Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 296
# Official Journal

Volume 37
### of the European Communities 24 October 1994

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 296 / 01 E-1287 / 91 by Siegbert Alber to the Commission
Subject : Studies ordered by the Commission 1

94 / C 296 / 02 E-3036 / 91 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies in the form of road tolls 2

94 / C 296 / 03 E-3 94 / 92 by Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Age discrimination in job recruitment 3

94 / C 296 / 04 E-1626 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The deduction of tax from subsidies to farmers 4

94 / C 296 / 05 E-156 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Remuneration of doctors 4

94 / C 296 / 06 E-237 / 93 by Gerardo Fernandez - Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community aid to the persons affected by the ' Aegean Sea ' disaster 4

94 / C 296 / 07 E-491 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Infringement of the Directive on the conservation of wild birds 5

94 / C 296 / 08 E-560 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Legality of the practice of ' mileage ' as a marketing technique in air transport 6

94 / C 296 / 09 E-606 / 93 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Phone-tapping 6

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Contents ( continued ) Page

E-836 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Exploitation of water resources in Crete

E-936 / 93 by Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Financing of a transport interchange in central Tuscany within the Community Support
Framework for Tuscany ( Objective 2 of the Structural Funds )

E-9 84 / 93 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Discrepancies between wage bills in the European Community

E-1119 / 93 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Traffic law in Italy

E - 1156 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Lorry drivers ' rest periods

E-l 166 / 93 by Margaret Daly to the Commission
Subject : Council Directive on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat

E-l 176 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Declaration of European Interest

E-1206 / 93 by Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Fish import quotas

E-1236 / 93 by Bouke Beumer to the Commission
Subject : Transferring money to another Member State

E-l 25 7 / 93 by Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Labelling and policy on the elderly

E-l 264 / 9 3 by Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission
Subject : Promotion of the theatre and music in the Community

E-l 347 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Policy to prevent AIDS in children

E-l 387 / 93 by Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Admission to the weekly market in Strasbourg

E-l 40 1 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Reprocessing

E-1450 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Bergamot

E-1506 / 93 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Abduction of Albanian children for the purposes of organ trafficking

E-l 59 1 / 93 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Advisory document on trade communication within the European Community

E-l 61 1 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : EC research on Neurofibromatosis

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Contents ( continued )

E - 168 1 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Risk of a disaster in the Baltic and the North Sea

E-1554 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Wild birds

E-1743 / 93 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Shooting wild birds for sport on Malta

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1554 / 93 and E-1743 / 93

E-1766 / 93 by Nino Pisoni to the Commission
Subject : Unlawful marketing of milk

E-l 767 / 93 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission
Subject : Valuation of farm livestock for income tax purposes

E-l 787 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Discharge of red mud into the submarine canyon at Cassis ( France )

E-1797 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Parental leave

E-l 866 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Cheese dairies in Thrace

E-l 884 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Effectiveness of vocational training programmes

E-l 897 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Support for saffron production

E-l 906 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : Support for rail transport

E-l 91 6 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Damage to trees in Greek cities

E-l 91 7 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directives on asbestos by Greece

E-1961 / 93 by Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : Development of a high-speed ship

E-1963 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Community attitude towards the dictatorship in Haiti

E-2037 / 93 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez to the Commission
Subject : Imports of cement into Spain and anti-dumping procedure

E-2111 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Clophen hazard at a hospital in Patras

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94 / C 296 / 45 E-2136 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Re-nationalization of agricultural policy and incentives for farmers 25

94 / C 296 / 46 E-2140 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Infrastructures for persons with special needs 25

94 / C 296 / 47 E-22 17 / 93 by Antonio Capucho and Jan Bertens to the Commission
Subject : Middle-East peace negotiations 26

94 / C 296 / 48 E-2220 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Payment of invalidity benefit to women 26

94 / C 296 / 49 E-2257 / 93 by Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Decision No 5470 adopted by Campania Regional Council on 27 October 1992 .... 27

94 / C 296 / 50 E-2258 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Access to Community documents by Community Ombudsman 27

94 / C 296 / 51 E-2266 / 93 by David Bowe to the Commission
Subject : Intervention system 27

94 / C 296 / 52 E-2308 / 93 by Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the banana market Regulation of 13 February 1992 28

94 / C 296 / 53 E-2312 / 93 by Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Failure of the Italian Government to implement the ' Seveso ' Directive 28

94 / C 296 / 54 E-2049 / 93 by Andre Sainjon to the Commission
Subject : Re-negotiation of the agreement on European imports of Japanese cars 29

94 / C 296 / 55 E-2205 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Japanese cars exceeding sales quotas in the European market 29

94 / C 296 / 56 E-2236 / 93 by Mauro Chiabrando, Rinaldo Bontempi and Giuseppe Mottola to the
Commission

Subject : Japanese car imports 29

94 / C 2 96 / 57 E-23 18 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : European motor-vehicle industry 30

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2049 / 93, E-2205 / 93, E-2236 / 93 and
E-2318 / 93 30

94 / C 296 / 58 E-2356 / 93 by Gepa Maibaum to the Commission
Subject : Conservation of the architectural heritage : Mount Athos 30

94 / C 296 / 59 E-2382 / 93 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten to the Commission
Subject : Brown coal mining — environmental impact and cross-frontier effects 31

94 / C 296 / 60 E-2387 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Transparency in debates and decisions . 32

94 / C 296 / 61 E-2401 / 93 by Edward Kellett-Bowman to the Commission
Subject : The use of weed killers 32

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94 / C 296 / 62 E-2420 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the environment through publicity campaign 33

94 / C 296 / 63 E-2443 / 93 by Raymond Chesa to the Commission
Subject : Convention on protection of the Alps 33

94 / C 296 / 64 E-2497 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of measures to assist the fishing fleet 34

94 / C 296 / 65 E-2536 / 93 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community cooperation with youth movements against racism and xenophobia .... 34

94 / C 296 / 66 E-2543 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Development of Methana 35

94 / C 296 / 67 E-2567 / 93 by Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Appointment of Cassiopée as consultants on eastern European nuclear waste
management 35

94 / C 296 / 68 E-2606 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Restoration of the ancient theatre on the island of Thasos ? 36

94 / C 296 / 69 E-2616 / 93 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Third World debt and EC development programmes 36

94 / C 296 / 70 E-2619 / 93 by John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Distortion of the EC waste paper and cardboard re-cycling industry 37

94 / C 296 / 71 E-2669 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of tropical forests in Africa 37

94 / C 296 / 72 E-2670 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental programme in response to health problems resulting from the
deterioration of the environment in central and eastern Europe 38

94 / C 296 / 73 E-2680 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental measures in the countries of central and eastern Europe 38

94 / C 296 / 74 E-2683 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Financial aid to central and east European countries for environmental measures .... 38

94 / C 296 / 75 E-2684 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Environmental code of ethics for investment in central and eastern Europe 38

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2670 / 93, E-2680 / 93, E-2683 / 93 and
E-2684 / 93 38

94 / C 296 / 76 E-2703 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Intolerable conditions on Romania 's frontier 39

94 / C 296 / 77 E-2707 / 93 by Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Support measures for the Ukraine 40

( Continued overleaf )

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94 / C 296 / 78 E-2710 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Fig export subsidies 40

94 / C 296 / 79 E-2730 / 93 by Christos Papoutsis to the Commission
Subject : Premiums for fig production 41

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2710 / 93 and E-2730 / 93 41

94 / C 296 / 80 E-2731 / 93 by Christos Papoutsis to the Commission
Subject : Community financial aid 41

94 / C 296 / 81 E-2772 / 93 by John Iversen to the Commission
Subject : Safeguarding the interests of minorities and self-governing areas 42

94 / C 296 / 82 E-2832 / 93 by Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : The ' Flegreo ' project — the Phlegraean Fields nature reserve and the need to protect and
use to best advantage the historical, archaeological, environmental and cultural heritage 42

94 / C 296 / 83 E-2840 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Possible pollution arising from chemical accidents in Eire 43

94 / C 296 / 84 E-2863 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Non-payment of tribunal award 43

94 / C 296 / 85 E-2340 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the natural heritage of the Mediterranean 44

94 / C 296 / 86 E-2404 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : European agency to improve protection of the natural heritage of the Mediterranean 44

94 / C 296 / 87 E-2405 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Directive on the Mediterranean environment 44

94 / C 296 / 88 E-2914 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean service 44

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2340 / 93, E-2404 / 93, E-2405 / 93 and
E-2914 / 93 44

94 / C 296 / 89 E-2941 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Disposal of stocks of European wine-making cooperative organizations 45

94 / C 296 / 90 E-2959 / 93 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Commission responsibility for the world 's most visited Arab monument located in the
Community 45

94 / C 296 / 91 E-2989 / 93 by Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Arms dealers 46

94 / C 296 / 92 E-3059 / 93 by Francois Musso to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Interreg Programme in Corsica 46

94 / C 296 / 93 E-3119 / 93 by Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : The Community 's Social Fund ( ESF ) 47

( Continued on inside back cover )

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E-3150 / 93 by Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : Cereal and sugar regimes

E-3 178 / 93 by Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Panel of judges for the European literature prize

E-3 182 / 93 by Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : European ban on imports of birds caught in the wild

E-3223 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Trade strategy with the countries of central and eastern Europe

E-3286 / 93 by Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : The fight against AIDS — the programme scheduled under Lomé 4

E-33 18 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Poaching of turtle doves in south-western France

E-33 19 / 93 by Carlos Pimenta to the Commission
Subject : Contracts with third country nationals

E-3467 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Infringement of Directive 89 / 398 / EEC by the Directorate-General for Consumers of the
Government of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia

E-3509 / 93 by François Froment-Meurice to the Commission
Subject : Community legislation

E-3541 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Firework safety in the EC

E-3491 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination on basis of age in Commission appointments

E-3542 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Age discrimination in the European Community

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3491 / 93 and E-3542 / 93

E-3589 / 93 by Fernand Herman to the Commission
Subject : Biological fuels

E-3758 / 93 by Dimitrios Nianias to the Commission
Subject : Clothing products agreement beween the EC and Turkey

E-3 767 / 93 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Timeshare

E-3 849 / 93 by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission
Subject : The AL-Invest Programme

E-3 8 99 / 93 by Bryan Cassidy to the Commission
Subject : Amendments

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24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1287 / 91 Answer given by Mr
on behalf of the Commission

by Siegbert Alber ( PPE )

to the Commission ( 29 October 1993 )

( 14 June 1991 )

( 94 / C 296 / 01 ) 1 . The Commission is not in a position to provide a
definitive list of the studies ordered over the past ( ten ) years .
It can, however, cite the following examples :

Subject : Studies ordered by the Commission

The Official Journal of the European Communities often
contains advertisements calling for tenders for studies on the
most varied themes . These studies are ordered ( and paid for )
in every case by the Commission .

1 . Can the Commission provide a list of the studies and
pilot programmes it has ordered in the last ten years :

( a ) on environmental protection ;

( b ) on consumer protection in general, but including

the law on foodstuffs ( labelling, additives, health
regulations, controls );

( c ) health problems such as toxicology, AIDS, drugs,
tobacco, cancer, etc .?

2 . How many of these studies have been published ?

3 . Is the European Parliament informed of these studies,
and in what form are they made accessible to
Parliament ?

4 . How much money has been spent in the last ten years on

carrying out studies on :

( a ) on the environment ( sample ):

— nature conservation ;

— industrial pollution ;

— water pollution ;

— waste ;

— chemical pollution ;

— urban environment ;

— global environment ;

— environment legislation ;

— environment / economy ;

— awareness ;

— radioprotection ;

— civil protection .

( b ) on consumer protection : ( matters regulated in the
internal market context and, more particularly, the
agri-food sector )

— Member States ' foodstuffs policies ;

— claims made in the foodstuffs sector ;
( a ) the environment ;

— use of the term ' non-alcoholic ';
( b ) consumer protection — Member States ' legislation on product descriptions

( c ) health ? and the emphasis given to particular ingredients ;

No C 296 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

— Member States ' legislation on foodstuff labelling ;

— labelling and classification of foods ;

— labelling and nutrition ;

— parallel food testing in the Community ;

— inspection and control ;

— preparation of a paper on official systems for

Community-level checks on foodstuffs .

( c ) on health :

— AIDS and drug addiction ;

— alcohol ;

— general methodology ( statistics );

— dental health .

2 . The reports are not generally published, although they
are distributed to interested parties at the Commission and
to anyone else who asks for them .

3 . Parliament is informed of the studies as part of the
budgetary process . The relevant documentation is available
from the Commission 's archives .

4 . Spending on studies has been as follows :

( a ) environmental studies : ECU 902 000 ( 1987 —1991 );

( b ) consumer protection : ECU 217 000 ( 1987 —1991 );

( c ) health studies : ECU 335 000 ( 1988—1989 ).

The Commission recently had cause to look into the way
studies are conducted on its behalf . As a result, it is now
taking steps to improve the procedures for their
implementation and utilization .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3036 / 91

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 January 1992 )

( 94 / C 296 / 02 )

Subject : Subsidies in the form of road tolls

1 . From the point of view of Community law, what view
does the Commission take on the levying of road tolls by

legally independent undertakings responsible for road
construction and administration in the various Member

States ?

2 . Does the Commission agree this constitutes an indirect
or hidden form of subsidy to these undertakings by the
Member States concerned, possibly infringing the EC
Treaty ?

3 . What is the legal situation in individual cases if such
payments are not the only form ot State funding
provided ?

4 . How are these road tolls treated for the purposes of
turnover tax and how are they incorporated in the amounts
payable by the Member State concerned as a basis for the
calculation or assessment of the proportion of tax payable
by Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 July 1993 )

1 . The Commission has no objection to the levying of
road tolls by legally independent firms, provided that the
Member States and the firms concerned comply with
Community rules, including those on the free movement of
goods, services, people and capital as well as the rules on
competition, on non-discrimination and on abolition of
controls at internal frontiers .

2 . The Commission does not agree that the levying of
road tolls necessarily involves an indirect or hidden form of
subsidy granted to these firms by Member States . While this
possibility cannot entirely be ruled out, the Commission is
not aware of any cases of aid being given by these

means .

3 . Member States are under an obligation pursuant to
Article 93 ( 3 ) of the EEC Treaty to notify any aid that
distorts or threatens to distort competition and affect trade
between Member States . If Member States did not notify
and obtain the Commission 's approval for such aid, the aid
would be illegal .

4 . The Commission considers that the tolls levied by
firms responsible for the administration of roads constitute
consideration for services subject to VAT . Consequently,
the taxable amount must be included in any calculation of
the Communities ' own resources .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 3

WRITTEN QUESTION E-394 / 92

by Madron Seligman ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1992 )

( 94 / C 296 / 03 )

Subject : Age discrimination in job recruitment

In its answer to Written Question No 750 / 91 ( : ) from Mrs
Christine Crawley, who had questioned an age qualification
in a job advertisement for a typist, the Commission sought
to evade the issue deftly, but unconvincingly .

to achieve this goal . It is therefore essential to attract a
balanced mix of candidates from all over the Community .
Experience indicates clearly that mobility decreases with
age, and in relation to the physical distance of the candidate
from the place of employment . Removing age limits
indiscriminately would attract disproportionately more
applications from those already living close to the main
working places, and exacerbate an already serious
imbalance in their favour .

Second, the Commission is conscious of the need to
encourage more applications from women . The emphasis it
has placed in the last few years on recruiting more recent

A constituent of mine has drawn to my attention ( and therefore more mobile ) graduates has had a noticeable
recruitment advertisements for Commission appointments effect in this respect, supported by the derogations allowed
in the following varied fields : from the age limits applied, and aimed particularly at

allowing for interruptions to women 's careers due to family
commitments .
— Waste treatment and disposal

— Cardiology, Neurology

—
Programme management With regard to personnel policy, the institutions are
therefore in different situation from national

— Socio-economics of the environment

administrations, which recruit solely from a relatively
homogenous home population, and from other

where all candidates ' must have been born after 1 March international organizations, which operate quota systems

1956 '. for the different nationalities represented . This situation

renders more complex the elimination of different forms of
discrimination .

— Socio-economics of the environment

where all candidates ' must have been born after 1 March

1956 '.

Why does the Commission allow Community institutions to
discriminate unfairly against potential candidates who may
have been born before 1956 ?

At a time when unemployment is a major social problem in The Staff Regulations, which provide the legal framework
the EC and the Commission pays lip service to a policy of governing recruitment, have long placed an obligation on
non-discrimination in employment, why does the the institutions to recruit on the broadest possible
Commission condone such advertisements which can only geographical basis . The revision to the Staff Regulations,
reinforce discriminatory prejudices in the minds of ordinary currently approaching adoption following consultation of
employers ? the Parliament, will introduce a reference to eliminating

discrimination on the grounds of sex . The Commission is
therefore obliged to confront these discriminations above
(!) OJ No C 20, 27 . 1 . 1992, p . 5 . others in its recruitment policy .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

The Commission is aware that a limited number of Member

States have recently removed age limits for their own
recruitment . Several specific factors explain the continued
application of age limits by the Commission — for certain
categories of recruitment — in addition to those underlying
the maintenance of age limits by the majority of Member
States .

First, the Commission has to recruit on the broadest possible
geographical basis, but without recourse to national quotas

Nevertheless, the Commission is sensitive to the arguments
advanced by the Honourable Member, in so far as
responding to them does not introduce other distortions .
This would appear to be the case with experienced and
specialist staff ( usually selected on a non-permanent basis ),
for whom a more detailed job profile can be defined . The
Commission intends progressively to remove age limits for
recruitment to this type of post .

No C 296 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1626 / 92

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 June 1992 )

( 94 / C 296 / 04 )

Subject : The deduction of tax from subsidies to farmers

The Greek Government has decided to draw up draft
legislation providing for tax to be deducted from subsidies
paid to farmers, based on their output irrespective of their
tax-paying capacity . It should be pointed out that tax is not
deducted from subsidies in any Community Member State,
and in Greece tax has not been deducted from gross income
to date . Does the Commission consider that this decision is

in line with Community law and, if not, what steps does it
intend to take ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

action in respect of activities of doctors sets out, in the
Annex added to it by Directive 82 / 76 / EEC ( J ) the principal
characteristics of the training of specialists .

These provisions lay down inter alia that such training must
be carried out in specific posts recognized by the competent
authority and must involve the participation of the doctor in
all the medical activities in question so that he devotes all his
professional activity to such training . Consequently, these
posts must carry an appropriate remuneration .

The Spanish Government transposed Directive 75 / 363 / EEC
into national law by Royal Decree No 1691 of 29 December

1 9 8 9 . In the Commission 's view, the provisions of the Royal
Decree relating to the remuneration requirement do not
comply with the Directive .

Accordingly, the Commission has issued a reasoned opinion
in accordance with the infringement procedure provided for
in Article 169 of the EEC Treaty .

on behalf of the Commission t 1 ) OJ No L 43, 15 . 2 . 1982 .

(1 April 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 2901 / 92 by Mr Dessylas
and to his Written Question No 2955 / 92 ( 1 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-237 / 93
(!) OJ No C 145, 25 . 5 . 1993 .
by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 23 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 06

WRITTEN QUESTION E-156 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 05 )

Subject : Remuneration of doctors

The Spanish Government has been accused of failing to act
in connection with the remuneration of doctors under
Directive 75 / 363 / EEC ( x ). What are the chief irregularities
noted by the Commission ?

(!) OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975, p . 14 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1993 )

Directive 75 / 363 / EEC concerning the coordination of
provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative

Subject : Community aid to the persons affected by the

' Aegean Sea ' disaster

The agreement reached by the Spanish Government with the
consortium of insurance companies concerned by the
accident involving the ' Aegean Sea ' tanker in the waters off
A Coruna ( La Coruna ), Spain, is aimed at speeding matters
up and avoiding a situation similar to that which occurred in
the case of the sinking of the ' Urquiola ' tanker in the same
bay, where compensation was paid only 15 years after the

event .

Given the situation regarding these compensation
payments, the persons affected by the oil slick following the
sinking of the ' Aegean Sea ' wish to know whether the aid
promised by the Commission as compensation will be paid
with similar rapidity .

Can the Commission state whether it intends to take steps to
ensure rapid payment of the aid it has agreed to provide to
those affected by this maritime disaster, to enable them to
receive corfipensation as soon as possible for the economic
damage they are currently suffering ?

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 5

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

Following the running-aground of the oil-tanker ' Aegean
Sea ' on 3 December 1992, the Spanish authorities informed
the Community of the situation vis-a-vis the Spanish fishing
fleet and asked the Commission to work out arrangements
to compensate ship-owners and crews for losses incurred as
a result of contamination in the areas which they
customarily fish .

On 9 December the Commission approved a grant of ECU
650 000 in emergency humanitarian aid for shell fishermen
and inshore fishermen most affected by oil pollution . This
aid was distributed, in partnership with the Spanish
authorities, through the Spanish civilian rescue organization
in liaison with the Commission 's Press and Information

Office in Madrid .

The Commission has also implemented, under Article 32 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86, special structural measures
in the fisheries sector which include compensation for
fishermen and ship-owners affected by the disaster .

A decision was taken on 5 April 1993 in conjunction with
the Spanish authorities on a measure involving the payment
to Spain of provisional compensation for ship-owners and

crews .

Under this decision, Community aid totalling a maximum of
ECU 1 628 840 was to be allocated over a period of two
months from 3 December 1992 . The aid, distributed in
accordance with procedures determined by Spain and
approved by the Commission, is granted subject to the
actual suspension of activity by vessels and their crews
during the compensation period .

These accelerated measures demonstrate that the

Commission does act, and is prepared to act, in the swiftest
manner possible following such disasters .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-491 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 12 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 07 )

Subject : Infringement of the Directive on the conservation

of wild birds

On 19 January 1993, the members of the Greek Centre for
the Care of Wild Animals and Birds organized a protest
meeting in Athens at which they displayed swans, falcons,
guls, herons and flamingoes, all rare protected species which

had been killed by unscrupulous hunters . 500 swans had
been killed .

— These species ( mainly Bewick 's swans and Whooper
swan ) are protected under Council Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 ), which was adopted by the Greek
Government under Joint Ministerial Decision

No 414985 / 85 .

— They are strictly protected by the Bern Convention,

Article 6 of which prohibits all forms of deliberate
capture, keeping or killing of species specified in
Appendix II and the deliberate disturbance of wild fauna
particularly during the breeding, rearing and
hibernation periods .

— Article 6 of the Bern Convention states that ' each

Contracting Party shall take appropriate and necessary
legislative and administrative measures to ensure the
special protection of the wild fauna species specified in
Appendix II '.

— In answer to my Written Question H-402 / 89 ( 2 ) on

special protection areas in Greece, the Commission
stated that Greece had so far designated 26 zones
without providing details of specific protective measures
for these zones and that the Commission had taken

action under Article 169 of the Treaty .

— In answer to Written Question No 850 / 91 ( 3 ) the

Commission states that ' there are problems regarding
surveillance and monitoring ' of application of the
relevant Greek legislation . In addition, the Commission
had already taken infringement proceedings against
Greece for failure duly to implement the provisions of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC, in particular those regarding
hunting .

In view of this :

1 . What ' special measures ' has Greece taken to date to

designate wetland habitats and ensure that they are
effectively protected ?

2 . What pressure will the Commission bring to bear on the

Greek authorities with a view to ensuring that they are
fully aware of their obligations concerning the
supervision of hunting and compliance with specific
hunting bans which they themselves enact ?

3 . What stage has been reached in proceedings under

Article 169 against Greece for the above infringements
and will the Commission take steps to speed up these
proceedings ?

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

( 2 ) European Parliament debates No 3-383 ( November 1989 ).

( 3 ) OJ No C 209, 15 . 8 . 1992, p . 4 .

No C 296 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

1 . Greece has classified all its wetlands of international

importance, designated under the Ramsar Convention, as
special protection areas in accordance with Council
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild birds .
However, the Commission has not yet received details of the
demarcation of these areas .

The Commission is aware that management plans are
currently being drawn up which include protection
measures . Some have even been completed, though none has
yet entered into force or been notified to the
Commission .

Once they have been officially communicated, the
Commission reserves the right to assess their conformity
with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC .

2 . It is not for the Commission to put pressure on the
Greek authorities to recognize their obligations under
national law .

3 . The Commission is continuing to hold bilateral
discussions with the competent Greek authorities to make
sure that all the special protection areas are designated and
demarcated and that they are protected effectively in
compliance with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-560 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 30 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 08

Subject : Legality of the practice of ' mileage ' as a marketing

technique in air transport

The liberalization of passenger air fares is leading to
numerous attempts by airlines to take advantage of the new
situation without altering the customary rules under which
companies traditionally acknowledged that they should not
encroach on each other 's territory .

Following a number of attempts, which were more like
one-off gimmicks than marketing strategies based on the
new liberalization, some companies have announced the
introduction of special fares under the ' mileage ' system, by
which regular travellers may, in exchange for their loyalty to
an airline, receive a free ticket after flying so many
thousands of miles with the company in question .

This marketing strategy, known as ' mileage ' has aroused
protests from other airlines which believe that giving free

tickets to travellers who have clocked up a sufficient number
of miles amounts to unfair competition and a distortion of
real fares .

Could the Commission arbitrate on the practice of air
' mileage ' as a type of air fare liberalization, by indicating
whether or not this marketing practice is legal ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

In the last two years Community airlines have been
introducing their own ' frequent flyer programmes ', spurred
on by the action of US airlines in extending such schemes to
the Community market . Although ' air miles ' are a form of
price competition, however, they cannot be considered a
result of the liberalization of Community airfares on

1 January 1993 .

The Commission is currently considering the compatibility
of frequent flyer programmes with the single market in civil
aviation, with particular reference to competition rules . The
Commission 's main concern is that programmes run by
established airlines with extensive route networks may
distort competition to the detriment of new market entrants .
Consideration is being given to the possibility of published a
notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities
setting out the restrictions imposed on such programmes
inter alia by Article 86 of the EEC Treaty prohibiting abuse
of a dominant position . Another possibility would be a
Community code of conduct laying down guidelines for the
use of frequent flyer programmes generally . The
Commission is considering what approach to adopt .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-606 / 93

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 09 )

Subject : Phone-tapping

What regulatory controls exist in Member States to limit
phone-tapping and other surveillance devices within the
telecommunication systems of Member States ? Is the Single
Market of 1993 relevant to this area ?

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 7

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 ) ( 22 September 1993 )

The areas of phone-tapping and surveillance of
communications within telecommunications systems by
national authorities are regulated exclusively by the
Member States . As by virtue of the EEC Treaty the Member
States continue to be, in principle, free to determine the
requirements of public policy in the light of their national
needs, the Commission does not dispose of the information
on the relevant legislation existing in the Member States .

However, the issues of protection of personal data and
privacy in telecommunications networks are relevant to the
creation of a Single Market for telecommunications services .
In this respect the Commission has submitted a proposal for
a Council Directive concerning the protection of personal
data and privacy in the context of public digital
telecommunications networks, in particular the integrated
services digital network ( ISDN ) and public digital mobile
networks ( ! ) which is currently re-examined in conformity
with the conclusions of the European Council of Edinburgh
of last December .

O COM(9Q ) 314 final ; OJ No C 277, 5 . 11 . 1992 .

Crete has benefited from a series of schemes involving the
use of water resources in the context of the IMP ( Integrated
Mediterranean Programme ) for Crete and the national
programme on agricultural structures .

More particularly, a number of projects such as reservoirs
and dams are in progress under the above national
programme in the prefectures of Iraklion and Lasithi .

In addition, a study on the integrated management of water
resources in eastern Crete is being financed under the
regional programme for Crete .

Although there is no requirement in the existing Community
legislation on the environment calling for such a
programme, Greece has given priority to the use of water
resources within the framework of the new cohesion

financial instrument .

None of the formal applications so far concerns Crete .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-936 / 93

by Enrico Falqui ( V )

to the Commission

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 11 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-836 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 21 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 10 )

Subject : Exploitation of water resources in Crete

Many regions in Crete, and in particular the Prefectures of
Iraklion and Lasithi, face an acute water shortage . However,
Crete is in a position to meet its water supply needs since, as
experts have pointed out, the island has abundant water
resources ( notably rainwater estimated at over 7 billion
cubic metres a year ), although it currently lacks dams and
reservoirs to contain and store this water . Can the

Commission say whether the Greek Government has
submitted for approval a programme for the effective
exploitation of the water resources of the Island of Crete,
and, in particular, of the Prefectures of Iraklion and
Lisithi ?

Subject : Financing of a transport interchange in central

Tuscany within the Community Support
Framework for Tuscany ( Objective 2 of the
Structural Funds )

Amendments have been made to the Tuscany CSF for

1989 — 1993 ( originally approved for Objective 2 of the
Structural Funds ) which, excluding the initiatives for
financing the Guasticce transport interchange, the ZIA road
network, the Strada dei Marmi, the Prato primary aqueduct
and the Navicelli canal, have enabled resources to be carried
over which have been used to construct the first stage of the
Prato transport interchange . To enable the second stage to
be built the Tuscany Region intends to ask the Community
for a further tranche of funding under the same Community
Support Framework by the end of this year .

Did the Commission ask for an environmental impact
assessment study to be carried out as a precondition for the
granting of resources for the first stage of the project ( which
falls within the category of ' infrastructure projects — urban

No C 296 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

development projects ' in Annex II of Directive
85 / 337 / EEC (*) and, as regards the possible Community
financing of the second stage of the project, are negotiations
already under way with the Tuscany Region ?

Is it correct that it is possible to calculate that the distortion
between wage bills including social security contributions,
in the UK, compared with those in Belgium is 47 % ?

0 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .
Are there are any provisions or mechanisms in the Treaties
which enable such disparities between wage bills to be
reduced ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

The first instalment of the ' Interporto di Prato ' project was
financed by the ERDF under the 1989 — 1991 Objective 2
operational programme for Tuscany, in full conformity with
the Community support framework adopted on
20 December 1989 .

The Commission would point out that, under Directive

85 / 337 / EEC, it is up to the Member States to decide if the
characteristics of a project such as that undertaken at Prato
require an environmental impact assessment .

Nevertheless, the Commission checked with the Italian
authorities that work had been completed to avoid possible
negative effects on the environment, in particular the water
table .

With regard to financing the second instalment, the project
in question has not yet been submitted to the monitoring
committee for examination .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-984 / 93

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 12 )

Subject : Discrepancies between wage bills in the European

Community

Does the Commission agree that ' pockets ' of social dumping
are developing in the European Community which are likely
to have wide-ranging economic and social repercussions in
certain regions as a result of companies relocating their
registered offices or places of business ?

If so, does the Commission think that the development of
these ' pockets ' is closely related to discrepancies between
wage bills within the European Community and that these
may be exacerbated following the devaluation of certain
European currencies ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

The minimum standard social measures already introduced
by the Community and those currently proposed by the
Commission in application of the principles and objectives
laid down in the charter of the fundamental social rights of
workers are a means of ensuring that unfair competitive
advantage is not gained by regions or Member States seeking
to lower social standards .

As regards the specific issue of labour costs, including
non-wage labour costs, it is broadly the case that differences
in costs are off-set by differences in productivity . In 1992,
while wage costs in the UK ( nominal compensation per
employee ) were only 69,5 % of the equivalent Belgian level,
GDP per person employed ( productivity ) in the UK was also
only 70 % of the Belgian level . Thus labour costs per unit of
production are broadly evened out between Member States,
and the existence of lower wages in one part of the
Community is not, therefore, necessarily a reason to expect
companies to displace production units to those areas, or to
set up new businesses there .

Wage trends are clearly not the only factor influencing the
relative competitiveness of Member States . Exchange rate
developments also play a key role, at least in the short run,
and can create trade and production distortions . Therefore
the Commission has been monitoring exchange rate
movements in the Community, which have their origins in a
large number of factors, including an inadequate policy mix
and non-synchronized cyclical developments in the
Community . The present currency difficulties must be
addressed by a coordinated rebalancing of the policy mix in
the Community, for which Article 103 of the Treaty on
European Union provides a legal basis .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 119 / 93 4 . What steps, if any, will the Commission be taking ?

by Florus Wiisenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission (!) OJ No C 209, 15 . 8 . 1992, p . 22 .

( 29 April 1993 )

94 / C 296 / 13 )

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission
Subject : Traffic law in Italy

( 27 July 1993 )
Is the Commission aware of the new traffic law in Italy that
entered into force at the beginning of the year ?

Does not the Commission feel that this law causes

discrimnation, insofar as non-residents of that Member
State must pay the exorbitant fines provided for in that law
in cash, while Italians are not required to do so ?

Does not the Commission also feel that the confiscation of

driving licences and vehicle registration certificates
represents a lighter punishment for Italians, since they can
retrieve them more easily on the spot than non-residents of
the State in question ?

Does the Commission intend to intervene ?

If so, how will it do so ?

If not, why not ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

The Commission is examining the provision of the new
Italian road traffic legislation dealing with penalties for
infringements in order to determine whether they are
compatible with Community law .

The Honourable Member will be informed as soon as

possible of the findings of that examination .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 156 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 14 )

Subject : Lorry drivers ' rest periods

In its answer to my Written Question No 2799 / 91 ( 1 ) the
Commission reports that it has decided to bring the matter
before the Court of Justice .

1 . Has it now done so ?

2 . What is the present situation ?

3 . What conclusions does the Commission draw from this

position ?

In 1991 the Commission decided to bring proceedings
against Belgium before the Court of Justice for failing to
transpose Council Directive No 88 / 599 of 23 November

1988 on standard checking procedures for the
implementation of Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 on the
harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road
transport and Regulation ( EEC ) No 3821 / 85 on recording
equipment in road transport . Then in 1992 it suspended
proceedings, since Belgium had submitted a draft royal
decree to implement the Directive .

However, upon examination of this draft it transpired that it
did not adequately provide for the full application of the
Directive . Moreover, further work remained to be done on
the draft, and amendments were to be introduced, and the
Commission has still not received the definitive version .

Bearing in mind the time that Belgium has already been
allowed to implement the Directive, the Commission
therefore decided to proceed with the matter, and the case
was submitted to the Court of Justice on 28 June 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 166 / 93

by Margaret Daly ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 15

Subject : Council Directive on health problems affecting

intra-Community trade in fresh meat

1 . What is meant in each Member State by the term
' veterinarian ' in Directive 64 / 433 / EEC ( l ) ( as amended )?

2 . What qualifications and experience are required to
comply with the term ' veterinarian ' in each Member
State ?

3 . Who pays the fees for these veterinarians in each
Member State ?

4 . Can these fees be reimbursed by the government or by
other organizations ?

5 . Was a cost impact evaluation carried out by the
Standing Veterinary Committee when it produced the ' Vade

No C 296 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Mecum Fresh Meat ' issues in December 1992 ( No VI / III / 92
EN Rev. 2 )? If so, what were the results ?

6 . Will the Commission confirm its willingness to
re-examine these Directives with a view to reducing
unnecessary bureaucracy and expense on slaughterhouse
owners, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises ?

(!) OJ No L 121, 29 . 7 . 1964, p . 2012 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1993 )

1 . An official veterinarian, as mentioned in Directive
64 / 433 / EEC ( as amended ), is a veterinarian designated by
the competent authority of a Member State to carry out the
official tasks laid down in the Directive .

2 . An official veterinarian must have the qualifications of
a veterinarian according to Council Directives
78 / 1026 / EEC 0 and 78 / 1027 / EEC .

3 and 4 . Concerning the financing of veterinary
inspections and health controls of fresh meat, Community
rules have been adopted by Council Directives
85 / 73 / EEC ( 2 ) and 88 / 408 / EEC ( 3 ). As a result, Member
States must ensure that fees are collected for the costs

occasioned by health inspections and controls . In
accordance with Article 6 of Directive 88 / 408 / EEC the fees

shall be payable by the natural or legal person who has the
slaughtering, cutting or storage operation carried out . Any
direct or indirect refund is prohibited in accordance with the
third indent of Article 1 of Directive 85 / 73 / EEC .

5 . Council Directive 64 / 433 / EEC of 26 June 1964 on
health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh
meat ( as amended ) is designed to establish uniform health
protection arrangements for meat in establishments
handling fresh meat .

In order to ensure uniform application of the provisions of
the Directive veterinary experts from the Commission are
required to make on-site checks in cooperation with the
national authorities . The Commission is required to draw
up a recommendation concerning the rules to be followed in
carrying out these checks . The document referred to by the
Honourable Member is an internal document which is still

subject to study . Although the abovementioned Directive is
drawn up with regard to hygiene, the Standing Veterinary
Committee when consulted will no doubt consider the

question of the most cost effective use of resources .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 176 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 16 )

Subject : Declaration of European Interest

In COM(92 ) 15 final, the Commission brought forward a
proposal to introduce a Declaration of European Interest .
The DEI will play an important role in facilitating private
co-funding of projects in connection with the financing of
trans-European networks .

Parliament welcomed this initiative and approved it in the
Porto report . The DEI proposal was placed on the agenda of
the Internal Market Council on one occasion but, as far as I
understand, nothing further has been heard of it since .

1 . What exactly happened to the DEI proposal during and

after the Internal Market Council ?

2 . Can the Commission comment on the position ?

3 . What further action does the Commission intend to take

on the DEI proposal ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1993 )

The Council postponed discussion of the three proposals for
Regulations on the Declaration of European Interest
pending Parliament 's opinion . Parliament delivered its
opinion on 20 November 1992, but the Presidency has not
so far entered this item on the agenda for a Council meeting

( internal market ).

question most cost use resources . The Commission, for its part, adopted on 16 April this year

amended versions of the three proposals incorporating

6 . The Commission does intend to review the Directives those amendments proposed by Parliament and the
concerned in the near future . Economic and Social Committee which the Commission,

during the debate in Parliament in November 1992,
t 1 ) OJ No L 362, 23 . 12 . 1978 . indicated that it could accept .
( 2 ) OJ No L 32, 5 . 2 . 1985 .

6 . The Commission does intend to review the Directives

concerned in the near future .

( 3 ) OJ No L 194, 22 . 7 . 1988 .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 11

QUESTION E-1206 / 93 quotas, opened by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1272 / 93 . This

Neil Blaney ( ARC ) re-examination did not result in any modification of the

to the Commission provisions laid down in the said Regulation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1206 / 93

by Neil Blaney ( ARC )

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 17 )

Subject : Fish import quotas

In view of the pressures on the market from fish imports
from non-member countries, and the resultant hardship for
Community fishermen, will the Commission consider
suspending the ' autonomous ' import quotas due to take
effect in April 1993 ?

t 1 ) OJ No L 347, 28 . 11 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 131, 28 . 5 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236 / 93

by Bouke Beumer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 18 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The Council adopted on 23 November 1992 certain
autonomous tariff measures for fishery products . The EEA
agreement was at that time foreseen to enter into force on
1 January 1993, and these tariff concessions were explicitly
meant as supplementary measures to the EEA Agreement,
partly covering products falling outside the EEA, partly
additional quantities needed for Community processors .

These tariff measures were :

— from 1 January 1993 tariff suspensions for frozen fillets

of hake and Alaska pollack ( Regulation ( EEC )
No 3413 / 92 (!));

— from 1 April 1993 tariff quotas for surimi, shrimps and

fresh / frozen cod, hake and Alaska pollack ( Regulation

( EEC ) No 3412 / 92 ).

Due to the outcome of the Swiss referendum, the entry into
force of the EEA has been significantly delayed .

The need for supplementary and guaranteed raw material
supplies to the Community processing industry has
therefore been accentuated, so far, as concerns the products
supposed to be included in the EEA Agreement . As a result,
the Council adopted Regulation ( EEC ) No 1272 / 93 ( 2 )
providing the following additional tariff measures :

— from 3 1 May 1993 tariff quotas for certain salted and / or

dried presentations of whitefish, and

— from 1 July 1993 tariff quotas for fre$h / frozen cod and

coalfish .

As a consequence of the difficult market situation the
Commission — on the request of the Council —
re-examined, during the month of September, the tariff

Subject : Transferring money to another Member State

In March 1992 the European Bureau of Consumers ' Unions

( EBCU ) carried out 160 transactions in 22 banks in 11
Member States . In each case some ECU 150 was transferred

to a bank in another Member State . Of the 160 sums of

money transferred, three disappeared without trace .
Stranger still, the banks concerned were unable or unwilling
to issue a statement about the disappearance of the sums in
question, and refused to provide any compensation .

Moreover, the costs of transferring money to a bank in
another Member State were exorbitant — approximately
15 % of the sum transferred . The results of this survey were
published and submitted to the Commission in the autumn
of 1992 .

1 . Can the Commission confirm that it recommended the

banks back in 1990 to provide clients with better
information about the costs of transferring money to
banks in another Member State, but that the EBCU 's
survey has shown that the banks have paid little or no
attention to this request ?

2 . Can Commissioner Van Miert confirm his response to
the EBCU 's report, and particularly to cost-related
aspects (' Unless rapid progress is made, the Commission
will have to resort to binding rules to protect the
consumer 's interests ')? Can the Commission say
whether such binding rules will be adopted in the near
future ?

3 . Can the Commission say whether the banks have now
made better arrangements to inform clients about the
costs of transferring money to other Member States and
reduced costs to a more acceptable level ?

4 . Can the Commission indicate what measures it has

taken to ensure that transactions are carried out with

greater care, so that money transfers cannot disappear
without trace in future ?

No C 296 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1257 / 93

on behalf of the Commission

by Jessica Larive ( ELDR )
(2 September 1993 ) to the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 19 )

In September 1990, the Commission drew up its first general
document on methods of payment ( 1 ). In March 1992, it
announced its work programme, one aspect of which was
improving money transfers .

In 1988, the European Bureau of Consumers ' Unions

( EBCU ) carried out a transfer experiment involving 144
transactions . The results of that study constituted one of the
factors prompting the Commission, in February 1990, to
issue a recommendation on the subject . Early in 1992, the
EBCU repeated the experiment, this time examining 160
transactions . The main conclusion was that the situation

had not improved, particularly regarding the cost of
transactions .

Following publication of the results of the study, the
Commission decided to repeat the operation on a larger
scale, examining some thousand transfers . The results of
this study will be known in October 1993 . In its working
document ' on a strategic programme on the internal
market ' ( 2 ), the Commission re-issued its warning, stating
that if no progress had been made, it would draw the
necessary conclusions, where appropriate in terms of
legislative action .

In the course of work by the Payment System Users Liaison
Group, the banks put forward guidelines which were
accepted by the Commission and set down in the latter 's
communication of March 1992 ( 3 ). Various information
documents were published by the banking
establishments .

The banking establishments are progressively setting up
various new networks or linking existing ones for greater
efficiency . By this means, the problems described,
particularly those in connection with non-receipt of
transfers by the payee, should be resolved . The Commission
would, however, urge Member States to set up an
ombudsman-type claims settlement system for cross-border
operations . Such a system now exists in eleven Member
States .

( J ) Making payments in the internal market — CC)M(90 ) 447 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 256 .

( 3 ) Easier cross-border payments : breaking down the barriers —

SEC(92 ) 621 .

Subject : Labelling and policy on the elderly

Does the Commission agree

— having regard to the Council resolution of 2 March 1993

calling on the Commission to consider future measures
relating to labelling,

— and in the context of the European Year of the Elderly

and Solidarity between the Generations,

that particular attention must also be given to the specific
wishes of older consumers — such as print size — which
have not been taken into consideration hitherto in drawing
up labelling laws at EC level ?

If so, what does the Commission intend to do about
this ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 July 1993 )

The Commission shares the view that the needs of older

consumers, as well as those of other categories of ' weaker '
consumers, must be taken into account in product labelling .
This view will guide the conduct of the study requested by
the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1264 / 93
by Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 20 )

Subject : Promotion of the theatre and music in the

Community

Last year, the European Parliament created a new item for
the 1993 budget, namely Item B3-2002 on promotion of the
theatre and music in the Community, which was given a

p.m . entry .

Much of the legal basis laid down in the remarks pertaining
to this item and many of the measures in question are
already provided for in the remarks relating to the general

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 13

item B3-2001 on measures to encourage cultural initiatives
in connection with European influence .

Does the Commission not agree that, for the purposes of
better management and clarification of Community action
in the cultural sphere, it would be much better to provide
funding for this new item for the next budgetary year and
incorporate the measures already being implemented in the
sphere of theatre nd music under Item B3-2001 into the new
Item B3-2002 ?

Does the Commission therefore intend to earmark funds

under its 1994 preliminary draft budget for this item ?

Does the Commission already have an idea of the amount of
funding to be provided this year for measures to promote
music and the theatre in the Community under Item
B3-2001 ? If it does not yet know, can it state what funding
was provided for the 1992 financial year ?

press release of 4 June 1993 ) ( ). Action 2 ( artistic and
cultural creation ) and Action 3 ( cooperation through
networks ) of the Kaleidoscope Programme also received
support ( 17 of the 42 live theatre projects short-listed ).

If these subsidies are combined with financial contributions

to the two orchestras, it will be seen that more than 50 % of
the appropriations in Item B3-2001 went directly to music
and the theatre . Furthermore, grants to Madrid ( European
City of Culture in 1992 ), Antwerp ( European City of
Culture in 1993 ) and the European Festival organized by the
British Presidency in the first half of 1 992 reached music and
the theatre indirectly thanks to their inclusion in the
programme of events .

does not yet know, can it state what funding The Commission is actively contemplating a larger budget
the 1992 financial year ? to promote music and the theatre . It must not be forgotten,

however, that it needs to establish clear priorities for
cultural action given its limited competences and to develop
a coherent approach to all areas of a vast field given the
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro limited financial and human resources at its disposal .

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

Community cultural action has developed in response to
resolutions adopted by the Council and Parliament .

From its first resolution adopted on 27 May 1988 (*) to the
latest adopted on 12 November 1992 ( 2 ), the Council has
limited Community cultural action by setting priority
objectives . Since 1988 these have been the audio-visual
media, books and reading, culture-related training schemes
and business sponsorship .

In its communication on ' New prospects for Community
cultural action ' ( 3 ) the Commission proposed its extension
into other areas, including music and the theatre ( p. 9 ). The
Council did not take up this suggestion in its November
1992 resolution, preferring to stick to existing objectives
and explicitly adding the cultural heritage ( both movable
and fixed ), already covered by the Commission on the basis
of various Parliament resolutions ( 4 ) and Council
resolutions ( 5 ).

The Commission has, however, supported a number of
musical and theatrical ventures under the Kaleidoscope
Programme, which promotes cultural events with a
European dimension . Also worth mentioning are the
subsidies granted to the European Community Youth
Orchestra and the European Baroque Orchestra, both of
which appear in the Remarks to Item B3-2001 .

In 1992, under Action 1 ( cultural events ) of the
Kaleidoscope Programme, the Commission supported 52
ventures in the drama, music and dance categories of a total
of 126 appearing on a shortlist ( see press release of 24 July

1992 ) ( 6 ). In 1993 it supported 61 ventures in the same
categories of a total of 93 on the shortlist for that year ( see

H OJ No C 197, 27 . 7 . 1988 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 336, 19 . 12 . 1992 .

( 3 ) COM(92 ) 149 final .

( 4 ) OJ No C 62, 30 . 5 . 1 974 ; OJ No C 267, 1 1 . 1 0 . 1 982 and OJ No

C 320, 13 . 12 . 1986 .

( 5 ) OJ No C 320, 13 . 12 . 1986 .

( 6 ) IP(92 ) 614 .

( 7 ) IP(93 ) 438 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1347 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 21 )

Subject : Policy to prevent AIDS in children

According to WHO estimates, the number of children with
the AIDS virus is expected to reach 12 million by the end of
the decade . This data was provided by the International
Union of Family Organizations, a UN advisory body, which
adds that preventive policies must be devised, even in the
' developed ' countries . Contamination of children by the

No C 296 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

virus mainly occurs at present through infection from
HIV-positive mothers in the womb, during the birth and
possibly through breast feeding .

Can the Commission call for a more stringent preventive
policy to protect children from the virus in the Member
States and for more resources to be set aside for this

purpose ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Very early on, the European Court of Justice had to deal
with cases in which the opportunity to provide services was
hampered by residence requirements . It invariably ruled
against such requirements on the ground that they
constituted unjustified restrictions on freedom to provide
services within the meaning of Article 59 of the EC
Treaty ( J ).

(*) Case 33 / 74 Van Binsbergen [ 1974 ] ECR 1299, Paragraphs

10—16 ; Case 39 / 75 Coenen [ 19751 ECR 1547 .

(8 November 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1401 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

The Commission is well aware of the increasing number of
children being infected with HIV and of the severe problems
this is posing for them, their families and society .

It is for each Member State to decide what priority and what
resources to allocate to this issue .

For its part, the Commission intends to put a specific
emphasis on the issue of HIV and children in its proposals
for the continuation of actions under the ' Europe against
AIDS ' programme in 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1387 / 93

by Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 22 )

Subject : Admission to the weekly market in Strasbourg 

1 . Is the Commission aware that German farmers from

the border area of Baden are being refused access to the
Strasbourg weekly market on the grounds that their
principal place of residence is not in France ?

2 . Does the Commission not agree that this runs counter
to the provisions of the EC Treaty on the free movement of
goods ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 23

Subject : Reprocessing

1 . Which substances — apart from uranium and
plutonium — can genuinely be extracted through
reprocessing and utilized ?

2 . What quantities of these substances have been
extracted from spent fuel elements since 1984 arid to what
use have they been put ?

3 . What measures can be taken to ensure that highly
radioactive material from reprocessing plants returned to
the countries of origin

( a ) corresponds precisely to the material originally
delivered, and

( b ) is so conditioned as to meet the requirements of a
German permanent storage site ?

4 . Does the Commission support the call by the author of
this question for reprocessing to be abandoned
immediately ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

1 . No substances apart from uranium and plutonium are
extracted from irradiated nuclear fuels .

Actinides other than uranium and plutonium could be
extracted should this be shown to be necessary .

(3 December 1993 ) 2 . None .

1 . The Commission is unaware of the state of affairs

described by the Honourable Member .

2 . In the Commission 's opinion, farmers from other
Member States may be discriminated against by virtue of a
residence requirement if they do not at all times satisfy that
requirement .

3 . Systems exist for the allocation of highly radioactive
products covered by reprocessing contracts to ensure that
the material returned to the country of origin corresponds in
quantity and quality to the fuels which were delivered and
processed .

The specifications concerning the conditioning of
radioactive waste drawn up jointly by the sectors concerned

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 15

must be approved by the safety authorities in the country of
origin . By giving their approval, the authorities confirm that
the specifications meet the requirements for the storage of
such waste in their country .

4 . As long as the Commission is satisfied that all
reprocessing activities are and continue to be carried out in
accordance with the provisions of the Euratom Treaty, it
cannot echo the call made by the Honourable Member for
an end to the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1450 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 24 )

Subject : Bergamot

Given that bergamot is an essential ingredient in the
manufacture of perfumes and medicines and must be
protected as part of environment conservation measures
and that, to date, no support has been provided for its
cultivation in the Community, will the Commission call for
measures to protect and promote its production ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

Since bergamot is fruit, it is covered by Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 on the common organization of the
market in fruit and vegetables ( J ). It is therefore eligible, in
particular, for measures such as those to encourage the
creation of producers ' organizations with a view to
improving the conditions in which products are produced
and marketed .

Moreover, as regards the processing of the basic product
into essential oil, bergamot can also benefit from measures
under Regulation ( EEC ) No 866 / 90 on improving the
processing and marketing conditions for agricultural
products ( 2 ).

Imports are relatively low and there is therefore little risk of
a disturbance of the Community market .

In view of the specific structural characteristics of this crop
and the general measures already implemented, the

Commission does not consider it appropriate to introduce
further measures .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 91, 6 . 4 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1506 / 93

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 25 )

Subject : Abduction of Albanian children for the purposes

of organ trafficking

According to information given to the French press agency,
AFP, by a senior police official from Tirana ( Albania ), more
than 80, mainly handicapped, children were abducted last
year by organized gangs in Albania and sold to transplant
clinics in Italy and Greece .

Although it has proved difficult in the past to prove that
children have been abducted for the purposes of removing
their organs for transplant purposes, is the Commission
nevertheless prepared, in collaboration with the competent
authorities in the countries concerned, to take suitable
action to clarify matters ?

In view of this illegal trafficking of transplants and / or
donors in and to the European Community, is the
Commission considering the introduction of complaints
offices in order to clarify the dimensions of the problem,
facilitate criminal proceedings and assist victims ?

If not, what other steps is the Commission considering and
can it inform me whether it has taken a decision ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

The Commission is unaware of the circumstances to which

the Honourable Member refers . The criminal law under

which organ traffickers would be prosecuted is in any case a
matter for the Member States . Cooperation between the
police forces and judiciaries of Member States and
non-member countries is subject to agreement between
them . For these reasons, the Commission is unable to take
the measures suggested by the Honourable Member .

The right to life and the integrity of the person is an
inalienable human right . Albania has undertaken, notably
as a participant in the CSCE, to respect and promote human

No C 296 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

rights . It has ratified the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child, Article 19 of which stipulates that

' States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative,
administrative, social and educational measures to protect
the child from all forms of physical or mental violence,
injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment,
maltreatment or exploitation . .

The Commission, which pays particular attention to the
plight of abandoned and mistreated children in Albania and
elsewhere, is backing a number of projects being carried out
by specialized NGOs, among them the opening in Tirana of
a children 's centre offering temporary shelter and basic

care .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1591 / 93

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 26

Subject : Advisory document on trade communication

within the European Community

At a public hearing on ' Consumers, Advertising and the
Internal Market ' held by the European Parliament 's
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and
Consumer Protection on 25 November 1992, a Commission
representative stated that the Commission was going to
draw up an advisory document on trade communication
within the Community .

1 . Is this document already available ?

2 . What is the Commission 's aim in publishing such a

document ? Is it to increase the transparency of
Community policy on advertising by defining the
guiding principles, or is it to establish an overview of the
various national situations in order to assess with the

professionals concerned the advisability of a more or
less binding Community policy ?

— the role of commercial communication in all of its forms

within the Internal Market .

— the regulatory framework ( including self-regulation )
encompassing this activity within the Member States
and the Community .

This review will allow for the four primary objectives of the

Green paper to be met :

( a ) to improve transparency of European policy-making in
this area by establishing a well defined contact point for
the Commercial Communication sectors within the

Commission .

( b ) to ensure that policy in this area is coordinated within

the Commission in the most effective manner by
formulating some substantive guide-lines that ensure
that the guiding principles on which Community action
is based are applied in a rigorous manner for all existing
and future initiatives in this field . These guide-lines
together with the contact point will help to improve
transparency of the Community 's policy making in this
field as suggested by the Honourable Member .

( c ) to establish a market monitoring procedure that will
allow for a policy approach that is pre-emptive rather
than retro-active in nature .

( d ) to identify to what extent, if at all, there exist

restrictions on the free circulation of such services

within the Internal Market . If such restrictions become

evident then the Commission will consider how best to

remove them .

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that
practitioners ' views should be taken into account in this
initiative . Indeed it has started a fact-finding procedure
consisting of two consultative initiatives .

First, in June 1993 the Commission took part in a series of
commercially funded seminars ( organized by Advertising
Seminars International ) where key issues were discussed
with senior decision makers from industry, with
parliamentarians and with consumer representatives .
Second, the Commission will shortly launch a survey of the
views of interested parties on the issue of commercial
communication within the Internal Market . After the Green

paper has been circulated European federations will be
invited to attend and comment on the findings at a
hearing .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611 / 93

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1993 )

The Green Paper on Commercial Communication in the
Internal Market announced by the Commission in the
Parliamentary hearing to which the question refers is
currently under preparation . It will consist of a review
of :

to the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 27 )

Subject : EC research on Neurofibromatosis

Is the Commission assisting in research on the genetic
disorder Neurofibromatosis and if so, how are they assisting

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 17

in the research and assistance for those suffering from this
disease ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

1 . What initiatives has the Commission since taken ?

2 . What were the results ?

(!) OJ No C 94, 13 . 4 . 1992, p . 272 .

( 10 November 1993 ) Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Under the Third Framework Programme ( 1990 — 1994 ) and ( 29 November 1993 )
in particular under the Biomedical and Health Research
Programme ( 1990 — 1994 ) adopted on 9 September 1991
research projects into neurofibromatosis have so far not The dumping of munitions ( toxic
been funded . Following a second call for proposals (*) the dating from World War II in the Baltic
selection of projects under the Biomedical and Health with under Community law .
Research Programme is currently taking place . The
Commission will inform the Honourable Member of any The Commission considers that it is
selected research project into Neurofibromatosis, especially concerned to provide the information
aimed at providing assistance for those suffering from such nature and quantities of munitions and
disease . where this is known .

The dumping of munitions ( toxic gases and explosives )
dating from World War II in the Baltic Sea cannot be dealt
with under Community law .

The Commission considers that it is for the authorities

concerned to provide the information sought as to the
nature and quantities of munitions and their exact location,
where this is known .

f 1 ) OJ No C 324, 10 . 12 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1681 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 28 )

Subject : Risk of a disaster in the Baltic and the North

Sea

On 12 March 1992, the European Parliament adopted an
urgent resolution ( Rule 64 ) on the dumping of
massive-quantities of armaments ( toxic gases and
explosives ) in the Baltic and the North Sea ( 1 ).

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to Written Questions No 923 / 89 (*) and 429 / 90 ( 2 )
from Mr Muntingh on the same subject . In its opinion, the
drawing up of an inventory of the sites where munitions
were dumped should be a task for the international
convention in this field, whether of general or regional
application, such as the London and Oslo Conventions on
dumping at sea .

It would stress that the dumping of chemical weapons at sea
was raised at the 10th, 11th and 16th meetings of the Oslo
Commission .

At the first meeting of the ad hoc working party on the
dumping of chemical weapons at sea held in St Petersburg
from 19 to 21 April 1993 under the Helsinki Convention,
the various participants made it clear that they were unable
to instigate research into the matter . A further meeting is
planned to discuss other points in more detail . There is a
possibility of proposals being submitted at the next meeting
of the Helsinki Commission .

This resolution : f 1 ) OJ No C 139, 7 . 6 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 325, 24 . 12 . 1990 .

— Calls for the authorities concerned to cooperate in

charting where, and in what quantities, these munitions
had been dumped ;

— Calls on the German authorities to conduct an in-depth

study to reconstruct the precise details of the operation
which led to the dumping of arms and to conduct a study
of possible ways of recovering the chemical products
without any further damage to man or the
environment ;

— Calls for all weaponry to be removed from Community

waters as soon as possible pending its total
destruction ;

— Calls for a thorough report on possible ways of

disposing of the munitions ;

— Urges the Commission, the Council and the Member

States to act without delay .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1554 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 16 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 29 )

Subject : Wild birds

What studies have been ( a ) undertaken and ( b )
commissioned into the extent of killing wild birds in Malta,
and its compatibility with EC and international
conventions, prior to consideration of Malta 's application
to join the European Community ?

No C 296 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1743 / 93

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 30

Subject : Shooting wild birds for sport on Malta

Has the Commission made representations to Malta in
objection to the widespread practice there of shooting wild
birds in the name of sport ? If not, will the matter be raised in
future discussions on their application for EC
membership ?

quantities of milk ( in liquid and powder form ) on the Italian
and French markets, evading tax in the process ?

2 . What were the findings of the investigations recently
called for to tackle this still-unresolved problem ?

3 . Does not the Commission believe that a committee of

inquiry should be set up to ascertain the facts of the case and
check on the efficiency of the Netherlands Government 's
supervisory bodies ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1554 / 93 Answer given by Mr Steichen

and E-1743 / 93 on behalf of the Commission

and E-1743 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 January 1994 )

The Commission 's opinion on Malta 's application to join
the Community, as adopted by the Council on 4 October

1993, explicitly refers to the concerns about bird hunting in
Malta .

In this connection, the following paragraph from the
abovementioned opinion should answer the Honourable
Members ' question :

' However, unsustainable bird hunting in Malta is an
issue of particular importance . Even though the Maltese
authorities have enacted regulations to control bird
hunting more strictly, these are not sufficient to comply
with Community legislation . Considerable efforts will
therefore have to be made by the Maltese authorities to
implement Community provisions and they should give
the Community clear undertakings on this .'

The Commission has no powers to carry out research and
studies of the kind mentioned in the Honourable Members '

question in a non-Community country . Nevertheless, the
Maltese Government recently asked the Commission for
support with definition and formulation of its environment
strategy . In this context, the Commission has expressly
requested the Maltese authorities to take account of bird
hunting and give an undertaking to implement the measures
necessary to remedy this problem .

( 13 October 1993 )

1 . In the course of the mission carried out in connection

with the clearance of the accounts for 1990 the Commission

revealed the existence of middle-men who export in
particular quantities of milk which are not taken into
account under the milk quota system .

2 . These findings gave rise to procedures for the recovery
of the amounts corresponding to the additional levies owed,
and the Dutch authorities introduced a procedure for
registering recognized purchasers .

3 . The Commission is at present carrying out an
investigation concerning the booking of milk products in
intra-Community trade under CN heading 0401 . A mission
in the Netherlands is planned .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1767 / 93

by Lord Inglewood ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 32 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 766 / 93

by Nino Pisoni ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 31

Subject : Unlawful marketing of milk

1 . Is the Commission aware that certain Dutch milk

producers ' cooperatives are unlawfully disposing of large

Subject : Valuation of farm livestock for income tax

purposes

Is the system for the valuation of farm livestock for income
tax purposes similar across the Community, and, if not,
what are the principal characteristics of each Member
State 's system ?

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 19

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1993 )

In principle, income tax is governed by national provisions
and the Commission does not plan to make proposals for
harmonizing livestock valuation methods .

For this reason, it has no information on the methods
applied by the Member States and is therefore unable to
provide the details requested by the Honourable
Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1787 / 93

by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 33 )

Subject : Discharge of red mud into the submarine canyon at

Cassis ( France )

Every year, 300 000 tonnes of mud produced by the
Pechiney aluminium plant are discharged into the sea .

Although the amount of mud discharged has fallen in recent
years, the question of the effects of this practice ( silting up,
cloudiness, contamination by heavy metals, etc .) still
remains .

Would the Commission say :

1 . whether it feels the continuation of this practice to be

compatible with fishing and protection of the
Mediterranean ?

2 . what alternatives to this practice currently exist around

the world, and whether such alternatives are more
satisfactory from the point of view of health and the
environment ?

3 . what storage facilities and techniques are used in other

Community countries, particularly Italy and
Germany ?

4 . whether some use could be made of this mud and, if so,
what ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

1 . The red sludge resulting from bauxite processing
normally contains only non-toxic natural minerals some of
which might be covered by List II of Directive
76 / 464 / EEC I 1 ) on pollution caused by certain dangerous
substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the
Community .

Under this Directive, Member States are responsible for
fixing limit values and quality objectives for the discharges
in question .

Provided that these parameters have been fixed in advance
by the competent French authorities, the Commission does
not consider that the discharges in question infringe
Community legislation in this area .

The Commission is not aware of any scientific data
indicating that these discharges are incompatible with
fishing in the Mediterranean .

2 . The only alternatives are burial or ensilage after
desiccation and immobilization or processing into inert
materials .

3 . The Commission has no information about the

various storage techniques used by individual countries . The
most frequent techniques are storage in water-proof silos
and tipping .

4 . As this sludge is mineral in nature, no use can be made
of it, according to the information currently available to the
Commission .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 797 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 34

Subject : Parental leave

Does the Commission intend to revive and pursue the
Parental Leave Directive which has been lying on the
Council 's table for a decade ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

As indicated in the reply to Written Question No 1238 / 93

by Mr Deprez ( J ) the Commission 's proposal for a Directive
on parental leave and leave for family reasons was based on
Article 100 of the EC Treaty, which requires unanimity in
the Council for its adoption . The proposal was discussed
regularly in the Council from November 1983 until
December 1985 . After that time discussions were

suspended, as the necessary support for adoption of the
Directive was not forthcoming .

Council deliberations on the proposal were resumed under
the Belgian Presidency, and indeed, the Council ( Social
Affairs ) came close to agreement on it on 23 November .

No C 296 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Once again, however, the necessary unanimity was not
achieved . The Commission hopes that the matter can be
brought to a satisfactory conclusion under the forthcoming
Greek Presidency of the Council .

examined according to the rules applicable for the new
Structural Funds programming period commencing on
1 January 1994 .

( J ) OJ No L 91, 6 . 4 . 1990 .

(!) OJ No C 25, 28 . 1 . 1994 . ( 2 ) OJ No L 163, 29 . 6 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1884 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 866 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) to the Commission

to the Commission ( 15 July 1993 )

( 15 July 1993 ) ( 94 / C 296 / 36 )

( 94 / C 296 / 35 )

Subject : Effectiveness of vocational training programmes

Subject : Cheese dairies in Thrace

In view of the fact that there are many cheese dairies in
Thrace and in Greece as a whole, but that there is a shortage
of raw materials ( fresh sheep and goat 's milk ) making it
impossible for new enterprises to be set up, can the
Commission help to ensure the modernization of the viable
traditional cheese dairies in Thrace ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

The European Community is helping to run a wide range of
special vocational training programmes for the workforce in
the Greek regions of Achaia, Kozani, Lavrion in Attica,
Mandoudion in Evvia and Syros .

Can the Commission say whether statistics are available on
the economic and general social situation of these workers
today so that the effectiveness of vocational training
programmes held in similar circumstances can be
evaluated ?

( 20 December 1993 ) Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

The modernization of traditional cheese dairies in Greece

may be eligible for Community assistance under Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 866 / 90 of 29 March 1990 on
improving the processing and marketing conditions for
agricultural products ( J ), which establishes an investment
aid scheme for the processing of agricultural products .

The conditions under which such investments are eligible
for aid include the selection criteria laid down in

Commission Decision 90 / 342 / EEC ( 2 ).

The abovementioned Regulation provides that the aid
scheme is to be established in the first instance at national

level . It is therefore the responsibility of the Member State
concerned to examine individual cases .

However, the Commission regularly requests information
on the situation in the regions for which a Member State
proposes investment . This procedure allows the
Commission to obtain an overall view of each sector and

region ( including the milk and milk products sector ).

The Greek authorities ' new applications for part-financing
of investment projects relating to the processing and
marketing of agricultural and forestry products will be

The vocational training measures which have been
implemented in the regions mentioned by the Honourable
Member are funded by the ESF under the regional
operational programmes in application of the 1989 — 1993
Community Support Framework for Greece .

These programmes are designed to promote occupational
reintegration or self-employment for employees who have
been made redundant .

First reports indicate considerable interest on the part of
employees in the regions in question . For example, in the
regions of Mantoudi and Akhaia, the numbers of people
taking part in these measures were 2 404 and 1116
respectively .

The Commission does not yet have all the information it
needs to make an overall assessment of these measures .

When the current Community Support Framework has been
completed, the Commission should have all the figures it
needs to assess the quality of all these programmes .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 897 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 37 )

Subject : Support for saffron production

The saffron producers of Kozani have encountered
difficulties . What scope is there for Community support for
saffron production and the cooperative organization
promoting this valuable product ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 )

The Community does not grant aid to promote the
cultivation of crocuses for industrial use, i.e. for production
of dyes for clothing .

Although aware of the importance of this crop in Greece,
since it makes intensive use of local labour, the Commission
believes that the problem is less one of production than one
of cooperative marketing .

The Commission has received an application from the Irish
Cooperative Organization Society Ltd for part-financing of
a survey on the economic situation of cooperatives in Greece
under Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4256 / 88 (*). As
stated in its reply to the Honourable Member 's Written
Question No 1862 / 93 ( 2 ), the Commission is inclined to
accept this proposal .

renewal of rolling-stock and, in particular, the provision of
new intercity lines, small and flexible rail-cars for sub-urban
lines or lines between towns and an increase in the number

of locomotives .

What sort of proposals will the Commission put forward in
order to encourage greater use of the railways in the
Community ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The Honourable Member is correct that the Commission

has indicated its intention to assist in the development of an
efficient railway system in the Community . A full list of
means that the Commission is considering in the field of
railways may be found in Annex III of the Commission
proposals for ' The Future Development of the Common
Transport Policy ' ( ! ). In particular the Commission is
considering measures to assist in the construction and
modernization of the rail system, notably for high speed
trains and combined transport, in liberalizing the access to
the rail system to facilitate new entrants who will provide an
extended range of services and in research into new
technologies that can be applied to signaling systems, etc . All
these measures will be accompanied by proposals that seek
to ensure to maintain the railways ' existing reputation for
safety and will have a wide geographical scope to ensure that
all parts of the Community benefit from these actions .

(!) COM(92 ) 494 final .

(») OJ No L 374, 21 . 12 . 1988 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 268, 26 . 9 . 1994, p . 7 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-1916 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 39 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1906 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) Subject : Damage to trees in Greek cities

to the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 38 )

Subject : Support for rail transport

The EC has come down in favour of supporting rail
transport in an endeavour to improve environmental
protection, energy saving, comfort and safety compared
with road transport . An important factor for the
development of the railways is the modernization and

Every year the small plantations of trees ( pines ) in many
cities, at least in Greece, suffer great damage from attack by
caterpillars, under the indifferent eyes of the authorities . For
example, such disasters have befallen woodland on
Lykabettos in Athens, and in Patras . Arboriculturalists
maintain that these disasters could have been avoided if the
woods had been sprayed with the proper chemicals at the
right time . Will the Commission express its support for the
campaign by the inhabitants of Greek cities seeking to
ensure the survival of woodland in cities, and call on the
Greek authorities to take appropriate action to prevent such
disasters in future ?

No C 296 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1993 )

Since there is no Community legislation on the management
and maintenance of trees and shrubbery in urban areas, and
since this matter falls exclusively within the sphere of
competence of the Member States and their regional and
local authorities, the Commission is not in a position to
intervene directly to protect the areas referred to by the
Honourable Member .

Greece has adequately implemented :

— Directive 83 / 477 / EEC on the protection of workers

from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at
work,

— Directive 76 / 769 / EEC on the approximation of laws,

regulations and administrative provisions of Member
States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of
certain dangerous substances and preparations, as
amended by Commission Directive 91 / 659 / EEC ( a ) ( not
91 / 157 / EEC which relates to batteries ),

The Commission fully appreciates the importance, As appears from the tenth report on the control of
particularly in ecological and aesthetic terms, of trees and application of Community law ( 2 ) the Commission has
shrubbery in urban areas . They play an essential role in opened infringement proceedings against Greece for the
improving the urban environment, a matter in which the non-communication of national measures implementing
Commission takes a constant interest . With this in mind the Directives 90 / 394 / EEC and 91 / 382 / EEC .
Commission has drawn the attention of the Greek Minister

for Agriculture to the issues raised by the Honourable
Member . í ( 1 2 ) ) OJ OJ No No L L 363 233,, 31 30 . . 12 8 . 1993 . 1991 . .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1917 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1961 / 93

to the Commission by Barry Desmond ( PSE )

( IS July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 40 )

Subject : Implementation of Directives on asbestos by

Greece

Community Directives on asbestos are not being applied by
Greece . I refer in particularly to Directive 83 / 477 / EEC (*), as
amended by Directive 91 / 382 / EEC ( 2 ), and Directive
76 / 769 / EEC ( 3 ), as amended by Directive 91 / 157 / EEC ( 4 )
and finally Directive 90 / 394 / EEC ( 5 ). Does the Commission
intend to take action, and if so what action, to ensure that
Greece does comply with these Directives ?

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 41 )

Subject : Development of a high-speed ship

With reference to the Commission reply to Written

Question No 711 / 92 i 1 ) by Mr Enrique Sapena Granell, it
appears the Commission is clearly well informed of the
R&D currently taking place in the Bay of Kobe, Japan .

Greece does comply with these Directives ? 1 . Will the Commission now give details of the progress

made on the proposal for the development of high-speed
(!) OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983, p . 25 . navigation systems ?

( 2 ) OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1991, p . 16 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 262, 27 . 9 . 1976, p . 201 2 . Does the Commission agree that :
( 4 ) OJ No L 78, 23 . 3 . 1991, p . 38 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 196, 26 . 7 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 1993 )

( a ) a truly integrated transport system using high-speed
ships would be of benefit to every European citizen
and industry ;

( b ) the promotion of high-speed shipping would help

to re-invigorate and increase the competitiveness of
the European ship-building industry which has all
but vanished ;

In meeting its obligation, under Article 155 of the EC ( c ) the EC should make plans to reanimate the industry
Treaty, to ensure that the provisions of the Treaty and contracts in this way are, not and all ensure ' lost that ' to our valuable international future
measures taken by the institutions pursuant thereto are
applied, the Commission has checked whether the relevant competitors ?
provisions of Directives on asbestos have been properly
incorporated into Greek legislation . (!) OJ No C 317, 3 . 12 . 1992, p . 25 .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 23

Answer given by Mr Matutes

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963 / 93

on behalf of the Commission

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
( 14 December 1993 ) to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 42 )

The development of a ' High-Speed Navigation System ' is an
important step towards the development of a more efficient
transport system that will allow for faster cargo flows . A Subject : Community attitude
transport system integrating the different modes would Haiti
benefit the European citizen and industry . The development
of high speed shipping is only one element of this integrated
system and will be particularly useful for specific markets . At its recent meeting the ACP / EEC
The development of other essential elements, such as the principles which, for the good of
interface with other modes, new terminal techniques, and for negotiation in accordance with
upgrading the speed and efficiency of existing vessel types treaty drawn up in February by
( especially for short sea shipping ) should also not be members of parliament .
neglected .

Subject : Community attitude towards the dictatorship in

Haiti

At its recent meeting the ACP / EEC Joint Assembly listed six
principles which, for the good of Haiti, should form a basis
for negotiation in accordance with the Washington draft
treaty drawn up in February by President Aristide and
members of parliament .

The promotion of high-speed shipping is one of the factors

which could contribute to improve the competitiveness of
European ship-building, but the promotion of high-speed
shipping alone will not be sufficient to re-invigorate this
industry . Within this context, a coherent policy of research,
technological development and demonstration can make an
important contribution towards the development of the
technology, organization and skills under-pinning the
industrial requirements for increased competitiveness in the
global transport markets .

The Commission proposal concerning the Fourth
Framework Programme of Community activities in the
field of Research, Technological Development and
Demonstration (*) will provide the means for helping to
promote the innovation needed to support a competitive
strategy in this market sector — most notably within
the themes of information and telecommunication

technologies, industrial technologies, energy and research
for a European transport policy .

On the ground, however, the Zinglandos, successors to the
Tontons Macoutes, are with impunity stepping up their
campaign of violence, as are the regular army (7 000
' tisoldats ' in Creole ) and a large proportion of the police .
Haiti is a hell where the blood never stops flowing ;
possessing a photo of President Aristide or audibly
mentioning the Head of State democratically elected on

16 December 1990, then deposed and forced into exile by
the army on 30 September 1991 ' justifies ' execution,
torture, rape and disappearances .

The embargo on imports and exports has trebled the price of
commodities and increased the number of Haitians leaving
the country ( without succeeding more often than not if their
destination is Florida, because of US navy interception ).

What then is the Commission 's reaction to the position of
the Joint Assembly, given the need to organize proper
democratic elections in Haiti and ensure respect for
democratic values ?

Is it not essential to use the human rights provisions of

In order to better prepare the contents of the specific Lome IV to suspend participation by the present regime in
proposals for the Fourth Framework Programme and Haiti in the Convention and to intervene from now on only
Water-borne related actions, Transport a workshop ' was and organized held in on Brussels ' R&D for on through NGOs trying to help the defenceless people ?
18 / 19 October 1993 . One of the themes covered the role

that Fast Systems for Shipping / Ports and Inland Waterways
could play in the framework of Multimodal Transport
Systems and in particular to the ' Trans-European
networks '. Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )
Furthermore, the Commission has launched a study on the
following subject : ' Research and Development Needs for
Fast Water-borne Systems for Passengers and Cargo '. '

f 1 ) COM(93 ) 276 final .

' Concerning the organization of democratic elections and
respect for democratic values, the Commission would point
out that the Community and its Member States have on
numerous occasions made their position on the Haiti crisis
clear . The conclusions of the Joint Assembly meeting
referred to by the Honourable Member are in line with the
policy pursued by the Commission since the coup :

No C 296 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

— there can be no viable solution other than a return to a

constitutional order where President Aristide, the
symbol of the Haitian people 's cause, represents the
definitive authority .

— all measures encouraging negotiation and dialogue

between the two sides with a view to reaching an
agreement must be pursued and supported, including
increased pressure, the aim being to establish a
government of national unity with a Prime Minister
chosen by President Aristide .

As regards the suspension of Haiti 's participation in the
Lome Convention, EC foreign ministers confirmed at a
Council meeting in December 1991 some months after the
coup, the desire of the Community and its Member States to
help restore democracy and the rule of law in the country,
and invited the Commission to submit for approval a
proposal to exclude Haiti from the Convention . In January

1992, the Commission stressed the grave implications of
such a measure in terms of cooperation with its ACP
partners, both at a legal level ( given the extremely complex,
cumbersome nature of the procedure involved in applying
the principles of reciprocity ) and at a political level ( this
being a serious measure which would create a significant
precedent ), as well as the less drastic economic implications

( limited to the withdrawal of the preferential
arrangements ). It should also be emphasized that on

19 February 1992, at the Santo Domingo Joint Assembly
meeting, President Aristide appealed against Haiti 's
exclusion from the Convention .

The decision by the Community and its Member States so
suspend economic aid to Haiti was taken on 2 October
1991, though humanitarian aid was maintained and a
flexible attitude adopted towards other forms of aid having
a direct impact on the population . Since then a number of
food aid operations, involving either food products or seeds,
have been set up in collaboration with European NGOs or
international organizations ( e.g. FAO ). Emergency
programmes have also been drawn up in order, in particular,
to provide medical supplies and deal with the AIDS
problem . Decentralized cooperation projects are currently
in progress, as are joint financing projects with different
NGOs covering a variety of areas . Since the coup d'etat, for
example, the following aid has been provided :

— support for human rights and democracy : ECU
715 000

— food aid : ECU 12 510 000

— emergency aid : ECU 2 300 000 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2037 / 93

by Laura González Alvarez ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 43 )

Subject : Imports of cement into Spain and anti-dumping

procedure

The Spanish cement manufacturers ' association, Oficemen,
submitted a report to the Commission in January 1992
alleging that imports into Spain of certain types of cement
from Turkey, Romania and Tunisia had been subject to
dumping practices, thereby causing serious harm to the
Spanish cement industry .

The Commission considered that there was sufficient

evidence to warrant opening an anti-dumping procedure,
and it therefore initiated proceedings to investigate the

matter .

Given the presumed existence of unfair competition, the
plan to instal a cement importing and marketing plant in the
port of Gijon ( Asturias ) could lead to the loss of many jobs
in a region hard hit by industrial recession ( in the coal, steel
and ship-building sectors, etc .).

Can the Commission state what stage has been reached in
the anti-dumping procedure initiated on 22 April 1992 ?

Can it guarantee that cement imported from non-EC
countries by undertakings established in Spain is subject to
the same quality controls as cement produced in the
Community Member States ?

Can it state whether Directive 89 / 106 / EEC ( J ) on the
approximation of laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States relating to construction
products is being properly applied in Spain ?

(!) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989, p . 12 .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

The Commission is nearing completion of its investigations
under the proceeding and plans to consult the Member
States very shortly on a proposal for appropriate measures
based on its findings .

As there is not yet an EC standard, cement must comply with
the standards of the Member State importing it . Approval is
granted by national bodies and is a matter for each country
itself and not the Commission . The Commission is not

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 25

aware of any differences between quality controls on
Community cement and that imported from outside .

The construction products Directive, 89 / 106 / EEC, was
incorporated into Spanish law by Royal Decree 1630 / 1992
of 29 December 1992 ( see the ' Boletfn Oficial del Estado ' of
9 February 1993 ). For the time being and until legal analysis
of the incorporated law has finished, the Commission has no
evidence that the Directive is being incorrectly implemented
in Spain .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 11 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 136 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 45 )

Subject : Re-nationalization of agricultural policy and
incentives for farmers

Will the Commission say whether it is in favour of the
gradual re-nationalization of agricultural policy and
whether it considers that incentives should be increased to

encourage people to give up farming or to abandon a large
area of farmland in the Community ?

to the Commission Answer given by Mr Steichen

( 26 July 1993 ) on behalf of the Commission

( 94 / C 296 / 44 ) ( 13 October 1993 )

Subject : Clophen hazard at a hospital in Patras

Large quantities of Clophen are stored in the basement of
the Aghios Andreas Hospital in Patras and the risk to
hospital workers and patients from probable leaks is real .
This toxic substance, which can cause cancer in humans, is

used as a coolant in the hospital 's two large transformers .
Will the Commission ask the Greek authorities to destroy
the Clophen in special installations far from inhabited
areas ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

If this Clophen is located inside the said transformers and if
these are operational, the Commission cannot intervene as
Community law permits the use of PCB up until the time of
de-commissioning of electric transformers .

If, however, it is elsewhere — e.g. stored in barrels — then
Article 3 of Directive 76 / 403 / EEC (*) applies, which
requires Member States to take specific measures to dispose
of used PCB and of PCB contained in equipment / machinery
which is no longer in operation .

(!) OJ No L 108, 26 . 4 . 1976 .

The Commission respects the principles of the common
agricultural policy, in particular with regard to preserving a
common market in the agricultural sector .

In its proposal for measures to reform the common
agricultural policy ( a ), the Commission stated that it
considers it necessary to keep a sufficient number of farmers
on the land . This declaration confirmed the choice made in

the Green Paper and the communication on the future of
rural areas .

( ! ) COM(91 ) 100 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 46 )

Subject : Infrastructures for persons with special needs

Given the specialized supervision requirements of persons
with special needs — and in particular children —, and
given also the very limited infrastructures so far available for
the early diagnosis and rehabilitation of such persons, does
the Commission intend to propose Community legislation
providing for the establishment of the relevant
infrastructures ?

No C 296 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1993 )

Within its limited legislative competence, the Commission is
promoting measures on prevention, early assistance and
home care for the disabled, notably under the Helios II
Programme, through exchange and information activities .

The priority themes for the Helios II Programme include
' diagnosis and treatment ', ' coordinated measures to allow
the handicapped to remain in their usual environment ' and
the establishment of care facilities .

All the measures and initiatives taken in this area are

submitted to three advisory bodies for prior consultation,
including the European Forum for Disabled People, within
which the European NGOs RI-ECA and Mobility
International have specific responsibilities in this field .

As to the Regional Economic Development Working
Group, the Commission used the time available to refine
proposals it had made earlier and to prepare new proposals
on agricultural cooperation, to be undertaken with Spain
and on infrastructure working closely with France as
' shepherd ' for this subject, for a road survey and for
electricity grid inter-connection .

The Commission participated with the Danish Presidency in
a mission to the region to consult regional parties on the
Community 's proposals and to hear their reactions . This
mission proved very useful in preparing for a successful
meeting in Rome on 4 / 5 May 1993 of the Regional
Economic Development Working Group .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2220 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 48 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-22 17 / 93

by Antonio Capucho ( ELDR ) and Jan Bertens ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

Subject : Payment of invalidity benefit to women

( 94 / C 296 / 47 ) What is the current EC position when regard to the payment

of invalidity benefit to women under the age of 65 and is it
true that the UK Government is appealing against a ruling by
the Social Affairs Ministers on this ?
Subject : Middle-East peace negotiations

In view of the interruption of the Middle-East peace
negotiations and bearing in mind the Community 's
responsibility to organize the negotiations on regional
economic cooperation, what steps is the Commission taking
to promote the resumption of the Middle-East peace
negotiations ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( IS November 1993 )

During the interruption of the Middle-East peace
negotiations in early 1993 to which the Honourable
Members refer, the Commission offered its support for
efforts to restart the talks . It encouraged the parties to
resolve the difficulties which followed the expulsion by
Israel of over 400 Palestinians and to participate actively in
the ninth round of bilateral negotiations . The Commission
took part in the Troika in its mission to the Middle-East
from 30 March to 2 April when this message was put to all
parties concerned in the region .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The ruling of the Court of Justice in its judgment of
30 March 1993 in response to the questions of the House of
Lords in Case 328 / 91 was that women who are above the

normal retirement age ( 60 ) are entitled in their own right to
invalidity benefit under the same conditions as men in the
United Kingdom, i.e. until they are 65 .

Following this judgment, the Commission wrote to the
British authorities to remind them of their obligations under
Directive 79 / 7 / EEC on equal treatment for men and women
in matters of social security, with particular reference to
Article 7, § la ) as interpreted by the Court of Justice in the
above judgment .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 27

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257 / 93

by Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 49 )

Subject : Decision No 5470 adopted by Campania Regional

Council on 27 October 1992

In Decision No 5470, adopted on 27 October 1992,
Campania Regional Council approved a series of measures
in the industrial and craft sectors, to be implemented under
the multi-fund operational programme for the economic
and social development of two large districts, Pompeii

( Naples ) and Marcianise ( Caserta ), and financed in part by a
50 % EEC contribution from the ERDF under Regulation

( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 ( l ).

The measures relate to :

— C.I.A.A.R. — Pompeii — an arts and crafts exhibition

and service centre managed by a consortium of
professional associations and firms, and

— TARI — Marcianise — goldsmiths ' centre — a
multipurpose service complex managed by a consortium
of 180 firms .

1 . Can the Commission give any definite information on
the progress of the procedure ?

2 . Will it be able to furnish the 50 % contribution, bearing
in mind that, should the Campania regional authorities
or the Italian Government fail to pay the remaining
50 %, the firms will cover the cost themselves, through
their associations for the promotion of craft
industries ?

3 . If approval is not granted, can the Commission include
the measures among those to be financed under the
Structural Fund reform, as part of the 1994 — 1999
programme, given that they are consistent with the
objectives and practical procedures of the Structural
Funds ?

0 ) OJ No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988, p . 9 .

nothing is opposed having the national counterpart of the
contributions of the ERDF supplied, in the absence of
regional public financing or of the state, by private investors '
contribution .

A similar dossier was not presented for the CIAAR-Pompeii
project which still is to the instruction at regional level .

If these projects were not taken into consideration before the
end of the current period of programming ( before the end of
December 1993 ), they could be examined during the next
period, insofar as the competent authorities will submit the
request of them .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2258 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 50 )

Subject : Access to Community documents by Community

Ombudsman

Can the Commission confirm recent press reports that the
Community Ombudsman to be created under the Treaty of
Maastricht will be denied access to Community papers ?

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that these
documents are made available to the Ombudsman when he

or she is appointed ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 February 1994 )

At the inter-institutional conference on 25 October 1993

Parliament, the Council and the Commission concluded an
agreement on the regulations governing the performance of
the Ombudsman 's duties granting him satisfactory access to
Community documents .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2266 / 93

by David Bowe ( PSE )
Answer given by Mr Millan to the Commission
on behalf of the Commission

(1 September 1993 )
(6 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 51 )

With regard to the Tari-Marcianise project, a dossier was Subject : Intervention system
presented by the region under the operational programme
Campania . The Commission evaluates currently the Does the Commission allow the buying of bull beef into
conditions of Community co-financing . In this connection, intervention store ?

No C 296 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

If this is not common practice throughout the whole of Answer given by Mr Steichen
Europe, why does the Commission only allow it in certain on behalf of the Commission
countries ?
( 30 November 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

Under the Community rules, only bovine carcases from
uncastrated male animals less than two years old ( young
bulls ) or castrated males ( steers ) are eligible for public
intervention .

However, buying-in at regional level has for years been
generally limited to only one of these two categories, i.e. the
one making up the greater share of male bovine animal
production in a region . Withdrawal from the market of
some of the production of the major category by means of
intervention has a beneficial effect on the beef and veal

market as a whole in that region . Moreover, given the
reduction in buying-in provided for in the basic Regulation
governing this sector ( see Article 6 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 805 / 68 ), the Commission is not in a position to broaden
the eligible categories by region ( ] ).

The common organization of the banana market allows
operators to have access to the tariff quota in proportion to
the volume of their past trade . There is, therefore, no
question of operators being excluded from the market nor
should the existence of enterprises be affected .

The introduction of the common organization of the banana
market completes the single market in this sector . This is
likely to lead to some changes in trade patterns, for example,
national restrictions have been lifted in certain Member

States, meaning that traders previously excluded now have
access to those markets . Similarly, fruit from particular
origins previously sold only in one Member State is now
likely to be marketed more widely in the Community .
Banana traders are responding to the new challenges and
opportunities of trading in the single market . However, as
the new arrangements have only been in place since 1 July it
is not yet possible to determine the extent of changes to trade

patterns .

(!) OJ No L 148, 28 . 6 . 1968 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 12 / 93

by Gianfranco Amendola ( V )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 53 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308 / 93

by Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 52 )

Subject : Implementation of the banana market Regulation

of 13 February 1992

1 . To what extent are existing trade flows being altered
by the banana market Regulation and how are undertakings
that have so far been involved being driven bankrupt or even
being excluded from the market owing to this
Regulation ?

2 . To what extent are undertakings that have so far
marketed bananas from southern and central America in the

European Community particularly affected by this
Regulation ?

3 . To what extent are small and medium-sized

undertakings in the European Community particularly
affected by this banana market Regulation ?

Subject : Failure of the Italian Government to implement the

' Seveso ' Directive

1 . Under Article 7(c ) of Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( l ) the
appropriate authorities are required to make provision in
their national legislation for inspection or other forms of
check, depending on the type of operations involved .

2 . Ruling No 1392 by the Genoa district magistrate,
handed down on 19 April 1993, states that Presidential
Decree No 175 / 88 ( 2 ), the means whereby Directive
82 / 501 / EEC is transposed into Italian law, failed to lay
down adequate forms of supervision and penalties .

3 . The ruling also refers to statement by officials in the
Italian Ministry for the Environment to the effect that by the
end of 1991, none of the 220 reports received ( 400 plants
are concerned ) had been examined in full and that, if the
ministry staff complement remained unchanged, it would
take another 20 years to deal with the remaining reports,
that is to say, an average of 20 investigations would be
completed each year .

4 . The ruling states in addition that the ministry, which,
as the supervisory body, is required to report the abuses it

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 29

has ascertained to the proper authority, will not be able to
inform the courts of any failure to give notification until the
year 2009, in other words 12 years after the limitation
period applying to the infringement has expired .
Furthermore, while the abovementioned investigations will
still be taking place, companies will be required to submit
follow-up reports every three years, and it is impossible to
say when they will be checked .

In the light of the foregoing points, will the Commission
institute infringement proceedings against Italy for failure to
implement the whole of Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ?

( ] ) OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982, p . 1 ( and subsequent
amendments ).

( 2 ) Gazetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana No 127, 1 June

1988 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205 / 93

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 55 )

Subject : Japanese cars exceeding sales quotas in the
European market

Does the Commission intend to re-negotiate with the
Japanese authorities the agreements reached with them

some months ago on the quota for cars produced in Japan
and imported on to the European market in view of the fact
that the quota has already been exceeded and given the
repercussions that this may have on European car firms
involved in difficult restructuring programmes requiring
time and considerable investment ? These programmes
would be seriously harmed either by any delay in altering the
hastily concluded agreements or by new agreements not
based on realistic assumptions .

The Commission will contact the Italian authorities on the
facts presented by the Honourable Member . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2236 / 93

by Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE ), Rinaldo Bontempi ( PSE ) and

Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049 / 93 ( 30 July 1993 )

by André Sainjon ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 94 / C 296 / 56 )

( 23 July 1993 ) Subject : Japanese car imports

( 94 / C 296 / 54 )

Subject : Re-negotiation of the agreement on European

imports of Japanese cars

The re-negotiation of the agreement signed two months ago

between European and MITI representatives was based on a
6,5 % drop with respect to 1992 .

While the Commission estimates that demand will fall by

10 — 12% over the whole of 1993, the real figures will
unfortunately be steeper, given the extent of the
recession .

Speaking to the Committee on Economic and Monetary
Affairs and industrial Policy, Mr Bangemann asserted that
further discussion were scheduled for June 1993 . However,
Mr Noburu Hatekeyama considers these concessions to be

' more than sufficient ' and believes that it would be

premature to call for the revision of a text which was signed
barely two months ago .

Is the Commission determined to act firmly ? Is it prepared to
declare this agreement null and void and impose tariff
quotas on cars imported directly from Japan ? Lastly, is it
prepared to give due consideration to the problem of
transplants ?

Within the past few months the Commission has reached an
agreement on Japanese car imports to Europe .

The agreement was based on the prediction that sales in the

Community in 1993 would fall by 6% compared with
previous years .

However, the Commission apparently gave an undertaking
to renegotiate the agreement if the drop in sales exceeded the
forecasts .

According to current figures, the drop in 1993 may be as
much as 20%, and it therefore appears essential that the
Commission should keep its promise and renegotiate the

agreement .

At all events, action is called for as a matter of urgency, given
that European motor manufacturers are currently in the
process of implememting painful restructuring programmes
that will require time and investment and could be
undermined and placed in jeopardy by a slapdash and
unrealistic commercial policy .

Does the Commission share the views set out above and

what steps does it intend to take ?

No C 296 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2318 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 57 )

Subject : European motor-vehicle industry

The European Association of Motor-Vehicle
Manufacturers ( Association des Constructeurs europeens
d'Automobiles — ACEA ) forecasts, pessimistically, that
sales will fall by 13,5 % during 1993 . A number of major
manufacturers, such as Ford, estimate that sales will fall by

16% . These manufacturers also believe that the latest

agreement between the Commission and the Japanese
Ministry of International Trade and Industry will lead to a

13 — 14% increase in sales of Japanese vehicles in the
Community during 1993 .

Is the Commission prepared to take measures to mitigate
this painful contradiction ?

Can we avoid merely looking on while Japanese robots in
Europe assemble components imported from Japan and
other ' newly industrialized countries '?

Does the Commission consider that European
manufacturers are acting realistically in taking measures like
those which have made Mr Lopez Arriortua famous ?

Finally, what measures does the Commission intend to take
— and when — to reduce the number of Japanse motor
vehicles imported, in order to make timely allowance for the
impact of the crisis ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2049 / 93, E-2205 / 93,

E-2236 / 93 and E-23 18 / 93

given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

1 . The arrangement of 31 July 1991 between the
Community and Japan concerning the motor vehicle sector
in particular provides that the latter country must regulate
its motor vehicle exports to the Community up to
31 December 1999 .

To this end, regular meetings between the Commission and
the Japanese Industry and Foreign Trade Ministry ( MITI )
have taken place to evaluate the market development and to
avoid any disturbances which might result from Japanese

exports .

2 . Discussions took place in March and April 1993 in
accordance with this agreement . These have led to an
immediate, sharp reduction in Japanese exports of cars and
light goods vehicles .

Furthermore, in accordance with what was agreed with the
Japanese authorities, fresh discussions were held in July and

September 1993 in order to adjust exports in view of the
considerable decline in demand forecast in the Community .
In total, Japanese car exports should be 980 000 units in

1993 (- 18,5 % on 1992 ), while demand for motor cars will
probably be about 11 730 million units (- 15,9% ).

In view of the high fall in exports since September 1993, the
Honourable Members can rest assured that the adjustment
was made in good time to provide effective help to reduce
the pressure on an exceptionally difficult market .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2356 / 93

by Gepa Maibaum ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 58 )

Subject : Conservation of the architectural heritage : Mount

Athos

In the context of Community pilot projects to conserve the
European architectural heritage ( J ), an application for
funding was made in respect of the gardens of the St Simon
and St Peter Monasteries on Mount Athos .

However, for years Mount Athos, together with the
Acropolis, Chiado and Coimbra, has been receiving support
as an outstanding example of the European architectural
heritage .

1 . What EC funds ( broken down by year ) have been paid

for the restoration of Mount Athos to date ?

2 . What is the total amount for 1993 ( broken down by

category of aid )?

3 . Why did Mount Athos receive additional funding under

the programme of pilot projects, which has a total of
only ECU 3 165 million available for 58 selected
projects, although it has already received EC funding
from other sources ?

4 . Does the Commission have a progress report on the use
of EC funds for the restoration of Mount Athos ?

(!) OJ No C 261, 10 . 10 . 1992, p . 11 .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

To date, the Community appropriations granted to Kedak

( Greek public body in the Ministry for Macedonia,
responsible for conservation work at Mount Athos ) total
ECU 1,12 million .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 31

This contribution can be broken down as follows : WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 82 / 93

— ECU 70 000 in 1987 ;

— ECU 100 000 in 1989

— ECU 300 000 in 1990

— ECU 350 000 in 1991

— ECU 300 000 in 1992

In 1993 the Commission granted ECU 300 000 from budgt
heading B3-2000 ( to finance high-profile cultural
projects ).

All these appropriations are solely for conservation work on
the buildings of the historic monasteries of Mount Athos ; no
support is given for the conservation of the historic
gardens .

Under its annual programme on pilot projects to conserve

the European architectural heritage, the Commission
supports pilot projects that are exemplary in terms of both
the historical and cultural quality of the monument and
the quality of the technical approach to restoration /
conservation, selected on the basis of these criteria by a jury
of 12 experts of international renown .

In accordance with the theme for the current year relating to
the conservation of historic gardens ( which involves
restoration of both the plant and the architectural features )
the project on the Historical gardens of the Simonos Petra
Monastery on Mount Athos was unanimously supported by
the jury and thus ranked as one of the best-quality projects
presented this year .

Since, to date, no other Community aid was granted
specifically for the conservation of the historic gardens on
Mount Athos, the Commission included the project in
question in the final list of 58 pilot projects selected for
1993 .

Four independent experts of international renown were
designated in 1992 to review the progress made in restoring
monuments supported by the Commission in its high-profile
projects category, namely :

— the Acropolis and the Parthenon ( Greece ),

— Mount Athos ( Greece ),

— Chiado ( Lisbon — Portugal ),

— Coimbra ( European College — Portugal ).

The final report was presented to the Committee on
- Cultural Affairs on 29 September 1993 ; the Community 's

contribution appears to have been most valuable in all cases
but in particular with regard to Mount Athos .

by Ria Oomen-Ruiiten ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 2 96159 )

Subject : Brown coal mining — environmental impact and

cross-frontier effects

What progress have the German authorities made with
procedures in connection with the Garzweiler II brown coal
mining operation ? What stage has been reached in the
time-tabling of these procedures ?

Has the environmental impact report procedure been
completed, and if so what findings have been reached ? Will
there have to be further investigations ? If so, into what ?

Is the cross-frontier involvement model for this project
applicable only to frontiers with the land of North-Rhine
Westphalia or does it extent to all frontier areas of the
Federal Republic of Germany ?

Can information be provided on the precise effects of brown
coal mining in Germany on the quality of ground water at
different ground water levels in the Venlo and Roerdal
valleys and on drinking water supplies in Netherlands and
Belgian Limburg, in particular on what is known as the
strategic water reserve ?

What arrangements has the Netherlands Government made
to guarantee that provisions laid down pursuant to
Community rules and Regulations and the ECE Convention
will be observed ? What arrangements have been made to
safeguard the interests of other Member States when
decisions are taken in Germany ?

What will be the future effects on Netherlands ground water
that comes into contact with surface water as a consequence
of these open-cast mining operations, both now and after
brown coal mining operations have been wound up ? Will
the German Government take over responsibility from the
operators, Rheinbraun AG, when the operations have been
wound up ?

What options are available to the authorities in other
Member States in the final stages of decision-making in
Germany or even after it has been concluded, to continue to
exert influence or lodge objections if they consider that
insufficient account has been taken on the German side of

the interests of other Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

Under Article 7 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC a Member State

that is aware that a project within its territory is likely to

No C 296 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

have ificant effects on the environment in another Member

State, shall forward the information gathered in an
environmental impact assessment procedure to the other
Member State at the same time as it makes it available to its

own nationals . The same applies where the affected Member
State so requires .

This information shall serve as a basis for any consultations
necessary in the framework of the bilateral relations
between two Member States on a reciprocal and equivalent
basis . The content of such bilateral relations and the

consultations itself are the competence of the Member
States . The Commission is not involved . Neither are

Member States required to send the information to the

Commission .

Since the other parts of the question concern details of either
the bilateral relations between Germany and the
Netherlands or the information exchanged between the two
Member States, the Commission would like to advise the
Honourable Member to contact the appropriate Member
States ' authorities for any supplementary questions .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2387 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

programme, the follow up to the Sutherland report on the
operation of the single market, employment and the social
dialogue, industrial competitiveness and protection of the
environment, development cooperation policy up to the
year 2000, and the Commission 's proposals for farm prices
for 1993 / 94 . The opening of the accession negotiations with
Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden were also directly
accessible to the public through audio-visual means .

On consultation, the Legislative Programme of the
Commission for 1993 (*) highlights forthcoming proposals
which it would appear at first sight should be preceded by
broad discussions . It also lists subjects on which Green or
White Papers, not necessarily leading to legislation, will be
prepared in 1993 . Several of these papers have already been
published .

These has been no change in the Community policy of
producing in all nine Community languages all documents
which are formally published .

(M COM(93 ) 43 final .

(1 September 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2401 / 93

( 94 / C 296 / 60 ) by Edward Kellett-Bowman ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

Subject : Transparency in debates and decisions
( 94 / C 296 / 61 )

At the Edinburgh Summit in December last year the Heads
of State and Governments decided that some Council

meetings should be held as ' open debates ', that some of these
should be televised, that the EC institutions should consult
each other more on a range of issues, that such consultation
should be widely reported and, finally, that Commission
documents should be published in all the Community
languages . What has been done so far to implement these
decisions ?

Subject : The use of weed killers

Does the Commission have any plans to introduce a ban on
the use of weed killing sprays prior to flower-seeding time,
as is rumoured in some parts of the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Delors Answer given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 ) ( 12 November 1993 ),

The Danish Presidency reported to the Copenhagen
European Council in June 1993 on this matter .

During the Danish Presidency several Council debates were
televised for outside transmission and for the press and
interested members of the general public to follow live .
Subjects debated included the Presidency 's work

The Commission has at this time no plans to propose a ban
on the use of weed killing sprays in the period prior to the
flower-seeding time of plants .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 33

QUESTION E-2420 / 93 schools, associations, environment centres and

Kostopoulos ( PSE ) agencies, etc . The emphasis is on the development

to the Commission of youth education through improved training for
teachers .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2420 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 62 ) (!) OJ No C 54, 25 . 2 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 177, 6 . 7 . 1988 .

Subject : Protection of the environment through publicity

campaign

In order to heighten public awareness of the need to respect
and protect the environment, will the Commission examine
the possibility of drafting a Community Directive setting up
pilot projects to promote public awareness, especially
among young people, of environmental issues ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1993 )

In the context of the Fifth Community Programme of policy
and action in relation to the environment and sustainable

development, the Commission is helping promote public
information through two types of activity :

1 . General measures to provide information and raise
awareness in relation to the environment

An invitation to submit proposals ( 93 / C 54 / 12 ) (*) was
issued for information and awareness projects involving
a variety of players ( trade unions, regional and local
authorities, environmental protection organizations,
consumers ' associations, etc .). The Commission is
co-financing some hundred projects under budget
heading B4-306 which meet a set of criteria established
in accordance with the Fifth Programme and set out in
the invitation to submit proposals . The projects must
inter alia ' bring about a lasting change in [. . .] behaviour
patterns ' as regards the environment, and heighten
awareness in those sectors where it is lowest .

2 . Environmental education and training

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2443 / 93

by Raymond Chesa ( RDE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 63 )

Subject : Convention on protection of the Alps

When and how did the Commission receive its brief to

negotiate the provisions of this Convention and
authorization to sign it ?

Has the Commission already drawn up a proposal for a
Council Decision on depositing the instrument of approval
of the Convention on behalf of the Commission of the

European Communities ?

As Article 2 ( 2 ) of the Convention requires the contracting
parties to take measures in the fields of culture, regional
planning, agriculture, forestry, tourism, transport and
energy, can the Commission confirm whether it is legally
responsible for concluding such a convention and, if so, can
it state on which article(s ) of the Treaty this competence is
based ?

What role is the Commission playing in the preparation and
drafting of the various protocols laying down the
implementing measures for the abovementioned fields and
how is it ensuring that the interests of the socio-economic
and cultural sectors concerned by those protocols are taken
into account ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )
( a ) A number of practical measures have been
implemented by the Commission to give effect to
the resolution of the Council and the Ministers for The Commission will soon be
Education ( 2 ): proposal for a Decision for

— a European guide to environmental courses in

higher education was published in July 1993 ;

— an information manual is in preparation on

environmental education at Community level
( for the use of teachers and students ).

( b ) The Commission provides the impetus for,
coordinates and co-finances projects, under the
specific budget heading B4-304, submitted by
educational institutions, teachers ' associations,

The Commission will soon be presenting to the Council a
proposal for a Decision for concluding the Convention on
protection of the Alps .

The Community 's competence as regards ratifying the

Convention is based on Article 130s of the EC Treaty since
the essential objective of the Convention, which is a
framework convention, is to safeguard and protect the
Alpine eco-system .

The Convention and its protocols define obligations in fields
where Community competence exists, in particular
agriculture, transport and nature conservation .

No C 296 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

When meetings of the working parties preparing the text of
the protocols are held, representatives of unions, NGOs and
various other associations attend as observers .

The protocols are still at the consultation stage in the
Member States, with the local population and various
socio-economic sectors particularly involved .

The Commission is participating in the drawing up of
protocols on the basis of the Council mandate of 14 May

1991 .

In this preparation work, the Commission is concerned with
harmonizing socio-economic interests and environmental
requirements in the sectors in question .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2497 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

2 . The new basic Regulation for the common fisheries
policy, Regulation ( EEC ) No 3760 / 92 ( 2 ), provides that a
Community scheme must be established not later than
1 January 19 95 laying down rules on the minimum
information that must be contained in fishing licences issued
and managed by Member States . National licence schemes
will be applied by the Member States starting on the date of
entry into force of the Community scheme .

3 . The Community does not intervene on the matter of
age limits for Community fishing vessels . However, through
its financing of fleet modernization and renovation
measures the Commission gives absolute priority to
measures designed to improve working conditions and
health and safety .

4 . & 5 . The Commission feels that professional
fishermen are capable of determining for themselves which
fishing methods are most appropriate while complying with
the rules in force . As part of its structural policy on fisheries,
the Commission grants financial support to encourage
selective fishing methods, while the dissemination of
research results at Community level helps fishermen select
the fishing gear best adapted to their purposes .

( 94 / C 296 / 64 (!) OJ No L 20, 25 . 1 . 1989 .
(!) OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

Subject : Implementation of measures to assist the fishing

fleet

Today more than ever there is a need to implement measures
to assist the Member States ' fishing fleets, in particular
by : WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 36 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

1 . compiling an up-to-date register of fishing vessels,

2 . issuing professional fishing licences to vessels based
solely on the technical characteristics of the vessels,

3 . laying down a maximum age for Community fishing
vessels,

4 . listing specific types of fishing vessels suited to the
conditions of various waters,

5 . clearly defining authorized fishing gear and the
conditions on which it may be used, etc .

What is the Commission 's position on this issue ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

1 . The Community register of fishing vessels was
established by Regulation ( EEC ) No 163 / 89 ( x ). The register
has become progressively more reliable thanks to the efforts
of all the Member States, who now regularly transmit data
to the Commission using a magnetic medium .

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 65 )

Subject : Community cooperation with youth movements

against racism and xenophobia

As it seems that publicity campaigns against racism are not
particularly effective, an increasingly important role is
played by activities intended to raise awareness among the
younger generations of the need to combat the racist
mentality which, according to various sociological studies,
is becoming more apparent throughout the Community,
with 9 000 violent incidents linked to racism and

xenophobia in the last 15 months .

Such activities for young people are centred on youth groups
associated with youth movements against intolerance,
which in most cases receive significant funding from their
respective governments to enable them to conduct weekly
campaigns against racism and xenophobia in the press and
on radio and television .

Does the Commission think it should itself help to support
these youth movements against intolerance, by using its

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 35

economic and logistical resources to help these groups to Answer given by Mr Millan
communicate with each other, exchange ideas, programmes on behalf of the Commission
and plans for combating racism, and continue to raise a (1 December 1993 )
genuine interest among young people in the fight against
these two twentieth-century plagues, racism and
xenophobia ?

The Commission is prepared to give full consideration to
any application submitted by the Greek authorities for
assistance in developing the city of Methana in the context
of Structural Funds measures in the region concerned .
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1993 )

Commission resources are available from the budget-line
which has as its main object the integration of migrants, but
which may also be used for projects proposed by NGO 's in
combatting racism and xenophobia .

Indeed ECU 500 000 in the 1993 budget are earmarked to
combat xenophobia in consultation with the European
Trades Union Congress .

Should youth platforms apply for financial support from
the Commission to run projects against racism, such
applications either separately or jointly would be acceptable
for appraisal, though any awards would be dependant on
the credits available, other competing requests, and the
intrinsic merits of the projects .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2543 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 66 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2567 / 93

by Llewellyn Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 67 )

Subject : Appointment of Cassiopée as consultants on

eastern European nuclear waste management

The Commission has announced the appointment of the
Cassiopée European economic interest grouping, including
Andra ( France ), Covra ( Netherlands ), DBE ( Germany ),
Enresa ( Spain ), Ondraf-Niras ( Belgium ) and Nirex ( UK ), as
consultants under the Phare Programme to study
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management in
Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania,
Poland and Romania .

In the light of the complete failure of Nirex in the UK to
provide a technically competent or politically acceptable
strategy for nuclear waste management in the UK, will the
Commission give the reasons for including Nirex as a
competent partner in the Cassiopée contract ?

Subject : Development of Methana Answer on behalf given of by the Sir Commission Leon Brittan

( 21 December 1993 )
Methana lies in the eastern Peloponnese and is renowned,
especially in Greece for its hot springs, which were also
referred to by the great historians of antiquity . Today,

The contract to which the Honourable Member refers was

Methana is a beautiful place for relaxation but the lack of
infrastructure reduces its chances of attracting tourism . concluded following an invitation to tender issued to a
Another obstacle to the rational development of Methana, number of companies . Only two of the bids the Commission
according to many of its inhabitants, is the town council 's received were considered technically viable ; one of those
decision to lease the local marina to a private company for was the bid from the Cassiopée consortium, of which Nirex
50 years . is a member . The Commission has no power to dictate the

composition of consortia submitting bids under a tender
procedure .

Could the Commission, in cooperation with the Greek
national authorities, make a contribution to the
development of Methana ?

No C 296 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2606 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 68 )

Subject : Restoration of the ancient theatre on the island of

Thasos ?

The ancient theatre on the island of Thasos, which is 23
centuries old, has been neglected and closed down since

1987 . The municipality of Thasos wishes to have the theatre
restored and to use it for major theatrical performances .
Can the Commission authorize funding to help restore this
theatre ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

At present the Commission is not in a position to take
measures to restore the ancient theatre on the island of

Thasos because the budget allocated to Community cultural
initiatives is limited and does not make it possible to launch
ad hoc measures outside the annual support programme for
pilot projects to conserve the European architectural
heritage .

But buildings and ancient theatres of genuine European
interest will be conserved under the programme in 1994 .

The project in question could be considered for the
programme if those responsible submitted it to the
Commission in accordance with the procedure announced
in the Official Journal of the European Communities in
October 1993 (*).

(») OJ No C 275, 13 . 10 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2616 / 93

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

to the Commission

Article 130u of the Maastricht Treaty, as well as the recent
allocation of ECU 60 million under the Lome Convention

for development programmes, does it not agree that ' Third
World ' countries will be unable to initiate sustainable

growth patterns and combat poverty ( two of the
Commission 's own criteria ) until the debt burden, which
continues to drain their economies, is lifted ?

Further, as these countries have already paid far in excess of
the original sum owed ( in 1982 the South owed US $ 825
billion ; since then debt repayments have totalled US $ 1 410
billion ), does the Commission not agree that any
outstanding ' debt ' should be cancelled ?

Given the Commission 's own commendable intentions in

the area of development, what initiatives does it intend to
place before the Council of Ministers to increase debt relief
for the poorest countries, thereby enabling the attainment of
key objectives of EC development policies, in particular
sustainable economic growth and the fight against poverty,
and subsequently increasing coherence and coordination
between bilateral policies and Community policies, as laid
down in Article 130u of the Maastricht Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )

The Commission is conscious of the fact that a substantial

debt-overhang can seriously impede growth in debtor
countries . Where such a debt-overhang exists, debt and
debt-service reduction operations, combined with
appropriate policy reforms, should be carried out and
indeed have been carried out in many instances .
Across-the-board cancellation of all Third World debt is

however not justified .

Debt owed to the Community itself is of very minor
proportions and on very soft terms . It has recently been
reduced by the cancellation of all outstanding Stabex claims
on ACP countries . A more far-reaching Commission
initiative, bearing on special loans and risk capital
operations, has unfortunately been rejected by the
Council .

Debt owed to the Member States does not fall within

(1 September 1993 )

Community competence and therefore is not subject to

( 94 / C 296 / 69 decisions by the Council . It should however be recognized

that Member States have already in the past implemented
substantial debt relief measures in favour of many
Subject : Third World debt and EC development developing countries, both individually and within the Paris
Club framework of official creditors .
programmes

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 69

While I congratulate the Commission on the objectives laid
down for the EC Development Cooperation Policy in

/

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 37

QUESTION E-2619 / 93 this legislation ) and an increase in the use in certain Member

by John Bird ( PSE ) States of municipal waste treatment plant to supplement

private sector plant .
to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2619 / 93

by John Bird ( PSE )

(1 September 1993 )

94 / C 296 / 70 )

Subject : Distortion of the EC waste paper and cardboard

re-cycling industry

What action does the Commission intend to take to address

the serious distortion and disruption being experienced
currently in the European Community 's waste paper and
cardboard re-cycling industry ?

Is the Commission aware that large numbers of voluntary
and commercial paper and cardboard re-cycling companies
in the United Kingdom are on the verge of collapse due to
these distortions and disruptions ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

1 . The Commission has taken a number of actions as a

result of the serious disruptions in certain re-cycled product
markets in recent months . It has been able to gather accurate
data with a view to analyzing the structural and economic
reasons for these disruptions . A considerable number of
bilateral contacts have been made with the Member States

most affected and several working meetings held with all
Member States with a view to gauging the extent of the
problem, searching out temporary solutions capable of
providing short-term relief for the industrial sectors which
are worst affected, and attempting to see what direction
longer-term solutions would have to take . The Commission
regularly informs the Council about the success of these
contacts . In addition, the Commission has been considering
how to balance fixed targets and adequate re-cycling
capacity as part of the political negotiations on the draft
Directive on packaging and packaging waste .

The Commission is also examining all the legal implications
of this situation .

2 . The Commission is aware of the problems faced by
certain sections of the re-cycling industry, particularly in the
United Kingdom . It will continue to give all its support to the
Member States with a view to reaching solutions in
accordance with Community law, while at the same time
avoiding leaving the way clear for any unilateral action
which might further disrupt the market . These solutions
relate basically to increasing re-cycling capacity on the
national scale, re-examining the current paper and
cardboard re-cycling legislation in certain Member States
with a view to tempering the effects thereof on other
Member States ( in particular exceeding the stated targets in

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2669 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 71 )

Subject : Protection of tropical forests in Africa

In view of the fact that tropical forests in western and central
Africa are being increasingly threatened by the timber
industry, much of which is controlled by European
multinationals :

1 . Will the Commission endeavour to develop a
Community system for the monitoring of imports of
tropical wood with a view to banning imports of timber
which is not naturally renewable ?

2 . Will the Commission propose legislation to ban or to
strictly monitor imports of rare or threatened species of
tropical woods ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 January 1994 )

The Commission shares the view that uncontrolled forestry
management practices are the antithesis of a healthy and
sustainable forestry policy for tropical forests . Accordingly,
it sees the objective of ensuring that trade in tropical wood is
conducted on the basis of sustainable forestry management
by the year 2000 as one of the principal items on the world
agenda, actively supported by the Community and its
Member States through their participation in the
negotiations on a new international agreement on tropical
timber .

As far as specific measures are concerned, any future action
plan should be drawn up in the light of discussions held at
international level, e.g. by the ITTO . Voluntary use of an
ecolabel signifying compliance with certain criteria might be
one way of encouraging the timber industry to adopt a more
wholesome approach to forestry management .
Notwithstanding this, the Commission feels that any
measure taken in this field should be in line with

international trade agreements and obligations and should
take account of discussions held within the framework of

the International Tropical Timber Organization ( ITTO ).

With regard to the geographical area referred to by the
Honourable Member, the Commission has pledged

No C 296 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

ECU 24 million under the sixth EDF to promote the launch
of a regional programme of coordinated action and
measures to encourage rational use of forestry resources .
The countries involved in the project are Cameroon, the
Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial
Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe and Zaire .

International trade in endangered species of timber is
regulated by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species ( Cites ) which dates back to 1973 . The
Community espoused the provisions of this Convention in
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82, currently under review . In
this context, the Commission has proposed the introduction
of stricter controls over trade in endangered timber
species ( 1 ).

(!) OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2683 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 74 )

Subject : Financial aid to central and east European
countries for environmental measures

Will the Commission take steps to increase the amount of
Community financial aid for environmental measures in the
countries of central and eastern Europe during the next five
years to 0,1 % of the Community 's GDP without reducing
the financial aid to the southern hemisphere for
environmental measures ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670 / 93
(3 September 1993 )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

( 94 / C 296 / 75 )
to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 72 Subject : Environmental code of ethics for investment in

central and eastern Europe

Subject : Environmental programme in response to health

problems resulting from the deterioration of the
environment in central and eastern Europe

Does the Commission intend, in cooperation with the
countries of central and eastern Europe, to draw up an
emergency environmental programme in response to the
very serious health problems resulting from the
deterioration of the environment in certain areas of these

countries and to submit the programme to Parliament and
the Council ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2680 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 73 )

Subject : Environmental measures in the countries of central

and eastern Europe

Will the Commission help the governments of central and
eastern Europe, if they so desire, to draft environmental
legislation, set up administrative services responsible for the
environment and draw up environmental programmes in
those countries and, to facilitate this objective, will it take
steps to draw up a special Community programme to train
civil servants from those countries ?

Will the Commission propose an environmental code of
ethics to govern investment in central and eastern Europe, in
line with current Community legislation on the
environment, and will it submit this code for consideration
by Parliament and the countries concerned ( EC, central and
eastern Europe )?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2670 / 93, E-2680 / 93,

E-2683 / 93 and E-2684 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

For the period 1990 — 1992, the Phare Programme provided
ECU 254 million to support environmental improvements
through projects in Bulgaria, the Czech and Slovak
Republics, Flungary, Poland, Romania and the Baltic States .
This is approximately 1 1 % of the total Phare budget for

1990—1992 .

The support is being provided either in the form of yearly
national or regional environmental sector programmes, or
through environmental components in the General
Technical Assistance Facilities . A large number of individual
projects are in the course of implementation .

The activities supported by Phare are directly linked to the
implementation of the environmental policy of the
respective government with a clear focus on support
for development of the environmental management

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 39

capabilities, at central, regional and local level, including
institutional strengthening, training and policy
formulation .

capabilities, at central, regional and local level, including untimely, in the present economic situation, to propose to
institutional strengthening, training and policy the Member States an increase in the amount of Community
formulation . financial aid for environmental measures in central and

eastern European countries during the next five years to
0,1 % of the Community 's GDP .
Since the beginning, one of the main priorities of the Phare
environment actions has been the development of a strategy
focusing on certain areas which require urgent attention,
e.g. air pollution and other existing hot-spots having a
detrimental effect on human health . This is also one of the

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2703 / 93

objectives of the Regional Environment Programme which
recognizes the political and trans-boundary nature of by Ben Visser ( PSE )
environmental degradation and focuses on some of the to the Commission
major pan-European problems, such as the Danube River (8 September 1993 )
Basin Sea ., the ' Black Triangle ', the Baltic Sea and the Black ( 94 / C 296 / 76

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2703 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 76

A strong political drive for closer environmental integration
and more incisive action at pan-European level was
expressed by the European Environment Ministers at the
Conference held in Lucerne in April 1993 . The Conference
approved the broad strategy of the Environmental Action
Programme ( EAP ) for central and eastern Europe, as a basis
for action by national and local governments, the
Commission, international organizations, financial
institutions and private investors active in the region . The
EAP is based on three main aims :

— integration of environmental considerations into the

process of economic reconstruction to ensure
sustainable development ;

— institutional capacity building, including an efficient

legal and administrative framework as well as managing
capacity, training and education ;

— immediate assistance programmes comprising actions

which bring immediate or short-term relief to regions
where human health or natural ecosystems are severly
jeopardized by environmental hazards, also taking into
account trans-boundary environmental problems . In
late 1992, the Commission approved a ECU 10 million
Programme to support the development of projects
resulting from the EAP .

Moreover, the Commission is financing, jointly with the
EBRD, a study on the harmonization of environmental
standards and legislation in western and eastern Europe . An
important part of this study is ' Environmental guidelines for
investors '; the aim of the guidelines is to provide an
user-friendly guide to environmental Regulations, covering
both new investments and on-going operations . It is also
intended to extend the guidelines to the States of the former
Soviet Union, former Yugoslavia and Albania .

The Commission attaches great importance to cooperation
with central and eastern European countries in the field of
the environment and is willing to continue its financial
support as much as possible in the future . It seems, however,

Subject : Intolerable conditions on Romania 's frontier

Traffic through Romania is faced with serious problems,
particularly on the Romanian-Bulgarian frontier in Giurgiu
where conditions are intolerable, especially for Turks living
in western Europe who are subjected to inhuman treatment .
Crossing the border can take up to three days . There is
nothing to eat or drink, except at extortionate prices ; people
are threatened, assaulted and robbed by Romanian
criminals . Cars are destroyed while the police turn a blind

eye .

To some extent the problems are caused by the customs
officials who have been operating a new import system since

1 July 1993 ( when Romania introduced VAT ) with which
they are still unfamiliar . There are also long tailbacks of
lorries at the border . Action must be taken without

delay .

1 . Has the Commission protested in the strongest possible
terms to the Romanian authorities ?

2 . If so, with what response ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared, if necessary in cooperation
with the Member States, to send an inspection team
without delay to examine conditions at first hand ?

4 . Does the EC feel there is any scope for alleviating this
horrendous state of affairs by taking action pursuant to
the trade and cooperation agreement between the
Community and Romania ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

The Commission has no information about the inhuman

treatment to which the Honourable Member refers . Under

the Phare Programme, however, steps have been taken to
improve border crossings in Romania . Schemes under the
regional transport programme include car park
infrastructure and waiting areas at borders posts between
Romania and Bulgaria and also customs assistance . As part
of this programme, aid to restructure the Romanian

No C 296 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

customs administration began in December 1991 . In 1992,
under the regional customs programme, Romania received
technical assistance and training in the field of customs
legislation and procedures . An expert was sent by the
Commission to advise Romania about difficulties at

crossing-points on the Romanian-Bulgarian frontier . Under
this regional customs programme, proposals have been
drawn up to amplify the technical assistance already
provided .

A feasibility study on the computerization of the Romanian
customs administration has also been conducted, on the
basis of which the Romanian Government has given priority
to transforming the administration, allocating ECU 10
million of the 1993 Phare budget to this end .

Experts contracted by Phare are already in Romania helping
the customers services with the change-over . Clearly it is a
slow and costly process since it involves amending existing
legislation, restructuring the administration and assisting
the Romanian authorities with staff training and
computerization .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2707 / 93

by Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 77 )

Subject : Support measures for the Ukraine

1 . Does the Commission share my view that targeted
assistance to promote the urgently needed upturn in the CIS
should be supported by the European Community ?

2 . In a specific example, a Chamber of Crafts from my
constituency in south Baden is prepared to take on the
further training and / or retraining of 150 craftsmen from the
Ukraine in their workshops in south Baden . However,
neither the Chamber of Crafts nor the Ukrainian craftsmen

can afford to pay the travel and accommodation

expenses .

3 . Is it true that EC aid and special funds cannot be
claimed for this purpose ?

4 . If so, does the Commission intend to initiate
appropriate measures to enable such actions which require
minimal financial input but have a significant impact to be
supported ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

Well targetted programmes, actions and projects are an
essential element of technical assistance to the CIS . In this

respect an elaborate and detailed process is applied to the
identification of such actions .

Technical assistance activities are identified in close

consultation with the beneficiary State through a process,
first of indicative programming of priorities, and then the
preparation of coherent cost effective projects to meet the
ends identified in the indicative programmes . Community
partners are then identified to carry out the cooperation
through a tender procedure, so that the most effective
proposal may be retained .

This procedure, which the Commission believes to be the
most effective way to target help pertinently and
transparently, does not lend itself to the subsidising of the
travel cost of craftsmen to a specific Chamber of Crafts in
the Community . The Honourable Member is accordingly
correct in thinking that there are no special funds to be
claimed for the subsidy of travel costs in the way
envisaged .

However, the Commission presently envisages a
programme ( so-called ' Productivity Initiative ') through
which visits to and training periods in Community firms and
institutions could be launched to support enterprises and
institutions in Russia on their way to a market economy
framework . This will, of course, be done in such a way as to
ensure transparency and neutrality in the award of

contracts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2710 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 78

Subject : Fig export subsidies

The Commission is reportedly planning to reduce
Community subsidies for exports of Greek figs .

1 . Figs are a traditional Greek export whose main
competitor on the international market — Turkey — is
not a Member State of the Community .

2 . Present Community policy hitherto has reduced stocks
of this product to a minimum whereas an increase in
stocks will entail further Community spending .

Will the Commission, therefore, explain the reasons for its
decision to reduce the export subsidy ?

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2730 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2731 / 93

by Christos Papoutsis ( PSE )

Papoutsis ( PSE ) by Christos Papoutsis ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 79 ) ( 94 / C 296 / 80 )

Subject : Community financial aid
Subject : Premiums for fig production

Figs are a traditional export in some areas of Greece, a
source of additional income for thousands of farming
families and a factor in restricting unemployment and
de-population of the countryside .

In view of this, will the Commission say :

1 . whether there is any risk that the Community subsidy
for exports of Greek figs will be reduced under the new
common agricultural policy or other farming
Regulations, and

2 . whether, at all events, fig producers and fig packers are

guaranteed income support as they are mainly small
producers running small businesses and are under threat
from international competition because of their higher
production and packaging costs ?

The association concerned with helping drug addicts in the
Piraeus area is asking for Community financial aid to carry
out urgent work on the building it has been given to make it
operational . The aims of the association are :

— to provide help and support for drug addicts in the

Piraeus area ;

— to help them in any way possible to come off drugs and

to re-integrate into society ;

— to provide for their essential needs — housing, food,

clothing, etc .

According to the technical report by the Piraeus authorities,
the work to be carried out will cost an estimated DR 60

million .

In view of the above, can the Commission say :

1 . whether current Community rules and the Community
budget allow the EC to grant aid to associations with the
above aims ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2710 / 93 2 . If so, what procedures and time-limits must be observed

and E-2730 / 93 to obtain such aid ?
given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1993 )
The Honourable Members are no doubt referring to dried
figs . In recent years production and intra-Community trade
in dried figs has stabilized . The quantity and unit value of
Community exports are moreover clearly increasing . Dried Although the Commission organizes support measures for
figs do not qualify for export refunds but are covered by a the economic and social integration of disadvantaged or
Community scheme of minimum prices to fig producers, marginalized groups, responsibility for financing national
storage aid and aid for the production of dried figs . projects in this domain rests with the Member States .

The latter is based on comparisons with the price of the raw
material in producer third countries . For 1993 / 94 it was
reduced from ECU 30 386 to ECU 21 602 per 100 kilos as a
result of the increase in these prices . This year exceptionally
the reduction takes into account only part of the increase .
The minimum price and storage aid for 1993 / 94 are
virtually unchanged at ECU 66 663 per 100 kilos and ECU
0,0302 per day and 100 kilos respectively .

The Community has no specific responsibilities in the
matter of accommodation and so provision for financing
building renovation exists only in very limited cases, i.e. in
the context of social assistance for ex-ECSC workers,
migrant workers and frontier workers . Beyond those cases,
there are no budget appropriations for building renovation
within specific Community programmes .

However, the Commission could consider the possibility of
providing aid for the integration into working life of persons
exposed to exclusion from the labour market under
Objective 3 of the new Structural Funds Regulation .

No C 296 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

The Commission and the national authorities are at present WRITTEN QUESTION E-2832
preparing the negotiations framework with a view to by Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )
defining the operational Programmes by the end of this year . to the Commission
Once the Programmes have been defined the association in
question, after having consulted the Ministry of Labour (4 October 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2832 / 93

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( ESF department ), should submit its proposal either to the
Secretariat of the Multi-Fund Operational Programme for
Attica or to the Ministry of Public Health .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772 / 93

by John Iversen ( V )

to the Commission

( 28 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 81

Subject : Safeguarding the interests of minorities and
self-governing areas

What guidelines does the Commission propose to adopt to
safeguard the interests of national, ethnic and cultural
minorities and self-governing areas in the forthcoming
accession negotiations with new Member States, especially
where the negotiating partner does not wish to raise these
interests ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )

Accession to the European Union requires acceptance of the
acquis communautaire in all fields of Community policy . It
is however up to the candidate countries to present specific

requests .

The Community has little direct competence on matters
evoked by the Honourable Member but the Community is
founded on the rule of law and the protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms . These principles form the
basis both of Community law and the laws of the candidate
countries . Furthermore under Article 8 of the Treaty on
European Union every person holding the nationality of a
Member State shall be a citizen of the Union . Under this

article citizens of the Union enjoy the rights conferred by the
Treaty and are subject to the duties imposed thereby .

Moreover a Committee of the Regions is to be set up under
the provisons of the Treaty on European Union which
should better allow for the interests of self-governing areas
in the process of European construction .

( 94 / C 296 / 82

Subject : The ' Flegreo ' project — the Phlegraean Fields

nature reserve and the need to protect and use to
best advantage the historical, archaeological,
environmental and cultural heritage

In the area of the Phlegraean Fields, which covers the
districts of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Quarto and
part of the territory of the city of Naples, there are historical,
archaeological, natural artistic and cultural attractions of
inestimable value, which are unique in the world .

There is still time to halt the inexorable process of
deterioration and preserve this exceptional area for the
inhabitants and tourists from all over the world . In the area

there are four lakes : Averno, Fusaro, Lucrino and Miseno,
which are surrounded by archaeological, historical and
cultural sites as well as natural countryside and landscapes,
where living conditions need to be improved .

The leading newspaper in the South of Italy, ' II Mattino ', has
promoted two-day trips featuring archaeological and
natural attractions and food, in order to attract the attention
of the authorities and the general public .

Does the Commission not consider :

1 . that it should prevail upon the Italian State and all the

competent regional and local authorities to draw up a
specific and comprehensive plant to rehabilitate and
develop the area, in the context of the policy to protect,
safeguard and put to best use parks, nature reserves,
natural resources and the environment in general ?

2 . that in the context of the policy and objectives of the

reform of the Structural Funds for the years
1994 — 1999 it should grant co-financing of at least
60% for the exploitation and safeguarding of
productive resources and the archaeological,
environmental, historical, cultural and natural heritage
of this area ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the importance of the
historical, archaeological and ecological heritage of the
Phlegraean Fields area .

As part of the multifund operational programme the
Commission has financed at the request of the Campania
region — a number of projects to protect and develop the
archaeological and artistic heritage and natural resources

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 43

and to improve access to them . Examples include the
Pozzuoli archaeological park, improvement measures for
lake Miseno and rail transport development measures
(' circumflegrea ' and ' cumana ').

The Commission considers that operations to be
implemented in Campania in 1994 — 1999 should focus in
particular on tourism ( tourist amenities and development of
the historical and natural heritage ) and protection of the
environment . If the Campania region should submit a
specific integrated plan for the Phlegraean Fields area, the
Commission would assess its expediency and consider
financing conditions with a view to the possibility of
granting a Community subsidy .

iso-propyl alcohol from a process waste stream, and
resulted in a fire which essentially destroyed a process
building on site and a small adjacent tank farm .

Furthermore the environmental effect tests carried out

showed that the impact on the air and water pollution was
not serious and that there was little damage potential even
within the Cork harbour area, and thus no potential at all
for affecting other Member States .

However this accident has been reported to the Commission
under the mechanism for reporting major accidents by
virtue of the Directive .

Its causes and consequences will be analyzed and the lessons
learnt will be published together with those from similar
accidents which have occurred within the Community .

Finally it must be stressed that the verification of the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2840 / 93 compliance of particular plants with the provisions of the

by Alex Smith ( PSE ) Directive is the responsibility of the national authorities .

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 83

Subject : Possible pollution arising from chemical accidents

in Eire

What assessment has been made by the Commission that the
three accidents in August 1993 at the chemical plants
operated by Hicuson, Aom and Lawter respectively in the
Republic of Ireland have resulted in the discharge of toxic
chemicals that could result in the pollution of the air or
water of other EC Member States, in particular areas on the
western coast of the United Kingdom, and what information
has been provided by the Irish Government as to whether
these plants complied with EC environmental and health
and safety Directives ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

Chemical plants in the Community have to comply with
Directive 82 / 501 / EEC, the so-called Seveso Directive, which
is concerned with the prevention of, preparedness for, and
response to major accidents involving dangerous
substances .

Of the three accidents in August 1993 in Ireland, two did not
involve dangerous substances as defined in Directive

82 / 501 / EEC as amended .

The information transmitted to the Commission by the Irish
Environmental Protection Agency, indicates that the
explosion and fire at Hickson Pharmachem Ltd in Cork
harbour, started in a chemical reactor used to recover

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2863 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

94 / C 296 / 84

Subject : Non-payment of tribunal award

In 1991, one of my constituents was awarded compensation
unfair dismissal through an industrial tribunal . My
constitute 's former employer is now resident outside the UK
and living elsewhere in the European Community . This
employer has failed to pay the compensation award to my
constituent who is now entitled to a sum of £ 28 901 .

Given the Commission 's commitment to the Single Market,
what action can be taken at EEC level to redress the

situation in favour of my constituent ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 December 1993 )

The problem of an award for compensation made by an
industrial tribunal following a case of unfair dismissal can
be resolved in principle by the application of the rules of the
Brussels Convention 1968 on the recognition and
enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial

matters .

Awards made by industrial tribunals are not excluded from
the scope of this Convention which permits enforcement of
such orders in the other contracting countries . Accordingly

No C 296 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

the employee should be able to have the order enforced in
the contracting country where the former employer is now
resident .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2340 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 85 )

Subject : Protection of the natural heritage of the
Mediterranean

The natural heritage of the Mediterranean would be
protected more effectively if the Community set up a
European agency for this purpose .

Does the Commission agree that there is a need for such an
agency ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2404 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 86 )

Subject : European agency to improve protection of the

natural heritage of the Mediterranean

Would it be possible to set up a European agency to improve
the protection of the natural heritage of the
Mediterranean ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2405 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 87 )

Subject : Directive on the Mediterranean environment

In view of the exceptional environmental value of the
Mediterranean, could the Commission issue a Directive
under which technology and know-how would be
transferred to the Mediterranean countries, with particular
emphasis on aquaculture, cleaning up polluted coastal areas
and pollution control ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2914 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 88

Subject : Establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean service

The transfer of technologies and methods from the countries
of northern Europe to the Mediterranean Member States
regarding fish farming, the cleaning up of coastal regions
and systems for controlling pollution, notably by petroleum
products and sewage from coastal towns which flows into
the sea, might be easier if a Euro-Mediterranean service were
set up . Does the Commission consider that the
establishment of such a service is justified and that the
Community should undertake an initiative to this end ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2340 / 93, E-2404 / 93,

E-2405 / 93 and E-2914 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

At a ministerial meeting organized by the Commission
between 28 and 30 April 1992 in Cairo, the Environment
Ministers of the Mediterranean countries, and the Member
of the Commission with responsibility for the environment,
adopted a declaration on Euro-Mediterranean cooperation
on the environment in the Mediterranean region as an
extension of the Nicosia Charter of April 1990 .

The participants drew up a long-term strategy to be
combined with specific measures needed to attain the overall
objective of an environment compatible with sustainable
development in the Mediterranean region .

The plan of action adopted at the Cairo meeting consists of
two phases :

— a priority phase, designed to implement those elements

of the Nicosia Charter which have not yet been carried
out, define national strategies for sustainable
development and create inter-sectoral mechanisms for
integrating economic and environmental policy within
all the Mediterranean countries ;

— a longer-term phase designed to ensure the practical

integration of economic and environmental policy
through preparation and implementation of economic
and social flanking measures and the development of
cooperation and partnership between all the countries of
the Mediterranean .

In order to ensure effective implementation of the
programme, a watchdog mechanism has been set up with

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 45

the participation of the Commission, the Mediterranean
Action Plan ( MAP ) of the UNEP, the World Bank, the EIB
and other institutions .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2959 / 93

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

The Commission believes that the administrative and ( 94 / C 296 / 90 )
technical structures already set up by the Mediterranean
countries by and large cover the sectors referred to by the
Honourable Member . Rather than creating new structures,
it considers it more appropriate to improve the efficiency of Subject : Commission responsibility
the existing ones . visited Arab monument

Subject : Commission responsibility for the world 's most

visited Arab monument located in the

Community

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2941 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 18 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 89 )

Subject : Disposal of stocks of European wine-making

cooperative organizations

European wine-making cooperative organizations have
submitted to the Community a proposal for disposing of
part of their stocks ( some 600 000 tonnes ) by special
distillation . However, although the proposal was submitted
in May, the Community authorities have not yet given any
reply . Will the Commission state the Community 's position
on this question ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

The fact that the Alhambra in Granada is the world 's

most-visited Arab monument will mean that pictures of it
will be shown throughout next year more than 2 000 times
on 700 US television channels .

Nevertheless, there are those who claim that this monument
in Granada, jewel of the period of Arab rule over Spain,
needs an ongoing programme of repairs and maintenance if
it is to retain its architectural splendour .

Can the Commission say what action it has taken to
preserve the world 's most-visited Arab monument located
in the Community and to what extent it has employed
economic and budgetary resources to ensure that the
Alhambra in Granada is a model of the care given by the
EEC to its most prestigious monuments ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

The Alhambra in Granada is certainly part of the
Community 's outstanding cultural heritage, as are several
other monuments located throughout the Community .

Each year, the Community organizes a programme of pilot
projects for the preservation of our architectural heritage . In

1986 the Commission awarded Spain a grant of ECU
200 000 towards conservation work on the Lions ' Patio in

the Alhambra .

On the basis of the data available on 31 August 1993, .
recorded by the producing Member States, the Commission
is not in a position to propose special ' ad hoc ' distillation to
enable the disposal of a part of existing wine stocks . Furthermore, the Commission is currently preparing a
communication on objects and property of cultural and
historical value, for the purpose of producing a coherent
action plan in this area . Any proposals will be examined in

In fact, the level of the stocks of various wines on 31 August this context . The communication will be based on

1993 at Community level was entirely comparable with that Article 128 of the EC Treaty in accordance with the
of previous wine years . appropriate procedures .

In fact, the level of the stocks of various wines on 31 August

1993 at Community level was entirely comparable with that
of previous wine years .

No C 296 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2989 / 93 Answer given by Mr Millan

by Virginio Bettini ( V ) on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 22 December 1993 )

( 25 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 91 )

Subject : Arms dealers

The ' TG2 Dossier ' programme on the international arms
trade, which was broadcast by Italian television ( RAI ) on

10 August 1993, revealed the existence of a large arms depot
in Manchester belonging to American businessman Samuel
Cummings ' Interarms company .

Will the Commission explain how a major international
arms dealer can operate freely in Community Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

The Commission is not aware of the circumstances referred

to by the Honourable Member .

Whatever the facts may be, the possibility for an American
concern to engage in international arms business operating
out of a Member State is a matter for the legislation of that
State .

Furthermore, while the fight against arms trafficking is a
matter for customs, police and judicial cooperation between
the Member States, as organized by Title VI of the Treaty on
European Union, there is nothing in tl^e question to suggest
that the company in question is engaging in illicit
business .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3059 / 93

by Francois Musso ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 92 )

Subject : Implementation of the Interreg Programme in

Corsica

Can the Commission say how the Interreg Programme for
the southern Corsica and northern Sardinia has been

implemented and what funds have been earmarked for this
purpose, compared with the level of commitment and
payment appropriations ?

1 . The progress of the Interreg Programme for southern
Corsica and the Sardinian province of Sassari was studied
in detail by the Interreg Monitoring Committee at its
meeting in Ajaccio on 12 July 1993 . As a result, only
certain measures concerning southern Corsica were
re-programmed because according to the Sardinian
authorities all the measures concerning them will be
commenced within the time limits laid down .

The last transfers of funds between measures will be

examined at a forthcoming meeting of the Monitoring
Committee .

2 . As a result of the amendments adopted by the
Monitoring Committee at its meeting of 12 July 1993, the
Community assistance granted under Interreg was specified
in Commission Decision C(93 ) 2492 of 1 October 1993 .

The appropriations, in 1993 prices, are as follows :

ERDF :

ECU 17,494 million, with ECU 1 1,048 million for Italy and
ECU 6,446 million for France

EAGGF :

ECU 0,974 million, with ECU 0,487 million for Italy and
ECU 0,487 million for France

ESF :

ECU 1,418 million, with ECU 0,810 million for Italy and
ECU 0,608 million for France .

The situation at 31 October 1993 as regards commitments
and payments was as follows :

( in million ECU )

Funds Corsica / Sardinia Commitments Payments

3,223

( first instalment

for 1993 )

4,900

( first advance

for 1992 )

0,153

0,153

0,200

0,393

ERDF

EAGGF

ESF

Southern Corsica

Sassari province

Southern Corsica

Sassari province

Southern Corsica

Sassari province

6,446

( single instalment

for 1993 )

9,800

( 1992 instalment )

0,307

0,307

0,400

0,787

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 47

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3119 / 93

by Gerhard Schmid ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 93

Subject : The Community 's Social Fund ( ESF )

What specific projects in Bavaria have received funding
from the European Social Fund ( ESF ) since 1990, and how
much have they received ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

recruited persons to acquire qualifications or practical work
experience .

Following the 1988 reform of the Structural Funds, the
Commission no longer decides on individual projects ; it
considers only the programmes put forward by individual
Lander . The competent German authorities are solely
responsible for deciding on the funding of specific
projects .

( 12 January 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 150 / 93

by Paul Howell ( PPE )

to the Commission

On the basis of the Community support frameworks to
adopted for Germany in respect of Objectives 3 ( combating ( 19 November 1993 )
long-term unemployment ) and 4 ( integration of young 94 / C 296 / 94 )
people ), the Commission has authorized sums totalling ECU
22 707 213 and ECU 10 364 970 for the 1990 — 1992

period and for 1993 respectively to finance programmes in
Bavaria . and

94 / C 296 / 94 )

Subject : Cereal and sugar regimes

These sums break down as follows :

A. Objective 3

Measures to assist

( in ECU )

1 . Can the Commission comment on the results to date

of the new cereal regime price support system ? Will the
Commission announce its latest 1993 harvest estimates,
country by country, indicating also the amount of land set
aside in each country, in actual terms and as a percentage of
total cereal areas ?

2 . Now that the 1 October deadline has passed for
submitting proposals for the terms of the next sugar regime,
can the Commission comment on which specific reform
measures will be included in the new regime ? For example,
will the Commission change the terms of the quota system ?
Will the storage premium for the C quota be abolished ? Will
price supports for sugar beet production in excess of self
reliance be withdrawn ?

3 . Will the Commission be simultaneously renegotiating
the status of the Portuguese Accession Agreement with the

1994 sugar regime ?

— disabled people 7 452 382
— long-term unemployed women and

men 12 768 155

Total 20 220 537

B. Objective 4

Measures to assist

— disabled young people 1 957 306

— young women 899 245
— other disadvantaged young people 7 538 419

Total 10 394 970

C. Measures in accordance with

Article 1 ( 2 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No
4255 / 88

Guidance and advice for the

re-integration of the long-term
unemployed and technical assistance 2 456 676
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

As regards the development of rural areas ( Objective 5b ), ( 22 February 1994 )
the Commission has taken a decision on the contribution of

all three Structural Funds to the financing of an operational

programme .

The contribution from the European Social Fund ( ESF )
towards this programme amounts to ECU 31 792 510 for
the period 1990 — 1993 .

The bulk of this ESF funding is earmarked for vocational
training, although assistance is also given to enable newly

1 . It is too early to assess accurately the impact of cereal
price reductions on the level of consumption in the
Community . However according to the trade, consumption
may increase by 4-5 million tonnes in the 1993 / 94
marketing year, which would correspond with the
Community 's projections for the first year of
implementation of the reform .

No C 296 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

The Commission 's latest estimate of the 1993 Community 's
cereals harvest is 164,7 million tonnes, divided between
Member States as follows :

( in 000 ' tonnes )

Belgium and Luxembourg 2,035

Denmark 8,234

Germany 35,717

Greece 4,576

Spain 16,997

France 54,720

Ireland 1,403

Italy 18,475

Netherlands 1,467

Portugal 1,377

United Kingdom 19,709

This reduction in Community cereals production follows
the introduction of the Community set-aside policy under
the arable support system . According to provisional data
communicated by Member States, the total amount of
rotational set-aside in 1993 in the Community is 4,659
million hectares, divided between Member States and
expressed as a percentage of their total cereals area as
follows :

' 000 hectares % of total
cereal area

Belgium 19 5

Denmark 205 15

Germany 1,063 15

Greece 17 1

Spain 909 17

France 1,581 17

Ireland 24 10

Italy 207 6

Luxembourg 2 6

Netherlands 8 2

Portugal 70 10

United Kingdom 556 20

2 & 3 . As the Honourable Member is by now already
aware, the Commission adopted a proposal to the Council
on 29 September 1993 (*) providing for the retention of the
existing production arrangements, raw sugar supply
arrangements and aids in the Community 's sugar sector
for the 1994 / 95 marketing year, including the relevant
measures concerning Portugal .

In these circumstances the Commission intends presenting
new proposals to the Council on the arrangements to apply
after the 1994 / 95 marketing year ending on 30 June 1995 in
good time to allow a decision to be taken by the Council
before 1 January 1995 as envisaged in the proposed revised
text of Article 23 of the Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1785 / 81 concerned .

(M COM(93 ) 442 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3178 / 93

by Marc Galle ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 95 )

Subject : Panel of judges for the European literature prize

According to the press, a panel of judges has been appointed
to decide who should receive the European literature
prize .

1 . Who is appointing it, and according to what criteria ?

2 . Would it not be desirable and useful to hold a discussion

with the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and
the Media before taking such a decision ?

3 . Is membership of the EP incompatible with membership
of a panel carrying out an assignment on behalf of the
EC ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

The varying percentages of set-aside are explained by the (3 January 1994 )
different agricultural structures in Member States . In
particular some Member States have a higher proportion of
small producers who are exempt from set-aside . The The Aristeion Prize ( European Literary
percentage of set-aside as a proportion of the cereals area Translation Prize ) was established
gives a misleading impression compared with its calculation on books and reading adopted by the
as a proportion of the arable area . Certain Member States 18 May 1989 .
have for example a higher proportion of cereals according to
their traditional production trends . An announcement made in the

The Aristeion Prize ( European Literary Prize and European
Translation Prize ) was established following the resolution
on books and reading adopted by the Council ( Culture ) on

18 May 1989 .

In addition to rotational set-aside, 1,5 million hectares have
been withdrawn from production under the five year
set-aside scheme under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 .

An announcement was made in the Official Journal ( a ), and
these prizes are described in the Commission
communication on ' New Prospects for Community Culture
Action ' presented to the Council and the Parliament on
22 April 1992 .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 49

For each prize, an independent jury of nine experts is
selected by the Commission on a proposal from the Member
States . At the beginning of each year, the Member States are
asked by the Commission to nominate two professionals
from the world of books : the first for the literary prize

( writer, literary critic, etc .) and the other for the translation
prize (a translator, for instance ).

Apart from being a professional, the criteria are availability
and a perfect knowledge of at least three Community
languages . Jury members must travel to meetings three times
a year ( two of them last two days ) and must also read about
36 books or book reports .

The Commission sees no incompatibility between
membership of the jury and membership of the European
Parliament, provided the person in question is
professionally qualified to judge the quality of the literary
works submitted and is nominated by the relevant
authorities .

(!) OJ No C 35, 15 . 2 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 182 / 93

by Jessica Larive ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 96 )

When will the Commission finally put forward a proposal
for European legislation to ban imports into the EC of birds
caught in the wild ? If this situation persists for long, I fear
that Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 ( 2 ) on trade in
endangered species will enter into force automatically
because trade in birds caught in the wild threatens many
species with extinction .

(!) OJ No C 267, 14 . 10 . 1991, p . 226 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )

The Commission is fully aware of Community imports of
live wild birds as this trade is for the majority of the species
involved regulated under Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 3626 / 82 on the implementation in the Community of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
species of Wild Fauna and Flora . As indicated in its response
to resolution A3-2 12 / 91 and its replies to Written Questions
783 / 93 by Mrs Pollack ( J ), 1601 / 91 by Mrs Muscardini ( 2 ),
1988 / 91 by Mr Ford(4 ), and 2021 / 91 by Mr Brok ( 3 ), the
Commission is of the opinion that a blanket ban on trade in
wild birds is not necessary and that all aspects of wildlife
trade are adequately addressed in its proposal for a
Regulation laying down provisions with regard to
possession of and trade in specimens of species of wild fauna
and flora ( 4 ).

Subject : European ban on imports of birds caught in the

(!) OJ No C 281, 28 . 10 . 1991 .
wild

( 2 ) OJ No C 55, 2 . 3 . 1992 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 162, 29 . 6 . 1992 .

Is the Commission aware that : ( 4 ) OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 .

— each year, between one and three million birds caught in

the wild are imported into the European Community,
although enough are bred in Europe to meet
demand ?

— recent research has shown that in the case of certain

species of bird, three out of every four that are caught die
before delivery to pet shops in Europe ?

— 105 airlines have voluntarily agreed to ban
transportation of tropical birds ?

— there is however no legal remedy against evasion of this

ban and that such evasion has even resulted in

displacement of transport to bulk cargoes ( full charter )
inter alia via eastern Europe ?

— the European Parliament has on several occasions called

for European legislation ( resolution A3-212 / 91 { l ) on
the trade in exotic birds )?

— in spite of this, the Commission still has not proposed

legislation ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3223 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 97 )

Subject : Trade strategy with the countries of central and

eastern Europe

Can the Commission state whether — and, if so, when — a
consistent trade strategy is to be jointly drawn up with the
countries of central and eastern Europe, taking account of
the reform of the common agricultural policy and the new
rules on the trade in agricultural products ?

No C 296 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 1994 ) ( 22 December 1993 )

Help for progressive alignment of domestic policies with
those of the Community and development of reciprocal
trade are integral parts of the Europe Agreements or other
trade and cooperation agreements in force between
individual countries of east and central Europe and the
Community . Phare technical and other assistance is being
provided to countries with important agricultural interests
to help develop agricultural reform, development and
trading policies taking account of the objectives of these
Agreements .

In view of the wide range of possible changes presently
facing Community and other European countries '
agricultural production and trading regimes, the
Commission has initiated a study by high-level independent
experts of trade and related issues bearing on agricultural
sectors in the Community and east and central European
countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3286 / 93

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 98 )

Subject : The fight against AIDS — the programme
scheduled under Lome 4

The Commission recently pointed out that the Community
had contributed to the fight against AIDS in around 80
countries .

Can the Commission :

1 . name the countries in question ?

2 . specify the selection criteria for the projects in receipt of
funding ?

3 . state whether it considers that many valuable projects
have had to be abandoned because of a lack of suitable

funding ?

4 . give a percentage breakdown of the share of the total aid
allocated directly to hospitals, information programmes

( and the names of the places involved ), direct assistance
to sufferers and programmes specifically aimed at
promoting access to and use of condoms ?

Does the Commission consider that the programme
provided for under Lome 4, which has been allocated ECU
50 million, is adequate, bearing in mind past experience and
the objectives pursued ?

1 . The Commission has contributed to the fight against
AIDS in 64 ( i.e. almost all ) ACP countries and in 16
non-ACP countries ( in Latin America, Asia and the
Mediterranean ). Apart from national activities, the
Commission 's programme also provides support for
activities benefiting all developing countries ( education,
operational research, seminars, etc .), as well as activities
aimed at regions encompassing several countries .

2 . Since the Commission is aware that the resources

allocated worldwide to deal with the AIDS problem are
inadequate, it uses a number of criteria for selecting priority
activities, the main ones being as follows :

— The activities must be in keeping with the policy and

strategies laid down in the Community AIDS
programme recently put to the ACP-EEC Joint
Assembly, which the Commission will communicate to
the Council and Parliament in the near future . AIDS

policy for developing countries should follow six main
principles : suitability of operations for the environment
presenting a risk ; sensitivity to and, more importantly,
adaptation to the differences between the sexes ;
education of society and respect for human dignity ;
capacity to enable communities to take responsibility for
themselves ; integration of operations into a broader
framework ; and the suitability of these operations .

— The strategic priorities are prevention of the disease,

support for health systems to enable them to cope with
the epidemic, awareness of the epidemic 's social and
economic impact and scientific training .

— Criteria geared more to implementation are : consistency

of a particular operation with national policies and the
operations of other parties concerned, socio-cultural
acceptability of the operation, its cost-effectiveness and
viability .

3 . The Commission receives very few finalized projects
simply requiring support and funding . To date, no more
than 10% of activities financed by the Commission have
concerned projects submitted in this form . This means that
in most cases technical assistance is needed to turn a request
for support and funding into an acceptable project . The
Commission can therefore safely say that no valid project
submitted according to the aforementioned criteria has ever
been rejected solely on the basis of a lack of financial
resources . On the other hand, the support needed to develop
valid projects is sometimes delayed as a result of insufficient
human resources or expertise or problems concerning a
country 's ability to absorb aid .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 51

The human and financial resources available worldwide for

combating AIDS in developing countries are clearly
inadequate to implement the minimum activities needed to
limit the spread of the epidemic and cope with its impact .
Yet any financial boost must be accompanied by more
effective prevention and increased human resources .

4 . Most projects supported by the Commission combine
a number of operations, such as support for health systems,
information, education, provision of condoms, care for
people suffering from sexually transmissible disease, etc .
Overall, it is clear that the majority of aid ( approximately
70 % ) has gone towards preventing the spread of AIDS . The
rest has been spent on strengthening health systems

( including hospitals and transfusion centres ), as well as on
scientific training in order to improve operations on the
ground . More recently, support has been given to activities
aimed at coping with the disease 's socio-economic impact

( orphans, etc . . .).

5 . Under Lome IV, the Commission has pledged a
minimum of ECU 50 million for combating AIDS in the
ACP countries . At the moment 20 % of this sum has been

committed for activities specific to individual countries . The
Commission also receives around ECU 10 million a year
from the budget for the fight against AIDS in all developing
countries, part of which also benefits ACP countries .

At the moment, the Commission believes the allocated
resources to be in line with management capacity in Europe
and the developing countries . As regards the requirements,
please refer back to the answer to question 3 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-33 18 / 93

by Jean-Pierre Raff in ( V )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

In December 1992, Commissioner Van Miert stated that the
matter had been raised with the French authorities in May

1992 and the Commission would decide in the light of the
answers given .

1 . Did the French authorities reply to the questions raised
in May 1992 ?

2 . What were their replies ?

3 . When will the Commission take a decision ?

(!) OJ No C 25, 28 . 1 . 1994, p . 22 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )

As the Commission explained in its Tenth Report on the
monitoring of the application of Community Law —

1992 ( J ), it does give a certain amount of publicity to the
sending of reasoned opinions and to the referral of matters
to the Court of Justice . The serving of notice is not made
public unless it relates to the non-enforcement of a judgment
of the Court of Justice or the non-communication of
national measures to incorporate Directives .

The Commission considers that in keeping the first
exchange of views constituting the serving of notice
provided for under Article 169 of the EC Treaty
confidential, it succeeds in persuading the Member States to
respect Community law at the pre-dispute stage in a greater
number of cases than it would otherwise .

The questions on accurate data and figures put by the
Commission have not been answered . The Commission will

be looking at what the appropriate follow-up should be with
respect to the infringement procedure .

f 1 ) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993 .

( 94 / C 296 / 99 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-33 19 / 93

by Carlos Pimenta ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )
Subject : Poaching of turtle doves in south-western
94 / C 296 / 100
France

Commissioner Paleokrassas appears to have read Written
Question No 1189 / 93 too quickly and in his joint answer of
30 September 1993 to Written Questions Nos 1189 / 93 and
1692 / 93 ( ! ) has failed to answer the question properly .

Subject : Contracts with third country nationals

The Commission is recruiting an increasing number of
non-official staff under temporary contract .

No C 296 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

A growing number of them are third-country nationals .

How many third-country nationals has the Commission
recruited per Directorate-General under temporary
contract ? Can the Commission also explain for each
Directorate - General why it has specifically recruited
third-country nationals .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

Will the Commission investigate whether the
Directorate-General of the Government of the Autonomous

Community of Andalusia is in fact observing the Directive in
question in its treatment of the Oikos case ?

(!) OJ No L 186, 30 . 6 . 1989, p . 27 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1994 ) ( 24 February 1994 )

At present, the Commission employs two temporary and
three auxiliary members of staff with the nationality of a
non-member country . These staff were recruited in
accordance with the Conditions of Employment of Other
Servants .

Furthermore, in the private contracts which the
Commission concludes for the purposes of securing specific
services, some contractors may have the nationality of a
non-member country . On average, such contracts account
for only 1,5% to 2% of all contracts concluded by the
Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3467 / 93

The Commission is always willing to investigate any
allegation of the infringement of Community law . However,
in order to conduct such an investigation, the Commission
must receive detailed information about the facts of the

complaint and the behaviour of the authorities of the
Member States concerned which is alleged to constitute an
infringement .

The Commission would therefore invite the Honourable

Member to ask the company concerned to contact the
Commission directly in order to forward the necessary
information .

by Diego Santos López ( ARC ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3509 / 93
to the Commission by Francois Froment-Meurice ( PPE )

(7 December 1993 ) to the Commission

( 94 / C 296 / 101 ) (7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 102

Subject : Infringement of Directive 89 / 398 / EEC by the

Directorate-General for Consumers of the

Government of the Autonomous Community of
Andalusia

The firm Oikos Pharmaceuticals SA, of Fuengirola

( Andalusia ) markets, distributes and imports special dietary
products in Spain, particularly evening primrose or primula
oil and miercalga spirulina, which have alimentary
properties necessary to persons suffering from metabolic
deficiencies . These products are freely available in the
Community, and in Spain they were entered in the General
Foods Health Register in Jaen . With the change of
headquarters from Jaen to Fuengirola, the
Directorate-General for Consumers of the Government of

the Autonomous Community of Andalusia is preventing the
marketing of these products by refusing to re-enter them in
the Register .

I believe that the Andalusian administration is infringing the
provisions of Directive 89 / 398 / EEC ( l ) and specifically
Article 1 0 thereof, forbidding the Member States to prevent
the sale of these products when they meet the provisions of
the Directive and, where appropriate, Article 11 thereof .

Subject : Community legislation

Can the Commission provide a broad sector-by-sector
breakdown of the areas in which legislation is adopted each
year ?

Could this breakdown include percentage indications ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to

consult the Celex database, which can provide the required
information .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3541 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 103 )

Subject : Firework safety in the EC

Is the Commission aware that 942 people were injured by
fireworks in Britain in the four-week period surrounding
Bonfire Night in 1992 and that 34% were children under
the age of 13 ?

Will the Commission guarantee that the very high standards
of safety in the UK will not be undermined by imported
fireworks ?

Will the Commission bring forward a draft Directive in
consultation with the manufacturers, fire brigades and
trading standards authorities to ensure a high standard of
safety is maintained ?

general product safety ( ) which will enter into force on
29 June 1994 .

(!) OJ No L 228, 11 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

94 / C 296 / 104 )

Subject : Discrimination on basis of age in Commission

appointments

I understand from a constituent who recently enquired
about a vacancy within the Commission for surveillance
staff, that an age limit of 35 years is imposed on Commission
appointments .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann Why does the Commission discriminate against applicants

on behalf of the Commission on the basis of age ?

( 28 January 1994 )

The Commission is aware that injuries were caused to both
adults and children in the UK during the period referred to
the Honourable Member . The Commission would recall

that its action in the field of pyrotechnical articles is guided
by the need to guarantee the freedom of circulation of these
articles within the single market, and the need to ensure a
high level of consumer protection .

A group of experts from the Member States met on
20 September and generally supported the need for a
Community initiative in this field . There were wide
divergences as to the scope and contents of such an
initiative . Only if there is a certain consensus as to the scope
and contents of a future Directive will the Commission

present a proposal .

If such a proposal is adopted it would contain the
harmonized requirements that fireworks have to satisfy in
order to be placed on the market . Any such requirements
would of course guarantee the ' high level of protection '
referred to in Article 100 A. 3 EC Treaty . Fireworks
imported from third countries would also have to comply
with the same regulatory measures in order to be placed on
the market .

The Commission will ensure that, in the preparation of any
Community measure on this issue, the appropriate
consultations are made .

In the absence of a specific Community measure, these
products fall within the scope of Directive 92 / 59 / EEC on

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 542 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 105 )

Subject : Age discrimination in the European Community

As a result of continued pressure from MEPs and other
bodies will the Commission undertake to remove upper
age-limits in all its recruitment ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3491 / 93

and E-3542 / 93

given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 February 1994 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the answer to Written Question No 394 / 92 by Mr
Seligman ( J ).

( J ) See page 3 of this Official Journal .

No C 296 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3589 / 93

by Fernand Herman ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 106 )

Subject : Biological fuels

How far in general has the market in biological fuels
developed in the USA ( quantities, market share, percentage
of grain harvest involved ? Has the increase in production of
alcohol fuel led to difficulties for the USA in the GATT ?

Does the Commission share the view of the Federal German

Environmental Agency that biodiesel is harmful to the
environment because of the oxides of nitrogen ? In terms of
relative value, how does the use of biological fuels for 5 % of
supplies in Europe compare with oil stocks in the European
Union ? Does not the cultivation of energy crops on set-aside
land provide a strong incentive towards more intensive
methods, i.e. the ever-increasing use of production methods
designed to produce higher yields ? What lessons can be
drawn from a comparison between the energy balances of
oil and biological fuels ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

Ethanol in the United States is produced from corn . About
5 % of the total production is used for this purpose . In 1990,
ethanol represented 0,8 % of the total gasoline sales in the
United States . The 3,4 million m 3 of fuel ethanol produced in
the United States in 1990 reduced oil imports by more than
40 million barrels of crude oil . There are more than 50

ethanol production facilities operating in 22 different States,
representing a private sector investment of more than US$
2,5 billion . The United States fuel ethanol industry has a
current operational capacity of over 4,5 million m 3 per year .
According to the National Advisory Panel on Ethanol
Cost-Effectiveness, each billion gallons ( 3,8 million m 3 ) of
ethanol production increases employment by more than
4 400 farm jobs and 3 700 industrial jobs . The combination
of reduced oil imports and increased co-product exports,
resulting from ethanol production, reduced the United
States trade deficit in 1991 by more than US$ 6 billion .

The Commission is not aware of any specific instances in
GATT where the United States has raised possible
difficulties with regard to the production of fuel alcohol .

A meeting organized by the Commission on 27 September

1993 to assess biodiesel impacts on economy, energy and

the environment concluded that ' the ecological balance
needs more development but the global impact can be
considered to be of low level '. A delegate of the German
environmental agency ( Umwelt Bundesamt ) was present
and referred to the N 2 0 problem as being of ' marginal '
importance, which may be considered as a change of
opinion, on this matter, of that agency .

A review of existing work on the energy environmental and
economic balance sheets will take place within the context
of the International Biofuels Conference supported by the
Commission at Tours, France, on 9, 10 and 11 May
1994 .

The total oil demand of the Community in 2005 is estimated
at 617 million tonnes oil equivalent . If oil reserves in 2005
are at the same level as today ( that is three months demand )
then a share of 5 % biofuels in road transport fuel demand

( that is 22 million tonnes oil equivalent ), will represent in
energy equivalent terms around 7 % of the reserves .

One of the main guidelines followed by the Council in
deciding the reform of the common agricultural policy was
full and on-going compensation for the reduction in prices
of agricultural products through compensatory amounts or
premiums not related to the quantities produced . This
principle of compensation which is not linked to the level of
production equally applies to produce grown on set aside
land for purposes other than human or animal
consumption .

A summary of the results of several analyses made in the
framework of studies on bio-fuels conducted in several

Member States reveals that the energy balance is positive

( output / input global energy ratio ) in all cases with or
without considering the energy content of the co-products .
Several methodologies can be used to calculate the energy
balance . These different methodologies produce inevitably
substantially different results . The range for biodiesel is 1,56
to 6,3 . For bio-ethanol this range is 1,7 to 3,4 . The energy
balances improve if ' sustainable ' agricultural methods ( less
inputs ) are considered and will also improve with
technological development and industrial experience . When
comparing biofuel with fossil fuel energy balances and
disregarding the C0 2 balances and other externalities, the
balance is certainly favourable to fossil fuels from a ' strict
energy ' point of view . However, it should not be forgotten
that a diminishing finite resource is compared with a
renewable ( sustainable ) one .

24 10 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 296 / 55

QUESTION E-3758 / 93 institutions, the Commission agrees that the text of the

Nianias ( RDE ) arrangement could be made available to Members of

to the Commission Parliament, if requested .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3758 / 93

by Dimitrios Nianias ( RDE )

( 30 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 107 )

Subject : Clothing products agreement beween the EC and

Turkey

On 18 June 1993 the Commission initialled an agreement
for clothing products with Turkey to cover a period of two
years from 1 January 1993 until 31 December 1994 .

Given the agreed need for greater transparency in the
workings of Community Institutions, will the Commission
make a copy of this agreement available to Parliament ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Britan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

The Commission has negotiated a 2-years extension of the
arrangement concerning imports of clothing products from
Turkey to the Community, with the Association of Turkish
Exporters on a mandate from the Council and in strict
coordination with the Article 113 textile Committee .

The arrangement, which covers the years 1993 and 1994
was initialled by the Commission and the Association on

18 June 1993 in Istanbul and was approved by the Council
on 8 November 1993 .

Neither the clothing arrangement in question, nor the twin
arrangement for textile products which covers the years

1992 and 1993, have been made public, nor any of their
predecessors . The latter were circulated only among the
Community authorities because of their particular nature .
They are informal arrangements agreed by the Commission
with the Association of Turkish Exporters who undertake
not to exceed certain levels of exports to the Community for
some sensitive products . The government of Turkey,
because of the preferential bilateral trade relations with the
Community under the Association Agreement, has always
refused to negotiate formal quantitative restrictions .

The Turkish Government guarantees the administration
and implementation of the arrangements even if it considers
them to be contrary to the provisions of the Association
Agreement between Turkey and the Community . Turkey
has always expressed its strong preference for a restricted
circulation of the text of the documents .

However, in the context of the objective of improving
transparency of all the activities of the Community 's

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 767 / 93

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 296 / 108 )

Subject : Timeshare

In the light of the draft Directive on timeshare is the
Commission aware of the malpractice occurring in some
holiday resorts ?

Does it intend to amend or review the present legislation on
timeshare to take this into consideration or will it

commission research into this matter ?

Will the Canary Islands be included in this legislation or will
they be declared ' off-shore ' islands and therefore be
exempt ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

In its meeting held on 19 November 1993, the Council
reached a political agreement on the proposal for a Directive
on the protection of purchasers in contracts relating to the
purchase of a right to use property on a timeshare basis . A
common position is therefore expected in early 1994 . The
Commission does not consider it necessary to go beyond the
text adopted by the Council .

The Commission is glad to inform the Honourable Member
that the future Directive on timesharing will apply in the
Canary Islands as in the rest of the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 849 / 93

by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech ( RDE )

to the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 296 / 109 )

Subject : The AL-Invest Programme

Can the Commission give details of the progress of the
AL-Invest Programme, and state in particular whether the

No C 296 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 24 10 . 94

association or associations which will make up its future WRITTEN QUESTION E-3899 / 93
secretariat have already been designated ? by Bryan Cassidy ( PPE )

to the Commission

If so, can the Commission state the names of the associations
and give details of when they are scheduled to take up their
duties and the arrangements relating thereto ?

( 24 January 1994 )

94 / C 296 / 1 10

Subject : Amendments

Referring to Written Question No 1253 / 92 ( ) from Lord

on Answer behalf given of the Commission by Mr Marin O'Hagan MEP and the answer, could the Commission

supply up-to-date information concerning the percentage of
( 14 January 1994 ) those amendments passed by Parliament which it has
accepted ?

The AL-Invest Framework Programme for industrial
cooperation and investment promotion, agreed by the
Commission on 26 April 1993, has raised great expectations
among both Latin American and European operators .
Already a number of projects and operations have been
carried out in relation to sub-contracting and to expanding
the TIPS Programme ( Technological Information
Promotion System ) for South-South exchanges .

With regard to the appointment of the secretariat, it was
decided following an open invitation to tender to set up a
secretariat with the active participation of the main existing
support networks for industrial cooperation with Latin
America : the chambers of commerce and the employers '
federations .

(!) OJ No C 274, 22 . 10 . 1992, p . 61 .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1994 )

The information, updated to 30 December 1993,
concerning the percentage of the amendments of the
Parliament accepted by the Commission on its proposals
subject to the cooperation procedure, is as follows :

First reading Second reading

Amendments tabled 4 572 1 074

Amendments accepted 2 499 ( 54,65% ) 475 ( 44,22% )