Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

# **Official Journal**

## of the European Communities

### English edition Information and Notices

**ISSN 0378-6986**

## C 327

**Volume** **3 4**

**16** **December** **1991**

Notice N o Contents Page

**I** _Information_

**European Parliament**

_Written Questions with answer_

91/C 327/01 N o 117/90 by M r Gijs de Vries to the Commission

**Subject: Italian Government** **aid to** **Texas Instruments (Supplementary answer)** **1**

**91/C** **327/02** **N o** **2520/90** **by Mrs Ria** **Oomen-Ruijten** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Amendment** **of** **Dutch legislation** **on** **student grants** **—** **discriminatory treatment** **of**
**students (Supplementary answer)** **1**

**91/C** **327/03** **N o** **2682/90** **by Mr** **Dieter Rogalla** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Operations funded under European programmes** **2**

**91/C** **327/04** **N o 4/91 by Mr** **Bartho Pronk** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Accessibility** **of** **Commission buildings** **3**

**91/C** **327/05** **N o 28/91 by Mr** **Ernest Glinne** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Treatment** **of** **drug addiction** **by** **substite products** **3**

**91/C** **327/06** **N o** **129/91** **by Mr** **Bartho Pronk** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Late forwarding** **of** **Commission proposals** **to** **Parliament** **4**

**91/C** **327/07** **N o** **292/91** **by Mr** **Jose Barros Moura** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject:** **Use of** **asbestos** **4**

**91/C** **327/08** **N o** **554/91** **by Mr** **Diego** **de los** **Santos Lopez** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Protection** **of** **designations** **of** **origin** **5**

**91/C** **327/09** **N o** **616/91** **by Mr** **Jose Valverde Lopez** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: ECSC Guidance fraud prevention controls** **6**

**91/C** **327/10** **N o** **691/91** **by Mrs** **Christine Oddy** **to the** **Commission**

**Subject: Dyslexia** **6**

**1** **(Continued overleaf)**

Notice N o Contents (continued) p age

91 / C 327/11 N o 702/91 by M r Karl von Wogau to the Commission

**Subject: Data network** **7**

91/C 327/12 N o 731/91 by M r Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission

**Subject: Percentage** **of** **smokeless tobacco consumed** **in the** **European Community** **7**

91/C 327/13 N o 760/91 by M r Rolf Linkohr to the Commission

**Subject: Retrospective abolition** **of** **trading capital** **tax and net** **assets** **tax in the** **FRG's** **new**
**Lander** **8**

91/C 327/14 N o 975/91 by M r WilfriedTelkamper to the Commission

**Subject: Investigation** **of the** **effects** **of** **harmful substances** **in EC** **premises** **8**

91/C 327/15 N o 981/91 by M r Francesco Speroni to the Commission

**Subject: Discrimination** **in** **favour** **of** **residents** **of** **certain localities** **in** **Italy** **for the** **purposes** **of**
**recruitment** **9**

91/C 327/16 N o 1032/91 by Mrs Annemarie Goedmakers, M r John Iversen, M r Pol Marck and

M r Alain Lamassoure to the Commission

**Subject: Budgetary control** **of** **Commission activities** **9**

91/C 327/17 N o 1069/91 by M r Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission

**Subject: European high-speed train network** **—** **link with Portugal** **10**

91/C 327/18 N o 1139/91 by M r Stephen Hughes to the Commission

**Subject: AIDS** **11**

91/C 327/19 N o 1214/91 by M r James Fitzsimons to the Commission

**Subject: Harmonization** **of** **qualification** **for** **disability allowances** **11**

91/C 327/20 N o 1217/91 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

**Subject: Implementation** **of** **single market provisions** **12**

91/C 327/21 N o 1260/91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission

**Subject:** **Use of** **antioxidants especially** **in dog** **food** **13**

91 / C 327/22 N o 1271 /91 by M r Yves Verwaerde to the Commission

**Subject: Continuing professional training** **of** **European Community officials** **13**

91/C 327/23 N o 1680/91 by M r Yves Verwaerde to the Commission

**Subject: In-service vocational training** **for** **other servants** **of the** **Communities** **13**

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1271/91 and 1680/91 13

91/C 327/24 N o 1278/91 by Mrs Cristina Muscardini to the Commission

**Subject:** **Tax on** **credit cards** **in** **Italy** **14**

91/C 327/25 N o 1302/91 by M r Pol Marck to the Commission

**Subject:** **The** **principle** **of** **additionality** **in the** **Structural Funds** **14**

91/C 327/26 N o 1309/91 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

**Subject: Shipbuilding** **15**

**(Continued** **on** **page** **28)**

Notice N o Contents (continued) **Page**

91/C 327/27 N o 1561/91 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

**Subject: Possible reopening** **of** **shipyards** **in La** **Ciotat** **.**

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1309/91 and 1561/91

91/C 327/28 N o 1343/91 by M r Yves Verwaerde to the Commission

**Subject: Cooperation with** **the** **State** **of** **Israel**

91/C 327/29 ' N o 1426/91 by M r Franfois Musso to the Commission

**Subject:** **The** **Medspa programme**

91/C 327/30 N o 1427/91 by M r Francois Musso to the Commission

**Subject:** **The** **Envireg programme**

91/C 327/31 N o 1431/91 by M r Virginio Bettini and M r Mario Melis to the Commission

**Subject: Environmental protection** **of the** **western coast** **of** **Sardinia**

91/C 327/32 N o 1435/91 by M r Freddy Blak to the Commission

**Subject:** **The** **relocation** **to** **other countries** **of** **companies causing pollution** **. . .**

91/C 327/33 N o 1445/91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

**Subject: Community postal system**

91/C 327/34 N o 1471/91 by M r Diego de los Santos Lopez to the Commission

**Subject: Support** **for the** **olive** **oil** **sector**

91/C 327/35 N o 1490/91 by M r Heinz Kohler to the Commission

**Subject: Training** **of** **ambulance staff**

91/C 327/36 N o 1528/91 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

**Subject: IAEA study** **on the** **Chernobyl disaster**

91/C327/37 N o 1575/91 by M r George Patterson to the Commission

**Subject: Lotteries** **in** **Europe**

91/C 327/38 N o 1608/91 by M r Elio Di Rupo to the Commission

**Subject: Conference** **on** **Security** **and** **Cooperation** **in** **Europe**

91/C 327/39 N o 1622/9-1 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission

**Subject: Funding** **for** **roadbuilding**

91/C 327/40 N o 1624/91 by Mrs Mechtild Rothe to the Commission

**Subject: Financing** **of** **trainee exchanges**

91/C 327/41 N o 1629/91 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission

**Subject: Pensions** **for** **migrants**

91/C 327/42 N o 1668/91 by M r Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission

**Subject: Failure** **on the** **part** **of** **Andorra** **to** **abide** **by** **professional ethical standards** **in the**

**dispensing** **of** **drugs**

91/C 327/43 N o 1675/91 by M r Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

**Subject: Threat** **to the** **environment from** **the** **Eyguieres rubbish** **tip .**

91/C 327/44 N o 1718/91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission

**Subject: Biotechnology research arid development**

15

16

16

16

17

17

18

18

18

19

19

**20**

**20**

**22**

**22**

**22**

23

23

24

Notice N o Contents (continued) **Page**

91/C 327/45 N o 1736/91 by M r Jacques Vernier to the Commission

**Subject: Tax-free sales** **of** **tobacco** **and** **alcohol** **and** **public health** **2 4**

91/C **327/46** N o 1859/91 by M r Lyndon Harrison to the Commission

**Subject: Health care** **in** **Member States** **2 5**

91/C 327/47 No'1880/91 by M r Elio Di Rupo to the Commission

**-S<ibject: Moratorium between** **the** **Commission** **and the** **UEFA** **2 5**

91/C 327/48 N o 1958/91 by M r Mark Killilea to the Commission

**Subject: Definition** **o f** **social** **and** **cultural goods** **and** **services** **2 6**

91/C 327/49 N o 2017/91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission

**Subject: Waste water purification** **in** **Belgium** **2 6**

91/C 327/50 N o 2236/91 by M r Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

**Subject: Measures** **to** **stop** **the** **transfer** **of** **more than** **130 000** **Greek civil servants** **o n** **party**

**political grounds** **2 6**

91/C 327/51 N o 2592/91 by M r Marco Taradash, Mrs Heinke Salisch, M r Rinaldo Bontempi,

Mrs Mathilde van den Brink, Mrs Claudia Roth, M r Leon Schwartzenberg,
M r Marco Pannella and M r Lode Van Outrive to the Council

**Subject: Europol European Central Police Force** **2 7**

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/1

##### I

_(Information)_

#### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS W I T H ANSWER

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **117/90**

**by Mr** **Gijs** **de** **Vries** **(LDR)**

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

_(8_ _February_ _1990)_

(91/C 327/01)

_Subject:_ Italian Government aid to Texas Instruments

T h e American electronics company Texas Instruments
has announced that it is to invest US$ 1,2 billion in Italy
in the next four years. The company says that 'a
significant portion of the investment would consist of
incentives from the Italian Government' ( [1] ).

1. H o w much financial assistance has the Italian

Government promised Texas Instruments?

2. Is the amount and nature of the assistance compatible
with the rules on competition set out in.the Treaty?

**(')** **Louise Kehoe: 'Texas Instruments plans** **$ 1,2** **billion Italian**

**expansion',** _**Financial Times**_ **of 8** **November** **1989.**

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

_(11_ _September_ _1991)_

Further to its answer of 1 March 1990 ('), the

Commission can now inform the Honourable Member of

the result of its investigations.

T h e Commission has meanwhile received information

from the Italian Government with respect to State aid
in favour of Texas Instruments. According to this
information the company will benefit from grants and
subsidized loans from regional aid schemes — established
by the Italian laws 218/78 and 64/86 and approved by the
Commission — to carry out investment program of Lit
1 686 billion.

Initially the Italian authorities had proposed grants of Lit
689 billion and subsidized loans of Lit 461 billion. T h e

volume of the grants exceeded the maximum permitted by
Lit 28,6 billion. O n the request of the Commission and in
order to comply with the Commission's decision with
respect to laws 218/78 and 64/86 the Italian authorities
have now reduced the amount of grants proposed by this

volume.

The Commission is now satisfied that the modified aid

proposal fulfils the conditions of application of the aid
schemes as approved.

**(')** **O J N o C** **197, 6.** **8.1990.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** 2520/90

**by Mrs Ria** **Oomen-Ruijten** **(PPE)**

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

_(16_ _November_ _1990)_

(91/C 327/02)

_Subject:_ Amendment of Dutch legislation on student
grants — discriminatory treatment of students

1. Is the Commission aware of the amendment to

Netherlands legislation on student grants under which the
basic grant for Dutch students studying abroad is reduced
by the amount of a public transport pass which is invalid
abroad?

2. Does the Commission agree that this might amount
to discriminatory treatment?

3. Does this measure run counter to Community policy

as embodied laid down in the Erasmus initiatives to

promote the mobility of students?

4. What measures could the Commission take to

promote equal treatment for students from the

Netherlands?

N o C 327/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

**Supplementary answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(11**_ _**September**_ _**1991)**_

Further to its answer of 12 December 1990 ('), the
Commission has examined Dutch Law N o 298 of 9 May
1990 amending the Law on the financing of studies in the
Netherlands (WSF-Wet op de studiefinanciering) and, in
particular, the provisions concerning the introduction of a
'public transport' pass for students, valid in the
Netherlands.

The rights of students pursuing their studies abroad differ
according to whether they are:

— students who have chosen to study abroad or are
doing so as part of a national scheme or as a result of a
bilateral agreement between two universities; or

— students taking part in inter-university cooperation
programmes, developed by higher education
institutions as part of the Erasmus or Lingua

programmes.

In its judgment of 21 June 1988 (Case 197/86 _Brown_ _v._
_The_ _Secretary_ _of_ _State_ _for_ _Scotland)_ the Court of Justice
ruled that in the present state of Community law, the
awarding of maintenance grants by Member States to the
first category of students was beyond the scope of the
Treaty of Rome and that the Community therefore had
no powers in this field.

With regard to the second category of students, the
Council decisions adopting the Erasmus and Lingua
programmes state that, 'any grants or loans available to
students in their own country will continue to be paid in
full during their period of study at the host university for
which they are receiving an Erasmus grant'.

Dutch students taking part in the Erasmus and Lingua II
programmes will continue to receive both the financing of
studies and also a Community allowance (Erasmus or
Lingua II grant) to cover the additional costs involved in
studying abroad (travel costs, higher cost of living in the
host country, language training).

Given that the Dutch legislation states that providing
public transport passes for students does not amount to a
cash benefit and that travel costs are, in principle, covered
by the Community allowances available to students taking
part in the programmes, the Commission is of the opinion
that the new law does not restrict the mobility of the
Dutch students.

The Commission has no powers regarding the question of
equal treatment for Dutch students in terms of the
financial benefits they receive.

(') OJNoC 35,11.2.1991.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **2682/90**

**by Mr** **Dieter Rogalla** **(S)**

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

_**(4**_ _**December**_ _**1990)**_

(91/C 327/03)

_**Subject:**_ Operations funded under European programmes

1. Can the Commission draw up a table showing how
many individual beneficiaries (legal and natural persons)
in each Member State have applied for and been awarded
assistance tinder the appropriate procedures?

2. How do the beneficiaries referred to in point 1 break
down in terms of individual Member States and regions?

3. What conclusions can the Commission draw from

these figures or from the use made of the relevant
Community programmes and funding as regards
structural changes in the Member States concerned?

4. Have the parties involved or unsuccessful applicants
made complaints or criticisms? If so, what were the main
points of contention?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Delors**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(6**_ _**August**_ _**1991)**_

1, 2 and 3. The Honourable Member's question is so
very wide-ranging that a detailed and exhaustive reply to
each point would require laborious research, which the
Cojmmission is not at present able to carry out, and a
means of bringing together all the information, which it
does not yet have at its disposal. The scope of the question
extends to several thousand projects, programmes and
subprogrammes. Moreover, the question does not specify
any date to narrow its focus.

Nevertheless the Commission is aware of the need for a

computerized system able to provide an overview of
financial and other data relating to structural assistance. A
feasibility study has been launched for this purpose, and
internal consultation is already under way.

The Honourable Member may find partial answers to his
question in the report on the implementation of the
structural Funds and in various documents on other topics
which the Commission is sending direct to him and to
Parliament's Secretariat.

4. The Commission is aware that there are certain

delays in payments. On present evidence, difficulties of
this kind would seem to be due to the relative recency of
the reform of the structural Funds and should disappear
in time; payments should therefore be made according to
the established system and should correspond to actual
expenditure on the programmes.

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/3

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o 4/91**

**by Mr** **Bartho Pronk** **(PPE)**

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

_**(1**_ _**February**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/04)

_**Subject:**_ Accessibility of Commission buildings

1. Is the Commission aware of the text of the European
Handbook for an Accessible Urban Environment which

has been co-produced by its D G V?

2. Does it agree that the standards on accessibility set
out in the handbook should apply in its own buildings?

3. Is it aware that the toilets for the disabled in the

Borschette Centre do not comply with the handbook's
standards and that access to them is so poor that
wheelchair-users are unable to use them?

4. Does it agree that it is all the more urgent to improve
this situation now that the Consumers Consultation

Council (CCC) meets in the Centre Borschette and that a
member of the C C C is prevented from attending its
meetings because of the inaccessibility of all the toilets.for
the disabled in the Centre?

5. If so, is it prepared t o take appropriate measures as
promptly as possible to improve the toilets for the
disabled in the Centre Borschette (in accordance with
page 90 of the European Handbook)?

6. Is it prepared to ensure that within six months a
toilet complying with the handbook's standards has been
provided in each of the buildings for which it is
responsible?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Cardoso** **e** **Cunha**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(24**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

1 and 2. Yes.

3 to 6. For many years the Commission has been trying
to adapt its premises to the needs of disabled persons,
where this is necessary and possible, in full compliance
with the standards in force. Generally speaking, it has to
restrict itself to standard solutions, but it adapts them to
meet special requirements where these have been brought
to its attention. It will take action along these lines in the
case to which the Honourable Member refers.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o 28/91**

**by Mr** **Ernest Glinne** **(S)**

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

_**(1**_ _**February**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/05)

_**Subject:**_ Treatment of drug addiction by substite products

The appeals board of the Belgium medical organization
upheld on appeal a six months' suspension of the
right to practise imposed on Doctor P. Dupret,
.a neUropsychiatrist, _ by the 'Conseil du Brabant
d'expression fran^aise'. D r Dupret was not accused of
causing any harm to any patients.

T h e judicial authorities have not seen fit to start any legal
procteedings against him as his professional activities have
not been found wanting. H e has in fact been punished for
refusing to comply with instructions issued by the medical
organization banning doctors practising on their own

- (whatever their qualification) from treating drug addict
patients o r prescribing substite products, in particular oral
methadone. The medical organization considers that oral

methadone treatment constitutes 'medical trials which

could be described as experimental'. It may therefore be
prescribed only to the few hundred drug addicts covered
by an experimental protocol and refused to thousands of

others.

While methadone treatment is far from being a panacea
and is a subject of great controversy, does not the
Commission feel that:

1. Medical trials which began in 1963 in the USA and
have been reported in hundreds of scientific articles in
all the western countries cannot be described as

experimental?

2. This instruction by the organization does not take
into account the distress of drug addicts and the
doctors' own responsibilities towards their patients?

3. The Belgian medical organization has exceeded its
role and imposed a ban on the basis of a subjective
prejudice against a particular course of treatment?

Can the Commission also state what have been the

recommendations of the European Committee on the
fight against drugs (Celad) on ways of treating drug
addicts on the basis of substitute products and in
particular oral methadone? Does that committee regard
this treatment as experimental?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(30**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

As indicated by the Honourable Member, Methadone
treatment is not a panacea and is still the subject of

N o C 327/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. .12. 91

controversy. The Commission is aware that there are
ongoing evaluations of its use, but is not in a position at
the present time to make a judgement on this issue.

Concerning the specific questions raised by the
Honourable Member, respectively on the Belgian circular
and on the role of the Belgian Ordre des Medecins, these
are matters for the Member State concerned.

N o specific statement has been made on these questions
by Celad. However, the Council and the Ministers for
Health of the Member States meeting within the Council
of 16 May 1989 adopted conclusions regarding the
prevention of AIDS amongst intravenous drug users,
including both the subject of dependency treatment
programmes, and the use of substitutes. As a follow up, on
13 December 1990 the Commission presented a proposal
for a decision of the Health Council on a 'Europe against
AIDS' programme of action, which includes the issue of
AIDS among intravenous drug users.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **129/91**

**by Mr** **Bartho Pronk** **(PPE)**

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

_**(11**_ _**February**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/06)

_**Subject:**_ Late forwarding of Commission proposals to
Parliament

1. Is the Commission aware that it often fails to inform

Parliament of its proposals in good time ('), which
adversely affects the quality of Parliament's opinion or
results in Parliament being accused of taking too long to
consider proposals?

2. In 1990, what was the time-lag between the drawing
up of Commission proposals and their submission to
Parliament?

3. What was the time-lag between the drawing up of
Commission proposals and the forwarding of such
proposals to the Council and the press?

4. Are there any internal guidelines on the time-lag
between the finalization of a Commission proposal and its
notification to Parliament?

5. If so, what is the nature of these guidelines, and
to what extent is the administration, including the
translation service, bound by them, in order to ensure
that Parliament is informed promptly of Commission
proposals?

6. If not, will the Commission draw up such guidelines,
to ensure that Parliament is always informed promptly of
Commission proposals, and not after the press and the
Council?

**(') In a** **number** **of** **cases** **the** **time-lag** **has** **exceeded** **two** **months.**

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Bangemann**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(23**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

As soon as the Commission adopts a proposal, its
departments finalize the relevant legal instruments. This
process involves the drafting of versions in nine languages
and examination by legal/linguistic experts. The time
taken for this finalization phase depends mainly on the
complexity of the matter involved. It generally takes
several working days; in particularly complex- cases, it
may take much longer.

The proposals finalized in the nine official languages are
immediately and simultaneously sent to the Council,
Parliament, and the Economic and Social Committee
where appropriate.

Informal procedures have been introduced for documents
which have not yet been finalized to Parliament to .be sent
personally by Members of the Commission to the
Chairmen of the Parliamentary Committees concerned.

However, the Commission is aware that this process may
slow things down. It has accordingly proposed to
Parliament a procedure whereby all documents intended
for the Council and Parliament adopted by the
Commission would be sent in their provisional version
within the 48 hours following their adoption.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **292/91**

**by Mr** **Jose Barros Moura** **(CG)**

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

_**(14**_ _**March**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/07)

_**Subject:**_ Use of asbestos

Can the Commission say whether the interests of the
Portuguese asbestos-cement industry have been taken
into account in the revision of Directive 83/477/EEC (')?
Since it uses asbestos, this sector, which employs no less
than 5 000 people, was obliged only recently to make
major changes to bring it into line with Directive
83/477/EEC incorporated into Portuguese law by
Decree-Law N o 284/89 of 24 August and had much less
time than its rivals in the other Member States to adapt to
the system which is now to be altered.

**(') OJ N o L 263, 24.9. 1983, p. 25.**

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/5

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(25**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

When Directive 83/477/EEC came up for revision,
the Commission began by consulting the Advisory
Committee on the Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection
at Work, which represents the various interests involved.
Proposals were then made on levels of action, limit values
for exposure at the workplace and the time to be allowed
for implementing the Directive; it was specifically
proposed that the possibility of using asbestos-cement in
the construction industry be preserved.

When the proposal was discussed by the Economic and
Social Committee, Parliament and the Council, no
specific provisions for the Portuguese asbestos-cement
industry were adopted.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **554/91**

**by Mr** **Diego** **de los** **Santos Lopez** **(ARC)**

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

_**(26**_ _**March**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/08)

_**Subject:**_ Protection of designations of origin

In 1995, pursuant to Article 129 of the Act of Accession of
Spain and Portugal to the Communities, the Council is to
review the provision that currently allows the terms
'British Sherry', 'Irish Sherry' and 'Cyprus Sherry' to
be used within the United Kingdom and Ireland until
31 December 1995.

The Commission has submitted to the Council a proposal
for a Regulation on the protection of geographical
ascriptions and designations of origin in respect of
agricultural products and foodstuffs, due to enter into
force in January 1992.

Without prejudice to current Community provisions on

wine:

Does the Commission believe it is possible to retain
descriptions such as those above beyond 1995, contrary to
the provisions of Community legislation on geographical
ascriptions and designations of origin?

Does the Commission intend to propose measures to
eliminate this flagrant violation of Community law?

**Answer given** **by Mr Mac** **Sharry**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(5**_ _**September**_ _**1991)**_

T h e Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that the Community has always been aware of the

question of quality wines. The first specific rules were set
out in Regulation (EEC) N o 817/70 ( [1] ) laying down
special provisions relating to quality wines produced in
specified regions (quality wines psr). Article 2(1) of the
Regulation defines the term 'specified region' and
Article 13(1) lays down that each Member State is to be
responsible for the control and protection of the quality
wines psr marketed in accordance with the said
Regulation.

The Regulation has frequently been amended and
consolidated in a progression towards improved
definition and protection of quality wines. Currently, the
legislation applicable is contained in Regulation (EEC)
N o 823/87 ( [2] ), as amended by Regulation (EEC)
N o 2043/89 ( [3] ), which lays down (Article 15(3)) the
principle that the specified region, which is determinant in
respect of the particular quality characteristics of the wine
(Article 3(1)), must be designated by its geographical
name, that only wines produced from grapes harvested
and processed in the specified region may use the name o f
that region (Article 6(1)), and that the terms of the
designation of origin Jerez, Xeres o r Sherry are
traditional specific terms which may only be used for
quality wines coming from that specified region
(Article 15(1) and (2)).

Hence, in accordance with the Community legislation in
force, only quality wines coming from the regions
specified Jerez — Xeres — Sherry may use those names,
Article 129 of the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal
constituting a temporal and geographical derogation
from the general rule.

According to Article 16(1) of Regulation (EEC)
N o 823/87 each Member State has to control and protect
quality wines psr which are commercialized under this
Regulation; moreover, the protection of designations of
origin is an international obligation incumbent upon the
majority of the Member States (all except Ireland) in their
capacity as members of the International Vine and Wine
Office (OIV) (i.e. O I V Resolution N o 7, Rome, 1987).

At the same time, the Community seeks bilaterally and
multilaterally to ensure the protection of designations of
origin and geographical ascriptions, whence the 1981
agreement with Austria, renewed in 1988, and other
agreements in preparation with other non-member
countries, together with the proposals which it is
defending within GATT.

With regard to the Commission's proposal of 21 January
1991 (") for a Council Regulation on the protection of
geographical ascriptions and designations of origin for
agricultural products and foodstuffs, to which the
Honourable Member refers, what is proposed is to extend
a policy similar to that adopted hitherto in respect of wine
to other agricultural and food products, improving the
level of protection afforded. In making this proposal, the
Commission has taken account of the Community
position, in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations
within GATT, on intellectual property rights, including
the question of geographical ascriptions.

N o C 327/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

Although the Commission is unable currently to
anticipate the Council's decision on the use of the
compound terms 'British Sherry', 'Irish Sherry' and
'Cyprus Sherry' as from January 1996, when the time
comes the Commission proposal will be in line with the
provision of Community law referred to above.

```
 (') OJ N o L 99, 5. 5.1970.

 O OJ N o L 84, 27. 3. 1987.

 O OJ N o L 202, 14.7. 1989.
 ( [4] ) OJ N o C 30,6.2. 1991.

```

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **616/91**

**by Mr** **Jos6 Valverde L6pez** **(PPE)**

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

_(15_ _April_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/09)

_Subject:_ ECSC Guidance fraud prevention controls

What standard controls are used by the Commission to
ensure that programmed investment has in fact been
carried out and to guarantee that the requisite quality and
safety standards have been complied with?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Delors**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(2_ _August_ _1991)_

Investment projects and programmes cofinanced by loans
granted under Articles 54 and 56(2) of the. Treaty
establishing the European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC) and the interest subsidies allocated annually in
the ECSC operating budget are subject to controls
provided for by rules published in the _Official Journal_ _of_
_the_ _European Communities_ and in the loan agreements.

The aim of these controls is to ensure the smooth

operation and implementation of investments in
accordance with the programme and the terms of the
agreements made with the ECSC. These checks may also

be used to detect fraud.

The Commission carries out two types of inspection:

— firstly, checks on documents, using as a base the
reports submitted by borrowers or by financial
intermediaries;

—
secondly, on-the-spot checks.

Where an infringement is discovered, the first step is to
suspend payment of subsidies, and the second is to
recover amounts wrongly paid. Moreover, the offender is
unable to make further use of ECSC loans at preferential
interest rates.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **691/91**

**by Mrs** **Christine Oddy** **(S)**

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

_(19_ _April_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/10)

_Subject:_ Dyslexia

What details does the Commission have about assistance

to dyslexic pupils in Member States' schools?

What plans does the Commission have to set up a clearing
house on schemes to assist dyslexic children?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(12_ _June_ _1991)_

A Dialogue Group consisting of 30 European N G O s
representing different types of disability and different
integration problems encountered by the disabled has
been set up under the Helios programme.

The European Dyslexia Association (EDA) is a member
of the Dialogue Group. In 1991, the Commission granted
the EDA a subsidy for the following activities:

— Euro-International Symposium in Paris (23 to 25
January 1991)

— Euro-International Congress in Oxford (2 to 5 April
1991).

The Commission also financed meetings to enable EDA
leaders to meet their opposite numbers in other Member

States.

Furthermore, the Commission keeps the members of
the Dialogue Group regularly informed of the
implementation of the Helios programme and of all
opportunities f a r obtaining subsidies for their activities,
including those of the European Dyslexia Association.

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/7

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **702/91**

**by Mr** **Karl** **von** **Wogau** **(PPE)**

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

_**(19**_ _**April**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/11)

_**Subject:**_ Data network

1. Is the Commission aware that the European
environmental protection associations need a data
network to be set up linking the individual associations in
order to improve the transborder exchange of
information?

2. For what reasons has the Commission so far rejected
requests from environmental associations for the
setting-up of a data network as part of the Community
programme on this subject?

3. Does the Commission have plans to set up a
development programme through which the European
environmental protection associations may be provided
with funds to set up a data network?

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

_**(18**_ _**September**_ _**1991)**_

1. Yes. A project concerning the setting-up of an
electronic mail system among the member-organizations
of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), in order
to improve the communication among these NGOs, was
submitted to the Commission by the EEB in 1989, and a
similar project was submitted to the Commission in 1990
by CEAT (Coordination Europeenne des Amis de la
Terre).

2. During the year 1990, the Commission financially
supported 12 NGOs active in the European
environmental field through budget line 6621 (subsides de
fonctionnement) for a total amount of 599 000 ECU. (In
1990, budget line 6621 contained 600 000 ECU). Both the
EEB and CEAT received structural financial support from
the Commission under budget line 6621 amounting to
250 000 ECU for the former and 87 000 ECU for the

latter. The same kind of financial support will be given to
NGOs under budget item B4-3061 in 1991 where an
amount of 900 000 ECU has been entered.

The Commission takes the view that the NGOs are free to

determine how they want to distribute the structural
financial support on running costs of their offices, i.e.
whether they want to hire an extra secretary, buy a
copying machine or fax, etc. If certain NGO's wish to set
up an electronic mail system among their membership,
they are perfectly free to do so, but they will have to pay
the costs for such a network from their 'subside de
fonctionnement [5] . Currently, the Commission has no
other sources from which such demands could be met.

3. At this moment, the Commission has no such plans,
but, as has been indicated above, the NGOs are free to
include the setting-up of an electronic mail system in their
requests for financial support from the Commission.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **731/91**

**by Mr** **Giuseppe Mottola** **(PPE)**

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

_**(23**_ _**April**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/12)

_**Subject:**_ Percentage of smokeless tobacco consumed in
the European Community

What percentage of tobacco products purchased and
consumed in the European Community in the years 1987,
1988 and 1989 respectively were smokeless tobacco
products?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou** **"**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(7**_ _**August**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission has insufficient data on the

consumption of the products to which the Honourable
Member refers.

However, according to the data which is available, it
appears that consumption of smokeless tobacco products
in the Member States is very marginal.

In the countries with the highest consumption (Denmark,
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), these
products account for between 0,8 % and 3 % of all tobacco
consumption. They are virtually unknown in other
Community countries.

However, a new kind of smokeless tobacco product for
oral use has recently been promoted in Western Europe,
in particular among young people.

The Member States in which the new product is most
widely marketed (Ireland, the United Kingdom and
Belgium) have already enacted legislation to ban it.
Moreover, various scientific bodies of international

renown have warned the Commission of the

consequences of these products for human health.

The Commission has concluded that the only effective
way of protecting young people against the dangers of the
product is to ban it before it becomes too widespread in
the Community. It\ has therefore proposed that itsmarketing in the Community be prohibited (').

O CQM(90)'538 final.

N o C 327/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **760/91**

**by Mr** **Rolf Linkohr** **(S)**

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

_**(29**_ _**April**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/13)

_**Subject:**_ Retrospective abolition of trading capital tax and

net assets tax in the FRG's new Lander

In the Commission's view, is the abolition of trading
capital tax and net assets tax in the new Lander of the
Federal Republic of Germany, which has been made
retrospective to 1 January 1991, compatible with the EEC
Treaty, in particular Article 92 thereof?

How. does the Commission view the Federal

Government's special depreciation arrangements for
investment that are part of the zonal border area
assistance measures which are now being phased out?

**Answer given** **by Sir** **Leon Brittan**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(4**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

The German taxes on trading capital ('Gewerbekapitalsjeuer') and on wealth ('Vermogenssteuer') are
presently not applied to the area of the former German
Democratic Republic (GDR).

The temporary non-application of the relevant tax laws in
1991 and 1992 constitutes a regional State aid in the
sense of Article 92(1) of the EEC Treaty. The
Commission was informed by the Federal Government
that the fiscal authorities in Eastern Germany are unable
to collect the taxes concerned because of lack of

administrative capability. The Commission notes this
German declaration. In fact, a prerequisite for collecting
these taxes would be that standard basic values

('Einheitswerte') for buildings and trading capital in the
area of the former G D R are fixed by the fiscal authorities.
However, this will not be possible for a certain period of
time.

In addition, the Commission considers that in the absence

of reliable information on standard basic values

('Einheitswerte') it is not in a position to assess the
foregone tax incomes and the resulting aid volumes in a
satisfactory way. Therefore, it does not yet possess the
information necessary to pass judgment on the aid
schemes concerned.

The German authorities intend to abolish the tax on

trading capital ('Gewerbekapitalsteuer') and to reduce the
wealth tax on working capital ('Vermogenssteuer auf
Betriebsvermogen') on 1 January 1993.

T h e Commission will re-examine the situation in the

second half of 1992.

The special depreciation allowances scheme for
investment in the new Lander was approved by the
Commission pursuant to Article 92 of the Treaty on 26
March 1991.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **975/91** **,**

**by Mr** **Wilfried Telkamper** **(V)**

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

_**(17 May 1991)**_

(91/C 327/14)

_**Subject:**_ Investigation of the effects of harmful substances
in E C premises

T h e buildings housing the various E C institutions were
put iip at a time when materials were used which have
subsequently been proved to be dangerous to health.

1. Has the level of air pollution by substances such as
asbestos, PCBs etc. been measured in individual E C
premises in Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels?

If so:

2. When were these measurements carried out?

3. What were the findings (broken down by dangerous
substances detected in each building)?

4. What methods of measurement were used?

5. In which buildings were asbestos, materials containing
asbestos and other materials dangerous to health

used?

If not:

6. Is the Commission prepared to have the necessary

measurements carried out in order to fulfil its

obligation to protect the health of its employees?

7. What measures has the Commission taken or will it

take, in the light of the results obtained, to remedy the

situation?

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

_**(8**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

1. The Commission regularly has the air in the
buildings it occupies tested for:

— C O and COz levels;.

—
formaldehyde levels;

—
suspended dust;

— air-borne fibres;

— temperature and humidity.

Furthermore, the concentration of asbestos in the aij- in
Berlaymont is systematically analyzed throughout the

year.

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/9

2. These measurements have been taken for a number

of years at regular intervals and whenever special

circumstances warrant it.

3. In view of the number of buildings occupied by

the Commission and the considerable number of

measurements taken, it is not possible to givca detailed
account of all the findings.

However, as regards the risk to staff of exposure to
asbestos, it should be pointed out that the concentration
of asbestos in the air in Berlaymont has never reached the
limit values laid down by Belgian law and by Directive

83/477/EEC '

T h e Commission departments concerned are informed of
the findings of all tests so that they may take whatever
action is necessary. T h e information is also made
available to the Committee on Health and Safety at Work,
a joint internal committee. The results of asbestos
analyses are posted up in the Berlaymont building.

4. All measurements are taken by monitoring agencies
recognized by the Belgian o r Luxembourg authorities. In
carrying out the" various tests they apply the rules,
provisions and procedures laid down by national or
Community standards and legislation ( _Reglement general_
_pour_ _la_ _Protection_ _du_ _Travail,_ Belgian standards (NBN),
European Community Directives).

5. Berlaymont is the only building in which asbestos

was used.

**(') OJ N o L 263, 24. 9. 1983.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **981/91**

**by Mr** **Francesco Speroni** **(ARC)**

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

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 327/15)

_Subject:_ Discrimination in favour of residents of certain
localities in Italy for the purposes of recruitment

The Italian Prime Ministerial Decree of 27 December

1988 implementing Act 56/1987 contains provisions
which discriminate in favour o f ' residents of certain

localities in Italy for the purposes of recruitment in the
public sector by awarding them an extra 10 %, based solely
on their place of residence, for inclusion among
shortlisted candidates.

Does the Commission consider that such discrimination is

compatible with Community rules on the freedom of
movement of workers?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(8_ _August_ _1991)_

The Italian law referred to by the Honourable Member
applies universally and does not introduce discrimination
on the basis of nationality in respect of recruitment to the
public sector in Italy.

The Commission takes the view that a national law which

is universally applicable and based on objective grounds
and which, in practice, does not place nationals of other
Member States at a disadvantage is not contrary to the
Community rules on the freedom of movement of
workers (Article 48 EEC).

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1032/91**

**by Mrs** **Annemarie Goedmakers** **(S), Mr** **John Iversen**
**(GUE),** **Mr Pol** **Marck** **(PPE) and Mr** **Alain Lamassoure**
**(LDR)**

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

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 327/16)

_Subject:_ Budgetary control of Commission activities

O n 22 November 1990 the European Parliament adopted
three resolutions setting out its position on the creation of
economic and monetary union and political union. The
purpose of these resolutions (Doc. A3-0281/90 ('), Doc.
A3-0270/90 ( [2] ) and Doc. A3-0233/90 0 is to set out the
basic principles which the conferences should adopt on
reform of the Community and to present specific
proposals for institutional and constitutional reform.
Parliament's position on budgetary control of
Commission activities and on the amendments to the

Treaties which this involves is based on the following
principles:

— strengthening the power of budgetary control to make
good the democratic deficit which is characteristic of
relations between the institutions today;

— dual nature of budgetary control by Parliament —
regularity and sound management — as provided for
in Articles 88 and 89 of the Financial Regulation;

— sanctions to increase the efficiency of control
procedures and to make the Commission accountable;

N o C 327/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

— genuine powers of inquiry for Parliament to enable it
to carry out its budgetary control duties efficiently.

Parliament believes these principles are so important that
it has called on the Intergovernmental Conferences to
include them in the Treaties (Articles 143a and 206b of
the Annex to the resolution on the Intergovernmental
Conferences in the context of Parliament's strategy for
European Union — Doc. A3-0270/90).

However, when these proposals are seen in the context
of the initiatives taken at the Intergovernmental
Conferences, the Community institutions do not appear
to share the same aspirations.

On the question of budgetary control, the principle of
strengthening control of the activities of the Executive
appears to have been turned down by the Commission at
the highest level. M r Delors' statement during the debate
in plenary sitting of 21 November 1990 suggests that the
Commission:

— is opposed to developing powers of budgetary control
and inquiry which, in its opinion, would require the
existence of a Community Government as such;

— believes that budgetary control should be confined to
establishing whether expenditure has been incurred in
a lawful and regular manner, and should not be
concerned with good management;

— wants Parliament to restrict its intervention to

'political' control and to refrain from 'budgetary'
control.

In the light of this statement and with a view to
establishing a single Community position for the
Intergovernmental Conference:

1. does the Commission believe that the fact that it is not

a government as such can justify exempting it from
any controls on the management of a budget which in
1991 will be in excess of ECU 58 billion?

2. does the Commission not think that budgetary control
should be directed towards evaluating the objectives
of Community policies in the light of the results, that
it is therefore eminently political in nature and that it
is therefore one of the responsibilities of Parliament?

3. does the Commission accept the need to include in the
Treaties rules aimed at strengthening budgetary
control in the interests of the Community as a whole
so as to make good the democratic deficit affecting the
management of policies with budgetary implications
and other aspects of Community policies?

**(') OJ N o C** **324,24.** **12. 1990, p. 238.**
**(** **[2]** **)** **O J N o C 324,24.** **12. 1990, p. 219.**
**O** **O J N o C 324,24.12.1990,** **p. 241.**

**Answer given** **by. Mr** **Schmidhuber**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(1_ _August_ _1991)_

1. The Commission is of the opinion that in a
democratic society Parliament must enjoy all the
necessary powers of budgetary control.

The Commission is already subject to intensive control in
implementing the budget, in the form of internal controls
by Financial Control, outside control through the Court
of Auditors and Parliamentary control (by the house
Committee on Budgetary Control) on the accuracy of the
information supplied by the Commission oh its budget
implementation, both during the discharge procedure and
on other occasions.

2. The Commission considers that the political control
exercised by Parliament should not be confined to
regularity and sound management but extend also to the
efficacity of Community policies and the quality of the
results obtained through them.

3. The Commission believes that Parliamentary
control should embrace all budgetary procedures,
including the EDF, the ECSC and borrowing and lending
operations.

It also believes that the widely deplored democratic deficit
is substantially smaller in budgetary matters than
elsewhere, since Parliament already enjoys and indeed
exercises considerable powers here (see paragraph 1).

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1069/91**

**by Mr** **Sergio Ribeiro** **(CG)**

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

_(29 May 1991)_

(91/C 327/17)

_Subject:_ European high-speed train network — link with
Portugal

During Question Time in the April 1991 part-session the
Commission, replying to Oral Question H-0343/91 by
M r Raffarin (108) and Oral Question H-0359/91 by M r
Gutierrez Diaz (113), stated its concern for outlying
regions in connection with high-speed train services (').

The Commission also stressed the responsibility of the
national administrations which formed part of the
working party chaired by the Commission for setting up a
trans-European high-speed train network.

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/11

Given that the Spanish Government did not express
any objection to the plans for a European high-speed
train network, including the Madrid-Barcelona
(La Jonquera)-Perpignan line (Commission answer to
Question H-0359/91), did the Portuguese Government
unreservedly agree to the Madrid-EntroncamentoLisbon/Porto line (assuming that this was the once
selected)!

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-404 (April 1991).

**Answer given** **by Mr Van** **Miert**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(8._ _October_ _1991)_

The masterplan for the European high-speed- train
network was given a unanimous welcome by the Council
on 17 December last year.

This masterplan provides for a new section, with an as yet
undefined route, connecting the Porto-Lisbon line, which
forms part of the network, to the Spanish rail system. This
section is seen as a key link, requiring priority action by
the Community. A study, financed by the Community,
was therefore promptly set in motion to examine the
various options and enable the most suitable route to be
chosen. This study is currently underway.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1139/91**

**by Mr** **Stephen Hughes** **(S)**

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

_(5_ _June_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/18)

_Subject:_ AIDS

In view of the endemic spread of the HIV virus and the
social costs and human suffering associated with this
disease, could the Commission indicate the types of
research projects and pilot schemes it has financially
assisted and the amounts awarded in regard to these
schemes?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(30_ _July_ _1991)_

The Commission has supported a substantial number of
studies and pilot schemes on HIV within the framework

of its communication of February 1987 and the
subsequent Council conclusions and resolutions. In the
period 1988 —1990, support for pilot schemes has been
achieved at a cost of 3 250 000 Ecus. Schemes supported
include those aiming to exchange information and
experiences between Member States, to promote health
education, to counter discrimination, to improve care and
support for people with HIV/AIDS and to develop
technical measures for the prevention of HIV
transmission.

Following the Council's decision on 4 June 1991, the
Commission is implementing a plan of action in the
framework of the 1991 —1993 'Europe against AIDS'
Programme.

Within the framework of the 'Europe against AIDS'
Programme, mention has also been made of the
contribution to the AIDS research programme, forming
part of Biomedical and Health Research Programme
(1990-1994).

Under the Fourth Medical and Health Research

Programme (1987—1991) a global amount of 21 million
Ecus has been committed to AIDS research.

In the present Medical and Health Research Programme,
the research on AIDS is organized through Concerted
Action research networks on disease control and

prevention, viro-immunological research, clinical
research on AIDS 'and CF European Vaccine against
AIDS (EVA).

On the occasion of the Vllth International Conference on

AIDS, Florence, 16—21 June 1991, the Commission
Services have published an overview booklet, including
progress reports on all EC concerted AIDS research
activities supported financially by the Commission.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1214/91**

**by Mr** **James Fitzsimons** **(RDE)**

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

_(11_ _June_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/19)

_Subject:_ Harmonization of qualification for disability
allowances

According to a Notice to members of the European
Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PE 146.221), the
Italian authorities indicated, in the course of a reply on a
case concerning a disabled Italian pensioner, that he was
not recognized as disabled under French and British
national legislation. Has the question of harmonizing

N o C 327/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

definitions on disability ever been considered at E C level
and, if so, what were the conclusions and, if not, would
the Commission consider such a request?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(8**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission is aware of this problem and is at the
moment working on ways of finding an appropriate
solution to it.

As the Court of Justice has emphasized on a number
of occasions ('), the object of Regulations (EEC)
N o 1408/71 and N o 574/72 ( [2] ), which are based on
Article 51 of the EEC Treaty, is not to harmonize but to
coordinate the various social security systems in the
Community. The concept of invalidity, which is a
condition for the award of invalidity benefit, is therefore
defined by each Member State individually. As a result, an
employed o r self-employed worker who has worked in
two Member States may meet the statutory requirements
for entitlement to invalidity benefit in. one of them but not
be entitled under the legislation of the other.

Precisely in order to speed up the payment of invalidity
pensions and to prevent divergences of view as to the
invalidity or otherwise of the worker concerned,
Article 40(4) of Regulation (EEC) N o 1408/71 stipulates
that a decision taken by an institution of a Member State
concerning the degree of invalidity of a claimant shall be
binding on the institution of any other Member State
concerned, provided that that concordance between the
conditions relating to the degree of invalidity is
acknowledged in Annex V to the Regulation.

Originally, when Regulation N o 1408/71 was adopted,
the legislation of four Member States was contained in
Annex IV (which became Annex V in 1981). Because of
the special features of the legislation in Germany (which
allows for two degrees of invalidity) and the Netherlands
(where those with only 15 % invalidity are already entitled
to benefit), it was not possible to include those two
countries in the tables of concordance.

**(')** **Judgments** **of 5. 7. 1967** **(Case** **2 / 6 7** _**de**_ _**Moor,**_ **[1967]** **ECR 197**

**and** **Case** **9 / 6 7** _**Colditz,**_ **[1967]** **ECR 229), 10. 11. 1971** **(Case**

**27/71** _**Keller,**_ **[1971]** **E C R 885), 6. 12. 1973** **(Case 140/73**

_**Mancuso,**_ **[1973]** **ECR** **1449),** **25. 11. 1975** **(Case 50/75**

_**Massonet,**_ **[1975]** **ECR** **1473),** **6. 3. 1979** **(Case 100/78** _**Rossi,**_

**[1979]** **E C R 831), 12. 6. 1980** **(Case 733/79** _**Laterza,**_ **[1980]**

**ECR** **1915),** **9. 7. 1980** **(Case 807/79** _**Gravina,**_ **[1980]** **ECR**

**2205)** **and 15. 1. 1986** **(Case** **4 1 / 8 4** _**Pinna,**_ **[1986]** **ECR 1).**
**(** **[J]** **) OJ N o L 230, 22. 8. 1983, as** **last amended** **by** **Regulation**
**(EEC) N o** **3427/89,** **OJ N o L 331, 6. 11. 1989.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1217/91**

**by Mr** **Carlos Robles Piquer** **(PPE)**

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

_**(11**_ _**June**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/20)

_**Subject:**_ Implementation of single market provisions

In reply to Written Question N o 2751/90 (') on 12 March
1990 Vice-President Bangemann, speaking on behalf of
the Commission, indicated that many Member States had
not taken the necessary steps to implement the 109
provisions adopted by the Council as part of the single
market programme (White Paper).

For example, although the deadline for implementing
these measures has now expired Italy has implemented
only 40,9%, Greece 60,2%, Luxembourg 66,6% and
Ireland 67,3%. Even Denmark, which is leading the field,
has implemented only 90,3% of the measures adopted
within the deadline.

What recourse is available to the Commission as guardian
of the Treaties to remedy this failure to implement the
relevant provisions, which is so serious as to amount to an
infringement of the Treaties?

**O OJ N o C 259,** **4.10.1991,** **p. 7.**

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Bangemann**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(4**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission is aware that it is of vital importance
that the legislation relating to the 1991 programme should
be effectively in place by the specified deadlines. For this
reason it has, since 1989, permanently monitored the
situation in order to throw light on the progress made on
implementing the instruments in force, make national
authorities aware of the deadlines dictated by the
completion of the single market and stress the political
importance of the process o f adapting national rules and
regulations.

These measures are applied alongside the legal
monitoring of the transposition process, carried out on
the basis of the EEC Treaty, for which the Commission
has improved its internal procedures to ensure that the
1992 objective is achieved.

T o remind Member States of their obligations, the
Commission has at its disposal the legal instruments
provided for by the EEC Treaty (Article 169), which it
uses in a systematic way. Above all, however, the
Commission has achieved a level of transparency through
its periodic reports and through its data bases that makes
each Member State clearly aware of its responsibilities
_**vis-a-vis**_ its partner States.

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/13

Increased attention to this problem has led to substantial
progress in the overall performance of the Member States:
the rate of transposition has risen from scarcely 31% in
1989 to more than 73% on 31 May 1991 and several
governments have reorganized their internal procedures
to meet the needs associated with the implementation of
Community legislation.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1260/91**

**by Mrs** **Christine Oddy** **(S)**

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

_(14_ _June_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/21)

_Subject:_ Use of antioxidants especially in dog food

Is the Commission aware that the use of antioxidants,
especially ethyoxyquin (E324), and also BHA (E320) and
B H T (E321) can cause illness in dogs?

Is the Commission able to confirm that USA and Australia

are in the process of banning these additives?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

prevent dogs becoming ill from consuming food which
contains additives?

**Answer given** **by Mr Mac** **Sharry**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(12_ _September_ _1991)_

T h e Commission has no information indicating that
ethoxyquin, BAA or B H T can cause illness in dogs.'

T h e use of these antioxidants in animal feedingstuffs
within the limits laid down (150 ppm) has been authorized
for many years. It may also be noted that BHA and B H T
are permitted as additives in human foodstuffs.

The Commission is not aware of any regulatory actions
currently in progress, either in the United States of
America o r in Australia, to prohibit these additives.

The Commission would be grateful to receive from the
Honourable Member the information she refers to, or

literature references thereto, so that it can be examined.

If there is evidence that the use of these additives is

harmful to animal health, the Commission would not
hesitate to take the necessary safeguard measures within
the framework of Directive 70/524/EEC (') on additives
in feedingstuffs, which regulates at Community level the
admission of additives, including antioxidants, according

to strict safety criteria for the protection of animal and

human health.

**(') OJ N o L 270, 14. 12. 1970.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1271/91**

**by Mr** **Yves Verwaerde** **(LDR)**

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

_(14_ _June_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/22)

_Subject:_ Continuing professional training of European
Community officials

What are the principal objectives of continuing
professional training for E C officials in 1991 ?

With regard to the training programme drawn up for this
year, how many training projects are planned, and how
many officials in which grades will benefit from them?

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1680/91**

**by Mr** **Yves Verwaerde** **(LDR)**

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

_(6_ _August_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/23)

_Subject:_ In-service vocational training for other servants
of the Communities

Would the Commission clarify the major objectives
assigned to in-service vocational training for Community
servants (other than officials) for 1991 ?

With regard to the training plan established for this year,
how many training programmes are planned and how
many Community servants will benefit?

**Joint answer** **to** **Written Questions** **N o** **1271/91**
**and** **1680/91**

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

_(27_ _September_ _1991)_

**Training** **of** **European Community officials**

O n 11 June 1991, the Commission set out the broad lines
of a new continuous training policy to be implemented
gradually in 1991 and 1992. This means that 1991 is a year

N o C 327/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

of transition during which training measures directly
linked to the new policy will be introduced alongside ones
already in existence.

T h e Commission's main training objectives are:

— the development of further vocational training
measures in priority sectors;

— the drawing-up of training programmes tailored to the
needs of each Directorate-General as part of the
partnership between the Administration and the
operational Directorates-General;

— the social advancement of officials and retraining

measures;

— closer links between training and recruitment for the
benefit of young officials in Grade A8.

While the Commission's language, data-processing,
management and induction courses will continue in a
revamped format, officials will also be able to go on
training courses outside the institution.

So far this year, 2 000 officials have had language training
and 1 800 have had other forms of training.

Training is open to officials in all grades.

**Training** **of** **other Community staff**

T o help them assimilate into the Commission, staff who
are not officials are eligible for most of the courses
organized.

All training activities are open to temporary staff, while
some courses, particularly language ones, are also open to
auxiliary and local staff and to national experts.

T h e new training policy approved by the Commission in
June provides for the introduction of a number of
programmes specially adapted to the needs of each
Directorate-General. Although more non-officials than in
the past will be involved, the figures requested by the
Honourable Member will be available only from 1992,
1991 being a year of transition.

For the record, 800 non-officials attended Commission
training courses between September 1989 and December
1990.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1278/91**

**by Mrs** **Cristina Muscardini** **(NI)**

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

_**(14**_ _**June**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/24)

_**Subject:**_ Tax on credit cards in Italy

Does the Commission consider the new tax law passed on
Saturday, 11 May 1991 by the Italian Government
compatible with Community rules as laid down by EEC
Directives, involving as it does an annual tax of Lit 30 000
on credit cards, which obviously discourages their use
and, to a considerable degree, excludes Italy from a
system of payment which is widespread throughout the
rest of Europe?

**Answer given** **by Sir** **Leon Brittan**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(7**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

The stamp duty charged in Italy on the issue of credit
cards was transformed by Decree No. 151 of 13 May 1991
(GU N o 110 of 13 May 1991) into an annual duty of Lit
,30 000. However, Conversion Law N o 202 of 12 July
1991 (GU N o 162 of 12 July 1991) failed to confirm this
change, introducing instead a stamp duty of Lit 500 for
any purchase of goods or services costing more than Lit
50 000 (approximately ECU 40) made using a credit card
or other equivalent instrument for avoiding payment in

cash.

It should be noted that Community law does not rule out
the taxation of certain payment instruments, provided
that such taxation does not discriminate in any way (for
example, against cards issued abroad) and does not
constitute a tax on turnover, which is prohibited by the

Sixth VAT Directive.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1302/91**

**by Mr Pol** **Marck** **(PPE)**

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

_**(14**_ _**June**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/25)

_**Subject:**_ The principle of additionality in the Structural
Funds

In answer to Written Question N o 1018/90 (') of 11 May

1990 the Commission indicated that at the end of 1990 it

would be possible to assess whether extra funds had been
made available.

Can the Commission now give the results of this
assessment for each country and region? Can it briefly
indicate how the assessment was jcarried out? What

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/15

Member States/regions forwarded the necessary
information to the Commission by the end of 1990, after
1 January 1991 or not at all?

What penalties will be imposed on any Member State
(region) which fails to supply the information requested if
it appears that the principle of additionality is being
infringed? Will the Commission suspend payments in this
case? What rules are being envisaged by the Commission
in connection with the forthcoming amendment of
Structural Fund regulations, in order to ensure that this
principle is properly respected?

**O OJ N o C 303,** **3.12.1990,** **p. 35.**

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Christophersen**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(6**_ _**September**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission will forward directly to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a file on the

current situation as regards the verification of
additionality which, incidentally, constitutes the answer
given to Parliament by Vice-President Christophersen on
behalf of the Commission, taking particular account of
the requirements of Article 39 of Resolution A3-071/91
based on the report submitted by M r Wynn (Plenary
Session of 16 April 1991).

As to the penalties referred to by the Honourable
Member, the Commission draws attention to the fact that,
as laid down in the standard clauses of the CSFs, the
additionality verification process is applied throughout
their implementation. Bilateral contacts on this subject are
currently taking place with each of the Member States.

The Commission thinks that, under the partnership, it
will be able to come to an agreement on the verification of
additionality with all Member States during the period of
implementation of the CSFs. It will not be able to impose
any penalties until the negotiations which it is holding at
present have been completed.

The Commission will take full account of the conclusions

to be drawn from the entire process described above when
reviewing the future of the structural Funds after 1993.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1309/91**

**by Mr** **Gerard Monnier-Besombes** **(V)**

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

_**(24**_ _**June**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/26)

_**Subject:**_ Shipbuilding

In reply to Written Question N o 535/91 (') the
Commission expressed the view that no distinction was

made between preparations for the reopening of a
shipyard and the maintenance and upkeep of shipbuilding
plant as in the case of Lexmar-France in La Ciotat.

The Commission observed that the French Government

had fulfilled its obligation to inform the competent
political authorities but failed to indicate in its reply
whether it intended to impose penalties in response to this
obvious infringement of Directive 90/684/EEC ( [J] ).

Does the Commission intend to impose penalties and, if it
does, what penalties and when?

**0 ) OJ N o C** **199,29.7.1991,** **p. 23.**
**O OJ N o L 380,** **31.12.1990,** **p. 27.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** 1561/91

**by Mr** **Gerard Monnier-Besombes** **(V)**

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

_**(24**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/27)

_**Subject:**_ Possible reopening of shipyards in La Ciotat

In answer to Written Question N o 535/91 the
Commission points out that under Council Directive
90/684/EEC (7th Directive) shipyards which had been
closed with government aid for a period of five years
could be reopened with the Commission's prior approval.

Recent statements from the French Prime Minister's

office have suggested that this opinion could be reviewed.

1. Given the international economic situation in this

sector, does the Commission consider that the
upswing in demand, arising in particular from the
ageing of the fleet and proposed improvements in
vessel safety, will provide a sufficiently solid and
lasting basis for the resumption of shipbuilding
requiring the reopening of closed shipyards?

2. Have shipbuilders from Community Member States
or third countries announced their intention of

reopening the shipbuilding yards and, if so, have there
been any proposals concerning the La Ciotat
shipyard?

3. What view does the'Commission take of the present
position set out by the new French Government?

N o C 327/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

**Joint answer** **to** **Written Questions** **Nos** **1309/91**

**and** **1561/91**

**given** **by Sir** **Leon Brittan**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(18**_ _**September**_ _**1991)**_

T h e Commission considers that the maintenance of plant
in a shipyard that has been closed down may have one,
of two objectives, being intended either t o prevent
deterioration of the plant so that it can be sold more easily
o r t o facilitate its re-use in the shipyard. In the case of La
Ciotat, the Commission takes the view that the objective
initially pursued was the former since the plant was sold
t o Banque W o r m s as part of the process of realizing the
shipyard's assets. It was only after July 1989 that the
Commission learned that the newly formed company
Lexmar France was considering re-opening the shipyard.
Subsequently, the Conseil General (regional council) of
Bouches-du-Rhone had wrongly authorized Lexmar t o
use plant at the La Ciotat shipyard, since the owner was
not Lexmar but Banque Worms. Such use of the plant was
moreover prohibited by the Tribunal de Grande Instance
(bankruptcy court) in Marseille in March and April 1990
on pain of penalty payments. In any event, it was only if
the shipyard had actually re-opened that the Commission

would have called o n the French Government t o recover

the aid which had been paid in connection with the
closure of the shipyard.

_I_

Moreover, the Commission considers that, in the Lexmar

case, the French Government did everything in its power
t o ensure compliance with the undertakings that it had
given when it was- authorized t o grant specific aid,
particularly of a social nature, in connection with the
closure of the La Ciotat shipyard.

Where aid is granted f o r the closure of shipyards, they
cannot be re-opened f o r a period of five years.

Between five and ten years after closure, this possibility
exists, but the Commission must give its authorization in
the light of both the prevailing international situation and
of whether aid is proposed f o r the re-opening of the

installations.

T h e Commission's view is that, although there was a
definite recovery in shipbuilding in 1989/90, a recovery
which already lost momentum in the first half of 1991, the
present situation does n o t justify the re-opening yards.
Existing productive capacity, which was extensively
underutilized in the 1980s in spite of restructuring, is

sufficient t o meet the demand f o r fleet renewal. World

production in 1990 was 11,7 million cgt while existing
capacity is around 15 —16 million cgt, t o which must be
added annual productivity increases of between 2 % and

5%.

T h e question of re-opening shipyards has arisen in the
United Kingdom and Spain but the Commission has
always opposed such requests under the rules in force o n
aid t o shipbuilding.

Finally, as regards La Ciotat, since Lexmar France ceased

business activities, the Commission has not been informed

of any other plan t o re-open the yard and there is
absolutely n o indication that the present position of the

new French Government is different f r o m that of its

predecessor, namely that the La Ciotat yard should be
used f o r activities other than the building of large ships.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1343/91**

**by Mr** **Yves Verwaerde** **(LDR)**

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

_**(24**_ _**June**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/28)

_**Subject:**_ Cooperation with the State of Israel

In connection with the implementation of the Financial
Protocol with the State of Israel signed in 1988, could the
Commission give an indication of the plans f o r European
Investment Bank loans t o Israel this year?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Christophersen**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(28**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

T h e Third Financial Protocol concluded between the

Community and the State of Israel in 1987 provides f o r

E C U 63 million of EIB loans f r o m own resources.

O f this amount, E C U 57 million has already been used t o
finance — in the form of global loans t o the Industrial
Development Bank of Israel — small and medium-scale
projects relating t o industry and environmental
protection.

Discussions are currently under way with the Israeli
authorities with a view t o identifying, if at all possible
before the end of the year, a project t o which the
outstanding balance of E C U 6 million could be

committed.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1426/91**

**by Mr** **Francois Musso** **(RDE)**

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

_**(12**_ _**July**_ _**1991)**_

( 9 1 / C 327/29)

_**Subject:**_ T h e Medspa programme

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached
with the Medspa programme and give a list of the projects
submitted f o r funding under this programme o r the list of
projects approved if this has already been done?

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/17

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

_(12_ _September_ _1991)_

O n the basis of Council Regulation (EEC) N o 563/91 of
9 March 1991 ('), the Commission published an invitation
to. submit proposals in OJ N o C 64 of 12 March 1991,
with a view to using the appropriations entered in the
1991 budget.

The Commission received around 400 project proposals.
These are subject to selection by the management
committee which met on 18 and 19 July and will meet
again in October. Once the meetings have taken place, a
list of the projects which will receive financial support
from the Commission will be published in the _Official_
_Journal_ _of the_ _European Communities,_ as provided for in
Article 12 of the aforementioned Regulation.

```
O OJ N o L 63, 9. 3.1991.

```

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1427/91**

**by Mr** **Francois Musso** **(RDE)**

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

_(12_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/30)

_Subject:_ T h e Envireg programme

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached
with the Envireg programme and give a list of the projects
submitted for funding under this programme o r the list of
projects approved if this has alreday been done?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Millan**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(12_ _September_ _1991)_

All the eligible Member States submitted draft operational
programmes under the Community Envireg initiative in
November 1990. These were considered by the

Commission and the Member States made certain

amendments. Decisions have been taken on the

programmes for Portugal (Community financial
contribution of ECU 83 million), Northern Ireland (ECU
16 million), Italy (ECU 163 million) and Spain (ECU 137
million). T h e other revised operational programmes
should be adopted shortly.

T h e programme approach does not necessarily mean that
the projects to be financed are identified in advance, since
some Member States have submitted a programme simply
setting out the schemes to be financed and the criteria for
selecting projects. Other Member States identified a
number of specific projects at the stage of drawing up the

programmes. Generally speaking, the largest proportion
of measures is concerned with the treatment of waste

water.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1431/91**

**by Mr** **Virginio Bettini** **(V) and Mr** **Mario Melis** **(ARC)**

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

_• (12_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/31)

_Subject:_ Environmental protection of the western coast of

Sardinia

As mentioned in Written Question N o 2906/90 (') on the
western coast of Sardinia in the district of Bosa, in an area

of considerable environmental value, the location of an
hotel complex, disguising a tourist village, is being
planned near Torre Argentina, in such a way as to
overcome the obstacle of submitting an environmental
impact assessment as required under Directive
85/337/EEC ( [2] ).

Would the Commission state:

1. whether it is aware that 'hotel complexes' are routinely
proposed as a way of getting round Community rules
on environmental impact assessments?

2. whether it considers the time ripe to review Directive
85/337/EEC on EIAs, updating lists of works subject
to EIAs, and also introducing rules governing the
methods and procedure for their inclusion?

```
(') OJ N o C 232, 5.9.1991, p. 10.

O OJ N o L 175, 5. 7.1985, p. 40.

```

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

_(12_ _September_ _1991)_

1. In accordance with Annex II to Directive

85/337/EEC, hotel projects are subject to an
environmental impact assessment if they are likely to have
a significant effect on the environment.

The Commission would therefore suggest that the
Honourable Member forward it more detailed

information on the area concerned and its specific
ecological characteristics, the volupie of existing buildings
and the new buildings planned.

O n the basis of this information, the Commission may
decide to contact the competent authorities and ask them
to clarify the matter.

Furthermore, in view of the incomplete transposition of
this Directive into Italian law, the Commission has just
sent a formal notice of complaint to the Italian authorities

N o C 327/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

in order that they complete the list of Annex II projects
subject to EIA.

2. In the light of the five-year report on the application
of Directive 85/337/EEC (Article 11(3)) which is being
drawn up on the basis of detailed analyses of legislative
texts and technical information collected in the Member

States, the Commission may decide to review a number of
the Directive's provisions as the Honourable Member

suggests.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1435/91**

**by Mr** **Freddy Blak** **(S)**

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

_-_
_(12_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/32)

_Subject:_ The relocation to other countries of companies
causing pollution

What does the Commission propose to do to prevent
companies breaking one country's environmental laws
from relocating without, obstacle to another country
where they are free to carry on polluting?

This question arises from the fact that a Danish-based
factory has now gone into production in the United
Kingdom, with the same disastrous environmental
consequences as in Denmark.

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

_(5_ _September_ _1991)_

If a company breaks a Member State's environmental laws
without breaking European laws it falls to the Member
State alone to enforce its national laws.

In order to avoid excessive disparities between national
environmental laws and prevent cases of the kind
mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission
is working towards the harmonization at European level
of national environmental laws.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1445/91**

**by Sir** **James Scott-Hopkins** **(ED)**

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

_(12_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/33)

_Subject:_ Community postal system

What plans is it currently reviewing for a common
Community postal system ?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Pandolfi**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(19_ _September_ _1991)_

The Commission is in the process of preparing a Green
Paper on postal services in the Community. The paper will
analyze the existing situation, identifying the relevant
issues. It will then discuss possible approaches to be
adopted and make proposals for the future policy for the
postal sector in the Community.

There seem to be three main objectives for a policy for
postal services in the Community:

— safeguarding the universal service and promoting a
higher degree of quality;

— ensuring the maximum liberalization of postal services
(outside an area which may be reserved and consists of
a limited number of services which may be exclusively
provided by the Postal administration of each
Member State);

— establishing harmonized rules for access to universal
services and harmonized quality standards for such
services.

After the publication of the Green Paper (which is now
likely to be in the early autumn 1991), there will be a
consultation period of four or five months. Following
that, the Commission will draw up a list of concrete
proposals and then decide what legal instruments are
appropriate for their implementation. At the same time, a
programme of necessary action will be prepared.

During the whole process, both before and after the
publication of the Green Paper, the Commission will be
greatly assisted by the relevant authorities in each
Member State. A consultation group, the Senior Officials
Group on Posts, has been established to facilitate these
very productive contacts with the Member States.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1471/91**

**by Mr** **Diego** **de los** **Santos L6pez** **(ARC)**

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

_(16_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/34)

_Subject:_ Support for the olive oil sector

On a recent visit to Seville in Andalusia the Deputy
Director-General for Agriculture (DG VI) of the
Commission, M r Fernando Mansito, stated that pig
breeding, sherry and olive oil production were essential
for the future of agriculture in Andalusia.

Does the Commission iatend to provide any support for
the olive oil sector, following the conclusion of the
Uruguay Round of GATT talks?

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/19

Will the Commission increase its support for olive oil by
promoting consumption or in the form of directed aid to
olive growers?

Will the Commission compensate olive growers for the
preferential trading terms it is offering to competing
countries?

**Answer given** **by Mr Mac** **Sharry**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(30_ _September_ _1991) -_

The Commission has no intention at present of amending
its proposal within the context of the GATT negotiations.

O n 1 January 1991 Spain entered the second phase of the
transition period of accession and the standstill period as
regards olive oil came to an end.

Since that date, consumption aid for olive oil has been
available in Spain. That aid, paid at a much higher level
than originally forecast, has kept Spanish prices at levels
lower than elsewhere in the Community and should
prevent any sudden downturn in consumption there. Its
effects are already noticeable.

A special effort has also been made to promote olive oil in
Spain and this too has helped bolster consumption there.

The promotion of olive oil has been extended to all the
Member States and the financial resources available

doubled.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1490/91**

**by Mr** **Heinz Kohler** **(S)**

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

_(16_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/35)

_Subject:_ Training of ambulance staff

With reference to Written Question by Mrs Dury
(3015/90) and the Council's answer of 22 March 1991 ('),
will the Commission take measures in respect; of training
for ambulance staff and, if so, when and in what form?

If not, why not?

**O OJ N o C** **136,27.** **5. 1991, p. 28.**

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Bangemann**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(30_ _September_ _1991)_

Recognition of the diplomas of ambulance staff will be
covered by the proposal for a Directive (') on the secofid
general system for the recognition of professional
education and training which complements Directive
89/48/EEC O 

This proposal, which is currently before the Council, is
consistent with the approach pursued for the first time in
Directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the
recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on
completion of professional education and training of at
least three years' duration, adopted by the Council on 21
December 1988.

This approach is new in that it is general and no longer
'sectoral', i.e. it is not aimed solely at one specific
profession or group of professions and does not require
prior coordination of professional training and activities
between the Member States.

Accordingly, the Commission does not intend to make
any specific proposals concerning ambulance workers.

**(')** **O J N o C 217,1.9.1990.**
**O OJ N o L** **19,24.1.1989.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1528/91**

**by Mr** **Carlos Robles Piquer** **(PPE)**

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

_(23_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/36)

_Subject:_ IAEA study on the Chernobyl disaster

According to widely publicized reports the International
Atomic Energy Agency has published the long-awaited
assessment of the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. It is
the result of a year's work by 200 scientists from 25
countries and seven multinational organizations, carried
out at the request of the Soviet Union. The report states
the view that the radiological consequences were
underestimated. Environmental organizations have
criticized it for disagreeing with their conclusions, which
were in general reassuring.

Can the Commission state its opinion of the contents and
conclusions of the document which is on a subject of such
great importance of the countries of Europe which are
more or less near to the USSR?

N o C 327/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

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

_(6_ _September_ _1991)_

The Commission was actively involved in the
international Chernobyl Project on the radiological
consequences in the USSR of the accident and was even
responsible for management and execution of one of its
main tasks, namely the evaluation of the countermeasures
related to relocation of the population in the
contaminated regions and the organization of a decision
aiding conference in the USSR to elicidate the issues
underlying the intervention policy. The Commission was
also represented in the international Advisory Committee
which formulated and unanimously approved the
conclusions and recommendations of the project.

It should be noted that the work was carried out by
independent scientists many of whom had no links with
the nuclear industry.

It is also of interest to note the views expressed by the
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of

Atomic Radiation (Unscear) which in its report to the
General Assembly of May 1991 ' . . . was pleased to note
the high quality of the very extensive studies carried out
by the (International Chernobyl) project. The Committee
also noted that the results were consistent with its own

assessments of the wider consequences of the accident
published in the Unscear 1988 Report'.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1575/91**

**by Mr** **George Patterson** **(ED)**

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

_(24_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/37)

_Subject:_ Lotteries in Europe

D o E C Regulations on the free movement of goods and
services effectively outlaw restrictions on the right to
order lottery tickets from another Member State by an
individual for personal use?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Bangemann**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(12_ _September_ _1991)_

At present there is no Community secondary legislation,
whether in the form of Regulations or Directives
applicable to goods and services, which deals specifically
with lotteries.

However, this dossier is under examination by the

services for the Commission in order to examine if

Community proposals in this field are necessary in view of

the realization of the internal market.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1608/91**

**by Mr** **Elio** **Di** **Rupo** **(S)**

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

_(25_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/38)

_Subject:_ Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe

Will the Commission outline its action regarding the
CSCE process since 1989?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Andriessen**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(8_ _October_ _1991)_

1. Since the close of the Vienna follow-up meeting to
the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
closed in January 1989, Commission action regarding the
CSCE process has developed along three main .lines; the
adoption of coherent common Community positions; a
major Community contribution to promoting the
development of the Helsinki Process; and recognition of
the Community within the CSCE.

Significantly, the Dublin European Council in June 1990
reaffirmed its earlier positions on the importance of the
CSCE's role in the process of change in Europe. In view
of the Paris CSCE Summit, the European Council stated
that 'the European Community and its Member States
intend to assume a leading role in this enterprise and to
contribute actively to all discussion within the CSCE
process'. It also agreed that 'the Community and its
Member States will strengthen their coordination with a
view to defining and expressing a common position on all
questions, in the various sectors of the CSCE, in which
they have an essential common interest'.

2. Within the guidelines set by the Dublin European
Council then, the Commission committed itself to these

three main areas, as it first did at the Vienna CSCE
(1986—89) and has subsequently adhered to.

O n the basis of the Single European Act, Member States
have promised to make every attempt to adopt common
positions at international conferences. The Commission
has taken steps to ensure that, on the basis of common

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/21

positions reached by the Community and its Member
States, Community interests are put forward. The EC's
political and economic interests are now all-embracing,
covering all aspects of the Helsinki Final Act. It was right
for the Community to assert itself on the international
stage, and hence in the framework of the CSCE, as a
politically credible entity.

The Commission has taken the view that the

Community's primary contributions to the CSCE should
be those designed to further the new spirit of
intra-European cooperation as a response to the new
challenges, needs and opportunities which have surfaced
in Europe, particularly since 1989.

The recognition of the Community by the countries of
Eastern Europe and the new dimension which the Single
Act has given the EC have both led the Commission to the
belief that the Community as such should participate in
the CSCE process. In the summer of 1989, therefore, the
Commission proposed that, for the Sofia CSCE Meeting
in October 1989, the Community should get a nameplate
with 'European Community' next to the name of the
country holding the Presidency. Similarly, Community
proposals should no longer be presented by the Twelve
but by the delegiation of the Presidency-in-Office on
behalf of the Member States and, at the recent Geneva
meeting and subsequently, on behalf of the 'European
Community and its Member States'. In Sofia too, and
later at CSCE meetings in Bonn, Palma de Majorca, New
York and last June at the CSCE Council in Berlin, it was a
Member of the Commission who spoke. At the November
1990 CSCE Summit in Paris, the Commission President
spoke and, alongside the President-in-Office of the
Council, signed the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. In
this way, the Commission has contributed to CSCE
recognition of the political reality of the Community.

3. The qualitative change in the Commission's role
within the Helsinki Process, already evident at the Vienna
CSCE but more so since its close in early 1989, has been
brought to the fore at three CSCE inter-sessional
meetings, in Sofia, Bonn arid Palma de Majorca, and at
the Paris Summit.

For the Sofia Meeting on Environmental Protection
(October/November 1989), the Commission submitted
outlines to the Council for Community negotiating
positions. O n the basis of these, the Community worked
out common positions in Sofia and, together with the
other participating States, negotiated conclusions and
recommendations which took account of Community
policies. This represented a milestone in European
multilateral environmental cooperation.

For the Bonn Conference on Economic Cooperation in
Europe (March/April 1990), the Commission submitted
to the Council proposals for specific positions which the
Community would defend, as well as the goals set for the
development and diversification of economic relations,

industrial cooperation, and monetary and financial
matters. The conclusions of the conference reflect

Community positions at a key time when economic and
political change was starting to sweep Central and Eastern
Europe, and the Soviet Union. The Bonn Conference set
the pace for new relations between the CSCE States.

Similarly, for the Palma de Majorca CSCE meeting
(September/October 1990) on the Mediterranean, the
Council was given Commission proposals on a common
approach to aspects of cooperation in the area and to the
protection of Mediterranean ecosystems along the lines of
Community policies for cooperation with southern
Mediterranean countries, and of environmental policies
in the region. The Palma de Majorca report was
negotiated on the basis of Community positions and
marks a major contribution to the development of
cooperation in the area.

In negotiations in Vienna (July—November 1990) on a
document for the Paris CSCE Summit, it was agreed that
the Commission should ensure that any such political
document to be signed by Heads of State or Government
should highlight the Community's role in the CSCE
process. The signatories to the Charter of Paris for a New
Europe indeed recognized the important role of the
European Community in the political and economic
development of Europe. It was also agreed that the text
submitted to the Conference should contain

forward-looking measures on economic freedoms,
economic cooperation based on market principles, the
environment and Mediterranean cooperation as
guidelines for the new Europe.

As the CSCE process covers all areas, the Commission has
played an active part in CSCE meetings on the human
Dimension (Paris and Copenhagen), the peaceful
settlement of disputes (Valletta), cultural heritage
(Krakow) and national minorities (Geneva). In this way it
has demonstrated the importance in all areas of the
Helsinki process which the Community as such attaches
to Europe's move into a new era.

4. As for forthcoming CSCE deadlines (the Moscow
Conference on the Human Dimension in September, the
Oslo Seminar on Democratic Institutions in November,
the second CSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in January
in Prague and the fourth follow-up meeting due to open
in^ Helsinki in March next year), the Commission will
continue to act along the three main lines mentioned
above. The Helsinki Meeting in particular should play a
pivotal role in the CSCE's development, as a political
platform for the new 'concert of Europe'.

5. Mention should finally be made of the
Commission's participation in Community activities
which, under the conclusions reached by the CSCE
Committee of Senior Officials in early July at Prague as
part of the emergency mechanism, include the dispatch of
a mission of Member State and Commission

representatives to help maintain the cease-fire in
Yugoslavia and the implementation of agreements

N o C 327/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

between the Community and the Yugoslav interested
parties. The Commission hopes to play an active part in all
efforts to find viable solutions to the country's problems.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1622/91**

**by Mrs** **Anita Pollack** **(S)**

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

_(25_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/39)

_Subject:_ Funding for roadbuilding

Which road schemes in'the European Community have
received financial support between 1 January 1980 and 1
May 1991, either through the ERDF, the EIB, or any
other EC related sources?

How much did each scheme receive respectively from the
ERDF, the EIB, or any other EC related source? Please
indicate the 'other EC related source' if relevant.

What was the total cost of each scheme i.e. including
contributions from the national government concerned,
the EC and other relevant source?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Christophersen**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(18_ _November_ _1991)_

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

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1624/91**

**by Mrs** **Mechtild Rothe** **(S)**

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

_(25_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/40)

_Subject:_ Financing of trainee exchanges

An exchange of trainees was agreed last year in a twinning
agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry in Detmold (FRG) and Greta Audomarois,
Longuenesse (France). The purpose of the exchange is to
enable young people, in the context of training or

retraining, to gain some knowledge of the host country. It
should also increase the mobility of workers within the
EC.

In 1990 some young French people gained work
experience in Detmold as part of their training, and this
year some young Germans should go to the
corresponding region of France for work experience.
Among the trainees are some who are undergoing
retraining, who currently receive support (a maintenance,
allowance) from the Employment Office. According to
information from the Employment Office, these
allowances will not be payable during their work
experience abroad.

1. Is the Commission aware of this regulation in the
FRG?

2. Is this regulation compatible with EC law?

3. What is the Commission's opinion of this regulation
in view of efforts to increase workers's mobility within
the EC?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(30_ _September_ _1991)_

1. The Commission has not been informed of the

regulations in Germany relating to subsistence funding
for trainees spending a part of their traineeship in another
Member State.

2. In the implementation of the extended Petra
programme (Council Decision of 22 July 1991) for the
training of young people, the Commission will be
examining from 1 January 1992, with the Member State
authorities, the various obstacles of an administrative
nature which prevent young people from taking
advantage of training or work placements abroad, one of
the key action areas within the Petra Programme itself.

3. The Commission shares the concern of the

Honourable Member that the right conditions should be
created to enable as many people as possible to benefit
from occupational mobility throughout the Community.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1629/91**

**by Mrs** **Teresa Domingo Segarra** **(GUE)**

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

_(25_ _July_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/41)

_Subject:_ Pensions for migrants

The basic rate for pensions, when contributions for the
relevant period were paid in a Community country other
than Spain, is calculated on the basis of the minimum

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/23

contribution for the professional category in which the
worker last paid contributions in Spain.

This system can work to the detriment of workers who
pay contributions in Spain at a higher rate than the
Minimum Interprofessional Wage.

Does the Commission intend to modify Regulations
(EEC) N o 1408/71 ( [1] ) and (EEC) N o 574/72 ( [2] ) on the
settlement and calculation of pensions, so that

1. in the application of Article 47 of the Regulation, the
theoretical Spanish pension is calculated on the basis
of the worker's actual contributions during the years
immediately preceding the receipt of his last
contribution by the Spanish social security system?

2. the total sum of the resulting pension will increase by
the amount of the increments and reassessments in

each subsequent year, up to the one preceding the year
in question, for pensions of the same kind?

O O J N o L 149,5.7. 1971, p. 2.
O O J N o L 74, 27. 3. 1972,p. 1.

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Papandreou**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(14**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission has already presented a proposal for a
Regulation amending Regulations (EEC) N o 1408/71
and (EEC) N o 574/72. This proposal, which was
presented on 26 July 1989 ('),. includes a number of
solutions along the lines suggested by the Honourable
Member.

It is currently still before the Council.

(') COM(89) 370 final.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1668/91**

**by Mr** **Jose Valverde L6pez** **(PPE)**

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

_**(6**_ _**August**_ _**1991)**_

**(91/C** 327/42)

_**Subject:**_ Failure on the part of Andorra to abide by
professional ethical standards in the dispensing
of drugs

O n 1 July 1991 the EC-Andorra trade agreement enters
into force. There are constant reports and complaints
about large-scale trade in animal growth hormones,
which are banned in the EC, and psychotropic substances
and medicinal products, which are under strict control in
Community countries. This represents a serious threat
to the health control of these products and adverse

consequences for EC countries. The new EC-Andorra
trade agreement should be based on mutual trust and
on respect for Community Regulations to safeguard
Community territory from dangers to public health.

What information does the Commission have on this

situation and what measures is it considering?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Matutes**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(8**_ _**October**_ _**1991)**_

The Principality of Andorra adopted a law dated 20
March 1989 on the regulation of problems relating to the
veterinary sector, food hygiene and control of medicines.
The authorities, of the Principality are responsible for
enforcing compliance with these measures.

In case of import of the products concerned into the
Community, the relevant Community legislation will
apply.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **No** **1675/91**

**by Mr** **Gerard Monnier-Besombes** **(V)**

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

_**(6**_ _**August**_ _**1991)**_

(91/C 327/43)

_**Subject:**_ Threat to the environment from the Eyguieres
rubbish tip

Since 1983, the dumping of household waste has been
authorized by prefectoral order on the site of a quarry in
the commune of Eyguieres (Bouches-du-Rhone, France).

Societe Samag, the company which has managed this
rubbish tip for several years, has been guilty of numerous
offences, to such an extent that it has just been instructed
by the prefectoral authority to abide by the authorization
order and to restore to its former state that part of the site
upon which unauthorized waste has been dumped.

Moreover, an order of 23 January 1989 provides that the
same company should manage a neighbouring rubbish tip
covering over 10 ha, despite two hydrogeological studies,
including one by the geological and mining research
bureau BRGM. These studies conclude that there were

deficiencies in the study which enabled the first
authorization to be issued, and that the new rubbish tip
would represent a serious hazard to the ground water.

In these circumstances, could the Commission give its
opinion on the situation and say particularly whether, in

N o C 327/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

its view, the rubbish tips in question abide by Community
provisions governing impact assessment studies and the
law o n environmental protection^

Finally, if.the Commission considers this situation t o be
unsatisfactory, could it indicate h o w it intends t o remedy

the situation?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Ripa** **di** **Meana**

***** **on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(1_ _October_ _1991)_

U n d e r the terms of Directive 85/337/EEC ('), household

waste dumping projects are subject t o an environmental
impact assessment if they are likely t o have a significant

effect o n the environment.

In the case of the Eyguieres rubbish tip, it appears that an
impact study was carried out.

In these circumstances, the Commission would ask the

Honourable Member t o send it the conclusions of this

study in order that it may decide whether o r not it
complies with the provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC,
before bringing the matter u p with the French authorities,
if this proves necessary.

**(')** **O J N o L** **175, 5.7. 1985.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** 1718/91

**by Mrs** **Christine Crawley** **(S)**

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

_(7_ _August_ _1991)_

( 9 1 / C 327/44)

_Subject:_ Biotechnology research and development

In proposed developments linked with the treatment of
farm animals in the COM(90) 160 proposal f o r a Council
Decision t o establish a new Community programme t o
support biotechnology research and developments, what
is the composition of the suggested Ethics Commission?

W h o has chosen the members? And h o w does this

commission qualify in making important ethical decisions

o n the treatment and welfare of farm animals in this

Directive?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Delors**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(24_ _September_ _1991)_

T h e Communication o n 'Promoting a competitive

environment f o r industrial activities based o n

biotechnology within the Community' of 19 April 1*991,
addressed t o the Parliament and the Council, proposes
the establishment of a group o n ethics and
biotechnology ( [1] ). T h e aim of the group is t o advice the
Commission with a view t o promoting a better public
understanding of these issues. It is consequently not the
intention of the Commission t o create a special
Committee o n ethics under the specific research and
technological development programme in the field of
biotechnology (1990—1994).

Although the precise mandate and working procedures, as
well as the composition, of this group o n ethics and
biotechnology have not yet been finalized, a preference is
emerging f o r the Commission t o choose eminent
personalities of high moral standing with proven

commitments and interests in a number of fields

(scientific, legal, etc.). It seems desirable that one of the
members of the group should have knowledge of ethical
questions in relation t o the development and application
of new techniques in animal husbandry.

**(')** **SEC(91)** **629.**

**WRITTEN Q U E S T I O N** **N o** **1736/91**

**by Mr** **Jacques Vernier** **(RDE)**

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

_(7_ _August_ _1991)_

( 9 1 / C 327/45)

_Subject:_ Tax-free sales of tobacco and alcohol and public

health

O n e of the main reasons f o r applying high rates of exise
duty t o alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is t o
prevent abuse. T h e Commission's proposal t o put an end

t o tax-free sales in air and sea travel within the

Community is particularly welcome, and there are
precedents f o r this type of action (notably, the Member
States of the Nordic Council).

In order t o demonstrate the full public health benefit t o be
derived f r o m this measure, will the Commission say what
proportion of total alcohol and tobacco sales is accounted
f o r by duty-free sales within the Community?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Scrivener**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(19_ _September_ _1991)_

T h e Commission thanks the Honourable Member f o r his

views o n the principle linking the level of excise duties, the
campaign against alcoholism and tobacco addiction
and the abolition of tax- and duty-free sales o n
intra-Community journeys.

16: 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/25

There are, however, n o exact statistics on the percentage
of Community duty-free sales as regards the share for
which tobacco and alcoholic beverages account.

The International Duty-Free Confederation (IDFC)
nevertheless estimates that, world-wide, duty-free
tobacco sales account for about 2 % of sales spirits ( [l] ) and
14%. Tax- and duty-free sales in the Community account
for about one-third of world-wide sales. A fairly clear
idea of the situation can therefore be gained by applying
those figures to sales within the Community, while
bearing in mind that only sales on journey between
Community States will be affected, which is only half of
the duty-free sales in question.

**(') 'The** **impact** **of** **abolishing duty** **and tax** **free allowances** **in the**
**European Community', page** **15; a** **study** **by the** **Netherlands**

**Economic Institute** **for the** **IDFC.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1859/91**

**by Mr** **Lyndon Harrison** **(S)**

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

_(1_ _September_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/46)

_Subject:_ Health care in Member States

Can the Commission give comparative statistics on the
spending, per patient, for health care throughout the
Community?

Will the Commission press the British Government to
fund a comprehensive and adequate National Health
Service?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Christophersen**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(25_ _September_ _1991)_

Comparative statistics on social protection expenditure on
health are published by Eurostat in its publication 'Social
protection expenditure and receipts' (Theme 3 Population
and Social conditions: Series C).

At present, statistics on expenditure by patient are not
available. Eurostat is however currently carrying out work
which will permit the calculation of expenditure by
beneficiary. Data on this basis will be available in the
course of 1992.

Decisions relating to the organization and funding of
health care in the Member States fall generally within the
competence of the requisite authorities within each
Member State.

The action programme relating to the implementation of
the Community Charter of basic social rights for workers
includes a provision for a recommendation on the
convergence of social protection objectives and policies.
Health care falls within the ambit of such social

protection.

The Commission has recently adopted this draft Council

recommendation which _inter alia_ exhorts Member States

to maintain and, where necessary, to develop a
high-quality health care system geared to the needs of the
population and especially towards more prevention and
prepared for the spread of chronic illnesses and elderly
dependance.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **1880/91**

**by Mr** **Elio** **Di** **Rupo** **(S)**

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

_(1_ _September_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/47)

_Subject:_ Moratorium between the Commission and the

UEFA

According to several sources, a moratorium has been
concluded between the Commission and the UEFA on the

initiative of Commissioner Bangemann, which would,
until 1996, enable professional football clubs to apply the
3 -I- 2 formula (three foreign players and two 'assimilated'
players) to official football matches.

Can the Commission indicate the terms and legal scope of
the moratorium between the two parties?

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Bangemann**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(31_ _October_ _1991)_

The Commission has indeed made an arrangement with
UEFA to smooth the transition to freedom of movement

for footballers, which is a sensitive issue.

Under this amicable arrangement, national, associations
which are members of UEFA will, from the 1992/93
season, have to allow at least three non-nationals, as well
as two non-nationals who on that date have been playing
in their country for an uninterrupted period of five years,
including three in youth teams, to be fielded by teams
playing in the first division of their national
championships.

Moreover, it has been accepted in principle. that any
professional footballer will be free to play for another
club when his contract with his previous club expires,

N o C 327/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 12. 91

notwithstanding the usual negotiations between the
former club and the new club regarding payments that
provide compensation for real and demonstrable
expenditure on the training of young players.

An action to have this arrangement declared void is
currently before the Court of Justice (Case 177/91). The
Commission is contesting the admissibility of this action
on the ground that the arrangement in question has no
legal effect.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** 1958/91

**by Mr** **Mark Killilea** **(RDE)**

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

_(15_ _September_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/48)

_Subject:_ Definition of social and cultural goods and
services

In the context of EC-wide tax harmonization, can the
Commission state what progress is being made on
defining social and cultural goods and services?

**Answer given** **by Mrs** **Scrivener**
**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_(7_ _October_ _1991)_

T h e question of those goods and services to be taxed at
the future reduced VAT rate (including those goods and
services meeting a social o r cultural policy objective) was
discussed by the Ecofin Council of Ministers at its
meeting of 24 June 1991. At this meeting the Council
decided on a list of goods and services which will be liable
to the reduced rate from January 1993 onwards. This list
may be supplemented in the light of the opinion of the
European Parliament. It should be noted that use of the
reduced VAT rate will remain optional for all Member
States: there will therefore be no obligation for Member
States to tax any or all of the items on the list at the
reduced rate.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **2017/91**

**by Mrs** **Ursula Schleicher** **(PPE)**

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

_(23_ _September_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/49)

_Subject:_ Waste water purification in Belgium

Environmentally conscious people in the E C frequently
complain that Belgium, and the city of Brussels in

particular as the seat of many E C institutions, sets a bad
example on the environment.

This is true in'particular of waste water purification.

1. Which Belgian cities with over 20 000 inhabitants
possess a sewage treatment plant?

2. Which Belgian cities and major industrial complexes
are planning to build waste water purification o r
sewage treatment plants?

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

_(20_ _November_ _1991)_

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

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

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **2236/91**

**by Mr** **Sotiris Kostopoulos** **(S)**

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

_(4_ _October_ _1991)_

(91/C 327/50)

_Subject:_ Measures to stop the transfer of more than
130 000 Greek civil servants on party political
grounds

A few months ago, the Greek Government passed a
special law 'liberalizing' transfers in the public sector.
This resulted in the relentless persecution of tens of
thousands of civil servants, on purely party political
grounds, who are being transferred from one end of the
country to the other. It is estimated that within the next

six months more than 130 000 civil servants will have been

transferred, while creating a major social problem in that
families are being broken up and property sold etc. Will
the Commission say whether it intends to make
representations to the Greek Government to put an end to
the vindictive and clearly party political nature of the

transfers of civil servants?

16. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities N o C 327/27

**Answer given** **by Mr** **Delors**

**on** **behalf** **of the** **Commission**

_**(19**_ _**November**_ _**1991)**_

The Commission has n o jurisdiction to deal with the
question asked by the Honourable Member, which is a
matter solely for the national authorities concerned.

**WRITTEN QUESTION** **N o** **2592/91**

**by Mr** **Marco Taradash** **(V), Mrs** **Heinke Salisch** **(S), Mr**
**Rinaldo Bontempi (GUE),** **Mrs** **Mathilde** **van den** **Brink**
**(S), Mrs** **Claudia Roth** **(V), Mr** **Leon Schwartzenberg** **(S),**
**Mr** **Marco Pannella** **(NI) and Mr** **Lode** **Van** **Outrive** **(S)**

**to the** **Council** **of the** **European Communities**

_**(14**_ _**November**_ _**1991)**_

**(91/C** **327/51)**

_**Subject:**_ Europol European Central Police Force

At its meeting in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June 1991 the
European Council undertook to set up a European central
police force (Europol) by 31 December 1993.

Will the European Parliament be involved in the
preparatory stages of this project and, if so, how and to
what extent? I'f not, why not?

T o what kind of parliamentary control will 'Europol' be
subject?

What will be the legal basis for this body and pursuant to
which articles of the Treaty will it be set up?

What powers will it have, what will be its relations with
the national police forces and what kinds of criminal
offences will it be responsible for investigating?

Is it feasible to plan such a 'federal' police force in the
absence of a genuine European federation and without
real European citizenship?

**Answer**

_**(21**_ _**November**_ _**1991)**_

At its meeting in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June 1991, the
European Council examined the issue of combating the
international drug traffic and organized crime.

Since then — and in accordance with the conclusions

reached — preparatory work has been under way
simultaneously in two fora: the Intergovernmental
Conference is examining the provisions to be introduced
into the Treaty on Political Union, while the Trevi bodies
are preparing a ministerial report to the European
Council in Maastricht on immediate and preparatory and
transitional measures.

The European Parliament will be involved in the
proceedings according to the usual procedures for each of

these fora. 

At this preliminary stage of the proceedings, it is still too
early to reply to the questions on the legal basis, powers
and control of this body.