citizens concerning the
addition of fluoride to their drinking water?

Given the planned revision of Directive 98/83/EC, does the Commission foresee a change in the
parametric values for fluoride?

(1) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Fluoridation is currently allowed in four Member States (Germany, Spain, United Kingdom and Ireland); in
the three first countries the decision to add fluoride is left to the local/regional authorities. In Italy, there is
no specific law banning or authorising fluoridation. The situation at the regional level is not known by the
Commission. The issue of the rights of Union citizens concerning the addition of fluoride to their drinking
water is outside the formal scope of implementation of the Directive on the quality of drinking water and
the matter of fluoridation of water supplies lies within the Member States’ responsibility.

At this stage, where compliance with the standards fixed by Directive 98/83/EC (1) should be achieved by
25 December 2003, it is premature to foresee any change for any parametric value.

(1) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption,

OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.

(2004/C 78 E/0539)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3309/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject:

‘Responsible shopping week’ in the Commission’s buildings

Between 6 and 10 October, a ‘responsible shopping week’ was held in the Commission’s buildings.
A brochure published in connection with it mentions cooperation in the project by the Fair Trade Centre
and the Commission’s main catering suppliers, Delhaize, Eurest and Sodexho.

As well as making space available in its buildings, did the Commission also provide financial assistance for
this event? If so, how much?

Were any quantitative objectives set for ‘responsible shopping week’? If so, what? Were the objectives
attained?

Did the organisers give consumers the opportunity to assess the quality of the products on offer? If so,
what was the outcome?
2003/799/EC: Council Decision of 10 November 2003 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks as regards the external auditors of the Banque centrale du Luxembourg
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, accountant, central bank, self-employed person

18.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 299/23

COUNCIL DECISION

of 10 November 2003

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks as
regards the external auditors of the Banque centrale du Luxembourg

(2003/799/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Protocol on the Statute of the European
System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank
annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community
and in particular to Article 27(1) thereof,

Having regard to Recommendation ECB/2003/11 of
the
European Central Bank of 3 October 2003 to the Council of
the European Union on the external auditors of the Banque
centrale du Luxembourg (1),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of
the national central banks are to be audited by indepen-
dent external auditors recommended by the Governing
Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the
European Union.

The mandate of the current external auditors of the
Banque centrale du Luxembourg will expire at the end
of 2003.

The Governing Council of the ECB recommended the
Council to approve the appointment, starting from the
financial year 2004, for a renewable period of one year,
of new external auditors of
the Banque centrale du
Luxembourg, which were selected by it in accordance
with its public procurement rules.

(4)

It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the
Governing Council of the ECB,

Article 1

Article 1(7) of Decision 1999/70/EC (2) shall be replaced by the
following:

‘7.
Deloitte & Touche Luxembourg are hereby approved
as the external auditors of the Banque centrale du Luxem-
bourg as from the financial year 2004, for a renewable
period of one year.’

Article 2

This Decision shall be notified to the ECB.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

Done at Brussels, 10 November 2003.

For the Council

The President

A. MARZANO

(1) OJ C 247, 15.10.2003, p. 16.

(2) OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69. Decision as last amended by Decision

2003/270/EC (OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 49).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2003 of 10 November 2003 on the issue of import licences for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: beef, fresh meat, frozen product, import licence, refrigerated product

11.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 293/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1973/2003

of 10 November 2003

on the issue of import licences for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97 of
27 May 1997 opening and providing for the administration of
tariff quotas for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen beef and
for frozen buffalo meat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 649/2003 (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 936/97 provides in Articles 4 and 5
the conditions for applications and for the issue of
import licences for meat referred to in Article 2(f).

Article 2(f) of Regulation (EC) No 936/97 fixes the
amount of high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and
veal originating in and imported from the United States
of America and Canada which may be imported on
special terms for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June
2004 at 11 500 t.

