Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 32
# Official Journal

Volume 36
### of the European Communities 4 February 1993

#### C 32

Volume 36

4 February 1993

###### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

93 / C 32 / 01

93 / C 32 / 02

No 676 / 91 by Mr Antonio Iodice to the Commission
Subject : Influx of Albanian refugees into southern Italy 1

No 1701 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Antagonism and cooperation between the United States and Japan in science and
technology — what part is Europe playing ? 1

93 / C 32 / 03 No 2378 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject : Tyre production 2

93 / C 32 / 04

93 / C 32 / 05

93 / C 32 / 06

93 / C 32 / 07

93 / C 32 / 08

No 257 / 92 by Mr Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the environment in the industrial area of Piraeus 3

No 281 / 92 by Mr Wilfried TelkSmper to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the bird protection Directive in Italy 3

No 336 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear waste management programme 4

No 450 / 92 by Mr Fran?ois Musso to the Commission
Subject : Directive of 2 April 1979 on wild birds 5

No 488 / 92 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Protection of highly endangered species 5

93 / C 32 / 09 No 616 / 92 by Rinaldo Bontempi, Mauro Chiabrando and Tullio Regge to the
Commission

Subject : Border checks between France and Italy 6

2 ( Continued overleaf )

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No 654 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Age requirement for positions in the Commission 6

No 690 / 92 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Provision of public libraries in EC countries and literacy rate 6

No 776 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Problems of harmonizing civil law 7

No 825 / 92 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Obstacles to the export of German products to Italy 8

No 900 / 92 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : State aids to industrial groups for the opening of productive plants in southern Italy to
the detriment of northern workers 8

No 1008 / 92 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Transport of toxic waste 9

No 1025 / 92 by Pedro Bofill Abeilhe and Enrique Sapena Granell to the Commission
Subject : Copyright guarantees for European films on the US market 9

No 1121 / 92 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Information on the Community for young people 10

No 1 154 / 92 by Lord O'Hagan to the Council
Subject : Council of the regions 10

No 1241 / 92 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Pension funds 11

No 1300 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Satellite debris 11

No 1303 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Imposition of taxes by the EEC 11

No 1360 / 92 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : The rebuilding of the Benguela railway in Angola 12

No 1385 / 92 by Mr Fernando Suarez Gonzalez to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation with Latin America 12

No 1389 / 92 by Mr Fernando Suarez Gonzalez to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation with Latin America 12

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1385 / 92 and 1389 / 92 13

No 1433 / 92 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Car and lorry exhaust pipes 13

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 32 / 26

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No 1495 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Contribution of neutrons to research in physics, chemistry and biology 13

No 1544 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Free movement of persons after 1993 14

No 1670 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Washington Convention ( CITES ) in the European Community 14

No 1679 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Construction of a marina in the Venetian port of Chania . . 15

No 1691 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Disposal of hospital refuse 15

No 1723 / 92 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : State subsidies for tourism 16

93 / C 32 / 32 No 1755 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The fossils of Sigri on the island of Lesbos 16

93 / C 32 / 33 No 1780 / 92 by Mrs Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Completion of the internal energy market 17

93 / C 32 / 34

No 1782 / 92 by Mrs Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Completion of the internal market energy market 17

93 / C 32 / 35 No 1783 / 92 by Mrs Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Completion of the internal energy market 18

93 / C 32 / 36

No 1784 / 92 by Mrs Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Completion of the internal energy market 18

93 / C 32 / 37 No 1796 / 92 by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Vehicle imports 19

93 / C 32 / 38 No 1824 / 92 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Investment in freight transport by rail 19

93 / C 32 / 39

93 / C 32 / 40

93 / C 32 / 41

93 / C 32 / 42

93 / C 32 / 43

No 1828 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Roumani wetland in Argolis 20

No 1832 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation by Greece of the Community Directive on the recognition of higher
education diplomas 20

No 1836 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Pollution in the Gulf of Marathoupoli in Messenia 21

No 1 839 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The problem of unemployment in Achaia 21

No 1863 / 92 by Mrs Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Limit values and reference values for pollutants, in respect of children and unborn
children 22

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 32 / 44 No 1868 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the fossilized forest of Sigri 22

93 / C 32 / 45 No 1908 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Greek Public Power Corporation and the petrified forest on Lesbos 23

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1868 / 92 and 1908 / 92 23

93 / C 32 / 46 No 1 882 / 92 by Mr Marco Taradash to the Commission
Subject : Refusal to admit a British citizen into Italy 23

93 / C 32 / 47 No 1909 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Formulation of a new common policy for shipbuilding 24

93 / C 32 / 48 No 1912 / 92 by Mr Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject : Introduction of European award for outstanding services at the workplace 25

93 / C 32 / 49 No 1923 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Scientific and technological capacity of India in respect of data processing 25

93 / C 32 / 50 No 1937 / 92 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : British customs and immigration control 26

93 / C 32 / 51 No 1938 / 92 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Composition of fibre-tipped and felt-tipped markers and pens 26

93 / C 32 / 52 No 1946 / 92 by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Immigration and the new partnership with the Maghreb 27

93 / C 32 / 53 No 1959 / 92 by Mr Dimitrios Nianias to European Political Cooperation
Subject : The role of Turkey today 28

93 / C 32 / 54 No 1997 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear safeguards 28

93 / C 32 / 55 No 2000 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Euratom safeguards 28

93 / C 32 / 56 No 2002 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear safeguards 29

93 / C 32 / 57 No 2003 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear safeguards 29

93 / C 32 / 58 No 2020 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Operation of a tannery at Konitsa 30

93 / C 32 / 59 No 2064 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to European Political Cooperation
Subject : The European Union 's military capacity, Atlantic cooperation and enlargement 30

93 / C 32 / 60 No 2067 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The wetlands of Roumani in the Argolis 31

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 32 / 61 No 2068 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The wild goats of Antimilos 31

93 / C 32 / 62 No 2074 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The environment on Samos 31

93 / C 32 / 63 No 2081 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Importance of Community policies regarding consumers 32

93 / C 32 / 64 No 2085 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Authorization for new industrial plants in Attica 32

93 / C 32 / 65 No 21 15 / 92 by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Suspension of cod-fishing by Community vessels in the waters of NAFO zones 2J3KL 33

93 / C 32 / 66 No 2121 / 92 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Campaign to prevent domestic accidents 33

93 / C 32 / 67 No 2124 / 92 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Broadcasting by associations and a ' People 's Europe ' 34

93 / C 32 / 68 No 2139 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Takeover of the Wessanen grain division by Meneba . 35

93 / C 32 / 69 No 2155 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Composition of selection panels for competitions 36

93 / C 32 / 70 - No 2161 / 92 by Mr Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Reciprocal recognition of higher education qualifications in Germany with regard to
employment as a teacher without the status of a public servant 36

93 / C 32 / 71 No 2164 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Nuisances caused by light sources 37

93 / C 32 / 72 No 2204 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Proposed MEREX incinerator at Fos-sur-Mer ( France ) 38

93 / C 32 / 73 No 2205 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Udapting the compendium of Community environment law 38

93 / C 32 / 74 No 2244 / 92 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : EC packaging regulation or directive 38

93 / C 32 / 75 No 2250 / 92 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : North Norway quota for UK fishing vessels 39

93 / C 32 / 76 No 2257 / 92 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by EC countries 40

93 / C 32 / 77 No 2260 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Ad Hoc Group on Immigration 40

93 / C 32 / 78 No 2274 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Environmental education 41

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 32 / 79 No 2275 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Impact of the internal market on the construction industry 41

93 / C 32 / 80 No 2276 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Unleaded petrol r 42

93 / C 32 / 81 No 2277 / 92 by Mr Winfried Menrad to the Commission
Subject : European standards and the German accident prevention regulation in respect of the
' VBG 14 ' lifting platform 42

93 / C 32 / 82 No 2282 / 92 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Compulsory insurance for cyclists 43

93 / C 32 / 83 No 2295 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Euratom Treaty ' 44

93 / C 32 / 84 No 2335 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear Suppliers Group 44

93 / C 32 / 85 No 2406 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Renewed tension over the Spratly Islands 44

93 / C 32 / 86 No 2447 / 92 by Alman Metten and Willem van Velzen to the Commission
Subject : Systematic underestimation of the real level bf unemployment in the concept of
' registered unemployment '? 45

93 / C 32 / 87 No 2480 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Torture and human rights violations in Turkey 46

93 / C 32 / 88 No 271 1 / 92 by Mrs Anna Catasta and Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Council
Subject : Night work 46

93 / C 32 / 89 No 2718 / 92 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Council
Subject : Night work 46

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2711 / 92 and 2718 / 92 47

93 / C 32 / 90 No 2833 / 92 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Moonies 47

93 / C 32 / 9 1 Written Questions to which no answer has been given 48

4 . 2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 3.2 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 676 / 91

by Mr Antonio Iodice ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 April 1991 )

( 93 / C 32 / 01 )

Subject : Influx of Albanian refugees into southern Italy

In view of the influx of thousands of Albanian refugees,
mostly through the port of Brindisi, what measures has
the Commission adopted to assist the areas affected in
their difficult task of providing humanitarian assistance to
these refugees ?

Does the Commission not consider that it should show
particular recognition of the efforts made by local people

and voluntary organizations in the Apulian area, which is
itself facing regional development problems, for the
praiseworthy solidarity they have shown in assisting the
refugees ?

Does the Commission not consider that the Community
should introduce emergency arrangements at European
level for the immediate reception of refugees in similar
cases ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 September 1992 )

To assist those parts of Italy affected by the massive influx
of Albanian refugees, the Commission approved
emergency aid worth ECU 1 000 000 on 1 1 March last

year .

The Italian Red Cross started to implement the aid on 1 5

March last year, providing relief for around 10 000
Albanian refugees and taking much of the strain off local

Italian charities .

As part of its emergency humanitarian measures, the

Commission is also endeavouring to provide timely,
on-the-spot aid to disaster victims to stop them leaving
the area where possible . Since last year, it has granted
ECU 206,15 million to Albania, much of which is
designed to steer the country towards sustainable
development, thereby curbing emigration .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1701 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 93 / C 32 / 02 )

Subject : Antagonism and cooperation between the United

States and Japan in science and technology —
what part is Europe playing ?

It is becoming increasingly evident that antagonism
between the United States and Japan in advanced areas of
research and technology is causing conflict, suspicion and
a variety of manoeuvres, but is also leading to essential
cooperation . Japanese complaints about the budget cuts
which have forced NASA to reduce the size and capacity

of the space station are a good example . On the one hand,
the American station is a crucial factor in Japan 's space
plans, since it is building the ' Experimental module ', a
costly space laboratory which will be linked to the space
station . On the other hand, if the space station project
does not go ahead, Japan has threatened that it will refuse
to participate in other expensive projects managed by the
United States, who cannot carry out such projects

No C 32 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

unaided, such as the ' superconducting supercollider ' to be
built in Texas, to which the Japanese are planning to
contribute more than one thousand million dollars .

What equivalent forms of cooperation are there between
the Community and the US and between the Community
and Japan ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1992 )

The full range of the Community 's scientific and
technological cooperation activities with non-member
countries, and in particular with the industrialized world,
is covered by a Commission communication ( ! ) and by a
parliamentary report ( Report A3-0206 / 91 by Ms
Goedmaekers ) which was adopted by Parliament on 10
September 1991 .

cooperation are based on the principle of mutual benefit,
and the Commission sees to it that this criterion is met in
implementing them .

Finally, worldwide cooperation is particularly useful for
two types of projects, namely large-scale, very expensive,
projects with long-term objectives and large-scale projects
of interest to all countries . The ITER and Global Change
programmes are examples of the first and second type
respectively . In both cases, the Commission is in the
forefront of efforts to develop worldwide cooperation .

The Community is not participating in either of the September 1991 .
programmes referred to by the Honourable Member ( the
space station and the SSC ). O COM(9Q ) 256 final .

However, it is involved in cooperation with the United
States under formal agreements in the following fields of
research : peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear waste,
nuclear safety and safeguards, the effects of irrigation on
health and the environment, thermonuclear fusion,
renewable energy sources and ore technologies .

Recently, the dialogue with the United States on science
and technology was stepped up with the creation, at the
Commission 's initiative, of a Joint EC / US Consultative
Group on Science and Technology, co-chaired by
Vice-President Pandolfi and Dr. A. Bromley, scientific

adviser to President Bush . A joint task force on
biotechnology research has been set up and a study is
being carried out on the external cost of the fuel cycle and
its integration into the E3 models ( economy, energy and
the environment ). Following a decision by the Joint

Consultative Group, a workshop on scientific
megaprojects was held in Brussels in October 1991 . This
took a number of practical examples as a basis for
studying the phenomenon of big science from several
angles : general characteristics, decision-making
procedures, international collaboration and discussion
forums . In addition, the Community and the United
States are actively involved in the discussions on global
change at bilateral and multilateral level .

Given that scientific and technological cooperation
between the United States and Japan, as between the
United States and Europe, is already well established, the

aim should be to step up cooperation between Europe and
Japan, in order to achieve a worldwide balance .
Cooperation with the Japanese is in fact being stepped up
gradually in a number of areas . The Commission is taking
part in the pilot phase of the ' Human Frontier Science
Programme ' launched by the Japanese . It is also playing a
central role in the exchange being carried out following
the Japanese proposal for an international research
programme on intelligent manufacturing systems . In
addition, a programme of post-doctorate scholarships
allows young European researchers to spend time
working in Japanese laboratories . All these instances of

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2378 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 93 / C 32 / 03 )

Subject : Tyre production

Carbon black accounts for one third of the mixture used
for manufacturing tyres .

As tyres wear, this carbon black, obtained partly from the

combustion of large quantities of gas, is released into the
air . It then becomes a major carrier of polycyclic aromatic
particles, known to cause cancer .

Has the Commission carried out research with a view to

replacing the carbon black used in tyre production with a
less harmful product ?

If so, what measures does it intend to take, and when ?

If not, does the Commission not consider it necessary to
deal with this problem ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1992 )

The Commission does not promote research on the
replacement of carbon black in the manufacture of tyres .

Concerning health policy aspects an IARC / WHO
evaluation leads to the conclusion that it is difficult to see
how the release of particles during normal use could

4.2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 3

constitute a hazard to health due to the content of PAH
( policy cyclic aromatic particles ) in the carbon black used
in the tyre .

However, it is not excluded that there could be problems
linked to the formation of soot during the combustion of

tyres .

For this reason in its initial proposal for a Directive on
protection of workers against hazard resulting from the
exposure to carcinogenic agents at the work place, the ­
Commission took as a reference a list of professional
activities, including the rubber industry, established by
the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC )
of the World Health Organization ( WHO ).

When adopting the Council Directive 90 / 394 / EEC (*),
the Council decided that it was premature to include the
rubber industry in the Annex II listing inter alia the
processes for which the Directive applies but requested
the Commission to re-examine the problems which might
arise in connection with rubber .

The Commission supports a re-evaluation by the IARC

and will take due note of this study in responding to the
Council 's declaration .

o OJ No L 196, 26 . 7 . 1990 .

hazards of certain industrial activities ( 1 ), and in
particular Articles 5, 7 and 8 thereof, which require
operators to submit safety reports to the competent
authorities in the Member States, prepare emergency
plans for use within the establishment and ensure that
persons liable to be affected by a major accident are kept
informed . In addition, Article 7 requires the competent
authorities to examine the information provided by
operators, draw up emergency plans for action outside the
establishment and ascertain that operators have taken the
most appropriate measures to prevent major accidents and
to provide the means for limiting any consequences .

The Directive does not make provision for any special

derogation for Greece, which is required in the same way
as the other Member States to take measures to comply
with the Directive and to equip itself, with the means of
implementing it . However, it has emerged from the
Commission 's enquiries vis-a-vis the Greek authorities
following the accident that the provisions referred to
above had not yet been applied to the Piraeus plant at the
time of the accident .

The Commission intends to make sure that Directive

82 / 50 1 / EEC is implemented in a satisfactory manner in
Greece, and will continue to lend the Greek authorities
whatever assistance is appropriate in order to achieve this

end . In 1991 the Commission 's Joint Research Centre in
Ispra organized a training course for the authorities
concerned on the assessment of the safety reports
compiled in accordance with Article 5 of the Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 257 / 92
O OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982 .

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

( 24 February 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 04 )

Subject : Protection of the environment in the industrial

area of Piraeus

An explosion in a factory manufacturing chemical
products and fertilizers in the highly polluted area of
Piraeus recently endangered the lives and health of
thousands of local residents .

Can the Commission — in cooperation with the Greek
authorities — assist industries in the Piraeus region by
introducing a programme of biological and chemical
processing of industrial waste and providing modern
filters and instruments to measure pollution ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1992 )

Several sources have drawn the Commission 's attention to

the recent accident in a chemical plant in Piraeus .

The plant in question is subject to the provisions of
Council Directive 82 / 50 1 / EEC on the major - accident

WRITTEN QUESTION No 281 / 92

by Mr Wilfried Telkamper ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 February 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 05 )

Subject : Implementation of the bird protection Directive

in Italy

In many regions of the Federal Republic of Germany,
farmers receive subsidies if they take special account of
the breeding requirements of bird species . However, there
are doubts about the usefulness of such bird protection
measures when elementary nature conservation measures
are not taken by other Member States and when, for
example, birds which are protected by law in Germany are
trapped and killed on their flight south by Italian hunters
using lime twigs or nets .

1 . Does the Commission consider that Italian hunting
legislation is in line with the EC directive on the

No C 32 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

conservation of wild birds ? Has the directive been

adequately incorporated by Italian national law ?

If not, what steps has the Commission taken ( or will it
take ) to ensure that the Italian Government brings its
hunting legislation into line with the directive on the
conservation of wild birds ?

The use of live decoys is not prohibited by the

adequately incorporated by Italian national law ? directive as long as the decoys are not blinded

and / or otherwise mutilated .

2

hunting legislation into line with the directive on the 5 . In view of the number of infringement procedures
conservation of wild birds ? initiated in this field against various Member States, the

Commission feels that the national legislation in the

3 Does the Commission consider that further measures countries concerned needs to be amended to bring it into

should be introduced to harmonize the relevant line with the Community directives . Where Italy is
provisions ? concerned, the Commission would refer the Honourable

Member to its reply to point 3 .
4 . Does the Commission consider it necessary to :

3

Does the Commission consider that further measures

should be introduced to harmonize the relevant

provisions ?

( a ) adopt measures for stricter monitoring of
compliance with hunting legislation,

( b ) restrict the list of birds which may be hunted

under the EC directive on the conservation of

wild birds,

( c ) introduce comprehensive measures to prohibit
the use of nets, lime twigs and live decoys to trap
birds ?

5 . Does the Commission consider that the laws of the

Member States in general and Italy in particular
guarantee adequate protection for birds ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1992 )

1 . The Commission is currently examining ( in
particular in the light of the provisions of Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ) the legislation recently adopted by the
Italian Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 336 / 92

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 February 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 06 )

Subject : Nuclear waste management programme

Pursuant to the Environment Commissioner 's reply to
Written Question No 1327 / 91 ('), when did he obtain a

copy of ' The International Politics of Nuclear Waste '
published by Macmillan Press, London, as he pledged to
do ; will he make a statement on its contents, analysis and
recommendations in so far as they are relevant to the
European Community 's nuclear waste . management
programme ?

O OJ No C 311, 2 . 12 . 1991, p . 30 .
2 . Should the Italian legislation prove not to be in line
with the Community rules, the Commission will initiate
the infringement procedure provided for by Article 169 of
the EEC Treaty .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

3 . The Commission is planning to tighten up the
legislation by removing a number of species from
Annex II where Italy is concerned .

4 . ( a ) Yes .

( b ) Yes .

( c ) The use of nets is prohibited by Directive
79 / 409 / EEC, with the exception of the
derogations referred to in Article 9 .

However, provided the conditions governing the
derogations under Article 9 are complied with,

nets can represent a more selective method than
shooting, as well as being less damaging, since the
birds are not injured or lost . The Commission
therefore sees no need to place further restrictions
on their use .

Capture using limes, still practiced two years ago
in just one region, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, is now
illegal throughout Italy .

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )

As stated in its reply to Written Question No 1327 / 91, the

Commission has taken cognizance of the book to which
the Honourable Member refers .

The Commission notes that the book is devoted to an

assessment of the political situations, as seen by the
authors, in some specific countries inside and outside the
European Community . It is not the role of the
Commission to discuss the views of individuals about

such matters .

The Commission further notes that the book takes no

account of the actions of the various International
Organizations, in particular the International Atomic
Energy Agency ( IAEA ), the Nuclear Energy Agency
( NEA ) of OECD and the Commission itself in the field of
radioactive waste .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 5

The book has therefore little relevance to the European

Community radioactive waste programme, which is
largely Research and Development at multinational level .

The Commission cannot but agree upon some technical
recommendations contained in the last chapter, like waste
minimization which has been one of the declared
objectives of its R&D programme for many years . As far
as the public is concerned, the Commission refers the
Honourable Member to its previous answer to Written
Question No 1327 / 91, and underlines again its
continuous support to involve the public in waste
handling questions through adequate mechanisms .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 450 / 92

by Mr Francois Musso ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 07 )

Subject : Directive of 2 April 1979 on wild birds

Four years ago, the natural protection along the Caxarias
river was ' cleared away ' in order to clean the irrigation
channels, giving rise to the danger of overflow and soil
erosion . Now sirtiilar measures are being taken along the
Olival river, where poplars and alders are being ' cleared '
over a distance of five kilometres, thereby placing otters
and lampreys in the river creeks at serious risk .

This has led to vigorous protests from environmental
bodies such as Quercus, which regard this as a failure to
learn from past mistakes and fear that compatible
measures will be taken along the Sei$a river, along which
similar clearing operations are planned, together with the
removal of industrial waste and residues, resulting in the
extinction, without any benefit to farmers in the process,
of rare species existing in this network of waterways .

Since these associations have already exhausted all means
of petition and protest in Portugal, and having regard to
the Berne Convention, is it true that we can but wait for
these assaults on the environment and on rare species to
proceed without Community bodies being able to take
any action ?

Can the Commission say what practical measures it
recommends the Member States take to protect mountain
bird species from the nuisance caused by certain activities
such as hang gliding, helicopter sports, etc .? Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 1992 ) Otters and lampreys are among the species listed in
Annex II to Directive 92 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of
Mountain birds are protected against the nuisance caused natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, recently
by certain activities such as hang gliding and helicopter adopted by the Council (').
sports by Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (') in particular
Articles 3 and 4 thereof . The Commission has made enquiries of the regional

O OTNoL 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 488 / 92

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 March 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 08 )

environmental authorities in Portugal, who have
confirmed that there have been a certain number of
technical problems, which are being tackled by the
competent national bodies .

Given that the irrigation projects referred to by the
Honourable Member are part of a programme
co-financed by the Community, the Commission intends
to approach the national agricultural authorities, in order
to draw their attention to the abovementioned Directive,
and request them to ensure that the nature conservation
authorities are closely involved in monitoring the projects .

Subject : Protection of highly endangered species O OTNoL206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .

A network of small rivers in the municipality of Ourem in
the Santarem district of Portugal provide a habitat for
rare and endangered species of animals and plants .

No C 32 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 616 / 92
by Rinaldo Bontempi ( GUE ), Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 654 / 92

Rinaldo Bontempi ( GUE ), Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE ) by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )

and Tullio Regge ( GUE ) to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 26 March 1992 )

and Tullio Regge ( GUE )

( 23 March 1992 ) ( 93 / C 32 / 10 )

( 93 / C 32 / 09 )

Subject : Age requirement for positions in the
Commission
Subject : Border checks between France and Italy

Can the Commission explain why it considers 40 years of
A little over 300 days from the abolition of internal age to be too old for advertised positions in the
borders in the Community, border checks have, for some Commission for science graduates ?
time, been carried out only at random or for specific
reasons at most border crossing points ( for example
between France and Germany and Belgium, the
Netherlands and Luxembourg ), thereby anticipating Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
developments after 1 January 1993 . on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )
At other crossing points, however, border checks have
become more numerous, painstaking and punctilious,
The recruitment of scientific and technical staff forms an
causing major traffic hold-ups and interminable queues .
integral part of the Commission 's staff policy .

This applies particularly to the border between France

and Italy at Monginevro where, throughout the winter
months, travel to the two ski resorts has been
discouraged, if not prevented, by checks resulting in long
queues of traffic stretching back for several kilometres,
causing great inconvenience to the public .

Since such a state of affairs clearly runs counter to the
legitimate expectations of the public concerning freedom
of movement and to the Community 's own policies, does
the Commission not consider that it should take steps to
remedy matters ?

When specific requirements for highly specialized
scientific staff are identified, the Commission recruits
temporary staff ( contracts from three to five years ), the
age limit for whom may be as high as 50 years, but varies
in accordance with the level of experience and seniority
required . Notifications of these competitions / selections
are published in the national press in the Member States .

Apart from these specific cases, the conditions governing
access to a scientific career — including age — are in
principle the same as those which apply to the
Commission staff as a whole .

The Commission has always considered that the existence
of an age limit for admission to the competitions is one of
the elements of its staff policy and a factor affecting the
Answer given by Mr Bangemann type of career to which its staff may aspire .

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1992 )

Even if, as indicated by the Honourable Members, some
Member States have already made the necessary
preparations for the situation which should obtain after 1
January 1993 with regard to controls on individuals at the

Community 's internal frontiers, the deadline set by the
Treaty in Article 8a for the completion of the internal

market is 31 December 1992 . The Commission drew

attention to this fact in its recent communication on the
abolition of border controls ('). Irrespective of its
regrettable consequences, the situation described in the
question does not as yet constitute an infringement of
Community law . This is why the Commission could not at
this stage intervene to rectify specific situations such as
those referred to by the Honourable Members .

0 ) SEC(92 ) 877 final, 8 . 5 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 690 / 92

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

( 26 March 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 11 )

Subject : Provision of public libraries in EC countries and

literacy rate

What is the provision of public libraries in the EC
countries ? What is the proportion of library books per
head^of population ? Does the greater provision of library
books correlate to higher literacy levels ?

What was the relationship of library books to head of
population in EC countries in 1980, 1970, 1960 ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 7

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi book sales are falling while use of public libraries is rising .

on behalf of the Commission Nevertheless, behaviour varies from one country to

( 20 October 1992 ) another . Customary use of public libraries has become
better established in the north and east of Europe .

Public libraries have a key role to play in the
dissemination of books . They are a common focal point
for action on books and the measures needed to
encourage reading in Europe . The Honourable Member will find below a table showing

the number of public libraries and library books for 1981
Public libraries have played a major role in the evolution and 1985 . The Commission has no data for the whole
of the structure of the reading public . In all countries Community before those dates .

Number of public libraries ( Service points ) Number of books in public libraries Library
books per

1981 1985

1981 1985

S M T S M T

head of

population

Belgium 1 664 3 1 667 1 514 3 1 517 18 735 000 23 267 000 2,35

Denmark 1 102 72 1 174 1 079 72 1 151 30 739 000 34 122 000 6,69

Germany ( l ) 11 206 474 11 680 11 363 474 11 837 78 171 000 85 222 000 1,39

Greece 532 21 553 532 21 553 7 486 000 ' 7 486 000 0,74

Spain 1 644 294 1 938 1 743 294 2 037 12 148 000 13 048 000 0,33

France 1 068 210 1 278 1 269 303 1 572 57 324 000 71 073 000 1,27

Ireland 355 33 388 356 35 391 7 997 000 9 133 000 2,54

Italy 1 928 438 2 366 1 928 438 2 366 80 030 000 80 030 000 1,50

Luxembourg 2 3 5 2 3 5 613 000 613 000 1,65

Netherlands 953 97 1 050 1 105 100 1 205 32 976 000 38 564 000 2,66

Portugal 112 62 174 130 62 192 6 000 000 6 000 000 0,58

United Kingdom 16 026 721 16 747 17 874 687 18 561 136 126 000 140 536 000 2,45

Community 36 592 2 431 39 023 38 895 2 492 41 387 468 610 000 509 062 000 1,60

S : Fixed points . M : Mobile . T : Total .

(') Excludes new ' Lander '.

Source : Ph. Ramsdale : A Study of the Library Economics of the EC, London 1987 ( EUR 11 546 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 776 / 92

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 12 )

Subject : Problems of harmonizing civil law

According to a study drawn up by the British legal firm,
Davies Arnold Cooper, on behalf of Tokyo Marine and
Fire Insurance, there are considerable discrepancies
between the average length of legal proceedings, legal aid
provisions, compensation, legal costs, appeal procedures
etc . in the different Member States . For example, the
period of time which elapses between taking a matter to

court and a court judgment depends on the country in
which the lawyer pleads his case . In Greece, the
proceedings may last for six months and in Italy as much
as 42 months ! In Germany, compensation for the victims
of fatal accidcents may amount to DR 230 million and the
proceedings take six months . While in Denmark the
maximum award would be DR 35,5 million and the
relevant judgment could take two years .

Undoubtedly this undermines efforts to achieve a single
European market, reduces prospects of fair competition
and discriminates against certain European consumers .
What practical measures will the Commission take to
achieve a minimum degree of harmonization between the
Member States on such sensitive matters of substantive

and procedural civil law ?

No C 32 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1992 )

The Honourable Member is correct in pointing out that
discrepancies exist in the Member States as regards
substantive and procedural aspects of civil law . While the
Community has no direct power in terms of the EEC
Treaty to intervene directly in the matters cited by the
Honourable Member, Article 220 of the Treaty does
permit Member States, where necessary, to enter
negotiations with each other to make Conventions with a
view to securing benefits for their nationals . The Brussels

Convention of 1 968 on the recognition and enforcement
of judgements, and the Rome Convention of 1980 on the
choice of law in contractural obligations, go some way to
reduce the differences between the Member States in
relation to civil law . Steps are being taken at present to
evaluate the viability of extending the Brussels
Convention to other areas of the law and the report of the
Sutherland group, appointed to examine the long term
operation of the Internal Market, may have a bearing on
this issue .

agents breaches Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3632 / 85
of 12 December 1985 defining the conditions under which
a person may be permitted to make a customs
declaration ( x ).

It further considers that the customs agents ' fees,
endorsed by ministerial decree of 6 July 1988, constitute
charges having an effect equivalent to that of customs
duties, which are forbidden under Articles 9 and 12 of the
EEC Treaty .

On these two points it has therefore initiated in respect of
Italy the infringement procedure provided for in
Article 169 of the EEC Treaty and has referred the matter
to the Court of Justice .

O OJ No L 350, 27 . 12 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 900 / 92

by Mr Francesco Speroni ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 825 / 92 ( 93 / C 32 / 14 )

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities Subject : State aids to industrial groups for the opening of

productive plants in southern Italy to the
( 14 April 1992 ) detriment of northern workers

( 93 / C 32 / 13 )

Subject : Obstacles - to the export of German products to

Italy

Under Italian regulations, cross-border merchandise must
be taken through customs either by the owner himself or
his representative . Only customs agents are entitled to act
as owners ' representatives .

The Italian Ministry of Finance sets minimum and
maximum fees for the services of customs agents . These
fees are increased from time to time and are an

incalculable additional cost factor for German exporters .

Does the Commission agree that this stipulation, which is
imposed only by the Italian Government within the
Community, constitutes a non-tariff barrier to trade and
what steps will the Commission take to ensure that trade
with Italy takes place in accordance with the Treaties ?

Public finance would appear to have been provided for
the Italian Fiat industrial group to install new industrial
plant in the Mezzogiorno at Manfredonia and Pisticci .

At the same time, Fiat has expressed its intention to close
or adjust the scale of productive plants belonging to its
subsidiaries in northern Italy such as the Friuli chemical
plant in Torviscosa which will have an adverse impact on
the employment of local workers .

Since the opening of the envisaged plant in southern Italy
is not an expansion but rather a replacement plant, does
the Commission consider that the provision of finances
for these plants is compatible with Community
regulations ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1992 )
Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1992 ) The Commission is kept informed of cases of public
funding for firms which, as part of their restructuring,
invest in industrial plant in the Mezzogiorno while
The Commission considers that the Italian customs closing production lines in Community regions not

legislation on customs declaration and the role of customs eligible for regional aid under Article 92 ( 3 ) ( a ) and ( c ).

4.2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 9

On the question of assistance for the Fiat group, the Answer given by Mr Van
Commission has already given its opinion (') on aid to the on behalf of the Commission
automobile industry provided for in the second ( 26 October 1992 )
Mezzogiorno plan covering the period 1991 — 95 .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

( 26 October 1992 )

Since then, the Commission has examined proposed aid
measures for the SNIA holding company, in which the
Fiat group is the majority shareholder . It has initiated
proceedings ( 2 ) under Article 93 ( 2 ) in respect of LIT

121 billion of aid intended to assist the synthetic fibres
activities of that holding company on the ground inter alia
that the compatibility of the aid in question has to be
examined from both a regional and sectoral angle in
accordance with the specific rules applicable to that
industry ( 3 ).

In this connection, the Commission would remind the
Honourable Member that it will continue to adopt a priori
an unfavourable attitude to proposed aid by Member
States, whether sectoral, regional or general, which would
have the effect of increasing the net production capacity
of firms in the synthetic fibres industry ( which comprises
the production of acrylic, polyester, polypropylene and
polyamide fibres and yarns and the texturization of such
filaments ), irrespective of the final nature or type of
product or the use of such fibres .

In addition, it will continue to give sympathetic
consideration only to Member States ' aid proposals
designed to solve serious social or regional problems by
speeding up or facilitating the process of switching the
industry towards other activities or restructuring it, thus
helping to reduce capacity .

O Answer to Written Question No 2888 / 91 OJ No C 133,

23 . 5 . 1992 .

On 9 July 1992 the Court of Justice of the European
Communities delivered a judgment in Case C-2 / 90
( Commission v. Belgium ) concerning the ban on the
storage, tipping or dumping in Wallonia of waste from
other Member States or other regions of Belgium .

In its judgment, the Court found that the Belgian
legislation, in so far as it imposed an absolute ban on
imports of dangerous waste into Wallonia, did not
comply with the Community legislation, which provides
for a comprehensive system for controlling shipments of
waste based on Directive 84 / 631 / EEC on the supervision

and control within the Community of the transfrontier
shipment of hazardous waste .

With regard to non-hazardous waste the Court, while
confirming that waste must be treated as a product within
the meaning of Article 30 of the Treaty, found that it was
up to each region, municipality or other local authority to
take the appropriate measures to ensure the reception,
treatment and disposal of its own waste . It deduced from
this that the Belgian legislation, adopted as an exceptional
and temporary safeguard in the face of a major and
abnormal influx of waste from other regions, complied
with the aforementioned Article .

It follows from this that, faced with a particular situation
( in this case a major and abnormal influx ), the competent
authorities may adopt exceptional and temporary
measures to give priority to the treatment and disposal of
their own waste . The current position of the United
Kingdom Government, as outlined briefly in the question,
should be viewed in this light .

O

o

Decision not yet published .
OJ No C 186, 18.7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1008 / 92

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1025 / 92

( 27 April 1992 ) .

by Pedro Bofill Abeilhe and Enrique Sapena Granell ( S )

( 27 April 1992 ) .

( 93 / C 32 / 15 )

Subject : Transport of toxic waste

Can the Commission confirm reports of a recent court
ruling that the Belgian Government acted illegally in
banning the importing of toxic waste into Belgium ?
Would the Commission elaborate on which court made
the ruling, and whether this would therefore have a
bearing on the UK Government 's current backing for a
policy to limit the transport of toxic waste to within the
boundaries of the country which produced it ?

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 16 )

Subject : Copyright guarantees for European films on the

US market

Reports in the media suggest that despite the conclusion
of a 1989 agreement between the EC and the USA on the
protection of copyright, more than 700 European films

No C 32 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

made prior to that date have become public property and
are marketed in North America without royalties being
paid .

1 . Can the Commission confirm this information ?

2 . Which clauses of the 1989 bilateral agreement on the

protection of copyright on these works allow scope
for this unwarranted interpretation ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1121 / 92
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 May 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 17 )

Subject : Information on the Community for young

people
3 . If this malpractice is confirmed, what measures will

the Commission adopt in response ?

4

the Commission adopt in response ? Following the mandate granted to the Commission by the

Council, would it not be useful to set up in every regional
With the Uruguay Round of GATT in mind, what are capital a European youth information office similar to the

the Commission 's basic proposals to guarantee Erasmus office which already exists in all universities ?

the Commission 's basic proposals to guarantee
universal protection of copyright on intellectual
property ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1992 )
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

On 2 September 1992 the Commission adopted a Priority
( 22 October 1992 ) action plan to improve information for young people .

Under this plan, 1993 will be devoted primarily to

On 1 March 1989 the United States acceded to the Berne technical support for pilot youth information projects in
Convention . This Convention, to which the Member the Community .
States are party, is a multilateral agreement on the
protection of literary and artistic works . It will be possible to consider the Honourable Member 's
suggestion in this context .
However, when the United States became party to the
Convention on 1 March 1989, United States law did not
extend copyright protection to works falling within the
public domain by reason of failure to comply with the
necessary formalities before that date .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1154 / 92

The Commission has been informed by various by Lord O'Hagan ( ED )
cinematographic associations that, as a result, certain to the Council of the European Communities
European audiovisual works for which the formalities
were not completed before 1 March 1989 are at present ( 15 May 1992 )
being exploited in the United States without payment of ( 93 / C 32 / 18 )
royalties .

In the light of the above information, the difficulties
encountered by the copyright-holders in obtaining
protection for these cinematographic works under the
Berne Convention would seem to pose a real problem .

The Commission is currently scrutinizing the " matter in
order to determine the scope of the problem and its
implications, with a view to deciding the course of action
to be taken .

Copyright protection is one of the issues in the
negotiations on the trade-related aspects of intellectual
property ( TRIPs ) in the GATT Uruguay Round, which
are based on the principal international conventions
applicable .. However, the entry into force of any
agreement on TRIPs depends on a successful conclusion
to the Uruguay Round as a whole .

Subject : Council of the regions

There is a proposal that a new Council of the Regions
should be set up .

1 . Who is eligible to sit on it ?

2 . Are members of national parliaments, Members of the

European Parliament, and members of national
governments excluded ?

Answer

( 21 December 1992 )

Article 198a of the EC Treaty, as it will stand following

entry into force of the Treaty on European Union,
stipulates that the ' Committee of the Regions ' is to consist
of representatives of regional and local bodies appointed
by the Council acting unanimously on proposals from the
respective Member States .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 11

Each Member State is free, therefore, to propose those
candidates which it considers can adequately represent
regional and local bodies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1300 / 92

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

(5 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 20 )

Subject : Satellite debris
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1241 / 92

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

( 21 May 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 19 )

Subject : Pension funds

Recent events in the United Kingdom have given rise to
questions about the adequacies of legislation to protect
pension funds .

More than 20 000 pieces of debris from 3 300 satellites
which have been launched into space over the last three

decades is in effect ' astro-garbage ' that constitutes a
serious hazard for space flights . Will the Commission
launch a Community campaign for cleaner space ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1992 )

Does the Commission consider that there is a need for an
initiative in this area ? The Commission has followed closely the preparation of

statistics on space debris by both US and European
bodies .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1992 )

The Commission is currently looking at the general

subject of the provision of benefits by pension funds in
the context of the free provision of services and the free
movement of workers within the Community . On that
subject, it has recently proposed a Directive (') relating to
the freedom of management and investment of funds by
institutions for retirement provision . This proposal aims
to reduce the danger of imprudent investment of pension
funds, in so far as it establishes certain investment
principles, including limits on self-investment, which
Member States shall require pension funds to observe . In
the recent events to which the Honourable Member
refers, however, the allegations are of fraud .

If, as a result of the work it is currently doing, the
Commission decides to bring forward proposals
providing for the cross-border membership of pension

funds, it will need to consider the harmonization or
mutual recognition of the prudential standards applied in
each Member State . In these circumstances, the
Commission will of course take account of lessons to be
learned from the recent events in the United Kingdom .

Whilst the concept of an expedition to ' clean up ' space is
not yet under detailed consideration, the Commission
supports the actions taken by agencies such as ESA to
move to higher orbits their communications and
meteorological satellites at the end of their lifetimes in
order to maximize the capacity of the all important
geostationary orbit .

At the same time, the Commission is reviewing opening
study efforts to minimize the effect of space debris on
manned missions, and earth observation missions for
environmental studies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1303 / 92

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

(5 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 21 )

Subject : Imposition of taxes by the EEC
The Commission agrees that European pensioners ought
to be fully protected against the recurrence of such events
as those to which the Honourable Member refers . According to a recent public opinion

o COM(91 ) 301 final .

According to a recent public opinion poll 49 % of EEC
citizens agree that all taxes should be imposed directly by
the Community ; 36 % are opposed to this proposal . In the
light of this poll does the Commission intend to promote
a Community Tax Policy so that all taxes are imposed
directly by the EEC ?

No C 32 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

Answer

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1 992 )
( 15 October 1992 )

The Commission is unaware of the poll referred to by the

Honourable Member and so, without knowing the exact
circumstances, can comment neither on its representative
nature nor on its findings .

The figures quoted do though point to a fairly even split

in the sample population between those in favour of the
direct imposition of taxes by the Community and those in
favour of the status quo, which preserves the fundamental
role of taxation as an instrument of public finance and
social redistribution and respects the sovereignty of
Member States .

Imposition of all taxes by the Community, as envisaged by
the Honourable Member, could be brought in only as part
of a federal system that is not a feature of the Community
at the moment .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1360 / 92

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 22 )

Being keenly concerned by political developments in
Angola, the Community and its Member States expressed

their willingness, at the Council meeting on 28 November

1991, to support Angola in the framework of the process
of peace, democratization and reconstruction .

To that end they proposed to take part in the social and
economic rehabilitation programmes while coordinating
their efforts through existing channels of cooperation .

In February 1992 a ministerial delegation from the Troika
visited the country ; this laid down a good basis for the
establishment of a Community platform for Angola, one
aspect of which specifically involves the urgent
restoration of certain infrastructures, including the rail
link in the province of Huambo .

As for the practical implementation of these efforts, the

Council would draw the Honourable Member 's attention
to the fact that this does not come within its competence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1385 / 92
by Mr Fernando Suarez Gonzalez ( PPE )
to the Co . mission of the European Communities

Subject : The rebuilding of the Benguela railway in (5 June 1992 )

Angola ( 93 / C 32 / 23 )

In December 1991, after 16 years of war, the local
population was delighted to learn that the first section of
the railway which starts on the Xaire-Angola border at
Luau was reopening in the province of Huambo . This is
the initial two-year phase of a project to rebuild over a
ten-year period the whole of the Luau-Lobito line, a vital
element in the economies of Zambia, Zaire and Angola .

Can the Council indicate the schedules for the various
phases and their estimated cost ? Can it give a brief outline
of the functioning of the Lobito Corridor ( port and
railway ) ?

The financial stake held by the Belgian Soci6te Generale,

which owns 90% of the shares in Tanks Consolidated

Investment and thus has a controlling interest in Benguela
Railways, is allocated to the Belgian company, although
this has now been taken over by a French company .

What is the exact situation ? Who is funding the project as

a whole, the section which is finished, the indispensable
modernization of rolling stock and the 24 related
mini-projects ? What are the roles of the Council, the
SADCC the EC Member States and private African and
European interests ?

Subject : Cooperation with Latin America

In the context of encouraging trade ( budget Item
B7-301 1 ), the Commission has allocated ECU 650 000 for
a report on this subject . What exactly is the purpose of
this sum ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1389 / 92

by Mr Fernando Suarez Gonzalez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 24 )

Subject : Cooperation with Latin America

In the context of training operations ( budget Item
B7-3014 ) the Commission allocated ECU 125 000 for a
report on training . What exactly is the purpose of this
sum ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 13

Questions Nos 1385 / 92 and The Commission is therefore of the opinion that with the

1389 / 92 present knowledge, an EC-wide regulation on the
by Mr Matutes position of the exhaust pipes of motor vehicles would
the Commission offer no relevant benefit to public health or to the

( 22 October 1992 ) environment .

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1385 / 92 and

1389 / 92

given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

The amounts of ECU 650 000 and ECU 125 000 O OJ No L 242, 30 . 8 . 1991 .
correspond to Central America 's share of funds for
external expertise, which usually means bringing in
consultants, to help identify, fine-tune, revise or evaluate
cooperation projects aimed at marketing goods and
services, industrial cooperation ( Items 7-3011 and
7-5020 ) and training ( Item 7-3014 ). WRITTEN QUESTION No 1495 / 92

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

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 26 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1433 / 92

by Mr Paul Staes ( V ) Subject : Contribution of neutrons to research in physics,

to the Commission of the European Communities chemistry and biology

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 25 )

Subject : Car and lorry exhaust pipes

Up till now, the positioning of car and lorry exhaust pipes
— on the left or right hand side at the rear of the vehicle
— has not been regarded as a matter of any importance .

However, it does matter to cyclists, moped riders and
pedestrians ; in countries where traffic drives on the right,
positioning the exhaust pipe on the left hand side at the
rear of the vehicle ensures that the exhaust is kept as far
away as possible from these weaker road users .

Does the Commission agree that this precaution should
be made compulsory for manufacturers and the vehicles
in question ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 November 1 992 )

The Commission does not at present have any
information on the effect of the position of the exhaust
pipe of motor vehicles on the concentration of air
polluting substances, in urban streets . In any event, the
concentration of noxious substances, i.e. carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and — in the
case of diesel-powered vehicles — particulates in the
exhaust of motor vehicles, will be very low from 1 January

1993 when the stringent European standards of Directive
9 1 / 441 / EEC (') become mandatory . In addition, the
exhaust gases of motor vehicles, in particular when
moving, are very quickly diluted in the ambient air, so that
the actual position of the exhaust pipe, either on the right
or left side of the vehicle, has no significant effect from
the point of view of other road users .

It is frequently forgotten that amongst the peaceful
applications of nuclear energy are those which make a
valuable contribution to the advance of scientific
research . This is the case for the neutrons employed in
research in physics, chemistry and biology .

What is the proportion of synchrotrons in the European

Community to synchrotrons outwith the Community, and
what are the figure for the participation in both of

scientists from each of the Member States ? What projects
are under way in this field ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1992 )

Europe is at the forefront of R&D both in the area of
construction and exploitation of high performance
neutron sources and in that of synchrotron radiation
sources . This is demonstrated, first of all by the joint
facilities such as that of the ' Institut Laue-Langevin ' ( ILL )
in Grenoble, the most performant neutron source in the
world, and by the ' European Synchrotron Radiation

Facility ' ( ESRF ), also in Grenoble, which should become
the world leader when it starts operation in 1993 — 94 .

There is in the Community a number of other
international or national very high-level facilities, for
instance, the synchrotrons BESSY ( Berlin ),
DESY-HASYLAB ( Hamburg ), SRS ( Daresbury ), LURE
( Orsay ), ELETTRA ( to be completed, in Trieste ) and the
neutron sources ISIS ( Rutherford Laboratory, UK, the
most powerful source in the world for pulsed ' Spallation '
neutrons ), ORPHEE ( Saclay ), BER-II ( Berlin ), DR 3
( Riso ), HFR ( JRC-Petten ), where many European
scientists work full time or for periods of various
duration, together with a number of visiting scientists
from overseas .

No C 32 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

The Commission has recently carried out a detailed study
of the future perspectives for these two areas, bearing in
mind the increasing need for access to large facilities on
the one hand, and of the availability of present machines
and of planned new facilities on the other . The studies
show that overall demand for access remains much higher
than what can be provided, and a further qualitative and
quantitative increase in radiation production capability is
still desirable . This analysis has been carried out in the
context of the ' Large installations plan ', a Community
programme that is also supporting, among other large
facilities, the use of four synchrotrons and of two neutron
sources by approximately 300 groups of users from all EC
countries . The results of this study are available from
Directorate-General XII ( XII-H-1 ). With the launching
of the new programme ' Human capital and mobility ' the
' Large installations plan ' will be extended .

progress report of the Commission to the Council and the
European Parliament concerning the implementation of
the White Paper on the completion of the Internal Market
which the Commission adopted on 2 September 1992 .

The Dublin Convention which determines the country
which is responsible for the examination of an application
for asylum has been ratified so far only by Denmark,
Greece and the United Kingdom . The signature of the
External Frontier Convention remains blocked because of
the disagreement between the United Kingdom and Spain
with regard to the Gibraltar problem .

In so far as the Member States have decided to have
recourse to intergovernmental instruments which include
the national procedures for ratification, they themselves
have to concentrate their efforts on the necessary and still
outstanding steps .

In the seventh progress report the Commission has
reiterated — as already expressed in its communication to
the Council and the Parliament of 8 May 1992 — the
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1544 / 92 determination to apply fully Article 8a for the abolition of

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S ) border controls ( 1 ).
to the Commission of the European Communities
o SEC(92 ) 877 final .
( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 27 )

Subject : Free movement of persons after 1993

The momentous process which began with the Single Act

in 1987 will be completed on 31 December 1992 . On the
following day, goods, services, capital and natural
persons will in theory be able to move freely between the
Community Member States . So far, however, this seems
doubtful and there may well be no change even after 3 1
December 1992 at least as far as persons are concerned .
Does the Commission consider that all Member States
will ratify the provisions on asylum and external borders
by the end of this year ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1992 )

The Commission takes note of the concerns of the

Honourable Member with regard to the free circulation
of persons by the end of the year . It is correct that the time
which is still left is quite short . Therefore, all efforts
which have to be made in order to achieve the common

objective of an area without internal borders have to be
intensified .

Article 8a of the EEC Treaty imposes on the Member

States the clear obligation to abolish all controls at
internal frontiers by 31 December 1992 . This obligation
exists and has to be fulfilled also with regard to controls

on persons .

As far as the Community 's responsibility in this area is
concerned, the progress is set out in detail in the seventh

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1670 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 28 )

Subject : Implementation of the Washington Convention

( CITES ) in the European Community

At the eighth meeting of the conference of CITES

signatories in Kyoto, the European Community was
criticized on several occasions for failure to implement
the convention properly .

It was noted that this opened up a sizeable market for
trade in species covered by CITES which had been
illegally obtained, that several Community Member States
had not yet introduced national legislation to guarantee
the proper implementation of the convention, particularly
the provisions of Article VII, that certain Member States
were issuing re-export certificates without taking the
necessary measures to ensure the validity of the
accompanying documentation and that potential
re-export was likely to lead to trade in illegally obtained
species being legalized .

What steps will the Commission take to ensure
implementation of the CITES in the European
Community ? What infringement proceedings have been
initiated ?

/

4.2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 15

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1992 )

The resolution referred to by the Honourable Member
was adopted in particular, with regard to instances of
illegal trade in reptile skins from South-America to Italy .

Italy recently adopted the legislation necessary to allow it
to penalize illegal trade in CITES specimens and which
totally reorganizes the management of the
implementation of CITES and consequently of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 on the implementation in
the Community of CITES .

A general improvement of CITES implementation by the

Community will result from the adoption by the Council
of the Commission proposal for a regulation laying down
provisions for the possession of and trade in specimens of
species of wild fauna and flora (').

o OJ No C 26, 3 . 2 . 1992 .

2 . the Venetian mole has been classified as a historical
monument of European importance and a
conservation order has been placed upon it so that any
modification is unacceptable,

3 . the construction work, which has been carried out
without the supervision of the competent authority

( 13th Archaeological Inspectorate ), has led to strong
protests by all the local authorities,

4 . alternative solutions exist for the construction of the
marina outside the port of Chania ( Aghia Kyriaki and
elsewhere ) which would help in the tourist
decentralization of the area ;

Will the Commission make immediate representations to
the Greek authorities to limit the work to that which is
essential to strengthen and secure the jetty and to halt the
work which is under way until the necessary amendments

and additions have been made to the survey by the Greek
Tourist Office, it has been approved by the Ministry of
Culture and an environmental impact survey has been
carried out in accordance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (')?

O OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1679 / 92 ( 21 October 1992 )

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

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 29 )

Subject : Construction of a marina in the Venetian port of

Chania

In 1986, the Greek Tourist Board included in the IMPs
the construction of a marina in the Venetian port of
Chania . This was followed by a four-year dispute between
the Greek Tourist Office, the Chania municipal
authorities, the prefecture, the Greek Technical Chamber
and the local Inspectorate for Byzantine Antiquities
concerning the viability of the marina and the possibility
of its coexistence with the fishing wharf . Finally, the
estimated cost of the work was set at Dr 400 million, of
which the Community would provide 60 % . Invitations to
tender were issued in December 1990 accompanied by a
totally inadequate feasibility study which failed to take
into account the work to be carried out and had not been
approved by the archaeological services . In view of the
fact that :

1 . in reply to questions by Greek Members of
Parliament, the Minister of the Environment,
Regional Planning and Public Works replied that no
preliminary environmental impact survey had been
carried out and the Minister for Culture replied that
her Ministry had not approved the study by the Greek
Tourist Office,

Projects to build a marina such as the one planned in the
Venetian port of Chania come under Annex II to
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC and an environmental impact
assessment must therefore be carried out if they are
judged likely to have significant effects on the
environment by virtue of their nature, size or location .

In the case in question, the Commission is not in a
position to judge, on the basis of the information at its
disposal, whether such an assessment is necessary .

The Commission can only intervene in cases where there

has been an obvious breach of the Community rules .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1691 / 92

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 30 )

Subject : Disposal of hospital refuse

The ACCAM incinerator in Borsano, in the Lombardy
region is used to dispose of hospital waste from other
regions, while refuse from hospitals in this region is sent

No C 32 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

to incinerators near Verona, thereby needlessly increasing
disposal costs .

Can the Commission request the Lombardy regional
authorities to resolve this matter, together with the
question of the open sewers in Lombardy between
Buscate and Bienate, used to collect chemical waste which
is highly dangerous for the environment ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 October 1 992 )

open sewers Lombardy The Commission has investigated the matter raised by the
Bienate, used to collect chemical waste which Honourable Member and has been informed that the
for the environment ? British subsidiary of ' Gites de France ' does not receive

any public subsidy and that furthermore, ' Gites de France
Ltd ' operates in the United Kingdom as a private tour
operator promoting holidays in France .
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1 992 )

For the moment, there is no general Community
legislation on hospital waste . The Commission is
currently working on the matter and hopes to complete a
proposal within two years . There is a proposal for a
Directive before the Council on the incineration of

hazardous waste ( 1 ).

In cases where, because of its composition or nature,
hospital waste could be classed as hazardous waste, it
would be covered by this proposal for a directive .

It should be remembered that Community legislation
does not apply to the transfer of waste within a Member
State .

As regards the particular problem of sewers, the
Commission would need more specific information
before it could approach the national authorities .

o COM(92 ) 9 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1723 / 92

by Mr Madron Seligman ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1755 / 92

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

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 32 )

Subject : The fossils of Sigri on the island of Lesbos

A geological monument 20 million years old has been
blown to dust by dynamite . With Community funding of

195 million drachma under the Valoren programme and
claiming it necessary to meet energy needs, the public
electricity company is destroying the unique fossils in
Sigri on the island of Lesbos where there is a world
renowned fossilized forest which is protected by
declarations, Greek presidential decrees and directives .
Does the Commission intend to take direct measures to
halt the destruction of the geological remains in Sigri ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 14 October 1992 )

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 31 ) On the basis of information available to the Commission,
the following points can be made :

Subject : State subsidies for tourism

Constituents of mine inform me that ' Gites de France '
enjoys a substantial subsidy from the French Government
and has established a limited company subsidiary in the
UK, which is to compete with companies in the private
sector, not enjoying government subsidy, in promoting
holidays in France .

Is the Commission able to confirm that the French
Government subsidizes directly or indirectly the British
subsidiary of Gites de France '?

If so, does it consider that such subsidy distorts
competition ?

1 . A wind farm funded under the Community initiative

Valoren is planned in the petrified forest area on
Lesbos but outside the highly protected area where all
construction work is prohibited .

2 . The project developers, the national electricity
company ( DEI ), have obtained the necessary
authorizations to build the wind farm .

3 . However, in response to a complaint submitted by a

' Society for Forest Protection ' to the Greek Council
of State, the latter has decided to suspend execution of
the decisions granting the authorizations ( Decision of

13 August 1992 ). The outcome of the complaint is to
be made known on 26 April 1993 .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 17

4 . Finally, as a result of this decision, the national
electricity company is said to have suspended work on
the project although it is already at an advanced stage .

In the light of the above, the Commission will wait for a
decision from the Greek Council of State before taking
any action .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1780 / 92

by Mrs Doris Pack ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 33 )

Subject : Completion of the internal energy market

How does the Commission expect the internal energy
market to affect energy saving in the Community ?

Should the Commission not assume that increased
competition in the internal energy market will lead to a
rise in demand as a result of lower prices for large
consumers ?

Is the proposed CO2 energy tax intended to offset this
expected impact ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

In so far as appears necessary, the reduction in prices
resulting from a more competitive market can be
counterbalanced by energy taxation . The Commission 's
proposals for an internal market for energy and for the
introduction of a CCh / energy tax are not contradictory
but complementary . The tax, as currently proposed, is an
instrument designed to encourage households and
businesses to use energy more rationally and could also
help increase the proportion of renewable energy sources
used in energy production .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1782 / 92

by Mrs Doris Pack ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 34 )

Subject : Completion of the internal market energy
market

Do the Commission proposals on completion of the
internal energy market guarantee that local supply
companies, which are responsible for energy distribution
and / or production, will be able to survive economically
under the pressure of large energy producers ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 October 1992 ) ( 21 October 1992 )

Energy saving and the efficient use of energy are primary
objectives of the Commission 's energy policy . The
completion of the internal market for energy will lead to
greater efficiency in electricity production and in the
transmission and distribution of electricity and gas . In the
electricity sector, in particular, the opening-up of
production activities will promote the use of modern,
more efficient and cleaner production technologies and
thus reduce the input of primary energy per unit of
electricity produced . The main effect of increased
efficiency will be a reduction in costs, while in the longer
run it may also lead to lower electricity and gas prices, not

only for large industrial consumers, but for all other
categories of electricity and gas consumers, too .

Whether, and to what extent, lower electricity and gas
prices for large industrial consumers resulting from
increased competition in those two sectors will increase
the demand for those energies will depend on
demand / price elasticity and is difficult to forecast .
Environmental and energy-saving considerations should
not lead to the conclusion that in order to reduce energy
consumption inefficient structures have to be maintained
to keep energy prices high .

In so far as local supply companies do not produce
electricity themselves but purchase electricity and / or gas
for distribution, the new system will be of advantage to
them, as they can profit from the competition system and
are no longer dependent exclusively on their present
supplier .

As for local supply companies producing energy
themselves, their generating installations are generally
much nearer to consumption than is the case for other
electricity producers, which means that from this point of
view they have a competitive advantage, in particular
because they do not have to pay for the use of the
transmission system . Should they nevertheless lose an
important individual customer and be unable to find new
customers elsewhere, then this must mean that they are
much less efficient than their competitor and that the
existing structure is far from optimal .

In some cases local supply companies who fear losing an
important customer might well adopt some
rationalization measures or accept a lower profit margin,
with the resulting effect that their economic viability is in
danger .

No C 32 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

As regards in particular local supply companies producing WRITTEN QUESTION No

environment-friendly electricity, the Commission refers by Mrs Doris Pack ( PPE )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1784 / 92

environment-friendly electricity, the Commission refers by Mrs Doris Pack ( PPE )
to its answer to Written Question No 1783 / 92 from the
Honourable Member ('). to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1992 )

(') See page 18 of this Official Journal . ( 93 / C 32 / 36 )

Subject : Completion of the internal energy market

What advantages will the completion of the internal
energy market offer consumers, in particular small and
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1783 / 92 medium-sized companies and households ?

by Mrs Doris Pack ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 35 )

Subject : Completion of the internal energy market

What measures does the Commission intend to take in the
context of the completion of the internal energy market in
order to ensure that environment-friendly forms of
energy and production methods are not adversely
affected ( locals sources of energy, renewable forms of
energy, waste, industrial waste heat, combined heat and
power system ) ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

Third-party access to network will provisionally be

subject to certain thresholds whose values will vary
according to whether they relate to end-users or local
distribution companies .

1 . Why is this access to be made considerably more

difficult for distributors than for end-users ?

2 . Does the Commission consider this provision to be
compatible with the principle of equal access to the
market ?

3 . Does the Commission realize that this provision is a

threat to the survival of a whole range of local and
regional supply companies and will, in any case,
increase the price paid by individual consumers ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha
( 21 October 1992 ) on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )

Article 13 ( 4 ) of the proposed Council Directive
concerning common rules for the internal market in

electricity provides that, when dispatching generating
installations in its area, the transmission system operator
shall give priority to generating installations whose
capacity does not exceed 25 megawatts provided that
these installations use renewable energy sources or waste
or produce combined heat and power and are offered at
reasonable prices .

Furthermore, the Commission has taken a series of other
measures in order to promote energy efficiency and
conservation, the further development of new and
renewable energy sources and the improvement of energy
technologies . Programmes which address these objectives
are : SAVE, a medium to long-term energy efficiency
programme with efficiency aimed at improving consumer
information and minimum efficiency levels, Altener which
is aimed at the market introduction of renewable energy
sources and Thermie which is aimed not only at
supporting innovative energy technology, but also at
promoting market penetration through a network of
Organizations for the Promotion of Energy Technology

( OPET ).

As indicated in its answer to Written Question
No 1781 / 92 by the Honourable Member ('), the
Commission 's view is that the realization of the internal
market for energy will lead to increased efficiency to the
benefit of all consumers, including small and
medium-sized companies and households .

It is correct that the proposed Directives provide different
thresholds for individual final consumers and for

distributors .

1 . The main concern of the Commission when
establishing these thresholds was to limit the number
of new market players during the proposed phase two
of the internal market for energy, in order not to
disturb the functioning of the system on the one hand,
but to have a sufficient number of potential customers
eligible for third party access on the other, in order to
be able to gain valuable experience for the proposed
third and final phase of the internal market for energy .

Applying the same thresholds which are proposed for

final consumers to distribution companies would lead
to too high a number of new market players during
phase two . It should be mentioned in this context that

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 19

if distribution companies are too small to meet the
threshold they are free to associate in a purchasing
consortium, so as to meet the threshold .

2 . The Commission is of the opinion that the new system

will provide more equal access to the market than is
possible under the existing system .

3 . The Commission does not consider its proposals as a

threat to the survival of local and regional supply
companies as indicated in its answer to Written
Question No 1782 / 92 by the Honourable
Member ( 2 ). The Commission is not of the opinion
that the new system will increase the price paid by
individual consumers ; on the contrary, as already
mentioned above it is expected that all consumers will
benefit from a market more open to competition .

cars from the United Kingdom . As EEC type-approval of
complete vehicles will not be possible until 1 January
applies and this covers only left-hand drive vehicles .
Imported right-hand drive vehicles do not correspond to a
type approved in Spain and therefore have to be
individually approved .

In its communication of 4 November 1988, the
Commission set out its views on the individual approval of
vehicles previously registered in another Member State
and explained the principles derived from Articles 30 to
36 of the Treaty, according to which approval may not be
refused except on grounds of safety . In such cases, the
Spanish authorities must be explicit and give reasons for
their action .

The Commission takes the view that the fact that the

0 ) OJ No C 345, 30 . 12 . 1992, p. 28 .
( 2 ) See page 17 of this Official Journal .

17 of this Official Journal . steering wheel is on the right-hand side does not in itself,

under Article 36 of the Treaty, warrant refusing to
register this category of cars by way of individual
approval . Under Community rules ( the directives on the
field of vision and rear-view mirrors ) type-approval may
be given for both left                         - and right-hand drive vehicles and,
by analogy, this should also apply to individual approval .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1796 / 92

by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Arias Cañete ( PPE ) If the Spanish authorities are able to prove that the cars
of the European Communities concerned are a safety hazard under the terms of the

(6 July 1992 ) directives on field of vision and rear-view mirrors,
Community law will not have been infringed .

( 93 / C 32 / 37 )

Subject : Vehicle imports

It is extremely difficult to import right-hand drive vehicles
into Spain since the Spanish Vehicle Inspectorate refuses
to approve these vehicles and prevents them from being

registered in Spain, thereby causing serious problems to
their . owners who, in addition to paying duties and VAT,
are unable to register the vehicles which they have legally
imported .

If this is not the case, the Commission will initiate the
proceedings provided for under the Treaty .

What steps will the Commission take to prevent these WRITTEN QUESTION No 1824 / 92
discriminatory practices ?

by Mr Paul Staes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Bangemann ( 93 / C 32 / 38 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1 992 )

Subject : Investment in freight transport by rail

The Commission is aware that there are problems in Spain

regarding the registration of right-hand drive vehicles and
is currently looking into a number of complaints on this
subject .

The difficulty in registering these vehicles stems from the
refusal of the inspection authority ITV (' Inspeccion
Tecnica de Vehiculos ') to accept ' individual approval '

applications from private persons for the importation of

The Commission has announced that it wishes to invest in
the transport of goods by rail, particularly for distances of
at least 500 km and, if possible, more than 1 000 km . This
conflicts with at study carried out by the Netherlands
NEA, of which the results came out at the beginning of
May, indicating that 66% of the 8,6 billion tonnes of
goods transported in 1989 travelled a distance of less than
50 km . In absolute terms, the expected growth in

No C 32 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

international freight transport by the year 2010 is
marginal, although it is currently increasing by 5,5%
annually . National freight transport is expected to double
to 15,8 billion tonnes . In the year 2010, freight
transported over 1 000 km is expected to account for only

1,2%, and freight transport between 500 and 1 000 km,
4% .

The study states that there is a very large risk of major
investment being unproductive if this policy is continued .

Does the Commission contest the conclusion of this study
and if not, on what does it base its investment priorities ?

unauthorized buildings are supplied with electricity by the
Greek Electricity Board . There have also recently been
cases of arson . None of the Greek authorities are taking
any effective measures . Respected scientists also observe
that the water table of the plain of Argolis, which has
already become brackish, is in danger of suffering even
further damage as a result of the progressive
encroachment on the wetland and its possible
disappearance .

Will the Commission take whatever measures are within

its powers to prevent the ruin of these wetlands and
include the Roumani wetlands on Community list SFF-3
until after consulting the competent Greek authorities ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Coi mission Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission
(2 October 1992 ) ( 16 October 1992 )

The Commission agrees that most of the goods
transported by road are carried over short distances .

The problem of saturated roads stems, however, from
medium - and long-distance goods haulage .

With the aim of spreading traffic more evenly between
modes of transport and easing road congestion,
intermodal transport offers an appropriate solution,
dealing with the heaviest traffic and most congested
roads . This is the purpose of the communication recently
adopted by the Commission on the European combined
transport network and how to ensure its smooth
operation (').

The Roumani biotope in Argolis has not been identified

as an area of Community interest for the protection of
wild birds in the European Community and has not been

classified by Greece as a special protection area in
accordance with Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 ).

The Member States are not required to put into force the
laws, regulations and administrative provisions needed
for compliance with the new Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( 2 )
until July 1994 and it is not yet known whether the area in
question will be given the status of special area of
conservation within the terms of that Directive . Hence the
Commission does not intend to call at present for it to be
classified .

O COM(92 ) 230 . O OJNoL 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .
O OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1828 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1832 / 92

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

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 ) 1992

(6 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 39 )

Subject : Roumani wetland in Argolis

( 93 / C 32 / 40 )

Subject : Implementation by Greece of the Community

Directive on the recognition of higher education
diplomas

In December 1991 a file was submitted to the diplomas
Commission 's Directorate-General XI containing a
memorandum from organizations and representatives of What steps will the
the prefecture of Argolis, various documents and a Greece complies with
photocopy of any expert scientific study with a view to regard to colleges of
having the Roumani wetland included on the EEC SFF-3 by the Greek minister
list, and averting the immediate threat of the area 's Teachers Associations
destruction . Despite protests, the area is still being ruined . been made in this respect ?
The land has been cleared and filled with rubble and
simply taken over ; poaching is commonplace and O OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989, p . 16 .

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that

Greece complies with Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( x ) with
regard to colleges of technology since, despite promises
by the Greek minister responsible, the Federation of
Teachers Associations complains that no progress has
been made in this respect ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 21

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1839 / 92

on behalf of the Commission

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
( 15 October 1992 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 )

Greece has not yet transposed into national law Directive ( 93 / C 32 / 42 )
8 9 / 4 8 / EEC on a general system for the recognition of
higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of
professional education and training of at least three years '
duration . Subject : The problem of unemployment in Achaia

In June 1991 the Commission initiated infringement
proceedings against Greece under Article 169 of the EEC
Treaty for failure to transpose the Directive . The
proceedings are still under way since the letter of formal
notice sent by the Commission has had no effect .

For information, the Commission would point out that
the purposes of Directive 89 / 48 / EEC is to enable a
national of a Member State to gain access to or pursue a
regulated profession in a Member State other than that in
which he obtained his qualification . Its purpose is not to

alter the status of certain teaching establishments or the
duration of the teaching they provide .

Unemployment will soon constitute the most serious
social problem in the Prefecture of Achaia following the
closure of more factories and cottage industries in the
area . Over the last few years 10 major undertakings have
closed down and scores of smaller undertakings have had
to shed workers - The most serious blow to Achaia has
undoubtedly been the closure of the Ladopoulou paper
factory and the Pirelli tyre plant, but the Peraiki-Patrai'ki
and EVO plants are going the same way . New job losses
have just been announced at the Amiandit factory . The
local Labour Centre estimates that some 17% of the
workforce is unemployed and this figure is set to increase

. in the immediate future . Does the Commission intend to

tackle this serious social problem in Achaia and what
Community measures and programmes does it intend to
use for this purpose ? Have any provisions been made
particularly for the skilled workforce in the region, which
is certain to become redundant in the immediate future ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1836 / 92

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

(6 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 41 ) Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 November 1 992 )
Subject : Pollution in the Gulf of Marathoupoli in
Messenia

The environment of the Gulf of Marathoupoli in It is true that the prefecture of Achaia is one of the hardest
Messenia is steadily being polluted . Hotels and tavernas hit by large-scale unemployment as a result of widespread
discharge their untreated sewage into the sea, causing business failures . The Commission has already responded
serious pollution . This is not the only source of pollution with a series of vocational training and employment
as signs of eutrophication have been detected, presumably promotion measures to help redundant workers return to
caused by discharges of agricultural waste containing active employment .
pesticide residues . Does the Commission intend to take
any action to protect the Gulf of Marathoupoli and, if so,
what specific measures does it have in mind ? Decisions on ESF financing for these measures were
taken in the context both of the multifund operational
programme for Western Greece and of the IMP for the
region .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

The Greek authorities, in a comprehensive technical

( 13 October 1992 ) assistance project, are also planning research into              - the

development of human resources in Achaia as in the five
other crisis-hit prefectures .
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its answer to his Written Question No 1538 / 92 and
No 1539 / 92 O. The project is at the interdepartmental scrutiny stage and
should be approved by the Commission in the near future .
O OJNoC 16, 21 . 1 . 1993 .

No C 32 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1863 / 92

by Mrs Hiltrud Breyer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 43 )

Subject : Limit values and reference values for pollutants,

in respect of children and unborn children

The regulation on maximum values for pollutants issued
by the Federal German Ministry of the Environment on
23 March 1988 took an average adult body weight of
70 kg as a basis point .

Furthermore, in assessing the toxic effects of a substance
on a person and his environment, an ADI ( acceptable
daily intake ) value is calculated on the basis of a
' standard ' human weight of 60 kg .

These limit values are unacceptable so far as most children

and unborn children and indeed most women are
concerned, in view of the foreseeable consequences for
the health of babies and children and the toxic

contamination of the mother 's milk .

Can the Commission list the limit values for pollutants
adopted by the other Member States, compared with
those in the Federal Republic of Germany ? Does the
Commission envisage Community legislation to deal with
hazards to children 's health caused by environmental
pollutants ?

Are there plans for new directives and regulations setting

out appropriate limit values for children, in accordance
with children 's fundamental right to freedom from bodily
harm and their environmental human rights, and based on
the tolerance of small children and unborn children ?

In 1986, the Commission issued jointly with the
International Programme of Chemical Safety a
publication entitled ' Principles for evaluating health risks
from chemicals during infancy and early childhood : the
need for a special approach ', in response to the need to
adapt toxicological evaluation to early childhood taking
into account immature biological systems in babies .

The problem of breast milk contamination was addressed

comprehensively by the World Health Organisation in its
document Environmental Health Criteria 59 — WHO,
Geneva 1986 .

As regards limits, the attention of the Honourable

Member is drawn to Council Regulation ( Euratom )
No 3954 / 87 laying down maximum permitted levels of
radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of
feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other
case of radiological emergency ( l ), where specific limits
are set for baby foods .

The Commission has however no data on national limits,

if any, established in individual Member States with
respect to the exposure of children to dangerous
substances other than those imposed by Community
legislation .

The Commission has submitted a proposal for a Council
Regulation laying down Community procedures for
contaminants in food ( 2 ), which would provide a
framework within which, following proper scientific
assessment of the risks, appropriate limits could be set on
the presence of harmful substances in food .

The Commission is not preparing additional Community
legislation on the health dangers for children exposed to
other environmental toxic substances and preparations ;
limits with respect to unborn children have not yet been
considered .

Lastly, in the context of children 's rights, there are

In many countries the abortion debate involves intensive currently no discussions or proposals at Community level
discussion of the protection of the unborn child . Has the on additional training in environmental toxicology for
Commission considered the problem of the poisoning of doctors and psychologists, nor are there any plans to

the unborn child in this light ? make such training compulsory .

Is there any discussion of compulsory supplementary O OJ No L 371, 30 . 12 . 1987 .
training in the field of environmental toxicology for O COM(91 ) 523 .
doctors and psychologists, as repeatedly called for in
initiatives to promote children 's rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1868 / 92

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission by Mr Alexandras Alavanos ( CG )

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1992 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

The use of a standard adult bodyweight as the basis for ( 93 / C 32 / 44 )

establishing limit and guide values for harmful substances
is accepted internationally as a scientifically sound
procedure . The Commission is fully aware of the need to
assess the risks to children and the unborn child from
harmful substances and to develop corresponding limits
and standards where special risks apply .

Subject : Destruction of the fossilized forest of Sigri

The fossilized forest of Sigri in the north-west corner of

Lesbos was formed twenty million years ago, and has
been designated a national conservation area .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 23

About two months ago the national electricity company

( DEI ) started work in the fossilized forest on the
installation of nine wind-powered generators with a view
to creating a wind farm that will cover part of the island 's
energy requirements .

In view of the fact that the project is receiving Community
funding, what steps will the Commission take to prevent
the destruction of a geological monument dating back
over 20 million years and to seek, in consultation with the
Greek authorities, alternative solutions for the siting of
the wind energy site ?

The generators are being installed in an area covered with
fossil trunks, which are under direct threat of destruction . 0 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .
Lesbos 's director of forestry inspection has criticized the
DEI for starting work illegally without waiting for the
necessary planning permission .

It should also be noted that the DEI is setting up the wind
farm with the aid of Dr 195 million in funding from the
Community Valoren programme .

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1868 / 92 and

1908 / 92

given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1992 )
Will the Commission answer the following questions :

1 . Does it know of the existence of the fossilized forest Under the terms of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, the project to
of Sigri ? install wind-powered generators in the petrified forest on

Lesbos must be assessed to determine its effects on the
2 . How did it come to finance the DEI 's scheme under environment, if these are deemed to be significant by
the Valoren programme, without an environmental virtue inter alia of their size or location .
impact assessment being carried out ?

3 . What measures will it take to end destruction of an

ancient natural site of considerable importance and to
ensure that this useful project is carried out elsewhere
in Lesbos where there is no risk of such damage ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1908 / 92

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

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 45 )

Subject : Greek Public Power Corporation and the
petrified forest on Lesbos

The Greek Public Pdwer Corporation has decided to

locate a wind-energy site in the petrified forest of Sigri,
which has been designated as a natural monument and

had a conservation order placed on it under Article 1 of
Presidential Decree No 443 / 85 and under international
agreements . Specifically, the Public Power Corporation,
with Community funding of Dr 196 million, is siting nine
wind generators in this area only a few hundred metres

from the heart of the petrified forest as part of the
Valoren programme . Dynamiting has already been
carried out to provide foundations for the wind
generators scattering fossil fragments througout the area .
No preliminary environmental impact assessment was
carried out ( under Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ) ( x ) and the
work was carried without the authorization of the
competent authorities in the Ministry of the
Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works or the
Lesbos forestry authorities .

In the present case, such assessment must take account

inter alia of the effects of the project on material goods as
well as on the natural and cultural heritage .

In fact, the national electricity company has decided to
suspend its work following the lodging of a complaint
with the Council of State, which is expected to give a

ruling on 26 April 1993 .

The Commission intends to wait for this ruling before

taking any decision .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1882 / 92

by Mr Marco Taradash ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 46 )

Subject : Refusal to admit a British citizen into Italy

On Saturday, 13 June 1992, the Fiumicino Airport border
police refused entry to the English historian David Irving
as ' persona non grata '.

Irving, who is famous for his refusal to acknowledge the
existence of the Nazi gas chambers, had travelled to
Rome to attend a meeting organized by an extreme
ring-wing neo-Nazi political movement, the ' Naziskins '.
While expressing full solidarity with communities, in

No C 32 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

particular the Jewish community, offended by
demonstrations which violate the facts of history and the
collective memory, it must be remembered that, under
Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection

of Human Rights, to which Italy is a signatory, ' Everyone
has the right to freedom of expression . This right shall
include freedom to hold opinions and receive and impart
information and ideas without interference by public
authority and regardless of frontiers '.

and, in particular, to establishments in less-developed
areas facing severe structural problems characterized by a
decline in activity and job losses, which are difficult and
costly to make good .

Even if the privatization programme in the Greek
shipping industry goes ahead, the problems will remain
acute and intractable in view of the general situation
facing the sector in Europe as a whole .

In view of this, how can refusing Mr Irving entry into
Italy be reconciled with the principle of freedom of Given the Commission 's proposal to amend the Seventh
movement for Community citizens within the Council Directive ( 90 / 684 / EEC ) and the Maastricht
Community ? Agreement concerning a general Community industrial

policy, will the Commission go beyond isolated ad hoc
derogations and draw up a new policy for shipbuilding, in
particular for the less developed areas of the Community ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission o OJ No L 380, 31.12 . 1990, p . 27 .

( 22 October 1992 )

Community law guarantees freedom of movement within
the Community for Community citizens, and the
expression of certain ideas should not, in principle,
constitute an obstacle to such freedom of movement .
However, Community law also provides for a reservation
on grounds of public policy . Where the authorities in a
particular Member State have reason to believe that the
presence of the national of another Member State in the
country could constitute a threat to public policy there,
they may refuse the right of entry and the right of
residence to that person . Since the application of
Community law is subject to its control, the Court of
Justice has already had the opportunity in a number of

cases to spell out what is meant by ' public policy '. On the
basis of the information provided by the Honourable
Member and in the light of the Court of Justice 's rulings,
the Commission has no reason to believe that Community
law has not been complied with in the case at issue .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1909 / 92

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 47 )

Subject : Formulation of a new common policy for
shipbuilding

The amendment of Council Directive 90 / 684 / EEC ( x )
concerning aid for shipbuilding in the former GDR once
more draws attention to the serious problems facing the
European shipbuilding industry . Measures taken by the
Community in the past have unfortunately proved
inadequate . The crisis has become even more intense and
is causing major problems in countries such as Greece

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 October 1992 )

The policy in respect of aid to shipbuilding under the

Sixth and Seventh Community Directives has enabled
Community shipyards to face up to international
competition, in particular - from shipbuilders from the Far
East, and to maintain a fairly stable share of world
production . To do this the Community industry has had
to undergo thorough restructuring, and this has resulted
in major job losses in the last ten years .

The temporary derogation from certain provisions of the
Seventh Directive proposed by the Commission for
shipyards in the former GDR is very much part of the
Commission 's general objectives under the
abovementioned Directives . It follows other derogations,
in particular for Spain and Greece .

The Commission would also draw the Honourable

Member 's attention to the fact that, in its communication
to the Council, Parliament and Economic and . Social
Committee on the ' New challenges for maritime
industries ' (*), it proposed to set up a discussion forum,
consisting of all interested parties, with a mandate to
identify priority areas and the type of action to be
implemented to increase the competitiveness of maritime
industries in the Community and evaluate suitable
methods for implementing such action . The forum will
present its report to the Commission at the end of
October 1992 .

C ) COM(91 ) 335 final .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 25

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1912 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1923 / 93

by Mr Luigi Vertemati ( S ) by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities
( 23 July 1992 ) ( 23 July 1992 )

by Mr Luigi Vertemati ( S )

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 48 )

( 93 / C 32 / 49 )

Subject : Scientific and technological capacity of India in

respect of data processing
Subject : Introduction of European award for outstanding

services at the workplace

Under Italian legislation, workers in the public or private
sector or State companies, establishments or offices may
be given awards for outstanding services ( Law No 143 of

5 February 1992, on the award for services at the
workplace ).

In view of the increasing economic and social integration
in the Community, in view of social policies, with
particular regard to employment, increasing the role of
the Community following the conclusion of the
agreement by 1 1 Member States on the social section of
the Maastricht Treaty and in view of the fact that the
introduction of a Community award for services at the
workplace should not present any major technical and,
even less, political problems, will the Commission analyse
the situation concerning legislation in the 12 Member
States with regard to awards for workers to establish
whether common legislation exists and propose the
introduction of a Community award for services at the
workplace to be given to workers who have distinguished
themselves by their ability and industry, thereby doing
credit to workers as a whole ?

A specialized publication (' UniNews ', Santa Clara,
California, United States — No 9, Vol . VI, 27 April 1992 )
states that ' the promise of improved telecommunications
and the Indian Government 's new pro-technology
attitude may make India a truly formidable player in the
global market for open systems '.

The newsletter mentions very striking examples of
cooperation by various means between American data
processing undertakings and their branches in India and
others in which owners of American undertakings are
Indian citizens . It gives a number of impressive examples
of the quality of training given to Indian engineers and
the differences in remuneration between India and the

United States .

This creates the impression that the competition from the
United States and Japan currently being faced by the
Community may be aggravated by the entry into play of
Indian scientific and technological capacity .

Is the Commission aware of the situation and has it
assessed the implications thereof ( in particular for
Community software production )? Is it aware of the
existence, or can it contribute to the creation, of similar
cooperation between the European Community and
India ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission ( 16 November 1 992 )

( 6 November 1 992 )

Awards for long services seniority and outstanding service
are provided for in the legislation of several Member
States .

Such awards have in some cases existed for many years

and are deeply entrenched in the national identity of the
Member States . The values upon which selection criteria
are based also vary from one country to the next .

As things stand at present, the Commission can see no
need to take action in this field .

The Commission is aware of India 's potential on the
world information and telecommunications technologies
market .

India 's dynamism has been keenly felt on the world
markets since the introduction of privatization and
liberalization measures in that country in 1991 inter alia in
the field of information and telecommunications
technologies . India also has the benefit of human
resources with a high degree of technology training
coupled with low labour costs .

The Commission and India have begun a process of
industrial cooperation covering almost all the disciplines
encompassed by the information and telecommunications
technologies, including the software industry .

The world software market is currently displaying
divergent trends : diminished growth and even stagnation
in Europe, linked to the economic slowdown, and

No C 32 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

sustained growth in the newly industrialized countries,
which constitute the new field of battle for European
businesses .

The emergence of these new markets is both a threat to

and an opening for European software . Businesses
emerging from this market will be able to offer quality
services in Europe at prices which bear no relation to
those currently charged, thereby undermining the
hard-won competitiveness of European businesses and
forcing painful industrial reconversion .

Despite its undeniable dynamism, the Indian software
industry currently has two major weaknesses : lack of
experience in the management of large projects and the
highly fragmented nature of the sector .

The Commission and the Indian authorities have
launched a cooperation programme in this key field, the
main objectives being :

— to create a propicious environment for the
improvement of technological cooperation ;

— to prepare specific measures to step up contacts

between businesses and encourage the creation of
joint enterprises ;

— to promote European methods, tools and
standardization .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1937 / 92

by Mr Ian White ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 5Q )

Subject : British customs and immigration control

Currently British Airways Flight No BA 5369 departs
Munich at 15.30, arrives at Birmingham at 16.35 and
proceeds to Glasgow to arrive at 18.35 .

Because this is an international flight passengers are
required to depart the aircraft in Birmingham and proceed
through the British customs and immigration controls
before boarding the same plane again for the onward
flight to Glasgow .

Currently Aer Lingus Flight EA 643 departs Brussels at

18.05 arriving at Bristol at 18.35 for an onward flight to
Dublin arriving at 21.15 . This is also an international
flight . Passengers are not required to depart from this
aircraft .

country carrier . Does the Commission consider that the
arrangements currently perpetrated at Birmingham
airport, seemingly on the insistence of the British customs
and immigration authorities, will be necessary beyond

1993 having regard to Article 8 A of the Treaty of Rome ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1992 )

At the moment, it is for the Member States to decide on
the location of frontier-crossing points and hence on the
places at which frontier checks on individuals and luggage
are carried out . Each Member State thus decides to apply
either the port-of-entry system or the port-of-destination
system for flights from other Member States that make
two or more stopovers on its territory . Under bilateral
agreements such as that on the common travel area,
Member States are also free to choose between these
different systems .

The choice of system may differ according to the type of

flight . It may, for example, depend on whether or not the
carrier has the right to pick up passengers at the first
stopover on the territory of the Member State concerned .

As regards the situation after 1992, it is clear that the two
flights referred to by the Honourable Member are
intra-Community flights . In such cases, the Member
States are required to fulfil the obligation incumbent on
them under Article 8a of the EEC Treaty (') and, in
particular, to comply with Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 3925 / 91 of 19 December 1991 concerning the
elimination of controls and formalities applicable to the
cabin and hold baggage of persons taking an
intra-Community flight and the baggage of persons
making an intra-Community sea crossing ( 2 ). In practical
terms, this means that, in 1993, checks on individuals
taking such flights will no longer be compatible with
Community law .

O [See] [ the] [ Commission] [ communication] [ to] [ the] [ Council] [ and] [ to]

Parliament of 8 May 1992 on the abolition of border controls
( SEC(92 ) 877 final ).
O OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1938 / 92

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 51 )

Subject : Composition of fibre-tipped and felt-tipped

Would the Commission please comment on these two markers and pens
situations accepting, of course, that the
Brussels / Bristol / Dublin flight provides a service between On 2 March 1992, a draft law (') calling for tighter
Belgium and the United Kingdom by way of a third standards on the composition of fibre-tipped and

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 27

felt-tipped markers and pens was tabled in the Belgian
Chamber of Representatives .

Certain of the substances contained in felt pens ( heavy
metals, solvents and preservatives ) may have undesirable
effects on the environment and health of consumers,
particularly when the latter are small children who may
well put the pens in their mouths .

The draft law also makes it compulsory to label the pens
before sale with the name and address of the
manufacturer, retailer or importer, wherever they are
established within the European Community .

Does the Commission intend to impose similar consumers
protection standards with regard to these pens at
Community level ?

(') Tabled by Mr Barbe, Mr Dejonckheere and Mr Winkel Doc .

268 / 1-91 / 92 ( S.E. ).

within the scope of Council Directive 88 / 378 / EEC on the
safety to toys ( 3 ).

In accordance with Directive 88 / 378 / EEC, these
products must already meet essential safety requirements
concerning their chemical properties .

This type of toy is presumed to conform to the essential
requirements relating to the migration of certain elements
if the manufacturer has complied with European standard
EN 71, Part 3 . This standard lays down technical
specifications and test methods concerning the migration
of these elements, inter alia from materials designed to
leave a mark ( graphite in pencils, liquid ink in pens, etc .).

O OJ No L 109, 26 . 4 . 1983 .
O OJ No L 228, 11 . 8 . 1992 .
O OJ No L 187, 16.7 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1946 / 92

by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo ( S )
Answer given by Mr Van Miert to European Political Cooperation
on behalf of the Commission (1 September 1992 )
( 26 October 1992 ) ( 93 / C 32 / 52 )

The Commission learned only recently of the draft

Belgian law referred to by the Honourable Member . The
draft law was not notified under the Directive
83 / 189 / EEC procedure for the provision of information
on all draft technical standards and regulations drawn up
in the Member States ( x ).

The Commission attaches great importance to the
protection of the environment and to the safety of
consumers and, in particular, children, and will examine
in detail any draft technical regulation on the composition
of markers and pens which it receives under the Directive
83 / 189 / EEC procedure . Such examination will include an
assessment of risk .

At present, the Commission has no plans to propose a
directive dealing specifically with markers and
fibre-tipped or felt-tipped pens . It would, however, point
out that even in the absence of a specific directive these
products will in future have to be safe within the meaning
of Council Directive 92 / 59 / EEC on general product
safety ( 2 ), which lays down a general obligation only to
place safe products on the market . The Directive also
gives particular attention to the protection of ' the
categories of consumers at serious risk when using the
product, in particular children '.

Moreover, since markers or pens are designed or clearly
intended to be used as toys by children under the age of

14, the Commission underlines that such products fall

Subject : Immigration and the new partnership with the

. Maghreb

The demographic and socio-economic problems of the

Maghreb and the resultant migration towards the
Community are growing increasingly acute : In the past
few months there has been a tragic increase in the number
of illegal Moroccan immigrants who have died trying to
cross the straits to Spain in conditions of extreme
suffering and subhuman exploitation .

In view of the fact that the European Community cannot
stand idly by in the face of these developments at its own
frontiers which directly impinge on its policy of
cooperation, and its defence of human rights, and in view
of the draft document on the ' new Europe-Maghreb
partnership ' which will be considered at the next summit
in Lisbon, does the European Political Cooperation
intend to take any immediate steps to deal with the
growing problems of migration from the Maghreb to
Europe ?

i

Answer

( 21 December 1992 )

The Community and its Member States are concerned at
the growing number of people who risk their own lives
trying to cross the Straits of Gibraltar in order to take up

No C 32 / 28 Othcial Journal or the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

illegal settlement in the territory of certain Member
States . In their Declaration on relations between Europe
and the Maghreb at the Lisbon European Council, the
Community and its Member States reaffirmed their
determination to continue to contribute to the stability
and prosperity of the Mediterranean region on the basis
of an approach favouring partnership . In the social field,
they acknowledge that priority consideration must be
given to the problems raised on both sides of the
Mediterranean by migration and living and working
conditions of migrant communities, as well as to
demographic imbalances and the attendant economic and
social disparities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1997 / 92

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 54 )

Subject : Nuclear safeguards

What additional safeguard resources has the Commission
requested to oversee plutonium separated and entered
into commerce following :

1 . The opening of the UP-3 reprocessing plant at La

Hague and

2 . The planned opening of the new thermal oxide

reprocessing plant ( Sellafield II ) at Sellafield in late

1992 ?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1959 / 92

by Mr Dimitrios Nianias ( RDE )
to European Political Cooperation

( 1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 53 ) Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1992 )
Subject : The role of Turkey today

A few days ago Iran unleashed a verbal attack on Turkey,
accusing it of being a destabilizing element, threatening
peace in the region and seeking to control Muslims in the
Balkan, the Caucasus and Central Asia .

Does the Community intend to discourage Turkish
megalomania ( which is not based on any economic,
technological, intellectual or cultural superiority ) so as to
prevent certain tension in regions which are critically
important for world peace ?

Answer

The Commission informed the Council, in 1989, that a
total of 99 inspection posts will be needed in the period to
31 December 1995 . About 60% of the requested posts are
required to cope with the safeguard requirements of the
two large reprocessing plants in Cap-La-Hague and of the
new thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield and a
further 30% for the three new plutonium oxide
fabrication plants under construction .

( 21 December 1992 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2000 / 92

The Community and its Member States have engaged
Turkey in a long-standing political dialogue on issues of

mutual interest .

The Lisbon Council concluded that ' the Turkish role in
the present European political situation is of the " greatest
importance and that there is every reason to intensify
cooperation and develop relations with Turkey in line
with the prospect laid down in the Association Agreement
of 1964 including a political dialogue at the highest level .
The European Council asks the Commission and the

Council to work on this basis in the coming months '.

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 55 )

Subject : Euratom safeguards

In regard to paragraph 94 of the second report on the
operation of Euratom Safeguards ( SEC(92 ) 80 final ), will
the Commission list the new items of safeguard
equipment acquired since the first Eurotom safeguards
report ? What was the cost and purpose of acquiring this
equipment ? Have any items of equipment been lost since
the second report was compiled and if so, will the
Commission set out the circumstances of the loss ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 29

by Mr Cardoso e Cunha The above portable / transportable equipment is used to

of the Commission verify nuclear material flow and inventories in all types of

( 20 October 1992 ) nuclear installations as the need arises .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

The principal instruments purchased between January

1989 and the end of 1991 for field use were the following :

— one hybrid K-edge for the one-site measurement of

reprocessing input samples ( costs about 130 Kecu ),

— four neutron / gamma measurement stations for
verification of plutonium cans entering / leaving
plutonium storage facilities ( about 160 Kecu each ),

— one load cell based weighing system to weigh skips of

irradiated fuel at a Magnox reactor ( costs about 95
Kecu ),

— six Cerenkov viewing devices to verify spent fuel in

With regard to the second part of the question, the
Commission can inform the Honourable Member that
two instruments have been lost . A hand held portable
gamma instrument ( HM4 ) was stolen from a car in
September 1990 and a Cerenkov viewing device was lost
in air transit in February 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2002 / 92

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

reactors ( about 14 Kecu each ),

( 93 / C 32 / 56 )
20 modular integrated video systems at about 1 5 Kecu
each to replace obsolete optical surveillance units in Subject : Nuclear safeguards

reactors,

Subject : Nuclear safeguards

39 Euratom video units at 25 Kecu each for

multi-camera surveillance systems at reprocessing
plants and reactors using mixed oxide fuel,

— one combined compact K-edge and enrichment meter

at about 40 Kecu for verification of Pu concentration
in liquids and isotopic composition of uranium,

— one Active Well Coincidence Counter at about 85

Kecu for measurement of uranium,

— three Phonid active neutron instruments at 230 Kecu

each for measurement of uranium powder in fuel
fabrication plants,

— one mass spectrometer for high accuracy on-site

measurement of uranium hexafluoride samples at
enrichment plants for about 290 Kecu in replacement
of an existing 10 years old instrument,

— three inventory sample counters for verification of

plutonium oxide powder samples in fabrication and
reprocessing plants at about 45 Kecu each,

— six hand held portable gamma ray instruments
( HM-4 ) to check enrichment of uranium items at
about 8 Kecu each,

— eight Davidson Multichannel Analysers for uranium

powder, pellets and assembly verifications at about 22
Kecu each,

— four Canberra Multichannel Analysers for high

accuracy uranium and plutonium isotope assay at
about 20 Kecu each,

— one ORTEC Multichannel Analyser for high accuracy

uranium and plutonium isotope assay at about 17
Kecu each,

— 11 electronic ( Vacoss ) seals to seal verified nuclear
material at about 1 500 Kecu each .

Was the Commission represented at the 14th Annual

Symposium of Safeguards and Nuclear Material
Management, organized by the European Safeguards
Research and Development Associates ? Were any papers
presented on behalf of the Commission ? Were any
resources made available by the Commission in support of
the 14th ESARDA symposium ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )

The 14th Annual ESARDA Meeting took place in May

1992 at Salamanca, Spain .

At this 14th Annual Meeting with restricted participation,
three papers presented involved authors or co-authors
from the Safeguards Directorate in Luxembourg .

It should be emphasized that the Joint Research Centre of
the Commission with its laboratories in Ispra, Geel and
Karlsruhe plays a leading role in the framework of
ESARDA .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2003 / 92

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 57 )

Subject : Nuclear safeguards

Further to Written Question No 2513 / 91 ('), will the
Commission publish a table showing the distribution of

No C 32 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

the 203 tonnes of plutonium under safeguards, by facility
and first date of application of safeguards to the facility ?

A letter was sent in March 1991 asking for specific

and first date of application of safeguards to the facility ? information about the application of Directives

89 / 68 / EEC O, 78 / 319 / EECO, 85 / 337 / EEC ( 3 ) and
(') OJ No C 1 12, 30 . 4 . 1992, p . 44 . 76 / 160 / EEC ( 4 ) in individual cases .

The Greek authorities replied in July 1991 that the
relevant department of the Ministry of the Environment

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission had looked into the matter and found that the only

problem concerned the disposal of tannery sludge . They

( 21 October 1992 ) furthermore informed the Commission that the tannery

had been granted a provisional permit which would not be
The Commission regrets to inform the Honourable renewed until a study by a scientific committee had been

Member that it is not at liberty to disclose facility specific completed .
information about nuclear material stocks and certain
other safeguards specific information . In February 1992, the Commission wrote again to the
Greek authorities requesting information about the
outcome of the study .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )

The Greek authorities replied in May 1992 that the

findings were satisfactory but that the tannery had not yet

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2020 / 92 been granted a permit . They also informed the

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ) Commission that the tannery directors had promised to

to the Commission of the European Communities comply with legal requirements . According to Greek
industry, the tannery would also have a modern plant for

( 1 September 1 992 ) the full treatment of waste .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2020 / 92

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 58 )

Subject : Operation of a tannery at Konitsa

Further to my question No 932 / 91 ( ! ) concerning the
operation of a tannery at Konitsa and the Commission 's
answer of 15 May 1991, I would point out that despite
strong and repeated objections by the local residents, the
tannery has begun to operate illegally, polluting the plain
of Konitsa, the economic heart of the area . The tannery is
situated near the spa of Amarandos-Kavasila, in which
hundreds of millions of drachmas have been invested,
and, as I indicated in my previous question, it is in breach
of Community environmental law . In its reply to my
question, the Commission indicated that it had asked the
Greek authorities to provide specific details on this matter
but that it had received no reply .

Will the Commission bring pressure to bear on the

relevant Greek authorities to supply the information
requested ? How will the Commission respond if the
information continues to be withheld ? What steps will it
take to stop the operation of the tannery in this area and
to have it relocated on the Ioannina industrial estate, as
proposed in my original question ?

In June 1992, the complainant was informed about the
outcome of the matter . He informed the Commission that
he would be submitting further information .

The Commission will decide soon on the action to be

taken .

o OJN0L2O, 26 . 1 . 1980 .
O OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978 .
O OJNoLl75, 5 . 7 . 1985 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 31, 5 . 2 . 1976 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2064 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to European Political Cooperation

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 59 )
o OJ No C 66, 16 . 3 . 1992, p . 8 .

Subject : The European Union 's military capacity
Atlantic cooperation and enlargement
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

While American defence planners appear to be
( 19 October 1992 )
considerably altering the presentation of their priorities,
the substance of the latter is being modified to a lesser

As it has already informed the Honourable Member, the extent . At the end of May 1992 The Washington Post

Commission has written to the Greek authorities obtained a copy of the document ' Defence Planning
requesting information . Guidance ( 1994 — 1999 )', in which top priority was

4.2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 31

apparently being given to the preservation and Answer given by Mr Van Miert
enlargement of alliances . However, it was stated that on behalf of the Commission
American planners should also retain the option of acting ( 20 November 1 992 )
unilaterally .

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
What view does EPC take of the present version of this its answer to Written Question No 1828 / 92 by Mr
document compared with the one published in March, in Papayannakis ( 1 ).
the light of the negotiations on the contribution of
European military capacity to collaboration in the (') See page 20 of this Official Journal .
Atlantic Alliance ?

The Commission 's position on Community enlargement

appears to be that any reference to the institutional
changes which will be required should be avoided, at least
until the Maastricht Treaty has been fully ratified .
However, applicant countries are required to
acknowledge the existence of foreign, security and
defence policies as an ' acquis communautaire '. Does EPC
intend that the Franco-German corps in its present, or

possibly an enlarged form, should be included in the
institutional framework to be accepted by new Member
States ?

Answer

( 21 December 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2068 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 61 )

Subject : The wild goats of Antimilos

The unique wild goats of Antimilos are facing extinction .
Does the Commission intend to take measures to protect
them ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

The issues raised by the Honourable Member do not fall ( 29 October 1992 )
within EPC competence .

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that, according to information in its possession, the Greek
authorities have started an operation to save this species .

It would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to
Written Question No 2942 / 90 by Mr Papayannakis ( 1 ).

0 ) OTNoC 164,24.6 . 1991 .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2067 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 60 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2074 / 92

Subject : The wetlands of Roumani in the Argolis

The unique wetlands of Roumani which are situated in a
cove of the Bay of Argos and are essential for the
ecological survival of the Argolis are being destroyed by
unauthorized building, deforestation and the tipping of
rubble . The local authorities are indifferent to the
situation and the Municipal Council of Argos, instead of
acting to protect the wetlands, recently decided to . widen
and tarmac the road which passes through them to the
new wholesale market in the town . How does the

Commission intend to demonstrate its interest in
protecting these wetlands ?

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

(1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 62 )

Subject : The environment on Samos

A plan is afoot to open a quarry in the region of Iraio on

the island of Samos near tourist facilities and
archaeological sites . Given that this represents a flagrant
violation of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') does the
Commission intend to block this project on Samos ?

O OJ No L 175j 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

No C 32 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1992 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
its answer to Written Question No 1530 / 92 by Mr
Romeos (').

o OJ No C 345, 30 . 12 . 1992, p . 21 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2081 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 63 )

Subject : Importance of Community policies regarding

consumers

Having regard to the importance for consumers of large
areas of Community policy, covering food, agriculture,
transport, etc ., does the Commission intend :

1 . To set up an independent advisory council on
consumer matters to be consulted on all Community
policies affecting consumers ?

2 . To alter the composition of consultative committees,

such as the one on agriculture, so that consumers are
better represented ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

Consumer representation on agricultural advisory

committees

Number of
Committee

members

Number of

consumers

Advisory Committee on cereals 54 . 6

— Special Rice Section 28 3

Advisory Committee on Pigmeat 48 6

Advisory Committee on Poultrymeat 30 4

Advisory Committee on Eggs 34 4

Advisory Committee on Sugar 52 5

Advisory Committee on Feedingstuffs 30 3

— Special Section on Harmonization

of Legislation 12 2

Advisory Committee on Raw Tobacco 44 3

Advisory Committee on Processed

Fruit and Vegetables 46 5

Advisory Committee on Wine 48 6

Advisory Committee on Flops 32 3

Advisory Committee on Live Plants 40 5

Advisory Committee on Questions of
Agricultural Structure Policy 54 ?

Advisory Committee on Seeds 42 1

— Special Section on Harmonization

of Legislation 11 2

Advisory Committee on Social
Questions affecting Farmers and the
Members of their Families 32 ?

Advisory Committee on Oils and Fats 68 8

Advisory Committee on Milk and
Milk Products 52 6

Advisory Veterinary Committee 14 2

Advisory Committee on Flax and

Hemp 40 4

— Special Silkworm Section 14 2

Advisory Committee on Beef and Veal 50 6

Advisory Committee on Mutton,
Lamb and Goatmeat 30 4

( 19 November 1 992 ) O OJ No L 38, 10.2 . 1990 .
O OJ No L 45, 14 . 2 . 1987 .

1 . The Commission is pleased to inform the
Honourable Member th^t, by Decision of 17 December

1989 ( 90 / 55 / EEC ) ('), it set up a Consumers '
Consultative Council with the functions suggested by
the Honourable Member . The former Consumers '
Consultative Committee, which had existed since 1973,
has been replaced because it was less representative of
consumer organization in the whole of the EEC .

2 . No . The Commission considers that the decisions it
took on 7 January 1987 ( 2 ) concerning the estabilshment
of the various agricultural advisory committees make it
possible to ensure adequate representation of consumers
on these committees . The Commission takes this
opportunity to stress once more the importance of the
attendance and participation of consumers in the work of
these committees .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2085 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 64 )

Subject : Authorization for new industrial plants in Attica

The Attica Basin, which is already heavily polluted, is in
danger of being turned into one vast industrial zone . The

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 33

Greek Government is seeking to relax the procedures and
conditions for the establishment and operation of
industrial plants and cottage industries in Attica, thus
indirectly abrogating the provisions of both Presidential
Decree 84 / 84 and the Joint Ministerial Decision of 1990
adopted as EC derived legislation regarding the
conditions for the establishment of industrial plants .
According to reports in the Greek press, the Ministry of

Industry intends to extend the period of validity of
authorizations for industrial plants and is also examining
the possibility of abolishing the obligation to submit a
questionnaire on pollution as a precondition for
authorization . Does the Commission intend to prevent
this crime against the environment in Attica and its
inhabitants and, if so, how ?

to the Community for 1992, fishing for cod in those zones
being prohibited as of 3 June 1992 .

Since some Member States have not used up the national
quotas laid down in Regulation ( EEC ) No 3890 / 91 ( 2 ) of

18 December 1991 and since the fishermen of those States
have been harmed by the fishing ban before the quotas
have been used up, is the Commission planning to initiate
the procedure laid down in Article 1 1 ( 4 ) of Regulation

( EEC ) No 2241 / 87 ( 3 )?

0 ) OJ No L 151, 3 . 6 . 1992, p . 19 .
O OJ No L 367, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 69 .
O OJ No L 207, 29 . 7 . 1987, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Van Miert ( 5 October 1 992 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1992 ) The decision to halt cod fishing in NAFO divisions 2J and
3KL was taken on the basis of all of the information

available to the Commission . This indicated that the

/ 360 / EEC of 28 June 1984 on the Community fleet had virtually reached the Community 's
pollution from industrial plants (*) autonomous quota for 1992 which had been set by the
States must take the Council of Ministers under NAFO .

Council Directive 84 / 360 / EEC of 28 June 1984 on the
combating of air pollution from industrial plants (*)
stipulates that Member States must take the necessary
measures to ensure that the operation of plants belonging
to the categories listed in Annex I requires prior
authorization . This authorization may only be issued on
condition that preventive measures against air pollution
are taken, including the application of the best available
technology not entailing excessive costs .

The Commission will be sending a detailed questionnaire
to the Member States on the application of the Directive
and will then be able to assess whether the Greek
authorities are complying with it, in particular in the
Attica basin .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member
of the Spanish Government 's decision to halt fishing as
from 1 June 1992 .

Furthermore, the Council had already taken note of the
Commission 's intention to propose suspending the
Community 's autonomous quota ( 1 ).

In view of the situation, the Commission does not intend
to implement the procedure laid down in Article 1 1 ( 4 ) of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2241 / 87 .

o OJN0LI88, 16.7 . 1984 . (') Council 1565th Council resolution meeting on fisheries ( Fisheries relations ) held in Luxembourg with Canada on — 3

April 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2115 / 92 WRITTEN QUESTION No 2121 / 92

by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE ) by Mr Gerardo Fernandez    - Albor ( PPE )

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2115 / 92

by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 65 )

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 66 )

Subject : Campaign to prevent domestic accidents
Subject : Suspension of cod-fishing by Community vessels

in the waters of NAFO zones 2J3KL
Although the number of deaths in traffic accidents is
extraordinarily high, the number of deaths in accidents at

According to Article 1 of Regulation ( EEC ) home is far higher — 10 times higher than those caused by
No 1439 / 92 (*) of 2 June 1992 catches of cod in NAFO road accidents and 20 times higher than those which
zones 2J3KL have used up the part of the TAC available occur in industry .

No C 32 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

This provides clear grounds for launching a more
determined campaign of information and prevention to
reduce significantly the alarming number of deaths in the
home, particularly among helpless children .

Just as there are major campaigns to reduce the number of

deaths on the roads and in accidents at work, a campaign
must also be stepped up to put an end to the alarming
number of deaths which occur within the four walls of the

home .

Can the Commission say what it has done so far to
prevent fatal accidents in the home ; what sections of the
Community budget deal with the Community 's
contribution in this connection and to what extent does
the Commission intend to step up and extend a campaign
to prevent accidents in the home ?

number . Moreover, as from 29 June 1994 this system will
be integrated into the procedures laid down by the
Directive on general product safety adopted by the
Consumer Affairs Council on 29 June 1992 . This will
reinforce the rapid information exchange - system,
particularly where certain conditions, such as a
Community dimension to the problem, apply . In such
cases notification of the Commission by a Member State
may oblige all the Member States to apply temporary
measures adopted by the Commission, assisted by an
emergency committee . These new elements will certainly
reinforce the system 's preventive effect .

Also, in 1986 a demonstration project was set up with a
view to introducing a Community system of information

on accidents involving consumer products ( 2 ). The
Commission is currently evaluating the second phase of
the project ( 1990 — 1991 ) with a view to the early
submission to the Council of proposals for the future,
based on the experience gathered .

O
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1992 ) O

First of all, the Commission reminds the Honourable
Member that organizing campaigns for the prevention of
domestic accidents is primarily the responsibility of the
competent authorities of the Member States . There have
been campaigns of this kind in several Member States
which received the eoncouragement and, where
necessary, the operational and financial support of the
Commission . For example, in the current budgetary year
the Commission is subsidizing some thirty information
and publicity projects in the 12 Member States, one of
which, in Spain, directly concerns the prevention of
domestic accidents, and two of which concern the
prevention of accidents in educational establishments .
The budget heading in question is B5-107 .

Council Decision 89 / 45 / EEC of 21 December 1988 ( OJ No
L 17, 21 . 1 . 1989 ), as amended by Decision 90 / 352 / EEC of
29 June 1990 ( OJ No L 173, 6 . 7 . 1990 ).
Council Decision 86 / 138 / EEC of 22 April 1986 ( OJ No
L 109, 26 . 4 . 1986 ), as amended by Decision 90 / 534 / EEC of
22 October 1990 ( OJ No L 296, 27 . 10 . 1990 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2124 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 67 )

Moreover, with a view to helping prevent domestic Subject :
accidents, the Commission has implemented three main
Europe
instruments as part of overall Community policy on
product safety .

Subject : Broadcasting by associations and a ' People 's

Under the Community system for the rapid exchange of

information on dangers arising from the use of consumer
products ('), if a Member State decides to take urgent
steps in relation to a product or product batch, because of
the serious and immediate risk which that product
presents for the health or safety of consumers, it is
required to inform the Commission immediately . The
Commission in turn informs the other Member States so
that they may check whether the product or batch in
question is sold on their territory and consider adopting
measures at national level .

This rapid information exchange system plays a
preventive role by disseminating urgent information in
the Community and thus preventing accidents being
caused by dangerous products, or at least limiting their

The French Audiovisual Board ( CSA ) recently took the
decision to remove Radio Portugal FM from the list of
stations broadcasting on FM in the Paris region .

Until that time, 24 hours were available to the Portuguese
Community on the FM frequency for associations . This
was divided up as follows : 12 hours for Radio Portugal
FM and 12 hours for Radio Alpha .

In a region where hundreds of thousands of Portuguese
people live and work there are dozens of independent
cultural and recreational associations . Radio Portugal FM
is an important factor in supporting and ensuring the
social and cultural integration of Portuguese people in the
region and is a unique medium for publicizing and
promoting the social and cultural activities of the
Portuguese community .

4.2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 35

The CSA 's decision to transfer the 24 hours of FM

broadcasting to Radio Alpha not as an association but as a
limited company and hence a commercial radio station
has brought sharp protests from Portuguese associations
in Paris and the Paris region .

The associations are not opposed to the fact that Radio
Alpha will be able to broadcast on FM as a commercial
radio station but they are protesting against the fact that
the whole 24 hours of FM are being changed into
commercial broadcasting, as the 12 hours which up to
now have belonged to Radio Portugal are being
withdrawn .

Does the Commission not consider that this decision is at
variance with the much proclaimed free movement of
persons and the desirability of forming associations and
encouraging social and cultural integration in the
environment in which people live and work ; does it not
represent a premature interpretation of the Maastricht
agreement that is depriving Portuguese immigrants, who
are citizens of the Union, of their acquired rights ; and is it
not completely at variance with the political participation
of Community citizens in local affairs ? And is the
Commission able to take steps to deal with this specific
situation and what are those steps ?

bakeries ; which fears that the new combine will aquire a
monopoly — a Commission spokesman states in NRC
Handelsblad of 3 July 1992 that there is no question of
unfair competition .

1 . Are the Commission 's views correct represented in the

above newspaper article ?

2 .

3 .

On what grounds does the Commission expect that
the above takeover will not lead to a dominant

position, as described in Article 86 of the EEC Treaty,
in the flour market in the Netherlands and that
Meneba, as the market 's largest supplier of flour by
far, will not be able to control prices from a monopoly
position ?

What consequences does the Commission expect the

Meneba takeover of the Wessanen grain division to
have for the price of bread flour in the Netherlands
and for the survival of independent small bakeries
( which together account for almost 50% of the
Netherlands bread market )?

Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1992 )
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1992 )

Member States are free to decide on the allocation of
broadcasting frequencies within the framework of
Community law, particularly the prinicple of
non-discrimination .

Given that the two radio stations in question broadcast in
France and that their audience is also in that country, the
decision to allocate the frequency to Radio Alfa instead of
Radio Portugal FM does not constitute a restriction on
the free movement of persons and services as enshrined in
the Treaty and therefore concerns what is purely a French
domestic matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2139 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 68 )

1 . The Commission has no jurisdiction to appraise the
effects on competition of the Meneba group 's acquisition
of Wessanen 's grain division . Given the turnovers of the
two businesses, this operation does not have a
' Community dimension ' within the meaning of Article 1
of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89 of 21
December 1989 on the control of concentrations between

undertakings ( 1 ).

2 . In accordance with the arrangements for allocating
powers between the Community and the Member States
which form the basis of the Regulation, it is normally for
the national authorities concerned to appraise, under
their domestic competition law, concentrations not
having a Community dimension within the meaning of
Article 1 .

The Commission can intervene in such an operation only
at the request of a Member State and subject to the
conditions laid down in Article 22 ( 3 ) to ( 6 ) of the
Regulation .

In general, the subsequent behaviour on the market of the
new entity resulting from a concentration remains subject
to Articles 85 and 86 of the EEC Treaty .

3 . Accordingly, the Commission is not at present in a

Subject : Takeover of the Wessanen grain division by position to appraise the effects of the concentration on

Meneba the price of flour in the Netherlands .

The division sale by to the Meneba Dutch food creates concern a flour Wessanen group of its in grain the O OJ No L 257, 21.9 . 1990 .
Netherlands with a market share of 60 — 70% . Unlike the
Saba Group an umbrella organization of 35 major

No C 32 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2155 / 92 laid down in Article 1 of Annex III to the Staff

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) Regulations . It is then sent to the Joint Committee for its

opinion before being formally adopted by the appointing
to the Commission of the European Communities authority .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2155 / 92

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 69 ) In the case of open competitions, this text is then
published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities and advertisements are placed in leading

Subject : Composition of selection panels for national newspapers . Notices of internal competitions are

not published in the Official Journal but are circulated

competitions

throughout the Commission .

Can the Commission say what objective criteria determine
the composition of selection panels for open and internal
competitions ?

Can the Commission indicate who is authorized to draw
up the details of the notice of competition and who is
responsible for its wording ?

The Commission ensures that the rules guaranteeing the
impartiality of selection boards are followed
scrupulously . Every member of the board receives an
official letter reminding him, among other things, of his
duty to exercise his mandate impartially . The anonymity
of the written tests and the double marking system rule
out any possibility of preferential treatment for certain
papers . For the oral test, the collegiate nature of the
boards and the presence of a Staff Committee
representative ensure that candidates are assessed without
bias .

Is it prepared to review the panel selection procedure, ensure are
particularly given the need to ensure impartiality in cases bias .
where the members of the panel and the candidates in a
competition ai;e employed in thf same service ? The Commission considers that the provisions of the
Staff Regulations requiring officials to act independently
and with discretion are sufficient to guarantee the

Can the Commission say what possibilities exist to ensure impartiality of competition selection boards . It has no
objectively that an official on a selection panel is actually reason to doubt the integrity of its officials and would not
able to assess a candidate who is also a colleague ? hesitate to apply the disciplinary procedures under the

Staff Regulations if there was any suggestion that a
member of a selection board had failed in his duty .

Can the Commission say what possibilities exist to ensure
objectively that an official on a selection panel is actually
able to assess a candidate who is also a colleague ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1992 )

Article 3 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations of Officials
of the European Communities states that Selection
Boards must consist of 'a chairman, one or more persons
appointed by the appointing authority and an official
appointed by the Staff Committee '. The members of the
Selection Board are to be chosen from officials whose
grade is at least equal to that of the post to be filled . For
certain tests, the Board may be assisted by one or more
examiners serving in an advisory capacity .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2161 / 92

by Mr Karl von Wogau ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 70 )

. Subject : Reciprocal recognition of higher education
certain tests, the Board may be assisted by one or more qualifications in Germany with regard to
examiners serving in an advisory capacity .

employment as a teacher without the status of a
public servant
For both open and internal competitions, the
administration uses people who have a thorough 1 . Does the Commission consider that employment as
knowledge of competition procedures and special a teacher without the status of a public servant at a state
knowledge of the field in which the posts are to be filled . school in the Federal Republic of Germany is covered by

administration uses people who have a thorough 1 . Does the Commission consider that employment as
knowledge of competition procedures and special a teacher without the status of a public servant at a state
knowledge of the field in which the posts are to be filled . school in the Federal Republic of Germany is covered by

the exemption provisions of Article 48 ( 4 ) of the EEC
Treaty ?
As far as possible, the administration makes use of people
who have already sat on a selection board . The Staff

Committee uses similar criteria for its appointments . 2 . Is it true that a BA, aquired after three years of study
at a British university, together with a Postgraduate
Certificate of Education ( PGCE ), awarded after a
The notice of competition is prepared by the one-year course at another British university, satisfies the
Commission 's departments in accordance with the rules requirements for access to the teaching profession ( and,

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 37

in particular, English teaching ) in Britain ( Article la, third
indent of Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ) (')?

3 . Are German school authorities obliged to recognize
this qualification, which is sufficient for entry to the
teaching profession in England, as equivalent to the
comparable German qualification giving access to the
teaching profession, and to employ applicants with such
qualifications as teachers ?

O OJNoL 19, 24 . 1 . 1989, p . 16 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

to provide evidence of professional experience of a
specified duration, in addition to his degree and diploma,
before he can work in Germany ; if the German
authorities establish that an applicant has received
training in the United Kingdom which differs
' substantially ' from that required in Germany, Article 4
( 1 ) ( b ) allows them to require the applicant to complete an
adaptation period or to take an aptitude test as he
chooses ; Article 4 ( 2 ) prevents the German authorities
from applying paragraphs 1 ( a ) and ( b ) cumulatively .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2164 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

( 21 October 1992 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 71 )
1 . The Court of Justice has consistently held that the
words ' employment in the public service ' in Article 48 ( 4 )
of the EEC Treaty refer to 'a series of posts which involve Subject : Nuisances caused by light
direct or indirect participation in the exercise of powers
conferred by public law and duties designed to safeguard Whether from a simply aesthetic
the general interests of the State or of other public of safety, ill-designed public
authorities '. In Case C-4 / 91 Bleis v. Ministere de unfortunate visual side-effects
l'Education Nationale, the Court ruled that employment perception of light sources .
as a secondary-school teacher did not constitute
employment in the public service within the meaning of One far from trivial example is
Article 48 ( 4 ) so that it could not be restricted to nationals astronomical observations .
of the country . lighting equipment who have

Subject : Nuisances caused by light sources

Whether from a simply aesthetic point of view or in terms

of safety, ill-designed public lighting can have
unfortunate visual side-effects resulting from direct
perception of light sources .

The Commission has, therefore, initiated infringement
proceedings against all the Member States which have a
nationality requirement for school teachers .

2 . The Commission has established that a
secondary-school teacher in the United Kingdom must
have successfully completed at least three years of
university study . He must also hold a ' Post-Graduate
Certificate of Education ' showing that he has completed a
one-year course of on-the-job training and further study .

According to the information in the Commission 's
possession, access to the profession of secondary-school
teacher in Germany requires a diploma awarded after
four years ' university study and the completion of two
years ' teacher training .

3 . Pursuant to Article 3 of Council Directive
89 / 48 / EEC on a general system for the recognition of
higher-education diplomas, the training leading to
qualification as a secondary-school teacher in the United
Kingdom is to be treated as equivalent to the training
required for appointment as a secondary-school teacher
in Germany . However, Article 4 of the Directive allows
this presumption to be rebutted in certain cases ; since the
training completed in the United Kingdom is at least one
year shorter than that required in Germany, Article 4(1 )

( a ) permits the German authorities to require an applicant

One far from trivial example is the impairment of
astronomical observations . Certain manufacturers of
lighting equipment who have become aware of the
problem have put lamps and lighting equipment with
screens which eliminate these undesirable effects on the

market .

Moreover, many public authorities are using technology
of this type for illuminating monuments and public
services and for street lighting .

Is the Commission aware of the nuisance caused by direct
light sources ? If so, will it take measures to resolve the
problem ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1992 )

The Commission has not been aware of specific nuisances
related to street and other lighting as raised in this
question . While the Commission can understand the
significance of this problem, it does not consider that it is
a subject for which Community action is appropriate . The
implications of such nuisances being very much at the
local level suggest, according to the principle of
subsidiarity, that controls should equally be considered in
the local context .

No C 32 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2204 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2205 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V ) by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

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

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 72 )

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 73 )

Subject : Proposed MEREX incinerator at Fos-sur-Mer Subject : Udapting the compendium of Community
( France ) environment law

In view of the fact that the operating conditions proposed
by MEREX appear to be less stringent than the standards
set in the draft directive, does the Commission not fear
that these conditions will :

In 1987 the Commission published a compendium of the
environmental laws passed over the previous 20 years .

that these conditions will : In view of the large number of texts which have been

adopted since then, would the Commission say whether it

— entail the contravention of the principle of proximity . intends to update the four volumes in question and, if so,

— encourage an increase in the transfer of waste to the has it already set a date for publication ?

— entail the contravention of the principle of proximity .

area in question which, in addition to the hazards that
this would create, might also constitute a violation of
the principle of free competition ? Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1992 )

According to Article 4 ( 3 ) of the amended proposal for a

Council Regulation on the supervision and control of
shipments of waste within, into and out of the
Community ('), the competent authority of dispatch may
raise objections to the planned shipment if there is an
authorized centre significantly nearer than the one chosen
by the notifier and which uses suitable technologies to
ensure a high level of protection of the environment and
public health . This provision is intended to apply the
principle of proximity set out in Directive
91 / 156 / EEC ( 2 ).

Hence responsibility for application of this principle lies
with the competent authorities . Consequently, the mere
fact that some operating conditions are less stringent than
others is not in conflict with the principle of proximity
and does not automatically encourage an increase in
shipments of waste .

With regard to the standards proposed for the Merex
incinerator at Fos : sur-Mer, which appear to be less
stringent than the standards set out in the Commission 's
proposal for a Directive on incineration of dangerous
waste ( J ) of March 1992, the Honourable Member is

asked to refer to the answer given to his question
H-797 / 92 at the plenary session in September and to the
answer to Written Question No 2909 / 91 by Mr
Monnier-Besombes ( 4 ).

Following the four volume set published in 1987, the
Commission has recently published a new seven volume
set covering environmental legislation and other relevant
documentation up to 1 September 1991 . Copies have been
distributed to all official documentation centres including
that of the European Parliament and can also be obtained
from the Office for Official Publications of the European
Communities ( ISBN 92-826-4084-1 Volumes 1 — J ).

They are only available in English at present . The other
language versions are currently being prepared .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2244 / 92

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 74 )

Subject : EC packaging regulation or directive

A proposal on packaging has been due for years but it

appears that the Commission has still not yet adopted a
final version . Given that a wide variety of drafts are in
circulation and being used as a basis for action by various
interested parties :

1 . when will the final version of the proposal be tabled ?

2 . will the Commission ensure that waste disposal

measures already taken at national level by the various
Member States can remain in force ?

3 . will the Commission ensure that further national

measures, for example measures to promote the use of

O

o

o

o

Doc . COM(92 ) 121 final .
OJNoL78, 26 . 3 . 1991 .
Doc . COM(92 ) 9 final .
OJNoC 180, 16 . 7 . 1992 .

4.2.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 39

returnable packaging, can be taken in future and how outcome of LCA carried out in conformity with a
will it achieve this ? standardized methodology on which the Commission will

have the possibility to act consequently .
4 . what packaging materials should be analysed from an

ecological point of view in order to provide a reliable
basis for assessing their impact on the environment ?

5 . what steps will the Commission take to promote the

use of returnable packaging ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2250 / 92

by Mr Henry McCubbin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 9 September 1 992 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert ( 93 / C 32 / 75 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 November 1 992 )
Subject : North Norway quota for UK fishing vessels

1 . A proposal for a Council Directive on packaging and
packaging waste was adopted by the Commission on 15
July 1992 . The COM(92 ) 278 final document has been

available since the beginning of September .

2 . Article 100a of the EEC Treaty is considered by the
Commission as the most appropriate legal basis for the
Directive . Besides assuring a high level of protection of
the environment, the Directive contributes to the
functioning of the internal market . In view of the legal
basis of the proposed Directive, it might be that certain
national provisions will have to be adapted ( for instance a
ban on the marketing of a specific packaging type or
material, under the condition that the infrastructure for
their collection and recycling is set up ).

3 . As long as the free circulation of products can be
ensured, reusable packaging can be promoted . The
Commission 's proposal is based on a principle of
equivalence between different types of packaging as long
as life cycle assessments ( LCA ) show no clear hierarchy .
From the viewpoint of waste management, reusable
packaging results normally in the generation of less waste
and thus this system of conditioning should obtain clear
preference . However other environmental impacts during
the total life cycle of packaging have to be taken into
account before expressing such a clear preference . At .
present it is not possible to do this on the basis of existing

LCA .

What are the figures for the exact quota given to UK
fishing vessels in the last allocation round for the North
Norway and Svalbard region broken down by species and
the actual catch landed by those UK vessels with licences
to fish in the above area ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1992 )

Under the 1992 fisheries agreement between the
Community and Norway, the quotas allocated to vessels
flying the flag of the UK in waters falling within the
Norwegian exclusive economic zone north of 62 00'N or
within the fishing zone around Jan Mayen and catches to

30 June 1992 are as follows :

( in tonnes )

Quota Catch

Cod 5 020 4 355

Haddock 490 416

Saithe 250 359 ( a )

Redfish 400 80

Greenland Halibut 50 4

Other species
( as by-catches ) 240 28

It has to be stressed that the Commission 's principle of
equivalence is based on the condition sine qua non that a ( a ) Fishing stopped 22 February 1992 .
return system has to be set up for all non-reusable
packaging after use .

4 and 5 . All packaging materials and systems should
become the subject of a LCA . However the first step to be
undertaken is a standardization of LCA criteria and

methodology . The carrying out of this work already
started in the framework of the ECO-label regulation and
will be further developed in the future, also based on the
provisions of the packaging proposal . It is based on the

In addition, the Community also claims a share of the
Arcto-Norwegian cod TAC, to be fished in ICES Division
II b ( Svalbard ), from which the UK was allocated a quota
of 1 270 tonnes for 1992 . By 30 June 1992, the UK had
caught 1 272 tonnes arid fishing was therefore stopped
from 10 July .

No C 32 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2257 / 92

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

( 1 September 1 992 )

, ( 93 / C 32 / 76 )

Subject : Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by EC

countries

In 1990, the European Community committed itself to
stabilizing carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2000, and
cutting emissions thereafter . However, to date, the
Community strategy has yet to be finalized and no
commitment to specific cuts has been forthcoming . The
national programmes, essential to ensure that the EC
reaches its targets, have been slow to evolve in many cases .

Given the seriousness of this global environmental
problem, will the Commission treat these aims as urgent
priorities and push forward with measures to reduce
carbon dioxide emissions ?

Estimates of the contribution of each of the above
measures to CO2 limitation have been given in the
Communication . These estimates also give an indication
of the effort which will be required at Member State level
( they also indicate that for the SAVE, Altener and
Thermie programmes the effectiveness will continue to

increase significantly after the year 2000 ). The monitoring
mechanism is intended to follow very closely not only the
emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, but also
the development, implementation and effects of the
programmes of the Member States . The Commission will
make appropriate proposals for any additional actions
which may be required as a result of the monitoring .

In addition to the above actions in relation to the

Community objectives for limitation of CO2 emissions,
the Community played a leading role in this regard at the
United Nations ' Conference on Environment and

Development ( UNCED ) in Brazil in June 1992 . The
Commission has also presented a communication to the
Council on clean and efficient energy for development ( 8 ).
This Communication is intended to form a basis on which
the many Community actions in this area, both present
and future, can be developed in an optimum manner .

All the above actions are complementary to many other
existing actions which the Commission has already

given of the by Mr Commission Van Miert undertaken, in research and development under the Joule

programme and under the SAVE and Thermie
( 20 October 1992 ) programmes . The Commission will continue to give very
high priority to global environmental issues .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

In October 1991 the Commission presented to the
Council a strategy to limit carbon dioxide ( CO2 )
emissions and improve energy efficiency ( 1 ), in the
context of the Community 's commitment to stabilize CO2
emissions by the year 2000 and reduce emissions in a
horizon up to 2010 ( 2 ).

In June 1992 the Commission presented to the Council a
further elaboration of this strategy ( 3 ), along with
proposals for specific measures in the following areas :

— a framework directive to introduce seven specific

energy efficiency measures under the SAVE
Programme ( 4 ),

— a decision concerning specific actions for greater

penetration of renewable energy resources
( Altener ) ( 5 ),

— a directive on a combined carbon / energy tax ( 6 ),

— a decision concerning a mechanism for monitoring of

Community CO2 emissions and other greenhouse
gases O ­

In addition to the above proposals, the Commission has
indicated that the selection criteria for Community
support for future projects in energy technology under
the Thermie programme will be adjusted towards
selection of projects which improve energy efficiency and
the rational use of energy, and reduction of CO2
emissions .

O SEC(91 ) 1744 final .
( 2 ) Conclusions of joint Council Environment / Energy of 29

October 1990 .

5 ) COM(92 ) 246 final .

4 ) COM(92 ) 182 final .

5 ) COM(92 ) 180 final .

6 ) COM(92 ) 226 final .

7 ) COM(92 ) 181 final .

8 ) SEC(92 ) 708 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2260 / 92

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 77 )

Subject : Ad Hoc Group on Immigration

On what basis is the Ad Hoc Group on Immigration
provided with secretarial assistance, coordination and
office facilities within the Council of Ministers and / or the
Commission and from what budget allocation are these
expenses ( if any ) paid ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 41

Answer given by Mr Delors WRITTEN QUESTION No 2275 / 92
on behalf of the Commission
by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
( 30 October 1992 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

The Commission does not provide the Ad Hoc Group on
( 93 / C 32 / 79 )

Immigration with any secretarial assistance, office
facilities or budget allocation . In particular, it does not
finance the Group 's operating expenditure, including the
travel and subsistence expenses incurred by Member
'
States representatives . The Commission has been
represented at all the Group 's meetings held at whatever
level since it was set up .

As far as the Council is concerned, the question should be

addressed to that institution .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2274 / 92

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

Subject : Impact of the internal market on the
construction industry

Have any studies been done on the impact of the internal
market on the construction industry and does the
Commission have any information on how it will affect
the content of educational courses in the construction
field, especially at the craft level ?

( 93 / C 32 / 78 ) Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Environmental education ( 10 November 1 992 )

The Council resolution on environmental education is to

be welcomed .

How does the Commission envisage the development of
' European Environmental Campuses ' and what is the
mechanism for colleges with environmental studies
courses to get involved ?

The Commission has decided to have a study carried out

Environmental Campuses ' and what is the on One the of construction the main aims and of the construction study is to analyse products the sectors impact .
colleges with environmental studies of the completion of the internal market on the sectors .
involved ? The study, which began in January, will be finished in the

summer of 1993 and will provide information and
recommendations which will help the Commission in the
Answer given by Mr Van Miert development of appropriate strategies for the industry .

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1992 )
In the group of experts responsible for following the
study, the craft sector is represented by two specialists
The European Environmental Campuses Programme is from large building craft organizations .

managed and coordinated by the non-governmental
organization ' GRECE ' ( European Environmental
Campuses Group ).
Furthermore, a number of studies following by training

Since its launch in 1990 this programme has been activities have been started in the Member States by
supported by the Commission by way of implementation national and craft organizations and small businesses . To
of the Council resolution on environmental education (*). support some of these projects, the Commission started in
The Commission feels that in view of its role and the July 1992 a pilot project on advisory training schemes for

Since its launch in 1990 this programme has been
supported by the Commission by way of implementation
of the Council resolution on environmental education (*).
The Commission feels that in view of its role and the
limited resources at its disposal it cannot commit itself to
more than active encouragement and that it is up to the
national, regional, local or other parties involved to
provide the support needed to pursue and develop this

initiative .

Colleges and universities wishing to join in this venture
can contact ' GRECE ' at its address of 41 Cours Jean
Jaures, Avignon ( France ).

(') OJ No C 177, 6 . 7 . 1988 .

small businesses, including craft firms, in the fields of
standardization, certification, quality assurance and
health at work under the Euromanagement —
Standardization Programme . The scheme is open to
proposals from the construction sector .

The Commission has also supported schemes for the
training of company directors, including those of small
firms in the construction sector, in particular under the
Force, and management training for 1992 programmes .
For its part, Cedefop has started several discussions and
schemes in this field .

No C 32 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.2.93

Lastly, an experimental transnational training scheme in
the construction sector has been chosen under the call to
tender for small businesses and craft firms ( x ).

O OJ No C 334, 28 . 12 . 1991

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2276 / 92

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 9 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 80 )

Subject : Unleaded petrol

How does the Commission account for the continuing
large differences in percentage sales figures in Member
States of unleaded petrol compared to petrol containing
lead ? Can the Commission list the latest figures it has for
each Member State ? What measures are being taken to
encourage countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Greece
and Portugal to improve their uptake of unleaded petrol ?

States where tax incentives were introduced latest, the
sales levels are lower, but their rise over time is
relatively faster than in those countries which where
the first to establish incentives ;

— in certain Member States and on a voluntary basis, the

oil companies introduced, in addition to the
Eurosuper grade with the research octane number 95,
a super petrol with a higher octane rating ( 98 ). This
latter grade makes it possible to fuel older vehicles still
on the road which were designed initially to operate
with leaded super petrol .

The Commission also wishes to stress that, from 1
January 1993, all new cars registered in the Community

will have to be equipped with catalytic converters and will
consequently be able to operate only with unleaded
petrol .

Bearing in mind all these factors, the Commission, while
monitoring developments in sales of unleaded petrol in
the Member States, is not considering any particular
measures in respect of the Member States to which the
Honourable Member refers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2277 / 92

by Mr Winfried Menrad ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities
Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission ( 1 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 81 )
( 22 October 1 992 )

According to the most recent data available to the
Commission, the sales of unleaded petrol in 1991 in the

Member States are as follows :

Germany :
Denmark :

Netherlands :

Luxembourg :
United Kingdom :
Belgium :
France :

Ireland :

Greece :
Italy :
Spain :
Portugal :

79%

67%

59%

45%

42%

42%

28%

27%

9%

7%

4%

3%

Depending on the Member States, these percentages may
include several grades of unleaded petrol : ordinary,
Eurosuper ( 95 octane ) and super ( 98 octane ).

The two main reasons for the recorded differences
between the sales of unleaded petrol are set out below :

— the Member States introduced at different times tax

incentives for using unleaded petrol and these
incentives also differed in extent . In the Member

Subject : European standards and the German accident

prevention regulation in respect of the ' VBG 14 '
lifting platform

Producers of tail-lifts for the German market are required
to design their products to ensure that their use by the
purchaser ( operator ) does not infringe the stringent
German accident prevention regulation in respect of
' VBG 14 ' lifting platforms .

1 . Is it true that the entry into force of uniform European
standards in this area will be preceded by a transitional
period of approximately two to three years ?

2 . Does this mean that, under the ( transitional ) rules
now applying, products manufactured and authorized
in one Member State may be banned in another
Member State ( for example Germany ) ? Is the operator
exempted from stricter national regulations if a
tail-lift purchased in another Member State does not
comply with them ?

3 . Does this mean that, during the transitional period,

producers in the user country in which tail-lifts are
manufactured to strict national standards ( for
example the VBG 14 in Germany ), involving complex
and hence costly technical procedures, will be placed
at a disadvantage compared with producers from
another Member State ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 43

4 . Are products from Member States with no regulations

at all in respect of tail-lifts nevertheless regarded as
authorized in the country of manufacture ?

5 . What are the implications for tail-lifts of the proposal

for a Council directive amending Council Directive

89 / 392 / EEC ( machinery ) ('), ( COM(91 ) 547 final ( 2 )
— Council document 4280 / 92 and the proposal for a
Council directive on lifts ( COM(92 ) 35 final ( 3 ) —
Council document 4878 / 92 )?

German industry will be able to follow VBG 14 as
regard the use of the equipment provided this does not
involve any modifications to equipment bearing the
EC mark .

3 . Manufacturers will be able to apply the Directive as

from 1 January 1993 and will therefore be on the same
footing as their competitors .

4 . Yes . However, Member States which have national

regulations may refuse to allow such products to be
placed on the market invoking Article 36 EEC .

5 . The proposal for a Directive on lifts ( 2 ) will apply only

to lifts falling within the scope adopted by the Council
( in particular, the presence of an accessible car with
control devices ). All other types are covered by the
' Machinery ' Directive 83 / 392 / EEC, as amended by
Directive 91 / 368 / EEC, if they are not intended to
transport people . If people are carried, the second
amendment ( 3 ) will have to be applied when it enters
into force ( date not yet formally set ).

O

o

o

OJNoL 183, 29 . 6 . 1989, p . 9 .
OJ No C 25, 1.2 . 1992, p . 8 .
OJ No C 62, 11 . 3 . 1992, p . 4 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1 992 )

Manufacturers of lifting platforms for the German O OJNoL 198, 22 . 7 . 1991

O COM(92 ) 35 final .

market at the moment have to meet the requirements of O COM(91 ) 547 final .
VBG 14 ' Hebebiihnen ', which deals with the two aspects

of equipment design and use .

Once the ' Machinery ' Directive 89 / 392 / EEC, as
amended by Directive 91 / 368 / EEC ('), has fully entered
into force (1 January 1995 ), VBG 14 will cease to be
mandatory as regards equipment design . During the
transitional period ( from 1 January 1993 to 31 December

1994 ), manufacturers may apply either the Directive alone
or the existing national regulations .

1 . European standards are drawn up by the European

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2282 / 92

by Mr Ian White ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 992 )

standards bodies ( CEN / CENELEC / ETSI ) in ( 93 / C 32 / 82 )

accordance with their rules of procedure . The periods
involved are generally very long . As they are private
bodies, the Commission has no power to expedite the
work .

The Commission would point out that, under the new

Can the Commission please advise whether there are any
Member States of the EC in which insurance for cyclists is
compulsory and has the issue ever been considered by the
Commission as a possibility ?

Subject : Compulsory insurance for cyclists

approach, only the Directives are mandatory and the compulsory and has the issue ever been
use of the standards is still voluntary . Furthermore, in Commission as a possibility ?
the absence of harmonized standards, Member States
may ( Article 5 ( 1 ) of Directive 83 / 392 / EEC ) bring to
the attention of parties concerned the national
technical standards and specifications ( e.g. VBG 14 )
which are regarded as important or useful . Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

2 . Equipment bearing the EC mark and accompanied by ( 23 October 1992 )

a declaration of conformity will be able to move freely
following the entry into force of the Directive ( on 1
January 1993 ). For equipment which complies with the

various national regulations of the Member States
nothing will change : it will be able to move freely
( under Article 30 of the EEC Treaty ) if the level of
safety is equivalent to that required in the importing
Member State .

If this is not the case, the importing Member State will
be able to apply Article 36 to prohibit the placing of
the equipment on its market .

Under Article 8 ( 5 ) ( a ) of the Second Non-Life Directive

88 / 537 / EEC ('), amending Directive 73 / 239 / E^C ( 2 ), on
the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative
provisions relating to direct insurance other than life
assurance and laying down provisions to facilitate the
effective exercise of freedom to provide services, each
Member State shall communicate to the Commission the
risks against which insurance is compulsory under its
legislation . None of the Member States have informed the
Commission of national provisions relating to

No C 32 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

compulsory insurance for cyclists . The Commission does Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha
not intend nor has it ever considered, submitting on behalf of the Commission
proposals providing for compulsory insurance for cyclists . ( 9 November 1 992 )

o OJ No L 172, 4 . 7 . 1988 .
O OJ No L 228, 16 . 8 . 1973 . The reply to the three questions is positive .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2295 / 92

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 8 September 1 992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 83 )

Subject : Euratom Treaty

What information does the Commission possess on the
notification of Community authorities of contracts under
Article 75 of the Euratom Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 November 1 992 )

Under the provisions of Article 75 of the Euratom Treaty,
persons and undertakings concerned are required to
notify the Supply Agency of the existence of contractual
commitments concerning the processing, conversion or
shaping of ores, source materials or special fissile
materials and the quantities of material involved . The
Supply Agency keeps records on the information thus
furnished .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2406 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to European Political Cooperation

(6 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 85 )

Subject : Renewed tension over the Spratly Islands

Increasing tension has been reported over the Spratly
Islands, in the South China Sea . The power vacuum
caused by the former Soviet Union 's withdrawal from its
Vietnam bases and disminishing US presence in the

Pacific has served to whet the appetites of those who
covet these islands, which are thought to contain rich
deposits of hydrocarbons . The Republic of Vietnam has
occupied 24 of the islands, while the Chinese parliament
has repeated its claim to sovereignty over the whole
archipelago . Meanwhile, both the Philippines and
Indonesia maintain permanent garrisons on some of the
islands .

Does European Political Cooperation possess any
information in addition to the above, and has it reached
any joint agreement on the matter, involving as it does a
region in which the Community 's interests are likely to be
perfectly harmonious rather than subject to national
rivalries ?

Answer

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2335 / 92 ( 21 December 1992 )

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 84 )

Subject : Nuclear Suppliers Group

Was the Commission fully represented at the meeting of
the Nuclear Suppliers Group held in Warsaw in April ; did
the Commission 's safeguards experts have any input into
the amendments adopted to the NSG ' trigger list ', and has
the Commission received and reviewed the documents
that arose from the NSG meeting, i.e. the IAEA circular
INFCIRC / 254 Revl, parts I and II ?

The Indonesian Government does not claim any of the

Spratly Islands and does not maintain garrisons there . It
has been active in promoting peaceful discussion of the
various claims and of the possibility of joint development
of the Islands ' potential resources . In addition to the
countries mentioned, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all
claim some or all of the Islands .

The Community and its Member States welcomed the

adoption of a declaration on the South China Sea at the
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila on 22 July 1992,
which urged a peaceful resolution of the claims over the

Spratly Islands . This was the first occasion on which the
ASEAN countries had agreed a common stand on this

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 45

territory, over which three ASEAN countries have similarly seriously under - or overestimate problems, or is
sovereignty claims . Furthermore, two other claimant this confined to the social sector ?
countries, China and Vietnam, supported the principles of
the ASEAN declaration . These principles were reiterated
in the 30 October Joint Declaration of the EC-ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting in Manila . Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

The Community and its Member States hope that these ( 30 October 1992 )

developments will lead to concrete talks over the future of
the Spratlys .
The European Community does not use the concept of

' registered unemployment ' to measure the scale of
unemployment . It measures the number of unemployed
and the rate of unemployment according to the ILO
definition . The rate was indeed 9,4 % of the labour force
for the Community as a whole in April 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2447 / 92
by Alman Metten and Willem van Velzen ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 86 )

Subject : Systematic underestimation of the real level of

unemployment in the concept of ' registered
unemployment '?

1 . The EC uses the term ' registered unemployment ' to
refer to the level of unemployment . In April, registered
unemployment stood at 9,4% of the workforce, and it
continues to rise throughout the EC . The Netherlands is
an exception : there, it has fallen to 299 000 . Curiously, the
number of people drawing unemployment benefit rose to
592 000 over the same period — i.e. double the number of
' registered unemployed '. Does the Commission know
why 300 000 citizens of the Netherlands receive
unemployment benefit although they are not recorded in
European statistics as unemployed ?

According to the ILO, the unemployed are those persons
who are without work and are actively seeking work, on

condition that they are available to take up employment in
the very near future ( within two weeks ).

This definition disregards any national legislation and
practice concerning registration and eligibility for
unemployment benefit and thus allows comparisons to be
made of unemployment levels in different Member States,
something which cannot be done on the basis of figures
that reflect widely divergent national criteria .

The number of unemployed according to the ILO
definition can be calculated only on the basis of the results
of a survey among households, such as the Community
labour force survey . This is conducted each year in spring .

The trend of the number of persons registered at
employment offices is used solely to update the results of
the Community survey . As soon as the results of a new
survey are available, they are, of course, used .

why 300 000 citizens of the Netherlands receive The number of persons registered at employment offices
unemployment benefit although they are not recorded in is communicated to Eurostat by the Dutch authorities
European statistics as unemployed ? ( CBS ). This figure stood at 299 000 in April 1992 and is

calculated according to the methods laid down by the
Dutch authorities .

2 . Are there other Member States where the number of
people who are unemployed or even receive The rules governing eligibility for unemployment benefit
unemployment benefit is larger than the number of people are very complex in all Member States . They do not
registered as unemployed ? Can the Commission provide exclude the possibility that some people working
numbers and percentages ? part-time or no longer actively seeking work ( because

3 . One of the functions of unemployment statistics is
to indicate to policy-makers how serious the problem is .
Does not systematic underestimation effectively define
away a large part of this problem ?

4 . Is this ' distortion ' taken into account in any way in
the statistics used by the EC ? If so, how ? If not, how can
we obtain a more realistic picture of the level of
unemployment in the EC ?

5 . Does the method used in compiling financial
statistics about budget deficits, national debt and inflation

The rules governing eligibility for unemployment benefit

are very complex in all Member States . They do not
exclude the possibility that some people working
part-time or no longer actively seeking work ( because
they are approaching retirement, for example ) still receive
benefit . It is therefore theoretically possible for the
number of unemployed — in the strict sense of ' without
'
work according to the ILO definition — to be lower than
the number of people receiving benefit .

It is for the Member States to produce statistics on the
number of people registered at employment offices and
on the number of people receiving benefit, and these
figures can be analysed in detail only at national level . The
Honourable Members are asked to refer to the CBS

studies on this subject .

No C 32 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2480 / 92

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )
to European Political Cooperation

(8 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 87 )

Subject : Torture and human rights violations in Turkey

Reports from Turkey suggest that torture and human
rights violations are as widespread as ever and the internal
situation in the country is therefore a cause for great
concern . Every day Turkish newspapers print accounts of
brutal behaviour by the police, the armed forces and other
organs of the Turkish State against ordinary citizens .
They indicate that the situation has deteriorated since the

adoption of a new law under which the presence of a
lawyer is no longer mandatory during interrogation .
These reports involve the beating-up of pupils and
teachers, notably during religious instruction ( the
magazine Towards the Year 2000, 31 May 1992 ), night
raids on artists ' homes searching for illegal literature
( Htirriyet, 7 June 1992 ), cases of torture by the Turkish
State ( Zaman, 17 April 1992 ), and the torture of detainees
who have been beaten up, subjected to electro-shock
treatment and maltreated by trained dogs ( Cumhttrriet, 2
July 1992 ).

How do the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC intend to
deal with the problem of human right 's violations in
Turkey and what prospect do they see for the
development of ties between the European Community
and Turkey against this background ?

Government 's commitment to improve the human rights
situation in the country and express their hope that the
latter will take all necessary steps to this end .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2711 / 92
by Mrs Anna Catasta and Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 29 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 88 )

Subject : Night work

What is the current situation regarding ratification by the

Member States of ILO Convention No 171 of 6 June

1990 ?

To what extent has the Council taken account of

Parliament 's amendments to the directive on the
organization of working hours, with particular reference
to the request that, in principle, night work should be
banned ?

Does the Council intend to adopt a more overall approach
to the specific problems surrounding night work, shift
work, etc . via legislation on working hours which also
takes account of the proposals contained in ILO
Recommendation No 178 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2718 / 92

Answer by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S )

( 21 December 1992 ) to the Council of the European Communities

( 29 October 1992 )

The European Council, at its meeting in Lisbon on
26 — 27 June 1992, underlined that the role of Turkey in
the present European political situation is of the greatest
importance and that there is every reason to intensify
cooperation and develop relations with Turkey in line
with the prospect laid down in the Association Agreement

of 1964, including a political dialogue at the highest level .

The Turkish authorities are well aware of the importance
which the Community and its Member States attach to the
rule of law and the commitments to which Turkey has
subscribed in CSCE documents, including the rights of
persons belonging to National Minorities, as set out in the "
Charter of Paris, the Documents of the Moscow and
Copenhagen meetings of the Conference on the Human
Dimension of the CSCE, and the report of the Geneva
meeting of Experts .

( 93 / C 32 / 89 )

Subject : Night work

Despite the judgment of the Court of Justice of 25 July

1991 in the Stoeckel case, and the resolutions adopted by
the European Parliament at its April part-session on night
working and the denunciation of ILO Convention No 89,
there has still been no attempt at either Commission or
Council level to clarify the situation with regard to night
work .

1 . Does the Council not agree that the absence of night

working legislation at Community level incurs the risk
of deregulation of night work, since Member States
are no longer required to respect minimum
international standards ?

2 . Does the Council intend to urge Member States to

The Community and its Member States will continue to ratify ILO Convention No 171 as soon as possible,
monitor the situation closely in the light of the Turkish and as requested by the European Parliament ?

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 47

3 . What further measures will be proposed to resolve this

further measures will be proposed to resolve this 4 . Lastly, it is for the Commission to assess whether to

unsatisfactory situation ? submit to the Council proposals on specific points not

dealt with in the proposal for a Directive on the
organization of working time and the Directive on the
protection at work of pregnant workers and workers who
Joint answer have recently given birth or are breastfeeding .
to Written Questions No 2711 / 92 and 2718 / 92

highly unsatisfactory situation ?

( 21 December 1992 )

1 . The issue of night work is dealt with inter alia in the
proposal for a Directive on the organization of working
time . Proceedings on that proposal, which is based on
Article 118a of the Treaty, are at an advanced stage, but
there remain a few technical problems to be resolved .

Under the co-operation procedure, in accordance with
Article 149 ( 2 ) of the Treaty, the Council will send the
European Parliament its common position as soon as it is
adopted .

2 . In addition, Article 7 of the Council Directive of 19
October 1992 on the introduction of measures to
encourage improvements in the safety and health at work
of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given
birth or are breastfeeding provides for the regulation of
night work to ensure the protection of the workers
concerned .

3 . The Council is not, moreover, in a position to
comment on questions relating to the ratification by
Member States of international instruments, such as ILO
Conventions, and in this case Convention No 171 of 6
June 1990 on night work .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2833 / 92

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

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 32 / 90 )

Subject : Moonies

Can the Commission say what steps they have taken to
control the cult called The Moonies ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission       

( 26 November 1 992 )

None .

No C 32 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTIONS TO WHICH NO ANSWER HAS BEEN GIVEN (*)

( 93 / C 32 / 91 )

This list is published pursuant to Rule 62 ( 3 ) af the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament,
which states : ' Questions to which no answer has been given within one month by the Commission, or
within two months by the Council of the Foreign Ministers, shall be recorded, pending an answer, in

the Official Journal of the European Communities .'

No 2408 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) to the Council

( 6 . 10 . 1992 ) .

Subject : Austrian neutrality

No 2423 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC ) to the
Council ( 6 . 10 . 1992 )

Subject : Association agreements between the Community and
Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia — the position of the
Community after the division of Czechoslovakia

No 2434 / 92 by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S ) to the Council ( 8 . 10 . 1992 )

Subject : Bulgarian ' placement bureaux ' which guarantee work in
the Community

No 2445 / 92 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V ) to the Council

( 8 . 10 . 1992 )
Subject : Precautionary measures by the Council when members
of the Council are charged with Mafia offences

No 2736 / 92 by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG ), Georgios Romeos ( S ),
Christos Papoutsis ( S ), Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ), Paraskevas
Avgerinos ( S ), Panayotis Lambrias ( PPE ), Georgios Saridakis
( PPE ), Konstantinos Stavrou ( PPE ), Dimitrios Pagoropoulos ( S ),
Konstantinos Tsimas ( S ), Georgios Anastassopoulos ( PPE ), Dio ­
nysios Livanos ( S ), Dimitrios Nianias ( RDE ), Sotiris Kostopoulos
( NI ), Georgios Zavvos ( PPE ), Menelaos Hadjigeorgiou ( PPE ),
Ioannis Pesmazoglou ( PPE ), Vassilis Ephremidis ( CG ), Filippos
Pierros ( PPE ), Pavios Sarlis ( PPE ), Efstathios Lagakos ( PPE ),
Panayotis Roumeliotis ( S ), Ioannis Stamoulis ( S ) and Dimitrios
Dessylas ( CG ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2734 / 92 by Alexander Langer and Virginio Bettini ( V ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Commission plans to extend the A 27 motorway in Italy

No 2735 / 92 by Alexander Langer and Virginio Bettini ( V ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Commission plans to build more roads and motorways

No 2481 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE ) to European Political Dessylas ( CG ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Cooperation ( 12 . 10 . 1992 )
Subject : Human rights violations by the Turkish State against Subject : Programme of special measures for the Aegean Islands
Kurds

No 2737 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission

No 2488 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) to the Council ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 12 . 10 . 1992 ) Subject : The cot-death syndrome
Subject : Industrial crisis in Liguria

No 2737 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission

No 2488 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) to the Council ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 12 . 10 . 1992 ) Subject : The cot-death syndrome
Subject : Industrial crisis in Liguria

No 2516 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to European Political
Cooperation ( 12 . 10 . 1992 )

Subject : Assassinations of journalists in Turkey by parastatal

agents

No 2517 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to European Political
Cooperation ( 12 . 10 . 1992 )
Subject : The tactics of Skopje

No 2518 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to European Political
Cooperation ( 12 . 10 . 1992 )

Subject : Turkish air strikes against the Kurds in Iraq

No 2520 / 92 by Alexander Langer, Claudia Roth and Gerard
Onesta ( V ) to European Political Cooperation ( 12 . 10 . 1 992 )

Subject : Human rights violations in Croatia

No 2521 / 92 by Luigi Vertemati and Maria Magnani Noya ( S ) to
the Council ( 12 . 10 . 1 992 )

Subject : Monetary policies in Europe and the part played by
Germany

No 2733 / 92 by Alexander Langer and Virginio Bettini ( V ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Commission proposals constituting an arbitrary deci ­
sion in favour of high speed trains, at least with regard to Italy

No 2741 / 92 by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Olympic games and apartheid affecting female athletes
in certain delegations

No 2742 / 92 by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Transport of toxic waste to poor African countries

No 2743 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Community environment policy

No 2747 / 92 by Nicole Fontaine, Karl von Wogau and Ursula
Braun-Moser ( PPE ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Competition concerning intracommunity telephone
communications

No 2748 / 92 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Complaint by the standing committee of the Cites on
failure to implement the Convention on international trade in
endangered species of wild fauna and flora

(*) The answers will be published as soon as they are received from the institution concerned . The full text of these questions appeared in the Bulletin of the

European Parliament No 23 / C-92 to 28 / C-92 .

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 49

No 27j>0 / 92 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE ) to the Commission No 2776 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Temporary staff employed by the Ministry of Culture Subject : Construction of a fish farm at Kardamili
and deterioration of the artistic and cultural heritage

No 2751 / 92 by Mrs Maartje van Putten ( S ) to the Commission

No 2777 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Traditional construction of wooden vessels in Greece

Subject : Community subsidy for youth organizations opposed
to racism

No 2778 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2752 / 92 by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S ) to the Commission

No 2752 / 92 by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : The Arch of the Thessaloniki

Subject : European Social Fund appropriations for the Nether ­
lands

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2779 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2753 / 92 by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S ) to the Commission

. 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : Protection of island regions that are popular tourist
destinations

Subject : Regional Fund appropriations for the Netherlands

No 2754 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2781 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Danger from seafood caught in the Thermaic Gulf Subject :

No 2756 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Danger from walnut kernels imported from Bulgaria

No 2758 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Co-responsibility levies on Greek cotton production

No 2759 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : The jackal in Greece

No 2762 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : The fight against hepatitis A

No 2763 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

Subject : Compensation for damage caused by the fire on
Rhodes

No 2788 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

No 2782 / 92 by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt ( S ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Community funds for Berlin 1985 to 1992

No 2783 / 92 by Mr Georg Jarzembowski ( PPE ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11.1992 )

Subject : Community funds to Hamburg 1987 to 1991

No 2784 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Improving communications with the regions of western
Europe

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Chios Subject : Public health threat posed by waste from a pig farm on Subject : State

Subject : State aid to shipyards in the former GDR

No 2766 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2789 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Expansion of the Aebe-Elani company to include new
plants

Subject : State aid to shipyards in the former GDR

No 2790 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

No 2767 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : State aid to shipyards in the former GDR

No 2767 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

Subject : The protection of the acropolis of ancient Eressos

No 2768 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2791 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : The cession of Palaiopolis to the former king of Subject : State aid to shipyards in the former GDR

Subject : The cession of Palaiopolis to the former king of
Greece, a private civilian

No 2792 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

No 2769 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : State

Subject : Archaeological digs in Achaeia

Subject : State aid to shipyards in the former GDR

No 2771 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2793 / 92 by Mr Ian White ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : Unemployment benefit
Subject : Extension of the Texaco plant in Achaia

No 2795 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ) to the Commis ­
No 2772 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Diversion of the Acheloos
Subject : Railway services in the Peloponnese

No 2773 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2797 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Earthquake victims in Aghia Triada in Patras Subject : Community aid for NGOs in Chile

No C 32 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 4 . 2 . 93

No 2799 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V ) to the Commission

No 2799 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V ) to the Commission No 2820 / 92 by Franko Borgo, Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )* Giulio

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Fantuzzi ( GUE ), Màuro Chiabrando and Ferruccio Pisoni ( PPE )

Subject : Refusal to provide Community funding for an associa ­ to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
tion for the protection of the brown bear Subject : Implementation of Council Regulation ( EEC ) esta ­

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2800 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Infringement by Greece of the directive on the
conservation of wild birds

Subject : Implementation of Council Regulation ( EEC ) esta ­
blishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops
under the CAP reform

No 2821 / 92 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Measures to combat poverty — breakdown of expendi ­

ture

No 2822 / 92 by Mr Gary Titley ( S ) to the Commission

No 2801 / 92 by Mr Marc Galle ( S ) to the Commission ture
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2822 / 92 by Mr Gary Titley ( S ) to the Commission

Subject : Community representation at sport events ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
No 2802 / 92 by Mr Klaus Wettig ( S ) to the Commission Subject : Support for the victims of crime
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) No 2823 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ) to the Commis ­

Subject : Community agricultural and internal market rules sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Community agricultural and internal market rules

No 2804 / 92 by Mr José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Delays in the infringement procedure

No 2805 / 92 by Mr José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE ) to the
Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Destruction of the artistic and cultural heritage

No 2806 / 92 by Mr Christopher Jackson ( PPE ) to the Commission

Subject : Tunnel under the Timfristos Ridge

No 2824 / 92 by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Specific Community initiatives to promote cultural

, tourism

No 2826 / 92 by Mr Hugh McMahon ( S ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Community directive on recognition of higher educa ­
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) tion diplomas
Subject : Motorcycle noise limits

No 2827 / 92 by Mr Louis Lauga ( RDE ) to the Commission

No 2807 / 92 by Mr Kenneth Coates ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : Use of the ESF in France to promote teaching for the

Subject : Crisis in the European bicycle industry and dumping of children of migrants and migrant workers in their mother tongue

No 2807 / 92 by Mr Kenneth Coates ( S ) to the Commission

Subject : Crisis in the European bicycle industry and dumping of
bicycles from China

No 2828 / 92 by Mr Elmar Brok ( PPE ) to the Commission

No 2808 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : Council directive on measuring systems for liquids

other than water

Subject : Tobacco advertising ban

No 2809 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission No 2830 / 92 by Mrs Catherine Trautmann ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Human rights in Malawi

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Community medical networks

No 2835 / 92 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro ( CG ) to the Commission
No 2810 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : ' Internal market ' publicity campaign
Subject : The Community and sport

No 2836 / 92 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro ( CG ) to the Commission
No 2812 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : The Boel shipyard and the shipbuilding crisis

Subject : Exclusion of Danish writers from consideration for the
European Prize for Literature No 2837 / 92 by Mr James Elles ( PPE ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2813 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission Subject : ITER and Community fusion projects

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Exclusion of Danish writers from consideration for the No 2838 / 92 by Mr Alonso Puerta ( GUE ) to the Commission
European Prize for Literature ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2813 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak ( S ) to the Commission

No 2814 / 92 by Mr Jannis Sakellariou ( S ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Standardization of road signs in the Community

No 2815 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Obstacles to the development of small-scale hydro-elec ­
tric power

No 2816 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Shared costs of the ITER feasibility study

No 2817 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) to the Commis ­
sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Conservation of the monk seal

Subject : Projected construction of a toxic waste treatment plant
in Jabalí Viejo ( Murcia, Spain )

No 2839 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Greek olive oil scandal

No 2840 / 92 by Mr Georgios Romeos ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Public information campaign for 1993

No 2841 / 92 by Mrs Lissy Gröner ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Rhine-Main-Danube Canal

No 2844 / 92 by Mrs Kirsten Jensen ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Danish enterprise zones

4 . 2 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 32 / 51

No 2845 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission No 2857 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission
( 16.11.1992 ) ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Recycling of scrap metals Subject : Breach of Community export control

No ( 16 . 11 2846 . 1992 / 92 ) by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission No 2861 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE ) to the Commis ­

sion ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Radioactive waste management

Subject : Zoos in the Attica region
No 2847 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) No 2862 / 92 by James Janssen van Raay, Bartho Pronk ( PPE ) and
Subject : Experts on atomic / nuclear committees Alman Metten ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2848 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission Subject : Bank charges
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Economically poor States No 2863 / 92 by Mr Karl-Heinz Florenz ( PPE ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

No 2850 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission Subject : Safety on European ferries

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Decommissioning of nuclear power plants No 2864 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) to the Commission

No 2851 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Management of tritium-containing wastes

No 2852 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Directive on freedom of information on the environ ­

ment

No 2853 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

Subject : Transplant legislation

No 2865 / 92 by Mr Christian de la Malène ( RDE ) to the
Commission ( 16.11.1992 )

Subject : The recycling of paper in Community institutions

No 2866 / 92 by Mr Louis Lauga ( RDE ) to the Commission

No 2853 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : European rosin production

Subject : Planned expenditure committed to comprehensive

strategy No 2870 / 92 Mrs Banotti

No 2870 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission

No 2854 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission

( 16 . 11 . 1992 )

( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) Subject : Official Secrets Law — Community proposal

Subject : Restoration of contaminated land
No 2871 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission

No 2855 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Green Paper on the urban environment
Subject : Environmental pollution information

No 2856 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith ( S ) to the Commission No 2872 / 92 by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE ) to the Commission
( 16 . 11 . 1992 ) ( 16 . 11 . 1992 )
Subject : Designated fisheries and water quality in the United Subject : Legal situation in the Community regarding ' mate de
Kingdom coca '