Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 367
# Official Journal

Volume 37
### of the European Communities 22 December 1994

Volume 37

22 December 1994

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 367 / 01

94 / C 367 / 02

94 / C 367 / 03

94 / C 367 / 04

94 / C 367 / 05

E-14 / 93 by Des Geragthy to the Commission
Subject : Ireland 's GNP / GDP 1

E-998 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Funds for the education and training of coastal fishermen in Greece 2

E-1239 / 93 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Code of good practice relating to women during pregnancy and motherhood 2

E-l 386 / 93 by Fernand Herman to the Commission
Subject : Dispute concerning the organization of Open Competition EUR / B / 27 2

E-1536 / 93 by Menelaos Hadjigeorgiou to the Commission

Subject : Financial aid for Greece 3

94 / C 367 / 06 E-l 786 / 93 by Detlev Samland to the Commission
Subject : ECSC aids 4

94 / C 367 / 07 E-2084 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : The insecticide Biosoap 5

94 / C 367 / 08

94 / C 367 / 09

94 / C 367 / 10

E-2259 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Advertising in newspapers 5

E-2288 / 93 by Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Exclusion of the France-Spain frontier region from a study of cross-border purchases 6

E-241 5 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Desperate problems of European cities 6

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-2696 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : EC Directive on recreational craft

E-2814 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Public opinion and sources of energy

E-2865 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Bilateral agreement between UK and Eire re Thorp

E-2892 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Technical assistance requested by Spain

E-2934 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Subsidiarity and monitoring implementation

E-3010 / 93 by Alman Metten, Lode Van Outrive and Christa Randzio-Plath to the
Commission

Subject : Implementation of the Edinburgh declaration on the promotion of economic recovery in
Europe and the need to pursue a policy of income and job distribution

E-3017 / 93 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : EC Public Procurement Directive

E-3049 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Subscribers to satellite television channels

E-3 132 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Absence of a common organization of the market for bee-keeping

E-4038 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Financial support for bee-keeping in Greece

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3 132 / 93 and E-4038 / 93

E-3376 / 93 by Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Extension of storage and incineration plants for special waste, including dangerous
substances in Pitelli ( La Spezia — Italy )

E-3393 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Homeless people in the Community

E-3431 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Violation of Community environmental legislation

E-3465 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Reduction of the traditional sunflower-growing area in Andalusia

E-3551 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1989-1993 — Ireland

E-3642 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to resolve problems in Mesochora in the prefecture of Trikala

E-3712 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Anthrax contamination

E-3740 / 93 by Klaus Riskær Pedersen to the Commission
Subject : Human prescription drugs

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Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 367 / 29

94 / C 367 / 30

E-3 809 / 93 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Social Affairs Council of 23 November 1993 15

E-3 847 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : New Interrail system for young persons as from 1 January 1994 16

94 / C 367 / 31 E-3 86 1 / 93 by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission

Subject : Single Market 17

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E-3870 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz and Enrique Sapena Granell to the Commission
Subject : Identity checks carried out by Community airlines 17

E-3935 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Lifting on ban on seal skin imports 18

E-3937 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Town twinning-funding for peripheral areas 18

E-3984 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Proposals for Directives on pharmaceuticals and food additives 19

E-4000 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Squandering of resources of Community programmes 19

E-4044 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Spraying of vines with strong herbicides 20

E-4077 / 93 by James Elles to the Commission
Subject : Compulsory fitting of seat belts on coaches and mini-buses 20

E-45 / 94 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Anti-AIDS spermicides : WHO experiments in the Third World 21

E - 103 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Inclusion of livestock farmers in the early retirement scheme for farmers regardless of
whether they have agricultural land 22

E - 116 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Assessments of the macro-economic consequences of the current process of industrial
re-structuring in Europe 22

E - 119 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Estimates regarding the re-structuring of the European steel " industry 22

E-146 / 94 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Fax directory — entry for the European Community 23

E - 177 / 94 by Jose Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Railway link over the Guadiana River 24

E-l 96 / 94 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Ethical standards of officials 24

E-220 / 94 by Anne McIntosh to the Commission
Subject : Crash protection standards for cars 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 367 / 47 E-244 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Making a survey of existing programmes which the Baltic States can take advantage
of 25

94 / C 367 / 48 E-248 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Conversion of production by asbestos cement plants 25

94 / C 367 / 49 E-249 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directive 82 / 501 / EEC in respect of the accident at the ' Diana Avee
Servos and Co .' chemical plant 26

94 / C 367 / 50 E-256 / 94 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Projects being held in abeyance and measures to promote employment 26

94 / C 367 / 51 E-276 / 94 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Research into medicinal products 27

94 / C 367 / 52 E-281 / 94 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Providing cross-border tax inspections 27

94 / C 367 / 53 E-293 / 94 by Agostino Mantovani, Franco Borgo, Nino Pisoni, Ferruccio Pisoni, Mauro
Chiabrando, Giuseppe Mottola and Felice Contu to the Commission
Subject : Inexplicably low prices of German and Dutch packaged milk marketed in Italy 28

94 / C 367 / 54 E-330 / 94 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Replacement of catalytic converters in motor vehicles 28

94 / C 367 / 55 E-332 / 94 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Problems in levying VAT on intra-Community trade 29

94 / C 367 / 56 E-342 / 94 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination in motor-car insurance policies in certain Member States 29

94 / C 367 / 57 E-350 / 94 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Aid to Cuba 30

94 / C 367 / 58 E-357 / 94 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Frozen bread 30

94 / C 367 / 59 E-372 / 94 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Visas and racism 31

94 / C 367 / 60 E-401 / 94 by Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Impending food shortages in Ethiopia and Eritrea 31

94 / C 367 / 61 E-402 / 94 by Honor Funk to the Commission
Subject : Misuse of EC subsidies 32

94 / C 367 / 62 E-425 / 94 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Public contracts and ' compensation ' 32

94 / C 367 / 63 E-432 / 94 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : EAGGF subsidy to the Abattoir de la Châtaigneraie ( 85 ) 33

94 / C 367 / 64 E-470 / 94 by Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Paramotors and the single market 33

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 367 / 65 E-474 / 94 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The Community 's contribution to help stamp out infant mortality in the world 34

94 / C 367 / 66 E-493 / 94 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Creation of a European Public Service Contracts Observatory 35

94 / C 367 / 67 E-510 / 94 by Jean-Paul Heider to the Commission
Subject : Potash mines 35

94 / C 367 / 68 E-555 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Setting up a tax mechanism to offset VAT which cannot be reclaimed by charitable
organizations 36

94 / C 367 / 69 E-637 / 94 by Bernard Frimat to the Commission
Subject : Belgian tax regulations applying to French residents working in Belgium 36

94 / C 367 / 70 E-642 / 94 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Procurement Directive 90 / 53 1 / EEC 37

94 / C 367 / 71 E-646 / 94 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Use of slave labour in Belgian hospitals 37

94 / C 367 / 72 E-659 / 94 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Progress towards eliminating monopolies in the European Union 38

/

94 / C 367 / 73 E-661 / 94 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Negative investment trends in Spain 39

94 / C 367 / 74 E-715 / 94 by Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear reactors 39

94 / C 367 / 75 E-737 / 94 by Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Barriers to inclusion in the German Register of Master Craftsmen 40

94 / C 367 / 76 E-747 / 94 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Study of cross-border movement of personal data 40

94 / C 367 / 77 E-763 / 94 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Fishing Agreement with Canada 40

94 / C 367 / 78 E-781 / 94 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Consumer Policy Service 41

94 / C 367 / 79 E-807 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to promote the free movement of persons 41

94 / C 367 / 80 E-1048 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of movement for persons in the EU 42

Joint answer to Written Questions E-807 / 94 and E-1048 / 94 42

94 / C 367 / 81 E-8 11 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Binding legislative provisions in the financial and economic services sector 42

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 367 / 82 E-812 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Revision of the Directive on money laundering 42

94 / C 367 / 83 E-820 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Setting up a European Institute for North-South dialogue . 43

94 / C 367 / 84 E-823 / 94 by Claude Desama to the Commission
Subject : Application of the Agreement on the European Economic Area with regard to gas and
electricity imports and exports 43

94 / C 367 / 85 E-837 / 94 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Midwifery 44

94 / C 367 / 86 E-849 / 94 by Anthony Simpson to the Commission
Subject : Fire extinguishers in cars 44

94 / C 367 / 87 E-854 / 94 by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : Imports into Community territory of heavy sodium carbonates 45

94 / C 367 / 88 E-916 / 94 by Glyn Ford to the Commission '
Subject : VAT on buildings with heritage status 45

94 / C 367 / 89 E-980 / 94 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Money for re-structuring the steel industry 46

94 / C 367 / 90 E-1025 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Electronic bank payments 46

94 / C 367 / 91 E-1041 / 94 by Viviane Reding to the Commission
Subject : Lower rate of VAT for historic sites and monuments 47

94 / C 367 / 92 E-1118 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Navpaktos by-pass 47

94 / C 367 / 93 E-1279 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Amendment to the Directive on the right of residence of students 47

94 / C 367 / 94 E-l 346 / 94 by Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination against German as a working language at the Commission 47

94 / C 367 / 95 E-l 396 / 94 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Arrangements to replace Commissioner Matutes 48

94 / C 367 / 96 E-1397 / 94 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund spending in the Strathclyde Region 48

94 / C 367 / 97 E-1432 / 94 by Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : Retrospective award of Structural Funds 49

94 / C 367 / 98 E-1433 / 94 by Enrique Baron Crespo to the Commission
Subject : Financing of the Radio Station ' Radio Brod ' 49

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

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-14 / 93

by Des Geragthy ( NI )

to the Commission

(3 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 01 )

Subject : Ireland 's GNP / GDP

As the Commission will be aware, the GNP of the Republic
of Ireland is less than its GDP by a small but statistically
significant percentage — a difference largely attributable to
profit repatriation by multinational corporations operating
in Ireland .

For comparison purposes therefore, use of Ireland 's GDP
figure can give a distorted picture vis-a-vis the other eleven
Member States . How will this difference be taken into

account when assessing the distribution of Structural
Funding and will the Commission in future publish the
figure for Ireland 's GNP alongside that of its GDP whenever
comparisons are being made with some or all of the other
Member States ?

sizeable foreign debt and investment in Ireland, in addition
to the facilities offered to foreign companies operating in
Ireland, it is clear that the discrepancy between GDP and
GNP is higher in Ireland than in other Member States
( except Luxembourg ).

However, due to a partial lack of reliable sources available
in Ireland, both the investment income received from the
rest of the world and the investment income paid to the rest
of the world may be underestimated . Work to improve such
estimates in Ireland is in hand within Eurostat .

As regards the indicative distribution by Member State of
the commitment appropriations of the Structural Funds for
the 1994-1 999 Community support frameworks under
Objective 1, adopted on 21 October, the Commission took
account among other ojective criteria, of both GDP and
GNP per capita in all the regions covered by this Objective .
In this way it fully implemented the conclusions of the
Edinburgh European Council of 11 and 12 December 1992
regarding the financial distribution which the Council at its
meeting on 19 / 20 July 1993 transcribed into Article 12
paragraph 4 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88, amended by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081 / 93 ( a ).

Answer on behalf given of by the Mr Commission Christophersen Most of the publications from Eurostat, especially those

dealing with national accounts ( 2 ), present the main
( 15 February 1994 ) aggregates for each Member State including both GDP and
GNP .

As far as the methods used by the Irish National
Accountants to estimate the transition from GDP to GNP

are concerned, no deviation from the European System of
Integrated Economic Accounts ( ESA ) appears to exist .

The discrepancy between the two aggregates ( GDP and

GNP ) reflects the reality of the Irish economy . Because of

(!) OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .
( 2 ) See National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970-1990 Eurostat

2-C .

No C 367 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-998 / 93 Answer given by Mr Flynn

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ) on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 22 November 1993 )

(3 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 02 )

Subject : Funds for the education and training of coastal

fishermen in Greece

As I regularly receive protests from the organizations and
individuals concerned, could the Commission say where and
how the funds for the education and training of coastal
fishermen in Greece have been spent ( broken down by
prefecture )? Have some organizations or regions been
excluded and, if so, why ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

In its action programme to implement the Social Charter,
the Commission proposed to put forward a Directive on the
protection of pregnancy and maternity at work and to draw
up a code of good practice relating to pregnancy and
maternity .

The Commission put forward its proposal for a Directive in
September 1990 . Council Directive 92 / 85 / EEC, on
measures to encourage improvements in the safety and
health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have
recently given birth or are breast-feeding, was adopted on

19 October 1992 t 1 ).

Member States have a period of two years in which to
implement the Directive into national law . The Commission
considers that the need for a code of good practice and its
possible content should be evaluated at the end of that
period in the light of experience gained in the course of
implementation of the Directive .

Training activities for costal fishermen are financed by the
ESF under the regional Operational Programmes, (!) OJ No L 348, 28 . 11 . 1992 .
particularly in the island regions, pursuant to the Greek CSF
for 1989-1993 .

Financing proposals of this kind are submitted by interested
organizations to the competent authorities, which assess
and select the projects to be financed on the basis of the
criterial guidelines in force under Ministerial Decision

110543 of 31 October 1992 .

The Commission does not at present possess the figures
requested by the Honourable Member . The Greek
authorities have been asked to supply them and the
Commission will forward them to the Honourable Member

and to Parliament 's Secretariat as soon as it has reveived

them .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1239 / 93

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 03

Subject : Code of good practice relating to women during

pregnancy and motherhood

In its social action programme, the Commission intends to
draw up a code of good practice relating to women during
pregnancy and motherhood .

Is the Commission able to indicate when it will present this
recommendation ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1386 / 93

by Fernand Herman ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 04 )

Subject : Dispute concerning the organization of Open

Competition EUR / B / 27

I have been informed that, in considering applications for
Open Competition EUR / B / 27 (*), the selection panels
rejected applications from certain officials on the grounds
that they had failed to supply documents showing that they
were officals, as required under paragraph IX . 1 . of the
notice of open competition .

In accordance with previous practice, which appeared to be
well established, certain candidates thought it sufficient to
enclose with their application a copy of their instrument of
appointment, staff card or salary statement, whilst others
simply stated that they were officials .

However it appears that the selection board has reversed its
decision and agreed to consider applications from officials
who supplied supporting documents proving that they were
officials, other than the one expected but not mentioned in
the notice of open competition, that is to say an attestation
from the Directorate-General for Personnel and

Administration .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 3

Can the Commission explain :

1 . Why a European Community official applying to take

an open competition is required to produce documents
which are contained in his personal file and therefore
immediately available to the selection board ?

2 . What happens to applications from officials who have,

in good faith and taking account of established practice,
simply declared that they are officials ?

3 . Why have certain officials who failed to fulfil
paragraph IX . 1 . to the letter of this notice of open
competition been admitted and others rejected ?

forward with the preparatory work for an internal
competition from category C to category B, with the active
participation of the staff representatives .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1536 / 93

by Menelaos Hadjigeorgiou ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 16 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 05 )
(!) OJ No C 220A, 27 . 8 . 1992 .

Subject : Financial aid for Greece

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

1 . This requirement seems excessive and the Commission
will seek to relax it in the future . However, it must be
remembered that the process of recruitment is controlled on
a joint basis, with the administrations of all institutions
concerned forming one element and the staff representatives
the other . The notice of this competition resulted from a
joint committee and the selection board is also a joint
body .

The rigidity of the selection board ( which includes staff
representatives ) in the interpretation of this requirement
was based on the consideration that it is necessary to avoid
discrimination between the applications of Community
officials and those of external candidates . The Commission

would point out that the decisions taken by the selection
board were in line with the jurisprudence of the Court of
Justice .

It is true that certain Commission selection boards in the

past allowed the status of official or temporary agent to be
indicated on the basis of a simple sworn statement .
However, the practice was different in the other institutions .
The practice followed until now by the Parliament specifies
that candidates must provide written proof of their status as
officials or agents .

2 and 3 . Each selection board is independent and its
work is confidential . If the need arises, it looks back to any
Court decisions before pronouncing on any appeals . All
applications submitted by Community officials were
reconsidered in the light of a common interpretation of the
specific conditions applicable to officials . This meant that all
candidates who are Community officials were treated
equally .

For its part, the Commission maintains an open attitude,
respecting the individual 's rights . It has decided to push

In accordance with its international obligations, Greece is
implementing the new, stricter UN sanctions against Serbia .
However, this is at enormous economic cost to the country
at a time when the Greek nation is being called on to make
major sacrifices for the sake of economic recovery .

1 . What steps will the Commission take to ensure

compliance with the embargo on Serbia as well as the
safety of transport to and from Greece ?

2 . In view of the fact that the transport by road of products

to and from Greece will be routed through Bulgaria,
Romania and Hungary, countries which receive various
forms of European Community aid, what steps will the
Commission take to facilitate arrangements with these
neighbouring countries to help solve the problem of a
Member State ?

3 . What will be done to promote sea transport at the ports

of Igoumenitsa and Patras ?

4 . What are the provisional estimates of the adverse

economic impact of the embargo on Greece and what
steps are being envisaged to provide compensation and
assistance for the Greek economy, which has been
directly hit by the boycott on Serbia ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

1 . In the Commission 's view, the measures taken both at
international and Community level have enabled the United
Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro to be
applied . Joint missions in Europe, known as Sanction
Assistance Missions ( SAM ), advise the neighbouring States
of former Yugoslavia on the implementation of sanctions
and on means of detecting and reducing violations . The

No C 367 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

communication centre for the SAM, located in Brussels,
prepares regular reports on the situation . The Sanctions
Liaison Group also meets regularly in Vienna to examine
practical and financial measures . SAM teams are currently
working in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Croatia and
Albania .

A sanctions coordinator monitors the various activities

connected with sanctions against Serbia and
Montenegro .

These measures are in addition to those taken by NATO and
the WEU, in particular on the Adriatic coast and along the
Danube .

The Commission has been informed by the Greek
authorities of the difficulties facing surface transport in
Greece as a result of the conflict in former Yugoslavia . This
matter was discussed at the Transport Council meeting on
7 June 1993 and was the subject of an interim report put
before the Council in September . The Commission, in
cooperation with the Greek authorities, is currently looking
into the difficulties caused and the various options for
improving the situation . It has established contact with the
countries concerned ( Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary,
Slovakia and the Czech Republic ) with a view to facilitating
transit through those countries under the various
agreements between them and the Community .

In this context, it should be recalled that the Commission
forwarded a recommendation for a Council decision to the

Council in December 1992 on the opening of negotiations
between the Community and certain third countries in the
sphere of road transport (*), The aim of the negotiations is
to conclude agreements with the countries of central and
eastern Europe in order to facilitate road transport
involving those countries, including transit through their
territory . Issues relating to transit and infrastructures were
raised at a working lunch on the fringes of the Transport
Council on 30 November 1993 with the Transport
Ministers of the countries of central and eastern Europe
which have signed Europe Agreements .

As regards road infrastructures, the Commission is already
funding improvements to the border posts in Hungary and
on the Romanian-Bulgarian border under the Phare
regional programme, in order to facilitate international
transit traffic . These activities have been given priority
under the 1993 Phare regional programme . Transit route
infrastructures in Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria are the
subject of financing studies within the G-24, the EIB and
the BERD . Additional possibilities for financing road
infrastructure investment projects in the countries by transit
to and from Greece are provided for in the Edinburgh
facility and under the Phare Programme, as decided by the
Copenhagen European Council .

The Commission has also undertaken to identify a series of
projects of common interest with the Commission for

short-term investments, and priority corridors for
medium-term infrastructure development . The results of
this identification exercise were put to the Pan-European
Transport Conference held in Crete between 14 and

16 March 1994 . Particular attention is being given to links
with Greece .

3 . The Commission has included access to the ports of
Patras and Igoumenitsa in the master plans for the
trans-European combined transport and road transport
networks . A Commission communication is currently in
preparation on port infrastructures, which will take account
of the importance to Greek transport of these two ports,
which give access to an alternative western route via
Italy .

4 . The blockade imposed on Serbia is liable to have a
negative effect on Greek revenue from trade with Europe .
However, it is very difficult to assess a priori the impact on
foreign currency earnings for three reasons : firstly, the
information needed concerning the movement of goods,
services and persons is not available ; secondly, the flows
observed are disrupted not only by the embargo, but by
other important factors such as the recession in the
Community, which has undoubtedly had a considerable
role to play in the reduction of trade and the decline in
international tourism . Finally, an accurate assessment of the
economic effects of the blockade would require an in-depth
knowledge of the breakdown of profits and losses in Greece .
This last factor is of particular significance in the transport
sector, as the losses due to the embargo have been offset by
profits from replacement activities .

(M SEC(92 ) 2264 final of 11 December 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 786 / 93

by Detlev Samland ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 06 )

Subject : ECSC - aids

Can the Commission give the figures for ECSC aids for the
period 1987-1992 and, more specifically, for the Federal
Republic of Germany ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 February 1994 )

The Honourable Member will find the figures he requests in
the following table .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 5

Implementation of the ECSC operating budget : 1987 — 1992

( rounded off in ECU million )

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

Requirements

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

1 . Administrative expenditure 5,00 0,00 5,00 0,00 5,00 0,00 5,00 0,00 5,00 0,00 5,00 0,00

2 . Aid for redeployment 82,39 20,98 360,52 65,91 193,10 59,89 184,00 27,62 166,08 63,65 154,80 52,57

3 . Aid for research 73,68 26,89 73,49 22,19 78,59 20,45 94,14 28,01 128,07 34,82 118,23 38,39

3.1 . Steel 36,99 13,57 35,23 11,28 35,84 8,38 43,57 10,57 61,88 15,49 56,00 18,59

3.2 . Coal 25,27 9,02 26,08 7,87 30,05 9,30 36,29 13,81 48,48 16,17 47,74 16,19

3.3 . Social 11,42 4,30 12,18 3,05 12,69 2,77 14,28 3,63 17,72 3,17 14,49 3,62

4 . Interest subsidies 48,34 28,38 62,34 27,05 60,66 16,08 82,19 19,64 104,53 34,74, 106,00 52,51

4.1 . Investment 8,00 5,45 7,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 13,04 0,00 3,30 0,00 0,00 0,00

4.2 . Conversion 40,34 22,93 55,34 27,05 60,66 16,08 69,15 19,64 101,23 34,74 106,00 52,51

5 . Social measures ( steel ) 34,00 10,65 50,00 13,66 25,00 5,40 45,22 18,20 20,00 12,76 46,19 38,02

6 . Social measures ( coal ) 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 40,00 15,35 35,69 14,32 50,00 16,59

Total 243,42 86,90 551,35 128,82 362,35 101,82 450,55 108,81 459,37 160,29 480,22 208,08

Key : 1 = EUR ; 2 = Germany .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2084 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 07 )

nicotine sulphate which reacts with soap solution to release
nicotine which is effective against sucking insects .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259 / 93

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )
Subject : The insecticide Biosoap
to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

Whitefly is a potential killer of hundreds of crops, including
sweet potatoes and cotton . American researchers, ( 94 / C 367 / 08 )
recognizing the extreme difficulty of combating this pest,
experimented with extracts from the leaves of a type of Subject : Advertising in newspapers
Australian tobacco and produced an insecticide which they
called ' biosoap '. The US Department of Agricultutre has
officially announced that using this insecticide on crops Does the Commission have any
produces excellent results . It eradicates whitefly and, most context of the Green Paper on
importantly, does not harm the soil or the environment . Is pluralism, of rectifying the situation
the insecticide biosoap allowed to be marketed in offers printed for example in UK
Europe ? the UK yet these newspapers have a

Subject : Advertising in newspapers

Does the Commission have any intention, within the
context of the Green Paper on media concentration and
pluralism, of rectifying the situation whereby advertising
offers printed for example in UK newspapers are limited to
the UK yet these newspapers have a wide circulation in other
Member States in particular Ireland ?

Is this is not a case where the Commission should be

promoting such cross-border transactions in the context of
Answer given by Mr Steichen the distance selling Directive ?

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archiran

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission is not aware of any plant protection (9 November 1993 )
product authorized and marketed in Member States under
the name ' Biosoap '. However, according to information
available to the Commission, plant protection products The matter referred to by the Honourable Member cannot
containing the tobacco extract nicotine are authorized in be dealt with in the context of the Green Paper on Pluralism
four Member States . They are normally marketed as and Media Concentration in the Internal Market : an

No C 367 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Assessment of the Need for Community Action (*). The
purpose of the Green Paper is to examine ownership of
media companies, not to consider the content of the media,
in particular of newspapers .

The cross-border transactions referred to by the
Honourable Member are promoted through the application
of the principles of the free movement of goods and the
freedom to provide services specified in Articles 30 and 59 of
the EEC Treaty, subject to the restrictions laid down by that
Treaty and by the case-law of the Court of Justice .
Restrictions arising in the cross-border activities of
newspaper publishers, individual advertisers in newspapers
or advertising businesses must be appraised on a
case-by-case basis for their compatibility with these
principles . These issues will be discussed in the forthcoming
green paper on commercial communication in the single
market .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

A price survey was carried out in a France-Spain frontier
region in 1991 . In view of the high cost of such a survey, it
was not possible to include all the regions of the Community
in the invitation to tender published in the Official
Journal .

However, the France-Spain cross-border region will be
covered by similar studies in the future . This is not a major
drawback, since the studies are concerned with the specific
behaviour of consumers in a given frontier region, and such
surveys do not therefore need to be carried out
simultaneously .

With regard to the proposal for a Directive referred to by the
Honourable Member ( 2 ), its ojective is more specific in that
it is concerned solely with contracts negotiated at a distance
between consumers and suppliers and does not cover purely
advertising matters . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2415 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

i 1 ) COM(92 ) 480 final .

( 2 ) OJ No C 156, 23 . 6 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2288 / 93

by Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 09 )

Subject : Exclusion of the France-Spain frontier region from

a study of cross-border purchases

The Commission 's Consumer Policy Service intends to
award a contract for a study of cross-border purchases in the
frontier regions of the Community .

Point 2 of the invitation to tender published in the Official
Journal of the European Communities (*) states that the

study will cover the character of cross-border purchases
in following frontier regions : France / Germany ;
France / Belgium ; Netherlands / Germany ; Netherlands /
Belgium ; Belgium / Germany / Netherlands ; Luxembourg /
Belgium / Germany .

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 10 )

Subject : Desperate problems of European cities

In view of the desperate problems facing some European
cities and in the light of Community action on their behalf
and the experience gained by the Union of European Cities,
could the Commission take any initiative, on the basis of the
subsidiarity principle, to promote a European strategy to
tackle urban problems, in particular :

1 . to achieve a substantial improvement as soon as possible

in environmental conditions in the urban areas of the

Community ?

2 . to implement a special programme to restructure

particularly run-down neighbourhoods ?

3 . to combat marginalization and long-term and youth

unemployment ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

Why was the France / Spain frontier region not included in The Commission is aware of the concentration of certain
the study ? social and environmental problems in urban areas . The

urban dimension is taken into account in various

0 ) OJ No C 63, 5 . 3 . 1993, p . 15 . Community policies, particularly social and environmental

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 7

policies, but the Commission does not intend to develop a
specific urban policy .

The social problems of urban areas are primarily the
responsibility of the Member States . The Community
provides support for measures taken by the Member
States .

The problems to which the Honourable Member refers are
essentially associated with social exclusion . On
23 December 1992 the Commission adopted a
communication entitled ' Towards a Europe of solidarity —
Intensifying the fight against social exclusion, fostering
integration ' ( 1 ).

Action to facilitate social integration in the urban
environment is part of a more general strategy against social
exclusion proposed by the Commission .

The Commission has recently adopted a proposal for a new
programme to combat social exclusion ( 2 ), for which the
budget will be double that of the current Poverty III
Programme . The proposed programme is specifically
intended to foster social integration in urban areas .

As far as the Structural Funds are concerned, the new
Objective 3 will involve measures to combat exclusion from
the job market . The Commission has proposed the adoption
of a Green paper on the Community initiatives with a view
to strengthening measures to fight social exclusion .

As far as the urban environment is concerned, the
Community provides considerable financial support for
infrastructures benefiting urban areas, including the
improvement of the urban environment, through the
different Structural Funds, in particular the Regional Fund .
Eligible are almost half of the larger cities in the Community,
those with more than 200 000 inhabitants, and many
smaller cities, as well as pilot projects across the
Community .

The Commission is also providing support for the exchange
of experience between cities on all issues which are relevant
for urban areas ( social exclusion, economic development,
transport, environment, planning, etc .). An important
follow-up to the 1990 Green Paper on the Urban
Environment will be the preparation this year of a report on
' Sustainable Cities ' by the expert group set up by the
Council, following the Green Paper, as part of a longer term
' Sustainable Cities Project '. The priority themes for this
year 's report are transport, land-use and integration of
policies at the urban level .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2696 / 93

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 11 )

Subject : EC Directive on recreational craft

What is the present status of the proposal to introduce a
Directive to harmonize new boat-building standards ? Will
this proposal also contain a retrospective element, thereby
affecting many existing craft ?

Is such a measure not an attempt to bring older traditional
craft within the scope of the Directive and would it not
therefore limit the freedom to sail classic craft in their

traditional waters ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 November 1993 )

The proposal for a Directive on the approximation of the
laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the
Member States relating to recreational craft was transmitted
by the Commission to the Council on April 21, 1992 . A
report on the proposal was adopted during the November

1992 plenary session of the Parliament . Six meetings of the
Council Working Party have discussed the proposal .

The proposal does not contain any retrospective element .
The Directive will apply, from the date of its entry into force,
only to new ( or re-conditioned ), products manufactured in
the Community and to new ( or re-conditioned ), or used
products imported from a third country . This rule applies
without any discrimination between products .

The two main objectives of the proposal are :

— to eliminate barriers to trade ( Articles 8 a and 100a of the

EEC Treaty );

— to provide consumers ( users in this case ) with a high level

of safety ( Article 100a, paragraph 3 EEC Treaty ).

To achieve these objectives, all Member States will adopt
national measures to implement the Directive .

(!) COM(92 ) 542 . Exclusions for certain replicas of historical craft have been
( 2 ) OJ No C 248, 11 . 9 . 1993 . foreseen but the text is not yet finalized .

No C 367 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

QUESTION E-28 14 / 93 authorities for the transmission of information subsequent

to a nuclear accident be substantiated in the form of a

Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and Irish
Governments ( ! ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-28 14 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 12 ) (!) OJ No L 138, 21 . 5 . 1992, p . 36 .

Subject : Public opinion and sources of energy

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

Towards the end of 1992 an opinion poll with a large
sample {1 036 people were questioned ) was carried out in
France, shedding some light on the views of the French
population as regards the various sources of energy . The poll
showed that there was a slight majority in favour of solar
power, a remarkable level of satisfaction with regard to
French advances in the field of nuclear technology and a
definite concern about the problem of storing nuclear

waste .

Would it be possible for this opinion poll to be brought up to
date and to extend it to all twelve Member States, perhaps
via the ' Euro barometer '?

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

According to the information available to the Commission,
the possibility of a formal agreement between the
Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland is under
discussion between the two Member States . The

Commission is awaiting notification of any steps
undertaken .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2892 / 93
on behalf of the Commission

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
(8 April 1994 ) to the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

An opinion poll on energy was carried out in summer 1993 . ( 94 / C 367 / 14 )
This was the sixth poll to be carried out since 1984, via

' Eurobarometer ', for the energy sector .

Subject : Technical assistance requested by Spain

The results of the poll and the related report will be
distributed as widely as possible .

The Commission is sending a copy of this document direct
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament 's

Secretariat .

Can the Commission give details of the funding provided so
far to implement the measures adopted in connection with
the technical assistance requested by Spain under the reform
of the Structural Funds ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 1994 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2865 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 13 )

Subject : Bilateral agreement between UK and Eire re

Thorp

What steps have been taken by the Governments of the
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and notified to the
Commission in its opinion of 30 April 1992 on the Thorp
facility at Sellafield ( 92 / 269 / Euratom ), to ensure that the
bilateral arrangements between the respective competent

The total amount granted to Spain from the European
Regional Development Fund for technical assistance in
general and under the Community support frameworks
between 1989 and 1993 amounts to approximately ECU 24
million . This mainly covers information and assessment

measures .

The amount granted by the European Social Fund to Spain
for technical assistance under the various Community
support frameworks ( 1990-1993 ) amounts to ECU 33,91
million .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2934 / 93

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 15 )

Subject : Subsidiarity and monitoring implementation

Has any progress been made in respect of the Commission 's
proposals to give ombudsmen from each Member State a
role in the investigation of complaints of breaches of
Community law and the approximation — in respect of
guarantees and costs for the plaintiffs — of national
investigation procedures ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

At the Inter-governmental Conference held before the
Treaty on European Union was signed, the Commission
proposed an ombudsman for each Member State . The
Treaty makes provision for a single ombudsman to be
appointed by Parliament .

The Regulations and general conditions governing the
performance of the ombudsman 's duties were established by
Parliament Decision and agreed by the Council and the
Commission .

The Honourable Member is referred to these Regulations .
The ombudsman has not yet been appointed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3010 / 93

by Alman Metten ( PSE ), Lode Van Outrive ( PSE ) and

Christa Randzio-Plath ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 16 )

Subject : Implementation of the Edinburgh declaration on

the promotion of economic recovery in Europe and
the need to pursue a policy of income and job
distribution

On 12 December 1992 the European Council in Edinburgh
took important decisions on the stimulation of economic

recovery .

What part will the Commission play in the operation of the
new instruments introduced to stimulate recovery ?

What programmes has the Commission set up to utilize the

Community funds agreed on by the Council in Edinburgh ?
What are the Commission 's priorities in this area ?

The European Council has called on the Member States to
implement, in consultation with one another, economic
measures which would boost confidence by encouraging
economic recovery . What measures have been taken or
proposed by the Member States specifically to carry out the
decisions taken in Edinburgh ? What will be the positive
effects of Community and national measures on growth ?
Taken as a whole, does the Commission consider these
measures to be sufficient ?

All the forecasts indicate that even though recovery will
start, it will not be enough significantly to increase
employment . Are not other measures necessary, particularly
regarding the organization of work and the distribution of
work and ' added value ', in order to safeguard purchasing
power ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission report ' Promoting Economic Recovery in
Europe ' ( : ) to the Ecofin Council of 19 April 1993 provides
comprehensive information on the many issues raised by the
Honourable Members . In particular, it provides details of
the Commission 's role in the implementation of the Growth
Initiative, of the national and Community measures
undertaken and of their impact . The priorities of the
Initiative were clearly identified by the European Council
and can be summarized as follows . First, it must be
consistent with the medium-term requirements of the Treaty
on European Union . Second, it must strike a delicate balance
between providing a short-term stimulus to economic
activity and not jeopardizing longer term growth prospects .
Third it is to involve measures at the Community and
national levels . Overall, the Initiative was viewed as
complementary to the other major issues which will
ultimately determine the Community 's growth prospects .
These include the full ratification of the Treaty on European
Union, the implementation of the single market, a return to
stability within the ERM and the successful conclusion of
the Uruguay Round . There has recently been substantial
progress in all these areas .

The Initiative and the possible need for new Member States
have been kept under constant review . Hence, the
Copenhagen European Council prolonged the ' temporary
lending facility ' and increased its resources to ECU 8 billion .
The facility has already helped fund projects to a value of

No C 367 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

ECU 34,8 billion including many high profile investments
such as a gas pipeline from Algeria to Italy, the Jubilee
rail-line extension to London 's docklands, the further
development of Frankfurt airport and the Belgian TGV . In
addition its resources now include ECU 1 billion towards

loans with interest rate subsidies for small and medium sized

enterprises . Meanwhile, almost all Member States have
ratified the necessary changes to the statutes of the
European Investment Bank required formally to establish
the European Investment Fund . The fund, once operational,
will provide loan guarantees for further projects with a total
value of up to ECU 16 billion . Finally, at the level of the
Member States, a wide range of supplementary measures
aimed at promoting recovery and creating sustainable
growth have also been launched .

The Ecofin Council carried out a further review of the

Initiative at its meeting of 25 October 1993 . However, the
economic challenges facing the Community demand an even
greater response . Therefore, the Copenhagen European
Council invited the Commission to present a White Paper on
a medium term strategy on growth, competitiveness and
employment at its December 1993 meeting . The White
Paper, which was well received by the Council, is aimed at
enhancing the Community 's competitiveness and job
creation record . Within the framework of a healthy and
stable economy, it proposes an action plan consisting of
policies to be pursued at Member State level to promote
employment and specific accommodating measures to be
conducted at Community level . In this context, the Ecofin
Council of 13 December 1993 has agreed the broad
economic policy guidelines for the Community, required
under Article 103 EC Treaty, which consistute the reference
for the conduct of the economic policies in the Community
and in the Member States .

The European Council will be informed of progress in
relation to the implementation of the action plan outlined in
the White Paper . A full and comprehensive report will be
submitted to the Council each year beginning in December

1994 as part of this process .

(M COM(93 ) 164 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3017 / 93

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 17 )

Subject : EC Public Procurement Directive

The EC Public Procurement Directive 90 / 53 1 / EEC ( ) was
implemented into UK law by the Utilities Supply and Works
Contracts Regulations 1992 . What action is being taken to
ensure that the Directive is properly implemented in those
Member States which have not yet done so ?

H OJ No L 297, 29 . 10 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

In relation to the Community measures, the Ecofin Council
has initiated discussions on the European Council 's (3 May 1994 )
conclusions on Trans-European Networks ( TENs ), a
further key element of the Paper . The Council will
co-ordinate the financial aspects of the two ad-hoc groups Nine Member States are obliged to
created by the European Council in December to promote 90 / 53 1 / EEC of 17 September
the realisation of the TENs for transport and energy 1 1993 As the

( Christophersen group ) and for information and
communication technologies ( Bangemann group ). In
relation to the national measures, the European Council
identified seven priority issues to be tackled . These range
from the re-organization and distribution of work, the
improvement of education and training systems, flexibility
within enterprises and on the labour market, targeted
reductions in the indirect cost of labour, a better use of
public funds set aside for combating unemployment,
specific measures concerning young people and, finally, the
development of employment in new sectors . The informal
meeting of social affairs ministers of 10 March 1994 agreed
that Member States should forward a report on the national
measures undertaken to the Commission before the end of

April 1994 . It is envisaged that this may, in turn — together
with the results of Mr Flynn 's tour of capitals — permit the
Commission to prepare a report on these measures for the
June meeting of the European Council in Corfu .

Nine Member States are obliged to apply Council Directive
90 / 53 1 / EEC of 17 September 1990 at the latest from

1 January 1993 . As regards the remaining three, Spain must
apply it at the latest as from 1 January 1996, and Greece and
Portugal may defer application until 1 January 1998 .

Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands have implemented the Directive . Belgium has
partially implemented the Directive and will shortly
complete implementation . A reasoned opinion for
non-communication of implementing measures has been
addressed to Italy and Germany . The German authorities
thereafter communicated to the Commission some texts
intended to implement the Directive and these are being
examined .

It should be noted that the number of notices published by
contracting entities in all these nine Member States shows
that the Directive is being applied in practice even in the

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 11

absence of formal implementation or in the absence of
complete implementation into the national legislation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3049 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 18 )

Subject : Subscribers to satellite television channels

What restrictions does the Commission allow on the sale of

' Smart Cards ' used to unscramble satellite television

transmissions ? Can they be freely purchased in all Member
States irrespective of where the television station is
situated ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirah

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4038 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 20 )

Subject : Financial support for bee-keeping in Greece

Bee-keepers in almost the whole of Greece are facing
problems similar to those facing bee-keepers on the Aegean
Islands who receive Community support and further
measures are needed throughout the country to reduce
production costs and make honey marketing more
effectivce . Given that 20 000 families with some 1,2 million
bee swarms are employed in the apicultural sector in Greece,
what measures does the Commission intend to take to

support the entire apicultural sector in Greece ?

( 13 April 1994 ) Joint answer to Written Questions E-3 132 / 93 and

There has not so far been any Community-level
harmonization of laws on scrambled signals .

The Community legislation applicable to restrictions on the
sale of decoders and ' smart cards ' and the broadcasting of
encrypted programmes is thus the EC Treaty itself, and
more especially Articles 30 and 59 .

This means that national measures may be taken to restrict
the free movement of these goods and services on one of the
grounds listed in Articles 36 and 56 or in order to satisfy an
imperatiave requirement dictated by the public interest .

E-4038 / 93

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

On 19 September 1991 the Commission presented to the
Council a proposal for a Regulation (*) amending Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 827 / 68 on the common organization
of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the EC
Treaty ( 2 ), as last amended by Regulation ( EEC )
No 789 / 89 ( 3 ).

The Commission is drawing up a consultation paper on the
protection of encrypted programmes, which is to be
published in the course of 1994 .

programmes, The Council is currently studying this proposal which
the course of 1994 . provides for including honey within the scope of Regulation

( EEC ) No 827 / 68 which establishes a very simple market
organization affording protection against imports from
non-Community countries by applying the Common
Customs Tariff, free movements of products, a safeguard
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3132 / 93 clause and application of the competition rules laid down by
the EC Treaty .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 ) Community structural measures include an aid scheme for

94 / C 367 / 19 ) the marketing and processing of agricultural and forestry

products under which Greece has received Community
financing of ECU 0,5 million from the EAGGF for
Subject : Absence of a common organization of the market investment projects concerned with the marketing of honey

for bee-keeping during the period 1992 / 93 .

( 19 November 1993 )

94 / C 367 / 19 )

for bee-keeping

Will the Commission say why a common organization of the
market has not yet been established for bee-keeping as part
of the CAP ?

Finally, within the wide range of structural measures
adopted by the Council there are a number which could be

No C 367 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

of benefit to Community bee-keeping both as regards transposition of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC . Unless the situation
production and marketing . has been rectified in the meantime, the Commission will

                 - shortly be putting the matter before the Court of Justice .

(») OJ No C 263, 9 . 10 . 1991 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 151, 30 . 6 . 1968 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 85, 30 . 3 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3393 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3376 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

by Enrico Falqui ( V ) to the Commission

to the Commission (2 December 1993 )

( 26 November 1993 ) ( 94 / C 367 / 22 )

( 94 / C 367 / 21

Subject : Extension of storage and incineration plants for

special waste, including dangerous substances in
Pitelli ( La Spezia — Italy )

In 1988 the Liguria Region authorized two incineration
plants for special waste, including toxic and harmful
substances, and ancillary storage plants to operate, after
laying down the necessary safety requirements and setting
the limit on the volume of waste to be discharged 3 400

tonnes per year .

After establishing that certain requirements ( including the
limit on dust emissions ) had not been complied with and
that alterations had been made to the ' FC10 ' plant without
authorization, the regional authorities withdrew the plant 's
management authorization in 1989 .

In September 1990 a plan to make alterations to one plant
( including a threefold increase in the volume of waste to be
discharged ) and completely reorganize the other was
approved .

Lastly, this plan includes operations in respect of which an
environmental impact assessment must be conducted, under
the terms of Annexes 1 and 2 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*).
No such assessment has ever been carried out .

Does the Commission not consider it necessary to approach
the Italian authorities with a view to ensuring compliance
with the aforementioned EEC Directive in this particular
case ?

OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

This particular case is taken as an example in the general
infringement procedure against Italy for incorrect

Subject : Homeless people in the Community

There are at least 2,5 million homeless people in the
European Community . The real figure is very likely double
this figure . This is the conclusion reached by the report of
the European Federation of National Bodies for the
Homeless which was published recently . What scope does
the Commission have for helping to put an end to the
terrible problem of homelessness in Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

The European federation of asssociations working with
homeless people ( Feantsa ) is a network created as a
follow-up to the implementation of the second Community
programme to combat poverty, or ' Poverty 2 ' and includes
several associations which received support in the context of
this programme . Feantsa activities are co-funded by the
Commission .

Feantsa is also a member of the European Anti-Poverty
Network ( EAPN ) which is not only fully supported in
financial terms by the Commission but also consulted on a
regular basis on poverty and exclusion issues .

The means to reduce homelessness is one of the issues

tackled within the framework of the Community 's current
Poverty 3 Programme . It should be mentioned, however,
that the Commission 's approach — whether within this
programme or in its proposal for a new medium-term
programme to combat exclusion and to promote solidarity

( 1994-1999 ) — does not address the situation of specific
population groups, but an integrated or ' multi-dimensional '
approach to social exclusion in a given area or location . The
improvement of housing conditions and the integration of
homeless people are important elements in several of the
model actions supported by the Poverty 3 Programme, in

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 13

particular in urban areas . A directory of projects is Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the on behalf of the Commission

Secretariat-General of the Parliament .
(6 May 1994 )

The Commission supports the exchange of information at
European level for the benefit of informal meetings of the
ministers responsible for housing in the Community . The
housing ministers met on 19 and 20 October 1993 . In the
final declaration which was adopted the link between
housing and social exclusion is recognized, and the
Commission is invited to inform housing ministers about its
initiatives in the field of social exclusion .

The Commission is conducting enquiries with the Member
State concerned with regard to the situation described by the
Honourable Member, and will be sure to notify the
Honourable Member of its findings .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3465 / 93

by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3431 / 93 ( 94 / C 367 / 24 )

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

94 / C 367 / 23

Subject : Violation of Community environmental
legislation

A timber processing factory ( Elviex ) has been operating for a
considerable time in the commune of Perivlepto in the
Prefecture of Ioannina and since 1981 it has been producing
wooden poles ( for the Greek Electricity Board and the Greek
telecommunications organization ) which it impregnates
with creosote oil, a carcinogenic substance, in order to make
them more resistant . The production — and in particular the
storage — of these poles in the vicinity of the factory gives
off a foul smell and also, it is alleged, poses at threat to the
groundwater table in the basin of Ioannina where 52
communes are located . Phenols have already been detected
in water in this region where table water bottling plants are
in operation . This factory was banned from the industrial
zone in Ioannina because it was considered to pose a health
risk and the environmental impact study which was
submitted in 1988 has not yet been approved . In 1993 the
undertaking was found guilty by a Greek court of repeated
polluting the environment . All the communes in the region
have officially called for measures to be taken to remove this
factory . It has also been pointed out that International
Institute for Environmental Studies which was set up with
Community funds is also situated in this area .

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the above
situation, whether it considers that the undertaking covered
is in breach of Community legislation on environmental
impact studies, on the quality of drinking water and on
public health on a number of counts and whether it intends
to take suitable measures to remove any threat to public
health in the region ?

Subject : Reduction of the traditional sunflower-growing

area in Andalusia

The adoption of the Memorandum of Agreement on
oilseeds will mean a progressive reduction of the basic area
under oil-seed, whose effects will be felt from 1994 / 95
onwards . In response to CAP reforms in the sector, Spanish
land not traditionally used for sunflowers ( and indeed, in
some cases practically uncultivated ) was sown last year,
while Andalusia, historically the autonomous community
with the largest acreage, has seen its production fall as a
result of drought . Since the memorandum 's provisions for
reducing the basic areas take no account of regional factors
this means that Andalusia 's historical rights to cultivate
sunflowers will be significantly reduced, an unforeseen
negative effect of the reform of the CAP .

Why is the Community going to implement the
Memorandum before the Uruguay Round has been
considered ?

Does the Community not think that in Spain,
implementation should take account of traditional patterns
for this crop in Andalusia ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

Contrary to the views expressed by the Honourable
Member in the introduction to his questions, the approval
by the Council (*) of the Memorandum of Understanding on
Oilseeds does not necessarily mean a gradual reduction in
the base area under oilseeds . The base areas, as shown in the
Memorandum of Understanding, are derived from the
historical areas for the marketing years 1989 / 90, 1990 / 91

No C 367 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

and 1991 / 92, i.e. the references used on the adoption of the
reform of the CAP in 1992 . In addition, for the transition
year 1994 / 95 sunflower seed producers in Spain and
Portugal qualify for higher reference areas for that period as
a result of their incorporation in the Community .

The Memorandum of Understanding is unrelated to the
Uruguay Round . It is an agreement that puts an end to a
dispute between the Community and other signatories
within GATT .

The area under sunflower seed shown for Spain in the
Memorandum is, for 1994 only, a national area . Its
application on a regional basis in Spain is beyond the legal
scope of the Memorandum and is not the responsibility of
the Community . At the November part-session Parliament
issued a report on the Commission 's proposal ( 2 ). No
proposal for an amendment to the report in line with the
Honourable Member 's wishes was received .

The Commission Decision concerning the establishment of
the CSF for Ireland was taken in 1989 and expressed in
constant 1989 prices . The out-turn figure takes account of
inflation ( ECU 402 million ) during the implementation
period as well as other adjustments to the CSF itself ( ECU 56
million ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3642 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

94 / C 367 / 26

(!) OJ No L 147, 18 . 6.1993, p . 25 . Subject : Measures to resolve problems in Mesochora in the
( 2 ) COM(93 ) 389 final .

prefecture of Trikala

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3551 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 367 / 25 )

Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1989-1993 — Ireland

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

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1994 )

The indicative Structural Funds allocation under the
Community Support Framework for Ireland for the period
1989-1993 was ECU 3,672 million in 1989 prices
( excluding Community initiatives and the Cohesion
Fund ).

The outturn for the 1989-1993 Irish CSF is approximately
ECU 4,130 million in current prices ( again excluding
Community initiatives and the Cohesion Fund ).

Has the Commission requested the Greek authorities to find
the most satisfactory solution possible to the problems of
Mesochora and the surrounding area resulting from the
hydro-electric project on the upper Acheloos commissioned
by the Greek Electricity Board, which is receiving funding
under the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes ?

Is the Commission aware of the relevant memorandum from

the Mayor of Mesochora to the President of the European
Parliament of 29 August 1993 ( reference No 882 )?

Answer given by Mr Millan '
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission considers that the taking of measures to
alleviate problems caused by infrastructure works such as
those referred to by the Honourable Member, be they
financed by the Structural Funds or not, is a matter for the
Member State concerned . In the case in point, the Greek
authorities are required to respect any conditions which
may have been specified during environmental impact
assessment procedures . The Commission has no
information indicating that this is not the case .

The Commission is aware of a petition from the mayor of
Mesochora ( No 779 / 93 ) to which it has replied in
association with a number of other petitions concerning the
Acheloos project .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal, of the European Communities No C 367 / 15

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3712 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 27 )

Subject : Anthrax contamination

3 . Will a pharmacist be able to make cross-border sales on

a mail order basis if a particular Member State 's
requirements as to the issue of a prescription are
met ?

4 . Will the above matters be treated differently if the sale is

not conducted through an authorized pharmacist but
through an independent distribution organization
operating as an authorized pharmacist in any member
country ?

What assessment has been made by the Commission of the
extend of land contamination arising from anthrax in the
Community and under what current Directives is anthrax
contamination reportable to the Commission ? Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission has made no assessment of the extent of

land contamination arising from the presence of spores of
Bacillus anthracis ( anthrax ).

Clinical cases of anthrax are a compulsorily notifiable
disease to the relevant authorities of Member States in
several species including cattle and pigs ( 64 / 432 / EEC ) ( l ),
sheep and goats ( 91 / 68 / EEC ) ( 2 ) and horses
( 90 / 426 / EEC ) ( 3 ).

(M OJ No L 121, 29 . 7 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 46, 19 . 2 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3740 / 93

by Klaus Riskær Pedersen ( NI )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

94 / C 367 / 28 )

1 . Each Member State is responsible for defining the
conditions governing the sale of drugs for human use to
private individuals on its territory . A pharmacist established
in Member State A will sell a drug to a person residing in
Member State B under the conditions which apply when he
sells the drug to a person residing in Member State A.

2 . A person who has bought a drug in a Member State
under the conditions defined by that Member State may take
the drug with him, in quantities not exceeding normal
personal requirements, when he enters another Member
State .

3 . A person residing in Member State A may receive
drugs by post from a pharmacist established in Member
State B, in quantities not exceeding normal personal
requirements, provided that, in the case of drugs which may
be obtained in Member State A on prescription only, the
drugs have been regularly prescribed by a doctor .

4 . Generally, prescription-only drugs may only be sold
by pharmacists .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3809 / 93
Subject : Human prescription drugs

by Hugh McMahon ( PSE )

Certain member countries ' special legislation provide for
pharmacists to be the sole distributor of human prescription
drugs .

1 . Will pharmacists in one member country be able to sell
human prescription drugs to customers who buy them at
the pharmacist 's desk in another member country ?

2 . Will the consumer have the right to enter his Member

State with the human prescription drug in question,
having bought it himself ?

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 29 )

Subject : Social Affairs Council of 23 November 1993

What progress was made on the working time Directive and
on other measures of social policy at the Social Affairs
Council of 23 November 1993 ?

No C 367 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 February 1994 )

The Council adopted Directive 93 / 104 / EEC on certain
aspects of the organization of working time ( 1 ). The
proposal was amended to take account of nine amendments
proposed by the Parliament and accepted wholly or partly
by the Commission in its re-examined proposal . The
Directive fixes minimum provisions in respect of the
maximum working week, night work, daily and weekly rest
periods, breaks and annual leave .

States prepare their positions on the proposal for the next
Social Affairs Council .

(!) OJ No L 307, 13 . 12 . 1993 .
( 2 ) SEC(93 ) 1984 — SYN 383 — 9 . 12 . 1993 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 343, 31 . 12 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3847 / 93

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 30 )
The Council also adopted Directive 93 / 103 / EEC concerning
minimum health and safety provisions on board fishing
vessels ( 2 ). The aim of this Directive is to improve safety and Subject : New Interrail system for
health in sea fishing which, of all the major work activities, is 1 January 1994
the one where accidents most frequently occur .

Subject : New Interrail system for young persons as from

1 January 1994

The Council also adopted a common position on the
proposal for a Directive on the protection of young people at
work . A communication setting out the Commission 's views
on this common position has been sent to the Parliament in
preparation for the second reading ( 3 ).

It was decided to make a declaration of principles, on the
part of the Council and Ministers for social affairs meeting
within the Council, to mark the end of the European Year of
Older People and solidarity between Generations . The
declaration, formally adopted on 6 December, calls on
Member States to frame their policies in accordance with a
number of shared objectives .

The Council also reached a large measure of agreement on
two other proposals for Directives, namely those on
' parental leave ' and on ' the burden of proof '.

The Council took note of the state of progress on the
proposals for Directives on the posting of workers, atypical
work and on trans-national mechanisms for informing and
consulting employees of Community scale undertakings or
groups of undertakings . On the last of these the Commission
sent a consultative document to the social partners on

18 November 1993, in accordance with the procedures
provided in the Agreement on Social Policy, annexed to the
Treaty on European Union . On 8 February 1994, the
Commission initiated the second phase consultation of the
social partners, on the content of this envisaged measure, in
accordance with Article 3 ( 3 ) of the said Agreement .

The Commission 's proposal for a new programme to
combat exclusion was discussed in general terms . The
President of the Council noted the Commission 's wish to
have the relevant decision adopted as quickly as possible by
the Council, and concluded by proposing that the Member

In consultation with the Council of Europe, the
International Union of Railways has introduced a new
Interrail ticket for young persons up to the age of 26 .

In specific case of Portugal, the new system under which the
29 countries covered are divided into seven zones will

prevent young people from taking full advantage of
Interrail . Portugal is a peripheral country whose only border
is with Spain, zone 1, and travelling to a country other than
Spain will require a ticket covering two zones, costing
around Escudos 50 000, which young Portuguese citizens
will find extremely expensive .

Should they wish to use a comprehensive ticket, young
people from Portugal will have to spend Escudos 62 000,
which is far beyond the means of the overwhelming
majority .

Bearing in mind that rail companies have undertaken to cut
ticket prices by 15 % in order to stimulate the mobility of
young people from the countries of central and eastern
Europe, can the Commission not intervene with a view to a
similar reduction for young people from peripheral
countries such as Portugal, in view of the distances which
they have to travel and the time involved in doing so ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission supported the continuation of the
Inter-rail scheme and is very satisfied that this has been
achieved . It should help develop travel by young people in
Europe and encourage greater understanding between the
citizens of the Community . While taking note of the cost for
young people from Portugal, the Commission considers that
the exact nature of the concessions is for the railway
organisations that participate to decide . Intervening in such

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 17

questions is outside the Commission 's sphere of
responsibility .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3861 / 93
by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech ( RDE )

Community economy . A study will be commissioned to
identify the methodology for the full-scale study, which will
get underway in late 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3870 / 93

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE ) and Enrique Sapena Granell

to the Commission

( PSE )
( 17 January 1994 ) to the

( 94 / C 367 / 31 )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 32 )

Subject : Single Market

Can the Commission say what procedures and methods are
being used to evaluate the impact of the Single Market in
view of the approaching first anniversary of its entry intro
force ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirah

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The evaluation of the effectiveness of internal market

legislation comprises two distinct strands of activity . The
first relates to the constant monitoring of the practical
performance of this legislation . The second strand involves
measurement of the economic and social impact of the
internal market in order to understand the processes and
consequences of integration, and to adapt Community
policies accordingly .

