WRITTEN QUESTION E-0468/04 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. Competition in the glass sector.
Date: 2004-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accession to the European Union, derogation from EU law, environmental standard, glass industry, packaging product, plastics industry, reduction of gas emissions, restriction on competition, waste recycling

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/797

(b) Training for police officers and other officials with relevant specialisations in regional police
co-operation, addressed to persons
services dealing with police and
responsible for central
international cooperation, directors of schools, academies or police training institutes. EUR 2 million
from the programme were allocated for these actions and a contract signed with the European Police
College (CEPOL) in the last week of February 2004. A first session ‘combating and fighting terrorism’
will take place in France in May. Police officers from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, Spain and France
will participate (as well as probably, from Egypt).

(c) Monitoring, analysing, and forecasting migratory flows in the EU and Mediterranean Partners with a
view to helping the Partners in their efforts to develop and implement migration policies. EUR 2 million
from the programme were allocated for these actions and a contract signed with the European
University Institute on 1 February 2004.

Evaluation of the current instruments/Improvement of them

The usefulness of counter-terrorism measures taken by the European Union is dependent on their
enforcement by the different Member States.

The Commission is soon to report on the implementation of the Framework Decision of 13 June 2002.

The recently established mechanism for evaluating the legal systems and their implementation at national
level in the fight against terrorism (Council Decision of 28 November 2003) in which the Commission
participates, identifies the capacities of the national legal frameworks to combat terrorism and assesses
the different Member States’ administrations and bodies relating to terrorist
co-operation amongst
activities,
It also assesses
law enforcement and intelligence services.
co-operation at international level and the implementation of the EU and United Nations (UN) measures to
counter terrorism, including the implementation of the EU Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism.

in particular between judicial,

(1) OJ L 164, 22.6.2002.
(2) Document 57156/02 Enfopol 19 Rev. 6.

(2004/C 84 E/0893)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0468/04

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Competition in the glass sector

Is the Commission aware that EU glass manufacturers face two kinds of unfair competition? First, they face
competition from the plastics industry who have been set far lower recycling targets under the Packaging
and Waste Directives than those set for the glass industry. Secondly, from glass manufacturers in the
accession states who have a long-term derogation from having to meet environmental standards arising
from the implementation of the Kyoto Agreement.

Will the Commission be vigilant in ensuring that the implementation of these desirable Directives does not
cause unfair competition by allowing competitors to escape obligations that should equally be placed upon
them? If necessary, will the Commission propose the necessary rectifying legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

The influence of recycling targets on the competition between various packaging materials does not
depend on the level of the targets but on the costs related to recycling. The recycling costs per tonne are

C 84 E/798

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

substantially higher for plastics than for glass and the use of secondary glass also saves costs to buy
primary raw materials to a higher extent than is the case for plastics. Even though the recycling targets are
different for the various materials,
it is therefore difficult to evaluate whether there is an effect on
competition between the materials and what material would get more favourable conditions. However, if
there is any such effect, it is likely to be small compared to other factors influencing competition such as
production costs, consumer convenience etc.

The Commission proposal (1) for new recycling targets was based on the view that all packaging materials
should contribute to reducing their environmental impacts through recycling levels reflecting their specific
costs and benefits. The levels of the recycling targets were extensively discussed by the Parliament and the
Council during the legislative procedure which led to the adoption of Directive 2004/12/EC of
11 February 2004 (2). There are currently no reasons to propose a modification of the targets.

The EU legislation that allows the European Union to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol
does not foresee any derogation for Accession States.

(1) Proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste,

COM(2004) 127 final.

(2) Directive 2004/12/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 amending Directive 94/62/E,

OJ L 47, 18.2.2004.

(2004/C 84 E/0894)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0479/04

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Commission open competitions

Regarding the open competition for Commission vacancies, what criteria are used to select successful
candidates?

Do these criteria include the nationality of the candidate?

Does the Commission have targets for the number of successful candidates from each Member State? If so,
what are these targets now and also after the enlargement of the EU?

Could the Commission provide the results of the successful candidates for the open competition by
nationality for 2001, 2002 and 2003?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2004)

Commission vacancies are first published internally in order to provide the possibility of internal mobility
for existing officials. If this publication does not result in the identification of a suitable internal candidate
or candidates, recourse can then be made to the results of open competitions.

Successful candidatures from these competitions are assessed in order to identify those whose profile
corresponds the most closely to the requirements of the vacancy notice which is based on the job
description of the post concerned. The criteria used are the field covered by the competition (e.g. law,
economics etc.), the candidates’ education/professional training and professional experience and, where
appropriate, linguistic knowledge.