Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 300
# Official Journal

Volume 37
### of the European Communities 27 October 1994

Volume 37

27 October 1994

##### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents
Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

9AIQ 300 / 01 E-677 / 93 by John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Financing of the European Community 1

94 / C 300 / 02 E-680 / 93 by Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Monopoly management of certain airport services 1

94 / C 300 / 03 E-708 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Exclusion of Gibraltar Airport from the Community allocation of air transport slots 2

94 / C 300 / 04 E-937 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Possible cases of sexual harassment at the Commission 2

94 / C 300 / 05 E-l 146 / 93 by Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : Future policy on visas 3

94 / C 300 / 06 E-1270 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Delays at eastern European borders 3

94 / C 300 / 07 E-l 397 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Reprocessing 5

94 / C 300 / 08 E-1509 / 93 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez to the Commission
Subject : Updating of Directive 75 / 369 / EEC of itinerant activities 5

94 / C 300 / 09 E-1538 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Participation of textile workers in the Retex Programme 6

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E - 1546 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear reprocessing

E - 1622 / 93 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of establishment for lawyers in the European Community

E - 1779 / 93 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Community legislation on freedom of establishment for lawyers in the Member States

E-l 836 / 93 by Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Ferry links for outlying islands

E-l 896 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Continuation of the Interreg Programme . . .

E-l 932 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Pornography

E-l 94 9 / 9 3 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Free movement of goods — Sunday trading ban

E-l 978 / 93 by Jannis Sakellariou to the Commission
Subject : Call for military intervention in Bosnia - Herzegovina

E-20 13 / 93 by Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : Early retirement on the grounds of invalidity

E-2027 / 93 by Raymonde Dury to the Commission

Subject : Unfair competition in agricultural products

E-2146 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Price of Greek fertilizers

E-2166 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Special budget line on racism and xenophobia

E-2 184 / 93 by Brigitte Langenhagen to the Commission
Subject : Failure to use the German language

E-2 187 / 93 by Gerardo Fernandez - Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community rules concerning the occupational health of teachers

E-2279 / 93 by Reimer Böge, Brigitte Langenhagen and Karl von Wogau to the
Commission

Subject : Use of escort tugs to protect the marine environment

E-2292 / 93 by Andre Sainjon to the Commission
Subject : US discrimination against the European steel sector

E-2297 / 93 by Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : The state of the environment in Istanbul and Turkey in general

E-l 720 / 93 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Acts of vandalism in France directed at Spanish strawberry exports

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- Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 300 / 28 E-2254 / 93 by Teresa Domingo Segarra and Laura González Alvarez to the
Commission

Subject : Attacks on Spanish lorries in France 15

94 / C 300 / 29 E-2320 / 93 by Juan Colino Salamanca, Josep Pons Grau, Francisco Sanz Fernández and
Mateo Sierra Bardaji to the Commission

Subject : Action taken on French territory against Community fruit and vegetable products ... 15

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1720 / 93, E-2254 / 93 and E-2320 / 93 16

94 / C 300 / 30 E-2353 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Misuse of resources to buy political favours in Greece 16

94 / C 300 / 31 E-2383 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Greece, Spain and Italy to implement the milk quota rules 17

94 / C 300 / 32 E-2399 / 93 by Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Measures affecting itinerant traders 17

94 / C 300 / 33 E-2407 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Large-scale projects under package I ( RDP ) in Greece 18

94 / C 300 / 34 E-2476 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Introduction of a twelve-mile fishing limit 18

94 / C 300 / 35 E-2491 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Safety of reactors and nuclear installations in central and eastern Europe 18

94 / C 300 / 36 E-2507 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Transport of radioactive substances by air 19

94 / C 300 / 37 E-2547 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the monk seal ( Monachus Monachus ) 19

94 / C 300 / 38 E-2556 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Management of fishery resources in the Mediterranean 20

94 / C 300 / 39 E-2560 / 93 by Manfred Vohrer to the Commission
Subject : Unpublished study on CO2 by the Fraunhofer Institute 20

94 / C 300 / 40 E-2569 / 93 by Ioannis Stamoulis to the Commission
Subject : Infringement of the rules governing free movement of goods through the Greek
authorities ' application of Directive 91 / 542 / EEC 20

94 / C 300 / 41 E-2579 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Gypsy settlement in the vicinity of Dionysos, Attica 21

94 / C 300 / 42 E-2587 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Set-aside of farmland up to 1999 21

94 / C 300 / 43 E-2621 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Access to information and freedom of expression in the mother tongue as basic democratic
rights of the citizen 22

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 300 / 44 E-2629 / 93 by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Radio Enriquillo broadcasts in Creole from the Dominican Republic 23

94 / C 300 / 45 E-2722 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Efects of drilling wells in the plain of Orchomenos 23

94 / C 300 / 46 E-2747 / 93 by Marlene Lenz to the Commission
Subject : Helios II Programme — European Federation of National Associations of the Families of
the Mentally 111 24

94 / C 300 / 47 E-2779 / 93 by Adriana Ceci to the Commission .
Subject : ' Kaleidoscope ' Programme 24

94 / C 300 / 48 E-278 7 / 93 by John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Testing of cosmetics on animals 25

94 / C 300 / 49 E-2798 / 93 by Jan Bertens to the Commission
Subject : Possible infringement of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC 26

94 / C 300 / 50 E-2805 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Technology transfer projects 26

94 / C 300 / 51 E-28 19 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Allegations of fraud involving Community funds in Italy 27

94 / C 300 / 52 E-2847 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Directive on freedom of access to information on the environment 28

94 / C 300 / 53 E-2855 / 93 by Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Cashmere producers in the UK 28

94 / C 300 / 54 E-2857 / 93 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Biofuels 28

94 / C 300 / 55 E-28 5 9 / 93 by Vincenzo Mattina to the Commission
Subject : The EMS crisis and its adverse repercussions for the citizens of Europe 30

94 / C 300 / 56 E-2866 / 93 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission
Subject : Mutual recognition of medical qualifications 30

94 / C 300 / 57 E-2879 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directive 80 / 779 / EEC 31

94 / C 300 / 58 E-2915 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of the Saronic Gulf 31

94 / C 300 / 59 E-2 927 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Regen Programme in Greece . 32

94 / C 300 / 60 E-2943 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Marketing of production of Greek table grapes 32

94 / C 300 / 61 E-3004 / 93 by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Democracy and development in Africa 32

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 300 / 62 E-3019 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Disabled persons ' toilet provision throughout the Community 33

94 / C 300 / 63 E-3072 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : EC cooperation with the Asean States . . 33

94 / C 300 / 64 E-3088 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Common approach to the concept of powers 34

94 / C 300 / 65 E-3115 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Stage reached regarding the plan to establish the Euro-Arab University in Granada . . 34

94 / C 300 / 66 E-3123 / 93 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Comprehensibility of application forms and conditions for aid 35

94 / C 300 / 67 E-3 149 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Community Directives which have not been transposed by the Greek authorities into
national law 35

94 / C 300 / 68 E-3172 / 93 by James Janssen van Raay to the Commission
Subject : Access to justice                   - . 36

94 / C 300 / 69 E-3201 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Rural social structures 36

94 / C 300 / 70 E-3310 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Delays in developing domestic energy resources in Greece 37

94 / C 300 / 71, E-3311 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission

Subject : Improvements in energy saving in Greece 37

94 / C 300 / 72 E-3326 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Future of Community air transport 38

94 / C 300 / 73 E-3327 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Medicin « abuse ! 38

94 / C 300 / 74 E-3368 / 93 by Carole Tongue to the Commission
Subject : Auto components industry 38

94 / C 300 / 75 E-3387 / 93 by Marguerite-Marie Dinguirard, Marie Isler Beguin and Aline Archimbaud
to the Commission

Subject : The future for motor vehicle component suppliers 39

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3368 / 93 and E-3387 / 93 39

94 / C 300 / 76 E-3402 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Hunting of endangered species in Finland 39

94 / C 300 / 77 E-3407 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Research and technology programmes 40

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 300 / 78 E-3434 / 93 by Fernando Suarez Gonzalez to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation with Central America 40

94 / C 300 / 79 E-3458 / 93 by Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Differences in compensation for rape victims and women subjected to sexual
harassment 41

94 / C 300 / 80 E-3473 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Future of the Irish Box 41

94 / C 300 / 81 E-3490 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Community encouragement of venture capital . 42

94 / C 300 / 82 E-3538 / 93 by Brigitte Langenhagen to ' the Commission
Subject : European environmental coast guard 43

94 / C 300 / 83 E-3565 / 93 by Manuel Medina Ortega to the Commission
Subject : Social programmes in the Canaries 44

94 / C 300 / 84 E-3568 / 93 by Manuel Medina Ortega to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ) in the Canaries 45

94 / C 300 / 85 E-3600 / 93 by Juan Ramirez Heredia to the Commission
Subject : Asylum policy . 45

94 / C 300 / 86 E-3609 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Safety risks with certain types of heavy plant manufactured by Caterpillar 45

94 / C 300 / 87 E-3703 / 93 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Languages used by the European Trademark Office 46

94 / C 300 / 88 E-3709 / 93 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Use of languages in certain organizations and services of the European Community
including the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market ( trademarks, designs and models ),
hereinafter known as the ' Trademark Office ' 47

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3703 / 93 and E-3709 / 93 47

94 / C 300 / 89 E-3710 / 93 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Personnel policy and knowledge of languages .                   - 47

94 / C 300 / 90 E-3722 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Consultation procedure 48

94 / C 300 / 91 E-3724 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Public access to EC documents 48

94 / C 300 / 92 E-3759 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the bay of Pylos 48

94 / C 300 / 93 E-3778 / 93 by Marguerite-Marie Dinguirard to the Commission
Subject : Comparative costs of the Pau-Canfranc railway line, the Somport tunnel and the
roadworks in the Aspe Valley 49

94 / C 300 / 94 E-3783 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Transposal into Greek law of Directive 82 / 501 / EEC 49

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 300 / 95 E-3794 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Possibility for financial institutions to grant personal loans 50

94 / C 300 / 96 E-3839 / 93 by Alexandras Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Dangerous chemical waste in Albania 50

94 / C 300 / 97 E-4013 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Hazardous load of pesticides close to Scutari 51

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3839 / 93 and E-4013 / 93 51

94 / C 300 / 98 E-3 843 / 93 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Blockading of the frontier between the Netherlands and Germany on Sunday
28 November and Monday 29 November 1993 51

94 / C 300 / 99 E-3887 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the district of Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia 52

94 / C 300 / 100 E-3888 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC Funds to the town of Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia 52

94 / C 300 / 101 E-3889 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia 52

94 / C 300 / 102 E-3890 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia 52

94 / C 300 / 103 E-3891 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia 53

94 / C 300 / 104 E-3892 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia 53

94 / C 300 / 105 E-3893 / 93 by Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia 53

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3887 / 93, E-3888 / 93, E-3889 / 93, E-3890 / 93,

E-3891 / 93, E-3892 / 93 and E-3893 / 93 53

94 / C 300 / 106 E-3908 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Safety of blood products 53

94 / C 300 / 107 E-3909 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Anti-Greek propaganda by UK publishers 54

94 / C 300 / 108 E-3923 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive 89 / 429 / EEC 54

94 / C 300 / 109 E-3940 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Thorp plutonium 55

94 / C 300 / 110 E-3944 / 93 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Josep Pons Grau to the Commission
Subject : Directive 77 / 453 / EEC and problems of its transposition 55

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 300 / 111 E-3959 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Trade agreements with third countries on the import of agricultural products 56

94 / C 300 / 112 E-3980 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Extension of the Regulation governing social security 56

94 / C 300 / 113 E-3989 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Contacts between elderly farmers in the Community 56

94 / C 300 / 114 E-4001 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Erasmus Programme on secondary education 57

94 / C 300 / 115 E-4004 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Entrepreneurial cooperation between SMUs in the countries of central and eastern
Europe 57

94 / C 300 / 116 E-4010 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Use of the funds which Greece receives from the ESF 58

94 / C 300 / 117 E-4014 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Gypsies ' rights 58

94 / C 300 / 118 E-4015 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of the system of providing services for the elderly . 59

94 / C 300 / 119 E-4031 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of wild water fowl habitats in Thessaly 59

94 / C 300 / 120 E-4068 / 93 by Richard Simmonds to the Commission
Subject : Coach weights . . 59

94 / C 300 / 121 E-4069 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Compliance cost assessment in Directives 60

94 / C 300 / 122 E-4098 / 93 by John Cushnahan to the Commission

t Subject : Commission conferences and seminars 61

94 / C 300 / 123 E-4099 / 93 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Commerce 2000 — Call for interest 61

94 / C 300 / 124 E-41 02 / 93 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Telephone for notifying the authorities of the need to pick up beggars 62

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-677 / 93

by John Bird ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 01 )

Subject : Financing of the European Community

Will the Commission supply me with the figures for
those Member States that are net contributors to the

Community 's finances, on a country - by-country basis ?

Will the Commission also supply me with the figures for
those Member States that are net recipients from the
Community 's finances, on a country-by-country basis ?

Member State %

Belgium 3,98

Denmark 1,84

Germany 30,21

Greece 1,30

Spain 8,58

France 18,65

Ireland 0,82

Italy 14,72

Luxembourg 0,22

Netherlands 6,28

Portugal 1,49

United Kingdom 11,91

EUR 12 100,00

WRITTEN QUESTION E-680 / 93

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission by Francesco Speroni ( NI )

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 ) to the Commission

(6 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 02 )
The Commission never supplies figures that would make it
cash-flow possible to terms calculate — of the the net Member balances States — in since budgetary it is anxious or in Subject : Monopoly management of certain airport

services

to avoid reviving the ' fair returns ' debate .

Payments by the Member States to the Community budget
in 1992 are shown in the revenue and expenditure account
for that year, which was officially transmitted to Parliament
on 30 April 1993 . A percentage breakdown of Member
States ' contributions to the Community 's finances in 1992 is
given on page 28 .

At Milan and Rome airports, airlines are not authorized to
operate their own services such as passenger reception and
are obliged to use the services supplied by the companies
running the airports .

Is this in accordance with Community laws on free
competition ?

No C 300 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the existence of monopolies for
the supply of certain types of assistance during stop-overs

(' ground-handling '), including passenger assistance, at the
airports in Rome and Milan as well as at other airports in a
number of Member States .

At the airports in Rome and Milan, airlines are prevented
not only from using an operator other than the one with the
monopoly of such services, but also from providing their
own assistance (' self - handling ').

These monopolies could, in some cases, create situations
incompatible with the rules of the EC Treaty and, in
particular, with those on competition and freedom to
provide services .

The Commission is anxious to ensure that provisions on
assistance during stop-overs are compatible with the new
competition rules in the civil aviation sector . It will shortly
begin consultations with the parties concerned prior to
taking measures to liberalize such provisions .

How does the Commission view the fact that, five years
later, no agreement of any kind has been reached between
the two parties ?

Does it consider such a situation to be acceptable at a time
when the main concern of Community governmens '
decision-making appears to be the creation of a united
Europe ?

Can the Commission investigate the economic implications
of the current ' status quo ' in the Gibraltar area ?

What is the cost to that area of not including Gibraltar
airport in the liberalization measures ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

The issue of the use of Gibraltar airport is subject to bilateral
discussions between Spain and the United Kingdom .

The Commission would welcome a successful outcome of

these discussions and the early entry into force of the
resultant agreement . Outstanding problems should be '
resolved by the Member States directly concerned .

The Commission has at present no data indicating the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-708 / 93 economic impact resulting from the existing situation .

by Diego Santos Lopez ( ARC )

to the Commission

(7 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 03 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-937 / 93

Subject : Exclusion of Gibraltar Airport from the
Community allocation of air transport slots

On 17 February 1993 the Community Regulation designed
to ensure fair distribution of slots between airlines at the

various airports came into force .

Its purpose is to facilitate new companies ' access to
Community airports with the aim of ensuring that there is
real competition between airlines in the Community .

As on other occasions these important improvements will
not apply to Gibraltar Airport until the arrangements
contained in the Hispano-British declaration of 2 December

1987 are implemented .

by Sergio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 04 )

Subject : Possible cases of sexual harassment at the
Commission

Following rumours concerning cases of sexual harassment
at the Commission, has the Commission 's DGIX opened
any files on the matter, either in response to a complaint or
on its own initiative ? If so, how many files are involved, and
what is their current situation and that of the perpetrators of
such incidens ?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 3

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Commission keeps a close watch on the problem of
sexual harassment in the general context of maintaining a
working environment that respects the dignity of its staff
and is conducive to the smooth running of its
departments .

The Commission 's policy is to respond resolutely and
swiftly, in particular by taking disciplinary action, to any
behaviour which might adversely affect professional
relationships between staff, order and safety at the
workplace . In the happily rare cases where it has had to
intervene, it has made sure that this policy was put into
practice . With this in mind, it published an information
booklet on how to respond to sexual harassment at
work .

Disciplinary procedures are of a contentious nature, and the
Commission is, therefore, not at liberty to disclose further
details on them ; to do so would be contrary to the rules,
especially the rules on confidentiality which protect the
members of staff .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 146 / 93

by Isidoro Sánchez García ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 05 )

Subject : Future policy on visas

Is it true that the Dominican Republic and Cuba are among
the countries whose nationals will require a visa to enter a
Community Member State after Maastricht is ratified and, if
so, can the Commission explain why they have been
included ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

In the present state of Community law, policy on visas in
respect of third countries is a matter for the Member States .
National practices fall within the framework of
inter-governmental cooperation between the Twelve .
According to the information available to the Commission,
it is a fact that nationals of Cuba and the Dominican

Republic are required to have visas by all Member States .
The Honourable Member could ask the Council for further

information on the matter .

When the Treaty on European Union comes into force,
Article 100c, which states that ' the Council, acting

unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after
consulting the European Parliament, shall determine the
third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a
visa when crossing the external borders of the Member
States ', will apply . It is therefore still too early for the
Commission to make a statement .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1270 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 06

Subject : Delays at eastern European borders

This question follows on from the questions which I asked in
January 1993 ( Written Question No 184 / 93 ) about the
treatment of lory drivers in eastern European countries and
is based on the recent survey conducted by the Royal
Netherlands Transport Association ( KNV ).

The main conclusions and recommendations of the KNV

survey of delays at eastern European borders are as
follows :

— Waiting times at borders with and between the countries

of eastern Europe are much too long . The minimum
waiting time at some customs posts is four hours and the
maximum waiting time recorded was 72 hours .

— The reasons for these appallingly long waiting times

are :

( a ) poor organization of customs formalities ( in 100 %

of cases ),

( b ) inadequate number of traffic lanes ( in 75 % of
cases ),

( c ) insufficient parking space ( in 65 % of cases ),

( d ) inadequate number of customs officers ( in 55 % of

cases ),

( e ) limited opening hours ( in 25 % of cases ).

— Corruption, apathy and the lack of a work ethic among

customs officers also appear to be important factors .

— The KNV is deeply concerned at reports of the violent

crime, robbery, theft and blackmail to which lorry
drivers have been subjected .

— The conditions under which drivers are obliged to wait

for long hours are generally very poor ; they often lack
even the most rudimentary sanitary facilities .

— The KNV has made the following recommendations for

improvements :

— construction of more traffic lanes,

No C 300 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

— TIR vehicles and empty vehicles to be dealt with

first,

— better accommodation for drivers,

— more and better qualified staff,

— longer opening hours for customs offices,

— assistance, advice and instruction to be provided by

the Dutch customs authority .

1 . What comments has the Commission to make to the

conclusions and recommendations of the KNV

survey ?

2 . What, in particular, is the Commission 's reaction to the

proposal to second customs staff from the Netherlands

( or other Member States ) to eastern European countries
to provide on-the-spot assistance, advice and
instruction ?

3 . What will the Commission do with the results of this

survey and other alarming reports about conditions at
the borders with eastern European countries ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

1 . The Commission is extremely interested in the
conclusion of the KNV-survey, which confirms its own
assessment of the problem . In its answer to Oral Question
No 426 / 93 of Mr Cornellissen at the May Plenary Session,
the Commission has already indicated its view on this issue,
as well as the lines of action it is pursuing . These are broadly
consistent with the recommendation of the KNV report .

2 . Concerning the recommendations to make use of the
knowledge and experience of customs officers of the
Netherlands Or any other Member State in the central and
eastern European Countries ( CEEC ), this is already being
put into practice with Commission support since the end of

1991 .

A consortium ' Eurocustoms ' composed of the customs
administration of the 12 Member States was created in 1991
in order to provide technical assistance and training to the
customs administrations of the CEEC and was awarded a

contract in the framework of the Regional Phare
Programme for customs cooperation after having
successfully completed the Phare selection procedure .

Therefore, customs officers from the Member States have

been actively involved in assisting the customs
administrations of all Phare beneficiary countries since
December 1991 . These officers have acted as legal experts at
working groups in the CEEC for the drafting of new
legislation and procedures which will be compatible with
the Community customs legislation, as lecturers at seminars

organized on customs matters or as experts to advise on
selection procedures, on the application of control
measures, etc . Many study visits of customs officials of the
CEEC to the Community customs houses have been
organized in order to study the organization, management,
legislation, operational procedures, etc . of the customs
administrations in the Community .

All customs administrations of the CEEC have informed the

Commission of the positive results of this cooperation and
expressed the wish to continue the existing cooperation . It is
therefore foreseen that Eurocustoms will continue its efforts

in the Regional Phare Programme with support from
Phare .

3 . The Commission is monitoring very closely the
situation at the border crossing points and is attaching much
importance to the alleviation of the existing problems .
Information meetings with the Phare beneficiary countries
as well as Member States are held at regular intervals . A
yearly G-24 ad-hoc meeting on customs matters is organized
by the Commission in order to coordinate the actions
undertaken by all international donors in the CEEC . Also,
the business community is kept informed about efforts made
in this sector .

The Commission has in the framework of the Phare

Customs Programmes and the Phare Regonal Transport
Programmes provided ( and could continue to provide )
substantial financial support for the elimination of the most
serious border crossing bottlenecks .

Border crossing bottlenecks are the result of three main
factors

( a ) insufficient or badly designed traffic infrastructure,

( b ) insufficient customs clearance and control facilities

and '

( c ) outdated customs clearance procedures and equipment
as well as other administrative procedures . As a result
of this Phare financial support will be provided only
when the countries involved in a specific crossing have
agreed on a comprehensive package addressing all
issues at the same time .

Already in 1992 ECU 15 million was made available for this
purpose and an additional ECU 15 million for 1993 has just
recently been approved by the Phare Management
Committee . The Commission will in the near future carry
out a number of problem identification missions in order to
assess the need for further involvement and prepare future

programmes .

Furthermore, other recently approved Phare Programmes
will permit the creation of a computerised customs clearance
system for commercial traffic in the CEEC .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 5

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1397 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 07

Subject : Reprocessing

1 . Is there any possibility, in the Commission 's view, of
the reprocessing contracts with La Hague and Sellafield
being prematurely terminated ?

2 . How many spent fuel elements are to be delivered
annually ( up to 1999 ) for reprocessing from European
nuclear power plants to La Hague or Sellafield ? ( broken
down by individual nuclear power plants and in total )?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

1 . The Commission does not feel it can comment on

aspects of contracts concluded between the businesses
concerned under private law, given that Community law has
not been infringed .

2 . The Commission has no authority to divulge the
information requested by the Honourable Member, which
is communicated to it pursuant to Chapters VI and VII of
the Euratom Treaty and is of a confidential nature .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 509 / 93

by Laura González Alvarez ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 08 )

Subject : Updating of Directive 75 / 369 / EEC of itinerant

activities

Itinerant activities constitute a significant component of
European trade and are of considerable economic and social
importance .

In 1975 the Council adopted Directive 75 / 369 / EEC 0 on
measures to facilitate the effective exercise of freedom of

establishment and freedom to provide services in respect of
itinerant activities and, in particular, transitional measures
in respect of those activities .

Given the new dimension of the internal market, does the
Commission not consider it a matter of urgency to update
this Directive, which is still of a transitional nature 1 8 years
after its adoption ?

Does the Commission not consider that, in its present form,
the Directive is restricting the potential for itinerant
activities within the internal market ?

(M OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975, p . 29 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

Directive 75 / 369 / EEC introduces transitional measures to

facilitate the effective exercise of freedom of establishment

and freedom to provide services in respect of itinerant
activities, including automatic recognition of certificates of
experience where the host Member State regulates such
activities .

The measures are described as transitional in the Directive

not with reference to the expiry of the transitional period,
scheduled for 31 December 1969, but, in accordance with
Article 1 1 of the Directive, with regard to the adoption of
any subsequent provisions ' relating to the coordination of
national rules concerning the taking-up and pursuit of the
activities in question '.

The new dimension of the internal market does not call for

coordination of the conditions governing the right to take
up and pursue professional activities, since Directive
75 / 369 / EEC and the case-law of the Court of Justice
regarding Articles 52 and 59 of the EC Treaty i 1 ) already
make provision for the free movement of professionals and
their services .

The Commission is not aware that the application of
Directive 75 / 369 / EEC is restricting itinerant traders ' access
to the opportunities offered by the internal market, but it is
prepared to investigate any detailed complaint in this
connection, paying particular regard to the Court of
Justice 's recent judgments in respect of Articles 52 and 59 of

the EC Treaty .

0 ) In particular with regard to services — Cases C-76 / 90 ( Manfred

Sager v. Dennemeyer Sc Co . Ltd . [ 1991 ] ECR 1-4221 ),
C-154 / 89 ( Commission v. France [ 1991 ] ECRI-659 ), C-180 / 89

( Commission v. Italy [ 1991 ] ECR 1-709 ) and C-189 / 89

( Commission v. Greece [ 1991 ] ECR 1-727 ) — and the
recognition of professional qualifications — Cases 222 / 86

( Unectef v. Heylens [ 1987 ] ECR 4097 ), C-340 / 89

( Vlassopoulou [ 1991 ] ECR 1-2357 ) and C-104 / 91 ( Aguirre
Borrell and Others [ 1992 ] ECR 1-3003 ).

No C 300 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

QUESTION E-1538 / 93 It should also be pointed out that the Retex Programme is

Papayannakis ( GUE ) aimed at all industrial sectors, and not exclusively the textile

to the Commission and clothing sector .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1538 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

( 16 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 09

Subject : Participation of textile workers in the Retex

Programme

The Federation of Greek Textile, Clothing and Leather
Manufacturing Employees ( Oekide ) is not represented on
the committee of the Ministry for Economic Affairs which is
responsible for coordinating national policy with
Community policy and, in particular, the Retex Programme .
This is despite the fact that Chapter V, point 7(3 ) of this
programme which was adopted on 13 May 1992, states that
the social partners must participate in the preparation and
implementation of operational programmes in the manner
most appropriate to each Member State .

In view of the fact that :

1 . the committee responsible for implementation of Retex
in Greece is made up of employer and Government
representatives alone,

2 . several requests have been made to the Government for
representatives of the Federation of Textile Employees
to take part and no answer has been forthcoming,

3 . in accordance with general Community practice and the
spirit of the decisions taken by the Community
institutions, Oekide representatives should take part in
the Retex Programme as a matter of course,

will the Commission bring pressure to beaf on the Greek
Government to include representatives of the Federation of
Textile Employees in the Retex Programme to ensure that all
social partners are represented, as is the case in the other
Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1546 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 16 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 10 )

Subject : Nuclear reprocessing

What recent representations have been made by

( a ) citizens and organizations within the European
Community and

( b ) citizens and organizations outside the EC

in regard to problems arising from the continued nuclear
reprocessing at the BNFL plant at Sellafield in England and
the UK Atomic Energy Authority plant at Dounreay in
Scotland ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1993 )

A number of representations from inside and outside the
Community have been received over a period of years
concerning reprocessing at Sellafield and Dounreay . More
recently representations have concerned primarily the
proposed operation of the new Thorp ( Thermal Oxide
Reprocessing Plant ) at Sellafield . Such representations
include parlementary questions and resolutions and also
petitions addressed to the Parliament on which the
Commission has been asked to comment .

It is up to the authors of any representations to make them
public if they wish . The Commission cannot do so and is not
therefore in a position to provide the list requested .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1622 / 93

by Yves Verwaerde ( PPE )

(5 January 1994 ) to the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 11

The Commission has drawn the attention of the Greek

authorities to the need for the social partners to participate
in the implementation of the Retex Programme from the
negotiation stage . The ' implementation ' chapter of the final
text of the programme provides for the participation of the
social partners in the management committee .

Subject : Freedom of establishment for lawyers in the

European Community

Further to the answer by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi on behalf of
the Commission to Written Question No 3031 / 92 (*) on

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 7

freedom of establishment for lawyers in the European their profession in any Community country without needing
Community, can the Commission say whether, in to pass aptitude tests, without being required to spend three
considering the proposal for a Directive on the years working alongside a lawyer of the country in question
' establishment ' of lawyers drawn up by the Consultative and without any other restriction that the national
Committee of the Bars and Law Societies of the European authorities, of whatever type, may wish to impose ?
Community(CCBE ) it intends to consult the National
Association of Doctors of Laws, the only French association
qualified to take specific measures in support of the Doctor
of Laws degree ? Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(!) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993, p . 24 . ( 20 December 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Written Question No 721 / 93 ( a ) and to
Written Question No 1779 / 93 by Mr Lafuente Lopez ( 2 ).

t 1 ) OJ No C 207, 30 . 7 . 1993 .

( 2 ) See page 7 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 779 / 93

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 12 )

Subject : Community legislation on freedom of
establishment for lawyers in the Member States

Despite Community legislation of varying levels of
importance authorizing members of the legal profession to
practise their profession in any Community country, some
Member States continue to make it compulsory for
non-national lawyers wishing to practise their profession in
the Member State in question either to pass an aptitude test
or to practise their profession for three years alongside a
national of the host Member State who is himself a

lawyer .

Such laws, which constitute an arbitrary interpretation of
Community rules, cannot but harm the professional
interests of those concerned, in addition to encouraging an
endless series of dubious interpretations and protectionist
measures, given that the administrative or professional
authorities in question consider the cases submitted to them
one at a time .

Does the Commission not think, therefore, that it should
clarify these matters definitively and reaffirm the legitimacy
of Community legislation authorizing lawyers to practise

Lawyers from one Member State may establish themselves
in another Member State either under the latter 's legislation
or under Community law .

National legislation allowing lawyers from other Member
States to establish themselves in the country concerned
contains widely differing procedures . The Commission is
not unaware of any national legislation requiring a migrant
lawyer to practise for three years alongside a lawyer who is a
national of the host country .

At Community level, only one Directive regulates these
matters, namely Council Directive 89 / 48 / EEC on a general
system for the recognition of higher - education diplomas
awarded on completion of professional education and
training of at least three years ' duration ( x ). This Directive,
which covers a large number of professions, also applies to
lawyers . The host Member State is entitled to require a
migrant lawyer to take an aptitude test under national law
on the conditions laid down in Article 4 of the Directive .

If the Honourable Member is aware of any particular
difficulties encountered by lawyers in certain Member States
which he considers to involve a breach of Community law,
the Commission would ask him to provide it with full
details .

(!) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 836 / 93

by Panayotis Roumeliotis ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 13 )

Subject : Ferry links for outlying islands

The mayors of the outlying islands of Astypalea, Symi,
Nisyros and Tilos have decided on a hunger strike in protest
at the desperate situation of the population of those islands
due to having no ferry links with Piraeus or Rhodes . Will the
Commission help resolve this problem ?

No C 300 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The discussion paper did not make any proposals about the
level of funding for any of the future Community initiatives,
and no decision will be taken on their budgets until after the
consultation process has been completed .

The Commission will take into account experience with the
The Commission and the Greek authorities are both aware existing initiatives when preparing its proposals for the
of the need to introduce better communications to and from budgets for the future initiatives .
certain of the more isolated Aegean islands .

Progress has been made in this sphere, particularly through
part-financing measures adopted in the context of the
current Community Support Framework . The
Commission 's position, set out in the Final Commission
Report on certain Greek islands in the Aegean Sea ( 1 ), is that
further efforts must be made in the context of the current

CSF and its successor .

(M COM(92 ) 569 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 896 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1932 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 15 )

Subject : Pornography

Has the Commission drawn up any proposals designed to
prevent the spread of pornography and, in particular, to
stamp out the exploitation of children for the production of
pornographic material in the Community ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission Answer given by Mr Pinheiro
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 ) ( 14 December 1993 )
( 94 / C 300 / 14 )

Subject : Continuation of the Interreg Programme

Will the Interreg Programme be continued over the next few
years ? If so, has its budget already been established ?

Under that decision, will the same procedure or be followed,
will past experience be taken into account ?

The Honourable Member is invited to refer to

the Commission 's answers to Written Questions
No 1461 / 93 ( J ) and No 1516 / 93 ( 2 ) by Mr Chabert .

í 1 ) OJ No C 219, 8 . 8 . 1994, p . 14 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 251, 8 . 9 . 1.994, p . 7 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949 / 93

by Yves Verwaerde ( PPE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Millan ( 19 July 1993 )
on behalf of the Commission ( 94 / C 300 / 16 )

( 21 December 1993 )

Subject : Free movement of goods — Sunday trading ban

The Commission published in June 1993 a discussion paper
on the future of Community initiatives under the Structural
Funds, inviting comments from the Parliament and other
interested parties . The paper noted that there was a broad
consensus in favour of continuing the Interreg initiative and
suggested some possible improvements .

Following a series of judgments handed down by the Court
of Justice, will the Commission state whether certain
Member States ' regulations prohibiting the employment of
workers or retail trading on Sundays are or are not in breach
of Article 30 of the EEC Treaty which prohibits quantitative
restrictions and measures having equivalent effect ?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 9

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

In its judgments in Torfean Borough Council v. B&Q pic .
( 23 November 1989 ) (*), Conforama and Marchandise

( 28 February 1991 ) ( 2 ) and Norwich and Stoke-on-Trent v.
B&Q pic . ( 16 December 1992 ) ( 3 ), the Court of Justice ruled
that Article 30 of the EEC Treaty must be interpreted as
meaning that the prohibition it lays down does not apply to
national rules prohibiting retailers from opening their
premises on Sunday where the restrictive effects on
Community trade which may result therefrom do not
exceed the effects intrinsic to rules of that kind .

The Court also considered that the restrictive effects of such

rules oh trade did not exceed what was necessary to achieve
the aim in view .

O Case C-145 / 88 .

( 2 ) Cases C-312 / 89 and C-322 / 89 .

(■ 3 ) Case C-169 / 91 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1978 / 93

by Jannis Sakellariou ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 17 )

Subject : Call for military intervention in Bosnia ­
Herzegovina

According to the Siiddeutsche Zeitung of 5 / 6 June 1993, the
Commissioner responsible for the common foreign and
security policy, Mr Hans van den Broek, has called for
military intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina to stop the
aggression of the Bosnian Serbs and to restore the State that
has been recognized by the EEC .

In calling for military intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
despite the enormous loss of human life which all the
military experts believe it would cause, was Commissioner
van den Broek speaking on behalf of the Commission and
expressing its opinion ?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The report in the Siiddeutsche Zeitung of 5 / 6 June 1993
commenting on Mr van den Broek 's views would appear to

refer to a speech given by him at the University of Tilburg on
4 June, when he said among other things :

' The cost of appeasement

But how long can we permit this tragedy to continue ?
Have we learned nothing from history ? Do we not
understand that the appeasement of a regime which
despises our values and principles is corroding those very
principles themselves ?

How can we stand up to the next dictator who violates
international law and morality, if we have tolerated such
excesses here in our own backyard ? How could we
discourage those in the Islamic world who feel particular
affinities with the victims of aggression in Bosnia from
taking action if we ourselves remain impassive ?

History has not suddenly come to an end . Aggression,
hatred and violence, the scourges of mankind through
the ages, are again doing their evil work in Europe . Even
now, at this late stage, there is still time for us to respond
vigorously, if we have the determination .'

The Commission indicated that the cost of appeasement was
too high and that the Community should define its own
interests and values and be ready to defend them . He did not
exclude the need to intervene militarily, in a manner to be
determined, in the conflict in ex-Yugoslavia .

Thus Mr van den Broek was speaking on a topic which is
within his remit as the Member of the Commission with

special responsibility for external political relations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2013 / 93

by Barry Desmond ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 18 )

Subject : Early retirement on the grounds of invalidity

Does the Commission consider it extraordinary that
37,48 % of 1 863 invalidity pensions approved by the
Commission were sanctioned on the grounds of
' psychological and psychiatric diseases ' in 1991 ?

Would the Commission care to comment on why this was so
and what action does the Commission propose to take to
ensure a reduction in this incidence of disease among its
staff ?

No C 300 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Van Miert WRITTEN QUESTION E-2027 / 93
on behalf of the Commission by Raymon d e Dury ( PS E )
( 15 December 1993 ) to t h e Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 19 )

The Commission must first make clear that the 1 833
Subject : Unfair competition in agricultural products
invalidity pensions for 1991 mentioned by the Honourable
Member do not represent the number of staff retired on
grounds of invalidity that year but the cumulative number of The Commission recently decided to accelerate the opening
pensions payable ; moreover, they cover all the European up of the Community 's markets to the countries of central
institutions . and eastern Europe .

The frequency of psychological and psychiatric diseases
among the grounds for invalidity pensions is not specific to
the Commission ; it affects the other institutions,
international organizations, national administrations and
indeed every employer . The definition of ' psychological and
psychiatric diseases ' is not in practice the same in the various
administrations, hampering comparability between
statistical data .

The analysis of the causes of these diseases has shown that
many factors contribute to the origin . In the case of
Community officials, some cases are caused by the break
with the home environment following expatriation and
others by genuine difficulties in adjusting to a multicultural
and multilingual environment which in some cases is a
specific source of stress .

The Commission has reacted by focusing more on the
psychological aspect during the pre-recruitment medical
examination, by improving the corporate spirit, not only
through general seminars on motivation but also through
specific training measures such as seminars on stress
management, and at the same time implementing a policy on
psychosocial assistance involving the medical and social
services . These measures produce beneficial effects in the
medium term both for officials and, in some respects, for
their families also .

It should be added that there are regular systematic . checks
on persons retired on grounds of invalidity .

The annual number of invalidity retirements in the 1980s
was sometimes well above the hundred mark, but in recent
years it has fallen to about 70 despite the fact that there was
a 44% increase in staff between 1980 and 1990 .

It is reported that specific measures have been taken
regarding agricultural products . What are they ?

Does the Commission intend to include clauses on labour

matters in the trade agreements covering these sectors ?

What safeguards and correcting mechanisms will the
Commission introduce to defend Community trade against
social and economic dumping by the countries of central
and eastern Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

It was agreed in the Copenhagen European Council
conclusions of June 1993 to accelerate the opening up of the
Community market to the countries of central and eastern
Europe . The proposal was formalized by the ' General
Affairs ' Council on 19 July 1993 .

The agricultural part of the Copenhagen package involves
bringing forward by six months the increased tariff quotas
and the lower customs duties and levies already provided for
in the trade agreements with the countries of central and
eastern Europe .

The agreements do indeed provide for mechanisms to
protect aspects of Community agricultural production
which are considered very sensitive, for example they set
minimum prices for the import of certain soft fruits,
establish special arrangements for the import of beef and
veal, and in general provide for the application of safeguard
measures in the case of a serious disruption of Community
markets .

The Commission does not feel that the countries of central

and eastern Europe are engaging in social and economic
dumping . However, as indicated above, the Community has
at its disposal all the necessary means to remedy any
negative influence on the satisfactory operation of the
agricultural markets .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 146 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

What specific examples of projects have been funded under
this budget line ?

( 94 / C 300 / 20 ) Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )
Subject : Price of Greek fertilizers

Many farmers in Greece — and in particular the members of
cooperatives — want a Community system to be set up to
market fertilizers at lower prices for farmers in mountainous
or disadvantaged regions . Moreover, all farmers want the
Community to help fund a programme for restructuring the
Greek fertilizer industry and the Synel . What is the
Commission 's position on this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1993 )

Community legislation already takes account of the need to
compensate for natural handicaps in mountainous and
other less-favoured regions, in particular with regard to
higher production costs . Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 ( 1 )
provides for income support subsidies for farmers

( compensatory allowances ).

Moreover, aid for the restructuring of different branches of
Greek industry, including the fertilizer industry, may be
granted if necessary under Objective 1 of the reformed
Structural Funds, provided for in Article 1 of Regulation
( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 ( 2 ).

(!) OJ No L 218, 6 . 8 . 1991 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 166 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 21 )

Subject : Special budget line on racism and xenophobia

How much money has been allocated to the new special
budget line on racism and xenophobia ?

What has this money been spent on ?

What are the main decision criteria for allocating the

money ?

There is a new budget line on racism and anti-semitism,
B3-4109, specifically voted into the Commission budget by
Parliament for the ' Centre Europeen de la recherche et
d'action sur le racisme et l'antisemitisme '; with a
Commitment credit for 1993 for ECU 50 000 .

The above Centre duly submitted its programme to use the
credit, in line with the budget line title, to co-finance a
study-day on the extermination camps of
Auschwitz-Birkenau, and a study on extremist movements
in Europe . Both these projects will be carried out around the
end of 1993, and the final report is due by 1 April 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 84 / 93

by Brigitte Langenhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 22 )

Subject : Failure to use the German language

When German authorities / individuals respond to calls for
tenders, for instance as part of the EC Joint Research
Programme, they are advised by the Commission services to
submit their applications in English or French because they
will thus have a better chance of being considered .

Furthermore, the texts of the annexes to the calls for tenders
which are supplied on request by the Commission are not
usually available in German .

1 . Can the Commission list the number of languages in
which it received applications for research projects for
the period between 1989 and 1993 from the individual
Member States ?

2 . In which languages was the research documentation
available ?

3 . Is the Commission in a position to confirm that the
exclusion of an official language leads to competitive
disadvantages, notably in the case of authorities / persons
without access to their own translation facilities ?

4 . What measures does the Commission intend to take to

put an end to these ' discriminatory practices '?

No C 300 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

It is expressly stated in the guidelines for applicants that
proposals concerning the funding of research projects can be
submitted in any official Community language . A draft
summary in English of the project description, covering
between half a page and a page, as is generally the custom in
scientific publications, is indeed desirable but not
compulsory .

In addition the Commission would like to stress that the
wording of the research programmes, the invitations to
submit research proposals, the application forms and also
the ' information packages ' are available in all of the official
languages . In the case of extensive ' information packages '
occasional delays due to translation may arise but the
Commission is constantly looking for ways to avoid
these .

1 and 2 . The Commission does not keep any statistics
on the languages used in the treatment of research
projects and submissions, and can therefore not provide
any information in this area . Owing to the cross-frontier
scientific cooperation which as a rule takes place
between partners from four or five Member States, the
partners in combined projects almost exclusively opt for
English as the language of communication . The
Commission uses the language selected by the applicant
in its correspondence .

3 . Since no official language is excluded, no applicant needs

his own translation capacity for the application process .
Despite the principle of equal linguistic treatment it
must, however, be pointed out that a knowledge of
foreign languages offers a clear competitive advantage in
exploiting the potential of the Community internal
market and in cross-frontier cooperative research
between companies, a major aim of Community research
policy .

4 . If, in any individual cases applicants feel disadvantaged

in their applications as a result of language problems the
Commission is prepared to examine such instances and
provide remedies .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

legislation for the profession, so as to ensure suitable
provision for teachers in such areas as psychotherapy,
traumatology, rheumatology and ear, nose and throat
illnesses .

In addition, teachers may have to deal with ' burn-out
syndrome ', caused by emotional exhaustion,
depersonalization and personal undervaluation . It should
not be necessary to present a detailed list of the occupational
illnesses to which teachers are liable to justify the desire of
members of the profession in all the Member States to see
the introduction of specific occupational health
legislation .

Would the Commission, in view of its powers of initiating
legislation and given the crucial role of education in society,
be willing to proposes a specific Community Regulation for
teachers containing special provisions for psychotherapy
and medical treatment arising from the exercise of their
professional functions ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Council Directive 89 / 391 / EEC of 12 June 1989 on the
introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the
safety and health of workers at work (*) applies to all sectors
of activity, both public and private, and hence also covers
teachers . The Directive contains a general provision making
it mandatory on employers to take the ' measures necessary '
for the safety and health protection of workers . These
measures must also alleviate monotonous - work and work

at a pre-determined work rate which could lead to
psychological disorders . Consequently, there is no need to
propose specific rules for the teaching profession .

(!) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2279 / 93

by Reimer Boge ( PPE ), Brigitte Langenhagen ( PPE )

and Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

to the Commission
(1 September 1993 )

( 28 July 1993 ) ( 94 / C 300 / 24 )
( 94 / C 300 / 23 )

Subject : Community rules concerning the occupational

health of teachers

Teachers ' unions in the Community have been making
constant efforts to secure specific occupational health

Subject : Use of escort tugs to protect the marine
environment

Questions of maritime safety and protection of the marine
environment play an important part in the Maritime

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 13

Industries Forum . The European Parliament 's Donnelly
report on the European maritime industries ( A3-1 11 / 93 )
and the Cuxhaven declaration of 11 February 1993 contain
proposals for higher safety standards, including measures to
prevent tanker accidents .

1 . Does the Commission support proposals for reducing

risks substantially and relatively quickly by having
tankers escorted and by having vessels carry hazardous
cargoes accompanied by specially equipped tugs ?

2 . Has research into this been carried out in the USA, and
has practical experience been gained on the west coast of
the USA ?

3 . Will the Commission have a study carried out to

examine precisely the possibilities of protecting the
marine environment by using escort tugs ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

Escorting of oil tankers and other vessels which might be a
threat to the environment is one of the means to protect the
marine environment indirectly, as, in case of loss of
propulsion or steering power, an escorting vessel could
immediately assist the disabled ship .

Up to now, the Commission is not aware of any report on
the use of escorting vessels in dedicated areas in the United
States, after the introduction of such measures on the basis
of the Oil Pollution Act 1990 .

On 29 June 1993 the Council decided that, before
November 1993, Member States should identify and report
to the Commission their environmentally sensitive areas on
the basis of common criteria proposed by the Commission .
From that identification, navigational measures could be
discussed with the Member States . One of the measures

could be escorting certain vessels . However, other
navigational means exist to manage maritime traffic .

