Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 179
# Official Journal

Volume 38

### of the European Communities

###### Information and Notices

English edition

13 July 1995

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

95 / C 179 / 01 E-2464 / 94 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Contracts for small and medium-sized undertakings 1

95 / C 179 / 02 E-2581 / 94 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of public health from dangerous epidemics 2

95 / C 179 / 03 E-2687 / 94 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Thessaloniki International Trade Fair 3

95 / C 179 / 04 E-2794 / 94 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject : Early retirement from fishing 3

95 / C 179 / 05 E-2834 / 94 by Jessica Larive to the Council
Subject : Official languages and working languages of the European Union 4

95 / C 179 / 06 E-210 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Council's position on the proposal to restrict the number of working languages in the
European institutions 4

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2834 / 94 and E-210 / 95 4

95 / C 179 / 07 E-18 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Extermination of the protected species Canis lupus ( wolf ) in Greece 4

95 / C 179 / 08 E-84 / 95 by José Valverde Lopez to the Council
Subject : Development of the role of the ECU 5

95 / C 179 / 09 E - 1 22 / 95 by Otto von Habsburg to the Commission
Subject : Standardization of clothing and shoe sizes 6

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Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-l 39 / 95 by José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Laying up of fishing vessels, Portugal 1994

E - 1 43 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Tourism and older people

E - 1 66 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Funding for the high-speed rail network

E - 1 67 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Reform of the common organization of the market in wine

E - 1 8 8 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Protection of alcoholic products

Joint answer to Written Questions E-167 / 95 and E-l 88 / 95

E-168 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Classification of agricultural spending as non-compulsory expenditure . . .

E - 1 71 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : by Regional gastronomy competition

E-173 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Options to support small businesses

E - 1 77 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council

Subject : Regional policy

E-l 83 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Monetary Union

E-l 85 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Protection of European wetlands

E-l 87 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Promotion of agricultural production for uses other than food

E-219 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Sharing of responsibilities between the Commission and Council
negotiations

E-265 / 95 by Edward Kellett-Bowman to the Commission
Subject : EC legislation regarding abattoirs

E-274 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Central transmission units for mobile telephones and public health

E-294 / 95 by José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Aid for producer organizations in the citrus fruit sector

E-304 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Council
Subject : Lawnmowers

E-305 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Council
Subject : TAC cuts

E-306 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Council
Subject : Plant-protection patents

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E-315 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini and Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of North Sea pollution 14

E-340 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Natural disaster caused by flooding in regions of Greece 14

P-357 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Register of Commissioner's interests 15

E-358 / 95 by Mathias Reichhold to the Commission
Subject : Registration of base areas in Austria 15

E-371 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Noise pollution from motorways 15

E-372 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Abolition of the obligation to draw up environmental impact assessments in respect of
every type of tourist facility in Greece 16

E-380 / 95 by Jannis Sakellariou to the Commission
Subject : Environmental impact assessment for the construction of a reservoir compressor station
for a natural gas underground reservoir 17

E-3 84 / 95 by Fausto Bertinotti to the Commission
Subject : Construction project in the Tor Carbone area, Rome 17

P-386 / 95 by Lilli Gyldenkilde to the Commission
Subject : Oestrogen substitutes 18

E-394 / 95 by Giulio Fantuzzi to the Commission
Subject : Cordless telephones 18

E-395 / 95 by José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Pesca Community initiative — outermost regions 19

E-400 / 95 by Jens-Peter Bonde to the Commission

Subject : Measure to promote transparency 20

E-409 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission
Subject : Schengen Agreement and frontier checks 20

E-410 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission
Subject : EU appropriations for the Dornbirn district in the Austrian Land of Vorarlberg .... 21

E-424 / 95 by Hugh Kerr to the Commission
Subject : VAT on sports clubs 21

E-427 / 95 by Richard Balfe and Shaun Spiers to the Commission
Subject : Millennium budget 22

E-434 / 95 by Sérgio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Expo ' 98 and the granting of a dispensation from environmental impact studies and
assessment 22

E-444 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Travel and tourism and the IGC 22

E-445 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : UK Objective 3, 1994 — 1996 23

E-447 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Manslaughter at work 23

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 179 / 49 E-453 / 95 by Winifred Ewing to the Council
Subject : Scallops from Scotland 24

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E-464 / 95 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Proposed new system for establishing the Community nature of transported goods . . 24

E-466 / 95 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Agreements regulating the employment of the Belgian contingent of seamen sailing under
the flag of Luxembourg 25

E-469 / 95 by Gipo Farassino to the Commission
Subject : Measures to assist European beekeepers 25

E-470 / 95 by Gipo Farassino to the Commission
Subject : Application of different VAT rates for livestock production in the Member States of the
European Union 26

E-473 / 95 by Mikko Rönnholm and Reynoldh Furustrand to the Commission
Subject : The application of weights and dimensions of heavy goods vehicles to sparsely populated
Member States 27

E-485 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Discriminatory advertising in Belgium 28

E-488 / 95 by Robin Teverson to the Commission
Subject : Directive 88 / 166 / EEC on battery cage regulations and construction 28

95 / C 179 / 57 E-489 / 95 by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza to the Commission
Subject : Sustainable tourism 28

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E-498 / 95 by Fausto Bertinotti to the Commission
Subject : Health of air passengers 29

E-501 / 95 by Carmen Fraga Estévez to the Commission
Subject : NAFO Scientific and Technical Committee 29

E-507 / 95 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : JRC Environment Institute 30

E-508 / 95 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Public awareness of biotechnological issues 30

E-51 1 / 95 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission

Subject : Food allergies 31

95 / C 179 / 63 E-518 / 95 by James Janssen van Raay to the Commission
Subject : Europe Agreements 31

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E-527 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the ITTO recommendations regarding sustainable forest management
in Sarawak 32

E-528 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Imports of endangered species 32

E-538 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Penalties for parking offences 33

E-541 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission

Subject : Machine tools 34

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 C 179 / 68 - E-545 / 95 by Frank Vanhecke to the Commission
Subject : Language use 34

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E-546 / 95 by Karel Dillen to the Commission
Subject : Language use in official notices to staff of the European Commission 35

E-548 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Career advancement of EC officials 35

E-559 / 95 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Withdrawal of nuclear materials from safeguards 35

E-563 / 95 by Richard Howitt to the Commission

Subject : EU project in Paraguay 36

95 / C 179 / 73 E-564 / 95 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Sanctions imposed under Euratom 36

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E-565 / 95 by Nuala Ahern to the Commission
Subject : Uranium — full public information on nuclear fuel chain 37

E-575 / 95 by Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Sheltered employment 38

E-581 / 95 by Concepcio Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Operational programmes on employment and the development of human resources . . 38

E-582 / 95 by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza to the Commission
Subject : Inspection and maintenance of air-conditioning systems 39

E-5 84 / 95 by Gerardo Fernandez - Albor to the Commission
Subject : Promotion of an entrepreneurial spirit among the young 39

E-586 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental impact assessment with references to sand-blasting operations in Syros 40

E-591 / 95 by James Elles to the Commission
Subject : Coordination of national social security schemes 40

E-5 92 / 95 by Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Packaging and packaging waste 41

E-598 / 95 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Excluded sectors from the working time Directive 93 / 104 / EC — Doctors in training 41

E-603 / 95 by Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : Stage reached in negotiations on the new EU-Tunisia agreement 42

E-604 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject :. Environmental impact of electrical losses 42

E-613 / 95 by Salvador Garriga Polledo to the Commission
Subject : Spanish projects covered by the Cohesion Fund 43

E-615 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Imposition of fines in the cement sector 43

E-616 / 95 by Giulio Fantuzzi to the Commission
Subject : Tax on polyethylene levied under Italian law 43

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 179 / 88 E-626 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : EU information technology expenditure and procurement policy 44

95 / C 179 / 89 E-629 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject : Green petrol 44

95 / C 179 / 90 E-631 / 95 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Compétition policy 45

95 / C 179 / 91

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E-634 / 95 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Transport of foodstuffs 46

E-639 / 95 by Jannis Sakellariou to the Commission
Subject : Covering on the neck of sparkling wine bottles 46

E-650 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Chart of asbestos risks in Italy 47

E-651 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Presence of lead in hot-food containers 47

E-658 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Possible issue of European bonds to fund trans-European network projects 48

E-661 / 95 by Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Tropical forests budget line 48

E-727 / 95 by Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : Measures to promote peace and improve security in the Maghreb 49

E-729 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ): projects in Malaga 49

E-742 / 95 by Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : The increasing economic and social imbalance between the north and south shores of the
Mediterranean 50

E-747 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Results of Community actions aimed at improving pastureland 50

E-751 / 95 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : The use of Dutch as an official language in the European Union 51

P-756 / 95 by José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Commission charged by the Portuguese authorities on Community structural aid to
farmers ( EAGGF Guidance Section ) 51

E-763 / 95 by Christa Randzio-Plath to the Commission

Subject : EC aid for Hamburg 52

95 / C 179 / 104 E-774 / 95 by Eryl McNally to the Commission
Subject : Ban on mahogany imports 52

95 / C 179 / 105 E-779 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Transatlantic conference 53

95 / C 179 / 106

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E-803 / 95 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Vegetarians and vegans 53

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-806 / 95 by Fernand Herman to the Commission
Subject : Termination of contract 53

E-808 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Magnetic radiation and radio and TV aerials 54

P-810 / 95 by Marie-France Stirbois to the Commission
Subject : Fraud in DG XXIII 54

E-813 / 95 by Ingo Friedrich to the Commission
Subject : Liberalization of cabotage in Germany 55

P-823 / 95 by Carlos Robies Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Failure to comply with Directive 80 / 778 / EEC [ of the municipal authorities of Fuengirola

( Malaga )] 55

P-824 / 95 by Ioannis Theonas to the Commission
Subject : Persecution of Turkish intellectuals 56

E-839 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : UK cancellation of wave power research 56

E-841 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : European pensioners ' travel pass 57

E-849 / 95 by José Valverde Lôpez to the Commission
Subject : Studies concerning problems relating to world environmental trends 57

P-860 / 95 by Susan Waddington to the Commission
Subject : Breast cancer and the pesticide ' Lindane ' 57

E-861 / 95 by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt to the Commission
Subject : Aid for Berlin 58

E-865 / 95 by Barbara Diihrkop Duhrkop to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of the status of au pairs in the European Union 58

E-913 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Assessment of the impact of the Social Charter adopted in 1989 59

E-926 / 95 by Sérgio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Delays in payments for a training course financed by the European Social Fund 59

P-927 / 95 by Roy Perry to the Commission
Subject : Consultation process for the GSP 60

P-928 / 95 by Shaun Spiers to the Commission
Subject : Waste incinération 60

P-930 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Protection of hamsters in the Netherland 61

E-950 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Protection of hamsters in Limburg 61

P-952 / 95 by Pat Gallagher to the Commission
Subject : Dumping of polyester filament yarn 62

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) i - age

95 / C 179 / 126 P-983 / 95 by Dominique Baudis to the Commission
Subject : The footwear industry 62

95 / C 179 / 127 E-999 / 95 by Hugh Kerr to the Commission
Subject : Misuse of EU funding in South-East Asia 63

95 / C 179 / 128 P-1054 / 95 by Graham Watson to the Commission
Subject : European Union aid to the Panam County Integrated Rural Development Project ... 63

95 / C 179 / 129 P-1223 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Scuttling of de-commissioned off-shore platform 64

95 / C 179 / 130 P - 13 15 / 95 by Fernando Fernandez Martin to the Commission
Subject : Reasons for the delay in the completion of the access route to Santa Cruz de Tenerife 64

###### EN

13 . 7 . 95 KN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 1 79 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2464 / 94

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 30 November 1994 )

( 95 / C 179 / 01 )

Subject : Contracts for small and medium-sized
undertakings

In the building sector many Member States laid down
complex bureaucratic regulations which in effect impede
freedom of competition and intra-Community trade .

In practice it is impossible for an undertaking to draw up a
contract in a Member State if it does not have its head office

in that country . Also, the threshold for publication of an
invitation to tender in the Official Journal is too high to
allow some SMUs to take part . Furthermore, rigorous
selection criteria are laid down before contracts are

awarded .

Does the Commission not consider that the laws in force

should be revised in order to streamline procedures and
measures taken to make it easier for SMUs to bid for

contracts ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the difficulties which small

businesses in the building sector encounter in concluding
public procurement contracts .

These difficulties have already been identified in a number of
communications from the Commission, such as :

' Public procurement : regional and social aspects ' (');

' Promoting SME participation in public procurement in the
Community ' ( 2 );

' SME participation in public procurement in the
Community ' (').

It is still particularly difficult for SMEs to participate in
European public procurement contracts : the specifications
have to be paid for, documents have to be translated, the
technical standards ot the country concerned have to be
complied with if there are no European standards, a ten-year
guarantee has to be given and after-sales service provided,
financial guarantees have to be obtained, quality assurance
has to be provided, a business partner may have to be found,
etc . Only SMEs which specialize in the field concerned and
which have a thorough knowledge of the markets of another
Member State stand a real chance of winning a contract .

However, Member States can now also publish public
procurement contracts below the official thresholds laid
down in the Directives on public procurement contracts .

In this connection, the Commission does not consider that
extending the rules in rhe European Directives to all public
procurement contracts, irrespective of value, is in itself likely
to solve the difficulties .

A number of measures have already been drawn up by the
Commission, such as, for example, a recommendation on
payment periods, which was adopted on 30 November

1994 .

In addition, the Commission intends to forward to the
Council in the near future a report on measures to make it
easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate

No C 179 / 2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

in public procurement contracts . This report, which has Answer given by Mr Fischler
been drawn up inter alia in response to a Parliament on behalf of the Commission
resolution ( A3-0123 / 93 of 3 December 1993 ), will deal with (9 March 1995 )
the particular problems facing small and medium-sized
enterprises, and will propose appropriate solutions .

(') COM(89 ) 400 final . OJ No C 31 1, 12 . 12 . 1989 .
(-) COM(90 ) 166 .

(■') SEQ92 ) 722 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2581 / 94

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(5 December 1994 )

Cholera is an endemic disease that exists in many parts of
the world including the regions around the Mediterranean
basin . An epidemic outbreak occurred there in August 1994
and, according to the World Health Organization, was over
in November of the same year . According to the WHO, it is
extremely rare for cholera to be transmitted from one
country to another by food imports marketed under normal
conditions, except in the case of live bivalve molluscs . The
disease is propagated chiefly by travellers, healthy bearers of
the disease who have no symptoms themselves .

( 95 / C 179 / 02 ) The very existence of the single market which allows the free
movement of animals and foodstuffs is based on the

guarantee of strict checks on production, i.e . at the point of

public health from dangerous departure of the livestock or products . However, if such

guarantees are not held to, the Commission has the right to
adopt safeguard clauses, to suspend imports or subject
them to special conditions ( Directives 89 / 662 / EEC ('),

admitted that there have been cases of

90 / 675 / EEC ( 2 ) and 93 / 43 / EEC (')). Such measures are

and the European Union has imposed
and plant products from that immediately followed by an on-the-spot visit by
1 995 . There have also been Commission experts to assess the situation and report to the
and a number of deaths from Member States meeting in a standing committee, which then

gives its opinion on extending, amending or repealing those

but no official statements have been

measures .

Subject : Protection of public health from dangerous
epidemics

Albania has officially admitted that there have been cases of
cholera on its territory and the European Union has imposed
a ban on imports of animal and plant products from that
country until 15 January 1 995 . There have also been
accounts of a cholera outbreak and a number of deaths from

the disease in Turkey, but no official statements have been
issued on this subject and the European Union has been
unable to take any countermeasures . Italy has taken
national measures to combat cholera after its appearance on
Italian soil and notified the Commission that cholera had
spread from Albania . There are also reports that cuttlefish
contaminated by cholera have been on sale in Milan .

Will the Commission say :

— Does it not agree that, because of the way the internal

market functions, contaminated plant and animal
products from Italy can be exported without any
restrictions to other markets in the European Union ?

— Does it not agree also that the only way to protect the

internal market from the spread of dangerous diseases is
by taking immediate measures to ban exports of certain
substances from Member States where outbreaks occur,
as recently happened in the case of the outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease in Greece ?

— Why did it fail to take immediate measures of this kind in

the case of the cholera outbreak in Italy ?

— What action does it intend to take to enable the

European Union or the World Health Organization
immediately to investigate incidents such as the reports
of a cholera outbreak in Turkey, so that emergency
measures can be taken to prevent the spread of epidemics
and dangerous diseases ?

In the case of Albania, the measures banning the import of
fishery products and certain plant products were adopted by
the Commission on 20 September 1994 . Following a
mission of Commission and Italian experts to study on the
spot the supervision methods set up by the Albanian
authorities to guarantee freedom from contamination by
cholera, the ban was lifted for fruit and vegetables and
maintained for bivalve molluscs and live fish and

crustaceans transported in water, while specific conditions

for the import of fishery products were adopted pursuant to
Directive 91 / 493 / EEC ( 4 ).

The Commission also studied the measures taken by the
Italian authorities following the appearance of cases of
cholera in Bari . The measures were judged by the Standing
Veterinary Committee to be adequate to ensure that
no contaminated products could move within the
Community .

Finally, the sporadic occurrences of cholera in Turkey do
not justify the WHO declaring an epidemic, nor is such a
declaration justified by international health regulations .
However, imports of live or frozen bivalve molluscs
originating in Turkey are only authorized where they come
from one of six geographically defined areas in which
Commission experts have established by on-the-spot-checks

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 3

that the inspections by the Turkish authorities fulfil the
requirements of Directive 91 / 492 / EEC ( 4 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2794 / 94

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )

to the Commission
(') OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1990 . ( 11 March 1 99 S )
(') OJ No L 175, 19 . 7 . 1993 . 95 / C 179 / 04 )

( 4 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991 .

Subject : Early retirement from tishing

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687 / 94

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 16 December 1994 )

( 95 / C 179 / 03 )

Subject : Thessaloniki International Trade Fair

It is rumoured that the Commission considers that the

Thessaloniki International Trade Fair has a monopoly on
international trade fairs in Greece and that consequently
there is discrimination between national and non-national

companies in breach of Articles 52 and 59 of the Treaty .

Will the Commission confirm that rumour ?

What are its specific legal arguments ?

What is Greece's answer ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 199 S )

The Commission considers generally that barriers impeding
access to or exercise of the business of organizing trade fairs
and exhibitions are contrary to the fundamental principles
of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services
within the single market as enshrined in Articles 52 and 59
respectively of the EC Treaty .

In accordance with the case-law of the Court of Justice,
bodies of the type referred to in the Honourable Member's
question which have been granted special or exclusive rights
to organize one or more trade fairs or exhibitions on the
territory of a Member State are still bound to fulfil the
obligations resulting from these two articles of the Treaty .
This implies that restrictions which are not justified by
pressing reasons of public interest or are disproportionate
are incompatible with the Treaty .

The Commission is currently carrying out a detailed study of
the content of Greek legislation on the organization of trade
fairs and exhibitions, and will pursue contacts initiated
previously with the national authorities . If necessary, it will
initiate the procedure provided for in Article 169 of the EC
Treaty .

The great challenge facing the European fishing industry
means that it needs to undergo a serious process of
adjustment to the new market conditions ( single European
area, the internationalization of markets, changes in
consumer habits and in the commercial distribution of fish )
and to the new conditions of access to resources . However,
it is very difficult for owners of fishing boats, particularly
the elderly, to respond to the new demands .

The average age of owners of fishing boats and crew
members in family-run businesses is quite high . Recause of
the circumstances described above, there is a need to
promote an influx of new blood into such businesses to help
contribute to their economic re-generation and safeguard
their continuity and viability .

It is particularly difficult for the young to acquire vessels
because of the large investment necessary and the
increasingly stringent terms of credit .

Could the Commission consider the creation of a special
budget item to help young fishermen acquire vessels owned
by older fishermen, enabling the latter to retire early from
fishing, subject to certain specific conditions ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 19 95 j

The Commission regards as vital the introduction at
Community level of a wide variety of supporting measures
to help meet the economic and social consequences of its
common fisheries policv, which may, in the short term, pose
problems . Subject to certain conditions, the Community
should have the capacity to part-finance national schemes
offering early retirement to fishermen and the Commission
intends shortly to propose an amendment to Regulation

( EC ) No 3699 / 93 (') to that end .

' To help meet the social and economic consequences ' means
that Community assistance to permit early retirement
should be closely linked to a measure covering the definitive
withdrawal of a fishing vessel . Such a measure would not,
therefore, be intended to encourage the sale of vessels to
young fishermen .

No C 179 / 4 EN Officiai Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Nor is it intended to introduce a specific budget heading : the Joint answer
financial resources required should be found from the funds to Written Questions E-2834 / 94 and E-210 / 95
already allocated to the financial instrument for fisheries (7 June 1 995 )
guidance ( FIFG ).

C ) O ) No L 346, 31 . 12 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2834 / 94

by Jessica Larive ( ELDR )

to the Council

( 12 January 2 99 S )

( 95 / C 179 / 05 )

Subject : Official languages and working languages of the

European Union

Is the Council aware of the proposal by France's Minister
for European Affairs, Alain Lamassoure, to reduce the
number of official languages of the FLuropean Union to five
core languages, namely English, French, German, Spanish
and Italian ( as reported in the Dutch daily newspaper De
Telegraaf of 15 December 1994 )?

If so, does the Council agree that such a decision :

1, would violate Article 1 of Regulation No 1 ('): ' The
official languages and the working languages of the
institutions of the Community shall be Dutch, French,
German and Italian ' ( extended over the years to a total
of nine official languages ),

2, and would be contrary to the spirit of Article 128 ( 1 ) of
the Maastricht Treaty : ' The Community shall
contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the
Member States, while respecting their national and
regional diversity and at the same time bringing the
common cultural heritage to the fore '?

(') O J No 17, 6 . 10 . 1958, p . 401 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-210 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 Februarv 199 S )

( 95 / C 179 / 06

Subject : Council's position on the proposal to restrict the

number of working languages in the European
institutions

What is the Council's reaction to the proposal to restrict the
number of working languages in the Fairopean institutions
to five ?

The Honourable Members are referred to the reply given by
the Council to her Question H-811 at Question Time on

17 January 1995, when the President-in-Office of the
Council stated, among other things, that :

'(. . .) the French Presidency does not intend to make any
proposal whatsoever concerning the official languages
or the working languages of the Community .'

Consequently, no French proposal regarding linguistic
arrangements is before the Council nor is there any need
therefore to change them . With regard to the second part of
Ms Larive's question, the President of the Council also
stated that :

'(. . .) The only proposal (. . .) made by the French
Presidency for the first half of 1995 was to call on the
Member States (. . .) to draw up (. . .) an agreement
under which each Member State would undertake to

make the teaching of two European foreign languages
compulsory in its national educational system, so as to

facilitate and give long-term encouragement to the
learning of all the European languages by future
generations (. . .). 1

WRITTEN QUESTION E     - 1 8 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 19 January 199 5 )

( 95 / C 179 / 07 )

Subject : F'xtermination of the protected species Canis lupus

( wolf ) in Greece

Under European Union legislation on environmental
protection, the wolf is a protected endangered species

( Council Decision 82 / 72 / F.EC ('), Berne Convention,
Appendix II and Article 6, and Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 ) on
the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and

flora, Article 12 and Annex IV, point ( a )).

Moreover, the European Parliament has consistently called
for national authorities to compensate any livestock farmers
who have suffered losses because of wolves .

The Greek Association for the Protection of Animals and the

Environment claim that the Ministry of Agriculture is about
to publish a decision under which teams of hunters will
exterminate wolves in the region of Elassona in the
prefecture of Larisa because the wolves have caused losses to
livestock farmers in the region . This infringes the established
case-law of the Administrative Court ( Council of State ).
Bearing in mind the above and the fact that the Commission

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 5

requires that a specific and substantial scientific study be
carried out before a species of animal can be classified as
harmful, and that it is necessary to stipulate the methods
used to deal with the species and the conditions under which
it is to be dealt with, what steps has the Commission taken to
ensure that Greece complies with the above provisions of
Community law, and what provision has it made to
compensate population groups for loss caused by protected
species ?

(') OJ No L 38, 10 . 2 . 1982, p . 1 .
C -) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

which will convert the ECU into a real single currency . The
prospects of this led to a considerable development of the
ECU on the international financial markets between 1990

and June 1992 . Following the demagogic debates on
ratification of the Maastricht Treaty notably in Denmark,
the UK and France, the ECU markets were subjected to a
number of speculative onslaughts and the confidence of
agents was seriously affected . The Commission adopted a
White Paper ( EC Bulletin 12-1992 ) on the legal obstacles to
the use of the ECU in the Member States .

