Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

C 162
# Official Journal

Volume 36
###### of the Communities 14 June 1993 European

Volume 36

14 June 1993

Information and Notices
English edition

Notice No

93 / C 162 / 01

93 / C 162 / 02

93 / C 162 / 03

93 / C 162 / 04

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93 / C 162 / 07

93 / C 162 / 08

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1

Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

No 3016 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Environmental considerations and action undertaken by the Structural Funds as
detailed in the recent report by the Court of Auditors 1

No 3035 / 92 by Mr David Martin to the Commission
Subject : Use of the CE mark for fireworks 1

No 3037 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the regulation on a Community eco-label award scheme 2

No 3046 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Demands by tobacco producing associations 2

No 3071 / 92 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Ratification of international labour conventions 3

No 3076 / 92 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the toys directive in Germany 3

No 3082 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : New accident at the Kozloduy nuclear power station 3

No 3097 / 92 by Mr Mauro Chiabrando to the Commission
Subject : Conditions for award of contracts to leading banks 4

No 3132 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : EC compensation for trade losses with Russia 5

No 3134 / 92 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : RES card 5

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

93 / C 162 / 11 No 3145 / 92 by Mr Gianni Baget Bozzo to the Commission
Subject : Utilization of the structural funds by Italy 5

93 / C 162 / 12 No 3151 / 92 by Mr Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : Directives on safety and health 6

93 / C 162 / 13 No 3155 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Results of Community efforts to retrain the unemployed to become self-employed ... 6

93 / C 162 / 14 No 3157 / 92 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Training in relation to health and safety legislation 7

93 / C 162 / 15 No 3176 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Biological purification plant at Aigion 8

93 / C 162 / 16 No 3180 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Modernization of the port of Patras 8

93 / C 162 / 17 No 3187 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Unemployment among Greek women 8

93 / C 162 / 18 No 3200 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Water fluoridation 9

93 / C 162 / 19 No 3205 / 92 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Establishing a European university for tourism in the Italian Mezzogiorno 9

93 / C 162 / 20 No 3220 / 92 by Mr Jose Lafuente L6pez to the Commission
Subject : EIB loans to favoured clients 10

93 / C 162 / 21 No 3222 / 92 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Environmental impact of indicative programmes of Lom6 states 11

93 / C 162 / 22 No 3240 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Docking of nuclear submarine at Piraeus 11

93 / C 162 / 23 No 3244 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Reform of the labour market 12

93 / C 162 / 24 No 3270 / 92 by Mr Pol Marck to the Commission
Subject : EC standards for abattoirs 12

93 / C 162 / 25 No 3301 / 92 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : International private law running counter to the principle of equality between men and
women 13

93 / C 162 / 26 No 3304 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination against AIDS sufferers 14

93 / C 162 / 27 No 3317 / 92 by Mrs Concepci6 Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the tanning industry 14

93 / C 162 / 28 No 3322 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : International Year of the Family 15

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 162 / 29 No 3323 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : ' Inter Observatory ' meeting 15

93 / C 162 / 30 No 3347 / 92 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission

Subject : Killing of birds on Malta . . . . ; 16

93 / C 162 / 31 No 3352 / 92 by Mrs Ria Oomen-Ruijten to the Commission
Subject : EC information campaign for consumers — Worldcom 16

93 / C 162 / 32 No 3354 / 92 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Switchboard at the Paris offices 17

93 / C 162 / 33 No 3356 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Fulfilment of ' Ariane ' agreement .                  -                  -                  - 17

93 / C 162 / 34 No 3370 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : European Community support for carers of sick and disabled people 18

93 / C 162 / 35 No 3383 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Forest fire fighting system in Greece 19

93 / C 162 / 36 No 3389 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Methyl bromide 19

93 / C 162 / 37 No 3397 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Cambodia 20

93 / C 162 / 38 No 3419 / 9 ^ by Mr Elmar Brok to the Commission
Subject : Separation / divorce of parents 21

93 / C 162 / 39 No 3423 / 92 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Council and Commission Committees 22

93 / C 162 / 40 No 3427 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Disciplinary action against Greek customs officials for failure to break Community
law 22

93 / C 162 / 41 No 3428 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The position of small businesses in the Community 23

93 / C 162 / 42 No 3440 / 92 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Compulsory beef carcass classification 23

93 / C 162 / 43 No 3442 / 92 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Moisture content standard for intervention 23

93 / C 162 / 44 No 3466 / 92 by Mrs Viviane Reding to the Commission
Subject : Maintaining customs buildings 24

93 / C 162 / 45 No 3467 / 92 by Mrs Viviane Reding to the Commission
Subject : Rehabilitation of young offenders leaving prison 24

93 / C 162 / 46 No 3500 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Leader programme in Gortynia 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No

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93 / C 162 / 48

93 / C 162 / 49

93 / C 162 / 50

93 / C 162 / 51

93 / C 162 / 52

93 / C 162 / 53

Contents ( continued ) Page

No 10 / 93 by Mr Gerd Müller to the Commission
Subject : Enforcement of fines imposed on EC citizens

No 57 / 93 by Christian de la Malène, Pierre Lataillade, Carlos Perreau de Pinninck
Domenech, Gene Fitzgerald and Dimitrios Nianias to the Commission
Subject Monetary : Recent Union realignment of currencies within the EMS in the run-up to Economic and ^

No 67 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Food aid to Somalia :

No 69 / 93 by Mr Jos6 Torres Couto to the Commission
Subject : The new GATT agreement and protection measures for the EC textile sector 27

No 94 / 93 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Development of cooperation with Switzerland following the negative result of the
referendum on accession to the Treaty on the European Economic Area 27

No 106 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Quantification of Spain 's returns on the R&D programmes 28

No 275 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject of Aspromonte : Preservation in Calabria and revival of the Greek dialect spoken in Gresia Salentina and the villages ^

93 / C 162 / 54 No 340 / 93 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : UN World Conference on Human Rights

28

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3016 / 92 proposes that Member States ensure that the authorities

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) responsible for environmental matters are involved in the

various stages of defining and implementing structural
to the Commission of the European Communities financing .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3016 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

( 30 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 01 )

Subject : Environmental considerations and action
undertaken by the Structural Funds as detailed in
the recent report by the Court of Auditors

The report by the Court of Auditors on the environment,
which was published in the Official Journal together with
the Commission 's replies ( 1 ), regrets, among other things,
that there are so few measures to promote energy-saving,
such as greater use of renewable sources of energy . This
forms part of the wider criticism concerning the failure
to include environmental considerations in initiatives
financed by the Structural Funds . It appears that all the
departments involved in these matters are to blame for
these oversights .

Could the Commission provide details regarding the
inclusion of environmental considerations in energy
programmes covered by the Structural Funds, once its
reformed procedure has come into force ?

O OJ No C 245, 23 . 9 . 1992, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 March 1993 )

Within the framework of its structural policies, the

Commission devotes considerable resources to financing
environmental measures, including measures to promote
energy-saving . In connection with the revision of the rules
on the Structural Funds, it has, moreover, recently
proposed that fuller account be taken of environmental
considerations, in particular by defining environmental
objectives and environmental impact indicators . It also

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3035 / 92

by Mr David Martin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1 992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 02 )

Subject : Use of the CE mark for fireworks

Is the Commission aware that over the last few years,
there has been a most welcome reduction, in the UK, in
personal injuries caused by fireworks and that this
reduction is partly the result of the enforcement of a
British Standard for those products which are identified
by the BSI Kite-mark ?

Would the Commission :

1 . say whether the European ' CE ' mark is a safety

standard equivalent to the BSI Kite-mark ;

2 . say what measures it intends to adopt to make sure
that fireworks in circulation throughout the European
Single Market after 1992 will be up to the standard of
those covered by the BSI Kite-mark ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 February 1 993 )

The Commission is well aware of the problems mentioned
by the Honourable Member, i.e. the safety and security
requirements for fireworks placed on the EC market .

No C 162 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

The European Parliament, in providing its opinion on a

proposal for explosives, in the October Plenary ' Session,
requested that this matter be dealt with by a specific
proposal on fireworks . The Commission accepted this
request and work on this matter has already started .

Since, for the moment, there is no Community legislation
on fireworks, there is no basis for requesting an EC mark
to be put on these products .

It is up to the Member States to implement the
appropriate legislation, including safety standards, to
the safety level which is needed, in conformity with
Articles 30 to 36 of the EC Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3037 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1 992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 03 )

Subject : Implementation of the regulation on a
Community eco-label award scheme

Article 9 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 (') of 23 March

1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme provides
that each Member State shall designate the authority
responsible for implementing this scheme at least six
months after the entry into force of the regulation . Does
the Commission intend to monitor the implementation of
this regulation by Member States ?

O OJ No L 99, 11.4 . 1992, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1993 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 of 23 March 1992
on a Community eco-label award scheme, came into force
on 1 May 1992 . In accordance with Article 9 of the
Regulation, Member States were required to designate
competent bodies for the Community eco-label award
scheme by November 1992 . Six Member States have
complied with this requirement : Denmark, Germany,
France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom . The Commission is in close contact with the
other Member States, and is pressing them to comply with
this requirement as soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3046 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

. to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1 992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 04 )

Subject : Demands by tobacco producing associations

Greek tobacco growing associations have recently
expressed their opposition to the quotas established in
respect of Virginia tobacco . Greek tobacco farmers
propose that quotas for Virginia tobacco should amount
to 50 000 tonnes — in line with proposals put forward by
the Panhellenic Confederation of Association of Farmers '
Cooperatives — and insist that farmers and their
cooperatives must be closely involved in deciding on how
this quota is allocated . They also propose that the family
tobacco holding should be maintained and that tobacco
farmers in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions
should receive aid, that account should be taken of
damage caused by natural disasters and viruses, etc . Does
the Commission intend to back these demands by Greek
tobacco producing associations ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1993 )

The reform of the tobacco market organization was

adopted by Council in June 1992 .

The guarantee threshold for Greek Virginia tobacco has
been fixed for 1993 at 30 000 tonnes ( 1994 : 29 000
tonnes ), a figure which represents an increase of 75%

vis-a-vis 1992 ( 17 000 tonnes ).

This quantity will, according to the application
Regulation, be distributed by the administration to
producersproducers or ' records groups . On of this producers basis the family on the character basis of of
the tobacco growing units will be respected .

A revision of the guarantee threshold for Virginia in

Greece only 6 months after the agreed reform of the
sector and even before its implementation would be
inappropriate . It is true that the production volume of
Greek Virginia in 1992 is estimated at more than 60 000
tonnes . However, the phenomenal increase of production
from only 9 500 tonnes in 1989 to more than 60 000
tonnes in 1992 is preoccupying, as it is not at all
guaranteed that all this tobacco can be sold to commercial
outlets under normal conditions .

With respect to the problem of mountainous or
semi-mountainous areas, tobacco growers in these areas
have been and are beneficiaries of compensation
payments for their geographical handicap according to
the provisions on Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91
of 15 July 1991 O which deals with the improvement of
agricultural structures .

O OJ No L 216, 6 . 8 . 1991 .

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 3

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3071 / 92 WRITTEN QUESTION No

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S ) by Mr Gijs de Vries ( LDR )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3076 / 92

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 05 ) ( 93 / C 162 / 06 )

Subject : Ratification of international labour conventions

The International Labour Office has recently published
details of the state of progress with regard to the
ratification of the main international labour conventions .

The table indicates that not all the Member States have

ratified all the international labour conventions .

What will the Commission do to harmonize ratification at

European level ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1993 )

Every year the International Labour Office publishes an
updated list of the ratification of ILO Conventions by
members of the International Labour Organization . This
table shows that not all the conventions have been ratified
by the EEC Member States, nor indeed by some other
ILO members .

The Community can intervene in the negotiation and
conclusion of a convention only if it relates exclusively or
partially to matters of Community competence .

Since the Community is not a member of the ILO ( to
which only individual countries can belong ) a procedure
must be found ( with the agreement of the ILO ) whereby
acceptance of a convention by the Community can replace
ratification by the Member States . To date the
Commission and the Council have managed to agree on

^ no more than a negotiation procedure in cases of

exclusive Community competence . However, a majority
of Member States have refused to accept that there has
ever been a case to which this procedure could be applied .
For this reason, on 26 July 1991 the Commission asked
the Court of Justice to give an opinion regarding the
compatibility of Convention 170 with the EEC Treaty,
and in particular regarding the exclusive competence of
the Community for the conclusion of this convention and
for its implications .

As soon as the Court delivers its opinion the Commission
will draw the appropriate conclusion regarding this and
similar cases .

Subject : Implementation of the toys directive in Germany

Will the Commission investigate reports that Germany is

obstructing freedom of movement of toys by requiring
certain types of plastic to comply with German food
legislation ( Erik Ipsen, ' Single Market Eludes EC ',
International Herald Tribune, 17 October 1 992 ) ? If the
Commission considers such a requirement to infringe
Community law will it institute infringement proceedings
against Germany without delay ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 March 1993 )

The Commission is informed about the German food

legislation ' Lebensmittel - und Bedarfsgegenstände ­
gesetz '.

Paragraph 30 of the ' Lebensmittel - und Bedarfsgegen ­
ständegesetz ' can be considered as a simple reiteration of
a part of the essential safety requirements foreseen by
Directive 88 / 378 / EEC on the safety of toys and can
therefore remain in application (*).

However, special requirements and / or recommendations
( for example concerning plastics ), based on paragraph 30
of the ' Lebensmittel - und Bedarfsgegenständegesetz ',
could not go beyond the provisions of the Directive on
safety of toys .

O OJ No L 187, 16.7 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3082 / 92

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1 992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 07 )

Subject : New accident at the Kozloduy nuclear power

station

On 22 and 23 September 1992, two fires broke out at the
Kozloduy nuclear power station, namely in reactors 5 and
6 which are the most up-to-date at the plant and have a
capacity of 1 000 MW each . In view of reports that the
other four older reactors are also due to come back on
stream at the end of the year, will the Commission say :

No C 162 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

What progress has been made in implementing the

Community 's emergency aid programme for Kozloduy
( ECU 11,5 million ) aimed at increasing nuclear safety at
the plant and whether it considers - that this sum is
sufficient to make the Kozloduy plant safe ?

How do the teams of western experts who have been
visiting Kozloduy and Sofia assess the hazards posed by
the recent incidents ?

What conclusions have been reached regarding the overall

safety situation at Kozloduy and the possibility of
permanently closing down those reactors which do not
meet internationally agreed standards ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1993 )

The programme of emergency aid for Bulgaria to improve

the safety of the Kozloduy nuclear plant was approved in
July 1991, releasing ECU 11,5 million from the " 1991

budget . Almost all the work carried out on this budget has
015now been completed, though it has been decided to
continue the action and funds were earmarked
accordingly in 1992 ( ECU 3,5 million, plus part of the
ECU 20 million allocated to the Phare nuclear safety
programme ).

The following work has been undertaken :

1 . A programme to overhaul the plant, which is
continuing in the form of a programme of unit
shutdowns .

2 . A twinning programme with nuclear plants in the

European Community .

3 . A programme put forward by WANO for technical

improvements to the oldest reactors to be made in the
short term .

4 . Aid to the safety authorities provided by a consortium

of safety institutes in the Member States .

In addition, a study on short-term electricity
requirements has been carried out in the light of the
planned shutdowns of the electro-nuclear units .

The incidents in reactors 5 and 6 to which the Honourable

Member refers occurred in the conventional ( electric ) part
of the reactors . The Bulgarian authorities did not consult
western experts on the extent of these incidents . Clearly,
though, they suggest shortcomings in the reliability of the
equipment and in the training of operators .

One feature of the Commission 's action is the support it
gives to the national safety authorities, enabling them to
acquire the necessary expertise and means to take
informed decisions concerning authorization to operate

nuclear plants . It is these authorities which are ultimately
responsible for taking this decision in the light of
internationally recognized safety requirements .

A permanent shutdown of the Kozloduy reactors would

undoubtedly have a major impact, 30% of Bulgaria 's
electricity being generated by nuclear power .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3097 / 92

by Mr Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1 992 )

( 93 / C 162 / 08 )

Subject : Conditions for award of contracts to leading

banks

Under tender XIX / 580 / 91 / IT the Commission made
provision for selecting the principal banks responsible for
management of ECU and Lire in Italy .

It contracts appears : the that ' the Banca following Nazionale banks del Lavoro have been ' and awarded ' Monte

dei Paschi di Siena '.

Will the Commission state what criteria were used to

select these banks ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1993 )

The cash office and treasury management of the

Commission depends on advanced computerization of its
operations, in particular on connection to the Swift
inter-bank telecommunications network, and is looking
for maximum automation of its operations .

This new modus operandi has led to a revision of its
banking relations with the 12 Member States .

Therefore an invitation to tender was sent to the parent

companies ( or their representatives ) of 80 banking groups
who were requested if necessary to transmit it to their

subsidiaries in the 12 Member States so that in each one a

main account could be selected to execute Commission
operations in national currencies and in ecus .

The banking groups were required to demonstrate their

interest in developing use of the ecu, in particular through
membership of the Ecu Banking Association, or to have
already worked for the Commission or have made an
approach demonstrating interest in working for it .

In addition local subsidiaries were required to be
members of Swift, be governed by European ( EEC ) law
and be a direct clearer in national currency .

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 5

To process the replies the following standard criteria were

applied in strictly identical fashion :

( a ) essential criteria ( excellent solvency rating, minimum
service constraints, such as dispatch of bank
statements via Swift, undertaking not to make a
payment if it would result in a debit balance on the
account, and monthly debit of any costs and
commissions charged to the account );

( b ) various criteria applicable to the quality of service

provided, mainly concerning the speed of execution
of payments, computerized processing of
transactions, and quality of information sent to the
payee ; before opening the tenders these criteria were
weighted in identical fashion for all tenderers ;

( c ) a simulation was made of the financial results of the
banking relation based on the number of transactions
in the reference quarter, calculated by subtracting the
total charges collected by the bank from the interest
paid to the Commission .

This analysis led to the selection in Italy of the two banks

referred to by the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3132 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 09 )

Subject : EC compensation for trade losses with Russia

The Dutch company ' Cebeco Handelsraad ' has suffered a

loss of Hfl 130 to 160 million on supplies of seed and seed
stock to Russia . The Russian government will not pay,
claiming that deliveries were not carried out in accordance
with the contract .

Is it possible for Cebeco Handelsraad to recover this loss
from EC funds ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1993 )

At present there is no provision in cooperation between
the Community and the former USSR for the coverage of
risks run by companies of Community Member States in
commercial operations with the former USSR .

The Commission is therefore in no position to
compensate Cebeco Handelsraad 's loss .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3134 / 92

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1 993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 10 )

Subject : RES card

Is the Commission aware that there are major differences
between the Member States concerning the conditions of
use of the RES card, a European public transport
reduction card for the over sixties ? Thus, for example, a
Dutch citizen in France can only use the RES card for
international journeys by public transport and not for
public transport within France, whereas a French citizen
can use the RES card on public transport within the
Netherlands .

Can the Commission say what measures it intends to take
in order to put an end to this unequal treatment of citizens
within the European Community ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

The Commission recalls that its recommendation of

1989 O on the introduction of an 0ver-60 's Card sought
to make more visible the availability to older people of
certain advantages, especially in the fields of travel and
culture . While this recommendation has not been
implemented by Member States, the Commission is
continuing to pursue the matter in the hope of achieving
progress in 1993, European Year of the Elderly and
Solidarity between Generations . In the meantime the
Commission is proceeding with the preparation of a guide
to the special advantages available to older people
throughout the Community . This will be published in

1993 .

O OTNoL 144, 27 . 5 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3145 / 92

by Mr Gianni Baget Bozzo ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 11 )

Subject : Utilization of the structural funds by Italy

Official Commission documents reveal that Italy utilizes
EEC funds sparingly .

Can the Commission provide specific data, broken down
by region, for precisely what financial resources have

No C 162 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

been made available to Italy under the Community
structural policies over the last three years, the
commitments made on the basis of projects submitted by
the Italian authorities and the sums actually granted ?

What is the total amount of appropriations that have not
been utilized and cannot be carried over to subsequent
financial years and are consequently transformed into a
net financial loss for Italy .

Finally, what is the amount of the funds which have not
been utilized by Italy in the context of the IMPs and have
been transferred to the French overseas territories, and
are further punitive measures envisaged should Italy
persist in this passive self-damaging attitude .

Honourable Member, nor will it take any steps to evaluate
the various points in respect of Community powers .

The Commission would point out, though, that the

fundamental rights of workers in respect of health and
safety at work were covered by Council Directive
89 / 391 / EEC O in June 1989 .

This framework Directive has since been fleshed out
by ten or so individual directives, and sets out the
responsibilities and duties of employers and the rights and
duties of workers in respect of health and safety at work,
with special reference to information, training and
consultation of workers . It also lays down the general
principles in respect of health and safety at all workplaces
throughout the Community .

Answer given by Mr Millan o OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 .
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1993 )

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a
number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to
the Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3155 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 13 ) .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3151 / 92

by Mr Bartho Pronk ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 12 )

Subject : Directives on safety and health

The fourth European Work Hazards Conference was

held from 4 to 7 November at Sheffield University ( UK )
in the framework of the European Year of Safety and
Health . A 24 point declaration was adopted at the
conference .

1 . In the Commission 's view, which of the 24 points have

been implemented in directives in the meantime and
which have not ?

2 . Which points not yet implemented does the
Commission think should be subject to regulation ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

The Commission has no plans to comment on the

declaration adopted by the conference mentioned by the

Subject : Results of Community efforts to retrain the

unemployed to become self-employed

The alarming unemployment figures in the various
Member States and the gloomy outlook for the future,
with a spectacular rise in unemployment possibly just

around the corner, mean that the idea of retraining the
unemployed to become self-employed businessmen needs
to be re-examined as a means of improving the situation .

As this idea has merited special attention at Community
level in terms of both legislation and special operative
measures, can the Commission state what the results of its
various initiatives have been and what results we may
expect as an outcome of the intensive work being carried
out in this area by the ' Task Force ' which is set up for this
purpose ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

According to the latest statistics, 92% of Community
businesses employ fewer than 10 people, accounting for

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 7

almost 30% of jobs . The Community estimates that
roughly a half of all Community businesses are made up
of self-employed persons .

Community measures under the ' enterprise policy ' banner
seek to create optimum conditions for the creation of new
jobs by small and medium-sized businesses . Priority is

given here to the creation of an administrative, legal and
financial environment which is conducive to a spirit of
initiative and to the creation and maintenance of

companies .

This kind of environment can only encourage the
unemployed to set up firms of their own . Among the
various initiatives concerned specifically with the
self-employed, it is worth mentioning the twelfth directive
on company law ( which allows the creation of a
limited-liability company with just one member ) and the
action programme for the craft trades .

However, the contribution that one-man firms can make
to solving the unemployment problem should not be
overestimated . Studies carried out under the ERGO
programme on combating long-term unemployment show
that this can only be a solution for a minority of the
unemployed who have sufficient capital and are relatively
highly skilled .

On the other hand, the measures taken under the
enterprise policy can help to reduce unemployment by
stimulating the development of a dynamic local fabric of
small and medium-sized businesses .

At the Council 's request, the Commission had an
evaluation exercise conducted by an independent
consultant in 1992 . The report largely confirmed the
usefulness of the measures and advocated that they be
extended in the future .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3157 / 92

by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 14 )

Subject : Training in relation to health and safety
legislation

Is the European Commission satisfied that the
requirements in the Framework Directive
89 / 391 / EEC (') concerning the following areas of
training :

— those employees involved with first aid, fire-fighting

and evacuation of workers ( Article 8(1 ) and 8 ( 2 ));

— employees ( Article 12 ); and

— ' competent personnel ' ( Article 7 ( 3 ))

are sufficient to ensure a consistency of application of
acceptable training standards at Member State level ?

(») OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

Directive 89 / 391 / EEC on the safety and he&lth of
workers at work fixes the requirements for the different
areas of training and as with all directives, it binds
Member States as to the result to be achieved, but leaves
to the national authorities the choice of form and
methods . It requires Member States to act according to :

— Article 12 : Training of workers . The employer shall

ensure that each worker receives adequate safety
and health training, in particular in the form
of information and instructions specific to his
workstation or job .

— Article 8 : First aid, fire-fighting and evacuation of

workers, serious and imminent danger . The employer
shall inter alia for first aid, fire-fighting and the
evacuation of workers, designate the workers required
to implement such measures . The number of such
workers, their training and the equipment available to
them shall be adequate, taking account of the size
and / or specific hazards of the undertaking and / or
establishment .

— Article 7 : Protective ' and preventive services . If
protective and preventive measures cannot be
organized for lack of competent personnel in the
undertaking and / or establishment, the employer shall
enlist competent external services or people .

As Member States are in the process of implementing this

Directive, it is not yet possible to assess the consistency
of application and to determine whether or not any
additional training requirements may be necessary in the
future .

No C 162 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 14.6 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3176 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 15 )

Subject : Biological purification plant at Aigion

A biological purification plant is being built in the town of
Aigion with the aid of an ECU 400 000 contribution from
the Envireg programme and should be completed by the
end of 1993 . Local residents, however, have expressed
their concern about the possible effects on the
environment . Will the Commission, therefore, urge
the Greek authorities to comply strictly with the
specifications and ensure that the entire project is duly
monitored by the supervisory bodies ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Commission has insisted that the Greek authorities

ensure the compatibility of all Envireg-funded projects
with Community legislation on the environment . The

Commission will request a report on the implementation
of the project referred to by the Honourable Member and
other similar projects at the next Envireg Monitoring
Committee meeting .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3180 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 16 )

Subject : Modernization of the port of Patras

Approximately 7 % of the total population of Greece live

in the Patras area . However, despite the fact that
the area has been virtually crippled by unemployment
and underemployment, it receives no more than 2%
investment . Bearing in mind the recent talks on the
Delors II package, does the Commission intend to act to
ensure that the port at Patras at least receives the
necessary investment to enable it to fulfil the crucial role
that it could and should play in the transport system in
Greece and the Community in general, particularly in the
light of events in Yugoslavia ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 March 1993 )

Given the potentially strategic role of the port of Patras in
terms of connections to the other Member States of the

Community, especially in the wake of the crisis in former
Yugoslavia, the Commission is prepared to examine

any proposals the Greek authorities may have for its
modernization and enhancement .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3187 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 17 )

Subject : Unemployment among Greek women

Women in Greece are being hit by unemployment .
According to data compiled by the National Statistical

Service of Greece, in 1988 women accounted for 59,9 % of
the total number of unemployed against 44,9% in 1983 .
The position of women in the labour market is made even

more serious by the proportion of the long-term
unemployed they represent, which, according to the same
source, was 65% in 1990 . Will the Commission propose
the adoption of further measures to tackle unemployment
among women in Greece ? Will it propose the
implementation of a programme which will give incentives
to firms to take on unemployed women ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

According to the estimates published by the Statistical

Office of the European Communities, which are based on
the annual Labour Force Surveys carried out in all
Member States, unemployment among women in Greece
is among the highest in the Community . In 1990, the share
of women in total unemployment ranged from 35,9% in
Ireland to 61,8 % in Belgium . In Greece, it was 61,7%,
compared with a Community average of 52,7% . In 1991,
the trend in most Member States was towards a decline in
the share of women in total unemployment with the
Community average falling to 50,8% . In the Member
States, this share ranged from 36,5 % in Ireland to 60,3 %
in Belgium, and was 59,7 % in Greece . Only in Denmark,
Ireland and Portugal did this share rise .

The trend towards a declining share of women in

unemployment on average in the Community — at least
up until 1991 — is consistent with the trend in
employment over the period 1985 — 1991, when 62,2% of
the additional jobs created were taken by women . This

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 9

was not, however, true for Greece where female
employment accounted for only 18% of the growth of
employment over this period .

Under the programme for Local Employment Initiatives
for women ( LEI ), grants are awarded on certain
conditions to women starting up their own business . In

1991, Greece was awarded more assistance under this
programme than its female population would strictly
account for .

The Commission acknowledges the size of the problem of
high female unemployment in the Community and has
already introduced, in particular through the European
Social Fund, special measures aimed at bringing down the
rate of female unemployment . The measures to combat
long-term unemployment under Objective 3 of the
structural Funds give priority to operations benefiting
women seeking to re-enter the labour market after a long
break .

In addition, under Objectives 3 and 4 ( occupational
integration of young people ), priority is given to measures
to promote the integration of women into occupations
where they are badly under-represented . In accordance
with these ESF guidelines, priority is given in the
Community Support Frameworks ( CSFs ) for Greece to
operations directed at women and ECU 12 115 860 has
been set aside for that purpose . Greece has also received
ECU 12 million under the NOW initiative ( 1991 — 1993 )
for the joint financing of innovatory and transnational
measures in women 's employment and vocational
training ; they complete the series of measures included
in the CSFs . Accordingly, ECU 24 115 860 has been
earmarked for women 's measures in Greece .

Furthermore, in 1990, women accounted for 42% of all
beneficiaries of all operations jointly financed by the ESF
in Greece .

At this juncture, it would be premature to comment on the
exact form and shape of future assistance under the
structural Funds ; however, the innovative experiences
developed in the context of NOW will be borne in mind
when future ESF policies are framed .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3200 / 92

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 18 )

Subject : Water fluoridation

Which Member States or regions of same have
fluoridated water supplies ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Commission does not have the information

requested by the Honourable Member . Until Directive
91 / 692 / EEC on standardizing and rationalizing reports
on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the
environment (*) was adopted there was no general
obligation for Member States to supply details of drinking
water quality .

In any event, the relevant obligation upon Member States
is to comply with the rules given in Directive 80 / 778 / EEC
on the quality of water intended for human
consumption ( 2 ). This Directive neither requires nor
prohibits fluoridation .

o OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991 .
O OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3205 / 92

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 19 )

Subject : Establishing a European university for tourism

in the Italian Mezzogiorno

With its attractions of environment, scenery, culture,

archaeology, spas, seaside and climate and the special
nature of its typical agricultural and food products, which
could be described as the best in the world, the Italian
Mezzogirono could be an international focal point for the
development of tourism and agrotourism .

With a view to the rational use of the natural resources
that are compatible with the potential for the balanced
conservation of animal, vegetable and marine ecosystems :

1 . Would it not be beneficial to establish a European

university for tourism and agrotourism in the Italian
Mezzogiorno to improve the social and economic
circumstances of the people of the Mediterranean
region, especially those in poor, disadvantaged areas
where the rate of unemployment is as high as 23 % ?

2 . How does the Commission intend to promote an

appropriate occupational training policy which will
enable those employed in the sector to acquire the
knowledge which is essential in such occupations ?

No C 162 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6.93

3 . Would it not be appropriate for the Commission to

promote a meeting with the presidents of the regions
of southern Italy ( Campania, Calabria, Basilicata,
Puglia, Abruzzo and Molise ) in order to examine the
feasibility of establishing a European University for
Tourism ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1993 )

Tourism education and vocational training have been
identified in the Community action plan to assist tourism,
adopted by a Council Decision of 13 July 1992 O, as
priority areas for the implementation of specific measures .

The objective of these measures, which already include

support for existing Community education and vocational
training policies, is to improve the quality and diversity
of European tourism services, making them more
competitive through better developed human resources
and increased professionalism .

An important aspect of the measures envisaged is support
for the development of transnational co-operation
projects between universities, tourism schools, tourism
professionals and the authorities concerned .

Moreover, the tourism sector derives benefit from
Community vocational training programmes such as
Petra, Force, Comett and Eurotecnet which are geared to
promoting an added Community dimension and raising
the level and quality of vocational training .

There are, however, no plans to support the establishment
of a European University of Tourism .

o OJ No L 231, 13 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3220 / 92

by Mr José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 20 )

Subject : EIB loans to favoured clients

Although the present system under which the European

Investment Bank administers its financial and credit
activities for small and medium-sized enterprises is quite
effective, certain questions remain as regards possible
improvements .

The main question arises from the fact that when loans

for small and medium-sized enterprises are negotiated
through commercial banks, applicants are not
infrequently told is that EIB credits are for favoured
clients, something which evidently is interpreted in
various ways by the applicants .

Can the Commission convey to the EIB the concerns
expressed by numerous small and medium-sized
enterprises in the Community, which cannot obtain
European Community loans through the EIB because
they are not favoured clients of the commercial banks
which act as agents of the EIB in arranging Community

loans for such businesses ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1993 )

For reasons of operational efficiency, the European
Investment Bank cannot handle directly large numbers of
smaller-sized loans spread throughout the Community .
Under its global loan scheme, the contacts and local
knowledge of partner institutions implementing these
facilities are brought to bear in the assessment and
monitoring of suitable investment according to the EIB 's
financing criteria .

The intermediary institutions are chosen on the basis of
their know-how in assessing projects . Criteria for the
utilization of each global loan are established with the
partner bank and monitored by the EIB . Fore more than
20 years, the EIB has steadily refined financing through
its global loans . In 1991 alone, 9 548 small and
medium-sized enterprises received a total of ECU 2,35
billion of EIB finance .

The Commission has no knowledge of the practice,

alleged by the Honourable Member, of handing out EIB
loans to favoured clients . On the other hand, it is to be
noted that the financial intermediary bears the final risks
involved in giving a loan and has the right to make or
refuse it, as it sees fit .

The possible refusal of a loan demand may in particular
be based on an investment project 's lack of conformity
with the EIB 's financing criteria as regards its
contribution to EC policy objectives, its economic and
environmental justification as well as its technical and
financial viability .

The number of global loans depends not only on the

EIB 's readiness to provide funds but also on effective
demand from banks and other financing bodies . The EIB
aims at having global loans with a number of
intermediaries in each member country in order to
encourage competition and improve accessibility to these
funds .

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3222 / 92

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1 993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 21 )

Subject : Environmental impact of indicative programmes

of Lome states

1 . When it drew up the indicative programmes with
the Lome states, pursuant to Article 38 of the
IVth Convention of Lome, did the Commission
systematically analyse the programmes and projects as
regards their impact on the environment and natural
resources ?

2 . If so, can the Commission summarize the findings of
that analysis ?

3 . For which parts of the indicative programmes has an
environmental impact study been made of the proposed
projects, in accordance with Article 37 of the
IVth Convention of Lome ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 March 1993 )

When the Lome IV national indicative programmes ( NIP )
were being drawn up, an estimated 10 to 12% ( ECU 1,5
billion ) of total resources for all indicative programmes
was earmarked for natural resource management and the
environment, either as priority sectors in their own right
or as part of specific issues dealt with horizontally . Nearly
all the NIPs give prominence to environmental protection
and the conservation of natural resources .

Guidelines on environmental impact assessments have
recently been drawn up by the Commission . Once
approved and endorsed, they will open the way for full or
supplementary assessments of this type in all areas of
development, particularly :

1 . rural and urban water supply and sanitation

2 . refuse handling

3 . urban development

4 . transport

5 . ports

6 . energy

7 . agriculture

8 . irrigation

9 . forests

10 . livestock

1 1 . fisheries and aquaculture

1 2 . mineral mining and processing

13 . industry

14 . tourism

15 . population movement

16 . pesticides and fertilizers .

A decision on the formal implementation of
environment-related procedures is expected in the first
half of 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3240 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 22 )

Subject : Docking of nuclear submarine at Piraeus

In view of the public concern in Piraeus caused by the
recent voyage of the American nuclear submarine
Albuquerque to Faliro ( Piraeus ) can the Commission say
whether the authorities are notified in such cases and

whether the environment and the lives of the local

residents are safe ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Euratom Treaty, which is the Community Treaty

applicable to activities involving radioactivity, does not
apply to military activities as such . Therefore, the
notification to national authorities of any docking of
nuclear military submarines is a question which would
have to be dealt with bilaterally between the States
involved .

However, the possible consequences for the health of the
population of any such docking would come under the
scope of Chapter 3 of Title II of the Euratom Treaty
( health protection ). Under the Euratom Treaty, uniform
basic safety standards for the health protection of the
public and workers against the dangers from ionizing
radiation have to be established and this has been done in
Council Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom (') of 15 July 1980 .
Article 45 of this Directive requires the Member States

to stipulate measures to be taken and surveillance
procedures with respect to the population groups that are
liable to receive doses in excess of the dose limits in the

case of an accident .

No C 162 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

In Greece, Ministerial Decree No 14632 / 1416 of 1991
foresees the establishment of an emergency plan to deal
with any emergency situation which could present a

serious threat of radiation exposure to the population,
thus including possible accidents with a submarine, to
which the Honourable Member refers .

In this context, whenever notified of the visit of a nuclear
submarine, the Greek authorities make measurements of
ambient radiation ( air, seawater ) before, during and after
the visit . If a significantly increased level of radiation were
to be detected, the plan would come into operation .

(') OJ No L 246, 17.9 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3244 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 23 )

Subject : Reform of the labour market

Reform of the labour market is a key factor in combating
unemployment according to the latest OECD monthly
report . Unemployment in the OECD States has increased
from 24,5 million in 1990 to 30 million in 1992 and is
approaching the 1983 record level of 31 million . The
authors of the report estimate that unemployment will not
fall in 1993 . In view of the fact that the severe problems on
the labour market will undermine efforts to eliminate the
Structural inflexibility which is boosting unemployment in
the Community and in order to avoid creating a vicious
circle, will the Commission urge the governments of
the Community Member States to insist even more
emphatically on the need for structural reforms ? In view
of the complexity of the problems involved, does the
Commission agree that a solution can only be found
through a sound and effectively implemented labour
policy with a macro-economic, educational and social
dimension ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

Since the first oil shock, unemployment in the
Community has been On a rising trend, falling back

during periods of economic growth, but never by as much
as it had risen in previous years . It is now four or five
times higher than it was in the 1960s .

Although nearly 1 1 million new jobs were created in the

Community between 1985 and 1991, unemployment fell
by much less as more people ( especially women ) entered
the labour force . The subsequent slowdown in the rate of
growth of output has led to a decline in the growth of
employment and unemployment has risen again . The
latest Commission forecasts suggest that by the end of

1993, unemployment could be back at its 1985 level .

Economic and structural policies will need to be matched
by a range of specific measures aimed at reducing
divergences in employment opportunities across the
Community and at narrowing the divisions between those
in secure, well-paid jobs and those on the fringes of the
labour market . Such policies are an essential part of
efforts to improve economic and social cohesion within
the Community, both between different regions and
different social groups .

Economic growth will therefore have to be accompanied
by measures such as those aimed at improving the
flexibility, mobility and training of the labour force in
order to tackle the range of difficulties which stand in the
way of jobs being created and offered, and of people
being able to take them up .

In September 1992 the Commission adopted a Working
Document on ' Employment and the Labour Market in the

1990s — Issues f;or Debate ', in which it set out a series of
questions addressed to the Member States, the Social
Partners and other labour market actors relating to the
policies required to combat this persistent unemployment
problem . The Commission will continue to examine these
questions with those concerned throughout 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3270 / 92

by Mr Pol Marck ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 24 )

Subject : EC standards for abattoirs

Can the Commission say what measures have been taken
by the Member States to have EC health and
environmental standards applied to abattoirs ?

How do the Member States monitor such application ?

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 162 / 13

Is it true that Germany, France and the United Kingdom
have not yet implemented such monitoring ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1993 )

The health conditions for the production and marketing

of fresh meat are laid down in Council Directive
64 / 433 / EEC ( x ), as amended by Council Directive
91 / 497 / EEC ( 2 ).

The Directive constitutes a legal instrument addressed to
the Member States which allows them to choose the form
and the nature of measures taken to achieve its objectives .

In this case, the measures necessary to satisfy Community
standards have been taken by the responsible authorities,
according to the respective areas of competence of these
authorities in the different Member States .

In the same way, monitoring of the application of
these measures has been organized on the basis of the
national administrative structures in all the Member
States, without exception, as has been confirmed by
Community inspections of slaughterhouses approved for
intra-Community trade .

With regard to the protection of the environment,

there are no Community standards applicable to
slaughterhouses other than the requirement contained in
Directive 64 / 433 / EEC, Annex I, Chapter 1, point 8, that
' liquid and solid disposal systems . . . meet hygiene
requirements '. More detailed standards in this respect are
therefore the responsibility of the Member States .

( l ) OJ No 121,29.7 . 1964 .
O OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3301 / 92

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 25 )

Subject : International private law running counter to the

principle of equality between men and women

In July 1991 the Belgian Minister of Justice, Mr Wathelet,
signed a convention between Belgium and Morocco in

Rabat confirming the right of Moroccan immigrants to
marry in Belgium in Moroccan consulates according to
the rules applicable in Morocco .

The text specifies that, in the event of a dispute
concerning the personal effects of the couple, the first
court to which an application is made shall have
jurisdiction . In other words, if the husband brings the case
before a Moroccan court, his wife in Belgium will be very
poorly placed to defend her rights .

The text also recognizes that the dissolution of a marriage
of a Moroccan couple may be governed by Moroccan law
and hence that a repudiation may, in certain cases, apply
in Belgium .

This convention makes it possible for Belgian courts to
recognize provisions which are fundamentally contrary to
Belgian law, in particular the Moroccan code on
individual status, which treats men and women very
unequally . Belgium, however, has ratified the United
Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of
discrimination against women adopted by the General
Assembly in 1967 .

Does the Commission not consider that Belgium and
other Member States which may also be at fault should
comply with this commitment ?

What is the Commission 's position on the issue of
whether or not international private law should be
brought into line with the legislation of the host
countries ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 March 1993 )

It is not for the Commission to pass upon the
compatibility of a Belgian-Moroccan agreement with
the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women proclaimed on
7 November 1967 or with the United Nations Convention
on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against
Women of 18 December 1979 .

The Community can act in the field of international
private law only where the subjects covered fall within the
scope of the Treaty . But the law concerning the status of
private individuals is generally a matter for the Member
States .

The EEC Treaty refers to equal treatment of men and
women only in the context of social policy ( Article 119 ),
but there is no doubt that all Community law ought to
respect this principle because it is a fundamental right .
Despite the Commission 's commitment to the principle,
however, since it is not covered by the Treaty the
Community cannot take steps to implement it .

No C 162 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

L

Nevertheless, under Article K.l ( 6 ) of the Treaty on
European Union, the Member States are in future to
consider judicial cooperation in civil matters to be an area
of common interest . And Article K.3 provides that, on the
initiative of any Member State or the Commission, the
Council may adopt joint positions and draw up
conventions for adoption in this field .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3304 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 26 )

Subject : Discrimination against AIDS sufferers

In certain public hospitals in Greece AIDS sufferers
are the victims of unprecedented discrimination .
Bacteriologists refuse to examine them and nurses refuse
to care for them . Since this is a violation of basic social
and human rights which runs counter to the resolution of
the Council of Ministers for Health of the Member States
of the European Community of 22 December 1989 on the
fight against AIDS ( l ) and more particularly Chapter A ( I )
( 2 ), Chapter A ( II ) ( 1 ) and Chapter A ( III ) ( 1 ) and ( 3 ) and
runs counter to Council Decision 91 / 317 / EEC ( 2 ) of
4 June 1991 adopting a plain of action in the framework of
the 1991 — 1993 ' Europe Against AIDS programme ':

1 . Is the Commission 's ad hoc ' AIDS unit ', which was set
up for the exchange of information and experience
aware of the above facts ?

2 . What practical measures will it take to ensure that the

Council resolution is properly implemented in Greece
in order to end discrimination against AIDS sufferers ?

3 . Will it urge the Greek Minister for Health to

introduce measures to disqualify medical staff from
practising in cases such as the above ?

4 . Does the Commission know what amount of funds

have been taken up by Greece and how they have been
used by the Greek authorities within the framework of
the 1991 — 93 plan of action set out in Council
Decision 91 / 317 / EEC which budgets a Community
contribution of ECU 6 million for the period

1991 — 1992 ?

Can it also indicate to what extent the private sector is
covered by public health in its wider sense ?

C ) OJNoC 10, 16 . 1 . 1990, p . 3 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 4 . 7 . 1991, p . 26 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

The question of discrimination against people with HIV

and AIDS is one to which the Community has devoted
much attention . However, any problems that may arise
involving the denial to AIDS patients of access to health
care and treatment, whether in a public or private
hospital, must be addressed by the relevant authorities of
the Member State concerned . The Commission has no
competence to intervene in the operation of health
services .

With regard to the Ad Hoc Working Party on AIDS, this

is a committee of the Council which last met in 1991 . It is
for Member States to decide whether and when to

convene it again .

As for the plan of action under the ' Europe against AIDS '
programme, the Commission is preparing a report on
its implementation . This will include an analysis of
expenditure . However, since priority is given to activities
involving a number of Member States, it is impracticable
to attempt to provide a precise breakdown of spending for
each Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3317 / 92

by Mrs Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 27 )

Subject : Protection of the tanning industry

In view of the unfair commercial practices being
employed by a number of developing countries which may
jeopardize the survival of Europe 's leather industry, such

as restrictions on the export of raw materials, which are
causing a gradual decline in the Community 's leather
market, and taking into account the fact that the measures
adopted by the European authorities are not enough
to check the import from outside the EC of leather
and leather goods produced in conditions of unfair
competition, can the Commission say what steps it intends
to take to defend Europe 's tanning industry ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1993 )

The Commission seeks a substantial reduction of any
barrier affecting international trade in raw skins

14.6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 15

and hides . In the Uruguay Round negotiations, the
Commission has pressed for the elimination or substantial
reduction of export restrictions on raw materials and
import tariffs by major trading partners . As to protection
of EC industry from imports of finished goods
originating in certain third countries, proposals by the
Commission for the introduction of Community quotas
against China in conformity with the principle of the
internal market are before the Council for approval since
June 1992 . During the Year 1992, a regime of a priori

surveillance and self-limitation was in force for Taiwan
and South Korea . In addition, the Community has at its
disposal effective instruments to fight practices of
dumping, subsidies and counterfeiting . The Commission
will continue to examine with the due attention all cases

of such unfair practices within the framework of the
existing procedures .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3322 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 28 )

Subject : International Year of the Family

By Resolution No 44 / 82, the United Nations General
Assembly declared 1994 as International Year of the

Family .

How does the Commission think that the European
Community should participate in the activities proposed
for this International Year to promote family values,
whose importance is increasing every day ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

A number of initiatives are envisaged by the Commission

in the run-up to the International Year of the Family .

The Commission is preparing a major public opinion

survey in the 12 Member States to find out what types of
family Community citizens tend to live in nowadays and
how they view the family ( e.g. living together, divorce, the

role of the father and mother and education of the
children, reconciling work and family life, solidarity
between generations ).

The results of this survey will be used to examine the

expediency of promoting a wide-ranging exchange of
information .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3323 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 29 )

Subject : ' Inter Observatory ' meeting

An ' Inter Observatory ' meeting is to be held in March

1993 at the University of Pavia ( Italy ) to assess the activity
of the Commission 's monitoring units for family policy,
the elderly, social security and other areas of interest . Can
the Commission give further details concerning the

apparently rather brief, agenda of this meeting and on
arrangements for attendance by people interested in some
of these issues ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

The seminar organized by the University of Pavia has a

twofold purpose :

— an exchange of experience and information between

observatories and networks ;

— an exchange of experience in respect of the evaluation

of social policies .

It will take the following form :

— in the first instance, the observatories ( on social

exclusion, social security, family policy and the
elderly ) and networks ( minimum income and social
protection ) will be presenting their objectives,
working methods and initial results ;

— subsequent, external experts specializing in evaluation

work in various social policy fields ( e.g. social
protection, family affairs, social exclusion ) will be
presenting their experience and methods .

No C 162 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

The seminar will be attended by members of the

observatories and networks and external experts
specializing in policy evaluation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3347 / 92

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 30 )

Subject : Killing of birds on Malta

Is the Commission aware that even protected birds are
being hunted on Malta without restriction and in breach
of all international conventions ?

Is this being taken into account in the negotiations with
Malta for accession to the EC ?

What amount of Community funds is Malta already
receiving and for which projects ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 March 1993 )

Concerning the two first points of the question, the
Honourable Member is referred to the answer given by
the Commission to Written Question No 2442 / 92 of Mr
Speroni (').

It should also be recalled that the opinion of the
Commission concerning the accession of Malta is still
under preparation .

In the context of the third Protocol EEC / Malta, which
amounts to ECU 38 million four projects have been
committed as grants for a total of ECU 10,5 million :

— Agreement No 160 / MLT : Protection of Malta 's
coastline against oil pollution ( ECU 2 400 000 );

— Agreement No 162 / MLT : Upgrading Malta 's
research / training and economic infrastructure ( ECU
4 200 000 );

— Agreement No 181 / MLT : Strengthening educational

and economic relations with the Community ( ECU

1 700 000 );

— Agreement No 180 / MLT : Upgrading
standardization, metrology testing and quality
assurance sectors in Malta ( ECU 2 200 000 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3352 / 92

by Mrs Ria Oomen-Ruijten ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 31 )

Subject : EC information campaign for consumers —

Worldcom

With regard to the EC information campaign on the legal
protection of consumers in the EC and Worldcom, can
the Commission provide the following information :

1 . What is the objective and scope of this information

campaign and how is it being organized ?

2 . For what reason did the Commission select Worldcom

to run the infomation campaign ?

3 . What are the respective tasks of Worldcom and the

Commission with regard to this information
campaign ?

4 . What budget appropriations have been earmarked for

this purpose and for what specific purposes ?

5 . To what extent are European or national consumer

organizations involved ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 March 1993 )

1 . The purpose of the information campaign for
consumers, in accordance with its remit, is to inform the
consumers of the Member States about the protection to
which they are entitled under Community legislation and

as a result of Community action . It seems that consumers
are not always aware of their rights and are therefore
unable to solve the problems they encounter .
Furthermore, while the development of the Single Market
increases the choice of products, it also makes it all the
more necessary to inform consumers about the European
legislation which protects them both in their own country
and in the other Member States .

2 . The Commission selected Worldcom following an
invitation to tender and in accordance with favourable
opinion No 139 / 92 on the Advisory Committee on
Procurements and Contracts .

3 . Worldcom is to run the campaign . This involves
producing and distributing information via the
information networks .

O OJ No C 61, 3 . 3 . 1993 . 4 . The European Parliament has voted to allocate a
total amount of ECU 3 million ( 1992 budget = budget
heading B5-109 ) to this campaign .

c .
14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 17

5 . We have been in touch with the European and
national consumer organizations since work began in
April 1992 in order to ensure active cooperation at all

levels .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3354 / 92

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

enquiries service at its Paris Office but the improvement
cannot become effective until the switchboard has been

separated .

However, it should be noted that officials have direct
telephone lines and can make calls without going through
the switchboard .

( 25 January 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 3356 / 92

( 93 / C 162 / 32 ) by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

Subject : Switchboard at the Paris offices

Why is it often so difficult to get through to the

switchboard at the Paris offices of the Commission and
the European Parliament ? One is sometimes forced to
wait for as long as four minutes before the operator
replies .

Is this switchboard, which is shared by the two
institutions, under the responsibility of the Commission ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 March 1993 )

When the Commission Office and the Parliament Office
were installed in the same building in 288, Boulevard
Saint-Germain, Paris 7eme, the institutions jointly
decided to share a number of common.services, including
the switchboard, for the sake of economies of scale .

As a result of the flood of requests for information in
connection with Community events, and despite the
introduction under joint management of a Minitel service
3615 CEE — which proved very popular with the French
public — the switchboard was still overloaded .

On 8 April 1991, the two institutions jointly decided to
operate separate switchboards . The present switchboard
would serve the Commission Office and a second
switchboard would be installed for the Parliament Office .

Parliament 's Telecommunications Department
immediately proceeded to install a switchboard for
Parliament, and the departments concerned agreed to the
recruitment of an operator by Parliament .

Despite urgent and repeated appeals from the Flead of the
Paris Office for more than 1 8 months an operator has still
not been recruited . Parliament 's Committee on Budgetary
Control has not yet taken a decision . The Commission
has carried out an audit to improve the telephone

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 33 )

Subject : Fulfilment of ' Ariane ' agreement

On 4 and 27 October 1990 respectively a final document
by the governments on extending the production phase of
the Ariane launchers and a resolution by the European
Space Agency on the production phase were adopted .
Although it preceded both these documents, the
resolution by the European Space Agency of 28 June 1988
( applicable as of 1 July 1988 ) on the cost of the Ariane
launchers is also in force . The documents were submitted
late to some of the national parliaments for consideration .
For example, they were published in the Official Gazette
of the lower house of the Spanish ' Cortes Generales ' on

8 November 1992 with a short deadline for the tabling of
amendments .

Did the Commission take part in this process and has it
formed any opinion on this very important issue ? Does it
consider the Community could play a larger role in the
project ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 1993 )

The 1990 intergovernmental agreement and the
resolution of the European Space Agency ( ESA ) —
referred to by the Flonourable Member — renewed, for a
further 10 years, the arrangements by which the European
space transport company Arianespace offers competitive
and reliable satellite launch services on a continuing basis .

It is through Arianespace, established in 1980, that
Europe has achieved an autonomous launch capability
and developed a strong position in the international
launch service market, based on the Ariane family of

No C 162 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 14.6 . 93

launch vehicles . The ESA resolution of 1988 concerns the
prices and conditions for the supply of launches to ESA
for the period 1988 — 1994 .

These agreements were made by the Member States who

had originally and successfully joined together in the
Ariane development programme, and there was no

need to invoke the competence of the Commission .
Accordingly, the Commission was not associated in the

decision-making process which led to the new legal

agreements .

Given the increasing importance of space applications
( for telecommunications, television, earth observation,
weather forecasting, search and rescue, navigation etc .),
the Commission believes that Europe must retain a launch
capability . But this growing importance of space is
bringing new competitive pressures to space markets .
While the main competition comes from the United
States, the entry into commercial markets by Russia and
China is bound to intensify it . It is a situation that the
Commission will monitor .

The Commission 's overall approach to space, as outlined

in its recent communication to the Council and the
European Parliament ('), projects a role which will
support and complement those of ESA, Member States
and other organizations involved in space .

steps are proposed within a forthcoming programme
of activities to alleviate the position faced by carers ?

2 . In addition, what plans exist within the Commission

and Member States to ensure that the totality of
carers ' needs are met, with the allocation of adequate
resources to provide the level and range of services
required ?

3 . What mechanisms will be used by the Commission and

Member States to monitor progress in this area ?

o OJ No C 285, 3 . 11 . 1992, p. 13 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 March 1993 )

The Commission acknowledges the importance of giving

due recognition to the particular concerns and need for
support of carers for people with disabilities .

o COM(92 ) 360 final . In her reply to Written Question No 423 / 92 Mrs
Papandreou suggested that issues concerning the carers of
people with disabilities, could be examined within the
context of the Helios II programme of action in favour
of disabled people . The Modified Proposal for this
programme (*), which is currently under consideration by
the Council of Ministers, includes, amongst the themes to
which special attention will be devoted :

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3370 / 92

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 34 )

Subject : European Community support for carers of sick

and disabled people

With reference to the answer to Written Question

No 423 / 92 ( 1 ) on assistance to carer organizations in
Member States, it is important that due recognition is
given to the fact that carers ' concerns and need for
support are not entirely synonymous with those of the
sick and disabled they look after .

Carers need a wide spectrum of support from advice
counselling to practical support from health services,
home helps, residential and domiciliary respite care .

With this background I would ask :

1 . What steps are being taken by the Commission and

Member States on this problem, and what positive

— difficulties encountered by the families of disabled

people, disabled women and elderly people ;

— training for professionals and volunteers involved at

the various stages of the integration process ;

— persons with special responsibilities in respect of

disabled children, adolescents and adults .

It is envisaged that funds will be available to pursue these
themes, as appropriate, through conferences, seminars,
exchange of information, study visits and training
courses . However, the drawing-up of plans " and the
provision of resources to meet the needs of carers is
generally, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
the responsibility of Member States ' governments .

Progress in this area within the context of the Helios II
programme will be monitored as part of the proposed
arrangements for regular evaluation and the submission
of reports to the European Parliament, the Council of
Ministers and the Economic and Social Committee
( Article 11 of the Modified Proposal ).

14.6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 19

The question of care for older people has been addressed
by the Commission in a major study published in 1990
and, since then, has constituted an important element in
the work of the European Observatory on Ageing and
Older People . The Commission, in the context of the
European Year of Older People and Solidarity between
the Generations, 1993, is supporting numerous projects
aiming at the exchange of information on care for older
people .

o COM(92 ) 482 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3383 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 35 )

Subject : Forest fire fighting system in Greece

With forestry resources in Greece under threat of total

devastation, two Canadian competitors are trying to
persuade the Greek authorities which of them can offer
the most effective fire-fighting facilities — Canadair
which sells fire-fighting planes and is seeking to bolster its
order book ( delivery from 1995 ) or Conair which leases
various countries a complete fire-fighting system based on
encircling the fire at source with aeroplanes and using
retardant materials in an attempt to prevent it spreading
before the arrival of land and air forces to extinguish it .

Can the Commission say :

1 . what forest fire-fighting system has been chosen by

other Community countries with similar physical
features to Greece ? And

2 . what system the Community itself recommends as

most appropriate for fighting forest fires in the light
of international experience ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 March 1993 )

Commission initiatives concerned with fighting forest
fires are the follow-up to Council resolution 91 / 198 of

8 July 1991 on improving mutual aid between Member
States in the event of natural and technological
disasters (').

1 . In the southern Member States of the Community,
forest fire-fighting strategies nearly always combine
different systems . Major importance is attached to
immediate action, without this in any way reducing
the effectiveness of full-scale assistance .

In addition, the Civil Protection Unit of the
Directorate-General for the Environment, Nuclear
Safety and Civil Protection has compiled a register of
national air   - and land-based fire-fighting resources
which can be made available to other Member States if

assistance is requested .

2 . The Commission is unable to single out an effective

forest fire-fighting system as only the national
authorities concerned are competent here . However,
the Civil Protection Unit is organizing as part of its
training programme self-taught workshops in forest
fire-fighting . One of their aims is to give the national
delegations present the best possible feedback on
establishing fire-fighting measures and thus to help in
choosing the most effective fire-fighting systems / The
next self-taught workshop will be held in Greece in
April and will cover the definition and operational

application of fire risk indices .

O OJ No C 198, 27 . 7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3389 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 36 )

Subject : Methyl bromide

Up to 50 years after its use, methyl bromide is more
destructive to the ozone layer than the notorious CFC 11 ;
in the short term the effect of methyl bromide is much
more damaging ( five years after use, methyl bromide is 1 5
times more harmful than CFC 11 ). Sixty thousand tonnes
of methyl bromide are used per year worldwide . At the
UN conference in Copenhagen at the end of November

1992 on tightening up the Montreal Treaty on protection
of the ozone layer, it was agreed to freeze production of
methyl bromide at 1991 levels, and to find out how soon
the product could be eliminated entirely .

1 . How much methyl bromide is used in the EC ?

2 . Can the Commission break this figure down into the

main uses, i.e. as a soil disinfectant and a gassing
agent ?

No C 162 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 14.6.93

3 . In the Netherlands the use of methyl bromide is the Copenhagen Resolution on methyl bromide, which

prohibited in agriculture and horticulture ; is it will be submitted to Parliament for its opinion in due
prohibited in other countries ? course .

As there are less problematic alternatives for all the
uses of methyl bromide, is the Commission prepared
to put forward a proposal to eliminate entirely the use
of methyl bromide in the EC as quickly as possible ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3397 / 92

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas ( 25 January 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1993 )

The Commission is unable to provide statistical
information on the production, consumption or use of
methyl bromide because at present there is no legal basis
for the collection of such data within existing Community
legislation . Until now there has been no reason to
consider controlling methyl bromide and therefore no
need for statistics . The Fourth Meeting of the Parties to
the Montreal Protocol ( Copenhagen, 1992 ) made specific
provision for data reporting on methyl bromide . The
Commission will implement these requirements when
it revises Community legislation to incorporate the
Copenhagen Amendment to the Protocol .

The Commission is aware that the Netherlands has
phased out the use of methyl bromide in soil fumigation

applications . However, methyl bromide is still used in the
Netherlands today as a fumigant to sterilize food and
non-food commodities, buildings, and for quarantine
purposes . The Commission is not aware of other Member
States who have stopped using methyl bromide for soil
fumigation purposes completely, or who have phased out
its use altogether .

Today the United Nations Environment Programme

( UNEP ) estimates that substitutes to methyl bromide
exist for at least 30% of soil fumigation applications
worldwide ( UNEP, Methyl Bromide Synthesis Report,

1992 ). The applicability of a substitute to methyl bromide
depends upon a variety of factors such as climate, soil
type, crop, agricultural system, energy cost and other
circumstances . However, for quarantine and some
structural fumigation uses the alternatives are limited or
non-existent . Consequently although there are chemical
and non-chemical replacements to methyl bromide in
specific applications, there is no single alternative to
methyl bromide for all its present day uses .

It is now clear that anthropogenic emissions of methyl
bromide are implicated in the destruction of the
stratospheric ozone layer . Therefore the Commission
supports the introduction of a system of control for
methyl bromide containing a reduction schedule for the
production and consumption of . this substance . The
Commission is currently working on a proposal, based on

( 93 / C 162 / 37 )

Subject : Cambodia

Following UN Resolution 792 introducing an oil embargo
on the Khmers Rouges, could the Commission inform me
whether the EC will be participating in this embargo, and
does the EC have any specific plans, including the
provision of humanitarian aid, be help the Cambodian
authorities prepare for free and fair elections in
April — May 1993 .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have frequently

stressed their commitment to the implementation of the
Paris Agreements . The Commission in its contracts with
the concerned parties has raised the question of the
crossborder trade with Cambodia . The Commission also
supports the full and early implementation of all
provisions of United Nations Resolution 792 including all
those provisions concerning trade matters .

An substantial EC Assistance Programme to Cambodia
of approximately ECU 42 million has been under
implementation since 1991 — 1992 . It includes
humanitarian assistance to refugees and returnees in close
collaboration with the UNHCR, allocation of food aid
via the WFP, several initiatives for the rehabilitation of
rural areas in the provinces of Battambang and Pursat,
directly implemented by the EC through a large number
of NGOs .

In view of the forthcoming elections scheduled on May
23, the Commission has also provided an appropriate
amount of funds for the promotion of human rights .

The organization of an election, however, does not

constitute due grounds for the for the provision of
humanitarian emergency aid as such .

Detailed breakdown of the EC programme is provided
below .

No C 162 / 21
14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities

1991 — 1992 ( October )

Budget Period / Type of ass. Subject Amount Remarks

I. 1991 I

B7-20 Food aid Food for refugees 3,70 Via UNBRO ( Rice distribution in Thai
I Camps )

B7-20 Food aid ( emergency ) Flood victims 0,20 Via Trócaire ( IRL )

B7-302 Refugees Camps registration 2,40 Via UNHCR

B7-302 Refugees Pedag . assistance 0,24 Via SIPAR ( F )

B7-302 Refugees Mental health 0,33 Via OHFOM ( F )

B7-5000 Emergency Flood / conflict 1,00 Via Red Cross, Trócaire, MSF ( B ),

I I \ Save Child Fund ( UK )

B7-500 Emergency Displaced people 0,50 Via MSF ( B ), MSF ( F )

B7-5010 NGOs Various 1,64 Via EC NGOs — TOT . 23 Micropro
I I            - 8 ( F ), 5 ( UK ), 5 ( B ), 2 ( I ), 2 ( IRL ),

I I \ 1 ( NL )

B7-5075 Special programme Developing human resources 0,50 Via Trócaire — CIDSE ( IRL )

l A. Sub.-Total 1991 10,51

II . 1992 \

B7-20 Food aid Special F.A. programme 13,00 Via WFP ( 3-6-4 mecus ), rice
l \ distribution for, refugees and displaced
I I people

B7-20 Food aid ( emergency ) Flood victims 1,20 Via Red Cross — Food distribution on

l l \ N.E., provinces

B7-302 Refugees Rehab, programme 8,00 Via EC NGOs — Ree . and Dev. of

\ l Battombang, Pursang Provinces

B7-302 Refugees Aerial photo 0,35 Via Mekong Committee

B7-302 Refugees Assistance in Thai camps 0,45 Via Handicap International

B7-302 Refugees Leprosy control 0,10 Via Maltese Nothilfe

B7-302 Refugees Assistance to repatriation [ 5,00 ] [ Via UNHCR - EG Pledge at Tokyo
##### II I Min. Conference — 22 . 6 . 1992 ] —

I I Non Committed

B7-5010 NGOs Various 3,17 Via EC NGOs — TOT . 9 Micropr . —
### II II 3 ( F ), 4 ( UK ), 1 ( IRL ), 1 ( B )

B7-5075 Special programme Pedag . assistance 0,55 Via SIPAR ( F )

B7-5053 Human rights HR promotion 0,42 Via Ligue Cambodgienne

\ ( F / Cambodgien )

l B. Sub.-Total 1992 32,24

Total A + B 42,75

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3419 / 92

by Mr Elmar Brok ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

2 . What experience has been acquired in these Member

States of joint parental care following separation and
divorce ?

3 . Are other Community Member States planning to

( 25 January 1993 )

introduce joint parental responsibility as a general rule
( 93 / C 162 / 38 ) after separation and divorce ?

Subject : Separation / divorce of parents

In certain Member States, couples generally continue to
share parental responsibilities after separation and
divorce .

1 . In which Member States is this the case ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1993 )

Family policy is not a matter for the Community .
However, on the basis of the conclusions drawn up by

No C 162 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

the Family Ministers meeting within the Council on
29 September 1989 ('), the Commission organizes
exchanges of experience and information by way of a
European observatory for national family policies, which
produces an annual report on trends and developments in
family affairs in the 12 Member States of the Community,
along with studies and seminars .

The Commission has no powers in respect of joint
parental care after separation or divorce . More specific
information on such joint parental care in certain Member
States has been received by the Commission from the
coordinator of the European observatory on national
family policies, and is being sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of
the European Parliament .

o OJNoC 277, 31 . 10 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3423 / 92

by Mr Gijs de Vries ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 39 )

Subject : Council and Commission Committees

In 1980 the Commission published a list of Council and
Commission committees ( EC Bulletin, Supplement 2 / 80 )
with the intention of updating it in due course . On

1 September 1990 I submitted a written question asking
the Commission to publish the updated list and to say
what committees had been set up in accordance with the

Council Decision of 13 July 1987 . On 4 January 1991 the
Commission replied that it intended to update and publish
the list .

Two years have now elapsed and the list has still not been
published .

1 . Will the Commission now without delay indicate what

committees were set up in accordance with the
Council Decision of 13 July 1987 ?

2 . Will it say when it will publish a full version of the list ?

3 . Will it, in future, answer Parliament 's questions on

time ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1993 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that, as it has already pointed out on a number of
occasions, Council and Commission committees are listed
in the general budget of the European Communities .

We would suggest that the Honourable Member refers to
Annex I to Part A of Section III, on pages 479 to 496 of
the general budget for the 1993 financial year ( ), relating
to items A-2510 and A-2511 .

O OJ No L 31, 8 . 2 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3427 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 40 )

Subject : Disciplinary action against Greek customs
officials for failure to break Community law

Only a few weeks before the completion of the single
market and the abolition of internal frontiers, several
Greece customs officials are the subject of disciplinary
action for failure to break Community law . The Ministry
of Finance is taking action against them in connection
with a case of smuggling, accusing them, amongst other

things, of failing to enforce an order of the Greek
Ministry subject to of customs Trade duties and not were checking accompanied whether by ' EUR-1 goods '
certificates ( which, under Community law, must
accompany the EEC ). In goods this particular from third case countries the ' EUR-l when ' certificates they enter
were not necessary, since the goods were already

accompanied by ' T2-L ' documents, which are sufficient
under Community law . What action does the Commission
intend to take ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Copimission

( 16 March 1993 )

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member for
more detailed information on the matter referred to . It
will certainly take any necessary measures if it believes
there has been any infringement of Community law .

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3428 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1 993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3440 / 92

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 41 ) ( 93 / C 162 / 42 )

Subject : The position of small businesses in the
Community

Given the large number of small businesses which are
closing down as a result of late payment by large
companies and even sometimes by public sector
undertakings, what measures does the Commission
intend to take to protect small businesses from this
practice ? What policy does the Commission intend to
pursue to support small businesses and to help them
overcome their difficulties through incentives and
protective measures ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1993 )

The decline in standards of behaviour in respect of
payments from one firm to another has been a very
widespread phenomenon throughout the Community
for a number of years . Mindful of the fact that the
phenomenon can jeopardize the competitive position of
the Community economy and the viability of the internal
market, the Commission has drawn up a working
document on the subject and has circulated it widely to all
interested parties (*). Copies of this document have been
sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of the European Parliament . It covers
payments from company to company and payments made
by public sector undertakings .

The Commission will await comments before drawing any
conclusions on the need or otherwise for Community
initiatives in this field, and on what form they should take .

For several years now, the Commission has been
promoting a set of measures designed to give effective
support to small businesses, the policy advocated being
based on an improved legal and administrative
environment for small businesses, improved access
to information and the various Community funds
and programmes, the promotion of inter-company
cooperation and, on a more general level, opportunities
for small businesses to derive benefit from the internal

market . These various measures will be reinforced under
the Community 's growth initiative .

(') Commission working document on the time taken to make

payments in commercial transactions, SEC(92 ) 2214, 18 . 11 .

1992 .

Subject : Compulsory beef carcass classification

Could the Commission tell me which Member States are
bearing the cost of statutory enforcement of this
legislation rather than charging farmers ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1993 )

Since 1 January 1992 classification of beef carcases
was made compulsory under EEC Regulations . This
obligation was met by the Member States in three
different ways . In most cases, classification is carried out
by abattoir staff . In some other cases ( Germany,
Netherlands and United Kingdom ) this procedure is
operated by a private agency . Finally, in two Member
States only ( Greece and Ireland ), classification is done by
the respective Departments of Agriculture .

In these last two Member States ( Greece and Ireland ) the
national budget covers the costs of the classification . In
the other Member States, when the charges are not
directly passed back to the producer, the costs of
classification are a part of the global costs of slaughtering
for which the abattoir tries to find coverage through the
so called ' fifth quarter ' and eventually through the buying
and selling price of the animal and the meat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3442 / 92

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 43 )

Subject : Moisture content standard for intervention

Grain going into intervention stores has to meet minimum
moisture standards . Although 14,5% is the maximum
moisture level, there is a derogation available to allow
grain at 1 5 % to be accepted .

Can the Commission tell me which Member States have
applied for this derogation for their farmers ?

No C 162 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1993 )

This derogation has been applied throughout almost all

the Community for the 1992 / 93 marketing year . Only in
Greece and Spain it was unnecessary to do so .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3466 / 92

by Mrs Viviane Reding ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 44 )

Subject : Maintaining customs buildings

With the disappearance <*f internal borders it is planned

not only to end personal checks but also the customs
buildings and booths which symbolize them .

However, many of these customs buildings are of
historical value and hence form a part of Europe 's cultural
heritage . Would it therefore not be a good idea to
maintain these buildings for posterity and use them for a
different purpose instead of pulling them down ? Would it
not be possible to convert some of these former customs
buildings into information centres about the history and
future of European Union ? Does the Commission not
agree that in most cases the total destruction of these
buildings is the wrong solution ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 March 1993 )

For cultural and historical reasons the Commission
sympathizes wholeheartedly with the proposals made by
the Honourable Member but would point out that the
Member States are fully responsible for dealing with their
own property and heritage .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3467 / 92

by Mrs Viviane Reding ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

Wales ) for the rehabilitation, training and employment of
young offenders on their release from prison appear
worthy of attention . Can the Commission provide moral

and financial support for the APEX Trust 's proposal to
create a European forum to assist national associations in
taking more effective action to provide employment for
young offenders on their release from prison ? What

measures are being taken by the Commission in this area ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1993 )

Within the framework of employment initiatives, the

Commission is encouraging and has provided financial
support towards governmental and non-governmental
organizations committed to the reintegration of
ex-offenders . This includes young offenders .

The Commission is committed to raising the profile of
both the particular difficulties faced by individual
ex-offenders trying to find jobs and training, and also the
reduction in recidivism that effective reintegration into
the labour market can achieve .

Towards these ends, the Commission is supporting a

range of proposals aimed at the encouragement and
development of good practice in this important field,
including the development of a forum or network of
governmental and non-governmental agencies to help in
achieving these objectives . The APEX Trust is among the
agencies involved in this activity .

Moreover, some of the projects in the Third Community
Programme on Poverty have experimented with new
methods of economic and social rehabilitation for

ex-offenders .

As with other marginalized groups, measures are not
taken in isolation, especially since social exclusion is a
many-sided problem . The experience of Community
programmes suggests that action is most effective when it
is integrated with measures aimed at other specific

groups .

The Commission therefore encourages cooperation
between the various networks relating to specific groups .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3500 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 45 ) ( 93 / C 162 / 46 )

Subject : Rehabilitation of young offenders leaving prison

The initiatives taken by the APEX Trust ( National

Ex-Offender Employment Organization for England and

Subject : The Leader programme in Gortynia

The Development Association of Gortynia recently made
very serious allegations as regards the scandalous manner

14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 25

in which the Leader Community programme concerning enforcement of traffic fines ( for parking and speeding
the development of rural areas is being implemented . In offences, etc .) to the Commission ?
particular it alleges that ' specific policies and economic
interests are attempting to give away Dr 865 million to
individual backers .' The situation, in short, is as follows :
The Development Association took the initiative to set up

a development company ( AGOAE ) in order to implement
the programme . As soon as the programme was approved
by the Community, a private individual called Likourgos
Liazopoulos set up a company with the same company
name and managed to have its statutes approved by the
prefect of Arkadia . The former is not recognized by the
prefecture even though it was the first to submit the
statutes with AGOAE as a company name to the prefect ;
the reason given was that the decisions of the Board of
Local Government Organizations were not lawful . Does
the Commission have any plans to look into this particular
issue ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the situation regarding the

management of the Leader project in Gortynia . Two local
groups ( K.A.GO and A.GO ) are currently claiming this
project . The Commission wishes to express its
determination to participate in the selection of one of
these two groups, respecting the principle of subsidiarity
and in partnership with the Member State concerned and
to contribute to an objective and representative decision .
However, the definitive choice of the group that is to
benefit from this project can only be made in the light of
all the objective information and as many supporting
statistics as possible, which the body managing the
programme will send to the Commission, based on the
information which it has gathered from the two groups
involved in the dispute .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 10 / 93

by Mr Gerd Müller ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 47 )

Subject : Enforcement of fines imposed on EC citizens

Is the Commission making efforts to establish
arrangements applicable throughout the EC for the

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1993 )

The Commission has no plans at present to introduce
legislation in the field mentioned by the Honourable
Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 57 / 93
by Christian de la Malène, Pierre Lataillade, Carlos

Perreau de Pinninck Domenech, Gene Fitzgerald and

Dimitrios Nianias ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 48 )

Subject : Recent realignment of currencies within the

EMS in the run-up to Economic and Monetary
Union

What is the Commission 's reaction to the serious
disruption of the money market and what does it now
think is the best course to follow in order to bring about
EMU ?

Does the fact that the pound and the lira have left the
EMS mean that there has to be a radical revision of the
way in which the EMS works ?

The disruption is also due to pressure on interest rates .

Does the Commission think that the German rates ( which
are making economic recovery in the other states
extremely difficult ) could be significantly reduced if the
Federal monetary authorities were to resort to taxation to
finance part of the German budget deficit caused by
unification ?

Does the Commission now think that steps should be
taken at the highest level ( by the Member States able to
meet the convergence criteria ) to strengthen their
monetary cooperation ( creation of a ' hard core ' in order
to promote the European currency )? Would this not be
tantamount to recognizing the need for a multi-speed
monetary Europe ?

No C 162 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 6 . 93

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1993 )

Reasons for monetary tension and the path towards EMU

The Commission is aware of the gravity of the situation
facing the Exchange Rate Mechanism ( ERM ) in the light
of the continued tensions in foreign exchange markets .
The main reasons for the emergence of these tensions

include :

— uncertainty surrounding the ratification of the
Maastricht Treaty ;

— economic developments in Germany after unification

and the tightening of monetary policy in response to
accelerating inflation and high growth in German
monetary aggregates, leading to a rise in interest rates
throughout the whole ERM area ;

— a continued sharp depreciation of the dollar against

ERM currencies in late summer 1992, also the result
of a widening of interest rate differentials between the
United States and Germany ;

— prolonged recession in the United Kingdom, making

sterling 's ERM parity seem increasingly
unsustainable, both economically and politically ;

— Italy 's difficulties in tackling its budgetary deficit and

public debt problems .

In the context of progress towards EMU ; it is necessary
that efforts at adjustment in terms of inflation and
budgetary performance be maintained in several Member
States, including Germany, where conditions for a safe
reduction in interest rates must be created .

The need for a full overhaul of the functioning of the ERM

The Commission feels that there is little room for change

in the existing technical structure of the ERM of the
EMS . The Basle-Nyborg package of September 1987
introduced several measures which strengthened the
functioning of the ERM . What emerges as a lesson from
recent experiences is that better use should be made of the
instruments available within the existing framework . The
European Council of Birmingham, 16 October 1992,
invited the EcoFin Council, assisted by the Monetary
Committee, with the involvement of the Commission and
the Central Bank Governors to reflect on recent financial
turbulence in the ERM . This analysis is in progress .

German monetary policy

The decision to alter German official interest rates is

made by the Bundesbank in the context of maintaining
their objective of price stability, while supporting the
general economic policy of the German Government,

which of course includes the support of the ERM and the

Maastricht process . The Commission is confident that the
Bundesbank will lower German rates when conditions are

deemed safe to do so .

Initiatives to reinforce monetary and economic policy
cooperation

A basic objective of the EMS is to provide a framework
for improved policy cooperation between the Member
States . The Basle-Nyborg agreement of 1987 reinforced
this by providing for a monthly examination of the latest
exchange rate and interest rate developments by the
Monetary Committee, as well as a Committee of
Governors monthly monitoring procedure . Measures to
improve cooperation have also been taken in Stage I of

EMU : the strengthening of the Committee of Governors
and the multilateral surveillance procedure ( March 1990 )
and the introduction of convergence programmes ( 1991 ).
The use of these instruments of cooperation must be

increased, along with more frank and thorough analyses
and discussions of policies pursued in Member States —
notably in Stage II of EMU, with a special role for the
European Monetary Institute .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 67 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 49 )

Subject : Food aid to Somalia

As a large part of the food aid provided by the EC is still

hardly getting to the people of Somalia, if at all, does the
Commission have its own plans to facilitate the
development of army units from the Member States to
protect food convoys and stores ?

Have EDF funds already been spent on the development
of Belgian paratroops in Somalia, as previously promised ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 March 1993 )

Community financing for the development of Belgian
troops was approved under the heading of its emergency
aid . The nature of the deployment, which is designed to
protect humanitarian aid convoys, and the operations
financed ( storage and logistics but not military
equipment ) have limited the scope to emergency and
humanitarian aid .

14.6.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 162 / 27

The assistance was approved by the Council last
September and endorsed by the ACP States in UN
Security Council resolution 775 ( 28 August 1992 ). The
resolution gives a solely peacekeeping mandate to the
UNOSOM forces .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 69 / 93

in renewing all of the Community 's bilateral agreements
concluded under the MFA for a period of two years, with
a possibility of tacit renewal for a third year if necessary .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 94 / 93

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1 993 )

by Mr José Torres Couto ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 93 / C 162 / 51 )
(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 50 )

Subject : The new GATT agreement and protection

measures for the EC textile sector

In the context of the Uruguay Round, what protection
measures and deadlines have been negotiated for the
Community textile sector, with particular reference to the
southern Member States, to replace the Multifibre
Agreement pending the total liberalization of world

trade ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1993 )

In the context of the GATT Uruguay Round, it is
intended to replace the Multi-Fibre Arrangement, which
has restricted trade with developing countries in textiles
and clothing since 1974 with a new Agreement whereby
textiles and clothing products would be integrated
progressively into the normal GATT framework and
disciplines .

The draft agreement foresees that textiles and clothing
products will be integrated into GATT progressively, in
stages, over a period of 10 years .

The draft agreement also provides for a detailed
safeguard mechanism to deal with any difficulties which
may arise in importing countries ' markets .

At its meeting of 6 October 1992, the EC Council

reaffirmed the importance, for the final assessment of the
Uruguay Round results, of achieving satisfactory
progress in other areas relevant for trade in textiles,
notably market access, anti-dumping, anti-subsidy,
safeguard action and protection of intellectual property .

Pending the outcome of the Uruguay Round process, the
current MFA which was due to expire on 31 December

1992 has been extended — without change — for a period
of 12 months . In parallel, the Community has succeeded

Subject : Development of cooperation with Switzerland

following the negative result of the referendum
on accession to the Treaty on the European
Economic Area

Could the Commission specify its position on the
development of cooperation with the Swiss
Confederation following the rejection by voters of the
proposal to accede to the Treaty on the European
Economic Area ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 March 1993 )

Relations between Switzerland and the Community
remain good, in a tradition of friendly relations which has
worked to the advantage of both parties . Switzerland is

among the Community 's most important trading partners,
being its second largest export market and third largest
source of imports .

Had Switzerland been able to ratify the Agreement on the
European Economic Area, the cooperation would have
been given a new and more advanced basis ; the
Commission has expressed its regret at the result of the
referendum which took place on 6 December 1992 .

At Switzerland 's request, the Joint Committee established
under the 1972 Free Trade Agreements between the
European Economic Community and Switzerland, and
between the European Coal and Steel Community and
Switzerland, met on 5 February 1993 . Switzerland took
the opportunity to present its views on future bilateral
relations, and on problems which could arise as a result of
its non-participation in the EEA .

The Community side underlined its interest in
maintaining the positive partnership established with
Switzerland ; it noted the Swiss suggestions for a
strengthening of cooperation in various areas and
committed itself to a careful examination of them .

14 . 6 . 93
No C 162 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities

The Joint Committee formally decided to establish an

expert working group under Article 31.3 of the
EEC-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, with the task of
identifying and examining, in the context of the
development of the relationship between the partners, any
specific problems directly affecting the proper
functioning of the Agreement as a result of Switzerland 's
non-participation in the European Economic Area .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 106 / 93

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 February 1 993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 52 )

Subject : Quantification of Spain 's returns on the R&D

programmes

What returns, broken down by individual R&D
programmes, has Spain obtained on its financial
contribution to the Second and Third Research
Programmes, measured in Community subsidies to
Spanish companies taking part in projects covered by
specific R&D programmes ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

The Honourable Member should refer to the answer that
the Commission gave to his Oral Question H - 121 8 / 92
during question time at the December 1992 (')
part-session of the European Parliament . A copy of the
answer accompanied by a table and an explanatory note
will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the

Secretariat of the European Parliament .

(') Debates of the European Parliament, No 425 ( December

1992 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 275 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 February 1 993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 53 )

Subject : Preservation and revival of the Greek dialect

spoken in Gresia Salentina and the villages of
Aspromonte in Calabria

Southern Italy between Naples and the southern shores of
Sicily was the centre of a Greek civilization . The

Greek-speaking populations of Gresia Salentina in Apulia
and the villages of Aspromonte in Calabria are living
remainders of this vibrant civilization and have kept alive
their ancient dialect, which had its roots in Homer and
Demosthenes, for over 28 centuries . Given that the
language is now struggling to survive, what practical
action will the Commission take to help preserve and
revive its use ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1993 )

Under the budget heading allocated by the European
Parliament ( B3-1060 ), the Commission contributes to the
safeguarding and developing of minority languages and
cultures through a range of educational and cultural aid

measures .

A number of projects presented by the population groups

to which the Honourable Member refers have had

financial backing :

- MLC-042 : XXXI DISTRETTO SCOLASTICO
DELLA CALABRIA Training in Greek and
Greco-Calabrian language and culture ;

— MLC-061 : Ms Olga Managopoulou A play to be

presented in the Greek-speaking towns of Calabria .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 340 / 93
by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 162 / 54 )

Subject : UN World Conference on Human Rights

The Commission is currently participating in preparations
for the UN World Conference on Human Rights in June

1993 .

What measures have been taken to involve the European

Parliament in these preparations ?

Is the Commission working on any projects within the
Community in preparation for the Conference ? If so,
what are they ?

No C 162 / 29
14 . 6 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1993 )

The Commission is participating fully in European
political cooperation to prepare the Community and
Member State positions for the World Conference on
Human Rights .

It is up to the parliamentary committees concerned to
include preparation for the World Conference on their
agendas .

The Commission has always considered the active
participation of the developing countries — and, in
particular, non-governmental organizations in these
countries — to be a basic prerequisite for the success of
the Conference . In 1992 the Commission therefore
contributed to the financing of NGO participation in
African and Latin American and Caribbean regional
preparatory conferences . An identical operation is now
under way for the Asian regional conference, which is to
be held in Bangkok next March .

The Commission considers it essential to continue to

support participation in the work of the Vienna World
Conference and is currently examining the possibility of
setting aside funds for the purpose .