The identification by Member States of their
environmentally sensitive areas is necessary before
conducting very specific studies on the use of escorting
vessels . If such a study was to be launched, the cost and
benefit of such measures in relation to the investment in

infrastructure should be taken into account .

Finally, in the Action Programme contained in Annex I of
the communication from the Commission 'A common
policy on safe seas ' ( a ), studies are foreseen on ' Risk
evaluation and prevention ' as well as ' coordination of
availability of salvage capacities ' where the advantage of
escorting vessels could be explored .

(M COM(93 ) 66 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2292 / 93

by André Sainjon ( ARE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 25 )

Subject : US discrimination against the European steel

sector

The unacceptable conditions under which the American
Department of Commerce has chosen to maintain or
increase the anti-dumping duties imposed on steel producers
in seven of the twelve Community Member States has, I am
glad to say, provoked a strong reaction by Sir Leon
Brittan .

At the same time, on 24 June 1993 in Tokyo Sir Leon Brittan
agreed to abolish customs duties on construction
equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, beer and
steel .

Can the Commission explain what can only be described as
an inconsistency ?

Will the Commission carry out retaliatory measures against
American exports to the European Community ? If so, what
measures ?

Can the Commission quantify the implications of the
decision by the US authorities in terms of financial and job
losses in the European steel industry which is present on the
American market ?

Will the Commission take effective defensive commercial

measures comparable to those currently applicable in the
USA ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

The Commission stated, following the last G7 meeting in
Tokyo, that the total elimination of tariffs in the steel sector
was contingent on the successful conclusion of a
Multilateral Steel Agreement . That depended on flexibility
from the US side in order to achieve a satisfactory solution to
the current dispute over anti-dumping and countervailing
duties imposed on Community steel exports .

On 27 July 1993 the US International Trade Commission

( ITC ) ruled that imports of flat-rolled products had not
caused injury to the domestic industry in 19 cases out of the
34 which concerned Member States . This exempted about

No C 300 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

one million tonnes representing approximately half of the
volume of Community trade concerned from the prohibitive
duties previously imposed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2297 / 93

by Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

The conflict, however, is not yet fully defused . A sizeable ( 94 / C 300 / 26 )
part of Community exports is still subject to duties .
Antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on
other products ( lead and bismuth bars and stainless wire
rod ) remain unaffected by the ITC decision . A new case was Subject : The state of the
filed on 26 August concerning grain-oriented electrical steel Turkey in general
imports from Italy and Japan . Moreover, both US and
Community companies have appealed against the ITC
decision . Pollution of the environment is

Subject : The state of the environment in Istanbul and

Turkey in general

Under these circumstances the Community will use every
legal means to ensure that the legitimate rights of
Community producers and exports are fully preserved,
notably by using the available GATT procedures . The panel
on lead and bismuth bars has been stabilised and its findings
are expected by May 1994 . With regard to the flat-rolled
cases several rounds of consultations have taken place . At
the end of October, both the Anti-dumping and the
Subsidies Committees held so-called conciliation meetings .
On 10 November second conciliation meetings were held by
both Committees, dealing in particular with the injury
aspects of the cases . The Commission, which is fully
committed to defend the principles of the multilateral trade
System, does not intend to adopt retaliation measures which
would be in flagrant contradiction with the GATT rules .

After the last decision, the volume of trade on flat-rolled
products which remains subject to duties amounted to

Pollution of the environment is assuming dramatic
proportions in Istanbul . The ceaseless influx of people
means that waste disposal and pollution of water and the air
have become an extremely serious health problem .

If Turkey were to joint the Community, the difference
between EC standards and Turkish standards would be so

great that Turkey would not be able to comply with EC
standards for many years to come .

1 . What scope is there for making environmental issues a

component of negotiations with Turkey ?

2 . What would be an appropriate means of informing the

Turkish authorities and the political parties in Turkey of
the environmental problems that would arise if Turkey
were to jin the EC, if immediate steps are not taken —
legislation, practical implementation and monitoring —
to highlight this issue ?

877 812 tonnes per year ( measured in 1991 terms ),
compared with 1 909 612 tonnes affected before . No
figures concerning the financial impact of the direct Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
consequences on employment are available . on behalf of the Commission

As regards the policy for an effective commercial defence,
the Commission has proposed to the Council a number of
changes to the existing trade policy instruments, notably
concerning the decision making process, in order to improve
their efficiency . For these proposals no qualified majority
has been reached so far .

The Commission has also just tabled new proposals to
introduce strict and binding deadlines for the Community 's
Commercial Policy Instruments which would considerably
reduce the time for taking measure where there is unfair
trade . The Commission does not favour the adoption of
unilateral trade instruments ; however, an evaluation of the
overall balance of trade instruments will undoubtedly take
place after end of the Uruguay Round when the Multilateral
Trade Organization is established .

( 19 November 1993 )

The Community is not at this stage endangered in a
negotiation process for the accession of Turkey .

In June 1993, the Copenhagen European Council asked the
Council to ensure effective implementation of the guidelines
laid down by the European Council in Lisbon on intensified
cooperation and development of relations with Turkey in
line with the association agreement of 1964 and the
protocol of 1970, as for as it relates to the establishment of a
customs union .

As far as environmental cooperation with Turkey is
concerned, the following points deserve special attention :

— Article l.c (' maintenance of cooperation aiming at the

adaptation of Turkish legislation ') of the work
programme for cooperation signed in January 1992

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 15

between Turkey and the Commission mentions
specifically the environment sector . A seminar is to be
organized before the end of 1993 ;

— the renovated Mediterranean policy adopted by the

Community in 1992 provides for the involvement of
Turkey in projects concerning the environment ;

— the Commission signed on 1 1 February 1990 a financing

agreement for a programme to control environmental
pollution in Turkey, with a total estimated cost of ECU
3,46 million of which the Community grant was ECU
2,8 million . The programme provides for the
establishment of a mobile environmental pollution
measurement and monitoring system, and the creation
of an environmental bureau and central laboratory in
the Marmara region in which Istanbul is situated and
which is the country 's most densely populated region .
The Community Funds are intended to cover the costs of
the purchase and equipment of three mobile pollution
measurements systems and two mass spectrometer units
for installation in a central laboratory in Ankara as well
as the staffing and equipment of the Marmara region
laboratory .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2254 / 93

by Teresa Domingo Segarra ( NI )
and Laura Gonzalez Alvarez ( GUE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 28 )

Subject : Attacks on Spanish lorries in France

On 18 June 1993, between the towns of Aries and
Salon-de-Provence, French farmers attacked two Spanish
lorries and scattered the fruit they were carrying over the
road . Attacks of this kind are being carried out quite
frequently on Spanish lorries driving legally through
France .

These reprehensible acts put the safety of the drivers at risk
and cause considerable economic losses as a result of the

destruction of the goods involved .

As guardian of the Treaties,

— what representations does the Commission plan to make

to the French authorities to ensure that such attacks are

not repeated and that Community legislation on the free
movement of persons and goods on French territory is
correctly implemented ?

— what steps could the Commission take to ensure that the

French authorities provide immediate economic
compensation for those affected by attacks of this
kind ?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 720 / 93

by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 June 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2320 / 93

( 94 / C 300 / 27 ) by Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ), Josep Pons Grau ( PSE ),

Francisco Sanz Fernández ( PSE )

and Mateo Sierra Bardaji ( PSE )

to the Commission

Subject : Acts of vandalism in France directed at Spanish (1 September 1993 )

strawberry exports ( 94 / C 300 / 29 )

Recently, acts of vandalism have occurred on French
territory, obstructing the transit of lorries carrying
strawberries exported from Spain .

These deplorable practices occur repeatedly year after year,
preventing the free movement of goods, ruling out any
possibility of fair competition and hampering the
completion of the internal market .

What steps does the Commission intend to take to guarantee

free access to Community market for strawberries and other
fruit and vegetables and to ensure that the Spanish farmers
affected by acts of vandalism are duly compensated ?

Subject : Action taken on French territory against
Community fruit and vegetable products

In May, June and July, fruit and vegetable exports on their
way from Spain to various European markets were violently
attacked on French territory, seriously damaging Spanish
interests . In view of these events :

1 . What action has the Commission taken to safeguard

freedom of movement for Spanish goods, in accordance
with the Treaties ?

2 . Has the Commission made representations to the
French Government to safeguard the free movement of
goods ?

No C 300 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

3 . In view of the recurrent nature of these incidents, what
preventive measures should, in the Commission 's view,

be taken by the competent authorities to prevent such
acts of aggression ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1720 / 93, E-2254 / 93

and E-23 20 / 93

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 November 1993 )

The Commission condemns the serious infringements of the
freedom of movement of agricultural products from various
Member States, and from Spain in particular, perpetrated in
France over the last few months .

Under Community law, the public authorities of the
Member States are responsible for taking the necessary
measures to prevent such acts . As soon as the first incidents
occurred, the Commission therefore called on the French
authorities to enforce respect for the principle of the free
movement of goods .

The Commission repeated this request as soon as it was
informed that serious interference with the marketing of
fruit and vegetables from Spain was persisting . In response
to the Commission representations, the French authorities
forcefully condemned the acts in question and assured the
Commission of their determination to restore freedom of

movement and marketing for agricultural products on
French territory .

In support of their statements the French authorities cite the
state of alert that has been instituted against acts of violence
by farmers . This system is supposed to enable the forces of
law and order to prevent further incidents or limit their
seriousness . However, the abovementioned authorities
argue that the unforeseeable nature of the farmers '
aggressive activities makes it impossible to prevent all
disturbances .

There are no special procedures under Community law
regarding the right to compensation of the operators
affected . However, the authorities of the Member State
concerned are responsible for providing the legal protection
to which individuals may lay claim as a direct affect of
Community law .

In France, Article 92 of the French law of 7 January 1983
provides for a system of State responsibility without fault,
which allows persons who have suffered the effects of
violence to claim compensation from those public
authorities which failed to prevent the consequences of such
actions .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2353 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 30 )

Subject : Misuse of resources to buy political favours in

Greece

The Greek Government has withdrawn ECU 140 million

from major development projects and allocated them to
prefectures to enable them to buy political favours . In view
of this practice by the Greek Government, how does the
Commission intend to prevent the squandering of resources
in this way so that money allocated to Greece can be
channelled entirely towards infrastructure improvement
projects ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

The Honourable Member may be referring to certain
decisions taken by the Monitoring Committee for the
Community Support Framework for Greece . The
Commission would point out that some of the decisions to
reduce funds allocated to major projects or programmes
relating to transport, telecommunications or energy were
budgetary decisions ; account was taken of the effective
feasibility of physically completing the works concerned and
using up the available funds before 31 December 1993, the
end of the programming period in question . The decisions
do not throw into question the continuation of the
measures, nor their eligibility for Community funding in the
next programming period ( 1994 — 1999 ).

The Committee also decided to reallocate the funds thus

released to certain projects financed in the context of
regional programmes which, because of shortage of funds,
could not otherwise have been completed before the end of

1993 .

These decisions were all taken, in accordance with the
Community rules, by joint agreement between the Greek
authorities and the Commission in order to enhance the

effectiveness of the Structural Funds in Greece .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 17

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 83 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 31 )

Subject : Failure by Greece, Spain and Italy to implement the

milk quota rules

Greece, Spain and Italy have not implemented the milk
quota rules for the period 1989 — 1993 in that they have not
collected the co-responsibility levies due from producers
who exceed the quota . Has the Commission hitherto taken
steps to investigate this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Although the three Member States referred to by the
Honourable Member did not fully implement the system of
milk quotas in 1992, their particular circumstances should
be kept separate :

— Greece benefited from a provision stipulating that the

additional levy was only payable by individual
producers if there was an overrun of the total quantity at
national level . The first such overrun occurred in

1988 / 89 but the corresponding amount was not
collected . Levies to be collected for the subsequent
periods have yet to be assessed .

— In Spain, although individual reference quantities for

deliveries were temporarily allocated in 1987, there were
no arrangements for collecting the additional levy . Only
after a reassessment of production statistics in 1991 did
it become clear that production had substantially
exceeded the national reference quantity, with surplus
deliveries amounting to approximately 1,5 million
tonnes in 1990 / 91 .

— In Italy, after numerous delays, the national authorities

finally established a legal framework for collecting the
additional levy, but the Unalat, the union of producer
groups which represents most of the dairy sector, did not
apply it ; in particular, it failed to allocate individual
reference quantities to its members, mainly because
production already exceeded the allocated quota . A
complete reassessment of production in 1991 showed
that overproduction during that year amounted to
approximately 2,5 million tonnes .

The Commission has therefore always considered the failure
to apply the system of dairy quotas in these Member States
as three different problems :

— In view of its remoteness from the major milk

production areas and its location on the periphery of the
Community, Greece has requested and obtained from
the Council a conditional increase in its overall quota so
as to be able to increase its drinking-milk production
without having to reduce its cheese production .
Consequently, the Commission has considered the
problem in Greece within the framework of the
clearance of EAGGF accounts .

— Spain claims that the short-comings of its arrangements

for gathering statistics suggested a lower level than
actual national production for the reference year and
that a larger quota should have been allotted to it later
before the final individual allocations were carried out .

Given this background, the Commission has dealt with
the problem in Spain within the framework of the
clearance of EAGGF accounts also .

— In the case of Italy, on the other hand, the Commission

initiated an infringement procedure against it in 1985
which resulted in a judgment of the Court of Justice on

17 June 1987(case 394 / 85 ) finding that Italy had failed
to fulfil its obligations . Thereafter, the Commission
embarked on an exchange of letters repeated by
reminding Italy of its obligations and imposing the initial
financial deductions in consequence within the
framework of the clearance of accounts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399 / 93

by Georgios Romeos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 32 )

Subject : Measures affecting itinerant traders

A recent decision by the Greek Ministry for Trade has
severely hampered the activities of itinerant salesmen and
traders ( more than 50 000 workers in Greece ).

In view of the fact that this decision contravenes the
provisions of Directive 75 / 369 / EEC ( : ) and infringes the
principles of equal treatment and free competition in
conducting itinerant trade as opposed to trade from
established premises, what action will the Commission take
to ensure that the Greek Ministry for Trade complies with
Community legislation ?

t 1 ) OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975, p . 29 .

No C 300 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2476 / 93

on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
( 13 December 1993 ) to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member ( 94 / C 300 / 34

to its answer to Written Question No 1609 / 93 by Mr
Papayannakis ( 1 ). Subject : Introduction of a twelve-mile fishing limit

(M OJ No C 32, 2 . 2 . 1994, p . 33 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2407 / 93

Fishing cooperatives in Greece say that there is a need
for a twelve-mile fishing limit within the EEC . Will the
Commission take any action to establish such a twelve-mile
zone ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

(1 December 1993 )
to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 33 ) Fishing limits in the Community Member States vary
according to the waters concerned and can, in some cases, be
as much as 200 miles .

Subject : Large-scale projects under package I ( RDP ) in

Greece

In Greece, the large-scale projects under package I ( RDP ) —
underground railway, major road building, natural gas —
are clearly behind schedule . What are the reasons for these
delays ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

In the Mediterranean no Community country has claimed a
fishing limit beyond its territorial waters nor indeed have
most of the other bordering countries . The authorities in
those countries and Commission representatives are
currently liaising to secure cooperation in the management
of fish stocks . Any action the Commission is likely to
propose will form part of this cooperation to which the
Commission attaches particular importance .

(2 December 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2491 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

While the overall absorption of current Community
assistance for Greece is entirely satisfactory, it is true that
certain large-scale projects have not progressed at the pace
initially envisaged .

Some of these delays ( major roads, natural gas ) have
occurred because the scale of the works has made it

necessary to set up complex administrative structures .
Other factors in the case of natural gas are the fact that the
project is completely new, the impact of changes in former
eastern bloc countries and certain unforeseeable technical

problems that have arisen .

As to the underground railway in Athens, where the Greek
authorities have created an organization specifically to take
charge of the project, the delay in the first phase of works
seems to be principally due to start-up problems, hold-ups in
deliveries to construction sites and archeological
research .

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 35 )

Subject : Safety of reactors and nuclear installations in

central and eastern Europe

Is the Commission satisfied with the measures taken to

improve reactor safety and safety procedures for reactors
and nuclear installations in the countries of central and

eastern Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1993 )

The Commission makes a very major contribution to
international efforts to improve the safety of nuclear
installations in the central and eastern E,urope .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 19

This two-fold contribution is aimed at : For air use the ' Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport
of Dangerous Goods ' are approved by the Council of the

— improving the operational safety of the installations ; International Civil Aviations Organization ( ICAO ).

— strengthening the authorities responsible for safeguards

in these countries to enable them to play their full part :
laying down of national safety regulations and checking
for compliance   - with them .

The work carried out so far will certainly have to continue
for many more years to come . If the improvements shown to
be necessary by studies are to be made, very substantial
funds will have to be made available .

The IAEA will be recommending enhanced performance
tests for fire and impact resistance for packages used in the
air transport of large quantities of radioactive material .
These will be incorporated into the next issue of the
Regulations scheduled for 1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2547 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507 / 93 ( 94 / C 300 / 37 )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 36 )

Subject : Transport of radioactive substances by air

The problems of transporting plutonium by rail or sea
become even more acute when it is transported by air, in
view of the extremes to which the plutonium containers
designed to withstand falls of only 9 metres may be
subjected, for example in the event of a crash . In view of this,
will the Commission draw up a proposal to prohibit the
transport of radioactive substances in European airspace ?

Subject : Protection of the monk seal ( Monachus
Monachus )

Mrs Eugenia Androukaki, head of the project for the
conservation of and data collection on the Mediterranean

seal, reports that 15 monk seals ( Monachus Monachus )
have been killed in Greece over the last year, eight of these
being during the last two-month period . Autopsies have
revealed that the dead seals were shot with hunting rifles or
harpoons and were found in areas where fishermen have not
been enlightened about the need to protect the monk seal —
the islands of Chios, Psara, Milos, Andros, Amorgos,
Zakynthos and Kephallonia .

Given that, at present, the number of Mediterranean seals
left in Greek waters is approximately 250 — 300, which is
half the world population, will the Commission launch a
Answer given by Mr Matutes campaign in the above areas to inform the local population

on behalf of the Commission about the need to protect the seal ?

(9 December 1993 )

Radioactive materials are transported in accordance with
the standards laid down by the International Atomic Energy
Agency ( IAEA ) of which Member States are leading
members .

The overriding tenet of the IAEA and the authorities of
Member States responsible for such transport is that a
package must safely contain its contents in both normal and
accident conditions regardless of the mode of transport .

Therefore the Commission cannot accept the suggestion
that packages used for air transport are less safe .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

Since 1992 the Community has been co-financing two
projects ( Community funding of ECU 1,26 million ) to
conserve the monk seal in all its Greek habitats . These
projects include a large element of information and
awareness raising for local inhabitants and fishermen .

No C 300 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2556 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Is it true that the Commission has this study ?

to the Commission If so, how does it intend to publish the results ?

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 38 )

Answer given by Mr Ruberti

Subject : Management of fishery resources in the on behalf of the Commission
Mediterranean (9 November 1993 )

After consulting the various fishermen 's organizations, the
Greek regions consider that a harmonized management
system should be introduced in the Mediterranean, suited to
the circumstances there while taking into account the
national regulations ( of the Member States ) applying in the
area, the participation in and acceptance of the proposed
system by third countries and the particular nature of the
island regions . What is the Commission 's view of the
management system for the Mediterranean ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1993 )

The Commission has submitted a proposal for a regulation
harmonizing various technical measures in Mediterranean
fisheries ( 1 ). This text, which is currently under discussion in
the Council and which was welcomed by Parliament, is the
first step towards introducing a common management
system for fisheries resources in the Mediterranean .

At the same time, the Commission is conducting in-depth
talks with non-member Mediterranean countries to ensure

that this management can be incorporated into a broader
framework of cooperation between all those concerned .

The report in question is part of a study made for the
Community within the Non-Nuclear Energy Research
Programme Joule II ( 1 ).

Although this study offers a useful contribution to the
understanding and discussion of the impact on climate
change, it is one element within a broader framework of
research about energy use, and the environmental and
health damage not accounted for in energy prices .

In 1991, the Commission initiated research to develop a
common methodology for the quantification and
assessment in monetary terms of the external costs and
benefits of different fuel cycles . It will consequently be
applied using the best available information on
environmental and health impact from all the relevant
scientific disciplines .

This research has already resulted in the definition and
demonstration of a common methodology . The results of
the application of this methodology to the different fuel
cycles in the Community are nevertheless not expected to be
finalised for publication before the end of 1994 .

f 1 ) ' The costs of climate change, a rough estimate of the orders of

. magnitude ', report to the Commission of the European

Communities, DG XII, Joule II . Programme by
(M COM(92 ) 533 . Fraunhofer-Institute for Systems and Innovation Research,
Karlsruhe, July 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2560 / 93

by Manfred Vohrer ( ELDR ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2569 / 93

to the Commission by Ioannis Stamoulis ( PSE )

(1 September 1993 ) to the Commission

( 94 / C 300 / 39 (1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 40 )

Subject : Unpublished study on CO2 by the Fraunhofer

Institute

Subject : Infringement of the rules governing free movement

The journal ' Das Solarzeitalter ' ( The Solar Age ), No 2,
1993, page 38, quotas a study carried out on behalf of the
EC Commission on the problem of C0 2, accrding to which
the secondary cost of energy consumption up to the year
2030 is estimated at US$ 910 billion .

of goods through the Greek authorities '
application of Directive 91 / 542 / EEC

A Joint Ministerial Decision No 13870 / 1160 of 5 April

1993 bans the movement and entry on to the market on

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 21

Greek territory of lorries and buses which are already
licensed for use and may be freely introduced on to the
market in the other Member States of the Community .

This, however, is a breach of the principle of the free
movement of goods within the Community laid down by
Articles 3a and 30 of the EEC Treaty .

The Greek Government 's spurious reference to Community
Directive 91 / 542 / EEC I 1 ) — which lays down pollutant
limit values for obtaining type approval, which is required
for initial registration — is simply misleading . The limit
values for pollutants laid down by that Directive apply only
to new vehicles to be brought into service after 1 October

1993 and not used vehicles which have already been, or will
be brought into service by that date .

Will the Community open the procedure under Article 169
of the EEC Treaty for this breach of Community law ?

f 1 ) OJ No L 295, 25 . 10 . 1991, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

The Commission is already aware of the Greek legislation

( Law 2052 / 1992 ) requiring type approval pursuant to
Directive 91 / 542 / EEC amending Directive 88 / 77 / EEC on
the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating
to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous
pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles for the
diesel engines of new or used buses and lorries weighing
more than 3,5 tonnes for which a first licence is applied for
in Greece .

Article 2 ( 4 ) of Directive 91 / 542 / EEC lays down that '. . .
Member States shall prohibit the registration, sale, entry
into service and use of new vehicles propelled by a diesel
engine and the sale and use of new diesel engines : from

1 October 1993, where the emissions of gaseous and
particulate pollutants from the engine do not comply with
the limit values set out . .

