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^ - ^ ^ / * / * • - "I T *| ISSN 0378-6986
# (Jrhcial Journal C259

_r_ # . Volume 34
### of the European Communities 4o«*«»»i

##### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

91/C 259/01 No 685/90 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject: Smuggling into Ireland of bacon/pork of eastern European origin presented as being
from a Member State (Supplementary answer) 1

91/C 259/02 No 2092/90 by Mrs Alliot-Marie to the Commission

Subject: Measures to offset monetary fluctuations on the European meat market 1

91/C 259/03 No 2377/90 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject: Military cooperation between Iraq, the Sudan and South Africa 2

91/C 259/04 No 2384/90 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject: Glass recycling — monopoly situations 3

91/C 259/05 No 2392/90 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject: Destruction of the environment by the Greek Magnesites Company 3

91 / C 259/06 No 2452/90 by Mr Marc Reymann to the Commission

Subject: Functioning of the European Institutions 4

91/C 259/07 No 2564/90 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject: Extending the Community's competence in the tourism sector 4

91/C 259/08 No 2595/90 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject: Compliance with the Directive on the limitation of noise emissions from subsonic
aircraft in Italy 4

91/C 259/09 No 2601/90 by the following Members: Mr Enrique Sapena Granell, Mrs Maria
Izquierdo Rojo, Mrs Ludivina Garcia Arias, Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez,
Mr Mateo Sierra Bardaji, Mr Javier Sanz Fernandez and Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz to
the Commission

Subject: Community policy on tourism 5

2 (Continued overleaf)

91/C259/10

91/C259/11

91/C259/12

91/C259/13

91/C259/14

91/C259/15

91/C259/16

91/C259/17

91/C259/18

91/C259/19

91/C259/20

91/C259/21

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91/C259/26

91/C259/27

91/C259/28

Contents (continued)

No 2617/90 by Mr Ben Fayot to the Commission

Subject: Revision of the ECSC Treaty 5

No 2656/90 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission

Subject: Visit to Portugal by Commissioner Brittan and the situation in the textile industry . . . . 6

No 2751/90 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Single market provisions 7

No 2838/90 by Mr Andrea Raggio to the Commission

Subject: Regen programme, project for Sardinia and Corsica 7

No 2868/90 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission

Subject: Community tourist programme for the elderly during the winter season 8

No 2941/90 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Pollution of the River Aliakmon 8

No 2951/90 by Mr Alman Metten to the Commission

Subject: Databank on medicinal products 9

No 2958/90 by Mr Menelaos Hadjigeorgiou to the Commission

Subject: Pollution of large cities by vehicle exhaust fumes 9

No 2980/90 by Mr Miguel Arias Canete to the Commission
Subject: Trade with Canada in fishery products 10

No 3002/90 by Mr Reimer Boge to the Commission

Subject: Environmentally acceptable lubricating and hydraulic oils 11

No 3007/90 by Mr Concepcio Ferrer to the Commission
Subject: Protection and monitoring measures affecting the textile sector 11

No 3020/90 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission

Subject: Relations between the European Community and the World Tourism Organization . . 12

No 3032/90 by Mr Ian White to the Commission

Subject: School holidays 12

No 152/91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject: Use of tear gas by the Greek police 13

No 188/91 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission

Subject: Strategic importance of aviation 13

No 275/91 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission
Subject: Use of banned hormones to fatten livestock in Catalonia 14

No 277/91 by Mr Jose Alvarez de Paz to the Commission
Subject: Harmonization of vocational training in the building sector in the EEC 14

No 296/91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject: Car users' safety programme 15

No 322/91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject: The profession of clinical chemist 15

N o Contents (continued)

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91/C259/46

N o 329/91 by M r Miguel Arias Canete to the Commission

Subject: EEC—Morocco Fisheries Agreement 16

N o 362/91 by M r Diego de los Santos Lopez to the Commission

Subject: Damage to the environment 16

N o 368/91 by M r Gunter Liittge to the Commission

Subject: Development of regional airports in the five new German Lander 17

N o 411/91 by M r John Iversen to the Commission

Subject: Trade in tropical wood 17

N o 481 /91 by M r Karl von W o g a u to the Commission

Subject: Aids for maize in connection with cross-border producer associations 18

N o 513/91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher and M r Siegbert Alber to the Commission

Subject: Trade in human organs 19

N o 541/91 by M r Helwin Peter to the Commission

Subject: Steel import from certain third countries in 1991 19

N o 542/91 by M r John McCartin to the Commission

Subject: Overproduction in the dairy sector 20

N o 547/91 by M r Didier Anger to the Commission

Subject: Environmental impact of the Structural Funds 20

N o 548/91 by M r Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Structural Funds and the environment 21

N o 563/91 by M r Ben Visser to the Commission

Subject: Failure to comply with regulations on driving and rest periods in the road haulage

sector 22

N o 610/91 by M r Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission

Subject: National plan of Community interest concerning the province of Almeria (Spain) . . . . 22

N o 612/91 by M r Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission

Subject: Information campaign regarding use of permanent paper 23

N o 618/91 by M r M a d r o n Seligman to the Commission

Subject: Introduction of fibre optic networks in the Community 23

N o 627/91 by M r Francois-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: Status of officials and other servants of the European Communities 24

N o 639/91 by M r Reimer Boge to the Commission

Subject: Fisheries policy 24

N o 640/91 by M r Reimer Boge to the Commission

Subject: Fisheries policy 24

N o 642/91 by M r Reimer Boge to the Commission

Subject: Fisheries policy : 25

(Continued overleaf)

No Contents (continued)

91/C 259/47 No 650/91 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission

Subject: Rise in the temperature of the Po (Italy) 25

91/C 259/48 No 693/91 by Ms Christine Oddy to the Commission

Subject: Cat Island, Bahamas 25

91 / C 259/49 No 740/91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission

Subject: Funding of the Greek agricultural sector within the framework of the Regional
Development Plans 26

91 / C 259/50 No 745/91 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission

Subject: Extension of ERDF programmes after 1991 27

91/C259/51 No 746/91 by Mr Manfred Wohrer to the Commission

Subject: Free movement of pets in the EC 27

91/C259/52 No 794/91 by Mr Jacques Vernier to the Commission

Subject: Fishery statistics : 28

91/C 259/53 No 800/91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission

Subject: Financial help for churches 28

91/C 259/54 No 814/91 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission

Subject: Generic feed additives 28

91/C 259/55 No 837/91 by Mr Victor Manuel ArbeloaMuru to the Commission
Subject: Information about ERDF aid 29

91/C 259/56 No 872/91 by Mr Jose Torres Couto to the Commission

Subject: Social protection measures 29

91/C 259/57 No 920/91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Japanese protectionism in the leather sector, 29

91/C 259/58 No 1136/91 by Mr Carles Gasoliba i Bohm to the Commission

Subject: Community exports of tanned hides to Japan 30

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 920/91 and 1136/91 30

91/C 259/59 No 922/91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Fitness for use of the main SS 20 road through the Valle di Roja 30

91/C 259/60 No 929/91 by MrYvan Blot to the Commission

Subject: Lower VAT rate on horticultural and nursery products 31

91/C 259/61 No 985/91 by Mr Alain Marleix to the Commission

Subject: Fixing of VAT rates applicable to ornamental plants 31

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 929/91 and 985/91 31

91/C 259/62 No 931/91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission

Subject: Study of the Alqueva dam project 31

91/C 259/63 No 937/91 by Mrs Marijke van Hemeldonck to the Commission

Subject: Proposal for a Council Directive on the legal protection of computer programs — the
legal basis of Article 2(3) 32

Contents (continued)

91 / C 259/64 No 940/91 by Mr David Martin to the Commission

Subject: Classification of Community Acts 32

91/C 259/65 No 946/91 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission

Subject: Creation of small and medium enterprises in the Community 33

91/C 259/66 No 971/91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Delays in the payment of Community farm subsidies 33

91/C 259/67 No 980/91 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission

Subject: Uclaff report 34

91/C 259/68 No 992/91 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject: Drinking water quality 34

91/C 259/69 No 998/91 by Mr Ben Fayot to the Commission

Subject: Refusal by the Italian customs authorities to recognize a Community document 35

91 / C 259/70 No 1017/91 by Mr Pol Marck to the Commission

Subject: Bread price's 35

91 /C 259/71 No 1025/91 by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac to the Commission

Subject: Monopolistic practices in the meteorological sector 35

91/C 259/72 No 1027/91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission

Subject: Community Support Frameworks for fisheries and aquaculture products 36

91/C 259/73 No 1029/91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject: Aid to rural tourism 36

91/C 259/74 No 1033/91 by Mr Ioannis Stamoulis, Mr Paraskevas Avgerinos, Mr Christos
Papoutsis, Mr Konstantinos Tsimas, Mr Dionysios Livanos, Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos,
Mr Dimitrios Pagoropoulos and Mr Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject: Impact of the Gulf War on the economies and particularly the tourist sector in the
N Member States of the Community 37

91/C 259/75 No 1037/91 by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt to the Commission

Subject: European Community structural funds and the protection of the natural biological
environment 38

91 /C 259/76 No 1064/91 by Mr Alman Metten to the Commission

Subject: Lack of competition in respect of professional services and mortgage interest rate
adjustments 38

91/C 259/77 No 1103/91 by Mr Rafael Calvo Ortega to the Commission

Subject: EIB and regional development 39

91/C 259/78 No 1124/91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission

Subject: Community funding to cope with urban problems in third world countries 40

(Continued overleaf)

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Contents (continued) Page

N o 1137/91 by M r Stephen Hughes to the Commission

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Subject: Interreg initiative 40

No 1138/91 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Social and economic studies of a regional character in the United Kingdom 41

No 1140/91 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Development aid 41

No 1173/91 by Mrs Raymonde Duty to the Commission

Subject: Council of Europe convention on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation . . 42

No 1187/91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Euro food safety statistics 42

No 1203/91 by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz to the Commission

Subject: Compatibility with the common market of certain aid granted by the Government of
Catalonia 42

No 1239/91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission

Subject: Curative hypnotherapy 43

No 1245/91 by Mr Vincenzo Bettiza, Mr Roberto Barzanti, Mr Giorgio Rossetti,
Mr Florus Wijsenbeek, Mr Jean Defraigne and Mr Jas Gawronski to the Commission
Subject: Coding of television broadcasts in Europe by RAI 43

No 1248/91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission

Subject: Sale of a state farm owned by the Naples Institute of Eastern Studies in Battipaglia
(Salerno) 44

No 1268/91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission

Subject: Adjustment of State monopolies of a commercial character 45

No 1297/91 by Mr Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject: Conformity with Article 92 of the EEC Treaty of the acquisition by the ENI
State-owned energy corporation of Montedison shares in the Enimont joint venture 45

No 1299/91 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject: Frontier checks 45

No 1683/91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject: Access to the grid systems by third parties 46

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/1

_(Information)_

##### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 685/90

byMrNeilBlaney(ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 March 1990)_

(91/C 259/01)

_Subject:_ Smuggling into Ireland of bacon/pork of eastern
European origin presented as being from a
Member State

Is the Commission aware of a recent case in which

bacon/pork imported into Ireland and purporting to
come from Denmark was found to have originated in an
eastern European country and to have been covered by
false papers?

Has the Commission initiated an investigation, and will it
provide the Parliament with full information, in particular
about the scale of this sort of infringement of Community
rules?

What steps are being taken to prevent this sort of fraud
recurring?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 April 1991)_

Further to its answer of 27 April 1990 (') the Commission
can now inform the Honourable Member the result of its

investigations. At a recent meeting of the EAGGF
Irregularities Group, Member States confirmed that they
had found no evidence of any loss to the detriment of the
Community budget. Nevertheless enquiries will continue
to be conducted by the competent authorities in the
respective Member States until a satisfactory conclusion is
reached. The Commission services will follow these

enquiries.

(') OJNoC246, 1.10. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2092/90

by Mrs Alliot-Marie (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 September 1990)_

(91/C 259/02)

_Subject:_ Measures to offset monetary fluctuations on the
European meat market

The falling value of the pound sterling is leading to a 20 %
drop in the price of sheepmeat. This monetary datum
constitutes a serious disadvantage, in particular for hill
farmers, whose activities and income are exposed to risk
and uncertainty.

What measures will the Commission take to offset the

effects of this distortion of competition on the European
meat market?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

The weakness of the pound sterling in the first part of
1990 had some effect on the sheepmeat market in
Member States importing from the United Kingdom.
Sterling has however gained ground in the last few
months ( + 8% against the ECU between the end of
March and the end of May) and other factors must be
sought to explain persisting market depression: increased
production in the north and west of the Community,
earlier marketing through the spring period, low summer/
demand because of the weather and poor prices for lamb
by-products (skins and offal). Where Continental offer
prices for British lamb are concerned, there is a further
factor, the impact of the reduced guide level in Great
Britain because of the stabilizer and the 25 % reduction in

1990 of the variable premium (clawback) under the
market organization reform made by the Council in
September 1989.

No C 259/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

The compensation provided under the new basic
Regulation in such a situation is of two types:

— half-yearly advance payment to all sheep and goat
producers of the expected amount of the ewe/nanny
goat premium to be determined at the end of the
marketing year (the first advance for 1990 was
adopted on 29 June and the second on 26 September),
the annual premium being intended as direct
compensation for the fall recorded in market prices;

— private storage aid, awarded by tender, in Member
States where prices fall below 70 % of the basic price;
tendering procedures have so far been opened every
month since the beginning of 1990, albeit to a
relatively limited response.

In may 1990 the Council approved, for application from
the 1991 marketing year, a specific aid, additional to the
premium, of ECU 3 per ewe for farmers in mountain, hill
and less-favoured areas, and has now decided to raise this
to ECU 5,5 per ewe from the 1992 marketing year.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2377/90

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 October 1990)_

(91/C 259/03)

_Subject:_ Military cooperation between Iraq, the Sudan
and South Africa

According to generally well informed sources, the Iraqi
Government has recently sent to the Sudanese
Government chemical weapons and 155 mm G-5 type
heavy guns manufactured in South Africa. This artillery is
said to have been supplied to Iraq by South Africa during
the Iran-Iraq war in exchange for oil. Having acquired the
more sophisticated G-6 type guns from an unknown
source, Iraq is reported to have then sent the G-5 type
guns to the Sudan, where the government has been trying
unsuccessfully to subdue the Sudan People's Liberation
Army, which is close to capturing the strategic southern
town of Juba.

It has been confirmed that the Iraqi and Sudanese
Governments signed a military cooperation agreement at
the end of July 1990 during the visit to Baghdad of
General Feisal Salih, Sudanese Minister of Defence. It has
also been confirmed that the Sudan voted against a
resolution condemning Iraq during the recent meeting of
the Arab League. Furthermore, it is known that the
official press agencies and media networks in Baghdad
and Khartoum are devoted to the mutual glorification of
the current leaders of the two countries.

With this in mind, could the Commission answer the
following questions:

1. Can the facts outlined above be confirmed ?

2. Should not the military cooperation between Iraq and
South Africa be sanctioned in accordance with

Security Council Resolution 418 (1977), adopted on 4
November 1977?

3. Should not appropriate precautions and, possibly,
other measures be taken in the light of the supply by
Baghdad and the possible use by the Khartoum
Government of chemical weapons in the civil war in
the Southern Sudan?

4. How has Iraq managed to acquire chemical weapons
which have already been used by its armed forces
against Iranian troops and the Kurdish people?

5. How ist Community humanitarian aid being
dispatched and organized at present for those affected
by the war in the Sudan?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(2 May 1991)_

1. The Commission has no confirmed information

concerning allegations that Iraq has supplied chemical
weapons and heavy artillery to Sudan.

With regard to the second paragraph of the question, it
should be noted that Sudan's position on Iraq's invasion
of Kuwait was set out by Sudan's Head of State, Lt Gen.
al-Bashir in a speech to the UN General Assembly last
October in which be said that Sudan considered that

efforts towards a peaceful solution should be continued
within an Arab Muslim framework. He also said that

Sudan was determined to comply with and implement the
UN Security Council resolutions on the Gulf crisis and
that Sudan considered that the situation constituted a

threat to the national security of Arab countries as a direct
result of the increased military presence in the region. It
should also be noted that Sudan did not vote in favour of

the Arab League resolution under which it was decided to
send Arab military forces to Saudi Arabia. Sudan has not
attended subsequent meetings of the Arab League.

2. Resolution 418 (1977) bans the supply of weapons
and all types of related equipment to South Africa. It does
not seem at first sight that this resolution prohibits the
purchase of such equipment from South Africa, subject to
a broad interpretation of point 3 of the resolution.

3. The Commission has no confirmed information

concerning allegations that Iraq has supplied chemical
weapons to Sudan.

4.10.91 Official Journal of th.

4. The Commission has no precise information on how
Iraq has acquired chemical weapons.

5. Community humanitarian assistance to Sudan is
primarily being provided through UN specialized
agencies (WFP, Unicef, UNHCR) and non-governmental
channels, which are responsible for ensuring that the aid
reaches the neediest sections of the population.

Sudan's emergency food aid requirements amount to
approximately 1,2 million tonnes for 1991. Since the first
signs of the famine became apparent the Community has
repeatedly urged the Sudanese authorities to
acknowledge the gravity of the food situation, make every
effort to ease the way for humanitarian relief operations
in all areas of the country. At the same time the
Commission has made major efforts, within the
framework of international aid, to come to the assistance
of the Sudanese people affected by the famine and the
war. Since the beginning of December last year the
Commission has granted a total of 111 635 tonnes of food
aid which, added to the 32 216 tonnes promised before
the month of December and in the process of delivery
brings total Community food aid approved to date for the
victims of the famine in Sudan to 143 851 tonnes (worth
over ECU 50 million). The Commission has also recently
adopted a further series of emergency aid measures
mainly involving non-food products, totalling ECU 5,64
million, which will be implemented by NGOs and UN
agencies. The Commission is willing to consider the
possibility of further humanitarian aid in the light of

events.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2384/90

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 October 1990)_

(91/C 259/04)

_Subject:_ Glass recycling — monopoly situations

Is the Commission aware of any price arrangements or
monopoly positions in the glass recycling industry? Do
Member States protect their markets of recyclable glass or
do they give free access to companies from other Member
States?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 December 1990)_

The Commission has no information on any price
arrangements or monopoly positions in the
glass-recycling industry.

European Communities No C 259/3

Nor is it aware of any measures taken by national
authorities to protect the relevant national markets.

The Commission, which closely monitors company
behaviour in the glass industry ('), will examine carefully
any information that it might receive concerning possible
infringements of the Treaty's competition rules in the
industry to which the Honourable Member refers.

(') See in particular the Commission Decisions of 28 September
1981 (OJ No L 326, 13. 11. 1981) and 7 December 1988 (OJ
No L 33, 4. 2.1989).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2392/90

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 October 1990)_

(91/C 259/05)

_Subject:_ Destruction of the environment by the Greek
Magnesites Company

The continuous extraction activities of the Greek

Magnesites Company which has for 30 years been
Poliyiros areas of Khalkidiki has laid to waste vast tracts
of land which now resemble a lunar landscape. This
company is now attempting to re-route the
Poliyiros-Gerakini road in order to expand its activities
and extract further magnesite deposits. However, large
groups of citizens are expressing the fear that the
surrounding area which has been destroyed to date
cannot be restored and that the company will inflict
further damage on the environment.

Since the extension of the company's magnesite extraction
operations has been included with the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes, will the Commission
investigate the major environmental impact in this area
which attracts large numbers of tourists? What measures
does it intend to take to ensure that the company fulfils its
major obligation to restore the areas in which the
environment has already been destroyed and to prevent
any further destruction?

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

_(30 January 1991)_

The Commission has already received a complaint
regarding the project in question.

The Commission intends to ask the Greek authorities for

more detailed information on the plans to expand
magnesite extraction activities.

No C 259/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

This type of project is listed in Annex II to Directive
85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain

public and private projects on the environment (') and is
therefore subject to such assessment where Member
States consider that the features thereof make this

necessary.

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2452/90

by Mr Marc Reymann (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/06)

_Subject:_ Functioning of the European Institutions

To what extent does the Commission intend to make a

political effort in support of the 'European District'
project intended to link up Strasbourg and Kehl?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(1_ _July 1991)_

According to Article 216 of the Treaty establishing the
European Economic Community, Article _77_ of the Treaty
establishing the European Coal and Steel Community and
Article 189 of the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community, the seat of the institutions of
the Community is to be determined by the Governments
of the Member States (').

( [l] ) See the Commission's previous statements, for instance on 19
September 1973 (Report of proceedings at the sitting of
Wednesday 19 September 1973, OJ Annex 165, p. 54) and
18 January 1989 (Report of proceedings at the sitting of
Wednesday 18 January 1989, OJ Annex 2-373, p. 259).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2564/90

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/07)

_Subject:_ Extending the Community's competence in the
tourism sector

Following the informal meeting of Tourism Ministers
(29 September 1990) is the Commission drawing up any
proposals aimed at creating a fully-fledged Community
tourism policy in line with the stated intentions of the
Ministers to extend the Community's competence in this
area?

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

_(24 July 1991)_

At the informal meeting of the Council of Tourism
Ministers (29 September 1990) and the formal meeting
(29 November 1990) the ministers requested the
Commission to develop a pluriannual programme of
actions in tourism. The Commission is evaluating the
orientations and ways for establishing Community
actions in the field of tourism according to the
Community competences as defined in the EEC Treaty.

In that context, the Commission is considering tourism
from two perspectives: (a) the 'horizontal' approach,
where other Community policies may affect tourism and
(b) specific actions in tourism.

The horizontal approach will ensure that Community
policies in other areas are consistent with tourism
concerns, for example in transport, company law or fiscal
measures. It will also aim at improving the knowledge
about the sector, as defined in the proposal recently
adopted by the Council concerning the harmonization of
tourism statistics within the Community (').

Specific actions will promote primarily alternative forms
of tourism. A Community action to promote rural tourism
has already been adopted ( [2] ) and the Commission is
currently looking at measures which might be taken in
other fields.

O OJNoL358,21. 12.1990.
O COM(90) 438 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2595/90

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/08)

_Subject:_ Compliance with the Directive on the limitation
of noise emissions from subsonic aircraft in Italy

The Commission has brought proceedings against the
Belgian State for infringement of Directive 80/51/
EEC (') and amendments thereto ( [2] ) on the limitation of
noise emissions from subsonic aircraft.

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it has directly ascertained in Italy that the
Directive in question is applied in all airports?

2. whether the exemptions laid down under Italian law
are still in effect?

4. 10.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/5

3. whether it is true that Boeing 707 cargo aircraft are in
transit at Italian airports, in particular the airport of
Fiumicino?

(') OJNoLl8,24. 1.1980, p. 26.
( [2] ) OJ No LI 17, 4. 5. 1983, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

_(2 May 1991)_

In their telex of 13 April 1991, the Italian authorities
stated that, according to the enquiries carried out, it is not
true that Boeing 707s which are not in conformity with
Directives 80/51/EEC and 83/206/EEC take off from

Fiumicino and Ciampino airports every week.

The only case where no noise certification was available,
according to the Italian authorities, was at Ciampino on
30 October 1990 and related to a Qatari Boeing 707 which
had not obtained prior authorization.

The Commission departments concerned would be
grateful if the Honourable Member could supply them
with any further information on this matter, and, if
possible, any facts that could be used as evidence.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2601/90

by the following Members: Mr Enrique Sapena Granell,
Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mrs Ludivina Garcia Arias, Mr
Juan de la Camara Martinez, Mr Mateo Sierra Bardaji,

Mr Javier Sanz Fernandez and Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/09)

_Subject:_ Community policy on tourism

With regard to the fact that the Commission's Work
Programme for 1990 stresses the integrative role of
tourism and its contribution to economic and social

development, what steps has the Commission taken to
upgrade tourism in areas suffering from regional
imbalances?

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

_(23 July 1991)_

The Community Structural Funds have always, each
according to its own rules, contributed to developing
tourism.

Since the reform of the Structural Funds in 1989, in
preparation for the Single Market, the contributions have
been doubled from 1987 to 1993, from approximately
7 billion Ecu to 14 billion Ecu. In the Community Support

Frameworks negotiated within the partnership for the
less-favoured regions of the Community covering the
objectives 1, 2 and 5 (b) of the reform, more than 2 billion
Ecu will be allocated directly to tourism development over
the period 1989—1993, most of which derives from the
ERDF. This amount represents about 6 % of Community
assistance in these regions over the period 1989—1993. In
addition, the Structural Funds contribute considerably in
these regions to the development of basic infrastructure
such as transport, energy, and water supplies which are
necessary for the development of tourism in several areas.
Moreover, there are the Integrated Mediterranean
Programmes where tourism accounts for 13 % of total
expenditure. In the framework of the Community
Initiatives, the Envireg programme, in contributing
to the reduction of pollution of the coastal zones, will
have a great impact on the tourism industry in the
Mediterranean area (total budget of 500 million Ecu).
Also the Resider, Renaval, Interreg and Rechar
programmes can contribute to tourism activities.

The Commission has adopted an action plan for rural
tourism ('), whose objective is to support the growing
number of tourism products in rural areas. Their greater
utilization will both create new economic activities and

give further local employment.

The Community intends to lend its support to measures
aimed at exploiting Europe's rural environment with its
architectural heritage, local cultures and natural scenery.
As a logical alternative to mass tourism, rural tourism
meets the requirements of customers interested in
environment-friendly tourism, a type of tourism which
offers a broad range of new experiences and holidays.

(') COM(90) 438 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2617/90

by Mr Ben Fayot (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/10)

_Subject:_ Revision of the ECSC Treaty

With the prospect of the completion of the single market,
the ECSC Treaty, which expires in the year 2002, is now
under discussion. Will it be brought into line with the new
economic and social situation or even abolished before

this date?

Since the ECSC Treaty has proved its value in providing
an economic and social solution to structural crises in the

past, should it not be preserved in order to ensure the

No C 259/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10.91

properly organized participation of workers in two
essential economic sectors?

What are the Commission's intentions in this respect?

What adjustments does the Commission intend to
propose?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 May 1991)_

The Commission's ideas about the future of the ECSC

Treaty are contained in a communication addressed to
Parliament and the Council (') to which the Honourable
Member is referred for an answer to his questions. In the
conclusion to this document, the Commission stated that 
it had decided:

1. to adopt, as its political position, the general option
which provides for the ECSC Treaty to expire as
scheduled in 2002, taking advantage of the flexibility
which that Treaty provides in order to modify its
application, as far as possible, to the two industries so
that they are phased in to the EEC Treaty in 2002;

2. between now and 2002, to add, when appropriate, to
this option the incorporation into the EEC Treaty of
certain provisions of the ECSC Treaty, including the
maintenance of such financial instruments and social

provisions as may be deemed useful or necessary;

3. in the event of the ECSC Treaty being amended
before the period preceding its expiry, and
independently of points 1 and 2 above, to rescind the
provisions relating to prices (Article 60) and to
commercial policy (Articles 71—75), on the
understanding that these matters will then be covered
automatically by the EEC Treaty;

4. in parallel, rapidly to complete the study of the
development of the Community's financial
instruments with a view to contributing to the setting
up of economic and monetary union.

0) SEC(91) 407 final, 15.3. 1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2656/90

by Mr Sergio Ribeiro

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November 1990)_

(91/C 259/11)

_Subject:_ Visit to Portugal by Commissioner Brittan and
the situation in the textile industry

According to the Portuguese media, Commissioner Leon
Brittan, on his recent visit to Portugal, informed the

Portuguese Government of the Commission's difficulties
in the textiles sector in connection with the dismantling of
the Multifibre Arrangement and the Uruguay Round
negotiations.

Since Commissioner Brittan is reported to have added
that he had not entered into any agreement other than to
take account of Portuguese interests in the course of the
negotiations:

1. what difficulties is the Commission encountering and
what is their origin?

2. does the Commission, and Commissioner Brittan in
particular, realize that in this question it is not simply
'Portuguese interests' that are at stake, but those of an
industry which is of great importance to the
Community?

3. is account being taken of the opinions of the
European Parliament, in particular the opinion of the
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs drawn
up by Mr Carlos Carvalhas and contained in the Peijs
Report?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 June 1991)_

The Community has been faced with a number of
difficulties in the Uruguay Round negotiations aimed at
bringing textiles within the GATT framework. On the
external front, it has encountered resistance from the
developing countries throughout the negotiations to its
attempts to obtain parallelism between the integration of
textiles into GATT and the strengthening of GATT rules
and disciplines. The draft agreement — not yet finalized
_^-_ which emerged from the Brussels Conference in
December 1990, however, includes provision for such
parallelism. Internally, the Community's position in the
negotiations has had to be formulated-to take account of
the different issues at stake in various branches of the

Community industry and in different Community
regions, and the varying economic and social
implications. Nevertheless, throughout the negotiations a
balance has been maintained on a united, consistent stand
reflecting the special importance of the textile industry to
the Community.

With regard to Sir Leon Brittan's remarks, since he was
speaking in Lisbon it is natural that he should have
referred to 'Portuguese interests'.

In the multilateral negotiations, however, the
Commission firmly upholds the position formulated
within the Community institutions, a position wholly
consistent with the views expressed by Parliament on this

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the

issue, including those reflected in the Opinion of the
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs drafted
by Mr Carlos Carvalhas, which is incorporated in the
resolution forming part of the Peijs Report.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2751/90

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 259/12)

_Subject:_ Single market provisions

By 31 August 1990, 174 of the provisions making up the
programme for the single market whose entry into force is
scheduled for 1 January 1993 had been adopted. Another
113 provisions proposed by the Commission were
awaiting adoption. They included a number which are of
considerable importance, such as the Regulation on the
transit of goods, health standards for the marketing of
animal and aquaculture products, provisions on the
acquisition and possession of arms, on harmonizing the
weight and size of motor vehicles and on medicines for
human usage, the Regulation and Directive on the free
movement of workers, six provisions relating to
insurance, a proposal on the transport of persons by road,
the statute of the European Company, provisions
harmonizing taxes on various alcoholic drinks, and,
above all, a proposal relating to the adoption of common
levels and rates of VAT.

Can the Commission provide information on the degree
to which the abovementioned 174 provisions are now
applied in the Member States and indicate what progress
towards implementation of the 113 provisions which have
not yet been adopted ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 March 1991)_

In December 1990 the number of measures adopted by
the Council under the internal market programme (White
Paper) stood at around 200.

For 140 of these measures (Directives, Regulations,
Decisions or recommendations), the deadline for
implementation has passed; in 109 cases, Member States
had to take steps to transpose them into national law.

The transposition rate varies from country to country, but
at least a quarter of the measures have been implemented
by all twelve Member States.

European Communities No C 259/7

The current transposition rate is given below for each
Member State:

Belgium:

Germany:

Denmark

Spain:

France:

Greece:

Italy:

Ireland:

Luxembourg:

Netherlands:

Portugal:

United Kingdom:

69,2%

79,8 %

90,3%

73,5%

74%

60,2%

40,9%

67,3%

66,6%

73%

82%

84,4%

In the course of 1991, the transposition period will come
to an end for a further 28 Community measures.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2838/90

by Mr Andrea Raggio (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 259/13)

_Subject:_ Regen programme, project for Sardinia and
Corsica

The Regen programme includes a project for the
transport of natural gas to Sardinia and Corsica.

Can the Commission indicate the estimated cost of these

projects, as established at the technical meetings held to
date, the funding which can be provided and the
anticipated time needed for completion of the project?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1991)_

Commission staff are soon to meet the French and Italian

authorities for an initial discussion on the technical and

financial aspects of this project. The Commission is
unable to reply to questions regarding the cost of the
work and the time needed for its completion until the
project has been received from the two Member States
concerned.

No C 259/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2868/90

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/14)

_Subject:_ Community tourist programme for the elderly
during the winter season

For obvious reasons, the extensive tourist facilities on the
Community's Mediterranean coastline have considerable
surplus capacity during the winter season, in spite of the
mild and sunny climate normally enjoyed in the south of
the Community at this time of year.

For this reason every year some Mediterranean countries
such as Spain promote a social programme enabling the
elderly to enjoy winter holidays at substantially reduced
prices in the tourist areas by the sea which are otherwise
deserted at this time.

With the aim of helping these regions of the Community's
Mediterranean countries to overcome the winter

economic slump and at the same time facilitate winter
holidays for elderly Community citizens, does the
Commission think the Spanish example could be extended
to cover the whole Community by introducing a
Community programme on similar lines that will produce
this two-fold benefit?

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

_(26 July 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the difficulties caused by the
imbalanced use of tourism infrastructure in a number of

regions in the Community. This is why support for the
development of off-season tourism is an important aspect
of the guidelines for Community tourism measures being
considered by the Commission in response to the
Council's request for a multiannual programme of

measures.

The development of off-season tourism would go some
way to countering the effects of the bunching of holidays
(traffic congestion, environmental problems, unduly
seasonal nature of tourism). It is the Commission's view
that the development of off-season tourism should
involve all types of tourist and not just the elderly, as is
the case in Spain.

As part of the abovementioned guidelines, the
Commission is considering studying measures to allow
new sections of the population, particularly the elderly, to
enjoy the benefits of tourism in the belief that this would
be both a social measure and a means of increasing the
potential demand for tourism.

It is also exploring the possibility of specific measures of
benefit to the elderly in a number of areas, tourism
included, ahead of any decision to designate 1993 as
'European Year of the Elderly'.

The Spanish programme mentioned by the Honourable
Member can, therefore, be looked at from many angles,
and the Spanish representative on the Advisory
Committee on Tourism will be asked at a forthcoming
meeting to provide fuller information.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2941/90

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/15)

_Subject:_ Pollution of the River Aliakmon

The River Aliakmon, which has its source in the
prefecture of Kastoria, and crosses the prefectures of
Kastaria, Kozanis and Imathia, flows into the Gulf of
Thermai. The Delta formed by its estuary, together with
the estuaries of the River Loudnias and River Axios,
provides a major wetland environment for many
endangered species of flora and fauna and a large number
of migratory birds.

At present all urban and industrial effluent in the locality
is discharged into the Aliakmon, together with run-off
from agricultural land containing fertilizers and
pesticides. The uncontrolled discharge of solid waste
from the banks of the Aliakmon and the streams flowing
into it pollute both surface water and groundwater. A
biological sewage treatment plant has already begun to
operate without authorization from the Ministry of
Health or the prefecture, despite the fact that secondary
treatment is also necessary in view of the quantity and
nature of local urban and industrial effluent. In view of its

particular importance as a wetland area, the Aliakmon
delta is protected under the Ramsar Convention and
Directive 79/409/EEC ('). A scheme for supplying water
to the entire area from the Aliakmon has been included in

the regional development programme. In view of the
above, will the Commission say whether a survey has been
carried out to establish the environmental impact of such
effluent on the Aliakmon itself, its delta and the Gulf of
Thermai as a whole, and what measures it will take to
ensure that Greece complies with Directive 79/409/EEC
and the Directives on pollution of ground and surface
waters ?

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/9

Has an environment impact assessment been carried out
in respect of the projected scheme for supplying the area
with water from the Aliakmon?

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

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

_(28 June 1991)_

The Commission has not been informed of the results of

the environmental impact studies concerning the river
Aliakmon. Directive 85/337/EEC (') does not oblige the
Member States to inform the Commission of the results

of impact studies carried out on their territory.

Given that the delta of Aliakmon has been classified by
Greece as a special protection area under the terms of
Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation.of

wild birds, the Commission will examine more closely the
problems to which the Honourable Members refers and
take the necessary measures to ensure correct application
of Community environmental legislation in the area
concerned.

(') OJNoL 175,5.7.1985.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2951/90

by Mr Alman Metten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/16)

_Subject:_ Databank on medicinal products

As part of a political compromise on the Directive
(89/105/EEC) on the transparency of measures
regulating the price of medicinal products (*), the
Commission has agreed to the setting up of a data bank in
accordance with the amendment adopted by the
European Parliament (SEC(88) 1154 final).

1. What progress has been made in setting up this data
bank, and when will it be fully operational?

2. What parties were involved in the preparatory work
for this data bank?

3. What information will the data bank contain?

4. Who will have access to this data bank?

5. Does the Commission consider that this data bank

should be limited to the implementation of the
Directive on the transparency of measures related to
the pricing of medicinal products, or is it prepared to

enter information which is desirable in connection

with secondary legislation at European level
concerning the pharmaceutical industry?

O OJNoL40,11.2.1989, p. 8.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 February 1991)_

1. A feasibility study on a European data bank on
medicinal products was recently completed by the
Institute for the Environment, which is located at the
Joint Research Centre in Ispra. The study also involved
creating a prototype database.

2. A number of Commission departments and the
competent national authorities took part in the work.
When the prototype was being developed, certain
pharmaceutical firms also provided information on
specific products.

3. The data bank will contain all the particulars which
the Commission announced to Parliament, i.e. essentially
the conditions of use and price.

4. During the pilot phase, the data bank will be
accessible only to the Commission departments
concerned and to Member States; it will subsequently be
opened up for consultations by the general public.

5. The data bank will also reflect the same concerns as

the Commission's recent proposals on the rational use of
medicines.

It will include the following:

(a) a summary of the product characteristics;

(b) type of packaging;

(c) ex-works and retail prices;

(d) rate of reimbursement;

(e) legal status;

(f) specified daily dose;

(g) daily cost of treatment.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2958/90

by Mr Menelaos Hadjigeorgiou (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/17)

_Subject:_ Pollution of large cities by vehicle exhaust fumes

Most of the air pollution in large cities in the Community
is caused by vehicle exhaust fumes. In recent years this has

^ o C ^ B l O Official Journal of the Luronean Communities ^ t o . ^ t

hecome a serious nublic health hazard in Creece,
oarticularly in the two maior cities of Athens and
Thessaloniki,

R.ecentlythe^iinistryforthe Environment, in accordance
with amended Council lOirective ^ O B ^ O B L L C ^

introduced very stringent measures to comhat the
oroblem, such as new specifications for fuels, the use of
activatedcharcoalfiltersknownas^smallcanisters^and

the introduction of electrically-nowered cars.

The Community however, has failedto take account of
motorcycles in its endeavours to reduce air nollution and
these now run the risk of being hanned from city centres
and at certain times of day, which would cause maior
nroblems to those who use them to travel to work.

P ^hatsnecial measures will the Commission take and

what technical assistance will it nrovide to sunnort the

Creek ministry for the Environment in its
endeavours^

^. ^ill it carry outastudy to determine what amount of
air oollution is caused by motorcycles and take
annrooriate measures to oreventairr^ollution^

C^J^OLBD,D^m^0,Dt

Answer ^iveri by I v l r ^ a d i ^ e a r ^ a
on behalf of the Commission

P The consolidated foirective is related only to
nassenger cars, and not to motorcycles.Currently there
are no specific regulations or standards concerning
motorcycle emissions in the Community.

The only constraints on exhaust emissions of
motor-cycles at present are in the form of national
legislation, ^work is being carried out to produce a
directive concerning these emissions.

^. The Commission has made a study concerning
future emissions from vehicles. Although this renort is not
completed, thefirst interim renort ^dtm^ t^O^ entitled
^tudy on the forecast of emissions from motorvehicles in
the European Community^ is available for reference
nurnoses. The reoort is based on different future

scenarios, which involves making certain assumptions and
setting various parameters.

This report addresses itself to all vehicle tynes, including
motorcycles.All the data are separated between member
States and motor vehicle,and is ofanreliminary nature,
but can be seen to be indicative of certain trends.

The number of motor cycles in Creece is increasing ina
manner which is consistent with the ^first nhase^ of

motorization,that is whenastate first starts to undergo
motorization onalarge scale.The motor vehicle market
in general is exoected to greatly exoand in the future in
Creece, and under these circumstances an overall
decrease in emissions cannot be ejected.

^ithresnect to motor-cycles the emissions situation asa
whole in Creece can be annroximatedto^ P^^^figures
for ^C^x,CC and VC^C. The motor-cycle contribution to
l^Cx emissions is negligible, and for CCO may represent
about^^levels unto the year ^000,comnaredto around
100^ for nassenger cars. The motorcycle VC^C
emissions are higher inrelative terms, butmay stillbe
considered quite small.

The Commission realizes that these figures refer to the
situation asawhole, and not to the specific situation in
the centres of some Creek cities, particularly Athens,
^ o r k is being done at the moment, and it is honed that
this will heloimorove the situation in the future.

ACommissionnronosal concerning the regulation of air
nollution from vehicles with two or three wheels is being
nrenared and will be submitted to the Council in the

course o f t ^ L

Thegoalofthisnroject is toset mandatory limitsina
foirective concerning exhaust emissions from two and
three wheeled vehicles.

^ ^ T T E ^ ^ E ^ T t C O ^ ^ o ^ ^ O ^ O

by^rAriasCanete^PPE^

to the Commission of the European Communities

^ t B C ^ ^ B t ^

^ ^ c r . Trade with Canada in fisherynroducts

In the light of the Comext figures for imnorts of fishery
products into the Community from non-member
countries and for fishery products from Canada -^ in
^ ^ ^, ^ ^ ^ 0 ^ 0 0 0 k g t o a v a l u e o f 3 t D ^ ^ e 0 0 E C e ^ ^ c a n
the Commission say what fishery products are being
imnorted into the Community from Canada, and in what
quantities, and whether these imports are subiect to
customs duties lowerthan those normally anrdicable^

Answer ^iven by l^lr^arin
on behalf of the Commission

As the answer to the question includes a considerable
volume of statistical information, the Commission will
senditdirectly to theldonourable^iember and to the
secretariat Ceneral of the Parliament.

The eight digit figures in the listing refer to the Combined
n o m e n c l a t u r e, v e r s i o n t ^ e ^ .

4.10.91 Official Journal of thi

Canadian exports to the Community will usually be
subject to the normal duty rates. The only exception
would be any Canadian products imported into the
Community in the framework of the annual GATT and
autonomous tariff quotas.

(') OJ No L 256, 7. 9. 1987.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3002/90

by Mr Reimer Boge (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/19)

_Subject:_ Environmentally acceptable lubricating and
hydraulic oils

Lubricating and hydraulic oils used today are
predominantly petroleum-based. In 1989, lubricants
production in the Federal Republic of Germany totalled
some 1,2 million tonnes.

Can the Commission say what tonnage of lubricants was
produced in the Community in 1989?

Environmentally acceptable, plant-based lubricants and
hydraulic fluids have already been brought onto the
market in some areas. Does the Commission agree that,
wherever technically feasible, the use of environmentally
acceptable greases and oils ought to be made mandatory?

Does the Commission agree that, in the medium term,
about half of all lubricants could be based on renewable

raw materials?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

. _(12 April 1991)_

On the basis of statistical information available,
production of lubricants in oil refineries in 1989
amounted to a total of 6 892 000 tonnes, which was made
up as follows:

_('000_ _tonnes)_

European Communities No C 259/11

It is the case that environmentally acceptable plant-based
lubricants and hydraulic fluids have been brought on to
the market. This is especially so for the types of
equipment where a certain loss of lubricant can be
expected when they come into contact with soil or surface
waters. This could occur with agricultural machinery,
forestry saws, outboard motors, fountain mechanisms,

etc.

While the production of lubricants based on renewable
raw materials is increasing, specialized literature suggests
that it will be many years before it is feasible to produce
the quantities needed to replace half of all lubricants
lubricants increasing trend to use the environmentally
acceptable, plant-based lubricants in those applications
where loss of lubricant cannot be avoided, but does not
see, at this time, the solution to make their use mandatory.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3007/90

by Mr Concepcio Ferrer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/20)

_Subject:_ Protection and monitoring measures affecting
the textile sector

We have received information that the Commission is to

authorize the French Government, to subsidize the
American-financed company Allied Signal (Morristown,
New Jersey) with a view to the establishment of a factory
for the production of industrial fibre in Longwy,
Lorraine.

However, the Community rules on this subject, which
originally entered into force in July 1977 and were
extended for a further two-year period to 19 July 1991 (')
would seem to be clear. They stipulate that the
Commission will continue to express an unfavourable a
_priori_ opinion with regard to aid by Member States where
this would entail an increase in the production capacity of
companies in the synthetic fibre sector, irrespective of the
nature, type or purpose thereof.

Can the Commission say why it is authorizing this
substantial amount of financial aid by the French
Government in such a vulnerable sector as the textile

industry and to an American-financed company?

Has the Commission studied the impact not only on
production but also on the precarious employment
situation of workers in this sector, given that in the
medium term this development may result in 2 000 job
losses (in particular of French and Spanish workers) as

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

4

—

1 458

164

361

1 825

—

1 295

1 295

608

127

1 050

No C 259/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

against 260 new jobs to be created (figures supplied by
CIRFS)?

(') OJNoC 173,8.7.1989.

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 July 1991)_

Longwy is situated in the European development pole
area, for which the Commission, by decision of 5
November 1986, gave the go-ahead for investment aids
with a maximum rate of 30 % net grant equivalent. That
decision was in response to the regional problems facing
this cross-frontier area as a result of the crisis in the

industries covered by the ECSC Treaty. At the time the
French Government granted the aid in question, the
industrial fibres that were to be produced by the recipient
firm were not covered by any rules requiring notification
to the Commission of the application of a scheme it had
already approved.

For the rest, the fact that the recipient firm is financed by
third-country capital is irrelevant when it comes to
assessing the compatibility of the aid in the light of
Article 92 of the EEC Treaty.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3020/90

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/21)

_Subject:_ Relations between the European Community
and the World Tourism Organization

As European Tourism Year comes to an end there is a
need to consider what conclusions should be drawn from

this event, which should serve as a basis for future courses
of action in this fundamental area of the economy of a
number of Community countries.

One of the aspects which should be seen as a key feature
of European Tourism Year is the matter of relations
between the European Community as such and tourist
organizations and associations throughout the world as a
means of exchanging experience and establishing
professional contacts within this sector.

Prominent among such bodies is the World Tourism
Organization, which has its headquarters in a Community
country, Spain, and whose activity affects all the
countries.

What relations does the Commission have with this

organization? What is its position in relation to it and

what means would it prefer to use to ensure flexible
cooperation with it?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

_(1 August 1991)_

The Commission has had contacts and cooperation with
the World Tourism Organization (WTO) for some time,
by exchange of information and by having joint projects.
Some areas of cooperation are well developed, while in
other areas, exchange of ideas and joint interests have
started quite recently.

In the area of tourism statistics, there has been
cooperation for some years through Eurostat and regular
consultations take place. In other areas, like research,
environment, training, consumer protection, rural and
cultural tourism, the Commission and the WTO seak to
complement each other and exchange information.

In July 1990 a meeting between the Commission and the
WTO took place in Madrid. Among the subjects
discussed was the cooperation regarding the
contributions to develop tourism in the Member States
and in under-developed regions, something both
institutions are involved in. On 3 October 1990, officials

of the Commission and of the WTO met to discuss fields

of cooperation and to present each other's action
programmes and find new areas of cooperation and
exchange.

In addition to regular meetings, the Commission and the
WTO have attended each other's conferences and panel
discussions, and both attend the steering committee
meetings of the European Travel Commission.
Cooperation between the Commission and the WTO also
takes place through other international organizations as
OECD and the United Nations.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3032/90

by Mr Ian White (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 259/22)

_Subject:_ School holidays

Has any consideration been given to standardizing dates
of school holidays throughout the Community, and what
is the Commission's view on this?

4. 10.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/13

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

_(2_ _July 1991)_

The problem of school holidays is primarily a matter for
the Member States and indeed, in some cases, for the
regional authorities. Moreover, in view of the impact of
school holidays on the length of the tourist season, this
problem should now be looked at from a wider angle,
namely tourism in general and the staggering of holidays.

The question of a better seasonal and geographical
distribution of tourism was tackled in a 1986 Council

resolution in which Member States were invited to

collaborate with one another so as to coordinate various

efforts to achieve this objective.

The consequences of too many tourists being in the same
place at certain times of the year are so serious that the
Commission has agreed to re-open discussions with the
various national and regional authorities involved and
with the two sides of the tourist industry with a view to
taking stock of the results already achieved and
comtemplating fresh initiatives.

In this connection, an analysis of the current situation is
being carried out. Its findings will be translated into the
various languages so as to ensure that they are more
widely disseminated.

In implementation of the 1986 resolution, the
Commission intends to conduct a survey in the Member
States and, at the same time, to look more closely at the
conclusions of a conference organized by the Dutch
authorities for the autumn of 1991 on the seasonal and

geographical distribution of tourism.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 152/91

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 259/23)

_Subject:_ Use of tear gas by the Greek police

During its attack upon school pupils demonstrating in the
centre of Athens, the Greek police employed forcible
measures including the use of US-manufactured 565 CS
tear gas. This contains the CS substance scientifically
known as 'ortho-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile' which
causes carcinogenesis in skin tissues and damage to the
liver and kidneys and destroys lung tissue.

Does the Commission believe that the use of such

substances by police in the Community Member States
should be tolerated and, if not, what steps does it intend
to take?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 July 1991)_

The issue raised by the Honourable Member is a matter
for the national police authorities, i.e. it falls within an
area in which the Member State has exclusive competence.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 188/91

by Mr Floras Wijsenbeek (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 259/24)

_Subject:_ Strategic importance of aviation

Has the Commission taken note of the statement by
Captain Kok, commander of the Dutch naval units in the
Persian Gulf, concerning the inadequacy of military air
transport capacity for action outside the EC and the lack
of possibilities for requisitioning civil aircraft?

Can the Commission say in this connection what are the
implications of this situation for its proposals on the
liberalization of Community aviation? Does it not think it
should take into account the fact that provision must be
made for the use of European airlines for military
purposes?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _May 1991)_

The Civil Aviation Planning Committee (CAPC) of
NATO is the body responsible for the provision of the
necessary air lift capacity in times of crisis. NATO
Member States have accepted commitments towards
NATO to provide the necessary equipment. All the
relevant conditions are registered and monitored by the
CAPC so that undue delay in the provision of aircraft
capacity can be avoided.

The Commission is of the opinion that the liberalization
of civil aviation in the Community does not affect the
existing arrangements.

No C 259/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 275/91

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/25)

_Subject:_ Use of banned hormones to fatten livestock in
Catalonia

Studies by independent veterinary surgeons published in
the press have revealed many cases of the use of banned
hormones, such as clembuterol and others, to fatten
livestock in Catalonia, with no guarantee tjiat the
competent authorities are making adequate efforts to
eradicate this practice.

What measures has the Commission taken to ensure that

the health of consumers is not endangered by the failure
to comply with veterinary regulations or the lack of
effective controls by the competent authorities ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(19April 1991) ~~_

In accordance with Article 5 of Council Directive

86/469/EEC ('), the Commission is carrying out a series
of visits in all Member States as part of a general
comparative study on the degree of compliance with
Community rules on the control of residues of illegal
substances in meat in each Member State.

In connection with the study, in February and March the
Commission is carrying out an investigation in Spain to
check the extent to which illegal substances are used for
fattening livestock and to observe the measures applied to
prevent their use. The use of beta-agonists, in particular
clembuterol, is one of the priorities of the study.

When the enquiry is completed, the Commission, where
appropriate, will take the measures it considers necessary
in the light of the information obtained.

O OJ No L 275,26. 9.1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 277/91

by Mr Jose Alvarez de Paz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/26)

_Subject:_ Harmonization of vocational training in the
building sector in the EEC

Recently the European Federation of Building and
Woodworkers (EFBWW or FETBB in French) expressed

the wish to draw up, in collaboration with the European
employers and/or contractors in the sector, specific
initiatives aimed at the gradual harmonization of
vocational training. To this end, it called on the
Commission to work on the comparative study (for the
building sector) drawn up by Cedefop, i.e.,

1. harmonization and convergence of qualification
requirements and wider recognition of training
already in existence and developed by employers and
workers,

2. the Commission should guarantee that representatives
of European employers and workers are involved in
permanent structures for dialogue on vocational
training in the sector.

Could the Commission comment on these two requests
and outline its position and possible measures to be taken
in this area.

Answer given by Miss Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 April 1991)_

The Commission welcomes the wish expressed by the
European Federation of Building and Wood Workers
(EFBWW) in collaboration with employers in the sector
to produce a study on vocational training.

Under Council Decision 85/368/EEC ('), the
Commission has completed work on the comparability of
vocational training qualifications for occupations at
skilled worker level in this sector.

This work is useful from the point of view of information
and does not imply harmonization or convergence of
requirements as regards vocational training qualifications.
However, it provides a practical basis for dialogue
between labour and management on the qualifications
they would consider necessary for occupations in the
sector concerned and thus promotes agreement on the
content of training.

This work* does not imply the recognition of diplomas,
certificates or other qualifications generally issued by the
Member States certifying training appropriate for the
exercise of the occupations in question. The recognition
of diplomas is necessary only in the case of access to
regulated occupations, in other words occupations or
occupational activities which, according to legislation,
regulations or administrative measures, are subject to the
possession of a diploma or specific qualification with
reference to the national training system. With respect to
the recognition of such diplomas, a considerable body of
Community law exists or is under discussion in the
Council. The recognition of diplomas is unnecessary
outside the regulated occupations.

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of th«

Labour and management in the construction sector, the
EFBWW and the International European Construction
Federation recently decided to set up in the framework of
the social dialogue a joint group of experts to formulate
vocational training initiatives.

If labour and management so desire, the Commission is
ready to participate fully in this initiative and give it its full
support (as is the case in several other sectors).

The Commission recalls that it has established with the

EFBWW and the International European Construction
Federation a consultation process on legal instruments
drawn up by the Commission in the context of the action
programme to implement the Community Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers.

O OJNoL 199,31.7.1985.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 296/91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/27)

_Subject:_ Car users' safety programme

According to the Belgian newspaper 'Le Soir' (16 January
1991), the Nissan car manufacturing company is
participating in a programme concerned with the safety of
car passengers 'carried out in collaboration with the
EEC. Can the Commission confirm this information? If

so, which is the programme concerned, and how does it
operate?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 July 1991)_

The Commission has no knowledge of the programme
referred to in the Honourable Member's question.

The car manufacturing company concerned is not
participating in any programme in the field referred to by
the Honourable Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 322/91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/28)

_Subject:_ The profession of clinical chemist

The profession of clinical chemist has become established
in Germany in recent years. The clinical chemist is a

European Communities No C 259/15

senior figure in clinical chemistry laboratories. He
undertakes many tasks in the fields of clinical diagnosis,
resolution of pathochemical processes, promotion of
methodical analysis, etc. This profession thus forms part
of the wide spectrum of health care professions. Training
as a clinical chemist is undertaken by qualified
biochemists or chemists after completion of medical
studies.

1. Does the profession of clinical chemist exist in this or
similar form in other EC Member States? If so, in

which?

2. Which EC Directive covers the mutual recognition of
this profession:

— Directive 89/48/EEC (') on the recognition of
higher-education diplomas or

— the Directive on recognition of diplomas,
certificates and other evidence of formal

qualification in medicine, and the associated
measures to facilitate the effective exercise of the

right of establishment and freedom to provide
services 75/362/EEC ( [2] ), 81/1057/EEC ( [3] ),
modified by Directives 82/76/EEC ( [4] ) and
89/594/EECO?

3. Does the Commission consider these existing EC
Directives adequate, or would it under certain
circumstances consider a Directive to coordinate legal
and administrative provisions for the occupation of
clinical chemist in the Community Member States?

4. What requirements as to the form and content of
training as a clinical chemist would then have to be
laid down in the various Member States?

O OJ No L 19,24. 1.1989, p. 16.
O OJNoL 167,30.6. 1975, p. 1.
O OJNoL 385, 31.12. 1981,p. 25.
O OJNoL 43,15.2.1982,p. 21.
O OJNoL 341, 23.11.1989,p. 19.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 July 1991)_

1. The Commission does not have the information

requested by the Honourable Member.

2. A distinction should be drawn according to whether
the professional person concerned is a doctor or not. In
the former case, the 'doctors' Directives (75/362/EEC
and 75/363/EEC), as amended, apply. Biological
chemistry is listed in those Directives as a medical
speciality in Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain (Articles 6

No C 259/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

and 7 of Directive 75/362/EEC, as amended, and
Article 5 of Directive 75/363/EEC). Specific forms of
training in this field may well be given in other Member
States, but these concern skills, not specialities in the
proper sense — the qualifications are not granted full
recognition by Directive 75/362/EEC, Article 8 of which
simply places an obligation on Member States to take
them into account.

Where the activity is carried out by non-doctors (for
instance, biologists), the 'general system' Directive
(89/48/EEC), to which the Honourable Member refers
and which came into force on 4 January 1991, is likely to
apply.

3 and 4. Directive 89/48/EEC establishes a new

Community approach to the recognition of diplomas. The
Commission is not planning to put forward specific
proposals on the recognition of the activity of clinical
chemist.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 329/91

by Mr Miguel Arias Canete (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/29)

_Subject:_ EEC—Morocco Fisheries Agreement

In connection with the Commission's reply to my Written
Question No 2470/90 (') on the implementation of
the EEC—Morocco Fisheries Agreement, can the
Commission give further details of:

1. the number of fishing licences issued by each Member
State;

2. the payments made to date under the heading of
scientific and technical programmes and study grants;

3. the findings of the survey of cephalopods;

4. the relation between the study grants paid and the
centres in which the study has taken place?

O OJNoC 130,21.5.1991, p. 20.

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 May 1991)_

1. The number of licences granted to the Member
States under the EEC—Morocco Fisheries Agreement
varies according to the applications made for each
quarter. However, on the basis of an annual overall
estimate, the total number of licences issued amounts to
700, of which approximately 650 are granted to the
Spanish fleet and the remainder to Portugal
(approximately 45) and France.

_N.B.:_ The return travel costs from Morocco are included in the figures for
France and Belgium. For Spain and the United Kingdom, travel costs are

separate.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 362/91

by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/30)

_Subject:_ Damage to the environment

A Spanish naval training camp and firing range using live
rounds in the Sierra del Retin near Barbate (Cadiz), used
periodically by the Spanish armed forces and the armed
forces of other countries, is partly situated on communal
land ('Hazas de la suerte'), originally belonging to the
inhabitants of Barbate and compulsorily purchased in July
1981 by the Ministry of Defence. Sierra del Retin, which
forms a natural landscape of great environmental

2. A total of ECU 6 million has been paid by the
Community as funding for scientific and technical fishery
research support programmes.

Payments made to date in respect of study and training
grants amount to approximately ECU 2 600 000 (out of a
total disbursement of ECU 3,5 million).

3. The survey of cephalopods (carried out in October
1990) is part of a programme of several scientific surveys
organized by Morocco. The findings do not provide a
comprehensive picture of the stock situation; they need to
be examined in a more general context, with account
taken of other factors, in particular conditions, fishing
effort and catches.

4. The study centres for grant-holders, financed under
the agreement, are located mainly in France, Spain and
the United Kingdom, depending on the type of research
concerned.

The breakdown by country is as follows:

Cost (ECU)

101 796,65

893 795,05

942 080,01

351 894,78

413 985,73

17 163,67

2 720 715,89

Morocco

France

Spain

United Kingdom

Belgium

Travel in connection with

training and study courses
under way

Total

No. of
grant-holders

25

33

125

6

14

203

4. 10. 91 Official-Journal of th.

importance, is now being seriously damaged by military
manoeuvres involving the firing of live rounds of
ammunition. The training camp also disrupts everyday
life in nearby towns, constituting a safety risk and
sometimes preventing communications between them
when it is in use.

Is the Commission aware of the nuisance being caused by
this firing range?

Is the siting of this firing range in compliance with
Community legislation?

Does the Commission consider firing ranges are to be
included in Article 1(4) of Council Directive
85/337/EEC (')?

Does the Commission consider that firing ranges
constitute an exception to the environmental protection
objectives embodied in Community legislation and
included in the EEC Fourth Environmental Action

Programme (1987—1992)?

(') OJNoLl75,5.7. 1985, p. 40.

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

_(25 April 1991)_

The Commission was not previously aware of the facts
referred to by the Honourable Member.

The Commission cannot comment on the matter for lack

of detail, particularly regarding the supposed damage to
the local environment caused by the military activity.
Besides, the Community's environment legislation does
not deal with this type of installation.

Article 1(4) of Directive 85/337/EEC stipulates that it
does not cover projects serving national defence purposes.
Accordingly, if the construction of a firing range serves
national defence purposes, the Directive does not apply.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 368/91

by Mr Giinter Liittge (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/31)

_Subject:_ Development of regional airports in the five new
German Lander

The problem of congestion afflicting the main central
airports indicates a need to develop regional airports in

European Communities No C 259/17

the five new German Lander. Moreover, investment for
this purpose would considerably stimulate the economies
of the areas concerned. Talks for this purpose are to be
held shortly between the Federal and 'Land' authorities.

Would the Commission be prepared to support the
development of regional airports, in Rostock for
example?

Would the Commission envisage having preliminary
surveys carried out with a view to making the necessary
investment decisions?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the economic and social

importance of regional airports.

However, the Regulation adopted by the Council last
November allowing for Community financial
intervention in support of transport infrastructure
projects (Council Regulation (EEC) No 3359/90) (') is
limited to a number of rail and road priorities.

The Commission has not yet been successful in
convincing the Council to adopt its proposal allowing the
Community to play a more active role in the area of
airport infrastructure ( [2] ).

In the framework of structural policy the Community's
Structural Funds will provide 3 billion Ecus towards the
restructuring process in the five new Lander and East
Berlin during 1991 — 1993. In the German plan for
structural operations and the Community Support
Framework, which was approved on the 13th of March
1991, no special support for investments in regional
airports is envisaged.

O OJ No L 326, 24. 11.1990.
O OJ No C 34, 10.2. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 411/91

by Mr John Iversen (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/32)

_Subject:_ Trade in tropical wood

Under agreements concluded within the International
Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), member
countries are entitled to levy a tax on, and ban the export
of, unprocessed wood. Issue No 349 of 'Europe
Environment' states that the European Community and

No C 259/18 Official Journal of the

Japan have, during the GATT negotiations, taken the
initiative in requiring Indonesia to lift its ban on the
export of unprocessed tropical wood.

Can the Commission state in this connection why the
Community is in this way undermining the efforts of
individual I'i'l'O member countries to ban exports of
tropical wood and can it state what firms in Indonesia it is
thereby seeking to help export tropical wood? Lastly, how
do the initiatives in this area during the GATT talks relate
to the rest of Community policy towards rain forest
conservation?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

The Community appreciates the efforts made by all
developing countries to promote the sustainable
exploitation of natural resources. Its environment policy
supports any action or initiative aimed at ensuring greater
protection for, and the saving and rational management
of, as much tropical forest as possible.

The International Tropical Timber Agreement was
negotiated in this spirit. It should be emphasized that the
main aims of the Agreement are to provide an effective
international forum for cooperation and consultation
(ITTO), promote expansion and diversification of the
international trade in tropical woods and improve the
marketing and distribution of exported woods in such a
way as to conserve forest resources. The Commission has
already contributed considerably to these aims by getting
ITTO to adopt resolutions aimed at putting in place a
sustainable form of forest management by the year 2000.
Also, Article 30 of the Agreement provides that members
must take whatever steps are necessary to achieve these
aims.

In view of these provisions, the Commission does not
agree with an approach whose aims are to link the
objectives of the Tropical Timber Agreement to
individual marketing initiatives by member countries.

What is more, it should be noted that, being a strictly
national initiative, the measures introduced by Indonesia
do not fall within the area over which ITTO has

decision-making powers.

The Community's intention was to air its concern in
GATT as the restrictive measures in question seem to be
entirely commercial and can only be intended to give
preferential treatment to national processing enterprises
and disadvantage any other potential buyers of the raw
material.

European Communities 4. 10. 91

Moreover, this policy, combined with the maintaining of
tariff barriers that are high in relation to the amount of
processing done, could cause reactions that might
undermine GATT-inspired trading practices.

The Community considers that any policy relating to
trade and the environment should be pursued jointly to
ensure a balance between saving the forests and using the
wood. It should also be stressed that, in the Uruguay
Round consultations, the Community did all it could to
ensure that environmental considerations were taken into

account in several specific sectors, for instance in the
renegotiation of the agreement on technical barriers to
trade. The answer to Written Question No 259/91 by Mrs
Ernst de La Graete would provide more information in
the specifically GATT context ( [1] ).

On a more general level, the Commission is having studies
undertaken on the legal, technical and economic aspects
of the arrangements covering imports of tropical woods.

O OJ No C 199,29.7. 1991, p. 15.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 481/91

by Mr Karl von Wogau (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/33)

_Subject:_ Aids for maize in connection with cross-border
producer associations

Does the Commission realize that members of

cross-border producer associations are treated
differently, depending on nationality?

The German members of a cross-border maize producer
association in Reichstatt in France do not receive the aid

in question. The same would appear to apply in the case of
French members of German producer associations.

Does the Commission regard this as compatible with the
principles behind the common agricultural policy?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 May 1991)_

It follows from the very nature of a national aid that it is
only applicable to beneficiaries who carry out their
economic activities on the territory of the Member State
granting the aid. Therefore, if in the case of a producer
association straddling a frontier, a Member State grants
an aid only to those members of the association which are

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/19

active on its territory, this would not in itself, in the view
of the Commission, be incompatible with the provisions
of the Treaty relating to national aids (Articles 92 to 94),
nor with any other provision of Community legislation
relating to common agricultural policy.

The situation would be different, however, if operators in
a country where a national aid is granted were to be
excluded from the benefits of the aid on grounds of, for
example, nationality. In this case, while the aid might still
be compatible with the competition rules of the Treaty, it
would most probably constitute an infringement of other
Community legislation, and in particular the legislation
relating to non-discrimination within the Community.

However, the Commission is not presently aware of any
such discriminatory treatment but is contacting the
French and German authorities to establish the facts

relating to the situation outlined by the Honourable
Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 513/91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher and Mr Siegbert Alber (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/34)

_Subject:_ Trade in human organs

1. What information does the Commission have on

trade in organs in the European Community?

2. Is the trade in organs governed by law in all Member
States of the Community? Do the relevant laws differ
widely from country to country?

3. Which countries have adopted the approach of
registered donors and which a system of 'opting out'?

4. What information does the Commission have

regarding the frequent press reports of atrocities in
connection with the trade in organs in certain Member
States, particularly Italy, the United Kingdom and the
Netherlands?

(See, for example, the following reports:

— Siiddeutsche Zeitung, 4. 9. 1990: 'Booming trade in
parts of the human body in Nigeria'

— Frankfurter Rundschau, 14. 8. 1990: 'Kidneys direct
from the hangman'

— Sonntag Aktuell, 10.12. 1989: 'Stolen kidney?'

— Neue Ziiricher Zeitung, 19. 10. 1989: 'Trade in
children as organ donors'

— Die Welt, 14. 9. 1989: 'Macabre discovery on the
Dutch border, investigation into trade in human
tissue').

5. What does the Commission see as the options for
establishing an acceptable legal arrrangement regulating
trade in human organs in the European Community?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

In its answers to Written Questions (') as well as Oral
Questions ( [2] ) on the subject, the Commission indicated
that it was aware of the current concern and press reports
concerning international organ trafficking, but did not
possess sufficient corroborative evidence to assess the
extent of such practices. The Commission regrets that it
has no further information available in relation to these

allegations.

With regard to the questions concerning legislation on
trade in human organs and on donor consent, the
Honourable Members are asked to refer to the answer

given by the Commission to Written Question No 2090
by Mr Di Rupo ( [3] ). The Commission has no detailed
overview available on legislation in Member States.

The Commission maintains close contact with the

Council of Europe, which has been dealing extensively
with the ethical issues involved in organ transplantations.

O Nos 622/89 and 12/90 - OJ No C 303, 3. 12. 1990;
No 819/89 —OJ No C 125,21.5.1990.
O NosH303/89 and H9/90 — debates of the European

Parliament Nos 3-381 and 3-385.
O OJNoC35, 11.2.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 541/91

by Mr Helwin Peter (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/35)

_Subject:_ Steel imports from certain third countries in 1991

Is the Commission prepared to follow the
recommendation of the ECSC Consultative Committee of

8 February 1991 and retain unchanged all the elements of
the external economic measures adopted for 1990 for the
purpose of negotiating agreements on steel imports from
certain third countries for 1991 and, in respect of
quantities, adhere to the established rule concerning
visible consumption trends and classification by product?

No C 259/20 Official Journal of thi

If not, in what respect does the Commission intend to
deviate from the recommendation of the Consultative

Committee and with what justification?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 July 1991)_

Following a proposal by the Commission ('), the Member
States gave the latter a mandate to negotiate import
arrangements for steel for 1991. Negotiations were begun
with a view to defining the arrangements that were to
apply to five countries of Central and Eastern Europe
(Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungaria, Poland and
Romania) and establishing the consultation procedures to
be used in the case of Brazil and South Korea.

The Commission studied with care the recommendations

the Consultative Committee issued on 8 February 1991. In
practice most of the points of the 1990 arrangements have
been retained for 1991, i.e. those on quantity (status quo
plus additional tonnage to allow for traditional trade
flows between the countries of Central and Eastern

Europe and the former GDR), allocation per Member
State, product sub-quotas (slight flexibility on this point)
and geographical scope (substituting for the arrangement
with Brazil an exchange of practically identical letters).

Whilst it is true that in the past there was a link between
the tonnages stipulated in the arrangements and internal
consumption, it was decided that in 1991 account should
be taken of the gradual liberalization of foreign trade in
steel since, in the last three years, the industry has no
longer been in crisis and other importers, including the
United States, were also going to eliminate the VRAs in
March 1992. What is more, the Community has
undertaken to help the Central and Eastern European
countries make the transition to a market economy.

As the Commission wishes to point out, it is now clear
that some of the forecasts made in the Consultative

Committee resolution were rather pessimistic. For
instance, the downturn in internal consumption in the
first quarter of 1991 will be considerably less than 10%
and the low dollar rate expected at the time is not
materializing. Finally, the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe used only 75 % of the tonnage set aside
for them in the arrangements and their economic
situation is such that they will probably be unable to do
better this year.

The Commission therefore considers that it has put
forward a proposal for steel import arrangements for
1991 that is well in line with external policy and does not
prejudice the Community's interests.

O SEC(90)2258.

European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 542/91

by Mr John McCartin (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/36)

_Subject:_ Overproduction in the dairy sector

Will the Commission provide information on the amount
of milk produced over and above the quota set for each
Member State and say whether all Member States are
complying with Community regulations and imposing the
superlevy on any overproduction?

Can the Commission state which Member States are

carrying out this practice of not imposing the superlevy
and state how much this is costing the Community
budget?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(2 July 1991)_

The information can be found in the Commission's

Annual Report on the Agricultural Situation in the
Community ('). With the exception of Italy, all the
Member States concerned have collected, at least in part,
the levy on quantities exceeding the overall guaranteed
quantity. The amount of uncollected levy in Italy amounts
to ECU 124 million.

As part of the EAGGF Guarantee Section clearance of
accounts, the Commission checks whether Member States
have duly fulfilled their obligations and makes the
necessary financial corrections for deliveries of milk on
which the levy has not been paid.

O Table 4.20.6.2. on p. T/288 of the 1990 Report.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 547/91

by Mr Didier Anger (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/37)

_Subject:_ Environmental impact of the Structural Funds

The Commission's answer to Written Question
No 1962/90 O states that representatives of national
environment authorities may sit on monitoring
committees.

How many monitoring committees include environmental
experts, and which are these committees?

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/21

Can the Commission indicate whether there have been

any cases in which funding for a project or programme
has been suspended or withdrawn on environmental
grounds on the advice of a monitoring committee?

The above answer further states that monitoring
committees are able to assess whether major projects
comply with Community legislation. Does the
Commission accept that even small-scale projects can be
environmentally damaging — for example certain
aquaculture units — and how are these projects
monitored?

O OJNoC70,18.3. 1991, p. 27.

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(2_ _July 1991)_

The Commission does not currently have any statistics
showing the number of Monitoring Committees on which
environmental experts sit since, under the rules, their
presence is a matter for the national and regional
authorities concerned.

Failure to respect Community legislation on
environmental matters with regard to projects forming
part of programmes has in several cases led to the
suspension of Community aid. Examples include the
Prodac programme in Portugal and aquaculture projects
in the gulf of Amvrakikos under a Greek IMP.

The Commission agrees that certain aquaculture units
may affect the quality of the environment.

This applies mainly to open intensive rearing units
operating at high density and providing regular and
substantial food supplies to the stock.

Commission finance for such projects is monitored
carefully through the structural Funds and the financial
instruments concerned with the development of
aquaculture in the Community. In accordance with the
national rules in force, an impact study taking account of
the sensitivity of the environment to the type of unit
contemplated is carried out for each investment project.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 548/91

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/38)

_Subject:_ Structural Funds and the environment

In its answer to Written Question No 2013/90 (') the
Commission states that technical aid may be provided to
assist Member States in implementing Community

environmental legislation.

Can the Commission give specific examples of such aid
being provided?

Does the Commission intend to provide fresh incentives
for Member States to take advantage of this opportunity?

O OJ No C 70,18. 3.1991, p. 27.

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _July 1991)_

Technical assistance on environmental matters so far

provided by the Commission to the Member States in the
context of reform of the structural Funds has consisted of

horizontal studies on problems relating to environmental
protection and regional development, preparatory
analyses and environmental impact studies relating to
measures for which Community part-financing has been
requested and training and publicity measures. For
example, studies have been carried out on how to define
combined measures for the protection of the environment
and economic development in the less-favoured areas of
the Community and on the use of waste composting in
Mediterranean areas.

One of the measures eligible in the more specific context
of the Envireg Community initiative (ECU 500 million for
the period 1990—1993) concerns the development of
know-how and vocational training relating to measures to
clean up pollution in the coastal areas of regions eligible
under Objective 1 (plus Objectives 2 and 5(b) in the case
of Mediterranean coastal areas) and the management of
industrial waste for Objective 1 regions.

The Envireg initiative contains special provision for
launching service centres to assist local authorities in
selecting and installing plant and equipment, and for the
establishment of bodies linking regional authorities to
achieve better maintenance of plant and improve
environmental management, especially of water
resources. The Commission has also set up a network of
independent experts from whom those responsible for
operational programmes and those in charge of carrying
out projects can obtain technical advice prior to the
financing of certain investments. The Commission
expects this network to contribute to technological
improvements and the better organization of
maintenance, mainly by encouraging exchanges of
experience.

The Guide, which lists all measures likely to be eligible for
finance for technical assistance under the reform,

constitutes a reminder for the Member States of the

assistance on environmental matters available to them. It

is up to the authorities responsible for the environment to
define their needs for technical assistance and submit

them to the Commission.

No C 259/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 563/91

by Mr Ben Visser (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 259/39)

_Subject:_ Failure to comply with regulations on driving
and rest periods in the road haulage sector

The Groningen district court has been conducting an
experiment on compliance with the law on driving periods
in which individual firms are approached in an effort to
reduce the number of cases in which driving and rest
periods are exceeded. The judicial authorities pay
particular attention to firms where a large number of
infringements are established. The results of the
experiment are encouraging — the number of
infringements revealed by spot checks on firms has fallen
sharply. In particular, it has emerged that many
infringements are caused by very tight scheduling by
firms. Action by the judicial authorities has led to more
careful planning and has brought economic benefits. The
number of accidents and the damage sustained by the
firms concerned has also fallen significantly.

The experiment in Groningen has since been repeated in
Friesland and Drenthe and district courts in the rest of the

Netherlands are expressing a good deal of interest,
according to a report in the 'Nieuwsblad Transport' of 7
February 1991.

1. Is the Commission aware of the results of the

experiment in Groningen and, if so, can it comment on
them?

2. In view of the outcome of the Groningen experiment,
does the Commission see any possibility of improving
compliance with regulations on driving and rest
periods in the Community as a whole?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(2 July 1991)_

The Commission notes with interest the encouraging
initiatives of the Dutch authorities to ensure compliance
with Community social legislation in the road transport
sector and the commendable results being achieved.

As to the possibilities of extending a similar system
throughout the Community, the Honourable Member's
attention is drawn to the provisions of Council Directive
No 88/599/EEC (>) of 23 November 1988, which lays
down both qualitative and quantitative checking criteria,
and aims at standard checking procedures. Given the
diversity of the current organization of the control
authorities and legal systems in the Member States, it
would be difficult to envisage a standardization of
existing practices, but a strict application of the

abovementioned Council Directive should obtain similar

successful results.

The problem of driving time and rest periods in road
transport — and in particular the checking procedures —
is now under discussion in the Joint Committee for Road

Transport. They will be informed on the initiatives taken
by the Dutch authorities in this field.

O OJ No L 325, 29.11.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 610/91

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/40)

_Subject:_ National plan of Community interest concerning
the province of Almeria (Spain)

With regard to the national plan of Community interest
concerning the province of Almeria (Spain) referred to in
the press and by the regional authorities several times in
recent years, can the Commission state what stage has
been reached and what the scope, real content, approval
date, funding and completion date of this plan are?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

The National Programme of Community Interest (NPCI)
for Almeria-Levante was submitted by the Spanish
authorities in December 1988 and approved by the
Commission Decision of 26 October 1989.

The programme will be implemented over four year
(1989—1992) and involves investment totalling ECU
384,8 million, of which the ERDF will contribute ECU
180,5 million. The investment is devided into regional
and multi-regional (national government investment)
sections.

When the Monitoring Committee for the Programme
held its second meeting on 11 April 1991 it found that
technical problems had caused some delay in the progress
of the works. It is nevertheless hoped that the whole
programme will be implemented by the date planned.

The Commission is also sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a copy of the
press release published at the time and a list of the
break-down of investment (in pesetas).

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 612/91

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/41)

_Subject:_ Information campaign regarding use of

permanent paper

A quarter of the books kept in Europe's major libraries
are reported to be threatened with self-destruction owing
to the quality of the paper used. Most books published in
Europe are not printed on permanent paper but on acid
paper, unbeknown to the vast majority of consumers, a
situation which could be construed as a massive fraud and

an abuse of consumers' trust. Does the Commission

intend to tackle the need to inform consumers and

demand that permanent paper be properly labelled as
such?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 May 1991)_

Research and standardization work is being carried out in
various quarters but it is not yet technically feasible to
envisage a quality standard for permanent paper.

However, it should be noted that this product is of
concern to professionals (publishers, printers) and that
the long-term conservation of books is of concern to
libraries and other cultural bodies.

If a quality standard does prove feasible, the Commission
might examine the possibility of suitable labelling.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 618/91

by Mr Madron Seligman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/42)

_Subject:_ Introduction of fibre optic networks in the
Community

Will the Commission list the Member States which have

already put in hand the installation of a fibre optic
network for telecommunications?

Will the Commission list for each Member State the

number of subscribers served by each national fibre optic
network?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

All Member States have a rapidly growing optical fibre
network (mainly trunk and inter-office links). The
European share of the fibre world market is 32% (42%
USA, 19% Japan/Asia) (Source: KMI and Information
Gatekeepers Studies).

The penetration of fibre in the Subscriber Loop (which is
the expected mass market) is still limited (see attached
table).

The number of subscribers using the Optical Fibre
network cannot be quantified. In principle the trunk and
inter-office network is shared by the totality of the
population in each country.

In the case of subscribers being serviced in the Subscriber
Loop, the attached table indicates the current status.

Fibre in the Subscriber Loop

Start of
operation

1990

1991

1991

1985

1990

1991

Country

United Kingdom

Spain

France

Germany

The Netherlands

Provider

BT

Telefonica

France

Telecom

DBP

TELEKOM

Dutch

PTT

Type

FTTK

FTTH

FTTK

FTTH

FTTK

FTTH

FTTK

FTTH

Services

POTS/TV

POTS

POTS

TV

POTS/TV

POTS/TV

Technology

PON

double star

(AT & T)
optical bus
(Raynet)

star,
analogue

optical bus
(Raynet)

PON

Number of

customers

130

120

100

30 000

400

200'

_Source:_ Commission dara/RACE, 1990.
Acronyms:
FTTH: Fibre-to-the-Home.

FTTK: Fibre-to-the-Kerb.

POTS: Plain Old Telefon Services.
PON: Passive Optical Network.
BT: British Telecom.
DBP: Deutsche Bundespost.

No C 259/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 627/91

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/43)

_Subject:_ Status of officials and other servants of the
European Communities

Under Article 21 of the Belgian law of 28 December 1990
on tax and non-tax proposals ('Moniteur Beige' of 29
December 1990), the spouses of officials or other servants
of the European Communities are considered, for tax
purposes, as living alone.

1. Does the Commission consider that this provision is in
accordance with the relevant Community law and, if
not, what measures does it intend to take?

2. Was the Commission consulted by the Belgian
Government on this matter?

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

_(10 June 1991)_

After initial study of the Belgian law of 28 December 1990
concerning _inter alia_ married person's tax relief, the
Commission has already informed the Belgian
Government that it considers that the law in question, on
which the Commission was not consulted prior to
adoption, appears to be incompatible with the second
paragraph of Article 13 of the Protocol on the Privileges
and Immunities of the European Communities. The law
might therefore constitute an infringement of Community
law.

The Commission has asked the Belgian Government for
its comments. In the light of these, it will take whatever
steps it considers appropriate.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 639/91

by Mr Reimer Boge (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/44)

_Subject:_ Fisheries policy

Is the Commission in a position to confirm that distance
from the market can entail substantial competitive
disadvantages for suppliers of fisheries products?

Does the Commission consider that suppliers
disadvantaged in this way should receive aid?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 May 1991)_

Long distances from the main consumer markets can
entail certain disadvantages for suppliers of fishery
products with regard to transport costs.

However, the fall in the relative cost of transport and
better returns on fishery products are tending to reduce
these disadvantages.

This problem has been taken into account in the price
policy under the market organization for fishery
products. The regionalized withdrawal prices ensure that
producers at great distances from the Community's main
centres of consumption have access to the markets under
satisfactory conditions.

Furthermore, under its structural policy for the fisheries
sector, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member
States, is attempting to correct the imbalances which can
affect the sector in certain regions due, amongst other
things, to their remoteness.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 640/91

by Mr Reimer Boge (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/45)

_Subject:_ Fisheries policy

Vessels over 20 years old are excluded from aid given by
the EC for the modernization of existing fishing vessels
and the construction of new ones.

The average age of Baltic sea fishing vessels is 25 years,
but they have been constantly modernized and
overhauled.

Does the Commission not agree that EC legislation
should take into account this aspect, i.e. whether a fishing
vessel has been constantly modernized and refitted, and
that a new age limit should be set for vessels that have in
effect been completely overhauled?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 May 1991)_

Community aid for the modernization of fishing vessels
under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 (') is not
granted for vessels older than 25 years. The reason is that
in general the cost of modernizing fishing vessels in order

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/25

to improve their competitiveness and economic viability in
relation to new vessels increases with the age of the vessel.

The above Regulation also states that the Member State
shall ensure that the cost of modernizing a fishing vessel
does not exceed 50 % of the value of a new vessel of the

same type.

The Commission is accordingly of the opinion that the
age of a fishing vessel should not be redefined as a result
of the carrying out of modernization works.

O OJ No L 376, 31.12. 1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 642/91

by Mr Reimer Boge (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/46)

_Subject:_ Fisheries policy

Can the Commission provide comparable data regarding
the social insurance conditions of fishermen in the various

EC countries, taking into account _inter alia_ public aid
given to this sector?

Answer given by Miss Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

The Commission has comparative data on the general
social security schemes in the Member States. These
schemes may also cover workers in the fisheries sector.
The Commission is not in a position to say which
countries have special schemes for fishermen and in which
countries they are covered by the general schemes.

Financial data are available for all the social security
schemes, including information about State contributions
to the financing of social security expenditure in each
Member State. However, these data cannot be used to
identify public aid for social security schemes for
fishermen, if such special schemes exist.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 650/91

by Mr Virginio Bettini (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/47)

_Subject:_ Rise in the temperature of the Po (Italy)

1. Is the Commission aware that research carried out

by the Enea (National Authority for Alternative Energy)

between 1986 and 1991 and presented to the Lombardy
Region in Milan on 4 March 1991 estimated the increase
in the temperature of the water of the Po at 1 °C, an
increase caused by the plants installed along the Po for the
production of electricity?

2. Is the Commission also aware that the Porto Tolle

power station on the Po delta has been discharging water
at temperatures of 20-25 °C above the recipient of the
river at a rate of 80 mVsec. since 1980, without prior
authorization or assessment of the environmental impact?

3. Does the Commission not consider this to be an

infringement of Community legislation?

4. What is the Commission's view of the proposal for
the further extension of the multi-fuel power station in
Sermide, irrespective of the preliminary environmental
impact assessment?

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

_(7 June 1991)_

The effect of thermal discharges on the temperature of
receiving waters is covered by Annex I of Council
Directive 78/659/EEC (') on the quality of fresh waters
needing protection or improvement in order to support
fish life. However, the river Po has not been designated as
such a water under Article 4 of that Directive.

The Commission is currently working on a proposal for a
Directive on ecological water quality, which is intended to
cover such cases in the future.

Concerning point 4, as no indications are given as to the
calorific power of the Sermide plant, it is not clear
whether this project should be submitted to an
environmental impact study or not.

Therefore, the Commission would be grateful to the
Honourable Member if he could provide more precise
details on this question.

O OJNoL222, 14. 8.1978.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 693/91

by Ms Christine Oddy (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/48)

_Subject:_ Cat Island, Bahamas

What aid has the European Community given to Cat
Island, Bahamas? What form does that aid take and on
what projects has the aid been used?

No C 259/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

Has the United States Government raised any objections,
either directly or indirectly on such aid being granted to
this island?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 May 1991)_

Under the Lome III National Indicative Programme for
the Bahamas, the Commission has funded a ECU 2
million rural energy project on Cat Island. Funding took
the form of a special loan (ECU 1 million) and a grant
(ECU 1,5 million). The project, now nearing completion,
was approved in January 1988 and is co-financed with
the Government of the Bahamas/Bahamas Electricity
Corporation, who have provided an additional ECU 1,25
million. It comprises the installation and equipping of a
power station and the construction of transmission and
distribution lines. The EDF funds were used for the

purchase of materials and erection of power lines, the civil
and building works for the power station and the
installation of generating sets and switch-gear.

The Commission is unaware of any objections raised by
the United States Government to aid for a project on Cat
Island.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 740/91

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/49)

_Subject:_ Funding of the Greek agricultural sector within
the framework of the Regional Development
Plans

As part of the reform of the Community's Structural
Funds it is planned to double the Funds' resources
between 1987 and 1993. However, the EAGGF, Guidance
Section funds set aside for structural measures in respect
of Greek agriculture have been set at a low level despite
the fact that this is a very important sector for the Greek
economy, accounting for 27,2 % of the workforce.

It therefore seems that the target of doubling EAGGF
funds has not been attained and the Greek agricultural
sector will lack the resources it needs to undertake

structural developments in the five-year period from 1989
to 1993.

Total Community funding under the Community Support
Framework for Greece amounts ECU 6 667 million i.e.

ECU 3 662 million from the European Regional

Development Fund (55%), ECU 1 728 million from the
European Social Fund (26 %) and ECU 1 _277_ million from
the EAGGF-Guidance Section (19%).

Since existing structural activities in agriculture will
absorb the bulk of the above Community resources
(ongoing horizontal measures, IMP commitments and
other programmes which have already been adopted) no
resources will be left to finance important new activities
provided for in the Regional Development Plans, such as
measures to protect the environment, to repair damage
and for forestry stock breeding, etc.

For instance the Community is contributing only ECU 86
million towards the regional enterprise programme in the
Regional Development Plan for Western Greece which
will cost a total of ECU 143,1 million and Community
funding for sub-programme I concerning agricultural
sector measures accounts for a mere ECU 5,5 million out
of a total of ECU 11,1 million for a five-year period,
which is insufficient for any agricultural development of
the region.

Will the Commission say what new measures it intends to
take to achieve the original objective of an integrated
development of the agricultural regions of Greece, a
country where agriculture is particularly in need of
support given that it suffers from low productivity and
competitiveness and severe structural shortcomings?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

As part of the reform of the structural Funds, the Council
decided that the commitment appropriations for the
structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, EAGGF Guidance
Section) should double in real terms by 1993. This
across-the-board doubling of structural Fund
appropriations never implied that each Fund would see a
doubling of its particular appropriation.

The global amounts for the three Funds were determined
in the course of the partnership negotiations and reflect
the priorities established by the Greek Government. The
EAGGF Guidance Section's contribution of 19,1% of
total Community assistance under the Community
Support Framework for Greece is the highest of all the
Objective 1 regions.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member

that, while significant amounts are being allocated to
ongoing measures, the new Operational Programmes in
Greece are receiving quite substantial amounts from the
EAGGF. A total of ECU 247 million is allocated for the '

Agricultural Structures OP (ECU 129,4 million), the

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/27

regional MOPs (ECU 67,6 million) and the Apricot and
Phylloxera OPs (ECU 50 million).

The amounts allocated by way of the regional MOPs to
each of the regions, including Western Greece, which the
Honourable Member cites as an example, seem quite
small when compared to the needs and they are
accordingly required to meet the most important
priorities. Nevertheless, the EAGGF contribution by way
of other programmes should not be underestimated. For
example, the Western Greece-Peloponnese IMP includes
ECU 86,6 million from the EAGGF and ECU 38,8 million
from budget heading 551 for agricultural measures and
rural development.

It should also be noted that the general development
measures listed in the various priority headings of the
Greek CSF and funded by the ERDF in particular benefit
the whole population of the Greek regions, including
rural and agricultural areas and, as a result, contribute
directly to the economic and social development of the
rural world.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 745/91

by Mr Maxime Verhagen (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/50)

_Subject:_ Extension of ERDF programmes after 1991

1. Does the Commission agree — in view of the
long-term economic development of certain regions
within the Community — that a clear statement should be
made as soon as possible on any extension of the ERDF
programmes after 1991 ?

2. In this connection, does it not agree that it is time to
move from discussing this matter to taking positive

action _i_

3. When will it take the initiative of consulting the
Member States on extending until the end of 1993 the EC
programmes for the regions covered by Objective 2 of the
European Regional Development Fund?

4. Does it expect major changes in definition of
Objective 2 zones after 1991 ?

5. If so, can it make a clear statement on the substance
of these changes and their consequences for the regions
concerned?

Answer given by Mr Millan

on behalf of the Commission

_(10 July 1991)_

The Commission decided on 29 April 1991, to extend the
current list of areas eligible for Structural Funds Support
under Objective 2 for a further two years to the end of
1993.

The Commission hopes that Community Support
Frameworks and programmes for the period 1992/93 will
be in place by the end of the current year.

The Commission consulted the Advisory Committee on
the Development and Conversion of Regions on 15 April
1991. Discussions are also taking place inside regional
partnerships.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 746/91

by Mr Manfred Wohrer (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/51)

_Subject:_ Free movement of pets in the EC

Pet-owners repeatedly complain that pets which have
undergone the veterinary examination required by law,
are inoculated and are in possession of an official
certificate of health are not permitted to travel freely with
their owners throughout the EC. In view of all the efforts
being made to improve freedom of travel, it is hard to
understand why the United Kingdom still imposes this
restriction.

Is the Commission making any attempt to improve this
state of affairs?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 June 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the problem relating
primarily to quarantine restrictions for rabies in the
United Kingdom and Ireland. There is a Community
financially aided rabies eradication scheme being
currently conducted in infected Member States. The
objective is to eradicate rabies before 31 December 1992.

After such an eradication, there would be no reason for
the maintenance of the current quarantine restrictions.

No C 259/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 794/91

by Mr Jacques Vernier (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/52)

_Subject:_ Fishery statistics

It appears that no Community statistics exist for the
relative share of the different categories of fishing vessels
(inshore fishing, high-sea fishing, factory vessels) in total
catches (in tonnage and value). Given that these statistics
could surely be obtained from national figures and could
improve our knowledge of the structure of the fisheries
industry, could the Commission:

1. disclose this information, immediately, if this is
possible?

2. if this is not possible, instruct the Statistical Office of
the European Communities to calculate these figures
regularly in its series on agriculture and fisheries?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 June 1991)_

The Commission can confirm that there are no

Community statistics on catches by category of fishing
vessels.

However, in order to improve statistics in the fisheries
sector with particular regard to landings, the Council
recently adopted a Regulation on the submission of data
on the landings of fishery products in Member States.

The Regulation will apply from 1 January 1992 and will
provide an overview of the quantity and value of all
fishery products landed in the Community.

As regards the structure of fishery fleets, the Commission
is setting up a register of Community fishing vessels
containing full information about their characteristics.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 800/91

by Mr James Ford (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April 1991)_

(91/C 259/53)

_Subject:_ Financial help for churches

Does the Commission know of any funding available
within the EC to assist with maintenance and upkeep of
church buildings?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 June 1991)_

The Commission's support for historic monuments and
sites is channelled through its annual programme
'Support of pilot-projects to preserve the Community's
architectural heritage' each year focusing on a specific
theme (').

Within this framework, the Commission's financial
contribution to selected pilot-projects is strictly confined
to works of conservation or restoration.

As the financial resources available are very restricted,
(ECU 2,6 million for 26 selected pilot-projects out of
1 138 submitted in 1990) the principle aim of this
programme is to increase the general public's awareness
of their architectural heritage.

O OJNoC304,4.12. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 814/91

by Mr Kenneth Collins (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _May 1991)_

(91/C 259/54)

_Subject:_ Generic feed additives

Under Community legislation, compounds intended to be
used as feed additives are approved for administration to
farm animals. Generic manufacturers can supply such
products, on patent expiry, without having to confirm
that their product is similar in terms of safety, quality,
pharmacokinetics, etc., to the compound which originally
obtained registration.

In this situation, how does the Commission ensure that
generic feed additives are produced to the same standards
and quality as the original compound registered?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _July 1991)_

In accordance with the terms of Article 21 of Council

Directive 70/524/EEC (') concerning additives in animal
feedingstuffs, Member States shall take all necessary
measures to ensure that during marketing te identification
of additives used in animal feedingstuffs shall be officially
checked at least by random sampling.

4. 10. 91
Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/29

In order to check the conformity of the preparation
marketed the control authorities shall have available a

monograph of the authorised additive; this monograph,
which forms an essential place of the dossier on the
additive, indicates the method of manufacture and the
criteria for identifying and characterising its preparations,
especially its composition and degree of purity, as well as
its physico-chemical and biological properties.

O OJNoL270,14.12.1970.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 837/91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Mum (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _May 1991)_

(91/C 259/55)

_Subject:_ Information about ERDF aid

Are the Member States complying with Regulations
4253/88/EEC O and 4254/88/EEC ( [2] ), under which
EEC symbols must be used to show that projects have
been co-financed out of ERDF funds. What stance does

the Commission usually take in the event of failure to
comply?

(') OJNo L 374, 31. 12. 1988,p. 1.
O OJ No L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 July 1991)_

The Honourable Member is reminded that Article 32 of

Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 and Article 12 of Regulation
(EEC) 4254/88 have been supplemented by a standard
clause on publicity included in all Community support
frameworks. To ensure uniform interpretation of these
rules, the Commission adopted on 19 December a Notice
of the Member States concerning information and
publicity relating to assistance from the European
Regional Development Fund (').

The notice includes a detailed description of the measures
to be taken and the rules for their application. The
Monitoring Committees for the CSFs and operational
programmes, in which officials of the Commission will
participate, are required to ensure correct application of
these rules. The Committees were recently constituted.
An assessment of the application of these provisions by
the Member States will be included in the annual reports

to be submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 31
of Regulation 4253/88.

O OJN0C6,10.1.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 872/91

by Mr Jose Torres Couto (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/56)

_Subject:_ Social protection measures

As part of the action programme for the implementation
of the Community Charter of Workers' Fundamental
Social Rights, when does the Commission intend to draw
up a draft Directive on social protection? Will the objects
of these two measures coincide?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

_(7 June 1991)_

The Commission does not propose to take any action
which would have binding force in an area over which the
Member States must retain control, that of the
organization and financing of their social protection

systems.

However, a study of the probable impact of the
completion of the single market suggests that a gradual
alignment of levels of social protection would be
desirable. All the social protection systems in fact face
similar problems. In view of that similarity, and in order
to promote the alignment of levels of social protection,
there was seen to be an argument for producing a paper
setting out a number of common objectives to act as a
guide for the Member States' policies in the social
protection field.

In its action programme for the implementation of the
Social Charter, the Commission therefore put forward
proposals for a strategy of bringing the policies in
question closer together by aligning them on jointly
defined objectives. The Commission will shortly be
adopting an initiative to that effect in the form of a
recommendation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 920/91

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/57)

_Subject:_ Japanese protectionism in the leather sector

Will the Commission exert the pressure required to make
the Japanese Government alter its protectionist stance in

No C 259/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

the leather sector, bearing in mind that the Japanese
'concessions', i.e. the doubling of the quota for leather
subject to less than 20% duty, correspond to just two
days' production in Europe? In the event of an
unwarranted refusal, will it not resort to US-style
economic retaliation?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1136/91

by Mr Carles Gasoliba i Bohm (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/58)

_Subject:_ Community exports of tanned hides to Japan

Japan imposes 60 % customs duties on imports of tanned
hides from the European Community and a reduced rate
of 20% for limited quantities. The EC on the other hand
applies a duty of between 4 and 7 % to tanned hides from
Japan.

What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to
redress the imbalance in this sector within the framework

of its normal relations with Japan?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 920/91 and

No 1136/91

given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 July 1991)_

The Commission is fully aware that Japanese tariffs on
leather and leather footwear are at a prohibitive level
(except for a limited quantity of imports allowed under a
tariff quota at lower levels of duty). These tariffs prevent
Community companies realizing their full export
potential.

The Commission has taken every occasion to insist on
improved conditions of access to the Japanese market. At
the bilateral level, it is engaged in a process of negotiation,
with the aim of obtaining an import regime similar to that
of other industrialized countries, after a transitional
period during which conditions of access for Community
products would be considerably improved. So far, it has
obtained certain ameliorations, but without yet arriving at
a satisfactory solution. In multilateral negotiations, under
the Uruguay Round, the Commission has also raised the

issue of leather and leather footwear and has insisted on

solutions that meet the Community's concerns.

Concerning the question of retaliatory measures, the
Commission would prefer not to speculate on the
feasibility of such measures pending the outcome of the
current series of negotiations.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 922/91

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/59)

_Subject:_ Fitness for use of the main SS 20 road through
the Valle di Roja

Following the landslide on 9 December 1990, in which
two French people were killed, the SS 20 through the
Valle di Roja was closed for over a month. Owing to the
(makeshift) repair work subsequently carried out, the area
was closed to traffic at certain periods for a further 45
days, resulting in substantial losses for the inhabitants of
the valley, business activity, and those passing through for
tourist or work purposes. Will the Commission therefore
examine the plan being put forward by ANAS (Italian
National Road Board), involving a total cost of some Lit.
55 billion, to alter the direction of and rebuild the road?
Will measures be taken, not least with a view to 1992, to
resolve the problems of the fitness for use of the SS 20 —
an international highway to all intents and purposes —
protect the valley's economy, taking into account the
Commission communication C(90) 1562/3 to the
Member States concerning border areas, and avert the
possible isolation of the localities of Airole, Olivetta, and
Farighetto, for which the SS 20 is an economic lifeline?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(23 July 1991)_

The Commission has duly noted the information brought
to its attention relating to the fitness for use of the main
SS 20 road through the Valle di Roja.

However, it wishes to point out to the Honourable
Member that it is not competent to comment on the
choice of communication routes, which is purely a matter
for the national authorities.

Moreover, since the project in question concerns major
infrastructure and the cost is considerable (estimated at
more than ECU 36 million), it does not fall within the
scope of the Community initiative concerning border

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/31

areas (Interreg) announced by the Commission in its
Communication of 25 July 1990 ( [l] ).

(') OJNoC215,30. 8. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 929/91

byMrYvanBlot(DR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(H May 1991)_

(91/C 259/60)

_Subject:_ Lower VAT rate on horticultural and nursery
products

The Commission has not thought fit to include
horticultural and nursery products — even though they
may be classed as agricultural produce — on the list of
products that will be subject to the low VAT rate on the
post-1993 single market.

Given the vital part they have to play in improving the
environment, the quality of life, and public health, does
the Commission not believe that horticultural products
should be treated as foodstuffs for VAT purposes in order
to avoid a damaging distortion of competition in the
whole of the sector concerned?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 985/91

by Mr Alain Marleix (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/61)

_Subject:_ Fixing of VAT rates applicable to ornamental
plants

The VAT rate to be applicable to ornamental plants as of
1 January 1993, which is now being drawn up, is situated
between 14% and 19%. European professional
horticulturists represented in Copa-Cogeca unanimously
support a reduced VAT rate (4 % to 9 %) called for by the
French, Netherlands, Italian, Greek and German
Governments and, more generally, by all European
horticulturalists and market gardeners.

Studies have clearly shown that a 14%—19% VAT rate
would result in a drop in demand of about 10 %.

Why did the Commission decide to fix VAT between 14 %
and 19%, given the disastrous consequences for

horticulture in general and employment in this sector in
particular, which provides jobs for 25 % of all agricultural
workers?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 929/91 and

No 985/91

given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(10 July 1991)_

The question of the scope of the lower VAT rate to be
applied from January 1993 was discussed at the Ecofin
Council of 18 March 1991. At this meeting the Council
confirmed its view that lower rates of VAT should be

applicable optionally to a list of essential products and to
goods and services which correspond to social or cultural
policy objectives, provided the products concerned are
ones for which there is a limited or zero risk of distortion

of cross-border competition. Horticultural and similar
products do not figure on the list agreed by the Council
for the lower rate; they would on that basis all be taxed at
the standard rate of VAT after 1992.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 931/91

by Mr Sergio Ribeiro (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/62)

_Subject:_ Study of the Alqueva dam project

In reply to Written Question No 3072/90 ( [J] ) on the
Alqueva dam project, the Commission (Commissioner B.
Millan) stated on 26 March 1991 that it was fully
convinced of the importance of the Alqueva dam project
for the development of the Alentejo region. However, the
project would not be included in the CSF (1989—1993)
since the Portuguese authorities did not consider that the
project was sufficiently far advanced.

At the same time, however, the Portuguese Prime
Minister, on visiting the Alentejo region and the
Municipality of Alqueva, stated that the construction of
the dam depended on the Commission's decision.

It is to be hoped that this apparent contradiction is
resolved by the final sentence of the Commission's reply
to the question to the effect that a study must be carried
out before a decision can be taken. On what or whom

does the launching of this study depend? What form will
the study take and when will it be carried out?

O OJNoC210, 12.8. 1991,p. 13.

No C 259/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

Answer given by Mr Millan

on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

The call for tenders for the comprehensive and integrated
study of the works relating to the Alqueva scheme and
their impact on the national and regional economy has
been published in the _Official Journal of the European_
_Communities._ The deadline for the receipt of tenders was
15 May 1991. The study should permit the Portuguese
Government to take a decision on whether to carry out
the work.

The Commission expects the study to be finished by the
end of 1991. Its total cost should not exceed ECU

800 000, all of which will be met from Community funds.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 937/91

by Mrs Marijke van Hemeldonck (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/63)

_Subject:_ Proposal for a Council Directive on the legal
protection of computer programs — the legal
basis of Article 2 (3)

The basis for the above proposal for a Directive
(COM(90) 509 finalC [1] )) is Article 100a of the EEC
Treaty. However, Article 2(3) of the proposal for a
Directive contains a provision to which Article 100a (2) of
the Treaty would appear to apply.

1. Does the Commission consider that Article 100a (2) is
applicable to Article 2(3) of this proposal for a
Directive?

2. If so, what conclusion does it draw concerning the
procedures for adoption of this proposal for a
Directive (qualified majority or unanimity) ?

3. In general, if a proposal for a Directive contains
provisions covered both by Article 100a (1) and
Article 100a (2), what voting procedure shall govern
its adoption? In such a case, is reference to
Article 100a sufficient as a legal basis and should not
this legal basis be spelt out in greater detail ?

O OJ No C 320, 20. 12. 1990, p. 22.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
oh behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

1. and 2. Article 2(3) of the proposal for a Directive on
the legal protection of computer programs (which,

incidentally, was not included in the operative part of
Directive 91/250/EEC (*) adopted by the Council on
14 May 1991) was concerned with the copyright
consequences of a situation where a person created a
computer program for another person who has
commissioned it.

The Commission fails to see how such a provision could
be caught by Article 100a (2) of the EEC Treaty, which
covers fiscal provisions and prodivions relating to the free
movement of persons and to the rights and interests of
employed persons.

3. Article 100a was incorporated into the Treaty by the
Single European Act to serve as a basis for the adoption of
all the harmonization measures necessary for the
establishment and functioning of the internal market
within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 8a
(viz. an area without internal frontiers), subject to the
following:

— the existence of a specific provision in the Treaty
which would then constitute the appropriate legal
basis for the measures to be adopted;

— the specific exclusion of the matters specified in
Article 100a (2), which would be covered either by a
specific basis where one existed (e.g. Article 99 in the
case of indirect taxation) or by Article 100.

The Commission considers that, in general, an act should
have a single legal basis chosen according to objective
criteria, in accordance with the case law of the Court of
Justice and in the light of the effects of the act on the
policy or freedom in question, irrespective of whether two
or more objectives are being pursued.

In particular, the presence in an act of provisions which,
when taken in isolation, might seem to belong to a
different field of competence does not justify the addition
of a second legal basis where those provisions cannot be
dissociated from the principal elements of the act, to
which they are an adjunct.

O OJNoL122, 17.5. 1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 940/91

by Mr David Martin (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/64)

_Subject:_ Classification of Community Acts

In view of the debate on the classification of Community
Acts, can the Commission explain why, in the _Official_
_Journal of the European Communities_ (English version):

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/33

— the Commission Directive 91/31/EEC O of 19

December 1990 on multilateral development banks
describes itself as a Directive in its title and in

Article 3, but as a Regulation in the introductory
sentence before Article 1;

— why the Commission Decision 91/25/EEC ( [2] ) of 18
December 1990 altering the limits of less-favoured
areas in the United Kingdom is described as a
Decision in its title and in the introductory sentence
before Article 1, but as a Regulation in the last recital?

Are there any instances in which the Commission has
adopted a Regulation to implement a Council Directive?

How frequently does the Commission adopt a Decision to
implement a Council Directive?

Has the Commission ever adopted a Directive to
implement a Council Regulation?

O OJ No L 17,23. 1.1991, p. 20.
O OJNoL16,22.1.1991, p. 25.

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 July 1991)_

The two cases to which the Honourable Member refers

were due to publishing errors confined to the
English-language edition of the _Official Journal of the_
_European Communities._

In each case the text sent to the authorities concerned was

correct. This is the only authentic version, as notification,
not publication, is a condition of applicability in the case
of both Decisions and Directives. The Commission has,
however, corrected the erroneous texts. The correction to
the Directive was published in OJ No L 121 of 16 May
1991 and that to the Decision in OJ No L 112 of 4 May
1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 946/91

by Mr Michael Welsh (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/65)

_Subject:_ Creation of small and medium enterprises in the
Community

Will the Commission publish the number of small and
medium enterprises created in each Member State
between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989, or give
statistics for the last comparative period for which
statistics are available?

Will the Commission publish the number of jobs created
in each Member State through the establishment of new
small and medium enterprises for the period used in the
foregoing question?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

Since 1987 the Commission has been implementing a
programme for the collection of statistics on SMEs. The
first results were published in 1990, in 'Enterprises in the
European Community'. This gives a breakdown of
enterprises by employment size class and by sector, in
each Member State, and thus enables the contribution of
SMEs to sectoral and total employment to be identified. A
copy of the publication is being sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of

Parliament.

The document refers to 1986. The variation in the stock

of enterprises in 1986, as compared with a previous year
(1983 or 1980) is also shown (Table 3, Chapters 4 to 16).
By the end of 1991, the figures for 1988 will be available
and will be published by the Commission.

This variable — the variation in the stock of enterprises
between two dates — is not, however, the same thing as
the number of SMEs or the number of jobs created.

The Commission is taking this into account in its
statistical work.

This is the context, among other things, for the plan to
harmonize the registers of businesses which already exist
in the different Member States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 971/91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/66)

_Subject:_ Delays in the payment of Community farm
subsidies

Many of the small farms in the Spanish provinces of
Almeria, Granada and Malaga — most of the managed by
young farmers — have still not received the subsidies
owed to them both by the European Community and the
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture for conversion to
different crops.

No C 259/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

In view of the fact that these delays date back two years
the farmers concerned are in an extremely difficult
situation, having sought bridging loans which are now
falling due and which amount to almost 10 million
pesetas, 65 _%_ of which corresponded to unpaid subsidies.

Can the Commission set out the reasons for this abnormal

situation, which is doing too much harm to the farmers in
question, and what measures can it propose to rectify
their critical situation as rapidly as possible?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(2_ _July 1991)_

The Commission has no knowledge of any obligation to
pay a conversion subsidy to Spanish farmers.

Two years ago there was in fact no legal basis that would
have permitted such aid to be granted. It is true that
Article lc of Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 ( [!] ) makes
provision for the granting of aid from the EAGGF
Guidance Section for conversion of production but as yet
the Council has neither adopted a list of products
conversion towards which may be approved nor the
conditions and procedures for granting the aid.

On the regional policy side the Commission in December
1990 approved two operational programmes for
Andalusia on:

(a) rationalization of input use in agriculture, and

(b) improvement of agricultural structures.

A very limited amount of conversion of production may
have been authorized under these programmes but their
date of approval is too recent for any delay in payment to
farmers to have arisen.

(') OJ No L 93, 30. 3.1985.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 980/91

by Mr Hugh McMahon (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/67)

_Subject:_ Uclaff report

Can the Commission inform the House what action it

proposed to take on the recent Uclaff Report, particularly

as the United Kingdom showed to have the highest
incidence of agricultural fraud of the twelve Member
States?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

' _(3_ _July 1991)_

The full range of action proposed by the Commission to
step up the fight against fraud is set out in the 45-point
programme approved by the Madrid European Council in
June 1989, which is given in an annex to the report to
which the Honourable Member refers.

The Commission regards the high number of cases of
fraud and irregularities notified by the United Kingdom
as a sign of how effective the action to strengthen controls
has been there and as a good example of the readiness that
there is to participate in the joint information system.
However, it is always careful not to interpret the number
of cases notified as a reflection of the level of fraud in any
individual Member State.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 992/91

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/68)

_Subject:_ Drinking water quality

Will the Commission state whether or not the addition of

aluminium sulphate to drinking water supplies is allowed
under the EC drinking water Directive, and, if so, who is
responsible for regulating the safe amount of such
chemicals being added to water supplies?

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

_(13 June 1991)_

Directive 80/778/EEC ('), relating to the quality of water
intended for human consumption, gives in its Annex I,
Maximum Admissible Concentrations (MACs) for
Aluminium (0,2 mg/1) and Sulphates (250 mg/1) in
drinking water.

Under Articles 7 and 8 of that Directive, Member States
must ensure that the MACs in Annex I are not exceeded,

4. 10.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/35

and that residues of substances used in the preparation of
drinking water do not remain in higher concentrations
than the MACs in Annex I.

(') OJNoL229,30. 8. 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 998/91

by Mr Ben Fayot (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/69)

_Subject:_ Refusal by the Italian customs authorities to
recognize a Community document

Having been invited to participate in a major philatelic
exhibition in Pergola (Italy) on 13 and 14 April 1991 a
delegation from the Luxembourg Federation of Philatelic
Societies decided to represent the Grand Duchy officially
by showing five stamp collections.

On the advice of the Luxembourg customs authorities,
the stamp collections were accompanied by a Community
movement carnet (No 004811 issued on 11 April 1991 by
the Luxembourg Customs Office) after being sealed at the
customs office. The total value of the collections was Flux

500,000.

The delegation was prevented from crossing the
Chiasso-Como border by the Italian customs authorities
who claimed that the Community movement carnet was
unacceptable and rejected any alternative solutions for the
collections to be taken across. As a result, the delegation
was forced to return to Luxembourg without participating
in the exhibition.

Can the Commission explain this strange behaviour by the
Italian customs authorities and ensure that, in future, the
established principles of freedom of movement are duly
respected?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

The Commission was not aware of the events described by
the Honourable Member.

A joint examination of the matter is now being carried out
by the Commission and the relevant national authorities.

The Commission will inform the Honourable Member of

the findings of the examination.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1017/91

by Mr Pol Marck (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/70)

_Subject:_ Bread prices

To what extent are bread prices in the Member States
influenced by the price of flour?

What respective percentages of the price of bread are
accounted for by the cost of flour, wage costs, energy
costs, etc.?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

Combined data for the EC Member States is not

disaggregated enough to make reliable estimates of the
proportionate inputs — and thus the effect of input price
changes — into the production of bread.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1025/91

by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/71)

_Subject:_ Monopolistic practices in the meteorological

sector

There is in Europe a market in meteorological products
and services which are sold in several Community
countries (France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands)
by private-law companies.

In France the National Meteorological Office, a public
body, has a virtual monopoly in this area on the French
market. It uses its power under its constitution to restrict
or prohibit the movement of meteorological products and
services and to place limits on the development of public
or private undertakings acting in this sector both in
France and abroad.

Since the French National Meteorological Office receives
State aid and is intended to provide public services, its
activities in a competitive market weaken the position of
national undertakings particularly as regards exports.

No C 259/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

Can the Commission examine whether, in this context,
the activities of the National Meteorological Office are of
a type to distort competition, and if so, state how it
intends to remedy this situation?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 July 1991)_

The Commission does not at present have all the
information needed to deal with the various aspects of the
question. It is seeking particulars from the French
authorities in order to supplement its information in this
matter and will inform the Honourable Member as soon

as possible of its appraisal of the activities of the French
National Meteorological Office in the light of the
competition rules of the EEC Treaty.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1027/91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/72)

_Subject:_ Community Support Frameworks for fisheries
and aquaculture products

In approving the Community Support Frameworks for
improving the processing and marketing of fisheries and
aquaculture products in the Member States, the
Commission did not provide for these frameworks to
cover the territory of the former GDR, which will be dealt
with in a separate decision.

The Community Support Frameworks set out the
development priorities on which Community aid will be
concentrated.

Does not the Commission fear that, when it comes to
consider the former GDR, it will have to rethink the
priorities it has already set?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 July 1991)_

On 13 March the Commission approved the Community
Support Framework referred to in Article 2 of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3575/90 (') concerning the
activities of the Structural Funds in the territory of the
former German Democratic Republic, which covers the
processing and marketing of fishery and agriculture
products. The measures seek to achieve a fundamental

restructuring of the former State-controlled fisheries
industry and ensure subsequently its smooth assimilation
into the common fisheries policy.

O OJNoL353, 17. 12.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1029/91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/73)

_Subject:_ Aid to rural tourism

The Commission's plan for aid to rural tourism provides
for support for specific projects.

In the field of rural tourism it aims to support pilot
schemes to help create, develop and promote new
'products' in the tourist sector.

Could the Commission specify in what form this support
will be provided to these pilot schemes ?

Will priority be given to rural areas in difficulty in
granting this support to specific projects, and will it be
granted to them on preferential terms?

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

_(24 July 1991)_

In April 1991 the Commission presented to the Council,
the European Parliament and the Economic and Social
Committee a proposal for a Council Decision on a
Community action plan to assist tourism (1992—1994) —
COM(91) 97 final — comprising _inter alia,_ measures to
assist rural tourism. Pending adoption of this action plan,
it is planning to carry out preparatory pilot projects in a
number of fields, including rural tourism.

In this connection, the Commission recently published in
the _Official Journal of the European Communities_ a call for
proposals with a view to the co-financing (up to a
maximum of 40% of the cost) of innovative projects in
rural and cultural tourism (').

Through such pilot projects, it wishes to encourage
diversification of the supply of European tourist products
in rural areas.

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/37

As stated in the call for proposals, it will provide no direct
support for marketing tourist products for investment in
tourist infrastructure.

The Commission would draw attention to the fact that,
given the limited budgetary resources earmarked for pilot
projects in the field of tourism in 1991, only a few projects
will be selected and priority will be given to projects of an
exemplary nature and to transnational or European
projects, i.e. projects submitted by regions in different
Member States and designed to facilitate the creation of
information networks, exchanges of experience and
European cooperation.

Given that this call for proposals covers the entire
Community, it is not aimed primarily at rural areas facing
difficulties, nor will priority be given to such areas. As
regards rural areas falling within the scope of Objectives 1
and 5b of the reform of the structural Funds, specific
measures to assist rural tourism are provided for and
implemented under the different operational programmes
or other forms of intervention.

(') OJNoC 128,18.5.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1033/91

by Mr Ioannis Stamoulis, Mr Paraskevas Avgerinos, Mr
Christos Papoutsis, Mr Konstantinos Tsimas, Mr Dionysios
Livanos, Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos, Mr Dimitrios

Pagoropoulos and Mr Georgios Romeos (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/74)

_Subject:_ Impact of the Gulf War on the economies and
particularly the tourist sector in the Member
States of the Community

The Community has already agreed to grant economic aid
to third countries which are likely to suffer as a result of
the Gulf War (Egypt, Turkey and Jordan).

However, Member States of the Community have also
suffered very heavy losses in many economic sectors, and
notably in the tourist sector (hotel businesses, coastal and
cruise line operators, airlines, etc.).

Those Mediterranean countries such as Greece which are

closest to the theatre of war will suffer particularly heavily
during this year's tourist season and many tourist
undertakings are expected to go bankrupt, resulting in
widespread unemployment.

Will the Commission say whether it intends to introduce
measures similar to those already taken in respect of third
countries to offset the damage suffered by Community
Member States?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(2 August 1991)_

As the Commission has already indicated in its answer to
Written Question No 597/91 by Sir James
Scott-Hopkins ('), while the outlook for the Community
economy in 1991 is less buoyant than that envisaged in the
Commission's November 1990 forecasts, it would be
wrong to attribute this deterioration solely to the effects
of the crisis in the Gulf. Indeed, it now appears that the
direct effect of the hostilities has been rather small. Much

more important causes are the policy measures
implemented to correct macro-economic imbalances in
some Member States and weak growth outside the
Community, especially in North America and in the
countries of central and eastern Europe.

The revision of the growth forecast for the Community as
a whole to _V/*%_ in 1991 from the 274% anticipated last
November, derives essentially from a very large revision
for the United Kingdom where output is now expected to
decline by _2_ _[l]_ _/*%_ this year. The growth forecasts for the
other countries have been only modestly revised which
suggests that the end of hostilities, and the expectation of
lower oil prices, have largely compensated for any
negative effects the outbreak of the war in the Gulf may
have had. In 1992, the growth rate for the Community is
expected to recover to about 2V4 %.

As far as the travel and tourism industry is concerned, the
most recent evidence suggests a certain return to normal.
Indeed, the Community may actually benefit from a
possible unwillingness of holiday-makers to travel to
some extra-Community destinations which had become
very popular over the last number of years.

While this does not mean that all areas will recoup
entirely, in the course of the year, the losses suffered
during January and February, the Commission considers
that the situation does not justify any special measures of
the type decided in favour of Egypt, Jordan and Turkey,
especially in view of the fact that, on 26 March 1991, the
Commission adopted an action plan to assist tourism,
which aims to promote, in the medium term, the
modernization, training and effective diversification of
the European tourism product. One of the actions
envisaged in this plan, which may have immediate effects,
is the development of a promotional campaign in third

No C 259/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

countries for Europe as a tourist destination. Effects in
this direction may yield positive results which will benefit
all Community countries.

O OJNoC214, 16.8.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1037/91

by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/75)

_Subject:_ European Community structural funds and the
protection of the natural biological environment

The protection of the environment is an integral part of
Community policy, covered by Article 130r of the EEC
Treaty and the three Structural Funds must comply with
the requirements stated in the new Articles 130r, 130s and
130t;

However, in a worrying number of instances, Member
States have complained that the Structural Funds are
being used for projects which are destructive to the
environment (for example the Gulf of Amvrakikos and
Prespes projects in Greece, eucalyptus planting in
Portugal, bears in the Pyrenees, hydro-electric barrages in
Spain, the development of turfmoors and re-afforestation
in Ireland).

1. Is DG XI currently sufficiently apprised of the details
of those programmes financed under the Structural
Funds? Does the DG give its opinion of these
x programmes taking into account _inter alia_ the
enforcement of current Community law? Is the DG's
opinion taken into consideration in the
implementation of these programmes and is regular
monitoring carried out?

2. Does the Commission intend to strengthen
significantly the financial and human resources of
DG XI to ensure that the DG is fully capable of
carrying out the important role of monitoring of the
Structural Funds, as well as taking steps to improve
coordination across the DGs?

3. Is the Commission prepared to look closely at the
ways of involving NGOs institutionally, both at a
regional and national level, in the formulation and the
monitoring of the programmes and projects?

4. Is the Commission willing to guarantee a greater level
of accessibility and availability of information,
particularly _vis-a-vis_ regional and national
programmes and projects which are likely to be given
Structural Fund support and will the Commission
guarantee this before requests are submitted?

5. Does the Commission intend to penalize those
Member States whose projects breach Community
laws concerning the environment, by blocking the
Community funds destined for these programmes?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _June 1991)_

The Honourable Member is requested to refer to the joint
answer by the Commission to Written Questions
Nos 1962/90 and 2013/90 by Mr Monnier-Besombes and
others (').

O OJNoC70,18.3.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1064/91

by Mr Alman Metten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(2 9 May 1991)_

(91/C 259/76)

_Subject:_ Lack of competition in respect of professional
services and mortgage interest rate adjustments

1. Is the Commission aware of the total lack of price
competition in respect of many professional services as a
result of price-fixing agreements?

2. Is it aware that, since costly notarial deeds are
required by law, in the Netherlands competition in respect
of mortgage interest-rate adjustments is effectively ruled
out, as a result of which the gap between the effective
yield on mortgages and on government loans is steadily
reaching unprecedented levels?

('De Woonconsument' (consumer magazine) 91/3 p. 11).

3. Does it not consider that this effective elimination of

competition between issuers at the expense of the
consumer will raise doubts about the benefits of '1992'?

Does it intend to propose measures to remove these
obstacles to effective competition?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 July 1991)_

1. The Commission is aware of the fact that several

Dutch associations of liberal professions advise their
members on tariffs or lay down fixed tariffs.

For instance, real estate agents, affiliated to the
Nederlandse Vereniging van Makelaars (Dutch
association of real estate agents) charge fixed, sometimes

4. 10. 91
Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/39

percentage based, tariffs whereas the Nederlandse Orde
van Advocaten (Dutch bar association) advises its
members on hourly tariffs to charge clients.

2. - The Commission has noted the contents of the

article under the heading 'Geen concurrentie bij
renteherziening hypotheken' (absence of competition by
the adjustment of interest on mortgages) in the periodical
called 'De woonconsument' of March 1991 of the

association Vereniging Eigen Huis (National Association
of house owners).

3. According to the Commission restrictions on trade
may have a negative effect on the realization of the
common market. Consequently these restrictions have to
be avoided or abolished in as far as possible.

The bases of the problems in regard to re-negotiation of
mortgage loans, as pointed out in the article published in
the aforementioned periodical, are the tariffs for the
preparation, issue and registration or mortgages
certificates.

Under Dutch law, notaries and registry offices
respectively have the exclusive right to perform these
tasks relating to mortgage registration and certification.

According to the information at disposal at present, the
registry office must be regarded as an external service of
the Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke
Ordening en Milieuhygiene (Ministry of public housing
and environment).

In consequence it is not an undertaking in the sence of
Article 85 and 86 of the EEC Treaty.

A variety of tariffs of notaries, amongst which the tariff
for the preparation of mortgage certificates, are fixed by
the Nederlandse Notariele Broedershap (Dutch
association of notaries). Such fixed tariffs restrict
competition between notaires. According to the
aforementioned article in 'De Woonconsument', this
restriction would, albeit indirectly, result in a restriction
or elimination of competition between mortgages.

The effects of these restrictions seem, however, mainly
limited to the national territory of the Netherlands.
Taking this into consideration as well as the fact that the
Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs intends (as stated in
the letter of May 6, 1991 of Secretary of State Mrs Y. van
Rooy to the President of the 'Tweede kamer der
Staten-Generaal' (national parliament)), to take action in
the near future against horizontal price arrangements
generally, the Commission has reached the conclusion
that there is not sufficient Community interest to justify
closer examination of this issue at this stage.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1103/91

by Mr Rafael Calvo Ortega (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/77)

_Subject:_ EIB and regional development

In its information bulletin of February 1991 the EIB states
that, over the last year, loans for regional development
have risen to Ecu 7 400 million, a considerable amount,

which reflects the effectiveness of this financial

institution. Since further details would be useful for

the purposes of understanding and publicizing this
information, can the Commission say what projects,
services and investment schemes are considered by the
EIB as promoting regional development?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 July 1991)_

The annual report of the European Investment Bank sets
out in detail the financing made available in the form of
individual loans, broken down by Community objective,
and in the form of global loan allocations. Copies of the
annual report, which is made public on the occasion of the
annual meeting of the Board of Governors at the
beginning of June, are sent regularly to all MEPs
immediately on publication.

According to the report recently published, for 1990, total
EIB lending in the Community was Ecu 12 700 million, of
which Ecu 7 400 million was for regional development,
i.e. investment projects located in less-favoured regions.
Some Ecu 6 600 million (close on nine tenths of financing
for regional development) went to regions targeted for
support under the Community's structural Funds: Ecu
3 400 million for projects in Objective 1 regions; Ecu
2 900 million for projects in Objectives 2 and 5b regions;
and Ecu 330 million for projects tying in with various
other specific Community support measures (mainly the
Integrated Mediterranean Programmes). Over half of
total funding in the less-favoured regions went to
infrastructure projects (Ecu 4 160 million), in particular
telecommunications and transport projects. Funding
made available for industry, services and agriculture
amounted to Ecu 2 485 million, of which half for small
and medium-sized enterprises.

The breakdown by major sector of the figure of Ecu
7 400 million is as follows:

No C 259/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10.91

Global loan allocations

number

34

124

—

154

55

3 640

1 194

5 201

Individual loans

million Ecus

747,6

1 489,0

1 574,9

628,2

97,6

1 170,9

25,3

5 733,5

million Ecus

47,2

196,2

—

91,2

82,6

998,4

290,5

1 706,1

Energy

Transport

Telecommunications

Water, sewerage

Other infrastructure

Industry, agriculture

Services

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1124/91

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

Total

million Ecus

794,8

1 685,2

1 574;9

719,4

180,1

2 169,3

315,7

7 439,4

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/78)

_Subject:_ Community funding to cope with urban
problems in third world countries

The serious problems facing the major cities in
third-world countries are well known. The standard of

living is falling, the most elementary public services are
lacking and extreme poverty is rife. These problems will
be aggravated by the rapid rise in population.

The World Bank recently announced its intention of
launching major development programmes to provide
funding and technical aid to tackle these problems. Does
the Commission intend to recommend similar measures to

improve housing, develop the land, redevelop poor
neighbourhoods and create new jobs?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 July 1991)_

The Commission is well aware of the problems posed in
the Third World by rapid urbanization and the resulting
deterioration in living conditions in the major cities.

In view of the priorities established by agreement with the
recipient countries, the Commission is not at the moment
planning any large-scale urban development programmes.

It has nonetheless in the past backed such operations
where countries have made this a priority.

The improvement of living conditions and job creation in
the countryside remain the chief priorities. However, in
line with current policy the Commission is taking account
of the social dimension of structural adjustment through
policies of job creation and support for vulnerable sectors
of the population, whether in the cities or the countryside.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1137/91

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/79)

_Subject:_ Interreg initiative

Could the Commission provide a listing of those areas
within the United Kingdom which have applied for
funding within the Interreg initiative?

Have any of those regions which have applied yet been
successful in their bids?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 July 1991)_

The areas in the United Kingdom which have applied for
funding under the Interreg initiative are Kent and
Northern Ireland (excluding the city of Belfast).

The Commission is currently considering the applications
concerning these areas and hopes to approve programmes
shortly.

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/41

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1138/91

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/80)

_Subject:_ Social and economic studies of a regional
character in the United Kingdom

Socio-economic studies of a regional nature are financed
under Item 5480 of the general budget.

Could the Commission state which studies commissioned

in the past (or currently being commissioned) are
concerned with the socio-economic development
prospects of regions within the United Kingdom?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(10 July 1991)_

The socio-economic studies of a regional nature which
were financed under budget line 5480 (now line 2-6020)
only rarely cover regional development issues within a
single Community Member State. The aim of the
Commission's regional study programme is to provide a
comparative analysis of the situation and development of
all Community regions, with a special emphasis on
regions eligible for aid under the objectives 1, 2 and 5b of
the Structural Funds.

A selection of studies financed under budget line 5480
which address various issues related to the

socio-economic development prospects of the United
Kingdom regions is given below:

1. Monographies of the Community
(forthcoming) (various languages).

regions

7. Long-term regional demographic developments up
to the beginning of the next century and job
requirements (1990) (EN).

8. Identification and delineation of the Community's
coal mining areas (1989) (EN).

9. The socio-economic consequences of the completion
of the internal market for the traditional industrial

regions of the European Community (1989) (EN).

10. Study on the regional consequences of the
opening-up of the public procurement markets
(1989) (FR).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1140/91

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/81)

_Subject:_ Development aid

In the Commission's reply to Written Question
1106/90 O on 15 November 1990, it was stated that the
Commission is studying the practice of tying bilateral
development aid with a view to ensuring that the EEC
Treaty is respected.

Can the Commission elaborate on the type of study now
taking place in relation to this important issue?

O OJNoC98, 15.4. 1991, p. 11.

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 July 1991)_

The present analytical and preparatory work carried out
by the Commission in this area is based on an inventory of
all types of export aid granted by the Member States.
Although this inventory is not yet completed, due to
partly insufficient replies by some Member States, it can
nevertheless not be excluded that tied development aid
can distort or threaten to distort competition and affect
trade in the EC.

Since Article 92 of the Treaty can be applicable to this
type of export aid, a major objective of the study being
undertaken is therefore to find ways to eliminate possible
negative effects of such aids on competition and trade in
the EC. In addressing this question, the Commission will
take due account of the different policy objectives
pursued in this field and currently considers, as indicated
already in its reply to Written Question No 1106/90 by

Issue papers on the textile and clothing sector in
various Community regions (includes a paper on the
United Kingdom regions) (1991) (various
languages).

3. Patterns of regional migration within
Community during the 1990's (1991) (EN).

the

4. Human capital and related infrastructure
endowments: investment requirements in problem
regions (1991) (EN) and feasibility study (1989)
(EN).

5. Comparative study on the financing of enterprises in
assisted regions (1990) (EN).

6. Regional consequences of completing the internal
market for financial services (1990) (EN).

No C 259/42 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10. 91

Mr Jackson, that a solution is best sought through the
progressive harmonization of export aid programmes and
the untying of national development aid _vis-d-vis_ all other
Community countries.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1173/91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/82)

_Subject:_ Council of Europe convention on administrative
cooperation in the field of taxation

The Council of Europe and the OECD have jointly
submitted for signature and ratification a convention on
mutual administrative assistance in the field of taxation.

This is designed to help in the fight against tax crime,
which is increasingly being organized on an international
basis. Is the Community taking account of the framework
of this convention in defining and implementing its own
strategy in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 July 1991)_

The Convention drawn up jointly by the Council of
Europe and the OECD is very wide in scope. It covers
practically all taxes and provides for administrative
assistance comprising the exchange of information, the
recovery of tax claims and the service of documents. In
practice, however, its scope is likely to be limited
considerably since many reservations may be made by
each State.

The Convention has so far been ratified by only three
countries and is not yet therefore in force. None of the
Member States has ratified it and only one of them has
signed it. Moreover, a number of Member States have
indicated that they do not intend to become party to the
Convention.

The measures provided for in the Convention are partly
covered by Community legislation, which was likely to be
affected by the Convention. As the Council refused to
authorize the Commission to negotiate the Community's
participation in the Convention, it has been necessary to
include in it a clause (Article 27(2)) to the effect that the
Convention applies to relations between Member States
and third countries but not to relations between Member

States, which are covered by Community legislation
alone.

Community assistance currently covers the exchange of
information relating to direct taxes and VAT and the
enforced recovery of VAT claims.

With a view to improving assistance in the VAT field and
to extending it to excise duties, the Commission has
put forward a proposal for a Regulation (') which
is modelled, in some respects, on the Council of
Europe/OECD Convention.

O OJNoC 187,27.7.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1187/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5_ _June 1991)_

(91/C 259/83)

_Subject:_ Euro food safety statistics

What Euro food safety statistics are available for the
period 1980-19^0?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 July 1991)_

The Commission does not. compile special statistics on
strategic stocks of agricultural products.

However, it keeps strict account of intervention stocks for
all the products covered by the intervention system.

It also draws up each year supply balance sheets for the
principal farm products, which show the stocks held at the
beginning and end of the year (or, failing that, the change
in stocks) and the self-supply rate.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1203/91

by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/84)

_Subject:_ Compatibility with the common market of
certain aid granted by the Government of
Catalonia

According to a number of Commission notices to the
Member States issued pursuant to Article 93(2) of the
EEC Treaty and published in OJ Nos. C 32 of 7 February

^ t 0 9 1 Official journal of the European Communities ^ o C 2 ^ B ^

P 9 9 t a n d C ^ o f 20 ^iarcht99t^l^^rs of formal notice

have heen sent to the Spanish government requesting its
comments on the compatihility of certain ^tate aids with
the common markeL

What is the state of progress on the infringement
procedures which have heen initiated

A^swergive^by^Leo^Brittan
on behalf ofthe Commission

^ ^ ^ ^

The proceedings to which the fdonourable member refers
were initiated pursuant to Article93(2)of the EECTreaty
and do not constitute infringement proceedings,
nevertheless^ it is true that the aid granted by the
Autonomous (Government of Cataloniawasnot notified
inadvancetothe Commission at the planning stage^as
required hy Article 93(3^ and consequently infringes
Community law.

The Commission has given the Spanish Covernment^ the
other^iember states andotherinterestedparties notice
to submit their observations in connection with the ahove

proceedings and is riow examining whether the aid in
[question is compatible withthecommonmarket.lt will](http://withthecommonmarket.lt)
shortlytake its final decisions in the matter.

W ^ T T E ^ ^ C l E ^ T l C O ^ ^ o t ^ ^ B ^

by ^ s Christine Crawley (^)

to the Commission of the European Communities

6 o g A ^ A ^
(9tBC2^B^)

^ ^ c r . Curative hypnotherapy

members of The Association of qualified Curative
Hypnotherapists^ which monitors the work of
hypnotherapists^ are concerned that legislation being
brought forward by the Commission may curtail their
freedom to practiced perhaps by requiring that they may
only carry out their curative hypnotherapy while a
medically qualified practitioner is presents or in other
ways. Would the Commission outline what plans they
have^ifanyB

Answer ^iven by Iv^rBangemann
on behalf of the Commission

The activities of hypnotherapists are not coordinated at
Community level. Each member ^tate is therefore free to
regulate them on its territory as it sees fit.AAiember^tate

is thus entitled^ on its territory^to restrict hypnotherapy
to doctors alone or to permit it to be practised by other
qualified persons acting on their own responsibility or in
consultation withadoctor.

The Commission has no intention of putting forward
specific proposals in this field. The Honourable
^iember^s fear that those member states permitting
qualified persons other than doctors to practise
hypnotherapy freely might be compelled by Community
law to amend their national legislation is therefore
unfounded.

W ^ l T T E ^ ^ E ^ T l C ^ ^ ^ o t ^ ^ B ^

by ^ r V i n c e n z o B e t t i ^ a ^ ^ r Roberto Bar^anti^ ^ r
C i o r ^ o ^ o s s e t t i ^ t l E ^ ^ r E l o r u s W i i s e n b e e k ^ r ^ e a n

IOefraigneand^r]asCawronski(LL^^)

to the Commission of the European Communities

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

^ B C 2 ^ B ^ )

^ ^ c r . C o d i n g of television broadcasts in Europe by
RA1 ^

Eor more thanayearnow^alarge number of RA1 satellite
television broadcasts have been encoded and^asaresult^

can no longer be received by thehundreds of thousands
of Italians living and working in European countries^ in
particular Belgium^ Luxembourg and Prance or the many
citizens of other nationalities wishing to watch Italian
television. This measure affects both cable television and

dish aerials. According to RAL certain programmes were
encoded asaresultofacontroversial interpretation of the
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and
ArtisticWorks.

P TOoes the Commission not consider that the decision

by RA1 infringes the letter and spirit of Council
1 0 i r e c t i v e ^ B ^ 2 B E E C ^ o f 3 C ^ c t o b e r t 9 ^ o n t h e

coordination ofcertain provisions laid down bylaws
regulation or administrative action in the member
states concerning the pursuit of television
broadcasting activities^

2. lOoes the Commission not consider that the

restrictions imposed by RAd also infringe the EEC
Treaty in so far as the latter calls for freedom of
movement for all services without exception (for
reasons connected withtheir cultural content or any
other factors) and without restriction in respect of
nationals of member states who are established i n a

state of the Community other than that for which the
services are intendeds

3. Why is it that none of the numerous other public
television networks broadcasting by satellite for direct

No C 259/44 Official Journal of th<

or cable reception in Europe have encoded any of
their broadcasts?

4. What steps will the Commission take to remedy this
serious discrimination against numerous European
citizens, for whom television constitutes an essential
link with their country of origin and a vehicle for
cultural enrichment and promotion of the language?

O OJNoL298,17. 10.1989, p. 23.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 July 1991)_

From the information contained in the question it appears
that unresolved copyright questions may form the main
obstacle to the direct reception and retransmission by
cable of RAI-TV in an uncoded form in certain parts of
the European Community.

1. The 'Television without Frontiers' Directive ( [l] )
ensures freedom of reception and obliges Member
States not to restrict retransmission of television

broadcasts from other Member States for reasons

which fall within the fields coordinated by this
directive. Falling short from the Commission's
proposal, this directive does not contain any
coordination in the copyright field.

2. & 3. The European Court of Justice has recognized in

its judgment of 18 March 1980 ( [2] ) that the freedom to
provide a service within the Community may under
certain circumstances be restricted for reasons of

copyright. Insofar as the encryption of the RAI-TV
programmes is justified on the grounds of copyright it
does not fall foul of provisions on the free movement
of services.

4. The Commission has made numerous efforts to

encourage and facilitate the free circulation of
television programmes throughout the Community.
The adoption of the 'Television without Frontiers'
Directive has been a first step in the creation of a
European audiovisual area.

The Commission has declared its intention to address the

question of copyright and neighbouring rights in the
broadcasting field in its communication on audiovisual
policy of 21 February 1990 ( [3] ).

In November 1990 the Commission submitted to the

professionals a discussion paper on copyright questions
concerning cable and satellite broadcasts. One of the main
objectives of the new Commission initiative is to facilitate
the acquisition of rights for satellite broadcasts to the
benefit of all parties concerned: broadcasters,
right-owners and viewers. After having consulted the

European Communities 4. 10. 91

interested parties in February this year, the Commission
has adopted a proposal for a Directive of the Council on
17July 1991.

O Council Directive 89/552/EEG of 3. 10. 1989 - OJ No

L 298, 17. 10. 1989.
O Coditel, case 62/79, ECR, P. 881.
O COM(90) 78 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1248/91

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/87)

_Subject:_ Sale of a state farm owned by the Naples
Institute of Eastern Studies in Battipaglia
(Salerno)

The Naples Institute of Eastern Studies owns a farm of
over 750 hectares in Battipaglia (Salerno), which is has
now up for sale. This is a property of extremely great
value in a rural farming area. Use of the land for
non-agricultural purposes would have an adverse effect
on the surrounding area, environment and landscape. Sale
of the land will open the door to the possibility of private
speculation.

1. Why is the institute selling the farm and is this being
done in accordance with correct procedures? If not,
can the Commission take steps to avoid the farm
falling prey to private speculation?

2. Have the Ministry of Scientific and Technological
Research, the regional or provincial authorities or
other public bodies put in a bid for the farm with a
view to setting up a 'research centre' in the
agro-industrial and agri-food sectors for
experimentation with and the promotion and
marketing of typical agricultural products?

3. Have Community rules in respect of the defence and
protection of the rural environment been respected?

4. Does the Commission not consider it urgently
necessary to send officials to ensure that correct
procedures are being followed in the sale of the land?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 July 1991)_

The Commission does not consider that it has

responsibility for any of the points raised in the question.

4. 10. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 259/45

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1268/91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/88)

_Subject:_ Adjustment of State monopolies of a commercial
character

In the context of the completion of the single European
market, what measures will the Commission be taking
during the next few months to adjust the Member States'
monopolies of a commercial character as referred to in
Article 37(1) of the EEC Treaty?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 July 1991)_

The Commission would first point out that establishment
of the single European market does not in itself entail any
particular obligations for Member States operating
monopolies of a commercial character.

Nevertheless, the Commission has the task of ensuring
that Member States fulfil the obligations incumbent upon
them under Article 37 (1).

Consequently, it has decided to initiate proceedings
against a number of Member States that retain exclusive
rights in respect of the importation and exportation of
electricity and gas that are incompatible with the
provisions of the Treaty. It has noted that
intra-Community trade in these products is expanding
significantly, albeit solely between the present holders of
the exclusive rights. It reserves the right to request the
adoption of additional measures concerning other
exclusive or special rights if such measures prove
necessary to ensure the free movement of electricity and
gas within the single European market under conditions
of undistorted competition.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1297/91

by Mr Enrico Falqui (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/89)

_Subject:_ Conformity with Article 92 of the EEC Treaty of
the acquisition by the ENI State-owned energy
corporation of Montedison shares in the
Enimont joint venture

Article 92 of the EEC Treaty prohibits aid granted by a
Member State in any form whatsoever which distorts or

threatens to distort competition by favouring certain
undertakings or the production of certain goods.

The case law handed down by the Court of Justice has
repeatedly established that, in the case of acquisition of
shares by a Member State, payments to a private
undertaking under conditions which would be
unacceptable to a private investor operating under normal
market conditions shall be regarded as State aid
incompatible with the Community's competition policy.

The Italian Court of Auditors, which was instructed to
give a ruling on the legitimacy of the entire transaction,
stated in its final judgment that the fixing by the ENI of
the price of each of the Montedison shares at Lit. 1 650,
which is out of all proportion to their average quoted
value, had been determined by the objective of acquiring
public control of the Italian chemical industry and not by
a neutral and objective assessment of the market.

Does the Commission not consider it necessary to
exercise its own powers of investigation and control in
this area under Article 92 of the EEC Treaty?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 July 1991)_

Although the Commission had knowledge that the
joint-venture Enimont had been dissolved, before the
question, the Commission was not aware of the existence
of the ruling of the Italian Audit Court questioning the
validity of the price fixed for the buying by the ENI (Ente
Nazionale Idrocarburi) of the participation of
Montedison.

Further to the question, the Commission has requested
the Italian Authorities to send it all relevant information

to assess this case in relation with the provisions on State
aids of Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1299/91

by Mr Ian White (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 June 1991)_

(91/C 259/90)

_Subject:_ Frontier checks

Issue No 1 dated April 1991 of 'On track for Europe'
published by British Rail suggests that 'new international
trains promised to become mobile frontiers with

No C 259/46 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 10.91

immigration officials checking passports on board as the
Paris and Brussels trains speed towards London'. The
same publication says 'there will be a checkpoint at
Ashford as immigration officials consider they will not
have enough time to carry out all necessary checks before
arrival'.

Does the Commission accept that these proposals are
legal?

If the Commission accepts that these proposals are legal,
will it please state its legal authority for such a statement?

If the Commission does not accept that these checks are
legal, will it please state specific legal reasons?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 July 1991)_

For the Community to be a genuine internal market and
for that market to function in the same way as a domestic
market, physical frontiers must be abolished. There must
be no controls at internal frontiers, just as there are no
checks on goods and individuals at borders between
regions within a national market.

The obligation to achieve this result permits no margin of
discretion: in the Community all controls introduced
under Community legislation and all other checks which
Member States carry out at internal frontiers must be
abolished, whatever their form or justification.

Article 8a of the Treaty stipulates that this result must be
achieved by 31 December 1992 at the latest.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1683/91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 August 1991)_

. (91/C 259/91)

_Subject:_ Access to the grid systems by third parties

In its communication to the Council of 29 September 1989
(COM(89) 336 final) the Commission announced the
installation of a consultation procedure to examine in
depth whether access to the grid systems by third parties
should be organized and, if so, under which conditions.

This consultation procedure was initiated through two
consultative committees, but dealt only with those factors
to be taken into account in the event of a decision to open
up the grid systems.

Can the Commission say how it now plans to pursue the
consultation procedure as regards whether or not access
to the grid systems by third parties is justified?

Answer given Mr Cardoso e Cunha
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 August 1991)_

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's

written answer to his Oral Question H-699/91 during
question time at Parliament's July 1991 part-session (').

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-407 (July 1991).