Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 340
# Official Journal

Volume 37
### of the European Communities 5 December 1994

#### C 340

Volume 37

5 December 1994

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No Contents
Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 340 / 01 E-1727 / 92 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Fourth Brite-Euram Conference in Seville 1

94 / C 340 / 02 E-2896 / 92 by Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Abandonment of linguistic equality in new Community bodies 1

94 / C 340 / 03 E-3357 / 92 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : European Year of the Elderly and of Solidarity between Generations 2

94 / C 340 / 04 E-286 / 93 by Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : Wind park at Fuerteventura ( the Canaries ) 2

94 / C 340 / 05 E-3 66 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Merger Regulations and representations by workforce 3

94 / C 340 / 06 E-l 66 / 93 by Anne Andre-Leonard to the Commission
Subject : Electronic games and consoles 3

94 / C 340 / 07 E-l 67 / 93 by Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Danger of electronic games consoles 3

94 / C 340 / 08 E-453 / 93 by Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Video games and deaths of children 3

Joint answer to Written Questions E-166 / 93, E-167 / 93 and E-453 / 93 4

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

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E-719 / 93 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Funding for associations from the Community budget

E - 997 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Social Fund seminars

E-l 040 / 93 by Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of the German Abitur in Spain

E-1066 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Modernization of infrastructures in the Prefecture of Achaia

E-l 126 / 93 by Gerd Müller to the Commission
Subject : Uniform application of Directive 88 / 599 / EEC, and Regulations ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 and

( EEC ) No 3821 / 85

E-l 177 / 93 by Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : Tobacco advertising ban

E-1220 / 93 by Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Indigenous peoples and the EC 's human rights policy

E-l 265 / 93 by Barbara Dührkop Duhrkop to the Commission
Subject : Educational establishments

E-1268 / 93 by Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : The Commission 's contribution to a solution to the Gibraltar question

E-l 43 8 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The construction of new road links

E-1447 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Recruitment on the basis of qualifications

E-1417 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject : Dry-cleaning businesses

E-1464 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Phasing out fluorocarbon 113

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1417 / 93 and E-1464 / 93

E-1486 / 93 by Christos Papoutsis to the Commission
Subject : Small quotas for production of Virginia tobacco

E-l 53 7 / 93 by Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : Tourist projects under the Community programme of action

E-l 66 1 / 93 by John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : ' Cohesion ' projects in Ireland ( Supplementary answer )

E-l 826 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Traditional produce sold at country markets

E-1677 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : The European Youth Event (3 — 6 July 1993 )

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94 / C 340 / 27 E-l 705 / 93 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Budget for youth exchange programme 12

94 / C 340 / 28 E-l 952 / 93 by Karel Dillen to the Commission
Subject : Subsidy for the European Youth Event 12

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1677 / 93, E-1705 / 93 and E-1952 / 93 12

94 / C 340 / 29 E-l 987 / 93 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Merseyside : Objective 1 status 12

94 / C 340 / 30 E-1988 / 93 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Merseyside : Objective 1 status 13

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1987 / 93 and E-1988 / 93 13

94 / C 340 / 31 E-2057 / 93 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Abuse of the law by Italian liability insurers 13

94 / C 340 / 32 E-2260 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Ireland 's record in transposing EC Directives 14

94 / C 340 / 33 - E-2264 / 93 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Transposition of Directives into Irish law 14

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2260 / 93 and E-2264 / 93 14

94 / C 340 / 34 E-2277 / 93 by Rolf Linkohr to the Commission
Subject : Radioactivity doses in the United Kingdom 14

94 / C 340 / 35 E-2299 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Schlacht Konrad 's use as an ultimate nuclear storage site in Germany 15

94 / C 340 / 36 E-2336 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a European Media Council 15

94 / C 340 / 37 E-2394 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Amnesty International proposal for a UN observer in Germany 16

94 / C 340 / 38 E-2411 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Fatal industrial accidents in Greece 16

94 / C 340 / 39 E-2426 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Stable employment and income support for workers in the fishing industry 16

94 / C 340 / 40 E-2441 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Exemption from prescribed minimum size of fish caught 17

94 / C 340 / 41 E-2549 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Support for new farming methods 17

94 / C 340 / 42 E-2571 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to curb unemployment 18

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 340 / 43 E-2576 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Official Community languages 18

94 / C 340 / 44 E-2652 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Disparities between EEC doctors 18

94 / C 340 / 45 E-2659 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of the Cubatao Valley in Brazil by European industrial firms 19

94 / C 340 / 46 E-2702 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Eurocontrol 19

94 / C 340 / 47 E-2726 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Cosmetic testing . 20

94 / C 340 / 48 E-2 789 / 93 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Utilities Directive 90 / 531 / EEC 21

94 / C 340 / 49 E-2836 / 93 by Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Imported Tunisian oil of unspecified quality — Adverse consequences for Italian olive
growers and consumers, especially in the south 21

94 / C 340 / 50 E-2868 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Conditions for achieving the aims and meeting the deadlines set at Maastricht 22

94 / C 340 / 51 E-2871 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Biological purification unit in the region of Myrtia Aigiou in Greece 23

94 / C 340 / 52 E-2877 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : The port of Motril ( Granada ) as a Community international frontier 23

94 / C 340 / 53 E-2937 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Indivisibility of the subsidiarity principle 24

94 / C 340 / 54 E-2956 / 93 by Felice Contu and Andrea Raggio to the Commission
Subject : Fires in the Mediterranean region 24

94 / C 340 / 55 E-3007 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin and Marie Isler Beguin to the Commission
Subject : Protection of endangered species in the Community 25

94 / C 340 / 56 E-3046 / 93 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Sub-contracting in the Data-Processing Directorate . . . . 25

94 / C 340 / 57 E-3139 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Legality of farmers ' pensions in Greece 25

94 / C 340 / 58 E-3 146 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Financial aid for programmes to improve teachers ' health 26

94 / C 340 / 59 E-3 147 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : ESF aid to people with special needs in Greece 26

94 / C 340 / 60 E-3 154 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Community criteria relating to the quality of drinking water 27

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 340 / 61

94 / C 340 / 62

E-3157 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Status of alternative medicine in the EC 27

E-3185 / 93 by Niels Kofoed to the Commission
Subject : Fish imports from non-Community countries at dumping prices 27

94 / C 340 / 63 E-3 187 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission

Subject : Commission staff 28

94 / C 340 / 64 E-3206 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : European Seniors ' Pass 28

94 / C 340 / 65 E-3208 / 93 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Tacis-Programme and women 28

94 / C 340 / 66 E-3230 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Adult education in Europe 29

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E-3255 / 93 by Jose Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : The Novagri Programme ( Portugal ) 30

E-3279 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The ' exploitation ' of the region of Olympus 30

E-33 17 / 93 by John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Relative high cost of internal European Community air travel 30

E-3329 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : German compliance with the environmental principles of the Maastricht Treaty 31

E-3 33 6 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Quality of bottled water in Greece . . . 31

E-3338 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Special measures and programmes for gypsies in Greece 32

E-3 346 / 93 by Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Directives 90 / 434 / EEC and 90 / 435 / EEC 32

E-3347 / 93 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Braille signs for the blind throughout the EC 33

E-3349 / 93 by Jean-Claude Pasty to the Commission
Subject : Reduction in export refunds for poultrymeat 33

E-3865 / 93 by Michel Debatisse to the Commission
Subject : Export refunds for poultrymeat 33

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3349 / 93 and E-3865 / 93 33

E-33 66 / 93 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject : Payment of bills 34

94 / C 340 / 78 E-3370 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Assessment of the Community Envireg initiative in Spain 34

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) P age

94 / C 340 / 79 E-3426 / 93 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Plans for natural gas in Portugal 34

94 / C 340 / 80 E-3435 / 93 by Fernando Suarez Gonzalez to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation with Central America 35

94 / C 340 / 81 E-3442 / 93 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Community regulation of itinerant traders 35

94 / C 340 / 82 E-34 56 / 93 by Anne Andre-Leonard to the Commission
Subject : Transport of meat for human consumption 36

\

94 / C 340 / 83 E-3482 / 93 by Geoffrey Hoon to the Commission
Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the
field of intellectual property 36

94 / C 340 / 84 E-3483 / 93 by Geoffrey Hoon to the Commission
Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the
field of intellectual property 36

94 / C 340 / 85 E-3484 / 93 by Geoffrey Hoon to the Commission
Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the
field of intellectual property 37

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3482 / 93, E-3483 / 93 and E-3484 / 93 37

94 / C 340 / 86 E-3494 / 93 by Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Hazardous waste 37

94 / C 340 / 87 E-3498 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Arrangements for the scrapping of inland waterway vessels 38

94 / C 340 / 88 E-3504 / 93 by Arie Oostlander to the Commission
Subject : Definition of the terms ' university ' and ' enterprise / undertaking ' in Comett and
Tempus 38

94 / C 340 / 89 E-3508 / 93 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Objective 4 39

94 / C 340 / 90 E-35 14 / 93 by Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Preservation of manuscripts from Mount Athos 39

94 / C 340 / 91 E-3530 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Elimination of organo-phosphorous compounds 40

94 / C 340 / 92 E-3536 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Hazards to shipping and fishing fleets caused by sunken vessels 40

94 / C 340 / 93 E-3537 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Blood and blood products contaminated with the AIDS virus 41

94 / C 340 / 94 E-3548 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1993 — Greece . . 42

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

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E-3549 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1993 — Spain 42

E-3572 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Funding of public works with broad-based objectives 42

E-3574 / 93 by Francois Musso to the Commission
Subject : The NOW Programme and Corsica 43

E-3587 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Control of epidemics 43

E-3604 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Construction of a dam at Petit Saut ( Guyana ) 44

E-3 6 10 / 93 by Jose Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Safety standards for water amusement parks 44

E-3626 / 93 by Astrid Lulling to the Commission
Subject : Taxation of Luxembourg farmers working agricultural land in Belgium 45

- E-3644 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : Saving and re-cycling of water in Greece and the Community as a whole 46

E-3646 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Grazing in forest areas 46

E-3651 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Import and consumption of tropical timber 46

E-3674 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Opening of US markets in the shipping and steel sectors 47

E-3684 / 93 by Gunter Topmann to the Commission
Subject : Taxes on the carriage of goods by road 48

E-3687 / 93 by Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission

Subject : Aid to farmers in Castilla y Leon 49

E-3 695 / 93 by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the eco-audit Regulation and follow-up 49

E-3 71 5 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Science framework programme 50

E-3745 / 93 by Iñigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : Exports of Moroccan tomatoes to the Union 50

E-3746 / 93 by Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject : Community measures relating to the restoration of historic buildings 51

E-3761 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Definition of ' subsidiarity ' 51

E-3763 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a de-regulation unit 51

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 340 / 114

94 / C 340 / 115

94 / C 340 / 116

94 / C 340 / 117

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94 / C 340 / 119

E-3764 / 93 by Patrick Cooney and John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Ireland national development plan 52

E-3786 / 93 by Edward Kellet-Bowman to the Commission
Subject : Conditions in EC abattoirs 52

E - 3793 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Implications for the Community of ' tax holidays ' 53

E-3796 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission

Subject : Medical charges 53

E-3801 / 93 by Jose Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Emergency aid to producers in areas affected by African swine fever 54

E-3857 / 93 by James Elles to the Commission
Subject : EC institutions — Staff policy 54

94 / C 340 / 120 E-3858 / 93 by James Elles to the Commission

Subject : Trading standards 55

94 / C 340 / 121 E-3 863 / 93 by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission
Subject : Berlaymont building 56

94 / C 340 / 122 E-3867 / 93 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Persistent pollution of the Meuse in Wallonia " 56

94 / C 340 / 123

E-3873 / 93 by Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : European Economic Area ( EEA ) 57

94 / C 340 / 124 E-3876 / 93 by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza to the Commission

Subject : Non-standard abbreviations 57

94 / C 340 / 125

94 / C 340 / 126

94 / C 340 / 127

94 / C 340 / 128

94 / C 340 / 129

94 / C 340 / 130

E-3902 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Commission decision on measure to combat African swine fever in Granada ( Spain ) 57

E-3953 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of legislation on arms sales 58

E-3955 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Clarity and accuracy of Greek public accounts - 59

E-3 962 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Impact of agricultural imports from third countries 59

E-67 / 94 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Review of the agricultural sector following the recent conclusion of trade agreements with
third countries 60

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3962 / 93 and E-67 / 94 60

E - 3966 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Illegal trade in human organs ». 60

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 340 / 131 E-3970 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a Directive on working time and the protection of young people 60

94 / C 340 / 132 E-3972 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Employment of minors 61

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3970 / 93 and E-3972 / 93 61

94 / C 340 / 133 E-400 9 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Review of the rules on setting up factories in Attica 61

94 / C 340 / 134 E-4019 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Deserters from the republics of the former Yugoslavia living in Community Member
States 61

94 / C 340 / 135 E-4029 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Delimitation and protection of wetlands covered by the Ramsar Convention 62

94 / C 340 / 136 E-4039 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Opposition of the cosmetics industry to the establishment of ecological criteria 62

94 / C 340 / 137 E-4048 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Mechanization of fishing ports 63

94 / C 340 / 138 E-4049 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Future of the Spanish cod fleet 63

94 / C 340 / 139 E-4055 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Fishery cooperation programmes with third countries 64

94 / C 340 / 140 E-4062 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Draft budget of Greece and the re-organization of its public finances 64

94 / C 340 / 141 E-4075 / 93 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Health and safety at work 65

94 / C 340 / 142 E-4084 / 93 by Enrique Sapena Granell and José Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Linguistic code of conduct in the Community administration 65

94 / C 340 / 143 E-4086 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Privatization of land in the countries of eastern Europe 66

94 / C 340 / 144 E-4088 / 93 by Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : The African market for Community tinned sardines 66

94 / C 340 / 145 E-4089 / 93 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Commission action to protect the paper industry in the Union 67

94 / C 340 / 146 E-4093 / 93 by Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Cava dei Tirreni tobacco factory 68

94 / C 340 / 147 E-4103 / 93 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community aid for mining conversion in Huelva ( Spain ) 68

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1727 / 92

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE )

to the Commission

(1 July 1992 )

( 94 / C 340 / 01 )

The meeting rooms available to the working parties were
not equipped for interpreters .

/ WRITTEN QUESTION E-2896 / 92

Subject : Fourth Brite-Euram Conference in Seville

Can the Commission explain why English brochures on the
Fourth Brite-Euram Conference in Seville were sent to

Dutch-speaking European information centres ?

Why ( according to these brochures ) was simultaneous
translation provided only in English, French, German,
Italian and Spanish ? Why were the other official
Community languages not used ?

Why did the working groups use only English ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 July 1993 )

The brochure on the Brite / EuRam conference in Seville was
produced only in English for practical reasons .

In Seville, the large meeting rooms were equipped with no
more than four interpreting booths, which made it possible
to speak in five languages and to receive interpretation into
four . It was impossible to install additional interpreting
booths .

by Marc Galle ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1992 )

( 94 / C 340 / 02 )

Subject : Abandonment of linguistic equality in new
Community bodies

The Community is envisaging the creation of a European
Drugs Agency responsible for the monitoring and
evaluation of medicines in the Community .

Apparently serious consideration is being given to the
abandonment of the system of nine equal languages . This
would be an infringement of the principle of linguistic
equality embodied in the EC Treaties and a major setback
for Dutch, the language of more than 20 million EC
citizens .

What view does the Commission take of abandonment of
the principle of linguistic equality in newly-created
Community bodies ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1993 )

The rules governing the languages to be used in the

Community institutions, set out in Regulation No 1 of

No G 340 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

15 April 1959 ( ), apply to the Agency set up by Council
Regulation No 2309 / 93 ( 1 ).

to celebrate 1 993 — the European Year of Older People and
Solidarity between Generations .

(!) OJ No L 214, 24 . 8 . 1993 . The best projects are given Community funding but no
( 2 ) OJ No 17, 6 . 10 . 1958 . provision has been made for allocation by Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-286 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3357 / 92
by Isidoro Sánchez García ( ARE )

by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission

to the Commission
( 24 February 1993 )

( 25 January 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 03 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 04 )

Subject : European Year of the Elderly and of Solidarity

between Generations

The European Community has declared 1993 the Year of
the Elderly and of Solidarity between Generations .

A series of measures have been planned in this context, all of
them designed to highlight the problems of the elderly,
including the impact of the increasing numbers within this
age category on the employment market, social security and
social costs in general and to help involve the elderly in the
construction of Europe .

The Community is considering coordinated measures with
the Member States and the regional and local authorities
where appropriate . ECU 6,9 million have been earmarked in
the Community budget for this purpose .

Can the Community say what coordinated measures have
been launched in Spain ?

Which of these measures have been carried out in

cooperation with the Andalusian regional or local
authorities ? What Community funding has been earmarked
for such measures in Spain ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1993 )

In accordance with the Council Decision of 24 June 1992, a
National Coordination Committee was set up in Spain with
52 members including 25 representatives of central
government, the autonomous communities ( such as
Andalusia ) and the municipalities . The final programme of
coordinated measures comprised 821 events and since then
over 1 000 events have been organized or planned in Spain

Subject : Wind park at Fuerteventura ( the Canaries )

The wind park on the Jandia peninsula ( Fuerteventura )
some 100 hectares in area and situated on the edge of a
special conservation area of over 1 1 928 hectares is a project
of general interest receiving Community funding through
the Valoren Programme . Once in operation it would
guarantee supplies of drinking water to the inhabitants of
the island and at a lower cost . However, an unfounded
complaint has been made about its location .

Is the Commission aware of the economic and social
situation caused by this complaint and, if so, what measures
does it intend to take to enable the project to go ahead in line
with the technical and environmental requirements at
regional, national and European level, as proposed by the
Fuerteventura Water Board to the various administrations

concerned ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the economic and social

situation of the aera to which the Honourable Member
refers and of the importance and general significance of the
Jandia wind park, co-financed under the Valoren
Programme .

The Commission has contacted the competent authorities in
order to obtain clarification on this case, notably with
regard to Directives 79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 ) on the conservation of
wild birds and 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 j on the environmental
impact .

(*) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .
( 2 ) OJNoL 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 3

WRITTEN QUESTION E-366 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 05

Subject : Merger Regulations and representations by
workforce

What steps does the Merger Task Force take to ensure that
recognized representatives of the employees are made aware
of their right to make representations under Article 18(4 ) of
the Merger Regulation ?

In what proportion of merger cases have representatives
taken advantage of this right ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission takes no specific steps with respect to the
recognized representatives of the employees of companies
affected by mergers : these representatives may ask, pursuant
to Article 18(4 ) of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89
on the control of concentrations (*), to be heard during the
course of in-depth investigation proceedings initiated on the
basis of Article 6(1 )( c ) of the same Regulation . The
Commission 's obligation to provide information is
governed by Article 4(3 ), which requires it to publish, in the

Official Journal of the European Communities, the main
features of concentrations which have been notified and

must therefore be scrutinized for their impact on
competition .

In two proceedings ( out of a total of ten ) initiated under
Article 6(1 )( c ), employee representatives have put their
views to the Commission, without however asking to be
heard during the formal hearing prescribed by Article 18 .

(!) OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

British Board of Trade has decided to carry out a study of the
effect of these games on the health of users .

1 . Has the Commission already carried out a study on this

matter ? If not, does it intend to do so ?

2 . Are these consoles which are mainly manufactured in
Asia and America, in accordance with the Directive on
toy safety ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-167 / 93

by Raymonde Dury ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 07 )

Subject : Danger of electronic games consoles

According to a report in ' La Libre Belgique ' of 1 1 January

1993, a number of children in the United Kingdom have
suffered from convulsions and had to be taken to hospital
after using electronic games consoles . One teenager is
reported to have died as a result . However, no warnings are
contained in the instructions for use .

Some of the children were suffering from epilepsy while
others were simply subject to photosensitivity, which effects

1 % of the population .

In recent years the popularity of these games has increased
enormously . The combined turnover of the two Japanese
manufacturers holding a virtual monopoly accounts for half
of the total turnover in the toy sector .

The British Board of Trade has decided to hold an inquiry .
In view of the fact that all young Europeans are directly or
potentially concerned, will the Commission study the
danger of these electronic games consoles and take suitable
measures ? If measures are taken in one Member State, will
the Commission, after due consideration, extend them to
the entire Community ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-453 / 93

by Marc Galle ( PSE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-166 / 93 to the Commission

by Anne André-Léonard ( ELDR )

( 11 March 1993 )
to the Commission

( 94 / C 340 / 08 )

( 17 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 06 )

Subject : Video games and deaths of children

Subject : Electronic games and consoles In a number of Member States there have been recent cases

of children suffering from fatal attacks of epilepsy, which
It is reported that the prolonged use of electronic games and appear to be directly connected with the intensive use of
consoles can seriously damage the health of children . The video games .

No C 340 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

There is an urgent need to investigate this link . Does the
Commission not consider that it should carry out such an
investigation in the interests of consumer protection ?

Since such tragic events are occurring in many if not all
Member States this would appear to be a Community task
which also fits in with the principle of subsidiarity .

If a causal link between the deaths and video games is
established, what protective measures can the Commission
take ?

their markets or brought into operation comply with
specific safety and protective requirements .

The Commission would also like to bring to the Honourable
Member 's attention Directive 90 / 270 / EEC ( 4 ), adopted by
the Council at the Commission 's proposal, concerning
minimum safety and health requirements for the use of
VDUs at work which, in certain rare cases of persons prone
to photosensitivity, can also create conditions prejudicial to
health .

(!) OJ No L 77, 26 . 3 . 1973 .

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

( 3 ) OJ No L 139, 23 . 5 . 1989 .
Joint answer to Written Questions E-166 / 93, E-167 / 93 ( 4 ) OJ No L 156, 21 . 6 . 1990 .

and E-453 / 93

given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-719 / 93

The Commission is very much aware of the issues raised by
the Honourable Members with regard to the possible risks
associated with the prolonged use of certain video games,
which directly concern the health and safety of the children
using them .

To date, the Commission has received no applications on
the subject from any Member States through the existing
legal procedures or instruments . The Commission has,
however, requested France and the United Kingdom, both
of which are conducting surveys on the problem, for the
earliest possible communication of all available information

on :

— technical, scientific and other aspects involved in the

risks associated with video games ;

— the products potentially concerned, specifying whether

they are portable and / or can be connected to a monitor
or TV set, and the technical specifications ( voltage
etc .);

— action taken or envisaged by these two Member

States .

Existing Community legislation covering video games,
applicable variously according to their characteristics

( porta ble / connectable to monitor or TV set, technical
specifications ), includes the following Directives :

— Directive 73 / 23 / EEC of 26 March 1973 on electrical

equipment designed for use within certain voltage
limits (*);

— Directive 88 / 378 / EEC of 16 July 1988 on the safety of

toys ( 2 );

— Directive 89 / 336 / EEC of 23 May 1989 on
electromagnetic compatibility ( 3 ).

Through these Directives, Member States are obliged to take
all necessary measures to ensure that video games placed on

by Yves Verwaerde ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 14 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 09 )

Subject : Funding for associations from the Community

budget

On the basis of the list forwarded by the Commission
Secretariat concerning subsidies paid to associations for

1991, it emerges that appropriations much higher than
average were allocated as follows :

— ECU 250 000 to the Human Rights Foundation
( London ) under Item 30-30 ?

— ECU 200 000 to the European Migrants ' Forum

( London ) under Item 30-30 ;

— ECU 100 000 to the International Press Club ( Brussels )

against Item 30-90 .

Can the Commission give the reasons for these
payments ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the reply given to an
identical question No 2648 / 92 (*) last year .

(!) OJ No C 141, 19 . 5 . 1993 .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 5

WRITTEN QUESTION E-997 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

(3 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 10 )

and provide short-term basic computer training courses
mainly for the young unemployed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1040 / 93

by Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission
Subject : Social Fund seminars

(4 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 11 )
In Greece there has been a very sharp rise in the number of
seminars and other forms of short training course and
briefings held largely in the context of Social Fund policy . Subject : Recognition of the German
Can the Commission provide information on the action it
has taken to date in this area, together with an evaluation of Spanish people living in Germany

examination in addition to the

the results in relation to declared objectives ?

Subject : Recognition of the German Abitur in Spain

Spanish people living in Germany must take a Spanish
examination in addition to the German Abitur, if they are to
be recognized in Spain as having completed secondary
education .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

Can the Commission explain why the German Abitur is not
recognized in Spain ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

The substantial increase in the number of short-term
vocational training schemes reflects mainly the development Recognition of the qualifications
of continuing training to improve productivity of employees with education and training is in
in the private sector, and combating long-term Member States and not for the
unemployment . Unlike initial technical education and Where the facts are concerned,
training, continuing training structures in Greece are outside information is that the
of the formal education and training system . In recent years, school-leaving certificate (' Abitur ') is
the necessity of developing continuing training action has equivalent to the COU ('
increased mainly due to accelerating technological progress Universitaria '). In order to gain
and the rise in structural unemployment . technical schools and

The rapid expansion of vocational training both at national
and regional level, largely facilitated by ESF financing,
reflects, despite its structural weaknesses, a real and urgent
need for development of continuing training in Greece .

For the period 1 99 A — 1999, the Commission plans in
co-operation with the Greek authorities to give priority to
developing a more comprehensive approach to continuing
training . This approach will include mechanisms for the
identification of labour market needs both at regional and
sectoral level and the improvement of structures for training
including organization and management, infrastructure,
equipment, training of trainers, curricula and
certification .

In addition, it has been observed in recent years, that more
and more firms require new employees to have information
technology skills . These skills have been recently introduced
experimentally in a limited number of schools of the

mainstream education system and will progressively expand
with the financial assistance of the Structural Funds . In the
mean time, local authorities and NGO 's try to fill this gap

Recognition of the qualifications required for continuing
with education and training is in principle a matter for the
Member States and not for the Community institutions .
Where the facts are concerned, the Commission 's
information is that the German advanced level

school-leaving certificate (' Abitur ') is recognized in Spain as
equivalent to the COU (' Curso de Orientacion
Universitaria '). In order to gain admission to the faculties,
technical schools and higher-education colleges, all
applicants, whether or not they are Spanish nationals, must
take an entrance examination — the PAU (' Prueba de
Acceso a la Universidad '). According to the information
received, Spanish nationals holding the Abitur are not
required to satisfy any additional requirements .

