WRITTEN QUESTION E-0366/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Shoppers' rights in Ireland under EU law.
Date: 2004-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, consumer goods, consumer protection, contract, guarantee, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure, sale

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/203

assessment, developing a framework for health information at EU level, and analysing Community
activities in general to see how these can better contribute to access and quality in healthcare. The
Commission plans to set out proposals responding to these recommendations through a communication
this Spring 2004.

(1) Council Directive 93/16/EEC of 5 April 1993 to facilitate the free movement of doctors and the mutual recognition

of their diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications, OJ L 165, 7.7.1993.

(2) Council Directive 77/453/EEC of 27 June 1977 concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by Law,
Regulation or Administrative Action in respect of the activities of nurses responsible for general care, OJ L 176,
15.7.1977.

(3) Council Directive 78/686/EEC of 25 July 1978 concerning the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and
other evidence of the formal qualifications of practitioners of dentistry, including measures to facilitate the effective
exercise of the right of establishment and freedom to provide services, OJ L 233, 24.8.1978.

(4) Council Directive 80/155/EEC of 21 January 1980 concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by Law,
Regulation or Administrative Action relating to the taking up and pursuit of the activities of midwives, OJ L 33,
11.2.1980.

(5) Council Directive 85/432/EEC of 16 September 1985 concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by Law,
Regulation or Administrative Action in respect of certain activities in the field of pharmacy, OJ L 253, 24.9.1985.

(2004/C 84 E/0247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0366/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Shoppers’ rights in Ireland under EU law

What reply has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the reasoned opinion
it sent to Ireland in January 2003, as announced in Commission press release IP/03/3, regarding the
transposition in Ireland of the Guarantees Directive (Dir 1999/44/EC (1)), which sets out certain minimum
legal rights for consumers buying goods in the EU?

What action has the Commission taken or is it considering taking in this matter?

(1) OJ L 171, 7.7.1999, p. 12.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2004)

On 19 December 2002, the Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Ireland over the failure to implement
Directive 1999/44/EC (1).

In response to this reasoned opinion, the Irish Government notified the Commission of the ‘European
Communities (Certain Aspects of the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees) Regulations
2003 (cid:1) (S.I. No 11 of 2003)’ on 10 February 2003, thereby implementing the Guarantees Directive.

C 84 E/204

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

As a consequence, the Commission closed this infringement procedure against Ireland on 9 July 2003.

(1) Directive 1999/44/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of

consumer goods and associated guarantees, OJ L 171, 7.7.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0370/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Extension of the Working Time Directive to excluded sectors

Directive 2000/34/EC (1) on the extension of the 1993 Working Time Directive (Council Directive 93/104/
EC (2)) was scheduled to be transposed by all Member States by 1 August 2003 (apart from the provisions
relating to trainee doctors for which the transposition date is 1 August 2004).

How many workers in Ireland does the Commission estimate would be covered by this Directive if it were
to be implemented in full by the Irish Government?

(1) OJ L 195, 1.8.2000, p. 41.
(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

In the ‘White Paper on sectors and activities excluded from the working time directive’ (1), the Commission
estimated that all sectors and activities excluded from the scope of Directive 93/104/EC, including self-
employment, represented 5,6 million jobs (around 4 % of total jobs in the EU), of which 3,5 million (about
2,5 % of total jobs) were in the road transport sector. This gives an indication of the numbers involved at
EU level. The Commission does not have the breakdown of these figures by Member State.

(1) COM(97) 334 final, paragraph 18.

(2004/C 84 E/0249)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0376/04

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: Crisis in the steel sector in Terni

Given that:

(cid:1) the strategic objectives set by the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000 expressed the hope that
by 2010 the Union would become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in
the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social
cohesion;

(cid:1) the Commission Green Paper (2001) on Corporate Social Responsibility confirmed Europe’s interest in

this field;