WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/03 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Course financed by means of the Structural Funds.
Date: 2003-11-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Social Fund, adult education, co-financing, education grant, female unemployment, teaching curriculum

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/265

Netherlands and other exporters are being forced to avoid making shipments to France. The French pig
farmers have thus achieved their objective of effectively halting imports, as a result of which jobs may be
lost in the sector in neighbouring countries. In view of the serious damage to the internal market and the
threat of further, similar protests, action by the European Commission is essential.

If prompt steps are not taken, there is a risk that meat-producing farmers from neighbouring countries will
carry out similar protests against French producers of, for example, wine, champagne and cheese. Many
ordinary Europeans may see their Christmas celebrations ruined, hence the need for immediate action.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this worrying situation in France?

2.
Does the Commission share my view that this behaviour on the part of French farmers and the
French Government represents a breach of the principle of the free movement of goods and, by extension,
a serious disruption of the internal market? If not, why not?

3.
Is the Commission planning to take action to persuade the French Government, which is refusing to
step in and deal with these serious obstacles to trade, to abandon its policy of inaction? If so, what
measures will it take in the short term? If not, why does it not see a need to intervene?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3487/03 and P-3540/03
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The problem raised by the Honourable Member was very recently brought to the attention of the
Commission by economic operators.

In the absence of details which would allow the Commission to conduct the necessary investigation into
the problem raised, the Commission has asked these operators, in a letter of 26 November 2003, for
further information in order to identify the dates, locations and exact nature of the alleged obstacles.

This information is essential for the Commission to be able to determine whether or not there is an
obstruction to free movement which is forbidden under Article 28 of the EC Treaty. If an obstruction does
exist, and is not removed, the Commission will examine the possibility of enforcing Council Regulation
(EC) No 2679/98 of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free
movement of goods among the Member States (1). This Regulation aims to apply the principle of the free
movement of goods more speedily and more efficiently in order to deal with this kind of obstacle.

This information is essential in order to conduct an analysis of the factual and legal situation. As soon as
the Commission has obtained this analysis, it will draw the appropriate conclusions.

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.

(2004/C 70 E/288)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(25 November 2003)

Subject: Course financed by means of the Structural Funds

On 11 November 2002 the Naples-based Istituto nazionale di
formazione per le imprese culturali
launched a course entitled ‘Content Specialist & Designer’ within the PON Asse III misura III 6/D-Codice
progetto 5387 discipline. The course is financed by means of the European Social Fund.

C 70 E/266

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

The course students (who had to go through a selection procedure) have not received the grant awarded to
them (EUR 10 389,14 per student), since the person in charge of the course (cid:1) a Mr Palladino (cid:1) has been
deemed untrustworthy by the Ministry for State Education, Universities and Scientific Research on account
of his previous record. On 30 April 2003 (20 days before the course was due to end) the Ministry decided
that co-financing would be suspended and that the training project would be abandoned.

On the basis of the above information, does the Commission not think that, irrespective of any judgment
regarding Mr Palladino, the 19 pre-selected women should not be denied their grants or have their course
certificates withheld?

Does the Commission not agree that, in accordance with the rules, some kind of protection should be
offered to the 19 unemployed course students who, having been duly selected, wished to take advantage of
the opportunity afforded to them under the Structural Funds?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2004/C 70 E/289)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3537/03

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Hotel fire safety

Given that a report prepared for the Commission in October 2000 analysing the impact of the 1986
Recommendations on fire safety in hotels concluded that the Recommendations had not been effective in
providing a uniform level of fire safety, and that in a later report in June 2001 the Commission recognised
that more needed to be done to improve fire safety in hotels throughout the EU, when does the
Commission intend to introduce a directive on hotel fire safety, to ensure a consistent and adequate level
of protection for all Europe’s citizens who are guests or who work in hotels?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

The Commission would refer
Mrs Jackson (1)

(1) OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004, p. 271.

the Honourable Member

to its answer

to written E-3172/03 by

(2004/C 70 E/290)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3538/03

by Edward McMillan-Scott (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Pensions

Apart from Belgium, which other Member States operate a discretionary pension scheme based on means
testing?