Regarding the recognition of this type of qualification for
the purposes of taking up and pursuing a regulated
profession, the Commission would refer the Honourable
Member to Article 9 of Council Directive 92 / 51 / EEC of

18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition
of professional education and training to supplement
Directive 89 / 48 / EEC { l ) ( due to take effect on 18 June
1994 ), which states that :

' where, in the host Member State, the taking up or
pursuit of a regulated profession is subject only to
possession of evidence of education attesting to general
education at primary or secondary school level, the
competent authority may not, on the grounds of
inadequate qualifications, refuse to authorize a national
of a Member State to take up or pursue that profession
on the same conditions as those which apply to its own
nationals if the applicant possesses formal qualifications
of the corresponding level, awarded in another Member
State '.

No C 340 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Conversely, where a migrant intends to use his academic
title in the context of a non-regulated profession ( its use
confers a purely economic advantage ) and the host Member
State imposes an authorization requirement in that regard,
the ruling given by the Court of Justice on 3 1 March 1 993 in
Case C-19 / 92 Dieter Kraus v. Land Baden - Wiirttemberg ( 2 )
must be borne in mind . That ruling makes it clear that,
although a Member State may require Community nationals
to comply with such a procedure ( provided, of course, that
its Regulations irtipose the same requirement on its own
nationals ), the procedure must be ' solely intended to verify
whether the academic title . . . was duly awarded, that the
procedure is easily accessible and is not subject to the
payment of excessive administrative charges, that any
decision of refusal is open to judicial review, that the person
concerned may ascertain the grounds for that decision and
that the penalties prescribed for non-observance of the
authorization procedure are not disproportionate to the
seriousness of the of fence . ' Although the ruling was given
with regard to a postgraduate university degree, it would
appear to be readily applicable to other academic titles .

(!) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .
( 2 ) Not yet published .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1066 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 12 )

Subject : Modernization of infrastructures in the Prefecture

of Achaia

The Prefecture of Achaia is facing serious problems in
modernizing and developing industrial, cottage industry
and agricultural infrastructures . It is also facing problems as
regards the modernization of Patras harbour and sections of
the road and rail network serving not merely Achaia but also
the Peloponnese and western Greece in general .

Can the Commission say which programmes the Greek
authorities have submitted so far aimed at tackling the
above problems ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

Under the Integrated Mediterranean Programme
( 1986—1992 ) and the Operational Programme
( 1989 —1993 ) for western Greece, as a result of the request
by the Greek authorities, the Community part-financed a
whole series of measures to improve and modernize the

infrastructures of the Nomos of Achaia in the sectors
mentioned by the Honourable Member . The Commission is
sending the programmes in question to him and to
Parliament 's Secretariat-General .

The Commission will carefully examine any proposal to
improve the situation in the Nomos of Achaia under the new
regional development plan recently presented by the Greek
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 126 / 93

by Gerd Miiller ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 13 )

Subject : Uniform application of Directive 88 / 599 / EEC ( 1 ),

and Regulations ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 ( 2 ) and ( EEC )
No 3821 / 85 ( 3 )

Administrative practice as regards the monitoring of
observance of EC social Regulations, including those on
driving and resting times, and the application of penalties, is
extremely diverse .

What measures does the Commission envisage taking to
eliminate these discrepancies, which distort competition ?

How closely does the Commission monitor compliance with
national minimum controls ?

On how many occasions has the Commission cautioned a
Member State for failing adequately to observe the above
Directive, or even brought an action before the European
Court of Justice ?

(!) OJ No L 325, 29 . 11 . 1988, p . 55 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 370, 31 . 12 . 1985, p . 1 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 370, 31 . 12 . 1985, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 September 1993 )

The Commission is aware that national efforts to ensure
compliance with social Regulations in the road transport
field are limited and variable . To rectify this, it is making
initial plans for the technical updating of Community
legislation, which could indirectly lead to its being more
uniformly and rigorously implemented in the Member
States .

As part of the ' Karolus ' action plan for the exchange
between Member State administrations of national officials

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 7

engaged in the implementation of Community single market
legislation, the Commission decided on 22 December last
year (*) to make the issue one of the top priorities for this
year 's exchanges . This will lead to more uniform and
effective control procedures .

As regards national minimum controls, the Commission 's
information is limited but does reveal differences between
the Member States . It has not as yet brought the matter
before the Court of justice .

(!) OJ No L 8, 14 . 1 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1220 / 93

by Wilfried Telkamper ( V )

to the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 15 )

Subject : Indigenous peoples and the EC 's human rights

policy

Can the Commission provide information about the
projects funded out of its budget line for human rights in
developing countries ( B7-5053 ) which benefit indigenous
peoples directly ?

What plans does it have to support indigenous peoples '
human rights during and after the International Year of the
World 's Indigenous Peoples ?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1177 / 93

by Barry Desmond ( PSE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Marin
( 13 May 1993 ) on behalf of the Commission
( 94 / C 340 / 14
( 25 October 1993 )

Subject : Tobacco advertising ban

The Economic and Social Committee expressed a view that
the tobacco industry should be allowed an interval to
prepare measures for voluntary restraints on advertising .
Can the Commission confirm the application of this
Directive has in fact been postponed until 1 January
1994 ?

Does the Commission continue to favour a complete ban on
tobacco advertising ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

The Commission has given careful consideration to the
opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the
proposal for a Directive on the approximation of Member
States ' laws, regulations and administrative provisions on
advertising for tobacco products . This proposal, on which
the European Parliament has already given its opinion on
first reading, is still under examination by the Council .

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member

that projects of direct benefit to indigenous peoples in the
developing countries, particularly in Latin America, have
been funded from the resources of budget headings
B7-5078, B7-5040 and B7-5041 .

No requests for funding relating specifically to budget
heading B7-5053 ( covering support for operations
promoting human rights and democracy in developing
countries ) have been received .

The Commission attaches a great deal of importance to
increasing its awareness of the problems faced by indigenous
peoples, by participating in meetings with their
representatives and by establishing direct contacts with
relevant departments . In this context, the Commission is
keen to see that no effort is spared in promoting respect for
indigenous peoples ' rights, by contributing to specific
projects at international, regional, national or local level .

The Commission would therefore consider with interest any
request for funding from NGOs involved in helping
indigenous communities in the developing countries for
projects which promote respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination on the
grounds of race, sex, language or religion .

With regard to the second part of the question, the

Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to

Having reviewed the situation, particularly as regards the the answer given by the Commission to his Written
application of the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission Question No 1221 / 93 (*).
intends to maintain its proposal on which it hopes the
Council will soon reach a common position .
(!) OJ No 332, 28 . 11 . 1994 .

No C 340 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1265 / 93

by Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1268 / 93

Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE ) by Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

to the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 16 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 17 )

Subject : Educational establishments

Can the Commission give a breakdown of how the ECU
140 000 earmarked for Item A-3268 (' Other educational
establishments ') in the 1992 budget were spent ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1994 )

The purpose of budget item A-3268 is to contribute towards
certain costs of primary and secondary schooling for
children of Community staff who, for imperative and duly
substantiated educational reasons, cannot be admitted to or
remain at one of the European Schools, or who cannot
attend a European School because of the place of
employment of the parent ( official or temporary staff
member ).

A contribution towards educational costs will be made only
if the school fees to be paid by the official or temporary staff
member after deduction of the ordinary education
allowance provided for in the Staff Regulations amount to
more than 20 % of the parents ' monthly income .

The allowance is paid on presentation of an application at
the end of the School year for which reimbursement is
requested .

Each application is examined on its merits by a joint
inter-institutional committee, which meets once a year .

The contribution is calculated according to the fees to be
paid ( after deduction of the education allowance ), parental
income, the number of applications made and the
appropriations available in the current year 's budget .

In the 1992 financial year 50 applications were made,
relating to a total of 58 children between the ages of 8 and

19 . Of these 50 applications, 47 were accepted ( two of them
only partially ) and three turned down .

In the case accepted, the average annual school fees still to be
paid by the parents ( after deduction of the education
allowance ) were Bfrs 311 674 per child . They ranged from a
minimum of Bfrs 80 461 to a maximum of Bfrs 513 004 .

Subject : The Commission 's contribution to a solution to

the Gibraltar question

How does the Commission intend to help find a solution to
the disputes between Spain and the United Kingdom on the
Gibraltar question, in order to complete the internal market
and ensure freedom of movement for persons, goods,
services and capital ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1994 )

The Commission is prepared to lend its good offices in areas
where the Community has powers .

It is active in some areas, such as the winding up of the
Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund, on 1 January 1994, about
which it contacted the British and Spanish authorities .

Signature of the draft Convention on controls on persons
crossing the external frontiers of the Member States has
been blocked by the Gibraltar question since July 1991 . The
Commission, in its proposal for a Decision establishing the
Convention in a form compatible with Title VI of the Treaty
on European Union (*), confined itself to proposing that
Article 30 relating to territorial extent, be left blank . As the
explanatory memorandum states ' the Commission feels
unable to take a position .' A solution can only come from
the bilateral negotiations that have been under way since

1991 ( 2 ). The Commission takes the view that this is the
approach most conducive to enabling the negotiations to
proceed undisturbed so that a solution acceptable to both
parties can be found as soon as possible .

(!) OJ No C 11, 15 . 1 . 1994 .
( 2 ) CQM(93 ) 684 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1438 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 18 )

Subject : The construction of new road links

In view of the unconscionable growth in road and
motorway construction, projects increasing the already

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 9

unacceptable traffic levels, will the Commission take Answer given by Mr Van
measures to ensure that, in future, the planning and on behalf of the Commission
construction of new road links will be the exception rather (4 February 1994 )
than the rule and only take place after strict environmental
impact assessments have been carried out ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

(4 February 1994 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the reply given to Written Question No 394 / 92 ( ! ).

(!) OJ No C 296, 24 . 10 . 1994, p . 3 .
Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1994 )

The need to ensure sustainable mobility in the Community
has triggered the Commission 's White Paper ' The Future
Development of the Common Transport Policy '. This paper
lays down the framework for a balanced multimodal
approach to transport and in this context it examines the
planning and construction of roads, paying special attention
to their integration into the environment and their
long-term environmental impact . The Commission is
working intensively on these aims with the assistance of
working groups, studies, etc .

Needless to say Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*) on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment ensures that important road
projects are subject to the environmental impact assessment
and that the public concerned is consulted .

(!) OJ No L 175, 27 . 6 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-14 17 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 20 )

Subject : Dry-cleaning businesses

The ban, under the Montreal Agreement, on the use of
certain dry-cleaning solvents after 31 December 1993 will
have serious consequences for small dry-cleaning firms as
they will be obliged to replace their existing machines with
new machines that can function with alternative solvents .

These new machines cost about £ 20 000 each and many
small firms will have to face closure if they cannot afford this
investment .

Can the Commission envisage any possible way in which
these firms can be assisted to adapt by either financial or
legal means ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1464 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1447 / 93
by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission
to the Commission

(9 June 1993 ) (9 lune 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 19 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 21 )

Subject : Phasing out fluorocarbon 113

Subject : Recruitment on the basis of qualifications

In view of the fact that 1993 has been designated European
Year of the Elderly and Solidarity between Generations, will
the Commission take steps to amend its policy of age-based
discrimination with regard to participation in its
competitions and, in future, ensure that candidates are
recruited on the basis of their qualifications and the
requirements of the posts to be filled ?

What plans does the Commission have to help small
dry-cleaning businesses meet the costs of re-equipping their
plants with new machinery to cope with replacement
solvents ?

Is the Commission aware that in the UK alone there are

1 700 dry-cleaning shops currently using CFC 113, the use
of which will be phased out this year, and the new

No C 340 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

machinery costs between £ 15 000 and £ 20 000, which is a
crippling price to small businesses in recession ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1486 / 93

by Christos Papoutsis ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 22

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-14 17 / 93 and E-1464 / 93

given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the difficulties that some

dry-cleaning firms may have in complying with the
provisions of Regulation ( EEC ) No 3952 / 92 with regard to
the elimination of CFC 113 by the end of 1994 .

The decision to bring forward by a year the implementation
of the Montreal Protocol for the most dangerous CFCs was
taken by the Council on the basis of alarming scientific
evidence concerning the continuing destruction of the ozone
layer . For its part, the Parliament asked for CFC 113 to be
phased-out by 31 December 1993, a year earlier .

The Community does not give direct grants for
compensation to dry-cleaning firms that are required to
replace certain equipment in order to comply with
Community law . However the rules for Commission
authorization of State aid designed to support investment by
companies relating to the protection of the environment are
more flexible than those applying to other forms of
investment aid .

Thus, in accordance with the principles governing
environmental aid ( 1 ), investments designed to protect the
environment, including the ozone layer, may in certain
circumstances be eligible for aid of 15 % regardless of where
the firm is located or its size .

Furthermore, pursuant to Community guidelines for State
aid to small and medium-sized undertakings ( 2 ), larger sums
of aid may be considered for SMEs in assisted regions .

It is however for the Member States to decide whether or not

to take advantage of these provisions . A new draft
Community framework for State aid to the environment is
also under discussion in the Commission . It will pay special
consideration to investment necessary to achieve
compliance with European law .

( x ) Communication to the Member States, annexed to letter 80(87 )

D / 3795 of 23 March 1987 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 213, 19 . 8 . 1992, point 4.2 .

Subject : Small quotas for production of Virginia tobacco

The quota for production of Virginia tobacco has been fixed
at a mere 30 000 tonnes this year although average
production over the last three years in Greece amounted to
60 000 tonnes . How does the Commission intend to offset

the loss of income for small Greek tobacco producers and,
indeed, the wider economic and social consequences of this
measure ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

According to the statistics available to the Commission,
which are of course of Greek origin, average annual
production of Virginia tobacco in Greece was :

— for 1989, 1990 and 1991 : 25 000 tonnes

— for 1990, 1991 and 1992 : 45 000 tonnes .

When fixing the tobacco quotas the Council decided to take
account of the former period rather than the latter one .

This made it possible to exclude 1992, which was
considered to be a year of heavy speculation because of the
impending reform of the sector .

Production of Virginia tobacco in Greece in 1992 was close
to 70 000 tonnes, as against 40 000 tonnes in 1991 and the
maximum guaranteed quantity of 17 000 tonnes fixed for

1991 .

The Commission therefore considers that fixing the Virginia
quota for 1993 at 30 000 tonnes takes account of the
historical production data for this variety in Greece .

However, in view of the social and political implications of
over-production of Virginia tobacco, the Commission has
proposed to the Council special measures for Greece
( financial compensation, conversion, redistribution of
quotas, etc .). The relevant Regulations have been adopted
and these measures are now being implemented .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1537 / 93

by Isidoro Sánchez García ( ARE )

Supplementary answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 19 April 1994 )

( 16 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 23 ) Further to its answer of 26 July 1993 (*), the Commission is
sending a table containing the information requested direct
to the Honourable Member and the Parliament 's General

Secretariat .

Subject : Tourist projects under the Community
programme of action

What tourist projects have been submitted by Spain under
the Community programme of action in the tourist sector
for 1993 onwards, in accordance with the Council Decision
of 13 July 1992 ?

(!) OJ No C 280, 18 . 10 . 1993, p . 66 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 826 / 93

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi ( 13 June 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission ( 94 / C 340 / 25 )

( 29 September 1993 )

Subject : Traditional produce sold at country markets

To implement the various priority measures contained in the
Community action plan to assist tourism ( Council Decision
92 / 421 / EEC ) (*), the Commission published a number of
invitations to tender and calls for proposals in the Official
Journal ( 2 ).

The Commission will be preparing a general report on the
outcome of these invitations to tender and calls for

proposals for the attention, in particular, of the
management committee referred to in Article 3(2 ) of the
abovementioned Council Decision .

What is the status of the Food Hygiene Directive regarding
traditional produce ( eggs, home-made jams, home-made
bread and cakes, vegetables and fruit ) being sold at country
markets throughout the EC ?

In Ireland there have been numerous complaints that the
Irish authorities are restricting the sale of such products, all
in the name of the EC Hygiene Directive .

management committee referred to in Article 3(2 ) of the Is this not a case where the EC should use the subsidiarity
abovementioned Council Decision . principle and refrain from legislating for country markets

which have existed for centuries quite adequately without
need of EC legislation ?
(!) OJ No L 231, 13 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 128, 8 . 5 . 1993, p . 7 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1661 / 93

by John Cushnahan ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 24 )

Subject : ' Cohesion ' projects in Ireland

Will the Commission list the projects to be assisted under the
cohesion financial instrument in Ireland during 1993 and
the amounts of assistence to be allocated to each

project ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1993 )

The Food Hygiene Directive, which was adopted by the
Council on 14 June 1993, concerns the standard of hygiene
of foodstuffs throughout all stages of preparation,
processing, manufacturing, packaging, storing,
transportation, distribution, handling and offering for sale
or supply to the consumer . The Directive will enter into
force on 14 December 1995 . Although it applies to country
markets, to meet concerns such as expressed by the
Honourable Member, the Directive has a fairly lenient
regime for those markets as may be seen from Chapter III of
the Annex, which refers to marquees and market stalls and
the provision that food premises are inspected at a risk
related frequency ( Article 8.2 .).

In the opinion of the Commission there is no need to restrict
the sale of the products mentioned, provided the normal

No C 340 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

rules of hygiene laid down by the Directive are followed .
However, the Commission is required by Community rules
to establish the health conditions applicable to the
marketing of eggs ( Annex II, Chapter 2, first indent, of
Directive 92 / 118 / EEC (*)).

In its proposal the Commission will take account of the
conclusions of the report of the Scientific Veterinary
Committee when considering the storage conditions for
fresh hen eggs intended for human consumption .
Requirements for the safeguard of public health will be
considered as well as current practices found in the
marketing system .

H OJ No L 62, 15 . 3 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 26 )

Subject : The European Youth Event (3 — 6 July 1993 )

The European Youth Event is due to be held in Brussels in
July 1993 .

1 . Can the Commission confirm that the budget for this

event totals Bfrs 21 899 840 ?

2 . If so, how can it justify such expenditure on an event
which will involve 200 young people and last five
days ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1952 / 93

by Karel Dillen ( NI )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 28 )

Subject : Subsidy for the European Youth Event

It appears that the Commission has earmarked Bfrs
21 899 840 for the European Youth Event to be held in
Brussels from 3 — 7 July 1993 — an event which barely 200
people are expected to attend .

Does the Commission not feel that this is an intolerable
waste of money, particularly at a time when countless
families are suffering hardship from the recession
throughout Europe ?

Does the Commission not believe that it is high time for a
clampdown on this sort of activity, which is of dubious
benefit, to say the least, and unacceptably expensive ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1677 / 93, E-l 705 / 93

and E-1952 / 93
given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1993 )

The Honourable Members are requested to refer to the

Commission 's answer to oral question H-624 / 93 by Mr
Marck at question time during the European Parliament 's
June 1993 part-session (*).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 705 / 93

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE ) (') Debates of the European Parliament, No 3-432 ( June 1993 ).
to the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 27 )

Subject : Budget for youth exchange programme

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1987 / 93

Budget Item B3-1011 provides for appropriations in respect
of the YES Programme .

Are there other budget headings providing for similar
exchange programmes ? What projects are they used to
finance ?

What is the Commission 's justification for its expenditure of
ECU 500 000 on a project involving a four-day meeting of
200 young people from the EC ?

Who participated in this project, and how was the selection
made ?

Can the Commission supply a detailed programme of this
exchange ?

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 29 )

Subject : Merseyside : Objective 1 status

Would the Commission please supply the following
information ?

1 . The anticipated timetable for Parliament giving an

opinion, and consequent decision by the Council of
Ministers .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 13

2 . Details of any amendments to the Commission 's draft
regulations which have been put forward by the
Regional Affairs Committee, for consideration by
Parliament .

The Commissioner will appreciate the concern that,
provided the Council 's approval comes after the summer
break, Objective 1 could be a reality for Merseyside in time
for 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988 / 93

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 30 )

Subject : Merseyside : Objective 1 status

Can the Commissioner please supply the following

information ?

1 . Chief area of concern is the timing of the Council of
Ministers ' actual decision on the Commission 's
proposals . There is an awareness of the European
Parliament 's involvement, although I am not fully aware
of the procedural details .

2 . Is the involvement of the Parliament the conciliation

procedure ?

Anything resembling a timetable which has been published
in the Regional Affairs Committee or elsewhere .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2057 / 93

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 31 )

Subject : Abuse of the law by Italian liability insurers

1 . Is the Commission aware of the case of Mr

Wolf-Rainer Heinemann of 6451 Ronneberg 2 who was
involved in an accident with an Italian vehicle on
29 September 1991 in a traffic jam at the Brenner pass in
Italy and whose car was a complete write-off as a result of
the negligence by the Italian driver ?

2 . Is the Commission aware that owing to failure to
cooperate with the German liability insurers, the legal
protection insurers of the person in question have behaved
in such a way that the vehicle is still at the scene of the
accident one year later because of red tape ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to defray the costs
incurred by the German national Wolf-Rainer Heinemann
as it has been derelict in its duty to ensure that the Italian
State and its insurers duly apply European law ?

4 . How does the Commission intend in future to
eliminate this legal uncertainty affecting European
citizens ?

5 . Are there other Member States in which European law
on liability and cooperation with citizens involved in
accidents have something to be desired, if so, which and
what does the Commission intend to do in this

connection ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

Joint answer to Written Questions
on behalf of the Commission

E-1987 / 93 and E-1988 / 93

given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

Given the urgent need to revise the Structural Funds rules in
preparation for the new 1994 — 1999 programming period,
the Presidents of Parliament, the Council and the
Commission agreed at a meeting on 21 April 1993 on a
procedure and timetable that would allow the nevv
Regulations to enter into force before 1 August 1993 . The
Council adopted the six Regulations on 20 July 1993 O.

( 22 March 1994 )

1 . The Commission was not aware of the incident to

which the Honourable Member refers .

2 . The Commission was not aware of the problems of
cooperation between the insurance undertaking with which
the motorist had concluded civil liability motor insurance,
and the undertaking with which he had concluded legal
protection .

3,4,5 . On the basis of the information on the accident to

The Commission is glad to say that the Council included which the Honourable Member refers, the Commission is of
Merseyside on the list of regions with Objective 1 status for the opinion that what is at stake is the relationship between
the period 1994 — 1999, as recommended by the two private insurance undertakings . The Commission has
Commission in its proposal of 24 January 1993 . no indication that a Member State has infringed its

obligations under Community law . The present incident is
the first of its kind that has been brought to the attention of
(») OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 . the Commission .

No € 340 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260 / 93

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 32

Subject : Ireland 's record in transposing EC Directives

Which EC Directives now in force have not been transposed
into domestic law by the Irish Government ?

What rights do Irish citizens have who may be
disadvantaged by the non-imposition of EC directives ? Is
there a complaints procedure or must citizens bring the
country concerned, Ireland, to the European Court, which is
costly and normally takes approximately 18 months before
a case can be heard ?

has concluded that proceedings based on non-contractual
liability may be brought against a Member State in the
national courts by an individual who considers that he or
she has been adversely affected by the Member State 's
failure to transpose a Community Directive, because the
Directive would have the effect of conferring rights on
individuals, the nature of these rights can be identified on
the basis of the provisions of the Directive, and a causal link
exists between the Member State 's failure to comply with its
obligation and the damage suffered by the individuals
adversely affected ( 3 ).

(!) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993 .
( 2 ) Case 106 / 77 Simmenthal [1 [ 19781 ECR 629 .

( 3 ) Case C-213 / 78 Factortame [ 19901 ECR 1-2433 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2277 / 93

by Rolf Linkohr ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2264 / 93 ( 94 / C 340 / 34 )

by John McCartin ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 33

Subject : Transposition of Directives into Irish law

Can the Commission provide a full list of all EC Directives,
now in force, which have not been transposed into domestic
law by the Irish Government, and state what, rights to
compensation citizens in Ireland have, who are
disadvantaged by the failure of the Irish Government to
transpose Directives into domestic law ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-2260 / 93 and E-2264 / 93

given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Radioactivity doses in the United Kingdom

Pursuant to Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, each Member
State is required to provide the Commission with
information about the disposal of radioactive waste in
whatever form .

— Can the Commission confirm statements by BNFL

( British Nuclear Fuels Ltd ) that the dose of radioactivity
to which workers at BNFL were exposed in 1992 was
2.1 mSv, and was thus of the same order of magnitude as
exposure to background radioactivity in the United
Kingdom ( 2,2 mSv per annum )?

— Can the Commission confirm that, on average, residents

of the United Kingdom are exposed to less than 0,001
mSv per annum ?

— Can the Commission provide figures on radioactivity

doses for previous years ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 )
(8 November 1993 )

For a list of Community directives currenuy in force which
have not been transposed into domestic law by the Irish
Government, the Honourable Members are referred to the
tenth annual report on Commission monitoring of the
application of Community law ( ! ), and in particular
Annex 4 thereto ( Report on the application of
Directives ).

The Court of Justice has consistently held that national
courts which are called upon, within the limits of their
jurisdiction, to apply provisions of Community law are
under a duty to give full effect to those provisions and to
protect the rights which they confer upon individuals ( 2 ). It

Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty requires Member States to
provide the Commission with information on any plan for
the disposal of radioactive waste . This information is
received and the Commission 's opinion on ' whether the
implementation of such a plan is liable to result in the
radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of
another Member State ' is issued in advance of the

installation in question coming into operation . This Article
does not, therefore, call for the communication of
dosimetric data such as that requested by the Honourable
Member .

Actual dose measurements ( or estimates where the doses are
too low to be measured ) are in fact carried out by the

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 15

Member States ' competent authorities, or dosimetry
services approved by these authorities, in accordance with
the basic safety standards for the health protection of the
general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing
radiation .

According to the BNFL Health and Safety Annual Report

1992, average whole-body exposure of all employees in that
year was indeed 2,1 millisievert ( mSv ) and for the years 1986
to 1991 successively the corresponding values were
respectively 4,6, 3,9, 3,5, 2,9, 3,1 and 2,0 mSv . These data
result from approved dosimetry services, and the current
value does almost coincide with the annual average
exposure of 2,2 mSv from natural radioactivity in the United
Kingdom, as remarked by the Honourable Member .

The most recent estimate available to the Commission of

annual average exposure in that country from radioactive
effluents, on the other hand, is only 0,0004 mSv for the year

1991 . This represents a progressive reduction from a peak
value of 0,002 mSv in the mid-seventies when Sellafield
discharges were at their maximum .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2299 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 35 )

Subject : Schlacht Konrad 's use as an ultimate nuclear

storage site in Germany

1 . If approval is given for using Schlacht Konrad as
national ultimate nuclear storage site, will the Federal
Republic of Germany be obliged to store at the site nuclear
waste from other Member States ?

2 . If so, what would be the legal basis for the Community
compelling Germany to accept nuclear waste ( for example,
internal market legislation or the Euratom Treaty )?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The issue raised by the Honourable Member is dealt with in
Council Directive 92 / 3 / Euratom of 3 February 1992 on the
supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste
between Member States and into and out of the
Community ( ! ) which obliges the Member States to bring
into force not later than 1 January 1994 the provisions
necessary to comply with it .

In accordance with this Directive the authorities of the
Member State of destination are entitled to refuse approval

to a specific shipment of radioactive waste from another
Member State . The refusal, which must be justified, has to
be delivered not later than two months after receipt by the
Member State of destination of the application submitted by
the holder of the radioactive waste to the Member State of

origin . The two month period may be extended by one
month at the request of the authorities of the country of
destination .

(!) OJ No L 35, 12 . 2 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2336 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 36 )

Subject : Establishment of a European Media Council

Many people working in the press and broadcasting believe
that an independent European Media Council should be set
up as a matter of urgency . Its task would be to monitor the
European media, ensure that there was complete
transparency regarding links between the companies
involved and, where necessary, prohibit mergers or take
measures to sever such links .

The Council would also draw up proposals for legislation
on the media .

Has the Commission taken ( or does it envisage taking ) any
steps to set up an independent Media Council in Europe
and, if so, when ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

In its green paper on ' Pluralism and media concentration in
the internal market — an assessment of the need for
Community action ' ( J ), the Commission considers the
question of setting up a European Media Council and opts
for the establishment of an independent committee to deal
with matters relating to media concentration .

The Commission will express its views on the need to
propose measures on media concentration, in particular on
the question of setting up a committee, when the on-going
consultations with the interested parties have been
completed and when Parliament has given its opinion on the

green paper .

(M COM(92 ) 480 final .

No C 340 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

QUESTION E-2394 / 93 year before last to 1 16 last year . In view of this, what action

Kostopoulos ( PSE ) can the Commission take to improve this deplorable

situation in future ?
to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2394 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 37 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Amnesty International proposal for a UN observer (9 November 1993 )

in Germany

The intensification of racist attacks in Germany, which in all
probability accounted for the death of a German woman
and her child on 19 June, has prompted Amnesty
International to appeal to the UN to send an observer to that
country . What is the Commission 's reaction to Amnesty
International 's initiative ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

As the Commission has repeadedly emphasized, it shares the
concern of Parliament and the Member States at the
proliferation of incidents of racist violence and
xenophobia .

However, it should be recalled that the responsibility for
combating racism and xenophobia lies with the Member
States . It would not be right for the Commission to express
an opinion on an initiative such as that referred to by the
Honourable Member .

While staying within its powers, the Commission
contributes actively to the fight against the racist threat, in
particular by playing a full role in the work decided on by the
Ministers for the Interior and Justice in Kolding in May

1 993 and by supporting the activities of non-governmental
organizations working to promote tolerance .

The statistics received from the Greek authorities certainly
appear to indicate a sharp increase in the registered number
of fatal industrial accidents in 1992, with 117 deaths as
against 79 in 1991 and 86 in 1990 . In their communication,
however, the Greek authorities point out that their
statistical system does not include either the self-employed,
most significantly agricultural workers, or seamen . The
number of fatal industrial accidents must in fact be
considerably higher, since the Greek authorities estimate the
annual number of fatal accidents amongst seamen to be
between 150 and 200, and the statistics for all other
Member States indicate clearly that agriculture has one of
the highest fatal accident rates .

Despite the existing omissions in the registration systems for
industrial accident statistics in several of the Member States

including Greece, analysis of the statistical significance of
the 1992 figures has been embarked upon at Community
level .

The transposition into national law of the Community
Directives based on Article 18A of the EC Treaty, their
implementation and the various flanking measures
envisaged or under way should lead to :

— Improved prevention policies from both national
authorities and industry, leading to a reduction in the
number and severity of accidents .

— More reliable national statistics .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2426 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-24 11 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) (1 September 1993 )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 94 / C 340 / 39 )

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 38 ) Subject : Stable employment and income support for
workers in the fishing industry

Subject : Fatal industrial accidents in Greece

In 1992 there was a sharp increase in fatal industrial
accidents in Greece compared with other ( non-fatal )
accidents which decreased . This represents an increase of
46 % over 1991, the number of fatalities rising from 79 the

In the interest of balanced development in the Community
and the national exploitation of the Member States ' natural
resources, what measures will the Commission take to
secure stable employment and income support for workers
in the fishing industry in Europe, particularly in the
Mediterranean region ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 17

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 ) (5 January 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the socio-economic difficulties
resulting from the current state of the fishing industry and
the problems which can arise during the much needed
re-structuring of the sector which must take place in the
coming years .

The Commission has already stated repeatedly that it
considers the guidelines and measures implemented under
the common fisheries policy for achieving a balance between
available and accessible resources and fishing effort to be the
best way to compensate for the socio-economic
disturbances which can arise and to ensure the viability of
the sector .

The recent creation of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries

Guidance and the inclusion of areas dependent on fisheries
under Objectives 1, 2 and 5(b ) will make it possible to
implement measures with a significant positive impact on
employment and incomes in the fisheries sector in those

areas .

Moreover, funding can be provided by the European Social
fund under the new Objective 4 for measures to help
workers, particularly those threatened with unemployment,
adjust to industrial change and the development of
production systems, in particular by :

— anticipating trends on the labour market and the

professional qualifications required ;

— vocational training and requalification, guidance and

counselling ;

— assistance to improve and develop adequate training

schemes ;

This possibility covers all economic sectors throughout the
Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2441 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 40 )

Subject : Exemption from prescribed minimum size of fish

caught

The rules on minimum sizes play an essential role in the
conservation of resources by protecting juveniles . Excessive
laxity regarding the catching of under-size fish would
remove the incentive to fishermen to avoid catching small
fish .

The Commission cannot, therefore support a position
which would mean that theoretically strict Regulations were
adopted, but were without substance in practice .

WRITTEN QUESTION £-2549 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 41 )

Subject : Support for new farming methods

How is the Community supporting the use of new farming
methods ( hydroponics, organic farming, etc .)?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

. ( 27 January 1994 )

The Community supports the development of new farming
methods, such as organic farming, by finance for research
into these methods, so long as they fit in with the policy for
' extensification ' of production rather than ' intensification '
of production .

In some specific cases research on hydroponics is also
supported . In these situations hydroponics can open new
perspectives for a more environmentally friendly
production .

New agricultural production methods are also encouraged
through the accompanying measures to the reform of the
common agricultural policy decided last year . Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 (*) on agricultural
production methods compatible with the requirements of
the protection of the environment and the maintenance of
the countryside permits Member States to support
environmentally friendly production methods with part
financing by the Community .

Mediterranean fishermen have asked to be allowed to (!) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .
depart from the prescribed minimum size of fish caught by
20% . Does the Commission think this is reasonable ?

No C 340 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission (6 April 1994 )

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 42
Although this matter has not yet been discussed during the
current accession negotiations, the Commission expects

curb unemployment that the principles behind the existing rules governing the

languages of the institutions of the Community will be

the maintained .

Subject : Measures to curb unemployment

In the light of the unemployment figures published by the
Statistical Office of the EC on 7 June 1993 and with a view
to taking measures, at the summit meeting next December,

on labour rights and established rights, particularly with
regard to combating unemployment, will the Commission
ensure that it seeks the opinion of the European Parliament
on these serious issues in the period leading up to the
summit ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

The Brussels European Council ( 10 and 11 December 1993 )
stated that on enlargement Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
would be added to the nine official languages .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2652 / 93
(9 November 1993 )

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

Employment and unemployment is one of the major
problems facing the Community today .

At the Copenhagen European Council the Commission was
requested to prepare a White Paper on ' Growth,
competitiveness and employment '. This White Paper will be
discussed by the European Council in Brussels in
December .

In addition, the Commission adopted a communication on
26 May on a ' Community wide Framework for
Employment ' (*). This set out a series of issues which need to
be addressed . The programme of work to be undertaken by
the Commission in completing this ' Community
employment initiative ' involves the preparation of analyses
and proposals on each of these issues .

It is the Commission 's intention to find ways to ensure that
the Parliament is fully associated with the development of
these ideas and analyses, as well as with their
presentation .

( x ) COM ( 93 ) 238 .

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 44 )

Subject : Disparities between EEC doctors

Directive 86 / 457 / EEC ( ) stipulates that the exercise of the
activities of general medical practitioner should be open
only to doctors in possession of the diploma attesting to two
years ' specific training in general medicine, doctors in
emergency services, specialists in a general medical practice
and ship 's doctors .

As failure to comply with the above EEC Directive would
lead to discrimination against doctors exercising their
activities in general medicine in the State sector and give an
unfair advantage to other doctors in the Community, will
the Commission state whether it agrees that a further
equivalent qualification for access to general medical
practice must be added, namely at least six months '
experience in a general medical practice or primary care
centre ?

(!) OJ No L 267, 19 . 9 . 1986, p . 26 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2576 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos { PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 ) Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission
94 / C 340 / 43 )

( 20 December 1993 )

Subject : Official Community languages

Can the Commission say whether, in the event of an
enlargement of the European Community, the official
languages of the European Union will be the official
languages of the Member States ?

Directive 86 / 457 / EEC has been reproduced under Title IV
of Directive 93 / 16 / EEC ( l ) which has consolidated all the
Directives ( Directives 75 / 362 / EEC ( 2 ), : 75 / 363 / EEC,
Directive 81 / 1057 / EEC ( 3 ), 82 / 76 / EEC ( 4 ), 86 / 457 / EEC ( 5 ),

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 19

89 / 594 / EEC ( 6 ) and 90 / 658 / EEC ( 7 )) concerning the right of
establishment and coordination of the training of doctors .
As from 1 January 1995 all medical practitioners wishing to
practise under a social security system must have acquired
specific training of at least two years in general medical
practice . Article 31 sets out the minimum requirements of
that specific training, which include at ( 1 ) ( c ) the
requirement of practical instruction at approved hospitals
or clinics and in approved general medical practices or other
approved centres .

It is for each Member State to specify the acquired rights of
doctors it recognizes but it must confer acquired rights on
those doctors who have established themselves by virtue of
the 1975 Directives ( 3 ) on its territory . The acquired rights
of a doctor will be evidenced by a certificate issued by the
Member State ( see Article 36 ( 4 )) and any host Member
State is obliged to recognize this certificate for access to
general medical practice in its territory ( see
Article 37 ( 2 )).

( J ) OJ No L 165, 7 . 7 . 1993 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 385, 31 . 12 . 1981 .
H OJ No L 43, 15 . 2 . 1882 .
( 5 ) OJ No L 267, 19 . 9 . 1986 .

(<>) OJ No L 341, 23 . 11 . 1989 .
( 7 ) OJ No L 353, 17 . 12 . 1990 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

A number of steps have already been taken to ensure that the
bolstering of environmental protection legislation within
the Community does not have an adverse impact on the
environment in non-member countries, and in particular the
developing world . The Community legislation on shipments
of waste i 1 ) and the export of dangerous chemicals ( 2 ) is
designed in part to achieve this .

However, the question raised by the Honourable Member is
a very complex one given that, in principle, the authorities of
non-member countries have sole jurisdiction as regards
monitoring the conditions under which industries operate
on their territory .

The Commission is nonetheless happy to raise this issue as
part of the dialogue with Community industry planned
under the fifth environmental action programme, and to
cooperate with non-member, countries on improving their
technical monitoring capacity, where appropriate .

The Commission also feels that this issue should be the

subject of detailed discussions at international level, for
example as part of the follow-up to the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development .

(!) OJ No L 30, 6 . 2 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2659 / 93 ( 2 ) OJ No L 251, 29 . 8 . 1992 .

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 45 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2702 / 93

Subject : Pollution of the Cubatao Valley in Brazil by

European industrial firms

On 7 June 1993, a Brazilian judge required the
Rhone-Poulenc chemical group to close its factory at
Cubatao, on the grounds that the pollution caused by this
company and others was responsible for the alarming child
mortality rate and various cases of blood poisoning in the
valley and river, and that Rhone Poulenc was specifically to
blame for vast deposits of chlorinated refuse polluting the
groundwater .

What measures are the Community authorities taking or
intending to take to make the European firms concerned
realize and admit that it is shameful to carry out ' ecological '
public relations exercises in Europe and at the same time
destroy whole regions abroad ?

What compensation will have to be paid arid what penalties
will be imposed on parent companies ?

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 46 )

Subject : Eurocontrol

When it visited EurocontroPs air traffic control ( ATC )
centre in Beek, the European Parliament 's Transport
Committee gained the impression that Eurocontrol has
abandoned the idea of combining ATC centres . The
underlying idea was that the existing, fragmented situation
was too costly and that larger ATC centres could better
utilize airspace capacity .

1 . Is it true that EurocontroPs policy is no longer aimed at
combining ATC centres and that it wants to continue
with the existing centres ?

No C 340 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

2 . If so, why has there been such a substantial change in

policy, and what is the Commission 's response ?

3 . Does the Commission still believe that the situation as at
is, with so many ATC centres in the EC, is unnecessarily
costly and inefficient ?

3 . If the philosophy of combining ATC centres is
abandoned, is it still possible to achieve maximum safety
and optimal utilization of air capacities ?

5 . Can the Commission forward to the European
Parliament without delay a communication on the
present state of ATC policy and on Eurocontrol 's
position ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

5 . Pursuant to Title XII of the T reaty on European Union
the Commission is now preparing a master plan for air
traffic control to be developed in support of air transport . In
it the role of Eurocontrol will be made clear .

Í 1 ) COM(88 ) 577 final, 16 . 1 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 187, 29 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2726 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 47 )

on behalf of the Commission Subject : Cosmetic testing
( 29 March 1994 )

1 . The integration proposed by between Belgium,
Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands has enabled
Eurocontrol to set up a single joint traffic management
centre for upper airspace . Eurocontrol is actively
endeavouring to extend the area of responsibility but its
Member States are very reluctant to delegate operational
management of their air traffic to it .

Is it the case that the Commission did not submit to

the Council Parliament 's first amendment ( carried
overwhelmingly ) on the common position of the Council on
the Directive demanding cosmetic testing, in spite of
Commissioner Scrivener 's assurance to the House at second

reading that she would support this amendment ?

How does the Commission think it can win the confidence
of the public in the EC if the democratic wishes of its elected
representatives are ignored in this way ?

2 . Operational integration of air traffic management is
no longer the aim of the ( revised ) Eurocontrol Convention .
Eurocontrol 's original terms of reference were drastically Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
cut back when the convention was revised in 1981 . on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )
The proposal from the Commission for re-organizing
Community airspace is still before the Council ( x ).

3 . The Commission is of the opinion that airspace should
be organized in a way based more on available new
technology than on frontiers . Optimized division of airspace
into sectors is currently under investigation at the
Eurocontrol Experimental Centre at Bretigny . The
Commission supports this research .

4 . When it adopted Directive 93 / 65 / EEC of 1 9 July 1993
on harmonization of technical specifications ( 2 ) the Council
took a phased approach . The first phase is confined to
equipment harmonization to permit interoperability of
existing infrastructures in the Member States . The following
phase will be aimed at standardizing and rationalizing
infrastructure on the basis of ICAO 's CNS / ATM concept,
which will be based on available new technologies .

The Commission wishes to point out to the Honourable
Member of Parliament that, on 20 and 21 April 1993,
Parliament completed its second reading of the proposal for
a Council Directive amending for the sixth time Directive
76 / 76 8 / EEC ( l ) on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to cosmetic products .

On this occasion Parliament voted two amendments to the

text of the common position adopted by the Council on

17 December 1992 . The Commission accepted the first
amendment which, consequently, wais the subject of the
re-examined proposal sent by the Commission to the
Council ( 2 ).

The Council did not retain this amendment during its
second reading, despite the Commission 's insistence .

(!) OJ NoL262, 27 . 9 . 1976 .
With each stage the Commission attempts to ensure that the ( 2 ) COMÍ93 ) 239 .
approach adopted provides maximum safety and optimizes
capacity matching .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2789 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2836 / 93

by Hugh McMahon ( PSE )

McMahon ( PSE ) by Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

to the Commission

( 28 September 1993 )

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 48 ( 94 / C 340 / 49 )

Subject : Utilities Directive 90 / 53 1 / EEC

Can the Commission advise what is being done to ensure
that the Utilities Directive 90 / 531 / EEC (*) is being properly
implemented in the Member States and as UK utilities are
actively encouraging suppliers from other EC countries to
participate in UK contracts, what steps are being taken to
ensure that this practice is adopted by continental
utilities ?

(») OJ No L 297, 29 . 10 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

Three Member States are allowed to apply Directive

90 / 531 / EEC later than the remaining nine Member States,
which are obliged to apply the Directive at the latest from

1 January 1993 . Spain must apply it at the latest as of
1 January 1996, while Greece and Portugal may defer
application of the Directive until 1 January 1998 .

As regards the nine Member States, the state of
implementation is as follows :

The Directive has been implemented in Denmark, France,
Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and partially
in Belgium . The Belgium implementation is expected
to be completed shortly . A reasoned opinion
for non-communication of implementing measures has
furthermore been addressed to Germany and Italy . After the
transmission of the reasoned opinion the Commission
received a communication from the German authorities

with which texts implementing the Directive were
forwarded .

It should be noted that the number of notices published by
contracting entities in all these nine Member States shows
that the Directive is being applied in practice even in the
absence of formal implementation or in the absence of a
complete implementation in the national legislation .

The Commission is not aware of any facts which would
show a general problem with respect to the possibilities of
participation of British firms in award procedures launched
by ' continental ' contracting entities . If the Honourable
Member has such information, he is kindly requested to
forward it to the Commission in order that it may take
appropriate action .

Subject : Imported Tunisian oil of unspecified quality —

Adverse consequences for Italian olive growers and
consumers, especially in the south

The Italian olive growing sector is the Community 's biggest
in terms of the number of holdings, the area planted, the
contribution to GNP formation, and the work-force
employed . In southern Italy the crop is particularly
important from the point of view of appropriate land and
environment use .

Olive growers are alarmed by unofficial reports that a
million quintals of olive oil of unspecified quality are to be
imported from Tunisia and other third countries .

As a result of uncontrolled fraud and cases of adulteration,
the sector is highly prone to market crises, jeopardizing
producers ' income and undermining the quality of products
supplied to consumers .

The market is currently in a state of stagnation .

1 . Can the Commission ascertain whether it is true that a
million quintals of olive oil are to be imported from third
countries ?

2 . Can it lay down stringent customs control measures in
order to avert unfair competition and forestall a possible
colossal fraud whereby olive oil of unspecified quality
and origin would enter the Community ?

3 . Will not the Commission, in addition, set up a

permanent monitoring centre with a view to enhancing
the reputation of olive oil and providing more effective
safeguards for consumers ?

4 . Does not the Commission also believe that the

state-controlled Agricultural Market Intervention
Agency ( AIMA ) should be called upon to act whenever
necessary in order to prevent traders from indulging in
market speculation ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

1 . The Commission has been informed that certain

Community operators bought 100 000 tonnes of olive oil in
Tunisia with the intention of using them over a period of
time under the inward processing customs procedure . This
customs procedure is specifically designed to promote the
export of temporarily imported products .

Since these goods are not placed in free circulation in the
Community and cannot there move freely on the internal

No C 340 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 5, 12 . 94

market but remain under customs control until they are
re-exported as processed products, they do not really enter
the Community 's economic circuits .

2 . Part of the Commission 's management role is to
ensure correct application of Community legislation on
inward processing in order to ensure equal, treatment of
Community operators in all sectors . To that end, detailed
Community rules have been drawn up and there is regular
cooperation between the representatives of the various
Member States, so that the national authorities, particularly
the customs authorities, apply strict checking procedures to
the product concerned .

3 . The purpose of the 1991 Commission Regulation on
the characteristics of olive oil is to guarantee the purity and
quality of the product marketed . The national authorities
are responsible for ensuring that the Regulation is complied
with . The Commission has no plans to create a permanent
monitoring system at this time .

4 . The Commission recently submitted to the Council a
proposal to provide for the possibility of taking individual
intervention measures before the commencement of normal

intervention in the event of serious disturbance of the olive

oil market .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2868 / 93

by Sergio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 50 )

Subject : Conditions for achieving the aims and meeting the

deadlines set at Maastricht

If I have properly understood the translated versions of one
of a number of confused and confusing statements made by
political leaders during the summer months, Chancellor
Kohl said at the beginning of August that the EMU schedule
might be put back if the conditions for its achievement were
not met (a fair assumption, by any standards ).

As this statement caused an outcry because it was contrary
to the sacrosanct principle whereby all the Maastricht
decisions must be implemented, whatever the conditions (I
do n't quite see how . . .), Chancellor Kohl later ' corrected '
his statement by saying that ' we ( Germans ) will make every
possible effort to keep to schedule and meet the conditions
for achieving the Union '. He apparently added that ' if the

conditions are met sooner, the deadlines will be brought
forward ', and thus left everyone happy and relieved .

While I realize that there is a political difference between the
two statements, I fail to see any substantive or even semantic
difference . The first statement said that, if the conditions
were not met, implementation would be postponed ; and the
second that, if the conditions were met, everything would
proceed according to schedule or, if they were met earlier
than expected, ahead of schedule . Clearly, everything hinges
on the conditions .

Will the Commission therefore state whether it feels that the
conditions for compliance with the EMU timetable, as set
out at Maastricht, are likely to be met ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

The move to the third stage of economic and monetary
union by the deadlines laid down in the Treaty on European
Union depends in particular on three interlinked factors ; the
speed of the economic recovery, the reduction of
government deficits and the convergence of economic and
monetary policies . While the timetable for achieving
economic and monetary union is ambitious given the
current situation, it is still a realistic one . The assessment to
be made of the economic positions of the Member States
with a view to the move to the third stage will not take place
until 1996 . Experience shows that, where the necessary
political will exists, a country can improve its budgetary
situation considerably without negative consequences for
growth and employment . The examples of Denmark
between 1982 and 1985 and Ireland between 1986 and

1989 demonstrate this .

The new rules and instruments for the second stage help to
improve the chances of the conditions for achieving EMU
being met : 

— the ' broad guidelines ' 6f the economic policies of the

Member States and of the Community will constitute the
benchmark for monitoring consistency of the policies
actually pursued with those guidelines and will thus
contribute appreciably to the coordination of such
policies ; J

— the excessive-deficit procedure and the ban on
public-sector financing by the central banks and on
privileged access by the public sector to financial
institutions will establish a framework for restoring
sound public finances ;

— the convergence programmes, revised or newly drawn

up as necessary, will continue to play an import role ;

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 23

— a medium-term strategy for promoting competitiveness,

growth and employment should emerge from the
European Council 's discussion based on the
Commission 's White Paper ;

— the European Monetary Institute will help to reinforce

coordination of Member States ' monetary policies .

Finally, it should be remembered that, according to the
Treaty on European Union, the decisions concerning the
move to the third stage, adopted by the European Council
by qualified majority, will be based not on a mechanical
application of the convergence criteria but on
recommendations which the Council, acting by a qualified
majority, will make to the European Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2871 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 51 )

Subject : Biological purification unit in the region of Myrtia

Aigiou in Greece

A biological purification plant for sewage in the town of
Aigion which is being financed by the Community 's Envireg
Programme has been set up in the region of Myrtia Aigiou .
Residents of the region allege that the site selected for this
plant is a residential aera and that the plant poses a direct
threat to the quality of life of the inhabitants . What is the
Commission 's position on this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The project to which the Honourable Member refers is
being part-financed under the Community Envireg
initiative . It is designed to purify the municipal sewage of the
40 000 inhabitants of Egion .

According to the information at the Commission 's disposal,
work on the project ( which has a budget of Dr 583 153 640 )
began on 18 December 1992 and should in principle be
completed towards the end of June 1994 .

In February 1994 approximately Dr 302 million had been
spent on the project . About 50% of the civil engineering
work and 65% of electrical and mechanical installation
work have been completed .

The site of the project was selected following a Decision

( FEK / 604D 16 . 7 . 1986 ) by the Ministry of the

Environment, which was based on the environmental
conditions adopted by the Achaia region ( Decision
E-l 1892 / 20.06.1 977 ) and the Ministry of Public Works
Decision 3289 / 20.05.1980 .

All these decisions complied with the Greek legislation in
force at the time they were adopted . Furthermore, a study
defining the details of the environmental conditions ( already
decided ) was recently carried out in compliance With new
Greek legislation ( KYA 62296 / 90 ). The detailed
environmental conditions were approved by Decision NS
3 / 13.01.1993 . The project therefore appears to comply with
Greek law as now in force .

The Community requirement that an impact study should
be carried out for this type of project thus appears to have
been met . Nevertheless, it should be noted that the
Commission is questioning whether Directive 85 / 337 / EEC
has been properly transposed into Greek legislation at every
level and across the board .

If the the purification unit should cause nuisance or damage
in future, it will be the responsibility of the Greek judiciary
to determine whether the level of nuisance exceeds that

provided for by national legislation, since Community
legislation does not cover that area .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2877 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 52 )

Subject : The port of Motril ( Granada ) as a Community

international frontier

The Schengen Group of the EC has designated ports on the
Galician Coast, the north east Coast and the Balearic and
Canary Islands as ports for tQurist cruises and crew changes,
while the port of Algeciras is the only designated port on the
Andalusian Coast .

A single designated port on the Andalusian Coast is not
sufficient to meet the needs of tourism and the economy in
Andalusia . Moreover account must be taken of the

congestion caused by tourists in Algeciras in the summer
when large numbers of citizens of the Maghreb States travel
from Europe to North Africa . It would be advantageous if
the port of Motril was also to be recognized as an
international Community frontier on the Andalusian
Coast .

Would the EC Member States in the Schengen Group be able
to increase the number of recognized ports if the Spanish
Government reconsidered its proposal ?

No C 340 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi a matter of . each country 's internal institutional

of the Commission organization . Each Member State is responsible for

( 22 April 1994 ) organizing its own institutional structure .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

The determination of official crossing points at external
frontiers is normally a matter for the Member States, as long
as they act in accordance with Community law . This
principle is confirmed in the Convention implementing the
Schengen Agreement and in the proposal for a Decision
establishing the Convention on the crossing of the external
frontiers of the Member States (*), presented by the
Commission on 10 December 1993 within the framework
of its new responsibilities under Title VI of the Treaty on
European Union . The Honourable Member should
therefore put his question to the authorities of the Member
State concerned .

0 ) OJ No C 11, 15 . 1 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937 / 93

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 18 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2956 / 93
by Felice Contu ( PPE ) and Andrea Raggio ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 54 )

Subject : Fires in the Mediterranean region

With reference to a previous question on the same subject

( Written Question No 501 / 90 (*)), and given the
Commission 's desire to take the necessary action, what
specific measures does the Commission intend to take to
solve the difficult problem of the fires in . the Mediterranean
area, including possibly the establishment of a pool of
special aeroplanes ( such as Canadair planes ) at present
owned by the various neighbouring states but not used in
any coordinated way ? It seems unnecessary to point out
how a coordinated joint effort would avoid waste and
harmful delays in action which is often only of any use if it
comes in time .

0 ) OJ No C 266, 22 . 10 . 1990, p . 32 .
Subject : Indivisibility of the subsidiarity principle

If the subsidiarity principle is indivisible — even though this
is only established at Community level in the Treaty on
Union — might one not hope that it will ultimately have a
decisive influence in respect of the allocation and exercise of
powers at the various levels ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1994 )

The terms of Article 3 b, whereby the subsidiarity principle is
included in the EC Treaty, imply that the principle applies to
the whole of that Treaty . It can be taken that it also inspired
the authors of the Union Treaty in drafting Title V

( Common foreign and security policy ) and Title VI
( Cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs ), since
the matters covered by these provisions, whether they still
remain to be defined in the case of Title V or have been
clearly defined in the case of Title VI, confine joint action to
only those areas in which the Member States have
' important interests in common ' ( Article J.l ( 3 )) or
' common interests ' ( Article K.l ).

Application of the subsidiarity principle to relations
between Member States and regional and local authorities is

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

The Commission 's initiatives in the fight against forest fires
fall within the scope of the Council 's resolution of 8 July
1991 (- 1 ) concerning the improvement of mutual assistance
between Member States in the event of natural and

technological disasters .

A feasibility study for the creation of a fleet of aircraft with
water tanks is currently underway . However, initial findings
of the study reveal technical, commercial and financial
difficulties which suggest that centralization at European
level is not a suitable option .

Under a training programme, the Commission organizes
meetings between senior officials concerned with the fight
against forest fires in the Member States . The next meeting,
due to be held in France at the beginning of 1994, will deal
with the coordination of aerial and land-based resources in
combating forest fires .

In addition, as from 1994 the Commission — in
collaboration with the Member States — will be setting up

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 25

an exchange programme for experts in various fields of civil
protection including forest-fire fighting .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3046 / 93

by Yves Verwaerde ( PPE )

to the Commission
(!) OJ No C 198, 27 . 7 . 1991 .

( 29 October 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007 / 93
by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V ) and Marie Isler Beguin ( V )

to the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 55 )

Subject : Protection of endangered species in the
Community

Despite the fact that the Community has adopted the Berne
and Bonn Conventions and Directive 79 / 40 9 / EEC (') on the
conservation of wild birds and implemented Acnats and the
LIFE - Programme, stocks of certain particularly endangered
species in the Community are still declining at an alarming

rate .

Both vertebrate animals ( various species of whale, the
brown bear, the monk seal, the capercaillie, the black
grouse ) and invertebrate animals ( numerous species of
lepidoptera ) are affected . Species of plants are also at
risk .

In some cases the Commission is directly responsible for this
situation ( by financing the development of agricultural land
or farming practices, which destroy the habitats of these
species ).

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

remedy this situation ?

( 94 / C 340 / 56 )

Subject : Sub-contracting in the Data-Processing
Directorate

Will the Commission state whether its Data-Processing
Directorate sub-contracted work in 1992 on a normal or

exceptional basis ?

If so, what work was sub-contracted and what companies
were involved ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 January 1994 )

The Commission regularly sub-contracts work in the
data-processing field . This was the case with the Informatics

[ sic ] Directorate in 1992 .

The work sub-contracted involved in particular the
installation and maintenance of equipment, training, the
development and maintenance of computer programmes
and some user support .

Firms are selected following invitations to tender . The
results of the last invitation to tender, dating from 8 May

1992, were published in the Official Journal of the
European Communities ( l ).

One hundred and six data-processing firms were
involved .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 . (M OJ No C 251, 15 . 9 . 1993 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 139 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

In order to ensure the protection of endangered species in
the Community, the Commission will regorously strive for
the implementation of Community legislation relevant to
this question, in particular Council Directives 79 / 409 / EEC
on the conservation of wild birds and 92 / 43 / EEC ( ! ) on the
conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora . In

addition, the Commission introduced some time ago
mechanisms aimed at ensuring that this legislation is
respected when Member States are designing and
implementing measures financed by Community funds .

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

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 57 )

Subject : Legality of farmers ' pensions in Greece

According to reliable sources, the Ministry of Agriculture
and the prefects have been awarding pensions to a large
number of farmers newly entitled to early retirement
pension by resorting to summary and, in many cases, illegal
procedures . In view of the above, does the Commission
intend to consider examining the legality of these
pensions ?

No C 340 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Steichen However, these diseases are not different from those which

on behalf of the Commission may be found in similar employment sectors . Consequently,

( 15 February 1994 ) preventive measures are the same in each case .

Consideration of aid applications in Greece under
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1096 / 88 of 25 April 1988 establishing
a Community scheme to encourage the cessation of
farming (*) was concluded on 14 March 1991 . The final
number of farmers benefiting under this scheme was
approximately 43 000 . The scheme no longer covers new
applications .

The measure to encourage the cessation of farming defined
under the operational programme 90.EL.06.012,
' Development and reinforcement of agricultural structures ',
adopted under Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 4256 / 88 ( 2 ) has benefited 6 200 farmers since 1 January

1990 . It too has ceased to be applicable to new
applications .

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2079 / 92 of 30 June

1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for early
retirement from farming ^ 3 ), Greece recently submitted a
proposal for an early retirement programme, which is
currently being reviewed .

With regard to supervision, the Commission regularly
carries out monitoring exercises . These have already led to
the re-examination of certain applications .

Bearing in mind the shortage of resources, the Commission
does not intent to provide specific financing .

The Honourable Member 's attention is also drawn to the

answer given by the Commission to Written Question
No 2187 / 93 (M from, Mr Fernandez - Albor .

(!) OJ No C 300, 27 . 10 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3147 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 59 )

0 OJ No L 110, 29 . 4 . 1988 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 . Subject ; ESF aid to people with special needs in Greece

How many people with special needs in Greece received ESF
aid between 1992 and June 1993 within the framework of
various programmes and what was the total level of ESF
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 146 / 93 expenditure for this purpose ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 58 )

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Financial aid for programmes to improve teachers '

health ( 22 December 1993 )

Teachers at all levels in education suffer from professional
diseases, including psychiatric illness, physical injuries,
rheumatism and ear, nose and throat diseases . Does the
Commission see any scope for providing Community aid for
programmes to improve teachers ' health ?

In 1992 the operational programme for disabled people
covered 3 573 individuals, with total expenditure
amounting to ECU 18 971 291, of which ECU 14 228 468
was ESF aid .

Answer given by Mr Flynn With regard to 1993, the programme covers 3 302
on behalf of the Commission individuals, with total expenditure amounting to, ECU

( 14 March 1994 ) 20 548 467, of which ECU 15 411 350 is ESF aid .

The Commission is aware that some teachers may be
affected by diseases associated with their profession .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 27

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 154 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 60

Subject : Community criteria relating to the quality of

drinking water

The criticisms expressed by certain health authorities within
the Andalusian Autonomous Government concerning the
criteria established by the European Community in respect
of drinking water quality, which they describe as ' idyllic ',
appear to have angered the people of Andalusia . The fact
that the government in question does not ensure even
minimum drinking water quality criteria may explain the
huge sales of bottled mineral water, which have increased by
a thousand per cent in the current financial year .

Does the Commission consider its drinking water quality
criteria to be excessive and, if it does not, what action does it
intend to take in cases where these criteria are not met ?

What is the status of complementary medicine ( osteopaths,
chiropractors, herbalists, homeopaths etc .) in each of the
Member States ?

Does the Commission intend proposing Regulations in
those fields of alternative medicine ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

The Commission does not have the data requested by the
Honourable Member .

In so far as the practice of alternative medicine is a regulated
activity in a host Member State, the recognition of the
migrant 's qualification by that Member State would be
governed by the general system for the mutual recognition
of professional qualifications as set up by Directives
89 / 48 / EEC O and 92 / 51 / EEC ( 2 ).

(!) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 185 / 93

(1 March 1994 ) by Niels Kofoed ( ELDR )

to the Commission

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member ( 23 November 1993 )
that all Directives must be transposed into national law by ( 94 / C 340 / 62 )
the Member States . Spain, by joining the Community on

1 January 1986, therefore agreed to abide by the rules laid
down by Directive 80 / 778 / EEC relating to the quality of
water intended for human consumption (*).

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member for

details of specific cases of failure to comply with the
provisions of the Directive, so that it may take the necessary
action .

Subject : Fish imports from non-Community countries at

dumping prices

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

prevent imports of fish from non-Community countries at
dumping prices ( e.g. salmon from Poland and Norway )?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

(!) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980v on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3157 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 61 )

Subject : Status of alternative medicine in the EC

The British Medical Association, which represents the

medical profession, has eventually recognized the
importance of complementary remedies .

The Community market for Atlantic salmon has
experienced, starting in the autumn of 1993, a rapidly
decreasing price level, mainly caused by an over-supply . Due
to the characteristics of the salmon market — well above

60 % of the Community consumption is of third country
origin — the developments in the import prices and
quantities are decisive factors .

In order to stabilize the market, the Commission has twice
introduced a system of minimum import prices . The first
safeguard measure was in force from 20 November 1993 to
31 January 1994, requested by the Irish authorities . This
measure did result in a market stabilization, and even a price
increase, during the month of December, but from January

1994 the major European wholesale markets again reported
deteriorating prices .

No C 340 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

As a result of the French request for safeguard measures on a
wide spectrum of fish products, presented at the beginning
of February, minimum prices were once again introduced
for fresh and frozen Atlantic salmon . This recent safeguard
measure was in force from 5 February to 15 March 1994 .
The Commission as requested by the Council decided to
prolong this measure from 17 March 1994 to 17 May

1994 (*).

The level of the minimum import prices corresponds to a
certain degree to the actual market prices in the period
immediately preceding the introduction of this measure and
reflects the Commission 's intention to stop a further
deterioration of the market prices, and — at the same time
— protect the interest of both producers and processors .

Finally, the Commission has introduced reference prices for
Atlantic salmon from 1 January 1994 . Such reference prices,
although in principle only of a monitoring nature, will give
an element of market assurance .

0 ) OJ No L 74, 17 . 3 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3187 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 63

Subject : Commission staff

Can the Commission provide a list, by DG and / or service
and by category of post, of family members of
Commissioners, members of their cabinets and A1 and A2
officials ( wife, children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, etc .)
who work for the Commission directly or indirectly ( via
agencies ), whatever the nature of their contract ( temporary
staff, persons providing services, persons working in an
acting capacity, experts, etc .)?

In any case, the Commission practises neither positive nor
negative discrimination with regard to relatives of its
staff .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3206 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 64

Subject : European Seniors ' Pass

What steps are being taken by the Commission to encourage
the implementation of the Council recommendation for the
introduction of a European Seniors ' pass ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 )

The Commission is continuing to encourage Member States
to implement the European Over - Sixties ' Card as set out in
the Commission recommendation of 10 May 1989, in
particular, through the Advisory Committee on Community
Actions for Older People . In order to make progress in this
area during 1993, European Year of Older People and
Solidarity between Generations, the Commission published
information on the types of price concessions available to
older people throughout the Community, which it is
forwarding direct to the Honourable Member and the
Secretariat-General of the Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3208 / 93

by Winifred Ewing ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert ( 94 / C 340 / 65 )

on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )
Subject : Tacis-Programme and women

The Commission is unable to supply the Honourable
Member with information about its staff broken down in

the way requested .

To do so would infringe personal privacy and violate
international agreements on data protection .

An EC mission to Moscow found 80 % of the unemployed
there to be women . The text of recommendations published
after the mission stated that women ' are the first to be made

redundant in enterprises, research institutes and
administration '. However, there is no special budget
allocation in the Tacis budget ( as opposed to Phare ) for
women 's training projects .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 29

What action does the Commission propose to take to ensure
that funding is made available to assist women to play a full
part in the workforce ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware that there are serious risks that

the employment situation of women relative to men may
worsen during the transition process .

Many Tacis projects contribute to mitigating this trend . In
particular the ' social protection ' projects of 1993, which
will work at federal and regional levels, for housing,
education and health facilities to be sustained during
privatization . In addressing the problems of the
unemployed, the Commission addresses the needs of
women . In addition the Commission is requiring all
consultants to pay attention to the collection of gender
disaggregated data, and to focus on women during the
initiation and design phase of new projects .

The democracy programme for the CIS countries will make
finance available for programmes which support women 's
role in society .

Finally, the Commission has already funded, through the
facility for small projects run by the Delegation of the
Commission, a project specifically targeting women . The
Women 's Training Network, which involve two seminars in
Moscow will be held for personnel of the department of
Employment within the Ministry of Social protection to
discuss the training needs of unemployed women in Russia,
review training policy and introduce the experience of WTN
and the British Department of Employment in this field .

In the second seminar, potential organizers of women 's
training centres will be introduced to WTN training
methods and training programmes for women will be
initiated, which will hopefully lead to women joining the
labour market or creating employment for themselves and
others .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3230 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 66 )

vocational training, continuing vocational training,
education and continuing education for adults, does it
intend to carry out research into the needs of the European
public in this regard ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

Article 127 of the EU Treaty stipulates that ' the Community
shall implement a vocational training policy which shall
support and supplement the action of the Member States,
while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member
States for the content and organization of vocational
training '. At present, there is no general research
programme analyzing the needs of vocational training and
professional qualifications . The vocational training
programmes such as Petra, Eurotecnet and Force and the
specific action ' Skill Needs Project ' have supported specific
research in their respective sectors of activity . The Petra
Programme has concentrated on the professional
qualifications of young people in initial training . The
Commission 's interim report on this programme along with
an external evaluation report has also been forwarded to the
European Parliament ( 1 ). The Eurotecnet Programme, with
the aim of promoting new ideas in vocational training, has
developed new training concepts and models as part of a
new type of work plan which requires new qualifications .
Finally, the Force Programme, as part of its aim to promote
continuous vocational training within companies, has
developed different aids and practices for this type of
training .

On 21 December 1993, the Commission adopted the
proposal of the Council Decision to establish an action
programme for the implementation of a vocational training
policy for the European Community called ' Leonardo da
Vinci ' ( 2 ), which also provides for a significant and
integrated action analyzing the requirements of training and
professional qualifications .

In addition, there is the ' Green Paper on Community Social
Policy, Options for the Union ', which deals with training
matters, especially from the perspective of adapting initial
and continuing vocational training systems to the needs of
the labour market . The possibilities of support from the
European Social Fund for the improvement of training
systems are discussed, especially in the chapter on economic
and social cohesion .

Subject : Adult education in Europe Given that the Green Paper is by definition a consultation
document, the Commission has launched a wide-ranging
Adult education is essential in Europe, as elsewhere . Since debate on all matters which it deals with . It will therefore
the Commission is aware of the importance of the role of consider all suggestions relating to it .

No C 340 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

The importance of training as an essential measure for
preventing unemployment is also stressed in the White
Paper on ' Growth, Competitiveness and Employment '.

(!) COM(93 ) 704 final .
( 2 ) COM(93 ) 686 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3255 / 93

by José Apolinario ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 67

Subject : The Novagri Programme ( Portugal )

Can the Commission supply detailed information on the
amounts already disbursed by the Community in respect of
projects under the Novagri Programme ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 )

The Greek authorities have classified a large area of Mount
Olympus as a special protection area within the meaning of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild birds (*)
by giving it the status of ' national forest ', thereby granting it
the highest level of protection available under Greek
legislation .

The term ' exploitation ' used by the Honourable Member is
very vague and does not provide the Commission with any
information indicating that Community law has been
infringed .

As regards the specific reference to the establishment of a ski
centre, the Greek authorities have informed the
Commission that an environmental impact assessment has
concluded that the establishment of a ski centre in the region

( and in particular on the Sparmos — Agios Antonios site )
would be incompatible with the level of protection from
which the area benefits . The project has accordingly been
abandoned .

If the Honourable Member is in possession of information
indicating that the Greek authorities have reconsidered their
position and that a new project has been authorized in the
region, the Commission would be obliged if he would
forward that information to it .

The Commission has transferred ECU 9 457 771 as a
(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .
reimbursement for 1992 and the advance payment for 1993
for expenditure incurred under the Novagri Programm .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-33 17 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-32 79 / 93 by John Bird ( PSE )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) to the Commission

to the Commission ( 24 November 1993 )

( 23 November 1993 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 69 )

( 94 / C 340 / 68 )

Subject : The ' exploitation ' of the region of Olympus

Environmental organizations have reported that
businessmen are planning to develop Olympus despite the
fact that the whole region has been designated by Unesco as
a site of exceptional environmental importance . In view of
the fact that the Community has included Olympus in the
list of EC regions deemed of importance for the protection
of bird life and bearing in mind the ' development ' of the
south-west section of the mountain following the
establishment and operation of a ski centre, does the
Commission intend to ask the Greek authorities to put an
immediate stop to the ' exploitation ' of the region of
Olympus ?

Subject : Relative high cost of internal European
Community air travel

Is the Commission aware that many business and leisure
travellers feel that the costs of internal European
Community flights are excessively high ?

Does the Commission believe that the cost of air travel

within the EC acts as a deterrent to the full freedom of

movement of persons around the Single Market ?

What steps has the Commission taken, or is it planning to
take, to encourage airlines to offer cheaper flights to internal
European travellers ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No G 340 / 31

Answer given by Mr Matutes

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3336 / 93

on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
( 28 March 1994 ) to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

Since 1 January 1993 when the third air package and in ( 94 / C 340 / 71 )
particular Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2409 / 92 on fares
and rates for air services ( 1 ) came into force, the airlines have
been able to set their fares freely . This freedom, which is Subject : Quality of bottled water in
accompanied by removal of the regulatory barriers to free
market access, is one of the essential requirements for the
proper functioning of the open single Community market in Some months ago a number of
civil aviation . the quality of bottled water being

Subject : Quality of bottled water in Greece

Articles 6 and 7 of the above Regulation allow the Member
States and, in some case the Commission, to withdraw basic
fares which are excessively high in relation to the long term
fully-allocated relevant costs of the air carriers . The
Commission is preparing guidelines on the application of
this fares safeguard clause . This clause has not yet been
implemented either by the Member States or the
Commission, which, since 1 January 1993, has also not
received any reasoned complaint about any excessive fares
on specific routes . In fact, over the past few months the
companies have largely been seen to be offering preferential
fares . The Commission is convinced that free access to the

market will continue to have a positive effect on price levels
in the years ahead .

(M OJ No L 240, 24 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3329 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 70 )

Subject : German compliance with the environmental
principles of the Maastricht Treaty

When will Germany comply with the environmental
principles set out in the Maastricht Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

Germany has just ratified the Treaty on European Union . It
has therefore undertaken to observe all sections of the

Treaty, including the provisions concerning the
environment .

Some months ago a number of revelations were made about
the quality of bottled water being marketed in Greece . It
emerged that quality control was not adequate in many
cases and therefore put consumers ' health at risk . Legal
proceedings were also initiated but the outcome is still
unknown .

In at least 11 instances, the bottlers have received a
certificate of conformity from the European Community .
The Community 's Official Journal has published a list of 1 1
natural mineral waters which meet Community standards .
These in fact include some which were at the centre of the

controversy a few months ago .

Was the Community unaware of this situation when it
issued the certificates of conformity and can an investigation
be carried out into this entire affair ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 February 1994 )

In accordance with Article 1 of Council Directive

80 / 777 / EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and
marketing of natural mineral waters (*), each Member State
informs the Commission of the list of natural mineral waters

recognized as such by them for publication in the Official
Journal of the European Communities .

The Commission merely publishes the notifications received
from the Member States and does not grant any kind of
recognition for any natural mineral water . This is the
exclusive competence of the Member States, according to
the Directive . There are more than 1 000 natural mineral

waters recognized by the Member States . Eleven of these
come from Greece, and have been published ( 2 ) following
the notification of recognition by the Greek authorities .

The Commission has not received any information
regarding a threat to public health concerning natural
mineral waters recognized by the Greek authorities . It is up
to Member States to control natural mineral waters, as it is
the case for all foodstuffs .

As regards table waters other than natural mineral waters,
they have to comply with the criteria in Council Directive

No C 340 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

80 / 778 / EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the WRITTEN QUESTION
laws of the Member States relating to the quality of water by Karl von Wogau (
intended for human consumption, and again it is for the to the Commission
national authorities to check that water complies with the
legislation . ( 24 November 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3346 / 93

by Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

(!) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 224, 19 . 8 . 1993 .

( 94 / C 340 / 73 )

Subject : Directives 90 / 434 / EEC and 90 / 435 / EEC

Directive 90 / 434 / EEC ( ) on mergers concerning companies
of different Member States and Directive 90 / 435 / EEC ( 2 ) on
the common system of taxation applicable in the case of
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3338 / 93 parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) States were to have been adopted by 1 January 1992 .

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 72

What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that these
measures are fully incorporated into national law in all 12
Member States ?

Subject : Special measures and programmes for gypsies in (!) OJ No L 225, 20 . 8 . 1990, p . 1 .

Greece ( 2 ) ÒJ No L 225, 20 . 8 . 1990, p . 6 .

Has Greece implemented any special measures or
programmes for gypsies during 1992 and the first half of

1993 and, if so, what are they ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994V

( 26 April 1994 ) According to the Commission 's information, Directive
90 / 435 / EEC ( parent companies and subsidiaries ) has been
transposed in all Member States .

A number of measures in favour of gypsies are being
financed under regional programmes such as those for
continental Greece and Central Macedonia . In addition, in
the context of the Community initiatives and particularly
the Poverty III Programme, the Thessaloniki gypsy project
has also been implemented .

In the field of intercultural education, a project aimed at the
education of gypsy children and the children of other
travellers has been financed . The purpose of the project is to
introduce teaching materials designed to ensure better
integration of gypsy children into the education system . The
project has three main aims : firstly, to provide teaching
materials to increase literacy among gypsies ; secondly, to
train teachers and trainers working with gypsy children ; and
thirdly, to increase public awareness about the situation of
the gypsies . The project is running from 1993 to 1994 ;
evaluation of the three main goals and the materials used
will begin in this period .

Directive 90 / 434 / EEC ( mergers ) has not so far been
transposed into Greek law ; the Commission has therefore
initiated infringement proceedings against Greece under
Article 169 of the EC Treaty .

In the absence of a company law framework allowing
cross-border mergers and divisions, Belgium, Germany and
the United Kingdom have transposed Directive 90 / 434 / EEC
only in so far as transfers of assets and exchanges of shares
are concerned .

The Commission is currently assessing the compatibility of
these national transposition measures with Community
legislation, with a view to deciding whether such partial
transposition may be deemed satisfactory .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 33

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3347 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3865 / 93

Stephen Hughes ( PSE ) by Michel Debatisse ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

( 24 November 1993 )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 74 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 76 )

Subject : Braille signs for the blind throughout the EC

There is legislation in the USA which stipulates that all signs
in public places must contain the equivalent in Braille . Is
there any legislation in the pipeline regarding Braille signs
and is this likely to become law in Europe in the near
future ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

The Commission has no plans to propose the introduction
of legislation on Braille signage and does not hold
information on what legislation may be in the pipeline in
individual Member States .

The European Blind Union, which represents the interests of
people with visual impairments in the Helios II European
Disability Forum, has been asked to seek information about
the position in Member States from its national member
organizations . The Commission will forward any
information received as soon as it is available .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349 / 93

by Jean-Claude Pasty ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 75

Subject : Reduction in export refunds for poultrymeat

What led the Commission considerably to reduce
Community export refunds for poultrymeat with effect
from 8 October 1993, the very day when the United States
Department of Agriculture announced a very large increase
in aid for the export of frozen chickens to Egypt ?

Do these two simultaneous decisions betoken early
application by the Commission of the ' Blair House '
agreement, which the Council has not yet ratified ?

Subject : Export refunds for poultrymeat

On 8 October 1993 the Commission decided on an

immediate cut of some 20% depending on destination in
refunds for poultrymeat exports . On the same day, the
United States announced a supplementary export quota for
poultry, subsidized on the basis of US$ 849 per tonne, which
on average is 75 to 95 % higher than the refunds granted by
the EEC .

The Commission cited the drop in cereal prices as the reason
for its decision, but the fall on the foodstuffs market was
only 5 to 6 % .

Can the Commission explain fully why it adopted this
emergency measure without consulting the Management
Committee ?

Does it consider that the European poultry industy has
sufficient resources to hold its own against American
competition which enjoys subsidies twice as high as the
refunds granted to Community exports ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-3349 / 93 and E-3865 / 93

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 March 1994 )

The reduction in poultrymeat refunds in July and October

1993 was, firstly, the logical consequence of the reform of
the CAP, which led to lower forage cereal prices and,
therefore, to lower poultry production costs . Secondly, it
was in keeping with the favourable development of
Community and world markets . In 1993 Community
exports of poultrymeat rose by 130 000 compared with the
previous year, reaching approximately 650 000 tonnes .

The Commission has always defended the interests of
European exporters on their traditional markets against the
United States ' ' Export Enhancement Programme '. For the
greater part of 1993 American subsidized sales were of
limited importance, but the larger-scale subsidies
announced by the United States at the end of the year put
some pressure on markets in the Middle East, and the
Commission reacted by increasing the level of refunds on
poultrymeat exported to that area, with effect from
20 January 1994 .

No C 340 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3366 / 93

by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission ( 13 April 1994 )

( 26 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 77 )

Subject : Payment of bills

1 . Further to the European Parliament 's hearing on the
time taken to make payments in commercial transactions on
7 and 8 July 1993 has the Commission begun to draw up a
Community initiative in this area ?

2 . Would the Commission consider the proposal that
company auditors should have an obligation to report, in
the accounts, the average time taken by that company to pay
bills ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the

monitoring committee for the Spanish Envireg Programme
has met three times : on 27 March 1992, 17 December 1992
and 30 September 1993 .

The programme adopted in May 1990 has a total budget of
ECU 235,702 million, of which ECU 144,694 million is
provided by the Structural Funds .

The programme is centred on the following :

— reducing pollution in coastal areas

—
protecting biotopes

(3 March 1994 ) — controlling toxic industrial residues

The public hearing on the time taken to make payments,
held on 7 and 8 July 1993 and attended by representatives of
more than 30 trade federations, showed that the sectors
concerned were very much in favour of Community
initiatives in this area . The Commission has also received

written statements of position from more than 130
organizations following distribution of the working paper
on the problem of the time taken to make payments in
commercial transactions ( 1 ).

The Commission has not yet adopted a position on the most
suitable initiatives to be put forward at Community
level .

One option to be assessed in order to determine its
appropriateness is a reference in the annual accounts of
undertakings to the time taken to make payments .

— developing and managing pollution control systems _

As the programme finished at the end of 1994, an
assessment has just begun and an initial report will be made
in November .

The funds committed as at 31 December 1993 amounted to

PTA 24 731,73 million out of a total of PTA 28 752,43
million, a committment rate of 86,01 % .

( J ) SEC(92 ) 2214 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-3426 / 93

by Sergio Ribeiro ( GUE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 79 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3370 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 78 )

Subject : Assessment of the Community Envireg initiative in

Spain

Can the Commission give details of the reports on the
monitoring and assessment of the application of the
Community Envireg initiative in Spain ?

Subject : Plans for natural gas in Portugal

Bearing in mind the crucial importance of the plans for
natural gas in Portugal and the recently created Transgas
company, the unexpectedness of the decision and the lack of
transparency throughout the process, the massive
investment necessary, the availability of Community funds
to render the ' ingenious ' ( and doubtful ) accounting
operation viable and ensure that Transgas is not threatened
by insolvency midway through the project and the fact that

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 35

the plans are not covered by the Cohesion Fund, in what Answer given by Mr Marin
way has the Commission been involved in the project in on behalf of the Commission
general and Transgas in particular ? (6 April 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 March 1994 )

The Commission can confirm that under the Community
Regen initiative support has been granted for the financing
of a project to bring natural gas to Portugal ( Setubal-Braga
pipeline ). The financing granted totals ECU 82,228 milllion
( at 1993 prices ) and will come from the European Regional
Development Fund .

The Commission considers that this project is of
considerable interest to the Community and is important for
the future competitiveness of Portuguese industry .
Moreover, it will make it possible to substitute a clean
source of energy for hydrocarbons and solid fuels and will
thus make a significant contribution to improving the state
of the environment in Portugal . Finally, the project will also
contribute to improving the safety and operational
efficiency of the Portuguese and Community power
network .

The new regional development plan submitted to the
Commission by the Portuguese Government in July 1993
provides for the continuation and completion of the project .
An application was made for Community financing for this
purpose and this has been provisionally included in the
Community Support Framework for 1994—1998 .

The Commission is proposing a new Regen initiative in the
context of a combined Interreg / Regen initiative . The
Commission is proposing that the completion of the project
for natural gas distribution in Portugal should be financed
under the Regen initiative .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3435 / 93

by Fernando Suárez González ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 80

Subject : Cooperation with Central America

The Commission has allocated ECU 305 000 under budget
heading B7-3012, Regional Integration, to a project entitled
' History and society in Central America '.

Can the Commission explain what this project consists of,
who is receiving the funds and what is the goal pursued ?

The Commission considered the 500th-anniversary
celebrations of the discovery of America a suitable occasion
for providing financing, through the Sociedad Estatal
Quinto Centenario ( to which the funds were paid ), for a
project directed at filling the vacuum in the field of Central
American geohistory .

The region has suffered from the fact that no major
academic or publishing effort has to far gone into producing
a complete history of Central America, in Spanish, to
describe the region 's development from its pre-Colombian
origins to the present day .

The Sociedad Estatal entrusted the academic work to the

Latin American Faculty for Social Sciences ( Fiasco ); the
funds were to cover publication of 5 000 copies of the
work .

Some of the copies are being distributed free of charge to
embassies, universities, development cooperation institutes
and other bodies involved in Central American regional
integration . The intention was that proceeds from the sale of
the remaining copies would cover the authors ' costs and the
distribution expenses .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3442 / 93

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 81 )

Subject : Community regulation of itinerant traders

The recent holding of the third European Market for
Itinerant Traders in Zaragoza ( Spain ) provided a
framework for holding the first international seminar on the
future of itinerant traders .

The main concern of those working in this sector in all
Community countries is the planned national legislation to
govern itinerant trading in areas outside cities where no
other type of commerce exists .

Can the Commission say what the Community 's position is
on this matter and what Community legal provisions exist
which should serve as a model for national laws to regulate
itinerant trade, which accounts for between 13 and 15 % of
total retail sales in the Community as a whole ?

No C 340 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi Has the Commission carried out checks to ensure that the

the Commission quality of the meat is not affected by the transport of live

( 26 April 1994 ) animals ( e.g. presence of cholesterol and adrenalin harmful
to the health of consumers )?

on behalf of the Commission

Itinerant trading falls within the scope of Directive
75 / 369 / EEC (*), which lays down transitional measures to
facilitate the effective exercise of freedom of establishment

and freedom to provide services in respect of itinerant
activities . These measures include the requirement that,
where a Member State regulates the activities concerned, it
must automatically recognize certificates of professional
experience issued by other Member States .

As indicated by its title, the Directive must be interpreted in
line with Articles 52 et seq . and 59 et seq . of the EC Treaty,
which establish the general principles of Community-wide
freedom of establishment and freedom to provide
services .

In matters unaffected by their obligations under
Community law, Member States retain the right to regulate
the conditions in which itinerant trading operate on their
territory . The exclusion of itinerant trading from city
centres would not appear to be incompatible per se with
Community law .

The Commission appreciates the concern echoed by the
Honourable Member . Without encroaching on national
prerogatives, the Commission is encouraging the
development of itinerant trading, which plays an important
role at both economic and social levels : creation of
self-employed jobs, economic and social integration of
social groups such as young people and ethnic minorities,
and contribution to keeping towns and villages alive . The
Commission has therefore always supported initiatives by
the trade associations concerned, such as the European
Markets held in Strasbourg in 1991 and Manchester in

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1994 )

No subsidies are granted under the market regimes within
- the Community for the transport of meat for human

consumption, nor are there preferential rates for livestock or

meat .

The Member States are responsible for checks on transport
in accordance with Directive 91 / 628 / EEC ( M.

(!) OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3482 / 93

by Geoffrey Hoon ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 9.4 / C 340 / 83 )

Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on

certain rights related to copyright in the field of
intellectual property

1992, and the seminar held in the context of the Zaragoza Does the Commission consider that Directive
Market in 1993, which it funded to the tune of ECU 92 / 100 / EEC (*) prevents Member States from providing for
20 000 . or maintaining a system which extends the exhaustion

principle to territories outside the European Community ?
(!) OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975 .

(!) OJ No L 346, 27 . 11 . 1992, p . 61 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3483 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3456 / 93
by Geoffrey Hoon ( PSE )

by Anne André-Léonard ( ELDR ) to the Commission

to the Commission
(7 December 1993 )

(7 December 1993 )
( 94 / C 340 / 84 )
( 94 / C 340 / 82 )

Subject : Transport of meat for human consumption

What subsidies are granted for the transport of meat for
human consumption ?

Are preferential rates granted for the transport of living
animals or frozen meat ?

Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on

certain rights related to copyright in the field of
intellectual property

Does the Commission agree that the express limitation of
the exhaustion principle to the Community territory
(' Community exhaustion ') implies refusal of the concept of
universal exhaustion ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 37

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3484 / 93

by Geoffrey Hoon ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 85 )

Subject : Directive on rental right and lending right and on

certain rights related to copyright in the field of
intellectual property

Does the distribution right granted by Directive
92 / 100 / EEC include the right to authorize or prohibit the
parallel importation of copies of works and other subject
matters from outside the European Community ?

right-holders to prevent parallel imports from third
countries . A Member State may not provide that the first
sale in a country outside the Community results in the
exhaustion of the distribution right within its territory and
consequently within the whole Community . The possibility
for a Member State to provide for international exhaustion
would have potentially negative effects on the functioning of
the internal market and on competition and in particular the
right-holder could run the risk of the market being undercut
by copies lawfully put on the market outside the
Community . Such an effect would run counter to the
intentions of the Directive . This is consistent with the

provisions relating to exhaustion which are to be found in a
number of other Directives in the field of intellectual and

industrial property ( see Directive 89 / 104 / EEC on trade
marks ) ( 2 ).

0 ) See judgments of 8 June 1971 ( 78-70, Deutsche Grammophon );

20 . 1 . 1981 ( 55 and 57 / 89, Music Vertrieb ).

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3482 / 93, E-3483 / 93 ( 2 ) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989 .

and E-3484 / 93

given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1994 )

Council Directive 92 / 100 / EEC of 19 November 1992 on

rental and lending right and certain rights related to
copyright in the field of intellectual property establishes in
Article 9 ( 1 ) a general rule that is an exclusive distribution
right in favour of the four categories of right-holders :
performers, phonogram producers, producers of first
fixation of film and broadcasting organizations . In additon,
Article 9 ( 2 ) of this Directive states :

' The distribution right shall not be exhausted within the
Community in respect of an object as referred to in
paragraph 1, except where the first sale in the
Community of that object is made by the right-holder or
with his consent '.

Article 9 ( 2 ) reflects the established jurisprudence of the
Court of Justice of the European Communities with regard
to Article 30 et seq . of the EC Treaty which states, in general
terms, that once a product has been distributed by sale ( or
otherwise ) within the Community with the consent of the
right-holder of the intellectual property right, then its
import into another Member State may not be prohibited by
virtue of that right (*). Otherwise, there would be a risk of
artificial partition of the internal market into twelve
national markets . This means that a right-holder who has
consented to the distribution of copies of this work in the
Community by means of sale cannot oppose the re-sale of
those copies in any Member State . This principle is known as
the ' principle of Community exhaustion ' and tries to solve
the conflict between any national exclusive right and the
principle of the free movement of goods under Community
law .

Article 9 ( 2 ) of Council Directive 92 / 100 / EEC also regulates
the question of international exhaustion . The Commission
considers that the wording of Article 9 prevents Member
States from applying what is known as ' international
exhaustion ' and is to be understood as giving the right to the

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3494 / 93

by Llewellyn Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission,

(7 December 1993 )

94 / C 340 / 86 )

Subject : Hazardous waste

Further to the response of 14 July 1993 by the Council to Mr
Bowe 's question H-700 / 93 (*) on the European waste
catalogue, how does the Commission plan to meet the
requirement of the Waste Framework Directive
91 / 156 / EEC ( 2 ) and the hazardous waste Directive
91 / 689 / EEC ( 3 ) to complete the catalogue by December
1993 ?

( l ) Debates of the European Parliament, No 3-433 ( July 1993 ).

( 2 ) OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991, p . 32 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 20 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1994 )

The list of waste required by Article 1(a ) of the Waste
Framework Directive 75 / 44 2 / EEC, as amended by Directive
91 / 156 / EEC, received the favourable opinion of the
Committee established pursuant to Article 18, at its meeting
held on 12 October 1993 . The procedures to enable the
Commission to adopt the list should be finalized in the near
future .

No C 340 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

The list of hazardous waste required by Article 1(4 ) of
Directive 91 / 689 / EEC has proved to be very difficult to
establish since the list itself constitutes the definition of

hazardous waste . In an attempt to overcome the difficulties
experienced the Commission proposed a modification to
this Directive ( 1 ). However, the Commission 's proposal for
the modification of Article 1(4 ) has not been accepted by
either the Council or Parliament . Consequently, the
Commission is working to produce a list as originally
required . It is anticipated that this list will be presented to
the Committee during the first quarter of 1994 .

Initially the development of this list of hazardous waste was
intended to be an integral part of the general list of wastes
required by the Waste Framework Directive . The
development of these two lists as one integrated list has been
commonly referred to as the European Waste Catalogue

( EWC ).

The development of the EWC, as originally intended, has
proved to be virtually impossible, since the two lists have to
satisfy different requirements . The general list of wastes
does not constitute the definition of waste and is indicative

in character, whereas the list of hazardous waste constitutes
the definition of hazardous waste . Furthermore, wastes
featuring in the list of hazardous waste have to be
adequately described in order to identify one or more of the
properties which render a waste hazardous .

However, it remains a long-term objective to produce one
integrated list as originally intended . Once the list of
hazardous waste has been adopted, the Commission can
then commence integrating these two lists .

(!) CQM(90 ) 425 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 87 )

Subject : Arrangements for the scrapping of inland
waterway vessels

It is generally accepted that current arrangements for the
scrapping of inland waterway vessels meet a real need . These
arrangements expire on 28 April 1994 . However, Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1101 / 89 (*) specifically states that the
Council may extend them for five years on a proposal from
the Commission .

The transport sector has repeatedly urged the Commission,
both orally and in writing, to submit such a proposal to the
Council . However, despite extremely unfavourable market
conditions in the inland waterway sector, the Commission
has not reacted .

Moreover, a Commission representative has indicated that
it is highly doubtful whether the Council will be able to take

a decision before 28 April 1994, given that the procedure,
involving consultation of the European Parliament, is
extremely lengthy as a result of the Maastricht Treaty .

1 . Given the favourable assessment of current

arrangements and the general desire to see them
renewed, why has the Commission still not submitted a
proposal for a five-year extension of the scrapping
arrangements for inland waterway vessels ?

2 . Does not the Commission consider the extension of
scrapping arrangements to be all the more necessary in
view of current market conditions ?

3 . If the Commission considers that the necessary
procedure, involving consultation of the European
Parliament, takes longer as a result of the Maastricht
Treaty, is this not  - all the more reason to submit
proposals without delay to ensure that the Council is in a
position to take a decision by 28 April 1994 at the
latest ?

(*) OJ No L 116, 28 . 4 . 1989, p . 25 .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 March 1994 )

The Commission shares the view of the Honourable

Member that the present market conditions in inland
navigation call for a prolongation of the structural
improvement measures introduced by Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 1101 / 89 . For this reason the Commission
forwarded to the Parliament and the Council on

16 November 1993 a proposal to extend the old-for-new
rule under Article 8.5 of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1101 / 89 .

The Commission notes that the Parliament has taken the

matter up without delay . A first exchange of - views in the
Transport Commission took place on 24 November

1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3504 / 93

by Arie Oostlander ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 88 )

Subject : Definition of the terms ' university ' and
' enterprise / undertaking ' in Comett and Tempus

Can the Commission say how the definitions of the terms
' university ' and ' enterprise / undertaking ' relate to each other
in the Council decisions governing the Tempus and Comett
programmes ?

Is the concept of technological renewal — central to Comett
— applicable in the widest sense, for example in the health

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 39

and public administration sector as well ? If so, would it not
be better to make this clear by changing the wording so that
certain sectors are not deterred from taking part ?

agreed with the Member State concerned . Can the
Commission make a statement identifying any plans not
submitted by that date, the reasons for them not being
submitted and the measures to be taken as a result ?

(!) OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993, p . 20 .
Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 January 1994 )
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

The definitions of industry and enterprise given in the
Comett II and Temp us II Programmes are equivalent . In
Comett II a special mention is only made of small and
medium-sized businesses whereas the Tempus II definition
mentions explicitly training bodies of organizations and
public and local authorities . Since the launching of Comett
in 1987 and Tempus in 1990 both definitions have been
applied in the same way .

In both Tempus and Comett, the term university is used to
denote all types of post-secondary education and training
establishments .

Tempus II focuses on the reform and upgrading of
universities in the countries of eastern and central Europe
and in the Newly Independent States . These establishments
can become involved in continuing education in Tempus II
projects, whereas in Comett II also establishments which are
only providing continuing education may be involved in
projects .

Technical innovation, which is a central issue in Comett, is
indeed applicable in the broad sense . There are for example
quite a number of projects that involve hospitals and are
developing innovative activities in the medical field .

It is certainly not the intention to discourage any sector . The
terminology which is employed allows the maximum
flexibility for the involvement of groups which have a
potential interest in Comett . It can be noted for example that
the health and safety sector is well represented ( it is the 10th
biggest sector in the Comett II Programme ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3508 / 93

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 89 )

Subject : Objective 4

( 17 February 1994 )

Under Objective 3 ( outside of Objective 1 regions ) all
Member States submitted their plans by the 3 November
except France, Germany and Italy . Under Objective 4

( outside of Objective 1 regions ) Belgium and the
Netherlands submitted plans by the due date .

The reasons the Member States have given for the delays are
the need to consult more widely, the rreed to have some
indication from the Commission on the amounts of money
available and the longer time needed to prepare for the new
Objective 4 . The Commission agreed with the Member
States concerned that the deadline for the submission of

plans could be extended .

However a key consideration for the Commission is the
quality of the plans received and further work was required
in some instances .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-35 14 / 93

by Pariayotis Roumeliotis ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 90 )

Subject : Preservation of manuscripts from Mount Athos

According to experts on the International Council for
Mount Athos, a large number of manuscripts from Mount
. Athos require special conservation and care to protect them

from the effects of aging and from atmospheric conditions .
They should also be evaluated, classified and published .

To what extent is the Commission prepared to help carry
out such a project ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 January 1994 )
Under Article 6 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2082 / 93 H,
Member States are required to submit plans in respect of
Objectives 3 and 4 within three months of the adoption of Under its programme for the preservaton of Europe 's
the Regulation, i.e. by 3 November 1993, unless otherwise cultural heritage, the Commission in response to

No C 340 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Parliament 's suggestions, awards a grant each year towards
restoration work in the Mount Athos Monasteries .

This grant is awarded to the Mount Athos Heritage
Administration Centre ( Kedak ), created specifically by the
Greek authorities within the Macedonian ministry . It is at
present reserved for preservation or restoration work on the
above monuments, because of the extreme urgency of the
situation and the number of repairs necessary on the one
hand, and because of the strictly limited Community budget
allocation for cultural initiatives on the other .

The Commission further informs the Honourable Member
that as a result of the ratification of the Treaty on European
Union, a communication on objects and property of cultural
and historical value is currently being prepared for
presentation to the Council and Parliament .

In the light of this, the Commission could, where
appropriate, look at new proposals from the competent
Greek authorities on the care and protection of the Mount
Athos legacy .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3530 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 91 )

Subject : Elimination of organo-phosphorous compounds

Has the Commission called on the Member States to
eliminate organo-phosphorous compounds by the year
2005 ( international obligation under the Berne
Convention ).

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that neither the Convention for the protection of the Rhine
against chemical pollution nor the Additional Agreement to
the Agreement, signed in Berne on 29 April 1963,
concerning the International Commission for the Protection
of the Rhine against pollution lay down a deadline for the
elimination of organo-phosphorous compounds ( Decision
77 / 586 / EEC ).

Pursuant to Article 7 of Council Directive 76 / 464 / EEC of
4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous
substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the
Community, Member States are required to establish
programmes to reduce pollution by organo-phosphorous
compounds . The provisions of Article 7 are based on water
quality objectives set at national level . Organo-phosphorous
compounds are not subject to the provisions of Article 6 of

the Directive regarding limit values and water quality
objectives laid down at Community level .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3536 / 93

by Alexandras Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 92 )

Subject : Hazards to shipping and fishing fleets caused by

sunken vessels

Vessels in the Mediterranean are frequently encountering
hazards in the form of an ever-increasing number of sunken
vessels in shipping lanes dating from ancient times to the
present day . Since 1940 the number of wrecks has risen
sharply .

The presence of such man-made obstacles also causes major
damage to fishing tackle and, in general, constitutes a
hazard to fishing vessels and small and medium-sized craft,
which do not use marked out channels, and have only
limited hazard-warning facilities available . In addition,
major pollution problems are caused by waste from holds as
well as peeling paint and bulkheads, which may appear at
random in the vicinity of the wreck .

1 . Will the Commission examine the extent of the problem

and, if appropriate, introduce a Mediterranean register
of ' man-made shipping hazards '?

2 . Will it investigate the possibilities of financing the

removal of sunken vessels, from certain particularly
dangerous areas, in particular at entrances to ports, as
part of a programme to clear shipping lanes of
man-made hazards ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the special risks caused by all
kinds of sea-bed hazards to fishing vessels . The tremendous
increase in the use of the sea-bed for industrial activities, for
laying pipelines and cables and for dumping waste has
increased the risk to fishermen whose fishing gear may
become entangled . In the framework of the discussion of the
Maritime Industries Forum, which has been launched by the
Commission, the need for a closer cooperation between the
maritime industries involved in this field has been

emphasized .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 41

Furthermore, in the framework of the Maritime Industries
Forum, the Commission will examine the possibility of
funding a workshop which would evaluate all technical,
financial and political questions regarding the establishment
of a European sea-bed information service for fishermen .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3537 / 93

by Alexandras Alavanos ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 93 )

Subject : Blood and blood products contaminated with the

AIDS virus

Blood products distributed by the UB Plasma and Biotest
companies in Hesse, from 1990 to 1993 in Germany and
other countries, including Greece, have been found to be
contaminated with the AIDS virus, as confirmed by the
Federal Ministry for Health . These findings have caused
panic in the countries concerned, particularly among those
who underwent transfusion in the critical period and those
who have received multiple transfusions .

Council resolution of 22 December 1989 on measures to

combat AIDS states that regular screening of all donor
blood using suitable test ( testing for AIDS virus in blood
serum ), the development of an information policy for
donors with a view to excluding those exhibiting dangerous
symptoms and the introduction of comparable and strict
quality checks within the Community are essential for the
safe use of donor blood and for safe blood donation .
Moreover, Article 129 of the Maastricht Treaty states that
' Community action shall be directed towards the prevention
of diseases, in particular, the major health scourges ' such as
AIDS . In the light of these statements :

authorized under strict criteria established to'ensure that
their quality, safety and efficacy are assured . The Directive is
complemented by requirements for testing ( 91 / 507 / EEC ) ( 2 )
and good manufacturing practice ( 91 / 356 / EEC ) ( 3 ).

The Commission has requested Germany to provide it with
information regarding the UB Plasma and Biotest situations
and is awaiting a response .

2 . An early information exchange system on defective
medicinal products has been set up under Articles 30 — 33 of
Directive 75 / 319 / EEC ( 4 ) to ensure that all the competent
authorities are immediately informed when a problem arises
which is likely to result in the withdrawal or major changes
to the marketing authorization of a given product . This
system was applied in the cases cited by the Honourable
Member .

As stated on the occasion of the adoption of the conclusions
on self-sufficiency in the Community by the Council on

13 December 1993 ( 5 ), the Commission intends to gather
information on the legal provisions and current practices in
the Member States regarding the collection, control, and
treatment of blood as well as the distribution and trade in
blood and blood products with the view to proposing, if
necessary, common safety criteria .

3 . Directive 89 / 38 1 / EEC on medicinal products derived
from human blood or plasma provides that screening tests
must be carried out on blood or plasma used as starting
material for the manufacture of medicinal products in
accordance with the recommendations of the Council and

WHO . These screening tests are also recommended for
blood to be used in transfusion medicine . As part of the
work to be carried out pursuant to the objectives described
in ( 2 ), the Commission will ascertain the extent of
transposition into national law and application of these
recommendations .

1 . what information can the Commission provide
concerning the exact number of dangerous batches
which have been distributed ?

which have been distributed ? Safety of blood and blood products is a continuously

evolving area as scientific knowledge and technology

specific measures will it take under the powers progress . The Health Council held on 13 December 1993,

conferred upon it by Article 129 of the Treaty to following the communication of the Commission on blood
eliminate such danger completely in future ? self-sufficiency ( 6 ) reaffirmed the need to ensure quality and

safety of blood collection . Commission, in close

Does it consider that the methods hitherto used to screen cooperation with the Member States, intends to intensify its
blood donations are sufficient to safeguard public efforts in order to ensure that all relevant concerns are

health ? addressed and comprehensive safety precautions are put in
place .

2 . what specific measures will it take under the powers

conferred upon it by Article 129 of the Treaty to
eliminate such danger completely in future ?

3 . Does it consider that the methods hitherto used to screen
blood donations are sufficient to safeguard public

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1994 )

O OJ No L 181, 28 . 6 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 270, 26 . 9 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 193, 17 . 7 . 1991 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 147, 9 . 6 . 1975 .

( 5 ) OJ No C 15, 18 . 1 . 1994 .

( 6 ) COM(93 ) 198 final .
1 . Directive 89 / 381 / EEC ( ), which has been in effect
since 1 January 1992 for new products and 1 January 1993
for existing products, requires that all medicinal products
derived from blood or plasma be manufactured and

No C 340 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

the Commission specify the amount ( in ECU at 1992 prices )
allocated to Spain in 1993 in respect of

— Community Support Frameworks

( 94 / C 340 / 94 — Community initiatives

Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1993 — Greece

and will it also specify the basis on which the calculation is
made, ( e.g. monies committed, allocated or actually
transferred etc . during 1993 )?

Having regard to the Edinburgh Summit conclusions and .
the necessity to calculate 1993 Structural Fund allocations
separate from other years in the 1989 — 1993 period, will
the Commission specify the amount ( in ECU at 1992 prices ) Answer given by Mr Millan
allocated to Greece in 1993 in respect of on behalf of the Commission

— Community Support Frameworks ( 21 April 1994 )

— Community initiatives

The amounts of the financial transactions with Spain under
and will it also specify the basis on which the calculation is the Structural Funds for 1993 are as follows, at current
made, ( e.g. monies committed, allocated or actually prices :
transferred etc . during 1993 )?

( million ECU )

Community

initiatives

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1994 )

The amounts of the financial transactions with Greece

under the Structural Funds for 1993 are as follows, at
current prices :

. ( million ECU )

" Community
support frameworks

Community
support frameworks

Community

initiatives

ERDF

Commitments 935 128

Payments 1 100 124

ESF

Commitments 477 37 .

Payments 419 12

EAGGF

Commitments 383 16

Payments 376 15

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )

to the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 95

Subject : Structural Fund allocation 1993 — Spain

Having regard to the Edinburgh Summit conclusions and
the necessity to calculate 1993 Structural Fund allocations
separate from other years in the 1989 — 1993 period, will

ERDF

Commitments 1 896 337

Payments 1 100 202

ESF

Commitments 1 146 98

Payments 602 59

EAGGF

Commitments 397 10

Payments 405 32

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3572 / 93

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 96 )

Subject : Funding of public works with broad-based
objectives

The 181-km-long Navarra Canal, which is a long-standing
aspiration of the people of Navarra and will water lands in
Navarra and Aragon, is the most important public works
programme, together with the Itoiz Dam, currently being
carried out on a long-term basis by the government of
Navarra, with vital support from the national

government .

What kind of aid, and from what Community source, does
the Commission intend to provide for similar public works
with broad-based socio-economic objectives in various
regions of the Community ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 43

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

The Commission can co-finance projects of the type referred
to in the Honourable Member 's question, either in the
framework of operational programmes or under Article 5 of
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4254 / 88, as last amended by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2083 / 93 i 1 ).

Decisions On Community contributions involve close
consultations between the Commission, the Member States
and the authorities and bodies designated by the latter . They
are subject to various conditions, namely that the
project :

— falls within an area eligible under priority objectives 1, 2

or 5(b ) as defined in Article 1 of Council Regulation
( EEC ) No 2052 / 88, as last amended by Regulation
( EEC ) No 2081 / 93 ( J );

— is deemed a priority in the development strategy

established with a view to the achievement of the

objectives in question and that it appears as such in the
Community Support Framework ;

— is compatible with the other Community policies

( common agricultural policy, environmental protection    etc .).

H OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3574 / 93

by Francois Musso ( RDE )

to the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 97

Subject : The " NOW Programme and Corsica

Can the Commission provide details of the implementation
of the NOW Programme in Corsica, including the amount
of funding earmarked for and the amount actually allocated
to the programme ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 January 1994 )

Encouraging progress is being made on the NOW
Programme in Corsica . Three projects have been approved
in the following areas :

— Social integration and access to employment — sector :

general assistance for individuals, taking account of the
daily difficulties encountered by women in training

( Finosello Vocational Training College ).

— Training leading to qualifications in rural tourism and

development of various types of accommodation :
children 's holiday centres in rural areas ( Finosello
Vocational Training College ).

— Access to employment ( Institute for development and

training ).

The Community co-financing for these projects is ECU
242 543, which is supplemented by national funding .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3587 / 93

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 98 )

Subject : Control of epidemics

Epidemics must be controlled if livestock is to remain
healthy .

The recent outbreaks of African swine fever and classical

swine fever have shown that these diseases have not yet been
eradicated and that, on the contrary, unless radical measures
are adopted without delay the problem may get out of
control with serious trade, economic, social and other

consequences .

The Commission is presumably aware of the problem .
Accordingly, can it say :

— what steps it is taking to control the outbreaks ?

— what precautionary measures it is considering for the

future ?

— what will the cost to Germany, Portugal, Belgium and

Spain be ?

— what its view is on the closure of Portugal 's borders to

pig imports ?

— whether it is going to refer the Portuguese decision to the

European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ?

No C 340 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

— whether it does not believe that such acts are at variance with the Single Market and the free movement of
goods ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

The Commission is fully aware of the recent disease
outbreaks to which the question refers .

The control and eradication of animal diseases is the

responsibility of the veterinary services of the affected
Member State . Minimum standards are laid down by
Community legislation ( Directives ) for almost all of them .
Although the Commission 's proposal for a Directive for the
control of African Swine Fever ( ASF ) thoughout the
Community is not yet completed, the Council has already
adopted three specific Decisions for the eradication of ASF
in Italy, Spain and Portugal .

It is the Commission 's responsibility to assess the
effectiveness of the measures applied by the Member State,
and to require additional measures if necessary, to eradicate
the disease and to prevent its spread to other areas of the
Community .

During the course of the recent epidemics, the Commission

" has been in close contact with the veterinary services

concerned, and the action taken has been reported and
discussed frequently in the Standing Veterinary

1 Committee .

The adoption of the Directive on ASF will complete the
necessary Community legislation in this field, but the
measures are under continual review, and modifications will
be proposed if required .

The Commission is working with the Office International
des Epizooties ( OIE ) in Paris, to develop the methodology of
risk analysis and the criteria for regionalization for the
future .

At present, it is not possible for the Commission to estimate
the cost to the affected countries ; these will normally be
eligible for Community aid .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3604 / 93

by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 99 )

Subject : Construction of a dam at Petit Saut ( Guyana )

France is the only Community country involved in
responsibility for protecting and developing tropical rain
forests, particularly in the department of Guyana . The
department ought to be a priority area for experimentation
in implementing the many European declarations on
tropical forests and sustainable development . Such is not the

case .

In Guyana Electricite de France is constructing a dam which
will wipe out 310 km 2 of tropical forest at Petit Saut on river
Sinnamary . In the absence of preliminary forest clearance on
a progressive and coordinated basis this operation will
seriously affect local biodiversity . It would appear that EDF
is planning two other dams which will be just as
destructive .

What does the Commission propose to do to ensure that

utterances on the need to preserve biodiversity are not
undermined by contradictory action ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The French authorities have informed the Commission that

the Petit Saut dam was submitted to an environmental

impact assessment in accordance with the requirements laid
down by Directive 85 / 337 / EEC . According to the
information the Commission has been given, the direct and
indirect impact of the project on the various factors defined
by the Directive were taken into account in the assessment of
the dam 's impact .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3610 / 93

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

Concerning the Portuguese decision to prohibit imports of ( 94 / C 340 / 100 )
pigs from all Member States, this action is against the
provisions of the Treaty . This is why the Commission has
initiated the infringement procedure . The Portuguese Subject : Safety standards for water amusement parks
measures were lifted on 19 November 1993 .

At the end of July, public opinion in Portugal was shocked
by the terrible deaths of two children in the Aquaparque
water amusement park in Lisbon .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 45

Does the Commission agree with consumer associations farmers working land in Belgium but not to Dutch farmers
which say that there is a need for more effective legislation at in the same situation .
European level ?

What steps has the Commission already taken to protect
consumers ' rights by regulating the safety standards in such
parks ?

Is the Commission aware of this situation ? Does it not think

that it constitutes discrimination against German, French
and Luxembourg farmers which is incompatible with the
internal market ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission What measures, if any, will the Commission take to remedy
such discrimination ?
(9 March 1994 )

The Commission is well aware of the problems of safety in
water amusement parks and has so far taken action at two
levels, namely at the general level and at a level specifically
relating to leisure complexes, particularly water amusement
parks .

— At the general level, Council Directive 92 / 59 / EEC of

29 June 1992 on general product safety ( 1 ),. due to enter
into force on 29 June 1994, should help to ensure the
safety of equipment used in water amusement parks,
since such items are products within the meaning of the
Directive .

Additionally, the Commission is currently examining
the general problem of the safety of services offered to
consumers . The operation of water amusement parks is
one such service .

— At a more specific level, the Commission has sponsored a

research project to assess the safety of services offered in
aquaparks in six Member States, including Portugal .
This project has already served as the basis for the

publication of information brochures and articles in the
specialist press in the Member States .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3626 / 93

by Astrid Lulling ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 101 )

Subject : Taxation of Luxembourg farmers working
agricultural land in Belgium

A number of Luxembourg farmers who own or rent
agricultural land in Belgium are now being asked to pay tax
on their income from that land . The income is being
calculated as from the 1992 financial year without taking

account of the dependent spouse 's or tax-free allowance,
which was not previously the case . These tax arrangements

are being applied to French, German and Luxembourg

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

The Commission is aware of the arrangements in Belgium
for the taxation of farmers resident in neighbouring
countries who farm land on Belgian territory .

In principle, these farmers are liable to pay non-residents '
tax in Belgium on income from the farming of land situated
there .

The arrangements in Belgium for the taxation of
non-residents were tightened considerably by a Law of
22 December 1989 which took effect in 1991 .

Non-residents are no longer eligible for certain deductions
linked to their personal situation, such as the personal
allowance, the married person 's allowance or the
dependant 's allowance, although such deductions are still
available to resident taxpayers .

The present tax situation of German, French and
Luxembourg residents farming Belgian land, who are not
granted married person 's allowances or other allowances, is
due to this amendment to Belgian tax legislation . Following
action by the Commission, the provisions in question were
amended by a Law of 28 December 1992 and are now more
favourable to employees and pensioners, who, subject to
certain conditions, qualify for the same allowances as
residents ; however, there has been no change in the situation
of other classes of taxpayers .

There is, however, an exception to these tax arrangements :
by virtue of Article 25 (3 ) of the convention between Belgium
and the Netherlands, farmers of Dutch nationality are
granted the same deductions and allowances as farmers
resident in Belgium . But the waiver does not apply to
French, German or Luxembourg farmers .

No C 340 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

In the Commission 's view, therefore, tax treatment is here
affected by considerations relating to . nationality . The
Commission intends to examine more closely these Belgian
tax arrangements, in particular in the light of Article 52 of
the Treaty, which lays down as a direct and unconditional
rule that nationals establishing themselves in another
Member State for the purpose of pursuing activities as
self-employed persons, whether or not this is their principal
establishment j are to be treated in exactly the same way as
nationals of that Member State .

In this same field of taxation of non-residents, the
Commission adopted a recommendation on 21 December
1993 with the purpose of encouraging the Member States to
remove from their legislation provisions discriminating
against non-residents and to adapt that legislation on the
basis of common rules .

The proposed scope of the recommendation is
wide-ranging, covering employees and pensioners as well as
the self-employed and those carrying on an industrial,
commercial or agricultural activity . Specific rules are set out
to ensure non-discriminatory taxation in the Member State
of activity of non-residents who are in a situation
comparable to that of residents . A comparable situation is
one where the income earned in the Member State of activity
represents at least 75 % of the non-resident 's total taxable
income .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3644 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 102 )

Subject : Saving and re-cycling of water in Greece and the

Community as a whole

1 . Have the Greek authorities taken any measures to save
and re-cycle water, for example to the use of treated urban
sewage for certain types of agriculture, and, if so, what are
they ?

2 . Can the Community provide funding and support for
measures designed to save and re-cycle water ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

are being built which will make it possible to reuse urban
waste water taken from the waste treatment plants in
Amfissa and Kos for agriculture . The Commission could
also help fund this type of operation under the new

1994 — 1999 Structural Funds programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3646 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 103 )

Subject : Grazing in forest areas

Will the Commission take steps to end grazing in forest
areas or even end subsidies for freely grazing livestock ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

The Commission 's investigations reveal that this type of
stock-farming cannot be eligible for the compensatory
allowances granted in mountain, hill and other
less-favoured farming areas pursuant to Community
legislation, and in particular Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91,
because it is not linked to a forage area on the recipient
holding .

However, under the principle of subsidiarity Member States
have the right to restrict the list of animal species eligible for
Community and national aid, to define which types of
stock-farming are eligible and to ensure that the Community
scheme is properly applied .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3651 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28, March 1994 ) ( 17 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 104 )

The Commission has no general information on the
measures adopted by the Greek authorities to save water
and re-cycle urban effluent .

It has already helped support pilot and specific initiatives,
e.g. through the Medspa, LIFE and Envireg instruments .
Under the Envireg Programme - for instance, installations

Subject : Import and consumption of tropical timber

Has tropical timber been imported and consumed in
Community Member States recently and, if so, in what
quantities ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 47

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

Italy
Denmark

Spain
Greece

by Sir Leon Brittan Italy 3,8 %

of the Commission Denmark 3,5 %

(5 May 1994 ) Spain 0,7%

Greece 0,2%

on behalf of the Commission

According to information available to the Commission, the
Community amounts for about 20 % of world-wide
tropical timber imports ( 1 ). The Community imports of
tropical timber can be divided in four different types which
are, however, all measured on the basis of roundwood
equivalents . The term roundwood equivalent ( RE )
corresponds to logs necessary to produce higher processed
products as lumber, veneers and plywood .

The appropriate figures for 1992 toncerning the whole of
the Community are as follows ( 2 )

Logs
Lumber

Plywood
Veneers :

2 280 000 m 3 RE

4 280 000 m 3 RE

3 450 000 m 3 RE

390 000 m 3 RE

The share of the different importing Member States as a
percentage of Community-wide imports in 1992 are
outlined below :

( 1 ) Environmental Strategies Europe, Report submitted to the

Commission of the European Communities, Volume 1
September 1992, page 2 .
( 2 ) Outlined figures refer to statistics published by Union pour le

commerce des bois tropicaux dans la CEE . Edition 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 105 )

Subject : Opening of US markets in the shipping and steel

sectors

outlined below : Can the Commission say if and when the United States

intends to open its markets in the shipping and steel sectors
and to cut duties on textile products ?
Logs :

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

As far as shipping is concerned, it has not proved possible to
conclude the General Agreement on Trade in Services

( GATS ) negotiations, although there has been agreement on
a programme of work — in which the United States has
promised to play an active part — with a view to liberalizing
further various trade aspects ( access to cargos, ancillary
services, access to port facilities ). These negotiations are due
to be concluded in June 1996 . Obligations under the GATS,
and the MFN clause in particular, have in the meantime
been suspended for countries which have not confirmed
their undertakings in the sector . This is the situation in
particular of the United States, Japan and the Community,
which have withdrawn their offers of undertakings in view
of the poor results achieved at this stage in the
negotiations .

Turning to steel, after the 31 March 1992 expiry of the
voluntary restraint arrangements, the sector now has no
import barriers in breach of the GATT . The US authorities
have maintained their anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties
on certain steel products from some Member States . While
not questioning the legitimacy of these trade defence
instruments, the Community nevertheless considers that
certain aspects of the procedures followed by the US
authorities do not comply with the international rules

France

Italy
Spain
Germany
Greece

Netherlands

Belgium
United Kingdom
Denmark

Lumber :

Netherlands

United Kingdom
Italy
France

Germany
Spain
Belgium
Greece

Denmark

Veneers / Plywood :

United Kingdom
Germany
France

Netherlands
Belgium

38,5 %

19,2%
14,9 %
12,3 %

7,6%
5,1 %

1,5%
8,8 %
0,1 %

20,5 %

15,8 %
15,2%
14,7%
13,9%
11,3%

6,9 %
0,9 %
0,8 %

36,6%
17,3%
15,2%
13,2%

9,5 %

No C 340 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

obtaining and has therefore referred the dispute to a GATT
panel . At the end of the Uruguay Round, the United States
also undertook to phase out completely their customs duties
in the sector by the end of the ten-year transitional
period .

Reducing US tariff peaks on imports of textile products
from the European Union was a priority objective for the
Commission during the Uruguay Round negotiations . The
United States has offered to cut customs duties in excess of

15% by approximately 40% and to lower all customs
duties on textile products exported by European industry by
around 30 % . These concessions are particularly important
for the linen, silk and wool sectors .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3684 / 93

by Giinter Topmann ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 106 )

Subject : Taxes on the carriage of goods by road

According to reports, which have not yet been denied, the
Netherlands Government has decided to offset completely
the increase in excise duties on diesel fuel scheduled for

1 January 1994 . This would mean that, while the increase in
excise duty would add equally to the tax burden on all
diesel - engined road vehicles, only Dutch undertakings
would benefit from the removal of all or most of the

additional tax burden, resulting from a corresponding
reduction in another tax .

1 . Is the Commission able to confirm these plans and the
conclusions I have drawn ?

2 . Does not the Commission see a parallel between these

plans and the action of the German Government in

1989, when a cut in motor vehicle tax coincided with the
introduction of road-use charges ?

3 . If so, do^s it likewise intend to bring an action

concerning an infringement of Article 76 of the EC
Treaty ?

4 . With regard to the aforementioned intention of the

Netherlands Government, can the Commission confirm
that the statement adopted by the Ecofin Council on
25 October 1993 in connection with the Directive on
' taxes on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods
by road . . .' has been rendered ineffective ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1994 )

1 . The Dutch Government has informed the Commission

of its intentions to raise fuel excise duties and at the same

time reduce vehicle taxes . Exact details of these measures

have not yet been communicated to the Commission .

However, as similar moves are likely to occur in several
other Member States and considering that in practice the
biggest part of the fuel quantities used by hauliers are
bought in their own country, no particular nationality of
Community hauliers seems likely to be more adversely
affected than others .

2 . Although the Dutch case appears to have similarities,
as to its consequences, with the German case of 1989,
nevertheless their respective circumstances are different .

3 . Directive 92 / 82 / EEC of 19 October 1992 O on the
approximation of the rates of excise duties on mineral oils
has set minimum levels for fuel excise duties, which means
that Member States are free to fix the rates thiey judge
appropriate, as long as they are above the minimum
levels .

On the other hand, after the adoption of Directive
93 / 89 / EEC of 25 October 1993 on the application by
Member States of taxes on certain vehicles used for the
carriage of goods by road and tolls and charges for the use of
certain infrastructures ( 2 ), Member States can modify the
rates of vehicle taxes they apply provided they respect the
minimum levels set in the Directive . Member States have to

comply with this Directive by 1 January 1995 but they can
also do so earlier .

The provisions of at least the latter Directive constitute
common rules in the sense of Article 75(1 ) EC Treaty . This
means that Article 76 which regulates the interim time ' until
the provisions referred to in Article 75(1 ) have been laid
down ' is no longer applicable, with regard to the issues dealt
with in the Directive . On the other hand, the German
initiative was taken in 1989 when no common rules existed
in the area and when therefore Article 76 applied .

4 . As mentioned in § 1 above the exact details of the
proposed Dutch measure are not yet known . Nevertheless,
the Commission has no reason to doubt the effectiveness of

the political commitments undertaken by Member States .

(!) OJ Nq L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 279, 12 . 11 . 1993 .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 49

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3687 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3695 / 93

Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 107 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 108 )

Subject : Implementation of the eco-audit Regulation and

Subject : Aid to farmers in Castilla y Leon

follow-up

Can the Commission report on the implementation of the
On 16 March 1993 the Commission approved the Spanish eco-audit Regulation ( EEC ) No 1836 / 93 ( ), and
aid programme for supplementing the incomes of farmers in monitoring thereof ?
Castilla y Leon, and the amount of the Community
contribution . According to the regulation, Community 1 . Will there be a link between the Community 's eco-label
assistance is to be granted to farmers whose main scheme and the eco-audit such that eco-labels will be
occupation is agriculture . However, according to my awarded only in resepct of products from undertakings
information, and various reports, the Regional Government which also participate in the eco-audit ?
of Castilla y Leon has used this finance to create a fund
which is then distributed to all beet growers, whether or not 2 . What measures will the Commission be taking with
farming is their main occupation . to small and medium-sized SMUs

1 . Will there be a link between the Community 's eco-label

scheme and the eco-audit such that eco-labels will be

awarded only in resepct of products from undertakings
which also participate in the eco-audit ?

2 . What measures will the Commission be taking with

1 . Can the Commission confirm this information ?

2 . Does the Commission consider that the Autonomous
Community of Castilla y Leon is legally justified in
taking this action ?

3 . If not, what action does the Commission intend to take
to ensure that Community aid which is co-financed by
the PARA concerned is granted to the legitimate
recipients, which are those whose main occupation is
farming ?

3 . How much funding in total will be available to promote

the eco-audit in 1994 ?

4 . What have the results been of call for tenders
No 93 / C-247 / 06 ( 2 )? Is the Commission planning
further calls for tender of this kind in the near

future ?

5 . Will the Environmental Agency in Copenhagen be
taking over any tasks with regard to the eco-audit ? If so,
which ?

regard to small and medium-sized undertakings ( SMUs )
in order to enable them to participate in the eco-audit or
to facilitate their participation ?

(!) OJ No L 168, 10 . 7 . 1993, p . 1 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 247, 10 . 9 . 1993, p . 6 .
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 ) Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1994 )

1 . No . The Commission has no information at its

disposal which would suggest that the Spanish authorities
are not applying correctly of the decision referred to by the
Honourable Member .

2 . If any such arrangements were to be made by the
Spanish authorities this would indeed not be legally

correct .

3 . As referred to above, the Commission has no evidence
to this effect but it will contact the Spanish authorities with a
view to obtaining the necessary assurances that the
programme is being implemented in the form in which it was
adopted by the Commission .

1 . No . The two schemes are separate and stand alone .

2 . The Commission will be discussing with the
Committee established under Article 19 of Regulation
( EEC ) No 1836 / 93 possible proposals to the Council .
Meanwhile it has in the official Journal invited . applications
to participate in pilot projects designed to prepare, promote
or facilitate participation by companies in the
Eco-management and audit scheme . The invitation is
primarily aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises .

In addition, the implementation of the scheme is a priority of
the LIFE Programme for 1994, under Council Regulation
( EEC ) No 1973 / 92 (*).

3 . Various budget lines could be used to promote
Eco-audit in 1994 ( LIFE, implementation of environmental

No C 340 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

legislation etc .). Therefore it is not possible at this stage to
quantify the possible resources .

4 . This invitation to tender was divided into two parts .
The first closed on 31 October 1993 and elicited 140

proposals . The second, which closed on 31 December 1993,
elicited some 200 proposals . The Community is currently
evaluating them . At this stage, no further invitation is
planned .

5 . No activity by the Agency in this area is planned at this
stage . However, this could be reconsidered, in the light of
needs and experience .

(!) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3715 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 109 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 745 / 93

by Inigo Mendez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 110 )

Subject : Exports of Moroccan tomatoes to the Union

Over the last few years, producers and exporters of
tomatoes from the Canary Islands have been complaining
about the lack of Community Regulations governing
tomato imports from the Kingdom of Morocco to the
Union . The situation is at its worst from November to April,
as the reference prices for the Union 's produces do not apply
during this period .

The ' uncontrolled exportation ' of Moroccan tomatoes to
the Union has been the subject of frequent complaints to the
Community authorities . However, no legal steps have been
taken to date . In the past week, Moroccan tomato
shipments have been double those of the Canary Islands,
totalling over 1 million boxes, with the result that profits in
this sector may be seriously hit .

What positive steps does the Commission intend to take to
avoid the economic damage facing tomato producers in the
Canary Islands ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Subject : Science framework programme on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )
What steps have been taken by the Commission to introduce
external professional peer review of its science framework
programme 's effectiveness in meeting its aims and what There is a surplus on the Community market for tomatoes
plans does it have to introduce greiater transparency into its almost throughout the year . This situation has worsened
programme review procedure ? during the last two marketing years, as a result of the rise in

Community production, which has been very significant
during the off-season .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1994 )

For several years, the specific research and technological
development ( RDT ) programmes of the Community have
been systematically evaluated by panels of independent
external evaluators . The reports, which assess the
effectiveness of the RTD programmes and the realization of
the set objectives, are published and distributed widely to
enhance the transparency of Community RTD activities . In
addition, the Commission intends to develop in the context
of Framework Programme IV, special arrangements which
will further improve the evaluation process .

On top of such production come imports from Morocco,
mainly during the winter months .

For the moment, the Commission, which is in constant
contact with the Moroccan authorities, is finalizing a
procedure for monitoring the markets and notifying trade
flows ih order to bring about balance and to avoid any
disturbance on the markets .

The Community offer to GATT provides for the fixing of an
entry price for tomatoes for the whole marketing year .

The renewal of the agreement between the Community and
Morocco, discussions on which have just commenced,
should provide an opportunity for working out measures to
ensure market stability .

Longer-term measures for the Community tomato industry
could be considered in the framework of the reform of the

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 51

common organization of the market in fruit and
vegetables .

Projects are selected on the advice of a panel of twelve
independent experts in the light of the importance of the
monument and the plans for restoring it . The use to be made
of the monument following restoration is another
criterion .

The Commission will take the Honourable Member 's

comments into account in connection with a new
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3746 / 93 communication on the cultural heritage now in course of

by Luigi Vertemati ( PSE ) preparation .

to the Commission

(3 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 111 )

Subject : Community measures relating to the restoration of

historic buildings

Are there any Community measures to promote the reuse
for social and cultural purposes of historic buildings which
require restoration ?

— If so, is there any coordination between Community and

national funding for this type of action ?

What criteria does the Community apply in selecting
projects, and what requirements have to be met ?

— If not, what does the Commission think of the idea of

arranging for the Community to finance the restoration
of a number of historic buildings to enable them to be
used for social or cultural purposes ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3761 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 112 )

Subject : Definition of ' subsidiarity '

Will the Commission define what it means when it uses the

word ' subsidiarity ' in official documentation ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the various

documents already transmitted by the Commission to

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro Parliament, and particularly to its communication to the

on behalf of the Commission

Council and Parliament of 27 October 1992 i 1 ) on the
( 29 April 1994 ) principle of subsidiarity .

Article 128 of the EC Treaty recognizes that cultural policy,
including management of the architectural heritage, is a
matter for the Member States alone . In line with the

subsidiarity principle, the Community 's role is limited to
encouraging cooperation between the Member States and, if
necessary, supporting and supplementing their action .

As part of its contribution, the Community has been
running an architectural heritage programme for some years
now and has provided funding for a number of outstanding
monuments and sites, largely at the instigation and with the
support of Parliament .

The main purposes of this programme, organized by the
Commission around a different theme each year, is to
increase awareness among the general public, the
professionals, and national and regional authorities of the
importance of protecting and developing Europe 's
heritage .

(M SEC(92 ) 1990 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3763 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

94 / C 340 / 113 )

Subject : Establishment of a de-regulation unit

When does the Commission intend to establish a

de-regulation unit, designed to identify areas where
Community law is over-regulatory and to promote
legislation to repeal superfluous rules and regulations ?

No C 340 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3786 / 93

by Edward Kellet-Bowman ( PPE )
( 14 April 1994 ) to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

The Commission would point out to the Honourable ( 94 / C 340 / 115 )
Member that, under its authority, all its departments have a
duty to enforce the principle of subsidiarity, with
coordination being the responsibility of the Subject : Conditions in EC abattoirs
Secretariat-General and the Legal Service .

Following recent reports on the lack of humane slaughtering
conditions in some Spanish abattoirs, what checks are made
by the Commission to ensure that EC standards for
abattoirs are enforced in the Member States ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3764 / 93
by Patrick Cooney ( PPE ) and John Cushnahan ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 94 / C 340 / 114 ) ( 14 April 1994 )

Subject : Ireland national development plan

The Irish national development plan, recently submitted to
the Commission, would result in a reduction in per capita
expenditure in the south-east sub-region .

Given that the south-east sub-regional body, in its
submission to the Government, had identified a number of
transport infrastructure projects ( including road and rail ) as
being of vital importance for the development of the area,
will the Commission intervene to ensure that an equitable
level of Community funding is allocated to the south-east so
that these projects can proceed ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1994 )

Submission of the National Development Plan is the first
step in a process which leads to the adoption of a
Community Support Framework by the Commission, in
agreement with the Irish authorities . The operations to be
supported in the period 1994 — 1999 will be identified in the
CSF and resources will be allocated accordingly . The
allocation of Community assistance will not be done on a
regional basis within Ireland . The level of Community
funding in the south-east will be determined by the
expenditure undertaken by the public and private sectors in
the sub-region to implement measures contained in the CSF .
However, as the Honourable Members will be aware, the
Plan indicates ( p. 150 ) the estimated out-turn of expenditure
by sub-region .

The health conditions governing the production and placing
on the market of fresh meat are laid down in Council
Directive 64 / 43 3 / EEC ( 1 ), as amended and consolidated by
Directive 91 / 497 / EEC ( 2 ). Rules on the stunning of animals
before slaughter are laid down in Council Directive
74 / 577 / EEC ( 3 ), which will be replaced by Directive
93 / 119 / EEC ( 4 ) on 1 January 1995 .

Directives are a legal instrument allowing the Member
States to which they are addressed to decide on the form and
means of achieving a Directive 's goals .

The steps taken by the authorities of the various Member
States to comply with Community rules have thus reflected
the prevailing organization of administrative powers in each
Member State .

By the same token, implementation of the measures has been
monitored in accordance with the administrative structures
in place in the Member States .

As regards Community inspections, which have been
regularly carried out since 1985 in all Member States in
establishments already approved for intra-Community
trade, their aim is to check that the Member States are
ensuring compliance with Community rules and may lead,
where necessary, to a request for the withdrawal of approval
from an establishment where the Community provisions are
not being met .

0 ) OJ No L 121, 29 . 7 . 1964 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 316, 26 . 11 . 1974 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 340, 31 . 12 . 1993 .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3793 / 93

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 116 )

Subject : Implications for the Community of ' tax
holidays '

Rising unemployment, caused by the decline in economic
activity and investment, continues to be the main concern of
— among others — the tax authorities, who, as a way of
stimulating investment in some countries and regions, have
introduced tax exemptions or allowances for certain types
of company, a practice which is becoming known in
economic circles as a ' tax holiday '.

Since this kind of economic incentive may have
repercussions on Community activities and policies, it
would be useful to know the implications for the
Community of these national measures and whether they
are legitimate from the point of view of competition . If such
measures are considered on balance to be desirable, does the
Commission think they might be extended to all business
activity in the Community ?

such measures could further aggravate the distortions that
encourage the substitution of capital for labour . The White
Paper does, however, suggest a number of targeted tax
measures that are favourable to employment . Most Member
States are thus urged to alleviate the burden of tax and
social-security contributions that weigh too heavily on
low-paid jobs, in return for uniform taxation of CO2
emissions or of investment income . To encourage firms to
invest more in scientific research, the White Paper also
suggests that Member States develop systems of tax credit
for research work .

(M COM ( 93 ) 700 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3796 / 93

by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 117 )

Subject : Medical charges
Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 ) Article 9 of the new ' National Agreement governing
relations between doctors and sickness insurance funds '
includes a ' Sector with differing fees ', depending on whether

Member States use tax incentives of various kinds to

or not doctors are already established .

encourage investment and economic activity on their
territory .

Such measures are a matter for the Member States .

However, tax exemptions based on sectoral or regional
criteria are treated in the same way as State aid . They must
comply with Articles 92 to 94 of the EC Treaty, which
authorize specific aid measures under certain conditions,
stipulating in particular that they must not affect trading
conditions to an extent that is contrary to the common
interest .

Without prejudice to the application of Article 101 of the
EC Treaty, Community action to harmonize company
taxation can be taken only where the relevant national rules
have a direct impact on the establishment or operation of the
common market . Any measure would have to take the form
of a directive adopted unanimously by the Council on a
proposal from the Commission and after consulting
Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee .

As far as the Commission 's position is concerned, in its
recent White Paper on ' Growth, competitiveness,
employment ' (*), it ruled out the general introduction of tax
incentives for investment, although one of its aims is also to
stimulate investment . This is because, firstly, the
deterioration in the public finance situation in the
Community leaves no room for such action and, secondly,

At the previous agreement had been set aside by the State
Council, the current arrangements are based on three
financial schemes : sector 1 doctors, sector 1 doctors and
doctors outside the national health service . In sector 2,
doctors charge for consultations in accordance with the
national health scale . In sector 2, doctors charge for
consultations on a basis other than the national health scale

and the patient is reimbursed accordingly by the Social
Security Fund .

The effect of the new agreement is to maintain the

favourable sector 2 arrangements for doctors who have
worked in French public hospitals, i.e. without any
European equivalent, and who are virtually all French
nationals or for doctors who are already established .

Under Article 52 et seq . of the EEC Treaty, which deal with
the ' Right of Establishment ', and, in particular, Article 53,
which rules out any new restrictions, can a Member State
introduce dual arrangements for the establishment of the
professions, including doctors, which favour those already
established — the result of which will be to restrict the
arrival of Community doctors — and those who, because of
the qualifications required, must in practice be French
nationals .

No C 340 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

Any discrimination, whether overt or veiled, which is based
on nationality is prohibited under Community law, and in
particular Article 52 of the EC Treaty ( right of
establishment ).

Accordingly, if the new agreement in France reserves the
most advantageous remuneration for people, who, in
practice, must be French, it is contrary to Community
law .

The Commission will contact the French authorities with a
view to examining the scope of the new agreement .

trade restrictions were maintained for 11 communes in the

region of Alentejo . In January the restrictions were reduced
to four communes .

Financial contribution from the Community is available for
the eradication of African Swine Fever within the context of

Article 3 of Council Decision 90 / 424 / EEC on expenditure in
the veterinary field ( 3 ). The contribution covers expenses
incurred in relation to infected and contaminated pig herds .
Decision 90 / 424 / EEC does not provide for payments to
farmers who may suffer loss of income due to trade
restrictions .

(!) OJ No L 258, 16 . 10 . 1993 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 285, 20 . 11 . 1993 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3857 / 93

by James Elles ( PPE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3801 / 93

to the Commission
by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 17 January 1994 )

( 12 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 118 )

Subject : Emergency aid to producers in areas affected by

African swine fever

A series outbreaks of African swine fever in the Alentejo
region of Portugal has led to a ban on trade in pigs from this
area being imposed by the Standing Veterinary
Committee .

What specific Community aid have pig producers in these
areas received to offset the resultant loss of income ?

( 94 / C 340 / 119 )

Subject : EC institutions — Staff policy

1 . What criteria are used by the Commission in assessing
whether an official should be promoted ? What importance,
for instance, is given to age in this assessment process ?

2 ., What is the Commission 's policy on staff mobility ? Is
there any guideline established as to a maximum period for
any official in a specific job ?

3 . With regard to the secondment of national civil
servants to the Commission, what has been the level of such
secondment over the period 1988 — 1992 ?

4 . What is the ratio of the total number of civil servants
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission working in the EC to the total number working in the 12 EC

Member States ?

( 29 March 1994 )

For the purpose of intra-Community trade, Portugal was
declared free from African Swine Fever on 1 April 1993 . The
disease re-appeared in August 1993 in the region of
Alentejo . From August to December a total of 10 outbreaks
were reported, in the region .

The African Swine Fever virus can be transmitted through
trade in live pigs, fresh pigmeat and certain pigmeat
products, and in order to protect pig populations in other
Member States the Commission adopted Decision
93 / 531 / EEC i 1 ) on 15 October . The ban on exports
introduced by this Decision was lifted on 19 November
when it was possible to regionalize trade in live pigs and
pigmeat . By Commission Decision 93 / 602 / EEC ( 2 ) certain

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1994 )

1 . The Promotion Committees draw up the lists of
officials considered most worthy of promotion on the basis
of the following criteria :

— merit, as assessed in staff reports,

— in case of equal merit, career status, taking into account

seniority in the service, in grade and in the category, and

age .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 55

The proposals for promotion made by departments are
based on these different items .

2 . Mobility is an essential aspect of the Commission 's
staff policy . The general rule is that it should apply to
officials in the lower grades of categories A and B who have
been in the same job for over three years and those in the
middle grades of these categories who have been in the same
job for over five years . This is not a hard and fast rule ; other
factors, such as age and the interests of the service, are also
taken into account .

3 . The number of seconded national expert ^ paid from
the appropriation in Item A - 1520 has been as follows

( expressed in man / years ):

— 1988 : 240

— 1989 : 286

— 1990 : 400

— 1991 : 600

— 1992 : 650

It should be noted that up to 1990 some national experts
could be paid from mini-budgets .

4 . At the beginning of 1994 the total number of officials
and temporary staff serving with the Commission and
covered by the administrative budget was 13 955 .
According to the national accounts ESA — aggregates,
published by Eurostat, the number of persons working in
the public service ( central government ) in the Member States
in 1991 was 12 200 000 . The ratio between these two

figures is 0,12 % .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3858 / 93

by James Elles ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 120 )

Subject : Trading standards

efficient means of ensuring fast implementation of EC rules
on standards ?

Are there other EC countries with a similar structure in place
to ensure the effective application of European
standards ?

If not, does the Commission believe that other countries
might learn from the UK experience and set up regional
standards bodies as a result ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1994 )

The way in which Community legislation is enforced in
Member States is a matter for the Member States

themselves . The Commission is, however, entitled to insist
that market control measures such as those applied by the
trading standards officers in the United Kingdom are, where
they concern legislation relevant to the functioning of the
European single market, applied effectively in all Member
States .

In some Member States such control is centralized, in others
with a federal structure it is the responsibility of
decentralized regional authorities ( such as the Lander in
Germany ). In the United Kingdom it is the responsibility of
the local authorities, although these have to report on their
activities to the central government .

The Commission does not consider that differences in the
organizational structures within the Member States need
necessarily affect the efficiency of market control . A
centralized system may, for example, provide for
widespread regional offices of the central control authority,
and so function as well as a regionally-based system . It is,
however, noteworthy that the United Kingdom provides a
large proportion of the notifications to the Commission
which are made under certain procedures for handling
urgent cases . This could mean that more problems are
encountered in the United Kingdom than elsewhere, or that
a larger proportion of those detected are notified . This reflex
of notification where appropriate should be developed in a
consistent way by whatever means suit each Member State
best .

An approach to providing more effective enforcement is set
out by the Commission in its communication on the
development of administrative cooperation in the
implementation and enforcement of Community legislation
in the internal market ( l ). The Commission will regularly
assess the progress of such cooperation in its annual report
on the operation of the internal market .

(!) COM(94 ) 29 final .
Under UK law, the fair application of trading standards is a

regional responsibility which applies both to national and
EC Regulations . Does the Commission believe this to be an

No C 340 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3863 / 93 in the Meuse Basin to bring about a drastic improvement in
by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech ( RDE ) the quality of the river 's water ?

to the Commission

(!) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 26 .
( 17 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 121 )

Subject : Berlaymont building Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Can the Commission say how much the refurbishment of ( 28 March 1994 )
the Berlaymont building will cost and when it will be open
for work again ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1994 )

Refurbishment of the Berlaymont is a matter for the owners,
Berlaymont SA, in which the Belgian State is the majority
shareholder .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3867 / 93

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 122 )

Subject : Persistent pollution of the Meuse in Wallonia

Is the Commission aware of reports that the water
extraction firm Brabantse Biesbosch has been forced for the

sixth time this year to halt the extraction of water from the
Meuse intended for conversion into drinking water for the
use of around Wi million people in the Netherlands, this
time because of considerably increased concentrations of
pyridine and di-isopropylether ?

In view of the judgment of the Court of Justice of 2 February

1982 ( Case No 73 / 81 ) in which Belgium was found to have
failed to implement Directive 75 / 440 / EEC (*) concerning
the quality required of surface water intended for the
abstraction of drinking water in the Member States, does the
Commission agree that it is high time it delivered a reasoned
opinion pursuant to Article 171 ( 2 ) of the EEC Treaty with a
view to bringing proceedings before the Court, setting out
the points on which Belgium has failed to comply with the
Court 's judgment and stating the amount of the fine

( calculated either as a lump sum or on a daily basis, e.g. one
guilder per day for each Netherlands citizen affected by the
failure of its service ) which it wishes the Court to impose on
Belgium ?

Is the Commission prepared to set up as soon as possible, on
its own initiative, an international Meuse Commission
which would require all Member States and local authorities

Under the relevant Community legislation, there is no
obligation on Member States to inform the Commission of
occasions when the abstraction of surface water intended

for drinking water has to be suspended . Detailed
information on the particular situation described by the
Honourable Member has not been sent to the

Commission .

In its judgment of 2 February 1982, the Court found that, by
not adopting the measures necessary to conform to
Directive 75 / 440 / EEC concerning the quality required of
surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water
within the time allowed, Belgium had failed to fulfil its
obligations under the Treaty .

Following that judgment, Belgium sent the Commission the
Royal Decree of 25 September 1984 laying down the general
standards defining the quality objectives of fresh surface
water intended for the abstraction of drinking water . This
was the first step towards the proper transposition of the
above Directive .

In a second judgment of 1 1 June 1991, the Court held that,
by not communicating the measures adopted for the
purpose of implementing the above Directive and Directive
79 / 869 / EEC (*) concerning the methods of measurement
and frequencies of sampling and analysis of surface water
intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the
Member States or adopting the measures required for their
implementation in the region of Flanders and Wallonia,
Belgium had failed to fulfil its obligations .

The Commission is in the process of reviewing its policy
with regard to action under Article 171 on the EEC Treaty,
as amended by the Treaty on European Union, in particular
as regards the second adverse ruling by the Court of Justice
and the penalties to be applied in such a case .

The powers of the institutions under the EEC Treaty in
respect of external relations, whether under the legal bases
relating to international agreements ( Articles 113 and 238 )
or under internal legal bases, in pursuance of the case-law
concerning the AETR Agreement, concern relations with
third countries only . On the other hand, relations between
the Community and the Member States are not governed by
international law but by Community law only . These
relations are therefore not covered by international
agreements but by the Community treaties and instruments
adopted by the institutions .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 57

In Directive 76 / 464 / EEC ( ) on pollution caused by certain
dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic
environment of the Community, the Commission has a
coordinating instrument to reduce the pollution of water by
certain substances . Article 7 ( 7 ) of the Directive provides for
comparison of the Member States ' programmes . The
Commission will ask France, Belgium and the Netherlands
for information about their programmes with regard to the
Meuse and will compare them .

The fact that firms may receive support from within the
Community for product developments does not enable the
Commission to oblige those firms to keep on investing in the
Community .

(!) OJ No L 271, 29 . 10 . 1979 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-3876 / 93
( 2 ) OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 . by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 124 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 873 / 93

Subject : Non-standard abbreviations
by Bartho Pronk ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 123 )

Subject : European Economic Area ( EEA )

It appears that Swedish companies such as Scania and
Ericsson intend to carry out a drastic rationalization of their
establishments outside Sweden ( for example, in the
Netherlands ). These are firms which have received support
within the EC for product development . However,
investments in new products will increasingly be made in
Sweden and not in other EEA countries . This will mean a
loss of jobs and profits from the Netherlands and other EEA
countries .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the extent to which the

developments outlined above involving the two Swedish
companies are being repeated in other countries of the
Union and with other companies ?

2 . Does the Commission believe that the decision to invest

more in the home country has anything to do with the
entry into force of the Treaty on the European Economic
Area ?

3 . In the Commission 's opinion, is this development in the
interests of the Union ?

4 . If not, what appropriate measures is the Commission
considering to put an end to such developments which
are a serious threat to Community jobs ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1994 )

In view of the fact that textual and linguistic clarity cannot
be divorced from the concept of transparency, and in order
to prevent such absurdities as : ' firstly, the aim of BAT ( and
IPC ) is to prevent emissions to air . . .', which appears in a
Commission text (*) does the Commission not think that the
use and proliferation of non-standard abbreviations should
be avoided ? If so, what action will it take to ensure that this
is the case ?

(!) COM(93 ) 423 final — OJ No C 311, 17 . 11 . 1993, p . 6 .

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1994 )

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that
the use of unrecognizable abbreviations should be avoided
in future . An internal memorandum to this effect will be sent

to all Commission staff .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3902 / 93

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 125 )

Subject : Commission decision on measure to combat

African swine fever in Granada ( Spain )

The Community 's decision to extend the red line to the
The Commission has no comments to make on investment province of Granada by prohibiting the export of live pigs

decisions by individual companies . from Granada to other Member States because of the

No C 340 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

existence, confirmed on 19 October 1993, of a single case of
African swine fever has caused anger among Granada 's pig
producers .

Sources close to the sector have said that in Germany 77
centres of classical fever were needed before the EC

considered an area affected and it was only when there had
been 18 in Portugal that borders were closed to exports . In
Granada a single case was sufficient .

Can the Commission say whether these data are correct and
whether the EC Regulations have been implemented with
the maximum strictness in Granada, while in other cases the
Commission has been lax ? What is the explanation for
this ?

outbreak number 40 was confirmed, have been amended on
several occasions . By Decision 93 / 539 / EEC ( 7 ), Germany
was not able to send live pigs, fresh pigmeat and certain
pigmeat products to other Member States .

The Commission can establish protective measures within
the framework of Council Directive 90 / 425 / EEC ( 8 ) when
an outbreak of disease constitutes a serious hazard to

animals or to human health . When such measures are
adopted, they take into account the agent and nature of the
disease, epidemiological features and applied control
measures . The same criteria are applied each time the
safeguard clause is used : to protect animal and human
health . The measures established by a Decision reflect the
conditions necessary for meeting these criteria .

(!) OJ No L 9, 12 . 1 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 276, 9 . 11 . 1993 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 285, 20 . 11 . 1993 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 258, 16 . 10 . 1993 .
( 5 ) OJ No L 57, 1 . 3 . 1994 .
Answer on behalf of given the by Commission Mr Steichen (( 67 )) OJ OJ No No L L 150 262,, 22 21 .. 6 10 . 1993 . 1993 . .

( 8 ) OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990 .
( 29 April 1994 )

An outbreak of African swine fever was confirmed on

19 October 1993 in the Province of Granada . It was
reported by the Spanish authorities as outbreak number 34
and the first to appear outside the area subjected to trade
restrictions established by Commission Decision
8 9 / 21 / EEC ( l ). The initial epidemiological investigation
carried out in Granada did not reveal the source of infection

and the area was visited in late October to obtain further

information on the disease situation . On 8 November,
certain protective measures were introduced by
Commission Decision 93 / 575 / EEC ( 2 ) to prevent the spread
of the disease to other Member States since african swine

fever virus can be transmitted via trade in live pigs, fresh
pigmeat and certain pigmeat products . The measures were
lifted on 15 December by Decision 93 / 600 / EEC ( 3 ).

Outbreaks of African swine fever were confirmed in
Portugal in August 1993 . The disease occurred in the region
of Alentejo and certain protection measures were
established on 15 October by Decision 93 / 531 / EEC ( 4 ). The
measures have been amended by several decisions including
94 / 122 / EC ( 5 ) of 28 February 1994 . A total of 10 outbreaks
were reported by Portugal during 1993 .

In Germany, classical swine fever occurred in several Lander
during the spring of 1993 . Certain protective measures were
established in June by Decision 93 / 364 / EEC ( 6 ). As regards
disease notification, Spain and Germany report disease
outbreaks at the level of province and Kreis respectively . The
protective measures introduced in Germany covered 34
Kreise . A number of those, 24, had not recorded outbreaks
in domestic pigs but, nevertheless, epidemiological
investigations had revealed that protection measures were
required . The measures which were introduced when

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3953 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 126 )

Subject : Harmonization of legislation on arms sales

Recent legislation in Belgium has considerably restricted the
open sale of firearms .

However, although the purchase of a pistolet a grenaille
( type of shotgun ) is strictly prohibited in Belgium, it can
easily be obtained without restrictions in France : is this what
was intended by freedom of movement ?

There are wide disparities between the different Member
States ' legal provisions on the purchase of firearms .

What form will the standardization of this legislation,
scheduled for 1995, take ?

On what principles will the future European consensus in
this area be based ?

What stage has the preparatory work reached and who has

been taking part in it ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 59

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 April 1994 )

In Directive 91 / 477 / EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the
acquisition and possession of weapons (*) — one of the
compensatory measures which needed to be adopted before
checks on persons at intra-Community frontiers could be
abolished — weapons are classified into four categories,
each with its own conditions governing acquisition and
possession . Article 3 of the Directive recognizes the right of
Member States to adopt national provisions that are more
stringent than those provided for in the Directive .
Accordingly, a weapon falling within one of the categories
specified in the Directive may, in one Member State, be
subject to the arrangements applicable to that category
under the Directive, whereas in another Member State that
has exercised the abovementioned right, it may be subject
to more stringent arrangements applicable to a higher

category .

In the light of the provisions of the Directive regarding, on
the one hand, possession of a firearm in the course of an
intra-Community journey and, on the other, the procedures
and exchanges of information relating to transfers,
differences between the arrangements applicable to firearms
are not expected to give rise to any problems in terms of
safety and security .

No work is currently under way with a view to amending or
supplementing Directive 91 / 477 / EEC .

H OJ No L 256, 13 . 9 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3955 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

(( 24 January 1994 )

Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure as defined in the
proposal for a Council implementing Regulation (*)?

(M COM(93 )" 371 final .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

The Government of Greece undertook extensive debt

management operations in 1991 and in 1992 in order to
deal with state guaranteed and unguaranteed debt which fell
due during that period . In addition, it transformed into
bonds the accumulated obligatory investment in
government bills held by commercial banks . Both these
operations resulted in interest being postponed and
capitalized . Consequently, during the capitalization period
interest is not recorded as paid .

In order to represent the ' true ' underlying fiscal position, the
Commission in its forecasts has been recording postponed
interest in the year to which it was attributable rather than
the year it was to be paid . On the other hand, the debt
management operations which gave rise to postponement of
interest have been important steps towards enhancing the
transparency of Greece 's public finance accounts . On the
basis of cash settlements, the practice of not recording
payments which have not been made is defensible . However,
to assess Greece 's fiscal performance and fiscal adjustment,
postponed interest should be included in the measurement
of the borrowing requirements .

( 94 / C 340 / 127 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3962 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

Subject : Clarity and accuracy of Greek public accounts

The draft budget for 1994 introduced by the Greek
Government shows a financial deficit for 1993 amounting
to 12,8 % of GNP . This does not however faithfully reflect
the facts, as the interest on the domestic public debt of Dr
400 billion or 2,5 % of GNP has, contrary to the
Community 's code of practice on the transparency of public
accounts, been carried over and entered against the
following financial year, 1994 . This conveys a completely
misleading picture of the Greek economy and will
complicate the task of multinational supervision which, as
we know, is to begin on 1 January 1994 .

What is the Commission 's reaction, and will it state how far
this practice is a breach of secondary Community legislation

( European System of Integrated Economic Accounts and the

to the Commission

( 24 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 128

Subject : Impact of agricultural imports from third
countries

Will the Commission say what impact, in its opinion,
agricultural imports from third countries have on European
agriculture and on the reform of the common agricultural
policy, with particular reference to products for which the
European Union is more than self-sufficient, and will it
provide the European Parliament with all the relevant
statistical information on this question ?

No C 340 / 60 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-67 / 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3966 / 93

Kostopoulos ( PSE ) by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

( 14 February 1994 )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 129 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 130

v .

Subject : Illegal trade in human organs
Subject : Review of the agricultural sector following the

recent conclusion of trade agreements with third
countries

Can the Commission give its assessment of the agricultural
sector, following.the recent conclusion of trade agreements

. with third countries, particularly as regards the horticulture,

maize and beef and veal sectors ?

In view of the reports from many different sources
concerning the existence of an illegal trade in human organs
for transplants, medical research and the manufacture of
cosmetics, will the Commission say what measures it intends
to take to put an immediate end to this disgraceful practice,
which runs counter to all standards of civilized

behaviour ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
Joint answer to Written Questions on behalf of the Commission

E-3 962 / 93 and E-67 / 94

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 April 1994 )

( 20 April 1994 ) While responsibility for questions relating to the trade in
human organs, in particular illegal practices, rests primarily
with the Member States, the Commission is encouraging

world 's biggest importer of food and and " fostering cooperation between the Member States on
the world 's second largest exporter the legislative provisions and practices on organ
the Community has a trade deficit transplantation .

The Community is the world 's biggest importer of food and
agriculture products and the world 's second largest exporter
of such products . Overall the Community has a trade deficit
in such products . However, the situation varies from sector
to sector and the Community is a net exporter of the
products most suited to its agricultural situation, e.g.
cereals, dairy and meat products .

The reforms of the . common agricultural policy adopted in

1992 and progressively implemented over the three years
1993 to 1995, were designed to protect farmers ' incomes
( by compensatory payments ) while improving the
competitivity of European agriculture by basing price
support on levels closer to the long-term equilibrium prices
excepted to prevail on stabilized world markets, thereby
facilitating exports .

As the Commission has already pointed out in its reply to
Written Question No 1694 / 93 from Mr Alavanos ( 1 ), a
group of experts from the Member States is currently
examining this issue and on the basis of their report the
Commission will consider the need for appropriate
guidelines or recommendations .

(!) OJ No C 234, 22 . 8 . 1994, p . 12 .

\ WRITTEN QUESTION E-3970 / 93

The Community, as a major trader and exporter, has
recently participated in the successful completion of the
Uruguay Round which is designed inter alia to bring trade in
agricultural products within the ambit of the future WTO .
At the same time the Community has subscribed to the
associated disciplines on trade agreed between Contracting
Parties . The Commission has published its evaluation in
which it emphasises that these agreements are compatible
with the continuation of the reformed CAP .

The voluminous statistical information referred to by the
Honourable Member is published regularly by the
Commission, notably in ' The agricultural situation in the
Community ', an annual report sent to each member of the
Parliament .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

94 / C 340 / 131 )

Subject : Proposal for a Directive on working time and the

protection of young people

The European Trade Union Confederation and the Youth
Forum of the European Communities have described as
' disappointing ' the agreement reached by the Council of
Social Affairs Ministers of the European Union on the
proposal for a Directive on working time and the protection
of young people, stressing that the provisions suggest a lack
of coherence in Community social policy . In the light of
this reaction, does the Commission intend to make

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 61

improvements to the proposal for a Directive in WRITTEN QUESTION E-4009 / 93
question ? by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3972 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 19 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 132 )

Subject : Employment of minors

Will the Commission provide official statistics on the
employment of minors in the Member States of the
European Union ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-3970 / 93 and E-3972 / 93

given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 94 / C 340 / 133 )

Subject : Review of the rules on setting up factories in

Attica

Bearing in mind that the present Greek Government has
announced that it will carry out a review of the rules on
setting up factories in Attica, will the Commission call for
the new rules to be environmentally friendly and at the same
time do everything possible to assist the relocation of
factories outside Attica and the establishment of special
industrial zones or parks ?

Answer ] given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1994 ) (6 April 1994 )

The common position of the Council on the protection of
young people at work provides for a set of minimum
requirements to protect young people at work . The
compromise reached at the Council of 23 November 1993
therefore constitutes a foundation of socially acceptable
minimum standards which can be improved by the Member
States, as well as by the social partners .

Leaving aside the question of the additional transitional
period granted to the United Kingdom for the
implementation of a provision concerning the weekly
duration of work for children at school, the Commission
therefore considers that the common position is a good
compromise text which includes many Parliament
amendments .

In the second reading, the European Parliament approved
the common position, subject to a number of amendments
designed to further strengthen the protection of young
people at work . The Honourable Member may refer to the
minutes of Parliament for 8 March 1994 for details of the

Commission position on this matter . In accordance with the
commitments it has made to Parliament, the Commission
will present the Council with a re-examined proposal for a
Directive in the near future .

As far as statistics on the number of young people at work in
the Member States are concerned, the Honourable Member
should refer to the tables and comments following the
explanatory memorandum to the initial Commission
proposal ( l ).

It is the responsibility of the Greek authorities to review the
aid scheme for productive investments ( Law 1892 ) and to
notify the Commission . Obviously, the new aid scheme
must be compatible with Community legislation, including
legislation concerning the environment . It should also be
noted that, with regard to Attica, the existing aid scheme
already provides for special aids for the protection of the
environment, measures to save energy and relocation of
industrial units to sites outside the region .

The possibility of creating or improving industrial zones or
craft parks should also be studied, but these measures are
not covered by the legal framework of the aid scheme .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4019 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 26 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 134 )

Subject : Deserters from the republics of the former
Yugoslavia living in Community Member States

(M COM(91 ) 543 final — 17 March 1992 . It is a fact deserters and individuals who have refused to

enrol in the armies of the republics of the former Yugoslavia
and have taken refuge in Community Member States are in

No C 340 / 62 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

serious danger of being deported . Can the Commission
make representations to the authorities of the European
Union Member States to protect such people ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4039 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 136 )

Subject : Opposition of the cosmetics industry to the
( 13 April 1994 ) establishment of ecological criteria

Since decisions to grant or deny refugee status and to deport
third country nationals living illegally in the Community are
a matter for the Member States concerned, the Commission
regrets that it cannot make representations to them to
protect deserters from the republics of what was
Yugoslavia .

A number of cosmetics companies, and notably the
UK-based Body Shop, have protested about the
establishment of ecological criteria, claiming that it is
impossible to ascertain the consequences of cosmetics either
on man or on the environment, before a number of years had
elapsed . It is therefore impossible to describe any cosmetic
substance as environmentally friendly, at any rate before the
product has completed its life cycle . Does the Commission
intend to examine the protests lodged by above cosmetics
companies in this connection ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4029 / 93 Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission (8 April 1994 )

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 135 )

Subject : Delimitation and protection of wetlands covered

by the Ramsar Convention

Can the Commission say why Greece has not completed the
procedure for the delimitation and protection of Greek
wetlands covered by the Ramsar Convention ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Regulation ( EEC ) No 880 / 92 (*) lays down, the procedures
for establishing product groups-and ecological criteria for
awarding the eco-label .

These procedures require the consultation of all the interest
groups, meeting within a forum, on the basis of a proposal
addressed to the Commission by a neutral and independent
competent body .

The process by which these criteria are established includes a
scientific study to ensure that the envisaged criteria are
consistent with the objectives of the Regulation, and in
particular the promotion of products with a reduced impact
on the environment .

(6 April 1994 ) To date, no criteria have been established for awarding the
eco-label to cosmetic products .

Greece has classified all its Ramsar sites as Special Areas
pursuant to Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (*) on the
conservation of wild birds . The Commission has been

informed that for a number of them the delimitation has not
yet been finished, but not of the particular reasons for this
fact . However, the Commission continues to urge the Greek
authorities to complete and communicate this delimitation
as soon as possible .

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it

ensures that all work in this area is carried out in accordance

with the principles and procedures of the Regulation .

As for the technical issue raised by the Honourable Member,
there is no way of identifying the problem on this basis . The
problem, if it is confirmed, will no doubt be dealt with by
specialists before any decision is taken .

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 . (!) OJ No L 99, 11 . 4 . 1992 .

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 63

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4048 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4049 / 93

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

Vazquez Fouz ( PSE ) by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

to the Commission

( 31 January 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 137 ) ( 94 / C 340 / 138 )

Subject : Mechanization of fishing ports

One of the major factors in the abnormally high price of fish
is the cost of landing both fresh and frozen fish .

As the Commission, within the framework of its structural
action, intends to improve fishing ports, could it give
priority to action to reduce landing costs ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 (*) on
Community measures to improve and adapt structures in
the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the Commission has
been granting Community financial aid for investments in
the provision of facilities at fishing ports .

Since the adoption of this Regulation, the annual amount of
Community aid invested in facilities at fishing ports has been
steadily increasing in response to the demand from the
Member States . For the period 1986 — 1993 a total of ECU
56,35 million of Community aid has been invested in 231
projects .

As from 1 January 1994 measures concerning port facilities
which were eligible under Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 4028 / 86 will be considered for grant aid under Council
Regulation ( EC ) No 3699 / 93 ( 2 ) laying down the criteria
and arrangements regarding Community structural
assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the
processing and marketing of its products . Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 has been repealed . The
priority between measures eligible under Regulation ( EC )
No 3699 / 93 will be set out for each Member State in the

framework of partnership in the Community programmes
for structural assistance for each Member State as laid down

in that Regulation .

Subject : Future of the Spanish cod fleet

The Spanish cod fleet was a world pioneer in cod fishing,

and moreover taking a consistently bold and innovative
approach and constantly discovering and exploiting new
fishing grounds on a rational basis .

The development of the law of the sea, the new situation in
the worldwide fisheries sector and the accession of Spain to
the EC have wrought changes resulting in a much smaller
workforce and smaller catches .

The Spanish cod fleet, with no structural support whatever,
has already achieved a drastic reduction in its workforce .

It would appear that the Commission intends to reduce the
workforce still further : what are its reasons and what

measures and assistance is it proposing ? What are the
criteria for allocating possible cod quotas to Norway ? To
whom will these be allocated and for what reasons ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1994 )

Under the 1993 — 1996 multiannual guidance programmes

( MGP ), the Spanish cod-fishing fleet is covered by the
heading ' trawlers and multipurpose vessels ' operating in
international waters and the waters of third countries, for
which the objective is to reduce fishing effort by 20 % . This
target was also adopted by the Council in the context of the
restructuring of the fishing sector provided for in Article 1 1
of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3670 / 92 establishing a
Community system for fisheries and aquaculture ( J ). The
Commission has also set general rules for the allocation of
structural funds among the various sectoral plans at
national level .

No 3699 / 93 will be set out for each Member State in the The following distribution of the additional cod quota in
framework of partnership in the Community programmes Norwegian waters has been proposed by the Commission
for structural assistance for each Member State as laid down on the basis of the economic and social cohesion criteria :
in that Regulation . Greece : 5 %, Spain : 45 %, Ireland : 5 % and Portugal : 45 % .

The Council will shortly be making a decision on this

matter .
(!) OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 346, 31 . 12 . 1993 .

(M OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

No C 340 / 64 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4055 / 93

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 139 )

Subject : Fishery cooperation programmes with third
countries

Both by means of fishery agreements and by the
introduction of a specific chapter on fishery cooperation in
Lome IV, the European Community has set up certain
programmes whose progress and results have always been a
concern of the European Parliament .

What fisheries sector cooperation programmes are currently
underway ? When will the Commission submit a report and
conclusions to Parliament on this subject so as to allow an
objective assessment of the results ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

conflict with the long-term interests of the developing
countries to exploit fully their resources in a rational

way .

The Commission would point out that the fisheries
agreements with ACP countries are commercial agreements
in that the Contracting Parties make mutually balanced
concessions under them, i.e. the grant of fishing
opportunities by the one side in exchange for payment by
the other .

Support for scientific and training programmes accounts for
a small part ( about 12% ) of the total Community
contribution paid in exchange for fishing opportunities .
Most of this contribution is then incorporated in the general
budget of the third country concerned and as a result is not
specifically allocated to development goals . For the above
reasons in particular, the third countries most often decide
themselves which programmes to undertake and send the
Commission only short reports on their implementation .

For both these aspects of development cooperation in the
fisheries sector, the Commission regularly gives oral reports
on its activities to parliamentary committees .

( 25 April 1994 ) . WRITTEN QUESTION E-4062 / 93

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission

Under Title III of the Lome IV Convention, and also under
Title XIV ( Regional Cooperation ), fisheries is specifically
mentioned as an important area of cooperation .

Over the past 10 years, more than 400 projects or studies
have been financed by the EDF in ACP States . Projects in
execution or in preparation at this moment concern many
coastal ACP countries ( e.g. ) Angola, Mozambique, Senegal,
Cameroon, Madagascar, Pacific Islands, and some
landlocked countries with inland water resources or

possibilities for developing aquaculture . New actions are
undertaken when a country or a regional grouping of
countries requests the assistance of the EDF for a specific
purpose and when an appropriate justification is
provided .

The Commission recommends, when approaching a new
fisheries development project, that there be careful and
comprehensive preparation, involving wide consultation
and participation of target groups, that flexible and phased
approaches be adopted, that agencies have a long-term
commitment, and that national government commitment to
and priority for the fisheries sector be achieved .

Experience also suggests that the success of projects will to a
large extend depend on the deployment of high quality
personnel in field management, backed up by effective
communication with an support from staff based in
administrative centres and agency headquarters as well as
professional exchange between projects and other fisheries
related institutions and research centres .

Finally, there is a particular need to ensure that assistance in
fisheries development is pursued in ways which do not

(1 February 1994 )

94 / C 340 / 140

Subject : Draft budget of Greece and the re-organization of

its public finances

According to the introductory report of the draft budget
submitted by the Greek Government a few days ago, the
overall public debt will increase by Dr 6 trillion and the
deficit will account for 14,9% of GNP compared with

12 *, 8% previously ( the primary surplus achieved in 1993
will therefore be wiped out ), while no attempt is being made
to curb public spending which will increase by 17,6%

( estimated inflation is a mere 10% ).

Will the Commission say to what extent it considers that
these estimates by the Greek Government are compatible
with the need to restructure public finances in Greece and
the obligation to respect financial discipline imposed by the
Treaty on European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1994 )

According to the 1994 budget document, presented by the
Greek Government in November 1993, the budget deficit
( net borrowing requirement of central government ) is
projected to be 12,8 % of GDP in 1994, down from 13,9 %
of GDP recorded in 1993 . Total expenditure is expected to
rise by 17,6% which is mainly due to an increase in the
public investment budget expenditure of 34,2%, Primary
expenditure in the ordinary budget is projected to increase

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 65

by 9,3 % compared to a 20,3 % increase recorded in 1993 .
On the other hand, total revenues are expected to rise by
23% . Overall, a primary surplus of 2,3% of GDP is
expected for 1994, compared to are recorded primary
deficit of 0,3 % in 1993 ( Table 4.1, p. 79 of Greek Budget
Document ).

In the Commission 's view the budget proposals, provided
they are fully implemented and the targets achieved, would
represent a significant effort to stabilize the budget deficit
following the pronounced deterioration that occured in

1993 . However, given the level of public debt, determined
efforts aimed at budget consolidation will be required over a
number of years .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4075 / 93

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 141 )

Subject : Health and safety at work

In the light of the UK Government 's announced
comprehensive review of health and safety legislation, can
the Commission confirm that it will move to prevent any
failure to comply with obligations under the Treaty of Rome
and specific Directives in the field of health and safety at the
workplace ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4084 / 93

by Enrique Sapena Granell ( PSE ) and

José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 142 )

Subject : Linguistic code of conduct in the Community

administration

Increasingly, the Commission is publishing documents for
public consumption in one Community language only . This
is a frequent occurrence in certain Directorates-General and
must not be allowed to continue, since it creates a gulf
between the Community institutions and the public by
implying that knowledge of a particular language is needed
to have access to the institutions .

Does the Commission have a code of conduct on linguistic
matters ?

Does the Commission not think that European integration
has always been and will continue to be a multilingual
process ?

When will a stop be put to the practice of producing
publications for public consumption in a single language,
with a time lag before the other language versions are
published — if they appear at all ?

Does the Commission not believe that any Community
document designed for public consumption should be
produced simultaneously in all the main Community
languages ?

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

( 28 February 1994 )

The review of the health and safety legislation being carried
out by the UK authorities is a matter for that Member
State .

The Commission as guardian of the Treaties is obliged to

ensure that national measures are in conformity with
Community legislation .

The Commission will continue to monitor the measures

taken by the Member States to implement Community
legislation and, where necessary, will open infringement
procedures pursuant to Article 169 EC Treaty .

( 24 March 1994 )

The rules governing the languages of the Community were
laid down by Regulation 1 / 1958, as amended by successive
Accession Treaties, on the basis of Article 217 of the EC
Treaty .

Publication, each day, of legislation and other texts in the
Official Journal in all Community languages shows that
these rules are applied .

Publications intended for the general public containing
exhaustive documentation on Community activities also
appear in all official languages .

For technical reasons or reasons relating to translation, it is
not always possible to ensure that all language versions are
published simultaneously .

No C 340 / 66 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

The Commission is aware of the problems this causes and is essential for the political and economic stability of Europe as
constantly trying to reduce the time-lag to a minimum . a whole . Given the high relative importance of agriculture to

the economies of these countries and the ability of the sector
to respond more quickly than other sectors in these
countries to policies encouraging the emergence of private
enterprise, competition and market forces, the Commission
considers that land restitution should result in economic and

wider benefits for these countries and hence for the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4086 / 93 Community .

by José Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 143 )

Subject : Privatization of land in the countries of eastern

Europe

The fall of the communist regimes in eastern Europe has

been a great step forward for freedom and democracy in
these countries . The number and scale of the resulting
problems are immense . One of the most important is clearly
the privatization of land and the transfer of land to private
ownership, in particular for the creation of family
businesses .

Is the Commission monitoring this matter closely ?

Has it assessed the possible favourable and unfavourable
consequences for the Community ?

As regards the one Member State ( Germany ) affected by this
matter, what criteria are being used and how much
know-how and assistance is the Commission providing ?

As regard the new Lander, restitution and other land-related
reform policies are still being implemented while agriculture
generally is making major adjustments in response to
changes of wider macro-economic significance, including
application of Community health and hygiene legislation
and unification generally . Changes have occurred in the
balance and organization of agricultural production ( e.g.
substantial reductions in livestock production and increases
in vegetable production ) but it is not possible at this stage in
the transition to forecast whether the changes observed will
continue, stabilize or reverse .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4088 / 93

by Jose Vazquez Fouz ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 144 )

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission Subject : The African market for Community tinned
sardines
(6 May 1994 )

The Commission fully supports the view that restoration of
private land ownership and development of an active
market in private land transactions is essential for the
successful reform of agriculture in east and central
European countries . For this reason, the Commission has
encouraged the governments of the countries concerned to
give a high priority to identifying and ameliorating
legislative, cadastral and other constraints on the
development of private land ownership and the
establishment of a functioning market in land transactions .
Between 1990 and 1993, the Community 's Phare
Programme committed over ECU 40 million of technical
assistance and equipment to this area of reform — some

10% of the total assistance given to the agricultural

sector .

There is . a general consensus that economic growth and
development in east and central European countries is

Southern and sub-Saharan Africa are traditional markets for

Community tinned sardines . As a result of the world
economic crisis and the accompanying recession, these
previously buoyant markets have now declined . Demand
remains unchanged but customers are not always able to

pay .

Tinned sardines are an excellent, high-quality food with
high nutritional value .

Does the Commission plan to take any steps to assist the
market in Community tinned sardines ?

Are tinned sardines included in the food aid provided by the
European Union ?

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 67

Is it true that some food aid has included non-Community
tinned sardines ? If so, what are the countries of origin and
why have their products been used ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1994 )

Consumption of tinned sardines — despite their qualities —
has been steadily dropping for a number of years . The
Commission would suggest that the Honourable Member
refers in this connection to a detailed analysis of the market
in sardines ( 1 ).

No special action is being taken at Community level at
present to encourage the consumption of tinned sardines
and none is planned, nor is any decision in this respect likely
before the Commission has presented another report on the
whole Community sector ( fresh and tinned sardines ) at the
end of the year .

As far as food aid is concerned, several operations were
carried out in 1993 in which, at the request of the
organizations responsible, tinned sardines were supplied as
aid for refugees . Mobilization for such operations normally
takes place on the Community market although, with
certain types of contract or operation, supplies may be
purchased in triangular operations outside the Community .
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3972 / 86 on food aid policy
and food aid management sets out the conditions governing
this type of operation .

(M SEC(92 ) 2221 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4089 / 93

by José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

( 94 / C 340 / 145 )

Subject : Commission action to protect the paper industry in

the Union

The recent steep devaluation of the Finnish markka and the
Swedish krona have brought about a catastrophic situation
in the paper industry of the Union, thanks to the resultant
large-scale penetration of the territory of the Twelve by
products from those two countries .

The only decision taken so far in this respect has been to set
up a monitoring system ; this, however, has had no effect
whatever on the problem .

What action does the Commission intend to take to protect
the paper industry in the Union in the present context of
overall crisis ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1994 )

The Commission is fully aware of the serious crisis in the
European paper sector .

At a meeting with the Commission held on 22 September

1993 in Brussels, the Confederation of the European Paper
Industries explained that the situation which has developed
since 1989 in the paper industry, whereby the selling prices
and volumes of many paper grades result in losses for many
companies, has many causes, including .

— reduced increase in demand for paper ( 1 — 2 % in the

1990s as against 4 — 6 % in the 1980s ) and recession in
some European markets in recent years,

— overcapacity ( up to 25 % in some grades ) because of

recent large investments in the sector,

— competition and price-cutting in many subsectors,

— undervaluation of the dollar in which many forest

products ( including paper ) are expressed in
international markets .

In this context, the devaluation of the Nordic currencies
referred to by the Honourable Member can be viewed as
temporarily affecting prices of certain grades of paper,
particularly in ' hard ' European currency markets .

Also in this context, the monitoring cited is not foreseen as a
protective measure for the industry, but as a tool for closely
examining the impact of Nordic imports . This monitoring
was first extended to the end of January 1994 and later on to
the end of April 1994 . The interim results do not indicate
any conclusive trends overall . There have been some price
declines for certain grades of paper following the
devaluations which have since risen again . For other grades,
trends have been very variable, with both rises and falls of
price since the devaluations . They do not however indicate
any marked increase in paper market share in the
Community by the Nordic countries concerned . In the last
months there has been a general, small but sustained rise in
both pulp and paper prices .

No C 340 / 68 Official Journal of the European Communities 5 . 12 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4093 / 93

by Giuseppe Mortola ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 146 )

Subject : Cava dei Tirreni tobacco factory

The tobacco factory in Cava dei Tirreni, Salerno, produces
an average of 410 000 kg of excellent cigars each year and is
one of the leading State monopolies in terms of productivity
and output . It employs over 500 people and generates more
than 1 500 jobs upstream and downstream of the
manufacturing process .

It has a turnover of approximately Lit 70 billion and
purchases its supplies of loose tabacco from producers in
Campania and Tuscany .

It is also Cava dei Tirreni 's largest employer, with a total
wages bill of more than Lit 16 billion .

Demand for the cigars produced in Cava dei Tirreni far
outstrips supply not least because of health considerations,
since the stringent provisions set out in the Community
Regulations and Directives are applied in full during the
manufacturing process .

Given the above, does the Commission not feel that it should
approach the Italian Government with a view to ensuring
that :

1 . conversion to a public limited company ( S.p.A ) is
effected by means of a government bill guaranteeing
employees the right not only to buy shares but also to
retain the status of public sector employees ;

2 . more money is invested in Cava dei Tirreni to improve

production facilities and increase the size of the work
force ;

3 . new technology is introduced to improve productivity
and make the company more competitive on
Community and world markets, not least with a view to
safeguarding supplies of raw tobacco and protecting
jobs at all stages of the process ( tobacco production,
manufacture, storage and marketing of the finished
product ).

As far as the region of Campania is concerned, the European
Regional Development Fund has intervened in the past to
encourage productive investment .

As regards the immediate future, the Commission is
currently working — in partnership with the Italian central
and regional authorities — on the programming of measures
to be implemented over the period 1994 — 1999 ; Campania
could, in this context, submit proposals to the Commission
for specific measures on behalf of the Cava dei Tirreni

area .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4103 / 93

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 February 1994 )

( 94 / C 340 / 147 )

Subject : Community aid for mining conversion in Huelva

( Spain )

The parish priest of the seven towns in the Huelva ( Spain )
coalfield have produced a pastoral letter sharing in the
concern that exists in all social classes in this district, which
has about 22 000 inhabitants, over the uncertain future for
mining, the area 's only industry, now that Rio Tinto
Minera, which has been working the deposits since the end
of the nineteenth century, proposes to close down the mines
in 1996 .

The pastoral letter calls for solidarity and the overcoming of
fatalism and resignation, concluding : ' In this district there is
enough human potential to create the wealth needed to
rescue us from prostration .'

Can the Commission say what Community remedies the
inhabitants of this mining area can hope for to enable them
to face the future with the optimistic attitude recommended
by the parish priests in their letter ?

Answer given by Mr Millan Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission
on behalf of the Commission
( 15 April 1994 ) ( 11 April 1994 )

The problems referred to do not fall within the scope of the
Commission 's powers ; they do not, therefore, warrant
intervention vis-a-vis the Italian Government .

The Commission is aware of the social and economic
difficulties besetting the province of Huelva and in

5 . 12 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 340 / 69

particular the municipalities affected by a move away from
mining . At the request of the regional authorities the
Commission approved on 24 March 1993 the
implementation of an operational programme under the
Community support framework ( J989 — - 1993 ) to offset
such effects . Total investment in the programme will
amount to Pta 1 1 076 million, of which the Community will
provide Pta 4 929 million . The programme will put certain
infrastructures supporting economic activity in place, will

implement measures to aid tourism and provide for various
types of aid for enterprise creation .

The Commission hopes to have within the next few months
new proposals from the Spanish authorities for Structural
Fund aid in Andalusia under the new Objective 1
Community support framework ( 1994 — 1999 ). It will
examine any new proposal supplementing the current
programme that will allow the aid effort to continue .