The Commission, through contacts with business
organizations, receives feedback on the performance of
internal market measures which allows shortcomings to be
identified and remedied . Advisory and monitoring
committees have been established to help reinforce the
effectiveness of measures in manufactures, foodstuffs,
veterinary and phytosanitary sectors and in the fields of
transport, financial services, public procurement, customs
legislation, commerce and distribution . Additional steps,
such as the organization of sectoral workshops or the
creation of specific monitoring tools, such as the
observatory for public procurement, have been proposed in
the Commission 's strategic programme of 22 December

1993 .

In the strategic programme, the Commission placed great
emphasis on the need for follow-through evaluation of the
economic and social impact of the internal market . This
work is already underway and will culminate in the
publication, in late 1996, of a large-scale ex-post
assessment . This study will have to take into account a
number of factors, notably the short interval which has
elapsed since the entry into force of legislation, complex
strategic reactions to internal market legislation, the
unfavourable macro-economic climate which has inhibited

adjustment, and the other structural changes in the

Subject : Identity checks carried out by Community
airlines

Even on domestic flights, representatives of Community
airlines often ask passengers for identification, claiming to
have received EC instructions on the matter .

As the police is responsible for checking identification
papers in the Member State, it is odd that the airlines should
take such action, which merely duplicates these formalities,
since passengers are obliged to show identification papers to
the police immediately afterwards . In the context of the
Single Market and the free movement of individuals :

What are the Commission 's views on this matter ?

Is it true that airlines have been issued with EC instructions

on the matter ?

Can the Commission make representations to the Member
States to avoid such unnecessary and sometimes annoying
formalities ?

The only check carried out, in fact, is on the validity of the
identity document or passport, not on whether the ticket
actually belongs to the passenger, which would be a sensible

measure .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to

the discussion in Parliament on 8 March 1994 of the

own-initiative report presented by Mr Martin on the
incompatibility with Article 7a of the EC Treaty of passport
checks carried out by certain airlines .

In its intervention the Commission recalled in particular
that such checks on individuals travelling within the
Community were an anomaly in a frontier-free area and
announced its intention of resolving the matter by way of
the new legislative initiatives planned during the year .

No C 367 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3935 / 93 Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission (6 May 1994 )

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 33 )

Subject : Lifting on ban on seal skin imports

Will the Commission state in detail why it is now deciding to
lift the ban it imposed on imports of baby seal skins into the
Community ?

Is the Commission aware of the strength of public opinion
on this issue ( in the early 1980s five million people wrote
letters or signed petitions calling for a ban ) and the ensuing
outcry which will certainly follow the renewed barbaric
destruction of seal populations in Canada and Russia ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

As the Commission stated in reply to the questions raised by
Parliament in working document EP 203.564 / rev-2
concerning the discharge in respect of the 1991 budget,
there are several factors inherent in town-twinning which
explain the breakdown of Community aid . Firstly, the
geographical distribution of aid reflects the concentration of
twinning schemes in the different - Member States . Thus in
France, where there are 3 750 twinned municipalities, 950
of them have received Community aid ; this represents
around 34% . By contrast, in Ireland nearly 60% of all
twinning schemes have received a Community grant . This
compares with approximately 30 % in Spain and Portugal .
In Germany, only 25 % of the 2 430 municipalities involved
in town-twinning have received a subsidy .

Secondly, there is more to setting up a twinning scheme than
just floating the idea . The local authority must first ascertain
the views of the local people, then consider what has to be
done and then actually do it . And all this takes time .

Since it began its programme in 1989, the Commission has
(5 May 1994 ) provided support for some 1 500 new twinning schemes,
many of them involving partners in peripheral areas in
Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal .

The Commission has no intention to propose the lifting of
the ban . It must also be remembered that twinning schemes must
have at least two partners ( in other words they must involve
at least two Member States ) and that it is the countries with
a strong twinning tradition ( Germany, France and the
United Kingdom ) which tend to initiate new twinning
schemes with peripheral Member States . These Member
States thus become co-beneficiaries of the Community
aid .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3937 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 34 )

Subject : Town twinning-funding for peripheral areas

Given that one of the stated aims of the Community-assisted
town-twinning scheme is that peripheral-area twinning
schemes should be given priority and given that the majority
of the annual budget has consistently gone to towns in
Germany and France, what action will the Commission now
take to redress this situation and ensure that the peripheral
areas such as Scotland are given their proper and justified
share of the funding ?

Lastly, it must not be forgotten that the decision to set up a
twinning scheme and to apply for a grant has to come from
the local community, that funds are not distributed
automatically, on a quota basis by the Member State and
that there has to be involvement and effort at grassroots
level . The setting of quotas would run counter to the
underlying aims of the town-twinning programme, outlined
by Parliament following the Fontaine report . The priorities
agreed at the time were two-fold : to encourage peripheral
exchanges and to improve the quality of existing
schemes .

The Commission is trying to encourage the creation of new
links with Member States where there is little or less

enthusiasm for twinning through decentralized action
( symposia and seminars ) organized by local associations for
local leaders . But it must be remembered that it is the local

authority which has the final say .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 19

That said, the Commission welcomes the slight increase in
the number of applications from peripheral areas and
examines them with particular attention .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3984 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 35 )

Subject : Proposals for Directives on pharmaceuticals and

food additives

Will the Commission state briefly whether any proposals for
Directives on pharmaceuticals and food additives are
pending a decision at present, and if so, what are these
proposals ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

Directive 89 / 107 / EC of the 21 December 1988 on the

approximation of the laws of Member States concerning
food additives authorized for use in foodstuffs intended for
human consumption ( a ) states that the Council shall adopt a
list of additives the use of which is authorized to the

exclusion of all others, the list of foodstuffs to which these
additives may be added, the conditions under which they
may be added and, where appropriate, a limit on the
technological purpose of their use, the rules on additives
used as carrier substances and solvents, including where
necessary their purity criteria .

On 10 December 1991 the Commission forwarded a

proposal for a Directive on colours for use in foodstuffs

( COM(91 ) 444 final — SYN 368 ) ( 2 ). Following discussion
at Council level on the initial proposal on sweeteners, it
appeared that it was necessary to introduce a possibility for
Member States to protect traditional national foodstuffs
production . On 17 June 1992, the Commission therefore
decided to propose an amendment of Council Directive
89 / 107 / EC . This would grant Member States derogations
on certain conditions .

At the same time a proposal for a Directive on sweeteners for
use in foodstuffs was forwarded as well as a proposal for a
Directive on food additives other than colours and

sweeteners . On 11 November 1993 the Council adopted
common positions on the latter two proposals . On

16 December 1993 the Council adopted the common
position on the proposal on food additives other than
colours and sweeteners .

Council Directive 88 / 388 / EC of 22 June 1988 ( 3 ) on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
flavourings for use in foodstuffs and to source material for
their production, provides for the adoption by the Council
and the Parliament of the appropriate provisions concerning
flavouring substances . On 1 December 1993, the
Commission forwarded a proposal for a Regulation laying
down a Community procedure for flavouring substances
used in foodstuffs ( 4 ).

The Scientific Committee for Food has been consulted, with
opinions published in its reports . For additives for which a
specific acceptable daily intake has been established by the
Scientific Committee for Food, maximum levels of the
authorized additives together with a positive list of
foodstuffs, are proposed . Where the Scientific Committee
considered that it was not necessary numerically to specify
the acceptable daily intake, the priciple of ' quantum satis ' is
applied .

The Directive on colours in foodstuffs will also affect

medicinal products as according to Council Directive
78 / 25 / EEC ( 5 ) colorants authorized for foodstuffs may also
be used in medicinal products . The common position on the
Directive on colours for use in foodstuffs includes a clause to

the effect that the references to the repealed provisions of the
Directive of 23 October 1962 ( 6 ) are to be construed as
references to the future Directive on colours in foodstuffs .

Apart from this there are no pending legislative proposals on
medicinal products for the time being .

(!) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 12, 18 . 1 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 184, 15 . 7 . 1988 .

( 4 ) COM(93 ) 609 final — COD 478 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 11, 14 . 1 . 1978 .

( 6 ) OJ No 115, 11 . 11 . 1962 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4000 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 36 )

Subject : Squandering of resources of Community

programmes

According to Community auditors, the Community 's
services squandered approximately US$ 130 million in 1992
owing to poor management, inadequate controls and the
misappropriation of funds . The auditors ' report noted that
this waste of resources was particularly evident in the
Community 's programmes concerning humanitarian aid
and the transfer of know-how to the countries of eastern

Europe . In view of these findings by Community auditors,
what measures does the Commission intend to take to
prevent a recurrence of this phenomenon in future ?

No C 367 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission is unaware of the sum of US$ 130 million
in the 1992 report of the Court of Auditors referred to in the
question of the Honourable Member .

A more precise reference to the US$ 130 million would be
appreciated .

known either they will be included in Annex I to the
Directive, with conditions attached if necessary, or a
decision will be taken with a view to prohibiting them . At
that time, Member States will be obliged to review the plant
protection product authorizations concerned to bring them
in line with the Community Decisions .

In view of the time limits provided for the preparation of
dossiers and their evaluation, the first few decisions on
active substances covered by the first stage of the
programme can be expected in 1996 .

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

( 2 ) OJ No C 327, 3 . 12 . 1993 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4044 / 93 ( 3 ) OJ No L 366, 15 . 12 . 1992 .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 37 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4077 / 93

Subject : Spraying of vines with strong herbicides

In certain regions of Member States of the European Union
vinegrowers are spraying their crops with extremely strong
herbicides such as aminotriazole, simazine and atrazine,
using more than 10 kilos a hectare which is considered an
enormous dose . What action does the Commission believe

should be taken to curb this practice ?

by James Elles ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 38 )

Subject : Compulsory fitting of seat belts on coaches and

mini-buses

Answer given by Mr Steichen Will the Commission set out its view on the compulsory

on behalf of the Commission fitting of seat belts on new coaches and mini-buses and

inform the House which Member States in the Council
(6 May 1994 ) oppose EC legislation implementing this measure ?

Council Directive 91 / 414 / EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning
the placing of plant protection products on the market (*)
lays down that plant protection products may not be placed
on the market or used in the territory of a Member State
unless the Member State has granted an authorization
which specifies precisely the conditions under which the
product in question may be used . The authorization is based
on an examination by the Member State of its anticipated
effects on public health and the environment inter alia . The
authorization conditions must appear on the labelling and
users of the product are obliged to observe them .

The Commission would also like to draw the Honourable

Member 's attention to the answer given to Written
Question 2970 / 92 ( 2 ) concerning the discretion which
Directive 91 / 414 / EEC gives Member States to take
authorization decisions while the active substances

incorporated into the plant protection products concerned
have not been re-assessed under the programme of work
referred to in Article 8(2 ) of that Directive .

The three active substances referred to by the Honourable
Member are included in Commission Regulation ( EEC )
No 3600 / 92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed
rules for the implementation of the first stage of the
programme of work ( 3 ). When the results of the
reassessment carried out on each of the substances are

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

The Commission is of the view, that the fitting ( and use ) of
safety belts in all seats in new coaches can save lives in
certain accidents . To increase passenger safety in coaches,
amendments will have to be made at least to the ' safety belts '
Directive ( 77 / 541 / EEC ) ( J ) and the Directive on ' safety belt
anchorages ' ( 76 / 115 / EEC ) ( 2 ).

Through the Committee on the adaptation of the Directives
to technical progress and the Motor vehicles working group,
the Commission has on several occasions ( in July,
September, October and December 1993 ) proposed to the
Member States that the ' safety belts ' and ' anchorages '
Directives be amended to make the fitting of safety belts to
all coach seats compulsory in future .

While the principle of requiring safety belts to be fitted to all
coach seats has not been questioned by any Member State, a
number of technical problems relating to the fitting of belts
have been raised by national experts . A number of Member

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 21

States consider, for example, that the possibility of
amending Directive 74 / 408 / EEC ( 3 ) on the strength of seats
and of their anchorages should also be examined .

Some experts also consider that other safety issues should be
resolved, in parallel at least, with the fitting of belts on all
coach seats -. These include the strength of the superstructure
of coaches, protection against roll-over accidents and
protection against fire risk .

The Commission therefore intends to propose legislation for
the compulsory fitting of seat belts on certain categories of
medium and large passenger vehicles . The proposal for a
Directive for the type approval of buses and coaches already
includes the relevant safety features mentioned above .

(!) OJ No L 220, 29 . 8 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 24, 30 . 1 . 1976 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 221, 12 . 8 . 1974 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-45 / 94

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

(9 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 39 )

Subject : Anti-AIDS spermicides : WHO experiments in the

Third World

1 . Is the Commission aware that experiments are being
carried out by the WHO on prostitutes in Kenya, Senegal
and other Third World countries with anti-AIDS
spermicides which have caused ulcers and led to higher rates
of HIV-infection ?

2 . Does the Commission consider such experiments to be
ethically and morally reprehensible ?

3 . Does the Commission share the belief that these

experiments represent a violation of human rights ?

4 . Is the Commission prepared to call on the WHO to
stop such experiments ?

5 . Can the Commission give an assurance that these
experiments are not being jointly funded, directly or
indirectly, from the EU budget ?

6 . Can the Commission say whether any Member States
are participating, directly or indirectly, in this WHO
Programme ? If so, can the Commission call on the Member
States concerned to stop doing so ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1994 )

1 . The Commission knows of two clinical studies of the

anti-HIV activity of spermicidal substances which have been
carried out on prostitutes in Africa . A study of nonoxynol-9
carried out in Kenya by Canadian researchers led to the
observation of lesions in the mucous membranes after

prolonged use . These lesions may have facilitated HIV
transmission .

Another study, concerning a substance called menfegol, was
carried out in Senegal with financial support from the
WHO . This appears to have been stopped immediately
when side effects were observed .

2 . The Commission has no knowledge of the protocols of
these studies or the procedures used for prior scientific and
ethical evaluation . It is therefore unable to reply to a
question which should be put to the researchers .

However, it seems clear that confusion between the various
stages of clinical evaluation must have been the cause of the
problem . When a population is selected for clinical
evaluation their vulnerability vis-a-vis side effects and their
indirect consequences is normally taken into account .

The Commission has heard that the WHO has issued a set of

stricter recommendations to be followed before embarking
on new clinical studies of the anti-HIV activity of
spermicides and vaginal contraceptives for local use, an area
of research the Commission considers important in the fight
against AIDS .

3 . As the Commission has no knowledge of the ethical
evaluation protocols and does not know whether they have
been observed or not, it cannot answer this question, which
should be put to the researchers .

4 . The Commission welcomes the WHO decision to

establish more precise ethical and scientific criteria to be
applied before such studies are carried out and will keep a
very close eye on their development and their application to
similar studies .

5 . The Commission can give an assurance that such
studies are not being funded directly or indirectly from the
Community budget .

6 . As regards studies supported by the Commission, the
Commission requires an assurance that these scientific and
ethical criteria are applied .

No C 367 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

WRITTEN QUESTION E-103 / 94 Answer given by Mr
on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 26 April 1994 )

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 40 )

Subject : Inclusion of livestock farmers in the early
retirement scheme for farmers regardless of
whether they have agricultural land

Will the Commission seek to ensure that livestock farmers

too, if they so wish, may take advantage of early retirement
scheme for farmers regardless of whether they have
agricultural land available ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The main purpose of the Community aid scheme for early
retirement from farming set out in Council Regulation
( EEC ) No 2079 / 92 (*) is to use land released by elderly
farmers taking early retirement to expand remaining
agricultural holdings . The size of the holdings resulting from
the transfer of land released by elderly farmers must be
expanded to improve their viability .

The farming transferee must be either the person who
succeeds the elderly farmer at the head of the agricultural
holding afid expands it, or a farmer who takes over all or
part of the land released by the elderly farmer in order to
expand his own agricultural holding .

Since elderly livestock farmers who do not use agricultural
land cannot release land which could contribute to the

required enlargement, they are not eligible for early
retirement aid .

(M OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 16 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 41 )

Subject : Assessments of the macro-economic consequences

of the current process of industrial re-structuring
in Europe

Will the Commission provide information on the latest
assessments regarding the macro-economic consequences of
the current process of industrial re-structuring taking place
in the European Union ?

A precise quantification of the macro-economic
consequences of industrial re-structuring is difficult .

Growth is required to make re-structuring financially and
socially sustainable . In the recession in Europe,
re-structuring has increased employment destruction, since
the depressed level of output was accompanied by an
increase in productivity . Therefore, it is desirable to pull out
of the recession as quickly as possible along the lines of the
broad guidelines issued in accordance with the new
Article 103 of the EC Treaty .

As a consequence of the globalization of the world
economy, as well as the full implementation of the internal
market, industrial restructuring in Europe will remain
substantial . In the medium term, the main macro-economic
consequence will be an increase in potential output, as far as
required flexibility in the factor markets allows .

In order to make sure that such a process leads to a
restoration of growth, competitiveness and employment,
some macro-economic conditions have to be respected . In
particular, a gradual reduction in public deficits is necessary
in order to bring indebtedness under control and to increase
public saving . This will call for increased efforts to
re-structure spending in favour of public resources allocated
to investment and to an active employment policy . Also the
trends of all categories of income should be made consistent
with the objective of ensuring an adequate rate of return to
boost the investment ratio, and hence growth and
employment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 19 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 42 )

Subject : Estimates regarding the re-structuring of the

European steel industry

Will the Commission provide information on its latest
estimates regarding the re-structuring of the European steel
industry and, in particular, indicate what consequences the
restructuring of the steel sector will have for production and
jobs ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 April 1994 )

The Commission 's overall approach to the re-structuring of
the Community steel industry provides for the industry to

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 23

devise a programme of permanent capacity reductions
broad enough to eliminate the structural overcapacity,
which is estimated at between 19 and 26 million tonnes for

hot-rolled finished products and about 30 million tonnes for
§ teel . The programme may cover the period 1993 to 1995
and must ensure that as many companies as possible take
part, including companies receiving public aid .

This approach, which is endorsed by the Council with the
agreement of Parliament, includes the implementation of a
package of flanking measures . The job losses which will
result from the planned closures were initially estimated at
about 50 000 .

Some results are already being achieved as far as the closure
targets are concerned . In 1993, there were net capacity
reductions of about 5 million tonnes of hot-rolled finished

products as provided for in the re-structuring plans
approved by the Council within the framework of the
Commission procedure for authorization of public aid to
certain companies .

Similarly, closures corresponding to about 6 million tonnes
of hot-rolled finished products have already been
announced or decided by the private sector industries .

The permanent capacity reductions made so far do not yet
add up to 19 million tonnes of hot-rolled products, this still
being the estimated minimum level of overcapacity up to the
end of 1995 . However, following recent high-level contacts
with representatives from the industry the Commission
believes that there is still hope of achieving this figure in the
next few months .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-146 / 94

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 43 )

Subject : Fax directory — entry for the European
Community

In his answer to my Question No 1149 / 93 (*) of 12 May

1993, Commissioner Van Miert stated that the Commission
was ready to consider whether the entries in the fax
directory could be included in both the country 's languages,
thus dispensing with complicated references .

The new fax directory has been published and I have noticed
that no changes have been made .

Has the Commission actually looked into the possibility of
having the entries changed ? If not, why not ?

If so, why has no change in fact been made in order to avoid
unnecessary cross-referencing ?

Does the Commission intend to include the amendments in a

subsequent edition of the directory ?

