Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

^ • ^ / - / - - - -f Y * *f ISSN 0378-6986
# Orhcial Journal C309

# _m_ Volume 33
###### of the European Communities 10 De^er mo

English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

90/C 309/01 No 553/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: PCB threat to ocean mammals 1

90/C 309/02 No 924/89 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject: Brown coal power-station in Greece 1

90/C 309/03 No 993/89 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject: Water contamination levels 2

90/C 309/04 No 997/89 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject: Damage to the environment and human health caused by the 'Stoppani' industrial plant
in Arenzano-Rogoredo (Genoa) — Italy 2

90/C 309/05 No 998/89 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject: Application of the principle that the polluter should pay in the case of the Stoppani
factory in Arenzano-Cogoleto (Genoa) — Italy 3

90/C 309/06 No 999/89 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject: Failure to apply Directive 81/502/EEC in the case of the Stoppani plant in ArenzanoCogoleto (Genoa) — Italy 3

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 997/89,998/89 and 999/89 3

90/C 309/07 No 1227/89 by Mr Rinaldo Bontempi to the Commission
Subject: Migrants from third countries 3

90/C 309/08 No 1317/89 by Mr Pierre Lataillade to the Commission
Subject: Progress of the Erasmus programme 4

90/C 309/09 No 174/90 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject: Monitoring of compliance with the total ban on hormones 4

2 (Continued overleaf)

Notice No Contents (continued) Page

90/C 309/10 No 230/90 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor to the Commission
Subject: A Community plan for improving the quality of milk in Spain 5

90/C 309/11 No 254/90 by Mr Francis Wurtz to the Commission
Subject: Activities of the 'Maison de l'Europe' in Paris 5

90/C 309/12 No 274/90 by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission
Subject: VAT on hotel and catering services 6

90/C 309/13 No 361 /90 by Mr Alain Marleix to the Commission

Subject: Regional development programme for the Cantal Department in France 6

90/C 309/14 No 393/90 by Mrs Margaret Daly to the Commission
Subject: Sheep scab 7

90/C 309/15 No 400/90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission

Subject: Draft Council Regulation on marketing on animal products 7

90/C 309/16 No 401/90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission
Subject: Draft Council Regulation for marketing animal products 7

90/C 309/17 No 402/90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission
Subject: Draft Council Regulation on marketing animal products 7

90/C 309/18 No 403/90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission

Subject: Draft Council Regulation for animal products 8

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 400/90,401/90,402/90 and 403/90 8

90/C 309/19 No 411 /90 by Mr Henry Chabert and Mr Alain Marleix to the Commission

Subject: ERDF appropriations allocated to infrastructure projects 8

90/C 309/20 No 512/90 by Mr Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission

Subject: Decline in agricultural income in Spain 9

90/C 309/21 No 560/90 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission

Subject: Organic farming — Community system 9

90/C 309/22 No 561/90 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject: Beef growth hormones 10

90/C 309/23 No 640/90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission

Subject: Status of Environmental Health Officers 10

90/C 309/24 No 641 /90 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission

Subject: Status of Environmental Health Officers 11

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 640/90 and 641/90 11

90/C 309/25 No 650/90 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission

Subject: Business and innovation centres set up in Spain 11

Notice No Contents (continued) Page

90/C 309/26

90/C 309/27

90/C 309/28

90/C 309/29

90/C 309/30

90/C309/31

90/C 309/32

90/C 309/33

90/C 309/34

90/C 309/35

90/C 309/36

90/C 309/37

90/C 309/38

90/C 309/39

90/C 309/40

90/C309/41

No 651 /90 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject: Measures for Ceuta and Melilla as part of the support frameworks for the remoter
regions of the Community 12

No 693/90 by Mr Miguel Arias Caflete to the Commission
Subject: The EEC-Morocco Fisheries Agreement 12

No 710/90 by Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jiminez de Tejada and Mr Carlos Perreau de
Pinninck Domenech to the Commission

Subject: Forest fires in Galicia 13

No 714/90 by Mr Jose Barros Moura and Mr Carlos Carvalhas to the Commission

Subject: Pilot schemes for urban renewal 14

No 736/90 by Mr Carlos Carvalhas and Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva to the
Commission

Subject: Programme of research into the competitiveness of agriculture and management of
agricultural resources 14

No 760/90 by Mr James Elles to the Commission
Subject: Force majeure 15

No 791/90 by Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jimenez de Tejada and Mr Carlos Perreau de
Pinninck Domenech to the Commission

Subject: Community support frameworks 15

No 792/90 by Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jimenez de Tejada and Mr Carlos Perreau de
Pinninck Domenech to the Commission

Subject: Integrated Mediterranean Programmes 15

No 793/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and medium-sized undertakings 16

No 794/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject: DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and medium-sized undertakings 16

No 795/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject: DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and medium-sized undertakings 16

No 796/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and medium-sized undertakings 16

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 793/90,794/90,795/90 and 796/90 16

No 800/90 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission

Subject: Laundering of drug money 17

No 803/90 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission

Subject: Coordination of action against drugs with the producer countries and transit
countries 17

No 837/90 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission
Subject: Conference on minimum income 18

No 838/90 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject: Subsidies for the dairy industry 18

(Continued overleaf)

Notice No Contents (continued) Page

90/C 309/42 No 840/90 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject: Measures to combat varroatosis 18

90/C 309/43 No 860/90 by Joaquin Sis6 Cruellas to the Commission
Subject: Commission representation in the regions 19

90/C 309/44 No 902/90 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Eurotra and Systran 20

90/C 309/45 No 903/90 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject: R&D statistics as a possible priority in the Doses programme 21

90/C 309/46 No 930/90 by Mr Juan Garaikoetxea Urriza to the Commission
Subject: ERDF assistance to the Basque country 21

90/C 309/47 No 932/90 by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva to the Commission
Subject: Doubling of the Structural Funds 21

90/C 309/48 No 961/90 by Mr Willy De Clercq to the Commission
Subject: Community's recent complaint to GATT concerning provisions involving sanitary and
plant-health barriers to trade 22

90/C 309/49 No 971 /90 by Mr Honor Funk and Mr Reinhold Bocklet to the Commission
Subject: Organization of the market for butter 23

90/C 309/50 No 1002/90 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission

Subject: The future of fishing activities of the Community fleet in the fishing ground off
Namibia 23

90/C 309/51 No 1011/90 by Mrs Solange Fernex, Mr Antoine Waechter and Mr Wilfried
Telkamper to the Commission
Subject: Financing of Prodair by the Community (EIB) 25

90/C 309/52 No 1020/90 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr Mateo Sierra
Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Juan de la Camara Martinez to the Commission

Subject: Surveillance and monitoring arrangements for Mediterranean fisheries 25

90/C 309/53 No 1021/90 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr Mateo
Sierra Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez to the
Commission

Subject: Community fisheries inspectors 25

90/C 309/54 No 1022/90 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr Mateo
Sierra Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez to the
Commission

Subject: The future of IMPs and Mediterranean fisheries 26

90/C 309/55 No 1052/90 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Decoding by young people of visual and verbal messages 26

90/C 309/56 No 1059/90 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission

Subject: Imports of blood plasma 27

90/C 309/57 No 1069/90 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject: Study on fur fanning 27

90/C 309/58 No 1083/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: Cost to the borrower of an EIB loan 28

(Continued on inside back cover)

Notice N o Contents (continued)

90/C 309/59

90/C 309/60

90/C 309/61

90/C 309/62

90/C 309/63

90/C 309/64

90/C 309/65

90/C 309/66

90/C 309/67

90/C 309/68

90/C 309/69

90/C 309/70

90/C309/71

90/C 309/72

90/C 309/73

90/C 309/74

90/C 309/75

90/C 309/76

N o 1129/90 by M r Detlev Samland to the Commission

Subject: Community funds for North Rhine-Westphalia 28

N o 1130/90 by M r Detlev Samland to the Commission

Subject: Community funding for university research 28

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1129/90 and 1130/90 28

N o 1136/90 by M r Francois-Xavier de Donnea and M r Willy De Clercq to the

Council
Subject: Taxation on savings 29

N o 1160/90 by Mrs Astrid Lullin to the Commission

Subject: Discrimination against Luxembourg firms working in Belgium 29

N o 1281 /90 by M r Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject: Refund of Italian VAT 30

N o 1371/90 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Measures to promote greater public awareness in Europe of environmental hazards and
related social habits 30

N o 1438/90 by M r Giuseppe Rauti, M r Antonio Mazzone and Mrs Cristiana

Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: The indebtedness of Eastern European countries 31

N o 1542/90 by M r Virginio Bettini, M r Gianfranco Amendola, M r Gerard MonnierBesombes, M r Alain Bombard, Mrs Adriana Ceci and M r Marco Taradash to the

Commission

Subject: Construction of the Autostrada dei Trafori motorway in Italy and environmental
impact assessment 31

N o 1548/90 by M r Wayne David to the Commission

Subject: Public procurement 32

N o 1667/90 by M r Victor Arbeloa M u m to the Council

Subject: Imports from the 'Turkish Republic of Cyprus' 32

N o 1728/90 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject: UN programme for the environment and protection of the ozone layer 32

N o 1781 /90 by Mrs Martine Buron to the Commission

Subject: Information and statistics from the GDR 33

N o 1789/90 by M r Madron Seligman to the Commission

Subject: Populations of wild birds in the Community 33

N o 1879/90 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Council

Subject: Safety of nuclear power-stations in Central and Eastern Europe 34

N o 2010/90 by M r Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council

Subject: Diversification of postal services 35

N o 2051 /90 by Mrs Raymonde Duty to the Council

Subject: Impact of demilitarization on employment 35

N o 2108/90 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Council

Subject: Trade in toxic mercury residues intended for storage in South Africa 35

N o 2110/90 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Council

Subject: Laundering of the proceeds of drugs trafficking in Luxembourg 36

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/1

_(Information)_

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 553/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24_ _October 1990)_

(90/C 309/01)

_Subject:_ PCB threat to ocean mammals

Research being done at the University of Western Ontario
in Canada has shown that seals, sea lions, walruses and
polar bears are all at the greatest risk from PCB
contamination because of their position as meat eaters at
the end of the ocean food chain. The researchers have
proven that marine mammals are liable to reproductive
failure when exposed to even moderate levels of PCBs.

What action is the Commission taking to support efforts
to collect, contain and dispose of PCBs, both in Europe
and in Third World countries, where they are either still
being used or dumped?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 December 1989)_

The Commission is aware of the research carried out at
the University of Western Ontario and in several
European institutions on the links between PCB
contamination and reproduction dysfunction. While it
has not yet been proven conclusively that PCBs cause
reproductive failure in marine mammals, there is
undoubtedly strong circumstantial evidence for a link
between the two. It is also likely that a combination of
pollutants including PCBs have a synergistic effect or that
reproductive abnormalities are a secondary consequence
of damage to the immune system.

Directive 76/769/EEC (') on the approximation of laws,,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member

States, relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of
certain dangerous substances and preparations, regulates
the use of PCBs and their concentration in preparations
and waste oils. This Directive has been regularly modified
and actually the concentration of PCBs must be limited to
a level of 0,005%.

Furthermore, Directive 75/439/EEC ( [2] ) concerning the
elimination of waste oils prohibits the dumping of waste
oils in all Community waters and regulates their collection
and elimination.

(') OJ No L 262,27.9.1976, p. 201.
O OJ No L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 23.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 924/89

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 December 1989)_

(90/C 309/02)

_Subject:_ Brown coal power-station in Greece

Three small power-stations, which are fired with brown
coal from the Megalopolis mine in the central
Peloponnese, are soon to be dismantled.

They are to be replaced by one large 300 MW
power-station, for which the Greek Government has
requested subsidies from the European Structural Funds.

Although the sulphur content of brown coal is very high
and many antiquities of historical value will be within the
reach of smoke from the new power station, the design
incorporates no flue gas desulphurization equipment.

1. Has an environmental impact survey been drawn up
concerning the construction of this power-station
and, if not, is this not an infringement of the Directive
on environmental impact surveys in the European
Community?

No C 309/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

2. Will the Commission urge the Greek Government to
ensure that a thorough environmental impact survey is'
carried out concerning the projected power station
and that flue gas cleaning/desulphurization
equipment is incorporated in the power station?

3. If the Greek Government does not budge from its
present course of action, will the Commission refuse
funding for this project from the European Structural
Funds?

Answer given by Mr MOlan
on behalf of the Commission

_(24_ _January 1990)_

In the context of its assessment of the request from the
Greek authorities for assistance from the European
Regional Development Fund to the Fourth Power Plan
Unit at Megalopolis, the Commission has borne carefully
in mind the potentially negative environmental impact of
this plant. It asked for and received from the Greek
authorities detailed information on the likely noxious
emissions from the plant.

In the light of this information, its own investigations and
those of the European Investment Bank, with which it has
collaborated closely on this matter, the Commission came
to the conclusion that it was essential that an
anti-pollution device be installed in this plant to reduce
especially sulphur emissions. Accordingly, the
Commission has proposed that the Greek authorities
concerned take the necessary steps to reduce the pollution
impact. It has been agreed that this will be done by the
central installation of a desulphurization plant and
appropriate filters. Following experimentation with a
pilot unit, to become operational in parallel with the
power plant, treating one third of the flue gases, full
desulphurization equipment will be installed treating all
the gases.

The recently announced grant from the ERDF to this
investment is conditional on the installation of the
anti-pollution equipment mentioned. Repayment will be
required if this condition is not respected.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 993/89

by Mr Ian White (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 309/03)

_Subject:_ Water contamination levels

Is the Commissioner aware of the agreement between the
British Secretary of State for the Environment and
Wessex Water which would allow drinking water in Bath
to be contaminated above the EEC limits until 31

December 1999?

Will the Commissioner:

(a) confirm that this agreement is illegal under European
law;

(b) write to Wessex Water asking them to give
undertakings to the citizens of Bath that drinking
water provided by Wessex will not breach EEC
regulations;

(c) inform the British Secretary of State for the
Environment that his actions in this matter are not
supported by the vast majority of citizens in his own
constituency and that he should either withdraw
these specific proposals or resign as Secretary of
State.

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 February 1990)_

The Commission is aware that the United Kingdom
Government has accepted certain undertakings by the
water companies in England and Wales concerning the
quality of drinking water, and that these undertakings in
some cases include very late deadlines for compliance.

Directive 80/778/EEC oh drinking water was adopted on
15 July 1980, notified to the Member States on 18 July
1980, and should have been implemented five years later,
which was July 1985.

The Commission is of the opinion that Member States
should have implemented the Directive in 1985 and that
any later date might be considered as infringement of the
Directive.

The Commission is currently examining the undertakings
received from the United Kingdom to evaluate whether
the steps taken by the British Government can be
considered as the best means by which to reach a
satisfactory drinking water quality as soon as technically
possible.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 997/89

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 309/04)

_Subject:_ Damage to the environment and human health
caused by the 'Stoppani' industrial plant in
Arenzano-Rogoredo (Genoa) — Italy

The Stoppani company, which produces chromium salts,
has caused serious damage to the surrounding marine
environment and, in all probability, an increase in the
incidence of lung tumours. The firm has violated Italian
Law No 319/76 and incurred many judicial and

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/3

administrative sanctions and has violated Presidential

Decree No 915/82 implementing three Community
Directives on waste.

