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/*/*•• "I   - w   - "I ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal c 6

. . Volume 38
##### of the European Communities

###### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

95 / C 6 / 01 E-1393 / 93 by Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Inadequate facilities for the disabled in Brussels 1

95 / C 6 / 02 E-l 812 / 93 by David Bowe to the Commission
Subject : International rescue group 2

95 / C 6 / 03 E-2034 / 93 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of the Regulations governing the provision of aviation services 1

95 / C 6 / 04 E-2338 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Independence of journalists 3

95 / C 6 / 05 E-2417 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Right for private individuals to set up commercial ports or wharves in Greece 4

95 / C 6 / 06 E-2609 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : The broad lines of the White Paper on the ' European Social Model ' 4

95 / C 6 / 07 E-2668 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Assistance to the Belgian company VEHA 5

95 / C 6 / 08 E-2897 / 93 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission
Subject : Fisheries investigations 5

95 / C 6 / 09 E-29 17 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Environment of the river Aroanios 7

95 / C 6 / 10 E-2960 / 93 by Gerardo Fernandez - Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community programmes to develop winter tourism for the elderly 6

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-3 156 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Relatively high failure by Spain to comply with Directives relating to energy

E-3176 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Crisis in the leather and leather substitute industry

E-32 16 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Obligations of lorry drivers

E-3235 / 93 by Alexandras Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of new industries in Attica without planning or environmental impact
studies

E-3238 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : TV licence concessions to registered blind persons

E-3362 / 93 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten to the Commission
Subject : EC support required for dioxin research

E-3403 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to preserve European species of butterfly

E-3404 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Campaign for the protection of insects

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3403 / 93 and E-3404 / 93

E-3534 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Biological purification problems in Athens

E-3611 / 93 by John Bird to the Commission

Subject : Age limit on permanent employment appointments

E-3647 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to establish and map out the boundaries of forests needing special protection in
Greece

E-3690 / 93 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Arbitration by the Community on the retirement age

E-3757 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Po Valley-Veneto inland waterway network

E-3770 / 93 by Jean-Marie Vanlerenberghe to the Commission
Subject : List of European programmes

E-3 840 / 93 by Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Patenting of the gene for cystic fibrosis

E-3 874 / 93 by Bartho Pronk and Ria Oomen-Ruijten to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of the Meuse by chemical discharges in Belgium

E-3894 / 93 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : European Year of the Elderly and Solidarity between Generations

E-3978 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a quarry and a cement production plant in Aegina without a study of the
environmental consequences

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95 / C 6 / 29 E-3999 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directives 91 / 244 / EEC and 90 / 220 / EEC by Greece 17

95 / C 6 / 30 E-4027 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Information concerning the environment 17

95 / C 6 / 31 E-4078 / 93 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Uncertainties surrounding the funding of the Betuwe line 18

95 / C 6 / 32 E-4079 / 93 by Enrique Sapena Granell to the Commission
Subject : Trans-European route via Somport ( Spain — France ) 18

95 / C 6 / 33 E-20 / 94 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Household waste incinerator in Halluin ( France ) 19

95 / C 6 / 34 E-64 / 94 by Vassilis Ephremidis to the Commission
Subject : The dismissal of 700 workers at the Lekkas textile company 20

95 / C 6 / 35 E - 117 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Safety of ships ' passengers and crew 20

95 / C 6 / 36 E-l 92 / 94 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Ban on product testing by notified bodies in certain conformity assessment procedures 21

95 / C 6 / 37 E-239 / 94 by Vassilis Ephremidis to the Commission
Subject : Ship-wrecks of the Marika 7 and the Arctic Reefer 22

95 / C 6 / 38 E-278 / 94 by Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Application of the environmental information Directive by Germany 23

95 / C 6 / 39 E-310 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Fictitious courses organized by the textile manufacturer, Lekkas 23

95 / C 6 / 40 E-371 / 94 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Greenhouse effect and motorways 23

95 / C 6 / 41 E-378 / 94 by Gerd Müller to the Commission
Subject : Additional control and intervention powers of the Austrian customs authorities 24

95 / C 6 / 42 E-407 / 94 by Dimitrios Dessylas to the Commission
Subject : Very severe problems facing producers of table olives in Greece 24

95 / C 6 / 43 E-420 / 94 by Karl-Heinz Florenz to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directive 91 / 271 / EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment ... 25

95 / C 6 / 44 E-424 / 94 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Danish Humana association 25

95 / C 6 / 45 E-434 / 94 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Waste control 26

95 / C 6 / 46 E-436 / 94 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Enlargement of the seat of the Environment Agency in Seville 27

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 6 / 47 E-444 / 94 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Community position on the use of satellites to improve air-traffic control 27

95 / C 6 / 48 E-446 / 94 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Eurotecnet Programme — outcome of the implementation of the first years of the
programme as regards dissemination of results 28

95 / C 6 / 49 E-447 / 94 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : European prize to encourage scientific research which does not involve experiments on
animals 29

95 / C 6 / 50 E-458 / 94 by Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Measures to protect the incomes of producers of Mediterranean products from the
consequences of the GATT Agreement 30

95 / C 6 / 51 E-475 / 94 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Delays in the payment of Community subsidies to Spanish farmers 30

95 / C 6 / 52 E-476 / 94 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Scientific publications as part of aid to the former Soviet Union 31

95 / C 6 / 53 E-489 / 94 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Commission's ports programme 31

95 / C 6 / 54 E-499 / 94 by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : The Leader Programme and the Autonomous Community of Madrid 32

95 / C 6 / 55 E-500 / 94 by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : The Stride Programme and the Autonomous Community of Madrid 32

95 / C 6 / 56 E-502 / 94 by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : The Horizon Programme and the Autonomous Community of Madrid 32

95 / C 6 / 57 E-5 14 / 94 by Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject : European telephone card 33

95 / C 6 / 58 E-554 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Recognition in Community law of the legal basis of transfrontier associations of local
government bodies 33

95 / C 6 / 59 E-560 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Stocks of long-finned tuna fish 34

95 / C 6 / 60 E-6 13 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment in Attica of a central organization responsible for managing aquatic
resources 34

95 / C 6 / 61 E-617 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directives 78 / 319 / EEC and 76 / 403 / EEC 34

95 / C 6 / 62 E-625 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Violation of Community Directive 85 / 337 / EEC by the Greek Public Electricity
Company 35

95 / C 6 / 63 E-626 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Violation of Community Directive 88 / 609 / EEC by the Greek Public Electricity Company
( DEI ) 35

95 / C 6 / 64 E-639 / 94 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 ( Driving periods regulation ) 35

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-644 / 94 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Access to transport for the disabled

E-656 / 94 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Community legislation on the management of nuclear waste

E-674 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Exemption from Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91

E-675 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Ban on imports of furs

E-676 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Humane killing

E-677 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Use of leg-hold traps

E-678 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Use of leg-hold traps . .,

Joint answer to Written Questions E-677 / 94 and E-678 / 94

E-680 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Draft humane restraining trap standard of the ISO

E-681 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Humane trapping standard

E-6 82 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 

E-690 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Radioactive discharges at Dounreay

E-691 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Radioactive discharges at Dounreay

E-692 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Paris Commission

Joint answer to Written Questions E-690 / 94, E-691 / 94 and E-692 / 94

E-698 / 94 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Bee-keeping

E-701 / 94 by Richard Balfe to the Commission
Subject : Western Thrace

E-711 / 94 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Milk quota reserve in Andalusia .<

E-713 / 94 by Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : Rio Summit progress

E-720 / 94 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Application of the Interreg programme to the Campo de Gibraltar .

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Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 6 / 83 E-730 / 94 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Research programmes in Greece 42

95 / C 6 / 84 E-735 / 94 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : The springs of the Graces in Orchomenos 43

95 / C 6 / 85 E-744 / 94 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Planned construction of nuclear research reactor FRM II in Garching, near Munich 43

95 / C 6 / 86 E-772 / 94 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Professional qualifications of supposed ophthalmologists offering professional services on
a ship anchored at Gibraltar 44

95 / C 6 / 87 E-778 / 94 by Maria Santos to the Commission
Subject : Projects and funds allocated to Portugal in the field of the environment ( under the Envireg
Programme ) 44

95 / C 6 / 88 E-786 / 94 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties for UK citizens in Italy 45

95 / C 6 / 89 E-789 / 94 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Exemption of the Greek Electricity Board ( DEI ) from the obligation to apply Community
legislation 45

95 / C 6 / 90 E-797 / 94 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : The seat of the Commission 46

95 / C 6 / 91 E-804 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Consequences for cocoa-producing countries of the use of vegetable fats in the production
of chocolate 46

Note to our Swedish and Finnish readers ( see inside back cover )

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1393 / 93

by Madron Seligman ( PPE )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 10 March 1994 )

(8 June 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 01

The Commission is aware of the mobility problems
encountered by some disabled people when using various
types of transport and transport infrastructure .
Subject : Inadequate facilities for the disabled in Brussels

The Commission has sought to promote the interests of the
disabled under various programmes for some years . Yet it
has apparently ignored the disgraceful lack of facilities for
disabled persons travelling through Zaventem Airport and
the Gare Centrale .

A constituent of mine has written describing in depressing
detail how poorly the Belgian capital makes provision for
the physically handicapped in comparison with the UK,
Australia, New Zealand, much of the rest of Europe and the
Far East .

Notwithstanding advanced notice of the arrival of a
disabled passenger, the attitude of airport staff — and I
quote — ' was a combination of bewilderment, ineptitude
and condescension '. No lifts were readily accessible for the
use of such passengers . At the station the only lift was dirty
and too narrow for the wheel-chair to enter until it had been

folded .

Does the Commission agree that after years of ' lip service ' it
should take steps to ensure that disabled people are not
left without proper facilities when travelling in the
Community 's major cities ?

On 11 February 1991 the Commission forwarded to
the Council its proposal for a Directive on minimum
requirements to improve the mobility and the safe transport
to work of workers with reduced mobility . The main
objective of the proposalis to improve access to all means of
transport and transport infrastructure for workers with
reduced mobility ( 1 ). The proposal, which was approved by
Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, is still
being examined by the Council .

In response to the Council resolution of 16 December

1991 ( 2 ), which called for an action programme on the
accessibility of all modes of public transport to disabled
people, and because it is one of the priorities of the white
paper on the future development of the common transport
policy, the Commission drew up a report on this subject ( 3 ).
In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the report

( which was presented to the Transport Council on
30 November 1993 ) defines the measures which must be
taken at European, national and regional level, including the
accessibility of airports and aeroplanes, standards in the
field of rail transport and training to create awareness of the
problems and needs of disabled people .

With regard to facilities for the disabled at Zaventem
airport, the airport authorities have confirmed to the

No C 6 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Commission that the new air terminal ( which is due to be
opened in June, 1994 ) will be easily accessible to disabled
people ( including passengers in wheel-chairs ).

(!) CC)M(90 ) 588 final — SYN 327 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 18, 24 . 1 . 1992 .

( 3 ) GOM(93 ) 433 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1812 / 93

by David Bowe ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 02 )

Subject : International rescue group

Has the Commission ever considered the establishment of

an international rescue group for emergencies, disasters etc .
Would the Commission be prepared to investigate the
feasibility of the establishment of such a group on a
Community-wide basis ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

The Commission has the ' Emergency aid to disasters victims
in the Community ' instrument at its disposal for disasters in
the Community . This aid, which is humanitarian and
symbolic, is designed to provide rapid relief to people who
find themselves facing unprecedented hardship : the primary
purpose is to provide immediate relief, to supply victims
with basic necessities and to fund urgent work to save lives .
More often than not aid takes the form of cash payment . Aid
of this kind is a gesture of solidarity by the Commission
towards European citizens . The Commission, under the
resolution of 8 July 1991 on mutual assistance between
Member States in the event of natural and technological
disasters, set up a complete facility in close cooperation with
the civil protection services of the Member States . This
facility includes a series of accompanying measures on the
preparation of the services in question and the action to be
taken in the event of a disaster . With regard to preparation,
an operational manual has been prepared and training
courses and exercises have been organized . With regard to
the action to be taken, a round-the-clock unit was set up in
the Commission and specialized groups were established for
Member States faced with emergencies . These experts could
also be made available to any non-member countries
requesting them .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2034 / 93

by Marianne Thy s sen ( PPE )

( 29 November 1993 ) to the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

95 / C 6 / 03
Extensive operational facilities have been set up to cater for
the needs jointly identified at national, Community and
international level .

%

Subject : Harmonization of the Regulations governing the

In the event of an emergency outside the Community and in
order to be better prepared for disasters and humanitarian
needs, in 1992 the Commission set up the European
Community Humanitarian Office to prepare, implement,
finance, follow-up and evaluate humanitarian aid decisions
and measures including emergency aid, food-aid and aid to
refugees and displaced persons . ECHO prepares a report
and draws up a list of humanitarian aid policies, the
resources allocated to them and their possibilities, and
logistics . This enables it to define the cases where the
implementation of humanitarian aid is made more effective
through cooperation with some of the Member States . It
also cooperates with the relevant international
organizations and the NGOs in the field of prevention in
order to strengthen or set up alarm and early warning
systems in the countries most frequently affected by natural
disasters or famine . The Community channels its
humanitarian aid mainly through the NGOs and specialized
international organizations . Where the operational capacity
of the NGOs or the agencies of international organizations
is inadequate, ECHO can take direct action to carry out a
specific task entrusted to the Commission or the
Council .

provision of aviation services

The provision of aviation services, which include aerial
photography, is subject to Community law in general
and Council Directive 92 / 50 / EEC (*) relating to the
coordination of procedures for the award of public service
contracts in particular .

The application at national level of this Directive, which
must be transposed by the Member States by 1 July 1993, is
without prejudice to the provisions concerning conditions
for the performance of an activity, in so far as these
provisions are compatible with Community law .

Services in the said sector comprise various aspects, each of
which is subject to specific and differing national provisions,
inter alia as regards :

— technical inspections of the equipment used ( e.g.
aircraft ); .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 3

— registration requirements for aircraft ;

— pilots ' licences ;

— the various types of permit required .

These differences make Regulations in the European
internal market quite impenetrable for operators of these
services . Moreover, the difficulties involved in complying
with all the Regulations of each Member State are such as to
render access to these services markets in a Member State

other than that where the operator is established extremely
difficult and in some cases impossible in practice .

1 . Does the Commission know the various specific
national regulations with which a service provider must
comply in order in all respects to be able to offer aviation
services, particularly in the field of aerial photography,
in the various Member States ? Can it provide a list
detailing the relevant Regulations in each Member
State ?

2 . Is there not a need for European harmonization ? If so,
has the Commission started preparatory work or is it
aware of the discussions said to be taking place within
the J.A.A. ( Joint Aviation Authorities )? What stage have
the preparatory work and / or the discussions reached ?

3 . Within what time frame can a Commission proposal for
harmonization of the conditions for performing
aviation services, including aerial photography, be
expected ?

(!) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

Member States and with the well-established case law of the

Court of Justice concerning free provision of services .

There has been no indication by the industry that the
freedom to provide these services in general is restricted .
Therefore, the Commission has not asked the Member
States for information about their legislation in this

respect .

However, the Commission is at present investigating
problems concerning aerial photography in one Member
State . The Commission believes that this and other

problems can be resolved on the basis of existing provisions
in the Treaty, in particular Article 59 .

Therefore, the Commission does not at present believe that
any specific harmonization is desirable in this area .

Nevertheless the specific harmonisation efforts in the fields
of air-worthiness requirements and pilots licences will also
be of benefit to this sector of aviation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2338 / 93

by . Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 04 )

Subject : Independence of journalists

Following the report of Mr Schinzel, are there any plans to
draw up a European Framework Directive to safeguard the

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission independence of journalists and commentators throughout

the media and, if so, when ?
(6 May 1994 )

The provision of aviation services ( aerial work ) is subject to
the Treaty articles concerning the free provision of services
in particular Article 59 . The fact that this type of services
does not concern transport by air means that Article 61 does
not apply and that, therefore, this type of activity is
liberalised . However, the enterprises exercising this freedom
will have to follow the relevant national rules . In this respect
the technical control of the equipment used, registration
requirements for aircraft and pilots licences will have to be
carried out by the Member State in which the company or
the aircraft is registered and it is also this Member State
which will have to grant the permit to exercise the

profession . This is in conformity with the principles of home
country control and of the mutual recognition between

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

The Commission considers that the independence of
journalists and leader-writers should be based on the
existing rules and practices of the profession at national
level . It is not planning to prepare a framework Directive in
this field, having regard to the principle of subsidiarity .

No C 6 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-24 17 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

                                      - 95 / C 6 / 05

Subject : Right for private individuals to set up commercial

ports or wharves in Greece

A draft law submitted by the Greek Government will entitle
industries on the coast and commercial enterprises to set up
private commercial ports or wharves for their own use . In
view of the fact that the use of the waterfront by private
individuals :

1 . will, in all probability, exarcerbate environmental
problems, and

2 . in the Greek border areas will create a security problem
as there will be ambiguities over combating smuggling
and illegal immigration,

J

will the Commission look into this serious matter, initially
by asking the Greek Government for clarification ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The matter referred to by the Honourable Member comes
under national jurisdiction and such a decision lies with the
Greek Government in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity .

As regards security problems and measures to combat-illegal
immigration, the Commission submitted a proposal to
the Council on 10 December 1993 for a Decision (*)
establishing the Convention on controls on persons crossing
external frontiers of Member States, Article 2(1 ) and ( 3 ) of
which state that all persons crossing external frontiers shall
do so at authorized crossing points permanently controlled
by the Member States, each Member State determining the
location and opening conditions of such authorized crossing
points . This proposal is currently being examined by the
Council . When this Convention has entered into force,
Greece will have to adapt its national laws accordingly .

