do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3280 — Air France/KLM) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: air transport, economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, transport company

9.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 60/5

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3280 — Air France/KLM)

(2004/C 60/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 11 February 2004 the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to
declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(2) of Council Regu-
lation (EEC) No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in English and will be made public
after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— as a paper version through the sales offices of the Office for Official Publications of the European

Communities (see list on the last page),

— in electronic form in the ‘CEN’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 304M3280. CELEX

is the computerised documentation system of European Community law.

For more information concerning subscriptions please contact:

EUR-OP,
Information, Marketing and Public Relations,
2, rue Mercier,
L-2985 Luxembourg.
Tel. (352) 29 29 427 18, fax (352) 29 29 427 09.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0679/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Bushmeat — border controls.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: border control, game meat, illicit trade, import (EU), surveillance concerning imports

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/653

As they will be EU citizens from 1 May, does the Commission agree that the charging of non-EU fees to
citizens of new Member States constitutes a clear act of discrimination? Has the Commission been in
contact with the Irish Government on this issue? What has been its response? Has the Commission
received similar complaints from other Member States on this issue? What action does it propose to take?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

As far as conditions of access to education are concerned, the Member States are obliged to respect the
principle of ‘equality of treatment’. According to this principle the university or college of a Member State
where an EU citizen wishes to study must accept him/her under the same conditions as nationals.

Consequently, for the next academic year 2004/2005, Ireland and the other Member States must apply the
principle of equality of treatment to nationals of the new Member States who will be entitled to pay home
fees.

The Commission has not received any complaints regarding this issue and has, therefore, not contacted the
Irish Government as yet.

The Commission departments will contact the Irish authorities in order to remind them of the rights of
citizens of the new Member States regarding access to education.

(2004/C 84 E/0736)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0679/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) border controls

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, and with
reference to the Commission’s response to Written Question E-2445/03 (1)
(22 July 2003), what
representations has the Commission made to Member States about the need for improved border controls
to prevent this trade?

What action does the Commission propose to take to prevent illegal imports of bushmeat into Europe and
coordinate efforts to encourage the tightening-up of external Community frontier controls and end this
illegal trade?

(1) See page 492.

(2004/C 84 E/0737)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0680/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) disease transmission

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, what action
has the Commission taken to conduct a risk assessment of the potential for disease transmission to
humans from illegal bushmeat imports into the European Union?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0656/04 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Mobile neutering units.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, competence of the Member States, domestic animal, veterinary legislation

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/443

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The following reply is in addition to the Commission’s reply to the Honourable Member’s Written
Question E-0760/03.

The Scientific Steering Committee adopted an opinion at
its meeting of 10 and 11 April 2003,
recommending that the process of combustion of animal fats could be regarded as safe for animal fats
derived from Categories 2 and 3 materials under certain circumstances, but cannot be assessed, due to a
lack of information, for animal fats derived from Category 1 materials.

Following this opinion, further information on Category 1 materials has been made available for evaluation
by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The draft proposal in preparation for the approval of alternative processes has been discussed extensively
with Member State experts and has been amended on the basis of these discussions. As such the different
revisions of the document quoted by the Honourable Member does not have any legally binding effect.

The Commission expects an opinion from EFSA on the alternative combustion process before the end of
2004. The scientific recommendations will constitute the basis for further discussions with Member States
and with the industry concerned. At this time it is not possible to predict the wording of the final text
approving the process.

(2004/C 84 E/0516)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0656/04

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Mobile neutering units

Does the Commission recognise the value of mobile cat neutering units in the context of controlling
animal disease and the rise in the number of feral cats in Member States? Is the Commission aware of a
new law in Italy to ban the use of mobile neutering units for domestic cats?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2004)

The neutering of cats, notably as a way to deal with the problems of feral animals or for other veterinary
reasons, is not a matter which falls within the scope of Community law.