What is the Councils assessment of the actions of the

different governments ?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 ) Does the Council intend to promote some solution and
stimulate cooperation between the Member States to inspire
the confidence of agents in the use of the ECU ?

Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora

lays down that Member States may derogate from certain
provisions of that Directive ' to prevent serious damage, in
particular to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water
and other types of property ' provided that there is no
satisfactory alternative and that the derogation is not
detrimental to the maintenance of the populations of the
species concerned at a favourable conservation status in
their natural range . In such circumstances, the Member
States forward to the Commission every two years a report
in accordance with the format established by the Committee
on the derogations applied under paragraph 1 . The
Commission gives its opinion on these derogations within a
maximum time limit of 12 months following receipt of the
report and gives an account to the Committee .

As regards the extermination of the protected species in
question, the Commission has contacted the Greek
authorities to obtain the necessary information . According
to the information communicated, no decision has been
taken on the extermination of wolves in the Elassona region
in Greece . There is, moreover, the possibility of Community
co-financing of compensation for damage caused by wolves
and other protected species of mammals under the LIFE
Regulation provided that such compensation measures
form part of an overall management scheme aimed at the
conservation of the species and its habitat .

Answer

(7 June 1995 )

The task of facilitating the use of the ECU and overseeing its
development is first and foremost the responsibility of the
European Monetary Institute ( Article 109f(2 ) of the
Treaty ), which has to submit regular reports on its
proceedings to the institutions, and in particular to the
European Parliament, as laid down in Article 11 of its
Statute .

For its part, the Council ensured the transparency of
Community law regarding the ECU by adopting, on
22 December 1994, Regulation ( EEC ) No 3320 / 94 (') on
the consolidation of the existing Community legislation on
the definition of the ECU following the entry into force of
the Treaty on European Union .

Moreover, the Council follows with interest the
Commission's activities in this field, in particular further to

QUESTION E-84 / 95 Commission recommendation 94 / 284 / EC of 19 April 1994

concerning the legal treatment of the ECU and of contracts

Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) denominated in ECU in view of the introduction of the

to the Council single European currency ( 2 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-84 / 95

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

(3 February 1995 )

( 9 5 / C 179 / 08 )

C ) OJ No L 350, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 27 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 121, 12 . 5 . 1994, p . 43 .

Subject : Development of the role of the ECU

The Treaty on European Union establishes that 1999 at the

latest will see the beginning of the third stage of the EMU,

No C 179 / 6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-122 / 95

by Otto von Habsburg ( PPE )

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission (8 March 1995 )

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 09 ) Adjustment of fishing fleet capacity was not covered by the
Portuguese CSF I.

Subject : Standardization of clothing and shoe sizes

Rumours have recently been on the increase that the
Commission is making preparations to standardize clothing
and shoe sizes in the Union .

Are these rumours true, and what is the Commission's basic
view on this problem ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The indication of sizes for clothing and shoes differs widely
according to Member States . In the Commission's opinion it
would certainly be worthwhile to promote a system under
which European consumers are able to identify in an easy
way the sizes of clothing and shoes throughout Europe and
by which trade and distribution would be facilitated . Also a
number of Member States have indicated to the

Commission, in the framework of discussions relating to
Directive 94 / 1 1 / EC (') concerning labelling requirement for
shoes, their interest in a common system .

The Commission considers however that harmonization of

sizes should be undertaken by the interested parties
themselves, i.e . manufacturers, trade and consumers, using
the European standardization infrastructure available to
them .

However, for 1993 a total of ECU 13,83 million was
granted in respect of 160 vessels under Regulation ( EEC )
No 4028 / 96 ('). Four transfers of funds were made to
Portugal :

— 10 . 6 . 1994 : ECU 965 000

— 10 . 6 . 1994 : ECU 1 728 000

— 6 . 9 . 1994 : ECU 8 351 000

— 7 . 11 . 1994 : ECU 2 786 000 .

On 1 January 1994 the fisheries sector became fully
integrated into the Structural Fund provisions . Since then
management of assistance has been in the hands of the
Member States, which through the monitoring committees
notify details of projects financed . The Commission does
not yet have the information needed to answer the
Honourable Member's question as regards 1994 .

(') OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-143 / 95

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 11 )

Subject : Tourism and older people

(') OJ No L 100, 19 . 4 . 1994 .

In reply to Written Question E-2960 / 93 ( 1 ) the Commission
stated that in 1994 . . . the Commission and the Member

States will look into the possibility of creating an
international framework to support pilot measures which
will include tourism for older people . Could the
Commission outline measures taken in fulfilment of this
WRITTEN QUESTION E-139 / 95 commitment ?

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission C ) OJ No C 6, 9 . 1 . 1995, p . 6 .

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 10 )
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Laying up of fishing vessels, Portugal 1994 ( 12 April 1995 )

Can the Commission state the number of vessels granted
laying-up premiums under the I CSF for Portugal in 1993
and 1994, specifying the amounts granted and the dates on
which the funds were made available to the Portuguese
authorities ?

Support has been given to several projects of relevance to
tourism by older people . The study prepared by the

European travel commission in 1992 with support from the
Commission, which underlined the growing importance of
' Europe's senior travel market ' has continued to be an

13 . 7 . 95 LM Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 7

important information source for all those interested in this
issue and has been the basis of a number of conferences .

A report on the subject of mobility and older people,
concerning trends in tourism, leisure and driving in Europe
has very recently been completed by the AIT / FIA ( Alliance
internationale du Tourisme and the Fédération

internationale d'Automobile ) with the support of the
Commission . The document is being distributed widely
through the appropriate channels by both FIA / AIT and the
Commission .

The Commission has also in 1994 commissioned a study on
yield management which included the possibility of taking
account of the off-peak demand when fixing tariffs
especially in hotel trades . Use of such techniques should be
of benefit to older people who are generally more free to
take their holidays in such periods .

In the same vein, the Commission is, under the Council
Decision of 1 3 July 1992 adopting a Community action plan
to assist tourism, working on the preparation of the creation
of an international framework for the staggering of
holidays . Again this could make those involved in the
tourism industry more conscious of the benefits of
offering more favourable terms in the ' off-peak ' and
' shoulder-season ' times to those such as older people who
are not restricted to taking holidays at particular times of the

year .

guidelines . Under the same Article, specific projects in the
area of transport infrastructure may also qualify for a
Community contribution . In this case, on the one hand no
guidelines for the transport sector have yet been adopted as
the relevant proposal is currently being examined by the
European Parliament and on the other hand the Regulation
implementing Regulation 129c in respect of financial
assistance is still being studied by the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 67 / 95

by Jean       - Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 13 )

Subject : Reform of the common organization of the market

in wine

Reform of the common organization of the market in wine is
causing French producers much concern . What is the
Council's timetable for introducing the new scheme ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 88 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E - 1 66 / 95 ( 95 / C 179 / 14 )

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 12 )

Subject : Funding for the high-speed rail network

Subject : Protection of alcoholic products

The world markets in alcohol for oral consumption
produced from the best spirits, such as Cognac, are heavily
penetrated by European products . What measures does the
Council recommend to protect these products, which are
essential to the European Union's trade balance, in the
framework of the new COM in wines ?

The 14 major projects decided on at Essen included the framework of the new COM in wines ?
high-speed rail link between Dax and Madrid via
Valladolid . How does the Council plan to help the French
authorities complete the link between Tours and Dax via
Angoulême and Bordeaux ? Joint answer
to Written Questions E-167 / 95 and E-188 / 95

(7 June 1995 )

Answer

(7 June 1995 ) 1 . The Commission forwarded a proposal concerning
reform of the common organization of the market in wine to
the Council on 13 June 1994 .

The Council is unable to say at this stage whether the project
to which the Honourable Member refers will receive

Community support . It would point out that under
Article 129c of the Treaty Community financial support for
projects of common interest is confined to projects of
common interest identified in the framework of Community

Since then, the proposal has been examined a number of
times at the Council, most recently at the meeting from 12 to

15 December 1994 . The Council will certainly do everything
in its power to ensure a positive outcome as soon as all the
necessary conditions have been fulfilled .

No C 179 / 8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

It would emphasize in this connection how important it is
that the European Parliament should adopt its opinion on
the Commission proposal as soon as possible .

2 . With particular reference to the protection of
alcoholic products, the Commission proposal on reform of
the common organization of the market in wine provides for
measures concerning wine alcohol for oral consumption .

During the Council's discussions on this proposal, it
emerged that for some delegations these measures were
insufficient ; they emphasized the need for the new common
organization of the market in wines to introduce more
stringent measures to safeguard production of the alcohol in
question and to prevent increased competition from third
country products .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-168 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

organized by the Assembly of the Regions of Europe and
funded by a European Parliament grant of ECU 1 million,
which will involve over 100 European chefs who will
promote the regional products of the Union ?

Answer

(7 June 199.5 )

The Commission is responsible for . the implementation of
the Community budget, and inter alia heading A3059
concerning subsidies for fairs and exhibitions .

The Council as such does not play any part in the funding of
events such as that referred to by the Honourable
Member .

( 22 February 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 73 / 95

( 95 / C 179 / 15 ) by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

Subject : Classification of agricultural spending as
non-compulsory expenditure ( 95 / C 179 / 17 )

How does the Council intend to follow up its opposition to
Parliament's decisions concerning the classification of
agricultural spending as non-compulsory expenditure in the

Subject : Options to support small businesses

1995 budget ?

Small industrial and service businesses are the main source

of jobs in Europe . What options can the Council advance to
strengthen the European Union's efforts to promote the
Answer creation and development of such businesses ?

(7 lune 1995 )

At its meeting on 23 January 1995, the Council decided to Answer
bring proceedings before the Court of Justice under (7 June 1995 )
Article 173 of the EC Treaty, with a view to the annulment
of the act of the President of the European Parliament of

15 December 1994 establishing the adoption of the 1995
budget .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 7 1 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995

( 95 / C 179 / 16 )

Subject : by Regional gastronomy competition

What contribution does the Council intend to make to the

first European Regions Gastronomic Cup competition,

The Council's options for strengthening the European
Union's efforts to assist small and medium-sized enterprises

are set out

on the one hand,

— in Council Decision 93 / 379 / EEC of 14 June 1993 on a

multiannual programme of Community measures to
intensify the priority areas and to ensure the continuity
and consolidation of policy for enterprise, in particular
small and medium-sized enterprises, in the
Community ('); and

— in Council Decision 94 / 21 7 / EC of 19 April 1994 on the

provision of Community interest subsidies on loans for
small and medium-sized enterprises extended by the
European Investment Bank under its temporary lending
facility ( 2 );

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 9

on the other hand, in the following resolutions and
conclusions

— Council resolution of 22 November 1993 on
strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises, in
particular of small and medium-sized enterprises and
craft enterprises, and developing employment ( 3 );

— Council conclusions of 22 June 1994 on the policy for

promoting SMEs and the craft sector ( 4 );

— Council resolution of 10 October 1994 on giving full

scope to the dynamism and innovatory potential of
SMEs, including the craft sector and micro-enterprises,
in a competitive economy C ).

(') OJ No L 161, 2 . 7 . 1993, p . 68 .
(-) OJ No L 107, 28 . 4 . 1994, p . 57 .
C ) OJ No C 326, 3 . 12 . 1993, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 83 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 21 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 19 )

Subject : Monetary Union

What is the Council's position with regard to the timetable
for Monetary Union ?

Would it prefer a ' big bang ' strategy or a more gradual
approach as proposed by the Banque de France ?

Answer

( 4 ) Press release 7763 / 94 PRESSE 13 .

H OJ No C 294, 22 . 10 . 1994, p . 6 . (7 lune 1 995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 77 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 18 )

Subject : Regional policy

The timetable for Economic and Monetary Union is set by
the provisions of the Treaty on European Union . The
Council intends to adhere strictly to the obligations imposed
upon it under those provisions .

As regards the strategy to be followed for the introduction of
the ecu as a single currency, the Council is unable to adopt a
position at this stage . The Commission has stated that it will
shortly be submitting a Green Paper tackling this question .
The Council should report on the basis of the Green Paper to
the Cannes European Council .

Can the Council say precisely what will be the legal force of
the Community area development plan currently under
consideration ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 85 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

Answer ( 22 February 1995 )

(7 June 1 995 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 20 )

The Council has no knowledge of the Community area
development plan mentioned by the Honourable
Member .

The Council has laid down the operating rules of the

Structural Funds and has made the Commission responsible
for their management .

The only point in those rules which relates to studies on

Community area development is the one contained in
Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2083 / 93 ( Feder ) which
enables the Commission to finance inter alia within the

ceiling laid down in that Article, studies launched on the

Commission's initiative to identify the elements necessary to
establish a prospective outline of the utilization of
Community territory .

Subject : Protection of European wetlands

What action does the Council intend to take to halt the
decline, which has been very marked during the last 30
years, of European wetlands and marsh areas which the
European Union would like to protect ?

Answer

(7 June 1995 )

As the Honourable Member is aware, several instruments
adopted either some time ago, such as the ' wild birds '
Directive ( 79 / 409 / EEC ('), as last amended by Directive
94 / 24 / EC ( 2 )), and its provisions on the conservation of
biotopes ( Articles 3 and 4 ), or more recently, such as the
' habitats ' Directive ( 92 / 43 / ETC {*)), and in particular its

No C 179 / 10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Articles 3, 4, 6 and 10 and points 11, 13, 14, 15, 21 and 22
of Annex I, together with the associated ' LIFE ' financial
instrument ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 1973 / 92 ( 4 )), contribute
very directly to the protection of wetlands .

To these may be added, as also dealing with wetlands as
habitats to be protected, Decision 82 / 461 / EEC ( s ) on the
conclusion of the Bonn Convention ( Articles III and V ), and,
of course, the Ramsar Convention, to which almost all
Member States of the Union are party, with a total area of
more than 4 million hectares entered as ' Ramsar sites '.

') OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 .

2 ) OJ No L 164, 30 . 6 . 1994, p . 9 .

 - ') O J No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

4 ) O J No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

 - <) O J No L 210, 19 . 7 . 1982, p . 10

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 8 7 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

2 . In December 1993 the Council specifically

— envisaged encouraging the cultivation of coppices for

biomass purposes on land set aside, and

— asked the Commission to examine the relationship

between compliance with the set-aside requirement and
the areas withdrawn from production for afforestation
and / or environmental purposes .

3 . In response to that request the Council received a
Commission report at the end of 1994 which the
Commission immediately followed up by submitting a
proposal in January 1995 to facilitate the use of land
withdrawn to grow short-rotation forest trees and shrubs
for biomass production .

4 . The Council intends to take a decision on the proposal
as soon as the European Parliament has delivered its
opinion .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-219 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

95 / C 179 / 22 )
( 95 / C 179 / 21 )

Subject : Promotion of agricultural production for uses

other than food

What conclusions does the Council draw from the

Commission's work on the environmental uses of land set

aside, and the production of biomass ?

In general terms, how does the Council intend to promote
the use of certain agricultural products for purposes other
than food ?

Answer

(7 f une 1995 )

1 . It will be remembered that, as part of the reform of the
arable crop sector decided on in 1992, provision was made
in general terms for using land set-aside, to grow crops for
purposes other than foodstuffs and / or fodder . At the same
time, agri-environmental measures and measures for the
afforestation of agricultural land were introduced . These
measures are scheduled to last for 20 years and the
agri-environmental provisions involve set-aside with a view
to creating biotopes or establishing small nature parks .

Subject : Sharing of responsibilities between the
Commission and Council for trade negotiations

How does the Council expect to strengthen its authority
over the new 20-strong Commission, in particular as
regards trade negotiations ?

Answer

(7 lune 1 995 )

Relations between the Commission and the Council in the

exercise of Community competence in trade matters
continue to be governed by Articles 113 and 228 of the EC
Treaty . As regards trade negotiations with third countries or

international organizations, Article 113 lays down that the
Commission shall make recommendations to the Council

which shall authorize the Commission to open the necessary
negotiations . The Commission shall conduct these
negotiations in consultation with a special committee
appointed by the Council to assist the Commission in this
task and within the framework of such Directives as the

Council may issue to it .

When the negotiations are successful, the agreements are
concluded by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on
a proposal from the Commission .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION E-265 / 95

by Edward Kellett-Bowman ( PPE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 23 )

Subject : EC legislation regarding abattoirs

Following allegations about conditions in Greek
slaughterhouses, will the Commission reveal what steps it
has taken to ensure that abattoirs in Greece have been

brought up to the standards required by European
legislation ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 March 1995 )

Since Community inspections of slaughterhouses in Greece
have indicated an unsatisfactory situation, the Commission
has called on the authorities to take the necessary steps to
bring Greek slaughterhouses into line with Community
standards . A further inspection visit to take place during the
year will enable the Commission to ascertain whether
substantial progress has been made .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-274 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 24 )

Subject : Central transmission units for mobile telephones

and public health

With the spread of mobile telephones in Greece — a
development promoted by the FTB — the companies
concerned are locating their central antennas and
transmission units in densely-inhabited urban centres .
Neither the Greek nor the F^uropean Union authorities have
considered the public health implications or issued planning
and environmental rules for the location of these units ­

There have been widespread protests by citizens in urban
neighbourhoods throughout Greece who have called for the
central transmission units to be relocated . Although the
Commission has issued special technical rules governing the
use of mobile telephones, it has failed to ensure that
common rules are also issued for the protection of public
health, despite scrutinizing this matter for several
months .

Will the Commission say :

1 . Does it share the concern about a possible health threat
felt by citizens living close to such central transmission
units ?

2 . Does it agree that the technical rules it issued should
have been accompanied by rules regarding the
protection of public health ?

3 . Does it agree that its failure to issue such rules violates
the spirit of the Fifth Action Programme on the
environment, since it has failed to take into account the
public health protection aspect of the Union's policy on
mobile telephones ?

4 . What is the reason for the Commission's delay in issuing
the requisite rules ? When will they be issued ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

The Commission is well aware of the considerable public
attention to the possible effects of electromagnetic radiation
on human health . It has stated on several occasions that

there might be a need to limit power absorption in the body
to protect against possible adverse health effects of
radio-frequency fields, and to guard against interference
with the function of equipment which has implications
for health and safety, particularly navigation and
communication equipment in aircraft, and electromedical
equipment, especially life-support devices .

In its communication to the Parliament and the Council on
the consultation on the green paper on mobile and personal
communications ('), the Commission indicated its intention
of developing a global action programme for health and
safety in the mobile sector, especially with regard to possible
athermal effects ( such as carcinogenesis and tumour
promotion ) on which research has not been carried out .

Also, and as a result of current discussion in the Council on
the communication, the Commission has been asked to
study the environmental aspects of the utilization of mobile
infrastructure . It is also possible to examine the issue in the
context of the Commission's proposal for the amendment of
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment ( 2 ), at
present under consideration by the Parliament .

No C 179 / 12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

In the meantime, the Commission has already taken the
following steps :

( a ) The Commission has issued a mandate to Cenelec on
safety requirements for mobile communications
equipment . This mandate is derived from Directives
91 / 263 / EEC ( 3 ) on the mutual recognition of type
approvals for telecommunications terminal equipment
and 73 / 23 / EEC ( 4 ) ( low voltage ) on safety aspects of
electric equipment . The aim of this mandate is to draft
European standards defining requirements to protect
human beings from hazardous thermal effects which
may be caused by the use of mobile communications
equipment . Work is currently under way and results are
expected during 1995 .

( b ) Under the umbrella of the electromagnetic
compatibility ( EMC ) Directive 89 / 336 / EEC P ) the
Commission has already issued another mandate to
Celenec . Work is currently under way and aims at
producing EMC immunity standards .

( c ) Cenelec was also asked to develop a standard work
programme under which the Commission can be
advised of additional effects, both thermal and
athermal, on the human body which must be
considered, with the aim of refining standards in case
potentially harmful effects are proven through
research .

( d ) The Commission submitted in 1993 a proposal for a

Council Directive on the minimum health and safety
requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the
risks from physical agents ( 6 ), which contains limits and
other provisions concerning the protection of workers
against non-ionising radiation . The Commission is also
looking into the public health implications of current
data as regards the thermal effects of exposure to
non-ionising radiation with a view to making proposals
for the protection of the public complementing those
already made for workers, based on recommendations
of the international commission on non-ionising
radiation protection ( ).

The Commission is sponsoring a COST ( cooperation on
science and technology ) project concerning biomedical
effects of electromagnetic radiation . Fourteen European
countries are analysing differences between existing
standards, aiming at the creation of a scientific basis for new
European standards concerning protection against
electromagnetic radiation effect .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-294 / 95

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 25

Subject : Aid for producer organizations in the citrus fruit

sector

The Algarve region currently has only one producer
organization for citrus fruit, despite the great importance of
citrus fruit for that region .

In the light of the commercial role played by producer
organizations in the functioning of COMs, can the
Commission say what aid has been granted to support
producer organizations in the Algarve, particularly for the
citrus fruit sector, and what specific aid has been granted —
and will be granted under the second CSF — to Frutalgarve

( the title of the producer organization referred to
above )?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's

attention to Article 14 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 (')
stipulating that Member States may grant to recognized
producer organizations, for five years following the date of
recognition, to encourage their formation and facilitate their
administrative operation .

The agriculture sub-programme included in the
1994 — 1999 Community support framework provides for
public aid of ECU 21 374 000, for the whole of Portugal
over the entire period, for the formation and operation of
producer organizations .

(') OJ No L 118, 20 . 5 . 1972 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-304 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Council

(9 February 1995 )
(') COM(94 ) 492 final .

í 1 ) COMÍ93 ) 575 final — OJ No C 310, 12 . 5 . 1994 . ( 95 / C 179 / 26 )
(') OJ No L 128, 23 . 5 . 1991 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 77, 26 . 3 . 1973 .

( s ) OJ No L 139, 23 . 5 . 1989 .

( 6 ) O J No C 230, 19 . 8 . 1994, Amended proposai .

( ) ' Health Physics ' 24 ( 1988 ) I, pp . 115 — 123 .

Subject : Lawnmowers

The 1989 ' machine safety ' Directive finally entered into
force on 1 January 1995 . Products not bearing the EC mark
will consequently no longer be admitted on to the
Community market .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 13

The matter would seem to be an open-and-shut case, but is
less clear cut than might be imagined, at least from the point
of view of distributors, who, because of the wait-and-see
attitude adopted by manufacturers, still have large stocks of
lawnmowers that do not conform to the standard .

There are reports that the Community intends to break the
deadlock by stipulating that the Directive will apply only to
machines placed on the market after 1 January 1995 .

Do the abovementioned reports accurately reflect the
Community position ?

Answer

(7 June 1995 )

It is . true that Article 13 of Directive 89 / 382 / EEC relating to
machinery ('), as amended by Directive 91 / 368 / EEC ( 2 ),
lays down that the Directive is fully applicable as from

1 January 1995 . It will be recalled that Directive
91 / 368 / EEC had introduced a transitional period from
1 January 1993 to 31 December 1994 so that inter alia
stocks of existing appliances built in accordance with the
laws in force in the Member States on 1 December 1994

could be disposed of .

The problem referred to by the Honourable Member
concerns implementation of the Directive . In this respect it
should be recalled that the Council has no competence . It is
in fact up to the Member States, under the Commission's
supervision, to ensure that Community rules are properly
implemented .

Why and on the basis of what provisions has the Council
decided to depart from the Commission's well-documented
opinion ?

Answer

(7 June 1995 )

The Commission's initial proposal on TACs and quotas for

1995 failed to obtain an adequate majority at the Fisheries
Council meeting from 19 to 22 December 1994 .

Taking into account biological and other considerations
such as the socio-economic factors affecting the
Community's fisheries sector, the Council adopted
unanimously, with an abstention from one delegation, a
compromise solution put forward by the Presidency and
supported by the Commission, fixing TAC levels for 1 995 at
the levels recorded in Regulation ( EC ) No 3362 / 94 ( ! ).

This solution is still within the limits indicated by scientific
opinion .

(') OJ No L 363, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 06 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Council

(9 February 1995 )

95 / C 179 / 28 )

(>) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989, p . 9 . Subject : Plant-protection patents
(-) OJ No L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991, p . 16 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-305 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Council

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 27 )

Subi ect : TAC cuts

In the light of significant scientific findings, the Commission
has proposed a reduction in Total Allowable Catches

( TACs ). The Council, however, has decided to impose less
severe cuts than initially envisaged in the cases of hake,
plaice, Irish Sea sole and angler-fish, and cod . Furthermore,
notwithstanding the resolutions tabled, megrim and
mackerel catch levels are to remain unchanged, and some
increases have been made in the cases of herrings, haddock,
the Norway lobster, saithe, and sprats .

