Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 297
# Official Journal

Volume 36
### of the European Communities 3 November 1993

Volume 36

3 November 1993

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No

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I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

No 2199 / 90 by Mr Egon Klepsch to the Commission
Subject : Free trade agreement between the Community and Switzerland — obstacles to free
competition 1

No 1840 / 91 by Mrs Kirsten Jensen to the Commission
Subject : Debt and tropical rain forests 1

No 2394 / 91 by Mr Max Simeoni to the Commission
Subject : Request for Community aid to the Free Ukrainian University of Munich 2

No 623 / 92 by Mrs Annemarie Goedmakers to the Commission
Subject : Encouraging research contracts for universities 2

No 750 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Cot death syndrome 3

No 830 / 92 by the following members : Claudia Roth and Marco Taradash to the
Commission

Subject : ' Comitology ' 3

No 1012 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

- Subject : The ethnic Greeks of North America and Community programmes 4

No 1150 / 92 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : The role of the President of the Commission 4

No 1160 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Irrigation in Spain 5

( Continued overleaf )

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No 1421 / 92 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Impact on air transport safety of new limits on working time of flight personnel

No 1582 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Use of Community CSF funds for SMUs in Greece

No 1637 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Codex / GATT

No 1638 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Codex / GATT : harmonization framework

No 1639 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Codex / GATT : health and environmental standards

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1637 / 92, 1638 / 92 and 1639 / 92

No 1729 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Use of Dutch by the Commission

No 1730 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : World Fair in Seville

No 1751 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Restoration of the Museum of Ali Pasha in Ioannine

No 1753 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Reconstruction of the ancient theatre and the castle in Mytiline

No 1829 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of monuments at lerapolis / Pamukkale in Turkey

No 1848 / 92 by Mr Josep Verde i Aldea to the Commission
Subject : The Commission 's failure to attend the meeting of European Justice Ministers

No 1948 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Setting up an atmospheric pollution monitoring station at the Acropolis

No 2087 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : CAL-NAT in the vicinity of an archaeological site

No 2475 / 92 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Subsidiarity

No 2567 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Signing of the ' open skies ' agreement between the Netherlands and the United States

No 2598 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Coordination of the Commission 's activities related to the media

No 2611 / 92 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Deep-sea pilotage

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No 2628 / 92 by Sir James Sicott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Aid for historic buildings 13

No 2699 / 92 by Hiltrud Breyer, Paul Lannoye, Virginio Bettini and Marguerite-Marie
Dinguirard to the Commission
Subject : The TACIS Programme 13

No 2752 / 92 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund appropriations for the Netherlands 14

No 2769 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Archaeological digs in Achaeia 14

No 2881 / 92 by Mr Mauro Chiabrando to the Commission
Subject : The railway through the Simplon 15

No 2893 / 92 by Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenéch to the Commission
Subject : Financial situation of Spain in the Community 15

No 2956 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Use of pesticides 16

No 3018 / 92 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community participation in the Year of St James 16

No 3039 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Pilot projects in respect of families 17

No 3063 / 92 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Fishery agreements 17

No 3068 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Termites 18

No 3070 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The European literary heritage 18

No 3160 / 92 by Mr Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of an environmental impact assessment in accordance with the
appropriate Directive with regard to the legal procedure for compulsory purchase in connection
with the A 100 motorway in Berlin 19

No 3169 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Resistance printshop in Kallithea 19

No 3170 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the cultural heritage of Pikri, Rethimnon 20

No 3321 / 92 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Preparation of history textbooks 21

No 3223 / 92 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Equality implications of removing minimum wage protection in the United Kingdom 21

No 3252 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies to the European Foundation for Freedom of Expression 22

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No 3271 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Technical school, Andikira 22

No 3336 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Setting up of a criminal investigation department in Greece 23

No 3501 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Kromyona antiquities 23

No 30 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The European schools 23

No 68 / 93 by Mr Andre Sainjon to the Commission
Subject : Software for HDTV 24

No 220 / 93 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Tagus International — important transfrontier natural park project at risk 24

No 22 L / 93 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Panasqueira mines — restructuring with Community funding and dismissals 25

No 223 / 93 by Mr Siegbert Alber to the Commission
Subject : Polish exports of iron and steel products to the Community 26

No 257 / 93 by Mr Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of diplomas for access to a regulated profession — free movement of
workers 26

No 277 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of Greek legislation with Community Directive 79 / 409 / EEC 27

No 304 / 93 by Mr Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : Emigration to non-EEC countries 27

No 351 / 93 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Critical water supply situation 28

93 / C 297 / 57 No 393 / 93 by Mrs Maria Belo to the Commission «

Subject : Conservation of the architectural heritage — Romanesque Cistercian Abbey of Santa
Maria do Bouro — Portugal 28

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No 406 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Privatization of export credit insurance agencies 29

No 409 / 93 by Mr Gerardo Gaibisso to the Commission
Subject : High-speed rail network in Italy — procedures violating Community rules 29

No 412 / 93 by the following members : Mireille Elmalan and Sergio Ribeiro to the
Commission

Subject : Night work 30

No 478 / 93 by Mr Michel Hervé to the Commission
Subject : Taking account of human and social sciences in drawing up the Community framework
research programme 31

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93 / C 297 / 62 No 503 / 93 by Mr Reinhold Bocklet to the Commission
Subject : Fairer treatment under the Council Directive on mountain and hill farming and farming in
certain less-favoured areas 32

93 / C 2 97 / 63 No 516 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The closure of Kydep ( the Central Department for the Management of Domestic Produce )
in Greece 32

93 / C 297 / 64 - No 530 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The situation of women in the Islamic countries 33

93 / C 297 / 65 No 538 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Community policy on coastal zones 33

93 / C 297 / 66 No 558 / 93 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Container line shipping in the major shipping zones 34

93 / C 297 / 67 No 569 / 93 by Mr John Bird to the Commission
Subject : European firearms pass 34

93 / C 297 / 68 No 580 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Substances on the market which are hazardous to health 35

93 / C 297 / 69 No 601 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Spanish Government action plans for the Donana Park 35

93 / C 297 / 70 No 1107 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Financing of the Parque Donana operational plan 35

93 / C 297 / 71 No 1274 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Confused situation regarding possible EC measures in the Donana National Park area 36

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 601 / 93, 1107 / 93 and 1274 / 93 36

93 / C 297 / 72 No 603 / 93 by Mr Ben Fayot to the Commission
Subject : Access by small and medium-sized undertakings to public and private procurement
contracts in Belgium and France 36

93 / C 297 / 73 No 640 / 93 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Employment of the disabled 37

93 / C 297 / 74 No 658 / 93 by Virginio Bettini and Tullio Regge to the Commission
Subject : Using a second sun to light up Siberia 38

93 / C 297 / 75 No 698 / 93 by Mr Arthur Newens to the Commission
Subject : Fissile material trade with Iraq 38

93 / C 297 / 76 No 700 / 93 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Information centres for the population in rural areas in Greece 38

93 / C 297 / 77 No 709 / 93 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission
Subject : Fraud in the manufacture of Community motor vehicles 39

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 297 / 78 No 728 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : The 12 Member States have failed to implement the Directive on active implantable
medical devices 40

93 / C 297 / 79 No 736 / 93 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Redundancies at Jaguar Radford plant Coventry 40

93 / C 297 / 80 No 739 / 93 by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the Fokaia wetlands 41

93 / C 297 / 81 No 750 / 93 by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Storage of waste in El Cabril ( Andalusia ) 41

93 / C 297 / 82 No 806 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Racial discrimination in employment 42

93 / C 297 / 83 No 816 / 93 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Fisheries : third country agreements 42

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I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2199 / 90 allegations was that he was being hindered in his plans to

by Mr Egon Klepsch ( PPE ) manufacture long-life batteries by an unlawful declaration

on the part of the Swiss Government . After detailed

to the Commission of the European Communities investigation of the facts, the Commission came to the

(4 October 1990 ) conclusion that there was no basis for claiming that

( 93 / C 297 / 01 ) Article 23 of the Agreement had been contravened and

informed the applicant accordingly . In 1990 the latter
renewed his complaint to the Commission, submitting
substantially the same facts as before . There would not
Subject : Free trade agreement between the Community and
appear to be any grounds for altering the original

Switzerland — obstacles to free competition evaluation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2199 / 90

by Mr Egon Klepsch ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1990 )

( 93 / C 297 / 01 )

Switzerland — obstacles to free competition

Members of the Commission of the European Communities
have on several occasions advocated micro-electronic

components and environmentally sound long-life
micro-battery systems .

Is the Commission aware of any direct or indirect
interference with the manufacture and distribution or the

transfer of micro-electronic components and technology to
the Member States of the Community, and, if so, what legal
and political action does it intend to take to stop it ?

( x ) The Commission regrets the delay in supplying the answer to

this question .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1840 / 91

by Mrs Kirsten Jensen ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan (*) (1 September

on behalf of the Commission

( 93 / C 297 / 02 )

(1 September 1991 )

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

Apart from alleged obstruction in one instance, the
Commission is not aware of any direct or indirect
interference with the manufacture, distribution or transfer
of micro-electronic components and technologies for
long-life batteries . In the above instance the Commission
received a submission in 1986 in which, in connection with
long-life batteries, the Swiss Confederation was reproached
for alleged breaches of the competition rules set out in
Article 23 of the Free Trade Agreement between the
Community and Switzerland . The nub of the applicant 's

Subject : Debt and tropical rain forests

The problem of logging and deforestation among other
causes has to do with the problem of debt repayment . Does
the EC recognize this problem ? How does it envisage
alleviating the debt of the countries of the south on a larger
scale ? Will the Commission make its position on debt
reduction in the developing countries known to the G7
summit in London in July and in what form will it try to put
pressure on the EC heads of state ?

No C 297 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the constraints that arise from

heavy external debt and debt service for a large number of
developing countries . However the Commission has a
limited direct role to play in this area, as the debt owed to the
Community as such is limited . Coordination between
Member States prior to the multilateral or bilateral
negotiations on these questions could, however,
significantly improve the coherence and the adequacy of the
Community 's interventions .

The Commission welcomes the progress that has been made
during the last four or five years at the international level, in
particular after the London and Munich Summits . The Paris
Club has further eased the conditions on a case-by-case basis
and has extended them to lower middle-income countries .

The Commission supports the proposal made by several
Member States and welcomes the initiatives that have been

taken since then to improve the terms and conditions for the
treatment of the official debt of the poorer and
least-developed countries .

More specifically, in connection with the environment, the
Commission follows with great attention the developments
that are taking place in debt-for-nature swaps .

( DM 108 114,41 in 1990 ) and the Bavarian Ministry of
Education ( DM 102 088 in 1990 ) and the donations which
it receives, the UFU is no longer able to meet expenses arising
from its new responsibilities . The experience acquired by the
UFU in the field of education could be of great assistance in
social and economic terms to the countries of Central and

Eastern Europe during their transitional phase from a
centralized bureaucratic system to an open market system,
which will be required to combine economic efficiency with
adequate social security provisions .

Can the Commission consider the possibility of providing
the UFU with a regular grant of ECU 60 000 to enable it to
pursue its activities ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

Having studied the application for funding of ECU 60 000
for the continuation of the activities of UFU, the
Commission considers that assistance of the University in
Munich cannot be funded under the budget for technical
assistance to the countries of the former Soviet Union . To

qualify for funding under this budget, requests for funding
should be made by institutions or government agencies
within the former Soviet Union ; the budgets do not cover
direct assistance to institutions within the Community
unless they directly benefit the former Soviet Union and
involve a partner there . The Commission has no other funds
out of which it could make a recurring grant to the
UFU .

QUESTION No 2394 / 91 The Commission would like to express its full support,

Max Simeoni ( ARC ) however, for the activities of the University, to which it has

granted subsidies in the past . Furthermore, it looks forward

of the European Communities to the possibility of educational links with the Ukraine

October 1991 ) under any new agreement which may be signed between the

( 93 / C 297 / 03 Community and Ukraine .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2394 / 91

by Mr Max Simeoni ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

Subject : Request for Community aid to the Free Ukrainian

Universitv of Munich

The Free Ukrainian University ( UFU ), which was founded
over 70 years ago, provides teaching in philosophy, law and
economics to emigres from the Ukraine and other countries
of Central and Eastern Europe . During the long years of
totalitarianism it contributed to the development of
Ukrainian studies in Europe and in the world in a climate of
freedom .

Following the democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe, it
has now begun to intensify its relations with the countries of
this area in order to meet demand in different areas :

academic and student exchange schemes, consultations and
meetings in Eastern Europe and cooperation . Despite
substantial aid from the German Ministry of the Interior

WRITTEN QUESTION No 623 / 92

by Mrs Annemarie Goedmakers ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 March 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 04 )

Subject : Encouraging research contracts for universities

In the United States businesses are encouraged to give
research contracts to universities by granting them tax relief
on such contracts .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 3

This is not general practice within the Community . For
example, in the United Kingdom companies pay a surcharge
depending on the amount they devote to research contracted
out to universities .

1 . Does the Commission believe that tax relief on research

contracts given by companies to universities can have a
stimulating effect on collaboration between industry
and the universities ?

2 . Does the Commission think that tax relief m ight help the
Community 's research effort in general and the relative
scientific and technological position of the Community
in particular ?

3 . Does the Commission think it desirable that efforts

should be made to reach a common policy on tax relief
to companies granting research contracts ' to
universities ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 luly 1993 )

The Commission takes the view that tax treatment can play
a role as regards R&D activities . It also notes with
satisfaction that a wide range of tax incentives are available
in the individual Member States . It would seem difficult,
however, to favour one research agency over another .
Accordingly, the Commission is not at the moment
contemplating any initiative focusing specifically on
research contracts concluded with universities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 750 / 92

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1992 )

93 / C 297 / 05

Subject : Cot death syndrome

In the content of the third framework programme
( 1990 — 1 994 ), could the Commission inform me whether in
the research programme in the field of bio-medicine and
health it has funded any research projects into the cot death
syndrome especially aimed at providing comparative
statistics for the number of cot deaths in Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Under the third framework programme ( 1990 — 1994 ) and
in particular under the Biomedical and Health Research
Programme ( 1990 — 1994 ) adopted on 9 September 1991,
research projects into the cot death syndrome have so far not
been funded .

Among the 808 research project proposals registered in
response to the second call for proposals under the
Biomedical and Health Research Programme there are also
no proposals for research into the cot death syndrome .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 830 / 92

by the following members : Claudia Roth

and Marco Taradash ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 06 )

Subject : ' Comitology '

Can the Commission give a detailed and exhaustive list of all
committees having official or unofficial links with the EC
dealing with questions such as freedom of movement of
persons, security, anti-terrorist measures, immigration,
measures to combat drugs and crime, involving the
Commission as a full member, a partner, an observer or in
any other capacity ?

Can it also give a detailed description of the structure, role
and organization of these bodies ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1993 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The bodies referred to by the Honourable Member are
intergovernmental rather than Community bodies .
Consequently, the Commission does not enjoy the same
status within them as that normally conferred by the
Treaties .

As regards the free movement of persons, the body
concerned is the Coordinator 's Group set up following the
Rhodes European Council in December 1988 . The
Commission plays a full part in its work as well as in the
horizontal data-processing group answerable to the
coordinators .

No C 297 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

In the immigration field, October 1986 saw the account of the ethnic Greek community of North America in
establishment of the ad hoc Working Group on drawing up Community programmes ?
immigration, in whose work and in whose various
subgroups the Commission has played a full part from the

outset .

In the matter of police cooperation, the Commission has
held observer status in the various bodies of the Trevi Group
since January 1991 .

Where drugs are concerned, an initiative addressed by
President Mitterand to the other eleven Heads of State and

Government and the President of the Commission resulted

in the establishment in December 1989 of the European
Committee to Combat Drugs ( ECCD ). In 1990, this body,
consisting of the ' anti-drugs coordinators ' of the Member
States and the Commission, drew up the European
Programme for Combating Drugs, which was adopted by
the Rome European Council in December 1990 . In 1992,
the ECCD drew up a report on the implementation and
future direction of this programme, whic h was approved by
the Edinburgh European Council in December 1992 . The
ECCD was also the originator of European Drug Prevention
Week ( 16 — 22 November 1992 ) and the European
Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the
regulation establishing which was adopted by the Council
on 8 February 1993 and will enter into fore once a decision
has been taken concerning the Centre 's location . The
Commission has been fully involved in the work of the
ECCD since its inception .

Once the Treaty on European Union has come into force,
the activities of these various bodies will fall within the

ambit of cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs

( Title VI of the Treaty ). They will be placed under the
authority of the Coordinating Committee provided for in
Article K4 of the Treaty, which may see fit to restructure
them if necessary .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1012 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 07 )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

In planning its cultural programmes, the Commission
always seeks to ensure that they contribute to the flowering
of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting
national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing
the common cultural heritage to the fore . Moreover, the
Community and the Member States also forster cooperation
with non-member countries .

Any cultural project originating from the ethnic Greek
population of North America which fits this description and
is of a sufficiently high standard is therefore eligible for
assistance from the annual budget for ' cultural action '.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1150 / 92

by Lord O'Hagan ( ED )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 May 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 08 )

Subject : The role of the President of the Commission

There are differences of view about the role of the President

of the Commission :

1 . Is the President a chairman, chief executive or, more
accurately, comparable to the President of the USA ?

2 . Or does the President act on his own account, or only as
a representative of the College of Commissioners ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : The ethnic Greeks of North America and ( 14 July 1993 )
Community programmes

The ethnic Greek population of North America is estimated
at something over two million . Given their evident cultural
links and close ties with one of the Member States of the

Community, does the Commission agree that it should take

Under the Treaties establishing the European Communities,
the Commission is a body of independent personalities
appointed for a term of four years by common accord of the
Governments of the Member States .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 5

The President and the six Vice-Presidents are appointed
from among its members for a term of two years in
accordance with the same procedure .

The existence of the European Council is enshrined in the

Single Act, which states that it will bring together the Heads
of State or of Government of the Member States and the

President of the Commission of the European
Communities .

The Treaty on European Union amends the procedure for
the appointment of the Commission, with the stipulation
that

' the governments of the Member States shall, in
consultation with the nominee for President, nominate
the other persons whom they intend to appoint as
members  - of the Commission .'

The Community 's institutional structure is so different from
anything that exists or has existed elsewhere that the
comparisons suggested by the Honourable Member are not
relevant .

When acting in his capacity as President and except where he
expressly states that he is adopting a personal position or
this fact is obvious from the context in which he is speaking

( e.g. conferences, symposia, etc .), the President of the
Commission, like the other Members, speaks on behalf of
the Commission as a whole .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1160 / 92

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

( 15 May 1992 )

93 / C 297 / 09 )

Subject : Irrigation in Spain

1 . Further to my Written Question No 1088 / 91 ( ] ), can
the Commission now say whether an environmental impact
assessment has been conducted for the irrigation planned
for the region of Ambroz, Caceres province, which is
included in the Operational Programme for the
improvement of agricultural production conditions in
Extremadura, and which will affect a site identified in the
Commission 's SFF3 list of areas of importance for bird
conservation ( site No 098, Embalse de Gabriel y Galan )? If
not, will the Commission suspend all funds until a
satisfactory EIA has been conducted ?

2 . In winter this site holds some 600 crane, Grus grus, a
declining species listed on Annex I to Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( 2 ). Acceptance of the SFF3 list by the
Commission implies acknowledgement that the site deserves
designation as a Special Protection Area under that
directive . Will the Commission, in accordance with Section
3.1.4.1, first paragraph, of the Community Support
Framework for Spain, ensure that priority is given to the full
implementation of this directive in respect of this site,
through designation of a Special Protection Area ( supported
by appropriate Community funds, for example under
Article 21 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 ( 3 ) on
environmentally sensitive areas ) and that other development
in the area does not prejudice the objectives of this
directive ?

(!) OJ No C 55, 2 . 3 . 1992, p. 14 .

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

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

After consultations with the authorities of the autonomous

region of Extremadura it emerged that this irrigation scheme
for the Ambroz region was approved in 1973 and satisfied
all the conditions imposed at that time . However, these did
not include the obligation to conduct ' an environmental
impact assessment, as introduced by Directive
85 / 337 / EEC (*).

Nevertheless, after the Commission had repeatedly drawn
this to their attention, the autonomous regional authorities
in Extremadura recently completed a study to reassess the
impact of certain irrigation schemes on protection of the
flora and fauna .

In this connection, the regional authorities responsible for
this scheme consulted the environmental authorities and

decided to take appropriate compensatory measures to
conserve the natural habitat . A decision is about to be taken

on these measures, which include reducing the area to be
irrigated from 5 000 hectares to 3 000 hectares .

Under these circumstances, the Commission sees not
infringement of the existing Community legislation,
particularly considering that the area covered by the
irrigation scheme has not been designated a special
protection area under Directive 79 / 409 / EEC .

(') OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

No C 297 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1421 / 92

by Mr Francesco Speroni ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 10 )

Subject : Impact on air transport safety of new limits on

working time of flight personnel

A draft document, by the Joint Committee on common
European rules in the aviation sector (J AA ) defining limits
on flying and working time is approaching completion .

Initial indications suggest that these limits fall far below the
standards of existing rules . Does the Commission intend to
consult associations of flight personnel ( pilots, flight
technicians and flight : attendants ) on the subject ? E>oes it
consider that raising these limits can improve transport
safety within the meaning of Article 16 of the Treaty on
European Union signed in Maastricht on 7 February

1992 ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

In response to both employer and employee organizations '
calls for a Community wide system for the regulation of
duty and rest times of flight crew in the single aviation
market, the Commission has been working with these
organizations, as well as medical and safety experts, for over
two years . Great emphasis has always been given to the
fullest possible consultations with the industry to ensure the
most apposite and effective provisions .

Internal Commission consultations via the Joint Aviation
Committee, a consultative body to the Commission, have
yielded little progress on account of the widely divergent
views of the employers and employees . The Commission has
also followed the work in this field undertaken by the Joint
Aviation Authorities and has participated in this body 's
consultation procedure on its latest draft proposals . Within
this procedure, the Commission has requested further
consideration of several specific safety related issues as well
as ( in the light of the principle of subsidiarity ) less complex
and mandatory provisions .

Being aware that any Community wide scheme should not
be financially onerous to Community airlines nor
disadvantageous to the flight crews nor jeopardize air safety
standards, the Commission has reserved its final opinion on
the appropriateness of the JAA proposals until they are

finalized and has also safeguarded its own right of initiative
regarding their possible transposition into Community
law .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1582 / 92

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 11 )

Subject : Use of Community CSF funds for SMUs in

Greece

According to reliable information, long delays occur in
allocating and using funds granted under regional
development programmes to assist Greek SMUs . In
particular, funds intended for technical assistance, the
training of business executives and technological
modernization and cooperation between undertakings etc .
have not been used to the extent they should have been . In
addition to the lack of adequate information concerning the
availability of these funds, one of the basic problems is the
ineffectiveness of the various bodies responsible for
development ( development and industrial associations,
chambers of commerce and industry ). This is due to the
failure to issue the presidential decrees necessary for the
proper allocation and administration of the above funds by
these bodies for their intended purposes .

Because of the major importance of measures to support
Greek SMUs, can the Commission say what measures it
intends to take to overcome this problem ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

The delay occurring in the implementation of measures to
assist SMEs under regional operational programmes has led
to the introduction of pilot projects in the context of the
present Community support framework ( CSF ) in a limited
number of regions . These experiments will provide a basis
for discussion with a view to extending the measures to all
regions in Greece in the context of the next CSF .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 7

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1637 / 92

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

( 24 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 12 )

Subject : Codex / GATT

Does the Commission agree that one of the more
contentious issues in these negotiations is the harmonization
of health and environmental standards, i.e. basing domestic
standards on international standards ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1638 / 92

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

( 24 June 1992 )

environmental standards had been considered in relation to

the draft agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade ( TBT )
and on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ( SPS ). Both
these draft agreements aim at a balance between a clear
recognition of the sovereign right of countries to adopt
measures for the protection of legitimate public policy goals
such as the protection of health or the environment — and
the need to ensure that such measures arc not adopted with a
view or with the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to
international trade . This balance is reflected in the approach
followed in the two draft texts on the issue of

harmonisation, which is essentially based on two
principles :

( a ) International standards are recognised as having a
particular value in minimizing negative effects on trade .
There is therefore a presumption that measures based
on international standards do not constitute an

unnecessary obstacle to trade ( Article 2.5 . TBT ;
Article 10 SPS ). Countries are encouraged to
participate in international harmonisation activities
and to base their national standards on international

standards whenever appropriate .

( 93 / C 297 / 13 ) \

«

Subject : Codex / GATT : harmonization framework

In the context of these negotiations does the Commission
support a harmonization framework that accepts the need
for a diversity in health and environmental standards in a
family of nations, striving both for trade and development,
as well as health and safety and a sustainable
environment ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1639 / 92

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 June 1992 )

93 / C 297 / 14

Subject : Codex / GATT : health and environmental
standards

In Codex / GATT negotiations what general principles
underpin the Community 's approach in the harmonization
of health and environmental standards ?

Joint answer to Written Questions
Nos 1637 / 92, 1638 / 92 and 1639 / 92

given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

1 . In the context of the GATT Uruguay Round
negotiations, the harmonization of health and

( b ) The right of countries to apply domestic measures

based on a higher level of health or environmental
protection than that established by international
standards is fully recognised ( Article 2.4 . TBT ;
Article 11 SPS ). Such domestic measures should not, of
course, constitute an unnecessary obstacle to trade and
a number of criteria are established in the two

agreements to avoid this .

2 . The Commission 's policy is to favour international
harmonisation, particularly in those cases in which a
proliferation of inconsistent domestic standards results in
significant market fragmentation to the detriment of
Community exporters . The phytosanitary field provides a
good example .

Harmonization can also have a value as a means of

promoting the wider acceptance by countries of appropriate
levels of health and environmental protection . It goes
without saying that, as is indeed required by the EC Treaty,
the Commission aims at ensuring that international
standards are based on a high level of health and
environmental protection . International harmonization is
not, however, a panacea and there are indeed a wide number
of circumstances in which, national measures are and will
continue to be necessary . Firstly, international
harmonization has its limits and in many cases domestic
health or environmental standards will be adopted in
advance of the development of international standards .
Secondly, there are cases in which international
harmonization is not an appropriate policy since efficient
standards have to be adapted to local conditions and do not
result in market fragmentation . This is for instance the case
for many environmental standards aiming at limiting local
pollution and which relate to acceptable emission levels or
production methods rather than to the final characteristics
of a product . Under the GATT this type of measures may not
normally be applied to imported products . Finally, even in
the presence of international standards, it would be

No C 297 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

perfectly legitimate for the Community to apply different Would the Commission also inform me of the total cost and
standards if international standards are based on an the price per documentation pack ?
insufficient level of health or environmental protection .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1729 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 15 )

Subject : Use of Dutch by the Commission

I have already noted on several occasions that the
Commission only gives French addresses for its offices in
Brussels .

Does the Commission not think that this is prejudicial to
Belgium 's trilingual and Brussels ' bilingual status ?

Can the Commission now give assurance that changes will
be made in the future ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

In the Directory of the Commission, the addresses of the
institution and its departments located in Brussels are given
in both French and Dutch .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1730 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 16

Subject : World Fair in Seville

It appears that I can obtain a documentation pack on Expo
in Seville from the Community Commissariat-General .

Can the Commission explain the reasons behind this
initiative ?

Can the Commission inform me how many packs have been
produced and to whom, apart from Members of the
European Parliament, they have been supplied ?

The documentation pack referred to by the Honourable
Member was presented to official visitors to the Community
Pavilion at the Universal Exposition in Seville .

It was produced with the financial support of GEIE
Promolive ( ECU 200 000 ).

Ten thousand copies were printed at a unit cost of ECU
20 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1751 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 17 )

Subject : Restoration of the Museum of Ali Pasha in

Ioannine

On the picturesque island of Ioannine an ancient plane tree
was recently blown down by strong winds and fell on the
Museum of Ali Pasha causing considerable damage . Does
the Commission intend to help restore this 18th Century
building, and notably make available funds for this
purpose ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

The monument in question could be considered for financial
support by the Commission, in the framework of its action
for support of pilot projects to conserve the European
architectural heritage, provided they fulfil the rules
published each year in the Official Journal of the European

Communities .

Moreover the Commission is willing to examine the
possibility of cofinancing the conservation of Ali-Passa
Museum in Ioannina in the interests of regional
development, should the Greek authorities make such a
request in the context of their regional development plan to
be presented shortly for consideration .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1753 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 18 )

Subject : Reconstruction of the ancient theatre and the

castle in Mytiline

The ancient theatre and the castle in Mytiline, both of which
are ruined monuments, are threatened by total destruction
as a result of the ravages of time and human indifference .
The ancient theatre is unsuitable for use in any capacity and
the castle has deteriorated to a point where it represents a
danger . Despite this, the castle, which is one of the largest in
the Mediterranean, is considered one of the best examples of
a medieval fortification . Does the Commission intend to

make a financial contribution to the reconstruction of the

abovementioned ancient sites ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The two monuments mentioned could be considered for

financial support by the Commission in the framework of its
annual action for support of pilot projects to conserve the
European architectural heritage, provided they fulfil the
rules published each year in the Official Journal of the
European Communities .

Moreover the Commission is willing to examine the
possibility of cofinancing the restoration of the Ancient
Theatre and Fortress in Mytilini, in the interest of regional
development, should the Greek authorities make such a
request in the context of their regional development plan to
be presented shortly for consideration .

the world because of the exceptional beauty of its geological
formation and its historical value . Over the last 1 0 years,
this area has become a growing attraction for tourists, who
are estimated to have numbered about 1 million in 1991

alone . However, no practical steps have been taken to
protect the natural and historical features of this area, and
inestimable damage has been caused by the uncontrolled
influx of tourists . The damage is so extensive that the
Turkish ' SOS Mediterranean Office ' is calling for a tourist

boycott of the area for 1992 to allow time for effective
measures to be taken to protect the area, as proposed by a
Unesco study .

1 . What information does the Commission have on the

danger to the natural and historical features of
Pamukkale / Ierapolis as a result of the rapid and
uncontrolled development of tourism and how can the
Community help to protect it ?

2 . What representations will it make to the Turkish

government to provide effective protection for the
monuments in this area ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 August 1993 )

The Commission has no information on the site in question .
It undertakes measures to raise awareness on the protection
and conservation of architectural heritage in Europe, but it
has no jurisdiction as regards safeguarding listed
monuments or sites .

This falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of international

bodies responsible for listed architectural sites .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1848 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1829 / 92 by Mr Josep Verde i Aldea ( S )

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 19 )

Subject : Destruction of monuments at Ierapolis / Pamukkale

in Turkey

s

Pamukkale / Ierapolis has been designated by the Unesco
World Cultural and Physical Heritage as the most important
of the seven Turkish sites and one of the most important in

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 20

Subject : The Commission 's failure to attend the meeting of

European Justice Ministers

On 9 and 10 June 1992, the Justice Ministers of the 27
member countries of the Council of Europe, which include
the 12 Community Member States, held meetings to
promote the state governed by the rule of law in the new

No C 297 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and to Greece ratified the European Convention on the Protection
consolidate it in the other European countries . Furthermore, of the Archaeological Heritage .
consideration was given to a draft European Convention on
damage caused by the pursuit of activities harmful to the

Bearing in mind the above considerations, can the

environment, this being the first international document Commission state what action the Greek authorities intend
laying down a general system of third party liability in

to take to combat the deterioration of the Acropolis and

respect of damage caused to the environment .

Bearing in mind the above considerations, can the

environment, this being the first international document Commission state what action the Greek authorities intend
laying down a general system of third party liability in

to take to combat the deterioration of the Acropolis and

respect of damage caused to the environment .

whether they are complying with the communication from
the Commission to the Council on the protection of national
The following were also invited to attend the meetings as treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological
observers : Canada, Russia and other countries from Eastern value (').
Europe, as well as international organizations and the
Commission of the European Communities . According to
press reports, the Commission did not send any Can the Commission state whether there is any provision, in
representatives to the Conference . Community funding for the protection of the Parthenon, for

press reports, the Commission did not send any Can the Commission state whether there is any provision, in
representatives to the Conference . Community funding for the protection of the Parthenon, for

monitoring pollution levels at the Acropolis and, if not, does
it intend to provide funding for setting up such a monitoring
How can the Commission justify its failure to attend such an station ?
important Conference when the Treaty on European Union
includes among its objectives judicial cooperation on civil
and penal matters ? (!) COM(89 ) 594 final .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Commission attaches great importance to the Council
of Europe 's work in the field of judicial cooperation, and, in
particular, to the topics on the agenda of the 18th
Conference of Justice Ministers, held in Cyprus on 9 and
10 June 1992 .

The Commission, represented by the Head of the
Commission Delegation in Cyprus, Mr J. P. Derisbourg,
took part in the Conference .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1948 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

93 / C 297 / 21

Subject : Setting up an atmospheric pollution monitoring

station at the Acropolis

The Acropolis is deteriorating visibly every day as a result of
atmospheric pollution and the Community is funding a
programme to protect the Parthenon . Specific proposals
have been put forward by the University of the Aegean ( the
Environment Department ) for setting up a station to
monitor atmospheric pollution at the Acropolis in order to
tackle the adverse effects of such pollution not only for the
marble stonework of the Acropolis but also, more generally
speaking, for the Attica Basin as a whole . On 20 July 1981

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( I 28 July 1993 )

On the initiative of the European Parliament, part of the
restoration work on the Acropolis, which is carried out
entirely under the responsibility of the relevant Greek
departments, has been funded by the Commission every
year since 1983 .

To date, this restoration work, which has been presented to
the international public and to conservation and restoration
specialists in particular on several occasions, has been very
well received .

The effect of atmospheric pollution on archaeological
monuments is a major concern for the Community just as it
is for the relevant authorities in Greece . However, this
subject has nothing to do with the Commission 's
communication to the Council on the protection of national
treasures of artistic and archaeological value .

That communication was followed by a proposal for a
regulation on the export of cultural goods as well as by a
proposal for a directive on the return of cultural goods
having left the territory of a Member State illicitly . The
Council reached a political agreement on these two
proposals at its meeting on 10 November 1992 .

In conclusion, the Commission would remind the
Honourable Member that financial support for the
Acropolis and the Parthenon is always granted on the basis
of proposals from the relevant departments of the Member
State concerned . At present, the aid is intended exclusively
for restoration and conservation work .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2087 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 22 )

Subject : CAL-NAT in the vicinity of an archaeological

site

The remains of the ancient city of Alos are located at
Almyros near Volos on land where the CAL-NAT Company
( formerly AGET — IRAKLIS ) operates a system of ore
conveyer belts . Does the Commission not think it should
take steps to protect the environment and the cultural
heritage at this site which is an integral part of the ancient
past of Greece and Europe in general ? What does it intend to
do ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1993 )

The role of the Commission in protecting and safeguarding
the cultural heritage is clearly defined, notably in the
conclusions of the Council and the Ministers for Culture of

12 November 1992 on the ' guidelines for Community
cultural action '.

Once ratified, Article 128 of the Treaty on European Union
will serve to consolidate this role, which is to promote
cooperation between Member States and, where
appropriate, to support and supplement the action they
take, whilst acknowledging the preponderant role played by
the Member States and the subsidiary nature of Community
action in this sphere .

The Commission is therefore unable to make

representations to the Greek authorities concerning the
conservation of the ancient city of Alos . Any initiative
relating to the management of the Greek cultural heritage is
exclusively a matter for the relevant national and / or regional
authorities .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

At its meeting in Lisbon in June 1992 the European Council
asked the Commission to prepare a comprehensive report
by the end of 1993 on the possibility of reviewing certain
Community rules and regulations in the light of the
subsidiarity principle . In response to this request, the
Commission submitted to the Edinburgh European Council
a report on the first fruits of its review of existing
Community legislation, with examples, which was noted by
the Council in its Conclusions . The Commission identified

several families of rules and regulations for review in

19 93 .

To this end, the Commission is endeavouring to sift through
existing legislation in the light of the two tests of the
subsidiarity principle :

— Which regulations no longer satisfy the need-for-action

test, either because it is questionable whether the
Community is the most effective level of action, or
because the value added byjthe measure, compared with
action taken at national level, is no longer apparent ?

— Which regulations no longer satisfy the proportionality

test, either because they go into unnecessary detail or
because they could more usefully take the form not of a
binding legal instrument but of a more flexible measure

( recommendation agreements with management and
labour, mutual recognition, etc .)?

The Commission considers it vital that this process should
not undermine the Community acquis . In practical terms, it
is planning to give priority to reviewing long-standing
legislation .

The Commission will make proposals to Parliament and the
Council on the instruments which, in its view, could be
amended or even repealed . Pending amendment of the
instruments, the Commission sees no other way in which the
subsidiarity principle could be applied to legislation already
in force .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2567 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2475 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

(8 October 1992 ) ( 93 / C 297 / 24

93 / C 297 / 23

Subject : Signing of the ' open skies ' agreement between the

Subject : Subsidiarity

To what extent would subsidiarity apply to legislation
already enforced in the European Community ?

Netherlands and the United States

The document finalized in Washington between the
Netherlands and the United States and baptized ' open skies '

No C 297 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

grants Royal Dutch Airlines ( KLM ) landing rights at all US
airports . The airline may, furthermore, pick up passengers
there and transport them to any destination outside the
United States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2598 / 92

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

( 27 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 25 )
The ' open skies ' document breaks the protectionist tradition
established in 1944 by the agreement signed that year in
Chicago . That agreement, which was signed by most Subject : Coordination of the
countries, was designed to protect national interests with related to the media
regard to aviation . The US government has always wanted
to bring it to an end and has repeatedly offered its German,
French and UK counterparts free entry to its airports . In activities Does the between Commission the four have different any
return, US airlines would enjoy the same privilege . Until
now, the response has always been negative . currently dealing with audiovisual

Subject : Coordination of the Commission 's activities
related to the media

Does the Commission have any plans for coordinating
activities between the four different Directorate-Generals

currently dealing with audiovisual and broadcasting
policy .

Does the Commission consider that the signing of the ' open
skies ' agreement may signal the beginning of a new policy of
complete liberalization of the aviation industry worldwide,
and that it should encourage this by ensuring that the
abovementioned ' open skies ' document signed by the
Netherlands and the United States is extended to the whole

of the European Community ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission has taken note of the recently concluded

' open skies ' agreement between the Netherlands and the
United States .

The liberal policy advocated by the United States is
primarily in the interest of US air carriers . Issues like foreign
ownership limitation and cabotage are still considered in a
very restrictive way by the US authorities .

In fact, US air carriers have a much better access into the
Community, making use of their fifth freedom
opportunities, than Community air carriers have in the
United States .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 July 1993 )

The Directorate-General responsible for audiovisual policy
as such is Directorate-General X ( Audiovisual Media,
Information, Communication and Culture ).

                                                      

Of course, other Directorates-General — for the Internal
Market, Competition, External Relations or
Telecommunications, Information Industries and
Innovation — also have to deal with various aspects of work
relating to audiovisual media within the scope of horizontal
policies in their own areas .

Naturally, standard coordination procedures are observed
at departmental level and within the Commission itself .

Moreover, in 1989 the Commission formed a group of
members who are particularly interested in audiovisual
matters to provide policy guidance in this field .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2611 / 92

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

The Commission has put forward a communication on
( 93 / C 297 / 26 )
external aviation relations with third countries . According
to this document, negotiations on a Community level with
the United States are considered as a priority . The main aims
of Community negotiations with the US will have to be Subject : Deep-sea pilotage
defined after careful analysis of the existing situation .

Subject : Deep-sea pilotage

With regard to Council Directive 79 / 115 / EEC 0 )
concerning pilotage of vessels by deep-sea pilots in the
North Sea and English Channel, could the Commission tell

me :

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 13

1 . whether any Member State has complied fully with this
Directive ?

2 . whether any Member States are actively taking steps to
encourage the use of deep-sea pilots ( other than by
issuing the ' M ' notice or other similar instruments )?

3 . what steps the Commission has taken to ensure
compliance with Directive 79 / 115 / EEC ?

4 . whether or not the Commission intends to introduce

proposals for mandatory pilotage ?

f 1 ) OJ No L 33, 8 . 2 . 1979, p. 32

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 July 1993 )

stress the importance of Community action on the cultural
heritage .

In the light of these conclusions the Commission has begun
work on a communication concerning, among other things,
aid for the preservation of historic monuments . It will be
based on the Commission 's own proposals in this area and
will be ready and made public in 1994 .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2699 / 92

by Hiltrud Breyer, Paul Lannoye, Virginio Bettini and

Marguerite-Marie Dinguirard ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 October 1992 )

An invitation to tender for a general study on pilotage, ( 93 / C 297 / 28 ),
including deep-sea pilotage, will be published in the Official
Journal before September 1993 . In the light of the findings

of this study, the Commission should be in a position to
determine what measures are required in this sector .

The study will incorporate a detailed analysis of the
situation in the Member States, including the extent to
which they have transposed Directive 79 / 115 / EEC into
national law .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2628 / 92

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 27 )

Subject : Aid for historic buildings

What new proposals does the Commission have to help
preserve the heritage within the Community, with particular
regard to historic buildings ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 July 1993 )

The Commission recalls that on 12 November 1992 the

Council and the Ministers responsible for Culture adopted
the guidelines for Community cultural actton ( j ) which

Subject : The TACIS Programme

1 . Nuclear energy accounts for a mere 12 to 17% of
energy produced in the CIS . At the same it is estimated that
total energy savings could reach at least 40% . In view of
this, how does the Commission justify the fact that financial
resources from the above programme have been almost
exclusively concentrated on the nuclear sector ?

2 . ( a ) Is the Commission aware that various countries,
and particularly OECD Member States ( France,
Germany and Canada ) have commissioned studies
on the energy supply situation in general and on
nuclear plants in particular in the CIS ?

( b ) Is there any coordination between the individual
countries and the Commission to prevent a waste of
taxpayers ' money through duplication of such
studies ?

( a ) Can the Commission ensure that the traditionally
very close links existing in the former Soviet Union
between civil and military uses of nuclear energy
have been severed and that EC funds are used

entirely for non-military purposes ?

( b ) How does the Commission intend to ensure this ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

1 . The Commission does not believe that the potential
energy savings of 40 % referred to can be achieved in the

No C 297 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

short term . Furthermore, the structure of electricity
generation has to be evaluated at regional level . In some
parts of Russia, for example, nuclear power accounts for
around 30 % of electricity generation . As a result, the vast
majority of nuclear power stations will have to remain in use
in the years to come to meet the demand for electricity of the
general public and of industry .

Consequently, the Commission believes there is a need for
assistance programmes to improve the safety of nuclear
reactors : roughly 20 % of the Tacis programme is given over
to this aspect .

2 . ( a ) The Commission is informed of studies
commissioned by the Member States and also has
good working relations with international
organizations such as the OECD and the World
Bank .

( b ) As regards nuclear safety, coordination at G-24
level helps to prevent duplication of such studies .

A database covering all assistance projects, fed by
donor countries and run by the Commission is now
in operation .

3 . ( a ) and ( b ) The Commission believes that the Tacis
funded assistance projects in the nuclear fields are
such as would be applied only in regard to
non-military nuclear facilities and activities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2752 / 92

by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 29 )

Subject : European Social Fund appropriations for the

Netherlands

Can the Commission give a breakdown of projects assisted
in The Netherlands by the European Social Fund in each of
the last three financial years ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The reform of the Structural Funds involved a switch from a

project-based approach to a programme - based approach .
The partnership arrangements have lead to a
decentralization of the Community 's structural action,
enabling it to be geared more closely to realities, both in
assessing needs and in implementing measures .

In agreement with the Dutch Labour and Social Affairs
authorities ( Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid ) the
selection and follow-up of the ESF-projects in the
Netherlands is carried out by the 28 regional offices of
Arbeidsvoorziening . Data on projects is kept by these
regional offices .

The data at the disposal of the Commission is limited to that
concerning the priorities of each operational programme . As
a result it is not possible to give a breakdown of the projects
assisted .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2769 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 30 )

<«

Subject : Archaeological digs in Achaeia

i

Significant discoveries of historical and archaeological value
to the in-depth research into the role of Achaeia in
Mycenean civilization have recently been brought to light by
the archaeologist 's pick . More than 500 finds have been
made in more than 30 tombs uncovered in the Kallithea

area, and, more particularly, on the Spenzes and Langanidia
sites and in the region of the Achaeia-Claus factory .
However, as yet, corresponding ancient settlements have
not been uncovered, due largely to the fact that the
archaeological digs are being carried out on a shoe-string
budget by the University of Ioannina and the Archaeological
Society . Does the Commission propose to contribute
towards the financing of the archaeological digs and does it
intend to ask once again for new funds from the Greek
Ministry of Culture ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

The Commission is not in a position to contribute to the
financing of major archeological digs, since budget
appropriations for Community cultural initiatives are too
modest for programmes of this scale .

It should also be recalled that Member States have

sovereignty in matters of cultural policy and the
Community, in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity,
only supplements and supports measures initiated by
Member States, particularly with regard to the conservation
and protection of the national heritage . The Council
conclusions of 12 November 1992 on ' Guidelines for

Community 1 Cultural Action ' explicitly define the

3 . 11 . 93 Official journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 15

Community 's role in cultural matters, and Article 128 of the
Maastricht treaty reaffirms the same principle .

The Commission is not therefore competent to ask the
Greek authorities to grant new funds for the archeological
dig in Achaeia .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2881 / 92

by Mr Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 31

Subject : The railway through the Simplon

According to press reports the Swiss Government intends to
close the shuttle service between Switzerland and Italy
through the Simplon as from 3 January 1993 because of
operating losses .

The questioner cannot, and does not intend to, contest the
quoted losses .

However, will the Commission investigate the matter from
an European point of view, particularly in connection with
the agreement between the European Community and
Switzerland on the European high-speed network and
establish whether this measure by the Swiss Government is
in accordance with the agreements reached ?

In addition, account should be taken of the recent
referendum in favour of a new Alpine crossing including the
Loetschberg tunnel, which, together with the Simplon is
intended to become a major European rail link in the third
millennium .

The Novara Provincial Council has already expressed its
views on this matter and drawn it to the attention of the

Italian Government .

Can the Commission give this matter immediate
consideration and make representations to the Swiss
Government to ensure that it takes account of the

unfavourable impact of its decision on European major
transport network planning and say what steps it will take
to ensure that such projects, including the Simplon, can
successfully proceed ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(2 7 May 1 993 )

The closure concerned will actually affect the transport of
vehicles along the route Iselle di Transquera ( Italian
borderstation ) — Brig ( Swiss borderstation ) — Kandersteg .

According to the informations available to the Commission
the decision to abolish the service has been taken owing to
lack of traffic ; the amount of 50 000 vehicles / year, identified
as the minimum quantity of traffic justifying the
maintenance of the service, has not been attained .

The Commission has no competence, which could justify an
intervention in the matter . The decision does not affect the

international importance of the Simplon line, nor does it
modify the role of the line in the transEuropean transport
networks . The decision is actually dealing with a mostly
italo-Swiss issue .

The Commission will pursue its efforts towards the
completion of the transEuropean transport network
( highspeed trains, combined transport, conventional rail ) in
respect of which the functions of the Simplon line can by no
means be underestimated .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2893 / 92

by Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenéch ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 32 )

Subject : Financial situation of Spain in the Community

1 . Can the Commission give an estimate of Spain 's
contributions to the Community budget since its accession
in 1986 ?

2 . Can it also give an estimate of payments to Spain from
Community funds ( ESF, ERDF, EAGGF, etc .) and through
various Community policies since its accession, for
whatever purposes ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 August 1993 )

The Commission has made a rule of not publishing figures
broken down by heading to calculate the net balance —
in budget or cash terms — of Member States '
contributions .

It would, however, draw the Honourable Member 's
attention to the information contained in the annual report
of the Court of Auditors .

S

Spain 's actual payments to the Community budget since
1986 appear in the revenue an expenditure accounts, in the
same way as those of the other Member States :

/

No C 297 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

( in ECU million ) shown that when properly used it has no harmful effect,
direct or indirect, on human health .

Budger Spain's contribution

1986 2 321

1987 1 709

1988 2 678

1989 3 575

1990 3 671

1991 4 580

1992 4 828

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2956 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2.4 November 1992 )

Furthermore, the Directive provides for Community
reassessment over a twelve-year period of all active
substances currently on the market and following
reassessment of each substance review by the Member States
of the authorizations of all plant protection products
containing that substance .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3018 / 92

by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 33 ) ( 93 / C 297 / 34 )

Subject : Use of pesticides

According to the Greek Centre for Environmental Research

( PAKOE ), a great many farmers die each year as a result of
careless use of pesticides . In the village of Tymbaki on Crete,
more than 850 farmers, both men and women, have died of
intestinal cancer over the last 1 0 years for this very reason .
What steps will the Commission take to protect farmers
from the effects of pesticides ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

s

The Commission has been unable to obtain confirmation of

the Honourable Member 's claim of 850 deaths from cancer

of the large bowel as a result of careless use of pesticides . Its
information from the Greek authorities is that in the last 1 0

years there have been 303 deaths in Tymbaki and 22,8 in the
closest village, Mirai, the cause of death being cancer in 40
and 42 cases respectively .

On the question of protection of farmers health when they
use pesticides, Directive 91 / 414 / EEC of 15 July 1991
concerning the placing of plant protection products on the
market ( ] ) sets very strict marketing requirements affording
a very high level of protection of health and the
environment . These requirements will be more precisely
defined following the Council 's adoption of the
Commission 's proposal for Annex VI to the Directive .

Directive 91 / 414 / EEC is to be applied by the Member States
from 25 July 1993 . Under it Member States may not grant
authorization for a plant protection product unless it is

Subject : Community participation in the Year of St
James

The celebration of the Year of St James in 1993 should
provide an opportunity for our Community to participate in
the age-old spiritual commemoration which has led the
peoples of Europe to Santiago de Compostela throughout
history .

The European Community, which today represents the
union of the citizens of those countries which shared a

common ideal in defence of values upheld throughout the
continent, cannot remain on the sidelines of the vast
pro-European convergence on Santiago de Compostela
which will take place during the Year of St James .

Has the Commission therefore considered the inclusion in

its 1993 programme of a series of activities reflecting
Community participation in Santiago 's celebrations,
allocating staff and budgetary resources to this effect ?
Through its presence in Santiago, the European Community
would thus project itself to the pilgrims and visitors arriving
in the city as the heir to the shared ideal realized by the
pilgrims who travelled to Santiago de Compostela from all
over Europe to express their unity of faith, within the
context of continental coexistence ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

On 17 May 1993 the Ministers for Cultural Affairs meeting
within the Council, adopted a declaration welcoming the
initiatives taken by several Member States to help identify
and preserve the historical and artistic heritage of the
Camino de Santiago ( the pilgrims ' way to Santiago de
Compostela ).

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 17

They welcomed the action taken by several Member States
to make the Camino de Santiago, which is part of Europe 's
cultural heritage, better known and their efforts to
encourage participation in this, work by citizens and by
members of cultural associations and bodies .

The declaration emphasizes the leading role of the Council
of Europe in the promotion of the Camino de Santiago as a
' cultural itinerary of the Council of Europe ' and the part
played by that Institution in the celebrations for the Year of
St James .

In this exceptional year the declaration by the Ministers for
cultural affairs associates the Community with the
celebration of the cultural itinerary of Europe .

The Commission itself cannot draw on any specific
appropriations in the 1993 budget to enable it to participate
in the ceremonies commemorating the Year of St James .

For exceptional symbolic activities, namely those outside
established annual events, the Commission may grant
special financial assistance only in response to a specific
decision by Parliament and / or the Council, or in the event of
a major disaster ( e.g. the fire in the Chiado in Lisbon or the
car bomb explosion outside the Uffizi Gallery in
Florence ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3039 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 35 )

Subject : Pilot projects in respect of families

On 30 and 31 March it organized a conference on ' Family
and business : how to bring them together ' in cooperation
with the Belgian Ministry of Labour and Employment,
which has undertaken pilot measures in this field . The event
was an opportunity to bring together representatives of
governments, businesses, unions and family organizations
to discuss the subject . To follow up this conference the
Commission is currently setting up a group of employers '
and workers ' representatives who will be responsible for
identifying and promoting good business practice both in
family policies at the work place and in special measures for
families frequently changing their place of residence in the
Community .

Under the second medium-term Community Action
Programme on Equal Opportunities ( 1985—90 ), an expert
network on childcare and other measures to reconcile

working and family life was set up, in order to assist
implementation of the programme . The network 's main
task, since its establishment in 1986, has been to monitor
relevant developments in the Community ; to examine
specific issues and to publish reports ( for example, quality
and workers in childcare services, men as carers, the needs of
rural families ); to collect and disseminate information ; and
to make recommendations for action .

The Council also recently adopted a recommendation and a
directive which have a direct link with the reconciliation of

work and family life . The recommendation, adopted on
31 March 1992, relates to childcare ( ! ), and the directive,
which was adopted on 19 October 1992, concerns the
protection of pregnant workers ( 2 ).

Community projects to assist poor and disadvantaged
families fit into the more general framework of activities
designed to combat poverty and social exclusion .

The Community has only limited jurisdiction and means at
is disposal in this area . Its activity is directed essentially
towards supporting and stimulating initiatives taken by
public authorities and » the private sector in Member

States .

(') OJ No L 123, 8 . 5 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 348, 28 . 11 . 1992 .

In view of the growing importance of the family and the
economic changes that will accompany the completion of
the internal market and the consequences of these changes
on population growth in Europe, does the Commission
intend to propose measures aimed at improving relations
between working and family life ? Does it consider that ESF
and Structural Fund resources should be made available to
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3063 / 92
fund pilot projects for poor and disadvantaged families ?

by Mr Neil Blaney ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn ( 93 / C 297 / 36 )
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission has recently taken action as regards the
reconciliation of work with family life .

Subject : Fishery agreements

Will the Commission provide the Parliament with an
overview of the bilateral agreements under which the

No C 297 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Community acquires fishery rights iri the waters of third
countries ? The information required, in a succinct form, is :
country ; fishing rights acquired ( with details of species,
tonnages, types of vessel, etc .); compensation paid by the
Community ( with details about its use ); duration of the
agreement ( with dates when current agreement took effect
and will expire ); share-out of the acquired rights between
the Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 September 1993 )

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a number
of tables, the Commission is sending it direct ro the
Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3068 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992                

( 93 / C 297 / 37 )

Subject : Termites

In view of the damage which wood-eating termites cause to
buildings, particularly those of most historical value, and
the fact that insect plagues are no respecters of borders, can
the Commission say whether there is any possibility that
basic research may help to reduce this danger and whether
measures such as those introduced by the French town of
Aries are being taken at national level ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 1993 )

The role of the C ommission in protecting and safeguarding
the cultural heritage is clearly defined, notably in the
conclusions of the Council and the Ministers for Culture of

12 November 1992 on the ' guidelines for Community
cultural action '.

Once ratified, Article 128 of the Treaty on European Union
will serve to consolidate this role, which is to promote
cooperation between Member States and, where
appropriate, to support and supplement the action they
take, whilst acknowledging the preponderant role played by
the Member States and the subsidiary nature of Community
action in this sphere .

As regards Community research, considerable work on the
conservation and protection of the European cultural
heritage is done under the ' Environment R&D '
programme . The purpose of this research is to understand
and reduce the effects of environmental pollution on fixed
and movable cultural assets . However, the damage caused
by insects such as termites is not covered by the current

programme .

Nonetheless, the many Community projects provided for in
the framework programme will lead to advances in the
methods used for assessing the overall state of the cultural
heritage and could therefore lead to better ways and means
of identifying and preventing the damage caused by
termites .

Although damage caused by termites can be substantially
reduced by appropriate management and practices, some
aspects warrant the extension of the R&D projects, more
especially in the following areas

— earlier detection of termite infestation ;

— better methods for the analysis and testing of preventive

chemical products ;

— improvement and wider use of biological control

methods ( e.g. pheromones, insecticides, pathogens
etc ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3070 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 297 / 38 )

Subject : The European literary heritage

The first three volumes of a series of 12 on Europe 's literary
heritage have just been published in Brussels by De
Boeck-Wesmael . Professor Jean Claude Polet of the
Catholic University of Louvain is in charge of the
collection .

According to a review of this work published in Le Monde
on Friday, 30 October 1992 ( page 30 ), ' the various
European institutions in Brussels did not consider it
worth wile to give their support either '. What was the nature
of the request received by the Commission, what attitude
did it take to the matter and what was its assessment, if any,
of the importance of this ' monumental anthology of the
literatures of Fairope ' in creating a shared cultural
awareness, with the possibility of publishing translations or
adaptations of the work in the other Community
languages ?

s

V

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 19

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 July 1993 )

The work to which the Honourable Member refers and

similar works on comparative European literature are,
without doubt, considerable contributions to the
enrichment of the common cultural heritage . However, the
Commission has to confine its activity in the lield of books
and reading to what is contained in its programme . And the
programme makes no provision for direct assistance to
publishing, though it does allow for assistance to translation
in certain circumstances .

The Commission 's programme for the promotion of books
and reading is based on the resolution adopted by the
Council and the Ministers responsible for cultural affairs on
18 May 1989 ( 1 ). The annex to the resolution ( which
specifies eight areas of action ) makes no reference to the
possibility of granting direct assistance to publishing .
Because of this, the Commission cannot consider any
application for assistance of this nature .

As for translation, since 1989 there has been a pilot scheme
for assistance in the translation of contemporary literature
works with an annual budget of ECU 200 000 . A notice
giving details of the scheme is published in the Official
Journal of the European Communities each year, and the

final selection is made on the basis of a report from a group
of experts nominated by the Member States and appointed
by the Commission .

(!) OJ No C 183, 20 . 7 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3160 / 92

by Mr Wilfried Telkamper ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 39 )

Subject : Implementation of an environmental impact
assessment in accordance with the appropriate
Directive with regard to the legal procedure for
compulsory purchase in connection with the A 100
motorway in Berlin

1 . Is it true that the Commission is currently examining a
complaint involving the application of Directive
85 / 337 / EEC ( 1 ) submitted by persons affected by the
compulsory purchase procedure for the A 100 motorway in
Berlin ?

2 . Have any results been forthcoming, and if so, what are
they ? If not, what stage has been reached ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that this compulsory
purchase procedure is being implemented in accordance
with the Law to accelerate transport planning and that a
first - and last-instance action brought before the Federal
Administrative Court will have no suspensive effect ?

4 . Is the Commission aware that a Berlin-based

association for the protection of the natural environment
has brought an action before the Federal Administrative
Court ?

5 . What does the Commission propose to do, if the above
complaint leads to findings which justify the opening of
formal proceedings and at the same time, the absence of any
suspensive effect of a court action means that work starts on
the construction of the A 100 motorway and gives rise to a
situation in which the rights of those making the complaint
are in fact infringed ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

1 and 2 . The Commission has been informed of the

proposed A 100 motorway in Berlin . The German
authorities take the view that they have carried out the
environmental impact assessment required under their
administrative authorization procedure ( Planfeststellung ).
The Commission referred the question of the equivalence of
this administrative procedure with the procedures laid
down in Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on environmental impact to
the Court of Justice on 23 December 1992 .

3 . Yes .

4 . No .

5 . Complaints addressed to the Commission never have
suspensory effect . Only the Court of Justice may prescribe
interim measures pursuant to Article 186 of the EEC Treaty
and under the conditions laid down therein .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3169 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 40 )

Subject : Resistance printshop in Kallithea

At the beginning of 1942, two members of the resistance,
acting on orders, dug out an area beneath a house located in

No C 297 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Skra Street in Kallithea and set up the '8 square metres '
printshop, which, until 12 October 1944, printed the
newspaper Eleftheri Ellada ( Free Greece ), leaflets, posters
and pamphlets . The two members of the resistance kept the
existence of the printshop secret for over 40 years — until
November 1984 — and when the State learned of its

existence, it promised to turn the site into a National
Resistance Museum . However, the Greek Ministry of
Culture has recently decided to rescind that decision and to
declassify the site on the ground that the Greek State does
not have the money to set up and maintain the museum . Will
the Commission assist the resistance organizations, the local
authority and the Greek State in general to protect this
monument to the fight against Nazism, which is perhaps the
only one of its kind ajiy where in Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3 1 70 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 41 )

Subject : Protection of the cultural heritage of Pikri,
Rethimnon

Pikri is one of the very few Greek villages with a notable
Byzantine and Venetian history . It is 18 kilometres from
Rethimnon . However, the merciless passage of time is
taking its toll on the history of the village as architecturally
important buildings that have stood for centuries start to
crumble into ruins . Large Venetian arches, the famous
historic sixteenth century gate, Vila Clodio, mansions, old
houses and squares will soon have suffered irreparable
damage if measures are not taken to protect them . Will the
Commission take action to protect the important cultural
heritage of Pikri ?

The Commission fully appreciates the interest of the Greek
people in the resistance printshop in Kallithea . However, the
Commission 's role with respect to the protection of the Answer given by Mr Pinheiro
cultural heritage is clearly defined, in particular in the on behalf of the Commission
conclusions of the Council and the Ministers responsible for (7 July 1993 )
cultural affairs on 12 November 1992 concerning the
guidelines for Community cultural action . Article 128 of the
Treaty on European Union ( in the process of ratification )
will be the basis for future Community action in the
field . In accordance with the conclusions adopted by the Council
on 12 November 1992, Community action in the cultural
field, including the conservation and protection of Europe 's
architectural heritage, must take into account the
Community action will be aimed at encouraging preponderant role of the Member States in this area and the
cooperation between the Member States, if necessary, subsidiarity of Community measures .
supporting and supplementing their action, bearing in mind
the Member States ' preponderant role in the cultural field
and the subsidiary nature of Community action . Moreover, the new Article 128 inserted in the EC Treaty by
the Maastricht Treaty, which is currently in the process of
being ratified, states that Community measures to conserve

Accordingly, the Commission is not in a position to deliver and protect the European cultural heritage must be aimed
an opinion on decisions by the competent authorities in primarily at encouraging cooperation between Member
Greece as to whether or not to list sites . States and, if necessary, supporting and supplementing their

action .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

Accordingly, the Commission is not in a position to deliver
an opinion on decisions by the competent authorities in
Greece as to whether or not to list sites .

It should also be borne in mind that budget Item B3-2000 at
present earmarked to finance Community measures for the
conservation and preservation of the cultural heritage does
not allow the Commission to contribute to the
establishment and / or the operating costs of museums in the
Member States .

Notwithstanding the cultural significance of the village of
Pikri in Rethimnon ( Crete ), the management and protection
of historic sites in the Member States is the sole

responsibility of the relevant national, regional or local
authorities . The Commission therefore has no power to
intervene in the matter .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3321 / 92

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3223 / 92

by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 42 ) ( 93 / C 297 / 43 )

Subject : Preparation of history textbooks

Subject : Equality implications of removing minimum wage

History is an essential subject in forming the attitudes of
young people towards other countries, cultures, races and
religions . Consequently, textbook stereotypes and
prejudices must be eliminated so that textbooks reflect and
identify all the peoples of Europe and so help to foster the
cultural identity of a Europe which is already a political and
economic entity .

Can the Council say what steps it intends to take to
recommend Member States to prepare objective and
impartial history textbooks and to ensure that such
textbooks are included in their educational syllabuses ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 july 1993 )

The Commission does not plan to use its right of initiative to
call on the Council of Ministers to introduce a European
entry card for museums and monuments in the Community,
for which the practical arrangements would have to be
determined .

However, the Treaty on European Union ( in the process of
ratification ) provides that Community action may
encourage cooperation between Member States and, if
necessary, support and supplement their action in such areas
as improvement of the knowledge and dissemination of the
culture and history of the European peoples and
conservation of the cultural heritage .

On the basis of a Commission communication on new

prospects for Community cultural action, the Ministers for
Cultural Affairs meeting within the Council requested the
Commission to prepare a discussion paper on the cultural
heritage ( both fixed and movable ). The general question of
the access of Community citizens to museums and
monuments in Europe will certainly be discussed at the
consultation meetings to be held in this context . The
Commission will then be able to make proposals based on a
consensus and on priorities established by those
concerned .

protection in the United Kingdom

Is the Commission aware that the United Kingdom
Government has placed proposals before Parliament to
abolish Wages Councils, which set legal minimum rates of
pay for people working in retail, catering, clothing,
hairdressing and other low-paid jobs ? Could the
Commission comment on the implication of this proposal in
respect of European equality legislation, given that women
represent three quarters of those protected by Wages
Councils and the pay gap between men and women is wider
in the United Kingdom than in any other Member State ?
What would the Commission 's response be were the UK

Government to decide to become the only Member State
without legally enforceable minimum wage protection ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the United Kingdom
government 's proposals to abolish Wages Councils . It is also
aware that Wages Councils set minimum rates of pay for 2,5
million low-paid workers of whom almost 80 % are women,
many working part-time or as homeworkers .

The Commission is concerned about the likely effects of the
proposal on pay equality . A recent Commission study has
highlighted the importance of general pay regularity systems
for the promotion of pay equality and pointed out that the
positive impact of the equal pay Directive on women 's pay is
likely to be diminished in Member States which are
characterized by an absence of regulatory systems
establishing minimum labour standards ( Rubery ( 1992 )).

It may be noted in general that although the abolition of the
Wages Councils would not in fact leave the United Kingdom
as the only country without legally enforceable minimum
wage protection, nevertheless the proportion of employees
in the UK covered by collective agreements fixing minimum

No C 297 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

levels of pay is at present lower than in other countries
which do not have statutory minimum wages .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3252 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

The Commission has not yet received the Foundation 's
annual report and accounts for 1992 .

The Foundation is located in Paris .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3271 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 93 / C 297 / 44 )
(6 January 1993 )

Subject : Subsidies to the European Foundation for
Freedom of Expression

Budget Item A-3031 provides for an appropriation for a
subsidy for the European Foundation for Freedom of
Expression .

How was this appropriation spent in 1991 and 1992 ? If
possible, please supply a summary of the activities
subsidized .

Where is the organization based ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

Of the ECU 200 000 provided in the 1991 budget, ECU
189 803 were paid to the Foundation .

This sum covered the running costs for 1 991 as well as the
organization of the following projects of the Foundation :

— Visit by Polish and Bulgarian mayors to meetings with

some of their counterparts to discuss the role of local
authorities in promoting democracy .

— Visit by the Union des Forces Democratiques to meetings

with members of national parliaments .

— East-West summer school for local authority
representatives and representations of associations from
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria,
Albania, Yugoslavia and the Baltic states,

— Technical studies on the operations of the press in

Bulgaria and Romania .

— Preparation of a number of projects, training courses,

conferences for 1992 .

( 93 / C 297 / 45

Subject : Technical school, Andikira

At the beginning of 1986, the ERDF decided to fund a
scheme to found a technical training school at Andikira,
Voiotia . The scheme had been proposed and promoted by
the trade union at the company Aluminio tis Ellados, which
provided financial assistance and donated the site for the
school free of charge . Work started in 1987 and it was
envisaged that the school would be able to train up to 400
young people to a high standard in industrial skills . An
important element of their training was to be the proximity
of Aluminio tis Ellados, the country 's largest industrial unit,
where they should have the opportunity of applying and
practising what they had learned . Despite the scheme 's
evident importance for the region and for the Greek
economy, it is not yet operational . The Greek authorities
have periodically raised various objections even though they
have intermittently made arrangements to enable the school
to operate as planned under a tripartite system of
supervision and management ( together with the company 's
management and union ).

1 . Is the Commission following the progress of the project
and can it state the reasons for the delay ?

2 . Has the Greek Government made its contribution as

planned, and if not, why not ?

3 . What action does the Commission propose to take to
ensure that the project is completed in the way originally
conceived and approved so that the region benefits and
the money already spent is not wasted ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 7 May 1 993 )

The follow-up of projects implemented in the context of
Community Support Frameworks relies principally on
Member States ' control mechanisms, while the Commission
carries out regular on-the-spot checks itself .

3 . 11 . 93

Official Journal r of the European Communities No C 297 / 23

The specific project mentioned by the Honourable Member
was financed before the implementation of the reform of the
Structural Funds in 1989 .

The information available to the Commission indicates that

the project which was grant-aided by the European
Regional Development funds ( i.e. the building of the
training school in question ) is in fact complete .

result will probably be catastrophic because archaeological
findings have already been unearthed at this location, such
as part of a geometrical burial ground of a Greek settlement
of Ancient Kromyona, clay statuettes, etc . Is the
Commission planning to express its concern so that the
necessary technical works can be undertaken in cooperation
with the Greek authorities so as to save the antiquities of
Kromyona ?

The problem mentioned by the Honourable Member
appears to relate to the arrangements for running the
training school . Those are a matter for the competent
authorities of the Member State . Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3336 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2S January 1993 )

The role of the Commission in the protection and
conservation of the European heritage is clearly defined in
the Council conclusions of 12 November 1992 on

' Guidelines for Community cultural action '.

( 93 / C 297 / 46 ) Its role which will be greater when the Treaty on

European Union is ratified and Article 128 thereof comes
into force — is to encourage cooperation between Member

Subject : Setting up of a criminal investigation department States and, if necessary, support and supplement any action

in Greece they may take . The primary role of Member States in this

area in thereby acknowledged, as is the subsidiary role of
A decision on the request of the Greek first instance and Community measures .
second instance judicial authorities for the immediate
establishment of a criminal investigation department has
been deferred indefinitely, while the related bill which had The Commission would therefore point out to the
previously been drafted and tabled in the Greek parliament : Honourable Member that it has no power to intervene in the
will be ' filed ' at the Ministry of Justice . Will the Commi ssion matter of technical works to protect the Kromyona
recommend that the Greek Government grant the Greek antiquities . This is the sole responsibility of the relevant
judicial authorities ' request ? Greek authorities, in this case the Ministry of Culture .

Subject : Setting up of a criminal investigation department

in Greece

The Commission would therefore point out to the
Honourable Member that it has no power to intervene in the
matter of technical works to protect the Kromyona
antiquities . This is the sole responsibility of the relevant
Greek authorities, in this case the Ministry of Culture .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1993 )

Since the internal organization of the judicial and police
authorities is entirely a matter lor the Member States it is not
the Commission 's place to make suggestions in this area .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3501 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 47 )

Subject : The Kromyona antiquities

If the Athens-Corinth motorway is widened at the 62nd
kilometre, as planned, and junctions are constructed the

                                                                            

WRITTEN QUESTION No 30 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 48 )

Subject : The European - schools

In view of the need to promote the European teaching in the
Community and having regard to the demand by the
European school in Luxembourg for the European schools
to be adequately subsidized, does the Commission intend to
support the European dimension of education which is
currently provided for more than 15 000 pupils, including
3 250 in Luxembourg, who are mainly the children of
Community officials or European children with various
social backgrounds ?

No C 297 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1993 )

Discovery of the European dimension is built into the
everyday life of education in the European schools .
European hours, social and cultural activities and sports are
organized from the very start of primary school, bringing
together all pupils of the same level regardless of nationality
and basic language . Having been taught modern languages
by a direct method, at secondary level pupils are then able to
take core subjects in their first foreign language . Each school
organizes annual events to spread awareness of life in the
Community .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

The proposal for a decision on an action plan for the
introduction of advanced television services in Europe seeks
to promote accelerated development of the market of
advanced satellite and cable television services in Europe .

by a direct method, at secondary level pupils are then able to The aim of the ' programming ' component is to help give the
take core subjects in their first foreign language . Each school new services access to European programmes of adequate
organizes annual events to spread awareness of life in the quality and to encourage the audiovisual programmes
Community . industry to prepare for the advent of HDTV by adapting to

the new production methods necessary for survival and
development .
The new Convention defining the Statute of the European
Schools, proposed by the Commission, to which the
Ministers of Education meeting within the Council agreed The Commission proposal seeks to achieve this aim by
on 27 November 1992, specifically includes the European stressing the concept of the supply of an advanced television
dimension in the School 's curricula as a fundamental service, including all stages of customer service, including
principle of their organization . either distribution by satellite or cable, the availability of

The Commission proposal seeks to achieve this aim by
stressing the concept of the supply of an advanced television
service, including all stages of customer service, including
either distribution by satellite or cable, the availability of
adequate programmes and the existence of enough receivers
on the market . With regard to programmes, the
Commission envisages special aid mechanisms suited to the
needs of all producers, whether broadcasters or independent
producers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 68 / 93

by Mr André Sainion ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 49 )

These mechanisms take account of the artistic, technical and
economic characteristics of various production media which
may be used, such as 35 mm film or high definition video
tapes . They are designed to cover only part of the extra
expenditure entailed, since the Commission believes that the
producers should contribute themselves to assuring that
their catalogues will have a long life .

The Council formally adopted the action plan on 22 July
Subject : Software for HDTV 1993 .

On 19 November last, the Council of Ministers decided in
principle on an action plan in which pride of place would be
reserved for the D2MAC standard . Whereas in April the
Commission has proposed spending ECU 850 million over
five years, it seems that we are heading towards a
compromise in the region of ECU 400 million, of which
around ECU 200 million will be allocated to software . WRITTEN QUESTION No 220 / 93

The share of the budget assigned to programme production
is inadequate for the purpose of enabling the D2MAC
standard and in the near future the HDMAC standard to

become genuinely established among the public . The main
difficulties lie in converting 16 mm fictional material and
dubbing sports programmes, the infrastructure for which
currently uses the 4 / 3 format . The additional costs involved
will not be fully covered by the Community aid
envisaged .

How does the Commission intend to find the necessary
additional funding to generate genuine synergy between
broadcasters and the audiovisual programme production
industry ?

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 50 )

Subject : Tagus International — important transfrontier

natural park project at risk

The Tagus International is considered by the Portuguese
National Parks, Nature Reserves and Conservation Service,
and other competent international bodies, as ' an area to be
added to the list of zones of special protection under
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 )'.

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 25

Quercus, the Portuguese ecology association, together with
other ecology associations in Spain, began a transfrontier
project to protect threatened species . The project was
considered as a priority pilot scheme, as well as an important
Community action in 1989, and raised Unesco 's interest,
with the possibility that the area might be categorized as a
biosphere reserve .

However, despite reluctance shown by the Minister of the
Environment, the Portuguese Government, through the
Ministry of Agriculture, granted the status of a hunting area
to areas included in the project, and the implementation of
those licences has resulted in non-compliance with the plan
presented at the time the licences were granted, aggravating
the risk, threatening the project and possibly rendering it
inviable . Other measures and actions have also been

identified which tend to counteract and undermine the

project .

Considering the seriousness of the environmental threat,
with regard to its transfrontier nature and given the support
the project has warranted, could / should the Commission
not support the efforts being made at national level, by at
least making inquiries concerning the situation and its
inconsistencies ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

The ' Tejo internacional 1 is considered to be an area of major
appeal for the protection of wild birds, but it has still not
been classified by Portugal as a special protection area in
accordance with Article 4.1 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the

protection of wild birds .

The ' Proteccao do Rio Tejo internacional ' project has been
under way since 1989 with joint Community financing
under CAE Regulation No 2242 / 87 on Community action
on the environment .

The Portuguese Quercus Association and the National
Parks Department are responsible for carrying out the
project . The Commission is kept informed of the situation
on the spot by maintaining regular contact with those
bodies . - So far the monitoring of the project has not
demonstrated any need for specific action by the
Commission .

However, the aims of this cross - frontier project " do not, as a
first priority, require a ban on shooting throughout the area
in question . Nevertheless the Community is currently
examining whether certain recently created syndicated
shooting areas are compatible with those aims and with
Community law .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 221 / 93

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 51 )

Subject : Panasqueira mines — restructuring with
Community funding and dismissals

Last Saturday, 16 January 1993, the trade union committee
of the Panasqueira mines in central Portugal was informed
by the Anglo-American Corporation, the licence holder of
these mines, that 400 workers were to be made
redundant .

This measure follows redundancies — with financial

compensation — of many workers after letters and
administrative pressure from the A-AC, which is still not
satisfied and wants to reduce the work-force to around a

hundred workers, on the way to what appears to be the
closure of the mines .

These measures seem incompatible with the fact that the
corporation recently received Esc 500 million from the
ERDF to restructure the mines ; furthermore, about 5 000
people living within the mine compound depend directly on
the mine for work and, according to trade union sources,
there would be ' chaos and drama ' should the mines close

without preventive measures being taken against the social

consequences .

My question to the Commission is whether assistance from
the ERDF was granted with these developments in mind ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The investments referred to by the Honourable Member
have been given a grant of 500 million escudos

( ECU 2 800 000 ) from the investment aid scheme SIBR

( Sistema de Incentivos a Base Regional ) cofinanced by the
Community ( 70% ) and Portugal ( 30% ). To date, 131,25
million escudos ( ECU 737 000 ) of the Community share of
the aid have been advanced to the enterprise .

In conformity with the principle of subsidiarity, the
management of SIBR lies with the competent Portuguese
authorities . They have informed the Commission that they
are examining the investments in question in order to form a
judgment on the capacity of the enterprise to meet the
conditions attached to the SIBR grant . They will inform the
Commission of the outcome of their examination .

No C 297 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 223 / 93 Honourable Member is referred to the reply to Written

Mr Alber PPE Question No 224 / 93 by Mrs Braun-Moser ( J ).

by Mr Siegbert Alber ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 52 )

Subject : Polish exports of iron and steel products to the

Community

Would the Commission publish statistics for the
following :

1 . the tonnage of iron and steel products exported by
Polish firms to the Community during 1989

2 . the percentage that this tonnage represented of total
imports by the Community of iron and steel products
during 1989

3 . the statistics for ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) above for 1991 and
1992

4 . the statistics for expected quota exports of iron and steel
products by Polish firms to the Community during

1993, and the estimated percentage that these exports
will represent of total Community imports of iron and
steel products during 1993 .

Does the Commission consider that quotas for Polish
exports of iron and steel products to the Community re flect
the shift away from the conditions existing during the
dictatorship to those of a government grappling with the
problems of introducing pluralism into all aspects of
national life and seeking integration with the
Community ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Statistical Office of the European Communities ( SOEC )
publishes regularly in printed form or on electronic support,
statistical data on trade with third countries . Moreover, the
European Parliament has access to data bases of the SOEC,
containing the most recent data available on trade with third
countries .

From these it will appear that the tonnage of iron and steel
imports from Poland represented 3,8 % of EC imports in

1989 and 6,2% in 1991 .

There is nd quantitative restriction on Polish steel imports .
The Commission monitors imports from Poland as well as
other Central and Eastern European countries very closely
and would take appropriate action in the case of a surge in
imports connected with abnormally low prices .

Since 1992, there are no Community quotas for Polish
exports of iron and steel products to the Community . The

(!) OJ No C 283, 20 . 10 . 1993, p. 44 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 257 / 93

by Mr Gerard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 53 )

Subject : Recognition of diplomas for access to a regulated

profession — free movement of workers .

A French national who had studied in a third country
obtained the qualification ' Doctor of dental surgery '.
Having asked him to do some written and oral
examinations, the Belgian authorities recognized his
original qualification as equivalent to the Belgian ' Licencie
en sciences dentaires ' (' bachelor of dental science '), which
allowed him to practise dentistry in Belgium . Both the
United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have also
recognized this qualification as equivalent to the
qualification required by law to practise dentistry in those
countries, but so far France has refused to do so .

1 . Is it true that under the Directives currently in force on
the recognition of diplomas in this specific area

( 78 / 686 / EEC (') and 78 / 687 / EEC ( 2 )) it is not possible
to compel the French authorities to allow this person to
practise his profession in his own country of origin ?

2 . If this is the case, does the Commission consider that the
non-effectiveness of the system for the recognition of
diplomas in this case authorizes France to prevent one of
its own nationals from effectively enjoying the right of
free movement of workers, guaranteed by the EEC
Treaty to all persons subject to Community law ?

3 . Is the Commission able and does it intend to take

measures to ensure that this type of situation — which is
to say the least absurd — does not reoccur ?

(>) OJ No L 233, 24 . 8 . 1978, p . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 233, 24 . 8 . 1978, p . 10 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

1 . The Commission confirms that, under the terms of the
' dentistry ' Directives 78 / 686 / EEC and 78 / 687 / EEC, which
apply to the case in point, the French authorities are not
obliged to recognize the diploma of the person concerned
nor, consequently, to authorize him to practise dentistry in

France .

3 . 11 . 93

N
Official journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 27

It follows from Article 1 ( 4 ) of Directive 78 / 687 / EEC that
Member States remain free to authorize, in accordance with
their own rules and in respect of their own territory, holders
of diplomas which have not been obtained in a Member
State to take up and pursue the activities of a dental
practitioner . The fact that a number of Member States have
recognized a third-country diploma in no way obliges other
Member States to do the same .

This is a consequence of the system of automatic recognition
of diplomas introduced by the Directives ; automatic
recognition is based on procedures ensuring mutual trust
between Member States ( each Member State awards a
diploma in respect of training given in its territory which it
guarantees as meeting the minimum training standards laid
down in Directive 78 / 687 / EEC ). Yet it follows from
Article 1 ( 4 ) referred to above that Member States have not
been — and are still not — prepared to trust one another in
the case of training received in a third country, the reason
being that the Member State granting recognition is not able
to verify such training to the same degree as that received in
its territory .

2 . The Commission does not regard Directives
78 / 686 / EEC and 78 / 687 / EEC as contrary to the principle of
freedom of movement guaranteed by the EEC Treaty .

3 . The Commission has pointed out to the Committee of
Senior Officials on Public Health ( J ) that the Directive in
question should be amended, as should other directives
specific to certain health professions, in particular to bring
them into line with Directives 89 / 48 / EEC and 92 / 5 1 / EEC ( 2 )
introducing general systems for the recognition of diplomas .
These two general Directives in fact provide for the
recognition, between Member States, of diplomas attesting
education and training which were not received mainly in
the Community, provided that the holders have three years '
professional experience certified by the Member State which
recognized the third-country diplomas . However, this
recognition is not automatic in the same way as that
provided for in the ' dentistry ' Directives, since the two
general Directives do not establish a minimum level of
coordination of education and training and, consequently,
allow the host Member State to require, subject to certain
conditions, further training to be undertaken in the event of
significant deficiencies .

The detailed discussions which have taken place within the
Committee have not resulted in a broad consensus that

would allow consideration to be given to presenting to the
Council a proposal bringing the specific Directives into line
with the general Directives as regards the recognition of
third-country diplomas .

(') Set up by Council Decision 75 / 365 / EECof 16 June 1975 ( OJNo

L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975 ), as amended by Council Decision
78 / 689 / EEC of 25 July 1978 ( OJ No L 233, 24 . 8 . 1978 ) in
respect of dental practitioners .

( 2 ) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 and OJ No L 209, 24 .. 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 277 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 February 1993 )

93 / C 297 / 54

Subject : Harmonization of Greek legislation with
Community Directive 79 / 409 / EEC

Bearing in mind the recent protest by the Greek Centre for
the Care of Wild Animals and Birds against the massacre by
hunters of hundreds of swans, will the Commission look
into whether Greek legislation is in line with Community
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( J ) and its stipulations regarding the
beginning and end of the hunting period ? Will the
Commission call for effective protection of the habitats
concerned and demand that hunters who kill wild animals
and birds in violation of the law are arrested and given heavy
penalties ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

The Commission is taking steps to ensure that Greece
implements the said Directive properly .

One aspect of the Directive concerns the opening and
closing dates for the hunting season .

Moreover, in virtue of the powers conferred on it by the EEC
Treaty, the Commission is taking every reasonable step to
ensure that biotopes are given effective protection .

The penalties imposed for violating the provisions of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC are entirely a matter for the Greek
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 304 / 93

by Mr Isidoro Sánchez García ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 55 )

Subject : Emigration to non-EEC countries

Does the Commission envisage any social action projects for
Community citizens ( essentially Spanish, Portuguese and
Italian citizens ) and their descendants who were forced in
the past, for various reasons, to emigrate to countries
outside the European Community, generally in Latin
America ?

No C 297 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 1993 )

There are at present no initiatives along the lines suggested
by the Honourable Member . This matter is regulated by
bilateral agreements between the Member States and third
countries concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 351 / 93

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 56 )

Subject : Critical water supply situation

At the conclusion of a meeting in Geneva to consider
measures to improve effectiveness of national and
international water supplies, experts from the World
Meteorological Organization ( WMO ) called for better
management of water resources .

According to WMO estimates, in the year 2000 only

1 083 000 m 3 of water will be available annually for each
inhabitant of the planet, compared with 2 903 000 m 3 in

1950 .

Seven Spanish provinces have been hit by serious droughts,
causing water cuts in Madrid and Seville . Spain is Europe 's
largest water consumer ( and the world 's third largest ).

In view of this :

1 . What steps has the Commission taken to deal with this

problem ?

2 . Will the Commission launch a European public
awareness campaign and promote a European water
management day ?

3 . Will the Commission encourage the introduction of an
international procedure for studying the water cycle,
taking account of imbalances between the use of ground
water for agricultural purposes and as drinking
water ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

The Commission is fully aware of the need to protect water
resources . Consequently, it organized together with the

Dutch Presidency in November 1 991, a Ministerial seminar
on groundwater protection to discuss the lines for a future
policy on water management .

In its resolution of 25 February 1992 on the future
Community groundwater policy ( 92 / C 59 / 02 ) the Council
invited the Commission to submit a detailed action

programme based on the final declaration of the Ministerial
seminar .

Furthermore, a number of collaborating research projects in
STEP and Epoch ( 1989 — 1 992 ) and in the fifth environment
research programme ( 1990 — 1994 ) deal with the
hydrological cycle, probable modifications due to climate
change and safeguarding of water resources from
pollution .

In addition the Commission has budgeted financial support,
for example in the Life-programme, to protect and conserve
areas of fresh ground water . This is regarded as a priority
area for action .

Due to the different diverse problems of water pollution and
water scarcity in the Member States different approaches for
awareness campaigns are necessary . The principle of
subsidiarity would indicate that actions on public awareness
campaigns should first be taken at regional and national
level . In principle the Commission will be ready to support
suitable actions .

In the working document concerning the fourth framework
programme of Community activities in the field of research
and development ( 1994 — 1998 ) the Commission addresses
the problem of water resources in the core theme
' Environment '. In particular it is proposed to support
international research on the development of generic
technologies to monitor, assess and manage water
resources . This reflects to a certain degree the outcome of
the study ' Research and technical development for the
supply and use of freshwater resources ', ( EUR 14725,
14726, 14727, 14728, 14729 EN ) which was carried out by
the Commission as part of the Monitor-SAST ( Strategic
Analysis in Science and Technology ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 393 / 93

by Mrs Maria Belo ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 57 )

Subject : Conservation of the architectural heritage —

Romanesque Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria do
Bouro — Portugal

Following a competition for pilot projects as part of a
scheme to support conservation of the community 's

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 29

architectural heritage, in 1 987 the Portuguese Government
received ECU 43 000 in two instalments for the restoration

and conservation of the Abbey of Santa Maria do Bouro .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 406 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to " the Commission of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )
To date, only PTE 972 000 plus VAT have been spent to
clean up the cloisters, in accordance with an agreement ( 93 / C 297 / 58 )
concluded in 1990 .

Can the Commission say :

1 . Why was it only in 1990 that this was done ?

2 . How was the rest of the aid used, given that the Abbey
remains as it was except for the cleaning of the cloisters,
of which there is no longer any trace ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

In 1987, as part of its measures to support the conservation
of Europe 's architectural heritage, the Commission, acting
on the recommendation of a panel of international experts,
made available to the Institute Portugues do Patrimonio
Cultural ECU 43 000 (a first payment of ECU 34 400 on
6 August 1987 on receipt of the signed contract ( Article 82 )
and a second payment of ECU 8 600 on receipt of a report
on the progress of work ) for the conservation of the
Convento de Santa Maria do Bouro, Amares, Braga .

The conservation project was prepared by the Institute and
was submitted to the Commission on 28 July 1986 ; it was
planned that work should continue until the end of

1992 .

According to the Institute 's report of 21 October 1987,
restoration work on the church began in 1986 .
Consolidation work on the monastery walls was to be
completed in 1987, and work was to begin on the roof,
flooring and window frames .

As regards financing, the report stated that ESC 14 157 000
had been disbursed at 21 October 1987 . Of this,
ESC 7 018 000 represented the Community subsidy .

In response to the questions raised by the Honourable
Member, the Commission would point out that the
Community contribution of ECU 43 000 concerns
conservation and restoration work on the monument in

general to be carried out in the context of a multiannual
programme under the supervision of the national authority
concerned, in this case the Instituto Portugues do
Patrimonio Cultural .

Subject : Privatization of export credit insurance agencies

What is the Commission doing to encourage Member States
to privatize their export credit insurance agencies, or is it the
case that this policy has been abandoned ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

It is not the Commission 's intention to encourage Member
States to privatize their export credit insurance agencies .
Whether these agencies are public or private raises in itself
no problem . There is a problem, however, when public
agencies can benefit from state aids ( guarantees, free
reinsurance, exemption from taxes, etc .) which private
agencies are not able to obtain and therefore suffer from
distorted competition . The Commission 's intention is to
eliminate the distortive effects of such aids with the aim of

creating market conditions under which private and public
export credit insurance agencies can compete with each
other on an equal footing .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 409 / 93

by Mr Gerardo Gaibisso ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 59 )

Subject : High-speed rail network in Italy — procedures

violating Community rules

On 31 December 1992, in great haste and almost in secret,
an invitation to tender was issued for the construction of the
high-speed rail network in Italy, with the glaringly obvious,
worrying aim of preventing competition and allocating the
work to particularly favoured firms .

In the Italian Senate, the leader of the MSI Group, Mr Romano Misserville, tabled an urgent question to the Italian

No C 297 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Prime Minister which included the statement that the tender

procedures had been invented in order to prevent
competition from European firms which were untainted by
the corruption now dominating the headlines .

The question also stated that the Environment Minister,
Carlo Ripa de Mearia, who had never been consulted, had
expressed his complete opposition to implementation of
such a project without any assessment of the environmental
impact .

Can the Commission state :

— Whether notice of the invitation to tender was

published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities ?

— What measures it intends to take to persuade the Italian

authorities to comply with Community rules on freedom
of competition and environmental protection ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission was informed that Ente Ferrovie dello

Stato had awarded to the company TAV a contract for the
construction and operation of a high-speed rail network in
Italy . According to the information in its possession, the
search for partners had been open when that company had
been set up, and there had been no discrimination on
grounds of nationality .

It would seem that, for its part, T AV has award contracts for
the construction of railway lines .

Environmental impact assessments must be carried out for
the railway line projects specified in Annex 1 to Directive

85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain

public and private projects on the environment (*) before
they can be authorized .

According to the information currently available to the
Commission, there has been no breach of Community law .
However, the Commission has made the necessary contracts
to assemble all the details of the abovementioned contracts .

Where appropriate, it will be certain to investigate the
matter under the procedure provided for in Article 169 of
the EEC Treaty .

If the Honourable Member considers that there has been a

breach of the procedure laid down in Directive 85 / 337 / EEC,
the Commission will look into any partic ulars notified to it
in this connection .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 412 / 93

by the following members : Mireille Elmalan

and Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )            

( 93 / C 297 / 60 )

Subject : Night work

Following the Court of Justice judgment of 25 July 1991 in
the Stoeckel case and despite the demands of trade unions
and the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament on
9 April 1992 and the withdrawal of ILO Convention No 89,
neither the Commission nor the Council has attempted to
fill the legal vacuum existing with regard to night work .

1 . Is the Commission aware that, as a result of the
withdrawal of Convention No 89 and the absence of

Community legislation on this subject, there is
increasing deregulation in this area, with many
employers forcing their employees to work at night ?

2 . What steps does the Commission intend to take to fill
the legal vacuum existing with regard to night work,
given that this situation constitutes a weakness in the
social legislation of many of the Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The denunciation of ILO Convention No 89 - by the six
Member States still bound by it — which does not take effect
until one year after it has been filed — does not create a legal
vacuum in Community legislation on night work .

In the first place, Convention No 89 does not govern night
work in general but simply prohibits night work for women .
The question of recourse to night work and the conditions
to be fulfilled are governed at the moment by the domestic
legislation of the Community Member States . In the light of
the ruling of the Court of Justice in the Stoeckel case, those
Member States which still maintain the principle of the
prohibition of night work for women in their domestic
legislation will have to amend it in the interests of
non-discrimination .

t 1 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 Secondly, several Member States have already announced
the imminent ratification of ILO Convention No 171 of

June 1990, which provides for the improvement of night
working conditions for workers of both sexes .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 31

With the general aim of improving working conditions, the

Commission proposed, in September 1990, a directive on
working time in order to establish minimum Community
provisions to protect the health and safety of workers . The
purpose of those provisions in this proposal for a directive
which govern night work is to ensure protection throughout
the Community for all employees working at night, whether
they are men or women .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 478 / 93

by Mr Michel Herve ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 61

Subject : Taking account of human and social sciences in

drawing up the Community framework research

programme

In view of the drawing up of the fourth framework research
programme and the widening of Community research
objectives under Article 130f of the Treaty on European
Union, what steps will the Commission take to ensure that
human and social sciences are fully integrated into future
Community research programmes ?

What steps will the Commission take in response to the
recommendations contained in the study drawn up by the
European Science Foundation for DG XII on social sciences
in the context of the F'uropean Community and the
conclusions of the memorandum by the DG XII Interservice
Group on Social Sciences and Technology ?

More particularly, does the Commission not consider it
necessary to propose — as suggested in the above studies —
the introduction of a specific programme of research in the
field of human and social sciences as part of the next
Community framework research programme ?

— the human capital and mobility programme has devoted

around 10% of its budget to social sciences ;

— the environment programme has a special
sub-programme, SEER, for socio-economic research ;

— research activities with the countries of central and

Eastern Europe have devoted around 10 % of the budget
to the social sciences ; and

— six concerted actions by COST have been supported in

the social sciences .

Furthermore, the FAST programme ( Forecast and
Assessment in Science and Technology ) has applied since its
start, in 1978, social science research for developing global
long term scenarios on science, technology and society .

For the future, the Commission intends to give the social and
economic sciences a higher profile . Preparatory actions were
taken with the formation in 1 990 of an internal group on the
' Interface on social sciences technology ' in order to discuss
the scope for new activities in this area and to provide some
possible guidelines for the fourth framework programme .
The report prepared by the European Science Foundation
was also a valuable contribution to these reflections .

The Commission working document concerning the fourth
framework programme ( ! ), suggested for the first time some
specific core research themes with an important social
scientific content in particular those dealing with the urban
environment and the phenomenon of social exclusion .
Social sciences and humanities also play a central role in
connection to the actions to improve the relationship
between the RTD system and society and to evaluate the
impact of science and technology on society ( technology
assessment ). As the Commission has already indicated to the
Parliament, the Commission 's recent discussions on future
Community RTD policy have concluded that work on such
topics could usefully be addressed as part of a
socio-economic research theme to complement work done
in these areas under other parts of the programmes . More
information on these ideas are contained in a further

Commission working document ( 2 ).

More generally, the Commission seeks to ensure that
socio-economic factors and needs, alongside those of the
market, are taken into account in the determination of
research priorities and in the assessment of the impact of
scientific and technological developments on the whole
on Answer behalf given of the by Commission Mr Ruberti fabric of the economy, industry and society .

(9 July 1993 )

(!) COM(92 ) 406 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 158 .

In recent years the social sciences have featured more and
more prominently in the Community 's activities of research
and technological development, for example :

No C 297 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 503 / 93

by Mr Reinhold Booklet ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 62

Subject : Fairer treatment under the Council Directive on

mountain and hill farming and farming in certain
less-favoured areas

In April 1975, the Council adopted Directive
75 / 26 8 / EEC (*) on mountain and hill farming and farming
in certain less-favoured areas in order to ensure the

continuation of farming in unfavourable locations, and
thereby counteract depopulation and weakening of rural
economies . The main instrument for this purpose is a
compensatory grant . Since the Directive is based on a
geographical definition of unfavourable locations ( for
example mountain and hill areas, less-favoured areas,
inaccessible areas, islands and small areas ) it discriminates
against all unfavourable locations outside the specified
areas . Even the extension of less-favoured areas in recent

years has failed to solve this problem . As a result, similar
cases receive different treatment from the Community
legislature or national authorities .

1 . What steps will the Commission take to end this unequal

treatment of farms facing similar disadvantages arising
from their location ?

2 . How does the Commission view the possibility of
treating farms which are situated in unfavourable
locations outside less-favoured areas as less-favoured

farms on an individual basis so that they are also eligible
for the compensation payment ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to submit to the Council
and the European Parliament a corresponding proposal
to amend the relevant directive ?

— the severity of the natural handicap ;

— the income of the farmer ;

— the size of the holding .

To answer the Honourable Member 's individual

questions :

— Any delimitation of areas for the purpose of granting aid

' will generally be regarded subjectively as unfair by some

of the parties concerned — especially those on the edges
of the areas . Absolute fairness in delimiting areas is,
despite the best efforts of the bodies concerned, scarcely
possible . It can be approached under certain
circumstances if delimitation is undertaken at holding
level . However, this would have to be done for all
holdings — for reasons of equal treatment — and not
merely for holdings outside the areas already
delimited .

— Delimitation at the holding level is not currently possible

because the wording of the Directive expressly requires
the delimitation of homogeneous areas .

                                    

— Moreover, delimitation at the holding level, as is

currently practised in Austria, would require the
classification and evaluation of the individual plots on
the holding . Most of the Member States do not possess
such detailed information, so a database would have to
be created first . This would require considerable
administrative work for which the necessary resources
are not available, at least not at present . Also, the results
of the surveys would certainly not be available in the
short term .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 516 / 93
(!) OJ No L 128, 19 . 5 . 1975, p. 1 .

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 63 )
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

To safeguard agriculture in the long term in the
Community 's naturally disadvantaged areas Member States
can grant compensatory allowances . To this end Council
Directive 75 / 268 / EEC defines homogeneous areas .

The aim of the grant is to compensate for the higher
production costs occasioned by the permanent natural
handicaps . Member States can vary the amount of the grand
according to the following criteria :

Subject : The closure of Kydep ( the Central Department for

the Management of Domestic Produce ) in
Greece

The Greek Government intends to wind up, close and sell off
the Kydep cooperative . The size and nature of Kydep has
meant that it has provided hundreds of thousands of farmers
in Greece with a guaranteed income and also employed
hundreds of staff . What are the Commission 's views on the

fate of Kydep and its staff and how does it feel, more
generally, that the problems which will result from its
closure should be tackled ?

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 33

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

The Commission would refer i the Honourable Member to

the answers it has already given to his Written Questions
Nos 3192 / 92 I 1 ), 3332 / 92 ( 2 ) and 3239 / 92 ( 3 ).

Kydep is a third tier cooperative made up, according to the
Commission 's information of cooperative unions which in
their turn group individual cooperatives .

If within the framework of a re-organization of the
agricultural cooperative movement in Greece power was to
be devolved away from Kydep to cooperative unions and
individual cooperatives this would not be regarded by the
Commission as involving a weakening of the undoubted
benefits of agricultural cooperation to Greek farmers .

Furthermore the guarantees to the revenues of Greek
farmers under the mechanisms of common agricultural
policy do not in any way depend on the continued existence
of Kydep .

The determination of property rights in the event of a
liquidation of Kydep is a matter for Greek national law . On
the other hand if Greece proposed to advance moneys in
order to facilitate the continued functioning of the
organization or its successors the Commission would need
to examine the matter under Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC

Treaty .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 June 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the situation of women in

Muslim countries .

Through their cooperation policy, the Community and its
Member States actively seek to promote human rights and
the full participation of all individuals and groups in society,
with special reference to the role of women .

The Commission gives priority to the role of women in its
cooperation projects and programmes and attaches
particular importance to initiatives by women from the
Muslim world .

One such initiative is the foundation of a training and
research centre for Arab women, to be cofinanced by the
Commission with the UN, Agfund ( the Arab Gulf
Programme for United Nations Development
Organizations ) and the IPPF ( International Planned
Parenthood Federation ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 538 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) OJ No C 207, 30 . 7 . 1993, p. 14 . ( 30 March 1993 )
( 2 ) OJ No C 195, 19 . 7 . 1993, p. 34 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993, p. 37 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 530 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 64 )

4

Subject : Community policy on coastal zones

On the initiative of the Dutch Presidency the Council
adopted a resolution on 25 February 1992 ( x ) on the future
Community policy concerning the European coastal zone .
When does the Commission intend to propose a strategy for
integrated coastal zone management which will provide a
framework for conservation and sustainable use ? Does it

intend to cover not only the geomorphological aspects of the
problem but also to take a global approach to all the features
of sensitive coastal areas ( geomorphology, geology, biology,
etc .)?

( 93 / C 297 / 65 )

Subject : The situation of women in the Islamic countries (!) OJ No C 59, 6 . 3 . 1992, p. 1 .

Every day the Muslim fundamentalist movement is gaining
ground in the Islamic countries, one of the results of which is
sex discrimination and the oppression of women . In view of
the Community 's priorities in developing relations with the
Islamic countries, does not the Commission consider that it
should conduct studies forthwith into Muslim movements

and the resulting situation of women in the Islamic
countries, with a view to changing Community policy
accordingly ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

In accordance with the Council resolution adopted on
25 February 1992, the Commission is preparing a

No C 297 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

communication on 'A Community strategy for integrated
management of coastal zones '.

The Commission opened a formal procedure and sent a
statement of objections to the participating shipping lines in
April 1993 .

The Commission will take into account the submissions and

the evidence submitted by carriers and users and will take
due regard of the Community shipping and trading interests
involved .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 558 / 93

by Mr Floras Wiisenbeek ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 2 97 / 66 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 569 / 93

Subject : Container line shipping in the major shipping

zones

Is the Commission aware of the latest Drewry report (*) on
the profitability of container line shipping in the major
shipping zones, which shows that without the
Trans - Atlantic Agreement carriers operating in the Atlantic
would be forced to abandon business oil a massive scale, in
view of intolerable losses ?

Does the Commission agree that even with the help of the
Trans - Atlantic Agreement and the Capacity Management
Programme such losses remain substantial ?

What measures does the EEC intend to take — possibly in
the form of further exemptions pursuant to Article 85 ( 3 ) of
the EEC Treaty, or even by making conference agreements
binding — to combat recurrent aggressive competition in
the major shipping zones in the Atlantic and on routes to the
Far East ?

by Mr John Bird ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 67 )

Subject : European firearms pass

Will the Commission inform me

1 . Which Member States have fully implemented Directive

91 / 477 / EEC (*) in respect of weapons ?

2 . Which Member States are operating correctly the

European firearms pass legislation ?

3 . What steps are being taken to ensure the full
implementation of Directive 91 / 477 / EEC ?

binding — to combat recurrent aggressive competition in 4 . How it envisages the European firearms pass
the major shipping zones in the Atlantic and on routes to the functioning with regard to safe and legitimate firearms
Far East ? throughout the EC, especially where a citizen wishes to

take a firearm from one Member State for use in

another ?
(*) ' Container Market Profitability to 1997 . Will stabilization

agreements save carriers from checkmate ?' December 1992,
Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd ., 1 1 Heron Quay, London
El 4 4JF .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the report cited by the
Honourable Member . It is being taken into consideration in
the assessment of the compatibility of the Trans - Atlantic
Agreement ( TAA ) with the Community 's rules .

This case originates in an application, filed in August 1992,
for exemption of TAA under Article 85 ( 3 ) of the EEC
Treaty and in various complaints lodged by transport users
and one port authority on the basis of Articles 85 and 86 of
the EEC Treaty .

In December 1992, the Commission received three
applications for interim measures from transport users, who
claimed the agreement was causing them serious and
irreparable harm .

(!) OJ No L 256, 13 . 9 . 1991, p. 51 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

t

To date, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy and the United
Kingdom have informed the Commission of the national
measures they have adopted to implement Directive
91 / 477 / EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of

weapons .

The Commission is examining whether these measures
ensure full and accurate transposition of the Directive .

The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings
against those Member States which did not notify their
national implementing measures by the stipulated deadline
(1 January 1993 ).

Work is in hand on the introduction of the European
firearms pass, for which a uniform layout was proposed in a
Commission recommendation of 25 February 1993 ( 1 ).

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 35

Some difficulties are being encountered because Member
States which have the legislation to issue the pass require
information on the law of the Member States visited by
hunters and marksmen . This information is necessary for
certain particulars to be entered into the relevant sections
when the pass is issued . The current difficulties affecting the
European firearms pass should gradually diminish as the
number of transpositions increases and the information
exchange network set up between the Member States is
developed .

Handled as provided for by the Directive, the European
firearms pass strikes a balance between the desire to simplify
procedures for legitimate users of firearms, i.e. hunters and
marksmen, and the need to prevent freedom of movement
from lowering security . Taking security, it should be
remembered that hunters and marksmen may only move
within the Community carrying the European firearms pass
if they are transporting the firearms indicated on the pass
and if they are able to prove why they are making the
journey, for example by producing an invitation .

Under Community law, therefore, marketing authorization
must be obtained for these products, after submission of a
dossier to the national drug control authorities .

The illicit distribution of unauthorized medicinal products
is in breach of the Community directives, and should
therefore be the subject of punitive action by the competent
authorities in the country concerned, in this case Greece .

(!) OJ No 22, 9 . 2 . 1965 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 601 / 93

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 April 1993 )
(!) OJ No L 93, 17 . 4 . 1993 .

( 93 / C 297 / 69 )

Subject : Spanish Government action plans for the Donana

Park

The media have recently reported that the Spanish
WRITTEN QUESTION No 580 / 93 Government has submitted a special action plan to the

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) Commission concerning the Donana National Park .

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 68 )

Subject : Substances on the market which are hazardous to

health

What is the general substance of this action plan, the
relevant Community budget entry, the deadline for
commencing and developing the plan, the total amount
involved and the percentage of Community co-funding ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1107 / 93

Certain substances on the market manufactured by
companies which claim they produce weight loss, rekindle by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )
sexual desire and even cure diseases, are surely a health risk . to the Commission of the European
As pointed out by the National Pharmaceutical ( 29 April 1993 )
Organization in Greece, many of these products are
unlicensed . What steps will the Commission take to end this ( 93 / C 297 / 70
practice ?

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 70

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

According to Article 1 of Directive 65 / 65 / EEC (*) any
product which claims to prevent or treat disease or which
contains substances with pharmacological properties liable
to present a health risk, is considered to be a medicinal
product .

Subject : Financing of the Parque Donana operational

plan

According to press reports, Commissioners Yannis
Paleokrassas and Bruce Millan, who are responsible for the
environment and regional policy respectively, have
confirmed the Commission 's undertaking to provide a
financial contribution to the Parque Donana action plan . A
Community contribution of 40 billion has been mentioned .
Given the confusion over statements, what budget heading
will this Commission contribution be charged to and will
the projected investment plan comply with the guidelines set
out in the report by the Committee of Experts ?

No C 297 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1274 / 93

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 71 )

Subject : Confused situation regarding possible EC
measures in the Donana National Park area

Statements by the Andalusian Government on the plan of
measures to be taken in the Donana National Park area,
described as ' imminent ', have been consistent ; the EC 's
share in the funding has been given as some Ptas 40 000
million . This openness on the part of the Andalusian
Government contrasts with the silence of the Commission,
or, to be more precise, with that of the office of the
Commissioner for Regional Policy . There are several
parliamentary questions on this subject still awaiting a
reply . The media have already denounced the ' lack of
transparency '.

the choice of financing sources, which could include the
Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund, the EAGGF
Guarantee Section and LIFE .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 603 / 93

by Mr Ben Fayot ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 72 )

Subject : Access by small and medium-sized undertakings to

public and private procurement contracts in
Belgium and France

In view of widespread public awareness of this problem, can Community SMUs wishing to work in Belgium and France
the Commission issue a general statement on the present are faced with numerous difficulties .
situation and reply without delay to the questions submitted
on the Donana National Park ?
In Belgium, a foreign company requesting a VAT number is
obliged to submit a copy of one or more orders from local
customers . However, orders can only be obtained if the
Joint answer to Written Questions company has a VAT number .
Nos 601 / 93, 1107 / 93 and 1274 / 93

given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 July 1993 )

The Spanish authorities have recently submitted to the
Commission the ' Sustainable development plan for the
Donana Park '.

The plan covers the period 1993 — 2000 and its cost is
estimated at Ptas 62 884 million . The Commission is being
asked to provide cofinancing totalling Ptas 47 163
million .

In addition, the withholding of a VAT number without an
order prevents a company from registering as a business and
applying for authorization to tender for Belgian public

procurement contracts .

In France, a foreign undertaking is unable to obtain the
necessary certification, which is reserved for French
undertakings although considered ' desirable ' by the French
authorities in their invitations to tender . As a result, the
competitive position of foreign companies is seriously
weakened .

Is the Commission aware of these discriminatory
In its general content, the plan covers practices ?

integral water management
What steps will it take to remedy matters ?
agriculture

environment r

tourism Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

equipment and road infrastructure ( 19 July 1993 )

promotion of economic activities

training and cultural heritage Where Belgium is concerned, the Commission has been

informed of the discriminatory practices pointed out by the

additional planning measures and management Honourable Member and has begun examining whether

they comply with Community law . Its examination will
The Commission has begun its appraisal of this plan . No focus on compliance with Articles 52 and 69 of the EEC
decision has yet been taken regarding the rate of financing or Treaty and with the Sixth VAT Directive .

training and cultural heritage

additional planning measures and management

3 . 11 . 93 Official journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 37

Where France is concerned, the Commission has not been
informed of the discriminatory practices described by the
Honourable Member .

There is no official list of approved contractors . The

Organisme Professionnel de Qualification et de
Classification du Batiment ( OPQCB ), which issues
certificates to firms which so desire, is a private-law
association founded in 1949 by the main trades in the
construction industry . The certificates in no way constitute
approval for contractors and, if the contracting authorities
sometimes request an OPQCB certificate in the contract
notices published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities, they are nevertheless obliged to accept any
other certificate of professional competence issued by an
equivalent body or any other proof of a contractor 's
technical capacity, as provided for in Articles 23 to 26 of
Directive 71 / 305 / EEC (') as amended by Directive
89 / 440 / EEC ( 2 ). Those provisions are contained in the
specimen contract notices adopted by the Decree of 12 June

1992, which applies to all contracting authorities .

Although not discriminatory in intent, the differences in
pre-qualification procedures between Member States can
cause particular difficulties for SMEs, especially where
works contracts are concerned . The Commission has issued

a mandate to the European Committee for Standardization

( CEN ) — approved by the Committee on Standards and
Technical Regulations of Directive 83 / 189 / EFC — for a
study determining the elements of European standards
setting out a framework for pre-qualification requirements .
Until the results of this study are available, it would be
premature to comment further .

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to

draw its attention to any specific behaviour by the
contracting authorities which, in the context of the two
questions raised here, might affect the competitiveness of
foreign firms .

( ! ) OJ No L 185, 16 . 8 . 1971 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 640 / 93

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 73 )

Subject : Employment of the disabled

1 . How many posts has the Commission filled with
disabled persons ?

2 . Is the number of disabled persons employed at the
Commission in each career bracket above or below the

average number in similar jobs in the individual Member
States, and by how much ?

3 . Is it true that the Commission has set up a separate
department for European initiatives in this area ? If so, what
achievement and developments have resulted ?

4 . What posts for disabled persons did the Commission
apply for and obtain in the 1993 budget and to what extent
have these posts been filled ?

5 . Does the Commission agree that a number of the
additional posts granted by the Council and European
Parliament should be earmarked for the disabled in

proportion to the original demands ? How could this be
guaranteed in administrative terms ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 June 1993 )

1 and 2 . The Commission does not compile statistics
concerning the disabled people it employs .

3 . It has however established a division to deal with all

aspects of the integration of disabled people in the
Community including the Community action programme to
assist disabled people — Helios I ( 1988 — 1991 ) and
Helios II ( 1993—1 996 ).

The results of Helios I were set out in a report presented by
the Commission to the European Parliament and the
Council on 6 July 1992 ( 1 ). This report describes, amongst
other things, specific action and policy initiatives in relation
to the employment of disabled people .

Helios II is the subject of a Council Decision of 25 February

1993 ( 93 / 136 / F"EC ) ( 2 ). The programme 's objectives include
the promotion of effective approaches and measures in
respect of economic integration . This objective will be
pursued through activities such as seminars, conferences
and exchange visits . Proposals for further action or policy
initiatives will be considered by the Commission and
Member States in the light of the results of these
activities .

4 and 5 . As the Honourable Member is aware, the
Commission proposed in its draft preliminary budget for
1993 that 25 posts should be allocated specifically for the
recruitment of disabled persons . To this end work started on
the production of guidelines to determine how these posts

♦

No C 297 / 38 . Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

should be filled . Although the allocation of posts did not
materialize, work continued and should result in a practical
policy in the first half of this year .

(!) SEC(92 ) 1206 final .

( 2 ) OJ No L 56, 9 . 3 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 658 / 93

by the following members : Virginio Bettini ( V )

and Tullio Regge ( S )

Scientific and technological research projects under the
Community R&D policy are selected after detailed
examination of their technical and scientific content . This is
done by committees of highly qualified experts who are able
to assess the environmental impact of the projects .
Environmental protection is one of the main selection
criteria .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 698 / 93

by Mr Arthur Newens ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities

1993 (7 April 1993 )

(6 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 74 ) ( 93 / C 297 / 75 )

Subject : Using a second sun to light up Siberia

Whereas at 5.20 GMT on the night of 4 to 5 February 1993
an experiment took place involving the refraction of
sunlight with a 20 m diameter mirror mounted on the
Russian space station ' Peace ',

whereas the resulting beam of light was seen in France,

Switzerland and Germany,

whereas the aim of the Russian scientists directing the
' Energy ' project is to demonstrate that there is a real
possibility of lighting up vast areas of the globe, and
particularly of Russia 's polar regions, simply by diverting
sunlight,

whereas no one has taken the trouble to study the
environmental effects on an ecological system which has
developed by adapting to sharp and prolonged switches
between day and night, thus fuelling the strong suspicion
that to light up an area of 6 000 sq km with a ' beacon ' 50
times more powerful than the moon would mean sub jecting
the ecosystem of the tundra to enormous stress,

can the Commission say whether, as part of the scientific
cooperation between the EEC and the CIS, Community
finance has been used for this project and whether it does
not intend to ensure that Community funds are not used for
research the scientific usefulness and practical results of
which are questionable ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Commission was not involved in funding the project to
which the Honourable Member refers .

Subject : Fissile material trade with Iraq

Is the Commission aware of any violation of the provisions
of Euratom by the UK Government, with regard to present
or past trade in fissile materials with Iraq, and does it
consider that it has a Treaty obligation to investigate the
possibility of such violation and take appropriate action
vis-a-vis the UK Government ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Commission is not aware of a violation by the United
Kingdom of the provisions of the Euratom Treaty arising
out of fissile material trade with Iraq . Had such a violation
been detected, the Commission would have taken the
appropriate action, as provided in the Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 700 / 93

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 76 )

Subject : Information centres for the population in rural

areas in Greece

The Community Carrefour programme provides for the
creation of information centres for the population of rural

areas .

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 39

What specific centres have been approved or will be
approved for Greece and on the basis of what criteria ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 2.8 July 1993 )

To date 21 rural carrefours have been set up as a pilot
initiative .

Three of them are in Greece :

— at the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives in Egion

— at the Asic Company in Ioannina

— at the Agricultural and Industrial Institute in
Thessaloniki .

In order to be able to operate as carrefours, the ' host
structures ' must have :

— considerable experience in providing assistance and

advice to the rural communities in their region ;

— a good knowledge of Community policies ;

— close links with other organizations which are active on

the rural front ;

— relations with national and regional authorities and with

rural development networks .

The Commission would be happy to provide the
Honourable Member with additional information, should
he so require .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 709 / 93

by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 77 )

Subject : Fraud in the manufacture of Community motor

vehicles

According to persistent accusations by certain people, some
Community motor vehicle manufacturers established in
various Member States are obtaining official type approval
regardless of the fact that they are producing vehicles in the
various national markets which, for a given model, contain
disparities with regard to the type of motor, age of

components etc . which vary according to the Member State
concerned . In this way the same model may be a different
vehicle, depending on whether it is purchased in Spain of
France, for example .

Does the Commission not think that this is a form of

consumer fraud ?

Is it possible to type-approve a given model in each Member
State, although its component parts are different ?

What information does the Commission have on practices
of this kind in the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

Prior to the entry into force of Community type-approval,
each Member State approved vehicles for registration within
its territory on the basis of its own national rules .

The result is that, although the national rules of most of the
Member States are very similar, technical differences do
exist between vehicles, even those of the same make and
model, depending on the Member State in which they are
marketed .

The fact that differences exist between vehicles depending
on the country of destination, and whether they are
marketed within or outside the Community, in no sense
constitutes consumer fraud, as the vehicles conform in each
case to the type approved by the legislation of the country
where they are marketed .

This situation, while it does not constitute fraud, does
however create a non-uniform market . For this reason the

Community adopted Directive 92 / 53 / EEC ( J ) amending
Directive 70 / 156 / EEC on the type-approval of motor
vehicles and their trailers, which entered into force on

1 January 1993 .

This Directive lays down the Community type-approval
procedure which is to be followed by manufacturers on a
voluntary basis until 31 December 1995, and thereafter on a
compulsory basis . It applies to passenger vehicles in
category Ml, and will later be extended to all other
vehicles .

The application of this Directive means that vehicles
marketed in all the Member States will meet the same

technical specifications laid down by the specific Directives,
which will be made binding .

No C 297 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11% 93

Obviously, there will continue to be differences in the
optional equipment fitted to vehicles, of the kind which exist
even now within each Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 736 / 93

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(') OJ No L 225, 10 . 8 . 1992 . ( 14 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 79

Subject : Redundancies at Jaguar Radford plant Coventry

WRITTEN QUESTION No 728 / 93

by Mr Jose Yalverde Lopez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 78 )

Subject : The 12 Member States have failed to implement

the Directive on active implantable medical
devices

Is the Commission aware of the chaotic situation of the 12

Member States with regard to a matter which is of such
importance for the health and safety of patients, namely the
general failure to implement the directive on active
implantable medical devices ( Directive 90 / 385 / EEC ( ] ))?

(') OJ No L 189, 20 . 7 . 1990, p. 17 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission is concerned at the delay in transposing
Council Directive 90 / 385 / EEC of 20 fune 1990 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
active implantable medical devices, a process which should
have been completed by 1 July 1992 at the latest .

By the end of March 1993, five Member States had
communicated their national implementing measures to the
Commission and in some of the other Member States the

procedure for transposing the Directive is at an advanced
stage . Proceedings under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty
initiated in 1992 are in progress in respec t of those Member
States which have not yet transposed the Directive .

In any event, it should be noted that the provisions of
national law protecting patients and users in this area will
continue to apply until the end of 1994 . However, any
manufacturer who has opted to apply the rules provided for
in the Directive during the abovementioned period is
entitled to market devices bearing the CE mark in the
Community ?

Is the European Commission aware that despite having
received an award for Q101 quality, 185 people are to be
made redundant at the Jaguar Radford plant Coventry ?

Is the European Commission aware how serious the
recession is in the West Midlands, particularly in the car
industry ?

What plans does the European Commission have to assist
the car industry in the West Midlands in 1994 ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The West Midlands region, where the Jaguar Coventry plant
is situated, comes under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds .
Accordingly, ESF funds amounting to ECU 33 million were
allocated to programmes there during the period 1990 — 91 .
For 1992 — 93, commitments from the ESF total ECU 36
million ( these sums are included in the overall figure of ECU
400 million allocated from all the Structural Funds since

1989 ).

However, owing to specific provisions of the UK 's economic
legislation, funds from the ESF may, in the West Midlands,
be allocated only to SMEs . Since Jaguar is not a SME, the

- company does not qualify for joint financing under

Objective 2 .

Under the current ESF legislation, long-term unemployed
persons, including those made redundant at Jaguar, may
benefit from ESF measures in the context of Objective 3 .
Moreover, the Commission decided on 24 March 1993 to
apply a derogation provided for in the ESF Regulation,
whereby any Member State may, in certain circumstances,
take measures under Objective 3, with assistance from the
Fund, to help persons who have been unemployed for less
than 12 months . The new ESF Regulation reinforces this
increased flexibility by referring to persons exposed to
long-term unemployment .

The new Objective 4, aimed at facilitating workers '
adaptation to industrial change, will come into effect in

1 994 . This Objective is designed to consolidate employment
and enhance job qualifications through measures entailing

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 41

anticipation, counselling, networking and training
throughout the Community .

Where a genuine need for training or occupational
retraining of workers is identified on the basis of criteria
common to several economic sectors, appropriate measures
tailored to future requirements, particularly with regard to
changes in production systems and work organization,
could be considered eligible for joint financing . The final
selection is up to the extended partnership involving the
regions, the Member State and the Commission .

conservation of wild birds ( 2 ), which is the only legal basis
for Community intervention for nature conservation
applicable at present .

Consequently, it is, at present, the responsibility of the
Greek authorities to take the necessary measures for the
wise use and protection of the biotope in question .

(') OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 750 / 93

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 739 / 93
( IS April 1993 )

by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 297 / 80 )

Subject : Protection of the Fokaia wetlands

Although the Fokaia wetlands in the Chalkidi are regarded
as among the most important in Europe under the Corine
programme, delays affecting official recognition and a
delimitation of the area are causing enormous problems,
placing certain rare protected species in immediate danger of
extinction because of hunting activities .

What view does the Commission take of this ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

The last update of the Corine biotope inventory includes the
community of Nea Fokaia, a coastal marshland which meets
the Corine scientific criteria of major importance for nature
conservation in the European Community .

Along with other information sources, the Corine biotopes
inventory is now used as a tool for the preparation of the
implementation of Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and

flora ( 1 ). This should help the Greek authorities to make a
decision about the suitable level and legal status to give to
this site .

Furthermore, Greece has not classified the zone under
consideration as a special protection area according to
Article 4 of the Directive 79 / 409 / EEC, concerning the

( 93 / C 297 / 81 )

Subject : Storage of waste in El Cabril ( Andalusia )

The El Cabril storage plant for radioactive and nuclear
waste is situated in the Sierra Albarrana, which is also the
loction of the Carbonell mine, one of the richest uranium
deposits in the world, according to the World Radioactivity
Congress held in Chicago, USA, in 1936 .

This means that the area is unsuitable for the location of a

waste storage plant, given the accumulative nature of the
radioactive emissions, which could have an unfavourable
effect on the local inhabitants, and the flora and fauna as a
result of alpha-ray emissions .

Despite this, the existing plant has been extended in order
for it to be used as a storage centre .

In reply to Written Question No 714 / 92 (*), the
Commission referred to the information provided by the
Spanish Government, pursuant to Article 37 of the EAEC
Treaty concerning possible unfavourable repercussions for
the inhabitants of other Member States .

What information does the Commission have on the

radioactive contamination of the Sierra Albarrana, in
particular the effect on the flora and fauna and all the people
living in the areas near the storage centre ?

Does the Commission consider the El Cabril location to be

appropriate in view of the proximity of the Carbonell
mine ?

Does the Commission believe that proper measures are
being taken in respect of the transport of waste to El
Cabril ?

Does it consider that visists by students and other members
of the public to El Cabril should be prohibited ?

(») OJ No C 16, 21 . 1 . 1993, p. 4 .

No C 297 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 3 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas Member State, and had good reason to believe that this was

on behalf of the Commission on grounds of ethnicity rather than nationality, would he or

(8 July 1993 ) she have any recourse to redress under Community law,

given the fact that most Member States have no legislation
specifically forbiding such discrimination ?
In its opinion on the ' El CabriP storage plan, given under
Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission only
considered the possible effects on neighbouring Member
States . Nevertheless, the data sent to the Commission by the
Member State under Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty do Answer given by Mr Flynn
not show any level of radioactivity in the area that could on behalf of the Commission
imply exceeding the dose limits laid down in Council (8 July 1993 )
Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom of 15 July 1980 on the basic
safety standards for the health protection of the general
public and workers against the dangers of ionizing
radiation 0 ). In the circumstances described by the Honourable Member,

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

According to the data available to the Commission, apart
from the radioactive waste storage facilit y there are no other
nuclear or radioactive installations in the zone giving rise to
discharges that may produce a cumulative effect with those
released by the installation at ' El CabriP .

The Commission has no information on the transport used .
However Spain, like all other Member States, applies the
IAEA transport rules, which give adequate protection to the
population and the environment .

Provided that appropriate radiation protection measures
are taken, the Commission has no objections to this kind of
visit, which may help to inform the general public about the
different activities involving ionizing radiation, and thus
create confidence among the population . Concerning visits
of students and civilian population the Commission draws
the attention of the Honourable Member to its

communication on the implementation of Council Directive

89 / 618 / Euratom of November 1989 on informing the
general public about health protection measures to be
applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological
emergency ( 2 ). In paragraph 6 of this Communication the
Commission states that ' the competent authorities in the
Member States should ... set out in detail how to inform the

local population, as a community — for example by . . .
arranging visits to installations . .

(!) OJ No L 246, 17 . 9 . 1980 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 103, 19 . 4 . 1991 .

In the circumstances described by the Honourable Member,
a coloured Community citizen is the target of
discrimination, being refused employment solely on racial
grounds in a Member State other than that of his or her
nationality .

In such a case, only national law can be applied, since the
Community 's powers in this field are extremely limited . The
coloured citizen exercising his or her right to freedom of
movement, who is thereby entitled to the same treatment as
national workers, will have to seek redress under national
legislation and, where appropriate, international law
applicable to the case in question, in the same way as
nationals of the host country . It is true that all the Member
States have not adopted specific national legislation, as
shown by the recent Commission study concerning legal
means to combat racism and xenophobia .

However, the Commission wishes to point out that the
Council, in its resolution 90 / C / 157-01 of 29 May 1990 (*),
calls on those countries which have not yet done so to draw
up laws ' aimed at preventing or curbing discrimination or
xenophobic acts '.

(!) OJ No C 157, 27 . 6 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 816 / 93

by Mr Peter Crampton ( « S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 April 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 806 / 93

Mr Thomas S ( 93 / C 297 / 83

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 April 1993 )
Subject : Fisheries : third country agreements
( 93 / C 297 / 82 )

Is the Commission currently negotiating or planning to

Subject : Racial discrimination in employment negotiate fishing agreements with any of the countries of the

former ' Communist bloc '? If so, could it list which countries
If a non-white citizen of a Member State was refused are involved and indicate the state of progress of these
employment ( for which they were well qualified ) in another negotiations ?

3 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297 / 43

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 July 1993 )

As the Commission explained during the ' Fisheries '
Sub-Committee meeting on 22 and 23 March 1993,
exploratory talks were held in February with the Russian
Federation in order to see if it was possible to conclude a
fisheries agreement .

In the light of these exploratory talks, the Commission
transmitted on 17 March 1993 a recommendation for a

Council Decision, authorizing the Commission to negotiate
a fisheries agreement with the Russian Federation . This
document is currently the subject of Council discussion .

The Community has on a number of occasions indicated an
interest in concluding a fisheries agreement with Poland .
The Polish authorities have however indicated that Poland is

not yet prepared to conclude such an agreement .

In 1992 the Community concluded fisheries agreements
with Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia .