WRITTEN QUESTION E-3840/03 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Race Directive (2000/43/EC).
Date: 2003-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, application of EU law, equal treatment, labour law, national implementing measure, racial discrimination

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/741

(2004/C 84 E/0836)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3840/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Race Directive (2000/43/EC)

Has the Commission been in contact with the Irish Government over its failure to implement the equal
treatment between persons without racial and ethnic discrimination in employment and the social sector
(cid:1) Directive 2000/43/EC (1), which should have been implemented in Ireland by 19 July 2003? What has
been the Government’s response? What action is the Commission taking or proposing to take to ensure
that all people living in Ireland enjoy the full protection of this legislation?

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2004)

Member States had to transpose Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the
principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin by 19 July 2003 at the
latest.

Ireland has not formally notified to the Commission its transposition of Directive 2000/43/EC. Ireland has
informed the Commission that technical amendments to its Employment Equality Act and Equal Status Act
are necessary to ensure full compliance with the anti-discrimination Directives. The Irish authorities sent a
copy of the proposed Equality Bill to the Commission on 16 January 2004 and its progress and entry into
force depends upon the Irish Parliamentary timetable.

The Commission is committed to its role as guardian of the Treaties, and has already formally started
infringement proceedings against Ireland (and a number of other Member States) over its failure to notify
its implementation measures for Directive 2000/43/EC (by the deadline of 19 July 2003).

(2004/C 84 E/0837)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3870/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Ecological volume of the river Júcar and the Júcar-Vinalopó water transfer

The gauge readings for the volume of the river Júcar at Cullera (the last gauge before the river reaches its
mouth), which have been taken every day from 1 January 1995 until 24 November 2003 by the Júcar
Hydrographic Confederation, give an average of 80,4 hm3 per year (minimum 25,1 hm3 in 1999 and
maximum 175,3 hm3 in 1997). The Júcar-Vinalopó canal which the Commission is supposed to be
funding provides for a water transfer of 80 hm3 per year, a figure which is totally unviable for a river as
exhausted as the Júcar. It should be remembered that its total ‘natural contribution’ is officially of the order
of 1 600 hm3 per year, barely 5 % of which reaches the sea at present. And it is precisely the average of
what reaches the sea that is supposed to be going to be transferred. On certain days, the gauge readings
are effectively zero, which means that there is either no water passing or the levels are so low that the flow
meter does not register them (i.e. a few litres per second). After this gauge, the river has no further
tributaries other than a few irrigation drains, of no significance, because most of these irrigation drains run
into the sea elsewhere. In the natural year 2002, the Júcar registered no contribution at all at its mouth on