Lengthy waiting periods, as much as a decade, can pass
between an application for a patent and the time when a
product is actually marketed . Furthermore, in addition to
selling its products, the European industry is also engaged in
plant-protection research ( into insecticides, fungicides,
herbicides, and so forth ). That being the case, the industry
will find it difficult to recoup its research and development
outlay and maintain its international position as an
innovator without wider-ranging safeguards for
plant-protection products .

Will the Council grant an additional five years ' protection
following expiry of a patent — as called for, moreover, by
the Commission — and lay down a standard period of
protection in all the Member States, bearing in mind that its
duration now varies ?

Answer

(7 June 1995 )

The Council would point out that in a letter dated

12 December 1994 the Commission forwarded a proposal

No C 179 / 14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

to the Council for a European Parliament and Council
Regulation concerning the creation of a supplementary
protection certificate for plant protection products (');
before it can comment on the Honourable Member's
question, it must give this proposal a detailed examination
taking account of the pending opinion of the European
Parliament .

(') COM(94 ) 579 Hnal 94 / 285 ( COD ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-315 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) and Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 13 February 199 5 )

( 95 / C 179 / 29 )

Subject : Consequences of North Sea pollution

There have recently been press reports of whales washed up
along the Belgian coast whose flesh has been found to
contain huge amounts ( the figure of 1 Kilogramme has been
mentioned ) of polychlorinated biphenyl ( PCB ).

It has also been reported that the whale meat was converted
into cattle feed before it had been sent for chemical

analysis .

If the above information is correct,

1 . Can the Commission establish the origin of the PCB and
explain why the North Sea has become polluted, in spite
of the stringent rules prohibiting the manufacture of
PCB ?

2 . What does the Commission intend to do to prevent
further pollution and what action could it take against
those responsible for the pollution which has already
been detected ?

3 . What action does the Commission intend to take to

prevent the probable entry of PCB into the human food
chain from causing irreparable damage to health ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

1 . The manufacture of PCBs is prohibited . Their
marketing has also been prohibited since 1986, following a
European Directive . However, their use in equipment has
not yet been banned and their presence in the environment
and entry into the food chain can be explained only by illegal
discharges . In the specific case of PCBs which have turned
up on Belgian beaches and polluted the North Sea, the
Commission, which has no inspecton and control facilities,
is not in a position to establish or verify their origin .

2 . The Commission has no police service either and
cannot ' apprehend ' those found to be responsible for
pollution . This is a matter for the authorities of the Member
States .

3 . The Commission has forwarded to the Council a

proposal for a Directive on the disposal of PCBs (').

The text, which is being discussed in the Council, proposes
that an inventory of equipment containing PCBs be
complied so that they cannot disappear illegally before their
final destruction and consequently cannot enter the food
chain .

(') Ol No C 299, 20 . 11 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-340 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 13 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 30 )

Subject : Natural disaster caused by flooding in regions of

Greece

Flooding caused by rivers and streams breaking their banks
has caused very extensive damage to villages in eastern Pylia
and the Province of Messini . Given that large sums of money
will be necessary to enable the land affected by flooding to
be cultivated once more, and given also that agricultural
road networks, infrastructure projects, bridges and the
irrigation system have been badly damaged, will the
Commission say what measures it intends to take, in
cooperation with the Greek Government, to ensure that
essential compensation is given to the affected regions ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

The Commission has not been informed of the occurrence of

any particular serious natural disaster in eastern Pylia and
the Province of Messini .

The Greek authorities are of course free to submit, through
the procedures laid down in the Community Support
Framework ( CSF ), any application aimed at making good
damage caused by natural disasters . Provided that the
application is warranted and properly supported the
Commission will examine in partnership with them what
financing possibilities are available within the overall
financial allocation for the CSF .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 15

WRITTEN QUESTION P-357 / 95 Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 20 March 1995 )

(3 February 1995 )

(9 SIC 179 / 31 ) The deadline of 15 February referred to by the Flonourable
Member was set by the Austrian Government in order to
facilitate the introduction of the integrated administration

Commissioner's interests and control system ( IACS ) in Austria . The measure is thus a

national and not a Community one . The Commission is not
competent to deal with the question, which lies fully within

talks of the Commission being the purview of the national authorities .

Subject : Register of Commissioner's interests

Article 157 of the Treaty talks of the Commission being
independent .

In view of the fact that there is no register of Commissioner's
interests, how will the Commission ensure it meets this
obligation in the Treaty for each and every Commissioner
and does so transparently ?

On the other hand, the Commission welcomes the steps
taken by the Austrian authorities and considers their
approach as helpful to farmers in making their application
for acreage payments .

Answer given by Mr Santer WRITTEN QUESTION E-371 / 95
on behalf of the Commission

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )
( 15 March 1995 )
to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

At an informal meeting held before they took up their duties, ( 95 / C 179 / 33 )
Members of the Commission agreed to declare any business
or financial interests which could make them dependent on
firms or foundations . They will inform the Commission of Subject : Noise pollution from
any new interests in accordance with Article 157(2 ) of the
EC Treaty . Many European citizens are adversely

Subject : Noise pollution from motorways

Many European citizens are adversely affected by the sheer
volume of noise arising from traffic on motorways . Whilst
this can be partly dealt with through measures such as
double glazing etc ., these do not take away the nuisance,
particularly when people wish to be out of doors during
spring and summer months . What proposals has the
Commission to make which would help deal with this
WRITTEN QUESTION E-358 / 95 nuisance .

by Mathias Reichhold ( NI )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 ) Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission
( 95 / C 179 / 32 )

(3 April 1995 )

Subject : Registration of base areas in Austria

Austrian farmers are required to register so-called base areas
by 15 February 1 995 at the latest . It is on the basis of this
registration that area premiums will be paid .

The permissible margin of error for registration is 2% .

The fact that snow is lying, the tight deadline and the
complicated measurement techniques involved make it
impossible for registration to proceed in accordance with
the regulations !

Will the Commission ensure that a practicable interim
arrangement is made for Austria's farmers and, if so, what
form is this arrangement likely to take ?

The Commission is well aware of the problem of noise
nuisance arising from traffic on motorways ( and other
roads ). Indeed the reduction of noise levels is one of the
priorities in the Community's environmental action
programme . The reduction can be achieved by noise
abatement on the vehicles, on the motorways, or by
measures such as double-glazing .

Community Directives to reduce the noise of vehicles and to
measure the emitted noise have been in existence since the

early 1970s, covering cars, lorries, buses and motorcycles .
The limits have been reduced several times and have led to

considerable noise reductions ( about lOdB ( A ) for lorries )
which over time will lead to a vehicle fleet with much lower

noise levels . There is however a risk that the increase in the

number of vehicles and traffic density will cancel out these
reductions in noise emissions .

No C 179 / 16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Noise abatement on the motorways themselves is the
responsibility of Member States . Some ( Germany and
Austria ) have regulations to reduce noise on motorways
when the impact exceeds certain limits . These limits differ
from Member State to Member State . The reduction may be
achieved by :

— speed reductions,

— traffic restrictions,

— walls and embankments,

— tunnelling,

up, and obtain approval for, environmental impact
assessments for all hotels as a precondition for obtaining the
special operating licence .

Since actions of this kind are contrary to the European
Union's environmental policy, as set out in Article 130r and
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, as amended, since Law No 1650 / 86
on environmental protection is being violated and since
it is unprecedented that a circular issued by the
Secretary-General of the EOT should abolish Greek and
Community legislation, will the Commission say what
measures it intends to take to oblige the relevant Greek
authorities to respect and implement existing Community
legislation ?

— low-noise road surfaces . f 1 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

The Commission is currently preparing a communication on
future noise policy . The objective will be to explain and
clarify Community activities and targets for noise policy and
establish a medium-term work programme for noise
abatement based on quality standards .

Vehicle servicing and maintenances are also major aspects
which need to be dealt with in order to improve matters .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 72 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 34 )

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

The administrative licences to which the Honourable

Member refers in his written question are not subject to the
prior environmental impact assessment requirement under
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC in so far as they authorize the
operation of a hotel .

The only authorization taken into consideration by this
Directive is the decision ' which entitles the developer to
proceed with the project ', i.e . that which authorizes the
physical existence of the project . Any other form of
administrative measure required under national law to
make the project operational is not covered by Directive

85 / 337 / EEC .

Subject : Abolition of the obligation to draw up
environmental impact assessments in respect of
every type of tourist facility in Greece

environmental impact assessments in respect of However, Article 13 of that Directive authorizes Member
every type of tourist facility in Greece States to adopt stricter national rules than those laid down

by communication Regulations regarding the assessment
procedure . This could well be the case with Greece which
As part of measures aimed at bringing Greek legislation into has decided that operating licences should be subject to an
line with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( ! ), on 5 April 1994 the environmental assessment .
Greek Tourist Board ( EOT ) issued Decision No 530266
which provides that environmental impact assessments
must months be, drawn if hotels up are and to obtain approved its special within operating a period of licence nine . compliance If this is the with case national, it is for law the or Greek authorize authorities exemptions to ensure from
In October 1994, however, this obligation was abolished by its obligations .
Ministerial Decision No 1661 ( Greek Government Bulletin
786 of 20 October 1994 ) in respect of practically all tourist
complexes outside areas covered by planning schemes, and
on 2 December 1994 the Secretary-General of the EOT
issued Decision No 5475 1 abolishing the obligation to draw

If this is the case, it is for the Greek authorities to ensure
compliance with national law or authorize exemptions from
its obligations .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 17

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 80 / 95

by Jannis Sakellariou ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 35

Subject : Environmental impact assessment for the
construction of a reservoir compressor station for
a natural gas underground reservoir

Does the Commission take the view that the construction

of a reservoir compressor station for a natural gas
underground reservoir in Bavaria requires an environmental
impact assessment to be carried out ?

If not, why not ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

archeological value and despite the opposition of various
citizens ' associations and environmental groups .

1 . Is the Commission aware of this project and its
implication for the environment and for the quality of
life of citizens ?

2 . In view of the principles of policy on the environment,
culture and public health, as set forth for example in
Articles 3, 3(k ), 3(o ), 128, 129 and 130r of the Treaty on
European Union, in the light of specific Community
legislation on the protection of habitats and
environmental impact assessments, and bearing in mind
the Commission's role as the guardian of the Treaties,
does it not consider that this project manifestly violates
these principles and rules ?

3 . If so, ought not the Commission to act as required by
Article 169 of the Treaty in cases where a Member State
has failed to comply with Community law ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

Installations for the underground storage of combustible
(5 April 1995 )
gases figure in Annex II to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment (') and are subject to an The Commission was not aware of
assessment of this type where the authorities of the Member to be carried out in the Fosso di
State in question consider that their characteristics dictate particularly as under Directive
this, for example because of the location or scale of the assessment of the effects of certain
project . projects on the environment ('),

In the absence of more detailed information on this type of
characteristic, it is impossible for the Commission to give an
opinion on the possible need to require such an assessment
for the natural gas underground reservoir compressor
station in Bavaria .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-384 / 95

by Fausto Bertinotti ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 36 )

Subject : Construction project in the Tor Carbone area,

Rome

It appears that a major construction project, comprising 3
million cubic metres of buildings ( construction of ten blocks
with six to eight floors each ), is being undertaken in a part of
Rome which is of the utmost natural and environmental

importance, Fosso di Tor Carbone-Tormarancia : an area
which makes a vital contribution to the oxygen supply of a
city where, by any standards, emissions of pollutants are
increasingly often exceeding the bounds of tolerance .

It also appears that this project is to be carried out despite
the presence in the area of remains which are of inestimable

The Commission was not aware of the construction project
to be carried out in the Fosso di Tor Carbone in Rome,
particularly as under Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment ('), Member States are not
obliged to inform it systematically of the activities taking
place on their national territory .

As an urban development project, this type of work is
included in Annex II to the abovementioned Directive and is

subject to an environmental impact assessment where the
national authorities consider that the characteristics of the

project so dictate, for example because of its location or
size .

As regards the location of the project in question, the
information at the Commission's disposal does not indicate
that the Fosso di Tor Carbone is of particular importance
for the protection of natural habitats under Directive
92 / 43 / EC ( 2 ) or indeed that it has been designated a
special protection area in accordance with Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( '). Its development is, then, a matter for the
Italian authorities .

However if the Honourable Member is aware of

information which would justify classification of the said
Fosso di Tor Carbone in the abovementioned categories, he
may refer the matter once again to the Commission .

Nevertheless, an environmental impact assessment under
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC could be justified on account of the
scale of the property development, which apparently
involves the construct ion of ten blocks each with six or eight
floors .

If this is the case, the environmental analysis of the direct
and indirect effects of the project on the cultural heritage

No C 179 / 18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

contained in the impact study may answer the concerns
voiced by the Honourable Member and lead the authorities
to take appropriate measures to resolve the situation .

(') OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .
(') OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .
(<) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-386 / 95

by Lilli Gyldenkilde ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(6 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 37 )

Subject : Oestrogen substitutes

Professor Skakkebœk of the state hospital in Copenhagen
has put forward the hypothesis that there is a link between
substances currently being added artificially to the
environment, which have a chemical structure similar to the
female reproductive hormone oestrogen, and the fall in the
sperm count of men and the incidence of breast cancer in
women . Skakkebask and other researchers are currently
seeking to substantiate this hypothesis . What initiatives has
the Commission taken in response to this new potential
threat to the environment and to workers ? Does the

Commission intend, for example through the European
Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions in Dublin, to support a survey of, and research
into, measures to counter this ?

What initiatives has the Commission taken — and what

other initiatives will it take — in the form of research to

discover the link between the use of ' oestrogen substitutes '
and lower sperm counts in men, together with the incidence
of certain forms of cancer ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

As regards research, Council Decision 94 / 913 / EC of
15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme of
research and technical development, including
demonstration, in the field of biomedicine and health ( 1994
to 1998 ) (') provides for research activities in areas
related to the problem posed, notably cancer research and
research on occupational and environmental health . The
Commission has launched a first call for proposals for this
programme ( 2 ) inviting researchers to submit proposals in
this context .

The Dublin Foundation has been consulted and has stated

that at present there are no projects in progress dealing with
these types of substances .

Commission Directive 87 / 302 / EEC of 18 November
1987 ( ') adapting to technical progress for the ninth time
Council Directive 67 / 548 / EF1C ( Dangerous substances ),
which describes the toxicity and ecotoxicity determination
methods for Annex VII of Directive 79 / 831 / EEC ( 4 ),
contains among other methods the one-generation
reproduction test and the two-generation reproduction test,
tests to which new chemical substances are submitted in the

conditions required at Annex VII . However, these tests

relate to animals, therefore the conclusions cannot
legitimately be extrapolated to human beings .

Parliament and Council Directive 94 / 60 / EC ( 5 ), of
20 December 1994, amends Council Directive 76 / 769 / EEC
relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain
dangerous substances and preparations by restricting the
marketing and use by the general public of those substances
and preparations by restricting the marketing for use by the
general public of those substances appearing in Annex I
of Directive 67 / 548 / EEC which are category 1 or 2
carcinogens, mutagenic ( causing heritable genetic damage )
and teratogenic ( toxic for reproductive purposes ). The
provisions of the directive will apply from 20 lune 1995 .

(') OJ No L 361, 31 . 12 . 1994 .
(-) OJ No C 12, 17 . 1 . 1995 .
(') OJ No L 133, 30 . 5 . 1988 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 259, 15 . 10 . 1979 .

( 5 ) O J No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

( 15 May 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-394 / 95

by Giulio Fantuzzi ( PSE )

to the Commission

The Commission is interested in environmental pollutants
and their reproductive toxicity . It has already published
Volume 1 ( EUR 14991 EN 1993 ) in the series ' Reproductive
toxicity, summary reviews of the scientific evidence, the
toxicology of chemicals, Series 2 '. This volume contains
guidelines for evaluating toxic effects on reproduction, and

30 chemical substances have been evaluated . The

Commission is now preparing to publish Volume 2 in this
series . This volume will cover PCBs, carbon monoxide,
benzene, dioxins, tobacco smoke in the environment, and
PCDFs . These monographs do not contain any substances
with a specifically oestrogenic effect .

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 38 )

Subject : Cordless telephones

Italian law and the principle of the free movement of goods
in Europe means that Italian citizens are able to buy cordless
telephones which are not approved by the Ministry of
Telecommunications and whose use is banned by Telecom
Italia .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 19

1 . Are the Italian rules on approval and the consequent ban
on the use of non-approved instruments compatible
with the free movement of goods in Europe ?

2 . Are there specific Community rules defining the
technical characteristics of cordless telephones ?

3 . Is it in line with the principles of consumer protection to
authorize the sale of such instruments, even in the
certain knowledge that it is not possible to use them
legally ?

4 . Does the failure by Telecom and the
Telecommunications Ministry to inform consumers of
the risks they take in using non-approved instruments
constitute an infringement of the laws on consumer
information ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

This question addresses the free circulation of cordless
telephones in Europe in general, and in Italy in
particular .

The European legislation governing approval of
telecommunications terminal equipment is covered in
Directives 91 / 263 / EEC (') and 93 / 97 / EEC ( 2 ). These
directives are based on new and global approach principles
and therefore limit the technical aspects of approval to
conformity with essential requirements, which are based on
the availability of harmonized standards .

Simple cordless telephones which connect to the public
switched telephone network ( PSTN ) are subject to national
approval requirements, because the interfaces to the public
network, used by different Member States, are not
harmonized from a technical point of view . This situation
has arisen because the analogue PSTN was developed
independently by each Member State prior to European
harmonization objectives .

The Commission can confirm that, in spite of the technical
difficulties, it is actively taking measures to develop
harmonized technical regulations for equipment connecting
to analogue PSTNs, and expects to see some positive results
in the near future .

Although not yet widely applied for simple cordless
telephones, two harmonized technical regulations have been
adopted by the Commission covering the radio element ( i.e .
the connection between the portable hand held part and the
fixed part ) of cordless telephones :

— CTR6, DECT access ( Commission Décision
94 / 471 / EC (■'));

— CTR10, DECT telephony ( Commission Décision
94 / 472 / EC ( ? )).

It should however be emphasised that the fixed part which
connects to the analogue PSTN should also comply with the
national approval requirements .

Concerning the four questions by the Honourable
Member :

1 . Owing to the lack of harmonized standards, it is for the
Member States to regulate the approval and placing on
the market of cordless telephones within the framework
of the rules of the EC Treaty, and in particular
Articles 30 to 36 . The use of national requirements for
approval could be viewed as having a restrictive effect on
the free movement on goods . However such national
requirements will be compatible with Articles 30 to 36 if
they can be recognised as necessary in order to satisfy
essential requirements, and if they constitute an accurate
and proportionate means to ensure the protection of the
interests referred to in Article 36 or defined by the
Court .

2 . As stated above, there is no harmonized standard which
applies for connection of equipment to the PSTN,
and therefore there are no harmonized technical

requirements for approval of this equipment to be
placed on the market and to be put into service .

3 . Cordless telephones which meet the national technical
requirement and are approved and marked for national
use are placed on the Italian market legally . Therefore
the question of consumer protection should also fall
under existing legislation in this field .

4 . In general, it is the responsibility of each Member State
to ensure that users are correctly informed about their
use of non-approved telecommunications terminal
equipment, and also the consequences of using
non-approved equipment .

(') OJ No L 128, 23 . v 1991 .
( 2 ) O I No L 290, 24 . 11 . 1993
(■') OI No L 194, 29 . ^ 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-395 / 95

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 Februar y 1995 )

95 / C 179 / 39 )

Subject : Pesca Community initiative — outermost
regions

On 15 June 1994, the European Commission decided to
establish a Community initiative for the restructuring of the
fisheries sector in response to a request from the European
Parliament in connection with the Green Paper on
Community Initiatives .

According to the communication to the Member States on
the Pesca Community initiative, it is deemed possible to
finance projects in regions which depend on the fisheries

No C 179 / 20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

sector through this initiative, the Regis initiative
notwithstanding . Will the regions of the Azores and
Madeira benefit from specific aid through the Pesca
initiative ?

Answer given by Mrs Bomno

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1995 )

A provision common to all the Community Initiatives ( see
Commission notices to the Member States (')) is that, in the
most remote regions, measures under these Initiatives have
priority eligibility under the Regis Initiative . This possibility
was not taken up in the Portuguese Regis programme and
the Pesca programme allots Community assistance of ECU

1 280 000 for schemes in the Azores and the same sum for

schemes in Madeira .

Under the Code of Conduct on implementation of the
structural policies by the Commission, concluded between
the Commission and Parliament on 13 July 1993, the
Commission has sent Parliament's Secretariat, as they were
approved, all programming documents for Community
structural assistance, including those for fisheries and
aquaculture . The Honourable Member will find more
information in these documents .

Scrutiny of the individual projects submitted for
Community part-financing falls to the programme
Monitoring Committee, which is of course bound to respect
the selection priorities and criteria adopted in the

programme .

(') O ) No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1994 .

improve transparency in its work . Most of these measures
are contained in the interinstitutional declaration on
democracy, transparency and subsidiarity of 25 October

1993 .

These measures relate to several areas :

1, the preparatory stage of Commission decisions and
proposals ;

2, the dissemination of existing information ;

3, access to Commission documents ;

4, relations with interest groups ;

5, accelerated procedure for the consolidation of
legislation ( inter-institutional agreement with
Parliament and the Council ).

The documents explaining these various measures in detail
are being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament's Secretariat .

The only measure that can be costed is the setting-up of a
data bank on interest groups . In 1994, this came to
approximately ECU 110 000 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-409 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufêbaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 41 )

Subject : Schengen Agreement and frontier checks
WRITTEN QUESTION E-400 / 95

by Jens-Peter Bonde ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 40 )

Subject : Measure to promote transparency

Germany's Minister of the Interior, Manfred Kanther, has
repeatedly — and quite rightly — warned of the need to
secure Austria's eastern frontier before Austria accedes to

the Schengen Agremeent .

What exactly are the conditions which Austria has to satisfy

in order to accede to the Schengen Agreement ?

Can the Commission give an account of the measures it has
taken with regard to transparency and interest groups, and Answer given by Mr Monti
the financial cost of implementing these measures ? on behalf of the Commission

( 10 March 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission The Commission takes the view that the matter of the

conditions of accession by a Member State to the convention

( 12 April 1995 )

applying the Schengen Agreement does not come within its
jurisdiction .

Following the Birmingham and Edinburgh European
Council, the Commission took a series of measures to

( 12 April 1995 )

13 . 7 . 95 I ™ Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-410 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufêbaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 42 )

Subject : EU appropriations for the Dornbirn district in the

Austrian Land of Vorarlberg

Decision 1110 / 94 / EC of the Parliament and the Council of

26 August 1994 concerning the Fourth Framework
Programme of the European Community activities in the
fields of research and technological development and
demonstration ( 1994 to 1998 ) ( 2 ), and Council Decision
94 / 268 / Euratom concerning a framework programme of '
Community activities in the field of research and training for
the European Atomic Energy Community ( 1994 to
1998 ) ( 3 ), as well as the implementing specific programme
decisions, form the basis for the financial participation in
individual selected research, technological development and
demonstration projects .

Can the Commission state in respect of the Dornbirn district
in the Austrian Land of Vorarlberg : (•) OJ No L 306, 30 . 11 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 126, 18 . 5 . 1994 .

(■') OJ No L 115, 6 . 5 . 1994 .
1, the total amount of appropriations available under the
Structural Funds ?

2, whether EU structural funding for this district is to be
broken down by individual funds and, if so, how ?

3, whether there are any indications of the amount of
research funds proposed for this region and, if so, what
is the appropriate Directive for the granting of such
funds ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-424 / 95

by Hugh Kerr ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 43 )

( 19 March 1995 ) Subject : VAT on sports clubs

The Dornbirn district ( Bezirk ) is among the regions in
Austria to which the Commission intends to give
Objective 2 status . The list of these areas should be
published shortly .

The Commission has decided the overall financial allocation

for Objective 2 areas in Austria, amounting to ECU 101
million ( 1995 prices ) for the period 1995 — 1999 . The
allocation to each individual region is not yet known, it will
be decided when the single programming documents ( SPDs )
are adopted . This is expected in the early autumn .

The contribution of the individual Structural Funds depends
on the nature and content of the measures included in the

SPD . Actions in the field of research can be included .

In addition to structural funding, support for research can
be obtained from the fourth research and technological
development framework programme . The rules for the
participation of undertakings, research centres and
universities in European Community research,
technological development and demonstration activities
and in research and training activities of the European
Atomic Energy Community, are set out in Council Decisions
94 / 763 / EC and 94 / 76 1 / Euratom of 21 November

1994 (').

Has the Commission had any correspondence with the
British Government regarding Britain's recent decision that
it had been wrong to take VAT from sports clubs ? What is
the Commission's position on this issue ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 1995 )

Following consultation with the Commission, the United
Kingdom Government introduced changes to British VAT
legislation relating to the treatment of supplies made by
sports clubs . Under previous provisions, such supplies were
taxed under derogation from the Sixth VAT Directive,
which otherwise provides for the exemption of certain
services closely linked to sports or physical education,
supplied by non-profit making organizations to those taking
part in such activities . That derogation has since been
abolished and the United Kingdom has now provided for the
exemption of these services in accordance with the Sixth
Directive .

No C 179 / 22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-427 / 95

by Richard Balfe ( PSE ) and Shaun Spiers ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 199 5 )

( 95 / C 179 / 44 )

Subject : Millennium budget

Bearing in mind the dawning of the new millennium on

1 January 2000 and the importance that this could
symbolically have for all States in the European Union, is the
Commission prepared to consider opening a budget line to
finance European-level events in this connection ?

authorities themselves which decided that the dispensation
from legal requirements was justified and ' suggested ' that
the private company in question should apply for it, the
' suggestion ' was made on the bizarre grounds that, since the
current environmental situation was so bad, anything that
might help to improve it would be welcome — for which
reason there was no need to carry out studies or assess
impact !

Without prejudice to the priority treatment which the
matter needs to be given by the Member State concerned,
nor to a consistent interpretation of the subsidiarity
principle, though in recognition of the need for Community
vigilance over environmental issues, could the Commission
say whether or not, in view of the situation, it should ask for
an explanation and, possibly, deliver an opinion ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard
on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission
( 12 April 1995 ) (5 April 1995 )

No decision has yet been taken regarding events to mark the
dawning of the new millennium, so the Commission has not
yet seen fit to ask for a special budget item either . But when
the time is ripe ( not before 1998 ), if decisions to organize
celebrations are taken, then it will be essential to see that the
requisite resources are available .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-434 / 95

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

Contrary to what is claimed in the written question under
consideration, the contacts that the Commission has had
with the Portuguese authorities indicate that they intend to
subject the Expo 98 project to an environmental impact
assessment in accordance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (').

At present, there is then no evidence of any infringement of
this Directive by Portugal .

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

( 95 / C 179 / 45 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-444 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

Subject : Expo ' 98 and the granting of a dispensation from

environmental impact studies and assessment

Expo ' 98 is an undertaking which, in the eastern part of
Lisbon, will have a major impact from many different points
of view and on the environment in particular .

The relevant planning application was considered by a

monitoring commitee which includes a representative from
the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources . A
degree of surprise and a great deal of concern were generated
by the revelation that, in the committee's opinion ( on the
basis of which the planning application was approved ), it
was considered justified that the company Parque Expo ' 98,
S.A. should have requested dispensation from the legal
requirements concerning environmental impact assessment
carried out on the basis of the necessary environmental
impact studies . In addition to the fact that it was the

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 46 )

Subject : Travel and tourism and the IGC

Is the Commission aware that in 1995 travel and tourism in

the EU is expected to provide directly and indirectly over 1 8
million jobs and ECU 902 billion in gross output and that by
the year 2005 it is projected that a further 1,6 million new
travel jobs will have been added ?

Given the importance of this service sector for the EU's
economy and for jobs, what steps is the Commission taking
to ensure that at the next IGC the Treaty of Rome will be
amended to incorporate a clear role for travel and
tourism ?

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 23

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 April 1995 ) (7 April 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the trends referred to by the
Honourable Member of Parliament and it is also aware of

their implications .

The possibility of changes to the EC Treaty to introduce
more precise provisions on tourism should be considered in
the context of declaration No 1 appended to the Final Act of
the Treaty on European Union, which states that ' the
question of introducing into the Treaty establishing the
European Community titles relating to the spheres referred
to in Article 3(t ) of that Treaty will be examined, in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article N(2 ) of
the Treaty on European Union, on the basis of a report
which the Commission will submit to the Council by 1996
at the latest '. Under these conditions, the Commission will
examine this question in the general context of the approach
to be taken at the 1996 intergovernmental conference .

The Commission has just adopted a Green Paper on the role
of the Community regarding tourism which, given the
possible options, enables the future outlook in the matter to
be presented .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-445 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 47 )

Subject : UK Objective 3, 1994 — 1996

According to an evaluation, the European Social Fund in the
last programming period was mainly successful for
improvement in qualifications, appropriateness of training
and high employment outcomes in certain programmes .

However, problems still continue for early leavers and low
employment rates overall, possibly due to difficult economic
conditions . Further employment outcomes were less
successful for vocational guidance and advice .

What steps will the Commission therefore take to ensure
that training and vocational guidance translates into a real
increase in jobs so that the 1994 — 19 96 programme can be
more successful than the programme from 1989 — 1993 ?

The Commission tries to ensure that assistance from the

European Social Fund ( ESF ) is additional to the spending
undertaken by the Member States, and is concentrated on
the most important needs and most effective operations .
This is the intention not just under Objective 3, but under all
five objectives .

Better ' value for money ' for the actions co-financed by the
ESF under Objective 3 in the United Kingdom will only be
achieved by a more labour-market oriented approach . In
partnership with the British authorities, the Commission
has made provision for this in the programme for
1994 — 1996 . The monitoring committees which oversee the
implementation of activities look for value for money, and
propose any necessary modifications in the light of changes
in the labour market .

A mechanism has been established to ensure coordination of

projects at regional and local levels . Regional coordinating
groups will be set up for each region within the United
Kingdom and each group will consider and make
recommendations to the Monitoring Committee on the
Objective 3 project proposals for its region . The intention is
to promote an exchange of information between the
Objective 3 committee and the committees overseeing the
other objectives, so as to ensure a proper correlation of the
various types of assistance offered by the ESF and also by the
other Structural Funds .

One aspect which the Commission and the UK consider
important, is the ' pathways to integration '. This is an
integrated package of measures leading from labour market
exclusion to gainful employment to help people to obtain
access to education, to provide them with the necessary
skills to enter the training system, and, most important, to
help them get and keep real jobs .

The Commission, with the UK authorities, will continue to
monitor the evolution of the labour market in the United

Kingdom, and the role of the ESF .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-447 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 48 )

Subject : Manslaughter at work

According to the UK Law Commission, there have been over
5 000 workplace deaths in the last 1 0 years but only one
criminal prosecution for manslaughter .

No C 179 / 24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Will the Commission consider an action programme under Answer
the White Paper on social policy to ensure that employers ' (7 une 1995 )
liability for the deaths of employees is taken more
seriously ?

On 11 December 1989 the Council adopted Directive
89 / 662 / EEC (') adjusting the veterinary checks applicable
to trade to the single market, and in particular to the
elimination of intra-Community borders .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

Penal law is within the competence of the Member

States .

However, the Commission takes very seriously the need to
ensure respect for Community law, and in particular health
and safety legislation . Member States have to ensure that
this is fully enforced through appropriate systems of control
or sanctions which are effective in practice and have a
deterrent value .

The question put by the Honourable Member is therefore
not a matter for the Council, but primarily a matter of
proper cooperation between the Member States and, if
necessary, for the Commission, which has the power if
necessary to take any appropriate measures, pursuant in
particular to Article 8 of the said Directive, notably by
carrying out an on-the-spot inspection .

The Council also adopted, on 15 July 1991, Directive
91 / 492 / EEC ( 2 ) laying down the health conditions for the
production and placing on the market of live bivalve
molluscs .

The latter Directive refers to the rules governing veterinary
checks laid down in Directive 89 / 662 / EEC, namely close
cooperation between Member States of origin and of
destination and notification of the Commission in the event

of irregularities likely to trigger a Community procedure is
defined in Article 8 of the said Directive .

The Commission's white paper on European social particular to Article 8 of the said
policy (') set out a number of initiatives which the carrying out an on-the-spot
Commission is taking for a more effective application of
Community law . These do not however include the action
programme suggested by the Honourable Member . (') OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 13 .
(-) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p . 1 .

(M COM(94 ) 333, 27 . 7 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-464 / 95

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-453 / 95 ( 95 / C 179 / 50 )

by Winifred E wing ( ARE )

to the Council

( 24 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 49 )

Subject : Scallops from Scotland

The Belgian Health Minister recently issued the second
warning in four years about the safety of scallops from
mainland Scotland and Orkney, after finding paralytic
shellfish poison ( PSP ) contaminating a recent shipment . Has
the Belgian minister supplied the necessary information to
back his action, in particular the identity of the toxins
involved and of the organisms which produce them, and can
the Council justify his action ?

Subject : Proposed new system for establishing the
Community nature of transported goods

What is the Commission's view of the claim by Clecat, the
European forwarding agents organization, that goods
transported by ship to European ports should not in theory
be Community goods, and that this should also apply to
goods which are loaded in the first port of call and
subsequently discharged in another European port ?

Does the Commission agree that in such cases the
Community nature of the goods must always be established
by the customs authority, whereas the current system
whereby transport between two European ports is in
principle Community in nature causes considerable
confusion and non-verification of documents ?

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 25

Does the Commission intend to adopt a new system on these
lines within the near future ?

If so, when ?

Can the Commission say whether the relevant Community
legislation has been complied with, particularly as regards
mass redundancy ?

If not, why not ? Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 1995 )

The Commission accepts that the current arrangements for
transport by sea are complicated as both Community and
non-Community goods can be transported in the same ship .
For non-Community goods customs provisions must be
applied but Community status must be granted and
preserved for Community goods . However, in cases where
shipping companies act as principals, within these
arrangements there is scope for simplified procedures using
ships manifests avoiding the problem of non-discharge of
transit documents .

The Commission cannot support the proposal of Clecat to
revert to the situation pertaining prior to the completion of
the single market . To do so would be to negate one of the
main benefits of the single market which is the abolition of
routine customs controls on Community goods .

The Commission is of the opinion that in the case raised by
the Honourable Member it does not appear that an
infringement to Community legislation exists .

From the information available, it seems that the agreement
cited in the question arises out of the ordinary relationship
between the organizations concerned within the national
framework .

Directive 75 / 129 / EEC on the approximation of the laws of
the Member States relating to collective redundancies ( ')
excludes crews of sea-going vessels from its scope of
application .

(M OJ No L 48, 22 . 2 . 1975 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-469 / 95

by Gipo Farassino ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-466 / 95 ( 95 / C 179 / 52 )

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 51

Subject : Agreements regulating the employment of the

Belgian contingent of seamen sailing under the flag
of Luxembourg

On 31 December 1990, an agreement was signed between
the ' Union Belge des Ouvriers de Transport ( FGTB )', ' Les
ouvriers Chrétiens de Transport et de Diamant ( CSC )' and
the ' Union des Amateurs belges asbl ' regulating employment
in the Belgian merchant navy following its transfer to the
Luxembourg navy .

Can the Commission say whether this agreement has been
implemented in accordance with the agreed provisions ?

If it has not, can the Belgian or the Luxembourg
Government be held responsible for this ?

Subject : Measures to assist European beekeepers

According to the latest figures there are 435 000 beekeepers
in the European Union, including 13 000 specialists . They
produce on average 1 25 000 tonnes of honey per year, while
consumption is about twice that amount .

The amount of honey imported is increasing, while the

number of hives is decreasing ; furthermore, the GATT
agreement provides for greater opening up of the markets
via a 36 % reduction in the customs tariff over six years,
which will very probably lead to a further increase in
imports, a drop in internal prices and many small producers
unable to withstand the competition and going out of
business .

The consequences will be serious not only because of
increased dependence on third countries, but because of the
reduction in the bees ' vital pollinating activity which will
lead to a drop in the yield of crops which rely on it and the
deterioration of many environments, particularly mountain

areas .

No C 179 / 26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Does the Commission intend to support beekeepers through
the following measures :

1, the introduction of a pollination premium to offset the
cost of winter feeding ;

2, the introduction of aid to limit loss of income resulting
from the GATT agreement for professional
beekeepers ;

3, adaptation of the rules on the marketing of honey

( Directive 74 / 409 / EEC f 1 )) to provide for identification
of country of origin and greater market transparency ;

The removal of customs controls within the Union allows
many ' dummy ' import companies to avoid paying any VAT
at all, by not paying the rate in their own countries . The lack
of customs controls also encourages the under-billing of
goods, resulting in tax evasion which can be up to 50 % of
the real value .

This causes serious disruption to the market in Italy and the
Community as a whole, and serious losses to the Italian
treasury and also to exporting countries ( since under-billing
means a loss in direct taxes for the latter ).

4, a campaign against varroa mite disease ?

A dual market is created, with damaging effects not only in
(') OJ No L 221, 12 . 8 . 1974, p . 10 . economic terms but also in terms of public health, for Italian
farms and consumers .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 199 S )

The preliminary conclusions reached on this subject are
based on the details provided in the Commission's
discussion paper on the situation of European
apiculture (').

This document provides for the implementation of certain
support measures for apiculture . However, it appears that
measures such as the creation of a specific market
organization for honey and the adoption of a system of
direct aid do not overcome all of the problems being
encountered in this sector .

With regard to measures to curb varroasis, these can be
taken up in a framework regulation on apiculture .

As for marketing standards for honey, the Commission is
currently working on a revision of the existing legislation in
accordance with the conclusions of the European Council at
Edinburgh in December 1992 .

(') COM(94 ) 256 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-470 / 95

by Gipo Farassino ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

At a recent meeting the vice-chairman of the French
livestock breeders ' association, Robert Bories, said that over
70 % of meat exported to Italy was evading the tax
authorities .

The damage to the European Union is obvious .

What does the Commission intend to do to stamp out this
tax evasion ?

Will the Commission call on Member States, in particularly
Italy, to start to bring their VAT rates into line with the
European reference rate ?

Does the Commission intend to introduce extra controls to

prevent tax evasion ?

Does the Commission intend to introduce a system of dual
health documents ( until the Community programme Animo
is established ), whereby one copy goes with the animal
during transport and another copy is sent ( by post, fax or
otherwise ) by the veterinary services on the country of
departure to those in the country of destination ?

Could the above measures help to improve fiscal
control ?

( 95 / C 179 / 53 )
Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Application of different VAT rates for livestock (6 April 1995 )

production in the Member States of the European
Union

In the Member States of the Union the VAT rate applied to
the sale of beef and veal and pigmeat ranges from 0 % in the
United Kingdom and Ireland to 5,5 % in France right up to

19 % in Italy .

It is an essential feature of the Community VAT system that
VAT controls and associated enquiries into cases of fiscal
fraud are primarily the responsibility of the tax authorities
of Member States . Their work is, however, reinforced by a

13 . 7 . 95 | EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 27

number of measures proposed by the Commission and
adopted at Community level to provide the legislative and
administrative framework necessary to enable the national
authorities to cooperate with and provide assistance to each
other — notably in relation to intra Community trade —
thereby ensuring that Community VAT law is implemented
correctly throughout the Community .

The Commission is, furthermore, aware of the specific
problems raised by the Honourable Member, and of the
steps taken by the Italian tax administration, in cooperation
with the authorities of the other Member States . The

Commission is satisfied that the administrative cooperation
machinery which it has put in place is sufficient to enable the
Italian authorities to deal effectively with such problems .
The Commission and the Member States together
continuously monitor the operation of the administrative
cooperation arrangements within the appropriate
committees .

On the question of VAT rates, the Commission would
remind the Honourable Member that under Community
VAT legislation, a reduced rate of VAT may be applied to
supplies of foodstuffs as well as products, including live
animals, usually intended for the preparation of foodstuffs .
Use of the reduced rate is, however, optional . The decision
whether or not to apply reduced rates to such supplies in
Italy is entirely the responsibility of the Italian
authorities .

The Commission would, finally, point out that the Animo
system mentioned by the Honourable Member, already
operates throughout the Community of 12 with the notable
exception of Italy . Austria, Finland and Sweden are
expected to become fully associated with Animo shortly .
Under the system, the local authorities of the place of
dispatch send a message by computer to the authorities of
the place of arrival in respect of each intra-Community
movement of live animals or certain animal products . A
copy of this message is also sent to the central authorities of
the Member State of destination and transit . Between

30 000 and 60 000 messages are exchanged each month
without prejudice to the issue of a veterinary certificate
which also accompanies the animals during transport . It
should be noted, however, that while Member States may
decide to use the information contained in the network in

other contexts, the Animo system itself was designed solely
for the purpose of animal health controls .

The Commission aims constantly to improve the quality of
the information exchanged in the Animo system ( which will
be re-evaluated before April 1996 ). The setting-up of the
network throughout the Community came up against
numerous difficulties of a technical or administrative

nature . Experience showed, however, that all of these
difficulties were capable of being overcome in all Member
States except Italy .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-473 / 95

by Mikko Rönnholm ( PSE ) and

Reynoldh Furustrand ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 54 )

Subject : The application of weights and dimensions of

heavy goods vehicles to sparsely populated
Member States

Finland and Sweden were not represented in the European
Parliament when it discussed the application of weights and
dimensions of heavy goods vehicles in Member States .
Probably for this reason, the special conditions of the
sparsely populated Nordic countries were not sufficiently
apparent . Finland and Sweden have applied their own
standards for so long that the infrastructure and equipment
have been entirely renewed .

If in the countries concerned transport equipment had
to be renewed because of EU Directives, transport costs,
which are already exceptionally high, would rise,
with a detrimental impact on economic growth and
unemployment . The fragile environment would be strained
even further by higher emission levels .

In view of the above, does the Transport Commissioner, in
accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, intend to
introduce measures which would allow existing standards
on weights and dimensions to be applied in sparsely
populated countries ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

It is of course correct to say that neither Finland nor Sweden
were formally represented in the Parliament when the
Commission's proposal to harmonize the weights and
dimensions of motor vehicles and vehicle combinations over

3,5 tonnes in weight was first represented . However, the
views of these countries were already well-known, both to
the Parliament and to the Commission .

This and other considerations resulted in provisions in
Article 4 ( 4 ) of the current proposal which were drafted by
the Commission to allow for a flexible approach for those
transport operations that do not significantly affect
international competition inter alia in sparsely populated
regions .

Whilst the Commission recognizes the concerns reflected in
the question, it is of the opinion that the proposal has the
flexibility necessary to accommodate the concern expressed
by the Honourable Members .

No C 179 / 28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-485 / 95

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 55 )

Subject : Discriminatory advertising in Belgium

Advertisements have appeared in the Belgian press stating
that an international team based in Brussels is looking for
secretaries of specific nationalities : Italian, Portuguese,
Spanish, Greek, German, Luxembourgish, Dutch or
Danish .

As this is in clear contravention of Article 48 of the Treaty of
Rome, does the failure to suppress such advertisements not
represent a dereliction of duty on the part of the Belgian
Government, to uphold and enforce the Treaty ? What steps
can the Commission take to prevent such discrimination ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

A job advertisement which specifies the nationality which
the employer wishes to recruit is not necessarily in
contravention of the principles governing the free
movement of workers . The employer may need to have
certain nationalities on his ' team ' to fulfil specific needs or
who have specific knowledge about individual Member
States . In the absence of further details, the Commission
cannot say whether this is the case here . However, the
Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it

continues to be particularly concerned to ensure that the
Member States observe the principle of equal treatment as
regards access to employment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-488 / 95

by Robin Teverson ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 56 )

to find that this is not happening with producers in other
Member States who, after the same notification period,
suddenly have difficulties .

Article 7 of this Directive states that Commission experts
will carry out inspections to ensure proper implementation
of these standards in ALL Member States . When does the

Commission intend to carry out these inspections and what
are the consequences for those who fail the inspection ?

(') OJ No L 74, 19 . 3 . 1988, p . 83 .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

All Member States have notified the Commission that they
have transposed Council Directive 88 / 166 / EEC into
national law .

The Commission is not aware of the problems referred to by
the Honourable Member, but if he would provide the
Commission with the necessary details the matter will be
taken up with the Member States concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-489 / 95

by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 57 )

Subject : Sustainable tourism

Does the Commission have statistics concerning the
amounts spent by European industry, local authorities, etc .
in the tourist sector on the protection of the natural
environment, in accordance with the concept of sustainable
tourism ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Directive 88 / 166 / EEC on battery cage regulations on

and construction ( 21 April 1995 )

and construction

Directive 88 / 166 / EEC (') should have been implemented in
all EU Member States ( recent enlargement countries
excepted ) by 1 January 1995 . After having had seven years
to implement the requirements, it now transpires that some
countries — Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy — are not able
to do so fully . Our producers in the UK have invested great
sums to ensure that these new regulations are in place only

The Commission is aware that there are a great many
initiatives by the tourism industry to improve its
environmental performance . These include the green globe
scheme being developed by the world travel and tourism
council and a project run by the international hotels
environment initiative, which has received Commission

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 29

funds, to raise awareness of environmental actions in the
hotel sector . In addition in the context of its action plan
under Decision 92 / 421 / EEC (') the Commission gave
support to several projects in this field . It has recently
produced a number of publications and studies which
publicise projects funded in the 1 992 — 1 993 period relating
to sustainable tourism . These documents are forwarded to

the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of the

Parliament .

However given the diversity of the tourism industry, the
complex nature of tourism development, and the ill defined
concept of ' sustainable tourism ' it is not possible to specify
expenditure relating to this area .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-498 / 95

by Fausto Bertinotti ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 58 )

Subject : Health of air passengers

According to information published by ' USA Today ', 25
countries require airline companies to spray aircraft and
passengers with insecticide on arrival at their airports . The
article claims that the substance sprayed by the aircraft's
ventilation system is J-phenolthrin, which is apparently
harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin . The
product's label warns users not to inhale the fumes and to
avoid contact with skin and eyes .

The spraying of this product is required by American
Samoa, Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Cape Verde, Chile,
Congo, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Grenada, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Mexico, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, the
Seychelles, Santa Lucia, Trinidad, Tobago and Yemen .

Does the Commission know whether such measures are

applied in the Member States ? If so, which Member
States ?

Does the Commission not consider that such measures are

harmful to the health of passengers, who should be
adequately informed ?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

guarantee the health protection of passengers and fulfil the
obligation to provide them with adequate information on
flights ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

The Commission can confirm that no Member State

requires the spraying of insecticide on aircraft while
passengers are on board .

The Commission considers the practice of spraying
insecticide while passengers are on board to be at least of
discomfort for passengers and potentially injurious to their
health . However, the current international standards and
recommended practices — facilitation ( Annex 9 to the
Convention on International Civil Aviation ) do not require
passengers to be informed prior to the flight that their flight
is subject to spraying .

The Commission is involved in the current discussions
within ECAC ( 21 —22 February 1995 ) on the subject and
will participate in the forthcoming meeting of the
International Civil Aviation Organization facilitation
session of 18 — 22 April 1995 in Montreal where this issue
will be raised . The Commission is currently looking at the
whole aspect of air cabin quality which includes insecticide
spraying . It will soon engage in technical discussions with
the aviation industry on the matter and will propose, if
necessary, relevant measures in order to inform the
passengers and guarantee an optimal level of protection .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-501 / 95

by Carmen Fraga Estévez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 59 )

Subject : NAFO Scientific and Technical Committee

The Scientific and Technical Committee of NAFO is the

main body for scientific assessment of everything related to
the conservation of fish stocks in NAFO waters and is

principally concerned with establishing TACs .

Can the Commission say what is the composition of the
Committee, i.e . how many scientists, of what nationality
does it comprise ?

No C 179 / 30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 March 1995 )

Each member of NAFO ( Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark
on behalf of Faroe Islands and Greenland, Estonia, the
Community, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Latvia,
Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Rumania and Russia ) is
entitled to one representative on the scientific council, and
an alternate to this representative . Each member is
furthermore entitled to any number of experts ( on national
expenses ) which the country may wish to send .

The Community has in recent years been represented by
about 12 scientists ( from Denmark, France, Germany,
Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom ). The Community
holds the chair of the scientific council and has recently held
the chair of the standing committee on fisheries science .

