Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

/        -        - 1 "W 1 ISSN U J / 8-6986
# Official Journal c 173

# Volume 39
##### or the European Communities 17 June 199 «

English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents P age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

96 / C 173 / 01 E-2449 / 94 by Alfred Lomas to the Commission
Subject : Immigration controls ( Supplementary answer ) 1

96 / C 173 / 02 E-338 / 95 by Alexandras Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental pollution caused by airborne ash from mines belonging to the Greek
Electricity Corporation ( DEI ) ( Supplementary answer ) 1

96 / C 173 / 03 E-3018 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Comparative assessment of the European contribution to brain research 3

96 / C 173 / 04 E-3088 / 95 by Giles Chichester to the Commission
Subject : Veterinary medicines ( Supplementary answer ) 3

96 / C 173 / 05 E-3228 / 95 by Robin Teverson to the Commission
Subject : Burning of fossil fuels 4

96 / C 173 / 06 E-3249 / 95 by Angela Billingham to the Commission
Subject : Closure of DSR ( TV Sat 2 ) 4

96 / C 173 / 07 E-3320 / 95 by Shaun Spiers to the Commission
Subject : Sixth VAT Directive 5

96 / C 173 / 08 E-34 69 / 95 by Martina Gredler to the Commission
Subject : Ozone-layer measurements in the EU Member States — support for developing countries
converting to alternatives 5

96 / C 173 / 09 E-3484 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : CO2 emissions by private and government undertakings in the Czech Republic and
Slovakia 6

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I Price : ECU 19,50 ( Continued overleaf )

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96 / C 173 / 10 E-3498 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Smart speed governors for cars

96 / C 173 / 11 E-351 9 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : The A / 26 ' tunnel ' motorway

96 / C 173 / 12 E-3529 / 95 by Roberto Mezzaroma to the Commission
Subject : The effects on society of ' mixed ' families

96 / C 173 / 13 E-3548 / 95 by Robin Teverson to the Commission
Subject : EU statistics on levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide

96 / C 173 / 14 E-3549 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of failure to comply with the natural habitats Directive

96 / C 173 / 15 E-3579 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject : Teaching of Aragonese

96 / C 173 / 16 E-3601 / 95 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Boosting the shipbuilding industry in Spain

96 / C 173 / 17 E-3602 / 95 by Philippe Monfils to the Commission
Subject : Association agreements and audiovisual policy

96 / C 173 / 18 E-3619 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Cocoa butter

96 / C 173 / 19 E-3622 / 95 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel to the Commission
Subject : European legislation on the transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease by blood
transfusion

96 / C 173 / 20 E-3643 / 95 by Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject : Plight of the Batwa people in Rwanda

96 / C 173 / 21 E-3648 / 95 by Roberta Angelilli to the Commission
Subject : Irregularities in the running of training course co-financed by the European Union

96 / C 173 / 22 E-3650 / 95 by Klaus Rehder to the Commission
Subject : Obligation to notify under Article 93(1 ) of the EEC Treaty

96 / C 173 / 23 E-8 / 96 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission
Subject : Human rights violation in third countries

96 / C 173 / 24 E-14 / 96 by Martina Gredler to the Commission
Subject : Labelling of genetically modified foodstuffs

96 / C 173 / 25 P - 1 9 / 96 by Karsten Hoppenstedt to the Commission
Subject : Media remit

96 / C 173 / 26 E-20 / 96 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Checks by Finnish traffic police on EU transit traffic

96 / C 173 / 27 E-23 / 96 by Glenys Kinnock to the Commission
Subject : Green Paper on the information society and the developing world

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96 / C 173 / 28 P-29 / 96 by Honôrio Novo to the Commission
Subject : Association agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco 17

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E-33 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 18

E-34 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 18

E-35 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 18

E-36 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 18

E-40 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 18

E-53 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 19

E-54 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 19

E-58 / 96 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Display screen equipment 19

Joint answer to Written Questions E-33 / 96 to E-36 / 96, E-40 / 96, E-53 / 96, E-54 / 96 and

E-58 / 96 19

E-60 / 96 by Maren Gunther to the Commission
Subject : Conflict between the objective of rationalizing public finance through structural
adjustment programmes in developing countries and public funding of education in such
countries 19

E-68 / 96 by Yannos Kranidiotis to the Commission
Subject : Timetable for proposals on Greek textiles industry 20

E-71 / 96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Energy 20

E - 85 / 96 by Armelle Guinebertière to the Commission
Subject : Marketing of Chinese truffles in France 21

E - 99 / 96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Directive on TV sans frontière 21

E-101 / 96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Plan to encourage safety at work 22

E - 1 02 / 96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Unusually gifted children in the European Union 22

E-104 / 96 by Jorge Hernandez Mollar to the Commission
Subject : Code of conduct with regard to equal pay for men and women 23

( Continued overleaf )

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E - 1 05 / 96 by Mathias Reichhold to the Commission
Subject : Differentiation of farm subsidy payments in Austria 23

E-108 / 96 by James Provan to the Commission
Subject : Electromagnetic compatibility 24

E-118 / 96 by Michael Spindelegger to the Commission
Subject : Opening the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for Europe programmes to the central and
eastern European countries and the Baltic States 24

E-125 / 96 by Viviane Reding to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of the ' local voting rights ' Directive 25

E-l 32 / 96 by Frank Vanhecke to the Commission,
Subject : Discrimination against the Dutch language by European Commission departments 26

E-133 / 96 by Honorio Novo to the Commission
Subject : Construction of access roads to the Freixo Bridge ( Porto ) — measures to minimize
environmental impact 26

P-145 / 96 by Caroline Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Reports on implementation of Directives on the environment 27

E-149 / 96 by Inigo Méndez de Vigo to the Commission

Subject : Cohésion Fund — Spain 28

96 / C 173 / 53 E-l 52 / 96 by Eolo Parodi, Guido Viceconte and Roberto Mezzaroma to the
Commission

Subject : Resolving infant feeding controversies 28

96 / C 173 / 54

E - 1 68 / 96 by Giovanni Burtone to the Commission
Subject : Temporary opening of a reduced entry price quota for oranges intended for
processing 29

96 / C 173 / 55 E - 1 71 / 96 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Packaging Directive 30

96 / C 173 / 56 E-172 / 96 by Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : The prevalence of asthma 30

96 / C 173 / 57 E-l 74 / 96 by Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Environmental protection — The polluter should pay 31

96 / C 173 / 58 E-l 79 / 96 by Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Environmental protection — Burning solvent-derived fuels 31

96 / C 173 / 59 E-189 / 96 by Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : The Fair research programme 32

96 / C 173 / 60 E-195 / 96 by Jens-Peter Bonde to the Commission
Subject : End of shooting season 32

96 / C 173 / 61 E-203 / 96 by Roy Perry to the Commission
Subject : Health and safety at work 32

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96 / C 173 / 62 E-207 / 96 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : The Commission's FAIR Programme 33

96 / C 173 / 63 E-209 / 96 by Philippe Monfils to the Commission

Subject : Funding of pilot projects 33

96 / C 173 / 64

96 / C 173 / 65

E-210 / 96 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Acquisitions by the Olivetti Group of telecommunications media 34

E-219 / 96 by Klaus Rehder to the Commission
Subject : Reduction in Member States ' contributions to the EU budget by the amounts which they
receive back via the EAGGF 35

96 / C 173 / 66 E-224 / 96 by Laura González Alvarez and María Sornosa Martínez to the
Commission

Subject : Environmental problem in the municipalities of Leoia and Erandio ( province of
Vizcaya / Biskaia, Spain ) 35

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E-232 / 96 by Bernie Malone to the Commission
Subject : Preservation of bog-lands in Counties Offaly and Westmeath, Ireland 36

E-234 / 96 by Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Free movement of Spanish chemical and pharmaceutical products 36

E-243 / 96 by Peter Skinner to the Commission
Subject : Bullying in the workplace and violence at work 37

P-249 / 96 by Danilo Poggiolini to the Commission
Subject : Means of obtaining funds in connection with Alzheimer's disease 38

E-252 / 96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Transuranium institute in Karlsruhe and plutonium 38

E-253 / 96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : EU research funding for ultimate nuclear waste disposal sites 38

E-254 / 96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Treaty on the monitoring of ultimate nuclear waste disposal facilities 39

E-259 / 96 by Luigi Moretti to the Commission
Subject : Commission programme to promote sport 40

E-260 / 96 by Doeke Eisma to the Commission
Subject : Environmental testing bodies in the Member States 40

E-262 / 96 by Doeke Eisma to the Commission

Subject : CO2 emissions from cars 41

96 / C 173 / 77 P-264 / 96 by Ritva Laurila to the Commission
Subject : Sewage treatment in major European cities 41

96 / C 173 / 78 E-268 / 96 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission

Subject : Distribution policy 42

96 / C 173 / 79 P-295 / 96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Filters for radioactive strontium and caesium in liquids 42

EN

( Continuée ! overleaf )

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96 / C 173 / 80 P-298 / 96 by Joan Colom i Naval to the Commission
Subject : Redeployment of bank staff after the introduction of the euro

96 / C 173 / 81 P-302 / 96 by Umberto Bossi to the Commission
Subject : Failure by the French aviation authorities to comply with the rule on using English for tests
validating civil aviation qualifications

96 / C 173 / 82 E-304 / 96 by Hans-Gert Poettering to the Commission
Subject : Cross-border use of emergency vehicles

96 / C 173 / 83 E-310 / 96 by Wilmya Zimmermann to the Commission
Subject : Financial framework of the Phare / Tacis programme on the construction of fundamental
democratic structures and participation in the democratic decision-making process at local level and
allocation of appropriations

96 / C 173 / 84 E-313 / 96 by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of transit fraud for transit operators

96 / C 173 / 85 E-3 1 5 / 96 by Eryl McNally to the Commission
Subject : Occupational asthma — classification of glutaraldehyde

96 / C 173 / 86 E-327 / 96 by Elmar Brok to the Commission
Subject : Bird protection

96 / C 173 / 87 E-328 / 96 by Richard Howitt to the Commission
Subject : Human rights abuses in Turkey

96 / C 173 / 88 E-339 / 96 by Willi Rothley to the Commission
Subject : Municipal voting rights for EU citizens . In this case : transposition

96 / C 173 / 89 E-345 / 96 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Money spent for entertainment

96 / C 173 / 90 E-348 / 96 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Unfair sale of fuel

96 / C 173 / 91 E-352 / 96 by Ernesto Caccavale and Riccardo Garosci to the Commissior
Subject : Crisis in the hazelnut sector

96 / C 173 / 92 E-363 / 96 by James Provan to the Commission
Subject : Pedigree breeding stock and studbooks

96 / C 173 / 93 E-367 / 96 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Alternative fishing grounds for the Andalusian fleet operating in Morocco

96 / C 173 / 94 P-371 / 96 by Milan Linzer to the Commission
Subject : Further Commission action following the Bosman ruling

96 / C 173 / 95 P-376 / 96 by Jôrn Svensson to the Commission
Subject : The situation of homosexuals

96 / C 173 / 96 E-379 / 96 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : French nuclear testing

96 / C 173 / 97 E-383 / 96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission
Subject : Recruitment of staff for the European Environment Agency ( EEA )

96 / C 173 / 98 E-384 / 96 by Antonio Tajani to the Commission
Subject : Restructuring plans for the multinational company Alcatel

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E-388 / 96 by Carmen Fraga Estévez to the Commission
Subject : Refunds for the export of fruit and vegetables 52

E-3 8 9 / 96 by Carmen Fraga Estévez to the Commission
Subject : Export licences for fruit and vegetables 53

Joint answer to Written Questions E-388 / 96 and E-389 / 96 53

E-390 / 96 by Jorge Hernandez Mollar to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ) projects in Andalusia 54

E-392 / 96 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission

Subject : Sugar quotas for Spain 54

E - 393 / 96 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Study of market trends for fresh tomatoes 55

E-3 95 / 96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission
Subject : Milk quotas 55

E-399 / 96 by Werner Langen to the Commission
Subject : Identity checks at the Belgian border 56

E-402 / 96 by Philippe Monfils to the Commission
Subject : State aid for football 56

E-4 1 3 / 96 by Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : European Commission complaint procedure P / 94 / 4521 against the Federal Republic of
Germany 57

E-425 / 96 by Anita Pollack to the Commission

Subject : Disabled parking cards 57

96 / C 173 / 109 E-429 / 96 by Bernie Malone to the Commission
Subject : ECHO's action programme for disaster preparedness 57

96 / C 173 / 110 E-430 / 96 by Bernie Malone to the Commission

Subject : State aid to Iberia 58

96 / C 173 / 111 E-436 / 96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : SMU and craft industries t 59

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E-444 / 96 by Martina Gredler to the Commission
Subject : Marking of examination papers — Austrian candidates for career-bracket A8-7 posts in
the first competition in 1995 59

E-446 / 96 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel to the Commission
Subject : Testing costs for vehicles imported in parallel by private individuals 60

P-450 / 96 by José Escudero to the Commission
Subject : Community aid for libraries 61

E-462 / 96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission
Subject : Confiscation of inheritances 61

E-477 / 96 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel and Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Selection of projects for funding under the NOW programme 61

( Continued overleaf )

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P-491 / 96 by Karla Peijs to the Commission
Subject : Shortcomings in the security system applied to external Community transit operations

E - 505 / 96 by Richard Howitt to the Commission
Subject : Slaughter of pilot whales by Faroe Island fishermen

E-510 / 96 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Electromagnetic fields and the effect on public health

E-513 / 96 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Court of Auditors

E-521 / 96 by Richard Howitt to the Commission
Subject : Helios programme

E-534 / 96 by Richard Howitt to the Commission
Subject : European Social Funding

P-540 / 96 by Niels Sindal to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Directive on working time

P-549 / 96 by Edouard des Places to the Commission
Subject : Fraudulent imports onto the Community market of provisionally preserved mushrooms
originating in China

P-559 / 96 by Riccardo Garosci to the Commission
Subject : 1996 IGC ( Turin, starting 29 March ) — Intergovernmental Conference on revising the
Maastricht Treaty

E-563 / 96 by Inigo Méndez de Vigo to the Commission

Subject : Dumping imports from Turkey

P-572 / 96 by Christian Jacob to the Commission
Subject : Trade relations between the EU and New Zealand

P-573 / 96 by David Hallam to the Commission
Subject : European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia

P-575 / 96 by Peter Skinner to the Commission
Subject : Kimberley Clark / Scott merger and subsequent redundancies

P-576 / 96 by Johanna Boogerd-Quaak to the Commission
Subject : Storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste at Borssele

E-586 / 96 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Violent raid on Greek gypsy settlements

P-624 / 96 by Joaquim Miranda to the Commission
Subject : East Timor and the Euro-Asian Summit in Bangkok

P-626 / 96 by Christian Jacob to the Commission
Subject : Trade relations between the EU and third countries

P-656 / 96 by Salvatore Tatarella to the Commission
Subject : Consultancy for the Commission's new premises in Luxembourg

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17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2449 / 94 which the British visitors ' passport was accepted as a valid

by Alfred Lomas ( PSE ) travel document .

to the Commission

( 30 November 1994 )

( 96 / C 173 / 01 )

Subject : Immigration controls

Hoverspeed Ltd based in the UK are advising black British
citizens not to travel to France with a Visitor's Passport,
saying that they will not be allowed into France by French
Immigration Control Authorities unless they have in their
possession a full British passport . Will the Commission take
immediate steps to prevent the French Immigration Control
Authorities from using racial discrimination as grounds for
refusing entry to France and also advise Hoverspeed Ltd to
stop deterring black British citizens from travelling to
France ?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Monti

on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

Following the Commission answer of 14 December 1994 ( )
and the information since provided by the French
authorities, it appears that the conditions, under which the
British visitors ' passport is accepted by certain Member
States as a valid travel document for stays of less than three
months, derive not from Community law but from bilateral
agreements between the United Kingdom and those
Member States .

At present, France and the United Kingdom have mutually
agreed to discontinue, as from 1 January 1 995, their
bilateral agreement of 14 February 1961 on the basis of

(') OJ No C 36, 13 . 2 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-338 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 13 February 1995 )

( 96 / C 173 / 02 )

Subject : Environmental pollution caused by airborne ash

from mines belonging to the Greek Electricity
Corporation ( DEI )

The ash produced by the burning of lignite in the regions of
Kozani, Ptolemaïda and Megalopolis is carried away by the
wind during the transport and storage stages, creating
significant atmospheric pollution in the neighbouring
towns . Moreover, one of the storage areas is located very
close to the town of Megalopolis and there are plans to
locate another in a thickly wooded area nearby . Will the
Commission say :

1 . Are the conditions under which the ash is transported to,
and stored in, DEI installations in line with Community
legislation ? Have environmental impact studies been
drawn up as part of consultation procedures, as
provided for by Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ?

2 . Has the Community provided any financial aid for the
transport and storage of ash by the DEI, and, if so, how
much ? What measures have been provided to ensure the
implementation of the Community's environmental
legislation ?

No C 173 / 2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 February 1996 )

Further to its answer of 30 May 1995 ( ), the Commission
can, after investigation, now provide the Honourable
Member with the following information .

1 . The project mentioned by the Honourable Member falls
under Annex II of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on assessment

of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment ( 2 ) and in particular under point 11(c )

( installations for the disposal of industrial and domestic
waste ).

According to Article 4(2 ) of the Directive, projects of the
classes listed in Annex II shall be made subject to an
assessment in accordance with the procedure provided
by the Directive ( Articles 5 to 10 inclusive ), where
Member States consider that their characteristics so

require . This is the case particularly when a project by
virtue of its nature, size or location is likely to have
significant effects on the environment ( Article 2(1 )).

The Greek legislation transposing Directive 85 / 337 / EEC
in the national legal order considers that all projects of
Annex II should be made subject to an environmental

assessment .

The Commission does not possess any information
proving that the provisions of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC
have not been respected in this case .

2 . Since Greek accession in 1981, the European Investment
Bank ( EIB ) has provided a total of ECU 902 million in
long-term loans to the Greek Public power corporation

( PPC ), for extending and reinforcing power production,
transmission and distribution in Greece as well as for

related environmental protection measures . Of this,
ECU 832 million was from the EIB's own resources and

ECU 70 million from New Community Instrument

( NIC ) resources, managed by the EIB under mandate
from the Community . For improving the environment in
Ptolemais and Megalopolis the EIB provided the
following loan finance to PPC :

( a ) For the installation of high-performance fly ash
electrostatic filters in three 300 megawatt ( MW )
lignite fired units of the PPC Kardia and Ptolemais
thermal power plants, the EIB lent in 1992 and in

1993 a total of ECU 20 million . No other flue gas
treatment is so far required for these units, as SOx
and NOx emissions remain under the current

Community and Greek legal thresholds, due to the
composition of the local lignite ( low sulphur and
high calcium content ) and the applied combustion
process . The investment will reduce the total
environmental impact of atmospheric emissions
from all power plants in the area by nearly 60%,
benefiting in particular the towns of Ptolemais
and Kozani . The investment is included in the

Community support framework for Greece, as it
promotes the Community environmental policy for
combating atmospheric pollution . Fly ash collected
directly from closed containers connected to the
filters is transported in closed vehicles and used for
cement production . The EIB was informed that
measures are undertaken to ensure proper
transport of ash produced by the non-EIB financed
PPC units in the region, including roofing, the
conveyor belts used for its transport and that ash is
disposed in exhausted open mines in layers . Each
layer is covered with earth, and once the mine is
filled up its top is planted .

( b ) For the PPC Megalopolis plant, the EIB made in

1989 a loan of ECU 83 million for the extension of

the existing production facilities of the open cast
lignite mine, the construction of an associated 300
MW power generator ( unit IV ) and environmental
protection investment consisting mainly of the
construction of a flue-gas desulphurization plant

( FGD ) for unit IV . The construction of such a plant
was recommended by the EIB, and PPC undertook
contractually the obligation to do so, even though
total SOx emissions from major existing
combustion plants in the region, including the
additional 300 MW unit, are below the upper limit
fixed for Greece by Directive 88 / 609 / EEC ( 3 ). PPC
informed the EIB that construction of the FGD was

scheduled to start by the end of 1995 . It is the EIB's
understanding that for the completion of the FGD
plant, PPC may request further loan finance .
EIB will then review again the environmental
parameters, including the ash treatment, transport
and use .

Projects financed by the EIB are required to comply
with Community Directives as well as national
legislation on protection of the environment, and
to take into account recommendations set

internationally .

(!) OJ No C 175, 10 . 7 . 1995 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 336, 7 . 12 . 1988 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 3

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3018 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) by Giles Chichester ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 13 November 1995 ) ( 20 November 1995 )

( 96 / C 173 / 03 ) ( 96 / C 173 / 04 )

Subject : Veterinary medicines

Subject : Comparative assessment of the European
contribution to brain research What are the different levels of charges for licensing
veterinary medicines and vaccines in each Member State
and, by way of comparison, what are the levels of charges
for licensing veterinary medicines and vaccines in the United
As the American Decade of the Brain reaches its halfway States of America, with particular regard to medicines and
stage, is the Commission assessing the results obtained in vaccines used in the poultry industry ?
this extremely important area in Europe, either in
Community programmes, in programmes organized by the
Member States or through international cooperation ? For
comparative purposes the data from the Human Frontier Supplementary answer given by Mr Bangemann
Science Programme could be particularly important . on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 1996 )

Further to its answer of 22 December 1995 H, the
Commission can now provide the following information :

The national authorities charged the following fees for
evaluating a full dossier ( for one pharmaceutical form ) in
applications for authorization to market medicinal products
for veterinary use .

Brain research and neurology are an important part of the ( in ECU )
Community's biomedical and health research programme

( Biomed ).

45 brain-research and neurology projects were launched
under Biomed 1 ( 1990 — 1994 ), involving 532 teams and a
budget of ECU 10,8 million . The final reports will be
presented in 1 996 and 1997 .

41 projects will be getting under way following the first call
in the new Biomed 2 programme ( 1994 — 1998 ).

The Commission is represented in the Human Frontier
Science Programme, based in Strasbourg, which backs
research into brain functions and molecular approaches to
biology . The programme is currently being evaluated .

It is still too early, though, to make an overall evaluation of
the results of recent developments in this field . Meanwhile,
the Commission is following research in this area with great
interest .

Belgium ± 1 630 to 3 010

Denmark ± 4 730

Germany ±57 400

Greece ± 2 080

Spain ± 1 890

France ± 2 270

Ireland ± 5 250

Italy ± 533 to 1 330

Luxembourg ± 2 420

Netherlands ± 2 640 to 8 245

Austria ± 1 130

Portugal ± 750

Finland ± 8 650

Sweden ± 8 605

United Kingdom ±17210

Pursuant to Council Regulation ( EC ) No 297 / 95 of
10 February 1995 ( 2 ), an application for a Community
authorization is subject to fees ranging from ECU 70 000

( basic fee ) to ECU 100 000 ( where the dossier includes
several pharmaceutical forms of the same medicinal
product ).

In the United States it costs $ US 162 000 ( ECU 127 640 ) to
evaluate a full dossier .

No C 173 / 4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

For vaccine-type medicinal products for veterinary use

( whatever the target species ) the Community fee for
examining a full dossier is reduced to ECU 40 000, with an
additional ECU 5 000 for each additional strength and / or
pharmaceutical form .

Some Member States ( Belgium, Italy, Netherlands ) also vary
fees according to the type of medicinal product involved .

In the United States the Food and Drug Administration may
grant fee dispensations or reductions . The Commission is
unaware of any specific provisions of this sort regarding
poultry vaccines .

C ) OJ No C 48, 19 . 2 . 1996, p . 24 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 35, 15 . 2 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3228 / 95

by Robin Teverson ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(1 December 1995 )

( 96 / C 173 / 05 )

Subiect : Burning of fossil fuels

Schoolchildren in my constituency are worried about the
environment and have raised the following question
surrounding the burning of fossil fuels :

Although it is acknowledged by industrial societies that the
burning of fossil fuels in coal-fired power stations is
essential for industrial progress, this is one of the main
causes of the increased greenhouse effect, resulting in global
warming . Will the Commission propose that incentives be
offered to Member States, and possibly to those other
countries aiming to accede to the European Union, which
will enable them to invest in renewable energy sources whilst
shutting down some of their coal-fired power stations ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

Commission forecasts and world energy trends suggest the
use of solid fuels in power plants should not increase over
the next 25 years .

Moreover, with average yield from coal-fired plants
constantly rising, the amount of C0 2 they emit should fall
significantly .

The Commission has long been aware of the importance of
renewable energy sources and has established a number of
incentives to encourage their use . The current Joule research
and development programme, which covers research on
non-nuclear energy, is heavily weighted in favour of
renewables, while a significant proportion of the budget of
the Thermie programme is devoted to demonstrating, at or
near industrial scale, the technical and economic viability of
those forms of energy and to encouraging their adoption . In
addition, in cooperation with Thermie, the Altener
programme is concerned with strategies for the introduction
of renewable energies into the market . Community
programmes therefore cover the full range of activities from
research and development to demonstration and
exploitation of the technologies developed .

These programmes have so far been largely confined to
activities carried out within the Community, but a range of
other activities has been undertaken to improve the general
energy situation in central and eastern Europe .

The Commission is sending documentary information for
the pupils concerned directly to the Honourable Member
and to Parliament's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3249 / 95

by Angela Billingham ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 December 1995 )

(: 96 / C 173 / 06 )

Subject : Closure of DSR ( TV Sat 2 )

Is the Commission aware that the closure of the German TV

Programme DSR ( previously TV Sat 2 ) has left citizens with
redundant receiving equipment ?

Is the Commission further aware that, despite the fact that it
was known that transmission would cease on 1 January

1995, equipment was still allegedly on sale until
31 December 1994 .

I understand that the German Government has offered

compensation to its own citizens but refused to compensate
others . Does not the Commission feel that this is

discriminating between citizens of the European Union ?

Finally, can the Commission tell me how many similar
complaints have been made by Members on behalf of their
constituents ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 5

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 February 1996 )

The digital satellite radio service known as DSR and
consisting of a multiplex of 16 German terrestrial radio
programmes in stereo was transmitted, in principle, from
the Kopernicus 1 FM3 satellite ( 23,5°E, 12,625 GHz ) and
distributed by cable networks . Given an unused television
channel on the TV-SAT 2 satellite, DSR was sent from that
satellite additionally . DSR was removed from TV-SAT 2
when that ceased to carry German television programmes,
as stated, but remains available throughout much of Europe
from the Kopernicus satellite . Various other German radio
programmes can be received from analogue satellite
transmissions on subcarriers accompanying television
programmes . The indoor receiving equipment used for the
transmissions from TV-SAT 2 should also be suitable for

transmissions from Kopernicus, provided that the
associated outdoor equipment can be used for frequencies
just above the direct broad cast satellite band of 1 1,7 — 12,5
GHz formerly used by TV-SAT .

Although the Commission has no information about the
marketing practice of satellite receiving equipment
suppliers, it has long been the rule that people intending to
purchase equipment bear the responsibility for ensuring that
it is suitable for their requirements, which they alone
can determine . In the context of the liberalization of

the telecommunications market in order to stimulate

technological progress and to eliminate commercially
uneconomic activities, many people choose to purchase such
equipment from low-price warehouses rather than from
specialist dealers who can provide appropriate advice, and
inevitably some may acquire equipment that ultimately
turns out to be insuitable for further use .

The Commission understands that Deutsche Telekom,
acting privately, voluntarily offered compensation only to
users within Germany of the former DSR transmissions on
TV-SAT 2, on the grounds that these transmissions were
intended only for reception there .

This is the second occasion on which a member of the

Parliament has raised this matter with the Commission ( the
first was Mr K. Coates, in November 1994 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 320 / 95

by Shaun Spiers ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1995 )

( 96 / C 173 / 07 )

Subject : Sixth VAT Directive

What measures have been taken to ensure that all Member

States implement Article 13 of the Sixth VAT Directive

77 / 388 / EEC ( ) which provides for an exemption from VAT
for ' certain services closely linked to sport and physical
education supplied by non-profit making organizations to
persons taking part in sport or physical education '?

(') OJ No L 145, 13 . 6 . 1977, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 January 1996 )

The application of Article 1 3 A. 1, ( m ) of the Sixth Directive
77 / 388 / EEC is mandatory in all Member States, following
the abolition of the derogation in Annex E, item 4, by
Directive 89 / 465 / EEC ('), of 18 July 1989 . In fact all
Member States now apply it . Nevertheless, in mentioning
' certain services ', the legal text permits some discretion to
national authorities which is in line with the principle of
subsidiarity but consequently does not guarantee that the
scope of the exemption is the same in all Member States .

0 ) OJ No L 226, 3 . 8 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3469 / 95

by Martina Gredler ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 18 December 1995 )

( 96 / C 173 / 08 )

Subject : Ozone-layer measurements in the EU Member

States — support for developing countries
converting to alternatives

Measurements in the stratosphere over Austria have
revealed that on average in the months from January to
October 1995 the density of the ozone layer — compared
with the long-term average — has fallen by about 10% .

Is the Commission aware of comparable data from other
Member States, and if so do they confirm the Austrian
measurements ? Can any trend as to the development of
ozone-layer depletion across Europe be derived from a
comparison of the data ?

What measures is the Commission adopting to facilitate the
transition to alternatives for developing countries that have
been granted longer deadlines for withdrawing from the
production of substances harmful to the ozone layer, so that
some successes in the campaign against ozone-layer
depletion can be recorded all the earlier ?

No C 173 / 6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 February 1996 ) (4 March 1996 )

There are no long-term ground-based total-column ozone
measurements in Austria and consequently it is difficult to
understand to which period the mentioned 10% decrease
refers . The Commission is aware of the decreasing trend in
stratospheric ozone over Europe based on long-term data
from other European countries and on the major European
stratospheric ozone experiments organized during recent
years . Analysis of global data through earely 1994 shows
substantial decrease of ozone in all seasons at mid-latitudes

( 30° — 60° ) of both hemispheres . In the Northern
hemisphere, downward trends of about 6 % per decade over

1979 — 1994 were observed in winter and spring and about
3 % per decade were observed in summer and autumn . The
second European stratospheric ozone experiment ( Sesame )

1994 — 1995 observed persistent and widespread ozone loss

( up to 30 % below normal values ) inside the polar vortex in
the Arctic during January, February and March 1995 .
Outside the polar vortex and over populated mid-latitudes
ozone decrease was consistent with the abovementioned

long-term ozone trend of 6 % per decade .

The Montreal Protocol has established a financial

mechanism to help developing countries make the transition
to alternative products and processes from ozone depleting
substances . The Member States of the Community have
contributed to the Protocol fund . The United Kingdom and
Denmark currently represent the Community in the
executive committee of the Montreal Protocol Fund .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3484 / 95

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

10 . Agriculture 0 AZf 1 )

11 . Nature 2 060 4

Total 157 527 50 639

The only data concerning annual C0 2 emissions in the

Commission's possession were produced by the European
Environmental Agency ( EEA ) as part of the 1990 Corinair
exercise . A summary of the inventories drawn up for the
Czech and Slovak Republics is set out below .

So far the information received by the EEA does not enable
the Commission to deliver an opinion on items 2 and 3 of the
Honourable Member's question concerning the intensity,
proportion and location of the pollutant emissions
generated by ( a ) governments and ( b ) public or private
businesses .

( in kilotonnes )

Czech
C0 2 emission inventories / year Republic Slovakia

1 . Public power, co-generation
and district heating

2 . Commercial, institutional and
residential combustion

64 963 15 863

51 085 10 470

3 . Industrial combustion 27 127 14 619

4 . Production processes 747 3 147

5 . Extraction and distribution of

fossil fuels

0 1 196

6 . Solvent use 0 AZ (')

7 . Road transport 7 667 4 501

8 . Other mobile sources and

machinery

9 . Waste treatment and

disposal

3 121 519

757 320

(3 January 1996 ) f 1 ) AZ ( azote, i . e . nitrogen ) assumed to be zero .
( 96 / C 173 / 09

Subject : C0 2 emissions by private and government
undertakings in the Czech Republic and
Slovakia

1 . How high are the annual C0 2 emission levels in the
Czech Republic and Slovakia ?

2 . For what proportions of this pollution are government
and private undertakings responsible ?

3 . Who are the worst government and private polluters ?
Where are these undertakings located ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498 / 95

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission

(3 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 10 )

Subject : Smart speed governors for cars

Smart ( externally operated ) speed governors can be used in a
flexible way to control the speed of vehicles .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 7

Speed governors for private cars can only be introduced if
installation of the device becomes a requirement . As
requirements for vehicles can only be set at European level,
agreement in Europe would be needed before such speed
governors could be introduced .

Does the Commission think that smart speed governors for
cars could help to reduce C0 2 emissions as well as to
improve traffic safety ?

Is the Commission prepared to set up a pilot project to test
speed governors ?

several research proposals have been submitted in the area
of speed control .

Computerized telecommunications could also help to
reduce C0 2 emissions by making traffic more fluid and
reducing pointless journeys, for example empty running by
goods vehicles or the search for parking spaces .

(>) COM(95 ) 689 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3519 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )
Answer given by Mr Bangemann to the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

(3 January 1996 )
( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 11 )

In December 1995 the Commission adopted a
communication to the Council and Parliament outlining the
options for improving fuel efficiency in passenger cars with a
view to reducing C0 2 emissions, and recommending a
strategy for Community action ('). The key elements in this
strategy are an agreement with the car industry on fuel
consumption targets, the use of fiscal instruments to
promote fuel efficiency ( including increased fuel excise
charges ), continued emphasis on the Community's research
effort to develop alternative energy sources for motor
vehicles and intelligent traffic management, and an effective
environmental labelling scheme to provide information to
consumers . In the Commission's view, this strategy will
provide the necessary framework to allow the Community
to meet its targets for limiting C0 2 emissions by 2005 .
Through this communication, the Commission is launching
a debate on the possible instruments which may be used to
reduce C0 2, including the use of road telematics .

In order to help improve the technologies involved and to
complete its assessments the Commission is supporting
research projects on devices such as intelligent speed limiters
as part of its Drive and Telematics Applications
programmes . The impact of those devices on safety and the
reduction of C0 2 emissions must be assessed very
carefully .

A project is currently being funded within the Telematics
applications programme to develop and validate an
integrated system in which the longitudinal control of
vehicles is linked to external speed recommendations taking
into account safety aspects and traffic management policies .
Such a project, involving four car manufacturers and the city
of Turin will contribute to assessing the effect of such
systems on both traffic safety and efficiency, and pollution
reduction .

After the first call for proposals by the transport research
programme under the fourth framework programme,

Subject : The A / 26 ' tunnel ' motorway

As is well known, the so-called A / 26 ' tunnel ' motorway was
designed to link the Ligurian ports ( especially Voltri
European Transport ) with northern Europe via
Switzerland . The last 32 kilometres were opened in July last
year but the Swiss border and therefore the link with the
European motorway system have not yet been reached .
Going north from Genoa-Voltri, the A / 26 only reaches
Gravellona Toce, before Domodossola and well before the
Simplon Pass .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the ' tunnel ' project ?

2 . If so, what opinion has it expressed within the
framework of the transport plan linking northern and
southern Europe ?

3 . If not, does it not consider that a fast motorway link
with the Swiss and German high-speed rail system could
facilitate the transport of goods from a Mediterranean
port to northern Europe, in terms of both time and
cost ?

4 . In view of the project's advantages, does it intend to
include it amongst its medium-term programmes for the
development of north-south road transport links
currently blocked by the two bottlenecks of Chiasso and
Brennero ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 February 1996 )

The Commission has fully recognised the importance of the
role played by the A26 in providing access from the Ligurian
ports to the north of Italy and Switzerland, through the

No C 173 / 8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Simplon pass . It has, therefore, included this link in its
proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision on
Community guidelines for the development of the
trans-European transport network ( J ), which is currently
being examined by the Parliament and the Council in the
co-decision procedure . The Council has discussed the
proposal and reached political agreement on its common
position . The Parliament has just concluded its second
reading and voted on its amendments . Both have endorsed
the inclusion of the link in question .

Regarding the development of transport between the north
and south of Europe, the Commission believes that this
generic problem can be resolved only in a multimodal
context, that is by achieving an appropriate balance between
the different transport modes, so as to safeguard the
freedom of choice of users and to ensure, at the same
time, favourable environmental impact of transport
infrastructure .

To place the further planning of infrastructure projects on a
solid economic basis, the Commission has recently launched
a traffic forecast study . This will concern Alpine crossing
links for all land transport modes, and will take into
consideration, throughout the whole of Europe, the regions
which are affected by these links . The outcome of this study,
expected to be available in the second half of 1996, should
help to solve in an efficient way the problems of traffic
crossing the Alps and in so doing meet demand as well as
possible .

Regarding access to Switzerland through Simplon in
particular, there is no doubt that it is currently problematic
during winter time and unfortunately, no new tunnel
construction is foreseen in the near future . The existing
railway tunnel is adapted to piggy-back transport . Trucks in
general did not use it and only a rather limited number of
passenger cars . Due to this low demand, the Italian and
Swiss railways have decided to stop providing the service in
the medium term .

of lesbians or homosexuals, and families of men and women
of different religions, hailing from different cultures .

Can the Commission conduct a study into the effects on
society of such families, including :

1, the medium - and long-term results of the union of
individuals who are not naturally compatible, and their
relationship with society ;

2, the mental and social characteristics of any children who
are adopted by or the result of such unions ;

3, the effects on families which are based on natural and
religious relationships ;

4, the social costs borne by institutions ;

5, how such couples are viewed by their acquintances ?

Can the Commission give its views on the abovementioned
points ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 1996 )

The Commission has not so far conducted such a broad
study on mixed families whether they have differences in
sexual orientation, religion or culture . One study which
has been co-financed by the Commission and widely
disseminated may be of interest to the Honourable
Memberf 1 ).

(') e.g .: Kees Waaldijk and Andrew Clapham, Homosexuality : A

European Community Issue Essays on Lesbian and Gay Rights
in European Law and Policy — Published in 1993 .
(M COM(94 ) 106 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3529 / 95
by Robin Teverson ( ELDR )

by Roberto Mezzaroma ( UPE ) to the Commission

to the Commission
(3 January 1996 )

(3 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 13 )
( 96 / C 173 / 12 )

Subject : The effects on society of ' mixed ' families

There is a growing number of ' mixed ', non-traditional
family set-ups based on sex, in particular families made up

Subject : EU statistics on levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide

and sulphur dioxide

What are the latest statistics in the European Union on the
levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 9

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

given by Mrs Bjerregaard Can the Commission give a precise indication of which

of the Commission Member States have still failed to comply and what action

( 20 February 1996 ) the Commission intends taking to induce the Member States
in question to comply with this Directive ?

on behalf of the Commission

The information requested is contained in the following
three documents :

— ' Commission report on the state of implementation of

the ambient air quality Directives ' ( 1 ) . This report, which
has already been sent to Parliament, provides a summary
of the information gathered by the Commission on
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen levels ;

— ' Air pollution by ozone during the summer 1995 ', 29

September 1995 ; and

— ' Exceedance of ozone limit values in the European

Community in 1994 ' ( summary based on information
received pursuant to Council Directive 92 / 72 / EEC on air
pollution by ozone ), 29 September 1995 .

The last two documents are Commission memoranda

presented during the Environment Council meeting on
6 October 1 995 and are being sent direct to the Honourable
Member and the Secretariat-General of Parliament .

(') COM(95 ) 372 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549 / 95

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission

(S January 1996 )

( 1 ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 February 1996 )

The Commission would have concerns about the failure to

protect any species intended to be protected by Directive

92 / 43 / EEC .

Compliance with Directive 92 / 43 / EEC has several aspects .
National legislation must fully and correctly transpose
the protection regime of the Directive . A national list
of candidate protection areas must be prepared . The
provisions of the Directive must be respected in practice .

As of 10 January 1 995, five Member States have failed to
communicate national legislation to transpose the Directive

( Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal ). The Commission
has started legal proceedings for this failure . Ten Member
States have not sent a complete national list of candidate
protection areas ( Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France,
Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland ). The
Commission is also pursuing this failure . The Commission is
in addition looking into the conformity of the national
legislation which has been sent .

( 96 / C 173 / 14 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3579 / 95

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )

to the Commission

Subject : Consequences of failure to comply with the natural

habitats Directive

A number of species of mammal occurring in Europe —
including the Pyrenean desman, the wolf, Capaccini's bat,
the lake bat ( Myotis dasycneme ) and the European little
brown bat — are threatened with extinction, partly because
Member States are failing to comply with Directive
92 / 43 / EEC (') which sets up the Nature 2000 network of
conservation areas .

Does the Commission believe that the survival prospects of
the six species of mammal mentioned above are seriously
reduced by Member States ' failure to comply, or failure to
comply promptly, with the Directive ?

Can the Commission provide any information on current
progress with compliance with Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ?

( Î0 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 15 )

Subject : Teaching of Aragonese

Given that the Spanish Government signed and ratified
the European Charter for Minority Languages, and that
Article 7 of the Autonomous Statute of the community of
Aragon acknowledges that ' the various forms of speech used
in Aragon shall be protected ', does the Commission believe
that the teaching of Aragonese in schools on a voluntary
basis comes under the European Charter ?

Does the Commission believe that refusal to allow it to be

taught in schools, on a voluntary basis, could constitute
an infringement of the European Charter of Minority
Languages ?

No C 173 / 10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages,
to which the Honourable Member is referring, is an
initiative of the Council of Europe . The Commission
therefore has no influence over its application .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3601 / 95

by Gerardo Fernândez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 16 )

Subject : Boosting the shipbuilding industry in Spain

For decades, Spanish shipbuilding was one of the world's
leading shipbuilding industries, with spectacular profits
and some outstanding technological achievements .
Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, and Spanish
shipbuilding has been sidelined compared with the countries
which now enjoy a prominent position in the shipbuilding
industry .

There are many reasons for this loss of position, including
strong competition from the new Asian companies involved
in this sector . However, it should not be forgotten that
Spanish shipbuilding has not been helped by the lack of any
genuine policy to boost the industry over the last decade .

Does the Commission believe that it should promote a
specific policy for improving the Spanish shipbuilding
industry through the adoption of formulas and programmes
putting it on a level with world leaders in this sector and
overcoming the lack of imagination and initiative which
have had adverse repercussions on this once-thriving
Spanish industry ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 1996 )

The Commission fully recognises the importance of an
efficient and competitive shipbuilding industry in the
Community, including Spain . This is reflected in successive
Council Directives on aid to shipbuilding . The aims of the
policy enshrined in the Directives, adopted against a
background of difficult market conditions, have been to
provide an appropriate defensive instrument against unfair
competition through practices such as injurious pricing,
thereby maintaining Community capacity in those market
segments where Community yards remain more
competitive, while at the same time encouraging

Community yards to continue the necessary process of
restructuring, as well as ensuring fair and uniform
conditions for intra-Community competition .

Accordingly, the Commission supports restructuring efforts
aimed at enabling Community yards to operate more
competitively . The precise form that such restructuring
measures take is essentially a matter for the Member States
concerned, provided that these are in accordance with the
rules of the shipbuilding aid Directive and compatible
with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development ( OECD ) agreement respecting normal
competitive conditions in commercial shipbuilding and
shiprepair .

During the negotiation of the OECD agreement, which is
now scheduled to enter into force by 15 July 1996, the
Commission supported Spain's request for a special
derogation from the agreement ( which provides for the
elimination of all shipbuilding subsidies with certain limited
exceptions ) to enable it to support a further restructuring of
its shipbuilding industry . The agreement allows Spain to pay
up until the end of 1998 restructuring aids amounting to up
to Ptas 180 000 million .

The restructuring plan was notified to the Commission in
November 1995 . At its meeting on 20 December 1995 the
Commission decided to approve one element of the aid
package ( relating to outstanding previously approved but
unpaid aid in the form of loss compensation ) and to open the
procedure provided in Article 93.2 of . the EC Treaty in order
to investigate the compatibility with the common market of
proposed tax credits . The remaining elements of the plan are
still being studied .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3602 / 95

by Philippe Monfils ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 17 )

Subject : Association agreements and audiovisual policy

The European Union has concluded a number of association
agreements with the countries of central and eastern Europe

( the former Eastern Bloc countries ).

These association agreements contain a clause on the
participation of the countries in question in the common
audiovisual policy, providing inter alia for the coordination
of legislative and regulatory provisions in the sphere of
broadcasting .

Moreover, the White Paper on the integration of these
countries into the single market specifies that they
shall incorporate the Community patrimony ( acquis
communautaire ) into their laws .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 11

The relevant countries of central and eastern Europe are also
undertaking negotiations to join the OECD .

Some sources report that the OECD is making membership
of those countries conditional upon them renouncing
definitively and unilaterally the conditions laid down in
Article 4 of the Directive on ' television without frontiers '

( the implementation of quotas aimed at promoting
programmes with a European content on television
networks ), on the grounds that the code of invisible
transactions does not authorize discriminatory measures .

It should be pointed out that the European Union and its
Member States did not make any commitment under the
GATT agreements which would call into question the
' acquis communautaire ' in this respect .

It may therefore be asked whether the OECD is
misinterpreting the agremeents, or at least ruling on a matter
which lies outside its sphere of competence, and impeding
the application of a general principle of Community activity,
namely, the upholding of the ' acquis communautaire ',
thereby creating a dangerous precedent .

Can the Commission confirm these reports and, if so, how
does it interpret them ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development ( OECD ) is at present considering the
accession to the OECD of Hungary, Poland and Slovakia .
The Czech Republic completed its accession to the OECD at
the end of 1995 .

When the Czech Republic completed its statement of
acceptance of the obligations of membership, this included a
commitment to extend to all OECD member countries any
liberalization measures falling within the purview of the
codes on capital movements and invisible transactions it
may take under its Europe agreement with the Community .
With regard to the audiovisual sector in particular, the

Czech Republic made a statement to the effect that it does
not grant preferential treatment to non-Czech European
production in television braodcasting .

This commitment does not involve renunciation of any
aspect of the ' acquis communautaire ', which any country
joining the Community is expected to accept and put in
place . It does, however, affect measures taken under the
Europe agreements, which provide for progressive
harmonization of laws with a view to eventual accession to

the Community . The Czech commitment in the OECD may
make this process of harmonization more difficult .

The Commission has made clear to the governments of both
Hungary and Poland that such a commitment is an

unnecessary step in the context of the OECD accession
involving as it does the renunciation of an accepted right
under the OECD codes ( to participate in an integration
arrangement ). The Commission notes that Mexico made no
such commitment on its accession, and nor was there any
call for it to do so .

In the framework of their negotiations for accession to the
OECD both Poland and Hungary made statements
reserving their rights under the OECD codes . The
statements are satisfactory to the Community as they imply
that both these countries may invoke the exceptions clause
in the codes on the same basis as other OECD members .

Separately, the Czech Republic and Hungary have put in
place domestic broadcasting legislation which is not
consistent with Community law . In the case of Hungary, the
legislation discriminates against non-domestic production,
including that from other European countries . This is
inconsistent with Article 6 of the ' television without

frontiers ' Directive, which extends the benefit of the
definition of what constitutes a ' European work ' to
European third countries under certain conditions . These
conditions do not, at present, include reciprocity
arrangements . The Commission will examine this situation
with a view to safeguarding the interests in this sector of the
Community and its Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3619 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 18 )

Subject : Cocoa butter

Under Community rules the use of more than 5 % cocoa
butter substitute in the production of chocolate is
prohibited but this could change if various current
proposals were to be adopted .

Will the Commission ban the use in chocolate production of
vegetable fats other than cocoa butter ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1 996 )

The Commission has not yet reached a decision on whether
or not to amend Directive 73 / 241 / EEC ( 1 ) relating to cocoa

No C 173 / 12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

and chocolate products . Once it has, the Honourable
Member will be informed immediately .

(') OJ No L 228, 16 . 8 . 1973 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3622 / 95

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 19 )

Subject : European legislation on the transmission of
Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease by blood transfusion

Since 1 October 1994 EU producers of long-life plasma
products have been obliged not to use, as blood donors,
persons who have been treated with drugs based on human
hypophysis material or in whose family Creutzfeldt-Jacob
disease ( CJD ) has occurred .

1 . Is it true that the reason for rejecting certain donors is
that in theory it is not impossible for CJD to be
transmitted by a blood product ?

2 . Is the Commission aware of any cases indicating that
CJD is transmitted by blood or blood products ?

3 . Does the Commission believe that rules should be

based on established facts or, at the very least,
probabilities ?

4 . Does the Commission agree that despite research into
this subject there is absolutely no evidence that this
disease can be transmitted by transfusion of blood or
blood products ?

5 . Is it true that experts were only asked for an opinion on
whether this disease could be transmitted after a

political decision had been taken to take action against
the transmissibility of CJD ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1996 )

1 . Article 3 of Council Directive 89 / 381 / EEC (') states
that the measures which Member States take to prevent the
transmission of infectious diseases shall include those

recommended by the Council of Europe . The Council of
Europe's 1 995 guide to the preparation, use and quality
assurance of blood components recommends that all those
who have in the past been treated with extracts derived from
human pituitary glands or who have a family history
of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease ( CJD ) are debarred from
donation . This is because in theory the transmission of CJD
via blood cannot be excluded . Only a small number of
potential donors are debarred to guard against this risk .

2 . The Commission is not aware of any link between CJD
and blood or blood products .

3 . The Commission considers that legislation should be
based on facts where possible . However, when there is a
possible risk to public health the Commission cannot ignore
this .

4 . No epidemiological evidence is available about the
possible transmission of CJD via plasma-derived medicinal
products and no experimental data support the existence of
such a risk . However, it is recognised that there are
insufficient data to rule out the risk completely .

5 . CJD is a disease which can, from the moment of
infection, take many years ( and sometimes a lifetime ) to
develop and cannot be detected before clinical symptoms are
manifested . The transmission of such diseases has always
been of concern .

(') OJ No L 181, 28 . 6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3643 / 95

by Maartje van Putten ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 20 )

Subject : Plight of the Batwa people in Rwanda

In its resolution ACP-EU 1429 / 95 / fin ( 1 ). on the results of
the mission to Burundi, Zaire and Rwanda and on the
situation in the region, the ACP-EU Joint Assembly
expressed its concern at the plight of the Batwa people in
Rwanda and in refugee settlements . The Joint Assembly also
called for an inquiry into the plight of the Batwa people .

1 . Is the Commission aware whether and, if so, in what
way the regime in Rwanda is taking steps to protect the
human rights of the Batwa people ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 13

2 . Is the Commission aware of any information on the
human rights of the Batwa in Rwanda and in
neighbouring countries ( in particular Zaire ) where they
have sought refuge in recent years ?

3 . What is the Commission's assessment of the human

rights of the Batwa in Rwanda and of Batwa refugees in
surrounding countries ?

4 . In its cooperation with aid organizations in Rwanda
does the Commission devote any specific attention to
this indigenous people and, if so, in what way ?

(') Adopted by the ECP-EU Joint Assembly on 2 February 1995 in

Dakar, Senegal .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

1 . To the Commission's knowledge the current
Rwandan Government has no specific policy on the Batwa
people .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3648 / 95

by Roberta Angelilli ( NI )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 21 )

Subject : Irregularities in the running of training course

co-financed by the European Union

In 1991 the Lazio regional authorities awarded contracts to
Enfap UIL and Consorzio alto Lazio ( two vocational
training agencies ) for a number of retraining courses for
workers laid off by the Montalto di Castro power plant . The
courses were in fact subject to serious irregularities, to the
extent that the matter is currently being investigated by the
Civitavecchia public prosecutor .

Is the Commission aware of this and, given that the two
agencies received advance payments of 35 % and 70 %
respectively of the scheduled funding of around Lit 2 billion

( co-financed by the EU ), does it not feel that the European
Union should require that, at least as far as its share is
concerned, the payments be suspended or possibly that the
sums paid out be recovered ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

2 . There were an estimated 30 000 Batwas before April (6 March 1996 )
1994 . At present there are some 10 000 Batwas in Rwanda .
Some 10 000 were killed as a result of events in April 1994 .
About 10 000 Batwas are in refugee camps . The Commission has not as yet received any information
under the rules which require Member States to notify it of
any irregularities in the field of structural policies .

3 . Circumstances are extremely difficult for all Rwandan
population groups both inside and outside the country and
the situation of the Batwas is no better .

The Commission is looking into the facts referred to by the
Honourable Member and will be sure to inform her of the

outcome .

In May 1995 the Batwas of Rwanda set up the Caurwa

( Community of indigenous peoples of Rwanda ). This is an
organization formed from several associations designed to
defend the Batwas ' interests .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3650 / 95

4 . Commission cooperation in Rwanda does not include
any operations specifically targeted at the Batwa people . by Klaus Rehder ( PSE )
They benefit from operations to assist all population groups to the Commission
both in Rwanda and the refugee camps .

to the Commission

( 12 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 22 )
Observers from the UN Commission on Human Rights, in
which the Community participates, are, however, aware of
the specific position of the Batwas in the complexities of Subject : Obligation to notify under
Rwandan society and follow them closely .

Subject : Obligation to notify under Article 93(1 ) of the EEC

Treaty

It is stated in Article 93 ( 1 ) of the Treaty establishing the EEC
that ' any aid granted in any form whatsoever which distorts

No C 173 / 14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

competition by favouring certain undertakings or the
production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade
between Member States, be incompatible with the common
market .' In order to supervise this ban, the Commission
' shall be informed, in sufficient time to enable it to submit its
comments, of any plans to grant or alter aid .'

1 . Is there a minimum limit for such aid ?

2 . Does the obligation to notify also apply to one-off grants
to medium-sized companies ?

3 . Must the Commission be notified beforehand of the

intention of a local authority to give reasonable financial
terms to a craft firm, which by its nature will do no
business with another Member State, in order for it to
buy new business premises ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1996 )

1 . The Commission has introduced, under the de
minimis rule which it laid down in 1992 ( Point 3.2 of the
Community guidelines on State aid for small and
medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ))( 1 ) and explained in
greater depth in 1993 ( Guidance note on use of the de
minimis facility provided for in the SME aid guidelines

( letter to the Member States dated 23 March 1993 ),
reproduced in Competition law in the European
Communities — Volume IIA : Rules applicable to State
aids ( Published by the Commission of the European
Communities, Brussels — Luxembourg, 1995 )), a lower
limit for notifiable aid payments . The de minimis rule is
based on the assumption that, up to a certain level, aid does
not appreciably affect trade between Member States and
hence is generally not caught by Article 92(1 ) of the EC
Treaty . On 24 January 1996 the Commission decided to
amend the de minimis rule . De minimis aid is aid up to the
equivalent of ECU 100 000 over a three-year period per
undertaking irrespective of size . Such aid need not be
notified in advance under Article 93 ( 3 ) of the EC T reaty and
may be combined with aid under approved schemes .

2 . The obligation to notify State aid under Article 93(3 )
of the Treaty relates to any aid which satisfies the tests of
Article 92(1 ). One-off grants to medium-sized companies,
other than those made under approved schemes, are
therefore notifiable .

3 . The granting by a local authority to a craft firm of
favourable financial terms for the purchase of business
premises is deemed to be notifiable aid in the following
circumstances . First, the assisted firm produces goods or
provides services cross-border trade in which cannot be
ruled out . Second, it cannot be ruled out that the premises
are being bought for less than their market value . And third,

it cannot be ruled out that the difference between the

purchase price and the market value exceeds the de minimis
limit or that the assisted firm has already received the
maximum amount of aid allowed under the de minimis

facility .

(') OJ No C 213, 19 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 / 96

by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 23 )

Subject : Human rights violation in third countries

What further plans does the Commission have to investigate
violations of human rights in third countries when
considering the level and nature of their imports into the EC,
bearing in mind the means of production employed and the
use of forced labour ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

In the Community's relations with third countries that are
, based on agreements, each agreement is the expression of an

overall approach to their political, social and economic
development . The aim of systematically incorporating in the
agreements a clause defining human rights as an essential
component and an article relating to non-implementation is
to create a framework for improved cooperation and further
consolidation of the rule of law, the judicial system, freedom
of expression and the protection of vulnerable groups . The
intention is also to ensure access to a sufficiently broad
range of restrictive measures to enable a graduated response
to be made by the parties involvevd according to the gravity
of the case in question .

The Commission is attentive to the human rights situation
throughout the world and, in particular, in countries where
there is a notable occurrence of economic exploitation of the
young population .

In December 1994 the Council adopted the new scheme
of generalized preferences for the period 1995 — 1998 .
Article 9 of the Regulation provides for temporary
withdrawal, in whole or in part, of the scheme of generalized
preferences in circumstances involving the practice of any
form of forced labour or the export of goods made by prison
labour .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 15

WRITTEN QUESTION E-14 / 96

by Martina Gredler ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 24 )

Subject : Labelling of genetically modified foodstuffs

At a meeting of the Consumer Affairs Intergroup on Novel
Food on 13 December 1995 in Strasbourg, food industry
representatives expressed the view that the labelling of
foodstuffs containing genetically modified organisms

( GMOs ) is simply not possible in some areas . Sugar was
cited as an example, since when sugar beet was processed in
a central factory it was no longer possible to distinguish
which sugar beet came from which harvest . For a
non-expert, it is difficult to imagine that the separate storage
and processing of genetically modified sugar beet and
natural sugar beet would indeed be so complex and
expensive that consumers cannot be informed whether the
sugar purchased by them has been genetically modified or

not .

Is the Commission aware of any studies indicating the
additional costs which would arise for the sugar beet
processing industry if strictly separate production and clear
labelling of genetically modified sugar were to be introduced
in the interests of consumer choice ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

out of proportion to the production cost and selling price of

sugar .

Sugar beet is genetically modified for agronomic reasons, to
prevent attacks of rhizomania and concomitant yield loss .
The genetic modification of the beet has no effect on the
sugar produced, however, which is no different to that
produced from normal beet .