It follows, therefore, that Member States have the exclusive competence to decide the conditions under
which such neutering may take place within their territories including the imposition of restrictions on the
use of mobile units.

(2004/C 84 E/0517)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0704/04

by Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Transport of poultry

EU citizens have repeatedly expressed concern for the conditions in which animals destined for slaughter
or further fattening are kept, and the EP itself has called several times for an overall time limit for transport
of eight hours or 500 km.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Bushmeat — resource allocation.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, EU environmental policy, EU financing, economic analysis, environmental cooperation, environmental protection, game meat, poverty

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/703

The Commission has contacted the Spanish authorities in order to obtain further information on the type
of service involved and the circumstances of the tender.

As the Honourable Member points out, and as is clear from the current EU regulatory framework,
compliance with EU public procurement rules is an essential requirement for any project financed with
Community funds.

(2004/C 88 E/0722)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0669/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Professional qualifications

What reply if any has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the reasoned
opinion sent to Ireland, as announced in IP/03/1406, regarding Ireland’s failure to implement by the
1 January 2003 deadline Directive 2001/19/EC (1)?

What action has the Commission taken or is it proposing to take in this matter?

(1) OJ L 206, 31.7.2001, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

In the meantime, Ireland has notified measures for all the professions covered by Directive 2001/19/EC of
the Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2001 amending Council Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/
EEC on the general system for the recognition of professional qualifications and Council Directives 77/
452/EEC, 77/453/EEC, 78/686/EEC, 78/687/EEC, 78/1026/EEC, 78/1027/EEC, 80/154/EEC, 80/155/EEC,
85/384/EEC, 85/432/EEC, 85/433/EEC and 93/16/EEC concerning the professions of nurse responsible for
general care, dental practitioner, veterinary surgeon, midwife, architect, pharmacist and doctor.

The competent Commission services will therefore soon propose the College to close the infringement
procedure for non communication of national implementation measures.

(2004/C 88 E/0723)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) resource allocation

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, what funding
has been released or is planned to be made available to improve wildlife management? And what resources
are planned to support the incorporation of wildlife/bushmeat criteria into poverty assessments?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 434/2004 of 9 March 2004 determining the world market price for unginned cotton
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cotton, world market price

10.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 71/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 434/2004

of 9 March 2004

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 laying down detailed rules for
applying the cotton aid scheme (3). 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 29,629/100 kg.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 10 March 2004.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 9 March 2004.

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. Regulation as amended by Regulation

(EC) No 1486/2002 (OJ L 223, 20.8.2002, p. 3).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0671/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Ireland's failure to report on CO2 emissions from new passenger cars.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, air quality, disclosure of information, environmental monitoring, infringement procedure (EU), motor vehicle pollution

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/651

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2004)

As the Commission indicated in its recent reply to Written Question P-0074/04 (1), the Honourable
Member can obtain more detailed information from the General Secretariat of the Council, which provided
the secretariat for the two conventions.

(1) See page 144.

(2004/C 84 E/0733)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0671/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Ireland’s failure to report on CO2 emissions from new passenger cars

What reply, if any, has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the reasoned
opinion sent to Ireland in April 2002, as announced in IP/02/553, regarding Ireland’s failure to report on
CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in line with Decision No 1753/2000/EC (1) of 22 June 2000?
What action has the Commission taken or is it considering taking in this matter?

(1) OJ L 202, 10.8.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

The infringement procedure referred to by the Honourable Member (1) relates to the failure by Ireland to
provide monitoring data on Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new passenger cars for the year 2000
pursuant to Decision No 1753/2000/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 2000 establishing
a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars. As Ireland’s response
to this infringement did not provide the missing information, the Commission decided to refer Ireland to
the Court of Justice and a Court application was lodged in June 2003. During the course of the Court
proceedings, Ireland provided data for 2000 and 2001. The Commission considered that the infringement
had thereby been brought to an end and in December 2003 it decided to withdraw the proceedings from
the Court.

(1) 2001/2203.

(2004/C 84 E/0734)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0672/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Recognition of pharmacists’ professional qualifications

(9 March 2004)

Article 2, paragraph 2 of Directive 85/433/EEC (1) allows Member States to prevent pharmacists who have
obtained their qualifications in another Member State from working in pharmacies established for less than
three years.

Has the Commission received complaints regarding the impact of this particular provision at Member State
level and, if so, what has been its response to these complaints?

(1) OJ L 253, 24.9.1985, p. 37.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0660/04 by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. NGO funding.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, budget, company constituted under civil law, distribution of EU funding, eligibility criteria, financial regulation, financing, non-governmental organisation, support policy

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/199

(2004/C 88 E/0205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0660/04

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: NGO funding

Can the Commission please tell me:

(cid:1) the total budget the EU allocates to fund NGOs, civil society groups and political or information

movements on a one-off or revenue funding;

(cid:1) which specific NGOs receive grants, funding or expenses from the EU, how much and how often?

(cid:1) on what criteria NGOs are considered eligible for grants, funding and/or expenses from the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

The Financial Regulation (FR) and its Implementing Rules do not provide for special rules for non-
governmental organisations (NGOs), therefore they are not treated distinctly from other natural or legal
persons. Thus, they have to comply with the general exclusion and selection criteria applicable to all
beneficiaries. However, Part Two, Title IV of the FR contains special rules for external actions. Furthermore,
specific eligibility criteria may be established in the action programmes and calls for proposals linked to
the various actions.

NGOs are collaborating with the Commission in the implementation of a great number of actions both
within and outside the EU. As they are normally not treated distinctly from other organisations, bodies or
firms, the Commissions records do not determine the level of NGO funding. In many cases, NGOs are
implementing partners and not the end beneficiaries of community actions. Hence the Commission cannot
provide answers to the first two questions of the Honourable Member.

However, a lot of information on cooperation with NGOs can be found on the Europa internet site.
Examples include actions within the EU on education and culture (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/
education_culture/civilsociety/fr.htm) or in the area of international development (http://europa.eu.int/
comm/europeaid/projects/ong_cd/index_fr.htm).

(2004/C 88 E/0206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0665/04

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Safety standards for image editing of scanned banknotes

The latest versions of Adobe Photoshop CS and Paint Shop Pro do not allow images of banknotes to be
imported or edited. The mechanism involved, which has been developed by the Central Bank Counterfeit
Deterrence Group (CBCDG), a consortium of central banks from around the world, is a major step forward
in preventing the counterfeiting of banknotes.

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of this mechanism?

Is the Commission planning to introduce this mechanism as a mandatory safety standard?
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3377 — Vestar Capital/OGF) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, financial institution, merger control

C 60/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.3.2004

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3103 — General Electric Consumer Finance/Abbey National)

(2004/C 60/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 27 March 2003, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to
declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in English and will be
made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— as a paper version through the sales offices of the Office for Official Publications of the European

Communities (see list on the last page),

— in electronic form in the ‘CEN’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 303M3103. CELEX

is the computerised documentation system of European Community law.

For more information concerning subscriptions please contact:

EUR-OP,
Information, Marketing and Public Relations,
2, rue Mercier,
L-2985 Luxembourg.
Tel. (352) 29 29 427 18, fax (352) 29 29 427 09.

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3377 — Vestar Capital/OGF)

(2004/C 60/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 20 February 2004, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to
declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in English and will be
made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— as a paper version through the sales offices of the Office for Official Publications of the European

Communities (see list on the last page),

— in electronic form in the ‘CEN’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 304M3377. CELEX

is the computerised documentation system of European Community law.

For more information concerning subscriptions please contact:

EUR-OP,
Information, Marketing and Public Relations,
2, rue Mercier,
L-2985 Luxembourg.
Tel. (352) 29 29 427 18, fax (352) 29 29 427 09.