The Greek rules in this area, by making registration in
Greece of used vehicles weighing more than 3,5 tonnes and
already in circulation in another Member State conditional
on compliance with the limit values for emissions set out in
Directive 91 / 542 / EEC, seem to be open to examination in
the light of that Directive and of Articles 30—36 of the EEC
Treaty concerning the free movement of goods . This is

because, inasmuch as this prohibition relates to used
vehicles, it might be considered to constitute a measure
having equivalent effect to a quantitative restriction on
imports .

The Commission is in contact with the Greek authorities

over this legislation . It is also examining Joint Ministerial

Decision No 13870 / 1160 of 5 April 1993 to determine
whether it contains other aspects which might also be
examined in the light of Community law .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2579 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 41 )

Subject : Gypsy settlement in the vicinity of Dionysos,

Attica

Plans had been made to erect housing, schools and other
infrastructure in the area of Dionysos in Attica to
accommodate gypsies who at present are living in appalling
conditions at Liosia, elsewhere in Attica . The entire project
was to be subsidized by the Commission but, owing to the
racist attitude of the chairman of the Dionysos council,
nothing has yet been done to put the plans into action .

How will the Commission express its concern in this matter
which brings shame on civilized society ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

There is no project fitting this description being financed
under the Structural Funds . The Commission has not

received any formal request for financial assistance for such
a project, nor has it promised any . It would appear,
therefore, that the project referred to is a purely internal
matter that concerns the municipality in question and the
Greek national authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2587 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 42 )

Subject : Set-aside of farmland up to 1999

If the preliminary agreement between the USA and the EEC
signed in Washington becomes a GATT agreement, does the
Commission have estimates as to how many hectares will be
set aside up to 1999 per Member State ?

No C 300 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 ) ( 29 March 1994 )

As indicated in its communication to the Council on the
compatibility between the agricultural aspect of the GATT
negotiations and the reform of the CAP (*), the Commission
considers that it should not be necessary to adjust the
arrangements for cereals currently envisaged in the reform
of the CAP .

With regard to estimates of areas to be set aside, the
Honourable Member may refer to the estimates given by the
Commission when the reform was adopted and presented
again within the context of the budget .

f 1 ) SEC(92 ) 2267 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2621 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 43 )'

Subject : Access to information and freedom of expression

in the mother tongue as basic democratic rights of
the citizen

A report addressed to DG XIII ( A. Danzin cum suis 1992 )
stipulates that the above rights are threatened by the forces
of internationalization and industrial economies, and
negligence . It suggests a combination of countermeasures,
one of which is to develop information technologies and a
European linguistic infrastructure to support the variety of
European languages .

1 . Is the Commission preparing important initiatives to
counteract the creeping degradation of our linguistic
environments, in concertation with the Member

States ?

2 . Does the Commission agree, and is it able to quantify the
premise that, apart from the social and cultural needs to
maintain high linguistic standards, the variety of
Community languages represents an economic asset for
Europe that could generate substantial business activity
and employment at a high level ?

3 . Will the Commission, in support of its communications
with European citizens in their languages, equip itself
with the technological and logistic means that optimize
quality and cost, and thus be an example for other public
and private organizations in the Community ?

The Commission has given its full attention to the
conclusions and recommendations produced by a working
party of experts under the chairmanship of Mr Danzin, set
out in the report ' Towards a European linguistic
infrastructure '. This report recalls the impact which
technological progress has had on the development of
language, and highlights the enormous linguistic challenge
facing the Community at the dawn of the worldwide
information society . It recommends mobilizing research,
industry and the public authorities behind the development
of modern language-processing tools which will help
improve the competitiveness and efficiency of business,
administrative and scientific organizations while
maintaining cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe and
throughout the globe .

1 . The Commission is already contributing, through the
Lingua Programme ( Council Decision of 28 June 1989 ),
to promoting knowledge of foreign languages in
Europe, with particular emphasis on the less-used and
less widely-taught languages . It is also proposing a
bolstering of research efforts in the field of linguistic
engineering within the Fourth Framework Programme
of Community activities in the field of research and
technological development and demonstration

( 1994 — 1998 ). The emphasis will be placed on the
developments which can provide a rapid response to
users ' communication requirements in different
languages . The work planned, which will be based on
the results of previous research, will encourage the
design of systems which ease the integration of language
technologies in areas where language plays an essential
role ( word processing and document management
systems, telematics communication and information
services, machine translation systems and
computer-assisted translation, and language learning
tools ). It will also look at improving and harmonizing
linguistic resources ( grammars, electronic dictionaries )
with a view to making their use more widespread . At the
same time it will ensure the continuation of the generic
research needed to make progress in mastering the
complexities of language in order to promote the
development of new applications in the medium and
long tern .

2 . The Commission firmly believes that Europe 's linguistic
diversity is an economic and cultural asset which must
be preserved . It is a factor, for instance, in the dynamism
and creativity of the publishing sector, which has a
turnover of ECU 75 billion . The Commission does not

have precise figures for the scale of economic activity
which results from the need to communicate between

different languages . However, to give some indication,
the time devoted to the translation of documents at

work is estimated at some 240 000 man years .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 23

3 . The Commission itself has one of the largest translation

services in the world, and has endeavoured from the
outset to exploit the benefits of new technologies in
processing language . It has devised multilingual action
plans to promote the introduction within its
departments of modern tools to improve the quality and
reduce the cost of communicating in the various
Community languages . Since 1976 it has been working
on the Systran machine translation system, using various
pairs of languages . This is used to translate almost

10 000 pages a month ( largely rough translations for use
in-house ). Translators also have access to
Eurodicautom, one of the largest databases available, to
assist them in their work . The experience acquired by
the European institutions as pioneer users is an asset
from which the entire Community can benefit .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2629 / 93

by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 44 )

Subject : Radio Enriquillo broadcasts in Creole from the

Dominican Republic

Radio Enriquillo, which is situated in the Dominican
Republic, has been banned from broadcasting messages in
Creole to Haiti ( see also my Oral Question H-469 / 93 O ).

Does the Commission not consider that the ban on

programmes in Creole is contrary to the aims of the
Community and the Lome Convention as regards the
promotion of democracy, human rights and freedom of the
press and of information ?

( x ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-432 ( June 1993 ).

Answer given by Mr van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

The agreement signed in New York on 3 July between
President Aristide and the Commander in Chief of the

Haitian army opened the way for the restoration of
constitutional government and the return of President
Aristide to Haiti .

The Commission wholeheartedly condemns attempts to
sabotage the agreement, under which the appointment of
the Prime Minister, Robert Malval, and his government
team was ratified .

It also hopes that favourable developments in the current
situation will remove the need for the Dominican

government 's ban on broadcasts in Creole from Radio
Enriquillo, imposed in the light of the political instability in
Haiti and the desire not to interfere in the affairs of a

neighbouring country .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2722 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 45

Subject : Efects of drilling wells in the plain of
Orchomenos

Drilling of wells in the Plain of Orchomenos in a bid to
improve the water supply to Athens has created enormous
problems in the area .

The ' Graces ' Springs ' ( Piges Chariton ), an archaeological
site of great natural beauty renowned since ancient times,
have dried up . It is feared that the damage could prove
irreversible .

In addition, there are problems in irrigating the plain
because of inadequate investment in the rational and
economic use of existing resources .

Given that the Athens water supply projects are funded
under the Community Support Framework, will the
Commission say :

1 . whether studies are available assessing the
environmental impact of the drilling in the Plain of
Orchomenos ?

2 . what measures it will take to prevent an ecological

disaster and the ruin of the Capaic Plains ?

3 . whether it intends to fund projects to promote the
rational development of water resources for irrigating
the Plain of Orchomenos ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1994 )

According to the information received from the Greek
authorities it would appear that no assessment of the
environmental impact of the project in question was carried
out . Given that such an assessment may be required under
Community legislation the Commission has suspended
payments in respect of the project pending clarification of
the matter .

More generally, the Commission confirms its willingness
in principle to support from Community funds for

No C 300 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

well-conceived operations for improving the utilisation of — to inform its national associations about activities and
water resources in Greece . developments at Community level ;

— to provide an annual report concerning activities

undertaken in its field at European level .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2747 / 93

by Marlene Lenz ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 16 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 46 )

Subject : Helios II Programme — European Federation of

National Associations of the Families of the

Mentally 111

The Commission 's communication on its action programme
relating to the implementation of the Community Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers stresses that the
social and economic integration and the independent way of
the life of disabled people need to be developed and
promoted both at national and at Community level .

In what way is the European Federation of the Mentally 111,
which pursues the abovementioned objectives, involved in
the Commission Helios II Programme ?

Has the Commission considered this Federation as a

possible representative on the Forum or in the dialogue
Group for the disabled under the Helios II Programme ?

The opportunities offered to Eufami are as follows . It

may :

— receive financial support for conferences, seminars or

study visits with a European dimension which address
the priority themes ;

— participate in any activities organised in the field

of intellectual impairment under the Helios II
Programme ;

— receive information from the ERC-WFMH on the

Forum 's activities ;

— express its opinion on the coordination of all the

activities carried out under the Helios Programme .

Eufami also has the possibility of participating in national
information days on the problems of the disabled, organized
as part of Helios .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-2779 / 93

( 29 November 1993 ) by Adriana Ceci ( PSE )

to the Commission

The European Federation of National Associations for the ( 28 September 1993 )
Mentally 111 ( Eufami ) is a partner of the European Disability ( 94 / C 300 / 47 )
Forum, under the Helios II Programme .

The European Disability Forum comprises 12
representatives of the most representative European
associations for the disabled and 12 representatives of
national councils or the most representative national
associations in each Member State .

The specific task of the European Disability Forum is to
express an opinion on all ' relevant issues relating to
Helios II .

As a partner association in the ' intellectual impairment '
sector, which is coordinated by the European Regional
Secretariat of the World Federation for Mental Health

( ERC-WFMH ), Eufami has the following tasks :

— to stimulate, coordinate and evaluate its national

asociations ' activities ;

— to advise the Commission on technical issues relating to

intellectual impairment ;

Subject : ' Kaleidoscope ' Programme

In connection with the ' Kaleidoscope ' Programme :

1 . How many projects have been selected for funding ?

2 . What was the distribution by Member State of projects

submitted and selected ?

3 . How many projects submitted by operators from
regions included in Objectives 1, 2 and 5a were accepted
for funding ?

4 . What were the selection criteria used ?

5 . What criteria were used to appoint the ' independent

selection panel '?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 25

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The ' Kaleidoscope ' Programme, set up by the Community
to support cultural projects and events in 1993, was
published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities ( 1 ).

From the 1 493 projects submitted to the Commission, 135
were selected and a total of ECU 2 936 200 made available .
A list of the selected projects was attached to the press
release of 4 June 1993, a copy of which is being sent to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat .

It is not possible to give an authoritative breakdown of
projects by Member State since Kaleidoscope is intended for
European projects : partners from at least three Member
States must be involved in organizing the event and actually
take part in it . The number of projects submitted by each
Member State is given below .

The projects were selected on the basis of the opinion of a
panel of independent experts chosen by the Member States
for their knowledge and experience in the field of
culture .

The formal criteria used to select the projects were set out in
the Official Journal of the European Communities

( European dimension, balanced budget, completion of
project by the end of the year ). The panel 's views as to their
quality were also taken into account . Many of the projects
not selected were, of course, worthy of support, but
unfortunately the resources available were not sufficient to
cover all the projects submitted under the programme .

The ' Kaleidoscope ' Programme is organized by the
Commission as a way of bringing the public into contact
with European culture and history and promoting artistic
and cultural cooperation between professionals . The
programme is completely unrelated to the Structural Funds
and covers the whole Community . However, around thirty
of the Kaleidoscope projects selected for 1993 were, as it
happens, submitted by operators in Objective 1 regions and
another thirty or so by operators in Objective 2 regions . All
the selected projects came from Objective 5a regions, since
this objective applies to the whole of the Community .

Number of projects submitted by each Member States

Belgium 110

Denmark 63

Germany 283

Greece 109

Spain 111

France 280

Ireland 52

Italy 168

Luxembourg 6

Netherlands 72

Portugal 32

United Kingdom 153

Other countries 54

Total 1 493

(M OJ No C 237, 16 . 9 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2787 / 93

by John Bird ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 September 1993 )

94 / C 300 / 48 )

Subject : Testing of cosmetics on animals

Is the Commission aware of the widely held view that
Germany forbids the testing of decorative cosmetics, as well
as washing powders, weapons, and tobacco on animals ?

Can the Commission confirm or deny that such a ban exists
in Germany ?

Can the Commission also inform me whether other Member

States have instituted similar bans ?

If these bans do exist, how do they affect the Commission 's
recent pronouncements in respect of European Community
wide legislation regarding the testing of cosmetics on
animals ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

Paragraph 7 ( 5 ) of the current German law on the protection
of animals (' Tierschutzgesetz ') bans, in principle,
experiments on animals during the development of tobacco
products, washing powders and cosmetics .

On 14 June 1993, the Council unanimously adopted
Directive 93 / 35 / EEC amending for the sixth time the
Cosmetics Directive . Out of a concern to improve the
protection of animals, this Directive provides for a ban on
the marketing of cosmetics containing ingredients or
combinations of ingredients tested on animals, with effect
from 1 January 1998 . The transition period up to 1 January
1998 was considered necessary for the development and
testing of alternative methods to tests on animals, given that
in most areas there is no alternative to in vivo study . An
extension of this deadline will be possible under certain
conditions .

No C 300 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

In the light of the above, the existing ban does not appear to
run counter to the spirit of the Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2805 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 50 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2798 / 93 Subject : Technology transfer projects

by Jan Bertens ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 49 )

Subject : Possible infringement of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC

Is the Commission aware that the Belgian Region of
Wallonia intends to use the former Hallembaye marLpit in
Lixhe to dump waste, including chemical waste ?

Can the Commission confirm that an environmental impact
assessment would be required for this project pursuant to
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC O ?

Has an EIA been carried out and, given the international
implications, have there been any consultations with other
Member States affected, in this case the Netherlands, in
accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the
Directive ?

If not, will the Commission take steps to draw the
obligations resulting from this Directive to the attention of
the competent authorities ?

(!) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

The Commission has been officially informed of projects to
create a dump site in Hallembaye .

It will contact the Belgian authorities to obtain information
on the nature of the project . It will determine whether
authorization has been granted for the project and whether
procedures preceded the authorities decision .

Last January saw the start of the implemenation of the
twelve specific trans-national technology transfer projects
under the Sprint Programme . These include two projects
involving Spain : one on computer aided fashion design and
the other on power station maintenance . The respective
countries of origin are Italy and Germany .

Can the Commission say which Spanish undertakings
benefit from these programmes or from any other of these
twelve programmes which relate to Spain ? Can the
Commission also indicate to what extent these initiatives

have been implemented, given that we are already eight
months into 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

In the context of the strategic programme for innovation
and technology transfer ( Sprint ), specific intra-Community
technology transfer projects are large-scale demonstration
projects designed to adapt and transfer technologies
developed and used in one region or industrial sector to
other regions or sectors . The guiding principle of all these
projects is to demonstrate the feasibility of technology
transfer, taking account of all its aspects ( technology,
management, training, funding and industrial property ).
The projects are carried out by partnerships made up of
technological institutes and companies from several
Member States . Those that are successful are intended to be

reproduced and developed in a broader European context,
in other industries or regions .

Following the publication of calls for proposals in 1989 and

1990, and completion of a feasibility study phase, 21
specific projects are now in the implementation phase . Of
these, 10 involve one or more participants from Spain . The
Commission is sending the details of participation by
Spanish firms direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament 's Secretariat .

As regards the state of progress on these projects, the
implementation and dissemination phases of the specific
projects currently underway are due to be completed in

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 27

1994 or 1995 . In addition, consideration is currently being case, has asked the Italian authorities for details on the
given to throwing open some of the projects to new allegations of unlawful conduct by Mr Antonio Peda .
participants and / or Member States, to increase their
dissemination potential .

With regard to falsification in the wine sector mentioned on
page 82, the case recorded in the Palermo region, which was
notified to the Commission, involves fraud amounting to
three million lire . The case is now sub judice and the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2819 / 93 Commission cannot give an opinion on the outcome .

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 51 )

Subject : Allegations of fraud involving Community funds

in Italy

A year ago, in August 1992, the first edition of the book

' L'Inferno, Profundo Sud, male oscuro ' by the famous
Italian journalist, Dr Giorgio Bocca, was published . The
copyright is held by Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan .

Amongst various theories, declarations and information, of
which the Italian authorities and readers must be the judges,
the book makes a number of allegations in connection with
fraud involving Community funds in that Member State .
These allegations are made in the following pages of the first
edition :

page 33, in relation with the commissioner appointed for the
Municipality of Gioia Tauro ; page 82, citing fraud involving
seven million hectolitres of wine ; page 126, referring to the
breeding of non-existent cattle ; page 210, on the guarantees
offered by Community legislation to certain counterfeiters ;
page 213, explaining some of the features of the functioning
of AIMA ; and page 220, on a contract declared to be
irregular by the EEC .

Given that sufficient time has passed for conclusions to be
reached on the above claims and information, which will not
have escaped the notice of the Commission and of its office
in Rome, can the Commission explain how it has reacted to
each of the cases cited in this book ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

The Commission relies mainly on the Member States to
inform it of fraud against of the Community budget, and
specific procedures apply for that purpose under the
Regulations for each budgetary area ( J ); the answer which
follows reflects this situation .

With regard to the case mentioned on page 33 of Mr Bocca 's

book, the Commission, which has no information on the

With regard to fraud relating to livestock mentioned on
page 126, the Commission knew of several cases of fraud
involving premiums . Suckler-cow premiums were corrected
by ECU 4 154 340 and research 6 992 600 for the years
1986 / 87 and 1987 / 88 respectively . 63 % of the expenditure
on ewe and goat premiums was not approved when the

1988 accounts were cleared and a financial correction is

being made for 1992 .

With regard to the operation of the AIMA challenged on
page 213, the Commission recently reminded the Italian
authorities that the intervention agency appointed by the
Member State must act as an independent body for
implementing the common agricultural policy and that it is
not authorized to subdelegate the management of
intervention mechanisms to private bodies .

With regard to fraudulent conduct such as that mentioned
on page 210, specific measures to afford the protection of
the criminal law to the financial interests of the Community
must be taken at Community level in order to remove the
incompatibilities recorded in the comparative study of the
laws of the Member States applicable to fraud against the
Community budget ( 2 ), as announced by the Commission
before Parliament 's Committee on Budgetary Control on
3 November 1993 . Close cooperation between the
Commission and the Italian authorities, both judicial ( at
present, according to the Italian Ministry for Justice, there
are over 1 300 criminal proceedings involving 4 700
persons charged with fraud against the Community budget )
and administrative ( investigation bodies ), makes it possible
to combat fraud more effectively .

( x ) Own resources : Regulation ( EEC ) No 1552 / 89, 29 . 5 . 1989, OJ

No L 155, 7 . 6 . 1989 . EAGGF : Regulation ( EEC ) No 595 / 91,
4 . 3 . 1991, OJ No L 67, 14 . 3 . 1991 . Structural Funds :
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88, 19 . 12 . 1988, OJ No L 374,
31 . 12 . 1988 .

( 2 ) Requested by resolution of the Council ( Justice ) of 13 . 11 . 1991,

OJ No C 328, 17 . 12 . 1991 .

No C 300 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

QUESTION E-2847 / 93 goats find themselves without help . What support, if any,

Alex Smith ( PSE ) can the Community extend to cashmere producers in the

UK ?
to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2847 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 52 )

Subject : Directive on freedom of access to information on

the environment

Further to the reply of 2 May 1993 to my Written Question
No 493 / 93 i 1 ), will the Commission indicate the responses
made respectively by the governments of Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain to the Article 169 letter
sent on the failure of these Member States to implement
Directive 90 / 313 / EEC { 2 ) on freedom of access to
information on the environment by the required date of
31 December 1992 ?

(!) OJ No C 207, 30 . 7 . 1993, p . 43 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 158, 23 . 6 . 1990, p . 56 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

Although Directive 90 / 313 / EEC on the freedom of access to
information on the environment entered into force on

31 December 1992, measures to incorporate it into national
law ha^e still to be adopted in Germany, Greece and
Italy .

Letters of formal notice have been sent out for failure to

notify the Commission of national implementing measures .
The subsequent course of the infringement proceedings will
depend on the replies received .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2855 / 93

by Henry McCubbin ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 53 )

Subject : Cashmere producers in the UK

The Commission might be aware of the importance of the
textile industry to the economy of the UK . The UK,
especially Scotland, is the largest processor of cashmere in
the world and relies for its raw material on China, Iran, Iraq
and Afghanistan, countries which are not noted for their
political and economic stability . Thousands of textile
workers, in an industry employing a large proportion of
women, are therefore at risk of unemployment due to this
instability .

However, cashmere fibre producers in the UK face problems
due to the lack of support from the UK Government and
Community . Those farmers that have tried to diversify into

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The extent of Community assistance for cashmere fibre
production in the UK has been relatively small, taking the
form of a pilot cheme for cashmere goat production under
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4256 / 88 ( J ). There are no specific
measures for providing further aid to producers of cashmere
fibre .

In Member States, support for the production of goat meat
in less-favoured areas is possible under Regulation ( EEC )
No 2328 / 91 ( 2 ). However, the option to provide aid under
this Regulation is discretionary, and within the United
Kingdom has not been taken up for goat producers . .

Within the Regulations dealing with the common
organization of the market for sheepmeat and goatmeat in
the Community there is no provision for the support of goat
production in the United Kingdom . Given the extremely
small size of the goat flock there and the fact that goats are
kept largely for milk rather than meat production it would
be inappropriate to provide premium type support to
them .

(!) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 218, 6 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2857 / 93

by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 54 )

Subject : Biofuels

National legislation has been enacted or proposed in several
Member States to encourage biofuels production by
completely eliminating fuel tax or reducing it substantially
below that of competing fossil fuels .

1 . ( a ) Could the Commission advise why its own proposal
to reduce taxation on biofuels ( COM(92 ) 36
final ) ( x ) is thus necessary, if these national

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 29

programmes are fully compatible with current
legislation ?

( b ) Has the Commission advised Member States on

specific limits to national programmes such that
they will be compatible with current legislation ?

( c ) What practical steps has the Commission taken ( as
with wine alcohol ) to prevent subsidized bioethanol
and glycerine competing with unsubsidized
products in established Community markets ?

2 . In view of the widespread concern about the underlying

economics of biofuels, Parliament 's Economic and
Monetary Affairs Committee last November asked the
Commission to clarify the macro-economic impact of a
large-scale biomass programme in the EC . When will the
result be circulated ?

( ! ) OJ No C 73, 24 . 3 . 1992, p . 6 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 )

1 . ( a ) At present, the fiscal treatment of biofuels is
determined by Council Directive 92 / 81 / EEC of
19 October 1992 concerning the harmonization of
structures of excise duties on mineral oils (*).
Article 8.2 d stipulates that Member States may
apply total or partial exemptions or reductions
in the rates of duty, in the field of pilot projects,
for the technological development of more
environmentally-friendly products and, in
particular, in relation to fuels from renewable
resources . Under this legislation, some Member
States today apply exemptions or reductions in their
rates of excise duty on biofuels which are produced
within the framework of pilot projects .

