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f     -     - >| _ ISSN 0378-6986
# Official J ournal c 55

Volume 35
###### of the European Communities 2 March 1992

Volume 35

2 March 1992

English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

92 / C 55 / 01 No 2528 / 90 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Wave power 1

92 / C 55 / 02 No 2833 / 90 by Mrs Simone Martin to the Commission
Subject : Development of biotechnology 1

92 / C 55 / 03 No 220 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community support programme for the hotel industry 2

92 / C 55 / 04 No 360 / 91 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Transport rates 2

92 / C 55 / 05 No 556 / 91 by Mr John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Importation from Thailand of cereal substitutes 3

92 / C 55 / 06 No 604 / 91 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Council
Subject : Transit of lorries through Yugoslavia, the Swiss Confederation and Austria 3

92 / C 55 / 07 No 666 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Disfigurement of the Naples ' Palazzo Reale ' — unauthorized modifications 4

92 / C 55 / 08 No 751 / 91 by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Problem of water supply on the island of Kímolos ( Greece ) 4

92 / C 55 / 09 No 757 / 91 by Mr José Alvarez de Paz to the Council
Subject : Amendments to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 5

92 / C 55 / 10 No 782 / 91 by Mrs Mathilde van den Brink and Mr Lode van Outrive to the
Commission

Subject : Involvement of the Commission in the Schengen Agreements 5

2 ( Continued overleaf )

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No 784 / 91 by Mr Paul Lannoye to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of, and action taken following, the accident at Chernobyl

No 802 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : European road safety

No 811 / 91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Road links between Spain and Portugal ( IP3 and IP4 routes )

No 930 / 91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Road links between Spain and Portugal ( IP3 and IP4 )

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 811 / 91 and 930 / 91

No 880 / 91 by Mrs Simone Martin to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies for production of spirits

No 883 / 91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : The breakdown of the European traffic system

No 935 / 91 by Mr Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Food aid for Sudan and supervision by a private body

No 96 1 /9 1 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Council
Subject : Radioactive and nuclear waste discharge

No 968 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Germany 's exclusion from Community food aid

No 982 / 91 by Mrs Astrid Lulling to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties caused by customs and administrative formalities for light aircraft and
private aircraft flying from one Community Member State to another

No 1001 / 91 by Mr Didier Anger to the Commission
Subject : Technical assistance under the Structural Funds

No 1057 / 91 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : Acidic corrosion of books

No 1058 / 91 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : Krypton 85 in the starters of energy-efficient lamps

No 1088 / 91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Irrigation projects in Spain

No 1096 / 91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Career structure in the European civil service

No 1 099 / 9 1 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Council
Subject : ' Timberwind '

No 1101 / 91 by Mr Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : European regional airlinks

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92 / C 55 / 28 No 1105 / 91 by Mr Rafael Calvo Ortega to the Commission
Subject : Farm surpluses and basic necessities 16

92 / C 55 / 29 No 1 1 10 / 91 by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Council
Subject : Competition and control of concentrations between undertakings 16

92 / C 55 / 30 No 1112 / 91 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject : Jarosite reprocessing — an advance at Budelco ( Netherlands ) 17

92 / C 55 / 31 No 1 132 / 91 by Mrs Gepa Maibaum to the Commission
Subject : Projected Paris-London-Brussels-Amsterdam-Cologne rapid rail link 18

92 / C 55 / 32 No 1155 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Measures to combat long-term unemployment 18

92 / C 55 / 33 No 1241 / 91 by Mr Wayne David to the Commission
Subject : Environmental impact assessment in national legislation 19

92 / C 55 / 34 No 1242 / 91 by Mr Luigi Vertemati to the Council
Subject : European water pipeline project in the Middle East 19

92 / C 55 / 35 No 1252 / 91 by Mr Florus Wjisenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Public support for aviation 20

92 / C 55 / 36 No 1276 / 91 by Mrs Ana Miranda de Lage to the Commission
Subject : Omission of the letter n from computer keyboards 21

92 / C 55 / 37 No 1277 / 91 by Mrs Ana Miranda de Lage to the Commission
Subject : Omission of the letter n from computer keyboards 21

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1276 / 91 and 1277 / 91 21

92 / C 55 / 38 No 1330 / 91 by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo and 26 other signatories to the
Commission

Subject : Priority of Mediterranean policy 21

92 / C 55 / 39 No 1331 / 91 by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo and 26 other signatories to the Council
Subject : Priority of Mediterranean policy ; 22

92 / C 55 / 40 No 1434 / 91 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Council
Subject : The need for product labelling to aid those suffering from allergies 24

92 / C55 / 41 No 1440 / 91 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Council
Subject : Protection against exposure to asbestos 25

92 / C 55 / 42 No 1455 / 91 by Mr Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Decline in small farmers ' earnings 25

92 / C 55 / 43 No 1464 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Creation of Commission citizens ' advice bureaux . . 25

92 / C 55 / 44 No 1474 / 91 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission
Subject : Employment structures in the Andalusia farming sector 26

( Continued overleaf )

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92 / C 55 / 45 No 1475 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Toxic and harmful substances affecting flora and fauna in the Molise and Abruzzo
regions 27

92 / C 55 / 46 No 1487 / 91 by Mr Francois Musso to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the environment and the Mediterranean coastline 28

92 / C 55 / 47 No 1488 / 91 by Mr François Musso to the Council
Subject : Border crossings by MEPs 28

92 / C 55 / 48 No 1505 / 91 by Mr Terence Wynn to the Council
Subject : The Office for Emergency Operations in Africa ( OEOA ) 28

92 / C 55 / 49 No 1516 / 91 by Mr George Stevenson to the Commission
Subject : Trade in birds — Malta 29

92 / C 55 / 50 No 1523 / 91 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject : Threats against the Plaza de Mayo women 29

92 / C 55 / 51 No 1529 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Tropical rain forests in the Republic of Guinea 30

92 / C 55 / 52 No 1547 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom 30

92 / C55 / 53 . No 1549 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject : Environmental audit of fuels 31

92 / C 55 / 54 No 1557 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Council
Subject : EC funds for NGDOs 31

92 / C 55 / 55 No 1572 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of shipping routes along the Community Atlantic seaboard 32

92 / C 55 / 56 No 1595 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Council
Subject : Satellite broadcasting standards 32

92 / C 55 / 57 No 1 600 / 9 l by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Food additives 33

92 / C 55 / 58 No 1601 / 91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Ban on imports of exotic and wild birds into the Community 33

92 / C 55 / 59 No 1639 / 91 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject : Guidelines on the progress and future of the CAP 33

92 / C 55 / 60 No 1653 / 91 by the following members : Elmar Brok, Bartho Pronk, Ria
Oomen-Ruijten and Raphael Chanterie to the Commission
Subject : Achieving the social dimension of the Single Market 34

92 / C 55 / 61 No 1654 / 91 by the following members : Elmar Brok, Bartho Pronk, Ria
Oomen-Ruijten and Raphael Chanterie to the Council
Subject : Achieving the social dimension of the Single Market 35

92 / C 55 / 62 No 1655 / 91 by Mr Lyndon Harrison to the Commission
Subject : Directive 82 / 502 / EEC ( Seveso ) 35

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No 1660 / 91 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : The implications of 1992 for unemployed persons applying for jobs in Member States
other than their own 36

No 1670 / 91 by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasoliba I Bohm to the Commission
Subject : Promoting the teaching of Japanese in the Community 36

No 1735 / 91 by Mrs Michele Alliot-Marie to the Commission
Subject : Origin of industrial products imported into the Community from the countries of
Eastern Europe 37

No 1787 / 91 by Mr John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Gross registered tonnage of Community fishing fleet 37

No 1791 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Fire safety 38

No 1820 / 91 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Directive on measures to encourage research into small photovoltaic solar energy units
( Federal-Länder programme — 1000 photovoltaic roof units ) 38

No 1826 / 91 by Mr Alain Marleix to the Commission
Subject : The profession of ambulance driver in the single market as of 1993 . 39

No 1860 / 91 by Mr James Ford to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Recipocal arrangements for dealing with deaths of visiting EC nationals 39

No 1864 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Clearing of undergrowth 40

No 1901 / 91 by Miguel Arias Cañete, Lord Bethell, Mr Elmar Brok, Sir Fred
Catherwood, Mr Patrick Cox, Mr Willy De Clercq, Mr Gijs de Vries, Mr James Elles,
Mr Ingo Friedrich, Mr Klaus Hansch, Mr Geoffrey Hoon, Mr Alan Lamassoure, Mr
Manuel Medina Ortega, Mr Hemmo Muntingh, Mr Luis Planas Puchades, Lord
Plumb, Mr Hans-Gert Poettering, Mr Manuel Porto, Mr Dieter Rogalla, Mr Leo
Tindemans, Mr John Tomlinson, Mr Michael Welsh, Mr Karl von Wogau and Mr

Eisso Woltjer to the Council
Subject : Development of US / EC relations . . 41

No 1914 / 91 by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez to the Commission
Subject : Economic and monetary union 42

No 1922 / 91 by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde to the Commission
Subject : Concessions requested by Norway 42

No 1923 / 91 by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde to the Council
Subject : Environmental policy 43

No 1940 / 91 by Mr Francois Musso to the Commission
Subject : Plant health safeguard for citrus fruit seedlings ... 43

No 1963 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Action taken under Article 152 of the EEC Treaty . 44

No 1974 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Family dimension of Community policy 44

( Continued overleaf )

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Contents ( continued ) Page

No 1975 / 91 by Mr Fernand Herman to the Commission
Subject : Distortion of competition in favour of giro cheques 44

No 1988 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Imports of wild birds into the EC 45

No 1996 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Fire safety in buildings 45

No 2014 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject : Centres of European culture 45

No 2020 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Censorship of publications arriving at Walvis Bay 46

No 2089 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Ancient woodland sites 46

No 2093 / 91 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of establishment in the broadcasting sector 47

No 21 16 / 91 by Mr Proinsias de Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Compulsory carrying of ID cards 47

No 2136 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Reform of social security systems 48

No 2151 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : The need for international supervision of banks 48

No 2197 / 91 by Mr Jacques Vernier to the Commission
Subject : Customs formalities concerning removals from one Member State to another 49

No 2208 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Compatibility of scales of charges with EC ] competition law 50

No 2210 / 91 by Mr Jacques Vernier to the Commission

Subject : Fiscal advantages in the enterprise zones . 50

No 2219 / 91 by Mr Proinsias de Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Sanctions against South Africa 51

No 2223 / 91 by Mr Proinsias de Rossa to the Council
Subject : The fight against AIDS 51

No 2231 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council
Subject : Reduction of milk quotas 51

No 2232 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council
Subject : CAP reform and development cooperation 52

No 2261 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Recurrence of illegal fishing in Namibian territorial waters 52

No 2270 / 91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Property prices in Berlin 53

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 55 / 98 No 2274 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Tax aid for investment in the Basque Country 54

92 / C 55 / 99 No 2300 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Guaranteeing payment of fines on hired vehicles 54

92 / C 55 / 100 No 2328 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Council
Subject : Development of economic relations with the Russian Federation 55

92 / C 55 / 101 No 2339 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Restricted rights for bank employees in Turkey 55

92 / C 55 / 102 No 2361 / 91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Council
Subject : ' Two-speed Europe ' and economic and social cohesion 55

92 / C 55 / 103 No 2533 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Need for a serious reassessment of the presence of dioxin in the environment and the
food chain 56

92 / C 55 / 104 No 2590 / 91 by Mrs Jessica Larive, Mr Carles-Alfred Gasoliba I Bohm and Mr
Filippos Pierros to the Council
Subject : Pan-European energy charter 57

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2528 / 90

by Mr Neil Blaney ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1 990 )

( 92 / C 55 / 01 )

Subject : Wave power

In my Written Question No 1577 / 90 ( 1 ) I asked whether
the Commission would undertake an enquiry to ascertain
the validity of figures for the unit cost of electricity from
wave power released by the UK Department of Energy
showing that, contrary to their past affirmations, wave
power ( at 5,2 pence / kilowatt hour ) is cheaper than
electricity from the latest generation of pressurized water
reactors ( 6,25 pence / kWh ). In its answer the Commission
fails to answer this specific point . Will the Commission
now provide the required answer, indicating clearly why it
does or does not wish to investigate this potential major
breakthrough on the renewable energy front ?

(') OJ No C 28,4.2 . 1991, p. 22 .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

As regards the cost comparison between electricity
generated from wave power and from pressurized water
reactors the Commission has nothing to add to its reply
given to Written Question No 1577 / 90 .

In the Specific Research and Technological Development
Programme in the Field of Non-nuclear Energies for the
period 1990-1994, if approved by the Council, work to be
undertaken by the Commission on wave power would
start with studies and exploratory research . The
Commission is also investigating the usefulness of

opening the THERMIE Programme to wave power
projects .

A seminar was held on 25 April 1991, in which the
Honourable Member participated, with the aim of
discussing priorities for future Community supported
research in wave power . Following the seminar, a
technical steering group, chaired by Dr Lewis of Cork
university, met to finalize the structure of the preliminary
research activities which will be initiated as soon as
possible . These will involve four main areas :

( i ) wave studies and development of resource
evaluation methodology,

( ii ) wave energy convertors : generic technical evaluation

study,

( iii ) European pilot plant study,

( iv ) European wave energy research network .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2833 / 90

by Mrs Simone Martin ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 December 1990 )

( 92 / C 55 / 02 )

Subject : Development of biotechnology

In 1988, Europe obtained only 19% of biotechnology
patents while the United States and Japan registered twice
as many . Does not the Commission consider therefore
that Community efforts in this area are totally inadequate
and that more effective measures should be rapidly
envisaged to revive this sector, which is of vital
importance to the Community ?

No C 55 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 July 1991 )

The Commission has draw up directives and rules in the
biotechnology field, in particular concerning intellectual
property and the protection of human health and the
environment . Once approved by the Council and applied
in the Member States, these will provide a clear,
harmonized framework for industrial activity in this

sector .

The importance which the Commission attributes to this
matter was highlighted recently in its communication to
Parliament and the Council of 19 April 1991 entitled :
' Promoting the competitive environment for the
industrial activities based on biotechnology within the
Community ' ( 1 ).

As regards Community research in the field of
biotechnology, the Honourable Member is referred to the
Commission 's answer to Written Question No 1930 / 90
from Mr Robles Piquer ( 2 ).

O SEC(91 ) 629 final .
O OJ No C 325,24 . 12 . 1990 .,

WRITTEN QUESTION No 220 / 91
by Mr Gerardo Fernandez     - Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 03 )

Subject : Community support programme for the hotel

industry

Much of the Community hotel industry, particularly in
Spain, has been seriously affected by the slump in the
tourist trade . Many hotels have been forced to close for
lack of adequate funds to weather the crisis .

Since the downturn in the tourist trade appears to be of a
long-term nature and the hotel industry appears to be
unable to take this development in its stride unaided,
consideration should be given to a specific Community
programme of support for the hotel industry similar to
those formulated for other economic sectors of the

Community in crisis, such as the iron and steel,
shipbuilding and mining sectors, so that it is able to carry
out the necessary adjustments and continue to make its
valuable contribution to the economy of the Community
as a whole .

Does the Commission agree that it should launch an
economic restructuring programme along the lines set out
above ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1991 )

The Commission keeps a close watch for any signs of

severe Community - wide difficulties in sensitive sectors of
the European economy . During the Gulf crisis, for
example, when a certain amount of concern was evident in
the tourist industry, the Commission, in agreement with
the Member States and the industry, introduced flexible
machinery for consultation and mutual information so as
to monitor the situation . With this machinery in place, the
signs of recovery in the industry became discernible as
soon as the crisis was over .

In certain areas or industries, the business situation may
be unfavourable, but resolving the problem is a matter for
the Member State or industry concerned, as the specific or
emergency measures taken by certain Member States or
trade associations have shown .

To back up initiatives taken by Member States or trade

associations, the Commission has decided on a
Community action plan to assist tourism ( x ), the aim of
which is to encourage the development of tourism by
helping to create a favourable environment for tourism
firms and by stimulating diversification of the supply of
tourism products so that it can better respond to changes
in the structure of demand . Among other things, the
Commission would like to encourage, usually in
cooperation with Member States and the industry,
specific measures to assist rural tourism, cultural tourism
or environment-friendly forms of tourism .

The Community action plan, which is at present being
discussed by the Council and by Parliament, could be one
of the instruments called for by the Honourable Member
to facilitate the long-term adjustment of the tourist
industry .

In the shorter term, it is worth recalling the measures
taken under the Community structural Funds to assist
tourism ( Community assistance under regional policy in
the regions eligible under Objectives 1, 2 and 5(b ) of the
reformed structural Funds for the period 1989-93
amounts to over ECU 2 billion ) as well as certain
programmes such as PERIFRA, which enable Member
States to take further measures to assist tourism .

O COM(91 ) 97 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 360 / 91

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 04 )

Subject : Transport rates

Is it true that the Commission envisages limiting tariff
agreements by liner conferences explicitly to that part of
transport relating to carriage by sea ?

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 3

Does the Commission consider that this would improve
the chances of survival of Community shipping ?

Is this in accordance with the provisions on freedom to fix
rates for the carriage of goods between Member States as
set out in COM(89 ) 189 ?

What are the implications of the answers to the two
previous questions for agreements fixing rates for
transport by inland waterway, for example agreements
concluded by the TVNZ ( North-South Chartering
Association )?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 November 1 991 )

The Commission is of the opinion that Article 1 of

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4056 / 86 O must be
interpreted in such a way that the scope of the Regulation
is restricted to international maritime transport . As long
as the text of Article 1 reads as it stands the block
exemption of liner conferences referred to in Article 3 is
only applicable to the tariffs of conferences concerning
the sea leg .

The Commission, although of the opinion that not all

measures for the enforcement of the competition rules
necessarily have as their aim to promote the chances of
survival of Community shipping, will do the necessary to
bring this matter to a solution which is acceptable for all
parties concerned .

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4058 / 89 ( 2 ) rates
for road haulage operations between Member States have
since 1 January 1990 been set by free agreement between
the parties to the haulage contract . There is, therefore, no
incompatibility with the inclusion of matters relating to
rates in the proposals concerning liner conferences .

With regard to transport by inland waterway, the

Commission, in conjunction with the trade and shippers,
is . currently examining matters relating to the
organization of inland shipping markets with a view to
improving the competitiveness of the industry . Transport
rates have been dealt with in that context .

( ) OJ No L 378, 31 . 12 . 1986 — Corrigendums OJ No L 93, 7 . 4 .

1987 and OJ No L 117,5.5 . 1988 .
O OJ No L 390, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 556 / 91

by Mr John McCartin ( PPE )

, to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 05 )

Subject : Importation from Thailand of cereal substitutes

Can the Commission provide details of the amount of
cereal substitutes ( manioc ) imported into the Community
from Thailand over each of the last three years ?

What is the value of this product on the Thai market ?

How much of a levy is charged on this product by the
Community on its importation ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 1 7 October 1 991 )

During the last three years Community imports of manioc
from Thailand, on the basis of import certificates, were as
follows :

1988:5 486 590

1989:5 482 227

1990:4 707 734

According to the official Thai statistics, the average price
of manioc pellets in the Thai market in 1990 was around
$US 95 per tonne .

On the basis of the Cooperation Agreement between the
Community and the Kingdom of Thailand the levy
applicable to imports of manioc covered by the Agreement
is limited to a maximum amount of 6 % ad valorem .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 604 / 91

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 15 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 06 )

Subject : Transit of lorries through Yugoslavia, the Swiss

Confederation and Austria

The Commission has been instructed to negotiate with
Yugoslavia, the Swiss Confederation and Austria to find a

solution to transit problems for lorries through these
three countries .

No C 55 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

While it appears that agreement can be reached relatively

quickly with Yugoslavia, negotiations with the other two
countries are likely to pose problems .

This matter requires a very skilful approach, calling for
solidarity on the part of all Member States of the
European Community .

It is therefore surprising to learn that the Luxembourg
Minister of Transport has publicly endorsed the negative
attitude being adopted by Switzerland and Austria on this

matter .

Is the President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers
speaking on behalf of all the Members ? Did the
President-in-Office consult his colleagues before making
his statement ?

The Luxembourg Minister for Transport has also invited
his Swiss and Austrian counterparts to a lunch to be held
by the Council of Ministers for Transport on 27 March

1991 .

Did the President-in-Office consult his colleagues in
advance on the advisability of such a step and on the
attitude to be adopted towards their Swiss and Austrian
counterparts ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

The Council is perfectly aware of the importance of the
negotiations being held with the three transit countries to
which the Honourable Member refers, and of what is at
stake . It is not, however, for the Council to comment on
statements made by one of its members concerning these
negotiations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 666 / 91

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

Can the Commission ascertain whether the Naples
' Palazzo Reale ' is being administered in such a way as to
comply with Community laws on the protection and
preservation of the artistic and architectural heritage and,
where necessary, will it appoint a committee of experts to
assess the damage done and provide funding to give a
fresh boost to spending on invaluable works of art ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

Although the Commission is expanding its activities for
the conservation of the Community 's cultural and
architectural heritage, it cannot be involved in the manner
in which a listed monument is restored . This is a matter
for the Member States alone .

The Commission cannot therefore set up a committee of
experts to assess the damage done by a technically poor
approach to restoration of a monument ; only the national
and / or regional authorities are responsible .

To be eligible for Commission financial support,
conservation work on the Naples Palazzo Reale would
have to be classified among the pilot projects selected on
the advice of a committee of experts . Each year a Notice is
published in the Official Journal, lauching the annual
procedure and setting out the special theme for the year .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 751 / 91

by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 23 April 1991 )

( 16 April 1991 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 08 )

( 92 / C 55 / 07 )

Subject : Disfigurement of the Naples ' Palazzo Reale ' —

unauthorized modifications

The Naples Palazzo Reale ' is of outstanding artistic and
cultural merit, indisputably among the finest in Europe
and the world .

In the last 10 years, it has been seriously disfigured by
changes which have detracted from its architectural merit
and in no way correspond to the purpose for which it was
intended . On 4 March 1991 the interior of the Palazzo
Reale, designed by Vanvitelli, underwent a number of
unauthorized modifications for the purpose of adding an
extra room .

Subject : Problem of water supply on the island of

Kimolos ( Greece )

A recent edition of the Greek newspaper, the Pondiki,
reports on the serious problem of water supply on the
Greek island of Kimolos in the Cyclades . Warm and
brackish springs are the only source of water on the island
and the wells have long been polluted, with the result that
the only way for the island to obtain water is by ship,
which is difficult, particularly in winter . Studies have
shown that the only means of solving the problem is by
the desalination of seawater and of the wells . What are the
prospects and possibilities of Community funding for
measures to solve the above problem ?

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 5

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 November 1991 )

The Commission is aware of the serious water supply
problems on the islands of the Aegean, especially the
island of Kimolos .

If the Greek authorities concerned submit a proposal for
financing, under existing operational programmes and in
accordance with the rules and procedures of the structural
Funds, the Commission will be willing to examine it .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 757 / 91

by Mr José Alvarez de Paz ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 23 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 09 )

Subject : Amendments to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71

Can the Council say what amendments will be made to
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 (') and to what extent this
will result in improved social protection for migrant
workers ?

O OJNoL 149,5.7 . 1971, p. 2 .

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

1 . At its meeting on 25 June 1991, the Council ( Labour
and Social Affairs ) adopted Regulation ( EEC )
No 2195 / 91 (') amending a large number of points in
Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72 .

The purpose of these amendments is to update the basic

Regulation and the implementing Regulation in the light
of developments in national legislation and to improve
both Regulations on the basis of experience acquired
during their application .

2 . As regards future amendments, the Council is in the
process of examining the proposals for Regulations on
non-contributory benefits, on the calculation of pension
settlements and on a series of miscellaneous amendments .
The Commission currently proposes submitting a further
proposal on jobless workers .

It is not possible at this point to say what the effect of the
future Regulations will be on social protection for
migrant workers .

0 OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1991, p. 2 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 782 / 91

by Mrs M athilde van den Brink

and Mr Lode van Outrive ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 10 )

Subject : Involvement of the Commission in the Schengen

Agreements

On 20 and 21 February 1991, a debate was held in
Strasbourg on the Schengen Agreements . As recorded in
the minutes, Mr Bangemann failed to give answers to a
number of questions . Can the Commission therefore
answer these questions, which are as follows :

1 . Are studies being carried out by or on behalf of the

Commission, or have such studies been carried out,
concerning the Schengen Agreement, political
cooperation and migration ?

2 . What stage has been reached with these studies ?

3 . Who is or was responsible for carrying out the studies ?

4 . What national representatives were contacted by the

Commission or those carrying out the study for the
purposes of consultation and information ?

5 . What studies have been completed and is the
Commission prepared to forward the findings to
Parliament ?

6 . Against which budget heading have appropriations

been charged to pay for these studies and how much
did they cost ?

7 . Does the Commission intend to pursue a policy of

freedom of establishment for third-country nationals
legitimately registered in the EC in order to facilitate
their integration ?

8 . What measures are envisaged by the Commission in

response to the swelling flow of immigrants from
Central and Eastern Europe and northern Africa ?
Does the Commission consider that it should consult
the European Parliament on this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 November 1 991 )

Apart from a comparison by the Commission departments

of the Convention applying the Schengen Agreement and

No C 55 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92 .

the Palma document which was sent to the Coordinators
Group and to Parliament 's Legal Affairs Committee, no
studies in the strict sense of the word have been carried
out by or on behalf of the Commission regarding the
Schengen Agreement .

However, two major studies have been carried out on
immigration . At the request of the European Council in
Hanover ( 1988 ), a study on the social integration of
third-country migrants residing on a permanent and
lawful basis in the Member States (') was carried out by
the Commission departments on the basis of the findings
of a report by independent experts . The European
Council in Strasbourg ( 1989 ) then requested that an
inventory of national positions on immigration be
established . The Commission instructed a group of
experts under the chairmanship of Mr Braun, former
Director-General, to carry out this study the results of
which were published in the report entitled ' Policies on
immigration and the social integration of migrants in the
European Community ' ( 2 ). These two reports were sent to
Parliament and were funded from the 1989 and 1990
budgets ( budget heading B-6451 : Measures in favour of
migrant workers ).

The Commission has not arranged for specific studies to
be carried out on the question of police cooperation .
However, it agreed to a request from the University of
Leicester for a modest financial contribution to a project
undertaken by it in an independent capacity . The
contribution was charged against budget heading 8260
( studies ). The Commission also made a small financial
contribution to the organization by the Informations ­
und Bildungszentrum Schloss Gimborn ( near Cologne ) of
study seminars aimed at promoting cross-frontier police
cooperation with a view to establishing the frontier-free
area . This contribution was charged against budget
heading 7750 ( projects concerning the internal market ).

The contact persons in the Member States for the ' Braun

Group ' were designated by the coordinators . One person
in each Member State was made responsible for arranging
contacts for the delegation of experts on their visits to the
various capitals, where they met both the compe ­
tent official departments and non-governmental
organizations . As regards the University of Leicester, the
choice of national contact persons is a matter solely for
the organizers of the project, which has not yet been
completed .

The Commission is not at present considering any
initiatives to grant non-Community nationals residing
lawfully in a Member State the right of permanent
residence and access to employment and self-employed
activities throughout the Community . However, as part
of the process of establishing the area without frontiers
provided for in Article 8a of the EEC Treaty, it calls for
such nationals to be able to move freely in the Community
without a visa . Such a provision is contained in the draft
convention of the Member States of rfie European
Communities on the crossing of external frontiers .
Should this convention fail to be adopted, the

Commission would come up with its own proposal on the

matter .

The Commission recently adopted two communications
to Parliament and the Council, one on immigration in
general and on the problem of growing and potential
migration flows ( J ) and the other on the right of
asylum ( 4 ). Taking these two communications as a basis, it
would be useful to have an exchange of views with
Parliament on this matter .

(') SEC(89 ) 924 final .
( 2 ) SEC(90 ) 1813 final .
O SEC(91 ) 1855 .
O SEC(91 ) 1857 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 784 / 91

by Mr Paul Lannoye ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 11 )

Subject : Consequences of, and action taken following,

the accident at Chernobyl

The Commission took part in the assessment carried out
by the IAEA of exposure to radiation following the
Chernobyl accident and of its consequences .

1 . Were measurements taken on actinides and strontium

in the food chain and if so, what were the results ?

2 . Were the areas defined in which contamination
involves exposure to a level of risk considered
unacceptable by the ICRP (1 msv ), and if so, what
areas were concerned and how many people were
involved ?

3 . What specific measures has it taken or does it intend

to take to aid the people affected ( in accordance with
the wish expressed by the EP on 15 May 1990 in its
resolution B3-1003 / 90 (') on urgent medical and food
aid for the victims of Chernobyl in the Ukraine,
Byelorussia and Russia )?

0 ) OJNoC 149, 18.6 . 1990, p. 126 .

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

1 . Measures from a wide range of environmental
samples including food products were carried out after

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 7

the Chernobyl accident and have now been reviewed and
corroborated in an evaluation of the accident by the
International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ). Actinides
and strontium were detected in radioactive material
deposited on the ground after the Chernobyl accident as
well as in some components of the food chain . However,
their concentration decreases much more rapidly than the
concentration of caesium 137 and 134 due to the
dimension of the aerosol particles, so that their
contribution to exposure of man is small .

The Sovifet authorities have produced maps delineating

affected areas with radioactivity exceeding caesium levels
of 37kBq / m 2 ( lCi / km 2 ) which are found in thirteen
districts in the USSR ; areas with caesium levels exceeding

185 kBq / m 2 (5 Ci / km 2 ) totalling 25 000 km 2 ( 58% in
Byelorussia, 33 % in the Russian Federation and 9 % in the
Ukraine ); and areas with caesium levels exceeding
555 kBq / m 2 ( 15 Ci / km 2 ) and 740 kBq / m 2 ( 40 Ci / km 2 )
respectively . For settlements in the range of
185-740 kBq / m 2, various measures have been taken, e.g.
importing clean food, improved health services, etc . The
Soviet authorities intend to relocate people still living in
areas where the caesium levels exceed 740 kBq / m 2 . For
people living in areas presently contaminated at that level,
the total lifetime dose will be approximately three times
the European Community average lifetime dose from
natural radioactivity which is around 150 mSv . This value
is based on a life expectancy of 75 years and an average
exposure to natural radioactivity of 2 mSv / year (').
According to the latest information, some 825,000 people
live in these affected areas ( ref . The International
Chernobyl Project : An Overview IAEA, 1991 ).

3 . The Commission has participated, along with other
international organizations, in the evaluation by the IAEA
of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident in the
USSR requested by the Soviet authorities . The
Commission has also supplied more than 600 personal
dosimeters to the population of the Ukrainian and
Byelorussian Republics and the Russian Federation .
These instruments in the hands of responsible
' environmental health officers ' in the villages will allow
people to obtain a direct and unbiased assessment of
exposure levels and should help to reduce the uncertainty
and stress prevailing in these areas . The Commission is
now implementing collaboration with the Chernobyl
Centre for International Research . This cooperation will
help to assess the situation in contaminated areas and to
develop optimal strategies for the mitigation of

consequences .

The aid destined Commission for a has paediatric also contributed institute and to for an a emergency childrens '
home for 650 victims of the catastrophe of Chernobyl .

( ) Annals of the ICRP . Statement from the 1983 Washington

Meeting of the ICRP — ICRP publication No 39 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 802 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 12 )

Subject : European road safety

Would the Commission comment on the view of Mr
J. E. Over, Chief Constable of Gwent, who opines that

politicians who are more concerned with increasing sales
through improved trade are ignoring the human tragedy
caused by road accidents, costing Europe over £34 billion
per annum ?

Answer given by Mr van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1991 )

The Commission does not normally comment on
opinions expressed by public or civil servants in the
Member States .

The Commission none the less attaches special
importance to the issue of road safety and to the creation
of a European road safety area ( see its communication to
the the Council Community of 9 ' (')). January 1989 ' Road safety : a priority for

It is well aware of the economic cost of road accidents in
the Community which, according to a report it
commissioned from a group of independent experts,
ranges somewhere between ECU 45 billion and ECU
90 billion per annum . Irrespective of any human
considerations, road safety is an economic issue of the
first order .

C ) COM(88 ) 704 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 81 1 / 91

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 13 )

Subject : Road links between Spain and Portugal ( IP3 and

IP4 routes )

The IP3 ( Viseu-Regua-Vila Real-Chaves / Orense ) and
IP4 ( Oporto-Vila Real-Bragan^a / Zamora ) routes both
require the existence of road links between Spain and
Portugal which are not being considered under the
existing Spanish road plan .

No C 55 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs, and what
action is it in a position to take to ensure construction of
these links ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 930 / 91

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 14 )

Subject : Road links between Spain and Portugal ( IP3 and

IP4 )

The IP3 ( Viseu, Regua, Vila Real, Chaves, Orense ) and
IP4 ( Porto, Vila Real, Braganfa, Zamora ), require proper
connections between Spain and Portugal, which are
apparently not included in the Spanish road network plan .

Is the Commission aware of this and what measures does
it intend to take to ensure that these links are provided ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 811 / 91 and 930 / 91

given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1 991 )

The Commission is well aware of the need for improved
road connections to assist economic development in
certain areas of Portugal and Spain .

On 18 June 1991, an Operational Programme for
the Portugal Commission and Spain was initiative approved under ' INTERREG the provisions '. While of
INTERREG is not primarily an initiative for roads, the
Programme approved for Portugal and Spain takes into
account the exceptional development constraints faced by
their border areas, granting ECU 297 million from the
European Regional Development Fund for the
Sub-programmes ' Highways for Integration and
Articulation ' on both the Spanish and Portuguese sides of
the frontier . The total cost of this INTERREG
Programme is ECU 555,5 million, which the Community
is supporting with ECU 384,9 million ( ERDF ECU
374,3 million ).

The Programme is a joint initiative between the Member
States, who determine priorities within the bounds of
eligibility and available resources . The INTERREG
Notice C(90 ) 1562 / 3 of 30 August 1990 provides for the
Improvement of existing roads, or the creation of
necessary new infrastructures, where such operations can
demonstrate a clear economic impact on both sides of a
border . The routes quoted by the Honourable Member
would need to meet these requirements, both in terms of

Member State priorities and of eligibility . Approval of
specific projects within the agreed Programme is the strict
competence of the Member States concerned .

For its part, the Commission is aware that the N122 ( E82 )
stretch of the IP4 from Zamora, continuing to Miranda
do Douro, is expected to benefit from support . The
Zamora area is due to benefit from a total of ECU
8,4 million lor highway improvements, while Orense will
receive ECU 21,4 million for various roads with an impact
on the Portuguese and Spanish border areas .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 880 / 91

by Mrs Simone Martin ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 15 )

Subject : Subsidies for production of spirits

As one of its measures to counteract the deficit of the
Deutsche Kornbranntwein-Verwertungsstelle GmbH
( Miinster ), the German Government is providing
substantial subsidies for the production of the grain spirit
known in German as ' Korn '. By fixing the retail price of
spirits distilled from fruit at a relatively high level, the
German Government is also able to provide indirect
subsidization for German producers of fruit-based spirits .

What is the Commission 's opinion on the compatibility of
the above measures with the rules of competition of the
Single Market ?

Does the Commission not think that the German
Government, following the example of the French
Government 's steps to abolish its monopoly on
production of spirits, should compensate the German
producers of raw materials who benefit directly or
indirectly from the above measures, so that they will stop
processing their products into alcohol or spirituous
beverages, or else restrict its subsidies t;o the production
of alcohol intended solely for use as fuel, in order to avoid
distorting competition on the traditional unsubsidized
spirits markets ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

The Honourable Member is informed that the
Commission, with the completion of the Single Market in

1993 in prospect, is examining to what extent changes will

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 9

be necessary to Community agriculture rules with a view
to the abolition of all intra-Community frontier checks
and to ensuring identical conditions of competition
throughout the Community .

In this context, the Commission considers that the
negotiations in the Council on a common organization of
the market in agricultural alcohol should be resumed on
the basis of a revised proposal . This would seem
particularly necessary in order to exclude future appeals
by Member States under Article 46 of the Treaty . The
drafting of such a proposal will clearly necessitate a
reexamination of existing national rules .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 883 / 91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 16 )

Subject : The breakdown of the European traffic system

1 . Is the Commission aware of the increasing alarming
reports concerning the breakdown of the flow of traffic in
Europe ?

2 . Does the Commission concur with the forecasts that
the volume of traffic within Europe will rise by at least
30 % in the next ten years ?

3 . What does the Commission envisage doing to stem
this flood of traffic ?

4 . To what extent does the Commission believe that
the railways can take back an increased percentage of
Europe 's traffic ?

What investment is necessary to achieve this ? Should the
load be distributed differently between the roads and the
railways ?

5 . What is the Commission 's opinion of the idea of
making the use of roads so much more expensive that the
total demand will drop or, at least, that demand will rise at
a significantly slower rate ? Has the Commission
undertaken any assessment of the effect which a doubling
of the tax on mineral oil would have on the volume of
traffic ?

6 . Does the Commission not share the view that
European society is being choked by excessive division of
labour, production of goods and personal mobility ?

7 . What operational conclusions does the Commission
envisage drawing from the ' Pisani Report ' ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

The Commission is aware of the forecasts and outlooks
for the development of transport in Europe produced by
various sources during the last year including, in
particular, the report of the ' Transport 2000 + ' working
party, ' Towards a Transport System for Europe '. This
report sees great difficulties ahead with the capacity of the
current infrastructure to handle the forecast volume of

traffic .

A big increase in the volume of traffic in Europe is
inevitable between now and 2000 . Intra-Community
traffic will increase probably by 20-30% and intra ­
Community road traffic by about 40 % .

Preventive measures are going to be necessary, therefore,
to avoid the flow of traffic being choked . Some of these
measures have already been taken, e.g. the promotion of
combined transport and a bigger role for the railways .

The Commission intends to bring out a white paper this
year on the development of the common transport policy .
Three recent publications in particular will be taken into
consideration in this respect :

— the Dutch government 's memorandum on ' Transport

in Europe ';

— the report by Mr Amaral, Chairman of the
Parliamentary Committee on Tourism and Transport,
on the development of the common transport policy in
the run-up to the internal market and Parliament 's
resolution based on this report ; and

— the ' Towards report a of Transport the ' Transport System 2000 for Europe + ' working '. party,

It is clear that steps must be taken now to increase the
efficiency of present-day transport systems and to extend
transport infrastructure systems on a selective basis . The
cost of using transport infrastructure should also be
passed on to the users .

Intra-Community road traffic is expected to increase so
much that a solution must be found to the situation on
Europe 's roads . Action to transfer part of this traffic to
other modes of transport seems inevitable . Nevertheless,
the question is whether they, and especially the railways,
can handle the extra traffic . For this reason, the
Commission is currently examining to what extent such a
transfer will be feasible and the investments required .

No C 55 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 935 / 91

by Mr Marc Galle ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 17 )

Subject : Food aid for Sudan and supervision by a private

body

In January 1991 the Commission decided to grant food
aid to Sudan . 5233 tonnes of cereals and ECU 20 000
were allocated . The Irish private aid body ' Concern ' was
given responsibility for the food supplies and funds .

1 . Is it customary to entrust the administration of such
aid to private bodies ?

2 . What criteria are such bodies required to meet ?

3 . On what basis was ' Concern ' selected ?

4 . What measures are taken to supervise such bodies in

the accomplishment of their task ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1 991 )

1 . For a non-governmental organization ( NGO ) to be
eligible as a recipient of Community food aid, it must
meet the conditions set out in Article 1 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1420 / 87 dated 21 May 1987 ('),
which are as follows :

( a ) have a statute that is characteristic of an organization
of this type ;

( b ) have their headquarters in a Member State of the
Community or, exceptionally, in a third country ;

^ c ) show that they have a capacity to carry out food-aid

operations successfully ;

( d ) have given an undertaking to comply with the supply
terms laid down by the Commission .

2 . In the Sudan only a limited number of NGOs are
present and all have been registered by the Sudanese
authorities . Each NGO is working in a specific region,
which in the case of Concern is the White Nile . All the
NGOs receiving Community food aid are well known to
the Commission 's delegation in Khartoum, which has
recommended all the actions foreseen .

3 . All NGOs are required to submit distribution
reports concerning their activities . In addition, the

Commission is currently employing a technical assistant,
who is based in Sudan to monitor the food aid .

4 . The decision taken on 9 January 1991 to allocate
5 233 tonnes of cereals and ECU 20 000 for the purchase
of other products represents the balance remaining within
the framework of the 1990 budget . As Concern had an
overall request for 45 000 tonnes of cereals for Sudan, a
priority country, this allocation represented a first
contribution to them .

(') OJ No L 1 . 36,26 . 5 . 1987 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 961 / 91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 18 )

Subject : Radioactive and nuclear waste discharge

1 . What representations have been received from

( a ) the Eur opean Parliament and

( b ) the Commission on radioactive waste issued since
1973 ; and what concerns were expressed ?

2 . Please list the occasions when

( a ) the Energy Council

( b ) the Environment Council

( c ) the T ransport Council

( d ) the Agriculture Council have discussed radioactive
waste and nuclear waste discharges in each year since

1973 . What decisions have been taken by the
respective councils on these matters over that time
period ?

3 . What questions have been answered to Members of
the European Parliament on

( a ) radioactive waste and

( b ) nuclear safeguards since 1980 ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

1 . The Council is not usually expected to list the
representations made by the European Parliament or the
Commission . However, the Council naturally feels that
the active development of Community action in the
sphere of nuclear waste must be underpinned by ongoing,

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 11

coordinated efforts on the part of the competent
institutions .

2 . Although the Council meets in a variety of
compositions, as the Honourable Member points out,
where the adoption of texts is concerned it always acts as a
single Community institution . It has indeed received a
sizeable number of questions and resolutions from
the European Parliament as well as Commission
communications and proposals in the extensive field to
which the Honourable Member refers .

The acts adopted by the Council in this field since 1980
include :

— the Council resolution of 18 February 1980 on the

implementation of a Community plan of action in the
field of radioactive waste ( 1980-1992 );

— Council Decision 85 / 199 / Euratom adopting a
programme on the management and storage of
radioactive waste involving research, development and
demonstration activities ;

— the Council resolution of 19 October 1987 on
the fourth action programme of the European
Communities on the environment, which stresses the
need for Community action with respect to the
management and storage of radioactive waste ;

— the Council Decision of 15 December 1989 adopting a

specific research and technological development
programme for the European Atomic Energy
Community in the field of management and storage of
radioactive waste ( 1990-1994 );

— Directive 89 / 684 / EEC of 21 December 1989 on

vocational training for certain drivers of vehicles
carrying dangerous goods by road . This Directive
obliges Member States to require drivers of vehicles
carrying dangerous goods, and in particular
radioactive substances, to meet the training standards
set out in the European Agreement concerning the
International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
( ADR );

— the Council conclusions of 18 and 19 December 1990

on the objectives, standards and criteria for
radioactive waste disposal in the European
Community .

The Council regularly examines the progress of work in
this area on the basis of reports or communications from
the Commission .

In the last of the documents cited above, the Council
pointed out that the action undertaken by the Community
for the management of radioactive waste has enabled
cooperation to be introduced between the Member States .

The Council also recommended that due consideration be
given by the Commission to all types of radioactive waste
including those produced outside the nuclear industry .

At the moment the Council is actively examining a
proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive

80 / 836 / Euratom laying down the basic safety standards
for the health protection of the general public and
workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation with
respect to the prior authorization of the transfer of
radioactive waste .

This proposal has been forwarded to the European

Parliament for its Opinion and the Council is awaiting its
position with great interest .

In general terms the Council shares the concern expressed
by the European Parliament and the Commission as
regards safety . The Council too attaches major
importance to the need to guarantee — at the highest
safety levels which can be achieved in practice — the
protection of the population and the environment against
the potential dangers associated with the management,
transport and storage of nuclear waste .

To this end, the Council continues to encourage the
Commission to promote joint action, in cooperation with
the competent authorities of the Member States . It also
advocates the establishment of a Community approach
with a view to developing an international consensus in
this area, particularly within the IAEA and the OECD
Nuclear Energy Agency .

Moreover, these problems have also been discussed in the
context of numerous international agreements that the
Community has signed with the principal countries
concerned, namely, the United States, Canada and Japan .
The future Euratom-USSR agreement will also concern
waste management . Lastly, Sweden is directly associated
with the Community programmes .

3 . It is not for the Council to draw up a complete list of
the questions from Members of the European Parliament
to which it has already replied . Since replies to Written
Questions are published in the Official Journal of the
European Communities, the Honourable Member is asked
to apply to the General Secretariat of the European
Parliament for such a list .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 968 / 91
by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 19 )

Subject : Germany 's exclusion from Community food aid

The free distribution of foodstuffs by the European
Community among its most needy citizens is one of the
Community 's most important social measures and a
significant increase is planned for the current financial

No C 55 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

year, including the allocation of ECU 3 million for the
cost of transporting such foodstuffs within the
Community .

It is however surprising that the planned distribution
among the Member States shows that the Federal
Republic of Germany is not included in the scheme,
although it might be supposed that, like any other society,
Germany also has some citizens in need .

Can the Commission say why the Federal Republic of
Germany has been excluded from the above Community
scheme ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

Since . 198 8 the Community has implemented a scheme to
provide free distribution of foodstuffs from intervention
stocks to the neediest citizens in the Community .

All the Member States took part in this programmie during
the first two years of its implementation .

For 1990 and 1991, Germany decided not to take part in
the programme, mainly because of the disproportion
between the volume of funds required for carrying out
this measure in Germany and the limited benefits for the
neediest persons . There exist, moreover, in Germany,
national measures to assist the persons in question .

The sums recovered were, on each occasion, redistributed
among the other Member States .

Currently, Germany is considering the possibility of
participating in the 1992 scheme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 982 / 91

by Mrs Astrid Lulling ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 20 )

Subject : Difficulties caused by customs and
administrative formalities for light aircraft and
private aircraft flying from one Community
Member State to another

Complaints have been received from pilots of light
aircraft and private aircraft at the excessive formalities
they are required to complete when travelling from one
Member State to another . For example, aircraft of this
type are not allowed to fly directly from Wiltz

( Luxembourg ) to Thionville ( France ). They must first
land at Luxembourg airport to complete customs
formalities and then at Metz airport to complete the
customs and other formalities required by the French
authorities before being allowed to fly to Thionville .
Anyone wishing to fly a light aircraft or private aircraft
from the flying club of one country to the associated
flying club of another country is required to give notice of
up to 24 or even 48 hours and spend the weekend dealing
with the immigration and customs authorities . "

Does not the Commission consider that light aircraft and
private aircraft should be allowed freedom of movement
in the single : market without the excessive restrictions
currently imposed ?

Is the Commission prepared to submit proposals to
harmonize regulations in the Member States concerning
this type of aviation, in order to ensure that light aircraft
pilots who are Community nationals and whose aircraft
are registered in one of the Member States receive the
same treatment as other Community citizens travelling
from one Member State to another by a different means
of transport ?

For example, does the Commission consider that a light
aircraft or private aircraft should be authorized to fly
directly between two airports in different Community
Member States, provided that a flight plan is forwarded
sufficiently well in advance to ensure air traffic safety ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

The Commission is well aware of the private pilot 's
concern about the problems and restrictions which still
exist today for general aviation and light aircraft, and that
a Europe without internal frontiers after 1992 should, in
principle, also apply to non-commercial air traffic .

The Commission has already submitted some measures
for adoption by the Council in order that a Europe
without internal frontiers becomes a reality in 1992, in
particular the proposal for a Council Regulation
concerning the elimination of controls and formalities
applicable to cabin baggage and checked baggage of
passengers taking an intra-Community flight, and the
baggage of passengers making an intra-Community sea
crossing (').

The Commission 's proposal, which includes general
aviation, is now under discussion in the Council, which
has just adopted a common position on it .

o OJNoC 212,25 . 8 . 1990 .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 13

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1001 / 91

by Mr Didier Anger ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 21 )

Subject : Technical assistance under the Structural Funds

1 . In the framework of the Structural Funds, what
technical assistance has the Commission given to Ireland,
Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece in the field of land-use
planning and environmental impact assessment ?

2 . What has been the effect of this in terms of
improving both the legislation and administrative
procedures in these countries ?

3 . What furthei  - improvements has the Commission
identified as being necessary to enable the governments of
these countries to plan and assess their economic
development programmes to ensure their sustainability,
effectiveness and compatibility with environmental
protection requirements ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1 991 )

In March 1990 the Commission reminded all the Member
States that under the regulations implementing the
reforms of the structural Funds they may secure the
technical assistance they need to take the environmental
dimension systematically into account in their regional
development policies, and in particular to respect
their obligations stemming directly from Community
directives .

The technical assistance so far provided to Ireland,
Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece on environmental
matters has been principally for environmental impact
studies concerning certain specific measures for which
Community part-financing, mainly from the ERDF, was
requested . The assistance granted for a large number of
measures also includes the costs of analysing the
environmental impact of the measure in accordance with
Community directives .

General measures are financed in such a way as to ensure
the correct application of Community directives on the
environment . For instance, a series of measures providing
technical assistance to the Portuguese authorities will be
financed with the aim of improving implementation of the
environmental directives in the field of tourism .

In order to assist the Member States to plan and take
long-term decisions on their regional development
preparing strategy in the the ' future Europe 2000, the Commission ' document, in is which currently the

quality of the environment and respect for natural
resources are regarded as essential elements of any
long-term economic development strategy .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1057 / 91

by Mr Gerhard Schmid ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 22 )

Subject : Acidic corrosion of books

In answer to Written Question No 2725 / 90 O, the
Commission states that, under the STEP programme, it is
already supporting two coordinated research projects on
the acidic corrosion of books .

1 . Which were these projects ?

2 . Who is participating in these projects ?

3 . What have been the findings to date ?

O OJ No C 315, 5 . 12 . 1991, p. 2 .

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 August 1991 )

1 . The projects within the STEP Programme relating
to acidic corrosion of books are :

—
the effects of air pollutants on the accelerated ageing

of cellulose containing materials ;

— the ageing of vegetable tanned leather ( used in

bookbindings ).

2 . The institutions involved in these two projects are,
respectively :

— TNO Centre for Paper and Board Research, The

Netherlands ( project coordinator );

— Swedish Paper and Pulp Institute, Sweden ;

— Chalmers University of Goteborg, Sweden ;

— Musée national d'Histoire naturelle, France

and

— The School of Conservation, Copenhagen, Denmark

( project coordinator );

— Centre de Recherches sur la Conservation des
Documents graphiques, Paris, France

No C 55 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

— Centraal Laboratorium voor Onderzoek van
Voorwerpen van Kunst en Wetenschap, Amsterdam,

Nederland :

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1088 / 91

— The Leather Conservation Centre, Northampton, ( 29 May 1991 )

United Kingdom ;

( 92 / C 55 / 24 )
— Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Den Haag, The
Netherlands .

United Kingdom ;

3 . These two coordinated STEP projects commenced
recently and no results are available at the present time .
The projects are due to be completed in May 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1058 / 91

by Mr Gerhard Schmid ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 23 )

Subject : Irrigation projects in Spain

Further to its reply to my Written Question No
2408 / 90 ('), could the Commission state :

1 . whether ' measures to offset any adverse impact ' have

been included in the Operational Programmes in
question ;

2 . according to what criteria it decides what form such
measures should take and at what level an
environmental impact of the type concerned here —
i.e. destruction of the habitat of wildlife protected
under Community law — is deemed to be acceptable ?

(') OJNoC 85,28.3 . 1991, p. 38 .
Subject : Krypton 85 in the starters of energy-efficient

lamps

With reference to Written Question No 2407 / 90 ('):

1 . In the United States certain energy-efficient lamps of

European manufacture are classified as dangerous .
What criteria are used in respect of this classification ?

2 . Should not the Commission apply the same criteria ?

3 . What alternatives to radioactive substances are
available for use in starter lamps ? Are alternative
products already on the market ?

O OJ No C 168,27.6 . 1991, p. 8 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1991 )

1 . The Commission is aware only that compact
energy-efficient lamps are classified as dangerous goods
in the United States and, according to the information
supplied to it, are used only in commercial and industrial
premises . They are not available through retail outlets .

2 . The Commission will conduct a detailed
examination of the criteria laid down by the American
authorities concerning these products, and decide in the
light of this examination whether similar measures are
called for in the Community .

3 . Radioactive substances are occasionally used in
starters for all types of fluorescent ( neon ) lamps . An
alternative is to use traditional-type starters . In the case of
energy-efficient lamps, the use of electronic starters has
been on the increase for some time .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

1 . The operational programme does not include
specific measures to offset any adverse impact of the
foreseen actions . These measures must be drawn up at
project level, when necessary, as indicated in the
Commission decision approving the operational

programmes .

2 . The criteria mentioned by the Honourable Member
are not immutable but depend on the results of the
environmental impact assessment made in accor ­
dance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( J ) before the
implementation of a project .

(') OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1096 / 91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 25 )

Subject : Career structure in the European civil service

1 . Does the Commission share my view that
Community officials appointed by means of general

2.3.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 15

selection procedures — separate for each institution —
make slower progress in their careers than national civil
servants in comparable grades ?

2 . Does the Commission share by view that the
promotion of good officials with responsibility for
European affairs from A 7 to A 6 should take no more
than three years ?

3 . In how many cases has the Commission not been
able to keep to this time limit and for what reasons ?

4 . Are the reasons financial and, if so, is the
Commission willing to take major steps to ensure that the
budgetary authorities remedy and improve the situation ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 1 October 1 991 )

1 . It is impossible to compare the career pattern of
Community officials with that of national civil servants
because of the wide differences which exist between the

various national civil services and between these and the

European civil service .

2 . Merit is the most important criterion for promotion ;
in principle age and seniority can be taken into account
only where candidates are of equal merit, as the Court of
Justice confirmed in its judgment of 17 January 1989 in

Vainker .

In view of the fact that officials who are recruited to the
basic grade in category A as a result of general
competitions are very highly qualified, the Commission
agrees that the best A 7 officials ought to be promoted to
A6 within the time limit suggested by the Honourable

Member .

3 . On average, about 25% of the A 7 officials who are
eligible for promotion ( i.e. those who have at least two
years ' seniority in the grade ) are actually promoted each

year .

The main reason for this situation is the lack of available

budgetary resources .

4 . The screening exercise undertaken by the
Commission earlier this year should help improve this
situation, if the budgetary authority accepts its
conclusions regarding additional staff and budgetary

resources .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1099 / 91

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 26 )

Subject : ' Timberwind '

As part of the SDI initiative the Pentagon is developing a
rocket driven by nucle ar reactors . With the aid of uranium
extremely high temperatures can be reached, giving
' Timberwind ' exceptionally powerful initial thrust . When
launched it releases radioactive waste directly into the
atmosphere . According to Time magazine ( of 15 April

1991 ) the Defense Science Board has already given the
project the go-ahead and there are plans to carry out test
flights with a prototype over Antarctica and New
Zealand .

Will the Council express its concern to the US
government about the great environmental and health
risks such as ' Chernobyl in the sky ' poses for mankind
and urge it to discontinue the development of
' Timberwind ' immediately ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member has not
to date been discussed by the Council . No member of the
Council nor the Commission has requested its
examination by the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1101 / 91

by Mr Paul Howell ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 27 )

Subject : European regional airlinks

Is the Commission aware that many of the European
Community 's regions depend heavily upon air links to
foster their economic growth ? Will the Commission bring
forward recommendations for implementation in the
Member States to encourage the more productive use of
existing runways, particularly at major hub airports, by
implementing the kirtd of policies published today ( 30
April 1991 ) in the European Regional Airlines Association
publication The Vital Link ?

No C 55 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

The Commission is aware of the important role regular
air links do play in the economic integration process .
Therefore, more liberal rules on access to regional

airports have been a prime aim in the first and second
aviation packages ('). The opportunities to make full use
of these improved market access rules are, however, in a
number of instances hampered by congestion problems at
certain major hub airports . The Commission is, therefore,
studying a wide range of options aimed at facilitating the
situation and at keeping under control negative
side-effects of the congestion problem . In this context,
the Commission will carefully examine the suggestions
made by the European Regional Airlines Association with
a view to assessing their potential benefits for the further
development of the common air transport system .

and its 1991 scheme on 11 February 1991 ( 3 ) and amended
it on 2 August 1 99 1 ( 4 ) .

Under these schemes, the total quantities which may be
withdrawn from intervention are as follows :

( tonnes )

Product 1990 1991

Butter 12 454 17 73 7

Soft wheat 35 523 47 910

Durum wheat 23 260 25 510

Beef 25 633 30 424

Olive oil 6 625 12 100

Milk powder — 620

Rice — 3 400

Total 103 495 137 701
o OJNoL 217, 11.8 . 1990 .

O OJNoL 10, 12 . 1 . 1990 .
( 2 ) OJNoL 233, 28 . 8 . 1990 .
O OJNoL48,21.2 . 1991 .
O OJNoL 243, 31 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 105 / 91

by Mr Rafael Calvo Ortega ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 28 )

Subject : Farm surpluses and basic necessities

A large number of Community citizens are aware of the
discrepancy between farm surpluses in intervention stocks
on the one hand and the shortages suffered by the most
needy individuals and social groups on the other . While
this may be an oversimplification, more information
would be desirable . What quantity of foodstuffs was
taken out of intervention in 1990 for distribution to the
most needy in the Community under Council Regulation
( EEC ) No 3730 / 87 (') and supplementary legislation ?

C ) OJ No L 352, 15 . 12 . 1987, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1991 )

In 1988 the Community introduced a scheme for the
supply of food from intervention stocks to designated
organizations for distribution to the most deprived
persons in the Community .

The Commission adopted its 1990 scheme on 22
December 1989 (') and amended it on 2 August 1990 ( 2 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 10 / 91
by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

(5 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 29 )

Subject : Competition and control of concentrations
between undertakings

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89 ( l ) on the control
of concentrations between undertakings is the only one
applicable to concentrations as defined in Article 3,
thereby preventing the Commission from applying the
rules implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty of
Rome, in particular Regulation No 17 / 62 ( 2 ).

The Council has thereby deprived the Commission of its
means of action under Articles 85 and 86 .

However, these articles are directly applicable and, since
primary legislation cannot be overruled by secondary
legislation, the Court of Justice and national courts have
been called on to consider the question of the applicability
of Articles 85 and 86 to concentrations under Article 3 of
the Regulation which do not necessarily attain 'a
Community dimension '.

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 17

What view does the Council take of this situation and

does it intend to amend provisions which are likely to
encourage concentrations between undertakings ?

O OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 1 .
O OJ No 13,21.2 . 1962, p . 204 / 62 .

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89 of 21 December

1989 on the control of concentrations between
undertakings (*) adopted on the basis of Articles 87 and

235 of the EEC Treaty constitutes a new legal instrument
making possible the effective control of all transactions
bringing about concentrations from the point of view of
their effect on the structure of competition in the
Community and in application of the principles set out in
Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty ; the Council has felt it
necessary to specify that the Regulation is the only one
applicable to concentrations, but is aware that national
courts, the Court of First Instance and the Court of
Justice may be required to examine the question of the

applicability of Articles 85 and 86 to such concentrations .

With more particular reference to concentrations which
do not involve a Community dimension, the Council does
not think that the provisions of the Regulation are likely
to encourage concentrations of undertakings to the
detriment of effective competition . It would draw
attention here to paragraphs 3 to 6 of Article 22 and
paragraph 3 of Article 1 . The latter provides for a review
in 1993 of the thresholds laid down in paragraph 2 by the
Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from
the Commission .

Moreover, it should finally be noted that the Council has
not received any Commission proposal for amendments
to the Regulation .

(') Corrected version published in OJ No L 257, 21 . 9 . 1990,

consultants, a technique for reprocessing jarosite, an
extremely poisonous waste product of the zinc industry .
( See also Written Question No 870 / 85 (*)). This
undertaking has 1,8 million tonnes of jarosite in store, as
well as 0,75 million tonnes of clinker containing metals .
There are nine, zinc electrolysis works in the EC . By 1
January 1995 Budelco must reprocess its jarosite, whereas

the other factories will have to do so much later or, for the
moment, not at all . There is as yet no jarosite reprocessing
plant anywhere in the world, and outside the Netherlands
there is no — or hardly any — pressure in favour of
prevention or reprocessing .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the development by
Budelco of its jarosite reprocessing system ? Does the
Commission not think that it should be put to use in
the whole EC as quickly as possible, and how can it
encourage enterprises in the EC to cooperate with this
aim in view ?

2 . How can the Commission prevent Budelco being

placed at a disadvantage in relation to its competitors
as a result of the heavy investment ( F1 300 million ) it
has made in order to comply with strict environmental
requirements, while other zinc electrolysis enterprises
in the EC have operating permits which do not yet
require them to take such steps ?

3 . Does the Commission share my opinion that this

process should be used throughout the EC as an
example of environmental action with a sectoral
dimension, and that it could be supported and
stimulated by the new LIFE programme, and by other
Commission activities ?

4 . The final waste product, jarosite slag, will perhaps be

sold as a building material . Does the Commission
consider that the recycling of waste materials of this
sort, for example in building, should be regulated by
EC legislation, and that standards should be set
regarding the composition of these waste materials
and the possibility of poisonous substances leaching
out over a period of time ?

p. 13 etseq .
O OJ No C 78, 7 . 4 . 1987, p. 4 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 12 / 91

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 30 )

Subject : Jarosite reprocessing — an advance at Budelco

( Netherlands )

The zinc electrolysis undertaking Budelco in the
Netherlands is developing, together with its international

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 September 1 991 )

1 . In 1987 the Budelco undertaking in the Netherlands
applied to the Commission, under the programme of
action by the Community relating to the environment
( ACE ), for a subsidy to carry out a demonstration project
on the recovery of non-ferrous metals from jarosite . The
Commission selected the Budelco proposal from the
numerous projects submitted to it under the programme,

No C 55 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

which includes recycling, and offered the undertaking a
subsidy ( 20 % of the investment ) for this operation .

However, the undertaking considered this subsidy
insufficient and turned it down .

2 and 4 . The Commission has sent the Council a
proposal for a Directive dated 22 May 1991 (') on the
landfilling of waste . This text seeks to harmonize at
Community level the conditions under which all waste,
whether it be hazardous, municipal or inert waste, is
disposed of in landfills .

It proposes inter alia maximum concentrations for certain
metals in the leachate from the waste as a means of
assessing the acceptability of the waste for disposal .

3 . The new financial instrument for the environment
( LIFE ), which is intended to replace the programmes of
action by the Community relating to the environment, is
currently being studied by the European Parliament .

O COM(91 ) 102 final - SYN 335 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1132 / 91

by Mrs Gepa Maibaum ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 31 )

Subject : Projected Paris-London-Brussels-Amsterdam ­
Cologne rapid rail link

While construction work on the projected rapid rail link
referred to above is proceeding on schedule in France, this
is not the case in Belgium . This is particularly true of the
Liege-Aachen section which is arousing little interest on
the part of the Belgian Government, which considers it to
be of secondary importance, thereby totally ignoring the
major political and economic significance of the area .
This has become even greater following the changes
which have taken place in Europe and the new situation
resulting from German reunification .

1 . What political and economic significance does the

Belgian Government attach to the projected
Paris-London-Brussels-Amsterdam-Cologne rapid
rail link ?

2 . What is the reason for the Belgian Government 's lack

of interest in the Liege-Aachen section and why is it
considered to be of secondary interest in economic
and political terms ?

3 . Why has the special ECU 20 million appropriation

allocated annually by the Commission since 1989 to
the Belgian Government not yet been used for the
project ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1 991 )

The Commission attaches very great importance to the
projected Paris-Brussels-Cologne-Amsterdam link and
from the outset has endeavoured to promote a number of
schemes aimed at realization of the project .

The project forms a whole and even if one or two railway

authorities could decide to put it into partial operation,
the Commission 's aim is for the entire project to come
into operation on schedule .

The Commission has granted Community aid to cope
with financing difficulties specific to the Belgian section
of the link .

Administrative delays in obtaining building permission,
and therefore in actually starting work, have meant that
the Commission has not been able to pay out the funds
allocated in budget years 1989 and 1990 .

Consultations are underway with the Belgian authorities .
They should be concluded shortly and once the Belgian
government has presented a financing plan, it should be
possible to disburse part of the funds and thus encourage
the start of work .

There is nothing to cast doubt on the Belgian authorities '
willingness to complete all the work, including the section
of the link to Germany .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1155 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury (S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 32 )

Subject : Measures to combat long-term unemployment

Research has shown that the job market sifts and selects
applicants on the basis of a reverse waiting list : the longer
one has waited, the longer one will continue to wait .
Increasing seniority among the unemployed thus becomes
the main obstacle to re-employment .

4 . When will the Belgian Government submit a financing

plan for this particular section or for the entire rail
section situated on its territory ?

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 19

What specific measures have been taken as part of

Community programmes to combat long-term
unemployment in order to deal with this particular
problem ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

In its resolution of 29 May 1990 on action to assist the
long-term unemployed ( ® ), the Council noted the
Commission 's intention to undertake actions in the
framework of a Community initiative as provided for in
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 ( 2 ), inspired particularly
by successful actions already taken to assist the long-term
unemployed .

The Council is awaiting the report the Commission is to

submit to it on the implementation of this Community
initiative and on any other proposal it might wish to make .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(7 October 1991 )

1 . The Commission has not scrutinized all legislative
procedures in the Member States relating to the adoption
of projects covered by Article 1 ( 5 ) of Directive
85 / 337 / EEC since these are frequently ad-hoc decisions
of national legislative bodies dictated by the
constitutional details of the Member States .

2 . The Commission is currently completing the
five-year review of the implementation of the directive by
the Member States ( Article 11 ( 3 )). In the light of the
information and evidence provided by that review and the
experience of complaints arising from projects consented
to by specific acts of national legislation, the Commission
will consider the need for any modifications to the

directive, including this article, which are shown to be

necessary .

C ) OJ No C 157,27.6 . 1990, p . 4 .
O OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988, p . 1 . WRITTEN QUESTION No 1242 / 91

by Mr Luigi Vertemati ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 11 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 34 )

Subject : European water pipeline project in the Middle

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1241 / 91

by Mr Wayne David ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 33 )

Subject : Environmental impact assessment in national

legislation

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') on environmental impact
assessment does not cover projects which are adopted by
specific acts of national legislation '. . . since the
objectives of ( the ) Directive, including that of supplying
information, are achieved through the legislative process '.

1 . Has the Commission scrutinized all relevant
legislative procedures in the Member States to verify
that this is indeed the case, and if so, what were its
findings ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that, to achieve the best
possible protection from environmentally damaging
developments, Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC should
be amended by removing Article 5(1 ) to ensure that
its provisions cover all types of development consent ?

C ) OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985, p. 40 .

East

Even after the end of the Gulf War continued conflicts

between peoples and states in the Middle East are making
this area one of the most problematic on the international

scene .

The Gulf War was prevented from spreading by the

strong unified position adopted by the international
community, which was effectively underpinned by the
responsible attitude adopted by many governments in the
Middle East such as those of Egypt, Israel and Syria .

However, despite efforts to achieve coordination, the
European Community does not have a well-defined
common foreign policy .

It is in the interest of Europe to maintain peace and
promote cooperation between all the countries of the
Middle East and to encourage cooperation between these
countries and the European Community .

Such cooperation cannot be achieved by statements of
principle alone and requires concrete initiatives to
promote the development of the countries and peoples of
the entire area .

Together with initiatives designed to achieve peace
between the peoples and countries of this area in
accordance with United Nations resolutions, does the

No C 55 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Council not consider it possible to make a number of
specific moves towards achieving cooperation such as :

1 . an assessment of the quantity of water available in the
vast area covered by the Middle East,

2 . the design of a pipeline to draw and distribute water,

suggestions which the Commission is studying together
with the parties concerned .

The Council can only encourage such initiatives which
highlight the role practical cooperation could play in the
general political context of the region .

3 . the preparation of a budget including Community

support for this project,

4 . the formulation of a plan for the administration and

management of the pipeline involving all the Member
States concerned ? WRITTEN QUESTION No 1252 / 91

by Mr Floras Wjisenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 June 1991 )

Answer ( 92 / C 55 / 35 )

( 21 January 1992 )

Subject : Public support for aviation

In its declaration on the peace process in the Middle East
the European Council, at its meeting on 28 and 29 June

1991 in Luxembourg, confirmed the determination of the
Community and its Member States to contribute to the
economic and social development of all peoples in the
region once the prospect of peace was clear . To this end,
the Community and its Member States will work towards
the promotion of intra-regional solidarity and relations
based on friendship and cooperation with all the countries
in the region . At the same time the Community and its
Member States have emphasized their interest in a
political dialogue with regional groupings .

The concept of regional cooperation is . one of the
cornerstones of the redirected Mediterranean policy
which the Community is currently introducing . In this
context financial cooperation involving all the
Mediterranean partner countries and entailing budgetary
appropriations of ECU 230 million and a ceiling of ECU

1 800 million on EIB loans for the period 1992 to 1996 is
to be added to the bilateral Financial Protocols .

In its discussions on the situation after the Gulf crisis the
Commission has put the supervision and rationalization
of the use of water resources in the region amongst the
possible major subjects of regional cooperation in the
Middle East .

Specific measures could be envisaged to increase supplies
( pipelines, local water schemes, re-establishment of plant
cover, desalination ), reduce consumption ( management
techniques, agricultural research, types of products ),
protect quality ( waste water treatment, control of the use
of fertilizers and pesticides ), and provide an appropriate
legal framework ( bilateral or multilateral agreements for
the supply of water, possible central authority ).

For their part, several countries in the region have
expressed their interest in tangible forms of cooperation
in the water resources field and have made specific

In the light of its avowed aim of introducing more flexible
and rapid procedures for examining public aid to aviation,
has the Commission received any such requests from the
Member States as a result of the Gulf crisis ?

If not, does it mean that the Member States have given no
extra aid to national airlines ?

If they have given extra aid, has the Commission ensured
that this has been done in accordance with the Treaties ?

If the Commission has not carried out the necessary
investigations, will it do so and ensure that airline
companies repay any sums wrongly paid and reprimand
the Member States concerned ?

If not, why not ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 October 1 991 )

To date, the Commission has received no requests from
Member States to authorize State aid to commercial

airlines on the basis of its communication of 5 March

1991 ( x ) on the effects of the Gulf hostilities on the
European Air Transport Industry .

Should the Commission be informed of any
infringements in this field, it will proceed in accordance
with the rules of the Treaty .

o COM(91 ) 422 final .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1276 / 91

by Mrs Ana Miranda de Lage ( S )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1330 / 91
by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo ( S ) and 26 other signatories

to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the

( 14 June 1 991 ) ( 24 June 1991 )

( 14 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 36 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 38 )

Subject : Omission of the letter ft from computer
keyboards

Recent reports in the Spanish media have discussed a
Commission proposal to eliminate the letter n from
computer keyboards .

On what linguistic studies is this proposal based ?

Do plans exist to apply this measure to other Community
alphabets with special characters such as French, German
or Danish ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1277 / 91

by Mrs Ana Miranda de Lage ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

Subject : Priority of Mediterranean policy

With reference to the question put to the Council in

September 1990 (*) on the need to take action in the
Mediterranean as a priority, by strengthening political
and economic cooperation and by giving the area
resources and an effective programme, Parliament
welcomes the Council 's adoption of the Commission 's
proposal for a revamped Mediterranean policy . In view of
the urgent need to take measures to halt the
socio-economic and environmental decline and to tackle
the demographic and security problems, especially now as
on top of existing difficulties are added the serious effects
of the Gulf War on the area, the above members of the
Mediterranean Intergroup wish to ask :

( 92 / C 55 / 37 ) How will the Commission 's proposal on a revamped
Mediterranean policy be implemented, in the light of the
recently-expressed wish to step up and give absolute

Subject : Omission of the letter n from computer priority to Mediterranean policy ? What immediate action
keyboards is to be taken to promote security and cooperation in this

area ?

The Commission proposal to omit the Spanish n from
computer keyboards has had a considerable impact on
Spanish public opinion .

Is the Commission aware that since the 1 5th century the
Spanish language has used this single letter to represent a
voiced palatal sound which occurs quite frequently,

although represented by two letters, in other languages ?

Does the Commission realize that its proposal would
prevent full use of the Spanish alphabet thereby seriously
discriminating against Spanish speakers who would be
deprived of their right to make full use of their own
language ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1276 / 91

and 1277 / 91given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 July 1991 )

The reports referred to by the Honourable Member are
completely unfounded . The Commission has never
sought to have the letter 'n' removed from computer
keyboards, nor has it expressed any intention to
harmonize computer keyboards .

(') Question No 0-297 / 90 to the Council .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

On 18 / 19 December 1990 the Council took an overall
decision on the Community 's New Mediterranean Policy .
The policy is made up of three components :

1 . The renewal of financial protocols to the Cooperation

Agreement with Southern and Eastern Mediterranean

countries ( SEM ) (') for the period 1 November
1991-30 October 1996 . There will be a new side to this
component in the shape of a provision for ' structural
adjustment ' not broken down amongst SEM
countries . Its purpose is to support their own efforts to
restructure their economies . This provision will be
implemented in the context of the financial protocols
which are being signed .

No C 55 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

2 . A ' horizontal cooperation ' component concerning all

Mediterranean non-Community countries . It covers
the period from 1992 to 1996 and priority is given to
regional cooperation and to the environment .
Cooperation will be encouraged and supported
through the promotion of an operational dialogue
between countries bordering the Mediterranean
confronted with similar problems, which would help
to improve security and understanding in the
Mediterranean . The resolution on horizontal
cooperation makes provision for budgetary resources
as well as for the EIB 's own resources ( ECU

1 800 million ). The budget resources will be
implemented in the form of annual budget
appropriations .

3 . The third component concerns trade . It provides for

accelerated dismantling of tariffs and a limited
increase in tariff quotas for the period 1992 to 1995
for certain agricultural exports from Mediterranean
non-member countries . These measures will be
implemented by a Council regulation, for which the
Commission has already made a proposal dated 22
May 1991 ( 2 ).

( ) SEM countries are : Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,

Morocco, Syria and Tunisia .
O COM(91 ) 179 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1331 / 91
by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo ( S ) and 26 other signatories

to the Council of the European Communities

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 39 )

Subject : Priority of Mediterranean policy

With reference to the question put to the Council in

September 1990 (') on the need to take action in the
Mediterranean as a priority, by strengthening political
and economic cooperation and by giving the area
resources and an effective programme, Parliament
welcomes the Council 's adoption of the Commission 's
proposal for a revamped Mediterranean policy . In view of
the urgent need to take measures to halt the
socio-economic and environmental decline and to tackle
the demographic and security problems, especially now as
on top of existing difficulties are added the serious effects
of the Gulf War on the area, the above members of the
Mediterranean Intergroup wish to ask :

How will the Commission 's proposal on a revamped
Mediterranean policy be implemented, in the light of the
recently-expressed wish to step up and give absolute
priority to Mediterranean policy ? What immediate action
is to be taken to promote security and cooperation in this
area ?

(') Question No 0-297 / 90 to the Council .

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

I.

1 . Since the Strasbourg European Council, and even
more since the Gulf crisis, which highlighted the need to
update and intensify relations with all the partners of the
Mediterranean and the Middle East, Mediterranean
policy has been at the forefront of the Council 's concerns .
On the basis of communications from the Commission,
the Council adopted last December the guidelines and
resources for a redirected Mediterranean policy, which
now has to be implemented as soon as possible .

2 . The Council agreed to allocate to the Mediterranean
partners a total of ECU 4 405 million for the period 1992
to 1996 . An initial part of this amount — ECU
2 375 million — will go to the Fourth Financial Protocols :
for the Maghreb and Mashreq countries : budgetary
appropriations of ECU 1 075 million, including ECU
300 million no support economic reforms ; for these
countries and Israel, ECU 1 300 million in the form of
EIB loans . The European Parliament was informed of the
content of the directives for the negotiations which the
Commission conducted with the countries in question .
After assent was given to these Financial Protocols, which
are based on Article 238 of the Treaty, the Council 's
objective is that they should be rapidly concluded so as to
come into force on 1 November 1991 when the current
Protocols expire .

The other part of the financial assistance will be devoted
to horizontal financial cooperation . This new form of
cooperation, which is autonomous, will be endowed with
a substantial sum, to the benefit of all partners in the
Mediterranean and the Middle East, by way of support
for regional cooperation, including environmental

aspects .

The Council decided it was necessary to allocate
budgetary appropriations of ECU 230 million, including
risk capital of ECU 25 million outside the scope of the
Financial Protocols, as well as EIB loans up to a limit of
ECU 1 800 million with, if necessary, the possibility of
providing an additional amount .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 23

The Council has now received from the Commission a
proposal for a Regulation on financial cooperation with
all the non-Community Mediterranean countries, which
is being examined by the Council 's subordinate bodies in
the light of the Council 's December resolution and on
which the European Parliament was consulted in March

1991 .

3 . The re-directed Mediterranean policy also has a
trade aspect, which is no less important than the financial
assistance aspect . It provides for a speeding up of the
tariff dismantling agreed for the agricultural products
covered by the Protocols to the Cooperation or
Association Agreements ; an annual across-the-board
increase of 5 % or, in the case of a few more sensitive
products, of 3%, will be applied to the amounts of the
tariff quotas and reference quantities laid down in the
Protocols . Future prospects are outlined for textile
products . The Commission has sent the Council the
necessary formal proposals .

4 . Of course, the Council 's decisions relating to the
re-directed Mediterranean policy have to be seen in a
broader context . The Community is anxious to emphasize
the fundamental importance which it attaches to respect
for human rights and to the promotion of democratic
values ; it recalls its determination to increase its support
for the political and economic reforms undertaken by the
non-Community Mediterranean countries ; and it points
to the essential role played by greater use of the market
economy in the search for lasting, balanced growth .

The Council also reaffirms the general principles on
which its cooperation policy is based, including the search
for sustained and harmonious development, appropriate
management of the environment, the enhancement of
people 's capacities, and the role of women in the
development process .

5 . In addition to these constant factors, the Gulf crisis,
owing to its serious consequences for the countries in the
region, led the Community to supply very promptly
additional assistance to the countries most affected by the
crisis . The Community and its Member States contribute a
total of ECU 1,5 billion to an operation — coordinated at
world level — involving assistance to Egypt, Jordan and
Turkey . In this context, the Community contributes ECU

500 million in the form of grants to Egypt and Jordan
( ECU 175 million and ECU 150 million respectively ), and
in the form of a 10-year loan at a zero rate of interest for
Turkey ( ECU 175 million ). An initial tranche of 80% of
these amounts was paid in February . For their part, the
Member States have undertaken to make voluntary
contributions totalling more than ECU 1 billion, a
substantial part of which has already been disbursed .

Financial assistance has also been decided on for Israel
and the Palestinian population of the occupied territories
in connection with the aftermath of the Gulf crisis . A loan
of ECU 160 million, subsidized with budgetary

appropriations of ECU 27,5 million, will be made
available to Israel, while ECU 60 million in the form of
grants will serve to finance, among other things, low-cost
housing and hospital facilities for the Palestinian
population concerned .

All these measures taken together — plus the fact that on

11 May 1991 a ministerial meeting with the Gulf
Cooperation Council was held, and a free-trade
agreement with the countries of that region is being
negotiated — constitute an important contribution to the
economic development, and hence the security, of the
Community 's partners both in the Mediterranean and in
the Middle East .

II . o

1 . Guaranteeing this security is indeed the first priority
of any post-crisis scenario if a repetition of the conflicts is
to be avoided and the region is to be given a framework of
stability . In this context, the Council considers it
necessary to tackle the problems from which the region
has long been suffering and in particular to set about
introducing a system of regional security based on the
elimination of weapons of mass destruction, a process of
arms control, the development of confidence-building
measures, and a vast programme of reconstruction, and
subsequently of economic cooperation, based on regional
solidarity .

2 . As regards the Arab-Israeli conflict and the
Palestinian question, the Council emphasizes the
necessity of setting in train without delay a process, on the
basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338,
leading to a just and comprehensive solution to these
problems . To this end, it believes the initiative launched
by the United States offers real prospects of peace in the
region . It confirms its firm support for this initiative and
hopes that the peace conference can be rapidly convened .
As a participant in the conference, the Community and its

Member States aim to make their full contribution to its
success and to the negotiations between the parties .

Besides a settlement of the Palestinian question through
the exercise of the Palestinian people 's right : to self
determination, lasting peace and stability of the region
should bring an end to the state of belligerence among all
States in the region, a commitment not to resort to force
and to the peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for
the territorial integrity of all States, including Israel .

The Council also confirms its determination to contribute
to the economic and social development of all peoples in
the region once the prospect of peace is clear .

No C 55 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

3 . In the longer term, one might wish to consider the
objective of the recognition by all States in the region of a
body of principles which could perhaps be incorporated in
a CSCE-type process in such a way that the region can
acquire a true structure of security, stability and
cooperation based on this model .

In this context, the Council believes that it is first of all up
to the States in the region to decide on their own security
arrangements . The Community and its Member States
support the efforts of the eight Arab coalition countries
which signed the Damascus Declaration . They consider,
however, that this circle should remain open to other
States in the region . Moreover, some Member States have
already announced their willingness to participate in
security arrangements .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1434 / 91

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 12 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 40 )

Subject : The need for product labelling to aid those

suffering from allergies

Many people suffer from allergies to certain foodstuffs or
additives . It is therefore important for allergies to be able
to see what a particular product contains .

Would the Council therefore state what progress it has

made with regard to the compulsory labelling or
description of foodstuffs to ensure that not only additives
4 . In the declaration of the Luxembourg European but the other ingredients of edible processed products are
Council on 28 and 29 June 1991 on non-proliferation and clearly indicated ?
arms exports, the Heads of State or of Government spoke
out clearly against the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and pointed to the absolute necessity of
further enhancing the effectiveness of non-proliferation

Answer

arrangements .

Answer

Alarmed by the stockpiling of conventional weapons in
certain regions of the world, they expressed their belief at
the same meeting that far-reaching international action
was needed immediately to promote restraint and
transparency in the transfer of conventional weapons and
of technologies for military use, in particular to areas of
tension .

Helped by the impetus given by the European Council,
the work in progress in the European Political
Cooperation bodies will continue, notably the
comparison of national policies on arms exports and the
identification of common criteria which, with Political
Union in prospect, may produce a common approach
eventually leading to the harmonization of such national
policies .

The specific commitment of the Community and its
Member States regarding transparency in arms transfers,
both in their internal discussions and in consultations in
international fora, is illustrated by their decision to table,
at the 46th UN General Assembly, a draft resolution
aimed at the establishment at the United Nations of a
register of conventional arms transfers . The Community
and its Member States will consequently call on all States
to support this initiative and others which aim to prevent
the uncontrolled spread of weapons and military
technologies .

(') Political Cooperation text .

( 21 January 1992 )

Directive 79 / 112 / EEC ( ® ) on the labelling of foodstuffs
makes it compulsory to provide a list of ingredients . That
list generally consists of an itemization of all the
ingredients of a foodstuff in descending order of weight .
Exceptions to this general rule are indicated in Article 6 of
the Directive and include cases where a list of all the
ingredients would not provide any information of use to
the consumer ( e.g. fresh fruit and vegetables, carbonated
water, certain fermentation vinegars, certain milk
products and products consisting of a single ingredient ).

However, food additives and in particular sweeteners
must be designated by the name of their category
followed by their specific name or EEC number . For
additives sold singly or mixed with each other, the name
of each additive must be given in descending order of the
proportion by weight in the total ( Directive
89 / 107 / EEC ( 2 ) concerning food additives authorized for
use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption ).

The Council is also in the process of examining a
Commission proposal ( 3 ) for a Directive on sweeteners
for use in foodstuffs, as amended ( 4 ) following the
Opinion delivered by the European Parliament on 17
April 1991 . This proposal establishes a list of sweeteners
the use of which is authorized together with their
conditions of use . The Council hopes to reach agreement
on this new Directive shortly, and this will provide
consumers with increased guarantees regarding the
composition and use of foodstuffs .

However, the Council is aware of the need to improve and
strengthen the existing Directive 79 / 112 / EEC on
labelling as regards certain details . Thus, the Commission
has informed the Council that it intends to submit a

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 25

proposal for an amendment to the labelling Directive in should be made more especially to the provisions of
the near future . The Council will certainly examine very Article 4 of the Directive, which fix limit values .
carefully any proposal submitted by the Commission
which is aimed at providing the consumer with greater (') OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983, p . 33 and OJ No L 269, 11 . 10 .
clarity regarding use . 1985, p . 56 .

(') OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983, p . 33 and OJ No L 269, 11 . 10 .

clarity regarding use . 1985, p . 56 .

O OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983, p. 25 .
O OJ No L 33 / 79, p . 1 . O OJ No L 188, 16.7 . 1984, p. 20 .
O OJ No L 40 / 89, p . 29 . ( 4 ) OJ No L 85, 28 . 3 . 1987, p. 40 .
o OJ No C 242, 27 . 9 . 1990, p . 4 .
O OJNoC 175,6.7 . 1991, p . 6 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1455 / 91

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1440 / 91 to

Mr Blak S ( 16 July 1991 )

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 92 / C 55 / 42 )

( 12 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 41 ) Subject : Decline in small farmers ' earnings

Subject : Protection against exposure to asbestos

Death resulting from working with asbestos is slow but
sure and also painful . This has been proved time and
again by scientific investigations .

Would the Commission therefore state what action it
proposes to take to prevent Community nationals from
being exposed to this dangerous substance ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

The Council has adopted several measures designed to
restrict the marketing and use of asbestos and products
containing asbestos fibres as well as special provisions for
the labelling of products containing abestos ( 1 ).

It has also adopted Directive 83 / 477 / EEC ( 2 ), which
contains provisions for the protection of workers from
the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work, and
Directive 84 / 360 / EEC ( 3 ) introducing provisions for the
combating of air pollution from industrial plants .

Finally, with a view to strengthening Community
legislation in this field, the Council adopted Directive
87 / 217 / EEC of 19 March 1987 ( 4 ) on the prevention and
reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos, in
order to protect human health and the environment .

Pursuant to that Directive, Member States must take the
measures necessary to ensure that asbestos emissions into
the air, asbestos discharges into the aquatic environment,
and solid asbestos waste are reduced at source and
prevented or eliminated . In this connection, reference

In view of the current freeze on intervention prices, the
fall in the price of milk supplied to dairies and the level of
inflation, what steps does the Commission intend to take
to compensate for the loss of earnings of small and
medium-sized dairy farmers ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

The reduction of 2 % in the overall guaranteed quantities
for 1991 / 92 decided by the Council will help to create a
better equilibrium ori the market for milk and milk
products and allow product price levels to pick up and,
after a delay, increase the milk price paid to the producers .
In the meantime, the allowance of ECU 10 per 100 kg
relative to the reduction in reference quantities decided by
the Council for 1991 / 92 at the same time should at least
partly compensate for the loss of earnings mentioned by
the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1464 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission ! of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 43 )

Subject : Creation of Commission citizens ' advice bureaux

In its publication entitled ' Vivre a l'Europeenne ' ( The
European Way of Life ) ( CC-57-89-160-FR-C ) mention is

No C 55 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

made ( page 76 ) of moves by the Commission to provide
citizens ' advice bureaux on its premises for the purpose of
informing Europeans about their rights under
Community legislation . Can the Commission say what
progress has been made in setting up these citizens ' advice
bureaux and, if possible, give their addresses and an initial
assessment of their activities ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

(1 2 September 1 991 )

'
The network of citizens advice bureaux — Euro-Jus —
was established between September 1988 and September

1990 . During that period 12 legal experts took up duties in
the Commission offices in the Member States .

The first annual report — covering 1989 — revealed the
value of this free service to Community citizens . It can be
obtained from the People 's Europe — Coordination and
Youth Activities Unit at the Commission .

The second annual report — covering 1990 — is in
preparation and should be available in September . It
reveals that more than 9000 citizens sought assistance
from the service in 1990, up from 5500 in 1989 .

A leaflet describing the service, with particulars of the
twelve legal experts involved in the Euro-Jus network, is
being printed in the nine official languages and will be
ready for distribution at the end of the year . Their names
and addresses will be sent, with a copy of the first report,
to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of

Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1474 / 91

by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 44 )

Subject : Employment structures in the Andalusia farming

sector

According to a study carried out by the Cadiz UGT

( General Workers Union ), 58% of subscribers in
Andalusia to the special social security scheme for the

Spanish farming sector were employed farm workers .
This percentage is constantly on the increase, while in the

rest of Spain the trend is reversed . The ratio between
employed farm workers and independent farmers is 68:32
compared with the Community average of 74:26 . Given
the importance of agriculture and rural development in
Andalusia, the number of jobs which will be lost in the
Andalusian farming sector, the development of day work

and the further job losses which are likely to result as a
result of the common agricultural policy :

Can the Commission indicate the estimated number of
wage earners in Andalusia who will lose their jobs as a

result of the CAP reform ?

Does the Commission not consider that, given the
employment structure in the Andalusia farming sector, a
Community system of unemployment benefits should be
set up to assist those whose job losses are a direct result of
CAP reforms ; ( early retirement, extensification, set-aside,
reconversion, etc .) as part of the regional implementation
of this reform ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1 991 )

The Commission does not have a model of the farming

sector in Andalusia which is capable of providing a
reliable estimate of potential job losses for employed farm
workers . The fact that, according to the study carried out
by the General Workers Union, 58 % of the agricultural
workforce in Andalusia are wage-earners, does not by
itself mean that the impact will be significantly better or
worse than elsewhere, particularly since a large
proportion of the workers concerned work in sectors not
directly affected by the CAP reform .

A large number of positive effects expected as a result of
the reform should also be evident in Andalusia . For

example :

— more stable farm incomes as a result of compensatory

aid paid directly to farmers, independent of each
year 's actual harvest ;

— increased emphasis on environmental protection —

promotion of more extensive production methods,
protection and conservation of the land and landscape

— and on the farmer 's role in this context ; this has the
makings of a not inconsiderable source of activity and
supplementary income for farmers and farm workers ;

— incorporation, in the context of the reform, of an

ambitious reforestation programme from which new
jobs in forestry will, it is hoped, progressively emerge ;

— development and broadening of the existing early

retirement programme with a view to improving
agricultural structures .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 27

In spite of these positive aspects, the Commission is aware
that certain production control measures may have an
adverse impact on farm employment . The Commission
would, however, stress to the Honourable Member that
such measures have become essential in view of growing
and increasingly indefensible market imbalances . Such
measures to control production will have to be taken,
irrespective of the context .

As regards the more specific problem of farm workers, the
setting up of a special unemployment benefit scheme
would not, in the Commission 's view, be within the
Community 's competence . However, in the case of elderly
farm workers, who very often have no real opportunity of
occupational redeployment and are employed on holdings
where the farmer opts for early retirement, the existing

Community rules provide that, under certain conditions,
early retirement scheme benefits may be granted also to
farm workers of between 55 years of age and the normal
retirement age . The Commission is proposing that this
provision be retained under the reform .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1475 / 91

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 45 )

Subject : Toxic and harmful substances affecting flora and

fauna in the Molise and Abruzzo regions

For some time, the inhabitants of the regions surrounding
Molise-Abruzzo have been exposed to severe
environmental pollution caused by discharges of toxic
substances in both illegal and authorized dumps .

These discharges are a danger to humans, animals and
plants, since they cause deterioration and breakdown of
ecosystems . The discharges do not comply with
Community law, since adequate health and safety
guarantees are not provided .

1 . Can the Commission ascertain whether the following

Community directives are being properly
implemented in the Abruzzo and Molise regions :

( a ) 75 / 442 / EEC (') on waste ;

( b ) 78 / 319 / EEC ( J ) on toxic and dangerous waste ;

( c ) 86 / 278 / EEC ( 3 ), on the protection of the
environment, and in particular of the soil, when
sewage sludge is used in agriculture ?

2 . Can the Commission ascertain whether or not the
discharges infringe Community rules on discharges of

toxic waste and, if necessary, set up a special
committee of experts to inspect the authorized
discharges and close down illegal dumps ?

3 . Within the framework of its own programmes, can the

Commission grant funding to the Molise and Abruzzo
regions to provide the necessary facilities and
management structures for the disposal of waste and
harmful substances ?

o OJNoL 194,25.7 . 1975, p . 47 .
O OJNoL 84, 31 . 3 . 1978, p . 43 .
O OJNoL 181,4.7 . 1986, p . 6 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 November 1 991 )

The Commission cannot intervene until it has enough
precise and detailed information at its disposal to indicate
non-compliance with Community law . The Commission
would therefore ask r . he Honourable Member to provide
more precise information which will allow the
Commission to address the relevant Italian authorities .

The Commission does not plan to set up a special
committee of experts to inspect the authorized discharges
and close down illegal dumps .

By decision of 20 December 1990 the Commission
granted financing to the Molise region as part of the
Molise Operational Programme ( 1990-1993 ) for the
elimination of surface water pollution caused by urban
waste ( subprogramme 2, measure 2, with a Community
contribution of ECU 27,6 million ).

The same programme provides training courses for
operators in the environment sector ( subprogramme 8,
measure 3, with a Community contribution of ECU
300 000 ).

Similarly, for the region of Abruzzo, the Multifund
Operational Programme, as adopted on 20 December

1990, provides for Community aid of ECU 9 million
( measure 4.3 ) for the period of 1991-1993 for the
construction of sewerage systems, waste water
purification plants, as well as the establishment of
technical and administrative systems for monitoring the
environment and a study on the selective collection of
waste . The Programme also provides for staff training in
the use of these installations for the protection of the
environment ( measure 10.3 ).

The regions of Abruzzo and Molise will also benefit from
Community funding as part of the ENVIREG
programme ( Italy ), which, amongst other things, is
designed to build and modernize infrastructure and
equipment for the treatment of waste water and for the

No C 55 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

treatment, storage, recycling and elimination of toxic and
harmful industrial waste .

The ENVIREG programme also provides for training

measures in the area of environment .

should as far as possible avoid the Strait of Bonifacio and,
secondly, approves the rules drawn up by France and Italy
concerning a monitoring and information system on ships
in the Strait .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1488 / 91

by Mr François Musso ( RDE )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1487 / 91 to the Council of the European Communities

by Mr François Musso ( RDE )

( 16 July 1991 )

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 92 / C 55 / 47 )

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 46 ) Subject : Border crossings by MEPs

Subject : Protection of the environment and the
Mediterranean coastline

What measures will the Commission take to protect the
environment and combat pollution of the Mediterranean
coastline in order to prevent the MEDSPA and
ENVIREG programmes from foundering and reduce the
hazards arising from oil tankers in the Mediterranean
and, more particularly, in restricted waters such as the
Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Bonifacio ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa de Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

There is no call for the Commission to take any further,
measures in order to prevent the MEDSPA and
ENVIREG programmes from failing to combat the
hazards arising from oil tankers in the Mediterranean .
Both ENVIREG and MEDSPA include the treatment of
ballast, tank-washing and bilge water containing oil and
other residues among the eligible priority measures .

It is therefore up to the Member States concerned by the
two programmes to submit appropriate projects to the
Commission .

Furthermore, the Commission would remind the
Honourable Member that maritime transport of crude oil
is subject to numerous regulations and international
conventions covering all aspects of prevention of the
hazards inherent in this type of transport .

The Strait of Bonifacio in particular is covered by a
special resolution which the International Maritime
Organization adopted in October 1989 .

This resolution, firstly, recommends that masters of laden

oil tankers and of ships carrying hazardous materials

Could the Council point out to the Ministries of the
Interior and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of certain
Member States, in particular France, that MEPs are
obliged to cross their border every week, so as to ensure
that these border crossings are facilitated and not, as is
too often the case, hampered by the border police ?

Most of the officials concerned appear to be ' unaware '
that the laissez-passer issued to MEPs is drawn up under
Article 7 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities
of the European Communities signed by all the Member
States .

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member does not
fall within the Council 's sphere of competence .

It is the task of the Commission to ensure compliance
with Community law, including Articles 7 and 8 of the
Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the
European Communities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1505 / 91

by Mr Terence Wynn ( S )
to the C ouncil of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 48 )

Subject : The Office for Emergency Operations in Africa

( OEOA )

Will the Council support the re-establishment of the
OEOA to coordinate relief efforts between the UN

donors and NGOs ?

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 29

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1523 / 91

by Mrs Maartje van Putten ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

The Council is not aware of a proposal to re-establish the ( 92 / C 55 / 50 )

OEOA which ceased operation following the famine in
Africa of 1984-1985 .

Concerning coordination of current emergency efforts to
alleviate the famine in certain regions of sub-Saharian
Africa, the Council has requested the Commission to
organize such coordination both with the 12 and with
other major thirds party donors, the various multilateral
organizations concerned ( WFP, UNHCR, UNDRO ) and
certain non-governmental organizations .

The Council understands that intensive coordination has
been taking place under the aegis of the Commission in
Brussels and also on the spot in the affected regions .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1516 / 91

by Mr George Stevenson ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 49 )

Subject : Trade in birds — Malta

What, if any, is the trade in birds trapped and / or killed in
Malta with the European Community ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

The most recent annual report on trade in species covered
by Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 (') is the one for 1988 .
This report does not contain entries on trade with the

Community in birds trapped or killed in Malta .

o OJNoL 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

Subject : Threats against the Plaza de Mayo women

1 . Is the Commission aware of the recent threats to the
Plaza de Mayo women and of the fact that intruders
broke into their offices on 22 March, 9 April and 9 May

1991, allegedly stealing documents and deliberately
destroying expensive office equipment, presumably with
the aim of hampering the work of this organization ?

2 . In view of the human rights provisions of the
cooperation agreement between the EC and Argentina,
will the Commission request the Argentinian authorities
to make every effort to enable this organization to
operate under normal conditions ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to allocate some of the
funds earmarked for democratization projects in Latin
America to the Plaza de Mayo women by way of
compensation for the damage suffered ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

1 . The Commission is aware of the threats and attacks
made against the Plaza de Mayo mothers ' organization in
March, April and May this year and bitterly deplores the
situation .

2 . According to the Commission 's information, the
Argentine authorities have publically condemned the
repeated attacks against this organization and are
conducting investigations to seek out the perpetrators .

In its contact with the Argentine authorities the
Commission will not fail to express its concern at these
events and call on them to take special care to prevent
their recurrence .

3 . The Commission does have funds for cooperation
with Latin America for supporting the current process of

democratization . However, the budget Regulations
earmark these funds for projects to be set up with the
non-member countries concerned .

The Commission is not authorized to use the above funds
by way of compensation for organizations which have
suffered attacks and material damage .

No C 55 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1529 / 91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1547 / 91

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the

( 23 July 1991 ) ( 23 July 1991 )

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 51 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 52 )

Subject : Tropical rain forests in the Republic of Guinea

Can the Commission supply details of the ' Indicative
Programme of the EEC ' and the extent to which the
measures to promote economic development laid down in
it have already affected or will affect the tropical rain
forests of the Republic of Guinea, which are supposed to
be protected under the Community programme on the
conservation and rational use of forest ecosystems in
Central Africa, which is also being promoted by the
Commission ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1 991 )

The Lome III indicative programme for Equatorial

Guinea treats the forestry sector as a priority . A
programme for the conservation and rational use of the
country 's forest ecosystems was recently approved by the
Commission . Lasting from 1991 to 1994, the programme
will be a precondition of any forestry exploitation .

Included in it will be the drafting of a masterplan and a
land-use map identifying those forests to be protected and
those to be exploited as well as available areas suited to
different forms of agriculture .

Schemes planned under the programme complement
those already undertaken by the EC ( aerial radar
photography, institutional support and training ), those in
the pipeline such as the national component of the
regional forest ecosystem programme approved by the
Commission as part of regional cooperation in Central
Africa, and those being considered by other financial
donors . All these projects follow on logically from the
Tropical Forest Action Plan .

As regards the Lome IV indicative programme,
Community aid will be largely targeted at support for the
social sector and more specifically the priority needs
relating to the supply of drinking water for the towns of
Malabo and Bata . Projects covering rural development,
fisheries and improvements to the road infrastructure will
also be accommodated .

The ongoing policy of forestry conservation and
development outlined above will certainly prevent
proposed operations under the Lome IV indicative
programme from having direct or indirect adverse effects
on the environment, particularly forests .

Subject : Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom

1 . What assessment has been made by the Commission
of the implications for Member States in terms of the
accuracy of bookkeeping records and likely volume
increase in data, of the Commission recommendation to
the Council for a directive amending Directive
80 / 836 / Euratom (') on the safety standards for the
shipment of radioactive wastes ?

2 . What information does the Commission possess on
the current average number of movements of radioactive
materials in : ( a ) France, ( b ) Germany, ( c ) United
Kingdom, which would require notification under the
new recommendation ?

o OJ No L 246, 17.9 . 1980, p. 1

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

1 . The proposal for a Council directive amending
Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom laying down the basic safety
standards for the health protection of the general public
and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation as
regards prior authorization of shipment of radioactive
waste ('), aims at setting uniform rules for the shipment of
radioactive waste . Uniformity of safety provisions is
explicitly required by Article 2 ( b ) of the Euratom Treaty .

With the exception of shipments involving third
countries, the proposal does not impose requirements for
radiation protection additional to those contained in
Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom and in the regulations of the
Member States on transport of radioactive materials,
which are based on international agreements . However,
the Commission is aware that the proposed rules will have
an impact on the administrative procedures of Member
States .

The Commission attaches the greatest importance to
assuring a uniform level of safety throughout the
Community, as well as keeping pace with the international
developments such as the adoption of the Basel
Convention of 1989 on the control of transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal and
the adoption of the IAEA Code of practice on the
international transboundary movement of radioactive

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 31

waste . Minimization of any additional administrative
work will be attained by the competent national
authorities through the use of the general
notification / authorization procedure foreseen by the
proposal .

2 . The Commission does not possess the information
demanded by the Honourable Member .

(') CQM(90 ) 328 final .

Commission 's services are currently considering a
proposal to encourage the use of such audits .

O OJ No L 336, 7 . 12 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1557 / 91

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 54 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1549 / 91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 53 )

Subject : Environmental audit of fuels

Will the President-in - Office of the Development Council
please state what progress was made by the Development
Ministers at their meeting of 27 May 1991 to improve
access to EC funds for non-governmental development
organizations, and also to facilitate increased
participation by NGDOs in decision-making in all areas
of EC development policy ?

Subject : EC funds for NGDOs

Has the Commission ever conducted a full environmental
audit, taking into account the effects on states outside the
Community, of each of the fuels used directly, or
indirectly, such as in electricity generation, in the
Community ? Answer

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

The Commission undertakes and sponsors research, and
keeps itself informed of work in other international and
national authorities and organizations, on ' the
environmental effects of substances, including fuels .
Where appropriate, it has brought forward legislation to
limit polluting emissions and their harmful effects inside
apd outside the Community, as in the large Combustion
Plants Directive 88 / 609 / EEC (').

It has not undertaken a full environmental audit of the
effects of each and every fuel used in the Community .
Within the same generic type the content of some fuels,

such as coal, differ widely . The actual environmental
effects of each fuel used will also vary according to other
factors, such as the ecological sensitivity of the location in
which they are used .

Such variations can be taken into account by conducting
an environmental impact assessment before licensing a
new plant burning fuel and an environmental audit of any
particular installation at which the fuel is used .

( 31 January 1992 )

The Development Council of 27 May 1991 held an

important discussion on cooperation with
Non-Governmental Development Organizations .
Following its debate, it adopted a comprehensive
resolution in which it expressed the view that the
Community system of cooperation is working
satisfactorily, and that the experience of 1 5 years of action
in this field had been positive .

It expressed the wish, however, that some aspects of
cooperation with NGOs should be studied further, inter
alia :

— possible improvements in the system for selecting

projects ;

— simplification and speeding-up of administrative
procedures for the NGOs ;

— strengthening the machinery for exchanges of views

between the NGOs and the Commission .

Finally the Council stressed the importance it attaches to
this form of cooperation, and expressed the hope that the
regular increases of the past in the appropriations
earmarked for it within the resources allocated to
development will continue in the years to come .

No C 55 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

The complete text of the Council resolution has been

. made public in a press communication ( document
6379 / 91 ) which was also sent, as usual, to the European
Parliament .

links have already been included by the Commission as an
aspect of the work being carried out, with the assistance
of a high-level working group, on the subject of a
combined European transport network .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1595 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1572 / 91
by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Council of the European

to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Council of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 55 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 56 )

Subject : Establishment of shipping routes along the

Community Atlantic seaboard

The recent establishment of a regular cargo shipping line
between the ports of El Musel, in the Asturias region of
Spain and Lorient in Brittany is a good example of
positive action to overcome the peripheral situation of
certain Atlantic regions of Spain, which are a long way
from European centres of development and have serious
problems as regards road access to such markets .

The benefits of establishing more regular shipping lines
for the transport of cargo between Spanish and other
European Atlantic ports have thus been highlighted as has
the need for joint action — at regional, national and
Community level — to assist the inauguration and
extension of such lines to encourage the regional
development of the Atlantic areas of Spain .

Can the Commission say what Community measures it
would consider as being appropriate to assist the
promotion and strengthening of such regular shipping
lines between Spanish and other Community regions on
the Atlantic seaboard for the abovementioned purposes ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

The Commission welcomes the establishment of maritime
links between ports in the Community, whether on the
Atlantic coast or elsewhere . Such links can be of particular
importance where the infrastructure of land transport is
inadequate or overcrowded .

The Group 2000 +, in its report ' Transport in a fast
changing Europe ', made a number of recommendations
for the enhancement of coastal transport, and this aspect
is among those being examined by the Commission as part
of its consideration of future transport policy . Maritime

Subject : Satellite broadcasting standards

According to press reports ( VWD, 5 June 1991 ) the
Commission of the European Communities is envisaging
a ' twin-track ' procedure in connection with the
amendment of Directive 86 / 529 / EEC of 3 November

1986 (') which expires at the end of the year . It appears
that the Commission is envisaging not only a new
proposal for a directive but also a memorandum of
agreement between the relevant industrial undertakings,
satellite and cable TV companies, broadcasters and
producers . Reciprocal undertakings contained in such
memorandums of agreement would be legally binding .

1 . What legal basis does the Commission envisage for

this memorandum of agreement ?

2 . Is the Council not concerned that these new legislative

procedures introduced by the Commission circumvent
not only the European Parliament 's right to be
consulted but also the Council 's right of decision ?

3 . Does the Council consider it acceptable to earmark

ECU 500 million by way of financial incentives to
promote the marketability of these new European
standards ?

O OJNoL311,6 . 11 . 1986, p. 28 .

Answer

( 21 January 1992 ).

1 and 2 . The Council does not have any detailed
information concerning a memorandum of agreement
envisaged by the Commission . The Council is thus unable
to state a view on the legal basis of such a memorandum
or on its effects on the European Parliament 's right to be
consulted .

3 . The Council has not yet received a proposal from
the Commission providing for a specific amount for the
measures referred to by the Honourable Member in her
Question .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 33

It is therefore not for the Council to express an opinion
on whether or not such an amount is justified .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1600 / 91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

December 1992 between Member States on the basis of
Articles 30 to 36 of the EEC Treaty, taking into account
the fact that Community provisions, including common
standards of conditions of use, have already been
adopted .

(') OJ No L 40, 11.2 . 1989 .
( 2 ) COM(90 ) 381 final - SYN 296 .

( 92 / C 55 / 57 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 1601 / 91

Subject : Food additives

The Commission is still engaged in the drafting of
uniform Community legislation on food additives .

1 . What is the total number of additives which would

have to be authorized if the existing national laws of
all of the Member States were simply added together ?

2 . What progress has the Commission made in drawing

up its proposals in view of the deadline of 31
December 1992 ? Is it still possible to complete the
necessary European legislation with two readings of
the European Parliament ?

3 . What will be the situation after 31 December 1992 ?

Will there be mutual recognition of additives
authorized at national level or will national law alone
continue to apply, resulting in possible distortions of
competition and protectionism on the pretext of
' public health and consumer protection '?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1991 )

1 . The so-called ' Global Directive ' on food additives,
as provided for in Article 3 of Directive 89 / 107 / EEC on
food additives ('), will comprise more or less 500
compounds . This will not necessarily be an addition of
national lists, but a compendium of substances
corresponding to Community criteria and evaluated at
Community level .

2 . A proposal on sweeteners ( 2 ) is currently before the
Council and will soon reach the European Parliament for
a second reading . The Commission is about to terminate
preparatory work on colourings and is actively looking
into the other outstanding groups of additives . The
corresponding proposals will be presented in time to allow
for the completion of the full cooperation procedure
( Article 100A ) before the end of 1992 .

3 . In the light of the abovementioned timetable, trade
in foodstuffs containing additives will continue after 31

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 58 )

Subject : Ban on imports of exotic and wild birds into the

Community

In view of the barbarous traffic in very rare exotic bird
species in the Community and given that this is completely
undermining the protection and conservation of these
very rare species of exotic birds, does the Commission not
consider that action must be taken without delay to
impose a total ban on imports of exotic and wild birds into
the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 November 1 991 )

The importation into the Community of endangered and
rare bird species from the wild for commercial purposes is
prohibited under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No
3626 / 82 (').

The Commission does not consider it necessary to impose
a total ban on imports of wild birds into the Community .

0 ) OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1639 / 91

by Mr José Happart ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 59 )

Subject : Guidelines on the progress and future of the

CAP

The problems experienced by a number of agricultural
markets are leading to higher budget costs .

No C 55 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

It should be pointed out that this situation is mainly due
to economic factors connected with the failure to enforce
Community preference .

1 . In view of the reform of the CAP which is currently
planned, what strategy is the Commission drawing up
in order to apply Community preference ?

2 . In particular, does the Commission intend to take
measures to ensure that Community preference
should be applied to a greater extent, particularly as
regards imports of cereal substitutes and dairy
products from New Zealand, the USA, Canada,
Australia, etc .?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

It is the Commission 's opinion that the existing price
guarantees, through their direct link to production, have
led to a growing output which can only be accommodated
by adding to intervention stocks, already at excessive
levels, or by exports to already oversupplied world
markets .

This tendency has been accentuated by existing border

and support measures which have insulated the domestic
market from the world market, except for cereals
substitutes where the import duty has been bound in
GATT .

The principles of the agricultural policy are neither for

negotiation in the Uruguay Round nor has the
Commission proposed their elimination in the reform
proposal . The Community has accepted to negotiate
substantial progressive reductions in agricultural support
and protection in the Uruguay Round and has submitted
an offer to this end . In this offer, the Community has not
submitted the principles of the common agricultural
policy for negotiation . It has, however, insisted on
re-balancing in particular in respect of cereals substitutes .

The proposal on a reform of the common agricultural
policy does not include suggestions which run contrary to
that viewpoint . The existing principles for trade with
non-member countries will not be changed ; in particular,
for cereals, the system with a threshold price and an
intervention price will continue but the level of these
prices will be considerably reduced . That is the reason
why the proposal foresees the introduction of a system of

compensatory payments .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1653 / 91
by the following members : Elmar Brok, Bartho Pronk,

Ria Oomen-Ruijten and Raphael Chanterie ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 60 )

Subject : Achieving the social dimension of the Single

Market

In its endeavour to eliminate internal barriers to trade by
the end of 1992, the Community has since 1985 been
involved in a dynamic process which carries the risk of
endangering economic and social cohesion if the social
aspects of the Single Market are not seen to be as
important as the economic aspects . The following
questions are addressed to the Commission in order to
find out how far the social dimension of the Single
Market has been achieved .

1 . Which specific decisions are regarded as particularly

vital for the preservation of economic and social
cohesion within the Community ?

2 . Can all the measures considered necessary to achieve

the social dimension be expected to be incorporated in
national laws by the time the Single Market has been
completed at the end of 1992 ?

3 . Which of the directives in the social sphere adopted by

the Community have so far been incorporated into the
national laws of all the Member States ?

4 . Which areas of social legislation should be dealt with

at European level ?

5 . How could the decision-making processes in the area

of social policy be improved, in the context of the
Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

1 . The Commission 's priorities are clearly indicated in
both the White Paper and the programme for the
implementation of the Community Charter on the
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers . To cite one of a
number of projects, the success of the reform of the
structural Funds will be of immense importance in
sustaining social and economic cohesion .

2 . Although the Commission has adopted on schedule
very nearly all the measures announced in its programme

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 35

for the implementation of the Community Charter on the
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, it is unlikely that
all these measures will be transposed into national
legislation by the end of 1992 .

3 . The Honourable Members ' question is answered in
detail in the eighth report to the European Parliament on
monitoring of the application of Community law ( 1 ).

4 . The Commission 's programme for the
implementation of the Charter, applying the principle of
subsidiarity, comprises 47 initiatives . Several of these
initiatives involve legislation .

5 . Except in cases where Council unanimity is essential
to the furtherance of European Integration, the
Commission is of the opinion that qualified majority
decisions are the most appropriate in the area of social
policy .

o COM(91 ) 321 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1654 / 91
by the following members : Elmar Brok, Bartho Pronk,

Ria Oomen-Ruijten and Raphael Chanterie ( PPE )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 61 )

Subject : Achieving the social dimension of the Single

Market

In its endeavour to eliminate internal barriers to trade by
the end of 1992, the Community has since 1985 been
involved in a dynamic process which carries the risk of
endangering economic and social cohesion if the social
aspects of the Single Market are not seen to be as
important as the economic aspects . The following
questions are addressed to the Council in order to find
out how far the social dimension of the Single Market has
been achieved .

1 . Which specific decisions are regarded as particularly

vital for the preservation of economic and social
cohesion within the Community ?

2 . Can all the measures considered necessary to achieve

the social dimension be expected to be incorporated in
national laws by the time the Single Market has been
completed at the end of 1 992 ?

3 . Which of the directives in the social sphere adopted by

the Community have so far been incorporated into the
national laws of all the Member States ?

4 . Which areas of social legislation should be dealt with

at European level ?

5 . How could the decision-making processes in the area

of social policy be improved, in the context of the
Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

1 . As regards social policy, the Council does not
currently have before it any Commission proposal on
preserving economic and social cohesion within the
meaning of Articles 1 30a to 1 30e of the EEC Treaty .

2 and 3 . It may be expected that part of the measures
necessary to achieve the social dimension will be adopted
in good time for incorporation into national laws by the
end of 1992 .

It is for the Commission and, where appropriate, the
Court of Justice to ensure application of the EEC Treaty
and of any provisions adopted in pursuance thereof .

4 . It is for the Commission to exercise right of initiative
and select areas of social legislation which should be dealt
with at European level .

5 . It is not for the Council to rotate an opinion on
questions falling within the competence of the
Intergovernmental Conference responsible for preparing
Political Union .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1655 / 91

by Mr Lyndon Harrison ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 62 )

Subject : Directive 82 / 502 / EEC ( Seveso )

Will the Commission assure Parliament, in the light of the
serious contamination incident at the Ford Motor Plant at
Halewood, Merseyside, ( UK ) on Friday, 17 May 1991,
that the provisions of Directive 82 / 50 1 / EEC (') were
fully in force at the plant at the time of the incident, and
that the actions taken by the emergency services to
mitigate the effects of the poisonous gas released over
surrounding residential areas were in compliance with the
Directive ?

o OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1 982, p. 1 .