It should be recalled that licences issued pursuant to this
Regulation will, throughout the period of validity, be
open for use only in so far as provisions on health
protection in force permit,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

for

All applications

1.
from 1 to 5
import
November 2003 for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef
and veal as referred to in Article 2(f) of Regulation (EC) No
936/97 shall be granted in full.

licences

2.
Applications for licences may be submitted, in accordance
with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 936/97, during the first
five days of December 2003 for 5 170,800 t.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 11 November 2003.

Article 2

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 10 November 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 137, 28.5.1997, p. 10.
(2) OJ L 95, 11.4.2003, p. 13.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2003 of 10 November 2003 determining the world market price for unginned cotton
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cotton, world market price

L 293/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

11.11.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1974/2003

of 10 November 2003

determining the world market price for unginned cotton

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Protocol 4 on cotton, annexed to the Act of
Accession of Greece, as last amended by Council Regulation
(EC) No 1050/2001 (1),

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001 of 22
May 2001 on production aid for cotton (2), and in particular
Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No
1051/2001, a world market price for unginned cotton is
to be determined periodically from the price for ginned
cotton recorded on the world market and by reference
to the historical relationship between the price recorded
for ginned cotton and that calculated for unginned
cotton. That historical relationship has been established
in Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1591/
2001 of 2 August 2001 (3), as amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1486/2002 (4). Where the world market price
cannot be determined in this way, it is to be based on
the most recent price determined.

(2)

In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No
1051/2001, the world market price for unginned cotton
is to be determined in respect of a product of specific
characteristics and by reference to the most favourable

offers and quotations on the world market among those
considered representative of the real market trend. To
that end, an average is to be calculated of offers and
European
recorded on one or more
quotations
exchanges for a product delivered cif to a port in the
Community and coming from the various supplier coun-
tries considered the most representative in terms of
there is provision for
international
adjusting the criteria for determining the world market
price for ginned cotton to reflect differences justified by
the quality of the product delivered and the offers and
quotations concerned. Those adjustments are specified in
Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1591/2001.

trade. However,

(3)

The application of the above criteria gives the world
market price for unginned cotton determined herein-
after,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The world price for unginned cotton as referred to in Article 4
of Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001 is hereby determined as
equalling EUR 36,870/100 kg.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 11 November 2003.

Article 2

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 10 November 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 148, 1.6.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 148, 1.6.2001, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 210, 3.8.2001, p. 10.
(4) OJ L 223, 20.8.2002, p. 3.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3319/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Mines and migrants on the Greek-Turkish border.
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, anti-personnel weapon, disarmament, external border of the EU

C 88 E/460

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Libya’s accession to the Barcelona process remains the main Union policy towards this country. In the
meantime, possible co-operation on specific areas of interest, as is the case for example for illegal
immigration, is being developed.

In the context of Union enlargement, consideration should be given to how it could incorporate Libya into
its policy towards neighbouring countries, on the basis of the respect of shared values.

The issue of compensation for assets confiscated from Italians expelled by the Libyan regime is a bilateral
one and therefore is not being dealt with at the EU level.

(2004/C 88 E/0472)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3319/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Mines and migrants on the Greek-Turkish border

(10 November 2003)

On numerous occasions in recent years, many migrants have lost their lives attempting to cross the Greek-
Turkish border. Recently, seven Pakistanis were blown to pieces attempting to cross the Greek-Turkish
border through a minefield. According to information from the Greek General Army Staff, since 1999
31 illegal immigrants have been killed by mines while attempting to enter Greece from Turkey.

Bearing in mind that the Greek-Turkish border is also the external border of the European Union, will the
Commission say:

1. what view it takes of this situation in the light of Parliament’s resolution on anti-personnel landmines
(B5-0802/2000) (1) in which Parliament asks the European Union to commit itself to work towards
the total elimination of anti-personnel landmines, and

2. what steps it will take to clear the minefields at its external (Greek-Turkish) borders, taking into
account the international community’s recognition of the prominent role played by the European
Union and the fact that the Union offers its support for measures to deal with mines in all countries
affected by them?

(1) OJ C 197, 12.7.2001, p. 193.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2003)

On 25 September 2003 Greece and Turkey formally joined the Mine Ban Treaty. The Commission hopes
that this joint move will put an end to the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines on the border between
the two countries.

In addition, as part of the confidence building measures agreed in the context of their bilateral relations,
both countries have undertaken to clear their border areas from landmines as mentioned in the
Commission’s Regular Report of November 2001 (1).

Council Regulation (EC) No 1725/2001 of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel
landmines in third countries other than developing countries (2) does not apply to Member States.

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.
(2) OJ L 234, 1.9.2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/03 by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission. Museum of Europe.
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: administrative expenditure, aid system, appointment of staff, financial aid, financing, museum, promotion of the European idea

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/253

Article 2 of this Directive states that Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that
electrical equipment may be placed on the market only if it:

(cid:1) is constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in safety matters in force in the

Community;

(cid:1) does not endanger the safety of persons, domestic animals or property when properly installed and

maintained and used in applications for which it was made.

The principal elements of the safety objectives are listed in annex I to the Directive.

In order to fulfil the obligations of the Directive a manufacturer of electrical ovens may, on a voluntary
basis, apply European harmonised standards under the Directive. Having applied a harmonised standard,
a manufacturer can be assured that the product fulfils the requirements of the Directive covered by such a
standard.

Member States are obliged to take measures against the placing on the market of any unsafe and
non-compliant product. Member States have to inform other Member States and the Commission,
indicating the grounds for such a decision.

(1) Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to
electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limit, OJ L 77, 26.3.1973 amended by Council
Directive 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993, OJ L 220, 30.8.1993.

(2004/C 70 E/273)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Museum of Europe

the ‘Museum of Europe’

is scheduled to open.
In 2006,
The European Parliament has made premises available for it. The cost of setting up the museum is
estimated at EUR 22,5 m. Various bodies have promised support, including the Belgian Government and a
number of private enterprises. The European institutions are also planning to provide support.

(run by a non-profit-making association)

What is the estimated amount of support to be provided by the Commission and other European
institutions for the setting-up of the museum? What financial support is planned for the museum’s annual
operating costs after 2006?

Who are the members of the museum’s management bodies (Board of Directors, Management Committee,
Accessions Committee, etc.)? What criteria apply to their selection?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission has not contributed financially to setting up the Museum of Europe, and it cannot say
whether the other European institutions have contributed.

There are no plans to fund the Museum of Europe’s operating costs in 2006.

The Commission is not involved in selecting or appointing the members of the Museum of Europe’s
administration. It would therefore ask the Honourable Member to contact the Museum of Europe directly
for further information.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/03 by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission. European Carrefours.
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, administrative expenditure, common agricultural policy, dissemination of EU information, information centre, information network, information policy, public awareness campaign

C 78 E/452

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

to take part in this ballot), the European Commission is suddenly washing its hands of the EU’s largest
information network in the Member States.

As the reasons behind this decision are difficult to grasp, can the Commission shed some light on the
matter?

(2004/C 78 E/0477)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/03

by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Commission

(7 November 2003)

Subject: Info-points Europe

A message has recently been sent to the various Info-points Europe informing them that they were to lose
European subsidies.

The Info-points Europe were set up to enable members of the public to obtain information about Europe.

The withdrawal of subsidies manifestly conflicts with the new information strategy adopted in 2002. The
Commission seems to take the view that the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation on 1 January
2003 is a sufficient condition for this withdrawal.

What financial support systems does the Commission propose to introduce?

Are any other measures planned to enable these bodies to operate?

(2004/C 78 E/0478)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/03

by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: European Carrefours

Can the Commission explain why the Directorate-General for Press and Communication has announced
the sudden termination of operating grants to the 138 members of the European Carrefour Network? Will
it reconsider the decision and ensure that funding continues into 2004?

(2004/C 78 E/0479)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/03

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 November 2003)

Subject: Funding for European Carrefour

I understand that DG Press and Communications has recently decided to cancel the current contracts with
the European Carrefour organisations and to offer them replacement contracts without
the annual
operating grant of EUR 20 000 for 2004. I understand that the relevant financial rules have been in force
since 1 January 2003, yet the European Carrefour were not informed of this decision until 29 September
2003.