Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 213
# Official Journal

Volume 38

### of the European Communities

###### Information and Notices

English edition

17 August 1995

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

95 C 213 / 01

E-2437 / 94 by Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Equal pay ( Supplementary answer ) 1

95 / C 213 / 02 E-2717 / 94 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject : European Environment Agency 1

95 / C 213 / 03 E-2849 / 94 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Use of the ECU 3

95 / C 213 / 04

95 / C 213 / 05

E-2884 / 94 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of firearms Directive in Italy 3

E-7 / 95 by Winfried Menrad to the Commission
Subject : White Paper on European Social Policy — voluntary organizations 4

95 / C 213 / 06 E-75 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission

Subject : EU aid for the Saarland 5

95 / C 213 / 07 E-76 / 95 by Helwin Peter and Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of aid to the Saarland over the last five years 5

Joint supplementary answer to Written Questions E-75 / 95 and E-76 / 95 5

95 / C 213 / 08

95 / C 213 / 09

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E-l 70 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Action to encourage sports activities 5

E-l 89 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Policy to promote clubs and societies 5

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 213 / 10 E-257 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Support for theme parks 5

Joint answer to Written Questions E-l 70 / 95, E-l 89 / 95 and E-257 / 95 6

95 / C 213 / 11 E-l 86 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Settlement of agricultural questions left pending 6

95 / C 213 / 12 E-l 99 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : The Union 's Mediterranean policy 6

95 / C 213 / 13 E-202 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Access to the information super-highways for outlying regions 7

95 / C 213 / 14 E-208 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Policy for encouraging the learning of two foreign languages 8

95 / C 213 / 15 E-233 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Community information policy 8

95 / C 213 / 16 E-251 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Timetable for the revision of the Maastricht Treaty 9

95 / C 213 / 17 E-254 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Relations between associations and the Community institutions 9

95 / C 213 / 18 E-259 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Conservation of protected species 9

95 / C 213 / 19 E-307 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Council
Subject : Mediterranean 10

95 / C 213 / 20 E-308 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo and Spalato Belleré to the Council
Subject : Agreements with Mediterranean countries 10

95 / C 213 / 21 E-346 / 95 by Anne Andre-Leonard to the Commission
Subject : Tariffs applied to telecommunications and postal services in the single market 11

95 / C 213 / 22 E-363 / 95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Council
Subject : Ban on pelagic trawls 12

95 / C 213 / 23 E-411 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission
Subject : EU Environment Agency 12

95 / C 213 / 24 E-441 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Negotiations between South Africa and Europe 13

95 / C 213 / 25 E-467 / 95 by Joan Vallvé to the Council
Subject : Inclusion of roads on the Balearic Islands in the next trans-European transport
network 13

95 / C 213 / 26 E-52 9 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Trans-European road network 14

95 / C 213 / 27 E-570 / 95 by Giacomo Leopardi to the Council
Subject : Pollution of sea water by animal manure 14

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95 / C 213 / 28 E-572 / 95 by Frederik Willockx to the Council
Subject : Universal service — definition 14

95 / C 213 / 29 E-640 / 95 by Mark Watts to the Council
Subject : British Gas — Abuse of dominant position under Article 86 of the Treaty of Rome 15

95 / C 213 / 30 E-642 / 95 by Mark Watts to the Council
Subject : Validity of new British Gas discriminatory gas pricing policy 15

Joint answer to Written Questions E-640 / 95 and E-642 / 95 15

95 / C 213 / 31 E-648 / 95 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert to the Commission
Subject : EU funds for the district of Miinster over the last ten years ( Supplementary answer ) 15

95 / C 213 / 32 E-748 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Integrated pasturage management schemes 16

95 / C 213 / 33 E-759 / 95 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dorfler to the Commission
Subject : Deterioration in the quality of meat due to the transport of live animals 16

95 / C 213 / 34 E-760 / 95 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dorfler to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies for the mass transport of animals 17

95 / C 213 / 35 E-764 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 17

95 / C 213 / 36 E-765 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 18

95 / C 213 / 37 E-766 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 18

95 / C 213 / 38 E-767 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 18

95 / C 213 / 39 E-768 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 18

95 / C 213 / 40 E-769 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 19

95 / C 213 / 41 E-770 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 19

95 / C 213 / 42 E-771 / 95 by Xaver Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation
of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products 19

Joint answer to Written Questions E-764 / 95 to E-771 / 95 19

95 / C 213 / 43 E-778 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Community initiative programme 20

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###### EN

E-782 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Measures to accompany accession of Spain to blue Europe 21

E-798 / 95 by Imelda Read to the Commission
Subject : Information on the future of the European Union 21

E-829 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Reform of the common organization of the market in wine 22

E-858 / 95 by Ulla Sandbæk to the Council
Subject : Publication of the results of votes 22

E-8 84 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Commission action to enforce implementation of Directive 85 / 33 7 by the Greek Electricity
Board ( DEI ) 23

E-900 / 95 by Ludivina Garcia Arias to the Commission
Subject : Equal treatment 24

E-911 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Measures to support small businesses 25

P-9 1 9 / 95 by Richard Balfe to the Council
Subject : Wines and spirits 25

E-947 / 95 by Raymond Chesa to the Commission
Subject : The Montpellier — Barcelona TGV route 25

E-958 / 95 by Mark Watts to the Commission
Subject : Animal testing for cosmetics 26

E-964 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission

Subject : Technology transfers 27

E-979 / 95 by Simon Murphy to the Commission
Subject : Labels of origin on textiles and clothing 27

E-988 / 95 by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Words of the European anthem 27

E-1016 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 28

E-1017 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 28

E-1018 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 29

E-1019 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 29

E-l 020 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 29

E-1021 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 30

E - 1022 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 30

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 213 / 64 E-l 023 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 30

95 / C 213 / 65 E - 1024 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 31

95 / C 213 / 66 E-l 025 / 95 by António Campos and José Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law ( Portugal ) 31

Joint answer to Written Questions E                 - 1 01 6 / 95 to E                 - 1 025 / 95 31

95 / C 213 / 67 E-l 028 / 95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Import licence for European songbirds bred in Asia 32

95 / C 213 / 68

E-l 029 / 95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Goose hunting in the European Union 32

95 / C 213 / 69 E-l 044 / 95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso, Juan Colino Salamanca and Josep Pons Grau to the
Commission

Subject : Aid to Haiti 33

95 / C 213 / 70 E-l 046 / 95 by Jean Gol to the Commission

Subject : Protection of wolves in Europe 34

95 / C 213 / 71

95 / C 213 / 72

E-1080 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Financing the trans-European transport networks 34

P-l 115 / 95 by Helena Torres Marques to the Commission
Subject : Financing for, and route to be followed by, the Lisbon — Valladolid motorway 35

95 / C 213 / 73 E-l 135 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission

Subject : Establishment of TACs and distribution of quotas for anchovy 36

95 / C 213 / 74

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E-l 156 / 95 by Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : Formation of a fishing fleet under the European Union flag 36

E-l 169 / 95 by Yannos Kranidiotis to the Commission
Subject : Re-organization of the Greek textiles industry 37

E-l 179 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The Seville workshop on thermal solar energy and its transfer to the Mediterranean
basin 37

E-l 188 / 95 by Kirsten Jensen to the Commission

Subject : Transport 38

E-l 208 / 95 by Markus Ferber and Edgar Schiedermeier to the Commission
Subject : Transport problems in the central and eastern European countries 38

E-1217 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Tropical forests budget line B7-5041 39

P-l 220 / 95 by Claude Desama to the Commission
Subject : Situation of the 250 hotel and catering sector workers in the buildings of the Union
institutions in Brussels 40

E-1225 / 95 by Wolfgang Nuftbaumer to the Commission
Subject : Integration of the countries of central and eastern Europe into a Europe-wide information
network 41

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 213 / 82 E-1240 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Assessment of the Erasmus programme 41

95 / C 213 / 83 E-1241 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Joint Research Centre 42

95 / C 213 / 84 E-1246 / 95 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Vehicle emissions 43

95 / C 213 / 85 E-12 56 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Relations with independent trade unions 43

95 / C 213 / 86 E-1259 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Construction of a dam in the Tsiknia region of Lesbos 44

95 / C 213 / 87 E-1278 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing 1995 44

95 / C 213 / 88 E-1281 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Law Society observation report on trials in Turkey of former MPs and lawyers 44

95 / C 213 / 89 E-l 294 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Senior pass 45

95 / C 213 / 90 E-12 95 / 95 by Mark Killilea to the Commission
Subject : Remuneration for trainers of persons with disabilities 45

95 / C 213 / 91 E-1296 / 95 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission
Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 — leghold traps 46

95 / C 213 / 92 E-l 300 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The Heart study by the TIDE office ' 46

95 / C 213 / 93 E-1302 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Disagreements with the European Transport Safety Council 47

95 / C 213 / 94 E-1303 / 95 by Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : Maintaining a Mediterranean balance in the enlargement process 47

95 / C 213 / 95 E-1314 / 95 by Jose Apolinario to the Commission
Subject : Information on a vocational training course 47

95 / C 213 / 96 P-1316 / 95 by Jimmy Goldsmith to the Commission
Subject : Free-trade agreements with third countries 48

95 / C 213 / 97 E-1322 / 95 by Leen van der Waal to the Commission
Subject : Obstacles encountered by Christians in Egypt to the construction and maintenance of their
churches 49

95 / C 213 / 98 E-1323 / 95 by Alessandro Fontana to the Commission
Subject : Small and medium-sized undertakings and the Leonardo Programme 50

95 / C 213 / 99 E-l 33 1 / 95 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Appointment of social partners — action programme on vocational training 50

Joint answer to Written Questions E-l 323 / 95 and E-1331 / 95 50

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( Continued on page 64 )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 213 / 100 E - 1326 / 95 by Angela Billingham to the Commission
Subject : European safety standard 1995 — Personal protective equipment — safety footwear 50

95 / C 213 / 101 E - 1327 / 95 by Angela Billingham to the Commission
Subject : Trade barriers 51

95 / C 213 / 102 E-1337 / 95 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Distance working in the European Union 51

95 / C 213 / 103 P-1338 / 95 by Manuela Frutos Gama to the Commission
Subject : Equal treatment 52

95 / C 213 / 104 P - 133 9 / 95 by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco to the Commission
Subject : Equal treatment 52

Joint answer to Written Questions P-1338 / 95 and P-133 9 / 95 52

95 / C 213 / 105 E-1341 / 95 by Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : The psychosocial working environment 52

95 / C 213 / 106 P-134 5 / 95 by Giorgio La Malfa to the Commission
Subject : The Nacala railway between Malawi and Mozambique 53

95 / C 213 / 107 E-1354 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Trade in exotic birds 53

95 / C 213 / 108 E-1365 / 95 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Working groups dealing with road safety issues 54

95 / C 213 / 109 E-1383 / 95 by Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Education and continuing training of adults 54

95 / C 213 / 110 P-1390 / 95 by Joaquim Miranda to the Commission
Subject : Damage to Portuguese agriculture caused by natural disasters 55

95 / C 213 / 111 E-l 392 / 95 by Christa Klaß to the Commission
Subject : Sexual exploitation of children in tourism 56

95 / C 213 / 112 E-1396 / 95 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties faced by SMEs 56

95 / C 213 / 113 E-1397 / 95 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Traditional production methods of certain food products 57

95 / C 213 / 114 E-1404 / 95 by Barry Seal to the Commission
Subject : Free movement within the European Union 57

95 / C 213 / 115 E-1414 / 95 by Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission
Subject : The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women 57

95 / C 213 / 116 E-1422 / 95 by Karl Schweitzer to the Commission
Subject : Western European Union 58

95 / C 213 / 117 P-1433 / 95 by Giorgio La Malfa to the Commission
Subject : Langer report on promoting fairness and solidarity in trade 58

95 / C 213 / 118 P-1435 / 95 by Carl Lang to the Commission
Subject : Intra-Community maritime traffic 59

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95 / C 213 / 119 E-14 57 / 95 by Jacques Donnay to the Commission
Subject : Risk or social dumping in the transport sector 59

Joint answer to Written Questions P-1435 / 95 and E-1457 / 95 60

95 / C 213 / 120 E-1485 / 95 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Social security 60

95 / C 213 / 121 E-1486 / 95 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission
Subject : Publication of written questions and answers 60

95 / C 213 / 122 P-148 9 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Euratom authorization for imported plutonium in Munich 61

95 / C 213 / 123 P-1502 / 95 by Jimmy Goldsmith to the Commission
Subject : E.C.I.P. financial instrument 61

95 / C 213 / 124 P-1514 / 95 by Niels Sindal to the Commission
Subject : Sport and doping 62

95 / C 213 / 125 E-1517 / 95 by Nuala Ahern to the Commission
Subject : Changes in status at Sellafield reprocessing plant 63

95 / C 213 / 126 P-l 525 / 95 by Karl-Heinz Florenz to the Commission
Subject : Sum spent specifically on the protection of habitats, flora and fauna as a proportion of the
funds allocated to environmental protection from the Structural and Cohesion Funds 63

###### EN

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2437 / 94

by Freddy Blak ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 30 November 1994 )

( 95 / C 213 / 01 )

Subject : Equal pay

In the light of the arbitrator 's judgment in the case brought
by the Handels - og Kontorfunktionserernes Forbund

( Federation of Office Workers ) in Denmark against the sales
and service department of Bilka Lavprisvarehus A / S

( concerning Bilka 's central warehouse in Skejby ), will the
Commission say :

1 . whether it is in accordance with Community regulations

on equal treatment, including the right to equal pay, that
physically demanding work be used as grounds for
discriminatory treatment, including discrimination in
terms of pay ?

2 . If it is not, what action does the Commission intend to
take ?

3 . If it is, what is to stop this argument being used in cases
where the natural division of labour is for men to take

the most physically demanding work and women the
jobs requiring some degree of dexterity ?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Flynn

on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1995 )

Further to its answer of 3 February 1995 ( ) the
Commission takes note of the case raised by the Honourable
Member .

It is clearly inconsistent with Community law to use the
criterion of physical effort in a discriminatory way for the

purpose of job evaluation . Community law requires that
any assessment of the physical efforts required by a
particular task be objective with regard to male and female
workers . It is clear from the judgment that the arbitrator
was aware of the requirements of Community law .

The Commission considers that the arbitrator understood
the relevant principles of Community law . It was open to the
arbitrator to find, on the facts as proven, that there was an
objective difference between the jobs compared, justifying a
pay difference .

In its memorandum on equal pay for work of equal value ( 2 ),
the Commission emphasises that all job evaluation schemes
must be objective and avoid discriminating generally against
workers of one sex . In particular, a scheme must, as a whole,
take account of criteria for which workers of each sex may
show a particular aptitude .

0 ) OJ No C 75, 27 . 3 . 1995, p . 46 .

( 2 ) COM(94 ) 6 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2717 / 94

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 16 December 1994 )

( 951 C 213 / 02 )

Subject : European Environment Agency

Bearing in mind :

— Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 (*) on the establishment

of the European Environment Agency and the European
environment information and observation network ;

No C 213 / 2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

— that Article 2 of the Regulation states that the network is

to be established and coordinated in cooperation with all
the Member States ;

— that Article 4 of the Regulation provides that, within six

months of its entry into force, the Member States are to
inform the European Environment Agency of the main
component elements of their national environment
information networks ;

1 . How many states have implemented Article 4 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90, and which are they ?

2 . How many states have established national environment
information networks, and which states are they ?

3 . Where states fail to implement Articles 2 and 4 of the
Regulation, will the Commission initiate the
infringement procedure laid down in Article 169 of the
Treaty ?

(') OJ No L 120, 11.5 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 February 1995 )

1 . All Member States have implemented Article 4 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 of 7 May 1990 by providing
the Agency with details on their main component elements,
national focal points and candidates for topic centres .
Details were provided on forms or computer-files which
were distributed by the Agency to each nominated national
focal point and subsequently returned to the agency for
compilation into a database .

2 . As mentioned by the Agency 's director in his
presentation to the Parliaments Environment Committee on
22 November 1994, when the exercise began most of the
first notifications received were simply inventories of
national organizations or institutions . However, through a
series of meetings of the group of high level experts
nominated by the management board the inventories were
progressively redesignated into a potential network using
the following definitions ( development from the
requirements of Article 4 ):

— national focal points ( NFP ) — in charge of cooperation

with the agency and national coordination of activities
related to the agency its work programme ;

— main component elements ( MCE ) — institutions or
organisations in the national networks which at a
national level are regular collectors and suppliers of
environmental data or possess relevant knowledge
regarding environmental science, monitoring or
modelling ;

— national reference centres ( NRC ) — institutions or
organisations which are MCEs and may be nominated

by Member States to play a role in technical
coordination within their countries and cooperate with
the agency on specific themes ;

— European topic centres ( ETC ) — institutions or
organisations which will be contracted by the Agency to
execute tasks identified in the multiannual work

programme .

Hence, with different degrees of development, capacities
and potential, all the Member States have defined and
established the foundations of their national environment

information networks and informed the Agency of their
main component elements as required by Article 4 .
Therefore, within the total period of one year provided by
Articles 4.2 and 4.5 (6 + 6 months ), the main elements of the
networks were confirmed by the management board at its
meeting of 31 October 1994 .

Another matter is the build up of an operational and
efficient European information and observation network

( Eionet ) as ' aimed at ' by Article 1.1 and as considered as a
task of the Agency in Article 2 ( 1 ) — ' to establish, in
cooperation with Member States, and coordinate the
network referred in Article 4 '.

While some of the existing national systems could be
considered as operational networks in the sense that they
provide a coordinated set of environmental information and
observation centres ( for example Denmark, Netherlands,
France ), few, if any, of them could be considered at this stage
to be developed to the extent envisaged by the
Regulation .

It is estimated that only after a reasonable period of one
additional year will the Agency be able to evaluate whether
the Eionet is adequately operational and whether the
support received from the Member States, and in particular
from their national networks, is considered adequate .

For the moment it would be premature to indicate which
Member States have ( or have not ) established operational
networks and are already good enough for the purposes of
Articles 1, 2 and 3 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 .

3 . For the moment, the Member States have carried out
the tasks defined by Article 4 concerning their obligation to
inform the Agency about the main component elements of
their national networks .

As for their obligations concerning the building up of an
efficient and operational network, a bigger effort could and
should have been made already by the Member States, both
for their own benefit and for the benefit of the joint Eionet .
However, specific claims, and therefore identification of
Member States that do not cooperate in this joint project,
will only be possible after a period of one year .

While as much political pressure as necessary should already
be applied to Member States to build up their national
information networks and to dedicate adequate resources

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 3

( personnel and economic ), it is questionable whether one electronic wallets, which could facilitate the transition to the
can talk at this stage of possible infringement of Article 4 . single currency . In 1992, it launched the conditional access
The Agency will be the first to dennounce any lack of for Europe research project, in order to develop a
progress to the Commission . If progress over the additional generalised protocol for electronic payment systems and to
year is not consistent with the obligations defined in the embed this in an electronic wallet . This project was carried
Regulation and every effort has been made to achieve on during 1993 and 1994 by a consortium composed of
compliance with the requirements of Articles 2 and 4, the European universities and European producers of chip
Commission will consider the initiation of infringement cards . Up to forty companies, among them some of the most
procedures under Article 169 of the EC Treaty . important issuers of payment cards in Europe, answered a

call for expressions of interest in a multi-currency electronic
wallet trial in the premises of the European institutions ( 2 ).
Twenty-five agreed to take part in a special interest group on
a multicurrency electronic wallet which will suggest
concrete proposals to the Commission on the
implementation of the electronic single currency .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2849 / 94

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE ) (») COM(94 ) 436 final .

to the Commission ( 2 ) OJ No C 230, 19 . 8 . 1994 .

( 11 January 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 03 )

Subject : Use of the ECU

Payments are increasingly being made electronically and by
means of smart cards . What measures have been taken or are

envisaged to facilitate a smouth transition to use of the

ECU ?

In this connection, does the Commission cooperate closely
with the organizations which issue such cards ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1995 )

As stated in its communication on funds transfers :
transparency, performance and stability ( 1 ), the
Commission is convinced that the rapid introduction of the
single currency, according to Article 109 I, paragraph 4 of
the EC Treaty, would be facilitated by making appropriate
use of electronic media such as electronic credit transfers,
cards and purses . For this reason, while respecting the
competence of the European Monetary Institute ( EMI ) in
this area, the Commission will play its part in helping to
increase the awareness of this dimension in its work on
payment systems . The Commission is seeking advice from
its two consultative groups on payment systems on the ways
in which the payment systems can be best prepared for the
introduction of the single currency .

As part of the communication, the Commission forwarded a
proposal for a Directive, the purpose of which is to improve
cross-border credit transfer services, including the single

currency .

Furthermore, the Commission is very interested in the
development of new payment systems, like chip cards and

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2884 / 94

by Florus Wiisenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 16 January 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 04

Subject : Implementation of firearms Directive in Italy

1 . Is the Commission aware that Italy has omitted to
divide firearms into four categories as required by the
directive, so that the only distinction applicable to firearms
is that between weapons of war ( totally prohibited ) and
other weapons, all of which require a licence ?

2 . Does the Commission realize that this omission by the
Italian Government facilitates distortion of competition, as
the sale of many firearms is unrestricted in other Member
States ?

3 . While the Directive permits stricter national
legislation, does it not have the aim of harmonizing national
legislation by means of an uniform classification of firearms,
assigning them to homogeneous categories, some of which
may be subject to less strict rules ?

4 . Although the period within which the European
firearms pass was to be introduced elapsed on 1 January

1993, it still has not been introduced in Italy . This too
impedes the firearms trade, seriously damaging the national
market . It cannot be argued that this adverse effect is
justified in the interests of firearms control, as the failure to

introduce the European firearms pass renders such control
more difficult and less effective . Will the Commission bring .

No C 213 / 4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

pressure to bear on Italy to amend its rules on firearms in
accordance with the terms of the Directive ?

If so, how ?

If not, why not ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-7 / 95

by Winfried Menrad ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 05 )

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission Subject : White Paper on European Social Policy —

(9 March 1995 ) voluntary organizations

Council Directive 91 / 477 / EEC of 18 June 1991 ( ) includes,
in Annex 1, a classification dividing firearms into four
categories ' A ' to ' D ', with the corresponding rules for the
acquisition and possession of firearms becoming
increasingly less stringent . However, transposal of the
Directive does not imply that the Member States must
introduce a similar four-category classification into their
own legislation . In view of the option contained in Article 3
of the Directive, by which provisions more stringent than
those provided for in the Directive may be adopted, the
Member States may, for instance, make provision in their
national classification only for the most stringent categories
of the Directive ( Category A — prohibited firearms — and
Category B — firearms subject to authorization ).
Conversely, the Member States must adopt at national level
rules that are at least as stringent as those set out in the
Directive, and this would for instance preclude firearms
listed under Category B of the Directive from being included
in a national firearms category for which a simple
declaration was required .

The classification of firearms in the national legislation of
each Member State, which must meet the minimum
standards of stringency resulting from the Directive, reflects
the concerns of the Member State concerned regarding law
and order and regarding public safety . The choice of
classification, the effects of which apply indiscriminately to
economic operators in the Member State in question and to
operators in the other Member States, must be regarded as
neutral in its impact on competition .

With regard to the European firearms pass, the relevant
provisions of Directive 91 / 477 / EEC have been transposed
into Italian law by Legislative Decree No 527 of
30 December 1992 . Notwithstanding this Decree, the
Commission notes that, in practice, the European firearms
pass is still not available in Italy . This situation, which
adversely affects Italian hunters and sportsmen travelling to
other Member States, has no impact on the arms trade
because the European firearms pass does not cover
commercial movements of arms between Member States .

The Commission has already called on the Italian
authorities to ptovide an explanation for their failure to
issue the European firearms pass and will take appropriate
measures, if necessary, to ensure compliance in full with
Directive 91 / 477 / EEC .

(>) OJ No L 256, 13 . 9 . 1991 .

1 . What are the Commission 's reasons for using the term
' gemeinniitzig ' ( stemming from German tax law ) to describe
organizations in the German translation of Chapter VII —
Trade Unions, Employers ' Organizations and Voluntary
Organizations as Partners in the Process of Change — of the
White Paper on European Social Policy (*), ' voluntary ' in
the English translation and ' benevole ' in the French
original ?

2 . What are the Commission 's reasons for not contenting
itself with using the terms ' Wohlfahrtsverbande ', ' charitable
associations ' and ' associations de solidarite ', which are used
in the text of the Treaty on European Union, in declaration
No 23 on the value of cooperation with charitable
associations as institutions responsible for social welfare
establishments and services, and are therefore authoritative,
to describe such associations ?

3 . Is it the Commission 's intention, by using terms that
do not appear in the Treaty on European Union, to interpret
or extend the content of Declaration No 23 ?

(M COM(94 ) 333 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 1995 )

The Commission 's white paper on European social policy
does not intend to limit, nor in any way restrict, the scope of
Declaration 23, attached to the Treaty on European
Union .