As regards questions of environmental protection connected
with the development of coastal areas, the Community
regulations applicable in this respect are laid down in
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ) on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment . The
scope of this Directive is limited to the categories of projects
specified in Annexes I and II to the Directive . Accordingly,
the Commission cannot at this time approach the Greek
authorities regarding the draft Law on the development and
use of coastal areas in Greece . When each individual project
authorized on the basis of that Law comes to be

implemented, however, an assessment could be required
under Article 4 of the Directive .

0 ) OJ No C 11, 15 . 1 . 1994 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2609 / 93

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 06 )

Subject : The broad lines of the White Paper on the

' European Social Model '

In recent statements, Commissioner Abel Matutes, using the
' authoritative argument ' of the evaluation put forward by
President Delors at the Council meeting in Copenhagen,
accused the ' welfare state ', that is to say, social solidarity in
terms of social security, reforms and unemployment
benefits, of being ' the principal cause of the crisis afflicting
Europe '.

In his proposed contributions to the White Paper, he
advocates ' greater flexibility in labour relations ',
" reductions in labour taxation, ' lower labour costs ', ' wage
moderation ', and a ' revision of trade union policies ' whilst
his assessment of attempts at real social dialogue, i.e. the
possible participation of workers and their organization in
defining the new ' European social model ', is reflected in the
statement that trade unions which do not understand wage
moderation as he does are 19th century creations which
need to change ".

Given that the late eighties were characterized by the
' success ' of a policy based on ' achieving greater flexibility in
the labour market ' and on ' wage moderation ' aimed at
steadily reducing the real and labour cost, can the
Commission say whether the ideas so clearly expressed by
Commissioner Matutes reflect its collective views, and
whether it is according to this agenda, aiming to accelerate
the policies which brought the Community to this situation,
and to the exclusion of the major social partners, that a
' new ' ' social model ' is to be created ?

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 5

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

There is no White Paper on the ' European Social Model '.
The Commission prepared a White Paper on Growth,
Competitiveness and Employment ( x ), which was presented
to the European Council on 10 December .

Drawing on the conclusions of the Copenhagen European
Council ( June 1993 ), the White Paper set out the
Commission 's analysis of these inter-related issues and the
measures proposed to address them .

( x ) COM(93 ) 700 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2668 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 07 )

Subject : Assistance to the Belgian company VEHA

In 1991, the Belgian company VEHA was facing
bankruptcy . A possible buyer, the Begemann Group, was
found at the last minute . Following negotiations between
the government and the Begemann Group concerning the
take-over, the Flemish Executive approved an agreement on
3 May 1991 .

This agreement provided for an investment of Bfrs 300
million by the Begemann Group in VEHA ; the transfer of
the shares held by NIM, Avefer and Quinten Matsys for Bfrs

1 ; the reduction of VEHA 's outstanding debts to Avefer to
Bfrs 92 million ; the execution by Begemann of an
investment programme for Bfrs 200 million over the next
three years ; and the taking over of VEHA 's debts to the
NMKN ( National Society for Credit to Industry )
under-written by the Region .

Of these Bfrs 390 million, of which Bfrs 386 million have
been taken up and nothing has been repaid, Begemann was
to take on Bfrs 250 million . The Flemish Region was to take
on the remaining Bfrs 136 million as well as the outstanding
interest on the guaranteed loan until 30 September 1991
( Bfrs 107 million ).

The take-over took the following form : after NMKN
received the Bfrs 243 million ( the principal plus the interest

from the Region 's guarantee ) from the Flemish Region, it
cancelled the debt so that the Flemish Region ( by
subrogation ) could not then claim it back .

The end effect was thus that the Begemann Group was paid
Bfrs 243 million by the Flemish Region upon its take-over of
the company VEHA .

1 . Was this assistance reported to the European
Commission ? If so, when ?

2 . Is this assistance compatible with Community law ? If
not, should a demand be made for it to be paid
back ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

1 . The intervention referred to by the Honourable
Member was not notified to the Commission pursuant to
Article 93(3 ) of the EEC Treaty .

2 . Further to recent reports in the press concerning the
Belgian Court of Audit 's criticism of this intervention, the
Commission requested information from the Belgian
Government in order to determine whether aid is involved

and, if so, whether the aid can be considered compatible
with the common market .

The Commission confirms its well-estabished policy to
demand systematically recovery of unnotified aid, whenever
such aid is found to be incompatible with the common
market .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2897 / 93

by Lord Ingle wood ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 08 )

Subject : Fisheries investigations

What steps is the Commission proposing to take to
investigate the matters contained in the TV programme ' The
Cook Report ', forwarded to the Commission by the British
Fisheries Minister, Michael Jack ? If the allegations
contained in it are substantiated, what steps will it take to
ensure the wrongdoers are published, these illegal activities
are not repeated, guarantee an ' even playing field ' for
the British fishing industry and to establish a proper
conservation regime to protect stocks ?

No C 6 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 ) (5 January 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the contents of the Cook
report . The shortcomings in supervision to which the
broadcast drew attention are the responsibility of the
Member States .

In the case of illegal landings the responsibility lies with the
authorities of the Member State in which the landings take
place . In respect of conformity of the fishing vessels,
including illegal holds, the responsibility lies with the flag of
the vessel, which is the licensing authority . For the
allegations in the Cook report the responsible authorities
are respectively the Spanish and the British Governments .

The new Community Control Regulation, which enters into
force on 1 January 1994, provides that Member States, in
applying sanctions, shall ensure that they are likely
effectively to deprive wrongdoers of any economic benefit
arising from the infringement or to produce results
proportionate to the seriousness of the infringements,
effectively discouraging further offences . Such sanctions
may include, inter alia, the temporary immobilisation of a
vessel or suspension or withdrawal of its licence . The
Commission has appealed to Member States to establish a
system of equivalent and dissuasive penalties .

The Commission is confident that the new Control

Regulation, with a scope extended to and integrated with all
fishing activities and policy areas, provides the means to
ensure successful and equitable application of the
Community Conservation Policy .

The site specifically mentioned by the Honourable Member
has not been classified as a Special Protection Area under
Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (*) on the conservation of
wild birds, which is the only legal basis for Community
intervention for nature conservation applicable at present ;
nor has it been identified as requiring such classification .

Nevertheless, as an important bird area is located nearby,
including the 1 750 hectare Special Protection Area of
Kalavryta Aesthetic Forest, the Commission has contacted
the competent Greek authority and obtained the following
information .

In the area of Kalavryta near the Aroanios torrent, the Rural
Development Service started a project of land re ­
distribution . In order to ensure the necessary irrigation
water, some weeks ago it started to carry out works to
enlarge and deepen the abovementioned torrent . As soon
as it was informed about these works, the Forest District
of the area took the necessary actions to prevent
any major environmental degradation of the area . The
abovementioned service was prohibited from continuing the
works by the Ministry of Environment, due to the lack of an
environmental impact assessment . Up to now, 50 Platanus
spp trees have been cut or damaged, out of a total of more
than 800 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2960 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2917 / 93 ( 20 October 1993 )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) ( 95 / C 6 / 10 )

to the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 09

Subject : Environment of the river Aroanios

The Confederation of Associations of Kalavrita alleges that
the development study for the region of Kalavrita provides
for the destruction of vegetation on the banks of the River
Aroanio,s and the felling of more than 5 000 ambient plane
trees at the source of the river .

Does the Commission intend to take up this matter and
appeal to the Greek authorities to avert this ' sacrifice ' to
development in the region ?

Subject : Community programmes to develop winter
tourism for the elderly

In reply to my Written Question No 2868 / 90 (*) to the
Commission, Mr Cardoso e Cunha recognized that ' support
for the development of off-season tourism is important ' and
later added ' the Commission is considering studying
measures to allow new sections of the population,
particularly the elderly, to enjoy the benefits of tourism in
the belief that this would be both a social measure and a

means of increasing the potential demand for tourism '.

He also stated " it is also exploring the possibility of specific
measures of benefit to the elderly in a number of areas,
tourism included, ahead of any decision to designate 1993
as ' European Year of the Elderly '".

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 7

Can the Commission say whether it has set up an ongoing
programme for promoting holidays for the elderly in tourist
areas in the south of the Community, particularly during the
winter, and whether the tourist sector in these regions can
apply through specific programmes for the promised
Commission assistance for holiday homes and small
hotels ?

H OJ No C 259, 4 . 10 . 1991, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1994 )

The programme of Community measures to promote
tourism, approved by the Council Decision of 13 July

1992 ( 1 ), does not provide for special measures to promote
tourism for older people .

However, during the European Year of Older People in

1993, the Commission supported various activities under
the programme 's ' social tourism ' measure ( conference on
' Europe 's Senior Travel Market '; report on ' Mobility and
Older People in a changing Europe '; ' Tourism 2000 '
conference ) aimed at rendering tourism more accessible to
certain groups of people .

In addition, in 1994, as part of the plan to implement the
programme 's measure relating to the staggering of holidays,
the Commission and the Member States will look into the

possibility of creating an international framework to
support pilot measures which will also include tourism for
older people .

(!) OJ No L 231, 13 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 156 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

question, in respect of which Spain is the Member State
which has notified the least number of measures : it has

submitted only 10 notifications, which represents 71 % as
compared with the 93 % achieved by Belgium, Denmark,
Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom .

Furthermore, Spain is mentioned on page 141 as being one
of the Member States which have not adopted implementing
measures in respect of the Directives relating to
transparency of prices and the transit of electricity .

Has the Commission received any overall explanation from
the Spanish Government regarding this delay, which is
greater than that experienced in other Member States ?

(!) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993, p . 1 . COM(93 ) 320 final .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the problem raised by the
Honourable Member . It has recently made direct contact
with the Spanish authorities in the energy sector with a view
to improving the situation .

As regards the specific problem of implementing measures in
respect of the Directives relating to transparency of prices
and the transit of electricity, the Commission can provide
the following information :

— Directive 90 / 547 / EEC (*) on the transit of electricity

through transmission grids has been transposed into
Spanish law ;

— Directive 90 / 377 / EEC ( 2 ) on the transparency of
electricity and gas prices has not yet been transposed into
Spanish law .

(!) OJ No L 313, 13 . 11 . 1990 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 185, 17 . 7 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 176 / 93
( 19 November 1993 )

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )
( 95 / C 6 / 11 )
to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

Subject : Relatively high failure by Spain to comply with ( 95 / C 6 / 12

Directives relating to energy

The Commission has recently submitted its Tenth Annual
Report to Parliament on the monitoring of the application
of Community law (*).

On page 143 there is a table relating to the notification of
national implementing measures in respect of Directives
applicable in the energy sector . There are 14 Directives in

Subject : Crisis in the leather and leather substitute
industry

The crisis in the leather industry affects several European
countries, but is particularly serious for the Italian economy
which numbers 20 000 undertakings with over 200 000
employees, 35 % of whom are in imminent danger of losing
their jobs .

No C 6 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Competition on the international market dictated by
countries which produce at low cost, coupled with the deep
recession in the internal market, has led to a worrying
stagnation in sales as a whole .

Given the fact that in Germany small and medium-sized
leather undertakings have been forced to close down
completely and that in Italy the situation threatens to go the
same way, will the Commission take urgent measures to
protect and safeguard the Community leather goods

sector :

1 . by reducing interest rates, since it is impossible to sustain
adequate competitiveness with the current rate ;

2 . by taking structural measures to strengthen the
undertakings involved ;

3 . by promoting marketing courses specifically for the
leather industry and support measures particularly for
small and medium-sized undertakings, all too often
worse hit than large concerns, and by establishing a
European manufacturing trade mark to guarantee
Community products ?

— stepping up the involvement of SMEs in the fourth RTD

Framework Programme, particularly by extending the
dissemination and exploitation of research results and
simplifying the procedures and conditions for
participation .

Moreover, the Commission is due to decide in early 1994 on
a package of Community initiatives under the Structural
Funds, some of which concern SMEs .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3216 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 13 )

Subject : Obligations of lorry drivers

What laws — if any — are in force in the Member States
laying down specific obligations regarding driving time and
rest time for lorry drivers ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

The leather and hide industries mainly consist of SMEs (6 May 1994 )
which have difficulty in facing up to the changes in their
industrial environment . One of the most significant of these
changes is the growing competition from low-wage
countries, which in many cases also produce raw With regard to driving and rest time for lorry drivers,
materials . Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 of 20 December 1985 on the

harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road
transport (*), which has been in force since 29 September

The survival of this sector is mainly dependent on greater
competitiveness, the Commission is currently examining
the steps to be taken to improve significantly the
competitiveness of industrial undertakings, particularly
SMEs .

Following the Council resolution of 11 November 1993
on strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises, in
particular of small and medium-sized enterprises and craft
enterprises, and developing employment in the Community,
the Commission is preparing to implement or step up a
number of measures to assist SMEs . Of the measures

proposed, mention should be made of those aimed at :

— improving the access of SMEs to quality and
certification techniques ;

— encouraging aid for investment in SMEs by the
European Investment Fund and the EIB ;  

1986, lays down specific provisions which apply to road
transport within the Community, and therefore cover
national as well as international transport .

Furthermore, all the Member States have signed the
European Agreement concerning the work of crews of
vehicles engaged in international road transport ( AETR ),
which in some circumstances applies instead of the
Community Regulation to transport to or from third
countries or in transit through those countries .

Finally, several Member States have adopted national
legislation which is compatible both with the European
Agreement and the Community legislation .

(M OJ No L 370, 31 . 12 . 1985 .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3235 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission (6 May 1994 )

( 23 November 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 14 )

Subject : Establishment of new industries in Attica without

planning or environmental impact studies

The provisional government, which is organizing the
elections, is tabling a bill for the establishment and
expansion of industries in 25 new areas of Attica . The
timing of the bill — - eight days before the elections — has
aroused fierce criticism, especially as a similar bill eight
months before was withdrawn by the same government
because of the furious reactions it provoked . This tactic
reveals the discrepancy between urban planning and
industrial policy and land use policy in Greece and
Community policy as set out in the guidelines in Council
resolution No 93 / C138 / 01 (*) and in particular those
concerning industry . Everything is done without
consultation, without a programme for the re-location of
industrial plants and, most importantly, without a body
being set up — as provided for by law — to carry out
planning and environmental studies and feasibility studies ;
as a result the need for new plants is taken for granted and
the appropriate areas are designated and the necessary
infrastructure work provided for before such legal
procedures take place .

1 . Does the Commission consider the individual controls

provided for in respect of each plant and each directive
are sufficient in the case of mass installations and the

expansion of scattered industrial plants ?

2 . Is this not a breach of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ) since an
attempt is being made to set up a large number of
industrial plants, and it is therefore not possible to carry
out the necessary environmental impact studies in
respect of work connected with the industrial estates ?

3 . What does the Commission intend to do to ensure

implementation of the guidelines of Council resolution
No 93 / C138 / 01 on a Community programme of policy
and action in relation to the environment and

sustainable development ?

4 . What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that

projects co-financed by the Community in Attica are in
keeping with environmental protection legislation ?

5 . What will it do to guarantee that the provisions laid

down in many Directives and in particular in Directive
90 / 313 / EEC ( 3 ) on the information and consultation of
the public are respected ?

(!) OJ No C 138, 17 . 5 . 1993, p . 1 .

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

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

1 . The Commission has the power to monitor
implementation by Member States of Community
environment legislation, when it is evident that there have
been infringements .

2 . In the case of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, work on the
development of industrial estates is coverd by Annex II, and
is thus subject to environmental impact assessment to the
extent that Member States consider this necessary in view of
the location or magnitude of the work .

However, general policy decisions such as that referred to
by the Honourable Member relating to large-scale
establishment of industrial installations in Attica, do not
come within the scope of this Directive .

3 . The Commission can act in its capcity as guardian of
the Treaties only to the extent that there has been a possible
violation of a Community legal instrument by a Member
State .

Resolutions are not Community instruments imposing
obligations on Member States . The resolution in question
concerns the Fifth Community Programme of policy and
action on the environment and sustainable development .

The Commission bases its action in carrying out its
legislative and executive tasks on the guidelines contained in
this resolution and in the Fifth Programme itself .

4 . The Commission has established a procedure for
environmental screening of operations financed through the
Structural Funds that is applicable in all Member States .
Member States have the obligation to provide information
and the environmental impact of regional plans submitted
under Objectives 1, 2 and 5b ( Articles 8, 9 and 11 of EC
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081 / 93 (*)) and they are also
required to ensure that any individual operation be
compatible with Community environmental policy and
legislation . The Commission takes all the necessary
measures to follow closely the correct application of this
procedure in all Member States, including Greece .

5 . In order to ensure that the procedures on public
information and consultation on environmental matters

laid down in various Community Directives are respected,
notably in Directive 90 / 313 / EEC on freedom of access to
environmental information explicitly mentioned by the
Honourable Member, the Commission, firstly, ensures that
they are correctly transposed into national legislation and,
secondly, monitors their proper application in the
framework of the powers conferred on it by the EC Treaty .
If the Commission considers that a Member State has failed

No C 6 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

in its obligations in respect of Community law, it initiates
the procedure laid down in Article 169 of the EC Treaty .

(!) OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3238 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

95 / C 6 / 15

Subject : TV licence concessions to registered blind

persons

What television licence concessions are available to

registered blind persons in each Member State within the
European Community ?

to experts, their toxic effect on the immune system is
underestimated . Further research into the effects of dioxins

is needed .

1 . What measures has the Commission taken to promote

or support such research ?

2 . Can the Commission explain how it could reject an
application for a subsidy ( J ) for research into the effects
of dioxins on mothers and neonates, arguing that :

— exposure to dioxins is currently negligible ;

— although it is known that high concentrations of

dioxins can occur in the breast-milk of exposed

      - individuals, no ill effects have been detected in their
children ?

These claims are made despite the fact that now that the
seriously contaminated population of Seveso has been
monitored for 15 years, an increased incidence of cancer
has been found ( 2 ).

(M Biomed I — No PL93-1654 — ' Dioxins + related contaminants

in the human perinatal period '.

( 2 ) Bertazzi 8c Pesatori, University of Milan, Epidemiology Vol . 4

Answer given by Mr Flynn No 5 ( 389-406 ), September 1993 .
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Ruberti

The information requested is not held by the on behalf of the Commission
Commission .
( 17 March 1994 )

The European Blind Union, which represents the interests of
people with visual impairments in the Helios II European
Disability Forum, has been asked to seek the information
from its national member organisations . The Commission
will forward any information received as soon as it is
available .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3362 / 93

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 16 )

v Subject : EC support required for dioxin research

Dioxins occur in food of animal origin and are inhaled . Even
if dioxin emissions into our environment were to cease

completely as from today, the high concentration of dioxins
accumulated in recent years would persist for years, in view
of their long half-life . Dioxins are a serious health problem
for EC citizens and repeatedly give rise to fresh problems
with regard to health and the environment . According

1 . The Commission keeps abreast of knowledge relating
to the toxicity of dioxin through its activities in the field of
public health and safety at work . It has in particular received
a report drawn up in 1985 by Dr Astrup Jansen of the
Danish National Institute for Health at Work following a
study on toxic substances in breast-milk .

Furthermore, the Commission in 1988 asked for the opinion
of the Scientific Committee on Toxicology concerning the
toxic equivalency of dioxin . It also received a report entitled
'A Critical Summary of information available on dioxin
toxic equivalency ' drawn up by J. C. Larsen of the Danish
National Food Agency .

Copies of these two reports are being sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of

Parliament .

In 1991, the Commission also called upon the services of
Community and non-Community experts, who submitted a
report on the incineration of dangerous waste and, more
especially, on :

— 1 the major sources of dioxin emissions into the
environment :

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 11

— existing technology used to reduce gaseous dioxin waste

from incineration plants ;

— methods of measuring the dioxin concentration of such

waste .

Lastly, in April 1993 it held a workshop on the
measurement of dioxin in the environment and in food .

The Commission has also played an active part in the work
carried out by the European Bureau of the World Health
Organization on the measurement of dioxin in
breast-milk .

2 . Research proposal PL 931654 ( Dioxins and related
contaminants in the human perinatal period ), to which the
Honourable Member refers, was received following the call
for proposals published at the end of 1992 in the framework
of the biomedical and health research programme .

808 research proposals were received and anonymously
assessed by independent experts from various European
countries with recognized qualifications in the fields of the
research projects concerned . This assessment procedure is
universally recognized and used in the industrial countries,
e.g. by the NIH in the USA .

With regard to proposal PL 931654, the experts felt that
exposure to dioxin was unlikely these days and, although it
is known that dioxin concentrations in breast milk are high
in exposed individuals, no pathology has ever been observed
in their offspring over a long period of time . The experts
recognized the scientific qualifications of the participants
but also expressed serious reservations regarding the project
methodology which was not sufficiently precise .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3403 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 95 / C6 / 17 )

Subject : Measures to preserve European species of
butterfly

The main reason for the extinction of 16 species of butterfly
is land drainage . In the United Kingdom and . the
Netherlands four and eight species respectively have already

become extinct and research shows that of the 380 native
species of butterfly in Europe, 96 are at risk and 15 are likely

to become extinct . What scope does the Commission have
for helping to preserve species of butterfly that are native to
Europe ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3404 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 18 )

Subject : Campaign for the protection of insects

Insects serve a vast number of useful purposes .
Entomologists note that of the million or so species of
insects that are known to man, only several thousand are
harmful . The remainder play an essential role in the food
chain and in the reproductive cycle of plants : they provide
food for small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and
fish and they disseminate pollen and destroy other harmful
species of insect . In view of this what measures does the
Commission intend to take to promote a Community
campaign to protect insects ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-3403 / 93 and E-3404 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

As the Honourable Member points out, insects are
becoming extinct or declining in numbers mainly as a result
of habitat destruction . Conservation measures must

therefore include improved habitat protection . This is the
aim of Directive 92 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of habitats

and of wild flora and fauna, which will enter into force in
June 1994 i 1 ).

Moreover, research in this field has been carried out and
published by the Council of Europe .

Mention should also be made of Regulation ( EEC )
No 2078 19 \{ 2 ) concerning agriculture and the
environment, which encourages the reduction of farm
inputs, in particular certain pesticides .

The Commission does not intend to launch a special
campaign for the protection of insects .

(!) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .

No C 6 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3534 / 93

by Alexandres Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 19 )

Subject : Biological purification problems in Athens

To meet Community standards cities the size of Athens
should be equipped with biological purification plant for
three-phase treatment of urban sewage . However, the
Community-funded Psittalia plant, will carry out only
primary treatment of effluent, which is not only domestic
but also industrial in origin, because there are no separate
facilities for industrial sewage and its treatment . It is
calculated that 115 — 120 000 cubic metres of the total of

700 000 cubic metres of waste discharged each day is
industrial in origin .

It is not possible to carry out at the second and third stages of
treatment because the first phase generates fluids containing
toxic industrial substances and it is therefore impossible to
make long-term plans for recycling water in the third stage
of treatment . In addition, the sludge produced in the first
phase of treatment is also toxic and cannot be reprocessed
for any useful purpose . Finding a suitable storage site for
this toxic sludge has also proved to be a major problem .

1 . Does the Commission believe that the plant will operate
as efficiently as planned ? Does it consider its benefits
have fallen short of expectations, particularly in
environmental terms ?

2 . What steps will it take to ensure that the Community

requirements for a three-phase biological purification
process are met in the case of Athens ?

3 . Will it finance a special study and the necessary works to
achieve an integrated system of waste management in
Attiki which would include separation of household and
industrial waste and the great benefits to be derived
from the recycling of water from the third stage of
treatment ?

4 . Given that Psittalia is a small island, do the plans make
provision for sites for the construction of second   - and
third-stage purification facilities ?

treatment systems required for agglomerations with a
population equivalent of more than 1 000 which discharge
waste water in previously identified sensitive areas .

As Greece has not yet sent the Commission a list of sensitive
areas, it is not yet possible to determine the kind of
treatment required at the Psittalia plant . In the other areas of
discharge, the timetable for the Directive ranges from
31 December 2000 to 31 December 2005 depending on the
size of the agglomerations and the nature of the receiving

waters .

It is only once this timetable comes into effect that the
Commission can approach national authorities in cases
where the Directive 's requirements are not properly
fulfilled .

Moreover, the Commission may consider financing specific
studies into the treatment of urban waste water if an official

application is made by the Greek authorities in connection
with the Community instruments applicable provided it
complies with their regulations and conditions ( e.g.
Structural Funds, Cohesion Fund, LIFE Programme,
etc .).

(!) OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3611 / 93

by John Bird ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 20 )

Subject : Age limit on permanent employment
appointments

Is the Commission aware of recruitment policies that
effectively bar applicants over the age of 35 from applying
for certain permanent positions ?

Does the Commission share my view that such ' ageism ' in
recruitment should be eradicated ?

What action is the Commission taking to ensure that

' ageism ' in recruitment is made illegal throughout the
Answer on behalf given of by the Mr Commission Paleokrassas Community ?

(6 May 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

It is the responsibility of the Member States to ensure that on behalf of the Commission
the national legislation which transposes Council Directives ( 28 February 1994 )
is applied .

With regard to Directive 91 / 271 / EEC concerning urban
waste-water treatment ( a ), the Member States have been
given until 31 December 1998 to set up the more stringent

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the answer to Written Question No 394 / 92 by Mr
Seligman ( a ).

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 13

The Commission would further add that it has to balance

the needs of individuals with the requirements of the service
as a whole . In particular, it has to recruit on the broadest
possible geographic basis and seeks to encourage more
applications from women . These objectives can best be
achieved by recruiting young and mobile candidates at an
early stage in their career .

Nevertheless the Commission acknowledges the advantages
that the experience of older citizens can bring to the
Community and will keep its policy on age limits under
review . As a result of one such recent review, it has been
decided progressively to remove the age limits for
recruitment to temporary agent posts where lengthy and
specialized experience is required .

As to the question of ' ageism ' throughout the Community,
the Commission is funding a study on the problems of older
job seekers and older people in employment . Pending receipt
of the report, the Commission does not consider that
European legislation on this subject would be
appropriate .

0 ) OJ No C 296, 24 . 10 . 1994, p . 3 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3647 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 95 / C 6 / 21

Subject : Measures to establish and map out the boundaries

of forests needing special protection in Greece

In view of the destruction of forests resulting from ( de facto
and de jure ) changes in land use, will the Commission take
steps to establish and map out all areas needing, special
protection in Greece by 1995 ?

Greece must draw up a list of the areas in question and
transpose the Directive into national law as from June 1994
at the latest .

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Question No 1940 / 93 ( 2 ).

(M OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 317, 14 . 11 . 1994, p . 5 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3690 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 22 )

Subject : Arbitration by the Community on the retirement

age

The request by certain groups of senior civil servants from
some Member States for the retirement age to be raised to 70
is in conflict with the current trend towards restrictions on

employment in general and the employment of civil servants
in particular .

Consequently, and in contrast to the above request, groups
of young people wishing to join the civil service are
continually calling for the retirement age for senior civil
servants in the national administration to be brought down
to 60 .

Does the Commission consider that it should act as an

arbitrator on this matter, and set a recommended retirement
age for senior civil servants of the Member States so as to
take account of conflicting interests in this area ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission
( 15 April 1994 )

(4 March 1994 )

If the Honourable Member 's question refers to the
protection of forest areas of importance to the Community
from the point of view of nature conservation, the mapping
and designation of these areas fall within the coherent
European ecological network of special conservation areas,
set up under the title Natura 2000 pursuant to Council
Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( l ) on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora .

First of all it should be recalled that questions concerning
retirement age come within the competence of each Member
State .

However Council Resolution of 30 June 1993 suggests
flexible retirement schemes are an appropriate response to

No C 6 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

changing demographic conditions, and points to steps taken
in some Member States to introduce partial retirement .

Mention should also be made of a report on age
discrimination sponsored by the Commission . This report
provides a valuable contribution to the dialogue between
Commission and the organisations concerned with
employment opportunities for older people .

programme in the field of transport infrastructure with a
view to the completion of an integrated transport market .
Article 4 of the new Regulation identifies in the same way
projects for co-financing . Inland waterways projects are
again not eligible, but a contribution may be made to
studies .

opportunities for older people . However, the Po inland waterway link forms part of the

trans-European inland waterway network . Council
Decision 93 / 630 / EEC of 29 October 1993 on the creation of
a trans-European inland waterway network ( 2 ) includes in
the annexed outline plan the Po project as a priority project .
Article 3 of the said Decision states that the purpose of the
network plans is to promote measures by the Member States
and, as appropriate, by the Community with the aim of
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3757 / 93 carrying out projects that are part of the network in order to

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )  - ensure its cohesion and inter-operability .

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) 

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 ) (M OJ No L 161, 2 . 7 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 305, 10 . 12 . 1993 .
( 95 / C 6 / 23 )

Subject : Po Valley-Veneto inland waterway network

The Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3359 / 90 on the
development of a European network of inland
waterways ( ! ) did not list, or assign priority to, the Po
Valley-Veneto inland waterway network, despite its
strategic importance .

( a ) Why did the Commission not include it in the list of
priorities ?

( b ) Can the Commission do its utmost to revise the
measures to promote the development of inland waterways
so as to include the Po Valley-Veneto network, given that
the Italian authorities have already allocated the first funds
for the Implementation Plan ?

0 ) OJ No L 326, 24 . 11 . 1990, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3770 / 93
by Jean-Marie Vanlerenberghe ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 24 )

Subject : List of European programmes

Could you provide me with a complete list of all the
European programmes, their budgets, rules, beneficiaries
and the qualifications needed to benefit from them ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Matutes (3 February 1994 )

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1994 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3359 / 90 for an action
programme in the field of transport infrastructure with a
view to the completion of an integrated transport market iri ­

1992 allows the co-financing of transport infrastructure
projects of Community interest . Community action
concerns studies and specific major projects indicated in
Article 3 of the Regulation . Inland waterway projects are
not eligible under this Regulation . The Regulation expired
in December 1992, but was extended till end 1994 by
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1738 / 93 ( J ) for an action

To provide an exhaustive list such as requested by the
Honourable Member would go beyond the scope of an
answer to a written question .

The Commission is sending a copy of its General Report on
the Activities of the European Communities 1992 to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat . This

Report gives an outline of the European programmes .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 15

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3840 / 93

by Gijs de Vries ( LDR )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 25 )

Subject : Patenting of the gene for cystic fibrosis

Application has been made by the university of Michigan for
a European patent on the gene for the disease cystio fibrosis .
( WO 91 / 02796 University of Michigan, ' gene CF ')

Whilst this patent application has been pending, clinics in
EC Member States carrying out screening programmes for
the cystic fibrosis gene have received demands for payment
of licensing fees and royalties from the applicants for the
patent . In addition, medical institutes undertaking research
into a cure for cystic fibrosis have also received demands for
royalties .

In Europe, mosi research into genetic disease is funded by
governments or by charitable foundations, and the
requirement to obtain licencos and pay royalties on human
genes and gene sequences will be a serious impediment to
medical research and may delay the development of
treatments to alleviate the disease or the discovery of a

cure .

The requirement to pay royalties for the use of genetic
information in screening programmes will be an increased
burden on medical services, particularly those funded by
charities, and will tend to limit the introduction of screening
for inherited diseases .

Is the Commission aware of this European patent
application ? Will the Commission raise an objection with
the European Patent Office on behalf of European genetic
researchers and clinicians ?

Answer given by Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1994 )

International application No WO 91 / 02796 was filed with
the European Patent Office on 20 August 1990 and
euro-PCT application ( No 90912428.1 ) has entered the
regional stage . Three Member States, Greece, Ireland and
Portugal are not affected by the application, which is being
examined at present .

With regard to the demands of the applicants, HSC
Research Development Corporation and the University of
Michigan, that certain clinics and medical institutes which
are looking for a cure for cystic fibrosis should pay licensing

fees and royalties although the patent grant procedure has
not been completed, the Commission is of the view that
Article 67 of the Convention on the Grant of European
Patents is the basic reference . Article 67 provides that, as
from the date of publication, the European patent
application provisionally confers protection on the
applicant on condition that a translation of the claims is
made available to the national patent offices which require
it . The application in question was published on 7 March

1991 .

The Commission wishes to state that the various national

legislations of the Member States on patents for inventions
specify that the rights conferred by a patent do not extend to
experiments on the subject matter of the patented
invention .

Thus the Commission is unable to act along the lines
proposed by the Honourable Member .

With regard to matters liked to the patentability of human
genes, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer
given by the Commission to Written Question No 4 / 92 by
Mr Enrique Sapena Granell on the patenting of living matter
produced by biotechnology ( 1 ).

H OJ C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3874 / 93

by Bartho Pronk ( PPE ) and Ria Oomen-Ruijten ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 26 )

Subject : Pollution of the Meuse by chemical discharges in

Belgium

For the eighth time this year in Belgium there has been
pollution involving di-isopropyl ether and tri-butyl
phosphate which is 30 times the alarm level . The water
collection station ' Waterwinberdrijf de Brabantse
Biesbosch ' has been idle for 20 % of this year because of
persistent pollution of the water of the Meuse .

Further to Written Question No 718 / 92 ( a ):

1 . Has the Commission been informed of the latest

incident of pollution of the Meuse ?

No C 6 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

2 . Does the Commission feel that the Member States

through which the Meuse runs are complying with the
Directives applicable to the Meuse ?

3 . Can the Commission establish whether the monitoring
carried out by the Belgian state, of the Walloon regional
authorities, is adequate and to what extent any
shortcomings in this respect are a threat to the
drinking-water supplies of Belgium and the
Netherlands ?

4 . Has the Commission achieved any results from the

energetic enquiries following written question of 6 April

1992 on the Directives applicable to the Member States
through which the Scheldt runs, with regard to Article 7
of Directive 76 / 464 / EEC ( 2 )?

5 . Does the Commission intend to take the Belgian
Government to court again in connection with failure to
apply Directive 75 / 440 / EEC ( 3 ) and to use the option of
penalty payments as provided for in the Treaty of
Maastricht, in accordance with Article 171 EEC ?

(!) OJ No C 283, 20 . 10 . 1993, p . 7 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976, p . 23 .

regards a second judgment by the Court of Justice and the
penalties to be imposed in such a case .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3894 / 93

by Hugh McMahon ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 27

Subject : European Year of the Elderly and Solidarity

between Generations

Can the Commission inform Parliament what future
proposals it has to follow up this year after the successful
Seniors ' Parliament and the Declaration of the Social Affairs

Council of 23 November 1993 ?

( 3 ) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 26 .
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

1 . The Commission has not been officially informed of
the situation to which the Honourable Members refer .

2 . The Honourable Members are referred to the answer

given by the Commission to Written Question
No 718 / 92 .

3 . From what the Honourable Members say this seems to
be accidental pollution which should be governed by the
concertation procedure established between the authorities
of each Member State and the drinking-water suppliers .

4 . Enquiries into the absence of a programme to reduce
the pollution of surface waters based on the quality
objectives set out in Article 7 of Directive 76 / 464 / EEC on
pollution caused by certain dangerous substances
discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community
are still ongoing . The Commission will inform the
Honourable Members of the results of this enquiry and of
the measures to be taken thereon .

5 . The Commission is reviewing its policy regarding
measures based on Article 171 of the EC Treaty, as amended
by the Treaty on European Union, and in particular as

As announced by Commissioner Flynn in the closing
conference of the European Year of Older People and
Solidarity between Generations, the Commission is
currently preparing a new action programme for older
people . It is hoped that a proposal can be presented in the
first half of 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3978 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 28

Subject : Establishment of a quarry and a cement
production plant in Aegina without a study of the
environmental consequences

Plans have been drawn up to open a quarry and a cement
production plant in the region of Konto in Aegina ; however,
these plans have met with a resistance from local
organizations . They point out that no environmental impact
study has been carried out in respect of the quarry and it is
expected that the dust and cement will pose a health threat
for the inhabitants and also disfigure the historical site of

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 17

Palaia Chora which is nearby and must be protected since it
contains 365 byzantine churches . What steps can the
Commission take to call for a ban on the establishment of a

quarry in this specific region ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

incorporating these Directives into national law . A formal
notice of complaint has been sent to the Greek authorities
regarding 91 / 244 / EEC and a reasoned opinion has been
delivered regarding 90 / 220 / EEC .

(4 May 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4027 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Although the Commission shares the concern of the
Honourable Member with regard to the adverse impact of
these activities on public health and historical sites in the
area, there are no legal instruments which give it the
authority to take action against the Greek authorities as
there is currently no specific Community legislation in these

areas .

The only Community reference for assessing the
environmental impact of these projects is Directive
85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment ( 1 ).
Nevertheless it is up to the Greek authorities to decide
whether the quarry and cement production plant in Aegina
warrant an impact assessment .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3999 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 29 )

Subject : Implementation of Directives 91 / 244 / EEC and

90 / 220 / EEC by Greece

Will the Commission say whether the Greek authorities are
respecting Directives 91 / 244 / EEC (*) and 90 / 220 / EEC ( 2 )?

(!) OJ No L 115, 8 . 5 . 1991, p . 41 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990, p . 15 .

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 30 )

Subject : Information concerning the environment

According to the results of a survey conducted by
Eurobarometer, there is considerable demand for
information concerning the environment . For each of the 15
sectors analyzed in the survey, between 61 and 88 % of
those asked felt that better information was of particular
importance .

In the Community as a whole, with the exception of
Denmark, three out of four citizens with national
percentages ranging from 76 to 92% — want better
information on :

— the environmental risks posed by certain products in

everyday use,

— what to do in the event of an industrial accident or a

natural or technological disaster,

— safe methods of disposing of certain kinds of waste

( mineral oils, pharmaceutical products, paint, batteries,
packaging materials, etc .),

— the risks of nuclear irradiation .

In view of the results of this survey, does the Commission
feel that it would be appropriate to improve the resources
and measures used to inform European citizens on questions
relating to the environment ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission
( 22 April 1994 )
(5 May 1994 )

Greece has not yet transposed into national law Directives
91 / 244 / EEC amending Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the
conservation of wild birds and 90 / 220 / EEC on the
deliberate release into the environment of genetically
modified organisms .

The Commission has already instituted proceedings against

Greece for failure to communicate any measure

On 1 February 1993, the Council approved a Community
programme of policy and action relating to the environment
and sustainable development (*) presenting a new strategy
for solving environmental problems . Public information and
education is an essential part of this strategy ( chapter 7.5 of
the programme ). In order to promote these ideas, the
Commission has set up a communication network with the
representatives of regional and local authorities and with
non-governmental organizations . In addition, every year it

No C é / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

finances general awareness-raising activities relating to the
environment . The Commission has also set up a network of
local urban initiative centres to inform citizens and social

and economic operators about Community policy on the
urban environment and encouraging them to participate .
Lastly, by setting up a general advisory Forum the
Commission could benefit from the advice and experience
of various sectors for in-depth discussion of Community
environment policy .

As regards awareness-raising in general, the Commission
has adopted new measures to improve information services
for the public and groups particularly concerned . Within
the framework of this new approach, information on
Community environment policy is an important element,
targeted at political and economic decision-makers and the
public at large, and making greater use of existing
structures - such as the Commission 's office in the Member

States .

As regards more specific measures concerning
environmental education and training, the Commission
would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to
Written Question No 2420 / 93 ( 2 ).

(M OJ No C 138, 17 . 5 . 1993 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 296, 24 . 10 . 1994, p . 33 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4078 / 93

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The project forms part of the trans-European network of
combined transport ( Council Decision 93 / 628 / EEC ) (*) and
therefore is, in principle, eligible for Community
co-financing .

The Dutch authorities have requested Community financial
support for the Betuwe line under the Transport
Infrastructure Programme 1993 / 94 which is based on
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1738 / 93 of 25 June 1993 for
an action programme in the field of transport infrastructure
with a view to the completion of an integrated transport
market ( 2 ) ( B5-700 ).

The project was included in the draft Commission proposal
for the allocation of the 1994 budget . The Committee on
transport infrastructure expressed on 24 March 1994 a
favourable opinion on the proposal and the Commission
expects to decide upon it before the summer . The proposed
financial support amounts to ECU 12 million for 1994 .

The Betuwe line, with its extension to Germany, appears as
one of the 26 priority projects in the white paper on growth,
competitiveness, employment ( 3 ). The Commission is in
close cooperation with the Dutch authorities at present
concerning the possibilities for the realization of the project
including an active participation of the private sector . In this
respect the Dutch authorities have been invited to explore all
possible scenarios for financing .

by Nel van Dijk ( V ) (!) OJ No L 305, 10 . 12 . 1993 ; COM(94 ) 106, 29 . 3 . 1994 .

to the Commission ( 2 ) OJ No L 161, 2 . 7 . 1993 .
( 3 ) COM(93 ) 700 final .

(1 February 1994 )

( 95 / C6 / 31 )

Subject : Uncertainties surrounding the funding of the

Betuwe line

What financial commitments has the Commission given to
the Dutch Minister Mrs Maij regarding support for the
Betuwe line ? More specifically, how much money is
involved, and over what period and in what form will the
funds be released ? From what source will they be
drawn ?

What basis does the minister have for claiming that she has
been promised F1 300 million, especially bearing in mind
that the entire European budget for 1994 for the priority
plan for infrastructure is only ECU 200 million ?

Will the conclusions of the Brussels European Council ( 10
and 11 December 1993 ) concerning loans for infrastructure
projects have any consequences for the sums apparently
promised to Mrs Maij ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4079 / 93

by Enrique Sapena Granell ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 32

Subject : Trans-European route via Somport
( Spain — France )

The French and Spanish Governments have for some years
been considering drilling a road tunnel under Puerto del
Somport to facilitate traffic through the Central
Pyrenees .

What assistance has the Community provided in recent
years for this project ?

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 19

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3359 / 90 for an action
programme in the field of transport infrastructure with a
view to the completion of an integrated transport market in

What steps will the Commission take to prevent the
construction of the incinerator until the statutory minimum
requirements have been complied with ?

4 . What steps will the Commission take to ensure that

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC is complied with in this case ?

5 . Pursuant to Directive 84 / 360 / EEC ( 3 ), France is required

to provide Belgium with minimal details of its plans .
This did not happen .

1992 ( x ), the Community is co-financing some 25 % of the steps
total cost of the Somport Tunnel from the 1990 and 1991 construction of the incinerator
budgets, granting a total of ECU 29 million ( ECU 15 million requirements have been complied
to Spain and ECU 14 million to France ). This amount covers
only improvements the tunnel to and the RN immediate 134 . access roads and not (!) ( 2 ) OJ OJ No No L L 194 175,, 25 5 . 7 . 7 . 1985 . 1975, p, p . 40 . 39 . .
( 3 ) OJ No L 188, 16 . 7 . 1984, p . 20 .
(*) OJ No L 326, 24 . 11 . 1990 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-20 / 94 (5 May 1994 )

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

(8 February 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 33 )

Subject : Household waste incinerator in Halluin ( France )

In 1992, the Conseil de la Commuriaute Urbaine de Lille
( France ) approved a long-term plan for the disposal of
household waste in its area .

It is intended to build a gigantic incinerator at Halluin
( France, close to the border with Belgium ) in order to burn
all the household waste from the Lille conurbation .

There is an obsolete and heavily polluting incinerator at
Menen ( Belgium ), 1 km from Halluin . IVMO, the
inter-communal household waste disposal association, is
planning to spend tens of millions of Belgian francs on
upgrading this incinerator .

1 . Can the Commission confirm that the French plans are
inconsistent with Directive 75 / 442 / ErEC ( a )?

2 . What action will the Commission take to ensure that

Directive 75 / 442 / EEC is complied with ?

3 . The French incinerator will have adverse consequences

for Belgium ( air pollution, toxic fallout, etc .). A
Franco-Belgian environmental impact assessment
would appear necessary, on the basis of Directive

85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 )?

However, no such assessment has been carried out .

Can the Commission confirm that an environmental

impact assessment is required in this case ?

1 . and 2 . Under Directive 75 / 442 / EEC on waste, as last
amended by Directive 91 / 156 / EEC (*) there is nothing J:o
stop the construction of an incinerator as long as the project
complies with the provisions of Articles 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the
Directive,

3 . Article 7 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC obliges the Member
State in which the project is to be constructed to provide any
Member State likely to be affected by it with the information
gathered in the environmental impact procedure .

As regards projects covered by Annex II, including
household waste elimination installations, however, this is
only possible where the Member State in question, acting in
accordance with Article 4(2 )* feels that the characteristics of
the project call for an environmental impact assessment .

4 . and 5 . The information provided by the Honourable
Member does not show the Commission whether the
Belgian authorities have asked ( the French authorities ) for
the information connected with the installation of a waste

incinerator in Halluin .

Were this to be the case and had the Belgian authorities riot
received satisfaction from the French authorities Belgium
could lodge a complaint with the European judicial bodies
for failure to comply with the provisions of Article 10 of
Directive 84 / 360 / EEC and Article 7 of Directive

85 / 337 / EEC .

(!) OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991 .

No C 6 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

QUESTION E-64 / 94 When the Greek authorities have provided the necessary

Ephremidis ( GUE ) explanations, the Commission will reserve the right to carry

to the Commission out any checks that may be required .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-64 / 94

by Vassilis Ephremidis ( GUE )

( 14 January 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 34 )

Subject : The dismissal of 700 workers at the Lekkas textile

company

On 3 January the textile firm Lekkas Ltd dismissed all its
factory workers and closed down its plant .

The workers have reported that Lekkas is refusing to pay
them the wages they are still owed and that it will not even
pay them the compensation to which they are legally
entitled .

The firm has received several hundred million drachmas

from Community funds — to overhaul its production
potential and increase output — and Community subsidies
for training seminars for its workers .

It is clear that Lekkas has failed to comply with any of the
terms laid down for funding from Community funds .

Has the Commission carried out checks on the use of the

funds ? Does it intend to do so and does it intend to take the
necessary steps to safeguard the workers ' jobs, ensure the
continued operation of the factories and impose penalties on
the firm 's managers with a view to ensuring that the funds
are repaid and used for the benefit of the workers ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1994 )

The Commission has asked the Greek authorities ( the
OAED in the case of ESF funding and the Ministry of
Economic Affairs in the case of ERDF funding ) to provide it
with precise information on the Community and national
aid received by the firm Lekkas Ltd for capital investment
and vocational training purposes . In addition, the Greek
authorities have been asked to state their position regarding
the partial or total recovery of these funds if it should
transpire that some of the provisions of Article 20 of Greek
Law No 1892 have not been observed .

If the Greek authorities recover part or all of the national
and Community funding provided, the latter will be
deducted from the Community programmes co-financing
measures of this kind .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 17 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

95 / C 6 / 35

Subject : Safety of ships ' passengers and crew

What measures has the Commission taken — if any — as
regards the safety of the passengers and crews of ships in the
Member States of the European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission communication on a common policy on
safe seas adopted on 24 February 1993 (*) contains an
action programme providing for priority measures which
the Community and the Member States will have to take in
order to improve safety at sea and pollution prevention .

In its Resolution of June 1993, the Council welcomed this
communication and asked the Commission and the

Member States to follow the action programme contained in
it .

The Commission is therefore working on a proposal for a
directive laying down common safety standards for
passenger vessels which are not in the Inernational
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( Solas ). By this
means it intends to establish a uniform standard of safety of
persons and goods at sea for all European citizens using
these vessels .

At the end of November 1993 an agreement was reached in
the Council on a proposal concerning the minimum level of
training for maritime occupations ( 2 ), which is designed to
broaden the application of the training standards as laid
down in the IMO Convention of 1978 on Standards of

Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers

( STCW ) on board all the vessels registered in the
Community or using Community ports and to improve
communication among multilingual crews .

Finally, attention is drawn on the one hand to Council
Directive 89 / 391 / EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 21

of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and
health of workers at work ( 3 ), to a number of its separate
Directives and to a proposal for a separate Directive
concerning transport activities and workplaces on means of
transport which is currently before the Council . Also, the
Council Directive of 31 March 1992 ( 4 ) concerns medical
assistance on board ships . All of these Directives contain
provisions regarding training or information for the
workers concerned .

(!) COM(93 ) 66 final .
( 2 ) COM(93 ) 217 final .

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

( 4 ) OJ No L 113, 30 . 4 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-192 / 94

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

the notified bodies may not require product tests to be
carried out to establish whether the quality control system is
working properly ?

(!) OJ No L 220, 30 . 8 . 1993, p . 23 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 189, 20 . 7 . 1990, p . 17 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 169, 12 . 7 . 1993, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1994 )

The Commission considers that, when carrying out
surveillance under modules D, E and H, notified bodies
must also be able to test products to verify that quality
control systems actually ensure that the products meet the
requirements laid down in the relevant EC directives . In any
case there is no - ban on such product testing .

( 95 / C 6 / 36 )
Under the Council Decision of 22 July 1993 concerning the
modules for the various phases of the conformity assessment
procedures, harmonized methods for the assessment of

testing by notified bodies in certain conformity were introduced, to enable the authorities in the

procedures Member States to ensure that the products placed on the

market meet the essential requirements laid down in the
technical harmonization Directives in order to provide, in

of 22 July 1993 concerning the particular, for the health and safety of users and
phases of the conformity assessment consumers .

Subject : Ban on product testing by notified bodies in certain

conformity assessment procedures

The Council Decision of 22 July 1993 concerning the
modules for the various phases of the conformity assessment
procedures and the rules for the affixing and use of the CE
conformity marking, which are intended to be used in the
technical harmonization Directives ( 93 / 465 / EEC ) (*)
includes modules providing for the assessment and
surveillance by notified bodies of manufacturers ' quality
control systems ( modules D, E and H ). These modules have
already been incorporated in a number of EC Directives for
example the Directive on active implantable medical devices

( 90 / 385 / EEC ) ( 2 ) and the Directive on medical devices
( 93 / 42 / EEC ) ( 3 ).

In some cases the provisions of the modules have been
interpreted in such a way that the notified bodies are not
allowed to carry out product tests as part of their
surveillance duties . It appears that the inspections permitted
under modules D, E and H when the designated bodies can,
if necessary, carry out tests to ensure that the quality control
system is functioning properly may not include product
testing . Hence, even in borderline cases, the notified body
would not be able to carry out product tests to establish
whether the manufactured products are in conformity with
the designs or documentation . Any defects in the product
would evidently not emerge until the products were actually
used, with possibly serious consequences for the life and
health of the user .

Does the Commission believe that, in furtherance of their
surveillance duties in accordance with modules D, E and H,

Conformity assessment is divided into modules which relate
to the design phase and production phase . Three of these
modules ( D, E and H ) provide for conformity assessment
based on quality assurance techniques, for which the EN
29000 harmonized standards have been drawn up . The
application of a harmonized Euro-standard creates a
' presumption of conformity ', i.e. the requirements described
in the module concerned are considered to have been met .

Module D ( production quality assurance, EN 29002 ) and
Module E ( product quality assurance, EN 29003 ) relate
only to the production phase ; their application is, as a rule,
preceded by an ' EC type examination ' ( module B ) carried
out by a notified body . This is the case, for example, with the
application of Directive 90 / 385 / EEC on active implantable
medical devices . Module H ( full quality assurance, EN
29001 ), on the other hand, describes a complete conformity
assessment procedure covering both design and production
phases . In this case, the full quality assurance system must
ensure that the manufacturer takes every precaution and
carries out all the essential tests ( initial project
specifications, guidance, verification ) to see that the project
meets the relevant safety requirements laid down in the
Directive or Directives .

Assessment of the various quality assurance systems and, in
particular, of the full quality assurance system, cannot leave

No C 6 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

out of account the product concerned or the requirements
applying to it . For this reason, modules D, E and H expressly
provide that, in addition to the documents relating to the
quality assurance system, the manufacturer must also
provide the notified body with all the data relating to the
product category and, where modules D and E are applied,
the technical dossier relating to the approved type and a
copy of the EC type-approval certificate . With regard to the
notified bodies, the modules provide that at least one
member of the auditing team must be experienced as an
assessor in the product technology concerned .

The purpose of the surveillance carried out by the notified
bodies is to ensure that the manufacturer fulfils to the letter

his obligations under the approved quality assurance
system, the aim of which is to ensure that the products meet
the requirements of Community law . Audits and
unannounced inspections of the manufacturer 's plant are
two ways of doing this . Product tests which may prove
necessary on such occasions are neither ruled out nor
banned .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-239 / 94

by Vassilis Ephremidis ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 95 / C6 / 37 )

Subject : Ship - wrecks of the Marika 7 and the Arctic

Reefer

The wholesale liberalization of the maritime transport
sector has removed all controls from shipping companies
and shipowners : they use down-graded and obsolete vessels
which fly flags of convenience, are more than 15 years old
and do not meet any international operating or maintenance
norm . Liberalization has also permitted multilingual crews
and produced ' lax ' registers in order to ensure the largest
possible profit regardless of the cost of human lives and the
consequences for the environment .

In the Mediterranean, for example, despite the greater risk
(3 to 4 times more accidents than in the North Sea ) there is
still only partial radio-navigation coverage and an almost
total absence of VTS systems .

Following the recent accidents involving the Marika 7 and
the Arctic Reefer, which cost 52 lives, will the Commission
take the necessary measures to improve the working and
living conditions of seafarers and eliminate multilingual
crews, and will it provide the necessary incentives for the

construction of new ships in European shipyards, to modern
technical standards, and will it take the necessary steps to
check the condition, maintenance and operation of old
ships, which are involved in 74% of accidents ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

A comprehensive reply to the Honourable Member 's
question can be found in the Commission 's communication
on a common policy on safe seas adopted on 24 February
1993 . The communication was approved by the Council on
8 June 1993 and recently endorsed by Parliament . A large
number of measures have already been proposed and
adopted to implement the action programme which forms
part of the communication . They concern ship components,
control by the flag state and control by the port state
irrespective of the flag the vessel is flying . Special attention is
paid to dilapidated vessels, bulk carriers and tankers .

With regard to the VTS and radio-navigation systems in the
Mediterranean, the Commission recently presented a
proposal for a Decision concerning the development of a
trans-European transport network to the Council and
Parliament . This Decision includes specific provisions for
projects in the field of electronic maritime navigation aids .
Several projects in the Mediterranean have already been
financed by the Cohesion Fund .

As regards multilingual crews, in May 1993 the
Commission presented a proposal for a Directive to the
Council, which requires inter alia that members be able to
communicate in a common language with each other and
with passengers .

Lastly, as regards the health and safety of crews, the
Commission would remind the Honourable Member that
Council Directive 89 / 391 / EEC of 12 June 1989 ( l ) on the
introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the
safety and health of workes at work entered into force on
31 December 1992 . In order that this Directive may be
applied more specifically in the transport sector and to
establish a minimum level of safety for places of work on
board ships and other means of transport, the Commission
has sent the Council a proposal for a Directive concerning
minimum health and safety requirements for transport
activities and work places aboard means of transport .

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

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION E-278 / 94

by Wilfried Telkämper ( V )

to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

95 / C 6 / 38 )

Subject : Application of the environmental information

Directive by Germany

In replying to this question, the Commission is asked also to
refer to the letters of complaint to the Commission of
7 December 1993 from W. Mecklenburg and of 8 December
1993 from the Landesnaturschutzverband Schleswig Holstein ( Schleswig-Holstein Nature Conservancy
Association ).

In these letters the Commission was informed that the

German road construction authorities, or at least those
in Schleswig-Holstein, refuse to apply Directive
90 / 313 / EEC I 1 ) directly .

The German authorities take the view that road

construction authorities are not ' public authorities with
responsibilities relating to the environment ', and therefore
are not public authorities as defined in Article 2(b ) of the
Directive .

For similar reasons, the energy authorities refuse to release
information, for example in connection with the approval of
the construction of a power line .

1 . Has this application of Directive 90 / 313 / EEC in

Germany been brought to the Commission 's attention in
any other way ?

2 . Does the Commission consider that Directive
90 / 313 / EEC is being interpreted correctly if the road
construction authorities do not apply it ?

3 . Or does the Commission believe that road construction
authorities are indeed public authorities with
responsibilities relating to the environment, as defined
in Directive 90 / 313 / EEC, and that they are therefore
subject to the requirement to provide information
pursuant to the Directive ?

responsibilities, and possessing information, relating to the
environment .' The Commission takes the view that road
building authorities do have responsibilities in this sphere,
as roads can have a considerable impact on our fauna, flora,
soil, water, air, countryside and climate .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 10 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 39 )

Subject : Fictitious courses organized by the textile
manufacturer, Lekkas

Workers made redundant by the Greek textile
manufacturer, Lekkas, recently claimed that in 1991 the
company ' organized ' fictitious courses and pocketed Drs

1,3 billion from the Community . Will the Commission seek
to clarify this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the answers given by
the Commission to Written Question No 64 / 94 by Mr
Ephremidis (*) and Oral Question H-231 / 94 by Mr
Ribeiro ( 2 ).

(') See page 20 .
( 2 ) Debates of the European Parliament, OJ Annex No 3-444

( March 1994 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-371 / 94

(!) OJ No L 158, 23 . 6 . 1990, p . 56 . by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 40 )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Subject : Greenhouse effect and motorways

1 . No . Has effect the of Commission the expected quantified extra motor the vehicle effect on traffic the greenhouse which will

be generated as a result of the 12 000 kilometres of new
2 . and 3 . For the purposes of Directive 90 / 313 / EEC, motorways to be built in the next 10 years with the help of
public authorities are ' any public administration . . . with EU funds ?

No C 6 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

WRITTEN QUESTION E-407 / 94

on behalf of the Commission

by Dimitrios Dessylas ( CG )
(4 May 1994 ) to the Commission

(2 March 1994 )
To date the Commission has not undertaken any such ( 95 / C 6 / 42
quantification exercise .

Subject : Very severe problems facing producers of table

olives in Greece

WRITTEN QUESTION E-378 / 94

by Gerd Miiller ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 41

Subject : Additional control and intervention powers of the

Austrian customs authorities

Since 1 July 1993, the Austrian customs authorities have
been endowed with comprehensive control and intervention

powers .

The comprehensive vehicle controls at the Austrian borders
result in waiting periods similar to those seen in the early
eighties .

What initiatives does the Commission intend to take in
connection with the on-going transport negotiations in
order to put an end to this situation ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission has so far not received complaints by
Member States or hauliers regarding an increased number or
strictness of vehicle checks at the German-Austrian

border .

As noted in the question, Austrian customs personnel have,
since 1 July 1993, been vested with new control authority
which includes technical checks on vehicles . It would appear
that, at some crossing points and by some customs officials,
technical checks may have been applied more strictly than
before July 1993, causing certain delays . However, these
problems have recently been attenuated if not solved by
bilateral contacts between the German and Austrian

authorities .

If the Commission receives any precise information about
hindrances and delays for vehicles going into Austria, it
could raise the issue in the framework of the Transit

Committee of the EC - Austria Transit Agreement .

In the ongoing accession negotiations with Austria, the
Community has requested of Austria the elimination of
border controls from the date of accession .

The livelihood of the 50 000 table-olive producers in Greece
is under very serious threat, for the following reasons :

1 . The stubborn refusal by the Commission of the

European Communities to establish a Common
Organization of the Market for this product ( involving
intervention prices, aid for processing and
standardization, export subsidies and income support
for producers );

2 . The elimination and prohibition of national measures to

support this product and producers ' incomes ;

3 . The loss of traditional markets in Eastern Europe which

used to account for between 40 % and 50 % of Greek

exports ;

4 . The existence of large unsold stocks of more than

30 000 tonnes which constitute a heavy financial
burden for producers and cooperatives ; and

5 . The ban, for historical reasons, on replacing table olives

by other crops in certain areas of the country ( for
example, in the Prefecture of Phocida, owing to the need
to protect and maintain the site of Delphi ); producers
receive no income support whatsoever .

Will the Commission say what immediate measures it
intends to take to deal with these very acute problems facing
producers of table olives in Greece (a product which also
contributes to protection of the environment )? Does it
intend to allow national measures to be taken to support this
product and producers ' incomes ? Will it grant income
support, particularly to producers in the Prefecture of
Phocida for the role they play in conserving the historical site
of Delphi ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission is following developments in the
table-olives sector with close attention . This product has
already benefited from substantial Community aid as part
of the structural measures established by Regulations
( EEC ) No 355 / 77 ( 1 ), ( EEC ) No 1360 / 78 ( 2 ) and ( EEC )
No 797 / 85 ( 3 ).

The table olives sector is now one of those for which

Community financed programmes can be established under
existing structural measures provided for in Regulations :

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 25

— ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 ( 4 ), as regards operational
programmes under the reformed Structural Funds ;

— ( EEC ) No 866 / 92 ( 5 ), as regards the processing and

marketing of agricultural products ; and

— ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 ( 6 ), as regards modernizing
agricultural holdings . r

Member States can also include programmes for this
product in the Community support frameworks if they
consider this appropriate .

In addition to these structural measures, the Council
adopted Regulation ( EEC ) No 1332 / 92 introducing specific
measures for table olives ( 7 ).

This provides for part-financing of promotion measures to
increase consumption of table olives in the Community, and
for measures to encourage producer groups or associations
thereof to constitute working capital for the purpose of
stabilizing supply .

However, as yet the Commission has received no
applications for part-financing of aid for such working
capital .

Finally, it should be recalled that the Community actively
participates in the financing of promotion carried out by
the International Olive Oil Council in the principal
non-Community consumer countries .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

As with any directive relying on national laws to implement
the Community obligations, any difficulties at national level
with implementation of Directive 91 / 271 / EEC concerning
urban waste-water treatment will depend on the specific
implementing measures taken by each Member State .

This applies, in particular, to the more stringent treatment
imposed in the sensitive areas identified by the Member
States on their national territory before 31 December 1993,
pursuant to Article 5 of the Directive .

The Commission has no plans to propose any amendment to
this Directive, which was adopted unanimously by the
Council on 21 May 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-424 / 94

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

(!) OJ No L 51, 23 . 2 . 1977 . (3 March 1994 )
( 2 ) OJ No L 166, 23 . 6 . 1978,
( 3 ) OJ No L 93, 30 . 3 . 1985 . ( 95 / C 6 / 44 )
( 4 ) OJ No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988 .
( 5 ) OJ No L 91, 7 . 4 . 1992 .
( 6 ) OJ No L 318, 6 . 8 . 1991 .
( 7 ) OJ No L 145, 27 . 5 . 1992 . Subject : Danish Humana association

(3 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 44 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-420 / 94

by Karl-Heinz Florenz ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

A number of press investigations, including the programme
' Au nom de la loi ' broadcast on the Belgian channel RTBF1
on 19 January, have endeavoured to uncover the Danish
Humana-Tvind ' empire ', which uses a charitable facade to
mask a multi-national organization of private firms and
schools .

( 95 / C 6 / 43 The Humana second-hand shops which have expanded
throughout Europe are all based on the same principle :
profits from the sale of clothing are used to subsidize

Subject : Implementation of Directive 91 / 271 / EEC ' development projects ' which are in fact private firms
concerning urban waste-water treatment belonging association to DAPP Tvind . and run by the development cooperation

Is the Commission aware that the Member States are having
difficulty with the time frame prescribed by Directive The association recently attracted attention through its
91 / 271 / EEC (*) for the introduction of a third treatment schools, particularly in Brussels, which are presented as
stage at municipal waste water treatment plants, and has it being devoted to the re-integration of marginalized young
therefore considered proposing an amendment to permit people . As such, they have received large grants from the
derogations ? Danish public authorities . Criticism is now mounting : in

Great Britain, parents have protested at the ' brain-washing '
(M OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991, p . 40 . methods used by two schools in Norwich and Hull .

No C 6 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Can the Commission say :

1 . whether inquiries have been conducted into the
activities of this multi-national in the Member States

concerned ;

2 . what view the Commission takes of the association 's

methods ;

3 . whether this multi-national has received aid from the

European Community through its charitable,
Third-World or educational non-profit-making
associations ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

The Commission does not have any relations with the
associations, foundations and societies linked to the TVIND
schools and does not provide financial aid for their activities
in the Community . The Commission has had confirmation
from the Danish authorities that no project subsidised under
the Community Human Resources scheme has any
connection with the Humana-TVIND association .

Some NGO co-financing under the development
cooperation policy did at one time involve organizations in
the TVIND network ( Development Aid from People to
People, Travelling High School Vamdrup, Travelling High
School Tvind, International Continuation School Tvind ).
However, as a result of doubts about the quality of the
NGO 's linked to the TVIND network, the Commission
undertook an in-depth assessment of their activities in the
developing countries . On the basis of the results all
cooperation with this network was stopped in 1986 .

The Commission can neither confirm nor deny that surveys
of these associations, foundations and societies have been
undertaken in certain Member States but is, like the
Honourable Member, aware that strong reservations about
these activities have been expressed in various articles,"
reports and broadcasts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-434 / 94

by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 45 )

Subject : Waste control

The local and regional authorities have drawn up a
large-scale project for the Gibraltar area ( Andalusia ), to be

partly financed by the European Union, for the treatment of
urban waste water discharged into the bay of Algeciras . The
plan is intended to implement Directive 91 / 271 / EEC (*) on
urban waste water treatment .

When the project is finalized, bearing in mind that an
ambitious project for treating waste-water from industries
situated along the coast has already been carried out, the
only waste water to be discharged into the bay will be
untreated waste-water from Gibraltar, which is currently
discharged at four different points and not subject to any
type of treatment .

It is not known whether the UK or Gibraltan authorities

have drawn up any plans to rectify the situation and comply
with the above Directive . Moreover, the Directive set the
date of 31 December 1993 at the latest for Member States to

establish a programme for the implementation of the
Directive, and the provisions necessary to comply with the
Directive should have entered into force in the Rock ( of
Gibraltar ) six months earlier, i.e. 30 June 1993 .

Bearing in mind, furthermore, that the bay of Algeciras is
identifiable as a ' sensitive area ' within the meaning of
Annex II, A.(a)(ii ), the deadline for the treatment of waste
water is 31 December 1998, or, if it does not count as a

' sensitive area ', 31 December 2005 at the latest .

Can the Commission state whether it is aware of the

abovementioned situation ?

What steps does it intend to take in this respect ?

Has the bay of Algeciras been classified as a ' sensitive
area '?

(!) OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Neither the UK nor the Spanish authorities have so far sent
the Commission a list of their sensitive areas or of their
formal legal provisions transposing the Directive concerned
into national law .

The Commission therefore has no information about the
situation described in the Bay of Algeciras and Gibraltar .

Furthermore, in accordance with Article 9 of the Directive it
is quite clear that if it has been shown that Spanish waters in
the Bay of Algeciras are being adversely affected by
discharges of urban waste water from Gibraltar, the

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 27

Member States concerned should without delay organize,
where appropriate with the Commission, the concertation
necessary to identify the discharges in question and the
measures to be taken at source to protect the waters that are
affected in order to ensure conformity with the provisions of
this Directive .

If these Spanish waters have been identified as sensitive
areas, the application of Article 5(5 ) to all of the waste water
causing the pollution will make the concertation even more

urgent .

The Commission will therefore be contacting the Member

States concerned at once to ask them to organize the
concertation necessary and to inform it of the outcome .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The proposed enlargement of the Environment Agency in
Seville cannot be regarded as an urban-development project
within the meaning of Annex II to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC
and is therefore not subject to environmental assessment .

Furthermore, open space planning is a matter for the
Spanish authorities alone as they are not among the special
protection areas designated by Spain in accordance with
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( x ) or the areas of Community
interest for the conservation of habitats .

Against this background, the Commission is unable to
conclude that the Spanish authorities are in breach of
Community law .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-436 / 94

by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-444 / 94
( 95 / C 6 / 46 )

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

Subject : Enlargement of the seat of the Environment

Agency in Seville

The Environment Agency ( EA ), which has overall
responsibility for the environment in the Autonomous
Community of Andalusia, is planning to enlarge its
premises, known as the ' Casa Rosa ', by using the adjoining
land which is currently a landscaped area . Ecologists and the
general public alike feel that the plan constitutes an attack
on the environment . In view of the EA 's role and function,
on which its very existence is based, its attitude is felt to be of
particular significance .

The EA and the Andalusian Government argue that the
enlargement of its premises does not constitute an attack on
the environment . At all events, its chief executive has
publicly pledged to publish details of the project so that all
citizens and citizens ' organizations can make their views
known . It would appear that the authority responsible for
the project does not intend to fulfil this pledge .

Does the Commission not consider that this project falls
within Annex II of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*) on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment ?

Does the Commission believe that, if the EA does not fulfil
its pledge to carry out an environmental impact assessment
and publish details of the project, it is in serious breach of
Community law ?

Does it intend to open an inquiry into this matter ?

to the Commission

( 3 . March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 47 )

Subject : Community position on the use of satellites to

improve air-traffic control

News has recently emerged of the Japanese Ministry
of Transport 's important plan for introducing an
ultra-modern satellite-based air-traffic control system . This
system, which will improve air-traffic control in regions
beyond radar range, especially mountainous regions and
above the oceans, is designed to achieve major
improvements in the precision, speed and safety of take-offs
and landings .

Japan, apparently with the support of the United States, has

proposed that the International Civil Aviation Organization

( ICAO ) call on its other member countries to set up the fixed
infrastructure and install in their aircraft the special
equipment necessary for transmission and reception .

What is the Commission 's position on the introduction of
such improvements, which may soon prove indispensable
on the saturated air routes of Western Europe as well as on
transatlantic routes ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Japan has just launched a space programme in the

(!) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 . field of aeronautical communications and MTSAT

No C 6 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

( Multi-functional Transport Satellite ) navigation . This
project represents the Japanese contribution to the ICAO
scheme for using communication, navigation and
surveillance satellites for air traffic control purposes

( CNS / ATM ). The scope of the Japanese programme will
benefit Asia and the Pacific region in 1994 .

The Community is not remaining idle in this field . The
common transport policy provides for the harmonization
and integration of existing air traffic control systems .
Council Directive 93 / 65 / EEC constitutes the legal
instrument adopted here .

Following the example of the Japanese initiative, steps are
already being taken towards installing a European
complement to the clusters of American and Russian
navigation satellites ( GPS and Glonass ) respectively . The
European complement could be formed on the basis of the
Inmarsat III geostationary satellites . The Commission has
set up a project study team which will also be composed of
representatives of the European Space Agency and
Eurocontrol .

In addition, the Commission, aware of the possibilities
offered by space technology, will be making this field a
priority subject in its Fourth R&D Framework

­
Programme

In the White Paper submitted in December 1993 to the
European Council in Brussels, the Commission also referred
to the benefits which could be gained from use of a satellite
system for air traffic control in Europe .

Finally, a draft communication on the use of navigation
satellites is being drawn up . It sets out specific actions which
must be undertaken by the parties involved so that a civil
satellite navigation system for worldwide use can be set up
by the end of the century .

The Community financing for Eurotecnet projects was
intended to be used in part to improve the dissemination of
the results from these innovative projects .

Can the Commission describe and assess the Community 's
contribution thus far to the dissemination of information

and positive experiences as regards training in new
technologies and innovative teaching methods ?

How was this dissemination actually achieved ? In
particular, were the results of the programme made
available to the training systems in the Member States so as
to allow them to derive maximum benefit ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 1994 )

Launched in 1990 for a period of five years and with an
overall budget of ECU 7,5 million, the aim of Eurotecnet is
to promote innovation in vocational training in order to
take account of current and future technological changes
and their impact on qualifications and employment

( Council Decision of 18 December 1989 establishing
Eurotecnet ). The programme makes provision on the one
hand for the introduction of innovative projects and, on the
other, for in-depth research .

the century . Eurotecnet has given rise to a number of scientific

publications, including ' The learning organization ',
distributed in nine languages within the Member States
through the NADU network, ' Developing people 's ability to
learn ', ' Common principles for the assessment of the
cognitive results of training ' and ' Computer-integrated
manufacturing — skills and qualification issues for SMEs '.
Current work focuses on key qualifications, instructor
WRITTEN QUESTION E-446 / 94 training and self-training .

by Gerard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

(9 SIC 6 / 48 )

Subject : Eurotecnet Programme — outcome of the
implementation of the first years of the programme
as regards dissemination of results

The Eurotecnet Programme, intended to encourage
innovation in vocational training, was launched three years

ago .

In 1993 the network underwent a far-reaching update : of a
total of 284 projects, 90 new ones were introduced and 83
were withdrawn . Emphasis was placed on trans-nationality,
involvement of businesses and the social partners in projects
and focusing projects on four key areas set out in the new
Compendium, namely innovative analysis of training
requirements, with particular reference to key qualifications

( 54 projects ); the transfer of innovative methodologies for
planning and administering training ( 76 projects ) as part of
the development of human resources ; training centres as
centres of innovation serving businesses ( 49 projects ); and
innovative teaching approaches and methodologies ( 105
projects ).

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 29

The tangible results of the programme will mainly take the
form of :

— transferable models ( 134 projects ): for example,
innovative methods involving workers ' representatives
in all phases of planning for training ;

— innovative tools ( 68 projects ): for example, self-learning

equipment and multi-media ;

— information ( 19 projects ): for example, a data base on

available training resources and equipment, brochures
on new training concepts for disadvantaged groups ;

— training programmes ( 63 projects ): for example, new

modular curricula and special training measures for
SMUs .

In cooperation with the Member States, the Commission is
organizing large-scale dissemination and distribution of
knowledge and positive experience with regard to training
in new technologies or to innovative approaches to
teaching :

( a ) at Member State level, through the national animation

and dissemination units ( NADUs ), which are bodies
with responsibility for the monitoring and networking
of projects under the control of members of the
Force / Eurotecnet Advisory Committee . National
strategy conferences, concentrating on the specific
requirements laid down by Member States themselves,
have taken place in the 12 Member States with the aim
of promoting discussion of the guidelines of the
Eurotecnet programme . Conclusions have been
forwarded to the Commission, which is preparing a
summary to be distributed throughout the
Community .

Between 1990 and 1993, 57 workshops and seminars
took place and 60 000 copies of Eurotecnet
publications were distributed within the Member
States .

( b ) At Community level, by trans-national activities
launched by the Commission bringing together
innovative vocational training projects in Member
States in order to produce common, transferrable
results . As an example, during 1993 / 94 there have been
ten trans-national seminars on specific subjects relating
to the programme, the most recent being a conference
in Brussels on ' Promoting innovation in vocational
training ' held on 31 January and 1 February 1994 at the
initiative of the Flemish Community and the
French-speaking community of Belgium, where
updated Eurotechnet projects were on public
exhibition .

The programme has helped to promote innovation in
vocational training, associated with new technologies,
encouraging the formation of trans-national partnerships
between projects and synergy with other Community
projects such as Force, Petra, Comett, as well as
strengthening it through Community initiatives such as

Euroform . The final aim of the programme is geared
towards transparency, trans-nationality and the
transferability within Member States of innovative training
products, representing a scientific and methodological basis
for the transition towards the proposed new Leonardo da
Vinci Programme and synergy with the Structural Funds
and the Fourth Framework Programme for research and
development .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-447 / 94

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 49 )

Subject : European prize to encourage scientific research

which does not involve experiments on animals

Is there a European prize rewarding scientific research
institutes which help to promote and validate alternative
methods to those involving animals, whether for cosmetic or
pharmaceutical products ?

Are there plans to establish a label for products developed
entirely on the basis of these methods ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

No European prize has been established by the Community
to reward research institutes which help to promote
alternative methods to those involving the use of
animals .

The Commission took the view, backed up by Parliament,
that it would be more appropriate to set up a centre for the
validation of alternative methods ( Ecvam ) at the Joint
Research Centre at Ispra ( Italy ). This would be more geared
to Community needs and the well-being of laboratory
animals . However, at European level there are many
initiatives rewarding reserach which aims to promote and
validate alternative methods and focuses on the three ' R 's '

( reduction, replacement, refinement ). For example, the
Efpia ( European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry
Associations ) has organized the following research
awards :

— 1986 : Alternative methods to animal

experimentation

— . 1 9 88 : Possible alternatives to animal experimentation,
problems and perspectives

— 1990 : The development of new alternative methods to

research using laboratory animals

No C 6 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

There is another prize organized by Fisea ( International
Foundation for the Substitution of Animal

Experimentation ). This has been awarded each year since
1987 to a researcher or team of researchers who have

successfully developed and introduced an experimental
method which reduces the number of animals used .

As regards cosmetics, the Commission has looked into the
possibility of introducing a label for products manufactured
from ingredients which have not been tested on animals .
Given that most of the ingredients of cosmetic and
pharmaceutical products have previously been tested on
animals, at varous stages of their development, the
Commission decided that it would be better to use the

resources available for the development, validation and
promotion at international level of alternative methods .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-458 / 94

by Panayotis Roumeliotis ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 50 )

Subject : Measures to protect the incomes of producers of

Mediterranean products from the consequences of
the GATT Agreement

Under the terms of the decision bringing to a conclusion the
Uruguay Round negotiations, the Commission undertook
to ensure that all the necessary measures would be taken to
maintain the incomes of producers and the principle of
Community preference in respect of products for which the
Common Organization of the Market had not yet been
revised, and especially for Mediterranean products .

Will the Commission say exactly how it intends to honour
this commitment ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The detailed verification of the final offers of the

Contracting Parties ( including the European Communities )
was completed at the end of March 1994 .

The outcome of the Uruguay Round negotiations allows a
significant margin of discretion to the Community as
regards internal support, while the Community offer on
market access ensures recognition of continuing
Community preference .

The precise legislative proposals which the Commission will
make in order to honour all of its commitments resulting
from the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round are
now being prepared and will be submitted to the Council
and the Parliament in order that these commitments are

translated into legislative texts as soon as is practicable .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-475 / 94

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 March 1994 )

( 95 / C6 / 51 )

Subject : Delays in the payment of Community subsidies to

Spanish farmers

Many Spanish farmers growing the ' major ' crops ( cereals,
oil-seeds and high-protein seeds ) had not received the total
aid provided for under Community legislation by
31 December 1993 .

As the deadline for making the subsidy payments fell on the
last day of the year, it is somewhat surprising that there was
such a delay which has caused serious problems for the
farmers, who should not have to suffer the consequences of
a deficient method of payment .

Is the Commission aware of such irregularities in the
method of making the subsidy payments provided for under
Community legislation to farmers in Spain, and what steps
does it intend to take to ensure that the procedures for
making these payments to Spanish farmers are speeded up
and implemented in advance of the deadline set each
year ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission is aware that compensatory payments for
arable crops were late in Spain, since, among other things, it
monitors utilization of appropriations as compared with
forecast expenditure . It informed the Budget Authority of
the situation in its monthly reports under the EAGGF
warning system .

Compliance with the payment deadlines imposed by
Community legislation, to which the Commission attaches
particular importance, is checked by systematic monitoring
of monthly expenditure statements and annually through
the clearance of accounts . In cases of non-compliance with
these deadlines, there is provision for gradated decreases in
the proportion financed by the Community, culminating in
refusal to finance any of the payments concerned .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 31

Apart from this corrective measure, the Commission keeps a
close eye on the implementation of the integrated
management and control system and, in this context, does
everything within its powers to avoid the repetition of such
delays .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-476 / 94

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

Russian Federation, to subscribe to certain scientific
journals published in the Member States . ECU 600 000 is
available under the aegis of the European Physics Society in
Paris and ECU 70 000 under the aegis of the Royal Society
in London . The areas covered embrace all the exact and

natural sciences, but with the emphasis on physics . Intas is
devoting a great deal of attention on this, and other
initiatives along these lines may be taken shortly .

(7 March 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-489 / 94

( 95 / C 6 / 52 ) by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )

to the Commission

Subject : Scientific publications as part of aid to the former

Soviet Union

In its reply to my Written Question No 857 / 92 ( a ) on the
possibility of the Community providing funding for the
payment of subscriptions to scientific journals, which are in
very short supply in the former Soviet Union, the
Commission mentioned an International Association for
cooperation with scientists of the former Soviet Union
which has recently been set up, with its seat in Brussels . The
Union and its Member States are founding members of the
Association .

( 14 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 53 )

Subject : Commission's ports programme

Is the Commission aware that the Channel Tunnel from

Dover to Calais will not allow the transit of hazardous

goods, which will be increasingly channelled through the
port of Ramsgate ? The present access road to the port of
Ramsgate is totally inadequate and these dangerous goods
will be passing long narrow streets through residential

areas .

As the Association will certainly have held its first general
assembly by now, can the Commission provide details of
any plans — currently under consideration or actually being What representations will the Commission make to the
carried out — for the purchase and distribution of scientific British Government with a view to speeding up the
publications ? construction of an alternative access road, which has been

partially funded by Sally Line, but delayed by the roads
authority, the Kent County Council ?
(!) OJ No C 292, 28 . 10 . 1993, p . 3 .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 ) (5 May 1994 )

The Commission can confirm that Intas ( the International
Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists
from the former Soviet Union ) is indeed involved in the
distribution of scientific publications to laboratories in the
former Soviet Union .

In view of the crisis affecting most of the laboratories in the
former Soviet Union and their chronic shortage of foreign
currency, they can no longer subscribe to scientific journals
published abroad . This is prejudicial to their research as it
restricts their access to information .

Intas has already taken steps to enable a number of
laboratories in the former Soviet Union, mainly in the

The Commission understands that Eurotunnel will not

accept a range of hazardous goods for carriage through their
system . These goods will therefore need to continue to travel
between the United Kingdom and the continent by sea .
There will be a wide choice of ports which can be used for
this purpose, of which Ramsgate will be one .

The Commission recognizes the important part that ports
play in the transport system in the internal market, and the
proposal it has submitted for a Council and Parliament
decision on Community guidelines for the development of
the Trans-European Transport Network ( x ) includes a
section on ports . This draft provides for the Commission to
identify projects of common interest with the assistance of

No C 6 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

the Committee on Transport Infrastructure set up by
Council Decision 78 / 174 / EEC ( 2 ), and the section on ports
provides for port and port-related projects of common
interest, including inland transport infrastructure links
which provide access to sections of the Trans-European
Transport Network .

(M COM(94 ) 106 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 54, 25 . 2 . 1978 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-499 / 94

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 54 )

Subject : The Leader Programme and the Autonomous

Community of Madrid

group had allocated 96,1 % of appropriations provided for
in the programme to final beneficiaires and 38,96 % of these
allocations had actually been paid out . The various
measures are progressing at the same rate and in accordance
with initial forecasts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-500 / 94

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 95 / C6 / 55 )

Subject : The Stride Programme and the Autonomous

Community of Madrid

Can the Commission say how the Stride Programme was
implemented in the Autonomous Community of Madrid,
what funding was allocated and how much has actually been
spent on the programme ?

Can the Commission say how the Leader Programme was
implemented in the Autonomous Community of Madrid,
what funding was allocated and how much has actually been
spent on the programme ? Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

The Madrid region received funding from the Stride
(4 May 1994 )

The Community Leader initiative was applied in the Madrid
Sierra Norte by the ' Patronato Madrileno de Areas
Montana ' through a programme submitted to the
Commission in 1991 and provides for ECU 4,07 million of
public expenditure, to which the Community is contributing
ECU 1,45 million .

The breakdown of total investment among different
categories of measures is as follows :

( % )

Training and employment assistance ; 3,76

Rural tourism 69,00

Small firms, craft enterprises and local services 5,68

Exploitation and marketing of agricultural
products 7,57

Establishing, equipping and operating group 5,68

Other measures ( Community facilitation etc ) 8,31

Total 100,00

According to information supplied by the Iryda, the
intermediary body responsible for the application of the
Leader initiative in Spain, as of 31 December 1993, the

Community programme in the period 1991— 1993 . The
European Regional Development Fund provided ECU 8,80
million out of a total investment of ECU 17,60 million .
Implementation of the initiative in the Madrid region was
relatively trouble-free . However, the time limit for
committing national expenditure is being extended to take
account of possible delays in other regions, since the
operational programme was prepared on a national
basis .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-502 / 94

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 56 )

Subject : The Horizon Programme and the Autonomous

Community of Madrid

Can the Commission say how the Horizon Programme was
implemented in the Autonomous Community of Madrid,
what funding was allocated and how much has actually been
spent on the programme ?

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 33

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1994 )

The Commission is forwarding to the Honourable Member
and the Secretariat-General of the European Parliament a
list of all the Horizon projects in the Comunidad Autonoma
de Madrid, together with the funding allocated for each
project . There may be other organisers involved in Horizon
projects of national level, but the Commission is unable to
identify them at present .

A final assessment of Horizon cannot be made until the

programme, which has been extended, reaches its
conclusion at the end of 1994 . Progress at present in the
Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid is satisfactory .

The ' Unidad Administradora del Fondo Social Europeo ' of
the ' Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social ' has sole
responsibility for the management of the Horizon
projects .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 14 / 94

by Luigi Vertemati ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 57 )

Subject : European telephone card

Whereas coin-operated public telephones have virtually
disappeared in the Member States, being replaced by
card-operated telephones,

in view of the difficulty which people travelling from one
country to another have in obtaining the necessary
telephone cards, which are often sold in outlets which are
only open at certain times or which are only found in certain
places ( such as post offices ),

whereas the inability to use public telephones in foreign
countries is a source of inconvenience, particularly to those
travelling by car,

whereas the Treaty on European Union officially recognized
the importance of consumers,

The Commission has given the European standardisation
organisations mandates to develop standards for a
harmonised telephone pre-payment card which could be
used in all Member States .

The draft Directive on the application of open network
provision to voice telephony also calls upon Member States
to encourage the progressive introduction of public
pay-telephones conforming to these standards . This
Directive is expected to be adopted later this year, and to
come into force in 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-554 / 94

by Sofiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 58 )

Subject : Recognition in Community law of the legal basis of

transfrontier associations of local government
bodies

Can the Commission give consideration to drawing up legal
proposals making it possible for Community law to
recognize the legal basis of trans-frontier associations of
local government bodies so that such bodies can engage in
joint action in matters of common interest and gain access to
Community programmes and activities ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The organization of cross-border cooperation in the
Member States concerns the administrative and legal
structures of each Member State .

does the Commission not consider that it should table
legislation leading to the production of a single European
telephone card usable in all Member States ?

not In view of the imminent implementation of the Community
production of a single European initiative Interreg II for the 1994 — 1999 programming
in all Member States ? period, the Commission intends to issue a guide to

cross-border and inter-regional cooperation so that all those
involved can compare the different legal and administrative

by Mr Bangemann systems of each Member State, thereby enabling them to

of the Commission understand their advantages or drawbacks with a view to

choosing the formula best suited to their cooperation
(3 May 1994 ) activities .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission recognised this problem some years ago
and has taken steps to improve the situation .

No C 6 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-560 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission (6 May 1994 )

( 15 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 59 ) The matter referred to by the Honourable Member does not
fall within the jurisdiction of the Community .

Subject : Stocks of long-finned tuna fish

Will the Commission say whether any studies are being
drawn up to assess stocks of long-finned tuna fish and the
level of accidental catches ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-617 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas ( 16 March 1994 )

on behalf of the Commission

95 / C6 / 61
(6 May 1994 )

Numerous scientific studies on the biology, migration and
stock populations of bluefin tuna are carried out every year
by research institutes in and outside the Community . The
Scientific Committee of the International Commission for

the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ( ICC AT ) also assesses
the bluefin tuna stock every year, its findings being available
in its annual publications .

The Commission, aware of the need to expand research in
this area, has financed or is in the course of doing so some
seven studies specific to bluefin tuna . Other studies, not
centred on tunas in particular, also make reference to these
highly migratory species .

The Commission also financed in 1992 the second joint
ICCAT / General Mediterranean fisheries Council

consultation on management of large pelagic species in the
Mediterranean .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-613 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 16 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 60 )

Subject : Establishment in Attica of a central organization

responsible for managing aquatic resources

Will the Commission propose that the Greek authorities set
up in Attica a central body for the management of aquatic
resources which will examine each intervention on the basis
of environmental criteria with the object of enhancing the
natural environment ?

Subject : Implementation of Directives 78 / 319 / EEC and

76 / 403 / EEC

Will the Commission say whether all Member States
are implementing Directives 78 / 319 / EEC ( l ) and
76 / 403 / EEC ( 2 ) on the treatment of PCBs ?

(!) OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978, p . 43 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 108, 26 . 4 . 1976, p . 41 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Article 11 of Council Directive 76 / 403 / EEC of 6 April 1976
on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and
polychlorinated terphenyls stipulates that ' Member States
shall bring into force the measures needed in order to
comply with this Directive within 24 months of its
notification . . .'. The Directive was notified to the Member

States on 9 April 1976 . All the Member States have
communicated measures incorporating the Directive into
national law .

Council Directive 78 / 319 / EEC of 20 March 1978 on toxic

and dangerous waste was repealed with effect from

12 December 1993 by Article 11 of Council Directive
91 / 689 / EEC i 1 ) on hazardous waste . On 21 February 1994
the Council adopted a common position on a proposal for a
Directive amending Directive 91 / 689 / EEC . The proposal
alters the date of repeal of Directive 78 / 319 / EEC, setting it
at 12 months after adoption of the proposal .

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

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION E-625 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 16 March 1994 )

95 / C 6 / 62 )

Subject : Violation of Community Directive 85 / 337 / EEC by

the Greek Public Electricity Company

plants in the Prefecture of Kozani, since it does not have the
information which led the Kozani ecological movement to
claim that the Greek electricity company was ignoring the
requirements of Directive 88 / 609 / EEC .

As required by Directive 88 / 609 / EEC the Greek authorities
have forwarded to the Commission their national

programme to limit emissions of the air-borne pollutants
covered by the Directive, and the lists of emissions from

1990 to 1993 . These documents are being examined .

The Greek Public Electricity Company decided ten months
ago to construct the fifth lignite-powered unit at the
thermo-electric power station of Aghios Dimitrios in Kozani
without having previously drawn up an overall
environmental impact study . Given that this violates
Community Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*), what action does the
Commission intend to take on this matter ?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-639 / 94

( x ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 . by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )
to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas ( 95 / C 6 / 64 )

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 ( Driving periods

The Commission is still investigating this case .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-626 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 16 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 63

Subject : Violation of Community Directive 88 / 609 / EEC by

the Greek Public Electricity Company ( DEI )

The Kozani Ecological Movement has alleged that the DEI is
choosing to ignore the thrust of Community Directive

88 / 609 / EEC (*) as far as emissions of air-borne pollutants
from its large combustion plants in the Prefecture of Kozani
are concerned . Will the Commission ask Greece ( and in
particular the DEI ) to implement the measures which apply
in other Member States under Directive 88 / 609 / EEC ?

(!) OJ No L 336, 7 . 12 . 1988, p . 1 .

regulation )

1 . Is the Commission aware that in 1 99 1 the authority in
the Netherlands responsible for monitoring compliance
with the legislation on driving periods, the RVI ( Rijks
Verkeers Inspectie ), introduced a new and drastic
monitoring method, to which — apart from incidental
road-side checks — only transport undertakings based in
the Netherlands are subject ?

2 . Does it know that since 1 May 1992, breaches of the
law on driving periods are treated under Dutch law as
economic offences within the meaning of the Law on
Economic Offences, which has resulted in the imposition of
much stiffer penalties ?

i

3 . Does it realize that, although all firms established in
the EU are deemed to perform transport services within the
EU in compliance with Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 (*),
this strict monitoring system applies to a significant extent
only to transporters based in the Netherlands, and thus
entails a distortion of competition ?

4 . Is it prepared to take steps without delay to bring
about the harmonization which is urgently needed by Dutch
transport undertakings ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission If so, what steps will it take ?

(6 May 1994 )

If not, why not ?

The Commission is unable to give an opinion on the
emissions of air-borne pollutants from large combustion (!) OJ No L 370, 31 . 12 . 1985, p . 1 .

No C 6 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 ) (5 May 1994 )

1 . The Commission is aware that all the Member States,
including the Netherlands, carry out non-discriminatory
roadside checks on compliance with the common rules on
driving periods and rest periods in the road haulage sector .
In addition, each Member State carries out checks on the
premises of haulage undertakings established in its
territory .

2 . and 3 . It is true that stricter enforcement arrangements
involving substantially higher fines and greater
proportionality of the penalty to the seriousness of the
offence have recently been or are about to be introduced in
the Netherlands and in several other Member States .

Although the enforcement arrangements in several other
Member States are as strict as those in the Netherlands,
certain distortions of competition may result from the fact
that other Member States take less intensive action to

enforce the abovementioned social regulations .

4 . In order to rectify this situation, the Commission
intends initially to carry out a technical modernization of the
Community legislation, which could contribute indirectly to
its more uniform and rigorous application in all Member
States .

Furthermore, a committee of experts has been asked to draw
up a report and make proposals for the improved operation
of the road haulage sector . On the basis of their report,
which is expected within the next few months, and of its
own work in this area, the Commission may take specific
initiatives to ensure mare uniform compliance with the
social regulations .

The Commission report concerning the actions to be taken
in the Community regarding the accessibility to transport
for persons with reduced mobility specifies in detail which
actions are foreseen in the short, medium and long-term .

The legislative initiatives requiring the involvement of the
Parliament and envisaged in the short-term ( in essence,
concerning EC type-approval rules on trains, buses and
coaches ) will be presented as soon as possible, depending on
the progress of the technical work to be undertaken .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-656 / 94

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 66 )

Subject : Community legislation on the management of

nuclear waste

Spain 's nine nuclear power stations have already produced
1 307 tonnes of highly radioactive waste from spent
uranium . The management of this waste will cost Spanish
citizens over Ptas 1 billion ; the ' nuclear cemetery ' alone will
cost Ptas 326 000 million, with every single Spaniard paying

1,1 % of his electricity bill to Enresa, the Spanish national
radioactive waste company, for this purpose .

Can the Commission state how the European Atomic
Energy Community views the management of nuclear waste
and what basic principles apply in funding waste
management ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-644 / 94 (5 May 1994 )

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 65 )

Subject : Access to transport for the disabled

In view of the long delay in the appearance of COM(93 ) 433
final, DG VII 's action plan on accessibility to transport for
the disabled, does the Commission have a timetable for the
proposed ' actions ' and can it give an indication of when the
first proposals will come before Parliament ?

Like all other nuclear activity, management of radioactive
waste in the Member States is subject to the provisions of the
Euratom Treaty, and in particular Chapter III thereof
' Health and Safety '.

The funding of radioactive waste management is a matter
for the Member States, but is governed by the principle laid
down in Article 13 Or of the EC Treaty that the polluter
should pay the cost of the pollution caused by his activities .
Accordingly, the producers of radioactive waste

( laboratories, hospitals, electricity generators, etc .) must
finance the operators ( such as Enresa in Spain ) which
Member States have made responsible for the current or
future storage of such waste .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 37

The Commission would also refer the Honourable Member
to its communications to the Council ( 1 ).

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )
(!) COM(93 ) 88 ; COM(94 ) 66 .

So far no country has officially applied for a suspension of
the import ban provided for in Article 3 ( 2 ) of Regulation

( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-674 / 94

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-676 / 94

( 21 March 1994 ) by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

95 / C 6 / 67 to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )                                             

Subject : Exemption from Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91

( 95 / C 6 / 69 )

Has any of the 12 Member States been granted or applied Subject : Humane killing
for exemption from the requirements of Regulation ( EEC )
No 3254 / 91 (*) banning the sale, use and manufacture of Does the Commission consider drowning to be a humane
leghold traps within their territories ? - method of killing either captive or wild animals in the
European Community ?
0 ) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1994 )

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission would point out that Article 2 of the
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 prohibits the use of leghold
traps in the Community by 1 January 1995 at the latest
without a possibility for exemptions .

The sale and manufacture of leghold traps is not subject to
the provisions of this Regulation .

Drowning as a method of killing is not allowed under
Community legislation on the slaughter of farm animals .
The development of humane standards for submersion traps
for wild animals is being considered by the International
Standardization Organization . The Animal Welfare Section
of the Scientific Veterinary Committee recently considered
that submersion traps should not be used unless they are
capable of killing the trapped animal within a few
seconds .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-677 / 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-675 / 94 - - - by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) to the Commission

to the Commission ( 21 March 1994 )

( 21 March 1994 ) ( 95 / C 6 / 70 )

( 95 / C 6 / 68

Subject : Use of leg-hold traps

Subject : Ban on imports of furs

Which countries, if any, have applied for a suspension of the
import ban on certain furs imposed under Regulation ( EEC )
No 3254 / 91 O ? What reasons were given, if any ?

Will the Commission impose an import ban under
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 (*) on countries which have
adopted an internationally agreed humane trapping
standard which would still permit the use of leg-hold
traps ?

0 ) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 . (!) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

No C 6 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-678 / 94

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

(9 SIC 61 71 )

Subject : Use of leg-hold traps

With respect to Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91, will the
Commission advise whether it would impose an import ban
on countries which have banned the use of the leg-hold trap,
but have not introduced internationally agreed humane
trapping standards ?

5 . Major (> 2cm ) subcutaneous soft
tissue maceration or erosion 30 points

6 . Joint luxation below carpus or tarsus 30 points

7 . Compression fracture 30 points

8 . Major periosteal abrasion 30 points

9 . Simple rib fracture 30 points

10 . Simple fracture at or below ( ventral to )
carpus or tarsus 50 points

11 . Comminuted rib fracture 50 points

12 . Amputation of 1 digit 25 points

13 . Amputation of 2 digits 50 points

Is the Commission aware that this draft trap standard has
been condemned by animal welfare organizations including
the British Veterinary Association as ' totally abhorrent '?
Joint answer to Written Questions

E-677 / 94 and E-678 / 94
given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 ) Answer given by M. Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91, in Article 3, paragraph 1,
requires from third countries that there are either adequate
administrative or legislative provisions in force to generally
prohibit the use of the leghold trap, or to ban the leghold The Commission and Member States consider the currently
trap for the thirteen animal species listed in its Annex I. In proposed injury scale to be unacceptable as a measure of
the latter case, the alternatives to the leghold trap should humaneness . Further it lacks a scientific basis .
meet internationally agreed humane standards .

The Commission is aware of the opinion of animal welfare
organizations and of veterinary associations on the draft
standard concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-680 / 94

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 72 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-681 / 94

Subject : Draft ISO humane restraining trap standard - of ' the,

Will the Commission give its opinion on the current draft
humane restraining trap standard of the International
Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) and in particular of
the injury scale which would permit a trap to pass as
' '
humane while causing up to a total of 75 points of injury —
i.e. a combination of the following injuries :

1 . Cutaneous laceration  - 2cm 10 points

2 . Permanent tooth fracture exposing
pulp cavity 10 points

3 . Minor periosteal abrasion 10 points

4 . Minor tendon or ligament serverance

( each ) 10 points

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 73 )

Subject : Humane trapping standard

Is the Commission aware that fur trappers in the USA,
where most fur animals are trapped in leghold traps, are
confident that they will not be affected by Regulation ( EEC )
No 3254 / 91 (*), since being advised by the Chairman of the
US Technical Advisory Committee of the International
Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) ' not to throw away
any traps ' as some models of leghold traps will be approved
as ' humane restraining traps '? In view of this, will the

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 39

Commission undertake not to accept any so-called
' humane ' trapping standard which would permit the
continued use of leghold traps ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-690 / 94

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

(*) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 . ( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 75 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 excludes the use of any
leg-hold traps within the Community and — as a condition
for export to the Community — in third countries for the
species listed in its Annex I.

In the context of Article 3 ( 1 ), second indent, the
Commission will therefore have to establish whether

alternatives to the leg-hold trap used in a third country meet
internationally agreed humane trapping standards .

The Commission would point out that, as a non-member of
ISO, it is not in a position to accept or reject any of the
trapping standards being elaborated by this organization .
Whether these standards will be ' humane ' standards is

doubtful in view of the outcome of the February meeting of
the ISO technical Committee concerned .

Subject : Radioactive discharges at Dounreay

Is the Commission aware of the application from Atomic
Energy Authority ( AEA ) Technology, at Dounreay . to HM
Industrial Pollution Inspectorate ( HMIPI ), the UK 's waste
control agency, to increase its radioactive discharges into the
sea and atmosphere by unprecedented amounts, increasing
plutonium discharges into the sea by over 400 % and iodine
emissions into the air by up to 1 000% ? Given that
Dounreay 's proposal to reprocess 30 tonnes of spent fuel
from the core of the redundant fast reactor, set to close in
March, will involve reprocessing more spent fuel over five to

10 years than Dounreay has reprocessed in its 40 year
life-span, will the Commission consider invoking its right of
access under Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty to investigate
the monitoring facilities established at Dounreay in order to
establish if the basic health standards are likely to be
infringed ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-691 / 94

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-682 / 94 ( 21 March 1994 )

by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) ( 95 / C 6 / 76 )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 74 )

Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91

Will the Commission confirm that the purpose of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 (*) to ban the import of
certain furs was to discourage or bring an end to the use of
the leghold trap ?

t 1 ) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

Subject : Radioactive discharges at Dounreay

What steps the Commission will take in order to establish if
the application from Atomic Energy Authority ( AEA )
Technology, at Dounreay to HM Industrial Pollution
Inspectorate ( HMIPI ), the UK 's waste control agency, to
increase its radioactive discharges into the sea and
atmosphere complies with the EU 's Environmental Policy
and the Paris Commission, the aims and objectives of which
have been endorsed by the Commission ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-692 / 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission confirms that the purpose of the
Regulation is to bring an end to the use of the leghold trap
within the Community and to discourage the use of that

device in third countries .

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 77 )

Subject : Paris Commission

What steps is the Commission taking in encourage Member
States to abide by the terms of the Paris Commission, whose

No C 6 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

aims and objectives to reduce radioactive pollution at sea Answer given by Mr Steichen
they have endorsed ? What further steps is it taking to on behalf of the Commission
incorporate within the EU 's Environmental Policy measures (4 May 1994 )
in relation to discharge authorization which require the
applicant to undertake environmental impact assessment,
consultation with other states and a full explanation and
justification as to why a discharge authorization has been The Commission has provided financial assistance for
submitted ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

bee-keepers in various forms :

— 1968—1980 :

aid for the de-naturing of sugar for bee-keeping

Joint answer to Written Questions de-naturing

E-690 / 94, E-691 / 94 and E-692 / 94 ( suspended 1975 — 1976 );

E-690 / 94, E-691 / 94 and E-692 / 94

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission — 1976 :
( 25 April 1994 ) '
direct aid to bee-keepers associations ( ECU 2,5
million );

An application by the Dounreay operator, AEA
Technology, for modifications to the existing radioactive
waste disposal authorizations for the site has been lodged
with the Scottish Office, where it is available to the public .
The application has also been made available in the offices
of the relevant District and Regional Councils . In
accordance with Community legislation, it is now for the
Scottish Office, as the responsible national authority, to
consider the substance of that application and the need for
public consultation .

A visit to Dounreay in May, 1993, under the terms of
Article 35 Euratom Treaty has already allowed the
Commission to verify the satisfactory and efficient
operation of the monitoring facilities concerned .

Specific advance consultation procedures arising from the
Paris Convention are limited to the requirements of Parcom
recommendation 93 / 5 . However, the UK has not accepted
this recommendation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-698 / 94
by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 78 )

Subject : Bee-keeping

Can the Commission say what amount of subsidies the
Community grants to bee-keeping, stating which projects in
which Member States have received assistance and what

amounts have already been paid out ?

Can it also say what the requirements are that the projects in
question had ( have ) to meet in order to qualify for such
aid ?

— 1981—1983 :

flat-rate aid ( amount per hive ) was paid for three
marketing years . Under this scheme, a total of ECU 1 1,5
million was paid to Community bee-keepers '
associations ;

— 1986, 1987 and 1989 :

aid was paid for three marketing years as part of
measures to control varroasis . A total of ECU 1,8 million
was paid to Community bee-keepers ' associations under
the scheme .

Financial assistance paid during the 1980 was allocated
amongst the Member States according to the size of their bee
populations .

There are currently two Community financial measures
taking account of special geographical situations . Aid is
granted for the production of specific, quality honey under
Council Regulations ( ECC ) No 1601 / 92 ( ! ) and ( EEC )
No 2019 / 93 ( 2 ), introducing specific measures for the
Canary islands and the smaller Aegean Islands respectively .
Aid is again paid on the basis of the size of the bee
population .

Additionally, several of the structural measures adopted by
the Council are likely to be of benefit to Community
bee-keepers, as regards both production and marketing .

A breakdown of funding for structural measures for
bee-keeping by Member State and amount is difficult since
such measures form part of general operational programmes
involving various projects affecting other sectors .

í 1 ) OJ No L 173, 17 . 6 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 184, 27 . 7 . 1993 .

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European - Communities No C 6 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION E-701 / 94

by Richard Balfe ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 79 )

Subject : Western Thrace

Can the Commission outline recent measures of assistance

given to Western Thrace ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

In the context of the Regional Operational Programme for
East Macedonia-Thrace, an amount of ECU 292 million in
Community asisstance from the structural funds was
allocated to the region over the 1989 — 1993 period . The
region also benefitted from assistance under the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes .

The region has recently produced a brochure outlining the
projects supported, a copy of which is forwarded direct to
the Honourable Member and to the Secretary General of the
Parliament .

to which all quantities that, for whatever reason, are no
longer attributed to an individual producer, are to be
allocated . This provision, with which the existence of
regional reserves conflicts, was introduced in the interests of
equal treatment for all producers in a Member State who,
finding themselves in an identical situation, would be
eligible for specific or additional reference quantities
granted from the national reserve . However, Article 8 of the
same Regulation provides that Member States may finance
aid programmes for the abandonment of milk production
on a regional basis to enable them to better organize the
re-structuring of milk production .

(!) OJ No L 405, 31 . 12 . 1992, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-713 / 94

by Paul Howell ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 81 )

Subject : Rio Summit progress

What progress has been made by each EU Member State
towards the goals set at the 1992 Rio Summit ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

WRITTEN QUESTION E-711 / 94 on behalf of the Commission

by Diego Santos López ( ARC ) (5 May 1994 )

to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

95 / C 6 / 80

Subject : Milk quota reserve in Andalusia

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has
declared that the regional government of Andalusia has no
authority to establish, in application of European
Community dairy sector regulations, an autonomous milk
quota reserve on the territory of the Autonomous
Community of Andalusia .

Which Community Regulations prevent the establishment
of a milk quota reserve by the authorities in Andalusia,
funded out of the regional budget ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 1994 )

Article 5 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3950 / 92
establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products
sector i 1 ) lays down the principle of a single national reserve

In the Commission 's view, in order to obtain information
about the progress made by each Member State in
implementing the goals and commitments agreed at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and

Devlopment ( Unced ), this question should rather be
addressed to the Council .

The Commission would however like to draw the attention

of the Honourable Member to the fact that the main

outcome of Unced is the Agenda 21, a 40 chapter action
programme on environment and development which covers
a wide range of sectoral and cross-sectoral issues and affects
nearly every area of governmental action . The outcome of
Unced also includes the Rio Declaration on Environment

and Development, the Non-Legally Binding Authoritative
Statement of Principles for a global consensus on the
management, conservation and sustainable development of
all types of forests, the Convention on Climate Change, and
the Convention on Biological Diversity .

At Community level, the Fifth Environmental Action

'
Programme — ' Towards sustainability — is the main
vehicle for implementing internally the objectives of
Agenda 21 and to follow-up Unced . The strategy of the
Programme is to develop, through the use of an extended
and integrated range of instruments, a new spirit of joint

No C 6 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

responsibility between target economic sectors and major
groups of actors in society, including national governments .
The Community has also ratified the Conventions on
Climate Change and Biological Diversity it signed at Rio .

It should finally be noted that the implementation of
Agenda 21 and other elements of the Unced outcome is
being reviewed by the Commission on Sustainable
Development ( CSD ), a subsidiary commission of the UN
Economic and Social Council . Member States can report to
the CSD on a voluntary basis . Similarly, reporting
mechanisms have been established under the " Conventions

on Climate Change and Biological Diversity .

The Community submitted a preliminary report on Unced
follow-up in June 1993 at the first session of the CSD . A
second report, which will be finalised very soon, is being
drafted in preparation of the second session of the CSD,
scheduled for May this year . It is also intended to submit
regular reports on the implementation of the Conventions
on Climate Change and Biological Diversity .

In view of the above, the needs and aspirations of the border
area in question, whether it is regarded as being inside or
outside the Union, make it worthy of inclusion within the
Interreg Programme .

What is there to prevent Gibraltar and the Campo de
Gibraltar from being included in the Interreg

. Programme ?

What view does the Commission take of the fact that they
have so far been excluded ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The list of border regions ( NUTS III ) eligible for the
forthcoming Community Interreg II initiative includes the
province of Cadiz but does not include Gibraltar . For an
Interreg programme to be submitted to the Commission the
areas on both sides of the border must be eligible .

The final text of Interreg II will be adopted by the
Commission in the light of the on-going consultations,
WRITTEN QUESTION E-720 / 94 including those with Parliament .

by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 82 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-730 / 94

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

Subject : Application of the Interreg programme to the

Campo de Gibraltar

The Campo de Gibraltar is a part of Andalusia with serious
deficiencies owing to its lack of infrastructure, and is an
Objective 1 region .

In addition to being underdeveloped it forms the border
with Gibraltar, which has created historic difficulties and
disadvantages for its inhabitants .

Both Gibraltar and its hinterland suffer from the same

problems which, in view of the rationality and the aims of
integration within the European Union, require the same
answers in most cases .

In areas such as water supply, energy, communications, the
prevention and control of pollution, waste disposal and
protection of the environment, the promotion of tourism,
transport infrastructures, aid to SMEs and cooperatives,
particularly through technology transfer and marketing
support, especially in cross-border economic relations, and
other kinds of measures such as ones to encourage
interinstitutional relations, support is needed from the
financial instruments of the Union .

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 83

Subject : Research programmes in Greece

In view of the many specific allegations that have been made
in this connection, will the Commission say whether it is
true that :

— specific research programmes that have been approved

in Greece are not being implemented because the Greek
Government has suspended the recruitment of
researchers, despite the fact that the plans that have been
adopted made provision for this ;

— between 10 % and 30 % of the appropriations set aside

for research programmes is being withheld by the units
responsible for managing the programmes and that a
corresponding amount of money is being used to recruit
door-keepers, ushers, etc .?

How does the Commission view the progress of the specific
research programmes and how does it consider that
implementation could be improved ?

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 43

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 ) (6 May 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the Greek Government 's
restrictive recruitment policy in the public sector, including
public research centres and universities .

However, provided the expenditure relating to the
additional posts is covered by the approved projects, there
should in principle be no difficulty in recruiting the staff
required for the implementation of Community RTD
projects, and the Commission has no knowledge of any
projects which have not been implemented for this
reason . . 7

The Commission is aware that, as is the case in other
Member States, Greek universities claim 10 — 15 % ( with an
upper limit of 20 % ) of the total cost of a specific project to
cover the general expenses of the research teams involved .
These general expenses are covered by the contract .

The Commission believes that the participation rules
applied in recent years have permitted the satisfactory
implementation of the research programmes and is
constantly examining ways of improving their efficiency .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-735 / 94

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 84 )

Subject : The springs of the Graces in Orchomenos

In Orchomenos in Boetia there are a large number of springs
( the springs of the Graces ) which feed to regionally
important small rivers ( used for irrigation, drinking water
and trout-farming ). However, as in other parts of the region
the last few months have seen a dramatic decrease in the

amount of water coming from the springs ; according to
official documents this is due to water boring which is
taking place throughout the region of Kiphisos in Boetia to
meet the urgent water supply needs of Athens . Despite
government promises that water boring would be managed
rationally the region has been suffering from a lack of water,
both for agriculture and other uses .

Will the Commission say whether such practices are
compatible with Community legislation and what measures
it could take to ensure that this region receives the minimum
necessary amount of water for irrigation and the water
supply ?

No Community legislation provides for the quantitative
management of ground-water and freshwater .

The Commission is in the process of preparing a
Ground-water Action Programme as a reply to the Hague
Conference and the Council resolution of 25 February 1992
on the future Community ground-water policy (').

Both the Conference and the resolution underlined the need

to address water management .

(!) OJ No C 59, 6 . 3 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-744 / 94

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 85 )

Subject : Planned construction of nuclear research reactor

FRM II in Garching, near Munich

1 . Does the Commission have any information regarding
the plans for the disposal of radioactive waste ( pursuant to
Article 37 of the EAEC Treaty ) arising from the FRM II
research reactor in Garching and if so, does this information
meet the requirements laid down ?

2 . Is it aware that no environmental impact assessment
within the meaning of the EC 's EIA Directive
( 85 / 337 / EEC ) i 1 ) was carried out in connection with the
FRM II Garching project ? What action does it intend to take
in this regard ?

3 . Does it anticipate that FRM II Garching will comply
with the basic standards laid down for the protection of the
health of workers and the general public pursuant to
Article 30 of the EAEC Treaty ? Has the information about
the monitoring facilities required under Article 35 of the
EAEC Treaty been communicated to the Commission ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

According to the information available to the Commission
the project in question refers to a plan to develop a 20 MW
prototype research reactor by the year 2000 .

This process is still at a very early stage but, if brought to
fruition, it will have to be in compliance with Community

No C 6 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

legislation including Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the
Community basic safety standards for radiation protection
and Directive 85 / 337 / EEC which will require an
environmental impact assessment to be conducted prior to
development consent for the project .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-772 / 94

by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 86 )

Subject : Professional qualifications of supposed
ophthalmologists offering professional services on
a ship anchored at Gibraltar

Since May 1993, a ship flying the Russian flag, the Petr
Peruyy, has been anchored in the naval base of Gibraltar,
where it has been offering ophthalmological services .

Given the status of Gibraltar as a Community territory and
the fact that the majority of the patients of the ship are
citizens of the Union, does the Commission know whether
the professional qualifications of the supposed
ophthalmologists of Russian nationality have been granted
recognition ?

If so, which countries of the European Union have
recognized their qualifications and what requirements were
made ?

Whatever the answer, does the United Kingdom
acknowledge repsonsibility for any harm which might be
suffered by the patients of the ship ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission is not aware of the requirements imposed

by the United Kingdom with regard to the pursuit of the
activities of a doctor by Russian nationals on board the Petr
Peruvy or of whether their qualifications are recognized by
other Member States .

Community legislation on access to the medical profession,
which has been consolidated in Directive 93 / 16 / EEC (*),
requires Member States to recognize the diplomas listed
there and awarded to Community nationals by the other
Member States in accordance with the minimum training
requirements which it lays down by giving them, as far as the
right to take up and pursue the activities of a doctor is
concerned, the same effect as those which the Member State
itself awards . However, this Community system of mutual
recognition between the Member States does not apply to
training received in third countries, even if the person
receiving the training is a Community national . Thus,

Member States may, within their own territory and in
accordance with their own rules, authorize holders of
diplomas, certificates or other qualifications which were not
obtained in a Member State pursuant to Article 23(5 ) of the
above Directive to take up and pursue the activities of a
doctor .

In this connection, the Court has pointed out in recent
judgments ( 2 ) concerning access to the activities of a dental
practitioner that recognition by a Member State of
qualifications awarded by third countries, even if they have
been recognized as equivalent in one or more Member
States, does not bind the other Member States .

With regard to the Honourable Member 's last question, the
monitoring and regulation of requirements imposed on the
provisions of medical services in this case is a matter solely
for the Member States . Accordingly, it is for the United
Kingdom and Gibraltarian authorities to decide whether
they are responsible for any harm which might be suffered
by patients receiving services within United Kingdom
territorial waters .

(!) OJ No L 165, 7.7 . 1993 .

( 2 ) Tawil-Albertini of 9 February 1994 and Haim of 9 February

1994 ( Cases C-154 / 93 and C-319 / 92, not yet published ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-778 / 94

by Maria Santos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 87 )

Subject : Projects and funds allocated to Portugal in the field

of the environment ( under the Envireg
Programme )

In view of the environmental significance of coastal areas
and the need to maintain their fragile ecosystems, which
often involves cleaning beaches, preserving the countryside,
etc ., and which has led to the creation of a system of
financial support for regional action in the field of the
environment under the Envireg Programme, what projects
and corresponding sums has the Commission approved for
Portugal in order to improve its coastal areas, including
pollution control and the treatment of waste ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The total amount of public expenditure provided for under
the Envireg Programme in Portugal in 1991 — 1993 was
ECU 145,510 million, of which the Community contributed

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 45

ECU 102 million . The public expenditure incurred at
28 February 1994 amounted to ECU 114,223 million, i.e. a
take-up rate of 78 % .

The projects financed under the programme are :

— Improvement and protection of coastal biotypes
( Community contribution of ECU 80,793 million );

— Utilization of the organic matter in waste ( Community

contribution of ECU 0,432 million );

— Marine protection ( Community contribution of ECU

9,088 million );

— Elimination of dangerous waste ( Community
contribution of ECU 4,918 million );

— institutional strengthening and technical assistance for

environmental management ( Community contribution
of ECU 5,775 million );

— Technical assistance ( Community contribution of ECU

0,912 million ).

In view of the take-up rate for the Envireg Programme, a
further ECU 13 million were allocated in December

1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-786 / 94

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 88 )

Subject : Difficulties for UK citizens in Italy

Would the Commission comment on the use and status of
the Permesso di Soggiorno required by UK nationals
resident in Italy within the European Union 's policy of
freedom of movement within the Member States ?

Since the right of residence granted by the EC Treaty
( Article 48 ) and Regulation 1612 / 68 / EEC f 1 ) is the
necessary corollary of the fundamental right to free
movement of workers ensured by Community law, the
Commission will take the necessary steps to bring the Italian
practice into conformity with Community law if the
information received is confirmed .

(!) OJ No L 257, 19 . 10 . 1968 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-789 / 94

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

( 95 / C 6 / 89 )

Subject : Exemption of the Greek Electricity Board ( DEI )

from the obligation to apply Community
legislation

In its reply to my Question H-0043 / 93 ( a ) the Commission
states that ' the provision for exemptions from carrying out
environmental impact assessment . . . are strictly limited '
and that ' Law No 1559 / 85 referred to by the Honourable
Member was not notified by the Greek authorities . . . the
Commission therefore does not at the moment have

sufficient precise information . . .'.

Will the Commission say :

1 . Whether it now has precise information on this

matter ?

2 . What measures it has taken to be notified by the Greek

authorities of Law No 1559 / 85 which exempts the DEI
from the operating authorization procedure in respect of
certain electricity power plants so that Directive
85 / 337 ( 2 ) does not apply ?

3 . What action it intends to take to ascertain whether the

provisons of Law No 1559 / 85 are compatible with
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission ( x ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-427 ( February,
1993 ).
(5 May 1994 ) ( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

The Commission is aware of the issue raised in this question
since a petition has been addressed to the Parliament on the
same matter . Resulting from this petition the Italian
authorities have been requested to inform the Commission
on the situation, in particular the administrative practice
carried out by the different bodies concerned in the issue of
residence cards . The Commission has also reminded the

Italian authorities of the obligation on the Member States to
ensure that Community citizens ' rights in this field are
respected .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

May 1994 )

As the Commission confirmed in its reply to oral question
H-43 / 93 from the Honourable Member, Directive
85 / 337 / EEC obliges the Member States to submit the

No C 6 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 9 . 1 . 95

construction of thermal power stations and other
combustion installations to a prior impact assessment where
their heat output exceeds 300 MW .

Law No 1559 / 85, quoted by the Honourable Member, was
not communicated by the Greek authorities as constituting
implementing measures for Directive 85 / 337 / EEC . The
relevant legal texts communicated in this regard are
framework law No 1650 / 86 on the protection of the
environment and ministerial decision 69269 / 5387 of

25 October 1990 which puts into effect certain articles of
the abovementioned framework law, stating which projects
require an environmental impact assessment .

According to Greek implementing legislation, all new
thermal power station projects ( authorized after October

1990 ), irrespective of their heat output, are subjected to
such an assessment ( compulsory assessment for Annexes I
and II ).

The Commission reaffirms that possibilities of exemption
from the obligation to carry out an impact assessment for
the projects referred to by the Directive are rigorously
limited, either to projects the details of which are adopted by
a specific act of national legislation ( Article 1(5 ) of the
Directive ) or a specific project, in exceptional cases, via a
special procedure providing for prior notification of the
Commission ( Article 2.3 ).

The Commission would point out that the provisions of the
Directive do not apply to projects for which development
consent was granted before 3 July 1988 . The Commission is
therefore not in a position to know whether the Directive
applies to the projects referred to by the Honourable
Member .

Consequently, if the units in question were authorized
before the date of entry into force of the Directive, the latter
does not apply .

The Commission has no information at its disposal so far
which would provide evidence of any infringement of
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment, and
consequently it cannot raise this matter with the Greek
authorities .

If the Honourable Member possesses such information and
would iike to notify the Commission thereof, the latter will
certainly look into the matter .

1 . Can the Commission state what steps it has taken to
equip itself with adequate facilities for its seat ?

2 . Will the Berlaymont Building have priority when the

future seat of the Commission is chosen ?

3 . If so, what steps does the Commission intend to take for
the purchase or use of that building ?

4 . Does the Commission not agree that it should take the
initiative in launching one or more tenders at
Community level for implementing the various phases
involved in the restructuring of the Berlaymont
Building ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

1 . In accordance with the conclusions of the European
Council, the Commission has formulated its buildings
policy in such a way as to remain within the budget ceilings
set by the Council .

2 . The location and size of the Berlaymont building make
it an ideal solution to the problem of housing the
Commissioners and certain strategic Commission
departments, provided that safety can be ensured and the
cost is acceptable .

3 . The Commission is examining the technical
conditions for a possible return to the Berlaymont in close
cooperation with the Belgian Government, which has a
controlling interest in the company which owns the
building . The final decision will depend on the assurances
provided as to health and safety and financial terms, which
will have to be approved by the budget authority .

4 . The Commission does not own the Berlaymont . The
Belgian State is responsible for the property and for
awarding the contracts, which it will do in accordance with
Community law .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-804 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-797 / 94 ( 23 March 1994 )

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) 95 / C 6 / 91 )
to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

95 / C 6 / 90

Subject : The seat of the Commission

The conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council
reached a final decision on the seat of the Commission .

Subject : Consequences for cocoa-producing countries of

the use of vegetable fats in the production of
chocolate

Given that the economies of certain developing countries in
East Africa and Latin America depend to a large extent on
the production and exportation of cocoa, will the

9 . 1 . 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 6 / 47

Commission say whether it has calculated the consequences
for these countries if 5 % of vegetable fats are used in the
production of chocolate throughout the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Article 14 of Directive 73 / 241 / EEC ( ) on cocoa and
chocolate products, which is being reviewed in the light of
the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council, allows
some Member States to use vegetable fats other than cocoa
butter in chocolate production .

Malaysia, Indonesia, Benin, Togo and Ghana . Some of these
countries produce both cocoa and other vegetable fats .
Others, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, produce other
vegetable fats only and do not export anything else .

At present, it is difficult to foresee the how the economies of
developing countries might be affected if all Community
countries were allowed to use vegetable fats other than
cocoa butter in chocolate production .

With a view to simplifying Directive 73 / 241 / EEC the
Commission is continuing its consultations with the parties
concerned .

This year it will present a proposal to the Council and
Parliament .

All these vegetable fats are produced by developing
countries, is particular Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, (!) OJ No L 228, 16 . 3 . 1973 .