Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 326
# Official Journal

Volume 38
### of the Communities 6 December 1995 European

Volume 38

6 December 1995

##### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents
Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

95 / C 326 / 01 E-l 69 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : The European transport infrastructure scheme 1

95 / C 326 / 02 E-375 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Council
Subject : Regulation of the growing and distribution of cannabis in the Netherlands 1

95 / C 326 / 03 E-452 / 95 by Pat Gallagher to the Council
Subject : Audio-visual productions for minority languages 2

95 / C 326 / 04 P-977 / 95 by Olli Rehn to the Council
Subject : Combined / joint funding of projects in the case of Tacis and Interreg 2

95 / C 326 / 05 E-1237 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Council
Subject : The European dimension in higher education 3

95 / C 326 / 06 E-1533 / 95 by David Martin to the Council
Subject : Council Presidency appearances at European Parliament 3

95 / C 326 / 07 E-1618 / 95 by Gerard Deprez to the Council
Subject : Double charge for private parcels from Alaska 3

95 / C 326 / 08 E-1684 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Council
Subject : EU / Asia Summit 4

95 / C 326 / 09 E-1697 / 95 by Christiane Taubira-Delannon to the Commission
Subject : Environmental pollution by mercury and mercury poisoning of humans 5

95 / C 326 / 10 E-1701 / 95 by Jacques Donnay to the Council
Subject : Differences between Member States concerning the implementation of Community
Directives 6

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2 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 326 / 11 E-l 708 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject : Drift nets 6

95 / C 326 / 12 E-1802 / 95 by Alex Smith to the Council
Subject : Nuclear Energy Agency study of options for spent nuclear fuel management 7

95 / C 326 / 13 E-l 803 / 95 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Secrecy over details of withdrawals of nuclear materials from safeguards by the United
Kingdom Government 7

95 / C 326 / 14 E-l 804 / 95 by Alex Smith to the Council
Subject : Council action on a European Union-wide strategy for radioactive-waste management 8

95 / C 326 / 15 E-1821 / 95 by Marco Pannella to the Commission
Subject : Commission finance for the film ' Underground ' by E. Kusturica 8

95 / C 326 / 16 E-l 825 / 95 by Jesus Cabezon Alonso to the Council
Subject : Arrangements for temporary officials 9

95 / C 326 / 17 E-1833 / 95 by Salvador Garriga Polledo to the Commission
Subject : Convergence criteria 9

95 / C 326 / 18 E-1868 / 95 by Inigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : Legislation on hormones in bovine meat 9

95 / C 326 / 19 E-l 874 / 95 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Over-production of farmed salmon 10

95 / C 326 / 20 E-l 886 / 95 by Angela Sierra González, Laura González Alvarez and Maria Sornosa
Martinez to the Commission

Subject : Environmental impact of the Ronda de la Laguna ( Lagoon ring-road ) ( Tenerife ) .... 10

95 / C 326 / 21 E-l 896 / 95 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Citizens First initiative 11

95 / C 326 / 22 E-1903 / 95 by Bill Miller to the Commission
Subject : Report on harmonization of excise duty on alcoholic beverages 12

95 / C 326 / 23 E-1907 / 95 by Bill Miller to the Commission
Subject : Report on harmonization of the taxation of alcoholic beverages 12

95 / C 326 / 24 E-1913 / 95 by Bill Miller to the Commission
Subject : Report on cross-border shopping 12

95 / C 326 / 25 E-1914 / 95 by Bill Miller to the Commission
Subject : Report on cross-border shopping 12

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1903 / 95, E-1907 / 95, E-1913 / 95 and
E-1914 / 95 12

95 / C 326 / 26 E-l 9 16 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Directive on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and
women 12

95 / C 326 / 27 E-l 91 8 / 95 by Ana Miranda de Lage to the Commission
Subject : Increase in EIB loans 13

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P - 1932 / 95 by Carlo Secchi to the Council
Subject : EIB aid for the November 1994 natural disasters in Italy 14

E-1935 / 95 by Christof Tannert to the Council
Subject : The right to refuse to perform military service and alternative civilian service, and the cases
of the conscientious objectors Alain Cazaux and Pierre Serres 14

E-l 952 / 95 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler to the Commission
Subject : European Committee for Standardization ( CEN ) 15

E-l 95 8 / 95 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Contributions to the European Union budget 15

E-1976 / 95 by Riccardo Nencini to the Commission

Subject : High-speed rail . project 16

E-197 9 / 95 by Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Environmental protection : Burning of ' secondary fuels ' in cement works 16

E-l 986 / 95 by Karin Falkmer to the Commission
Subject : Implementation and incorporation into national law of Directives on public
procurement 17

E-1997 / 95 by Antonio Trizza to the Commission
Subject : Technical assistance measures and general studies under Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 2085 / 93 17

E-2003 / 95 by Peter Skinner to the Commission
Subject : Hop income aid to UK producers 18

E-2006 / 95 by John Corrie to the Commission
Subject : Arable Area Payments scheme 19

E-20 15 / 95 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Liberalization of cabotage in the Union 19

E-2018 / 95 by Anne Van Lancker to the Commission

Subject : Trainees on placements ( stagiaires ) 20

95 / C 326 / 40 E-2023 / 95 by Edward McMillan-Scott to the Commission
Subject : Export subsidies for years 1993 and 1994 20

95 / C 326 / 41 E-2049 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission

Subject : Ecofin Council 21

95 / C 326 / 42 E-2050 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission
Subject : Telecommunications 21

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95 / C 326 / 44

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E-2058 / 95 by Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission
Subject : Cultural dimension of the 16 / 9 High-Definition Television Action Plan 22

P-2069 / 95 by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza to the Commission
Subject : Sinking of oil platforms in the Mediterranean 23

E-20 8 9 / 95 by Ludivina Garcia Arias to the Commission
Subject : Budget heading intended to incorporate measures under the ECSC Treaty into the Treaty
establishing the European Community 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

95 / C 326 / 46 E-2090 / 95 by Ludivina Garcia Arias to the Commission
Subject : Budget heading intended to incorporate measures under the ECSC Treaty into the Treaty
establishing the European Community 24

Joint answer to Written Questions E-208 9 / 95 and E-2090 / 95 24

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E-2092 / 95 by Odile Leperre-Verrier to the Commission
Subject : Assistance to the music sector 25

E-2095 / 95 by Jessica Larive, Johanna Boogerd-Quaak, Karla Peijs, Alman Metten and
Johannes Blokland to the Commission

Subject : Reduced VAT rates 25

E-2 103 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Transport of animals 26

E-21 11 / 95 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel to the Commission
Subject : EC verification mark 27

E-2123 / 95 by Mathias Reichhold to the Commission
Subject : Meat imports and hormone feeds 28

E-21 26 / 95 by Michael Spindelegger to the Commission
Subject : Green Paper on the practical arrangements for the transition to a single currency ... 28

E-2133 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : EU funding for genetic engineering publicity 29

E-21 34 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Early retirement pensions for a special category of worker 29

E-21 36 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Alternative community service 30

E-21 39 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Physiotherapists 30

E-21 60 / 95 by Markus Ferber to the Commission
Subject : Terms of reference and financing of the ' Car of Tomorrow ', ' New-Generation Aircraft '
and ' Intermodality in Transport ' Task Forces 31

E-2168 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Protection of intellectual property in Europe 32

E-2219 / 95 by Joan Vallve to the Commission
Subject : Bluefin tuna catches 33

E-2222 / 95 by Philippe-Armand Martin to the Commission
Subject : Allocation of inulin syrup quotas 33

E-2228 / 95 by Iñigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : Inter-regional framework agreement with Mercosur 34

E-2229 / 95 by Iñigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : Red tape hampering the free movement of goods 34

E-2257 / 95 by Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Possible misuse of EU development-aid funds — control measures 35

E-2263 / 95 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Denied boarding compensation ( airlines ) 35

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95 / C 326 / 72

P-2266 / 95 by Magda Aelvoet to the Commission
Subject : Compliance with the birds Directive and the habitats Directive in connection with the
deepening of the Westerschelde 36

P-2267 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Environmental impact assessment in connection with the deepening of the
Westerschelde 36

Joint answer to Written Questions P-2266 / 95 and P-2267 / 95 37

E-2280 / 95 by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Declaration of Europe Day as a public holiday in all the EU Member States 37

E-2283 / 95 by Armelle Guinebertiere to the Commission
Subject : Agricultural policy — cattle-breeding 37

E-2287 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Asbestos and tumour-related diseases 38

E-228 9 / 95 by Markus Ferber to the Commission
Subject : Border controls within the European Union 39

E-2291 / 95 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Community Sport for All programme 39

E-23 09 / 95 by Hugh Kerr to the Commission
Subject : Iranian writers 39

95 / C 326 / 73 E-231 9 / 95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the
Commission

Subject : European Forum on Social Policy 40

95 / C 326 / 74 E-2354 / 95 by Luciano Vecchi to the Commission

Subject : Discrimination vis-à-vis homosexual citizens 40

95 / C 326 / 75 E-2362 / 95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the
Commission

Subject : Data used by Eurostat . 41

95 / C 326 / 76 E-23 80 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Trapping agreements between EU, CIS, Canada and USA 42

95 / C 326 / 77

P-2392 / 95 by Luigi Colajanni to the Commission
Subject : Financing of Palestinian diplomatic missions 42

95 / C 326 / 78 E-2406 / 95 by Antonio Graziani, Giampaolo D'Andrea, Pierluigi Castagnetti and Maria
Colombo Svevo to the Commission

Subject : The Leonardo programme 43

95 / C 326 / 79

95 / C 326 / 80

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E-2408 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Commission proposals in respect of the Greek textile industry 44

E-24 10 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Safety of new high-speed ferries 44

E-24 11 / 95 by Brendan Donnelly to the Commission
Subject : Commission action against the Greek Government 45

E-2413 / 95 by Caroline Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Directive 91 / 271 / EEC on urban waste water treatment 45

( Continued overleaf )

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P-24 18 / 95 by Charlotte Cederschiold to the Commission
Subject : Practical exchanges between immigration authorities 45

E-2421 / 95 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission
Subject : Food claims 46

E-2436 / 95 by Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject : Human rights violations and destruction of the environment in the Central Ranges of Irian
Jaya 46

E-2473 / 95 by Werner Langen to the Commission
Subject : Anti-dumping duties on imports of soda from the USA 47

P-2498 / 95 by Christian Rovsing to the Commission
Subject : Compliance with the Community 's rules on competition 48

E-25 10 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Safety and health of workers 48

E-2527 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Concealed state aid to the RDM shipyard 49

P-25 32 / 95 by Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Rock carvings discovered in the Coa Valley in Portugal 49

P-2544 / 95 by Richard Balfe to the Commission
Subject : 1963 EEC-Turkey Agreement — Greece 50

E-2557 / 95 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas to the Commission

Subject : Difficulties facing SMUs 50

P-2567 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Commission
Subject : Threat to producers of oil - and gas-fired warm air heaters 51

E-2572 / 95 by James Provan to the Commission
Subject : ' Retenue de Solidarité ' in Belgium 51

E-25 80 / 95 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Member States ' contributions to the EU Budget 52

E-25 8 8 / 95 by Ben Fayot to the Commission
Subject : ECSC social research programmes 52

E-2591 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Schengen 53

P-25 97 / 95 by Iñigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission
Subject : Pension fund in Gibraltar 53

E-2622 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Unemployment 53

E-2624 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Commission trainees 54

P-268 5 / 95 by Guido Podestà to the Commission
Subject : Trafficking in organs 54

E-27 55 / 95 by Johanna Maij-Weggen, Bartho Pronk and Petrus Cornelissen to the
Commission

Subject : National contributions to the EU 55

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-169 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-375 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

Raffarin ( PPE ) by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Council to the Council

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 16 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 01 ) ( 95 / C 326 / 02 )

Subject : The European transport infrastructure scheme

What account does the Council intend to take of
Parliament 's proposals for changes to the European
transport infrastructure scheme, which seek to add to the
existing priorities the opening-up of the Atlantic Arc by
means of road links such as Montlu^on-Poitiers-Nantes or
Limoges - Angouleme-Royan ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

With regard to the opening-up of the Atlantic Arc, the road
links mentioned by the Honourable Member were partially
taken into account by the Council in its common position on
the Decision on Community guidelines for the development
of the trans-European transport network .

The Council 's common position includes the Montlu^on
and La Croisere road links .

The common position will be examined by the European
Parliament under the co-decision procedure .

Subject : Regulation of the growing and distribution of

cannabis in the Netherlands

The Netherlands Minister of Justice is considering
' regulating ' the production and distribution of cannabis for
purposes of consumption within the Netherlands in order to
reduce the influence of criminals in the field of soft drugs .
Under certain conditions, people growing cannabis in the
Netherlands and supplying it to sales outlets ( whose
existence is already tolerated under current Netherlands
Government policy ) would not be liable to prosecution or to
seizure of their stocks .

Is the Council willing to cooperate in eliminating from
Community law any obstacles it may present to such a
policy of toleration ?

Will the Council take measures to enable Dutch growers of
hemp containing a high level of tetrahydrocannabinol, the
active substance in Dutch cannabis, to obtain the customary
European aid per hectare for hemp cultivation ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The Council has not discussed the specific subject of the
Honourable Member 's question .

No C 326 / 2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

More generally, the Honourable Member will be aware that
various Council bodies are currently giving attention to the
Commission communication on the general plan to combat
drug abuse .

The Council has pinpointed eight proposals for short-term
action, which were submitted to the Cannes European
Council, thus making clear the will and unanimous
determination of the Member States and the European
Union to unite their efforts to combat drugs and drug
dependence .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-452 / 95

by Pat Gallagher ( UPE )

to the Council

( 24 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 03 )

Subject : Audio-visual productions for minority languages

Will the Media 11 Programme incorporate initiatives to
assist audio-visual productions for minority languages
within the EU ? If so, does that mean that the
trans-nationality requirement will not be demanded as a
prerequisite for European funding for such productions ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

Article 2 of the Council Decision on the implementation of
the Media II Programme — Development and Distribution,
adopted on 10 July 1995, states that the aims of the
Programme in these fields should, inter alia, work towards
' respect for European linguistic and cultural diversity ' and
' the development of potential in countries or regions with a
low capacity for audio-visual production and / or a restricted
geographical and linguistic area '.

The actions proposed in the Annex to the Decision enable
these considerations to be taken into account, either
through measures within the Member States concerned or
through measures encouraging networking among
audio-visual production companies, cinema distributors
and television broadcasters from different Member

States .

As to the Media II Programme — Training, the Council 's
common position adopted on 10 July 1995 with a view to
adopting the Decision on that subject is based on the same
principles as those mentioned in connection with the
Media II Programme — Development and Distribution .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-977 / 95

by Olli Rehn ( ELDR )

to the Council

( 21 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 04 )

Subject : Combined / joint funding of projects in the case of

Tacis and Interreg

Given the increasing importance of environmental
protection in the border regions of Russia and the CIS,
especially environmental technology and the renovation of
power plants, and taking into account the similar joint
funding in the case of Phare programmes, could the Council
explain how a combined funding of projects in border
regions in the case of Tacis and Interreg programmes could
be achieved ?

Has the Council already decided to implement revised
Regulations ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

In the pre-accession strategy for the associated countries of
central and eastern Europe, adopted by the European
Council in Essen on 9 and 10 December 1994, it was agreed
inter alia to promote intra-regional cooperation, which
would also contribute towards the Stability Pact . It was
decieded that a programme of regional cooperation and
good neighbourly relations would be drawn up in
accordance with the arrangements agreed upon by the
General Affairs Council on 31 October, in order to
encourage multiannual, multilateral cooperation in frontier
and maritime regions between the EU and the CCEE, the
CCEE themselves and the CCEE and the CIS in fields such as

transport, public services, the environment, economic
development, human resources and agriculture . That
programme will cofinance projects with Interreg in the
border areas between the EU and the CCEE .

In the case of the Republics of the former USSR, the present
Tacis Regulation stipulates that due account must be taken
of environmental considerations in planning and
implementing programmes . It does not however provide for
projects for frontier areas to be carried out jointly with
Interreg .

For the future the Commission has submitted a proposal for
the revision of the Tacis Regulation whereby, as is already
the case with Phare, the Community could help to finance
infrastructure projects in regions of the former USSR
adjoining the Union and the CCEE .

6 . 12 . 95 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 3

The Council bodies are currently examining that proposal,
and the European Parliament 's opinion has been
requested .

four months of the French Council Presidency, there have
been 21 speeches by ministers in the plenary session, and 21
appearances before Parliamentary committees ( of which
three in the Foreign Affairs Committee )'.

Can the Council please supply the figures for ministerial
appearances in plenary and committee for each Council
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1237 / 95 presidency from 1989 onwards ?

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Council

(8 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 05 )

Subject : The European dimension in higher education

On 27 November 1992 i 1 ) the Council adopted various
conclusions concerning the introduction of a European
dimension into higher education in the Member States . Can
the Council provide information on the initiatives
implemented by the various Member States in this field ?

(!) OJ No C 336, 19 . 12 . 1992, p . 4 .

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The conclusions to which the Honourable Member refers
played an important role in the development of the Erasmus
programme as implemented to date . The first chapter of the
Socrates Community action programme ( which receives
almost half the financial resources of the programme ) deals
with inter-university cooperation . Firstly, it provides for the
continuation of the Erasmus programme, under the same
name, as a sub-programme ( with the accent being placed on
inter-university cooperation and student mobility ).

Secondly, new measures are provided for and the accent is
placed more on the promotion of the European dimension in
higher education : teacher exchange, joint development of
study programmes, intensive courses aimed at students from
various European countries, transnational projects aimed at
bolstering the European dimension in universities and
intended for students not taking part in exchange

programmes .

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The information sought by the Honourable Member is
published every year in the Review of the Council 's Work

( Report by the Secretary-General ). The table below has been
drawn up on the basis of those reports .

Plenary meetings Committees

1989

Spain 4 19

France 12 21

1990

Ireland 4 24

Italy 6 27

1991

Luxembourg 19 16

Netherlands 16 21

1992

Portugal 8 27

United Kingdom 12 28

1993

Denmark 8 33

Belgium 12 25

1994

Greece 9 41

Germany 20 29

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1618 / 95

by Gérard Deprez ( PPE )

to the Council

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1533 / 95
( 14 June 1995 )

by David Martin ( PSE )

to the Council ( 95 / C 326 / 07 )

(9 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 06 ) Subject : Double charge for private parcels from Alaska

Subject : Council Presidency appearances at European

Parliament

Mr Juppe, President-in-Office of the Council, stated to
Parliament 's Foreign Affairs Committee on 24 April that ' in

A Belgian national has contacted me to express his
indignation at having to pay a fee of BF 340 to the SNCB
each time he receives a present from his daughter in Alaska,
although postage has already been paid in the country of
origin .

No C 326 / 4 1 EN [ Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Would the Council state : The Council is currently examining a Commission proposal
for a complete overhaul of the import reliefs system ( 5 ), in
which the Commission proposes raising the limit for relief
1 . Whether this second payment on receipt of the parcel is on small consignments to ECU 175 .

the result of a law it has adopted ;

(>) OJ No L 105, 23 . 4 . 1983, p . 1 .

2 . Whether it considers this double charge legitimate ;

3 . Whether it would support a proposal to exempt gifts, or

parcels for private use, from this double charge ?

Answer

( 2 ) OJ No L 123, 17 . 5 . 1988, p . 2 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 366, 28 . 12 . 1978, p . 34 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 372, 31 . 12 . 1985, p . 30 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 197, 19 . 7 . 1994, p . 1 .

( 31 October 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1684 / 95

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Council

Without more information on the exact nature of the ( 16 June 1995 )
present and of the charge to which the Honourable Member ( 95 / C 326 / 08 )
refers, it is difficult for the Council to give a precise reply .
However, it is possible that an import charge is due under
Community rules on customs duty and tax reliefs .

Subject : EU / Asia Summit

Title VII of Regulation ( EEC ) No 918 / 83 H, as amended by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1315 / 88 ( 2 ) on reliefs from customs
duty lays down provisions on duty-free entry for small
consignments of a non-commercial nature sent by a private
person in a third country to a private person in the customs
territory of the Community . Such consignments are
admitted free of import duty if they

— are of an occasional nature, and

— contain goods which do not by their nature or quantity

reflect any commercial intent, and

— consist of goods the total value of which does not exceed

ECU 45, and

— are sent to the consignee by the consigner free of

payment of any kind .

Parallel provisions concerning tax reliefs are found in
Directive 78 / 1035 / EEC ( 3 ), as amended by Directive
85 / 576 / EEC ( 4 ).

Consequently, any gift sent as a small consignment and of a
value in excess of ECU 45 is liable to customs duty and VAT
and, if appropriate, excise duty . The sum due may be
collected by the customs service or by any service acting on
its behalf, such as the postal service or, in this case, the
railways .

If this meeting is solely between the EU and Asean countries
plus China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, to the
exclusion of all the member countries of Saarc ( i.e. South
Asia ) how can it be seen as an EU / Asia Summit ? What steps
is the Council taking to remedy this ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

In preparation for the Europe-Asia meeting to be held in
Thailand in the first quarter of 1996, a preliminary meeting
at the level of EU-Asean Senior Officials was held in
Singapore from 2 to 4 May 1995 . On that occasion broad
agreement was reached by the Parties that the meeting of
Heads of State or of Government should be informal and

should offer an opportunity to broach the main economic
and political topics of interest to both parties and that it
should be a matter for each of the parties to choose its
participants .

As far as the title ' Europe-Asia meeting ' is concerned, there
was a consensus within the EU to use that working title in
view of the evolutive nature of the process, which implies the
possibility of wider participation at any further meetings .

6 . 12 . 95 I EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 5

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1697 / 95

by Christiane Taubira-Delannon ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 15 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 09 )

Subject : Environmental pollution by mercury and mercury

poisoning of humans

It has been estimated that, since the beginning of gold
mining in French Guiana towards the end of the last century,
300 tonnes of mercury have been discharged into the
environment .

The fish forming the staple diet of riverside dwellers in
French Guiana are contaminated by mercury and it is
presumably through this final link in the food-chain that
humans are poisoned . Research carried out in 1994 by the
national public health services on a sample of 500 persons
being monitored in health-care centres indicates that in
12% of the population the concentrations are higher than
the maximum acceptable levels established by the World
Health Organization .

What steps is the Commission taking to combat this
irreversible pollution, which is affecting large parts of the
Amazon region and is causing serious public health
problems ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 September 1995 )

As a department of France, French Guiana is subject to
Community legislation .

The Commission is aware of the problems of environmental
pollution and poisoning of humans caused by the release of
mercury and has already put in place legislation to control
such activities . Council Directive 84 / 156 / EEC i 1 ) lays down
emission limit values for discharges of mercury and quality
objectives for the environment affected by such discharges .
The purpose of these standards is to eliminate mercury
pollution .

Furthermore, the quality of the waters must be sufficient to
comply with the requirements of any other Council
Directive applicable to such waters as regards the presence
of mercury .

In the case of strip mining, where it is difficult to establish
emission standards, the Member State is required to devise
specific programmes to avoid or eliminate mercury
pollution . The programmes must include the most
appropriate measures and techniques, for the replacement,
retention and recycling of mercury . The elimination of waste
containing mercury is required to be carried out in
accordance with Council Directive 78 / 319 / EEC on toxic
and dangerous waste ( 2 ). Programmes were required to be in
place by 1 July 1989 . The monitoring requirements would
still apply .

Furthermore, because of its great polluting potential, the
production of non-ferrous crude metals from ore,
concentrates or secondary raw materials by metallurgical,
chemical or electrolytic processes, ( which includes the
extraction of gold by mercury ) will require control by means
of best available techniques ( BAT ), under the forthcoming
Directive on integrated pollution prevention and
control ( 3 ).

Moreover, the Commission is mindful of the problems
posed by the use of mercury to extract gold in French
Guyana and a large part of the Amazon . In this connection,
the Department of Environmental Studies of the University
of French Guyana, which receives funding under budget
heading ' environment in the developing countries ', is
planning to undertake research on the impact of gold mining
activities on the environment of French Guyana . This
research will provide useful information on the problems
encountered which may help to increase awareness among
the authorities and populations concerned .

In Brazil, the problems associated with the use of mercury to
extract gold were the subject of a study in 1991 / 92, funded
by the Commission . This study showed up signs of
contamination among riverside dwellers, gold panners and
in a more general way in the aquatic environment .

Following this study, an ECU 1,5 million action programme
was initiated at the end of 1993 thanks to funding under
Budget heading B7-5401 ' tropical forests '. This programme
is headed by the Imperial College of London, in cooperation
with local institutions and non-governmental organizations .
It covers four main areas :

( i ) assessment of mercury contamination in the
catchment areas of two tributaries of the Amazon : the

Tapajos and the Madeira,

( ii ) identification of the clinical effects of exposure to
mercury and monitoring of those at risk,

( iii ) development and testing of gold panning techniques
allowing a reduction in the use of mercury and

( iv ) introduction of a campaign to educate those at risk .

This programme also provides for the organization in 1996
of a regional conference covering the Amazon basin and the
Guyanese plateau to which all countries in the region with
mercury pollution and contamination problems will be
invited .

f 1 ) OJ No L 74, 17 . 3 . 1984 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978 .

I 3 ) COM(93 ) 423 final .

No C 326 / 6 1 EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1701 / 95

by Jacques Donnay ( UPE )

to the Council

( 16 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 10 )

Subject : Differences between Member States concerning

the implementation of Community Directives

By Decree No 93-40 of 11 January 1993, the French
Government laid down provisions implementing Council
Directive 89 / 655 / EEC I 1 ) concerning minimum safety and
health requirements for the use of work equipment, while
the other Member States do not appear to have adopted the
necessary measures to incorporate the Directive into their
national legislation .

As a result, French undertakings are subject to greater
constraints than those of other Member States of the Union,
and this constitutes an additional handicap in terms of
international competitiveness .

What steps will the Council take to prevent such distortions
of competition ?

(!) OJ No L 393, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 13 .

Answer

— consider the problem of the penalties applicable for

breaches of Community law in its annual report on the
effective application of Community law .'

The latest version of this annual report on monitoring the
application of Community law was published on 7 June

1995 ( 3 ). Finally, the Council would refer the Honourable
Member to the reply given by the Commission on 1 8 July to
the same question .

I 1 ) OJ No C 168, 4 . 7 . 1995 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 188, 22 . 7 . 1995 .

( 3 ) COM(95 ) 500 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 708 / 95

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 21 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 11 )

Subject : Drift nets

Six North American ecological organizations have lodged
( 31 October 1995 )
an appeal with the International Trade Court in New York
in an attempt to get the US Government to identify Italy as a
violator of the UN regulations banning the use of large drift

store by the faithful transposition and nets . These organizations are also studying ways of
in all the Member States of Community initiating similar proceedings against countries using these
the Council resolution of nets to fish for bonito in the Atlantic .

The Council sets great store by the faithful transposition and
effective application in all the Member States of Community
Directives, as is demonstrated by the Council resolution of
27 March 1995 on the transposition and application of
Community social legislation (*) and the Council resolution
of 29 June 1995 on the effective uniform application of
Community law and on the penalties applicable for breaches
of Community law in the internal market ( 2 ).

In that resolution the Council particularly asks Member
States ' to take action to ensure that, when Community acts
are transposed into national legislation, Community law is
duly applied with the same effectiveness and thoroughness
as national law and that, in any event, the penalty provisions
adopted are effective, proportionate and dissuasive .'

In the resolution the Council also ' encourages the
Commission, in its role as watchdog of the Treaties and in
the framework of its power to act, to :

— ensure that Directives are correctly transposed into

national legislation and, more generally, ensure that
Community internal market legislation, including
legislation in the matter of penalties is effectively and
efficiently implemented,

US legislation obliges the US Trade Secretary to identify
those nations whose vessels are fishing with drift nets
outwith their territorial waters . If such identification were
to be proven, the Department of Trade would ban imports
of fish and fisheries products from the guilty countries .

Is the Commission aware of the risk of trade sanctions due

to the lack of regulations banning the use of these nets ?

What steps is the Commission taking in order to achieve an
adequate majority within the Council for a total ban on the
use of these nets, as called for by the European
Parliament ?

Since President Santer 's speech to Parliament in January
referred to respect for Parliament 's decisions, is the
Commission not duty bound to take immediate steps to
break the current deadlock ?

6 . 12 . 95 I EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 7

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 September 1995 )

Since 1992, in accordance with the recommendations of the
United Nations General Assembly, the Community rules
have forbidden all Community fishing vessels to use drift
nets of more than 2,5 km length, whatever the waters they
are fishing in . The only exception concerns the Baltic, which
is subject to special international regulation .

In April 1994, the Commission proposed prohibiting
Community ships from using any drift net of whatever
length and whatever the fishing zone concernd ( J ). The
fisheries sub-committee of Parliament supported this
proposal, except for the Baltic and inside the territorial
waters of Member States ( 12 miles ), where it proposes
continuing to permit drift nets of less than 2,5 km in
length .

The Commission is aware of the legislation in the United
States concerning large drift nets ( the 1992 High Seas
Driftnet Enforcement Act ) and of the lawsuit brought by
several environmentalist organizations . Since Community
legislation prohibits the use of these nets, the risk of a
negative outcome is nil unless Member States are not in a
position to check on the proper application of Community
law .

The undertaking to respect the decisions of Parliament given
by the Commission cannot bind it in areas outside its field of
competence . However, the Commission has not spared its
efforts to improve the effectiveness of inspection activities,
which remain the responsibility of the Member States, in
order to ensure that the existing rules, which are in line with
the recommendations of the international organizations
concerned, are fully complied with by Community
vessels .

The Commission made exceptional efforts in 1994 to
supervise and coordinate the controls carried but by the
Member States and to ensure the continuous presence of
Community inspectors on board the inspection vessels of
the Member States . In 1995, not only has the Commission
renewed these efforts but it has intensified them by
chartering, from 1 June to 30 September 1995, a vessel
which will carry Community and national inspectors and
provide them with a platform for controls, initially in the
Atlantic in the albacore tuna fisheries and then in the

Mediterranean in the swordfish fisheries .

Like Parliament, the Commission regrets that the Council
has not been able to find a qualified majority for its proposal
and is trying to encourage the attainment of such a majority

by all the means at its disposal with a view to a constructive
solution .

(M COM(94 ) 131 final — OJ No C 118, 29 . 4 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1802 / 95

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Council

( 26 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 12 )

Subject : Nuclear Energy Agency study of options for spent

nuclear fuel management

In June 1994 the Joint Meeting of the Oslo and Paris
Commissions ( Ospar ) requested the Nuclear Energy Agency
of the OECD to carry out an assessment of reprocessing and
non-reprocessing options for spent nuclear fuel

management .

The Council explained in its reply to my Written Question
E-1854 / 94 ( l ) of 1 September 1994 that this NEA study
should report progress to Ospar 1995 .

What information has been transmitted to the Council on
developments in this field since June 1994 ?

t 1 ) OJ No C 42, 20 . 2 . 1995, p . 8 .

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The Council does not have any further information, as the
Nuclear Energy Agency has not yet finished considering the
request for an assessment to which the Honourable Member
refers .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 803 / 95

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 28 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 13 )

Subject : Secrecy over details of withdrawals of nuclear

materials from safeguards by the United Kingdom
Government

Further to the reply to my Written Question E-559 / 95 (*) of
7 April 1995, will the Commission publish :

No C 326 / 8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

1 . the date on which the United Kingdom Government
indicated to the Commission that the information

transmitted to Euratom on its intentions to withdraw

nuclear material from safeguards covered by the 1978
UK-Euratom-IAEA Tripartite safeguards agreement
should be kept confidential,

2 . an explanation of the reasons given, if any, by the
UK Government for the confidentiality of this
information ?

(!) OJ No C 179, 13 . 7 . 1995, p . 35 .

In this resolution on radioactive-waste management, the
Council takes the view that each Member State is

responsible for ensuring that the radioactive waste
produced on its territory is properly managed, and puts the
emphasis on continued efforts to reduce the volume and
radiotoxicity of radioactive waste, establishing suitable
facilities for managing radioactive waste, and using them as
efficiently as possible .

It also refers to the importance of factors including research,
information and cooperation, particularly on an
international scale, on radioactive-waste management, and
calls on the Commission to continue its work in the

framework of the resolution .

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission (M OJ No C 379, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 1 .

( 13 September 1995 )

Apart from the provisions of Article 194 of the Euratom
Treaty, pursuant to the terms of the safeguards agreement
between the United Kingdom, the Community and the
International Atomic Energy Agency ( INFCIRC / 263 ), the
reports on any inventory changes of nuclear material, such
as imports or withdrawals, are classified ' safeguards
confidential '. The confidentiality provisions must be strictly
adhered to in all cases .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 804 / 95

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Council

( 26 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 14 )

Subject : Council action on a European Union-wide strategy

for radioactive-waste management

Further to its reply of 20 December 1994 to Written
Question E-1901 / 94 0 ), what decisions have now been
taken regarding the Commission communication of
2 March 1994 on nuclear-waste management ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1821 / 95

by Marco Pannella ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 28 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 15 )

Subject : Commission finance for the film ' Underground ' by

E. Kusturica

Can the Commission confirm that the film ' Underground '
by Emir Kusturica, winner of the Golden Palm award at the
Cannes Film Festival, was jointly financed by the
Commission, France and Serbia ?

Does the Commission consider it admissible for the Union

to co-finance a cinematographic work with a country
subject to an international embargo and, what is more,
which is not recognized by the European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission
(!) OJ No C 42, 20 . 2 . 1995, p . 9 .

( 29 September 1995 )

Answer

After checking the aid granted to the film industry under the

( 31 October 1995 ) existing Community support instruments, the Commission

can inform the Honourable Member that the film

' Underground ' by Emir Kusturica did not receive any
In connection with its scrutiny of the Commission financial assistance from the Community .
communication on nuclear-waste management to which the
Honourable Member refers, the Council adopted a
resolution on 19 December 1994 ( ] ).

( 31 October 1995 )

6 . 12 . 95 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 825 / 95

QUESTION E-l 825 / 95 Furthermore, most of the countries indicated by the

Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) Honourable Member have not completed the process of

to the Council constructing a fully fledged open market economy, complete

with the institutions and policy instruments that would be

( 26 June 1995 ) required for participation in a monetary union . Their

( 95 / C 326 / 16 ) performance with regard to the convergence criteria is
therefore of limited relevance for the time being .

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )

to the Council

( 26 June 1995 )

Subject : Arrangements for temporary officials

Article 28a(3 ) of the EC Staff Regulations fixes the
unemployment allowance, laying down inter alia upper and
lower amounts . These have not been updated since 1982,
despite successive salary increments which mean that there
has been an increase in the total contributions made by
workers .

Does the Council intend to update these upper and lower
amounts in its next annual review ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, in
accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 28a(3 ) of
the conditions of employment applicable to other servants
of the European Communities, any revision of the lower and
upper amounts of the unemployment allowance requires a
proposal from the Commission .

To date, the Council has received no proposal from the
Commission to amend these lower and upper amounts .

Bulgaria 96,1 - 6,6 5 453

Cyprus 4,7 - 1,5 9 398

Czech Republic 10,0 1,5 6 960

Estonia 47,7 - 0,0 6 337

Hungary 19,1 - 5,7 5 908

Latvia . 35,9 - 2,0 4 744

Lithuania 45,1 - 3,0 2 921

Malta 3,9 - 4,3 ( 2 ) 10 127

Poland 33,2 - 2,8 5 195

Romania 137,0 - 4,3 2 756

Moreover, the reliability and availability of the required
statistics are poor, and the concepts have not been
harmonized ; this makes comparisons between countries
hazardous . The data given in the table below should be
considered as rough indications ; they have not been verified
with the authorities of the countries concerned .

Inflation

( consumer
price index )

General

government

budget
balance ('), as

% of gross

domestic
product, 1 994

Gross domestic

product per
head, 1993, in

purchasing ECU, at
power parities

Slovak Republic 1 13,8                                   - 3,1 5 541

Slovenia 19,8                                     - 0,2 8 076

(') Includes privatization receipts .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 833 / 95 ( 2 ) 1993 .

by Salvador Garriga Polledo ( PPE ) Sources : estimates National authorities ., International Monetary Fund, Commission
to the Commission

( 28 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 17

Subject : Convergence criteria WRITTEN QUESTION E-1868 / 95

by Inigo Mendez de Vigo ( PPE )

Can the Commission provide a comparative table showing to the Commission
the current position as regards the convergence criteria of
those countries expected to join from the year 2000 (3 July 1995 )
onwards ?

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 18 )

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1995 )

Convergence criteria apply to Member States, and should be
seen in the context of treaty provisions for economic and
monetary union . They are not accession criteria .

Subject : Legislation on hormones in bovine meat

The US Secretary for Agriculture, Dan Glickman, has
threatened to take the EU legislation banning growth
hormones for cattle to the WTO unless the matter is

resolved by the end of the year .

No C 326 / 10 I EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

What steps does the Commission intend to take in view of Answer given by Mrs Bonino
these statements, which follow the Commission 's setting up on behalf of the Commission
of a US-EU joint working party to draw up the agenda for ( 14 September 1995 )
the Conference on hormones, which could provide the basis
for a possible review of the legislation in question ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

( 14 September 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 September 1995 )

There is, it is true, strong pressure from the meat industry in
the United States on the United States administration to

convene a panel under the World Trade Organisation in
relation to the hormones issue . Nevertheless, the
Commission feels that there is a level of understanding in the
United States regarding the Commission 's initiative to
convene a scientific conference on this subject before the end
of the year . The conference is being organized under the
responsibility of the Commission — not by a joint EC-USA
working group . The agenda for the conference will be set by
a steering committee of independent experts with the aim of
giving independent scientists the opportunity to evaluate the
latest scientific information available on the subject and to
provide their scientific conclusions . The conference should
therefore provide guidance on the scientific aspects of this
issue, quite separate from any political influences . The
Commission would then be in a position to decide on the
best course of action to follow for the future . The only
revision of Community legislation envisaged at present is the
proposals sent to the Parliament and to the Council in
September 1993 (*), concerning mainly the reinforcement of
the control measures, which are still under discussion at

Council level .

( ! ) COM(93 ) 441 final, modified by COM(94 ) 293 and 294

final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1874 / 95

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 19 )

Subject : Over-production of farmed salmon

Is the Commission aware of any flooding of the European
market with over-produced farmed salmon from
Norway ?

The projected increase in production of Norwegian salmon
has been discussed at a meeting between the fisheries
committee of the European Parliament and the Norwegian
authorities . The Commission would also refer the

Honourable Member to its answers to Written Questions
E-1850 / 95 ( J ) and E-1851 / 95 ( x ) by Mr Killilea . The
information at present available to the Commission does
not indicate an imminent threat of serious injury .

The Commission is continuing to monitor developments
and has reminded certain Member States of the need to send

in statistics in order to have a complete picture .

The Commission is not at present in possession of any
information indicating that Norwegian salmon is being
dumped .

f 1 ) OJ No C 311, 22 . 11 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 886 / 95

by Angela Sierra González ( GUE / NGL ), Laura González
Alvarez ( GUE / NGL ) and María Sornosa Martinez

( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 20 )

Subject : Environmental impact of the Ronda de la Laguna

( Lagoon ring-road ) ( Tenerife )

The completion of the second stage of the Ronda ( ring-road )
de la Laguna will cause major and irreparable
environmental damage to the Vega Lagunera ( Lagoon
Water Meadows ), an area of major significance not only in
terms of natural beauty but also for agronomic and
hydrological reasons .

According to a number of ecological groups in the Canaries,
the environmental impact assessment required by Directive

85 / 337 / EEC (*) has not been carried out in the case of this
project .

What steps can the Commission take to ensure the proper
application of Community law in environmental matters,
particularly Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, which lays down that
projects with major potential implications for the
environment must undergo an environmental impact
assessment ?

If so, what is the Commission prepared to do to prevent this
dumping in European markets ? f 1 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 11

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

given by Mrs Bjerregaard 5 . In planning the initiative, was account taken of the

of the Commission strong influence on modern society of the various media

(2 October 1995 ) such as television, radio and the press ?

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts mentioned
by the Honourable Members .

However, as they could constitute an infringement of the
provisions of Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC of 27 June

1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment, the Commission will
ask the Spanish authorities for their comments .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 896 / 95

by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 21 )

Subject : Citizens First initiative

A part of the Citizens First initiative, the Commission has
decided to publish a series of guides on citizens ' rights in the
single market and to launch an extensive information
campaign on this subject which is to begin in the autumn .
This is to be followed by a second phase in which the
Commission will seek solutions to problems highlighted by
citizens during these campaigns .

Given that bringing the Union closer to citizens is the main
objective of the Citizens First initiative and bearing in mind
the problems this may pose, can the Commission provide
information on the following :

1 . Will the information campaigns which form part of this

initiative be focused on the main centres of population in
the various Member States, or will there be mobile
campaigns which will reach smaller towns and
villages ?

2 . How will these information campaigns operate ?

3 . Has consideration been given to the possibility of

focusing on particular groups of people such as teachers,
adolescents, students, the elderly, etc . in their study,
leisure or work environment, etc .?

4 . Who will be entrusted with the ask of supplying

information to the public ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1995 )

The Commission is currently preparing an initiative aimed
at bringing the Union closer to the citizen . This initiative,
provisionally named ' citizens first ', is designed to
demonstrate the benefits of the internal market — the key
achievement of Community integration to date — for
individual citizens and to underline the Commission 's

commitment to ensuring that the single market becomes a
reality for them .

The first phase of the initiative will consist of a series of
information and awareness-raising campaigns which should
be launched during 1996 . Each campaign will deal with a
specific theme related to citizens ' lives ( e.g. working in
another Member State, studying in another Member State,
taking up residence in another Member State ). Each theme
will form the subject of a specific guide which will be
published at the same time as the information campaign on
this theme is launched . Each guide will be accompanied by a
set of more detailed information sheets describing national
procedures to follow in order to exercise the rights described
in the guide in each of the Member States and describing
remedies in the event of problems or difficulties .

The campaigns will be directly targetted at the individual
citizen, whether or not he or she has already made use of his
rights in the single market ( e.g. a person working or studying
or retiring in another Member State ). The audience for each
campaign will vary according to the theme ; thus the
campaign ' studying in another Member State ' would target
students, teachers and adolescents, for example . It is clear
that if the aim is to reach the individual citizen it will be

necessary to use various media such as television, radio and
the press . The Commission intends to reach the widest
possible audience, subject of course to resource
constraints .

These campaigns will be conducted by the Commission . A
particularly important role will be given to the Commission
offices in the Member States . The Commission intends to

ask the Member States and the Parliament to be closely
associated with the exercise . Organizations representing
citizens ' interests will also be invited to participate, such as
trade unions, family associations, consumer bodies and
professional associations .

The exact nature of the campaigns has not yet been fixed .
The Commission intends to seek professional advice
through a competitive tendering procedure . The Parliament
will be kept informed of the development of the project in
the coming months .

No C 326 / 12 | EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903 / 95

Joint answer to Written Questions
E-1903 / 95, E-1907 / 95, E-1913 / 95 and E-1914 / 95

by Bill Miller ( PSE )

to the Commission given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1995 ) ( 19 September 1995 )
( 95 / C 326 / 22 )

Subject : Report on harmonization of excise duty on

alcoholic beverages

A series of studies were made on the Commission 's behalf by
private consultants on the above subjects during the course
of 1994 . The reports, copies of which were made available
to the Parliament, were intended to provide the Commission
with factual information .

When will the Commission release the report on the
harmonization of excise duty on alcoholic beverages for

For its part, the Commission has prepared a report on the

consideration by Parliament ? functioning of those provisions of Community VAT

legislation dealing with VAT rates and this has been sent to
the Council and Parliament for their consideration ( 1 ). A
further report on excise duties ( 2 ) was forwarded to the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1907 / 95 Council and Parliament on 13 September 1995 .

by Bill Miller ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 23 )

Subject : Report on harmonization of the taxation of

alcoholic beverages

What prevents the Commission from releasing the report on
the harmonization of excise duty on alcoholic beverages for
consideration by Parliament ?

(M COM(94 ) 584 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 285 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1916 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 26 )

Subject : Directive on the application of the principle of

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1913 / 95 equal treatment between men and women

by Bill Miller ( PSE )

In view of :
to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 24 )

Subject : Report on cross-border shopping

When will the Commission release the report on
cross-border shopping for consideration by Parliament ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1914 / 95

by Bill Miller ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 25 )

Subject : Report on cross-border shopping

What prevents the Commission from releasing the report on
cross-border shopping for consideration by Parliament ?

— the Commission report ( ) on the implementation of

Directive 86 / 613 / EEC ( 2 ) on the application of the
principle of equal treatment between men and women
engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in
a self-employed capacity, and on the protection
of self-employed women during pregnancy and
motherhood,

— the expiry of the third Community action programme on

the promotion of equal opportunities for women

( 1991—1995 ),

— the fact that Article 7 of Directive 86 / 613 / EEC provides

that the Member States shall undertake to examine
under what conditions recognition of the work of
spouses may be encouraged and consider any
appropriate steps for encouraging such recognition,

— the fact that Article 8 provides that the Member States

shall undertake to examine the question of granting aid
to female self-employed workers and the wives
of self-employed workers during pregnancy or
motherhood, namely by providing temporary
replacements or cash payments paid by a public
body,

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 13

Will the Commission say :

1 . whether it intends to draw up in the context of the

fourth medium-term programme for equal treatment

( 1996 — 2000 ), a new and more specific Directive
designed to atain its particular objective and change a
situation which is very prejudicial to women 's interests,
since no vocational arrangements exist regarding
spouses working in family businesses, including
farming, and

2 . whether it intends to make the provisions set out in
Articles 7 and 8 of the existing Directive more effective
by obliging Member States not merely to examine the
relevant conditions, but also take action to attain the
objectives set out therein ?

(M COM(94 ) 163 final .

( 2 ) OJ No L 359, 19 . 12 . 1986, p . 56 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 1995 )

Council Directive 86 / 613 / EEC has to do with the

application of the principle of equal treatment for women
and men engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a
self-employed capacity, and with the protection of
self-employed women during pregnancy . In 1994, the
Commission presented a report on the implementation of
this Directive . From a strictly legal point of view, Directive

86 / 613 / EEC may be regarded as having been implemented
in the Member States, although practical difficulties persist
for three main reasons :

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1918 / 95

by Ana Miranda de Lage ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 27 )

Subject : Increase in EIB loans

Following the arrival of three new EU Member States the
European Investment Bank 's credit ceiling now exceeds
ECU 155 billion .

Approximately 10% of lending goes to non-Community
countries such as the developing countries of Africa and
Latin America, South Africa, Mediterranean and eastern
European countries, etc .

In view of the fact that the EIB has been so successful, is the
Commission willing to support a significant increase — for
example, a doubling of the current allocation for the
developing countries of Africa and Latin America ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1995 )

The Council Decision 93 / 115 / EEC of 15 February 1993 ( )

— the actual purpose of the Directive, which touches on a grants Investment in full Bank the Community ( EIB ) against guarantee losses under to the loans European for

number of aspects ( laws governing marriage, companies, projects of mutual interest in certain third countries which
social security and taxation ); the Community has concluded cooperation agreements .

— the wide range of activities covered ; The three-year Decision period sets a, and limit concerns of ECU 250 30 million countries per year in Latin, for a
America and Asia .

— the actual purpose of the Directive, which touches on a

number of aspects ( laws governing marriage, companies,
social security and taxation );

— the differing circumstances under which the persons

concerned may perform the activity in question ( partner,
shareholder, employee of spouse, assisting spouse with
no status ).

Moreover, the highly general nature of the Directive leaves
matters largely to the discretion of the Member States . That
is why the Commission, in the context of the fourth
medium-term action programme on equal opportunities for
women and men ( 1996 — 2000 ), will propose measures
aimed at promoting the objectives of Directive 86 / 613 / EEC .
In particular, it intends to carry out an in-depth assessment
of the situation and to engage in wide-ranging consultation
of all the interested parties, after which it will put forward a
proposal for a new Directive addressing the actual needs in
this field .

As far as lending in Latin America is concerned, loans
approved by the EIB in the first two years of activity totalled
ECU 135 million and ECU 142 million respectively ( 54%
and 57% of the total available for Latin America and

Asia ).

As foreseen in the Council Decision, the Commission will
propose a renewal of the current ceiling before the end of the
three-year period ( February 1996 ). The Commission
intends to propose a significant increase in the loan ceiling
within the constraints imposed by the financial perspectives
agreed at the European Council in Edinburgh — which
regarding the reserve for external loans and loan guarantees

( heading 6 ) remain unchanged in spite of the enlargement —
and, in particular, by the guarantee fund Council Regulation
( EC, Euratom ) No 2728 / 94 of 31 October 1994 ( 2 ).

No C 326 / 14 ΓΕΝΙ Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

The EIB operations in Latin America have to be viewed in WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935
the wider context of the relations between the Community by Christof Tannert ( PSE )
and Latin America, which can be qualified as very dynamic .

to the Council

In recent years, the Community has launched several
initiatives with Latin American countries and the EIB plays a (3 July 1995 )
key role in this context . 95 / C 326 / 29

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935 / 95

to the Council

(3 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 29 )

H OJ No L 45, 23 . 2 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 293,, 12 . . 11 . . 1994 . . Subject : The right to refuse to perform military service and

alternative civilian service, and the cases of the
conscientious objectors Alain Cazaux and Pierre
Serres

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1932 / 95

by Carlo Secchi ( PPE )

to the Council

( 23 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 28 )

Subject : EIB aid for the November 1994 natural disasters in

Italy

Under its Statute, the European Investment Bank is required
to provide financing in all sectors of the economy . However,
this principle is now being infringed by the EIB as it is
excluding retail undertakings from eligibility for aid . This
would appear to be confirmed in the case of the Lit 1 200
billion loan recently granted by the EIB to undertakings
which suffered damage in the floods which occurred in
November 1994 in Piedmont, Lombardy and Liguria .

Can the Council therefore ask the EIB to explain the reasons
behind this decision, given that it is absurd that, even in the
face of natural disasters, the EIB should continue to
discriminate against retail undertakings ( mainly SMUs )
which represent one of the sectors hardest hit by the disaster
and one of the essential components for the socio-economic
recovery of the areas in question ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

The decisions of the EIB are taken by virtue of its powers
under the Treaty . The specific question raised by the
Honourable Member does not fall within the Council 's

responsibilities .

Although the French State recognizes the right to refuse to
perform military service, French courts are still handing out
prison sentences to some 700 conscientious objectors every

year .

Alain Cazaux and Pierre Serres have to appear in court on
21 June 1995 because they are refusing to perform
alternative civilian service, which in France is twice the
length of military service ( 20 months instead of ten ). This
goes directly against European Parliament resolutions on
conscientious objection, including the 1994 Bandres / Bindi
resolution which called for the length of civilian service to be

the same as that of military service .

The fact that, in France, objection must be notified at least

15 days before the call-up date is also incompatible with
Parliament 's resolutions of 1983 ( Macchiocchi ) and 1989

( Schmidbauer ).

For these reasons, Amnesty International has adopted the
aforementioned two conscientious objectors as prisoners of
conscience .

Is the Council aware of the above cases ? What is its view of

the way they have been dealt with ? What steps will it take to
ensure that France, as a Member State of the European
Union, respects Parliament 's resolutions and introduces
civilian service which is not of a punitive nature ?

Answer

( 31 October 1995 )

As the Council has stated on many occasions, it is deeply
committed to respecting human rights both inside and
outside the Community .

The Council can assure the Honourable Member that it has

also duly noted the European Parliament resolutions
relating to conscientious objection, but would, however,
remind him that this is a matter for the Member States .

With regard to the facts recounted by the Honourable
Member, it would be neither customary nor helpful for the
Council to comment .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 15

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1952 / 95

by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dorfler ( V )

to the Commission

(6 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 30 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1958 / 95

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 31 )

Subject : European Committee for Standardization ( CEN ) Subject : Contributions to the European Union budget

The International Organization for Standardization ( ISO )
has prepared a draft guide on the integration of
environmental aspects into product standards .

What stage has this draft reached ? When will it be adopted
by the European Committee for Standardization ( CEN )?
Does this guide concern pollution caused by the finished
product and / or pollution occurring during its manufacture ?
On what environmental protection standards is it based ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 September 1995 )

The Commission has made enquiry of the International
Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) regarding the draft
guide on the integration of environmental aspects into
product standards mentioned by the Honourable
Member .

ISO states that the draft is at the committee draft stage, that
is preliminary agreement has been reached within the
technical group drawing up the document . The process of
editing is under way and it is expected that a draft will be
publicly available from ISO about the end of 1995 . In view
of its status ( it is intended by ISO as a guide rather than an
international standard ) and its current preliminary stage it is
not yet known what status the European committee for
standardization will give this document .

According to information received from ISO and from
European experts involved in the preliminary ISO work, this
draft is intended as a guidance document for the
incorporation of environmental considerations in the
process of elaboration of standards for products . Questions
of pollution caused by finished products or during their
manufacture are therefore to be covered by the product
standards themselves, drawn up in accordance with the
guide once it is finalised .

Could the Commission provide the latest statistics as to
those countries of the Union which are currently net
contributors in the amounts they are contributing ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

The Commission does not publish expenditure figures
concerning individual Member States .

In the European Union the Member States jointly pursue
economic and political objectives . Progress of the Union
benefits the Member States in a variety of ways : their
standard of living increases, economic and political stability
improves . The budget, therefore does not represent the total
of benefits that each Member State gains from the
Union .

There are conceptual difficulties concerning the allocation
of budget spending and receipts, for example :

— from the administrative point of view it is difficult to

allocate spending to multinational consortiums notably
in research, while also administration is difficult to
allocate fully ;

— by definition spending to non-Member States ( about

5 % of the budget ) cannot be allocated ;

— allocation to the territory of the first recipient could be

disputable . For instance, customs duties are levied upon
entry into the Community which is not necessarily the
country of final consumption .

The Court of Auditors publishes — under its own
responsibility — payments and expenditure per Member
State as part of its annual report ( most recently for 1993,
published in November 1994 ).

No C 326 / 16 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1976 / 95

by Riccardo Nencini ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 32 )

before the start of construction . The information available

to the Commission is that the high-speed train link relating
to Florence is in the early stage of planning and has not yet
reached a level of maturity at which application for
Community funding would be appropriate . No application
has, therefore, been received .

For more details concerning the state of progress of the
Subject : High-speed rail project project the Honourable Member would be best advised to
approach the Italian authorities .

The city of Florence and surrounding area have been chosen
as transit centres for a high-speed railway line .

The projects submitted do not comply with the European
Union 's guidelines, which stipulate that, in order to be
considered as ' joint projects ', projects must meet the
requirements set out in the proposal for a Decision on
trans-European networks in the energy and transport
sectors, in particular as regards compatibility with
environmental standards . Funding of such projects is
dependent on compliance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC

( environmental impact assessment ) (*), which has in fact
been disregarded .

What is the Commission 's view and what information can it

supply on this matter ?

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

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

The project mentioned to by the Honourable Member is
related to the completion of the Community high-speed
train network and is included in the proposed guidelines for
the development of the trans-European transport network,
which, as the Honourable Member will know, are scheduled
for second reading in the Parliament in the procedure for
co-decision . It is assumed that in the Honourable Member 's
question the notion of ' joint projects ' is equivalent to
' projects of common interest ' as identified in these
guidelines . The Commission confirms that the North-South
high-speed links crossing Florence are identified as projects
of common interest .

With regard to compliance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, this
Directive applies in relation to the final routing of such links .
As part of the project development, the definite routing of
the links has to be established and this is normally part of the
feasibility study of a project . This also implies that the
necessary environmental assessment is undertaken . That is
the responsibility of the Italian authorities . On the issue of
possible subsidies for such projects from Community funds,
one of the determinants for the provision of construction
subsidies is the completion of the necessary assessments

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1979 / 95

by Kenneth Coates ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 33 )

Subject : Environmental protection : Burning of ' secondary

fuels ' in cement works

Have any complaints been received by the Commission
about the burning of so-called ' secondary fuels ' in cement
works, and what investigations have been undertaken as a
result ?

Has the Commission reached any general conclusions about
requirements of environmental law in this area, and what
action does it anticipate taking ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1995 )

The Commission in fact received two complaints in 1994
concerning the incineration of ' secondary fuels ' in cement
kilns : one against the United Kingdom and the other against
the Netherlands, Germany and the Flemish region in
Belgium . In the first case, the Commission has already
gathered information, but the investigations are not yet
finished ; in the second case, the procedure is in the initial
stage, the complaint having been lodged in midsummer .

Based on a Commission proposal the Council adopted a
new Directive on incineration of hazardous waste in
December 1994 . Council Directive 94 / 67 / EC (*) includes
measures and standards for the incineration of hazardous

waste in facilities other than incineration plants ( this is
called co-incineration ).

(!) OJ No L 365, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 17

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1986 / 95

by Karin Falkmer ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 34 )

Subject : Implementation and incorporation into national

law of Directives on public procurement

The Commission has on several occasions stressed

the importance of the Member States ' incorporating
Community Directives into national law promptly .
However, there are wide variations among the Member
States in the number of Directives that have been duly
incorporated . There are also discrepancies in the
implementation of legislation .

In a speech to Parliament on 17 January, the President of the
Commission, Mr Santer, said that the Commission would
take due responsibility for resolving these problems . He
then gave examples of Directives causing problems, which
included those on public procurement .

What measures has the Commission taken to ensure that
the Directives on public procurement ( 93 / 36 / EEC ( J ),
93 / 37 / EEC ( 2 ), 93 / 38 / EEC ( 3 ) and 92 / 50 / EEC ( 4 )) are
incorporated into national law and implemented in all the
Member States of the Union ?

( ! ) OJ No L 199, 9 . 8 . 1993, p . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 199, 9 . 8 . 1993, p . 54 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 199, 9 . 8 . 1993, p . 84 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 1995 )

The Commission reaffirms its determination to ensure that

all the relevant Community public procurement Directives
are implemented in each Member State . In relation to the
Directives cited by the Honourable Member, the
Commission is in a position to give the following
information :

( a ) Directive 93 / 36 / EEC ( supplies ) has not been
implemented, or fully implemented, in five Member
States . A decision to send a reasoned opinion under
Article 169 of the EC Treaty has been taken by the
Commission in each of these cases .

( b ) Directive 93 / 37 / EEC ( works ) is a purely consolidating

text and so does not need to be implemented in national
law as such . Its predecessor, Directive 89 / 440 / EEC (*),
had been implemented in each of the Member States as

of 31 December 1994, although in relation to three of
these, in analysis of the provisions of the texts adopted
is still being carried out . Furthermore, in relation to
Germany, infringement proceedings were begun for
incorrect implementation of the Directive leading to the
matter being heard before the Court of Justice on
7 March 1995 ( Case C-433 / 93 ). A judgment in this case
is still awaited .

( c ) Directive 93 / 38 / EEC ( utilities ) has not been
implemented, or fully implemented, in four Member
States . A decision to send a reasoned opinion under
Article 169 of the EC Treaty, has been taken by the
Commission in each of these cases .

It should be remembered, moreover, in relation to this
Directive that three further Member States benefit from

a derogation from the obligation which the others have
to implement it by 1 July 1994 . These are Spain ( until

1 January 1997 ) and Greece and Portugal ( until
1 January 1998 ).

( d ) Directive 92 / 50 / EEC ( services ) has not been
implemented, or fully implemented, in four Member
States . Five infringement procedures have been begun

( two, dealing with different points, against the same
Member State ). In three of these cases the Commission
has taken a decision to take the matter before the

European Court of Justice and in the other two it has
been decided to send a reasoned opinion to the Member
State concerned .

In the light of the above, the Commission trust, the
Honourable Member will agree that it is doing its utmost to
ensure that each Member State respects its obligations to
implement in national law the provisions of these
Directives .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1997 / 95

by Antonio Trizza ( NI )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 35 )

Subject : Technical assistance measures and general studies

under Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No
2085 / 93

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2085 / 93 ( 1 ) laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88
as regards the EAGGF ( Article 8, first indent ) stipulates that
the Fund may devote part of its annual budget inter alia to
technical assistance measures and general studies .

No C 326 / 18 | EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

In its communication ( 2 ), the Commission sets out
the conditions for supporting the pilot projects and
demonstration projects referred to in the second and third
indents of Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2085 / 93 for

1995 . However, it does not set out the conditions for the
submission of the measures and actions referred to in the

first indent of Article 8 .

Does the Commission not consider that it should take steps
to lay down the conditions governing technical assistance
measures and general studies, especially in view of the
fundamental importance of this type of measure in
preparing for specific measures put forward by regional
and local authorities aimed at supplementing regional
development programmes ?

(M OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993, p . 44 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 303, 29 . 10 . 1994, p . 17 .

The Commission fully agrees with the Honourable
Member about the importance of technical assistance for
the management, monitoring and evaluation of the
rural development programmes throughout their
implementation . It has therefore ensured that the funds
allocated to these programmes cover a specific measure for
this purpose . Where such a measure was not included in the
programme submitted to the Commission, it insisted on an
appropriate amendment and the allocation of adequate
appropriations for this purpose . This means that the local
and regional authorities now have the financial resources
they require to carry out the studies and technical assistance
which are necessary for the correct implementation of the

programmes .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2003 / 95

by Peter Skinner ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 95 / C 326 / 36 )
( 12 September 1995 )

The call for proposals to which the Honourable Member
refers constitutes the practical implementation of the
procedure followed for the selection of the pilot and
demonstration projects likely to be eligible for Community
financing under Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4256 / 88,
as amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No 2085 / 93 . The main
points of this procedure are :

— projects should concentrate on a limited number of

priority topics directly connected with the needs of the
Community 's rural development policy ;

— a call for proposals relating to these topics and for which

any public or private person may tender published in the
Official Journal ;

— the selection of the most worthwhile projects after an

evaluation of all the proposals by independent

experts .

Unlike the pilot and demonstration projects, the general
studies and technical assistance aim to meet specific needs at
a particular time . An example is that the Commission used
appropriations for technical assistance as provided for in
Article 8 for the prior appraisal of rural development
programmes by independent experts . This was done when
the programmes were submitted by the Member States . Its
special features ( implementation when the programmes
were submitted ) made it difficult to follow a procedure of
the type used for the pilot and demonstration projects which
will be repeated regularly over the years to come .

Subject : Hop income aid to UK producers

Each year hop producers in the UK are eligible for hop
income aid . Many producers depend upon this financial aid
each year to assure that the harvest is completed . Each year,
there is a significant delay in payment of this aid and
increasingly aid is arriving after the time when producers
most need this support . Can the Commission please explain
this unnecessary delay and assure me that there will be no
delay this year in making these types of payments ?

As I understand, payments are actually paid for a previous
year 's crop, i.e. the farmer receives payment in 1995 for

1994 's harvest . This system, with its delays, means that any
payments arrive usually over a year since the crop was
collected, which is contrary to the case with other produce
where payments arrive nearer the time of harvest . Can the
Commission please explain why this absurd system is not
reviewed and modified so that payments are more punctual
and are paid before the harvest for the year 's crop in
question, i.e. 1994 payment for 1994 crop, etc .?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1995 )

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that
the aid for producers should be paid quickly and at the latest
before the next harvest . However, the Commission is
required to work within the rules applying in this case .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 19

The basic Regulation, Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1696 / 71 of26July 1971 on the common organization of
the market in hops ( l ), as last amended by Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3124 / 92 ( 2 ), stipulates in Article 11
that ' each year before 30 April the Commission shall submit
a report to the Council on the situation regarding the
production and marketing of hops '. This report is to be
accompanied by a proposal for a Council Regulation fixing
aid for producers for the harvest of the previous year .
Article 12(7 ) specifies that ' the amount of aid applicable to
areas under hops in respect of the harvest of the preceding
calendar year shall be fixed in two months following the
submission of the report referred to in Article 1 1 and before
30 June '.

The Commission has taken due note of the suggestion from
the Honourable Member that aid should be paid in advance,
i.e. before the harvest concerned .

( 1 ) OJ No L 175, 4 . 8 . 1971 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 313, 30 . 10 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2006 / 95

by John Corrie ( PPE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 37 )

Subject : Arable Area Payments scheme

Could the Commission comment on the legality of attaching
compulsory environmental conditions to subsidy payments
under the Arable Area Payments scheme specifically and
other common agricultural policy regimes ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

Regulation ( EEC ) No 1765 / 92 (*) on the arable support
system requires Member States to apply appropriate
environmental measures with regard to set-aside land only

( Article 7(3 )). The thinking behind this legal position is that
the reduction in the cereals price following the common
agricultural policy ( CAP ) reform, compensated by a per
hectare aid, should itself secure environmental advantage in
encouraging less intensive production . It neither requires
nor permits Member States to attach environmental
conditions to the payment of arable area payments . The
compensation was designed to offset the price reduction . It
would reduce the value of the compensation if producers
were subject to additional environmental requirements . As
regards set-aside, however, it seemed appropriate to require

Member States to require environmental measures which
correspond to the specific situation of the land set-aside .