However, under existing Community legislation,
biofuels produced on an industrial basis outside the
framework of a pilot project should in accordance
with Article 2 paragraph 3 of the Directive be
subject to the same rate of excise duty as that applied
to similar mineral oils . For this reason, the
Commission submitted to the Council a proposal
concerning the application of excise duties to fuels
of agricultural origin which would provide a legal
framework for a reduced rate of excise duty to be
applied generally to such fuels .

( b ) The Commission considers that, in the first instance,

it is up to Member States to judge whether a
particular national programme qualifies as a pilot
project .

( c ) In accordance with Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1765 / 92, Commission Regulation ( EEC )
No 334 / 93 allows certain raw materials to be grown
for the production of bioethanol on land set aside on
the condition that the economic valuation of the

non-food products obtained from any processing of
these raw materials is higher than that of all other
products obtained during the same processing
which are destined for human or animal

consumption .

Under these conditions, the farmer who sets aside his land
within the context of this scheme will be eligible for a
compensatory payment in respect of his obligation to set a
portion of his land aside .

As such, it is the land upon which the raw material is grown
that is subsidised, rather than the agricultural raw material
or any product derived from the raw material .

Furthermore current Community legislation prohibits any
EAGGF guarantee measures under Article 1 ( 2 ) of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 729 / 70 ( e.g. guaranteed minimum
prices, export refunds etc .) from being applied to any raw
material grown on set aside land which qualifies for
compensation, and any end product derived from such raw
material .

This being the case, there is no agricultural subsidy directly
in favour of bioethanol and glycerine production when such
products are derived from agricultural raw material grown
on set aside land .

Equally, there is no fiscal incentive granted for such
products if they are sold as industrial alcohol since both
existing Community legislation as well as the draft
Commission proposal on biofuels only provides for
exemption or reduced tax rates for bioethanol which is used
as motor fuel .

2 . With regard to the question of the macroeconomic
impact of a large-scale biomass programme, this matter was
covered in the document ' Biomass — a new future ' ( 2 ) which
was submitted to the Monetary Affairs Committee of
Parliament on June 1992 . However, in order to avoid any
ambiguity on this matter, the Commission has recently
prepared a new document clarifying the macro-economic
effects of a programme of fiscal incentives designed to
encourage biofuels production .

(!) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992 .

( 2 ) SEC(92 ) 1210 .

No C 300 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2859 / 93

by Vincenzo Mattina ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 55 )

Subject : The EMS crisis and its adverse repercussions for

the citizens of Europe

Having regard to the decision adopted on 2 August 1993 by
the Finance Ministers and the Governors of the Central

Banks of the Member States to widen the compulsory
intervention thresholds within the EMS,

Whereas this decision has and will continue to have adverse

repercussions for private citizens and economic operators
who, counting on the fact that the rate for the ECU was set
within the EMS, have taken out loans in ECU,

Whereas the monetary crisis was not caused by
unforeseeable, uncontrollable events but by the failure of
national governments to stand by their monetary
commitments,

Does the Commission not feel that it should see to it that

steps are taken to ensure that such loans are converted by the
banks into local currency, on the basis of the ECU rate at the
time at which they were taken out ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

beginning of Stage Three will the exchange rates of the
currencies of the convergent Member States be irrevocably
fixed .

Nevertheless, pursuant to Directive 84 / 450 / EEC on
misleading advertising ( J ) ( implemented in Italy through D.
Leg . 74 / 92 of 25 January 1992 ), the information about
terms and conditions of contracts must be comprehensive
and fair . Furthermore, in the particular case of consumer
credits, rules about information are set up by two Directives,
which have been already both implemented in Italy .

(!) OJ No L 250, 19 . 9 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866 / 93

by Lord Ingle wood ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

94 / C 300 / 56

Subject : Mutual recognition of medical qualifications

What steps is the Commission taking to amend the medical
Directives to extent the arrangements for automatic
recognition of the medical qualifications of EC citizens to
those whose primary qualificatinos were obtained outside
the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission
( 24 February 1994 )
(8 December 1993 )

Loan contracts denominated in ecus are, like those
denominated in any other currency, likely to include clauses
laying down the conditions for the repayment of the
principal and the payment of interest . The exchange rate risk
which is implicit in every kind of loan denominated in a
foreign currency is usually counter-balanced by a level of
interest rates different from that of the national currency,
which derives from the expectation of currency
fluctuations .

The principle of freedom of contract is recognised by
national courts and has been confirmed by the Court of
Justice of the European Communities . Any action by the

Commission to alter contracts retrospectively would have
no legal basis, except in some cases where the contractual
clauses themselves constitute a violation of rules laid down

by Community law .

This is not the case here . As things stand, no subjective right
of the citizens of the Community exists in respect of any
obligation on Member States to maintain national
currencies within the fluctuation margins of the European
Monetary System . Also during Stage Two of the EMU,
which entered into force in January 1994, realignments of
the EMS parities are not legally forbidden . Only from the

The question of whether any amendments could be made to
the doctors Directive 93 / 16 / EEC (*) to cover medical
qualifications issued by third countries to Community
nationals, was discussed, at the initiative of the
Commission, by the Committee of Senior Officials on Public
Health . This Committee consists of senior officials

designated by each of the Member States and delivers
opinions to guide the Commission 's work with a view to
possible amendments to the Directive ( 2 ).

In December 1992 the Committee noted that the possible
extension of the recognition of training in third countries
would require the definition of firm guarantees as to quality
of both the training and the manner in which the diploma
was checked by the first Member State which recognized it .
In particular, there was no majority in the Committee in
favour of a possible alignment with the solution provided
for in the general system for the recognition of diplomas
from third countries ( Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 3 )), i.e.
recognition of third country diplomas held by a Community
national after three years of experience in the first Member
State which recognized the diploma .

Under these circumstances, the Commission does not intend
to present a proposal amending the doctors Directive in

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 31

order to extend it to qualifications issued by third
countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2915 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(!) OJ No L 165, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975 . ( 18 October 1993 )

( 3 ) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 . 94 / C 300 / 58

Subject : Pollution of the Saronic Gulf

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2879 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 57 )

Subject : Implementation of Directive 80 / 779 / EEC

Article 3 of Directive 80 / 779 / EEC 0 ) on air quality limit
values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended
particulates provides that Member States shall forward to
the Commission plans for the progressive improvement of
the quality of air in zones in which concentrations of sulphur
dioxide and suspended particulates in the atmosphere
exceed the limit values after 1 April 1983 . It also provides
that these plans be submitted as soon as possible and by

1 April 1993 at the latest . Although Greece has not solved
th£ serious atmospheric pollution problems facing Attica, it
has so far failed to forward to the Commission a programme
for improving the quality of the atmosphere in accordance
with Directive 80 / 779 / EEC .

Will the Commission — whose Directorate-General for the

Environment has repeatedly financed studies on combating
pollution in Attica — say whether it has invoked — or
intends to invoke — the procedure provided for under
Article 169 of the EEC Treaty, given Greece 's failure to
implement the above Directive ?

(!) OJ No L~229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 30 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the problems with air pollution
in Athens . It maintains very close bilateral contracts with the
competent Greek authorities in order to ensure compliance
with Directive 80 / 779 / EEC on sulphur dioxide and
suspended particulates and Directive 85 / 203 / EEC on
nitrogen dioxide .

The Saronic Gulf is facing serious pollution from effluent
and rubbish and the consequences will be incalculable if the
Piraeus Port Authority and the other relevant authorities
continue to countenance this unacceptable situation . From
Perama to Flisvo the sea is full of timber, rusting iron rods,
plastic bags, cardboard boxes and petroleum products and
scores of sunken ships or fishing boats which are sources of
pollution . Will the Commission say what measures it has in
mind to tackle pollution in the Saronic Gulf caused by
effluent and rubbish ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

Action by the Community relating to the environment is
defined in Article 130 R of the EC Treaty .

The general framework of Community legislation on water
pollution ' and waste and the environmental protection
measures which the Member States must apply have been
defined on the basis of this Article .

Council Directive 91 / 271 / EEC on urban waste-water
treatment requires that all agglomerations with a
population equivalent of more than 2 000 be provided with
collecting systems for urban waste water . The deadline runs
from 31 December 1998 to 31 December 2005 depending
on the size of the agglomeration and the sensitivity of the
receiving waters .

The Commission cannot take the place of the national or
local authorities responsible for applying this Directive and
for protecting the environment in general, including the
Saronic Gulf .

Action taken by Greece to protect the environment receives
Community support from the Structural Funds and the
Cohesion Fund .

It is for the Greek authorities to assess how urgently action is
required to clean up the Saronic Gulf .

No C 300 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2943 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2927 / 93 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2943

by Alexandres Alavanos ( GUE ) by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

by Alexandres Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 18 October 1993 ) ( 20 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 59 ) ( 94 / C 300 / 60 )

Subject : Marketing of production of Greek table grapes

Subject : Implementation of the Regen Programme in

Greece

The Regen Programme which forms part of the Community
initiatives has provided for financial assistance to Greece
amounting to ECU 87 million .

Will the Commission :

1 . Say how much of this sum has been taken up every year
— and for what purposes — and how much remains to

be taken up in 1993 ?

2 . Provide information describing the concrete progress of
the projects undertaken under the above Programme ?

It will be impossible to market Greek production of table
grapes — which in the Prefectures of Chalkidiki and Kavala
alone amounts to 230 000 tonnes — unless transport to the
various markets is subsidized . In view of the above, does the
Commission intend to subsidize transport so as to made the
marketing of Greek table grapes economically viable ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Written Question No 2133 / 93 i 1 ).

(!) OJ No C 226, 16 . 8 . 1994, p . 26 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3004 / 93

by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )
Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission to the Commission

( 21 December 1993 ) ( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 61 )

The subsidy granted to Greece under the Regen initiative
amounted to ECU 87 million at 1991 prices ( i.e. ECU 89,9
million at 1993 prices ), accounting for 35% of the
corresponding public expenditure .

ECU 8,1 million of the subsidy was taken up in 1991, ECU
34,7 million in 1992 and ECU 22,5 million during the first
half of 1993, i.e. in total ECU 65,3 million at 1993 prices .
The available balance therefore amounts to ECU 24,6
million . According to current forecasts, this amount will be
spent before the end of 1993 .

The appropriations granted under Regen between 1991 and

1993 were used for the supply and installation of, and the
application of a protective coating to, the main
high-pressure gas pipeline between the Bulgarian border and
Athens .

Subject : Democracy and development in Africa

The Pons Grau report on democracy, human rights and
development in the ACP countries was adopted at - the
meeting of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly in Gaborone .

1 . What steps will be taken to ensure that the human rights

of ACP citizens in the Community, particularly the right
to asylum and the right to vote in local and European
elections, are respected ?

2 . What lessons does the Commission draw from the

debate which took place in the Joint Assembly that will
enable it to define more clearly its policy on aid for
democratization ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

The Commission welcomes the open and constructive
discussion which took place in the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 33

and the Pons Grau report on democracy, human rights and
development in the ACP States .

Very important points were made, such as the link between
the promotion of and respect for human rights and
democratic principles and the objective of sustainable and
fair development .

Clearly these aspects should be taken into account in
cooperation relations between the Community and the ACP
States and respect for human rights in general, including the
right of asylum, should evidently be guaranteed in the
Community and in the ACP States . In this connection it
should be noted that all the Community Member States
have ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugee status
and the 1967 New York Protocol which provides the legal
basis for the protection of refugees .

With regard to aid for democratization, the Community has
from the outset greatly assisted moves towards democracy
in several ACP countries, particularly in Africa . The
Commission has used the various financial instruments

available to provide practical support for over twenty ACP
States which embarked on such a process . Besides this help
the Commission considers that support should be given to
consolidating the rule of law and promoting good
governance . In the mid-term review of Lome IV the
Commission has accordingly put forward proposals aimed

at :

— setting up instruments which will act as an incentive to

promoting and strengthening the structures of the rule of
law and good governance ;

— promoting local initiatives which will help to create a

basic democratic fabric as a result of more effective

cecentralized cooperation .

this regard is a fundamental barrier to disabled travellers in
Europe .

Can a list be provided on the persons bearing responsibility
for this area of service both in the Commission and in each

Member State ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 March 1994 )

Providing toilet facilities in public places, including those
specially adapted for the disabled, is a responsibility of the
Member States .

As regards toilet facilities adapted to the specific needs of
disabled persons in means of transport, these are covered by
the proposed Directive on minimum requirements to
improve the mobility and the safe transport to work of
workers with reduced mobility, presented by the
Commission on 20 December 1991 ( 1 ).

The Commission does not have a list of the persons
responsible for this matter within the Member States .

Within the Commission itself, the department responsible
for the integration of disabled persons is Unit V / E / 3
' Measures for the disabled '.

(M COM(91 ) 539 final — SYN 327 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3072 / 93

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

(5 November 1993 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3019 / 93 ( 94 / C 300 / 63 )

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

- ( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 62 )

Subject : Disabled persons ' toilet provision throughout the

Community

Given the Community 's commitments to broadening
peoples ' horizons through encouraging travel, meeting and
mixing with others, and also to widening opportunities for
people suffering from disabilities, are there any plans to
achieve a common approach on toilet provision in public
places for disabled people ? The lack of adequate facilities in

Subject : EC cooperation with the Asean States

At the Ninth EP / AIPO Interparliamentary Meeting, and in
the report drawn up on the subject, it was indicated that
since the cooperation agreement the Community has
granted assistance to over 50 projects and initiatives
totalling approximately 95 million dollars and that the
contributions from the Community and its Member States
to the Asean in 1992 increased to 216 million dollars,
essentially in the form of loans .

Can the Commission say what projects received assistance
in 1992 and 1993, for what purpose the loans were granted
and which countries are concerned ?

No C 300 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Marin

- on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 ) ( 22 March 1994 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission

communication to the Council and Parliament of
27 October 1992 on the principle of subsidiarity ( 1 ).

Since the conclusion of the trade and economic cooperation communication to the Council and
agreement in 1980, EC-Asean cooperation has expanded 27 October 1992 on the principle of subsidiarity
and diversified . The Community provides grants to finance
cooperation activities in accordance with directives flowing (M SEC(92 ) 1990 final .
from the Council Regulation governing technical assistance
and economic cooperation with Asian and Latin American
countries ( the latest update is Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 443 / 92 ). Within Asia, the whole of Asean is targeted
either by regional projects or by bilateral operations with
individual Asean members, depending on their specific
requirements .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3115 / 93

(M SEC(92 ) 1990 final .

The main thrust of regional cooperation is to provide
support for Asean 's own integration process . Cooperation
with the individual member countries is directed towards

economic and social development for the poorer sections of
their population, the development of human resources, the
efficient exploitation of natural resources and the protection
of the environment in general, including forestry resources ;
it also covers cooperation between EC and Asean firms and
the establishment of joint ventures .

Other cooperation measures are also financed each year
from specific budget headings relating e.g. to scientific and
technical cooperation, energy, humanitarian aid, drug
control and aid for refugees .

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

94 / C 300 / 65 )

Subject : Stage reached regarding the plan to establish the

Euro     - Arab University in Granada

Various different Spanish authorities and Members of the
European Commission have recently made conflicting and
somewhat confusing statements to the media as regards the
plans to establish the Euro-Arab University in Granada .

Can the Commission make an unequivocal statement on the
current situation as regards the plan to establish a
A list of the main operations undertaken in 1992 and 1993 Euro-Arab University in Granada, so as to enable the public

( provisional ) is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and interested institutions to be accurately informed ?
and to Parliament 's Secretariat .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088 / 93

answer to the question H-1081 / 93 of Mrs Izquierdo

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE ) Rojo i 1 ). It would reiterate that, in spite of their lack of

to the Commission formal progress on this question in the Euro-Arab Dialogue,

(5 November 1993 ) the Commission as well as the Spanish authorities remain

committed to the project and are cooperating in actions that

( 94 / C 300 / 64 ) should contribute positively to its future realisation .

Moreover, the Commission confirms that at no time have
any objections been raised to the choice of Granada as the
seat of the future University and concern over maintaining
Subject : Common approach to the concept of powers the choice of Granada is therefore unjustified .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088 / 93

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 64 )

In what way is the Commission seeking a common approach
to the concept of exclusive powers and shared powers, in the
absence of a definition thereof in the Treaty on European
Union ?

(*) Debates of the European Parliament, No 3-437 ( October
1993 ).

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 123 / 93

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 66 )

Subject : Comprehensibility of application forms and
conditions for aid

1 . Is the Commission aware that, in almost all Member
States, complaints are made that tendering and payment
conditions, together with the conditions for financial
assistance by the Community for all types of programmes,
are too complicated ?

2 . Is the Commission prepared to accept that this is
particularly true in respect of youth programmes, for
examples Inlingua or Erasmus ?

3 . What complaints concerning complicated application
forms and lack of transparency have been made directly to
the Commission ? Who has made these complaints and
when ?

4 . Even if the Commission does not share the views of the

public and Members of the European Parliament
concerning the complexity of the application procedures, is
it nevertheless prepared to simplify matters, for example by
referring the matter to institutes and organizations with
professional experience ? Is it prepared to draw up and
publish an interim report in the Official Journal within three
months ?

distributing ' guides for applicants ' or organizing
information meetings . Information brochures are specially
planned for potential recipients of aid to young people . With
regard to contracts concluded with consumer organizations,
it is planned to give the contracting parties information
beforehand on the accounting requirements in order to
speed up payments .

It should be pointed out that improvements are conditioned
by the growing needs in respect of information on projects
and participants . This is especially the case for the Erasmus
Programme, where recipients need to be well targeted . The
fact of asking project initiators for detailed information
makes for greater transparency in programme requirements
and can guide applicants in the preparation of their
projects .

The Commission is constantly trying to simplify procedures .
When the last report on administrative simplification in the
Community was approved, the Commission initiated
internal procedures to simplify forms sent to outside

operators .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 149 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

94 / C 300 / 67

(7 March 1994 )

The award of Community aid is governed by a number of
concrete conditions which are not necessarily laid down by
the Commission . In the field of education, training and
youth, participation in the programmes is through calls for
proposals launched each year in accordance with the criteria
explained in the various ' Vademecum ' or ' guides for the
applicant ', following agreement by each Programme
Committee . With regard to certain measures under the
' Lingua ' and ' Youth for Europe ' programmes, which have
decentralized structures and to which the Honourable

Member refers specifically, for the sake of nearness national
agencies are responsible for application procedures .

Some conditions to be met for receiving aid result from
requirements laid down in Community legislation .
Consumer organizations who concluded contracts with the
Commission criticized the complex financial conditions to
be met and the length of time then required for payment to
be made . However, strict accounting practices must be
applied in the management of the public purse .
Notwithstanding these constraints, the Commission is
endeavouring to introduce simplifications and it is prepared
to examine any suggestion to simplify application
formalities .

The Commission tries to supply the most suitable
information possible to potential aid recipients by

Subject : Community Directives which have not been

transposed by the Greek authorities into national
law

Can the Commission give a list of Community Directives
which are currently in force but have not been transposed by
the Greek authorities into national law ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1994 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the tenth annual

report on the monitoring of the application of Community
lawO ) and to the eleventh report as soon as it is
available .

(!) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993 .

No C 300 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 172 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3201 / 93

by James Janssen van Raay ( PPE )

Janssen van Raay ( PPE ) by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 68 ) ( 94 / C 300 / 69

Subject : Access to justice Subject : Rural social structures

The Commission stated its intention to introduce measures

to improve access to justice both in its communication on
the Sutherland report and in the chapter on access to justice
and legal cooperation and Community consumer protection
policy .

The citizens ' requirements for quick and effective means of
enforcement are not met by current measures for
cross-border enforcement of Court decisions .

1 . What steps will the Commission take to improve

consumers ' access to justice and what resources will it
employ to this end ?

2 . Has the Commission already begun to research the
various aspects of access to justice, such as the
availability of legal aid, and if so what positive results
has it obtained ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

The problems raised by the Honourable Member are
discussed in the Green Paper on ' Access of consumers to
justice and the settlement of consumer disputes in the single
market ', which the Commission adopted on 16 November

1993 (!).

This Green Paper has been transmitted to the Parliament,
the Council and the Economic and Social Committee .

The objective is to launch a debate on all the problems
encountered, and also on possible initiatives at Community
level to improve the existing situation .

The Commission attaches the greatest possible importance
to Parliament 's comments and views on the Green Paper .

(!) COM(93 ) 576 .

Does the Commission believe that the liberalization of the

market is taking sufficient account of th social aspects of
farming in the context of the social structure of rural life, e.g.
the problems raised by the abandoning of villages or the
ageing of the rural population ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 February 1994 )

The reform of the CAP aims to make the management of
agricultural markets more responsive to economic market
signals . This is vital for sound market management, as is
clear from the accumulation of surpluses in the years before
the reform .

In this sense, it is possible to talk about liberalization of the
market .

However, this relative liberalization does not alter the
underlying principles of the CAP, including Community
preference and financial solidarity . In addition, the
Community ensures sturdy safety nets on most markets by
means of market intervention .

Since this is the case, the Commission believes that the
reform of the CAP is a step in the right direction for
Community agriculture, and particularly for the most
disadvantaged farmers .

However, the problems facing rural society cannot be solved
simply by means of market measures or by agricultural
structural measures under Objective 5(a ) of the Structural
Funds, which aims at improving the efficiency of
agricultural structures . The Commission is therefore
providing a financial contribution to integrated rural
development support programmes in Objective 1 regions
and Objective 5(b ) areas as well as certin Community
initiatives such as Leader .

The problems of social exclusion and poverty in rural areas
are also being tackled by Community measures .

Under the Community 's third programme to combat
poverty ( 1989 — 1994 ) pilot measures in rural areas trying
out integrated strategies at local level to combat exclusion

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 37

and poverty may provide innovative and transferrable
models of economic and social development involving the
local population .

In addition, the next action programme to combat exclusion
and promote solidarity, proposed by the Commission on
22 September 1993, provides for a few pilot measures in
declining rural areas with a view to testing innovative
approaches to the problems of combating exclusion in rural

areas .

At the same time, the Joule, Thermie and Altener
Programmes and the actions in support of regional
development all include work on renewable energy sources .
Greece is participating in these various programmes .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3311 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-33 10 / 93 ( 94 / C 300 / 71 )

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 70 )

Subject : Delays in developing domestic energy resources in

Greece

There have been severe delays in developing domestic energy
resources in Greece, particularly brown coal, water power
and renewable forms of energy . This has led to increasing
reliance on petroleum products and imported electricity in
the nation 's energy balance and, according to the Greek
Power Corporation 's 1990-1994-2000 Programme, hard
coal is also due to be imported for generating electricity .

What practical measures does the Commission intend to
take to step up development of domestic energy resources,
particularly renewable forms of energy ?

Subject : Improvements in energy saving in Greece

In contrast to most Member States, Greece 's energy-saving
measures have produced far from satisfactory results .
Consumption of primary energy per US $ 1 000 GDP at
constant values was 0,50 toe ( tonnes oil equivalent ) in 1973
rising to 0,60 toe in 1990 .

It is admittedly not easy to combine the present phase of
development of the Greek economy with energy cutbacks . It
is possible, however, as international experience has shown,
initially to control energy use in order to curb the rising
trend and then to stabilize or even reduce consumption .

What practical measures will the Commission take to assist
energy saving in Greece inter alia through the relevant
Community programmes and initiatives ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission
(5 April 1994 )

(5 April 1994 )

In 1990 8,2% of Greece 's electricity was generated from
renewable sources, which is close to the Community average
of 10,1 % . It must be pointed out, however, that 1990 was a
poor year for hydroelectric power, which accounts for the
majority of the electricity generated from renewable energy
sources . In 1991 hydroelectric power generation increased
by 75% .

Thermal use of renewable energy in Greece in 1990
accounted for 5,4 % of the total demand, well ahead of the
Community average of 3,3% .

Use of lignite increased greatly in Greece during the 1980s

and now accounts for over 30 % of domestic consumption .
This development has received Community support .

The energy intensity figure for 1973 referred to by the
Honourable Member was indeed 0,5 toe ( tonnes oil
equivalent ) per US $ 1 000 of GNP, but rose to only 0,61 toe
in 1990 .

It seems logical that Greece 's economic development should
have brought about an increase in energy consumption
greater than the downward effect of measures promoting
the ' rational use of energy . Other Member States are in a
similar situation .

Greece has full access to the Community 's programmes
promoting energy efficiency, such as SAVE, Thermie and

No C 300 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Joule and to the actions in support of regional
development .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3326 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

pressure . This was revealed at the sixth cardiological
conference in Corfu and scientists warned of the

consequences of abusive consumption .

Can the Community fund a programme to increase public
awareness of the effects of the abusive consumption of
medicines ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

. ( 94 / C 300 / 72 ) ( 19 April 1994 )

Subject : Future of Community air transport

A new bilateral agreement has recently been signed between
the USA and Germany laying down the conditions
governing flights by American airlines to Germany and
German flights to the USA . Should protective measures be
taken to safeguard the future of Community air
transport ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

The Commission established a ' Comite des Sages ' to identify
reasons for present financial strains and to propose remedial
measures for the Community air transport industry . The
final report of this Committee has been submitted on

1 February 1994 . The Commission will consider specific
initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the
Community 's airlines industry after examination of the
Committee 's recommendation . In this context the

Commission will study closely the implications of
competition from air carriers established in third
countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3327 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 73 )

Subject : Medicine - abuse

Doctors and pharmacists have repeatedly drawn attention
to the abuse of medicines in Greece . Now a new

phenomenon has come to light : more than one million
Greeks are unnecessarily taking pills for high blood

In order to give effect to the provisions of Article 129 EC
Treaty, the Commission has submitted a communication to
the Council on the framework for action ( ! ) in the field of
public health .

This communication sets out a number of activities to be

undertaken in the future, including in the fields of health
education and information . Within the context of these

activities the Commission will give due consideration to the
issue of excessive use of drugs .

(M COM(93 ) 559 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3368 / 93

by Carole Tongue ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 74 )

Subject : Auto components industry

Does the Commission share the conclusion in the recent

report by the Boston consulting group for DG3 that up to
half a million jobs would have to be lost in the Community
car component industry by 1999 ?

If not, will the Commission prepare as a matter of urgency a
detailed report which outlines the strategic implications of
the report 's conclusions and draws together the whole of the
Commission 's resources and interests in the motor industry
together with those of the other social partners including the
industry and the trade unions in the motor industry in
Europe ? Will the Commission ensure that the conclusions of
such a report are available for discussions and debate at the
Forum on the European Motor Industry being held as a joint
Commission / Parliament initiative on March 1, 1994 ?

In view of the serious implications of this report, will the
Commission move towards a specific strategy and funding
regime for the motor industry in Europe which can be

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 39

implemented in the new round of Structural Funds and
Community initiatives from January 1984 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3387 / 93

by Marguerite-Marie Dinguirard ( V ), Marie Isler Beguin ( V )

and Aline Archimbaud ( V )

to the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 75 )

Subject : The future for motor vehicle component
suppliers

1 . Can the Commission confirm that a report on the
situation of motor vehicle component supplies has been
drawn up at its request by the Boston Consulting Group
( BCG )?

2 . Is it aware of the estimated loss of 400 000 of the

sector 's 940 000 jobs by the year 2000 ?

3 . Is it considering drawing up as of now a plan to retrain
workers for other stable jobs ? What would be the broad
lines of such a plan, and what technical and financial
resources would be brought to bear ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3368 / 93

It should also be stressed that this gap may differ widely
depending on the products or undertakings concerned . As a
result of the considerable effort they have made in recent
years to rationalize their production, a large number of
Community companies have been able to hold onto and
even increase their shares of the market . In addition, it
should be noted that the competitiveness of a sector does not
depend on productivity alone and that Community
companies are managing to establish themselves in
international markets in particular because of the technical
advantage they have gained .

The Commission has submitted a communication ( : ) to the
Council and the Parliament covering all branches of the car
industry, including component suppliers . This
communication analyses the competitive situation in the
sector and refers to the various Community intervention
mechanisms which may help to support its restructuring,
training and reconversion activities . It also stresses the
importance for this sector of activities carried out by the
Community in areas such as the internal market and
research and development .

The Community has opted for a horizontal approach in its
response to the problems of restructuring and reconversion
in various sectors of industry . The Structural Funds are
intended to help achieve economic and social cohesion and
not to implement sectoral policies . The Regulations
concerning the Structural Funds, as amended in July 1993,
have introduced a new Objective 4 which concerns
industrial changes . Measures to accompany the
restructuring of the car industry may, if so requested by the
Member States, be included in the Community support
frameworks for Objective 4 or by means of a Community
initiative under that Objective .

and E-3387 / 93

given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission
(!) COM(94 ) 49 final .
( 24 March 1994 )

The Commission does not share the conclusion of the recent

report by the Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) (' The
evolving competitive challenge for the European automotive
industry ') that 400 000 jobs will have to be shed in the
Community car component industry by the year 2000 .

The Commission does agree with the BCG that the average
level of productivity in the industry is lower than that of
Japanese industry and that broad restructuring, in
particular through the introduction of lean production and
the concentration required to try to obtain economies of
scale in the single market, is still necessary to improve the
overall competitiveness in this sector .

However, the Commission believes that the productivity
gap referred by the BCG in its report and the catching up this
would seem to necessitate have been overestimated because

of the methodology used, in particular the failure to take
proper account of the difference in the number of hours
worked per annum in Europe and Japan and the different
degrees of vertical integration of the two industries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3402 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 76 )

Subject : Hunting of endangered species in Finland

Given that the Finnish State continues to allow the

controlled hunting of bears and wolves, both of which are
threatened species, will the Commission say whether the
Community has firmly put this matter on the agenda of
negotiations for the accession of Finland to the European
Communities ?

No C 300 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

The accession negotiations are based on the existing

Community acquis . Any request from a candidate country
for a derogation or adaptation is submitted formally in a
position paper to the Accession Conference .

With regard to the protection of endangered species,
Finland submitted to the Conference a position paper in
respect of Directive 9 2 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora . The paper
included requests relating to wolves and bears . The matter is
therefore being addressed in the framework of the Accession
Conference .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3407 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Programme and a policy stance on the EAEC Framework
Programme, providing for an overall amount of ECU 12
billion . However, provision was also made for this amount
to be reviewed by 30 June 1996 at the latest in the light of a
number of factors, with the possibility of its being increased
to ECU 13 billion .

The Commission trusts that the co-decision procedure will
result in an early agreement between the institutions, and
will itself spare no efforts to see that this is achieved . In its
view, an overall agreement on the Fourth Framework
Programme has to be reached at least before the end of the
current parliamentary term . This is the only way of ensuring
that the specific programmes implementing the Framework
Programme can be adopted in their turn during 1994 and
guarantee the continuity of Community RTD activities from

1 January 1995 onwards .

í 1 ) COMÍ93 ) 276 — OJ No C 23, 26 . 8 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3434 / 93

by Fernando Suárez González ( PPE )

94 / C 300 / 77 to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Subject : Research and technology programmes ( 94 / C 300 / 78 )

Can the Commission provide information on the budget of
the Fourth Framework Programme for Research and
Technology and say in particular whether it considers that it
will be adopted shortly ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

In the proposals it presented on 17 June 1993 ( J ), the
Commission earmarked an overall amount of ECU 13,1
billion for the entire package comprising the Fourth
Framework Programme of European Community activities
in the field of research, technological development and
demonstration and the framework programme of
Community activities in the field of research and training for
the EAEC ( 1994 — 1998 ). The allocation proposed by the
Commission falls within the financial framework arising out
of the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council in
December 1992, which has since been the subject of an
inter-institutional agreement on the 1993 — 1999 financial
perspectives . The Commission 's proposal represents a slight
increase vis-a-vis the level of activity in 1993 .

Parliament, in its opinion following the first reading
adopted on 18 November 1993, requested an overall
amount of ECU 13,7 billion . The Council, for its part,
basing itself on the conclusions of the Brussels European
Council of 10 and 11 December 1993, adopted a common
position on 14 January 1994 on the Fourth EC Framework

Subject : Cooperation with Central America

The Commission has allocated ECU 302 000 under budget
heading B7-3012, Regional Integration, to a project entitled
' Civil service modernization in Central America '.

Can the Commission explain what this project consists of,
where it is taking place and who is receiving the funds ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The project entitled ' Civil service modernization in Central
America ' is a programme for carrying out consultancy work
for the civil service in El Salvador and Honduras and holding
training workshops for civil servants in those two countries
and also Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama .

The project was assigned to the European Institute of Public
Administration in Maastricht, with which the Commission
has been engaged in fruitful collaboration over the last few
years as part of its programmes of support for Latin
America 's public sector .

The Dutch Institute considered it advisable in this instance

to cooperate with the Central American Institute of Public
Administration ( ICAP ), and to use a small, share of the

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 41

project funds as back-up for ICAP itself so that the training
processes could continue once Community assistance had
come to an end .

The bulk of the project ( 40% ) was concentrated on El
Salvador, given the particular political situation experienced
by that country in 1992 .

The programme for El Salvador comprised various
interlinked components :

— Design of a computerized system for managing human

resources in the public sector . On the basis of the results
of this activity, the World Bank intends to reorganize the
public sector using the data provided on officials '
qualifications and the needs of the service, etc .

— Support for the design of reforms aimed at establishing a

modern civil service . Although the technical aspects of
the design have been completed, the introduction of the
legal instruments needed for the legislative side of these
reforms has been postponed until after the elections,
given the delicate state of the current political
climate .

— Training for middle-management throughout the public

sector . This activity, which was organized with the
support of the state modernization programme, will in
future be continued by USAID .

On a smaller scale, consultancy work was also carried out in
Honduras on the administration of welfare programmes .

Various seminars on this same subject were held in El
Salvador and Honduras and also in Nicaragua, Guatemala
and Panama .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3458 / 93

by Freddy Blak ( PSE )

differences exist elsewhere ? The objective is to draw
attention to the issue so that the courts change their policy
and award rape victims a higher and more equitable level of
compensation .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

The question concerns domestic legal practice within the
Member State and hence is outside the Commission 's

competence .

The Honourable Member may find it useful to refer to the
answers to Written Questions No 2822 / 92 by Mr Titley (*)
and No 765 / 93 by Mr Bird ( 2 ) regarding compensation for
victims of acts of criminal violence .

(!) OJ No C 333, 8 . 12 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 288, 25 . 10 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3473 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 80 )

to the Commission Subject : Future of the Irish Box

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 79 )

Subject : Differences in compensation for rape victims and

women subjected to sexual harassment

There has recently been press coverage in Denmark of a
study of the different levels of compensation paid to women
who have been raped or sexually harassed . Victims of sexual
harassment appear to get three times as much in
compensation as victims of rape . Will the Commission
initiate an inquiry into the respective levels of compensation
in the Member States in order to ascertain whether such

Irish fishermen have expressed fears that the Commission
and Council are actively contemplating major changes in the
principles governing access by other EEC fishermen to Irish
waters . The changes as presently formulated would, in
effect, mean the dismantling of the Irish Box which has
served as a very useful conservation measure for fish
stocks .

What is the Commission 's position on the future of the Irish
Box and what measures will it adopt to ensure that the
livelihood of Irish inshore fishermen in particular is not
undermined by any future changes ?

No G 300 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1994 ) (5 April 1994 )

Articles 158 and 349 of the Act of Accession of Spain and
Portugal specify an area off the coast of Ireland, known as
the ' Irish Box ', in which access is forbidden to vessels flying
the flags of the new Member States . This transitional
measure was introduced for a period of ten years, until
31 December 1995 .

The new basic Regulation of the common fisheries policy,
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3760 / 92, provides for decisions to be
taken by the Council in respect of areas in which fishing is
limited, or prohibited, with a view to conserving their
fishery resources . Such decisions will be taken in the light of
advice based on relevant biological, socio-economic and
technical data .

The measures consequently adopted would restrict access to
the resources found in such areas and would apply to all
fishing vessels concerned, including vessels flying the Irish
flag .

Moreover, such access restrictions would be applied in line
with the principles of the common fisheries policy and, in
particular, that of relative stability which applies to
resources which are the subject of restrictions and must be
apportioned between the Member States . At all events,
dismantling the ' Irish Box ' as it stands cannot adversely
affect existing equilibria and will not result in an increase in
fishing effort by other fleets .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3490 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 81 )

Subject : Community encouragement of venture capital

Small and medium-sized enterprises have traditionally been
at a disadvantage compared to larger firms in acquiring
financial capital, particularly for high-tech research and
development projects . As a result, the Community has
established programmes such as Venture Consort, Value
and Eurotech to promote venture capital investment in
SMEs .

Has there been a sustainable increase in venture capital
investment in SMEs, and does the Commission have any
new proposals to improve the communication between
SMEs and potential investors ?

SMEs are the source of the majority of jobs created and
occupy an important position in the process of innovation
and the dissemination of new technologies . The
Commission therefore shares the Honourable Member 's
concern that SMEs should have access to venture capital,
particularly for their research and development projects .

1 . Europe 's venture capital market is constantly
expanding, but this is to the detriment of investment in
seed and start-up capital and high technology .

The statistics of the European Venture Capital
Association ( EVCA ) show a steady rise in
venture-capital investment in SMEs since the middle of
the 1980s, with ECU 4,7 billion invested in 1992
compared with ECU 2,9 billion in 1987 . 91 % of this
was invested in firms employing under 500 people, thus
making venture capital a major source of financing for
the most sucessful SMEs . However, investment in new
businesses and technology is on the decline .

Seed capital and start-up capital for new businesses are
decreasing substantially . Between 1988 and 1992, the
amounts invested in these segments fell from ECU 432
million to ECU 278 million, whereas capital invested in
the expansion of existing firms increased by 50% to
ECU 2 150 million in 1992 . By way of comparison, in

1991 seed capital and start-up capital accounted for
approximately 10 % of the market in Europe as against
32,5 % in the United States . This reluctance on the part
of private investors in Europe is partly due to the high
level of risk involved in setting up new businesses but
also reflects a short-term approach aimed at making
quick profits .

Investment in European high-tech SMEs represented
around 25 % of the total venture capital investment in

1991 compared with 36% in 1987 . By way of
comparison, high-tech SMEs accounted for almost 83 %
of the total venture capital investment in the United
States in 1991 .

2 . The Commission has launched a number of pilot
projects aimed at facilitating access to venture capital by
SMEs .

Since 1989, the Seed Capital pilot project has supported
the establishment of 24 seed and start-up capital funds .
These funds, which initially totalled ECU 40 million,
should soon bring their investment potential up to
almost ECU 60 million . By the end of 1993, ECU 24

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 43

million had been invested in almost 200 new businesses,
thus directly creating 2 400 jobs . The failure rate of
these firms is less than 10% after three years . 70% of
the investment was in high technology and involved the
financing of R&D activities . The 24 funds in the pilot
plan now form the core of a European network ( the
ESCFN ) comprising 41 funds with a total of almost ECU
300 million in available capital .

With a view to promoting the investment of venture
capital in Community SMEs conducting transnational
high-technology projects ( THTPs ), the Commission has
set up the Eurotech Capital network, comprising 13
European venture-capital companies which have agreed
to set aside almost ECU 195 million for investment in

SMEs involved in THTPs .

The Venture Consort scheme, launched in 1985, made it
possible to promote venture-capital investment in
innovative companies in industry and the services sector
by the formation of international investors ' syndicates .
Since 1985, 52 investments have received the support of
the Venture Consort for a total of ECU 10 million . In

1992, intra - Community transnational investment
accounted for almost 8 % of total investment by private
venture-capital companies . In connection with the
establishment of the European Investment Fund, the
Commission intends to re-examine the Venture Consort

scheme .

The transnational investment fora organized under the
Sprint Programme bring together innovative companies
and financiers seeking investment opportunities . So far
they have established contacts between, over 600
financiers and mostly high-tech SMEs .

The Value Programme permits the financing of
feasibility studies and the preparation of business plans
for SMEs seeking funds from venture-capital companies
in order to exploit the results of Community R&D .
During 1991, Value organized three seminars in
collaboration with Eurotech Capital as part of the
Technology Venture Capital Training Initiative, with a
view to promoting venture capital in 300 SMEs . This
work will continue over the next few years .

Finally, the third activity set out in the fourth R&D
Framework Programme provides for measures aimed at
improving the financial environment for the
dissemination of new technologies .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3538 / 93

by Brigitte Langenhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 82 )

Subject : European environmental coast guard

As a result of the dramatic shipping accidents which have
occured, some of which have had considerable
consequences for the environment in European and
international waters, the question has frequently been raised
as to the responsibility of the European Communities, not
only in relation to issues of liability, but also with regard to
the detailed allocation of responsibilities and cooperation
arrangements concerning action to combat accidents
involving vessels carrying dangerous substances .

According to scientific estimates, environmental and
capacity-related considerations will result in a considerable
shift of traffic away from roads and railways to inland
waterways and coastal shipping lanes, making it likely that
there will also be an increase in the numbers of

accidents .

1 . Is the Commission able to report on the progress made
with regard to Directorate-General XI 's objectives and
tasks and the measures it has implemented in the marine
pollution sector, in particular concerning the ACPH
( Advisory Committee for the control and reduction of
pollution caused by oil and other harmful substances
discharged at sea ), the CIS ( Community Information
System ), the EC task force, international meetings and
training ?

2 . Does the Commission consider the measures taken in
this context to be adequate to meet the challenges arising

from the scenario described in the introduction ?

3 . What connection is there between the measures

currently being taken by the Commission 's
Directorate-General XI and the Commission 's

communication of 24 February 1993 entitled 'A
common policy on safe seas ', and in particular the COSS

( Committee on Safe Seas ) for which it contains a
proposals ?

4 . In what context is the Commission giving consideration
to combining various measures which fall under
sovereign jurisdiction ( e.g. fisheries protection, the
waterguard, environmental watch schemes,
precautionary measures as part of maritime guidance
systems, special units for combating dangerous )
substances in all European environmental coast
guard ?

5 . What connection is there between the measures

currently being taken by the Commission 's
Directorate-General XI and the Maritime Industry
Forum which is also heavily involved in issues relating to
the protection of the maritime environment ?

No C 300 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1994 )

1 . The Advisory Committee on the Control and
Reduction of Pollution Caused by Oil and Other Flarmful
Substances Discharged at Sea ( ACPH ) has advised the
Commission on all matters related to the implementation of
the Community Action Programme from 1978 . ACPH also
advises the Commission on the role of the Community Task
Force, which has been activated around ten times since

1987 .

A new consolidated version of the Community Information
System ( CIS ) has now been developed with the specific aim
of making it more operational .

A number of training courses and pilot projects have
received financial contribution from the Community . These
activities will continue .

The Commission participates in the Bonn Agreement and
the Barcelona Convention . It will also participate in the
Lisbon Agreement as well as in the 1974 Helsinki
Convention .

2 . The Commission considers the activities as mentioned

in paragraph 1 sufficient for the time being as the Member
States in general have improved their own national
capabilities to respond to accidental pollution at sea .

3 . So far, there is no direct connection between the above
mentioned activities and the communication 'A Common

Policy on Safe Seas ' or the proposed ' Committee on Safe
Seas '.

The Committee as outlined in the communication would

not be a policy making body . Its main purpose would be to
give to one single Committee the task to adapt existing and
future Directives aiming at technical progress, or to change
international legislation .

4 . The Treaty on European Union gives opportunities for
establishing more cooperation between various national
bodies in charge of water surveillance ( fisheries, safety,
customs, police ) and the Commission .

So far, a body of Community fishery inspectors ( within
DG XIV of the Commission ) has the duty of checking the
work carried out by national inspectors . The new control
Regulation which entered into force on 1 January 1994
( Regulation ( EEC ) No 2847 / 93 of 12 October 1993 i 1 )) also
provides for an improved coordination between national
control authorities of Member States .

According to the Treaty, nothing prevents conferring other
responsibilities on such a body, including environment

surveillance and maritime traffic assistance, if Member
States so wish ( with respect to the subsidiarity principle ).

In the 1980s and again in 1991 the Commission made a
general study on the state of services provided by the
Member States in their territorial waters and beyond, to
assess the advantages of integrating these services in the
Community .

When developing the policy plan and the action programme
combined in the above communication, however, the idea
was not further developed, since the safety of shipping and
protection of the marine environment required urgent
action with short to medium term effects, such as
enforcement of existing rules through existing national
services .

Pending adoption and implementation by the Council of the
package of measures proposed in the communication and
evaluation of their impact on shipping safety and on the
environment, the Commission has set this issue aside .

5 . In 1992 the industry created the Maritime Industries
Forum for better cooperation between the European
industry and the Commission on issues from which both
parties could benefit . In this framework Commission
officials and representatives of the industry cooperate in
various working parties on problems encountered when
developing initiatives and policies .

Recognizing the recommendations of the Maritime
Industries Forum, the Commission recently presented a
communication ' towards the implementation of a
comprehensive approach for the maritime industries ' ( 2 )
which contains direct references to the protection of the

sea .

(!) OJ No L 261, 20 . 10 . 1993 .

( 2 ) COMÍ93 ) 526 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3565 / 93

by Manuel Medina Ortega ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 83

Subject : Social programmes in the Canaries

How does the Commission monitor and assess the

Community-funded social programmes being implemented
in the Canaries ?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 45

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The way in which the Commission monitors and assesses
aid under the Structural Funds for the period 1989 — 1983 is
governed by Articles 3 (§§ 4 and 5 ), 6 and 17 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 of 19 December 1988 on the
tasks of the Structural Funds and Articles 25 and 26 of

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 of 19 December
1988 on the application of this Regulation .

In accordance with these provisions, ex-ante and ex-post
assessments are carried out by both the Spanish authorities
and the Commission on a global basis for the whole of the
Community Support Framework .

No specific assessment has been made of the programmes
being implemented in the Canaries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3568 / 93

by Manuel Medina Ortega ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 84 )

Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ) in the Canaries

Can the Commission tell me what sums are allocated to the

Canaries under the European Social Fund and how they are
administered ?

The ESF also provides funding for the integrated
programme in La Gomera ( Ecu 2,7 million ), the Regis
Community initiative programme ( Ecu 3,1 million ), and
central government measures designed to assist this region

( Ecu 108 million at 1989 prices for the period
1990—1993 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3600 / 93

by Juan Ramirez Heredia ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 85

Subject : Asylum policy

Does the Commission, given that the entry into force of the
Treaty on European Union will offer it new opportunities,
under Title VI, in areas hitherto the preserve of
inter-governmental cooperation, consider that an
agreement should be drawn up pursuant to that Treaty to
protect the rights of asylum seekers ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

The Commission agrees that the relevant provisions of
Title VI of the Treaty on European Union relating to asylum
policy should be implemented in order to protect the rights
of asylum seekers .

On 23 February it accordingly adopted a communication on
the problems of immigration and asylum in general, which
Answer given by Mr Flynn was transmitted at once to Parliament and the Council .
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1994 )

The ESF has approved the following operational
programmes for the Autonomous Community of the
Canary Islands ( Gobierno de Canarias ). They concern the
co-financing of vocational training measures and subsidies
towards recruitment and the creation of self-employed
activities, for the period 1990 — 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3609 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 86 )
( in million Ecus )

Title of programme Sums approved

Development of human resources

( Objective 1 ) 22,2

Long-term unemployed ( Objective 3 ) 10,3

Young people aged under 25 ( Objective 4 ) 23,2

Technical assistance 0,5

Total 56,2

Subject : Safety risks with certain types of heavy plant

manufactured by Caterpillar

1993 has also been declared ' Year of accident prevention at
work ' in Europe .

In this connection I would draw the Commission 's attention

to the fact that, according to the American industrial journal
Transportation and, Trade, there were 42 000 accidents in

No C 300 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

1990 during the use of heavy plant produced by Caterpillar,
caused by the destabilizing swing of the forklift equipment
overturning the driver 's cab and throwing out the driver,
who is then hit by the falling load, with serious
consequences in the form of death or injury, etc . The
company was fined US$ 776 000 in 1987 for breaching
safety regulations, and the number of complaints and laws
suits continues to increase .

It has been suggested that the driver 's cab should be fitted
with one or two safety belts to prevent the driver being
ejected and provide a degree of protection against serious
accident . Caterpillar US has, incredibly, refused to add this
feature or is doing so only very slowly .

Is Caterpillar plant manufactured and / or used in Europe
and fitted with a forklift device protected from hazards of
this kind ? If so, how ? 

What specific accidents statistics are available ?

safety belt or equivalent device which keeps the driver in
his seat without restricting any movements necessary for
driving or any movements caused by the suspension '.

In addition, the third paragraph of section 3.2.3 (' Other
places ') of the same annex provides as follows :

' Should the driving position have to be fitted with a cab,
the other places must also be protected against the
hazards which justified the protection of the driving
position '.

Self-propelled industrial trucks already in service are subject
to Directive 89 / 655 / EEC ( 6 ) on the minimum health and
safety requirements for the use of work equipment by
workers at work . At present, this Directive does not contain
any provisions specifically covering the hazards mentioned
by the Honourable Member . However, the Commission will
shortly be proposing an amended version of this Directive
which will cover the problem which you raised .

Are one or more safety belts fitted ? t 1 ) OJ [No] [ L] 384, [31] [ .] [ 12] [ .] [ 1986] [ .]

( 2 ) OJ [No] [ L] 183, [29] [ .] [ 6] [ .] [ 1989] [ .]

( 3 ) OJ [No] [ L] 198, [22] [ .] [ 7] [.] [ 1991] [ .]

What surveys, action and / or disciplinary measures have ( 4 ) OJ [No] [ L] 175, [19] [ .] [ 7] [.] [ 1993] [ .]

( 5 ) OJ [No] [ L] 220, [30] [ .] [ 8] [ .] [ 1993] [ .]

been taken by the Union and the Member States ? ( 6 ) OJ [No] [ L] 393, [31] [ .] [ 12] [ .] [ 1989] [ .]

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1994 )

In the Commission 's view, the problem raised by the
Honourable Member cannot be restricted to a specific firm
but concerns all self-propelled industrial trucks .

The . Commission has statistical information deriving from
studies on the socio-economic impact of proposed
Directives based on Article 118A of the EC Treaty . These
data clearly show that accidents involving self-propelled
industrial trucks tend to be more serious than others . In

addition, about 1 — 2 % of accidents of this kind are
fatal .

As regards the initial placing on the market and entry into
service of self-propelled industrial trucks, here Directive
86 / 663 / EEC (*) is applicable . This provides for stability tests
on the equipment but does not make the fitting of a safety
belt compulsory . As of 1 January 1996, Directive
86 / 663 / EEC is to be repealed and will be replaced by
Directive 89 / 392 / EEC ( 2 ) ( on machinery ), as amended
by Directives 91 / 368 / EEC ( 3 ), 93 / 44 / EEC ( 4 ) and
93 / 68 / EEC ( 5 ). In the third paragraph of section 3.2.2 of
Annex I, the machinery Directive stipulates that :

' Where machinery is fitted with provision for a roll-over
protection structure, the seat must be equipped with a

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 703 / 93

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 87

Subject : Languages used by the European Trademark

Office

At the extraordinary meeting of the Council it was decided
to locate the Office for Harmonization in the Internal

Market ( the Trademark Office ) in Spain .

Various rumours are circulating to the effect that it has been
decided to limit the languages used in the Trademark Office
to only five official languages and that Dutch, Portuguese,
Greek and Danish will consequently no longer be used .

Is it true that such a decision has been taken ?

If so, does it not run counter to the text of the Treaties and to
the agreements that all nine official languages should be
treated equally ?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 47

Is the Commission not concerned that such plans contradict
its own answer to Written Question No 1728 / 92 ( J )?

OJ No C 25, 28 . 1 . 1994, p . 3 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 709 / 93

by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 88 )

Subject : Use of languages in certain organizations and

services of the European Community including the
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market

( trademarks, designs and models ), hereinafter
known as the ' Trademark Office '

The Presidency conclusions of the extraordinary European
Council of 29 October 1993 show that a decision was taken

on the seats of a number of organizations and services of the
European Communities .

I understand, unofficially, that there was also some
discussion of the working languages of these organizations
and services, although this is not evident from the

report .

Is it true that there was a discussion of a draft proposal to
restrict the number of official languages of the Trademark
Office to 3 or 5 ?

Does the Commission feel that this can be reconciled with

the letter and the spirit of the Treaty of Rome, as amended
by the Luxembourg and Maastricht treaties ?

Does the Commission not feel that restricting the number of
languages would lead to a distortion of competitive
relationships between the firms which have to work with the
Trademark Office ?

Does the Commission not feel that firms ( including small
businesses ) and ( other ) individuals should have the freedom
to use the official language of their place of establishment in
the European Community when dealing with the European
institutions and their services and organizations ?

Community trade marks may be filed in any of the nine
official languages of the Community and that, subsequently,
these applications will be published in all the languages .

In accordance with the decision of the Council of

29 October 1993, the Regulation provides that if third
parties wish to oppose the registration of the mark, the
language to be used in the proceedings before the Office
shall, in principle, be English, French, German, Italian or
Spanish .

An important exception to this principle is that parties may
agree to use another official language in proceedings before
the Office . This allows parties to proceed in their common
mother language if that language is not one of the above five
languages .

The general principles relating to the use of languages within
the Community are laid down in Council Regulation No 1
of 15 April 1958 (*), as last amended by Annex II of the
1985 Act of Accession .

Consequently, additional rules on the use of languages in the
framework of specific agencies such as, for example, the
Harmonization Office, may be incorporated in Regulations
relating to such agencies .

f 1 ) OJ 358, 6 . 10 . 1958 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3710 / 93

by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

94 / C 300 / 89

Subject : Personnel policy and knowledge of languages

The European Community has opted for its institutions to
be multilingual . This means that some knowledge of
languages is a requirement for recruitment .

What steps, if any, are taken to encourage staff to learn
additional languages once they have been recruited ?

Does a knowledge of languages haye an impact on the
promotion prospects of Commission staff ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3703 / 93 on behalf of the Commission

and E-3709 / 93
given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 March 1994 )

(8 April 1994 ) As part of its new training policy, the Commission decided
on 1 1 June 1991 that a linguistic profile should be drawn up
for each new official or temporary agent . The purpose is to
The Community Trade Mark Regulation of 20 December encourage the individual concerned to perfect a second

1993 provides that applications for the registration of language or acquire a third .

No C 300 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

The aim of the new policy is to bring continuing training in
languages ' more closely into line with the requirements
imposed by the multicultural nature of the institution, the
social integration of staff in the host country and the
Commission 's policy on external relations '.

In addition, the Commission offers a range of language
courses specially adapted to the tasks performed by its
officials, notably :

— standard courses ( 2x2 hours per week ) in the
Community languages, Finnish, Swedish, Russian,
Japanese and Arabic ;

— occasional intensive courses (6 hours per week for 2

weeks ) in the most popular languages ;

— special courses for translators and interpreters .

Knowledge of languages is taken into account in promotion
to the extent that staff reports contain a particular heading
on the subject which allows comparisons to be made
between the respective merits of those eligible for
promotion .

plan their activities accordingly . This has consequently led
to better and more structured consultation .

(!) OJ No C 63, 5 . 3 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 724 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 91 )

Subject : Public access to EC documents

Will the Commission make a statement on the outcome of

the EC General Affairs Council of 8 November 1993 in

regard to the establishment of principles, rules and measures
governing public access to EC documents ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 722 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 90 )

Subject : Consultation procedure

Will the Commission set out the degree to which the
Commission extended the scope of consultation with
interested parties for each green or white paper published in

1993 compared with the consultation adopted hitherto ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 )

Following the meeting to which reference is made, work
continued on a code of conduct concerning public access to
documents held by the Commission and the Council . This
code was adopted on 6 December 1993 . Since then both
institutions have taken the decisions necessary to implement
the code, through Council Decision 93 / 73 1 / EC (*) and
Commission Decision 94 / 40 / EC ( 2 ).

H OJ No L 340, 31 . 12 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 46, 18 . 2 . 1994 .

( 29 March 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3759 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

In its communication on increased transparency ( ) the
Commission provided for a more structured and extensive
preparation of its initiatives, particularly those which have
broad implications . It decided to earmark such initiatives in
its annual legislative programme for the first time in 1993,
thereby signalling its intentions to interested parties in a
more timely fashion . This new practice includes the
publication of a list of subjects for which Green or White
Papers are to be prepared . The early publication of such a list
meant that interested parties were already aware at an early
stage of the Commission 's intentions thus enabling them to

to the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 92 )

Subject : Protection of the bay of Pylos

Can the Commission make any contribution to protecting
the bay of Pylos following its recent pollution by the oil
tanker the ' Iliad '?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 49

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 ) ( 12 January 1994 )

Following the information received by the Commission on
the pollution caused by the tanker Iliad, the clean up work
has been finalized and the shipowners ' insurers have already
dealt with the clean up costs and are in the process of dealing
with claims from fishery activities and other economic
impacts . Also according to the information received the
total costs are well inside the limitations of the International

Oil Pollution Compensation Fund of which Greece is a
Member State .

In the framework of Community action on safe seas, the
Commission has established a list of common criteria for the

definition of Marine and Coastal Environmentally Sensitive
Areas ( ESA ) which might require measures to safeguard
them against maritime traffic . This list was to be used by
Member States as a basis for the identification of ESA, to be
reported to the Commission before November 1993 . Greece
has not yet reported any such ESA .

The bay of Pylos may be identified by Greece as an ESA .

The Commission will report on a Community-wide
identification of these ESA before February 1994 . Proposals
for specific measures to be applied to these ESA may
follow .

1 . The cost relating to the realization of the Somport
tunnel amounts to about ECU 150 million . The costs

entailed by the road layout in the Aspe Valley cannot be
determined precisely since the relevant works will be carried
out gradually in line with the progress of the project .

2 . An intervention which would offer a sound alternative

to the road option would require an investment of some
ECU 1,2 billion on the modernization of the Zaragoza-Pau
railway line . This would in particular improve the existing
difficult operating conditions and insufficient transport
capacity for both passenger and freight traffic, resulting
particularly from the steep gradient ( 49 %o ) of the line .

It should be noted that the authorities of the two Member

States concerned disagree considerably on the actual
economic interest of the railway option . In fact, whilst the
Aragon region argues strongly in favour of the project, the
French Government as well as the French Railways consider
it neither desirable nor advantageous .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3783 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 778 / 93 ( 94 / C 300 / 94 )

by Marguerite-Marie Dinguirard ( V )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 300 / 93 )

Subject : Comparative costs of the Pau-Canfranc railway

line, the Somport tunnel and the roadworks in the
Aspe Valley

In his oral reply to questions H-1117 / 93, H-1123 / 93 and
H-1135 / 93 of 17 November 1993, Commissioner Van den
Broek stated that the cost of modernizing the Pau-Saragossa
railway line was higher than that of the Somport road tunnel
project .

Can the Commission provide details of the assessment and
quotes made in respect of :

1 . The cost of the tunnel and the roadworks in the Aspe
Valley ?

Subject : Transposal into Greek law of Directive
82 / 501 / EEC

According to the tenth annual report to the European
Parliament on Commission monitoring of the application of
Community law — 1992 ( J ),

' Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( industrial accidents ) ( 2 ) is not
being fully applied in practice : the Greek authorities are
not imposing the obligations it generates on all industrial
plants . The accident at the Petrolla-Ellas refinery in
September 1992 again highlighted the problems of
applying the Directive, to which the Commission had
already drawn the Greek authorities ' attention '.

Since the Commission recognizes the existence of the
problem, why has it delayed taking the action needed to
ensure that the Directive in question is transposed into
Greek law ? Does it intend to take the measures required in
this field ?

2 . The cost of modernizing the Pau-Canfranc railway ( i ) oj No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993, p. 49 .
line ? ( 2 ) OJ No L 230,' 5 . 8 . 1982, p. 1 .

No C 300 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1994 )

As the tenth annual report clearly states, the problems
regarding Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( Seveso ) in Greece have
arisen from the poor implementation of the Directive and
not from a failure to transpose this Community act into
Greek law .

The Directive was transposed into Greek law by Joint
Ministerial Decision ( KYA ) 18187 / 272, published in the

Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic ( FEK ) Vol . B.
No 126 of 3 April 1988 . Greece also transposed Directive

88 / 610 / EEC, which amends the Seveso Directive, by Joint
Ministerial Decision ( KYA ) 77119 / 4607, published in the

Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic, Vol . B, No 532 of
19 July 1993 .

The Commission is therefore pursuing not the transposition
of these Directives into Greek law, which has already taken
place, but their proper application, so as to ensure the
proper implementation of Community law in Greece in this

area .

As for the procedure regarding the improper application of
the Directive, and more particularly the specific case of the
Petrolla-Ellas refinery, the Honourable Member received all
the relevant information from the Commissioner

responsible for the environment during the debate on
petition 411 / 89, which took place at the meeting of the
European Parliament 's Committee on Petitions on
27 January 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 794 / 93

various Member States, does the Commission consider the
wish of the members of the above association to be allowed

to grant personal loans to be reasonable ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1994 )

The Second Coordination Directive ( Second Council
Directive of 15 December 1989 ( 89 / 646 / EEC ) on the
coordination of laws, regulations and administrative
provisions relating to the taking up and pursuit of the
business of credit institutions and amending Directive
77 / 78 0 / EEC ) ( J ) according to the principle of mutual
recognition, ensures that credit institutions authorized in a
Member State may carry out the activities listed in its Annex

( which includes in particular lending and consumer credit )
within the territory of the other Member States, by means of
establishment or free provision of services, provided that
such activities are covered by the authorization granted by
the home Member State . Member States are free to define

the scope of activities which are permitted to the different
categories of their own credit institutions .

In the case referred to by the Honourable Member, Spain is
competent to decide whether the specialized Spanish credit
institutions, such as the ' entidades de financiacion ', should
be allowed to make consumer loans or not . Nevertheless,
specialized credit institutions from other Member States
must be permitted to undertake this kind of operations in
Spain if the authorization granted by their home Member
State covers such activities .

0 ) OJ No L 386, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3839 / 93

to the Commission
by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 95 )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 96 )
Subject : Possibility for financial institutions to grant
personal loans

Subject : Dangerous chemical waste in Albania

The National Association of Financial Institutions of Spain
has, in connection with the Royal Decree implementing the
Second Banking Directive of the European Community,
asked the Spanish Minister of Economic Affairs to extend
the scope of activity of such companies to include the
granting of personal loans .

These Spanish companies wish to be in a position to
compete with specialist European credit institutions which
are going to be able to operate in Spain more easily .

In the light of Community legislation in this field and the
professional practices of this type of institution in the

According to various Greek newspapers, a report by
German experts published on 29 November 1993 has
revealed that at the beginning of the year, there were 3 000
tons of fertilizer waste at 150 different sites in Albania, of
which 560 tons could not be recycled in any way . In
addition, in the north of the country a train containing 217
tons of chemical waste from the German fertilizer industry
has been held up by the sanctions in force against Serbia and
Montenegro . The Albanian authorities have issued a protest
and the German Minister for the Environment has appealed
to the European Community to provide support for a 750
million drachma programme for the removal and
destruction or recycling of the waste .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 51

Will the Commission say whether Community laws on the
export of dangerous substances and waste have been
applied in the case of the abovementioned train ? What
information does it possess concerning the quantities and
location of dangerous substances exported to Albania by the
Member States and the risks they pose ? Are there similar
exports to other Balkan countries ? Has any assessment been
made of the possible risks for Greece ? What action does the
Commission intend to take to deaLwith the serious and

immediate threat to the environment and the disturbing
question of transfrontier pollution of Community territory,
in this instance Greece ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 843 / 93

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 98 )

Subject : Blockading of the frontier between the
Netherlands and Germany on Sunday
28 November and Monday 29 November 1993

Is the Commission aware that the frontier between the

Netherlands and Germany was blockaded by German
farmers on Sunday 28 November and Monday
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4013 / 93 29 November 1993 and that, as a result, transport in the
internal market was obstructed ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 97 )

Subject : Hazardous load of pesticides close to Scutari

A load of 217 tonnes of pesticides, exported from Germany
to Albania between September 1991 and July 1992,
threatens to cause environmental damage to the region of
Scutari and in all probability to parts of Italy and
Montenegro . The reason is that the pesticides are in broken
barrels or leaking containers on a stationary train near to
Scutari and, according to the German newspaper the
' Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung ', are regarded as highly
dangerous . How will the Commission demonstrate its
interest in this matter ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3839 / 93

and E-4013 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1994 )

What action does the Commission intend to take with

regard to such blockades, which are becoming an ever more
frequent occurrence and of which third parties are the
victims ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware that the frontier between the

Netherlands and Germany was blocked by pig farmers
demonstrating against the Commission 's Decision to ban
pig exports from certain areas of Germany as a result of the
outbreak of classical swine fever ( Commission Decision
93 / 566 / EEC of 4 November 1993 concerning certain
protection measures relating to classical swine fever in
Germany and replacing Decision 93 / 534 / EEC ) ( x ).

As the demonstration was short and non-violent, the
Commission decided not to contact the German

authorities .

However were such incidents to be repeated or if threats and
violence were to be used against goods from other Member
States, the Commission would of course remind the German
The Commission is asking the Member State concerned for authorities of their obligations in ensuring free movement of
information regarding the facts referred to by the goods .
Honourable Members . It will inform the Honourable

Members of its findings .

f 1 ) OJ No L 273, 5 . 11 . 1993 .

No C 300 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3889 / 93

Klaus Hänsch ( PSE ) by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

( 24 January 1994 )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 99 ) ( 94 / C 300 / 101 )

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the district of
Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect of the
district of Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,
both in total and broken down by individual Funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these
funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed

into the area ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the

development of human resources under the EC 's
education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot
projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of
migrant workers, environmental and energy
projects )?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888 / 93

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Wuppertal,

North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect of the
town of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,
both in total and broken down by individual funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these
funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into the area ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the
development of human resources under the EC 's
education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot
projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of
migrant workers, environmental and energy
projects )?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 890 / 93

Klaus Hänsch ( PSE ) by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

( 24 January 1994 )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 100 ) ( 94 / C 300 / 102 )

Subject : Allocation of EC Funds to the town of Remscheid,

North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect of the
town of Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,
both in total and broken down by individual Funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these

funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into the area ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the
development of human resources under the EC
education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot

projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of
migrant workers, environmental and energy
projects )?

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Solingen,

North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect of the
town of Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,
both in total and broken down by individual funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these
funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into the area ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the
development of human resources under the EC 's
education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot
projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of
migrant workers, environmental and energy
projects )?

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 53

QUESTION E-3891 / 93 5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot

Klaus Hänsch ( PSE ) projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of

migrant workers, environmental and energy
to the Commission
projects )?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3891 / 93

by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 103 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 893 / 93

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Duisburg,

North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect of the
town of Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,

both in total and broken down by individual funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these

funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into the area, in particular for research on coal and steel
and on health protection at the workplace ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the

development of human resources under the EC 's
education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on pilot
projects under other budget headings ( e.g. integration of
migrant workers, environmental and energy
projects )?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 892 / 93

by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 104 )

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the town of Oberhausen,

North Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since July 1979 and since July 1989, in respect ofthe
town of Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,
both in total and broken down by individual funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these
funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into the area, in particular for research on coal and steel
and on health protection at the workplace ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in the area on the
development of human resources under the EC 's
education programmes ;

by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 105 )

Subject : Allocation of EC funds to the Land of North

Rhine-Westphalia

Can the Commission provide the following figures, for the
periods since J uly 1 9 79 and since July 1 9 8 9, in respect of the
Land of North Rhine-Westphalia :

1 . The amount received from the EC Structural Funds,

both in total and broken down by individual funds or
Community initiatives ;

2 . The number of jobs created or saved by means of these
funds ;

3 . The total amount of EC research funding which flowed
into North Rhine-Westphalia, in particular for research
on coal and steel and on the health protection at the
workplace ;

4 . The total amount of EC funds spent in North

Rhine-Westphalia on the development of human
resources under the EC 's education programmes ;

5 . The total amount of EC funds spent in North
Rhine-Westphalia on pilot projects under other budget
headings ( e.g. integration of migrant workers,
environmental and energy projects )?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3887 / 93, E-3888 / 93,

E-3889 / 93, E-3890 / 93, E-3891 / 93, E-3892 / 93

and E-3893 / 93

given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is
sending it direct to the Honourable Member and
Parliament's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3908 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 106 )

Subject : Safety of blood products

Given that countries which buy blood products on a
contract basis are obliged to take the products without

No C 300 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

further screening, accepting the safety testing label of the WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909
establishment which produces the blood products, and in by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
view of the recent incidents involving the sale in Germany to the Commission
and other Community Member States of blood plasma
contaminated by the HIV virus, does the Commission ( 24 January 1994 )
intend to raise the question of screening blood products ? 94 / C 300 / 107

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909 / 93

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 107 )

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1994 )

Directive 89 / 381 / EEC on medicinal products derived from
human blood and plasma ( x ) requires controls to be carried
out on blood and plasma used as a starting material for the
manufacture of medicinal products, in accordance with the
recommendations of the Council of Europe and the World
Health Organization . The same safety guarantees must be
provided for blood and plasma imported from third
countries . Screening takes place at the time the blood is
being donated .

Directive 89 / 381 / EEC further requires manufacturers of
products derived from blood to use validated
manufacturing processes which guarantee, to the extent that
the state of the technology permits, the absence of specific
viral contamination . To this end the Committee on

Proprietary Medicinal Products, which is made up of
representatives of the authorities in the Member States
responsible for authorizing medicinal products, has adopted
a set of guidelines concerning the quality and safety of
products derived from blood and the procedures for
checking that any viruses are eliminated or inactivated
during manufacture .

In addition, the pharmaceutical inspection departments in
the Member States have agreed on good manufacturing
practice measures relating specifically to such products,
involving a strict quality assurance system operated under
the supervision of the Member States .

Community pharmaceutical legislation also requires each
batch of the finished product to be tested by the
manufacturer prior to marketing . Directive 89 / 381 / EEC
also gives Member States the option of carrying out official
examinations on each batch as well, provided the batch in
question has not already been examined elsewhere in the
Community .

As regards the donation of blood and blood plasma the
Council, in response to the communication from the
Commission to the Council and Parliament, reaffirmed, at
its meeting of 13 December 1993, the need to ensure the
quality and safety of donations . With this in mind, the
Commission intends to collate all available information

concerning the legal requirements and practices in the
Member States in relation to the donation, screening,
distribution and trade of blood and blood products and, if
necessary, to devise common safety criteria .

Subject : Anti-Greek propaganda by UK publishers

The Pan-Hellenic Federation of Private Foreign Language
Schools has alleged that UK publishers are spreading
anti-Greek propaganda . The Federation cites the case of
books — used for teaching in foreign language schools —
published by Longman and MacMillan which contain maps
of Europe in which Crete and the Dodecanese Islands
appear to belong to Turkey and Macedonia to Yugoslavia .
Can the Commission make representations to the UK
authorities on this subject ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1994 )

It is not for the Commission to check the accuracy of
information reproduced in documents published by
private-sector publishing houses . Where inaccurate data is
given on maps, the Commission would advise the
Honourable Member to take the matter up with the
publisher direct .

It should be noted that the maps published by the
Commission clearly show that the islands in question belong
to Greece . The Commission also uses the term ' former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ' on its maps to represent
the region of former Yugoslavia bordering on Greece .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3923 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 108 )

Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive
89 / 429 / EEC

necessary, to devise common safety criteria . Have the Greek authorities taken steps to incorporate

Directive 89 / 429 / EEC ( l ) ( incineration of urban waste ) into
(!) OJ No L 181, 28 . 6 . 1989 . Greek legislation ?

( x ) OJ No L 203, 15 . 7 . 1989, p . 50 .

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 55

by Mr Paleokrassas If the user is a Community firm, the Community has the

of the Commission right of ownership ( Articles 86 et seq . Euratom ), while the

( 11 April 1994 ) right of use and consumption remains with the user .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

On 14 May 1992 the Commission brought an action before
the Court of Justice to find that Greece, by failing to adopt in
good time the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions needed to comply with Directive 89 / 429 / EEC on
the reduction of air pollution from existing municipal waste
incineration plants and Directive 89 / 369 / EEC (*) on the
prevention of air pollution from new municipal waste
incineration plants, had failed to fulfil its obligations under
Articles 5 and 189 of the EC Treaty .

In the course of the procedure, the Greek Government had
notified the Commission of the national measures

implementing Directive 89 / 369 / EEC ( new municipal waste
incineration plants ). With regard to Directive 89 / 429 / EEC
( existing plants ), Greece stated its intention not to transpose
the Directive into national law, on the basis that no such
plants existed in Greece .

The Commission took the view that the ameasures taken to

transpose Directive 89 / 369 / EEC put an end to the
infringement, and that the argument that there was no need
to transpose Directive 89 / 429 / EEC was sound . It therefore
plans to withdraw the action brought before the Court,
which is no longer relevant .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3944 / 93

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )

and Josep Pons Grau ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 110

Subject : Directive 77 / 45 3 / EEC and problems of its
transposition

Which Member States of the European Union fulfil the
requirements of Directive 77 / 45 3 / EEC ( J ) on the vocational
training of nurses responsible for general care ?

Do all the Member States require the number of hours of
theoretical and practical instructions laid down by the
Directive ?

Is the professional qualification governed by this Directive
recognized in all countries of the Community ?

(!) OJ No L 163, 14 . 6 . 1989 . (!) OJ No L 176, 15 . 7 . 1977, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3940 / 93 (8 April 1994 )

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

(. 94 / C 300 / 109 )

«
Subject : Thorp plutonium

Will the Commission state who owns the plutonium to be
reprocessed at the Thorp reprocessing plant in the United
Kingdom ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

Plutonium reprocessed at the Thorp plant at Sellafield
( United Kingdom ) remains the property of the user where
that is a non-Community firm ( first paragraph, case ( c ), and
third paragraph of Article 75 Euratom ).

Directive 77 / 453 / EEC as ameded by Directive
89 / 595 / EEC i 1 ) has been incorporated into national law by
all the Member States except Italy, Spain and the United
Kingdom . In the case of the United Kingdom, measures have
been drafted but not yet adopted in their definitive form .
Infringement proceedings under Article 169 of the EC
Treaty have been initiated against these Member States .

To the Commission 's knowledge, only Italy and Spain do
not fulfil the requirements laid down by Directive
89 / 595 / EEC as regards the number of hours of theoretical
and clinical instruction .

The nursing diplomas listed in Article 3 of
Directive77 / 452 / EEC ( 2 ) must be recognized mutually in all
the Member States, provided that they are awarded on
completion of training which complies with Directive

77 / 453 / EEC, as amended .

A host Member State that has justified doubts as to whether
training undergone in another Member State and in respect
of which a diploma listed in Article 3 of Directive
77 / 452 / EEC has been awarded satisfies the requirements

No C 300 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

may apply the procedure laid down in Article 16 of that Answer given by Mr Flynn
Directive and require from the competent authorities of on behalf of the Commission
another Member State confirmation of the fact that the

(5 April 1994 )

person concerned has fulfilled all the training requirements
laid down in Directive 77 / 453 / EEC .

(!) OJ No L 341, 23 . 11 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 176, 15 . 7 . 1977 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3959 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 111 )

Subject : Trade agreements with third countries on the

import of agricultural products

Will the Commission say what trade agreements on the
import of agricultural products have been concluded with
third countries since 1990 and what agreements are to be
concluded between now and 1995 ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is
sending it direct to the Honourable Member and
Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3980 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

Nationals of third countries who are insured in a Member

State are at the moment excluded from the field of

application of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 on the
application of social security schemes to employed persons,
to self-employed workers and to members of their families
moving within the Community ( Article 2 of the
Regulation ).

As already stressed in its communication on guidelines for a
Community policy on migration of 1985 (*), the
Commission 's aim is to provide workers who are nationals
of third countries legally resident in the Community and
members of their families with the same social security
protection as other Community workers .

Furthermore, in the Green Paper on the European social
policy, the Commission stated that the possibility of
extending the advantages of the coordination of social
security schemes to nationals of third countries could be
considered in specific cases ( page 53 of the Green Paper ).

At an informal meeting of Ministers under Belgian
Presidency on 9 and 10 November 1993, all the Member
States were open to the idea of givin non-Community
workers emergency care when they were moving within the
Community ( medical treatment in the event of immediate
need, Article 22 ( 1 ) ( a ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71,
Community form El 11 ). The question of the legal basis of
such a measure has, however, been raised .

The Commission intends to look into this question .

(M Commission communication submitted to the Council on

7 March 1985 ( COM(85 ) 48 final ).

( 19 January 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3989 / 93

( 94 / C 300 / 112 ) by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

Subject : Extension of the Regulation governing social ( 19 January

security ( 94 / C 300 / 113 )

security

Will the Commission say whether — and, if so, when —
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 (*) governing social security
for persons moving within the countries of the European
Union will be extended to insured persons who are nationals
of countries outside the Union ?

(!) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971, p . 2 .

Subject : Contacts between elderly farmers in the
Community

Will the Commission say whether there exists today a
suitable framework for developing contacts between elderly

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 57

farmers in the Community by means of travel, visits,
meetings etc . with the help of the European Union ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4004 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen ( 94 / C 300 / 115 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

No, no such framework exists .

Subject : Entrepreneurial cooperation between SMUs in the

countries of central and eastern Europe

Will the Commission say what the European Union can do
— if anything — to support efforts by business
organizations to promote entrepreneurial cooperation
between SMUs in the countries of central and eastern
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4001 / 93 Europe ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 114 ) Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )
Subject : Implementation of the Erasmus Programme on

secondary education

Does the Commission intend to take any initiatives to
implement the Erasmus Programme on secondary
education ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The Commission has recently adopted a proposal for . a
Parliament and Council decision on a new Community
Programme of Action known as Socrates ( a ).

In this programme the Commission suggests that school
partnerships should be set up in the Community .

This will offer schools a chance of transnational

cooperation through the development and planning by
pupils and their teachers of European educational projects
on topics such as environmental protection and cultural
heritage .

Given the large number of pupils involved ( approximately
60 million ), the idea is to give a Community dimension to
the school partnerships without necessarily requiring those
concerned to move around . Mobility is nevertheless one of
the basic objectives of the present Erasmus Programme
which will be integrated into the higher education section of
the Socrates Programme .

The Commission has instituted several pilot programmes or
projects aimed at facilitating cooperation between SMEs in
the Community and companies in the countries of central
and eastern Europe .

The main instruments of inter-company cooperation

( BC-NET, BRE, Interprise, Europartenariat ) are also open
to the countries of eastern Europe .. The next
Europartenariat meeting will thus be held in Gdansk,
Poland, on 14 June 1994 . Three Interprise meetings were
organized in those countries in 1993 .

Moreover, in 1992 the Commission used an invitation to
tender to launch a project entitled ' Helping SMEs to work
with the countries of central and eastern Europe ', aimed at
improving the dissemination of information on the business
environment in the countries of central and eastern Europe
and promoting long-lasting cooperation with their emerging
private sectors . A total of 21 proposals received support .

The Commission is also co-financing several proposals from
European SME trade organizations relating to organizing
conferences in the countries of central and eastern Europe
and of the CIS .

As part of the Phare Programme, the JOPP Programme
supports the setting up of joint ventures between SMEs from
the Community and partner companies in the countries of
central and eastern Europe .

(M COM(93 ) 708 final . More specifically, the JOPP Programme also provides
support for the organization of events or seminars aimed at
encouraging the creation of joint ventures in the countries of

No C 300 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

central and eastern Europe through contacts with partner
companies with experience of joint ventures in those
countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4014 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

These events or seminars may be organized by financial ( 94 / C 300 / 117 )
intermediaries which are members of the JOPP network, by
chambers of commerce and trade associations, industrial
federations, bodies promoting investment or development
agencies, but not by commercial organizers of conferences, Subject : Gypsies ' rights
trade fairs and industry shows . Applications for support
must be sent through the financial intermediaries of the
JOPP Programme .

Subject : Gypsies ' rights

Gypsies today constitute 1,5 % of the population of Europe
and the overwhelming majority of them face problems
relating to respect for their identity and way of life . What are
the ways and means being employed by the European Union
to rescue them from ethnic cleansing ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4010 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission
to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 ) ( 14 April 1994 )

94 / C 300 / 116

Subject : Use of the funds which Greece receives from the

ESF

How much of the money which Greece receives from the
European Social Fund is earmarked for seminars and how
much for new jobs ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1994 )

Greece was awarded a total of ECU 136 274 340 for

employment assistance schemes for the period 1990 — 1993,
and has already received ECU 103 798 598 of this

amount .

The amount allocated for vocational training schemes
during the same period was ECU 1 179 842 188 .

Like the Honourable Member, the Commission is very
aware of the need to protect the fundamental rights of
groups that are potential targets of discrimination or
xenophobia, including gypsies .

To combat racism and xenophobia, the Commission is
using the tools at its disposal, both legislative and financial,
in partnership with the Member States and the other actors
concerned . Thus, in the Green Paper on European social
policy, the Commission proposes that a new dimension be

^ given to its fight against exclusion, involving :

( a ) action to improve anti-discrimination legislation and
the adoption of measures in the education and
information fields to cultivate respect for, and
understanding of, different cultures ;

( b ) the preparation, as part of the extension of the Poverty

3 Programme, of a new programme which will combat
social exclusion by funding schemes to help
disadvantaged groups and promoting the transfer of
good practice ;

( c ) measures to provide itinerant groups with training,
employment assistance and advice, to be funded by the
European Social Fund under Objective 3, with a view to
combating their exclusion from the labour market .

Out of a total of ECU 1 283 640 786, aid for employment
assistance schemes therefore represents 10,6% of the
appropriations committed .
To help provide the children of migrants and gypsies with
equal educational opportunities, the Commission 's
proposal for an action programme in the educational field
( the Socrates Programme ) includes specific measures to

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 59

educate these children that are designed to facilitate their WRITTEN QUESTION E-4031 / 93
integration and improve the quality of the education which by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
they receive .
to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 119 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4015 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 118 )

Subject : Harmonization of the system of providing services

for the elderly

Can the Commission take any steps to upgrade and
harmonize the system of providing services for the elderly,
either in the form of discounts on public transport or in the
form of cultural and furthertraining activities in all the
countries of the European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

In direct response to this question it must be pointed out that
the competence in relation to provision of special facilities
and services for older people rests with the Member States .
The Commission has no intention of proposing measures
for harmonization in this area .

However, the Honourable Member will be aware that, in
the course of 1993, the European year of older people and
solidarity between generations, the Commission has
supported numerous events, studies, actions etc . to raise
awareness of the needs and problems of older people
throughout the Member States .

In so far as public transport price reductions are concerned,
the Commission, on 10 May 1989, adopted a
recommendation on a European over 60s card to improve
access to concessions for older people, especially when
travelling outside their own country . Pending
implementation of this recommendation by the Member
States and based on a suggestion made by NGOs working
for older people, the Commission intends to launch a
Community-wide symbol to facilitate identification of
various concessions which may be available to elderly

persons .

Subject : Protection of wild water fowl habitats in
Thessaly

Members of the environmental and zoological association
of Greece have recently complained that hundreds of swans,
herons and other rare birds have been killed by hunters in
water fowl habitats in Thessaly . Will the Commission take
steps to protect wild water fowl habitats in Thessaly ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( ) on the conservation of wild birds
prohibits the hunting of swans and herons in the Member
States .

The Member States are responsible for implementing the
Directive and ensuring that its provisions are complied with .
The Greek authorities must therefore see to it that swans

and herons are not hunted on their territory .

If the hunting persists and firm evidence is provided, the
Commission will not fail to investigate the matter under the
terms of Article 169 of the EEC Treaty .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4068 / 93

by Richard Simmonds ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 120

Subject : Coach weights

Continental and UK coach operators continue to suffer
commercial disadvantages when operating in the UK due to
the lower permitted coach weights . At the same time, the UK
Government has accepted that vehicles fitted with air
suspensions ( generally called ' road-friendly suspensions ')
cause less damage to roads and bridges than vehicles not so
fitted .

Will the Commission ask the UK Government ( pending
completion of their road / bridge strengthening programme )

No C 300 / 60 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

to increase the authorized gross vehicle weight for 2-axle
coaches from 17-tonnes to 18-tonnes in the following
circumstances :

— the vehicle maximum design weights are not
increased

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

has road-firendly suspension and twin tyres From the Commission 's 1992 legislative programme 42

axle proposals for legislation were identified as likely to have a

significant impact on business and would require an impact

axle weight does not exceed the current assessment . A list of these proposals is set out in Table 2 in

tonnes ? the Commission 's Secound report on administrative

simplification work in the Community in favour of
enterprises, in particular SMEs ( 1 ). In almost all cases
changes were made either to the impact assessment or the
proposal itself as a result of the consultation process carried
Answer given by Mr Matutes out by the Commission .

— the vehicle has road-firendly suspension and twin tyres

on the drive axle

— the maximum axle weight does not exceed the current

limit of 10,5 tonnes ?

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

The Commission recognises the need for harmonized rules
concerning the maximum weights and dimensions of all
road vehicle types, including coaches .

For this reason the Commission put forward such a
proposal on 15 December 1993 .

The proposal, if accepted, would permit the United
Kingdom to maintains its maximum gross vehicle weight
limit of 17 tonnes for 2-axle coaches until December 1998 .
The maximum axle weight would similarly be fixed at

10,5 tonnes until that date .

It is intention of the Commission that upon expiry of this
derogation on 1 January 1999 al 2-axle vehicles throughout
the Community shall have a maximum gross vehicle weight
limit of 18 tonnes with maximum axle weights of
11,5 tonnes .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4069 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 121

Subject : Compliance cost assessment in Directives

What proportion of the Directives adopted in 1992
contained a detailed compliance cost assessment ?

How many was this in numerical terms ?

What is the Commission doing to increase the number of
Directives which have a full compliance cost assessment ?

The table below summarizes the work undertaken in 1993

and planned for 1994, giving separate figures for those draft
legislative proposals which will require a business impact
assessment, those which will require more widespread
consultation, those where there will be the publication of a
Green or White Paper, and those involving the
consolidation of Community law .

Draft legislation 1993 1994

Requiring more widespread consultation 30 33

Requiring studies into the impact on
business 28 30

Requiring a Green or White Paper 7 9

Involving consolidation of Community
law 19 15

Total 200 105

Publishing the legislative programme in the Official Journal
of the European Communities, which should ensure more
effective transmission of information and greater openness,
provides an opportunity for outside interests to see what the
Commission is proposing and where more detailed
information can be obtained . The Commission is continuing
its work to strengthen and improve the business impact
assessment system including the use of more detailed
evaluation techniques such as cost-benefit or
cost-effectiveness analyses . Within the 1994 legislative
programme 30 out of the 105 proposals have been identified
as requiring an impact assessment .

In addition in December 1992 the Commission introduced a

notification procedure for policy initiatives . Such a
notification would be made in the Official Journal of the
European Communities and would include a summary of
the initiative concerned, information on how to obtain
related documents, and deadlines for comments . This
should enable outside interests to indicate the likely extent
or impact of a proposal which could be taken into account

27 . 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 300 / 61

by the Commission, and included as appropriate in the
business impact assessment .

(M SEC(92 ) 1867 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4098 / 93

by John Cushnahan ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 122 )

of procedures for the award of public contracts contain a
restrictive list of cases where contracts may be awarded by
private treaty ( within the meaning of the Financial
Regulation ) or by negotiated procedure ( within the meaning
of the Directives ), with or without publication in the

Official Journal of the European Communities .

By way of illustration, in 1993 the Advisory Committee on
Procurement and Contracts, acting under Article 60 of the
Financial Regulation, considered nine contracts of a value
exceeding its ECU 30 000 threshold for services connected
with the organization of conferences and seminars . A list of
the contracts and contractors will be sent direct to the

Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

(!) OJ No L 356, 31 . 12 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 315, 16 . 12 . 1993 .

Subject : Commission conferences and seminars ( 3 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

What are the procedures used by the Commission in
granting tenders for the organization of Commission
conferences and seminars by outside firms ?

Will the Commission list the conferences and seminars, the
organization of which were tendered out in the past year,
and the firms to which these tenders were awarded ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4099 / 93

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 123 )

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission  
Subject : Commerce 2000 — Call for interest
(4 March 1994 )

Public contracts are awareded by the Commission 's
departments in accordance with the provisions of the
Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 ( 1 ) and the
Commission Regulation of 9 December 1993 laying down
detailed rules for the implementation of certain provisions
of the Financial Regulation ( 2 ).

Under the rules of 9 December 1993 the Commission has to

comply with the Council Directives on public works, supply
and service contracts, in particular as regards advertising
rules, common rules on technical specifications, common
rules on participation, criteria for qualitative selection and
criteria for the award of contracts .

In the instance referred to by the Honourable Member, the
Directive in question is 92 / 50 / EEC on the coordination of
procedures for the award of public service contracts ( 3 ),
where the application threshold is ECU 200 000 .

As a general rule all the provisions cited above stipulate that
contracts are to be awarded through tendering procedures

( open and restricted invitations to tender as defined in the
Financial Regulation, or open and restricted procedures as
defined in the Directives ),

By way of derogation from this general principle, the
Financial Regulation and the Directives on the coordination

I am very concerned at the fact that a Business School
located within my European constituency contacted
Brussels at the end of October 1993 requesting information
on the feasibility studies and pilot projects to promote links
between SMUs through the implementation of modern
management methods and new technologies in the
commerce and distribution sector ( Commerce 2000 ) — Call
for interest ( Part A) / proposals ( Part B ) (*).

Although it contacted the appropriate office in Brussels, this
Business School had to wait approximately four weeks
before it received details about the application
procedure .

Could the Commission investigate this difficulty and
provide an explanation for this delay ?

O OJ No C 277, 15 . 10 . 1993, p . 20,

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

The Commission 's first record of correspondence with
Durham University Business School was upon receipt of a

No C 300 / 62 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 10 . 94

fax from the aforesaid School ( Professor Kirby ) on
8 November 1993 . This fax referred to an earlier telephone
query for which there is no telephone record . A telephone
record is not kept as it is standard procedure to request that
telephone queries be followed up by a written query in form
of a fax . This request for written confirmation is to ensure
that an accurate record and full particulars of the enquirer
are available .

In response to the fax dated 8 November 1993, the
information on the Commerce 2000 Initiative was duly sent
by post to Durham University Business School on
11 November 1993 . Allowing for postal time, the
information should have been received within a further

seven days .

On 23 November 1993 the Commission received a fax from

the Honourable Member requesting information ( once
more on the Commerce 2000 Initiative ) on behalf of
Durham University Business School . The requested
information was faxed to the Honourable Member 's office

on 24 November 1993 .

result, will the Commission encourage its extension to the
whole territory of the Community on the basis of
recommendations leading to the setting up of a Community
telephone that can be used to notify the authorities of the
need to pick up beggars ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

On 29 July 1991 the Council adopted a Decision

( 91 / 396 / EEC ) on the introduction of a single European

1993 . emergency call number ( J ). This Decision calls on the

Member States to ensure that the number 112 is introduced

into public telephone networks as the single European
emergency call number . This number was supposed to be
introduced by 31 December 1992 but, because it would be
difficult for some Member States to meet that deadline in

view of the need to make unplanned changes to their
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4 102 / 93 numbering systems, these Member States were required to

PPE implement the Decision by 31 December 1996 .

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 300 / 124 ) Once 112 has been introduced as the single emergency
number throughout the Union, it should be possible to
achieve the aim mentioned in the question .
Subject : Telephone for notifying the authorities of the need

to pick up beggars

The recent wave of cold which has devastated central

Europe has resulted in the deaths of large number of
beggars, who, because they were homeless, were unable to
endure the severe weather conditions and become the

victims of their poverty .

As a result, many local authorities in the Community have
decided to provide a 24-hour telephone line, which can be
used by any Community citizen who comes across a beggar
in the street to call local authority social workers, who will
pick up the beggar and take him to a reception centre .

Combating exclusion and poverty, including aid for the
homeless, is primarily the responsibility of the Member
States as part of their social policies . For this reason the
measures described by the Honourable Member should, in
the first instance, be brought to the attention of the
decision-makers and others working in this field in the
Member States . The Commission could perhaps take such
measures into account in programmes being drawn up on
social exclusion, but it must nevertheless be stressed that all
proposals for projects come from the Member States .

Since this initiative has been very successful and has saved
the lives of many poor people, who have been picked up as a (!) OJ No L 217, 6 . 8 . 1991 .