Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 280
# Official Journal

Volume 36

### of the European Communities

##### English edition Information and Notices

18 October 1993

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

93 / C 280 / 01 No 2071 / 90 by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Mr José Alvarez de Paz to the
Commission

Subject : The status of foreigners, European citizenship and development cooperation 1

93 / C 280 / 02 No 525 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Implementing powers 2

93 / C 280 / 03 No 2094 / 91 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject : Film and television industry 2

93 / C 280 / 04 No 2542 / 91 by Mr David Martin to the Commission
Subject : Unisys ' withdrawal from Livingston, Scotland 2

93 / C 280 / 05 No 2741 / 91 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Community policy concerning the protection of the badger 3

93 / C 280 / 06 No 2906 / 91 by Mr Luigi Vertemati, Mr Gianni Baget Bozzo, Mr Pierre Camiti,
Mr Vincenzo Mattina and Mr Franco Iacono to the Commission

Subject : The reconstruction of the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari 3

93 / C 280 / 07 No 3023 / 91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Funding for small and medium-sized undertakings ( SMUs ) in projects forming part of the
Community framework programmes for research and technological development 4

93 / C 280 / 08 No 3088 / 91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Special information networks to promote participation by small and medium-sized
undertakings ( SMUs ) in projects forming part of the Community framework programmes for
research and technological development 4

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3023 / 91 and 3088 / 91 4

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

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Contents ( continued ) Page

No 37 / 92 by Mrs Janey Buchan to the Commission
Subject : EC adjustment of fishing capacity policy

No 83 / 92 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Persecution of tortoises

No 631 / 92 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : Training in homeopathy teaching in Eastern Europe

No 886 / 92 by Mr Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject : Aid to Eastern Europe and the CIS

No 1117 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Drafting of the fourth framework programme for research and technological development
— obtaining a more complete picture of the views of the governments of the Member States

No 1193 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the antiquities of Pilos

No 1294 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Clophen in two lakes

No 1502 / 92 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : Competition problems faced by the German printed circuit board industry

No 1525 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : A homosexual who has left Britain for the Netherlands

No 1699 / 92 by Mrs Lissy Gröner to the Commission
Subject : Mistreatment and murder of children in Guatemala by the police ; Community
assistance

No 1750 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the antique remains at Sounion

No 1841 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Construction of a hotel on the site of the Parliament of Psara

No 2101 / 92 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Funding for the Tariffa wind farm under the Valoren programme and the environmental
impact assessment

No 2103 / 92 by Mr Yves Frémion to the Commission
Subject : Community funding for the Roman art centre in Conques ( France )

No 2108 / 92 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject : Jean Monnet action programme

No ^ 280 / 92 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Encouraging energy crops by detaxing fuel from biomass instead of paying for land
set-aside

No 2307 / 92 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls

No 2345 / 92 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Multifibre arrangement

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93 / C 280 / 27 No 2409 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Agreements concerning the production of new memory chips 14

93 / C 280 / 28 No 2421 / 92 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies to associations and other institutions from the Community budget 15

93 / C 280 / 29 No 2489 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Lighthouses 15

93 / C 280 / 30 No 2508 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Granting of asylum in the Community 15

93 / C 280 / 31 No 2575 / 92 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community participation in the development of programmes approved by the Latin
American summit in Madrid 16

93 / C 280 / 32 No 2616 / 92 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject : Greek contracts for engineering works 16

93 / C 280 / 33 No 2643 / 92 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Fuel cell technology 17

93 / C 280 / 34 No 2658 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Industrial relations and social dialogue — utilization of appropriations B 3-4000 .... 17

93 / C 280 / 35 No 2762 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The fight against hepatitis A 18

93 / C 280 / 36 No 2784 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Improving communications with the regions of western Europe 18

93 / C 280 / 37 No 2854 / 92 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Restoration of contaminated land 19

93 / C 280 / 38 No 2957 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the environment from industrial waste at Patras 19

93 / C 280 / 39 No 3036 / 92 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission
Subject : Newly discovered occupational disease in the textile printing sector in the district of Alcoy
( Spain ) 20

93 / C 280 / 40 No 3080 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Progress under the Community Support Framework for Greece — natural gas 20

93 / C 280 / 41 No 3107 / 92 by Mr Francois Guillaume to the Commission
Subject : Vineyard register 21

93 / C 280 / 42 No 3108 / 92 by Mr Francois Guillaume to the Commission
Subject : Vineyard register 21

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3107 / 92 and 3108 / 92 21

93 / C 280 / 43 No 3110 / 92 by Mrs Marie-Anne Isler Beguin to the Commission
Subject : Community funding of a project for a motor car circuit at Morhange ( France ) 23

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No 3111 / 92 by Mrs Marie-Anne Isler Beguin to the Commission
Subject : Conversion of former military bases 23

No 3125 / 92 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of simplifying ' red tape ' for businesses 23

No 3128 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Council Directive on conservation of natural habitats and of wild
flora and fauna 24

No 3154 / 92 by Mrs Marlene Lenz to the Commission
Subject : Completion of the preparatory period prior to authorization to practise as a dentist
participating in a health insurance scheme and the freedom of establishment of dentists as between
the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany 25

No 3161 / 92 by Mr Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Compatibility of the German Law to accelerate transport planning and the EC Directive on
environmental impact assessments ( EIAs ) 25

No 3193 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Toxic gas methyl bromide contained in pesticides 26

No 3201 / 92 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Lloyd 's of London 26

No 3228 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Reduction of the fishing fleet 27

No 3229 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : European Law Academy 27

No 3251 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Twinning of towns in the Community 27

No 3264 / 92 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities 28

No 3268 / 92 by Mr Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Dangers to the population of La Spezia ( Italy ) arising from the activities of a power station
operated there by ENEL ( Ente Nazionale Energia Elettrica ) 28

No 3287 / 92 by Mr Karmelo Landa Mendibe to the Commission
Subject : Community-funded projects in the Basque Country ( Euskalherria ) 29

No 3290 / 92 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Spain 's financial contributions to the running of research and development centres 29

No 3292 / 92 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Tourist centre in Mullaghmore Burren ) in Ireland 30

No 3307 / 92 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Regional policy and the diversion of the River Acheloos 30

No 3340 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Inclusion of citrus fruits and Community aid 30

No 3355 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Situation in the textile industry 31

No 3363 / 92 by Mrs Kirsten Jensen to the Commission
Subject : EC set-aside arrangements and nitrate leaching 32

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93 / C 280 / 63 No 3366 / 92 by Mrs Marie Anne Isler Beguin to the Commission
Subject : Liquidation of Messrs UFP 32

93 / C 280 / 64 No 3373 / 92 by Mr Paul Lannoye and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission

Subject : ' Environmental impact assessment ' directive 33

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No 3396 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Discriminatory practices by employers 34

No 3409 / 92 by Mr Detlev Samland to the Commission
Subject : Exemption from TPA for end-user customers in the US energy law 34

No 3455 / 92 by Mr Klaus Hansch to the Commission
Subject : Internal market for electricity and natural gas 35

No 3460 / 92 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Campaign of intimidation against producers, traders and consumers of tobacco 36

93 / C 280 / 69 No 3478 / 92 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission

Subject : Dredging the River Genal ( Andalusia ) 36

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No 3481 / 92 by Mr Niall Andrews to the Commission
Subject : Erasmus 37

No 3490 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The dry docks at Chania 37

No 3494 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Research by the National Statistical Service of Greece 38

No 3497 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Biological purification in Patras 38

No 23 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Social security card 38

No 29 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of poultry farming 39

No 59 / 93 by Mr Luigi Moretti to the Commission
Subject : Public procurement 39

No 107 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Results of annual evaluations of the Commission 's decision on an operational programme
for vocational training in Andalusia 40

No 206 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Treatment of stunted growth and the Creutzfeld-Jacob disease 40

No 322 / 93 by Mr Gerd Müller to the Commission
Subject : ' Eco-point ' system introduced on 1 January 1993 for vehicles in transit through
Austria 41

No 336 / 93 by Mr Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Interregional cooperation 41

No 349 / 93 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the Gulf of Arta ( Amvrakikos Kolpos ) 41

( Continued overleaf )

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No 358 / 93 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : ESF payment delays 42

No 391 / 93 by Mr Patrick Cooney to the Commission
Subject : Agriculture 43

No 392 / 93 by Mr Patrick Cooney to the Commission
Subject : Treaty on European Union 43

No 482 / 93 by Mr Michel Debatisse to the Commission
Subject : Council Directive laying down health rules for the production and placing on the market of
raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products 43

No 489 / 93 by Mr Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Road tax for vehicles in Greece 44

No 496 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Transportation of plutonium by air 45

No 546 / 93 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Languages at Commission press conferences 45

No 586 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : German privatization programme 45

No 627 / 93 by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz to the Commission
Subject : Measures to promote the activities of cinema clubs ( Media programme ) 47

93 / C 280 / 91 No 662 / 93 by Mr George Patterson to the Commission

Subject : EC emergency aid for disasters within the Community 47

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No 670 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Structural funds : programme sub-measures 48

No 671 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Structural funds : programme sub-measures 48

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 670 / 93 and 671 / 93 48

No 710 / 93 by Mrs Nicole Fontaine to the Commission
Subject : Duties on alcohol 48

No 747 / 93 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : German development aid for Indonesia 49

No 761 / 93 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Council
Subject : Women refugees 49

No 811 / 93 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Damage to woodlands in Greece 50

No 869 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Enrolment of a lawyer in a professional association 50

No 881 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Need to repeal Greek legislation in breach of international labour conventions 50

No 892 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Laws and regulations of the Member States relating to compensation for occupational
diseases 51

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 280 / 101 No 893 / 93 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Elimination of substandard housing on Community territory 52

93 / C 280 / 102 No 912 / 93 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject : Projects to be supported by the Cohesion Fund 52

93 / C 280 / 103 No 1106 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Preliminary lists of projects submitted by Spain for the Cohesion Fund 52

93 / C 280 / 104 No 1249 / 93 by Mr Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : Spanish projects financed by the Cohesion Fund 53

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 912 / 93, 1106 / 93 and 1249 / 93 53

93 / C 280 / 105 No 919 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Europe Agreement with Bulgaria 53

93 / C 280 / 106 No Subject 922 : Patent / 93 by law Mrs Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl to the Commission i 54

93 / C 280 / 107 No 928 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Travel allowances for airline pilots in Ireland 54

93 / C 280 / 108 No 952 / 93 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : EEC vocational training funds 54

93 / C 280 / 109 No 982 / 93 by Mr Peter Price to the Commission
Subject : The new Community emergency telephone number 55

T                                         

93 / C 280 / 110 No 1006 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Lead in petrol 56

93 / C 280 / 111 No 1017 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Biotechnology in Cuba 56

93 / C 280 / 112 No 1037 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Tacis programme                   - 57

93 / C 280 / 113 No 1069 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Life-saving drugs 57

93 / C 280 / 114 No 1088 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Protection of Iraqi children 57

93 / C 280 / 115 No 1102 / 93 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of qualifications 58

93 / C 280 / 116 No 1192 / 93 by Mr Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Sesam exchange programme for young people 58

93 / C 280 / 117 No 1256 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to European Political Cooperation
Subject : ' Ethnic cleansing ' and human rights violations in Myanmar ( Burma ) 59

93 / C 280 / 118 No 1266 / 93 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Structural funding for roads in Ireland 60

( Continued overleaf )

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93 / C 280 / 119 No 1339 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : ' Green tax ' on fuel 60

93 / C 280 / 120 No 1356 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : International War Crimes Tribunal 60

93 / C 280 / 121 No 1359 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : A solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis 61

93 / C 280 / 122 No 1362 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : The situation of the Tuareg people 61

93 / C 280 / 123 No 1375 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Role of the drug khat in the war between armed bands in Somalia 62

93 / C 280 / 124 No 1433 / 93 by Mr Jan Bertens and Mr Karel de Gucht to European Political
Cooperation
Subject : Worsening situation in Cambodia 62

93 / C 280 / 125 No 1457 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Expulsion of the chairman of the Himarë Association from Albania 63

93 / C 280 / 126 No 1469 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to European Political Cooperation
Subject : New prospects in the context of the Spratly Islands 63

93 / C 280 / 127 No 1504 / 93 by Mr Anthony Simpson to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Duties of Commissioners 64

93 / C 280 / 128 No 1569 / 93 by Mr Max Simeoni to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Disappearance of Mr Jacky Bleunven ( French ) in Pakistan 64

93 / C 280 / 129 No 1577 / 93 by Mr Michael Welsh to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Persecutions of Christians and Animists in Sudan 65

93 / C 280 / 130 No 1589 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Departure of former Soviet troops from the Baltic States 66

93 / C 280 / 131 No 1661 / 93 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : ' Cohesion ' projects in Ireland 66

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 1

I

( Information )

###### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2071 / 90 integration of immigrants ; this report has been presented to

Parliament . The Commission would also refer the

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso and

Honourable Members to its communication to the Council

Mr José Alvarez de Paz ( S )

and Parliament on immigration ( 2 ) and the Guidelines for a
to the Commission of the European Communities Community policy on migration ( 3 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2071 / 90

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso and

Mr José Alvarez de Paz ( S )

(S September 1990 )

( 93 / C 280 / 01 )

Subject : The status of foreigners, European citizenship and

development cooperation

The protection of the rights of Community citizens in the
Europe of the future should not be at the expense of human
rights in general ( at home and abroad ). There is a danger
that any administrative or legal discrepancies in the status of
foreigners will be reflected in racist and xenophobic
arguments as a basis for the acceptance and justification of
other forms of discrimination .

Will the Commission devise an appropriate formula to
extend the plans for prospective European citizenship
proposed by Mr Felipe Gonzalez, the Spanish Prime
Minister, to include foreigners legally resident in the
European Community ?

Does it consider that a genuine policy of integration, which
takes account of the families of foreign workers could be a
major contribution to development and cooperation with
many of their countries of origin ?

Does the Commission have any material analysing this
question ?

Answer given by Mr Delors (*)

It is a constant factor of the Community approach that the
aim should be equality of treatment in living and working
conditions for all migrants, whatever their origin, and
workers who are nationals .

The Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights
of Workers states that ' it is for the Member States to

guarantee that workers from non-member countries . . .
who are legally resident . . . are able to enjoy, as regards their
living and working conditions, treatment comparable to
that enjoyed by workers who are nationals of the Member
State concerned ', in a spirit of non-discrimination, with a
view to combating social exclusion .

The Community supports actions by the NGOs to improve
the social framework for workers from non-member

countries residing legally on the territory of its Member
States .

On the question of the status of the European citizen,
Article 8 ( 1 ) of the draft Treaty on European Union states
that ' every person holding the nationality of a Member State
shall be a citizen of the Union '.

(*) The Commission apologizes for the delay in answering this

question .

on behalf of the Commission ( 2 ) SEC(91 ) 1855 final
( 3 ) COM(85 ) 48 final .

( 2 ) SEC(91 ) 1855 final .

(2 July 1993 )

At the request of the Strasbourg European Council, the
Commission asked for an expert report on the social

No C 280 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 4 . 10 . 93

QUESTION No 525 / 91 A2-347 / 88 ) ( J ) Parliament requested the Commission to

Kenneth Collins ( S ) submit a study on the remaining customs and other

obstacles preventing the free movement of goods, services

of the European Communities and persons in this sector . The Commission was also

March 1991 ) requested to examine whether Member States had

( 93 / C 280 / 02 implemented Directive 63 / 607 / EEC ( 2 ) and whether any
amendments were needed to that Directive .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 525 / 91

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

( 26 March 1991 )

Subject : Implementing powers
What are the Commission 's findings ?

On point 914 of the Commission 's annual general report on
the activities of the European Community, it is stated ' that
Council has again kept the implementing powers for itself
and not conferred them on the Commission '.

(!) OJ No C 69, 20 . 3 . 1989, p . 138 .
( 2 ) OJ No 159, 2 . 11 . 1963, p . 2661 / 63 .

Could the Commission please state on how many occasions
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro
this has happened and list those instances ? on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission In monitoring the implementation of Community law, the

(2 July 1 993 ) Commission has given special attention to the audiovisual

sector, since the creation of a European audiovisual space
requires the removal of obstacles to the free movement of
The Commission would inform the Honourable Member goods, services and persons in this sector .
that it does not keep a systematic list of cases where the
them on Council reserves the Commission executive . powers rather than conferring The restrictive practices in this area which have been the

(2 July 1 993 )

The Commission would, however, point out the following
few agricultural directives which may be of relevance in this
regard :

pesticide residues :

Directive 90 / 642 / EEC on pesticide residues in and on
certain agricultural products, including fruit and
vegetables ;

Directives 86 / 362 / EEC and 86 / 363 / EEC on pesticide
residues in and on cereals and foodstuffs of animal

The restrictive practices in this area which have been the
subject of infringement procedures include the restriction on
foreigners acquiring capital in national radio broadcasting
bodies, the ban on retransmitting by cable any programmes
from other Member States which contain advertisements

specifically targeted at the public in the country of
retransmission, linguistic restrictions and the economic
repercussions on the audiovisual industry in the country of
retransmission .

Directive 63 / 607 / EEC is one of the directives designed to

Directives 86 / 362 / EEC and 86 / 363 / EEC on pesticide remove obstacles to the freedom of establishment and the
residues in and on cereals and foodstuffs of animal freedom to provide services, but most of its provisions are

origin »   - ; superfluous, since the Court of Justice of the European

Communities has ruled that Articles 52, 59 ( 1 ) and 60 ( 3 ) ( J )
veterinary matters : are to have direct effect . Consequently, there are no plans to
amend this Directive .

»      origin ;

Directive 90 / 667 / EEC laying down the veterinary
rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste,
for its placing on the market and for the prevention
of pathogens in feedstuffs of animal or fish origin
and amending Directive 30 / 425 / EEC .

(*) Case 2 / 74 Reyners [ 1974 ] ECR 631 ; Case 33 / 74 van Binsbergen

[ 1974 ] ECR 1299 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2542 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2094 / 91

by Mr Gijs de Vries ( LDR )

by Mr David Martin ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities
(8 November 1991 )

( 26 September 1991 )

( 93 / C 280 / 04 )
( 93 / C 280 / 03 )

Subject : Film and television industry

In its resolution of 16 February 1989 on the European film
and television industry ( De Vries report, Doc .

Subject : Unisys ' withdrawal from Livingston, Scotland

Does the European Commission consider it to be unfair
competition for companies such as Unisys to receive

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 3

£ 8 million of government grants to set up a plant in
Livingston, West Lothian, and then to withdraw weeks after
a three-year penalty deadline, causing 686 redundancies ?

appropriate to ensure that the species is protected and its
numbers monitored . Only certain methods of capture are
prohibited .

If so, would the Commission propose bringing forward such
proposals as : a ten year penalty clause ; enhanced
redundancy payments ; transparency of operations in order
to create a level playing-field inside the European internal
market ?

Commission propose bringing forward such In the technical discussions relating to the Annexes to
: a ten year penalty clause ; enhanced Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
payments ; transparency of operations in order conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora,
playing-field inside the European internal the experts from the 12 Member States did not consider that

the badger was endangered throughout the Community and
therefore felt that there was no justification for including it
in any of the Annexes to the Directive . However, under the
terms of Article 1 1 of the Directive, the Member States must
ensure the surveillance of the conservation status of wild
Answer given by Mr Van Miert
fauna — including the badger — in their territory .

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the reply to his oral question H - 1032 / 91 which it gave
during question time at Parliament 's November 1991
part-session ( J ). WRITTEN QUESTION No 2906 / 91

by Mr Luigi Vertemati, Mr Gianni Baget Bozzo, Mr Pierre

(!) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-411 ( November Camiti, Mr Vincenzo Mattina and Mr Franco Iacono ( S )

1991 . to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 December 1991 )

( 93 / C 280 / 06

Subject : The reconstruction of the Petruzzelli Theatre in

Bari

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2741 / 91

by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 November 1991 )

( 93 / C 280 / 05 )

Subject : Community policy concerning the protection of

the badger

According to my information, none of the Member States

( apart from the Netherlands, and, to a lesser extent, the
United Kingdom and Belgium ) are pursuing any policies
under the Berne Convention to protect the badger .

Can the Commission investigate the matter and, if this
proves to be true, take the necessary measures to ensure
proper compliance with the Berne Convention ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The badger is listed in Annex III to the Berne Convention on
the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats, which
means that it is not strictly protected . Therefore, it is for the
contracting parties to take the measures they consider

On 27 October 1991 the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari, which
was opened in February 1903 and was one of the most
notable examples of theatre architecture of this century, was
completely destroyed by fire . Investigations are currently
under way in order to ascertain the cause of the fire and
determine responsibility . The Bari municipal authorities and
the Puglia regional authorities intend to rebuild the theatre
as soon as possible which, according to preliminary
estimates, will cost Lit 45 — 50 billion . The Puglia regional
authorities intend to request EC aid .

1 . What mesures, if any, will the Commission take ?

2 . What Community funds can be made available for the
reconstruction of a historical monument and under

which heading ?

3 . What steps must be taken by the local authorities in

order to secure direct assistance from the

Community ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

Each year, among its measures to protect the architectural
heritage, the Commission has a programme for the selection

No C 280 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

of pilot projects for the conservation of monuments and / or
sites in Europe .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3088 / 91

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

The selection is made by a panel of international experts by ( 13 January 1992 )
reference to a particular theme published in the Official ( 93 / C 280 / 08
Journal each year . In 1993 the theme is ' historical gardens ',

and in 1994 it will be ' theatres, concert halls, cinemas and
similar buildings '.

The Commission would, however, remind the Honourable
Member that only conservation work can be taken into
consideration for the programme — and not restoration or
reconstruction lor instance .

Under its regional policy, the Commission does not preclude
the possibility of granting funds for the reconstruction of the
Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari provided the Italian authorities
make an application in accordance with the procedures laid
down in the Structural Funds Regulations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3023 / 91

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 January 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 07 )

Subject : Funding for small and medium-sized undertakings

( SMUs ) in projects forming part of the Community
framework programmes for research and
technological development

A recent Commission study on the erects of Community
framework programmes for research and technological
development in terms of economic and social cohesion
revealed a particularly low level of participation by SMUs .
In this particular sector, the less-developed areas ( Greece,
southern Italy and Portugal ) are facing very serious
problems . The remedies proposed by this study include a
25 % increase in structural fund appropriations for
participation by SMUs in projects forming part of the
Community framework programme for research and
technological development . This would be in addition to the
maximum 50% funding agreed under the third framework

programme .

What view does the Commission take of this and what

specific measures will it take in this direction ?

Subject : Special information networks to promote
participation by small and medium-sized
undertakings ( SMUs ) in projects forming part of
the Community framework programmes for
research and technological development

A recent Commission study on the effects of Community
framework programmes for research and technological
development on economic and social cohesion revealed a
particularly low level of participation by SMUs . In this
particular sector, the less developed areas ( Greece, southern
Italy and Portugal ) are facing very serious problems owing
to, amongst other things, the lack of adequate, systematic
and accessible information . The remedies proposed by this
study include the earmarking of Structural Fund
appropriations for the introduction and operation of
information networks to promote participation by SMUs in
projects forming part of the Community framework
programmes for research and technological development .
What view does the Commission take of this and what

specific measures will it take in this direction ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 3023 / 91 and 3088 / 91

given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the cohesion gap in the field of
the RTD in the Community and its strategic importance for
the development efforts of the less-favoured regions .

The fourth framework programme will present
opportunities to facilitate access of small and medium-sized
enterprises ( SMEs ) from less-favoured regions to
cooperation research projects and networks, including :

— specific schemes, addressing the needs and problems of

SMEs, based on the experience gained under the
' CRAFT ' and ' feasibility awards ' actions presently in
operation within Brite / Euram,

— the dissemination of information and the results of

research,

— the application and incorporation of new technologies

and of the results of research in industry, in particular
within SMEs,

— promoting networking ( between firms, scientists,
technology centres, cities ),

— the training and mobility of research workers ( avoiding

the phenomenon of the ' brain drain '),

introducing research actions related more specifically to
the less-favoured regions and social groups .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 5

The Structural Funds already provide many opportunities to

fund activities of this kind but the take-up of these
opportunities depends on the Member States and regions
concerned . For the future, the Commission believes it could
be contrary to the non-sectorial character of development
funds for the Commission to earmark funds in advance for

the purpose of promoting participation in the RTD
framework programme . Nevertheless the Commission will
be willing to encourage Member States to take this issue into
consideration along with other priorities .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

The general rules of Community action to adapt the capacity
of the Community fishing fleet, including the rules for
temporary laying-up or permanent cessation of fishing
activity are contained in Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 4028 / 86 as amended most recently, by Regulation

( EEC ) No 3946 / 92 ( J ). On 2 February 1988 the
Commission adopted a Decision ( 88 / 163 / EEC ) ( 2 ) based on
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 relating to requests for
reimbursement .

QUESTION No 37 / 92 From 1987, the first year of operation of the scheme,

Janey Buchan ( S ) Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy,

the Netherlands and Portugal have operated measures for

of the European Communities the grant of permanent cessation premiums, and Germany,

February 1992 ) Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal for the granting of

( 93 / C 280 / 09 ) temporary laying-up premiums .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 37 / 92

by Mrs Janey Buchan ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 February 1992 )

Subject : EC adjustment of fishing capacity policy

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 ( ] ) ' Community
measures to improve and adapt structures in the fisheries
and aquaculture sector ' as amended by Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 3944 / 90 ( 2 ) contains the basic regulations on the
policy for the decommissioning of EC vessels . What other
communications and regulations are there covering this
policy ?

Which Member States have so far agreed to the
implementation of the policy and when ? What exactly is
requested of the Member States in terms of drawing up the
necessary legislation and establishing procedures within the
relevant Ministries for the effective implementation of the
policy ? What are the procedures used by the individual
Member States for reporting to the Community on the state
of the decommissioning programme and the disbursement
of the compensation .

What was the amount of compensation under the
decommissioning policy received by the individual Member
States in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and if available in

1991 ?

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3944 / 90 contains the
guidelines on Community aid to joint enterprises, first
implemented in 1991 . What are the procedures for
application by joint enterprises for financial compensation
under this regulation ? Which body decides on the granting
of the financial compensation ? What are the criteria ? Is the
vessel concerned under obligation to continue flying the flag
of the Member State in which the European side of the joint
enterprise is based ?

H OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 380, 31 . 12 . 1990, p . 1 .

Member States which grant a laying-up premium or final
cessation premium are only required to forward to the
Commission, as soon as they come into force, the laws,
regulations or administrative provisions governing the grant
of such premiums ( Article 25 ). Member States have to
follow the procedures laid down by Decision 88 / 163 / EEC in
requesting reimbursement by the Commission of sums paid .
It permits requests for reimbursement to be made on a
quarterly basis in a prescribed form, which includes an
annual report . Member States also have to retain records at
the disposition of the Commission for a period of three

years .

The amounts of Community reimbursement per Member
State for the years 1987 —1991 are shown in the table sent
direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament 's

Secretariat .

The procedures for the constitution of joint enterprises are
established by Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 and formal
procedures for requesting Community support by
Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 1956 / 91 ( 3 ) of 21 June
1991 . Under Regulation . ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 the
Commission is given the responsibility for the granting of
Community aid . This it does following criteria contained in
Articles 21a — 21d of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 and in
Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 1956 / 91 . A vessel
subject to a grant of aid is obliged to change the flag of
Member State concerned to the flag of the third country for
the constitution of the joint enterprises .

0 ) OJ No L 401, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 72, 8 . 3 . 1988 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 181, 8 . 7 . 1991 .

No C 280 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 83 / 92

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 February 1992 )

Such legal provisions must, under Council Directive
92 / 43 / EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora ( 2 ), by 21 July 1994,
afford strict protection to these three species .

93 / C 280 / 10
(!) OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

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

Subject : Persecution of tortoises

It is reported in the Tortoise Trust Newsletter of
5 November 1991 that these little animals are being killed in
the most barbaric way in certain parts of the
Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 63 1 / 92

Now that they can no longer be legally exported as pets by Mr Henry Chabert
under CITES, these animals are regarded as expendable . to the Commission of the
Some are said to be thrown into pits, drenched with petrol

( 23 March 1992

and then set alight . Others are used as living hardcore when
building roads ! ( 93 / C 280 / 11 )

by Mr Henry Chabert ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 March 1992 )

Furthermore an industry has developed in which the little
creatures are ' agonizingly killed ' so that their carapaces can
be used to fabricate imitation musical instruments to be sold

to tourists .

Tortoises are not vermin . They may serve as food to birds of
prey and to some human beings . They should not be
persecuted in the ways described above .

Will the Commission take appropriate steps to put a stop to
this carnage ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

i

( 28 June 1993 )

The Commission has not found evidence of large scale
destruction of land tortoises . The burning of tortoises and
building roads with their shells are not known to have been
widespread practice at any time in the Community .

The reference to musical instruments relates to land

tortoises that are likely to be illegally imported from north
Africa, namely Morocco, where they originate and are
killed . The Commission would point out that under Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 on the implementation in the
Community of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( J ) three
species of land tortoise, Testudo graeca, T. hermanni and T.
marginata, are considered to be endangered and therefore
cannot be imported or exported for primarily commercial
purposes . Furthermore internal Community trade is
prohibited under Article 6 of the Regulation concerned,
unless the specimens were taken from the wild under legal
provisions in force in a Member State or with the approval
of the competent authorities of that Member State

( Article 6.1 ( d ) of the Regulation ).

Subject : Training in homeopathy teaching in Eastern

Europe

With regard to the Phare programme and the agreements
concluded between Eastern Europe and the Community on
the one hand and between each of the Community Member
States and each of the former Comecon countries on the

other, can the Commission say whether there are provisions
to promote - the training in homeopathy in Eastern
Europe ?

If no specific reference is made to homeopathy can the
Commission state which provisions in each ( trade,
cooperation etc .) agreement could serve as a legal basis for
undertakings wishing to promote the training in
homeopathy in each of the Eastern European countries ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

Homeopathy has not so far been given priority under Phare
in the context either of health service reforms or of further
education programmes ( e.g. the Tempus programme ), nor is
it mentioned in the cooperation agreements or Europe
Agreements .

Bodies wishing to promote training in homeopathy are free
to get in touch with the departments of health and faculties
of medicine in the countries concerned with a view to having
homeopathic methods included in the curricula of training
or refresher courses .

18 . 10 . 93 Official journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 7

WRITTEN QUESTION No 886 / 92 already caused numerous problems on previous
occasions ?

by Mr Paul Howell ( ED )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 12 )

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

Subject : Aid to Eastern Europe and the CIS

The documents in which the various delegations in the
Council express their views on certain Community policies

Will the Commission list t he aid programmes on offer to the are routinely used in helping to shape the opinion of the
countries these programmes of Eastern ? Europe and the CIS and the values of should Council receive of Ministers these documents . However is, the entirely decision a matter as to for who the

delegations concerned .
Will the Commission also list the value of the take-up of
these programmes, the title of these programmes and their
location ?

Will the Commission list t he aid programmes on offer to the
countries of Eastern Europe and the CIS and the values of
these programmes ?

Will the Commission also list the national programmes such
as the UK ' Know How ' fund and their value, location and
make-up ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 93 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 May 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 14 )
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a number
of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the
Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 1 7 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 May 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 13

Subject : Drafting of the fourth framework programme for

research and technological development —
obtaining a more complete picture of the views of
the governments of the Member States

At a recent meeting held to discuss the broad outlines of
Community policy on research and technological
development, in particular the fourth framework
programme, mention was made of documents submitted on
this subject by the United Kingdom and Germany .

Can the Commission give details of the existence and
availability of similar documents from the governments of
the other Member States or state whether such documents

expected to be submitted during the period in which
Parliament is discussing this important matter, which has

Subject : Protection of the antiquities of Pilos

As a back-up to the building of a marina in the port of Pilos
in Messinia, authorization has been given to open a quarry a
short distance from the town and 150 metres from the main

Pilos-Kalamata road . However, apart from the hazards to
traffic on the road caused by blasting, the quarrying has
completely destroyed part of an ancient arched aqueduct .
Quarrying is also endangering a Byzantine monastery and a
chapel of great archaeological value . Will the Commission
intervene to ensure that the Greek Government takes steps
to put an immediate end to this contravention of the
law ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 1993 )

A quarry is classified as an Annex II project by Directive
85 / 337 / EEC i 1 ), and as such the Member States ' competent
authorities must examine whether an environmental impact
assessment is required under Article 4 ( 2 ).

If the competent authorities consider that such an
assessment should be carried out, it should comprise inter
alia a description of the aspects of the environment likely to

be significantly affected by the project including effects on
the architectural and archeological heritage .

From the information provided, there has not been an
infringement of Community legislation . The Commission,
however, would be happy to consider further relevant
information .

H OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

No C 280 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1294 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 15 )

Subject : Clophen in two lakes

A study carried out by the Greek National Chemical
Laboratory into the polychlorinated biphenyl content of the
waters of the two Macedonian lakes of Vegoritis and Petrai
has revealed that it is above the internationally permissible
levels . These substances derive from the waste water from

electricity generating stations run by the National Electricity
Board and are used mainly in transformers and condensers .
According to the chemical laboratory 's data, the PCB
content fluctuates between 0,1 and 0,18 per litre of water

( PPB ). The maximum permissible content in drinking water
under international standards is 0,1 PPB . Can the
Commission accept this poisoning of the environment
without the Community institutions taking any action ?
How does the Commission intend to deal with the

matter ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

Limit values in Council Directive 80 / 778 / EEC relating to the
quality of water i 1 ) intended for human consumption, only
apply to drinking water and not to the lakes of
Macedonia .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1502 / 92

by Mr Gerhard Schmid ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 16

Subject : Competition problems faced by the German
printed circuit board industry

Strict environmental regulations in the Federal Republic
have forced German manufacturers of printed circuit
boards ( electronic components ) to invest heavily . Various
far-eastern countries are flooding the European market with

cheap products and driving out domestic producers . The
cost advantages enjoyed by these far-eastern producers are
in no small measure due to appalling environmental
standards and inhuman working conditions in their
respective countries .

1 . Is the Commission aware of these distortions of

competition ?

2 . What does the Commission intend to do about this and

does it believe that an anti-dumping change should be
levied on far-eastern manufacturers ' products ? If not,
why not ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

1 . The Commission is aware that differences in

environmental requirements, just like differences in, for
example, wage costs, safety provisions or quality standards,
can give rise to cost advantages based on a producer 's choice
of production site and so influence international
competitiveness .

It is nonetheless the fundamental right of every government
to set the parameters for economic activity on its sovereign
territory in the light of relevant factors . This rule ceases to
apply only where countries are bound by an international
agreement to adhere to certain standards . Problems arising
from such an agreement would then, however, have to be
resolved in accordance with its provisions . This in itself is
sufficient to rule out Community action on the basis of the
EEC Treaty 's competition rules .

k

2 . The commercial policy instrument mentioned, namely
an anti-dumping complaint, is not designed to compensate
for competitive disadvantages attributable to differing levels
of environmental control on the production of goods in
non-member countries . The introduction of antidumping or
countervailing duties is a defence against dumped or
subsidized imports . In GATT 's internationally binding
anti-dumping code, dumping is defined as the sale abroad of
goods at prices below their normal value, which is generally
the price charged by the foreign supplier for comparable
sales on its domestic market . An exporting country 's cost
advantages over the country of import, regardless of
whether they are the result of lower wage costs or
environmental overheads, are not therefore grounds for an
anti-dumping complaint under the law as it now stands .

I

The initiation of an anti-dumping procedure depends,
moreover, on the representatives of the Community
industry that considers itself injured by imports lodging a
complaint to that effect with the Commission .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1525 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 17 )

Subject : A homosexual who has left Britain for the

Netherlands

The Netherlands has recently given the British homosexual
Prychodsky, who had fled from Britain, permission to stay
in the Netherlands ; he was at risk of being prosecuted and
sentenced for having had sexual relations with a
17-year-old .

1 . Does the Commission consider that discrimination

between heterosexuals and homosexuals in various

countries, where sexual rights and freedoms are
concerned ( as regards the age of consent, for instance ), is
compatible with the principles of non-discrimination as
enshrined in inter alia the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights and the European Convention on
Human Rights ( Articles 9, 10 and 14 )?

2 . Will the Commission point out to the British
Government that it is violating human rights
conventions ( and the EC ] Treaty ) through its unequal
treatment of homosexuals and lesbians, which is laid
down by law ?

3 . What practical initiatives and measures will the
Commission take to :

( a ) guarantee that the principle of the freedom of
movement and residence of persons will also apply
unconditionally to homosexuals and lesbians in the
EC, and

( b ) prevent a situation in which one or more EC

Member States with non-discriminatory laws and
legal principles has / have to serve as a refuge for
persons leaving another Member State — under
duress or otherwise — on account of their sexual

orientation ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

It is up to the European Commission of Human Rights to
consider alleged breaches of the European Convention on
Human Rights by Contracting Parties once national
remedies have been exhausted .

The Community law provisions on free movement
of workers are based on the principle of
non-discrimination .

The Court of Justice made use of this principle notably in its
REFT ) decision ( Case 59 / 85, ECR 1986, page 1283 ), in
which it ruled that Article 48 of the EEC Treaty must be

interpreted as meaning that a Member State which permits
the unmarried companions of its nationals, who are not
themselves nationals of that Member State, to reside in its
territory cannot refuse to grant the same advantage to
migrant workers who are nationals of other Member
States .

The Court also ruled that in the absence of any indication of
a general social development which would justify a broader
construction, it must be held that the term ' spouse ' in
Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1812 / 88 ( on family
reunion ) refers to a marital relationship only .

For its part, the Commission financed a study in 1992 on the
' European Human Rights Foundation ', under the title
' Homosexuality : a Community issue ', in order to evaluate
" the current situation within the 12 Member States . A

chapter deals with homosexuals and the freedom of
movement of people .

The Commission feels that, at this stage, the current rules,
interpreted by the European Court of Justice, may stand as
they are .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1699 / 92

by Mrs Lissy Groner ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 1 8

Subject : Mistreatment and murder of children in
Guatemala by the police ; Community assistance

The Federal coordinators of the German Commission for

Unesco published a press report, according to which the
children in Guatemala are being constantly mistreated and
murdered by police . The report is based on a report by Bruce
Harris, Director of the Casa Alianza Children 's Shelter in
Guatemala City .

1 . Has Guatemala received development aid or other
financial support from the EC in the past ? If so, for what
purpose was the aid earmarked and what was the
amount of the aid ?

2 . Is Guatemala now receiving EC funds ?

If so, what funds, for what projects and how much ?

3 . Has the Guatemala police received EC funds or is it still
receiving funds for training purposes ?

If so, what is the specific purpose of these funds and how
much is being paid ?

4 . Will the Commission take steps to prevent violence
against children in Guatemala ?

If so, what steps ?

«

No C 280 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

Over the past few years the Commission has allocated a
certain amount of aid to Guatemala in grant form ; a
breakdown is given in the tables which are being sent direct
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament 's

Secretariat .

The aid has always been targeted essentially on the poorest
sections of the population, including refugees and displaced
persons, and peasants involved in agrarian reform
schemes .

There have in particular, however, been measures under
budget Item B. 7-5078 in support of democratization and
human rights ; Guatemala is a major recipient of this aid .

Aid allocated on a regional basis to the six Central American
countries also benefits Guatemala .

No funds are allocated for measures involving police
forces .

The Commission is acutely aware of the issue raised by the
Honourable Member . With the Member States, it takes
every opportunity of expressing its concern about violence
to minors in Guatemala .

In 1991 and 1992 the Community funded a major
programme to help street children in Guatemala ; this was
implemented mainly by NGOs, including Casa Alianza, to
which the Honourable Member refers .

authorities transport these marble remains to another site
near the Temple or even elsewhere where they are not
exposed to the waves ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

Although the Commission takes action to enhance general
awareness of the need to protect and promote interest in the
architectural heritage of Europe, it does not have any
competence as regards the protection of listed monuments
and sites . This is the sole responsibility of the relevant
national and / or regional and local authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1841 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 20 )

Subject : Construction of a hotel on the site of the
Parliament of Psara

mainly by, including, to The Greek Tourist Board is currently building a hotel on the
Honourable Member refers . site of the Parliament of Psara . Local inhabitants have

complained that the Archaeological Service and the town
planning authorities which had submitted written
complaints about construction work undertaken by the
Greek Tourist Board six years ago and managed to bring
work on the hotel to a halt, have now apparently overcome
whatever objections they may have had so that work can
continue . Does the Commission intend to ask that the Greek
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1750 / 92 Tourist Board cease work on this hotel on the site of the

Parliament of Psara ?

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

(2 July 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 19 )
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Protection of the antique remains at Sounion

The historical site of Sounion is being eroded by the sea .
Visitors have reported that many archeological fragments,
such as drums for the marble columns, are strewn among the
rocks on the beach directly below the Temple of Poseidon .
These marble remains are being destroyed by the waves and
salt water, ground against the rocks, smashed into small
fragments and engulfed by the sea . The authorities have not
yet taken any action to prevent this destruction . Does the
Commission intend to recommend that the Greek

(9 July 1993 )

The Commission is taking measures to increase public
awareness of the need to protect and exploit Europe 's
architectural heritage, but it has no powers to protect
monuments or classified sites . This is the sole responsibility
of the competent national and / or regional and local
bodies .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2101 / 92

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 21

Subject : Funding for the Tariff a wind farm under the

Valoren programme and the environmental impact

assessment

The Tariffa wind farm, financed by the Valoren programme,
has been built, to my knowledge, without a preliminary
environmental impact assessment which would have
enabled the wind turbines to be situated in a manner more

suited to the landscape .

Following my visit on 22 and 23 May 1992, it appears that :
adjustments have only been made in respect of the energy
transmission network .

Given that there are plans to increase capacity from 20 to 30
MW and, in the medium term, to attain a capacity of
60 MW, does the Commission not consider that a specific
environmental impact assessment should be carried out
before further stops are taken ?

Given that the Valoren programme has enabled the first
large wind farm in Europe to come into operation, does the
Commission not consider that it would be beneficial to

extend the programme beyond 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 August 1993 )

The location chosen for the wind powered generators at
Tarifa in Spain falls within a special protection area for wild
birds designated by the Spanish authorities under Article 4
of Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of

wild birds .

The Commission is looking into the matter and has
contacted the Spanish authorities for information about
compliance with Council Directives 79 / 409 / EEC of 2 April

1979 on the conservation of wild birds and 85 / 337 / EEC of

27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment .

In the light of the information obtained from the Spanish
authorities the Commission will decide whether or not the

impact assessment study for this project has been carried out
in accordance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC and in particular
whether or not the provisions of Article 6 have been
observed .

After 1994 it will be possible to finance Valoren type
projects without extending the period for implementing
these programmes . This could be done under the new

Community support frameworks, which will be the subject
of negotiations between the Commission and national or
regional authorities, on the basis of plans presented by the
Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2 1 03 / 92

by Mr Yves Fremion ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 22 )

Subject : Community funding for the Roman art centre in

Conques ( France )

Under the ERDF the Community has co-financed a project
for a Roman arts centre in Conques, a medieval village
preserved hitherto in the region of Aveyron

( Midi-Pyrenees ).

A decision was taken on 10 December 1991 to provide
funding of FF 2 250 000 ( within the framework of the
IMPs ).

The project provides for the construction of an
ultra-modern building in the heart of the village, several
metres away from the Abbey of Conques, a priceless
example of Roman art . The initial construction work clearly
shows the full extent of this disastrous project, as the centre
of the village has been ripped apart to make room for the
building .

Was any assessment made of the impact on the architectural
heritage ?

How does the Commission intend to halt the damage caused
to the countryside and to the architectural heritage by this
ultra-modern bulding ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 1993 )

It is true that Community aid from the ERDF under the
Midi-Pyrenees integrated Mediterranean programme has
been granted for the construction of the ' International Study
Centre for Romanesque Art ' in Conques .

According to information received, planning permission
was granted on 20 December 1990 in strict compliance with
the rules for issuing such documents, in particular as regards
compliance with town planning regulations, protection of
the site and surroundings of the Sainte-Foy basilica,
and protection of archaeological remains and the
environment .

No C 280 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Examination of the project 's compliance with the Budgetary limits prevent the extension of the Jean Monnet
Community Directives on environmental impact project outside the Community for the time being .
assessments ( Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ) (') and protection of
groundwater ( Directive 80 / 68 / EEC ) ( 2 ) have revealed no
infringement of these Directives . No environmental impact
assessment is required for this project under Directive

85 / 337 / EEC . Furthermore, the French authorities,
exercising the powers of discretion granted to the Member
States by that Directive, did not consider the environmental
consequences of the project to be such as to warrant an
impact assessment .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2280 / 92

by Mr Madron Seligman ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 . (1 September 1992 )

( 2 ) OJ No L 20, 26 . 1 . 1880 . ( 93 / C 280 / 24

Subject : Encouraging energy crops by detaxing fuel from

biomass instead of paying for land set-aside

While money paid to farmers for 15 % land set-aside merely
produces weeds, a similar amount spent on detaxing fuel
from energy crops, such as bioethanol or rape methyl ether

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2108 / 92

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 23

Subject : Jean Monnet action programme

( Biodiesel ) would be beneficial for the environment .

1 . What would be the relative price per litre of taxed and
detaxed bioethanol ( from sugar or cereals ) and rape
methyl ester, compared to the current taxed price of
petroleum motor fuel ?

2 . What is the relative cost of land set-aside per hectare

compared with the cost of detaxing the amount of
bioethanol or biodiesel, which could be produced on
that hectare ?

Does the Commission propose to extend the Jean Monnet 3 . What progress has been made in » building a
action programme ? demonstration rape methyl ester plant in each Member
State ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

Given the success of the Jean Monnet project and the request
of the universities to continue with it, the Commission is
willing to continue it in 1994 in close collaboration with the
European University Council for the Jean Monnet project,
an academic body which is composed of the representatives
of the Liaison Committee of the National Conferences of the

Rectors / President / Vice-Chancellors of the universities of the

Community and of the representatives of ECSA-Europe

( European Community Studies Association ) which brings
together the national associations of academics specializing
in European integration studies .

The Commission 's intention to launch a follow-up Jean
Monnet project was confirmed by the inscription of
sufficient funds for this purpose in the 1994 APB, a decision
taken at the beginning of 1993 . The follow-up programme
will, of course, rely on the authorities concerned approving
this budgetary proposal .

4 . What other financial assistance is available from the

Community for farmers, who wish to grow energy crops
instead of set-aside ?

5 . What steps does the Commission propose to take to

establish an effective market for detaxed bioethanol or

rape methyl ester ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1993 )

1 . The price ( ex-refinery ) of bioethanol or rape methyl
ester, before tax, depends in the first instance on the
agricultural products concerned ( which for rapeseed in the
Community is aligned on the price of the world market ), and
further on the quantities produced and the processing costs
of the end product . These prices vary also as a function of
factors such as the agricultural reference prices, the energy
intervening in the processing, and the size of the processing
units . For example, the cost of processing rapeseed into
biodiesel is ECU 0,15 to 0,21 per litre, depending on several
factors such as the technology used in the process, the size of

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 13

the plant and local economic parameters . It is expected
however, as in other cases, that the industrialization of the
process will reduce substantially this processing cost . In fact
these values are based on pilot and small scale plants, the
only ones existing at the moment .

When one wishes to make a comparison between the prices
of petrol or diesel after tax, different fiscal schemes relating
to fuels must be taken into account which vary between
Member States . By way of example, the difference between
the final cost of production for biodiesel and the price of
diesel is in the order of ECU 0,5 per litre energy equivalent,
although varying according to each Member State 's specific
tax applied to motor fuels . According to different
agricultural price scenarios studied by the Commission, the
difference between the prices of petrol and diesel after tax

( weighted average ), and the final cost of biofuels

( ex-refinery plus transport costs ) is in the order of the size of
the detaxation of biofuels which is included in the

Commission 's proposed Directive .

2 . The amount of compensation for the ' obligatory ' set
aside which has been introduced by the CAP reform package
is forecast to be ECU 232 per hectare on average in the
Community .

It is not possible, however, to compare this with the cost of
de-taxation as the tax relief proposed by the Commission
will vary from one Member State to another according to
the current level of taxation on the equivalent mineral
oil .

3 . Further to successful preparatory actions launched in
1990 / 91, a demonstration project entitled ' Euro bio-diesel :
using vegetable oils and their derivatives as a diesel fuel ' was
selected in the context of the third framework programme

( RTD ) in the field of agriculture and the agroindustry

seeds and protein crops, on the condition that they are used
for the provision of products not primarily intended for
human or animal consumption . Biofuels and biomass fall
into this category of end use .

The farmer who opts for this scheme will be eligible for the
full set aside premium .

5 . The policy of the Commission is that the use of
biofuels is to be encouraged . Accordingly, it has proposed
that the rate of excise duty on such fuels should be no more
than 10% of that charged on the equivalent motor fuel .

The reduction has been calculated to take account of the

extra costs of production, compensation for the risk, and the
need to ensure a return for investors .

This proposal, coupled with the introduction of the

' non-food ' set aside regime which will apply from the
harvest of the 1 993 / 94 marketing year, is intended as a clear,
long term signal to the industry that positive economic
support is being provided to motivate the development of
biofuels .

The Altener programme, presented by the Commission,
proposes as an objective for 2 005 the replacement of 5 % of
the Community 's transportation fuel 's demand by biofuels .
It also proposes the adoption of a Council Directive,
establishing the product specifications for biodiesel, in order
to ease its market introduction .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2307 / 92

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1991 — 1994 .
(8 September 1992 )

The Commission is currently in the early stages of the
project . Three Member States ( Germany, France and Italy )
are fully involved in building demonstration plants . If the
results of these demonstrations are positive, the technology
could be transferred to the other Member States under

appropriate economic conditions .

4 . Farmers have had the option of cultivating cereals on
set aside land for various industrial purposes, including
bio-fuels, from the 1990 / 91 marketing year .

The set aside premium associated with this scheme was fixed
by each Member State and could not exceed 70% of the
normal S set aside premium .

As a result of the CAP reform, new applications for this
scheme could only have been introduced up to the 1992
harvest .

With effect from the harvest of the 1993 / 94 marketing year,
farmers will have the option of cultivating a range of
products on set aside land, including cereals and certain oil

( 93 / C 280 / 25 )

Subject : Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls

What responses from Member State governments and
interested organizations and individuals have been received
in regard to the amended proposal for a Council directive
on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and
polychlorinated perphenyls ( J )?

f 1 ) COM(91 ) 373 final .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Council has yet to discuss the amended proposal,
submitted to it on 22 October 1 99 1, on the disposal of PCBs
and PCTs .

No C 280 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2345 / 92

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 26 )

Subject : Multifibre arrangement

What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that the
Multifibre arrangement is extended ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

At its meeting on 9 December 1992 the GATT Textiles
Committee adopted a Decision and Protocol extending the
MFA for a further period of 12 months until 31 December

1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2409 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 27 )

Subject : Agreements concerning the production of new

memory chips

In the light of recently or soon to be concluded agreements
to develop, produce and market new types of memory chips,
and bearing in mind that one of these agreements involves
the major European firm Siemens AG, is the Commission
able to give an opinion as to whether these agreements
strengthen or weaken Community competitiveness at an
international level ?

Furthermore, what effect are these agreements likely to have
on the Community 's R&D programmes in the field of
information technology, which only concentrate on the
pre-competitive phase within the extensive overall process
of innovation ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

The IBM-Siemens agreements deal with the market in
Dynamic Random Access Memories ( DRAM ) in which

Europe, up till now, has no significant presence . According
to Dataquest the 1991 market of memories was $ 12 841
million of which Europe has only 5,3 % . The main part of
this market is DRAMs consisting of $ 6 800 million, where
Europe has only 4,2%, with Siemens as its only supplier .
Furthermore Siemens was late with the introduction of the

most advanced DRAM generations and has no clear plans
for the production of the future generations ( after the 16
Mbit ).

On the other hand Europe is competitive in several
application areas ( e.g. automotive, telecommunication,
consumer ) and has to preserve its competitiveness . This
involves the development and manufacture of complex logic
circuitry and the customization of the products by
ASIC 's .

Setting up these alliances, with a European partner and
planning development, production and commercialization
within Europe, may assure easier access for other European
manufacturers to the supplying technologies ( equipment,
materials ) and other basic processes, driven by the memory
development . This may be seen as a vital requirement to be
able to develop and manufacture the next generation of
logic circuitry, needed for the application areas in which
Europe is strong . Moreover the system houses may have
earlier access to more advanced and customized memories,
particularly important for embedded applications .

In the short-term European competitiveness in the memory
market, which is already weak, may not be significantly
changed . In the long-term, European presence in these
alliances and their developments, manufacturing and
commercialization being executed in Europe, will be
necessary to keep in touch with the most advanced and
highly expensive system information technology
development and manufacturing to guarantee
competitiveness in applications requiring logic circuitry and
ASIC 's . For this, strategic alliances in Europe can only be
welcomed .

Esprit is not, and has no immediate intention to be, involved
in DRAM development . Most of the system information
technology developments in Esprit are aimed at logic and / or
ASIC 's . In the Eureka project, JESSI, only developments on
stand alone non-volatile memories ( EPROM ) driven by
system information technology are funded in addition to
embedded SRAM 's and DRAM 's .

However it must be emphasized that stand alone DRAM
technology development is a process driver for the scaling
down of dimensions, for the evaluation of advanced process
steps and modules, and for the benchmarking of the
different technology generations . In this way it produces
process technologies which are later transferred towards the
logic-orientated si-technologies developed in Community
projects .

If good links are established, synergy between these memory
technology developments and the developments of
technologies for logic-circuitry, could significantly speed-up

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 15

the latter within the Community, which may be of crucial
importance for the involved companies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2421 / 92

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 28 )

«

Subject : Subsidies to associations and other institutions

from the Community budget

Further to the reply given by President Delors, on behalf of
the Commission, to Written Question No 996 / 92 f ), what
prior criteria has the Commission adopted for granting
subsidies to associations and other institutions from the

Community budget ?

O OJ No C 274, 22 . 10 . 1992, p. . 53 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

Support is given to organizations whose principal objective
is to advance the cause of European integration . In practice
this criterion has evolved to include organizations of a more
general nature but whose activities comprise specifically
European elements . In these cases support is given for
specific projects with a direct link with European
integration .

Beneficiaries must, where appropriate, have a clearly
representative character and be non-party political .

Where an organization has national or local sections, the
grant is normally awarded to the European secretariat .
Grants to national sections are awarded in special cases,
when circumstances justify .

Community funding may not be used for the purchase of
buildings and other major fixed assets . It must be used to
implement the programme . The Commission does not
support projects or organizations where it would be the sole
source of finance . Although grants are usually awarded for
specific projects they may take the form of core-funding . In
all cases applicants have to submit a detailed file containing
all the relevant information about their organization,
activities and finances .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2489 / 92

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

( 12 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 29 )

Subject : Lighthouses

What controls are there to check on the existence and

maintenance of lighthouses in Community ports, especially
small ports used by pleasure-boats ? Many such ports lack
the minimum facilities, including a lighthouse, one specific
example being the port of Camogli which lost its lighthouse
during a storm in autumn 1991 ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

In its communication entitled ' On a common policy on safe
seas ', the Commission identified a series of priority
measures to be undertaken at Community level in order to
improve safety at sea and in port . The issue raised by the
Honourable Member is not among them .

When the Council discussed the communication, no
minister made any reference to harmonizing rules on the
operation of lighthouses in ports, and the resolution on the
communication adopted by the Council at its meeting of 7
and 8 June this year mentions no such possibility .

Given the circumstances, the Commission feels this to be a
matter for the Member States and that Community action at
this time would be inappropriate .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2508 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 October 1992 )

93 / C 280 / 30

Subject : Granting of asylum in the Community

Given that the procedure for vetting asylum applications in
EC countries often involves considerable hardship for
asylum seekers, who are frequently obliged to spend
excessively long periods of time in makeshift
accommodation, notably in certain European airports,

No C 280 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

when does the Commission intend to draw up an agreement In view of the involvement of two Community countries —
harmonizing the policies and practices of Member States on Spain and Portugal — in the abovementioned summit, has
granting asylum ? the Commission considered that the European Community

might participate in the development of the programmes
adopted at the Madrid summit by making a contribution to
enable them to achieve the greatest possible degree of
success within their capability ?
Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

The ministers with responsibility for immigration have
drawn up a programme of work on immigration and asylum
which was approved by the Maastricht European Council ;
the section of that programme dealing with asylum calls for
a study of the conditions facing asylum seekers .

The Commission takes the view that such a study is, in the
first place, the responsibility of the Member States but, if the
study should find that there were measures which could be
usefully taken at Community level, it would make whatever
proposals it considered advisable .

It may also be worth drawing attention to the fact that,
under the Community human resources initiative known as
' Horizon ', certain disadvantaged groups, including asylum
seekers, are eligible for vocational training measures ( 1 ).

( ] ) Notice to the Member States, OJ No C 327, 29 . 12 . 1990, at

111(2 ).

( 13 July 1993 )

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that
the second Latin American Summit in Madrid on 23 and

24 July 1992 played an important part in strengthening the
relations between the Community and its Member States,
and Latin America . It also hopes to see more positive results
from the third Summit in Salvador ( Bahia ), Brazil from 13 to
16 July 1993 .

Regarding Community participation in the programmes
and projects approved at the second Summit, the
Commission would point out that its cooperation with
Latin American countries involves it in development
operations in the areas referred to by the Honourable
Member, some of which complement those outlined at
Madrid .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2616 / 92

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2575 / 92
( 27 October 1992 )
by Mr Gerardo Fernández - Albor ( PPE )

( 93 / C 280 / 32 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

Subject : Greek contracts for engineering works
( 93 / C 280 / 31

Subject : Community participation in the development of

programmes approved by the Latin American
summit in Madrid

The Latin American summit held in Madrid achieved

considerable progress compared with the one held last year
in Guadalajara ( Mexico ), with the adoption of specific
programmes, notably in the fields of education and culture,
health, indigenous peoples and the environment .

Nevertheless, given the philosophy agreed by the
abovementioned summit, whereby each country contributes
as much as it can to the development of these programmes,
the initiatives set in motion are unlikely to be on a grandiose
scale, but rather in line with what can be spared by the
economies of the participating countries, some of which are
already at the end of their tether .

1 . Are the procedures used in Greece for awarding public
civil engineering contracts satisfactory from the
Commission 's point of view ?

2 . Is it a matter of concern to the Commission when a

project-contract, which is dependent on EC funding, is
signed before an application is made for that funding ?

3 . Would the Commission care to comment on the

specific case of the Acheloos diversion scheme, in which a
contract appears to have been concluded between the Greek
Government and Taylor Woodrow et al .?

4 . Have EC rules and guidelines been followed with
regard to the tendering procedure for this scheme, given that
the call for tenders described a scheme substantially
different from the one which is now being negotiated with
the successful bidder, namely the Taylor Woodrow
consortium ?

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 17

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

1 . In Greece, as in all other Member States, the
procedures used to award public works contracts in the civil
engineering sector must comply with Community law ; and
in particular Directive 71 / 305 / EEC concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works
contracts ( 1 ), as amended by Directive 89 / 440 / EEC ( 2 ). The
amended directive was to be transposed into Greek law by

1 March 1992 and, since Greece has not yet notified the
Commission of national implementing measures taken, the
Commission has initiated proceedings under Article 169 of
the EEC Treaty .

2 . The Commission has no objection to the signing of a
works contract before Community subsidies, on which
completion of the project depends, are applied for .

3 and 4 . The information available to the Commission

suggests that the specifications provide the Greek
authorities with the option of limiting the scope of the
tender .

( J ) OJ No L 185, 18 . 8 . 1971 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2643 / 92

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 33 )

Subject : Fuel cell technology

Is the Commission aware of the study carried out by the
ADL engineering consultancy on the use of fuel cells to
generate electricity ?

What steps is the Commission taking to take advantage of
the energy saving potential of this fuel cell technology

( emissions cut by up to 60% ) in order to reduce the
greenhouse effect ? Will the Commission encourage the
commercialization of this technology ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission has long been aware of the advantages of
fuel cell technology and has for more than a decade been

giving active support to this technology in the area of
research and development through the Joule programme
and its predecessors .

The Joule R&D activities on large scale ( MW size ) fuel cells
are focused on second generation molten carbonate

( MCFC ) and solid oxide ( SOFC ) fuel cell plants . CEC
research in this field is characterized by a rapid progress . It
started with single cell development in 1986 via 1 — 10 kW
plants in 1989 — 1992, to development of 10 — 100 kW
plants in JOULE II in 1992 — 1994 . In the period
1992 — 1994 research on MCFC under way in two projects
to demonstrate the technical feasibility of 50 kW MCFC
plants ( built according to different concepts ) with a 60%
efficiency for electricity production . The target of work on
SOFC is to demonstrate in three projects ( developing
different SOFC concepts ) the technical feasibility of kW size
SOFC with 60 % efficiency .

In Joule fuel cells are also developed for applications in road
traction . They are expected to have efficiencies of 60%,
compared to 15 — 20 % for petrol engines and a 100 to 1000
times lower pollution . In five Joule projects different fuel cell
types for road traction are being developed . In addition
different components, which are being developed in 4 other
CEC projects, will be integrated in a stationary test facility,
which will simulate a 5 tonne fuel cell driven bus .

In order to promote the market introduction of fuel cell
technology, since 1986 a total of 6 projects has been selected
for financial support in the framework of the Thermie
programme and the preceding Energy Demonstration
programme . These projects cover phosphoric acid fuel cells
as well as the more recent and even more efficient molten

carbonate technology . The power generation of these fuel
cell stacks ranges from 25 to 1000 kW .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2658 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 34

Subject : Industrial relations and social dialogue —
utilization of appropriations B 3-4000

A commitment appropriation of ECU 5 593 million was
entered against Item B 3-4000 of the budget for the 1992
financial year to cover financial aid surveys, consultations
dialogues, negotiations and other measures relating to
industrial relations and social dialogue .

Can the Commission indicate how these appropriations
have been utilized in each Member State, indicating the
projects and organizations receiving the funding ?

No C 280 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities

£

18 . 10 . 93

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 1993 )

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of the European Parliament
the following information for 1992 :

a list by reference to type of measure and country ;

a list of financial aid granted, together with details of the
projects receiving funding .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2762 / 92

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

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 35

The Commission does not undertake vaccination campaigns
and does not intend to prepare a directive on a subject which
is the responsibility of Member States rather than the
Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2784 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 36 )

Subject : Improving communications with the regions of

western Europe

Although the Nantes-Poitiers-Montlu^on link (E 62 ) is not
contained in the trans-European road network plan (*), can
the Commission confirm that priority is being given to this
link for the purposes of improving communications with the
regions of western Europe ?

Subject : The fight against hepatitis A
(!) OJ No C 236, 15 . 9 . 1992 .

Taking into account that the spread of the contagious
disease known as hepatitis A is linked to the consumption of
contaminated food and water chiefly by young people, does
the Commission intend to promote a directive against
hepatitis A which would make provision for the compulsory
vaccination of the entire population ? Does the Commission
consider that a Community information campaign should
be organized to highlight the dangers of infection by
hepatitis A and the methods of protection by
immunization ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1993 )

Good hygiene is the key to preventing the transmission of
and reducing the risk of contamination by the hepatitis A
virus .

A simple way of preventing infection is to provide health
education stressing the need for sound food hygiene and
observance of hygiene requirements when handling food .

On the advice of their doctor, persons at risk could be
immunized by means of the hepatitis A vaccine available on
the market .

Vaccination of the entire population would not appear to be

necessary .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

The draft masterplan for a trans-European road network
adopted by the Commission in its communication of

11 June 1992 and presented to the Community institutions
does not include the Nantes-Poitiers-Montlu^on link (').

In the light of the recommendations of the high-level
working party it consulted when drawing up the
trans-European road network, the Commission believes
that trans-European routes should offer users a high and
consistent level of service and comfort, a requirement that
would best be satisfied by roads of motorway or comparable
standard .

Since the French authorities did not consider the

Nantes-Montlugon link via Poitiers a priority for upgrading
to motorway standard, preferring instead the route via
Tours, the Commission saw no reason to include it in the
European masterplan .

This does not, of course, mean that ending the isolation of
outlying regions of Western Europe is not a Community
priority . In addition to the Nantes-Tours-Montlu^on link,
the European plan includes the Rouen-Le Mans-Tours
and Caen-Rennes-Nantes-Niort links, which should

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 19

considerably improve access from western France to the
central European network .

The Commission would like to conclude by underlining the
importance it feels should be attached to ensuring that
regions develop plans aimed at developing to the full the
networks of regional and local feeder roads to and from the
trans-European networks .

(!) COM(92 ) 231 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2854 / 92

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 37 )

Subject : Restoration of contaminated land

What information does the Commission possess on the
collection of data on contaminated and contaminative land

by Member States of the Community, and does the
Commission have any proposals for the restoration of
contaminated land for reuse in Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The Commission does not have exact information on the

situation of contaminated and contaminating land in the
Community .

The Commission has decided to set up a strategy for
contaminated sites . It is not intended that this strategy
should necessarily lead to legislation .

In response to the problem of old waste tips the Commission
will try to :

1 . propose a Community definition for contaminated

sites,

2 . draw up an inventory of contaminated sites,

3 . develop a catalogue of existing technologies for cleaning
contaminated sites,

4 . indicate priorities of action .

The purpose of the strategy is to help the competent
authorities to deal, at their level, with the problem of

contaminated sites, by proposing a system classifying the
sites either for clean up, confinement or restricted future

use .

Commission action is also available at two different

levels :

— - funding through the LIFE and Rechar programmes,

— help of R&D projects through the third framework

R&D programme, in particular Area II . 2 of specific
programme Environment : ' Development of rapid
non-invasive methods for locating and measuring
contaminants and to improve existing techniques, in situ
sensors for appraisal and assessment of human exposure
to mobilized soil contaminants and suitable practices for
the rehabilitation of abandoned disposal sites '.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2957 / 92

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

( 24 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 38 )

Subject : Protection of the environment from industrial

waste at Patras

Waste from the Patras industrial estate is polluting the Gulf
of Patras and the air in the region . The rivers Meligou,
Kralaki, Serdeni and Piro are also showing signs of
contamination, making irrigation hazardous, and there is
obviously a risk that the drinking water in Kato Achaia and
the villages of Alissos, Kato Alissos, Aghiovlasitika,
Achaiko, Kaminia and Lousika will also be contaminated .
Will the Commission, therefore, urge the Greek authorities,
in cooperation with the Community, to take immediate and
effective steps to protect the environment and the health of
the population in this area of Achaia from the effects of
industrial waste ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

The Commission has no detailed information on the

situation described by the Honourable Member which
raises the question of the application of Directives
75 / 442 / EEC ( ] ) on waste and 78 / 319 / EEC ( 2 ) on toxic and
hazardous wastes and possible risk for the ground water and
surface water in the area . The Commission will therefore

No C 280 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

address a request for further information to the Greek the Commission recommendation of 22 May 1990
authorities . concerning the adoption of a European schedule of

occupational diseases ( J ), provided the causal agent or
(M OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975 . agents are identified .

( 2 ) OJ No L 84, 20 . 3 . 1978 .

(') OJ No L 160, 26 . 6 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3036 / 92

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra ( GUE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3080 / 92

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

( 93 / C 280 / 39 ) ( 74 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 40

Subject : Newly discovered occupational disease in the

textile printing sector in the district of Alcoy

( Spain )

In the district of Alcoy ( Alicante-Spain ), an unusual
occupational disease has been discovered . The symptoms
are those of pulmonary fibrosis, found to be the result of the
inhalation of chemicals used for textile printing . To date, the
disease has caused five deaths and affected 50 other

people .

1 . Does the Commission know of any similar cases
elsewhere in the Community ?

In view of the emergence of this new type of disease and
the responsibility of the public authorities for the
prevention of industrial hazards and the protection of
safety and health at work :

2 . can the Commission launch a study with a view to
obtaining more information about this illness, its
toxicological implications and method of control and
measurement ?

If the study confirms that this is in fact an occupational
disease :

3 . can the Commission call on the Member States to

classify it as such ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1993 )

1 . The Commission does not know of any cases of
disease similar ro those described by the Honourable
Member elsewhere in the Community .

2 . At the moment the Commission sees no necessity to
launch a study in this domain .

3 . If the occupational nature of this disease were to be
confirmed, the Commission would take the necessary steps
to discuss the advisability of including it in the provisions of

Subject : Progress under the Community Support
Framework for Greece — natural gas

A natural gas project has been incorporated as part of the
first Community Support Framework for Greece involving
an amount of ECU 433 269 million, to be utilized by
31 December 1993 .

1 . What has been the annual take-up of Funds and what is
the balance to be covered for 1993 .

2 . What information can the Commission provide as to

how the above project is progressing ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1993 )

The natural gas project in Greece is funded through the
Community Support Framework for Greece and the
Community initiative REGEN .

The take-up of funds has been slow as a result of delays .
Cumulative expenditure on the ground was ECU 150
million at the end of 1992 and is expected to reach
approximately ECU 500 million by the end of 1993 . It is
envisaged that the REGEN resources will be used in full by
end 1993 . Other unused Community resources are being
diverted to higher performing programmes in the CSF for
Greece .

Overall the project was about 11 % complete on 1 January

1993 . The principal component advancing to date is the
high-pressure pipeline which started construction in the
summer of 1 992 . At the same date 140 km of pipeline ( out of
a total of 515 km ) had been laid and welded . The pipeline is
scheduled for completion in March 1995 . Most of the other
major construction components of the project are now
under way .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 i / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3107 / 92 achieved satisfactorily in all the Member States ? If not, does

by Mr François Guillaume ( RDE ) it envisage new lines of action if the present system is

unsatisfactory in terms of its actual ability to forecast and
to the Commission of the European Communities manage the market in wine ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3107 / 92

by Mr François Guillaume ( RDE )

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 41 2 . In view of the need for an effective updating
mechanism in order to take full advantage of the
considerable work already undertaken to set up the register,
does the Commission plan to make a financial contribution

No 24, adopted in 1962 «, established to such an updating arrangement given its Community

interest ?

Subject : Vineyard register

Article 1 of Regulation No 24, adopted in 1962 «, established
a viticultural land register whose aim was to provide
information on production potential in order to gear
resources to needs .

This aim was subsequently taken up in the various
regulations establishing a common organization of the
market in wine . It was only in 1986 that the Council
adopted a regulation laying down the general rules
governing the establishment of a Community vineyard
register . Regulation ( EEC ) No 2392 / 86 ( 1 ) sets a time limit
of six years ( Article 4 ) for the establishment of the register
and provides for Community funding ( Article 9 ) estimated
at ECU 59 million .

Under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2392 / 86, Member States are
responsible for preparing the programme for the
establishment of the register and are required to forward
this programme to the Commission . They are free to provide
for the participation of producers ' organizations in setting
up all or part of the register ( Article 4 ).

The theoretical time limit for the establishment of the

register is about to expire . In view of this, will the
Commission provide details on the following points :

1 . Will the computerized vineyard register be established
within the time limit laid down by Regulation ( EEC )
No 2392 / 86 in the various Member States

concerned ?

2 . What amount has the Community contributed pursuant

to the financing provisions of Article 9 of Regulation

( EEC ) No 2392 / 86 and how was this amount broken
down between the Member States ?

3 . Will the Commission state the names of the bodies

appointed by each Member State to draw up the
computerized vineyard register ? Have these bodies
made use of the provision for the participation of
producers ' organizations ?

(!) OJ No L 208, 31 . 7 . 1986, p. 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3108 / 92

by Mr François Guillaume ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 280 / 42 )

Subject : Vineyard register

1 . Does the Commission consider that the aims of the

computerized vineyard register have been or will be

3 . In various regions of the Community, producers '
organizations play an important role in informing and
advising vine-growers, thereby helping them to submit
declarations that are properly set out and can readily be
incorporated into the register . In view of this, does the
Commission agree that producers ' organizations in the
various Member States should be allowed to participate
directly and actively in updating the computerized vineyard
register ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 3107 / 92 and 3108 / 92

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 March 1993 )

The vineyard register project involves setting up and
managing a computerized database that identifies :

— every parcel of land under vines,

— every wine-growing holding,

— every wine-producing business,

and for each of these headings contains a whole series of
data needed for the management of this sector, in particular
in connection with monitoring grubbing and planting and
corresponding rights, claims for a registered designation

(' quality wines produced in specific regions ' or quality wines
psr ) and eligibility for assistance measures . The Council 's
wish, expressed in 1986 in Regulation ( EEC ) No 2392 / 86,
to establish a vineyard register for management and
monitoring purposes, goes beyond the wine register initially
provided for in 1962 to establish the potential of viticultural
production .

The programmes for establishing the register must be set up
in liaison with the Commission ; the latter must, firstly, be
satisfied that the proposed programmes and their
implementation are compatible with the objectives set and,
secondly, ensure uniform application in the various
countries of the Community .

Vineyard registers were established at the end of
1992 in the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the
main German-wine-growing Lander ( Rheinland-Palatinate,
Baden-Wiirtemberg ). Judging by work in progress, it is
anticipated that the register will not be fully established until

1994 / 95 in Italy, France and Spain, and not until 1997 in

No C 280 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Greece and Portugal, given the specific obstacles facing these
two countries ( no land register in Greece and graduated
accession in Portugal ).

As the Honourable Member has indicated, the deadline
originally envisaged was merely theoretical and did not take

into account factors which would hamper progress . An
adjustment of the deadlines will shortly be the subject of a
proposal to the Council .

Community participation, which covers 50% of the
effective costs of setting up the register, came in 1992 to :

Germany Spain France Greece Italy Luxembourg Portugal UK Total

Community payments
made by the end of 1992

( ECU ) 5 764 340 19 900 645 4 200 100 710 341 26 688 122 307 225 2 013 091 38 271 59 622 135

Distribution among
Member States 9,7% 33,4% 7% 1,2 % 44,7% 0,5 % 3,4 % 0,1 % 100%

The bodies responsible for setting up the vineyard register,
and the professional bodies which may participate, are as
follows :

— in Germany, the ministries of agriculture of each Land ;

the Chamber of Agriculture is a partner in this work in
Rheinland-Palatinate, as are the cooperatives in
Baden-Wiirtemberg ;

— in Spain, the Instituto Nacional de Denominación de

Origen ( INDO );

— in France, until the end of 1992, the Directorate General

of Taxation at the Economics and Finance Ministry ; this
responsibility has been transferred to the Directorate
General for Customs of the same Ministry from 1993 ;
the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine ( INAO )
and the Office Interprofessionel des Vins ( ONIVINS )
are associated in this work ;

— in Greece, the Ministry of Agriculture ;

— in Italy, the Azienda per gli Interventi su i Mercati

Agricoli ( AIMA );

— in Luxembourg, the Institut Vitivinicole in Remich ;

— in Portugal, the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho ;
participation by the Comites interprofessionels
d'appellation is envisaged ;

— in the United Kingdom, the Wine Standards Board, a

semi-state body with industry participation .

It is only as of this year that it will be possible to take stock of
progress in establishing the vineyard register and of the
outlook for its use . To this end, the Commission is preparing
to invite bids for a contract to carry out a study analysing the
first results available in Germany, Spain, France and Italy .
Elsewhere, the register, even in the form of manual files, is
already being used to support monitoring operations .

In general terms, one may say that :

— the creation and establishment of a vineyard register are

major operations, necessitating a good administrative

structure and effective coordination between the

different bodies responsible for monitoring the
wine-growing sector ;

— despite the fact that vines are a perennial plant, there is a

relatively high annual level of structural adjustment to
vineyards ; an annual up-dating of the register is
therefore necessary to meet management needs ;

— the absence or inadequacy of land registers makes the

monitoring of parcels difficult, principally in the south
of the Community ; the creation of pseudo-land registers,
on the basis of aerial photographs, can only make up for
these inadequacies if at the same time a permanent
structure is created to manage changes in vineyard
parcels .

If, because of local difficulties, and despite attempts to
overcome them, establishing the register proves problematic
in certain cases, alternative solutions would then be set in
motion to respond to the concerns of the viticultural

sector .

If not up-dated, the vineyard register quickly becomes
obsolete and useless for management purposes . The
up-dating already provided for in the Regulation currently
in force will shortly be the subject of a Commission proposal
regarding its rules and procedures, particularly with regard
to possible Community part-financing . As the register is
intended primarily as an instrument to facilitate national
administrative management, the Council has not provided
for Community participation in the up-dating .

The Commission is well aware of the wishes of those

working in the sector to be more involved in work on the
vineyard register, and their interest in the successful
development of this instrument is a measure of its success .
This is why Article 4 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2392 / 86
provides for the possible participation of producers '
associations .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3110 / 92

by Mrs Marie    - Anne Isler Beguin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 43 The Community has no policies for supporting particular
economic sectors and so there is no Community aid for the
arms sector as such .
Subject : Community funding of a project for a motor car

circuit at Morhange ( France )
However, during 1991 and 1992, a large part of the
appropriations for the Perifra special measure was spent on

Can the Commission state whether the Morhange the regional and social consequences of the conversion of
municipality ( France ) has submitted an application for military bases and the arms industry . This includes
Community funds in respect of a project for a motor car assistance for the following project in Lorraine :
circuit ?

Bitche industrial area ; Community assistance of ECU
Has the Commission provided the commune of Morhange 374 000 ( 50 % of the eligible cost ).

( Moselle ) with subsidies to carry out a feasibility study on
the building of a motor car test track on a former military
base, through Community initiatives ( Rechar ), the Perifra
programme or other sources ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

Like any other regional or local authority, the commune of
Morhange cannot itself lodge an application for
Community aid ; this can be done only by a Member State
and, consequently, will already have government
approval .

There has been no Community co-financing either through
a Community Support Framework ( CSF ), Rechar or Perifra
for the projected motor car circuit at Morhange .

For 1993, appropriations for the regional and social
consequences of military conversion have been entered in
the budget under the Konver Community initiative .
Member States are being invited to submit measures for
co-financing under Konver .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3125 / 92

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 45 )

Subject : Consequences of simplifying ' red tape ' for
businesses

Following its second report on simplifying ' red tape ' for
business, what practical proposals does the Commission
have to assist, in particular, SMUs, which so often bear the
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3111 / 92 brunt of such bureaucratic burdens ?

by Mrs Marie-Anne Isler Beguin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi
( 93 / C 280 / 44

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Conversion of former military bases

A number of military sites and arms production plants are
currently being converted .

1 . What possibilities does the Community currently offer

for assisting these sectors ?

2 . Has the Lorraine region received Community aid for the
conversion of arms industry sites ? If so, what sites are
involved and how much aid has been received ?

( 16 July 1993 )

The Commission 's second report on administrative
simplification in the Community ( ] ) suggested possible
guidelines for future work for the Commission and
encouraged continuing cooperation and the exchange of
information between Member States .

The report was considered by the Member States in the
Industry Council of 24 November 1992 and was followed
bv a Council resolution of 3 December 1992 ( 2 ). This

No C 280 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

welcomed the Commission 's proposals and invited the
Member States to continue to work in cooperation with the
Commission on administrative simplification issues and to
look at national practice .

In parallel to the work in the Commission, and as stated in
the Council resolution, Member States have undertaken to
take into account the impact and burden on enterprises of
their proposals for implementing Community legislation .

(!) Doc . SEC(92 ) 1867 final of 27 October 1992 .

As part of the Commission 's drive towards administrative ( 2 ) OJ No . C 331, 16 . 12 .
simplification, and improving the transparency and ( 3 ) OJ No C 125, 6 . 5 . 1993 .
effectiveness of its working procedures, the Commission has
already put a number of measures into effect . These include
the publication ol the Commission 's legislative programme
for 1993 in the Official Journal of the European
Communities ( 3 ).. This gives information on the reasons for,
and proposed timing of, the Community 's legislative
programme in the medium term . The information contained WRITTEN
in the legislative programme is intended for Community by Mr
institutions, for the Member States, for business and for the to the Commission of
individual citizen . The document is presented in such a way
so as to distinguish between proposed legislation on which (6
broad consultation with outside interests would be held in ( 93 /
advance, and proposals which might require a specific
business impact assessment .

( 2 ) OJ No C 331, 16 . 12 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3128 / 93

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 46

The programme contains 100 items of proposed new
legislation and 50 proposals for amending or up-dating
existing legislation, and a number of consolidation
measures . There is also an annex which lists those pending
proposals which the Commission suggested at the
Edinburgh European Council should be the subject of
further review in order to decide whether they should be
revised or dropped . A further annex contains a list of issues
on which Green or White Papers are to be prepared in 1993
although legislation will not necessarily result .

Subject : Implementation of the Council Directive on
conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora

and fauna

Annex I to Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC i 1 ) refers, under
natural and semi-natural grassland formations, codes 31.31
to 34.34, to ' important orchid sites '.

What are important orchids ?

Are they species covered by Annex II, Annex IV or other
provisions ?

The major objective of publishing the legislative programme (!) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p. 7 .
in this way is to try and ensure comprehensive consultation
of all interested parties, and to minimize the potential
burdens on business when Community legislation is being
considered and drafted . This is especially important in Answer given by Mr
respect of small and medium sized businesses which lack the on behalf of the
resources of large business, and are often disproportionately

(9 July

affected by regulations and their accompanying
administrative burdens .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

In addition the Commission will publish on a regular basis
in the Official Journal a list of those documents about
proposals which have been forwarded to the Council and
which can be obtained from the Commission 's Publication

Sales Offices throughout the Community . This list includes,
where appropriate, a reference to the fact that a particular
proposal contains a business impact assessment .

In line with the Commission 's second report on
administrative simplification the Commission will continue
its work to improve the impact assessment system . In April

1993 the Commission held a seminar with Member States

and business organizations in order to discuss the
effectiveness of the business impact assessment system . The
seminar considered the development in the Community of
methods for assessing the detailed costs and benefits of
legislative proposals, and the need for thorough
consultation procedures taking account of the expertise and
experience of Member States and business organizations .

The question raised by the Honourable Member is currently
being examined by national experts in the scientific working
party set up by the Regulatory Committee under Directive
92 / 43 / EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of

wild fauna and flora .

As things stand, the views expressed by the national experts
can be summarized under three heads :

1 . It is a matter of identifying important sites which are
characteristic of this particular habitat rather than sites
providing a habitat for important orchids, whose
conservation is better catered for by Annex II . Hence,
orchids are being used here as a group of plants which
serve as bioindicators .

It therefore seems advisable to concentrate on indicator

species of orchids in the various Member States as a
guide to the quality of chalk grassland, such as the
species Orchis morio in Ireland, which is very sensitive
to fertilizer application .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 25

2 . Attention should also be directed towards sites which

provide a habitat for large populations of orchids, even
comparatively common varieties, or sites where there
are many different species of orchid .

3 . The technical working party set up by the Habitats

Committee is currently discussing the possibility of
compiling a list of important orchids, by country, still
intended as biological indicators in the various
biogeographical regions .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3154 / 92

by Mrs Marlene Lenz ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

2 . The Commission looked into the situation and found

that the Netherlands had not committed any infringement
of Community law by introducing numerical restrictions in
connection with the authorization to practise as a dentist
participating in a health insurance scheme since these
measures apply equally to Dutch nationals and to nationals
of other Member States . The Commission is not aware of

any new developments in this area since then .

3 . As regards the number of doctors and dentists who
have become established in another Member State since

1986, the Commission is sending separately to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat the

information it has received from Member States .

( 93 / C 280 / 47 WRITTEN QUESTION No 3161 / 92

Subject : Completion of the preparatory period prior to

authorization to practise as a dentist participating
in a health insurance scheme and the freedom of

establishment of dentists as between the

Netherlands and the Federal Republic of
Germany

1 . Since Written Question No 3162 / 85 ( J ) of 24 March
1986, have there been any changes in this matter which
would lead the Commission to answer that question
differently ?

2 . Is the Commission aware of any facts which would
indicate progress on this matter ? At the time, the
Commission replied that it had taken the necessary steps to
obtain full information on the situation . Has it learnt

anything new ?

3 . Does the Commission have any information on the
number of doctors and dentists who have become

established in Member States other than their own countries

since 1986 ?

(') OJ No C 277, 3 . 11 . 1986, p. 19 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1993 )

1 . Since Written Question No 3 162 / 85, there has been no
change in the matter that would prompt the Commission to
answer the question differently . In particular, the
Commission does not intend to propose any modification of
the principle on which the mutual recognition of dentists '
qualifications is based, namely that each Member State is
required to recognize the diplomas awarded by the other
Member States provided that they are in conformity with
the Community rules on minimum training .

by Mr Wilfried Telkamper ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 48 )

Subject : Compatibility of the German Law to accelerate

transport planning and the EC Directive on
environmental impact assessments ( EIAs )

In its answer to the written question by Mrs Berger

( No 2268 / 91 ) ( l ), the Commission says it was not informed
by the German Government of the adoption of the above
Law . Has it now been duly informed ?

Paragraph 4 of the Law states that for the construction or
alteration of a transport route or for alterations to an
airport, planning permission can be granted instead of a
compulsory purchase ruling where the rights of third parties
are not affected or those concerned have agreed in writing to
the requisitioning of their property or claims on other
rights .

The compulsory purchase procedure has the legal effect of
compulsory purchase pursuant to Article 75 ( 1 ) of the Law
on administrative procedure and for airports, pursuant to
Article 9 (1 ) of the Law on air transport . In German law, the
requirement to carry out an environmental impact
assessment is coupled with the requirement to initiate
compulsory purchase proceedings . The provision cited
above allows the compulsory purchase procedure, and
hence the carrying out of an EIA, to be largely
circumvented .

1 . Does the Commission believe that general exclusion of
the EIA requirement in cases of alterations to airports is
compatible with the provisions of the EIA Directive ?

2 . Does the Commission believe that the exemption clauses
quoted above with regard to the construction and

No C 280 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

alteration of transport routes are compatible with the
provisions of the EIA Directive ?

(!) OJ No C 235, 14 . 9 . 1992, p. 4 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

1 . Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*) requires an environmental
impact assessment where an airport is altered in cases where
this is an airport within Annex I to the Directive and where
the alteration is likely to have significant effects on the
environment, in particular as a result of its size, nature or
location ( Articles 2, 4 ( 2 ) Annex II, No 12 );

2 . The Commission will contact the German authorities

in order to request information on the matter and will take
any decisions in the light of their reply .

0 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3193 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 49 )

Subject : Toxic gas methyl bromide contained in
pesticides

The toxic gas methyl bromide, which is contained in many
pesticides ( soil fumigants ) and is also very widely used in
Greece, is largely responsible for the destruction of the
ozone in the stratosphere . This has been revealed by
the Greek office of the international environmental
organization ' Greenpeace ', which is asking the responsible
authorities to replace methyl bromide . It should be noted
that, according to Greenpeace statistics, 750 to 1 200
tonnes of methyl bromide are imported into Greece every
year, mainly from France and Israel . Will the Commission
propose Community legislation limiting, if not banning the
use of the abovementioned toxic gas ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 May 1993 )

During their fourth meeting, the Parties to the Montreal
Protocol on Substances which Deplete the Ozone Layer,

accepted that methyl bromide was implicated in the
destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer . The 1992
Copenhagen Amendment to the Protocol contains
provisions to freeze the production and consumption of
methyl bromide at 1991 levels by the year 1995 . The Parties
also decided to request the United Nations Environment
Programme Assessment Panels to produce before the end of

1994 reports assessing in greater detail the impact of methyl
bromide on the ozone layer, emission control
methodologies and the availability of substitutes .
Furthermore, in Copenhagen a resolution was adopted
urging Parties to reduce emissions of, and to recover, recycle
and reclaim methyl bromide . It was foreseen that the Parties
would decide upon a control scheme for methyl bromide,
including reduction steps and a possible phase-out date, no
later than their seventh meeting in 1995 when the
abovementioned reports will be available .

Given the provisions r of the 1992 Amendment and the
Copenhagen resolution, it is clear that there is an obligation
on the European Community to devise a control system for
methyl bromide . At present the Commission is preparing a
proposal taking full account of the agreements reached at
the fourth meeting of the protocol parties . It is not possible
at this point to give details of specific provisions which the
Commission may include, but the proposal will be presented
to Parliament for its opinion as quickly as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3201 / 92

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

93 / C 280 / 50

Subject : Lloyd 's of London

Will the Commission investigate the current situation at
Lloyd 's of London in view of the large losses suffered by
some investors ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

There are at present no Community rules regarding the
situation of investors in the specific context referred to in the
question . This would be the responsibility of the competent
authorities in the United Kingdom . The Commission has
therefore no intention to investigate the situation at Lloyds
from this point of view .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 27

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3228 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3229 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 51 ) ( 93 / C 280 / 52

Subject : European Law Academy

Subject : Reduction of the fishing fleet

In its resolution A3-198 / 91 ( J ) of Tuesday, 10 September

The 1992 — 1996 draft inultiannual action plan currently

being drawn up will, if adopted, lead to a 27 % reduction of
the French fleet by 1996 ; since 1991, it has already been
reduced by 10% .

The concern is to preserve and control fishery resources .

In Poitou-Charentes, at the same time, expenditure of FF
260 million is earmarked as part of the regional c ontract for
modernizing the Chef de Baie port in 1993 .

1991, Parliament proposed to establish a European Law
Academy to ensure that magistrates and representatives of
the law in the various Member States were better trained in

Community law . This project was supported by the Court of
Justice, and the Commission was invited to take the

necessary measures to carry out the project and to establish
the academy on a permanent basis in a university city .

How does the Commission intend to follow up this
resolution ? What stage has been reached in work on this
project and does it intend to make a proposal in the near
future ?

(') OJ No C 267, 14 . 10 . 1991, p. 33 .
How does the Commission respond to the questions of the
fishermen who are astonished at the contradiction between

the measures dreamt up by the Community bodies on the
one hand, and on the other hand, the unprecedented Answer given by
demands placed on the taxpayer to create an essential base on behalf of the
for the fishing industry in the Poitou-Charentes region ? 19 1993

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Academy of European Law was formally established in
Trier in 1982 as a foundation under German law . The
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas Commission supported the preparation of this venture with

on behalf of the Commission the following grants :

( 18 June 1993 ) ECU 50 000 in 1990 ( Article A-307 )

ECU 50 000 in 1991 ( Article A-3290 )

France 's multiannual guidance programme for 1992 —96
sets fishing reduction targets of 8 % in tonnage and 12 % in
kilowatts of power as measured against the status of the
French fleet at 1 January 1992, including the target of an
overall reduction of 2 % laid down by in the transitional
programme covering 1992 only . These objectives may
ultimately turn out to be lower than the effects of technical
progress in fishing over the same period .

The removal of fishing overcapacity is compatible with a
policy of modernizing fishing ports aimed at improving
working conditions and unloading facilities and the quality
of fishery products, all of which contributes to a better rate
of return in the operation of the fleet .

ECU 500 000 in 1992 ( Article A-3290 )

ECU 1 000 000 in 1993 ( Article A-3290 )

The Academy, which is now operational, has also received
technical advice and support from the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3251 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 53 )
With regard to the fishing port of Chef de Baie (a new site at
La Rochelle ), part-financing by the ERDF was approved
under the Objective 2 operational programme covering the Subject : Twinning of towns in the Community

1989— 91 period . The start of normal operations at this new
port is planned for the end of 1993 .

Budget Article A-306 provides for an appropriation for
expenditure on promoting twinning arrangements between
local authorities in regions which are disadvantaged owing
to their geographical situation, because their language is less

No C 280 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

widely used, or because they have recently joined the
Community . It is also intended to help improve the quality
of twinning schemes by gearing them to the practical
objectives of European integration .

What projects received subsidies in 1991 and 1992 ? How
much was allocated to them ? Please give a brief description
of each project financed .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member 's

attention to the fact that lists of towns and organizations
receiving subsidies under Article A-306 ( Town-Twinning
schemes in the Community ) are sent to the
Secretary-General of Parliament every year . In 1991 and
1992 more than 4 000 towns in all received financial

assistance for their twinning schemes . Further information
may be obtained direct from Parliament 's Committee on
Budgetary Control .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3264 / 92

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

.(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 54 )

Subject : Rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities

It seems to me that the reply by the President of the
Commission, Mr Delors, to my Written Question
No 2132 / 92 C 1 ) did not contain an answer to the last section
of the question .

Would the President inform me whether he believes that the

recommendations rfiade by the European Parliament in the
Kuijpers report ( A2-0150 / 87 ) ( 2 ) and the Arfe report

( 1-0965 / 80 ) ( 3 ) could help to protect the rights of ethnic and
linguistic minorities ?

(!) OJ No C 47, 18.2 . 1 993, p. 20 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 318, 30 . 11 . 1987, p . 160 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 287, <K 11 . 1 9*8 1, p. 57 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

replies to Written Questions No 244 / 92 from Mr Langer
and others ( ! ) and No 2132 / 92 from the Honourable
Member, and repeat that minority rights are a matter for the

Member States . In exercising its own powfers, the
Commission does take into account recommendations

made by the European Parliament .

In education, the Community fosters cooperation between
the Member States, supporting and supplementing their
activities in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity .
With regard to regional or minority languages, it supports
the work of the European Bureau for Lesser-Used
Languages .

For your information, the Commission would point out that
in 1992 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of

Europe adopted the European Charter of Regional or
Minority Languages .

t 1 ) OJ No C 285, 3 . 11 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3268 / 92

by Mr Enrico Falqui ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 55 )

Subject : Dangers to the population of La Spezia ( Italy )
arising from the activities of a power station
operated there by ENEL ( Ente Nazionale Energia
Elettrica )

In reply to my Written Question No 2704 / 91 0 ) of
November 1991 concerning pollution by the ENEL power
station in La Spezia, the Commission has said that it sees no
specific reasons to carry out a general investigation of the
plant to monitor compliance with EEC legislation on air
quality ( concentrations of SO2 and suspended particles ), as
the data forwarded to it indicated that emissions were

within the European limits .

The data on monitoring of pollution from the power station
supplied by the Italian authorities are not entirely reliable,
being based on aerial surveys and not on any measurements
of concentrations at points on the ground .

The public health authorities, including those responsible
for prevention, have not so far performed any studies from
which plausible environmental data can be derived which
would enable any conclusions to be drawn in one direction
or the other concerning the real pollution burden from the
power station ; moreover, in this connection there is one
alarming statistic which indicates that lung tumours have
increased among women living in the urban area of La
Spezia .

There are plans for expanding the desulphuration plant
attached to the power station, concerning which no
environmental impact assessment has been carried out .

In view of the above, would it not be desirable to ask the
competent authorities in Italy for information about the

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 29

pollution which may be caused by ENEL 's power station at Community ( through the Structural Funds or the EIB ) in
La Spezia ? Spanish Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country

and Navarre ( Hego Euskalherria )? What sums have been
(!) OJ No C 247, 24 . 9 . 1992, p. 6 . provided and what percentage of the total cost of the
projects do they represent ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The answer to Written Question No 2704 / 91 on the same
subject still applies .

The Commission does not have any further information to
confirm the Honourable Member 's claims that the data

supplied by the Italian authorities are not entirely reliable as
they are based on aerial surveys and not on any
measurements of concentrations at points on the ground .

All of the information from the Italian authorities on the

concentrations of SO 2 and suspended particles which form
the atmospheric pollution in the region of La Spezia are
based on data recorded and evaluated by the local air
quality surveillance network . The stationary points of
measurement, which like all of the local networks are
established in conformity with DPR 322 / 71, measure the
pollutant concentrations at ground level ( Article 9, point 1,
of the DPR states that the height of the sampling point must
not be more that 3 m from the ground ).

Lastly, the statement that the number of cases of lung
cancers among women living in the urban area of La Spezia
has increased cannot necessarily be attributed to the
presence of a power station . There are emissions of
potentially carcinogenic substances from other sources

( industry, urban traffic, domestic heating, personal smoking
habits, etc .) which also have to be taken into account .
According to the information available to the Commission,
no targeted epidemiological research has been carried out in
the region of La Spezia, as is evident from a study carried out
by Professors Kanitz and Purttoni of Genoa University
entitled ' Health risks associated with a power station, with
particular reference to the power station at La Spezia '.
However, it is for the national authorities concerned to
decide whether there is any need to carry out a targeted
epidemiological study on this subject and not the
responsibility of the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3287 / 92

by Mr Karmelo Landa Mendibe ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

What projects does the Commission intend to finance in the
near future and what notification of future projects or
applications has it received from the Spanish Government in
this connection ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a number
of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the
Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3290 / 92

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

93 / C 280 / 57

Subject : Spain 's financial contributions to the running of

research and development centres

What contribution has Spain made to the running of
European Community training, research and development
centres and to specific research programmes in 1992 ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

Community research and development programmes and the
Joint Research Centre are financed out of the annual

appropriations entered in the general budget of the
European Communities .

(6 January 1993 )

Revenue and its origin are shown in the revenue section of
( 93 / C 280 / 56 )
the 1992 budget, to which the Honourable Member is
referred .

Subject : Community-funded projects in the Basque
Country ( Euskalherria )

Can the Commission provide a list of infrastructure or other
projects financed in 1990, 1991 and 1992 by the European

No other financial contributions are made by Spain .

No C 280 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3292 / 92 were equivalent to those provided for by Directive
by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V ) 85 / 337 / EEC ( environmental impact assessment ) ( J ). As a

result, an infringement procedure was not justified .
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 ) (!) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .
( 93 / C 280 / 58 )

i

Subject : Tourist centre in Mullaghmore ( Burren ) in
Ireland

On 7 October 1992, Commissioner Millan issued a press
release concerning the Commission 's decision to close
consideration of this case and informed the parties
concerned accordingly .

The complaint concerned the proposal by the Irish Public
Works Office to build a tourist centre in the middle of

Burren National Park . The Commission takes the view that

this does not constitute an infringement of Community
environmental law and that ERDF funding can therefore be
provided for the project .

1 . Does the Commission consider this to be in accordance

with Article 7 ( 1 ) of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 2052 / 88 (*) which states that measures financed by
the Structural Funds must be in keeping with
Community policies including those concerning
environmental protection ?

Particularly in the case of a nature reserve, should
environmental protection not be placed on an equal
footing with economic development ?

2 . Although the Directive on habitats has not yet entered
into force, should the spirit thereof not be respected ?

3 . The Irish authorities state that they have carried out an
environmental impact assessment and consulted the
local residents . Can the Commission give us its own
assessment of the relevant documentation ?

(!) OJ'No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988, p. 9 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

The Commission considers that it took full account of

Article 7 ( 1 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 in making its
decision on the Mullaghmore Interpretative Centre in the
Burren National Park .

As the Habitats Directive does not enter into force until

1994 the Commission cannot at this stage pronounce on the
application of the Directive to this project .

The Commission studied the environmental impact
assessment, including the results of the consultation process,
and concluded that the guarantees given by the procedure 

/

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3307 / 92

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

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 59 )

Subject : Regional policy and the diversion of the River

Acheloos

The Community 's regional policy is intended to redistribute
resources in order to benefit the poorer areas and encourage
their development . How is Community funding for the
diversion of the River Acheloos consistent with this policy
when the project will deprive the poor and underdeveloped
regions of Etolia-Akarnania in western Greece of water, a
valuable resource which it needs for its future development
and which will be used instead to irrigate and boost
agricultural production in Thessaly, which is a much richer
and more developed area ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that it

has not taken a decision on Community finance for the
diversion of the Acheloos river .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3340 / 92

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 60 )

Subject : Inclusion of citrus fruits and Community aid

The orange and lemon harvest has begun and citrus fruit
growers are dismayed at the prospect of a slack market and

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 31

low prices . In order to ease the situation, will the
Commission propose that oranges and lemons are included
among the products the Community sends as aid to the
former socialist countries of Eastern Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1993 )

The products sent to central and eastern European countries

as Community food aid are chosen on the basis of a detailed
analysis of the needs or requests for aid which are submitted
by governments or non-governmental organizations
working with the needy in countries experiencing hardship .
No request for food aid in the form of citrus fruits has been
submitted by any government since the beginning of the
current marketing year .

However, at the request of a non-governmental
organization, the Commission has adopted a Regulation on
shipping and distributing oranges withdrawn from the
market to the people of the former Yugoslavia .

Moreover, to encourage the disposal of the Community 's
citrus fruit production, an export refund is granted in
respect of oranges and lemons exported to certain
destinations, including the countries of central and eastern
Europe .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3355 / 92

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 61 )

Subject : Situation in the textile industry

Despite the enormous efforts being made to modernize the
cotton textile imdustry, it is a sad fact that it is losing ground
and becoming less important in the European
Community .

Apart from the economic policy pursued by each Member
State, the conclusion of numerous textile agreements under
the MFA has undoubtedly opened our market to major third
country exporters without securing in exchange even
minimum compliance with standards such as the
anti-dumping code, control of subsidies, measures to
prevent the forging of licences and certificates of origin or
the copying of designs and trademarks .

For example, a recent extraordinary general assembly of the
Spain cotton textile industry has just established that, since
Spain 's accession to the EC in 1986, Spanish textile
production has fallen by 16%, and the industry has lost
30 % of its firms, almost 25 % of its worker and 20 % of its
production equipment . In this period of almost seven years,
Spain has tripled its imports of cotton textiles and instead of
its former trade surplus in the textile and clothing sector has
an annual deficit of Pta 270 000 million in both sectors .

Does the Commission have any comments on this serious
situation ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the restructuring process in the
Community cotton industry, in particular in Spain, and of
the need to continue this process that will inevitably lead to a
further reduction in both its overall production and
employment . In the case of Spain, the progressive opening of
its market to imports mainly from the Member States but
also from third countries has been particularly
important .

In order to facilitate the economic recovery of areas heavily
dependent on the textiles sector, the Commission launched
in May 1992 an initiative named RETEX with a budget of
ECU 100 million for the year 1993 and a further amount of
ECU 400 million for the period 1994 — 1997 . The
programmes prepared by the Member States for the
implementation of RETEX have been received by the
Commission ( in December 1992 in the case of Spain ) and
are under examination . A decision is foreseen during the
first half of 1993 .

Regarding the development of imports to the Community
market, it is necessary to recall that the objective of the
Community 's bilateral textile agreements under the MFA
has always been to promote the orderly and equitable
development of trade in textile products between the
Community and supplying third countries and, taking the
fullest account of the serious economic and social problems
affecting the textile industry, to eliminate real risks of
market disruption on the Community market . In line with
this objective and within the negotiating directives laid
down by the Council, the Commission has negotiated the
renewal of the existing bilateral agreements .

In the context of the Uruguay Round negotiations, the
Council has insisted on the strengthening of the GATT rules
and disciplines notably in the areas of market access,
anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, safeguard action and
protection of intellectual property, as an important
condition for the integration of textiles and clothing
products in the GATT .

In recent years, the Commission has also taken firm action
to deal with unfair practices in external trade . Several

No C 280 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

anti-dumping measures have been taken against imports of
cotton and synthetic yarns and fibre .

Finally, following the recent approval by the Parliament of a
ECU 500 000 budget designed to finance anti-fraud
initiatives in the textile sector, named TAFI, the
Commission will soon launch selected anti-fraud enquiries
in the countries considered sources of fraudulent exports
towards the Community .

Should duly substantiated cases of unfair practices be
brought to the attention of the Commission, they will be
considered on the basis of existing legislation concerning
dumping, subsidies and counterfeiting .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3363 / 92

by Mrs Kirsten Jensen ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 62 )

Subject : EC set-aside arrangements and nitrate leaching

The European Community 's set-aside rules may be having a
severe impact on the environment . An article in
Jyllandsposten of 11 November 1992 indicates that in

Denmark alone an extra 10 000 tonnes of nitrates will be

leached out from 415 000 hectares of set-aside agricultural
land . One of the consequences for Denmark will be to make
it extremely difficult to implement fully the aquatic
environment programme .

It is therefore important to ensure that set-aside rules take
adequate account of environmental factors . One obvious
method of achieving a considerable reduction in nitrate
leaching is to provide farmers with incentives for setting
aside the poorest quality land under grass .

How does the Commission intend to ensure that

environmental factors are taken into account as soon as

possible in the set-aside arrangements and what specific
measures will be taken to that end ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen '

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

Compulsory set-aside under the new common organization
of the markets in certain arable crops could indeed lead to an

increase in nitrate leaching if the land concerned is not
managed correctly .

However, Regulation ( EEC ) No 2293 / 92 ( j ) laying down
detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 1765 / 92 ( 2 ) establishing a support system for
producers of certain arable crops precisely defines the
conditions applicable to land set aside . In particular,
Article 3 ( 3 ) lays down that ' Member States shall apply the
appropriate measures which correspond to the specific
situation of the land set aside so as to ensure the protection
of the environment . These measures may also concern a
green cover '.

Set-aside not based on rotation ( multi-annual set-aside ) can
be introduced as soon as a regulation on such measures has
been adopted . The conditions to be applied to multi-annual
set-aside are currently being examined .

The problem of the pollution of water by agricultural
nitrates is already dealt with by a specific Community
Directive ( Directive 91 / 676 / EEC ( 3 ) of 12 December 1991 )
that Member States are currently incorporating into
national law .

i

Furthermore, CAP accompanying measures include
agri-environmental measures ( Regulation ( EEC )
No 2078 / 92 ( 4 )) which offer aid to farmers undertaking to
introduce or continue with environmentally friendly
farming practices . Programmes to be carried out under this
Regulation must reach the Commission before 30 July

1993 .

Environmental protection calls for a harmonious blend of
these different means . The draft Regulation on multi-annual
set-aside is being drafted on that basis .

(!) OJ No L 221, 6 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 375, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3366 / 92

by Mrs Marie Anne Isler Beguin ( Y )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 63 )

c

Subject : Liquidation of Messrs UFP

Since 1956 UFP ( Union Francaise des Petroles ) has been
operating a waste oil reprocessing plant in Dieulouard in
Meurthe et Moselle ( France ). Since it was set up the UFP has
defied a number of judgments against it for air, water and
noise pollution .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 33

Has UFP received any Community funds since it began
operations ?

Has UFP, which has been in liquidation since 2 November

1992, requested funding from the Commission to resume its
operations ?

If so, what were the Commission 's criteria for granting the
aid ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

The UFP company received no Community aid ( whether
from the European Regional Development Fund or from the
European Social Fund ) before its final closure .

Furthermore, no application for financial assistance relating
thereto was submitted to the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3373 / 92

by Mr Paul Lannoye and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 64 )

Subject : ' Environmental impact assessment ' directive

In July 1985 the European Community notified the Member
States of Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( J ) on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment . Article 11 ( 3 ) of the directive
provides for a report on its application and effectiveness five
years after notification, that is to say, the second half of

1990 . Despite promises made at the end of 1991 and again
in July 1992 by the Commission, seven years after the
notification to the Member States no report has been sent to
the European Parliament .

Furthermore, an amendment to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC was
contained in the Commission 's 1991 legislative programme .
The Commission 's eighth annual report to Parliament states
that the above directive has not been properly implemented
in 10 Member States of the Community and has not been
implemented at all in one other country . In addition, it has
recently been discovered that the 12th Member State has not
properly implemented the directive . It is therefore now

essential to take appropriate steps to introduce and
implement correctly legislation needed for protection of the
environment .

In this context, can the Commission :

1 . explain the major delays which have occurred, despite
its undertakings,

2 . inform Parliament of the date of publication of the
report assessing Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC,

3 . inform Parliament of the measures it will take to rectify
the misinterpretation and failure by the Member States
to adopt fully Directive 85 / 337 / EEC,

4 . set a date for submitting the proposal to amend
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

1 . The Commission was delayed in carrying out its
obligation under Article 11 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC chiefly
by the slackness of the Member States in transposing the
Community provisions into national legislation .

Most Member States sent the texts of their national

legislation to the Commission in the course of 1990 :
consequently, the drafting of the report could not be
completed until 1991 .

This draft was twice examined with the help of government
experts on impact studies, who made a number of changes
to the text, and in particular to the description of the
national situations .

2 . The report assessing Directive 85 / 337 / EEC was sent to
Parliament in April 1993 ( 1 ).

3 . As indicated by the Honourable Members, an
infringement procedure has been initiated against most
Member States because their legislation fails to comply
wholly with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, and these procedures
have not yet been completed . Moreover, the Commission is
looking into the large number of complaints it continues to
receive regarding the incorrect application of the Directive .
The Commission is thus actively playing the role of guardian
of Community legislation which was entrusted to it by the
EEC Treaty .

4 . In view of the proposal to ratify the Espoo
Convention, on which Parliament delivered its opinion in
February 1992, the Commission is currently preparing the

No C 280 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

amendments needed in order to transpose the provisions of WRITTEN QUESTION No 3409 / 92
the Convention into Community legislation and to meet the by Mr Detlev Samland ( S )
new requirements identified in the abovementioned
report . to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

The proposal for amendments to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 93 / C 280 / 66 )
should be sent to Parliament during the second half of

1993 .

Subject : Exemption from TPA for end-user customers in
(M COM(93 ) 28 final .

the US energy law

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3396 / 92

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 65 )

Subject : Discriminatory practices by employers

Does the Commission accept that discrimination in
employment sometimes occurs not only on the basis of sex,
but also on the basis of race, religion and age ?

The US Congress has adopted a new energy law which has
already been signed by President Bush . What is the
Commission 's opinion of the decision in sub-chapter B —
Interstate Commerce in Electricity — to exempt end-users
from TPA ? What conclusions does the Commission draw

from this, given that the USA is one of the models it uses in
drafting directives on the transit of energy ? Does the
Commission consider that this new law should be cited in

EC discussions on the subject ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

In the USA, electricity is mostly produced by vertically

Answer given by Mr Flynn integrated, heavily regulated electricity companies . There
on behalf of the Commission are also independent distributors who are connected to the

(9 July 1993 ) companies ' transmission grids . An independent electricity

production sector has developed since 1978 following the
introduction in that year of more flexible legislation .
The Commission is aware that sex is not the only basis for
discrimination in employment . The laws of all Member
States also prohibit discrimination based on race, religion The USA has recently adopted new energy legislation, the
and age . Energy Policy Act of 1992, which continues the process of

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

Although there are no specific Community provisions on
this kind of discrimination, it is worth noting that in its
judgments the Court of Justice of the European
Communities has constantly taken the view that the
generally accepted principles relating to human rights,
including the prohibition of this type of discrimination,
should be taken into account in the interpretation and
application of all Community law .

The USA has recently adopted new energy legislation, the
Energy Policy Act of 1992, which continues the process of
opening up the grids which became necessary with the
appearance, in the early 80s, of increasingly frequent
contractual relations between electricity companies and
independent producers located in service areas at a distance
from each other . The two important provisions are the
following :

A new category of independent electricity producers is
set up, the Exempt Wholesale Generators ( EWG ), which
are exempt from the strict regulations laid down in the

1935 legislation .
In addition, the eighth recital to the Community Charter of
the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers states that ' in
order to ensure equal treatment, it is important to combat The Act provides
every form of discrimination, including discrimination on the EWG and
grounds of sex, colour, race, opinions and beliefs '. ( integrated

Article 2 of the Charter provides expressly for equal
treatment regarding access to employment, working
conditions and social protection in the host countrv .

The Act provides for access to the transmission grids for
the EWG and the companies connected to such grids

( integrated companies and distributors served by them ).
In practice, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

( FERC ) is able to compel the grids to transmit electrical
power corresponding to the supplies contractually
agreed between an EWG and an electricity company or
an independent distributor . In other words, a
high-voltage supply market is created between the
entities connected to the transmission grids .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 35

In this way, the US legislation goes beyond the Community
Directive on transit, which covers only exchanges between
transmission companies . In the USA, the opening up of the
market concerns both the producers and the distributors
connected to the transmission grids .

The Act is accompanied by a large number of supplementary
provisions which inter alia establish the powers of the
various supervisory authorities ( Federal Commissions, SEC,
FERC ).

2 . Distributors, for example, urban electricity companies,

may, however, apply for (' wholesale wheeling ') transit

arrangements .

In its proposals the Commission has hitherto always
referred the practices of the United States and its exemplary
legal provisions .

1 . What conclusions will the Commission draw from the

new American energy law concerning future
Community TPA rules with regard to gas and
electricity ?

Under the 1992 Act, the FERC is not empowered at Federal
level to authorize final customer access ( including that of 2 . When will it amend its proposals accordingly ?
industrial customers ) to the grids . A provision of this kind
does exist in some of the US states but it is indeed the

exception and is the responsibility of the Federal
commissions . This responsibility is confirmed by the 1992
Act . Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 July 1993 )
The USA offers an interesting model for the opening up of
electricity grids which requires closer study . However, there
are several models for the opening up of electricity grids
throughout the world : England-Wales, Scotland, Northern 1 . The United States has indeed recently adopted a new
Ireland, Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Norway energy law ( Energy Policy Act of 1992 ) which continues the
and soon Finland and Sweden . The US example is therefore process of opening up the grids which has become necessary
one among several . as a result of the growth since the early 1980s of contractual

links between electricity companies and independent
generators located in remote areas . The two most important
In another area of energy distribution, the opening up of the provisions concern :
gas transmission systems in the USA gives the final
customers access to the gas pipelines . the creation of a new category of independent electricity
generators, namely exempt wholesale generators

( EWGs ) who are not covered by the strict regulations
The new US Act has been studied in depth and is now being provided for by the legislation adopted in 1935 ;
considered in internal discussions within the Community, in
particular at Commission level . access to transmission grids for EWGs and for
companies connected up to such grids ( integrated
companies and distributors served by them ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3455 / 92

by Mr Klaus Hänsch ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 67

Subject ; Internal market for electricity and natural gas

In the United States a new energy law has entered into force
containing two important concerning transit arrangements
for electricity :

1 . TPA (' Retail wheeling ') for final users is prohibited,

The Commission has carefully studied this new law and
considers that it is an interesting example of opening up
electricity grids in a particular context, given that it has to
take into account in its proposals the very different
structures in existence in the electricity sector in the different
Member States .

2 . The last two Energy Council meetings on
30 November 1992 and 25 June 1993 called upon the
Commission ' to consider modifications to its proposals in
the light of the Council discussions and of the opinion of the
European Parliament, with the aim of achieving more
competition in the internal energy markets . . .'

It is therefore up to the European Parliament to issue its
opinion on the Commission proposals, whereupon the
Commission will be able to consider possible amendments
to its proposals in the light of Parliament 's opinion and of
the discussions in the Council .

No C 280 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3460 / 92

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 68 )

Subject : Campaign of intimidation against producers,

traders and consumers of tobacco

Does the Commission intend to support the campaign of
intimidation being conducted against producers, traders
and consumers of tobacco who are more or less treated as

criminals by certain fanatics because of studies and
experiments which are never conclusive but always open to
an element of doubt, which greatly detracts from the
credibility of findings ? Will it urge greater moderation on
both sides of the sake of objectivity and tolerance ?

within the meaning of Directive 92 / 43 / EEC ( [ ), being home
to a large colony of otters ( lutra lutra ), a protected species of
Community interest which requires stringent protection,
pursuant to Annex IV of the above directive .

There is a risk that the ' Confederation Hidgrografica del
Sur ' ( Southern Water Authority ) may authorize a private
company to extract over 1 200 000 m 3 of aggregate, which
would be nothing less than an ecological disaster .

Can the Commission call on the Spanish Government to
provide the relevant information on its compliance with the
requirement to conduct an environmental impact
assessment, as laid down in Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 )?

Is the Spanish Government — in this instance the
Andalusian Government — guilty of failing to observe the
obligations arising from Community rules on the protection
of species ?

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

The Commission is certainly not supporting a campaign of
intimidation . The Honourable Member must know that

there is no longer any doubt at all about the validity of the
data and the results of research into the harmful effects of

tobacco .

On the basis of the scientific evidence and with the

agreement of the Member States, action has been taken to
reduce tobacco consumption in Europe as part of the
Europe Against Cancer Programme . The Commission 's aim
is to achieve the objectives set in a climate of understanding
and respect for citizcns ' rights through measures such as
information and health education campaigns .

These measures have, furthermore, the support of the
majority of Europeans — as shown in the series of surveys
conducted by the Commission between 1987 and 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3478 / 92

by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 69 )

Subject : Dredging the River Genal ( Andalusia )

The course of the River Genal ( Malaga ) is categorized as a

Special Agricultural Region . It constitutes a ' natural habitat '

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC was incorporated into Spanish law by
Royal Decree No 1302 / 85, which requires the surface
mining of certain minerals to be made subject to an
environmental impact assessment .

Royal Decree No 1131 / 88 lays down detailed rules in
respect of the abovementioned Decree . Annex 2.12 thereto
defines the operations to exploit river deposits, glacifluvial
deposits, coastal sand deposits and wind-laid deposits, as
well as marine deposits, which this type of surface mining
encompasses and for which an environmental impact
assessment is therefore compulsory .

Article 237 of the regulation on public watercourses, which
further defines the preliminary titles I, IV, V and VII of Law
29 / 1985 on water, stipulates that licences to carry outworks
or activities on public watercourses which are liable to cause
pollution or lead to a degradation of the environment, may
only be granted if a study has been carried out first to assess
the effects on the environment .

The Commission therefore takes the view that the

obligations deriving from Directive 85 / 337 / EEC have been
largely incorporated into the national legislation, which
ensures compliance with Community law in this field . The
Commission cannot comment on the decision of the Spanish
authorities until the procedure established by national
legislation is completed .

Lutra lutra is included in Annex 4 to Directive 92 / 43 / EEC

and is also classified as a protected species in Spain under

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 37

Law 4 / 1989 on the conservation of natural areas and wild ( ECU )
flora and fauna . It is therefore incumbent upon the regional 1990 1991 1991 1992 1992 1993
authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure
conservation of the species in Andalusia . 4 252 300 5 119 300 6 621 600

1990 1991 1991 1992 1992 1993

The Commission cannot give any assurance to the
Honourable Member as to the intention of the Spanish
authorities regarding the application to this case of
Directives 85 / 337 / EEC and 92 / 43 / EEC . However, the
Commission in its role of guardian of the EC Treaty will
ensure that the obligations under those Directives are
respected .

Spain 4 252 300 5 119 300 6 621 600

France 5 141 800 6 499 600 8 308 400

Greece 1 123 100 1 756 500 2 080 000

Italy 5 148 200 6 986 700, 8 520 900

Ireland 668 700 988 900 1 107 000

Luxembourg 200 000 220 300 225 900

Netherlands 1 779 000 2 240 900 2 883 700

Portugal 937 500 1 682 600 2 297 200

United Kingdom 4 857 100 6 070 600 8 154 400

Total 31 966 000 42 956 800 54 246 900

Irish higher education institutions have shown a great
interest in promoting student mobility on the Community

QUESTION No 3481 / 92 level and a large number of Irish students have taken part

Andrews ( RDE ) in the Erasmus programme . However, the Community
of the European Communities funding which can be made available according to the

allocation formula set in the Council Decision adopting the

January 1993 ) Erasmus programme, is not sufficient to provide student

( 93 / C 280 / 70 ) mobility grants to all participating students .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3481 / 92

by Mr Niall Andrews ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

Subject : Erasmus

Will the Commission give details of the level of funding
provided to each Member State for 1990 — 1992 under the

Erasmus programme for the mobility of university students,
and furthermore will it indicate how Irish students have

fared in relation to students from other EC countries ? Is the

Commission satisfied that the target of assisting a minimum
of 1 0 % of EC university students by the end of 1 992 will, in
fact, be reached ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 1993 )

Higher education institutions organizing student mobility
programmes under the Erasmus programme may receive
Community funding towards the organizational costs

( meetings, material, administrative expenses, language
preparation, etc ) as well as student mobility grants .

The Community funding made available to Member States

for student mobility grants for the period 1990 — 1992

was :

( ECU )

The target of 10 % student mobility at Community level has
not yet been reached . In the academic year 1992 / 93, 5%
of students are participating in the Community student
mobility programmes and spending a study period abroad .
The objective of 10% will be attained only if the
Community measures are accompanied by complementary
efforts at national, regional and local levels to extend the
opportunities available to larger student numbers . Most
Member States have now begun to make available some
complementary resources .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3490 / 92

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

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 71 )

Subject : The dry docks at Chania

The dry docks at Chania, a group of seven buildings which
were previously used to repair small vessels, are now
infested with rodents and despite a conservation order are in
danger of collapsing . These dry docks were built at the order
of the Venetian Senate in August 1482 and restoration work
is supported by Unesco . However, no action has so far been
taken to repair the damage to these buildings and to explore

1990—1991 1991 1992

Belgium 1 158 300 1 913 500

**1** 992—1993

Germany 6 012 100 8 631 200 **1**

Denmark 687 900 846 700

2 281 600

0 594 400

1 171 800

No C 280 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

the full potential of this important cultural monument .
What scope is there for Community aid to help the
municipality of Chania restore the dry docks and to avoid
what would be an irreparable loss for the old port of Chania
and the cultural heritage in general ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

The monument in question could be considered for financial
support by the Commission, in the framework of its annual
action for support of pilot projects to conserve the European
architectural heritage, provided it fulfills the rules ( theme
and administrative conditions ) announced each year in the
Official Journal of the European Communities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3494 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 72 )

Subject : Research by the National Statistical Service of

Greece

Between November 1992 and November 1993 the National

Statistical Service of Greece is to undertake research on

behalf of the Community into the economic situation in
Greece, and notably unemployment, inflation, etc . This
emerges from the decision by the Greek Ministries of
Finance and the National Economy published recently in the
Government Journal . Given that similar research has been
undertaken on a number of occasions in the past at the
behest of the European Community, without public opinion
in Greece being informed of the findings, will the
Commission provide us with information on this
research ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3497 / 92

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

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 73

Subject : Biological purification in Patras

Tens of thousands of citizens of Patras have expressed their
support for a biological purification plant to deal with
urban waste from the city, following a campaign to gather
signatures organized recently by the Association for the
Protection of the Countryside and Environment and the
Regional Ecological Movement . Given that pollution in the
Gulf of Patras has become a serious problem, the main
culprit being the city of Patras and the waste it produces,
does the Commission intend to assist the Greek authorities

and in particular the Municipality of Patras to set up a
biological purification plant shortly ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 31 March 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the problem to which the
Honourable Member refers and would be willing to
consider any application submitted by the Greek authorities
concerning the construction of a purification plant at Patras
in the context of current or future programmes under the
Structural Funds .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 23 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 74 )

Subject : Social security card

In many Community Member States all social security
payments ( benefits, pensions, etc .) are provided on the basis
of a social security card . In view of the great success of this
system, will the Commission call on all Member State
authorities to ensure that all European nationals are issued
Answer given by Mr Christophersen with social security cards ?

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 March 1993 )

The Commission is unaware of the research referred to by
the Honourable Member .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 July 1993 )

The Commission does not intend to propose the
introduction in all the Member States of a social security

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 39

card of the kind already adopted in certain Member States
since this is an area in which only national authorities have

power to act .

Objective 1 on the development and structural adjustment
of regions whose development is lagging behind .

For the period 1988 — 93 21 % of total Community aid

However, in response to a request by the Council on approved by the EAGGF Guidance Section for measures
29 September 1989, the Commission examined the under the Community Support Framework for Objective 1
possibility of establishing a European emergency care card countries is set aside for Greece .
through mutual recognition and harmonization of the
various existing or planned national cards . While most of
the legal problems associated with this have been resolved,
there are still some technical problems, mainly concerning
computerization, which are currently being examined by the
Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant
Workers . WRITTEN QUESTION No 59 / 93

by Mr Luigi Moretti ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 76

WRITTEN QUESTION No 29 / 93

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

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 75

Subject : Destruction of poultry farming

Greek poultry farming is on the brink of ruin .
Representatives of the Association of Greek Poultry
Farmers have pointed out that domestic chicken production
which is already saddled with large debts and high
production costs will suffer irreparable damage from the
lifting of restrictions on imports of poultry products from
third countries as part of GATT . What measures does the
Commission intend to take to support Greek poultry
farmers at this difficult time and in particular to set up the
necessary infrastructures in the fields of standardization,
transport and marketing in this sector ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1993 )

The Commission does not share the Honourable Member 's

opinion that Greek poultry farming will suffer ' irreparable
damage ' as a result of the Blair House preliminary
agreement negotiated between the Commission and the
United States administration .

The reduction in customs tariffs will be accompanied, as a
result of the reform of the CAP, by a fall in the price of
cereals, the main ingredient in poulty feed .

As to the adaptation of structures, Greek poultry farming
can qualify for Community financing for the modernization
of marketing, slaughter and distribution facilities under

Subject : Public procurement

Having regard to the completion of the internal market and
the abolition of frontiers, the White Paper on completing the
internal market set out an action programme and timetable
for the opening-up of public procurement . In Italy a
worrying scandal of huge dimensions has broken out about
the awarding of government contracts which involves
practically the whole of the existing political
establishment .

Is the Commission aware of what has been happening in
Italy ?

Does it consider that the rules applicable to public
procurement in the European Community are sufficient to
ensure proper standards in the awarding of public works
contracts and the framing of their conditions, including

deadlines and provisions on the containment of costs, in
Italy and the member countries ?

What measures does it intend to take to prevent the
opening-up of the internal market leading to a repetition in
Italy and the Member States of such malpractice which has
an adverse effect on the economies of the member countries

as well as the administration of Community funds ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member

to its answer to Written Question No 1437 / 92 by
Mr Linkohr ( x ).

(') OJ No C 6, 11 . 1 . 1993 .

No C 280 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

QUESTION No 107 / 93 Commission . The Commission will contact the relevant

Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) Spanish authorities to establish the situation in this regard .

As most of the measures concerned are not, in principle,

of the European Communities scheduled for completion according to the approved

February 1993 ) programme until 31 December 1993, the complete

( 93 / C 280 / 77 ) evaluation data will probably not be available until after
that date .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 107 / 93

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 February 1993 )

Subject : Results of annual evaluations of the Commission 's

decision on an operational programme for
vocational training in Andalusia

The Commission 's decision of 30 November 1989 ( C(90 )
24 55 ) on aid to the European Social Fund for the financing
of an operational programme in Andalusia for vocational
training and employment promotion established an
evaluation plan proposed by the promoters, which stated
that once the courses had finished the percentages of
participants who had got a job, were still unemployed or
were continuing with other courses, etc ., would be
counted .

1 . What have been the results of these evaluation plans ?

2 . Who are the members of the monitoring committee ?

3 . What reports has the monitoring committee produced

on the annual implementation reports ?

4 . To what extent has the programme been
implemented ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

Details of the composition of the monitoring committee for
the operational programme in question, and the reports
presented at the committee meetings, are being forwarded
directly to the Honourable Member and the Parliament
Secretariat General .

Implementation of the programme to which the
Honourable Member refers was 66,16% for the period
January 1990 to December 1991 . Implementation of the

other two operational programmes approved for Andalusia
over the same period, however, ran at 121,8% ( long-term
unemployed ) and 100,5% ( employment measures for
young people ), the excess being due to a transfer to 1991 of
funds allocated for 1992 . By September 1992, furthermore,
the programme in question had already implemented 61 %
of its scheduled programme for the period January 1990 to
December 1992 . Bearing in mind that, in Spain, ESF
operations tend to be concentrated in the last quarter of the
year, 1992 is likely to show a higher implementation rate
than the previous year .

The evaluation reports on the projects under the operational
programme, to which the Honourable Member refers, have
not yet been presented to the monitoring committees or the

WRITTEN QUESTION No 206 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 78 )

Subject : Treatment of stunted growth and the
Creutzfeld-Jacob disease

A new health tragedy is currently unfolding : up to 1985
thousands of children suffering from stunted growth were
' treated ' in France and other countries by the use of growth
hormones taken from the glands of persons who had
recently died . A report by the French authorities now reveals
that, when administered in certain doses, these hormones

( which came mainly from Bulgaria ) triggered the
Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, which is invariably fatal . In view
of this, what additional measures does the Commission
intend to take to protect human health, and in particular
children subjected to ' treatments ' of various kinds ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The only known treatment for children suffering from
hypophysial dwarfism is the administration of human
growth hormone . Up to the mid-1980s that hormone had
been extracted from the pituary gland of human corpses,
thus giving rise to the contamination of certain patients by
the Creutzfeld-Jacob pathogen . There is no treatment for
that still poorly identified pathogen ( slow or prion
virus ).

For a decade the pharmaceuticals industry has been
producing human growth hormone by the means of
biotechnological processes, thus shielding that medicine
from Creutzfeld-Jacob contamination . This new medicine
was authorized very quickly in all of the Member States of
the Community via the procedure under Directive
87 / 22 / EEC on high-technology medicines ( ] ) and it has
replaced human-source hormone .

(!) OJ No L 15, 17 . 1 . 1987 .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION No 322 / 93

by Mr Gerd Miiller ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 March 1993 )

on neighbouring EEA countries and countries signatory to
the Europe Agreement have an important part to play in
terms of cross-border cooperation and cooperation between
EC and other countries .

( 93 / C 280 / 79 Will the Commission accordingly recommend an increase in
the appropriations entered against budget Article B2-600

Subject : ' Eco-point ' system introduced on 1 January 1993 ' Promotion of inter-regional cooperative operations '?

for vehicles in transit through Austria

Is the Commission aware that Austria customs officials do

not recognize the ' COP ' document for older vehicles
registered before 1 October 1 990, although it certifies that
their motors have subsequently been changed to ensure low
levels of pollutant emissions and that they should therefore
be nalized less heavily in terms of eco-points ?

Does the Commission intend to penalize this infringement
of the ' eco-point ' regulation in order to remedy the ensuing
discrimination against the undertakings concerned and, if
so, what steps will it take ?

Will the Commission support an extension of aid projects,

for example as part of cooperation with the Baltic countries
or with Poland and the Czech and Slovak Republics ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1993 )

the undertakings concerned and, if The Commission supports cooperation between regional
will it take ? and local authorities within the Community under budget

line B2-600 . Cooperation between authorities in the
Community and their counterparts in the countries of
Central and Eastern Europe is not assisted under this
Answer given by Mr Matutes line .

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The Commission is aware that there is a difference of

opinion between the Austrian authorities and Member
States as to how lorries registered prior to 1 October 1990
but fitted with replacement engines after that date should be
treated within the Transit Agreement with Austria .

The Commission totally supports the view that vehicles
fitted with new, cleaner engines after 1 October 1 990 should
benefit from their environmentally friendly actions . This
was the major topic of discussion raised with the Austrian
authorities by the Commission in a meeting of a Joint
Transport Working Group in April . The Commission is
optimistic that the solution it proposed at the Joint Working
Group will prove acceptable to the Austrian authorities and
would result in the COP value of a vehicle being revised
when a new engine is fitted .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 336 / 93

by Mr Reimer Boge ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission has, however, supported two projects —
Ouverture and Ecos — under Article 10 of the ERDF

regulation to promote east west contact between territorial
authorities . Details of these two projects are being sent
directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat
general of the European Parliament .

As regards frontier regions, the Interreg Community
initiative launched in 1990 provides assistance in the
Community 's external border areas . The Commission is
currently working on the preparation of a Green Paper
which will set out options for the next package of
Community initiatives . It is likely that the Green Paper will
propose a further Interreg programme .

In addition, the European Parliament voted ECU 15 million
from the Phare budget in 1993 to assist cooperation
between the countries of Central Europe and the
Community . Proposals are now being prepared on how
these funds can be used most effectively .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 349 / 93

93 / C 280 / 80
(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 81 )
Subject : Interregional cooperation

The EC is encouraging measures to promote interregional
cooperation .

In view of the overall development of Europe, the EEA
agreement and the Europe Agreement, EC areas bordering

Subject : Protection of the Gulf of Arta ( Amvrakikos
Kolpos )

The Gulf of Arta is a strictly protected area under the
Ramsar Convention, Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( J )

No C 280 / 42 Olficial Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

and until recently ministerial Decision No
30027 / 1193 / 9.3.1990 which applied until March 1992 .
From that time Greece had failed to provide any legal
guarantees ( ministerial decision or presidential decree ) as
required under Community and Greek law ( framework law
on the environment ) to protect this area .

In reply to Written Question No 688 / 89 which I submitted
on this subject the Commission indicated that it had
' initiated an infringement procedure against Greece ' under
Article 169 ' for incorrect application of Article 4 ( 3 ) and ( 4 )
of the said directive ' ( 79 / 409 / EEC ) ( 2 ).

Can the Commission say :

1 . what stage has been reached, two years on, by
the proceedings initiated against Greece under
Article 169 ?

2 . Will the Commission bring pressure to bear on the
Greek Government to ensure legal protection of the Gulf
of Arta ?

3 . Will the Commission promote sound and balanced
management of the ecosystems of the Gulf of Arta ?

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

( 2 ) OJ No C 190, 30 . 7 . 1990, p . 2 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

The infringement procedure pursuant to Article 169 is still
in progress .

Since the Gulf of Arta is a special protection area under
Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC the Commission is closely
monitoring its effective protection .

Since the Gulf of Arta is a vulnerable area and is extremely
important in terms of its ecosystems, the Commission has
already been cooperating for a long time with the Greek
authorities in order to guarantee that it is adequately
protected .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 358 / 93

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

(3 March 1993 )

93 / C 280 / 82

Subject : ESF payment delays

Is the Commissioner aware of the delays experienced by
voluntary organizations awaiting European Social Fund

payments ? Such delays often lead
associated interest charges, as
organizations do not have sufficient
period of delay .

to borrowing and

many voluntary
funds to cover the

Can the procedure be speeded up to avoid these
problems ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

The Commission has been contacted by a number of
training organizations, including those involved in the
voluntary sector, about the operation of the European
Social Fund in the United Kingdom .

The operation of the three Structural Funds ( the European
Regional Development Fund, the Guidance section of the
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, and
the ESF ) was revised in 1988, so as to devolve the selection
and management of individual projects to the governments
of the Member States or to bodies nominated by them . The
Commission manages these funds through larger-scale
operational programmes in the context of Community
Support Frameworks agreed jointly with the Member State .
As a consequence, ESF payments in respect of the
operational programmes are made to the Bank of England
on the responsibility of the Department of Employment .

Within Great Britain support is granted from the ESF to
cover 45 % of eligible training costs, the remaining 55 %
coming from national sources . In Northern Ireland, support
is granted at 65 % with 35 % coming from national sources .
The Commission pays a first advance of 50% of its ESF
contribution to Member States for a given year as soon as
the national authorities certify a satisfactory take-up of the
contribution for earlier years . A second advance of a further
30 % is paid on receipt of a certification that half the first
advance ( 25 % of the year 's budget ) has been used . The
balance of 20 % is paid after receipt of proper accounts for
the year in question .

There is constant contact between the Commission and the

United Kingdom authorities on how best to accelerate the
delivery of Social Fund contributions and thus to maximize
their usefulness .

Where delays in payment to training bodies occur because of
problems encountered in Member States, the Commission is
not directly responsible . The Commission does not refund
bank interest or charges which training bodies may have
incurred .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 43

WRITTEN QUESTION No 391 / 93

by Mr Patrick Cooney ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(S March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 83 )

Subject : Agriculture

»

«
In view of the widespread doubts as to the compatibility of
the GATT deal done in Washington on 20 November 1992
with the changed common agricultural policy, will the
Commission set up, as requested by the French Minister for
Agriculture, a high-level working party to carry out as
quickly as possible a sector-by-sector analysis ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the « Commission

( 26 April 1993 )

The compatibility of the outcome of the agricultural
negotiations conducted with the United States and the
reform of the common agricultural policy as decided by the
Council on 22 May 1 992 has been discussed by the
Ministers of Agriculture at several Council meetings and the
discussions are still continuing .

In addition, the Council has decided that the Special
Committee on Agriculture should examine the issue . This
examination is taking place under a procedure determined
by the Danish Presidency . The Commission is giving all
possible impetus to the examination with a view to its
completion as soon as possible . In view of this, there can be
no need for the subject to be examined by a high level

group .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 392 / 93

by Mr Patrick Cooney ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(S March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 84

Subject : Treaty on European Union

Will the Commission confirm that no Member State is

exempt from or has sought exemption from the requirement
of Article 109e ( 5 ) of the Treaty on European Union ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

Article 109 e.5 of the draft Treaty on European Union is
neither included in the list of articles which do not apply to

Member States with a derogation nor in the Protocols on the
UK and Denmark .

The UK Protocol makes clear that Articles 107 and 108 of

the draft Treaty and Articles 7 and 14 of the ECB Protocol
do not apply to the United Kingdom . So, the Bank of
England does not need to be independent in Stage III in case
the UK does not participate in the common monetary policy .
On the other hand, if the UK does take part, the
compatibility of Bank of England law with the EMU Treaty
is a condition for participation .

The conclusions of the Presidency on Denmark after the
Edinburgh Summit stated ' Denmark will retain its existing
powers in the field of monetary policy according to its
national laws and regulations, including powers of the
National Bank of Denmark in the field of monetary policy .'
The conclusions also stated that : ' Denmark will participate
fully in the second stage of Economic and Monetary Union '.
The provision included in Article 109 e.5 forms part of this
stage . Hence, the article applies to Denmark as well .
However, the obligation on Member States embedded in the
article depends in each individual case whether it is
appropriate to start the process leading to independence .
The appropriateness for Denmark will have to be assessed in
the light of the conclusions of the Presidency after the
Edinburgh Summit .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 482 / 93

by Mr Michel Debatisse ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 85 )

Subject : Council Directive laying down health rules for the

production and placing on the market of raw milk,
heat-treated milk and milk-based products

»

The implementation of Council Directive 92 / 46 / EEC 0 )
raises a problem of principle and problems of practical
application .

1 . The question of principle concerns the advisability of
drawing up such detailed rules .

While it is clear that problems relating to the safety and
health of consumers are naturally the province of
Community directives, the principles established in
1986 following the White Paper on the completion of
the internal market indicate that matters relating to
product composition remain the competence of the
national authorities and that mutual recognition
arrangements apply .

No C 2 8 0 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

2 The rules laid down by this directive appear to be the Commission 's intention to transfer the provision at
technically unsuitable . Article 5(9 ) into the relevant provisions of the organization

of the milk product market . This means that it is up to the
It is unrealistic to establish a freezing point of Management Committee for Milk to discuss these standards
0,520 °C since numerous studies have shown that if it thinks it desirable .
this cannot be adhered to throughout the chain .

The Commission intends to amend the freezing point if a
Member State, supported by scientific and statistical studies,
so requests . The European body Assilec is considering this
matter and the Commission is awaiting proposals from the
professional bodies concerned .

The protein level given in the Directive is a minimum but
standardization of the protein content of raw milk used as a
raw material is not authorized by the market rules for the
protection of the consumer governing name and chemical
composition . Accordingly, the protein levels and fat content
provided for by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1411 / 71 as amended
relating to milk for consumption remain applicable .
Furthermore, the Commission is willing to reconsider the
figure of 28 g per litre if necessary in the same way as for the
freezing point .

In accordance with Article 20 of the Directive, the
Commission is looking at the limits and methods which
distinguish the various types of heat-treated milk —
lactulose could be one of the tracers selected . No decision

has yet been proposed and in any case those active in the
profession in the Community will be informed and
consulted before any rules are adopted if this appears
necessary and appropriate .

3

— The very low protein limit ( 28 g / 1 ) is a disastrous

measure, since experience has always shown that
market laws sooner or later result in alignment at
minimum guaranteed levels . The establishment of a
very low threshold therefore inevitably leads to a
deterioration in product quality and a reduction in
nutritional qualities at the expense of the European
consumer . The indirect consequence of this measure
will be to reduce market outlets and hence contribute

to swelling Community stocks .

Finally, it appears that the Commission 's services are
preparing to extend the rules to obtain a classification of
different kinds of milk depending on the nature of the
heat treatment used to conserve them, the tracer being
the lactulose content of the treated milk .

If the Commission proceeded with this proposed
extension of the rules, it would constitute a genuinely
wrongful use of the technical structure, since this type of
classification bears no relation to the health of

consumers . On the contrary, a number of recent studies
whose conclusions deserve further investigation,
indicate that lactulose is more easily assimilable by an
organism than lactose and that the processing of lactose
into lactulose would facilitate the digestion of milk in
particular by those allergic to lactose .

( ] ) OJ No L 226, 24 . 8 . 1985 .
Will the Commission amend the directive with regard to the
two first points to simplify the rules or at least set values
which are more in line with market realities ?

With regard to point 3, does the Commission really intend
to follow the recommendations of its technical experts and
introduce an additional, restrictive and pointless set of
rules ?

(>) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 489 / 93

by Mr Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 86 )

Subject : Road tax for vehicles in Greece

Is the Commission aware that the Greek customs authorities
make an entry in the passport of businessmen or tourists

The Commission is aware that compositional requirements arriving in Greece by car from another Community Member
should not form part of a health directive but it included State ( ferry from Italy ). On production of identity
them in its initial proposals to take account of the old documents, travellers are issued with an inspection slip .
' heat-treated milk ' Directive 85 / 397 / EEC ( l ), where they
had been included as the result of a compromise when the
Directive was adopted . Anyone wishing or obliged to remain in Greece for more
than six months with his vehicle can, in justified cases,
obtain a nine-month extension . During this period, a
When the new Directive 92 / 46 / EEC was adopted, the monthly road tax is levied even on Community citizens, who
Council entered a statement in the minutes taking note of must pay it when they leave the country .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 45

Is this practice by the Greek authorities in accordance with

Community rules on freedom of movement for goods and
persons ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member

to :
Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( IS July 1993 )

the joint answer given to the following oral questions
with debate : 0-163 / 92 by Mr Glinne, 0-168 / 92 by Mr
Colajanni and Mr Porrazzini, 0-1 80 / 92 by Mr Valverde
Lopez, O-l 96 / 92 by Mrs Dinguirard, 0-207 / 92 by Mr
Blaney and Mrs Ewing and 0-217 / 92 by Mr Brito
concerning the transport of plutonium ( ] );

the answer to his question No 3412 / 92 concerning the
Commission 's current policy on the air transport of
plutonium in the European Community ( 2 ).

With regard to the stamping of the passport of travellers
arriving in Greece with their vehicles, it should be pointed
out that the Commission has referred the matter to the

Court of Justice ( Case C9 / 1992 ). The Commission has
challenged, in particular, the entries in passport and, in
general, all routine checks on cars being temporarily
imported into Greece from another Member State . The
hearing took place on 23 March 1993, and judgment will be
delivered in the coming months .

The question would also seem to relate to the possibility of
temporarily importing a vehicle previously registered in
another Member State into Greece under the tax exemption
arrangements described in Council Directive 83 / 182 / EEC
on tax exemptions within the Community for certain means
of transport temporarily imported into one Member State
from another ( M.

( ! ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-424, 18 November

1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 546 / 93

by Mr Hugh McMahon ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 88
While the provisions of that Directive which relate to value
added tax ceased to have effect on 31 December 1992 ( 2 ),
those relating to any other taxes charged on cars ( special Subject : Languages at Commission
consumption tax, registration tax, etc .) continue to apply .
They do not preclude the charging of a monthly road tax What are the main working
after the first six months of temporary importation . organized by the Commission, and

Subject : Languages at Commission press conferences

What are the main working languages at press conferences
organized by the Commission, and what arrangements are
made for interpretation ?

0 )

( 2 )

OJ No L 105, 23 . 4 . 1983 .
Article 2 of Council Directive 91 / 680 / EEC of 16 December

1991 supplementing the common system of value added tax and
amending Directive 77 / 388 / EEC with a view to the abolition of
fiscal frontiers — OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 496 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 2.80 / 87 )

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

Press conferences given by Members of the Commission are
a privileged source of official information and simultaneous
interpreting is provided in all nine Community
languages .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 586 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 31 March 1993 )
Subject : Transportation of plutonium by air ( 93 / C 280 / 89

What involvement has the Commission in overseeing the air
freight of plutonium packages from and to Dounreay in
Scotland and from the nuclear plants in the European
Community ?

Subject : German privatization programme

In certain specific cases involving the steel, automobile
and ship-building industries, the German privatization

No C 280 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

programme is in breach of Community rules on freedom of guarantees and loans must be notified to the Commission .
competition . In the former East Germany, the ' Treuhand ' Since December 1992 the German Government is also asked
has sold 8 500 enterprises essentially to German to notify to the Commission whenever the total financial
businessmen and investors at incredibly low prices . Of these obligations vis-a-vis the Treuhandanstalt of a company with
8 500 enterprises, only 336 have been bought with foreign more than 1 500 workers reach a total of DM 150 million or
capital ( i.e. non-German ). As all the indications are that the a multiple thereof .
' Treuhand ' will be selling some 2 500 more enterprises in
1993, will the Commission intervene and demand freedom
of competition ? Can the Commission say whether any
penalties will be imposed on Germany for hitherto ignoring
the rules on free competition ? Regarding the privatization itself, to which the Honourable
Member mainly refers, the Commission expressed its
well-established position that the sale of a company to the
highest bidder, as the result of an open and unconditional
bidding procedure, does not involve aid . In order to exercise
prior control on privatization where aid may be involved,
without delaying the privatization process itself, the
Commission has asked the German authorities to notify the
most important sales of companies under conditions other

Answer on behalf given of by the Mr Commission Van Miert than the abovementioned . Regarding the sale of companies

in the sensitive sectors mentioned before, the Commission

(1 July 1993 ) took a strict point of view in its decision of September 1991 .

All sales to other than the highest bidder must be notified .
The Commission has taken specific decisions on several such
cases in the sectors referred to by the Honourable
Member .

guarantees and loans must be notified to the Commission .
Since December 1992 the German Government is also asked

to notify to the Commission whenever the total financial
obligations vis-a-vis the Treuhandanstalt of a company with
more than 1 500 workers reach a total of DM 150 million or

a multiple thereof .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

The Commission has repeatedly dealt with the issues raised
by the Honourable Member . The activities of the
Treuhandanstalt ( THA ) need to be assessed against the
background of the transformation of the planned economy
of the former GI)R into a market economy . This raises
unprecedented regional, social and industrial difficulties
which the Commission took into account when it decided

on the compatibility with the common market of the
activities of the THA, notably the question whether these
activities constitute State aid and the appraisal of such aid on
the basis of Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty .

In its decision of December 1992 the Commission clarified

its position regarding the sale to the highest bidder or only
bidder at a negative price . If winding up the company would
have been a less costly option, aid may be involved and
notification is required for all cases in sensitive sectors and
for important cases in other sectors .

The Commission is convinced that these means are suitable

and sufficient to enable it to examine possible aid elements
in the interventions of the THA and to ensure that such aid

does not unduly distort competition, while not disturbing
the privatization efforts of the THA, nor the development of
a wide range of economic and industrial activities in East
Germany .

The Commission took general decisions on the activities of and sufficient to enable it to examine possible aid elements
the THA in September 1991 and December 1992 . In these in the interventions of the THA and to ensure that such aid
decisions, the Commission accepted that the waiving of does not unduly distort competition, while not disturbing
financial claims dating from before 1 July 1990, in so far as the privatization efforts of the THA, nor the development of
they have their origin exclusively in the arbitrariness of the a wide range of economic and industrial activities in East
former system, does not constitute State aid . Similarly, the Germany .
waiving of environmental liabilities for pollution caused
before 1 July 1990 does not constitute State aid . The
Commission also expressed its understanding for the
difficult situation of companies held by the THA before they
are privatized . The Commission would like to stress that all potential
foreign investors are free to participate in the open and
unconditional bidding procedure for THA-owned
companies . All potential bidders are free to outbid all West

Given that for most cases no bank would be willing to German or foreign companies which are participating in the
provide these means without a government guarantee bidding procedure . Only if their highest bid for a company is
because the companies have no collateral securities to offer, not honoured by the THA, aid may be involved .

Given that for most cases no bank would be willing to
provide these means without a government guarantee
because the companies have no collateral securities to offer,
the Commission accepted that the THA could provide such
guarantees on bank loans, or could itself provide such loans .
These guarantees and loans may well constitute aid, but the
Commission decided they are compatible, provided that
they are limited to the minimum necessary . For the sectors
referred to by the Honourable Member ( steel, shipbuilding
and the automotive industry ) as well as for the synthetic
fibres industry and for certain agriculture sectors, individual

On the question whether the THA has violated Community
competition rules in the sale of East German companies, the
Commission would like to point out that it has no
indications that Germany is not complying with its

4

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 47

obligations to notify cases in accordance with the above
mentioned decisions .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 627 / 93

by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 90 )

Subject : Measures to promote the activities of cinema clubs

( Media programme )

In Europe, more and more cinemas in rural areas and city
suburbs are closing down ; this results in increased
concentration in the film sector, a growing American
presence on our cinema screens and the elimination of a
considerable number of independent distributors .

The objective of European Community Cinema Club
Federations is the free and balanced movement of quality
cultural films and documentaries, which are the most
suitable instruments for cultural development and
exchange .

Would the Commission be prepared, with the support of the
European Parliament, to launch measures, as part of the

1991 — 1995 Media programme, to promote and publicize
the cinema and the audiovisual media with a view to

1 . facilitating the circulation of cultural films between EC
Member States,

2 . encouraging the activity of cinema clubs and opening up
channels for the development of the cinema, and

3 . promoting instruction in cinema and the audiovisual
techniques within the education system and promoting
the access of young people to these media as instruments
of cultural emancipation ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

There are three schemes under the Media programme for the
distribution of European films and support for cinemas
which devote special attention to European productions .
This concern for the distribution of European films can be
found in the following three specific schemes :

EFDO ( European Film Distribution Office )

Support for distributors who undertake to release the same
European film in cinemas in at least three countries . Since it
was launched in 1988, EFDO has supported cross-border
distribution of over 150 films .

Europa Cinemas

Support for cinemas in large towns which undertake to
show mainly European films . Launched in 1992, this project
so far covers some 50 cinemas with a total of 105 screens .

The number of cinemas involved in the project is due to
double in 1993 .

Media Theatres

Support for injecting new life into movie theatres, mainly by
organizing events . In November 1992 over 100 cinemas
were involved in ' European Cinema Week '. This event
provided the opportunity to circulate over 300 European
films which had not previously been shown in the
participating towns . ' European Cinema Week ' is to be
repeated twice in 1993 : in June and in November .

In addition, the Media Theatres project has launched a
cinema awareness campaign aimed at young people .
Teaching materials on the cinema ( covering historical,
artistic, technical and other aspects ) are being produced and
sent to teachers to encourage them to introduce young
people to the cinema by making it a subject for study in the
classroom .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 662 / 93

by Mr George Patterson ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 91

Subject : EC emergency aid for disasters within the
Community

What steps does the Commission take to ensure that EC
money allocated for emergency aid to areas suffering
disasters within the Community is spent for the purpose
intended ?

In particular, has the Commission investigated the use of EC
aid awarded several years ago to help restoration of
properties after the earthquake at Frozenone and
surrounding region in Italy ? Is the Commission aware of
allegations that EC money has not been properly spent in
repairing damaged property in that area, and is it prepared
to investigate this matter ?

No C 280 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1993 )

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 670 / 93 and 671 / 93

given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 June 1993 )
A condition attaching to emergency aid granted by the
Community in the event of disasters within the Community The Commission assumes that the Honourable Member 's
is that the Commission and the Court of Auditors be reference to the ' six sub-measures ' applies to the priorities
allowed to audit the use made of the aid, as provided in the supported by the Structural Funds in Objective 2 areas in the
Financial Regulation . A utilization report is requested four

United Kingdom .

months after the date on which the aid was paid .

Being a humanitarian and symbolic gesture, Community
emergency aid is intended to express the Community 's
solidarity with distaster-stricken families . The emergency
aid granted to the province of Frosinone following the
earthquake referred to by the Honourable Member was not
therefore intended for rebuilding damaged property . The
ECU 350 000 in aid was handed out as cash payment via the
Lazio regional authorities on the basis of criteria agreed
between the local authorities and the Commission ( the
number of evacuation orders, the number of homeless and
family groups most in need ). According to the utilization
report submitted to the Commission by the regional
authorities, 46 communes used up the full amount of the aid
allocated to them, four used part of it and six made no use of
it . The balance has been returned to the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 670 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

The relative emphasis given to the six priorities is a matter
decided through the partnership in each region eligible for
Structural Fund support . It is the outcome of a negotiation
based on the regional conversion plans submitted by the
Member State, and the draft operational programmes
prepared for each region .

The intervention rates applied for each priority are also a
matter decided through each regional partnership . In the
programmes currently supported by the Structural Funds,
the maximum permissible rates of intervention apply as a
general rule ; these are reduced below the maximum for
investments which generate revenue, and also for
investments which have a lower priority .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 710 / 93

by Mrs Nicole Fontaine ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 94

(6 April 1993 )

Subject : Duties on alcohol
( 93 / C 280 / 92 )

Subject : Structural funds : programme sub-measures

Will the Commission operate standard intervention rates
across the sub-measures ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 671 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 93 )

Subject : Structural funds : programme sub-measures

What proportional emphasis between the six sub-measures
is intended by the Commission ?

Council Directive 92 / 83 / EEC C 1 ) of 19 October 1992 on the
harmonization of the structures of excise duties on alcohol

and alcoholic beverages, states in Articles 22 and 23 that
reduced rates of excise duty may be applied to :

— ethyl alcohol ( i.e. spirit drinks ) produced by ' small
distilleries ',

— a category of rum produced in the French overseas

departments, and

— an aniseed-flavoured spirit drink known as ouzo when it

is manufactured exclusively in Greece .

These reduced rates may fall to 50% of the standard
national rate of duty for spirituous beverages .

Such a provision is discriminatory and constitutes a serious
distortion of competition in relation to all other spirituous
beverages marketed in the Member States .

Can the Commission specify the total volume, in pure
alcohol, represented by the marketing of spirituous

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 49

beverages with fiscal advantages of this kind in the
European Community ?

( ] ) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992, p. 21

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1993 )

It is true that the Commission decided in February of this
year that a German bilateral aid project for two container
Answer given by Mrs Scrivener shipping vessels was not contrary to Community

on behalf of the Commission competition rules .

( 13 July 1993 )

However, the Commission has not itself approved any
project for the supply of shipping vessels ; or indeed for any
The Commission does not possess the statistics necessary to other material or service which might be for military use .
give an accurate response to the question posed . Moreover,
the production of small distilleries, in particular, varies very
widely from year to year ( by some tens of thousands of
hectolitres each year ) in accordance with variations in the
fruit harvest upon which their production is based . Subject
to these provisos, the Commission estimates the overall
figure sought by the Honourable Member to be of the order WRITTEN QUESTION No 761 / 93
of 300 000 hectolitres a year .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 761 / 93

by Mrs Maartie van Putten ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 747 / 93

by Mr Sergio Ribeiro ( CG )

( 15 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 96 )

Subject : Women refugees

of the European Communities 1 . Can the Council say what specifically has been done to

act on the Declaration on the Treatment of Muslim Women

15 April 1993 )

in the former Yugoslavia ( Edinburgh, December 1992 )?
( 93 / C 280 / 95

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1993 )

Subject : German development aid for Indonesia

Early in February 1993 1 asked the Council for information
on the arms trade with Indonesia ( Written Question
No 480 / 93 ) in connection with an agreement for the supply
of arms by Germany to Indonesia . The relevance of this
question has been confirmed by subsequent reports, some of
which relate to the visit by Chancellor Kohl to Jakarta and
the existence of a singular compromise agreement that these
arms should not be used in East Timor or against its
inhabitants .

It has now been reported that the Commission has recently
approved German aid for Indonesia in the form of a
particularly advantageous loan for the construction of two
ships .

2 . Does the Council also take the view that women, not
only in the former Y ugoslavia but also in virtually every war
situation, are particularly vulnerable both because they are
women and because of their responsibilities as carer for their
families and providers ?

3 . Is the Council aware that about 80 % of the 17 to 20

million refugees in the world and about 75 % of individuals
who are displaced in their own country f 1 ) are women ?

4 . Is the Council willing to call for the United Nations
Convention on the Status of Refugees ( 1951 ) to be amended
to ensure that specific forms of persecution to which women
are victim, stemming from discrimination on the basis of
gender, violence, sexual exploitation and traditions harmful
to women, are recognized as reasons for fleeing and may
constitute grounds for granting refugee status ?

Without in any way wishing to challenge measures to assist ( ] ) Source Washington : Congressional . Human Rights Foundation,
developing countries, I would nevertheless ask the
Commission whether it is aware that, in approving the
agreement, it is running counter to European Parliament
resolutions on the link between cooperation and respect for
human rights in general and, in particular, in East Timor, Answer (')
where the authorities are constantly perpetrating extremely ( 30 August 1993 )
violent and undeniable violations of human rights with
supreme indifference and disregard for the law and
international public opinion and the right of a people to The Honourable Member will recall the replies given in
self-determination ? to Oral with debate 0-0017 / 93 and Oral

Answer (')

( 30 August 1993 )

The Honourable Member will recall the replies given in
response to Oral Question with debate 0-0017 / 93 and Oral

No C 280 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Questions 0070 / 93 and 0163 / 93 on the same subject . I also
remind the Honourable Member of the replies given in
response to Oral Questions 1237 / 92 and 1241 / 92 on
refugees in former Yugoslavia .

An amount of approximately ECU 1,8 million has been
allocated from the Community budget for projects in the
framework of the Warburton report . Member States have
also contributed, individually and in the form of
co-financing with the Community, to rehabilitation
projects .

On 25 May, the IJNSC unanimously decided to establish an
International Criminal Tribunal for the prosecution of
persons responsible for grave breaches of international
law in the former Yugoslavia, in accordance with
UNSCR 808 .

(') This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers meeting

in political cooperation, within whose province the question

came .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 811 / 93

by Mr Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 97

Subject : Damage to woodlands in Greece

I thank the Commission for its answer to my Oral Question
No 509 / 91 ( ] ). In your answer you informed me that the
Commission had requested the Greek authorities for
information . Can the Commission tell me what information

it now has ?

What are the conclusions drawn by the Commission from
this information ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 869 / 93

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

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 98

Subject : Enrolment of a lawyer in a professional
association

The Public Prosecutor 's Office in Athens is refusing to enrol
a Greek lawyer, Mr T. Papoulakos, in the Lawyers '
Professional Association even though he is already a
member of its counterpart in Rome . Could the Commission
take this case up with the Greek authorities and propose that
the abovementioned lawyer be enrolled immediately in the
Athens Lawyers ' Association ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

The Commission 's attention has already been drawn to the
situation affecting Mr Papoulakos . At the time, he had not
acquired the status of lawyer in Italy and could not,
therefore, rely on Council Directive 89 / 48 / 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 ( J ).

Provided that Mr Papoulakos has now been enrolled at the
Rome bar, he can invoke Directive 89 / 48 / EEC, which,
incidentally, permits Member States to require lawyers from
other Member States to take an aptitude test in the law of the
host Member State where substantial differences exist in the

matters covered by the education and training received in
the Member States concerned ( Article 4 ).

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 881 / 93
( 1 ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-406 ( June 1991 ).

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

( 23 April 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas 93 / C 280 / 99 )

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

According to information received by the Greek authorities no decision has so far been taken on the declassification of

the forest land around Athens . The competent Greek
authorities are continuing to study the problem arising from
illegal dwellings in that area .

Subject : Need to repeal Greek legislation in breach of

international labour conventions

Certain Greek Government legislation is in breach of
international labour conventions 98 / 1949 and 87 / 1948 in

that it invalidates the application of the national general
collective labour agreement to those employed in jobs
governed by private law within the civil service, corporate
bodies governed by public law and the organization of local
authorities ( OTA ). This legislation also deprives the same

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 51

category of workers of the right to conclude collective
labour agreements in their particular sector, laying down a
ceiling for pay increases and setting limits for expenditure on
pay for workers in the broader public sector ( public
corporations and organizations ), freezing wages at previous
years ' levels . In view of this, will the Commission call for the
repeal of this legislation which prohibits any talks or
negotiations aimed at improving workers ' pay in the civil
service, corporate bodies governed by public law and local
authorities ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The objections to the legislation in question focus on the
detrimental effect it has on pay levels in the public sector,
and on the obstacles it presents to trade union freedom and
the right to organize and bargain collectively, contrary to the
ILO 's Conventions Nos 87 and 98 .

Since there are no Community rules governing these
matters, it is not for the Commission to take action against
Greece .

Moreover, the implementation of international labour
standards is monitored on the basis of procedures laid down
by the ILO, and there is a specific system lor lodging
complaints against all breaches of fundamental social
rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 892 / 93

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

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 100 )

Subject : Laws and regulations of the Member States

relating to compensation for occupational
diseases

The Belgian Royal Decree of 13 January 1983 ( Moniteur,

16 April 1987 ), adopted under . the special powers that place
the Government in a position of unassailable superiority
and relating specifically to concurrent drawing of retirement
pensions and pensions for occupational diseases or
industrial accidents, takes the view that compensation paid
for an injury sustained is not intended to right the wrong
suffered, but rather constitutes additional income making
the beneficiary 's entire financial assets liable to tax or
another deduction . The Royal Decree amends the
coordinated laws of 3 June 1970 ( Moniteur, 3 July 1967 )

and is signed by Mr Dehaene, the current Prime Minister,
responsible at that time for social affairs .

In a recently published list of 60 demands, the members ( i.e.
old age pensioners and those who have taken early
retirement ) represented in the Wallonia interregional
interprofessional organization of the Belgian General
Federation of Labour ( FGTB ) called for the Royal Decree to
be repealed or, at the very least, amended .

For budgetary reasons, the report to the King, the opinion of
the Council of State, and even six virtually identical rulings
handed down by the Supreme Court of Justice since
September 1989 disregard the essential point that the
allowance granted for relatively serious — and often
progressive — invalidity brought about by disease or injury
reduces the resulting economic loss, both before and after
retirement, and encourages those suffering from, say,
silicosis to believe that life is still worth living .

Do the individual Member States treat compensation for
occupational diseases as taxable additional income or as a
separate form of redress ? Could the Commission provide a
list, preferably covering the financial year 1992, setting out
occupational disease and the amounts they account for in
the budget of each Member State, including expenditure
incurred in the public sector ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The conditions governing compensation for occupational
disease and taxation of the associated social benefits do not

come within the jurisdiction of the Community . The
Commission does not therefore have all the information

requested by the Honourable Member .

Two recommendations on this subject made by the
Commission to the Member States have been adopted in the

past :

— Commission recommendation concerning the adoption

of a European schedule of occupational diseases ; the text
adopted on 23 July 1962 was updated on 22 May 1990

( 90 / 326 / EEC ) f 1 );

— Commission recommendation on the conditions for

compensation of persons suffering from occupational
diseases ( 66 / 462 / EEC ) ( 2 ), adopted on 20 July 1966,
which refers particularly to proof of the occupational
origin of disease not included in the European
schedule .

It is, however, clear from the comparative table of social
welfare systems in the Member States (' social protection ' in
the Member States of the Community — situation on 1 July

1990 and trends ) that all the Member States, with the

No C 280 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

exception of the Netherlands which does not have a Member States concerned and requiring them to take
occupational disease and accident category in the social decisive measures to deal with the problem ?
welfare system, use the schedules of occupational disease .

It would appear that benefits awarded in the event of an
occupational accident or disease are liable to income tax in a
number of Member States ( Belgium, Denmark, Spain and
Luxembourg ).

There is no breakdown available of expenditure on social
benefits by disease . The Statistical Office of the European
Communities publishes data on overall expenditure on
occupational accidents and diseases .

(!) OJ No L 160, 26 . 6 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No 147, 9 . 8 . 1966 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 893 / 93

by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 101 )

«

Subject : Elimination of substandard housing on
Community territory

Although the Community is one of the richest places on
earth, it should not be forgotten that it also contains people
who are living in a state verging on penury .

Thousands of Community citizens are living in deplorable
circumstances, their homes scarcely rising above the
minimum standards of human habitation . In Spain alone,
the National Statistical Institute has identified 12 000

substandard dwellings which lack any type of sanitation or
running water, are subject to leaks and where the damp
caused by the latter renders them uninhabitable . Despite
this, many people are forced to live in such dwellings

because they have no alternative .

It hardly needs stating that, before embarking on more
ambitious economic programmes, the Community must
show solidarity, face up to the existence of such substandard
housing in the Community, provide help and cooperation to
eliminate the problem and seek to ensure that every
Community citizens has a decent home .

How does the Commission believe that the Community
could help reduce and, better still, eliminate substandard
housing on Community territory by cooperating with the

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

While the Commission is fully aware of the problem of
substandard housing described by the Honourable
Member, it does not have any specific powers in this
field .

It is therefore the responsibility of the Member States alone
to reduce and eliminate whatever housing does not meet the
standards in force .

The Commission is attending informal meetings between
the Ministers of Housing of the Member States and is active
in arranging an exchange programme to enable the Member
States to plan and implement their national housing policies
in the context of Europe as a whole .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 912 / 93

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 102

Subject : Projects to be supported by the Cohesion Fund

Can the Commission provide a list of all projects for which
Member States have thus far applied for support from the
Cohesion Fund ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1106 / 93

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 103 )

Subject : Preliminary lists of projects submitted by Spain for

the Cohesion Fund

According to the media, the Spanish Government has
already forwarded ' preliminary lists of projects ' for the
Cohesion Fund to the Commission . Can the Commission

release these lists ?

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1249 / 93 The Agreement provides for Community technical aid to

to the Commission by Mr Isidoro of Sánchez the European García Communities ( ARC ) What what Bulgaria procedures ' local to set model up will an ' will appropriate be serve used for as the system providing basis of of social it this ? aid security, and .

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 104 )

Subject : Spanish projects financed by the Cohesion Fund

Can the Commission say what projects have been submitted
by the Kingdom of Spain for possible funding from the
Financial Cohesion Instrument and the future Cohesion

Fund ?

Joint answer to Written Questions
Nos 912 / 93, 1106 / 93 and 1249 / 93

given by Mr Schmidhuber
on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1993 )

The Commission does not yet have complete and definitive
lists of the projects submitted by any of the countries
benefitting from the financial cohesion instrument . Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 792 / 93 of 30 March 1993 for the
implementation of this instrument has been in force since

1 April 1993 (!).

Commission decisions on the acceptance of projects are
published in the Official Journal .

(!) OJ No L 79, 1 . 4 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 919 / 93

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 7 April 1 993 )

93 / C 280 / 105 )

Subject : Europe Agreement with Bulgaria

Does the Commission intend to take steps to ensure that the
social dialogue provided for in the Agreement actually takes
place ( for example through the Association Council
establishing a consultative mechanism by analogy with the
ESC )?

Bulgaria will have to apply the principles of Community law
to public enterprises . Bearing in mind that the public sector
accounts for 95 % of Bulgaria 's industry, what are those
principles ?

Does the Commission believe that the existence of a proper
system of social dialogue in the country in question is a
fundamental criterion of democracy, and will it take
account of this in implementing the Association
Agreement ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

Article 110 of the Europe Agreement with Bulgaria states
that the Association Council may decide to set up any other
committee or special body to assist it in carrying out its
duties .

Joint Declaration No 17 on the Europe Agreement provides

more specifically for the Association Council to consider the
possibility of creating a consultative mechanism comprising
members of the Community 's Economic and Social
Committee and their Bulgarian counterparts . Such a
mechanism could only be set up after the entry into force of
the Europe Agreement, i.e. after completion of all the
necessary ratification procedures .

The principles of Community law as regards public
enterprises are set out in Article 90 of the EEC Treaty . They
relate in particular to compliance with the principle of
non-discrimination, as articulated in Article 7, and with the
rules of competition set out in Articles 85 to 94 .

As regards the third part of the question, the Commission
would refer the Honourable Member to the answer given
above . The introduction of a market economy is inseparable
from the establishment of an appropriate social regime .
Article 1 of the Agreement therefore lists cooperation in
social matters as one of the objectives of association with
Bulgaria . Social cooperation may be interpreted sufficiently
broadly to include establishing of social dialogue with the
help of the Community .

In the context of technical assistance to Bulgaria for the
introduction of a social security system appropriate to the
country 's new economic and social conditions, the
Commission does not intend to propose as a model the
system operating in any particular Member State . On the
contrary, the object will be to show the countries of Central
and Eastern Europe the diversity of systems within the
Community, so that they can choose whichever seems best
suited to their particular situation .

i

Such assistance should also refer to the Community policy
of convergence in the objectives and policies of social
protection, enshrined in the Council recommendation of
27 July 1992 ( 92 / 44 2 / EEC ), which listed a number of
common objectives to serve as guidelines for Member States '
policies on social protection, while respecting the autonomy
and diversity of national systems .

In this spirit, the Commission organized a seminar in
Budapest on 18 and 19 February 1993 which brought
together senior officials responsible for social protection in
the 12 Member States and their counterparts from Eastern

No C 280 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

and Central Europe, giving them an opportunity to define accept the situation that airline pilots have been told by staff
the priorities for cooperation in this field . in tax-free shops in Dublin and Shannon airports that they

may not purchase goods, even though they are travelling on
intra-Community flights ? The Internal Market is supposed
to be about breaking down barriers yet this group of
travellers seem to be in a worse position than before the
WRITTEN QUESTION No 922 / 93 Internal Market . Could the Commission please explain why
this should be so ?
by Mrs Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
( 93 / C 280 / 1 06 on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Patent law

1 . Can the Commission say to what extent inventors, in
particular as represented by their umbrella organization the
AEI ( Action in Europe for Education, Invention and
Innovation ), have been involved in work on European
patent law to date ( e.g. the Munich and Luxembourg
Agreements )?

2 . Are there any plans to increase the involvement of this
important professional group in future deliberations on this
subject ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission '

( 14 July 1993 )

In reply to the question put by the Honourable Member, it
can be stated that the AEI did not take part in the
negotiations which led to the conclusion of the Munich
Convention on the Gra nt of European Pa tents in 1 9 73, or in
those on the Luxembourg Convention for the European
Patent for the Common Market in 1975 . The interests

represented by the AEI were, however, defended at both sets
of negotiations by the international Federation of Inventors '
Associations ( IFIA ).

When looking at patents in the future, the Commission
certainly intends to contact all interested circles so as to
ensure that consultations are always as broadly based as
possible . In this way, inventors ' associations, and the AEI in
particular, will be able to make their views known and
contribute to the Commission 's proposals in this field .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 928 / 93

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 107 )

Subject : Travel allowances for airline pilots in Ireland

Airline pilots in Ireland have been informed by the Revenue
Commissioners that, since 1 January 1993, they no longer
have a duty-free allowance, yet how can the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

The Commission would like to point out to the Honourable
Member that the Council agreed to the continuation of
tax-free sales in intra-Community travel until 30 June 1999 .
The terms of the legal texts adopted ( Article 28k of the Sixth
VAT Directive ( 1 ), as amended by Directive 91 / 680 / EEC ( 2 )
and Article 28 of Directive 91 / 12 / EEC on the general
arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the
holding, movement and monitoring of such products ( 3 )),
authorize such duty-free sales for travellers .

It should be noted that even before 1 January 1993 the
tax-free allowances for crews were restricted by the Member
States in accordance with Community legislation to levels
well below those enjoyed by the travelling public .

The question of the practical enforcement and the control
procedures of these new provisions, raised by the
Honourable Member, are dealt with at the Member States '
level .

(!) OJ No L 145, 13 . 6 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 952 / 93

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 108

Subject : EEC vocational training funds

What criteria does the Commission use to monitor the

management and administration of EEC funds for
vocational training courses ?

Is the Commission aware that in Italy — recently in Sondrio
— such funds have increasingly been the subject of scandal
and fraud ?

How does the Commission explain the cause of such
instances of fraud, and how does it intend to remedy the
situation ?

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 55

Answer given by Mr Flynn adequate facilities for doing this effectively . This important
on behalf of the Commission point is emphasized by paragraph 1 of Article 23 of the
( 20 July 1993 ) abovementioned Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 .

Vocational training courses jointly financed by the ESF are
monitored by the Commission on the basis of Article 23 of
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 of 19 December

1988 ( J ), and more particularly paragraph 2 of that
Article .

In order to ensure that planned operations conform with
existing legal provisions at both national and Community
level, the Member States must have at their disposal an
effective management and control system . The
Commission 's checks are geared to ensuring that the
management system set up by the Member States at
national, regional and local levels meets the necessary
requirements .

To this end, the Commission has developed an annual
programme of on-the-spot checks in the Member States
involving, where appropriate, the national, regional or local
authorities designated by the Member States . This annual
programme, containing the scheduled dates, locations and
objectives, is forwarded at the beginning of the year to the
various national administrations, which inform the regional
or local authorities accordingly .

In the main, these checks entail :

— system audit, focusing on statistical sampling
techniques, cross-checking and study of information
exchanges between the various parties at local, regional
and national levels and between the Member State and

the Community ;

— certification, with the Commission 's programme of

on-the-spot checks paying particular attention to
certification procedures and balance payment requests .
The monitoring of Member States ' financial channels in

1991 also covered certification ;

— analysis of operations and costs presented under the

various operational programmes by national, regional
and local administrations, in terms of eligibility for ESF
assistance .

Since the reform of the Structural Funds, the Commission
has stepped up its programme of checks, thereby providing
an impetus for reorganization measures already
implemented in certain regions .

Commission approval is now given not for projects but for
multiannual operational programmes comprising a variable
number of measures and operations . The primary
responsibility for checking that vocational training
operations are carried out successfully, and for ensuring the
proper financial management of measures jointly financed
by the ESF, rests with the Member States, which must have

In accordance with Article 23 of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 4253 / 88 of 18 December 1988, the Commission receives
information from the competent national authorities
regarding irregularities perpetrated in connection with
operations jointly financed by the European Social Fund .
The Commission is also notified of irregularities through
other channels and asks the competent national bodies to
provide official data .

The Commission has received from the Italian government a
list of operations which are the subject of legal proceedings
in Lombardy, specifying the year, the measure, the sum
committed and paid, and the names of the operators
concerned . On the basis of programme management,
however, the Commission is not in a position to determine
whether the operators in question have developed training
operations in the province of Sondrio .

The Commission takes the view that this is a matter for the

national judiciary . For its part, the Commission intends to
reinforce its action with the aim of improving the
management, follow-up and control of vocational training
operations throughout the Community .

v

(!) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 982 / 93

by Mr Peter Price ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 109 )

Subject : The new Community emergency telephone
number

The Community 's new emergency telephone number ( 112 )
started to come on-line in some Member States last year .
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the
UK already have the number in service, while the remaining
Member States plan to introduce it by 1996 .

However, the related Directive 91 / 396 / EEC (*) contains no
provisions for multilingual operators . One of the
advantages of the new parallel number is that callers who
need linguistic assistance will be able to use it . Has the
Commission any plans to ensure that Member States will
reflect the diversity of languages in the Community by
providing multilingual operators ?

(M OJ No L 217, 6 . 8 . 1991, p. 31 .

No C 280 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

Answer given by Mr Bangemann 2 . What plans does the Commission have for action in

on behalf of the Commission this area ?

( 12 July 1993 )

Decision 91 / 396 / EEC requires that calls to the emergency
number should be appropriately answered and handled . It
does not, however, go as far as specifying language
capabilities ( called for in both original and modified
proposals from the Commission ), as a number of Member
States had reservations on inclusion of such a provision . The
reasons for this were the need for a progressive
implementation of technical and organizational solutions
towards minimizing language problems, which should not
stand in the way of a precursive introduction of 112 .

The importance of a total solution including appropriate
language capabilities was acknowledged through inclusion
of the following recital in Decision 91 / 396 / EEC :

' whereas it would be desirable to devote efforts to easing
difficulties of comprehension which may arise from
different language capabilities, taking account of the
possibilities of the various national systems '.

From informal contacts, it appear that certainly some
Member States and EFTA states, which are subject to the
Decision, are indeed acting to ensure that language
difficulties are minimized . Actual or planned solutions
include :

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

1 . The Commission is satisfied with the legislation in
force in the Member States relating to leaded and unleaded
petrol, adopted under Council Directive 85 / 210 / EEC f 1 ).

The market in unleaded petrol has expanded in particular
under the influence of the tax incentives adopted by some
Member States . This trend should become even more
marked since, with effect from 1 January 1993, all new
motor vehicles must be equipped with catalytic conventors,
which require the exclusive use of unleaded petrol .

According to the latest figures which the Commission has at
its disposal, unleaded petrol accounted for some 47 % of
total petrol consumption in the Community in 1992 .

There are, however, considerable differences in the market
share of unleaded petrol between the Member States, which
ranges from under 10% to over 80% .

2 . While it will continue to monitor the market

penetration of unleaded petrol, the Commission has no
plans for immediate action in this field .

ensuring that the complement of on-duty emergency call
operators cater for all European languages ; However, it would like to see Member States with a low
market share of unleaded petrol take further steps to ensure
the wider availability of such petrol .

ability to conference with international operators who
have appropriate language capabilities ;

(M OJ No L 96, 3 . 4 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1017 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 111 )

Subject : Biotechnology in Cuba

According to reports in the Brazilian newspaper O Globo
and O Estado de Sao Paulo, the National Foundation for
Health has decided to throw away five million type B
meningitis vaccines on the grounds that they will not
effectively protect the Brazilian population from this
disease . The vaccines were purchased in Cuba .

A scientific committee convened by the Foundation in 1992
examined the vaccines and, according to a statement by its
chairman, Haroldo Ferreria, reached this conclusion .
Moreover, Carlos Morel, chairman of the Oswaldo Cruz
Scientific Research Foundation, has stated that Brazil lost
50 million dollars on this purchase and that it may have been

ability to conference with interpreters who operate as
part of a telephone translation service .

As part of the process of monitoring Member States '
implementation of Community telecommunication
legislation, the Commission is writing to Member States to
determine inter alia the language capabilities provided or
planned in the spirit of the recital .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1006 / 93

by Lord O'Hagari ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 110

Subject : Lead in petrol

1 . Is the Commission satisfied with the state of legislation
on the lead content of petrol in each Member State ?

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 57

the result of a dubious commercial transaction arranged by
Luis Romero Farias, who was then Executive Secretary of
the Ministry of Public Health and a brother of the Minister,
former President Collor de Melo .

Since biotechnology is a field in which Cuba was always
thought to have made significant progress in certain areas,
can the Commission give details of this incident and
comment on the present situation of Cuban laboratories
producing these vaccines ?

«

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

The matter referred to by the Honourable Member does not
fall within the jurisdiction of the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1037 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 112 )

Subject : Tacis programme

What progress has been made in 1993 in the Tacis
programme to convert defence-orientated industries to
civilian production ? What resources have been committed
to this programme ? What companies in the Community are
involved under contract ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a table

containing the information requested .

Commission consider that a Community directive is
necessary to oblige the health services of the Member States
of the Community to make life-saving drugs available to
poor people completely free of charge ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

The provision of health care to the poorest sections of the
population is outside the Community 's specific field of
competence, and it is for the Member States to take
appropriate measures in this connection .

However, two Council recommendations invite the
Member States to improve their social protection systems in
this respect ( Council recommendation of 27 July 1992 on
the convergence of social protection objectives and
policies (*); Council recommendation of 24 June 1992
concerning sufficient resources and social assistance in the
social protection systems ( ! )).

Moreover, the Commission adopted, on 23 December

1992, a communication on social exclusion (' Towards a
Europe of solidarity, intensifying the fight against social
exclusion, fostering integration ') ( 2 ), which points out that
social exclusion is prevalent in the health field and stresses
the need to step up efforts to combat all forms of social
exclusion .

(!) OJ No L 245, 26 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) COM(92 ) 542 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1088 / 93

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

( 10 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 114 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1069 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) Subject : Protection of Iraqi children

to the Commission of the European Communities

/

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 113 )

Subject : Life-saving drugs

Given the high cost of drugs in Europe and, notably, drugs
which are indispensable to save human lives, does the

Three years after the UN Security Council decided to impose
an embargo on Iraq, the international community has
learned that each week over 2 000 children lose their lives

through starvation, lack of medical care and lack of clean
water . It is estimated that since the beginning of the crisis
some four million children aged between five and 12 have
died . In view of the above, does the Council not consider
that, for humanitarian reasons, the Community should act

No C 280 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

to reconsider the embargo and to provide aid in the form of
medicine and food, at least for the children at present
deprived of essential care ?

Answer ( J )

( 30 August 1993 )

I would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to
oral question No H-06 84 / 93 on this subject .

(*) This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers meeting

in political cooperation, within whose province the question

came .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1102 / 93

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

A specialist nurse will fall within the scope of Directive

89 / 48 / EEC if her qualifications are based on at least three
years of study at high level . Otherwise she will be covered by
Directive 92 / 51 / EEC .

The UK profession of health visitor is not the subject of a
specific directive and therefore like the specialist nurse,
would also fall within the scope of the general system
referred to above, where access to the activity in the host
State is subject to a qualification other than one set
out in Directive 77 / 452 / EEC or Directive 80 / 154 / EEC

( midwives ) ( 5 ). If in the UK the access to the activities of a
health visitor are subject to a specialist qualification based
on three years of study at high level, then Directive

89 / 48 / EEC would apply .

The Honourable Member is also referred to the response of
the Commission to Written Question No 1024 / 92 from M.
Cushnahan ( 6 ) and oral questions No 55 ( Mr Geraghty ) ( 7 )
and No 92 ( Mrs Banotti ) ( 8 ). The Honourable Member will
note that in 1991 there was a lack of support from Member
States for the then draft proposal for a directive on
psychiatric and paediatric and other nursing specialities .

( 10 May 1993 ) 0 ) OJ No L 176, 15 . 7 . 1977 .

( 93 / C 280 / 115 ( 2 ) OJ No L 385, 31 . 12 . 1981 ; OJ No L 341, 23 . 11 . 1989 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

Subject : Recognition of qualifications

Is the Commission aware that there is no EC recognition of
post-registration nursing qualifications, nor nursing
speciality . This means that there is no EC agreement on
paediatric and psychiatric nursing qualifications, nor for
health visitors, who are specially qualified on top of nursing
qualifications in the UK and are a recognized profession in
their own right . What plans are there to develop EC-wide
recognition for these professions ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 July 1993 )

Although Directive 77 / 452 / EEC and 77 / 45 3 / EEC ( J ) as
amended ( 2 ) cover only nurses responsible for general care,
the Commission would point out that nurses who hold
specialist qualifications and wish to pursue their speciality in
a Member State which makes the exercise of a speciality
subject to a specific qualification, would be covered by the
provisions of one of the Directives setting up the general
system for the recognition of professional education
and training ( Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 3 ) and Directive
92 / 51 / EEC ( 4 )).

These directives oblige the host State to accept professional
qualifications obtained in another Member State, on the
basis that if the qualifications are acceptable for the practice
of a profession in one State, they ought to be similarly
adequate for the practice of the same profession in the host
State . The directives do, of course, provide for the redress of
substantial differences in training .

( 5 ) OJ No L 33, 11 . 2 . 1980 .

( 6 ) OJ No C 274, 22 . 10 . 1992 .

( 7 ) H-06 10 / 92 .

( 8 ) H-0467 / 92 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1192 / 93

by Mr Marc Galle ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 116 )

Subject : Sesam exchange programme for young people y

In the January issue of Parliament 's French-language
information sheet, Tribune pour I'Europe, an article on the
inside page gives details of exchange programmes in the
Community .

As member of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education
and the Media, I am obviously aware of Erasmus, Lingua,
Comett, Euroform and Petra . The Sesam programme
however, ( Stages europeens en alternance dans les metiers ) is
not familiar to me at all .

Can the Commission state when the programme was
launched, what its objectives are and for which target group
it was created ?

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 59

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Sesam is one of the Community 's Euroform ' human
resources ' projects to help young people find jobs in craft
trades and prepare them for the changes associated with
completion of the internal market . The idea is to foster
European exchanges . Once the young people have
completed initial vocational sandwich courses they will go
to another European country to do a ten-month sandwich
course combining practical experience in industry with a
block of study at a training centre . They will thus acquire
vocational, linguistic and cultural proficiency — the object
being to give a Community dimension to their
qualifications .

This training is offered to 1 200 young persons of 1 8 to 25
who have acquired an initial vocational-training diploma
after completing a sandwich course ( European levels II and
III ).

The project offers linguistic and socio-cultural preparation

( two months ), work experience in industry and vocational
training ( eight months in the foreign country ), recognition
of the courses and certificates, follow-up and supervision
involving a proper tutorial system .

The project, tried out initially in Belgium, Germany, Spain,
France and Italy, should be available in the medium term to
the other Member States . The transnational nature of the

project is based on the exchange of teachers, students,
experience and methods and joint research, training and
action to promote employment .

human rights situation in Myanmar . It covers ruthless
' ethnic cleansing ' of scores of ethnic minorities ; the
dominant role of the military ( the State Law and Order
Restoration Council-SLORC ); the repudiation of
democratic movements, accompanied by great violence

( particularly in 1988 and 1990 and persisting to date ); the
neutralization through imprisonment of Ms Auung San Suu
Kyi, leader of the opposition ; forced labour ; torture ; rape,
etc . The world has remained virtually deaf to the appeals for
help issued in February by seven Nobel prizewinners, the
Dalai Lama and a number of well-known Myanmar citizens

( including the Minister for Foreign Affairs ) who, having met
on the Tibet-Myanmar border, called for the release of
political prisoners ( SLORC has made the gesture of
releasing some 1 700 ordinary prisoners ), the restoration of
her rights to Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, the imposition of an
economic embargo and a halt to arms supplies .

What is EPC 's stance on the abovementioned report by the
UN Commission and the appeal made by a number of
respected figures to the international Community,
particularly as regards the fate of the main opposition
leader, Ms Aung San Snu Kyi, winner of the European
Parliament 's Sakharov Prize ?

Answer

( 30 August 1993 )

For further information the Honourable Member should The European Community and its Member States have

closely monitored the situation in Burma and have actively

contact : participated in international efforts to press the Burmese

Ministère Consommation de l'Artisanat, du Commerce et de la to authorities institute to democratic improve their and economic human rights reforms performance . and

Daniel Perrin
24 75007, rue Paris de l'Universite In response to the policies of the government of Burma, the
Tel .: ( 1 ) 45 56 24 24 — Fax : ( 1 ) 45 56 47 99 Community and its Member States have taken a number of

For further information the Honourable Member should

contact :

In response to the policies of the government of Burma, the
Community and its Member States have taken a number of
measures which include the suspension of all non
humanitarian aid programmes, the cutting of defence links
and a total ban on arms sales . Furthermore, the Community
and its Member States tabled and co-sponsored the
Resolution of Burma which was adopted by consensus at the
49th Session of the Commission on Human Rights ( Geneva

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1256 / 93 1 February — 12 March 1993 ).

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

The Community and its Member States have repeatedly

( 18 May 1993 ) urged the Government of Burma to release unconditionally

( 93 / C 280 / 117 ) the Nobel Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as

other detained political leaders and all political prisoners,
and will constantly continue their efforts toward this
Subject : ' Ethnic cleansing ' and human rights violations in end .

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 117 )

Myanmar ( Burma )

At the end of February 1993, the UN Commission on
Human Rights completed a report of some fifty pages on the

No C 280 / 60 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1266 / 93

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

( 19 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 118 )

Subject : Structural funding for roads in Ireland

The sub-regional development sub-programme of the
current Peripherality Operational Programme provides for
ERDF assistance for two categories of roads, namely, those
supporting industrial development and those supporting
tourism .

Will the Commission list the projects which have been, or
will be, supported under these measures in the following
countries : Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and
Waterford ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a number
of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the
Honourable Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

Within the framework of the Community strategy for
combating the greenhouse effect, the Commission has
proposed introducing a new C0 2 and energy tax ( ] ). The tax
will be devised and established at Community level, but
levying and collection will be left to the Member States, to
whom the yield will accrue . It will apply to all fossil sources
of energy ( gas, oil, coal ), excluding renewables and raw
materials, and to electricity generated in large hydroelectric
and nuclear power stations . The tax will be phased in
gradually . Other provisions of the proposal are designed to
safeguard the competitiveness of Community enterprises
and industry . Finally, in order to prevent the tax resulting in
an increase in the overall tax burden, the intention is that
Member States will introduce, in accordance with
Community law, arrangements aimed at neutralizing the
effects of the tax .

(!) COM(92 ) 226 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1356 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Council of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 120 )

Subject : International War Crimes Tribunal

As war crimes and crimes against peaceful co-existence and
humanity, including genocide, are still being committed in

QUESTION No 1339 / 93 some parts of the world, does the Council intend to exert

Kostopoulos ( NI ) pressure at the United Nations for an international
of the European Communities diplomatic conference to be convened to draft an agreement

for the establishing of an international tribunal to judge

(3 June 1993 ) such crimes ?

( 93 / C 280 / 119 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1339 / 93

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

(3 June 1993 )

Subject i : ' Green tax ' on fuel

Experts have stressed that priority must be given in
environment policy to the greenhouse effect ( and measures
to tackle it ), and they have proposed that energy
consumption be limited in order to reduce the quantities of
carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere . The experts
believe that a ' green tax ' on fuel could be an effective
instrument in combating global warming . A good solution
would be to levy such tax on all forms of energy, apart from
renewable energy . As the Commission is in favour of
equitable burden sharing, will it aim to levy a ' green tax ' on
fuel at Community level ?

Answer (*)

(2 September 1993 )

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the General
Assembly at its 47th session gave a mandate to the
International Law Commission to undertake the project for
the elaboration of a draft statute for an international

criminal court as a matter of priority as from its next session
and to submit a progress report to the General Assembly at
its 48th session . It would appear premature therefore to
discuss the convening of a diplomatic conference before the
International Law Commission has had a chance to report

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 61

back to the General Assembly and before the latter has had
an opportunity to consider their submission .

As the Honourable Member will also be aware, Member
States on the Security Council contributed to its decision to
establish an ad hoc International Tribunal with the aim of

bringing to justice those responsible since 1991 for the
serious violations of humanitarian law in the territory of the
former Yugoslavia .

(') This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers meeting

in political cooperation, within whose province the question

came .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1359 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Council of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 121 )

Subject : A solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis

In view of the bleak prospects for a solution to the crisis in
the Nagorno-Karabakh pocket, between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, will the Council take action seeking agreement
in principle between the two sides to meet the hopes of the
citizens of Karabakh for peace and the rule of law ?

Answer (-)

( 30 August 1993 )

The Community and its Member States welcome the
acceptance by all the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute of the CSCE plan put to them by Signor Raffaelli .
They believe that this plan represents the best hope for a
comprehensive ceasefire in the region, for the
implementation of UN Security Council resolution 822 of
30 April 1993 and for real progress towards a negotiated
settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict . They pay
tribute in particular to President Ter Petrossian of Armenia
for his successful personal intervention to secure the
agreement of representatives of the Armenian community in
Nagorno-Karabakh to this plan .

The Community and its Member States hope that the
Armenian government will continue to urge full acceptance
of the peace plan on those elements in Nagorno-Karabakh
who have not yet accepted it and that those elements in
Nagorno-Karabakh will refrain from exploiting the present
internal difficulties in Azerbaijan on the ground in and
around Nagorno-Karabakh .

The Community and its Member States urge all parties to
refrain from any action that may jeopardize the
implementation of the plan .

The Community and its Member States welcome the
intention of the Chairman of the Minsk Conference to

carry out, together with a representative of the
Chairman-in-Office, an early visit to the area on the basis of
assurances by all parties of their readiness to implement the
agreed plan, and in order to facilitate its implementation .

The Community and its Member States urge the parties to
the conflict to continue to lend their full support to the plan,
thus facilitating the deployment of the first phase of the
CSCE monitoring mission . They also urge the parties to
agree to accept the withdrawal of troops from occupied
territories and guarantee the security of CSCE observers on
the ground as soon as they are deployed .

( J ) This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers meeting

in political cooperation, within whose province the question

came .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1362 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to European Political Cooperation

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 122 )

Subject : The situation of the Tuareg people

In view of the European Parliament 's resolutions on the
situation of the Tuareg people, do the Ministers meeting in
EPC intend to put pressure on all the countries involved,
namely, Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Nigeria, to help
achieve a final settlement of the problem ?

Answer

( 30 August 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have been urging all
those concerned to find a peaceful solution to the problems
related to the Tuareg community . They welcome the
agreement on a cease-fire reached on 19 March 1993
between the Army of Niger and the Tuareg rebels and they
hope that the recent holding of multi-party elections for
Parliament and President in Niger will contribute to the
necessary dialogue .

In Mali, since the signing of the National Pact between the
new democratically elected Government and the members

No C 280 / 62 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

of AZAWAD on 11 April 1992 in Bamako and since the last
rebel chief of the AZAWAD Popular Liberation Front
joined the majority in April 1993, thereby officially ending
the rebellion, the problem of the Tuareg rebellion has been
in the process of being solved .

With regard to the reintegration programmes for the
Tuaregs in Mali, mention should be made of the signing on
22 December 1992 of an agreement between the IFAD and
Algeria and Mali and of the recent European Community
aid programme for the return of Malian refugees .

community . Responsibility must be firmly pinned on
Kenya and Ethiopia, and the trafficking networks and
money-laundering operations in Mogadishu, Rome and
elsewhere must be smashed .

(') CP 592, Outremont Branch, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4N2 .

( 2 ) The New Republic, article by Jonathan Stevenson, issue of

23 November 1992 .

Answer

(2 September 1993 )

The specific matter raised by the Honourable Member has
not been discusssed in the framework of European Political
Cooperation .

QUESTION No 1375 / 93 In general the vast border areas of Somalia lack security and

Ernest Glinne ( S ) stability and are out of control by both UNOSOM and the

Ethiopian and Kenyan authorities . General coordination of

Political Cooperation aid and reconstruction in Somalia lies with the UN .

(4 June 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1375 / 93

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 93 / C 280 / 123 )

Subject : Role of the drug khat in the war between armed

bands in Somalia

Psychotropes, a journal devoted to drugs and their uses, has
published a scientific account of the dangers posed by khat

( also called miraa ) based on the work of an international
team (*). The leaves of the khat plant are picked from shrubs
on the plains of Kenya or in the regions of Hargeisa and
Meru in Somalia, or in Ethiopia : When chewed, they release
a juice which is a sort of natural amphetamine : among
habitual users it initially causes euphoria which then gives
way to the restless, irrational and very violent behaviour
characteristic of the armed bands — mostly young people —
ravaging Somalia . The UN and non-government aid
organizations are aware of the extent of dependence on this
drug and it is estimated that millions of people take it every
day : rapid air transport plays an important role since khat
leaves must be consumed fresh, i.e. within 24 hours after
picking . Khat imports from Kenya alone, where production
and exportation is legal, generate at least US$ 100
million ( 2 ). Non-military consumers spend an estimated
US$ 6 a day on khat if they are able to obtain supplies — the
equivalent of 20 kilos of maize or rice, enough to feed six
persons for a whole week .

Would the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political

Cooperation use the means at their disposal to assess the
social, economic and physical damage caused in Somalia by
the traffic in khat, which should be combated with the
utmost serverity ? Corruption must be rooted out from the
very heart of the remaining administration and the
authorities responsible for the general coordination of aid
and reconstruction granted to Somalia by the international

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1433 / 93

by Mr Jan Bertens and Mr Karel de Gucht ( LDR )

to European Political Cooperation

(9 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 124 )

Subject : Worsening situation in Cambodia

In view of the support by Asean for the proposal for
presidential elections in Cambodia to be held before the
legislative elections in May 1993 which are planned under
the Paris peace agreement of 1991 ;

In view of the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to cooperate with
the UN in disarming their forces and their repeated
harrassing of UN officials in Cambodia ;

In view of the frequent disputes between Prince Sihanouk
and the head of the UN mission, Mr Yasushi Akashi ;

In view of the fact that, of the $880 million pledged at the
international meeting in Tokyo in June 1992, organized to
support the reconstruction of Cambodia 's devastated
economy, only $10 million had been provided by the
beginning of 1993 ;

How does EPC intend to generate the political
determination among the members of the Security Council

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 63

and other participants in the attempt to restore peace in Albania very closely, in particular as regards to some
Cambodia, without which it cannot succeed ? measures that were taken by the Albanian government

concerning religious groups . In this framework they have
repeatedly reminded the Albanian government of its solemn
Answer commitment to abide strictly by relevant CSCE
provisions .

( 30 August 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have followed
closely developments in Cambodia which have led to the
successful holding of elections, in which the Cambodian
people were able to freely express their political views . It has
been a long and difficult process, during which many
obstacles had to be overcome . In this context, the
Community and its Member States recently issued a
statement in which they congratulated the people of
Cambodia on the historic and successful elections of

representatives for a constituent Assembly .

The Community and its Member States have called on all

and Cambodian i have also parties called to upon abide the by the Constituent results of Assembly the elections to
complete its tasks of drafting and adopting a new
Cambodian constitution within three months of the date of

the elections .

The Community and its Member States have encouraged the
Parties which participated in the elections to work together
constructively to facilitate the emergence of a government of
reconciliation which will lead Cambodia towards economic

recovery and the establishment of a state of democracy and
justice .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1457 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )
to European Political Cooperation

(9 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 125 )

Subject : Expulsion Association from of the Albania chairman i of the Himare

On 17 March 1993 the Albanian authorities expelled the
chairman of the Himare Association, Mr Dimitris
Dimalexis, in an attempt to intimidate the Greek minority in
Albania .

What pressure will EPC bring to bear on the Albanian
authorities to ensure that they respect the human rights of
the Greek minority ?

Answer

In this context the Community and its Member States were
encouraged by the adoption on 31 March 1993 of a
constitutional law on human rights which lists in its
Article 26 provisions on the rights of minorities .

They are, however, acutely aware that much remains to be
done in terms of implementation of these provisions, inter
alia by the adoption of legislation to ensure concretely that
all members of the Greek minority effectively enjoy their
fundamental rights to develop their own ethnic, cultural,
religious and linguistic identity, to teach and be taught in
their mother tongue and to associate in organizations and
societies to protect their interests and identity .

The Community and its Member States will continue to urge
the Albanian authorities to take the necessary measures and
to follow the evolution of the situation very closely .

A structured relationship between Albania and the Council
of Europe has been set up by the establishment of an
' Albanian Task Force ', the adhesion of Albania to the
cultural convention and the participation of Albania as
special guest in the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly .
Commitment to all democratic principles and standards and
human rights forms the basis of this structured
relationship .

The Community and its Member States will continue to
follow closely developments in Albania . They will favourize
a constructive dialogue between the parties concerned
without forgetting the potential contribution of multilateral
organizations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1469 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to European Political Cooperation

( 14 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 126 )

Subject : New prospects in the context of the Spratly

Islands

(2 September 1993 ) According to recent assessments and reports in the western
press, Chinese claims on the whole of the Southern China
Sea, backed up by vigorous deployment of its naval power,
The Community and its Member States have been are continuing to cause difficulties for the countries which
monitoring the evolution of the human rights situation in also claim sovereignty in the region ( Vietnam and Taiwan )

No C 280 / 64 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

or part of the islands concerned ( Malaysia, the Philippines
and Brunei ). Indonesia should also be included as although
it does not directly claim the Spratlv Islands, there are
grounds for fearing that Chinese expansion is likely to reach
the Natuna Islands to their south .

Following their participation in the Twelfth ministerial
meeting in Manila, how do the Ministers meeting in EPC
assess expectations which are being raised of the possible
involvement of Japan in a naval power struggle with China,
encouraged to this end by the countries of ASEAN ?

Answer

(2 September 1993 )

The Community and its Member States follow closely
developments in Asian security, including those
surrounding territorial claims in the South China sea .

The Community and its Member States believe that it is
important to maintain political dialogue between the
countries of the region as a means of defusing any tension
which exist . In this context they welcome discussion at the
Asean PMC SOM meeting in Singapore on 20 — 21 May,
which reaffirmed support for the Asean declaration of
22 July 1992 urging peaceful resolution of disputes over the
Spratly Islands . They note that two other claimant
countries, China and Vietnam, have also supported the
declaration, that both these countries are likely to join in
future meetings of the PMC-SOM and that in the meantime
they are both actively participating in meetings of the
scientific working group on marine scientific research in the
South China Sea and of the workshop on managing
potential conflicts in the South China Sea, both hosted by
members of Asean .

The follow Community closely the ¥ and debate its Member on the Spratly States Islands will continue . to

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1504 / 93

by Mr Anthony Simpson ( PPE )

to European Political Cooperation

( 14 June 1993 )

' The Political Affairs Committee, meeting in New York
on 21 September 1992 during the UN General Assembly,
held a preliminary exchange of views on the problems
raised by the election to the Security Council of certain
members of the Western Group .

In this context, the Political Affairs Committee notes the
general support given to Spain by the Community and its
Member States .

On the basis of this decision by European Political
Cooperation, Vice-President Marin wishes you to make
personal representations to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, or, in his absence, to his deputy, with a view to
securing his support for the application by the Member
State in question .

This should be done as soon as possible .

Ignacio Garcia-Valdecases, Chef de Cabinet 5

1 . Did the Ministers meeting in Political Cooperation give
instructions to Vice-President Marin to send this letter ?

Alternatively, did they instruct the Commission to do
so ?

2 . For how long has it been their policy to use the
Commission and ACP delegations to further the
interests of an individual Member State ?

3 . Do they approve of Vice-President Marin 's actions ? If
not, what action do they propose to take to ensure that
this conduct is not repeated in future ?

Answer

(2 September 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have drawn
attention to the fact that, in the framework of European
Political Cooperation, demarches to third countries are the
responsibility of the Presidency .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1569 / 93

by Mr Max Simeoni ( ARC )

to European Political Cooperation

( 17 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 128 )

( 93 / C 280 / 127 )
Subject : Disappearance of Mr Jacky Bleunven ( French ) in

Pakistan

Subject : Duties of Commissioners

On or about 7 October 1992 a telex signed by the Chef de
Cabinet of Vice-President Marin was sent to all EC Heads of

Delegation in the ACP countries . It reads as follows :

On 14 September 1991 Mr Jacky Bleunven, a seasoned
sportsman, set out to walk around the world, starting out
from Brest ( Britanny ). On 29 January 1992, he arrived in
Pakistan, and nothing more was heard from him after

13 February .

18 . 10 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 280 / 65

In spring 1992, an association ' Courir le monde ', was set up
in order to organize and coordinate the search for Mr
Bleunven . Having alerted the Pakistani and French
authorities without success, the association sent four people
to Pakistan in June — July 1992 to investigate . They learned
that Mr Bleunven had been arrested or detained in Marri, an
area named after a tribe from the province of Baluchistan . In
October — November 1992, the ADRAF ( Association for
the Development of Franco-Arab Relations ) agreed to
organize and finance the sending of an investigative
journalist, Mr Alain Debos, who traced Mr Bleunven and
discovered that he had been arrested by the Pakistani
authorities and transferred to Dera-Gazhi Khan . However,
the Pakistani authorities deny this . On 13 February 1993 the
' Courir le monde ' association organized a demonstration
outside the Pakistani Embassy in Paris and the French
Ministry of Foreign Affairs without success .

Can European Political Cooperation say whether the case of
Mr Bleunven has been drawn to the attention of the

embassies of the Member States in Pakistan ? What

representations can they make to the Pakistani authorities
with a view to finally discovering what has happened to Mr
Bleunven ?

Answer

( 2 September 1993 )

The issue raised by the Honourable Member is above all a
matter for the Member State and its bilateral relations with

Pakistan, and has not been discussed in the framework of
European Political Cooperation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1577 / 93

by Mr Michael Welsh ( PPE )
to European Political Cooperation

( 17 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 129 )

Subject : Persecutions of Christians and Animists in
Sudan

Christian sources and aid workers have produced
irrefutable evidence of the persecution of the southern tribes
in the Sudan by the Islamic Government in what appears to
be a systematic attempt to establish an Islamic state and
eliminate all other religions .

The civil war between North and South has provided a cover
for the mass displacement of the southern population, the

establishment of concentration camps where torture and
rape are everyday occurrences, and forced conversion of
Christians and Animists . Indeed it appears that Islamic aid
agencies are using the provision of the most basic necessities
of life as an inducement to convert, withholding them from
those who refuse to abjure their faith .

Can European Political Cooperation state what steps it is
taking to remedy this appalling situation, which amounts to
a kind of religious ethnic cleansing . Will it take action to
condemn the Sudanese authorities at the United Nations

and take appropriate steps to enforce sanctions, including
cutting off aid in an attempt to put a stop to the persecution
of innocent people ?

Answer

(2 September 1993 )

The Community and its Member States fully share the
concern expressed by the Honourable Member as to the
situation in Sudan . The results of the last years ' fighting are
alarming : an estimated 4 million people are internally
displaced and approximately 270 000 refugees have fled
into neighbouring countries . Hundreds of thousands are
severely threatened by malnutrition and diseases . Already
some 500 000 may have died in the wake of conflict .

Furthermore, as the Honourable Member correctly states,
there have been severe violations of human rights . In this
field, may I recall the decisive role played by the Community
and its Member States in the adoption of a critical resolution
at the UN General Assembly in December 1992 and in the
appointment in Geneva at the UNHRC of a special UN
rapporteur for Sudan in March 1993 . The Community and
its Member States support the nomination of ambassador
Traxler as a special envoy on humanitarian affairs, who will
make an assessment on the humanitarian situation in Sudan .

They sincerely hope the Sudanese government will
cooperate in due time .

A development ministers Troika has recently visited Sudan
to underline the seriousness with which the Community and
its Member States view the humanitarian crisis and

concluded that political solutions are needed to end the
fighting between the factions and to achieve peace and
stability throughout the country . A reflection is currently
taking place within the EPC and the Council framework on
the possibilities for the Community and its Member States
to contribute further to the peace efforts .

«

The Community and its Member States have already largely
frozen their development aid to Sudan because of the human
rights situation in the country . However, the Community
and its Member States remain major donors of
humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people . Aid is
targeted on the basis of need and without political
conditions, but has been limited in some areas by an

No C 280 / 66 Official Journal of the European Communities 18 . 10 . 93

uncooperative attitude of both the Sudanese government
and the SPLA factions . The Community and its Member
States are now considering what further measures can be
taken to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian aid .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1589 / 93

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )

to European Political Cooperation

( 18 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 130

Subject : Departure of former Soviet troops from the Baltic

States

For over two years now it has been known that one of the
factors which triggered the war in the former Yugoslavia
was the turbulent withdrawal of the Yugoslav army from
the republics seeking independence .

Today, the withdrawal of the troops of the former Soviet
army from the Baltic States has been slowed down and then
unilaterally stopped on orders from Moscow, in flagrant
violation of the relevant international agreements . Are we
not witnessing a serious concatenation of risks ? How does
European Political Cooperation view the situation ?

When all European policy should be taking account of
Russia 's internal stability, what position or common action
does ECP intend to take to prevent an escalation in the Baltic
region and encourage the parties to cooperate ?

Do not the prospects of the common foreign and security
policy demand that Political Cooperation take a more
courageous and incisive stand with regard to the prevention
of conflict in the Baltic region, in the rest of Europe and
elsewhere ?

Answer

States have made this clear both bilaterally to the Russian
authorities and in the multilateral framework of the CSCE,
the Baltic Sea Council, and the United Nations .

The Community and its Member States are also paying close
attention to the situation of the Russian speaking
population groups in the Baltic countries . They have been
working actively to alleviate tensions within Estonia and
Latvia as well as to promote stable and harmonious
relations between the Baltic States and Russia on a broader

scale . In contacts with the Baltic countries the importance of
respect for human rights is stressed and the Baltic countries
themselves attach great importance in living up to the high
standard in this field . In this context they have supported the
Baltic countries ' decision to ask international organizations
to report on the human rights situation in the Baltic States .
They welcome the report on Latvia by the United Nations
Centre for Human Rights, the report on the situation in
Estonia from the CSCE mission under the Human

Dimension mechanism, the report on Estonia from the
Council of Europe and the report on Estonia from the CSCE
High Commissioner for national minorities . These reports
clearly state that allegations of human rights violations
cannot be substantiated but suggest a number of practical
measures to be taken, which will help improve relations
between the population groups .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1661 / 93

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 280 / 131 )

Subject : ' Cohesion ' projects in Ireland

Will the Commission list the projects to be assisted under the
cohesion Financial Instrument in Ireland during 1993 and
the amounts of assistance to be allocated to each

project ?

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber
(2 September 1993 ) on behalf of the Commission

The Community and its Member States fully share the view
of the Honourable Member as to the importance of a
continued withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic
States in accordance with the 1992 Helsinki CSCE Summit

Declaration, the Russian-Lithuanian agreement and the
UNGA Resolution 47 / 21 . The Community and its Member

( 26 July 1993 )

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the Honourable Member 's question .

It will inform him of its findings as soon as possible .