As regards other CAP regimes, provisions exist which enable
Member States to apply environmental conditions to the
payment of beef and sheep premia . The thinking here is that
although there are density limits on the granting of premia in
the beef sector, in some sensitive areas these limits may
exceed what is environmentally desirable .

(!) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015 / 95

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 38 )

Subject : Liberalization of cabotage in the Union

1 . Is the Commission aware that the recent positive
developments in the Benelux road transport market are
largely attributable to the liberalization of cabotage between
the Benelux countries ?

2 . Does the Commission have any statistics concerning
the proportion of cabotage in the European Union as a
whole ?

3 . In view of the highly favourable effect of the
liberalization of cabotage, will the Commission seek to
expedite the liberalization of cabotage in other European
countries ?

If so, what measures will the Commission take for this
purpose ?

If not, why not ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 1995 )

1 . The Commission feels that liberalization has indeed
contributed to the positive developments .

2 . The Commission relies upon Member States to submit
the relevant national data . On the basis of the figures
available it is estimated that for 1994, cabotage operations
in the transport of goods by road were approximately
0,25 % of the national markets for the carriage of goods by
professional hauliers in the Community as a whole .

No C 326 / 20 EN I Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

3 . The Commission observes that the Council agreed in
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3118 / 93 of 25 October
1993 (') to 30 000 two-months cabotage authorizations in
1994, with a progressive annual increase of 30%, and
complete liberalization on 1 July 1998 . The Commission
does not intend to propose that the Council bring forward
this timetable .

(!) OJ No L 279, 12 . 11 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018 / 95

by Anne Van Lancker ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 39 )

The Commission also appoints unpaid trainees ( auxiliary
staff are not part of this programme ). Over the same
reference period, 71 % on average of trainees received grants
while 29 % were unpaid . The number of grants depends on
the funds available . A substantial number of trainees are not

entitled to a grant because they continue to receive
emoluments from their home country during their training,
while others agree to unpaid training .

Trainees are not part of the Commission 's work force, since
admission to in-service training does not confer the status of
official or other servant of the institution . The aim is rather

to provide practical training to complement theoretical
studies at university .

This limited training period gives these young people the
opportunity to acquire further knowledge which may, once
their in-service training is over, make it easier for them to
find work .

(!) OJ No C 311, 22 . 11 . 1995, p . 5 .
Subject : Trainees on placements ( stagiaires )

Each year the Commission appoints a large number of
stagiaires who carry out certain duties in one or other of its
departments for a limited period, under the supervision and
guidance of an official .

1 . What is the Commission 's policy for these
appointments ; in particular, does it respect the principle
of equal opportunities for men and women in this
connection ?

2 . What is the ratio between male and female stagiaires,

and how has it changed in the past ten years ?

3 . Does the Commission also appoint unpaid stagiaires or
auxiliaries and if so, can it provide any statistics on the
subject, including changes which have taken place ?

4 . If the Commission does recruit unpaid staff, what are
the arguments in favour of this ? Does the Commission
not agree that, if this is the case, paying them for their
work could substantially improve the precarious
employment prospects of many well-qualified young
people ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2023 / 95

by Edward McMillan-Scott ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 40 )

Subject : Export subsidies for years 1993 and 1994

Can the Commission give details of any subsidies, such as
export refunds, paid out for live export of cattle and sheep
for the years 1993 and 1994 particularly from Britain and
Eire ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 1995 )
Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 September 1995 ) The common market organization for sheep does not
provide for export refunds . Export refunds do exist for
cattle and for beef . The level of the refund was at ECU 1 200

selection criteria, the Commission would per ton liveweight at the beginning of 1993 and has since
Member to its answer to Written

then gradually decreased to the current level of ECU 900 per

from Mr Stefano De Luca ( J ). ton liveweight . In 1993 and 1994 the Community exported

yearly around 450 000 cattle, of which 225 000 from

does respect the principle of equal Ireland . No subsidised exports of live cattle took place from
men and women when appointing the United Kingdom in those years .

On the matter of selection criteria, the Commission would
refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written
Question E-1587 / 95 from Mr Stefano De Luca ( J ).

The Commission does respect the principle of equal
opportunities for men and women when appointing
trainees . In the last ten years female trainees have actually
been in the majority ( 59% compared with 41 % for male
trainees ).

6 . 12 . 95 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufibaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 41

Subject : Ecofin Council

The Ecofin Council meeting in Luxembourg on 19 and
20 June 1995 declared that a micro-economic approach
must be found to solving the problem of unemployment in
Europe .

1 . Is this view compatible with the Commission White
Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment ?

2 . Does the Commission support the Council 's
position ?

3 . If so, what specific measures are planned by the
Commission ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

( ii ) increasing the employment intensity of growth,
without a negative effect on the rate of growth
itself ;

( iii ) promoting the employability of the work force,
through increased flexibility and measures to help
groups particularly hard hit by unemployment .

There is no disagreement on these overall policy
recommendations between the Ecofin Council, the
European Council and the Commission .

Thus the answers to the three concrete questions put
forward are :

1 . The recommended policy is in line with the white paper

on growth, competitiveness and employment .

2 . There is no disagreement between the Council and the

Commission .

3 . As implementation of policies is the responsibility of
Member States, the role of the Commission is primarily
to monitor the policies aimed for job creation, as set out
in the communication of 8 March from the Commission

to the Council on the follow-up to the Essen European
Council on employment ( 1 ).

( 19 September 1995 )
(M COM(95 ) 74 final .

It is not correct that the Ecofin Council on the 19 / 20 June

1995 concluded that the solution to the unemployment
problem should be founded on a micro-economic approach .
The Ecofin Council adopted the broad guidelines of the
economic policies . According to these, the solution is to be
found by a combined macro-economic and micro-economic
policy effort, neither of which will work properly without
the other . It is a necessary condition that the current
recovery is transformed into a sustained medium-term
growth process, creating permanent jobs . This requires the
right macro-economic policy mix, that is :

( i ) a stability-oriented monetary policy which is not
undermined by inappropriate budgetary and wage
developments ;

( ii ) sustained efforts to consolidate the public finances in
most Member States ;

( iii ) nominal wage trends incorporating the price stability
objective ; at the same time, real wage developments
should take into account the need to strengthen the
profitability of employment-creating investment .

The medium-term growth process must be completed by
structural policies in the fields of competitiveness and the
labour market . More efficient labour market policies
contribute to increasing employment by :

( i ) raising the quality of human capital through
promotion of training and education ;

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2050 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufibaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 42 )

Subject : Telecommunications

On 21 June 1995 the Commission adopted its draft
proposal for a Directive on liberalizing the mobile and
personal communications sector as from 1 January 1996 .

The new Community legislation will enable operators to
establish their own infrastructure networks and use existing
alternative infrastructure without having to go through
infrastructures already installed .

1 . Does the Commission intend, through programmes, to
grant financial support for the construction of
alternative infrastructures in the individual Member

States ?

2 . If so, what sums will be earmarked for this purpose ?

No C 326 / 22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 September 1995 )

The Commission does not have any direct plans to
provide funding to create infrastructure for mobile
telecommunications .

Telecommunications infrastructure projects may, however,
be eligible to benefit from certain financial instruments of
the Community such as the Structural Funds or the
Edinburgh facility or from the resources available for the
trans-European networks .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2058 / 95

by Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 43 )

Subject : Cultural dimension of the 16 / 9 High-Definition

Television Action Plan

Having regard to the summary submitted by the
Commission on the HDTV action plan and the cultural and
economic significance thereof, and whereas the summary is
vague and imprecise, could the Commission give clear
answers to the following specific questions :

1 . On what basis are the programmes to be included in the

16 / 9 Action Plan selected ?

2 . Is there any kind of corrective to ensure fair access for all
European cultures and languages ? Is any kind of
' national quota ' applied ?

3 . Can the Commission provide information regarding the
activities undertaken and the amount of money spent so
far ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1995 )

The Honourable Member refers in her question to a
working document with no official status, the purpose of
which is merely to provide, in summary form, the ' rationale '
of the action plan for the introduction of advanced
television services in Europe ( Council Decision 93 / 424 / EEC
of 22 July 1993 ) ( x ).

1 . The eligibility criteria are set out in some detail in the

Council Decision, and in particular in the Annex on
implementation procedures . Article 1 of the Decision

specifically states that no funding will be devoted to
support manufacturers of receiver equipment for
consumers . Section 4 of the Annex stipulates that
funding will go to broadcasters providing wide-screen
television services and to programme producers who
make programmes for such services according to the
detailed criteria set out in section 5 of the Annex . These

criteria are as follows :

Criteria relating to the quality of the project,

Each project must satisfy the following criteria :

( i ) before being eligible for Community funds, it
must have received a firm commitment of funds
from other sources for 50% of the costs falling
within the scope of the action plan ( i.e. the
additional costs of broadcasting or producing in

16:9 as compared to 4:3 ). At least 50% of the
non-Community funding must come from the
economic operators . Having met these
requirements, the project would then become
eligible for Community funding in respect of the
remainder of such costs ;

( ii ) it must be submitted by a recognized service
provider having a proven track record in the field
of television service provision and having the
necessary financial strength required for the new
venture or by a group of organizations led by such
a service provider ;

( iii ) it must propose to provide a service involving at
least 50 hours of broadcasting per year in the 16:9
format and using 625 or 1 250 scanning lines ;

( iv ) it must be based on transmission systems of high
quality featuring the 16:9 format including inter
alia MAC / HDMAC, further developments of
existing European TV standards such as Palplus
and fully digital technology standardized by the
appropriate European standards bodies ;

( v ) it must propose to provide a service targeted
towards a sufficiently large market in order to
contribute to the development of the broader
market for advanced television services ;

( vi ) it must comply with Community competition
rules .

In addition, the following criteria, while not essential,
are an advantage :

( vii ) the project proposes to provide a transfrontier or
multilingual service ;

( viii ) facilitates optimal audience ratings .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 23

Criteria relating to spread and balance

The set of projects funded under the action plan must
satisfy the following criteria :

( i ) it must show a fair spread of projects between the
entities to avoid undue concentration or the

creation of monopolies or cartels ;

( ii ) it must have a wide distribution across Member
States ' markets in order to ensure the Community
dimension taking account of the specific situation
of Member States with a low production capacity
or whose language covers a limited area ;

( iii ) it must involve, to a reasonable degree, programme
producers independent of the broadcasters
participating in the projects .

Criteria for programme support

Both in-house production by broadcasters and external
production are within the scope of the action plan .
Community support for programme production and
conversion is closely linked to the 16:9 services, but aims
to benefit the whole sector .

To qualify for Community support on a
programme-by-programme basis, producers of new
programmes, and rights holders of certain existing
programmes exploitable in 16:9 but requiring
re-mastering, must have an agreement to broadcast
from at least one of the broadcasters based in the
Community which undertakes to broadcast the
programme in 16:9 . The technical quality of these
programmes must be such as to allow their exploitation
in 16:9 format in standard also in the medium term .

Before being eligible for Community funding, the
project must have received a firm commitment of the
funds from other sources for 50% of the costs falling
within the scope of the action plan . At least 50% of
non-Community funding must come from the economic
operators . Having met these requirements, the project
would then become eligible for Community funding in
respect of the remainder of such costs .

Criteria for supporting the technical upgrading of new
long-life ( stock ) programmes

New programmes supported must be of sufficient
technical quality and have an order for their effective
transmission in 16:9 from at least one of the
broadcasters based in the Community . They must be of
European origin .

Priority is awarded for programmes produced by
producers independent of the broadcasters .

Criteria for supporting the re-mastering of existing

programmes

The basic condition is that the first transmission is in

16:9 in the framework of a service supported under the
action plan . Priority is awarded to programmes of
European origin .

2 . It can be seen from the above that the criteria do include

correcting factors designed to ensure equitable access
for all European languages and culture . There are
however no national quotas of any sort .

3 . The results of the implementation of the action plan up
to the end of 1994 are set out in detail in the
Commission 's first implementation report ( 2 ) adopted
on 16 June 1995, which has been submitted to the
Parliament . This shows, in summary, that in the period
covered, the action plan supported 22 wide-screen
broadcast services in eight Member States, totalling
some 30 000 broadcast hours . The programme section
of the action plan supported around 13 000 hours of
programming, over half ( 65% ) being ' long shelf life '
programmes . 7 580 hours were for new productions

( ECU 56,9 million ) and 5 600 for conversion of existing
programmes ( ECU 7,1 million ). The first call for
proposals in 1995 is still being processed . As soon as the
results are known, they will be communicated to
Parliament .

(!) OJ No L 196, 5 . 8 . 1993 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 263 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2069 / 95

by Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza ( PSE )

to the Commission

(7 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 44 )

Subject : Sinking of oil platforms in the Mediterranean

Could the Commission say whether or not, following the
agreement to prohibit the sinking of oil platforms in the
North Sea ( viz . Brent Spar ), this ban will also be extended, as
seems logical, to the Mediterranean, despite what was
recently agreed in Barcelona ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 1995 )

At the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Barcelona on
9 and 10 June 1995, the Contracting Parties to the
Barcelona Convention signed the amendments to the

No C 326 / 24 1 EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Protocol for the prevention of pollution of the
Mediterranean Sea by dumping from ships and aircraft

( Protocol on dumping ).

Article 4 of the Protocol prohibits the dumping of wastes or
other matter except inter alia platforms and other
man-made structures at sea provided that materials which
might produce floating wastes or contribute in other ways to
the pollution of the marine environment have been removed
as far as possible, without prejudice to the Protocol for the
protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution
resulting from exploration and exploitation of the
continental shelf and the seabed and its subsoil .

Article 20(1 ) of the latter Protocol provides that ' the
operator shall be required by the competent Contracting
Party to remove any installation which is abandoned or
disused, in order to ensure safety of navigation, etc . Such
removal shall also have due regard to other legitimate uses of
the sea, in particular fishing, the protection of the marine
environment, etc .'.

The Protocol does not, however, lay down any provisions
with regard to the dismantling site .

The Commission is also currently considering what action
should be taken to require the onshore dismantling of
disused offshore installations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2090 / 95

by Ludivina Garcia Arias ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 46 )

Subject : Budget heading intended to incorporate measures

under the ECSC Treaty into the Treaty establishing
the European Community

Article B3-230 of the General Budget of the European
Community concerning a Community programme for
adaptation, adjustment and investment in the coal and steel
sector ' creates the structure whereby measures under the
Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
Community can be gradually incorporated into the Treaty
establishing the European Community '.

What action has the Commission taken to give budgetary
substance to this programme ? What does the Commission
think of this budgetary mechanism proposed by Parliament
in order to ensure that measures under the ECSC Treaty do
not disappear or are not watered down ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-2089 / 95 and E-2090 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2089 / 95 given by Mr Liikanen
on behalf of the Commission

by Ludivina Garcia Arias ( PSE )

to the Commission ( 20 September 1995 )

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 45 )

Subject : Budget heading intended to incorporate measures

under the ECSC Treaty into the Treaty establishing
the European Community

Article B3-230 of the General Budget of the European
Community concerning a Community programme for
adaptation, adjustment and investment in the coal and steel
sector ' creates the structure whereby measures under the
Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
Community can be gradually incorporated into the Treaty
establishing the European Community '.

What does the Commission think of this budgetary
mechanism proposed by Parliament in order to ensure that
measures under the ECSC Treaty do not disappear and are
correctly incorporated into the activities of the European
Union ?

What action has the Commission taken to give budgetary
substance to the programme ?

Both questions deal with the ways in which ECSC activities
will continue beyond the year 2002 . Specifically, they ask
about the role of Article B2-230 . This article was introduced

on Parliament 's initiative for the incorporation of former
ECSC measures into the general budget .

The Commission has repeatedly stated its position on this
matter in writing f 1 ).

The Commission 's approach is based on the idea that
measures which have proved their worth should be
continued . The Treaty establishing the European
Community will in future be the exclusive legal framework
for financing such measures . Integration into the
instruments of the Treaty of Rome has already begun,
largely in the form of measures financed from the European
Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund,
and the Fourth Research Framework Programme . The
Commission is working on a report on the state of this
phasing-in, in which current experience, up to and including

1995, is evaluated .

6 . 1 2 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 25

The article of the general budget mentioned above is not
essential for this kind of integration .

Parliament, meanwhile, made another proposal on
26 October 1994, which consisted of setting up a financial
mechanism such as a foundation with the ECSC reserves, to
be used for financing sector-specific promotion measures
beyond 2002 .

The Commission will decide whether it is worth allocating
funds to Article B2-230 in future years when it considers this
additional proposal .

The Council adopted its common position on this
programme on 21 June 1995 .

(») OJ No C 227, 17 . 8 . 1994 .

( 2 ) IP(95 ) 481 .

( 3 ) Amended proposal COM(95 ) 373 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2095 / 95

by Jessica Larive ( ELDR ), Johanna Boogerd-Quaak

( ELDR ), Karla Peijs ( PPE ), Alman Metten ( PSE )

and Johannes Blokland ( EDN )
(M SEC(92 ) 1889 final ; SEC(93 ) 1596 final ; COM(93 ) 512 final

and COM(94 ) 269 final . to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2092 / 95

by Odile Leperre      - Verrier ( ARE )

to the Commission

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 47

Subject : Assistance to the music sector

In the context of its various cultural programmes, can the
Commission say what assistance is given to the music sector,
stating which events and instrumental or choral groups are
supported under each programme, and giving details of the
selection criteria used ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1995 )

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 48 )

Subject : Reduced VAT rates

Article 12(4 ) of the Sixth Directive ( 77 / 388 / EEC ) ( )
stipulates that the Council is to review the scope of the
reduced rates in 1994 on the basis of a report from the
Commission .

1 . Will the Commission explain why, despite repeated

requests from Parliament, it does not, in its first report,
propose amendments to Annex H to the Sixth Directive

( which lays down the maximum scope for the
application of the reduced VAT rates )?

2 . Will it state why it does not take account in that report of

the declarations made by the Council and Commission
and by the Netherlands delegation when the Sixth
Directive was adopted, to the effect that, when the
scope of the reduced rates is reviewed, particular
consideration is to be given to environment-friendly and
labour-intensive services, provided this does not distort
competition, as for example in the case of footwear and
clothing manufacture ?

f 1 ) OJ No L 145, 13 . 6 . 1977, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

With the exception of the European Community Youth

Orchestra the Orchestra and the ( 21 September 1995 )

Orchestra, the European Baroque Orchestra and the
Mozart Foundation, which are mentioned in the remarks to
Items B3-2001 and B3-2003 of the budget, Commission
support for European cultural events, including musical
events, is channelled through the Kaleidoscope programme .
The 1995 conditions of participation were published in the

Official Journal (*) and the list of projects selected, based on
the opinion of a European panel of experts, was published in
a press release ( 2 ) on 15 May 1995 .

The Commission has also presented new proposals ( 3 ) on
supporting action under Article 128(2 ) of the EC Treaty to
Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions .

Under Community legislation ( The Sixth Council VAT
Directive as amended by Directive 92 / 77 / EEC ) ( J ), the
Council is required to undertake a review of the scope of the
reduced VAT rate, on the basis of a Commission report . The
first such report ( 2 ) was adopted by the Commission at the
end of last year and was sent to the Council and the
Parliament . It reviews the operation of the present VAT rate
arrangements in the context of the transitional VAT regime
currently in force . The approach taken in the report, as in all
matters of VAT rate approximation, is based on the
criterion set out in Article 99 of the EC Treaty which

No C 326 / 26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

specifies that such approximation must be necessary to
ensure the establishment and the functioning of the internal
market . The report 's conclusions are that, in present
circumstances and on the evidence available, no distortions
of competition or dysfunction of the internal market have
arisen which would call for any change in the list of supplies
eligible for a reduced rate .

The Commission must, moreover, bear in mind the need to
establish the conditions necessary for the introduction of the
definitive VAT regime in 1997 . Accordingly, it considers
that it would be inappropriate at this juncture to widen the
scope of the options available to Member States for
application of the lower rate . Whether or not such
extensions of the lower rate may be desirable or possible can
therefore only be judged in the context of the discussions
that will take place on the definitive regime . At the meeting
of the Council on 10 July 1995, the great majority of
Ministers endorsed this approach . Any changes to
Community VAT legislation would, of course, have to be
agreed unanimously by the Council . Only one Member State
supported the idea of extension of the lower rate option to
labour-intensive services, which would, therefore, with
environmentally friendly supplies, continue to be taxable at
the standard rate .

(!) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992 .

( 2 ) COM(94 ) 584 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2103 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 49 )

Subject : Transport of animals

According to 1ST AT data Italy imports from Estonia each
year 140 000 horses which are transported in very crowded
conditions and with poor ventilation .

It also emerges that the journeys are often long and watering
stops are insufficient, which results in the animals being
exhausted . It has also been reported in the press that at the
Italian border posts of Gorizia and Prosecco ( TS ) injured
animals with broken legs are transferred to lorries to be
transported to their final destinations, which are often far

away .

Can the Commission say why in these cases Community
legislation has not been complied with and whether it does
not consider that the Italian Government should be called

upon to increase the numbers of veterinary staff at borders
and improve the conditions in stables and stalls at borders,
where animals unfit to travel may be kept ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1995 )

Community rules on the protection of animals during
transport are contained in Council Directive 91 / 628 /
EEC C ), recently modified by Directive 95 / 29 / EC ( 2 ), laying
down standards for watering and feeding intervals, journey
times and resting periods, as well as for space for the animals
on vehicles . These rules apply to transport within, to and
from the Community .

As far as the import of animals from third countries is
concerned, this is subject to Article 11 of Directive
91 / 628 / EEC, which requires all animals imported into the
Community to be inspected by an official vet on arrival at
the Community frontier and to be accompanied by a written
undertaking from the importer or exporter that the
conditions of the Directive will be observed during the
whole transport operation .

Under Directive 91 / 628 / EEC day-to-day enforcement is the
responsibility of the Member State concerned . Article 10 of
the Directive does however provide for inspection visits by
Commission experts . Visits have recently been made to
several Member States including Italy, where the frontier
posts of Gorizia and Prosecco were visited . The Commission
experts carrying out the mission to Italy also raised with the
Italian authorities matters disclosed in a complaint made by
an animal welfare organization concerning the treatment of
east European horses passing through these posts .

The Commission has drawn the conclusions from its

investigations at these posts and from the evidence supplied
in the complaint that the welfare situation in the past has not
been entirely satisfactory . Recommendations have been
made, and the Italian authorities have indicated that they
wish to achieve a better enforcement of the Directive in the

future . The Commission intends to monitor developments
closely in the coming months to ensure that a satisfactory
level of enforcement of the Directive is achieved at the

frontier posts concerned .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 148, 30 . 6 . 1995 .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 27

WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 11 / 95

by Elly Plooii-van Gorsel ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 50

Subject : EC verification mark

1 . Does the EC verification mark on a product guarantee
free access to the whole internal market for the product
concerned ?

2 . Is the EC verification mark recognized in all countries
of the European Union ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that, in some countries in the
Union, other seals of approval are still in use in addition to
the EC verification mark ?

4 . Is the Commission aware that such national seals of

approval are held in higher esteem ?

5 . Does this development constitute a real danger to the
internal market, bearing in mind that the EC marking is
intended to eliminate technical barriers to trade ?

6 . Is not this development highly prej udicial to European
industry, especially to small and medium-sized
enterprises ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

marks '. Other product markings are only prohibited if they
are ' liable to deceive third parties as to the meaning and form
of the CE marking ' or if they are ' liable to cause confusion
with the CE marking '. Quality markings, as opposed to the
CE marking, are voluntary, address consumers or users, and
tend to influence their appreciation towards the relevant
product . Thus, they have a different function to that of the
CE marking . They are therefore acceptable .

4 . Yes . The CE marking is not a quality marking
although it is often wrongly perceived as such and then
compared to other quality marks . The Commission tries to
remedy this situation by informing industry as well as the
authorities responsible for market surveillance about the
correct meaning and function of the marking . Furthermore,
the second version of the ' guide to the implementation of
Community harmonization Directives based on the new
approach and the global approach ' which the Commission
is preparing will include a chapter on the marking, clarifying
its role .

5 . No . It is true that the Community harmonization
Directives which provide for the affixing of the marking
aimed to remove technical barriers to trade and have as their

object the establishment and functioning of the single
market .

However, the free circulation of goods which is assured by
the marking does not necessarily mean that people will buy
the products . In order to market and sell a product
successfully a manufacturer often has to do more than what
is required by legislation .

( 28 September 1995 ) 6 . From a European industrial competitiveness point of
view, the existence and retention of voluntary private
quality marks at national level can be undesirable because

1 . Yes . The CE marking can be described as a ' passport they can force manufacturers into unnecessary multiple
for industrial products ' allowing them to circulate freely certification each national to market ensure . The market Commission access of is their aware products that the to
throughout the European Economic Area ( EEA ). It is a
mandatory conformity marking which shows the continuing growth of multiple and incoherent quality
compliance of products with all provisions of 16 Directives markings at national level constitutes a particular burden
which relate to safety, public health, consumer protection or for small and medium-sized enterprises, both in terms of
other essential requirements of Community interest . finance and of man power .

2 . Yes . It addresses the market surveillance authorities of

the Member States and aims to facilitate their surveillance
tasks by visibly demonstrating conformity . Of course, where
a Member State ascertains that products bearing the
marking do not comply with the requirements of the
directives applicable, it takes appropriate measures to
withdraw the products from the market, to prohibit the
placing on the market and putting into service and to restrict
free movement .

3 . Yes . According to Council Decision 93 / 465 / EEC of
22 July 1993 concerning the rules for the affixing and use of
the CE conformity marking, 'a product may bear different

In the medium term, the Commission would therefore
welcome the conclusion of mutual recognition agreements
between the different quality and certification schemes in
the EEA so that adhering to one scheme gives the right to
affix the quality label of the affiliated schemes . The
European organization for testing and certification which
was founded following a Commission initiative constitutes
an ideal platform for the promotion of such agreements .

In the long term, quality marks should be created at
European level and replace the national marks . In this

No C 326 / 28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

respect, the Commission welcomes initiatives already
launched at European level, for example in the field of
lighting equipment where a European quality mark, the
ENEC mark, has been created . Moreover, the initiative on
the part of CEN / Cenelec to set up a European system of
marking conformity to European standards will no doubt
contribute to greater transparency in this area .

However, the difference between mandatory CE marking as
a proof of conformity with law and voluntary quality
markings as a proof of specific characteristics should be
clearly recognized .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2123 / 95

by Mathias Reichhold ( NI )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 51 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126 / 95

by Michael Spindelegger ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 52

Subject : Green Paper on the practical arrangements for the

transition to a single currency

1 . With the approach that has been proposed, what
guarantee is there that the exchange rates which are
irrevocable do not come under pressure from movements on
money markets in third countries before the European
currency is introduced ?

2 . Do the services of the Commission have access to

studies or estimates of the impact of transition to the third
phase of economic and monetary union on the currencies of
those Member States which are not yet able to proceed to the
third phase ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Meat imports and hormone feeds ( 20 September 1995 )

During his visit to the USA Commissioner Fischler engaged
in negotiations on the import of meat from animals fed on
hormones .

What was the Commission 's objective in the
negotiations ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 September 1995 )

At the request of the United States, the question of
hormones in livestock production was among the issues
raised in the course of the visit to the United States from 2 to
6 June 1995 of the Commissioner responsible for
agriculture . The discussions provided an opportunity for
both parties to set out their respective positions . The
Commissioner explained the background to the present
prohibitions on the use of certain substances in livestock
production, including the concerns of Community
consumers, and insisted on the need for measures that
would satisfy essential health requirements . He repeated his
previously announced intention of organizing a scientific
conference on growth promotion in meat production so as
to have a comprehensive, updated evaluation of the
scientific aspects as soon as possible . The conference will be
held from 29 November to 1 December 19 95 in

Brussels .

1 . In the period after the irrevocable fixing of exchange
rates and before the final changeover to the single currency,
the participating currencies and the single currency will
become perfect substitutes for each other . They will cease to
be distinct currencies and become different expressions of
one and the same monetary reality . The European system of
central banks will guarantee total convertibility between the
national denominations and the single currency at their
respective irrevocably fixed conversion rates .

Movements on money markets in third countries would
therefore not change at all the relationship between the
currencies of the economic and monetary union ( EMU ), but
would only affect the parity between a third country 's
currency and the bloc of European currencies once they melt
into one .

In order to underline further the irreversibility of the
conversion rates, the Commission has suggested, in its
Green Paper on the practical arrangements for the
introduction of the single currency, that a critical mass of
transactions in the single currency be ensured right from the
start of stage three .

2 . This question ranks high on the agenda of European
policy-makers . This is true both for the exchange rate
relations in stage three of EMU between the single currency
and non-participating currencies and for the related issue of
currency movements in the Community ahead of stage
three .

The European Council in Cannes approved a request by the
Ecofin Council to examine, together with the European
monetary institute, the future relationship between the
currency of the EMU Member States and the currencies of

6 . 12 . 95 I EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 29

the other Member States of the Community . A progress
report will be presented on this question to the Madrid
Council in December 1995 .

The European Council in Cannes also requested the
Commission to carry out a detailed examination of the
effects of the recent currency turmoil on the proper
operation of the single market and to report on its
conclusions in the autumn .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2133 / 95

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 53

Subject : EU funding for genetic engineering publicity

1 . How much is paid out each year, and from which
budget line, for the purpose of advertising the genetic
engineering industry ?

2 . How much funding goes to Eicos ( European Initiative
for Communicators of Science )?

3 . Is funding given to Eicos for the purpose of
' public reassurance ' ( Commission communication on
Biotechnology and the White Paper on Growth,
Competitiveness and Employment, p. 6 )?

4 . Which companies and research institutes contribute
funds and what amounts are involved ?

5 . What is the Commission 's view of the accusation of
unilateral, undemocratic indoctrination in favour of genetic
engineering ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 September 1995 )

1 . No Community appropriation has been set aside in
order to promote the genetic-engineering industry . A certain
number of studies have been conducted under the
biotechnology research programme on subjects such as the
many ways of viewing the possible risks and benefits
attached to biotechnology, the factors affecting the
acceptability of the scientific results, and the part played by
public policies in this area . Their aim is to help gain a better
understanding of the risks involved and the social aspects of
biotechnological research in Europe . Several aspects of the
activities carried out by the Commission in order to promote
an understanding of science by the public also relate to

biotechnologies . Neither may be considered to be a form of
advertising .

2 . Eicos ( European Initiative for Communicators of
Science ) is an initiative by the Max Planck Institute in
Martinsried . The Commission subsidized the project launch
by ECU 30 000 in 1993 and ECU 35 000 in 1994 .

3 . Eicos is intended to improve the quality of scientific
information on molecular biology in Europe . In order to do
this Eicos offers scientific journalists working for the major
dailies and television channels in the various European
countries the option of pursuing a programme of intensive
training in a laboratory . Support is thus given to Eicos
against a background of efforts made by the Commission in
order to improve public knowledge and understanding of
science .

4 . The support that the Commission gives to Eicos
represented 30 % of the project 's budget in 1993, and 38 %
in 1994 . Eicos has indeed received support from several
public and private bodies in addition to that provided by the
Commission . For a list of these the Commission invites the

Honourable Member to contact the person responsible for
Eicos at the Max Planck Institute in Martinsried .

5 . As shown by examination of its content Eicos is a
vehicle for information and training, not of propaganda .
The Commission will send information on Eicos direct to

the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of

Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2134 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 54 )

Subject : Early retirement pensions for a special category of

worker

In the Mandoudion region in the Prefecture of Euboia in
Greece the closure of the Magnesite Mining Groups has
resulted in dramatic social problems, since no alternative
employment is available . The unemployment rate has
reached 75 %, which is perhaps the highest in the European
Union .

Particularly affected are the elderly unemployed who have
no training in any other field and usually have health
problems caused by working in mines over many years so
that employers in the rest of Greece refuse to employ them .
What programmes can the Commission use to subsidize
early retirement pensions for these workers and thereby
alleviate this serious social problem ?

No C 326 / 30 1 EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1995 )

The ECSC re-adaptation aid measures allow part-financing
of early retirement in accordance with precise provisions .

However, workers in magnesite mines are not eligible for
such aid because magnesite is not an ECSC product .

Moreover, part-financing of early retirement for
unemployed miners in North Euboia does not qualify for
funding from the ESF .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2136 / 95

by Alexandras Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

The draft Europol Convention sets up a police intelligence
agency, the objective of which will be to facilitate the
exchange of information and intelligence relating to
investigations of serious organized crime in the Member
States . The initial remit will include illegal drug trafficking,
trafficking in nuclear and radioactive substances, illegal
immigrant smuggling, trade in human beings and
motor-vehicle crime . The way in which Member States
regulate national military service has no relevance for the
work of Europol, the establishment of which is in no way
connected with any harmonization of national law or
policy .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

( 19 July 1995 )

to the Commission 95 / C 326 / 56 )

( 19 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 55 )

Subject : Alternative community service

The Schengen Agreement and establishment of Europol
have created a new basis for the coordination of the

prosecution services of the Member States . How do the
relevant authorities tackle the problem that arises in this
connection that, whereas most European Union countries
recognize alternative community service, other EU countries
fail to do so, and indeed, prosecute those opposed to
military service on religious or philosophical grounds ?

Does the Commission not agree that the new Schengen and
Europol arrangemnts make it necessary to harmonize the
legal arrangements obtaining throughout the Community
by the adoption of provisions on alternative community
service in those countries where it does not already exist,
such as Greece, as the European Parliament has repeatedly
requested ?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

The second Schengen Agreement of 19 June 1990 contains
articles on improved operational cooperation between
police forces, for example in relation to pursuit over
national borders, and provides for the setting up of an
information system to facilitate external border checks . It
has no provisions relating to harmonization of criminal or
civil law . It should be noted that the Schengen Agreements
have been drawn up outside the framework of the
Community and do not fall within the competence of the
Commission .

Subject : Physiotherapists

The professional organization of physiotherapists needs

Community rules that will afford it legal recognition .

Will the Commission draw up a Directive to this end ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that the activity of physiotherapist is governed at
Community level by two texts on the recognition of
qualifications .

Where the activity is pursued by a doctor, the recognition of
qualifications and the coordination of education and
training are governed by Council Directive 93 / 16 / EEC (') of
5 April 1993 . Article 7 of the Directive, as amended by the
Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, provides
for the automatic recognition of physiotherapists '
qualifications in only twelve Member States since the
qualification of doctor specializing in physiotherapy is not
common to all of them .

Where the activity is not pursued by a doctor, the general
system for the recognition of professional qualifications
applies . Where the profession of physiotherapist is regulated
in the host Member State and those wishing to practise it are
required, among other things, to hold a higher-education
diploma awarded on completion of education and training
of at least three years ' duration, Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 2 ) will
apply . Where the qualification is not covered by that
Directive, it will be governed by Directive 92 / 51 / EEC ( 3 ) on
a second general system to supplement the first .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 31

The Commission would point out that its overall stance on
the recognition of qualifications is to favour the general
approach introduced by Directives 89 / 48 / EEC and
92 / 51 / EEC, which provide for recognition without
coordinating education and training and without defining
the range of professional activity, rather than a sectoral
approach based on individual professions .

In general, and as it has already indicated in respect of other
professions, the Commission therefore intends to propose
specific measures for a given profession only where that
profession 's specific characteristics are such that the
abovementioned ' general system ' Directives prove
insufficient to ensure the effective free movement of the
profession 's members . Also, the underlying principles and
main components of any measures proposed would have to
be based on a sufficient consensus within the profession
throughout the Community and among the Member
States .

5 . How undertakings can be certain as to the amount of

assistance they will receive under the task force scheme
and when such aid will be paid to them ?

6 . When and how Parliament will be kept fully informed of

the substance and objectives of the task force
initiatives ?

7 . Whether, given that the Fourth Framework Programme

for research is aimed at promoting basic research at the
pre-competitive stage rather than assisting individual
sectors of industry, the creation of the task forces may
not be viewed as a first sign of the intention to move
away from pre-competitive assistance to the provision
of increased assistance at the competitive stage in
individual sectors of the economy ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

H OJ No L 165, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

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

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2160 / 95

by Markus Ferber ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 57 )

Subject : Terms of reference and financing of the ' Car of

Tomorrow ', ' New-Generation Aircraft ' and
' Intermodality in Transport ' Task Forces

The Commission recently set up six new task forces .
Commissioner Cresson has announced that ECU 749

million from the resources of the Fourth Framework
Programme for research is to be used to finance them . That
amount is to be shared between the six new task forces, in
the form of complementary assistance . Will the Commission
state, with reference to the ' Car of Tomorrow ',
' New-Generation Aircraft ' and ' Intermodality in Transport '
Task Forces :

1 . If it is likely that the Council will approve the use of these

appropriations to finance the task forces ?

2 . Which sectors of industry will receive the resources

earmarked for the task forces ?

3 . How much financial assistance individual sectors will

receive ?

4 . What percentage of overall costs such assistance will

cover ?

The Task Forces are responsible for bringing together, in
joint projects in the interest of industry, the various efforts
being made in the public and private sectors at both national
and Community level or under other cooperation
schemes .

In the first phase, the Task Forces are rallying and
coordinating the expertise available to the Commission .
They are fostering interaction between the various fields of
research covered by the specific programmes . They are also
engaged in parallel broad-based consultations with industry
and users .

This approach will identify projects in the interest of the
Community with objectives which could extend beyond
those already set in the specific programmes and which,
therefore, could warrant extra funding .

Looking beyond this phase, the Task Forces are aiming at
intensifying the interaction between research and industry
and improving coordination with the Member States '
activities . In this way, they will help to make the action taken
by the Community more effective and more visible .

Parliament has been kept informed ever since the Task
Forces started work on 10 January 1995 . Progress reports
were given to the Committee on Energy, Research and
Technology ( CERT ) on 24 April and 21 June . A
communication on improving relations between research
and industry will be submitted to Parliament in the

autumn .

As regards the unblocking of extra funding for the Fourth
Framework Programme, at the plenary sitting on 11 July

1995 the Commission stated that it will submit its proposal
to Parliament and the Council, which will decide thereon
following the co-decision procedure, which applies to the
Fourth Framework Programme . Only then will the

( 15 September 1995 )

No C 326 / 32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Commission be in a position to supply more detailed
figures .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2168 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 58 )

Subject : Protection of intellectual property in Europe

According to the European Patent Office ( EPO ) only one in
three European research and technological development
undertakings apply for protection for their innovations with
the result that more than DM 30 billion ( Commission
estimate ) is wasted in the duplication of research work .

Since the European patent does not cover all countries of
central and eastern Europe and since the protection of
intellectual property is a particularly time consuming and
costly process, will the Commission state :

1 . Whether it intends to take action to simplify and speed

up the patent protection process, and

2 . Whether it intends to help broaden the European

Convention to cover the countries of central and eastern
Europe in view of their practical cooperation with the
Member States of the European Union and in order to
increase Europe 's ability to compete with Asia and the
United States ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1995 )

1 . On 19 July 1995 the Commission adopted a Green
Paper on the protection of utility models in the single
market ( 1 ). The level of protection conferred on technical
inventions by utility models is lower than that afforded by
patents : unlike patents, utility models are granted without a
prior search to establish novelty and inventive step ; this
means that protection can be obtained more rapidly and
cheaply, but that the protection conferred is less secure . The
system is frequently used by European industry, and in
particular small and medium-sized enterprises .

Some Member States do not grant such protection . Neither
it is a simple matter at present to file a cross-border
application for a utility model because of the different forms
such protection can take .

The aim of the Green Paper is to invite all interested parties
to take an active part in a consultation process which it has
initiated . In the light of the outcome of the consultation, the
Commission will decide what course of action should be
taken and whether or not there is any need for
harmonization .

On the other hand, the Commission does not intend to take
action at this stage in the field of patent protection .

2 . The European Patent Convention signed in Munich on
5 October 1973 is open to accession by the States which
took part in the Intergovernmental Conference for the
setting up of a European System for the Grant of Patents or
were informed of the holding of that conference and offered
the option of taking part . This does not include the countries
of central and eastern Europe . In accordance with
Article 166(1 ), the Convention is, however, open to
accession by any other European State at the invitation of
the Administrative Council of the European Patent
Organization .

The Europe Agreements signed and, in some cases,
concluded with the central and east European countries
require them to apply for accession to the European Patent
Convention by the end of the fifth year following entry into
force of the Agreement . Their full accession will, however,
depend on a decision to be taken by the Administrative
Council under Article 166(1 ) of the Convention .

To smooth the central and east European countries ' path to
full accession to the Convention, the European Patent Office

( EPO ) intends to conclude extension agreements with
them .

The main provisions of these agreements may be
summarized as follows :

( i ) any application for a European patent may include a
request that the effects of the patent be extended to one
or more of the countries of central and eastern Europe
with which an extension agreement is in force ;

( ii ) the application for an extended European patent and
the patent itself, if granted, are to have the same effects
and are to be subject to the same rules as national
applications and national patents ;

( iii ) where an extended patent is granted, extension fees
will be payable to the EPO in respect of each central or
east European country in which it is to apply . These
will be lower than the fees payable for each Member
State of the European Patent Organization which is
designated, and a proportion of them will be set aside
for the country concerned ;

( iv ) any national of one of the central or east European
countries taking part in the extended patent scheme
may file an application for a European patent which
will have effect in the Member States of the European
Patent Organization and the other central or east
European countries designated in the application .

6 . 12 . 95 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 33

Extension agreements with Slovenia, Lithuania and Latvia
are already in force ; one has been signed with Romania .
Discussions have begun with Bulgaria and Albania .

(M COM(95 ) 370 final .

The Commission has appealed to the authorities of the
Member States concerned to reinforce their cooperation on
monitoring fishing activities both in their territorial waters
and in international waters . The Commission has also
chartered an inspection vessel, the ' Northern Horizon ',
which will patrol in the Mediterranean during September

1995 and this vessel has been placed at the disposal of the
Member States as an inspection platform .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-22 19 / 95 (!) OJ No L 171, 6 . 7 . 1994 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 288, 11 . 10 . 1986 .

(!) OJ No L 171, 6 . 7 . 1994 .

by Joan Vallvé ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 59 )

Subject : Bluefin tuna catches

In the fishing ports of Denia and Gandia along the Valencian
coast, French fishermen have frequently been seen using nets
several miles long to catch bluefin tuna .

These catches do not meet the minimum weight requirement
of 60 kilos, are subject to no controls whatsoever and are
made during the spawning season for bluefin tuna .

All these factors could result in this species becoming extinct
in this part of the Mediterranean in the near future .

Will the Commission call on the governments of the
Member States concerned to take measures to enforce the
relevant fisheries legislation ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 September 1995 )

Fishing for bluefin tuna is subject to Regulation ( EEC )
No 1626 / 94 laying down certain technical measures for the
conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean (*),
which prohibits the capture of individuals smaller than 70
centimetres or 6,4 kilograms in accordance with the
recommendations of the International Commission for the

Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ( ICCAT ). The Regulation
also lays down limits on the length of encircling nets such as
seines and lamparos but these do not apply to tuna
seines .

In addition, Article 9(a ) of Regulation ( EEC )
No 3094 / 86 ( 2 ) forbids all Community vessels to use
driftnets of more than 2,5 kilometres total length in the
Mediterranean, and indeed elsewhere .

Finally, at its 21st session last May in Alicante, the General
Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) adopted
several resolutions which included a recommendation to

prohibit surface long-lining using vessels of more than 24
metres overall in the period from 1 June to 31 July each year .
The Member States of the GFCM are to transpose this
recommendation into their national legislation as soon as
possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2222 / 95

by Philippe-Armand Martin ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 28 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 60 )

Subject : Allocation of inulin syrup quotas

Council Regulation ( EC ) No 133 / 94 of 24 January 1994 ( J )
and Commission Regulation ( EC ) No 392 / 94 of
23 February 1994 ( 2 ) include details of the arrangements for
declaration and allocation of quotas for the production of
inulin syrup .

In the context of the Commission 's inquiry into the
allocation of production quotas for inulin syrup for the

1994 — 1996 marketing year, a check was carried out in
France in July 1995 .

The results of this inquiry are important for the
development of the chicory fructose sector .

What are the results of this inquiry, which dates back almost
a year ?

(!) OJ No L 22, 27 . 1 . 1994, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 53, 24 . 2 . 1994, p . 7 .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

An enquiry was carried out by an independent firm on the
initiative of the Commission into the application, by the
Member States concerned, of Article 24b of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1785 / 81, as amended by Regulation
( EC ) No 133 / 94, and of Article 2b of Commission
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1443 / 82 laying down detailed rules
for the application of the quota system in the sugar
sector i 1 ). Following this enquiry, the results of which are
confidential in view of the commercial implications, the
Commission asked the Member States in question to review
certain aspects of their procedures for deciding on the
allocation of their quotas . The Commission has just recently
received their replies ( June 1995 ).

No C 326 / 34 FÉNI Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

The Commission has also received a number of formal

complaints concerning this issue, on which it will be giving
its position in the near future .

(>) OJ No L 158, 9 . 6 . 1982 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2228 / 95

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

(9 SIC 326 / 61 )

Subject : Inter-regional framework agreement with

Mercosur

Mr Marin, Commission Vice-President, has announced that
negotiations with Mercosur are to begin shortly on an
inter-regional framework agreement, as a prelude to
association .

Does the Commission plan to take measures to protect the
most sensitive sectors of the European economy, especially
agriculture, bearing in mind the effects that the gradual
liberalization of trade with this region will have on
them ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 October 1995 )

The Council approved negotiating Directives for an
inter-regional framework agreement for trade and economic
cooperation with Mercosur on 12 July . The Commission
was also authorized by the Council to enter into
negotiations in accordance with those Directives ; these took
place in Brussels on 14 and 15 September and in
Montevideo on 28 and 29 September . The Agreement was
initialled by the negotiators on 29 September .

It must be emphasized that the inter-regional framework
agreement for trade and economic cooperation initialled
recently makes no provision for trade liberalization as part
of its implementation . It is a non-preferential agreement
which does not imply the adoption of measures calling into
question the present tariff conditions for market access
between the two parties .

In this context, as the Commission pointed out in its
communication to the Council and Parliament ' The
European Community and Mercosur : an enhanced policy ',
and in the joint solemn declaration signed by the
Community and Mercosur on 22 December 1994,
progressive, reciprocal liberalization of trade is the second

stage in the strategy of bringing the two regional
associations closer .

The time for opening the second stage will be decided by
both parties according to their own procedures .

Priority objectives of the framework inter-regional
agreement on trade and economic cooperation include the
extension of trade cooperation between the Community and
Mercosur to sectors liable to boost trade between the
parties, but without tariff measures being adopted .

Under the agreement the Commission will also act to
analyze the impact, and when necessary examine measures
required to alleviate possible adverse effects of future trade
liberalization on more sensitive sectors of the European
economy, such as agriculture .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229 / 95

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 62 )

Subject : Red tape hampering the free movement of
goods

I recently wanted to send two cases of wine from Madrid to
Great Britain and approached one of the most prestigious
wine merchants in Madrid for the purpose, where, to my
surprise, I was informed of the red tape of all kinds involved
in sending two cases of wine .

Is the Commission aware of barriers of this kind which

make it hard for people to believe in the existence of a single
market ? What firm measures will it take to ensure that the

free movement of goods becomes a reality ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1995 )

The Commission is aware that the principle of charging
excise duty in the country of destination creates some
difficulties for small consignments of alcoholic beverages .

The absence of harmonized rates of excise duty means that
Member States applying high rates of duty are required to
impose strict conditions on incoming intra-Community
consignments in order to safeguard their national

revenue .

6 . 12 . 95 1 EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 35

The Commission is looking into ways of improving this
situation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257 / 95

by Wilfried Telkamper ( V )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 63 )

Subject : Possible misuse of EU development-aid funds —

control measures

Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question
E-2435 / 95 by Mrs Van Putten (*) where it states that the
project is being reoriented in favour of juvenile
delinquents .

Regarding Nicaragua, a co-directorate system for the
technical, administrative and financial control requiring
double signature has been developed by the Commission, in
addition to external audits regularly carried out according
to the provisions of financing conventions .

The Commission informs the committee on budgetary
control on a regular basis about the implementation of
Community development aid ( for instance in the context of
the discharge procedure ). It is prepared to inform the
committee on any case of irregularity specifically raised by
the committee .

There have been several reports recently in the Central
American press on possible misuse of EU development-aid (') OJ No C 311, 22 . 11 . 1995, p . 53 .
funds, such as

( a ) in Honduras, approximately ECU 160 000 made
available to the Supreme Court for renovating a youth
rehabilitation centre run by the ' Casa Alianza '
organization apparently never reached the centre ;

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2263 / 95

( b ) in Nicaragua, a former Minister who was obliged to

resign when several million US dollar went missing was
subsequently appointed President of the national
development authority ; in this post he has
responsibility for the major part of EU development
aid ; he also tried to take over powers and EU funds
from the agricultural development institution, which
has links with the Opposition . Concerned press reports
suggest that, following the earlier accusations, this
person is also misusing funds in his new post .

1 . Is the Commission aware of these accusations ?

2 . Has it drawn any conclusions with regard to ensuring
appropriate use of funds from the Community
budget ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to provide Parliament 's
Committee on Budgetary Control with full and
on-going reports on this matter ?

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 64 )

Subject : Denied boarding compensation ( airlines )

Is the Commission aware that Denied Boarding
Compensation does not apply to charter flights and that
many people suffer serious delays and inconvenience from
time to time as a result of problems with charter flights but
are unable to claim any compensation ; and does the
Commission think this is an acceptable state of affairs ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

Answer given by Mrs Gradin
on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1995 ) Regulation ( EEC ) No 295 / 91 establishing common rules for
a denied-boarding compensation ( DBC ) system in
scheduled air transport ( a ) came into force in April 1991 .

has no information which would The DBC system covers all scheduled flights departing
that Community development aid to from Community airports, of both Community and
was to The non-Community carriers .

To date, the Commission has no information which would
confirm the suspicion that Community development aid to
Honduras or to Nicaragua was subject to irregularities . The
Honourable Member is invited to submit any substantiated
information on irregularities he might have .

Regarding Honduras, the ECU 200 000 aid made available
to the Supreme Court was for children of ' Junta Nacional de
Bienestar Social ' and not for ' Casa Alianza ' for which

another action took place . The Commission would refer the

The Regulation introduced for the first time a compensation
system in order to cope with the effects of overbooking .
Overbooking is not illegal, and most airlines overbook their
scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate
for ' no-shows '. This particular problem has so far been
specific to scheduled flights and has not occurred in the

No C 326 / 36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

charter sector . Here problems were of a different nature
since the vast majority of charter flights were part of
package tours .

Since 1 January 1993, consumers are also protected when
they take a package tour . However, recent years have seen
the increasing tendency of the travelling public to buy
seat-only tickets in charter flights . These passengers are
covered by neither the DBC nor the package tour
regimes .

In this context and considering the problems met by
passengers in charter flights, as well as with scheduled
flights, the Commission will examine ways to improve the
DBC Regulation since, moreover, the entering into force of
the third package of air transport liberalization measures
has removed the distinction between scheduled and

non-scheduled flights . At the same time the Commission
will take a closer look at other aspects of the contractual
situation of air passengers .

(M OJ No L 36, 8 . 2 . 1991 .

largest salt marsh area in western Europe — a special
protection zone under the birds Directive ?

— the excavation work which would continue, after

deepening, in order to keep the fairway at the proper
depth ?

— the lack of clarity as to the ecological effectiveness and

political feasibility of the measures, and the timescale for
them, such the removal of polders, which should
mitigate or compensate for the loss of natural assets ?

Will the Commission initiate infringement proceedings
against the Dutch Government in order to enforce
compliance with the birds Directive and the habitats
Directive ?

(') OJ No C 175, 10 . 7 . 1995, p . 27 .

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

( ? ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2267 / 95

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2266 / 95 ( 18 July 1995 )

by Magda Aelvoet ( V ) ( 95 / C 326 / 66 )

to the Commission

( 18 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 65 )

Subject : Compliance with the birds Directive and the

habitats Directive in connection with the

deepening of the Westerschelde

Has the Dutch Government already acted on the
Commission 's request for more detailed information on the
plan to deepen the Westerschelde ( See the Commission 's
answer of 8 March 1995 to Written Question E-l 51 / 95 by
Nel van Dijk and Magda Aelvoet )? ( j )

On the basis of that information, does the Commission
believe that the deepening of the Westerschelde is
compatible with the Member States ' obligation under the
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild birds ( 2 )
and the Directive 92 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora ( 3 ) to take appropriate
measures to prevent degradation of habitats of protected
species of birds ?

In making a judgment on this question, will the Commission
take account of :

— the fact that the 200 hectares of salt marshes and mud

flats that would be submerged as a result of deepening
the Westerschelde include parts of the Verdronken Land
van Saeftinge and the Schor van Waarde, which are
protected wetlands under the Dutch Nature
Conservancy Act ?

— that fact that, on 6 July 1995, the Dutch Government

designated the Verdronken Land van Saeftinge — the

Subject : Environmental impact assessment in connection

with the deepening of the Westerschelde

Has the Dutch Government already acted on the
Commission 's request for more detailed information on the
plan to deepen the Westerschelde ?

In its response, does the Dutch Government still take the
position that this deepening project is not subject to an
environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) pursuant to
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ?

Does the Commission agree that the deepening of the
Westerschelde can be considered a project of the class
referred to in Annex 1(8 ) to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC for which
an EIA is mandatory, given that it involves works in and at a
waterway used by the port of Antwerp which is navigable by
vessels of over 1 350 tonnes ?

If the Commission considers the deepening of the
Westerschelde to be a class of project referred to in Annex II
to the above Directive, does it then agree that an EIA is
necessary because of the type, scale and location of the
project ?

In making a judgment on whether an EIA is mandatory for
the Westerschelde deepening project, will the Commission
take account of its drastic consequences — in particular the
excavation work, which would continue, after deepening, in
order to keep the fairway at the proper depth — for the

( partly protected ) wildlife areas, flora and fauna on and
around the Westerschelde and of the possible consequences
for the safety of those living along the Westerschelde ?

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 37

Will the Commission initiate infringement proceedings
against the Dutch Government in order to enforce
compliance with the EIA Directive ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

P-2266 / 95 and P-2267 / 95

given by Mrs Bjerregaard
on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1995 )

The Commission has received information from the Dutch

authorities concerning the plan to deepen and widen the
Westerschelde Channel in the Netherlands . It is currently
carrying out a detailed examination of the problem raised by
the Honourable Members, giving due regard to the other
aspects to which they refer .

To this end, it has once again approached the Dutch
authorities for further information on the procedures under
way for granting authorization for this project, particularly
on the environmental impact assessments that have been
carried out . It will keep the Honourable Members informed
of the results of its enquiries .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280 / 95

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

The date of 9 May is celebrated as ' Europe day ', as decided
by the European Council in Milan in 1985 . The date was
chosen because of the so-called ' Schuman declaration ',
which was made by the French foreign minister on 9 May

1950 and constitutes the symbolic start of the present
European Union .

Each year the Commission uses this occasion to organise
the greatest possible number of information and
communication activities in order to present the goals and
activities of the European Union to the general public . In

1995 about 1 500 local events were arranged all over
Europe on Europe day .

The Commission invites the Member States to closer

cooperation in using Europe day to bring the European
Union closer to the citizens . The Commission would be

happy if this also took the form of a public holiday .
Considering that questions of public holidays are national
competence, the character of Europe day will probably
continue to vary in the different Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2283 / 95

by Armelle Guinebertière ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 67 ) ( 95 / C 326 / 68 )

Subject : Declaration of Europe Day as a public holiday in

all the EU Member States

Giving symbolic form to European integration is one of the
most direct ways of ensuring that the people of the Union
identify with the spirit and the ideals which the Union stands
for in its efforts to channel individual endeavour into the

common task of living together as a community .

One of the symbolic acts which would contribute most to
achieving this aim would be commemorate jointly, by means
of a public holiday, the establishment of the European
Union, which came about through the signing of the
relevant Treaties .

Could the Commission therefore say whether or not it
thinks it should be recommended to the various national
and Community institutions that the annual
commemoration of the establishment of the European
Union should be declared a public holiday in all the Member
States, so that, on one day each year, the people of every
Member State can identify with the ideals and the notion of
co-existence as a community which the European Union
represents ?

Subject : Agricultural policy — cattle-breeding

The cattle-breeding sector is undergoing a severe crisis the
reasons for which are twofold . The first reason is monetary
in nature ( resulting from the turmoil in the agri-monetary
system ) but there is also an ongoing drop in European meat
consumption and a slowdown in exports ( due to reform of
the CAP and the GATT agreements ).

In view of the disastrous consequences this situation is
already having for them, breeders wish to see the
reintroduction within the EU of variable slaughter
premiums, which the British have been using for some 10

years .

Would it not be possible in this way for a ' dual price system '
to be introduced, comprising :

— a political guide price for farmers, and

— the market price ( resulting partly from currency
devaluations etc .), which the Commission would
undertake to supplement with an internal compensatory
amount, to be managed by the joint-trade organization

( in France by Ofival ).

No C 326 / 38 \ ~EN~ ] Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Such an arrangement would have many advantages over the on budgetary discipline and with the international
current system, providing : obligations of the Community .

— greater administrative simplicity, rendering fraud
impossible because applications would be made by the
farmer at the slaughterhouse ;

— complete certainty as to origin ;

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2287 / 95

— rapid payments for farmers .

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

To prevent the misuse of Community funds it would be ( 31 July 1995 )
possible to set a ceiling on the labour unit, at a fairly high
level so as not to penalize farmers, but such as to prevent any ( 95 / C 326 / 69 )
cheating .

Subject : Asbestos and tumour-related diseases

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

During the first half of 1995, prices in the beef and veal
sector saw a drop of about 10% . As the Honourable
Member says, the principal causes are a decline in
consumption and in exports, in particular because of the
unfavourable price relationship to other types of meat as
well as monetary turbulence . However, this internal price
decline has meant that exports have became more attractive,
and in fact since July the market has seen an increase in
exports, with even some signs of stabilization and a slight
recovery in prices by August 1995 .

In the context of the 1992 CAP reform, a gradual reduction
in institutional prices was planned ; as compensation for
producers, there was to be an increase in premiums for
suckler cows and in special premiums for the fattening of
male animals . However, in the course of 1993 and 1994
market prices did not follow this reduction and the price
reduction programmed under the 1992 reform came in late,
during the first half of 1 995 . Under these circumstances, the
Commission does not consider that the current level of

prices at 82 % of the intervention price is abnormally low .
Indeed, this is a higher level than the one at which optional
support measures are triggered ( 80% ).

However, in order to be able to cushion the adverse effect of
over-sudden price drops, in particular caused by monetary
movements, the Council has taken various specific measures
and the Commission has increased the advance on the

special premiums for male animals payable as from

16 October 1995 from 60% to 80% .

With regard to the idea advanced by the Honourable
Member of introducing a system of variable slaughter
premiums, the Commission considers that such a system
would involve excessive complications and would carry too
much risk of insulating producers from market signals . It
would also result in an open-ended financial commitment
which could generate conflicts with the existing provisions

Information provided by the relevant bodies shows that,
during the period 1990 — 1993, deaths from tumours in the
municipality of Sancasciano Val di Pesa, near Florence, were
higher than in other municipalities in the region .

In view of the fact that water supplies for Sancasciano are
conducted mainly through an asbestos / cement pipe, can the
Commission confirm or deny, irrespective of the situation in
Sancasciano, that there is a link between the ingestion of
asbestos molecules and the incidence of tumour-related

diseases ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 October 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to her Written Question E-2140 / 95 ( 1 ).

Council Directive 83 / 477 / EEC ( 2 ) as amended by Council
Directive 91 / 382 / EEC ( 3 ) deals with the protection of
workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at
work . In these Directives it is very clear that in the working
environment the concern is over the possible health effects
of inhaled dust arising from asbestos or materials containing
asbestos .

Current knowledge indicates that exposure to free asbestos
fibres can give rise to four types of cancer which are
mentioned in Annex II paragraph 1 of Council Directive

83 / 477 / EEC .

In so far as ingestion of asbestos is concerned both the
Scientific Committee for Food and the World Health

Organization ( WHO ) have concluded that the scientific
evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate that ingested
asbestos can cause serious health effects to the population
involved . The WHO ' guidelines for drinking water
quality ( 4 )' state as follows :

6 . 12 . 95 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 39

' Although well studied, there has been little convincing
evidence of the carcinogenicity of ingested asbestos
in epidemiological studies of populations with
drinking-water supplies containing high concentrations
of asbestos . Moreover, in extensive studies, asbestos has
not consistently increased the incidence of tumours of
the gastrointestinal tract . There is, therefore, no
consistent evidence that ingested asbestos is hazardous
to health-based guideline value for asbestos in
drinking-water .'

For these reasons asbestos is not listed in Council Directive
80 / 778 / EEC ( 5 ) dealing with the quality of water intended
for human consumption, or in the recent Commission
proposal on the subject ( 6 ).

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1995 )

The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to

the three additional legislative proposals sent by the
Commission to Parliament and the Council on 24 August

1995 with a view to achieving the objective of Article 7a as
regards the free movement of persons ( 1 ).

(') COM(95 ) 346 to . 348 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2291 / 95

(!) OJ No C 300, 13 . 11 . 1995, p . 48 . by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

( 2 ) OJ No L 263, 24 . 9 . 1983 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1991 .

( 4 ) 2nd edition, Volume 1, 1993, pages 42 and 179 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .

( 6 ) OJ No C 131, 30 . 5 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289 / 95

by Markus Ferber ( PPE )

to the Commission

to the Commission

( 31 July 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 71 )

Subject : Community Sport for All programme

Could the Commission provide details of the list of projects
which will benefit from a subsidy for 1995 under the new
Community Sport for All programme within the United
Kingdom ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission

( 31 July 1995 ) (4 October 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 70 )

Subject : Border controls within the European Union

Since completion of the single market, the authorities of
some Member States are still carrying out unnecessary
checks at EU internal borders on persons involved in goods
traffic . In this connection, can the Commission say :

1 . Are such checks on persons involved in cross-border
goods traffic compatible with completion of the single
market pursuant to Article 7a of the Treaty on European
Union ?

2 . What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that all

checks on persons at EU internal borders are
abolished ?

3 . Is it likely that checks on the cross-border movement of
persons within the EU will be taken out of the
intergovernmental area and brought within the
supranational competence of the EU ? Within what
timescale could this take place ?

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and the Secretariat-General of the Parliament the

details of projects selected under the Eurathlon action 1995
for the United Kingdom .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2309 / 95

by Hugh Kerr ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 72 )

Subject : Iranian writers

Is the Commission aware of the efforts made by Iranian
writers to set up an independent writers ' guild to fight
against censorship ?

What pressure is being exerted on Iran in view of its
persistent denial of freedom of expression for Iranian
writers ?

No C 326 / 40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Answer given by Mr Marin Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1995 ) ( 30 October 1995 )

The Commission is aware of action in October 1994 by a
group of 1 34 Iranian writers who published an open letter to
protest at restrictions placed on writers by the Iranian
authorities .

The Community is at present engaged in a critical dialogue
with Iran, as requested by the decision of the Edinburgh
Council summit of December 1992 . In the context of this

dialogue, the question of human rights is one of the most
important topics and the question of the freedom of
expression of writers in Iran has been raised . The
Community has presented a resolution ( resolution
1995 / 68 ), approved by the United Nations commission on
human rights on 9 March 1995, on the basis of the report of
the United Nations special rapporteur for Iran . In its
resolution, the Community stressed its concern about
freedom of expression in Iran .

The Commission agrees that the question of human rights in
Iran continues to be important . It will continue to keep the
situation under review and to press Iran to respect the
universal principles of human rights, as developed in many
United Nations instruments in this field that Iran

has ratified, in particular concerning the liberty of
expression .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 19 / 95

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and

Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

The plan to institute the Forum, which will meet in March

1996, was referred to in the Commission 's White Paper on
Social Policy (*) and subsequently confirmed in the
Medium-term Social Action Programme 1995 — 1997 ( 2 )
approved by the Commission on 12 April 1995 .

The problems relating to Council approval of the new
anti-poverty programme would not seem to constitute a
decisive obstacle to convening the Forum .

In setting up this Forum, the Commission 's primary aim is to
help establish a new balance between economic and social
aspects of policy . It is thus a question of tapping the energy
from new active forces in society, particularly by facilitating
the exchange of experience and improving day-to-day
practice .

The fundamental social rights of citizens can be included
only with the agreement of all the Member States . At this
stage it is not possible to make any predictions .

(') Page 57, paragraph 14 .

( 2 ) COM(95 ) 134, chapter 6, paragraph 6.04 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354 / 95

by Luciano Vecchi ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 74
( 95 / C 326 / 73 )

Subject : European Forum on Social Policy Subject : Discrimination vis-à-vis homosexual citizens

In March 1996 the Commission will hold the first meeting
of the Forum on Social Policy, with the aim of launching a
debate on topics such as social marginalization, racism and
the fundamental social rights of citizens .

How is it possible to hold a debate when the Council cannot
even approve the new programme to combat poverty and
marginalization ?

What practical results does the Commission expect from
this Forum meeting ?

Might the Commission include the fundamental social
rights of citizens in the next revision of the Treaties ?

The Municipal Council of Verona has taken decisions which
discriminate against homosexual citizens in the matter of
rights which all other citizens are recognized as having .

In view of the European Parliament 's resolutions and all
human Rights declarations banning discrimination on the
grounds of race, sex, religion or philosophical leanings, can
the Commission state what steps it intends to take to ensure
that all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law and of the
public authorities throughout Community territory ?

Does the Commission believe that any form of
discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is
compatible with the Community legal order ?

6 . 12 . 95 I EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 41

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

— number of unemployed and active population from the

on behalf of the Commission Community labour force survey . These data relate to the

(4 October 1995 ) spring period and are only available with a time-lag of

one year . These data are transmitted to Eurostat in
application of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3711 / 91 .
They are therefore harmonized data and form the basis
The Commission is authorised under the EC Treaty and for calculating unemployment rates .
secondary Community legislation to take steps to ensure
equal treatment of male and female workers at work and in
social between security Community matters citizens and to founded eliminate on discrimination nationality . — number of unemployed and active population from
However, the Community has no power to intervene where national labour force surveys . These data are not subject
other types of discrimination are concerned, notably those to the same harmonization criteria as the Community
affecting sexual orientation . survey results . They are therefore only used as indicators

on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1995 )

— number of unemployed and active population from

national labour force surveys . These data are not subject
to the same harmonization criteria as the Community
survey results . They are therefore only used as indicators
of change ( not as absolute figures ) to update
unemployment rates from the Community survey .

The fundamental rights of sexual minorities are protected
by international instruments, among them the European
Convention on Human Rights which all Member States
have ratified .

— number of unemployed registered at job offices . These

data are not comparable between Member States but
they have the advantage of being available monthly, with
a time-lag of four to six weeks . Like the results of the
national surveys, these data are used only as change
indicators to update unemployment rates from the
Community survey .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2362 / 95
by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PPE ) and

Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) Unemployment rates are calculated from the number of
to the Commission unemployed in relation to the active population in private
households .

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 75 )

Subject : Data used by Eurostat

The Statistical Office of the European Communities

( Eurostat ) periodically publishes the unemployment rates
for the European Union and for each of the Member
States .

What data does Eurostat use to draw up these statistics ?

Are its rates percentages of the working population ?

Do they take account of the unemployed registered in every
country ?

Are the statistics drawn up on the basis of random
surveys ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

The number of registered unemployed is used as a trend
indicator for all Member States except Greece

( non-representative data ), Sweden and Finland ( where the
labour force survey produces monthly results with very little
time-lag ).

The Community labour force survey is a sample survey of
households . It is carried out by the national statistical
institutes, which determine the sampling methods . These
methods are described in Eurostat publication ' Labour force
surveys — methods and definitions — 1992 series '.

Honourable Members of Parliament wishing further
information are asked to refer to the replies given by
the Commission to Written Questions E-1042 / 95 0 ),
E-l 827 / 95 ( 2 ), E-l 948 / 95 and E-l 949 / 95 ( 3 ), on the
measurement of unemployment .

(!) OJ No C 230, 4 . 9 . 1995 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 257, 2 . 10 . 1995 .

on behalf of the Commission

( 3 ) OJ No C 300, 13 . 11 . 1995, p . 31 .
( 18 October 1995 )

Eurostat uses the following components to establish
unemployment rates :

No C 326 / 42 \ EN \ Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 80 / 95

QUESTION E-23 80 / 95 The opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee of

by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) February 1994 is being duly taken into account in the work

of the Commission .
to the Commission

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 76 )

Subject : Trapping agreements between EU, CIS, Canada

and USA

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2392 / 95

by Luigi Colaianni ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

Can the Commission confirm reports of an intended ( 95 / C 326 / 77 )
trapping agreement with the United States, Canada and the
CIS countries ?

Subject : Financing of Palestinian diplomatic missions

If such an agreement is to be reached, what criteria are being
used to ensure that the resulting agreement satisfies Article 3 Since the Commission has rightly used part of the ECU 500
of the EC Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 ( x ) that they are million for supporting the Palestinian civil service, in
' internationally agreed humane trapping standards '? particular the police, teachers and some of the staff of

ministries, thus enabling the Palestinian civil service to exist,
does it not consider it is equally essential to finance
diplomatic missions abroad, in particular the missions to the
Can the Commission confirm that it will be using the criteria European Union institutions, since for lack of resources they
submitted to the ISO Humane Trap Standards Secretariat in are unable not only to work but even to exist ?
the Opinion of the EC Scientific Veterinary Committee

( February 1994 ) in establishing that traps are humane
traps ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission
f 1 ) OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

( 29 September 1995 )

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1995 )

The Commission is in contact at expert level with Canada
and the United States to develop the basis for an
international agreement on humane trapping standards .
Russia could eventually be invited to join in these contacts .
The idea of bringing the experts together is to ensure
that :

( i ) any resulting agreement meets criteria established in
accordance with the best scientific and technical advice

available as to what constitutes ' humane trapping
standards ',

( ii ) this, therefore, satisfies Article 3 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 3254 / 91 .

The Commission acknowledges that Palestinian missions
abroad in general, and in Brussels in particular, dispose of
limited material resources . This limitation has made it

difficult for these missions to make the full contribution to
the Middle-East peace process of which they might
otherwise have been capable . Given the limited finances
presently available to the Palestine Liberation Organization

( PLO ), the financial situation of Palestinian missions abroad
is not likely to improve in the near future . Aware of this
problem, and upon Palestinian requests, the Commission
has explored ways in which it might contribute to a partial
solution .

Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1734 / 94 of 11 July 1994,
which provides the legal basis for Community development
assistance to the Palestinians, does stipulate that
Community funds may be utilised for ' the setting-up and
improvement of institutions necessary for the proper
working of the public administration '. Thus the
Commission has provided finance for technical assistance,
through the European Palestinian Economic and
Consultancy Unit, based in the Gaza Strip, to the Palestinian
Authority for the formulation of development assistance
policy in partnership with the institutions of the
Community .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 43

In order to facilitate day-to-day contacts with the
Commission and other European bodies, some of the funds
provided under this contract are used for the maintenance of
a small office in close physical proximity to the PLO general
delegation in Brussels . The Commission could consider the
continuation of this arrangement in the future, by providing
funds for this purpoe directly to the Palestinian Authority .
However, this could only be on the firm understanding that
an office thus financed, in Brussels, would not exercise any
functions other than the coordination of Community
assistance to the Palestinians, and thereby, in line with the
declaration of principles signed between the PLO and Israel
on 13 September 1993 and subsequent agreements, would
not exercise functions in the fields of external relations or

defence .

The question refers to the support otherwise granted to the
Palestinian Authority administration by the Community,
and it is worth recalling the scale which this support has
reached to date . Since the declaration of principles, the
Community has financed the following projects, either in
order to support the recurrent costs of the administration,
or to build up its institutions :

( MECU

Date Project

1994 Support for the running costs
of Palestinian universities and

community colleges 15

Mid-1994 Support for the recurrent costs of the
Palestinian police force 5

Mid-1994 Non-lethal police equipment 5

December 1994 /

January 1995

Support for the recurrent costs of the
Palestinian police force 10

1995 Support for the running costs of
the Palestinian universities and

community colleges 15

Spring 1995 Support for the running costs of the
Ministry of Education 10

Autumn 1995 Programme of support for the
ministries of the Palestinian

Authority 2,5

It should also be noted that due attention is given by the
Commission to the institutional aspects of the other
infrastructure projects that the Community is financing .

The Commission intends to continue to give priority in the
years to come to support to the Palestinian administration,
notably through the ministries of the Palestinian Authority .
Without a competent administration, it would be difficult to
ensure the development objectives of the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406 / 95
by Antonio Graziani ( PPE ), Giampaolo D'Andrea ( PPE ),
Pierluigi Castagnetti ( PPE ) and Maria Colombo Svevo

( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 78 )

Subject : The Leonardo programme

Council Decision 94 / 819 / EC (*) of 16 December 1994
established an action programme for the implementation of
a European Community training policy .

On 11 March 1995 an initial call for tenders ( 2 ) specified
21 April 1995 as the final date for submission of tenders .
Two other calls for tenders followed ( 3 ). The first of these
was subsequently modified ( 4 ) ( the final date for submission
of tenders was postponed from 16 to 30 June 1995 ).

Since the deadlines for the submission of tenders in all the

notices mentioned above were too short, can the
Commission say :

1 . Why there was such a short period of time between the

publication of the call for tenders and the deadline for
the submission of tenders ?

2 . What forms of publicity were used ( other than
publication in the Official Journal ) for the
above-mentioned calls for tenders and for the other

measures envisaged in connection with the
programme ?

3 . With reference to the calls for tender which have already

expired, how many tenders came from Italy and how
many of them satisfied the criteria for the award of
contracts ?

(!) OJ No L 340, 29 . 12 . 1994, p . 8 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 62, 11 . 3 . 1995 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 128, 24 . 5 . 1995 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 149, 16 . 6 . 1995 .

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1995 )

1 . The period of time between the official call for tenders
and the deadline for their submission was nine weeks . There

are two reasons for this period being so short :

— the Commission considered it appropriate to set up a

Leonardo Committee and to determine, in consultation
with the Member States, the content of the call for
tenders prior to its launch ;

No C 326 / 44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

— constraints under the 1995 budget made it impossible to

put back the deadline for the submission of tenders .

It should, however, be stressed that some Member States
organised conferences to launch the Leonardo programme
for the benefit of future promoters from April 1995
onwards and that documentation has been available since

then to provide information to tenderers as early as
possible .

2 . Apart from the call for tenders published in the
Official Journal of 24 May 1995, information material has
been prepared in order to publicise the programme as a
whole . This material includes in particular the vademecum,
the guide for promoters and various publications prepared
and distributed by the national coordination bodies .
Photocopied versions of the vademecum and the guide have
been available since the end of April 1 995 . In addition, some
national coordination bodies had by the same time
produced information packs explaining the aims, content
and conditions of access to the programme .

3 . Italian promoters submitted 715 tenders . Of these,
507 were sent to the Isfol ( Institute for the Development of
Vocational Training for Workers ) and 208 came straight to
the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2408 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 79 )

Subject : Commission proposals in respect of the Greek

textile industry

The Commission of the European Union undertook last
March to submit proposals to strengthen the Greek textile
industry . Why has it been so slow to honour this
commitment ? Can it outline the thrust of the proposals it
will be unveiling ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1995 )

In the joint statement on customs union it put out together
with the Council, the Commission gave an assurance that it
would examine the problems raised in the Greek textile and

clothing industry by the new international terms of trade
and put forward proposals by the end of the year .

On this basis, the Commission has increased its contacts
with both the national authorities and Greek economic

operators in order to obtain a greater understanding of the
breadth of the problems facing the textile and clothing
industry in that country . This analysis is now in progress .
Once it has been completed, the Commission will be
submitting its proposals to the Council .

In its proposals for the Greek textile and clothing industry,
the Commission will also take account of the interests of and

the problems facing the textile and clothing industry
throughout the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-24 10 / 95

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 80 )

Subject : Safety of new high-speed ferries

There have been a number of high-profile ferry accidents
over the past few years . In view of the introduction of
high-speed, catamaran-type ferries into northern European
waters and the increase in their size, does the Commission
have any plans for introducing safety regulations to cover
them, especially in the areas of crew training and
construction ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 September 1995 )

The safety regime for high-speed ferries has been established
by the high-speed craft code ( HSC code ), developed within
the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ). This code
will be mandatory for all high-speed craft constructed on or
after 1 January 1996 which are engaged on international

voyages .

It is the intention of the Commission to propose the
mandatory application of this code to all high-speed craft
operating in domestic trade within the scope of its proposal
for a Council Directive on common rules and standards for

passenger ships engaged in domestic voyages . This proposal
is listed in the common transport policy 1995 — 2000 action
programme ( J ).

6 . 12 . 95 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 45

Any proposal concerning the training of the crews should be WRITTEN QUESTION E-2413
in agreement with Council Directive 94 / 58 / EC ( 2 ), on the by Caroline Jackson ( PPE )
minimum level of training of seafarers and its forthcoming to the Commission
adaptation to the recently adopted standard of training
certification and watch-keeping for sea-farers ( STCW ) (1 September 1995 )
Convention ( London, June — July 1995 ). 95 / C 326 / 82 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2413 / 95

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 82 )

(M COM(95 ) 302 . Subject : Directive 91 / 271 / EEC on urban waste water

( 2 ) OJ No L 319, 12 . 12 . 1994 . treatment

Under the terms of Directive 91 / 271 / EEC (*) on urban waste
water treatment, the Commission shall carry out a
comparison of the Member States ' requirements by
31 December 1994 and publish a report . Has the
Commission done this ? Where is the report ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2411 / 95

by Brendan Donnelly ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

{9 SIC 326 / 81 )

Subject : Commission action against the Greek
Government

Can the Commission confirm that it has taken legal action
against the Greek social security authorities in the case of the
OGA 's failure to pay special child benefit for large families
to non-Greek European Union citizens, and will the
Commission indicate the date of the hearing on this matter
in the European Court of Justice ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1995 )

The Commission has already initiated an infringement
procedure against Greece for infringement of Regulations
( EEC ) No 1612 / 68 ( ! ) on freedom of movement for workers
within the Community and ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 ( 2 ) on the
application of social security schemes to employed persons,
to self-employed persons and to members of their families
moving within the Community .

The Commission is currently examining the replies of the
Greek Government . If these replies do not prove to be
satisfactory, the Commission will move on to the next stage
of the procedure, i.e. referral to the Court of Justice .

(!) OJ No L 257, 19 . 10 . 1968 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971 ( consolidated version, OJ No C 325,

10 . 12 . 1992 ).

f 1 ) OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 1995 )

The urban waste water treatment Directive 91 / 271 / EEC

requires Member States to establish programmes for the
implementation of this Directive, and to submit the
programmes to the Commission by 30 June 1994 . The
Commission is to review and assess the information

received, and to publish a report thereon . However, the
Directive does not specify a deadline of 31 December 1994
for the Commission .

So far, only 8 out of 15 Member States have submitted
national programmes ( Denmark, Germany, Spain, France,
Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom ).
The Commission has started a series of infringement
procedures as a result . However, the Commission will now
start the review process on the basis of the programmes
submitted, and publish its report by mid-1996 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-24 18 / 95

by Charlotte Cederschiold ( PPE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 83 )

Subject : Practical exchanges between immigration
authorities

In view of the need for cooperation between the Member
States in respect of immigration, there should be grounds for
stepping up exchanges between the immigration authorities
of the Member States, with practical cooperation between
national officials active in this field . It should also involve a
certain degree of training . Exchanges of this kind should be
comparable with the cooperation between customs
authorities under the Matthaeus scheme .

No C 326 / 46 ' EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Does the Commission have any plans for furthering
practical cooperation between the immigration authorities
of the Member States with a view to facilitating a common
immigration policy ?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin
on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1995 )

The Commission entirely agrees with the Honourable
Member on the need for exchanges between officials of the
Member States ' immigration services .

The Commission is currently working on a project which
should go some way towards meeting the Honourable
Member 's concerns . It will be made possible by the entry
into force of the joint action on measures implementing
Article K.l of the Treaty and by the decision on the
financing of these operations adopted by the Council at its
meeting of 25 and 26 September 1995 . The first article of the
joint action states that in order to achieve the objectives of
Article K.l of the Treaty the European Union will introduce
measures relating to training, the gathering and exchange of
information and experience, seminars, studies and
publications, and other operational measures in support of
its cooperation activities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2421 / 95

by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 84 )

Subject : Food claims

In 1992 in its three-year Consumer Action Plan the
Commission committed itself to bringing forward a specific
legislative proposal on food claims . So far, there has been no
proposal .

Can the Commission therefore give a commitment that it
still intends to bring forward a proposal ? If not, why not and
if so, when ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1995 )

As part of the work carried out with a view to drawing up a
proposal for a Directive concerning food claims, the

Commission has looked successively at two different
approaches to the problem since 1992 .

The first approach, which aimed at setting out detailed
regulations concerning claims, came to nothing in a context
dominated by the debate on subsidiarity and its implications
as regards simplification of Community legislation in the
food sector, and because of technical difficulties concerning
the definition of claims .

A second, more general approach drawn up with
simplification in mind raised problems as regards its
consistency with existing law .

Given the difficulties encountered in preparing a specific
legislative instrument, the Commission is currently looking
at other ways and means of finding a solution to this
question, particularly through an amendment to the
legislation in force .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2436 / 95

by Maartje van Putten ( PSE )

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

95 / C 326 / 85 )

Subject : Human rights violations and destruction of the

environment in the Central Ranges of Irian Jaya

In its response to my earlier question E - 154 / 95 J 1 ), the
Commission states that its relations with Indonesia with
regard to development aid are particularly aimed at
protecting and ensuring the sustainable management of
tropical rain-forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan .

1 . Is the Commission aware of reports that in another part
of Indonesia, the Central Ranges in Irian Jaya, the
environment is being severely damaged by the mining
activities of the company Freeport Indonesia, a
subsidiary of the American company Freeport ­
McMoran Copper and Gold ?

2 . Is the Commission aware that, according to a report by
the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, the Indonesian
Armed Forces ( ABRI ) used extreme force to suppress
protests by indigenous peoples living in the area in the
period June 1994 to February 1995 resulting in the
death of at least 37 people and forcing hundreds of
people to flee ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that, according to a new
agreement, Freeport may expand its area of operations
by 2.6 ha in the Central Ranges with the result that once
again thousands of indigenous people must fear for their
land, environment and culture ?

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 47

4 . Does not the Commission agree that it would be
consistent with its policy if the Commission were to
ascertain the veracity of these reports and, in the event of
serious human rights violations and environmental
damage in the area concerned, take up the matter with
the Indonesian Government even if the European Union
has no current projects in the area ?

(!) OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 62 .

2 . How does the Commission view the imposition of

anti-dumping duties, and are there any plans to convert
the temporary duties into permanent duties ?

3 . How does the Commission view the call by the

European glass industry for these duties to be lifted ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission
on behalf of the Commission
(3 October 1995 )
(9 October 1995 )

The Commission has no direct information concerning the
matters mentioned in the question, and is indeed not
funding projects of the type or in the region mentioned .

The Commission and the Member States have made

repeated representations to the Indonesian Government
concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms and
should continue to do so .

Moreover, the Commission maintains its concern and
support for actions supporting conservation of the
environment, particularly in the forest sector, paying
particular attention to the needs and aspirations of local
populations .

1 . In Regulation ( EC ) No 823 / 95 ( ), the Commission
imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of
disodium carbonate from the United States .

This Regulation shows that the weighted average dumping
margins for the firms concerned were between 0,1 % and

14,3 % . Analysis of the behaviour of US exporters to the
Community market and the Community soda industry led
to the conclusion that the industry had suffered major injury
reflected mainly in a drop in market share, poorer financial
results and job losses . The causal link between the dumped
imports and the injury was established . It was decided that it
was in the Community interest to impose measures .

The provisional anti-dumping duties imposed are ad
valorem duties ranging from 0 % to 14,3 % of the
Community net free-at-frontier price, before customs
clearance, depending on the exporting firms .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2473 / 95

by Werner Langen ( PPE )

the Commission 2 . In view of the nature and level of the injury caused to

the Community industry by dumped imports, if the

September 1995 ) provisional findings of the Commission are largely

( 95 / C 326 / 86 ) confirmed, it will be necessary to levy definitive duties at the
same rate as that of the provisional anti-dumping duties .

to the Commission

(1 September 1995 )

Subject : Anti-dumping duties on imports of soda from the

USA

In April 1995 the Commission imposed temporary duties on
imports of soda from the USA . According to the European
glass industry soda producers within the EU are currently
unable to supply the requirements of the glass industry,
which therefore has no option but to import North
American soda under unfavourable conditions .

3 . Since provisional duties were levied, the various
parties concerned have notified their points of view and the
Commission has evaluated their respective situations,
including that of the Community 's glass producers .

The conclusions of the investigation should shortly be put
by the Commission to the Council for approval .

That being so : (M OJ No L 83, 13 . 4 . 1995 .

1 . With what justification were anti-dumping duties

imposed on imports of soda from the USA in April 1995,
and what precise form do these duties take ?

No C 326 / 48 1 EN [ Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2498 / 95

by Christian Rovsing ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 87 )

Subject : Compliance with the Community 's rules on
competition

Does the Commission consider that the Community 's rules
on competition are respected on the crossing between
Hesingor and Helsingborg, and does the Commission
intend to intensify its current work on this matter in the light
of the extensive debate which took place during the summer
on the fares policy and the high ticket prices, which are
perhaps a result of the lack of competition on the route ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 September 1995 )

The Commission is currently examining the application of
Community competition rules to the ferry services on the
0resund belonging to the DSB and SJ groups . The
Commission is concentrating its efforts on the following
three cases :

1 . A complaint by Mercandia on 7 April 1992 that the
Danish ministry for transport had refused its permission
to operate a ferry service from Elsinore port to
Helsingborg .

Mercandia has also complained to the Danish
Competition Council, which on 26 May 1993 decided
on the matter . Applying Danish competition law, it
issued a recommendation to the Danish ministry for
transport that : ' To the extent the capacity of the port
terminal might already be fully used it recommends that
DSB cedes part of the terminal capacity to alternative
operators '. However, Danish state bodies are not
obliged to follow recommendations issued by the
Danish Competition Council and in the present case the
ministry for transport has chosen not to do so .

As Mercandia has not obtained a remedy for the
problem under national competition law, it is now
pursuing the matter under Community competition law .
The Commission has received a formal complaint and is
carrying out a full procedure under Article 90 EC Treaty
to examine whether the Danish refusal is in accordance

with Community competition law, although the
character of the problem may be such that national
authorities are in a better position to find a fully
satisfactory solution .

2 . The joint venture company, Scand-Lines, operating the

Elsinore — Helsingborg ferry service ( notification of
11 July 1990 ). The Commission decided on 15 May
1992 to grant an exemption for a period of six years
from the decision .

The Commission is at present considering in the light of
the Mercandia case whether the conditions for granting
exemption in Article 85(3 ) of the EC Treaty are still
fullfilled . Article 85(3 ) requires the undertaking
concerned not to have the possibility of eliminating
competition in respect of a substantial part of the
services in question .

3 . A notification from DS0 ( subsidiary of DSB Rederi A / S )
applying for exemption pursuant to Article 85(3 ) of the
EC Treaty for its cooperation with the SJ group
regarding the Dragor — Limhamn ferry service .

Since this ferry service provides the only alternative to
the ScandLines ferry service for passenger car, bus and
lorry traffic between Zealand and Sweden, the
Commission is including in its considerations whether
or not to exempt this agreement, the fact that
competition is almost eliminated on the 0resund . The
Commission will shortly publish a notice in the Official
Journal inviting all interested parties and Member States

to submit their comments to the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 10 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

( 15 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 88 )

Subject : Safety and health of workers

Taking account of Article 118a of the EC Treaty, the
Commission has drafted a programme relating to the safety
and health of workers in the work-place . In the case of 12
Directives, the time limits for transposition into national law
have already expired, while in the case of Directive
93 / 103 / EEC ( J ) the time limit will expire in November
1995 .

Which Directives have so far been transposed into Italian
law, and which have not ? The question arises partly because
certain trade unions have complained in the press of legal

uncertainty with regard to safety in the work-place .

(*) OJ No L 307, 13 . 12 . 1993, p . 1 .

6 . 12 . 95 1 EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 49

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1995 ) ( 10 October 1995 )

Italy has notified the Commission of implementing
measures for the following Directives : 89 / 391 / EEC ( J ),
89 / 654 / EEC ( 2 ), 89 / 655 / EEC ( 2 ), 89 / 656 / EEC ( 2 ), 90 / 2 69 /
EEC ( 3 ), 90 / 270 / EEC ( 3 ), 90 / 394 / EEC ( 4 ), 90 / 679 / EEC ( 5 ),
91 / 322 / EEC ( 6 ), 91 / 382 / EEC ( 7 ) and 93 / 88 / EEC ( 8 ).

Infringement procedures have been initiated in the case of
Directives for which the deadline for transposal has expired
and in respect of which the Italian authorities have not
notified any implementing measures to the Commission, i.e.
the following Directives : 92 / 29 / EEC ( 9 ), 92 / 57 / EEC ( 10 ),
92 / 5 8 / EEC ( 10 ), 92 / 91 / EEC ( n ) and 92 / 104 / EEC ( 12 ).

0 ) OJ [No] [ L] 183, [29] [ .] [ 6] [ .] [ 1989] [ .]

( 2 ) OJ [No] [ L] 393, [30] [ .] [ 12] [ .] [ 1989] [ .]

( 3 ) OJ [No] [ L] 156, [21] [ .] [ 6] [ .] [ 1990] [ .]

( 4 ) OJ [No] [ L] 196, [26] [ .] [ 7] [ .] [ 1990] [ .]

( 5 ) OJ [No] [ L] 374, [31] [ .] [ 12] [ .] [ 1990] [ .]

( 6 ) OJ [No] [ L] 177, [5] [ .] [ 7] [ .] [ 1991] [ .]

( 7 ) OJ [No] [ L] 206, [29] [ .] [ 7] [ .] [ 1991] [ .]

( 8 ) OJ [No] [ L] 268, [29] [ .] [ 10] [ .] [ 1993] [ .]

( 9 ) OJ [No] [ L] 113, [30] [ .] [ 4] [ .] [ 1992] [ .]

10 ) OJ [No] [ L] 245, [26] [ .] [ 8] [ .] [ 1992] [ .]

11 ) OJ [No] [ L] 384, [28] [ .] [ 11] [ .] [ 1992] [ .]

12 ) OJ [No] [ L] 404, [31] [ .] [ 12] [ .] [ 1992] [ .]

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2527 / 95

by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Cpmmission

( 15 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 89

Subject : Concealed State aid to the RDM shipyard

In a supplementary answer to my Written Question
E-149 / 95 (*), the Commission states ' that the RDM yard is
engaged exclusively in the construction of military vessels .
According to the Dutch authorities, the yard thus falls under
Article 223 of the EC Treaty and public assistance measures
granted to it are not subject to the rules of the shipbuilding
Directive .'

On 3 January 1995, the Volkskrant newspaper reported, in
relation to RDM, that ' the naval shipbuilding division is
building ships for the Amsterdam shipping line
Spiethoff '.

Must one conclude from these two statements that Spiethoff
is now operating military vessels ? Or is the Volkskrant ' s
information inaccurate ? Or was the information which the

Commission received from the Dutch authorities

incomplete ?

(') OJ No C 270, 16 . 10 . 1995, p . 2 .

The Commission has investigated the matter further and
understands that in one very exceptional case, because of
lack of work, RDM carried out steelwork on sub-contract
for other yards .

According to the information made available to the
Commission, there are no plans to continue this
sub-contracting work which did not signal that the yard 's
activities were changing away from military shipbuilding .
The Dutch authorities have reaffirmed that the yard is and
remains a military yard .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2532 / 95

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 12 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 90 )

Subject : Rock carvings discovered in the Coa Valley in

Portugal

Replying on 13 June on behalf of the Commission to my
question E-l 134 / 95 (*), Commissioner Oreja, while quite
understandably invoking the subsidiarity principle,
indicated that the matter might be considered within the
framework of the actions envisaged as part of a cultural
programme, the Raphael programme .

In the meantime, the situation has altered and there is now
an increased danger that construction of a dam will move
ahead which would submerge what is held to be a priceless
feature of the world 's heritage, as has been made clear by
certain ' contributions ' to the debate made with the obvious

intention of justifying the continued construction of the dam
in that place .

However, the international scientific community is seeking
to resist this self-serving ' marketing ' operation, in which
facts are loosely bandied about, finance . . . and the
unemployment which would be caused by an interruption to
the construction work is played up . At the World Congress
on Rock Art which finished today in Turin, the question of
the rock carvings in the Coa Valley was a central issue and
the European Archaeology Network has stated that to build
a dam and relegate this unique historical find to a secondary
place amounts to extinguishing the past of the European
Union .

Having emphasized the final phrase, I insist on asking the
Commission, with no disrespect for the subsidiarity

No C 326 / 50 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

principle, whether it would not be appropriate to take up a
position on this extremely important issue ?

(!) OJ No C 222, 28 . 8 . 1995, p . 44 .

Greece ratified the Protocol and notified the other

Contracting Parties of its ratification on 10 November
1994 .

Answer given by Mr Oreja
on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-2557 / 95

(6 October 1995 ) by Joaquin Sisô Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that the Portuguese authorities ' decision took account of the
option of experts from the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization, whose views had been
sought after the survey had been carried out .

Under Article 128 of the EC Treaty and the subsidiarity
principle, this matter falls within the exclusive competence
of the national authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2544 / 95

by Richard Balfe ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 91 )

Subject : 1963 EEC-Turkey Agreement — Greece

When did Greece sign the supplementary protocol on the
acceptance of the provisions of the 1963 EEC-Turkey
Agreement and the subsequent decisions of the EEC-Turkey
Association Council ? Has the Greek Parliament ratified it
and, if not, what action will the Commission take, if
necessary before the European Court of Justice, to ensure
that the special rights granted to T urkish nationals in almost
all other EU Member States also apply in Greece ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1995 )

The Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association
between the Community and Turkey consequent on
Greece 's accession to the Community was signed by Greece,
the other Member States, the Council and Turkey on
20 April 1988 . Through this Protocol, Greece became party
to the Agreement establishing an Association between the
Community and Turkey .

( 22 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 92 )

Subject : Difficulties facing SMUs

Information on Community rules and regulations must be
easy to obtain if SMUs are to be aware of and implement
correctly Community legislation . In the final report
submitted by the French Standardization Association

( AFNOR ), based on a series of hearings held with 840 SMUs
throughout the Community, the undertakings admit to
difficulties in obtaining such information, although the
situation varies from country to country .

Given that the report states that the Euro Info Centres are
fourth on the list of information sources consulted by SMUs,
can the Commission answer the following questions :

1 . Has the Commission looked into the reasons why SMUs
choose to obtain information mainly through the
technical press or through professional channels before
turning to the Euro Info Centres ?

2 . What steps does it intend to take to ensure that Euro

Info Centres fulfil the purpose for which they were set
up ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1995 )

The Honourable Member of Parliament refers to the results

of the Commission 's pilot project ' Euromanagement —
standards, certification, quality and safety at work '. The
Commission had engaged more than 60 consultants to assist
small and medium sized businesses ( SMEs ) in the
abovementioned areas, survey their requirements and
inform the European Coordinator, the French Standards
Institute ( Afnor ), which is responsible for presenting a final

report .

As regards the sources of information, the Commission
welcomes the fact that a quarter of SMEs made use of
Euro-Info-Centres ( EICs ) and regional relay points to
obtain

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 51

information on European regulations and standards . Given
that all the European standards have been translated into
the languages of the Member States and published by
national standards institutes in the form of national

standards with identification of its European origin, ' EN ', it
is quite normal that a large number of SMEs continue to
turn to their traditional points of contact for standards, i.e.
trade organizations and national standard bodies, or
consult press reviews and the specialized press, etc . New
European standards are published in the Official Journal of
the European Community, available from the EICs, which
act primarily as a first-stop shop . Moreover, the Afnor
report stated that there could be multiple responses, which
explains the fact that SMEs often refer to two or more
sources of information, including the EICs .

As the areas of European Regulations and standards are very
technical in nature, the Commission has encouraged the
creation of an EIC sub-committee in order to bring this area
up to standard and enable new EICs to become competent in
this field .

In addition, the partnerships which the EICs have developed
with all the parties involved at local level, both in the public
and private sectors ( chambers of commerce and guild
chambers, regional consultants and bodies for
promoting / disseminating technology ), enable a more
comprehensive service to be offered to economic operators .
It is thus possible for EICs to direct technical dossiers to
more specialist bodies .

It is true that these enterprises are often late in receiving
information about the technical requirements introduced to
improve consumers ' safety, reduce energy consumption or
curb pollution . Other enterprises put off making
adjustments until the last minute in the hope that they might
dodge the constraint . In doing so, they too often overlook
the fact that marketing logic argues that compliance with
new technical requirements bestows a product with features
superior to those of its competitors, thereby giving it access
to the Community market and perhaps persuading the
consumer to opt for that product, even if it is more
expensive .

The Commission has no financial instruments for helping
enterprises faced with this obligation to adapt their
production tools to new technical regulations .

The Commission would, nevertheless, ask the Honourable
Member to present it with a more detailed dossier on the
case in point so that it can form an opinion on the scale of the
problem .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 72 / 95

by James Provan ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 22 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 94 )

Subject : ' Retenue de Solidarité ' in Belgium
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2567 / 95

by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

Whilst recognizing that ' Retenue de Solidarite ' falls under

to the Commission social security law rather than tax law, will the Commission

( 14 September 1995 ) state clearly whether it is correct for the Belgian authorities

( 95 / C 326 / 93 ) to take state old-age pensions paid by another Member State

into consideration when assessing liability for the ' Retenue
de Solidarite ', which is not a tax and therefore should not
Subject : Threat to producers of oil - and gas-fired warm air fall within the scope of the double taxation agreement

heaters between Belgium and the UK ?

to the Commission

( 14 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 93 )

heaters

What assistance is available to small enterprises such as
William May of Ashton in my constituency whose
likelihood is threatened by new regulations governing their
product ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1995 )

The Commission is aware that, despite the relatively long
transitional periods, adjusting to new technical regulations
can pose problems for small and medium-sized enterprises

( SMEs ) — particularly the smallest of these — in view of
their limited financial resources .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1995 )

The Commission is able to inform the Honourable Member

that it is of the opinion that the levying of the ' solidarity tax '
by the Belgian authorities under Article 68 of the Belgian
Law of 30 March 1994 might constitute an infringement of
Community law .

This would indeed be the case if the tax were deducted from
pensions and annuities of persons not resident in Belgium
and thus not subject to Belgian social-security legislation
under the terms of Title II of Council Regulation ( EEC )

No C 326 / 52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

No 1408 / 71 on the application of social security schemes to
employed persons and their families moving within the
Community ( 1 ).

The Commission is currently considering whether it would
be appropriate to institute an infringement procedure
against Belgium and on what basis this could be done .

t 1 ) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971 ( consolidated version, OJ No C 325,

10 . 12 . 1992 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 80 / 95

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 95 )

Subject : Member States ' contributions to the EU Budget

Can the Commission provide figures to show both the
contributions from Member States to the EU Budget and
payments from the Budget to the Member States, as well as
the net balance for each of the least three years and a
projection for the next three years .

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 October 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Written Question E-1958 / 95 (*).

(') See page 15 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 88 / 95

by Ben Fayot ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 96 )

Subject : ECSC social research programmes

As the Commission will be aware, the ECSC 's social
research programmes have made a big contribution, since
the start of the Treaty, to improvements in health and safety
in mining and steel undertakings in the Member States of the
Union, with considerable spin offs for other industries . This
in due, in no small measure, to the actions provided for in
these research programmes for the dissemination of existing
information .

Dissemination of information should continue at least until
the full completion of the research projects . We therefore
need to know, by the time the Treaty expires, the extent of
the Commission 's commitment to these programmes .

Could the Commission :

1 . specify the amount earmarked in the ECSC annual
budget for social research programmes in 1995,

2 . indicate what programmes are intended up to the end of
the Treaty and how far they have got,

3 . give an assurance that funding will be made available for
the widest possible dissemination of the results of the

programme,

4 . give an assurance that dissemination of the results of the
Sixth ergonomics programme will continue as before, in
Luxembourg, under the existing system which has
proved useful not only to health and safety specialists in
industry, but also to management and labour .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1995 )

1 . The 1995 ECSC budget includes ECU 1 million for
ECSC social research .

2 . No new ECSC social research programmes are
planned before the end of the ECSC Treaty . Five
programmes are currently in progress :

— First joint programme on safety in the ECSC
industries

— Sixth programme on industrial hygiene in mines

— Fifth programme on technical control of nuisances and

pollution at the place of work and in the environment of
iron and steel works

— Fifth medical research programmes on protection of

workers against risks arising from work in the coal and
steel industries

— Sixth ergonomics programme .

These programmes are due to be completed by the end of

19 96 .

3 . Adequate resources are earmarked under each
individual programme for the dissemination of results . The
Commission is also planning a final symposium to review
the ECSC social research programme, as announced in its
communication on a Community programme concerning
safety, hygiene and health at work ( 1996 — 2000 ) (*),
Action 2(iii ) of the Annex .

4 . The Commission will ensure dissemination of the

results of the Sixth ergonomics programme until the

6 . 12 . 95 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 53

programme ends, and expects to maintain the level of
quality .

which is a clear violation of the free movement of workers

and the right of migrant workers to social security ?

(M COM(95 ) 282 final . (!) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971, p . 2 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 74, 27 . 3 . 1972, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2591 / 95

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) (9 October 1995 )

to the Commission

( 27 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 97 ) With regard to the question of the dissolution of the
Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund, the Commission can
inform the Honourable Member that it is to issue a reasoned
Subject : Schengen opinion to the United Kingdom if the infringement is not
terminated as soon as possible .

Now that the intergovernmental agreement concluded
between 7 Member States in Schengen has been in force for
over four months, would the Commission agree that it
should now be extended to all 15 by means of a Directive
superseding the intergovernmental accords and applicable
to all Member States ?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2622 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

on Answer behalf given of the by Commission Mr Monti (2 October 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 99 )
( 25 October 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its Subject : Unemployment
answer to Written Question E-2289 / 95 by Mr Ferber (*).

(*) See page 39 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2597 / 95

by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 19 September 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 98 )

Subject : Pension fund in Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund, which provided social
protection for workers through a foreign account in
Gibraltar, was dissolved and closed on 31 December 1993
by the United Kingdom and Gibraltar authorities .
Thousands of Spanish pensioners were affected by this
decision and lost their pension rights . The decision infringed
Council Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 (*) and ( EEC )
No 574 / 72 ( 2 ) and Articles 48, 51 and 227 of the Treaty of

Rome .

Has the Commission taken any action to remedy this unjust
situation, which has now continued for 18 months, and

Having regard to the serious news which has recently
appeared in the Italian press concerning Dalmine S.p.A., a
company of the ILVA group led by IRI, which produces
continuous pipes in Bergamo province ;

Whereas this is a case of false invoicing, unrecorded ' black '

accounting and product unreliability attributable solely to
the insensitivity of the company management ;

Whereas the Dalmine plant is viable, the product excellent
and the 2 500 workers have nothing to do with the legal
inquiry and are in fact highly motivated ;

Having regard to the concern that discredit may have been
brought on the company in an attempt to buy it at an
unrealistically low price, in view of its imminent
privatization ;

Having regard to the need to guarantee productivity, the
industrial plan and, above all, employment ;

Will the Commission carry out an investigation into what

has happened to Dalmine S.p.A., take action to block the
hasty privatization and sale and also take measures to
prevent job losses, which is the most important aspect and
which would have negative consequences for the entire iron
and steel industry throughout the Community ?

No C 326 / 54 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 12 . 95

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )
( 30 October 1995 ) to the Commission

The Commission is unable to adopt a position on a matter
which is the subject of legal proceedings by the Italian
Prosecutor 's Office .

As far as privatisation of the undertaking is concerned, the
Commission will examine all the relevant aspects as part of
the authorization procedure required by the ECSC Treaty
provisions on competition .

As for the Honourable Member 's fears of an adverse effect

on the employment of the undertaking 's 2 500 workers, it
must be emphasised that it is the solidity of the industrial
structure, and not a serious but transitory court case, which
is decisive for the medium-term viability of an undertaking
and the safeguarding of jobs . It can therefore be hoped that
the high quality of the industrial plant, product and labour
referred to by the Honourable Member will allow the
undertaking to remain viable without cutting back its
workforce, particularly as the European steel industry is
curently in a more favourable situation, after the serious
crisis of 1992 and 1993 .

(2 October 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 100 )

Subject : Commission trainees

While the use of trainee contracts as a means of employing
temporary staff within the Commission is to be applauded,
there are nevertheless a great many applications and no
selection criteria apart from the candidates ' curricula, which
are all very good .

In order to avoid pointless disputes, will the Commission
adopt objective automatic selection criteria which place all
candidates on the same footing ?

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
its answer to Written Questions E-1587 / 95 (*) and
E-2018 / 95 ( 2 ).

(M OJ No C 311, 22 . 11 . 19 95, p. 5 .

If the workforce were to be reduced, workers involved in ( 2 ) Se page 20 of this Official Journal .
production covered by the ECSC Treaty could claim
Community support in the form of ECSC re-adaptation aid
as provided for in Article 56 of the Treaty . Furthermore, all
workers, without distinction by production sector, would in
principle be eligible for assistance from the European social
Fund ( ESF ) under Objective 3 ( integration of persons WRITTEN QUESTION
exposed to exclusion from the labour market ) and Objective by Guido Podestà
4 ( adaptation of workers to industrial changes and to to the
changes in production systems ) provided they meet the
requirements relating to these Objectives . ( 28 September

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2685 / 95

by Guido Podestà ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 28 September 1995 )

In as far as the facts described by the Honourable Member
reflect the transfer of an undertaking, it is also necessary to
take account of Council Directive 77 / 187 / EEC of
14 February 1977, Article 3 of which states that ' the
transferor 's rights and obligations arising from a contract of
employment or from an employment relationship existing
on the date of a transfer within the meaning of Article 1(1 )
shall, by reason of such transfer, be transferred to the
transferee '. Consequently, the transfer of an undertaking
cannot in itself constitute grounds for redundancies by
either the transferor or the transferee . However, it must also
be borne in mind that this provision does not stand in the
way of dismissals that may take place for economic,
technical or organizational reasons entailing changes in the
workforce ( Article 4 ( 1 ) of the Directive ).

( 95 / C 326 / 101 )

Subject : Trafficking in organs

What investigations or action has the Commission
undertaken at Community level with regard to trafficking in
organs ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 October 1995 )

It is up to the Member States to take appropriate measures
as regards to monitoring and suppression of organ
trafficking .

6 . 12 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 326 / 55

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2755 / 95
by Johanna Maij-Weggen ( PPE ), Bartho Pronk ( PPE ) and

Petrus Cornelissen ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 October 1995 )

( 95 / C 326 / 102 )

Subject : National contributions to the EU

During the general debate on the Netherlands ' national
budget for 1996 in the Lower House of the Dutch
Parliament, the Prime Minister, Mr Kok, said that he wished
a study to be carried out of possible changes in the system of
national contributions to the European Union by the
Member States ( the Own Resources Decision ).

1 . Has the Commission received such a request ?

2 . If so, how exactly is it worded ?

3 . What is the direct monetary contribution of each

Member State to the European budget for 1996 ?

4 . What will the direct monetary contributions of each

Member State to the European budget between 1994
and 1998 be ?

5 . How much is this per capita of the population of each

Member State in 1996 and between 1994 and 1998 ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1995 )

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the question . It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible .