Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal C 264

Volume 36

### of the European Communities

Information and Notices
English edition

29 September 1993

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

93 / C 264 / 01 No 628 / 91 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Exports of chemicals to Iraq 1

93 / C 264 / 02 No 1395 / 92 by Mr Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Organization of a ' Europe Day ' in schools 1

93 / C 264 / 03 No 1913 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : E 62 link between Nantes and Montluçon 2

93 / C 264 / 04 No 2194 / 92 by Mrs Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : The Commission 's failure to cooperate with Parliament during the Albertville
Olympics 2

93 / C 264 / 05 No 2747 / 92 by Mrs Nicole Fontaine, Mr Karl von Wogau and Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser
to the Commission

Subject : Competition concerning intracommunity telephone communications 3

93 / C 264 / 06 No 2805 / 92 by Mr Jose Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the artistic and cultural heritage 3

93 / C 264 / 07 No 2840 / 92 by Mr Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Public information campaign for 1993 4

93 / C 264 / 08 No 2958 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : European citizenship 4

93 / C 264 / 09 No 3014 / 92 by Mr Richard Simmonds to the Commission
Subject : French Affaires Maritimes employment regulations 5

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 264 / 10 No 3079 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Progress under the Community Support Framework for Greece — major roads 5

93 / C 264 / 11 No 3098 / 92 by Mr Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Community Directive on environmental impact assessment — information to be provided
by the developer 6

93 / C 264 / 12 No 3130 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Cement distribution plant in Peristera Distomou ( Viotia ) 6

93 / C 264 / 13 No 3175 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Collection and disposal of toxic and non-toxic waste from vessels in Piraeus 7

93 / C 264 / 14 No 34 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Greece to implement the ENVIREG programme 7

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3175 / 92 and 34 / 93 7

93 / C 264 / 15 No 3206 / 92 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Tax credits granted to Italian road-haulage undertakings 8

93 / C 264 / 16 No 3209 / 92 by Mrs Martine Buron and Mr Gerard Fuchs to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties facing French and European paper-making industry 8

93 / C 264 / 17 No 3265 / 92 by Mr Gary Titley to the Commission
Subject : Solvent abuse 9

93 / C 264 / 18 No 3281 / 92 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Chemical products used in agriculture 10

93 / C 264 / 19 No 3308 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Funding for an organization as part of Community policy on tourism 10

93 / C 264 / 20 No 3404 / 92 by Mrs Gepa Maibaum to the Commission
Subject : Cultural, educational and scientific cooperation between the EC and Central and Eastern
Europe 11

93 / C 264 / 21 No 3413 / 92 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Duty-free allowances from outside the Community 12

93 / C 264 / 22 No 28 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Greek national parks 12

93 / C 264 / 23 No 78 / 93 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Scrapping scheme for inland shipping 13

93 / C 264 / 24 No 80 / 93 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Spanish tax law : discrimination against foreigners 13

93 / C 264 / 25 No 102 / 93 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Concern by Marine Insurers at Ship Losses 14

93 / C 264 / 26 No 103 / 93 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Protection of threatened species ( Olival-Ourém river ) 15

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 264 / 27 No 122 / 93 < by Mr Enrico Falqui to the Commission

Subject : Failure to carry out an environmental impact study on the proposed enlargement of the
existing refuse tip in the Palastreto-Sesto Fiorentino district ( Florence, Italy ) 15

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No 123 / 93 by Mr Jean-Marie Le Chevallier to the Commission
Subject : European network of high speed trains 16

No 164 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Centres for the promotion of Community R&D 16

No 181 / 93 by Mr Edward McMillan-Scott to the Commission
Subject : Risks to passengers and flight attendants from poor cabin air quality . . 17

No 182 / 93 by Mr Richard Balfe to the Commission
Subject : Smoking on aircraft 17

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 181 / 93 and 182 / 93 18

No 188 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Removal of unsafe products from the Community market 18

No 189 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Veterinary checks at internal borders . . 19

No 190 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : VAT payments 19

No 191 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Simplification of vehicle tax 20

No 222 / 93 by Mr lb Christensen to the Commission
Subject : Research into wood, wood-based materials and cork 20

No 240 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Plan for the development of new technology for photovoltaic solar energy generation
within six years 21

No 258 / 93 by Mr Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Introduction of regulations on the production of fructose from inulin 21

                                                                                                                                                        

No 280 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Atypical forms of employment 22

No 282 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Number / of banks and bank employees in the Community 23

No 295 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : European Community regulations on bus services 23

No 323 / 93 by Mr Friedrich Merz to the Commission
Subject : Stainless steel pipes from Italy 24

93 / C 264 / 43 No 334 / 93 by Mr Reimer Böge to the Commission

Subject : Fisheries policy in the Baltic Sea 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

93 / C 264 / 44 No 338 / 93 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Situation in the European iron and steel industry 24

93 / C 264 / 45 No 346 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Safety on passenger ferries 25

93 / C 264 / 46 No 355 / 93 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Transfer or Undertakings Directive 25

93 / C 264 / 47 No 362 / 93 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Guatemala . 26

93 / C 264 / 48 No 396 / 93 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Inquiry into human rights in Cameroon 26

93 / C 264 / 49 No 41 1 / 93 by Mr Christian de la Malène and Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech
to the Commission

Subject : Problems of interior policy in the Community 26

93 / C 264 / 50 No 417 / 93 by Detlev Samland, Johannes Peters, Günter Rinsche, Hiltrud Breyer, Dieter
Schinzel, Doris Pack, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Wilhelm Piecyk, Christa Randzio-Plath,
Heinz Köhler, Günter Lüttge, Willi Görlach, Kurt Vittinghoff, Dieter Rogalla, Klaus
Hänsch, Barbara Simons, Gepa Maibaum, Lissy Gröner, Günter Topmann, Helwin
Peter, Klaus Wettig, Thomas von der Vring, Annemarie Kuhn and Karin Junker to the
Commission

Subject : Questions on the implementation of the report on European policy on coal
( A3-0333 / 91 ) 27

93 / C 264 / 51 No 421 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Charter for the Elderly 28

v
93 / C 264 / 52 No 422 / 93 by Mr Karel De Gucht to the Commission
Subject : Payment of aid by Wallonia 28

93 / C 264 / 53 No 426 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with directives concerning customs and indirect taxation . . 28

93 / C 264 / 54 No 448 / 93 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : The Wild Birds Directive 29

93 / C 264 / 55 No 454 / 93 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Resignation of the Portuguese National Coordinator of the NOW i initiative 29

93 / C 264 / 56 No 455 / 93 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Further disappearance of native language from labels ? 30

93 / C 264 / 57 No 458 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Edinburgh Council and Objectives 3 and 4 of the Structural Funds 30

93 / C 264 / 58 No 463 / 93 by Mr Nereo Laroni to the Commission
Subject : Refusal of authorization for Italy to take protective measures with regard to the banana
market 31

a
93 / C 264 / 59 No 466 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Elimination of the swine fever ' red zone ' in Andalusia and Extremadura ( Spain ) .... 32

93 / C 264 / 60 No 4 67 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject, : Absence of Spanish, Portuguese » and Greek at Eurostat meetings 33

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 264 / 61 No 473 / 93 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Living and working conditions of hospital doctors 33

»

93 / C 264 / 62 No 474 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission

Subject : National expenditure on tourism 34

93 / C 264 / 63 No 506 / 93 by Mr Jean-Paul Benoit to the Commission
Subject : GATT negotiations and American protectionism 34

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No 511 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Blood donation in the Community " 35

No 515 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The management and preservation of Lake Baikal . 35

No 519 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products which have passed their sell-by date 36

No 523 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The situation of children in the developing countries . . . . 36

No 528 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Voluntary welfare workers 37

i
No 529 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Physiotherapy for the disabled in the Community 37

\

No 556 / 93 by Mrs Laura Gonzalez Alvarez to the Commission
Subject : The Braun report 38

No 564 / 93 by Mr Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Abolition of the requirement for prior administrative authorization in cases of mass
redundancy 38

No 570 / 93 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of movement of workers 39

No Subject 578 : The / 93 by resurgence Mr Sotiris of nationalism Kostopoulos and i to Nazism the Commission in Europe 39

No 111 1 / 93 by Mr Juan de Dios Ramirez Heredia to the Commission
Subject : Combating racism and xenophobia - 40

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 578 / 93 and 1111 / 93 40

No 582 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The toxic hydrazine cylinder which fell into the sea in the North Sporades 40

No 583 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Coastal erosion in Kiato 40

No 584 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Langavitsa springs in Thesprotia 41

93 / C 264 / 78 No 588 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Benefits for Europe's elderly 41

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 264 / 79

93 / C 264 / 80

No 599 / 93 by Mr Karel De Gucht to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination by Belgian legislation on Public National Welfare Centres affecting
recruitment of EC citizens 41

No 607 / 93 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Children in divorced or separated families 42

93 / C 264 / 81 No 617 / 93 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission

Subject : ' Basis ' and ' essential element ' clauses 42

93 / C 264 / 82 No 650 / 93 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Drawing up a cadastral map in Symi 43

93 / C 264 / 83 No 651 / 93 by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva to the Commission

Subject : Establishment of fixed parities between Community currencies — a multiple-speed
Community 43

93 / C 264 / 84

93 / C 264 / 85

No Subject 65719 : Harmonization 3 by Mr Virginio of contracts Bettini for to university the Commission teaching i staff in the EEC 44

No 682 / 93 by Mr Bryan Cassidy to the Commission
Subject : UK implementation of the birds Directive 44

\
93 / C 264 / 86 No 692 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Cot to the Commission

Subject : Danish Government proposals concerning the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty . . 45

93 / C 264 / 87

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No 699 / 93 by Mr Arthur Newens to the Commission
Subject : Regulation of fireworks 45

No 703 / 93 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Ban on the use of goods vehicles in Switzerland i 46

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            - >

No 704 / 93 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Theft of goods vehicles in the EC 46

No 705 / 93 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Recording and investigation of stolen goods vehicles in Italy 46

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 704 / 93 and 705 / 93 47

No 727 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure to implement the electromagnetic compatibility directives 47

i
No 733 / 93 by Mr Christopher Beazley to the Commission
Subject : European police cooperation, crime and justice 48

No 735 / 93 by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt to the Commission
Subject : Economic and social aspects of environmental issues 48

No Subject i 759 : Microproject / 93 by Mrs Maartje in Zimbabwe van Putten ( Zimbabwean to the Commission Institute for Religious Research and

Conservation — ZIRRCON ) 49

^ «

No 765 / 93 by Mr Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : Free movement of persons 50

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

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No 766 / 93 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : Export credits 50

No 771 / 93 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Listing of shares . . 50

No 794 / 93 by Mr Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : UN Convention on the rights of children . . . 51

No 815 / 93 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Fisheries : the desirability of a single European Currency 51

No 833 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Agreement between the Netherlands brickmakers : 51

No 848 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Situation of the European automobile industry 52

No 849 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Support programmes for Greek textiles 52

No 852 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Formerly drug-dependent young people on military service in the Community 53

No 865 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Arms sales by the Russian Government . . 53

No 874 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Safety of toys 53

No 889 / 93 by Mr Roberto Formigoni to the Commission
Subject : Commission attitude to Italian government funding for the Fiat plant to be built in

Melfi 54

No 897 / 93 by Mr Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Legalization of recruitment agencies in Spain 55

No 905 / 93 by Mr Giuseppe Rauti to the Commission
Subject : Possible environmental disaster in Nigeria caused by mistaken choices in the context of
international cooperation 55

No 913 / 93 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of directives on asbestos 55

No 917 / 93 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Safety of foam filled furniture 56

No 932 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Human rights in Iran 56

No 947 / 93 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Labelling of alcoholic beverages 57

No 961 / 93 by Mr Gerd Muller to the Commission
Subject : PHARE and TACIS programmes 57

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

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93 / C 264 / 114

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93 / C 264 / 119

No 973 / 93 by Mr Alexander Langer to the Commission
Subject : Breach of the UN embargo on South Africa by Sadepan Chimica of Viadana, Mantua,
Italy . 58

No 985 / 93 by Mr Gerard Deprez to the Commission
Subject : Study on cross-border purchases in the frontier regions of the Community 58

No 1012 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Water purity 59

No 1019 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Commission building in Brussels 59

No 1020 / 93 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Access to justice 59

No 1152 / 93 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Legal aid 60

93 / C 264 / 120 No 1183 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : EC Euro-Legal Aid office 60

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1020 / 93, 1152 / 93 and 1183 / 93 60

93 / C 264 / 121 No Subject 1024 : Article / 93 by 31 Mr group Alex of Smith atomic to experts the i Commission 60

93 / C 264 / 122

No 1033 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : TACIS programme 61

93 / C 264 / 123 No 1039 / 93 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission
Subject : Misappropriation of Eurostat funds by the National Statistical Institute in Spain .... 61

»

93 / C 264 / 124 No 1043 / 93 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission

/ Subject : Timeshare touts 62

93 / C 264 / 125

93 / C 264 / 126

93 / C 264 / 127

93 / C 264 / 128

93 / C 264 / 129

No 1046 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : LEADER and farmers ' organizations 62

t

No Subject 1063 : Need / 93 by to extend Mr Sotiris the scope Kostopoulos of programmes to the in Commission favour of women i . . . 62

No 1064 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to " the Commission
Subject : Tannery next to a school complex 63

No 1134 / 93 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : UK Child Support Act 63

» «

No 1142 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : ESF allocations 64

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 264 / 130 No 1164 / 93 by Mrs Claudia Roth, Mr Alexander Langer and Mr Georg Jarzembowski
to the Commission

Subject : Proposed publication of a review with the title ' Migration and participation ' 64

93 / C 264 / 131 No 1175 / 93 by Mr John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Recommendation, and guide to good practice on childcare 64

93 / C 264 / 132 No 1272 / 93 by Mrs Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission
Subject : Priority actions in the youth field 65

93 / C 264 / 133 No 1304 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Production of instruments of torture on Community territory 66

93 / C 264 / 134 No 1374 / 93 by Mrs Laura Gonzáles Alvarez and Mr Alonso Puerta to the
Commission

Subject : Coastwatch Europe Network 66

93 / C 264 / 135 No 1379 / 93 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission
Subject : Tobacco advertising 66

93 / C 264 / 136 No 1384 / 93 by Mrs Viviane Reding to the Commission
Subject : The Guatemalan street children 67

29 . 9 . 93 I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

«

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 628 / 91 WRITTEN QUESTION No 1395 / 92
by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V ) by Mr Marc Galle ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 April 1991 )

(5 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 01 ( 93 / C 264 / 02 )

i

Subject : Exports of chemicals to Iraq

In his answer to oral question H-0101 / 91 ( J ) at the
European Parliament 's plenary sitting of 20 February 1991,
Commissioner Ripa di Meana said that the Commission had
asked the Member States to notify the Commission of all
exports of chemicals and chemical weapons to Iraq .

r

Can the Commission give us the relevant information ?

i 1 ) Debates of the European Parliament — No 3-399 — February

1991 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1993 )

Subject : Organization of a ' Europe Day ' in schools

'

According to press reports, a ' Europe Day ' is being
organized in French schools on the joint initiative of the
French Education and European Affairs Ministers .

Does the Commission not consider that, with its support,
this initiative could be extended to cover the whole

Community ? An annual ' Europe Day ' in our schools would
substantially contribute to making young people more
familiar with the idea of Europe .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )
As part of the embargo against Iraq a number of regulations
were adopted both by the Community ( Regulation ( EEC )
No 2340 / 90 of 8 August 1990 (*) and ( EEC ) No 3155 / 90 The Commission fully shares the
of 29 October 1990 ( 2 j ) and by the Member States . enthusiasm for a ' Europe Day ' in
Responsibility for monitoring the enforcement of these rules Schools ' Day Competition ', which
and for imposing penalties in the event of infringements lay 40 years, is, of course, currently under
with the authorities in the Member States .

No August (*) ( ) No The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member 's
of 29 October 1990 ( 2 j ) and by the Member States . enthusiasm for a ' Europe Day ' in schools, and the ' European
Responsibility for monitoring the enforcement of these rules Schools ' Day Competition ', which has been run for the past
and for imposing penalties in the event of infringements lay 40 years, is, of course, currently under the joint patronage of
with the authorities in the Member States . the Commission of the European Communities, the Council

of Europe and the European Cultural Foundation 0 ).
The Commission is unable to assess the effectiveness of the
control measures, as it does not automatically receive full
information from the Member States . The competition takes place each year in the 12 Member

(!) OJ No L 213, 9 . 8 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 304, 1 . 11 . 1990 .

The competition takes place each year in the 12 Member
States of the European Community and the Council of
Europe countries, involving between 500 000 and 700 000
pupils . Activities include the organization of an art and / or
essay competition for primary and secondary schools and a
series of European events bringing together the young
prizewinners of these competitions .

No C 264 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

The competition is organized by national committees question and therefore not taken up by the Commission in
composed of representatives of education authorities, its proposal .
teachers ' associations and other bodies .

Recognizing the importance of the competition for
promoting awareness of Europe among students and
teachers, the Commission provides financial support every
year for the coordination unit and for the events organized
for the European prizewinners .

(*) ' Europe at School ' brochure — European Schools ' Day

Competition, Europa Union Verlag .

I

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1913 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 03 )

Subject ; E 62 link between Nantes and Montlu^on

The E 62 motorway between Nantes and Montlugon via
Poitiers is essential for the opening up of the Atlantic regions
and it is vital for the western regions of Europe that the road
be opened as soon as possible .

X

Can the Commission confirm that account will be taken of
the E 62 link in establishing priorities under the blueprint for
combined rail-road transport ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 May 1993 )

The Commission 's proposed master plan for combined
transport (*) covers rail routes of Community interest,
shipping links essential for communicating with the
Community 's outlying regions, and inland waterways with
a gauge enabling containers to be carried as part of a
combined-transport operation .

<'

The master plan for combined transport takes no account of
motorway links, which form part of the master plan for
roads ( 2 ) also put forward by the desirability of improving
service for combined-transport terminals and transfer
nodes .

The trans-European road network plan covers only those
main roads most essential to the working of the internal
market and frontier-free area . In these circumstances the

E 62 motorway was not selected by the national authority in

(!) COM(92 ) 230 final .

( 2 ) COMÍ92 ) 231 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2194 / 92

by Mrs Concepcio Ferrer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 04 )

Subject : The Commission 's failure to cooperate with

Parliament during the Albertville Olympics

During the Winter Olympics in Albertville, the European
Community was represented by a Commission information
centre on Europe . The European Parliament issued a leaflet
providing information to people attending the various
sporting events on the main aspects of Parliament 's work in
the area of sport . This publication will also be distributed
during the Barcelona Olympics .

Incredible as it sounds, the officials responsible for the
Community information stand refused to accept or
distribute Parliament 's leaflet, and obstinately refused to
cooperate in any way with Parliament 's office in France .

It seems that one of their reasons for not distributing
Parliament 's publication was that, among other
illustrations, it depicted the logo of the Barcelona
Games .

In view of this attitude, which is totally unacceptable and
contrary to the Community 's most fundamental
principles :

Does the Commission not think that the action of its

officials in Albertville was unacceptable both from the
political point of view, and simply in terms of efficient
working ?

Will the Commission take the logical step and make
enquiries to find out who was responsible for refusing to
cooperate with Parliament ?

Does the Commission not think that the argument against
the Barcelona Games logo is tantamount to a flagrant
violation of Parliament 's resolutions, and of the European
ideals on which our Community is founded ?

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 3

What specific action will the Commission take to prevent
similar incidents during the summer Olympics, and to
ensure maximum cooperation with its services during the
planning of Community representation in Bercelona ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to her Written Question No 1222 / 92 ( 1 ).

The review, which was adopted by the Commission on

21 October 1992 and communicated to Parliament and the
Council, does not question the political compromise of
December 1989 ( 2 ). It identifies current problems and lists
the possible options for future regulation of the sector :
freezing of the current legal framework, regulation of tariffs
and investments, opening up of all national and
international voice telephony services to competition or
opening up only of intra-Community telephone
communications to competition . The review calls on
interested parties to submit comments on each of these
options .

\ Continued support for the peripheral regions of the

(!) OJ No C 86, 26 . 3 . 1993 . Community will be needed to enable them to catch up and

remain in step with the growth of the market .

Recent studies show that substantial investment will be

required to upgrade telecommunications infrastructures in
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2747 / 92 the less-favoured regions if the latter are to reach a level
by Mrs Nicole Fontaine, Mr Karl von Wogau comparable to that in regions with good infrastructure and

and Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 05 )

Subject : Competition concerning
telephone communications

intracommunity

services .

Concern has been expressed that liberalization may
disadvantage individuals and businesses in remote and rural
areas of the less-favoured regions, because past experience
has tended to show that telecommunictions services are
offered to businesses in cities first . This is currently the case
under most national systems, but technological progress is
reducing the cost and time required to establish a universal
service . Experience elsewhere has shown that, where
competition has been introduced, the provision of telephone
services to remote areas has not been adversely affected and,
in the USA for example, the coverage in remote areas has
actually improved . Furthermore, in many cases, the
authorities impose coverage obligations on private
operators as a condition for granting licences for the
liberalized services ( this is normal practice in Community
countries which grant licences for mobile telephones ).

i 1 ) OJ No L 192, 24 . 7 . 1990 .
( 2 ) SEC(92 ) 1048 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2805 / 92

by Mr Jose Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

It has been reported that the Commission is about to
challenge the general framework of telecommunications
legislation drawn up in 1990 .

What are the reasons for this challenge to the political
balance established in 1990, to which the European
Parliament largely contributed ?

Can the Commission give details concerning the effect of its
proposals on the service and structural sectors in the
Community and on external markets, as well as on domestic
consumers ?

Has the Commission considered the consequences of its
proposals on the service provided to the least - favoured areas
of the Community at a time when telecommunications play
a key role in their development, bearing in mind the
European integration process ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The legislation to which the Honourable Members refer, . 93 / C 264 / 06

Council Directive 90 / 387 / EEC and Commission Directive

90 / 388 / EEC, was adopted in June 1990 after a general
consensus had been reached ( J ), both directives called for a
review during 1992 of the conditions under which the
telecommunications sector in the Community operates .
This review was to reconsider in particular any remaining
special or exclusive rights .

Subject : Destruction of the artistic and cultural heritage

The Autonomous Government of Extremadura is planning
to construct its seat on an archaeological site in Merida,

No C 264 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

which has been classified as being of ' exceptional value ' by

' Hispania Nostra ' and ' Adenex ', despite the fact that it
should be responsible for its conservation and upkeep .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2840 / 92

by Mr Georgios Romeos ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

1 . essential Does the to Commission create a ' European not consider Cultural it Fund urgent ' for and the ( 93 / C 264 / 07
protection of the historic, artistic and cultural heritage
of the Community ?

Subject : Public information campaign for 1993

2 . Can the Commission take steps to avoid such ' abuses '
through the programme for the conservation of the
historic and artistic heritage and accordingly take
measures to half the above project immediately ?

Given the economic, monetary and social implications of the
internal market and the need for greater transparency in the
taking and implementing of Community decisions, the
Commission needs to make the general public more aware
of the issues involved .

How does it intend to do so and also take greater note of the
public 's response, and what specific measures does it intend
to take to this end during 1993 ?
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission would point out that cultural policy is a

matter for the Member States alone and that Community
action in this area is essentially peripheral . It is
circumscribed by Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty — in
the process of ratification — and the Council 's conclusions
of 12 November 1992 on guidelines for Community
cultural action ( M.

This being so, there are no plans at present for a European
Fund to protect the historical, artistic and cultural heritage,
which would in any event far exceed the budgetary
resources available for Community cultural action « .

It is true that the Commission is developing a heritage
protection programme but this is confined for the moment
to financial support for pilot projects to conserve the
architectural heritage . These projects must be consistent
with an annual theme, the theme for 1993 being ' Gardens of
historical interest '. i

It is clear, then, that in line with the principle of subsidiarity
the Community cannot intervene on issues involving the
management of archeological sites, which fall within the
exclusive competence of the appropriate national
authorities .

(7 July 1 993 )

i
The high priority given by the Commission to information
and communication in 1993 is indicated in the

Commission 's work programme which has been presented
to the European Parliament . The Commission is currently
engaged in preparing the concrete measures which will be
required to implement this work programme .

Special efforts are undertaken to keep the citizens informed
on the accomplishment of the single market and to
implement the recommendations of the Sutherland

report .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2958 / 92

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

( 24 November 1992 )

93 / C 264 / 08

Subject : European citizenship
(!) OJ No C 336, 19 . 12 . 1992, p. 1 .

Part 2, Article 8, of the Treaty on European Union
establishes citizenship of the ( European ) Union . Does the
Commission intend to impose this on the Member States
and how ?

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 5

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 1993 )

Article 8 ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty, as amended by the Treaty on
European Union, states that ' Citizens of the Union shall
enjoy the rights conferred by this Treaty and shall be subject
to the duties imposed thereby '. Some of the rights in
question already flow from provisions of the Treaty and
existing secondary legislation ( such as provisions governing
the free movement and residence of all nationals of Member
States ), whereas others are new rights conferred by the EC
Treaty as amended by the Treaty on European Union or by
the latter Treaty ( such as the right to vote in municipal
elections and elections to the European Parliament ). Some
of the rights have direct effect, whereas for others the
implementing provisions remain to be decided on by the
Community institutions or the Member States, as the case
may be .

Any infringement of one of these rights on the part of the
authorities of a Member State constitutes a failure to comply
with Community obligations — as it already does in the case
of certain rights — and the Commission may bring the
matter before the Court of Justice in accordance with
Article 169 of the Treaty . Individual citizens may always
apply to the national courts for orders requiring the
authorities to observe those of their rights which have direct
effect .

must, because of the particular powers attached to it ( law
and order, civil register, etc .), be regarded as an exception to
the general rule . Similarly, since the first officer may have to
stand in for the captain, the principle of free access should
not apply to his post either .

The French authorities have acknowledged the validity of
this view .

The Commission does not have any precise knowledge
either of the nature and level of the British DOT / RYA Yacht
Master Certificates or of the problems which holders of such
certificates encounter in having them recognized in
France .

However, the Commission supposes that, where they are
held by Commission nationals, such certificates and their
recognition in France are covered by Council Directive
92 / 5 1 / EEC on a second general system for the recognition of
professional education and training to supplement Directive
8 9 / 48 / EEC ( 1 ) . The Directive will enter into force on 1 8 June
1994 .

In the meantime, Member States are already required,
pursuant to Article 48 of the EEC Treaty as interpreted by
the Court in Case 222 / 86 Heylens ( 2 ) ( see also by analogy
Case C-340 / 89 Vlassopoulou ( 3 ) and Case C-104 / 91
Newman ( 4 )), to take account of qualifications acquired in
other Member States by Community nationals . This applies
both where there is total or virtually total equivalence and
where the qualifications correspond only partially .

(!) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .
( 2 ) [ 1987 ] ECR 4097 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3014 / 92 ( 3 ) [ 19911 ECR 1-2357 .

by Mr Richard Simmonds ( PPE ) ( 4 ) Not yet reported .
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 09 )

Subject : French Affaires Maritimes employment

regulations

Will the Commission ascertain whether the French Affaires
Maritimes will recognize the employment rights of
European citizens and the validity of British DOT / RYA
Yacht Master Certificates, in the context of French flagged
pleasure vessels, after January 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

The Commission considers that, French nationals, like

Community nationals and members of their families entitled
to work under Community law may hold jobs on board
ships flying the French flag . Only the post of ship 's captain

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3079 / 92

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

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 264 / 10 )

Subject : Progress under the Community Support
Framework for Greece — major roads

A major road programme has been incorporated as part of
the first Community Support Framework for Greece
involving an amount of ECU 446 117 million, to be utilized
by 31 December 1993 .

1 . What has been the annual take-up of Funds and what is

the balance to be covered for 1993 ?

No C 264 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

2 . What information can the Commission provide as to

how the above project is progressing ?

authority dispenses with some of the information listed in
Annex III to the Directive ?

4 . In particular, must the decision, as to which
information the developer must provide be made public
Answer given by Mr Millan pursuant to Article 9 of the Directive ?
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 ) (!) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p. 40 .

According to information provided by the Greek
authorities, spending under the operational programme for
major roads during 1990, 1991 and 1992 amounted to ECU
7 million, ECU 54 million and ECU 1 19 million respectively .
It is planned to spend ECU 160 million in 1993 .

The totals taken up during the period 1989 —92 represent
64,3 % of the initial estimates for the programme over the
period concerned . This low take-up is due to delays in
making the necessary expropriations and other weaknesses
specific to work of this type in Greece . The Community
support Framework Monitoring Committee has already
taken a decision to release the funds which will not be taken

up within the time limit laid down and reallocate them to
other projects and programmes .

The earthworks for the Athens-Yliki highway are almost
finished and the structures and roadway 50 % complete .
Only the studies have so far been completed for the
Athens — Corinth highway with little progress being made
on the rest of the work .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3098 / 92

by Mr ^ Wilfried      - ' Telkamper ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

93 / C 264 / 11

Subject : Community Directive on environmental impact

assessment — information to be provided by the
developer

1 . Does the Commission take the view that, pursuant to
Article 5 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC f 1 ) environmental impact
assessment, all the information listed in Annex III to the
Directive is to be provided as a general rule ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

1 . The information which, as a general rule, has to be
provided by the developer in accordance with Article 5 ( 1 ) of
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC is that listed in Annex III thereto .

Under no circumstances, however, may such information
contain fewer particulars than those referred to in
paragraph 2 of that article .

2 . Although the Court of Justice has not yet ruled on the
direct the i opinion effects that of Directive Article 5 85 ( 1 / ) ( 337 a ) / has EEC such, the Commission an effect, at least is of

with regard to the minimum information referred to in
paragraph 2 of that Article .

3 . Directive 85 / 337 / EEC does not impose any obligation
on Member States to give reasons to the public concerned
for not requiring all the information listed in Annex III .

4 . The decisions referred to in Article 9 of the Directive

are those taken on the projects and not the decisions taken
by the competent authorities of the Member States to
determine, in accordance with Article 5, what information is
to be provided by the developer . The Directive does not
contain any provisions on the publication of such decisions .
The Directive lays down that the information provided must
be made known to the public .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3130 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 /C 264 / 12 )
2 . Does the Commission take the view that the
requirement under 1 also applies if the Directive is applied
directly ? Subject : Cement distribution plant in Peristera Distomou

( Viotia )

3 . Must the competent authority applying the Directive
directly at least require a well-founded justification — for
the ' public concerned ', to quote the Directive — if the

On Distomon beach, 20 metres from the village of Peristera,
a complex has been under construction since August 1992

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 7

for the storage and distribution of bulk materials ( chalk,
cement, alumina, ash ) in powdered form . The environment
and quality of life in the surrounding area have already
suffered greatly as a result of other activities, including an
aluminium factory, a bauxite loading wharf and heavy lorry
traffic . The coordination committee opposing this project

( local residents, aluminium workers unibn, elected
representatives etc .) are highly critical of the serious
environmental implications, a number of irregularities and
infringements in connection with the environmental impact
assessment ( which does not even acknowledge the existence
of Peristera ) and the permits authorizing the project .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the above facts and what

view does it take of the decision to authorize the above
project nevertheless ?

2 . " What steps will it make to check that the above project
complies with Community environmental legislation
and to prevent further damage to the environment and
quality of life in this area ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

A distribution plant of the type in question is classified
under Annex II to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 1 ). It has to be
subject to an environmental impact assessment if the
Member State considers that the project in question gives
rise to significant environmental effects .

The Commission will enquire further of the Greece
authorities the action that has been taken on this subject so
far, and particularly with respect to the implementation of
the environmental impact assessment .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3 1 75 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 13 )

Subject : Collection and disposal of toxic and non-toxic

waste from vessels in Piraeus

In view of the protests of local government bodies, such as
the municipality of Piraeus, over the permanent presence of

a vessel owned by a company called ' VERA ', which has been
described as a floating bomb, to collect and dispose of toxic
and non-toxic waste from ships, does the Commission
intend not to approve the relevant ENVIREG proposal ?
Does it intend, in the light of this situation, to ask the Greek
authorities for full information and for assurances regarding
the participation of more companies in the immediate future
and complete transparency in the utilization of the relevant
Community funds ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 34 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 14 )

Subject : Failure by Greece to implement the ENVIREG

programme

Greenpeace has estimated that 100 000 tonnes of oil are
discharged into Greek waters every year . In addition, an
unknown quantity of petroleum products is discharged into
the environment by vessels and installations, causing
considerable economic and environmental damage .

Moreover, Greece is failing to adhere strictly to
international agreements and has also failed to submit
studies on the establishment of disposal areas for petroleum
waste, as laid down in the ENVIREG programme adopted
in 1990 .

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to
persuade the Greek Government to comply with its
obligations as soon as possible ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 3175 / 92 and 34 / 93

given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 1993 )

The ' VERA ' project for the collection of waste from ships in
various ports was originally proposed by the Greek
authorities for funding under the ENVIREG programme
but has subsequently been withdrawn . Since the ports
measure in the programme is not now capable of being
implemented in the programme period, the ENVIREG
Monitoring Committee agreed on 18 March 1993 to
suppress the measure . However, this does not affect any
international obligations into which Greece has entered
concerning the discharge or disposal of oil waste .

No C 264 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3206 / 92

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3209 / 92

by Mrs Martine Buron and Mr Gerard Fuchs ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

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

(6 January 1993 ) (6 January 1993 )

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 15 ) ( 93 / C 264 / 16

Subject : Tax credits granted to Italian road-haulage
undertakings

Subject : Difficulties facing French and European
paper-making industry

Italian road-haulage undertakings receive, in respect of Since 1991, against the background of a difficult world
work carried out on behalf of third parties, a tax credit economic climate, the French paper industry has been going
calculated on the basis of fuel consumption . through a serious crisis . This crisis is linked in particular to a

drop in advertising demand and to a fall in rfiarket prices as a
result of competition from Canadian paper, whose
The measure was introduced because of the steep rise in the production costs are not comparable to their French
price of diesel oil in Italy and the much lower prices charged equivalents .
in the other Member States of the Community . That
differential has repercussions for the running costs of At the present time, Chapelle Darblay Grand Couronne, for
undertakings and aggravates the unfavourable position of example, has been losing FF 1 million per day since the
Italian other Member road-haulage States undertakings . vis-a-vis those of the beginning of the year .

Italian road-haulage undertakings receive, in respect of
work carried out on behalf of third parties, a tax credit
calculated on the basis of fuel consumption .

At the present time, Chapelle Darblay Grand Couronne, for
example, has been losing FF 1 million per day since the
beginning of the year .

Two measures planned by the Commission, at the request of
In view of the fact that Italy in currently reviewing its French publishers, threaten to aggravate the situation still
position in the light of Community policies, will the further :
Commission not suspend the action it has brought in this
matter to establish an infringement of the Treaty ? removal of the import tax on Canadian products
( 9%

modification of the import quotas applicable to goods
from Canada .
Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 June 1993 ) 1 . What is the Commission 's position on this issue,

particularly in context of the GATT ?

2 . In order to protect the French or European paper
industry, would it not be appropriate to lay down rules
specifying the proportion of recycled paper which must
be used in the production of paper pulp, as is the case,
incidentally, in the United States ?

The Commission understands that the question concerns industry, would it not be appropriate to lay
the state aid procedure based on Article 93 ( 2 ) EC Treaty specifying the proportion of recycled paper
28 ( No January C 32 / 92, ex 1992 NN 67 ' Determinazione / 92 ), following the dei Italian criteri per decree la of be incidentally used in the, in production the United of States paper ? pulp,
concessione di un credito di imposta a favore delle imprese
esercenti l'autotrasporto di merci per conto di terzi '. Other
Member States and third parties were invited to submit
comments within a month of publication in the Official
Journal, which took place on 3 December 1992 (*). Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

The procedure was opened because the aid scheme
introduced by the decree does not appear to be compatible
with the common market under Article 92 EC Treaty . The
procedure should enable the Commission to come to a
decision on compatibility . The mere opening of the
procedure does not prejudge the compatibility or
non-compatibility of the aid scheme with the state aid
provisions of the Treaty . The Commission adopted a final
negative decision on this aid scheme on 9 June 1993 which
will be published in the Official Journal .

( 28 April 1993 )

1 . The EC maintains a GATT-bound duty-free import
quota of 600 000 tonnes newsprint, which benefits imports
from Canada and 50 000 tonnes of imports from other third
non-EFTA countries .

negative decision on this aid scheme on 9 June 1993 which The Canadian quota which was filled in 1989, 1990, 1991
will be published in the Official Journal . and 1992 was increased by 5 % ( 30 000 tonnes ) for each

year according to a long-standing agreement between
Canada and the EC .
(M OJ No C 316, 3 . 12 . 1992 .

Furthermore, in 1989 and 1990, a supplementary
autonomous duty-free quota of 50 000 tonnes was granted

I

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 9

by the Community upon the request of one Member State
and the agreement of the requisite qualified majority .

Imports from the Nordics enter duty free pursuant to the
free trade agreements . The Nordics represent 75 % of the
EC imports .

In the context of the Uruguay Round, the US and Canada
have proposed elimination of duties in the paper sector in
general . Newsprint is a specific part of the proposal .

This proposal has been accepted by Japan, but not the
Community . There are no duties in the US and Canada in
this sector, and only low duties in Japan .

EC newspaper editors are interested in buying paper with
zero duty, which represents globally 20 —25 % of their total
costs . EC newsprint producers, on the other hand, are
opposed to elimination of duties .

The Community 's current Uruguay Round offer, which is
subject to negotiations, is a reduced duty for the quantities
not covered by a duty free quota . The EC formula proposal
would reduce the duty for newsprint which has a ' waterline '
of 4,9 to 3,7% and from 9 to 6,4% duty for newsprint
without a ' waterline '.

The current import system permits the preservation of
competition between EC newsprint producers who are
dependent on limited European forests and Canadian
newsprint producers who draw from the enormous natural
resource represented by Canadian forests .

2 . Any Community provisions on the percentage of
recycled paper to be used in the production of newsprint
would have to be considered in the light of the
following :

— in the United States the rules are set at state level and vary

from zero to 40 %, with no federal involvement ;

— in the Member States too the legislation varies, where it

exists, and it should be noted that it can lead to
imbalances on the waste paper market . In Germany, for
example, the law requiring waste paper to be collected
and recycled would appear to be producing surplus
quantities, which are then exported mainly to other
Community countries and are disturbing the market
there . Once the necessary recycling facilities are in place
it is likely that the situation will be stabilized ;

— the Commission 's own policy also tends towards

establishing recycling targets rather than laying down
rules for the composition of products ( percentage of
recycled fibres to be used ). An example is the proposal
for a Council Directive on packaging and waste

packaging, which sets mandatory targets for recycling
but eschews reference to the use of recycled materials in
the composition of packaging . The Commission 's view
is that it is rather for the industry itself to determine
arrangements for replacing raw materials by recycled
materials, and also to determine which products would
in practice be suitable .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3265 / 92

by Mr Gary Titley ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 17 )

i

Subject : Solvent abuse

Pursuant to the answer given by the Commission on
7 February 1992 to my Written Question No 2676 / 91 (*) on
solvent abuse, will the Commission now indicate :

1 . what progress has been made on the evaluation of

particular solvents in order to establish minimum
standards for human exposure ?

2 . when the full evaluation is likely to be completed and the

results published ?

(!) OJ No C 159, 25 . 6 . 1992, p. 38 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 3 July 1 993 )

    

1 . Referring to the answer given to the question
No 2676 / 91, the Commission can inform the Honourable
Member that criteria documents for occupational exposure
limits for three organic solvents are already published

( xylene 0 ), ethanolamine ( 2 ) and monochloroethane ( 3 ))
( available from the Office for Official Publications of the
European Communities ) and four criteria documents are in
the process of publication ( toluene, cyclohexanone, diethyl,
ether and benzene ). The Commission is in the process of
publishing recommendations of a Scientific Expert Group
for a first series of occupational exposure limits for 16
organic solvents . The ' publication is scheduled for the first
part of 1993 . These recommendations which provide a
proposal for limit value based on the scientific evidence, will
be taken into account by the Commission in the context of
the legislative framework contained in the Directive
80 / 1107 / EEC ( 4 ) as amended by the Directive
88 / 642 / EEC ( 5 ).

Furthermore, the Commission will publish in the near future
' Guidance for the evaluation of reproductive toxicity '

No C 264 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

containing information on an additional 14 organic
solvents .

2 . In the light of the fact that over 10 000 chemical
substances exist and that a significant proportion of them is
in use in the working environment, the process ofevaluation
of their impact on human health and safety is a continuing
process . The results will be published regularly in the
subsequent series of occupational exposure limits
recommendations of the Scientific Expert Group, referred to
above .

period, provided that it has the necessary scientific and
technical structures at its disposal . It is the intention that the
concept 'a reasonable time period ' will be further defined in
the Annex VI ' Uniform principles ', currently under
development .

The Commission is aware of the situation of the provisions
concerning authorization fees in the different Member
States not being harmonized . However, so far, it has no
indications that the different costs have a significant
influence on the availability of plant protection products in
the different Member States or on the prices of these
products on the market .

0 ) OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3308 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 19 )

(')

( 2 )
( 3 )

( 4 )

( 5 )

( EUR 14241 ).

( EUR 14240 ).

( EUR 14211 ).
OJ No L 327, 3 . 12 . 1980 .
OJ No L 356, 24 . 12 . 1988

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3281 / 92

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 18 )
Subject : Funding for an organization as part of Community

policy on tourism

Subject : Chemical products used in agriculture
Has the Commission provided funding or does it intend to
provide funding in the context of tourism or trading policy
I understand that the cost of licensing chemical products for an Italian organization to set up a data bank ?
used in agriculture varies between EC countries, as does the
clearance period for such products before they are allowed
on the market . Therefore, farmers in some EC countries may If so, can the Commission indicate :
be at a disadvantage because they are not allowed to use a 1 . the amount of finance involved, the nature of the project
new product as early as some of their European and future use of the results,
counterparts .

If so, can the Commission indicate :

1 . the amount of finance involved, the nature of the project

and future use of the results,

Would you agree that the most sensible solution to this
unfair situation would be for the EC to lay down standards
for all EC countries to adhere to ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 1993 )

Directive 91 / 414 / EEC (*) concerning the placing of plant
protection products on the market provides for the
procedures to be applied by the Member States for
authorization of plant products marketed in their territory .
The Member States have to conform with the provisions of
the Directive by the end of July 1993 .

y

According to Article 9 ( 4 ) of this Directive each Member
State shall consider any application for authorization made
to it and shall decide thereon within a reasonable time

i
2 . the annual budget allocations for trade and tourism and
the total of other funds provided in 1992 for the same

sectors,

3 . what steps were taken to publicize the proj ect in order to

ensure that the most competitive organization was
chosen,

4 . how many organizations from which countries showed

an interest in the project,

5 . what selection criteria were used and what services took

part in the selection procedure ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission has not taken up the proposal from the
Milan College of Commerce and Tourism regarding the

«

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 11

compilation of a data bank on current education and
training systems vis-a-vis tourism in the 12 countries of the
Community, since it might well duplicate another
Commission project aimed at creating a data bank for
education systems in general .

On the other hand, in the context of a call for proposals
concerning the environment and tourism ( x ), the
Commission has supported a project submitted by the
German organization IPK ( Institut fur Planungskybernetik )
in cooperation with three other partners ( French, Greek,
Italian ).

The project aims to create a data bank on ' soft and
environment-friendly tourism '. Community funding
amounts to ECU 530 000, with the project as a whole
costing ECU 1 000 000 . The sum of ECU 530 000 thus
represents 53% of the total budget, as requested by
Parliament, which had it included under the budget heading
for tourism, for this specific purpose, during the approval
procedure for the Community budget at the end of

1991 .

This project is under way and the results will be presented
next year at a conference to be organized by the
Commission, during which all the projects funded in
connection with the abovementioned call for proposals will
be presented .

(!) OJ No C 51, 26 . 2 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3404 / 92

by Mrs Gepa Maibaum ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 20

( e ) restructuring     -     - the educational and occupational

training system,

( f ) protecting minority cultures and languages ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

Within the existing cooperation programmes with the
Central and Eastern European countries, financed by
PHARE, several programmes for vocational training and for
education systems in general are being implemented . The
TEMPUS programme, specifically set up to promote
cooperation in higher education, continues to be
implemented in all PHARE beneficiary countries . Modern
European languages, one of the subject areas mentioned by
the Honourable Member, is one of the priority areas for
TEMPUS support . In addition, the proposals for the second
phase of TEMPUS ( TEMPUS II ) are well advanced and
allow for the extension of TEMPUS to those members of the
Commonwealth of Independent States who wish to take
part . Assistance for the reform of the vocational training
systems of Central and Eastern Europe is the main objective
of the European Training Foundation which the
Commission hopes will be established in the near future .
The Commission 's PHARE programme also provides for a
number of { Programmes in support of science and
technology reform in the Central European countries . In
addition, specific actions are being undertaken to promote
East-West scientific cooperation through the exchange of
scientists, the implementation of joint projects and the
organization of seminars and conferences . Furthermore,
financial support is given to promote participation in five
specific programmes of the EC Framework Programme for
Community Research and Technological Development

( 1990 — 94 ) ( Environment, Non-Nuclear energy, Nuclear
fission safety, Biomedical and health research, Human
capital and mobility ).

The Europe agreements to be concluded with each of the six

Central European countries ( Poland, Hungary, Czech
Republic, Slovak Republic, Romania and Bulgaria ) will
establish the framework for developing cooperation in the
other areas mentioned by the Honourable Member . Pending
the entry into force of these agreements, the Commission
contributes — albeit in a modest way — to the restoration of
the architectural heritage in Poland, Hungary and in the
Czech and Slovak Republics . The Commission has also
contributed to efforts to disseminate and increase mutual

understanding of the cultures of the countries concerned
and to encourage artistic and cultural creation by directly
subsidizing certain cultural events, for example in the
context of the ' European cultural month ' in Cracow,
Poland .

Cultural cooperation in the narrow sense used in cultural
agreements, requires the opening up of existing Community
programmes to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe .

Subject : Cultural,

between

Europe

educational and scientific cooperation

the EC and Central and Eastern

The Association Agreements with Poland, Hungary and the
CSFR provide for cooperation in the cultural, educational
and scientific fields .

Cooperation agreements with other Central and Eastern
European countries, including the successor states to the
former Soviet Union, are in preparation .

1 . What form should cooperation in these fields take, and

how should it be funded ?

2 . Are discussions yet being held on :

( a ) copyright,

( b ) maintenance and protection of the European

architectural and cultural heritage ( monuments,
archives, museums ),

( c ) promoting the teaching of European languages,

( d ) cultural and scientific management,

t

No C 264 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

This would necessitate a substantial increase in budget
heading B3-2003, ' Cultural cooperation with third
countries ', which was cut by a third from ECU 1,5 million in

1992 to ECU 1 million this year .

The guiding principle in the negotiations on Europe
agreements where copyright and neighbouring rights are
concerned was that the Community and the six countries

concerned should agree on a nucleus of rules to be
harmonized . Those countries which had not already done so
therefore agreed to accede to the Berne Convention for the
protection of literary and artistic works ( most recently
revised in Paris in 19 / 1 ) and the Rome Convention of
28 October 1961 on neighbouring rights . As all Member
States of the Community are party to these conventions or
apply them in practice, the result will be to ensure the
minimum level of harmonization which they provide .
However, certain aspects are not covered by these
Conventions . In addition to acceding to the Conventions,
the countries concerned have therefore undertaken to

provide a level of protection similar to that which exists in
the Community, including comparable means of redress .
Community law, for example the Directive on the legal
protection of computer programs, (9 1 / 250 / EEC ) ( 1 ), is an
integral part of the protection currently provided in the
Community .

proposing any increase in the value of the travellers '
allowance . The discussions in the ECOFIN Council to

which the Honourable Member refers relate to the

Commission 's proposal made in 1984 (*) as amended
following discussion in the Parliament ( 2 ), to increase the
allowance to ECU 100 . This proposal is still before the
Council, which is now considering a substantial increase in
the allowance .

(!) OJ No C 102, 14 . 4 . 1984 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 78, 26 . 3 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 28 / 93

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

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 22

Subject : Greek national parks

. In Greece even the centres of the national parks which

should enjoy total protection are being handed over for

122, 17 . 5 . 1991 development and, notably, the construction of large hotels

and skiing centres . In particular, the Greek government has
drawn up plans for the development of the massifs of
Parnassos, Helmos and Olympus . Will the Commission
express its profound concern to the Greek authorities at the
environment ( i.e. destruction ) of mountain areas in Greece
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3413 / 92 and in particular in the national parks ?

(!) OJ No L 122, 17 . 5 . 1991

by Mr Christopher Jackson ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 93 / C 264 / 21 ) (4 June 1993 )

\
Subject : Duty-free allowances from outside the
Community

Following recent reports from the ECOFIN Council would
the Commission reconsider its response on 6 October to my
question No 1449 / 92 ( x ) which reads as follows :

When will the Commission be proposing to change the
regulations to allow an increase in the amount of duty-free
goods being brought from outside the Community, bearing
in mind inflation and cost increases over the years ?

(!) OJ No C 345, 30 . 12 . 1992, p. 20

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 June 1993 )

As the Commission said in answer to the Honourable

Member 's question No 1449 / 92, it has no intention of

All Greek national parks, except that of Sounion, are special
protection areas under Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on
the conservation of wild birds ( 1 ), Thus, Greece has to take
the appropriate steps to avoid their deterioration . In
addition, the improvement of conservation and of the
management conditions of Greek National Parks is the
subject of a contract recently concluded between the
Commission and the Greek Ministry of Agriculture which
will provide financial assistance under LIFE . Conditions to
be met by Greece under this contract are amongst
others :

— to see that the existing protected status of the national

parks is strengthened and that all relevant legislation is
fully applied ;

— in the framework of its legal competences, to undertake

all steps necessary to ensure respect for the protection
and conservation of the national parks within the
economic development programming and land use
planning process and its implementation ;

— to abstain from any measures which are not consistent

with the purpose of the project, in particular the

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 13

conservation of nature in the national parks and of their
species, and in the framework of its legal competences to
persuade third parties to refrain from such measures .

The Commission will ask the Greek authorities for

information about the matters reported by the Honourable
Member, in the light of the above-mentioned contractual
obligations .

2 . The push boat sector participated actively in the
scrapping programme of 1990 . The financial resources
available to grant scrapping premiums for push boats were
not sufficient to satisfy all applications ; this was in contrast
to the situation in the other sectors of cargo carrying vessels
and tankers . From this it can be concluded that there was
apparently a considerable degree of overcapacity in the push
boat market .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 . The old-for-new mechanism is intended to put a brake on
the creation of new overcapacity . The statement by ' Rijn &
IJssel ' in support of its request for a de-activation of the
old-for-new measure that there is no structural overcapacity
would indicate the measure has been effective in this respect .
Other experts, however, consider that there is still a certain
degree of overcapacity and therefore advocate a
prolongation of the measures currently in force . The
WRITTEN QUESTION No 78 / 93 Commission shares this view .

by Mr Ben Visser ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 23 )

Subject : Scrapping scheme for inland shipping

According to an item in the magazine Schuttevaer
( 12 December 1992 ), the ' Rijn & IJssel ' association of tug
and push-tug owners is disappointed at the Commission 's
response to its proposal that the clause on fines be adapted
to the different sectors concerned, depending on
developments in each sector . According to the association,
research has shown that imposing fines for increasing engine
capacity has adversely affected, indeed paralyzed, the tug
and push-tug sector . Fines have made it prohibitively
expensive to increase engine capacity, yet there is no penalty
for installing a more powerful engine in other motor vessels
with a view to moving pushed barges . The ' Rijn & IJssel '
association regards this as a ' discriminatory measure '.

N
1 . What is the Commission 's opinion of the idea of

adapting fining arrangements to individual sectors,
depending on developments in each ?

2 . What impact, in the Commission 's view, has the ' old for

new ' fine had on the tug and push-tug sector ?

3 . Will the Commission shortly be taking measures in
connection with the scrapping scheme ?

3 . On 21 December 1992, the Commission adopted
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3690 / 92 ( 2 ) modifying certain aspects
of the scrapping and old-for-new system . The main new
element is that the special old-for-new contribution received
by the funds after 1 January 1993 shall be reserved for the
granting of scrapping premiums . As from this date owners
of inland waterway vessels can introduce applications for
scrapping premiums under certain conditions . The
authorities responsible for the management of the scrapping
funds have informed the Commission that more than 60
applications have been received in January, including several
applications for the scrapping of pushboats . This is a further
indication that there is still a certain degree of overcapacity
in this market .

On the basis of the experience gained with the new system
and the further evolution of the waterway market, the
Commission will determine its position on possible
additional measures in the course of 1993 .

í 1 ) OJ No L 116, 28 . 4 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 374, 22 . 12 . 1992

WRITTEN QUESTION No 80 / 93

by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 24
Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf o£ the Commission

( IS June 1993 ) Subject : Spanish tax law : discrimination against
foreigners

1 . The Commission accepts that the level of the special
old-for-new contribution should be adjusted to the market
conditions for different segments of the market . Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1101 / 89 on structural improvements
in inland waterway transport ( a ) offers certain possibilities
in this direction .

In Spain, non-residents purchasing immovable property are
subject to a 35 % capital gains tax . This is higher than the
profits tax levied on Spaniards, who add their gains to their
earnings and pay a percentage which depends on their total
income . Moreover, no compensation is available to
non-residents under Spanish law .

No C 264 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Is the Commission aware of the extent of this discrepancy,
whereby people living outside Spain are subject to a higher
rate of taxation than Spanish residents where a certain tax is
concerned ?

Is the Commission aware of the decision of the European
Court of Human Rights of 23 October 1992 in the Darby
case ?

Does the Commission agree that this is a comparable case ? If
so, does it intend to take action against the discrimination
described above, not least in the interest of a People 's
Europe ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

The Commission takes the view that this ruling does not call
into question the fundamental distinction between residents
and non-residents with respect to income tax .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 102 / 93

by Mr Kenneth Stewart ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 25 )

Subject : Concern by Marine Insurers at Ship Losses

Is the Commission aware of the concern in the shipping
industry of the increasing shortage of the lack of skilled
crews over recent years ?

What action is being taken to improve training methods for

The Commission is aware of the arrangements for taxing seamen, including language difficulties with Third-World
capital gains realized by individuals in immovable property crews ?
in Spain . The capital gain represents the difference between
the sale and purchase prices of the property and, after the
first two years, is reduced by 5,26% for each year of Statistics underline the concerns over bulk carrier safety,
ownership . showing that bulkers account for 30 % of structural failure

Statistics underline the concerns over bulk carrier safety,
showing that bulkers account for 30 % of structural failure
claims ?

The tax is payable by both residents and non-residents,
although different rates apply to the two categories of
taxpayer . In the case of residents, the capital gain is included
in total taxable income and attracts income tax on a

progressive scale, with rates ranging from 20 to 50%
according to the level of income . For non-residents, a flat
rate of 35 % is applied .

Does the Commission agree that ' bulkers ' should be
targeted for regular inspections of hulls if standards are to
improve, and if so what action is intended for the
future ?

Answer given by Mr Matuts
on behalf of the Commission

This difference in tax treatment is the result of a general tax on behalf of the Commission
principle applied by most Member States and according to ( 30 June 1993 )
which resident taxpayers are liable for tax on their global
income whereas non-residents pay tax only on income
generated in the country .
The question of the lack of skilled crews and the training of
seafarers has not so far been treated at Community level .

The rate of 35 % on capital gains realized by non-residents is Maritime training and professional qualifications are a
roughly equivalent to the average of the minimum and subject normally dealt with by the International Maritime
maximum income-tax rates applied in Spain . Organization ( IMO ) and more specifically in the context of

the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping of Seafarers ( STCW ) of 1978 .

The rate of 35 % on capital gains realized by non-residents is
roughly equivalent to the average of the minimum and
maximum income-tax rates applied in Spain .

\

The Commission considers that, since the arrangements in

question are not comparable, it is difficult in this case to
invoke the judgment of the European Court of Human
Rights, which, in the Darby case ( No 17 / 1989 / 177 / 233 ),
ruled on the refusal to grant non-residents the 70%
reduction in the special tax paid to the Church of Sweden for
which residents who are not members of the Church

qualify .

Following the recent developments concerning safety at sea,
the Commission has presented a proposal for a Council
Directive on the minimum level of training for maritime
occupations i 1 ). This proposal is a first follow-up of the
Commission 's communication to the Council and the
Parliament on maritine safety and pollution prevention : 'A
common policy on safe seas ' ( 2 ).

V

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 15

The Commission will also put forward as a result of this WRITTEN QUESTION No
communication proposals to strengthen the port State by Mr Enrico Falqui ( V )
control system through, inter alia, the re-arrangement of
inspection priorities . In this context, bulk carriers and crew to the Commission of the European
qualifications are both listed as of very high priority for ( 15 February 1993 )
inspection by port State control officials . ( 93 / C 264 / 27 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 122 / 93

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 27 )

H COM(93 ) 217 def .
( 2 ) COMÍ93 ) 66 def . Subject : Failure to carry out an environmental impact study

on the proposed enlargement of the existing refuse
tip in the Palastreto-Sesto Fiorentino district

( Florence, Italy )

It is proposed to enlarge a tip in the Palastreto district
( Florence, Italy ) to receive additional kinds of refuse with a
WRITTEN QUESTION No 103 / 93 shift tfrom inert to industrial waste .

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

The tip is situated in the Monte Morello area in a region

of the European Communities where the landscape is protected . The area is also of

February 1993 ) archaeological interest and includes the Etruscan

( 93 / C 264 / 26 ) necropolises of Palastreto and Castellina .

( 10 February 1993 )

Subject : Protection of threatened species ( Olival-Ourem
river )

Answering Written Question No 488 / 92 (*) with a
promptness and objectivity which is regrettably the
exception rather than the rule, Commissioner Van Miert
announced that the Commission intended to contact the
national authorities responsible for agriculture, particularly
since the irrigation projects referred to in the question,
which are endangering the protection of species covered by
Annex II to Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 ), are part of a
programme receiving Community funding .

The tip is less than 150 metres from the Zambra river, which
is classified as a public water course, and is situated on
calcareous land which is characterized by extensive
fracturing and is very porous .

The environmental impact study of the proposed
enlargement, which should have been carried out as the
project is one of the types listed in Annex II to Directive

85 / 337 / EEC (*), has not been carried out .

Annex II to Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 ), are part of a Finally, Member States do not have complete discretion to
programme receiving Community funding . decide whether or not to assess the environmental impact of

such projects . On the contrary, an assessment must be
regarded as compulsory when required by the special
In view of this, and given the fact that the answer was dated nature, size or location of the project .
21 October 1992, can the Commission say whether contact
was made, what the outcome was and what further
developments have occurred ? Does the Commission not consider that it should ask the

(M OJ No C 32, 4 . 2 . 1993, p . 5 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

The Commission contacted the Portuguese authorities . The
latter confirmed that the environmental impact of the
irrigation projects was being monitored very closely, in
particular to ensure compliance with national and
Community legislation .

Does the Commission not consider that it should ask the

relevant Italian authorities to carry out an accurate
environmental impact study of the proposed enlargement of
this tip and does it not also consider that, if the results of the
study are unfavourable, i (: should urge the authorities to
close the existing tip and carry out the environmental
improvement work needed throughout the Palastreto
area ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

The project is classified as Annex II to Directive
85 / 337 / EEC, so it is possible to modify the project without

«

No C 264 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

an additional environmental impact assessment providing
that the project retains Annex II classification .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

If, however, the modification of the project means that it
should be classified as Annex I then an environmental
impact assessment is required, in line with Article 4.2 . The Commission published its proposal for a European
network of high-speed trains as document SEC(90 )
In the case of the existing refuse tip in Palastreto-Sesto 2402 .
Fiorentino, it is essential to know the characteristics of the
industrial waste involved . If the waste is dangerous as At its meeting of 17 December 1990, Council welcomed the
classified by Annex I to the Directive, an environmental proposal and approved a resolution requesting the
impact assessment will be required . Commission to look at specific aspects, including economic

and socio-economic effects, in greater detail .

Since the characteristics of the project and the local
circumstances may mean that future developments have
significant effects on the environment, the Commission has
contacted the Italian authorities to obtain more information

on the particular characteristics of the waste and to assess
the measures taken as a result .

The Commission 's role in establishing the master plan in
SEC(90 ) 2402 was to determine the main links between
European cities .

While it is the responsibility of the Member States to
determine the precise routes and the service offered, the
Commission has made proposals recommending that
high-speed lines be kept within the main traffic corridors .
These were included in the first report of the High-level
Working Party . »

WRITTEN QUESTION No 123 / 93 The second report, which the Commission will publish this

year, will include new proposals reflecting the economic and

by Mr Jean-Marie Le Chevallier ( DR ) socio-economic studies carried out at the Council 's

to the Commission of the European Communities request .

( 15 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 28 ) The Commission is sensitive to issues to do with the local
and regional impact of the high-speed network . It
participated in and supported a recent conference on such
Subject : European network of high speed trains issues in Nancy .

The Commission has published its proposal for a decision
on the future European network of high speed trains ( ! ).
However, some points must be clarified :

1 . Can the Commission say precisely what its role and
responsibilities are with regard to the routes for the HST
lines ? Will it be able, through the ad hoc working party,
to exercise a power of co-decision in this area ? WRITTEN QUESTION No 164 / 93

2 .

It is vitally important that account be taken of the to the Commission of the European
opinions of the people and local authorities affected and ( 17 February 1993 )
the economic interests of certain regions and not simply

( 93 / C 264 / 29

of profitability and speed . Otherwise the economies of
some towns will die as happened previously as a result of
the motorways .

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

( 93 / C 264 / 29

Subject : Centres for the promotion of Community R&D

What criteria does the Commission intend to apply in
approving or rejecting routes and services, if it has to give its
opinion ? There is wide ignorance about the Commission 's activities in
the area of dissemination and exploitation of the results of
Community research, technological development and
(*) COM(89 ) 564 . demonstration .

\

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 17

/.

What general information and guidelines can the
Commission provide in order to publicize these activities
and the facilities for access by SMUs ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION No 181 / 93

by Mr Edward McMillan-Scott ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 30 )

Subject : Risks to passengers and flight attendants from
(8 June 1993 )

poor cabin air quality

Measures to disseminate and exploit the results of
Community research, as defined in Article 4 of the Council
Decision of 23 April 1990 concerning the third framework
programme of Community activities in the field of research
and technological development, are implemented through
the specific programmes and by means of centralized
action .

Given that poor circulation of air and contaminants, such as
tobacco smoke and ozone, can cause adverse health effects
for passengers and flight attendants, such as respiratory
problems and the spread of infection :

1 . Is the Commission aware that circulation rates in some

aircraft cabins are below the levels recommended to

maintain health of occupants in buildings ?

The specific programmes ensure that the knowledge gained
2
is disseminated among their contractors and organize a
variety of activities including specialist conferences ( such as
the ESPRIT conference ) which are attended by large
numbers of participants .

Is the Commission aware that, following a report on
the cabin environment, the US Federal Aviation
Administration banned smoking on internal US
flights ?

The centralized action is chiefly concerned with setting up a
European infrastructure for disseminating knowledge and
exploiting research results . This comprises an electronic
information service ( CORDIS ) consisting of eight data bases
and — since the start of this year — a network of 27 relay
centres concerned i in the with Member providing States specialized . The centralized services including action is also the

publication of scientific reports and literature ( about 800 a
year ) and helping protect and exploit the results of
Community research, which primarily benefits SMEs .

3 . Is the Commission aware that the levels of ozone on

some high altitude, high latitude flights significantly
exceed the health guidelines for ozone laid down in
Council Directive 92 / 72 / EEC ( l ) of 21 September 1992
on air pollution by ozone and these levels can cause
adverse health effects for some passengers and crew ?

4 . Is the Commission aware that the US Federal Aviation

publication of scientific reports and literature ( about 800 a
year ) and helping protect and exploit the results of Administration has passed regulations to keep ozone to
Community research, which primarily benefits SMEs . safe levels and should the Commission support similar

regulations to safeguard the health of passengers and
flight attendants on relevant flights ?
Besides using the infrastructure set up for publicizing
Community RTD activities and results, firms — particularly 5 . In view of the risks to health from poor cabin air quality,
SMEs — can, of course, have access to the information does the Commission have any plans to review aircraft
provided by the network of 210 Euro Info Centres cabin air quality issues and has the Commission liaised
throughout the Community . This includes a sub-network with the Joint Aviation Authority on these matters ?
specializing in matters relating to research and

5 . In view of the risks to health from poor cabin air quality,
does the Commission have any plans to review aircraft
cabin air quality issues and has the Commission liaised
with the Joint Aviation Authority on these matters ?

innovation .

(!) OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992, p. 1 .

In order to publicize its activities the Commission takes part
in specialist exhibitions, organizes conferences, seminars
and other events designed to raise public awareness,
distributes brochures, leaflets, etc . and regularly publishes a WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 82 / 93
bulletin entitled ' Innovation and Technology Transfer '.

by Mr Richard Balfe ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission intends to step up its publicity campaigns
in the future . It also considers that the effectiveness of its ( 17
action would be multiplied if there were a network of relay ( 93 / C
centres made up of national bodies responsible for
disseminating and exploiting research results . SMEs in
particular would thus have easier access to Community
RTD activities and their results . Subject : Smoking on aircraft

( 17 February 1 993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 31 )

Bearing in mind the European Year Against Cancer and the
number of European citizens now flying regularly in

/

No C 264 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

aircraft, can the Commission state whether any studies have be guaranteed a seat in the no-smoking area of the
been undertaken or regulations planned to set down aircraft .
standards for air circulation and ventilation in passenger
cabins ?

3 . The Commission is aware of the situation raised by the
Honourable Member concerning the levels of ozone . Studies
have also shown the additive effect of ozone and

environmental tobacco smoke, especially in the case of high
altitude long-haul flights ( above 9 000 meters ).

Is the Commission willing to publish a list of those European environmental tobacco smoke, especially in the case of high
Community aircraft carriers which have banned smoking on altitude long-haul flights ( above 9 000 meters ).
flights within the European Community and to commend
these airlines as those which should be used by Commission,
Parliament and other staff working for the Commission ? 4 . and 5 . Within the framework of health and safety at
work, Directive 89 / 391 / EEC ( 2 ) which came into force at the
beginning of this year and which applies to all sectors of
activity gives the employer 'a duty to ensure the safety and
health in every aspect related to work ' ( Article 5(1 )) ' and to
take measures necessary for the safety and health protection
of workers, including prevention of occupational risk . . .'
Joint answer to Written Questions ( Article 6 ( 1 )).

Nos 181 / 93 and 182 / 93

given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

1 . A number of studies have been undertaken by
independent bodies, concerning air quality aboard aircraft .
These have identified as problem areas for crew and
passengers ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, ozone,
air quality, low humidity and the blue light hazard .

2 . On 8 October 1992, the International Civil Aviation
Organization ( ICAO ) adopted a Resolution concerning
smoking on all international passenger flights, to enter into
force on 1 July 1996 . It is expected that this Resolution will
be widely respected . In the European Community, Council
resolution 189 of 18 July 1989 invites Member States to ban
or restrict smoking within clearly defined areas on all public
transport . The Community had recourse to this non binding
instrument because the EEC Treaty does not confer a
specific competence to act in public health matters .
Nevertheless, an interim report ( ') drawn up by the
Commission, concludes that there is an encouraging trend
for a general extension of the ban on smoking in European
flights . France, Spain and Greece, introduced bans on a
territorial and time basis ( two hours maximum in France,
one and a half hours in Spain ). In addition, a number of
airlines have also banned smoking on all their domestic
flights (^ British Airways, Alitalia, Luxair ).

In order to complete these general provisions for the
transport sector, the Commission has recently submitted a
proposal concerning the minimum safety and health
requirements for transport activities and workplaces on
means of transport ( 3 ). This proposal would set a
requirement for ventilation of enclosed workplaces, with an
adaptation period of three years for existing workplaces .
The draft text states ' steps shall be taken to ensure that there
is sufficient fresh air in enclosed workplaces having regard
to the working methods used and the physical demands
placed on workers '.

The Commission does not have a full list of airlines which

have introduced smoking bans .

(!) SEC(92 ) 1979 final .

( 2 ) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1986 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 25, 28 . 1 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 188 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 32 )
The Commission attaches the highest priority to the
reduction of tobacco consumption and in particular the
protection of non-smokers . It encourages all kinds of
initiatives at Community and national level in order to bring Subject : Removal market of unsafe products
about a general ban on smoking on European flights which,
in addition to protecting the non-smokers, would also
contribute to safety on board . EEC rules the removal of

Subject : Removal of unsafe products from the Community

market

on . EEC rules on the removal of unsafe products from the

Community market are not being applied and most of the
required European standards have not yet been adopted .
The Commission is also looking into the possibility of Does the Commission intend to take action on this and
ensuring that on intra-Community flights non-smokers can when ?

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 19

Answer given by Mr Bangemann interested parties such as representatives of consumers and

on behalf of the Commission workers .

( IS June 1993 )

(!) OJ No L 187, 16 . 7 . 1988 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 228, 11 . 8 . 1992 .

The Community provides a wide variety of mechanisms to

alert Member States to the presence of unsafe products on
the market including rapid alert information mechanisms
and safeguard clauses . However, the responsibility for
removing the unsafe products from the market rests with the
Member States .

The use of such mechanisms should be distinguished from
the normal market surveillance by Member States in the
framework of which they have to ensure that only products
which do comply with Community provisions are put onto
the market . Member States can in addition, also act in
respect of products which are not covered by specific
Community technical regulations, for instance on the basis
of Article 36 of the EEC Treaty .

In line with Community legislation the Commission only
has knowledge of interventions on the market where such
intervention is followed up by measures taken at
Community level in the light of procedures specifically
foreseen to this effect . As an example, under the safeguard
mechanism in the Directive 88 / 378 / EEC on the safety of
toys 0 ), which entered into force on 1 January 1990, the
Commission has received 67 notifications where Member

States have withdrawn the products from the market
invoking the safeguard clause .

Under the Community system for the rapid exchange of
information on dangers arising from the use of consumer
products, set up in 1984, Member States inform the
Commission when they decide to take measures against a
product which presents a ' serious and immediate ' danger .
The information received is subsequently passed on to all
the other Member States to enable them to act immediately .
For operational reasons, the system is separated into two
networks : food and non-food products . In the non-food
sector 63 notifications concerning dangerous products were
received in 1992 . In the food sector the Commission receives

approximately 20 notifications every year .

The role of the rapid exchange system, which has been
incorporated into the General Product Safety Directive
92 / 59 / EEC ( 2 ), will be enhanced when this Directive
becomes operational in July 1994 . The triggering of the
system actually becomes the first stage of the procedure
which may, in certain circumstances, culminate in a
Community decision which would enable Community - wicfe
emergency situations to be dealt with in an efficient and
coordinated way .

European standards are an important tool for improving the
safety of products, even if they are not obligatory . The
European standards organizations have recently adopted in
close cooperation and consultation with the Commission
various measures to improve the output and quality of
standards, such as internal quality control, evaluation by
independent experts, strict monitoring and reporting of
progress of technical work, common workshops,
information materials, and the further participation of

WRITTEN QUESTION No 189 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 33

»

Subject : Veterinary checks at internal borders

\

So far the Member States have shown no inclination, since
the single market came into operation, to abolish all
veterinary checks at internal borders immediately . Will the
Commission look into this important issue forthwith ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

/

The Honourable Member will be satisfied with to know that

the Commission expresses already its greatest interest for
the suppression of the veterinary internal border checks of
the Community .

According to the veterinary provisions in force and
information at the disposal of the Commission, there are
veterinary internal border checks of the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 190 / 93

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

( 17 February 1 993 )

93 / C 264 / 34

Subject : VAT payments

1 January 1993 has apparently marked the beginning of a
period allowing substantial scope for VAT fraud on imports
and exports . Does the Commission intend to take any
additional measures to deal with this ?

No C 264 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 June 1993 )

The Commission shares the Honourable Member 's concern

that the abolition of fiscal frontiers within the Community

systems . Under Article 3 ( 3 ) of Council Directive 92 / 12 / EEC
of 25 February 1992 ( J ) Member States retain the right to
maintain such taxes provided that they involve no border
crossing formalities — and, of course, always provided that
they meet the requirements of existing Community law .

Against that background, it should be pointed out that, in its
role as guardian of the Treaty, the Commission has already
brought successful actions against Greece for breach of its
obligations in its taxation of motor vehicles including its
discriminatory antipollution regulations and its tax base
discriminating against imported cars .

should not lead to an increase in VAT fraud . The role as guardian of the Treaty, the Commission has already
transitional VAT system was indeed designed to ensure that brought successful actions against Greece for breach of its
Member States at all times have the closest possible fiscal obligations in its taxation of motor vehicles including its
control over the intra-Community supplies and acquisitions discriminatory antipollution regulations and its tax base
made by their traders . It is, moreover, underpinned by a discriminating against imported cars .
number of other measures designed to reinforce control and
the right against fraud at Member State and Community Moreover, the Commission, recognizing that the
level . application of these unharmonized taxes can cause
difficulties for private citizens in an internal market, is
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 218 / 92 ( a ) on administrative currently reviewing the position to determine whether
cooperation in the field of indirect taxation provides a further action is necessary in this field .
framework within which the Member States and the

commission work closely together to ensure a systematic (!) OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992 .
exchange of VAT control information, through a
computerized VAT Information Exchange System ( VIES ).
The regulation supplements the provisions of Directive
77 / 799 / EEC ( 2 ) on mutual assistance in tax matters, which
provides for a range of other collaboration and exchanges of
information between tax administrations . The legislation
also provides for continuous monitoring of the system by WRITTEN
the Commission and the Member States, with the aim of by Mr lb
constantly improving the arrangements and providing a

to the Commission of

rapid and flexible response to developments .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 222 / 93

by Mr lb Christensen ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1993 )

H OJ No L 24, 1 . 2 . 1992 . ( 93 / C 264 / 36 )
( 2 ) OJ No L 336, 27 . 12 . 1977

Subject ; Research into wood, wood-based materials and

cork

Whereas in the past, separate research programmes were

WRITTEN QUESTION No 191 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 35 )

Subject : Simplification of vehicle tax

Greece has not yet simplified its system of vehicle tax in line
with Community legislation and has retained the ' special
consumer tax '. Will the Commission propose that the Greek

authorities simplify their system of vehicle tax immediately
in the interests of harmonization ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

devoted to wood and cork ( the first, second and third wood
research programmes ), in the third framework programme
they received only a token mention, in spite of a detailed
document submitted by a specialist group . In the working
document on the fourth framework programme ( DKR
117,6 billion ) there is no direct reference at all to wood,
wood-based products and cork .

r           Why are the wood industries — those industries based on
the treatment and use of wood, wood-based products and
cork — not specified in the Commission 's working
document on the fourth framework programme

( 1994 — 1998 ) as an area for research and development on
the same basis as the industries which are mentioned there .

viz . Industrial non-food uses of agricultural products, »
fisheries and aquaculture ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

j

Special taxes on motor vehicles, such as registration and The working document of the Commission concerning the
. circulation taxes, are a normal feature of Member States ' tax fourth framework programme of Community activities in

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 21

the field of research and technological development Non-Nuciear Energy R&D programme which looks
( 1994 — 1998 ) includes research on wood and wood based promising, although it is still at a preliminary stage . It should products ( including cork ) in the core theme No 28 : be mentioned, however, that this technology may well be
' Industrial non-food uses of agricultural products : suited only for those areas where the direct component of
Bioenergy '. solar radiation prevails, such as in the sunny regions of the
Community .
The term wood is not explicitly mentioned because wood
and cork are part of non-food biological raw materials . The Commission would be able to support a demonstration
project for this technology if the results of the research and
development indicate this would be justified .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 240 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 258 / 93

( 23 February 1993 ) by Mr Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

( 93 / C 264 / 37 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

i

Subject : Plan for the development of new technology for

photovoltaic solar energy generation within six

years

In an article entitled ' Solar Energy, for When ?', a Spanish
scientist with extensive experience in photovoltaic solar
energy generation claims that using concentration
technology, electricity could be generated at a cost of
approximately 10 Ptas per kilowatt-hour ( based on the
climate in Madrid ) and for as little as 7 Ptas in more suitable
climates such as that in Almeria ( where a symposium on
solar energy was recently held by the European Energy
Foundation ). Although these costs are still somewhat
unattractive, they are worthy of consideration from an
economic point of view .

Using this as a basis, the research scientist Mr Luque Lopez
has put forward a plan to develop the technology of
photovoltaic concentration in Spain within a period of six
years : two years to build the basic prototype ( 300 million
Ptas ); two years for the development of a 10 MW pilot plant
(4 000 million Ptas ) and finally ' the creation within two
years of 100 MW generating capacity at a competitive cost
of 17 000 million Ptas '.

In the light of other experience in this area, does the
Commission believe such a programme to be viable ? If so,
would it be eligible for substantial support from the
Commission ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1993 )

/

The Commission believes that photovoltaic concentration is
a promising renewable energy technology and is carrying
out important R&D activities in this field . Professor Luque
Lopez, who was mentioned in the question, has in fact
developed a new concentration device in the Commission 's

( 23 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 38 )

Subject : Introduction of regulations on the production of

fructose from inulin

1 . Is it true that the Commission is about to propose
regulations restricting the production of fructose from
inulin, with the basis for calculating such restrictions laid
down as ( a ) actual production by the undertakings
concerned between 1 July 1992 and 30 June 1993 and ( b )
capacities installed in 1992 ?

2 . If so,

— if the reference basis is the theoretical production

capacity at 1 October 1992, how does the Commission
intend to verify that declarations are valid ?

— if the reference basis is actual production from 1 July

1992 to 30 June 1993, how does the Commission
answer the charge that the introduction of quotas could
lead to a distortion of competition in this market ? Is the
Commission not running the risk of favouring those
who entered the market for the first time in 92— 93 and
artificially boosted their fructose production
( speculating on the imposition of quotas ) and are
therefore currently selling at a loss, while at the same
time penalizing those who have formulated a sensible
industrial strategy in order to respect the market
equilibrium and avoid abusing the CAP ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1993 )

1 . So far the Commission has proposed no measures to
the Council to restrict the production of inulin syrup, which

No C 264 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

is generally made from chicory . However, it has just
presented a proposal to the Council and the Parliament on
the one hand entailing the renewal without change for the

1993 / 94 marketing year of the production arrangements
currently applicable to sugar and isoglucose and on the
other hand announcing that if such arrangements are to
apply as from 1 July 1994, they will be extended with the
necessary changes to the production of inulin syrup ( 1 ). The
Commission has thus proposed that the Council say as of
now that in this case the quotas will be determined in
particular by reference to production in the period 1 July

airlines ). These new forms of employment have many
disadvantages . They divide workers as a social group, curb
trade union demands, reinforce discrimination between
female and male jobs, and circumvent laws and
international agreements providing for social benefits,
insurance, pensions, etc . In view of all this, will the
Commission take steps in this important area to ensure that
atypical forms of employment are covered by labour and
insurance law as soOn as possible ?

1992 to 30 June 1993, adjusting this, where necessary by
taking account of actual production capacity available at

1 October 1992 . Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1993 )
2 . There is therefore no question of referring simply to
theoretical production capacity at 1 October 1992 since the
prerequisite for an enterprise to be eligible for a quota will

The Commission has already

be actual reference production in 1992 / 93 using production

problems indicated by the

capacity in place for the purpose by 1 October 1992 at the
latest . Concerning part-time employment

The problem raised by the Honourable Member has arisen
in the past every time the Community has laid down special
production rules . An example of this was isoglucose .
However, the Commission does not share the Honourable
Member 's opinion that certain enterprises have necessarily
speculated on the introduction of quotas by exaggerating
their production in 1992 / 93, since the latter idea has only
been formally contemplated since the last Commission
proposal was made in December 1992 .

The Commission has already shown its interest for the
problems indicated by the Honourable Member .
Concerning part-time employment, fixed-term and
temporary employment (' atypical workers ') the
Honourable Member could refer to the proposals for
Council Directives on certain employment relationships
with regard to working conditions and with regard to
distortions of competition ( ! ). These proposals are still
pending before the Council .

speculated on the introduction of quotas by exaggerating As already stressed in the reply to Written Question
their production in 1992 / 93, since the latter idea has only No 2039 / 92 ( 2 ), the protection of ' atypical workers ' is of
been formally contemplated since the last Commission much importance for the realization of the social . dimension
proposal was made in December 1992 . of the internal market . The Commission considers that the

additional possibilities the Treaty of Maastricht has given to
(!) OJ No C 30, 3 . 2 . 1993 . the in this social matter partners . could be one impetus for further progress

WRITTEN QUESTION No 280 / 93

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

( 24 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 39 )

Subject : Atypical forms of employment

Atypical forms of employment have increased especially in
recent years in Greece and other Community countries
among the unskilled or semi-skilled ( mainly female )
workforce who have the fewest opportunities for vocational
training, low wages, and fewer or no social benefits . These
are atypical forms of employment which are not covered by
the law : piece work, contract work, jobs with several
workplaces ( teachers giving home tuition, cleaning workers,
etc .), casual work, job sharing and shiftwork ( seafarers,

a

As far as homeworking is concerned, the Commission has
set up a working group which is currently preparing a
report . It should be completed by July 1993 . What kind of
further measures could be taken depends on the results of
the report .

As stated in its action programme relating to the
implementation of the Community Charter of Basic Social
Rights for Workers, wage setting is in the Commission 's
view a matter for the Member States and the two sides of

industry alone . Nonetheless, the Commission considers that
in this field it does have responsibility to assert its views on
an important problem for a not inconsiderable proportion
of the working population by delivering an opinion . In its
draft opinion, the Commission asserted that the
Community should seek ways of eliminating discriminatory
wage practices and that attitudes to traditionally low-paid
groups should be re-assessed and discrimination combatted
in a variety of ways, including legislation .

(!) COM(90 ) 228 final ( SYN280 and SYN 281 ) of 13 August 1990

and COM(90 ) 533 final ( SYN 280 and SYN 281 ) of 31 October

1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 95, 5 . 4 . 1993 .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 282 / 93 banks, although the number of employees working for the

Mr Sotiris NI major banks is relatively high .

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

Two tables showing the numbers of banks and their
( 24 February 1993 ) branches will be sent direct to the Honourable Member and
( 93 / C 264 / 40 to Parliament 's Secretariat .

Subject : Number of banks and bank employees in the

Community

Branch Automation in Europe have produced statistical
data forecasting that from 1995 there will be a substantial
reduction in the number of banks and in the total number of
bank employees . A crucial factor in this process will be the
introduction of automatic banking services and PC
notepads . Does the Commission have estimates available for
the fall in the number of banks and their employees as a
result of technological innovation, in the Member States and
in Greece separately ? Can the Commission also say whether
there are any estimates of the impact that the Single Market
will have on the Community 's banks and their
employees .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 295 / 93

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 February 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 41 )

Subject : European Community regulations on bus
services

There is a widespread feeling in the United Kingdom that
local buses which provide parents with a reliable service for
their children to reach school may be affected, or even
banned, by proposed European Community legislation .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen Is this true ?

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

In its 1992 report ' Employment in Europe ', the Commission
analyses the trend of employment in the service sector,
including financial services ( Chapter 4 ). The report notes
that employment in financial services varies widely between
the Member States and is furthermore concentrated in

certain regions, where it accounts for over 5 % of total
employment . Financial services employment increased by an
annual average of 3% during the 1980s and contributed

13% to employment growth in the service sector . The
report concludes that it is open to question whether
financial services will play a similar role in the 1990s and
beyond . The spread of automation coupled with
rationalization, stimulated by increasing competition within
the industry, could lead to reduced manpower needs and
even a decline in employment in future years . On the other
hand, the effects of the increasing demand for financial
services which seems to accompany economic growth and
which was very evident in the 1980s, could outweigh these
tendencies .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 June 1993 )

Local coach or bus passenger services in the Member States
are not affected by Community legislation, existing or
proposed .

There are only two provisions in Community law that
concern coach or bus services for school children :

one exempts from authorization the international
carriage of school pupils and students between the home
and the educational institution as long as the service is
covered by a contract between the organizer and the
carrier ( Article 2 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 684 / 92 ) ( x );

which was very evident in the 1980s, could outweigh these the other allows cabotage without authorization in the
tendencies . case of the carriage of students and school pupils

between home and the educational institution in a

frontier area ( Article 3 of Regulation ( EEC ) No
Taking the position in Greece, it should be added that the 2454 / 92 ) ( 2 ).
number of banks there remains small and is lower than that
in countries of a similar size . The trend referred to by the (!) OJ No L 74, 20 . 3 . 1992 .
Honourable Member is real enough in certain Member ( 2 ) OJ No L 251, 29 . 8 . 1992 .
States where the banking system is highly developed, but
there is no reason to believe that it will also make itself felt in

Greece, which is still significantly underendowed with

(!) OJ No L 74, 20 . 3 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 251, 29 . 8 . 1992 .

No C 264 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 323 / 93

by Mr Friedrich Merz ( PPE )

by Mr Reimer Boge ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 334 / 93

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

(1 March 1993 ) (2 March 1993 )

(1 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 42 ( 93 / C 264 / 43 )

Subject : Stainless steel pipes from Italy

Since mid-1991, Italian manufacturers of stainless steel
piping have reportedly been marketing their products at
dumping prices .

1 . Does the Commission know whether, and to what
extent, Italian manufacturers of stainless steel piping are
receiving subsidies from the Italian Government ?

2 . Are they receiving subsidies from Community funds,

and if so, how much ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

Subject : Fisheries policy in the Baltic Sea

As a result of developments in the field of maritime law, the
German trawler fleet has lost most of its traditional Baltic

fishing grounds . At the same time, it has been greatly
affected by the reduction in fishing capacity .

Is it possible for the Commission to take account of the
special situation affecting the German trawler fleet by
opening negotiations with Poland and the Baltic states, in
order to give German trawlers access to the fishing grounds
in question so that they are at least able to catch their own
quota ?

Can the Commission say whether use could be made in this
connection, of the customary form of fisheries agreement
with third countries or of a reciprocal arrangement, for
example granting Polish and Baltic fishing fleets access to
herring stocks in EC waters ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

1 . Stainless steel piping comes under the framework for
certain steel sectors not covered by the ECSC Treaty . The on behalf of the Commission
framework allows Member States to grant aid under ( 16 April 1993 )
Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty as part of general,
specific or regional aid schemes .
The Commission has repeatedly approached the Polish
authorities with a proposal to conclude a fisheries
It also provides that Member States must notify the agreement, but Poland has so far shown no interest .
Commission in advance of all aid schemes concerning
the subsectors of seamless tubes and large welded tubes The Commission and initialled in mid - 1992

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 April 1993 )

(0 - 406,4 mm ), to enable it to form an opinion on
the planned measures . The Commission has not so far
authorized any aid to Italian manufacturers of such
products .

The Commission negotiated and initialled in mid - 1992
fisheries agreements with the three Baltic republics . The
ratification procedure has been concluded recently and
arrangements will be agreed early in 1993 . A reciprocal
access arrangement is foreseen in these agreements .

For the other products covered by the framework, Member The Commission is preparing for the conclusion of a
States must supply the Commission twice a year with fisheries agreement with the Russian Federation .
reports on aid disbursed . Aid may be granted without fresh,
separate notification under general or regional aid schemes
already cleared by the Commission . To date, the Italian
Government has not communicated to the Commission any
information on aid actually disbursed to manufacturers of WRITTEN QUESTION No 338 / 93
these products .
by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )

2 Since the 1988 reform of the Structural Funds the to the Commission of the European Communities

2 . Since the 1988 reform of the Structural Funds, the
European Regional Development Fund has helped finance
programmes submitted by the Member States, which are
responsible for managing the activities supported by the
programmes . As far as the Commission is aware, no aid has
been granted to manufacturers of stainless steel piping
under the ERDF . The ECSC Treaty does not provide for
subsidized loans ( promotion of steel consumption ) to be
granted to producers of stainless steel piping .

(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 44 )

Subject : Situation in the European iron and steel
industry

According to my information, the Commission has
provided for a package of social measures to accompany the
restructuring called for by the present crisis in the iron and
steel industry .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 25

Under this scheme, ECU 9 000 per worker would be
allocated for the dismissal or retraining of 50 000
workers .

1 . Will the ECU 9 000 be paid directly to the workers

affected by the restructuring measures ? If not, to whom
will they be paid ?

2 . Between what dates will dismissed workers be entitled

to claim the benefit ?

3 . From whom should workers request information
concerning the scheme and to whom should they apply
for benefit ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

It is true that, in view of the wave of restructuring expected
in the Community iron and steel industry, the Commission
did decide, at the end of April, to introduce a programme of
aid ( social measures ) to back up the ' accompanying social
measures ' and to be awared as part of a special programme
over and above the aid usually provided under the ECSC
Treaty .

These social measures, with which the European Social

increase the safety of sewage systems aboard ferries and to
strengthen the safety systems aboard ferries which come
into operation during storms . Does the Commission not
believe that it is time a European Code of Practice for
Passenger Ferries was introduced in order that passengers
might be assured that these ferries are a safe form of
transport ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(1 5 June 1 993 )

Following a request made by Ireland, the Maritime Safety
Committee of the International Maritime Organization
decided in December 1992, to include an item on ' Standards
for the design and construction of sewage systems on ships '
in the work programme of one of its sub-committees, with a
target completion date in 1995 .

In its communication, 'A common policy on safe seas ' (*),
the Commission stresses that rule making must remain
international as much as possible . In accordance with this
policy the Commission is of the opinion that the
Community should give the utmost support to adoption of
appropriate rules in IMO to improve sewage systems . The
Commission will coordinate the positions of the Member
States once the technical investigation has been completed at
sub-committee level .

Fund is also associated, are clearly described in the
Communication from the Commission to the Council and H COM(93 ) 66 .

European Parliament, ' Towards greater « competitiveness in
the steel industry : the need for further restructuring ' ( 1 ).

They are also mentioned in document COM(93 ) 178, which
sets out details of the practical arrangements and thus
provides answers to the Honourable Member 's questions .
This document has been submitted to the Council,
European Parliament and ECSC Consultative Committee
and is to be published in the Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 355 / 93

by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

(!) SEC(92 ) 2160 final . ( 93 / C 264 / 46

Subject : Transfer or Undertakings Directive

WRITTEN QUESTION No 346 / 93

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

What stage has the Commission reached in its Article 169
proceedings against the UK Government in respect of the
Directive 77 / 187 / EEC 0 ) on the approximation of the laws
of Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees '
rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or
parts of businesses ?

(2 March 1993 )

(!) OJ No L 61, 5 . 3 . 1977, p. 26 .
( 93 / C 264 / 45

Subject : Safety on passenger ferries

Following the deaths of passengers aboard the
Cork-Swansea ferry in the summer and the more recent
injury of a number of passengers aboard the Dun
Laoghaire-Holyhead ferry, could the Commission inform
me whether it has any plans to introduce legislation both to

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

The Commission brought an action against the United
Kingdom ( Case C-3 82 / 92 ) before the Court of Justice of the

4

No C 264 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

European Community on 21 October 1992 . The
Commission maintains that the Transfer of Undertakings
( Protection of Employment ) Regulations fail to implement
the Transfers of Undertakings Directive correctly in respect
of Article 6 ( i ) and ( ii ) ( provision for workers '
representatives and the obligations of information and
consultation ), limit the scope of the Directive and fail to
provide effective sanctions to ensure employers fulfil their
obligations under the Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 396 / 93

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muni ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 48 )

Subject : Inquiry into human rights in Cameroon

The hearing is likely to take place before the end of the Has the Commission taken note of the communique
year . recently issued by the Cameroon Minister Mr Augustin
Kontchou in which he said he supported an inquiry into the
human rights situation in Cameroon, as called for by
Parliament in its resolution of 17 December 1992 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 362 / 93

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 March 1-993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 47 )

Subject : Guatemala

What progress has been made on the project to assist 1400
families recently settled in the Pacific area with agricultural
production and basic facilities such as water and health ?

How does the Commission intend to evaluate the human

rights situation in the country while the project is
continuing ?

How will the Commission evaluate the success of this

project ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

                                                                                                                                                              ( 23 June 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

,                                                                                          ( 18 June 1993 )

At the end of December the Cameroonian authorities lifted
the State of Emergency in the North West Province, released
the 177 detainees and ended the house arrest of Mr John Fru
Ndi . In a statement on 11 January the Community and its
Member States welcomed these steps and noted the offer by
the government to let an EC Enquiry Commission visit
Cameroon . They also urged both the government and the
opposition to seize the opportunity to normalize the
situation throughout the country and not take actions which
might create new tensions .

Finally, the Community and its Member States expressed
their continuing concern at allegations of recent human
rights violations and called on the government to institute
inquiries into these cases .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 4 1 1 / 93
The authorities in Guatemala are well aware of the
continuing concern of the Community and its Member by Mr Christian de la Malène and Mr Carlos

by Mr Christian de la Malène and Mr Carlos Perreau de

States about violations of human rights in Guatemala .

Pinninck Domenech ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

This concern was reiterated at the ninth San Jose ministerial (5 March 1993 )
conference in February this year, at which the financing ( 93 / C 264 / 49 )
agreement relating to the project referred to in the
Honourable Member 's question was signed . The
Commission is now recruiting the specialists required .

( 93 / C 264 / 49 )

Subject : Problems of interior policy in the Community

The Commission will employ a number of expatriate
European staff to work on the project on a permanent basis .
There are also plans for occasional follow-up and
monitoring missions, some of which will be undertaken by
the Commission itself, others by independent experts .

In view of the risk that the abolition of controls at the

Community 's internal borders may facilitate illegal
international activities, can the Commission give details of
the future operation of Europol and forms of cooperation
between the judiciary and police authorities and how these
are to be developed within the framework of the Treaty of
Maastricht ?

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 27

Answer given by Mr Flynn resolution prompts the following questions to the

/ on behalf of the Commission Commission :

(1 1 June 1 993 ) 1 What supply strategies for the Community has the

As the Commission explained on 21 January 1993 during
the debate on Mr Van Outrive 's report on Europol, this
question should be addressed to the Presidency, since it
concerns a matter of intergovernmental cooperation
between the Member States . The Honourable Members
might find it useful to refer to the record of this debate, and '
in particular to Mrs Scrivener 's contribution (*), where they
will find confirmation that the future operation of Europol
and, in particular, forms of cooperation between the
judiciary and the police authorities are currently being
studied in preparation for the future convention .

When the Treaty on European Union comes into force
police cooperation, including the establishment of Europol,
will be a ' matter of common interest ' ( Article K. 1 ( 9 )). The

Commission will be fully associated with this work ( Article
K. 4 ( 2 )) but will not have the right of initiative ; this will be
reserved for the Member States ( Article K. 3 ( 2 ), second
indent ), on whose initiative the Council may adopt joint
positions and joint action or draw up conventions to
recommend to Member States for adoption in accordance
with their respective constitutional requirements ( Article
K. 3 ( 2 ), second indent, points ( a ), ( b ) and ( c )). As in the case
of other matters covered by Title VI of the Treaty, the
European Parliament will be regularly informed by the
Presidency and the Commission, and consulted by the
Presidency on the principal aspects of this activity ( Article
K. 6, first and second paragraphs ).

( J ) Verbatim report of debates, 21 January 1993, pp
352 — 354 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 417 / 93

by Detlev Samland, Johannes Peters ( S ), Günter Rinsche

( PPE ), Hiltrud Breyer ( V ), Dieter Schinzel ( S ), Doris Pack
( PPE ), Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Wilhelm Piecyk, Christa
Randzio-Plath, Heinz Köhler, Günter Lüttge, Willi Görlach,
Kurt Vittinghoff, Dieter Rogalla, Klaus Hänsch, Barbara
Simons, Gepa Maibaum, Lissy Gröner, Günter Topmann,
Helwin Peter, Klaus Wettig, Thomas von der Vring,

Annemarie Kuhn and Karin Junker ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 50 )

Subject : Questions on the implementation of the report on

European policy on coal ( A3-0333 / 91 )

The European Parliament adopted the Garcia Arias report

on the European policy on coal on 12 March 1992 { l ). The

2

3

Commission developed and to what extent has it taken
account of the establishment of suitable quotas for
assistance in the Member States ( subject to the
individual geographic, economic and regional policy
situation ) in the interest of security of supply ?

What provisions has the Commission made to ensure
that the different types of State aid, which affect the
production costs and price of all sources of energy, are
transparent and comparable ? Has the Commission
carried out an international comparative study of the
social and environmental protection measures in the
coal sector in order to enable a more objective
assessment of the production costs in the various
exporting countries ?

In its preliminary work for a new decision on aid, has the
Commission established any criteria for assessing the
real strategic value of Community coal which quantify
the security of supply value and the global economic
value of mining taking account of social and
environmental costs ?

OJ No C 94, 13 . 4 . 1992, p. 146 .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

1 . The Community 's energy strategy, as set out in the
Council resolution of September 1986 (*), is currently being
reexamined as part of the setting up of the internal energy
market . It should continue in essence to be based upon the
search for constantly more efficient energies, appropriate
diversification of supplies and, where appropriate,
preference being given to the use of competitive domestic
energy sources which do not harm the environment . Where,
in order to achieve these aims, the Member States wish to
provide aid the Commission assesses the compatibility of
this with the Treaties in the light of internal criteria or
specific systems which take due account of the dependability
of supplies and of the specific economic and regional
features of the measures put forward .

2 . The Commission would note with regard to the
problems besetting coal, that the Community 's industry is
unable to compete with imported coal because of
unfavourable geological conditions . The Commission
would again point out with regard to the social or
environmental cost that the great majority of imports comes
from partners within the IEA, whose standards in this area
are very close to Community practice .

3 . Since it is aware of the difficulties \ which the

Community coal industry must tackle the Commission
adopted, on 25 November 1992, a draft decision on the
Community system for State aid to the coal industry ( 2 )
intended to follow on from Decision 2065 / 86 / ECSC, which

No C 264 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

is due to expire on 31 December 1993 . This proposal, which
is to receive the assent of the Council, is intended to improve
the economic performance of that sector against a backdrop
of reasonable dependability of supplies . The Commission
would also stress the importance of the social and regional
aspects of the problems besetting coal and the need to
provide flexible, gradual and negotiated solutions in order
to meet the needs of restructuring, social adjustment and
industrial redeployment in the declining mining regions .

Regionale d'Investissement Wallone ) to the Interasi
Agrifood Group S. A. in Andenne — Seilles . It was recently
decided ( 29 October 1992 ) to make a total aid payment of
Bfrs 970 million .

Clearly this is placing other companies at a competitive
disadvantage .

Is this aid in accordance with Article 92 et seq . of the
(!) OJ No C 241, 25 . 9 . 1986 . Treaty ?

( 2 ) SEC(92 ) 2553 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 421 / 93

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

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 51 )

;

Subject : Charter for the Elderly

In the context of the European Year of the Elderly, could the
Commission inform me whether it has any intention to
introduce a Charter for the Elderly, setting out the basic
rights of the Elderly, which would be of great assistance to
elderly organizations long after the Year of the Elderly
activities have ceased ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

Was the Commission informed of the aid ?

What steps will the Commission take if this proves to be an
infringement of the Treaty of Rome ?

Should an interim order not be issued for the immediate

suspension of the aid ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

Following a Commission request, the Belgian authorities
notified the Commission of aid for the SA Groupe Interagri

company .

The Commission is currently seeking additional
information with a view to examining the compatibility of
this aid with the common market within the meaning of
Article 92 of the EEC Treaty .

The Commission will give an opinion on the aid in question
in the light of Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty .

There is no Commission proposal on a charter for the
elderly . But following the discussions in the informal
meeting of Social Affairs Ministers in Copenhagen on
27 —28 January, work is being undertaken with
representatives of the Member States to examine the
possibility of defining a number of common policy
objectives in this field . WRITTEN QUESTION No 426 / 93

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 53
WRITTEN QUESTION No 422 / 93

by Mr Karel De Gucht ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 52 )

Subject : Payment of aid by Wallonia

For several years, Wallonia has been paying aid through the
Walloon Regional Public Investment Company ( Societe

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with directives
concerning customs and indirect taxation

The Spanish government is failing to comply with a number
of directives concerning customs and indirect taxation in
particular the following :

Directive 91 / 342 / EEC (') on the facilitation of physical
inspections and administrative formalities in respect of the

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 29

carriage of goods between Member States . What was the
overall situation in this sector at the end of 1992 ?

law (*) which includes information on the application of the
Wild Birds Directive in Ireland .

(!) OJ No L 187, 13 . 7 . 1991, p. 47 . As the report makes clear, the Commission does not give
publicity to complaints, since it guarantees the
confidentiality of complainants . Equally the chances of a

Answer given by Mr Delors satisfactory result from discussions with Member States are
on behalf of the Commission increased by the absence of publicity for such

discussions .

(4 June 1993 )

The Commission can however reassure the Honourable

In general terms, the situation in Spain at the end of 1992 Member that it keeps complainants informed of
with regard to the transposition of the directives on indirect developments concerning their complaints, including the
taxation and customs was satisfactory in that all the results of discussions with Member States and the sending of
directives had, on the whole, been transposed properly into any Article 169 letter based on their complaints .
national law, with Community law being infringed in only a
few cases . (!) COM(93 ) 320 .

With particular regard to Directive 91 / 342 / EEC, which

amends Directive 83 / 634 / EEC on the facilitation of physical
inspections and administrative formalities in respect of the
carriage of goods between Member States, no complaints to
the effect that this Directive is possibly being applied
incorrectly by the Spanish authorities have been brought to
the attention of the competent Commission departments . In
any event, it should the pointed out that these two Directives
were repealed with effect from 1 January 1993 following
implementation of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2726 / 90 of 17
September 1990 on Community transit ( 1 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 454 / 93

' by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 55 )

OJ No L 262, 26 . 9 . 1990 . Subject : Resignation of the Portuguese National
Coordinator of the NOW initiative

/

WRITTEN QUESTION No 448 / 93

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 54

Subject : The Wild Birds Directive

Can the Commission state whether it has received a reply
from the Irish authorities to a complaint ( Ref . 582 / 92 )
relating to the implementation of the hunting provision of
the Wild Birds Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (•)?

If not, what action will the Commission take to ensure that
such a reply is forthcoming ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 June 1993 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission 's
latest report on the control of the application of Community

Following the reorganization of the European Vocational
Training Institute and the redeployment of staff, the
Portuguese National Coordinator for the NOW initiative
tended his resignation on the grounds that the conditions
under which the meetings were being held were
unfavourable for the effective development of the NOW
initiative in Portugal .

This resignation, a serious matter in itself, is all the more
significant in view of the recognized experience and
specialist abilities of the present incumbent .

What is the Commission 's reaction to this resignation,
which calls into question the development of significant

Community initiatives ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 June 1993 )

The Commission has just been informed that the Portuguese
coordinator of the NOW initiative has tendered her

resignation and that the staff responsible for implementing
the initiative have been redeployed .

The appointment of the national coordinators and the
selection of support structures for implementing the

No C 264 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Community 's ' human resources ' initiatives are the
responsibility of the Member States .

However, the Commission will do whatever is necessary
under the partnership arrangements to help ensure the
success of the NOW initiative in Portugal .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 455 / 93

by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 56 )

Subject : Further disappearance of native language from

labels ?

Following the Commission 's answer to my Written
Question No 313 / 92 (*) on the interpretation of Article 14
of Council Directive 79 / 112 / EEC ( 2 ) of 18 December 1978
on the approximation of legislation in the Member States
concerning the labelling and presentation of foodstuffs :

1 . Given that the Peeters judgment by the Court of Justice
referred to in the answer relates only to the exclusive use
of a given language, it is hard to see what relevance it has
to my proposed amendment to Article 14 which replaces
the words 'a language easily understood by the
purchaser ' with ' at least, the language of the
country '.

2 . According to the same answer, the Council would
examine with great interest a Commission proposal to
amend Article 14 since, ' in the context of the present
wording of Article 14 the requirement that a language be
easily understood by the purchaser is incompatible with
a situation where, in a given region, large sections of the
population did not have access to information on the
content of the foodstuff that they consumed every

Directive 79 / 112 / EEC, particularly in relation to Article 30
of the EEC Treaty .

In addition, the Council ( not the Commission ) concluded in
the answer given to Written Question No 313 / 92 from the
Honourable Member that ' the situation described by the
Honourable Member ' ( i.e. that large sections of the
population would not have access to information ) ' should
not arise if Article 14 is correctly applied '. The Commission
endorses this conclusion .

It acknowledges, however, that the Peeters judgment has
given rise to fears in some Member States regarding the
future of their national languages in relation to the labelling
of foodstuffs . In order to clarify the situation, the
Commission is currently preparing an explanatory
memorandum on the use of languages for the marketing of
foodstuffs which will deal in particular with Article 14 in the
light of the Peeters judgment .

Hence the Commission does not think that there is any need
for Article 14 to be amended at present .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 458 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 57 )

Subject : Edinburgh Council and Objectives 3 and 4 of the

Structural Funds

1 . There is presently no geographical targeting . Is it
intended to target via restrictive selection criteria on the
measures which can be funded ( see COM(92 ) 2000 );

2 . Does the EC intend to pursue its idea of support for

content of the foodstuff that they consumed every ' industrial restructuring ' through linking Objectives 3 and 4

day '. to Objective 2 ? If so, how does the EC intend to resolve the

impact " of EC competition policy ? By making such a
Given the Council 's enthusiasm, when will the Commission proposal sector specific ?
submit a proposal to amend Article 14 of Directive
79 / 112 / EEC ?

day '.

(!) OJ No C 159, 25 . 6 . 1992, p . 60 .

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

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 June 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

1 . In the context of the proposals for regulations
concerning the Structural Funds, no geographical selection
criterion is applied in the case of Objectives 3 and 4 .

2 . (a
In the Peeters j udgment of 1 8 J une 1991, the Court of J ustice
of the European Communities confirmed Article 14 ( 2 ) of

Objective 4 concerns the effects on workers of
industrial changes and changes of production
systems, mainly to be dealt with via vocational

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 3 1

training and retraining . Objective 2 concerns the
regions affected by industrial decline, to be tackled
via investments, economic incentives and
vocational training .

The approach proposed for Objective 4 is
voluntarily of a horizontal nature, i.e. it covers the
economy as a whole, without a priori reference to
industrial sectors or specific regions, while in the
context of Objective 2 the approach is of a regional

nature .

duties under the quota system, and foreign importers of
bananas which are transported overland and are not subject
to any import restrictions ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

Moreover the, approach to industrial problems in The Commission has rejected the Italian Government 's
the two objectives differs from a methodological request for authorization to apply protective measures
viewpoint . Objective 2 focuses on a ' curative ' under Article 115 of the EEC Treaty to bananas which
approach ( reconversion of regions ) while Objective originate in what is termed the dollar zone ( a ), and are
4 — and this is its innovatory feature — focuses on placed in free circulation in the other Member States,
anticipation ( preventive policy ). because its request did not meet the conditions laid down in

Decision 87 / 433 / EEC of 22 July 1987 for such
( b ) Objective 4, as proposed by the Commission, will measures ( 2 ).

take the form of horizontal measures that fully
respect the Community 's competition rules ; the
objective must cover the whole economy, without a
priori reference to specific industries or sectors .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 463 / 93

by Mr Nereo Laroni ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 58 )

Measures adopted under Article 115 of the EEC Treaty
derogate from the EEC Treaty 's basic principle of freedom
of movement of goods within the Community and so can be
authorized only on an exceptional basis .

In accordance with Articles 3 and 5 of the above Decision,
the Commission has always been of the opinion that, for
bananas, the only reasons which can be seen to justify the
granting of measures under Article 115 of the EEC Treaty
are linked with the need to protect banana production in a
Community Member State or to ensure, in accordance with
Protocol 5 to the Lome Convention, the marketing of ACP
States ' bananas on their traditional markets in the

Community within the meaning of that Protocol .

These conditions were not met by Italy 's request since Italy
does not produce bananas and is no longer supplied by
Somalia, the only traditional ACP supplier of its market
under Protocol 5 to the Lome Convention .

Subject : Refusal of authorization for Italy to take protective

measures with regard to the banana market As regards the Italian quota system for banana imports
referred to by the Honourable Member, these restrictive
arrangements apply only to bananas originating in the
Why has the Commission refused to authorize Italy to take dollar zone .
the necessary protective measures under Article 115 of the
Treaty of Rome to protect its banana market as of 1 January The Commission would point out that the Council in its

1993, after giving similar authorization to France and the
United Kingdom ? Present refusal to grant the authorization
cannot be justified by the absence from the Italian market
for over two years of its traditional supplier, Somalia, since
the Commission has always authorized Italy 's protective
measures, up to 31 December 1992 and furthermore other
traditional ACP suppliers have continued to sell their
produce on the Italian market .

The Commission would point out that the Council, in its
Regulation ( EEC ) No 404 / 93 on the common organization
of the market in bananas ( 3 ), established common rules for
imports which will enter into force on 1 July and that these
arrangements involve the abolition of all national measures
concerning banana imports, including Italy 's quota .

The abolition of Italy 's national arrangements is also

produce on the Italian market .

provided for in the Commission proposal amending
Regulation ( EEC ) No 288 / 82 ( 4 ), which is currently being
discussed within the Council .
Why has the Commission amended for Italy alone an
arrangement which has been in force for years, pending the
new regulation on banana imports ? What steps will it take Between now and 1 July, failing adoption by the Council of
to remedy the obvious discrimination and consequent the Commission proposal referred to above, it is for the
distortions of competition between Italian importers of Italian Government, if it so chooses, to take the initiative of
bananas which have arrived by sea and are subject to heavy altering its quota arrangements in line with the procedure

Between now and 1 July, failing adoption by the Council of
the Commission proposal referred to above, it is for the
Italian Government, if it so chooses, to take the initiative of
altering its quota arrangements in line with the procedure

No C 264 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

laid down in Article 20 of Regulation ( EEC ) No
288 / 82 ( 5 ).

Bolivia, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Philippines, United States of America, Venezuela .

not export pigs, fresh pigmeat and certain pigmeat products
to other Member States . It may be decided, however, that
the export ban shall riot apply to one or more parts of a
Member State . Thus by Decision 89 / 21 / EEC ( 4 ) it was made
possible for 14 of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain to
consign live pigs, fresh pigmeat and pigmeat products to
other Member States . The consignments may come from
any part of the territory of these autonomous regions . Three
regions, Andalusia, Extremadura and Castilla y Leon,
however, were allowed only to send consignments from
certain well defined African Swine Fever free areas .
Consignments cannot originate from areas (' the red zone ')
infected by the disease . In 1991, however, pig producers in
certain parts of ' the red zone ' were provided with some
additional trading opportunities by the adoption of
Commission Decision 91 / 112 / EEC ( 5 ).

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

( 5 )

OJ No L 238, 21 . 8 . 1987 .
OJ No L 47, 25 . 2 . 1993 .
COM(92 ) 374 final .
OJ No L 35, 9 . 2 . 1982 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 466 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Council Directive 80 / 215 / EEC on animal health problems

to the Commission of the European Communities affecting intra-Community trade in meat products currently

( 11 March 1993 ) permits only pigmeat products originating in an area under

restriction due to African Swine Fever to enter

( 93 / C 264 / 59

intra-Community trade, when such products have
undergone a well specified heat treatment . A prerequisite for
' permitting intra-Community trade of cured pig meat
Subject : Elimination of the swine fever ' red zone in products from these lareas would be the adoption by the

Andalusia and Extremadura ( Spain ) Council of an amendment to this Directive .

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 59

Andalusia and Extremadura ( Spain )

The request from the Autonomous Communities of
Extremadura and Andalusia in Spain to the European
Community to eliminate the swine fever ' red zone ' has
highlighted the problems caused by restricting the sale of
fresh products from the ' red zone '.

Clearly the incidence of swine fever has been drastically
reduced in the exclusion area and, according to the
Andalusian agricultural authorities, there is no point in
maintaining this barrier against swine fever which mainly
affected the Iberian pig, products of which ( cured ) are now
entering markets such as the United States, where standards
are particularly high .

Is the Commission willing to accept the application by these
Spanish Autonomous Communities to eliminate the swine
fever ' red zone ' in Spain and authorize full and free
Community circulation of products of the Iberian pig, since
swine fever has practically disappeared from the restricted
areas and the products undergo treatment to eliminate all
traces of the disease ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Comparison of the time required for consultation of the
Scientific Veterinary Committee, the European Parliament,
the Social and Economic Committee and Member States

prior to the adoption of an amendment to Directive

80 / 215 / EEC with the time necessary for the final eradication
of African Swine Fever from Spain, results in the conclusion
that a higher priority should be given to eradicating the
disease than to amending existing Community legislation
for the purpose of allowing trade in cured pigmeat products
from a disease affected area .

Within the overall animal health policy of the Community it
must be emphasized that the presence of African Swine
Fever virus in certain local areas of Spain presents a constant
risk, not only to the pig population in Spain outside ' the red
zone ', but to the whole pig population in the Community .
The overall goal is to eliminate African Swine Fever from the
Community and Council Decision 86 / 650 / EEC introducing
a Community financial measure for the eradication of
African Swine Fever in Spain was adopted for this

purpose .

on behalf of the Commission 0 ) OJ No 121, 29 . 7 . 1964 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 302, 31 . 12 . 1972

( 18 May 1993 ) ( 3 ) OJ No L 47, 21 . 2 . 1980 .

( 4 ) O'j No L 9, 12 . 1 . 1989 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 58, 5 . 3 . 1991 .

The rules for intra-Community trade in live pigs, fresh
pigmeat and meat products are given in Directives
64 / 432 / EEC ( 1 ), 72 / 461 / EEC ( 2 ) and 80 / 215 / EEC ( 3 ). These
state that a Member State in whose territory African Swine
Fever has been recorded within the previous 12 months shall

on behalf of the Commission

0 )

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

( 5 )

( 18 May 1993 )

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 33

WRITTEN QUESTION No 467 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 60

Subject : Absence of Spanish, Portuguese and Greek at

Eurostat meetings

cannot be provided with full interpreting facilities are then
selected on the basis of a number of criteria and may affect
any official Community language . The institutional status of
the meeting and the choices made by the organizing
departments themselves are among the criteria .

Since the above constraints are to a large extent related to
the supply of interpreters ( which in some cases falls
considerably short of demand ), the institutions affected are
making constant efforts to improve the situation by
providing assistance for training interpreters and perfecting
their i language skills .

At a meeting of the European Community 's Statistical In the medium term this should help remedy
Office ( Eurostat ) in Luxembourg from 16 — 19 November shortcomings in terms of available interpreters
1992, no interpretation was given in Spanish ( or Portuguese combinations .
or Greek ). German, English, Irish, Italian, Luxembourgish,
Belgian, French, Dutch and Danish delegates were able to
express themselves in their own language, having been
provided with three interpreters in their respective language
booths . Spanish, Portuguese and Greek participants did not
enjoy this ' privilege ', and had to use a different language to
participate in the meeting . WRITTEN QUESTION No 473 / 93

In the medium term this should help remedy the current
shortcomings in terms of available interpreters and language
combinations .

by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

The organizers of the meeting, when explaining matters to

( 11 March 1993 )

the national officials discriminated against in this way,
referred to budgetary restrictions and the fact that these ( 93 / C 264 / 61 )
delegates could use the ' common languages ' — i.e. French,
English and German .
Subject : Living and working conditions of hospital
doctors

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 61 )

Does the Commission intend to continue this unequal
treatment at future meetings on the above subject or in other
spheres, using budgetary restrictions or similar problems as
an excuse for making the officials concerned work under
less favourable conditions than the rest of their Community
colleagues ?

Under the European Social Charter, the living and working
conditions of employees is considered . Is this consideration
extended to doctors working in hospitals, who are often
resident on the premises during their non-working
hours ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Van Miert (8 June 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1993 ) The Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights
of Workers applies to all workers, irrespective of where they
live or work . This includes, therefore, doctors working in
hospitals . The Charter, which was signed by the Heads of

Merger Treaty and the relevant State or Government of 1 1 Member States at the meeting of
, Parliament 's interpreting service the European Council at Strasbourg on 8 / 9 December 1989,
interpreters and planning is a solemn declaration and lays down the broad principles
meet the needs of the institutions and

underlying the European model of labour law and, more

. To cater for the demand for

generally, the place of work in the societies .

In accordance with the Merger Treaty and the relevant
implementing provisions, Parliament 's interpreting service
is responsible for recruiting interpreters and planning
interpreting services to meet the needs of the institutions and
other bodies in Luxembourg . To cater for the demand for
the respective official languages within the limits imposed by
the budget, the management of available resources, and the
supply of interpreters on the market, a jointly agreed daily
reference quota imposes constraints on the Commission 's
Conference and Protocol Organization and Coordination
Office in particular .

supply of interpreters, on the market, a jointly agreed, daily In order to give substance to the rights contained in the
reference quota imposes constraints on the Commission 's Charter the Commission prepared an Action Programme
Conference and Protocol Organization and Coordination relating to the implementation of the Charter . This included
Office in particular . reference to a number of proposals for Directives to give

legal force to the provisions of the Charter in all 12 Member
States . Many of these have subsequently been adopted by
the Council .
At peak meeting periods, problems such as that referred to
by the Honourable Member can occur, depending on the
language combinations required . The meetings which

\ \

No C 264 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 474 / 93

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

within the parliaments of many Member States since it gave
the impression that they wished to conclude at any price
without having clearly resolved all the issues at stake .

( 93 / C 264 / 62 ) Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning this
approach and, recalling the need to reach an overall
balanced agreement while protecting the legitimate interests
Subject : National expenditure on tourism of Europe .

The Commission will be aware that Member States grant
subsidies to different regions within their boundaries .

The new American administration has recently decided

1 . Has the Commission recently examined the British unilaterally to introduce a series of protectionist measures

Government 's assistance to tourism within the United concerning steel and restrict access by foreign, and in
Kingdom ? particular European, companies to public procurement .

These measures are a serious threat to Europe and infringe
2 . Is the Commission aware that grants and other forms of GATT rules .
assistance are provided on a basis that does not conform
with regional policy ?

1 . Has the Commission recently examined the British

Government 's assistance to tourism within the United

Kingdom ?

3 . Will shown the by Commission the British Government now investigate in favour the discrimination of Scotland, The commensurate Commission with 's the reaction issues and does interests not appear at stake to . be

Wales and Northern Ireland, and against England ?

How and on what bases does the Commission intend to

resume GATT negotiations with the United States and the
Answer given by Mr Van Miert other countries concerned ?

on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

1 . The Commission has not recently undertaken an
examination of assistance to the tourism industry in the
United Kingdom .

2 . The Commission has no reason to believe that the
British authorities award grants or provide other forms of
assistance on a basis that does not conform with regional
policy .

3 . Any difference in the levels of support given to
regional tourist boards is an internal matter, which falls
outside the jurisdiction of the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 506 / 93

What observations or proposals can the Commission make
in response to the stance adopted by the United States ?

Will the Commission develop a genuine common external
trade policy with the necessary safeguards which are
essential for Europe to assert its role and fulfil its potential in
the world ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

by Mr Jean-Paul Benoit ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission has negotiated in the Uruguay Round in

of the European Communities close consultation with the Council, keeping the Parliament

March 1993 ) and European economic operators in all sectors informed of

( 93 / C 264 / 63 progress .

( 12 March 1993 )

Subject : GATT negotiations and American protectionism

The GATT negotiations being carried out on behalf of the

Community by the Commission have encountered
numerous difficulties and mishaps .

The way in which the negotiation was conducted by two

Commissioners has prompted a great deal of criticism

The Commission 's aim is to conclude the Round this year,
on the basis of a package that the Commission can
confidently recommend to the Council as global, balanced

and helpful to the strategic interests of the Community
economy . This means pursuing an outcome that is good for
the citizens of Europe, be it in their capacity as producers,
consumers or job-seekers . The negotiations have lasted over
five years, so that it would be surprising if there had been no

\

\

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 35

voice raised in criticism . The pursuit of a common trade
policy cannot after all be unconditionally subordinated to
the demands of every particular sector interest group on

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

every group (7 July 1993 )

every count .

The Commission cannot accept criticism of the previous
negotiators . Indeed Parliament itself rejected criticism of the
Commission 's negotiating performance last year . Thanks to
their efforts, the Commission inherited a strong negotiating
position, from which it has been possible this year to
develop an aggressive and ambitious Community strategy .
The new US administration has responded to this, as was
demonstrated by the joint public declaration of the
President of the Commission and the US President in

Washington on 18 March .

1 . Directive 89 / 38 1 / EEC on medicinal products derived
from human blood or human plasma was unanimously
adopted by the Council in 1989 after a favourable opinion
from the European Parliament . This directive covers stable
blood products and not whole blood, plasma or blood
cells .

2 . The Community objective of attaining self-sufficency
in the supply of blood and blood products by means of
voluntary donations is clearly expressed in Directive

89 / 38 1 / EEC, which requires the Member States to promote
Community self-sufficinecy by means of the voluntary
unpaid donation of blood and plasma, and to develop the
production of medicinal products derived from such
donations . The Member States must report to the
Commission on the measures taken .

As to EC / US relations, the Commission has reacted very unpaid donation of blood and plasma, and to develop the
firmly, in the name of the Community, to each US trade production of medicinal products derived from such
action . This approach has been endorsed fully by successive donations . The Member States must report to the
meetings of the General Affairs Council . The understanding Commission on the measures taken .
reached with the US Trade Representative on public
procurement on 21 April 1993 demonstrates that a firm
position pays off . 3 . At the request of the Council, the Commission
undertook to study the measures to be proposed to ensure
the effective implementation of Directive 89 / 3 8 1 / EEC, and

In international economic relations more generally, it is in particular Article 3, which calls on the Member States to
clear that, provided Europe has the political will to adopt take the necessary measures to promote Community
such a position, the Treaty already gives the Commission the self-sufficiency by encouraging the voluntary unpaid
essential tools to complete its negotiating task . Where donation of blood and plasma .

In international economic relations more generally, it is
clear that, provided Europe has the political will to adopt
such a position, the Treaty already gives the Commission the
essential tools to complete its negotiating task . Where
detailed improvements in current mechanisms seem
necessary, as for example in the streamlining of the trade
policy instruments, the Commission has made proposals to
the Council . An early decision on those proposals is now
needed .

4 . A group of experts from the Member States was
convened by the Commission to report on the situation with
regard to Community self-sufficiency in the supply of blood
and blood products, and to devise measures to encourage
the voluntary donation of blood and to attain
self-sufficiency . A report on these questions was forwarded
by the Commission to the Council and Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 515 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 511 / 93

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

( 29 March 1993 )

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

( 93 / C 264 / 64
( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 65 )

Subject : Blood donation in the Community

Subject : The management and preservation of Lake
Given the importance of blood donations in the Community Baikal
and the fact that measures to promote the donation of blood
free of charge are in keeping with WHO principles, will the

In view of the Rio Declaration of 14 June 1992 which laid

Commission propose amending Directive 89 / 381 / EEC ( a )
with a view to phasing out blood transfusion systems using the environmental basis for matters cooperation and the between fact that states recent on Russian world
paid blood donors ? What measures will it take to achieve
self-sufficiency in blood products in the Community ? studies show that Lake Baikal, which constitutes 20 % of tfie

world 's total fresh water, is threatened by pollution, will the
Commission provide support for a programme for the
(!) OJ No L 181, 28 . 6 . 1989, p. 44 . management and preservation of Lake Baikal ?

No C 264 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the problems of Lake Baikal
and recognizes that the threat by pollution to one of the
worlds largest fresh water reservoirs is a grave one . The
Commission has not received any requests for support from
the Russian government, which is a necessary requirement
before considering any aid programme .

Should such a request be received in the future, then it will be
evaluated within the context of existing aid programmes to
Russia, especially the TACIS programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 519 / 93

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

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 66 ) b

Subject : Foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products which

have passed their sell-by date

Given that foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products which
have passed their sell-by date are being sold throughout the
Community, does the Commission intend to draw up a
directive providing for the immediate destruction of such
products ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 1993 )

Articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 92 / 27 / EEC of

31 March 1992 on the labelling of medicinal products for
human use and on package leaflets (*), and Article 43,
point 8 of Council Directive 81 / 851 / EEC of 28 September

1981 on the approximation of the laws of the Member
States relating to veterinary medicinal products ( 2 ) state that
the expiry date of medicinal products covered by both these
directives must appear clearly on the labelling .

This piece of information enables the consumer to check
when purchasing or, at the latest, when administering the
medicinal product whether it is still good for use or not .

The presence of the expiry date on the packaging of
medicinal products enables pharmacists, wholesalers or any
other person authorized to sell medicinal products to
manage their stock and sift out products which have passed
the expiry date, both tasks being their responsibility .

As regards foodstuffs, Article 3 ( 1 ), point 4 of Directive
79 / 112 / EEC on labelling ( 3 ), as last amended by Directive
91 / 72 / EEC ( 4 ), states that the date of minimum durability
or, in the case of foodstuffs which from the microbiological
point of view are highly perishable, the ' use by ' date must
appear on the labelling of the foodstuff .

Articles 9 and 9a of the same directive spell out what this
procedure entails .

The directive does not specify that foodstuffs must be
withdrawn from sale in cases where the date of minimum

durability or the ' use by ' date has passed .

This piece of information is primarily intended for the
consumer, who is thus able, when purchasing or, at the
latest, when consuming a product, to check the product for
freshness .

The information also allows tradesmen r to carry out effective
stock control . They are responsible for withdrawing
products whose date of minimum durability has passed .

The health issue only arises for foodstuffs regarded as highly
perishable from the microbiological point of view . In this
case, some Member States have adopted provisions which
stipulate that such foodstuffs must be withdrawn from sale
as soon as the ' use by ' date has passed . These provisions do
not form part of Community legislation, which is silent on
this subject .

No amendment is envisaged to Community legislation to
make the destruction of food which has passed the expiry
date compulsory .

0 ) OJ No L 113, 30 . 4 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 317, 6 . 11 . 1981 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 33, 8 . 2 . 1979 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 42, 15 . 2 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 523 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission r~ of the European Communities

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 67 )

Subject : The situation of children in the developing
countries

Amnesty International claims that millions of children
under 15 years of age are being tortured, imprisoned, and
even murdered by the police and armed forces in the
' developing ' countries, with the connivance of their
governments . Children in these countries are frequently
employed in heavy and unhealthy work, and receive no
protection of benefits whatever under labour or insurance
laws .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 37

Can the Commission therefore state whether it makes
respect for human rights and in particular the rights of
minors a binding condition for the conclusion of
commercial cooperation, association and other agreements
between the Community and third countries ? Is the
European Community cooperating, and if so at what level,
with the International Labour Office to make child labour

more civilized ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

The Commission \ is well aware of the grave and sometimes
intolerable hardship endured by many Third World children
when it comes to working conditions and basic
freedoms .

This is why very explicit clauses on respect for human rights
and basic freedoms are now an integral part of all
agreements concluded by the Community with non-member
countries . It is true that these clauses are not specifically
directed at children .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

The Commission is fully aware of the role played by
voluntary welfare workers in the Member States of the
European Community . However, as the Commission has
already pointed out to the Honourable Member ( a ), welfare
work activities fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Member States .

The Commission does, however, provide support for social
workers through its regular contacts with the International
Federation of Social Workers, and provides financial
support for the meetings of the Federation 's liaison
committee with the European Community . An information
meeting with this committee held in Brussels in November

1992 was, for example, financed by the Commission .

The Honourable Member may wish to know that the Greek
representative on the Federation 's executive committee is
the Greek Association of Social Workers, Avenue Tositsa 19
— 10683 Athens . A meeting of this committee was held in
Greece at the end of March 1993, which provided impetus
for a higher profile and more effective functioning of the
welfare services in Greece .

(') Reply to Written Question No 3517 / 92

(') Reply to Written Question No 3517 / 92 OJ No C 145, 25 . 5 .

In development their resolution, the Council on human and Member rights States, democracy undertook and to 1993 .
attach more weight to human rights and democracy in the
development cooperation policy of the Community and its
Member States . This undertaking is not specifically directed
at children either .

1993 .

Through budget heading B7-5053 ( human rights and
democracy in the developing countries ), the Commission
has supported activities to promote children 's rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 529 / 93

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

( 29 March 1993 )

As part of its relations with the ILO, the Commission will ( 93 / C 264 / 69 )
see how far the two institutions can work together to make
child labour more humane . Subject : Physiotherapy for the disabled in the
Community

WRITTEN QUESTION No 528 / 93

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

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 68 )

Thousands of Community citizens every year are attacked
by progressively disabling diseases . In most cases the
patients undergo remedial physiotherapy seeking to
alleviate their disablement or if possible to make a full
recovery . Will the Commission clarify whether, in the light
of the Community directive on the medical and paramedical
professions, physiotherapy is to be given the same status as
other forms of health care which qualify for tax
abatement ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
Subject : Voluntary welfare workers on behalf of the Commission

(1 0 June 1 993 )
Recognizing the important social role played by voluntary
welfare workers in the Member States of the Community,
could the Commission, in conjunction with the national The Community does not have the jurisdiction to stipulate
authorities, prepare measures to support their activities ? the forms of health care which Member States must

No C 264 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

subsidize either by providing them free of charge under their Mr Braun 's report showed that it is necessary to find a rapid
national health systems or by reimbursement under way of abolishing the overcapacity which is the main
statutory sickness insurance schemes or by granting the tax problem in the sector . The Commission, with the Council 's
abatements referred to by the Honourable Member . agreement, plans to adopt measures to support the

voluntary capacity reduction programme which
The aim of the Directives on the medical and paramedical undertakings are required to present to the Commission by
professions is to facilitate the freedom of establishment and 30 September .
the supply of services by persons engaged in those
professions . There is no provision for physiotherapy to be The Commission is unable, for reasons of confidentiality, to
given the same status as other forms of health care in provide details of individual companies . With regard to the
relation to the tax or social security regulations in the Spanish steel industry, Mr Braun 's report has taken account
Member States . in

subsidize either by providing them free of charge under their
national health systems or by reimbursement under
statutory sickness insurance schemes or by granting the tax
abatements referred to by the Honourable Member .

The Commission is unable, for reasons of confidentiality, to
provide details of individual companies . With regard to the
Spanish steel industry, Mr Braun 's report has taken account
of the closures proposed by the Spanish Government in
the framework of the aid procedures currently being
discussed .

A copy of the Council 's conclusions of 25 February 1993 on
the restructuring of the steel industry will be sent directly to
the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of
WRITTEN QUESTION No 556 / 93
the European Parliament .
by Mrs Laura Gonzalez Alvarez ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 70 )

Subject : The Braun report

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 564 / 93

The crisis currently affecting the Community 's iron and steel
sector is widely known and, according to the Commission, is ( 30 March 1993 )
caused by excess production capacity . ( 93 / C 264 / 71 )

In order to assess the possibilities of solving the problem
more effectively, the Commission selected Mr Braun to
establish to what extent Community steel producers would
be prepared to carry out voluntary capacity reductions . On
the basis of this information, Mr Braun was required to
submit a report within a limited period of time, to be
considered by the Commission, which would then in
agreement with each of the companies affected, establish a
timetable of closures and the conditions attaching
thereto .

Subject : Abolition of the requirement for prior
administrative authorization in cases of mass

redundancy

submit a report within a limited period of time, to be In certain Community countries, such as Spain, there is still a
considered by the Commission, which would then in requirement for prior administrative authorization in cases
agreement with each of the companies affected, establish a of mass redundancy, a situation which inevitably leads to
timetable of closures and the conditions attaching tensions in labour markets, such as Spain 's, which have been
thereto . accused of excessive rigidity in numerous Community

reports .
The deadline for tabling the report has elapsed, and an
outline of its content was forwarded to a delegation from all Since the requirement for such authorizations has been
Community countries, including Spain, and released to the abolished in the vast majority of Community countries,
media . economic and business circles in

outline of its content was forwarded to a delegation from all Since the requirement for such authorizations has been
Community countries, including Spain, and released to the abolished in the vast majority of Community countries,
media . economic and business circles in Spain are wondering

whether the continued existence of such a requirement is in
Can the Commission forward the Braun report to me, accordance with Community legislation in this area .
indicating the implications for each of the Spanish iron and
steel undertakings concerned ? Can the Commission say in which Community countries
such a requirement still exists and give details of relevant
Community legislation in force as part of the rules governing
labour relations throughout the Community ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 June 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the work of ( 23 June 1993 )
Parliament 's Committee on Economic and Monetary
Affairs and Industrial Policy and in particular to the
working paper of the rapporteur, Mr Speciale, to whom a The involvement of the public authorities in collective
copy of Mr Braun 's report has already been sent . redundancy procedures is a factor common to all the

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 39

Community Member States and other countries besides . It
serves a dual purpose : first, it enables the authorities
responsible for employment to take the necessary measures
where they can to solve the problems faced by the redundant
workers ( training, help in finding a new job, payment of
unemployment benefits, etc .); second, it means in some cases
that the public authorities examine whether the planned
redundancies are economically justifiable .

The first of these two is specifically provided for in the

Community Directive on collective redundancies ( Directive
75 / 129 / EEC ) ( J ); however, this Directive makes no
reference whatsoever to the possibility of the public
authorities examining the justification for redundancies .

management of Meyer took the view that its union
representatives were ' not sufficiently prepared or ready to
make a contribution at that level of meeting '.

Does the Commission agree that this is blatant
discrimination by Meyer International on the grounds of
nationality and if it agrees what action will it take to ensure
that the UK enforces its European treaty obligations ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

This leaves the Member States free to decide themselves on

how to tackle this question, and three systems have been
adopted : under the first the courts assess the grounds given The Commission is of the opinion that good procedures for
for the redundancies and may declare the redundancies null information and consultation of employees are of major
and void if they conclude that the grounds do not exist or do importance for large ( multinational ) companies . Therefore
not fulfill the conditions required by law to justify it made its proposal for a directive for a European works
redundancy on economic grounds ; under the second system council . It is of the opinion that representatives of employees
employer redundancies and are the subject workers to ' representatives prior agreement ; the between third is the the in Member European States wide should companies get the possibility coming from to meet each different other
prior administrative authorization procedure . and discuss the developments in their company .

These different systems are not exclusive, in that most How far the developments in Meyer International are
Member States operate more than one . The administrative contrary to such an approach is difficult to judge for the
authorization system is currently in force in Spain, the Commission . To make a good judgement, the Commission
Netherlands and, for certain collective redundancies, should have full information from both sides . But even then
France . it should be remembered that for the moment no European

legislation exists about union representatives and that
(M OJ No L 48, 22 . 2 . 1975 . therefore only the national legislation in the countries
concerned has to be followed .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 5 70 / 93
WRITTEN QUESTION No 5 78 / 93

by Mr Henry McCubbin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

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

( 31 March 1993 )

(3 1 March 1 993 )
( 93 / C 264 / 72

93 / C 264 / 73

' k

Subject : Freedom of movement of workers
Subject : The resurgence of nationalism and Nazism in

Europe
Article 48 ( 2 ) of the Treaty calls for the abolition of any
discrimination between workers of the Member States as
regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of The resurgence
work and employment . recurring theme

Recently, the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
had to withdraw from a Multi-Project ' Meyer International
in Europe ' which trade unionists from other states were
allowed to attend, because the United Kingdom

The resurgence of nationalism and Nazism has been a
recurring theme in the Community in recent months . It is
widely acknowledged that ' blind ' nationalism and fascism
firstly threaten European integration and secondly give rise
to violence and conflict . Does the Commission consider the

resurgence of nationalism and Nazism in Europe and
elsewhere to be a grave danger and, if so, what measures
would effectively combat it ?

No C 264 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1111 / 93 has been polluted and whether there is any danger to human
by Mr Juan de Dios Ramirez Heredia ( S ) beings ?
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
( 93 / C 264 / 74 ) on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Combating racism and xenophobia

In view of the fact that 21 March 1993 was European Day
against Racism and Xenophobia, which mobilized
democrats throughout Europe and prompted various
declarations of principle by the Governments of the Twelve
and by the Community institutions, does the Commission
know to what extent the Member States have acted on the

commitments adopted by the European Parliament in the
fight against racism and xenophobia ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 578 / 93 and 1111 / 93

given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

( 28 June 1993 )

It is for the Member State concerned to verify whether the
sea has been polluted after an accident of the type
described .

If there is any risk to public health, it is for the competent
authorities to take the measures which are necessary to
reduce and eliminate this risk .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 583 / 93

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

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 76 )

Subject : Coastal erosion in Kiato

The attention of the Honourable Members is drawn to Mr The town of Kiato is facing the problem of erosion . As
Flynn 's speech made at the April 1993 plenary part-session pointed out by the local authorities and other organizations,
of the European Parliament, during the debate on adoption careless and even criminal interference in the name of
of the resolution on the resurgence of racism and modern civilization has led to a total lack of balance in the
xenophobia provide a full in Europe answer (*). to Reference the Honourable to this speech Members will ' environment Commission say ( rivers whether — it beaches is possible — in sea the ). context Can of the
questions . subsidiarity to provide environmental aid to the

Municipality of Kiato in order to protect and restore the
( ! ) Debates of the European Parliament, No 430 ( April 1993 ). coastline in the area ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 June 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 582 / 93

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

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 75 )

Subject : The toxic hydrazine cylinder which fell into the sea

in the North Sporades

On 26 November 1992 a toxic hydrazine cylinder fell from a
Greek F-16 fighter aircraft in the area of the North
Sporades, near the marine park which is inhabited by seals .
A spokesman for the Greek Air Force recently disclosed that
no search has yet been carried out to find it . In view of this
will the Commission investigate whether the sea in the area

Greece has not classified the zone under consideration as
Special Protection Area according to Article 4 of the
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC i 1 ), concerning the conservation of
wild birds, which is the only legal basis for Community
intervention for nature conservation applicable at present .
Nor has the area in question been identified as being of
Community importance under the above-mentioned
directive .

\

Consequently and in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity ( Article 130 R, point 4 of the Treaty ) it is the
responsibility of the Greek authorities to take the necessary
measures to restore and to protect the coastline in the town
of Kiaton .

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

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION No 584 / 93

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

persuade the Member States ' authorities of the need for
adequate welfare for the elderly in Europe in the form of
satisfactory pensions and high quality services ?

( 31 March 1993 )
(!) OJ No C 176, 13 . 7 . 1992, p. 239 .
( 93 / C 264 / 77 )

Subject : The Langavitsa springs in Thesprotia

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

The Prefecture Council ( PC ) recently held a meeting in
Preveza with ' Briefing of the PC by the surveyor on water ( 22 June 1993 )
supply for the prefecture from the Langavitsa springs ' as the
only item on the agenda . Mr Serbis presented tables showing
water supply measurements and the network but disclosed In 1993, European Year of the
that Raveni he, had Pende not Ecclisies taken and into others consideration . Naturally the, the springs presidents at most between important Generations questions, the related
of the village councils who were present protested against elderly in line with the Council
the all the decision springs to other use the than Langavitsa Langavitsa water should and be proposed registered that in Thus has, published in relation to a report incomes, and prepared
order to examine whether it would be possible to use their Observatory on the elderly, on the
water, and to draft an environmental report on the Member State and the impacts of
ecological negligence impact shown of by the the proposed prefecture project of Thesprotia . In view in of this the citizens direct benefit . Further to the, two elderly networks have been
case, will the Commission take steps to protect the spring, similar activities are designed to
the environment and the area ?

In 1993, European Year of the Elderly and Solidarity
between Generations, the Commission is addressing the
most important questions related to the welfare of the
elderly in line with the Council Decision of 24 June 1992 .
Thus, in relation to incomes and services, the Commission
has published a report, prepared by the European
Observatory on the elderly, on the policies pursued in each
Member State and the impacts of these policies on the older
citizens . Further, two networks linking practical projects of
direct benefit to the elderly have been established . These and
similar activities are designed to promote awareness and
learning across all Member States, while recognizing that
responsibility for implementation of policies on the social
protection of older people rests with Member States .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

Community legislation on the aquatic environment is
concerned only with questions of quality and not quantity .
Therefore it is for the Greek authorities to take the measures

they consider necessary to ensure a sustainable water
supply . There is Community legislation which is aimed at
protecting the quality of water used as a source of drinking
water . However, it is for the Greek authorities to take the
measures they consider necessary to ensure they can meet
the obligations placed upon them by this legislation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 588 / 93

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

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 78 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 5 99 / 93

by Mr Karel De Gucht ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 79 )

Subject : Discrimination by Belgian legislation on Public

National Welfare Centres affecting recruitment of
EC citizens

Is there any justification for the decision by a higher
( provincial ) authority, referring to Article 55 ( 2 ) of the new
Belgian Law on Public Social Welfare Centres, to overturn
the decision by a lower ( Public Social Welfare Centre )
authority to the effect that Community citizens are entitled
to apply for statutory appointment as head of the nursing
staff in a public hospital ?

This Article states that the National Social Welfare Council
Subject : Benefits for Europe 's elderly may recruit foreign nationals for non-executive posts .

Further to the legislative resolution adopted by Parliament
on 12 June 1992 ( J ) proposing the organization of a
European Year of the Elderly and Solidarity between
Generations, 1993, will the Commission take steps to

Does not this provision run counter to Article 48 of the
Treaty, since, on the one hand, it excludes statutory
appointments and, on the other, gives a narrower
interpretation of this Article than the Court of Justice, to the

No C 264 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

effect that executive posts which are not connected with the
exercise of official authority are also excluded ?

What steps will the Commission take in response to this ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 June 1993 )

The Law of 5 August 1992 containing provisions relating to
Public Social Welfare Centres ( CPAS ) amended Article 55

( 2 ) of the Organic Law of 8 July 1976 and states that the
Social Welfare Council may appoint foreign nationals on
contract to non-executive posts .

The term ' executive ' posts is applicable solely to posts whose
duties and responsibilities imply participation in the exercise
of powers conferred by public law and protection of the
general interests of the State ( J ). If these criteria are applied,
the position of head of the nursing staff in a public hospital
cannot, in the opinion of the Commission, be considered as
employment in the public service in the sense of Article 48
( 4 ) of the EEC Treaty .

Furthermore, the abovementioned Law does not deal with
the question of the access of EEC nationals to permanent
posts in Belgian public hospitals, for which Belgian
nationality is a requirement .

»

The entire matter has already been the subject of a reasoned
opinion which was addressed to Belgium under the
infringement procedure provided for in Article 69 of the
EEC Treaty, with a view to ensuring that the relevant
provisions of Belgian legislation are brought into line with
Community regulations on freedom of movement .

With regard to the particular case raised by the Honourable
Member, those concerned can, if they wish, pursue the
matter also through the competent Belgian courts in order to
establish their rights, to equal treatment regarding access to
employment .

with one parent while the other parent lives in another
Member State . When there is no longer good
communication between the parents there are major
obstacles standing in the way of both parents having proper
access to the child ( or children ) even when access procedures
are formally agreed in court .

What steps could the Commission take to alleviate the
situation ? Could steps be taken to ensure that court access
agreements in Member States are enforced in Member States
other than just those in which they are laid down ? What
other actions can the Commission take to ease the situation

for this group of children ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )

The question refers to the major obstacle which can exist to
the exercise of rights of access to children where good
communication has broken down between the parents . This
is a very sensitive issue and often emotionally charged and
there is little of a practical nature that the Commission can
do to alleviate the problems . However, within the European
Political Cooperation group in judicial affairs in civil law
matters, the question of extending the Brussels Convention
to family law is being discussed and Member States have
been asked to complete a questionnaire on this subject . After
the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union, the
Commission will have the right to take the initiative for
conventions or joint action in these matters, by virtue of
Articles K.l, point 6 and K.3 of the Treaty on European
Union .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 617 / 93

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa i Muru ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) Cf. Aff . 307 / 84, Rec . 1986, p. 1725 . (1 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 81 )

Subject : ' Basis ' and ' essential element ' clauses

What is the difference between the ' basis ' and ' essential
WRITTEN QUESTION No 607 / 93 element ' clause in EC cooperation agreements with

by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S ) developing countries ?

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 April 1 993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 80 ) Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )
Subject : Children in divorced or separated families

With increased European mobility, there is greater incidence
of children of parents who are divorced or separated living

The characteristics of the clauses found in association and

economic and cooperation agreements between the

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 43

Community and non-member countries may briefly be means of preventing the violation of property rights and
summarized as follows : unauthorized construction work and protecting the forests

etc ., does the Commission intend to examine the possibility
The ' basis ' clause first appeared at Argentina 's request in investment of Community project aid ? to promote and complete this vital
the 1990 agreement with that country ; it stipulates that

' cooperation ties . . . are based on respect for the
democratic principles and human rights which inspire
th,e domestic and external policies ' of the Community
and the other contracting party or parties .
Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

The ' essential component ' clause is the ' basis ' clause plus i (8 July 1993 )
the phrase ' and which constitute an essential component
of the Agreement '.

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
This clause has been introduced into agreements with its answer to Written Question No 2935 / 92 by Mr

Brazil ( 29 June 1992 ), the Andean Pact ( signed on 23 Kostopoulos i 1 ).

Brazil ( 29 June 1992 ), the Andean Pact ( signed on 23
April 1993 ) and the Central American countries ( signed
on 23 February 1993 ).

(!) OJ No C 195, 19 . 7 . 1993, p. 22

WRITTEN QUESTION No 651 / 93

by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 83

Subject : Establishment of fixed parities between
Community currencies    - a multiple-speed
Community

Mr Christophersen, Commissioner, is claimed to have
accepted or even advocated the possibility of some
Community countries establishing fixed parities between
their currencies in the near future .

Should this development take place — and it would clearly
be restricted to a small nucleus of countries as well as taking
place in a period of economic crisis, monetary disorder and
at a point when it is clear that the nominal convergence
criteria drawn up with a view to EMU will be
difficult / impossible to implement, mainly owing to the risks
this would entail for the weaker economies — it would

without doubt mean that a two-speed Community was on
the agenda ( and would also involve anticipating
Maastricht ).

1 . What exactly is the Commission 's position on this

It provides the Community, in accordance with the
principles of international common law as reflected in
the 1969 Vienna Convention on the law of treaties, with
a sound legal basis for suspending an agreement in the
event of grave and repeated violations of human rights
or the serious interruption of the democratic process .

The Honourable Member 's attention is drawn to the fact

that agreements are never automatically ' suspended,
whichever clause is used . Suspension decisions are always
preceded by an assessment of whether they are appropriate .
This assessment — a matter for the Community and

European political cooperation — takes account of the
gravity of the violation and the specific situation of the
country concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 650 / 93

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 82 )

Subject : Drawing up a cadastral map in Symi

So have far been some Drs in 16 i million out of cadastral a total of Drs for 60 the million island matter subject ? ? Has it already made proposals on the

have been spent in drawing i up a cadastral map for the island
of Symi in the Dodecanese . Since there is a danger that this
project may remain unfinished because of a lack of funds
and given the obvious usefulness of a cadastral map as a

2 . Does the Commission accept the idea of a two-speed
Community ?

\

No C 264 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 June 1993 )

1 . The Commission considers that the approach set out
in the Treaty on European Union is the only possible route
to EMU . The Treaty was designed with a view to all the
Member States moving to the final stage of EMU, while
allowing those not ready by 1996 a longer transitional
period . The timetable was set in order to enable each
country to prepare in time ; the convergence programmes are
effective instruments for assisting in this task .

k

Events on the foreign exchange markets have shown that
satisfactory convergence and increased coordination of
economic and monetary policies are needed if the EMS is to
operate smoothly in the context of the ever-closer
integration of our economies . According to the Treaty on
Europan Union, the decision on whether or not it is
appropriate for the Community to enter stage three will be
taken not later than the end of 1996 . The Commission notes

that a decision before that date is not formally ruled out
provided that the requisite conditions obtain ; however, it
has formulated no proposals on this matter .

2 . The Commission has always rejected the idea of a
two-speed Community . It considers that, if need be, the
derogation rules would authorize certain Member States to
postpone their full participation in EMU, in conditions
which would enable them to attain the degree of
convergence necessary within reasonable periods of time .
This approach remains fully justified, even in a difficult
economic situation .

/

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

The rights of foreign language assistants vis-a-vis the Italian
State will be laid down definitively in the Court of Justice 's
forthcoming decisions in three new cases awaiting a
preliminary rule — C-259, C-331 and C-332 / 91 . The
conclusions of the Advocate-General in these cases were

heard by the Court on 20 January 1993 and found in favour
of the language assistants .

The Commission has also informed Italy that it considers
Article 28 of Presidential Decree ( DPR ) No 382 / 1980,
which is the direct cause of the discrimination against
foreign language assistants, to be incompatible with
Article 48 of the EEC Treaty and therefore not enforceable
by the Italian universities .

Because of the urgency of the situation ( some universities
have informed their language assistants that they will not be
able to guarantee payment of their wages for very long ), the
Commission has already informed the assistants that they
can themselves apply to the Italian courts with jurisdiction
to order the introduction of the necessary interim

measures .

The Commission thereby hopes to help to end this
long-running dispute between the Italian universities and
their foreign language assistants .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 682 / 93

by Mr Bryan Cassidy ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 657 / 93
(6 April 1 993 )

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )

( 93 / C 264 / 85 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 84 ) Subject : UK implementation of the birds Directive

Subject : Harmonization of contracts for university
teaching staff in the EEC

Is the Commission aware that language assistants — foreign
teachers who are citizens of EEC Member States — are still
employed in Italian universities on short-term contracts,
despite the fact that this is no longer allowed in the case of
their Italian counterparts ?

Is the Commission aware of the new system of ' general
licences ' which the UK Government has introduced, under
Section 16 of its 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, to
permit all-year-round control of 13 birds species ( including
Corvids and Woodpigeon )?

Can the Commission confirm that, in its view, this system is
entirely compatible with the letter and the spirit of Article 9
— ' derogations ' — of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 ) on the
conservation of wild birds ?

Does the Commission not sense a breach of the principle of
free movement of persons and freedom of establishment ? ( J ) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p. 1 .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 45

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

The Commission considers that the amendments made by
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( Variation of
Schedules 2 and 3 ) Order 1992 No 3010 to the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 bring the amended parts of that Act
into conformity with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC . The national
authorities have undertaken similarly to amend the
legislation applicable in Northern Ireland .

weaken our determination to prepare the ground for entry
into force of the new Treaty . It will be one of the new
Commission 's priorities, an act of faith in the future '.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 699 / 93

by Mr Arthur Newens ( S ) »

to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission considers that the system of derogations (7 April 1 993 )
under section 16 of the Act, as described by the national ( 93 / C 264 / 87
authorities, is consistent with the Directive .

Subject : Regulation of fireworks

WRITTEN QUESTION No 692 / 93

by Mr Jean-Pierre Cot ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 86 )

Subject : Danish Government proposals concerning the

ratification of the Maastricht Treaty

i

What is the Commission 's view, in its role as guardian of the
Treaties, on the Danish Government 's proposals on
ratification by Denmark of the Maastricht Treaty ? Does it
regard these proposals as compatible with the concept of a
European Union between the Member States ? If not, does it
consider that the Treaty of Maastricht could be made to
apply only to the other eleven Member States ? In the latter
case, would it be possible for Denmark to remain a member
of the Community defined by the Treaty of Rome ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 June 1 993 )

The Edinburgh European Council on 12 December 1992
reaffirmed its attachment to the Treaty, on European
Union .

It gave its reaction to the Danish proposals contained in a
paper entitled ' Denmark in Europe '.

It agreed on a number of provisions meeting Denmark 's
concerns, ' noting that Denmark does not intend to make use
of ( them ) in such a way as to prevent closer cooperation and
action among Member States compatible with the Treaty
and within the framework of the Union and its

objectives '.

I

The Commission bows to the will of the people expressed in

Denmark and accepted by the other Member States . But, as
Mr Delors has already said in Parliament, ' nothing will

Within the framework of a general directive governing the
safety requirements for the sale of fireworks, will the
Commission consider adopting the following elements to

ensure :

,4

1 . that fireworks ( explosives ) coming into the European

Community from Taiwan, China, Brazil and other
countries outside the Community are fully tested by
responsible authorities in each Member State ;

2 . that British Standard category 4 fireworks are not

imported into the Community at all, since they are in an
unfinished chemical state ;

3 . that licences are introduced for display operators

purchasing fireworks from whatever source ;

4 . that training is required for all persons operating

firework displays, in line with the Canadian model,
which has been operating successfully for fifteen
years ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

The Commission is currently studying its response to
Parliament 's request i 1 ) for specific legislation covering
fireworks .

Any proposal will provide for a high level of protection . The
particular concerns expressed in the question will be taken
into consideration .

Whilst no option has yet been retained on the conditions of
acceptance of placing fireworks and other pyrotechnic
articles on the market, it is obvious that the same rules will
be applicable to both Community and third country
products .

The Community has developed miany legal instruments
including similar conditions under which producers and

r V.

No C 264 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

importers are responsible for the conditions of

acceptance .

( J ) Opinion on proposal for a directive on explosives — OJ No

C 305, 23 . 11 . 1992 .

highly perishable agricultural products ( e.g. berries,
certain fruit and vegetables, flowers and fresh fruit
juices ) between 1 April and 31 October ;

pigs and poultry for slaughter ;

fresh milk and highly perishable dairy products ;

circus equipment, orchestral instruments and stage sets,

etc .;
WRITTEN QUESTION No 703 / 93

by Mr Ben Visser ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 9 3 / C 264 / 88 )

Subject : Ban on the use of goods vehicles in Switzerland

There are bans on the use of goods vehicles in all countries,
at weekends, on bank holidays and at night . In special cases
an exemption from such bans can be obtained, for instance
in the case of products which must be delivered quickly
because they are perishable .

In Switzerland there is a ban on the use of all goods vehicles
at night . Unlike in many other countries, the Swiss
Government makes no exceptions for the transport of
perishable goods, as is apparent from information on road

transport .

Is the Commission prepared to raise the question in talks
with the Swiss authorities as to whether exceptions to the

ban are feasible for special cases involving highly perishable
goods ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

The Agreement between the Community and Switzerland
on the transportation of goods by road and rail which has
been in force since 22 January lays down a series of measures
to facilitate road travel . These include exemptions from the
ban on travelling at night and on Sundays in Switzerland ( see
Article 10 and Annex 6 of the agreement ).

These exemptions cover : i

s

0 I

Without special authorization

i

— trips made to provide immediate relief in the wake of

disasters ;

trips made to provide immediate relief in the wake of
accidents, particularly those involving public transport
and aircraft .

With special authorization

Goods of a certain type may be transported overnight and,
in exceptional circumstances, on Sundays . They include :

daily newspapers containing editorial material and
legally authorized postal deliveries .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 704 / 93 s .

by Mr Ben Visser ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 89

Subject : Theft of goods vehicles in the EC

The theft of goods vehicles has increased in recent years and
is becoming a serious problem . Such vehicles are being
stolen in increasingly brazen and sometimes even violent

ways .

Unfortunately the efficient and rapid recording of theft,
followed up immediately by investigative work, is not yet
general practice . A uniform European theft report form
could be a step in the direction of combating goods vehicle
thefts effectively .

1 . Does the Commission agree that a single theft report
document makes sense ?

2 . Is it prepared to put forward proposals for such a
document ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 705 / 93

by Mr Ben Visser ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 90 )

Subject : Recording and investigation of stolen goods

vehicles in Italy

According to information from the Netherlands Association
for Refrigerated Road Transport, Transfrigoroute, there is
apparently no central recording or investigation in Italy
when the theft of a good vehicle takes place .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 47

1 . Can the Commission confirm that there is indeed no

central recording or investigation of stolen goods
vehicles in Italy ?

2 . Is the Commission aware whether there are other

Member States in which there is no central recording or
investigation ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to urge the Italian
authorities to introduce a central system of recording
and investigation ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 704 / 93 and 705 / 93

given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( IS June 1993 )

The Commission must begin by reminding the Honourable
Member that as a general rule it enjoys no powers in relation
to the fight against crime . Consequently it is not regularly
informed of specific situations in the Member States and
cannot call on them to establish the resources needed for the

purpose . The Honourable Member would be better advised
to put his question to the Presidency .

It is worth recalling that certain intergovernmental
instruments provide for exchanges of information between
public authorities regarding stolen, hijacked and lost
vehicles . Examples are the Convention for the application of
the Schengen Agreement and the draft convention on a
European information system . The resultant machinery
might be further developed in the context of cooperation on
justice and home affairs under Title VI of the Treaty on
European Union, once that Treaty is in force . The
Commission is to be fully associated with this work, but will
have no right of initiative in matters of police
cooperation .

»

The new provisions will provide a unified institutional
framework to improve the link between inter-State
cooperation and Community instruments where they are
applicable, as in the identification of vehicles in connection
with the fight against crime in relation to them .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 727 / 93

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 91 )

Subject : Failure to implement the electromagnetic
compatibility directives

Most of the Member States have failed to implement the
electromagnetic compatibility directives, including :

Directive 89 / 336 / EEC (*) and Directive 92 / 31 / EEC ( 2 ).
What is the Commission 's assessment of the damage caused
to consumers by failure ?

(!) OJ No L 139, 23 . 5 . 1989, p . 19 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 126, 12 . 5 . 1992, p . 11 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

1 . Directive 89 / 336 / EEC relating to electromagnetic
compatibility entered into force on 1 January 1992 . On 28
April 1992, however, the Council adopted Directive
92 / 31 / EEC which provides for a transitional period up to 31
December 1995 . During that period, manufacturers will be
able to choose :

either to place on the market and / or put into service a
product which conforms to the provisions of the EMC
Directive . Thus ensuring free movement of the product is
thus assured in accordance with the directive ;

i 1
or to place on the market and / or put into service a
product which conforms to the national regulations in
force on 30 June 1992   

2 . Most Member States have already transposed and
applied the directives in question . Five Member States are
currently the subject of proceedings under Article 169 of the
EC Treaty . Meetings are held periodically with
representatives of the Member States in order to ensure that
the directive is transposed in a uniform and consistent

manner .

3 . Electromagnetic phenomena were already covered to
some extent by a number of Community directives
introducing partial harmonization before the adoption of
Directive 89 / 336 / EEC . In particular, radio interference
caused by electrical household appliances, portable tools
and similar equipment is covered by Directive
76 / 889 / EEC (*) and the suppression of radio interference
with regard to fluorescent lighting luminaires fitted with
starters by Directive 76 / 890 / EEC f 1 ). These two directives
have been transposed in the Member States, whose national
implementing measures remain in force during the
transitional period . A wide range of consumer equipment is
therefore covered .

4 . Consequently, the Commission considers that the
failure by certain Member States to implement Directive
89 / 336 / EEC immediately may indeed have an effect on the
proper operation of certain sensitive appliances . However,
the existence of national regulations transposing the earlier
directives is bound to limit this effect pending the total
application of the directive relating to electromagnetic
compatibility .

(!) OJ No 336, 4 . 12 . 1976 .

No C 264 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 733 / 93

by Mr Christopher Beazley ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

In view of the scarcity of available funds and in the absence
of a suitable budgetary structure, the assistance provided
has, in any case, been very limited .

( 14 April 1993 ) All the matters referred to in Title VI of the Treaty on

( 93 / C 264 / 92 ) European Union currently fall within the scope of the
Commission 's Secretariat-General .

Subject : European police cooperation, crime and justice

Will the Commission list all the research projects and
conferences in the field of European police cooperation,
crime and justice which it has funded, or is funding, out of
appropriations in the 1992 and 1993 budgets ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 735 / 93

by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 4 April 1 993 )
Which services of the Commission have responsibility for
( 93 / C 264 / 93 )
these projects and conferences ?

Subject : Economic and social aspects of environmental

issues

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The first point to note is that, at present, the Commission
has no responsibility in the areas referred to by the
Honourable Member . However, Title VI of the Treaty on
European Union, which deals with cooperation between
Member States in the fields of justice and home affairs,
stipulates that the Commission shall be fully associated with
work in these areas, including efforts to combat drug
addiction, judicial cooperation in criminal matters and
police cooperation .

Looking ahead to the introduction of these provisions, the
Commission has started to prepare itself for the role it will
assume within this new institutional framework ; in 1992
and 1993 it made a financial contribution towards some of

the initiatives launched by Member States or individual
bodies, as follows :

— European documentation, coordination and research

network geared to combating fraud and crime across
borders .

— Feasibility study of a European network for preventing

urban crime and the use of drugs in urban areas .

— International survey aimed at comparing and evaluating

administrative and organizational requirements for
cross-border police cooperation .

Symposium on the police in Europe organized by the
Institut des Hautes Etudes de Sécurité intérieure

( France ).

4

Training seminar for instructors of officials responsible
for detecting false documents .

European training course at the Schloss-Grimborn
police academy ( North Rhine-Westphalia ).

Research on economic and social aspects of environmental
issues was introduced for the first time in a Community
Environmental Research Programme in 1991 ( Council
Decision 91 / 354 / EEC ( x ) of 7 June 1991 ), thereby creating a
much needed multidisciplinary approach to the solving of
environmental problems .

In the document ' Towards sustainability ; a European
Community programme of policy and action in relation to
the environment and sustainable development ' ( COM(92 )
23 final ) — Vol . II of the Commission 's Fifth Action
Programme for the Environment — the emphasis is likewise
correctly placed on broader socio-economic dimensions of
the environmental problems .

In the Working Document of the Commission concerning
the Fourth Framework Programme of Community
Activities in the Field of Research and Technological
Development ( 1994 — 98 ), ( COM(92 ) 406 final ) economic
and social aspects are not included as a separate thematic
entity as was the case in the Third Framework Programme,
but as part of the Global Change theme .

Can you confirm that the economic and social aspects of the
environmental issues and the multidisciplinary approaches
towards environmental problems will be given the resources
necessary to ensure that the RTD Programme in the Field of
Environment ( 1994 — 98 ) parallels the priorities given in the
Commission 's Fifth Action Programme for the
Environment ?

(!) OJ No L 192, 16 . 7 . 1991, p. 29 .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

Research on economic and social aspects forms an
important and successful area of current Community
research activities under the 1990 — 1994 specific RTD
programmes in the field of the environment . Their relative

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 49

priority for the future will, of course, be established
essentially at the level of the relevant specific research
programme, but it would certainly be the Commission 's
intention to propose that, in a spirit of integration of
environmental aspects in other policies, they are given due
weight . The Commission 's second Working Document on
the fourth Framework Programme ( COM(93 ) 158, which
complements the first Working document of October 1992,
COM ( 92 ) 406, specifically identifies support for
sustainable development as one of the criteria for the
selection of Community RTD activities . In particular,
research on the environment has to support the
requirements of sustainable development, including its
economic and social aspects, as set out in the fifth Action
Prdgramme for the Environment .

WRITTEN QUESTION    - No 759 / 93 _

by Mrs Maartie van Putten ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 94

Subject : Microproject in Zimbabwe ( Zimbabwean
Institute for Religious Research and Conservation
— ZIRRCON )

3 . Is the Commission willing, in cooperation with the
Zimbabwe delegation and local organizations / experts in
the area of afforestation, to have an independent
investigation carried out into the possibility of
maintaining aid for what is a socially relevant project,
albeit with administrative changes ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )

The Commission can confirm that it contributed to the

financing of a microproject in the field of afforestation
managed by ZIRRCON, a non-governmental organization
( NGO ). It can also confirm that a report established by a
Dutch NGO indicated shortcomings in the management
and auditing of that project by ZIRRCON . As a result, there
were delays in payments pending the completion of proper
audit procedures . Nevertheless, ZIRRCON has now been
paid in full, the sum of ZW $ 513 040,00 . The last payment
was made on 9 November 1992 . There is, accordingly, no
question of the Commission having failed to fulfill its
commitments . Since the project is paid up and closed, there
is no need for further investigations into ZIRRCON 's
performance .

There are known to be problems surrounding the Further assistance to this type of project through
microproject under which the EC is providing financial ZIRRCON will depend upon whether Zimbabwe considers
support for replanting by local communities under the that projects prepared by this NGO justify submission to the
auspices of the Zimbabwean organization ZIRRCON . The Commission for financing . The Commission is aware that a
way in which the EC is dealing with this prompts the proposal moment Zimbabwe for further considers financing that exists it is unable, but that to submit for the it
following questions :

for EDF financing as it does not appear to meet the criteria
1 . a Can the Commission say what financial of viability and sustainability . The Commission is ready to
commitments they have entered into in connection examine any project submitted by Zimbabwe .
with this project, and what commitments have been
met and when ?

(b ) Can the Commission confirm the report that the EC

has failed to honour its most recent payment
commitments ?

( c ) Is the Commission willing to honour
commitments not yet met ? If so, when ?

any

The question put by the Honourable Member seems to
imply that the Commission opposes further financing
involving ZIRRCON as a direct result of the evaluation
made of the latter 's performance in the past . This is not the
case . Firstly the Commission has no locus standi in the
matter, since requests for financing must be channelled
through the National Authorizing Officer ( the second
project presented by ZIRRCON does not fall into the
category of microprojects ). Secondly, the Commission

draws the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact

that the Commission delegation in Harare has informed
ZIRRCON of a number of options, besides microprojects,
open to it for possible future financing .

It is clear that the Commission supports projects in the field
of afforestation . However, the Honourable Member will
wish to take into account that there are some 3 000

microprojects currently under way in Zimbabwe and some
twice this number which have unfortunately had to be
rejected . There is no shortage of potentially viable and

2 . a ) Is it true, as has been reported, that an evaluation
report was drawn up on phase 1 of the project
which the Commission did not accept, and that no
fresh report has subsequently been written ?

( b ) If so, does the Commission therefore take the view

that those involved in the project are entitled to a
professionally conducted evaluation which
provides a sound basis for an assessment of the
project, with ZIRRCON being given a proper
opportunity to put its side of the case ?

( c ) Is the Commission willing to have such an
evaluation carried out ?

No C 264 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

sustainable projects in Zimbabwe and it is a difficult task,
because of manpower constraints, to ensure that
Community funds are spent to the best advantage and meet
all priorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 765 / 93

by Mr Bartho Pronk ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1993 )

Is the Commission aware of this ? What steps will it take to
ensure fair competition between European construction
companies and to avoid discrimination of this nature ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

The Commission has received no complaints or other
information about infringements of OECD rules on export
credits for capital goods destined for Latin America .

( 93 / C 264 / 95 ) Since 1978 the Community has adhered to OECD
guidelines — known as the Consensus — which regulate
matters such as maximum repayment terms and minimum

Subject : Free movement of persons interest rates for the various categories of debtor country

and lay down rules for aid credits .

1 . Why is it that citizens from other EC Member States
undergo two passport controls at Copenhagen Airport,
once directly outside the aircraft and once on leaving the
airport ?

2 . Are these checks in accordance with Article 8a of the

EC Treaty ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to make representations
to the Danish Government in order to ensure that freedom

of movement is not hampered by additional identity
checks ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

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 No 766 / 93

by Mr Henry Chabert ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 96 )

Subject : Export credits

According to my information, some public lending
organizations linked to the Member States are laying down
conditions for the payment of capital goods by third
countries, in particular in Latin America, which fail to
respect OECD requirements .

These guidelines have been incorporated in Community
legislation and must therefore be strictly applied by Member
States .

Should the Commission receive more precise information
about the existence of the practices referred to in the
Honourable Member 's question, it will make a point of
studying it closely .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 771 / 93

by Mr Hugh McMahon ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1993 )

93 / C 264 / 97

Subject : Listing of shares

Within the scope of Directive 79 / 279 / EEC ( 1 ), which aims to
coordinate the national laws of Member States on the listing
of shares in their respective stock exchanges, can the
Commission define the term ' investors ' and inform Member

States as to whether or not shareholders are included in this

term ?

(M OJ No L 66, 16 . 3 . 1979, p. 21 .

«

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission A

(9 June 1993 )

Directive 79 / 279 / EEC covers the securities in general and
therefore it includes not only shares ( schedules A and C ), but
also debt instruments ( schedules B and D ).

The Directive does not contain a definition of the term

' investors '. Therefore the term must be understood in the

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 5 1

general sense . On the one hand, it includes small,
professional and institutional investors . On the other hand,
it includes current investors ( shareholders and bondholders )
and potential investors .

Finally, it must be kept in mind that some provisions of the
Directive refer exclusively to current shareholders ( e.g.
schedule C. 2 ) or current bondholders ( e.g. schedule
D. 1 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 815 / 93

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 99

Subject : Fisheries : the desirability of a single European

currency

Given the violent and deplorable actions some French
fishermen have recently taken against cheap British fish
imports in French ports, does the Commission agree that
such incidents would be most unlikely to occur if a single
European currency was in operation ?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 794 / 93

by Mr Barry Desmond ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 98 )

\

Subject : UN Convention on the rights of children

With reference to Written Question No 2083 / 92 i 1 ) by Mr

Sotiris Kostopoulos, does the Commission agree that in
spite of there being no legal precedent or formal basis for
supporting the UN Convention on the rights of children, the
European Community should be seen to support such basic
and fundamental issues ? In encouraging Member States to
adopt this convention we could send a positive message
about fundamental EC priorities affecting vulnerable
children in society with particular reference to the enlarged
objectives of the Maastricht Treaty .

(!) OJ No C 47, 18 . 2 . 1993, p. 16 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 June 1993 )

The ratification of the United Nations Convention on the
rights of children is the responsibility of the Member States .
As most Member States have already ratified the
Convention, the Commission cannot now ask the others to
do so .

However, by providing financial support for measures to
help children ( e.g. the Franco-British comparative study of
policies and practice relating to the protection of children,
video on the placing of children, etc .) or the organization of
seminars, such as the seminar on adoption held by the
Commission in March 1993, the Commission is helping to
support basic priorities and values and the United Nations
Convention on the rights of children .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

s

The incidents referred to illustrate the risks for the

substainability of the Internal Market in the absence of
progress towards Economic and Monetary Union . The
Internal Market calls for stable exchange rates and
eventually for a single European currency . As long as
Economic and Monetary Union is not completed, there is
always the possibility of competitive distortions due to
changes in nominal exchange rates . The Commission agrees
that incidents such as those referred to would be less likely to
occur in full Economic and Monetary Union .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 833 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 100 )

Subject : Agreement between the Netherlands

brickmakers

«

When is the general agreement between the members of the
Association of Netherlands Brickmakers expected to be
approved by the Commission so that surplus production of
217 million bricks can be eliminated ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1 993 )

The agreement on the restructuring and reorganization of
the Dutch brick industry, concluded on 25 August 1992,

\

No C 264 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

was notified to the Commission on 10 September 1992 .
After examining the restructuring plan, the Commission
announced its intention to raise no objection to the
implementation of the agreement in a notice pursuant to
Article 19 ( 3 ) of Council Regulation No 17 (*) and invited
interested parties to send their comments .

Upon expiry of the time limit set for third parties to submit
comments, the Commission has not received any
unfavourable opinion from competitors and / or other
businesses who might be affected .

The Commission will therefore rapidly apply the procedure
to terminate the case in the manner indicated in the

abovementioned Article 19 ( 3 ) notice .

In a further communication, later this year, the European
Parliament will be fully informed on the progress made in
their implementation .

(M COM(92 ) 166 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 849 / 93

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

( 26 April 1993 )

(!) OJ No C 34, 6 . 2 . 1993 . ( 93 / C 264 / 102

Subject : Support programmes for Greek textiles

WRITTEN QUESTION No 848 / 93

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

( 26 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 101 )

Subject : Situation of the European automobile industry

In 1992 the European automobile industry produced
approximately 15 million vehicles, almost a million vehicles
down on 1991 .

In view of this will the Commission draft a Community
directive forthwith to support the Community automobile
industry on the European market and help it capture various
foreign markets ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

                                                                                            
( 15 June 1993 )

Provisional figures for the development of Community
motor vehicle production do not correspond to the figures
cited by the Honourable Member in that they hint at stable
or even slightly increasing production in 1992 compared to

1991 .

However, the Commission is aware of the difficult situation
of the automobile industry . In its communication ( 1 ) ' The
European motor vehicle industry : situatiQn, issues at stake
and proposals for action ', the Commission put forward
concrete policy measures to facilitate the motor industry 's
adaptation . These measures are being implemented at

present .

The Greek textile industry is one of the traditional sectors
directly affected by the recession, cuts in revenue and,
especially, competition from countries where the costs are
particularly low .

Given that modernization is the only way forward for the
industry and in view of the crucial importance of training
programmes in that process, will the Commission say
whether it considers existing Community support
programmes for Greek textiles to be satisfactory ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )

The Commission is monitoring very closely the efforts made
by the Community textile industry to adapt to the new
industrial and commercial conditions in the years to come .
In this connection, the Commission shares the opinion of the
Honourable Membei - concerning the crucial role of
vocational training in the process of adapting this industry
which is undergoing fundamental changes .

However, the Commission would stress that no Community
programme specifically intended to support the Greek
textile industry is in operation . The programmes associated
with the current Community support framework and the
integrated Mediterranean programmes seek to encourage
and support attempts to modernize by all industral sectors
in Greece, including textiles . The impact of such
programmes is currently being assessed .

Finally ^ the Commission would point out that the RETEX
programme, whose aim is to improve knowhow and
develop cooperation in all industrial sectors including
textiles, should be launched very shortly .

\

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION No 852 / 93

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

( 26 April 1993 )

It is, however, taking preventative action to curtail such
exports . Since last year it has been engaged in operations
under the TACIS programme 0 ), to help convert arms
industries in the Commonwealth of Independent States .

( 93 / C 264 / 103 ) The Commission has so far allocated ECU 14,6 million for

Subject : Formerly drug-dependent young people on
military service in the Community

Will the Commission take any initiative on behalf of future
recruits On serving conscripts in the armed forces who were
drug users before being drafted and have successfully
completed a programme of rehabilitation, to encourage the
national authorities in the Member States to station them
following their basic and specialized training — in units of
the armed forces located in the vicinity of rehabilitation
centres ?

15 projects covering three republics : Russia, Ukraine and
Belarus . It is deploying its technical assistance both by
helping all three governments ( through its Advisers ' group )
to identify their requirements and by assisting in the creation
of specific in-house programmes . An example is the aid
given to the aircraft manufacturer MiG to help it conform to
European standards so that it can participate in the
production or joint production of civil aircraft .

The Commission would stress that the pace of
implementation is determined by the recipients themselves,
who also take any decisions .

( x ) European Community programme of technical assistance to the

Commonwealth of Independent States and Georgia .
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the
question asked by the Honourable Member, which is a
matter solely for the national authorities concerned . WRITTEN QUESTION No 874 / 93

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

( 23 April 1 993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 105
WRITTEN QUESTION No 865 / 93

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

( 26 April 1993 )

Subject : Safety of toys

( 93 / C 264 / 104 ) Most parents and even the vast majority of traders are
unaware of the contents of Community Directive
88 / 378 / EEC ( x ) concerning the safety of toys . Will the

the Russian Government Commission draw the attention of the national authorities

to this and call for a public awareness campaign through all

has recently signed agreements the appropriate media so that toys are marketed which do
to export $ 2 billion worth of not endanger children either physically or mentally ?

Subject : Arms sales by the Russian Government

The Russian Government has recently signed agreements
with military contractors to export $ 2 billion worth of
weapons in 1993 and the deputy chairman of the Russian

State Committee for the Military-Industrial Complex,
Gennadi Yampolski, has clearly stated that the volume of
arms sales will increase significantly this year . In view of
this, will the Commission impress on the Russian authorities
that arms should not be sold to war-stricken regions, such as
the former Yugoslavia ?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek

0 ) OJ No L 187, 16 . 7 . 1988, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(1 1 June 1 993 )

on behalf of the Commission

The EC Directive on toys ( 88 / 378 / EEC ) has been

(1 July 1993 ) implemented in all Member States . It is the responsibility of

the governments to ensure that all those affected are made
A move such as that referred to by the Honourable Member aware of the resulting national measures .
could not be undertaken by the Commission alone because
of its current field of jurisdiction and for reasons of political However the Commission has also a role to play in
propriety . providing information at Community level, given that the

(1 July 1993 )

However the Commission has also a role to play in
providing information at Community level, given that the

No C 264 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

Directive on toy safety reflects part of its consumer
policy . <

The Commission, therefore, produced an information
brochure on this subject in 1991, which was intended for
parents and other adults in charge of children . About
26 000 copies of the Greek version of this brochure have
been distributed by the Commission 's office in Athens .

The subject of toy safety will also be included in the
programme of information actions on EC consumer policy
which the Commission is currently organizing in Member
States .

As far as Greece is concerned the second of a series of

briefing meetings, held in Athens at the end of April, dealt
with various aspects of product safety . Documentation on
this subject, which included the toy Safety Directive, was
made available to interested bodies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 889 / 93

by Mr Roberto Formigoni ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1 993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 106 )

Subject : Commission attitude to Italian government
funding for the Fiat plant to be built in Melfi

For what reasons and under what conditions did the

Commission deliver a favourable opinion on the funding
granted by the Italian Government to the Fiat company for
construction of the Melfi plant ?

Is it true, as is being suggested in the rumours and reports
now spreading among the Italian public, that the
Commission gave its approval on the basis of the promise
allegedly made by Fiat to cut large numbers of jobs at its
northern Italian factories in order to offset the projected
new plant in Melfi ? What effect, if any, will the Melfi plant
have on present or future decisions concerning the
Alfa-Romeo and Lancia factories in Arese and Chivasso ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

i

The Commission 's analysis leading to the approval of the
Italian Government 's aid to FIAT for the construction of a

new plant at Melfi, took account of the two following

aspects :

1 . The aid intensity is justified by the socio-economic

difficulties which FIAT will encounter in the

Mezzogiorno .

Given that the Community framework on State aid to
the motor vehicle industry acknowledges the valuable
contribution to regional development which can be
made by the implementation of new motor vehicle and
component production facilities in disadvantaged areas,
the Commission carried out a cost / benefit analysis of the
FIAT plan to ascertain the extent to which the aid
proposed under Law 64 / 86 is in proportion to the
regional problems it seeks to redress .

» v

The result of the Commission analysis is that the net cost
of the structural handicaps that FIAT faces by going to
the Mezzogiorno is estimated to represent just under
30% of the eligible investment . On the criterion, of
proportionality to the problems addressed, the amount
of notified regional aid under Law 64 / 86, representing
30,5 % of eligible investment or only marginally more
than the estimated net structural handicaps facing FIAT
in the Mezzogiorno, is acceptable .

Moreover, from the Commission 's analysis it appears
that the plan should create 9 400 jobs and safeguard

8 000 existing jobs in the Mezzogiorno . A further
21 000 jobs are estimated to arise indirectly in the
region .

2 . The net increase in FIAT 's car capacity is compatible

with the evolution of the market .

The Commission is vigilant in assessing proposals for
aid to projects which entail new car production
capacity . Concerning the FIAT Mezzogiorno plan and
its likely impact on the car industry at Community level
the Commission noted that the FIAT Group had decided
to close its car assembly plants at Desio and Chivasso in
northern Italy and to reduce by half the capacity of the
Lambrate plant . According to the letter of the Italian
Government dated 17 November 1992, these confirmed
closures mean that FIAT Group capacity in 1996 —
when Melfi 's capacity is fully operational — will exceed
its 1990 capacity by certainly no more than 70 000
units . The Commission judges that the increase in
FIAT 's Cqmmunity capacity of 3 % ( equivalent to 0,2 %
of Community capacity ) is unlikely to produce adverse
sectoral effects, given that the Community car market in   
1996 is expected to be more than 3 % larger than the
1990 figure .

The above information forms part of the Commission 's
letter dated 31 December 1992 by which the Article 93
( 2 ) EEC Treaty procedure was closed in this case . This
letter was published in Official Journal of the European

Communities (*).

(!) OJ No C 37, 11 . 2 . 1993 .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 55

WRITTEN QUESTION No 897 / 93

by Mr José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 107 )

of Hadeja-Nguru in Nigeria where — as reported in an
article which appeared in the illustrated supplement to the
Corriere della Sera on 4 March 1993 — the construction of a
series of dykes financed through international cooperation
is having very serious effects on the environmental balance
and on the living prospects of a million people .

With that in mind, can it say whether international and EEC

Subject : Legalization of recruitment agencies in Spain aid is in fact transforming a natural oasis, where drought
and famine were as yet unknown, into a desert ?

Because of the particular precariousness of employment on
the current Spanish labour market, multinational temporary
recruitment agencies are increasing in number .

However, although such agencies are not banned in Spain,
they are not legalized either, which leads to the conclusion
that their situation should be regularized as soon as
possible » .

Can the Commission say whether there exist Community
rules governing the development of temporary recruitment
agencies in the Member States as a whole, and what
Community legal mechanisms the Spanish legislature ought
to take into account in order to regulate the activities of such
agencies in the Spanish labour market, so that they conform
with the abovementioned Community rules ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

There is no Community instrument which governs the
recognition of temporary employment businesses .

However there are certain obligations for temporary
employment businesses in Council Directive 91 / 383 / EEC (*)
of 25 June 1991 supplementing the measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health at work of workers
with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a
temporary employment relationship . This Directive had to
be implemented by Member States by 31 December

1992 .

(!) OJ No L 205, 29 . 7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 905 / 93

by Mr Giuseppe Rauti ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 7 April 1 993 )

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1993 )

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that

no European Development Fund projects or programmes
are or have been carried out in the Hadejla Local
Government Area ( LGA ) nor any dams or dikes financed on
the Hadejla River .

The Commission is keenly aware that a vital factor for all
development activities in North East Nigeria is the proper
use of water resources . At present, competing interests from
States that share the Hadejla — Katagum — Yobe —
Kamadougou and Jama'are river systems are awaiting
resolution at Nigeria 's federal level . As dam construction
threatens the seasonal floods upon which large numbers of
the Yobe and Borno States population depend, the
Commission is bringing to the attention of the relevant
Federal Authorities the needs of the communities that are
supported under the ongoing EDF funded project
' North-East Arid Zone Development programme ' ( ECU 35
million ) as well as drawing their attention to the wider
environmental implications of damming the upstream
rivers .

<                                                                                                                

For the information of the Honourable Member the

Community is involved in several recently approved ( under
the seventh EDF ) conservation projects in Nigeria such as
the Oban Hills National Park project ( ECU 16,5 million ),
the OKAWANGO National Park Programme ( ECU 4,1
million ) both in the Cross River State of the Nigerian
Federation as well as the Katsina Arid Zone Programme in
the northernmost part of the country ( ECU 25 million ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 913 / 93

by Mr Michael Welsh ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 93 / C 264 / 108 )
(2 7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 109
Subject : Possible environmental disaster in Nigeria caused

by mistaken choices in the context of international
cooperation

Can the Commission say whether it is aware of the dramatic
social and ecological situation developing in the lake region

Subject : Implementation of directives on asbestos

i

Would the Commission comment on the extent to which

Community directives on asbestos have been incorporated

9

No C 264 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

in national legislation with particular reference to Directive

83 / 477 / EEC ( J ) as amended by Directive 91 / 382 / EEC ( 2 ),
Directive 76 / 769 / EEC ( 3 ) as amended by Directive
91 / 157 / EEC ( 4 ) and Directive 90 / 394 / EEC ( 5 ) in so far as it
applies to asbestos ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 9 1 7 / 93

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 110 )

Is the Commission satisfied that these directives are being
properly enforced at national level and indicate what steps it Subject : Safety of foam filled furniture
plans to take to remedy any deficiencies ?

Since we are now in the single market and there is still no
adequate EC legislation in place on the safety of foam filled
furniture, why was a proposal on this subject not in the
Commission work programme and when can we expect to
see such a proposal ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

( 5 )

OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983, p . 25 .
OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1991, p . 16 .
OJ No L 262, 27 . 9 . 1979, p . 201
OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991, p . 38 .
OJ No L 196, 26 . 7 . 1990, p . 1 .

on Answer behalf given of the by Commission Mr Flynn ( 21 June 1993 )

( 21 June 1993 )

Standardization work is progressing and the pre-normative
research dealing with the post-ignition behaviour is
scheduled to be completed at the end of 1994 . A study on the
alleged toxicity and eco-toxicity of flame-retardant
products reports that their use in upholstered furniture and
related articles is compatible with the protection of health
and the environment .

The directives on the protection of the health and safety of alleged toxicity and eco-toxicity of flame-retardant
workers from the risks related to exposure of asbestos based products reports that their use in upholstered furniture and
on Article 118A of the EC Treaty provide minimum related articles is compatible with the protection of health
requirements which Member States may, if they so wish, and the environment .
implement by more stringent prevention and protection
measures . The Commission has also received a communication by the
industrial sectors interested, explaining that they intend to

Directive 83 / 477 / EEC has been fully implemented by all introduce a voluntary scheme, requiring that upholstered
Member States, whereas the amending Directive furniture and related articles be resistant to ignition from a
implemented 91 / 382 / EEC in by which the six Member limit States values are ( Belgium lowered, Denmark, has been, present burning situation cigarette in . This the ten initiative Member is likely States to with improve the neither a
France Netherlands United mandatory nor a voluntary system .

Directive 83 / 477 / EEC has been fully implemented by all
Member States, whereas the amending Directive
91 / 382 / EEC in which the limit values are lowered, has been
implemented by six Member States ( Belgium, Denmark,
France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom ).

The Commission hopes to be soon in a position to indicate
Directive 90 / 394 / EEC, which covers the protection from the result of the on-going assessment of this problem .
exposure to asbestos as a classified carcinogen, has been
implemented by only one Member State ( United
Kingdom ).

Directive 91 / 157 / EEC does not concern asbestos but

batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous
substances . If the Honourable Member means to refer to
Directive 91 / 659 / EEC 0 ) adapting to technical progress
Directive 76 / 769 / EEC, it has not yet been implemented by
any Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 932 / 93

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

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 111 )
The Commission has opened infringement procedures
pursuant to Article 169 of the EC Treaty against all Member
States which have not implemented the abovementioned Subject : Human rights in Iran
directives .

H OJ No L 363, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

Could the Commission inform me whether they have made
any progress with the Iranian authorities concerning human
rights abuses against members of the Bahai faith ? Can the
Commission confirm that they will highlight the position of
the Bahais in their next bilateral meetings with the Iranian
Government ?

\

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 57

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the problems suffered by the
Baha'is in Iran . The issue is regularly raised by the
Commission in all bilateral meetings with the Iranian
authorities . The results of this are difficult to judge because
of the limited information which comes out of Iran on the

subject .

At the Edinburgh European Council last December the
heads of state or government agreed that, in the light of
Iran 's importance in the region, contacts should be
maintained with the Iranian government . However, they
should take the form of a critical dialogue reflecting
concerns about Iran 's actions and calling for progress on a
number of fronts, notably human rights, the fatwa issued by
Ayatollah Khomeini imposing the death sentence on the
author Salman Rushdie, and terrorism . Such progress will
be an important factor in determining whether closer ties
can be established in a spirit of mutual trust .

national provisions which do not conform, and thus to
remove the confusion now surrounding production,
marketing and markets ?

(!) OJ No L 33, 8 . 2 . 1979, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

On 7 April 1992 the Commission adopted a proposal for a
Directive i 1 ) intended to . amend Directive 79 / 112 / EEC on
the labelling of foodstuffs . A particular aim of this proposal
is to lay down procedures enabling details to be adopted
concerning the labelling of the ingredients of alcoholic
beverages . The intention as regards wine and the other
alcoholic beverages covered by specific Community
regulations is to adopt those details as part of that
regulation, whereas for other beverages the Standing
Committee on Foodstuffs procedure should apply .

As regards the state of progress of this matter : the opinion of
the European Parliament on first reading is expected for
As in previous years, the Community and its Member States July .
tabled a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran at
the 49th session of the Commission on Human Rights (!) OJ No C 122, 14 . 5 . 1992 .
( Geneva, 1 February to 12 March 1993 ).

The Commission will continue in its bilateral contacts with

the Iranian authorities to stress the plight of the Baha'is and /
other oppressed groups as long as there are reports of
human rights violations in their country .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 961 / 93

by Mr Gerd Miiller ( PPE ) i

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 113 )

Subject : PHARE and TACIS programmes
WRITTEN QUESTION No 947 / 93

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

( ) Will the Commission indicate how resources were allocated

of the European Communities under the PHARE and TACIS programme for 1991— 1992

( 29 April 1993 ) and state which projects were funded, if possible, specifying

the Member States involved in each case ( particularly
( 93 / C 264 / 112 ) Germany )?

i
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

Subject : Labelling of alcoholic beverages

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

Directive 79 / 112 / EEC ( ! ) on the labelling, presentation and (6 July 1993 )
advertising of foodstuffs provides for a modification
allowing specific Community rules to be laid down for the
labelling of wines and alcoholic beverages . 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 Parliament 's Secretariat .
Given the urgency of specific Community rules on wines and
alcoholic beverages, what measures does the Commission
intend to take to harmonize the sector, through the repeal of

/

No C 264 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 973 / 93 legislation banning or restricting the use of this substance in

Mr Alexander V the Community .

by Mr Alexander Langer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

0 ) OJ No L 251, 29 . 8 . 1992 .
( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 114 )

Subject : Breach of the UN embargo on South Africa by

Sadepan Chimica of Viadana, Mantua, Italy

From December 1989 Sadepan Chimica Spa, which is based
in Viadana, Mantua, Italy, has for a period of time supplied
financial support, technological equipment and skilled staff
to Formalchem ( PTY ) Ltd which is based in Berlin in the
province of Eastern Cape in the Republic of South Africa,
for the production of formaldehyde, a highly toxic
substance suspected of causing cancer .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 985 / 93

by Mr Gerard Deprez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 115 )

Subject : Study on cross-border purchases in the frontier

regions of the Community

The Commission has published an invitation to tender in the

Official Journal 0 ) for a study into cross-border purchases
in the frontier regions of the Community .

Can the Commission say :

1 .

2 .

By doing this, was Sadepan breaking the UN embargo
on South Africa ? If so, has the EC taken steps to halt
these breaches and report them to the authorities or does
it intend to do so ? Is there a report on breaches of the
embargo on South Africa by firms from EC countries
and on the steps taken in such cases by the
authorities ?

Can the export of hazardous substances such as cross-border purchases ?
formaldehyde, the real dangers of which are not yet
known, or the know-how needed to produce them, be 2 . if so, how many, and what regions and types of purchase
reconciled with European legislation and the relevant were studied ?
agreements signed by EC countries ? If not, are there
plans to modify Community legislation ? 3 . if so, what use was made of the findings of these
studies ?

1 . whether it has already had other studies carried out into
cross-border purchases ?

2 . if so, how many, and what regions and types of purchase
were studied ?

V

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

4 . why are purchases in frontier regions such as
Spain / Portugal, Spain / France and France / Italy not
covered by this study ? If these regions have already been
covered previously or if there are plans to cover them in
the future, what steps will be taken to ensure that the
data is comparable with the findings of the
abovementioned study ?

1 . Formaldehyde is not among the products that were 0 ) OJ No C 63, 5 . 3 . 1993, p. 15 .
subject to the restrictive trade measures adopted by the
Community and its Member States against South Africa .

The Commission is not in a position to check whether the
activities of this company, described by the Honourable
Member, breached the ban on new investment in South
Africa . The ban, now lifted, was not a Community measure
and sole responsibility for its implementation ( and the
necessary checks ) lay with the Member States .

2 . Within the Community formaldehyde ( CAS No
50-00-0 ) is not covered by Council Regulation ( EEC ) No
2455 / 92 concerning the export and import of certain
dangerous chemicals, which provides for a common
notification and information system for exports to
non-member countries ( j ). There is no Community

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

r

A study focusing on the reasons for cross-border purchases
was carried out on the Commission 's behalf in 1990 by the

' Institut europeen interregional de la consommation ', Lille,
in frontier regions of the following countries : Belgium,
France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and Switzerland .
This study covered durable and non-durable consumer
goods and services . The findings are used primarily by
consumer organizations in the regions concerned, in order
to keep their members more fully informed .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 59

Moreover, since 1986, twenty or so price surveys focusing
on the same types of purchases have been carried out in all
regions of the Community . The results of these surveys are
also published by consumer organizations, and help them to
provide a better service to consumers in frontier regions by
informing them of the price and quality of available
products .

It was not possible to include all the regions of the
Community in the study published in the Official
Journal (*), in view of the high cost of this type of in-depth

survey involving interviews with 500 households in each
region .

However, the regions not included in this study will be
covered by similar studies in the future . This is not a major
drawback, since the studies are concerned with the specific
behaviour of consumers in a given frontier region, and the
findings may therefore be viewed independently .

(!) OJ No C 63, 5 . 3 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1012 / 93

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 116 )

Subject : Water purity

Is the Commission satisfied that European Community
legislation on water purity is thoroughly enforced in all
Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1 993 )

While significant improvements have been achieved in water
quality in the last decade throughout the Community, there
are nevertheless instances when the Commission has found
it necessary to refer to the Court of Justice apparent failures
to comply with the relevant legislation .

Further details can be obtained from the Commission 's

tenth report on the control of the application of Community
law ( 1 ).

( l ) COM(93 ) 320 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1019 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 117

Subject : Commission building in Brussels

A firm of architects in Barcelona has submitted a
construction project to replace the present Berlaymont

building, according to a report published in El Pais in
Madrid on 10 March 1993 . The building concerned takes
the form of a tower one kilometre high with a floor area of
about half a million square metres . The name of the firm is
L35 . It thinks that the new headquarters should be a
' symbolic ' design and not merely functional .

Does the Commission have any views of its own on this
project, assuming that it has received or is aware of the
scheme ? In any case, what stage has the decision-making
process reached for providing the Commission with its
permanent headquarters in the light of the European
Council agreements in Edinburgh ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 June 1993 )

The Commission, like the Honourable Member, learnt from
the press of the project to replace the Berlaymont with a

1 km tower .

The Commission has formally denied any involvement
whatsoever in this matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1020 / 93

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 118

Subject : Access to justice

Does the Commission accept that in the internal market,
consumers need a form of protection which they do not have
at present and that is access to justice ? Does the Commission
therefore agree that there should be an EC-wide system of
legal aid to enable citizens to have that access to justice
which they would otherwise be unable to exercise ?

\

No C 264 / 60 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1152 / 93

by Mr Kenneth Collins ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 May 1993 )

The Commission therefore agrees that the right of access to
the courts implies the existence of a legal aid scheme before
both the European Court of Justice and national
jurisdictions .

( 93 / C 264 / 1 19 Legal aid in proceedings before the European Court of
Justice can be granted under the Court 's Rules of
Procedure ( 5 ).
Subject : Legal aid

Does the Commission agree that a system of providing
financial support for civil legal actions must be in place in all
Member States if individuals are to be able to make use of

their right to bring actions before the Court of Justice ?

Does the Commission agree that such a system of ' legal aid '
should be established in Member States, and, if so, will it
agree to address this problem in its proposed Green Paper on
Access to Justice ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1183 / 93

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

( 13 May 1993 )

Legal aid in proceedings before national jurisdictions is
governed by the laws of the Member States ; these laws must
not violate the nondiscrimination principle ( Article 7 of the
EC Treaty ).

The Commission is aware that great differences exist
between national legislations concerning eligibility
conditions as well as the scope of legal aid ( example : legal
representation before administrative tribunals ).

The Commission is concerned that none of the international

Conventions concerning legal aid in cross-border cases has
been ratified by all Member States, whilst the relevant
provision of the Brussels Convention on Jurisdiction and the
enforcement of Civil and Commercial Judgments

( Article 44 ) only applies to the enforcement procedure .

( 93 / C 264 / 120 )
Similar concerns have been expressed by the Council of the
Bars and Law Societies by resolution of 25 October 1991
Subject : EC Euro-Legal Aid office calling for the implementation of the Council of Europe
resolution No ( 78 ) 8 on legal aid .

Could the European Commission inform me whether they
would be prepared to establish a Euro-Legal Aid office in
order that all EC citizens could ensure that their rights were
being guaranteed in all national courts ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1020 / 93, 1152 / 93

and 1183 / 93

given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

The right of access to the courts, which is a fundamental
right under Article 6.1 of the European Convention on
human rights, can imply the right of legal aid for people who
cannot afford legal representation ( 1 ).

Fundamental rights form an integral part of the general
principles of Community law, as has always been recognized
by the European Court of Justice ( 2 ).

This approach has been fully supported in the Joint
Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and
the Commission of 5 April 1977 ( 3 ) as well as in paragraph 3
of the Preamble of the European Single Act ( 4 ).

Moreover, Community law would remain largely
meaningless if citizens could not effectively enforce their
rights under Community legislation ( which also means to be
able to obtain legal assistance where necessary to enforce
these rights ).

( 5 ) OJ No 350, 21 . 3 . 1959 and subsequent amendments .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1024 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Comnlission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 121

Subject : Article 31 group of atomic experts

Further to the reply to my Written Question No 2847 / 92 ( J )
of 5 February 1993, will the Commission list the names,

In so far as this situation can affect the effectiveness of
Community law, the Commission will address the problem
in its proposed Green paper on ' Access to justice and
consumer redress ', as suggested by the Honourable
Member .

0 )

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

Right to a ' fair trial ' as interpreted by the European Court of
Human Rights : Airey v. Ireland ( 1979 ) 2 EHRR 305 .
See inter alia case 222 / 84, Johnston v. Chief Constable of the
Royal Ulster Constabulary ( 1986 ) ECR 555, and case 249 / 86,
Commission v. Germany ( 1989 ) ECR 1286 .
OJ No C 103, 27 . 4 . 1977 .
OJ No L 169, 29 . 6 . 1987 .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 61

normal place of employment and specific expertise of each
member of the Article 3 1 group of experts on atomic energy
questions since its inception ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1039 / 93

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) OJ No C 145, 25 . 5 . 1993, p. 3 . (4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 123 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Subject : Misappropriation of Eurostat funds by the
National Statistical Institute in Spain

What is the Commission 's view of the fact that the National

Statistical Institute of Spain uses funds raised by Eurostat
As stated in the answer given to Written Question under the cooperation agreement for purposes other than
No 2847 / 92 by the Honourable Member, the Commission those intended ?
does not have to enter into the qualifications of the members
of the Group, as their appointment is the task of the
Euratom Scientific and Technical Committee . What action will the Commission take on this matter ?

A list of the present members of the Group is being sent
direct to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat
General of the Parliament, together with the addresses at
which each member of the Group indicated that she / he
wishes to receive the correspondence related with the
operations of the Group .

The Honourable Member and the Secretariat General of the

Parliament will receive as well a list of the experts who have
been members of the Group since its inception in the late
fifties .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1033 / 93

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

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 122 )

Subject : TACIS programme

Will the Commission issue a list by Member State of
organizations or companies which have been awarded
consultancy tenders for the TACIS programme ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

Yes . The Commission plans to inform the Member States
and Parliament at regular intervals about the award of
contracts under the TACIS programme .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

The Honourable Member refers to an account of the
information published in the Spanish press, which was
subsequently rectified by the President and the Board of
Directors of the ' Institute Nacional de Estadistica ' ( INE ).

In his letter to the editor of El Mundo, the President of the

INE wrote :

' With regard to the management of the cooperation
contracts between the INE and the Statistical Office of

the European Communities ( Eurostat ) for the execution
of Community statistical work not included in the INE 's
budget, I hereby inform you that the Community
funding was exclusively allocated, as prescribed, to the
execution of new statistical projects, as is customary in
all the Member States . This work was carried out by INE
staff and personnel from other government bodies '.

In a public notice to INE staff, the Board made the following

statement :

' The work carried out for Eurostat in 1990 and the

subsequent payments were cleared by the appropriate
management authorities in the Ministery of Economy
and Finance and were, in any case, previously scrutinized
by the General Audit Department of the State
Administration . The work in question concerned 11
items published and accepted by Eurostat, for which it
paid the INE PTA 153 million . The INE Board paid PTA

86 million in respect of this exceptional work to the 713
people who had carried it out, whereupon the balance of
67 million was paid to the Treasury '.

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that

the work for which Community funds were used was

\

No C 264 / 62 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

completed in accordance with the contract concluded with
the INE and to the Commission 's entire satisfaction .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1043 / 93

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 124 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1046 / 93

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

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 125 )

Subject : LEADER and farmers ' organizations

Farmers ' organizations are excluded from taking part in the
management of programmes such as LEADER and this is
considered a great shortcoming in Greece, at least . How
does the Commission intend to remedy this situation ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen
Subject : Timeshare touts on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )
Is the Commission aware of the continued harassment of

holiday makers by ' timeshare touts '?

Will the Commission amend the proposal for protection of
purchasers in timeshare contracts to include restrictions of
undue pressure in selling techniques ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 June 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the problems which a number
of holiday makers have to face concerning immovable
property on a timeshare basis, and therefore a proposal for a
directive to protect purchasers in timeshare contracts has
been submitted to the Council . It is also currently discussed
in the Parliament, where improvements of the directive are
on the way in cooparation with the Commission .

The Commission does not share the Honourable Member 's
opinion on the involvement of agricultural organizations in
the management of the LEADER programme . Indeed, the
partnership within all the LEADER groups approved in
Greece is formed essentially of agricultural economic
interest groups, representatives of local government and
various groups of collective interest .

The LEADER programme is an example ' par excellence ' of
the ' bottom-up ' procedure with regard to both the drafting
and the management of measures through the local

groups .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1063 / 93

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

(6 May 1 993 )

The proposal lays down several rules to prevent ( 93 / C 264 / 126 )
unscrupulous firms pushing people into over-hasty deals
they sometimes regret . These rules would for example oblige
firms to provide ample information to potential buyers on Subject : Need to extend the scope of
the total costs of such a deal, a full description of the villa, of women
apartment or other accommodation on offer and on the
additional charges they could incur . Will the Commission whether

Subject : Need to extend the scope of programmes in favour

of women

Will the Commission say whether existing programmes and

initiatives in favour of women, namely IRIS, NOW and ILE,
They would also allow purchasers a minimum of 28 days to and the operational programme are to be extended in the
immediate future ?
withdraw from a contract for a foreign timeshare location
and 14 days if the property is located in their home

country .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
The Commission considers that these measures will allow >n behalf of the Commission
purchasers in timeshare contracts to make a rational choice, ( 24 June 1993 )
with the proviso that Member States may adopt more
favourable provisions to protect the interests of the
purchaser . The IRIS, NOW and LEI programmes are

( 24 June 1993 )

The IRIS, NOW and LEI programmes are three specific
instruments of Community equal opportunities policy,
designed to improve the situation of women on the labour
market .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 63

They form part of the third medium-term Community
action programme on equal opportunities 1991 — 1995,
while not necessarily being restricted to the same
implementation timetable .

The IRIS network, intended to promote specific vocational
training programmes for women, will enter its second phase
in January 1994 . The network 's success during the period

1988 — 1993 in terms of both assistance in setting up
partnerships for the NOW projects and developing
exchanges and partnerships between network member
projects ( 500 projects in 1993 ), fully justifies continuation
of the programme with certain changes in emphasis .

The LEI programme, intended to promote women 's
enterprise, has had considerable success over the past two
years given the level of its resources . There were almost
6 000 applications in 1991 and 1992 . For the period

1994 — 1995, the Commission is rethinking its strategy on
the programme to ensure that the promotion of women 's
enterprise in economic or social innovation is clearly
targeted .

As far as extension of NOW is concerned, it is still too early
for the Commission to be able to give the Honourable
Member precise details on implementation of new
Community human resource initiatives, but where such are
taken, the equal opportunities dimension will certainly be
accorded due priority, and the innovative experiments
developed under the NOW initiative will be taken into
account in planning future ESF projects .

primary school, a secondary school and a lycee with 700
pupils in the region of Itea . The smell is unbearable and
pupils are often obliged to stay indoors during the break
owing to the smell emanating from the tannery . Plans were
drawn up years ago to move this polluting plant to the
Patras industrial estate but the authorities have so far failed
to act, putting forward a number of pretexts to justify their
inertia . In order to protect pupils from this unbearable
smell, does the Commission intend to call on the relevant
authorities to transfer this tannery forthwith to the
industrial estate in question where the necessary
infrastructures are already available ?

x on Answer behalf given of the by Commission Mr Flynn

(1 July 1993 )

The matters raised by the Honourable Member are the
responsibility of the Member State concerned, which must
assess the situation and take the measures deemed

necessary .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1134 / 93

by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

Furthermore, as part of the new Structural Fund reforms, ( 93 / C 264 / 128 )
the Commission has included the promotion of equal
opportunities as one of the tasks of the European Social
Fund in the proposed regulations . Once adopted by the Subject : UK Child Support Act
Council, this would allow more emphasis to be placed on
the inclusion of women in all ESF actions, and would favour Is the Commission aware that the UK
the adoption of operational programmes designed be implemented in April 1993 )
specifically for initiatives in favour of women .

Subject : UK Child Support Act

/

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1064 / 93

/ Could the Commission clarify whether, within the scope of
European Community law on equal opportunities for
women and men, and particularly in the context of the 1978
Directive on Equality in Social Security, this provision in UK
law is in contravention with European Community law ?

Is the Commission aware that the UK Child Support Act ( to
be implemented in April 1993 ) discriminates against single
mothers who refuse to name the father of their children for

maintenance purposes ? Refusal to name the father could
lead to a substantial reduction in social security benefits .
This could pose particular problems for women who have

faced violence or other forms of abuse who may be
unwilling to name the father .

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

(6 May 1 993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 127 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Tannery next to a school complex (1 July 1993 )

The largest tannery in Achaia is located a few metres away
from a school complex comprising a kindergarten, a

Questions concerning maintenance payments for single
women with children in the United Kingdom, as covered by

» I

No C 264 / 64 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

the Child Support Act, are a matter exclusively for the
United Kingdom . The Community has no powers to act in
this field .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1164 / 93
by Mrs Claudia Roth, Mr Alexander Langer ( V )

and Mr Georg Jarzembowski ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

The Council Directive of 1978 on equal treatment for men

in ( 12 May 1993 )

and women in respect of social security is concerned only
with social security and not with maintenance payments . ( 93 / C 264 / 130

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1142 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 129

Subject : ESF allocations

What the Metropolitan allocations of Boroughs ESF allocations of Kirklees - were, Wakefield made in 1992 in West to

Yorkshire and Barnsley in South Yorkshire ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1 993 )

The Metropolitan Boroughs of Kirklees, Wakefield and
Barnsley fall within the Yorkshire and Humberside
objective 2 programme which includes both ERDF and
ESF .

An allocation of ECU 6,2 million was committed to this
programme from the European Social Fund for expenditure
in 1992 . It is not possible for the Commission to identify
precisely how much of this sum is spent in particular parts of
a region . The implementing authority — the Department of
Employment in London — may have more detailed
information on this point .

»

In addition, these boroughs will benefit from ESF
expenditure under objectives 3 and 4 . Programmes under 3
and 4 are administered nationally by the Department of
Employment, which again may be able to provide more
information .

Subject : Proposed publication of a review with the title

' Migration and participation '

The Official Journal of the European Communities contains
an invitation to tender for production of a review with the
title ' Migration and participation ' ( J ).

1 . Has the Directorate-General for Employment,
Industrial Relations and Social Affairs, Freedom of
movement and migration policy section, received
tenders for the production of this review and, if so, from
whom ?

2 . Why has production of the review, which according to

the invitation to tender was to produce its first edition in

1992, been delayed and when will the first issue
appear ?

(!) OJ No C 161, 27 . 6 . 1992, p. 30 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The invitation to tender on the subject of ' Migration and
participation ' was launched with the aim of drawing up a list
of institutes capable of meeting the requirements of the
project, and to determine the cost .

The Commission received twenty tenders, four of which

fully satisfied the stipulated criteria . A final selection has not
been made, since budgetary and other considerations
subsequently induced the Commission to postpone the
project . A revised project is currently being studied .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1175 / 93

by Mr John Bird ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 May 1993 )

The address is : ( 93 / C 264 / 131 )

ESF UNIT
Department of Employment

Level one
236 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8HL

United Kingdom

Subject : Recommendation, and guide to good practice on

childcare

In December 1992 the Council of Ministers adopted the
recommendation and guide to good practice on childcare .
Unfortunately, the Commission had chosen to ignore
Parliament 's amendments to the recommendation, and
these were not brought before the Council .

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 65

What arrangements have been put in place to monitor and
scrutinize the effects of the recommendation ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 June 1993 )
When will the Commission make its first report on the
implementation of the recommendation ?

Is the Commission of the view that a directive on childcare The Commission based its 1993 operational priorities for
will eventually be required ? the appropriations voted by the budgetary authority on the

conclusions drawn from the activities carried out in 1992 .

These appropriations amount to ECU 5,5 million, or an
increase of ECU 0,5 million over 1992 .
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Article 7 of the recommendation 92 / 241 / EEC ( ! ) on child
care adopted in March 1992 calls on Member States to
inform the Commission within three years of the measures
taken to give effect to it, in order to enable the Commission
to draw up a report on its implementation . The report will
be made on the basis of the responses from Member
States .

t

The guide to good practice, included in the Third Action
Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men,

1991 — 1995, is being produced and should complement the
recommendation .

The Commission hopes that its 1983 proposal for a directive
on parental leave and leave for family reasons ( 2 ) may be
further examined and ultimately adopted . The proposed
directive would considerably enhance the ability of working
parents to combine their working and family
responsibilities .

Given the existence of the recommendation and the
proposed new parental leave directive, the Commission does
not envisage a directive on childcare .

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

The initial assessment of the priority actions shows that
although these were implemented late, the response by
young people / youth leaders and by officials responsible for
youth work has been encouraging . It is also clear that a
special arid sustained coordination effort is necessary at
European level to ensure balanced development of ' youth '
cooperation networks in all the Community regions . It is
clear that certain Member States lack experience in certain
types of activities ( training for leaders, youth initiatives,
voluntary service, etc .). To enlarge and diversify the
participation of youth organizations, to reinforce the
development of European networks between local, regional
and national administrations, and national agencies, as well
as between youth leaders and youth organizations in every
Member State remains an important task for the next two
years, particularly in view of the envisaged participation of
the EFTA countries . The Commission is currently preparing
a specific communication on youth-related questions as
announced in the Commission working document on
' Guidelines for Community action in the field of education
and training '.

Youth initiatives » ( action 3 ) have met with great success since
they are addressed to young people at local level . On the
other hand, the novel aspect of this type of project has made
for an unequal response from the Member States .

( 2 ) COM(84 ) 631 final .
Y outh exchanges with third countries at this stage mainly
comprise support measures for exchange visits ; these visits
are designed to develop European ' partnership ' networks in
respect of youth leader training and youth organizations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1272 / 93
by Mrs Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission is sending the Honourable Member, as
well as the Secretariat-General of the European Parliament,
the following documents :

( 19 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 132 ) the draft assessment of priority actions in 1992,

Subject : Priority actions in the youth field

The European Parliament created a new item in the 1992
budget for priority actions in the youth field ( B3-1012 ).
Now that the initial difficulties in setting up the various

measures concerned have been overcome and in the light of
the 30,4% increase for 1993 with respect to the previous
financial year, can the Commission indicate what action is
to be taken and what the outlook is for the present
year ?

the list of organizations applying for such priority
actions in 1992

the breakdown of the number of projects, the subsidies
granted and the number of participants by Member State
and action in 1992,

the breakdown of projects and subsidies by Member
State and by action following the first selection for

1993,

No C 264 / 66 Official Journal of the European Communities 29 . 9 . 93

—            - —            - mmmmm — i i            -, i i .,

— the breakdown of expenditure for 1992 and of the What value does the Commission attach to the work of the
appropriations for 1993 . Coastwatch Europe Network ?

Does the Commission expect to receive fresh data from the
network in future ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1304 / 93

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

(1 June 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 July 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 133 )
The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to
the reply to the oral question H-530 / 93 by Mr Bandres
Subject : Production of instruments of torture on Molet, which it gave during question time at Parliament 's
Community territory May 1993 part-session ( 1 ).

A recent Amnesty International report condemned the (*) Debates of the European Parliament No 431 ( May 1993 ).
United Kingdom because UK companies have specialized in
the production of instruments of torture and are exporting
them to various countries, mainly in the Third World .
Amnesty International charges that torture chambers and
expertise in this field are being offered to secret services and
special military units . Does the Commission intend to take
measures to ban the production of instruments of torture on WRITTEN QUESTION No 1379 / 93
Community territory, and, if so, when ? by Lord Ingle wood ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1379 / 93

by Lord Ingle wood ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 June 1993 )

Answer given by Mr van den Broek ( 93 / C 264 / 135 )

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 ) Subject : Tobacco advertising

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 664 / 92 by Mr
Wayne (*).

(!) OJ No C 247, 21 . 9 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1374 / 93
by Mrs Laura Gonzales Alvarez and Mr Alonso Puerta

( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 134

Subject : Coastwatch Europe Network

The Coastwatch Europe Network prepares and supplies to
the Commission statistical data on pollution along the
coasts of 20 European countries .

Can the Commission say how this information is used in its
analyses and environmental protection measures ?

Would the Commission agree that the Community has no
legal power to ban tobacco advertising on public health
grounds either under the Treaties currently in force, or as
they will be amended by the Maastricht Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The Community does not act to ban tobacco advertising on
public health grounds . The Community acts in order to
approximate the laws of Member States in this area, to the
extent required for the proper functioning of the Internal
Market . To this end, the Commission 's proposal is aimed at
ensuring the free movement of goods and services connected
with tobacco advertising . This position will not be altered by
the coming into force of the Treaty on European Union .

The Commission, conscious of the differing laws in the
Member States concerning tobacco advertising, has based
its advertising proposal on - for Article a Council 100A of directive the EEC Treaty to ban, which tobacco also

has the effect of complementing the directive on television
broadcasting ( 89 / 552 / EEC ) (*), in force since October 1991,
which bans all forms of tobacco advertising on television .

\

29 . 9 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 264 / 67

The differing provisions obtaining in the Member States, as Could the Commission accept a formal request to intervene
well as the increasing number of complaints concerning the concretely in this matter ?
movement of goods and services concerned, make a
convincing case for the speedy adoption of the directive on ( 1 ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-423 ( October
banning tobacco advertising and, thereby, the elimination of 1992 ).
barriers to trade .

                   

It goes without saying that the Commission in formulating
its proposals concerning the aforementioned Council
directives, took as a base, in accordance with Article 100 A
of the EEC Treaty, a high level of protection .

(!) OJ No L 298, 17 . 10 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1384 / 93

by Mrs Viviane Reding ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 264 / 136 )

Subject : The Guatemalan street children

To question H-1018 / 92 (*) by Mr David reading :

' Because of lawsuits which have been presented to sue
national policemen and military for the torture and
murder of street children in Guatemala, staff of ' Casa
Alianza ', a refuge for more than 500 abandoned street
children, have been the target of reprisals which have
included armed attacks, kidnappings and death threats .
Since Casa Alianza is financed by the EC, will the
Commission request the Guatemalan Government to
provide adequate security for the Casa Alianza staff so
that they may continue their struggle to protect the street
children from those who are supposed to protect
them ?'

the Commission answered :

' The Commission has received reports of violent attacks
against a number of NGOs including Casa Alianza, but it
has not been asked to intervene . If it were to receive such

a request, it would consult the representatives of the
Member States on the spot to establish the best
approach .'

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

The Commission has been informed by a number of
members of Parliament of the threats received by Mr Harris,
the head of the NGO, Casa Alianza .

The Community authorities had previously been in contact
with EEC diplomatic representatives in Guatemala,
including the ambassador of Mr Harris 's own country, the
United Kingdom . It should be noted that responsibility for
protecting the interests of foreigners in a particular country
lies primarily with the duly accredited diplomatic
representatives there .

It would appear from information obtained in Guatemala
that Mr Harris is no longer permanently resident in the
country and only makes periodic visits .

The United Kingdom ambassador will therefore decide on
the advisability of making any specific move, which could
involve the Commission .

Unfortunately -, however, the threats against Mr Harris are
typical of many such cases in a major wave of violence
sweeping the country and there is no reason to suppose that
he is in any more immediate danger than other foreign or
Guatemalan nationals working on humanitarian

programmes .

Significantly, though, the Commission and its Member
States have on many occasions protested at the fact that the
perpetrators of a great many violent acts continue to go
unpunished .

Nevertheless, whatever the country, there are obvious limits
to what any non-governmental organization can do,
according to the degree of tolerance in the country
concerned .