In Regional Council Decison No 6929 of 30 December
1986, the Liguria Region described the industrial area in
question as posing a serious threat to the countryside and
the environment and, in Decision No 4357 of 14 October
1986, is stated that the Stoppani company had failed to
assume its responsibilities with regard to the management
and safety of the waste it had discharged;

1. Does the Commission not consider that the extent of

the damage caused by this industrial processing makes
it necessary to close down the plant?

2. Does the Commission not consider that the damage
caused is so serious that a reclamation scheme is

required for the whole area?

3. Will the Commission take steps to implement the
above proposals?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 998/89

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 309/05)

_Subject:_ Application of the principle that the polluter
should pay in the case of the Stoppani factory in
Arenzano-Cogoleto (Genoa) — Italy

In view of the serious damage to the environment caused
by chromium processing by the Stoppani company in
Arenzano-Cogoleto (Genoa) in Italy, and the Italian
State's failure to take the compensation measures
provided for in Article 18 of Italian Law No 349/86, how
does the Commission intend to ensure that the

Community's fundamental principle that the polluter
should pay, as laid down in Article 130r (2) of the EEC
Treaty is actually applied?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 999/89

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 309/06)

_Subject:_ Failure to apply Directive 81/502/EEC in the
case of the Stoppani plant in Arenzano-Cogoleto
(Genoa) — Italy

The Stoppani company, which produces chromium salts
and 200 tonnes of waste a day, including hexavalent
chromium, was not included by the Italian State among
the high-risk companies, as provided for in EEC
Directive 82/501/EEC ('), although is was included in

the list based on the survey carried out by the Italian Civil
Defence Department in 1985.

1. Does the Commission not consider that, by omitting
the Stoppani company from the list of high-risk
undertakings, Italy failed to comply with Council
Directive 82/501/EEC of 24 June 1982?

2. What measures does the Commission intend to take to

ensure that Italy complies with the provisions of
Directive 82/501/EEC?

(') OJNoL230,5.8.1982, p. 1.

Joint answer to Written Questions No 997/89, 998/89 and

999/89 given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

_(6 February 1990)_

The Commission will endeavour to obtain information on

the company in question as soon as possible. It will not fail
to inform the Honourable Member of any action it may
take on the matter.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1227/89

by Mr Rinaldo Bontempi (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 January 1990)_

(90/C 309/07)

_Subject:_ Migrants from third countries

Following the Commission report _The social integration of_
_third-country migrants residing on a permanent and lawful_
_basis in the Member States_ (SEC(89) 924 final) and in view
of the proposals made by the European Trade Union
Confederation for a framework declaration on the

integration of workers from outside the Community into
the European labour market and a resolution on entry,
residence and freedom of movement of immigrant
workers in Community countries, can the Commission
say whether an initiative is being prepared to tackle the
problems described in the abovementioned documents
and recommending suitable solutions and, if not, what is
preventing this?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 February 1990)_

In its action programme accompanying the Community
Charter of fundamental social rights (') the Commission
provided for the preparation of a memorandum on the
social integration of migrants who are nationals of
non-Community states.

No C 309/4 ' Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

The European Council meeting held in December 1989
expressed the wish for the establishment of a list of
national positions with regard to immigration.

In carrying out its duties, the Commission will not fail to
suggest the most adequate responses to the problems set
out in the documents to which the Honourable Member

refers.

O COM(89) 568 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1317/89

by Mr Pierre Lataillade (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15_ _January 1990)_

(90/C 309/08)

_Subject:_ Progress of the Erasmus programme

A French regional newspaper _{Sud-Ouest_ of 23 November
1989) reports what was said at a meeting of senior
Erasmus officials at Toulouse (France).

According to this report, the Erasmus programme has
proved deficient in a number of ways:

1. the lack of substantial investment by institutions and
bodies concerned; and

2. the disparities between grants:

— in amount, which varies from one country to
another; moreover, in the poorest countries, they
are for the most part granted to students from
higher up the social scale,

— from one region to another: through bilateral
agreements, regional and local authorities are
involuntarily helping top up these national grants,
sometimes to an excessive degree, which gives rise
to flagrant injustice.

Could the Commission comment on the accuracy of this
report?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 May_ _1990)_

The Commission has studied the article on the Erasmus
programme published by the French newspaper _Sud-Ouest_
on 23 November 1989.

The aims of the programme, namely to promote the
mobility of a large number of students and lecturers as
well as the development of a university cooperation

network, are totally different from the single objective
referred to in the headline (close collaboration between
future generations of research workers in Europe).

The enormous success of Erasmus in its first three years
of operation, among academics and students alike, has
been reflected in a demand for places far in excess of the
available funding. An initial evaluation report
demonstrates very cleary that the results of the
programme have on the whole been very positive despite
some problems such as insufficient financial resources or
difficulties with accommodation. Most of the institutions

concerned have done their best to overcome these
problems, albeit not always successfully.

It is true that the Erasmus student grants may vary in
amount from one country to another, mainly because
mobility costs differ according to host country or country
of origin. In this connection, the Commission is urging
the Member States to give priority — merit being equal —
to applicants who need the grants most. However, as the
amount of the grant is not enough to cover all mobility
costs, only those who have other financial means at their
disposal can participate. That said, the Commission is
pleased to note that more Member States and regions
have now earmarked special funds for grants for Erasmus
students to boost the resources provided by the
Community.

These initiatives have created additional opportunities for
participation by students with no resources of their own
who, with only the Erasmus mobility grant, would have
been unable to take part.

The success of the Erasmus programme is therefore the
result of the combined efforts of the Community and
certain Member States which have understood the value
of increasing cooperation to improve training for young
people.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 174/90

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 February 1990)_

(90/C 309/09)

_Subject:_ Monitoring of compliance with the total ban on
hormones

The Directive prohibiting the use in livestock farming of
certain substances having a hormonal action has been in
force since 1 January 1989. In addition a series of
decisions were adopted to facilitate the monitoring of
proper compliance with this Directive.

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/5

1. Can the Commission say whether the abovementioned
Directive has been properly incorporated in the
national legislation of all the Member States?

2. Can the Commission provide a detailed account of the
total number of checks carried out in each Member
State compared with the number of checks laid down
in the decisions implementing Directive
88/146/EEC O?

3. Can the Commission also summarize the results of the
checks carried out in each Member State saying
whether they were negative or positive and specifying
which products were detected?

O OJNoL70,16.3. 1988, p. 16.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 June 1990)_

1. Directive 88/146/EEC prohibiting the use in
livestock farming of certain substances having a hormonal
action (') has been incorporated in the national legislation
of all Member States.

2 and 3. The Commission does not yet have all the
results for 1989, although the Member States have
communicated all those for 1988.

The Commission will send tables showing the number of
checks planned by the Member States for 1988, the checks
carried out and the positive cases discovered, with details
of the substances found, direct to the Honourable
Member and the Secretariat of Parliament.

(') OJNoL70, 16.3. 1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 230/90

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 February 1990)_

(90/C 309/10)

_Subject:_ A Community plan for improving the quality of
milk in Spain

The collective proposal made to the Community by
Spanish agricultural organizations and cooperatives for
the adoption of a medium-term plan to improve the
quality of milk in Spain would involve a subsidy of at least
Ptas 750 million.

Such a plan could be justified by _inter_ _alia_ the fact that
there are precedents in the case of Italy and Greece, where
funds accruing from the co-responsibility levy were used
for this purpose.

Would the Commission state whether, and to what extent,
it is prepared to accede to the Spanish request and
whether it feels that the Italian and Greek examples
constitute a sufficient precedent for a positive response?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 May_ _1990)_

In its 14th communication to the Council on the
programme for the utilization of co-responsibility levy
funds in the milk sector for the 1990/91 milk year (') the
Commission took account of the proposal made by the
Spanish dairy industry. Paragraph 12 of the
Commission's proposals states that 'Taking into account
the necessity of continuing the programmes for the
improvement of milk quality in Spain, some funds should
be allocated for this purpose from amounts available for
promotion measures in this country'.

This proposal is identical with the arrangements made for
Italy and Greece within the context of the 11th
communication of the 1987/88 milk year ( [2] ).

C) SEC(90) 131.
O COM(87)13.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 254/90

by Mr Francis Wurtz (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 February 1990)_

(90/C 309/11)

_Subject:_ Activities of the 'Maison de I'Europe' in Paris

Can the Commission say whether or not it provides some
form of financing for the activities of the 'Maison de
I'Europe' located at 35 rue des Francs Bourgeois in Paris?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 July_ _1990)_

The Commission does not at present finance the activities
of the Maison de I'Europe in Paris.

However, the new budget item 7774, introduced at
Parliament's request, would permit financing for the type
of activities engaged in by the Maison de I'Europe. This
and other possibilities are currently being looked into at
the Commission.

No C 309/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 274/90

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 February 1990)_

(90/C 309/12)

_Subject:_ VAT on hotel and catering services

1. The Commission's tax proposals provide for a
reduced rate of tax (4 to 9 %) on foodstuffs and a standard
rate (14 to 19%) on hotel and catering services. In its
answer to Written Question No 1948/88 ( [!] ) of 19 March
1989, the Commission said that its approach to the
question of the reduced VAT rate was based on general
practice in the Member States. Seven Member States
(Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal,
Ireland, Italy and Spain) apply reduced rates to the
catering industry.

Does the Commission not consider that a reduced rate of

VAT should therefore be applied to the hotel and catering
industry?

2. Has the Commission considered the implications in
terms of employment in the hotel and catering industry of
applying a standard rate of VAT in those Member States
which currently apply a reduced rate?

3. In particular, does the Commission not consider that
a more flexible approach should be adopted to VAT in the
hotel and catering industry, as is the case for excise duty?

4. Does the Commission intend to take any measures,
particularly in respect of taxation, to promote the hotel
and catering sector, as part of European Tourism Year in
1990?

(') OJNoC208,14.8. 1989, p. 21.

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 June 1990)_

1. In drawing up the list of goods and services to be
covered by the proposed lower rate of VAT ( [l] ), the
Commission was guided by the general practice prevailing
in most Member States. Only one Member State applies
the standard rate to foodstuff in general, and the
Commission's proposal to tax them at the lower rate
therefore reflects that clear pattern of practice. Hotels
and catering, however, do not present such a clear
pattern; some of the Member States which do tax them at
a lower rate nevertheless impose restrictions on the type
and class of establishment which may benefit. In the
interests of the simplicity and transparency of the VAT

system, the Commission therefore did not propose that
hotels and catering should be included under the lower

rate.

2. The Commission approach to indirect tax
approximation was to propose the minimum number of
changes in the fiscal system of the Member States
consistent with the abolition of fiscal frontiers within the

Community in line with Article 99 of the Treaty as
amended by the Single European Act. While every effort
was made to avoid running counter to other Community
policies, the objective of the completion of the internal
market was given overriding priority.

3. The rate bands proposed for VAT already provide
considerable flexibility for Member States, as would
alternative of minimum rate levels put forward by the
Commission in 1989 ( [2] ).

4. The question of the scope of the proposed lower
VAT rate band is currently under discussion within the
Council framework and with the other Community
institutions. In this connection the Ecofin Council of 18

December 1989 decided that reduced rates of VAT would

be reserved in particular for essential goods and services
meeting a social or cultural policy objective, and would be
jointly defined. The Council also concluded that the
scope of the reduced rates would be decided before 31
December 1991. Although Member States are aware of
the importance of this sector for the Community's
economy and of the importance of keeping its competitive
positions, it is not possible at this stage to predict what the
outcome of these discussions will be as far as VAT on

hotels and restaurants is concerned.

O COM(87)321.
O COM(89)260.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 361/90

by Mr Alain Marleix (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 February 1990)_

(90/C 309/13)

_Subject:_ Regional development programme for the
Cantal Department in France

Can the Commission say what progress has been made by
programme 5B for the Cantal Department in the
following areas:

1. What measures have been taken to implement the
regional development plan?

2. When will details, of the Community support
framework for the Cantal Department be published?

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/7

3. When will the operational funding programme be
launched?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 April 1990)_

The Commission received in autumn 1989 the

development plan for rural areas of Auvergne submitted
by France for the purposes of objective 5b of the
Structural Funds. It covers all the areas of the region
eligible for Community assistance for the purposes of this
objective, including the Department of Cantal.

The plan has been examined by the Commission and the
corresponding Community support framework is being
prepared. Its approval is expected towards the end of
April 1990, in accordance with the time schedule laid
down in the rules.

The operational programmes or other forms of assistance
representing the Community's financial commitment to
operations scheduled in the Community support
framework can be decided on following its adoption.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 393/90

by Mrs Margaret Daly (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/14)

_Subject:_ Sheep scab

What is the health status in all EEC countries with regard
to sheep scab? What measures, if any, are taken for
control? What substances are used?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 May 1990)_

Sheep scab occurs in several Member States. It is not a
notifiable disease under Community law, and in some
Member States it is not notifiable under domestic law.

This means the Commission is not in a position to furnish
details of incidence in the Member States.

As regards treatment, the normal method of treatment is
dipping or spraying.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 400/90

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/15)

_Subject:_ Draft Council Regulation on marketing on
animal products

With regard to the draft Council Regulation concerning
animal health and the placing on the market of animals
and animal products, a DG for AG paper
(NoVI/3191/89-EN-REV.3) states in Appendix H that
prohibition orders should be placed on an area associated
with an occurrence of AFB of acarine. Given that all

AFB-afflicted colonies are to be destroyed and acarine is a
common petty affliction, can the Commission explain the
logic of such a prohibition order, which is unnecessary in
the case of AFB, and would completely halt honey
production in some Member States in the case of acarine?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 401/90

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/16)

_Subject:_ Draft Council Regulation for marketing animal
products

With regard to the draft Council Regulation concerning
animal health and the placing on the market of animals
and animal products, a DG for AG paper
(NoVI/3191/89-EN-REV.3) refers in Appendix D,
paragraph III to the supervision of a 'competent
authority'. Can the Commission assure Member States
that relevant national practices will be respected when the
'competent authority' is decided, since British beekeepers
consider Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food bee
officials to be more knowledgeable and more competent
than the local vet, who acts as the 'competent authority' in
some other Member States?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 402/90

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/17)

_Subject:_ Draft Council Regulation on marketing animal
products

With regard to the draft Council Regulation concerning
animal health and the placing on the market of animals

No C 309/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

and animal products, a DG for AG paper
(No VI/3191/89-EN-REV.3) states that acariosis will be
a compulsorily notifiable disease. Can the Commission
explain why this relatively common affliction should be
singled out, when EFB, nosema, sacbrood and
chalkbrood are not?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 403/90

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/18)

_Subject:_ Draft Council Regulation for animal products

With regard to the draft Council Regulation concerning
animal health and the placing on the market of animals
and animal products, a DG for AG paper
(No VI/3191/89-EN-REV.3) states that varraosis will be
a compulsorily notifiable disease. Can the Commission
state whether this will apply to areas where it is endemic,
and if so, why?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 400/90, 401/90,

402/90 and 403/90 given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

_(21_ _May_ _1990)_

As part of the programme for completion of the internal
market (White Paper) the Commission on 1 February
1990 transmitted to the Council a proposal for a
Regulation laying down animal health requirements for
the placing on the market in the Community of animals
and products of animal origin not covered in this respect
>by specific Community rules (').

The requirements for bees and for apiculture products not
intended for human consumption are set out in
Annexes D and H of the proposal.

The prohibitions linked to occurrence of American
foulbrood and acariosis are set out in Annex H. They do
not apply to honey to be sold for human consumption but
to that for reuse by beekeepers and are justified by the
need to protect bee health.

It is up to each Member State to designate the competent
authority mentioned in Annex D.III. The authority must
possess appropriate knowledge and competence.