H OJ No C 301, 8 . 11 . 1993, p . 33 .

Answer given by Mr van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

The restructuring process is therefore still fully under way, ( 28 April 1994 )
and it is much too early to draw any conclusions . However,
the progress made so far is in line with the objectives .

Following the Honourable Member 's earlier question

It seems increasingly likely that the effects on labour will be
greater than originally anticipated . Over the next three
years, 70 000 jobs are now expected to be lost, about 20 %
of the total number of jobs in the sector .

For this reason in particular, the Commission decided on

16 February 1994 to extend the Community Resider
Programme for a further four years ( 1994-1997 ) to boost
redevelopment in the areas affected by the re-structuring of
the steel industry .

( No 1149 / 93 ), the Commission discussed the way its
departments are listed in the Belgian telephone and fax
directories with Belgacom, with a view to

— bringing the entries into line with the new nomenclature

introduced by the Treaty on European Union

— ensuring that the updated entries appear in Dutch as well

as French .

In the event it proved impossible to include the corrected
entries in the 1994 / 95 fax directories . They will, however,
appear in the next edition .

No C 367 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 77 / 94 WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 96 / 94

by Jose Apolinario ( PSE ) by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 22 February 1994 ) ( 22 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 44 ) ( 94 / C 367 / 45 )

Subject : Ethical standards of officials

Subject : Railway link over the Guadiana River

Since the Portuguese Government has not proposed a
railway link over of the Guadiana river under the

1994-1999 Community Support Framework programme,
could the Commission tell me if such a project might
possibly be considered in the context of Portuguese-Spanish
trans-frontier cooperation ?

Does the Commission consider it acceptable for a
high-ranking official to invite his colleagues to a
presentation on the activities of a large industrial group in
the field of the environment, on the Commission 's
premises ?

If so, can the Commission state how all interested parties
might benefit from such procedures ?

If not, what steps will the Commission take following the
recent venture involving a major French industrial group,
namely La Compagnie Lyonnaise des Eaux-Dumex ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission
(6 May 1994 )

(6 May 1994 )

The railway link in question is currently interrupted on the
Spanish side . On the initiative of the Portuguese authorities,
the link ( Huelva — Vila Real de Santo Antonio ) has been
included as a possible future link in the report on a
trans-European rail network ( outlook for 2010 ) drawn up
by the Transport Infrastructure Committee . This report (*)
was mentioned in the communication on the guidelines for
the development of the trans-European transport
network ( 2 ) adopted by the Commission on 29 March 1994 .
The report provides the basis for identifying the multimodal
trans-European network so that a set of guidelines can be
defined for the development of transport infrastructures in
Europe . Under these guidelines, Member States will
determine the projects to be carried out in accordance with
their priorities .

The Regional Development Plans for Portugal ( 1994 / 1999 )
and the Spanish Objective 1 regions do not mention this
project . The Commission has not yet launched the
Community initiatives for the new period, which will
include Interreg II .

H SEC(93 ) 2128 .

( 2 ) COM(94 ) 106 .

As part of its everyday work in developing and
administering environment policy, the Commission receives
large numbers of representatives, not only from industry but
from a wide range of backgrounds . Discussions of this type
form a valuable input into the thinking of the
Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-220 / 94

by Anne Mcintosh ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 46 )

Subject : Crash protection standards for cars

Is the Commission aware of estimates quoted by the
European Transport Safety Council that 120 000 traffic
deaths and serious injuries could be reduced by
improvements in crash protection standards regulating car
design ?

In view of the strengthening of transport safety objectives
for the Union in the Treaty of Maastricht, what steps is the
Commission taking to bring EC Directives into line with the
needs identified by accident research ?

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 25

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

WRITTEN QUESTION E-248 / 94

on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
( 29 April 1994 ) to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the recent report by the
European Transport Safety Council and shares the concern
to reduce road accident casualties .

The Commission is preparing proposals for Directives on
the protection of car passengers in frontal and lateral impact
accidents — areas of car design identified by ETSC as
representing the highest priority in terms of casualty
reduction — and will be shortly be discussing these with
experts from Member States prior to submission on the
proposals to the Council and Parliament . If agreed, these
Directives will ensure that new vehicle types conform to
stringent safety standards which will be reviewed from time
to time in the light of technical progress .

Consideration is also being given to other areas of injury
reduction, such as the adoption of less aggressive car fronts
to reduce pedestrian casualties and softer steering wheels to
reduce facial injuries to drivers .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-244 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 47 )

Subject : Making a survey of existing programmes which

the Baltic States can take advantage of

Will the Commission take any steps to make a survey of the
existing programmes which the Baltic States can take
advantage of .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

The relationships which the Union has established with each
of the Baltic Sea States and the programmes which benefit
each of them are published in the Commission 's ' General
Report on the activities of the European Communities '. The
XXVIIth Report covering the year 1993 was forwarded to
Parliament in early February 1994 .

( 94 / C 367 / 48 )

Subject : Conversion of production by asbestos cement

plants

Given that asbestos fibres are known to be carcinogenic,
does the Commission intend to draw up a Community
programme to help European asbestos cement
manufacturers plan the immediate conversion of their
plants to other products ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

Controls on the marketing and use of asbestos and of
asbestos-containing products are provided by Council
Directives 83 / 478 / EEC ( J ) and 85 / 610 / EEC ( 2 ) and by
Commission Directive 91 / 659 / EEC ( 3 ).

The net effect of these Directives is :

— firstly to ban the marketing and use of five of the six

asbestos fibres and of products containing them ;

— secondly to ban the use of chrysotile asbestos in 14

categories of products ;

— thirdly to establish mandatory labelling requirements

for chrysotile-containing products which are not
banned .

Asbestos cement products are among the
chrysotile-containing products which are not banned .
According to present policy they should circulate freely
provided always that they are correctly labelled and that
there is no national impediment to free circulation
compatible with the EC Treaty .

The Commission does not provide financial support to
companies wishing to replace asbestos cement products by
substitute products .

(!) OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 375, 31 . 12 . 1985 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 363, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

No C 367 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-249 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 49 )

Subject : Implementation of Directive 82 / 501 / EEC in
respect of the accident at the ' Diana Avee Servos
and Co .' chemical plant

Will the Commission say whether the Greek authorities
have met their obligations under Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( J )
in respect of the accident which occurred on 20 March 1991
at the Diana Avee Servos and Co .' chemical plant in the
municipality of Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki ?

in Italy, for example, are likely to go under because many
projects which are already on the stocks are not being given
the go-ahead by a bureaucracy which is still in the throes of
the ' clean hands ' inquiry and also by a State ( the public
authorities ) which cannot pay for work carried out in the
past, leaving such firms financially exposed .

Does the Commission not consider that introducing a
Financial Current Account, whereby the amounts claimed
by firms could be offset against what they owe in tax and
employers ' contributions, could be an important and simple
initial step towards easing the employment crisis not only in
Italy but also throughout the European Union ?

H OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982, p . 1 . Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission has been made aware of the accident

which occurred at the Diana SACI Servis & Co . chemical

plant through various complaints it has received on the
subject .

The Commission has already instituted infringement
proceedings against Greece for improper application of
Directive 82 / 501 / EEC . The case in question is included in
these proceedings .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-256 / 94

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

94 / C 367 / 50 )

Subject : Projects being held in abeyance and measures to

promote employment

At a time of serious crisis as regards employment, when the
Community 's authorities are seeking fresh proposals to
boost employment throughout the European Union, the
launch of large-scale programmes seems to be a priority,
while simpler measures could help to make the labour
market more flexible . Many small and medium-sized firms

( 29 April 1994 )

The establishment of a ' financial current account ' in which

enterprises can compensate commercial credits towards the
public sector with their tax liabilities presents a number of
problems . Assuming the institutional compatibility of this
measure both in the Italian administration framework and

in the Community framework, there still remain doubts
regarding its consequences on public finance and its
economic effectiveness .

Firstly, the institution of a financial current account as
proposed could seriously undermine transparency and
control efficiency in the public accounting system . The
Italian tax administration is already tackling the difficulties
arising from the newly established fiscal current account
( effective from the 1 January 1994 ), whereby credit and
debit balances due to different categories of taxes can be
offset . Widening this compensation criteria to include
non-executed payments for public expenditures would
require a radical reform in book-keeping and control
procedures, which could hardly be implemented in a short
time . Moreover, this measure seems to be contrary to the
process of de-centralizing responsibility at different levels in
the public administration .

Turning to the economic effectiveness of this proposal, it
must be considered that only a limited part of delayed
payments — mostly concentrated in the construction sector
— concerns the central government administration . A good
deal of outstanding public obligations pertain to local
administrations, notably the local agencies of the health care
sector . Further, a very delicate situation is that of the debts
of the enterprises owned by public corporations, which
operate in the framework of private law and which could
hardly be included among the firms covered by the proposed
financial current account . Therefore, there is also the risk of
a bias towards certain groups of public contractors . Given

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 27

the complexity of the problem, it is unlikely that the issue of WRITTEN QUESTION E-281 / 94
long standing debts of the public administration can be by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )
solved through a uniform and simple solution . to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 52

WRITTEN QUESTION E-276 / 94

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 51 )

Subject : Research into medicinal products

In connection with the Commission 's proposals on the
patenting of medicinal products, what is the Commission 's
assessment of the scope for further development of
medicinal products which act inside the human body ( e.g. to
fight cancer, blood diseases, Parkinson 's Disease etc .)?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

In general terms, appropriate legal protection of inventions
concerning the development of new medicinal products
does guarantee that the ever-increasing investment needed
for pharmaceutical research can be recovered where
necessary . Pharmaceutical research was inadequately
protected and suffered from the fact that the time between
the lodging of an application to patent a new product and
authorization to place the product on the market was too
short to recover this investment . In order to boost this

research, the Commission proposed specific action to the
Council, and this has led to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1768 / 92
of 18 June 1992 concerning the creation of a supplementary
protection certificate for medicinal products (*).

It may also be useful to point out that legal protection for
biotechnological inventions taking account of the potential
uses of biotechnology and of recent and possible future
developments in this sector will also certainly help in the
development of medicinal products for the treatment of
genetic disease . Against this background, the common
position of the Council of 7 February 1994 on the proposal
for a Parliament and Council Directive on the legal
protection of biotechnological inventions is an important
step forward .

Subject : Providing cross-border tax inspections

What practical steps is the Commission taking to implement
the decision to provide a cross-border exchange scheme for
tax inspectors within the Community ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 )

In order to improve the management and the effectiveness of
the internal market, the Commission has established a
programme for the exchange of VAT and excise officials
between Member States, known as the Matthaeus-Tax
Programme . The Council Decision (*) which provides the
legal basis for this action also allows for the organization of
seminars for national officials and the establishment of

common training programmes for implementation in the
training schools of the Member States .

During 1991, 1992 and 1993 there was a pilot action
( Interfisc ) which established the need for these actions in
order to create the conditions necessary for the proper
functioning of the internal market . During this period, 224
officials were exchanged between Member States and a
further 240 officials participated in seminars .

In 1994, 100 exchanges will take place and it is planned to
hold eight Matthaeus-Tax seminars involving a further 180
officials . The exchanges, 75 of which will be in the VAT area
and 25 in excise, will allow officials to gain a better
understanding of the working methods of other Member
States and to examine closely the way in which their
counterparts approach problems with a view to developing
more effective methods of control in their own

administrations . Seminars examine particular issues,
drawing on the experience gained in exchanges where
appropriate, to find ways in which Member States can
support each other 's efforts .

The cost of this action in 1994 will be approximately ECU
0,6 million .

(!) OJ No L 182, 2 . 7 . 1992 . (!) OJ No L 280, 13 . 11 . 1993 .

No C 367 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-293 / 94 involved attempt to gain a market share for their milk in
by Agostino Mantovani ( PPE ), Franco Borgo ( PPE ), Nino regions where sales prospects are good .
Pisoni ( PPE ), Ferruccio Pisoni ( PPE ), Mauro Chiabrando

( PPE ), Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE ) and Felice Contu ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 53 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-330 / 94

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

Subject : Inexplicably low prices of German and Dutch

packaged milk marketed in Italy

In view of reports that consignments of ready-packaged
milk — mainly from Germany and the Netherlands — have
been released onto EU markets, including the Italian market,
at unit prices lower than those charged for milk produced in
the same countries but marketed in bulk form, would the
Commission say :

1 . whether it is aware of this situation ?

2 . who pays the packaging costs and where do the

necessary resources come from ?

3 . whether such activities are directly or indirectly
subsidized by the State ?

If the Commission has no answer to the above questions,
might this not be a case of milk produced and marketed in
breach of the strict rules governing the sector, thereby
avoiding payment of fines for non-compliance with
quotas ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

1 . The Commission has no information that would

confirm what the Honourable Members have said .

2 . The cost of packaging milk products is borne by the
manufacturer or distributor of the products .

3 . National contributions to such costs are prohibited .

4 . The Commission will examine the information

provided by the Honourable Members to see whether it has
any basis in fact .

It should also be noted in this regard that there is intense
competition on the market in milk for human consumption,
particularly UHT milk in cartons, as the various firms

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 54 )

Subject : Replacement of catalytic converters in motor

vehicles

The replacement of old catalytic converters in motor
vehicles is beginning to cause serious environmental
problems in Greece . One solution would be to set up special
waste tips . However, it is reported that in other Member
States, and notably Germany, used catalytic converters are
being re-cycled : this process both creates business
opportunities and reduces the environmental impact to a
minimum .

Will the Commission say :

— what experience other Member States have had in this

area ?

— which European Union programmes could be used to

finance a programme for the re-cycling of catalytic
converters in Greece ?

— given the likelihood that, in a country as extensive as

Greece, old catalytic converters will simply be dumped in
the countryside, is it possible to make it obligatory for
those wishing to purchase a new catalytic converter to
return the old one, or would this be contrary to
Community law ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

To the best of the Commission 's knowledge no Member
State has so far taken measures to systematically recover
catalytic converters from disused cars . However, a number
of experiments being carried out in the Community suggest
that the difficulty resides as much in devising logistical
arrangements at acceptable cost as in the treatment of the
catalytic converters as such . This is especially true given the
as yet very small number of disused cars with catalytic

converters .

As regards steps to be taken to prevent the abandoning of
wrecked vehicles, this problem is not peculiar to Greece,
although the geography of that country may make it a

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 29

particularly common practice . The Commission is looking
into the possibility of proposing harmonized measures
designed to channel disused vehicles into circuits where they
can be disposed of properly and their parts re-cycled .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-332 / 94

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 55 )

Subject : Problems in levying VAT on intra-Community

trade

The elimination of customs controls on intra-Community
trade has resulted in a massive loss in tax revenue owing to a
failure to levy VAT : in Greece alone this amounts to Dr 200
billion annually . This has far reaching consequences, since
the influx of uncontrolled imports and the non-payment of
VAT on them is reducing the competitiveness of domestic
products, in addition to the loss in tax revenue . What
measures does the Commission intend to take to deal with

this problem and how does it view : firstly, the proposal put
forward by trade associations of Member States of the
Union that customs controls should be re-introduced and,
secondly, the proposal by the Greek Presidency that a
procedure should be introduced to check imported goods at
borders so that the levying of VAT can be effectively
monitored ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The large majority of Member States report that they have
not experienced any major problems with the functioning of
the transitional VAT arrangements . If tax receipts have
fallen in certain Member States, there is no reliable evidence
to suggest that this is due to the new VAT arrangements . In
any evaluation of the effect on VAT receipts, account must
be taken of the predictable adaptation from the old system
to the new, and the foreseeable effect of the change at the
moment at which the tax becomes payable, as well as of the
slowdown of economic activity within the Community as a
whole . In the light of this, it is not possible to conclude that
the new VAT arrangements are directly responsible for any
unexpected reduction in tax receipts .

Furthermore, several Member States took precautionary
steps to minimise any potential adverse effects of the
changes to the VAT system by making particular efforts, for

example to inform businesses engaged in intra-Community
trade, and to train their tax inspectors .

Questions of compliance and control of collection of tax
within any particular Member State are primarily a matter
for the national authorities . The Community character of
the transactions does not alter the fact that the place of
taxation is within the Member State in which the taxable

event takes place . As a result, the means of controlling these
transactions are essentially the same as for domestic
transactions . However, the control of intra-Community
transactions is supplemented by increasing administrative
cooperation between the national tax administrations .
Nevertheless, the computerized system of information
exchange which has been set up between the Member States
still relies for its effectiveness upon the proper exploitation
by the national authorities of the information provided .

The Commission, for its part, has undertaken to work
closely with the Greek authorities, with a view to identifying
any particular problems and measures which could be taken
by the Greek authorities to improve the control of VAT
collection in Greece . For the Commission, there can be no
question of re-introducing customs controls at internal
borders, under whatever guise .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-342 / 94

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 56 )

Subject : Discrimination in motor-car insurance policies in

certain Member States

Insurance designed to cover road accidents continues to be a
subject for discussion on how it should be structured so that
it relates to the statistics concerning such incidents . In view
of this, and given that it appears to be drivers aged between

18 and 25 who cause the greatest number of accidents,
insurance companies in certain Member States have decided
to charge such drivers a significantly higher premium than is
charged to other drivers .

Irrespective of the fact that a number of arguments could be
put forward on the subject, this constitutes blatant
discrimination against certain members of the public as
opposed to others in the setting of premiums to match the
estimated level of risk .

Does the Commission consider that this constitutes

discrimination by insurance companies against certain
members of the public as opposed to others in the area under
consideration here, does it consider that such discrimination
undermines the equality which all people should enjoy
within the economic context of the Community ?

No C 367 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archiran

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

One of the principles underlying the Community Directives
governing insurance, and in particular those introducing the
single passport for insurance companies in the Community,
is that the Member States may not provide for any prior
approval or systematic communication of general and
special conditions of insurance policies, premiums and
technical factors used by insurance companies to decide on
premiums and technical provisions .

The Commission thus considers that the fact of motor

vehicle insurance policies varying with the age of the
customer does not constitute discrimination against
particular groups of citizens, provided that the premiums
reflect differences in risk which are transparent, objective
and verifiable and do not discriminate on grounds of
nationality .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-350 / 94

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 3 67 / 57 )

Cuban authorities, members of the Parliament, European
business representatives and European academics

( December 1993 ).

Furthermore, the Community is one of the main aid donors
to this country . The global help was during 1993 about ECU

12 million ( in 1992 the aid was about ECU 3 million ). Of
this aid, ECU 7,8 million has been distributed by ECHO, the
Community 's humanitarian aid office, via the following
projects :

— In March last year, ECU 500 000 was granted to cover

the needs of 200 000 people hit by a tropical storm . The
aid was used to purchase, deliver and distribute
medicines, food and basic services .

— After ECHO and the Panamerican Health Organization

had conducted a joint scientific mission to Cuba, a
further ECU 5,5 million was granted for medical and
emergency food aid to combat the epidemic of optic
neuritis .

— In November ECU 1,475 million was granted to send

sanitary and hygiene equipment to Cuban families and
the island 's hospitals . A month later another grant, this
time of ECU 330 000, was used to tackle flooding in
Cuba .

Independently of the European Community Humanitarian
Office ( ECHO ), the Commission has approved the
following aids through the World Food Programme and
NGOs .

Subject : Aid to Cuba — 2 133 tons skimmed milk powder ( World Food
Programme );

Does the Commission have any plans to set up a programme — 4 392 tons cereals ;
of assistance to Cuba, perhaps modelled to the early stages
of the Phare Programme ? — 600 tons vegetal oil .

Will it also list any aid which is either being provided or
planned to Cuba ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The ' resolution on the Embargo imposed on Cuba and the
Torricelli Act ' ( 17 September 1993 ) of the Parliament
requests that the Commission initiates actions related to
economic cooperation, more specifically helping the
emergence of a private sector and more generally a solid civil
society . It calls for strengthening the political and cultural
dialogue in order to encourage an increasing respect of the
human, civil and political rights of Cubans .

In applying these suggestions, the Commission is preparing
and carrying out specific cooperation action, including an
NGO meeting in Havana ( September 1993 ); a European
Union information stand at the Havana fair ( November

1993 ); a meeting in Havana to discuss the integration of
Cuba into the world economy with the participation of the

The evolution of the situation in Cuba will permit the
Commission to initiate other actions in the light of the
Parliament 's resolution .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-357 / 94

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

94 / C 367 / 5 8 )

Subject : Frozen bread

In order to avoid possible confusion between frozen bread
and fresh bread at the point of sale appropriate measures
need to be taken to regulate their sale .

Can the Commission, with a view to ensuring effective
protection of consumers ' rights, introduce legislation to

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 31

authorize the sale of pre-packed, part-cooked bread, both
frozen and non-frozen, which clearly states ' part-cooked
bread ' on the packaging and indicates that the product must
undergo further cooking prior to consumption ? Can the
Commission also introduce legislation to ensure that
part-cooked bread is put on sale in food shops in special
sections, separate from those where fresh bread is sold, so
that consumers do not buy one product mistaking it for
another ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

With regard to consumer information on the characteristics
of part-cooked bread, Article 5 ( 3 ) of Directive 79 / 1 12 / EEC
on the labelling of foodstuffs (*), most recently amended by
Directive 93 / 102 / EEC ( 2 ), stipulates that the name under
which a foodstuff is sold must include or be accompanied by
particulars as to the physical condition of the foodstuff or
the specific treatment which it has undergone ( e.g.
deep-frozen ) in all cases where omission of such information
could create confusion in the mind of the purchaser . In
addition, point 8 of Article 3(1 ) requires instruction for use
to be included on the label so that appropriate use can be
made of the foodstuff ( cooking instructions ).

Article 2 of the Directive stipulates that foodstuffs must not
r be presented in such a way as to mislead the consumer . This

also applies to the way they are arranged and the setting in
which they are displayed .

In these circumstances, the Commission does not consider it
necessary to amend existing Community legislation .

H OJ No L 33, 8 . 2 . 1979 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 291, 25 . 11 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-372 / 94

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 59 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission 's proposal as regards the third countries
whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when
crossing the external borders of the Member States took
account of the agreement reached by the nine Schengen
States, after several months of negotiations . The list was
considered to form a reasonable basis for discussion by the

12 Member States .

The Commission and the Member States are carrying out an
objective examination of the facts of third countries '
situations as regards their relations with the Community
and the Member States, including security and illegal
immigration aspects, without being in any way affected by
racist considerations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-401 / 94

by Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 60

Subject : Impending food shortages in Ethiopia and
Eritrea

1 . Is the Commission aware of the FAO and WFP

calculations concerning the amount of short-term food aid
for Ethiopia and Eritrea, which shows that 255 000 tons
will be needed for Eritrea, while the harvest in Eritrea is
estimated at 86 000 tons ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that decisions must be
taken quickly on purchasing and shipping the necessary
food supplies if Eritrea is to receive food aid in March, when
the first shortages will arise ?

3 . Will the Commission quickly provide emergency aid
and additional food aid for Ethiopia and Eritrea so that this
additional aid arrives, at the latest, well before May 1994,
when the planned Food for Work Program is scheduled to
begin ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
Subject : Visas and racism on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )
What criteria are being used by the Commission in drawing
up its ' black list ', ' grey list ' and ' white list ' of countries
whose residents will be able to visit Britain without a visa The Commission has paid careful attention to FAO and
and is the Commission able to make assurances that WFP estimates of crop prospects and food aid requirements
decisions are not being made on a racist basis ? in Ethiopia and Eritrea .

No C 367 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

In conjunction with the authorities in both countries, the
aid-supplying organizations, other donors, aid its own
representatives on the spot, the Commission is seeking to
mobilize planned deliveries in accordance with requests
received and the general supply situation in both
countries .

Commitments in respect of Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1993 ( all
products ) were 190 000 and 43 000 tonnes respectively,
with deliveries extending into spring of this year .

The Commission is watching the situation in both countries
carefully and will consider emergency aid if need be . As food
deliveries ( actual and planned ) now stand, emergency action
does not seem warranted .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-402 / 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-425 / 94

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 62

Subject : Public contracts and ' compensation '

The Agusta case which is currently at the centre of political
and legal attention in Belgium has once again demonstrated
that the rules governing public contracts are not complied
with and that bidders combine their tenders with promises
of ' compensatory ' economic investment which falls outside
the subject of the contract .

Does the Commission not consider it necessary to respond
by banning such ' compensation ', which distorts
competition ?

by Honor Funk ( PPE )
Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

to the Commission on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1994 ) (5 May 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 61 )

Subject : Misuse of EC subsidies

I have read in the Portuguese press that Forco, a subsidiary
of the Amorim group has received considerable amounts of
financial assistance from the Structural Funds . According to
the reports, the money has been used for purposes other
than those for which it was intended, and this has enabled
Forco to improve its competitive position substantially . The
firm currently has a monopoly on the production of
cork .

Would the Commission please check whether rules have
been infringed in this way ?

How does the Commission propose to prevent such cases of
misuse ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Information from the Portuguese authorities indicates there
has been no grant from the Community Structural Funds to
a project proposed by a firm with the name ' Forco '.

The Commission keeps a permanent watch on the
implementation of Community rules concerning public
procurement ( Directives 71 / 305 / EEC (*), 89 / 440 / EEC ( 2 )
and 93 / 37 / EEC concerning the . coordination of procedures
for the award of public work contracts ( 3 ); Directives
77 / 62 / EEC ( 4 ), 80 / 767 / EEC ( 5 ), 88 / 295 / EEC ( 6 ) and
93 / 36 / EEC ( 3 ) coordinating procedures for the award of
public supply contracts and Directive 92 / 50 / EEC ( 7 ) relating
to the coordination of procedures for the award of public
services contracts ). As soon as it becomes aware of a case in
which the procedures have not been complied with, it
contacts the national authorities concerned and, if
appropriate, initiates the procedure provided for in
Article 169 of the EC Treaty . It may also take the steps
provided for in Directives 89 / 665 / EEC ( 8 ) and
92 / 13 / EEC ( 9 ).

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member 's
view and considers that such economic ' compensation ', or
offsetting investment which jeopardizes the principle of the
quality of treatment of all tenderers for public procurement,
should not be allowed to pass unchallenged .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that it has already taken a clear position on this matter and
has agreed not to initiate proceedings provided that it is
made quite clear at administrative level that the terms of
public procurement contracts may not include any such
compensation .

As regards the case which the Honourable Member
mentions, the Commission would point out that products
intended for specifically military purposes are not subject to

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 33

the rules of the EC Treaty and Community Directives
concerning public procurement .

(!) OJ No L 185, 16 . 8 . 1971 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 199, 9 . 8 . 1993 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 13, 15 . 1 . 1977 .

the same information as that sought in the present
Parliamentary Question .

( 5 ) OJ No L 215, 18 . 8 . 1980 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 127, 20 . 5 . 1988 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-470 / 94

( 7 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 . by Madron Seligman ( PPE )
( 8 ) OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 33 . to the Commission

( 9 ) OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992, p . 14 .

(7 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 64 )

Subject : Paramotors and the single market

WRITTEN QUESTION E-432 / 94

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 63 )

Subject : EAGGF subsidy to the Abattoir de la
Chataigneraie ( 85 )

Application was made in October 1992 for an EAGGF
subsidy for the Groupe Vital 's Abattoir de La Chataigneraie
( 85 ).

The Committee on Agricultural and Regional Structures

( STAR ) delivered a favourable opinion on 26 May 1993 .

No word has so far been received from the Commission .

What is the reason ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The investment in question is part of operational
programme No 92.CT.FR.07, which was approved by
Commission Decision C(93 ) 2568 of 13 October 1993 .
France was duly notified on 14 October .

The beneficiary was informed by the French authorities on
9 November and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
paid the national and Community contribution in full on

10 December .

According to the information available to the Commission,
the investment is today operational and will certainly
contribute to the development of the region in question .

The Honourable Member was informed of this situation by
letter of 17 February 1994 from the Director-General for
Agriculture in response to a request to the Commission for

Constitutents of mine, Sky Systems Ltd, are the largest
British manufacturers of hang-gliding and para-gliding
equipment . They have a substantial export trade within and
outside the EU .

Sky Systems have the technology to produce ' Paramotor '
back-pack propulsion units for paragliders . These are more
sophisticated and less cumbersome than the three - wheeled
seated powered parachutes introduced some years ago and
are designed to provide lift-off for those living far from hills
and mountains . Unfortunately, the British Civil Aviation
Authority wishes to categorize a back-pack-equipped
para-glider as a microlight aircraft . It should be noted that
the safety of the para-glider is unaffected by the addition of
the minimal power unit and that the wing is already certified
to international standards currently in force . This is in spite
of the legal operation of identical equipment under the
control of para-gliding sporting bodies in certain other
Member States .

With the advent of the Single Market, the CAA policy seems
illogical in that the manufacture, supply and use of
paramotors is permitted in some Member States, but not in
the UK . Can this be correct ? If not, can the Commission take
steps to harmonize the rules so that my constituents can
compete without undue impediment ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1994 )

The question refers to difficulties encountered in marketing
in the United Kingdom paragliding equipment
incorporating a small motor to provide lift-off .

The United Kingdom authorities require that, in order to be
marketed, such equipment has to be certified under the
legislation applicable to microlight aircraft .

Since this matter is not governed by Community legislation,
the relevant national legislation must be appraised in the
light of Articles 30 to 36 of the EC Treaty .

No C 367 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

The Commission is aware that para-gliders are delicate
products whose use may entail risks for human safety .

Member States are authorized, for reasons to do with
individual safety, to require that such products meet certain
design, manufacturing and inspection standards .

However, the principle of the free movement of goods
means that Member States must recognize the rules on
design, manufacturing and inspection laid down by law in
other Member States provided that they guarantee an
appropriate and satisfactory level of safety . They must also
recognize the results of tests carried out in other Member
States by bodies having an appropriate and satisfactory
degree of technical skill, professional competence and
independence ( for example, bodies accredited on the basis
of criteria set out in the EN 45000 series of standards ) as
well as authorizations issued in other Member States after

verification by those bodies of compliance with the
abovementioned rules .

The enactment of provisions introducing these principles
into United Kingdom legislation will promote free
movement of these products while safeguarding the right of
the United Kingdom authorities to ensure that the products
do not constitute a risk to the life and safety of
individuals .

The requirement of mutual recognition has been brought to
the notice of the United Kingdom authorities, who have
indicated that they intend to notify to the Commission draft
amending legislation incorporating provisions on mutual
recognition that comply with the detailed requirements laid
down by the Commission . The notification is expected
shortly .

However, if notification is not forthcoming or if the
wording of the provisions on mutual recognition does not
comply with Community law, in particular Articles 30 to 36
of the EC Treaty, the Commission will take the necessary
steps to ensure that the legislation in question is brought into
line with Community law .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-474 / 94

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

cases, can easily be prevented by means of a simple
vaccination ), help must be provided to tackle this tragic
situation which affects many young children throughout the
world .

The indifference with which much of the population of the
developed nations views this tragic situation is clearly unjust
and intolerable, and the European Community must
provide lasting proof of solidarity by making a greater
contribution towards reducing the unnecessarily high
number of deaths amoung young children .

Can the Commission give details of the amount of funding
provided each year to combat the above problem ? What
Community programme is involved and what are the
prospects for stepping up Community aid in future ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Infant mortality rates are considered to be not only an
indicator of the level of health but also of social and

economic development . In this respect, in the medium and
long term all development aid should have a positive impact
of infant mortality as, in fact, it has done for decades ( infant
mortality rates have dropped by almost 50 % in the past 30
years ).

The Commission 's policy as regards health and
development is to support and strengthen health systems as
a whole, paying particular attention to basic health care
( preventative as well as curative ), directed towards as large a
population as possible and concentrat on the mother-child
relationship . Community aid to the health systems sector
has risen considerably over the last few years . The
Commission, for example, allocated the following aid by
way of programmable aid from the European Development
Fund ( figures rounded up ):

— 1990 : ECU 31 million

— 1991 : ECU 28 million

— 1992 : ECU 122 million

to the Commission
— 1993 : ECU 114 million

(7 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 65 )

Subject : The Community 's contribution to help stamp out

infant mortality in the world

Given that eight million children throughout the world are
still dying each year of measles, pneumonia, tetanus,
whooping cough and diarrhoea ( illnesses which, in most

To these contributions should be added emergency aid by
ECHO, aid for displaced persons and refugees, projects
confinanced in collaboration with non-governmental
organizations ( NGOs ) and aid given to the front-line States
( budget heading B7-5071 ).

The following reasons explain why there is a good chance
that this type of aid will increase in future :

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 35

in 1993, a health unit was created ( DG VIII / 8 ) which will The Advisory Committee has not yet fixed the date for the
allow better planning and implementation of relief work ; first working meeting of the Monitoring Centre .

counterpart funds originating from structural adjustment
aid are used more and more to maintain and increase public
spending on health through budgetary support for health
ministries ;

Parliament recently approved a new budget heading for
' Mother and child health care ' in developing countries ( ECU
2 million for 1994 ), which will make the launch of an aid
policy possible in this particular area .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-493 / 94

by Yves Verwaerde ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 66 )

Subject : Creation of a European Public Service Contracts

Observatory

Can the Commission outline the progress made in
establishing a Public Service Contracts Observatory ?

In particular, did the Commission submit proposals on this
matter to the consultative committee which met in

December 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 10 / 94

by Jean-Paul Heider ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 14 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 67 )

Subject : Potash mines

Alsatian potash mines are currently exposed to unfair
competition in the form of imports of potash at dumping
prices from Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine .

On 26 June 1993, the Commission of the European
Communities announced that it was re-launching its
investigation into imports of potash at dumping prices from
these three countries .

New provisions were due to come into force by the end of

1993 if the enquiry confirmed the facts suggested .

The conclusions of the enquiry, which were made available
on 13 December 1993, prove unequivocally that there is an
urgent need for the current position regarding rights to be
adjusted .

Given the difficult situation of the potash mines, any further
delay would have serious consequences not only in
economic but also in social terms .

Will the Commission indicate what decisions it has taken or

will very shortly take in this matter ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
(2 May 1994 ) on behalf of the Commission

The setting-up of a Public Procurement Monitoring Centre

( Observatoire ) was discussed at the meeting of the Advisory
Committee on 13 January 1994, which replaced the one
scheduled for December - 1993 in order that the Committee

members could attend the conference organized by the
Commission on the liberalization of public procurement in
the single market and its opening-up to SMEs .

At the meeting the Committee members approved the
setting-up of the Monitoring Centre . Its approval was
subsequently confirmed in that the few written observations
received before the next meeting of the Committee ( on
9 March 1994 ) dealt merely with matters of form, the
Commission having given participants the opportunity to
submit their observations in writing before the next
meeting .

(2 May 1994 )

The investigation re-launched by the Commission revealed a
dumping margin of 46%, a higher degree of damage
resulting from the regulation in question and a need for
anti-dumping measures to prevent continued circumvention
of the measures .

The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission,
responded on 21 March by adopting Regulation ( EC )
No 643 / 94 (*), amending the anti-dumping duty on imports
of potassium chloride originating in Belarus, Russia and
Ukraine .

0 ) OJ No L 80, 24 . 3 . 1994 .

No C 367 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-555 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( IS March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 68 )

Subject : Setting up a tax mechanism to offset VAT which

cannot be reclaimed by charitable organizations

Belgium, are put at a considerable disadvantage, a situation
which is at odds with the principle of equal treatment for
European citizens with regard to taxation .

Claims have been made in a number of similar cases since

the change in the Belgian tax system resulting from the
Law af 22 December 1989, which replaced the 1964
Franco-Belgian agreement designed to avoid double
taxation of frontier-zone workers .

What action does the Commission intend to take to put an
end to this discrimination, which is incompatible with

Given that each year charitable organizations lose

Community law and the principle of free movement of

substantial amounts of money since they cannot reclaim the

workers within the Community ?

VAT paid for services provided tax-free and at no cost, can
the Commission take steps to set up a tax mechanism to
offset the amount of VAT which cannot be reclaimed by
such organizations ? Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

The common VAT system does not allow persons carrying
on exempt activities, such as certain non-profit-making
bodies, to recover through the VAT system the tax paid on
their purchases of goods and services . It is not possible to
change this rule, which constitutes one of the principles of
the common VAT system .

However, from a tax perspective, there is nothing to prevent
a Member State from granting the bodies in question
financial compensation corresponding to the VAT paid and
not recovered . This is a matter solely for the Member
States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-637 / 94

by Bernard Frimat ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 69 )

Subject : Belgian tax regulations applying to French
residents working in Belgium

As a result of the current Belgian tax regulations,
non-residents working in Belgium are now subject to double
taxation .

This means that employees of the Timmser company based
in Quarouble, even those who work only part of the time in

The Commission cannot share the Honourable Member 's

view that Belgian tax regulations mean that French
non-residents working in Belgium are subject to double
taxation .

The rules concerning tax relations between France and
Belgium are laid down in the Convention on double
taxation concluded between them on 10 March 1964, under
which the right to levy tax on different sorts of income is
granted to one or other of the two Member States, in
accordance with certain criteria, and double taxation of the
same income should not in theory arise . However, should it
occur, the taxpayers may, under Article 24, request that
their tax be reviewed . In the particular case mentioned by
the Honourable Member, it would seem from the
information available to the Commission that the Belgian
tax authorities took the view that the French workers were

working for a permanent establishment in Belgium, so that
pay would be taxable in Belgium . Should the persons
concerned contest the view taken by the Belgian tax
authorities, appeals may be made under the national
procedures for this purpose . Should the same income
already have been taxed in France, those concerned may —
as mentioned above — request a review of any double
taxation, under Article 24 of the Franco-Belgian
Convention .

As regards the Belgian Tax Law of 22 December 1989, this
has not replaced the above Convention but has amended,
fairly unfavourably, the rules on income tax for
non-residents . The point should be made, however, that
Belgium has in the meantime, following many protests by
those affected and approaches from the Commission,
amended its legislation here by a law of 28 December 1992,
which provides that non-residents deriving all or nearly all
their pay from work in Belgium are to enjoy the same tax
advantages as residents, subject to certain conditions .

Should the persons concerned, to whom the Honourable
Member refers, actually be liable to tax in Belgium, it would
in the Commission 's view be advisable for them to contact

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 37

the Belgian administration to see whether they are covered
by the Law of 28 December 1992 .

The Commission would point out here that it is well aware
that taxation of non-residents in the Community, that is
persons working in one Member State and residing in
another, is often unsatisfactory and may, in some cases, be
incompatible with Community rules currently applying to
free movement of workers within the Community, and
specifically the non-discrimination rule . This was why, on
21 December 1993, the Commission adopted a
recommendation to the Member States on the taxation of

certain items of income received by non-residents in a
Member State other than that in which they are resident ( 1 ).
This recommendation sets out the Commission 's position
concerning such taxation and invites the Member States to
bring their legislation into line with common principles and
rules so as to ensure non-discriminatory and equitable
taxation of the incomes of non-residents in the Community .
The scope of the recommendation extends not only to wages
and salaries but also to income from professional
occupations, agricultural and forestry activities and
industrial and commercial activities .

(M OJ No L 39, 10 . 2 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-642 / 94

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archiran

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

Article 36 of Directive 9 0 / 5 31 / EEC provided that ' not later
than four years after the application of this Directive ', i.e.
four years after 1 January 1993, ' the Commission . . . shall
review the manner in which this Directive has operated and
its field of application and, if necessary, make further
proposals to adopt it, in the light of developments
concerning in particular progress in market opening and the
level of competition . . This provision has, however, been
replaced by Article 44 of Council Directive 93 / 38 / EEC of

14 June 1993 coordinating the procurement procedures of
entities operating in the water, energy, transport and
telecommunications sectors ( 1 ). That provision, which is
substantially identical, requires the Commission to carry out
the review by 1 July 1998 at the latest .

It follows from both the abovementioned provisions that the
object of the review is the operation of the Directive and that
this review must take into account its field of application,
progress in market opening and the level of competition .
The criteria for the identification of potential modifications
will therefore be based on these factors and all aspects of the
operatioa of the Directive will be reviewed .

It is too early to give specific answers as to the method to be
employed for the review and whether the utilities will be
consulted in connection with the review . It goes without
saying that all normal consultations will be carried out if the
review should show that further proposals are necessary to
adapt the Directive .

by Des Geraghty ( NI ) (!) OJ No L 199, 9 . 8 . 1993 .

to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 70 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-646 / 94

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
Subject : Procurement Directive 90 / 53 1 / EEC
to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

A review by the Commission of procurement Directive ( 94 / C 367 / 71 )
90 / 53 1 / EEC ( x ) affecting entities operating in the water,
energy, transport and telecommunications sectors is due for
completion in 1996 . This Directive prescribes new Subject : Use of slave labour in
procedures and practices for utilities carrying out their
procurements, as part of the strategy for market

A Belgian law dating from 1949

opening .

Subject : Use of slave labour in Belgian hospitals

1 . By what means does the Commission propose to carry
out this review and will the utilities be consulted ?

2 . What aspects of the Directive will be examined ?

A Belgian law dating from 1949 allows doctors with
qualifications which are not recognized as being equivalent
to Belgian qualifications to practise in Belgium, but on a
restricted basis .

Such doctors cannot in any circumstances be responsible for
running medical practices .

3 . What criteria will be used to identify potential This arrangement is abused by certain Belgian hospitals,
modifications to the Directive ? especially in Brussels, where a kind of medical proletariat is

rapidly developing, consisting of doctors from Third World
countries and, more recently, form eastern Europe, who are
(M OJ No L 297, 29 . 10 . 1990, p . 1 . open to merciless exploitation .

No C 367 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Some of these doctors, who sometimes work up to an
80-hour week, are paid starvation wages . Others are not
paid at all and receive only derisory duty allowances . Most
of them do not know how to have their qualifications
recognized and work for a number of years in Belgium,
believing that this will have the desired effect, only to find in
the end of that their work has been completely wasted as far
as the furtherance of their future career is concerned .

Would the Commission state :

1 . whether this situation also exists in other countries of

the EU ;

2 . what provision is made by the Schengen Agreements to

combat this kind of ' professional slave labour '?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

that Europe today remains a haven for monopolies and rigid
regulations .

Demands that something be done to increase competition,
on the model of USA and the emerging countries of
South-East Asia, are accompanied by observations that
much remains to be achieved in the European Union in this
connection, particularly in the air transport, energy, and
telecommunications sector .

Does the Commission, in the light of such claims from the
business sector, believe that the leisurely pace adopted by the
Union in the matter of de-regulation is conducive to
liberalizing our economy and increasing its competitiveness,
or, indeed, reflects one of the key principles of Community
philosophy, namely the protection of the freedom of
competition and the drastic reduction of monopolies ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
(S May 1994 ) on behalf of the Commission

1 . Council Directive 93 / 16 / EEC of 5 April 1993 to
facilitate the free movement of doctors and the mutual

recognition of their diplomas, certificates and other
evidence of formal qualifications ( ! ) applies only to doctors
who are nationals of a Member State and hold qualifications
listed in the Directive and awarded within the Community .
Qualifications awarded in third countries is a matter for the
Member States .

The Commission does not, therefore, possess any
information on the social situation of doctors . Nor does it

possess any publicly available documentation on the
taking-up of the activities of a doctor in the Community in
the case of individuals who obtain their qualifications in
third countries .

2 . The Schengen Agreements do not deal with the areas
mentioned by the Honourable Member, in particular access
to employment and recognition of the qualifications of
third-country nationals .

(!) OJ No L 165, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-659 / 94

by José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 17 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 72 )

Subject : Progress towards eliminating monopolies in the

European Union

European businessmen have recently stepped up their
criticisms of monopolies within the Union, with claims

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission has a consistent and active policy of
liberalizing sectors subject to legal monopoly, as being
something which may lead to restrictions on free movement
of goods and services or distortions of competition within
the common market . The Commission sees its liberalization

policy as being of vital importance in completing the internal
market and making it work .

Member States are obliged to adjust any State monopolies of
a commercial character so as to ensure free movement of

goods ( Article 37 of the EC Treaty ) and may neither enact
nor maintain in force any measure, such as special or
exclusive rights for enterprises, contrary to the rules of the
Treaty ( Article 90 ( 1 )). However, some exceptions to this
general rule may be allowed for undertakings entrusted with
the operation of services of general economic interest,
provided this is necessary in order for them to perform the
particular tasks assigned to them, and subject to the
principle of proportionality ( Article 90 ( 2 )).

The Commission has taken systematic steps to ensure that
Member States do adjust their national monopolies
concerning goods in line with the requirements of free
movement, under the Articles of the EC Treaty which ban
quantitative restrictions on imports and exports between
Member States and measures having equivalent effect

( Articles 30 to 37 of the Treaty ).

To this end it has taken action for the adjustment of national
monopolies on goods in a number of Member States, in such
key sectors as alcoholic beverages, manufactured tobacco,
oil products and telecommunications equipment, and in a
number of other more minor sectors ( salt, matches, potash
fertilizers etc .).

Other action by the Commission has been aimed at ensuring
free provision and free movement of services, in particular in
telecommunications, postal services, television, transport

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 39

( by sea and air in particular ). The Commission takes
account of the need not to jeopardize maintaining universal
provision of services .

The Commission is currently continuing its efforts here and
is taking further steps for liberalization in electricity and gas
and in ground handling services for airlines at international
airports .

Is is also making sure, under Article 86 and, if appropriate,
Article 90 of the EC Treaty, that the behaviour — whether
independently or forced by the authorities — of enterprises
enjoying a monopoly or exclusive rights does not distort
competition .

increases prompted by strong labour shedding . This effect
tends to boost investment . On the other hand however,
remaining weak prospects on demand increase in 1994 tend
to hamper investment growth . Wage rises well above
inflation in the last few years are one main cause for the
strong labour shedding, the rise in unemployment and the
lower level of production and confidence, with a negative
impact on investment . Such wage behaviour provides an
illustration of the imperfect working of the Spainish labour
market .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-715 / 94

by Paul Howell ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 74 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-661 / 94

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

Subject : Nuclear reactors

( 94 / C 367 / 73 )
Will the Commission publish details of its proposals to
improve the safety of nuclear reactors in the territories of the
ex-Soviet Union ?

Subject : Negative investment trends in Spain

Commission data indicate that for the third consecutive

year, investment trends in Spain in 1994 will be negative,
falling by 0,1 % ; in 1993, investment fell by 2,9% .

Given that the Spanish public debt will account for 62,5 %
of GDP this year — the Maastricht convergence criterion is
60 % of GDP —, this means that the state of the Spanish
economy is more than fragile .

What were the basic parameters used by the Commission for
its forecasts ? Is the inflexibility of the Spanish labour market
one of the basic reasons for this negative investment
trend ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

According to the Autumn 1993 Commission forecasts,
gross fixed capital formation fell - by 8,6% in 1993, with
only a marginal fall of 0,1 % being expected in 1994 . The

1994 outcome is explained by two main factors . On the one
hand there is an improvement in the economic and financial
situation of the business sector, due to productivity

Will the Commission further comment on the legal
differences concerning safety guarantees which have
delayed implementation of these programmes by Western
contractors ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

The Commission publishes regular status and progress
reports on the nuclear safety assistance programmes in the
former Soviet Union . Attention is drawn in particular to the
Tacis six-monthly reports which are also submitted to the
Parliament .

As regards the issue of nuclear liability of contractors
operating in the framework of the Tacis nuclear safety
assistance, the Commission is presently negotiating an
agreement with the Russian Federation as well as with other
beneficiary States . It is anticipated that an interim solution
will be found which will be acceptable to the nuclear
industry for the period up to the accession of these countries
to the relevant international conventions .

No C 367 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-737 / 94

by Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 75

Subject : Barriers to inclusion in the German Register of

Master Craftsmen

Can a fully qualified optician who passed his master
craftsman 's certificate in the Netherlands eight years ago
and who has practised as an optician in Germany since then,
with another fully qualified optician in his employment,
continue to be denied incorporation into the German
Register of Master Craftsmen ?

Recognition of the — in this case equivalent — examination
certificates should surely be sufficient justification, even
without the transposition into German law of the Second
Directive on mutual recognition of qualifications, for
inclusion in this register ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

There is no harmonization at Community level of the
conditions of training for, access to or exercise of the
profession of master optician ( Augenoptikermeister ). Thus,
the Member States have the right to lay down the rules to be
followed within their territory provided, however, that
those rules apply on a non-discriminatory basis to their own
nationals and to other Community nationals .

Since there is no specific Directive on the recognition of the
diploma of master optician, this matter is governed by
Directive 92 / 51 / EEC f 1 ) on a second general system for the
recognition of professional education and training to
supplement Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 2 ), which covers all
professional diplomas evidencing training of less than three
years ' duration and providing access to a regulated
profession ( see in particular point 2 of Annex C ). The
Directive is due to enter into force on 18 June 1994 .

However, this in no way means that there is not already the
possibility under Community law of partial or total
equivalence . Even if no Directive applies, the Member States
are required, following the case-law of the Court of Justice

( judgment of 7 May 1991 in Case C-340 / 8 9 Vlassopoulou v.
Bundesministerium fur Justiz, Bundes - und Europa ­
angelegenheiten Baden-Wurttemberg confirming the
decision in Case 222 / 86 Unectef v. Heylens ), to take into
account the diplomas awarded by other Member States and
held by a Community national and the latter 's professional
experience .

In practice, this means that Germany is already required to
make a comparison between the training received in the
Netherlands and that required in Germany . It is only where
objective deficiencies are identified that additional,
compensatory requirements may be imposed .

Moreover, an optician who passed his ' master craftsman '
examination in the Netherlands eight years ago and has
since been carrying on this profession in Germany can rely
on the experience gained during this period to benefit from
certain exemptions with regard to the application of

compensatory measures .

(!) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-747 / 94

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 76 )

Subject : Study of cross-border movement of personal

data

Is it true that the Commission has commissioned a study of
cross-border movement of personal data ?

What kinds of personal data are involved ? Are the results of
the study available ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

The Commission has indeed arranged for a study to be
carried out on the cross-border movement of personal
data .

The study will present a factual analysis aimed at identifying
clearly the cross-frontier flows that are taking place, notably
via international networks, in most major sectors of activity
such as financial services, insurance, transport and
tourism .

If the Honourable Member so wishes, the findings of the
study can be communicated to him once they are available,
probably before the end of the year .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-763 / 94

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

94 / C 367 / 77 )

Subject : Fishing Agreement with Canada

The Agreement which the EP has already ratified with
Canada provided for free access to ports for Community

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 41

fishing vessels . It also appears that excess stock not
exploited by the Canadian fleet might be made available to
Community fishermen .

The Canadian attitude that Japanese, Cuban and
Norwegian fleets should not be subject to restrictions strikes
me as both tactless and as having no major commercial
interest .

Is the Commission encountering difficulties in
implementing the conditions, laid down in the
Agreement ?

What is the Commission 's view of Canada 's attitude ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The fisheries agreement between the European Union and
Canada has not yet been ratified by the Canadian
Government . Consequently, the agreement has not entered
into force .

The Commission has repeatedly asked the Canadian
Government whether it will ratify this agreement, and when .
The Canadian Government has indicated its willingness to
ratify the agreement, but has been unable to give an
approximate date when it will do so .

4 . Is it the Commission 's opinion that, overall, there is a
coherent EU strategy for informing consumers about the
Single Market ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

1 . The publications of the Commission are the result of
the combined efforts of its various services . As the

Commission is a single institution, it sets the general
orientations of its information and communication strategy,
each service being responsible for its coherent
implementation within the specific area of competence .

2 . It follows from the above that the Consumer Policy
Service 's information strategy is in accordance with the
Commission 's strategy in respect of consumer information
as expressed in the Second Three - Year Action Plan :

1993-1995 ' Placing the single market at the service of
European consumers ', which was adopted by the
Commission on 28 July 1993, and is coherent with the
Commission 's general strategy on communication and
information for the general public .

The publications to which the Honourable Member refers
were financed by various budget lines, including B5-102 .

3 . Apart from the booklets in the ' Europe on the move '
series, a separate series of smaller leaflets has been produced
for the Commission as part of the consumer information
campaign undertaken in 1993 . Five themes have been
covered :

— consumer rights in the internal market ;

— travel and tourism ;
WRITTEN QUESTION E-781 / 94

by Mary Banotti ( PPE ) — consumer credit ;

to the Commission — product safety ;

( 22 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 78 ) — European consumer information centres .

4 . Yes .

Subject : Consumer Policy Service

1 . What input did the Consumer Policy Service have in
drawing up information booklets in the series ' Europe on
the Move ' entitled ' The Citizens and the Single Market ', 'A
Single Market for Goods ' and ' Consumer Rights in the
Single Market ', all of which deal with important consumer
issues ?

2 . How does the production and dissemination of these
booklets fit into the overall information strategy of the
Consumer Policy Service, and were funds from Budget Line
B5-102 used to finance them ?

3 . Have separate booklets treating similar themes been
prepared by the Consumer Policy Service ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-807 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 79 )

Subject : Measures to promote the free movement of

persons

Will the Commission say whether — and, if so, when — it
intends to call for measures to promote the free movement

No C 367 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

of persons, so that this most symbolic of freedoms can
finally be implemented throughout the internal market ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1048 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 80 )

Subject : Freedom of movement for persons in the EU

On various pretexts, the provisions of the EC Treaty
establishing freedom of movement for persons from

1 January 1993 have not yet been implemented . In view of
this, does the Commission intend to submit a proposal to
Parliament for a fresh, joint approach to achieve this
objective of the Treaty ?

forty binding instruments in force . In addition, seven
proposals are on the table before the Council and
Parliament . Most of the financial services legislation is
already in place .

That is not to say that the Commission rules out the
possibility of putting forward further proposals in this area,
due regard being had to the subsidiarity principle . But these
would mostly take the form of instruments aimed at
adapting the Directives in force in order to take account of
market trends and measures taken in the broader

international context . The Commission might thus propose
a Directive amending Directive 89 / 647 / EEC on a solvency
ratio for credit institutions so as to increase the scope for
taking netting transactions into account in calculating the
ratio, and it is considering whether to introduce measures
aimed at tightening the supervision of finance companies
forming part of financial conglomerates and to convert into
a more binding instrument the recommendation on the
transparency of cross-border bank transfers
( 90 / 109 / EEC ) ( M.

Joint answer to Written Questions E-807 / 94 and (!) OJ No L 67, 15 . 3 . 1990 .

E-1048 / 94
given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to
refer to the Commission 's answer to Written Question
No 533 / 94 (*) and to its statement to Parliament on 8 March

1994 concerning the own-initiative report on the
incompatibility with Article 7a of the EC Treaty of passport
checks carried out by certain airlines .

(!) OJ No C 349, 9 . 12 . 1994, p . 39 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 12 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 82 )

Subject : Revision of the Directive on money laundering

Does the Commission agree that measures must be taken to
WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 11 / 94 revise the Directive on money-laundering ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 ) Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

( 94 / C 367 / 81 on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )
Subject : Binding legislative provisions in the financial and

economic services sector

Does the Commission agree that further proposals must be
submitted for binding legislative provisions governing
financial and economic services ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

In the financial services sector ( which includes banking,
insurance and investment firms ) there are currently some

The Commission does not envisage, at this stage, taking any
initiative in order to revise the Directive on money
laundering ( Directive 91 / 308 / EEC of 10 June 1991 ) (*).

Although the deadline for the implementation of this
Directive expired on 31 December 1992, most of the
Member States have adopted the necessary legislation only
after this date, and three Member States have still not yet
notified the Commission of their full implementation of the
text . Furthermore, in those Member States that have
adopted the necessary legislation, the procedures to prevent
money laundering as laid down in the Directive have only
just come into operation .

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 43

The Directive on money laundering involves very
substantial changes in the legislation of most Member States
and will affect a wide range of legal fields . The Directive
constitutes at present one of the most advanced existing
instruments in the prevention of money laundering and is
fully consistent with the strict international standards in this
field .

The Commission believes that revising the Directive would
be premature at this stage . Once the Directive has been fully
implemented by all Member States and the procedures to
prevent money laundering have come into operation, the
Commission will be able to assess whether any adjustment
or amendment is necessary taking into account any possible
international developments in this matter .

(!) OJ No L 166, 28 . 6 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-820 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 83 )

Subject : Setting up a European Institute for North-South

dialogue

Given that, owing to its cultural tradition and economic
development, the European Union has scope for taking
measures to support the southern hemisphere, can the
Commission carry out preparatory studies into setting up a
European Institute for North-South dialogue ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission notes that there are a number of institutes

and bodies working at European level on relations between
the North ( and Europe, in particular ) and the South . These
include the Council of Europe 's North / South Centre in
Lisbon, Sussex University 's Institute for Development
Studies, the Berlin DIW Institut and the Netherlands
Economic Institute . This last institute has moreover set up a
European network, of which the Commission is a member,
in order to study trade and investment relations between the
Community and developing countries .

In these circumstances, the European Institute for
North-South dialogue which the Honourable Member is
proposing might well duplicate the work of the existing
bodies . The Commission is nevertheless ready to consider

the question if the Honourable Member clarifies what aims
he would like this new institute to have and what work it

should do .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-823 / 94

by Claude Desama ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 84 )

Subject : Application of the Agreement on the European

Economic Area with regard to gas and electricity
imports and exports

On 26 January the Commission decided to initiate the final
stage of the infringement procedure concerning the
exclusive import / export rights relating to electricity and gas
that six Member States have granted to public-sector bodies .
As a result, the Commission is to refer the matter to the
European Court of Justice .

Articles 11, 12 and 16 of the Agreement on the European
Economic Area now in force prohibit quantitative
restrictions on exports and imports and deal with
arrangements for State monopolies of a commercial
character . These articles are the counterparts of Articles 30
and 37 of the Treaty of Rome, which form the legal basis of
the infringement procedure referred to above .

Norwegian legislation on electricity exports lays down, first,
restrictive sales quotas and, secondly, a parliamentary
authorization process .

1 . Have exemptions from the Agreement of the European
Economic Area been granted or requested by Norway
with regard to its legislation on electricity sales and
purchases ?

To be more precise, what is the Commission 's position
on any such exemptions ? What reasons would it give for
agreeing to such exemptions ?

2 . If no exemptions are envisaged, and given that these
restrictions on trade are likely to affect
intra-Community trade in electricity ( owing to
substantial Norwegian exports ), the Commission is
required ( Article 109 of the EEA Agreement ) to monitor
fulfilment of the obligations under the Agreement . In
these circumstances does the Commission intend to take

the necessary steps, provided for in the EEA Agreement,
to ensure that Norway amends its legislation to bring it
into line with the obligations of the Treaty ?

No C 367 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(S May 1994 )

1 . Norway has not sought exemption from the
obligations imposed on it by Articles 11, 12 and 16 of the
EEA Agreement in respect of the electricity industry . In any
event, the Commission has no power to grant such
exemption ; any exemption would require an amendment to
the EEA Agreement .

2 . Article 109 ( 1 ) of the EEA Agreement assigns to the
EFTA Surveillance Authority the task of monitoring
compliance with the rules of the Agreement by the EFTA
countries which have signed it . It is for the EFTA
Surveillance Authority, therefore, rather than the
Commission, to establish whether the Norwegian electricity
legislation is compatible with Articles 11, 12 and 16 . The
Commission will raise the matter with the Authority in
accordance with Article 109 . It will be for the Authority to
make whatever enquiries of the Norwegian Government it
considers appropriate and, if necessary, to initiate
infringement proceedings against Norway .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-837 / 94

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 85

Subject : Midwifery

The Irish Nurses ' Act, 1985, states : '" Nurse " means a
woman or man whose name is entered in the register and
includes a midwife and " nursing " includes " midwifery "'
( page 15 ). Is the Commission aware that the Irish
Government is failing to recognize midwifery as a separate
and distinct profession in accordance with Directives
80 / 154 / EC (*) and 80 / 155 / EC ( 2 ) and, if so, are they in
breach of the Directives ?

(») OJ No L 33, 11 . 2 . 1980, p . 1 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 33, 11 . 2 . 1980, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirah

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

[ The Honourable Member cites the definition of ' nurse ' in

Section 2 of the Irish Nurses Act 1985 . The Commission

notes that ' midwife ' is also separately defined in that
section .

There is nothing in the Irish Nurses Act 1985 nor in
Directives 80 / 154 / EEC and 80 / 155 / EEC which prevents
nurses who are also qualified as midwives in accordance
with Directive 80 / 155 / EEC from practising the activity of
midwifery as recognized in Directives 80 / 154 / EEC and

80 / 155 / EEC . In the Commission 's view, the definition cited
by the Honourable Member does not constitute an
infringement of Directives 80 / 154 / EEC and 80 / 155 / EEC .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-849 / 94

by Anthony Simpson ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 86 )

Subject : Fire extinguishers in cars

A number of Member States require cars and other road
vehicles to carry fire extinguishers . In view of the
considerable loss of life and injury throughout the
Community, will the Commission propose to all Member
States that they adopt legislation making it compulsory
throughout the EU ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission 's programme of action on road safety is set
out in its communication to the Council on that subject ( a ),
which was drawn up on the basis of a report by the
high-level working party of government representatives . A
Community-wide requirement that vehicles be fitted with
extinguishers is not one of the Commission 's priorities, and
so no proposal along those lines will be forthcoming in the
immediate future .

Besides, the fitting of extinguishers in vehicles does not
affect their type approval, which means the Community is
not involved . The requirement that extinguishers be fitted
can be dictated by Member States through national
regulations on the conditions of use of vehicles .

If lack of harmonization on the installation of such

equipment in cars were an obstacle to the use of a vehicle in a

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 45

Member State other than the Member State where the
vehicle was registered or if it posed a safety problem on a
Community scale, then action in this area by the
Commission would be justified .

(!) COM(93 ) 246 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-854 / 94

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )

The Commission is ready to examine any complaint,
together with the appropriate evidence, which Community
industry might submit regarding the difficulties which it is
encountering within the sector as a result of imports at
dumping prices .

(!) OJ No L 131, 13 . 5 . 1989 .

to the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-916 / 94

( 30 March 1994 ) by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission
( 94 / C 367 / 87 )

( 12 April 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 88 )

Subject : Imports into Community territory of heavy
sodium carbonates

Subject : VAT on buildings with heritage status

Certain eastern European countries, in particular Poland,
Romania and Bulgaria, are exporting into Community
territory heavy sodium carbonates, which, unlike light
sodium carbonates, are not covered by anti-dumping law .
Community industries in the sector are badly affected by
this practice which is in breach of the provisions of
competition law .

Does the Commission intend to take measures to protect the
interests of the companies affected by these practices ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

Would the Commission comment on the levying of VAT on
remedial works and other expenditure required to maintain
buildings with listed, conservation or heritage status in each
of the 12 Member States ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

(6 May 1994 ) Under Community VAT law ( The sixth Council VAT
Directive as amended by Directive 92 / 77 / EEC ), expenditure
incurred in the maintenance of buildings with heritage
status is subject to VAT in all Member States in the usual

In May 1989, under Regulation ( EEC ) No 1306 / 89 ( ), the way . Such VAT is in principle levied at the standard rate
Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports except in the case of the renovation or repair of housing
of light sodium carbonate originating in Bulgaria, Poland or provided as part of a social policy, to which Member States
Romania . The investigation carried out had confirmed that may opt to apply a reduced VAT rate . In addtion, the United
light sodium carbonate was being dumped by those Kingdom is entitled to maintain a zero VAT rate on a
countries and that the expiry of existing measures might transitional basis in respect of approved alterations to
result in renewed substantial injury for Community protected buildings .
production .

In the course of the investigation, the Community
institutions had certainly noticed a marked increase in
imports into the Community of heavy sodium carbonates
from the countries concerned . Nevertheless, since there
were neither complaints nor evidence of injury resulting
from dumping of the heavy product, anti-dumping
measures were taken solely in respect of light sodium
carbonate .

The Commission is due to review the scope of the list of
goods and services eligible for the reduced rate of VAT every
two years, beginning in 1994 on the basis of a Commission
report . No decisions in this regard have, as yet, been
taken .

No C 367 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-980 / 94

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 89 )

Subject : Money for re-structuring the steel industry

What internal investigation does the Commission propose
to instigate to enable it to understand why, over the last 15
years, taxpayers ' money has been given out in the name of
re-structuring the steel industry when on so many occasions
re-structuring has not followed ?

Why has the Commission allowed itself to be hoodwinked
in this matter ? What assurance has it that the latest round of
steel re-structuring subsidies will not be misdirected in a
similar way ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

Since the 1980s re-structuring aid has led to a significant
reduction of capacity (a reduction in hot-rolled products of
over 35 million tonnes since 1980 ), through the definitive
and irreversible closures of installations which have been

verified by the Commission . This re-structuring has been
achieved at the cost of considerable social sacrifice, with
over 315 000 jobs lost ( 47% ) in the last 15 years, the
repercussions of which have been particularly serious in
those regions where the steel industry has been a major
employer .

The Commission is not aware of any evidence that
re-structuring aids have been misused as the Honourable
Member suggests .

The latest package of cases, which in accordance with
Article 95 ECSC Treaty could only be approved
exceptionally with the unanimous assent of the Council, will
provide a further reduction of around 5,5 million tonnes in
hot-rolled capacity . This will make an important
contribution towards the wider re-structuring of the
industry which is necessary given the prevailing marked
conditions .

capacity reductions, are respected . Member States
concerned will be required to submit six-monthly, or if
necessary quarterly, reports to the Commission, which will
keep the Council informed on a regular six-monthly basis
over the next five years . In the event that the conditions
attached to the authorization of aid are not met, the
Commission will not hesitate to order the suspension or
recovery of aid unless remedial measures are taken .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1025 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 90 )

Subject : Electronic bank payments

Can the Commission say whether the negotiations between
the banking and trade sectors have reached a successful
conclusion regarding recommendation 87 / 598 / EEC ( a ) on a
European code of conduct relating to electronic
payments ?

(!) OJ No L 365, 24 . 12 . 1987, p . 74 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The negotiations, referred to by the Honourable Member,
between the banking and trade sectors on a code of conduct
pursuant to recommendation 87 / 598 / EEC relating to
electronic payment have not yet been concluded .

Despite agreement on a number of technical aspects, certain
questions are still outstanding, in particular that of
contractual clauses prohibiting traders from passing on the
costs of using the electronic payments system to

consumers .

conditions . The Commission intends to continue its efforts to narrow

the gap between the positions of the parties, which for the
moment differ considerably with a view to obtaining a joint
At the request of the Council the approved cases, involving agreement on implementing the above recommendation as
the re-structuring or privatization of six companies in four quickly as possible .
Member States, will be subject to close monitoring by the
Commission to ensure that all the conditions attached to the

authorization of aid, including in particular those relating to

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 47

QUESTION E-1041 / 94 by-pass if the Greek authorities present an application as

Viviane Reding ( PPE ) part of their proposals for the second Community support

framework for Greece .
to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1041 / 94

by Viviane Reding ( PPE )

( 12 April 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 91 )

Subject : Lower rate of VAT for historic sites and

monuments

Historic sites and monuments require considerable amounts
of maintenance and re-building work . Would it not be in the
interest of preserving the cultural heritage if this work could
enjoy a lower rate of VAT ?

Does the Commission intend to include maintenance and
re-building of historic sites and monuments on the ' lower
rate of VAT ' list which is shortly to come up for
revision ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1994 )

Under the terms of Community VAT legislation ( The sixth
Council VAT Directive as amended by Directive
92 / 12 / EEC ), the Council is due to review the scope of the list
of goods and services eligible for a reduced rate of VAT
every two years, beginning in 1994 on the basis of a
Commission report . No decisions in this regard have, as yet,
been taken .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1118 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1279 / 94

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 93 )

Subject : Amendment to the Directive on the right of

residence of students

Can the Commission say whether it intends to propose in
the immediate future an amendment to the Directive on the

right of residence of students, after establishing that certain
countries tend to interpret this Directive in a restrictive
manner ( especially as regards the conditions of adequate
resources ), thereby indirectly violating the principle of the
free movement of persons ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

The Commission does not intend to propose to the Council
any amendments to Directive 93 / 96 / EEC of 29 October

1993 on the right of residence for students ( a ). The
requirement that the student must have sufficient resources
is met by way of a simple declaration or by any other
equivalent means . It does not seem excessive to the point of
constituting an obstacle to the free movement of persons .

( 30 March 1994 ) 0 ) OJ No L 317, 18 . 12 . 1993 .

( 94 / C 367 / 92 )

Subject : Navpaktos by-pass

Given that a large number of juggernauts travelling between
the European Union and the Middle East, as well as other
vehicles, pass through the narrow streets of Navpaktos
every day, can the Commission say whether it intends to
ensure that sufficient funds are set aside to enable the

by-pass around Navpaktos to be completed ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1346 / 94

by Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 94 )

Subject : Discrimination against German as a working

language at the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

With regard to the answer to my Written Question
No 1266 / 92 (*), which suggests that German is definitely an
The Commission is prepared to study carefully the official and working language at the Commission, I wish to
part-financing of a project to complete the Navpaktos point out that, as a Member of the European Parliament, I

No C 367 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

find that almost all important Commission documents and
correspondence are available initially only in English and
French, and often only in French . Parliament is following
this example and issuing all committee correspondence in
French .

Can the Commission state what rules are used to determine
which languages are used as working languages in the
Directorates-General and Directorates ?

Is it possible for some Directorates-General to use German
as their working language, as many officials have German as
their mother tongue or their first or second foreign
language ?

O OJ No C 336, 30 . 11 . 1994 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1994 )

1 . There are no rules to determine which languages
specific Commission departments should use, since
Regulation No 1 ( l ) applies to the institution as a whole .

2 . No . The staffing of Commission departments is
dictated by competence rather than linguistic
considerations .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1396 / 94

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

required by the Treaty to act in complete independence and
in the sole interests of the Communities, and may do nothing
that is incompatible with their function .

Membership of the European Parliament is incompatible
with membership of the Commission from the date on
which election takes effect ( Article 6 of the Act concerning
the election of the representatives of the European
Parliament by universal suffrage ).

A Member of the Commission may stand at national general
elections and European elections without resigning his

post .

As the Commission has had many opportunities to state in
answers to written or oral questions by Members of the
European Parliament ( See in particular : answer given by
President Rey to Oral Question No 10 / 68 by Mr
Habib-Deloncle (*); Commission answers to Written
Questions : No 44 / 83 by Mr Gendebien ( 2 ); No 1682 by Mr
Vandemeulebroucke ( 3 ); No 2997 / 86 by Mr McMahon ( 4 )),
its Members are politicians who exercise a political function
and, subject to the duties incumbent on them by reason of
that function, remain free to express their personal opinions
independently and on their own responsibility . It is not
unusual for them to be active in national or European
political parties, even in leading roles, and to take part in
election campaigns .

Turning to the case raised by the Honourable Member, it is
true that Mr Matutes has agreed to head his party 's list at the
forthcoming elections for the European Parliament . But he
has not yet been officially declared a candidate and the
campaign is not officially open . The problem to which the
Honourable Member alludes in the event of his election to

the European Parliament does not strictly speaking arise for
the moment .

( ! ) Debates of the European Parliament, OJ Annex No 105, July

to the Commission 1968 .

( 24 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 95 )

Subject : Arrangements to replace Commissioner Matutes

In view of the decision of Commissioner Matutes to contest

the European elections on behalf of his party in Spain, what
arrangements has the Commission made to ensure that the
responsibilities of the Transport Commissioner are
discharged during the electoral campaign and, in the event
of the Commissioner being elected, in the period June to
December 1994 ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1994 )

( 2 ) OJ No C 197, 27 . 7 . 1983 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 55, 10 . 3 . 1986 .
( 4 ) OJ No C 240, 7 . 9 . 1987 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1397 / 94

by Hugh McMahon ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1994 )

( 94 / C 367 / 96 )

Subject : European Social Fund spending in the Strathclyde

Region

How many projects did the Strathclyde Region IDO receive
The Commission would begin by reminding the under Objective 2 in 1992 and 1993 and who where the
Honourable Member that its Members are generally training providers ?

22 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 367 / 49

Answer given by Mr Flynn expenditure for which the Commission received an
on behalf of the Commission application between 1 January 1994 and 30 April 1994 is

( 28 April 1994 ) eligible for Fund aid as from 1 January 1994 .

As far as European Social Fund assistance in the context of
Objective 2 in 1992 and 1993 is concerned, Strathclyde
benefited from the Strathclyde Integrated Development
Operation ( 1988 — 1992 ) and the Western Scotland
Multifund Programme ( 1993 ).

Following the reform of the Structural Funds in 1989 the
administration of Social Fund resources within the

operational programmes agreed, including the selection of
projects and monitoring of progress, takes place within the
region concerned . The Commission is represented in the
working groups and monitoring committees that manage
Structural Fund support in Strathclyde as well as other areas
of Scotland, but individual applications for grant assistance
are no longer sent to Brussels for approval .

It is therefore the local partnership in the form of the IDO
secretariat which would have the further information

sought by the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1432 / 94

by Paul Howell ( PPE )

to the Commission

This means that once Community aid has been granted by
the Commission, the Structural Funds can part-finance
expenditure incurred before the date of the decision to grant
aid but after the date on which the application was
submitted by the Member State, with the exception of the
transitional provision mentioned above . It also follows that
where a construction project is underway before the
submission of an aid application to the Commission, only
expenditure incurred after the date of submission is eligible .
As similar provision exists in relation to the eligibility of
expenditure under the cohesion financial instrument, which
does allow for exceptions in certain cases, however .

This provision is not at odds with the principle of
additionality, which must be met only in the case of
Structural Fund aid . Under the Regulations, additionality
does not apply to each project or individual programme,
only to the total amount of public or similar expenditure by
a Member State in the area covered by a given Objective .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1433 / 94

by Enrique Baron Crespo ( PSE )

( 29 March 1994 )

to the Commission
( 94 / C 367 / 97 )
( 29 March 1994 )

Subject : Retrospective award of Structural Funds

Given the additionality principle, is it permissible for funds
to be granted retrospectively under ERDF and the other
Structural Funds, or under the Cohesion Financial
Instrument, in cases where construction projects were
already under way when the application for funds was
made, or when the decision to grant funds was taken ?

( 94 / C 367 / 98 )

Subject : Financing of the Radio Station ' Radio Brod '

cases were Because of the failure of the European Union to continue its
way when the application for funds was financial support, the radio broadcasting vessel ' Radio
the decision to grant funds was taken ? Brod / Droit de Parole ' was forced to stop its broadcasts to

Yugoslavia on 28 February 1994 . In line with the
recommendations made by the special envoy of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mr Mazowiecki,
Answer given by Mr Millan the station helped to counter the nationalist propaganda
on behalf of the Commission prevalent in the territory of the former Yugoslavia .

(3 May 1994 )

Under the revised Regulations governing the Structural
Funds which entered into force on 3 August 1993, only
expenditure incurred after the date the relevant application
is received by the Commission can be considered eligible for
Structural Fund aid . As a transitional measure, however,

The station was financed by the ECHO Programme . After
Community funding was stopped because of administrative
re-organization within the Commission, it was planned to
re-establish the station on land in Italy . Is the Commission
willing to help finance the re-establishment of the station, to
enable it to continue its activities, which are aimed at the
re-conciliation of the peoples of Yugoslavia ?

No C 367 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 12 . 94

If so, will it say which budget line will be used, given that
various funding possibilities are available under the
Community budget ? If the budget lines under the ECHO
Programme can no longer be used, a possible alternative
would be the European initiative for democracy ( Chapter
B7-52, item 5201 ).

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1994 )

The Commission has given Radio Brod ECU 3,9 million in
financing . After the project had been up and running for a
year, the plan was to undertake a technical overhaul and
relocate the station on land . The Commission had an

evaluation carried out by an independent expert, who found
that the station 's impact was limited .

It is not, then, because of administrative changes within th'e
Commission that it was decided to discontinue support but
simply because circumstances meant thought had to be
given to how best to proceed .

Naturally, the Commission intends to continue its aid for
independent media in the former Yugoslavia . However,
after an initial phase in which many decisions had to be
taken in a climate of urgency, it now believes it should focus
on better coordinated activities which cover all such media

to give them a better chance of survival . The most suitable
framework for financing this aid could be the new budget
chapter B7-52, set up by Parliament .