The law requires that the labelling of novel foods must be
comprehensive and informative, but must also be
appropriate and practical . Producing separate labels for
sugar, cakes and confectionery produced from genetically
modified sugar beet would run counter to these
requirements and would not be enforceable in practice . Such
a system would not only be unreasonably expensive, but
would also effectively mislead consumers into thinking that
the separate labelling indicated a difference in the product,
which is not the case . The situation is completely different
for genetic modifications which change the nutritional
properties of foods ( such as a different fatty acid
composition, a higher vitamin content, the absence of an
allergen protein ). In these cases, detailed labelling should
provide information on both the altered product
characteristic and the process used to bring about the
alteration .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-19 / 96

by Karsten Hoppenstedt ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 13 March 1996 )
( 17 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 25 )

Sugar beet is currently genetically modified in order to make
it resistant to rhizomania, or viral bearded root, a disease of
sugar beet which is spreading throughout Europe . Around
200 000 hectares are infected in the most seriously affected
Member States ( Germany, France, Italy and Austria ) and the
yield loss has exceeded 50 % in places . Neither crop
rotation, chemical treatments nor the use of traditional
methods of cultivation aimed at achieving resistance to
rhizomania have as yet had any effect on the spread of the
virus . As the extent of rhizomania can vary considerably
even within a relatively limited area, depending on the
conditions in the fields, a farmer may use both genetically
engineered and normal seed tubers . Factories are usually
supplied by 3 000 — 6 000 farmers .

As the keeping quality of sugar beet is very low, it is usually
processed very rapidly, in a continuous production process .
Only the interim product, thick juice, can be stored until the
final processing stage . Storing and processing normal and
rhizomania-resistant sugar beet separately, therefore, would
be impractical and only possible at a high additional cost,

Subject : Media remit

In a number of Member States, the national media
supervisory authorities have received applications for the
licensing of specialized teleshopping channels . Some of the
broadcasters concerned have already invested heavily in
innovative projects . However, the processing of
applications is being held up owing to uncertainty as regards
the compatibility with Community law of any licences
which might be granted .

Article 18(3 ) of the Television without Frontiers Directive as
it now stands limits teleshopping to one hour . The proposed
amendment to the Directive removes that restriction .

The licensing of specialized teleshopping channels must not
be delayed any longer, and legal uncertainty must not be

No C 173 / 16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

allowed to hold up investment in a new market whose
prospects are good .

Can the Commission therefore confirm :

that the restriction contained in Article 18(3 ) of the current
version of the Directive relates only to teleshopping
broadcasts carried by general-interest channels and does
not, if interpreted properly, imply a blanket ban on
specialized teleshopping channels,

or at least that, with a view to the proposed amendment,
which clearly states that there is no time limit in the case of
specialized teleshopping channels, it will not institute
infringement proceedings, even before the amendment takes
effect, against Member States that have licensed such
channels ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1996 )

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its reply
to Written Question P-2067 / 95 of Mr De Coene ( 1 )
regarding the legal situation of teleshopping within
Directive 89 / 552 / EEC on the coordination of certain

provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative
action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television
broadcasting activities ( 2 ). As the Honourable Member will
know, in his role as co-rapporteur on the Commission's
proposal for a Directive amending the 1989 Directive, the
situation is also described in the introductory statement to
the Commission's proposal ( 3 ).

(') OJ No C 311, 22 . 11 . 1995 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 298, 17 . 10 . 1989 .

( 3 ) COM(95 ) 86 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-20 / 96

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 26 )

Subject : Checks by Finnish traffic police on EU transit

traffic

Is the Commission aware that the Finnish traffic police
systematically check EU carriers in transit through Finland
and impose fines on articulated trains longer than 18m 35
but shorter than 18m 75 — as agreed by the Council on
8 December 1995 — and only permit transit with motor
vehicles and attached trailers, whereas Finnish carriers are
allowed through even with a vehicle length of 20 m, and
Norwegian carriers are allowed these dimensions on freight
vehicles in transit through Finland ?

Does the Commission regard this behaviour as fair and in
the spirit of the new legislation and equality of
competition ?

If not, what action is the Commission considering ?

Otherwise, will the Commission urge the Finnish authorities
to be more flexible ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1996 )

Directive 85 / 3 / EEC ( ) currently provides for the free
circulation of road trains in the Community up to a total
length of 18,35 m .

A road train can be a motor vehicle with a full trailer or a

motor vehicle with a centre-axle trailer .

A full trailer is defined in Community legislation as a towed
vehicle with at least two axles and equipped with a towing
device which can move vertically ( in relation to the trailer )
and controls the direction of the front axle ( or axles ) but
which transmits no static load to the towing vehicle .

A centre-axle trailer is a towed vehicle equipped with a
towing device which cannot move vertically ( in relation to
the trailer ) and in which the axle ( or axles ) is positioned
close to the centre of gravity of the vehicle ( when uniformly
loaded ) so that only a small static vertical load is transmitted
to the towing vehicle .

In Finland only combinations which are composed of a
motor vehicle with a full trailer are allowed to be longer than

18,35 m ( up to 22 m ). The Commission is informed that
such a combination from any of the Member States is
allowed to circulate in Finland with a maximum total length
of 22 m .

However, the combinations that were prevented from
entering Finland, to which the Honourable Member refers,
were road trains with centre-axle trailers and such

combinations are only allowed in Finland up to a maximum
total length of 18,35 m, in accordance with the current
European legislation .

In 1 995 the Council reached a common position on an
increase of the length of road trains to 1 8,75 m to be applied
for all national and international transport . However, the
current maximum load length of 15,65 m will remain
unchanged .

This means that, even when the new legislation is
implemented only combinations that fulfil these conditions

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 17

will be guaranteed free circulation without hindrance in the
Community .

Consequently even under Article 4(4 ) of the forthcoming
Directive ( the so-called modular concept ) a Member State
may forbid various configurations, or all road trains, over

18,75 m in length provided — of course — this applies
equally to national transport .

(') OJ No L 2, 3 . 1 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 / 96

by Glenys Kinnock ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 961 C 173 / 27 )

Subject : Green Paper on the information society and the

developing world

Does the Commission plan to include the developing world
in the proposed Green Paper on the information society ?

In view of the need to include the South in these

developments it would seem appropriate to make
substantial reference to how this can be achieved ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

As the Honourable Member has stressed, special attention
should be paid to the role of developing countries in the
information society . It is important for these countries to
have strong ties with the new ' information age ' and to be
able to benefit wholly from any opportunities that arise
from it . Links between developing countries and European
ventures relating to the information society will be discussed
in the Green Paper concerning relations between the latter
and other Community policies . Furthermore, the
Commission must ensure that cooperation instigated by the
Community with developing countries takes into account
the new dimensions of the information society .

This is in accordance with the guidelines laid down at the G7
conference in Brussels in February 1995 where the following
conclusion was reached :

' Our action must contribute to the integration of all
countries into a global effort . Countries in transition and
developing countries must be provided with the chance
to fully participate in this process as it will open
opportunities for them to leapfrog stages of technology
development and to stimulate social and economic
development '.

The Commission is actively participating in the preparations
for the conference on the information society for developing
countries, due to take place in South Africa from 13 to

15 May 1 996 . This ministerial event will bring together the
G7 countries, and, amongst others, 23 developing countries
from every corner of the globe as well as related
international organizations and various representatives of
industry and the services sector . The agenda will comprise
general questions such as the potential for the information
society to cater for the needs of developing countries, lines of
dialogue that need to be established and collaboration to
this end, as well as more concrete aims concerning
infrastructures, the regulatory framework, financing or the
principal applications in areas of medicine, education,
industry and commerce, and public administration .

The information society was also discussed with the context
of new relations between the Community and
Mediterranean third countries at the ministerial conference

held in Barcelona on 27 and 28 November 1995 .

Furthermore, the Italian presidency, with the support
of the Commission, is organizing a conference on
' the Euro-Mediterranean information, communication,
education and training and research society ' to be held in
Rome on 30 and 31 May 1996 . These talks, which will be
held at a ministerial level, are being prepared by three
workshops covering research, regulation, industry and
education .

Finally, the Commission is planning to prepare a working
document aimed at analysing in greater detail the role of the
information society in the developing world and ways of
better coordinating instruments of Community cooperation
to this end .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-29 / 96

by Honorio Novo ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 18 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 28 )

Subject : Association agreement between the EU and the

Kingdom of Morocco

The new association agreement between the EU and the
Kingdom of Morocco can only come into force following
ratification by all the parliaments of the Member States and
the Moroccan Parliament and the assent of the European
Parliament .

It has been reported that ' certain Community milieux ' are
considering the possibility of adopting measures for the
early implementation of some of the provisions of this
agreement, using, to this end, procedures which do not
require ratification by the national parliaments .

No C 173 / 18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Can the Commission state whether it intends to take

initiatives implying early implementation of the association
agreement between the EU and Morocco without waiting
for completion of the ratification process, and, should this
be the case, precisely what measures it intends to take and
which provisions would be implemented early ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-34 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 30 )

Subject : Display screen equipment

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission Has the Commission agreed to review Council Directive
(1 February 1996 ) 90 / 270 / EEC and if so, on what basis ?

It is indeed the case that the association agreement initialled
by the Community and Morocco on 15 November can only
come into force after the Member States ' and Moroccan

Parliaments have ratified it and after Parliament has given its

assent .

However, on 22 December, the Council, acting on a
Commission proposal, adopted a Regulation under which
certain concessions in the agreement could come into force
early ( ! ). These concern Moroccan farm exports which have
had to comply with the entry price system since the Uruguay
Round, and cut flowers and tinned sardines, negotiations on
which ensured that the relevant provisions would be enacted
early .

As a result of these concessions, Moroccan farm produce
will benefit from standard entry prices lower than those
offered by the Community under the Uruguay Round . This
will enable Morocco to maintain its exports to the
Community of produce such as tomatoes and citrus fruits at
traditional levels .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-35 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

(. 96 / C 173 / 31 )

Subject : Display screen equipment

What evidence has the UK produced to show that Directive

90 / 270 / EEC puts an ' unreasonable burden ' on
employers ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-36 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

(') OJ No L 326, 30 . 12 . 1995 . ( 96 / C 173 / 32 )

Subject : Display screen equipment

What evidence has the UK submitted to demonstrate the

benefits of Directive 90 / 270 / EEC ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-33 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-40 / 96

( 25 January 1996 ) by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

96 / C 173 / 29
to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 33 )
Subject : Display screen equipment

On what legal base is the UK seeking to re-examine Directive Subject : Display screen equipment
90 / 270 / EEC ( M ?

What Articles in Directive 90 / 270 / EEC does the UK seek to

( 1 ) OJ No L 156, 21 . 6 . 1990, p . 14 . re-examine ?

17 . 6 . 96 i EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 19

QUESTION E-53 / 96 proposing any amendments which may prove useful or

Stephen Hughes ( PSE ) necessary from the point of view of scientific progress or

to the Commission technological developments .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-53 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 34 )

Subject : Display screen equipment WRITTEN QUESTION E-60 / 96

How much will a ' re-examination ' of Directive 90 / 270 / EEC by Maren Gùnther ( PPE )

to the Commission

cost each Member State respectively, and the
Commission ? ( 26 January 1996 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-54 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 35 )

Subject : Display screen equipment

What work currently done by the Commission will be
delayed if a ' re-examination ' of Directive 90 / 270 / EEC is
carried out in 1996 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-58 / 96

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 37 )

Subject : Conflict between the objective of rationalizing

public finance through structural adjustment
programmes in developing countries and public
funding of education in such countries

One of the main objectives of structural adjustment
programmes imposed on developing countries by the
international donor community is to put their national
budgets on a sound footing . In order to cut public
expenditure, many governments of developing countries
make cuts in the education budgets . The Commission,
however, has declared the promotion of education in
developing countries to be one of the priorities of
development cooperation .

What specific measures is the Commission taking to prevent
structural adjustment programmes from resulting in cuts in
the funding of education ?

( 96 / C 173 / 36 )
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Display screen equipment ( 22 February 1996 )

Is the Commission agreeing to a re-examination of Directive
90 / 270 / EEC on the basis of seeking UK support for the
Fourth Action Programme in the run-up to the IGC in

1996 ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-33 / 96 to E-36 / 96,

E-40 / 96, E-53 / 96, E-54 / 96 and E-58 / 96

given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1996 )

The Commission has no knowledge of any official request
from the United Kingdom for re-examination of Directive
90 / 270 / EEC . In any case, the Commission has no intention
of re-examining the said Directive .

Nonetheless, the Commission will ensure that Directive
90 / 270 / EEC remains in step with technical progress by

Since the matter raised by the question is the joint
competence of Vice-President Marin and Commissioner
Pinheiro, the following answer is given by the two members
on behalf of the Commission .

Specific efforts are being made by the Community in
order to reconcile structural adjustment with social
development .

More than 30 % of the counterpart funds generated by
Community support to the African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries implementing structural adjustment programmes
has been targeted to the education sector . By the end of

1995, total Community financing of structural adjustment
was around ECU 1 400 million . The equivalent in local
currencies of approximately ECU 500 million has gone to
the education sector . To this figure one should add the
amounts spent in the sector in the context of programmable
resources, clearly reflecting the Community's stated policy
of dealing with the social consequences of adjustment .

No C 173 / 20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Education and training are top priorities in our cooperation
with Latin America . A Community-financed university
programme by the name of ALFA has been running since

1 994 and has been a source of substantial support for higher
education establishments in Latin America . A good many
education projects have also been mounted in the context
of wider operations, notably those concerning rural
development and democratization . The Community is
aware of the importance of education and training as a
factor of sustainable economic and social development and
intends to take initiatives in Latin America concerning : basic
education, vocational training, technical education,
schooling for the poorest sections of the population and
training of instructors .

On top of that, the Community has tried to influence not
only the level but also the quality of expenditure in the social
sectors, while helping developing countries to formulate
their sectoral policies with a view to supporting long term
development . In this field the growing involvement of the
Community in the process of public expenditure reviews
undertaken by Sub-Saharan Africa countries can be cited as
the most clear example .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 March 1996 )

With a view to fulfilling the commitment made on 6 March

1995 on a joint declaration with the Council, the
Commission has set up a series of meetings with all
interested parties in Greece to draw up its communication
on the situation of the textile and clothing industry in the

country .

The Commission was ready to approve this communication
to the Council before the date indicated, i.e . the end of 19 95 .
However, following a request from the Greek Government,
who considered it useful to pursue bilateral contacts on this
matter, and given the importance of the dossier for this
Member State, the Commission agreed to carry forward the
date on which this communication was to be adopted to the
end of January 1996 .

The communication was actually approved on 31 January

1996, within the period decided upon by the Council, and
will be passed on to it in the next few days .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-71 / 96

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-68 / 96 to the Commission

by Yannos Kranidiotis ( PSE )

( 26 January 1996 )

to the Commission ( 96 / C 173 / 39 )

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 38 ) Subject : Energy

Subject : Timetable for proposals on Greek textiles
industry

Under the new terms of international competition created
by the GATT accord and the Agreement of 6 March 1995 on
the Customs Union with Turkey, the Council and
Commission undertook to present proposals in 1995 on the
position of the textiles and clothing industry in Greece .

In response to my several questions to the Council and the
Commission on this subject, each has claimed that the other
is responsible for the delay in submitting proposals .

Despite the promises, we have finally reached the end of the
year with the Commission still to submit proposals for the
industry which attests to a lack of consistency and
responsibility .

Will the Commission honour its commitment concerning
the textile and clothing industry in Greece and when will it
present its proposals ?

The Commission has, most opportunely, highlighted three
prime objectives for inclusion in full in the energy policy to
be inserted in the EU Treaty at the forthcoming IGC in
1 996 :

— the need to take account of long-term trends,

— the exact definition of the responsibilities of the Member

States,

— recognition of the principles of subsidiarity,
proportionality and reciprocity .

Does the Commission not consider it advisable to add to the

three objectives already defined increased employment and
recognition of the concept of public service as an essential
means of achieving these objectives ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 1996 )

The Commission has not taken a decision on the question of
the introduction into the EC Treaty of an energy chapter . It

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 21

is examining the question and will state its position in the
report that it will submit to the Council in accordance with
Declaration No 1 annexed to the Treaty on European
Union .

The main objectives of a Community energy policy are
competitiveness, security of supply and protection of the
environment, as outlined in the Commission's white paper
on energy policy for the European Union of 13 December

1 995 ( 1 ). It is clear that energy policy must contribute to the
achievement of the general aims of the Community's
economic policy, which includes the improvement of the
employment situation and the satisfactory provision of
public services . However, these important social and
economic objectives cannot be considered as instruments
for the implementation of Community energy policy .

C ) COM(95 ) 682 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-99 / 96

by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 41 )

Subject : Directive on TV sans frontière

The European Federation of Cinematographic Companies

( EFCA ) is asking the European Union not to include the new
multimedia services in the ' TV sans frontière ' Directive,
since it believes that it could threaten their development . The
federation believes that the sector's job creation potential
will not be fulfilled if a restrictive legal framework were to be
imposed on the new services . The EFCA stresses that the
new ' on-line ' computer and à la carte video services do not
constitute television broadcasting since they function with
memory and data-recovery systems, are interactive and
personalized, and consumers select and pay only for data
and programmes which they request .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-85 / 96 What is the Commission's attitude to the EFCA's

by Armelle Guinebertière ( UPE ) request ?

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 40 )
Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Marketing of Chinese truffles in France ( 13 March 1996 )

The black truffle of Périgord, Tuber melanosporum, was
until recently a luxury item for which France was renowned .
However, the arrival on the French market six months ago,
by means of import / export companies, of ' Périgord ' truffles
produced in China and marketed at a highly competitive
price is likely to destabilize and corrupt a market which is
both restricted and high-quality .

How does the Commission intend to protect European
truffle production and combat the phenomenon described
above, given that between 300 and 500 kg of Chinese
truffles may reach France every week and even usurp the
Périgord name ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 February 1996 )

The Commission is currently studying the most appropriate
legal framework for the new interactive services . The main
aim is to create an environment in which these innovatory
activities, whose potential impact on our society is
universally acknowledged, can develop unhindered in the
single market . Parliament itself is holding a very lively
political debate on the legal framework necessary to
safeguard the general interest of these services .

The Commission has decided not to amend the present
definition of television broadcasting in the ' Television
without Frontiers ' Directive 89 / 552 / EEC which is under

review ('), and thus to leave the scope of that Community
instrument as it stands . Accordingly, this Directive
continues to apply to every television programme broadcast
in a point-to-multipoint mode of communication

( communication activated by the broadcaster and accessible
at many reception points ), including pay-per-view and
Nvod ( near-video on demand ). It does not apply to
point-to-point services ( communication activated by
individual request of the receiver of the service ) and thus
does not cover on-line multimedia services ( in particular à la
carte video services ) mentioned in the Honourable
Member's question and referred to in EFCA's request .

The Commission is currently carrying out a thorough does not cover on-line
investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable carte video
Member . Once this investigation is complete, it will take Member's question
whatever measures are necessary to protect the Community
market, in strict compliance with the Community's
international obligations . (') COM(95 ) 86 final .

No C 173 / 22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-101 / 96

by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 42 )

Subject : Plan to encourage safety at work

In a report which seeks to develop an innovative model for
providing economic incentives for improving the working
environment, the European Foundation for Improving
Working and Living Conditions recommends obligatory
insurance for accidents at work, with rebates for companies
which improve working conditions . The basic idea is to
assign a gross premium to each company, with the
possibility of lower premiums or rebates for those which
apply stricter criteria . The rebates could be general, specific
or individual . Companies would receive a general rebate
when they improved health and safety conditions ; specific
rebates would be granted for resolving recognized health
and safety problems and individual rebates would be
granted to companies with particular problems which
develop innovative solutions to those problems . The report
also proposes granting incentives in the form of investment
aid to companies interested in financially supporting
improved health and safety measures and which give proof
of their wish to give real substance to such initiatives .

Is the Commission aware of the Foundation's proposal, and
if so, how does it view it ? Does it think that it would be
useful to implement this or a similar initiative to help
improve working conditions ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-102 / 96

by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 43 )

Subject : Unusually gifted children in the European Union

The Spanish Association for Hyper-gifted Children has
pointed out that according to statistics published in books
on the subject of highly gifted children, 2 % of Europe's
current 69 million school pupils between the ages of 4 and

16 come into the category of intellectually hyper-gifted
children, i.e . the intellectual endowment of 1 380 000
Union schoolchildren means that they should be classified as
pupils with special educational needs . Available
information indicates that there is no consensus at

government level in the various educational systems of the
Member States with regard to specific recognition of these
children, criteria for identifying and assessing them, and
educational action programmes ; as a result, it appears that
there are no educational policies providing priority
assistance for these children . This situation means that these

children constitute educational and social high-risk cases,
with a high rate of failure at school, problems with regard to
integration in centres of learning, social difficulties, legal

vacuum, etc .

Since there is a need to put an end to this situation of
clear-cut discrimination, does the Commission explicitly
recognize highly gifted schoolchildren as having special
educational needs on the same conceptual terms as children
handicapped or disadvantaged by socio-economic and
cultural constraints ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission ( 12 March 1996 )

( 16 February 1996 )

The Commission, which is a member of the Administrative
Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions, has received the document
referred to by the Honourable Member .

The Commission is at present considering to what extent the
Foundation's proposals could be pursued, and in what

way .

The Community is supporting measures in the field of
education under the Community's Socrates programme in
order to develop the European dimension in education, in
keeping with and as a complement to Community
programmes or measures which promote the integration of
disabled people ( for example, Helios II or Horizon ) in the
context of the Structural Funds relating to the various
categories of disability as defined internationally by the
World Health Organization .

However, under Socrates, provision has been made for
giving particular consideration to projects encouraging
participation in all programme measures by children with
specific educational needs . Thus, although gifted children
are not specifically mentioned, they may be taken into

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 23

consideration if reference is made in any projects meeting
the priority objectives of Socrates submitted for Community
funding .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-104 / 96

by Jorge Hernandez Mollar ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 44 )

Subject : Code of conduct with regard to equal pay for men

and women

Can the Commission tell us when it will adopt the Code of
conduct on equal pay for men and women with a view to
providing guidelines for eliminating any discrimination
when work assessment and classification systems constitute
the basis of the salary structure ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1996 )

As announced in the Commission's 1994 memorandum on
equal pay for work of equal value (*), in the social action
programme 1995 — 1997 ( 2 ) and in the Commission's
proposal for a fourth Community action programme on
equal opportunities for women and men ( 1996 — 2000 ) ( 3 )
the Commission is currently drafting a code of conduct on
the implementation of equal pay for work of equal value for
women and men .

This code should be adopted shortly . However, experience
shows that such codes work better if they correspond to the
needs of users as a result of preparation in close liaison with
them . Accordingly there has been a slight delay to ensure
that the social partners were consulted on the draft code
before adoption by the Commission .

í 1 ) COM(94 ) 6 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 134 .

1 3 ) COM(95 ) 381 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-105 / 96

by Mathias Reichhold ( NI )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

(. 96 / C 173 / 45 )

Subject : Differentiation of farm subsidy payments in
Austria

As part of its policy proposals, the Austrian Social
Democratic Party is calling for the payment of farm

subsidies to be differentiated on the basis of size . This would

mean that farms over a certain size would no longer receive
their full entitlement to farm subsidies . The proposal makes
no provision however for the resources released in this way
to be re-distributed to small farms .

1 . Does this type of differentiation accord with the relevant
EU Directives and Regulations ?

2 . Is the Union also contemplating measures along these
lines which would make the payment of the full
entitlement to farm subsidies dependent on the size of
farms and would impose a ceiling on payments ?

3 . What is the position with regard to the distortion of

competition which would result from this type of
differentiaton ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1996 )

Since the reform of the common agricultural policy in 1992,
more agricultural support is conveyed to farmers through
direct payments and less through price support . These
payments are based on cultivated hectares for the main
crops and on animal numbers for the beef and sheep sectors .
The fact that bigger farms receive more public subsidies than
smaller farms is consequently more visible . Nevertheless,
even if it does not go as far as proposed by the Commission
in 1991, the Council introduced several significant
modulation elements according to the farm size :

— crop farmers with small areas have no set-aside
obligation ;

— small scale beef farmers have no particular requirement

for forage areas ;

— the biggest sheep farmers only receive a half payment per

ewe beyond a certain flock size .

In addition, within the measures designed to improve
farming efficiency, under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 i 1 ),
there are size limitations for the granting of investment
subsidies .

Regarding future policy, the Commission has expressed its
views in the agricultural strategy paper ( 2 ), which it adopted
on 29 November 1995, and then presented to the European
Council of Madrid . The Commission takes the view that,
while the competitiveness of the Community farming sector
should be enhanced, further links between direct income
payments and social considerations ( as well as
environmental and rural development considerations )

No C 173 / 24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

should be envisaged . That leads the Commission to the Answer given by Mr Bangemann
concept of an integrated rural policy, where these different on behalf of the Commission
aspects can fully be taken into account . ( 26 February 1996 )

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

( 2 ) CSE(95 ) 607 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-108 / 96

by James Provan ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 46

Subject : Electromagnetic compatibility

In Question E-2578 / 95 (') I asked if the Commission was
prepared to grant a derogation for small quantity of
electronic equipment for use by amateur radio users .

Within the amateur radio fraternity there are those who
make a few kits for both radio and computer enthusiasts .
Some of this equipment can be used as an attachment
between the radio-receiver and a computer, to enable the
computer to read data transmissions and weather maps
transmitted by stations all over the world . These
enthusiasts, who have a transmitting licence, may also be
enabled to transmit data and pictures on the amateur radio
bands .

The point is this . The kits, of which I have given an example,
are worth somewhere between £4 and £15, and the
numbers produced do not amount to many in a year —
perhaps 10, 20 or 50 . So it is quite impossible for the cost of
approval to be added to the selling price .

Will the Commission, therefore :

1, spell out clearly, for the benefit of amateur radio
enthusiasts, the meaning of definition No 53 of Article 1
of the Radio Regulation forming part of the ITC ;

2, give a clear indication whether amateur radio
enthusiasts are covered by Directive 89 / 336 / EEC ( 2 );

3, state whether it believes it is necessary for radio
enthusiasts to comply with new equipment certification
procedures ;

4, comment on the problem of radio and electronic
magazines publishing new designs regularly every
month, when they have not received approval ? These
magazines do not have manufacturing or assembly
facilities, but provide the design for home construction .
Would this be prohibited under the Directive ?

H OJ No C 51, 21 . 2 . 1996, p . 23 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 139, 23 . 5 . 1989, p . 19 .

The aim of Directive 89 / 336 / EEC on electromagnetic
compatibility is to ensure the free movement and placing in
service of items of equipment that are likely to generate
electro-magnetic interference or to be affected by such
interference .

The Directive states clearly that all items of equipment
placed on the market or in service must comply with the
Directive, regardless of price or the number of units
produced or marketed .

However, Article 23 of the Directive states that amateur
radio equipment which is not sold through the trade, or in
other words which has been designed and produced by
amateurs themselves for their own use, is not covered by the
Directive . Conversely, if such equipment is offered for sale,
it must comply with the Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 1 8 / 96

by Michael Spindelegger ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 47 )

Subject : Opening the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for

Europe programmes to the central and eastern
European countries and the Baltic States

In the context of the structured dialogue on the fringe of the
Education Council in October 1995 the Education

Ministers informed the central and eastern European and
Baltic States of the substantive, financial and structural
conditions for participation by these countries in the
Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for Europe programmes . In
the light of the resulting funding needs and the
infrastructure requirements in the central and eastern
European countries, the following questions arise :

1 . In planning the opening up of the above programmes,
how will a consistent and coordinated procedure be
developed with the Member States with a view to
ensuring that existing bilateral measures between
individual Member States and central and eastern

European countries can be incorporated in a rational
and useful way into the planning process and, where
appropriate, support measures built upon them ?

2 . What concrete support measures should be
implemented with a view to facilitating entry into the
above programmes by the central and eastern European
countries, and how are they to be financed ? To what

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 25

extent will the experience of the National Agencies in
the Member States ( Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for
Europe ) be used, and will the latter be involved in the
planning and preparation process ?

3 . How can the structures already successfully developed
in the central and eastern European countries in the
context of the Tempus programme be used in preparing
for the opening up of the programmes and the
development of participation in them ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

1 . The gradual involvement of the central and eastern
European countries ( CECs ) in the programmes will take
place in the framework of the same rules and procedures
applicable to the Member States as set out in the decisions
establishing the three programmes .

The Commission is aware that present bilateral relations
between the CECs and the Member States provide a solid
cornerstone upon which to build multilateral links that will
help the CECs to reach effective integration in the
programmes . A survey commissioned by the Commission
on this specific issue is being sent directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat .

participation in the programmes as of 1 January 1997, once
the detailed conditions for participation have been adopted
by the respective association councils .