No C 55 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

Council Directive 82 / 501 / EEC on the major accident
hazards of certain industrial activities applies to
establishments handling specified dangerous substances
or categories of substances in quantities in excess of levels
given in Annexes II and III of the Directive .

The Commission is informed by the Health and Safety
Executive that the plant occupied by the Ford Motor
Company at Halewood, Merseyside, United Kingdom
does not handle dangerous substances in quantities
sufficient to bring it within the scope of Regulations 7 to

12 of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards
Regulations 1984, which implement the relevant parts of
the Directive in the United Kingdom .

3 . At the moment, there is no Community provision in
the area referred to by the Honourable Member ;
however, in its 1989 proposal to the Council for revision
of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1612 / 68 (*) the Commission
proposed adding the following paragraph to Article 5 :
' He ( the national of a Member State who seeks
employment in the territory of another Member State )
shall also receive the aid to promote mobility and
recruitment available to nationals travelling either within
the country or to other member or non-Member States to
take up an activity as an employed person ' ( 2 ).

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

1 and 2 . Information on the assistance given by
Member States to unemployed persons travelling to job
interviews has been sent direct to the Honourable

Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament .

Nevertheless, the company had an established on-site
emergency plan which was initiated following the incident The principle of this
on Friday 17 May 1991 . The off-site emergency are still being discussed
procedures were also put into effect by the relevant
emergency services . o OJ No L 257, 19 . 10 . 1968 .
( 2 ) COM(88 ) 815 final .

The principle of this extension to Article 5, and its scope

are still being discussed within the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1660 / 91

by Mr Christopher Jackson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1670 / 91
by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasoliba I Bohm ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 63 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 64 )

Subject : The implications of 1992 for unemployed
persons applying for jobs in Member States other
than their own

As frontiers in the EC become of less significance,

increasing numbers of EC citizens will seek jobs in
Member States other than their own . Financial and other
practical assistance is, in some cases, available to
unemployed people travelling to approved job interviews
in their own Member State . This assistance is not
generally available for travel outside the Member State
concerned, which will become an increasing anomaly .

1 . Which Member States give assistance to unemployed

job applicants travelling some distance to approved
job interviews ?

2 . Which Member States give such assistance ~ to
unemployed job applicants travelling for interview in
other Member States ?

3 . Will the Commission consider whether there are
grounds for legislation to provide for reciprocal
arrangements or some other method of assisting
unemployed job applicants to attend < approved
interviews in other Member States ?

Subject : Promoting the teaching of Japanese in the

Community

Following action by Parliament, the 1991 budget includes
under Item B5-310 ( Commission ) appropriations for,
amongst other things :

'
— activities to promote the teaching of Japanese in

the Member States and contributions towards the
costs of organizing Japanese courses for students
and professionals from the Community ' (').

Can the Commission indicate what has been achieved in
this field up to the present and if an initial assessment of
results is now possible ?

O OJ No L 30, 4 . 2 . 1991, p. 811 .

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

The Commission is actively pursuing its activities to
promote the teaching of Japanese, mainly in the context of

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 37

its training programme in Japan for young executives
from the European Community, ETP ( Executive
Training Programme ). The 18-month course allows them
to acquire a command of the Japanese language and an
in-depth knowledge of Japanese industry and commerce .
The ETP, which has been in existence for 12 years as part
of the EXPROM programme, makes European
businesses more effective each year in their efforts to
penetrate the Japanese market . The programme has
obtained conclusive results .

As for the cofinancing of activities to promote the
teaching of Japanese in the Member States and
contributions towards the costs of organizing Japanese
courses for students and professionals from the
Community, projects aiming to meet these objectives have
not yet been submitted .

The Commission is naturally willing to examine such
projects in a positive light and to assist them in the context
of its EXPROM programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1735 / 91

by Mrs Michèle Alliot-Marie ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 65 )

Subject : Origin of industrial products imported into the

Community from the countries of Eastern
Europe

1 . The European Community has recently signed
economic and trade cooperation agreements with all
Eastern European countries, except for Albania : the
PHARE Programme ( originally intended for Poland and
Hungary, then extended to Czechoslovakia, Romania
and Bulgaria ) is due to introduce a system of generalized
preferences as soon as quotas are filled ( at the reduced
rate of duty or duty free ).

2 . Negotiations are currently under way with
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland aimed at bringing
about association agreements . Within the framework of
these negotiations it is intended, after a transitional
period of five years ( for industrial goods deemed to be
non-sensitive ), to set up a free trade area between these
countries and the Community .

It has been agreed to apply the principle of positive
discrimination in favour of these countries to assist them
in their economic restructuring plans . This principle will,
however, only be applied during the transitional period .

Can the Commission say whether there exist at present, or
whether it has any plan to introduce, monitoring
measures aimed at determining the origin of
non-European, and in particular Japanese, investments in
Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, which generate
the production of goods which will be exported to the
Member States of the Community ?

If no such measures are in force or envisaged, does it not
consider that urgent steps must be taken to employ
statistical methods during the transitional period to
ensure that the situation obtaining in the European
automobile sector, due to Japanese investments in the UK,
does not spread to other Community sectors in the near
future ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

Under all Community preferential regimes there are at
present provisions for checks on origin, either under
agreements with non-Community countries ( EFTA,
Maghreb countries, etc ), or under autonomous regimes
such as the Generalized System of Preferences, which has
applied to Romania since 1974, to Poland and Hungary
since 1 January 1990 and Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria
since 1 January 1991 .

The association agreements now being negotiated with
Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia will, of course,
also include the necessary provisions relating to origin .
However, the origin of goods does not depend on the
origin of the investment but on the origin of the materials
used in their manufacture and of the work or processing
carried out in the country concerned .

And provisions of this sort will still be necessary after the
transitional period, where trade between the Community
and the countries concerned is based on free trade ( e.e .
EFTA ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1787 / 91

by Mr John McCartin ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 66 )

Subject : Gross registered tonnage of Community fishing

fleet

Will the Commission state whether it has up-to-date
figures for the gross registered tonnage of the fishing
fleets in the individual Member States of the Community

No C 55 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

and, if not, could the Commission indicate which
Member States have failed to provide the information ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

Commission given to adopting an early action based upon
information systems such as Hazchem throughout the
Community, as opposed to a purely information system
based on ADR Kemler ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
( 17 September 1 991 ) on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

Community rules provide for comprehensive reporting
and regular updating of information, including tonnage
and engine power, on fishing vessels registered in
Member States .

Multiannual Guidance Programmes for the fishing fleet,
adopted by the Commission within the framework of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 ( x ) for the period
1987 / 1991, require Member States to submit
information, on the entry and exit of vessels, in February
and July of each year .

%

Furthermore, Member States are required to provide a
comprehensive computerized list of registered vessels for
the purposes of the fishing vessels register of the
Community within the framework of Regulation ( EEC )
No 163 / 89 ( 2 ).

Member States have complied with the provisions of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 163 / 89 by sending computerized
lists of registered vessels and information is provided
regularly for the purposes of monitoring the Multiannual
Guidance Programmes within the framework of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 .

O OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986 .
O OJ No L 20, 25 . 1 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1791 / 91

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 67 )

Subject : Fire safety

To ensure that fire-fighters throughout the Community

are aware of the hazard presented by an off-site
emergency and are therefore able to take the necessary
initial action and precautions needed to deal effectively
with such an incident, what consideration has the

The Commission considers that its answer to the
Honourable Member 's previous written question
( No 121 / 91 (')) contains all the necessary information .

O OJNoC 177, 8.7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1820 / 91

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 68 )

Subject : Directive on measures to encourage research

into small photovoltaic solar energy units
( Federal-Lander programme — 1000
photovoltaic roof units )

1 . Is the Commission aware of the above directive
issued on 18 September 1990 by the German Ministry for
Research and Technology ( Federal Gazette of 22
September 1990 )?

2 . Is it aware that the federal and Land authorities are
paying millions of deutschmarks by way of subsidies into
this pilot project ( Article 6 of the directive )? Has the
Commission been informed of this ?

3 . Is it aware that, for the purposes of this project, ' use
will primarily be made of solar modules of which the solar
cells are manufactured in the Federaf Republic of
Germany ', while ' approximately 30% of the solar
modules equipped with solar cells produced by foreign
manufacturers may be authorized in so far as these
foreign manufacturers have close links with German
manufacturers ( for example undertakings owned by
German manufacturers or engaged in a joint venture with
a German manufacturer )' ( Article 5 ( 3 ) of the directive )?

4 . Is it true that most of the exceptional quota of 30 %
has been allocated to Siemens in order to ensure that it
can participate in the project with solar cells

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 39

manufactured by the American Arco Solaris undertaking,
which has been recently taken over by Siemens ?

5 . Is it true that the project involves a technique
developed in Germany which requires testing and further
improvement with the aim of developing an
internationally competitive German photovoltaic
industry ? Is it true that, for this reason, only German
undertakings are able to participate in the project ( with
the exception referred to in paragraph 4 ) and that solar
cell manufacturers in the other Member States are
therefore excluded, even from supplying German module
manufacturers ?

6 . Is this not a case of discrimination against
undertakings in the same sector from other EC countries,
which is prohibited by the EEC Treaty ?

Is this not a covert form of import restriction prohibited
by Article 30 of the EEC Treaty ?

Is it not also a distortion of competition on the
Community market caused by the German authorities
and, hence, an infringement of Germany 's obligations
under the T reaties ?

7 . If so, has the Commission already taken suitable
measures, or will it take them in the near future, in order
effectively to bring to an end these infringements of the
EEC Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 October 1 991 )

1 and 2 . The German measure ' Bund-Lander ­
1000-D.acher-Photovoltaik-Programm ' has been notified
by the German government on 15 July 1991 . This
notification, made on the basis of Article 93 ( 3 ) of the
EEC Treaty, concerns State aids of the Land
Niedersachsen . The Commission will in due time decide
about the conformity of the aid with EEC competition
law . In it 's decision, the Commission will take into
consideration any possible violation of other relevant
EEC Treaty provisions, especially those governing free
movement of goods . Moreover, the Commission has
asked the German authorities whether other aids for solar
energy ( federal or Lander budgets ) are paid or are
planned .

3 to 7 . The Commission has also received a complaint
in relation to Article 30 in respect of the matter raised by
the Honourable Member . The Commission is at present
seeking further information from the German
government with a view to examining the guidelines in the
context of Articles 30 to 36 and 92 of the Treaty . After
having completed this examination, the Commission will
consider what steps are necessary and whether to take
action on the guidelines .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1826 / 91

by Mr Alain Marleix ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 69 )

Subject : The profession of ambulance driver in the single

market as of 1993

What decisions have been made or are being made
concerning the profession of ambulance driver as part of
the current harmonization policy in respect of the
recognition and equivalence of qualifications and training
in the Community ?

Will European standards be imposed on this
socio-professional category, with regard to the vehicles
used in the exercise of this profession, or will the status
quo in each of the Member States be maintained ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 1 9 November 1 991 )

On the subject of training conditions for ambulance
drivers, the Commission would refer the Honourable
Member to the answer it gave to Written Question
No 1490 / 91 by Mr Kohler ( l ).

As regards the vehicles used by ambulance drivers in the
exercise of their profession, the Commission is currently
preparing a proposal for a Directive concerning the
minimum safety and health requirements for transport
activities and workplaces on means of transport .

The proposal, which will be essentially general in nature,
will apply to ambulance drivers and ambulances .

However, its legal basis — Article 1 1 8a of the EEC Treaty
— will enable Member States to maintain or introduce
more stringent measures for the protection of working
conditions .

0 ) OJNoC 327, 16 . 12 . 1991, p. 17 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1860 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 70 )

Subject : Recipocal arrangements for dealing with deaths

of visiting EC nationals

On the event of the death of a constituent 's son in
Waalwijk, Holland in November 1990, a post-mortem

No C 55 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

was carried out in Holland before the body could be
returned to the UK and a further post-mortem was
carried out in the UK because the Dutch details had not
been released . Some eight months later now, the father
still has no knowledge of the cause of death of his son,
and the inquest in Holland is only just being initiated .

Would the Ministers meeting in European Political

Cooperation care to comment on the experience of the
constituent concerned :

— firstly, to say whether this experience would be the

norm between fellow EC Member States and,

— secondly, if this is not the norm, why has this family

been subjected to further bureaucratic trial at a time of
such grief ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

The facts recounted by the Honourable Member are
entirely a matter for the Member States concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1864 / 91

by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 71 )

Subject : Clearing of undergrowth

A number of recent studies have demonstrated that the
practice of intensively clearing undergrowth as a means of
preventing forest fires is only of limited value ; in some
cases it may prove ineffective and may even harm the
forests it is supposed to protect .

Will the Commission say what its attitude is in using this
method, issue a list of strict criteria which must be
followed and say what techniques are acceptable and
which should be banned ?

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

As stressed by the Honourable Member, the practice of

clearing undergrowth may pose certain questions of an
ecological and economic nature :

— from an ecological viewpoint, it may in certain cases

destabilize the ecosystems on which it is practised ;

— from an economic viewpoint, it may be relatively

expensive with regard to both the establishment and
maintenance of the areas cleared .

It is now recognized by all those responsible for the
protection of forests against fire that an area cleared of
undergrowth does not by itself enable a fire which has
broken out to be brought under control, but constitutes
one of the instruments of forest protection .

Although undergrowth clearance methods differ widely
between one part of Europe and another, some general
observations can be made :

— clearing undergrowth is not an end in itself — it is a

link in the chain of forest fire protection which
complements other measures and which should be
incorporated into programmes for the overall
protection for forest areas ( reducing the causes of fire,
improving awareness, providing tracks and water
supply points, mapping of safety strips cleared of
undergrowth so that they can be used for
fire-fighting, look-outs, etc .);

— areas cleared of undergrowth to form safety strips or

protective strips around installations should be
properly and regularly maintained, otherwise the
initial investment will be lost ; these strips should not
be dead ends and must form a uniform and coherent

network ;

— where areas in the middle of forests are cleared of

undergrowth, this should be done with regard for the
ecosystems in the area concerned and should
constitute a genuine instrument of forest management
aimed at improving and enhancing the value of the
stands situated there .

The Commission would also point out to the Honourable

Member that a number of measures have been or are
currently being funded thought Regulations ( EEC )
No 3529 / 86 (') and ( EEC ) No 1614 / 89 ( 2 ) in order to
improve methods for the establishment and maintenance
of areas cleared of undergrowth ( controlled burning,
clearing one patch of undergrowth at a time, maintenance
through the grazing of livestock, etc .).

Finally, the Commission would like to inform the
Honourable Member that it particularly welcomes any
suggestions, proposals or innovations aimed at improving
the methods currently employed or using new ones, in
particular with regard to the feasibility of alternative
methods ( e.g. re-parcelling and green strips ).

0 ) OJ No L 320,21 . 11 . 1986, p . 5 .
O OJ No L 165, 15.6 . 1989, p . 10 .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1901 / 91
by Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE ), Lord Bethell ( ED ), Mr
Elmar Brok ( PPE ), Sir Fred Catherwood ( ED ), Mr Patrick
Cox ( LDR ), Mr Willy De Clercq ( LDR ), Mr Gijs de Vries
( LDR ), Mr James Elles ( ED ), Mr Ingo Friedrich ( PPE ),
Mr Klaus Hansch ( S ), Mr Geoffrey Hoon ( S ), Mr Alan
Lamassoure ( LDR ), Mr Manuel Medina Ortega ( S ), Mr
Hemmo Muntingh ( S ), Mr Luis Planas Puchades ( S ), Lord
Plumb ( ED ), Mr Hans-Gert Poettering ( PPE ), Mr Manuel
Porto ( LDR ), Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S ), Mr Leo Tindemans
( PPE ), Mr John Tomlinson ( S ), Mr Michael Welsh ( ED ),

security . In addition, it expresses the determination of
both sides to strengthen transatlantic solidarity and their
commitment to endow their relationship with long-term
perspectives .

Manuel Medina Ortega ( S ), Mr As well as setting out the principles of partnership
Mr Luis Planas Puchades ( S ), Lord between the Community and its Members States and the
Poettering ( PPE ), Mr Manuel United States, the Declaration also outlines areas where
Rogalla ( S ), Mr Leo Tindemans the consultation and cooperation enshrined in these
( S ), Mr Michael Welsh ( ED ), principles will be developed and strengthened . Apart from

( PPE ) and Mr Eisso Woltjer ( S ) political and economic cooperation, these areas include

the European Communities education, scientific and cultural cooperation, and a

number of transnational challenges such as the fight

September 1991 ) against terrorism, international crime and the prevention

( 92 / C 55 / 72 ) of nuclear and other armament proliferation .

Mr Karl von Wogau ( PPE ) and Mr Eisso Woltjer ( S )

to the Council of the European Communities

(2 September 1991 )

Subject : Development of US / EC relations

How does the Commission consider that the US / EEC
relationship should develop over the next few months,
now that Germany is unified and the Community is
nearing completion of the Single European Market ?

Does the Declaration, now agreed between the EC and
the US, imply that there will be closer cooperation
between the US and the EC in new sectors ?

Does the Council believe that closer relationships will
lead to the institutionalization of the US / EC relationship
in the longer term ?

What possibilities exist for the Community and the US to
work together within the CSCE with a view to promoting
a new European security order ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

1 . As the President of the European Council, Mr
Andreotti, informed the Parliament in plenary sitting on

21 November 1990, the Declaration to which the
Honourable Members refer, on relations between the
Community and the United States, was approved on 20
November 1990 by the parties concerned .

That Declaration recognizes the importance of relations
between the Community and its Member States on the
one hand and the United States on the other, against the
background inter alia of the developments which have
resulted in the restoration of unity in Europe and the
unification of Germany . It moreover implies recognition
by the United States of the process by which the European
Community expresses its identity in economic and
monetary matters, in foreign policy and in the domain of

As regards the institutionalization of the relationship
between the Community and its Member States and the
United States, both parties agree that a framework is
required for regular and intensive consultation . They will
make full use of and further strengthen existing
procedures, including those established by the President
of the United States and the President of the European
Council on 27 February 1990, the main lines of which
reappear in the Transatlantic Declaration of 20
November 1990 .

2 . Subsequently, the President-in-office of the
European Council, Mr Santer, and the President of the
Commission, Mr Delors, had talks with President Bush in
Washington on 11 April 1991 . These talks took place in
the institutional framework for consultation for which the
Declaration on relations between the Community and the
United States provides . In addition, since the joint
Declaration was adopted, several other meetings of
Ministers and Political Directors have been held and
many consultations between experts have taken place on
matters relating to foreign policy .

3 . These meetings and consultations have also dealt
with CSCE questions . The United States, whose values
and interests are very similar to those of the Community
and its Member States, is one of their main interlocutors .
The CSCE is one of the matters to which special attention
has been devoted in the consultation between the
Community and its Member States and the United States .

In all the areas discussed within the CSCE, the
Community and its Member States and the United States
will continue their efforts to bring about a European
order marked by mutual trust which, now that the
continent is no longer divided, will allow all the States to
make their contribution to the defence of stability,
democracy and the rule of law .

No C 55 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1914 / 91

by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez ( DR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 73 )

Subject : Economic and monetary union,

In the current state of negotiations within the
Intergovernmental Conference, can the Commission
answer the following :

1 . Given that economic and monetary union involves a
transfer of powers to the Community authorities,
including the European Central Bank, in respect of
short-term economic policy, structural policy and
monetary policy, and since fiscal policy has already
been centralized as a result of harmonization at
Community level, can the Commission list the areas of
economic and budgetary competence remaining in the
hands of the Member States ? Is it intended to apply
the principle of subsidiarity or the principle of sole
competence ?

2 . If it is no longer permissible to fund budget deficits by

use of the monetary instrument or from financial
. markets ( as advocated by the European Parliament ),

will the running of budget deficits by the Member

States be banned altogether ?

If so, will the principle of the budgetary balance be
embodied in positive Community law ?

3 . In view of the introduction of a single currency, the

ECU, what steps will be taken to promote this
measure during the transitional phase ? What links will
be established between the private and public ECU ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

1 . For the participating Member States, the final stage
of economic and monetary union will entail the pursuit of
a single monetary policy, defined and implemented by the
European System of Central Banks, a system independent
of the governments and made up of Member States '
central banks and the European Central Bank . The
organization and operation of the ESCB will be governed
by a statute annexed to the EEC Treaty ; a draft statute
has already been prepared by the Governors of the 12
national central banks .

However, even in the final stage of EMU, the
achievement of union will not require a single economic
policy . It will call for close coordination of the economic
policies of the Member States on the basis of common
guidelines . In its draft Treaty, the Commission has

therefore proposed that multiannual economic policy
guidelines should be drawn up at Community level .
Member States would pursue their economic policies in a
concerted way, in conformity with the multiannual
guidelines and with a view to contributing to the
realization of the objectives of EMU . The Council could
make recommendations to a Member State if its economic

policy were inconsistent with the multiannual guidelines
or with the objectives of EMU .

2 . On the matter of budget deficits, the Commission 's
draft Treaty proposes that excessive deficits should be
avoided, and the monetary financing of deficits
prohibited, whether such financing is by means of direct
assistance from the ESCB or through privileged access by
the public authorities to the capital market . However,
moderate budget deficits could still be financed through
market borrowing, but on an absolutely equal footing
with other borrowers . Consequently, there is no strict
obligation to balance budgets, simply a desire to avoid
excessive deficits so as to ensure the stability needed for
achieving EMU . Discussions at the Intergovernmental
Conference have revealed a broad consensus fn favour of
this approach, with certain delegations even wishing to
add the possibility of sanctions, imposed on Member
States which run up excessive budget deficits in the final
stage of EMU .

3 . The ecu market has developed considerably on
the financial side whereas commercial use is still
underdeveloped . To ensure satisfactory expansion of the
use of the ecu during the transitional stage, any action
taken at Community level, notably by the Commission,
must be accompanied by a genuine effort on the part of
the national monetary authorities, financial operators and
the business community . In particular, more must be done
to remove the factors hampering the ecu 's competitiveness
in relation to other currencies . An information drive is
also needed, aimed at business and more especially small
business, to give potential users easier access to the
commercial ecu .

In the Commission 's view, the qualities of the ecu as a
strong and stable currency should be enhanced by the
substantial progress expected on economic convergence,
and by the freezing of its composition .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1922 / 91

by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 74 )

Subject : Concessions requested by Norway

Which concessions requested by Norway does the
Commission consider to be incompatible with the

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 43

common market and with the objectives of the Treaty of
Rome and the EEA Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1940 / 91

by Mr Francois Musso ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 76 )

Subject : Plant health safeguard for citrus fruit seedlings

Negotiations about the agreement to establish the

Will the Commission indicate what

European Economic Area are being conducted by the safeguards it proposes to apply in respect
Community, on the one hand, and the EFTA countries, seedlings originating in Member States in
speaking with one voice, on the other hand . The serious diseases are common and destined
Community will only be able to conclude the Agreement Member States, some regions of which have
if it is of the opinion that the contents thereof are

totally free from such diseases, such as

compatible with its own principles and objectives, as of France ?
reflected in the negotiating directives . The Commission,
as Community negotiator, will ensure that any
non-compatible EFTA demand is ruled out . It would
appear, however, to be neither of use nor in keeping with
Community negotiating practice to make such negotiating
points public . Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

Will the Commission indicate what plant health
safeguards it proposes to apply in respect of citrus fruit
seedlings originating in Member States in which certain
serious diseases are common and destined for other

Member States, some regions of which have hitherto been
totally free from such diseases, such as Corsica in the case
of France ?

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1923 / 91

by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde ( ARC )
to the Council of the European Communities

(2 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 75 )

Subject : Environmental policy

Will the Council ensure that the principles of sustainable

development and a preventive approach to environmental
policy are incorporated as the main objective of the EC
agreement with the EFTA countries ?

Answer

( 21 January 1992 )

At the present stage of the EEA negotiations between the

European Community and the EFTA countries, as
reflected in the joint declaration of 13 May 1991, it has
been agreed that the ' acquis communautaire ', inter alia
with regard to environmental policy, will be adopted by
the EFTA countries .

Insofar as the Community provisions in force embody the
principles mentioned by the Honourable Member, those
principles will be included in the Agreement which the
Community is to conclude with the member countries of
EFTA .

( 7 October 1 991 )

Plant health protection for citrus fruit is regulated by
Council Directive 77 / 93 / EEC of 21 December 1976 on

protective measures against the introduction into the
Member States of organisms harmful to plants or plant
products ('), as last amended by Commission Directive
91 / 27 / EEC of 19 December 1990 ( 2 ). Under Article 4 ( 2 )
( a ) in conjunction with Annex III B.l certain Member
States ( France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal ) are
authorized to prohibit the introduction of citrus fruit
plants ( Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf . and
hybrids of these ) into their territory .

The Commission has proposed amendments to Directive

77 / 93 / EEC framing the new plant health strategy
required for completion of the internal market in 1993 ( 3 ).
These include the delimitation of isolated zones in which
one or more harmful organisms covered by the Directive
and established in one or more other areas of the
Community are not known to occur or are not endemic
despite favourable conditions for their establishment .
These isolated zones will be delimited at Community

level .

Without prejudice to the outcome of the Council 's

deliberations on these proposals and to the subsequent
work of the Standing Committee on Plant Health, it
would appear to be possible to protect citrus cultivation in

Corsica by declaring the island either an isolated zone or
part of one, provided that the requirements are duly met .

(') OJNoL26, 31 . 1 . 1977 .
O OJ No L 16,22 . 1 . 1991 .
() Proposals COM(89 ) 646 ( OJ No C 29, 28 . 2 . 1990 ) and

COM(91 ) 225 ( OJ No C 186, 18.7 . 1991 ).

No C 55 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1963 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 77 )

Subject : Action taken under Article 152 of the EEC

Treaty

Can the Council state how many times, and in respect of
which subjects, it made use of the right conferred on it by
Article 152 of the EEC Treaty to request the Commission
to submit any appropriate proposals for the attainment of
the common objectives, during the period from 1 January

1987 to 30 June 1991 ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

The Council has no statistical information of the kind

requested by the Honourable Member on formal action
taken under Article 152 of the Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1974 / 91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 78 )

Subject : Family dimension of Community policy

For historical, juridical, political, economic and social
reasons it has proved necessary to go beyond the purely
economic aims of the Treaty of Rome .

One of the everyday concerns of ordinary people is the
extent to which account is taken of family interests . Given
that numerous European policies have an impact on such
interests, the Community can no longer ignore the family
dimension in drafting its policies .

In the context of political union, what might be the
objectives of a family dimension to Community action,
and what form might it take ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

Family policy plays an important part in the well-being of
the peoples of the Community .

It is not, however, for the Council to express views on
issues falling within the remit of the Intergovernmental
Conference responsible for conducting preparations for
political union .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1975 / 91

by Mr Fernand Herman ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 79 )

Subject : Distortion of competition in favour of giro

cheques

Is it compatible with Article 92 of the Treaty for a post
office giro institution within the meaning of Article 2 ( 2 )
of Directive 77 / 780 / EEC (') which receives deposits and
grants credits within the meaning of Article 1 of that
Directive to receive aid granted by the State or pursuant
to State resources in any form whatsoever, such that the
aid in question distorts, or threatens to distort,
competition by favouring such organizations to the
detriment of credit institutions within the meaning of
Article 1 of that Directive ?

Has the Commission investigated Member States ' aid
schemes which are concerned specifically with post office
giro institutions referred to in Article 2 ( 2 ) of Directive
77 / 780 / EEC and does it have the information ( again, in
respect of such institutions ) provided for in Directive
80 / 723 / EEC ( 2 ) on the transparency of financial relations
between Member States and public undertakings, as
amended by Directive 85 / 413 / EEC ( 3 ) of 24 July 1985 ?

O OJNoL322, 17 . 12 . 1977,p . 30 .
C ) OJ No L 195,29 . 7 . 1980, p. 35 .
O OJ No L 229, 28 . 8 . 1985, p. 20 .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

Article 92 of the EEC Treaty establishes the principle that

State aid which is liable to distort competition in
intra-Community trade is prohibited . It also lays down
certain derogations to that principle . A post-office giro
institution which receives deposits and grants credits is
caught by that Article . Consequently, where it receives
State aid for the pursuit of such activities, that aid must be
notified in advance to the Commission in accordance with
Article 93 ( 3 ) of the EEC Treaty .

The Commission is aware that some post-office giro

institutions are involved in credit and deposit activities . It
is examining this matter and will, where appropriate,
apply the provisions of Directive 80 / 723 / EEC on the

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 45

transparency of financial relations between Member included in the recommendation on fire safety in hotels be
States and public undertakings, as amended by Directive extended in scope to other types of buildings and
85 / 413 / EEC . preferably in the form of a Community regulation ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1988 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 80 )

Subject : Imports of wild birds into the EC

In the absence of effective welfare regulations for carriers
of wild birds being imported into the Community, and in
the light of the horrific wastage of life of birds caught in
the wild to be sold as cage birds, will the Commission say
what action it is taking to ban the trade totally ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 October 1 991 )

The Commission is currently preparing a proposal for a

comprehensive regulation on the possession of and trade
in specimens of wild fauna and flora, which will contain
all necessary instruments for effective action concerning
restrictions on imports of any species at the level required
by its conservation status . The proposal will also address
transport, housing and other aspects of trade in live
animals .

The Commission does not consider it necessary to ban
trade on wild birds totally .

With the adoption of Council Directive 89 / 106 / EEC (')

of 21 December 1988 relating to construction products
considerable progress is being made concerning fire safety
in buildings .

In fact, this Directive makes provisions for harmonized
technical specifications for products which are
permanently incorporated in construction works
( buildings and civil engineering works ). The transitional
period has ended on 27 June 1 99 1 .

Fire safety is one of the six essential requirements which
will be further elaborated via the so-called interpretative
documents .

Within this essential requirement No 2, as set out in
Annex I of Directive 89 / 106 / EEC, with respect to safe
evacuation, it is provided that : ' the construction of works
must be designed and built in such a way that in the event
of an outbreak of fire, occupants can leave the work or be
rescued by other means and that the safety of rescue
teams is taken into consideration '.

The construction products Directive does n't interfere
directly with national or regional building regulations .
Therefore it is up to the relevant authorities of the

Member States to take the adequate safety measures
necessary . These will include the taking into account of
the types of buildings ; and their use, the disparities in
geographical and climatic conditions or the differencies in
ways of life as well as different levels of protection that
may prevail at national, regional or local level .

For these reasons, the Commission has at this moment no
intention either to extend scope of the recommendation
on fire safety in hotels or to foreward such provisions in
the form of a Community regulation .

(') OJ No L 40, 11.2 . 1989 .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1996 / 91

by Mr Kenneth Collins ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2014 / 91
( 92 / C 55 / 81 )
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

Subject : Fire safety in buildings

Will the Commission say what progress it has made in
further developing Community measures to ensure safe
evacuation of buildings ?

In addition, does the Commission consider that the time
is now appropriate to propose that measures such as those

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 82 )

Subject : Centres of European culture

What steps does the Community intend to take to further
the proposal put forward by the Luxembourg Presidency

No C 55 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

on 7 June 1991 to create Centres of European Culture
outside the Community ? What supranational body might
deal with this ? Or will the task be given to the
Community ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

At the meeting of Culture Ministers on 7 June 1991, the
Luxembourg delegation expounded its idea that there
should be ' European cultural houses ' in third countries,
with a headquarters in the Community, possibly
Luxembourg . It stated that more specific information
would be sent to the delegations in due course . No project
has yet been circulated, and no substantive discussion has
taken place .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2020 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

and training programmes . Friends of Namibia throughout
the world are organizing the sending of texts in English,
the country 's official language, and it would be ridiculous
to slow down their arrival there .

Could the Council not prevail upon the South African
authorities to provide the South African customs at
Walvis Bay with updated lists lifting the ban on works
which are ' political ' in the broad sense, and retaining
checks effectively only on material such as pornography ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

The Honourable Member 's question is outside the
Council 's sphere of competence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2089 / 91

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Council of the European Communities
( 26 September 1 991 )

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 83 ) ( 92 / C 55 / 84 )

Subject : Censorship of publications arriving at Walvis

Bay

The opening of proper discussions between the South
African and Namibian governments on the ownership of
Walvis Bay, together with a certain joint defence of
shared interests by South Africa and Namibia on illegal
fishing in the economic interest zone determined by the
Namibian legislature in accordance with international
law, gave cause to hope for increased flexibility in these
countries ' relations which was further confirmed by the
agreement on the border in the middle of the Orange
River . It is therefore all the more irritating to find that
South African customs officials, referring to clauses in the
customs union and to lists of works banned in Namibia
during the occupation, are checking publications,
including those in cases or containers, for right of entry in
accordance with bans issued in Pretoria under

government instructions by the publishing house
Jacobsen .

This blocks imports, creates delays of up to 10 weeks for
the publications ' entry into the country, and increases
costs, as well as being extremely annoying . Mr Kotze,
head of customs at Walvis Bay, says that he is still
ethically required to act in accordance with the existing
lists pending the arrival of new lists . Namibia needs a
great many political, historical and literary works, often
collected by the SWAPO liberation movement in exile, as
well as a large quantity of material required for its literacy

Subject : Ancient woodland sites

What action has the European Community taken to
protect ancient woodland sites ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 November 1 991 )

The European Community has taken action to help
protect the planet 's woods and forests, both in Europe
and in the tropics .

As regards the conservation of European forests, the

Community has established a policy to protect forests
against atmospheric pollution ( l ) and against fire ( 2 ).
Reforestation projects and projects to improve forestry
techniques are receiving Community funding, within the
framework of the EAGGF in particular .

The Community has also clearly shown its intention to

help protect tropical forests, particularly in the
Commission communication on the conservation of
tropical forests ( 3 ) and the Council 's Dublin Declaration
( June 1990 ). Over the last 10 years, the European
Community has allocated ECU 350 million to projects
with a tropical forest component . At present, the projects

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 47

focus mainly on the sustainable management of tropical
forest ecosystems, the protection and conservation of
tropical forests and the strengthening of forestry bodies
wherever possible .

Futhermore, in collaboration with the World Bank
and the Brazilian Government, the Commission is
participating in the preparation of a pilot programme for
the conservation of the Amazon forest . The European
Council in Luxembourg ( June 1990 ) and the London
Summit of the G-7 ( July 1991 ) confirmed their support
for the preliminary phase of the programme .

In addition, the Community, as a member of ITTO
( International Tropical Timber Organization ) is working
within this organization to promote the sustainable

management of tropical forests .

Finally, the Commission is also participating in the reform
of the Tropical Forest Action Plan .

(') Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 86 / 3528 of 17 November

1986 on the protection of the Community 's forests against
atmospheric pollution — OJ No L 326, 21 . 11 . 1986 .
( 2 ) Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 86 / 3529 of 17 November

1986 on the protection of the Community 's forests against
fire   - OJ No L 326, 21 . 11 . 1986 .
O OJ No C 264, 16 . 10 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2093 / 91

by Mr Gijs de Vries ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 85 )

Subject : Freedom of establishment in the broadcasting

sector

Some Member States make authorization for a
broadcaster to operate on their territory subject to the
condition that foreign participation in the capital does not
exceed a fixed percentage which is always less than 50 % .
Such a condition is in breach of Articles 52, 53 and 221 of
the Treaty, as the Commission has rightly indicated
( Answer to Question No H - 146 / 90 (') by Mr Newton
Dunn, European Parliament, April 1990 part-session ).

1 . Which Member States operate such conditions, and

what percentages do they apply ?

2 . Has the Commission decided to open infringement

procedures against any of these Member States ? If so,
which Member States are concerned, and what stage
of the procedure has been reached ?

3 . In view of the fact that the issue has been discussed
with the Member States for roughly one and a half
years already, will the Commission see to it that

infringement procedures will be completed swiftly,
and shall not be allowed to drag on for years ?

(') Debates of the Europe an Parliament, No 3-389 ( April 1990 ).

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1 991 )

1 . According to the information at the Commission 's
disposal, legal restrictions on holdings by nationals of
other Member States in television broadcasting
corporations still apply in the case of Greece ( limit
of 25% ), Portugal ( limit of 15% ) and the Flemish
Community of Belgium ( 51 % of capital being reserved for
publishers with their registered office within the territory
of the Flemish Community ). As the Honourable Member
points out, such restrictions are incompatible with
Community law . Legal restrictions which affect only
nationals of non-member countries also exist in France,
Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom .

2 . Infringement proceedings pursuant to Article 1 69 of
the Treaty have been started against Greece ( letter of
formal notice ) and Belgium ( action brought before the
Court of Justice (')). The Executive of the Flemish
Community of Belgium has said it will shortly abolish the
restriction objected to . In the case of Portugal,
preparatory inquiries are under way . The proceedings
initiated against Sprain, which also imposed a legal
restriction of this kind, resulted in its removal in
December 1990 .

3 . By initiating such proceedings, the Commission
ensures that Member States bring the provisions at issue
into line with Community law as quickly as possible .

O Case C-21 1 / 91, OJ No C 245, 20 . 9 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2116 / 91

by Mr Proinsias de Rossa ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 86 )

Subject : Compulsory carrying of ID cards

In which Member States is the carrying of identity cards
compulsory and what, if any, consideration has been
given to the protection of individuals, including
non-nationals, from harassment through selective and / or
unjustified ID checks ?

No C 55 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 December 1 991 )

The Honourable Member 's question relates to the
carrying of identity cards within the territory of the
Member States . The Commission has no information on
the provisions applicable in Member States ( whether or
not the carrying of identity cards is compulsory, rules
governing identity checks, etc ). Such matters are the
responsibility of the Member States alone . None the less,
where a Member State 's legislation requires individuals to
carry their identity cards at all times and to submit to
identity checks, such rules must, in order to comply with
Community law, apply without discrimination both to
nationals of that Member State and to nationals of other

Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2136 / 91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 87 )

Subject : Reform of social security systems

Contributions which are levied at present on the basis of
the wages of employees or the revenue of undertakings of
self-employed non-agricultural workers create a severe
imbalance between those areas of economic activity that
are labour-intensive and create jobs and those that are not
and shed jobs .

In order to redress this imbalance between these two
different types of economic activity and also between
various Community countries, the present basis on which
contributions are levied could be replaced and a
guaranteed minimum of equivalent social benefits made
available to everyone by basing contributions on the
amount of quantifiable added value provided for in the
accounting plan . Given that subject to annual
fluctuations, social benefits account for between 15 and
20 % of GDP, contributions could vary accordingly on the
basis of the quantifiable added value for all areas of
economic activity . To this could be added a contribution
of between 1 and 2 % of the net taxable income of each
individual whether he is employed, self employed or
other .

Among other advantages this system would help combat
unemployment by making it less profitable to import
products from countries where labour costs and social
charges are incompatible with social progress and which
compete unfairly with countries where workers enjoy
social rights .

Does the Commission consider that these proposals might
possibly serve as a basis for a system of European social
benefits ?

j\nswer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 November 1 991 )

A European social benefits scheme is not planned, and the
question of funding such benefits therefore does not
arise . The Member States will retain responsibility for
social protection benefits and for their funding as well .
The Commission encourages cooperation and the
exchange of information between Member States, notably
as part of the strategy of convergence which it recently
proposed to the Council ('). However, questions of
funding are not addressed in this draft recommendation .

However, the general consultations between Member
States on matters of social protection also touch on
funding problems . The Commission has had a whole
series of studies carried out, of which it informed the
Council in its communication of 24 July 1986 ' Problems
of social security — areas of common interest '( 2 ).

The Commission is not therefore in a position to come
down in favour of any specific method funding . This is
still a matter for the Member States, which do not appear
at present to be considering radical reforms of their
funding systems .

() COM(91 ) 228 final .
O COM(86 ) 410 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2 1 5 1 /9 1

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 4 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 88 )

Subject : The need for international supervision of banks

The international banking community and the general
public have been shocked by the scandal of the Herstatt
bank in 1974, Banco Ambrosiano in the early 1980s, the
German deposit banks in Summer 1991 and in particular
the spectacular collapse of the Bank of Credit and
Commerce International ( BCCI ) in recent months in
Luxembourg, London, Paris and many other places where
this unscrupulous organization has branches .

The question throughout has been whether the extent and
nature of supervisory practices in the host countries and,
more importantly, in the countries where the banks are
registered are adequate, particularly in the light of the
international activities which certain banks are engaged
in . Supervision is a waste of time if it is not concerned with
every aspect of a bank 's operations, or if access to
information on such activities is restricted .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 49

There is clearly a need for a system of international
supervision, as has been acknowledged by Mr E.G.
Corrigan, President of the Federal Reserve Bank ( New
York ) and President since July 1991 of the Basel
Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory
Practices .

Is an independent watchdog needed, or is it enough to
extend the code of conduct and professional ethics
adopted by the banks of the Group of Ten in 1988 ( and
subsequently by others ) as a guarantee that certain of
their activities are beyond reproach ? The BCCI affair
clearly shows that the criteria used post-Ambrosiano are
inadequate, given the inability of the authorities in
Luxembourg or the Cayman Islands, for example, even to
establish the scale of the operations .

What are the views of the Council on this major problem
which undermines and perverts any sense of responsibility

and international democracy ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

In the process of creating a vast economic area for 1993
the Community has carried out the thorough
harmonization of the banking services sector, which was
considered indispensable for the sound operation of the
market to ensure, inter alia, the equality of treatment and
the increased transparency necessary for proper
Community supervision .

Accordingly it took a series of appropriate measures,
principally in 1989 and 1990 : harmonized definition of
the own, funds of credit institutions ( 89 / 299 / EEC );
coordination of the rules governing access to and pursuit
of the business of banking ( 89 / 646 / EEC ); expansion of
the Directive of 1977 ; establishment of a solvency ratio
( 8% ) to improve solvency and provide benchmarks for
supervision ( 89 / 647 / EEC ); the preparation of annual and
consolidated accounts in accordance with harmonized

layouts to allow comparison ( 86 / 635 / EEC ); measures to
combat the use of financial services to launder the
proceeds of criminal activities ( 91 / 308 / EEC ); a
commitment on the part of the Member States to penalize
such practices jointly with the international community
( statement of 10 June 1991 by the Representatives of the
Governments of the Member States ).

These standards specific to the banking sector form part
of a larger context that includes its own regulatory
mechanism : company law imposes, inter alia, a heavier
obligation of disclosure and stricter auditing ; stock
market law, in particular, protects investors against
insider dealing ( 89 / 592 / EEC ).

Finally, other measures are being prepared, for example
to improve the consolidated supervision of credit
institutions and extend the perimeter of consolidation,

and to harmonize the effects of the re-organization or
winding-up of a failing financial undertaking .

The implementation of these measures means that

national supervisory authorities must be given increased
powers to collaborate with their opposite numbers in
other States, either directly or through consultative
committees .

Since most of the periods allowed for the transposition of
all these standards into national legislation have not yet
expired, it would be premature to pass judgment on the
situation that will obtain once all parts of the system have
been set up and the supervisory network is operational .
The Council is very conscious of the instances cited by the

Honourable Member . That is the reason why the Council
has completed its proceedings in this area so swiftly and
the explanation for the ambitious nature of the measures
taken to counter any further crisis in the banking system .

Given the world-wide nature of financial relationships,
the Community has r.aken the measures necessary to
ensure the indispensable cohesion with existing systems
outside the Community and create the essential links with
other authorities charged with supervision .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2197 / 91

by Mr Jacques Vernier ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 4 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 89 )

Subject : Customs formalities concerning removals from

one Member State to another

Individuals moving from one Community Member State
to another are still subject to extremely cumbersome
formalities, which may, for instance, make it necessary to
use the services of a customs clearance firm ( when moving
from France to Belgium ).

1 . Can the Commission say whether such obligations are

in conformity with Community law ?

2 . If so, does it not agree that such formalities are

^ pointless today, in that they greatly compromise the

principle of the free movement of individuals in view
of the expense and waste of time which they impose
on the latter ? Is the Commission therefore prepared to
put forward proposals to enable any individual
moving to another Member State in a legal manner to
move his possessions without customs formalities ?

3 . If these obligations are not in conformity with
Community law, what measures will the Commission

No C 55 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

take to ensure, at last, freedom of movement which is
more than just an illusion ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 November 1991 )

The removals of individuals ' personal effects from one

Member State to another to which the Honourable
Member refers are eligible for tax exemptions regulated
by Council Directive 83 / 183 / EEC of 28 March 1983 (').

The Directive is part of the general body of measures

aimed at using tax exemptions to remove as many as
possible of the tax difficulties facing an individual wishing
to import personal property from one Member State into
another, as such obstacles impede the free movement of
persons within the Community .

Imports of personal property as a removal are still subject
to certain conditions . The appropriate authorities of the
Member States must be able to verify that these have been
complied with .

In view of these considerations, the replies to the
Honourable Member 's questions are as follows :

1 . There is no legal obligation under these circumstances

for the individual to employ a customs agent .

However, if the individual is not himself transporting
his personal property, the removal firm may decide to
use the services of a customs agent .

2 . The completion of the internal market in 1993 will

bring an end to import charges and thus to the
formalities relating to removals of personal property
and to any involvement on the part of a customs agent .
The Commission has moreover proposed that the
Directive referred to above should no longer apply
from 31 December 1992 .

3 . Until the internal market is in place, the Commission

is continuing to ensure that the Member States comply
with the provisions of the Directive and confine
themselves strictly to applying the conditions laid
down in it .

(') OJ No L 105,23.4 . 1983 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2208 / 91

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 90 )

Subject : Compatibility of scales of charges with EC

competition law

In view of the existing scales of charges applicable both to
doctors and dentists and to lawyers in the individual

Member States, will the Commission say - whether
professional associations representing doctors and
dentists, etc . such as, for example, the NMT dentists '
association in the Netherlands, may lay down compulsory
scales of charges for all dentists, and to what extent is this
compatible with present EC competition law and EC
competition law after 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1 991 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its answer to Written Question No 3033 / 90 (') by Mr
Arbeloa Muru concerning national rules authorizing or
imposing the charging of minimum fees by certain
professional associations .

In principle, decisions by professional associations laying
down scales of fees are likely to fall within the scope of
Articles 85 and 86 of the EEC Treaty, even where

authorized in national law .

The completion of the single market by 1993 will not

involve any change in the rules to which the Commission
referred in its answer to the abovementioned written

question .

o OJNoC 177, 8.7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2210 / 91

by Mr Jacques Vernier ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 91 )

Subject : Fiscal advantages in the enterprise zones

A number of countries, including France, have set up
enterprise zones in which new undertakings are exempt
from certain fiscal and social charges .

These free zones are a perfectly legitimate devise when
they are set up in sectors where the economic situation is
much more serious than elsewhere, for instance, where
the unemployment rate is abnormally higher than

average .

But once these zones have served their purpose and they
are more prosperous than the average, is it not unfair and,
indeed, even shocking that they should continue to enjoy
fiscal advantages ?

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 51

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1 991 )

As the Honourable Member points out, the enterprise

zones existing in some Community countries, including
France, afford firms setting up there certain tax
concessions and administrative facilities .

Those zones differ from free zones in that the latter
qualify only for relief from customs duties and from VAT
on imports .

The Commission considers that enterprise zones are an

exceptional arrangement the existence of which is
justified only in particularly serious socio-economic
circumstances . For that reason, it has authorized them
only on a very restrictive basis and where well-defined
conditions are met, including the proviso that they should
remain in existence only until such time as the situation
justifying their establishment has been rectified .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2219 / 91

by Mr Proinsias de Rossa ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 92 )

Subject : Sanctions against South Africa

In view of the revelations in recent months of the

involvement of the South African Government at the
highest levels in the instigation and the promotion of
violence which led directly to thousands of deaths, will
the Commission now reconsider its earlier position with
regard to the relaxation of sanctions and in particular,
accept that no such steps should be taken without the
prior consideration and approval of the European
Parliament ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 November 1 991 )

The issue of the revelations referred to by the
Honourable Member has been dealt with in the
framework of the European Political Cooperation . The
Community and its Member States noted with interest the
statement made by President de Klerk on 30 July in
answer to such revelations, and expressed the hope that
this statement would contribute to re-establishing a
climate of trust, to achieve further progress towards
negotiations for a new constitution .

The Commission reminds the Honourable Member that it
proposed the relaxation of the Community sanctions on
imports of steel products and gold coins in accordance
with a timing and guidelines set out by the European

Council in December 1990, and that it did call for the
Parliament 's consultation on these proposals .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2223 / 91

by Mr Proinsias de Rossa ( CG )
to the Council of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 93 )

Subject : The fight against AIDS

Since existing measures aimed at the control of AIDS in
the Community are clearly proving to be inadequate has
the Council given any consideration to a different and
more energetic approach to this problem ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

By their Decision 91 / 317 / EEC of 4 June 1991, the
Council and the Ministers for Health, meeting within the
Council, adopted a plan of action in the framework of the

'
1991 — 1993 ' Europe against AIDS programme . The plan
— implemented by the Commission in close co-operation
with the competent authorities of the Member States —
comprises a large range of actions, including campaigns to
ensure better knowledge and control of the phenomenon,
taking account of the principle of confidentiality of
individual data and of ensuring that people are properly
informed, in addition to preventive measures to which it
attaches great importance .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2231 / 91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 94 )

Subject : Reduction of milk quotas

What short and convincing explanation are we to give our
farmers for the decision of the Council of Agriculture
Ministers to reduce milk quotas by 2 % ?

No C 55 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

On 13 June 1991 the Council adopted Regulation ( EEC )
No 1630 / 91 reducing Community milk quotas by 2% .
There was a persistent glut on the market in milk and milk
products owing to a reduction in opportunities for
exports to third countries and a drop in consumption of
certain milk products, particularly butter, in the
Community . To achieve a better balance between supply
and demand, it was necessary to reduce guaranteed
overall quantities, taking into account also the
considerable costs of storing intervention products in this
sector, in particular butter and skimmed-milk powder .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2232 / 91
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 95 )

Subject : CAP reform and development cooperation

What major CAP reforms does the Council deem

necessary in order to stop the deleterious effects of
European agricultural policy on Third World countries ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

The impact of the common agricultural policy on
third-world countries cannot be seen in isolation from
other Community policies, particularly in the fields of
trade and development . In this perspective the
Community, which is the world 's leading agricultural
importer, is aware of the responsibilities which it bears
and has pursued a policy aimed at ensuring preferential
access to its markets for the developing countries . The
Lome Convention, the Association Agreements and the
economic and trade cooperation Agreements with many
countries of the third world, on the one hand, and
multilateral cooperation in GATT and the system of
generalized preferences, on the other hand, have
constituted the frameworks which have enabled the

Community to grant access to third-world countries in
the agricultural sector in derogation from the strict
application of the rules of the common agricultural
policy ; granting such access has involved certain sacrifices
for European agriculture .

For the future the Community is determined to continue

this open policy .

In addition it : is prepared, as it has stated on a number of
occasions, to seek, in the framework of the agriculture
negotiations of the Uruguay Round, solutions enabling
the developing countries to derogate, under conditions to
be determined, from the rules and disciplines to be
negotiated in GATT .

Furthermore, the Community has signed association
agreements with certain countries in Central and Eastern
Europe, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, which are
designed to facilitate those countries ' transition towards a
market economy and to modernize their production and
marketing structures . Each of these agreements contains
provisions governing cooperation and trade in the
agricultural sector .

In conclusion, while taking its own agricultural interests
into account the Community will continue to implement
an open policy in development cooperation in the
agricultural sector, taking account of the considerable
responsibilities which it bears in the framework of
relationships with third-world countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2261 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 18 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 96 )

Subject : Recurrence of illegal fishing in Namibian
territorial waters

On 25 July 1991 two Spanish vessels — the Hermanuel
Carrido and the Egunsentia — were detected by the
Namibian authorities while fishing illegally in Namibian
coastal waters some 20 km south of the Angolan frontier .
These vessels had already been identified in October
while engaged in similar activities which cast doubt on the
nature and effectiveness of the measures taken and
announced since then by the Spanish authorities to put an
end to such practices . It is also very probable that this
action was in violation of the fisheries agreement
concluded between Angola and the European
Community, as vessels holding the appropriate licences
should report daily .

Feelings are apparently, and justifiably, running high in
Namibia, and repeated incursions into that country 's
territorial waters are jeopardizing the EEC-Namibian
talks on a long-term fisheries agreement . Thus Mr
Gurirab, the Namibian Minister for External Relations,

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 53

summoned the Ambassadors of Member States of the
Community and, other of its representatives on 1 August
to express the Namibian Government 's very grave
concern at the continuing pillage of its waters . This was a
provocation, and the Namibian authorities could not be
held responsible for any further action which might even
put human life at risk .

1 . What is the amount and timetable of the aid being

given by the French and German Governments, in
cooperation with other countries, to help Namibia
rapidly obtain effective patrol vessels ?

2 . Could the Council approach the Spanish authorities

to urge them to implement the measures advocated in
Windhoek by Mr Carlos de Boado, the Spanish
Ambassador, under which :

— offending vessels could be confined to Spanish

ports for periods commensurate with their
offences, especially those relating to breaches of
the rule prohibiting vessels from changing their
names at sea ?

— action could be taken to prevent the landing of

catches in Portuguese ports for subsequent
dispatch to the Spanish market ?

3 . Is the Community prepared to cooperate with the

Namibian judiciary in the charging of offending
vessels, although the confiscations recently and very
properly ordered by the Windhoek Court have
obviously not had the hoped for deterrent effect ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

1 . The Council has not been informed of the amount
of and timetable for the aid approved by the German and
French Governments since these matters are the
responsibility of those Governments themselves .

2 . The Council fully endorses the concern voiced by
the Honourable Member that any illegal conduct in
Namibian waters by vessels flying the flag of a
Community Member State jeopardizes relations with
Namibia, particularly with the conclusion of a fisheries
agreement with that country in prospect .

3 . Monitoring the fishing activities of vessels flying the
flag of a Community Member State is the responsibility of
the Member State concerned . Moreover, it is for the
Commission to ensure that the Community provisions in
force, including those regarding monitoring, are fully
applied by Member States and to take the requisite
initiatives should any infringement be recorded .
Nevertheless, in cases where there is no fisheries
agreement between the Community and a third country,

responsibility for inspecting and monitoring fishing
activities in the waters of that third country lies
exclusively with the latter .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2270 / 91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 8 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 97 )

Subject : Property prices in Berlin

1 . For what reason, and on what legal basis, has the
Commission or one of its bodies been carrying out
inquiries and investigations into property prices in Berlin,
particularly in connection in the purchase by Mercedes or
Daimler Benz AG of a property near the Potsdamer Platz
in Berlin ?

2 . Has the Commission carried out similar
investigations into property transactions in other EC
capitals or major cities since 1958 and, if so, how often
and with what result ?

3 . Is this, as newspaper reports suggest, an attempt to
discover hidden subsidies ? How many Commission staff
are engaged in this area, and what is the amount in ECU
of such subsidies, for which repayment has been
demanded ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1 991 )

1 . In July 1990, the Commission was informed by
outside sources that a large site situated in the centre of
Berlin had been sold to Daimler Benz by the Land
authorities at a price which did not reflect the market rate
in that city . As a result of detailed information provided
by the German authorities, the Commission decided on
28 February 1991 to initiate the procedure provided for in
Article 93 ( 2 ) of the EEC Treaty with respect to the
contract of sale dated 16 July 1990 (') for the site in
question . In this connection, it asked the German
authorities to appoint a group of independent experts to
carry out a second valuation of the site .

2 . The Commission has frequently examined the terms
of sale of assets ( including land ) in the Community to
determine whether they reflect the market situation and
do not contain aid within the meaning of Article 92 ( 1 ) of
the EEC Treaty . It is not in a position to provide statistics
on the frequency and results of such investigations .

No C 55 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

However, it would draw the Honourable Member 's
attention to similar recent decisions in the Toyota ( United
Kingdom ) and Saint-Gobain ( France ) cases ( 2 ).

3 . Yes, the press reports are correct . The ' State aids '
Directorate of the Directorate-General for Competition
is responsible for examining all cases of aid, including
unnotified indirect aids . It is made up of 38 A, 12 B and
23 C officials . At the moment, the Commission does not
possess any statistics on the amounts of incompatible aid
involved in cases of this type where the Commission has
ordered repayment . However, it would refer the
Honourable Member to the final decision adopted by the
Commission on 27 July 1991 in the Toyota case and to be
published shortly in the Official Journal . The United
Kingdom Government recently informed the Commission
that it accepted this decision and that the company would
repay the amount in question (£ 4,2 million ).

O OJNoC 128, 18.5 . 1991 .
O OJNoL215,2 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2274 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 98 )

Subject : Tax aid for investment in the Basque Country

The Commission has served notice upon Spain of its
intention to initiate proceedings in connection with the
scheme of tax aid for investment in the Basque Country,
Spain, regretting that the scheme was not notified to it in
advance at the planning stage, which constitutes an
infringement of the requirement laid down in Article 93
( 3 ) of the EEC Treaty ( ref . State aid C 22 / 91 ( NN 7 / 89 )
Spain (*)). The deadline for the Spanish Government to
submit its comments has now expired . What is the present
situation regarding this case of failure to comply with
Community legislation and does the Commission know
whether Regional Decrees 205 / 1988 and 227 / 1988 were
revoked by May 1991 — a matter on which undertakings
were apparently given ?

(') OJ No C 189,20.7 . 1991, p. 3 .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1 991 )

After initiating the Article 93 ( 2 ) procedure in connection
with tax aid for investment in the Basque Country ( see

Official Journal No C 189 of 20 July 1991 ), the
Commission has now received the comments of the
interested parties and is examining the scheme in the light
of relevant Treaty provisions with a view to taking a final
decision .

It has not been informed whether Regional Decrees
205 / 1988 and 227 / 1988 have been revoked as announced
by the Spanish authorities before the procedure was
initiated .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2300 / 91
by Mr Gerardo Fernandez     - Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 99 )

Subject : Guaranteeing payment of fines on hired vehicles

Foreign visitors who have hired vehicles in their host
country frequently avoid payment of fines even when the
alternative is having the vehicle immobilized, since in the
case of a hired vehicle this threat does not affect the hirer .
This means that persons who have broken the law, and
possibly put the lives of others at risk, go unpunished .

Does the Commission believe that a system should be
established throughout the Community, whereby
non-nationals who hire vehicles have to pay traffic fines
on the spot in the interests of road safety and respect for
the law ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 December 1 991 )

It is for Member States to lay down, as part of their
criminal law, rules governing payment of fines for road
traffic offences and, where necessary, to introduce special
provisions in cases where, for example, the person
committing the offence is not the owner of the vehicle
( hired vehicle ).

In several Member States, there is mandatory or optional
on-the-spot payment of fines, depending on the case . The
Commission has carried out a survey to assure itself that
such systems do not involve discrimination on grounds
of nationality . Accordingly, while understanding the

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 55

Honourable Member 's concern, the Commission is
unable to support the arrangements that he appears to
recommend since they would apply only to non-nationals .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2328 / 91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 100 )

Subject : Development of economic relations with the

Russian Federation

The recent elections to the presidency of the Federation
of Russia were incontestably democratic in nature and the
undeniable success of Boris Yeltsin in being elected to the
presidency of the Russian Federation bestows on him an
obvious and democratic legitimacy unprecedented in the
history of the Soviet Union . Moreover, economic
questions fall within the area of responsibilities devolved
to the Russian Federation .

Would the Council therefore state what specific relations
the Community intends to develop in the economic field
with the Russian Federation ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

Current discussions in the USSR on the constitutional
configuration of the country and the respective powers of
the Union and the Republics do not yet make it possible to
provide an exhaustive reply to the question put by the
Honourable Member .

However, it should be noted that the Agreement on Trade
and Economic Cooperation has been concluded with the
Union of Soviet Republics .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2339 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 101 )

Subject : Restricted rights for bank employees in Turkey

A visit to Turkey by a delegation from the International

Federation of Employees and Technicians ( IFET ) has

confirmed that the right of public-sector bank employees
to membership of a trade union is flouted by the Turkish
Government, which stubbornly refuses to sign the
International Labour Organization 's Convention No 89
on trade union freedom, thus making Turkey the only
European country not to have done so . Furthermore, the
right to strike is explicitly denied to private-sector bank
employees under the terms of Law No 2822 on collective
agreements, strikes and lock-outs ( Articles 29, 30 and 31
thereof ).

The IFET has complained to the ILO about the Turkish
Government 's attitude and the legal provisions it has
adopted, and has expressed its grievances to the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other
international institutions, including the Commission .

What action has been taken by the Community 's executive
institutions in response to the IFET 's communication,
with particular regard to the implementation and
development of the Association Agreement with Turkey
and consideration of that country 's application for
membership of the Community ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

The Council has not received any communication from
the IFET . The Turkish authorities are, however, fully
aware of the importance that the Community 's Member
States attach to the exercise of trade union freedom as

enshrined in the ILO Convention .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2361 / 91

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 102 )

Subject : ' Two-speed Europe ' and economic and social

cohesion

The non-paper on Economic and Monetary Union
submitted by the Netherlands Presidency sets out to phase
in EMU at different speeds, thereby postponing
indefinitely the achievement of economic and social
cohesion .

This is a cause for great concern, particularly since it is
confirmed by the basic draft for Political Union currently

No C 55 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

under discussion, which omits all matters of social interest of its toxicity, given that the industrial methods involving
to the Community citizen, including social policy, its production can be replaced by others ?
consumer protection policy, the economic social and
cultural aspects of tourism and other policies, and sets out
to reduce the Community citizen to a mere pawn serving
the major economic interests of the internal market .

Our concerns are further strengthened by the 1992 draft
Community budget for 1992 adopted by the Council since
it contains a reduction of ECU 1,6 million in the
Community support frameworks and of over ECU 200
million in the appropriations earmarked for internal
Community policies in respect of culture, youth and other

sectors .

Can the Council say whether the EMU and PU drafts
under discussion reflect an approach agreed by the
Twelve concerning the exclusion of social questions and
tourism from the future treaties and the ' multi-speed
Europe ' which will result ?

In the United States and Europe a number of scientific
bodies are calling into question the findings published in

1985 by the Environmental Protection Agency, according
to which the maximum acceptable daily intake of TCDD
( the most toxic of the dioxins ) was 1 / 6000th of a
picogram per kilogram of body weight . This intake level
did not prevent an increase in the incidence of cancer per
million inhabitants, dioxin being far more carcinogenic
than, for example, vinyl chloride or trichloroethylene .
Particularly serious incidents have occurred in the United
States, where the chlorine and paper industries are
running a campaign attempting to minimize fears and
increase acceptable intake levels . In Europe, similar
efforts are being made by the chemical industry,
particularly in respect of the risks arising from the
presence of dioxin in PVC .

1 . What are the maximum acceptable dioxin levels for

Answer humans and animals, taking account of the recent

assessments carried out by the Environmental

( 31 January 1992 ) Protection Agency ( Jenkins report ) on human subjects

exposed to this danger since 1984 ( incidence of cancer
46% higher for workers in the risk category for at
The European Council, in agreement with the European least a year )?
Parliament, has made provision for the proceedings of the
Intergovernmental Conferences to be the subject of
interinstitutional contacts between meetings the Chairman . It has of also the planned Conference for regular, the 2 . established In addition that to its dioxin carcinogenic has caused effect serious, has disorders it not been in
President of the Commission and the President of the
before European Parliament the Parliament start may of also certain ask . The to Conference President be heard meetings by of the the Conference European . pregnant laboratory faculties and women animals immune and, foetuses systems affecting ? ? How their does reproductive it affect

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

2 . In addition to its carcinogenic effect, has it not been
established that dioxin has caused serious disorders in
laboratory animals, affecting their reproductive
faculties and immune systems ? How does it affect
pregnant women and foetuses ?

Questions raised, as well as any other question
concerning revision of the Treaties, may be dealt with in
the course of those contacts .

3 . What is the dioxin intake of European citizens

compared with the maximum tolerance threshold ( 200
times higher in the United States ) ?

4 . Do PCBs have the effect of compounding the harm

done by dioxin ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2533 / 91

Should dioxin, a by-product of the manufacture of a

Ernest Glinne ( S ) chlorinated derivative of phenol, be considered as
of the European Communities harmful and accordingly prohibited instead of being

November 1 991 ) tolerated until its harmful nature has been proven ? Are

EC standards adequate in the light of the directive of 24
( 92 / C 55 / 103 ) June 1982 and subsequent instruments ?

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 8 November 1 991 )

Subject : Need for a serious reassessment of the presence

of dioxin in the environment and the food chain

Is it admissible for human beings to continue to be
subjected to the effects of dioxin pending a reassessment

N.B. Dioxin is frequently confused with dioxide (a
chemical term designating an oxide containing two
oxygen atoms per molecule ). My question relates
specifically to dioxin .

2 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 55 / 57

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

As the Council has already informed the Honourable

Member in its reply to Written Question No 2337 / 91,
which also concerned a ban on a chemical substance, it is
for the Commission, exercising its powers to implement
rules laid down by the Council, to take appropriate
measures to ban the substance referred to by the
Honourable Member .

It should moreover be borne in mind that, as early as

1989, when it adopted two Directives on municipal waste
incineration plants, the Environment Council called upon
the Commission to consider the case for setting dioxin
emission limits .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2590 / 91
by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR ), Mr Carles-Alfred Gasoliba I

Bohm ( LDR ) and Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 14 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 55 / 104 )

Subject : Pan-European energy charter

A. having regard to the Commission communication
on a European energy charter ( COM(91 ) 36 final ),

B. having regard to the fact that the Council is holding
an international conference on a pan-European energy
charter,

1 . How does the Council intend to guarantee the

Community nature of this charter and what role does
it intend that it should play in a common energy
policy ?

2 . How does it intend to guarantee the operational

nature of this charter, given the member of
participants ?

3 . How will the European Parliament be involved in the

negotiations on this charter ?

Answer

( 31 January 1992 )

A. The European Parliament has been able to acquaint
itself with the Commission communication of 27
February 1991 . It has doubtless noted the very interesting

principles on which this initiative, coming from the Prime
Minister of the Netherlands, is based . The idea is for all
European countries ( plus other G 24 member countries
and, possibly, certain Maghreb and Gulf countries ) to
contribute existing energy resources and the means,
particularly in terms of technology, for making the best
use of those resources . The signatories intend, in a spirit
of political and economic cooperation, to promote the
establishment of a single European-wide market in
energy, based on the principle of non-discrimination and
on market-oriented price setting . They are determined to
create a climate favourable to the operation of enterprise,
and to implement consistent energy policies which put
into practice the principles of market economy .

B. The Council and the Commission convened a
preparatory conference for the negotiation of a European
Energy Charter on 15 July 1991 . The invitations were
received with great interest by the Governments
concerned, particularly those of the Central and East
European countries and the USSR .

The aim of the Conference, attended by 35 States likely to
become signatories to the Charter and some 10 observers,
including certain States ; which might also ask to sign the
Charter, is to have the Charter signed by the end of 1991,
as an instrument representing a political commitment
which will subsequently be ratified by the greatest
possible number of States . It is planned at the same time to
draw up a basic Agreement setting out the legal
obligations of the Charter 's signatories .

1 . As regards the Community nature of the Charter, it

should be noted that some of the objectives pursued in
this wider context include Community objectives . On
a practical level, the Twelve, with the active support of
the Commission, are playing a dynamic part in the
Conference proceedings . The Commission and the
Council have thus provided the Conference with as
much skilled assistance as they can, both by proposing
His Excellency Mr Charles Rutten as Chairman of the
Conference and providing the bulk of the secretarial
services and by preparing Community documents for
the Conference .

The concept of a ' common energy policy ' does not

appear in the Treaty, as the texts stand at present, and
is being discussed in detail in the context of the
current revision of the Treaties within the
Intergovernmental Conferences .

2 . The operational nature of the Charter will be
guaranteed by a series of procedures in the
international negotiations . The Charter itself will take
the form of a code of conduct and will outline a
framework of major political, economic, energy and
environmental principles which the signatories
undertake to observe . In parallel to the Charter, a
legally binding basic Agreement will be negotiated,
covering in particular the administrative, budgetary
and dispute-settlement aspects of the Charter . Finally,

No C 55 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 2 . 3 . 92

specific protocols will be drawn up and opened for
signature by the participating and observer States . The
Commission and the Council have proposed that at
this stage the Conference should set up five working
groups to draft texts, i.e. the Charter, the basic
Agreement, the protocols on energy efficiency
( including environmental aspects ), hydrocarbons and
nuclear energy ( including safety ). The subsequent
operational level will be that of the economic
operators, who will be enabled by the framework thus
provided to operate in all countries and to cooperate
in a stable and foreseeable environment .

3 . As the Commission communication of 27 February

1991 did not include any recommendation to
authorize the Commission to negotiate or any
proposals for legal instruments, the European
Parliament was not consulted on it . The Council and
the Commission will, of course, keep Parliament up to
date on the progress of the Charter negotiations .

Should it transpire that the negotiations have
implications for Community powers, it goes without
saying that the procedures laid down in the Treaty for
the exercise of such powers will be followed .