The diseases to which the Honourable Member refers
(European foulbrood, nosema, sacbrood and

chalkbrood) are not contagious diseases in the true sense
of the term. Their pathogens are ubiquitous but develop
only under particularly poor conditions. American
foulbrood and acariosis on the other hand are
transmissible diseases, the presence of the infectious agent
of which is sufficient to cause the disease to appear. Of
the six diseases only these two need therefore be taken
into consideration.

The Commission can confirm that any serious disease
such as varroasis must be notified. This requirement is
especially important if the number of outbreaks in an area
is substantial.

O COM(89) 658 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 411/90

by Mr Henry Chabert and Mr Alain Marleix (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 March_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/19)

_Subject:_ ERDF appropriations allocated to infrastructure
projects

Could the Commission provide a detailed survey,
covering the years from the inception of the Fund to 1989,
of ERDF appropriations allocated to infrastructure
projects, broken down by country?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 May_ _1990)_

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a detailed
breakdown showing for each country the appropriations,
in percentage terms, allocated by the ERDF between 1975
and 1989 to investment projects concerning basic
infrastructure and infrastructure relating to economic
activity.

It is not possible to provide the same detailed breakdown
for programmes, which are now the preferred form of
assistance from the Regional Fund. The majority of the
programmes funded by the ERDF are targeted on a
number of specific priorities which involve both
infrastructure and productive investment. It is not
therefore possible clearly to separate the investment into
the two categories normally monitored.

The Commission has, however, estimated that of the
programme adopted in 1989 for objective 1 regions

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/9

(regions whose development is lagging behind), around
70% of the assistance is intended for basic economic
infrastructure while for objective 2 (declining industrial
areas) the corresponding proportion for programmes
adopted in 1989 is of the order of 30%. These figures do
not include investments in infrastructure more closely
linked to productive activities such as industrial sites,
R&D or tourist facilities, which also forms a significant
proportion of ERDF assistance for programmes in 1989
but which cannot be separated into the categories of
infrastructure and productive investment.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 512/90

by Mr Joaquin Siso Cruellas (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/20)

_Subject:_ Decline in agricultural income in Spain

The 1989 financial year ended with a surprising reduction
in the income of Spanish farmers following a substantial
increase in costs which eclipsed the real earnings of
various types of agricultural holdings.

The outlook is a discouraging one for Spanish farmers,
and they are not convinced by any arguments seeking to
justify the reduction in their income, which they attribute
to a lack of planning as regards production structures,
unlike the situation in the other Member States.

Under the circumstances, can the Commission state to
what extent it can call upon Community solidarity to
compensate for economic difficulties such as those facing
Spanish agriculture, which is out of step with the other
Member States which have not had to suffer the decline in
farmers' incomes such as has occurred in Spain?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _May_ _1990)_

The estimates available to the Commission show a slight
fall in real terms in Spanish farm incomes (net income per
work unit for the farmer and his family) in 1989 of 3 to
4 % on average following a rise of nearly 12 % in 1988 and
of 11,2% in 1987. The main reason was a drop in

production, particularly crop production, owing the
unfavourable weather in the second half of the year, in
particular unusual drought in northern Spain and heavy
rain in the south. This fall notwithstanding, Spanish
farmers have seen their incomes rise in the last decade at a
rate distinctly higher than the Community average (in real
terms by 54,0 and 25,6% respectively), while in certain
Member States farm incomes either did not increase or
fell over the period.

Community solidarity is a basic principle not only of the
common agricultural policy but of the whole process of
building the Community. It finds expression in various
forms, in particular in schemes and instruments that
strengthen the Community's cohesion.

Numerous measures in pursuit of this aim have been
introduced in recent years. Among those falling within the
ambit of the common agricultural policy may be
mentioned measures designed to help farmers overcome
sociostructural handicaps, to improve the terms on which
they do business with sectors upstream and downstream
of their own activities, and to soften the socioeconomic
impact of the restructuring in progress in European
agriculture. Action in pursuit of this last aim includes the
granting, in certain conditions, of direct income aids.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 560/90

      - byMrJoseHappart(S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/21)

_Subject:_ Organic farming — Community system

Organic methods are used in cattle farming in some
Member States. At the conclusion of the work of the
European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into the
problem of quality in the meat sector, the Commission
was asked to draw up a proposal on identification of
unadulterated meat.

1. What progress has been made in formulating this
proposal?

2. Is there any likelihood that a Community inspection
system will be introduced and would it give consumers
full assurances about hygiene?

3. How would the selected products be designated and
what percentage would be natural?

No C 309/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(23May1990)_

1 and 3. On 4 December 1989 the Commission
adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation on organic
production of agricultural products and indications
referring thereto on agricultural products and
foodstuffs (*). This proposal is currently being discussed
by the Council and the European Parliament.

At this stage the proposal provides for a general
framework for all organic production, although it is
limited to plant production as regards technical rules.
However, it is also planned for rules to be laid down for
livestock production within the proposed framework. In
this context the Commission will put forward the
necessary proposals to establish the appropriate technical
and monitoring rules for the various organic methods
used for livestock production.

The preparatory work will commence as soon as the
current proposal has been adopted by the Council.

2. The proposal provides for a system of regular
inspection specifically designed for monitoring organic
production methods.

Furthermore the proposal is based on the principle that
organically produced products must meet the same health
and hygiene standards as conventional agricultural
products.

(') COM(89) 552 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 561/90

by Mr Jose Happart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/22)

_Subject:_ Beef growth hormones

The decision to ban hormone-treated Community
livestock has raised considerable controversy within
GATT. There is a feeling that the Community has shown
a clear lack of strategy, not to say passivity, in its disputes
with the USA.

What is the GATT position on the US retaliatory action
against the Community ban on the importing and
marketing of hormone-treated meat?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 May_ _1990)_

There is no doubt, as the Honourable Member
emphasizes, that the application of the hormones

Directive has been controversial within GATT. On this
matter, however, the Community intends to be firm.

It should be recalled firstly that the Directive in question
is founded on a Council agreement which is based on a
Commission proposal amended following the opinion of
the European Parliament of 15 March 1990.

The Directive bans the use of hormones for fattening
purposes, especially of bovine animals. It also bans
imports of meat products that have been treated with such
hormones. It applies equally, therefore, to Community
producers and to those in non-member countries.

It provides that meat from non-member countries may be
imported into the Community provided that the
authorities of the exporting country are able to show that
growth hormones have not been used to fatten the
livestock. In practice, all meat-supplying countries, with
the exception of the United States, have agreed to comply
with the above provisions.

The United States, challenging the Community Directive,
has not introduced. arrangements for maintaining the
pattern of trade and since 1 January 1989 has taken
retaliatory action against the Community. This consists of
a rise of 100% in the customs duties imposed on some
Community products.

In view of this approach, two types of action have been
undertaken simultaneously:

— the Community has taken steps within GATT to
secure the discontinuance of the retaliatory action. So
far the United States has refused to comply,

— at the same time, as a result of the work of a joint
working party, the Commission has secured from the
United States the introduction of a certification
procedure enabling American producers, who are
prepared to comply with the hormones Directive, to
export to the Community.

In consequence of the resulting resumption of trade, the
United States has altered the list of retaliatory measures.
These results, while still insufficient, indicate that the
action undertaken previously by the Community should
be continued.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 640/90

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/23)

_Subject:_ Status of Environmental Health Officers

With regard to harmonization of professional
qualifications and bearing in mind the principle of
subsidiarity, will the Commission ensure that British

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/11

Environmental Health Officers' qualifications be
recognized in the single market in respect of food hygiene
and safety?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 641/90

by Mrs Patricia Rowlings (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/24)

_Subject:_ Status of Environmental Health Officers

Whilst respecting the principle of the harmonization of
food inspection across the European Community, will the
Commission guarantee that the existing division of
responsibilities between veterinary surgeons, Meat
Inspectors (AMIs), Environmental Health Officers
(EHOs), and Poultry Meat Inspectors (PMIs) be
respected in the single market?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 640/90 and 641/90

given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(2 July 1990)_

While the profession of veterinary surgeon is regulated
throughout the Community, Environmental Health
Officers and the different categories of meat inspector
mentioned by the Honourable Member do not exist in all
Member States. Defining the activities of the professions
concerned is a matter for Member States.

As regards veterinary inspections, the Council Directives
on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in
fresh meat (64/443/EEC) O and fresh poultrymeat
(71/118/EEC) O provide that ultimate responsibility for
health inspection lies with an official veterinarian, who
may in certain cases be helped by an assistant. The latter
Directive laid down the professional qualifications to be
required of assistants. In February 1990 the Commission
tabled proposals ( [J] ) aimed at extending the scope of both
Directives to cover the Community's entire fresh meat
and poultrymeat production.

Mutual recognition of diplomas is ensured, in the case of
veterinary surgeons, by Directives 78/1026/EEC and
78/1027/EEC ( [4] ).

As far as the other professions mentioned by the
Honourable Member are concerned, mutual recognition
of diplomas is or will be ensured, according to the
standard of qualification required and in so far as the
professions exist in the host Member State and are
regulated there, by the following two instruments:

— Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a

general system for the recognition of
higher-education diplomas awarded on completion
of professional education and training of at least
three years' duration ( [s] ). This Directive will take
effect on 4 January 1991, when the two-year period
for incorporation into national law comes to an end.
It relates only to higher-education diplomas awarded
on completion of courses of at least three years'
duration, a condition that must be satisfied both in
the Member State in which the diploma was obtained
and in the host Member State,

— proposal for a Council Directive on a second general
system for the recognition of professional education
and training (*). This proposal, which complements
Directive 89/48/90/EEC and is currently before
Parliament (first reading) and the Council, concerns
all diplomas awarded on completion of education and
training at a lower level than that covered by
Directive 89/48/EEC.

O OJ No L 121,29. 7. 1964.
_C)_ OJ No L 55, 8. 3.1971.
O COM(89)673and668.
(*) OJNoL362,23.12.1978.
(') OJ No L 19,24.1.1989.
(•) OJNoC263,16.10.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 650/90

by Mr Jose Varverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/25)

_Subject:_ Business and innovation centres set up in Spain

In 1984, the Community programme to create business
and innovation centres was launched as an important
instrument of Community regional policy, ensuring
optimum use of local resources for the setting-up and
expansion of small and medium-sized firms. Paragraph
477 of the XXIIIrd General Report on the Activities of
the European Communities 1989 refers to the existence of
41 centres.

Can the Commission provide details of the centres set up
in Spain and, where appropriate, of the aid received by
each centre?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 may 1990)_

The Honourable Member will find below the present
situation as regards European business and innovation
centres established in Spain and part-financed by the
Commission from budget article 543

No C 309/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

support framework for Spain under objective 1.

Assistance granted

_Operational centres_

Alcoy

Barcelona

Bilbao

_Centres_ _at an experimental stage_

Castille/Leon

Extremadura

Madrid

Navarra

Seville

ECU 150 000

ECU 160 000 .

ECU 147 000

ECU 465 000

ECU 363 000

ECU 140 000

ECU 331 000

ECU 475 000

The Commission is making every effort to complete the
network of business and innovation centres in Spain and
to encourage those still at the experimental stage.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 651/90

by Mr Jose Varverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20_ _March 1990)_

(90/C 309/26)

_Subject:_ Measures for Ceuta and Melilla as part of the
support frameworks for the remoter regions of
the Community

The XXIIIrd General Report on the Activities of the
European Communities 1989 makes no mention of any
specific programmes implemented by the Community in
Ceuta and Melilla (Spain). I must also remind the
Commission that a previous question on the same subject
has still not been answered.

What stage has been reached in the preparation of the
framework for the implementation of Community
policies in Ceuta and Melilla?

What investment is planned for 1990?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 May_ _1990)_

In the case of the framework for the implementation of
Community policies in Ceuta and Melilla, the
Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Written Question No 1012/89 (').

With reference to Community structural assistance, on 31
October 1989 the Commission approved the Community

Ceuta and Melilla are each the subject of a
sub-framework under which the main measures concern
investment in transport, water and energy infrastructures
and assistance to industry, tourism and the craft sector.

Community assistance over the period covered by the CSF
(1989 to 1992) is expected to total:

— in the case of Ceuta, ECU 10 500 000 from the
ERDF,

— in the case of Melilla, ECU 11 400 000 broken down
as follows:

   - ERDF: ECU 10 500 000,

   - EAGGF:ECU900 000.

The Commission is currently waiting for the Spanish
authorities to submit operational programmes for the two
areas so that it can consider them. This means that it
cannot state at present what investments are likely to be
made in 1990.

O OJNoC 171,12.7.1990, p. 18.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 693/90

by Mr Miguel Arias Canete (PPE)

to the Commission of die European Communities

_(23 March_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/27)

_Subject:_ The EEC-Morocco Fisheries Agreement

In recent months, a large number of Spanish vessels have
been impounded by the Moroccan authorities, who have
imposed heavy fines at rates considerably higher than
those hitherto prevailing.

Article 8 (2) of the Agreement between the European
Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on
relations in the sea fisheries sector (Council Regulation
(EEC) No 2054/88 of 23 June 1988) (') states that 'the
Moroccan authorities shall notify the Commission of the
European Communities in good time of any new rules
and regulations that could affect fishing'.

In addition, the third paragraph of the same Article states
that 'measures taken by Morocco to regulate fishing shall
not discriminate against Community vessels in relation to

1 0 . 1 ^ 0 official ]oumal of the Luropean Communities l ^ o C ^ B l ^

vessels of third countries, nor be ofanature to impede the
full exercise of any fishing rights accorded to the
Communitypursuantto this Agreement.

Civen the above, can theCommission stated

^ whether the^ioroccananthoritieshave informed it

of any changes in the rules governing finest

^ whether the rules applying to Community vessels in
this area are discriminatory in relation to vessels of
third countries^

^ whether it considers that the imposition of snch heavy
fines,out of proportionto the offences supposedly
committed,is impeding the full exercise ofthe fishing
rightsaccordedtotheCommnnity pursuant to the
above Agreements

C^0O^DLt^tm^BBt^,D^

A^swerg^ve^bylv^^a^
onbeha^foftheCommission

Pursuant to A r t i c l e ^ ^ o f the Agreement, the Moroccan
authorities notified theCommission in advanceof the

new scale of fines for fishing infringements and this was
transmitted to the member states.

T h e r u l e s o n t h e new fines donot discriminate against
third countries^ they apply to all vessels operating in
moroccos Exclusive Economic ^one, including
Moroccan vessels.

The Commission does not consider that the new rules on

fines prevent the full exercise of the fishing rights
accorded to the Community underthe Agreements

The Commission considers it to beafundamental duty of
a ^tate which owns fisheries resources to ensure their

conservation and sound management and to prevent any
fishing activity contraryto those principles.

The Commission therefore considers that all illegal
fishing activities which infringe the rules of the common
fisheries policy or an Agreement signed by the
Community should be strictly pursued and punished ina
way which willdiscouragesuchactivities since theyare
against the general interest, and particularly that of
fishermen who operate within the rules and commitments
entered into by the Community.

wTt^TT^^^UE^TI^^^^tOB^O

b y ^ ^ o s e ^ u ^ ^ ^ a t e o s ^ ^ u ^ e z d e T e j ^ d a a ^ d ^ r Carlos
PerreaudePu^^ck^o^e^ech^HT^E^

totheCommissio^oftheEu^opea^Comr^u^iUes

t ^ O B C ^ B ^

^ ^ c r . EorestfiresinCalicia

Eires break out regularly in the forests of the region of
Galiciain northwestern ^pain, to such an extent that
someof thelargestEuropeanforests areindangerof
disappearance, which would have irreparable
consequences forthe ecological equilibrium of the area.

Civen that many of these fires are started on purpose and
that the local authorities are unable to putastop to this,
what measures are being envisagedto prevent fires and
limitthe damage they caused

A^swer^rve^by^Lr^lac^harry
onbeha^foftheCo^mission

The Commission is aware that fires are the main problem
facing the forests of southern Europe, especially in
Calicia where the situation is particularly grave, above all
following the serious fires of t ^ ^ which illustrated the
shortcomings in fire protection measures.This is why the
standing forestry Committee set up by the Council
decision o f ^ ^ i a y t ^ ^ ^ h a s decided to set upathink
tank on protecting forests against fires which held its first
meeting onlDEebmaryl^O.

The discussions should makeitpossibletoidentify,at
Communitylevel,thepriority measures tobetaken to
increase the coherence of forest fire protectionpolicies
and integrating all aspects of protection, i.e. identifying
the causes, prevention, monitoring and fire fighting.

The Community is financing, in particular for ^pain,a
number of measures designed to improve forest fire
protection.

Regulation ^ E E C ^ o ^ ^ ^ B ^ ^, recently amended by
Regulation^EEC^olDt^B^^,asaimedspecificallyat
the protection of forests against fire. Under this
Regulation, aid totalling E C U D ^ l D ^ has been granted
to ^B^ Spanish projects over the three years of application,
ie ECU l ^ ^ l ^ D to four projects in l ^ B, ECU
l l ^ ^ D ^ t o ^ p r o j e c t s i n l ^ ^ a n d E C U ^ O ^ M ^ t o ^
projects i n l ^ ^ .

Regulation ^ E E C ^ o l M ^ B ^ ^ ^ o n a s p e c i f i c common
measure to encourage the development of agriculture in
certain regions of ^pain also provides for measures linked

N o C 309/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

to forestry improvement, in particular afforestation, the
improvement of deteriorated woodlands and other
supporting measures, including measures to prevent and

combat forest fires. The EAGGF Guidance Section

reimburses the Spanish Government 50 % for the forestry
improvements mentioned above subject to a maximum
eligible amount of E C U 2 300 per hectare in the case of
afforestation and E C U 2 000 per hectare of forest in the
case of the improvement of deterioriated woodlands and

an overall limit of E C U 194 million.

In addition Regulation (EEC) N o 1610/89 ( [5] ) laying
down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC)
N o 4256/88 (*) as regards the scheme to develop and
optimally utilize woodlands in rural areas in the
Community provides for a financial contribution towards

measures linked to the reconstitution of woodland

damaged by fires or by other natural causes or
catastrophes as well as protection measures against forest

fires.

(') OJNoLl65, 15.6. 1989.
O OJNoL326,21.11.1986.
O OJNoL165, 15.6.1989.
, O OJ No L 107,28. 4. 1988.

O OJNoL165, 15.6. 1989.
(*) OJNoL374,31. 12.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 714/90

by Mr Jose Barros Moura and Mr Carlos Carvalhas (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/29)

_Subject:_ Pilot schemes for urban renewal

In the light of the statement by Commissioner Bruce
Millaft that pilot schemes for urban renewal of the type
already approved for certain areas of London and
Marseilles are to be considered for other cities, can the

Commission state on what basis such cities as Lisbon and

Oporto could benefit from schemes of this kind for some
of their quarters which are especially in need of urban
renewal? In particular, what conditions would be required
for ERDF and ESF participation? In view of the
innovatory aims involved, a factor which has facilitated
ESF funding for cities not included under objectives 1 and
2, should such funding be considered specific?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 July 1990)_

The Commission announced on 15 February 1990 the
launching of pilot projects under Article 10 of the ERDF
Regulation (') for parts of London and Marseille. These

pilot projects are targeted at some of the most
disadvantaged areas of these cities and are mainly aimed
at promoting economic development in housing estates.

Further pilot projects for urban areas could be
undertaken. The objective is to build up a series of
projects to examine different aspects of the functioning of
cities. Each project should be innovatory in its approach,
or in the actual measures proposed, and should be capable
of providing demonstrable effects for other cities with
comparable problems. Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation
may be used for pilot schemes which have a European
dimension, with other pilot projects funded through the
Community support framework. However the
Commission would emphasize that the funds available
under Article 10 are very limited and that therefore only a
few projects can be supported.

The Commission would also point out that it financed
from budget item 5481 a study on the conservation of the
architectural and urban heritage of Lisbon in the context
of socioeconomic development. The findings are expected
in June 1990 and the Commission will then consider what

action should be taken.

0) OJ No L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 15.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 736/90

by Mr Carlos Carvalhas and Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva

(CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/30)

_Subject:_ Programme of research into the competitiveness
of agriculture and management of agricultural

resources

The purpose of this programme is to reduce the costs of
agricultural production, alleviate regional disparities, and
protect and improve the natural environment and rural
areas. However, of the proposed budget of ECU
55 million, only 9 650 000 is earmarked for protecting
and improving agriculture in the less-developed regions.
By contrast, ECU 24 700 000 is earmarked for helping
farmers to adjust to the new situation created by
overproduction and by the restrictive policy on prices and
markets.

Does the Commission not feel that as a result of this

allocation of resources a larger proportion is being
earmarked to resolve the problems of surpluses in the
richer countries than to improving the situation in regions
facing greater difficulties, thereby running counter to the
principle of economic cohesion ?

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/15

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(31_ _May 1990)_

The Council Decision adopting a specific Community
research and technological development programme in
the field of competitiveness of agriculture and
management of agricultural resources (1989 to 1993) ( [x] )
indicates the allocation of funds. Whilst 18,3% ( ± ECU
10 million) is earmarked for socioeconomic aspects and
specific activities for regions lagging behind in
development, it should be noted that these particular
regions also benefit from the other parts of this

programme.

O OJNoL58,7.3. 1990, p. 9.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 760/90

by Mr James Elles (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/31)

_Subject:_ _Force_ _majeure_

Would the Commission define what is the general
meaning of _force majeure_ in the functioning of the
legislation implementing the CAP? What are the
circumstances in which the principle of _force majeure_ can
be applied to contracts negotiated or in operation?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 May 1990)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its communication No 6(88) 1696 (') where the
Commission has laid down in detail the criteria for the

definition and the application of _force majeure_ in
Community agricultural law.

O OJNoC259,6.10. 1988, p. 10.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 791/90

by Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jimenez de Tejada and Mr Carlos
Perreau de Pinninck Domenech (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/32)

_Subject:_ Community support frameworks

According to information in the XXIIIrd General Report
on the Activities of the European Communities, the

Commission approved Community support frameworks
(CSF) last year, but Spain is not included in them.

Given that these frameworks focus on training and
employment, which constitute a serious problem in Spain,
we should like to know the reasons for this exclusion.

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 June 1990)_

The question from the Honourable Members refers to the
Community support frameworks (CSFs) for Spain,
objectives 1, 2, 3,4 and 5b.

Paragraph 465 of the XXIIIrd General Report on the
Activities of the European Communities states that the
CSFs for the objective 1 regions were approved in
September and formally adopted by the Commission in
October 1989. A total of ECU 9 779 million was allocated

to the Spanish regions concerned for the period 1989 to
1993.

In the case of objective 2, the CSF was adopted on 14
March. It contains ECU 650 million to be divided among
seven regional sub-frameworks (Aragon, Cantabria,
Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, Rioja and the Basque
Country) plus a multi-regional sub-framework.

The Commission recently approved the CSF for
objectives 3 and 4 for the regions other than those
covered by objective 1, that is, Aragon, the Balearic
Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, the
Basque Country and Rioja. The priorities under this CSF
are combating long-term unemployment and measures to
promote the occupational integration of young people.

In the case of objective 5b (the development of rural
areas), a CSF for the areas eligible under that objective in
the regions of Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria,
Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, Rioja and the Basque
Country is being prepared and will probably be approved
by the Commission in June.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 792/90

by Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jimenez de Tejada and Mr Carlos
Perreau de Pinninck Domenech (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/33)

_Subject:_ Integrated Mediterranean Programmes

Why has Spain not been included in the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes?

No C 309/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

In the XXIIIrd General Report on the Activities of the
European Communities, we find many references to these
programmes with regard to France, Italy and Greece, but
none for Spain.

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 May 1990)_

The Integrated Mediterranean Programmes (Imps) were
implemented to enable southern regions of the
Community to adjust, under the best possible conditions,
to the new situation created by the enlargement of the
Community to include Spain and Portugal.

The geographical scope of the Imps is clearly defined in
Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2088/85 of 23 July
1985 (*). Only certain regions or areas of France and Italy
are eligible, whereas the whole of Greece is covered by the
Regulation.

(') OJ No LI 97, 27. 7. 1985, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 793/90

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/34)

_Subject:_ DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and
medium-sized undertakings

Were small and medium-sized undertakings involved in
the formulation of the pilot training schemes now
operating? Has any contact been organized between the
participating pilot training schemes to allow exchange of
information and adoption of best practice? Have
alternative training formats been applied in different
groups of pilot training schemes, or is a standard
programme being applied?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 794/90

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/35)

_Subject:_ DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and
medium-sized undertakings

Has the Commission conducted any research to
formulate the approach to be adopted in the evaluation of
the outcome of the pilot training schemes now operating?
What methods and mechanisms of evaluation will be

applied ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 795/90

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/36)

_Subject:_ DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and
medium-sized undertakings

Can the Commission provide details on any preparatory
research which went into the preparation of the pilot
training schemes now operating? What attempts were
made to incorporate the results of any such research into
the formulation of the training programme?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 796/90

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/37)

_Subject:_ DG XXIII pilot training schemes for small and
medium-sized undertakings

Has the budget line for pilot training schemes in small and
medium-sized undertakings now been exhausted, or is a
further round envisaged?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 793/90, 794/90,

795/90 and 796/90 given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

_(3 July 1990)_

The programme of experimental training schemes for
managers of small and medium-sized enterprises to which
the Honourable Member is referring was approved by the
Commission in December 1988 ('). Its aim is to help
SMEs adapt to the internal market by preparing their
managers for strategic management in the run-up to 1992.

In devising the experimental schemes the Commission
drew on work by the SME task force, the
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and
Education and Cedefop (European Centre for the
Development of Vocational Training) ( [2] ).

During 1988 this question was examined in greater depth
by a working party made up of representatives from the
Directorates-General responsible for business policy
(SME task force), the internal market and vocational
training.

On the basis of that work a draft programme was outlined
in mid-1988, which was discussed with experts on the
provision of vocational training for SMEs from various
Member States. The draft programme was also presented

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/17

to and discussed with representatives of European
organizations representing SMEs at the meetings held
regularly between these organizations and ' the
Commission.

At the beginning of 1989 the Commission published a call
for expressions of interest in order to select the training
and advisory agencies to take part in this experimental
scheme. The object of the experiment is that these
agencies should test the training methods and
information materials placed at their disposal T?y the
Commission. Once they have been tested, these methods
and materials will be improved and adapted jointly by the
agencies taking part in the scheme and the Commission.

68 training and advisory agencies from the various
Member States are taking part in this scheme, which is
due to end between June and November 1990, depending
on the country concerned. The evaluation of the
experimental scheme will be undertaken by the
Commission with the help of an external organization
selected on the basis of the replies to the call for
expressions of interest published in the _Official Journal of_
_the European Communities^)._ This evaluation stage is
likely to last from May until December 1990. The
evaluation will cover not only the training methods and
materials made available to the training agencies, but also
the practical procedures for implementing training
(selection of SMEs, qualification of trainers, structure of
training and advice, etc.) and the impact of that training
on managers and on the strategies they adopt in the
lead-up to 1992.

At the moment, therefore, the Commission is at the stage
of evaluating this experimental scheme. It will decide
whether or not to continue with the scheme in the light of
the results of that evaluation.

(') SEC(88) 1860.
( [2] ) Cedefop, _Small and medium-sized_ _enterprises:_ _new horizons for_
_vocational_ _training,_ Vocational Training No 3/1987, Berlin
1987; R. Boudet, _Concept of_ _an exchange_ _network for the_
_development_ _of_ _vocational training_ _in_ _small_ _and_ _medium-sized_
_enterprises,_ Cedefop, Berlin, 1988.
(') OJNoS204,21.10. 1989, p. 64.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 800/90

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muni (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 March 1990)_

(90/C 309/38)

_Subject:_ Laundering of drug money

Does the Commission intend, in line with the
recommendation by Celad, to implement a common
policy with regard to the laundering of revenue from
drug-trafficking ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(11_ _July 1990)_

The Community, as it was requested by the European
Parliament in several resolutions, is coordinating the
Member States' policy in the drug field through the
Celad. Combating laundering of proceeds from
drug-related offences is one of the important aspects of
this policy. In this context, the Commission, which is
aware of the high preventive role that the banking system
can play to combat money laundering, has just adopted,
and transmitted to the Parliament and the Council, a
proposal for a Directive to impede the use of the financial
system for the purpose of money laundering ('). The
Commission is convinced that this proposal, focused on
the financial system, will be a major step in the combat
against organized crime in general and drug trafficking in
particular.

(*) COM(90) 106 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 803/90

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4_ _April 1990)_

(90/C 309/39)

_Subject:_ Coordination of action against drugs with the
producer countries and transit countries

How is the Community coordinating its action in respect
of the drug-producing countries and transit countries?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(1_ _August 1990)_

In general terms, the Commission participates in the work
of the European Committee for the Fight against Drugs,
which coordinates the work of the Community and its
Member States on drugs. As regards action in respect of
drug-producing countries and transit countries, the
Commission sees to it that operations financed under the
Nord-South Cooperation Programme to combat drug
abuse are closely coordinated with both the other major
donors and the authorities of the recipient countries.

(a) Coordination with donor countries:

— _At international level_

The Commission takes an active part in the work
of the group of major donors to the United
Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control
(UNFDAC); these consultations deal in
particular with aid requirements and strategies.

No C 309/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

The Commission also takes part in coordination
groups established at regional level, particularly
the group dealing with the Caribbean countries.

— _At_ _Community level_

The Commission coordinates operations under
the North-South Programme with those
financed and/or carried out by the Member
States on a bilateral basis. To this end it
organizes regular meetings of experts from the
Commission and the Member States to discuss
current or proposed projects. The most recent of
these meetings took place in March and dealt
with aid to the Andean Pact countries, and in
particular Colombia.

(b) _Coordination_ _with_ _drug-producing countries_ _and transit_
_countries_

In selecting the operations it finances under the
North-South Cooperation Programme the
Commission pays particular attention to ensuring
that its operations are in line with national policies
and strategies and are supported by political will and
adequate operational structures in each country.

In many countries the national strategy takes the
form of a master plan drawn up by the national
authorities with assistance from UNFDAC.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 837/90

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 April_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/40)

_Subject:_ Conference on minimum income

Will the Commission state whether it subsidized a

conference on minimum income held in November 1989
in Spain?

Who attended this conference and what were its
conclusions?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 May_ _1990)_

The Commission did indeed instigate and support the
organization of a seminar on minimum income in
November 1989. However, the seminar in question, which
was organized by the University of Bath, was held in the
United Kingdom and not in Spain (European Conference
on Basic Income, Windsor, 15 to 17 November 1989).

The seminar was attended by national civil servants,
independent experts and the Commission. Views were
exchanged on the national minimum income systems and
some preliminary thought was given to the circumstances
in which the Community could encourage the

improvement or the introduction in each of the Member
States of measures to ensure a minimum level of resources
and benefits. In accordance with its action programme for
the implementation of the Community Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights for Workers, the Commission
is currently drawing up a recommendation on common
criteria for such a minimum level of resources and

benefits.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 838/90

by Mr Gerhard Schmid (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 April_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/41)

_Subject:_ Subsidies for the dairy industry

What subsidies have been granted to the Bavarian dairy
industry over the last five years on the basis of
Regulations (EEC) Nos 804/68 ('), 986/68 ( [2] ) and
987/68 O for skimmed-milk powder to be used as fodder
and for skimmed milk for the manufacture of casein and

caseinates?

(') English Special Edition 1968 I, p. 176.
( [2] ) English Special Edition 1968 I, p. 260.
O English Special Edition 1968 I, p. 262.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(1 June 1990)_

The Commission only has official information on
subsidies granted for skimmed milk and skimmed-milk
powder, under the measures stated, broken down by
Member State, not by region.

The Commission will however request the relevant
information from the German authorities and inform the
Honourable Member accordingly.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 840/90

by Mr Gerhard Schmid (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 April_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/42)

_Subject:_ Measures to combat varroatosis

1. What funds have hitherto been used from the
budget appropriations earmarked for veterinary measures
for the purposes of combating varroatosis, broken down
by year and Member State?

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/19

2. What results have been obtained?

3. Does the non-inclusion of varroatosis in the 1990

budget mean that research in this area has been stopped
and, if not, what amount has been earmarked for this
purpose?

4. What use was made of the appropriations entered
against item 3815 in the 1986 budget?

Answer given by Mr Mac Shany
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 June 1990)_

1 and 4. The amounts appropriated and expended for
this purpose to date are as follows:

The total amounts have been broken down between

Member States on the basis of the best available estimates

of their respective bee population, considering for the
1986 and 1987 budgets also the severity of the disease as a
further weighting factor.

1986 1987 1989

Member State

Belgium

Denmark

Federal Republic of Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

Total for heading

380

12 000

12 000

119 000

155 000

155 000

157 000

3 000

102 000

3 000

14 000

42 000

26 000

800 000

3815

Budget heading

3800

4 827

4 827

72 399

123 754

57 919

95 567

1 800

82 052

1 473

8 688

10 136

11 558

475 000

500 000

5 969

3 979

79 585

103 460

94 480

104 030

1 800

67 647

1 500

7 164

8 356

9 530

487 500

500 000

1 000 000

The balance of the funds has been used for coordination,
international cooperation and certain specialized
scientific work in the same field.

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat-General of the European
Parliament copies of the relevant Commission decisions
containing _inter alia_ greater detail on the use of the 1986
budget funds.

2. The results of this expenditure so far can be seen to
be a clear improvement in both the quality and
geographical extension of Community beekeepers
practical awareness of the main features of the disease and

the available treatments both chemical and mechanical.

The campaigns of extension and supervision conducted,
with the support of the Community aid, by representative
beekeepers' organizations throughout the Community
have in the main been rationally organized,
complementary rather than in duplication of each other,
and thus cost-effective. It has been possible to verify this
both from the reports of the organizations themselves,
and by direct involvement of the Commission
departments concerned aided by scientific experts.

3. No amount is provided for the purpose mentioned
by the Honourable Member in the 1990 budget. The
reason for this is that in practice the funds earmarked in
each successive budget, as set out above, have been
applied in the following year. This time-lag was caused by
the very late adoption of the 1986 budget. For the same
reason, it was not necessary either to appropriate funds in
1988.

In practice the funds from the 1989 budget are currently
in course of payment. Therefore although formally
speaking this third and final 'pilot' scheme will end at
the end of the year, in practical terms beneficiary
organizations will in most cases use these funds to include
the first half of 1991.

Amounts of ECU 1 million have been inserted in the

relevant budget forecasts as from 1992 and the
Commission reserves the right to make proposals to the
Council for more formal measures against varroasis in
succession to the ad hoc schemes implemented up to now.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 860/90

Joaquin Sis6 Cruellas (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(9 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/43)

_Subject:_ Commission representation in the regions

The increase in the Community's activities, especially in
the areas covered by the Structural Funds following the
institutional reform to which they were subject, has
important implications for the economic development of
the Community regions.

The ever-increasing complexity of the Community's
mechanisms for ensuring correct decisions on dossiers
involving the Funds, and the need to have specialists in the
regions' administrative centres to facilitate the
preparation, processing and settlement of those dossiers,
suggest that the Commission would be well advised to
keep its own representatives in the centres in question.

No C 309/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

Is the Commission considering the possibility of creating
the necessary infrastructure, with an administrative
representation installed in each of the administrative
centres of the regions to facilitate and make more
effective the Community's handling of the Structural
Funds?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1990)_

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the
preparation, implementation and assessment of
Community structural assistance are primarily the
responsibility of the national, regional and local
authorities of the Member States concerned.

However, very frequent contacts take place, particularly
within the Monitoring Committees which have been
established, between Commission officials and
representatives of regional and local authorities in
connection with the implementation of the Community
support frameworks and forms of assistance.

Furthermore, to assist the Member States successfully to
implement the reform of the Structural Funds, the
Commission may provide technical assistance by
part-financing studies by outside experts which the
authorities of the Member States need, principally to
assist the transition to a programme-based approach, to
provide effective monitoring and appropriate assessment
of structural assistance and to implement provisions
concerning respect for Community policies.

Lack of staff means that, for the moment, the
Commission is unable to provide that technical assistance
through a permanent presence of its officials in the
regions. However, the Commission is considering
whether officials of the Directorate-General for Regional
Policies could be located in those regions which could
have serious problems in implementing the reform. It
intends to establish such a presence in Athens and Rome
and is also considering posting officials to other Member
States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 902/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/44)

_Subject:_ Eurotra and Systran

When the Commission presented its machine translation
system Systran at the Expolangues 1990 international

exhibition it stressed that progress is being made and that
this year the system is being extended to cover
French-Spanish, Spanish-English and Spanish-French
translation.

30 June this year will see the completion of the final phase
of the research programme involving Eurotra, the
advanced machine translation system designed to handle
all the Community's official languages.

How does the Commission see the future industrial

development of Eurotra and the links which might be
established between the Community system and Systran,
which is of American origin?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1990)_

Systran is indeed being extended to cover additional
language combinations including Spanish as source or
target language. The French-Spanish combination is
expected to be producing good quality translations by the
end of this year, while Spanish-English and
Spanish-French will not be operational until 1991.

The Eurotra programme will be completed on 30 June this
year. The Council and Parliament are currently
examining a Commission proposal (') for the next stage of
the programme. The proposal falls within the second
framework programme and has three main objectives.

These are the preparation of an operational system, the
development of lexical and terminological resources and
the creation of standards in this field on the basis of

cooperation between the Eurotra research centres, the
Commission and industry.

The programme will receive ECU 10 million funding
from the Community and will run from mid-1990 to
mid-1992. It will include work to create reusable lexical

resources. These efforts, based on a study which will get
under way in July this year, will enable Systran and
Eurotra dictionaries to be compiled and extended using
common lexical sources, even though the two systems use
very different linguistic technology.

This approach is also proposed in the third research
framework programme 1990 to 1994.

(') COM(89) 603 final.

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 903/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/45)

_Subject:_ R&D statistics as a possible priority in the Doses

programme

The Doses research and development programme on
statistical systems provides for a vertical study (a complete
data-processing chain) in a specific sector which will be
used as the prototype for other applications (part II) and
various coordinated projects (part I).

Can the Commission say in which specific sector the
vertical study will be carried out? Can it also say whether
any of the coordinated projects will deal with the
Community coordination of technological research and
development statistics?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 May 1990)_

After consulting the Doses Advisory Committee, the
Commission decided to select two projects under theme 1
of the work programme (preparation of a complete
system for automated information).

The first project concerns the computerization of 'family
budget' surveys and the second the collection, verification
and exploitation of accounting and financial data on
firms.

To date, no project specifically focusing on R&D
statistics has been submitted under the programme.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 930/90

by Mr Juan Garaikoetxea Urriza (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/46)

_Subject:_ ERDF assistance to the Basque country

What ERDF assistance has the Basque country received
since 1988, when the structural-refund reform was
implemented, not including Community-initiative
programmes?

What is the breakdown, by autonomous Community, of
ERDF funding allocated to Spain during the period 1986
to 1988?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 June 1990)_

Excluding Community-initiative programmes, by the end
of 1988 the Basque Country had received Pta
3 340 million in ERDF assistance solely for the
part-financing of projects.

A distinction should be made between projects and
programmes in calculating the breakdown of ERDF
assistance in the rest of Spain during that period:

(a) The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a

summary table by region, including the Basque
country, showing projects financed by the ERDF up
to 31 December 1988.

(b) In the category of national programmes and other
national initiatives, only two measures were
approved before that date:

— the NPCI for Asturias for 1987 to 1991, with an
ERDF contribution of Pta 20 385 400 000 which

affects only the Region of Asturias,

— the NPCI for expressways for 1987 to 1991, with
an ERDF contribution of Pta 67 876 100 000

which affects the following regions:

Aragon: Pta 13 992 400 000
Andalusia: Pta 19 517 550 000

Castile-Leon: Pta 19 413 950 000

Castile-La Mancha: Pta 9 833 900 000

Madrid: Pta 5 118 300 000

WRITTEN QUESTION No 932/90

by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/47)

_Subject:_ Doubling of the Structural Funds

In view of the decision to double the Structural Funds

and, in this context, the need to allow for inflation each
year in the scheduled adjustments, and given the fact,
nevertheless, that because of the low inflation rates
assumed by the Commission — lower than actual rates —
an accumulated discrepancy of ECU _277_ million has
arisen (ECU 116 million in 1989; ECU 111 million in
1990) between the sums determined for the Structural

No C 309/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

Funds and the amounts which would have been laid down

if actual inflation rates had been taken into account, and

in view of the violation of inter-institutional decisions

which this represents and the harm caused to the
countries which are the main recipients of fund monies —
as a matter of fact the least-developed Community
countries — how does the Commission justify this state of
affairs and how and when does it plan to rectify matters so
that the Funds are doubled in real terms, and not nominal
terms, in accordance with the relevant decisions?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 July 1990)_

In accordance with Article 9 of the Interinstitutional

Agreement, each year the Commission makes the
technical adjustment in the light of movements in prices
and GNP ahead of the budgetary procedure for the year /
+ 1. The adjustment is therefore inevitably based on the
rates of inflation determined and predicted for the period
from 1988 to the year _t +_ 1 under consideration, which
are the most recent available for the financial year in
question.

The Commission recognizes that the predicted rate of
inflation, at the time of the adjustment may be either
higher or lower than that subsequently established and
that this may subsequently pose problems for the process
of doubling in real terms the allocation of the structural
Funds between 1987 and 1993. The Commission

considers that account could be taken of this discrepancy
either in the course of the review provided for by
Article 19 of the Interinstitutional Agreement or when the
financial perspectives are reviewed under Article 12, as
happened this year. The Commission considers, however,
that the technical adjustment of the financial perspectives
provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement does not
permit a retroactive adjustment to take account of past
inflation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 961/90

by Mr Willy De Clercq (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/48)

_Subject:_ Community's recent complaint to GATT
concerning provisions involving sanitary and
plant-health barriers to trade

Can the Commission give its views on the burden of proof
and the procedure for dispute settlement? More
specifically, can the Commission confirm that:

— in the event of a dispute between two or more
contracting parties, the burden of proof would rest
with the contracting party prohibiting the import of a
product on sanitary or plant-health grounds to show
why existing international scientific standards should
not apply to the dispute in question,

— it recognizes that, in the settlement of any such
dispute, the procedure must contain a time limit to
prevent prevarication becoming a non-tariff barrier.
In this connection, will the Commission consider
proposing that time limits similar to those in EC
Directive 83/189/EEC be adopted as part of the
procedure to be agreed in the Uruguay Round to
include sanitary and plant-health measures in GATT
rules, thus effectively requiring a contracting party to
respond to the complaint within 90 days?

Finally, does the Commission accept that there are very
significant economic gains to be achieved for the EC
agri-foodstuffs sector by including provisions on
additives and their conditions of use in GATT rules?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1990)_

The Commission is fully aware of the gains to be achieved
for the Community agricultural and industrial sectors in
bringing sanitary and phytosanitary measures under
GATT disciplines and it has therefore subscribed to the
objective agreed in the mid-term-review.

The settlement of disputes on sanitary or phytosanitary
measures is a complex issue involving general aspects of
the GATT dispute settlement procedure as well as
particular aspects linked with the implication of scientific
or technical elements in the appreciation of rights and
obligations accruing under the GATT rules.

Therefore, both questions of the burden of proof and
of the time constraints have to be carefully examined especially when there are no fully accepted international scientific standards applicable to the case
concerned.

As one of its negotiating priorities, the Community has
submitted specific proposals for improving the
harmonization in this field and in particular the

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/23

recognition of international standards in order to prevent
disputes as well as to facilitate their solution.

At this stage of the negotiating process, the Commission
is not in a position to determine and to make public how
far an agreement of its negotiating partners on the EC
proposals for the recognition of international standards
could affect its own position on the application to sanitary
and phytosanitary matters of the dispute settlement
procedure and, in particular, on the burden of proof.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 971/90

by Mr Honor Funk and Mr Reinhold Bocklet (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 April 1990)_

(90/C 309/49)

_Subject:_ Organization of the market for butter

Since October 1989, the price of butter on the
Community market has fallen sharply. Because of
inadequate export refunds, it has no longer been possible
to export butter. Only on 22 February 1990 were export
refunds raised once again, after the butter price had fallen
by around 20 %.

1. Given that market prices for butter fell below 92 % of
the intervention price, why did the Commission not
apply Community rules (Article 1 (4) and (1) of
Regulation (EEC) No _777/97_ (')) which provide that,
where the market price falls to 92% or less of the
intervention price for two successive weeks, buying in
pursuant to Article 6 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No
804/68 will be resumed?

2. Is it correct that the Commission has informed

economic operators that it is prepared during
tendering to buy butter at 94% of the intervention
price?

3. Is the Commission prepared to make up the direct
losses sustained by butter sellers — arising from the
difference between the intervention price and the
monthly buying-in price under the tendering
procedure — which are a result of the Commission's
negligence?

4. Is it correct that falling producer prices are a
consequence of the drop in milk fat prices in the
Community and that this is due to the Commission's
faulty organization of the market, or can the
Commission give any other reasons for this
development?

(') OJNoL78,20.3.1987, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 June 1990)_

1. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1547/87 C)
describes the detailed rules for applying Council
Regulation (EEC) No _777/87_ as regards the buying-in of
intervention butter, especially the definition of market
prices for butter and the method and frequency of their
registration.

Unfortunately, the Member States have not, in all cases,
been able to meet the requirements laid down in the
Regulation guranteeing that all prices recorded are fully
representative. However, the level of purchase prices
established and the quantities actually purchased under
the tender system in operation under Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 1589/87 ( [2] ) are considered to be
sufficient to stabilize market prices.

2 and 3. The maximum purchase prices, and,
consequently, the quantities of butter offered which can
be purchased into public intervention under the tender
system, are established twice a month following the rules
laid down in the abovementioned Regulations.

4. The milk sector is, despite the quota system, a sector
characterized by structural surplus and the market is
continually supported and stabilized by internal and
external disposal measures. The decline, in 1990, of the
very high butter prices experienced in 1989 is due mainly
to an increase in deliveries and butter production, a
continuous decline in the internal consumption of butter
and lower exports.

O OJNoLl44,4.6.1987, p. 12.
O OJ No L 146,6.6.1987, p. 27.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1002/90

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11_ _May 1990)_

(90/C 309/50)

_Subject:_ The future of fishing activities of the
Community fleet in the fishing ground off
Namibia

In exercising the independence secured for Namibia on
21 March 1990, the new Government of Namibia ordered
all the fishing fleets of the countries which make up the
International Commission for the Southeast Atlantic

Fisheries (ICSEAF) to leave the Namibian fishing area
with effect from 31 March 1990. This seriously affects the
Commission fleet of freezer vessels, which have 34 % of
the total quotas for the area, this being the most

No C 309/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

important hake fishing area in the whole ICSEAF zone.
The social and economic consequences of this will largely
hit the less-favoured regions of the Community, for
which freezer trawling and its related activities are an
important source of income.

The ICSEAF has, on the other hand, repeatedly stressed
the need to reduce fishing activities off Namibia in order
to preserve fish stocks, and to ban fishing in breeding
grounds (from a depth of 200 fathoms to the coast).

What measures does the Commission intend to take to
relieve the economic and social effects of the fishing ban
in Namibia?

What position does it intend to take vis-a-vis the
Namibian Government on the resumption of fishing
activities and the preservation of fish stocks in Namibian
waters?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June_ _1990)_

1. Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 ( [J] ) provides the
Community with specific instruments of structural
assistance which can be used temporarily to compensate
for some of the negative consequences for the
Community fleet of the measures taken by the new
authorities in Namibia.

Under Article 22 of the Regulation, the Community
contributes to expenditure by the Member States when
they grant laying-up or final cessation premiums for the
temporary or permanent withdrawal of certain fishing
vessels.

Under Article 26, the Commission, after examing the
estimate of expenditure presented by each Member State,
decides on the maximum amount of eligible expenditure
for the current year, bearing in mind the appropriations
entered in the budget to finance all the measures provided
for in the Regulation. In 1990 the Commission decided on
a maximum amount of ECU 33 500 000 for laying-up
premiums and ECU 90 400 000 for permanent withdrawal
premiums. The total estimated cost to the Community is
about ECU 62 million.

The amounts allocated to each Member State are as

follows:

At the end of the year, the Commission reimburses to the
Member States 50% of the eligible expenditure which
they can justify up to the maximum amounts laid down.

However, during the year, the Commission may amend
the maximum amounts of expenditure eligible in the light
of the availability of budget appropriations, any revisions
in the estimates made by the Member States and also in
the light of the results of implementation of the measures.

Besides the specific aid provided for in the Regulation,
the Community may provide assistance through the
horizontal Structural Funds, such as the European Social
Fund, provided applications are in accordance with the
rules in force and follow the procedures laid down.

2. As regards the continuance of fishing activities in
Namibian waters, on 23 April the Council of Ministers,
acting on a proposal from the Commission, approved a
brief for the negotiation of a fisheries agreement between
the Community and the Republic of Namibia. The
Namibian Government is aware that the Community is
willing to begin negotiations on a fisheries agreement and
the Commission is now awaiting notification of the
Namibian timescale.

However, the Namibian Government has indicated that it
does not wish to draw up a fisheries agreement until it has
a scientific report on the state of fish stocks in its exclusive
economic zone and it has also expressed a desire for the
Community to cooperate in its research programmes on
fish resources.

The Commission has already drawn up a research
programme of that type which it has placed before
the Council's external working party on fisheries.
Completion of the programme requires a positive attitude
and a financial contribution from the Member States

_(ECUmillion)_

Permanent

withdrawal
premiums

0,938

7,630

1,711

4,661

22,859

2,887

—

23,224

20,000

6,448

—

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

Laying-up
premiums

—

—

1,956

  

17,850

2,888

—

9,953

—

0,833

—

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/25

concerned since the Commission has no funds available

for work of this type.

0 OJNoL376,31.12.1986, p. 7.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1011/90

by Mrs Solange Fernex, Mr Antoine Waechter and Mr
WilfriedTeMmper(V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/51)

_Subject:_ Financing of Prodair by the Community (EIB)

Since planning permission was granted for Prodair
without an environmental impact study being carried out,
environmental protection organizations have lodged an
appeal.

How is it that, in these circumstances, the EIB is granting
a loan of 128 million francs to an installation covered by
the Seveso Directive?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 July 1990)_

According to information supplied by the European
Investment Bank, the public hearings required under the
legislation on environmental impact studies for the
investment in question took place between 19 June and 19
July 1989. During 1989 the opinions of the various
departmental and administrative bodies concerned and of
the Regierungsprasident of Fribourg were sought and
obtained in the usual way. As a result, some minor
changes were made to the investment project (sound
insulation, etc.). The file containing the positive results of
the study was lodged at the Strasbourg Prefecture on 18
August 1989 and the operating permit was granted on 12
March 1990. The EIB made its loan on 15 March 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1020/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr
Mateo Sierra Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Juan de la

Camara Martinez (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/52)

_Subject:_ Surveillance and monitoring arrangements for
Mediterranean fisheries

A fishery resources management policy in the
Mediterranean must go hand-in-hand with an

improvement in surveillance and monitoring
arrangements. If this is to be undertaken by the Member
States in collaboration with the Commission and if the

Commission is willing to exert greater control than it does
at present over Mediterranean fisheries policy, will it
collaborate with the Member States in increasing the
resources available by providing the necessary funds? Has
any budgetary provision been made? What amounts are
involved? In the medium term, will it be necessary to
increase the budget items earmarked for this purpose?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 June 1990)_

The Commission reminds the Honourable Member that,
on its proposal, the Council decided on 27 November
1989 (') to make a financial contribution of ECU
22 million per year from 1 January 1991 to 31 December
1995 to the expenditure incurred by the Member States in
enforcing Community rules for the conservation and
management of fishery resources, including those which
may be adopted in future for Mediterranean waters.

Pending the adoption of Community rules for
conservation and management applicable in
Mediterranean waters, the Community will, on a
provisional basis until 31 December 1991, contribute to
the expenditure incurred by the Member States concerned
to ensure compliance with the applicable national rules,
provided the Member States notify such rules to the
Commission and justify their merits.

(') OJNoL364,14. 12.1989, p. 64.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1021/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr
Mateo Sierra Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Mr Juan

de la Camara Martinez (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/53)

_Subject:_ Community fisheries inspectors

The extremely limited number of Community inspectors
is undoubtedly creating serious deficiencies in the
operation of the common policy for the surveillance and
monitoring of fisheries. This situation, which has
repeatedly been condemned by the European Parliament
and which the Commission seems to lack the will to

remedy, may also have a bearing on the initiative to

No C 309/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

extend the common fisheries policy to the Mediterranean.
Is the Commission in a position to embark on this
initiative until it has remedied the aforementioned

problems?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1990)_

The Commission reminds the Honourable Member that

Community fisheries inspectors do not directly monitor
the activities of Community fishermen but carry out
on-the-spot checks on the activities of national fisheries
inspectors.

Given the forseeable extension of the tasks of Community
inspectors to the Mediterranean, the budget authority
has, on a proposal from the Commission, provided for
five additional inspector posts in the 1990 budget. The
customary recruitment procedures are being followed to
fill these posts.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1022/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr
Mateo Sierra Bardaji, Mr Joseph Pons Grau and Mr Juan

de la Camara Martinez (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11_ _May 1990)_

(90/C 309/54)

_Subject:_ The future of IMPs and Mediterranean fisheries

IMPs have been an effective instrument for modernizing
the fishery sector, at least in certain Member States. Some
of the aids given have expired, while others have been
extended. What are the Commission's criteria for IMPs in

the Mediterranean fisheries sector in the immediate

future? What costs are involved and what budgetary
provision has been made? What is the rate of application
and budget implementation for these programmes in the
fisheries sector? Why have substantial sums remained
unused?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 June 1990)_

When the IMPs expire as scheduled in 1992, the measures
under them, including those for fisheries, will expire as

well. When then time comes, the fisheries measures will be
reviewed in the same way as measures submitted under
the fisheries regulations, while taking account of their
conformity with the common fisheries policy.

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament the cost of

measures planned for fisheries and assistance from the
Structural Funds for each Member State under the IMPs.

At this stage, a preliminary assessment of the use of funds
is not meaningful because of the large number of
measures planned for the second period of the IMPs
(1989 to 1992) and because there was some delay in
sending applications to the Commission during the first
period (1987 to 1989).

When approving the IMPs, the Commission took account
of the fisheries sector on the basis of proposals made by
the regions and Member States concerned.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1052/90

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/55)

_Subject:_ Decoding by young people of visual and verbal

messages

Messages transmitted by the mass media with practical
and commercial implications take no account of young
people who, more than any other group, would appear to
be at the mercy of the message itself given that they are
not taught to discern its prime purpose. Does not the
Commission therefore consider that lessons should be

given in primary and secondary schools on the decoding
of visual and verbal messages in order to sift information
and provide a code of conduct?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 July 1990)_

The question of the role of education authorities in
assisting young people to deal with the many messages
delivered through an 'Information Society' was
extensively debated at the last meeting of the Standing
Conference of European Ministers of Education meeting
in Istanbul in October 1989. The Ministers of Education

considered that the education systems did have a role to

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/27

play in this context. Documents and conclusions on this
theme are being sent directly to the Honourable Member
and to Parliament's Secretariat.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1059/90

by Mr Gerhard Schmid (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/56)

_Subject:_ Imports of blood plasma

The Federal Republic of Germany currently imports some
70 % of its blood plasma from States outside the European
Community. Article 3 (4) of the EC Directive on
medicinal products based on human blood and blood
plasma stipulates that the Member States must take
appropriate measures to make the Community
self-sufficient in human blood plasma.

1. Why, in the Commission's opinion, does the Federal
Republic of Germany differ from the other EC
Member States in importing such a high proportion of
its blood plasma?

2. What are the Commission's views regarding the fact
that a large proportion of the blood plasma imported
by the Federal Republic of Germany comes from
commercial plasmapheresis centres in the southern
states of the USA, where most of the donors are
socially underprivileged Americans and Mexicans?

3. What state measures and/or legal provisions have
enabled France and the Benelux countries to be

virtually self-sufficient in blood plasma for many
years now?

4. What steps does the Commission intend to take to
ensure that the Federal Republic of Germany fulfils
the obligation to achieve self-sufficiency in blood
plasma laid down in the EC Directive?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1990)_

1. The Commission is unable to explain why the
Federal Republic of Germany imports a higher
proportion of its blood plasma than the other Member
States.

2. On 14 June 1989 the Council, on a proposal from
the Commission, adopted Directive 89/381/EEC ( [x] ) on
medicinal products derived from human blood or human
plasma. Under the terms of Article 3 of the Directive the
Member States must take the necessary measures to
promote Community self-sufficiency in human blood and
human plasma. To this end, they must encourage the

voluntary unpaid donation of blood and plasma and take
steps to develop the production and use of products
derived from human blood or human plasma coming
from voluntary unpaid donations.

3. A number of Member States have achieved

self-sufficiency by organizing campaigns to encourage the
voluntary unpaid donation of blood and setting up public
blood donation networks.

4. In adopting Directive 89/381/EEC, the Member
States undertook to promote Community self-sufficiency
in human blood and human plasma. Before the end of
1992 the Commission will be sending the Council a report
on the progress made towards achieving this objective.

(') OJNoL 181,28.6.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1069/90

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/57)

_Subject:_ Study on fur farming

In the _Official Journal of the European Communities_ of 12
November 1988 (No C 288), it was stated that the
Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture
planned to have a study carried out on legal, technical and
animal welfare aspects of fur farming.

1. Has this study been carried out? If so, by whom?

2. If it has been carried out, how has it been followed up?

3. Can I have a copy of the study?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 June 1990)_

1. A contract was signed by the Commission and a firm
of consultants in July 1989 to carry out the study to which
the Honourable Member refers. The completion date is
July 1990.

2. As the study is not yet completed, no conclusions
can be drawn.

No C 309/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

3. The Commission intends to publish the conclusions
of the study, and copies will be made available to
Parliament.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1083/90

by Mis Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/58)

_Subject:_ Cost to the borrower of an EIB loan

At present the interest rate which a UK borrower must
pay on an EIB loan is 17 2 % below the clearing banks base
rate. However, the loan must be guaranteed by a clearing
bank — for which a fee is charged, thus increasing the
cost of the loan to the borrower.

Given the fact that 40 % of all EIB loans go to Italy, as
opposed to only 8 % to the UK will the Commission state
whether borrowers in Italy and other Member States are
also obliged to guarantee their loans through clearing
banks, and what fee, if any, is charged for this?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 June 1990)_

The European Investment Bank (EIB) interest rates are
not set with any preference to rates applied by commercial
sector banks. Working without profit motive for the
benefit of the Community, the EIB sets interest rates, for
each currency, according to the basic rule: cost of its
borrowings plus 0,15% to cover operating expenses; the
rates are regularly adapted to take into account market
evolution.

According to the EIB's Statute (Article 18), which is an
integral part of the EEC Treaty, the EIB grants loans
'conditional either on a guarantee from the Member State
in whose territory the project will be carried out or on
other adequate guarantees'. The Statute is, of course,
applied equally in all Member States, but the
governments' readiness to provide a state guarantee
differs. Whereas about 78% of EIB loans provided in
1989 in Italy are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the
state, no state guarantee was granted in the United
Kingdom, where the guarantee of a clearing bank is
relatively common.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1129/90

by Mr Detlev Samland (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/59)

_Subject:_ Community funds for North Rhine-Westphalia

How much funding was provided from the following
sources for North Rhine-Westphalia in 1988 and 1989,
and for what measures and projects:

1. the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

2. the European Agricultural Fund (EAGGF), Guidance
Section,

3. the European Agricultural Fund (EAGGF), Guarantee
Section,

4. the European Social Fund (ESF)

5. the Community's research programmes,

6. the Community's programmes in the energy sector,

7. the Community's environmental programme,

8. other Community programmes ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1130/90

by Mr Detlev Samland (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/60)

_Subject:_ Community funding for university research

Can the Commission say for what university research
projects in North Rhine-Westphalia the Community
provided assistance in 1988 and 1989, what institutions
applied for the assistance and what amounts were
involved in each case (both total amount and the amount
provided by the Community) ?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 1129/90 and

1130/90 goven by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

_(13 September 1990)_

In view of the length of the answer, which includes a
number of print-outs and tables, the Commission is
sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat of Parliament.

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/29

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1136/90

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea and Mr Witty De Ckrcq
(LDR)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/61)

_Subject:_ Taxation on savings

Following the conclusions of the ECO-FIN Council of 18
December 1989:

— Does the Council consider that the agreement
reached between 11 of the Member States to achieve

greater cooperation among the tax authorities and
reciprocal legal assistance is enough to prevent the
large-scale transfer of capital resulting from the lack
of fiscal harmonization (tax levels and taxation
methods) ?

— Should the agreement prove inadequate after it is
applied, what will the Council propose to try and
resolve the problem?

— If Luxembourg does not sign the agreement by 30
June, what legal force will the agreement by 11
Member States carry?

— In the Council's view, to what extent does the total

lack of fiscal harmonization act as a brake on the

launching of phases II and III of Economic and
Monetary Union?

Answer

_(8 November 1990)_

It is difficult at this stage to assess the likely impact of the
measures for freeing capital movements which certain
Member States have taken or will be taking in accordance
with the Directive of 24 June 1988 ('). The various
regimes for taxing income from savings are in fact only
one of the factors that will determine investors' choices.

It will be the Commission's responsibility to follow
developments in the situation and submit, as appropriate,
any proposals which it considers will help to avoid
undesirable distortions.

The Council, for its part, will also be considering —
particularly in the framework of multilateral surveillance
of the economic situation in the Community — the
problems which might arise with regard to capital
movements and if necessary it will request that
appropriate measures are taken.

(') OJNoL 178,8.7.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1160/90

by Mrs Astrid Lullin

to die Commission of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/62)

_Subject:_ Discrimination against Luxembourg firms
working in Belgium

The Belgian State is requiring Luxembourg undertakings
working on its territory with workers insured in the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to pay social security
contributions (timbres de fidelite et d'intemperies). The
same undertakings pay social security contributions in the
Grand Duchy on behalf of their workers, who moreover
do not receive any benefit from the Belgian social security
bodies. The result is to distort competition as the
contributions (running into hundreds of thousands of
francs) substantially add to the cost of Luxembourg
undertakings working in Belgium.

Does the Commission consider this state of affairs to be

compatible with the freedom to provide services in other
Member States?

If not, what action does it intend to take to redress this

situation?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 July 1990)_

According to the case law of the Court of Justice (see the
judgment of 18 January 1979 in Joined Cases 110 and
111/78 — Van Wesemael (') and the judgment of 17
December 1981 in Case 279/80 - Webb( [2] )), measures
taken by a Member State in which services are supplied,
even where they apply both to nationals of that Member
State and to those of another Member State, are contrary
to Article 59 of the EEC Treaty, which guarantees
freedom to provide cross-frontier services, if they
constitute an obstacle to freedom to supply services and
are not justified on grounds of the general good, such as
the social security protection of workers. In its judgment
of 3 February 1982 in Joined Cases 62 and 63/81 —
SECO v. EVI ( [3] ), the Court rules that the general good in
the form of the social security protection of workers was
not served — and the requirement in question was
therefore contrary to Article 59 — where a Member State
in which services were supplied required an employer to
pay the employer's share of social security contributions
in respect of his workers (in the case referred to the Court
the workers even came from third countries) when that
employer was already liable under the legislation of the
Member State in which he was established for similar

contributions in respect of the same workers and the same

No C 309/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

periods of employment and the contributions paid in the
State in which the work was performed did not entitle
those workers to' any social security benefits. In the
Commission's view, this is also true in principle of the
specific social security charges referred to by the
Honourable Member (timbres de fidelite ou
d'intemperie).

As, however, the Commission does not have available
sufficient information on the practical problem raised, it
would ask the Honourable Member to provide it with the
necessary details.

(') (1979)ECR35.
O (1981) ECR 3305.
O (1982) ECR 223.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1281/90

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1990)_

(90/C 309/63)

_Subject:_ Refund of Italian VAT

Certain companies in my constituency have been kept
waiting over three years for refund of VAT from Italy.
The British Embassy in Rome confirms that this is a
commonplace state of affairs. To have substantial sums of
money owed for this length of time represents an
intolerable burden on small businesses.

In view of the fact that the Italian Finance Ministry is not
keeping within the timescale allowed for refunding VAT
to companies in other Member States as laid down in
Article 7 of the 8th Council VAT Directive, has the
Commission taken action against the relevant authorities
to speed up the process? With what result?

If not, what measures does the Commission envisage
taking to rectify the situation and cause the Italian
authorities to observe their Treaty obligations?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 July 1990)_

The Commission has on several occasions raised the

matter of delay in refunding VAT to foreign firms with
the Italian authorities, and has asked for appropriate
action to be taken, especially in cases involving small
businesses.

It is worth noting that the provisions of Council Directive
79/1072/EEC of 6 December 1979 (Eighth VAT
Directive) (*) have been duly incorporated into Italian
law. Under the third paragraph of Article 38 of the Italian

VAT Law, the Italian authorities must make VAT refunds
to foreign taxable persons within six months of receiving
the refund application. Failure to comply with this
deadline is thus an infringement, not only of Community
law, but also of Italian law.

The Commission has nevertheless initiated infringement
proceedings against Italy under Article 169 of the Treaty
for failure to apply the Eighth Directive properly, since
foreign taxable persons are not receiving VAT refunds
within the time limit laid down in Article 7 of the

Directive.

Notwithstanding these infringement proceedings, firms
which claim to have suffered damage as a result of the
failure of the Italian authorities to act within the time

allowed should bring their case before the Italian courts.
Not only is it up to the Italian courts to find that Italian
law has been infringed; they are also the only authorities
competent to assess the damage caused in each case, and
to order appropriate compensation.

O OJNoL331,27.12. 1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1371/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1990)_

(90/C 309/64)

_Subject:_ Measures to promote greater public awareness in
Europe of environmental hazards and related
social habits

On Sunday, 22 April 1990 many countries celebrated the
Day of the Earth, thereby bringing to public attention
many initiatives taken in this area, including the American
book entitled _Fifty Simple Things that You Can Do To Save_
_the Earth_ by the Earthworks Group and 50 people and
bodies committed to the protection of the environment.

Can the Commission say whether public awareness of
environmental hazards — and their connection with

deeply entrenched social habits — is as acute in the
Community Member States as in the United States and
whether it would be possible to introduce a European
equivalent of initiatives such as the above book, which is
directed at a wide readership?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 July 1990)_

It is true that in the United States there is a very high level
of public awareness of environmental problems, in certain
regions in particular.

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/31

As far as the Community is concerned, specific opinion
polls which the Commission had carried out in 1982, 1986
and 1988 show that Europeans are certainly aware of
these problems and now regard the environment as a
major priority.

With regard to information and communication, the
Commission does not plan to produce material intended
for the general public. It does not have sufficient financial
resources at its disposal to reach a significant percentage
of the population and thus modify public behaviour.

It prefers to focus its efforts on the 'opinion propagators'
who, in turn can disseminate the information at a lower

level.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1438/90

by Mr Giuseppe Rauti, Mr Antonio Mazzone and Mrs
Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 June 1990)_

(90/C 309/65)

_Subject:_ The indebtedness of Eastern European countries

According to the latest statistics the foreign debt of the
Eastern European countries — excluding Russia — has
risen to US $ 115 billion, which constitutes an increase of
15% during 1989.

Whilst the BERD (European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development) is about to come into operation to
provide Community economic support for these
countries, why does the Commission not draw up a
rescheduling plan or a long-term moratorium on these
debts in order to. prevent EEC aid from ending up being
used merely to repay the debt, which is, after all,
essentially the cost of the failure of Communism?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 August 1990)_

The servicing of the large external debt of several Eastern
European countries represents a considerable burden and
there is indeed a strong case for considering a reduction
of these countries' debt servicing burden in the context of
the existing Brady Plan. The Community has expressed its
support for a reduction of the debt of heavily indebted
countries on numerous occasions and is in favour of a

broadening and increased application of the Brady Plan
for those countries that demonstrate a strong
commitment to reform.

Negotiations with the commercial creditors are currently
under way on Poland, which has already benefitted from
an extensive rescheduling in the framework of the Paris
Club. Bulgaria is also involved in negotiations of a similar

nature. Any new initiatives should await the results of the
negotiations.

Precautions have already been taken to prevent G-24
financial assistance being used to service the existing debt.
In the case of the Polish Currency Stabilization Fund the
financial assistance was in the form of an enhancement of

the country's external reserves and in the case of the
medium-term loan to Hungary, the conditions associated
with the loan include a build-up of international reserves.

The Commission continues to follow developments in the
debt and debt servicing situation of Eastern Europe.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1542/90

by Mr Virginio Bettini, Mr Gianfranco Amendola, Mr
Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V), Mr Alain Bombard (S),

Mrs Adriana Ceci (GUE) and Mr Marco Taradash (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 June 1990)_

(90/C 309/66)

_Subject:_ Construction of the Autostrada dei Trafori
motorway in Italy-and environmental impact

assessment

1. Having regard to the previous Questions Nos
447/89 0) and 448/89 ( [2] ) by Mr Corleone and Question
No 909/89 O by Mr Amendola;

2. Whereas the Autostrade Company will have to
submit another project for the construction of the tunnel
in Someraro di Stresa (Italy) following the damage caused
to some 80 homes;

3. Whereas the European Community is financing a
third of the costs of this motorway through the EIB;

Can the Commission say:

(a) whether the environmental impact assessment rules
will have to be applied when the new project is
submitted?

(b) what representations it will make to the European
investment Bank to ensure that the new project will
guarantee the safety of property and people living in
Someraro di Stresa?

(') OJ No C 97,17.4.1990, p. 3.
O OJNoC93,11.4.1990, p. 7.
O OJ No C 117, 11.5. 1990, p. 13.

Answer given by Mr Christopherson
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 August 1990)_

The Commission and the European Investment Bank are
following closely the measures being taken to cope with
the situation referred to by the Honourable Members.

No C 309/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

According to the information in the Commission's
possession, the company will not be submitting a new
project but will be completing, under satisfactory
technical and safety conditions, construction of the
Mottarone tunnel at Someraro. This means, of course,
that all the necessary measures will be taken to protect the
environment and, in particular, the people living nearby.
In collaboration with the technical and administrative
authorities at national and local levels, the Autostrade
company is currently conducting the necessary
topographical, seismic, geotechnical and meteorological
studies. In addition, close contacts are being maintained
with the people affected, and measures to rectify the
damage to the various building and infrastructures in the
area of the construction work are under examination.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1548/90

by Mr Wayne David (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 June_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/67)

_Subject:_ Public procurement

Recently, the European Court of Justice declared illegal
the Italian law which requires all public organizations to
buy 30 % of their supplies in the south of the country.

What are the implications of this ruling for regional
preferences currently in place in the United Kingdom,
Greece and West Germany?

In particular, does the ruling affect the exemptions which
are allowed under the recently agreed public procurement
Directives?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 August_ _1990)_

The Court ruling referred to by the Honourable Member
declares incompatible with Article 30 of the Treaty
national rules reserving for firms in certain regions of
Italy a given percentage of public supply contracts.

To the extent that Article 29a of the new public works
Directive (*) and Article 26 of the public supplies
Directive ( [2] ) provide for exemptions on condition that
they are compatible with the Treaty, the ruling should not
affect such exemptions.

As for the regional preferences applied by a number of
Member States when awarding public contracts, the

Commission, in its communication of 22 September 1989
entitled _Public procurement_ — _Regional and social_
_aspects_ ( [3] ) proposed a general approach to the problem
aimed at eliminating infringements of Community law.
To that end, it has already contacted the administrations
in the Member States mentioned by the Honourable
Member.

O OJNoL210,21.7. 1989.
O OJNoL 127,20.5. 1988.
O OJNoC311,12.12.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1667/90

by Mr Victor Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(4 July_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/68)

_Subject:_ Imports from the 'Turkish Republic of Cyprus'

Does the fact that some EEC countries import products
from the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus',
accompanied by certificates of origin not constitute the
best guarantee of the legitimacy of the State in question,
which has so often been condemned by the European
Parliament?

Answer

_(31 October 1990)_

In accordance with the position it has consistently held,
the Council confirms its support for the unity,
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Cyprus.

On several occasions the Council has reiterated its
position that the only recognized government, with all
that that implies, is the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus, with the Association Agreement being intended
to benefit the whole population of the island.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1728/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 July_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/69)

_Subject:_ UN programme for the environment and
protection of the ozone layer

Mr Mustafa K. Tolba, Director of the UN programme for
the environment, has proposed that the industrialized
countries provide Third World countries with the
economic and technical means needed to eliminate

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/33

chemical waste emissions such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) which are destroying the ozone layer. Mr Tolba
has also drawn up a wider-ranging proposal aimed at
tightening up the definition and implementation of
international law in this matter.

Can the Commission state its attitude towards these
proposals?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 September 1990)_

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol, acting on the
proposal by Dr Tolba, the Director of the United Nations
Environment Programme, have established a financial
mechanism to enable the developing countries to meet
their obligations pursuant to the Protocol.

More specifically, this mechanism will cover the
additional costs resulting to the developing countries
from the introduction of substitutes for the chemicals that
deplete the ozone layer and from the adoption of clean
technologies. It will be financed by the industrialized
countries on the basis of their contributions to the United

Nations.

This financial model, unique both as to its objective and
its nature, could in future contribute to the resolution of
other global environment problems, such as the
greenhouse effect.

The Commission of the European Communities has
proposed in a communication to the Council that the
Community make a financial contribution to the
mechanism in its own right, alongside the Member State's
contributions. The Council is shortly due to state its
position on the subject.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1781/90

by Mrs Martine Buron (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 July_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/70)

_Subject:_ Information and statistics from the GDR

Has the Commission requested information and statistics
on employment, unemployment and other social data
from the Government of the German Democratic
Republic? If so, have its requests been met? If they have,
can the Commission forward the results to Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 September 1990)_

The statistical departments of the Federal Republic of
Germany and the German Democratic Republic are
currently cooperating closely to produce social statistics,
including, those on employment and unemployment, in
line with the needs of a market economy. The
Commission is ensuring through Eurostat that
Community requirements are met. The intention is that
the German Democratic Republic should take part in the
Community labour force survey starting in the spring of
1991.

The statistics currently available were published in the
spring by the Federal Statistical Office _(DDR 1990 —_
_Zahlen_ _und_ _Fakten)._ — It should, however, be emphasized
that this compilation of statistics is based on the old
system and that the concepts and definitions do not
always correspond to those used in the Member States.

It will take some time to prepare comparable statistics for
the German Democratic Republic because of the current
legal and administrative uncertainties and the period
required for the introduction of new structures
(particularly in the field of social legislation).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1789/90

by Mr Madron Seligman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 July_ _1990)_

(90/C 309/71)

_Subject:_ Populations of wild birds in the Community

1. What are the total populations of great skua
_(Stercorarius_ _skua)_ and whimbrel _(Numenius pbaeopus)_ in
the Community?

2. Will the Commission consider adding these species
to Annex I of Directive 79/409 (') when the next
opportunity occurs to amend this Annex?

(*) OJ No LI 03,25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 September 1990)_

1. Inside the Community, both these species breed only
in Scotland where both show a similar distribution

No C 309/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

pattern; their strongholds are the Shetland Islands, to a
minor degree also the Orkneys while the Scottish
mainland and the Western isles are settled only by a few
scattered breeding couples.

The Whimbrel population, at least 300 breeding couples,
is marginal in comparison with the eastern populations of
Fenno-Scandinavia and Northern Russia (several tens of
thousands of breeding couples). The Scottish Great Skua
population, somme 6 000 breeding pairs, represent 40 to
45 % of the world population of the species.

2. No. Both species have increased and spread in
Scotland during recent years.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1879/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(2_ _August 1990)_

(90/C 309/72)

_Subject:_ Safety of nuclear power-stations in Central and
Eastern Europe

According to highly alarming but reliable reports — in
particular from Mr Lutz Mez of the Berlin Institute for
Energy and Environmental Policy — since 1976 a number
of very serious accidents have been only narrowly avoided
in nuclear power-stations in Central and Eastern Europe,
which would have been potentially even more destructive
than the Chernobyl disaster, seriously affecting not only
the countries directly concerned but also a large pan of
northern Germany and Scandinavia. The nuclear power
station most frequently cited is situated at Lubmin, near
Greifswald, on the Baltic coast. Nevertheless, the
outdated technology used for the entire process from
energy production to waste disposal is also a feature of
some 60 Soviet-type power-stations built in
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, etc. In 1988, 242 incidents and
122 serious malfunctions were recorded at the Lubmin

plant necessitating 18 shutdowns. Even so, this 'Northern
Chernobyl' is potentially less dangerous than, for
example, the complex ten times the size which was built
and has been extended over the last 15 years at Stendal,
near Magdeburg.

A list of the most serious shortcomings has been drawn up
by teams of western experts in cooperation with their
Eastern European counterparts, so that there will be no
need to count on the recurrence of 'miracles' such as those

which occurred in 1976 and 1979 to protect the
workforce, the inhabitants and the environment.

What is the Council's opinion concerning ways and means
of taking the necessary remedial action — including
decommissioning — to cope with hazardous nuclear

power-stations in Central and Eastern Europe? What
resources have been mobilized for this purpose and with
what results to date ?

Answer

_(8 November 1990)_

1. The Council is aware of the nuclear safety problems
affecting Central and Eastern European countries.

It is for this reason that these questions are currently
being examined within the Council's subordinate bodies.

2. In the negotiating directives and in the Agreements
on Trade and Economic Cooperation concluded with the
USSR, Czechoslovakia and Romania, the Council
identified nuclear safety as a priority area for
cooperation. This will doubtless also be the case in the
new 'European' association agreements for which the
negotiating directives are currently being prepared.

Moreover, as the Honourable Member will be aware, the
important role devolving on the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) — in view of the fact that the
countries concerned are chiefly third countries — should
be stressed. In addition, the Community as such holds no
direct powers to act in this area.

The fact remains, however, that the Community as such
and its Member States will contribute towards helping
those countries: either through the abovementioned new
cooperation agreements negotiated/to be negotiated or
through possible Commission action undertaken in
cooperation with the IAEA or directly.

3. With that in mind and without prejudice to any aid
provided/likely to be made available to those countries by
the Member States on a bilateral basis and/or by the
Community industries, it should be noted that:

(a) study of the questions referred to in point 1 calls for
special attention, having regard to the relevant
political and economic parameters relating in
particular to the protection of the public and of
workers, the environment and the energy sector.
Accordingly, in order to be able to prepare an overall
analysis of the situation, all aspects of these problems
and the requirements of the interested countries
referred to above first need to be established;

(b) the Council will not fail to take a decision on the
matter as soon as it receives proposals from the
Commission and/or actual requests for aid from
those countries.

10. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 309/35

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2010/90

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(1 September 1990)_

(90/C 309/73)

_Subject:_ Diversification of postal services

Preparations for the Green Paper on the development of
the postal services show that the latter fulfil a major
economic and social role in the European Community,
particularly with a view to the completion of the internal
market.

Does the Council consider diversification of postal
services into sectors such as insurance, as currently
projected in France, to be compatible with this role?

Does the Council consider that the diversification being
envisaged in France is in accordance with the spirit which
ought to govern European cooperation in this area?

Answer

_(31 October 1990)_

At its meeting on 28 June 1990 the Council reached the
following conclusions after examining a Commission
report on the preparatory work for the Green Paper on
developments in the postal sector:

— postal services would continue to play an important
economic and social role in the Community,
particularly in the context of completion of the
internal market,

— further study would have to be made of the question
of the Community dimension of postal services,

— the Commission was requested to study sectors and
options which could be the subject of proposals, in
the light of the opinions expressed by the members of
the Council.

The diversified services offered or proposed by national
postal services are a matter for the individual national
authorities.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2051/90

by Mrs Raymonde Duty (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(5 September 1990)_

(90/C 309/74)

_Subject:_ Impact of demilitarization on employment

Cuts are increasingly being made in the armed forces.
This will have an impact on the job market where there

will be an influx of applicants, many of whom are not
highly qualified. Is the Council aware of the problem?
What measures does it intend to take or to encourage to
deal with it?

Answer

_(8 November 1990)_

The Council regards employment as the major social
problem in the Community but would also point out, with
due regard for the Commission's right of initiative, that
employment market policy remains the responsibility of
the Member States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2108/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(17 September 1990)_

(90/C 309/75)

_Subject:_ Trade in toxic mercury residues intended for
storage in South Africa

Demonstrations and other forms of protest are currently
taking place in the United States at the head offices and
plants of the American Cyanamid Corporation,
particularly at the Bound Brook export factory in New
Jersey and the Thor Chemicals Company. These actions
have been prompted by the fact that these companies are
sending mercury residues to the Kwazulu homeland in
South Africa for 'reprocessing', thereby contaminating
the nearby Mngeweu and Umgeni Rivers. The
Greenpeace international ecological organization claims
to have taken samples from the Mngeweu River
containing mercury levels 8 800 times higher than the
maximum limits authorized in the United States! It should

be stressed that these rivers provide water for the
inhabitants of the Zulu villages in the Valley of the
Thousand Hills.

Given the importance of the Cyanamid Corporation
branches in most of the Member States (producing
weedkillers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotechnological
products, medical and surgical equipment, biological
products etc.), have the Community institutions
specifically considered the question of the export to the
Third World, and to South Africa in particular, of
dangerous substances such as mercury residues from
Community-based subsidiaries of the above companies?
The International Federation of Chemical Energy and
General Workers' Unions in Brussels and the

Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)
are particularly concerned with regard to this matter.

No C 309/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 12. 90

Answer

_(31 October 1990)_

The Council is fully aware of the environmental problems
posed by waste management and disposal, including the
exporting of toxic waste.

It would draw the Honourable Member's attention to a

large number of measures recently adopted by the
Council in this field.

In its resolution of 7 May 1990 on waste policy ( [l] ), the
Council fixed guidelines for the Community's general
strategy for waste management stressing that movements
of waste should be reduced to the minimum and that

prevention of waste at source and the building up of an
appropriate disposal network of the kind referred to in
point 7 of the resolution would play an essential role in
this connection.

As part of this strategy, the Council, at its meeting on 7
June 1990, approved an amendment to framework
Directive 75/442/EEC on waste for the purpose of
implementing the strategy in question and harmonizing at
Community level the provisions applicable to waste
disposal and control. It also approved a Directive on
batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous
substances with a view to encouraging the controlled
recycling and disposal of spent batteries and the placing
on the market of batteries with a low heavy metal content.

The Council is currently examining an amendment to
Directive 78/319/EEC of 20 March 1978 on toxic and

dangerous waste, and this also forms part of the
Community's general strategy for waste management.

It should further be noted that in Basel on 22 March 1989

the Community signed the Convention on the control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal, and in Lome on 15 December 1989 it
signed the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention which bans the
export of toxic and dangerous waste to the ACP States.

In the resolution referred to above, the Council invited
the Commission to submit proposals for the amendment
of Directive 84/631/EEC on the transfrontier shipment
of hazardous waste to third countries, notably in the light
of the need to implement as soon as possible the Basel
Convention and the provisions of the Fourth ACP-EEC
Convention.

It is above all in the context of the Basel Convention that a

solution will have to be found to the type of problem
raised by the Honourable Member's question. The
Council would therefore stress yet again the importance

which it attaches to speedy implementation of that
Convention.

0) OJNoC 122,18.5.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2110/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(17 September 1990)_

(90/C 309/76)

_Subject:_ Laundering of the proceeds of drugs trafficking
in Luxembourg

A court in the United States has recently sentenced five
members of staff of the Luxembourg-based Bank of
Credit and Commerce International for attempting to
launder US $ 14 million in proceeds from drug
trafficking. The bank itself pleaded guilty.

What was or is the position of the Government of the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on this matter? Given the
measures currently being applied in Switzerland, can the
Council say what action has been envisaged or taken at
Community level in respect of tax havens within its
borders (Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino,
etc.), primarily with a view to ending the laundering of the
proceeds of drug trafficking?

Answer

_(8 November 1990)_

The Council does not doubt the determination of all

Member States, re-affirmed at the ECOFIN Council on 8
October 1990, to combat the laundering of money
obtained from drugs trafficking.

At Community level, a proposal for a Directive on
prevention of use of the financial system for the purpose
of money-laundering is under examination by the
Council.

With regard to the specific question raised by the
Honourable Member, the Council would ask to address
himself directly to the competent authorities of the
Member State concerned.

#### _ung people in_

_a * a_
#### sition —

/ _investment_
, J | H H H M I

_The new CEDEFOP manual_ _is_ _concerned with the social and vocational_
_integration_ _of_ _young_ _people._ _The experience and opinions_ _of_ _competent_
_practitioners_ _and_ _the examples provided_ _by_ _selected local projects and_
_Initiatives are_ _a_ _source_ _of_ _ideas and advice_ _for_ _organizational planning_
_for all_ _those_

 - _who are searching_ _for_ _new forms_ _of_ _general and vocational training_
_provision;_

 - _who wish to adapt_ _this provision_ _to local_ _and individual_ _needs._

_Jeremy Harrison_ _and_ _Henry McLeish_ _Catalogue_ _number_ _HX-46-86-581-EN-C_
_1987,_ _182_ _pp._ _Price (excluding VAT)_ _in_ _Luxembourg:_
_Languages:_ _ES,_ _DE,_ _GR,_ _EN,_ _FR,_ _IT,_ _NL_ _ECU_ _4;_ _IRL_ _2.90;_ _UKL_ _250;_ _USD_ _4_
_ISBN 92-825-6877-6_

_As a_ _Community_ _organi-_
_zation,_ _CEDEFOP_ _also has_
_a contribution to_ _make_
_towards the_ _achievement_ _of_
_the internal_ _Market._
_Through_ _Its_ _research,_ _com-_
_parative_ _studies,_ _its_ _infor-_
_mation and_ _documentation_
_service_ _and its_ _work_ _on the_
_comparability_ _of training_
_qualifications,_ _CEDEFOP_
_plays its part in promoting_
_the social_ _dimension_ _of the_
_1992_ _obiectlve._

# % _CEDEFOP_

_I_ _should like_ _to_ _order the manual_

» _Young people_ _in_ _transition_

_—_
_the local_ _investment_

O _Italian_
O _Dutch_
O _Greek_

_in_ O _German_
O _English*_
O _Spanish_
O _French_

_*Cat-Nr.:_ _HX-4&86-581-EN-C,_ _ISBN 92-825-6877-6_ _at a price of_
_ECU_ _4;_ _IRL_ _Z90;_ _UKL_ _2.50;_ _USD_ _4 plus_ _VAT and postage_

_Name,_ _first_ _name_

_Street,_ _no._

_Postal_ _code,_ _town_

_Occupation,_ _function,_ _organization_

_Please detach and send to CEDEFOP_

_®m_

1

_European_ _Centre_
_for the_ _Develop-_
_ment_ _of_ _Vocational_
_Training_
_D-1000_ _Berlin_ 15
_Bundesallee_ _22_
_Tel.:_ _(030)_ _88_ _41_ _20_
_Telex_ _184163_
_Telefax:_
_(030)88412222_

AC
LU

## o

_mwwm_ - [ w] 
I II i - 

##### _How are Maria. Petros and Michael_ _trained in their_ _countries?_

_A_ _survey_ _of_ _the vocational training_
_systems_ _of_ _the EC member_ _States._

_The series_ _of_ _monographs and comparative studies_
_on Vocational training systems in the Member_
_States_ _of the_ _European_ _Community*_ _are_ _an_ _essen-_
_tial_ _foundation_ _on which to build an opinion and_
_make_ _a_ _comparison_ _of_ _vocational training_ _in_ _the EC_
_Member_ _States._

_These studies provide_ a _detailed_ _description,_ _with_
_supporting tables and_ _illustrations,_ _of_ _training_ _struc-_
_tures, measures, competencies, financing and_
_trends_ _in initial and_ _continuing vocational_ _training._

_If_ _you_ _wish to_ _order the_ _studies,_ _please write_ _to us._
_The following versions are currently_ _available:_

_Please_ _detach_ _and send_ _to_ _CEDEFOP:_

_As a Community organiza-_
_tion, CEDEFOP also has_
_a contribution to make_
_towards the achievement_
_of the internal_ _market._
_Through its research,_
_comparative studies, its_
_information and documen-_
_tation service and its work_
_on the comparability of_
_training_ _qualifications,_
_CEDEFOP plays its part_
_in promoting the social_
_dimension of the 1992_
_objective._

r~] Vocational _training In_ _Portugal_

[ J _La formation_ _proteaslonnelle_ _en France_
_Languages:_  - _FR_ D _IT_
_Prices:_ _ECU5;_ _IRL3,90;_ _UKL3.30;_ _USD9.20_

r ] _Vocational_ _training In_ _Greece_

_Languages:_ _D DE_ D _EN_  - _FR_  - _GR_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3,20;_ _UKL2J0;_ _USD4,60_

n _Vocational_ _training in Italy_

_Languages:_  - _DE D EN_  - _FR_  - _IT_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3,20;_ _UKL2.70;_ _USD4,60_

- _De beroepsopleidlng_ _In_ _Nedmrland_
_Language:_  - _NL_
_Prices:_ _ECU_ _5;_ _IRL_ _3,90;_ _UKL_ _3,30;_ _USD_ _6_

- ••
###### Q

n _Vocational_ _training_ _systems_ in _the_ _Mem-_
_ber_ _States_ _of the_ _European_ _Community-_
_Comparative_ _study_ — _Guide CEDEFOP_
_Languages:_ D _DA_  - _DE D EN_  - _FR_

_DQR DIT_ DNL
_Prices:_ _ECU12;_ _IRL8.25;_ _UKL8,10;USD13_

G _Vocational_ _training In_ _Ota United_
_Kingdom_
_Languages:_ D _DE_ D _EN_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3.20;_ _UKL2.70;_ _USD4.60_

r ] _Vocational_ _training In Ireland_

_Languages:_  - _DE DEN_  - _FR_  - _PT_
_Prices:_ _ECU_ _5;_ _IRL_ _3,90;_ _UKL_ _3,30;_ _USD_ _6_

n Vocational _training In Belgium_

_Languages:_ D _DA O DE_  - _EN_ O _FR_

   - _GR 0_ _ITUNL_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3,20;_ _UKL2.70;_ _USD4.60_

- _Da* bemfliche_ _Blldungswesen_ _In der_
_Bundesrepubllk Deutachland_
_Languages:_ D _DA_ D _DE D IT_  - _NL_
_Prices:_ _ECU8;_ _IRL6.40;_ _UKL5.40;_ _USD9.20_

n _Vocational_ _training In_ _Denmark_

_Languages:_ D _DA_  - _DE_ D _EN_ D _FR_
_Prices:_ _ECU10;_ _IRL7.8Q;_ _UKL6.60;_ _USD12_

_Name,_ _first_ _name_

_Languages:_ _ODE DEN_ - _FR_ - _PT_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3.20;_ _UKL2J0;_ _USD4,60_

:f#!tttfc

llSIl

_CEDEFOP_
_European Centre_
_tor the Develop-_
_ment of_ Vocational _"Raining_
_D-1000_ _Berlin 15_
_Bundeaallee_ 22
_Tel;_ _(030)_ _88 4120_
_Telex:_ _184163_
_Telefax:_
_(030)88412222_

- _Vocational_ _training In Spain_
_Languages:_ _D DE D EN_  - _ES_ D _FR_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3.20;_ _UKL2.70;_ _USD4,60_

Q _Vocational_ _training In the_ _People's_
_Republic_ _of_ _China_
_Languages:_  - _DE DEN_  - _FR_
_Prices:_ _ECU4;_ _IRL3.20;_ _UKL2J0;_ _USD4,60_

 - * • _Street,_ _no._

- _Postal_ _code,_ _town_

_Occupation,_ _function, organization_