The preparatory measures include help and assistance to set
up the national agencies in the CECs, different activities to
train their personnel, and activities to make the objectives
and procedures of the programmes known to the relevant
circles in the CECs . The Commission counts on the close

cooperation of the national agencies in the Member States to
assist the CECs in this phase, in order to benefit from their
experience and know how to set up the national agencies
and training of their staff .

These measures have been presented to the national
agencies, and a mentor or twinning system ( one CEC agency
with three agencies from the Member States ) is
envisaged .

3 . Where other arrangements are not already available,
the possibility has been discussed of setting up an umbrella
structure ( e.g . a foundation ) gathering within it the different
national agencies, to avoid an unnecessary proliferation of
organizational bodies .

In that case, it has also been made clear that the necessary
organizational, managerial and financial precautions
should be taken in order to guarantee the perfect
implementation of the programmes according to their
specific objectives and avoiding all possibilities of
confusion .

Nevertheless, it must be noted that the final decision on this
matter is the sole responsibility of the relevant authorities in
each CEC .

Furthermore, the Commission believes that, as a part of the
structured dialogue which concerns both Member States '
bilateral activities as well as Community activities, these 0 ) S EC ( 95 ) 1707 .
bilateral relations would be a valuable element to ease the

integration of these countries in the programmes . This point
was underscored in the information note of the

Commission ( 1 ) distributed to the joint meeting of ministers
of education of the Community and of the associated
countries of central Europe and the Baltic States of
23 October 1995 in Luxembourg . A copy of this
information note is also being sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat . WRITTEN QUESTION E-125 / 96

by Viviane Reding ( PPE )

to the Commission

The above reflections have been presented to the Council (1 February 1996 )
groups, as well as to the programme committees .

( 96 / C 173 / 48 )

2 . The 1995 budget provided a specific budget line

( B7-633 ) to finance preparatory measures to facilitate
the integration of the CECs in the programmes . These
preparatory measures were jointly defined by the
Commission and each CEC in 1995 . They will be carried out
until the second semester of 1996 . These countries should,
therefore, be in a position to start their effective

Subject : Transposition of the ' local voting rights '
Directive

Directive 94 / 80 / EC ( 1 ) on the right of EU citizens to vote in
local elections requires the Member States to transpose its

No C 173 / 26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

provisions into national law by 31 December 1995 at the
latest . Luxembourg complied with this by means of the law
adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on 7 December

1995 .

What is the position in the other Member States ? What
measures does the Commission intend to take vis-à-vis

Member States which have not yet complied with the
Directive ?

(') OJ No L 368, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 38 .

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

At present three Member States have notified the
Commission of their laws, regulations and administrative
provisions necessary to comply with Directive 94 / 80 / EC on
the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal
elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State
of which they are not nationals .

The Commission is continuing to monitor the progress of
parliamentary work towards implementation in all the
Member States and will not hesitate to open proceedings
under Article 169 of the EC Treaty, where appropriate .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 32 / 96

by Frank Vanhecke ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

Does the Commission consider this procedure to be
compatible with the compulsory equal treatment of all
official languages in accordance with the provisions of the
European Treaties ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1996 )

The city of Ghent is one of 16 participants ( nine contractors
and seven associated contractors ) in the Opium project
which is funded by the Commission as part of the specific
research programme for transport .

This project is coordinated by a British company and
English has been agreed by all the participants, which
include other European cities ( e.g . Utrecht, Nantes, Patras,
Heidelberg ) as the working language of the project . All
papers submitted to the Commission by the participants,
including the initial proposal, were drawn up in English . The
Commission has consequently corresponded in that
language .

Similarly the research contract, signed by all the partners at
the end of December 1995, was drawn up in English . The
contract is a standard contract which exists in all official

languages . Contractors who wish to obtain another
linguistic version may always do so . If the city of Ghent was
to request it, a Dutch language version of the contract would
be made available .

The Honourable Member is misinformed with regard to
' related correspondence '. The office of Mr Van Miert has
not been involved in the Opium project .

( 96 / C 173 / 49 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-133 / 96

by Honorio Novo ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

Subject : Discrimination against the Dutch language by

European Commission departments

As part of the Opium project ( Operational Project for
Integrated Urban Management ) the city of Ghent received
from the European Commission a letter and specimen
contract relating to European subsidizing of a traffic control
project .

The specimen contract ( UR-95-SC136 ) and the
accompanying letter were sent by the Commission
departments to the city of Ghent in English .

Is it correct that these documents are not available in Dutch ?

Even the related correspondence — emanating from the
office of the Dutch-speaking Commission Member Mr Van
Miert — was exclusively in English .

(1 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 50 )

Subject : Construction of access roads to the Freixo Bridge

( Porto ) — measures to minimize environmental
impact

The section of the ' Itenario Principal 1 ( IP1 )' between the
new Freixo Bridge and Vila dos Carvalhos forms part of the
southern access route to this crossing of the river Douro, and
has been open since mid-September 1995 .

The final report by the Assessment Committee which
analyzed the measures for minimizing the environmental
impact of the building of the access roads to the Freixo
Bridge ( of which the section of the IP 1 in question, it should

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 27

be stressed, forms part ), concluded with a recommendation
that various operations be carried out, involving spatial
planning, atmospheric noise, air quality and landscaping,
this work was to be done during the building work so that it
would be completed at the same time .

The information available to me indicates that these

operations have not been carried out on the section of the
IP 1, despite the fact that it was opened some months

ago .

Can the Commission confirm whether my information is
entirely accurate ? And, if so, is the Commission prepared to
contact the present government with a view to ensuring that
all the operations envisaged in the final report of the
aforementioned Assessment Committee are carried out in

the near future ?

The Directive sets dates by which the Commission was to
have issued questionnaires on the basis of which Member
States are to supply the Commission with information .
Questionnaires relating to water and waste have been
published, but some time after the due dates . A
questionnaire relating to air has not yet been published,
despite being due in June 1993 .

Why has the Commission failed to meet the deadlines for
questionnaires set in the Directive ? When will the
Commission publish the questionnaire relating to air ?

C ) OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 48 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission (8 March 1996 )

(7 March 1996 )

At the moment the Commission does not have in its

possession any information enabling it to assess the
implementation of the measures to minimize the
environmental impacts provided for in the Commission
report assessing the environmental impact study concerning
the ' Acessos à Ponte do Freixo ' project .

The Commission has contacted the Portuguese authorities
in order to obtain the necessary information .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-145 / 96

by Caroline Jackson ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 25 January 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 51 )

Subject : Reports on implementation of Directives on the

environment

Directive 91 / 692 / EEC ( J ) is intended to harmonize and
improve the reporting requirements included in some
previous Directives relating to the environment . It divided
the subject of the Directives into three groups :

1, water : first report to cover 1993 — 1995 due to be

published by the Commission before June 1997 .

2, air : first report to cover 1994 — 1996 due to be
published by the Commission before June 1998 .

3, waste : first report to cover 1995 — 1997 due to be
published by the Commission before June 1 999 .

The situation with regard to the drafting of questionnaires
pursuant to Directive 91 / 692 / EEC standardizing and
rationalizing reports on the implementation of certain
Directives relating to the environment is as follows :

' Water ' Directives : For the period 1993 —199 5, the
questionnaires on water were adopted in 1992
( Commission Decision 92 / 446 / EEC of 27 July 1992 ) (')
with a slight administrative delay . For the period
1 996 — 1998, the questionnaires have been amended and
were recently adopted ( Commission Decision 95 / 33 7 / EEC
of 25 July 1995 ) ( 2 ), i.e . six months before the beginning of
the reporting period as stipulated in Article 2 of Directive
91 / 692 / EEC . Article 2 of Directive 91 / 692 / EEC requires
Member States to submit their data for the reporting period

1993— 1995 no later than 30 September 1996 . The
Commission then has nine months to prepare a consolidated
report and to publish it by 30 June 1997 .

' Air ' Directives : There have been several delays to the
adoption of the questionnaires on air, major text changes to
some of them and delays in translation preventing them
from being adopted in 1994 . The accession of new Member
States has meant that all the questionnaires had to be
translated into the new official languages . Publication is
expected by the end of April 1996 .

' Waste ' Directives : In accordance with Article 5 of and

Annex VI to Directive 91 / 692 / EEC, seven questionnaires
relating to seven Directives on waste should have been
adopted since months before the beginning of the reporting
period . The first reporting period is 1995 — 1997 . The
Commission has adopted three questionnaires on Directives
75 / 439 / EEC ( waste oils ), 75 / 442 / EEC ( framework
Directive on waste ) and 86 / 278 / EEC ( sewage sludge )

( Commission Decision 94 / 741 / EEC of 24 October
1994 ) ( 3 ).

No C 173 / 28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

The situation with regard to the other four Directives is as Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

follows : on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1996 )

— Directive 84 / 63 1 / EEC has been replaced by Regulation

( EEC ) No 259 / 93 ( shipments of waste ) of 6 May
1994 ( 4 ) which contains specific provisions on reports

( Article 41 ). The preparation of a questionnaire is
therefore no longer necessary .

— Directive 76 / 403 / EEC ( 5 ) ( PCBs / PCTs ) is currently being

amended and will be adopted by the Council later in the
year . The present common position of the Council does
not contain any reporting requirement within the
meaning of Directive 91 / 692 / EEC . No questionnaire is
therefore being prepared .

— Directive 78 / 319 / EEC has been replaced by Directive

91 / 689 / EEC ( hazardous waste ) of 27 June 1995 ( 6 ).
Article 8 of the Directive contains a reporting
requirement similar to that in Article 16 of Directive
75 / 442 for which there is already a questionnaire . This
questionnaire therefore still has to be prepared .

— Directive 85 / 339 / EEC ( containers of liquids for human

consumption ) will be replaced by Directive 94 / 62 / EC ( 7 )

( packaging and packaging waste ) on the final date for its
transposition, which is 30 June 1996 . Article 17 of
Directive 94 / 62 / EC contains a reporting requirement
within the meaning of Directive 91 / 692 / EEC . This
questionnaire still has to be prepared .

(') OJ No L 247, 27 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 200, 24 . 8 . 1995 .

( ? ) OJ No L 296, 17 . 11 . 1994 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 30, 6 . 2 . 1993 .

( s ) OJ No L 108, 26 . 4 . 1976 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-149 / 96

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 52 )

Subject : Cohésion Fund — Spain

Could the Commission provide detailed information
concerning the transfers made to Spain during 1995 under
the Cohesion Fund, and of the projects for which this aid
was granted ?

In 1995 all Cohesion Fund resources for Spain were
committed, 51,5 % of it for transport infrastructure projects
and 48,5 % for environmental projects .

ECU 610 million were allocated for 14 projects in the
transport sector and ECU 574 million for 46 environmental
projects ; the ' vessel traffic system ' project cuts across the
two sectors and receives funding under both .

Detailed information of these projects can be found in the
table that is being sent directly to the Honourable Member
and the General Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1 52 / 96

by Eolo Parodi ( UPE ), Guido Viceconte ( UPE )

and Roberto Mezzaroma ( UPE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 53 )

Subject : Resolving infant feeding controversies

For the last 20 years the international community has
witnessed a confrontation between consumer groups and
the infant food industry on infant feeding issues . The 1991
Community Directive on infant formulae and follow-on
formulae ( 91 / 321 / EEC ) (') refers to the adoption of the
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
and its implementation in the European Member States,
while the Council resolution of 18 June 1992 ( 2 ) makes a
certain number of Community provisions for these products
applicable to exports to third countries .

Up to now, relatively few governments in third countries
have introduced specific legislation or regulations to
implement the provisions of the International Code . As a
result, the task of interpreting and monitoring the Code has
been undertaken, on the one hand, by infant food
manufacturers, and, on the other, by non-governmental
organizations . Differences of opinion on the way in which
key provisions of the Code should be interpreted —
especially its scope — have been, according to a recent
WHO report, a long-standing contentious issue . The
Council resolution on exports to third countries called on
the Commission to examine such cases and report to the
European Parliament and the Council every two years, but
no such report has yet been submitted .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 29

Has the Commission established a procedure for the WRITTEN QUESTION E-168
consideration of such cases ? If not, is the Commission by Giovanni Burtone ( PPE )
prepared to promote the creation of an International Expert to the Commission
Advisory Committee, representing the main parties
concerned, whose role would be to encourage and assist (1 February 1996 )
governments in their efforts to fulfil their responsibilities 96 / C 173 / 54
under the International Code ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-168 / 96

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 54

(') OJ No L 175, 4 . 7 . 1991, p . 35

( 2 ) OJ No C 172, 8 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

Directive 91 / 321 / EEC on infant formulae and follow-on

formulae lays down a number of provisions concerning the
marketing of breast-milk substitutes which are inspired by
the relevant international code . Member States are

responsible for the application of those provisions in the
Community . The Commission has no information which
would lead it to believe that there are problems .

With the Council resolution of 18 June 1992, the
Community aimed to contribute to the application of
appropriate marketing practices for breast-milk substitutes
in third countries, offering support to the authorities of
those countries in their efforts to apply the international
code in their territory .

In 1993 the authorities of third countries were informed of

the Council resolution and of the fact that the Commission's

delegations were ready to receive from these authorities any
complaints regarding marketing practices of manufacturers
based in the Community . To date no such complaint has
been received by the Commission . Therefore there is no
experience in examining such cases .

The Commission remains willing to provide practical
support and assistance, upon request, to the authorities of
third countries for the implementation of the international
code .

The Commission continues to monitor developments on the
application of the international code in cooperation with the
international agencies with primary responsibility for this
matter, notably with the World Health Organization .

The Commission has not received any request for support
for the establishment of an international export advisory
committee . Support could only be considered if the
Commission were satisfied that such a body would enjoy
internationally the necessary authority and impartiality for
offering advice and making judgements in this sensitive

area .

Subject : Temporary opening of a reduced entry price quota

for oranges intended for processing

On 11 January 1996 the Commission adopted a tariff quota
for imported oranges on the grounds that a sufficient supply
of oranges was needed for processing into fresh orange juice
by British industry . The Commission itself admits that this
was a derogation to GATT rules . Given that Community
orange producers, particularly those in Sicily, are currently
facing a serious crisis :

1 . Did the Commission first ascertain whether or not the

Community market was capable of supplying the same
quantity of oranges ?

2 . Does it not believe that such a rule may lead to abuses
and instances of fraud entailing the use of products
imported, by way of derogation, onto the fresh fruit
market rather than the processed fruit market, and does
it intend to take any specific measures to avoid this
situation ?

3 . Is it prepared to introduce special support measures for
Sicilian producers to enable them to cope with the
problems arising from the GATT agreements and the
agreements with the Mediterranean countries ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1996 )

1 . On 11 January 1996 the Commission made a
temporary derogation to enable a limited quantity of
oranges for processing to be imported at a reduced entry
price .

This arrangement, which was essential to provide the
Community industry producing freshly squeezed,
unpasteurized orange juice with immediate supplies, expires
on 31 March 1996 .

The Commission is seeking to determine the suitability of

Community-produced oranges for this type of orange juice
over the period covered by the Regulation (1 December to
31 March ). A key consideration is their limonin content .

2 . The Commission has taken all the action necessary to
prevent abuse and fraud, including the diversion of the

No C 173 / 30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

oranges imported under this quota to the fresh fruit market .
This action consists of requiring a security to be provided ( it

is released on production of proof that the goods have been
processed ) and of the use of customs procedures relating to
end-use .

3 . The Commission has no plans for specific measures to
assist citrus production in Sicily . However, as part of the
reform of the market organization for fruit and vegetables, it
has proposed the use ( over and above the usual structural
policy instruments ) of steps to improve quality, marketing
and promotion of Community fruit and vegetables in
general and citrus fruit in particular .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 71 / 96

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 55

Subject : Packaging Directive

When will the Commission bring forward its proposal for a
uniform recycling symbol ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

The Commission is at the monent finalizing a proposal for a
Directive on marking of packaging, to meet the obligations
of Article 8, paragraph 1 of the Directive 94 / 62 / EC on
packaging and packaging waste (*). It is the intention to
submit the proposal to the Parliament and the Council this
spring .

(') OJ No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 72 / 96

by Kenneth Coates ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1996 )

( 961 C 173 / 56 )

Subject : The prevalence of asthma

What conclusion has the Commission reached on possible
links between the incidence of asthma amongst children and
other age groups and problems of air pollution ?

Would the Commission consider supporting an air
pollution survey in my own constituency to investigate
perceived links between local sources of pollution and
concentrations of asthma cases ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1996 )

In general there are no comprehensive data on the
prevalence of asthma and the way in which it may be
changing . However, recent surveys in several Member States
indicate that the prevalence of asthma is steadily increasing .
The cause of asthma as a condition is unknown . Genetic

predisposition and sensitization to allergens are important
determinants of the clinical disease . Several air pollutants
have been shown to aggravate symptoms . The
epidemiological evidence for a causative link between
prevalence in children and exposure to air pollution is still
inconclusive .

The Community is currently funding research on chronic
diseases, including asthma, as part of its Biomed II

'
programme . One project European network for
understanding the mechanisms of severe asthma ' was
initiated in January 1996 . The project leader is professor
S. T. Holgate of Southampton general hospital . Details of
the project are being sent direct to the Honourable Member
and the Secretariat-General of the Parliament . The next call

for proposals for Biomed II — area 4 — : ' chronic diseases '
will be from 17 September to 17 December 1996 .

Apart from Biomed II, there are currently no Community
funds available for the kind of survey suggested by the
Honourable Member . However, it might be possible to
support actions of this kind under the future action
programme on pollution-related diseases, for which a
proposal is currently being prepared by the Commission .
The intention is for the proposal for a Parliament and
Council Decision pursuant to Article 129 of the EC Treaty
to be presented in the second half of 1996 . Actions under the
programme, once it has been adopted, will have, however,
to show that there is added value from the involvement of

the Community, which, in practice, means that purely local
projects are unlikely to receive support .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 31

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 74 / 96

by Kenneth Coates ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-179 / 96

by Kenneth Coates ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

(1 February 1996 ) (1 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 57 ) ( 96 / C 173 / 58 )

Subject : Environmental protection — The polluter should

pay

Can the Commission offer a succinct guide to the European
legislation concerning the responsibility for pollution ? How
far, and under what circumstances, is it possible to enforce
the principle that the polluter must pay ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 )

The Commission opened a Community-wide discussion on
environmental liability with the publication, in March

1993, of its green paper on remedying environmental
damage ('). As a follow-up, a public hearing was organized
by the Parliament and the Commission on 3 and
4 November 1993 . Over one hundred written comments on

the green paper were sent to the Commission from many

quarters .

In April 1994 the Parliament adopted a resolution under
Article 138b(2 ) of the EC Treaty, requesting the
Commission to submit a proposal for a Directive on civil
liability for ( future ) environmental damage .

In response, the Commission carried out informal
consultations with experts from the Member States and
representatives from interested parties such as the insurance
sector, the financial sector, industry and environmental
organizations . The main issues discussed were the scope
of an environmental liability regime, restoration of
environmental damage, access to justice with respect to
environmental damage and financial security for coverage
of liability .

In the course of 1994 the Commission launched studies to

investigate how liability systems dealing with environmental
damage operate in the Member States, and on the economic
implications of different liability systems . The final results of
these studies are expected in the near future and will be
carefully assessed . Consultations with interested parties will
be held about the outcome of the studies .

On the basis of all this information, the Commission will
have a discussion to decide how to go forward .

Subject : Environmental protection — Burning
solvent-derived fuels

Further to Mrs Bjerregaard's answer of 25 September 1995
on behalf of the Commission, what progress has the
Commission made in its investigations of the burning of
solvent-derived fuels ( so-called ' secondary fuels ') in cement
and lime kilns ?

Is it the Commission's view that a ' mass balance ' test should

be conducted during trial incinerations of solvent-derived
fuel, in order to determine the proportions and amounts of
toxic elements which exit the stack as vapour and / or
fume ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

The Commission's investigations continue in order to
obtain a more coherent overview of the situation within the

Community . This issue was brought to the attention of
Member States at a recent meeting of the committee for the
adaptation to scientific and technical progress of
Community legislation on waste, but no conclusions were
reached .

Where secondary liquid fuels are considered as a hazardous
waste and co-incinerated, Article 3 of Council Directive

94 / 67 / EC on incineration of hazardous waste (') will apply
after 1 January 1997 . The permit which has to be granted by
the authorities will explicitly list the types and quantities of
hazardous wastes which may be co-incinerated in the plant .
Moreover a period of six months after the start of the
operation is given to the operator to conduct the necessary
measurements to show that specific emission limit values for
a range of toxic substances are met . Appropriate emission
limit and guide values for the relevant pollutants emitted in
the exhaust gas of the plant will be determined in
accordance with Annex II of the Directive .

(') OJ No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

(') COM(93 ) 47 .

No C 173 / 32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E - 1 89 / 96

by Gerhard Schmid ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 59 )

calendar ? At present the season for shooting migratory birds
closes at the end of January, but the Danish Hunting League
and Game Management Council for instance recommend
that the shooting of eider-duck should continue in
February .

Subject : The Fair research programme Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

1 . Who has so far, during the period up to 1 994, received ( 15 March 1996 )
funding under the FAIR programme, which was announced
as part of the ACTS research programme ? What projects
was the funding intended for and what were the sums In accordance with Article 7.4 of
involved ?

2 . Which experts did the Commission consult when
deciding on the funding to be provided under the Fair
programme ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1996 )

1 . The FAIR project is a ' horizontal action ' under the
ACTS programme . The Honourable Member refers in his
question to a FAIR research programme . No programme of
that name has received funding within ACTS . However,
there is a FAIR programme ( agriculture and fisheries )
outside ACTS .

The FAIR project research group consists of six members
from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the
United Kingdom, and the project has a budget of some ECU
2,6 million . The title of the FAIR project is Forecast and
Assessment of Socio-Economic Impact of Advanced
Communications and Recommendations, and a short
description of the project will be sent to the Honourable
Member and Parliament's Secretariat .

2 . The decision concerning the FAIR project was taken as
part of the technical evaluation of the ACTS programme
during the period 25 March — 2 April 1 995 . The decisions
concerning the 330 ACTS proposals submitted were taken
by 100 independent external experts . Further information
about the decision-making process will be sent direct to the
Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat .

In accordance with Article 7.4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on

the conservation of wild birds ( x ), it is the Member States
who ensure that the practice of hunting complies with the
principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of
the species of birds concerned . They ensure, in particular,
that the migratory species covered by the hunting laws are
not hunted during their period of reproduction or during
their return to their rearing grounds .

According to the data available in the Ornis data base
concerning eider hunting, the season for this should end in
Denmark by 31 January at the latest .

On 1 March 1994 ( 2 ) the Commission put forward criteria
which the Member States may use in order to determine the
end of the hunting seasons on migratory species .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 100, 9 . 4 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-203 / 96

by Roy Perry ( PPE )

to the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 61 )

Subject : Health and safety at work

Are there any recognized criteria to diagnose myalgic
encephalomyelitis ( ME ) and could this medical condition
be considered an occupational disease of working
environments which entail a high level of both physical and
WRITTEN QUESTION E-195 / 96 mental stress, e.g . medical care ?

by Jens-Peter Bonde ( EDN )

to the Commission

(5 February 1996 ) Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission
( 96 / C 173 / 60 )
( 19 March 1996 )

Subject : End of shooting season

Will the Commission determine the end of the shooting
season on the basis of biological conditions rather than the

Myalgic encephalomyelitis ( ME ) is a disorder that affects
the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems and
the muscles . The exact cause is unknown .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 33

The available scientific knowledge is not sufficient to permit
the conclusion that ME could be considered an occupational
disease .

At this moment there are no recognized criteria for
diagnosis, mainly because of the similarity of symptoms of
ME with other disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or
chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection .

and economical benefits, relevance to Community policies,
quality of management and potential exploitability of
results .

(') OJ No L 334, 22 . 12 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-209 / 96

by Philippe Monfils ( ELDR )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-207 / 96 (5 February 1 996 )

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE ) ( 96 / C 173 / 63 )

to the Commission

(S February 1996 ) Subject : Funding of pilot proiects

( 96 / C 173 / 62 )

Would the Commission provide information regarding the
possibilities of funding it offers for pilot projects aimed at
Subject : The Commission's FAIR Programme developing the dissemination of professional information
via the new computer networks ?

The Commission recently adopted the FAIR Programme

( for research in the farming and fisheries sectors ).

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

Can the Commission specify which schemes have been
selected for funding under this programme, the deadlines for
their implementation, and the criteria followed in selecting
them ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

The programme Fair, agriculture and fisheries ( including
agro-industry, food-technologies, forestery, aquaculture
and rural development ) ( 1994 — 1998 ) is one of the specific
Community research programmes implementing the fourth
framework programme . Upon proposal of the Commission
and following consultation of the Parliament, the Fair
programme was adopted by Council Decision of
23 November 1994 (').

The first call for proposals under the Fair programme closed
on 15 March 1995 . A total of 114 research projects were
selected for funding by the Commission, and these
commenced between December 1995 and March 1 996 . A

list of all selected projects with the titles and duration is sent
directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of the Parliament .

The selection of proposals involves first checking that they
are eligible, that is within the scope and objectives of the Fair
programme and including transnational collaboration .
Subsequent selection criteria are the scientific and technical
excellence and novelty, pre-competitive character, technical

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1996 )

The programme of telematic applications, which forms part
of the fourth technological research and development
programme-framework ( 1994 — 1998 ), provides the
possibility of financing pilot projects aimed at developing
the dissemination of professional information via new
computer networks .

Several invitations to tender have already been put out and
projects in sectors such as health, training, transport, urban
and rural areas, administration and pensioners and the
handicapped have already been launched . More invitations
to tender will be put out in the years to come . The budget
allocated to the entire programme, based on the revised
specific programme, is estimated at ECU 898 million, to
take account of the enlargement of the Community .

Finance for research, technological development and
demonstration projects ( RTD&D ) is based on shared costs,
i.e . the Commission finances up to 50 % of the costs of a
project . Community finance for the demonstration stage of
a project will not normally exceed 33 % .

Information concerning the programme of telematic
applications and future invitations to tender can be obtained
on the World Wide Web : http: / /www.terena.n or by fax on
(+ 32 2 ) 295 23 54 .

The Commission has called for proposals (^ pursuant to
Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation and Article 6 of the ESF
Regulation ( for which the expiry date is 28 February 1996 ),
in order to prepare and launch multi-regional pilot

No C 173 / 34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

applications to promote greater use of the information
society at a regional level . These pilot projects may include
interregional telematic networks in order to disseminate
information to aid regional development .

Practical information concerning the selection criteria as
well as application forms can be obtained from the Europa
server on http: / /WWW.CEC.L U /E N /COM M /DG1
HOME.HTML or by fax on (+ 32 2 ) 295 01 38 ( 39 or 40 ),
quoting reference ' DG XVI, Article 10, ERDF '.

(') OJ No C 253, 29 . 9 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-210 / 96

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 64 )

Subject : Acquisitions by the Olivetti Group of
telecommunications media

In 1994 the Olivetti Group began an operation to acquire
ownership and exclusive rights or a duopoly in Italy over
many telecommunications media and services, including
GSM mobile telephony ( as the second Italian licensee ),
digital telecommunications via satellite ( proposed
agreement between Olivetti and Eutelsat ) and services
providing connections to the Internet ( Italia on-line ).

1 . Has the Commission evaluated these acquisition and
licensing operations to determine whether they amount
to concentrations ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89 ( ! )
and Regulation ( EC ) No 3384 / 94 ( 2 ))P

2 . Has the Commission ascertained, pursuant to the EC
Treaty ( Articles 85 and 86 ) and Regulation ( EEC )
No 17 ( 3 ), whether the prices set for the GSM mobile
telephony service are fair and whether or not there have
been agreements between Omnitel and Telecom Italia
Mobile ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1996 )

The Commission has carefully monitored the opening up of
the GSM ( global system for mobile communications )
market in Italy .

As far as the Omnitel-Pronto Italia ( OPI ) consortium led by
the Olivetti group is concerned, the Commission took the
view that the consortium did not involve a concentration

within the meaning of Merger Regulation, since it was
cooperative in nature . It therefore assessed the consortium
under Regulation No 17 / 62 .

The Commission decided to authorize the consortium under

Article 85(3 ) of the EC Treaty after an amendment to the
initial agreement had been notified to it and individual
undertakings given by certain shareholders such as to :

— prevent OPI shareholders who are already GSM
operators in other Member States from having any
influence on OPI's decisions on the sale of subscriptions
to customers residing outside Italy, on the conclusion of
' roaming ' agreements and on the setting-up of
subsidiaries or joint ventures acting as GSP service
providers outside Italy ;

— prevent shareholders who are already GSM operators in

Europe from obtaining or exchanging information on
these matters ;

— allow competition between shareholders and the joint

venture, in Italy, as regards the distribution of
subscriptions .

Olivetti's agreements with Eutelsat and Italia on-line have
not been notified to the Commission, nor have they been the
subject of complaints . Nor has the Commission received any
complaints on the prices set for the GSM service or on any
concerted practices between OPI and Telecom Italia Mobile
in this respect .

Mobile ? As regards the application of Directive 90 / 388 / EEC, whose

scope was recently extended to include mobile and personal

3 . Are the operations conducted by the Olivetti Group in communications Commission that, it the intends Italian shortly Government to terminate has informed the current the
line with Directive 90 / 388 / EEC ( 4 ) on liberalizing the

duopoly by designating a third mobile operator on the

markets for telecommunications services by 1998 ? Do

DCS-1800 frequency band and has undertaken not to

they not give Mr De Benedetti's group and Telecom authorize the two current operators to operate on that
Italia a dominant market position ?

frequency band before the third operator has been able to
establish itself effectively on the Italian market .

H OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 1 .

3 . Are the operations conducted by the Olivetti Group in
line with Directive 90 / 388 / EEC ( 4 ) on liberalizing the
markets for telecommunications services by 1998 ? Do
they not give Mr De Benedetti's group and Telecom
Italia a dominant market position ?

( 2 ) OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 1 .

( 3 ) OJ No 13, 21 . 2 . 1962, p . 204 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 192, 24 . 7 . 1990, p . 10 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION E-219 / 96

by Klaus Rehder ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 65 )

Subject : Reduction in Member States ' contributions to the

EU budget by the amounts which they receive back
via the EAGGF

During the debate on simplification and greater subsidiarity
in relation to the common agricultural policy, there have
been calls from various quarters for Member States '
contributions to the EU budget to be cut by the amounts
which they get back in the form of EAGGF support .

1 . Are such calls compatible with current EU
legislation ?

2 . Is it conceivable that EU legislation will be amended
along such lines as part of the planned CAP reform, and
would such changes make sense ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

1 . Since the introduction of financing by own resources
the Community budget is no longer financed by
contributions from the Member States, but wholly by the
Community's own resources . The system of own resources
is at present based on Council Decision 94 / 728 / EC,
Euratom of 31 October 1 994 ( 1 ). Since the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund ( EAGGF ) is an
integral part of the Community budget, financing by own
resources extends also to the common agricultural policy,
which is consequently underpinned by the principle of
financial solidarity between Member States . For these
reasons, the request made by the Honourable Member is not
compatible with current Community legislation .

2 . Until 1 999, the budget guidelines have to be laid down
in accordance with the abovementioned Decision, which is
based on the agreement reached at the Edinburgh European
Council held on 11 and 12 December 1992 . This too is a

matter in which the Commission does not consider it

possible to deviate from a principle enshrined in the
Treaties . With a view to the enlargement of the Community
to include the associated central and eastern European
countries, the Commission presented a strategic paper to the
Madrid European Council and in this it urged that the
approach successfully launched with the 1992 reform be
continued . This approach involves maintaining the principle
of financial solidarity between the Member States in the
common agricultural policy . Without wishing to anticipate

the review of financing by own resources for the period
following 1999, the Commission sees no reason to
introduce the reform advocated by the Honourable Member
to the present principles governing the financing of the
common agricultural policy .

( 1 ) OJ No L 293, 12 . 11 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-224 / 96

by Laura González Alvarez ( GUE / NGL )
and María Sornosa Martínez ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 66 )

Subject : Environmental problem in the municipalities of

Leoia and Erandio ( province of Vizcaya / Biskaia,
Spain )

For some time now, a numerous group of residents of the
Travesia Iparaguirre quarter of Leoia and the Mezo de
Astrabudua quarter of Erandio have been complaining to
their respective municipal councils about the unpleasant
odours emanating from the putrefying waters of the river
Udindo-Erreka, which, with its valley, forms the border
between the municipalities of Leoia and Erandio .

This valley is a dumping-ground ( especially for liquid waste )
for enterprises of various types ( chemicals, food-processing,
services ), and has thus become a breeding-ground for
rodents and mosquitos in large numbers .

The valley is of considerable ecological value, but this is in
fast decline owing to the deteriorating conditions . A study
carried out by the biologist and ecosystem specialist Inigo
Zuberogoitia has identified 104 different bird species
permanently or sporadically present in the valley .

What action can the Commission take vis-à-vis the relevant

authorities with a view to dealing with the insalubrious
conditions in the two quarters ?

Is the Commission aware of any plans for this valley on the
part of the regional government of the Basque Country or
any other authority ?

If so, can it state whether the necessary environmental
impact assessment has been made ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

The Commission shares the Honourable Members ' concern

regarding the facts that they have just brought to its
attention .

No C 173 / 36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

The Commission would like to assure the Honourable

Members that an investigation will be carried out in
order to check whether there has been an infringement
of Community law concerning potential pollution of
the waters of the Udondo-Erreka under Directive

76 / 464 / EEC f 1 ) on pollution from industrial sources .

However, the Commission is up to date as regards the
ecological value attributed to the region mentioned . The
area concerned has not been designated by the Spanish
authorities as a special bird sanctuary under Article 4(4 ) of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild

birds ( 2 ).

(') OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-232 / 96

by Bernie Malone ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 67 )

Subject : Preservation of bog-lands in Counties Offaly and

Westmeath, Ireland

Given the intensive harvesting of turf from the natural
bog-lands of Counties Offaly and Westmeath in Ireland,
could the Commission outline what programmes or
initiatives it has in place to ensure that natural bog-lands are
not destroyed through over-harvesting ? Could the
Commission outline what plans if any it has to carry out
studies as to the effects of the intensive harvesting of
bog-lands, particularly in the Irish counties mentioned
above ?

To assist Ireland in this work the Community is supporting,
under Life and other funds, a number of programmes and
initiatives undertaken by the Irish authorities for the
conservation of these important habitats . These measures
include a re-survey of all areas of scientific interest in Ireland

( including many bog-land sites in the midlands and
elsewhere ), purchase of key sites for priority blanket bogs
and raised bogs, restoration of the hydrology of two major
active raised bogs, and preparation of management plans for
key peatland sites hosting active raised bogs and active
blanket bogs . The above activities involve peatlands in
Offaly and Westmeath, including Raheenmore and Clara
bogs .

In accordance with Article 11 of the Directive Ireland is

required since 5 June 1994 to undertake surveillance of the
conservation status of peatland habitats listed in the
Directive, with particular reference to the priority types . In

1 995, the Commission sought information from the Irish
authorities on the results of this surveillance in respect of
Ireland's raised bogs ( including those in Counties Offaly
and Westmeath ). A response is still awaited .

As regards the harvesting of peat, Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on
the conservation of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment ( 2 ) requires the prior
environmental impact assessment of environmentally
significant peat extraction projects . The Commission is in
continuing contact with the Irish authorities concerning the
way in which the relevant Irish implementing legislation
provides for the assessment of such projects .

(') OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-234 / 96

by Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 68 )
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1996 ) Subject : Free movement of Spanish chemical and
pharmaceutical products

Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora ( J ) recognises blanket
bogs ( active only ), active raised bogs and degraded raised
bogs ( still capable of natural regeneration ), for all of which
Ireland has particular importance in the Community, as
natural habitats of Community importance which should be
designated as special areas of conservation . Ireland is
required to propose a list of sites hosting these habitats, for
inclusion in the Natura 2000 network of protected areas
being created under the Directive .

The full ' communitarization ' of patent law is essential for
the completion of the single market on the basis of the
principle of the free movement of goods .

In view of Articles 30 and 36 of the EC Treaty and the Court
of Justice case-law on the matter, it is necessary to prevent
arbitrary discrimination and restrictions on trade between
Member States arising from the abusive invocation of patent
rights .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 37

Spain has taken steps to harmonize its patent law and fulfil
its commitments under Protocol No 8 to the Act of

Accession .

Article 47 of the Act of Accession, however, is ambiguously
worded insofar as it states that the free movement of Spanish
chemical and pharmaceutical products will apply only from
' the end of the third year after Spain has made these
products patentable '. Spain, in fact, did so as of 7 October

1992 .

France, Germany, the UK, Belgium and Denmark have now
requested authorization to apply safeguard measures to
block imports of Spanish medicines .

Does the Commission not consider this request to be in
contravention of the above provisions ?

What position does the Commission intend to adopt on the
matter ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1996 )

By Decision of 20 December 1995, the Commission rejected
the requests put forward by Belgium, Denmark, Germany,
Ireland, Austria and the United Kingdom on the basis of
Article 379 of the Act of Accession of Spain and
Portugal (')•

The Member States concerned had requested authorization
to take protective measures against parallel imports of
Spanish pharmaceutical products which are still covered by
a patent in those Member States, but not in Spain . The
pharmaceutical products involved are those manufactured
in Spain by patent holders themselves or with their

consent .

In its Decision, the Commission took the view that
Article 379, derogating from a fundamental principle, i.e .
that of the free movement of goods, should be interpreted
strictly and therefore could not apply . It also considered that
the conditions for applying Article 379 were not met, since
the economic data provided by the Member States
concerned did not show that the pharmaceutical products
industry in those Member States was undergoing serious,
long-term economic difficulties .

Furthermore, on 4 August 1995 the Court of Justice was
asked for a preliminary ruling ( 2 ) on the date of expiry of the
transitional periods stipulated in Articles 47 ( Spain ) and 209

( Portugal ) of the Act of Accession and on the applicability of

the Court's case-law as set out in the Marck / Stephar
Case ( 3 ), after the expiry of the transitional periods .

(•) OJ No L 302, 15 . 11 . 1985 .

( 2 ) Joined Cases C-267 / 95 and C-268 / 95 .

( ? ) Case C-187 / 80 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-243 / 96

by Peter Skinner ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1 996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 69 )

Subject : Bullying in the workplace and violence at work

When will the Commission bring forward legislation on
violence and bullying in the workplace and resulting
stress-related illnesses ? In Sweden, there already exists
similar legislation called ' The Unreasonable Behaviour at
Work Act '. Could the Commission please obtain
translations in its working languages so that its services may
study the possibility of proposing legislation on such an
issue ? Could the Commission also provide me with an
English copy of this legislation so that I may consider its
content for inclusion in my report on the Fourth Health and
Safety Action Programme ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

The Commission, in its programme of work for 199 6, has
indicated that its proposed actions will include risk
assessment for particular health and safety issues, including
violence and stress at the workplace . After full evaluation of
this assessment the Commission will decide whether

legislation is the most appropriate action .

The Commission will obtain all information necessary to
enable it to carry out its programme, and has already
obtained the text of the relevant Swedish legislation,
Ordnance AFS 1993:2 ' violence and menaces in the working
environment '. This is available in English from the Swedish
national board of occupational safety and health . The
Commission is sending this document direct to the
Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat .

No C 173 / 38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION P-249 / 96

by Danilo Poggiolini ( PPE )

to the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 70 )

Subject : Means of obtaining funds in connection with

Alzheimer's disease

What measures has the Commission taken or planned to
enable the many voluntary organizations throughout
Europe that help millions of families affected by the tragedy
of Alzheimer's disease to avail themselves of the ECU 5

million obtained by the European Parliament for the 1996
budget ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

1 . What agreements and / or contracts exist between the
transuranium institute and the Federal Republic of
Germany ?

2 . What agreements and / or contracts exist between the

institute and the BND ( the German foreign secret
service ) or Professor Lothar Koch who works for the

institute ?

3 . How many combined trips has Professor Koch made
with the BND ?

4 . What was the purpose of these trips ?

5 . What precisely are the quantities of plutonium stored at

the transuranium institute ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1996 )

( 20 March 1996 ) 1, and 2 . No direct agreements or contracts exist
between the Transuranium Institute and Germany on
research into the origin of radioactive materials .

added ECU 5 million to budget line Collaboration between the Commission and Germany on
budget for Alzheimer's disease . the specific protection of the population against nuclear
comment the aim of these

risks is based on an exchange of letters which took place

transnational activities geared to between the Commission and Germany in July 1992 .

The Parliament has added ECU 5 million to budget line
B3-4300 in the 1996 budget for Alzheimer's disease .
According to the budgetary comment the aim of these
measures is ' to support transnational activities geared to
improving the quality of life of persons suffering from
Alzheimer's disease and of their ( informal ) carers, for which
ECU 5 million is earmarked '.

The Commission is fully aware of the importance of this
disease and the distress it causes, not only to the individuals
concerned but also to those who have to care for them . The

Commission is already in contact with the national
Alzheimer associations as well as with Alzheimer Europe
and Alzheimer Disease International .

The Commission intends to publish shortly a call for
proposals . This call will contain the basic information
required for applying for a Community subsidy . In this
context, the Commission places particular attention on the
need to ensure that there is a Community added value and
that projects are transnational .

3 . At the request of the German departments responsible
and with the Commission's agreement, Dr Koch has taken
part in a mission abroad in the capacity of a technical expert
in a German delegation headed by the Minister of State to
the Federal Chancellor .

4 . The Commission has no knowledge of any other
purpose these trips might have had .

5 . The Commission asks the Honourable Member to

take into consideration the fact that for reasons of physical
protection it has to treat data on the nuclear materials
inventory confidentially .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-253 / 96

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-252 / 96 (9 February 1996 )
by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V ) ( 96 / C 173 / 72 )
to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 71 )

Subject : Transuranium institute in Karlsruhe and
plutonium

The EU has a research establishment in Karlsruhe : the

transuranium institute . One of its tasks is to conduct

research into the origin of radioactive substances .

Subject : EU research funding for ultimate nuclear waste

disposal sites

The European Community funds research into the storage
of nuclear waste, including experiments on the
temperature-dependence of the compaction process in
waste disposal sites .

1 . Where is the research carried out, by whom, and under
what programme ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 39

2 . What form does Community participation take ?

3 . Has this research produced any results so far ? If so, what
results ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-254 / 96

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 73 )
Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1996 ) Subject : T reaty on the monitoring of ultimate nuclear waste

disposal facilities

1 . With reference to the ultimate direct storage of
irradiated fuel elements from nuclear power stations,
research work involving the thermal simulation of storage in
mine tunnels ( TSS experiment ) is currently under way in
Germany in the Asse salt mine at a depth of 800 metres . The
TSS demonstration experiment is intended to form part of
the study of the effects on the filling material ( salt chippings )
and on the salty rock in two experimental tunnels, each
equipped with three electrically heated containers .
Preparations for the conduct of the test began in 1985, and
work then went ahead on the excavation and installation

of the experimental areas and their fitting-out with
instruments . In September 1990 the heaters in the six
experimental containers were actuated ( power output :
approximately 6,4 kilowatts ).

The TSS experiment is being conducted by the GSF

( National Centre for Radiological and Environmental
Research PLC ), the BGR ( Federal Institute for Geosciences
and Natural Resources ), the DBE ( German Company for
the Construction and Operation of Ultimate Waste Disposal
Sites PLC ), the FZK ( Karlsruhe Research Centre ). It is being
subsidized by the BMBF ( Federal Ministry of Education and
Science, Research and Technology ) and by the
Commission .

2 . Under the research and development programme on
the Management and Storage of Radioactive Waste ( 1990
to 1994 ), the Commission subsidized the TSS experiment
from August 1 994 to April 1 995 in the form of a shared-cost
research contract entered into with the GSF . Additional

research on the geotechnical behaviour of filling materials

( salt chippings ) and salty rocks, as well as gas permeability
measurements to be taken in the course of the TSS

experiment, are being subsidized by the Commission from
January 1996 to December 1998 under the contract entitled

' Backfill behaviour in emplacement drifts and boreholes in a
salt repository ' entered into with the FZK and with partners
in Germany ( BGR, GRS ), the Netherlands ( ECN ), France

( G3S ) and Spain ( Enresa, Universidad politecnia de
Cataluna ) as part of the specific programme in the field of
nuclear fission safety ( 1994 to 1998 ).

3 . The results of the research and development work
subsidized by the Commission between August 1994 and
April 1995 are set out in the 1996 report entitled ' The TSS
project : Research on compaction of and gas release in
saliferous backfill used in drift emplacement of spent
fuel ' ( 1 ). Copies of the publications in question are being sent
directly to the Honourable Member and to the General
Secretariat of Parliament .

( ] ) EUR 16730 EN .

Some time ago the IAEA and Euratom signed a Treaty on the
joint monitoring of nuclear plant . The criteria which
ultimate disposal facilities for nuclear waste have to satisfy
are one area covered by the Treaty .

1 . When exactly was this Treaty signed ?

2 . What criteria for the storage of nuclear waste are
recognized by the Treaty ?

3 . Can the Commission indicate where the Treaty can be
inspected ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

There is no contract between the International Atomic

Energy Agency ( IAEA ) and Euratom containing specific
provisions for joint safeguards activities in geologic
repositories or criteria to be satisfied by a repository, as
stated in the Honourable Member's question .

To implement the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons ( NPT ) in the Community, agreements were
concluded between the European Atomic Energy
Community, its Member States and the IAEA . These

agreements are :

1 . The agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the
Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of
Germany, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the European Atomic Energy Community
and the International Atomic Energy Agency in
implementation of Article III ( 1 ) and ( 4 ) of the Treaty on
the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons .

This agreement is commonly known as Infcirc / 193 and
entered into force on 21 February 1977 . The
non-nuclear weapon States that joined the Community
after the entry into force of this agreement have joined
this agreement or are in the process of doing so .

2 . The agreement between the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, the European Atomic
Energy Community and the International Atomic
Energy Agency for the application of safeguards in the

No C 173 / 40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
in connection with Treaty on the non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons ( with protocol ).

This agreement is commonly known as Infcirc / 263 and
entered into force on 14 August 1978 .

3 . The agreement between France, the European Atomic
Energy Community and the International Atomic
Energy Agency for the application of safeguards in
France .

This agreement is commonly known as Infcirc / 290 and
entered into force on 12 September 1981 .

Specific arrangements for each installation are provided
in so-called facility attachments . As the installations to
which the Honourable Member refers do not exist yet,
these documents are not available for the time being .
Safeguards measures for future geological repositories
are being discussed internationally at present .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-259 / 96

by Luigi Moretti ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1996 )

The Commission deeply regrets any delay that may have
occurred in providing the Honourable Member with the
information he requested . The Commission took steps to
send the list of selected projects to the Honourable Member
immediately after receipt of his Written Question
E-2718 / 95 . That the Honourable Member did not receive

the list is a matter for regret . A copy of the list has now been
sent to the Honourable Member .

In its reply to Written Question E-271 8 / 95, the Commission
informed the Honourable Member that the final selection

for Eurathlon 1995 had been approved in May 1995, and
had been announced in press release No IP ( 95)66 1 . The lists
of those projects selected were available as from 27 June

1995, and it is therefore a matter of deep regret that the
Honourable Member was not in receipt of the information
he had requested .

As to the Honourable Member's question concerning those
projects not selected, the Commission would like to point
out that its services sent out so-called ' negative ' letters
indicating that projects were not selected to all organizers
throughout the Community and even the third countries
from which some project proposals emanated .

At the Fifth European Sports Forum, organized by the
Commission in November 1995, the Commission
announced that a first global report on the pilot-action
Eurathlon 1995 would be available by the end of March

( 96 / C 173 / 74 ) 1996 .

Subject : Commission programme to promote sport

On 23 November 19 95 the Commission replied to my
Written Question E-2718 / 95 i 1 ) on publishing the projects
selected under the Eurathlon programme . Commissioner
Oreja confirmed inter alia that the lists of selected projects
were made available on 27 June 1995 .

Can the Commission explain why, despite repeated
requests, the relevant Directorate-General has so far been
unable to send me the list of selected projects ?

What must an MEP do to obtain such documents within a

reasonable space of time ?

Can the Commission explain why, contrary to the
statements contained in the reply to my previous question,
those associations and sports groups which were not
pre-selected have not been informed of the decisions
taken ?

Why has no adequate publicity been provided ?

Once again, the Commission deeply regrets any delay that
may have occurred in communcating information to the
Honourable Member and is at his disposal should he require
any further information .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-260 / 96

by Doeke Eisma ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 75 )

Subject : Environmental testing bodies in the Member

States

The Commission has repeatedly indicated the need to
designate environmental testing bodies and make them
operational . Some Member States have not yet identified
such a body .

Can the Commission indicate which Member States have

not yet designated a body which is responsible for certain
tasks including those provided for in Regulation ( EEC )
No 880 / 92 (') ( environmental testing )?

(M OJ No C 66, 4 . 3 . 1996, p . 25 . (') OJ No L 99, 11 . 4 . 1992, p . 1 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 41

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

WRITTEN QUESTION P-264 / 96

on behalf of the Commission

by Ritva Laurila ( PPE )
(4 March 1996 ) to the Commission

(5 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 77 )
Belgium is the only Member State which has not yet
established a competent body as required by Article 9 of
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 .

Subject : Sewage treatment in major European cities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-262 / 96

by Doeke Eisma ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 76 )

Subject : C0 2 emissions from cars

In 1991 the Commission was instructed by the Council to
submit proposals to tackle C0 2 emissions from cars .

Is it correct that the Commission has still made no proposals
to deal with C0 2 emissions from cars ? What is the reasons
for this and when can proposals be expected ?

The sewage treatment processes used in the large cities of the
European Union are often inadequate and in some cities
they are non-existent . In such cities sewage from domestic
housing and offices places an undue burden on both surface
and ground water . If this situation continues it will become a
serious environmental problem for the whole of Europe .

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

ensure that the Member States of the European Union
improve the existing situation and adopt binding minimum
standards for the treatment of sewage in the European
Union ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 February 1996 )

Sewage collection and treatment in all cities of the
Community is covered by the urban waste water treatment
Directive 91 / 271 / EEC ( M.
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1 996 ) This 1991 Directive requires urban areas above 2 000
population equivalents ( p . e . — a widely used measurement
unit for the pollution of urban waste water, equal to the
pollution load of one inhabitant per day ) to provide waste
On 20 December 1995 the Commission adopted a water collecting systems and to provide waste water
communication to the Council and the Parliament on a treatment plants .
Community strategy to reduce C0 2 emissions from
passenger cars and improve fuel economy ( 1 ). This
communication lays out a strategy based on four elements : The Directive lays down the following specifications for the
an agreement with the auto industry on the reduction in necessary waste water treatment :
C0 2 emissions from new vehicles ; the promotion of fuel
efficiency through fiscal instruments ; a system of
fuel-economy labelling ; and further research and — as a general rule, secondary treatment ( biological
technological development . The Commission has invited the treatment );
Council and Parliament to consider and confirm the general
strategy proposed, and to collaborate with the Commission — in so-called sensitive areas ( basically water bodies in
in its implementation . danger of eutrophication or elevated levels of nitrates )

advanced treatment ( involving nitrogen or phosphorus
(') COM(95 ) 689 final . removal );

The Directive lays down the following specifications for the

necessary waste water treatment :

— as a general rule, secondary treatment ( biological
treatment );

— in so-called sensitive areas ( basically water bodies in

— as an exception, in so-called less sensitive areas ( certain

maritime waters ) primary treatment only .

No C 173 / 42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Furthermore, the Directive provides for deadlines to reach
these objectives . These deadlines range — depending on the
size of the urban area and the water body involved — from
31 December 1998 to 31 December 2005 . The most

stringent deadlines ( 31 December 1998 ) apply to urban
areas above 10 000 p . e . with waste water discharges to
sensitive areas . The majority of urban areas ( 15 000 or more
p . e . under standard conditions, i.e . neither sensitive nor less
sensitive areas ) will have to meet the objectives of the
Directive by end 2000 .

(') OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991 .

Directions given inside a group are not caught by this
prohibition because in such cases there is no agreement
between economically independent undertakings . The
Court of first instance has held that ' Where . . . the

subsidiary, although having a separate legal personality,
does not freely determine its conduct on the market but
carries out the instructions given to it directly or indirectly
by the parent company . . . Article 85(1 ) does not apply to
the relationship between the subsidiary and the parent
company with which it forms an economic unit .'('). No
action can be taken under Article 85 against a course of
conduct decided unilaterally by such an economic unit, even
where that conduct consists of an instruction to subsidiaries

not to supply customers in Member States other than their

own .

Accordingly, the distribution policy of the company
mentioned by the Honourable Member, which prevents its

QUESTION E-268 / 96

subsidiaries from selling cleaning materials to customers in

Nutëbaumer ( NI ) other Member States, falls outside the scope of

to the Commission Article 85 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-268 / 96

by Wolfgang Nutëbaumer ( NI )

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 78 ( 1 ) Case T-102 / 92 Viho v . Commission [ 19951 ECR 11-19 .

Subject : Distribution policy

A textiles undertaking with its seat in Austria decided in
favour of a large German combine as its supplier of cleaning
materials . The combine concerned, which has its seat in
Germany, has now made the contract subject to the
condition that the Austrian textiles undertaking must order
its supplies ( cleaning materials ) from the German combine's
Vienna branch . The option of ordering supplies from the
German combine's Diisseldorf branch, which would be at a
much lower cost to the Austrian undertaking owing to lower
prices in Germany, is asserted to be unavailable .

1 . To what extent in the Commission's view can the above

distribution policy operated by the German undertaking
be described as conforming to EU provisions on
competition ?

2 . What options are available, in the Commission's view,
to the Austrian undertaking for ensuring that it can
place its orders with the lower-priced source of supplies
in the above case ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 )

Article 85(1 ) of the EC Treaty bans ' all agreements between
undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and
concerted practices which may affect trade between
Member States and which have as their object the
prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within
the common market '.

WRITTEN QUESTION P-295 / 96

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

(7 February 1 996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 79 )

Subject : Filters for radioactive strontium and caesium in

liquids

A new method has been developed for filtering radioactive
caesium and strontium out of liquids . A pilot project has
been financed by the IAEO in a milk-processing plant in
Ovruch near Kiev . The filter is manufactured by Selentec, an
American firm .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the filter method developed
by Selentec ?

2 . Does the Commission know of any studies of the
effectiveness of this method ? If so, what studies and
what were the results ?

3 . Is there any possibility of the Community financing this
type of filter in the areas of the Ukraine with very high
radioactive contamination ? If so, how, and what
programmes does the Commission feel would be most
appropriate ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 43

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

1 . The ' filter method ' is based on magnetic separation .

2 . The efficiency of the method for separation of caesium
and strontium has been proved by testing at the United
States ' Argonne National Laboratory . At the dairy farm at
Ovruch a full-scale installation is being prepared . This is
mainly financed through funding from American
organizations . The demonstration will show if the treatment
modifies the product unduly . The participation of the
International Atomic Energy Authority ( IAEA ) in the
measurement and testing will help to ensure a scientifically
sound procedure . Results are expected to be available
around the end of 1996 .

3 . The Commission continues to assess strategies for
managing consequences of contamination of agricultural
land . The magnetic separation method will be integrated in
these assessments as soon as the results of the demonstration

are available .

emplyoment in the banking sector . We need to view this in
context . Economic and Monetary Union will certainly speed
up certain adjustment processes, but it will also present
many new opportunities for the banking world in the widest

sense .

This is particularly true of all international financing
activities, which are likely to be given a great boost by the
scale and attractiveness of the euro zone for borrowers as

well as investors . More and more banks are, in any case,
coming to the conclusion that the introduction of the euro
will have a positive impact on their activities .

The current wave of job-shedding in many financial
institutions has nothing to do with the introduction of the
single currency . This is something which is affecting all of
the Member States and which predates the introduction of
the Euro . The origins of this phenomenon are familiar :
modern, fully computerized management techniques, new
competition from banks offering phone-banking services
and, in some cases, too sharp an increase in operating costs
over the past few years . A similar phenomenon has been
observed in a large number of service industries .

Finally, the savings made by companies and households on
transaction costs will release money for investment or
consumption, which will in turn, whether directly or
WRITTEN QUESTION P-298 / 96 indirectly, create new jobs .

by Joan Colom i Naval ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 80

Subject : Redeployment of bank staff after the introduction

of the euro

One of the advantages of introducing the single currency or
euro is, by definition, the elimination of the need for
currency exchange . This advantage will, however, mean
that large numbers — probably thousands — of jobs in
financial institutions ( especially banks, savings banks and
specialized exchange bureaux ) will become superfluous . As
one cannot expect all of those likely to be made redundant to
be reabsorbed automatically by any economic recovery
ensuing on monetary union, and in view of the slowness of
the Commission's earlier response to a similar problem ( job
losses among customs and transit workers following the
introduction of the single market of 1992 ), does the
Commission have any plans for the redeployment of the
workers concerned ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 March 1996 )

WRITTEN QUESTION P-302 / 96

by Umberto Bossi ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(7 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 81 )

Subject : Failure by the French aviation authorities to

comply with the rule on using English for tests
validating civil aviation qualifications

Despite the fact that the Annex to Directive 91 / 670 / EEC ( ! )
of 16 December 1991 stipulates that aptitude tests for the
purposes of acceptance of licences authorizing the holder to
exercise functions in the sector of civil aviation may be
conducted in English, at the applicant's choice, rather than
in the national language of the validating State, the French
aviation authorities are insisting that such tests may only be
conducted in French . What steps does the Commission
intend to take to ensure compliance with the relevant
rule ?

The Honourable Member refers in his question to the
impact the introduction of the euro will have on (') OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 21 .

No C 173 / 44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

The Honourable Member is quite correct that Directive

91 / 670 / EEC on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for
the exercise of functions in civil aviation provides that the
aptitude tests required to implement the requirements of
Article 4 paragraph 5 ( special validation procedures ) and
specified in the Annex to the Directive can be taken ' in the
national language of the validating state or in English, at the
applicant's choice '.

2 . Community law does not prevent cross-border
operations of ambulance services, or the coverage of costs by
health insurance schemes . Any individual problems of
practical nature that might arise in this connection,
however, should be resolved between the national and
regional authorities, as already is the case in certain border
areas, e.g . between Germany and the Netherlands .

3 . The Commission has no plans to launch activities in
this area . It would, however, examine any evidence brought
to its attention which purports to show a breach of
Community law, and it would take appropriate action if

necessary .

To date the Commission has not received a complaint
concerning this provision but will follow up any alleged
infringements if the Honourable Member will furnish
particulars . WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 1 0 / 96

by Wilmya Zimmermann ( PSE )

to the Commission

( IS February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 83 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-304 / 96

by Hans-Gert Poettering ( PPE )

to the Commission

( IS February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 82 )

Subject : Cross-border use of emergency vehicles

There is virtually no other area in which the harmonization
of the internal market faces such closely drafted national
legal provisions as health care, in particular as regards the
cross-border use of emergency vehicles .

1 . Does the Commission have proposals which will speed
up the harmonization of national health provisions ?

2 . Is it already possible, without any change in current
legislation, for emergency services in border regions to
be used on request for cross-border calls and for the
costs arising to be met by the authorities from whom the
request has come ?

3 . How does the Commission intend to deal with national

restrictions on cross-border emergency services ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1996 )

1 . There are no proposals from the Commission to
harmonize national health regulations concerning
cross-border ambulance services .

Subject : Financial framework of the Phare / Tacis
programme on the construction of fundamental
democratic structures and participation in the
democratic decision-making process at local level
and allocation of appropriations

What is the financial framework of the Phare programme
and what is its breakdown on an annual basis ?

Which organizations in the European Union and in
Germany in particular have been provided with funding
from the programme in recent years ?

What amounts of money have been allocated to German
organizations in the past ?

Who takes the decision on the granting of appropriations
from this programme ? If a body is involved, who are the
members ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 )

Concerning the Phare and Tacis democracy programme,
ECU 5 million were allocated from the Phare budget to the
programme in 1992 . Under the 1993 budget, ECU 10
million were earmarked for Phare and ECU 4 million for

Tacis . In 1994 and 1 995 Phare and Tacis were allocated

ECU 10 million each . As regards 1996, the budget
allocations are ECU 11 million for both Phare and Tacis .

Approximately 250 lead organizations have received
contracts for projects funded under the programme . Many
more organizations throughout western and eastern Europe

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 45

have also received funds as partners to these projects .
Amongst the lead organizations 35 are German, not
counting the most recent list of projects which has not yet
been announced . A complete list of all projects in operation,
which includes details of the amount of funds awarded to

each project, is sent directly to the Honourable Member and
to Parliament's Secretariat . Decisions on the award of funds

under this programme are made by the Commission . The
Commission receives advice from a group which includes
Commission officials, representatives from the Council of
Europe, and from the Parliament ( two officials and one
Member of the Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-313 / 96

by Marie-Paule Kesteliin-Sierens ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 84 )

Subject : Consequences of transit fraud for transit

operators

1 . What information does the Commission have on the

number of customs claims made with regard to unprocessed
T documents under the provisions of Community transit
traffic ? How many claims have been made by the customs
authorities of each Member State since 1992, how many
have already been settled and how many are still pending ?
How many claims for T documents from the period

1992 — 1995 have not yet been settled and will still be
claimed by the customs services ?

2 . Would it not consider it appropriate, given the
importance of maintaining Community transit traffic for
European trade and the possibility of technical bankruptcy
for companies which provide services in good faith in the
customs sector, to suspend customs claims until a provision
is drawn up to make transit traffic less susceptible to fraud
and to safeguard the European Union's financial
resources ?

3 . How does is view the possibility that the Member
States of the European Community should each draw up a
separate national solution for the large number of T
documents for which there has been no settlement since

1992 ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1996 )

Will the Commission accept the proposal that
glutaraldehyde be classified as a respiratory sensitizer and
included under the Risk phrase ( R42 ) list as a chemical
irritant that causes occupational asthma when submitting
its proposals for the 22nd Adaptation to Technical Progress

Community transit operations is presently being sought
from the Member States, which are responsible for recovery
and are therefore in possession of the relevant data . In this
respect, the Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the
fact that the same information has also been requested by
Parliament's Temporary Committee of Inquiry on
Community Transit . The Commission will send the
information to the Honourable Member and to the

Temporary Committee as soon as it is received from the
Member States .

If the question concerning the suspension of recovery claims
is to be interpreted as suggesting the declaration of a general
moratorium for such claims, then it should be noted that
such a measure is not countenanced under Community law .
The only possibilities afforded by customs rules of
postponing payment of duties are, subject to the lodging of a
guarantee, the 30-day deferral of payment, which is granted
as of right, or the extension of credit facilities, which is at the
discretion of the customs authorities and for which interest

is charged . Although the party concerned may exercise its
right to appeal against the recovery decision, a stay of
execution is only granted when a number of conditions are

met .

All these possibilities relate purely to customs debt and do
not apply to the terms and conditions for the payment of tax
debt that might apply at national level .

Lastly, on the question of national solutions that Member
States may consider to address the problem of the significant
number of T documents which have remained undischarged
since 1992, it should be remembered that verification of the
discharge of transit papers and recovery of the duties and
other charges that might be due when the procedure is not
discharged must be carried out in accordance with the
relevant Community provisions, without prejudice to the
situations, referred to above, in which payment may be
deferred .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-315 / 96

by Eryl McNally ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 85 )

Subject : Occupational asthma — classification of
glutaraldehyde

The information requested by the Honourable Member its proposals for the 22nd Adaptation to
concerning customs claims made in respect of undischarged ( under the Dangerous Substances Directive )?

No C 173 / 46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1996 )

The Commission is aware of the concerns expressed by the
Honourable Member with regard to glutaraldehyde .

A proposal for a Commission Directive including the
classification of this chemical substance as a respiratory
sensitizer will be submitted for opinion to the relevant
regulatory committee .

poor human rights record, what steps is the Commission
taking to ensure that progress is made in this area ?

In the light of the Clinton administration's admission that
US weapons, including ballistic missiles with an expected
' dud ' rate of 5 % which litter the ground with small
landmines are being used to commit human rights abuses in
Turkey, can the Commissioner assure us that he will
collaborate with his colleagues to pressure the Clinton
administration to link arms transfers to improvements in
Turkey's human rights record ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

WRITTEN QUESTION E-327 / 96 on behalf of the Commission

by Elmar Brok ( PPE ) ( 27 March 1996 )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1996 )

(. 96 / C 173 / 86 )

Subject : Bird protection

Is the Commission aware of reports that at least 400 000
lapwings are to be caught in northern France in the near
future, and if so, what steps does the Commission intend
taking to bring hunting of these birds into line with Directive
79 / 409 / EEC (M on the conservation of wild birtds ?

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

As soon as a new government is formed in Turkey the
Commission will once again be in a position to discuss with
the Turkish authorities matters connected with the

democratization process and the human rights situation .

The Commission will continue to monitor closely all aspects
of the human rights situation and where necessary will raise
these issues, including the specific point referred to by the
Honourable Member, in the appropriate forums .

( 22 March 1996 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-339 / 96

by Willi Rothley ( PSE )

The Commission is sending the report on the exemptions
recorded by France for 1994 direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament .

Those exemptions derived from Article 9 of Directive
79 / 409 / EEC on the protection of wild birds . It has still not
received any information and the capture of crested
lapwings in 1995 and 1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-328 / 96

by Richard Howitt ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 87 )

Subject : Human rights abuses in Turkey

In view of Parliament's grave reservations about permitting
a customs union with Turkey as a result of concern over its

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 88 )

Subject : Municipal voting rights for EU citizens . In this

case : transposition

According to Article 14 first sentence of Directive
94 / 80 / EC ( 1 ) of 19 December 1994 on the detailed
arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand
as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union
residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals,
Member States were to bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative procedures necessary to comply with this
directive before 1 January 1996 .

1 . In which Member States has the Directive not been

transposed within the period stipulated other than in the
Federal Republic of Germany — the municipality of
Bremen in the free Hanseatic city of Bremen ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 47

2 . Does a rule, under which Union citizens in Bremen can
only vote in local advisory council elections and not in
City Council elections ( such a rule is being seriously
discussed in Bremen ) comply with European law ?

3 . Does the Commission find the excessive derogations in
the law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg consistent
with the spirit and the letter of Article 8b(l ) of the
Treaties establishing the European Communities ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1996 )

The Commission's expenditure on entertainment and
official functions, charged to Chapter 170 of the Budget,

was :

( in ECU )
(•) OJ No L 368, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 38 .

Actual expenditure Budget appropriations

1993 721 547 950 000

1994 795 995 807 000

Answer given by Mr Monti 1995 789 584 1 064 000
on behalf of the Commission 1996 1 064 000

( 25 March 1996 )

At present three Member States, Denmark, Ireland and
Finland have notified the Commission of the adoption of
laws and regulations necessary to comply with Directive
94 / 80 / EC on the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in
municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a
Member State of which they are not nationals .

The Annex to the Directive indicates the Stadegemeinde
Bremen as the appropriate basic local government unit,
within the meaning of Article 2 of the Directive, where
non-nationals should participate in municipal elections in
the free Hanseatic city of Bremen .

At this stage the Commission has not received any formal
notification from Luxembourg on the implementation of
the Directive on its territory and cannot therefore comment
on the specific text the Honourable Member mentions .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-345 / 96

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 89 )

Subiect : Money spent for entertainment

What amount of money was spent for entertainment by the
Commission in the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-348 / 96

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 90 )

Subject : Unfair sale of fuel

Does the Commission not think it unfair that certain oil

companies can sell their fuel at their own garages cheaper
than they will at independent garages ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 March 1996 )

Under Community rules a company which does not have a
dominant position is free to set its prices at whatever level it
considers appropriate . It may differentiate its prices, for
example according to the distribution channels it uses .

It may very well be that a company can sell its product
cheaper at its own outlets than at independent outlets .

At the same time, an independent retailer in principle is free
to calculate his costs and retail margin, which may result in a
retail price different from that practised by a vertically
integrated seller .

No C 173 / 48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-352 / 96

by Ernesto Caccavale ( UPE ) and Riccardo Garosci ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 91 )

Subject : Crisis in the hazelnut sector

Delegations from some EU Member States, including Italy,
have been calling for some time for the safeguard clause to
be implemented in response to the serious crisis in the
hazelnut sector resulting from massive Turkish exports . The
price of Turkish hazelnuts on the Community market is
$2,45 per kg compared to the price of Italian hazelnuts
which ranges from $2,81 to $4,9 per kg according to
quality .

Turkey also benefits from a preferential scheme which
zero-rates an import quota of some 36 000 tonnes of
Turkish hazelnuts .

It should also be remembered that the Turkish Government

gave the European Union an undertaking to withdraw
approximately 35 000 tonnes of hazelnuts but that, so far,
only 7 000 tonnes have been the subject of intervention

measures .

What steps does the Commission intend to take to alleviate
this major crisis ?

Does the Commission also intend to implement direct
measures to pay out approximately ECU 1 000 per ha for
quality products in order to compensate for the very high
production costs in Europe and guarantee producers an
adequate income ?

In the Commission's opinion, however, the situation on the
hazelnut market — although not warranting safeguard
measures — is still not satisfactory . Market stability,
without extreme price falls, is needed to keep this activity
going . Now, stability can be achieved only with the close,
continuous and structured collaboration of Turkey, which
is the Community's leading, and almost its sole, supplier . A
team was sent to Turkey at the beginning of January to work
out the basis for that collaboration .

A draft cooperation agreement on hazelnuts, applicable
immediately, was signed at that time ; it will be included in
due course in the chapter on agriculture ( now under
discussion ) of the association agreement with Turkey .
Under the cooperation agreement consultation takes place
before the marketing year begins and involves the trade
organizations concerned ; it is aimed at taking stock of
market prospects and of the scope for matching supply to
demand . Further consultation would follow with a view to

stabilizing the market, should disturbance be likely to

occur .

The Commission is further of the opinion that the special
rules for nuts [ specific measures for nuts and carobs

( Regulation ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 on the common
organization of the market in fruit and vegetables ) ( 2 )j
provide a sufficiently sound framework for supporting and
improving the competitiveness of the Community hazelnut

sector .

(') OJ No L 349, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 118, 20 . 5 . 1972 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-363 / 96

by James Provan ( PPE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Fischler ( 22 February 1996 )
on behalf of the Commission

( 96 / C 173 / 92 )
( 14 March 1996 )

The conditions under which safeguard measures may be
taken towards members of the World Trade Organization
are set out in Council Regulation ( EC ) No 3285 / 94 on the
common rules for imports and repealing Regulation ( EC )
No 518 / 94 ( ! ). Under Article 16(1 ) and ( 2 ) of that
Regulation two conditions must be met simultaneously : an
increase in imports and a fall in prices, before safeguard
measures may be triggered if necessary .

When safeguard measures were requested by Italy in
December 1995 only the condition regarding falling prices
was fulfilled . The quantity of imports was lower than at the
same time in 1994 . In those circumstances it was not

possible for the Commission to accept the request for
safeguard measures .

Subject : Pedigree breeding stock and studbooks

What is the legal position regarding the transfer of a fully
pedigreed animal from one Member State to another and its
entry into the studbook of that Member State ?

Which Studbook Society is recognized as the senior or
mother society ?

Which Studbook Society has the right to lay down rules
regarding type and acceptability of any breed ?

Can rules be enforced across national frontiers by the
mother society ?

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 49

Can individual Member States insist on their own society
rules or do the mother society's apply ?

Is it necessary for an animal, fully registered by the mother
society, to be inspected for entry into another Member State
Studbook ?

Is it necessary for a bull, stallion or ram to be registered in an
individual Member State Studbook prior to his use in that
country ?

Is it necessary for a bull, stallion or ram to have a further
inspection in the Member State to which it is sold or
leased ?

What is the legal position regarding a bull, stallion or ram
that is loaned to another person in a different Member

State ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1996 )

' parent ' association, in other words the stud-book of the
origin, and another association, the procedures laid down in
the aforementioned decision apply . To date, the
Commission has not had to intervene in this procedure .

According to the Commission, as a rule, equidae entered in
the ' parent ' stud-book should be able to be entered directly
in another Member State's stud-book for the same breed .

The criteria for entry and registration of equidae in
stud-books for breeding purposes are laid down in
Commission Decision 96 / 78 / EC ( 3 ). In particular, the
equidae must be descended from parents entered in the main
section of a stud-book of the same breed and have a pedigree
established in accordance with the rules of that stud-book .

No additional conditions, beyond those relating to this
Decision, are stipulated .

For other animal species, the genealogical and zootechnical
principles which apply to intra-Community trade are laid
down in Council Directive 77 / 504 / EEC ( 4 ) on breeding
animals of the bovine species, Council Directive
88 / 661 / EEC ( 5 ) on animals of the porcine species, Directive
89 / 361 / EEC ( 6 ) on sheep and goats and Directive
91 / 174 / EEC ( 7 ) on other animal species . The Commission
has adopted implementing decisions on the basis of these
Directives . This legislation, contrary to the legislation
relating to equidae, does not differentiate between
stud-books of the origin and other books .

(') OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 192, 11 . 7 . 1992 .

As a rule, in Community legislation on zootechnical matters, ( 3 ) OJ No L 19, 25 . 1 . 1996 .
the concept of stud-book, in English, refers only to equidae . ( 4 ) OJ No L 206, 12 . 8 . 1977
However, in certain sections of the question, the ( s ) OJ No L 382, 31 . 12 .
Honourable Member is also referring to bulls and rams . ( ft ) OJ No L 153, 6 . 6 . 1989 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 206, 12 . 8 . 1977 .

( s ) OJ No L 382, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

( ft ) OJ No L 153, 6 . 6 . 1989 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 85, 5 . 4 . 1991 .

The principles relating to intra-Community trade in equidae
are laid down in the Council Directive 90 / 427 / EEC ( 1 ) of
26 June 1990 on the zootechnical and genealogical
conditions governing intra-Community trade in equidae .
Recognition of stud-books is covered by Commission
Decision 92 / 353 / EEC ( 2 ) of 11 June 1992 which lays down
the criteria for the approval or recognition of organizations
and associations which maintain or establish stud-books for

registered equidae . The national authorities are responsible
for recognizing the different stud-books . The Commission is
kept informed of such recognition .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-367 / 96

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 93 )
Additional requirements are laid down for the approval of
an association or organization which maintains the
stud-book of the origin of the breed ( Annex to Decision
92 / 353 / EEC, point 3b ). Relations between the organization Subject : Alternative fishing grounds
or the association which maintains the stud-book of the fleet operating in Morocco
origin of the breed and the other associations which
maintain stud-books or sections of stud-books of the

same breed are governed by Commission Decision The warning given by the
92 / 354 / EEC ( 2 ) of 11 June 1992 which lays down certain fisheries, that the fisheries agreement
rules to ensure coordination between organizations or with Morocco may be the last, has
associations which maintain or establish stud-books for fisheries authorities to seek
registered equidae . Where a problem arises between a the Andalusian fleet now operating

Subject : Alternative fishing grounds for the Andalusian

fleet operating in Morocco

The warning given by the Commissioner responsible for
fisheries, that the fisheries agreement recently concluded
with Morocco may be the last, has forced the Andalusian
fisheries authorities to seek alternative fishing grounds for
the Andalusian fleet now operating in Morocco .

No C 173 / 50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

With the aim of achieving the desired diversification of
fishing grounds for the Andalusian fishing fleet, the
abovementioned authorities have entered into talks with the

governments of Angola and other African coastal States .
However, it is clear that only certain vessels would be able to
operate in such fishing grounds since most vessels in the
Andalusian fleet lack the necessary range and tonnage for
the long journey to the African States concerned .

Can the Commission say whether the new types of
agreements could be accompanied by a Community
initiative to restructure the fishing fleets of countries and
regions requiring it to enable them to gain access to more
distant and productive fishing grounds ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

training young players, are faced with a partial loss of
income threatening their very existence .

What are the Commission's plans to compensate the small
amateur sports clubs for their loss of income ?

By what means might it be permissible under Community
law to allow the payment of a form of ' training
compensation payment ' in the case of a transfer to another
Member State, particularly since the payment of transfer
fees is still permissible within a Member State ?

Has the Commission considered the possibility of invoking
the derogation provided for the movement of goods under
Article 85(3 ) of the EC Treaty and applying it to the free
movement of persons ?

( 21 March 1996 ) Answer on behalf given of by the Mr Commission Van Miert

The Commission considers that fishing opportunities
should be maintained or improved, including in waters
outside the Community's jurisdiction, but reductions in
fishing opportunities under some fishing agreements are a
fact the Community will simply have to face . The reductions
affecting the fleet fishing in Moroccan waters will be phased
in over the duration of the current EC-Morocco fishing
agreement to give the fleet time to adjust . The restructuring
of the fleet will attract the assistance from the Structural

Funds, including the Financial Instrument for Fisheries
Guidance ( FIFG ), as part of the sectoral programme .

A working party has been set up to prepare as quickly as
possible a programme to help the Spanish and Portuguese
fishing fleets adjust to the new conditions governing fishing
in Moroccan waters .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3 71 / 96

by Milan Linzer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 94 )

Subject : Further Commission action following the Bosman

ruling

Under the ruling in the Bosman case, transfer payments
between sports clubs in relation to intra-Community sales of
players are now deemed contrary to Community law .
Without these transfer payments, however, the small
amateur sports clubs, which are particularly active in

(8 March 1 996 )

The Commission is aware that the system of international
transfers of players, declared incompatible with Article 48
of the Treaty by the Court of Justice, possibly offered certain
financial advantages to small clubs . However, the football
club associations have not so far given any figures which
would make it possible to gauge the actual level of these
possible advantages in the Community as a whole . In any
event, the Court of Justice has deemed that these advantages
may be obtained by less restrictive means .

The Commission has stated from the outset that it is ready to
take into account the real needs of small clubs in assessing
any solidarity schemes among clubs which the football club
associations communicate to it pursuant to Article 85 of the
EC Treaty . A derogation under Article 85(3 ) — which,
however, concerns restrictions of competition and not
obstacles to the free movements of persons, goods, services
or capital — is possible provided that the conditions laid
down by this provision are met -. The Honourable Member's
attention is drawn to the fact that in order to meet these

conditions any solidarity scheme must first of all be
compatible with Article 48 — which in any case rules out the
possibility of linking its financing to international transfers
of players — and, secondly, must be commensurate with its
objective, i.e . inter alia the properly established and justified
needs of small clubs .

Finally, the Commission would remind the Honourable
Member that it considers that transfers between clubs

within a Member State of the European Economic Area may
also constitute a restriction of competition under Article 85
of the EC Treaty, as long as they are liable to affect trade
between Member States . The Commission therefore

reserves the right to take action vis-à-vis national sports
federations where necessary in order to ensure compliance
with Community competition law .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 51

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3 76 / 96 WRITTEN QUESTION E-3

by Jôrn Svensson ( GUE / NGL ) by Winifred E wing ( ARE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 79 / 96

by Jôrn Svensson ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 13 February 1996 ) ( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 95 ) ( 96 / C 173 / 96

Subject : French nuclear testing

Subject : The situation of homosexuals

In February 1994 the European Parliament adopted a
resolution calling for the removal of discrimination against
homosexuals in society ( A3-28 / 94 (')).

The resolution concluded with a list of minimum

requirements which the Commission was urged to persuade
Member States to adopt .

What has the Commission done since then to combat

discrimination against homosexuals in society ?

(M OJ No C 61, 28 . 2 . 1994, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1996 )

At the time when the Parliament adopted its resolution on
equal rights for homosexuals and lesbians, the Commission
had already ordered a study entitled ' Homosexuality — a
European Community issue : essays on lesbian and gay rights
in European law and policy ', which was published in

1993 .

In December 1995, the Commission, in its communication
on racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism, indicated it
would propose, where appropriate, non-discrimination
clauses in Community instruments, to be decided on a case
by case basis ( J ). Pursuant to this communication, the
proposal for a Council Directive on the framework
agreement on parental leave adopted on 31 January 1 996 ( 2 )
provides ' when the Member State adopt the provisions . . .
these should prohibit any discriminations based on race,
sex, sexual orientation, colour, religion or nationality '.

In view of the admission by President Chirac that leakage
has followed the nuclear tests in the Pacific, resulting in a
radioactive sea, does the Commission now admit its error in
claiming there was no proof that such tests were clearly
' dangerous ' to the environment ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

Considerable publicity was given by the media in January

1 996 to what was claimed to be previously undisclosed
leakage of radioactive materials from the French nuclear
tests in the Pacific .

The leakage in question has in fact been previously
recognized, both in official documentation and in
independent reports . Reference can be made, for example,
to pages 120 — 121 of Volume 2 of the report series ' Les
atolls de Mururoa et de Fangataufa ' and to page 43 of the

1988 Cousteau report, which documents were supplied to
Parliament in November 1995 .

As recently confirmed by the French authorities, no such
leakage has in fact taken place during the 1995 / 96 series of
tests . There have been previous occasions when separate
drilling carried out after a test for the purposes of evaluating
the results has allowed a small quantity of radioactive
material to escape to the environment . This material has
been of no radiological significance and the evaluation shaft
has been sealed after the required samples were obtained .

The latter information was already taken into account by
the Commission in reaching its conclusions of 23 October

1995, and has not been called into question by the recent
' revelations '.

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 83 / 96

by Nikitas Kaklamanis ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 97 )

(!) COM(95 ) 653 final .

( 2 ) COM(96 ) 26 final . Subject : Recruitment of staff for the European
Environment Agency ( EEA )

Since I have not received a satisfactory reply to my previous
question ( E-2898 / 95 (*)) on the same subject, I am obliged to

No C 173 / 52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

table another question . I should like to take this opportunity
to recall that my political group is in favour of the principles
of meritocracy and transparency and I hope that I shall not
need to table an oral question at a plenary sitting of the
European Parliament in Strasbourg . Will the Commission
state clearly :

1 . Who has been appointed to post EEA / A / 2G, when did
this appointment take place and what are the
qualifications of the successful candidate ?

the mechanisms of Community solidarity work for the
benefit of all the EU Member States .

The Commission intends that many of its efforts should be
directed at the sphere of telecommunications in particular
since, as the programme states, this is the sector which will
provide the best chances of achieving a new dynamism,
creativity and economic growth for Europe .

Does the Commission not consider that it should take steps

2 . Whether there are any Greek scientists among the to ensure that Alcatel seeks to implement a more balanced
45-member staff of the EEA ? restructuring process in Europe without excessively

penalizing the Cittaducale factory which, at this rate,
(>) OJ No C 91, 27 . 3 . 1996, p . 18 . appears doomed to closure in the fairly near future ?

2 . Whether there are any Greek scientists among the
45-member staff of the EEA ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 ) ( 19 March 1996 )

The Commission can only repeat what it said in reply to the
Honourable Member's previous question, namely that the
European Environment Agency was granted legal autonomy
by the Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 which
established it . This means that the Commission does not

have a responsibility for the Agency's recruitment
procedures .

As promised in the Commission's previous reply, the
Honourable Member's question was forwarded to the
Agency . The Commission understands that the executive
director of the Agency wrote to the Honourable Member on

13 December 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 84 / 96

by Antonio Tajani ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 98 )

Subject : Restructuring plans for the multinational
company Alcatel

The French mulitinational company Alcatel — which in

1991 acquired the Italian company Telettra, specializing in
telecommunications and energy control systems — has
decided to implement a drastic restructuring plan which will
mean that 400 employees at the Cittaducale ( Rieti ) factory
will be temporarily laid off by the end of January and 680
workers will be made redundant .

In its work programme for 1996, which President Santer
outlined to the European Parliament, the Commission starts
off by stating its determination to implement all initiatives
aimed at improving the employment situation and to make

Collective redundancies are always a personal tragedy for
the workers concerned, particularly when they have reached
a certain age and find it difficult to master new skills . While
the adoption of measures to promote employment is mainly
the responsibility of the Member States, Community bodies
such as the European Social Fund and certain specific
projects in the field of.training can nevertheless help in the
redeployment of workers whose traditional activity has
been affected by technological advances .

The Commission is very much counting on the development
of mobile communications and the liberalization of voice

telephony and of underlying networks — which will make
it possible to construct new telecommunications
infrastructures — to boost demand and employment,
particularly in the telecommunications equipment sector .
On 13 March 1996 the Commission adopted the Directive
establishing the general framework for this liberalization . It
is now up to the Member States to take the necessary
measures to implement it as soon as possible in order to
make way for this investment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-388 / 96

by Carmen Fraga Estévez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 99

Subject : Refunds for the export of fruit and vegetables

In reply to Written Question E-2892 / 95 ( 1 ) on refunds for
the export of fruit and vegetables, the Commission provided
some of the data requested and added that ' it would serve no
useful purpose to give a quantitative breakdown by Member

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 53

State . . .'. On the contrary, given the current market
situation, a breakdown by Member State would be of great
interest since even though, as the Commission argues,
requests can be made in any Member State, it can be
assumed that operators will apply to the nearest
administration . A breakdown by Member State of the
licences issued would therefore show which operators, by
country, are making the best use of the system .

Can the Commission therefore provide a breakdown by
Member State and product of the number of export licences
issued in the fruit and vegetable sector since the system came
into force ?

(') OJ No C 56, 26 . 2 . 1996, p . 50 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 89 / 96

number of difficulties, including the speed with which the
first licences issued were used up and even the complete
blockage of the system . The Commission has already
provided details of the licences issued for each product
during July and August 1995, but additional information is
needed to make a precise assessment of the system's
operation .

Can the Commission state the number of licences issued in

the periods September / October and November / December

1995, expressed in tonnes per product and broken down by
Member State ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-388 / 96 and E-389 / 96

by Carmen Fraga Estévez ( PPE ) given by Mr Fischler

to the Commission on behalf of the Commission

( 22 February 1 996 ) ( 20 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 100 )

Subject : Export licences for fruit and vegetables

Since the new system of refunds for the export of fruit and
vegetables came into force producers have encountered a

The Honourable Member will find in the table below a

breakdown, by product and type of licence, of fruit
and vegetable export licences issued in the periods
September / October 1995 and November / December 1995 .

Quantities of licences issued from September to December 1995

September / October 1995 November / December 1995

( in tonnes )

Total

Without

advance

fixing of
the refund

Without

advance

fixing of
the refund

Product

With

advance

fixing of
the refund

Total

With

advance

fixing of
the refund

Tomatoes 3 757 0 3 757 3 876 0 3 876

Shelled almonds 304 122 426 336 245 581

Hazelnuts in shell 205 250 455 87 96 183

Shelled hazelnuts 908 182 1 090 892 204 1 096

Walnuts in shell 84 69 153 241 235 476

Oranges 633 1 730 2 362 76 313 163 628 239 941

Lemons 2 076 5 969 8 045 10 183 27 990 38 173

Table grapes 42 362 13 460 55 822 1 097 0 1 097

Apples 7 259 28 813 36 072 14 614 0 14 614

Peaches and

nectarines

2 609 0 2 609 0 0 0

Total 60 197 50 594 110 791 107 639 192 399 300 038

No C 173 / 54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

The Commission reminds the Honourable Member that the

choice of place of application for and the place of use of
these licences is left to the applicant, so that a breakdown of
these quantities by Member State of issue appears to serve
no purpose . And since, in the single market, the exportation
of a product from a Member State is not necessarily carried
out by an operator from that Member State, on the one
hand, and, on the other, export licences are transferable, a
breakdown of this kind might give a biased picture of the
areas in which the fruit and vegetables concerned are
produced and even of the areas from which they are
exported .

Under present GATT rules there is a limit on the quantities
of agricultural products eligible for export subsidy . In the
fruit and vegetables sector the implementing rules for export
refunds laid down by Regulation ( EC ) No 1488 / 95 ( J )
provide that in order to comply with its international
commitments the Commission may suspend the issue of
export licences . Exports are not held up, however, because
export licences are valid for a period of two months .

(') OJ No L 145, 29 . 6 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-390 / 96

by Jorge Hernandez Mollar ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 101 )

Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ) projects in
Andalusia

Can the Commission say what amounts have been
earmarked for Andalusia under the European Social Fund

( ESF ) and indicate which projects, broken down by
province, were approved by the Commission in 1995 ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1996 )

In accordance with the Community Support Framework for
the Spanish Objective 1 regions, approved in June 1994 for
the period 1994 — 1999, the indicative total contribution for
Andalusia ( European Social Fund ) is ECU 1 328,9 million

( 1994 prices ), of which ECU 325,47 million is managed
directly by the regional government ( Junta de Andalucia ).
Since the 1988 reform of the Structural Funds, operational
assistance from the European Social Fund has been provided
on the basis of multiannual programming . Under these
programming arrangements, decisions on the specific
projects to be co-financed are the responsibility of the
national or regional authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 92 / 96

by Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 102 )

Subject : Sugar quotas for Spain

In recent years the EU has adopted measures in the sugar
sector which have been of great benefit for certain countries
in relation to quotas, e.g . the sugar production quota
granted to eastern Germany, the production quotas for
inulin syrup granted to the Netherlands, France and
Belgium, the allocation of sufficient production quotas to
the three new Member States, the introduction of
sugar-refining quotas for the United Kingdom, France,
Portugal and Finland and the forthcoming increase in the
sugar production quota for Portugal .

Spain, however, which is probably the country with the
largest number of objective grounds for increasing its
production quota, has not benefited from any of these
measures, making it the largest net importer of European
sugar of all EU countries .

Will the Commission rectify this discriminatory situation by
granting Spain an independent quota or through measures
under the supply arrangements for the Canary Islands,
which are due to be adjusted in the coming months ?

Answer given by Mi ; Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

The levels of the production quotas applicable to sugar and
isoglucose in Spain were established during the course of the
negotiations leading up to the signing of the Act of
Accession of Spain and Portugal in 1985 .

Integrated since that time within the quota arrangements as
a whole laid down under Title III of Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 1785 / 81 of 30 June 1981 on the common
organization of the markets in the sugar sector (*), the
production quotas for Spain have undergone regular
reviews alongside the production quotas applicable in the
other producing regions of the Community .

These reviews have been characterized by a cautious
approach with regard to all matters relating to production
quotas in the Community's sugar sector . This has meant
that the sugar and isoglucose production quotas of the 10
Member States which originally adopted the current basic
Council Regulation have remained unchanged at the level
applicable in 1981 . The production quotas allocated since

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 55

1981 have similarly been frozen namely those allocated to
Spain and Portugal from 1986 onwards, those allocated to
the territory of the new German Lander from 1990
onwards, those allocated for the production of the new basic
product inulin syrup from 1994 onwards and those
allocated to Austria, Finland and Sweden from 1 995
onwards .

The latest review has been no exception and resulted in a
number of decisions, adopted in Council Regulation ( EC )
No 1101 / 95 of 24 April 1 995 ( 2 ), including one to roll over
without change the levels of the production quotas in force
on 30 June 1995 for a further six marketing years covering
the period 1 July 1 995 to 30 June 2001 . The Regulation
further stipulates that the subsequent production quota
arrangements will be adopted before January 2001 .

These decisions were reached with the agreement of all
Member States except Portugal, for which a particular
production quota problem was identified as requiring
further consideration . A Commission proposal ( 3 ) is
currently before the Council and Parliament with a view to
finding a solution to this outstanding question .

With regard to the deficit nature of the sugar market in
Spain, it should be borne in mind that all the deficit regions
of the Community ( currently Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal
and United Kingdom ) are served by a special measure under
which higher derived intervention prices apply in those
regions for the purpose of facilitating trade-flows of sugar
from the surplus regions .

The Canary Islands, where no sugar production takes place,
are furthermore covered by the Poseican programme of
measures which are specifically targeted at ensuring that
supply needs of all agricultural products, including sugar,

are met .

In these circumstances, the Commission believes that it
would be more appropriate to wait until much closer to the
prescribed date of 1 January 2001 before embarking upon
the next review of the production quota arrangements in the

sugar sector .

C ) OJ No L 177, 1 . 7 . 1981 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 110, 17 . 5 . 1995 .

( 5 ) COM(95 ) 561 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-393 / 96

by Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 103 )

Subject : Study of market trends for fresh tomatoes

As part of the decisions on farm prices for 1995 / 96, the
Council called on the Commission to draw up a study on

market trends for fresh tomatoes, which was to have been
submitted by 31 December, together with appropriate
proposals .

Given that the deadline has passed, when will the
Commission submit this report to the Council ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1996 )

The Commission is currently drafting a report on the
situation of tomatoes on the Community market which will
be presented to the Council in due course .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-395 / 96

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )
and Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 104

Subject : Milk quotas

In analysing the trends in milk production, consumption
and marketing in the European Union, does the
Commission intend to initiate a revision or updating of milk
quotas in each of the Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

The arrangements for an additional levy on milk production
were codified and simplified in 1992 . In the wake of this
reform, adjustments were made ( in the case of certain
Member States ) to the overall quantities, which had
originally been determined on the basis of traditional
output . This was to take account of errors made in
calculating the original quantities or to take account of
market conditions .

The current rules will be in force until 3 1 March 2000 . It will

fall to the Council to adopt rules to apply after the date .

The Commission is continously analysing the market
situation . Appropriate proposals will be made if the need
arises, but the information which has been available so far
has not resulted in any plans to alter the overall quantities
for the Member States .

No C 173 / 56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 99 / 96

by Werner Langen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 105 )

Subject : Identity checks at the Belgian border

Even after the conclusion of the Schengen Agreement,
border checks still take place at the German-Belgian border,
where the drivers of German tourist coaches leaving
Belgium are checked for what is known as a journey
form .

If a driver is unable to produce the original of the journey
form, then a fine of Bfrs 10 000 is levied as a warning .

1 . Is the Commission aware of such a practice ?

2 . If so, then how does the Commission explain such an
excessive fine ?

3 . In the Commission's opinion, how are such border
controls compatible with the Schengen Agreement and
the idea of a ' United Europe '?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-402 / 96

by Philippe Monfils ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 106 )

Subject : State aid for football

Article 92 of the Treaty states that

' any aid granted . . . through State resources in any form
whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort

competition by favouring certain undertakings . . .
shall . . . be incompatible with the common market .'

Football clubs are clearly considered to be undertakings ( see
the Bosman ruling as well as the conclusions of the
Advocate-General, Mr Carl Otto Lenz, on this case ).

In view of the fact that certain Member States, such as
France for example, grant official aid to football clubs :

1 . Does not the Commission consider that such aid from

public authorities ' distorts ' or ' threatens to distort '
competition between clubs ?

2 . Does the Commission intend to adopt the necessary
measures to enforce the terms of the Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1996 ) ( 27 March 1996 )

Article 15 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 684 / 92 of
16 March 1992 on common rules for the international
carriage of passengers by coach and bus ( 1 ) provides that the
control document for occasional services shall be carried on

the vehicle and shall be presented at the request of any
authorized inspecting officer . Consequently, the Belgian
authorities will be able to check if the drivers of German

tourist coaches are in possession of a journey form .

However, pursuant to the provisions introduced in
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4060 / 89 ( 2 ), these controls may no
longer be performed at the frontiers of Member States .

As regards any penalties imposed, these must be effective,
proportionate and dissuasive . It is the responsibility of the
Member States to take the necessary measures .

As far as the Commission is concerned, professional football
clubs are to be regarded as undertakings within the meaning
of Article 92 of the EC Treaty . The Court established as far
back as 1974 that professional football was an economic
activity ^). Aid granted to football clubs by public
authorities can distort competition and, therefore, falls
under the Treaty provisions on State aid in so far as it affects
trade between Member States .

In the French case referred to by the Honourable Member,
the draft decree authorizing local authorities to grant
financial assistance to professional sports clubs was notified
to the Commission by the French Government in 1995 in
accordance with Article 93(3 ) of the Treaty . The French
authorities, therefore, fulfilled their obligations under the
Treaty . The system introduced, which expires on
31 December 1999, limits the assistance which can be
granted, sets it on a sliding scale and increases its

transparency .

(!) OJ No L 74, 20 . 3 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 390, 30 . 12 . 1989 . (') See the judgment of 12 December 1974 in Case 36-74, Walrave,

reports p . 1405 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 57

WRITTEN QUESTION E-413 / 96

by Gerhard Schmid ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

without creating prima facie a barrier to trade which is
contrary to Article 30 of the EEC Treaty, have the effect
of excluding, without so much as an examination, any
tender based on another technical standard recognized in
another Member State as providing equivalent
guarantees of safety, performance and reliability '

( 96 / C 173 / 107 )
( paragraph 21 ).

Subject : European Commission complaint procedure
P / 94 / 4521 against the Federal Republic of
Germany

On the basis of the abovementioned complaint procedure,
the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs has written to all
the Bundeslànder requesting that, in future, the public
contracts of local authorities and associations of communes

contain a clause opening up the tender, even if the
invitations to tender are not subject to Community
Directives for EU-wide competition because of the contract
value .

1 . Does the clause opening up the tender mean that, in
future, local authorities must open all public contracts
also to manufacturers from other EU countries or simply
that, in future, local authorities may not ask for the
products of a specific German manufacturer ?

2 . In future, may the observance of German Industrial
Standards ( DIN ) no longer be required for public
invitations to tender ?

(') Case 45 / 87 R Commission v . Ireland .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-425 / 96

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 108 )

Subject : Disabled parking cards

When will the Commission bring forward a proposal for
holders of disabled parking cards to be able to use them in
every EU country ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1996 )

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1996 )

The clause opening up the tender which the Commission
required to be included in calls for tender by local
authorities and public-law entities is intended to eliminate
the infringements which had been evident in administrative
practice as regards the free movement of goods ( Articles 30
to 36 of the EC Treaty ).

The inclusion of such a clause in calls for tender should

ensure that, when reference is made to national standards

( for example, the DIN standards ), a practice which will be
allowed as previously, the products of other Member States
are not excluded because of technical specifications .
Consequently, the clause opening up the tender ensures that
there is free movement of goods within the internal market
under public procurement procedures and takes account of
the requirements laid down by the Court of Justice in the
Order made by its President on 13 March 1987 ( 1 ).

The Order states, as regards the particular case before the
Court :

' Although it would seem normal that in a public works
contract such as that at issue the materials to be used may
be required to comply with a certain technical standard,
even a national standard, in order to ensure that they are
appropriate and safe, such a technical standard cannot,

On 15 December 1 995 the Commission forwarded to

the Parliament and Council a proposal for a Council
recommendation (*) on the reciprocal recognition of
parking cards for disabled people .

The aim of the proposal is to standardize the format of
parking cards for people with disabilities and to have them
recognized on a reciprocal basis, thereby facilitating the free
movement of disabled people by private car throughout the
Community .

(') COM(95 ) 696 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-429 / 96

by Bernie Malone ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 109 )

Subject : ECHO's action programme for disaster
preparedness

In the light of Commissioner Bonino's presentation at the
IFAD conference on Hunger and Poverty, could the

No C 173 / 58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Commission indicate the financial scope of ECHO's Action WRITTEN QUESTION
Programme for Disaster Preparedness ? To what extent do by Bernie Malone (
the other actions financed by ECHO take account of the to the Commission
need to focus on the potential for preparedness,
capacity-building and the preparation for rehabilitation ? ( 29 February 1996 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-430 / 96

by Bernie Malone ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 96 / C 173 / 110 )

Subject : State aid to Iberia

Answer given by Mrs Bonino Could the Commission clarify how the ' commercial

on behalf of the Commission restrictions ' principle was applied in the recent decision to
(9 April 1996 ) allow the injection of State aid into Iberia ?

The financial scope of the two first Echo action programmes
for disaster preparedness was ECU 3.2 million in 1994
covering 15 projects ( all completed ) and ECU 4.2 million in

1995 covering 28 projects ( completed or still in progress ).
This is already quite a substantial number of actions for less
than two years of operation . For 1996, the Commission
plans to increase its involvement in disaster preparedness
with financing of up to ECU 6 million .

Projects are concentrated in three areas, namely training of
staff qualified in disaster prevention, strengthening of
prevention structures ( in other terms, capacity building ) and
support for local, low technology projects involving the
local community .

In connection with off-site risks attached to nuclear power
plants in 14 countries of central and eastern Europe, a recent
study of areas where assistance is needed to bring off-site
preparedness for nuclear accidents to an adequate level
should help in the preparation of a coherent programme of
action .

The Commission seeks to ensure that its services and

external organizations take disaster preparedness into
account within their development policies . An inter-service
group on disaster preparedness chaired by Echo meets every
2 — 3 months and facilitates the promotion of such a
policy .

The Commission is also reflecting on disaster preparedness
in the context of the discussion on the continuing process of
relief, rehabilitation and development which the
Commission holds with Member State and other experts .

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1996 )

In its decision of 31 January 1996, the Commission agreed
that the Spanish State holding company Teneo could make
an injection of Ptas 87 000 million in Iberia . The
Commission concluded, after thorough professional
analysis and applying the market economy investor
principle, that State aid elements were not involved .

This decision is therefore fundamentally different from
those taken in the Aer Lingus, TAP, Olympic Airways and
Air France cases . On those occasions the Commission firstly
considered there were State aids involved, and secondly
approved the respective schemes subject to conditions
designed mainly to ensure that competition is not distorted
to an extent that would be unacceptable under the terms of
the Treaty .

Since in the Iberia case the capital injection is a normal
commercial transaction by an investor with a strategic
interest and there is no State aid, the Commission has no
power to impose commercial restrictions or conditions
which would limit the commercial freedom of the airline .

However, in assessing the transaction under the market
economy investor principle, and in deciding there were no
State aid elements, the Commission noted the commitment
made by the Spanish Government that the money received
by Iberia will be used only to finance redundancies of
around Ptas 37 billion and to reduce indebtedness . Under no

circumstances, therefore, can the funds be used to limit
Iberia's cost-reduction programme, or to make any
significant changes in its global strategy on tariffs and fleet
capacity . The Commission's full decision will be published
shortly in the Official Journal of the European
Communities .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 59

WRITTEN QUESTION E-436 / 96

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 111 )

The Commission also aims to pursue the objectives
mentioned by the Honourable Member in implementing the
multiannual programme for enterprises for 1 997 to
2000 ( 4 ). The new programme will include the main
recommendations of recent Commission reports and, after
the Parliament has given its opinion, will be the subject of a
Council Decision .

Subject : SMU and craft industries (') CSE(95 ) 2087 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 688 .

( 3 ) COM(95 ) 502 .

The results of the Community's policy to assist small and
medium-sized undertakings have been confusing for many
employees who are urging the Commission and the Member
States to adopt - firm measures to improve the
competitiveness of SMU and craft industries in the
European Union .

Does the Commission not think that measures should be

taken such as :

1, reducing salary costs ;

2, removing administrative and bureaucratic obstacles ;

3, improving vocational training, research and access by
SMU to financial instruments ; .

4, providing assistance in third country markets, etc .

as part of a multiannual action programme ( 1 997 — 2000 ) in
preference to the simple integrated programme currently in
force ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1996 )

The Commission devotes a good deal of attention to
improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized
enterprises ( SMEs ) and craft industries . It would like to
point out, however, that certain elements of competitiveness
such as salary costs are the responsibility of the social
partners in the Member States .

On the other hand, the other areas mentioned in the
question — removing administrative obstacles, improving
vocational training, and access to research, financial
instruments and advice on non-EU markets — have been

dealt with in the context of the Commission's most recent

work on the competitiveness of SMEs and craft industries,
notably in the report presented to the Madrid European
Council on the role of SMEs as a dynamic source of
employment, growth and competitiveness (*), the Green
Paper on innovation ( 2 ) and the communication on craft
industries and small enterprises, the keys to growth and
employment in Europe ( 3 ).

( 4 ) COM(96 ) 98 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-444 / 96

by Martina Gredler ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 112 )

Subject : Marking of examination papers — Austrian

candidates for career     - bracket A8-7 posts in the
first competition in 1995

How was the selection of markers determined by the
Commission ? What criteria had to be met in order to qualify
as a marker ? Were markers ' qualifications checked by the
Commission ? What percentage of markers were Foreign
Ministry officials ?

Were only experienced officials eligible to act as markers, or
did they include young officials with under five years of
professional experience ? Did it happen that officials were
sent their own examination papers for marking ? If so, how
many times ? Can the Commission say with certainty that
this was always reported in good time ?

Did Commission officials invigilate the examination from
beginning to end, as stipulated, or were the officials not
present at the place of examination or of marking ? If the
above is the case, where were the officials concerned ?

What percentage of the successful candidates at this
competition originates directly from the Foreign Ministry's
reserve of officials ? How often did it happen that senior
officials marked the examination papers of immediate
subordinates from their own divisions, thus violating
anonymity owing to handwriting recognition ? Does this
correspond to the usual experience of competitions in other
countries ? What requirements must be met to justify
annulling a competition and requiring a resit to be held ? Is
the evidence of irregularities in Austria sufficient to justify
annulling the above competition or ordering a resit ?

No C 173 / 60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 March 1996 )

2 . Is the imposition of stringent testing requirements on
cars newly imported by private individuals from other
Member State in contravention of Community law ?

3 . If so, what does the Commission propose to do about
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member it ?

to its answers to the parliamentary questions put by
Mr Tindemans ( E-1189 / 95 ) f 1 ), by Mr Bertinotti

( E-1257 / 95 ) C ), by Mrs Riess-Passer ( P-3466 / 95 ) ( 2 ) and by
the Honourable Member herself ( E-3550 / 95 ) ( 3 ).

The Commission can confirm that no irregularities occurred
in the competitions held on the accession of Austria, Finland
and Sweden . It would add that the recruitment of Austrian

assistant administrators and administrators is now well

under way .

C ) OJ No C 222, 28 . 8 . 1995 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 109, 14 . 4 . 1996 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 137, 8 . 5 . 1996, p . 22 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-446 / 96

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 113 )

Subject : Testing costs for vehicles imported in parallel by

private individuals

On 1 January the Community certificate of conformity
became compulsory for new cars, thus simplifying the
registration of cars purchased by individuals in another
Member State .

In the Netherlands, however, a regulation on the parallel
import of vehicles purchased abroad also came into effect on

1 January 1 996, and imposes more stringent requirements
for the issuing of a registration certificate . A new
unregistered vehicle of a type for which no valid ( new
model ) type approval was issued in the Netherlands before

1 January 1995 and which is imported by a private
individual must meet strict requirements, which may involve
a cost of tens of thousands of guilders .

Imported motorcycles also have to meet Netherlands testing
requirements, which may cost from 1 100 to 2 700
guilders .

1 . Are Member State authorities entitled to demand a

technical test for new cars imported from another
Member State ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1996 )

The documentation provided in support of the Honourable
Member's question, concerning the registration of new
vehicles purchased by individuals in another Member State,
indicates that the Dutch Authorities require technical
inspection of these vehicles will all the attendant costs .

As regards Community law, the Commission wishes to
emphasize that EC-type-approval of private cars, which had
been optional since 1 January 1993, became compulsory for
new models on 1 January 1996 and will be compulsory for
all cars from 1 January 1998 . A distinction should be made
between vehicles granted national type approval and
vehicles already benefiting from an EC type-approval .

As far as EC type-approval is concerned, Directive
70 / 156 / EEC ( 1 ) in particular provides that Member States
are obliged to register, permit the sale and entry into service
or use of any new vehicle accompanied by a valid certificate
of conformity, with no other additional formalities
concerning the construction of the vehicle .

As for national type approval of new vehicles, the authority
concerned must also recognize any approval granted by
another Member State, except where the authority is able to
prove that the vehicle may jeopardize road safety, in
accordance with Articles 30 and 36 of the EC Treaty and the
Commission's interpretative notice of 4 November 1988,
concerning the procedures for the approval and registration
of vehicles previously registered in another Member State, as
amended by the Commission on 20 December 1995 .

In view of these considerations, the Commission wishes to
investigate the matter further and may, if necessary, initiate
infringement proceedings against the Netherlands .

(M OJ No L 42, 23 . 2 . 1970 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 61

WRITTEN QUESTION P-450 / 96

by José Escudero ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 16 February 1996 )

{ 961 C 173 / 114 )

Subject : Community aid for libraries

As part of its support for books and reading, has the
Commission provided for any form of aid for promoting or
setting up multilingual libraries or libraries specializing in
transnational issues ?

Is there any financial instrument for promoting the
establishment of computer networks between libraries ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

Under the libraries sector of the Telematics applications
programme ( 1994 — 1998 ), funding is available for
cooperative research and development projects in support
of networked access to libraries and related services .

The current work plan complements initiatives in the area of
libraries which were launched under the Telematics systems
programme of the third framework programme . In
particular, two projects launched as a result of the 1993 call
for proposals address specifically the development of
multilingual tools and techniques to support multilingual
access to library catalogues and documents . These are
Canal / Ls and Translib .

In a more general context, many of the 72 projects and
concerted actions launched under the third and fourth

framework programmes address the need for cross-border
access to library collections and networked resources,
bringing together project partnerships involving libraries,
research institutes and small and medium sized enterprises
from different Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-462 / 96

by Nikitas Kaklamanis ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 115 )

Subject : Confiscation of inheritances

The Turkish Supreme Court has taken a political decision in
future depriving Greek citizens of the right to inherit
property in Turkey .

This means that the 1964 decree-law, abolished in 1988 in
Davos by agreement between Greece and Turkey is in effect
being revived . Despite the fact that, in 1990, Greece
abolished all discrimination against Greek Muslims in
Thrace, Turkey is once more revealing itself to be
inconsistent and aggressive .

1 . Is the Commission aware of this ?

2 . What action will it take, given that, aside from any other

considerations, this constitutes a blatant violation of
human rights ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 )

The Commission has asked the Turkish authorities for

information on the matter raised by the Honourable
Member .

As soon as the information reaches the Commission it

would, if necessary, be able to consider appropriate

steps .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-477 / 96

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel ( ELDR )

and Jessica Larive ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 116 )

Subject : Selection of projects for funding under the NOW

programme

1 . Can the Commission explain how projects eligible for
funding under the NOW programme were selected ?

2 . Is it true that the list of Italian projects to which
funding was granted was altered after its approval in the
absence of the Commission official who was responsible
and had participated in the selection procedure ?

3 . Is it true that some of the approved projects do not
comply with the selection criteria ?

4 . If so, will the Commission verify the state of
affairs ?

5 . What measures will the Commission take to correct

irregularities in the procedure ?

No C 173 / 62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 April 1996 )

Projects are selected in Italy at two levels : by the regions,
which express their preferences about regional projects, and
by a committee of experts appointed to identify projects of
relevance to more than one region . The projects so identified
are then assessed to establish that they satisfy the criteria
relating to transnationality, eligibility and priority specified
by the Ministry of Labour . Finally, a report on the selection
procedure is submitted to the Monitoring Committee for
approval . The Ministry of Labour draws up the final list of
chosen projects .

The Commission is therefore not involved at all in the

project selection process . It is possible that the list of projects
undergoes some changes following the Ministry's final
verification of the criteria . The transnationality criterion is
one which determines eligibility, and certain projects which
had been approved earlier at national level may
subsequently have lost transnational partners and, as a
result, their eligibility .

In the context of the work of the Committee of the European
Social Fund ( ESF ) for considering Community initiatives,
the Commission has set up a working party, with the
participation of the Member States, to study the procedures
followed in this first call for projects in order to simplify and
improve the procedures in the second phase .

3 . In adopting these measures to combat fraud has a
reasonable compromise been found with the interests of
bona fide business operators ?

4 . Does the Commissioner realize that these measures

make additional Community exports by European
undertakings of the goods concerned virtually
impossible ?

5 . Does the Commissioner realize that continued

application of these measures will result in very heavy losses
to European exporters which in turn will have an adverse
impact on European job opportunities and the balance of
payments ?

6 . Does the Commissioner realize that the ability to
continue operating in certain areas of business activity is
seriously called into question by the introduction of these
security measures ?

7 . Does the Commissioner realize that there are reports
of discrimination between Member States on account of

differences in excise duties and VAT ?

8 . Does the Commissioner realize that non-EU countries

will take advantage of these measures by filling the gaps
caused by the absence of European exports ?

(!) OJ No L 299, 12 . 12 . 1995, p . 24 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 10, 13 . 1 . 1996, p . 44 .

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION P-491 / 96 ( 15 March 1996 )

by Karla Peiis ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1996 )

(: 96 / C 173 / 117 )

Subject : Shortcomings in the security system applied to

external Community transit operations

1 . Is the Commissioner familiar with Commission
Decision 95 / 521 / EC ( 1 ) pursuant to which the use of
the comprehensive guarantee for external Community
transit operations involving cigarettes was temporarily
forbidden ?

2 . Is the Commissioner familiar with Commission
Decision 96 / 37 / EC ( 2 ) pursuant to which the use of the
comprehensive guarantee for external Community transit
operations involving inter alia alcoholic drinks, certain meat
products, dairy products, wheat, sugar and bananas was
temporarily forbidden ?

The Commission Decisions to which the Honourable

Member refers were adopted in accordance with the
relevant Community legislation in response to requests from
two Member States for temporary prohibition of use of
the comprehensive guarantee for various types of
non-Community goods which are highly sensitive, in terms
of the amount of duty and tax suspended, when carried
under the external Community transit procedure .

Adoption of the Decisions followed a lengthy appraisal
process during which the requesting Member States had to
provide proof of the occurrence of fraud in transit
operations involving these products . The risk was found
sufficiently serious to require for the time being that a full
individual guarantee be provided for each consignment of
sensitive goods moving under the external Community
transit procedure .

Regarding the impact on legitimate activities of such a ban,
it should be borne in mind in the first place that honest
traders will ultimately benefit from measures to curb fraud

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 63

in certain sectors ; they too are victims of the fraud, which
could jeopardize the customs and tax facilities available
under the transit procedure . Secondly, a number of related
steps have been taken to counteract the inconvenience of the
ban, including measures to speed up the return of the copy of
the transit form used to discharge the procedure and release
the guarantee .

In any case, the ban does not at this stage affect exports of
Community goods, which as a rule are either unaffected by
transit formalities or move under the ' T2 ' common

EC-EFTA transit procedure to which the current ban on use
of the comprehensive guarantee does not apply .

Exports of ( mainly agricultural ) goods which attract
Community support and therefore do have to move under
the external Community transit procedure will not be
affected by the German ban, due to come into effect on

1 April .

Any distortion of competition between Community and
non-Community exporters should therefore be negligible .

Differences between Member States in rates of VAT and

excise duties are not directly relevant in the transit context
because the whole point of the procedure is to suspend these
taxes until such time as the goods are released for
consumption, at which point local taxes become payable .

The Commission is, however, aware the differences in VAT
and excise duties between the Member States may influence
the amount to be provided by traders as a guarantee .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-505 / 96

by Richard Howitt ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 118 )

Subject : Slaughter of pilot whales by Faroe Island
fishermen

The Honourable Member is invited to refer to the

Commission's answers to Written Questions E-2156 / 94 by
Mr Hughes ( J ), E-2606 / 94 by Mrs Kinnock ( 2 ) and
E-1456 / 95 by Mrs André-Leonhard ( 3 ).

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

The Commission would draw the attention of the

Honourable Member to the fact that the Faroe Islands do

not belong to the territory to which Community legislation
on the protection of wild fauna and flora applies, and that
the membership of Denmark to the Bern Convention does
not cover the Faroe Islands .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 10 / 96

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 119 )

Subject : Electromagnetic fields and the effect on public

health

Is the Commission proposing to take any action to
investigate the findings of recent studies concerning the
detrimental effect on health of people living close to
high-voltage electricity power cables ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1996 )

The Commission has granted financial assistance to projects
on possible effects from high voltage lines under the
European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical
research ( COST ) and Europe against cancer programmes .

A comprehensive report prepared for the Commission,
entitled ' Non-ionizing radiation : sources, exposure and
health effects ' is forwarded to the Honourable Member and

to Parliament's Secretariat .

Is the Commission aware of the plight of the pilot whale, E-1456 / 95 by Mrs
which is being persistently slaughtered by Faroe Island
fishermen, despite this being illegal under the Bern (!) OJ No C 88, 10 . 4 . 1995 .
Convention to which Denmark is a signatory ? 2 OJ No C 103 24 4

( 2 ) OJ No C 103, 24 . 4 . 1995 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 222, 28 . 8 . 1995 .

What action does the Commission propose to take in
response to this serious breach ?

No C 173 / 64 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

QUESTION E-513 / 96 The Commission does not have any information concern ­

Glyn Ford ( PSE ) ing the management committees of the nominated

the Commission organizations . However the numbers and proportions of

organizations of disabled people that have participated in
( 11 Marcb 1996 ) the exchange and information activities in 1995 can be
estimated as follows :

WRITTEN QUESTION E-513 / 96

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 96 / C 173 / 120 )

Subject : Court of Auditors

Does the Commission not feel that, in order to ensure public
confidence, the Court of Auditors should be in the same
place as the Commission ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

A large proportion of Community expenditure is managed
by national authorities, and the Court of auditors ' staff
therefore carry out much of their work in the Member
States . The Commission would imagine that a central
location and good communications are important to the
Court, since public confidence in Community finances is not
constrained by geographical considerations .

functional rehabilitation 25 — 14%

éducation 36 — 20 %

economic integration 164 — 68%

social integration 108— 60% .

The other participants were from public services, municipal
services, psychiatric hospitals, etc .

It is not possible to comment on actions concerning any
successor to the Helios programme at this time, given that a
decision has not yet been reached .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-534 / 96

by Richard Howitt ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 11 Marcb 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 122 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-521 / 96 Subject : European Social Funding

by Richard Howitt ( PSE )

to the Commission

(U March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 121 )

Subject : Helios programme

What number and proportion of organizations selected as
local model activities in the Helios programme are
organizations of disabled people, i.e . with management
committees comprising at least 51 per cent disabled people
themselves ?

What action does the Commission propose to ensure that
the majority of such activities selected in any successor to the
Helios programme will indeed be organizations of disabled
people ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1996 )

Within the framework of the Helios II programme the
responsibility for nominating organizations to participate in
the exchange and information activities lies with each
Member State .

What is the Commission's response to the cessation of
European Social Fund payments to the South East Media
Workshop training project for disabled people, based in
Basildon ?

Given the fact that the reason appears to be a redistribution
of ESF payments between different Training and Enterprise
Councils ( TECs ) in Britain's Eastern Region, rather than the
merits of the particular project, does the Commission agree
that the project has been treated unfairly ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1996 )

It is the responsibility of the Objective 3 monitoring
committee to ensure that the procedures for project
selection operated by the sector managers result in approval
of the highest quality projects .

The Commission cannot comment on the particular case of
the South East media workshop training project in Basildon .
The Honourable Member could obtain details of the

assessment of the project from the European Social Fund
unit of the United Kingdom's Department for Education
and Employment .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 65

WRITTEN QUESTION P-540 / 96

by Niels Sindal ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 123 )

Subject : Implementation of the Directive on working

time

The Danish Union of Commercial and office Staff ( HK ) is
having problems in having the working time Directive
implemented under their collective agreement . The
employers ' association is insisting that the exemption in
Article 1 of the Directive is sectoral, applying to the whole
transport industry, which includes non-mobile staff

( belonging to the HK ). The Commission has confirmed this,
but admitted that inadequate vigilance was exercised, and
states that a proposal for a Directive to remedy the mistake
will shortly be submitted .

What actual steps does the Commission intend to take to
reverse this error, so that non-mobile staff are covered by the
working time Directive ? When could a new Directive come
into force ?

What will happen if a new proposal for a Directive cannot

be adopted before the general Directive has to be
implemented in collective agreements ? And finally, why was
the transport sector exempted from the general Directive at
all ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1996 )

Council Directive 93 / 104 / EC concerning certain aspects of
the organization of working time ( ! ) applies to all sectors of
activity, both public and private, with the exception of air,
rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport,
seafishing, other work at sea and the activities of doctors in
training . This exception makes no distinction between
' mobile ' and ' non-mobile ' staff .

The Commission has consistently said that it will seek to
ensure the application of the principles of the Directive to all
employees . In its work programme for 1996 it has
announced its intention of preparing a white paper to
address the many issues raised by these exclusions . This will
include the issue of ' non-mobile ' staff in the transport

sector .

The Directive has to be implemented by the Member States
at the latest by 23 November 1 996 . It is not likely that any
proposal for a new Directive could come into operation
before that date . However, there is nothing in the Directive
which prevents implementing laws or collective agreements
from applying to workers in the transport sector, including,

in particular, ' non-mobile ' staff . The Commission would
welcome such a solution to the problem outlined by the
Honourable Member .

With regard to the final question, the Commission had
originally proposed that all employment should be covered,
but, in the Directive, as adopted by the Council, these
sectors were excluded, because of the specific nature of the
work concerned .

(') OJ No L 307, 13 . 12 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-549 / 96

by Edouard des Places ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 29 February 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 124 )

Subject : Fraudulent imports onto the Community market

of provisionally preserved mushrooms originating
in China

The cultivated mushrooms sector is facing very serious
difficulties chiefly as a result of the significant increase in
fraud in Chinese products .

1 . Chinese imports exceeded their authorized quota of
8 000 tonnes net drained weight in 1993 and 6 000
tonnes net drained weight in 1994 ( Eurostat ). Can the
Commission provide any explanations given that this
situation occurred again in 1995 ?

2 . Mushrooms which are provisionally preserved come
under two customs headings, one of which ( 07119040 )
has a rate of duty of 12 % and the other ( 20031020 ) a
rate of duty of 23 % . The majority of products imported
from China come under heading 07119040 which
covers products preserved for no more than four weeks .
However, it is well known that the transport takes about
two months .

Can the Commission provide any explanations ?

3 . Finally, in order to penetrate the Community market
outside the tariff quota, a few drops of vinegar are added
to mushrooms preserved in brine so that they can
be declared under customs heading 20019050

( mushrooms preserved by vinegar ) instead of heading
07119040 .

DG XXI believes that this fraud concerns very large
quantities ( some 3 000 tonnes net drained weight in the
first half of 1995 ).

What measures does the Commission intend to take ?

No C 173 / 66 EN I Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION P-559 / 96

by Riccardo Garosci ( UPE )
( 15 March 1996 ) to the Commission

1 . In both 1993 and 1994, imports of preserved
mushrooms referred to in Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1796 / 81 (*) remained below the overall quantities which
are free from any additional amount, laid down in Article 3
of the same Regulation . The same applies to 1995, the
figures currently available seem to indicate that the imports
will be below the overall quota .

Nevertheless, the Commission has noted that for products
originating in China, the quantity of import licences free
of the additional amount issued in accordance with

the Commission's implementing Regulations ( EEC )
No 1707 / 90 ( 2 ) and ( EEC ) No 3107 / 94 ( 3 ) does not
correspond with the statistical data provided by Comext for
the years 1993 and 1994 .

The Commission informed the Member States of this at the

meeting of the Management Committee for Products
Processed from Fruit and Vegetables held on 22 September

1994, and drew up a mutual assistance communication on
the basis of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1468 / 81 ( 4 ). To date the
Commission has not received any replies but it is continuing
its inquiries, in particular through customs and the
statistical services .

2 . Some — but not the majority — of the imports from
China are classed under heading 0711 90 40 which covers
mushrooms that have simply been ' blanched ' and not
' completely cooked '; the latter are classified under heading
2003 . In this connection, the Commission has received
communications from several Member States on cases of

fraud or irregularities involving China, some of which date
back to before 1993 ( on the basis of Regulations ( EEC,
Euratom ) No 1552 / 89 ( 5 ) and ( EC ) No 1468 / 81 ). The
difficulty is a technical one and involves establishing a
method for differentiating between the two methods of
preserving . The Commission is continuing its discussions
with professionals and experts on this subject .

3 . Following the recent rise in imports declared under
heading 2001 90 50, the Commission has published two
Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature ( 6 ' 7 )
which stipulate that if vinegar of acetic acid is added to a
brine this does not prevent the provisionally preserved
mushrooms from being classified under heading
0711 90 40 .

P ) OJ No L 183, 4 . 7 . 1981 .

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

( 3 ) OJ No L 328, 20 . 12 . 1994 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 144, 2 . 6 . 1981 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 155, 7 . 6 . 1989 .

( 6 ) OJ No C 36, 9 . 2 . 1996 .

( 7 ) OJ No C 50, 21 . 2 . 1996 .

( 29 February 1996 )

96 / C 173 / 125

Subject : 199 6 IGC ( Turin, starting 29 March ) —
Intergovernmental Conference on revising the
Maastricht Treaty

Can the Commission inform Parliament in good time ( i.e .
before 20 March 1996 ) what plans it has for Members of the
European Parliament, in particular those from the
constituency of the city hosting the Conference, to attend
the IGC in Turin ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

It was the President of the Council who convened the

meeting of the European Council to be held in Turin on
29 March . It is not up to the Commission to ensure that the
Members of the European Parliament for the region in
question attend .

Parliament is aware of the Commission's opinion, expressed
on numerous occasions, on the need for transparency in the
proceedings of the Conference and of its support for
Parliament's involvement as requested in its resolutions .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-563 / 96

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 126 )

Subject : Dumping imports from Turkey

In its reply to a question by this Member on imports of
cotton textiles from Turkey at dumping prices
( E-3022 / 95 ) ('), the Commission stated that ' due to
technical difficulties ' it had ' not yet been able to conclude
whether the conditions for the introduction of any type of
measure ' were met .

Can the Commission say whether these ' technical
difficulties ' have now been overcome and if it has been able

to determine whether any kind of anti-dumping measure
should be adopted ?

(!) OJ No C 51, 21 . 2 . 1996, p . 66 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 67

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1996 )

The complainant Community producers formally withdrew
the complaint which led to the anti-dumping proceeding
concerning imports of cotton fabric originating in China,
India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey . Subsequently the
Commission decided to terminate the proceeding ( 1 ).

On 8 January 1996 the Commission received a new
complaint by the Committee of the cotton and allied textile
industries of the European Union ( Eurocotton ) alleging that
imports of flat unbleached cotton fabrics originating in
China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey were
being dumped and were thereby causing material injury to
the Community industry . The Commission examined the
accuracy and adequacy of the evidence provided in the
complaint and initiated an anti-dumping proceeding on
21 February 1996 ( 2 ). In accordance with the provisions in
force the Commission has commenced its investigation into
the alleged dumping and injury, and should come to
preliminary findings not later than nine months from the
opening of the proceeding .

(M OJ No L 42, 20 . 2 . 1996 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 50, 21 . 2 . 1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-5 72 / 96

by Christian Jacob ( UPE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

{ 961 C 173 / 127 )

Subject : Trade relations between the EU and New
Zealand

The GATT agreements of 15 April 1994 enabled New
Zealand to increase its sheepmeat tariff quota from 205 600
to 226 700 tonnes .

Apart from this increase, which constitutes a real economic
threat to the European sheep market, New Zealand also
enjoys inexplicable trade advantages which do nothing to
allay the worries of European producers .

Under the old agreements there were presentation
sub-quotas for meat whereby, for example, New Zealand
was only permitted to export a quota of 13 500 tonnes of
chilled meat ( meat processed in a controlled atmosphere,
similar to fresh meat, which can be kept for several months ).
These sub-quotas no longer exist . New Zealand meat is thus
able to invade sectors of the market which had hitherto still

been profitable for European meat .

New Zealand also retains the unique privilege of
administering its export certificates, which prevents the
Commission from exercising the least control over trade
flows .

If the total volume of the New Zealand quota is not
renegotiable, the European Union could ask for sub-quotas
to be imposed and for certificates to be administered by the
Commission .

When does the Commission propose to renegotiate these
clauses, thus making it possible for EU-New Zealand trade
relations to be placed on a more balanced footing ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1996 )

The arrangments for export of New Zealand sheepmeat to
the Community form part of the agreements reached in the
Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations, which were
adopted by the Council after the normal procedures of
consultation ( J ) and which, viewed in their entirety, are
satisfactory for the Community .

The Community tariff rate quota for New Zealand
sheepmeat was increased from 225 000 tonnes to 226 700
tonnes as a consequence of the agreement between the
Community and New Zealand under GATT Article XXIV
§ 6 ( Council Decision 95 / 59 2 / EC of 22 December
1995 ) ( 2 ).

The full implementation of the Uruguay Round with respect
to agricultural products takes place over the period

1995 — 2000 and there are currently no plans to re-open
negotiations on these products .

Furthermore, the Commission considers that the
arrangements for the administration of import certificates
for New Zealand sheepmeat allow for a reasonable
distribution of this product on the Community market,
particularly in the light of the significant seasonal variations
in the domestic markets of certain Member States .

t 1 ) OJ No L 336, 23 . 12 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 334, 30 . 12 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-5 73 / 96

by David Hallam ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 128 )

Subject : European monitoring centre on racism and
xenophobia

Who sits on the Consultative Commission set up by the

Council for the European monitoring centre on racism and
xenophobia ?

No C 173 / 68 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1996 )

The European Council meeting in Corfu decided to set up a
Consultative Commission on Racism and Xenophobia . The
General Affairs Council established its terms of reference,
composition and rules of procedure .

The Member States and the European Commission each
appointed one person to sit on this Consultative
Commission . The European Commission appointed Mrs
Kamlesh Bahl, President of the UK Equal Opportunities
Commission .

For the names of the other members, the Honourable
Member is requested to contact the Secretariat-General of
the Council, which acts as the secretariat to the Consultative

Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-5 75 / 96

by Peter Skinner ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 129 )

Subject : Kimberley Clark / Scott merger and subsequent

redundancies

On 21 February 1996, Kimberley Clark announced 300
redundancies at its Larkfield site in Kent .

At the time of the Commission Decision on the merger, I
believe that the Commission indicated that there would be

minimal or no redundancies as a result of this merger .

Did the Commission know about these 300 redundancies ? If

the Commission did not know at the time of its Decision,
would this have affected the outcome ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1996 )

of a merger, the Regulation requires the Commission to
reach its conclusion according to competition criteria .

(') OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-5 76 / 96

by Johanna Boogerd-Quaak ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(1 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 130 )

Subject : Storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste at

Borssele

1 . Does the purchase of fuel elements in the USA by the
agency at Petten ( the Institute for Advanced Materials ) fall
under Article 64 of the Euratom Treaty ? If so, can the
Commission — having regard to Articles 73, 74 and 75 of
the Euratom T reaty — say whether it has been informed that
the USA is no longer taking the radioactive waste back from
the Institute as originally envisaged ? Can the Commission
comment on the firmness of the pledges by US Minister
O'Leary concerning the willingness of the USA to take back
the nuclear waste after all ?

2 . What is the Commission's view of the fact that

possibilities are being sought of storing the highly
radioactive waste from Petten temporarily at the repository
in Borssele, which is really intended for radioactive waste
with a lower radiation level ? If, as claimed, the transport
containers which currently contain the waste are safe
enough, why should the waste not be stored at Petten ? In the
Commission's opinion, if the waste is stored at Borssele, will
all the safeguard provisions of Chapter VII of the Euratom
Treaty be complied with ?

3 . In the Commission's opinion, did the carrying-out of
the Environmental Impact Assessment ( required for the
extension of the permit for the Borssele repository because
of the increase in the quantity of waste inter alia from
Petten ) comply with European provisions on Environmental
Impact Assessments ? Was the EI A carried out competently
and independently ?

4 . Does the Commission believe that the information

At the time when it made its Decision in relation to the provided to the public for the purpose of the participation
Kimberly-Clark / Scott Paper merger the Commission was procedure was adequate ? Does the Commission agree with
aware of the general proposals of the parties in relation to the criticisms by various observers that the information
their United Kingdom plants following the merger . provided was completely incomprehensible to a layman ?
Decisions on redundancies are made by the parties to a How does the Commission view the relationship between
merger and cannot be reviewed by the Commission under this category of information and Directive 89 / 618 /

Euratom ( M ?

the Merger Regulation ( Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 4064 / 89 )( 1 ). Although the Commission can take
employment and other factors into account in its appraisal (') OJ No L 357, 7 . 12 . 1989, p . 31 .

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 69

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 March 1996 )

1 . The Commission would refer the Honourable
Member to its answer to Written Question E-2122 / 95 ( l ) by
Mrs Bloch von Blottnitz where it dealt with the matter of the

return of spent fuel from Community research reactors to
the initial supplier of enriched fuel located in the United
States . This answer applies also to spent fuel of the Petten
HFR ( high flux reactor ).

2 . Spent reactor fuel may stay temporarily in safe storage
at Petten . Storage at Borssele would be possible only after an
extension of the current licence for operating the Borssele
facility . The Commission confirms that a licence has been
requested for a new storage building which would allow
storage of high-level waste from reprocessing and storage of
spent research reactor fuel . The licensing procedure is laid
down by the national safety authorities and takes account of
the provisions of the Euratom basic safety standards in
radiation protection . Storage of enriched spent fuel would
of course be subject to safeguards under Chapter VII of the
Euratom Treaty .

3 . The present environmental impact assessment
Directive, which has been duly implemented in national law,
does not require such an assessment in case of modification
or extension of an existing nuclear installation .
Nevertheless, the operator of the installation has provided,
as part of the licensing procedure, an environmental
assessment report which is open for consultation by the
public .

4 . The licensing procedure for a nuclear installation is a
matter of national competence, provided that the provisions
of the relevant Directives are implemented in national law .
The Commission expects reporting as required under
Article 37 Euratom Treaty and will, in the event of storage of
fissile material, apply safeguards measures as defined in
Chapter VII of the Euratom Treaty .

(>) OJ No C 40, 12 . 2 . 1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-586 / 96

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 11 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 131 )

Subject : Violent raid on Greek gypsy settlements

On 20 February 1996 special police units using
unprecedented violence raided Greek gypsy settlements

( scenes shown live on many TV channels ) in an operation
which was intended as a collective punishment in retaliation
for the wounding of a police officer who had been involved
in tracking down and arresting criminals . This raid was
totally out of proportion with the original cause and many
prominent personalities in social and political life, as well as
representatives of the gypsy community have condemned
the conduct of the police in this matter and drawn attention
to the social exclusion to which Greek gypsies are
subject .

Can the Commission say :

1 . How many programmes for combating poverty and
social exclusion targeting particularly the gypsy
community, it has funded in Greece, and what
programmes these are ?

2 . Whether the relevant funds have been used for the

purpose for which they were originally intended or
whether they were subsequently reallocated ?

3 . Whether it considers that these programmes have so far

proved effective ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1996 )

The Commission has been addressing the problem of
socio-economic exclusion through a number of
interventions such as the poverty programmes and the
new Objective 3 of the Structural Fund interventions

( 1994 — 1999 ), the aims of which include facilitating the
integration of those threatened with exclusion from the
labour market .

In particular with respect to Greece and the Greek gypsies
there have been activities under the second and third poverty
programmes 1984 — 1994, and the new Community
support frameworks ( CSF ) for Greece 1994 — 1999 .

Under the second poverty programme, a project was
implemented to provide training to teachers at schools in the
Menidi area ( Region of Attica ), where there is a large
concentration of gypsy settlements, so that they could better
respond to the educational needs of the gypsy community .
The trained teachers have remained in their posts since
then .

In the case of the project implemented under the third
poverty programme, in favour of Thessaloniki area
( communities of Evosmo, Eleftherio / Kordelio, Menemeni ),
special educational curricula for children and adults were
prepared . These were later adopted by the ministry of
education at national level . Moreover, this project gave the
impetus to the creation of gypsy associations in different
parts of the country .

No C 173 / 70 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

Apart from the lasting effects of these projects, especially of
the second project with the adoption of the relevant
educational curricula on a nationwide basis, both made a
considerable contribution to raising public awareness of the
problems and needs of gypsies .

Moreover, in the 1994 — 1999 CSF for Greece, under the
operational programme ( OP ) ' combating exclusion from
the labour market ' ( subprogramme 3 ' other excluded
groups '), a specific measure is provided for the
socio-economic integration of religious and cultural
minorities namely, gypsies and Pomaki . The budget for this
measure is ECU 8 million and it will allow comprehensive
packages of actions to assist the socio-economic inclusion of
gypsies . Such actions could include counselling, care for
dependents, literacy, vocational orientation, pre-training,
training, employment promotion, and creation of support
services in municipalities with gypsies .

There have been however considerable delays in
implementation during the 1994 / 95 transitional period of
the OP due mainly to the need to establish systems and
procedures that would ensure quality in OP implementation
and due to the difficulties associated with the OP's

innovative approach . Therefore, projects that were
submitted in 1995 to the ministry of Labour for financial
assistance have not been launched yet, and the Commission
is not in a position to inform the Honourable Member on
their content or on their effectiveness .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-624 / 96

by Joaquim Miranda ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(6 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 132 )

Subject : East Timor and the Euro-Asian Summit in
Bangkok

The positions adopted, on the eve of the Euro-Asian Summit
in Bangkok, by the Commission — through its President and
Vice-President Marin — on the subject of East Timor and its
occupation by Indonesia, with a view to ' guaranteeing a
trade agreement ' involving that country, are deeply
alarming and cannot fail to arouse indignation .

By giving economic interests precedence over the rights of a
people and ignoring the acts of violence perpetrated against
that people, the Commission is flying in the face of its
much-vaunted respect for human rights and international
law and is calling into question decisions and declarations of
principle which have consistently been made by itself and
other Community institutions .

Will the Commission therefore state clearly, unequivocally
and fully what guiding principles should, in its view, be
adhered to and what the European Union's policy should be
with regard to trade and other agreements involving
intolerable situations such as that of East Timor ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1996 )

The Commission did not seek to diminish or otherwise set

aside questions of human rights at the Asia-Europe meeting
( ASEM ) meeting in Bangkok .

As stated in answer to oral question H-52 of Mr Barros
Moura during question time at Parliament's February 1 996
part session, the basic objective of the Asia-Europe meeting

( ASEM ) was to establish a new dialogue and partnership
between Europe and Asia . The high level and relatively short
duration of the meeting did not permit detailed discussion of
a range of specific issues . Nonetheless, the Commission and
the Member States maintained their support for
fundamental human rights and freedoms .

Moreover, the Commission and the Member States have
repeatedly brought to the attention of the government of
Indonesia their condemnation of unjustifiable actions by the
Indonesian security forces, such as the incident at Dili in
November 1991 . They have supported fair trials and
humane treatment for those arrested, proper access by
international organizations, and a just, comprehensive and
internationally acceptable settlement of the East Timor
issue, respecting the principles on the United Nations
charter, and taking into account the need to defend human
rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as full respect for
the legitimate interests and aspirations of the population of
East Timor .

On 18 July 1994, the Union again reaffirmed the need for
the respect for human rights, particularly as regards the
freedom of worship and free access to East Timor for
international organizations . The question of respect for
human rights in general was also stressed at the
Union / Association of South-east asian nations ministerial

meeting in Karlsruhe in September 1994 .

Further incidents, particularly on the occasion of
demonstrations and arrests in East Timor in October 1995,
and the entry into the Dutch and Russian embassies on
7 December 1995 of groups from East Timor, indicate that
tension remains in East Timor .

The Commission supports the bilateral discussions between
Portugal and Indonesia in the United Nations context, and
the principles of the agreement made between Portugal and

17 . 6 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 173 / 71

Indonesia in Geneva on 9 January 1995, and in London in
January 1996, as well as the precepts of the meeting at Burg

Schlaining, Austria, on 3 — 5 June 1995 . It is sincerely hoped
that these on-going discussions, supported by the Union,
will result in a just, comprehensive and internationally
acceptable settlement of the East Timor issue .

No Member State has suspended aid to Indonesia . To do
this would only diminish what influence the Community
could have with the Indonesian Government . The bulk of

Community assistance is attributed to conservation and
sustainable management of the tropical forest, which targets
the poorer rural populations and is of global concern .

The question of a visit to East Timor by a delegation of the
Parliament was raised at a meeting of the Parliament
development and cooperation committee on 23 November

19 95, attended by the head of the Indonesian mission to the
Community and the governor of East Timor . The
Commission strongly support this initiative, and wishes it

every success .

The Commission, together with the Member State, has
therefore repeatedly condemned unjustifiable actions, asked
for fair treatment for and access to those arrested, and
supports the on-going dialogue, including East Timorese
representatives .

In this respect, the Commission and the Member States
continue to put pressure on the Government of Indonesia to
improve its overall human rights record . For example,
representations were made by the Presidency to the
Indonesian Government in December 1995 concerning the
imprisonment of two journalists .

The EU's deficit in sheepmeat production is estimated to be
240 000 tonnes per annum . The new agreements therefore
mean that a fragile equilibrium on the EU market may be
replaced by an actual surplus .

This may lead to a collapse in sheepmeat prices in all the
Member States, thus threatening the budget for the
compensation regime for the COM in sheepmeat and

goatmeat .

How will the Commission deal with the situation should

third countries decide to take maximum advantage of their
tariff quotas ? Can the Commission give EU producers
guarantees that the COM budget and, therefore, the COM
itself, will continue ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1996 )

The Commission confirms that the Community agreed at
the end of the Uruguay Round negotiations to increase the
opportunities for importing sheepmeat from signatory
non-member countries by about 30 000 tonnes .

The Commission, in liaison with the Member States as
represented by the Presidency, will continue to use its good As the Honourable Member points out, the Community's
offices in this sense, with a view to finding a just and deficit in sheepmeat production is of the order of
internationally acceptable solution, fully respecting the just 240 — 250 000 tonnes a year . The Commission does not,
and legitimate interests of the population of East Timor . however, expect the increase in quotas to lead to arise in

imports that would destabilize the market . It should be
borne in mind that some non-member countries are unable

to take maximum advantage of the export opportunities
offered them by GATT quotas ; in some cases these
opportunities are offered bilaterally, meaning that unused
quotas cannot be taken over by other non-member countries
WRITTEN QUESTION P-626 / 96 that have reached their own limits .

by Christian Jacob ( UPE )

to the Commission

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

(8 March 1996 )

that the import opportunities offered under voluntary

( 96 / C 173 / 133 ) restraint agreements in the past always exceeded actual

imports ( which were remarkably stable in the period
1986 — 95 ). For a long time ( throughout the 1980s ) these
Subject : Trade relations between the EU and third opportunities actually exceeded those currently available
under the GATT .
countries

The GATT agreements of 15 April 1994 have enabled third
countries to increase their sheepmeat tariff quota from
277 000 to 309 000 tonnes, i.e . by over 30.000 tonnes .

No C 173 / 72 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 6 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION P-656 / 96

by Salvatore Tatarella ( NI )

to the Commission

(8 March 1996 )

( 96 / C 173 / 134

Subject : Consultancy for the Commission's new premises

in Luxembourg

I have learned that the Commission is seeking new offices in
Luxembourg and that there are two possibilities which
differ considerably, particularly with regard to their impact
on the Community budget . The Commission has expressed
interest in the Joseph Bech building which would require a
very high financial outlay . The building is still under
construction and the Commission has launched a
competition ( ! ) to award the overseeing of the construction
work to a consultancy .

Will the Commission say :

1 . whether it is true that the negotiations with the firm
constructing the building have not been suspended ?

2 . Whether the consultancy overseeing the construction
work has met all the technical requirements in carrying
out this task ?

3 . Whether the construction work has been under way for
more than a year and whether the structural,
engineering and architectural options are being
assessed ?

4 . Whether it is true that the contract with the consultancy

has been cancelled without explanation and, if so, why
this decision was taken ?

5 . Whether the Commissioner, Mr Liikanen, stands by his
answer to Written Question E-2442 / 95 ( 2 ) in which he
stated the need to employ outside consultants for
assignments which ' because of their technical nature '
cannot be carried out by internal officials ?

6 . What its plans are for resuming its activities, which are

currently suspended and on which budget resources
have already been spent, in connection with the
negotiations on the possible purchase of the Bech
building ?

(') OJ No S 249, 22 . 12 . 1993, p . 86 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 9, 15 . 1 . 1 996, p . 43 .

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1996 )

The Commission is still interested in the Joseph Bech
building, on which work commenced in March 1994, and is
still negotiating with the builders .

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question E-2442 / 95 by Mr Crampton,
where it states that consultants can be employed by it in an
advisory capacity for specialized, temporary assignments
which, because of their technical nature, cannot be carried
out by officials .

The temporary nature of the assignment was stated at the
launch of the invitation to tender, specified in the contract
and freely accepted by the consultants .

Most of the technical checks will be completed by May 1 996
and the Commission has decided to act in accordance with

the standard procedures for any building file .

The Commission feels that the consultants ' performance
should be evaluated at the end of the assignment although,
to date, the firm has worked entirely to its satisfaction .