Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

# Official Journal

## of the European Communities

### English edition Information and Notices

ISSN 0378-6986

## C150

Volume 34

10 June 1991

Notice No

91/C150/01

91/C150/02

91/C150/03

91/C150/04

91/C150/05

91/C150/06

91/C150/07

91/C 150/08

91/C 150/09

Contents p a g e

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

No 1108/89 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject: European scrapping arrangements for inland vessels 1

No 1119/89 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject: Licensing of carriers 1

No 279/90 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject: Further legal harmonization in the Community 2

No 668/90 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject: Spring tulips from Ankara 3

No 688/90 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission

Subject: Centre for alternatives to animal testing 3

No 834/90 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Alternatives to animal experiments 3

No 861/90 by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt to the Commission

Subject: Alternatives to animal experiments 4

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 688/90, 834/90 and 861/90 4

No 869/90 by Mr Alexander Langer to the Commission

Subject: Serious pollution from lead and other substances in Sardinia 4

No 899/90 by Mr Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject: Environmental auditing 4

(Continued overleaf)

Notice No Contents (continued)

91/C150/10

91/C150/11

91/C150/12

91/C150/13

91/C150/14

91/C150/15

91/C150/16

91/C150/17

91/C150/18

91/C150/19

91/C150/20

91/C150/21

91/C150/22

91/C150/23

91/C150/24

91/C150/25

91/C150/26

91/C150/27

No 1014/90 by Mr Alain Pompidou to the Commission
Subject: Harmonization of standards for headgear worn by riders 5

No 1188/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject: Price of low sulphur coal imports 5

No 1189/90 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject: World supplies of low sulphur coal 6

No 1199/90 by Mr Alonso Puerta to the Commission
Subject: The high-voltage power line 'Soto de Ribera-Penagos' 7

No 1209/90 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject: Bird hunting in the Baie de Canche nature reserve in France 7

No 1268/90 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject: Importing a caravan into France 8

No 1348/90 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject: Euratom safeguards report — UK facilities 9

No 1349/90 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject: Euratom safeguards report — materials discrepancies 9

No 1359/90 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject: Euratom safeguards report — seminars and training 9

No 1378/90 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject: Movements of nuclear materials 10

No 1518/90 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes, Mrs Birgit Bjornvig, Mrs Brigitte
Ernst de la Graete and Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject: Failure by France to apply Directive 79/409/EEC 10

No 1538/90 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject: Environmental Impact Assessment and the French DOMs 10

No 1559/90 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject: The Environmental Dimension Report 11

No 1764/90 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject: Cooperative in the rail transport sector (Supplementary answer) 11

No 1776/90 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject: The 'drug' Ritalin (Supplementary answer) 12

No 1969/90 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject: EC aid to SADCC States (Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe) 12

No 2008/90 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject: Aids to offshore fishing 13

No 2131 /90 by Mr Luigi Moretti to the Commission
Subject: ERDF aid for the Region of Lombardy 14

Notice N o Contents (continued) Page

91 / C 150/28 N o 2179/90 by Mrs Hiltrud Breyerto the Commission

Subject: Cooperation between Poland and the EEC in the field of nuclear energy 14

9 1 / C 150/29 N o 2212/90 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission

Subject: Commission proposal for a Directive on food and food ingredients treated with
ionizing radiation 14

91 / C 150/30 N o 2431 /90 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject: Funding of the action plan adopted by the 'World Summit for Children' 15

9 1 / C 150/31 N o 2566/90 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission

Subject: UN summit on children 15

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2431/90 and 2566/90 15

9 1 / C 150/32 N o 2538/90 by M r Henry Chabert to the Commission

Subject: Aid for Lufthansa 16

9 1 / C 150/33 N o 2540/90 by M r Jan Sonneveld to the Commission

Subject: Community legislation on spreadable fats 16

9 1 / C 150/34 N o 2553/90 by M r Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission

Subject: CSFs in Galicia 17

9 1 / C 150/35 N o 2554/90 by M r Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission

Subject: Communal forests 18

9 1 / C 150/36 N o 2556/90 by M r Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission

Subject: Crisis in the fisheries sector in Galicia 18

9 1 / C 150/37 N o 2593/90 by M r Jose Barros Moura to the Commission

Subject: Exemption from anti-dumping measures for exports of tungsten from China 19

91 / C 150/38 N o 2679/90 by M r Dieter Rogalla to the Commission

Subject: Customs frontier areas 20

91 / C 150/39 N o 2681 /90 by M r Dieter Rogalla to the Commission

Subject: Application procedures 20

9 1 / C 150/40 N o 2687/90 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission

Subject: Amendment of the Directive on drinks containers 21

9 1 / C 150/41 N o 2689/90 by M r Henry McCubbin to the Commission

Subject: Railfreight distribution — North East Scotland 21

91 / C 150/42 N o 2721 /90 by M r Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject: Threat of extinction of the monk seal and deterioration of the Greek National Park in
the northern Sporadese Islands 21

91 / C 150/43 N o 2730/90 by M r Henry McCubbin to the Commission

Subject: Payment of royalties to plant breeders 22

91 / C 150/44 N o 2753/90 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Desirability of companies throughout the Community indicating their share capital in
ECU 22

(Continued overleaf)

Notice N o Contents (continued) Page

9 1 / C 150/45 N o 2796/90 by M r Filippos Pierros to the Commission

Subject: Progress of the informatics IMP in Greece 23

9 1 / C 150/46 N o 2805/90 by M r Francois-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: National laws on compensation for moral prejudice 23

9 1 / C 150/47 N o 2830/90 by M r E l i o D i R u p o to the Commission

Subject: Level of Community expenditure in the tobacco sector 24

9 1 / C 150/48 N o 2831/90 by M r Elio Di Rupo to the Commission

Subject: Establishment of a Community instrument to combat oil speculation 24

9 1 / C 150/49 N o 2860/90 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

Subject: Community aid for the supply of milk and certain milk products in schools 25

9 1 / C 150/50 N o 2913/90 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission

Subject: The harmful effects of open-pit mining in the Philippines 25

9 1 / C 150/51 N o 2969/90 by M r Paul Staes to the Commission

Subject: Community aid for growing maize 26

9 1 / C 150/52 N o 3023/90 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Intensive plan for the technological development of Spanish industry 26

9 1 / C 150/53 N o 3056/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Land use study 27

9 1 / C 150/54 N o 3068/90 by M r Pol Marck to the Commission

Subject: Intervention in the beef and veal sector 28

9 1 / C 150/55 N o 9/91 by M r Henry Chabert to the Commission

Subject: Erasmus Programme 28

9 1 / C 150/56 N o 74/91 by M r Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Delays in publishing responses to questions in the _Official Journal of the European_
_Communities_ 29

9 1 / C 150/57 N o 75/91 by M r Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Reprocessing of nuclear fuels 29

9 1 / C 150/58 N o 81/91 by M r Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Application of anti-pollution measures in Ptolemaida 29

9 1 / C 150/59 N o 150/91 by M r Antoni Gutierrez Diaz to the Commission

Subject: Castilian, the language of Ibero-America 30

9 1 / C 150/60 N o 151/91 by Mrs Claudia Roth to the Commission

Subject: Participation of non-EC citizens in education and youth programmes 30

9 1 / C 150/61 N o 242/91 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

Subject: Special protection areas for the Egyptian vulture _(Neophron percnopterus)_ 31

9 1 / C 150/62 N o 243/91 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

Subject: Special protection areas for the little bustard _(Tetrax tetrax)_ 31

(Continued on inside back cover)

Notice No Contents (continued)

91/C 150/63 No 245/91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject: Special protection areas for the stone curlew _(Burhinus oedicnemus)_ 31

91/C 150/64 No 263/91 by Mr Ian White to the Commission

Subject: European heritage sites 32

91 /C 150/65 No 431 /91 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission
Subject: Criticism by the Spanish medical profession of the healthcare system in Spain 32

91 /C 150/66 No 620/91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject: Estimating progress in saving energy in each Member State 33

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/1

##### I

_(Information)_

#### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1108/89

by Mr Ben Visser (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 December 1989)_

(91/C 150/01)

_Subject:_ European scrapping arrangements for inland
vessels

The Joint Committee on European Inland Navigation has
pointed to the total lack of accompanying social measures
in connection with EC scrapping arrangements and
complains that the latter are not being properly
implemented (see article in 'Schuttevaer' weekly journal
of 7 October 1989).

1. Is it true that procedures for the payment of scrapping
premiums and the supervision of old-for-new
arrangements are not being properly organized?

2. Will it be possible for the scrapping arrangements to
enter into force on 1 January 1990 as scheduled,
despite the fact that the administrative formalities
have not yet been commenced?

3. What steps has the Commission taken by way of
support measures for inland waterway skippers and
specific measures for young skippers, as promised in
connection with the scrapping arrangements?

4. Is it true that the EC Member States not involved in

the rationalization of the inland waterway sector are
opposing the scrapping arrangements, taking the view
that all rationalization costs should be borne by the
inland waterway sector itself?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(1 March 1990)_

1. and 2. The Member States mainly affected by the
arrangements for bringing about improvements in inland
waterway transport — introduced by Council Regulation
(EEC) No 1101/89 and Commission Regulation (EEC)

No 1102/89 ( [x] ) have taken the necessary steps to
implement the Regulations and the scheme has therefore
been in operation since 1 January 1990. Amongst other
things the Member States' measures also cover the aspects
raised by the Honourable Member.

3. Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 does not require the
Commission to introduce any measures in support of
operators leaving the inland waterways sector as a result
of the scrapping scheme. The Commission's 3 May 1988
proposal for a Regulation ( [2] ) advocated that the Member
States concerned should be required to adopt flanking
social measures for operators and workers so affected,
but the Council decided to leave the question of
introducing such measures to the discretion of those
Member States.

4. The scheme for the structural improvement of the
waterways is financed from annual contributions per
vessel paid into a scrapping fund over a period of 10 years.
However, to make sure that the scrapping scheme
can start operating immediately, the Member States
concerned may make advance payments in the form of
interest-free loans which the carriers repay by their
annual contributions. This means that the scrapping
scheme is entirely financed by those Member States.

O OJNoL 116,28.4. 1989.
O OJNoC 297,22. 11.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1119/89

by Mr Ben Visser (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 December 198 9)_

(91/C 150/02)

_Subject:_ Licensing of carriers

An increasing number of Dutch carriers are obtaining
vocational qualifications in Germany, Belgium or the

No C 150/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

United Kingdom. The requirements in those countries are
much lower than in the Netherlands, the certificates are
issued more rapidly there and the cost of training is
considerably less. In order to stem this trend, the
Netherlands are contemplating shorter training courses
_(cf. Europa Select,_ May 1989, Vol. 1, No 3).

1. How does the Commission view a situation in which

the levels of professional competence in Dutch
transport operators is falling, because of the
requirement to recognize qualifications issued by
other Member States?

2. Cannot the Commission see the importance of raising
the requirements for professional competence in this
field?

3. What steps does the Commission intend to take
in order to ensure the highest possible level of
professional competence in the Community?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(7March J 990)_

The Commission recognizes that standards of
professional competence for road transport operators
may vary from one Member State to another. It attaches
great importance to maintaining and improving overall
standards throughout the Community. For this reason, it
submitted a proposal to the Council in 1988 (') to
strengthen the provisions of the existing Directives
74/561/EECO and 74/562/EEC ( [2] ), on admission to
the occupations of road haulage and road passenger
transport operator respectively in national and
international transport operations. Discussions on the
Commission proposal led to agreement in the Council of
Directive 89/438/EEC ( [3] ), which came into force on 1
January 1990.

The new Directive will, for the first time, make
compulsory a written examination for all new operators
except those having at least five years management
experience in a transport undertaking. The Directive also
introduces certain new subjects of which all potential
operators must have some knowledge. These provisions
should improve and harmonize standards of professional
competence throughout the Community.

Time is now needed to see how the provisions of the new
Directive operate in practice. Furthermore, the Directive
stipulates that the Commission shall submit to the
Council before 1 January 1992 a report on its
implementation. In drawing up this report, the situations
in the Member States and any problems will be examined

by the Commission with a view to taking whatever action
might appear appropriate.

O OJNoC 102,16.4.1988.
O OJNoL308,19.11.1974.
O OJNoL212,22. 7. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 279/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 February 1990)_

(91/C 150/03)

_Subject:_ Further legal harmonization in the Community

The ruling by the French Council of State that
international agreements should take precedence over
French law, even in cases where the latter predates the
agreement in question, clearly underpins moves towards
legal harmonization in the Community and promotes the
consolidation of Community law.

Given the importance of this French ruling, can the
Commission say what institutions in the other Member
States have taken a position on this matter?

Does the Commission consider that it should request
institutions in the other Member States equivalent to the
French Council of State to make similar rulings, so as
to dispel any doubts which may exist among their
judiciaries?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 March 1990)_

The ruling by the French Council of State of 20 October
1989 (Nicolo) referred to by the Honourable Member
does indeed mark an important development in the
judicial practice of this supreme court in that it establishes
recognition of the primacy of international treaties — in
this instance the EEC Treaty — over subsequent national
law.

It should be noted, however, that French administrative
case law was isolated in its refusal, prior to the
abovementioned ruling, to give full recognition to the
principle of the primacy of Community law long since
established by the Court of Justice of the European
Communities.

For a detailed account of the application in the Member
States of the principles of primacy of Community law,
direct effect and monopoly of interpretation by the Court
of Justice (Article 177 EEC), the Commission would refer
the Honourable Member to the report on the attitude of
national supreme courts to Community law attached in

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/3

appendix to the Commission's Sixth annual report on the
monitoring of the application of Community law —
1988 0).

O COM(89) 411 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 668/90

by Mr Kenneth Stewart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 March 1990)_

(91/C 150/04)

_Subject:_ Spring tulips from Ankara

The Commission is no doubt aware of the

environmentally damaging trade in wild collected bulbs.

The Fauna and Flora Preservation Society claims that
millions of tonnes of snowdrops, crocuses, tulips,
aconites, and cyclamen, are dug up from the wild each
year and exported to Holland where they are sold on
Northern European markets.

The FFPs claim that approximately two thirds of wild
grown bulbs are bought up by the Dutch bulb trade and
are then re-exported to main markets in the United
Kingdom, USA, West Germany, as produce of Holland,
the remaining one third of the total finds its way directly
to the same markets.

Millions of gardeners buy their spring and summer
flowering bulb collection totally unaware of this con trick,
that these bulbs are actually imported by Holland from
Turkey and Portugal. This multi-million pound business
creates serious environmental damage in the countries of
origin and exploits the poor people who dig the bulbs.

Does the Commission not agree that, 'Tulips from
Amsterdam' should mean just that?

What action, if any, does the Commission propose to take
in order to protect consumers from this type of fraud?

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

_(17 July 1990)_

The Commission is indeed aware of the trade in wild

collected tubers from, amongst others, Turkey, France
and Portugal.

The cyclamen trade is subject to the provisions of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 on the implementation in
the Community of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (*)
since 1 January 1984. Since the 1985 season, that trade

is subject to quotas, agreed between the Community and
the Turkish government, which reduced exports from
some 5 million annually to 1 million. _Galanthus spp,_ and
_Sternbergia spp,_ were added to CITES (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna
and Flora) Appendix II in October 1989 and trade
controls entered into force on 18 January 1990.

The bulk of trade is with the Netherlands. The

Commission should like to stress that plants grown from
imported tubers are sold and re-exported without tricks
or fraud as suggested by the Honourable Member.

O OJ No L 384, 31.12.1982, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 688/90

by Mrs Anita Pollack (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 March 1990)_

(91/C 150/05)

_Subject:_ Centre for alternatives to animal testing

When will the Commission bring forward a proposal for
the creation of a European centre for alternatives to
testing on animals, since the work such a centre should be
undertaking is now urgently required?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 834/90

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4_ _April 1990)_

(91/C 150/06)

_Subject:_ Alternatives to animal experiments

Directive 86/609/EEC (') on animal experiments is
intended to replace such experiments with a new type
of test which does not use animals. In April 1989
Commissioner Ripa di Meana announced a project for the
creation of a European centre for the development of
alternatives to animal experiments.

So far, however, this project does not appear to have
progressed any further.

Will the Commission say when it intends to submit this
proposal to the European Parliament, which has already
entered an item for this purpose in the 1990 budget (Item
6681)?

O OJNoL358,18. 12.1986, p. 1.

No C 150/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 861/90

by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(9 April 1990)_

(91/C 150/07)

_Subject:_ Alternatives to animal experiments

In April 1989, when Commissioner Carlo Ripa di Meana
addressed the Intergroup on Animal Protection in the
European Parliament as a guest speaker he announced
that a proposal was being drawn up for a European
centre for the development of alternatives to animal
experiments.

The Commissioner made it clear that a proposal along
these lines would be submitted to Parliament by the end
of 1989.

However, no such proposal has as yet been submitted.

When will the proposal announced by the Commissioner
be submitted and what are the reasons for the delay?

Joint answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana
to Written Questions Nos 688/90, 834/90 and 861/90

on behalf of the Commission

_(19 July 1990)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the reply to oral question H-90/600 by Mr Seligman
which it gave during the Parliament's June partsession ( [1] ).

In the framework of several research programmes, e.g.
the BAP and BRIDGE, the Commission supports
the development of new _in vitro_ tests. This type of
prenormative research may contribute to reducing the
number of animals used for testing without lowering the
safety standards for the products which have to be
evaluated.

O Debates of the European Parliament No 3-391 (June 1990).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 869/90

by Mr Alexander Langer (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(9 April 1990)_

(91/C 150/08)

_Subject:_ Serious pollution from lead and other substances
in Sardinia

In the Sulcis area of Sardinia (Italy) the residents are
complaining of serious pollution from lead, cadmium,
fluoride, arsenic, chromium and other substances as a

result of mining activities and accumulations of very large
quantities of slag by undertakings which mainly operate
outside Sardinia itself. Infant mortality from leukaemia in
the affected area is 10 times that of the average on the
island. Comparable information also shows that the
number of miscarriages and tumours are also higher than
elsewhere. For some time those engaged in agriculture
and stock-breeding have been receiving indemnities, in
view of the fact that they are working in a 'risk area' in
which normal wine-growing activities, for example,
cannot be carried out because of high lead levels.

The Portoscuso and Portovesme areas of Sardinia, on the
other hand present similar characteristics to other regions
of the Community (Belgium, United Kingdom, the
Federal Republic of Germany etc.) which are bearing a
heavy burden inherited from past mining and industrial
activities and are suffering from high rates of
unemployment as a result of the abandonment of these
activities.

What measures does the Commission intend to take

1. to ensure the national authorities act to protect public
health and hygiene in these areas,

2. to promote solutions of a social nature in order to
put an end to the pressure to choose between
'development' and health?

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

_(28 June 1990)_

The Commission has fully noted the Honourable
Member's observations regarding the pollution in
Sardinia. They have been registered as a 'complaint'
and the Commission will be contacting the Italian
Government in order to clarify the situation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 899/90

by Mr Luigi Vertemati (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(9 April 1990)_

(91/C 150/09)

_Subject:_ Environmental auditing

Council Directive 82/501/EEC ( [l] ) on the major-accident
hazards of certain industrial activities is designed to put
into practice a policy of preventing accidents in industrial
plants. However, such accidents are only one of the many
industrial hazards which may occur. All hazards inherent
in industry and their impact on the environment, whether
they are caused by accidents, discharges into air or water
or consumption of energy and raw materials, should be
subject to an overall and integrated evaluation.

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/5

Does not the Commission consider that a Community
legal framework for an integrated and overall policy of
assessment and monitoring of industrial activities should
be drawn up in order to induce industry to carry out
environmental auditing?

(') OJNoL230,5. 8. 1982, p. 1.

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

_(23 July 1990)_

The need to encourage an overall evaluation of the
interaction between industrial activities and their

environment has been the subject of Commission
attention for a number of years now.

Integration has gradually emerged as an issue in the
environmental policies developed within the Community
in a bid to monitor pollution and industrial hazards
more successfully. Excessive compartmentalization of the
legislative instruments (emission standards for air and
water pollution drawn up separately and without
reference to waste control or the prevention of accidents
affecting humans and the environment, etc.) may result in
a lessening of the impact of a particular industrial activity
on one aspect of the environment to the detriment of
another, leading for instance to increased consumption of
water (in a bid to dilute effluents) or energy (in order to
dispose of larger volumes or more concentrated waste), or
to increased use of transport accompanied by a rise in
pollution. There is an even greater risk that improved
methods which enable problems to be tackled in a wider
context, such as the use of purer or more concentrated
raw materials or of procedures which are intrinsically
cleaner or safer, will be undermined by legislation which
is too compartmentalized or too rigid.

As a result, the Commission is anxious to develop an
integrated policy on the prevention of pollution. In recent
years the North American chemicals industry has
been implementing what is known as the responsible
care programme, designed to encourage overall selfassessment of production sites, in particular by means of
an environmental audit relating to the organization and
management of the plant. This approach has been gaining
popularity in Europe, especially in the Netherlands and
the United Kingdom.

These examples take account of two considerations which
might make them useful models for the Commission:
first, the need to ensure the continued involvement of
firms themselves, by encouraging action taken by
industrial organizations, and second, the need to preserve
European firms' competitive position by avoiding
over-stringent legislation which would impose an undue
burden on them.

Against this background, the Commission wishes to
introduce environmental audits as soon as possible within
a legislative framework which will ensure that the studies
carried out are exhaustive and integrated, without
detracting from their flexibility. At the same time it should
provide the authorities responsible for preventing

industrial hazards with an additional assessment

instrument for overall monitoring of industrial activities
at the production site.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1014/90

by Mr Alain Pompidou (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11_ _May 1990)_

(91/C 150/10)

_Subject:_ Harmonization of standards for headgear worn
by riders

Can the Commission tell us whether it intends to propose
new standards for protective headgear used by riders in
view of the fact that, in some countries of the Community,
riders' hats are unsuitable and hence entail a worrying risk
of head injuries?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 May 1990)_

On a proposal from the Commission, the Council
adopted a Directive on the design and manufacture of
personal protection equipment on 21 December 1989 (*).
Under this Directive, the Commission has requested the
CEN (European Committee for Standardization) to
give the utmost priority to the drafting of a series
of harmonized European Standards, in particular on
equipment for the protection of workers.

As part of a second series to be put before the CEN in the
very near future the Commission is proposing the
inclusion of riders' hats in the protective headgear
category as requested by the Honourable Member.

O OJ No L 399, 31. 12. 1989, p. 19.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1188/90 '

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_ '

(91/C 150/11)

_Subject:_ Price of low sulphur coal imports

Has the Commission analyzed the impact for the
projected world market price for low-sulphur coal of
increased reliance upon such supplies to reduce SO2
emissions in electricity generation? In particular, has it
examined the likely impact in this respect of the US

^OC^OBD Cofficial Journal of the European communities l O D ^ l

Administration's decision on SCo^emissiontargets?ls it
possible to assess when parity in delivered prices is likely
tohereachedashetweencoalfromthird countries and

Community coal?

A^swer^ivenhy^rC^ardosoeC^u^ha
o^hehalfoftheC^ommissio^

^ ^ ^ ^

TheCommissionhasnotyetcarriedoutaquantitative
study of the impact on the demand and market price for
lowDsulphur coal of tighter environmental standards, hut
will ensure that this point is covered in future studies of
the world coal market. These studies will include an

assessment of theeffectsofUnitedStatesdecisionson

SC^ emissions.

Present world market prices for coal are ahout half the
average productioncost for C^ommunitycoal,although
delivered prices for the latter are aligned downwards
towards the world priceD Even if higher demand increases
the price of importing low sulphur coal, it is unlikely that
the delivered price for coal imports in the ne^t few years
will he as high as the average cost of producing
community coal.

h y ^ T ^ t e p h e n ^ u ^ h e s ^

to t^C^or^missiorrofthe European communities

^BC^l^OBt^

^ ^ c r . ^ o r l d supplies oflow sulphur coal

^hich countries are the main world suppliers of low
sulphur coal, ^hich supply lowsulphur coal to the
Community and in what quantities?Towhat extent are
existing supplies committed or likely to he committee hy
decisions such as that of theUS Administration on S ^

reduction targets?

A^wer^ivenby^rC^ardosoeCa^ha
onbehalfoftheC^ommissio^

^ ^ ^ ^

According to the present information of the commission,
low^sulphur coal is mainly exported from Australia,
Canada, Colombia and in rather small quantities from
Indonesia. Supplies from South Africa, Poland, Carina
and the USSR can also he considered as heingfairly low in
sulphur,whereas exports from the L^SAhaveasomewhat
higher sulphur content. Coverall, due to customers'
requirements, coal traded internationally tends to he

rather low in s u l p h u r s at least compared withcertain
indigenous production.

All these countries supply coal to the community.
However, no complete overview on import quantities
hroken down hy sulphur content is available at present.
The available information on sulphur refers only to
coking coal imports.

Eor coking coal, whichaccount for about one thirdof
total community coal imports, the commission receives
information from the importers on a regular basis
including among other things information about the
sulphur content.lmporters convey data on deliveries from
the USA, Australia, Canada and Poland, that is for nearly
allof Communitycokingcoalimports.Thesecoalsare
ratherlow in sulphur, the sulphur content lying nearly
exclusively between 0,^^andO,^^.Recent specifications
and import quantities are as follows^

t ^ D T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

^^mliontOm^

^r^illio^to^^^

^i^illio^to^^^

^^illio^^o^^^

Canada

A^t^alia

^ol^^

05A

^t^^T^D^^^L

0Bt^0,D^

0, D ^ 0, ^

OB^O,^^

0,^^0,^^

Con the other hand, for steam coal imports the pertinent
Excisions ^B^O^BEC^SC^^ ^ d ^BtDlBECSC^^

require^iember States only totransmitdataonprices,
calorific values and quantities. The commission services
concerned are examining the question of how
information on suphur content could be obtained.

The impact on existing supplies of decisions on SC^
emission reduction need not be substantial as long as the
industry and especially power stations are free in the
choice of means for emission abatement.

As far as lowDsulphur United States coal is concerned, the
availability for exports to the community of this quality
could remain unchanged, if there is sufficientflue gas
desulphurization in the USA andBor if those low sulphur
coals in t h e ^ e s t would be increasingly used despite the
long transport distances involved.

In Europe, on the other hand, we have some alternatives
to using low sulphur coal from a given supplier, e.g.
the USA. These alternatives include flue gas
desulphurization, importing lowsulphur coal from other
suppliers and switching to otherfuels than coal.

Precisions in the USA or elsewhere on SC^ reduction

targets resulting in an increased demand for lowDsulphur
coal would, however, e^ertacertain upward pressure on
prices forthese qualities.

C ^ J ^ o L ^ m D m o m ^ .

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/7

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1199/90

by Mr Alonso Puerta (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 May 1990)_

(91/C 150/13)

_Subject:_ The high-voltage power line 'Soto de RiberaPenagos'

The limited company 'Hidroelectrica Iberica, Iberduero'
plans to install a 400 kV electrical power line called 'Soto
de Ribera-Penagos' with a total length of 171 kilometres
(112 km in Asturias and 59 km in Cantabria).

The transport of electrical energy should be routed in
such a way as to cause the minimum of environmental
damage and should not have negative social effects or
threaten public health.

1. Does the Commission have any information about the
direct effects on people of the electrical fields and
magnetic induction generated by high-voltage
overhead power lines?

2. Are there Community Regulations setting limits
on the intensity of electrical fields and magnetic
induction in the vicinity of inhabited areas?

3. Does the Commission not consider that the 'Soto

de Ribera-Penagos' project should be subject to
Directive 85/337/EEC (*) on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment?

4. Can the Commission find out from the competent
Spanish authorities whether the above-mentioned
Directive is applicable to the case in question?

O OJNoLl75,5.7.1985, p. 40.

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

_(31 July 1990)_

1. The Commission does not have any such
information. It is aware that the subject has been studied
for several years and there is no indication of adverse
effects on the population.

2. There are no such Community Regulations.

3. The transmission of electrical energy by overhead
power lines is listed at point 3(b) of Annex II to Directive
85/337/EEC and is therefore subject to an environmental
impact assessment where the Member States consider that
the characteristics of the installation so require.

The project in question could, owing to its scale, have a
major impact on the landscape, and also adversely affect
certain areas designated as important for the conservation
of wild birds in pursuance of Directive 79/409/EEC (').

4. In view of the above, the Commission believes that
the Spanish authorities should make this project subject
to an impact assessment in accordance with Directive
85/337/EEC, despite the fact that Spanish legislation
restricts this obligation to projects listed in Annex II
relating to reforestation, extraction by open-cast mining
and large dams.

In this respect the Commission would point out that the
infringement procedure provided for in Article 169 of the
Treaty has been instituted on the grounds of incomplete
transposition of the Directive into Spanish legislation.

O OJNoL 103,25.4. 1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1209/90

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1990)_

(91/C 150/14)

_Subject:_ Bird hunting in the Baie de Canche nature
reserve in France

In 1987 the Baie de Canche, near Etaples in France, was
declared a nature reserve, with financial support from the
European Community. It is an important wetland for
birds, used as a stop-over by migrants and as a breeding
ground. In 1988 182 different species of birds were
observed and 213 000 migratory birds counted.

In the area there are a large number of artificial hunting
lakes, four of which are still in use within the nature
reserve. It is almost impossible to keep a check on whether
the legislation is being respected. Regular use is made of
hunting methods involving decoys and game that has been
shot.

1. What is the present status of the Baie de Canche
nature reserve with regard to the bird directive
(79/409/EEC) O?

2. On what terms did the Commission grant aid for the
purchase of the reserve? Does it not think that they are
being infringed by hunting on lakes within its
boundaries?

3. When did the Commission last receive a report from
France on the implementation of national measures
under the bird directive? Was mention made of

measures in the area round the Canche?

No C 150/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

4. Is the European Court currently considering any cases
against France concerning compliance with the bird
directive? If so, what bearing do they have on the Baie
deCanche?

5. How is the Commission going to urge France to ban
hunting in the Baie de Canche and restrict it in the
surrounding area, so that the area's natural heritage
can be better administered?

O OJNoL103,25.4. 1979, p. 1.

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

_(1_ _August 1990)_

1. The Canche estuary has been classified by France as
a special protection area under the terms of Article 4 of
Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds.

2. Under the ACE programme (Community Actions
for the Environment) financial support was granted for
the management and rehabilitation of environmentally
sensitive areas to encourage the establishment of
diversified biotopes and provide reception and nesting
areas for birds, not for purchasing the reserve.

The recipient has undertaken:

— not to take any action incompatible with the aim of the
project and the conservation of the biotope and its
species;

— where possible, to dissuade others from taking any
action incompatible with the aim of the project and
the conservation of the biotope and its species.

3. France has submitted two triennial reports on the
application of national measures taken in pursuance
of the Directive on the conservation of wild birds

(1981-1983 and 1984-1986). There is no mention in either
report of measures concerning the area surrounding the
Baie de Canche.

4. In 1988 the Court of Justice of the European
Communities found against France on the grounds that
its legislation did not comply with Directive 79/409/EEC.
This case does not have any bearing on the problem raised
by the Honourable Member. As regards the Baie de
Canche, the Commission has received a complaint which
is still being investigated.

5. When the results of the investigation are known, the
Commission will, if necessary, take steps in accordance
with the Treaty to ensure compliance with Directive
79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1268/90

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1990)_

(91/C 150/15)

_Subject:_ Importing a caravan into France

A constituent of mine moved to France on a permanent
basis on 1 July 1989. He took with him a Fleetwood
14004C caravan made in December 1988, manufactured
in England on a German chassis. He was informed that, in
order to keep this caravan in France, it was necessary to
get a 'carte grise' from the local Service des Mines. Early
this year the French solicitor who is dealing with the
matter received notice from the Service des Mines that

they would require this caravan to be delivered on a lorry
for inspection and that the time taken for this inspection
would be six to nine months.

This incident appears to make a mockery of the single
internal market. Was the French action justified under EC
law and, if so, is the Commission proposing measures of
harmonization or mutual recognition that will deal with
the problem?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(5 October 1990)_

Since in the legislation concerned caravans are considered
to be trailers, the Commission is of the opinion that they
are covered by Community Directives such as, for
example, those on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the type-approval of motor
vehicles and their trailers (70/156/EEC) ('), on the
installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on
motor vehicles and their trailers (76/756/EEC and
89/278/EEC) ( [2] ) and the braking devices of certain
categories of motor vehicles and their trailers
(88/194/EEC) ( [3] ).

Moreover, the Commission considers that, in approving
and registering caravans imported from other Member
States, the authorities of the importing Member State
must comply with Articles 30 and 38 of the EEC Treaty as
set out in the 'Commission notice on procedures for the
type-approval and registration of vehicles previously
registered in another Member State' ( [4] ).

According to the Honourable Member, French
authorities require that caravans should be presented for
inspection on a lorry. If such a requirement cannot be
justified by national authorities for objective reasons
relating to road safety, the Commission would consider
such a requirement concerning caravans imported from
other Member States to be contrary to Articles 30 and 36

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/9

of the EEC Treaty. This is because such a requirement
makes the national procedure for approval and
registration of imported caravans more complicated and
more expensive and thus more difficult. It would
therefore be a measure capable of hindering intraCommunity trade in caravans.

Furthermore, the Commission considers that a delay of
six to nine months foreseen by the French authorities in
order to inspect caravans imported from any other
Member State is much too long. Therefore, as regards
such vehicles imported from other Member States, such a
delay would be contrary to Articles 30 and 36 of the EEC
Treaty.

The Commission will raise the questions asked by the
Honourable Member with the French authorities.

However, to maximize the efficiency of the Commission's
investigation, it is necessary to know the name and the
locality of the French authority which is dealing with the
request of the constituent (mentioned by the Honourable
Member) for approval and registration of his caravan in
France.

(') OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970.
( [2] ) OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976; OJ No L 109, 20. 4. 1989.
O OJ No L 92, 9. 4. 1988.
( [4] ) OJNoC281,4. 11.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1348/90

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/16)

_Subject:_ Euratom safeguards report — UK facilities

Regarding paragraph 20 of the Report on the Operation
of Euratom safeguards (SEC(90) 452 final), will the
Commission list by facility and date when each of the
United Kingdom facilities and nuclear installations
covered by Euratom Treaty Article 79 and Articles 9 to
23 of Regulation 3227/76 _(_ _[l]_ _)_ concerning the nuclear
materials accounting system was inspected and forward
details?

(') OJNoL 363,31.12. 1976, p. 1.

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

_(31 July 1990)_

The Commission will not list by facility and date when
each of the United Kingdom facilities and nuclear

installations covered by Euratorri Treaty was inspected
due to the confidentiality of the information.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1349/90

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/17)

_Subject:_ Euratom safeguards report
discrepancies

— materials

Regarding paragraph 26 of the Euratom safeguards
report (SEC(90) 452 final), how are possible discrepancies
in quality of nuclear materials in mixed facility
reprocessing plants assessed?

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

_(31 July 1990)_

The most common method for assessing the quality
of nuclear materials in 'Safeguards' is based on the
determination of the form and the isotopic composition
of the nuclear material.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1359/90

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/18)

_Subject:_ Euratom safeguards report — seminars and
training

In regard to paragraph 93(e) of the Report on the
Operation of Euratom Safeguards (SEC(90) 452 final),
will the Commission publish a full list of all working
groups^ seminars and training activities in which the
Euratom Safeguards Directorate participates with experts
from the International Atomic Energy Agency on a
regular basis?

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

_(1_ _August 1990)_

The Commission is drawing up the lists requested by the
Honourable Member and will forward them to him as

soon as possible.

No C 150/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1378/90

by Mr Alex Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/19)

_Subject:_ Movements of nuclear materials

What volumes of (a) spent nuclear fuel (b) test reactor
nuclear fuel (c) natural uranium (d) low enriched uranium
(e) highly enriched uranium (f) depleted uranium (g)
plutonium (h) tritium have been

1. imported into

2. exported from

the European Community under Euratom oversight in
each year since 1979; and what records are kept by the
Euratom safeguards and supply agencies respectively for
such movements of nuclear materials?

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

_(31 July 1990)_

Pursuant to chapter VII of the Treaty tritium is not under
Euratom safeguards _per se._ However the Commission
is currently negotiating an amendment to the
Euratom/Canada Agreement to cover tritium supplied by
Canada for the purposes of the Fusion Programme. It is
expected that such tritium will be subject to appropriate
accounting procedures by Euratom safeguards.

The Commission will send directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament

a table containing the amounts of nuclear material
imported into and exported from the Community since
1982.

The Commission Services keep all records relating to the
inventory changes and physical inventories as well as
transit notifications of the material under safeguards.
This includes, of course, all exports and imports of such
materials.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1518/90

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V), Mrs Birgit Bjernvig

(ARC), Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete (V)

and Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(21 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/20)

_Subject:_ Failure by France to apply Directive
79/409/EEC

What action will the Commission take against France,
which is not applying Directive 79/409/EEC (') on the
conservation of wild birds?

On 1 May 1990, open poaching of the turtle dove
(Streptopelia turtur), the shooting of which is prohibited
during the spring by the above Directive, was witnessed
by a number of Members of the European Parliament in
the Department of Gironde. They also noted that the
local hunting authorities were failing in their duty to
safeguard the public interest and that both federal
gamekeepers and national gamekeepers — the latter
answerable to the Ministry of the Environment — were
absent from the scene and consequently failing in their
duty to prevent infringements of the hunting laws.

Finally, the Members in question were prevented from
reaching various public places where they hoped to meet
biologists engaged in the study of migratory patterns.
This was because some of the poachers, incensed by the
ploys used and tolerated by certain local elected
representatives, had erected road blocks (LesparreMedoc,
Port-de-Goulee, Soulac-sur-mer).

O OJNoL103,25.4. 1979, p. 1.

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

_(31 July 1990)_

The Commission has already been informed of the
problem to which the Honourable Members refer.

Despite the fact that local regulations authorizing the late
hunting of turtle doves have been declared void by the
French Council of State, it is indeed apparent that the
practice is continuing as in the past. The Commission has
therefore decided to institute an infringement procedure
against France for non-compliance with Directive
79/409/EEC. A formal notice of complaint has recently
been sent to the French Government.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1538/90

by Mr Michael Welsh (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/21)

1. Can the Commission confirm that Directive

85/337/EEC (*) on the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment applies to the French
DOMs?

_Subject:_ Environmental
French DOMs

Impact Assessment and the

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 150/11

2. Has France incorporated the Directive into its
national legislation for these areas?

3. How many EIAs have been carried out in these areas
since the Directive came into force and for what projects?
Have these projects subsequently been carried out?

0 OJNoL175,5.7. 1985, p. 40.

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

_(17 July 1990)_

1. Directive 85/337/EEC applies in the DOMs under
the terms of a French general law.

2. Decree No 1077-1141 of 12 October 1977 on impact
studies implementing Article 2 of Law No 76-629 of
10 July 1976 on nature conservation therefore also applies
in these territories.

3. The Commission does not know exactly how many
impact assessments have been carried out in the DOMs or
what projects are concerned since the Directive does not
require the Member States to submit the results of the
studies carried out in their territory.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1559/90

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 June 1990)_

(91/C 150/22)

_Subject:_ The Environmental Dimension Report

In view of the scientific importance, originality and
success of the Task Force 1992 Report on The
Environmental Dimension, does the Commission intend
to allocate funding for the report to be made available to
the public in the nine Community languages?

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

_(2_ _August 1990)_

In response to the success of the Task Force 1992 Report
on the Environmental Dimension, and in order to satisfy
the numerous requests which it receives regularly, the
Commission has released the funds required to produce a
version for wider distribution.

The complete version of the report will appear in French
and English within the next few months. In addition,
condensed versions in the other Community languages
will be available on request from the Commission's
departments.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1764/90

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 July 1990)_

(91/C 150/23)

_Subject:_ Cooperative in the rail transport sector

In my Written Question No 642/90 (') on the creation of
the BTT cooperative in the Federal Republic of Germany
I asked the Commission whether this constituted a

distortion of competition.

Is the Commission aware that in France now there is a

similar development, in that the French Railways (SNCF)
have set up the cooperative 'Transeurochem' together
with the French company 'Compagnie Nouvelle de
Conteneurs' (CNC) which transports containers using
combined techniques and the French shipping company
Bourgey-Montreuil, which is, it should be noted, a
subsidiary of SNCF?

Can the Commission ascertain whether and to what

extent this constitutes distortion of competition and, if
this is the case, what steps will it take to deal with it?

O OJ No C 266, 22.10.1990, p. 39.

Supplementary answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 April 1991)_

Further to the answer given on 7 September 1990 (*), the
Commission is now able to inform the Honourable

Member that, according to information supplied by the
SNCF, Transeurochem was set up by the SNCF,
Compagnie Nouvelle de Conteneurs (CNC) and
Bourgey-Montreuil. Both CNC and Bourgey-Montreuil
are SNCF subsidiaries.

For the purposes of competition law, Transeurochem was
therefore formed within the SNCF group.

Consequently, in accordance with the case law of the
Court of Justice, the agreement by which Transeurochem
was set up does not infringe either Article 85 of the EEC
Treaty or Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC)

No C 150/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

No 1017/68 of 19 July 1968 ( [2] ) inasmuch as it is
concerned with the internal allocation of tasks between

members of the group.

However, the group's market conduct is, for its part,
subject to Article 86 EEC and Article 8 of Regulation
No 1017/68, and the Commission will be on the look-out
for any abuses in this respect.

The Commission's investigation into the BTT agreement
is continuing.

O OJNoC70, 18.3. 1991, p. 22.
O OJ No L 175, 23. 7. 1968, p. 1 (English Special Edition 1968 I,
p. 302).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1776/90

by Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 July 1990)_

(91/C 150/24)

_Subject:_ The 'drug' Ritalin

Is the Commission aware that Ritalin, — a drug used in
psychiatry _inter alia_ to treat very young children —
produces serious side-effects, such as growth disorders,
depression and suicidal tendencies, and is addictive in
some cases?

Is the Commission further aware that Ritalin may no
longer be used in Denmark, Sweden and Norway?

What action does the Commission propose to take that
will result in Ritalin being withdrawn from the European
Community market?

In the meantime, is the Commission prepared to point out
to the relevant Member State authorities the dangers
presented by Ritalin and to inform them that the use of
Ritalin has already been banned in Denmark?

Supplementary answer given by Mme Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(10 April 1991)_

Further to its answer of 17 September 1990 ('), the
Commission can now inform the Honourable Member of

the result of its investigations.

The Commission has invited the Committee for

Proprietary Medicinal Products to consider the question
of Ritalin (Methylphenidate hydrochloride). It must
again be mentioned that authorizations for medicinal
products in the Community are granted by the competent
authority in each Member State on the basis of
Community pharmaceutical legislation. The following
overview has emerged from discussions:

Germany: The product was first authorized in 1973, and
is indicated for 'organically induced impulsion disorder,
e.g. cerebral sclerosis, excessive sedation caused by other
pharmaceuticals, narcolepsia, hyperkinetic behaviour
disorder in children'. The prescription of the product is
subject to the same regulations as narcotic drugs.

Greece: The product is registered for hospital use only
and is classified as a narcotic.

France: The product was first authorized in 1979 and
reviewed in 1985. Since the authorization holder did not

apply for renewal (due in May 1990) the marketing
authorization has lapsed.

Ireland: The product is available only on a special licence
and may only be used under the direct supervision of a
psychiatrist. It is indicated in the management of
narcolepsy and hyperactive behaviour disorders
unresponsive to other therapies.

Luxembourg: The product is only available in accordance
with regulations for narcotics and is indicated for
'organically induced impulsion disorder, e.g. cerebral
sclerosis, excessive sedation caused by other
pharmaceuticals, narcolepsia, hyperkinetic behaviour
disorder in children'. The duration of the prescription is
limited.

Netherlands: The product has been authorized since 1954
and has been treated as a narcotic since 1980 (i.e.
prescription only, separate registration of each delivery to
a patient, etc.). It is indicated for narcolepsy and some
forms of hyperactivity disorder in children over six years
of age.

United Kingdom: The product has been withdrawn from
the market.

O OJNoC328,31.12. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1969/90

by Mrs Christine Oddy (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1990)_

(91/C 150/25)

_Subject:_ EC aid to SADCC States (Angola, Malawi,
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe)

1. How much aid has the EC given to refugees and
displaced people in SADCC?

2. How much EC aid has been pledged to the UN's
1990 Emergency Appeal for Mozambique?

3. What is the SADCC region's external debt in total
and on a country-by-country basis to the EC?

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/13

4. What are the bilateral debt levels of each SADCC

country to each of the EC Member States, broken down
into concessional and non-concessional categories?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 October 1990)_

1. The EC aid to refugees and displaced people in the
SADCC region under Lome III, Article 204, has been up
till now in the order of 26 million ecus.

2. Mozambique is confronted with a difficult but
nonetheless chronic emergency. As such, it is realizing
that its whole development effort needs to be mobilised in
an overall economic and social recovery programme.

For this reason the emergency appeal made by the United
Nations and the Government of Mozambique was smaller
this year than in past years. The Commission nonetheless
was able to announce increased assistance; through
the regular development programme, through aid for
displaced persons and through food aid.

The Commission decided in June 1990 to allocate

30 000 tonnes of food aid for free distribution as part of
an overall allocation to the Mozambique Government of
148 000 tonnes. Further amounts have been allocated

through non-governmental organizations.

The European Commission took a substantial emergency
aid decision — 3 million ecus — on 16 August 1990 to
help with both the internal transport of food aid for free
distribution and for medicine supply. This followed an
earlier allocation of 300 000 ecus on 7 August to deal in
particular with the outbreaks of cholera.

3. and 4. The SADCC region's external debt is as
follows (in millions of ecus, year 1988):

Concerning the bilateral debt of the SADCC countries,
the Honourable Member is invited to refer to the statistics

published by the World Bank, notably the World Debt
Tables.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2008/90

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1990)_

(91/C 150/26)

_Subject:_ Aids to offshore fishing

The Atlantic coast seamen's unions are concerned at the

progressive disappearance of offshore fishing activities,
for which the fishermen of this region are famous and
which has provided a living for the coastal population for
centuries.

How can the Commission assist this sector, which has
been in a state of decline for several years?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(3 October 1990)_

Article 39 of the EEC Treaty defines the objectives of the
common fisheries policy as the optimal utilization of the
factors of production, in particular labour, and ensuring a
fair standard of living for fishermen.

In accordance with the Treaty, the common fisheries
policy seeks to promote the necessary gradual
adjustments in the light of the special features of the
sector concerned and its role in the economy of the
region.

In order to strengthen the common fisheries policy, the
Commission recently proposed to the Council (') an
amendment to the existing structural instruments to give
small-scale fisheries access to Community structural
aid for the restructuring, renewal, modernization and
adaptation of fishing effort.

This extension of Community measures, which will be
undertaken in the context of zonal guidance plans, will
speed up the essential structural changes inevitably
imposed on certain Community fisheries by the worrying
state of existing resources.

O COM(90)358.

Angola

Botswana

Lesotho

Malawi

Mozambique

Swaziland

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Global

5 000

390

220

1 054

3 442

206

3 343

5 077

2 077

20 809 20 809

EEC

3,8

12,8

27,4

8,6

34,9

93,5

15,0

No C 150/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2131/90

by Mr Luigi Moretti (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 September 1990)_

(91/C 150/27)

_Subject:_ ERDF aid for the Region of Lombardy

1. What ERDF aid did the Region of Lombardy
receive for 1989, excluding Community-initiative
programmes?

2. How were the ERDF funds allocated to Italy for
1989 divided up among the regions?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(5 November 1990)_

1. In addition to ERDF funds received under the

non-quota measure for the textiles and clothing industry
and the Resider Community programme, Lombardy is
eligible for aid from the structural Funds under Objective
2 (areas affected by industrial decline).

The Community support framework for this region,
approved by the Commission on 20 December 1989,
provides for ERDF aid of ECU 4,9 million between 1989
and 1991.

It will be possible for the Commission to make the
first commitments very shortly once the operational
programme from the Italian authorities has been
approved.

2. A table showing the breakdown of ERDF
commitments in 1989 — excluding those for Community
initiative programmes — among the Italian regions is
being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the
Parliament Secretariat.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2179/90

by Mrs Hiltrud Breyer (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 October 1990)_

(91/C 150/28)

_Subject:_ Cooperation between Poland and the EEC in the
field of nuclear energy

The agreement between the European Economic
Community and the People's Republic of Poland on trade

and commercial and economic cooperation cites nuclear
energy as a potential area for cooperation.

1. Does the Commission consider that, given Poland's
substantial domestic energy resources, the
development of nuclear energy should be encouraged?

2. What agreements concerning nuclear cooperation
between the EC and Poland exist at present?

3. What joint ventures, licensing agreements or other
forms of industrial cooperation exist in connection
with the construction of the Zarnowiec nuclear power
station?

4. In what way are the Member States of the EC and
private companies participating in the construction of
that power station?

5. Might commercial cooperation conceivable take
the form of agreements concerning the supply of
electricity from Poland to the EC or the GDR?

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

_(13 February 1991)_

The Commission has not received any official request
from the Polish authorities for any specific collaboration
on the development and application of nuclear energy for
electricity generation.

The Commission is, therefore, unable to provide any
answers to the Honourable Member's questions.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2212/90

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 October 1990)_

(91/C 150/29)

_Subject:_ Commission proposal for a Directive on food
and food ingredients treated with ionizing
radiation

The European Parliament gave its opinion on this
Commission proposal for a Directive in October 1989 at
first reading.

According to reports, the discussions in the Council of
Ministers or its working parties are proving very difficult.
The positions of the six Member States which permit and
the six which prohibit food irradiation remain as radically
opposed as ever.

10.6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/15

Is it correct that the Commission has officially withdrawn
its proposal for a Directive on food irradiation and that it
shortly intends to replace it by three proposals for a
Regulation on food irradiation?

How does it hope that this measure will overcome the
differences in the positions of the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 February 1991)_

Following the Parliament's opinion of 10 October 1989
on the Commission's proposal for a Directive on food
irradiation, the Commission forwarded a modified
proposal to the Council on 15 November 1989 (').

The Commission has not withdrawn or has no intention

to withdraw its proposal, on which discussion is currently
well advanced and which, when adopted, would provide
for a strict control of the process at EC level. At no time
has the Commission considered replacing its proposal by
three proposals for Regulations.

(') COM(89)576.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2431/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/30)

_Subject:_ Funding of the action plan adopted by the
'World Summit for Children'

The first World Summit for Children ended in New York

on 30 September 1990 with the adoption of the 'Universal
Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development
of Children'. The objectives of this declaration (a
reduction in infant mortality, malnutrition, etc.) are
accompanied by a seven-point action plan which neither
the World Bank nor any industrialized country have
undertaken to subsidize. The cost of implementing this
programme has, however, been estimated by Unicef at $
5 billion over a 10-year period.

Will the Commission say whether it intends to draw up
and propose the adoption of a common position of the
Twelve on ways and means of subsidizing the action plan
of 30 September? If not, does the Commission intend —
in one way or another — to encourage the Member States
to contribute individually?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2566/90

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/31)

_Subject:_ UN summit on children

Following the UN Summit on Children in New York
(1 October 1990) has the Commission any plans to
coordinate an EC response to the seven-point Plan of
Action decided at the conference, including the reduction
of the mortality rate and adult illiteracy, and the
protection of children in situations of armed conflict?

Joint answer given by Mr Matutes
to Written Questions Nos 2431/90 and 2566/90

on behalf of the Commission

_(22 February 1991)_

Following the World Summit for Children in New York
(30 September 1990), a plan of action was decided in
order to ensure 'the survival, protection and development
of children between 1990 and the year 2000'. This plan
draws up a list of seven major goals to be achieved during
the 1990s.

Among these are the following:

— reduction of under-five child mortality rate in all
countries;

— reduction of adult illiteracy rate;

— protection of children in situation of armed conflicts.

The Commission has at present no specific plan to
coordinate an EC-response following this recent summit.
For the time being, this question (and consequently the
funding of the action plan) remains broadly under
competence of Member States of the Community which
have participated in the Summit and in the process of
conclusion of the UN-Convention on the Rights of the
Child.

Nevertheless, the Commission would like to recall on this
occasion that it has been developing and implementing
policies in different fields, the aim of which is the
well-being of children and adults. For instance:

— in the framework of the Lome Convention rV, the
Community endeavours to help improve globally the
primary health care and basic health services in the
ACP countries. Actually the main beneficiaries of such
a cooperation are mothers and their children (through
vaccination campaigns, maternal health, etc.);

— aid for orphanages in Romania, etc.

No C 150/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

At Community level the Commission has also taken other
steps with regard to children.

On the basis of the guidelines regarding family policies
laid down in the conclusions of the Council and the

Ministers responsible for family affairs meeting within
the Council on 29 September 1989, the Commission
has examined themes of common interest such as the

protection of children. In this connection the Commission
is organizing, in conjunction with the Luxembourg
Presidency, a seminar in Luxembourg from 27 to 29 May
on 'Childhood, family and society' with a view to possibly
launching a Community initiative in this field.

Furthermore, the Community Charter of the
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers includes a specific
chapter on the protection of children and adolescents. On
this basis a draft Council Directive is planned on the
protection of young people at work. The Commission's
action programme also provides, in the context of equal
treatment between men and women, for a Commission

recommendation on different forms of childcare. Under

the third poverty programme there are various
experience-sharing programmes aimed at financing or
promoting projects on poor children, for example a
project in Lisbon on street work with marginalized
children or those at risk of becoming so.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2538/90

by Mr Henry Chabert (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/32)

_Subject:_ Aid for Lufthansa

In September the Commission _decided_ to grant aid of
ECU 15,5 million to Lufthansa for the enlargement of its
pilot training school in Bremen as part of a regional
employment programme in Bremen. This aid is said to
comply with the rules adopted by the Commission in 1984
and 1990. Under what criteria was this aid granted to
Lufthansa?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 February 1991)_

The Commission can confirm that it has, at the request of
the German Government, approved a grant of about ECU
15,5 million for the enlargement of the Lufthansa pilot
training school in Bremen.

This decision, which is based on Article 92(3)(c) of the
Treaty and commits the Community to no expenditure,
was founded on the following considerations:

— The terms of the aid, as notified by the German
Government, fulfil all the conditions laid down by the
Commission in its decision on the framework

programme ('Sonderprogramm Bremen'). In
particular, the level of aid does not exceed the ceiling
established in the framework programme.

— The measure will contribute to an increase of over

50% in the number of permanent jobs in an area
affected by structural problems.

— A study of the sector has shown that the measure
would not adversely affect trading conditions in the
market concerned. Furthermore, a shortage of
licensed commercial pilots is seen as one of the
problems besetting civil aviation in Europe today.

Lastly, it is worth noting that the Lufthansa pilot training
school cooperates closely with several other Community
air carriers.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2540/90

by Mr Jan Sonneveld (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/33)

_Subject:_ Community legislation on spreadable fats

1. Is the Commission aware that the European butter
producers (belonging to Assilec) and margarine producers
(belonging to the Imace) consider it necessary to clarify
Community rules on yellow spreadable fats, given the
uncertainties which arise in identifying producers in
Member States with (excessively) liberal legislation in this
area?

2. Is the Commission prepared to accept this unusual
joint proposal by two parties who are generally rivals, in
order to ensure a transparent Community market for
these products and clear designations to distinguish
between them?

Is it not necessary to introduce EC rules in this sector,
since failure to do so will prompt Member States to
introduce national arrangements possibly leading to the
creation of undesirable trade barriers?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 January 1991)_

The Commission is well aware of the proposals for the
harmonization of laws in the sector of the so-called

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/17

spreadable 'yellow fats', which have been jointly drafted
by the European milk and margarine industries. The
Commission appreciates these efforts and considers the
results as useful for its own actions.

In order to stabilize the sales of milk and milk products
and to inform the consumers in an appropriate way about
the different yellow fats, i.e. butter and other milk fats,
margarine and other mixed fats, the Commission has
decided to present a draft Regulation in the near future.

This regulation will give a clear structure to the market of
these products by establishing categories for all products
according to their fat content and attributing a sales
description to every category. The proposal will also
contain basic definitions of the products concerned as
well as some specific labelling rules and some rules which
will facilitate the mutual recognition of national quality
norms for yellow fats.

The envisaged Community legislation will, however, not
go into further details and will not prescribe methods of
production or the composition of the products.

The Commission takes into account the proposals
presented by the industries concerned. It will consult all
interested parties, farmers, industry, commerce, trade
unions and consumers on the draft text to be proposed.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2553/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/34)

_Subject:_ CSFs in Galicia

The average percentage of the active population engaged
in agriculture in the Community is around 8,1 %. In Spain
however, in the Objective 1 regions, the figure is around
24%, while Galicia, with an average of 43,7%,
undoubtedly has the highest percentage in Spain and in
the Community.

The complexity of the problems arising from this calls for
particular attention and major efforts on the part of the
Commission.

Will the Commission carry out a complete and
comprehensive study of the specific problems of Galicia?

Could this study and its objectives include a survey of
alternative solutions for directing the active population
towards other sectors?

Can the Community's support frameworks rectify this
situation?

What specific measures are included in the CSFs for
vocational training in agriculture?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 January 1991)_

Galicia is eligible under Objective 1 of the reform of the
structural Funds (regions whose development is lagging
behind).

In order to accelerate development there, Spain submitted
a plan analysing the region's socio-economic context and
its labour market and setting out a strategy and priorities
to deal with the problems identified.

The CSF for Galicia was the result of studies, analysis
and assessment of that plan and contains development
priorities designed to improve the socio-economic
structures of the region.

These cover the following fields: improved
communications, industry, business services, tourism,
agriculture, rural development, support for economic
activity and the development of human resources.

The aim of the assistance part-financed by the ERDF
under the CSF is to improve the economic situation in
Galicia, thereby creating jobs which can help improve the
situation in agriculture through a degree of redistribution
of the workforce between the sectors involved.

Vocational training part-financed by the Social Fund
includes a series of measures aimed at various sectors,
including agriculture:

— aid for training: training and management in small
firms to develop a dynamic business sector;

— aid for training: training to enable workers affected by
conversion to undertake new jobs;

— aid for training of the long-term unemployed with
particular reference to the development priorities;

— aid for training to enable young people to find jobs in
the most dynamic sectors of the labour market,
including those using new technologies.

N o C 150/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

As regards agriculture, support will be provided for
training in the management of agricultural undertakings
so as to raise and extend the level of qualifications held by
farmers.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2554/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/35)

_Subject:_ Communal forests

The Commission is doubtless aware of the existence of

large tracts of public land in Galicia classified as
'communal forest'. The size and tenure of these areas of

land make them suitable for Community programmes for
the appropriate use of valuable resources which are at
present unused, bringing benefits in terms of wealth,
employment, stability, amenities, etc.

Will the Commission take steps in this direction?

Will it carry out a comprehensive survey of possible
alternatives under the various Community policies?

Does the Commission not believe that the inclusion of

these areas in the productive process could have a
fundamental and positive impact on the economy of the
region?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 January 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the situation regarding the
'communal forests' in Galicia, a form of agricultural joint
land holding in Spain which also has certain important
regional features.

In many cases, these forms of tenure pose an obstacle to
modernization of working methods.

The Commission has not so far drawn up any specific
programme for this type of measure because it considers
that the economic operators concerned are in a better
position to do so. It will therefore look with the greatest
interest at proposals which are submitted by the Spanish
authorities in the form of operational programmes and
offer solutions to the problem mentioned.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2556/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 150/36)

_Subject:_ Crisis in the fisheries sector in Galicia

There can be no doubt that the fisheries sector in Galicia

has a considerable impact on the economy of the region
accounting for approximately 4,1 % of GVA, and is very
closely linked with other industrial and services sectors
such as canning, shipbuilding and refrigeration.

Galicia is also one of the Community's Objective 1 (i.e
least-favoured) regions. The situation is being made
worse by a number of circumstances which cause serious
difficulties for both small-scale and freezer fishing fleets.

As a result, it is necessary to speed up the implementation
of Community programmes under the common fisheries
policy, since failure to take energetic and comprehensive
action will seriously compromise the future of fisheries in
Galicia and employment in this sector.

What measures does the Commission envisage for the
fishing sector in Galicia?

Does the Commission agree that intensive support for the
processing industry would help to solve the problem?

What incentives are envisaged for the next four years?

What funds exist for improving and equipping fishing
ports in Galicia?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(1 February 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the problems currently being
experienced by the fisheries sector in Galicia and of the
importance of that sector to the economy of the region.

In accordance with the guidelines in the common fisheries
policy on the adaptation of fishing capacity to available
resources, the Commission is introducing measures to
reduce surplus capacity in the fishing fleet through the
multiannual guidance programmes.

In view of the importance of that objective, the
Commission has presented to the Council a draft proposal
for amendments to the structural regulation in force,
Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 ('), to strengthen existing

t O D ^ t COfficial Journal of the European Communities ^oCn^oBr^

provisions concerning the permanent laying up of vessels
and the introduction of new opportunities and incentives
for e^ploratoryfishing and joint enterprises.

The Commission isalsoawarethat one of the essential

components of a fisheries structural policy is the
processing and marketing sector. In line with the
objectives of thereformofthestructuralEundsand in
accordance with Regulation t ^ E E C ^ o ^ O ^ B ^ ^, the
Commission is analysing national sectoral plans and
preparing, in cooperation with the member states,
Community support frameworks to improve the
conditions under which the processing and marketing
of fisheries and aquaculture products are carried out.
These C^Es include priorities for Community financial
assistance o^erthene^tthreeyears P t ^ l ^ ^ .

As an CObjecti^etregion,Calicia may receive Community
assistance totalling up to ^O^of eligible expenditure.

In the case of the equipping of fishing ports, since
Regulation ^EEC^o^O^B^D does not come under the
reform of the structural Eunds, the financial provision is
not subject to multiannual forecasting.

nevertheless, under the Community support framework
forCObjecti^e^ regions in ^pain ^implementation of the
structural Eunds for r ^ ^ 0 ^, o n ^ ^ e p t e m b e r P ^ ^ 0 the
Commission approved decision C^O^ 1 ^ ^ EREoE
assistance to the operational programme for Calicia
^ l ^ O ^ w h i c h i n c l u d e s a ^ a r i e t y of measures to assist
fishing ports in the region and in particular the
improvement and extension of shelter and mooring
facilities in a number of ports ^Burela, Ribadeo, La^e,
Cedeira,Ribeira,LaEuebla,Eortacubelo,Einisterre,CO
Cro^e and A Cuarda^, which will receive assistance
totalling ECUtO,^ million from the Eund.

^ e ^ o L ^ D ^ t m ^ m ^ D
C ^ J ^ o L ^, ^ t n e t ^

by^rJoseBarros^oura^CC^

to the Commission of the European Communities

^ I B C l ^ O B ^

^ ^ c r . Exemption from antidumping measures for
exports of tungsten from China

In^iewof thefactthattheCommission^s investigation
showedthat antidumping practices e^isted,why did the
Commission exempt all China^se^ports of tungsten from
antPdumpingmeasures^^hateffectdoes this exemption
ha^e on Community industry and employment,
particularly inEortugalB

Answer^ivenby^rAndriessen
on behalf of the Commission

C^n ^ September t ^ O, following a proposal from
the Commission, the Council adopted Regulations
^ E E C ^ o s ^ ^ B ^, ^ ^ ^ O a n d ^ ^ B ^ O ^ i m p o s i n g
definitive antidumping duty on imports,respecti^ely,of
tungsten ores and concentrates, tungstic o^ide and
tungstic acid and tungsten carbide and fused tungsten
carbide originating in the People^sRepublicof China.

A t t h e same time, under Precisions ^os ^OB^BEEC,
^OB^^BEEC and ^OB^OBEECg^ ^he Commission
accepted the undertakings gi^en by the two main Chinese
exporters, C^lEC and ^iinmetals, which had cooperated
with the Commission during the procedure by
communicating certain data used to establish the
conclusions of the investigation.

Anumber of measures were thenintroduced. They all
ha^e the same objective, namely that of counteracting the
injury done to the Community industry by the dumping
practices uncovered bythe investigation, i.ea

^ in the case of undertakings gnBen by the exporters
named abo^e, by introducingasystem of floor prices
to which the companies agreed to adhered

— inthe case of the duties applicable to other Chinese
e^porterslikely to export the goodsinquestion, by
charging between ^ and ^, ^ of the freeat
Communityfrontierprice of the imported goods.

Consequently, all Chinese exports of the products in
question are subject to antPdumping measures.

The Commission will also use all appropriate means, for
instance the detailed reports which the exporters are
required to send to the Commission regularly,to ensure
compliance with the undertakings gnBen.

lnanye^ent,shouldtheundertakings not be complied
with o r b e withdrawn by the exporters concerned, the
Commission could immediately imposeapro^isional duty
on the basis of the results and conclusions of the

investigation already completed. The Council could also
impose a definitive duty on the basis of information
gathered in this investigation.

The Commission thereforeconsiders that the measures

taken jointly by itself and the Council will ha^e the effect
of counteracting the injury done to the Community^
tungsten industry,particularly in Portugal,by the unfair
commercial practices used when importing Chinese
products.

C ^ J ^ o e ^ ^ ^ m ^ o

No C 150/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2679/90

by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/38)

_Subject:_ Customs frontier areas

1. What is the definition of a 'customs frontier area'?

Can the Commission say whether there are still any such
areas under surveillance, where the police and customs
authorities enjoy special powers?

2. What special forms of customs and security
surveillance may be exercised in a customs frontier area?

3. Does the Commission agree that customs frontier
areas have been made obsolete by the concept of customs
union within the forthcoming internal market and will it
take steps to abolish them?

4. What proposals does it consider useful for the
purpose and when will it submit them?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 February 1991)_

1. and 2. In Member States, the customs frontier area is
a special customs surveillance zone. Established along
land and sea frontiers, it has clearly defined geographical
bounds. Under organizational provisions left to the
discretion of the Member States, the competent national
authorities enjoy reinforced supervisory powers in this

zone.

3. and 4. Like the Honourable Member, the

Commission feels that customs frontier areas will be

superfluous in an area without internal frontiers and must
therefore be abolished on the Community's internal
frontiers by 1 January 1991 at the latest.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2681/90

by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/39)

_Subject:_ Application procedures

1. Regarding the award of full Community grants or
financial contributions to natural and legal persons, does

the Commission agree that the application procedures are
excessively complicated?

2. Bearing in mind the now numerous funds and
sources of financing, all requiring separate applications,
will the Commission review the application procedures so
as to ensure greater simplicity, appropriateness to the
purpose, and uniformity?

3. Is it or is it not correct to say that the use of several
official languages spoils the layout of the application
forms?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _April 1991)_

1. The Commission does not think that the

decision-making and application procedures for grants of
financial assistance are, on the whole, overcomplicated; at
all events, they are no more complicated than those which
operate in the national civil services.

2. It is, however, an ongoing concern of the
Commission to cut down such procedures and to simplify
the task facing recipients of assistance. For example, it has
acknowledged that certain decision-making and financing
procedures relating to the structural Funds were capable
of being modified to make them more efficient.

To give some examples:

— In December 1990 the Commission adopted measures
to simplify the decision-making procedures associated
with operational programmes. In 1991 it will give
further thought to ways of improving these
procedures, in line with the spirit and the letter of the
1988 reform of the structural Funds.

— In the area of vocational training programmes, too, it
has embarked on a rationalization and coordination

exercise, as set out in its memorandum to Parliament,

the Council and the Economic and Social

Committee (').

— As regards research programmes, simplification
measures involving, for instance, VAT on research
contracts have been worked out in cooperation with
some of the Member States.

3. The constraints associated with the use of several

official languages do sometimes prolong the time taken to
produce certain documents but are not an obstacle. This is
an unavoidable evil in an administration which has to

address people in nine different languages.

O COM(90) 334 final.

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2687/90

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/40)

_Subject:_ Amendment of the Directive on drinks
containers

In its answer to my Written Question No 1837/90 (') the
Commission stated that it was in the process of
considering the various options for amending the
Directive on containers of liquids for human consumption
with a view to bringing it more closely into line with the
principles set out in Article 130r(2) of the Treaty.

1. Do any reasonably up-to-date scientific studies exist
on the environmental impact of the various types of
containers at every stage from manufacture (raw
materials) through to use and disposal and covering all
incidental environmental consequences, e.g. arising
from transport, cleaning of reusable containers, etc.?

2. If not, will the Commission arrange for the necessary
research to be carried out?

3. When does the Commission believe that it will be able

to submit its proposed amendments?

O OJNoC94, 11.4. 1991, p. 23.

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

_(13 February 1991)_

The Commission is about to examine in detail all aspects
of packaging in order to establish a list of priorities.

With regard to the environmental impact of various kinds
of packaging, the Commission notes that a number of
surveys have taken place recently, but their results are not
in agreement; it may be that some of them are not
necessarily objective. The Commission recognizes that, to
have a longer-term policy on packaging, the situation in
the sector must be clarified and criteria laid down for any
surveys, or even that it could carry out a survey itself.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2689/90

by Mr Henry McCubbin (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/41)

_Subject:_ Railfreight distribution — North East Scotland

With regard to the possibility of increased goods
transport after 1992, and having regard also to

environmental considerations, will the Commission state
what its policy is towards maintaining and improving
railfreight services to peripheral areas of the European
Communities, with particular regard to the North and
North East of Scotland?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 February 1991)_

The Commission's Communication on railway policy (')
presented an analysis of the railways' market situation
which indicates clearly that the railways' share of freight
traffic is decreasing. However, it is also clear that the
railways possess environmental advantages over road
transport and that for certain types of goods, passing over
middle to long distances they should be competitive with
other modes. In this situation, in order to encourage the
railways to become more competitive, the Commission's
Communication includes a number of proposals aimed at
improving the railways' position particularly in combined
road/rail transport. In view of the fact that freight
movements to/from peripheral areas tend to be long
distance, it is expected that the recent adoption by the
Council of the Commission's proposals for combined
transport will be useful to such areas.

O OJNoC34, 14. 2. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2721/90

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/42)

_Subject:_ Threat of extinction of the monk seal and
deterioration of the Greek National Park in the

northern Sporadese Islands

The National Park in the northern Sporadese Islands
(Greece) is being seriously neglected in favour of building
and civil engineering projects incompatible with nature
protection in this area.

This National Park provides a habitat for the monk seal,
a species which is becoming increasingly rare and
is threatened with extinction throughout Europe, in
addition to Audouin's gull, Eleonora's falcon and other
species.

Furthermore, a number of supervisory staff at the
National Park have been dismissed.

No C 150/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

The Community has in the past provided funds for the
creation and improvement of such parks.

1. How have these funds been used ?

2. Will the Commission take measures to preserve one of
the Community's most significant wildlife areas?

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

_(28 February 1991)_

Community funds have been used in particular for the
activities described in the final report regarding contract
6611/19/83 with the Ministry of the Environment, which
is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of the European Parliament.

The Commission has approached the Greek authorities
several times to obtain a long-term commitment regarding
the protection of the National Park in the northern
Sporadese Islands. This commitment will take the form of
a Presidential Decree.

The Commission was recently informed by the Greek
authorities that the management of the National Park and
the biological station will be entrusted to the Greek
Society for the Protection of the Environment and the
Heritage.

It has therefore contacted this Society to discuss future
Community participation in the funding of the

programme.

It hopes that the will shown by the Government will ease
the situation. It will be particularly attentive as regards the
progress made on the protection programme and the
rapid conclusion of the Presidential Decree procedure.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2730/90

by Mr Henry McCubbin (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/43)

_Subject:_ Payment of royalties to plant breeders

Does the Commission have any proposals with regard to
the payment of royalties to plant breeders for the
copyrighting of patenting of the genetic strains of their
products ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 February 1991)_

The Commission has submitted to the Council two

proposals with regard to the legal protection of living
matter, including plants, and of plant varieties:

— a proposal for a Council Directive on the legal
protection of biotechnological inventions (');

— a proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) on
Community plant variety rights ( [2] ).

Both proposals aim at defining the scope of protection
and in particular the circumstances in which the consent
of the holder of the right is required. In exercising his
right, the holder may choose the payment of royalties by
persons to whom he has given his consent.

The Commission will be glad to provide the Honourable
Member of Parliament with more detailed information, if
he so wishes in respect of specific aspects.

O OJNoClO, 13.1.1989.
O OJ No C 244, 28. 9. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2753/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/44)

_Subject:_ Desirability of companies throughout the
Community indicating their share capital in ECU

Companies in certain Member States are obliged,
irrespective of their legal form, to indicate their total
share capital — expressed in the national currency — in
all documents they issue, together with their registration
details.

This practice has demonstrated the usefulness of this
information for business purposes. There is thus a case
for considering extending to the whole Community the
requirement that companies should indicate their total
share capital in all their external dealing and should so do
in ECU, to enable companies and citizens throughout the
Community to ascertain their financial backing and level
of financial responsibility.

Does the Commission consider that it would be desirable

and practicable for all companies operating on EC
territory to indicate their share capital, expressed in ECU,
on a permanent basis in all their documentation?

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/23

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 March 1991)_

According to Directive 77/91/EEC (') the amount of a
public limited company's subscribed capital must be
indicated in either its statutes or its instrument of

incorporation. Such documents must, pursuant to
Directive 68/151/EEC ( [2] ) be disclosed in the company
register. There is at present no obligation to indicate the
amount of capital in ecus. However, as part of its policy of
promoting use of the ecu, the Commission is examining
the scope for using that currency in the documents of
public limited companies.

No consideration is being given to extending to all
company documents the obligation to indicate the
amount of capital.

(') OJNoL26,31. 1.1977.
O OJNoL65, 14.3. 1968.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2796/90

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/45)

_Subject:_ Progress of the informatics IMP in Greece

A wide-ranging discussion has been going on recently in
Greece on the progress of the informatics IMP in Greece.
Can the Commission give clear and detailed information
on the implementation of the informatics IMP for Greece
(take-up of appropriations, timetable for implementation,
etc.) ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 February 1991)_

The Integrated Mediterranean Programme for
Information Technology (IT-IMP) covers the period
from 1986 to 1992, which is divided in two phases
1986-1988 and 1989-1992.

The implementation rate of the first phase has been very
poor (12% of the total budget) mainly due to
administrative inefficiencies.

The second phase of the programme, based on a Greek
proposal submitted to the Commission in December 1989
and followed by lengthy negotiations between the

Commission with the Greek authorities, has been adopted
by the Commission in December 1990.

It is agreed that the Greek authorities will enhance the
management structure of the programme and its measures
taking particular care of issues concerning know-how
transfer, training and project management.

The latest information on the programme's absorption is
that up to 30 June 1990 31 % of the total budget of the
programme has been spent.

On the basis of the newly defined 2nd phase of the
programme, it is hoped that, by accelerating decisions
concerning its implementation in the responsible bodies
and by better management all around, the total budget of
136,8 million ecu will be absorbed by the programme. The
Commission will continue to monitor the situation

closely.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2805/90

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/46)

_Subject:_ National laws on compensation for moral
prejudice

A recent study by the European Bureau of Consumers'
Unions speaks of wide disparities in the various national
arrangements governing compensation for moral
prejudice.

Will the Commission submit proposals for appropriate
Community legislation?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 March 1991)_

The Commission has examined the BEUC report on
compensation for non-physical damage to private
individuals with great interest. The Commission notes
with interest the Honourable Member's view that

divergences between Member States' legislations are
incompatible with the principle that consumers should
have equal treatment.

The Commission has been concerned with this problem
which, being a central question of private law, goes far
beyond the domain of consumer protection for several
years, during the debates of various directives.

No C 150/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

The Commission will examine the opportunity of making
a proposal for approximating Member States' legislations
on compensation for non-physical damage to private
individuals.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2830/90

by Mr Elio Di Rupo (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/47)

_Subject:_ Level of Community expenditure in the tobacco

sector

According to reliable sources, Community expenditure in
1987 and 1988 in the tobacco sector (804 million ECU in
1987 and 966 million ECU in 1988) was calculated on 10
and 11 V2 months respectively. Over the full 12 months,
expenditure was in fact 918 million ECU and 987 million
ECU, i.e. a difference from the officially published
figures of 114 million ECU for 1987 and 21 million ECU
for 1988.

Can the Commission explain why it published figures
from incomplete budget years (10 months in 1987 and
IIV2 in 1988)? Were the remaining months carried over
to the following budget years?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 February 1991)_

Following the Community's budgetary difficulties, the
Budgetary Authority altered the EAGGF Guarantee
Section budget year from 1987.

Up until 1986, the EAGGF Guarantee Section paid
Member States advances on the expenditure they
incurred.

From the beginning of November 1987, however, the
EAGGF Guarantee Section had to suspend these
payments, its appropriations being exhausted. The
Budgetary Authority then decided that the balance of
expenditure for the 1987 budget year should be advanced
by the Member States with the EAGGF Guarantee
Section reimbursement being entered against the 1988
budget year. The budget year therefore covered the first
ten months of 1987.

It was also decided at the time that, henceforth, EAGGF
Guarantee Section expenditure would relate to
expenditure actually made by the Member States during
the period beginning on 16 October of the calendar year

preceding the budget year and ending on 15 October of
the year of the budget year. The 1988 budget year
therefore began at the beginning of November 1987 and
ended on 15 October 1988.

The 1987 budget year, therefore, did only cover ten
months (1 January to beginning of November 1987), the
1988 budget year covered 11 V2 months (beginning of
November 1987 to 15 October 1988) and the 1989 budget
year twelve months (16 October 1988 to 15 October 1989)
and so on . . .

This amendment to the length of the budget year affects
not only the tobacco sector, but all agricultural sectors.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2831/90

by Mr Elio Di Rupo (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/48)

_Subject:_ Establishment of a Community instrument to
combat oil speculation

Many experts agree that the increase in the price of oil is
not the direct consequence of the Gulf crisis, but largely
the result of speculation.

All the surveys carried out by the International Energy
Agency (IEA) and by the Commission on the current
situation in international oil supply and demand and
information received from industry agree that in fact
there is no global shortage at present.

To cover every eventuality, the Commission has very
judiciously proposed a Community response in the event
of difficulties with supply and petroleum stocks, which
consists in:

— the Community joining the IEA and

— the introduction of a new system of oil storage.

Does the Commission not consider that alongside these
measures, notwithstanding the rules on economic
liberalism, an appropriate Community instrument should
be created which would effectively combat the large-scale
speculation which allows certain oil companies to make
astronomical profits at the expense of European industry
and consumers, by imposing severe sanctions on
speculators, particularly in times of crisis?

Does the Commission have information on oil

speculation and its current effects?

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/25

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

_(20 March 1991)_

The sharp price variations, both upwards and downwards,
which have been seen in the international oil market over

the past few months do not reflect the balance of supply
and demand but, rather, the extremely volatile response
of the market to the media cover of the Gulf crisis. The

variations are also to some extent due to speculation
inherent in the operation of the international oil market.

The Commission does not have any precise information
about oil speculation and its possible effects. However, it
would point out that the competition rules of the Treaty
do apply in this area (in particular Articles 85 and 86)
and that it has started investigations, under Council
Regulation No 17, at and among the members of the
International Petroleum Exchange in the Community.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2860/90

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 150/49)

_Subject:_ Community aid for the supply of milk and
certain milk products in schools

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1842/83 (') lays down that
aid shall be granted for a period of not less than five years
as from the 1983/84 milk year.

Can the Commission give its assessment of this initiative
and say what lessons it has drawn?

If its assessment is positive, can it say whether it seems
desirable to continue this policy and, at least, whether it is
still possible for the bodies mentioned in Regulation
(EEC) No 1842/83 to subscribe to the scheme?

O OJNoL 183,7.7. 1983, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 February 1991)_

The Commission's overall assessment of this measure is

positive. This applies in particular to the extent of

participation. All 12 Member States now take part in the
Community programme, which thus covers almost
30 million primary and secondary pupils.

In addition, the Commission considers that the school
milk aid scheme has basically met the objectives originally
laid down, i.e. to maintain or encourage the habit of
consuming milk and milk products on the one hand and
to achieve a complete, balanced diet on the other.

For these reasons, the programme should definitely be
continued in forthcoming years, in accordance with
the provisions currently in force. Accordingly, the
Commission does not intend to propose amendments to
the existing regulations, which, moreover, allow all
schools interested to take part in the aid scheme. The
competent body in each Member State should be
contacted as regards the practical aspects of such
cooperation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2913/90

by Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _January 1991)_

(91/C 150/50)

_Subject:_ The harmful effects of open-pit mining in the
Philippines

Is the Commission aware of the life-threatening
consequences of the open-pit mining projects in the
Philippines, in the form of serious air, soil and water
pollution?

Is the Commission prepared, within the context of
development cooperation relations with the Philippines,
to carry out a study of the harmful effects on the
population of open-pit mining carried out as part of the
Grand Anatok Project?

How does the Commission propose, on the basis of this
study, to launch projects capable of helping to reduce the
disastrous consequences for local people?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 February 1991)_

As a rule the Commission attaches the greatest possible
importance, as part of policy for cooperation with ALA
developing countries, to action for preventing or
remedying damage to the environment in them.

No official or unofficial requests for action have so far
been received by the Commission about environmental
problems due to open-cast mining in the Philippines.

No C 150/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

Mining in the strict sense of the word is not directly
covered by financial and technical assistance programmes.
However, budgetary resources available for
environmental protection in ALA developing countries
could, where necessary, be used for the type of study
referred to by the Honourable Member.

The Commission will instruct its delegation in Manila to
look into the matter.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2969/90

by Mr Paul Staes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 150/51)

_Subject:_ Community aid for growing maize

1. What Community aid is being granted for growing
maize?

2. Under what conditions is the aid provided?

3. What conditions are imposed concerning the use of
atrazine in growing maize to ensure that Community aid
in this sector does not indirectly result in drinking water
being polluted by this substance?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 March 1991)_

1. and 2. Maize growing is supported by the common
market organisation for cereals. This offers a guarantee
of intervention buying at a certain price, so long as
the maize grains gave certain minimum quality
characteristics. These are given in the Annex to
Regulation (EEC) No 1569/77 (').

3. In the absence of harmonized provisions for the
authorization of plant protection products, Member
States are responsible for the conditions governing the
authorization of such products, including any conditions
necessary to prevent pollution of drinking water. The
Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the

Commission's proposal concerning the placing of
EEC-accepted plant protection products on the market ( [2] )
which is expected to be adopted shortly by the Council.
When adopted, it will include common rules for the
evaluation and approval by Member States of plant
protection products and a Community positive list of
active substances, whose use in products may be

considered, subject to any necessary conditions laid down
therein, a priori safe for human and animal health and for
the environment.

O OJNoL174, 14. 7. 1977.
O OJNoC89, 10.4. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3023/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 150/52)

_Subject:_ Intensive plan for the technological development
of Spanish industry

According to the conclusions of the survey published by
the Commission on this subject, the general position of
Spanish companies in the run-up to the single market in
1993 is worrying, a fact about which there is growing
awareness in Spain.

Among its strengths Spain can count the positive
attitude of its industrialists to the need for greater
competitiveness, the restructuring of crisis-hit sectors and
above all the inflow of foreign investment. Nevertheless,
Spain continues to have a weak technological base. The
survey in question states that 0,7% of Spain's GDP is
spent on technological research and development
compared with more than 2 % as the Community average.

In what way does the Commission consider it could
contribute to overcoming this grave weakness in Spain's
technological base in the light of the crucial deadline of
1993? Would it be feasible for the Commission to

introduce a special programme aimed at overcoming,
within a specific period of time and with precise
objectives, a shortcoming the consequences of which may
affect the Community?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 March 1991)_

In response to the serious technological shortcoming
pointed out by the Honourable Member, it is appropriate
to note that the Regional Development Plan for Spain
which links in its analysis the issue of technological
development and the development of research in general,
envisages increasing the share of GDP spent on research
to more than 1 % in 1992.

This presupposes a major effort on the part of the public
authorities to achieve two main objectives:

10.6.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/27

1. to renew or create the necessary university or
third-level educational infrastructure

2. to encourage enterprises to invest in industrial
research, to facilitate technology transfers (SMEs), to
promote endogenous potential where it exists.

In keeping with both these aims and in support of regional
policy, the Community support framework 1989-1993,
adopted by the Commission on 31 October 1989 for
Objective 1 areas, provides for a Community contribution
of ECU 123 million from the ERDF for direct

participation in this development effort under priority 5.4
'Research, Development and Innovation'.

Furthermore, financial assistance under other headings
will contribute indirectly, such as:

— Priority 2.1 'Support for industry and craft industries',
allocated ECU 699,2 million; (science parks, etc... .),
and

— Priority 5.5 'Training facilities', allocated ECU
104 million (training in new technology, etc. . . .).

Under Priority 5.4 of the CSF, a first programme for the
provision of scientific research infrastructure (1989-93)
was approved by the Commission on 19 July 1990. This
programme, for which the central authorities have
responsibility, mobilizes almost PTA 18 billion and
receives an ERDF contribution of more than PTA

10 billion. It covers:

— the modernization of existing facilities, 20 %

— the provision of additional facilities, 30 %

— the creation of new research installations, 50 %.

Furthermore, in the Community support framework for
the Objective 2 regions of Spain (1989-1991) the third
priority adopted is entitled: 'Support for research and
development and training facilities'. The ERDF allocation
for this priority exceeds ECU 57 million. As a result,
measures of this type have been introduced in the
operational programmes for the regions of Aragon,
Catalonia, Madrid and Navarre.

A national training programme for research staff geared
towards new technology and teacher training has also
been announced by Spanish authorities, together with a
programme under the Stride Community initiative,
expected for the beginning of 1991 and which will receive
significant financial assistance.

The Stride initiative, with a total allocation of ECU
400 million, seeks to develop research capabilities and
participation in Community or international networks
as well as cooperation between research centres and
industry. The eventual financial allocation for Spain will
depend on the evaluation of the programmes to be
presented by the national authorities responsible.

Finally, various aid schemes, some of which qualify for
Community assistance (clean technology, for example,)
complete the picture.

The Commission is also contributing by way of the
Community policy of support for scientific research as
well as its 'framework programme', under which the
Spanish R&D organizations have received European
financial assistance of ECU 141 million, notably in the
growth industries of telecommunications (RACE) and
information technology (ESPRIT).

Lastly, more than 150 Spanish organizations (more than
two-thirds of which are industrial or SMEs) are among
approximately 1 500 organizations participating in the
Eureka programme.

To conclude, it is clear therefore that the Commission is
already participating in the Spanish authorities' efforts to
close the technological gap.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3056/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 150/53)

_Subject:_ Land use study

Will the Commission give details of its discussion paper
on trends and pressures likely to shape land use and
planning towards the year 2000? Will it also state what
progress was made on the initiative at the meeting of
Regional Policy and Planning Ministers in Turin on
23 and 24 November 1990?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 February 1991)_

The Commission approved, in November 1990, a
Communication to the Council and the European
Parliament 'Europe 2000: Outlook for the Development
of the Community's Territory' ('). This paper gives a
preliminary overview of the trends and pressures likely to
shape land use and physical planning in the Community to
the year 2000 and beyond.

At their informal meeting in Turin on 23/24 November
1990, Ministers stressed that an effective regional policy

No C 150/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

should be based on a coherent view of the Community's
Territory as a whole, and welcomed the approach taken
by the Commission towards providing a reference
framework that would assist planners and decision
makers in national, regional and local public authorities
as well as in the private sector. The final document will be
published at the end of 1991.

0) COM(90) 544 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3068/90

by Mr Pol Marck (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 150/54)

_Subject:_ Intervention in the beef and veal sector

According to national experts, the new intervention
system in the beef and veal sector is inefficient and
expensive, with the result that only small quantities can be
bought in in certain countries.

What steps does the Commission intend to take to make
the system more efficient, inform the sectors concerned
and reduce the cost to the EC budget?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 March 1991)_

The new tender system for intervention purchases has
been in operation since April 1989 and the experience
gained with this method of purchases does, generally
speaking, not confirm the Honourable Parliamentarian's
conclusions. The system is not inefficient and is certainly
less expensive than unlimited purchases to a given
buying-in price, as interventions was applied before 1989.

In fact, intervention purchases were relatively low
between April 1989 and April 1990 (about 180 000 tonnes)
but increased since then dramatically to more than
600 000 tonnes until the end of 1990. This is the result of

a heavy crisis in this sector which is due in turn to the
cyclical increase in beef production and a weak
consumption. On top of these basic movements, factors
outside the influence of the market organization
accelerated the market price decrease, such as BSE
(Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), various hormone
scandals, the Gulf crisis and the elimination of surplus
production in the five new German 'Lander' (ex GDR).
Without intervention purchases the beef market would
have literally collapsed.

Intervention purchases are widely carried out in all
eligible Member States and to a lesser extent in Spain and
the Netherlands. In Spain, mostly infrastructural
problems of the industry reduce the use of the
intervention purchases by tender. Dutch operators prefer
commercial outlets to intervention.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 9/91

by Mr Henry Chabert (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/55)

_Subject:_ Erasmus Programme

How many students have taken part in the Erasmus
Programme since its introduction in the Community?

Can the Commission give a breakdown of such students
by country and by year?

What percentage of Erasmus Programme students come
from the Rhone-Alpes Region (and each of its
departments)?

What are the main areas of university study and activity
concerned in the Rhone-Alpes Region in the context of
this programme?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 February 1991)_

The total number of students to have received mobility
grants under the Erasmus programme over the four years
it has been operational is estimated at some 80 000.

Statistics on the beneficiaries of the programme
(universities, teachers and students) are published in the
annual reports to the Council and Parliament. The 1990
report will be submitted in March 1991.

The first statistics showing a regional breakdown of
Member States' participation in the programme are those
for the 1990/91 academic year. The 29 higher education
establishments in the Rhdne-Alpes region are taking part
in 178 Erasmus inter-university cooperation programmes,
which accounts for 15 % of total French participation. The

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/29

number of students in this region eligible to receive
Erasmus grants is 1 335 (15% of the total of French
students participating).

The main fields of study in the programmes developed by
the establishments in the Rhone-Alpes regions are:
engineering 19,6%; management 14%; social sciences
14%; languages 11,3%; natural sciences 9,5%; law 5%;
mathematics and computer studies 5 %; and medicine 5 %.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 74/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/56)

_Subject:_ Delays in publishing responses to questions in
the _Official Journal of the European Communities_

What steps are being taken to shorten the time delay
between the submission of questions for written reply to
the Commission and their replies being published in the
_Official Journal of the European Communities_ _f_

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 March 1991)_

The Commission agrees that too much time can elapse
before publication of answers to written questions in the
_Official Journal of the European Communities._ To alleviate
the disadvantages of this, the Commission has arranged
for Members to receive a weekly list of answers approved
the week before and a number of copies of a document
containing the questions and answers in one language.

Answers to Written Questions are published in the
_Official Journal of the European Communities_ under
Parliament's authority. It is true that publication partly
depends on all language versions of an answer being made
available by the Commission. This represents a sizeable
task which Commission departments are endeavouring to
perform effectively.

In 1990 the Commission sent Parliament an average of
170 answers a month for publication.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 75/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/57)

_Subject:_ Reprocessing of nuclear fuels

What representations have been received since January
1989 from: (a) governments, (b) organizations, and (c)
individuals from outside the European Community,
concerned with

1. current nuclear reprocessing activities at Sellafield,
Dounreay, La Hague and Karlsruhe

and

2. plans to increase reprocessing of nuclear fuels at these
plants in the 1990s;

and what responses have been made to these
representations?

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

_(25 March 1991)_

The Commission makes it a rule not to make public its
correspondence with governments, organizations and
individuals. It can assure the Honourable Member,
however, that all the correspondence it receives is given an
appropriate reply.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 81/91

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/58)

_Subject:_ Application of anti-pollution measures in
Ptolemai'da

Article 6 of Directive 85/203/EEC (') states that
'Member States shall establish measuring stations to
supply the data necessary for the application of this
Directive . . . in particular in zones where the limit value is
exceeded or likely to be exceeded ...' and Article 6 of
Directive 80/779/EEC ( [2] ) is almost identical. Since the
Ptolemai'da local authorities have drawn our attention to

the acute public health problem in the area due to the
serious pollution caused mainly by the industrial activity
of the National Electricity Board (DEH), and since,
contrary to the provisions of the above Directives,
measuring stations have not yet been established, does the

No C 150/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

Commission propose to put pressure on the Greek
Government to comply with these Directives; does it
intend to provide financial support for the establishment
of the measuring stations in question, and does it propose
to speed up all the relevant procedures so that the matter
may, if necessary, be referred to the Court of Justice?

O OJ No L 87, 27. 3.1985, p. 1.
O OJNoL229,30. 8.1980, p. 30.

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

_(21 March 1991)_

An infringement procedure regarding the pollution of the
Ptolemai'da region is being looked into. Meanwhile, the
Commission is still waiting for further information from
the Member State concerned regarding:

— the measuring method employed by the National
Electricity Board to determine suspended particulates;

— the detailed plans, in accordance with Article 3
of Directive 80/779/EEC, for the progressive
improvement of the quality of the air with regard to
sulphur dioxide and, in the case of the Ptolemai'da
region, above all, suspended particulates, to bring
pollution down to values below those required by the
Directive by 1 April 1993 at the latest. The
Commission has still received no such plans.

In no case does the Commission help to finance this type
of measuring station. Member States are responsible for
setting these stations up in accordance with the Directives.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 150/91

by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/59)

_Subject:_ Castilian, the language of Ibero-America

The Advisory Committee on Procurements and Contracts
has awarded the Eurolatina Agency the contract for the
production of information programmes for IberoAmerican television stations on the activities of the

European Community in Ibero-America. Six tenders,
including one submitted by the Spanish agency Efe, were
rejected.

One of the reasons given for the final decision was that
'the staff of Latin American origin employed by
Eurolatina have the sensibility of the public which is being
targeted and speak their own language, a language rather
different from Castilian, which is not well understood in
those countries'. These reasons were given in a report
drawn up by senior officials of the Commission's
Directorate-General for Information, Communication

and Culture.

What steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure
that this argument is not adduced on future occasions,
given that it is based on a falsehood and constitutes a
serious attack on a language spoken by over 400 million
people throughout the world, albeit with varying accents?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 March 1991)_

The Honourable Member refers to an internal report
justifying the choice of a producer of information
programmes for Latin American television stations.

The Commission has already answered Oral Question
H-104/91 by Mr Arbeloa Muru on the same topic during
question time at Parliament's February part-session (').

The unfortunate sentence which the Honourable Member

found in the report had no bearing on the final selection
made.

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member

that the procedure followed in this matter was in
accordance with the rules governing this type of invitation
to tender.

The company which was awarded the contract was
selected on the basis of cost, profitability and
effectiveness in the interests of credibility, which is
essential if the programmes are to serve their purpose.

The unfortunate, not to say offensive, wording of
the sentence in question was due to a regrettable
misunderstanding and in no way reflects the
Commission's present views or the attitude it may adopt
in future.

O OJAnnex 3-401 (February 1991).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 151/91

by Mrs Claudia Roth (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/60)

_Subject:_ Participation of non-EC citizens in education
and youth programmes

1. In which of the following European Community
programmes may people who do not hold citizenship of

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/31

an EC Member State but are resident there take part, and
from which are they specifically excluded: Erasmus,
Petra, Youth for Europe, Exchange of Young Workers,
Lingua, Comett, Eurotech, Tempus, Arion and Force?

2. How many non-EC citizens actually took part in
these programmes in 1989 and 1990? What was the ratio
of women to men for each programme?

Answer given by Mr Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 March 1991)_

The Erasmus, Lingua, Youth for Europe, Eurotecnet,
Petra, Comett, Force and, of course, Tempus
programmes are open to persons who are not Community
nationals but habitually reside in a Member State.

The various aid operations and measures provided for
under the Arion programme (study visits by local,
regional and national education officers) and the
exchanges of young workers are reserved for nationals of
Member States.

Statistics on participation by non-EEC nationals and on
the respective proportions of men and women will be
calculated in the analysis now being undertaken in
response to Parliament's resolution of 16 February 1990
on Community education and training programmes.

The results will be made available to Parliament in the

course of the year.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 242/91

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/61)

_Subject:_ Special protection areas for the Egyptian vulture
_(Neophron percnopterus)_

Can the Commission list the special protection areas
established by France for the conservation of the Egyptian
vulture _(Neophron_ _percnopterus)_ in accordance with
Directive 79/409/EEC O?

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

_(21 March 1991)_

To date, the Commission has not been informed of
any special protection area designated by France for
the protection of the Egyptian vulture _(Neophron_
_percnopterus)_ in accordance with Directive 79/409/EEC.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 243/91

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/62)

_Subject:_ Special protection areas for the little bustard
_(Tetrax tetrax)_

Can the Commission list the special protection areas
established by France for the conservation of the little
bustard _(Tetrax tetrax)_ in accordance with Directive

79/409/EEC O?

O OJNoL 103,25.4. 1979, p. 1.

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

_(21 March 1991)_

In France, the little bustard _(Tetrax tetrax)_ is one of the
species for which the Crau (Bouches-du-Rhone) has been
designated a special protection area in accordance with
Directive 79/409/EEC (11000 hectares in November
1990).

The species also nests in the following special protection

areas:

in Indre: the Domaine de Cherine (145 ha, September
1986); in Vendee: Saint Denis du Payre (206 ha,
September 1986); in the Gard: Pare National des
Cevennes (84 000 ha, February 1988).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 245/91

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 February 1991)_

(91/C 150/63)

_Subject:_ Special protection areas for the stone curlew
_(Burhinus oedicnemus)_

Can the Commission list the special protection areas
established by France for the conservation of the stone
curlew _(Burhinus oedicnemus)_ in accordance with Directive
79/409/EEC O?

O OJNoL 103,25.4. 1979,p. 1. O OJNoL 103,25.4.1979,p. 1.

No C 150/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 91

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

_(19 March 1991)_

The stone curlew _(Burhinus oedicnemus)_ is one of the
species for which the Crau has been designated a special
protection area in accordance with Directive 79/409/EEC
(Bouches-du-Rhone, 11 000 hectares, November 1990).

The species also nests in the following special protection

areas:

the Domaine de Cherine (Indre, 145 ha, September
1986); Mars-sur-Allier (Cher/Nievre, 150 ha, January
1990); Camargue (Bouches-du-Rhone, 16 702 ha,
September 1986) and the Pare National des Cevennes
(Gard, 84 000 ha, February 1988).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 263/91

by Mr Ian White (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 150/64)

_Subject:_ European heritage sites

In January 1991 a proposal by Mount Charlotte
Investments pic to develop the Avon Gorge Hotel site may
well have put the future of the Clifton Pump Rooms in
jeopardy. Local residents organized a very effective
protest group which entered into negotiations with the
company, as the result of which there is no immediate
danger to the pump room and adjoining rocks railway.

Major European cities frequently have a significant
building or area which is used as a symbol of the city or
area e.g. Eiffel Tower in Paris, Clifton Suspension Bridge
in Bristol.

Would the Commission be prepared to look at the
possibility of declaring certain specific sites, on
application, as being European heritage areas or
European heritage buildings, to ensure the survival of key
sites?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _April 1991)_

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

of the fact that it is not competent to declare certain
specific sites to be European heritage areas or buildings or
otherwise.

The Commission's action in the field is concentrated on

its annual scheme for the support of pilot projects to

conserve the Community's architectural heritage. Since
1989 this has focused on specific themes for each year.

Detailed information is provided in the _Official Journal of_
_the European Communities_ No C 304 of 4 December 1990.
Moreover, the Green Paper on the urban environment,
approved by the Commission on 6 June 1990 and by the
Council on 22 December 1990, states that 'Consideration
should be given to the potential benefits of a Community
system of recognition of the historic and cultural
significance of individual buildings and parts of urban
areas'.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 431/91

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 March 1991)_

(91/C 150/65)

_Subject:_ Criticism by the Spanish medical profession of
the healthcare system in Spain

The criticism levelled by the Chairman of the Spanish
Medical Association in connection with health in Spain is
directed at the dislocations in the health system's
inflexible organizational structure — a structure based on
state control.

The chairman voiced regret at the lack of professional
involvement and went on to present the case for
individuals to be free to choose between practitioners and
between public and private health care and for the State to
abandon its quasi-monopoly as the country's leading
health service provider.

The Commission cannot be indifferent to such powerful
statements, since they voice criticism of a lack of freedom
and unfettered competition, which are the principles
underpinning the view of society that informs the Treaty
of Rome.

Does the Commission believe that it should give its
support with a view to determining the accuracy or
otherwise of the criticism by the Chairman of the Spanish
Medical Council in connection with the Spanish health
care system and the unrestricted competitive environment
that is laid down by the Treaties?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 April 1991)_

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the
question asked by the Honourable Member, which is a
matter solely for the national authorities concerned.

10. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/33

WRITTEN QUESTION No 620/91

by Mr Madron Seligman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 April_ _1991)_

(91/C 150/66)

_Subject:_ Estimating progress in saving energy in each
Member State

What are the criteria for estimating progress in each
Member State in saving energy? What is the estimated

energy saving potential in each Member State as a
proportion of total energy consumption?

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

_(3 May_ _1991)_

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the Honourable Member's question.

It will inform him of its findings as soon as possible.