The other main contributors to the scientific council are

Canada ( 20— 25 participants ), Greenland ( about five
participants ), Russia ( about five participants ). There are
usually observers from the United States present .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-507 / 95

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 Februarv 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 60 )

Subject : JRC Environment Institute

The activities, resources and objectives of the Joint Research
Centre have provoked general criticism and there is
considerable ignorance about its work . Scientists consider
that it would be much more effective if the Commission

awarded more external contracts to genuine research teams
on the different sectors . But in this general debate there is
very little information on the work of certain institutions
such as the Environment Institute . It is assumed that its

scientific and technical abilities are taken into account by
public opinion, the Commission and the Governments in
their decision making . But there is very little awareness of
this scientific support . Does the Commission intend to take
any action to publicize the activities of the Environment
Institute ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

The impression reported by the Honourable Member,
namely ignorance of the activities and hence the objectives

of the Joint Research Centre ( JRC ) is not an isolated one and
has already been heard from laboratories and firms .
Moreover, this impression is not confined to the
Environment Institute, the object of the question .

It is the intention of the new Commission to change this
image which gives an unfortunate impression of the work
carried out in cooperation with external research teams,
whether they belong to approved laboratories or leading
businesses in the field .

On the specific question of environmental research
activities, it is important to point out that one third of JRC
budgets is allocated to this field, thus indicating an even
greater priority than in the fourth framework programme of
research and development where the environment accounts
for 9% .

It should be noted, moreover, that the Environment Institute
is very open to the outside world of research since it employs
around 200 external partners ( visiting fellows, national
experts, scholarship holders and trainees ) which places it
clearly at the head of the eight institutes making up the
JRC .

Finally, this institute is so far a party to 31 external
cooperation contracts, 13 of which are multilateral, 15
bilateral and three in the Eureka framework .

As a means of overcoming the lack of information for those
parties interested in its activities, this institute ( and indeed
the JRC as a whole ) has now been instructed to circulate a
newsletter on the Internet network .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-508 / 95

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 61 )

Subject : Public awareness of biotechnological issues

In 1992 the Commission announced ' the setting-up and
running of a network of teachers and researchers designed
to make the public more aware of the issues at stake in
biotechnology ' ( 26th General Report, point 290 ). Can the
Commission say what activities have been undertaken and
what other steps it intends to take to achieve informed and
responsible public opinion in this area, as if it continues in
this way the European Union will become an area of
inquisitorial prohibitions on research and development ?

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 31

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The Commission has supported a number of initiatives to
help raise public awareness of biotechnology which have
been described in its communication of 1 June 1994 (').

These have included support for a European Federation of
Biotechnology ( EFB ) task group on public perceptions of
biotechnology which is a network of invited experts
from academia, industry, consumer and environmental
organizations and the media . This task group organized a
conference on ' biotechnology in European society ' in
September 1994 and has published several briefing papers
on biotechnology which are available on request .

The specific programme of research and technological
development in the field of biotechnology ( 1994 — 1998 )
includes actions relating to public perception under
objectives to be treated by means of horizontal activities .
These will include specialized working groups to prepare ad
hoc activities, like workshops, conferences, reports and
surveys important for the public perception of
biotechnology . Appropriate and timely information about
research objectives, scientific breakthroughs, knowledge,
added value and benefits and obstacles will be provided .

(M COM(94 ) 219 final .

food intolerance ) and one project ( mechanisms of food
intolerance : relationship between gut mucosal integrity,
allergy and adverse reactions — contract AGRF-0020 ) deal
with food allergies .

The study should be finalized this year and the final report
will be published and available from the Commission . The
project is finished and its results are published in various
scientific journals ( e.g . Toxicology 1994, Atkinson,
Pharmacol . Toxicol . 1 993, Grigoriadou etal . and journal of
science of food and agriculture 1994, Oleszek et ai ),
through presentations at scientific conferences and through
the Flair-FLOW network to the general public .

In the programme AAIR ( agriculture and agro-industrial
research ), two scientific projects deal with this subject
( chemical composition and structure of food constituents :
defining allergenic potential — contract AIR 0970 and
towards improved management of food allergy and
intolerance through the establishment of a European
network of food intolerance databanks [ EFID ] — contract
AIR 1521 ). Both projects are running and their results will
be published in due course .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-518 / 95

by James Janssen van Raay ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

95 / C 179 / 63 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-511 / 95

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission
Subject : Europe Agreements

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 62 )

Subject : Food allergies

1 . As a result of the Europe Agreements, do exports and
investments from European companies have better access to
the CEEC markets than exports and investments from other
countries ( such as the United States and Japan )?

The research and technological development programme in
the field of food science and technology ( 1989 — 1993 ) ( [ ) 2, ( a ) If so, in what ways and to what extent does this give
includes four studies on food allergies . Where have the European companies a compétitive advantage ?
results of these studies been published ?

( b ) If not, why not ?

(») OJ No L 200, 13 . 7 . 1989, p . 18 .

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 March 1995 )
( 11 April 1995 )

In the programme Flair ( food linked agro-industrial
research ), one study ( nutritional factors in food allergies and

Europe agreements are association agreements establishing
close political, economic and cultural links between the

No C 179 / 32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

European Union and a number of central European
countries ( CEC ) namely Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria . They include among other
things preferential trade relations, leading to free trade areas
as defined in article XXIV of the GATT . The advantage for
Community exporters as compared to exporters from
countries which have not concluded similar agreements is
the difference between the normal import duties applied by
the CEC and the reduced or zero tariffs applied by them on
imports from the Community according to the Europe
agreements as well as the non-application or better
treatment in case of quantitative restrictions . Business
relations will further benefit from the overall far-reaching
economic integration including cooperation in areas such
as technical standards and certificates, for which the
agreements provide and which will be implemented
progressively during transition periods .

The agreements also include a number of articles which are
significant for investments such as national treatment of
enterprises when establishing themselves in the territory of
the other party, liberalization of capital transfers in respect
of investments, commitment by the CEC to introduce and
apply competition and state aid rules and legislation for the
protection of intellectual, commercial and industrial
property similar to that applying in the Community and
cooperation to promote investments .

Several central European countries have concluded free
trade agreements between themselves . Also other third
countries, including EFTA countries, concluded free trade
agreements with central European countries . However, as
far as the Commission is aware, the countries but may have
agreements on some specific aspects such as protection of
intellectual property or investment promotion .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-527 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1995 )

The Sarawak mission report cited by the Honourable
Member stated that achievement of the sustainable

management of the forests of Sarawak depend on immediate
action in three respects :

( 1 ) the staff of the forest department needed to be
comprehensively strengthened ;

( 2 ) the annual rate of harvesting needed to be phased down
to a figure corresponding to the sustainable yield
( about 9,2 million m 3 );

( 3 ) the standards of catchment protection in the Hill
Dipterocarp timber production forests needed to be
improved .

At the November 1991 International Tropical Timber
Organization Council at Yokohama, Malaysia stated
Sarawak's commitment to :

( 1 ) increase totally protected areas ( national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries ) from 0,28 million ha to 1 million
ha ;

( 2 ) increase the permanent forest estate area from 4,5
million ha to 6 million ha ;

( 3 ) decrease the productivity of permanent forest estate by
3 million m 3 in two years .

The Commission welcomed these commitments which the

Malaysian Government and the Sarawak State Government
developed on the basis of the ITTO mission report .
The Commission has no confirmation of the actual

implementation of these commitments . Nevertheless
members are committed to present, during ITTO Council
sessions, national reports on their efforts to achieve Target
2000 policy . In this context it must also be noted that the
next ITTO Council, scheduled in Ghana, shall review the
implementation of such a policy . The Commission hopes
that Malaysia will present a comprehensive report,
including Sarawak .

( 95 / C 179 / 64 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-528 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

Subject : Implementation of the ITTO recommendations (1 March 1995 )

regarding sustainable forest management in
Sarawak

T o what extent is the Commission satisfied that the Sarawak

State Government has fulfilled the recommendations of the

ITTO Sarawak mission report ( May 1990 ) and Decision
3(IX ) of the ITTO Council in November 1990 ?

( 95 / C 179 / 65 )

Subject : Imports of endangered species

Charges have been made by the Environmental
Investigation Agency in London that the EU is the world's
biggest importer of endangered animal and vegetable

13 . 7 . 95 I tN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 33

species, for which trade is officially banned ( e.g . tiger WRITTEN QUESTION E-538 / 95
organs, parrots, reptile skins, turtles etc .). Do these charges by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )
have substance ? If so, what is the Commission doing to stop
to the Commission
this law-breaking ?

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 66 )

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 April 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the charges but would observe
that the report concerned would appear to be based on a
number of misconceptions about the current legal situation
within the Community .

The report may give the wrong impression that the
convention on international trade in endangered species of
wild fauna and flora ( Cites ) is only about prohibitions of
trade in endangered species . It is therefore worth
mentioning that Cites also regulates legitimate trade in
numerous non-endangered species, many of which are
indeed traded by the Community .

The report would further appear to contradict itself in that it
criticizes Community enforcement of Cites and illustrates
this by a list of examples of attempted illegal imports that
were subject to seizures and confiscations by the authorities
of the Member States .

There certainly is scope for an improved implementation of
Cites by the vast majority of parties to the convention . It
should in this context be noted that the Community as such
is not a party to the convention because of a still insufficient
number of ratifications of a 1983 amendment to the

convention that would allow Community accession .
However it autonomously implements the convention since

1984 under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 ( ] ).

With a view to improving the Community's implementation
of Cites, the Commission proposed a comprehensive new
regulation on the possession of and trade in specimens of
species of wild fauna and flora ( 2 ) in December 1991 . This
proposal has not yet been adopted by the Council .

At the November 1994 meeting of the conference of the
parties to the convention, the Community announced its
intention to establish a working group of the committee on
the convention, which is to address enforcement issues .

Subject : Penalties for parking offences

The French Minister of Transport, the President-in-Office
of the Council, has issued a decree, applicable in cities
throughout France, which increases the penalties for
parking offences .

Given that the decree will create differences in the treatment
of motorists and serious problems for the transport of goods
by road and distribution operations in cities, does the
Commission not agree that it should request the French
authorities, as a matter of urgency, to suspend the
implementation of the decree and does it not also consider
that it should take action, by means of a framework
Directive, to deal with the real problems that parking causes
in all European cities ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )

Under current Community law, penalties for illegal parking
— including the nature of the penalty, its severity and the
way infringements are determined — are covered by
national legislation in the Member States .

Accordingly, the existence of different arrangements within
the European Union does not, in itself, constitute
discrimination . The Commission must nonetheless ensure

that, for a given infringement, there is no discrimination in
applying penalties to nationals from other Member States
and to citizens of the country in which the infringement

occurs .

The Treaty on European Union, and notably Title VI on
cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, made
no changes in this respect .

the convention, which is to address enforcement issues . The legislation Commission in this has area no . It plans feels that to propose, in accordance new Community with the

principle of subsidiarity, national, regional or local
(') OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 . authorities are in a better position to take appropraite

( 2 ) OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 ; OJ No C 131, 12 . 5 . 1994 . measures to deal with particular situations .

( 2 ) OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 ; OJ No C 131, 12 . 5 . 1994 .

No C 179 / 34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-541 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 67 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-545 / 95

by Frank Vanhecke ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 68 )

Subject : Machine tools Subject : Language use

In order to boost economic recovery and improve the
competitiveness of the Community's engineering industry,
tax and depreciation incentives are the most effective means
of combating the crisis . In this connection, it should be
noted that the Community's Esprit and Brite-Euram
programmes are run separately, which seriously restricts
their effectiveness .

1 . Will the Commission harmonize these programmes and
their management ?

2 . Will it hold fire on drafting new Directives, so as to
allow industry in the Community to assimilate existing
legislation ?

Will the Commission state how many of its staff have
French, English or German as their mother tongue, and how
many have each of the other official and working languages
of the European Union as mother tongue ?

In practice, work in the Commission is carried out in French,
English and German only . On what basis and by whom was
this decision taken ?

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1995 )

The breakdown by mother tongue of Commission officials
Answer given by Mr Bangemann and temporary staff ( OOPEC included ), paid from all

on behalf of the Commission budgets, is as follows :

( 18 April 1995 )

1 . The fourth framework programme ( 1994 — 1998 )
gives particular attention to the coordination of research of
interest to industry . Such coordination will take place both
within specific programmes ( focused clusters in information
and communication technologies and targeted research
actions in industrial and materials technologies ) and
between specific programmes in related areas . The latter
may involve synchronization of calls for proposals and
common screening of received proposals .

French

English

German

Other

5 245

1 804

1 806

6 916

Total 15 771

2 . The Directives on the approximation of the laws of
the Member States relating to machinery ( Directives
89 / 392 / EEC ('), 91 / 368 / EEC ( 2 ), 93 / 44 / EEC ( 3 ) and
93 / 68 / EEC ( 4 ) contain essential health and safety
requirements . The voluntary standards established by the
European standardization organizations are means to fulfil
those requirements . The Commission has no intention of
proposing additional measures .

The Commission would point out that Article 28(f ) of the
Staff Regulations makes a satisfactory knowledge of a
second Community language a condition of recruitment .
Article 12(e ) of the Conditions of Employment of Other
Servants of the European Communities lays down the same
requirement for temporary staff .

It is not true that work in the Commission departments is

requirements . The voluntary standards established by the carried out solely in French, English and German . In some
European standardization organizations are means to fulfil cases, the use of languages is determined by Regulation . The
those requirements . The Commission has no intention of Commission would refer in this connection to its Rules of
proposing additional measures . Procedure ( ] ), and in particular Article 16 . There is no

decision limiting the number of languages to be used . In
(!) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 . practice officials who the language have a command used depends of it . on the number of

( 2 ) OJ No L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 175, 19 . 7 . 1993 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 220, 31 . 8 . 1993 . (M OJ No L 230, 11 . 9 . 1993 .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION E-546 / 95

by Karel Dillen ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 69 )

Subject : Language use in official notices to staff of the

European Commission

On 23 January 1995, on the occasion of the beginning of the
term of office of the new European Commission, a message
was sent to staff by the Commission President, Mr Jacques
Santer .

This message was sent only in English, French and
German .

Can the Commission say why this short message was not
translated into the other official and working languages of
the European Union ?

Does the Commission not consider that this behaviour is in

flagrant contradiction of the statements by Commissioner
Van den Broek in the European Parliament debate on
language use on 19 January 1995 ?

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

According to Article 6 of Council Regulation No 1 of

15 April 1958 (') determining the languages to be used by
the European Economic Community, the institutions of the
Community may make stipulations concerning the use of
languages in their rules of procedure .

In practice, in staff matters the Commission uses all the
official languages for documents concerning the rights of
staff under the Staff Regulations and the implementing
rules . In the cases of general information the Commission
does not always use all the languages .

(') OJ No 17, 6 . 10 . 1958 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-548 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 70 )

Subject : Career advancement of EC officials

For the purposes of career advancement of EC officials, the
Staff Regulations provide for internal and external
competitions for the purpose of assessing aptitude levels and
drawing up lists accordingly .

However, officials frequently take leave on personal
grounds and subsequently return to their institution as
temporary staff with a higher grade than before, thereby
circumventing provisions of the Staff Regulations where
they provide for competitions for the purposes of career
advancement .

Will the Commission ensure compliance with the provisions
of the Staff Regulations and take prompt action to prevent
recourse to such practices with a view to filling available
posts for example, the post of Director in DG IX

( Commission ) which is currently vacant ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

Articles 29 ( 1 ) (a ) and 45 of the Staff Regulations lay down a
procedure for the promotion of Commission officials .
Internal competitions are organized periodically enabling
successful candidates to move up a category .

In no circumstances does the Commission take on an official

who is on leave on personal grounds as temporary staff,
since under the Staff Regulations staff members cannot be
assigned more than one administrative status at any one
time .

With respect to the vacant director post in DG IX, a vacancy
notice has been published for Commission staff but the
decision to fill the post has not yet been taken .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-559 / 95

bv Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

95 / C 179 / 71 )

Subject : Withdrawal of nuclear materials from
safeguards

Mindful of the commitment to openness made by the
President of the Commission in his inaugural speech of

17 January 1995, will the Commission explain why
the Energy Commissioner refused to provide details in
written answer E-2406 / 94 (') to my questions regarding
notifications made by the United Kingdom Government of
its intention to withdraw nuclear materials from the 1978

UK-Euratom-IAEA safeguards agreement ? Detailed
answers were provided by the UK Government in response
to questions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons .

No C 179 / 36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

These answers admitted that over 570 withdrawals have

taken place at the behest of the UK Government .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )
(') OJ No C 81, 3 . 4 . 1995, p . 30 .

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

Under Article 194 of the Euratom Treaty the Commission is
not at liberty to disclose detailed information which is
subject to a security system in accordance with provisions
laid down by a Member State .

Member States may however decide to disclose such
information, e.g . in response to questions submitted by
members of Parliament .

In the case mentioned by the Honourable Member, the
United Kingdom Government has indicated to the
Commission that the information transmitted has to be kept
confidential .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-563 / 95

by Richard Howitt ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 72 )

Subiect : EU project in Paraguay

The ALA Committee decided in September 1994 to approve
a project proposal from the Commission to fund a project in
support of sustainable development and protection of
indigenous habitats in the Paraguayan Chaco . The approval
was made under strong conditions which include the
Government of Paraguay to settle the indigenous peoples '
land claims in the region before the commencement of the
second ( operational ) phase .

In a press conference in Davos on 30 January 1 995, the
Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ramirez Boellner,
called the plan to award land rights to indigenous peoples a
' fantasy ' and questioned whether it would be reasonable to
give so much land to such a small population of the

country .

1 . What has been the reaction of the Commission to this

statement ?

2 . Has the first phase of the project already started and
how will it proceed ?

3 . How does the Commission expect to implement the
demarcation of indigenous landrights in Paraguay ?

The primary objective of the project cited to by the
Honourable Member is to cooperate in the sustainable
development of the Paraguayan Chaco, in harmony with the
regional development plans envisaged by the Paraguayan
Government .

The project has the following four main themes :

— development assistance ;

— support for Paraguayan communities ;

— protection of the ecosystem ;

— training in thèse fieids .

The Chaco is an extensive region with a surface area of
247 000 km 2, representing 61 % of the territory of
Paraguay . The project approved by the ALA ( Asia and Latin
America countries ) committee envisages the establishment
of nine Paraguayan ethnic communities ( roughly 900
families ) in an area of approximately 1 450 km 2 . This is an
appropriate surface area for the project's objectives, but
clearly does not refer to the entire lands of the Chaco as the
journalist's question in Davos would suggest .

As customary, the Commission will monitor activities to
ensure that the terms of the agreement are respected .

The project is following the normal procedure and the
selection of the technical assistance tetam responsible for
preparing the overall programme of operational activities
will soon be finalised . An expert on matters concerning
indigenous communities should be included in the technical
assistance team . The necessary instruments for the
establishment and concession of land titles will be

incorporated within the overall programme of operational
activities, in strict concurrence with the Paraguayan
Government, as is the case with other similar projects
located in San Pedro and Caaguazu .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-564 / 95

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 73 )

Subject : Sanctions imposed under Euratom

In the answer to Written Question 2408 / 94 ( L ), the Energy
Commissioner stated that since 1988 three sanctions have

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 37

been imposed under Article 38 of the Euratom Treaty
against installations operated by Exxon, the UK Atomic
Energy Authority ( UKAEA ) and the Commissariat à
l'Energie Atomique ( CEA ) in France .

1 . Which facilities were involved ?

2 . Exactly what sanctions have been applied ?

3 . What response has been made by Exxon, UKAEA and

CEA to the application of sanctions ?

4 . Can the Commission provide details of the anomalies
discovered ?

(') OJ No C 75, 27 . 3 . 19 95, p . 43 .

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 199 S )

For Exxon ( now ANF ) and UKAEA the names, type
of sanctions and details of the anomalies are given
in the Commission Decision 90 / 413 / Euratom (') and
92 / 1 94 / Eura torn of 4 March 1992 ( 2 ).

Concerning the CEA facility, a part of which is used for
defence purposes pursuant to Article 84 Euratom Treaty,
the Commission is not at liberty to disclose detailed
information .

Following the Commission Decisions, the anomalies have
been resolved to the Commission's satisfaction - in all three

cases . Additionally, in one case ( ANF ) the operator filed a
complaint at the European Court of Justice which upheld
the Commission sanction .

as required by the preamble, ensure that under the work
area headings of :

— energy production and consumptions

— transport

— production processes, including techniques for
preventing and reducing emissions and . pollution

— output and handling of waste

full information on the nuclear fuel chain from uranium ore

exploration, uranium processing, nuclear fuel fabrication,
nuclear materials transport, nuclear power plant operation,
nuclear reprocessing and waste handling facilities, and
airborne, aquatic and land discharges of radioactive
pollutants is comprehensively collected and published and
that excuses of commercial confidentiality and national
security sensitivities are not accepted as reasons for Member
States or commercial nuclear companies not providing the
data ?

Will the Commission also ensure that Article 2.4v(b ) on
the relevance of Council Regulation ( Euratom, EEC )
No 1588 / 90 of 11 June 1990 on the transmission of data
subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office
of the European Communities ( 2 ) is not used as a
justification for either the non-collection or non-publication
of such nuclear data ?

(') OJ No L 328, 20 . 12 . 1994, p . 58 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 151, 15 . 6 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

(') OJ No L 209, 8 . 8 . 1990 . on behalf of the Commission
(-) OJ No L 88, 3 . 4 . 1992 .
(6 April 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-565 / 95

by Nuala Ahern ( V )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 74 )

Subject : Uranium — full public information on nuclear fuel

chain

Will the Commission, in consultation with Parliament over
Council Decision 94 / 808 / EC ( 1 ) on the adoption of a
four-year development programme ( 1994 — 1997 ) relative
to the environmental component of Community statistics,

Environment statistics potentially cover a very wide area
and, given the limited resources available, Flurostat is
concentrating its effort in areas which have been indicated as
priority for the Community . These include C0 2 emissions,
green accounting, environmental pressure indicators and
the introduction of an environmental component into
Community statistics . The nuclear fuel cycle is not included,
though the pressure indicators group of experts may decide
that it should be .

This does not mean that no information is available within

the Commission on the nuclear industry, and its potential
impact on the environment . Eurostat's energy unit publishes
annual data on the operation of nuclear power stations, and
the production of electricity based on nuclear energy, and
some data on imports and exports of nuclear materials are
available in the Community's foreign trade statistics .

No C 179 / 38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Reports are published periodically on discharges from
nuclear power stations and spent fuel reprocessing plants of
which the latest is report EUR 15928 . Additional
publications include a series giving representative
contamination levels in the Member States, of which the
latest report is EUR 12254 . Both of these series were much
delayed due to changes in priorities following the Chernobyl
accident and further reports are already in preparation .
Furthermore, occasional reports resulting from specific
projects are published . These include reviews of radioactive
contamination in North European marine waters ( EUR
12483 ) and in the Mediterranean ( EUR 15564 ). The
Commission also publishes every three years a report on the
situation of radioactive waste ( communication and third
report from the Commission on the present situation and
prospects for radioactive waste management in the
European Community ( l )). Moreover, data on the
functioning of nuclear power stations is also available in the
specialized publications of the Member States .

While Eurostat aims in all its work to maximize the useful

information made available to the public, it is legally bound
to take account of statistical confidentiality, in accordance
with Community law . However, in general, Regulation

( EEC ) No 1588 / 90 is not a tool to restrict statistical
information . Data which could not be published at national
level for reasons of statistical confidentiality can in many
cases be aggregated at Community level with data from
other Member States in such a way that the result achieved is
no longer restricted . Therefore Regulation ( EEC )
No 1588 / 90 authorizing the transmission of such data to
Eurostat is a tool for more information and more

transparency with the Community .

(') COM(93 ) 88 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 75 / 95

by Freddy Blak ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

The creation and management of sheltered employment
provision for disabled people is primarily the responsibility
of Member States .

However the following Community initiatives are relevant
to developments in this area :

— Council recommendation 86 / 379 / EEC of 24 July 1986

on the employment of disabled people in the
Community (') includes a guideline framework of
possible measures proposed by the Commission for
positive action to promote employment and vocational
training . This suggests that Member States should
review the situation with regard to sheltered
employment and sheltered occupation and draw up
plans for the future ;

— the specific annual themes for activities within the Helios

II programme to assist disabled people ( 2 ) include
sheltered employment with a view to transition towards
open employment ;

— The Commission's communication to the Member
States on the Community initiative on employment and
development of human resources ( 3 ) includes amongst
the eligible measures the development of supported
employment places and new employment schemes

( through, for example, sheltered employment and
cooperatives ).

(') OJ No L 225, 12 . 8 . 1986 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 56, 9 . 3 . 1993 .
(■') OJ No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-581 / 95

by Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 75 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 76 )

Subject : Operational programmes on employment and the

Subject : Sheltered employment

In the light of the article in the Danish newspaper ' Politiken '
(9 January 1995 ), what plans does the Commission have to
establish programmes for the creation of sheltered
employment aimed at the physically and mentally
handicapped, substance abusers and those worn down by
the ordinary job market ?

development of human resources

The European Commission has approved a number of
operational programmes under the Community initiatives
on ' employment and the development of human resources '
to assist 12 Member States . These programmes make a
distinction between Flanders and francophone Belgium and
between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United

Kingdom .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 39

Can the Commission say why such differentiated treatment
has not been applied to other Member States, such as Spain,
which is divided into Autonomous Communities with their

own powers ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

The Commission has approved separate operational
programmes under the Community initiative on
' employment and development of human resources ' for
Flanders and Francophone Belgium as well as for Northern
Ireland and Great Britain because the competent authorities
in both Member States proposed this approach . Other
Member States, on their own initiative, have submitted only
one national programme each .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-582 / 95

by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 77 )

Subject : Inspection and maintenance of air-conditioning

systems

In view of the increase in respiratory problems and allergies
caused by air conditioning, does the Commission intend to
establish any rules on the maintenance and periodical
inspection of such installations ? If so, can it say when it
intends to do so ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the increase in respiratory
problems related to pollution and in its communication on
the framework for action in the field of public health it
indicated that it would be putting forward a specific
programme on pollution-related diseases .

As regards air-conditioning intallations, the protection of
workers ' health is taken into account by the Council
Directive concerning the minimum safety and health
requirements for the workplace ('), which stipulates that :

— to safeguard the safety and health of workers, technical

maintenance is to be carried out and any faults found
which are liable to affect the safety and health of workers
are to be rectified as quickly as possible ;

— equipment and devices are to be regularly cleaned to an

adequate level of hygiene .

Moreover, in order to limit the incidence of diseases related
to air conditioning, proper maintenance and checks must be
carried out by those responsible for maintaining such
equipment .

C ) OJ No L 393, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 84 / 95

by Gerardo Fernândez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 78 )

Subject : Promotion of an entrepreneurial spirit among the

young

The recent congress of young Spanish businessmen
highlighted the need to create 500 000 new businesses in
Spain in the next five years, or, in other words, 1,5 million
new jobs, which would help Spain gain the necessary
business and industrial muscle to assume a leading position
in the European Union .

To attain these objectives, the young Spanish businessmen
proposed the adoption of special measures to promote the
creation of new businesses among the young, such as
corporation tax exemptions for the first five years for new
SMEs, the elimination of double taxation of dividends and
freedom to write off new assets in one year .

In keeping with the aspirations of these young Spanish
businessmen and with a view to promoting an
entrepreneurial spirit among the young, can the
Commission say whether the European Union has a specific
policy to promote an entrepreneurial spirit among the
young ? Does it consider the demands made by the congress
of young Spanish businessmen to be compatible with such a
Community policy, and if not, would it be feasible to make
such aspirations part of the European Union's common
business policy .

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

The Commission has no information on the results of the

Congress of young Spanish entrepreneurs to which the
Honourable Member of Parliament refers .

However, the Commission is fully aware of the need for
constant renewal of the business fabric by young
entrepreneurs in order to offset the businesses which fail . In
fact, newly created businesses make a considerable
contribution to the creation of employment .

No C 179 / 40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

In view of the increased risk involved in setting up
businesses, the Member States have developed a whole series
of instruments including tax measures, to support business
start-ups . Fully respecting the principle of subsidiarity, the
Commission, as part of the implementation of its integrated
programme for small and medium-sized businesses ( SMEs )
and the craft industry, decided to promote an exchange of
experience and best practices in this area through several
European forums in order to offer to SMEs the means of
improving their competitiveness and developing their
growth and job creating potential . Moreover, the
Commission set up a Committee for improving and
simplifying the business environment which may put
forward proposals to reduce the administrative burden on
SMEs ( including newly created businesses ).

The Commission is also aware of the need to improve the
training of future heads of businesses and their spouses
involved in the management of the business in order to
reduce the prospect of failure that affects half of new
businesses within five years . Under certain conditions, the
Leonardo programme may provide co-financing .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 86 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 79 )

Subject : Environmental impact assessment with references

to sand-blasting operations in Syros

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment
makes provision for special procedures in the case of
shipyards ( Annex II, paragraph 4(g )), surface treatment and
coating of metals ( Annex II, paragraph 4(d )), waste-disposal

installations ( Annex I, paragraph 9 ) and sludge deposition
sites ( Annex II, paragraph 11(d )). At the shipyards in Syros,
where sand-blasting operations are carried out, the waste
generated is disposed of at a site at Lazareta, a residential
area close to town district of Ermoupolis . The inhabitants of
the area have protested and public opinion on the island is
strongly opposed to the practices followed by the firm in
question, which has recently had its operating licence
renewed .

Will the Commission say :

1 . Whether the procedures provided for in Directive

85 / 337 / EEC have been applied at the Syros shipyards,
particularly as regards the sandblasting operations
carried out at the port and the disposal sites for the waste
and sludge generated by these operations ?

2 . What steps it intends to take in order to safeguard public

health in Syros and prevent the serious adverse impact
on tourism that would be caused by the unrestricted
disposal of industrial waste from shipyards ?

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

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

1 . Under the terms of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the

assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment, the Commission does not
receive the environmental assessments of projects which
receive development consent .

Moreover, the Commission wishes to underline that the
Directive entered into force in July 1988 and that if the Syros
shipyards received development consent before that date
they would not have been subject to compulsory
environmental assessment .

2 . According to Article 1(2 ) of the Directive,
development consent means ' the decision . . . which entitles
the developer to proceed with the project .' Any other
administrative act which, as in the case of operating licences,
merely renews a particular activity or makes a project
operational, does not fall within the scope of Directive

85 / 337 / EEC .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-591 / 95

by James Elles ( PPE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 80 )

Subject : Coordination of national social security schemes

Community legislation exists to coordinate the different
national social security schemes of the Member States so
that persons moving from one Member State to another do
not lose their rights originally acquired in one of the
Member States .

Does the Commission believe that there would be

justification in extending this legislation to cover third
countries, rather than currently relying solely on bilateral
agreements between a Member State and a third country,
enabling pension rights to be transferred if a person moves
from the original Member State to another ?

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 41

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 ) ( 12 April 1995 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member
that Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 (') aims to ensure that
employed and self-employed workers who are nationals of a
Member State and covered by a social security scheme
within a Member State do not lose their social security rights
when moving within the Community .

The Commission's view is that this instrument of social

policy should gradually be extended to cover nationals of
third countries legally resident in the Community who move
between Member States . The most pressing problem is
applying the provisions on entitlement to cover for urgent
health care for workers who are temporarily resident in a
Member State other than the one in which they are insured

[ Article 22 ( l)(a )]. The Commission intends to submit a
proposal to this effect to the Council . At a later stage, other
provisions of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 may also be
extended to nationals of the third countries concerned .

(•) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 92 / 95

by Kenneth Collins ( PSE )

Directive 94 / 62 / EC ( ) on packaging and packaging waste
establishes in Article 4 ( prevention ) that ' Member States
shall ensure that, in addition to the measures to prevent the
formation of packaging waste taken in accordance with
Article 9 ( essential requirements ) other preventive measures
are implemented '. Such other measures may consist of
national programmes or similar actions designed to take
advantage of the many preventive initiatives taken within
Member States .

The initiatives taken in Denmark and in Germany on the
codes of practice are interesting examples in this context .
The encouragement of the formation of similar bodies
would be a decision to be taken primarily by Member
States .

At this stage, the Commission will, in the framework of the
committee for the Directive and by means of other
appropriate initiatives, encourage the establishment and the
exchange of experiences in the prevention area . At the same
time, prevention is a priority for the mandate on
standardization that the Commission has addressed to
CEN . This mandate will ensure that standards in support of
the aims of this legislation can be applied throughout the
Community .

(') O } No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

to the Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 98 / 95

(6 March 1995 )
by Hugh McMahon ( PSE )

( 95 / C 179 / 81 ) to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 82 )

Subject : Packaging and packaging waste

Subject : Excluded sectors from the working time Directive

The new Directive on packaging and packaging waste
requies Member States to take action to minimize the
production of packaging waste .

93 / 104 / EC — Doctors in training

. What is the state of progress of the Commission study into

the working hours of doctors in training, which is one of
the excluded sectors in the working time Directive
Emballage Naevnet in Denmark has set up a code of practice 93 / 104 / EC (')?
for the packaging of consumer goods in order to help guide
packaging developers on what is acceptable, and Deutscher
Verpackungsrat is thinking of doing something similar in Will the Commission make the findings of this study
Germany . available to Members of the European Parliament in view of

Will the Commission make the findings of this study
available to Members of the European Parliament in view of
the large-scale public concern and interest in this
question ?

What plans does the Commission have to encourge the
formation of similar bodies in other Member States ? (M OJ No L 307, 13 . 12 . 1993, p . 18 .

No C 179 / 42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-604 / 95

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )
( 20 April 1995 ) to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

A study on the working hours of doctors in training has now ( 95 / C 179 / 84 )
been completed . The Commission will shortly be holding a
meeting of experts to examine the issues surrounding the
working time of doctors in training in the light of this Subject : Environmental impact of electrical losses
study .

A copy of the study is being sent to the Honourable Member
and to the Secretariat-General of the Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-603 / 95

by María Izquierdo Rojo ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 83 )

Subject : Stage reached in negotiations on the new
EU-Tunisia agreement

What stage has been reached in the negotiations on the new
EU-Tunisia agreement ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

On 13 and 14 March various technical meetings between
the Commission and a delegation representing Tunisia were
held as part of the negotiations for the new agreement .

On 15 March a formal meeting was held in the presence of
the Member States .

At these meetings broad agreement was reached on the
range of topics covered by the negotiations .

It was still not possible, however, to reach agreement on
certain technical matters relating to agriculture .

At the meeting on 15 March it was agreed that the
negotiations would present the relevant proposals to their
respective authorities so that agreement on these matters
could be reached very shortly and the negotiations brought
to a close .

Among the objectives set out in the Commission's
programme of work for 1995 is the adoption of measures
incorporating environmental considerations into all
polities, including energy policy . With a view fo reducing the
environmental damage caused by carbon dioxide emissions
and excessive energy consumption, the Commission has
submitted to Parliament a proposal for a Directive
establishing a tax on COi emissions and energy .

In the Spanish electricity network, losses account for 9,1 %
of output, a figure much higher than in other countries of a
similar size ( Germany — 5% and France — 6% ). These
losses are equivalent to the output of two 900-MW power
stations and are therefore likely to have a major
environmental impact .

Among the causes of such losses are the way in which the
network is currently planned, with excessive distances
between power stations and points of consumption, and
inadequate maintenance stemming from a lack of incentive
owing to the monopoly which has grown up in the

sector .

What steps does the Commission feel it can take to remedy a
situation in which pilot planning and the monoply in the
Spanish electricity network are leading to high electrical
losses and, thereby, damaging the environment ?

Would it agree that such steps, which could reduce the
environmental damage caused, should be taken prior to the
introduction of a tax on C0 2 emissions and energy which,
although having the same goal, would damage both
companies and private users ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1995 )

A detailed analysis of the various electricity systems would
be needed to obtain a comparison of losses of electricity in
the networks of the various Member States, particularly the
Spanish network . It would give an indication of the various
factors which come into play, such as population density,
the length of the network, market structure, distance
between place of production and place of consumption and
environmental constraints . Unfortunately, in view of the
complexity of the task and hence its cost, it has not so far
been possible to undertake such a study .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 43

However, in the context of trans-European networks, the
Commission is closely monitoring projects to reinforce
electricity interconnections between Spain and Portugal .
Moreover, it is currently engaged in a very detailed
examination of the new Spanish law of 20 December 1994
on the regulation of the national electricity system .

From a more general point of view, although it is correct
that the Commission wants firms and consumers to have
electricity at competitive prices, it is also very concerned
about environmental protection . This is why it is promoting
energy efficiency and considers that all measures capable of
reducing emissions ( including a COi / energy tax ) should be
introduced as soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-613 / 95

by Salvador Garriga Polledo ( PPE )

to the Commission

(9 March 199 S )

the Commission's Legal Service and which ( at point 65,
paragraph 8, p . 236 of the English version ) expressly clears
the Greek companies of charges of concluding agreements
to channel Greek cement to non-member countries to

prevent it being traded in the Community market .

However, strangely — if not inexplicably — the
abovementioned draft Decision was modified so that it also

fined Greek cement producers for the very offences of which
it had, until recently, cleared them .

Given that it took a meeting which lasted only a few hours to
override findings which were the result of five years of
investigation and study by experts from DG IV, and which
had been approved by the Commission's Legal Service, and
since I refuse to believe that political pressures could have
been brought to bear, will the Commission state the reasons
for its shift of position ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 95 / C 179 / 85 (5 April 1995 )

Subject : Spanish projects covered by the Cohesion Fund

What Spanish projects have been approved for financing by
the Cohesion Fund since the CFI Regulation came into force
on 26 May 1994 ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1995 )

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and the Parliament's Secretariat a table containing
the information requested .

The Commission does not commend on internal documents

which, as such, are and should remain confidential, are
accessible only to authorized persons and are in any case
purely preparatory in nature .

Generally speaking, the Decisions the Commission adopts
on the basis of the EC Treaty rules on competition are
preceded by preliminary draft Decisions which are prepared
by the relevant departments and submitted to other
Commission departments and to the Advisory Committee
on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions for their

opinions . These preliminary drafts may be amended before
being submitted as draft Decisions to the Commission for
adoption . It is only through the decisions it adopts that the
Commission expresses its wishes and takes a position on
matters referred to it .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-615 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-616 / 95

to the Commission by Giulio Fantuzzi ( PSE )

(9 March 1995 ) to the Commission

( 95 / C 179 / 86 ) (9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 87

Subject : Imposition of fines in the cement sector

During the procedure which led to the publication of the
recent Commission decision to impose fines in the cement
sector ( cases IV / 33.126 and IV / 33.322 — Cement ), the
Commission's DG IV forwarded to the advisory committee
a draft Decision which had been examined and approved by

Subject : Tax on polyethylene levied under Italian law

Having regard to Article 29a of Law 427 / 93 of the Italian
Republic and having regard to the decree of the Ministry of
Finance of 18 March 1994 :

No C 179 / 44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Whereas in this decree the tax provided for in Article 29a is WRITTEN QUESTION E-626 / 95
extended ( Article 1, paragraph 6 ) from virgin polyethylene by Anita Pollack ( PSE )
and plastic film to semi-manufactured and manufactured
to the Commission
goods made from plastic film ;

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 88 )

Whereas the tax in question is extended ( Article 1,
paragraph 1 ) from 10 % of the invoice value to 10 % of the Subject : EU information technology expenditure and
price of the product, net of value added tax, charged to the

procurement policy

buyer ;

Whereas these changes radically change the object and
amount of the tax, in that they extended the tax to cover
semi-manufactured and manufactured products made from
plastic film and thus tax not only polyethylene but also
elements which have nothing to do with polyethylene
itself :

1 . Does the Commission not see a disparity of treatment
compared with other Member States which hinders the
free movement of goods within the European Union ?

2 . Does the Commission not consider that by altering the
object of a tax ( applying it to elements which go to make
up the final price ) the Italian Government is introducing
a covert customs duty, in flagrant breach of Article 9 of
the Treaty on European Union ?

1 . What was the EU's total expenditure, by institution,
on information technology ( IT ) in 1992, 1993 and 1994

on :

( a )

( b )

( c )

( d )

main IT suppliers to the

expenditure did each of

( a )

( b )

( c )

( d )

( e )

2 .

EU,

hardware,

software,

professional services,

hardware maintenance,

training ?

Which companies were the
and what percentage of the

them receive, by institution, in 1992, 1993 and 1994 for :

hardware,

software,

professional services,

hardware maintenance,

Answer given by Mr Monti ( e ) training ?
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

The Commission is aware that since the start of 1994, Italy
has had a special recycling tax on polythene . The tax is The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
levied both on fresh polythene marketed in Italy for the

answer the question . It will communicate its findings as

production of plastic film used on the national market and soon as possible .
on the full value of foreign-made plastic film .

The Commission believes that the tax is unfair since it is

levied on end products from other Member States while only
the initial raw material of the domestic Italian product is
taxed .

As a result, the Commission has decided to examine the
matter on the basis of Article 95 of the EC Treaty and may
take action under Article 169 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-629 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

(9 March 1 995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 89 )

Subject : Green petrol

According to reports in the Italian press ( Corriere della
Salute of 13 February 1 995, page 6 ), so-called green types of

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 45

petrol would appear to be even more harmful than the
traditional sort, since they contain higher levels of aromatic
hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene .

1 . Does the Commission agree with this allegation ?

2 . Is it true that these compounds, which are used in
various industrial processes as solvents, have toxic
effects on the body even at very low concentrations ?

3 . What does the Commission intend to do to limit the

damage to health and to avoid the spread of disorders
involving the respiratory tract and the central nervous
system ?

content of the programme . The results of the programme
will be available within the next months when the

Commission will have a clear and objective foundation
upon which to base future initiatives including legislative
proposals on fuel quality addressing questions such as
aromatic and benzene content .

(M OJ No C 289, 17 . 10 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 37 6, 30 . 12 . 1994 .
(•') OJ No L 96, 3 . 4 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-631 / 95

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard to the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 199 S )
( 24 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 90 )

1 . The Commission is aware of articles and reports
stating that unleaded petrol contains higher levels of
aromatics, benzene and other hydrocarbons such as toluene
and xylene, and has given its opinion on the issue in response
to a number of parliamentary questions ( 3886 / 93 by Mr
Bettini ('), 27 / 94 by Mr Seligman ( 2 ), and in a press release
from 27 October 1994 . The Commission has found no

evidence that the average aromatic or benzene content of all
unleaded petrol is systematically higher than for leaded
petrol .

However, the Commission has acknowledged the concern
about the aromatic or benzene content of super-unleaded
petrol ( RON 98 ) as expressed in a report of the Royal
Commission on the Environment and is currently carrying
out further investigations in accordance with Article 15.2(c )
of Directive 85 / 210 / EEC ( ? ).

2 . The Commission is aware of the health risks from the

exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene .

3 . Community legislation on car emissions requiring the
three way catalyst and stricter emission limit values by 1996
together with proposals on the control of volatile organic
compound emissions from petroleum storage and
distribution will achieve significant reductions in
hydrocarbon emissions in general including the
abovementioned aromatic compounds .

In the context of preparing legislation to reduce vehicle
emissions by the year 2000, the Commission has initiated
the European auto-oil programme . The programme carried
out in cooperation with the car and oil industries
investigates inter alia the emission effects of various fuel
properties and compounds, including benzene and
aromatics in unleaded petrol . On 23 January 1995 the
Commission informed the Parliament on the nature and

Subject : Compétition policy

When submitting projects under the Fourth Framework

Programme, a number of the smaller SMUs encountered
difficulties because not all the documents were available in
all the official languages .

Does not the Commission consider that, in this way, unfair
competition is built into the system itself ? Does it not agree
that, if applicants from ' smaller ' language areas are required
to produce translations to ensure that all the necessary
forms can be properly filled in, greater demands are being
made on them than on applicants from ' larger ' language
areas ?

What steps will the Commission take to prevent such
discrimination ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1995 )

Community research programmes are based on the principle
of equality of opportunity for all parties concerned . This
means that, provided basic criteria are met, large companies,
SMEs, universities, research institutes, etc . can all submit
proposals to the Commission when a call for research
proposals is issued . In order to apply the principle of
equality of opportunity, all the necessary documents are
available in the Union's official languages . This prevents
discrimination against certain language areas .

No C 179 / 46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-634 / 95

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 91 )

Subject : Transport of foodstuffs

1 . Is the Commission aware that a committee is currently
drawing up a list of derogations and specifications
concerning the transport of foodstuffs relating to Directive

93 / 43 / EEC (') ( Annex IV, point 2.2 )?

2 . How and on what occasions is this committee
convened ? On the basis of what criteria is it composed and
in particular, why is it that a committee responsible for the
transport of foodstuffs includes a representative from
DG III and not from DG VII ?

3 . Does the Commission consider this list useful or

necessary, with particular regard to bulk transport, except
from the point of view of food hygiene, given that many
products on the list are processed for purposes other than
human consumption and therefore do not need to be
transported under the same conditions ?

4 . Does the Commission still intend to produce a list of
foodstuffs requiring special transport conditions which does
not set out specific products but general criteria and, where
appropriate, related categories of products, thereby
avoiding the constant need for further additions or
modifications to the list ?

5 . Does the Commission intend to propose a logo ( as
opposed to an indication in one of the languages of the
Union ) to designate vehicles specifically intended for the
transport of foodstuffs ?

6 . If the answer to 4 and 5 is in the affirmative, when and
how will the Commission take appropriate action . If not,
why not ?

(0 OJ No L 175, 19 . 7 . 1993, p . 1 .

This provision was not part of the original Commission
proposal but was added at a late stage by the Council with
unanimous support from Member States . Problems relating
to this paragraph, not envisaged at the time of its adoption,
have been brought to the attention of the Commission, by
various interested groups .

The Commission is currently engaged in consultations with
the various parties concerned with a view to finding an
acceptable solution . The Member States have also been
consulted within the framework of the standing committee
for foodstuffs and these consultations are continuing .

Article 3(3 ) of the Directive allows for the possibility of
derogation from certain provisions of the annex in
consultation with the standing committee for foodstuffs

using the procedure identified in Article 14 . Should the
Commission decide to invoke this procedure, the Parliament
will be duly informed in accordance with the modus
vivendi .

The Directive also states that containers must be marked in a

clearly visible and idelible fashion, in one or more of the
Community languages, to show that they are used for the
transport of foodstuffs or must be marked ' for foodstuffs
only '. There are no proposals at this time to review this
provision of the Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-639 / 95

by Jannis Sakellariou ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 92 )

Subject : Covering on the neck of sparkling wine bottles

What is the reason for the provision of Regulation ( EEC )
No 2333 / 92 ( 1 ) that sparkling wine bottles must be sheathed
in foil covering all or part of the neck of the bottle ?

Does not the Commission consider this provision to be
indefensible from the point of view of environmental
protection ?

If not, why not ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann C ) OJ No L 231, 13 . 8 . 1992, p . 9 .

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

Chapter IV paragraph 2 of the Annex of Directive ( 27 March 1995 )
93 / 43 / EEC on the hygiene of foodstuffs states that bulk
foodstuffs in liquid, granular or powder from must be
transported in receptacles, containers or tankers reserved Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No

for the transport of foodstuffs .

Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2333 / 92 stipulates that
sparkling wines must be sold in bottles where the stopper is

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 47

sheathed in foil which also covers the neck of the bottle . In

line with a resolution of the International Vine and Wine
Office of September 1990, the foil is no longer allowed to be
lead-based since 1 January 1993 . This form of closure is a
traditional one serving to distinguish these wines from other
drinks, and the purpose of prescribing its use is to prevent
any misunderstanding on the consumer's part .

As far as the Commission is aware this type of closure,
provided that lead is not used for the cap, is no more
environmentally harmful than any other method of sealing
wine bottles .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-650 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 93 )

Subject : Chart of asbestos risks in Italy

Is the Commission aware of the results of a study carried out
in Italy by the Istituto Superiore délia Sanità and ENEA,
which monitored deaths among the Italian population from
mesothelioma ?

Can the Commission confirm that this rare malignant
tumour of the pleura is regarded by the experts as evidence
of the presence of a considerable amount of asbestos ?

Can the Commission prepare a chart for the whole
geographical area of the Community indicating the
incidence of mesothelioma ?

On the basis of this research, would it be possible to
correlate the occurrence of this disease with the presence in
an area of industries involving asbestos risks ?

If so, what steps does the Commission intend to take to
safeguard the environment from such risks and, in
particular, to protect the health of people who live and work
in those places ?

preparations and inter alia the fifth amendment thereof,
Directive 83 / 478 / EEC ( 2 ), which relates specifically to
asbestos and products containing asbestos ;

— Directive 67 / 548 / EEC (- 5 ) relating to the classification,

packaging and labelling of dangerous substances, as last
amended by Directive 93 / 101 / EEC ( 4 );

— classification of asbestos and its derivatives in Annex I to

Directive 67 / 548 / EEC implies the inclusion of these
products in the scope of other Directives such as
Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( 5 ) on the major-accident hazards
of certain industrial activities, Directive 88 / 379 / EEC ( 6 )
relating to the classification, packing and labelling of
dangerous preparations and the Directives on toxic and
hazardous wastes ;

— Directive 83 / 477 / EEC ( 2 ) on the protection of workers

from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work

( second individual Directive within the meaning of
Article 8 of Directive 80 / 1107 / EEC ( 8 ), as amended in

1991 by Directive 91 / 382 / EEC ( 7 );

— Directive 87 / 21 7 / EEC ( 8 ) on the prevention and
reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos .

Since 1977 a group of experts attached to the Commission
has been responsible for the exchange of information on
mesothelioma between Member States and has also

established identification criteria for this tumour .

A situation analysis has been prepared as part of a study on
cytopathological identification of mesothelioma and is the
subject of a publication ( 9 ).

0 ) OJ No L 262, 27 . 9 . 1976 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983 .
(') OJ No L 196, 16 . S. 1967 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 13, 15 . 1 . 1994 .
H OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 187, 16 . T \ 1988 .
(') Ol No L 206, 29 . ". 1991 .

( 8 ) OJ No L 85, 28 . 3 . 1987 .
H Réf .: ISBN 0-852007647 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-651 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission ( 10 March 1995 )

(6 April 1995 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 94 )

The Commission was not aware of the study of deaths from
mesothelioma among the Italian population, as referred to
by the Honourable Member .

Various precautions with regard to asbestos have already
been taken at Community level, through :

— Directive 76 / 769 / EEC (') relating to restrictions on the

marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and

Subject : Presence of lead in hot-food containers

Is the Commission aware that some types of containers used,
for carrying hot food may endanger the health of
consumers ?

Is it the case that when some components of certain
containers come into contact with very hot food they turn
into poisonous substances, including lead ?

No C 179 / 48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

If so, what does the Commission intend to propose to avert
such risks, which threaten the health of consumers, who are
unaware of them ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the risks deriving from the use
of ceramic containers under all conditions of use, and of the
possible transfers to foods coming into contact with these,
more particularly under the conditions mentioned by the
Honourable Member .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member in

this connection that Council Directive 84 / 500 / EEC relating
to ceramic articles intended to come into contact with
foodstuffs was adopted in 1984 ('). Extremely tight limits
for lead and cadmium in food containers are provided for in
Article 2 of that Directive . Moreover, the Annexes to the
Directive specify the basic rules applying to tests and to the
analytical method to be used in order to check compliance
with the standard .

The Commission feels that this Directive provides adequate
consumer protection against the risks mentioned by the
Honourable Member and it feels that there is no reason to

take any further action .

(') OJ No L 277, 20 . 10 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-658 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 95 )

Subject : Possible issue of European bonds to fund
trans-European network projects

The map of trans-European network projects has
progressed at the speed of a motor car, but the search for
resources to implement them has, by contrast, moved at the
speed of a tortoise .

Since the Corfu Summit, the Commission has practically
doubled from 34 to 60 the number of projects it considers
appropriate for creating the major trans-European
networks, but it has made little progress with regard to
funding, a mere 10% or less whereof has been guaranteed
thus far .

While it may well be the case that other sources capable of
supplying the funding required to implement the projects in
question actually exist, can the Commission tell me whether,
in order to finance the trans-European transport networks,
it is thinking about the planned issue of European bonds,
which has never been discounted, or for that matter,
approved ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 199 5 )

The Honourable Member rightly draws attention to the
progress made in selecting the trans-European network
projects accorded priority by the Christophersen group and
endorsed by the Essen European Council . However, certain
transport-related projects do, it is true, pose serious
problems of financing .

Although the White Paper brought to light major financing
requirements which could have been met by Community
borrowing, the estimated costs for the various projects are in
essence forecasts, which means that it is not yet possible to
gauge with any precision what the demands on Community
financing might be . It is also certain that not all the projects
will be put into practice at the same time, and this could help
to limit the need for funding .

The Commission does not rule out a return to its idea of an

issue of European bonds . However, this should only be
considered when the financing requirements have been
more clearly identified on a case-by-case basis . To this end,
the Commission is endeavouring to clarify, in cooperation
with the market operators, the exact areas and amounts
involved, as well as the practical arrangements for
Community intervention . The Member States and the
Parliament will be informed of the results of this work in

good time, so that they can state their position in full
possession of the facts .

In the meantime, the Commission is endeavouring to bring
to a successful conclusion not only the discussions on the
proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general rules
for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of
trans-European networks ( 1 ), but also the work on adopting
Community guidelines, particularly as regards transport,
since any organized Community financing will depend on
the adoption of these proposals .

0 ) COM(94 ) 62 final . OJ No C 89, 26 . 3 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-661 / 95

by Peter Crampton ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 96 )

Subject : Tropical forests budget line

When will the Commission present Parliament with detailed
information concerning the projects funded under the
tropical forests budget line ( B7-5041 )?

13 . 7 . 95 UËN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 49

Has the Commission undertaken a systematic evaluation of
the success or failure of the projects which it has funded
under this budget line so far ? If not, when does it intend to
do so ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1995 )

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

Once the new Regulation on tropical forests is adopted, the
Commission will present an annul report on the projects
funded under the tropical forest budget line . The
Commission will present a first report to the Parliament and
to the Council before the end of 1995 .

The Commission supervises the execution of on-going
projects to ensure that contractors are carrying out their
contractual obligations . However, given the fact that most
projects are in their implementation stage, it is too early to
determine to what extent project objectives will ultimately
be met . The Commission intends to submit an overall

evaluation of its tropical forest activities before the end of

1997 .

proposed agreements rest on four pillars : political dialogue ;
free trade in industrial products ; economic, social and
cultural cooperation ; and appropriate financial
cooperation .

This strengthening of bilateral links needs to be backed by
the establishment of a multilateral framework spanning
Europe and the Mediterranean . The Commission
has accordingly proposed the introduction of a
Euro-Mediterranean partnership comprising the phased
establishment of a free tade area between the Mediterranean

countries themselves and between the Mediterranean

generally and the Community, substantial financial
assistance and more intensive cooperation in a wide range of
social and economic areas ('). Such a partnership would
have to be based on a number of principles and common
interests such as observance of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, protection of minorities and the
establishment of the rule of law .

The purpose of the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial
conference to be held in Barcelona this November will be to

work out a formula for the new Euro-Mediterranean

framework, including the aspects relating to political
cooperation and cooperation in security matters .

(') COM(95 ) 72 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-729 / 95

by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-727 / 95

by María Izquierdo Rojo ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 97 )

Subject : Measures to promote peace and improve security

in the Maghreb

What measures are being taken to promote peace, stability
and security in the Maghreb region ?

( 95 / C 179 / 98 )

Subject : European Social Fund ( ESF ): projects in Malaga

What projects have been selected in Malaga for financing
from the European Social Fund ( ESF )? Will the Commission
specify the size of the Community contribution and the
dates on which the Member State concerned presented the
various projects, on which the Commission gave its
approval and on which the Spanish authorities made
available Community funding for each project ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission
on behalf of the Commission
( 25 April 1995 )
(7 April 1995 )

Negotiations are under way on agreements aimed at
achieving a greater degree of political and economic
interlocking with the Maghreb region ( the individual
countries involved at this stage being Morocco and T unisia ),
in accordance with the partnership approach launched in
conjunction with the new Mediterranean policy . The

Since the reform of the Structural Funds in 1988 the

operation of the European Social Fund has been based on
pluriannual programming, with a Community Support
Framework for each Objective . Within the context of the
pluriannual programmes, it is for the national or regional
authorities to decide which specific projects should be
co-financed .

No C 179 / 50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

In accordance with the Community Support Framework for
Objective 1 regions in Spain ( 1994 — 1999 ), the total
indicative contribution for Andalusia is ECU 1 328,9
million . The strictly regional component of this, that is to
say the component administered by the Andalusian regional
Government, in ECU 325,47 million, at 1994 prices .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-742 / 95

by María Izquierdo Rojo ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 99 )

Subject : The increasing economic and social imbalance

between the north and south shores of the

Mediterranean

What data, studies and figures does the Commission
consider most relevant when it comes to demonstrating the
on-going, increasing economic and social imbalance
between the north and south shores of the

Mediterranean ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 April 1995 )

World Bank statistics and UNDP ( United Nations
Development Programme ) human development reports
reveal that income levels and social indicators for the

southern Mediterranean countries are markedly lower than
those for the northern Mediterranean . The same statistics

also show that the gap is growing between the majority of
countries to the south of the Mediterranean and the

north .

( in USS )

Country ­ Per capita ( 1992 GDP )

Morocco 1 084

Algeria 1 373

Tunisia 1 655

Egypt 603

Jordan 1 051

Lebanon 1 000

In addition, the amount of aid per capita received by the
countries of the southern Mediterranean is also markedly
lower than the amount received by the countries of central
and eastern Europe .

The Commission accordingly presented a communication to
the Council and Parliament on 19 October 1994 on

strengthening the Mediterranean policy of the European
Union (').

In its communication the Commission stated that the

creation of a Euro-Mediterranean zone of political stability
and security, the key objective of the Community's
Mediterranean policy, should be accompanied, in the social
and economic spheres, by the progressive creation of
a Euro-Mediterranean Area based on a sound legal
framework, one element of which would be the
establishment of a vast free trade area . This process would
require a long period of transition and its success hinges on
the Community's readiness to lend its financial and
technical support, essential adjuncts to the economic and
social reforms that such a process requires .

At the request of the Essen European Council to make
specific proposals relating to the implementation of all the
aspects of the above communication, the Commission
adopted a further communication on 8 March 1995
containing ' proposals for implementing a Euro ­
Mediterranean partnership ' ( 2 ). Its main themes are :
assistance with economic transition, helping to achieve a
better socio-economic balance and supporting regional
integration .

The Commission additionally proposed an indicative figure
of ECU 5 160 million for the perid 1995 — 1999 to help
implement programmes relating to the three main themes
referred to above and thus make a significant contribution
to the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Economic Area .

(') COM(94 ) 427 final .
i 1 ) COM ( 95 ) 72 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-747 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 100 )

Subject : Results of Community actions aimed at improving

pastureland

Syria 1 255

Turkey 1 662 The and ( action EEC ) No provided 2328 for / 91 in ( 2 Regulations ) include pasturage ( EEC ) No enhancement 797 / 85 (')

measures and measures to improve the grazing potential of
Source : World Bank . natural pastureland . Will the Commission say :

Turkey 1 662

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 51

1 . What resources have been allocated under these
Regulations and other Community actions and
programmes, broken down by year and Member State,
over the last ten years ?

2 . What areas of pastureland have benefited from
Community actions, broken down by Member State,
over the last ten years ?

3 . What demands have been made by Greece with a view to

improving pastureland over the last ten years and to
what extent have these demands been met ?

(') OJ No L 93, 30 . 3 . 1985, p . 1 .
(-) OJ No L 218, 6 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1995 )

The General Terms and Conditions applied to contracts
with contractors by the Commission of the European
Communities were produced in March 1993 in all the then
nine official languages of the Community .

They are therefore available in Dutch, and the fact that, in
the wording of a call for tenders published in the Official
Journal mentioned by the Honourable Member, they were

referred to in French rather than Dutch was the result of an

oversight which the Commission will endeavour to avoid in
future .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-756 / 95

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is by José Apolinârio ( PSE )
sending it direct to the Honourable Member and the to the Commission
Parliament's Secretariat .

to the Commission

(2 March 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-751 / 95

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 101 )

Subject : The use of Dutch as an official language in the

European Union

In the Dutch-language version of the ' Call for tenders for
'
studies concerning airports — Open procedure ('), it is
stated that an offer implies acceptance of the provisions of
the ' Cahier des conditions générales applicables au contrat
d'entreprise de la Commission des Communautés
Européennes ' ( General terms and conditions applied to
contracts concluded with contractors by the Commission of
the European Communities ).

Is this ' Cahier ' also available in Dutch and, if so, since

when ?

If so, why is no reference made in the OJ to the Dutch
version ?

If not, why not ?

(•) OJ No C 239, 27 . 8 . 1994, p . 16 .

(9 SIC 179 / 102 )

Subject : Commission charged by the Portuguese authorities

on Community structural aid to farmers ( EAGGF
Guidance Section )

The Commission sometimes gives every sign of conniving at
unacceptable practices which infringe Community
legislation, as in the case of its reply to my Written Question
No 2 / 95 ('), which informed me that after two formal
requests had been submitted to the Portuguese authorities,
they had confirmed on 21 December 1994 that ' Community
contributions will in future be paid in full to the
beneficiaries '.

However, it has quite clearly been illegal to charge the
commission in question since 3 August 1993, when the
revised version of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 ( 2 ),
Article 21 came into force .

By continuing to charge this commission between August

1993 and December 1 994, the Portuguese State has illegally
retained a sum in excess of one billion escudos which should

have gone to Portuguese farmers, and all because Ifadap
charges 0,5 % for accounting and administration ( operation
of groups ) and 1,5% on Community aid to investment

( Regulations ( EEC ) No 797 / 85 O and ( EEC )
No 866 / 90 ( 4 )).

This being so, what steps has the Commission taken to
ensure that the EAGGF monies illegally retained by Idafap
are returned ? What steps is it going to take to prevent this
practice from continuing ? Is it going to accept the use of
direct debiting, a subterfuge whereby the money is formally

No C 179 / 52 I EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

credited in full to the beneficiary's account, with the
commission charges then being transferred to the account of
Idafap ?

8, the Community's cultural sector programmes ;

Idafap ? 9, the Community's programmes aimed at promoting

culture, training and youth exchanges in schools and
(>) OJ No C 103, 24 . 4 . 1995, p . 50 . higher education of vocational training centres ;

( 2 ) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988, p . 1 .
(■') OJ No L 93, 30 . 3 . 1985, p . 1 . 10 . the Konver programme ;

( 4 ) OJ No L 91, 6 . 4 . 1990, p . 1 .

1 ] . other Community programmes or budgetary headings

( for example the promotion of linguistic / cultural
minorities, anti-racism etc )?
Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1995 ) Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

The Commission has contacted the Portuguese authorities
again to obtain confirmation both that all the Community
aid has been paid out and that no payment equivalent to a
levy has been requested from the beneficiaries so as to
undermine Article 21 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 .

The Commission has also asked that the past practice be
remedied, and has warned Ifadap that it may face an
infringement procedure if it does not pay the aid due to the
farmers before the end of the 1995 budget year .

( 20 April 1995 )

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to

answer the question . It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-774 / 95

by Eryl McNally ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-763 / 95 ( 95 / C 179 / 104 )

by Christa Randzio-Plath ( PSE )

to the Commission Suhject : Ban on mahogany imports

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 103 ) Will the Commission introduce legislation to ban the
importation of Brazilian mahogany, until such time as it can
be guaranteed to come from environmentally sound,

Hamburg socially beneficial and legal sources, and will it support the

development of timber labelling schemes so that consumers
can identify such timber ?

Subject : EC aid for Hamburg

How much EC aid was granted in 1993 and 1994 — and
will be granted in 1995 on the basis of present figures —
from the following sources in respect and which individual
measures and projects have benefited or will benefit :

1, the European Social Fund ( ESF ) and the Community
initiatives NOW, Urban, Adapt and Horizon, including
aid granted specifically for the promotion of women ;

2, the Helios programme ;

3, the European Agricultural Fund ( EAGGF );

4, the Community's research programmes ;

5, the Community s energy sector programmes ;

6, the Community's environmental sector programmes ;

7, the programme for the promotion of the audiovisual
industry ( Media );

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

Under existing international obligations, the Community is
not at liberty to impose unilateral import bans . A binding
international instrument does however exist, governing
species under threat from over-exploitation : the convention
on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna
and flora ( Cites ), which has been adopted by 1 14 countries .
Cites has two appendices : Appendix I lists species
threatened with extinction, and Appendix II species
potentially at risk where exploitation and trade are not
controlled . International trade in species listed in
Appendix I is prohibited except for conservation purposes,
but trade in Appendix II species is permitted as long as it
does not threaten their survival .

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 53

Species in Appendix I include Brazilian rosewood

( Dalbergia nigra ), Fitzroya cupressoides and Araucaria
araucana . Appendix II already includes Caribbean
mahogany ( Swietenia mahogani ) and Pacific coastal
mahogany ( S. humilis ). The latest Cites meeting in
November 1994 voted on a proposal to list Brazilian
mahogany ( S. Macrophylla ) in Appendix II of Cites, but this
was rejected by six votes .

The Commission is developing a proposal for a substantial
contribution to the natural resources policy project, which
will support state and local authorities in Brazil to
strengthen monitoring and application of environmental
policy and legislation, through the pilot programme for the
conservation of Brazilian tropical forests . This should
improve the ability of the Brazilian authorities to control the
mahogany trade .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-779 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 105 )

Subject : Transatlantic conference

In view of the plans to hold a ' Euro-Mediterranean '
conference in 1995, including all Member States of the
Union and all Mediterranean countries, is a ' transatlantic '
conference along similar lines also being envisaged ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

what foods they may or may not eat . Would the commission
consider introducing two standard Euro signs that could be
included on packaging, one that would indicate ' contains no
meat products ' ( i.e . suitable for vegetarians ) and one to
indicate ' contains no animal products ' ( i.e . suitable for
vegans )?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1 99 S )

The Commission does not intend to propose compulsory
particulars or signs to specify the absence of meat or of
ingredients of animal origin in a food product .

Directive 79 / 112 / EC relating to the labelling of
foodstuffs ( 1 ), as last amended by Directive 93 / 1 02 / EEC ( 2 ),
provides in Article 3 that the labelling of foodstuffs has to
comprise, among other indications, the list of the
ingredients used in the food product . This information
enables consumers to know the exact composition of
foodstuffs in general .

Moreover, Community legislation does not prevent the use
of indications intended for vegetarians or for vegans on a
voluntary basis .

C ) OJ No L 33, 8 . 2 . 1979 .

( 2 ) O J No L 291, 25 . 1 1 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-806 / 95

on behalf of the Commission by Fernand Herman ( PPE )

(6 April 1995 ) to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

Not at the moment . However, the Commission is actively ( 95 / C 179 / 107 )
studying a variety of possible ways of strengthening the
transatlantic relationship and will keep the Parliament
informed as thinking progresses . Subject : Termination of contract

WRITTEN QUESTION E-803 / 95

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 106 )

Subject : Vegetarians and vegans

There are increasing numbers of vegetarians and vegans in
the UK . Many of these find it difficult to distinguish easily

On 6 January 1994, the Commission signed a contract
with the GIAD asbl ( non-profit-making organization )
commissioning it to run a project to assist NGOs in Asian
and Pacific countries in their fight against the drugs
trade .

Under the terms of the contract, funds were to be provided
in due course . GIAD had already incurred expenses when
the Commission suddenly decided, without giving any
justification, to shut the project down, informing the
non-profit-making organization of its Decision on
25 August 1994 .

Would the Commission state exactly why it decided
unilaterally to break this contract, given that it is now

No C 179 / 54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

obliged to cover expenditure incurred to no purpose and Given that :
that the Decision reflects badly on GIAD which, apparently,
has not been found at fault ? — the Thessaloniki forest authorities have protested about

the environmental destruction of the largest green area
in the vicinity of Thessaloniki ;

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1995 )

The project submitted by the non-profit-making
organization GIAD, which resulted in the contract to which
the Honourable Member refers, aimed to improve the
financial and technical management skills of Asian NGOs
active in the campaign against drugs . GIAD was to be
responsible for the implementation of this project, with

100% Community financing .

In early 1994, to improve the efficiency of Community
cooperation on drugs and to coordinate these activities with
its programmes in other fields, the Commission decided to
assess all Community projects in this area for consistency
with its general policy and with the resources deployed .

It was concluded that the objectives of this particular project
were far too ambitious, and indeed unattainable with the
resources deployed, in that its stated aim was to improve the
management skills of some 60 Middle Eastern, Asian and
Pacific NGOs in only 18 months .

In view of the linguistic and cultural constraints and the
sheer variety of drugs used in these regions, coherent group
training seminars were not a realistic option . The
Commission therefore decided that the most reasonable and
least expensive solution was to halt the project, in spite of
the amounts that had to be paid to GIAD for services already
rendered .

— local people have voiced strong objections to this matter

and

— the presence of these aerials raises complex
contemporary public health issues ;

will the Commission say :

1 . Whether it intends to make representations to the

relevant Greek authorities to demand the immediate
removal of all these aerials, using every available means
to achieve this end, and to have them transferred to a site
where they would have less harmful consequences for

human health and the environment ?

2 . Whether it intends to propose that a Community
Directive be drawn up on the problems of radiation
caused by these or similar installations, and

3 . Whether it intends to include in the research
programmes which it authorizes programmes regarding
the impact on human health of the electrical and
magnetic fields caused by high-tension electricity pylons
and wires ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 274 / 95 (').

(') See page 11 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-810 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-808 / 95 by Marie-France Stirbois ( NI )
by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL ) to the Commission

to the Commission (7 March 1995 )

( 20 March 1995 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 109 )

( 95 / C 179 / 108 )

Subject : Fraud in DG XXIII

Subject : Magnetic radiation and radio and TV aerials

In the mountain range of Chortiati, south-east of
Thessaloniki, more than 100 radio and television aerials
have been set up ; these emit magnetic radiation and now a
mobile telephone transmitter has also been added to them .
Measurements have shown that radiation far exceeds the

permissible levels in a wide aera around the site .

The specialist press reports strong suspicion of fraud in DG
XXIII ( tourism ). Several officials are said to have received

bribes .

Does the Commission consider it normal for it not to inform
the European Parliament, which has the power to approve
the discharge in respect of the budget, when such incidents
occur ?

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 55

In the case in point, can the Commission explain why it is
possible for the contracts at issue to be concluded by mutual
agreement and why the — safer — public call for tenders
procedure is not compulsory ?

Can the Commission inform Members of the European
Parliament of the progress of the investigation as it stands
now and how it will develop in the future ?

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 March 1995 )

The Commission has kept Parliament abreast of
developments in this case .

Following its decision to ask the authorities of the Member
States ( by letters dated 13 December 1994 ) to launch police
investigations prior to the laying of a formal information,
the Secretariat-General informed the Chairman of the

Committee on Budgetary Control of the situation on
9 January 199 5 . Information was also transmitted with the
quarterly report to that Committee on 12 January . On
23 February, a representative of the Unit for the
Coordination of Fraud Prevention reported orally to the
Committee on progress . By letter dated 2 March the
Secretariat-General informed the Committee of the

Commission's decision to waive three Commission staff

members ' immunity and of the decision to release from the
obligation of professional secrecy seven members of its staff

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )

In Regulation ( EEC ) No 3921 / 91 of 16 December 1991
laying down the conditions under which non-resident
carriers may transport goods or passengers by inland
waterway within a Member State, the Council provided for
a transitional period, running until 31 December 1994, for
cabotage in Germany and France . There has been complete

freedom to provide such transport services in the
Community since them .

Freedom to provide services is an obligation deriving from
Article 75 / 1 )( b ) of the EC Treaty and it is binding on the
Commission and tfie Member States . The Court of Justice
confirmed obligation in its judgment of 22 May 1985
concerning the Council's failure to take action in this
connection . The Commission is therefore unable to submit

to the Council a formal proposal along the lines suggested
by the Honourable Member .

In view of the difficulties now being encountered by the
inland waterway transport sector in all the Member States
concerned, the Commission will shortly be submitting to the
Council a proposal concerning the organization of this
market . The proposal will be accompanied by measures
designed to help improve the sector's competitive
position .

( Article 1 9 of the Staff Regulations ) so that they can come to
the assistance of the Belgian judicial authorities by reason of
the knowledge of the facts that they may have acquired in
the course of their duties . WRITTEN QUESTION P-823 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 1 11 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-813 / 95

by Ingo Friedrich ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 110 )

Subject : Liberalization of cabotage in Germany

In view of the difficulties facing the German inland
waterway transport industry, will the Commission propose
an extension of the transitional period ( Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 3821 / 91 (')) for the liberalization of cabotage in
Germany ?

(') OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 1 .

Subject : Failure to comply with Directive 80 / 778 / EEC

[ of the municipal authorities of Fuengirola

( Malaga )]

In response to the Commission's request contained in its
reply to my Written Question E-3154 / 93 ('), I would like to
draw attention to a specific case where the criteria
prescribed by Directive 80 / 778 / EEC ( 2 ) on water for human
consumption have not been met .

According to a communication from the mayor's office, the
municipality of Fuengirola ( Malaga, Spain ) decided on
30 January 1995 to connect the water mains to wells
supplying low quality water unfit for human consumption
due to the level of nitrites and other salt, warning that it was
' not to be consumed under any circumstances '.

No C 179 / 56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

Is the Commission aware of such a decision taken with the

consent of the health authorities ( the Andalusian Health
Service ), and how does it think that the health of consumers
should be protected in the face of such a decision by the
municipality, which moreover stated in a notice on this
matter that ' mains water should under no circumstances be

used in food '?

(') OJ No C 340, 5 . 12 . 1994, p . 27 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 1 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The Commission has not been informed of a decision taken

by the municipality of Fuengirola, Malaga, to connect the
water mains to wells supplying low quality water unfit for
human consumption .

The Commission has written to the Spanish authorities to
elicit more information concerning this csae .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-824 / 95

by Ioannis Theonas ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 112 )

Subject : Persecution of Turkish intellectuals

A collection of articles by authors imprisoned for their
political views has been published as a book in Turkey . The
book contains the signatures of more than 1 000
intellectuals who have assumed responsibility for the
contents and are prepared to face any legal consequences .
They are thus challenging the Turkish State either to jail
them or to change the current legislation on freedom of
expression, which is responsible for the imprisonment of
hundreds of authors, journalists and intellectuals who
question hostile Turkish policy towards the Kurds .

Will the Commission support this mass protest by Turkish
intellectuals as a token of support for the struggle to
promote respect for human rights in a country where they
are flagrantly violated and with which the Union proposes
to upgrade its relations ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 1995 )

The Commission was not aware of the collection of articles

to which the Honourable Member refers .

The view of the Commission is that T urkey should live up to
international human rights obligations to which it has freely
subscribed . This naturally includes the right to freedom of
expression . Turkey has initiated steps to change more than

15 articles in its constitution, and has pledged to make other
changes, to bring it into line with Article 10 of the European
human rights convention, which deals with freedom of
expression . In the meantime, the Commission will, as in the
past, take even opportunity to remind Turkey of its
obligations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-839 / 95

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 113 )

Subject : UK cancellation of wave power research

Will the Commission be pressing the UK Government to
take up its offered ECU 555 000 for research into wave
power in order to further advance the Community's move
towards sustainable energy sources ?

Have talks taken place to attempt to convincing Energy
Minister Tim Eggar of the desirability of the scheme in
Community terms ?

Will the new Energy Commission be expressing his
disappointment at such short-sightedness on behalf of the
UK Government ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

The Commission supported wave power research under the
non-nuclear energy programme of the third framework
programme ( period 1991 — 1994 ) with the conclusion of
nine contracts with a total project cost of ECU 6,93 million
and Commission financial contribution of FXU 3,63
million . Three of these contracts are coordinated by
organizations based in the UK, but one of these contracts,
concerning the design and installation of a pilot plant on

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 57

Islay ( UK ), to which the Honourable Member presumably
refers, faced problems due to lack of financing from the
British side . Under these circumstances the initial proposal
was modified and the contract with the Queen's University
of Belfast was signed on 17 November 1994 ( Community
financial support of ECU 550 000 ).

It is the Commission's intention to continue to support
research on this renewable energy technology under the
current non-nuclear energy programme which is part of the

fourth framework programme . A call for proposals was
issued on 15 December 1994 and its deadline was 24 March

1 995 . This call included the wave energy sector .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-841 / 95

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 March 199 S )

(9 SIC 179 / 114 )

Subject : European pensioners ' travel pass

What plans does the Commission have to introduce such a
pass to enable senior citizens to benefit from concessions on
travel, etc ., when outside their own Member State ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

On 10 May 1989 the Commission issued a recommendation
on the introduction of a European over-sixties card ( 1 ). This
card was intended to make their existing rights more visible
to older people, especially when travelling outside their own
Member States . No Member State has implemented this
recommendation .

In early 1992, the Commission wrote formally to Member
States to ask for a report on steps taken to implement the
recommendation . As the results were disappointing, the
Commission took the initiative of compiling, with the help
of non-governmental organizations, an inventory of the
main concessions granted on the basis of age throughout the
Community . This inventory was published in 1 993 as a
contribution to the European year of older people and
solidarity between generations .

The Commission is currently engaged, with non ­
governmental organizations, in exploring other ways in
which progress might be made towards better access of
older people to concessions, including travel concessions .

(') Ol No L 144, 27 . 5 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-849 / 95

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1 99 S )

( 95 / C 179 / 115 )

Subject : Studies concerning problems relating to world

environmental trends

The JRC's Forecasting Institute draws up periodic reports
on matters relating to world environmental trends . What
are the most recent reports which have been published and
where can copies be obtained ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

Part of the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in
Sevilla deals with climate change . It endeavours, in
particular, to keep abreast of scientific and technical
progress on what is known as the greenhouse effect .

The Institute does not produce regular reports, but is led by
events occurring in this area . Its latest report, dating from
October 1994, has been sent directly to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-860 / 95

by Susan Waddington ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 116 )

Subject : Breast cancer and the pesticide ' Eindane '

Recent research has linked the development of breast cancer
to the organochlorine pesticide ' Eindane '. What is the
Commission's opinion on these findings, and does the
Commission view ' Lindane ' as being carcinogenic ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1995 )

Many studies on organochlorine structures and pesticides
have been conducted, especially on dioxines, PCBs and the
pesticide DDT and its metabolite DDE . The Commission's
scientific committee for pesticides evaluated lindane in

No C 179 / 58 FEN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

1988 . There was no evidence that lindane was linked with

an increase in breast cancer . At present time, there is not
indication of a statistically significant causal correlation
between lindane and breast cancer . However the
Commission is aware of a 1 993 study ( 1 ) of the incidence of
carcinogens in milk in Israel which has since suggested that
lindane could be carcinogenic inducing breast cancer .

The Commission has started a programme for re-evaluation
of the pesticide active substances under Directive
91 / 414 / EEC ( 2 ). Lindane is one of the 90 active substances
which are covered under the first phase of this programme

( Regulation ( EEC ) No 3600 / 92 (')). Depending on the
results of the re-evaluation, the Commission will take any
necessary measures to ensure safety for human health and
the environment .

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the question . It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-865 / 95

by Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

(') Westin J. B. Carcinogens in Israeli milk : a study in ( 95 / C 179 / 118 )
regulatory failure . International journal health service 1993
23 497-517 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 221, 31 . 8 . 1993 .
C ) OJ No L 366, 15 . 12 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-861 / 95

by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 Marcb 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 117 )

Subject : Recognition of the status of au pairs in the

European Union

In its resolution of 17 November 1983 ( 1-797 / 83 ) (')
Parliament called on the Commission to prepare a
recommendation on the status of au-pairs, based on the
Council of Europe proposals .

Paragraph 11 of this resolution called for :

— the status of the au pair to be defined,

— the rights and duties of the host family and the au pair to

be established,

— national information, advisory and coordination
structures to be set up .

Ten years later it is time to ask :
Subiect : Aid for Berlin

How much funding, and for what purposes, was made
available by the Community to Berlin in the years 1993 and

1994 from :

1, the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ),

2, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund ( EAGGF ),

What action has the Commission taken with regard to the
status of au pairs ?

What kind of studies, statistical research etc ., have been
carried out to provide detailed information on this
matter ?

How is the freedom of movement established by the Single
Act likely to affect the status of au pairs ? What about social
security considerations ?

3, the European Social Fund ( ESF ), (') OJ No C 342, 19 . 12 . 1983, p . 64 .

4 . Community research programmes,

Answer given by Mr Flynn
5 . Community programmes in the energy sector, on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

6 . Community programmes in the environmental sector,

Following the Parliament resolution of 17 November 1983,
7, other Community programmes ? the Commission put forward, on 20 December 1984 ('), a

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 59

recommendation in which the Member States were asked to
sign and ratify, in so far as they had not already done so, the
European Agreement on au pair placement sponsored by the
Council of Europe ( 2 ).

In its recommendation, the Commission considered that the
Council of Europe's Agreement provided a situable vehicle
for introducing a specific status for au pairs and laying down
rules governing living and working conditions, education,
social security and the rights and duties of both the host
family and the au pair, in addition to setting up national
consultation and information facilities .

The Commission has not carried out any studies or
compiled any statistics on au pairs .

(•) OJ No L 24, 29 . 1 . 1985 .

( 2 ) European Treaty Series No 68 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-913 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 199 S )

( 95 / C 179 / 119 )

Subject : Assessment of the impact of the Social Charter

adopted in 1989

In connection with the revival of the ' Social Europe ' policy,
has the Commission assessed the practical impact of the
Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of
Workers adopted by the F^uropean Community under the
French Presidency in 1989 ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1 99 S )

In order to assess the significance and practical contribution
of the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social
Rights of Workers, the Commission has already drawn up
three reports on the application of the Charter by the
Member States and the Community . These reports have
been forwarded to the Council, the Parliament and the
Economic and Social Committee . A copy of the latest report
will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of Parliament .

The fourth report on the Charter has been merged with the

first report on the Protocol on Social Policy . Drafting is
almost finished, and the report should be adopted in the
near future .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-926 / 95

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(.U March 199 S )

( 95 / C 179 / 120 )

Subject : Delays in payments for a training course financed

by the European Social Fund

According to information and documents to which I have
had access, a training course for Portuguese women
emigrants on the clothing industry ( design and manufacture
of clothing ) was held in Antwerp in May 1992 . This course
was financed by the European Social Fund ( ESF ) through
the Portuguese Government and is considered to have been a
success until minor problems began to occur in connection
with late payments ; in addition, at the end of the course in
June 1994, the last payments made related to November

1993 . Moreover, the attendance certificates which should
have been issued were not provided .

This is clearly an extremely unsatisfactory situation for both
teachers and trainees, some of whom are in difficult
financial straits, and efforts have been made to clarify the

matter .

Thus, following a reply from the Portuguese authorities
which claimed that the non-payments were due to delays in
the disbursement of sums owed by the ESF, the individuals
concerned wrote to a Commission official ( Mr Harrington )
by letter of 16 November 1994 . When no answer was
received, they wrote to Commissioner Flynn on 2 February
1995 .

Can the Commission please clarify this matter and say
whether these citizens are not entitled to a clear answer

explaining why the undertakings given to them by the
Portuguese Government and the Community institutions
have not been observed ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 April 1 995 )

The course to which the Honourable Member refers was

financed by the operational programme ' Training and
employment for long-term unemployed adult migrants '
under the first Community Support Framework ( CPS ) for
Portugal ( 1989 / 1993 ).

The course initially approved took place between May 1992
and June 1993 . Following the Commission's decision to
extend measures under the 1989-1993 CPS to 1994, the
course resumed from Sepember 1993 to June 1994 . The ESF
departments had talks with the course coordinator in order

No C 179 / 60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

to obtain the information needed to enable them to make

enquiries with the Portuguese authorities, and informed him
that all the payments had been made by the ESF, apart from
the balance for the last year, the request for which had not
yet been presented .

After obtaining information about the course in question
from the Portuguese authorities, the Commission informed
Mr Augusto, the course coordinator, in a letter dated
9 March 1995 that the arrears would be paid after the
Commission had transferred the balance for the

programme .

The Portuguese authorities submitted the request for the

balance on 21 March 1995 . After examining this request
and the implementation report, the Commission will
authorise the transfer of the sum in question as soon as
possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-927 / 95

by Roy Perry ( PPE )

the Management of Generalized Preferences set up under
Article 1 7 of the Regulation . A Member State may then refer
the Commission's decision within ten days in which case the
Council, acting by a qualified majority, has 30 days within
which to adopt a different decision . Beneficiary countries
concerned by a particular measure must be informed before
the measure becomes effective .

In exceptional circumstances, where the need for immediate
action means that either notification or examination of the

case is impossible, the Commission, after informing the
Member States, may take whatever preventive measures are
strictly necessary to deal with the situation .

(') OJ No L 348, Î1 . 12 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-928 / 95

by Shaun Spiers ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 March 1995 )

to the Commission ( 95 / C 179 / 122 )

( 17 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 121 ) Subject : Waste incinération

Subject : Consultation process for the GSP

In view of plans to increase waste incinerator activity in the
London area, would the Commission indicate, or undertake
research to indicate, what are the possible environmental
effects across the European Union ?

What measures of consultation with interested parties does effects across the European Union ?
the Commission undertake, under the GSP system, prior to
the imposition of new import duties on manufactured goods
and what is the statutory length of the warning period
between the announcement of these new duties and their
imposition ? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The answer to the Honourable Member's question can
be found in Article 14 of Council Regulation ( EC )
No 3281 / 94 (').

Where the machinery of the safeguard clause is set in motion
either at a Member State's request or by the Commission on
its own initiative, with a view to the possible re-introduction
of duties under the common customs tariff, the Commission
publishes an announcement in the Official Journal of the
European Communities summarizing the information at its
disposal, calling for any further relevant particulars and
setting a deadline for the receipt of written submissions from
interested parties . The Commission is required to take a
decision within 30 days, after consulting the Committee for

( 12 April 1995 )

The Commission has no plans to evaluate the possible
environmental effects across the Community of new waste
incineration plants in London . Current legislation aims to
control pollution across frontiers from waste incinerator
activity, in particular dioxins, mercury and other heavy
metals .

To introduce more stringent measures against
environmental pollution from hazardous waste incineration
plants, the Council adopted new standards in December

1994 . These cover new incineration plants as well . The
application of these standards will reduce to a very low level
the emissions into the air of heavy metals and dioxins .

Two Directives of 1989 control emissions arising from the

incineration of municipal waste . As the Council invited the
Commission in its resolution of 7 May 1 990 on waste policy
to consider additional standards for municipal waste

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 61

incinerators, the Commission is preparing a proposal to
introduce more stringent emission limit values . Important
points again are the emissions of dioxins, mercury and other
heavy metals, which are mentioned in the Fifth Community
Action Programme .

The concept of integrated pollution prevention and control
will be introduced, so as to prevent the transfer of pollutants
from one environmental medium ( air, water or land ) to
another . The measures planned for incineration plants will
cover new installations .

It should be noted that new installations require a permit,
which will only be granted by the authorities if the new
installations meet the standards .

its habitats, since adequate protection would appear to be
impossible without this ?

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

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the question . It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-950 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION P-930 / 95 by Nel van Dijk ( V )

by Nel van Dijk ( V ) to the Commission

to the Commission (M March 1995 )

( 17 March 1995 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 124 )

( 95 / C 179 / 123 )

Subject : Protection ot hamsters in Limburg

Subject : Protection of hamsters in the Netherland

The common hamster ( Cricetus cricetus ) has declined
considerably, both in numbers and in distribution, in the
Netherlands, according to a recent reply by the Minister for
Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries to questions
by four Members of the Lower House of the Netherlands
Parliament ( Written Questions of 19 January 1995 by the
members Stellingwerf, Swildens-Rozendaal, Esselink and
M. B. Vos ; Minister's reply of 27 February 1 995 .). Hitherto,
no account has been taken of the hamster in land

development projects or physical planning and
development, despite the fact that the FTJ's Habitats
Directive 93 / 43 / FC (') ( Appendix IV ) requires strict
protection of hamster populations ( hamsters are also
protected under Appendix II to the Berne Convention, the
Dutch Nature Conservancy Act and the Protected
Indigenous Animal Species Decree ).

Will the Commission urge the Minister to ensure that the
Action Plan for Hamsters, which he has announced, is
jadopted and implemented very soon, given that the Habitats

Directive entered into force last year ?

Will the Commission point out to the Minister that
protection of hamsters requires not only agricultural
practices which avoid damage to nature but also careful
planning of infrastructure and construction projects in areas
which may be hamster habitats ?

Will the Commission urge the Minister, in addition to the
current limited surveys of hamster distribution, to arrange
for the fullest possible survey of the hamster population and

The common hamster ( Cricetus cricetus ) has declined
considerably, both in numbers and in distribution, in the
Netherlands, according to a recent reply from the Minister
for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries to
questions from four Members of the Lower House of the
Netherlands Parliament . Hitherto, no account has been
taken of the hamster in land development projects or
physical planning and development, despite the fact that the
EU's Habitats Directive 99 / 43 / EC (') ( Appendix IV )
requires strict protection of hamster populations ( hamsters
are also protected under Appendix II to the Berne
Convention, the Dutch Nature Conservancy Act and the
Protected Indigenous Animal Species Decree ).

Will the Commission evaluate the following projects in the

province of Limburg, which concern areas in, or close to,
which hamster populations are known or suspected to exist,
in the light of the strict protection requirement laid down in
the Habitats Directive, or will it ascertain whether such
evaluations are already being carried out, for example as
part of environmental impact assessments :

— land development in Roerdal, Mergelland and Centraal

Plateau, development of an industrial estate at
Margraten, and the projected route of the A73 along the
east bank of the Maas ( Meuse ), particularly around
Roermond ; the research consultants Natuurbalans of
Nijmegen have shown that there are hamster
populations in or near these areas ;

— the projected East-West runway at Maastricht-Aachen

Airport, against which the association Das & Boom has
brought legal proceedings because of the possible
disturbance to hamster burrows ( 2 );

No C 179 / 62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13 . 7 . 95

— the proposed cross-border Aachen-Heerlen economic

development area ; Naturschutzbund Aachen ( 3 ) and
Aktiegroep Industrieterrein Langveld ( 4 ) have already
informed the Commission that this area is a hamster

habitat .

What is the situation with regard to the protection of
hamsters in their habitat in Germany on the border with
Limburg ?

What will the Commission do if its inquiries show that
certain land development, infrastructure or construction
projects in Limburg are damaging hamster burrows and / or
destroying the species ?

The review of these measures was initiated in June 1994 ( ] )
under the provisions of Article 14 and 15 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2423 / 88 which provide that
anti-dumping measures shall remain in force beyond their
normal period of validity pending the outcome of the
review .

Conclusions on anti-dumping investigations concerning
these two countries as well as India, Indonesia and Thailand
should be finalized in the near future and publication of
these findings will take place in the Official Journal L
series .

destroying the species ? As regards polyester yarn of Malaysian origin, the question

of opening an anti-dumping investigation has been
H OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 . examined and a decision of the Commission in this respect is
(*•) Milieudefensie ( monthly magazine ), March 1995 . expected shortly .

( 3 ) De Limburger 10 January 1992 .

( 4 ) Report, ' Groeien aan de Grens ?', Bocholtz, February 1995 . f 1 ) OJ No C 164, 16 . 6 . 1994 .

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-983 / 95

by Dominique Baudis ( PPE )

to the Commission

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the question . It will communicate its findings as ( 22 March 1995 )
soon as possible . ( 95 / C 179 / 126 )

Subject : The footwear industry

WRITTEN QUESTION P-952 / 95

by Pat Gallagher ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 125 )

Subject : Dumping of polyester filament yarn

What action is being taken by the Commission to counter
dumping of polyester filament yarn from Turkey, Taiwan,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, which is damaging
European Union producers, including Ireland ?

When does the Commission expect to reach a conclusion on
the action to be taken ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )

Imports of polyester filament yarn from Turkey, Taiwan,
India, Thailand and Indonesia are currently the subject of an
anti-dumping investigation under the relevant Community
legislation .

As far as Taiwan and Turkey are concerned, it has to be
stressed that anti-dumping measures have been in force
since 1988 .

According to a report published by a press agency, Mr
Martin Bangemann stated on 3 November 1994 before
Parliament's Committee on External Economic Relations

that, in his opinion, one should not attempt to compete with
Chinese industry in sectors in which it was in a very strong
position ( bicycles, some types of footwear and toys, etc .) by
imposing import restrictions, but rather to give China the
chance to develop in such sectors ; at the same time,
European industry should decide to pull out of areas in
which it was obviously no longer competitive and move into
more promising sectors .

1 . Does the Commission stand by this statement ?

2 . If it does, what structural adjustment measures would it
propose to enable the footwear industry, a highly
labour-intensive sector, to cope with the phasing-out
process ?

3 . If it does not, what measures would it propose to
maintain imports at a level acceptable to the European
Union's footwear industry, and to stimulate
development and technological adjustment in this
sector ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 April 1995 )

The statement made on 3 November 1994 before the

Committee on External Economic Relations underlined the

13 . 7 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 179 / 63

importance of a policy of industrial competitiveness and
open markets in response to the stiff competition now being
faced by businesses . The Commission does not intend to
single out products or sectors in which the Community
should maintain or cease production, this being a matter for
the operators themselves .

The Commission's industrial policy follows the lines set out
very clearly in two general communications adopted in 1 990
and 1994 . The conclusions of the communication of

9 March 1 990 on the footwear industry, which coincided to
a large extent with the terms of Parliament's resolution of
22 February 1991 on the industry, were approved by the
Council on 13 March 1990 .

The Commission would also point out that, to ensure that
competition operates under normal conditions, the
Commission institutions have shown that, where
anti-competitive practices are found to be harming
Community businesses and provided the interests of the
entire industry are at stake, they will not hesitate, on a
proposal from the Commission, to take measures for the
commercial defence of the footwear industry .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-999 / 95

by Hugh Kerr ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1054 / 95

by Graham Watson ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 28 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 128 )

Subject : European Union aid to the Panam County
Integrated Rural Development Project

Did the Commission make, or have made, a scientific
assessment of the environmental impact of the Panam
County Integrated Rural Development Project ?

According to farmers in Panam, the Chinese are obliging
them, by taxation, to use artificial fertilizers and pesticides
in place of the traditional use of yak dung . The ecological
consequences seem likely to be disastrous, since such
methods will soon create a dust bowl in an area of such thin

soil .

What comments on this has the Commission taken into

account in deciding to subsidize the project ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 95 / C 179 / 127 ) ( 20 April 1995 )

Subject : Misuse of EU funding in South-East Asia

Can the Commission indicate what measures have been

undertaken to investigate the possible misuse of EU funding
by the European Bureau for Conservation and Development
in the case concerning the identification of Community
based wild resource management projects in South East
Asia ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

The Commission has just received the activity report
relating to the identification of Community based wild
resource management projects in South-East Asia,
implemented by the European bureau for conservation and
development ( EBCD ).

As regards the financial report, the Commission has
requested the EBCD to provide full financial justification for
Community funds used in project implementation and to
reply to the allegations of possible misuse .

The Commission refers to the answer given to Written
Questions No 94 / 95 (') and No 276 / 95 ( 2 ).

The experts retained by the Commission were instructed to
look into the environmental consequences of the project anc )
its acceptability to the local population .

Concerning the utilization of fertilisers and pesticides, the
interviews and stock control carried out by European
experts showed a relatively modest utilization of fertilisers
and use of pesticides .

It should finally be emphasised that, because of the absence
of any alternative source of energy, the farmers in Pa Nam
are not utilizing the cow dung for fertilising the soil but for
fuel . Planting woods and providing solar cookers should
therefore help address the energy problem and improve
soil conditions and thus directly the environmental
sustainability of the Pa Nam area .

(') OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 58 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 64 .

No C 179 / 64 EN Official Journal of the European Communiries 13 . 7 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1223 / 95

QUESTION P-1223 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION P-1315 / 95

Hiltrud Breyer ( V ) by Fernando Fernández Martín ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 25 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 179 / 129 ) ( 95 / C 179 / 130 )

Subject : Scuttling of de-commissioned off-shore platform

On 16 February 1995 the British Government authorized
the Shell company to scuttle the de-commissioned offshore
platform ' Brent Spar ' using explosives .

1 . Is the British Government's authorization of 16

February 1995 confined to the scuttling of the Brent
Spar ?

2 . Is it intended that other de-commissioned or yet to be
de-commissioned platforms should be scuttled ? If so,

( a ) how many ?

( b ) where ?

3 . What toxic inventory is there on the Brent Spar ? What
quantities of each item does this comprise ?

4 . How is it intended that the toxic inventory should be
disposed of ?

5 . Can the Commission be certain that the scuttling of
platforms does not violate existing international
agreements on the protection of the sea ( Ospar, London
Dumping Convention etc .)?

Subject : Reasons for the delay in the completion of the

access route to Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Funds from the European Union budget were allocated
under the Regional Development Fund ( Feder ) to help
finance the building of a southern access road to Santa Cruz
de Tenerife ( Canary Islands, Spain ) extending from
kilometre zero ( 0 ) to kilometre 3,4, reference code
o4-TF-109 . The budget for the project totals Pta . 2 247
million . Work started on 12 December 1 990 and was due to
finish on 12 October 1992 . However, the project is already
running almost three years late and the building work has
yet to finish . What are the reasons for this significant delay
in the construction of this road ?

Which is the authority responsible for the works and,
therefore, for the delay ?

What, if any, are the budgetary consequences of the delay ?
Have the costs risen, and if so, by how much ? Which
authority should bear these additional costs ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission
( 22 May 1995 )
( 16 Mav 1995 )

The Commission has asked the Member State concerned for

information regarding the facts referred to by the
Honourable Member . It will inform him of its findings . The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the question . It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible .