Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 376
# Official Journal

Volume 37
### of the European Communities 30 December 1994

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 376 / 01

E-546 / 92 by Andre Sainjon to the Commission
Subject : Doubts concerning the safety of nuclear power stations in eastern Europe 1

94 / C 376 / 02 E-8 / 93 by Lyndon Harrison to the Commission

Subject : Late payment of accounts 2

94 / C 376 / 03 E-327 / 93 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez to the Commission

Subject : Removal of the stakes of the ' Ses Salines ' special bird-protection area in Ibiza 2

94 / C 376 / 04

94 / C 376 / 05

E-35 13 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the Vikos-Aoos National Park in Greece 3

E - 844 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Taverna-cum-shelter in Greek national park 3

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3513 / 92 and E-844 / 93 3

94 / C 376 / 06 E-l 171 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission

Subject : Answer to written question on the application in Spain of the Ddirective on insider
dealing 4

94 / C 376 / 07

94 / C 376 / 08

94 / C 376 / 09

E-l 344 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Terms of competition in Community transport 4

E-2070 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Insurance against air crashes 5

E-21 16 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Inclusion of olives in food-aid programmes 5

2 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 376 / 10

94 / C 376 / 11

94 / C 376 / 12

94 / C 376 / 13

94 / C 376 / 14

94 / C 376 / 15

94 / C 376 / 16

94 / C 376 / 17

94 / C 376 / 18

94 / C 376 / 19

94 / C 376 / 20

94 / C 376 / 21

94 / C 376 / 22

94 / C 376 / 23

94 / C 376 / 24

94 / C 376 / 25

94 / C 376 / 26

94 / C 376 / 27

94 / C 376 / 28

E-21 85 / 93 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : A Community programme for rehabilitation of the Rías coastal area in Galicia

( Spain )

E-2274 / 93 by Manfred Vohrer to the Commission
Subject : Visa problems / entry from CIS States

E-2451 / 93 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : EC funds for high-speed rail link

E-2727 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Charter for EC travellers

E-2 845 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Shipments of radioactive materials

E-2858 / 93 by Andrea Raggio to the Commission
Subject : Safety at the Saras oil refinery at Sarroch ( Cagliari )

E-2898 / 93 by Franco Borgo, Antonio Navarro, Juan Colino Salamanca, Agostino
Mantovani, Nino Pisoni and Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Structural imbalance in the milling industry

E-2909 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Mining of lignite in Drama

E-2961 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Quality of ground water, surface water and drinking water in certain Member States or
regions of the Community

E-2971 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Manufacture and marketing of refrigerators in the EC

E-2976 / 93 by Heribert Barrera i Costa to the Commission
Subject : Institutional financial flows between the European Community and the Spanish State

E-2986 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Phebus

E-2991 / 93 by Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Exotic monsters

E-3 114 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Retex Programme

E-3 120 / 93 by Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : The Community Agricultural Fund ( EAGGF )

E-3127 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of Valia Kalda

E-3 13 1 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Use of biological means to combat insects

E-3 192 / 93 by Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Reform of the Global Environmental Facility

E-3240 / 93 by Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Postal services in the internal market

6

6

7

7

8

8

9

9

10

11

11

12

13

13

13

14

14

14

15

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 376 / 29 E-3274 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Compensation for the inhabitants of the community of Armatoliko hit by the construction '
of a dam by the Greek National Electricity Company in the Upper Acheloos region 16

94 / C 376 / 30 E-3320 / 93 by Enrique Baron Crespo to the Commission
Subject : Incomplete or incorrect application of social security schemes to employed and
self-employed workers and their families moving within the Community 16

94 / C 376 / 31 E-3345 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of the Thermaic Gulf by tanneries 17

94 / C 376 / 32 E-3414 / 93 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Postal services — improvement to the benefit of the public 18

94 / C 376 / 33 E-3486 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Risks associated with the use of chlorine ( tetrachloroethylene or ' Perclene ') in
dry-cleaning 18

94 / C 376 / 34 E-3516 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Heavy goods vehicles in transit through Switzerland 19

94 / C 37 6 / 35 E-3526 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Promotion of unchlorinated paper 20

94 / C 376 / 36 E-3540 / 93 by Heinz Köhler to the Commission
Subject : Non-recognition of disabled person 's badges in the UK . 20

94 / C 376 / 37 E-3552 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1989-93 — Portugal 21

94 / C 376 / 38 E-3576 / 93 by Francois Musso to the Commission
Subject : The Leader Programme and Corsica 21

94 / C 376 / 39 E-3661 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The introduction of unlimited absolute liability in respect of marine pollution 22

94 / C 376 / 40 E-3669 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Total Community tobacco production quotas 22

94 / C 376 / 41 E-3677 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Greek tobacco production quota 22

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3669 / 93 and E-3677 / 93 22

94 / C 376 / 42 E-3680 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental problems affecting the Pinios river in Ilia 23

94 / C 376 / 43 E-3741 / 93 by Lyndon Harrison to the Commission
Subject : Regulation of carcinogenic hydrocarbons in vehicle emissions 23

94 / C 376 / 44 E-3818 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Pesticide limit values used by the WHO 24

94 / C 376 / 45 E-3840 / 93 by Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Patenting of the gene for cystic fibrosis 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 376 / 46 E-3860 / 93 by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission
Subject : Representation of the Commission in Vietnam 25

94 / C 376 / 47 E-3914 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Application of Directive 90 / 41 5 / EEC in Greece 25

94 / C 376 / 48 E-3922 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive 91 / 157 / EEC 26

94 / C 376 / 49 E-3924 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive 92 / 14 / EEC on restricting the use of noisy
aircraft 26

94 / C 376 / 50 E-3951 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the memorandum of understanding on oilseeds in Andalusia 26

94 / C 376 / 51 E-3975 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Energy saving in buildings 27

94 / C 376 / 52 E-3976 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Use of the term ' organic ' on ' Elina ' products in Greece 27

94 / C 376153 E-3992 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Rules and time limits for keeping beef and veal in intervention storage 28

94 / C 376 / 54 E-4028 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Setting of limits for the arsenic content of drinking water 28

94 / C 376 / 55 E-4032 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Quality of drinking water in Halastra ( Thessalonika ) and Petralona ( Halkidiki ) 28

Joint answer to Written Questions E-4028 / 93 and E-4032 / 93 28

94 / C 376 / 56 E-4041 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Promotion of a Directive to prevent the use of animals in safety tests by automobile
manufacturers 29

94 / C 376 / 57 E-4060 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Educational content of television in the EU 29

94 / C 376 / 58 E-4085 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Conference on fisheries in the Mediterranean 29

94 / C 376 / 59 E-4090 / 93 by Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Invitation to tender in respect of bread-making wheat 30

94 / C 376 / 60 E-4096 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Alleged breach of the EC Directive on Freedom of Information on the Environment 31

94 / C 376 / 61 E - 19 / 94 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : European aid to Rhône-Poulenc Chemie in Ertvelde ( Belgium ) 31

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 376 / 62 E-24 / 94 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert to the Commission
Subject : Traffic offences committed by Dutch citizens in Germany

94 / C 376 / 63 E-27 / 94 by Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Alleged harm caused by unleaded petrol and by catalytic converters

94 / C 376 / 64 E-29 / 94 by George Patterson to the Commission
Subject : Malmsey

94 / C 376 / 65 E-39 / 94 by Emmanouil Karellis to the Commission
Subject : Adverse effects of GATT on agriculture and the textile industry

94 / C 376 / 66 E-109 / 94 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Community subsidies for bull-fighting

94 / C 376 / 67 E-l 13 / 94 by Adriana Ceci to the Commission
Subject : Construction of a municipal waste disposal plant in the province of Sienna ( Monte Landi
project )

94 / C 376 / 68 E-120 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Community policy in the field of port infrastructures

94 / C 376 / 69 E-135 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Compensating nut producers for loss of income

94 / C 376 / 70 E-151 / 94 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Objectives of the multi-annual guidance programmes

94 / C 376 / 71 E-155 / 94 by José Vazquez Fouz and Enrique Sapena Granell to the Commission
Subject : Flight safety

94 / C 376 / 72 E-161 / 94 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Storage of hazardous substances at Seaforth, Bootle

94 / C 376 / 73 E-162 / 94 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Storage of bromine at the Seaforth Container Terminal, Bootle

Joint answer to Written Questions E-161 / 94 and E-162 / 94

94 / C 376 / 74 E-l 65 / 94 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Dumping of dangerous or suspect industrial waste by at least one European undertaking in
the Congo ( Brazzaville )

94 / C 376 / 75 E-174 / 94 by Jose Barata Moura to the Commission
Subject : High-speed trains in Portugal

94 / C 376 / 76 E-2 17 / 94 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Controls on biotechnology

94 / C 376 / 77 E-234 / 94 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Failure to pay Community aid

94 / C 376 / 78 E-277 / 94 by Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Homeopathic veterinary medicinal products

94 / C 376 / 79 E-283 / 94 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Commission negotiations with MITI about voluntary restraint

32

32

33

33

34

34

34

35

35

36

36

37

37

37

38

39

40

40

41

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 376 / 80 E-3 15 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Access of steel undertakings to the social aids scheme 41

94 / C 376 / 81 E-3 17 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Training standards for osteopaths 42

94 / C 376 / 82 E-319 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Uniform Community information system on aquatic resources 42

94 / C 376 / 83 E-321 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Management of aquatic resources 43

94 / C 376 / 84 E-326 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a European maritime service to protect the natural heritage of the
Mediterranean 43

94 / C 376 / 85 E-334 / 94 by Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : The GATT deal and the CAP : allocation of henceforth restricted subsidized agricultural
exports 43

94 / C 376 / 86 E-337 / 94 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Fisheries control and protection 44

94 / C 376 / 87 E-344 / 94 by Simone Martin to the Commission
Subject : Organic farming and set-aside 45

94 / C 376 / 88 E-382 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Summertime 45

94 / C 376 / 89 E-383 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : North sea quality status report 46

94 / C 376 / 90 E-384 / 94 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Circulation of feed materials 46

94 / C 376 / 91 E-394 / 94 by Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Unsatisfactory answer to Question No 1500 / 93 concerning noise pollution from
aerodromes 47

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

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-546 / 92

by André Sainjon ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 16 March 1992 )

( 94 / C 376 / 01 )

Subject : Doubts concerning the safety of nuclear power

stations in eastern Europe

According to a number of sources, there is no doubt that the
power stations in eastern Europe, and particularly those in
Bulgaria, Lithuania and Russia, are beset by chronic safety
problems .

Safety is an essential requirement for the operation of
nuclear power stations . All of the eastern European
countries must be helped to operate their installations at a
level of safety comparable with that existing in the
Community countries .

It seems that the Commission 's projects relating to the safety
of nuclear power stations in eastern Europe are currently
being held up by the process of calling for tenders . Is it true
that funds which were available were not able to be used in
time ? Should the Commission not use the emergency
procedures to ensure that the safety systems of these power
stations are improved ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

That is why the Tacis and Phare assistance programmes
devote a very substantial proportion of their budget to
nuclear safety : ECU 360 million over three years represents
over 60 % of the amount that the Munich G7 summit of July
last year thought necessary in the short term .

The Commission is in constant contact with potential
recipient countries in order to identify the most urgent and
relevant operations to carry out, and to speed up their
execution . Any fair assessment of the Commission 's efforts
must, however, take account of the difficult political
situation and the highly specialized nature of the sector in
question .

The Commission feels that the current procedures are not
generally the cause of substantial additional delays to the
project 's execution . The procedures do, moreover, allow
contracts to be awarded more quickly where this is
warranted by a project 's urgency .

The 1990 and 1991 Phare Programmes concentrated on
on-site assistance . An emergency programme was financed
at Kozloduy with the help of WANO . The plant was
twinned with a Community power station and detailed
engineering studies permitted extensive restoration during
shutdowns . A consortium of technical support institutions
from Community safety authorities contributed its expertise
to a review of the power station 's safety .

In Czechoslovakia, operations focused on safety
( 29 July 1993 )
improvements to Bohunice 's emergency cooling and
containment systems, while at Temelin assistance centred on
The Commission can only endorse the Honourable control systems and instrumentation .
Member 's view that safety is an essential requirement for the
operation of nuclear power stations and that all the
countries concerned should be helped to operate their The ECU 53 million Tacis 1991 programme comprises
plants at a level of safety comparable to that in the 35 projects, most of them generic safety studies, i.e.
Community . covering specific types of reactors . Contracts totalling

No C 376 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

ECU 14 million were signed, notably for a study on the
safety of RBMK-type reactors, the installation of an early
warning system in Ukraine and Belarus, training and fire
protection . Other contracts concern WER 230 reactors
and training for operators .

' The Phare and Tacis 1992 Programmes accord special

importance to operational assistance . After long and
difficult negotiations with both the recipient countries and
Community nuclear operators, the first contracts were
concluded and on-site help started at the end of June . At
each of the eight sites involved, a team of Community
nuclear experts is working closely with the local operator on
identifying and implementing projects . The Commission is
also financing the supply of equipment under these
projects .

Another element of the 1992 programmes involves generic
safety studies dealing specifically with WER 213 and 1 000
reactors, since earlier types have already been covered by the

1991 programmes .

The Community programmes will also cover the
reinforcement of the safety authorities and their technical
support organizations, along with nuclear waste

management .

In response to the recipient countries ' wish for help with
financing equipment, the programme for 1992 allows up to
40 % of a project 's cost for the purchase of hardware .

The Commission 's policy allows Russian institutions and
organizations to play a very active role in the projects
chosen . This is necessary both to guarantee proper
implementation of projects and ensure the long-term success
of Community assistance, and in particular the development
of a ' nuclear safety culture ', a vital aspect of any project in
this field .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 / 93

by Lyndon Harrison ( PSE )

to the Commission

Will the Commission inform Parliament what steps are
being taken to ensure that the consultation paper reaches the
relevant organizations which safeguard the interests of small
and medium enterprises ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

The study referred to by the Honourable Member on the
problem of the time taken to make payments in commercial
transactions (*) has been widely disseminated to Member
States, Community institutions and several hundred
European and national professional organizations,
particularly those representing small and medium-sized
enterprises .

Interested parties were invited to submit their comments
before 31 May 1993, and the Commission received over one
hundred replies . The Economic and Social Committee
adopted an opinion on 30 June 1993 ( 2 ).

Following the request by Parliament in its resolution of
21 April 1993 on the Commission communications :
' Towards a European Market in subcontracting ' and ' SME
participation in public procurement in the Community ' ( 3 ),
a public hearing was organized in Brussels on 7 and

8 July 1993, involving approximately 30 organizations
representing undertakings and attended by a number of
MEPs .

Following these in-depth consultations, the Commission is
now in the process of evaluating contributions and will
present its conclusions on the appropriateness and, where
appropriate, the nature of Community measures with
regard to the time taken to make payments as soon as
possible .

(!) SEC(92 ) 2214 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 249, 13 . 9 . 1993 .

( 3 ) Resolution A3-123 / 93 .

(3 February 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-327 / 93

( 94 / C 376 / 02 by Laura González Alvarez ( GUE )

to the Commission

(2 March 1993 )
Subject : Late payment of accounts ( 94 / C 376 / 03 )

In view of the importance of the single market in enlarging
the trading potential of small and medium enterprises in the
Member States will the Commission report on the progress
of the consultative paper investigating the problems relating
to late payments and the recovery of interest charges arising
therefrom ?

Subject : Removal of the stakes of the ' Ses Salines ' special

bird-protection area in Ibiza

Has the Commission received any complaints concerning
the removal of protected stakes for some of the ' Ses Salines '

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 3

area of Ibiza, resulting from the recent amendment to the
Law on Wildlife Areas in the Balearic Islands ?

If so, what stage has been reached by the proceedings, what
individual or organization initiated them and what reasons
were given ?

Is the decision by the Balearic Islands Autonomous
community to remove the protected status enjoyed by

1 . the cutting down of scores of trees,

2 . erosion and landslips on the wooded slopes near the

road and

3 . the degradation of one of the most beautiful mountain
woodland areas in Greece which is also one of the most

important refuges for wild animals ?

' Ses Salines ' as a special bird-protection area under
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (*) compatible with Community
environmental law ? Is this measure acceptable from the
point of view of Community environmental policy ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-844 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
I 1 ) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 .
to the Commission

( 26 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 05
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission 's
answer to Written Question No 328 / 93 ( ] ) on the same
subject .

As to the identity of the complainants, she is reminded that
the Commission guarantees confidentiality regarding the
complaints it receives and so cannot disclose their identity or
the arguments they are putting forward .

0 ) OJ No C 288, 25 . 10 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-35 13 / 92

Subject : Taverna-cum-shelter in Greek national park

A taverna-cum-shelter is to be built with Community funds
in the national park situated between the Vikos Gorge and
the River Aoos in the prefecture of Ioannina . This strange
project is to be carried out in the area of Desi above the
monastery at Stomion . The newspaper ' Eleftheros ' reported
on 23 December 1992 that an illegal plan is afoot to
construct a road and a building which will ultimately be a
taverna, with the aid of subsidies from the Community 's
Leader Programme disguising the project as development
work for the construction of a mountain-shelter . If this

project is carried out it will have severe effects on the wild
flora and fauna in the national park . Will the Commission
therefore ask for an investigation into the whole matter ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions

to the Commission

( 28 January 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 04 )

Subject : Destruction of the Vikos-Aoos National Park in

Greece

The Greek Ornithological Society and the Society for the
Protection of Nature in Epirus have alleged that EC funds
are being used to destroy the Vikos-Aoos National Park .
The above organizations point out that EC funds are being
used within the framework of the Leader Programmes
to finance projects including : the construction and / or
widening of a road from the bridge of Konitsa to Moni
Stamiou in an important woodland biotope in the National
Park and the construction of a building at Desi near Moni
Stomiou in the gorge of the River Aoos . What action does
the Commission intend to take, given that these projects will
involve

E-35 13 / 92 and E-844 / 93

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Following up its answer of 26 July 1993 (*), the
Commission can inform the Honourable Member of the
most recent developments concerning the special protection
zone in the Vikou-Aoos National Park .

More specifically, the Greek authorities have informed us
that the Konitsa-Moni Stomiou road is a forest road and

that no redevelopment work has so far been carried out .

As regards the construction at Dessi the Greek authorities
have pointed out that the local authorities have stopped the
work on grounds of illegality .

No C 376 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

The Commission considers therefore that in the case

concerned, since no other factors are involved, it cannot
conclude that there has been any violation of Community
law as regards protection of the environment .

application of Directives — and especially notification of
implementing measures to the Commission — can be
obtained from :

— the annual report on monitoring of the application of

(!) OJ No C 320, 26 . 11 . 1993, p . 12 . Community law ;

— the Celex database ( sector 7 );

— the INFO 92 database .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 171 / 93

by Diego Santos López ( ARC ) These last two are updated regularly, enabling Members of
to the Commission Parliament to obtain information at any time .

( 13 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 06 )

Subject : Answer to written question on the application in

Spain of the Directive on insider dealing

On 5 March 1992 I tabled a question for written answer,
No 778 / 92 (*) on the application in Spain of Directive

89 / 592 / EEC on insider dealing .

My question was a serious one and sought to draw attention
to the Spanish Government 's failings in an area of great
importance, since the failure to implement Community
principles means giving an unfair advantage to certain
investors which will destroy investors ' confidence and lead
to malfunctioning of the financial market .

On 2 March 1993, a year later, Mr Delors replied, informing
me that Spain had notified the Commission of measures to
implement Directive 89 / 592 / EEC ( 2 ).

I should like to point out that, according to the
Commission 's own publication, Info 92, National
Implementing Measures of 31 October 1992, Spain had not
yet implemented the Directive in question .

What are the Commission 's reasons for publishing
information which it does not provide to MEPs until one
year after receiving the request ?

From what date was the information requested in Question
No 778 / 92 available to the Commission ?

Does the Commission not agree that by taking this attitude
it is seriously obstructing the task of Members of this
Parliament ?

(!) OJ No C 132, 11 . 5 . 1993, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 334, 18 . 11 . 1989, p . 30 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1344 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 07 )

Subject : Terms of competition in Community transport

Greek haulage contractors are seeking equal terms of
competition for transport within the Community and are
calling for :

1 . equal terms of competition for Community hauliers,

and particularly Greek haulage contractors who have to
travel great distances from the periphery to the centre of
the Community across third countries,

2 . a transitional period through to 31 December 1996 to
enable vehicle road taxes to be adjusted in certain
peripheral Member States,

3 . the maintenance of alternative road networks in the

Member States free of tolls and charges, and

4 . tolls to be calculated using a common Community

method which will also laydown a generally applicable
maximum amount .

Will the Commission support the demands made by Greek
haulage contractors ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission (7 March 1994 )

( 19 January 1994 )

1 . The question put by the Honourable Member relates
The Commission would draw the Honourable Member 's to a principle of great importance in the Community,
attention to the fact that information on progress in the namely the creation of fair conditions of competition .

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 5

In establishing the common transport policy, the
Commission sets out to achieve a balance between measures

in order to create fair conditions of competition .
Harmonization and liberalization measures should result in

a situation where the different modes of transport and the
different transport operators in the Member States can
compete on equal terms . When decisions are taken in this
context, due attention is given as far as possible to the
specific problems of the peripheral Member States . In
addition, the special difficulties facing Greek transport
operators in non-Community countries is also considered
by the Commission, in particular with regard to the
conclusions of the Transport Council of June 1993 .

2 . In fact, Council Directive 93 / 89 / EEC (') grants a
special derogation which allows Greece, and certain other
countries, to apply rates that are lower than, but not less
than 50 % of, the minimum Community vehicle tax rates
until 31 December 1997, and an appropriate reduction for
three years on user charges (a regional sticker which is valid
in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands ).

3 . Even though it was not possible to persuade all the
Member States to commit themselves to providing toll-free
alternative routes, the fact remains that in practice many
such routes will remain available .

4 . The maximum amount for user charges ( stickers ) has
been put at ECU 1 250 a year for the heaviest vehicles, both
for the combined regional sticker and for any national
stickers . Moreover, the price of the regional sticker for two ­
and three-axle goods vehicles has been set at ECU 750 . The
daily rate for the regional sticker has been set at ECU 6 for
all categories of goods vehicle .

than the death of a European and much more in the case of
an American citizen . How will the Commission deal with

this serious issue ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission can confirm that the existing system of
airline liability in case of accidents suffers from a number of
deficiencies in relation to mandatory compensation
amounts as such but also in relation to equal treatment of
passengers with different nationalities .

At present, the rights of passengers in case of air accidents
are ruled by the so-called Warsaw system so far as
international air traffic is concerned . A number of signatory
states, however, apply different rules for domestic flights or
their own citizens on board an aircraft . This explains a high
degree of fragmentation and, accordingly, a lack of clarity
for passengers in relation to effective protection levels .

For this reason the Commission has started an analysis of
problems and options to overcome such deficiencies . This
work is closely coordinated with the European Civil
Aviation Conference ( ECAC ) in order to prepare the ground
for broadest geographical average of any European
initiative in this area .

(!) OJ No L 279, 12 . 11 . 1993 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 16 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 09 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2070 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 08

Subject : Insurance against air crashes

During 1992 there were a number of air disasters .
According to newspaper reports, this has led to an increase
in insurance premiums which may mean higher fares . The
insurance companies have maintained and, in some cases,
extended the blatantly unjust system whereby the
nationality of the passengers involved in an air crash
continues to affect the amount of compensation paid . Under
this system the death of a ' Third World ' citizen costs less

Subject : Inclusion of olives in food-aid programmes

Will the Commission state whether unsold olives will be
included in the food-aid programmes offered by the
Community to the former eastern bloc and other
countries ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 1994 )

The Commission is following developments on the table
olives market with close attention . Recently it has become

No C 376 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

possible for groups including representatives of several
branches of the sector to apply for part-financing by
the Community of certain measures for promoting
consumption .

The Community can also part-finance the constitution of
working capital by producer groups and associations
thereof .

Can the Commission state whether, in its view, the
Community could establish such a specific programme, on
the analogy of those for other Community regions, with the
objective of rehabilitating the Galician coastal area, given
that it should be considered as one of the Community 's areas
of outstanding natural beauty ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

Apart from these measures, for which provision is made
under Regulations ( EEC ) No 1332 / 92 ( x ) and ( EEC ) ( 13 April 1994 )
No 3061 / 92 ( 2 ), and current structural measures, there is no
provision for including table olives in Community food-aid
programmes . The Commission attaches much importance to maintaining

and improving environmental conditions in the region of
Galicia .

Firstly, the product is not included in the list of products
annexed to the Commission Decision of 23 February 1993
on the establishment of overall quantities of food aid for

1993 and a list of products to be supplied as food aid ( 3 ).
Secondly, it has never been requested by any of the countries
receiving food aid .

i 1 ) OJ No L 145, 27 . 5 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 308, 24 . 10 . 1992 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 56, 9 . 3 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 185 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez      - Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 10 )

Subject : A Community programme for rehabilitation of the

Rfas coastal area in Galicia ( Spain )

The Spanish region of Galicia possesses one of the most
beautiful coastal areas in the Community, characterized by a
remarkable wealth of marine species . The inherent
attractions and beauty of the area are, however, not well
served by the current physical condition of the coast ; a
major effort is required to bring it up to the environmental
standard merited by its exceptional beauty .

The existence of Community actions involving specific
programmes for the rehabilitation of other coastal areas in
the Community should be considered as setting a precedent
for examining the possibility of establishing a specific
Community programme for the global rehabilitation of the
Galician coastal area ( the ' Rias ').

For this reason it is part - financing individual projects under
the 1989 / 1993 CSF with the aim of safeguarding and
improving the coastal environment at a total cost of more
than ECU 33 million . The Operational Programmes for
Galicia are providing a further ECU 1 1 million for the same
purpose . In addition measures are being carried out in
Galicia under the multi-regional Operational Programme
for the Environment involving the construction of mains
sewage systems and waste water purifying stations in Vigo
and Cantis in the province of Pontevedra and in La Coruna,
El Ferrol, Arteixo and Mugardos in the province of La
Coruna, together with schemes involving the analysis
and monitoring of water quality, costing close on
ECU 20 million . The ERDF contribution to these combined

plans put forward by the Spanish authorities is more than
ECU 38 million .

Under the Envireg initiative, a sum of more than
ECU 1 8 million is being invested in a global rehabilitation of
Sada, Cabanas, Puentedeume, Ribeira, Beiro and Sanxenxo
and in the sewage system, treatment station and
sewage outfall pipe at Beu, Poio and O Grove . The
ERDF contribution of ECU 1 1 million to this scheme will

help secure and improve the environment, in accordance
with the priority objective of reducing pollution in coastal

areas .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2274 / 93

by Manfred Vohrer ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 11 )

Subject : Visa problems / entry from CIS States

Is the Commission aware that leading scientists from Russia
have repeatedly encountered problems in obtaining visas

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 7

( particularly for France ) in order to take up invitations to
attend conferences or carry out research or to accept visiting
professorships ? Can anything be done about this ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the problems which citizens of
Russia and the other States which have emerged from the
Soviet Union may encounter when applying for the visas
required to visit one or more Member States . However, the
issuing of visas does not fall within the Commission 's
competence but solely within that of national authorities .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that it has recently made proposals on the question of visas
and personal checks carried out at the Community 's
external frontiers, which should in future make it possible to
enter the Community on the basis of a single visa issued by
one Member State .

as a key in the outline plan welcomed by the Council in
December 1990 .

The Commission considers the project in its entirety,
including all aspects such as energy, environment and
land-use . Funds available from the Community budget can
be used in connection with all aspects of this project.The
Commission demonstrated its interest in the feasibility
studies by giving assistance in 1991, 1992 and 1993 ( 5, 12
and ECU 10 million respectively ).

When the final project has been defined and if the British

Government makes a request, the Commission will examine
the possibility of helping to complete the financial package
using different Community resources such as the
Trans-European Network Budget Line or loans from the
EIB .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2727 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

94 / C 376 / 13
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2451 / 93

by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 12 )

Subject : EC funds for high-speed rail link

Will the Commission state what funds are potentially
available for assistance with the high-speed rail link from
London to the Channel Tunnel in respect of :

1 . building the line itself

2 . making reparations to any environmental damage
caused

3 . undertaking special construction measures to avoids
environmental damage

4 . any other facets in the construction of the link ?

Subject : Charter for EC travellers

Despite the regulation on ' denied boarding compensation ',
the problem of individuals being ' bumped off ' scheduled
flights due to airline overbooking still remains . Does the
Commission agree that at holiday peak times, with large
numbers of families travelling on APEX fares with children,
the airlines should be much more sensitive about

overbooking, since these people are far more likely to turn
up for their flight than full-fare-paying business
travellers ?

Will the Commission develop a travellers ' charter with a
view to improving the present state of affairs ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission Passengers travelling on scheduled air services starting from

Community airports are entitled to denied boarding

(5 May 1994 ) compensation according to Council Regulation ( EEC )

No 295 / 91 (*). Passengers travelling under package tour
arrangements have to seek compensation under the rules
The Commission expressed its interest in a high-speed rail established by the Council Directive 90 / 314 / EEC ( 2 ) on
link from London to the Channel tunnel by showing this line package travel, package holidays and package tours .

(5 May 1994 )

No C 376 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

The so-called third aviation package which applies since

1 January 1993 has phased out the traditional distinction
between scheduled and non-scheduled air services as far as

flights within the scope of application of these rules are
concerned . The Commission is currently examining the
implications of overbooked flights with a view to improve, if
necessary, legal clarity on the rights of passengers .

(!) OJ No L 36, 8 . 2 . 1991 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2845 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 14

Subject : Shipments of radioactive materials

Further to the reply of 26 April 1993 to Written Question
No 96 / 93 i 1 ) by Mrs Goedmakers, what steps have been
taken by the Commission to respond to the request agreed
by vote in favour of joint resolution B-1123, 1517, 1521,
1522 / 92 on 19 November 1992 ( 2 ) that

— the Commission enter into negotiations with the United

States and Japan to ensure the human population and
the natural environment are adequately protected from
shipments of uranium and plutonium ;

— Parliament be informed before the end of 1992 of

measures taken by the Commission, Council and
Member State governments to eliminate all risks in
connection with the international shipments of
radioactive materials ;

— the Commission, in consort with the Council and

Member State governments take the necessary steps to
track down any ' loose ' plutonium on Community
territory and put it out of the reach of criminal
organizations ?

(!) OJ No C 202, 26 . 7 . 1993, p . 7 .

The notes dealt with procedures to apply to nuclear material
retransfers from Community territory to Japan, where such
material had previously been transferred from Japan to the
Community, in respecting obligations under the US / Japan
Agreement . They more specifically ensure that, within the
US / Japan Agreement, physical protection measures are
applied to such transfers in accordance with internationally
accepted standards .

2 . The safety of transport of radioactive substances
including uranium and plutonium was the subject of the
Commission 's communication on the transport of
radioactive materials in the Community ( 1 ), and the answers
given by the Commission to the Honourable Member 's
questions No 3412 / 92 ( 2 ) and No 496 / 93 on transportation
of plutonium by air ( 3 ) and No 1876 / 93 on movements of
radioactive substances in Greece ( 4 ).

3 . To cope with the arrival of so-called ' vagabonding
nuclear materials ' on Community territory the Commission,
in collaboration with Member States and the Council, has
since 1991 taken the following action :

— gathering and evaluation of information from national

authorities,

— communication and cooperation with Member States

and provision of expertise at their specific request,

— implementation of safeguards on seized nuclear
material,

— high accuracy chemical analysis of seized material and

provision of technical expertise to national authorities
and courts as requested,

— establishment of a data base with comprehensive

information on all cases identified .

(!) Doc SEC(89 ) 801 — 23 . 5 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 280, 18 . 10 . 1993 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 306, 31 . 1 . 1994, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 337, 21 . 12 . 1992, p . 243 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2858 / 93

by Andrea Raggio ( PSE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Matutes (4 October 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 94 / C 376 / 15 )
( 14 January 1994 )

1 . The Community role in the US / Japan nuclear
agreement of July 1988 was the subject of an exchange of
notes between the Commission and the US Government in

July 1988 . The terms of the notes were agreed with the
Japanese authorities .

Subject : Safety at the Saras oil refinery at Sarroch

( Cagliari )

In June, a large oil spillage from the Saras refinery at Sarroch

( Cagliari ) spread over a more than 15 km stretch of the

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 9

south-western coast of Sardinia, causing serious damage to
the environment and the tourist trade and giving rise to
serious concern about the effectiveness of the refinery 's
safety systems .

This concern is increased by the fact that, although the Saras
refinery is sited in a coastal area which-attracts a particularly
large number of tourists, an extremely busy road runs
straight through the refinery and the adjoining area in which
the finished products are stored .

What steps has the Commission taken or does it intend to
take to ensure that the relevant national or regional
authorities check whether the Saras-Raffinerie di Sarroch

company did — and still continues to — fully comply with
Community factory safety and pollution prevention
rules ?

Whereas under normal condition and particularly at harvest
time, the milling industry provides an outlet of primary
importance to the Community 's cereals sector and, whereas,
in some of the Member States in which surplus capacity is
highest, programmes to bring about reform ( however
limited ) have either already been introduced or are currently
being drawn up :

1 . Is the Commission aware of this situation ?

2 . Does it not feel it appropriate to recommend that
Member States adopt a common approach to the issue
of surplus capacity, based on the proposal for a Council
Regulation on restructuring the common wheat milling
industry drawn up at the time of adoption of Regulation

( EEC ) No 120 / 67 ( x ).

(!) OJ No 117, 19 . 6 . 1967, p . 2269 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission
(4 May 1994 )
(4 May 1994 )

The Commission does monitor the implementation of
Community legislation by Member States but it has no
evidence, on the basis of the full report of the accident as
required by Article 11 of the Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ('), to

suggest that the incident to which the Honourable Member
refers reveals an inadequacy in the implementation of that
Directive in Italy .

(^ OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898 / 93

by Franco Borgo ( PPE ), Antonio Navarro ( PPE ),
Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ), Agostino Mantovani ( PPE ),

Nino Pisoni ( PPE ) and Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 16 )

Subject : Structural imbalance in the milling industry

The Community milling industry is currently in a state of
structural imbalance :

— in many Member States, the industry 's milling capacity

has grown considerably, under the influence of measures
taken under the CAP ;

— some Member States have a structural surplus capacity

which, in some cases, exceeds 40 % of total output ;

— the worsening problem of surplus capacity is adversely

affecting the efficiency of mills .

The problem of structural surplus capacity in the milling
industry is not new . Production capacity already
substantially exceeded sales potential in the 1960s and the
Commission tried in vain at that time to create a

Community-level plan to redress the imbalance . As the
Community grew, new Member States brought similar
problems with them . It is therefore wrong to say that the
increase in milling capacity has been the result of measures
taken under the CAP .

Moreover, the Community has always actively participated
in the search for new outlets, which has led to a considerable
increase over the last few years in the quantities of flour
exported .

In any case, the Commission feels that reform of the milling
industry should be undertaken by the industry itself at its
own expense . It should therefore draw up its own plans for
restructuring .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2909 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 17 )

Subject : Mining of lignite in Drama

The Greek authorities wish the Greek Electricity Board to
develop a lignite mine in Drama . In particular, they want
two thermo-electric power plants, each with a 300 MW

No C 376 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

capacity, to be constructed and to go on-stream in the year
2000 and 2001, respectively . Can the Commission say :

1 . whether the Greek authorities have undertaken an

environmental impact study as required by Directive
85 / 337 / EEC (*), and whether local bodies and citizens
have assessed the consequences of this project, another
requirement of the same Directive ?

2 . whether it intends to call on the Greek Government to

adopt a policy of restricting CO2 emissions and other
gases which the Community plans to see gradually
reduced or, at least, kept at their present level ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1994 )

1 . Thermal power stations with a capacity of 300 MW or
more feature in Annex I to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, and are
therefore subject to an appropriate one-off environmental
impact assessment before they can be authorized .

The two planned lignite-burning power stations in Drama
are also subject to this requirement . The Commission has
approached the Greek authorities on this matter, but has
been unable to establish any infringement of Community
law, given that, according to the information provided by
the authorities, no authorization decision has so far been
taken, and a detailed assessment is in progress to decide
whether or not the lignite deposits in the region should be
mined and the two power stations built . According to the
reply of the Greek authorities, the procedure laid down by
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment will
be complied with .

The Commission would stress, furthermore, that the impact
studies carried out by the Member States concerning the
environmental effects of projects covered by the
abovementioned Directive are not addressed to the

Commission, and suggests that the Honourable Member
contact the national authorities for full information on the

measures taken or planned regarding the two projects .

2 . Under Council Decision 93 / 389 / EEC of 24 June 1993
for a monitoring mechanism of Community C0 2 and other
greenhouse gas emissions, all the Member States have
submitted to the Commission their existing national
programmes designed to control emissions .

In accordance with the same Decision, the Commission has
reported to the Parliament and the Council the results of its

first appraisal of the national programmes in terms of the
overall Community C0 2 stabilization target ( 1 ).

(M COM(94 ) 67 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2961 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 18 )

Subject : Quality of ground water, surface water and

drinking water in certain Member States or regions
of the Community

Council Directive 90 / 656 / EEC 0 ) of 4 December 1990 on
the transitional measures applicable in Germany with
regard to certain Community provisions relating to the
protection of the environment, by derogation from
Directive 79 / 869 / EC ( 2 ), obliged Germany to submit to the
Commission a plan for improving water quality in East
Germany, stating to what extent the aims of the above
Ddirective and those of Directive 80 / 68 / EEC ( 3 ) and
Directive 80 / 778 / EC ( 4 ) were fulfilled with regard to the
water in question .

Was this plan — or part of a plan — introduced in good time

( by 31 December 1993 and covering the period to
31 December 1995 ) for each Directive, with what time-scale
and with what, if any, present or future aid from the
Community ? Does it provide reassurance with regard to
protection of the population both now and in the
future ?

Do the same type of provisions exist for other Member
States or regions of the Community ?

Are there currently any states or regions enjoying
derogations granted under Article 9 of Directive
80 / 778 / EEC, of the type mentioned in the reply to Written
Question No 2746 / 88 ( 5 ) given by the Commission on
26 May 1989 ? Do such derogations with respect to certain
pollutants have expiry dates and if so, what are they ?

(!) OJ No L 353, 17 . 12 . 1990, p . 59 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 271, 29 . 10 . 1979, p . 44 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 20, 26 . 1 . 1980, p . 43 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 11 .

( 5 ) OJ No C 262, 16 . 10 . 1989, p . 65 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The German authorities submitted to the Commission

improvement plans for Council Directive 80 / 778 / EEC in

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 11

February 1992, Council Directives 75 / 440 / EEC ( ) and derogations made under Article 9 ( 1 ) b the duration in most
79 / 869 / EEC ) in April 1993 and Council Directive of the cases has been two years .
80 / 68 / EEC in April 1993 . The plans describe inter alia the
measures necessary for the improvement of water in the new ( J ) OJ No L 194, 15 . 7 . 1975 .
Lander, an estimation of the likely costs involved and a ( 2 ) COM(93 ) 295 final .
qualified timetable for completion . ( 3 ) OJ No L 302, 15 . 11 . 1985 .

( J ) OJ No L 194, 15 . 7 . 1975 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 295 final .

( 3 ) OJ No L 302, 15 . 11 . 1985 .

In June 1993, the Commission published a report on the
matter ( 2 ). In this report, the Commission indicated that it
did not consider the improvement plan for Council
Directive 80 / 778 / EEC to be complete . However, the
German authorities have indicated that additional reports
for this plan will be provided .

As far as protection of the population is concerned, the plan
for improving the quality of drinking water is possibly the
most important . The plan explains that improvements have
been made which lead towards conformity with most of the
requirements of Directive 80 / 778 / EEC . However, this
report covers the drinking water supply of only 69 % of the
population . Furthermore, not all parameters in Directive

80 / 778 / EEC have been analysed .

The type of provisions described in 90 / 656 / EEC are specific
to Germany . However, the time limit for compliance with
certain Directives applicable to Portugal was extended to

1 January 1989 by the Act of Adhesion ( 3 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2971 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 19 )

Subject : Manufacture and marketing of refrigerators in the

EC

Is the Commission aware that energy-efficient refrigerator
models are being manufactured and marketed in Germany,
but that older less efficient models are being ' dumped ' onto
other markets in the EC which have less stringent
standards ?

What moves is the Commission proposing to ensure that
the whole of the EC complies with more stringent
standards ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )
Under Article 9 of the Council Directive 80 / 778 / EEC a

Member State may derogate from the Directive for

( a ) situations arising from the nature and structure of the
ground in the area from which the supply in question
emanates and

( b ) situations arising from exceptional meteorological

conditions . Only derogations made for situations
arising out of exceptional meteorological conditions
need to be given a time limit .

Member States are obliged to inform the Commission of any
derogations made under Article 9 . Since the Directive 's
implementation the Commission has received many
hundreds of derogations . During the past two years
( 1992 / 93 ) the Commission has received the following
derogations from the Member States : Ireland 2, The
Netherlands 1, United Kingdom 1 .

However for those derogations made under Article 9.1 . ( a ),
there is no obligation on Member States to inform the
Commission when they no longer apply . Therefore the
Commission is unable to say which of the derogations made
under Article 9 ( 1 ) a are still being applied . For those

The Commission is not aware of the existence in Germany
of standards on the energy efficiency of refrigerators . It has
no information indicating that models which do not meet
these standards are being ' dumped ' on other Community
markets .

It is true, however, that the market share of energy-efficient
models varies considerably between Member States, which
is why the Commission intends shortly to present a draft
Directive setting energy efficiency requirements for
refrigerators in the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2976 / 93

by Heribert Barrera i Costa ( ARC )

to the Commission

( 25 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 20 )

Subject : Institutional financial flows between the European

Community and the Spanish State

Can the Commission supply, in as much detail as possible,
the following figures for the period from 1 January 1986 to
31 December 1992 :

No C 376 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

1 . the contribution made by the Spanish State to
Community finances, taking into account both direct
contributions to the budget and payments made on
some other basis ( VAT, customs duties, etc );

2 . the Community 's contribution to the budgets of the

Spanish State and the public and private bodies based on
its territory, both directly and through programmes
or policies of any type with direct financial
implications ?

2 . Will local and regional emergency services be involved in
planning ?

3 . What evacuation plans have been drawn up ?

4 . Given that the first experiment is likely to take place
during the tourist season, will the regional tourist
boards and French and foreign travel companies be
informed ?

5 . Has the question of liability vis-a-vis inhabitants and
tourists in the event that the experiment gets out of
control and radioactivity is released been sufficiently
Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber clarified ?

on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

The Commission has made it a rule never to publish figures, on behalf of the Commission
calculate broken down Member by item States, which ' net cash would or budget make it balances possible . to ( 25 February 1994 )

However, it would draw the Honourable Member 's
attention to the information provided in this connection in
the Court of Auditors ' annual Report . Actual payments
made by Spain to the Community budget since 1986 are set
out, along with those for the other Member States, in the
revenue and expenditure account .

( in ECU million )

Spain's contribution minus refund and
Budget

compensation

1986 684,7

1987 1 038,2

1988 1 710,5

1989 2 271,4

1990 2 831,9

1991 4 193,4

1992 4 794,6

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2986 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

( 25 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 21 )

Subject : Phebus

When the first meltdown is triggered in the Phebus research

reactor :

1 . How will the population be warned ?

Progress in the field of nuclear energy production and
nuclear safety requires that experiments be conducted in
research reactors . Experiments of this kind have been
carried out for decades in specialized nuclear research
centres . The risks of such experiments are connected with
the production of nuclear energy, which is why in-pile
experiments of the Phebus type ( fission products ) are subject
to an authorization system comparable to that applied in the
case of nuclear reactors . The French safety authorities are
responsible for the type-approval and inspection of
installations in operation on their territory . It may be noted
that in an experimental programme such as Phebus the
reactor as such has to be type-approved and each
experiment requires specific authorization by the French
safety authorities .

Specific questions on mitigation of the radiological
consequences of an accident that might occur during the
Phebus experiments accordingly fall within the competence
of the French authorities . These see in particular to the
implementation of national provisions incorporating the
relevant Community legislation, which includes :

— the Council Directive laying down the basic safety

standards for the health protection of the general public
and workers against the dangers of ionizing
radiation (*), in particular Article 43 thereof concerning
the establishment of emergency plans ;

— the Council Directive on informing the general public

about health protection measures to be applied and
steps to be taken in the event of a radiological
emergency ( 2 ).

(!) OJ No L 246, 17 . 9 . 1980 . OJ No L 266, 5 . 10 . 1984 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 357, 7 . 12 . 1989 .

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 13

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2991 / 93

by Virginio Bettini ( V )

to the Commission

( 25 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 22

Subject : Exotic monsters

How does the Commission intend to regulate the trade in
pseudemys turtles, American aquarium turtles which are
becoming increasingly common in our waters, to the
detriment of indigenous tortoises ?

Furthermore, what does the Commission intend to do to
stop the spread in Europe of coypus which have been
imported into Europe from South America and have
dangerously reproduced around lakes and ponds, causing
serious damage to crops and posing a threat to public health
by spreading diseases ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

In its proposal for a Council Regulation laying down
provisions with regard to possession of and trade in
specimens of species of wild fauna and flora ( 1 ), the
Commission included provisions aiming at the prevention
of ecological threats to indigenous species formed by the
introduction of non-indigenous species into nature

( Articles 3.2(f ) and 4.6.(c)(iii )).

listed below by Member State / region with the dates on
which the Commission received each of the projects
submitted, as requested by the Honourable Member :

Greece ( programme received on 10 December 1992 ),
Ireland (3 December 1991 ), Portugal ( 19 December 1992 ),
Spain ( programme regarding the regions eligible under
Objectives 1, 2 and 5(b ) received on 2 December 1991 ),
France ( programme for regions eligible under Objectives 2
and 5(b ) received on 4 December 1992 ), Italy ( two
programmes, concerning Objective 1 regions and
Objective 2 and 5(b ) regions respectively, received on
4 December 1992 ), the United Kingdom ( two programmes,
one concerning Northern Ireland and the other concerning
Objective 2 and 5(b ) regions, received on 3 and 4 December
1992 respectively ), Germany ( four programmes, concerning
Objective 2 regions ( North Rhine - Westphalia ) and
Objective 5(b ) regions ( Hesse, Bavaria and Baden ­
Wurtemberg ) respectively, received on 4 December
1992 ).

Two programmes submitted under the Retex initiative are
currently under examination . They are the Belgian
programme ( received 27 January 1993 ) for the regions of
Limbourg and Campine covered by Objective 2 and the
Dutch programme ( received on 13 January 1993 ) for the
Twente region . The Commission is examining in particular,
with the two Member States concerned, ways in which the
programmes could take better account of the guidelines for
economic diversification in regions heavily dependent on
textiles under the Retex initiative .

(!) OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 120 / 93

by Gerhard Schmid ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3114 / 93 ( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 24 )
by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 23 )

Subject : Retex Programme

Given that funds have already been granted unter the
Retex Programme, will the Commission state on what
programmes a decision has already been taken and which
applications have not yet been decided on ? Will it also
indicate the date of submission of each project and its
country and region of origin ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 March 1994 )

Subject : The Community Agricultural Fund ( EAGGF )

What specific projects in Bavaria have received funding
from the Community Agricultural Fund ( EAGGF ) since
1990 and how much have they received ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

A regional breakdown of aid from the EAGGF Guarantee
Section is not available . In the case of the EAGGF Guidance

Section, the Commission will send the Honourable Member
and the Parliament Secretariat a table showing the
commitments by measure and by year .

The 13 programmes approved by the Commission on The Honourable Member is reminded that the projects
4 February 1994 under the Community Retex initiative are funded, which are considerable in the case of certain

No C 376 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

measures, are known only to the Member State as the
Commission is informed only of the overall content of the
programme . The Commission would accordingly ask the
Honourable Member to contact the competent authority for
further information .

harm the environment in general and individual ecosystems
in particular, does the Commission intend to support the
idea of a programme for combating insects using biological
means ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 127 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 25 )

Subject : Protection of Valia Kalda

The Goulandris Natural History Museum has proposed a
number of measures to protect the Valia Kalda National
Park, including a ban on logging and the strict supervision of
grazing . A statement issued by the Foundation stresses that
the above measures have also been endorsed by the Grevena
forestry authority . Can the Commission say what measures
it intends to take to persuade the local authorities to ensure
that the Valia Kalda National Park is more effectively
protected ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

Directive 91 / 414 / EEC ( ) concerning the placing of plant
protection products on the market established strict criteria
for such products containing chemical substances or
micro-organisms as active components and established that
they could only be used as indicated on the label and in
accordance with good plant health practice . Moreover, the
Directive provides that wherever possible the principles of
integrated control should be followed . This means using a
combination of biological, biotechnological, chemical and
cultivation or plant selection methods, and limiting the use
of plant protection products to the necessary minimum .

In its research programmes the Commission has not
neglected biological methods of pest control . For example,
the specific research, technological development and
demonstration programme in the fields of agriculture and
the agro-industry, including fisheries, for 1991-1994
includes financing for research programmes to improve
existing biological control methods ( e.g. using the Bacillus

Thuringiensis against certain parasites ) and projects for
developing new biological control systems .

(4 May 1994 )

It is for the Greek authorities, i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture
and its local offices, to draw up a management plan to ( ) - O J No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .
provide more effective protection of the Valia Kalda
national park and to - take account of the recommendations
referred to by the Honourable Member .

Nonetheless, the Community is currently backing measures,
through a LIFE project, to improve the conditions of
conservation and management of Greece 's national
parks . WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 192 / 93

by Wilfried Telkämper ( V )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 27 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 13 1 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 26 )

Subject : Use of biological means to combat insects

Given that chemical compounds are the only means used in
Europe today to combat insects and that these substances

Subject : Reform of the Global Environmental Facility

A structural reform of the Global Environmental Facility is
currently under discussion .

1 . What is the Commission 's opinion as regards the

negotiations to replenish the Global Environmental
Facility and the planned structural reforms ?

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 15

2 . What is the Commission 's position with regard to the

granting of observer status to non-governmental
organizations at official meetings of participants ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1994 )

As the Community is not a donor to the Global
Environment Facility ( GEF ), there is no official
participation of the Commission on behalf of the
Community in the on-going discussions and negotiations on
the reform and the financial replenishment of the GEF . The
Commission does not have a position on the participation,
as observers, of non-governmental organizations in the
GEF .

It should be recalled that the concerning the GEF, the
Commission has taken the following steps . In May 1992 it
presented a communication on this matter to the Council
and to the Parliament (*) requesting that the Community
become a member of the GEF given the Community 's role in
the protection of the global environment . The importance of
the GEF for the Community has increased since then
because the GEF has become the financial mechanism for

the two conventions signed by the Community at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
in June 1992 ( Climate Change, Conservation of
Biodiversity ).

Up to now the decision has not taken a final position
concerning the Commission 's request . A debate in the
Council took place in May 1992 with no positive

outcome .

Support for the Community 's participation in the GEF was
given by the Parliament, adopting the Nordmann report on

17 January 1994 . A budgetary line for the Community 's
participation in the GEF was created by the Parliament,
which also adopted a resolution on this matter .

(!) SEC(92 ) 694 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3240 / 93

by Reimer Boge ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 28

Subject : Postal services in the internal market

On 1 July 1993 the German Post Office increased its rates
for international large-format letters . As a result, while it

costs DM 3 to send a large letter ( up to 500 g ) from
Hamburg to Munich, sending the same letter to Holland or
Denmark, which are neighbouring EC Member States, now
costs DM 12 .

On what conventions are these internal market rates

based ?

Are the above rates compatible with the goal of completing
the internal market ?

What steps does the Commission expect to take, on the
grounds of consumer protection, to monitor excessive
cross-border postage rates and ensure that they are revised

( re-negotiated )?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

To date, the only Community legislation on postal rates is
the Commission recommendation 79 / 570 / EEC of 29 May

1979, which calls on Member States to apply the domestic
rate to letters in the first weight bracket ( generally those not
exceeding 20 grammes ) and postcards being sent to other
Member States ( x ).

Most postal administrations, including the German one,
opted to follow the recommendation, which was a way of
heightening public awareness of European integration .

In its Green Paper on the development of the single market
for postal services ( 2 ) and its communication entitled
' Guidelines for the development of Community postal
services ' the Commission sets out the broad lines of its

future policy in the postal sector, aimed in particular at :

— developing high-quality services at affordable prices . As

regards taking account of consumer needs in relation to
cross-border services, the Commission is looking for a
substantial improvement in the quality of the service . It
is planning a variety of measures — preparation of
standards, independent monitoring, publishing of
results — to achieve that goal ;

— promoting the principle of cost-based rates with an eye

to greater openness to competition . Uniform rates
generally involve cross-subsidizing between domestic
and international services, given the differing transport
and distribution costs of the two services .

If rates are based on costs, it cannot be ruled out that some
Community postal administrations which currently follow
the abovementioned recommendation may decide to apply

No C 376 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

different rates to domestic and Community services
whatever the type of product concerned .

t 1 ) OJ No L 155, 22 . 6 . 1979 .

( 2 ) COMÍ91 ) 476 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3274 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 29 )

Subject : Compensation for the inhabitants of the
community of Armatoliko hit by the construction
of a dam by the Greek National Electricity
Company in the Upper Acheloos region

The Greek National Electricity Company is building a dam
for electricity production in the Upper Acheloos region and
it is expected that the reservoir thus created will flood part of
the village of Armatoliko . The villagers have said that the
Greek National Electricity Company, the body responsible
for the project, is not prepared to provide compensation for
the serious damage to persons, their houses and the
environment, thereby failing to fulfil its obligations under
the environmental impact and corrective measures
assessment submitted to the Community . Does the
Commission intend to contact the Greek authorities and

pursue the claims of this mountain village in line with the
recommendations of the project assessment ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1994 )

Community financing of this work under the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes has been subject to compliance
with the environmental conditions drawn up by the national
authorities responsible for environmental matters, after
consultation of the people concerned on the environmental
impact study .

Moreover, the Greek electricity board, which is responsible
for carrying out the project, has informed the Commission
that compensation for expropriation decided by the Courts
would be supplemented by a rebuilding allowance to be paid
to every owner of a demolished house, and an agricultural
allowance for each hectare submerged .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3320 / 93

by Enrique Baron Crespo ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 30 )

Subject : Incomplete or incorrect application of social

security schemes to employed and self-employed
workers and their families moving within the
Community

1 . Can the Commission say what progress has been made
on its proposals to amend Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 ( J )
with regard to

— extending this Regulation firstly to all insured people

and secondly to special schemes for civil servants ;

— unemployed workers ?

2 . Does it intend to present proposals to extend
Community coordination to complementary social
protection schemes ?

2a . Are negotiations planned or in progress or are there
plans to incorporate into the EEC integrated system the
overseas social security scheme or schemes of the various
EEC countries ?

3 . Can the Commission say whether cases of double
contributions have been referred to it, in which the country
where a pension is paid makes an unjustified demand for
payment of a sickness contribution when this had already
been paid in the country of residence ?

4 . Does it consider that the application of a generalized
social security contribution to people living in a Member
State other than France is compatible with Community
law ?

5 . Can the Commission say how many cases of
non-compliance with Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 it has
observed on which an infringement procedure has been
initiated, and give information, for each Member State, on
the nature of the infringement and the state of progress of
the infringement procedure ?

t 1 ) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971, p . 2 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

The proposal for a Regulation aimed at extending the scope
of Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72 to
include all insured persons and special schemes for civil

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 17

servants and persons treated as such ( ) is being discussed
within the Council . Various technical matters have now

been settled, and outstanding problems have to do mainly
with the coordination of special schemes for civil servants
and persons treated as such .

Moreover, with regard to unemployed workers, the
Commission is to present in 1994 a new proposal designed
to replace the proposal for a Regulation concerned with
' unemployment and pre-retirement ' which was submitted to
the Council in 1980 ( 2 ). In this connection, it is currently
striving to achieve, in a balanced manner, greater flexibility
in the granting of unemployment benefits to those seeking
work in the Community, while limiting instances of
abuse .

1 . The Commission does not intend to propose to the
Council that existing coordination in the field of statutory
social protection schemes be extended to supplementary
schemes . The nature of obstacles to the mobility of workers
arising from supplementary schemes is very different from
the problems raised by statutory schemes . Consequently, a
specific approach tailored to supplementary schemes is
necessary . The Commission launched a debate on these
matters when it adopted, in July 1991, a communication to
the Council ( 3 ). On this basis, the Commission may in due
course present proposals to facilitate the free movement of
workers .

2 . Member States ' overseas social security schemes are an
integral part of Community coordination and fall within the
scope of Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and No 574 / 72 .

3 . Under Article 33 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71,
pensioners may have sickness insurance contributions
deducted by the institution of the Member State which pays
them sickness benefits .

Cases of double deduction of contributions contrary to this
provision have occurred in the past, resulting in a judgment
by the Court of Justice ( Commission versus Belgium — Case
275 / 83 ). No similar case has recently been brought to the
attention of the Commission .

4 . The Commission is currently conducting an in-depth
examination of the complex issues arising from the
application of the French generalized social security
contribution to migrant workers, with particular reference
to frontier workers .

5 . As regards infringements, two reasoned opinions were
sent to France by the Commission in connection with
discrimination regarding unemployment allowances

( problems concerned with aggregation of insurance periods
and calculation of benefits for frontier workers ), and a
reasoned opinion was sent to Belgium in connection with
the unjustified reduction of an old-age pension . Further to
these reasoned opinions, the Member States in question
notified the Commission that they had taken the necessary
measures to conform with Community law . Consequently,
the Commission has now closed these infringement
procedures .

Furthermore, the Commission has decided to close the
procedure against Germany concerning the exclusion of

migrant workers from other Member States from the
benefits of the bilateral Swiss-German agreement on
unemployment insurance . Ruling on a similar case ( Case
C-23 / 92, Grananovoa, judgment of 2 August 1993 ) the
Court of Justice took an opposing view to that of the
Commission .

Finally, it should be noted that the Commission submits to
the Parliament each year a report on monitoring of the
application of Community law . The abovementioned
infringement procedures are mentioned in the tenth
report ( 4 ).

(!) OJ No C 46, 20 . 2 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 169, 9 . 7 . 1980 .

( 3 ) SEC(91 ) 1332 final — Supplementary social security schemes :

the role of occupational pension schemes in the social protection
of workers and their implications for freedom of movement .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3345 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 31

Subject : Pollution of the Thermaic Gulf by tanneries

A company commissioned by the Thessaloniki Municipal
Council to clean up tlib shoreline of the Thermaic Gulf
alleges that owners of tanneries in the Sphageia area of
Thessaloniki are polluting the Thermaic Gulf with waste . A
vessel belonging to the company picked up waste from
tanneries and the remains of animal fodder floating at the
entrance to the port of Thessaloniki at a distance of some
200 m offshore .

Given that Community law states that industrial waste must
be disposed of in a way that does not endanger human
health or the environment ( Directives 75 / 442 / EEC (*) and
78 / 319 / EEC ( 2 )), will the Commission say whether it

proposes :

1 . to take measures to clarify whether the discharging of

waste into the Thermaic Gulf is legal and consistent with
Community law ?

and

2 . to take the measures provided for under the Treaty in
regard to Greece 's failure to comply with Directives
75 / 442 / EEC on solid waste and 78 / 319 / EEC on toxic

and hazardous waste ?

(!) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 39 .

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

No C 376 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission has no knowledge of the case to which the
Honourable Member refers and the information provided
does not enable it to determine the exact nature of the

pollution in question or the type and quantity of waste
discharged .

The best course of action would be for the Honourable

Member to send the Commission more precise details
concerning the pollution so that it can assess whether or not
Community law on waste, industrial discharges and water
protection has been infringed and, if necessary, investigate
the matter further with the Member State concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-34 14 / 93

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Parliament, will harmonize the conditions for supplying and
using this service . It will not, however, harmonize tariffs,
which must, in principle, be geared to costs . The
introduction of competition for this service as from 1998,
however, will have the effect of reducing the current tariff
differences .

As for the postal sector, following extensive public
consultation after the publication of the ' Green Paper on the
development of the single market for postal services ' ( 2 ) the
Commission submitted a communication to the Council

and Parliament in 1993 on the ' guidelines for the
development of Community postal services ' ( 3 ). The main
objective is to improve the services on offer and especially
the quality of those services . This objective forms part of the
development of a Community universal service at affordable
prices for everyone .

In its resolution ( 4 ) of 4 December 1993 the Council asked
the Commission to propose measures, by 1 July 1994,
regarding the quality of the intra-Community universal
service .

As to the matter of transfrontier tariffs for mail services, the
Honourable Member is referred to the answer given by the
Commission to Question E-3240 / 93 from Mr Boge ( 5 ).

( 94 / C 376 / 32 ) (M COM(92 ) 247 — SYN 437, 27 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) COM(91 ) 476 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 247 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 48, 16 . 2 . 1994 .

Subject : Postal services — improvement to the benefit of the ( 5 ) See page 15 of this Official Journal .

public

1 . What has the Commission done in the past ten years to
shorten postal delivery times in the Member States, to
approximate the charges for cross-frontier letter and parcel
deliveries and, above all, to make telephone
communications European ?

2 . Does the Commission share my view that the above
issues are of major interest to our citizens, and is it prepared
to speed up its work in this sector ?

3 . Is the Commission giving priority to these efforts to
achieve harmonization now that the Maastricht Treaty has
entered into force ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

As far as the harmonization of telephone communications is
concerned, the Commission submitted a proposal for a
Directive to the Council in 1992 on the application of open
network provision ( ONP ) to voice telephony i 1 ). This
Directive, which should soon be adopted by the Council and

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3486 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 33 )

Subject : Risks associated with the use of chlorine

( tetrachloroethylene or ' Perclene ') in
dry-cleaning

The United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA )
is conducting research into the respective costs of ' wet
cleaning ' and dry-cleaning of clothes, broken down in terms
of operating costs, investment outlay, and environmental
protection .

One company, Ecoclean, which refuses to use chlorine
compounds, is a pioneer in this field and has the backing of
Greenpeace, the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood
Technology, and the International Joint Commission, an

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 19

American-Canadian body that seeks to protect the Great
Lakes . All the above are attempting to promote harmless or
less noxious alternative products, among other things for
use in dry-cleaning .

Does the Commission know of their work ? Are any similar
projects taking place in the Community, and is the
Commission giving them its support ?

Does dry-cleaning pose dangers for cleaning staff, the
immediate environment, and, indeed, a wider surrounding
area ?

risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and
biological agents, which is currently being consolidated by a
proposal for a Council Directive on the protection of the
health and safety of workers from the risks related to
chemical agents at work ( 3 ).

(*) OJ No L 183, 29 . 9 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 327, 3 . 12 . 1980 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 155 final — OJ No C 165, 16 . 6 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3516 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas to the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )
(6 May 1994 ) ( 94 / C 376 / 34 )

The Commission has no information on the alternative

products marketed by the firm Ecoclean . Since the US
market uses different kinds of equipment for dry cleaning

( e.g. flammable solvents which are not used in Europe ) and
since the European industry demonstrates remarkable
innovation capacity, there is no need for immediate import
of US technology into Europe .

Undoubtedly, the dry-cleaning sector, with its use of
solvents and existing technology, has an impact on the
environment . The Commission is currently preparing a draft
Directive for the control of organic solvent emissions from a
number of processes or installations including the
dry-cleaning sector . Among other provisions, this draft
includes emission standards for the dry-cleaning sector
based on best available technologies not entailing excessive
costs ( Batneec ). Additionally, stricter emission standards
will be proposed for those substances which are hazardous
to human health . Furthermore, the substitution as far as
possible of existing solvents by others less harmful for the
environment as well as to human health, is included in the
draft Directive .

Overall the draft Directive will seek to find a balance

between the need to achieve reasonable environmental

standards necessary for health and safety, while at the same
time minimizing unnecessary costs and other burdens on
SMEs, and consequent unemployment .

Finally, the technology currently available allows for the
installation of equipment with reduced solvent emissions so
that compliance with the tighter emission standards
proposed can be achieved .

With regard to the question of risks to workers in the
dry-cleaning sector, they are covered by Council Directive
89 / 391 / EEC ( x ) on the introduction of measures to
encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers
at work . This is supplemented by the provisions of Directive
80 / 1 107 / EEC ( 2 ) on the protection of workers at work from

Subject : Heavy goods vehicles in transit through
Switzerland

The Swiss authorities are refusing to allow Community
heavy goods vehicles over 28 tonnes to use the St Gotthard
tunnel between Switzerland and Italy on environmental
grounds . This and similar measures by the Swiss authorities
are causing problems for the transport of most products
over Swiss mountain roads . In addition to furthering the
development of combined forms of transport, will the
Commission endeavour to secure an increase in the volume

of heavy goods traffic authorized to transit through
Switzerland ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Agreement with Switzerland on the carriage of goods by
road and rail 0 ), which entered into force on 22 January

1993, is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the
Contracting Parties as regards trans-Alpine transit traffic .
To this end, the Parties have agreed to promote rail
transport, in particular combined transport, mainly with a
view to progressively increasing the combined transport
capacity of the trans - Alpine routes ( Article 5 ).

The Agreement respects the 2 8 - tonne limit on the
permissible laden weight transported in Switzerland

( Article 10 ). This general limit provides for a series of
exemptions, which are given in Annex 6 . The application of
the rules on these exemptions may be adjusted by the Joint
Committee set up under the Agreement . The Commission 's
aim has been and continues to be to facilitate the grant of
these exemptions .

The Commission furthermore submitted to the Council, at
its meeting on 22 September 1993, a draft recommendation

No C 376 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

for a Decision on the opening of negotiations with
Switzerland on road and air transport . The Commission
does not rule out the possiblity that some matters relating to
transit through Switzerland may be broached within the
framework of possible negotiations with the Swiss
authorities on this basis . Work on the definition of this

negotiating brief has been suspended following the adoption
by . the Swiss electorate on 20 February 1994 of
constitutional amendment aimed at transferring all transit
goods from road to rail within a period of ten years . The
Commission submitted to the Transport Council on

18 April an initial analysis of the implications of this
amendment for Community operators .

Moreover discharges from plants producing bleached pulp
are subject to Council Directive 76 / 464 / EEC ( 2 ) of 4 May

1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances
discharges into the aquatic environment of the Community .
Competent authorities are obliged to grant discharge
permits with emission limit values in order to eliminate or
reduce pollution, in particular for organo-halogen
compounds . As regards plants producing bleached pulp,
Council Directive 88 / 347 / EEC ( 3 ) of 16 June 1988 makes
specific reference to setting emission standards for
chloroform . Such standards must take into account the best

technical means available, which also encourage alternatives
for chlorine as a bleaching agent in pulp production .

t 1 ) OJ No L 373, 21 . 12 . 1992 . f 1 ) OJ No L 99, 11 . 4 . 1992 .

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

( 3 ) OJ No L 158, 25 . 6 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3526 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3540 / 93

to the Commission
by Heinz Köhler ( PSE )

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 35

Subject : Promotion of unchlorinated paper

Will the Commission encourage the production of
unchlorinated paper by proposing the introduction of tax
exemptions to Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

The Commission does not propose to encourage the
production of non-chlorine-bleached paper through the
imposition of taxes or their exemption . There is, however,
some encouragement given to the use of non-chlorine ­
bleached paper in the criteria presently being considered,
within the framework of the voluntary eco-labelling scheme
Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 (*), for an eco-label for tissue
paper products ( kitchen and toilet rolls ). In that context the
presence in pulping effluents of certain organo-chlorine
by-products, beyond a given threshold, will incur a penalty
which alone, or in combination with similar penalties from
other parameters, may disbar a given tissue paper product
from obtaining the eco-label . The use of chlorine bleaching
effluent as an assessment parameter will, however, be
reviewed in any future such proposals on other grades of

paper .

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 36 )

Subject : Non-recognition of disabled person 's badges in the

UK

On 6 April 1993, an EC national travelling as a tourist
parked his Luxembourg-registered car in the centre of
London . The car bore a conspicuously displayed disabled
person 's badge .

The car was towed away and released only after an
impoundment fee and fine totalling £125 had been paid .

The attention of the London police was drawn to the
conspicuously displayed disabled person 's badge, issued in
Luxembourg, but this had no effect . According to the police,
the only disabled person 's badges that are recognized are
those issued in London .

1 . Has the Commission taken measures to ensure

reciprocal recognition of disabled person 's badges and
identity cards in the Member States ?

2 . If so, what has been the Commission 's experience with
regard to the practical application of such measures ?

3 . Are the police in London at liberty to disregard disabled
person 's badges from other Member States ?

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 21

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-35 76 / 93

by Francois Musso ( RDE )
( 17 March 1994 ) to the Commission

1 . and 2 . As regards disabled persons ' badges in general,
the Horfourable Member 's attention is drawn to the answer
to Written Question No 3114 / 92 ( a ).

Furthermore, in July 1993 the Commission submitted a
questionnaire on parking badges for disabled persons to the
members of the Helios Advisory Committee ( government
representatives of the Member States ) and to the national
NGOs which are members of the Helios European
Disability Forum, with a view to analysing the legal
situation and current practice in the Member States .
Evaluation of the replies to this questionnaire will soon be
completed .

3 . Community law as it stands means that the matter
raised by the Honourable Member falls entirely within the
area of competence of the relevant national authorities .

(M OJ No C 258, 22 . 9 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3552 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 37 )

Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1989-1993 —
Portugal

With regard to the 1989-1993 period what, in ECU at 1992
prices, was the initial indicative allocation and the out-turn
to Portugal from the Structural Funds ( not including 1993
Cohesion Fund receipts )?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 38

Subject : The Leader Programme and Corsica

Can the Commission provide details of the implementation
of the Leader Programme in Corsica, including the amount
of funding earmarked for and the amount actually allocated
to the programme ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 February 1994 )

One of the Community initiatives, the Leader Programme
was designed as a response to the problem of depopulation
in the rural areas of Europe . With an allocation of ECU 450
million for the period 1991-1993, the initiative provides
financial assistance to existing or new local action groups
responsible for implementing a development programme for
a specific area, involving the local population .

In order to facilitate administration of the programme,
financial assistance under Leader is granted in the form of
global grants paid to an intermediary body . In France, this
body is the CNASEA, which uses its grant to fund the 40
French groups selected by the Commission on the basis of
the quality and originality of the projects proposed .

With regard to Corsica ( as for all the French regions eligible
under Objective 1 of the reform of the Structural Funds ), a
single group was selected to receive a Community
contribution of ECU 1,8 million to its programme with a
total cost of ECU 4,5 million . Of that amount, ECU 3,76
million is public expenditure and ECU 0,73 million is
provided by the private sector .

In view of the special situation of inland Corsica, the Leader
Programme covers four micro-regions ( Castagniccia,
Balagne, Prunelli and Taravo ).

(6 May 1994 ) The programme has five main sections :

— technical assistance for the strategy to develop local

On the basis of the indicative annual breakdown included in

the Community support frameworks for Portugal for the
period 1989-1993, Structural Fund allocations to that
country totalled ECU 7 636 million at 1992 prices .

The appropriations actually allocated for CSF operations
over that period totalled ECU 7 734 million .

island resources ;

— development of human resources on the basis of an

integrated approach ;

— development of a coordinated rural tourism policy

tailord to local conditions ;

— support for the socio-economic environment in rural

areas ( locally-based services );

No C 376 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

— support for the local economy with a view to improving

the returns on traditional farm produce .

At 30 June 1993, 80 individual or collective projects had
been submitted to the group and undergone preliminary
study by a technical committee . This committee then
presents dossiers which are technically and financially
feasible for approval by the group .

It is not yet possible to undertake a more detailed assessment
of the Leader programme because the Commission has
agreed to extend the deadline for commitments in the field
until 30 June 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3669 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 40 )

Subject : Total Community tobacco production quotas

Can the Commission review the total Community tobacco
production quotas in order to ensure a less drastic
reduction, as requested by the Greek tobacco producers '
unions ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3677 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3661 / 93 to the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

(3 January 1994 )

to the Commission ( 94 / C 376 / 41

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 39
Subject : Greek tobacco production quota

Subject : The introduction of unlimited absolute liability in

respect of marine pollution

Does the Commission consider that steps should be taken to
introduce unlimited absolute liability at Community level
for marine pollution, following the example of the United
States ( OPA 90 )?

In talks with the relevant COPA working party and
Advisory Committee on Tobacco, the representatives of the
main Greek cooperative organization Paseges, called for the
Greek tobacco production quota to be increased by at least
10 000 tonnes . How does the Commission intend to react to

this ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-3669 / 93 and E-3677 / 93

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 ) (5 May 1994 )

The Commission should like to draw the attention of the
remedying In 1993 the environmental Commission damage launched ( its ] ) which Green considered Paper on Honourable Member to :
various field . The approaches document to took the general the form problem of a Communication of liability in this to — Council Regulation ( EC ) No 164 / 94 i 1 ). This
the Council and Parliament as well as to the Economic and Regulation amends certain guarantee thresholds as laid
Social Committee . The Commission awaits with great down in Regulation ( EEC ) No 2076 / 92 ( 2 ) and provides
interest Parliament 's opinion on the Green Paper . in particular for a redistribution of the 1994 Greek

tobacco quotas towards the Virginia and Burley
varieties ;

The Commission is at present in the process of examining
the large number of responses to the Green Paper which it
has already received . The results of this examination will
help determine the direction of future Community action in
this area .

(M COM(93 ) 47 final .

— Commission Regulation ( EC ) No 488 / 94 ( 3 ). This
Regulation makes provision for a retroactive increase in
the guarantee thresholds for the 1993 harvest of the
' flue-cured ' group of varieties in Greece . This increase,
which may reach 9 300 tonnes, can be achieved by
reducing the guarantee thresholds for the other groups
of varieties by a corresponding amount, since the sum of
the guarantee thresholds laid down for Greece remains
unchanged overall .

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 23

The Commission believes that these measures should find

favour with the Greek producers .

(!) OJ No L 24, 29 . 1 . 1994 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 62, 5 . 3 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3680 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

that which transposes Directive 76 / 464 / EEC ( 2 ) on
discharges of dangerous substances within the meaning of
the said Directive .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 129, 4 . 5 . 1976 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3741 / 93

by Lyndon Harrison ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1993 )

( 94 / C 376 / 42 ( 94 / C 376 / 43 )

Subject : Environmental problems affecting the Pinios river

in Ilia

A number of localities in Ilia including the village of
Amaliada have for two months been faced with the problem
of pollution from sewage, which is turning the Pinios
riverbed into a septic tank . The Greek authorities have failed
to take any action and, as a result, a major public health
hazard is looming . What action does the Commission intend
to take on this matter ?

Subject : Regulation of carcinogenic hydrocarbons in
vehicle emissions

Does the Commission intend to take legal action to ensure
that the removal of lead from petrol does not result in an
increase of other pollutants emitted from motor vehicles as
mandated in Article 6 of Directive 85 / 210 / EEC I 1 ).

(!) OJ No L 96, 3 . 4 . 1985, p . 25 .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission
( 14 March 1994 )
( 25 April 1994 )

Council Directive 91 / 271 / EEC ( ) on urban waste water
treatment makes the collection and treatment of urban

waste water obligatory :

— by 31 December 1998 for discharges from
agglomerations of more than 10 000 population
equivalent ( p.e .) in sensitive areas ;

— by 31 December 2000 for discharges from all
agglomerations of more than 15 000 p.e .;

— by 31 December 2005 for all discharges from
agglomerations of between 10 000 and 15 000 p.e . and
for discharges into fresh water and estuaries from
agglomerations of between 2 000 and 10 000 p.e .

Before these dates the Commission is not in a position to ask
the Greek authorities to ensure that urban waste water

discharged into the Pinios riverbed is appropriately
treated .

At all events, the Greek authorities are responsible for
ensuring that national legislation concerning public health
and the protection of water is correctly applied, including

Directive 85 / 210 / EEC setting the quality of unleaded petrol
fixed the maximum level of benzene at 5 % both for leaded
and unleaded petrol because of the potential hazard of
replacing lead additives by other components .

Surveys of petrol and the pump indicate that there has been
only a small increase of aromatics-benzene being one of
them-between the time when only leaded petrol was
marketed and today . Representative values of benzene in
unleaded petrol are now between 2,5 and 3,5 % .

It should also be noted that since 1 January 1993 all new
cars are equipped with catalytic converters which reduce the
level of unburnt hydrocarbons, including benzene, by some
90% .

The Commission is currently preparing proposals for
legislation to reduce emissions from motor vehicles for and
beyond the year 2000 and has, with regard to fuel quality,
initiated the European Auto / Oil Programme . This
programme is carried out in cooperation with the European
associations of the car and oil industries and is evaluating
the various aspects of a change in fuel quality . These include
the linkage between different fuel parameters and emissions,
the achievements to be made in terms of air quality, the costs

No C 376 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

for improved fuel quality for producer and consumer and
the establishment of a system to guarantee fuel quality in the
market .

The following fuel parameters are under examination :

— petrol ( unleaded and leaded ): lead, oxygenates,
aromatics, benzene, distillation range, olefins RVP and
sulphur .

— diesel ( LD and HD ): density, polyaromatics, cetane
number, sulphur and distillation range .

Following the conclusion of this test programme, the
Commission will evaluate the overall effects ( in terms of
emission reduction / air quality ) and costs ( for producer and
consumer ) of a reduction of aromatics in petrol . On this
basis the Commission will draft its legislative proposal for
the year 2000 .

2 . The problem of pesticide degradation products is
recognised by the World Health Organization ( WHO ).
However, WHO indicated in Volume I of its guidelines for
drinking water quality ( second edition ) that in preparing its
guidelines, the toxicities of these degradation products have
not been taken into consideration because adequate data on
their identity, presence and biological activity did not seem
to be available .

It is for WHO to decide on the scientific evidence it requires
in order to establish its guidelines .

(!) OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3840 / 93

by Gijs de Vries ( LDR )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3818 / 93 ( 94 / C 376 / 45

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 44 )

Subject : Pesticide limit values used by the WHO

The WHO guidelines on the admissibility of pesticides in
drinking water ignore the problem of toxic metabolites . In
the ligjit of the plans to amend the drinking water Directive,
No 80 / 778 / EEC (*), and the proposal for a Directive on
the marketing of plant protection products ( 2 ), does the
Commission intend :

1 . to take account of metabolites in the procedure for

licensing pesticides ? If not why not ?

2 . to call on the WHO to take account of metabolites,

too ?

0 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 11 .
( 2 ) COM(93 ) 117 final .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

1 . In its proposal for a Directive establishing Annex VI of
Directive 91 / 414 / EEC concerning the placing of plant
protection products on the market ( the so-called ' uniform
principles ' (*)) the Commission has already taken into
account not only the active substances but also their
metabolites .

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 cystic
fibrosis .

( WO 91 / 02796 University of Michigan, ' CF gene ')

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, medicinal institutes undertaking
research into a cure for cystic fibrosis have also received
demands for royalties .

In Europe, most research into genetic disease is funded by
governments or by charitable foundations, and the
requirement to obtain licenses 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 ?

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 25

Answer given by Mr Delors Can the Commission also provide any information on the
on behalf of the Commission current state of negotiations between the European Union

( 11 April 1994 ) and Vietnam and what areas of cooperation would be
provided for by any agreements reached ?

International application No W091 / 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 medicinal 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
interventions 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 linked 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 ( a ).

(!) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3860 / 93

by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1994 )

Despite a severely restricted budget the Commission is
considering opening a delegation in Hanoi in the near
future, following conclusion of the framework agreement .
The delegation would have the full range of political and
economic responsibilities .

The Council approved negotiating Directives on 4 October
last year and the first round of negotiations with the
Vietnamese authorities took place on 16 and 17 December,
achieving substantial progress towards an understanding .
Consultations are currently under way to resolve
outstanding differences on technical issues and human
rights . The Commission remains confident that the
negotiations can speedily be brought to a successful
conclusion .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3914 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 47

Subject : Application of Directive 90 / 41 5 / EEC in Greece

Can the Commission state whether the Greek authorities
have taken steps to incorporate Directive 9 0 / 41 5 / EEC ( J )

( on discharges of dangerous substances ) into Greek national
legislation ?

(!) OJ No L 219, 14 . 8 . 1990, p . 49 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 46 ) Under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty the Commission has
instituted infringement proceedings against Greece for
failure to communicate any measures incorporating

of the Commission in Vietnam Directive 90 / 415 / EEC ( discharges of dangerous substances )

into national law . A reasoned opinion has already been
delivered .

Subject : Representation of the Commission in Vietnam

Can the Commission say when it plans to open its
representation in Hanoi and whether this representation
will assist European investors in Vietnam ?

No C 376 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3922 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3951 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Kostopoulos ( PSE ) by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission ' to the Commission

' to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 48 ) ( 94 / C 376 / 50 )

Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive
91 / 157 / EEC

Has Greece brought its legislation into line with Directive
91 / 157 / EEC (M ( batteries and accumulators )?

(M OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991, p . 38 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings
under Article 169 of the EC Treaty for failure to
communicate national measures implementing Directive
91 / 157 / EEC ( batteries and accumulators ). A reasoned
opinion has already been delivered to Greece .

Subject : Implementation of the memorandum of
understanding on oilseeds in Andalusia

The Spanish Government has adopted measures to bring the
base area for sunflowers into line with the memorandum on

oilseeds .

Andalusia, which has a long tradition of sunflower
cultivation and accounts for 48 % of Spain 's total
production area, has increased its cultivation by 12 %, while
other autonomous communities which have no tradition of

such cultivation have increased the area under sunflowers by
between 83 % and 280 % due to the incentives provided by
arable crop reforms .

Following discussions on the implementation of the above
memorandum at the 1683rd Agriculture Council meeting,
any penalty would have to be spread Community-wide if the
overall excess were not greater than 5 % . In the event of a
larger excess, the burden would be borne by producers in the
Member States with the highest increase in area under
oilseeds .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924 / 93 In this light :

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 49 )

Subject : Implementation by Greece of Directive 92 / 14 / EEC

on restricting the use of noisy aircraft

Have the Greek authorities taken national measures to
incorporate Directive 92 / 14 / EEC (*) ( restricting the use of
noisy aircraft ) into Greek legislation ?

(!) OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992, p . 21 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Does the Commission consider it fair that Andalusia should

suffer the consequences of the memorandum 's
implementation in the same way as other autonomous
communities which have no tradition of sunflower

cultivation ?

What criteria must be taken into account by the Spanish

Government in implementing reductions in area ?

Why has . cultivation in Spain not been placed on a regional

basis ?

Does the Commission not believe that the increase in area
has been brought about by a lack of foresight in arable crop
reforms ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

Greece transposed Directive 92 / 14 / EEC ( limitation of the
operation of aeroplans ) into national law by presidential (4 May 1994 )
decree No 252, published in the Official Journal of the
Hellenic Republic ( FEK ) No 140, Vol . A of 17 August

1992 . The reductiora'in the levels of compensatory payments as a
result of exceeding the maximum guaranteed surface area
for oilseeds fixed by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1765 / 92 (*) is

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 27

calculated by the Commission and is applied at Member
State, not regional level . The Member States have sole
responsibility for setting the geographic boundaries of
production regions and the Commission treats them all
equally . It is not for the Commission to evaluate the fairness
or otherwise of the reductions in the compensation levels
that a region or autonomous community has to bear .

The Commission considers that the answers to the

Honourable Member 's questions fall within the jurisdiction
of the Member State in question .

I 1 ) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3975 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 51 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3976 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 52 )

Subject : Use of the term ' organic ' on ' Elina ' products in

Greece

Does the Commission intend to examine the protest by
paper manufacturers over the problem which has arisen in
the Greek market as a result of the Komotini paper
company 's use of the term ' organic ' for its ' Elina '
products ?

Its competitors, the Thrace paper company, the Athens
paper company and ' Chartellas ' maintain that the company
in question has failed to take out a Community mark for this
purpose and, moreover, that Elina products do not meet the
specifications required for its acquisition .

Subject : Energy saving in buildings
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Is it possible, and if so on what conditions, to provide
funding for ' thermal diagnosis ' of both new and existing (6 May 1994 )
buildings ( especially public buildings ) with a view to saving
energy ?

The use of the term ' ecological ' for advertising is not
regulated at Community level .

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission itself cannot provide funding for ' thermal
diagnosis '.

However, mention should be made of Directive
93 / 76 / EEC 0 ) to limit carbon dioxide emissions by
improving energy efficiency ( SAVE ). Article 2 of this
Directive stipulates that :

' Member States shall draw up and implement
programmes on the energy certification of buildings .
Energy certification of buildings, which shall consist of a
description of their energy characteristics, must provide
information for prospective users concerning a
building 's energy efficiency .

Where appropriate, certification may also include
options for the improvement of these energy
characteristics .'

Only the award and use of an Eco-Label is submitted to
precise conditions and criteria . However, as far as the
Community mark is concerned, there is no Eco-Label as yet
for paper products under Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 880 / 92 ( J ) on a Community Eco-Label award scheme .
Criteria for two tissue products ( kitchen rolls and toilet
paper ) are currently being developed .

From the information provided, the Commission could not
conclude that the facts mentioned in this written question
involve a breach of Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 .

Council Directive 84 / 450 / EEC ( 2 ) provides for rules on
misleading advertising and requires Member States to take
the necessary measures in order to stop misleading
advertisements . It would thus be possible to bring the matter
before the competent administrative or judicial authorities
in Greece, should competitors believe that the use of the
notion ' ecological ' constitutes unfair or misleading
advertising .

t 1 ) OJ No L 99, 11 . 4 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 250, 19 . 9 . 1984 .
(!) OJ No L 237, 22 . 9 . 1993 .

No C 376 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3992 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4032 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Kostopoulos ( PSE ) by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 53 ) ( 94 / C 376 / 55 )

Subject : Rules and time limits for keeping beef and veal in

intervention storage

Does the Commission intend to establish stricter rules and

time-limits for storing beef and veal in intervention storage
and for the distribution thereof ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that the Regulations on public intervention were revised in
September 1993 . A full revision of the existing rules had
become indispensable if the provisions on take-over,
verification of boning operations and fraud prevention were
to be made stricter .

There is no provision in the Community Regulations for
time limits on storage of products and their subsequent
distribution . However, it is explicitly laid down that
products in storage for the longest time are to be disposed of
first each time a sale is decided on by the Commission . This
rule prevents products entering storage recently from being
sold while older products are kept in storage . This
procedure provided satisfactory results in the past and
prevented intervention meat from being kept beyond a
period which could impair the quality of the products
stored .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4028 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 54 )

Subject : Setting of limits for the arsenic content of drinking

water

Will the Commission say if and when a decision is to be
taken setting a limit for the arsenic content of drinking water
and, in particular, reducing the maximum limit ( 50 mg per
litre ), bearing in mind that the World Health Organization
recommends a limit of 10 mg per litre ?

Subject : Quality of drinking water in Halastra

( Thessalonika ) and Petralona ( Halkidiki )

According to tests conducted by the University of
Thessalonika, the arsenic content of drinking water in
Halastra ( Thessalonika ) and Petralona ( Halkidiki ) is higher
than internationally accepted limits . Will the Commission
take steps to carry out an immediate epidemiological study
and adopt measures designed to ensure proper water
supplies for the inhabitants of these regions so as to protect
their health ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-4028 / 93 and E-4032 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The maximum admissible concentration of arsenic laid
down in Annex I to Directive 80 / 778 / EEC ( J ) is 50 [ xg / 1 and
the Greek authorities must take the necessary measures to
ensure that this limit value is not exceeded .

Moreover, Article 16 of the Directive allows Member States
to lay down more stringent provisions, so there is nothing to
stop the Greek authorities lowering the limit value for
arsenic, if they consider this necessary .

The Commission is now reviewing Directive 80 / 778 / EEC
and examining the technical and scientific data currently
available, including the guidelines for drinking water quality
recently adopted by the World Health Organization . At
present the Commission does not plan to undertake any
epidemiological studies relating to arsenic .

If the Honourable Member has any information indicating
that the arsenic content of the drinking water in Halastra

( Thessaloniki ) and Petralona ( Khalkidiki ) exceeds the limit
value prescribed by Directive 80 / 778 / EEC, the Commission
wishes to be informed and will investigate the matter with
the Greek authorities .

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

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 29

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4041 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 24 March 1994 )

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 56 )

Subject : Promotion of a Directive to prevent the use

of animals in safety tests by automobile
manufacturers

Does the Commission intend to promote a Directive to
prevent the use of animals in safety tests by European
automobile manufacturers ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

Council Directive 86 / 609 / EEC of 24 November 1986 on the

approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of
animals used for experimental and other scientific
purposes ( 1 ).

(!) OJ No L 358, 18 . 12 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4060 / 93

The ' Television without frontier ' Directive 89 / 552 / EEC of

3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions
laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in
Member States concerning the pursuit of television
broadcasting activities is the legal reference framework for
broadcasting in the Community . The 13th recital states that
the Directive is the legal reference framework for
broadcasting in the Community . The 13th recital states that
the Directive ' does not affect the responsibility of the
Member States and their authorities with regard to the
organization — including the systems of licensing,
administrative authorization or taxation — financing and
the content of programmes ' and also that ' the independence
of cultural developments in the Member States and the
preservation of cultural diversity in the Community
therefore remain unaffected '.

It should be pointed out that, whatever the legal basis for
action in the audiovisual field, Article 3 of the EC Treaty
calls for Community action to contribute to education and
training of quality and to the flowering of the cultures of
the Member States, and proposals for action may also be
based on this, provided the principle of subsidiarity is
respected .

With this in mind, the Commission will examine the
Honourable Member 's proposal for an assessment or
comparative analysis of the educational content of
Community TV channels .

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4085 / 93

to the Commission by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

(1 February 1993 ) to the Commission

( 94 / C 376 / 57 ) (7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 58 )

Subject : Educational content of television in the EU

Subject : Conference on fisheries in the Mediterranean

The Spanish Socialist senator, Mrs Victoria Camps, recently
stated (' El Pais ', Madrid, 26 November 1993 ) that
' television forms part of education, whether we like it or
not '. In an admirable, if rare, display of self-criticism, she
added that the Socialists ' have to recognize that we have left
television to its own devices ', referring not to giving up
political control so much as abandoning certain standards,
whether educational or ethical .

It is to be feared that this telling accusation could be
extended to other countries and television channels under

the sway of a variety of political forces . In view of the
importance of the issue, could the Commission evaluate the
educational content of television channels in the European
Union ( or at least those with the largest audiences ), within
the context of its studies of public opinion ?

Parliament has, on a number of occasions, taken the
initiative and called upon the Commission to support a
conference on fisheries in the Mediterranean under the aegis
of the European Union and the FAO through the Fisheries
Council for the Mediterranean .

Given that this initiative seems to have been received

sympathetically by the Commission, it would be useful, once
a reasonable time has elapsed, to know the current state of
affairs .

Does the Commission still wish to support cooperation
in fisheries among the Mediterranean countries via a
conference arranged and sponsored by the FAO and the
EU ?

No C 376 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

Does it consider the issue of overfishing, in particular of
tuna, to be an important matter and what is its opinion
thereon ?

Does the Commission believe that, in line with measures put
forward by the Member States, drifting gill nets should be
banned in the Mediterranean ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

essential that the provisions for thorough enforcement are
improved, and the Commission will do all in its power to see
that this happens .

(M Information 94 / C17 / 6, OJ No C 17, 20 . 1 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4090 / 93

on behalf of the Commission by Reimer Boge ( PPE )

( 14 April 1994 ) to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

The Commission attaches great importance to cooperation
on fisheries among Mediterranean countries . There is an
obvious need to address the fears of certain Member States

that their nationals will be disadvantaged in relation to
fishermen from third countries, who are not subject to the
stricter rules outlined in the proposal for a Regulation
harmonizing various technical measures in Mediterranean
fisheries . But in order to find common ground with the third
countries, a resources management policy must first be
established at Community level, which can then be used as
the basis of discussion with other countries . This is why
initially the Commission has devoted most of its efforts in
this respect to seeking agreement among the Member States
with regard to the protection of resources, but it has
nevertheless not neglected relations with the other
Mediterranean countries or countries with fleets engaged in
distant-water fishing in the Mediterranean . In particular, it
has been maintaining a dialogue with the authorities in these
countries with a view to organizing — probably in the
course of this year — a diplomatic conference to initiate a
new era of cooperation in Mediterranean fisheries .

The Commission is aware of the over-fishing of certain
species in the Mediterranean . That is why it is currently
working on a regulation to introduce technical conservation
measures, in order to extend the common policy on
Mediterranean resources .

In this context, and in its proposal for a Regulation fixing
management objectives and strategies for certain fisheries or
groups of fisheries for the period 1994 to 1997 ( J ), the
Commission has set the objective of preventing any increase
in the fishing effort in relation to anchovies resources in the
Mediterranean .

The Commission considers that management of tuna
resources should be carried out under the auspices of the
International Commission for the Conversation of Atlantic

Tunas ( ICCAT ), and will support any measure for the
management of these extremely migratory resources that is
established by the ICCAT .

The Commission has, indeed, found lapses in the rigor of
monitoring by Member States of the use of floating gillnets .
The Commission will keep a close eye on this matter to
ensure that full compliance wifh Community legislation is
enforced and will, if necessary, step up Community
monitoring to guarantee such compliance . It is, however,

( 94 / C 376 / 59 )

Subject : Invitation to tender in respect of bread-making

wheat

On 20 October 1993, in Regulation ( EEC ) No 2871 / 93 ( a ),
the Commission issued a standing invitation to tender for
the resale on the internal market of 400 000 tonnes of

bread-making wheat held by the German intervention
agency with a view to its processing in the other Member
States .

The procedure adopted and the timing of the invitation to
tender gave rise to considerable irritation among those
involved in the wheat market and severely hampered a
flourishing export trade . That being so :

1 . Why did the Commission opt for this type of tendering

procedure ?

2 . What tenders were accepted up to mid-December ( firms

and quantities )?

3 . Does not the procedure adopted conflict with the
principle of equality, since German mills were
prohibited from tendering for wheat from the German
intervention agency ( BALM ), whereas French mills were
permitted to bid for wheat from the French intervention
agency ( ONIC )?

(!) OJ No L 262, 21 . 10 . 1993, p . 32 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission cannot share the view of the Honourable

Member that the sale of 400 000 tonnes of bread-making
wheat from German intervention stocks ' severly hampered a
flourishing export trade '. This is already unlikely in light of
the fact that between 26 October 1993 ( the frist partial
tender ) and 1 February 1994, i.e. over a period of more than
three months, no more than 123 000 tonnes could be sold .
On 8 February, indeed, no more tenders were received since
market demand was being met from neighbouring Member

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 31

States . Most of what was sold went at prices well above the
intervention price . The Commission does not know who the
tenderers were since the procedure was organized by the
German intervention agency itself .

The restriction of tendering to Member States other than
Germany was introduced because processors in the other
countries had signalled that they were interested . The
Commission does not consider this against the principle of
equal treatment, since it had been informed that there were
no shortfalls in supply to the German market .

The Commission decided to sell wheat on the internal

market not only to help meet a demand that the market was
apparently not covering ; it also wanted to reduce
interventions stocks, which by the beginning of the 1993 / 94
marketing year had reached the record level of more than 33
million tonnes . Three quarters of this was in store in France
and Germany . As more and more is brought into
intervention, however, the role of the Community in
administering this burden of stocks naturally changes . The
obligation on the Commission to manage stocks in such a
way that the intervention system is able to continue
functioning becomes necessarily a more important
consideration, with the consequence that all possible
avenues for sales must be explored .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4096 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 60 )

Subject : Alleged breach of the EC Directive on Freedom of

Information on the Environment

What action has the Commission taken in evaluating and
responding to the legal complaint made by the UK
Campaign for Freedom of Information, dated 15 December
1993, in regard to the breach of Directive 90 / 313 / EEC (*) on
Freedom of Information on the Environment by

1 . the Health and Safety Executive and UK Department of
Employment

2 . the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory
Committee

3 . British Nuclear Fuels pic

4 . the UK Department of Transport

in regard to the disclosure of information on the Thorp
re-processing plant by the named departments or bodies ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The complaint is now being assessed by the Commission .
The Commission has informed the complainant, who will
be kept informed of developments in this regard .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-19 / 94

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

(8 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 61 )

Subject : European aid to Rhöne-Poulenc Chemie in
Ertvelde ( Belgium )

The European Union has made a grant of 50 million francs
to the Belgian subsidiary of the French group
Rhone-Poulenc Chemie in Ertvelde ( Flanders ) and its
Spanish partner Tubinsa International for the processing
and re-cycling of phosphor gypsm .

According to a statement by the company, this grant is part
of the EU 's policy on environmental protection .

1 . What ecological criteria did the Commission use for

granting aid towards this pilot project ?

2 . Is the Commission aware that construction materials

manufactured from phosphor gypsum contain heavy
metals and are radioactive ?

3 . How can the grant be reconciled with ecologically

sustainable economic growth, which the Commission
claims to champion ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1994 )

The project referred to by the Honourable Member
concerns the full-scale elaboration and development of a
new technology for the re-cycling of slurry . The specific aim
of the demonstration project concerns the processing of
gypsum . Other uses such as the processing of slurry from the
paper industry and the food industry have already been
laboratory tested .

1 . The Commission took account of the following when

granting the aid : the project is of Community interest ;
the technology being developed may, if successful, help

No C 376 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

. to provide ways of dealing with various kinds of waste in

the form of slurry ; the technology used is innovative
compared with the processing methods currently in use ;
it is more flexible, more effective and the finished
products are of better quality .

2 . The problem of the radioactivity of gypsum is well

known . Under the demonstration projects, only gypsum
which is safest in this respect will be processed, mainly
gypsum from phosphate which does not contain
uranium .

3 . In the light of the above, the Commission takes the view
that the demonstration project may play a significant
part in the reduction and re-cycling of waste flows .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-24 / 94

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 62 )

Subject : Traffic offences committed by Dutch citizens in

Germany

More and more Dutch lorry drivers are being caught by
speed traps in the border area of the Federal Republic .

In contrast to German citizens, no action can be taken
against them .

1 . Is the Commission aware that punishable offences are
going unpunished as a result ?

2 . How does it feel this situation can be rectified ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission is not aware of any discrimination in the
enforcement of speed limits for heavy lorries since Member
States have the right to apply traffic rules, including identical
enforcement procedures for all vehicles, regardless of
nationality .

In general, the question of adequate enforcement of
legislation in road transport is currently being examined by
a group, with conclusions expected in the summer .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-27 / 94

by Madron Seligman ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 8 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 63 )

Subject : Alleged harm caused by unleaded petrol and by

catalytic converters

A constituent has sent me an extract from ' Health Guardian '

in which certain startling allegations are made by apparently
- qualified scientific people .

Whereas the Commission has already taken steps to reduce
the escape of VOCs at filling stations in view of their
potential harm to the environment, is it aware of the alleged
greater carcinogenicity of unleaded fuel compared with the
traditional type ?

Is the Commission able to refute the allegations made on
British TV 's Channel 4 that catalytic converters harm the
environment more than they protect it and that the
Commission has attempted to suppress such research
findings ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware of recent reports claiming that
unleaded petrol contains higher levels of benzene and
aromatics than leaded petrol, and is therefore deemed to be
more carcinogenic .

The Commission 's investigations indicate a wide range of
levels of aromatics ( 24%-48% ) in both unleaded and
leaded petrol . It is accepted that for the high levels of
aromatics a case may exist for limiting aromatic levels as
part of an overall package of air quality improvement
measures . More details of the Commission 's activities in this

field can be found in the answers to Written Questions
No 3741 / 93 i 1 ) and No 3886 / 93 ( 2 ).

The Commission has however found no evidence that levels

of aromatics and benzene in unleaded petrol are higher than
in leaded petrol . Figures available to the Commission clearly
indicate that levels of both fuel components are very similar
and that the abovementioned claims are therefore

unfounded .

Catalytic converters are used by the automotive industry to
meet the ambitious requirements adopted by the
Community with regard to air pollution from vehicle

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 33

emissions . A significant improvement of air quality in urban
areas is expected to result from these Directives .

The Commission has not received any information
suggesting that catalysts harm the environment more than
they protect it, and no objective element showing negative
impact has been demonstrated during the twenty years of
use in USA . Any further information will be examined by the
Commission .

( J ) See page 23 of this Official Journal .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 3201 / 90 as a synonym for names of
vine varieties which may be used to describe table wine and
quality wine psr .

An application for authorization to show the name
' Malmsey ' on the labelling of the Madeira wine concerned
may be submitted by a Member State . Such an application
will be considered by the Management Committee for Wine,
which includes representatives from the Commission and
the Member States .

( 2 ) OJ No C 289, 17 . 10 . 1994, p. 50 . (!) OJ No L 232, 9 . 8 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-29 / 94

by George Patterson ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 February 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-39 / 94

by Emmanouil Karellis ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 64 ) ( 94 / C 376 / 65 )

Subject : Malmsey Subject : Adverse effects of GATT on agriculture and the

textile industry

Is the Commission aware that traditional supplies of the
Madeira wine bearing the name of Malmsey are now
restricted to wine made from the very limited amount of
Malvasia grapes grown on the Island ? Is this as a result of
EC legislation ? If so, is there a possibility of derogating from
the rules so that a larger proportion of Madeira wine can be
classified as Malmsey, as once was the case, thereby
responding to consumer demand ?

The harmful effects of the GATT agreement on agriculture
and the textile industry in Greece could be offset by
supporting farm incomes and modernizing textile
companies .

How is the Commission tackling this problem and what
steps will it take to resolve it ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Answer given by Mr Steichen Answer given by Mr Steichen

behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 ) ( May 1994 )

As far as the descriptions of table wine and quality wine
produced in a specified region are concerned, the Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2392 / 89 ( J ) allow the name of one or
two vine varieties to appear only under certain conditions
on the labelling to describe the wine in question .

The variety must in particular be listed as a recommended or
authorized variety in the classification of vine varieties in
Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 3800 / 81 . The variety
must also be mentioned under the name appearing either in
the classification of vine varieties ( for the administrative unit
concerned ) or on the list of synonyms in Regulation ( EEC )
No 3800 / 81 . In the case of a quality wine psr, the variety
must also appear on the list drawn up by the Member States
pursuant to Regulation ( EEC ) No 823 / 87 to designate vine
varieties suitable for producing each quality wine psr
produced on their territory .

The name ' Malmsey ' appears neither in the classification of
vine varieties in Regulation ( EEC ) No 3800 / 81 nor in

During the whole of the negotiations on agriculture in the
Uruguay Round, the Commission emphasized to the
Community 's trading partners the importance of retaining
sufficient flexibility on internal support measures . As a
result, it was agreed that the reduction of internal support
for agriculture would be a global reduction of 20 % from the
base 1986-1988 .

Furthermore, it was agreed that support provided under
so-called green policies would be exempt from the
reductions commitment, and that payments under
production limiting programmes would not be subject to the
annual reduction commitments .

Consequently, the Commission considers that under the
final agreement the Community has retained a large margin
of discretion as regards internal support measures for
agriculture .

No C 376 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-109 / 94

by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 13 / 94

by Adriana Ceci ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 66 ) ( 94 / C 376 / 67 )

Subject : Community subsidies for bull-fighting

A number of associations for the protection of animals were
upset to read in the press ( El Pais of 23 May 1993 ) that
Community funds are granted for the raising of fighting
bulls under Regulation ( EEC ) No 805 / 68 (*) as amended by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 125 / 93 ( 2 ).

Bearing in mind the positions already taken by Parliament in
the Schmidt report and the debate of February 1993 on the
attitude to be adopted towards bull-fighting, can the
Commission :

1 . Say for how long this Community support has been in
force and on what scale it is granted ?

Subject : Construction of a municipal waste disposal plant

in the province of Sienna ( Monte Landi project )

Having regard to the project to build a municipal waste
disposal plant in the province of Sienna, in which 31
municipalities are involved, as is Monte Landi in the
municipality of Montalcino ( only a few hundred metres
away from the renowned Montalcino vineyards ), and to the
infringement procedure which the Commission has initiated
against Italy in connection with the Monte Landi project,
could it be true that the Commission granted the authorities
in Sienna a Lit 30 billion loan in respect of this project,
despite having already initiated the infringement
procedure ?

2 . Undertake to ensure that an end is put to contributions
from European funds to activities which have been
condemned involve the mistreatment by the European of animals Parliament ? and which Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(!) OJ No L 148, 28 . 6 . 1968, p . 24 . (6 May 1994 )

( 2 ) OJ No L 18, 27 . 1 . 1993, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

No Community aid is paid specifically for fighting bulls .
However, since 1987 there has been a system of premiums
for male bovine animals from which fighting bulls are not
expressly excluded .

In 1987 the premium was ECU 25 per head, paid once
during the lifetime of the animal . This was increased to ECU
40 from 1989 . The reform of the common agricultural
policy, adopted in May 1992, considerably increased the
premium and introduced a second payment for animals
above 22 months . Both payments currently stand at ECU 75
per head .

Within the price package for the 1994 / 95 marketing year,
the Commission proposed restricting the second payment to
beef animals . Fighting bulls would consequently be
excluded from that payment . The first payment is made for
male bovine animals aged ten months, that is to say before
they are normally selected as fighting bulls .

The Commission is not in a position to say how many
premiums have been paid for fighting bulls, but estimates
that the figure is extremely low compared with the total aid
paid for beef cattle .

The Commission has never provided funding for the project
in question .

Moreover, no loan has been granted to this project by the
EIB, either directly or indirectly, within the framework of a
general operation .

Lastly, no infringement proceedings have been initiated in
this particular case .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-120 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 68 )

Subject : Community policy in the field of port
infrastructures

Will the Commission say what initiatives it has taken
recently to pursue a Community policy in the field of port
infrastructures, which are essential for the development of
maritime transport as part of the inter-modular transport
system ?

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 35

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-151 / 94

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )
(6 May 1994 ) to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

The Commission has submitted a proposal for a Council ( 94 / C 376 / 70 )
and Parliament decision on Community guidelines for
the development of the Trans-European Transport
Network ( a ). The draft includes a section on ports setting Subject : Objectives of the
down a series of conditions with which port and programmes
port-related projects of common interest should comply .
These conditions include specific aims relating to facilitating The multi-annual guidance
the growth of trade, supporting the principle of sustainable include among their objectives the
mobility, and improving accessibility and strengthening activities in terms of capacity and
economic and social cohesion . Commission and the Member

Subject : Objectives of the multi-annual guidance

programmes

(M COM(94 ) 106 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-135 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 69 )

Subject : Compensating nut producers for loss of income

Bearing in mind that the nut sector is suffering a crisis due to
the fall in market prices caused mainly by imports from
non-member countries, will the Commission examine the
possibility of amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 i 1 ) so
as to provide direct aid to producers to compensate them for
loss of earnings ?

(!) OJ No L 118, 20 . 5 . 1972, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

As it already indicated in its reply to the Honourable
Member 's Written Question No 2672 / 91 ( 2 ) on the same
subject, the Commission believes that direct income aid is
not an appropriate response to the situation in the
Community nut sector and would hinder structural
improvements in the long term . Furthermore, a measure of
this kind would not be compatible with the commitments
made by the Community under GATT and would also
require new budget expenditure which is unlikely to be
forthcoming at present .

(!) OJ No C 226, 16 . 8 . 1994, p . 50 .

The multi-annual guidance programmes quite clearly
include among their objectives the reduction of fisheries
activities in terms of capacity and volume, as agreed by the
Commission and the Member States ; nonetheless, the
fishing fleets of certain Member States, namely the UK, the
Netherlands, Belgium, France and Greece have, far from
being reduced, actually increased in size .

Can the Commission explain what factors have led to these
increases ?

Why have the agreed programmes not been
implemented ?

Which sections of the fishing fleets concerned have shown
an increase in numbers ?

What proportion of the new constructions has received EU
aid ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1994

It is true that certain Member States have not complied with
the objectives assigned to them under their 1983-1986 and

1987-1991 multiannual guidance programmes . The States
concerned are not, however, exactly those named by the
Honourable Member .

Fishing fleet capacity has grown over the last few years
because vessel replacement has not been accompanied in all
cases by the overcapacity reduction measures that would
normally have more than offset the new construction . As a
result, an insufficient number of vessels left the fleet to
compensate for those entering, hence the net growth in
capacity .

Under the new rules on structural assistance ( Articles 7 and

10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 3699 / 93 ), this should no longer

occur .

It is difficult for the Commission to say in which sections of
the fleet the growth has been greatest, since the first
multiannual guidance programmes did not require a
breakdown of the fleets by section . Nevertheless, growth
has presumably been highest, and therefore most
detrimental to resource conservation, in the trawler section
of the fleet, which was considered the most profitable before
the exacerbation of the deterioration of demersal stocks .

No C 376 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

The exact percentage of Community-subsidized new vessel
construction is not known but it has been very low in recent
years . Aware that fisheries stocks were deteriorating, the
Commission has considerably reduced, year by year,
Community aid for construction . In 1993 this category of
aid was only ECU 4 million, or 2% of the ' structural '
appropriations allocated for the entire Community fishing
fleet for that year .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-155 / 94

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE ) and

Enrique Sapena Granell ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 71 )

Subject : Flight safety

There has recently been a spate of accidents on Russian air
services, and alarming data have been made public
concerning the condition, age and state of maintenance of
Russian aircraft . Certain air links between the EU and

Russia are served by companies using these aircraft .

Can the Commission state whether the safety standards
required of airlines within the Union are also insisted on in
the case of aircraft from the successor states to the former

Soviet Union ?

Does the Commission consider that citizens of the Union

may, without anxiety or additonal risks, use the aircraft and
services of the companies concerned ?

Does the Commission consider that all the requisite safety
criteria are applied at least to flights from or to the
Union ?

Does the Commission consider that the aircraft concerned

are adequately inspected and maintained ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

International air transport is covered by the Chicago
convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization

( ICAO ) which establishes the minimum safety requirements
to enable aircraft to be operated between signatory States
with an acceptable level of safety .

Russia and the ex-Soviet States are contracting parties to
ICAO and provided they comply with the ICAO standards
they are entitled to carry out international air transport .

As ICAO sets minimum standards, it is clear that safety
levels between signatory States can, and do, vary . In this
regard European safety levels are among the highest in the
world . This fact should be carefully considered by any
European citizen when faced with the choice between
buying a ticket from a Community airline or an airline from
a third country .

However, for internal ( non-international ) flights the ICAO
standards do not apply and consequently individual states
are free to enforce ( or not ) whatever national standards they
wish, with the resulting effect on safety . In addition,
whereas minimum compensation payments in the event of
death following an accident are covered by international
convention for international flights, there are no such
minimum payments for domestic flights .

It should also be pointed out that the technical assistance
programme to the Commonwealth of Independent States

( CIS ) supports projects which are intended to create a
positive effect on technical safety in air transport in these
countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-161 / 94

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 72 )

Subject : Storage of hazardous substances at Seaforth,

Bootle

The Commission is aware that planning permission is being
sought for the storage of 490 tonnes of bromine at the
Seaforth Container Terminal .

Is it also aware that exposure to small amounts of bromine
vapour may result in coughing, nosebleeds, headaches,
nausea, and that lengthy exposure can be fatal ?

Is it aware that residents ' groups in the area are very
concerned at this risk to health ? This comes in addition to

the importation of cheap coal which results in residents
having to breathe coaldust every day .

Is it aware that they have submitted petitions on the grounds
of possible further pollution and health risk in the event of a
fracture when the bromine containers are being handled ?

Will the Commission ensure that a full environmental

impact assessment is carried out by the Sefton Planning
Authority prior to permission being granted ?

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 37

WRITTEN QUESTION E-162 / 94

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 73 )

Subject : Storage of bromine at the Seaforth Container

Terminal, Bootle

Is the Commission aware that the Mersey Docks and
Harbour Board has applied for permission to store 490
tonnes of bromine in transportable tanks at berth S5,
Location 5y, at the Seaforth Container Terminal, Bootle,
Merseyside .

The deadline for deemed consent under the Hazardous

Substances Act was the 30 November 1992, which the
Mersey Docks and Harbour Bord never applied . Planning
permission is being sought to store 490 tonnes of bromine
on a continuous basis .

Will the Commission investigate this matter, as leakage of
bromine can be fatal ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-161 / 94 and E-162 / 94

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission was not aware of the application for
permission to store 490 tonnes of bromine at the Seaforth
Container Terminal, Bottle, Merseyside prior to these
written questions .

The Commission is aware of the potential impact of
bromine on the environment ( including the impact on
human 1 beings ) and notes the concerns of the local residents '

groups .

Storage facilities for chemical products fall within
paragraph 6(c ) of Annex II of Council Directive
85 / 337 / EEC (*) ( on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment ). When a
competent authority receives an application for consent for
a project which might be an Annex II project it must first
consider whether the project does fall within that Annex . If
it considers that if does, the authority must then consider
whether the project is likely to have significant
environmental effects . If the authority decides that the
project is likely to have significant environmental effects
there should be an environmental assessment of the project
as part of the development consent procedure . If the
authority reasonably decides that the project is not likely to
have such effects it can determine the application for
consent without an environmental impact assessment .

It is not clear from these written questions whether the
competent authority has considered these matters . The

Commission will write to the Member State seeking further
information .

(») OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-165 / 94

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 74

Subject : Dumping of dangerous or suspect industrial waste

by at least one European undertaking in the Congo
( Brazzaville )

The World Bank recently cast doubt on an agreement or
preliminary agreement concerning the dumping of
dangerous or very suspect substances in the Congo

( Brazzaville ) at the initiative of one or more European
firms .

The European Parliament and the ACP-EU Joint Assembly
have on several occasions denounced the use of regions of
the Third World as dumping grounds . Legislative texts have
been adopted by the Union .

1 . Does this agreement exist, which partners are involved,
what are the terms and financial clauses, in particular as
regards the Republic of Congo ?

2 . How are the legislative texts on this type of export and

dumping applied and how is their application checked
by the Member States, the Union and the European
Development Fund ?

What is the situation regarding penalties ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

1 . The Commission has no knowledge of an agreement
on the dumping of dangerous or suspect substances in the
Congo ( Brazzaville ) at the initiative of one or more
European firms . Therefore it cannot say whether the
agreement exists or not, or provide the Honourable
Member with details of the partners or the terms and
financial clauses of the contract .

2 . At present, all exports of hazardous waste from the
Community to ACP countries, including the Congo, are
prohibited by the Lome IV Convention ( Article 39 ) which
entered into force in July 1991 . The ACP countries
undertook to prohibit all imports, on their territory, of
hazardous waste from the Community or from any other

No C 376 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

source . This prohibition is also laid down in Article 18 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 259 / 93 ( ! ) on the supervision and
control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the
Community, which shall apply on 6 May 1994 .

The Member States are responsible for implementing this
ban on the export of hazardous waste to ACP countries .

The Lome IV Convention does not include provisions
concerning possible penalties . In case of difficulty, it
makes provision for consultations between the countries
concerned . However, Article 25 ( 5 ) of Regulation ( EEC )
No 259 / 93 stipulates that the Member States should take all
appropriate legal action to prohibit and punish illegal
shipments of waste .

1 . how it views the future development of high-speed

railways in Portugal and links with Spain and other
Community countries, and

2 . whether it intends to bring pressure to bear for a

' political decision ' in the near future, in the light of the
Spanish experience, which yet again demonstrates that
anticipated ' market forces ', are capable not only of
failing to live up to regional interests and popular
expectations, but also of being refuted by reality ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )
(!) OJ No L 30, 6 . 2 . 1993 .

The need for high-speed rail links in Portugal and linking
Portugal with Spain and the rest of Europe was indicated in
the report by the high-level working party on the high-speed
network, published in December 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 74 / 94

by José Barata Moura ( CG )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 75 )

Subject : High-speed trains in Portugal

Various Portuguese and Spanish newspaper reports recently
referred to the possibility that a high-speed train network
might be developed within the Iberian Peninsula, following
a meeting between the European Association of Railway
Journalists with officials of Spanish Railways ( Renfe ).

The latter claimed that since there is no market to justify it, a
high-speed train link to Portugal would be possible only as
the result of a political decision, and, even then, the
Portuguese high-speed line(s ) would be a mere appendage to
the Spanish network .

At the same time, the Renfe officials recognized that their
own ' AVE ', a high-speed train linking Madrid and Seville,
had been a great success against all expectations, with
passenger figures between 80 % and 85 % of capacity and
real benefits to towns such as Ciudad Real and Puertollano

in the interior of Castilla-la-Mancha .

Originally, it had been thought that the AVE, linking
Madrid with southern Spain and with desert and
industrially-backward regions, had been a miscalculation
and that the correct policy would have been to establish a
high-speed link with the north and with France .

Since high-speed rail-links, if properly integrated with a
global approach to development, can have extremely
positive results, I would ask the Commission :

Having been accepted by the Commission, the report was
favourably received by the Council on 17 December 1990 .
Two projects of direct interest to Portugal are indicated on
the map of the European master plan for high-speed trains :
the link between Lisbon and Oporto and the link between
Portugal ( Lisbon-Oporto link ) and Madrid . The latter
appears as a link with whose route has yet to be
determined .

Studies confinanced by the Community — particularly in
the field of high-speed links — have produced various route
options, and the current uncertainty will be dispelled in the
revised map of the master plan, which the high-level
working party intends to submit to the Commission a few
months from now .

In view of the problem of the gauge of the tracks linking
Portugal with Spain and the rest of Europe, the Iberian
section of the European network can be successfully
completed only if Portugal, Spain and France coordinate
their high-speed infrastructure policies .

The Commission advocated such coordination, along with
its own participation, in the first report of 1990 . This was
confirmed by the entry into force of the Treaty on European
Union, which amended Article 129c ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty .
The draft Decision on the development of the trans ­
European transport network adopted recently by the
Commission confirms the guidelines in this area .

The Commission would point out that Member States
must set their own priorities for financing infrastructure
within the framework of the trans-European transport
networks .

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 39

WRITTEN QUESTION E-217 / 94

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 76 )

Subject : Controls on biotechnology

1 . Does the Commission share my view that the
catch-phrase ' biotechnology ' generates fears of ' interfering '
with natural life processes in humans and animals ?

2 . What is the Commission 's attitude towards this ? What

account does the Commission take of this in its efforts to

identify and finance research in this area ?

3 . Are there any contracts with the Member States and
with specialists, for example to counteract the ' interfering '
referred to in point 1 ? If so, how is this done, and over what
period ?

4 . What controls does the Commission feel are effective ?

Are they incorporated in the Commission 's proposals for
Regulations and Directives ?

5 . What is the attitude of the Member States towards

point 4 ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( May 1994 )

1 . The term ' biotechnology ' refers to the use of biological
material in production processes and products . The use of
the term as such does not give rise to specific fears, either
when relating to the application of methods which have
been employed for hundreds of years, or when relating to
the application of genetic engineering techniques which
have been in use for more than two decades . However, as
with any technology, the application of modern
biotechnology gives rise to a number of specific issues which
need to be addressed .

This is why, for example, the Community has set out a
policy framework which on the one hand promotes a
competitive environment for the relevant industries and, on
the other, aims to safeguard the health of humans, animals
and plants and the protection of the environment .

2 . The Commission monitors public attitudes towards
modern biotechnology closely, and distributes information
with a view to enhancing public understanding . Relevant
research programmes also include . measures aimed at

clarifying ethical and social issues arising from several
applications of modern biotechnology .

Moreover, the Commission has established a group of
advisers on the ethical implications of biotechnology to
ensure that ethical questions are identified and addressed
properly . Recently — in line with the recommendations of
the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and
employment : the challenges and ways forward into the 21st
century — the functioning of this group has been reinforced
by increasing the number of advisers, hence making
available a broader range of advice . At the same time, the
group has intensified its work programme and its secretariat
has been reinforced .

3 . There is regular contact between the Commission and
the Member States on issues related to biotechnology in a
variety of forms, such as within the framework of the
Industrial research and development advisory committee

( IRDAC ).

4 . The Community 's biotechnology regulatory
framework comprises both horizontal and sectoral
legislation . Contained use of genetically modified
micro-organisms is assessed under Council Directive
90 / 219 / EEC ( 1 ). Deliberate release of genetically modified
organisms ( GMOs ) at the research and development stage is
covered by Council Directive 90 / 220 / EEC, which sets the
requirements for a specific environmental risk evaluation .

However, in the case of placing a product on the market, the
appropriate environmental risk assessment requirements
of Directive 90 / 220 / EEC, Part C, are integrated into
product-specific legislation in a single notification and a
single authorization procedure . This will apply from

1 January 1995 in the case of pharmaceuticals containing or
consisting of GMOs ( i.e. live vaccines ), and from 1 October

1994 for additives in feedingstuffs containing or consisting
of GMOs . It will also apply for novel foods, plant protection
products and seeds once the relevant legislation has been
adopted and implemented . In cases where product-specific
legislation does not exist, Directive 90 / 220 / EEC, Part C, on
deliberate release of GMOs applies .

5 . Most Member States are in favour of the Community 's
biotechnology regulatory approach and are in favour of
making full use of the inherent flexibility of the Directives
90 / 219 / EEC and 90 / 220 / EEC, in order to adapt them to
technical progress . Moreover, the German and UK
authorities have suggested a number of areas in which the
Directives might be amended . These suggestions are being
taken on board as part of the Commission 's preparation of
the follow-up to the White Paper 's recommendation
regarding the biotechnology regulatory framework .

( l ) OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990 .

No C 376 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-234 / 94

by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 77 )

allowed, loses its eligibility for Community financing and
the bill must be footed by the Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-277 / 94

Subject : Failure to pay Community aid by Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )

to the Commission

According to Article 10(1 ) of Regulation ( EEC )
No 1765 / 92 ( J ) establishing a support system for producers
of certain arable crops, the compensatory payments for
cereals, and protein crops, as well as the compensation for
the set-aside obligation, must be paid between 16 October
and 31 December next following the harvest .

In the province of Cadiz, however, by 31 December 1993
over 30 % of farmers had not received any payment or any
kind of explanation from the regional and national
authorities justifying the delay .

In view of this serious failure to implement Community
legislation and the resulting serious damage caused to Cadiz
farmers, who are seriously indebted and who are also
suffering from the effects of persistent drought, can the
Commission say :

what steps it is planning to take immediately to oblige the
national and local authorities responsible for making these
payments to respect the timetable for them laid down in
Community legislation ?

who is responsible for paying the interest arising as a result
of this unjustified delay ?

( 25 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 78

Subject : Homeopathic veterinary medicinal products

Article 7(1 ) of Directive 92 / 74 / EEC ( x ) on homeopathic
veterinary medicinal products lays down that, as from

1 January 1994, it is no longer possible to apply a simplified
registration procedure for the marketing of new products of
this type for administration to species whose flesh or
products are intended for human consumption, assuming
that the Member States of the EU have transposed the
Directive within the set time limit . This in effect prevents the
marketing of homeopathic veterinary medicines for
livestock, although there have not in the past been any
problems, either with residues or in any other respect, in the
Member States where these products have been used in
practice .

1 . In which Member States have homeopathic medicinal
products so far been administered to livestock ?

2 . What provisions apply to homeopathic medicinal

products for livestock which are already on the
market ?

(!) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992, p . 12 . 3 . Would it be possible to amend Article 7 ( 1 ) in the light of
the requirements of organic farming ?

(!) OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992, p . 12 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 ) Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( IS April 1994 )
The Regulation cited by the Honourable Member does
indeed stipulate that compensatory payments for cereals
and protein crops, as well as compensation for the set-aside

Although homeopathic veterinary

obligation, must be paid between 16 October and officially recognized prior to the entry
31 December next following the harvest . However, the Directive 92 / 74 / EEC of 22 September
1993 / 94 harvest was the first to which this scheme applied, scope of Directive 81 / 851 / EEC on
and certain Member States, especially Spain, had trouble provisions laid down by law,
meeting this deadline ; in particular, the administrative action relating to veterinary medicinal
checks on the eligibility of applications took longer than had down additional provisions on
been foreseen . Taking these facts into account, the medicinal products (*), they were
Commission permited a one-off overrun, within reasonable most of the Member States . Given
limits, of the 31 December payment deadline .

Otherwise, as a rule any expenditure under the Guarantee
Section of the EAGGF that is made by a Member State after
the statutory deadline, where no derogation has been

Although homeopathic veterinary medicines were not
officially recognized prior to the entry into force of Council
Directive 92 / 74 / EEC of 22 September 1992 widening the
scope of Directive 81 / 851 / EEC on the approximation of
provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative
action relating to veterinary medicinal products and laying
down additional provisions on homeopathic veterinary
medicinal products (*), they were prescribed and used in
most of the Member States . Given the varying status of
homeopathic medicines in the different Member States, it is
difficult, however, to identify to what extent these medicines
are administered to animals whose flesh or other products
are intended for human consumption . However, in
Germany, France and the Netherlands, homeopathic

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 41

medicines are used to treat animals intended for human

consumption .

The entry into force of Directive 92 / 74 / EEC does not affect
the marketing of veterinary medicinal products placed on
the market before 1 January 1994 . Only medicinal products
in respect of which the application for registration or for
marketing authorization was lodged after 31 December

1993 ( Article 10(2 ) of Directive 92 / 74 / EEC ) are covered by
the provisions of the Directive . The Commission is not
aware whether and to what extent Member States intend to

introduce legislation along the same lines as the Directive to
cover products already on the market . Their doing so would
presumably rule out establishing the existence of a handicap
to organic farming sufficient to justify amending a Directive
that was recently adopted unanimously .

(!) OJ No L 317, 6 . 11 . 1981 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-283 / 94

by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 79

Subject : Commission negotiations with MITI about
voluntary restraint

The Commission 's volume negotiations for 1993 were not
concluded until the end of March, making it very difficult
for the European automobile industry to plan .

Can the Commission state when its 1994 forecasts will be

available and why, since the Elements of Consensus call for
twice yearly consultations, a forecast was not made after the
autumn consultation last year ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

Pursuant to the automobile arrangement of July 1991
between the Community and Japan, regular consultations
take place between the Commission and the Japanese
Ministry of Industry and International trade ( MITI ) to
assess the development of demand and avoid disturbances
on the Community market which may result from the
Japanese exports of cars and light commercial vehicles

below 5 tons .

To this end and in order for the demand forecasts to be as

reliable as possible, the Commission refers in particular to
the demand forecasts of independent consultants specialised

in the automobile industry, to the forecasts established by
the Association of European Car Manufacturers and to
official results registered in the previous year ; the latter are
however available only around February or March of the
following year . It is therefore appropriate that MITI and the
Commission conclude the consultations at that time of the

year .

If actual demand diverges significantly from the agreed
demand forecast, as in 1993, then the arrangement is
sufficiently flexible so that adaptations can be made to
adjust the export forecasts to the new demand estimates in
that year . As the Honourable Member is aware, MITI and
the Commission held consultations in July and September

1993 to adapt the export forecasts of 1993 to the unforeseen
slump in demand .

Regarding 1994, the Commission is pleased to inform the
Honourable Member that the consultations for 1994 were
concluded on 19 March and that the forecast of exports
were estimated at the level of 984 000 units ( against
980 000 in 1993 ) and that demand has been estimated to
increase by 2 % to reach the level of 1 1 974 million units in

1994 . The Commission will continue to ensure the

arrangment is applied in conformity with all its objectives
and in particular with the need to avoid disturbances on the
market which would result from the Japanese exports and
hinder the adaptation efforts undertaken by the Community
industry in a market which, in 1994, is still at a very low
level .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 15 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 80

Subject : Access of steel undertakings to the social aids

scheme

Will the Commission allow steel undertakings which have
reduced ( or intend to reduce ) their production capacity to
have access to the social aids scheme which it has drawn up,
without incurring any obligation as regards the overall
restructuring programme ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

As stipulated in Article 56 of the ECSC Treaty, the
programmes of accompanying social support for
restructuring measures within the steel industry are
generally entitled to assistance when they are related to a
reduction in capacity or a change of activity . In this case, the

No C 376 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

ECSC assists with the so-called ' traditional ' aids under
bilateral agreements signed by the Commission and the
Member States . The forms of assistance which are included
in the ' social measures for the steel industry ' (*) and which
supplement this traditional form of aid can only be granted
for programmes of accompanying social support which
result solely from the capacity reduction measures
introduced by the Community plan for strengthening the
competitiveness of steel undertakings .

Thus, in as far as the written question refers to assistance
under the social measures for the steel industry, such
assistance can only be granted to workers who have been
affected by capacity reductions which occurred in the period

1993-1995 .

propose special measures for any particular profession
unless experience shows that, because of the distinctive
features of the profession, the general system referred to
above is unable to achieve effective freedom of movement

for those concerned . Moreover, the principle and essential
elements of any measures proposed would have to meet with
a sufficient degree of consensus among those concerned in
all Member States and among the Member States
themselves .

Accordingly, if access to the profession of osteopath is
regulated in the host Member State and requires, among
other things, possession of a higher-education diploma
awarded on completion of training of at least three years '
duration, the provisions of Directive 89 / 48 / EEC will
apply .

In both cases, applications for assistance are submitted by
the Member States which must first of all apraise how the This being the case, if the exercise of osteopathy is reserved
capacity reduction programmes and the social measures are in the host Member State for those possessing a medical
connected . They also ensure that a compensatory amount, diploma, the migrant will have to be in possession of
which is at least equivalent to the amount of aid granted by qualifications satisfying the minimum training criteria laid
the ECSC, is paid by the national public authority . down in Directive 93 / 16 / EEC ( 3 ) in order to practise his

profession in that Member State .
0 ) OJ No C 146, 26 . 5 . 1993 .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 17 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 19 / 94

( 28 February 1994 ) by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

( 94 / C 376 / 81 ) to the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

Subject : Training standards for osteopaths ( 94 / C 376 / 82

Given that osteopathy is a branch of health care with a
scientific basis whose value as a form of therapy is well
established and given that practioners must meet certain
recognized training standards, does the Commission intend
to examine the possibility of submitting a proposal for a
Directive laying down minimum training standards for
osteopaths and rules governing the practice of osteopathy in
those Member States in which it is permitted ?

Subject : Uniform Community information system on
aquatic resources

the possibility of submitting a proposal for a Given that there is no harmonized system of information on
laying down minimum training standards for aquatic resources in the Member States of the Community,
and rules governing the practice of osteopathy in does the Commission intend to establish a uniform
States in which it is permitted ? Community information system which will allow

qualitative and quantitative data regarding the aquatic
resources to be gathered and compared at Community
level ?
Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archiran

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission would recall its general position on (6 May 1994 )
recognition of diplomas, with the general system introduced
by Directives 89 / 48 / EEC ( x ) and 92 / 51 / EEC ( 2 ), which lay
down arrangements for the recognition of diplomas without In the framework of a number of
any coordination of training and without any demarcation decisions concerning improvement
of the field of professional activity, being preferred to a waters and reduction of pollution
sectoral, profession-by-profession approach . are already obligations to report

Generally speaking, the Commission, as it has already
indicated for other professions, has no plans therefore to

In the framework of a number of Council Directives and

decisions concerning improvement of the quality of natural
waters and reduction of pollution from certain sources there
are already obligations to report water quality data to the
Commission on a harmonized basis . Reports based on these
data are normally published by the Commission at regular
intervals . The adoption of Council Directive 91 / 692 / EEC

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 43

standardizing and rationalizing reports on the
implementation of certain Directives relating to the
environment C ) will improve further the basis for the
production of such reports on a Community scale .

The further needs for systems of information and for data,
including quantitative data relating to water resources, will
be considered in the follow-up of Council resolution of
25 February 1992 concerning the future Community policy
on groundwater ( 2 ) and of the Report to the European
Council concerning the adaptation of existing legislation to
the principle of subsidiarity ( 3 ).

(M OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 59, 6 . 3 . 1992 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 545 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-321 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 83 )

Subject : Management of aquatic resources

Does the Commission intend to take the necessary measures
to ensure that the respective water requirements of
agriculture, tourism and industry are met and to enable
Community policies aimed at promoting the use of water
saving technologies and protection aquatic resources from
pollution due to the above activities to be implemented ?

The Commission has started the work required to establish
the action programme . This, and the revision of the
Directive, will support sustainable water management .

(!) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 26 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 222, 14 . 8 . 1978, p . 1 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 281, 10 . 11 . 1979, p . 47 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 59, 6 . 3 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-326 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 84

Subject : Establishment of a European maritime service to

protect the natural heritage of the
Mediterranean

Does the Commission intend to support the establishment
of a European maritime service to protect the natural
heritage of the Mediterranean and to coordinate the
activities of the bodies pursuing this ojective in more than
one Mediterranean State ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

At present, the Commission does not plan to set up a
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas European maritime service .

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Council Directives 75 / 440 / EEC ' surface water for
drinking ' (*) 78 / 659 / EEC ' freshwater for fish ' ( 2 ) and
79 / 923 / EEC ' shellfish waters ' ( 3 ) lay down requirements to
ensure good quality of surface water .

Moreover, in its resolution of 25 February 1992 on the
future Community groundwater policy ( 4 ) the Council
called upon the Commission :

— to submit ... a detailed action programme . . .

— to draft a proposal for revising Council Directive

80 / 68 / EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of
groundwater against pollution caused by certain
dangerous substances by incorporating it into a general
freshwater management policy, including freshwater
protection .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-334 / 94

by Reimer Boge ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

94 / C 376 / 85 )

Subject : The GATT deal and the CAP : allocation of

henceforth restricted subsidized agricultural

exports

The agreement in principle reached in December 1993 on
the GATT included a 21 % reduction in subsidized exports
of agricultural products .

No C 376 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

1 . For which product sectors ( particularly processed
products ) does the Commission consider that it will still
be necessary to export amounts in excess of the reduced
volume of subsidized exports, thereby starting a
scramble for the right to make such exports ?

2 . How and by what mechanisms does the Commission

intend to ensure that the reduced volume of subsidized

exports will be shared out fairly and evenly among the
individual Member States and traders ?

3 . Will the Commission also indicate when and for which

product sectors such arrangements will be introduced,
so that hiatuses and disruptions in export operations can
be avoided ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-337 / 94

by John McCartin ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 86 )

Subject : Fisheries control and protection

Commission Document SEC(90 ) 2244 provides a table
showing the resources available to Member States for
fisheries control and protection ( number of shore inspection
personnel, number of inspection vessels, number of days
inspection at sea, number of aircraft used in aerial
surveillance, number of hours spent annually in aerial
surveillance ). Will the Commission provide statistics
showing the up to date position for these fisheries control
resources for each Member State ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )
1 . In the light of the agreement of principle arrived at in
December 1993, certain disciplines ( which have already
been published ) will in future apply in the field of export
subsidies . When finalizing its proposals to implement the Since publication of the data cited by the Honourable
new disciplines on subsidized exports, including processed Member there has been a steady improvement including, in
products, the Commission will envisage as part of its some cases, re-organization of the national services dealing
proposals to Council and Parliament, management with fisheries control in the Member States .
procedures intended to preclude the sort of risks referred to
by the Honourable Member .

2 . These proposals will address the issue of continued
fair access to subsidies for exporters .

3 . At this stage, before a full public debate has taken
place, it is not possible to indicate which product sectors
might require the implementation of such additional

arrangements .

Material for fisheries monitoring and control has been
acquired or modernized with the aid of Community
contributions of up to 50 % of expenditure incurred by the
Member States under Council Decision 89 / 631 / EEC (*).

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2847 / 93 ( 2 ) which entered
into force on 1 January provides a completely new
integrated and expanded control regime applicable to the
common fisheries policy . Article 35 of this Regulation
requires Member States to transmit to the Commission
before 1 June each year a report containing an assessment of
the technical and human resources used in applying the
Regulation . The Commission will publish annually a report,
based upon its own observations and the reports submitted
by the Member States, which will contain the information
sought in the Honourable Member 's question . Since the
Member States ' reports will cover the application of the new
regime over the previous calendar year respectively, the first
annual report of the Commission will, however, not be
available before the end of 1995 .

The Commission would like to take this opportunity to Regulation . The Commission
re-iterate that such problems are not new and they have been based upon its own
addressed and resolved as and when required . The by the Member States, which
implementation of a new set of commitments requires an sought in the Honourable
exhaustive review of the potential difficulties in order to Member States ' reports will
deal with them equitably . This process has been started regime over the previous
notably by inviting the appropriate trade associations to annual report of
submit comments and suggestions . In view of the diversity available before the end of
and the complexity of the potential difficulties not all such
associations have yet been able to make such
submissions . (!) OJ No L 364, 14 . 12 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 261, 20 . 10 . 1993 .

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 45

WRITTEN QUESTION E-344 / 94

by Simone Martin ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 87 )

Subject : Organic farming and set-aside

Some organic farmers who follow a set of rules ( Regulation
( EEC ) No 2092 / 91 (*)) in the belief that they are conforming
with the new CAP requirements ( particularly low yields and
high quality products ) feel that they are seriously
disadvantaged by being subject to the same set - aside rules as
other producers .

Will the Commission take account of the constraints to

which producers are subjected under the above
Regulation ?

respect of an area not exceeding that required to produce 92
tonnes of cereals . In this context, producers may opt for the
simplified arrangements which impose no set-aside
obligation .

Moreover, in certain circumstances producers may arrange
for their set-aside obligation to be fulfilled by another
farmer under certain conditions laid down in the

Community rules and may thus cultivate their entire
holding .

(!) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-382 / 94

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission
(!) OJ No L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991, p . 1 .

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 88 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission has already taken account of the
constraints imposed on producers who have adopted
production methods which respect and conserve the
environment by proposing that the Council adopt
Regulations including provisions to this effect . The Council
has adopted those proposals . Thus, farmers who meet their
set-aside obligations or who adopt environmentally-friendly
farming methods receive compensatory payments or aid to
offset the loss of income they incur . They are therefore not
penalized for having complied with Community rules

( Regulations ( EEC ) No 1765 / 92 ( x ) and ( EEC )
No 2078 / 92 ( 2 )).

In the case of organic farming pursuant to Regulation ( EEC )
No 2092 / 91, producers may receive the aid for organic
farming provided for in the measures accompanying the
reform of the common agricultural policy ( Regulation

( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 ).

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 provides for per-hectare aid
for farmers who undertake, in particular, to substantially
reduce the use of fertilizers or plant protection products or
to maintain reductions already made or to introduce or
maintain organic farming methods . Aid worth ECU 150 per
hectare can be granted for annual crops in respect of which a
per-hectare premium is granted under the market
organizations . This aid can therefore be received in addition
to the per-hectare aid received under other rules for arable
crops as part of the reform .

In addition, farmers may, in certain cases, be treated as small
producers if they apply for compensatory payments in

Subject : Summertime

Does the Commission intend conducting further and more
detailed studies on the likely effects of the harmonization of
summertime ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

In the light of certain amendments adopted by Parliament at
first reading, the Council 's common position of 4 March

1994 amended the proposal for a seventh Directive on
summertime - These amendments concerned the period of
validity of the Directive, reduced to three years instead of
four as initially proposed, and the length of the transitional
period, restricted to a single year, 1995 .

At its session of 22 April 1994 Parliament approved the
Council 's common position . On that occasion the
Commission undertook to study in detail the economic and
non-economic repercussions of switching to summertime
and back, and the application of summertime as such . The
Commission also undertook to report to Parliament and the
Council on this matter before 1 January 1996 .

For details of the areas to be studied in detail, the
Honourable Member should consult the record of the

plenary session concerned, which gives the Commission 's
statement in full .

No C 376 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 12 . 94

QUESTION E-383 / 94 The Commission is participating financially in the

Winifred Ewing ( ARE ) implementation of the Fifth Action Programme for the

to the Commission environment and is therefore supporting a set of measures
designed to protect it .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-383 / 94

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 89 (!) OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 .

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

( 3 ) OJ No L 375, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

Subject : North sea quality status report

The North Sea Quality Status Report states that ' persistent
organics have been found all over the North Sea in water,
sediments and animals indicating that the whole area is
contaminated '. This report, drawn up by government
scientists from Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, the
Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, sites PCBs,
nitrogen discharges, pesticides ( such as lindane, atrazine and
dichlorvos ) and TBT as the main pollution culprits .

As all of these pollutants are being illegally dumped into the
North Sea will the Commission make an urgent
commitment to enforce strict penalties on polluters and
contribute financially towards improved policing
methods ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

According to the report by the North Sea Task Force, the
substances mentioned by the Honourable Member are
present in the marine environment in variable amounts
depending on the measurement point and the distance from
the sources of pollution ; they come from the atmosphere,
rivers and direct discharges into the Atlantic . It is the
responsibility of the contracting parties to the Oslo
Convention of 1972 concerning dumping to ensure that the
various provisions are complied with when dumping is
carried out .

At the interim ministerial conference held in Copenhagen on
7 and 8 December 1993 in preparation for the Fourth
International Conference on the Protection of the North

Sea, Ministers agreed to take all the necessary measures to
bring about a significant reduction, by the year 2000, in
discharges of substances which are toxic, persistent and
bio-accumulable to levels which are not dangerous for
human beings or the environment .

In addition, all the relevant Community legislation,
in particular Directives 76 / 464 / EEC (*) on dangerous
substances, 91 / 271 / EEC ( 2 ) on urban waste water and
91 / 676 / EEC ( 3 ) on the pollution of water by nitrates,
provides for the prevention, reduction or elimination of
pollution from land-based sources caused by the substances
in question .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that it does not have the authority to enforce penalties on the
polluters .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-384 / 94

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 376 / 90 )

Subject : Circulation of feed materials

Is the Commission aware that its proposals for a Directive
on the Circulation of Feed Materials will destroy a very
satisfactory arrangement whereby Scotch whisky distillers
supply local farmers with their wet malted barley waste as
cattle feed ?

If the Commission 's strict proposals on labelling are
enforced in this area they will make this food product too
expensive to package and therefore deny farmers of a
nutritious food source for their cattle and also deprive
distillers of a useful and environmentally friendly waste
disposal system .

Will the Commission make allowances for this very
cost-effective and mutually beneficial arrangement and
exempt this malted barley feed from labelling controls ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission has recently been informed by the United
Kingdom that the envisaged proposal for a Directive on the
circulation of feed materials might cause a problem in the
supply to local farmers for animal nutrition of wet distillers '
grain from scotch whisky distillers because of a proposed
moisture / constituent / net weight-declaration .

It is thought that this concerns a more general problem
relating to the delivery of moist by-products of agricultural
processing industries in the same vicinity . The Commission
is willing to examine this problem, together with experts
from Member States on the basis of relevant technical and

30 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 376 / 47

logistical data and to take appropriate steps to resolve it .
However, it should be borne in mind that the proposed
legislation on the circulation of feed materials is aimed at
ensuring sufficient transparency in the feed chain, in
particular by providing adequate and appropriate
information on the quality of these products to end users
and farmers .

The question was therefore not whether the Commission
would take steps to harmonize environmental standards
concerning noise pollution but when it would do so .

1 . Will the Commission in future answer the questions
tabled rather than questions which have not been
tabled ?

2 . When will the Commission take steps to harmonize

environmental standards concerning noise pollution ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-394 / 94 (!) OJ No C 240, 29 . 8 . 1994, p . 7 .

by Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 March 1994 ) Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission
( 94 / C 376 / 91 )

(5 May 1994 )

Subject : Unsatisfactory answer to Question No 1500 / 93

concerning noise pollution from aerodromes

The reply to my Written Question No 1500 / 93 ( 1 ) is
unsatisfactory .

I was aware that the Commission realized that areas around

airports must be adequately protected against the increases
in noise pollution resulting from the growth of air traffic . I
was also aware that the introduction of a standard method

of calculating exposure to noise and of standard indices for
exposure to noise was therefore among the priorities of the
common transport policy .

1 . The Commission will always endeavour to give
concise and accurate replies to parliamentary questions,
within the limits of the information that is readily available
at the time .

2 . Although the preparatory work for such initiatives has
already started, it is difficult to put forward a precise
time-schedule for a formal presentation by the Commission
in this area . It should be noted however that measures are

not envisaged within the context of the 1994 legislative

programme .