The terms ' voluntary organizations ', ' representative
organisations ' and ' interested bodies ' referred to in Chapter
VIII, B of the white paper should be construed in the light of
the Declaration .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 5

QUESTION E-75 / 95 4 . Can it have the EU funds and programmes that require

Hiltrud Breyer ( V ) complementary funding from public budgets in the

to the Commission individual Member States, and say which of these provide
resources for the Saarland and which do not ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-75 / 95

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 06 )

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions

E-75 / 95 and E-76 / 95

Subject : EU aid for the Saarland given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

1 . Can the Commission say which projects in the
Saarland ( FRG ) have received aid over the last ten years, or
are currently receiving and, from EU programmes, how
much each project has received, or is receiving and which EU
programmes are involved, distinguishing between those
programmes that require complimentary funding from
Lander, Federal or Municipal budgets and those
programmes or funds that do not ?

2 . Can it provide a comparative table showing the
take-up rates by the German Lander, both at present and
over the last ten years, of EU resources, broken down by
programme and fund ?

3 . Can it provide a comparative table showing the
take-up rates of programmes by the Federal German Lander
and the Member States of the Union both at present and
over the last ten years, indicating which programmes have
been extensively, moderately and insufficiently used ?

4 . Can it name the EU funds and programmes, requiring
complementary funding that have existing over the last ten
years or exist at present ; which of these have provided — or
provide — resources for the Saarland and which have — or
do — not ?

(3 July 1995 )

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is
sending it direct to the Honourable Members and to
Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 70 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 08 )

Subject : Action to encourage sports activities

European initiatives to encourage sports activities are
virtually non-existent . Could the Council not ask the
Commission to draw up sports programmes in the context
of inter-regional cooperation ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 89 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-76 / 95 to the Council
by Helwin Peter ( PSE ) and Doris Pack ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )
to the Commission

( 95 / C 213 / 09 )

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 07 ) Subject : Policy to promote clubs and societies

Subject : Allocation of aid to the Saarland over the last five

years

1 . Can the Commission say which projects in the
Saarland are receiving aid from EU programmes, how much
each project is receiving, and which EU programmes are
involved, distinguishing between those programmes that
require complementary funding by Land, Federal or
Municipal budgets and those programmes or funds that do
not ?

2 . Can it provide a comparative table showing the
take-up rates by the German Lander of EU resources,
broken down by programme and fund ?

3 . Can it provide any information regarding the relative
take-up rates of EU funds and programmes by the Federal
German Lander and the Member States of the Union ?

Flow does the Council rate the role of clubs and societies as a
vehicle for citizens ' initiatives and local democracy, and
what is its policy for developing this rule ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-257 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 10 )

Subject : Support for theme parks

Does not the success of theme parks in Europe, such as .
Futuroscope, prompt the Council to give financial support
to these activities which constitute great attractions
throughout the European Union ?

No C 213 / 6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

Joint answer
to Written Questions
E-170 / 95, E      - 1 89 / 95 and E-257 / 95

(5 July 1995 )

The Council determined the operating rules for the
Structural Funds and entrusted their administration to the

Commission . It is not for it to intervene in order to influence

the administration in one direction or another . However, in
the areas mentioned by the Honourable Member, the
Commission has already taken several Community
initiatives .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-186 / 95

measures for the 1994 / 95 marketing year . The Council
subsequently received Commission proposals for
Regulations which have been submitted to the
European Parliament for its opinion . The Council will
be taking a decision on these proposals when it has
received and examined the opinion of the European
Parliament .

( c ) Headquarters of the Community Plant Variety
Office

The representatives of the Governments of the Member
States are responsible for choosing the headquarters of
the Community Plant Variety Office, provided for by
Regulation ( EC ) No 2100 / 94 . The decision, which
must be unanimous, has not yet been taken since eight
cities have applied to house the headquarters . Under the
Regulation in question, the Plant Variety Office has to
be set up in good time to assume fully the tasks
incumbent upon it as from 27 April 1995 .

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE ) (!) OJ No C 110, 17 . 5 . 1995, p . 1 .

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 11 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E                        - 1 99 / 95

Subject : Settlement of agricultural questions left pending by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

How does the Council propose to settle certain matters left ( 22 February 1995 )
pending by the Agricultural Council, particularly with ( 95 / C 213 / 12 )
regard to the COM in sugar, the revision of measures
concerning dried fodder and tobacco, and the choice of the
headquarters of the Community Plant Variety Office ? Subject : The Union 's Mediterranean policy

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 12 )

Answer

(5 July 1995 )

The President of the Agriculture Council gave the European
Parliament Committee on Agriculture a progress report on
the various proposals in question on 24 January 1995 .

Basically, progress on the proposals mentioned by the
Honourable Member may be summarized as follows :

( a ) Proposal amending the COM in sugar

The Council held an initial policy debate at its meeting
on 23 January . After receiving the opinion of the
European Parliament on 6 April, the Agriculture
Council, meeting on 10 April, reached agreement on
the amendment of the COM in sugar, which was
formally adopted by the written procedure on 24 April
1995 ( Regulation ( EC ) No 1101 / 95 ) ( ] ).

How does the Council plan to facilitate the economic
development of the Union 's Mediterranean regions and
associate them with the major Mediterranean policy
initiative which the French presidency wishes to
promote ?

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

1995 marks a fundamental stage in the strengthening of the
Union 's Mediterranean policy that was launched in 1972 in
the form of the overall Mediterranean approach .

The Essen European Council of 9 and 10 December 1994
laid the basis for future Mediterranean policy, which is to
focus on a Euro-Mediterranean partnership between the
European Union and its Mediterranean partners .

1995 ( Regulation ( EC ) No 1101 / 95 ) ( ] ). On 10 April 1995 the Council, for its part, adopted a

summary report which will serve as a basis for exploratory

Dried fodder / tobacco talks between the Troika and the twelve Mediterranean

partners concerned between mid-April and mid-May 1995
A policy line on these products was adopted in the in preparation for further Council deliberations to finalize
context of the agreement on prices and related the European Union 's negotiating position .

( b ) Dried fodder / tobacco

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 7

The European Union 's objective is to ensure stability and
prosperity in the Mediterranean . To that end, the European
Union is prepared to support those countries in their efforts
to turn the region progressively into an area of peace,
stability, prosperity and cooperation and for that purpose to
establish a Euro-Mediterranean partnership . That calls for
political dialogue, lasting and balanced economic and social
development, combating poverty and the need for greater
understanding between cultures through a reinforcement of
the human dimension in exchanges .

The aim of the partnership in the political sphere is to
establish a number of common principles and interests . It
involves a reaffirmation of the importance of respect for
fundamental freedoms and the establishment of the rule of

law, which constitute elements of stability for the whole
Mediterranean region . Likewise, relations between States
must be guided by certain principles acceptable to all which
will ensure the stability of the region .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-202 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 13 )

Subject : Access to the information super-highways for

outlying regions

How does the Council intend to promote access to and the
development of the information super-highways in the
European Union 's outlying regions ?

Answer

(3 July 1995 )
The aim of the economic and financial partnership is to
establish a Euro-Mediterranean Economic Area founded on

free trade, to be progressively completed by 2010, covering
most trade, and based on the possibilities offered and the 1 . Following the Corfu
obligations imposed by the World Trade Organization . In Industry and Telecommunications
order to implement the partnership, and in particular to its conclusions of 28 September
support the efforts needed to create a free trade area, the development of efficient information
Community considers that the partnership should receive indispensable to Europe . In this
substantial additional financial assistance for the period of the co-decision procedure with the

1 995 to 1999 . To this would be added assistance from the

EIB in the form of bigger loans, and bilateral financial
contributions from the Member States .

The aim in the social and human sphere is to encourage
exchanges among civil society . The emphasis is placed on
education, training and young people, culture and the
media, migrant population groups and health . Greater
cooperation in the field of home affairs and justice is also
envisaged, with action in particular against drug trafficking,
terrorism and international crime .

On 27 and 28 November 1995 a Euro-Mediterranean

Conference will be held in Barcelona to agree on guidelines
for implementing the partnership . This Conference will be
an unprecedented opportunity for the countries of the
European Union and their partners in the eastern and
western Mediterranean to determine together their future
relations .

In conclusion, this is clearly an all-embracing policy that will
take the interests of all parties into account, so that it cannot
fail to benefit the Mediterranean regions of the Union as
well .

1 . Following the Corfu European Council, the joint
Industry and Telecommunications Council emphasized in
its conclusions of 28 September 1994 that the rapid
development of efficient information infrastructures was
indispensable to Europe . In this context, in the framework
of the co-decision procedure with the European Parliament,
the Council adopted a common position on 22 December

1 994 on a decision on a set of guidelines for the development
of the Euro-ISDN ( Integrated Services Digital Network ) as a
trans-European network, which represents the first step in
this area, since Euro-ISDN in fact constitutes a major
advance on the traditional telephone network .

It should be emphasized that Article 3 of that text makes
availability of a full geographical coverage by Euro-ISDN in
particular to facilitate access of the island, land-locked and
peripheral regions one of the objectives for the development
of Euro-ISDN .

The Council has not yet received proposals from the
Commission on the following stage relating to the
broad-band communication infrastructure necessary for
creating the multimedia world .

2 . The Ecofin Council meeting on 20 March 1995 agreed
in principle on the draft common position concerning the
financial Regulation laying down general rules for the
granting of Community financial aid in the field of
trans-European networks .

The draft financial Regulation defines the detailed
conditions and procedures for implementing Community
aid to projects of common interest in the field of
trans-European networks ( transport, energy and
telecommunications sectors ).

No C 213 / 8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

3 . Lastly, the Honourable Member will be aware that a How does the Council intend to reform the Union 's
G7 Ministerial Conference was held in Brussels on 25 and information policy so as to make the Union 's actions
26 February 1995, devoted exclusively to the information comprehensible to its citizens ?
society . That Conference, which approved eleven pilot
projects, considered in particular that a universal service
should be promoted in order to give everyone the
opportunity of participating in the information society . Answer

(5 July 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-208 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

'( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 14

Subject : Policy for encouraging the learning of two foreign

languages

What decisions are envisaged by the Council to extend the
teaching of two foreign European languages throughout the
Community education system ?

Answer

(5 July 1995 )

One of the objectives of the Socrates programme approved
by the European Parliament and the Council is ' to promote a
quantitative and qualitative improvement of the knowledge
of the languages of the European Union ' ( Article 3(b )); it
does not contain any ideas as to the number of foreign
languages to be taught to pupils in Member States '
education systems .

Moreover, the Council, at its meeting on 31 March 1995,
signified its agreement to a Council Regulation concerning
improving and diversifying language learning and teaching
within the education systems of the European Union ( ] ).

P ) See press release 102 ( 6123 / 95 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-233 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 15 )

The Honourable Member takes the view that the increase in

the number of Member States as a result of the enlargement
of the European Union from 1 January 1995 to include
Austria, Sweden and Finland makes for greater complexity .
While the mechanisms underlying decision-making may be
more cumbersome, the decision-making procedures
themselves are not .

Well before enlargement, the Birmingham, Edinburgh and

Copenhagen European Councils laid down a number of
principles relating to information on the European
Community which the Council already applies widely and
intends to pursue and improve in the future . It is standard, in
this context, to emphasize the progress already achieved
within the Council since the Inter-institutional Declaration
on democracy, transparency and subsidiarity ( J ); this is the
case in particular as regards making certain Council debates
public, the publication of common positions adopted in
accordance with the procedures laid down in Articles 189b
and 189c of the EC Treaty, the rules governing access to
documents laid down in Council Decision 93 / 73 1 / EC of

20 December 1993, the fact that votes of the Council acting
as legislator are made public and as regards the general
improvement in information policy . The Working Party on
Information, which has responsibility for that policy within
the Council, has initiated systematic discussions with a view
to establishing better cooperation in the field of information
policy strategy . Aware of the interinstitutional character of
this task, the Working Party on Information has held regular
six-monthly seminars involving all approved institutional
protagonists of the Community and the Member States to
analyze jointly the situation in and outlook for the
information sector . Thus a seminar was held in Berlin in

October 1994 on the subject of the purpose and tasks of
information policy in a unifying Europe . The need to keep in
touch with the public concerned has led the Working Party
to use those seminars to establish direct contacts with

potential recipients of such information . That was the case
in particular at the seminar in Berlin in October 1994, which
took place with the active participation of representatives
from the new German Lander .

It would therefore appear that the Honourable Member 's
concerns have already been answered in the measures
undertaken and strategies in preparation, which are certain
to be enriched by the discussions held and experience
acquired in the three new Member States .

Subject : Community information policy (') OJ No C 329, 6 . 12 . 1993, p . 133 .

Following the enlargement of the Union, the
decision-making system has become even more complex .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION E-251 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 16 )

Subject : Timetable for the revision of the Maastricht

Treaty

After the enlargement of the Union to include Finland,
Sweden and Austria, the European Union must make
preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference for the
revision of the Maastricht Treaty . Working parties will
therefore be set up .

mutual societies, associations and foundations in the Union,
and is it prepared to accept a situation where European
groupings of associations may play their part as the interface

between the associations and the Community
institutions ?

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

The Council will examine this proposal when it receives the
European Parliament 's Opinion . It is unable to comment on
the matter at this stage .

Can the Council indicate the timetable and the manner in

which the European Parliament and national parliaments
will be involved in this entire procedure ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-259 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

Answer ( 22 February 1995 )

(3 July 1995 ) ( 95 / C 213 / 18 )

Procedures for preparation for the 1996 Intergovernmental
Conference were drawn up at the Corfu European Council .
They provide for creation of a Reflection Group consisting
of representatives of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and
the President of the Commission, with two representatives
from the European Parliament, which is to start work in
June 1995 and report back to the European Council in

December 1995 . Before the Group starts work, the
Institutions have been asked to prepare reports on the
functioning of the Treaty on European Union to provide
input for the Group 's discussions .

The Intergovernmental Conference will be convened in
accordance with the procedure provided for in Article N of
the Treaty on European Union .

It will be up to the Member States to take such measures as
they deem appropriate to associate their national
parliaments in the work of the Conference, and to keep them
informed of discussions in the Reflection Group .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-254 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 17 )

Subject : Relations between associations and the
Community institutions

Is the Council prepared to accept the Commission proposal
concerning the action programme to benefit cooperatives,

Subject : Conservation of protected species

The capture of protected species is prohibited in Article 5 of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( ] ) and Article 12 of Directive
92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 ).

Does not the Council think that the breeding of protected
species by recognized establishments ( zoos, aquaria, etc .)
fulfilling the supervision and monitoring conditions laid
down by the relevant rules might serve as a high-quality
genetic reservoir guaranteeing the survival of the species in
the wild ?

Can the Council set out its position ?

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

The Council has not received any proposal dealing
specifically with the subject of the Honourable Member 's
question .

However, a number of international commitments entered
into by the Community such as the Bern Convention

( Council Decision 82 / 72 / EEC ) (') and Article 9(1 ) thereof,
the Cites Convention ( Council Regulation No 3626 / 82 ) ( 2 )
and Article VII thereof as supplemented by resolutions 2.12

( 1979 ), 3.15 ( 1981 ), 5.16 ( 1985 ), 8.15 ( 1992 ), 8.22 ( 1992 ),
9.23 ( 1994 ) and 9.25 ( 1994 ) and the Convention on
Biological Diversity ( Council Decision 93 / 626 / EEC ) C ) and
Article 9 thereof include provisions in line with the
Honourable Member 's suggestion, the general principle of

No C 213 / 10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

which — ex situ conservation in strictly controlled
conditions — is of course contained in Council Directive

92 / 43 / EEC on habitats and Articles 14 ( 2 ) and 16 ( 1 )
thereof .

(!) OJ No L 38, 10 . 2 . 1982 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 309, 13 . 12 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-307 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Council

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 19 )

Subject : Mediterranean

Bearing in mind that, since 1 January 1995, the
Community 's geopolitical centre of gravity has shifted
northwards, can the Council report on the progress of
negotiations with Egypt, following on from the conclusions
of the Essen Summit ?

agreement of undeniable importance, namely the decision to
enter into the final phase of the Customs Union provided for
in the Ankara Agreement of 1 January 1996, to increase
cooperation with Turkey in numerous fields and also to
resume financial cooperation .

The European Union condemned with the utmost force the

bloody attack that claimed the lives of scores of victims,
mainly women and children, in the centre of Algiers on
30 January .

In these tragic circumstances, it wishes once again to
encourage all those involved in Algeria 's political life to
agree on ways and means of developing the spirit of
dialogue, now needed more than ever, and to urge them to
seek a peaceful solution to the crisis . The Union totally
rejects the use of violence as an instrument of political
struggle and reaffirms that respect for human rights must be
practised by all political movements and all individuals,
whatever their political convictions or religious beliefs . The
European Union has stated on a number of occasions that
the Algerians should seek a peaceful solution based on
reconciliation . The Union is in favour of all initiatives to

encourage dialogue between those who reject terrorism and
violence . It reaffirms its will to support a policy of
democratic development and economic restructuring in
Algeria .

Can it also say what developments have occurred in the
negotiations with Turkey, in anticipation of enlargement to
include Cyprus, and what is its attitude to Algeria in the light
of the latest reactions to Islamic fundamentalist
terrorism ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 08 / 95
by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) and Spalato Bellere ( NI )

to the Council

Answer (9 February 1995 )

(5 July 1995 ) ( 95 / C 21 3 / 20 )

The aim of the new Mediterranean policy is an ambitious
one : to participate, both bilaterally and regionally, in the
development of the Mediterranean basin in a climate of
peace, security and stability . The Mediterranean is a key
area of strategic importance to the EU . This venture
therefore also constitutes a complement and a balance to the
European Union 's effort for the CEECs .

In accordance with the conclusions of the Corfu European
Council, confirmed by the Essen European Council, the
Council regards the early conclusion of new agreements
with Israel, Morocco and Tunisia as a priority as part of the
effort to strengthen the Union 's Mediterranean policy with a
view to the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean

partnership .

With Egypt, the negotiations for a new agreement similar to
those referred to above began on 23 January 1995 . They
should be concluded by the end of this year or early in

Subject : Agreements with Mediterranean countries

Following the accession to the European Union of the new
Member States from northern Europe, particular attention
should be devoted to Mediterranean issues . In this

connection it was decided at the European Council meeting
in Corfu that the negotiations with Morocco, Tunisia and
Israel would be concluded by the end of the year .

Can the Council say what stage has been reached in the
negotiations and when it expects them to be completed ?

Answer

(5 July 1995 )

year or In accordance with the conclusions of the Corfu European

1996 . Council, confirmed by the Essen European Council, the
Council regards the early conclusion of new agreements
With Turkey, it provided possible at the meeting of the with Israel, Morocco and Tunisia as a priority in the context
Association Council on 6 March 1995 to reach a political of the strengthening of the Union 's Mediterranean policy

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 11

with a view to the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean

partnership .

The Council reviews the progress of these negotiations
regularly . At its meeting on 10 April 1995, the Council was
informed that the negotiations with Tunisia had been
concluded and that it would be possible to initial the
agreement in the next few days ; that took place on 12 April

1995 . The Council was also informed of the progress made
in the negotiations with Israel, and of the steps taken to
re-launch negotiations with Morocco .

The Council has on several occasions encouraged the
Commission to endeavour to ensure that the Union 's

objectives in this field are swiftly attained .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-346 / 95

by Anne André-Léonard ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 13 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 21 )

Subject : Tariffs applied to telecommunications and postal

services in the single market

Is the Commission aware that the policy it is currently
pursuing in the telecommunications and postal-services
sector is a flagrant breach of the principles of the internal
market and, consequently, contrary to the expectations of
European citizens ? When a telephone call crosses an internal
Community border, an international tariff is applied despite
the fact that this so-called international service is provided
within the single market . The same applies mutatis mutandis
to the postal services of certain Community countries and
the situation is likely to spread to all the countries of the
Union in the near future if the Commission simply continues
to apply its policy of cost-based tariffs .

Does the Commission consider it normal for a national tariff

to be applied to a telephone call from Dunkirk to Toulouse
when a higher, international, tariff is applied to a call from
Brussels to Dunkirk, which is a quarter of the distance ? It
seems clear that the internal border is the criterion for

applying the surcharge .

Could the Commission not take action to ensure that, in
future, the disappearance of internal borders referred to by
President Santer in his investiture speech to the European
Parliament on 17 January 1995 also becomes a reality in the
two areas in question, by :

1 . banishing the word ' international ' from its documents
where they refer to the internal market, and

2 . allowing Europe 's consumer-citizens and small
businesses to benefit from the large internal market

without borders, in the shape of a universal service in
which tariffs would be calculated on the basis of the

Union 's external borders instead of its internal borders,
or failing this, by establishing, at least in the
postal-services sector, a European system of tariff zones,
based on distance ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

The Commission does not believe that the policy it is
pursuing in the telecommunications sector is in
contradiction with the principles of the internal market . The
Commission believes that the only way to achieve a lower
priced telephone service, more choice and improved
telecommunications services for citizens and users is to lift
the current constraints which prevent effective competition
between operators .

That is why the political decision to liberalize all
telecommunications ( agreed in 1993 for services and 1994
for infrastructure ) by the beginning of 1998 is so
important .

The prices of cross-border telecommunications services are
currently excessive and well above cost because of a lack of
competition and because they are based on accounting rate
charges which are above cost . These accounting rate charges
are agreed between national operators to pass on
cross-border calls to their destination . Only when the
current constraints on competition are lifted will these
accounting rate charges be replaced by lower cost-oriented
inter-connection charges, enabling prices for cross-border
telephone calls to fall . One example of the impact
competition has on telephone call prices between countries
is the rapid decrease of call charges on transatlantic

routes .

As regards the postal sector, the Council in its resolution of
7 February 1994 invited the Commission to propose the
measures for implementing a Community policy on postal
services . The Commission is currently engaged in the
preparation of appropriate legislative proposals, which on
the one hand will guarantee a minimum universal service
within the Community and on the other hand allow for the
gradual introduction of competition, notably with regard to
Community cross-border mail . This can be expected to lead
to an approximation of tariffs and quality of service in the
Community but not to a total adjustment .

The Commission in its guidelines for the development of
Community postal services has expressed the view that
tariffs should be based on costs in order to avoid the risk of

uncompetitive cross-subsidies and to ensure that
competition is fair . This principle was confirmed by the
Council in its resolution of 7 February 1994 .

No C 213 / 12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

The public postal operators in the Community are
negotiating a new agreement concerning the
implementation of a new terminal dues system providing
fair compensation to cover the real costs of delivery of
incoming cross-border mail instead of the standard
compensation based on world average costs provided by the
UPU rules .

At present, costs for postal services and consequently postal
tariffs still vary significantly from one Member State to
another . This can be explained by the fact that the postal
sector is very labour intensive, personnel costs accounting
for approximately 70% of total costs .

In view of the current situation in the Community and
considering that most Member States wish to continue to
apply uniform and affordable tariffs on their territory, it
would not be realistic to envisage - the introduction of a
uniform European tariff or of postal tariffs within the
Community determined on the basis of geographic distance
only .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-363 / 95

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and

Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE )

to the Council

( 16 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 22 )

Subject : Ban on pelagic trawls

What action will the Council take to ban pelagic trawls for
the fishing of tuna and anchovy, in accordance with the
stated will of Parliament ?

Answer

and to report to it at its next meeting . The Council asked
Member States to have checks stepped up on compliance
with the 2,5 km length in force for trawls used in driftnet
fishing .

The Council 's Decision on the Commission proposal
concerning the use of large-scale drift nets will take account
of this opinion, as presented by the Commission, as well as
the opinion of Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4 11 / 95

by Wolfgang NuEbaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 23 )

Subject : EU Environment Agency

Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 ( ) provides for the
establishment of a European environment Agency and a
European environment information and observation
network .

Article 2 of the Regulation states that the network is to be
established and coordinated in cooperation with the
Member States .

1 . How many, and which, Member States are already
members of the Environment Agency ?

2 . How many, and which, Member States have already
transposed the provisions of Regulation ( EEC )
No 1210 / 90 ?

3 . How many, and which, Member States have established
national environment information networks ?

4 . Has Austria already become a member of the European
Environment Agency and, if so, which parts of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1210 / 90 have already been
transposed by Austria ?

(3 July 1995 ) (') OJ No L 120, 11.5 . 1990, p . 1 .

At its meeting on 28 September 1994, the Council decided to
await the opinion of the Scientific, Technical and Economic
Committee on Fisheries ( STECF ) on the effects of
driftnetting on marine resources before proceeding with the
Commission 's proposal concerning the use of long-scale
driftnets . Two STECF reports on the effects of driftnetting
on marine resources ( with respect to tuna and salmon
fisheries ) have in the meantime been submitted to the
Commission and presented at the Fisheries Council on
6 April 1995 . The Council instructed the Permanent
Representatives Committee to continue its examination of
the Commission proposal on the basis of scientific advice

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

1 . All Member States, as well as Norway and Iceland are
members of the European environment agency .

2 . The regulation creating the agency is binding in its
entirety and directly applicable in all Member States . It
entered into force on 30 October 1993 .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 13

3 . The Commission would refer the Honourable

Member to its answer to Written Question
No 2714 / 94 I 1 ).

4 . Austria is a full member of the agency since 1 January

1995 .

(') See page 1 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-441 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 24 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 24 )

Subject : Negotiations between South Africa and Europe

The European Commission is asking the Council for a
second mandate to finalize negotiations between South
Africa and Europe .

What, in the Council 's view, could the substance of that
mandate be, with particular regard to the enlargement of the
Convention of Lome and the draft bilateral agreement ?
What, in the Council 's view, should the timetable be for
these negotiations ?

Answer

(5 July 1995 )

At its meeting on 10 April 1995, the Council heard a
presentation by the Commission of its proposal concerning
negotiating directives with a view to establishing a global,
coherent and stable framework for relations between the

European Union and the Republic of South Africa .
According to the Commission proposal, such a framework
would encompass both a trade and cooperation agreement
and a Protocol to the Lome Convention covering the terms
and conditions for the accession of South Africa to the
Convention . The trade and cooperation agreement should
enable free trade with South Africa to be achieved

progressively ; the aim of the Protol to the Lome Convention
would be the accession of South Africa to the Convention as

a qualified member .

The Council welcomed this communication and instructed

the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine it
and to report back to the Council at its next meeting .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-467 / 95

by Joan Vallvé ( ELDR )

to the Council

( 24 February 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 25 )

Subject : Inclusion of roads on the Balearic Islands in the

next trans-European transport network

The European Decision on the Community guidelines for
the development of the trans-European transport network is
to enter into force on 1 July 1995, superseding those
adopted in October 1993 .

On that occasion, the Spanish Ministry for Public Works
and Transport prevented the inclusion of the roads on the
Balearic Islands, as it only considered the roads mentioned
in the Infrastructure Master Plan drawn up by the same
Ministry .

In view of the insular nature of the Balearics, there is a
special need to establish links, such as those referred to in
Article 129b(2 ) of the Treaty on European Union, with the
other regions of continental Europe in order to facilitate
access for people and goods .

The existence of three airports ( Palma, Mao and Eivissa )
which handle more than 16 million passengers per year, the
great majority of whom are EU citizens, necessitates a good
road infrastructure .

Having regard to the unanimous vote of approval of

1 February 1995 by the Balearic Parliament of such
inclusion, and having regard to the inclusion of the roads in
Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Crete in the trans-European
network approved in 1993, does the Council consider it
necessary to include certain roads on the Balearic Islands in
the next trans-European transport network ? Does the
Council consider that such inclusion could help alleviate
some of the negative effects of the insular nature of the
Balearics ?

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

1 . The Honourable Member is reminded that, in the
absence of an opinion from the European Parliament, the
Council has not yet adopted a common position on the
proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of
the Council on guidelines for the development of the
trans-European network ( 1 ).

In accordance with Article 129c of the Treaty, these
guidelines identify projects of commtm interest concerning
the trans-European transport network .

2 . The Council is unable at this stage to give an opinion
on the advisability of integrating roads which are not the

No C 213 / 14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

subject of the Commission proposal into the
trans-European transport network and on which it does not
yet have the opinion of the European Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 70 / 95

by Giacomo Leopardi ( UPE )

to the Council

( 10 March 1995 )
(') COM(94 ) 106 final and COM(95 ) 48 final — OJ No C 220,

8 . 8 . 1994, p . 1 . ( 95 / C 213 / 27 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-529 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 26

Subject : Trans-European road network

In its answer to my Question E-2039 / 94 ( ) the Commission
explained how the motorway working group operates
under which Council Decision and who it listens to, but it
did not provide the answer to my question why are there no
environmental representatives on this working group,
which deals with an issue with clear and substantial

environmental effects ? Will it now please answer this
question ?

Subject : Pollution of sea water by animal manure

There have been reports that some Dutch breeders are
taking young pigs on board ships in eastern European ports
and ' rearing ' them at sea for approximately four months
before unloading them in the Port of Rotterdam for
slaughter .

Given that the manure produced is discharged directly in to
the sea, would the Council agree that the large vessels used,
which are specially fitted-out for the weaning and fattening
of pigs, must be a major source of pollution ?

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

The Council has no information on the existence of ' rearing
at sea '.

It is therefore unable to express an opinion on any pollution
(') OJ No C 42, 20 . 2 . 1995, p . 15 . which might result from such practices .

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 72 / 95

by Frederik Willockx ( PSE )

to the Council

The committee on transport infrastructure, established by
Decision 78 / 174 / EEC ('), is composed of representatives of
the Member States, nd is chaired by the Commission . The
Committee itself has established working groups to assist it
in its work, and has invited a number of experts, proposed
by Member States and representatives of non-governmental
organisations to participate in these working groups . When
specific environmental issues, e.g. environmental impact
assessment of the TEN-transport, are to be discussed in
detail, the Commission will ask that external environmental
expertise be invited to participate in the appropriate form .
This will be particularly relevant when examining the
strategic environmental analysis in view of the revision of
the network guidelines as announced by the
Commission .

( ] ) OJ No L 54, 25 . 2 . 1978 .

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 28 )

Subject : Universal service — definition

In December 1993 the Council of Ministers for Post and

Telecommunications adopted a resolution calling on the
Commission to elaborate as quickly as possible, and at all
events before 1 July 1994, a common policy for postal
services . More specifically, the Council asked the
Commission to propose measures to define the universal
service and reserved services .

More than a year and a half later, the Commission has still
not made any official proposals on this subject . The
Council 's request for rapid action has thus been
disregarded .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 15

Has the Council reminded the Commission of this

instruction, and how does the Council define the universal

service ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-642 / 95

by Mark Watts ( PSE )

to the Council

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 30 )

Answer

(3 July 1995 )
Subject : Validity of new British Gas discriminatory gas

pricing policy

Since it adopted the December 1993 resolution the
Telecommunications Council has, at each of its meetings,
addressed the matter of the follow up which the
Commission intended to give to that text .

Thus,

— at its meeting on 30 May 1994, the Council invited the

Commission to announce its intentions on the subject ;
the Commission confirmed that it intended to submit in

good time a communication containing in particular
appropriate proposals on the definition of universal
service ;

— at its meeting on 17 November 1994 it noted the

confirmation by the Commission that it would submit as
soon as possible in 1995 proposals on postal services .

The Single European Act of 1986 clearly states that
Members of the Union are to work together to promote
fundamental rights throughout Europe such as ' equality and
social justice '.

In the light of this firm commitment to ' equality and social
justice ' at European level, does the Council agree that it
would be right for an approach to be made to the British
Government, asking it to seek an explanation from British
Gas of its new pricing policy, which causes undue
discrimination against those who have no access to direct
debit, prejudicing the elderly, the unemployed and all those
on low incomes . Is the action of British Gas not contrary to
the Single European Act ?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-640 / 95 and E-642 / 95

(3 July 1995 )

The pricing policy pursued by British Gas and its social

QUESTION E-640 / 95 consequences are not matters for the Council . As for the

Watts ( PSE ) rules of the Treaty on competition, it is for the Commission

to the Council to ensure that they are correctly applied .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-640 / 95

by Mark Watts ( PSE )

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 29

Subject : British Gas — Abuse of dominant position under

Article 86 of the Treaty of Rome

If UK gas consumers are to be consideed as ' trading
partners ' with British Gas, the new pricing policy recently
introduced by British Gas clearly applies ' dissimilar
conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading
parties, thereby placing them at a competitive
disadvantage ', as described in Article 86 of the Treaty of

Rome .

This new pricing policy clearly causes undue discrimination
against those who have no access to direct debit, thereby
prejudicing the elderly, the unemployed and all those on low
incomes, with price discrepancies of up to 12% in some

cases .

Therefore, is this not a clear-cut case of abuse of dominant
position in the market place by British Gas and should not
an urgent investigation be launched ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-648 / 95

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 31 )

Subject : EU funds for the district of Miinster over the last

ten years

1 . Can the Commission state from what programmes is
or was EU funding provided over the last ten years for the
district of Miinster ( Borken, Coesfeld, Steinfurt, Warendorf
and the City of Miinster ), indicating the level of funding and
the recipient projects and distinguishing between
programmes requiring the entry of supplementary
appropriations in ' Land ', federal or municipal budgets and
programmes and funds which do not depend on the
mobilization of supplementary public budget
appropriations to become effective ?

No C 213 / 16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

2 . Which EU funds and programmes are mobilized by
means of supplementary budget appropriations and, of
these, which are a source of funding for the Munster district
and which are not ?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Santer

on behalf of the Commission

implementation pilot projects aimed at increasing the
productivity of pastureland and avoiding any adverse
environmental consequences for these sensitive
eco-systems ?

(!) OJ No L 218, 6 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 93, 30 . 3 . 1985, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
( 10 July 1995 ) on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a
number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-748 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 32 )

Subject : Integrated pasturage management schemes

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 ( ) failed to include certain
actions which were provided for in the previous Regulation

( EEC ) No 797 / 85 ( 2 ), for example the fertilization and
resowing of pastureland . These actions have helped to
increase the grazing potential of these sensitive ecosystems
and to prevent their deterioration and collapse . The absence
of integrated pasturage management schemes means that
Community funding is spasmodic and often has
catastrophic environmental consequences despite the EU 's
good intentions . The findings of the STOA meeting of
26 November 1993 ( DG for Research, December 1993 )
held the destruction indirectly caused by Community
funding responsible for forest fires, for example .

Will the Commission say :

1 . Have any overall assessments been made regarding the
extent of these adverse environmental consequences
indirectly caused by the way in which Community
funding for pastureland is administered ?

2 . Does it intend, when the first opportunity to review
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 arises, to make funding
dependent on the existence of integrated pastureland
enhancement schemes, so as to avoid ad hoc actions
which are ecologically unacceptable ?

3 . Would it be prepared to include in such a review actions
for the training of staff, where necessary, and integrated

The Commission does not have an overall evaluation of the

negative effects on the environment that Community aid for
pastures can indirectly cause .

The aid provided for in Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 for
mountain and less-favoured areas is granted to assist
collective investment, in particular in fodder production and
the improvement of grazing land .

Since this aid is linked to investment projects, measures such
as fattening livestock or resowing pastures would not be
eligible for Community part-financing under this
Regulation .

However, within the framework of the agri-environmental
aid scheme ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 ( ! )), specific
measures for pastures can be envisaged on condition that
they have positive effects on the environment and upkeep of
the countryside, for instance the extensification of grazing
or the maintenance of extensive cultivation of pasture,
which are measures already applied in some Member
States .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 provides for individual aid to
train farmers in agricultural and forestry production
practices which are compatible with the environment, where
funding for them is not available under Regulation ( EEC )
No 2328 / 91 .

(>) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-759 / 95

by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler ( V )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 33 )

Subject : Deterioration in the quality of meat due to the

transport of live animals

How does the Commission view the findings of the Federal
German Institute for the Promotion of Meat in Kulmbach

( Bavaria ) that the quality of meat suffers during the
transport of live animals ?

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 17

What consequences have been drawn from these Answer given by Mr Fischler
findings ? on behalf of the Commission

( 15 May 1995 )

In view of the serious deterioration in quality, why has the
transport of live animals not been stopped altogether ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The findings of the Federal German Institute for the
Promotion of Meat in Kulmbach cannot necessarily be
taken to mean that ' the quality of meat suffers during the
transport of live animals '.

As the Federal Institute and many other authors have
recognized, this transport-related deterioration in quality
can be avoided .

Important conditions which should be met are as follows :
careful handling of animals during loading and unloading ;
sectioning the transport compartment to accommodate
small groups of animals ; optimal loading density ;
ventilation adapted to weather conditions ; careful driving
style ; and proper handling ( rest period ) after the journey .

These details, which are currently being discussed within the
Council, have as their objective the further improvement of
conditions for the transport of live animals .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-760 / 95

by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler ( V )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 34 )

Subject : Subsidies for the mass transport of animals

1 . When were subsidies first provided for the live
transport of animals ? By what percentage have these
subsidies been increased annually since then ?

2 . How high are the subsidies for the transport of
livestock, broken down by year over the 1988 — 1 994 period
and by kilo of live animal weight for cattle ( bulls, calves,
heifers and cows ) sheep and pigs respectively ?

How high are the equivalent subsidies for meat ?

There is no Community aid for transport of live animals
with regard to slaughtering or meat under the relevant
common market organizations .

There is no national aid either, so far as the Commission
aware . It is Commission policy to deem incompatible with
the common market national aid for transport of live
animals for slaughter and meat as such aid could disturb
Community support mechanisms and, as operating aid,
would have no lasting effect on the development of the
sector concerned . However if the Commission were to

receive information about such illegal aid it would take the
necessary action .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-764 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 35 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products (')

The Committee of Agricultural Organizations in the
European Community ( COPA ) and the General Committee
for Agricultural Cooperation in the EC ( Cogeca ) have
stressed that the introduction of a protection certificate in
respect of plant protection products would substantially
increase the competitive disadvantages suffered by farmers
in the European Union . According to the Commission 's
Explanatory Memorandum, European Union farmers
would have to pay approximately 25 % more for plant
protection products with a certificate for a period of up to
five years, while competitors from third countries would be
able to purchase competitively priced products without the
protection certificate . In view of the liberalization of the
international agricultural markets decided on as part of the
GATT negotiations, EU farmers consider that there is no
justification for imposing a home-grown competitive
disadvantage by the adoption of a protection certificate .

Why has the Commission failed to take into account the
adverse effects on the competitiveness of European farmers
and when does it intend to find a solution to this

problem ?

3 . How high are the subsidies for the transport of and when does it
livestock and meat in the individual EU Member States ?
How have these subsidies changed since 1988 in the problem ?
individual EU Member States ( in percentage and absolute
terms )? (•) COM(94 ) 579 final .

No C 213 / 18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-765 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-767 / 95

Xaver Mayer ( PPE ) by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 36 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment ( OTA )
in the USA has sharply criticized the supplementary
protection certificate for patent-protected plant protection
products demanded by the US plant protection industry,
pointing out that such a certificate would increase the price
of plant protection products, but only have a limited impact
on research by plant protection companies .

' Has the Commission taken into account these statements

by the OTA ?

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 38 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

How does the Commission intend to guarantee that
supplementary income generated by a protection certificate
for the plant protection industry will be spent on future
research ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-768 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 39 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-766 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 37 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

The Commission 's Explanatory Memorandum points out
that the American plant protection industry has a profit
margin of 11,4%, while the European plant protection
industry has to be satisfied with ' only some 6% \ The
Commission considers that the supplementary plant
protection certificate should protect the present profit
margin of the European plant protection industry so as to
safeguard the future of research in this sector .

Does the Commission agree that the difference in profit
margins cannot be attributed to the lack of a supplementary
protection certificate in Europe, since no such certificate
exists in the USA ?

Why does the Commission assume in its Explanatory
Memorandum that European plant protection companies
must achieve the same profit margins as those in the
USA ?

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

In its Explanatory Memorandum the Commission states
that statistical evidence indicates a progressive reduction in
real patent protection in respect of plant protection
products, although the real duration of the protection for
these products in 1990 and 1991 was six months longer
than in 1980 and 1981 respectively, according to figures
provided by the European Crop Protection Association

( ECPA ).

Does the Commission have access to reliable figures proving
that there has been a reduction in the real length of
protection granted in respect of plant protection
produce ?

As regards the authorization of generic products ( the legal
imitation of non-patented products ), the period of time
between the application and final authorization has
increased from six months in the 1970s to four years at the
beginning of the 1990s . This has led to the extension of the
real duration of protection for original products .

Did the Commission take this into account in drawing up its
proposal ?

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 19

WRITTEN QUESTION E-769 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(5 March 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-771 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 40 ) ( 95 / C 213 / 42 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

The Commission has estimated that the supplementary
protection certificate for plant protection measures will cost
EU farmers an additional ECU 18 million a year . Since the
additional expenditure by farmers is translated directly into
additional revenue for the plant protection industry, it
follows that, according to the Commission 's calculations,
the plant protection industry would increase its revenue by a
mere ECU 18 million annually . Since, according to the
Commission 's estimates, the cost of research for the
development of a new plant protection product exceeds
ECU 125 million, it would take seven years to generate
enough resources for the plant protection industries to
research a new plant protection product, providing the
resources were channelled to one single company . Assuming
that only 30 % of the additional revenue generated for the
plant protection industry by the protection certificate would
be used for research, the certificate would take 21 years to
generate enough resources to research a new product .

Does the Commission consider that this Regulation is
justified if, according to its own calculations, it has such a
minimal impact on research into new plant protection
products ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-770 / 95

by Xaver Mayer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(5 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 41 )

Subject : Proposal for a European Parliament and Council

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

Does the Commission have any figures relating to the
decline in research spending by European plant protection
companies over the past ten years ?

Regulation ( EC ) concerning the creation of a
supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products

The supplementary protection certificate for plant
protection products proposed by the Commission fails to
reduce the long authorization procedures which cost the
industry considerable sums of money .

What steps does the Commission intend to take to accelerate
the authorization procedures ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-764 / 95 to E-771 / 95

given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1995 )

1 . The Commission has carefully analysed the possible
effects of its proposals on the price of plant protection
products and hence on farmers ' expenditure . The
supplementary protection certificate will not apply to 57 %
of the plant protection market which has already entered the
public domain and for which generic versions ( legal copies )
are available . If the terms of the Commission proposal are
eventually adopted, only 37 plant protection products now
on the market ( out of a total of 700 ), representing some
5,28 % of the total market for such products, could benefit
from a supplementary certificate . The Commission has
calculated that the effect of introducing the supplementary
certificate will be to increase farmers ' expenditure on plant
protection products from 6,2 % of their total out-goings to
6,2204 %, which is not a significant rise and should have no
consequences on the overall competitiveness of European
agriculture . The organizations mentioned by the
Honourable Member have been unable to challenge the
Commission 's projections on this point .

2 . The Commission is aware of the fact that the United

States Patent Term Restoration system does not apply to
plant protection products and is confined to patented
medicinal products and foodstuffs . This situation was
heavily influenced by the decision taken by the
organizations representing the local plant protection
industry which preferred not to benefit from this legislation
rather than have to comply with a clause they regarded as
unacceptable, which was introduced into the legislation at
the last minute . This clause, which permits manufacturers of
generic products to begin their work of copying a patented
substance even while it is still under patent, is now being
criticized in the United States, because it may not conform

No C 213 / 20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

with the GATT agreements . The opinion expressed by the
Office of Technology Assessment was not decisive in this
situation . In addition, the patent situation in the United
States is a special one, because until the beginning of 1995
the duration of patents was 17 years from the date on which
the patent is granted and not from the date on which the
application is filed ; there are many techniques for delaying
the date of issue of patents in that country, thereby delaying
the start of protection which means that effective protection
ends later . In Japan, plant protection products are eligible
for an extension of patents for a maximum term of five years

( as in the Commission proposal ) over and above the initial
term of the basic patent covering a given plant protection
product .

3 . The profits of European plant protection companies
(6 % ) compared with those of their American competitors

( 1 1,4 % ) and, even more, the tendency for margins to shrink
steadily, are factors which, among many others, clearly
indicate a deterioration in the innovative capacity of
European firms in the sector . This deterioration is
confirmed by the fact that the new products which have
recently come on to the market are of American, not
European, origin . The supplementary protection certificate
will be one way of ensuring the survival of plant protection
research in Europe and hence the development and
production of products which will be more
environment-friendly and adapted to the needs of
agricultural efficiency . There is strong demand from farmers
for such products .

4 . The supplementary protection certificate is a sectoral
initiative which is fully consistent with the overall approach
proposed by the Commission White Paper on Growth,
Competitiveness and Employment, namely establishing the
conditions necessary to boost buoyancy, technology,
growth and employment . The Commission has no way of
compelling a firm or a given industrial sector compulsorily
to allocate its profits to one activity rather than another .

5 . The Commission has unequivocal figures concerning
the erosion of the duration of effective patent protection of
inventions in the plant protection sector . Whereas a patent
should normally confer effective protection for 20 years,
inventions in the plant protection sector have scarcely more
than nine years ' protection today . The annual fluctuations
which may appear in the statistics are minor ones and do
nothing to contradict this basic trend . The Commission
proposal aims to remedy a situation which started to
deteriorate in the 1 970s and continued to do so in the 1 980s .

This situation of insufficient effective protection is contrary
to the intentions behind the adoption of the European
Patent Convention ( Munich ) and the TRIPs ( trade-related
aspects of intellectual property rights ) agreement concluded
under GATT . These two reference instruments provide for
20 years ' patent protection from the date on which the
patent application is filed . The delays which occur in issuing
marketing authorizations now affect all companies, whether
they are engaged in research or are manufacturers of generic
products .

6 . The effects of the supplementary protection certificate
will, by their nature, be concentrated in that part of the plant
protection industry engaged in research which holds basic
patents satisfying the conditions laid down by the

Regulation . For these firms, the supplementary certificate
will be one way — among others — of generating additional
finance for research and for the development of new active
substances . The instrument proposed by the Commission
tries to strike the right balance between what is necessary to
attain the objectives envisaged by the proposal and what can
reasonably be accepted by society and users .

7 . The Commission has found that one of the

characteristics of the plant protection sector is the steady
increase in research and development ( R&D ) expenditure .
This has increased from ECU 25 million per product in 1975
to over ECU 125 million in 1992, i.e. by five times as much .
Among the various phases in developing a plant protection
product, it is expenditure on studies of the toxicology and
environmental impact which has expanded most, from ECU
4 million in 1975 to ECU 50 million in 1992 . This steady
increase in the sums allocated to research, combined with a
high level of risk, reflects the difficulties now encountered by
the plant protection industry in coping with the needs for
new products and is one of the justifications for the measure
proposed by the Commission .

8 . The time taken by the public authorities to issue the
marketing authorization for plant protection products,
which in some cases may be as long as four years or more,
are only part of the time which separates the filing of a
patent application from the marketing of a plant protection
product . The erosion of the duration of patent protection
from which the sector has to suffer owes more, however, to
the longer time needed by firms to prepare and carry out all
the tests and analyses necessary to file the application for
authorization . Today this period is as long as seven or eight
years and accounts for the bulk of the patent protection lost
in terms of commercial exclusivity . As regards the
registration periods proper, the Commission hopes that the
implementation of Directive 91 / 414 / EEC will help to
improve the situation ( 1 ).

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-778 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 43 )

Subject : Community initiative programme

In its vote on the 1995 budget the European Parliament
adopted an initiative concerning regional development in
Europe .

How does the Commission intend to implement this
measure ? What appropriation will be earmarked for this
purpose from the reserve for past and future measures under
item B2-1409 ?

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 21

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies Answer given by Mrs Bonino
on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 ) (7 April 1995 )

The remarks on Community Initiatives to Chapter B2-14 of
the 19 95 budget state ' It is also intended to cover the
financing of a Community Initiative for regional planning to
promote, in conjunction with the Member States and the
regions, the creation of large natural planning areas as
provided for in the conclusions of the seven trans-regional
studies carried out by the Commission .'

Preparatory work on this cooperation has already been
pursued under studies financed from Article 10 of the ERDF
Regulation and pilot measures for groups of regions ( the
Atlantic Arc and the Mediterranean ) or through
intergovernmental cooperation within the framework of the
Alpine Convention or the convention on the Baltic Sea . In its
' Europe 2000 +' document, the Commission also stressed
the need for cross-border cooperation on planning between
groups of regions sharing a sea or river basin or other similar

areas .

Recent flooding in the Rhine and Meuse basins has
demonstrated the need for another form of cross-border

cooperation, which could also form part of an initiative on
planning .

The Commission is therefore considering whether to answer
the questions raised by those responsible for planning
should be answered in the context of the instruments

available for Community structural policy . Since the needs
expressed exceed the resources available under Article 10 of
the ERDF Regulation, a new development could include
either the extension of the Interreg II Initiative to include
cross-border cooperation or a specific Community initiative
for planning with appropriate finance from the ERDF .

If this were done, Community assistance would be financed
from the reserve for the Community Initiatives .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-782 / 95

Last December the Council adopted a political compromise
to authorize the full integration of Spain and Portugal into
the common fisheries policy following a ten-year
transitional, period .

This comprise has been given specific legal form for
adoption by the Council in the near future .

The Council Decision will authorize the introduction of

non-discriminatory arrangements for the management of
fisheries resources, so ensuring that there will be no increase
in fishing efforts .

Before the entry into force of these arrangements, planned
for 1 January 1996, the Member States, the Commission
and the Council will have to take a certain number.of steps
including :

— an assessment of fishing efforts by fishing area and the

arrangements for the regulation of fishing efforts sent to
the Commission by the Member States by 31 March

1995,

— the fixing of fishing efforts by the Council by 30 June

1995 on the basis of data supplied by the Member
States ;

— a series of provisions concerning checks and the

introduction of new technical measures as agreed in
December 1994 .

In short, it will be up to the Member States to define their
systems for regulating the fishing effort in accordance with
their own administrative procedures . The Commission will
simply that Community criteria are complied with and that
the systems of regulation are reliable and ensure in a
non-discriminatory fashion that there is no increase in the
fishing effort .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-798 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

by Imelda Read ( PSE )
to the Commission

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 ) ( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 44 )
( 95 / C 213 / 45 )

Subject : Measures to accompany accession of Spain to blue

Europe

What measures will the Commission propose to accompany
the full accession of Spain to blue Europe on 1 January

1996 ?

Subject : Information on the future of the European

Union

In view of the clear failure of the Commission 's

communications policy at the time of the Maastricht debate,
and of the already high level of interest in the 1996 IGC,

No C 213 / 22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

what steps has the Commission taken to ensure that
adequate information will be provided on proposals
concerning the future of the European Union, in relation
both to the 1996 IGC and the prospect of Monetary
Union ?

In particular, what steps have been taken by the national
offices of the commission to ensure that the general public
will be properly informed and how are the Euro Info Centres
being prepared so that an effective communication can be
established with the business community ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-829 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 46 )

Subject : Reform of the common organization of the market

in wine

The reform of the common organization of the market in
wine is a matter of great concern to French producers . What
is the Commission 's proposed timetable for the
establishment of the new common organization ?
Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

Proposals concerning the future of the European Union, in
relation with both the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference

( IGC ) and Monetary Union, are widely reported in the
press . Following its experiences at the time of the
ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, the Commission
believes that the preparatory work and the negotiations
themselves must be carried out in conditions of genuine
transparency, since this is the safest way of ensuring that the
media can do their job to the best of their ability and keep
the public informed on a continuous basis .

The Commission feels it can help keep the public informed
through its own channels of communication . For example,
the forthcoming Green Paper on Monetary Union will
contain a chapter devoted specifically to public information,
and the Commission is currently studying specific ways of
dealing with the themes of the 1996 Intergovernmental
Conference .

The Commission 's Offices in the Member States have been

made aware of these challenges ; through their own contacts
and information products they carry out their task of
providing information and contribute to the
implementation of the Commission 's general strategy . The
Honourable Member will shortly be able to consult detailed
statistics on the activities of the Offices .

The Euro Info Centres, whose main task is to provide
on-the-spot information to small businesses, will of course
have a key role to play in making people aware of the
advantages of a single currency, which will be analysed in
extenso in the Green Paper .

Synergies can obviously be achieved between the Offices and
the Euro Info Centres, as, for example, with the
organization of the highly successful Internal Market weeks
in 1994 .

( 10 May 1995 )

The Commission sent its proposals for reform to the

Council on 13 June 1994 and hoped that the new
arrangements would apply from 1995 / 96 .

Despite the large number of meetings which took place
within the Council during the second half of 1994, no
agreement has been reached . The French Presidency has
stated that it will strive to bring the reform to a conclusion
and is now engaged in bilateral talks with the Member States
most affected by this question .

Following Parliament 's resolution adopted at the beginning
of April, this should result in the ground for a compromise
being prepared before the summer . However, as a
precaution, the Commission has proposed in the prices
package the measures required to keep the present
arrangements in force if no decision on the reform can be
taken in time for it to apply to the 1996 / 97 marketing

year .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-858 / 95

by Ulla Sandbæk ( EDN )

to the Council

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 47 )

Subject : Publication of the results of votes

How many votes has the Council taken on Directives,
Decisions and Regulations since 6 December 1993 ? How
many formal votes have there been, and in how many cases
has the Council published the results ? In how many cases,

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 23

furthermore, have one or more Member States requested
that the results of votes be published, and in how many cases
has the Council been unable to back such a request ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 84 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 48 )

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

1 . The Council adopted 298 Regulations, 49 Directives
and 161 Decisions in 1994 (').

2 . The Council takes a vote whenever it formally adopts
a legal act .

3 . The voting record was made public in 283 cases over
the period from 6 December 1993 to 31 March 1995, in
accordance with its Rules of Procedure ( Article 7 ( 5 ) and the
Annex ).

4 . Over the same period, the Council also decided, at the
request of certain Member States, to make the voting record
public in five other cases .

Total votes ( per area ) for legislative acts (') adopted
between 6 December 1993 and 31 March 1995

T N A

Agriculture 114 17 10

Fisheries 51 4 7

Internal market 50 11 6

Environment 9 4 1

Transport 8 3

Social affairs 3 2

Research 27 1 1

Education 4 1

European citizenship 2 1

Consumer protection 1 1

Transparency 2 2

Other 12

Total 283 40 32

(') As defined in the Annex to the Council 's Rules of Procedure . Where a

common position was followed by the adoption of a definitive act, the
same votes have not been counted twice . The same applies to the Decision
and the code of conduct concerning public access to documents .

T = Total number of legislative acts adopted .
N = Number of acts adopted with negative votes being cast ( or with
negative votes and abstentions ).
A = Number of acts adopted with abstentions only .

Subject : Commission action to enforce implementation of

Directive 85 / 337 by the Greek Electricity Board

( DEI )

In my question H-43 / 93 ( ) I complained that the Greek
Electricity Board ( DEI ) is not required to submit
environmental impact assessments ( EIA ) for projects
covered by Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ). The Directive requires
an EIA to be carried out in connection with the granting of
operating authorization for the project, while Law 1559 / 85
exempts the DEI from the procedure for obtaining and
renewing authorization . Consequently, the Greek
authorities cannot impose any environmental operating
conditions on the DEI as it is not subject to obtaining
authorization . The Commission replied that ' the provisions
for exemptions from carrying out environmental impact
assessment are strictly limited ' and that ' it does not at the
moment have sufficient precise information '. A year later on
23 March 1994, I submitted a further question
( E-789 / 94 ) ( 3 ) concerning Law 1559 / 85, requesting
information on the measures taken by the Commission to
investigate my complaint . The Commission reiterated that it
did not have the necessary data and that it was unable to
request the information from the Greek authorities !

Why did the Commission adopt the Decision on 29 July

1994 on the operational energy programme for Greece
without an express and binding reference to compliance
with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC for each project in the
programme covered by the Directive when a number of
other regulations were referred to in detail ? Has it accepted
proposals for the funding of energy projects for which EIAs
have not been carried out and, if so, which ?

Will it ask Greece immediately to forward Law 1559 / 85 so
that it may examine whether it is consistent with Directive

85 / 337 / EEC ?

(') Provisional figures . (*) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-427 ( February
1993 ).

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 6, 9 . 1 . 1995, p . 45 .

No C 213 / 24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 )

1 . Chapter 2.9 of the Community Support Framework

( CSF ) for Greece for the period 1994 — 1999 examines the
impact which it will have on the environment and clearly
points out that the aim of the regional development strategy
is to achieve lasting development including integration of
the environment into the economic sector as well as

implementation of Community Directives concerning the
environment .

It specifically states that investments to be made within the
framework of the CSF which might have a significant
detrimental impact on the environment will be the subject of
an impact evaluation in accordance with Directive
85 / 337 / EEC .

Particular reference is made to the fact that special attention
will be paid to investments which have a significant impact,
in particular those concerning the production of electricity
from lignite which is detrimental to the environment .

It also stipulates that the national environmental authorities
will be responsible for the application of both Community
and national environmental legislation . As for the legal
framework, it states that environmental impact assessment
can be applied to the great majority of projects proposed for
inclusion in the CSF and there is specific reference in the
framework to energy .

In the light of the above, it is clear that Community
environmental legislation, and in particular Directive
85 / 337 / EEC, must be complied with for all CSF projects . As
the operational programme for energy which has been
adopted is a sub-programme of the CSF, it was not necessary
to repeat a specific reference to the need for such
compliance .

The Commission can never give approval for projects which
are covered by the scope of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC and for
which the impact assessment procedure has not been
followed .

2 . As the Commission explained in its answer to Written
Question 789 / 94 from the Honourable Member, Law

1559 / 85 predated Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, which was
transposed into Greek national law by Framework Law

1650 / 86 and by two Joint Ministerial Decisions
69269 / 5387 and 75308 / 5512 in 1990 which followed the

1985 Law . The latter Decisions do not make any reference
whatsoever to the alleged exemption concerning the Greek
Electricity Board ( DEI ). It is obvious that, even if such an
exemption had been provided for in Law 1559 / 85, it would
have ceased to be valid subsequent to these three later
legislative acts which were notified to the Commission as
transposing the Directive .

According to the information available to the Commission,
projects of the Greek Electricity Board which are covered by
the scope of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC are assessed in

accordance with the Directive and, in practice, this has been
verified on several occasions .

If the Honourable Member has actual proof that the
requirements of the Directive, which entered into force in
July 1988, have not been complied with in a particular case,

the Commission will readily contact the Greek authorities to
investigate the matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-900 / 95

by Ludivina Garcia Arias ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 49 )

Subject : Equal treatment

Is the Commission aware that years spent on leave of
absence because of family responsibilities are not taken into
account when calculating the right to move up a step or
grade ?

Is the Commission aware that unless the rules on leave of

absence for family reasons are changed, the action suggested
by the ' Equal Opportunities ' unit with regard to
competitions for changing category — which involves
encouraging female staff to follow specific training
programmes and to sit these competitions — is useless ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

Under the rules currently applicable, years spent on personal
leave for family reasons do not count towards the seniority
required for promotion purposes . Reckoning these years
would effectively discriminate against officials — both male
and female — who pursue their careers at the Commission
on a continuous basis .

Likewise, years spent on personal leave for family reasons
do not count towards the seniority required for internal
competition purposes .

But training schemes put on for Commission staff are open
to all officials, including those on personal leave . Staff on
personal leave are free to enter internal competitions for
mobility between categories, provided they meet the
eligibility requirements .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 25

WRITTEN QUESTION E-911 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION P-9 19 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

Raffarin ( PPE ) by Richard Balfe ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Council

to the Council

( 31 March 1995 )

( IS March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 50 ) 95 / C 213 / 51 )

Subject : Measures to support small businesses Subject : Wines and spirits

Small personal industrial and tertiary businesses constitute
the primary source of employment in Europe . What steps
can the Commission propose to boost the European Union 's
measures to support the creation and development of such
businesses ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 June 1995 )

The Commission agrees with the statement made by the
Honourable Member on the importance of small personal
industrial and tertiary businesses as regards employment .

This is why, in the implementation of Community policy to
assist businesses and in particular, the integrated
programme in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises

( SMEs ) and the craft sector, particular importance is
attached to the role played by these enterprises in the
creation of jobs, following the White Paper on Growth,
Competitiveness and Employment .

In this context, on 26 and 27 September 1994, the
Commission organized in Berlin the second European
Conference on the craft sector and small enterprises, the
conclusions of which were examined at the ' Industry '
Council of 28 September 1994 and included in the Council
resolution of 10 October 1994 ( ] ). The Commission will
present a report to the Council before the end of 1995 in
order to follow up these conclusions and to set out the
initiatives to be recommended at Member State level . In this

context, the Commission will establish more precise
guidelines which take into account the creation and
development of small enterprises and their contribution to
the creation of jobs .

In addition, the Commission believes that assistance with
the creation and development of small personal enterprises
also depends on local structures aiming to respond to the
needs of entrepreneurs regarding advice and financing . The
Commission may also see fit to support the implementation
of such local development structures through the European
Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund .

(') OJ No C 294, 22 . 10 . 1994 .

Since the Council, in its earlier reply to Written Questions
No 1855 / 94 ( ! ) and No 2583 / 94 ( 2 ), intimated that a review
will be made public, when does it expect to examine the
report and take a decision on whether and in what form the
outcome of this examination will be made public ?

Can the Council also accept that many individuals and
businesses within the Community find the lack of
information in answers such as that to Written Question
No 2583 / 94 extremely frustrating and clearly out of line
with the Council 's supposed commitment to open
government and transparency ?

(>) OJ No C 24, 30 . 1 . 1995, p . 40 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 81, 3 . 4 . 1995, p . 47 .

Answer

(3 July 1995 )

The report mentioned by the Honourable Member, which it
is for the Commission to submit, has not yet been submitted
to the Council .

The Council does not share the view that previous replies
from the Council suffered from a lack of information . The

question of whether it will present its report should rather be
put to the Commission itself .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-947 / 95

by Raymond Chesa ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 52 )

Subject : The Montpellier — Barcelona TGV route

The Montpellier — Barcelona TGV route is one of the
French, Spanish and European master plans for high-speed
train services . The route connects Montpellier with
Barcelona and also provides links with Carcassonne and
Toulouse . This scheme for a Languedoc — Roussillon TGV
line was launched in 1989 . The preliminary draft studies
have now been completed and forwarded to the French
Government . The TGV route was added to the list of

No C 213 / 26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

priority transport infrastructure projects at Corfu and Essen
European summits . It will be part of a major European link
running from Hamburg to Seville which will help balance
northern and southern Europe .

The Montpellier — Barcelona TGV route will eliminate the
anachronistic frontier created by the difference in rail track
gauges which holds up the transport of passengers and
goods to and from the Iberian peninsula .

This TGV route will also speed up transport from Bordeaux,
Toulouse and Carcassonne to Lyon, Marseilles and
Barcelona, forming part of another European route linking
Italy with Spain and the Mediterranean with the
Atlantic .

Major European policy decisions were taken at the Corfu
Summit in June 1994 and the Essen Summit in December

1994 ; in October 1994 the French and Spanish
Governments designated the Narbonne — Barcelona section
as binational and forecast that it would enter into service

between 2002 and 2005 .

What financial measures and arrangements were planned by
the European Commission ( under the responsibility of Mr
Christophersen in 1994 ) and by the Ecofin Council to
ensure that this priority scheme does not come up against
obstacles which could delay its implementation ?

Has there been a special meeting on this scheme for a TGV
route from Montpellier to Barcelona, with links to
Carcassonne and Toulouse ? Are there plans for a meeting to
consider the options to implement and speed up the
scheme ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

The Commission has taken certain action on the TGV South

project as part of its follow-up activities on the priority
projects adopted at the Essen European Council . It is
making every effort to coordinate the Member States ' plans
and to take steps at Community level to move the project
forwards .

In order to do this, however, some aspects of the project
need to be investigated more thoroughly .

The technical and operational aspects of the project have
been improved by the setting up on 6 April 1995 of a
European Economic Interest Grouping ( EEIG ) between the
French and Spanish railways .

The legal aspects will be covered by a Treaty between Spain
and France, the first draft version of which is being
examined by these two Member States .

The financial aspects and the aspects referred to above will
be discussed at a meeting to be held in Brussels on 22 May
1 995 . The meeting will be attended by the national ministers
concerned together with representatives of the railway
companies and the regional bodies concerned, various
experts and Commission representatives . The aim is to
relaunch the initiative to secure realistic funding in view of
the budgetary restrictions announced by the Spanish
Government and the debt burden of the French railways .
Provided there is agreement on an international concession
to apply on both sides of the frontier, it is proposed to
consider a plan to implement and finance the project .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-958 / 95

by Mark Watts ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 53 )

Subject : Animal testing for cosmetics

What types of animal testing for cosmetics does the

Commission expect to be able to prohibit in accordance
with the 1998 timetable — and what proportion of the total
amount of animal testing for cosmetics is this likely to
represent ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 June 1995 )

The first annual report submitted by the Commission to the
Parliament and the Council concerning the development,
validation and legal acceptance of methods which can be
used instead of animal testing (') within the framework of
the implementation of Directive 93 / 35 / EEC contains all
relevant information on these matters .

It is expected that it will be possible for tests involving
animals to be replaced by in vitro methods which offer
consumers the same level of protection as animal testing in
the following areas ;

— eye irritation ;

— percutaneous absorption ;

— mutagenicity ( basic tests );

— phototoxicity / photoirritation .

The review of genetic toxicology ( mutagenicity ) methods
undertaken by the OECD in 1991 at the request of the
Commission has just been completed .

As yet, the validatation and performance-assessment
procedures regarding in vitro tests for eye irritation,

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 27

percutaneous absorption and photoirritation, which must
be carried out prior to the procedure for legal acceptance by
the OECD, have not been completed . The Commission has
done everything possible to coordinate all or some of the
validating studies, and to try and speed up the legal
acceptance procedures .

It is not possible at present to assess what proportion of the
total amount of animal testing for cosmetics this might
represent, since the statistical information provided by the
Member States up to now ( in accordance with Articles 13
and 26 of Directive 86 / 609 / EEC ( 2 ) and Article 4 of
Directive 93 / 35 / EEC ( 3 ) is incomplete and mainly relates to
finished cosmetic products . The Commission expects the
Member States to organize things better and hopes in future
to receive complete and specific statistical data on cosmetic
products and their ingredients .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-979 / 95

by Simon Murphy ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 55 )

Subject : Labels of origin on textiles and clothing

Has the Commission ever considered the possibility of
introducing legislation to require that textiles and clothes
sold in the European Union have a label of origin to indicate
their place of initial manufacture ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission
(') COM(94 ) 606 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 358, 18 . 12 . 1986 . ( 12 May 1995 )
(-') OJ No L 151, 23 . 6 . 1993 .

In the past the Commission has made two proposals
regarding labels of origin of textiles and clothing
products .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-964 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 54 )

Subject : Technology transfers

The first was a proposal for a Council Directive on
indications of origin on certain textile and clothing
products ( ] ). This was viewed negatively both in the
Economic and Social Committee ( 2 ) and the Parliament ( 3 )
and was subsequently withdrawn by the Commission on

16 September 1981 .

The second proposal was for a Council Regulation on the
indication of origin of certain textile products imported
from third countries ( 4 ). Again, this received a negative
reaction from the Economic and Social Committee ( 5 ).
Given that the Parliament did not adopt a favourable
opinion on the proposed Regulation, it too was withdrawn
by the Commission on 7 November 1985 .

With regard to the draft Regulation on exemptions by Given that the Parliament
category for technology transfer agreements, whilst the opinion on the proposed
Commission is advised to retain the procedure allowing it to by the Commission on 7
refuse exempt in some cases, does it not consider that the
six-month period laid down for reaching a decision should (!) OJ No C 294, 13 . 11 . 1980 .
be reduced ?

( 2 ) OJ No C 185, 27 . 7 . 1981 .
(•') OJ No C 101, 4 . 5 . 1981 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 93, 14 . 4 . 1982 .

( 5 ) OJ No C 211, 8 . 8 . 1983 .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 )

All those who took part in the public hearing concerning the
draft Regulation on technology transfer agreements held on
31 January 1995 regarded the opposition procedure as an
essential element of legal certainty .

Aware of this concern, the Commission intends to introduce
the opposition procedure again and to examine with the
Advisory Committee the possibility of reducing the period
allowed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-988 / 95

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 56 )

Subject : Words of the European anthem

With regard to my questions to the Commission
Nos 1174 / 92 (M and 2383 / 94 ( 2 ), I still think that the

No C 213 / 28 [ EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

European anthem needs words so that it can be sung at
official ceremonies involving the European Union and, more
generally, at meetings or events of a European nature .

Endowing the European anthem with a verbalized spiritual
meaning in the shape of a text would create one more
element contributing to the expression of a spirit of
European unity .

Does the Commission think that it would be appropriate for
it to organize a ' competition of ideas ', which would one day
lead to the definitive adoption of a text for the European
anthem and would create an even greater sense of unity of
purpose among those taking part in official acts, meetings
and events of a European nature ?

(') OJ No C 40, 15 . 2 . 1993, p . 22 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 81, 3 . 4 . 1995, p . 28 .

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1016 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 57 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 93 / 99 / EEC 0 ) on additional measures
concerning the official control of foodstuffs ;

— Directive 93 / 102 / EEC ( 2 ) on the labelling, presentation

and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate

consumer ;

— Directive 93 / 40 / EEC ( 3 ) on veterinary medicinal
prducts ;

— Directive 93 / 74 / EEC ( 4 ) on feedingstuffs intended for

particular nutritional purposes,

— Directive 93 / 113 / EEC ( 5 ) on the use and marketing of

enzymes, micro-organisms and their preparations in
animal nutrition .

The European Anthem was an initiative of the Council of
Europe ; it has no words . (•) OJ No L 290, 24 . 11 . 1993, p . 17 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 291, 25 . 11 . 1993, p . 14 .
(■') OJ No L 214, 24 . 8 . 1993, p . 31 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 237, 22 . 9 . 1993, p . 23 .

The special Committee on a People 's Europe, reporting to ( s ) OJ No L 334, 31 . 12 . 1993, p . 17 .
the Milan European Council in June 1985 ( ] ), recalled that
the melody of the Ode to Joy, taken from the fourth
movement of Beethoven 's Ninth Symphony, had been
acknowledged by the Council of Europe to represent the WRITTEN QUESTION
European idea and recommended the European Council to by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and
encourage its performance at appropriate events and to the
ceremonies .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1017 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

The Community institutions took no decisions regarding
the anthem but noted that it was already in wide use in
Community contexts .

The Commission accordingly considers that the
Community institutions can envisage adding words to the
melody only if there is proper agreement on the use to be
made of the anthem ; no such agreement has yet been
reached .

(') Supplement 7 / 85 to the Bulletin of the European
Communities .

( 95 / C 213 / 58 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 93 / 62 / EEC (') setting out the implementing

measures concerning the supervision and monitoring of
suppliers and establishments pursuant to Council
Directive 92 / 33 / EEC ;

— Directives 93 / 63 / EEC ( ~ ) and 93 / 78 / EEC ( 3 ) setting out

the implementing measures concerning the supervision

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 29

and monitoring of suppliers and establishments
pursuant to Council Directive 91 / 682 / EEC ;

Directives 93 / 64 / EEC ( 4 ) and 93 / 79 / EEC ( 5 ) setting out
the implementing measures concerning the supervision
and monitoring of suppliers and establishments
pursuant to Council Directive 92 / 34 / EEC ;

Directive 93 / 114 / EEC ( 6 ) concerning additives in
feedingstuffs,

Directive 93 / 117 / EEC ( ) on analysis methods for
official control of feedingstuffs .

( ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 29 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 31 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 256, 14 . 10 . 1993, p . 19 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 33 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 256, 14 . 10 . 1993, p . 25 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 334, 31 . 12 . 1993, p . 24 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 329, 30 . 12 . 1993, p . 54 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1019 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 60 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 93 / 61 / EEC { l ) setting out the schedules
indicating the conditions to be met by vegetable
propagating and planting material, other than seed ;

Directive 90 / 676 / EEC ( 2 ) on veterinary medicinal
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1018 / 95 products ;
by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE ) Directive 91 / 412 / EEC ( 3 ) on good manufacturing

to the Commission

Directive 91 / 412 / EEC ( 3 ) on good manufacturing
practice for veterinary medicinal products,

(6 April 1995 )

Directive 92 / 71 / EEC ( 4 ) determining the percentage of

( 95 / C 213 / 59 consignments that could be subject to phytosanitary

inspection, documentary and identity checking, when
introduced into a Member State from another Member
Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law State Directive 93 / 2 / EEC ( 5 ) on the marketing of cereal

( Portugal ) seed .

( 95 / C 213 / 59

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following (') OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 19 .
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at ( 2 ) OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1990, p . 15 .
the appropriate time ? ( 5 ) OJ No L 228, 17 . 8 . 1991, p . 70 .

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 93 / 85 / EEC ( J ) on the control of potato ring

rot ;

— Directive 92 / 45 / EEC ( 2 ) on the killing of wild game and

the placing on the market of wild-game meat ;

— Directive 92 / 65 / EEC ( 3 ) laying down animal health

requirements governing trade in and imports into the
Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos ;

— Directive 93 / 48 / EEC ( 4 ) setting out the schedule
indicating the conditions to be met by fruit plant
propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit
production,

( 4 ) OJ No L 275, 18 . 9 . 1992, p . 24 .
.(■') OJ No L 54, 5 . 3 . 1993, p . 20 .

— Directive 93 / 49 / EEC ( 5 ) setting out the schedule
indicating the conditions to be met by ornamenal plant
propagating material and ornamental plants .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1020 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 61 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directives 90 / 677 / EEC ( l ) and 92 / 18 / EEC ( 2 ) on
t 1 ) OJ No L 259, 18 . 10 . 1993, p . 1 . veterinary medicinal products ;

( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992, p . 35 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992, p . 54 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 1 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993, p . 9 .

— Directive 93 / 1 7 / EEC ( ) determining Community grades

of basic seed potatoes, together with the conditions and
designations applicable to such grades ;

No C 213 / 30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

— Directive 91 / 414 / EEC ( 4 ) on the placing of plant
protection products on the market ;

— Directive 92 / 119 / EEC ( 5 ) introducing general
Community measures for the control of certain animal
diseases and specific measures relating to swine vesicular
disease,

— Directives 92 / 89 / EEC ( 6 ) and 92 / 95 / EEC ( 7 ) amending

Directive 73 / 46 / EEC establishing Community methods
of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1022 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 63 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
') OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1990, p . 26 . Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
2 ) OJ No L 97, 10 . 4 . 1992, p . 1 . the appropriate time ?

3 ) OJ No L 106, 30 . 4 . 1993, p . 7 .

4 ) OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .
s ) OJ No L 62, 15 . 3 . 1993, p . 69 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 344, 26 . 11 . 1992, p . 35 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 327, 13 . 1 1 . 1992, p . 54 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1021 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 62 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 92 / 48 / EEC ( ! ) on minimum hygiene rules

applicable to fishery products caught on board certain
vessels ;

— Directive 91 / 67 / EEC ( 2 ) on the animal health conditions

governing the placing on the market of aquaculture
animals and products ;

— Directive 91 / 492 / EEC ( 3 ) laying down the health
conditions for the production and the placing on the
market of live bivalve molluscs ;

— Directive 91 / 493 / EEC ( 4 ) laying down the health
conditions for the production and the placing on the
market of fishery products,

— Directive 91 / 628 / EEC ( 5 ) on the protection of animals

during transport .

(') OJ No L 187, 7 . 7 . 1992, p . 41 .

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

( 3 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p . 1 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p . 15 .

( s ) OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991, p . 17 .

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 91 / 334 / EEC (*) laying down the categories of

ingredients which may be used for the purposes of
labelling compound feedingstuffs for pet animals ;

— Directive 92 / ll / EEC ( 2 ) on indications or markets
identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs ;

— Directive 92 / 17 / EEC ( 3 ) amending Directive
66 / 403 / EEC on the marketing of seed potatoes ;

— Directive 92 / 67 / EEC ( 4 ) concerning veterinary checks in

intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of
the internal market,

— Directive 92 / 60 / EEC ( 5 ) amending Directive
90 / 425 / EEC concerning veterinary and zootechnical
checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain
live animals and products with a view to the completion
of the internal market .

(!) OJ No L 184, 10 . 7 . 1991, p . 27 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 65, 11 . 3 . 1992, p . 32 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 82, 27 . 3 . 1992, p . 69 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992, p . 73 .

( s ) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992, p . 75 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1023 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 64 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 93 / 71 / EEC ( ] ) concernnig the placing of plant

protection products on the market ;

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 31

— Directive 93 / 23 / EEC ( 2 ) on the statistical surveys to be

carried out on pig production ;

— Directive 93 / 24 / EEC ( 3 ) on the statistical surveys to be

carried out on bovine animal production ;

— 93 / 25 / EEC ( 4 ) on the statistical surveys to be carried out

on sheep and goat stocks,

— Directives 92 / 107 / EEC ( 5 ) and 92 / 9 / EEC ( 6 ) on the

marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants .

>) OJ No L 221, 31 . 8 . 1993, p . 27 .

2 ) OJ No L 149, 21 . 6 . 1993, p . 1 .

') OJ No L 149, 21 . 6 . 1993, p . 5 .

4 ) OJ No L 149, 21 . 6 . 1993, p . 10 .
s ) OJ No L 16, 25 . 1 . 1993, p . 1 .

6 ) OJ No L 70, 17 . 3 . 1992, p . 25 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1024 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 65 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 92 / 116 / EEC (') on health problems affecting

trade in fresh poultrymeat ;

— Directive 90 / 658 / EEC ( 2 ) amending certain Directives

on the recognition of professional qualifications
consequent upon the unification of Germany ;

— Directive 92 / 74 / EEC ( 3 ) on homeopathic veterinary

medicinal products ;

— Directive 92 / 52 / EEC ( 4 ) on infant formulae and
follow-on formulae intended for export to third
countries,

— Directive 93 / 70 / EEC ( 5 ) on official control of
feedingstuffs .

(') OJ No L 62, 15 . 3 . 1993, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1025 / 95

by Antonio Campos ( PSE ) and Jose Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 66 )

Subject : Transposition of Directives into national law

( Portugal )

Can the Commission say whether or not the following
Directives were transposed into Portuguese national law at
the appropriate time ?

If they were not, what action has the Commission taken ?

( Cases outstanding to be clearly indicated .)

— Directive 92 / 120 / EEC (') on the conditions for granting

temporary and limited derogations from specific
Community health rules on the production and
marketing of certain products of animal origin ;

— Directive 93 / 53 / EEC ( 2 ) introducing minimum
Community measures for the control of certain fish
diseases ;

— Directive 93 / 54 / EEC ( 3 ) concerning the animal health

conditions governing the placing on the market of
aquaculture animals and products ;

— Directive 93 / 60 / EEC ( 4 ) on intra-Community trade in

fresh and deep-frozen semen of domestic animals of the
bovine species,

— Directive 93 / 28 / EEC ( 5 ) on official control of
feedingstuffs .

(') OJ No L 62, 15 . 3 . 1993, p . 86 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 19 . 7 . 1993, p . 23 .
(■') OJ No L 175, 19 . 7 . 1993, p . 34 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 186, 28 . 7 . 1993, p . 28 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 179, 22 . 7 . 1993, p . 8 .

Joint answer to Written Questions

E       - 10 16 / 95 to E-1025 / 95

given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 1995 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission 's

12th annual report to Parliament on monitoring the
application of Community law ( l ), and to Annex IV in
particular .

( 2 ) OJ No L 353, 17 . 12 . 1990, p . 73 . (') COM(95 ) 500 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992, p . 12 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 179, 1 . 7 . 1992, p . 129 .

( s ) OJ No L 234, 17 . 9 . 1993, p . 17 .

No C 213 / 32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1028 / 95

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 67 )

Subject : Import licence for European songbirds bred in

Asia

In a number of recent cases in Germany, songbirds have
been confiscated from dealers by the police . The birds were
of Asian origin but belonged to European species which are
protected in the EU . Under current German rules, an
additional import licence is required for imports of such
birds . The birds in question, however, are exported from
China and find their way via Frankfurt to the Netherlands,
from where they are reimported into Germany without
being checked . The Dutch authorities tolerate this abuse,
but the German Federal Nature Conservation Office does

not issue import licences .

1 . How does the Commission view the situation as regards
imports of ( protected ) European species bred in Asia ?

2 . What is its view of the additional import licence required

in Germany for the European bird species concerned ?

3 . When and how will it respond to the situation described

above ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(2 lune 1995 )

Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( ) on the conservation of wild birds
introduced the legal framework for trade in live birds .
Article 1 ( 1 ) states that the Directive relates to the
conservation of all species of naturally occurring birds in the
wild state in the European territory of the Member States to
which the Treaty applies . Article ( 1 ) lays down that Member
States must prohibit the sale, transport for sale, keeping for
sale and the offering for sale of specimens belonging to
species referred to in Article 1 and which are not mentioned
in Annex III . Member States may allow derogations from
these measures in certain circumstances set out in

Article 9 .

It is relatively easy to apply these measures to birds which
live in the European territory of the Member States at some
point in their life cycle . The case reported by the Honourable
Member is much more complex as although the specimens
in question belong to species covered by the Directive, they
do not occur naturally in the wild state in the European
territory of the Member States and could belong to a

sub-species not represented in that territory . Interpretation
of the Directive is thus particularly complex here .

A request for a preliminary ruling on this particular case

( Case C-202 / 94 ) was made to the Court of Justice in
December 1993 . The Court 's judgment should help
determine whether the specimens concerned fall within the
scope of the Directive . The Commission therefore prefers to
reserve its comments pending the Court 's judgment .

(M OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1029 / 95

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 68 )

Subject : Goose hunting in the European Union

In some Union Member States, including Germany, wild
geese may be hunted . The reason, apparently, is the damage
to pasture-land and the adverse consequences for farming
caused by migratory birds . It is a proven fact, however, that
hunting wild geese is not an effective way to reduce damage
to pasture-land . Indeed, studies demonstrate the contrary :
disturbing the birds increases energy requirements and
hence, at the end of the day, feed requirements . Moreover,
the fact that young birds die in agony when they have been
winged or left without parents provides a further argument
against hunting . Countries such as Belgium, Ireland, or the
Netherlands are proving that a ban on wild goose hunting is
feasible .

1 . What, in the Commission 's opinion, are the prospects

for a standard Union-wide hunting ban, and within
what time-frame could it be achieved ?

2 . Has the Commission responded to the call from, among
others, the German Bundesrat to provide resources from
the EU agricultural budget to compensate farmers for
the damage to pasture-land referred to above ? If so,
what steps have been taken ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 May 1995 )

1 . Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds ( ! ) is the legal instrument
governing hunting .

Annex II to the Directive contains a list of the species which
may be hunted and includes several species of geese . It was

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 33

amended recently by Council Directive 94 / 24 / EC ( ) and the
Commission has no plans at present to propose further
changes .

2 . There are no specific measures available to the
Commission to compensate for damage to pasture-land
caused by wild geese .

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 on
agricultural production methods compatible with the
requirements of the protection of the environment and the
maintenance of the countryside ( 3 ) premiums may be
granted in principle for income losses resulting from certain
extensive production methods . The specific conditions for
the grant of aid under the Regulation do not, however,
include compensation for damage to pasture-land caused by
wild geese as referred to by the Honourable Member .

The Commission takes the view that it is not necessary for
the moment to introduce compensation of this type at
Community level .

weeks after President Aristide 's return . Programmable aid
totals ECU 120 million, consisting of ECU 106 million of
grants and ECU 14 million administered by the EIB . In
December 1994, having obtained the approval of the EDF
Committee, the Commission gave the go-ahead for the first
re-habilitation programme . This totalled ECU 25 million in
value and focused on infrastructure, agriculture, water
supplies and education . In February 1995, a rehabilitation
programme for energy supplies totalling ECU 16 million in
value was also approved . Its purpose was to repair a
fire-damaged power station . ECU 25 million of
1990 — 1993 Stabex funds were placed at Haiti 's disposal .
They will be used to finance the re-habilitation of
infrastructure and equipment in rural areas . The
Commission also approved ECU 23 million of structural
adjustment support . These funds will be used in health care
and education .

The Commission is well aware of Haiti 's problems and will

be giving priority to labour-intensive projects . It will use

Community level . local firms as far as possible . All other available sources of

budget funds will be pressed into use to make the lot of the
(') OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 . country 's people easier .

( 2 ) OJ No L 164, 30 . 6 . 1994 .
(■') OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1044 / 95

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ), Juan Colino

Salamanca ( PSE ) and Josep Pons Grau ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 69 )

Subject : Aid to Haiti

Since the normalization of political life in Haiti with the
return of President Aristide, what aid has the European
Union granted in Haiti so as to allow it to tackle its current
poverty levels on a step-by-step basis ?

Does the Commission intend to grant any additional or
emergency aid for the forthcoming elections to be held in
Haiti ?

Counting humanitarian aid ( ECU 18 million in 1994 ),
development assistance for Haiti stands at no less than ECU
210 million .

Particular attention has also been paid to promoting
democracy and human rights . A programme to provide
backing for the media ( ECU 650 000 ) is under way, and the
Commission has sent a fact finder to the country . His job
will be to investigate and decide ( in close collaboration with
the Haitian authorities ) how to develop a programme to
back the democratic process . This will involve two stages :
providing ECU 1 milliqn of funding ( approved by the
Commission on 2 May ) to help with the holding of the June

1995 elections, and implementing one or more additional
programmes to help with the reform of the judicial

system .

On 12 May, the Commission adopted a Decision approving
an allocation of ECU 6 million to enable the humanitarian

aid plan adopted on 20 October 1994 to continue . The plan
covers health care, nutrition, water and drainage .

The Commission is aware of Haiti 's situation and needs . It

will ensure that the Lome Convention is implemented with

Answer on behalf given of the by Commission Mr Pinheiro initiative and flexibility, while retaining a degree of

strictness in choices and procedures .
( 19 May 1995 )

The Commission and Haiti signed a National Indicative
Programme for the country on 30 November 1994, six

No C 213 / 34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1046 / 95

by Jean Gol ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 70 )

Subject : Protection of wolves in Europe

Annex II to Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( ! ) of 21 May

1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild

fauna and flora includes the wolf ( canis lupus ) as an animal
species of Community interest, whose conservation requires
the designation of special areas of conservation .

Spain and Greece were granted derogations from the
Directive 's requirements . ( The Directive targets wolf
populations in spain — only those south of the Duero, and
in Greece — only those south of the 39th parallel .)

In view of the above :

1 . How were these derogations justified when it is known
that the wolves in Spain and Greece live precisely outside
the areas mentioned in Annex II to the Directive ?

2 . Does the Commission intend to amend these provisions
and withdraw the derogations for the two countries
mentioned above, in order to ensure that wolves in
Europe are genuinely protected ?

3 . It appears that Finland has obtained a similar
derogation . To what extent is this justified ?

4 . Which Member States have not yet transposed the

Directive into national law ? Does the Commission

intend to begin infringement proceedings against them,
in accordance with Article 169 of the Treaty on
European Union ?

3 . Finland entered a reservation concerning the wolf
under the ' Convention on the conservation of European
wildlife and natural habitats ' ( Bern Convention ). This
reservation was accepted by the Commission during the
negotiations on Finland 's accession to the Community .

4 . As at 31 March 19 95 several Member States

( Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal,
Finland and Sweden ) had not notified the Commission of
measures taken to transpose Directive 92 / 43 / EEC into
national law . Where the new Member States are concerned,
the Commission is currently examining the situation .

All these Member States have, however, confirmed that their
new legislation is being drafted and some of them have
stated that several aspects of Directive 92 / 43 / EEC have
already been transposed into national law .

Infringement proceedings are currently under way against
all the Member States which have failed to notify the
Commission of measures transposing the Directive into
national law .

It should also be pointed out that some Member States,
which have notified their new legislation to the
Commission, are aware that the transposition of Directive
92 / 43 / EEC into national law is incomplete .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1080 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 71

Subject : Financing the trans-European transport
networks

(') OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 . In regard to the trans-European transport networks can the

Commission confirm that France 's decision to asign priority
to high-speed train east will not delay European aid to the
two major rival projects — Paris— Bordeaux — Madrid and
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard Paris — Lyons — Turins ?

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 May 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

1 . The exclusion of certain wolf populations, Canis
lupus, in Spain and Greece from Annex II of Directive
92 / 43 / EEC resulted from numerous discussions held in the

Council before the Directive was adopted . Spain and Greece
argued that protection of the wolf habitats concerned was
unjustified given the satisfactory state of the Spanish and
Greek wolf populations .

2 . The Commission does not intend to amend these

provisions at present .

(1 June 1995 )

The most recent European Council held in Essen in

December 1995 selected as priority projects inter alia :

— High-speed train South :

— Madrid — Barcelona — Perpignan — Montpellier

— Madrid — Vitoria — Dax

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 35

— High-speed train East : which, according to the EIB, has already received funding
— Paris — Metz — Strasbourg — Appenweier — already from that been institution approved . This by the means Commission that the . project has

( Karlsruhe ) of which Metz — Saarbrucken —
Mannheim and Metz — Luxembourg sections

— High-speed train and combined transport
France — Italy :

— Lyons — Turin

— Turin — Milan — Venice — Trieste

One of the conditions used to select these projects from a
rather extensive list, was that the work should either to be
already started or should be likely to be started before the
end of 1996 . Each project is at a different state of progress
and with regard to bi-national projects where a Member
State 's administrative procedures may be different from
those of its neighbour, the state of progress is not necessarily
the same in each part of the project .

Moreover, the general framework, fixed by the white
paper (') for carrying out these projects envisages financing
through public-private partnerships . For each project, each
Member State determines the financing timetables
corresponding to the projects selected in Essen, also taking
into account other projects which it is considering .

Under the terms of the Treaty relating to the trans-European
networks, the Commission will be able to grant, at the
request of the Member States concerned, aid towards
complementary studies, interest subsidies, loan guarantees
or in very limited cases, grants . Loans from the European
Investment Bank ( EIB ), or loan guarantees from the
European Investment Fund ( EIF ), can also be requested .
Certain Member States, although this is not the case for
France, can also be given aids such as those granted by the
Cohesion Fund .

It is therefore for each Member State, and for the French
Government in the case of the three projects mentioned
above, to ensure the coherence if its choices in relation to the
aid granted by the Commission .

(') COM(93 ) 700 .

Could the Commission therefore say what route the
motorway will follow in Portugal, what the total cost will
be, what sources of funding have been approved and what
the construction timetable is ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 May 1995 )

The motorway from Lisbon to Valladolid is one of the 14
transport priority projects on the trans-European network

( TEN ) endorsed by the Essen European Council .

In the framework of the Commission activities to promote
the project, a workshop was held in Brussels in October

1994 with the participation of the Spanish and Portuguese
authorities . The various related issues were examined and a

technical description fiche was developed .

On the Portuguese side, from the Spanish border ( Vilar
Formoso ) to Lisbon via Castelo Branco, upgrading of the
existing road to motorway standard is underway, including
realignment and construction of new links . Of the total
length of 363 km, 109 km have already been completed, 60
km are under construction and 1 94 remain to be

constructed . Work will be finished in stages until 1999 .

Regarding Community financing 1994 — 1999 in Portugal,
the cohesion fund will contribute ECU 53 million to the

construction of the section Alcanena — Atalaia — Abrantes

( IP6 ). The European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF )
will contribute approximately ECU 60 million to sections
Soalheira — Castelo Branco ( IP2 ), Gardunha tunnel and
access roads ( IP2 ) and Guarda-variante da Covilha ( IP6 ) ( no
detailed breakdown of programme financing to project
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1115 / 95 financing is available at this moment ).

by Helena Torres Marques ( PSE )

to the Commission

Regarding the Gardunha tunnel and access roads, two

(5 April 1 995 ) letters of formal notice were addressed by the Commission

( 95 / C 213 / 72 ) to the Portuguese authorities concerning firstly the respect

of the Directives on public works contracts ('), as last
amended by Directive 89 / 440 / EEC ( 2 ) and secondly the
Subject : Financing for, and route to be followed by, the Directive on environmental impact ( 3 ).

Lisbon — Valladolid motorway

The trans-European transport networks include the
construction of a motorway between Lisbon and Valladolid

Regarding TEN budget line financing, ECU 1,5 million were
allocated in 1994 for technical studies . The Portuguese

No C 213 / 36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

authorities have not yet submitted their applications for

1995—1 999 .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 135 / 95

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 73

Subject : Establishment of TACs and distribution of quotas

for anchovy

At the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December 1 994 a

number of agreements were reached on the allocation of
TACs and their division into national quotas together with
certain agreements on the management of fishing relative to
resources and Community fishing zones .

On the one hand TACs and quotas have been established
and allocated for anchovy, and their distribution specified in
zones VIII and IX, X, Copace 34.1.1, while on the other
hand, under bilateral agreements between France and
Portugal on the exchange of fishing opportunities, it has
been established that : ' Since a common TAC for anchovy
has been established in zones VIII and IX, Portugal shall
transfer each year 80 % of its quota which shall be fished
exclusively in waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction
of France '.

In view of this change in the distribution of anchovy
resources and given the importance of this species for
inshore fishermen and the fact that the anchovy season is
already under way, what is the actual legal situation
concerning the allocation of TACs and their division into
national quotas for this species in 1995, and what are the
Commission 's medium - and long-term plans with regard to
this distribution by zone and by Member State ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1995 )

Quotas for anchovy and the specific conditions under which
they may be fished are fixed in Regulation ( EEC )
No 3362 / 94 ( ] ) ( TACs and quotas for 1995 ), later amended
by Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 746 / 95 ( 2 ). The allocation

of quotas is based on the principle of relative stability,
confirmed in the case of anchovy in the Act of Accession of

1985 .

According to these provisions, Portugal was allocated a
quota of 6 260 tonnes of anchovy to fish in the waters west
and south-west of the Iberian Peninsula . This quota may
only be fished in the waters under the sovereignty or within
the jurisdiction of Portugal, with the exception of a
maximum quantity of 5 008 tonnes, which may be fished in
the waters of the Bay of Biscay which are under the
sovereignty or within the jurisdiction of France .

The Commission takes the view that the provisions
governing the two main anchovy fisheries in Community
waters adequately provide for reasonable exploitation and
reflect the agreements reached within the Council in
December 1994 . Consequently, it would like to propose to
Council that these be maintained during the years to

come .

(M OJ No L 363, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 74, 1 . 4 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 156 / 95

by María Izquierdo Rojo ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 74 )

Subject : Formation of a fishing fleet under the European

Union flag

When will there be a fishing fleet under the Union flag ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 1995 )

The profound disregard of fish stocks for national frontiers
was certainly an argument in favour of classing them as
Community stocks in 1983 . However, while Member States
agreed that total allowable catches should be set for the
Community as a whole, one of the reasons why they did so
was that the arrangements introduced ensured their
distribution between Member States in the form of national

quotas .

As regards fishing vessels, Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 3760 / 92 ( ] ) establishing a Community system for
fisheries and aquaculture defines ' Community fishing vessel '
as 'a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State and
registered in the Community '.

As Community law at present stands it is the Member States
that set the terms under which they grant the right for vessels

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 37

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

to fly their flag, i.e. the competence is exclusively national . Answer given by Mr Bangemann
No call to bring all fishing vessels under a single Community on behalf of the Commission
flag has ever emerged from the lively debate that ( 29 May 1995 )
characterizes the fishing world .

( 29 May 1995 )

(!) OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 169 / 95

by Yannos Kranidiotis ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 75 )

Subject : Re-organization of the Greek textiles industry

The new terms of international competition arising from - the
GATT agreement, the agreements with the countries of
central and eastern Europe, the customs union with Turkey,
the Generalized System of Preferences, the Lome
Convention, the economic outward-processing
arrangements and Mediterranean policy are creating severe
problems for the European textiles and clothing industry .

In the last 15 years, the European textiles industry has shed

1 400 000 jobs . The situation is deteriorating as a result of
international competition and social dumping from
countries with low labour costs and the outlook for the

industry is bleak . This traditional sector of Greek industry is
having enormous difficulty coping with the new
recession .

The European Union has recognized the importance of the
textiles and clothing sector in Greece . When the agreements
were signed with the countries of eastern and central
Europe, in fact, the European Union gave a commitment to
examine the reports on Greek requests and to put forward
proposals . The same commitments were given during the
GATT negotiations and on other occasions .

I would like to remind the European Union of these
commitments and its new obligation under the Customs
Union Agreement with Turkey . The Greek Government
submitted a memorandum in this connection in 1994 .

When will the Commission submit proposals to deal with
the decline in the textiles and clothing sector in Greece and
will these proposals include additional funding for such an
important sector of Greek industry ?

The Commission is keeping a close eye on developments in
the textiles and clothing industry in the Community,
notably in regions where this sector is of major economic
and social importance . In this context, the Commission is
making sure that the interests of the entire Community, and
especially of these regions, are taken into consideration
during negotiations with non-member countries within the
framework of its trade policy .

On the basis of the conclusions of the Council ( Industry ) in
April 1994, the Commission launched a study the same year
concerning the impact of the Uruguay round negotiations
on the textiles and clothing industry in the Community . The
study will examine problems which have arisen in the
Member States most dependent on this sector . It will be
completed in June 1995 and, in the light of the opinion
expressed on its conclusions, the Commission will assess the
need to redirect the initiatives under way .

Within the framework of the commitments made by the
Council and the Commission regarding the Customs Union
Agreement with Turkey, the Commission will examine as
soon as possible, in collaboration with the Greek
Government, the difficulties that the new terms of
competition have created in the Greek textiles and clothing
sector and the changes firms in this sector need to make in
order to enhance their competitiveness . It will also contact
the economic agents . In the proposals it will draw up in

1995 the Commission will also take into consideration the

interests and problems of the textiles and clothing sector
throughout the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 1 79 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 76

Subject : The Seville workshop on thermal solar energy and

its transfer to the Mediterranean basin

While congratulating the Commission ( DG I, DGX VII, and
IPTS ) on holding the workshop on thermal solar energy,
related technology and its transfer to the Mediterranean
basin, I would like to know whether any steps have been
taken since January of this year to achieve practical results
from so valuable an initiative, whether technical and
financial measures have been continued and whether, in
particular, progress has been made towards an integrated

No C 213 / 38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

project for the three aforementioned sectors contained in the
proposal summarizing the conclusions published by the
IPTS .

To be more precise, I would like to know whether Morocco
and Spain ( or maybe Greece ) have chosen to construct the
two plants in question, which could bring an end to the
monopoly that California enjoys in this area, due to a lack of
European initiatives such as the present proposal by the
Commission .

cycle paths or otherwise benefitted cyclists, such as the
bridge in Cardiff ( Wales ), which was part-funded by the
European Regional Development Fund, and which included
a two way cycle path .

Clearly, Structural Fund and Cohesion Fund activities in the
transport sector which, for example, take traffic away from
town centres and other urban areas, do benefit cyclists .

The Commission will continue, within the means at its
disposal, to promote cycling as an environmentally friendly
form of transport, but equally realises that the local nature
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis of the most cycling activity means that measures will

on behalf of the Commission necessarily be taken at a local level .

( 12 June 1 995 )

Following the success of a workshop on thermal solar
energy in the Mediterranean Basin companies having
acquired similar experience in the United States have
conducted feasibility studies on the implementation of
integrated projects, particularly on the island of Crete and in
certain areas of Spain .

In addition this type of project could be funded under the
Thermie programme, and more especially when the next call
for proposals is made on 15 September 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 188 / 95

by Kirsten Jensen ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 77 )

Subject : Transport

Given that the Commission believes that cycling has high
priority in the common transport policy ( Commission 's
answer of 28 October 1994 to Written Question
E-l 836 / 94 (')), how many cycle tracks — and where — has
the EU supported through the Structural and Cohesion
Funds ?

( ] ) OJ No C 36, 13 . 2 . 1995, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1995 )

Most Structural Fund operations are channelled through
programmes, where the individual projects are decided at
national or local level . Consequently, it is not practically
possible to give details on all projects which have included

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1208 / 95
by Markus Ferber ( PPE ) and Edgar Schiedermeier ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 78

Subject : Transport problems in the central and eastern

European countries

Can the Commission comment on the following questions
concerning free access for central and eastern European
road hauliers to the internal European market and the
problems encountered at the German-Polish and
German-Czech frontiers :

1 . When does the Commission expect to receive a mandate
from the Council to begin negotiations with the central
and eastern European countries on free access for
transport undertakings to the internal European
market ?

2 . After receiving this mandate, will the Commission gear
its negotiating strategy to requiring central and eastern
European transport undertakings to comply with the
European Union 's social, technical and environmental
standards before they are granted free access to the
internal European market ?

3 . How familiar is the Commission with current social,
technical and environmental standards in the transport
sector in the central and eastern European countries ?

4 . How long does the Commission believe it will take the
central and eastern European countries to comply with
the European Union 's social, technical and
environmental standards in the transport sector ?

5 . Despite wide-ranging measures taken under the Phare
programme to improve the situation at the frontiers
with central and eastern Europe, German lorry drivers

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 39

can still except to have to wait for up to 50 hours at the
Polish and Czech frontiers . There is no escaping the
impression that the Polish and Czech authorities are not
being very cooperative . How can the European Union
bring pressure to bear on the Polish and Czech
Governments and authorities with a view to improving
the situation ? Can a link be forged between the granting
of EU resources to assist the development of
infrastructure in the central and eastern European
countries and an improvement in the situation at the
German-Polish and German-Czech frontiers ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 June 1995 )

1 . In December 1992 the Commission forwarded to the

Council a recommendation for a Decision on the opening of
negotiations between the Community and the countries of
central and eastern Europe concerning the carriage of goods
and passengers by road .

The Council has discussed the recommendation on several

occasions and, at its June 1994 session, charged a special
working party to examine the technical aspects involved in
access to the market and harmonization and to submit

possible solutions . The working party was asked to report to
the Council on its conclusions .

2 . The Council and the Commission are in agreement
that increased market access can only be granted providing
the third countries concerned approximate their own road
transport legislation with relevant Community legislation in
technical, social and fiscal areas, as well as on conditions for
access to the profession of road transporter .

3 and 4 . Such legislative approximation is in fact already
an obligation undertaken by those central European
countries which have concluded association agreements
with the Community . The process of legislative
approximation in these countries has already begun, and the
Commission has regular contacts with the countries
concerned to facilitate the process . These countries also
receive help, through the relevant Community programmes
— particularly Phare — in the planning, drafting and
implementation of the new legislation .

The association agreements provide for this approximation
to take place over a certain period . Should road transport
agreements be concluded, this process will have to be
accelerated to ensure that an appropriate level of
approximation is achieved in parallel with improved market
access . It is also understood that if any liberalisation
measures concerning market access are to be agreed, they
should be progressive and take place in parallel to this
approximation .

5 . There are still considerable delays for trucks and other
vehicles at the border crossings mentioned . The
Commission expects however that the effects of the
initiatives taken under the Phare 1993 / 94 programmes will
soon appear . Since these measures are not in themselves
sufficient to alleviate the situation, the Commission was
asked by the Essen European Council to develop a new
programme under Phare to eliminate delays at frontiers .

The preparatory work for this transit facilitation
programme is already well under way . It is based on the
belief that border crossing delays result mainly from
insufficient numbers or training of customs officers and, in
some instances, from badly designed infrastructure at the
border posts . Under this programme therefore, one
condition for financial support for infrastructure
development at the border posts is that sufficient numbers of
well qualified staff are made available by the beneficiary
countries .

The Commission is currently analysing the pros and cons of
a general conditionality clause, which could make
Community assistance, notably for the development of
transport infrastructure, dependent on an amelioration of
the situation at the border posts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1217 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 79 )

Subject : Tropical forests budget line B7-5041

Will the Commission list and describe the initiatives which

have been financed under this ' actions in favour of tropical
forests ' budget line, and give information about other
initiatives which are in the planning stage ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

The Community has played a major role in the preparation
and financing of the pilot programme for the conservation
of Brazilian tropical forests : an initial Community
contribution was made to the rain forest trust fund in 1992,
and subsequent co-financed actions amounted to ECU 13,9
million . In 1995, a ECU 16,7 million commitment for the
natural resources policy project is proposed .

No C 213 / 40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

In Colombia, funding has been provided for an Amazon
fund for sustainable development, geared to channeling
resources to small-scale local initiatives aimed at sustainable

use of forest resources . The Commission will investigate the
possibilities of further developing the outline project for a
management plan for the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta .
Funding is also being provided for the implementation of the
Alto Orinoco biosphere reserve in Venezuela, and is under
consideration for the Manu biosphere reserve in Peru .
Further new projects may be undertaken this year in
Paraguay and Mexico .

The Community provides support to the Amazon pact
countries through their Pro-Tempore secretariat in Lima . A
programme of instiutional strengthening for the pact,
together with regional projects for the planning and
management of protected areas across the region, and for
the consolidation of indigenous areas, have been initiated .
Another important regional project which seeks to address
the fundamental causes of deforestation concerns the

control of the expansion of the agricultural frontier in
Central America .

A number of initiatives have been undertaken in the context

of the Community 's forest sector support programme to
Indonesia, and a sustainable forest management project for
Berau in East Kalimantan was committed in 1994 . A

geographical information systems project had been agreed
with Malaysia, and a national parks programme with the
Philippines . The Commission may this year establish further
cooperation actions with Malaysia, Vietnam and Nepal .

Important projects undertaken in African, Caribbean and
Pacific countries include a regional Central African forest
monitoring project ( ECU 3,5 million ), Korup national park
in Cameroun ( ECU 7,3 million ), and substantial
programmes in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Guinea and
Papua New Guinea .

Numerous smaller-scale projects implemented by
European, international or local NGOs, and community
groups and indigenous peoples ' organizations have received
support . Close attention has been paid to the human aspects
of forest conservation, through aid to participatory
sustainable development activities at local level . Biosphere
reserves have provided a useful framework for the
combination of sustainable resource use with forest

conservation, and there are around 10 reserves which have
benefitted or for which assistance is under consideration .

A number of non-country specific or horizontal actions have
been financed or are under consideration, notably to
promote the establishment of timber certification systems,
sustainable paper production, forest monitoring, tropical
forests and biodiversity information resources, and
partnership arrangements between the federation of
European parks and protected areas in Latin America and
Asia .

The Commission has, in the context of negotiations over the
draft Council Regulation for actions in favour of tropical
forests O, declared that it will present a review of these
activities to Council and Parliament before the end of

1995 .

H COM(94 ) 153 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1220 / 95

by Claude Desama ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 80 )

Subject : Situation of the 250 hotel and catering sector

workers in the buildings of the Union institutions
in Brussels

Some 250 hotel and catering sector workers in various
buildings belonging to the Union institutions in Brussels are
currently employed by the Brussels company Taylorplan
Overseas .

The Commission will shortly put out an invitation to tender
for the new ( two-year ) contract, which will not include any
provision obliging the new contractor to re-employ the
existing staff .

Is this not contrary to Council Directive 77 / 187 / EEC C )

( CCT 32a in Belgian law ), which enshrines certain rights for
persons directly linked to an activity where that activity is
transferred from one undertaking to another ?

(!) OJ No L 61, 5 . 3 . 1977, p . 61 .

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 May 1995 )

The Commission 's contract with Taylorplan Overseas for
the provision of services at its decentralized catering

facilities ( self-service restaurants, cafeterias ) is renewable up
to a maximum total duration of five years .

There has so far been no decision to put all or part of it out to
a new tender . All that has been issued as a preliminary notice
to ascertain whether other firms might be interested if
tenders were invited .

It is not true to say that the Commission 's new invitation to
tender ' will not include any provision obliging the new
contractor to re-employ the existing staff ; the details and
principles of the invitation to tender have not been
settled .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 41

Directive 77 / 187 / EEC concerns the maintenance of

employees ' rights were a firm, an establishment or part of an
establishment changes ownership . The protection afforded
by the Directive, which has been transposed in Belgium, is
available under the law if the transfer is within the

Directive 's definitions .

It follows that a clause in a tender notice stating, in effect,
that Community law must be complied with, would be
purely declaratory .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1225 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufibaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 81

Subject : Integration of the countries of central and eastern

Europe into a Europe-wide information network

At the G7 round of talks in Brussels on 27 March 1995, the
President of the Commission, Jacques Santer, outlined the
principal measures taken by the Commission to continue
building on the outcome of the G7 Conference on the
development of the information society, including
preparations by the Commission for the
Telecommunications Council in June, at which a politically
significant decision on the liberalization of the EU 's
telecommunications structures is to be adopted, and for
forthcoming international conferences on the information
society, in which the countries of central and eastern Europe
are also to take part .

1 . What specific measures is the Commission planning to
implement during the next few years in order to
integrate eastern Europe into the information network

( keyword : telecommunications )?

2 . What specific amounts of funding does it plan to make

available for infrastructural measures and training in the
context part of individual aid programmes ?

3 . What input will the financing of such costly
programmes have on the budgetary resources so far
allocated to the promotion of small and medium-sized
undertakings ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 lune 1995 )

The Community is providing technical assistance in support
of institutional strengthening, and in particular
development of legislation and regulatory structures for the

telecommunications sector, as a basic prerequisite for the
emergence of the information society . Furthermore the
Community has financed a number of pilot projects for
telephony in remote rural areas and a cross-border link
between Greece and Bulgaria .

In addition, the Commission has funded scientific
cooperation under the Copernicus action . As of this year,
the R&D programmes on advanced communications,
telematics applications, and information technology are
open to participation by organizations from these countries
and there is some financial support available for this
participation .

The amount devoted to the telecommunications sector so

far has been ECU 70 million from the Phare programme
between 1990 and 1995, used primarily for institutional
support activities and training . The future funding will
depend on the requests put forward by each country but it is
likely to be of the same order of magnitude . In the same
period, some ECU 30 million has been used for R&D
activities in the sectors related to the information society .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1240 / 95

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 82

Subject : Assessment of the Erasmus programme

The Erasmus programme has had a major impact on the

' Europeanization ' of universities . However, in its various
reports on the implementation of the programme the
Commission has not analysed an important piece of
statistical information, namely the number of courses
credited to students by their home university under the
inter-university cooperation programmes . In future the
Commission must establish in each individual case the

actual level of accreditation granted to students by the
various universities .

If any universities do not undertake to guarantee that
courses followed by students under an inter-university
cooperation programme will be credited automatically by
the home university, exchanges with such universities
should cease .

What measures is the Commission planning to adopt as

regards the implementation of the new university exchange
programmes ?

No C 213 / 42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 June 1995 )

Academic recognition of the courses followed by Erasmus
students in foreign universities under inter-university
cooperation programmes is an essential part of the Erasmus

programme .

Some 300 000 students have taken part in these
programmes which have, since 1987, involved 1 600
universities and 15 000 regions .

According to a series of assessments made by the
Commission, the level of academic recognition depends on
inter-university agreements on the content of the courses the
students are required to study while abroad ( equivalence of
identical courses, recognition of courses which are not
available at the home university, whether or not
examinations taken abroad are recognised, whether or not
the marks obtained in these examinations are recognised,
etc .).

The new Socrates programme ( Decision No 819 / 95 / EC ) ( ] )

( Chapter I of which includes the mobility principles
introduced previously as part of Erasmus ) promotes the
European Community Course Credit Transfer System

( ECTS ) designed to secure the academic recognition
necessary to ensure student mobility . This system, run as a
pilot project involving 145 universities and over 5 000
students from all the Member States since 1990, is based on
awareness of courses on offer in each establishment,
agreement between these establishments on the transfer of
course credits and the students ' expectations in terms of
general academic achievement (a total of 60 credits for an
academic year ).

A code of good practice for ECTS is to be published in July

1 995 and will be available to the universities concerned . The

Honourable Member will receive a copy .

( J ) OJ No L 87, 20 . 4 . 1995, p . 10 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1241 / 95

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 83 )

support for the work of the Commission, exploratory
research and research under contract to third parties .

Could the Commission say what research contracts are
being carried out for third parties and what their
justification is ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1995 )

The Joint research centre ( JRC ) started to perform work for
third parties in 1988 when the Council decided that the JRC
should utilise its facilities and man-power to develop work
for third parties in areas of its competence ( Council
resolution of 29 June 1988 (')).

In 1992 the Council asked the JRC to pursue its work of
providing services under contract for external third parties

( Council resolution of 29 April 1992 ( 2 )).

Finally in 1994 the Council re-affirmed the need for the JRC
to reinforce its move towards a more competitive approach
and, besides the activities on behalf of third parties,
introduce new types of competitive activities for the JRC
that consist in participation in the shared-cost actions of the
framework R&D programmes and participation in other
Community activities .

The Commission submits each year to the Parliament, the
Council, and the Economic and Social Committee a report
on the implementation of the activities, including the third
party work, of the Joint research centre, in accordance with
the provisions set out in the Council Decisions adopting the
specific programmes to be carried out by the JRC ( 3 ).

Furthermore, annual reports for each of the eight JRC
institutes are published and are widely distributed to
universities and research centres and, upon request, to other
interested parties .

With regard to third parties work, the 1994 annual
report ( 4 ) provides information on the total volume of
orders ( ECU 39 million over the period 1992 — 1994 of
which ECU 1 8 million in 1 994 ) the kind of customers ( 57 %
industry, 21% research organization, 20% public
administrations, 2 % others ) and the field of activity

( nuclear sector 66 %, environment 20 %, space 4 %, others
10% ). Information on the progress of the most important
contracts executed by each of the eight JRC institutes is also
given .

The Commission considers that it could not disclose more

detailed information on third party contracts, executed by
the JRC for its customers, since this would refer to the
commercial activities of its customers and therefore

constitute business secrets .

(M OJ No C 197, 27 . 7 . 1988 .

Subject : Joint Research Centre ( 2 ) OJ No C 118, 9 . 5 . 1992 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 361, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

( 4 ) COM / 95 / 121 final .
The activities of the eight Joint Research Centre institutes
concentrate on four areas : specific research programmes,

17 . 8 . 95 EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 43

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1246 / 95

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1256 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 ) (5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 84 ) ♦ ( 95 / C 213 / 85 )

Subject : Relations with independent trade unions

Subject : Vehicle emissions

Has the Commission discussed future requirements for car
emissions, within the context of improvement to air quality ?
For instance, has the Commission considered or discussed
strategies or policies for the production or use of electric cars
or even hybrid cars ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 June 1995 )

Does the Commission have contacts with the European
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions ?

If so, does this Confederation receive financial support from
the European Union ?

If so, on what basis ?

Is the Commission aware of the existence of an ' Academy of
Europe '?

Does the Commission have relations with this Academy ?

If these relations are financial in nature, what amounts have
In drafting its proposal for measures designed to reduce been granted by the European Union ?
polluting emissions of road vehicles by 2000, the
Commission is adopting the approach set out in Directive
94 / 1 2 / EC ( 1 ). In particular, it is setting the levels of future
vehicle emissions standards in combination with measures
such as the improvement of fuels and stricter control of Answer given by Mr Flynn
vehicles in service, so as to comply with the thresholds laid on behalf of the Commission
down for air quality . 20 June 1995

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1995 )

In the overall analysis of the cost and efficiency of the
various measures, the Commission is taking account of the
possible contribution of electric or hybrid vehicles, notably
on the basis of the motor industry 's production plans . It is
unlikely, however, that these will be a significant factor of
the new ' Etape 2000 ' strategy, owing to their high cost in
comparison with conventional vehicles, even when
equipped with the latest pollution-control technologies .

Furthermore, the Commission has supported, and will
continue to support research and development on the
technologies necessary to master alternative vehicle
propulsion systems, under its specific programmes and by
setting up a task force on the ' car of tomorrow '.

(>) OJ No 100, 19 . 4 . 1994 .

The Commission consults the European Confederation of
Independent Trade Unions ( ECITU ) as part of the
consultation procedure covering all European and, where
applicable, national organizations likely to be concerned by
Community social policy . The Commission also has
contacts with a number of ECITU-affiliated organizations
which are representative of the public service sector at
national level ( e.g. the DBB in Germany ).

The ECITU is not receiving any Community financial
support at the moment .

Since the creation of the Academy of Europe in 1991, the
ECITU has applied for subsidies for its activities . As the
measures envisaged were not eligible under budget heading
B3-4002, the Commission has not granted financial support
to the Academy .

No C 213 / 44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1259 / 95 Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission
by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission ( 12 June 1995 )

(5 May 1995 )

Subject : Construction of a dam in the Tsiknia region of

Lesbos

( 95 / C 213 / 86 ) Further to the answer already provided in reply to Written
Question E-2726 / 94 by Mr Mac Nally, Mr Günther, Mrs

of a dam in the Tsiknia region of Andre-Leonard and Mrs Zimmermann (*), the Commission

would inform the Honourable Member that its delegation
will be led by Mr Pédraig Flynn, Member of the
Commission .

Plans have existed for some time to construct a dam in the

region of Tsiknia on the island of Lesbos to store water for

irrigation purposes . This project is very important for the
island and for this reason some Dr 50 million were allocated

by the authorities to fund a financial survey of the project so
that it could be included in the Second CSF . However, it has
been omitted .

Does the Commission have any information on the
requirements of the agricultural economy of Lesbos and can
it say why the Tsiknia dam has been excluded from the
Second CSF, especially since projects for similar dams have
been included, even though no surveys have yet been drawn
up in respect of them ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

To ensure coverage of all negotiating groups at the Fourth
World Conference on Women, the delegation will include
officials from all the different Commission departments
directly involved with the topics to be discussed .

Parliament will form part of the delegation, being
represented by five of its members and an official .

A Commission communication on the European Union 's
priorities — prepared in the light of the Conference — was
recently forwarded to the Council and Parliament ( 2 ). The
paper covers matters such as equality of opportunity and the
promotion of women, be it in Europe or in other —
particularly developing — countries, and helps prepare the
Union 's position at the Conference .

(2 June 1995 ) (») OJ No C 103, 24 . 4 . 1995 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 221 final .

The Community has already part-financed dams on Lesbos,
in particular in Mythimna and Kalloni ( Keramiou ). These
projects are now in their completion phase .

The Greek authorities are envisaging the possible
construction of other dams in other localities, such as
Eressos, Plomari and T siknias . It will be for these authorities
to fix their priorities with regard to the construction of these
dams, which are based in particular on the state of progress
of the various studies necessary for this type of project .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1278 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

{ 95 / C 213 / 87 )

Subject : United Nations Fourth World Conference on

Women, Beijing 1995

How will the Commission be presented at the United
Nations Fourth World Conference on women in Beijing,
China 1995 ?

What steps is the Commission taking to analyze the position
of women in the European Union ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1281 / 95

, by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 88 )

Subject : Law Society observation report on trials in Turkey

of former MPs and lawyers

Is the Commission aware that the Law Society of England
and Wales sent a delegation to observe trials of former MPs
and lawyers for alleged separatist activities ? Representatives
were sent in October 1993, Sepember 1994 and February

1995 . According to a letter dated 27 March 1995 to
Douglas Hurd, Secretary of State at the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office ' These investigations give rise to
serious concern about the rule of law and abuses of human

rights in Turkey .'

In the light of the above, what steps will the Commission
take to persuade the Turkish authorities to observe human
rights in Turkey, and particularly with respect to the
Kurdish population ?

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 45

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

by Mr Van den Broek card ( ), most recently on the occasion of a meeting with

of the Commission national experts on 6 March 1995 . The Commission notes

( 12 June 1995 ) with regret that Member States remain unwilling to act on
this recommendation .

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission continues to monitor the human rights
situation in Turkey and calls for radical changes in Turkish
legislation and actions in this sphere .

Since 1993 the Commission has been operating an aid
programme in support of non-governmental organizations
working to protect and promote human rights in Turkey . At
a total cost of ECU 1 million, some 20 projects have so far
been undertaken with the aim of increasing human rights
awareness in Turkey and accordingly developing the
necessary training, education and information . The
Commission is also funding a number of rehabilitation
centres for former tortured prisoners .

The Turkish authorities are aware of the considerable

amount of work which they still have to do . In a recent
speech given at Ankara 's Bilkent University, Mrs ( filler
outlined a programme of necessary reforms covering the
constitution, anti-terrorist legislation and other laws which
place heavy restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly .
This programme remains to be implemented, to which end
the Turkish Parliament must adopt the necessary legislative
amendments or new laws .

On the Kurdish question, the Commission continues to
advocate that the Turkish Government adopt a political
approach, the first stage of which could be to lift the state of
emergency in south-eastern Turkey .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 294 / 95

f 1 ) OJ No L 144, 27 . 5 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1295 / 95

by Mark Killilea ( UPE )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 90 )

Subject : Remuneration for trainers of persons with
disabilities

Under the European Social Fund, the EU provides Structural
Fund assistance to Member States for training of persons
with disabilities . This is done specificity under the Human
Resources Operational Programme .

In Ireland, much of this training is carried out through the
various Health Boards, by qualified personnel . Can the
Commission comment on the fact that one of these Health

Boards, the Western Health Board, offers a dramatically
lower scale of payment to these personnel as compared with
the other Boards, in spite of the fact that ESF funding is
distributed to each Health Board using identical criteria, and
that the number of trainers would be proportional to the
numbers in training in each centre ? This being so, will the
Commission insist that the scale of pay for all trainers in all
Health Board areas be on a par with each other ?

by Christine Oddy ( PSE ) Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission
to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 89 )

Subject : Senior pass

Could the Commission explain why there is no apparent
progress on implementation of the senior pass ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 June 1995 )

The Commission has continued to encourage Member
States to undertake implementation of the recommendation
of 10 May 1989 on introduction of a European over-sixties

( 15 June 1995 )

Under the human resource development operational
programme for Ireland 1994 — 1999, European Social Fund

( ESF ) assistance totalling ECU 145 million is being provided
to support training programmes for people with disabilities .
These training programmes are delivered by a range of
organizations ( statutory, voluntary and private ) catering
specifically for the training needs of people with disabilities .
The National rehabilitation board ( NRB ) has overall
responsibility for the implementation of this measure under
the human resource development programme .

However, the question of differing salary scales for trainers
employed by organizations delivering ESF supported
training programmes is not within the remit of the
Commission, but is a matter for the authorities of the
Member State .

No C 213 / 46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

QUESTION E-1296 / 95 rehabilitation and the assessment of the impact of this very

Whitehead ( PSE ) legislation . Although the document is dated last year, and

to the Commission the data itself only covers the period to August 1 993, a study
like this is welcome .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1296 / 95

by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE )

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 91 )

Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 — leghold traps

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 ( ] ) prohibits traps
that ' do not meet international trapping standards '. What
progress has the International Organization for
Standardization Technical Committee ( TCI 91 ) made
towards setting these standards ?

What action is the Commission taking to ensure that these

standards are in place by 1 January 1996 when the ban on
inhumane trapping methods is due to come into force ?

Will the Commission give its assurance that the Regulation
will be implemented by January 1996 ?

I should, however, like to know why it excludes certain EU
Member States . Of the 12 Member States of 1993, neither
Luxembourg, Greece, Portugal nor Spain appear, and of the
new Member States, Austria is missing, although data are
given for Norway .

Will these deficiencies be made good at a future date ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1995 )

(') OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

by Mrs Bjerregaard Through its six work lines Heart has studied the various

of the Commission aspects of the European market in rehabilitation

( 12 June 1995 ) technology .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

Technical committee 191 of the International Organization
for Standardization ( ISO ) has so far not been in a position to
produce draft standards which are acceptable to its
members . Its next meeting is planned for the beginning of
October 1995 but it is not envisaged that the ISO adoption
process will be finalized before the end of 1 996 .

The Commission, being an observer in the committee
concerned, has no means to ensure an earlier adoption, but
is currently exploring the possibilities of internationally
agreeing trapping standards with the main countries
concerned .

The Regulation was implemented in the Community on

The legislative aspects were studied in only 1 1 countries on
account of the limited budget allocated to that particular
work package in the technical annex to the contract . The
task of studying Spain 's legislation on technical assistance
for the disabled not only nationally but in the 17
autonomous communities would have been too expensive,
as well as time-consuming . Accordingly, the three Member
States conducting this part of the study ( France, United
Kingdom and Finland ) had to forego the legislative data for
that country . The main reason for not including Portugal,
Luxembourg and Greece was the lack of relevant legislation .
As for Austria, no-one could be found to collect the
data .

1 January 1995 and the import prohibition on certain furs
will take effect on 1 January 1996 . Despite all this, the Commission is keen for the census and
analysis of legislation on technical assistance to be updated
quickly and to include all the Member States . It would also
like help from the European Parliament in this area, which
overlaps with the latter 's interests to a large extent .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 300 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

Spain, Portugal, Greece, Luxembourg and Austria have

to the Commission

been covered in another work line, which was granted a

(5 May 1995 ) larger budget : Heart has made a systematic study of

' ( 95 / C 213 / 92 ) rehabilitation technology service delivery in 17 European

countries . A number of regulatory aspects have also been
covered .
Subject : The Heart study by the TIDE office

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

' ( 95 / C 213 / 92 )

The TIDE office ( Commission DG XIII ) has just distributed
two interesting volumes on European legislation concerning

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 47

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 302 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-1303 /

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) by María Izquierdo Rojo ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1303 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

(5 May 1995 ) (5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 93 ) ( 95 / C 213 / 94 )

Subject : Disagreements with the European Transport
Safety Council

In a lengthy leading article tantamount to an editorial, the
magazine ' Autoclub ', published by the Royal Automobile
Club of Spain ( RACE ), sharply disagrees with a recent
recommendation by the European Transport Safety Council

( E'TSC ), which apparently believes that a reduction of 5
kilometres per hour in the average speed on European roads
would save over 11 000 human lives and prevent 180 000
accidents every year in the European Union . The magazine
believes that this ETSC hypothesis ' would appear to be
especially offensive to those working in the automobile
industry, who traditionally devote a large part of their
efforts to improving the safety and reliability of their
products '.

Does the Commission have any comments on this
subject ?

Subject : Maintaining a Mediterranean balance in the
enlargement process

Given that a plenary sitting of the EP was held on 5 April

1995 which included a statement by the Commission on the
European Union 's strategy for the accession of the countries
of central and eastern Europe, is the Commission preparing
a second statement, which will give rise to a similar sitting,
concerning Malta and Cyprus and mirroring and paralleling
its predecessor ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1995 )

The Joint Community-Malta and Community-Cyprus
Parliamentary Committees each meet twice a year . The
Commission informs Parliament of the progress made in the
different areas of relations with these two countries,
particularly the accession process . The Commission is, of
course, always willing to field specific requests for
information from Parliament at any time .

When the time comes, the Commission will not fail to
inform Parliament of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus
and Malta, in the same way as it did for the central and
Answer given by Mr Kinnock eastern European countries .

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 June 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-13 14 / 95

The Commission would like to point out that the study
by José Apolinârio ( PSE )
carried out by the European Transport Safety Council

( E'TSC ) refers to reducing the number of victims of road
accidents due to excessive or undue speed but does not
specifically recommend a reduction of 5 kph in the average
speed on European roads .

( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 95 )

Subject : Information on a vocational training course

to the Commission

It would also point out that it has adopted a programme of
action on road safety, as defined in its communication to the Having received a request for information from a
Council of 9 June 1993 on this subject ( 1 ), which provides in Portuguese company, Metalurgica Progresso Lda, in Vale da
particular for measures to improve vehicle safety and action Cambra, I should like to ask the Commission for
on safer driving, including the effects of speed on road clarification regarding payment of the balance concerning a
safety . vocational training course financed by the ESF, which took

place between May 1992 and January 1993 . Secondly, I was
informed that, at the time this company contacted me,
(') COM(93 ) 246 final . conflicting explanations were being offered regarding the
responsibility for the delay of payment of the balance .

However, they are puzzled as to the reasons for the delay
and wish to be informed of the date on which the

No C 213 / 48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities - 17 . 8 . 95

Community contribution was transferred to Portugal, or, if WRITTEN QUESTION P-13 16
it has been blocked, they wish to know who is responsible by Jimmy Goldsmith ( EDN )
and if the Commission is responsible ?

WRITTEN QUESTION P-13 16 / 95

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 96 )

(1 June 1995 )
Subject : Free-trade agreements with third countries

The Commission replied to the request for information from
the company ' Metalurgica Progresso, Lda ' on 28 March

1995 and sent additional information by letter of 2 May
1995 .

Payment by the Commission of the balances for operational
programmes depends on submission of the request and
payment by the Member State within a period of six months
from the end of the year in question . Note, however, that the
period of validity of the operational programme under
which the vocational training project took place was
extended to 31 December 1994 . Accordingly, the balance
for 1993 could be submitted to the Commission up until
30 June 1995 .

The request for payment of the balance was received within
the Commission departments on 28 March 1995 and is now
being examined .

Will the Commission provide a list of all the agreements
currently in force between the European Union and third
countries or economic areas, which involve the elimination
of customs duties for trade in goods ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 May 1995 )

1 . The Community concluded agreements which include
free trade with several groups of countries ( see below ). All
these agreements are reciprocal, meaning that both parties
make the same trade concessions . Trade in agricultural
products, processed agricultural products and fisheries
products remains subject to specific stipulations .

Signed In force Official Journal

European Economic Area 2 . 5 . 1992 1 . 1 . 1994 L 1 / 94

Iceland 22 . 7 . 1972 1 . 4 . 1973 L 301 / 72

Norway 14 . 5 . 1973 1 . 7 . 1973 L 171 / 73

Liechtenstein 22 . 7 . 1972 1 . 1 . 1973 L 300 / 72

Europe Agreements (')

Poland 16 . 12 . 1991 1 . 2 . 1994 L 348 / 93

Hungary 16 . 12 . 1991 1 . 2 . 1994 L 347 / 93

Czech Republic 4 . 10 . 1993 1 . 2 . 1995 L 360 / 94

Slovakia 4 . 10 . 1993 1 . 2 . 1995 L 359 / 94

Romania 1 . 2 . 1993 1 . 2 . 1995 L 357 / 94

Bulgaria 8 . 3 . 1993 1 . 2 . 1995 L 358 / 94

Baltic Free Trade Agreements

Estonia 18 . 7 . 1994 1 . 1 . 1995 L 374 / 94

Latvia 18 . 7 . 1994 1 . 1 . 1995 L 374 / 94

Lithuania 18 . 7 . 1994 1 . 1 . 1995 L 375 / 94

Free Trade Agreements

Switzerland 22 . 7 . 1972 1 . 1 . 1973 L 300 / 72

Israël 11 . 5 . 1975 1 . 1 . 1973 L 136 / 75

Customs unions

Andorra 28 . 6 . 1990 1 . 7 . 1991 L 374 / 90

Cyprus 19 . 10 . 1987 1 . 1 . 1988 L 393 / 87

Malta 5 . 12 . 1970 1 . 4 . 1971 L 61 / 71

(') Europe Agreements are association agreements ; the trade and trade-related aspects entered into force earlier by way of

Interim Agreements .

t

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 49

It should be noted that in the association agreements with the central European countries and in the
free trade agreements with the Baltic countries, the partner countries commit themselves to applying
competition rules, similar to those in the Community, and to approximating their national
legislation towards that which applies in the Community on all subjects which have an influence on
the implementation of the agreements . European economic area partner countries apply Community
legislation in all areas covered by the agreement .

The European economic area agreement and the association agreements are concluded by the

Community and its Member States .

2 . The Community and the Member States also concluded a number of association and
cooperation agreements ( see below ) which include unilateral trade concessions on a number of
products . Such agreements were concluded with Turkey and Southern Mediterranean countries and
with 70 developing countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific . The agreement with the ACP
states is formalised in the Lome Convention which also included a large number of sectors of
economic and technical cooperation .

Signed In force Official Journal

Turkey ( ] )

association agreement 12 . 9 . 1963 1 . 12 . 1964 217 / 64

additional protocol 23 . 11 . 1970 1 . 1 . 1973 L 293 / 72

Southern Mediterranean

Algeria 26 . 4 . 1976 1 . 11 . 1978 L 263 / 78

Egypt 18 . 1 . 1977 1 . 11 . 1978 L 266 / 78

Jordan 18 . 1 . 1977 1 . 11 . 1978 L 268 / 78

Lebanon 3 . 5 . 1977 1 . 11 . 1978 L 267 / 78

Morocco 27 . 4 . 1976 1 . 11 . 1978 L 264 / 78

Syria 18 . 1 . 1977 1 . 11 . 1978 L 269 / 78

Tunisia 26 . 4 . 1976 **1** **.** **11** **.** **1978** L 265 / 78

Lomé Convention ( Fourth ) 15 . 12 . 1989 1 . 9 . 1992 L 229 / 91

(') A customs union with Turkey is foreseen, but not yet in force .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 322 / 95

by Leen van der Waal ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 97 )

Subject : Obstacles encountered by Christians in Egypt to

the construction and maintenance of their

churches

In Egypt Christians may build or repair a church only with
the consent of the head of State . Under pressure from
fundamentalist Muslims President Mubarak has almost

always withheld his permission . Consequently, many
churches in Egypt are in a very dilapidated state . Nor is the
construction of new churches permitted .

In Muqattam, one of Cairo 's satellite towns, live 50 000
families made homeless by the 1992 earthquake . They
include 20 000 Christian families . The town is full of new

mosques . For the 20 000 Copt families on the other hand,
there is not a single church . Permission to build one cannot
be obtained .

Moreover, members of the congregation in the village of
Bani Mohammed near Asyut were arrested on 13 March

1995 as they were restoring the building in which they held
meetings .

Can the Commission say what action it is thinking of taking
to improve the lot of Christians in Egypt so that they may
build and maintain their own churches and practise their
faith unhindered ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 June 1995 )

The Commission 's delegation in Egypt participates in
regular meetings in Cairo between representatives of the
Member States where, among other subjects, such issues as
human rights are discussed and reported back to
headquarters .

The Commission also receives information from other

sources ( the Egyptian organization for human rights,
Amnesty international, etc .) on such subjects .

No C 213 / 50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

The Commission so far has not received any report on the
issues raised by the Honourable Member .

The Commission delegation in Egypt is now exploring the
exact situation . The Commission will inform the

Honourable Member of the outcome of these investigations
once they are completed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 323 / 95

by Alessandro Fontana ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

have specific features of their own which sometimes call
for a specific approach ?

4 . Is the Commission aware that by disregarding SMEs as
an organization it has dealt a collective slap in the face to
small and medium-sized enterprises to whom, in a whole
series of white papers and green papers, it has paid what
appears to amount to little more than lip service ?

(') OJ No L 340, 29 . 12 . 1994, p . 8 .

Joint answer to Written Questions E    - 13 23 / 95

and E-1331 / 95

given by Mrs Cresson
on behalf of the Commission

( 95 / C 213 / 98 ) ( 22 lune 1995 )

Subject : Small and medium-sized undertakings and the

Leonardo Programme

1 . Is the European Commission aware of the fact that
implementation of the Leonardo Programme is not really
possible without the participation of the bodies representing
small and medium-sized undertakings ? If so, why are only
representatives of large-scale industries and public-sector
workers members of the relevant committees ( Advisory
Committee of the Leonardo Programme )?

2 . Why does the Commission allow the participation of
representatives of European associations of small and
medium-sized undertakings on certain committees, for
instance the Committee on Structural Funds, but does not
allow them to sit on all the other committees ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1331 / 95

by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

The composition of the various committees, as referred to
by the Honourable Member, must be in keeping with the
provisions of the Council Decisions .

However, the Commission understands that it is imperative
to avoid any ambiguity about the need for the active
participation of SMEs and the craft trades in the
Community measures of the Programme . It is willing to look
at ways of increasing the representation of this sector in the
consultation procedures for the implementation of the

Leonardo Programme .

The Commission recently emphasised this view in the
answer it gave to Oral Question H-263 / 95 tabled by Mr
Thomas Mann and would confirm this position today .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1326 / 95

by Angela Billingham ( PSE )

to the Commission
( 95 / C 213 / 99 )

( 12 May 1995 )

Subject : Appointment of social partners — action
programme on vocational training

According to press reports, the Commission has appointed
the representatives of the social partners who, pursuant to
Article 7 of Council Decision 94 / 819 / EC ( ] ) of 6 December

1994 on the vocational training programme ' Leonardo ',
participate as observers in the work of ' the Committee '
referred to in Article 6 of that Decision . It appears that
nobody has been appointed specifically to represent
SMEs .

1 . What exactly is the composition of the employers ' side

of the social partners ?

2 . What social partner(s ) at European level has ( have ) been

invited to nominate employers ' representatives ?

3 . Does the Commission believe that the SMEs are

pocket-size large businesses, or does it feel that SMEs

( 95 / C 213 / 100 )

Subject : European safety standard 1995 — Personal
protective equipment — safety footwear

What steps is the Commission taking to ensure equal
enforcement of safety requirements for products covered by
the above directive in all the individual Member States,
particularly with regard to safety footwear ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1995 )

The Commission is not aware of any particular difficulties
relating to the application of Community law on safety

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 51

footwear . It would remind the Honourable Member that

such equipment is covered by Council Directive
89 / 686 / EEC i 1 ) on personal protective equipment ( PPE ).

This Directive must be applied as from 1 July 1995,
following a transitional period of two and a half years . It has
been transposed in all the Member States .

In addition, safety footwear is covered by three harmonized
standards, viz . EN 344, EN 345 and EN 346, which et out
the relevant essential requirements .

As for uniform application in all the Member States, the
Commission coordinates all the notified bodies to ensure

that their views on control are consistent, and organizes
effective collaboration between the various national

departments responsible for monitoring the market .

In the case of non-tariff restrictions the Commission is

committed to using all legal instruments at its disposal
against unfair trading practices which are brought to its
attention either by the European industry or by Member
States .

Finally, the Commission actively supports Community
exporters of footwear products through its sectoral export
promotion budget which co-finances market studies,
missions and participation in international trade fairs .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1337 / 95

by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

H O J No L 399, 30 . 12 . 1989 . ( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 102 )

Subject : Distance working in the European Union

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1327 / 95

by Angela Billingham ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 101 )

Subject : Trade barriers

What steps is the Commission taking to reduce barriers to
trade in the many footwear markets around the world,
where action would produce immediate returns for the
European footwear industry and the UK industry in
particular ?

Answer given by Sir Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 June 1995 )

Improving the conditions of market access in third
countries, for all products, is a priority for the
Commission .

In the specific case of footwear the Commission made a
major initiative at the time of the Uruguay Round
negotiations, proposing to halve the Community tariff on
footwear if the Community 's major trading partners made
similar tariff reductions . Unfortunately, other Contracting
Parties to the GATT were not prepared to match this offer
and ultimately a more modest tariff reduction was made .

The Commission is also insisting that applicant countries to
the World trade organization introduce a reasonable tariff
rate for footwear products as a condition for their
accession .

According to recent surveys carried out under the
Community 's Teldet programme, distance working has now
penetrated organizations in the Union to the tune of 5 %,
and there are some 1,1 million distance workers in the five
largest Member States — a figure which, if extrapolated to
the Union as a whole, would suggest a total of 1,25
million .

Given the Commission 's objective of 10 million distance
working posts by the year 2000, can it state which sectors it
believes to be most suited for an expansion in the number of
distance workers ?

How many such posts are expected to be created each
year ?

Despite the interest in distance working expressed by more
than a third of senior managers in the Union, its growth has
been held back by, primarily, a lack of preparation as
regards its planning and organization . In view of this
situation, can the Commission state what efforts it is making
to inform organizations in the Union concerning the
potential of distance working and to help them make the
necessary organizational changes ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 June 1995 )

The Commission has noted that if the results of the

European project Teldet are extrapolated ( results which do
not necessarily reflect the official position of the
Commission ), one arrives at an estimated figure of some

1,25 million teleworkers across the Community as a whole .
However, it is equally true that all statistics on telework
must be viewed with extreme caution .

No C 213 / 52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

Identifying the individual sectors with the highest telework
potential, and the number of jobs created annually, is not
straightforward . The impact of communication
technologies on work organization is to a large extent to be
found across different sectors, horizontally . It may often be
more profitable to look at relevant types of occupations and
activities .

Activities could include data and word processing,
programming or secretarial and administrative duties . They
could also include accountancy, sales and marketing,
research and consultancy . Trends towards the
organizational restructuring of firms, as well the move
towards more flexible working practices ( time, location )
will promote telework . The Commission believes that many
small and medium sized enterprises could benefit from the
development of telework .

In 1993 the Commission decided on a set of preparatory
actions to stimulate transborder telework as described in the

report ' Telework 1995 '. In June 1994, the Corfu European
Council endorsed the report of senior industrialists, entitled
' Europe and the global information society '. Telework is
one of the priority applications in that report, and this itself
is recognized in the Commission 's action plan ' Europe 's way
to the information society ' ( July 1994 ).

The Commission has informed European organizations by
the establishment in 1992 of a forum for telework

promotion at Community level ( ECTF ), by launching an
action plan for the stimulation of telework in Europe
including projects with public awareness elements, and by a
major European conference ' Telework ' 94 — New Ways to
Work ', held in Berlin on 3 and 4 November 1994, with the
participation of many European parlamentarians .

In the context of the medium term social action programme

1995 — 1997, recently adopted by the Commission, it is
foreseen that the Commission will present a communication
on the social and health impact of telework during the first
half of 1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1338 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1339 / 95

by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 104 )

Subject : Equal treatment

What was the proportion of women applicants to male
applicants for the posts of head of delegation in the
European Commission 's delegations to third countries in

1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 ?

What was the male / female ratio of successful applicants ?

Joint answer to Written Questions P-1338 / 95

and P-1339 / 95

given by Mr Van den Broek
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 May 1995 )

Four out of 1 05 delegations in non-member countries have a
woman as head ( 3,8% ).

Since the unified external service was set up in February
1994, 19 management posts in the delegations have been
published . Of the 112 applications received, two were from

women .

Under the 1995 rotation exercise for heads of delegation in

1995, 34 officials including two women have applied for 33
management posts in the delegations .

The Commission has no reason to believe that the situation

was any different in previous years .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1341 / 95

by Freddy Blak ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

by Manuela Frutos Gama ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 95 / C 213 / 105 )

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 103 )

Subject : Equal treatment

How many women heads of delegation are there in the
European Commission 's delegations to third countries ?

What is the ratio of female and male heads of

delegation ?

Subject : The psychosocial working environment

Psychosocial factors have long been known to have very
great significance for the working environment . According
to an article in ' Det fri Aktuelt ' of 19 April 1995, such
factors are increasingly the focus of the authorities ' and
employers ' attention .

Will the Commission therefore state what research is being
conducted in this field at the European level and what
measures the EU has taken, or plans to take, to improve the

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 53

psychosocial working environment and, in particular, to
ensure that the necessary resources are made available .

the complete re-opening of this route between Mozambique
and Malawi, which is of strategic importance for the
integrated development of the two countries ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission
( 15 June 1995 )
( 18 May 1995 )

The Commission is aware that the working environment
can affect the mental health of workers and has been

following developments in this field for a long time . Recent
surveys have shown that psycho-pathological disorders are
one of the three main causes of certified sick leave .

The Commission considers that Council Directive

89 / 391 / EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health of workers at
work ( 1 ) provides the framework within which the employer
must take action in order to safeguard, among other things,
the mental health of employees .

In close collaboration with the Advisory Committee on
Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, the
Commission is at present studying the psychological effects
of work-related stress . In this context, existing research on
the subject is being studied and the problems posed by stress
at work analysed . Two surveys are in progress, the first
involving a review of the scientific literature and a survey of
experts in the sector, and the second looking into the effects
on mental health of job insecurity .

Finally, the European Foundation for the Employment of
Living and Working Conditions is also looking into the
problem of stress, with a view to producing a prevention
guide for small and medium-sized enterprises .

(') OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1345 / 95

by Giorgio La Malfa ( ELDR )

The Commission has participated in the rehabilitation of the
Nacala railway line which has been completed apart from
the last 77 kms from Cuambo to the Malawi border . This

part of the line is usable but only at a low speed .

The Commission is working actively with other donors and
with the Mozambican and Malawian authorities to

promote the appropriate framework for the management of
the whole corridor . Agreement on such a framework, which
it is hoped may be reached this year, would be necessary to
justify further substantial investment to complete the
rehabilitation of the line .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1354 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 107 )

Subject : Trade in exotic birds

Does the Commission recall the Jackson report of 1991

( Report A3-212 / 91 ) ( ] ) in which Parliament called for a ban
on imports of wild-caught birds for the pet trade, and what
action has been taken to implement the demands laid out in
that report ?

H OJ No C 267, 14 . 10 . 1991, p . 226 .

to the Commission Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission
( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 106 ) (8 June 1995 )

Subject : The Nacala railway between Malawi and
Mozambique

Is the Commission actively involved in promoting the
restoration of the Nacala railway line ? What stage has been
reached in the work and what is the estimated deadline for

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

reply to Written Question No 3182 / 93 by Mrs Larive ( 1 ).

In the meantime the Commission amended its original
proposal for a Parliament and Council Regulation laying
down provisions with regard to possession of and trade in
specimens of species of wild fauna and flora ( 2 ) to take

No C 213 / 54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

account of the amendments proposed by the Parliament at
its part session of June 1993 ( 3 ).

f 1 ) OJ No C 296, 24 . 10 . 1994 .

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

( ? ) OJ No C 131, 12 . 5 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1365 / 95

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 108 )

— users : International Touring Alliance ( ITA ),
International Automobile Federation ( IAF ) and
International Road Safety Organization ( PRI );

— vehicle manufacturers : Association of European Car

Manufacturers ( ACEA );

— road-transport operators : International Road Transport

Union ( IRU );

— professions concerned by infrastructure : International

Road Federation ( IRF ).

Each of these working parties, assisted by the ERSF
secretariat, has received a mandate, connected to the area
concerned and on the basis of a report, to make
recommendations to the group and the Commission which
will have to decide what specific steps to take as a result .

Subject : Working groups dealing with road safety issues (M OJ No C 178, 9 . 7 . 1991 .
( 2 ) COM(93 ) 246 final .

Could the Commission outline those working groups
currently examining road safety related issues ? In addition it
would be extremely useful if the Commission could give the
terms of reference for each of the working groups currently
underway and include a list of those experts on each and
their particular area of specialities . WRITTEN QUESTION E-1383 / 95

by Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Kinnock ( 12 May 1995 )

on behalf of the Commission

. ( 95 / C 213 / 109 )
(9 June 1995 )

Subject : Education and continuing training of adults

The Commission is assisted by a high-level road-safety
group, composed of Government representatives, set up by
the Council resolution of 21 June 1991 ( ] ) with the aim of
defining the aims and methods of implementation of the
Community road-safety programme .

In order to implement the programme of action on road
safety set out in the Commission 's communication of 9 June

1 993 ( 2 ), that group, chaired by the Commission, decided to
set up working parties to deal with the following priority

areas :

— drinking and driving / drugs and driving,

— training of young drivers / road-safety education,

— advertising in the context of road-safety,

— safety on secondary infrastructures .

These working parties began work early in 1984 and are
composed of experts appointed by the national
administrations responsible for road safety and
representatives of the European Road Safety Federation

( ERSF ) which represents the various private-sector bodies
involved in road safety throughout Europe, namely :

Whereas the education and training of adults is an
important tool in the cultural, social, political and economic
development of the European Union,

Having regard to the need to provide all adults with the
opportunity to enhance their professional skills and
improve their knowledge of languages,

Can the Commission say whether any of the various
programmes for training, research and development etc . are
open to adults who wish to improve their education and
training ? If so, can it give details of such programmes and
how to gain access to them ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1995 )

1 . The Commission agrees completely with the
Honourable Member on the importance of education and
training for the development of the Community .

17 . 8 . 95 LEN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 55

Vocational training for adults was the subject of the
Community 's Force Programme (*), which ended on
31 December 1994 .

From 1995 onwards, this area, and those of initial training

( what used to be the Petra Programme ( 2 )) and technological
training ( previously the Comett Programme ( 3 )), have been
incorporated into the new Leonardo Da Vinci
Programme ( 4 ). The Commission is sending directly to the
Honourable Member and the Secretariat-General of

Parliament the recently published guide and vademecum to
this programme setting out the criteria and conditions for
participation and submission of projects .

In its wider sense, the concept of adult education is also
taken into account in the areas covered by the new
educational cooperation programme, Socrates ( 5 ), the
corresponding documents ( guide and vademecum ) for
which are currently being finalized by the Programme 's
committee .

Parliament is regularly informed of the work done by this
Committee under the modus vivendi agreed by the
institutions and applicable to the co-decision procedure .

2 . This area is also the subject of the Community
initiative ' employment ' ( 6 ), which seeks to help develop
human resources and improve the workings of the labour
market with a view to enhancing employment growth and
promoting social solidarity in the Community and equal
opportunities for women on the labour market .

This initiative is being implemented through trans-national
projects which are innovative and ensure a multiplier effect .
Projects must be presented to the relevant national
authority . An initial selection of the projects was made in

1995 and another is planned for 1997 .

Another Community initiative, ADAPT, is designed to help
adapt the workforce to industrial change and to improve the
workings of the labour market with a view to growth,
employment and the competitiveness of companies in the
Community .

There is no age limit on the participants in — and the
beneficiaries of — the measures . Projects must be submitted
to the relevant national authority . An initial selection of
projects will be made in September 1995 and another is
planned for 1997 .

3 . The fourth Community research and development
framework programme contributes to the training and
mobility of researchers in the Community, in particular
young post-doctorate researchers, in order to maximize the

development of human resources in the areas of training by
research, which is a basic element of any socio-economic
activity .

(') OJ No L 156, 21 . 6 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 346, 10 . 12 . 1987 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 13, 17 . 1 . 1989 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 340, 29 . 12.-1994 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 87, 20 . 4 . 1995 .

( 6 ) OJ No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1390 / 95

by Joaquim Miranda ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(3 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 110 )

Subject : Damage to Portuguese agriculture caused by

natural disasters

Agriculture in Portugal is currently undergoing one of the
worst crises ever . Not only is drought causing enormous
damage to all farmers from the north to the south of the
country, and in tha Alentejo region in particular, but now
frost has caused major damage to crops, particularly vines,
potatoes and fruit . The situation is a real tragedy for
thousands of Portuguese farmers .

In view of this veritable national disaster, what measures
does the Commission intend to adopt in order to provide
financial and material aid to Portuguese farmers ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1995 )

The Commission pays close attention to natural disaster
situations in the various Member States, including Portugal .
With regard to Portugal, the approval under the
Community support framework for 1989 — 1993 of the
operational programmes on ' autumn / winter bad weather '
and ' 1992 drought ' represent the Commission 's response to
problems much the same as those referred to in the question
by the Honourable Member .

As regards the situation that Portuguese agriculture is
currently going through, the Commission and the Member
State concerned are examining, within the framework of the
funds available under the CSF for 1994 — 1999, the most
adequate measures to mitigate the negative effects of these
natural disasters .

No C 213 / 56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1392 / 95

by Christa Klal ? ( PPE )

to the Commission

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

circumvent these problems ?

( 12 May 1995 ) Since the report in question recommends that the SMEs

( 95 / C 213 / 111 ) participate in the standardization process, does the
Commission intend to study this possibility ?

Subject : Sexual exploitation of children in tourism

Is there any survey or legal comparison of current legislation
in Europe concerning the sexual exploitation of children in
tourism ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1995 )

The Commission is aware of the serious problems caused by
the sexual exploitation of children in tourism and has
sought to act upon the demands made by the Parliament in
its resolutions of 18 January ( Resolution of 18 January 1994
on tourism in the approach to the year 2000 ) ( ] ) and

15 December 1994 ( Resolution of 15 December 1994 on the
report from the Commission on Community measures
affecting tourism ) ( 2 ).

To do so, the Commission has asked the Member States
meeting in the Advisory Committee on Tourism to draw up
a detailed list of measures adopted or planned to combat sex
tourism .

The aim of this survey is to update the information already
at the disposal of the Commission so as to create a basis for
Community-wide comparisons .

(') OJ No C 44, 14 . 2 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 18, 23 . 1 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 396 / 95

by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 112 )

Subject : Difficulties faced by SMEs

A Commission report, within the framework of the
' Euromanagement ' pilot action indicates that the Union '
SMEs are facing numerous problems concerning
standardization, certification, quality guarantees and
product safety requirements, and have indicated that they
would like to have better information and guidelines in these

matters .

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1995 )

In 1992 the Commission launched the Euromanagement
pilot action in the field of standardization, certification,
quality and safety at work in order to help small and
medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) grasp the opportunities
offered by the Single Market and, on the basis of a
representative sample of SMEs, to gain a general view of the
difficulties these enterprises face .

The final report presented by the European coordinator, the
Institut Frangais de Normalisation ( AFNOR ), on the basis
of audits carried out in 840 SMEs from over 20 branchs of

industry and the services sector throughout the Community
shows that many of these SMEs have difficulty in
understanding the basic mechanisms of the Single Market
and in getting hold of the information they need to bring
themselves up to the required level in the abovementioned
field . In addition, SMEs are only rarely involved in national
and European standardization committees and feel that
insufficient attention is paid to their specific needs . It is true
that the new ( in principle, voluntary ) European standards
introduced to replace obsolete national standards apply to
all European SMEs, regardless of whether they operate in
local, regional, national or European markets .

The AFNOR recommendations are directed at all parties
involved in this field at both national and European
levels .

The Commission 's initial response was a decision, reached
in agreement with the European standards institutes, to
improve the quality of the information offered to SMEs . It is
also considering the possibility of lending support to the
actions proposed by European SME organizations aimed at
increasing their involvement in the process of compiling
European standards .

A summary of the final report from the Euromanagement
pilot action on standardization is being sent directly to the
Honourable Member as well as to the Secretariat-General of

Parliament .

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 57

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1397 / 95

by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

option of amending its proposal in the light of any new
information it might receive in the next few weeks .

0 ) COM(95 ) 126 final .
( 12 May 1995 ) ( 2 ) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989 .

( 95 / C 213 / 113 )

Subject : Traditional production methods of certain food

products

The Commission has adopted a proposal to the Council and
European Parliament intended to safeguard the traditional
production methods of certain food products . The Member
States would have the power to forbid the use of sweeteners
and other additives allowed by Community legislation . The
Commission has already proposed the application of this
derogation to certain products, reserving the right to decide
on certain Italian and Spanish products .

Can the Commission state which Italian and Spanish
products are affected by this decision and what its reason are
for delaying it ?

( 3 ) OJ No L 208, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1404 / 95

by Barry Seal ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 114 )

Subject : Free movement within the European Union

I understand that the Spanish Government is still making
crossing the border from Gibraltar to Spain very difficult by
not accepting a valid identity card as sufficient evidence to
cross the border .

Would the Commission report what action has been taken
to ensure the Spanish Government complies with
Community law ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1995 ) Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1995 )

On 19 April 1995 the Commission adopted a proposal for a
Decision ( J ) authorizing Member States to maintain
national laws prohibiting the use of certain additives in the
production of certain foodstuffs considered to be
traditional . The Member States have sent lists of the

products they believe might qualify, in accordance with
Article 2 of Directive 89 / 107 / EEC ( 2 ), as amended .

The Italian authorities notified cheese, bread and prepared
meat products . The Spanish products covered a broader
range of foodstuffs, including beverages, fish products,
prepared meat products and cheese .

After examination of the information supplied by the
Spanish and Italian authorities and for the reasons indicated
in the explanatory memorandum to the proposal, it
appeared that the products notified by the Spanish and
Italian authorities did not meet the conditions set out in

Directive 89 / 107 / EEC and did not therefore fall within the

scope of the Decision . The Commission would stress,
however, that these products would be better protected by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081 / 92 and ( EEC ) No 2082 / 92 ( 3 )
on the protection of geographical indications and
designations of origin and certificates of specific
character .

As the information supplied to the Commission is
sometimes incomplete, the latter wishes to maintain the

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the replies it gave to Oral Questions H-269 / 95 by Mr Lomas
and H-353 / 95 by Mr Megahy during question time at
Parliament 's May 1995 part session ( J ).

( ] ) Debates of the Parliament ( May 1995 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-14 14 / 95

by Johanna Maij-Weggen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 115 )

Subject : The UN Convention on the Elimination of All

Forms of Discrimination against Women

1 . Will the Commission state which European countries
have signed and ratified the above Convention ?

2 . Will it state which Member States have forwarded

reports on implementation of the Convention to the UN
Secretariat ?

No C 213 / 58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

3 . Is it prepared to submit a compilation of such reports
to Parliament ?

4 . Does it intend to transpose the Convention into a
Directive so that it can be signed and ratified by the
European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1995 )

All Member States are party to the Convention .

The Commission receives copies of the reports of the
committee on the elimination of discrimination against
women ( CEDAW ). For up-to-date information and copies
of reports, it is suggested that contact be made directly with
the CEDAW Secretariat of the United Nations in New

York .

There are currently no plans for a Directive on this
subject .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1422 / 95

by Karl Schweitzer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 116 )

Subject : Western European Union

Discussions are currently taking place in the EU on the
possible accession to the Western European Union of
neutral Member States .

Can Austria maintain its neutrality after accession to the
Western European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 June 1995 )

The legal basis of the Western European Union, the Brussels
Treaty of 17 March 1948, modified by the Protocol of
23 October 1954, is a treaty which establishes cooperation
in economic, social and cultural affairs as well as in
collective self defence . Article V of that treaty foresees that,
in case of an attack on one of the partners to the Treaty, the
others will support it with all their military and other means .
Although the military implementation of this security
guarantee has been put into the hands of NATO ( Article IV
of the Brussels Treaty ), the WEU remains a defence alliance
and its members cannot maintain neutrality .

According to the WEU Declaration on the Treaty on
European Union ' States which are members of the European
Union are invited to accede to WEU on conditions to be

agreed ... or to become observers if they so wish . . .'. The
new Member States of the European Union are observers to
WEU since 1 January 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1433 / 95

, by Giorgio La Malfa ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 117 )

Subject : Langer report on promoting fairness and solidarity

in trade

Following adoption of the Langer report on promoting
fairness and solidarity in trade, has the Commission taken
specific steps in support of this goal ?

Can the Commission provide details of any initiatives and
appropriations that have been or will be decided on to
encourage fairness and solidarity in trade ?

Lastly, how does the Commission intend to ensure that
those European associations for fairness and solidarity in
trade which do not form part of the cartel of associations
formed by EFTA ( in which the existing groups are known to
have a substantial power of veto over the access of other
organizations of the same nationality ) are not excluded
from such support measures ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1995 )

Under the heading of development education the
Commission has for some years co-financed with
non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) information and
public awareness campaigns concerning international trade,
including campaigns on fairness and solidarity in trade .

In the years 1992 to 1994, for example, it contributed ECU

1,6 million to help co-finance 15 development education
projects (a full list of which is being sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat )
concerning fair trade, which were carried out in eight
Member States — Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 59

Luxembourg, Netherlands and the United Kingdom . A WRITTEN QUESTION
number of projects are currently under way to promote by Carl Lang ( NI )
greater solidarity in consumption patterns in Europe for

to the Commission

specific products such as coffee, cocoa or textiles, as a means
of contributing to the equitable and sustainable ( 10 May 1995 )
development of the countries of the South . 95 / C 213 / 118

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1435 / 95

to the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 118 )

Since 1994 a number of schemes have been sent up to
encourage NGO activities relating to fair trade . A specific
inter-departmental working party was set up for this
purpose in the Commission, which organized two meetings
in 1994 . The first of these, a coordination meeting on
' alternative trade in coffee : situation and prospects ',
brought together 20 or so representatives of European
NGOs, Community private sector associations and the
Commission for discussions on the problems and the
outlook for fair trade in the developing countries and on
European markets . The second meeting, on the fair trade
situation and its prospects in Europe, with particular
reference to Belgium, took place at the end of October and
involved representatives of the main Belgian distributors,
European NGOs and the Commission .

The Commission also gives access to Community
cofinancing ( under budget heading B7-5010 ) to all
European NGOs that are eligible under the current general
co-financing criteria . This financial support facility equally
covers various European organizations and networks active
in the fair trade field such as Max Havelaar, the European
Fair Trade Association, News, etc ., for which Community
support has already been forthcoming on a
non-discriminatory basis . The Honourable Member will
find further details in the abovementioned list that is being
sent direct, with a copy for Parliament 's Secretariat .

The Commission realizes that there is still much to be done .

It expects further additional input from the European
organizations and networks concerned so that efforts can be
coordinated and pooled with a view to attaining common
aims and registering a serious impact across the
Community .

The Commission will continue to support action on fair
trade to help the people of the South, taking into account the
various recommendations of the Langer report . Over the
coming months it will be intensifying its own work on the
relevant issues, and will also be setting up discussions and
coordination initiatives with the Member States and the

various players on the trade side, namely NGOs, importers,
distributors, partner countries in the South, and so on .

Subject : Intra-Community maritime traffic

European legislation currently authorizes vessels flying flags
of convenience but belonging to European companies to
provide services on intra-Community routes while
employing seamen from non-member countries . The pay
and level of social protection of these crews — who do not
appear to be covered by any European legislation — suggest
that these companies are pursuing a practice of social
dumping, not to mention the tax advantages resulting from
the flag of their vessels .

Sailors from the ports of Boulogne and Calais in particular
went on strike in February to protest against this unfair
competition, practised in this case by the British company
Meridian Ferries .

This situation is unacceptable in Europe and threatens the
jobs and social rights of an entire category of workers .

What does the Commission intend to do to put an end to
these practices, and in particular those of Meridian Ferries,
and to penalize this practice of social dumping ?

Does the Commission intend to propose legislation
requiring vessels on trans-European routes to fly the flag of a
Member State and to apply the social provisions of at least
one of the countries of the European Union ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1457 / 95

by Jacques Donnay ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

{9 SIC 213 / 119 )

Subject : Risk or social dumping in the transport sector

The issue of social legislation in cross-Channel shipping, and
in the transport sector in general, has been brought into
focus by the recent conflict in France involving the Meridian
Ferries company .

The social dumping practised by some transport companies
is unacceptable and is a threat to the operation of the Single
Market and employment in Europe .

No C 213 / 60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

The incorporation in Community legislation of ' social WRITTEN QUESTION E-1485 / 95
clauses ', which transport companies would be obliged to by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE )
observe, would provide a means of remedying this to the Commission
situation .

( 22 May 1995 )

95 / C 213 / 120

What measures have been adopted or planned by the
European Union to combat these unfair practices ?
Subject : Social security

As a result of several amendments to Regulations ( EEC )
No 1408 / 71 (*) and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72 ( 2 ), they have become
less transparent and less intelligible .

Joint answer to Written Questions

P-1435 / 95 and E-1457 / 95

given by Mr Kinnock
on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1995 )

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable

Members at the effect that practices such as those of
Meridian Ferries could have on the employment of
Community seafarers . It understands that discussions are
taking place between ship-owners on the elaboration of a
code of good conduct such as that proposed by the French
Presidency and it hopes that these may lead to a satisfactory
result .

The Commission has no current intention of proposing
legislation restricting access to intra-European shipping
services to vessels flying the flag of a Member State . It feels
that such measures would be counter-productive in the
context of securing access for Community registered vessels
to other markets and could provoke retaliation from third
countries .

Does the Commission agree that the legislation should be
codified in order to remedy this ?

What progress has been made with coordination or
codification in this area ?

i 1 ) OJ No L 149, 5 . 1 . 1971, p . 2 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 74, 27 . 3 . 1972, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1995 )

The Commission agrees completely with the Honourable
Member that there is a need to consolidate Regulations

( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72, which have been
amended several times .

The Commission announced — in point 3.1.5 of its
medium-term social action programme (*) of 12 April 1995
— that, in the second half of 1995, it would present the

Council with a proposal for consolidating the
abovementioned Regulations . The adoption of this
proposal by the Council should result in an updated version
of Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC )
No 574 / 72 .

The Commission has in the recent past concentrated on its .
proposal for a Community ship register ( Euros ) as a central
part of its strategy of upgrading the competitiveness of (') COM(95 ) 134 .
Community fleets . Indeed, Euros aimed at stemming the
decline of the Community flag fleet while providing a '
minimum level of employment for Community seafarers .
However, this proposal has not as yet been agreed because
of the difficulty of achieving a compromise acceptable to
' WRITTEN QUESTION E-1486 / 95
seafarers unions, shipowners and Member States .

(') COM(95 ) 134 .

by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

The Commission is currently preparing a strategy document ( 22 May 1995 )
on maritime transport policy which it hopes to present by ( 95 / C 213 / 121 )
the end of 1995 . This document will examine inter alia the

safeguarding of employment of Community seafarers and
preservation of Community maritime know-how as well as Subject : Publication of written
the question of a European Register of Shipping .

Subject : Publication of written questions and answers

Questions by MEPs and answers thereto are not classified
by subject matter in the Official Journal of the European
Communities, making it less user-friendly for the selective
reader .

17 . 8 . 95 | EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 61

Will the Commission ensure that, in future, this material is Answer given by Mr Papoutsis
so classified or that a subject index is added ? on behalf of the Commission

( 12 June 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 June 1995 )

The publication in the Official Journal of questions from
Members of the European Parliament and answers to them
is a sizeable task owing to both the number of questions and
the need to translate them into all Community
languages .

Publication is effected at Parliament 's request, and the
questions are classified in numerical order . The
responsibility for classifying the questions on the basis of
subject matter would lie with Parliament as the originating
institution . The Commission would be willing to cooperate
on such a task, should Parliament so wish .

Incidentally, Sector 9 of the Celex documentary database is
devoted to parliamentary questions ; the analytical data
include a question-indexing system ( set up by Parliament
staff on the basis of the Eurovoc thesaurus ), which allows
the database to be interrogated using a descriptor .

In response to questions 1 to 4, the Commission would
inform the Honourable Member that, judging by the facts at
its disposal, this would appear to be a case of fraud .

It is a feature of fraud cases in general, and plutonium fraud
in particular, that no import or handling authorization is
requested .

In response to question 5, the Commission would inform
the Honourable Member that the European Institute for
Transuranic Elements has carried out analyses to assist the
authorities responsible . These show that the nuclear
material in question has not come from installations located
on Community territory .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-l 502 / 95

by Jimmy Goldsmith ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 123 )

Subject : E.C.I. P. financial instrument

QUESTION P-1489 / 95 Can the Commission provide a list of European firms that

qualified in 1994 for the European Community Investment

Hiltrud Breyer ( V ) Partners ( E.C.I.P. ) financial instrument, and indicate the

to the Commission number of joint enterprises created and in which
countries ?

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1489 / 95

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

( 10 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 122

Subject : Euratom authorization for imported plutonium in

Munich

1 . When ( on what date ) did Euratom authorize the
import of the consignment of plutonium from Russia, which
arrived in Munich on 10 August 1994 ?

2 . What was the reason ( intended use ) indicated on the
application for the licence to import the plutonium into
Germany and who submitted it ?

3 . Who were the designated recipients and what
handling instructions and authorizations were they stated to
have received ?

4 . Who was designated as the owner of the plutonium
during, before and after transport ?

5 . What comparative isotopic analyses ( years, quantities,
plants, intended uses ) were carried out on the plutonium
consignment discovered in Munich ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 June 1995 )

As regards the EC Investment Partners ( ECIP ) financial
instrument the Commission has obtained an independent
evaluation of the impact of the ECIP actions . This was sent
to the Parliament ( J ), and concluded that '. . . ECIP has
achieved its objectives of promoting mutually beneficial
investments . . .' that '. . . ECIP contributes to the

improvement of the image of the European Union . . .' and
that '. . . ECIP obtains a global degree of satisfaction from
good to very good from the different categories of
participants .'

ECIP does not provide grants to individual companies .
Facility 1 of ECIP is a 50 % co-financing grant to chambers
of commerce and industry associations to allow them to
help groups of enterprises to look for projects and partners .
Facility 2 of ECIP provides 50 % reimbursable interest-free
advances for feasibility studies and pilot projects — these are
only converted into a grant if the investment does not take

No C 213 / 62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17 . 8 . 95

place and then the study becomes Community property .
Facility 3 of ECIP provides 20% co-financing at market
rates in parallel with and through the Financial Institutions
in the ECIP network . Facility 4 provides a 50 % interest-free
advance, which must be reimbursed, to local joint ventures
to encourage them to use Community training and
management assistance and hence to be more economically
and technically oriented towards the Community rather
than other, competitor, regions .

There is a priority for small and medium-sized enterprises

( SMEs ). Until the end of 1993 92% of all the actions
co-financed have been with SMEs with less than 500

employees .

The Commission has on a case-by-case basis provided the
names of individual ECIP action beneficiaries, after each
firm has agreed that the content of their action is public . It is
not prepared to provide lists of all the beneficiaries since
their actions are subject to commercial confidentiality as are
their relations with the financial institutions .

The Commission provides each year a report to the
Parliament and Council giving detailed statistics on the
projects selected for ECIP up to 31 December of the
preceding year . The report as at 31 December 1994 is in
printing now and including its detailed statistical annexes
will be available in a few weeks . The annual report as at
31 December 1993 was sent to the Parliament in May 1994

( DR I / 382 / 94 / EN ).

As regards the question on the number of joint ventures
created, the Commission confirms that of the 22 400
companies involved in 184 completed Facility One actions
between 1988 and the end of 1993 about one in ten have

established some sort of on-going business cooperation be it
joint venture, licensing arrangement or export or other
commercial trade cooperation arrangements .

As regards Facility Two, 169 actions were completed by the
end of 1993, of which 88 had been positive, and 44 are
already reported to have made the joint venture
investments .

were entirely in the environmental sector ( environmental
services, effluent control, etc . . .) and, as appropriate, all the
other ECIP actions included environment impact analyses
and provisions .

(M SEC(94 ) 814 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1514 / 95

by Niels Sindal ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 124 )

Subject : Sport and doping

On 27 April 1994, the European Parliament adopted a
report on sport and doping ( A3-313 / 94 ) ( ] ), calling on the
Commission to take active steps to prevent doping in

sport .

To date, the penalties imposed for infringements in this
respect, ranging from a two-month to a two-year ban from
the same sport, have been highly inconsistent, a fact which is
helping to undermine the credibility of moves to combat
doping .

One year after the adoption of Parliament 's resolution, can
the Commission say what specific measures have been
taken, what measures can be taken and what measures it
intends to take to ensure that uniform rules are applied in
respect of doping, sanctions and penalties imposed on
sportsmen and sportswomen in the individual Member
States and sports federations ?

(') OJ No C 205, 25 . 7 . 1994, p . 455 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
25 Facility Three actions have been confirmed to be on behalf of the Commission
disbursed to joint ventures which have been created .

( 19 June 1995 )

Under Facility Four, the 18 joint ventures, which have
received ECIP financial support for training and
management assistance programmes have reinforced the
role of European business and of European technical
standard in third countries .

In view of the Honourable Member 's special interest in the
environment the Commission is pleased to confirm that 9 %

( 30 ) of the 337 projects approved under ECIP during 1994

The use of performance enhancing drugs in sport
contravenes provisions of Council Directives for health and
medicinal products . This legislation is designed to prohibit
the use of medicinal products for purposes other than for the
diagnosis or treatment of recognized pathological states, to
prevent their use in unauthorised forms and dosages

( Directive 65 / 65 / EEC ) ( J ), to prevent their unauthorised sale

( black market ) or prescription ( Directive 75 / 31 9 / EEC ) ( 2 ),
and their advertisement ( Directive 84 / 450 / EEC ) ( 3 ).

17 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 213 / 63

The Commission does not intend to put forward any new WRITTEN QUESTION P-1525 / 95
legislative proposals specifically directed at the testing of by Karl-Heinz Florenz ( PPE )
sportsmen for the illegal use of performance enhancing to the Commission
substances . »

( 22 May 1995 )

(!) OJ No L 22, 9 . 2 . 1965 . ( 95 / C 213 / 126

( 2 ) OJ No L 147, 9 . 6 . 1995 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 250, 19 . 9 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1517 / 95

by Nuala Ahern ( V )

to the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 213 / 125 )

Subject : Changes in status at Sellafield reprocessing plant

Further to the reply to my question E-2456 / 94 on Thorp ( J ),
does the announcement made by British Nuclear Fuels, the
owner-operators of Thorp, on 1 April 1995, that BNFL
would take spent nuclear fuel from Scottish Nuclear with
the option to permanently store it at Sellafield rather than
reprocess through Thorp, change the status of the Sellafield
installation as covered by Annex I of the EIA Directive

85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 )?

Will the Commission now insist that an EIA on the storage
proposals for Sellafield is forwarded to comply with the
Directive ?

Subject : Sum spent specifically on the protection of
habitats, flora and fauna as a proportion of the
funds allocated to environmental protection from
the Structural and Cohesion Funds

1 . What was the level of expenditure on environmental
protection charged to the Structural Fund, Cohesion Fund
and the various CAP support and compensatory systems in
the period 1992 — 1994 ?

2 . How much of this expenditure was spent on measures
to protect habitats, fauna and flora ?

3 . How much of this expenditure was spent on measures
to protect biotopes, habitats and species of fauna and flora
requiring particular protection pursuant to Council
Directives 79 / 409 / EEC (') and 92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 )?

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission
(') OJ No C 88, 10 . 4 . 1995, p . 17 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 . (9 June 1995 )

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 July 1995 )

The Commission has asked the Member State concerned for
information regarding the facts referred to by the
Honourable Member . It will inform her of its findings .

The Commission is collecting the necessary information to
answer the question . It will pass on the results of its research
as soon as possible .

Since the Honourable Member has stated that it is a priority
question, the Commission would remind him that under
Parliament 's Rules of Procedure priority questions are those
which ' require an immediate answer but no detailed
research '.