Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal C 133

### of the European Communities 23 May Volume 1992 35

Volume 35

23 May 1992

###### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

92 / C 133 / 01

92 / C 133 / 02

92 / C 133 / 03

No 241 1 / 90 by Mr Juan Bandrés Molet to the Commission
Subject : Construction of the motorway across Andalusia ( A-92 ) 1

No 449 / 91 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Report by the Dutch Operations Review Unit on food aid 1

No 1470 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Immediate fire prevention measures in Greece 2

92 / C 133 / 04 No 1473 / 91 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission

Subject : ' British Sherry ' 3

92 / C 133 / 05

No 1535 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Application of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty 4

92 / C 133 / 06 No 1577 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject : Blue Flag campaign 4

92 / C 133 / 07

92 / C 133 / 08

92 / C 133 / 09

No 1582 / 91 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject : The biotope of Rosto do Cao in the Azores 5

No 1584 / 91 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject : The Azores and the Corine programme 5

No 1598 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Regulations on harmful emissions from the motors of speedboats and pleasure craft . . 6

92 / C 133 / 10 No 2154 / 91 by Mrs Carmen Diez De Rivera Icaza to the Commission
Subject : Quality of fuel used by launches, yachts and pleasure boats 6

1 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Pa s e

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1598 / 91 and 2154 / 91 6

92 / C 133 / 1 1 No 1656 / 91 by Mr Lyndon Harrison to the Commission
Subject : Voting rights 6

92 / C 133 / 12 No 1715 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : ' Organic ' foodstuffs 7

92 / C 133 / 13 No 1720 / 91 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : River Acheloos diversion 7

92 / C 133 / 14 No 1754 / 91 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject : Industrial fallow for the specific purpose of promoting non-food crops 8

92 / C 133 / 15 No 1774 / 91 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Statements of catch forwarded directly to the Commission 9

92 / C 133 / 16 No 1785 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : The environmental situation in Kuwait 9

92 / C 133 / 17 No 1786 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Oil fires in Kuwait and Community action 9

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1785 / 91 and 1786 / 91 10

92 / C 133 / 18 No 1792 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Tropical rainforests in Burma 10

92 / C 133 / 19 No 1821 / 91 by Mrs Carole Tongue to the Commission
Subject : Trichoderma Binab T 11

92 / C 133 / 20 No 1893 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Shortcomings in Italian legislation relating to organic farming 11

92 / C 133 / 21 No 1924 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Commission 's buildings policy 12

92 / C 133 / 22 No 1937 / 91 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Incineration plant 12

92 / C 133 / 23 No 1965 / 91 by Mr Christo Papoutsis to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of Greek mastic as a Community product and assistance for it in the
context of the CAP 13

92 / C 133 / 24 No 1976 / 91 by Mr Reimer Boge to the Commission
Subject : Processing of dead and casualty livestock in the Community 13

92 / C 133 / 25 No 2003 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Agricultural surpluses in Italy 14

92 / C 133 / 26 No 2016 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : CO2 reduction from coal-fired power stations 15

92 / C 133 / 27 No 2019 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Censorship of publications arriving at Walvis Bay 16

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 133 / 28 No 2029 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Fire test specifications in the EC 16

92 / C 133 / 29 No 2049 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Radiation protection — Article 31 Group 17

92 / C 133 / 30 No 2062 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Extension of ERDF Objective 2 17

92 / C 133 / 31 No 2066 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Control of Community fishing activities 17

92 / C 133 / 32 No 2213 / 91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Financing of the project to computerize the national record of monuments by the ESF 1 8

92 / C 133 / 33 No 2216 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Guide for ethnic minorities 19

92 / C 133 / 34 No 2320 / 91 by Mr Agostino Mantovani to the Commission
Subject : Management of wild bird populations 19

92 / C 133 / 35 No 2330 / 91 by Mr Alex Smith, Mr Alexander Falconer, Mr James Ford, Mr Thomas
Megahy, Mr Stephen Hughes, Mr Anthony Wilson, Mr Henry McCubbin,
Mrs Christine Oddy and Mr Alan Donnelly to the Commission
Subject : ERDF funding : United Kingdom 19

92 / C 133 / 36 No 2340 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear policy with regard to Central Europe 20

92 / C 133 / 37 No 2376 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Catch quotas 21

92 / C 133 / 38 No 2377 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Imports of tropical wood 22

92 / C 133 / 39 No 2428 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola, Mr Franco Borgo, Mrs Felicia Contu,
Mr Lorenzo De Vitto, Mr Mario Forte, Mr Antonio Iodice to the Commission
Subject : Special protection area for birds 22

92 / C 133 / 40 No 2501 / 91 by Mr John Hume to the Commission
Subject : An economic study of the East Border region of Ireland 22

92 / C 133 / 41 No 2517 / 91 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject : Cape Verde fisheries agreement 23

92 / C 133 / 42 No 2529 / 91 by Mr Louis Lauga to the Commission
Subject : Threshold for the identification of subscribers to life assurance 23

92 / C 133 / 43 No 2546 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Additives in animal feed 24

92 / C 133 / 44 No 2648 / 91 by Mr Fernando Suárez González to the Commission
24
Subject : Cooperation with Central America

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 133 / 45 No 2721 / 91 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : The European Economic Area 25

92 / C 133 / 46 No 2724 / 91 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Community investment in the fishing and fish-processing industries 25

92 / C 133 / 47 No 2725 / 91 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Review of the common fisheries policy 25

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2724 / 91 and 2725 / 91 25

92 / C 133 / 48 No 2744 / 91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Unauthorized changes to the award-winning Kalamata urban development plan 26

92 / C 133 / 49 No 2770 / 91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : EIA report 26

92 / C 133 / 50 No 2775 / 91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Retex programme 27

92 / C 133 / 51 No 2805 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : 1992 training programme in the Directorate-General for the Internal Market and
Industrial Affairs 27

92 / C 133 / 52 No 2819 / 91 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject : Grants to Lancashire County Council and associated bodies 27

92 / C 133 / 53 No 2877 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Break-down by nationality of Community staff serving in the Commission 's
directorates and services 28

92 / C 133 / 54 No 2888 / 91 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Public finance for industrial plant in southern Italy at the expense of workers in
northern Italy 28

92 / C 133 / 55 No 2894 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and Mr Virginio Bettini to the
Commission
Subject : The ' Colombiane ' 92 ' event in Genoa ( Italy ) and respect for the Community legislation
on public contracts and the environment                - •                - 29

92 / C 133 / 56 No 3109 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Negotiations between the European Economic Community and Poland on the drawing
up of an association agreement 29

92 / C 133 / 57 No 3138 / 91 by Mrs Caroline Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Evidence of sustainability of wildlife trade 30

92 / C 133 / 58 No 3139 / 91 by Mrs Caroline Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Trade in wild birds ^0

No C 133 / 1
23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2411 / 90

by Mr Juan Bandrés Molet ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 October 1990 )

( 92 / C 133 / 01 )

Subject : Construction of the motorway across Andalusia

( A-92 )

The construction of the A-92 motorway across Andalusia
commissioned by the Andalusian Government and partly
financed by the ERDF, is causing the indiscriminate
felling of pine, cedar, fir and other indigenous plants, in
addition to the serious damage to the landscape and
environment which will result if the original project is not
modified .

The Historical and Cultural Association of Granada

( part of the Ecological Federation of Granada ) has
made protests to the media and to official bodies
( Environmental Agency of the Government of Andalusia )
and has given its support to the alternative project
proposed by the Granada Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Shipping .

Can the Commission establish whether the Spanish
authorities have carried out an environmental impact
study in accordance with Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') of 27
June 1985 ? Is the Commission aware of the alternative

project drawn up by the Granada Chamber of Trade,
Industriy and Shipping ?

o oj No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p. 40 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 November 1991 )

The Seville-Granada-Baza motorway is part-financed

by the ERDF as part of the Community support
sub-framework for Andalusia .

According to the information available to the
Commission, the motorway is based on the existing

N-334 road and is being built in two phases . The first
involves levelling the existing road to form one
carriageway of the motorway, following which the second
carriageway will be constructed . The work also includes
construction of a number of ring roads around centres of
population .

Under Article 12, Directive 85 / 337 / EEC applies only
from 3 July 1988, three years after its notification to the
Member States . This means that most of the 18 projects
relating to the motorway fall outside its scope .

The Directive applies in fact to only four projects . In two

cases environmental impact studies have been carried out
and in the other two cases the Spanish authorities have
certified that they have no negative impact on the
environment, whether in terms of population, fauna,
flora, soil, air, climate, landscape or the artistic and
historical heritage .

All decisions to grant ERDF assistance assume
compliance with the standards governing Community
policies ; if that is not the case, the Commission may ask
the Member State to repay the assistance granted .

The Commission is not aware of the alternative project to
which the Honourable Member refers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 449 / 91

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 02 )

Subject : Report by the Dutch Operations Review Unit on

food aid

In a recent report the Operations Review Unit ( IOV ) of
the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation levels

No C 133 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

exceptionally sharp criticism at EC food aid to countries
in Africa, saying that in many cases it does not reach its
target population, is often inappropriate to local food
requirements and may supplant local agricultural
production .

1 . Does the Commission acknowledge that EC food aid,

despite the formal separation of the food aid
programme from the common agricultural policy,
is in practice frequently used to dispose of the
Community 's own surpluses, with the undesirable
consequence that cheap products from Europe ( such
as cereals ) displace African products ( such as sorgum,
millet and maize ) in the local diet ?

2 . What is the Commission 's view in the context of the

IOVs suggestion to give unqualified financial support
to the purchase of food so that the beneficiary
countries themselves can decide what food they wish
to purchase and from where, which means that aid
may be purchased locally or in neighbouring
countries ?

3 . Is it prepared to evaluate the EC 's food aid in a report
focusing on its effectiveness in reaching its target
population and on the food patterns and agricultural
production in African countries, and to put forward
proposals for how it can be improved ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 February 1992 )

The Commission finds the report in question deficient in
various aspects and its conclusions are thus ill-founded .
The changes that should be made to it have been sent to
the IOV .

1 . European Community food aid can no longer be said

to be away of disposing of surpluses . As the report
points out, EC food aid in the form of milk products
has gradually given way to products that fit in with the
local diet . However, it should not be forgotten that
milk products have a significant nutritional and
cultural importance in some places, for instance in
South America .

On cereals, the Commission has endeavoured to
comply with the wishes of the beneficiary countries
themselves by giving them what they ask for . This has
led to an increase in triangular operations, although a
sizeable portion of the aid in cereals still comes from

the Community market . At any rate, Community food
aid represents only a tiny proportion of what the
developing countries import commercially . Moreover,
in some of the cases criticized in the study, Sudan for
instance, Community aid accounted for 4% of food
aid with 96% coming from the United States in the
shape of wheat .

2 . It is not evident from the study itself that financial

assistance to buy food should be given instead of food
products .

In any case there are no arguments in favour of such
an approach and the beneficiary countries would not
necessarily use the money to buy products other than
those they import ( wheat and rice ), the cost of which
puts a strain on their budgets .

As for the purchase of foodstuffs in the country itself,
the Commission authorizes and makes this sort of
purchase itself where appropriate .

3 . Each year the Commission evaluates some of its food

aid operations . Consultants are also regularly asked to
assess the social aspects and the scope for precise
targeting of the aid . Such evaluations are useful and
more telling than an overall assessment which could be
superficial or take too long . The Community is
already catering for target groups by channelling a fair
slice ( around half ) of its aid via non-governmental
organizations, WFP, UNHCR, the UNRWA, Unbro
and Li cross .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1470 / 91

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

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 03 )

Subject : Immediate fire prevention measures in Greece

Forests, which are a valuable natural resource, are
continually being destroyed by fire which is having a
devastating impact on the eco-system as a whole . This
problem is particularly acute in the Mediterranean and
European countries and especially in Greece, scarcely

19 % of which is covered by forests .

1 . What specific measures has the Commission taken to

help the Mediterranean countries, and in particular

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 3

Greece, where the problem is particularly acute in the
months from June to September ?

2 . Has any specific technical and financial programme of

support been drawn up in cooperation with the
competent Greek authorities for the purposes of fire
prevention and control ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1991 )

Over the last 10 years the Commission has financed a
number of measures to reduce the risk of forest fires in
Southern Europe . This has been done under Regulation
( EEC ) No 269 / 79 establishing a common measure
for forestry in certain Mediterranean zones of the
Community ('), ( EEC ) No 1975 / 82 on the acceleration of
agricultural development in certain regions of Greece ( 2 ),
the integrated Mediterranean programmes ( Regulation
( EEC ) No 2088 / 85 ) ( 3 ), the specific programme for the
development of Portuguese agriculture ( Regulation
( EEC ) No 3828 / 85 ) ( 4 ) and the specific common measure
to encourage the development of agriculture in certain
regions of Spain ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 1 1 18 / 88 ) ( 5 ).
Some measures to encourage the replanting of forests
destroyed by fire and establish protective infrastructures
in various regions of southern Europe, including Greece,
have also been taken under regional development

programmes .

Many forest fires prevention projects have also been
financed under Regulation ( EEC ) No 3529 / 86 on
protection of the Community 's forests against fire ( 6 ), as
amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1614 / 89 ( 7 ). During
the five years these two regulations have been in force,
Greece has received ECU 9,7 million to finance 21
projects .

Fires are the main problem facing the forests of southern
Europe and destroy over 500 000 ha of vegetation each
year . Accordingly, early in 1990 the Standing Forestry
Committee set up be the Council Decision of 29 May
1989 ( 7 ) established a working party on the protection of
forests against fire .

The working party includes the technical experts from the

Member States responsible for protecting forests against
fire and is thoroughly examining with the Commission
the causes of fires, ways of fighting them and how to
improve protection .

This has led to concrete proposals for the strengthening

and renewal of the specific regulation on the prevention
of forest fires, which expires at the end of 1991 . The aim
of the new proposals, is to ensure that all Community
measures financed in this field are more closely related to
integrated and coherent forest fire prevention strategies .

On 8 July 1991 a resolution on improving mutual aid
between Member States in the event of natural or
technological disaster, which also extends to combating
forest fires, was adopted within the Council .

A communication on the same lines to the Council and
Parliament is being prepared covering implementation of
a Community action plan to deal with ecological
emergencies including the creation of a team to provide
assistance .

The Commission has also decided to organize in the near
future an initial training workshop for those responsible
at national and regional level for fighting forest fires
which will assess the resources and methods used in this

work .

O OJ No L 38, 14.2 . 1979 .
O OJNoL214, 22 . 7 . 1982 .
( 3 ) OTNoL 197, 27 . 7 . 1985 .
O OJN0L372, 31 . 12 . 1985 .
O OJ No L 107, 28.4 . 1988 .
0 ) OJ No L 326, 21 . 11 . 1986 .
O OJNoL 165, 15.6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1473 / 91
by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 04 )

Subject : ' British Sherry '

On a recent visit to Seville in Andalusia, the Deputy
Director - General for Agriculture ( DG VI ) of the
Commission, Mr Fernando Mansito, stated that pig
breeding, sherry and olive oil were essential for the future
of agriculture in Andalusia .

Will the Commission submit proposals to the Council
prohibiting the use of labels such as ' British Sherry ',
' Cyprus Sherry ' or ' Irish Sherry ' in the Community ?

What is the current volume of Community ' sherry '
imports ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 January 1992 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the answer
given by the Commission to his Written Question
No 554 / 91 0 ).

NoC 133 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

The Commission would also draw the Honourable

Member 's attention to the fact that Article 129 of the Act
of Accession of Spain and Portugal authorizes the use of
the composite terms ' British Sherry ', ' Cyprus Sherry ' and
' Irish Sherry ' until 31 December 1995 .

The Commission will then put forward a proposal in line
with the relevant Community legislation .

According to the most recent information available to the
Commission, the volume of intra-Community imports of
sherry in the Member States other than Spain and
Portugal amounted to 800 000 hectolitres in 1990 .

O OJ NoC 327, 16 . 12 . 1991 .

— Report COM(84 ) 566 final ( second half of
1982—1983 ) (5 pages )

— Report COM(85 ) 713 final ( 1984 ) (5 pages )

- Report COM(88 ) 109 final ( 1985-1986 ) (9 pages )

- Report SEC(90 ) 2290 final ( 1987-June 1990 ) ( 14

pages ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1577 / 91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1535 / 91 ( 92 / C 133 / 06 )

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 05 )

Subject : Application of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

Will the Commission list the publication date each year,
and length of the annual report on the application of
Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, requested of the

Commission by Parliament in the resoluton of 20
November 1980 ( M.

o OJ No C 327, 15 . 12 . 1980, p. 34 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 February 1 992 )

In its resolution of 20 November 1980 of the siting of
nuclear power stations in border areas, the European
Parliament asked the Commission to draw up an annual
report on the application of Article 37 of the Euratom
Treaty .

The Commission has presented several reports to
Parliament . These reports, which are listed below, cover
activities relating to the application of the above Article
between 1959 and 1990 .

It should be pointed out that, as it has to establish
priorities, especially in the wake of the Chernobyl
accident, the Commission has not always been able to
draw up these reports annually as requested by
Parliament .

The following reports have so far been published :

— Report COM(82 ) 455 final ( 1959 — first half of 1982 )

( 64 pages )

Subject : Blue Flag campaign

With regard to the Blue Flag campaign, the only objective
parameter for the selection of candidates is the Directive
on bathing water, whereas for the national authorities is
only one parameter out of 26 and the other parameters are
very general .

1 . Does the Commission not consider that this can lead
to mistaken or at least questionable assessments being
made ?

2 . In the light of the above, does the Commission not
consider that it should suspend the Blue Flag initiative
^ nd relaunch it only after uniform objective criteria
have been laid down and it has taken over direct
management and control of the campaign ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 October 1991 )

The fact that 25 other parameters in addition to the

Directive on bathing water are taken into account in
awarding the Blue Flag, even if they are more subjective
than objective, is not in itself a reason for the Commission
to suspend its support for the scheme .

The Commission recently reviewed the basis for its

continued support of the Blue Flag campaign . In this
regard, it is essential that beaches which have been
awarded a Blue Flag should comply fully with the
standards laid down by the Community Directive on
bathing water, and with all the other Community
environmental Directives .

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 5

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1582 / 91

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 07 )

Subject : The biotope of Rosto do Cao in the Azores

One of the biotopes in the Azores included in the Corine
programme is the Rosto do Cao biotope on the island of
Sao Miguel . It was selected because of the presence of
birds, invertebrate animals, rare species and species
threatened with extinction and because of its importance
for migratory species .

However, the Azores Regional Government has
earmarked this biotope as the site for a fishing port on the
island of Sao Miguel, justifying its decision with reference
to an environmental impact study it allegedly
commissioned which says that this project will only have a
limited effect on the area which it classifies as being of
little environmental interest .

Will the Commission say :

1 . Is the Rosto do Cao biotope included in the
Community database for the Corine programme ?

2 . If so, and if the Azores Regional Government insists

on locating and developing the fishing port in the
Rosto do Cao area, recognized and classified as a
biotope by the Community, will this authority then be
able to use Community funds for this purpose ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 1992 )

In collaboration with the Council of Europe, the Corine
programme has set up a database listing the biotopes of
major importance for the protection of nature . The
selection criteria for these biotopes are scientifically
validated criteria for the identification of biotopes of
major importance on the European level .

1 . The Rosto do Cao site on the island of San Miguel in

the Azores is indeed included in the Corine-biotopes
list for its European-level importance, because of the
presence of birds protected by Council Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( two species ) or listed in Annexes II
and III of the Berne Convention, the presence of

~ rare species or species in danger of extinction,

invertebrates and migratory species (').

The Corine-biotopes list, while having no legal force,

is recognized as having sufficient scientific force for it
to have helped prevent, on a number of occasions, the
destruction of sites of major importance for the
protection of nature .

2 . If all the conditions contained in Community
environment legislation are respected, in particular an

environmental impact study carried out and properly
taken into account, the fishing port construction
project could receive Community aid under the
operational programmes approved by the Azores
Autonomous Region as a function of the selection
criteria in force there .

O OTNoL 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1584 / 91

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 08 )

Subject : The Azores and the Corine programme

In 1987 when the Corine biotope protection programme
was extended to include the Azores, a Portuguese team,
working in collaboration with the relevant Azores
regional authority, earmarked for protection 55 sites in
the various islands which make up the Azores .

Will the Commission say :

1 . Were these data which were processed at national

level sent to the Community to be included in the
data-base of the Corine programme ?

2 . If so, how were they used in this programme, and

what have the Portuguese and Azores authorities
done since then ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1 991 )

The Corine programme has drawn up a list of biotopes of
major importance at the European level for the protection
of nature, which has also been used by certain Member
States, in particular Portugal, on the regional and national
levels .

1 . With regard to the Azores, the 55 nationally-selected

sites have been recognized as being of European
importance and fed into the Corine database .

2 . With regard to the progress of the programme, a

contract exists between the Commission and Portugal
for the completion of the list of Portuguese sites of
European interest for the end of 1991 . Under the
contract, information and promotion seminars for the
regional authorities are being organized in all the

NoC 133 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

regions of Portugal : a seminar will, of course, be
taking place in the Azores . In addition, the list of sites
will be published shortly .

A Community list of this kind can be used as a

Does the Commission intend to regulate emissions of
such boats as it has already done in the case of road
vehicles ?

scientific basis for Community and national laws on
protected zones . Joint answer to Written Questions No 1598 / 91

and 2154 / 91
given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 November 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1598 / 91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 09 )

Subject : Regulations on harmful emissions from the

motors of speedboats and pleasure craft

The combustion engines of speedboats and pleasure craft
used for water sports on Community and internal coastal
waters are causing noise, water and air pollution and are a
nuisance to the environment, to holidaymakers and to
local residents .

1 . Is it technically possible to limit the noise and exhaust
fumes emanating from speedboats and pleasure craft ?

2 . Does the Commission consider it necessary to draw up

Community rules on the limitation of emissions from
such craft ?

3 . Does it know what efforts have been made by

individual Member States to introduce national rules
limiting such emissions ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2154 / 91
by Mrs Carmen Diez De Rivera Icaza ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

The Commission recently began looking into the question
of the pollution which may be caused by speedboats and
pleasure craft, and has launched a number of studies to
determine the problems this causes .

1 . At present, the Commission considers that exhaust

fumes and, possibly, engine noise are only one of
the problems which may be caused in certain
circumstances by certain speedboats and pleasure
craft .

As regards exhaust fumes, work under way has shown
that it is technically possible to reduce emissions fairly
rapidly, depending on the engine type .

2 . Once it has examined the findings of the studies, the

Commission will decide whether or not to propose
draft measures of a legally binding nature to the
Council .

These proposals would have to :

— be designed to reestablish the free movement of

the products in question, in cases where national
measures created barriers to trade, and otherwise
prevent market fragmentation ;

— take as a basis a high level of protection ;

— be implementable within a reasonable deadline by

users and manufacturers of the boats in question .

3 . The Commission is aware, thanks notably to the

provision of information procedure laid down in
Directive 83 / 189 / EEC (') of the draft measures in the
Member States to restrict certain emissions .

o OJNoL 109, 26 . 4 . 1983 .

(4 October 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1656 / 91
( 92 / C 133 / 10 )

by Mr Lyndon Harrison ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Subject : Quality of fuel used by launches, yachts and (6 August 1991 )

pleasure boats ( 92 / C 133 / 11 )

(6 August 1991 )

pleasure boats

Is the Commission aware of the additional pollution
arising from the use of a wide variety of fuel by a large
number of launches and pleasure boats during the peak
holiday season, in waters such as the Mediterranean
which are already highly polluted ?

Subject : Voting rights

Will the Commission explain what steps are being taken
to ensure that all citizens of the Community, having
gained the right to reside and work in any of its Member

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 7

States, shall be able to vote, if qualified by age and status,
in the 1994 and subsequent European Parliament
elections in the Member State in which they reside, should
they so desire ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1992 )

The EEC Treaty stipulates that a uniform electoral
procedure shall be laid down for elections to the
European Parliament, which clearly would cover
questions such as a general right of Community Citizens
to vote in their Community State of residence .

Unlike the normal Community legislative procedure,
Article 138 provides for an initiative from the European
Parliament and then a unanimous decision by the
Council .

The Act of 20 September 1976, the present basis for

European elections ( since 1979 ), was only able to settle
the minimum conditions for direct elections and left open
a European solution to other issues for a later date .

Presently, as the Honourable Member will be aware, the
matter of a new Parliamentary initiative covering among
other things voting rights, is currently before the
European Parliament ( the De Gucht Report ).

standards and the inspection requirements to be satisfied
for agricultural products and foodstuffs which are put on
the market with a label bearing indications which refer to
organic production methods .

o OJNoL 198, 22 . 7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1720 / 91

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

( 7 August 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 13 )

Subject : River Acheloos diversion

Further to the Commission 's answer to my oral question
No H - 1154 / 90 O could the Commission provide details
of the remedial measures and measures to minimize

adverse environmental effects that will be taken ?

Does the Commission accept that this project as it is now
planned will adversely affect the Mesolonghi lagoon
complex, which is of vital importance for a number of
species protected by Annex I of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 2 )
on the conservation of wild birds ?

What measures will be taken so that the following species :
pelicanus crispus, himantopus himantopus and glareola
pratincola will not be sacrificed ?

(') Debates of the European Parliament, No 3-397, December

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1715 / 91 1990 .

Mr Thomas ( S ) O OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p. 1 .

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 7 August 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 12 )

Subject : ' Organic ' foodstuffs

In view of the growth in recent years of the market for
' organic ' foods, and the increasing use of the terms
' organic ' and ' organically grown ' as selling points, does
the Commission intend to issue a proposal for a Directive
establishing a standard and legally enforceable definition
of these terms ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1 991 )

On 24 June 1991 the Council adopted Regulation ( EEC )
No 2092 / 91 O on organic production of agricultural
products and indications referring thereto on agricultural
products and foodstuffs . This Regulation establishes the

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

A series of remedial measures and measures necessary to

minimize adverse environmental effects for the various
parts of the whole Acheloos project, including the
Messochora dams and the wider delta areas, have been
indicated in special chapters of the environmental impact
studies furnished at different times by the Greek
authorities .

These measures range from appropriate disposal of
excavation materials to designation of special protection
zones according to Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC for
the conservation of wild birds, in order to protect various
species .

Given its major importance both in terms of regional
development and on the environmental front, the
Commission services follow the Acheloos project very

NoC 133 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

closely . They are in the course of organizing a visit by
experts to Greece this autumn in order to be informed
on specific environmental aspects . More detailed
information should be available after this visit .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1754 / 91

by Mr José Happart ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 14 )

Subject : Industrial fallow for the specific purpose of

promoting non-food crops

Does the industrial fallow programme play a key role
within the package of measures to encourage the use of
agricultural crops for non-food purposes ?

Which Member States are receiving assistance for pilot
projects for the use of agricultural products for non-food
purposes and what type of projects are being launched ?

What is the cost of these pilot projects ?

Does a system of crop rotation with industrial fallow
prevent a drop in the price of major crops ?

Are the quantities produced under the industrial fallow
system considered outside the maximum guaranteed
quantities ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 December 1 991 )

The following three schemes were implemented by the
Commission to encourage the use of agricultural products
for non-food purposes, following the Council Decisions
taken in July 1990 :

— the scheme for specific aid for the use of arable land

for non-food purposes ( industrial fallows ) (');

— the scheme for making available cereals and oils

and fats in intervention stocks for non-food
demonstration projects ( 2 );

— the implementation, from 1990, of certain priority

demonstration projects ; an appropriation of ECU 5
million has been allocated for this purpose .

The scheme for specific aid referred to above, which was
to be reviewed after one year of actual implementation,
will be completely overhauled to take into account the
recent communication concerning the reform of the

common agricultural policy ( 3 ), as regards the non-food

sector .

The scheme for making intervention stocks available has
not so far given rise to any financing .

As part of the appropriation of ECU 5 million referred to
above and with a view to the implementation of certain
preparatory measures for demonstration in the priority
areas, seven European Economic Interest Groupings
( EEIG ) have been set up, bringing together the interested
parties ( about 95 participants representing private
companies, agricultural cooperatives, institutes and
industries in the EEC ).

The sectors and the Member States concerned are as

follows :

— Project No 1 — Bitter Lupins

' Agricultural refining of bitter lupins into lupin
derivatives with high added value according to the
Mittex R — Technology '. Participating countries :
Greece, Portugal, Spain and Germany .

— Project No 2 — Paper sorghum

' Approvisonnement de l'industrie de la pâte à
papier d'une plante annuelle : le sorgho papetier '.
Participating countries : Spain, France and Germany .

— Project No 3 — Castor oil

' Couverture des besoins européens d'huile de ricin
à partir de graines d'origine communautaire '.
Participating countries : Germany, France and Italy .

— Project No 4 — Flax and hemp

' Development of a production process of fibres
( flax / hemp ) from harvest to final product '.
Participating countries : Spain, Germany, France and
Belgium .

— Project No 5 — Miscanthus

'
The use of C4 — peremials ( Miscanthus ) as basis
material for the construction of buildings .'
Participating countries : Greece, Germany, the
Netherlands and Belgium .

— Project No 6 — Rape — Biodiesel

' Utilisation des huiles végétales et de leurs dérivés en
tant que carburant diesel '. Participating countries :
Germany, France and Italy .

— Project No 7 — Kenaf

' Utilisation industrielle du kenaf issu d'une
production européenne '. Participating countries :
Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Denmark .

Within the framework of the new Programme
for Research, Technological Development and
Demonstration in agriculture and agro-industries
( 1990 — 1994 ), out of a total budget of ECU 333 million
earmarked for this programme, ECU 45 million will be
used for carrying out non-food demonstration projects .
The Community 's financial contribution should be fixed
at 30 % of the total cost .

Following the adoption of the programme in question by
the Council (9 September 1991 ), an invitation to tender

No C 133 / 9
23 . 5.92 Official Journal of the European Communities

for proposals for demonstration projects will soon be
launched ( October 1991 ) with a view to selecting
the demonstration projects to be financed under this

programme .

The scheme for industrial fallows has no effect on field

crop prices .

The quantities of cereals produced under the industrial

fallows scheme will be taken into account in the context of
the application of the Guaranteed Maximum Quantity
mechanism .

and when moving between Divisions within the Area . The
Contracting Party is then required to retransmit these
position reports within 24 hours to the Executive
Secretary of NAFO and to other Contracting Parties with
an inspection presence in the zone . It is appropriate that
the Commission, in its role as the competent authority of
the Contracting Party and given the practical necessity for
carrying out the task in such a short time, should be
responsible for the receipt and transmission of the

messages .

It should also be noted that the ' Hail system ' does not
require fishing vessels to transmit details of their catches .

O Regulations and ( EEC ) No ( EEC 3481 ) No / 90 ( 2176 OJNoL336 / 90 ( OJ No, 1 . 12 L . 198 1990, 28 ). . 7 . 1990 ) o OJ No L 24, 27 . 1 . 1983 .

O Regulations ( EEC ) No 2203 / 90 ( OJ No L 201, 31 . 7 . 1990 )

and ( EEC ) No 582 / 91 ( OJ No L 65, 12 . 3 . 1991 ).
( 5 ) Development and Future of the CAP — COM(91 ) 258 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1785 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1774 / 91 ( 92 / C 133 / 16 )

by Mr José Vazquez Fouz ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 15 )

Subject : Statements of catch forwarded directly to the

Commission

It appears that the Commission has ordered that vessels
fishing in NAFO waters should forward their statements
of catch directly to that institution, thus creating a
precedent for the direct registration of catches .

What is the legal basis for this arrangement ? Is it not the

Member States that are responsible for forwarding such
information ? What are the grounds for issuing these
instructions ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

On the basis of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 170 / 83 (')
the Commission has made a proposal to the Council for a
Regulation to implement the ' Hail system ' which has
been adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Organization ( NAFO ), of which the Community is a
Contracting Party .

Under the provisions of the NAFO ' Hail system '
fishing vessels of Contracting Parties are required to
communicate to their competent authorities their position
on entry into and exit from the NAFO Regulatory Area

Subject : The environmental situation in Kuwait

We are informed that, from existing budget lines, the

Commission will spend a total of ECU 16 million in
various programmes in the Gulf region .

So far, how has the ECU 16 million been spent by the
Commission ?

Is the Commission satisfied with the use being made of
the resources allocated by it to assist in meeting the
environmental crisis in Kuwait ?

In particular, what has been done to facilitate the
development of European specialists in fighting the oil
fires ?

Is the Commission satisfied with the cooperation it has
received from the Kuwaiti authorities ?

Specialized Community missions have visited the Gulf
area . Could the Commission supply information on the
results of these missions and in particular on the
environmental situation in Kuwait, in particular on the
damage being caused to lakes and rivers by the oil-well
fires ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1786 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 17 )

Subject : Oil fires in Kuwait and Community action

How many fires are still burning in Kuwait ?

No C 133 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

How many fires have been extinguished with what
European assistance ?

What arrangements have been made for the deployment
of European personnel alongside those that already were
in place from the United States ?

Is the Commission satisfied with the progress which is
being made to extinguish these fires ?

Is the Commission satisfied with the cooperation it is
receiving from other fire-fighters in the region ?

Is the Commission satisfied with the cooperation it has
received from the Kuwaiti authorities ?

How long does the Commission think it will be before all
the fires will be extinguished, and could it be done any
quicker if cooperation was improved ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1785 / 91

and 1786 / 91

given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 February 1 992 )

Responsibility for cleaning up the environment in Kuwait,
and in particular for putting out the oil well fires, falls to
the Kuwaiti authorities and the Commission does not
have information enabling it to reply to certain of the
Honourable Member 's question .

However, the Commission has taken on active interest in
the problem, as is shown by the following information .

The Council, meeting on 18 March 1991, asked the
Commission ' to examine possibilities for coordinating the
potential assistance available within European industry
for extinguishing the burning oil wells '. The Commission
responded by offering to send a fact-finding team to
Kuwait . The Kuwaiti authorities accepted the offer and a
team of experts from European oil companies, led by a
high-ranking Commission official, visited Kuwait from
30 April to 30 May 1991 . The team met the Kuwaiti
oil Minister, high-ranking members of the K.O.C.,
representatives of firms involved in putting out the fires
and the representatives of the Member States in Kuwait . It
found that efforts to deal with the wells were running into
organizational and logistical difficulties and that the
scope of the problem called for a sizeable additional input
of men and materials . It also became apparent that the
Kuwaiti authorities were not interested in the idea of
setting up a joint European and Kuwaiti team to organize
the operation .

Meanwhile, consortiums of service and equipment
companies had been set up in several Member States and
had offered their services to the Kuwaiti authorities . On

10 September 1991 a French consortium and a British

consortium signed contracts for the extinction of the fires
and the resumption of normal oil production respectively .

As regards the efforts to deal with marine pollution in the
Gulf, the Commission decided on 10 April 1991 to
allocate ECU 1 million to a special fund set up by the
International Maritime Organization .

In addition, the Community Task Force made constant
use of the services of experts in various fields . These
experts joined teams responsible for dealing with the oil
slicks and helped draw up a detailed plan concerning the
most appropriate cleaning methods for the various areas
affected, especially those which are particularly sensitive .

Lastly, ECU 2 million is to be granted to a joint ecological
project drawn up by the experts of the Community Task
Force, which is helping with efforts to restore the
ecosystems affected by oil pollution in the Gulf .

As for atmospheric pollution and health-related issues,
only two projects have so far been presented to the
Commission for financing . Meanwhile, the Commission
has established further contacts with the authorities and

has reiterated its readiness to lend scientific and technical

support .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1792 / 91

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

C 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 18 )

Subject : Tropical rainforests in Burma

Does the Commission have any knowledge of the extent
of logging contracts between Thailand and Burma ; and is
there any estimate of the extent of exploitation of the
Burmese rainforests ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 November 1991 )

The Commission has no official data on contracts
between Thai companies and the Burmese Government
Timber Corporation .

However, according to semi-official sources, it appears
that :

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133 / 11

— imports to Thailand were in the region of 300 000 m 3

of logs and 10 000 m 3 of sawn timber in 1990 ;

— during the last two years, the number of logging

licences issued to Thai companies has increased from

15 to 45 . It is believed that their production capacity
will double in the near future .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1821 / 91

by Mrs Carole Tongue ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 19 )

Subject : Trichoderma Binab T

The product Trichoderma Binab T has bee.n withdrawn
from the amateur gardeners ' market because it is not
registered with the United Kingdom Ministry of
Agriculture for amateur use, although it has been tested,
approved and registered for commercial use . There has
never been any suggestion that this product, recognized
as an organic biological control of silver leaf on cherry
and plum trees, presents any health hazard . It would
appear that it has been withdrawn on a technicality as an
unintended result of the EC rules and not for any reason
connected with protecting the public from dangerous or
unknown substances . Can the Commission shed any light
on this unhappy and apparently quite unintended
consequence, and can it say when the amateur can again
have access to this valuable and entirely harmless
product ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1 991 )

Community legislation concerning the placing of plant
protection products on the market ( Directive 91 /
414 / EEC ), adopted by the Council on 15 July 1991 ('),
will come into force in the Member States progressively
over the next two years . Hitherto, the authorisation of
plant protection products has been subject to national
rules .

The Commission is not aware that the regulatory
situation described by the Honourable Member is the
result of the application of EEC rules .

(') OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1893 / 91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 20 )

Subject : Shortcomings in Italian legislation relating to

organic farming

A batch of wholemeal flour produced by the NAS ( Italian
Natural Products Association ) was recently confiscated
from the Alee Nero cooperative in the Marches region,
one of the main organic farming organizations, being the
largest in Italy and the fourth largest in Europe .

Owing to serious shortcomings in Italian legislation the
production of natural spaghetti and similar products
containing only water and wholemeal flour from durum
wheat and other cereals may be classified as food
adulteration, which is totally unprecedented in the other
Member States .

The Council has recently adopted a regulation on organic
production methods . In view of this :

1 . Will the Commission make representations to the

Italian authorities to persuade them to encourage
rather than paralyse organic farming ?

2 . Does the Commission not consider that the incident
described above is a breach of the Community 's
objectives, which include promoting organic
cultivation methods ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 January 1992 )

Although the events described by the Honourable

Member appear to have occurred in a unit processing
organic produce the legislation referred to applies to the
production of spaghetti in general and not only to
spaghetti made from organic ingredients .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2092 / 91 (') on organic production
of agricultural products and indications referring thereto
on agricultural products and foodstuffs lays down certain
additional rules for products which are presented as
having been produced by organic methods . This is
without prejudice, however, to the application of
foodstuffs legislation in general to such products,
provided that the legislation itself is in accordance with

       
NoC 133 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

Community law . In the case of the legislation complained
of, this must be verified by reference to the principles in
the EEC Treaty and Community foodstuffs legislation in
general .

There is no legislation at Community level laying down

rules for the production and composition of pasta . It is
therefore for the Member States to adopt this type of
vertical legislation, provided that they do not impede the
free movement of goods within the Community and that
they thus permit the sale on their territory of products
which do not comply with their legislation but which may
be marketed legally in another Member State .

The Belgian State agreed to do the necessary .

In view of the technical elements brought to its attention
in expert reports filed during the second quarter of 1991,
the Commission decided that evacuation of the
Berlaymont, a necessary preliminary to the works to be
undertaken by the Belgian state, should be completed by
31 December 1991 .

movement 2 . Demolition or renovation cannot begin until an
they thus permit the sale on their territory of products operation to remove all the asbestos has been completed .
which do not comply with their legislation but which may The strictest safety standards will be applied to this
be marketed legally in another Member State . operation under the responsibility of the owner of the

building ( S.A. Berlaymont = Belgian State 70% — private
o OJ No L 198,22 . 7 . 1991 . banks 30 % ) and the supervision of the Belgian
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1924 / 91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1937 / 91

by Mr Neil Blaney ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 92 / C 133 / 21 ) ( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 22 )

Subject : Commission 's buildings policy

Subject : Incineration plant

Having regard to the Commission 's answer to my Written
Question No 1677 / 90 (') on safety and health in the
Berlaymont building,

Having regard to the Commission 's announcement on 1
July 1991 that it would vacate the Berlaymont building by

the end of this year,

1 . Given the answers to points 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of my

Written Question, what prompted the Commission in
the intervening period to change its views as regards
safety and health in the Berlaymont building ?

2 . If the Berlaymont building is to be demolished, what

demolition method is to be used and what precautions
does the Commission intend to take to prevent the
asbestos in the building from being released into the
surrounding area ?

O OJ NoC 35, 11.2 . 1991, p. 39 .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1992 )

1 . The Commission asked the Belgian State, as
co-owner of the building, to take note of its general
decrepitude and to arrange for renoVation or
reconstruction .

Further to my question No 391 / 91 (') on the planned
industrial incineration plant at Maydown, Derry, is the
Commission aware that consultation, such as it
recommends, has taken place between the governments of
the two Member States concerned ? Has it been informed

of the outcome and is it satisfied that the environment is
being adequately protected ?

Does the Commission agree that plants for treating
industrial waste should in principle be located in the areas
whence the waste emanates, since these are the areas
benefiting directly from the industrial activity giving rise
to the waste ?

O OJ No C 199, 29 . 7 . 1991, p. 18 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

The Commission has no information regarding
consultations between the two governments concerned by
the incineration plant at Maydown, Derry . Until now the
Commission has not received any information suggesting
that EC-legislation is not respected in this particular
case . At present there is no legislation at Commission
level setting precise standards for the environmental

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 13

acceptability of hazardous waste in cinerators . There
is a general provision in Article 4 of Directive
7 5 / 442 / EEC ( 1 ) requiring Member States to ensure
that that waste is disposed of without harm to the
environment . A Directive setting standards for hazardous
waste incinerators is however under preparation .

As to the so-called ' proximity principle ' of Directive
91 / 156 / EEC ( i ) amending Directive 75 / 442 / EEC it is
indeed requiring the disposal of waste as near as possible
to where it is produced . It is however necessary to leave a
certain flexibility because sophisticated plants such as a
hazardous waste incinerator represent a very large
investment and therefore have to serve a certain area to
operate economically . The Directive therefore specifically
foresees the possibility of cooperation between Member
States in transfrontier areas .

O OJNoL 194, 25 . 7 . 1975 .
O OJNoL 78, 26 . 3 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1965 / 91

by Mr Christo Papoutsis ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 23 )

Subject : Recognition of Greek mastic as a Community

product and assistance for it in the context of the
CAP

Following Greece 's accession to the EEC, Greek mastic
was not included in the list of Community agricultural
products and was therefore not subject to the operating
mechanisms of the CAP . As a result of this oversight, the
Community is not involved in the economic and social
development of the southern part of Chios which is the
only place where Greek mastic is produced and where it is
the chief source of income for 4 000 families supporting
practically the whole of the island 's economy .

In view of the above, can the Commission state :

1 . Whether it now intends to take positive steps to

recognize mastic as a Greek product, add it to the list
of Community products and support it within the
framework of the CAP ?

2 . If not, whether the cultivation of mastic trees and the
production of mastic are covered by other Community
regulations and measures — outside of the CAP —

( i.e. classification as a forestry product of high
economic, social and ecological importance in an
isolated part of the Community 's territory ) ?

3 . If it intends to propose measures to increase mastic

production, improve product quality and its
availability on the Community and world market with
a view to increasing mastic producers ' income and
stimulating the economic, social and environmental
development of the region ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 January 1992 )

As a product falling under Chapter 13 of the Combined
Nomenclature, Greek mastic is not subject to the common
agricultural policy . Pursuant to Article 38(3 ) of the EEC
Treaty, the Community 's institutions are no longer at
liberty to extend the list of products covered by the
agricultural policy .

In the light of the conclusions of the European Council of
Rhodes in December 1988, the Commission undertook to
study and report on the specific problems of the Greek
islands of the Aegean Sea . To that end it set up an
inter-departmental working group which is currently
examining the situation . The specific question posed by
the Honourable Member will be studied in that context .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1976 / 91

by Mr Reimer Boge ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

(' 92 / C 133 / 24 )

Subject : Processing of dead and casualty livestock in the

Community

The system for processing dead and casualty livestock has
been severely disrupted as a result of political and
economic factors .

1 . Can the Commission provide details of the various
sterilization standards applied in the processing of
fallen livestock ?

2 . When will the higher standards agreed by the Council

in November 1990 be achieved ?

Will there be a Community support programme to
ensure a rapid improvement in unsatisfactory systems
in the interests of combating disease and maintaining
the salvage system at a high level ?

NoC 133 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

3 . Who is responsible for animal processing plants in the

Member States ?

4 . Are comparative figures available for the economic

trend in animal processing in the Member States ?

5 . What measures will be taken to absorb any deficits,

caused by the slump in the market for meat meal,
for example by fees charged to farmers or public
subsidies ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 December 1 991 )

1 . and 2 . The Community rules governing the disposal
of fallen livestock are contained in Council Directive
90 / 667 / EEC ( l ) 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
90 / 425 / EEC . Member States must take measures to apply
these rules by 31 December 1991 . Under the Directive the
carcases of fallen livestock are regarded as ' high risk ' raw
material . The processing requirements in relation to
sterilization are that it must be either heat treated to a

core temperature of at least 133 °C for 20 minutes at a
pressure of 3 bar, or by other systems, as long as they are
approved as offering equivalent guarantees with regard to
microbiological safety .

3 . The ownership, operation and management of
rendering plants differs between Member States ; in some,
they are run by the private sector and in some by
the public sector . Under Directive 90 / 667 / EEC the
competent authority ( usually the State Veterinary Service )
has a duty to ensure that rendering plants meet the laid
down health and hygiene standards .

4 . and 5 . The economics of processing in all Member
States is dependent on the value on the international
market of the by-products of rendering, i.e. animal
protein and fat ( tallow ). These have been depressed
recently because of cheap alternative vegetable proteins
and fats, such as soya meal and palm oil, with which
animal by-products are in direct competition . The
Commission does not maintain comparative statistics of
economic trends in animal processing in the Member
States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2003 / 91

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 25 )

Subject : Agricultural surpluses in Italy

Has the Commission investigated allegations that cows '
ears have been cut from cows in order to obtain a subsidy
for culling cows ?

What is the size of the wine lake in Italy and how is it
being reduced ?

What is the extent of overproduction of olives in Italy ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1 991 )

Dairy cows

A premium for the permanent abandonment of milk
production was introduced by Article 4 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 857 / 84 . The supervisory
procedures were not specified in detail by the Community
legislation ( x ). Consequently, Member States took the
supervisory measures which they considered appropriate .
Italy, for its part, introduced cattle marking ( earmarks )
and proof of slaughter as the conditions for granting the
premium .

However, Italy has not entered any expenditure in respect
of this premium under the budget heading ( B.0 1.2066 )
provided for this purpose . Accordingly, Community
funds have not been directly involved .

An explanation concerning this matter has been requested
from the Italian authorities .

Over-production of wine

The intensification of vine-grubbing measures in 1988 is

starting to have its effect in Italy too, where more than

15 000 ha of vineyards have been abandoned .

The effects of the various market support measures have
been counteracted in Italy by the drop in consumption
from 40 million hi in 1989 / 90 to 35 million hi in 1990 / 91 .
Because of this fall, intervention stocks have increased
from 23 million hi in 1989 / 90 to 27 million hi in 1990 / 91,
despite an estimated 10% fall in production .

The Commission does not intend to intervene in the

Community production was previously around 200

market for rendered by-products . million hi / year and now lies at around 170 million hi,

whilst consumption is estimated at between 116 and 130
o OJNoL 363, 27 . 12 . 1990 . million hi .

Thus, taking into account net exports to external
markets ( approximately 10 million hi ), there is still

23 . 5.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133 / 15

over-production which must be compensated by a
staggered reduction in distillations and in long-term
storage aid .

Nevertheless, since 1989 the Commission has
implemented a programme for the disposal of stocks of
wine alcohol from distillations, which has enabled the
quantities in intervention to be stabilized .

Over-production of olives in Italy

There is no over-production of olives in Italy, insofar as
Italy is obliged to import olive oil to satisfy its national
consumption .

Since 1988, there have been no sales of olive oil into
intervention in this Member State and there are virtually
no further stocks remaining from previous marketing

years .

(') Article 7 of Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 2321 / 86,

24.7.1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2016 / 91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 26 )

Subject : COi reduction from coal-fired power stations

In the Federal Republic of Germany, as a result of
improved efficiency, coal-fired power stations are
currently saving around 190 million tonnes of CO2 per
year by comparison with 1950 ( allowing for the difference

in total power production between then and now ). This is
more than the amount saved by the use of nuclear power
stations and renewable sources of energy .

1 . What improvement in efficiency has been achieved in

coal-fired power stations in other EC countries ?

2 . Does the Commission have figures on reductions

achieved as a result of improved efficiency for the
Community as a whole ?

3 . Will this trend towards improved efficiency since 1950

continue, and in what ways can the Commission
contribute to it through its R&D programmes ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1 991 )

The Honourable Member will find a chart attached listing

the yield of solid fuel power stations in the Community
and the change from 1973 to 1989 ( oldest statistics from

Eurostat, excluding Spain and Portugal but including
Greece ). So as to improve evaluation of the change in
yield an index of 100 is set for the average yield of the
Europe of Ten in 1973 .

The current situation can be summarized as follows :

1 . The current yield in most European countries is

equivalent ; the best yields are obtained by Denmark
and the Netherlands ; Ireland 's yield is slightly below
average, but as countries go it has progressed most
( from 71,5 to 102 ); Greece has the lowest yield ( 88 )
with no noticeable improvement .

2 . On average the index yield of Community countries

has improved by about 8 % which has meant a saving
of 17 million tonnes of coal equivalent ( tee ), with 4,5
million tee for Germany .

3 . As far as the future development goes a further

improvement in the yield increase of coal-fuelled
power stations can be expected . The construction of
modernized units can clearly improve the situation,
particularly in countries which need to replace their
old systems . Moreover, the constant search for new
solutions, such as fluidized bed combustion or
combined heat and power stations with integrated
gasification, should significantly improve the yield .
The abovementioned techniques therefore play
an important part in Community technological
programmes, especially in the non-nuclear energy
research programme and in the Thermie programme .

Yield of solid-fuel power stations

Change in index

Yield ( % )

yield tonnes
( 100 = EUR 10

in 1973 )

1973 1989 1973 1989

Belgium 32,3 37,3 98 114

Denmark 34,9 38,8 106,5 118

Germany 33,6 35,7 102,5 109

Greece 28,5 28,9 87 88

France - 33,6 35,1 102,5 107

Ireland 23,4 33,4 71,5 102

Italy 1 34,4 36,7 105 112

Luxembourg 21,6 — 66 —

Netherlands 29,8 38,4 91 117

Portugal — 35,1 — 107

Spain — 35,2 — 107

United Kingdom 32,4 35,4 99 108

EUR 10 32,8 35,4 100 108

EUR 12 — 35,3 — 107,5

NoC 133 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2019 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 27 )

Subject : Censorship of publications arriving at Walvis

Bay

The opening of proper discussions between the South
African and Namibian Governrtients on the ownership of
Walvis Bay, together with a certain joint defence of

shared interests by South Africa and Namibia on illegal
fishing in the economic interest zone determined by the
Namibian legislature in accordance with international
law, gave cause to hope for increased flexibility in these
countries ' relations which was further confirmed by the
agreement on the border in the middle of the Orange
River . It is therefore all the more irritating to find that
South African customs officials, referring to clauses in the
customs union and to lists of works banned in Namibia
during the occupation, are checking publications,
including those in cases or containers, for right of entry in
accordance with bans issued in Pretoria under

government instructions by the publishing house
Jacobsen .

This blocks imports, creates delays of up to 10 weeks for
the publications ' entry into the country, and increases
costs, as well as being extremely annoying . Mr Kotze,
head of customs at Walvis Bay, says that he is still
ethically required to act in accordance with the existing
lists pending the arrival of new lists . Namibia needs a
great many political, historical and literary works, often
collected by the Swapo liberation movement in exile, as
well as a large quantity of material required for its literacy
and training programmes . Friends of Namibia throughout
the world are organizing the sending of texts in English,
the country 's official language, and it would be ridiculous
to slow down their arrival there .

Could the Commission not prevail upon the South
African authorities to provide the South African customs

at Walvis Bay with updated lists lifting the ban on works
which are ' political ' in the broad sense, and retaining

checks effectively only on material such as pornography ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 December 1 991 )

The attitude of the customs authorities at Walvis Bay does
not appear to pose major problems with regard to access
to goods bound for Namibia .

Solutions to ad hoc problems such as that referred to by
the Honourable Member should, in the Commission 's
opinion, be sought in the context of the very fruitful
discussions taking place between the South African and
Namibian Governments on the future of Walvis Bay .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2029 / 91

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 28 )

Subject : Fire test specifications in the EC

Bearing in mind that a common package of fire tests was
supposed to be in place on 1 January 1993 and that
practical difficulties have resulted in a long time scale for
the adoption of such common fire tests :

1 . Can the Commission say when a package of common

fire tests will be ready ?

2 . Can the Commission act to speed up authorization of
national test laboratories to carry out the tests of other
countries and ensure agreement to accept the results
of such tests in all EC countries ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

Fire safety, as described in the Construction Products
Directive 89 / 106 / EEC ('), is generally divided into three
main areas : 1 . Fire resistance ; 2 . Fire reaction and 3 . Fire
safety installations .

As far as fire resistance is concerned a draft mandate
has been issued to CEN ( European Committee for
Standardization ). The . work has started and it is expected
that a package of test specifications will be implemented
in the period 1994 / 95 .

In the case of fire safety installations, more than
25 different installations have been identified and
preliminary work to prepare mandates for these items is
underway . .

Fire reaction presents a different problem where more
than 37 individual tests and procedures have to be

23 . 5.92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 17

harmonized . The work will be time consuming, the
Commission services are evaluating the opportunity to
begin a prenormative research programme in the near
future with the aim of reaching a durable harmonized
classification system for products within a five year
period .

While technical specifications for harmonized standards

are being drawn up, the Directive makes provisions for a
transitional period which permits Member States to
continue using their national standards within their
national territory until harmonized standards become
available . It also provides for the mutual recognition of
tests and other procedures . These interim procedures do
not, however, permit the products concerned to carry the
EC mark .

o OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2049 / 91

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 29 )

Subject : Radiation protection — Article 31 Group

The Commission is currently preparing a new Directive

on radiation protection . Preparation for this new
Directive is being undertaken by a working party within
the group of experts of Article 31 and a draft text is now
under discussion by the plenary group .

Will the Commission publish the names and occupational

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2062 / 91

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

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 30 )

Subject : Extension of ERDF Objective 2

Why, in his answer of 30 July 1991, did Commissioner

Millan not give the full information requested in
my question of 22 May 1991 ? ( Written Question
No 1028 / 91 0 ­

In fact the amount allocated to the French regions under
Objective 2 for 1992 and 1993 has been announced in the
course of several meetings in Brussels .

Precise answers to questions by Members of Parliament,
are essential for Europe 's democratic credibility .

O OJ NoC 315, 5 . 12 . 1991, p. 25 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 January 1992 )

As already indicated in the answer given on 30 July

1991 in reply to Written Question No 1028 / 91, the
Commission decided to allocate to the Objective 2
regions in France an appropriation of ECU 527 million ( x )
for the period 1992 / 93 .

The regional breakdown of this appropriation was

notified to the French Permanent Representative to the
European Communities on 12 August 1991, following
consultations with the Member State . The allocation
provided for the Poitou-Charentes region is ECU 23,480
million ( 2 ).

status of the members of the working party within the
group of experts of Article 3 1 ?
(') 1989 prices .
( 2 ) 1992 prices .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1991 )

The working party referred to was appointed by the
plenary Article 31 Group of independent scientific experts
and is under the direction of that group .

The decision to publish the names of the members of the
working party falls within the competence of the group

itself, the Commission has therefore forwarded the
request of the Honourable Member to the group .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2066 / 91

by Mr Peter Crampton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 31 )

Subject : Control of Community fishing activities

The communication from the Commission to the Council

and the European Parliament on the common fisheries
policy clearly indicated the serious inadequacies of the

NoC 133 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

current surveillance and control schemes with regard to
the monitoring of fishing activities .

What steps is the Commission going to take to ensure that
national administrations, particularly those of Spain and
Portugal, introduce effective monitoring of their fishing
activities ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 December 1 991 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member
that the enforcement of the regulations bearing on
Community fisheries rests, in the first instance, with the
Member States . The Commission continuously monitors
the performance of Member States ' inspection services
and does everything within its power to secure
improvement and uniform application of the rules in force
across the Community . In addition, Community
contributions towards the financing of material means of
developing and improving control are available to all
Member States . Council Decision 89 / 63 1 / EEC ('), for
example, provides for a Community contribution of up to

110 million ECU for improving control systems in the
Member States .

The Commission is also exploring the possibilities offered
by modern technology . The results of a feasibility study
on the use of satellites for automatically monitoring the
positions of fishing vessels on a Community-wide basis
will soon be available, and a pilot project utilizing this
technology is already under way in Portugal, assisted by
Community funding .

(') OJ No L 364, 14 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2213 / 91

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

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 32 )

Subject : Financing of the project to computerize the

national record of monuments by the ESF

In 1988 it was agreed to allocate Drs 142 million of
European Social Fund resources to finance the project of
computerizing the national record of monuments
undertaken by the Greek Ministry of Culture
( Directorate of the Record of Monuments ). Funding was
scheduled to cover a three-year period and the ESF
allocated to the Ministry of Culture, ( department for
Greece-EEC relations ), through the Ministry of Labour,
a sum of Drs 42 857 million as a first instalment of
funding for the year 1988 / 89 . The State General

Accounts Office notified the Directorate of the Record of
Monuments in writing that it had received this sum on 29
December 1989 . However, these funds never reached
their destination . It is also interesting to note that the
Ministry of Culture paid the sum of Drs 20 million —
through the Greek Archaeological Society to facilitate
accounting — to the same Directorate of the Record of
Monuments as a national contribution to the overall
funding of the above project . No progress seems to have
been made on this project which is of vital importance to a
country such as Greece which is so richly endowed in
monuments and relics ; the work of registering and
classifying these monuments according to modern
methods is being unconscionably delayed, thereby
increasing the danger of theft and misappropriation .

Will the Commission say whether it knows why these ESF
funds never reached their destination, where they were
finally allocated, who is responsible for this diversion of
funds and what measures it intends to take to ensure that
the necessary sanctions are imposed and to ensure that
work on the project progresses ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 February 1 992 )

After examination of the Commission 's records ( file
No 890462 E6 ) and after communication with the Greek
Ministry of Labour, the situation regarding the
programme referred to by the Honourable Member is a
follows :

— The first advance payment by the Commission was

sent to the Bank of Greece on 17 May 1989, and
amounted to Drs 42 857 000 ( representing 30% of the
approved total amount ).

— The Greek Ministry of Finance, following the usual

procedure, asked the Bank of Greece ( formal order
No 1 127839 / 1515 / C 000 / 29.12.89 ) to pay the above
amount into Account No 200 / 1 ( the account into
which all financial contributions to Greece from EEC
funds are paid ).

— It is thus obvious that the first payment by the

Commission for the programme in question has been
received — through the usual formal procedure — by
the Greek Ministry of Culture, who is responsible for
the implementation of the programme .

— The Commission was also informed that the Greek

Ministry of Labour recently sent a formal letter to the
Ministry of culture asking them to report on the state
of implementation of the programme, at the same time
urging them to make clear their intentions regarding
the actual implementation of this particular
programme, otherwise they should send back to the
Commission the advance payment already received .

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 19

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2216 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 33 )

the total annual mortality figures for the bird population
concerned . Should Report EUR 12835 FR fail to provide
an explanation of this statement, can the Commission
detail the reasons which prompted it to fix this 1 %
ceiling ?

(') OJ No C 171, 12 . 7 . 1990, p . 34 .
Subject : Guide for ethnic minorities O OJNoL 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 .

Does the Commission have any plans to produce a guide
for ethnic minorities on EC funding ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1992 )

The Commission does not intend to publish a specific
guide for ethnic minorities on EC funding .

On the basis of the European Parliament resolutions in
favour of minority languages and cultures, the
Commission administers a budget line ( B3 1060 ) which
for 1991 amounts to ECU 2 million .

The Commission has repeatedly issued information notes
explaining the conditions and criteria for obtaining EC
funding . The EP intergroup on ' Minority languages ' is
regularly kept informed of the activities which are
co-financed by the Commission

In addition, under budget-line B3-4110 which it
administers, the Commission can co-finance certain
projects for the integration of migrants . The application
form for awards from this budget line contains the
guidelines and criteria for such awards .

However, some of the minority groups especially from
the peripheral regions and countries might be eligible for
support in the framework of the Regional Fund and the
Social Fund . They should therefore be encouraged to use
the documentation on these schemes prepared by the
competent services of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2320 / 91

by Mr Agostino Mantovani ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 34 )

Subject : Management of wild bird populations

In answer to Written Question No 37 / 90 ('), the
Commission stated that ' small numbers ' within the
meaning of Article 9 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 2 ) of
2 April 1979 should be taken to mean less than 1% of

(3 March 1992 )

The explanations requested by the Honourable Member
may be found in Report EUR 12835 ' Information on the
application of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ', pp . 155 / 156 . The
Commission is sending copies directly to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2330 / 91
by Mr Alex Smith, Mr Alexander Falconer, Mr James
Ford, Mr Thomas Megahy, Mr Stephen Hughes, Mr
Anthony Wilson, Mr Henry McCubbin, Mrs Christine

Oddy and Mr Alan Donnelly ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 35 )

Subject : ERDF funding : United Kingdom

The Commissioner will be aware of the problems of

additionality funding in the United Kingdom of the
application of ERDF grants .

The Commission will also be aware of the new evidence,
confirmed by the Scottish office, that the interest loan
charges saved by the authority concerned, as a result of
ERDF funding, does not go entirely to the relevant
authority but is spread evenly around all Scottish local
authorities after a period of two years following the initial
grant award .

Will the Commission advise Parliament if the practice
prevailing in Scotland is similar to that in the rest of the
United Kingdom and, in view of the clear breach of
Article 11 of the relevant Regulation, what action he
intends to take to ensure that the authorities concerned
receive the benefits of ERDF grant aid, including
recourse to the European Court of Justice ?

NoC 133 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5.92

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1991 )

It has been brought to the Commission 's attention that
the benefits to a local authority in Scotland arising from
the savings on interest charges on the projects for which it
attracts ERDF support are largely offset through the
revenue support mechanism operated by the United
Kingdom Government in Scotland .

The Commission understands that similar effects arise
from the system operating in Wales . Further information
is being sought on the interaction between ERDF grants
and the local authority revenue support mechanism in
England .

The Commission is not satisfied that the current system of
treating European Structural Funds grants in the United
Kingdom, taken as a whole and including the revenue
effects referred to by the Honourable Members,
satisfactorily transmits the effective value of Community
structural funds to the eligible regions . This matter has
been raised with the United Kingdom Government, and
the Commission remains hopeful that a solution can be
found .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2340 / 91

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

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 36 )

Subject : Nuclear policy with regard to Central Europe

There are an ever-increasing number of western initiatives

aimed at securing acceptance in Central Europe of the
idea that nuclear power, rather than alternative forms of
energy and a programme to rationalize existing sources
and make them cost-effective, will solve the problem of
acid rain and air pollution . The private sector is behind
many of these initiatives : Siemens KWU of Germany ;
Westinghouse, General Atomics and Bechtel from the
USA ; Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd ; Nuclear Power
International, a joint venture between Siemens and
Framatome ; Ansaldo of Italy, INI of Spain, and so on —
not to mention Electricite de France . Such companies are
particularly active in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and
answers from the executive institutions of the Community
to the following questions would therefore be welcome .

1 . Nuclear power is banned under Austrian law . Can one

consent ( as has, in particular, the International Atomic
Energy Agency — acting upon what instructions from
EC Governments ?) to the construction or the
continued operation ( albeit to a ' higher standard ') of
nuclear installations in Bohunice, which is only 40 km
from the Austrian border and in the middle of a

seismically active region ? The same questions apply to
the continued operation of a faulty reactor in
Slovakia, again close to the border with Austria .

2 . At least two of the abovementioned companies are

offering to supply the two countries in question with
installations far in excess of their needs, with surplus
production to go to Germany, Italy and the whole of
Western Europe . Is this consistent with the
Community 's energy policy ?

3 . The monitoring installations known as ZPA ( Zavody

Prumyslove Automatizace ) are regarded as unreliable,
both officially and unofficially . The same applies to
the Skoda A   - Is and the V-ls . There were three cases
last year of radioactive contamination ( which went
unreported in the Western European press ) at the
Jaslovske Bohunice power station in Slovakia and that

at Dukovany in Moravia . Should the fifth anniversary
of Chernobyl not be an occasion to put forward more
stringent measures against contamination which is
uncontrollable in its severity and in its ability to
spread ? Is responsibility in the matter not clearly
international and incumbent on us all ?

4 . What are the results of the excessively confidential

study on the ' Chernobyl effect ' carried out in
Hungary by the Hungarian institute for the chemistry
and biology of radioactivity ?

5 . Is it true that the planned construction by Siemens of a

fifth power station near Kercerove, in Slovakia, will
cost more than $2,6 billion, i.e. more than the total
sum of western investment to date in post-communist
Eastern Europe ?

6 . Will the intensive mining of uranium deposits in

Czechoslovakia and Hungary not aggravate the
problem directly facing vast areas as a result of the
' Chernobyl effect '?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 February 1 992 )

1 . and 3 . The ' International Nuclear Safety
Conference : Strategy for the Future ', held in Vienna from
2 to 6 September 1991 on a proposal by the Community
Member States, underlined in its final conclusions the
need to strengthen and integrate international approaches
to all aspects of nuclear safety . The Conference also
agreed to explore ways of bolstering the international
nuclear safety regime, including the possibility of a
framework international safety convention .

The legal capacity and responsibility to license a nuclear

installation rests with the competent authorities of the

23 . 5.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133 / 21

country where it is situated . This principle is valid both
inside and outside the European Community, and it is
independent of the distance from the installation to the
country 's borders .

2 . Upgrading of the electrical grids, connection to the
Western European ones, and construction of new
electricity production equipment, necessary to supply
Central and Eastern European countries, represent
financial loads beyond the capabilities of these countries .
The proposed project ' Troc ' ( i.e., export of excess
production to the West ) would allow them to earn the
hard currency necessary to honour their debts .

4 . The Commission has no information on
confidential studies over the effects of the Chernobyl
accident in Hungary . But in the light of the results of
the ' International Evaluation of the Radiological
Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident in the USSR ' —
a rigorous study conducted by the IAEA with the
cooperation inter alia of the Commission — it is
reasonable to assume that the radiological consequences
of the Chernobyl accident in Hungary are negligible .

5 . The Commission has no information about any
plans Siemens might have to construct a nuclear power
plant at Kercerovce . However, the Commission is aware
of an international call for bids initiated by the
Czechoslovakian utilities to supply a 1 000 MWe power
station .

6 . On the basis of the information referred to in
point 4 above, the Chernobyl accident has had a
negligible effect in CSFR and Hungary . As a separate
issue, mining of uranium must in all circumstances be
subject to strict radiological protection measures .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2376 / 91

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

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 37 )

Subject : Catch quotas

Each Member State is responsible for ensuring that its
fishermen fully comply with Community legislation on
the conservation and management of fishery resources .

However, it is well known that the quotas imposed are not
strictly observed in certain countries bordering on the
North'Sea, to the detriment of Belgian fishermen .

It is the Commission 's responsibility to ensure that the
national authorities are in fact keeping a check on
compliance with Community legislation .

In view of the failure to comply in certain countries, does
the Commission intend to reorganize or strengthen its
service responsible for inspecting national supervision ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that it is for the Member States to decide how to use the
quotas allocated to them, and in particular to stop fishing
when catches of a stock or group of stocks subject to
quota appear to have reached that quota . The
Commission must be notified of the measure banning
fishing activities . If a Member State fails to act, the
Commission stops fishing on the basis of all the available
information, including that obtained from on-the-spot
checks carried out in the Member States by its officials .

If the Commission finds irregularities concerning the
notification of catches, it checks that the Member States
have taken appropriate steps to remedy this and in
particular taken criminal or administrative proceedings
against those concerned .

Where a Member State has overfished its quota, the
Commission, if it considers that the overfishing is the
result of the authorities having failed to comply with their
obligations, initiates proceedings under Article 169 of the
EEC Treaty .

If a Member State suffers loss as a result of another
Member State exceeding its quota, this may be offset by
voluntary transfers of quotas to the Member State which
has suffered loss . If the damage cannot be redressed in
this way, the Commission takes other measures to achieve
this end .

In view of these procedures, the Commission sees no need
to reorganize or strengthen its monitoring and inspection
department . It does, however, contribute financially to
expenditure by the Member States to ensure compliance
with Community rules on the conservation and
management of fisheries resources . Accordingly, Decision
89 / 63 1 / EEC (') provided for a contribution of up to
ECU 110 million over five years . However, in view of
shortcomings in implementation of the monitoring and
inspection system, the Commission intends to propose

NoC 133 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

shortly a revised policy giving the Community greater WRITTEN QUESTION No 2428 / 91
powers in this area . by Mr Giuseppe Mottola, Mr Franco Borgo, Mrs Felicia

Contu, Mr Lorenzo De Vitto, Mr Mario Forte,

o OJ No L 364, 14 . 12 . 1989 . Mr Antonio Iodice ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 39 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2377 / 91

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 38 )

Subject : Imports of tropical wood

The rate of destruction of tropical forests is growing year
by year and threatening the ecosystem of the entire planet .
It has become absolutely essential to protect these forests
in order to guarantee the sustainable development of
tropical regions and their populations .

The Netherlands have therefore decided that until 1995
they will no longer import tropical wood, except from
sustainably managed forests .

Does the Commission plan to propose similar measures
to the Member States ? When would these become

compulsory ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1992 )

The Commission supports the resolution approved by

ITTO according to which, by the year 2000, all trade in
tropical timber should be limited to wood originating in
sustainably managed forests ; in this context of the
promotion of the sustainable management of the tropical
forest resources, the Commission has launched studies
concerning the technical, legal, and economical aspects of
the tropical timber trade .

Moreover, the Commission is also, in the context of
the international negotiations on environment, seeking
agreement on an international consensus on forests which
would enunciate the principles of sustainable forest
management and lay the basis for a subsequent
international legal instrument . The Commission considers
that every effort should be made to secure an
international approach with the participation of both
exporting, developing countries and importing,
industrialized countries .

Subject : Special protection area for birds

Does the Commission consider that, under Article 4(1 ) of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC Member States are entitled to
designate special protection areas for a single species of
bird (*).

O OJN0LIO3, 25 . 4 . 1979, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1992 )

Yes . A Member State may designate a special protection

area under Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC for a single
species of bird .

For instance, France has designated le Rade de Brest ( 29 )
as a special protection area for the red-breasted meganser

( Mergus senator ), large numbers of which spend the winter
there .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2501 / 91

by Mr John Hume ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 40 )

Subject : An economic study of the East Border region of

Ireland

Has the Commission received an application from a
number of local authorities on either side of the Irish
border for an economic study of the East Border region
of Ireland and when will the Commission respond to that
application ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1991 )

The Commission has not received an application relating

to the proposed study .

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 23

Assistance for such studies is available under the Interreg
programme . Applications should be sent to the national
authorities responsible for implementation of the
programme, the Department of Finance in Dublin and the
Department of Finance and Personnel in Belfast .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2517 / 91

for the payment of fees by shipowners, only eight licence
applications for pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface
longliners and two licence applications for tuna seiners
have been received to date .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2529 / 91

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S )

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S ) by Mr Louis Lauga ( RDE )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 8 November 1 991 )

C 8 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 41 ) ( 92 / C 133 / 42 )

Subject : Cape Verde fisheries agreement

The first fisheries agreement between the EEC and the
Republic of Cape Verde, signed in 1990 for a period of
three years, provides for ECU 2 610 000 in financial
compensation, ECU 500 000 for the funding of a
scientific and technical programme and ECU 160 000 for
study and practical training grants .

At the end of the first year of the agreement 's application,
what percentage has already been used for the scientific
and technical programme and for study and practical
training grants respectively, which countries have applied
for and obtained fishing licences, how many licences have
been issued and what are the respective rates of
utilization ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1 991 )

The fisheries agreement between the EEC and the

Republic of Cape Verde, signed on 10 January 1990, only
came into force officially on 6 September 1991 . The delay
was mainly due to administrative procedures in the
Community and Cape Verde and to the changes of a
political nature which have occurred in the last few
months in the latter country .

As a consequence, the first year of application of the
fisheries agreement began on 6 September 1991 and will
end on 5 September 1992 .

The financial compensation has already been paid by the
Community . Payments for the scientific programmes and
study grants will be made in accordance with the usual
procedure .

Owing to the recent entry into force of the agreement and
the late introduction of the practical rules on granting
licences, and in particular the forwarding of bank details

Subject : Threshold for the identification of subscribers to

life assurance

After the vote on first reading on 22 November 1990 of
the report by Mr Hoon on the proposal for a Directive on
prevention of use of the financial system for the purpose
of money laundering, the proposal was amended under a
political agreement reached by the Ecofin Council on 17
December 1990 . Under this agreement, the thresholds for
the compulsory identification of customers entering into
life assurance . transactions were set at much lower levels
than those applied to other financial and banking
transactions, that is to say between ECU 1 000 and ECU
2 500 for life assurance policies, as opposed to ECU

15 000 for other transactions .

Can the Commission give the reasons for this
discriminatory measure which involves additional
administrative costs, given that insurance obviously lends
itself far less readily to money laundering operations ?

Should the thresholds for life assurance policies not be
increased to those applying to banks in order to ensure
equal treatment for all financial institutions undertaking
this type of transaction ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 1992 )

The Honourable Member will be aware that the Directive
on prevention of the use of the financial system for the
purpose of money laundering was adopted by the Council
on 10 June 1991 (').

The thresholds for compulsory identification referred
to by the Honourable Member are not susceptible
to comparison . The threshold of ECU 15 000 is not
applicable to all financial operations but only to one-off

NoC 133 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

transactions . Customers ' entering into business relations '
with a bank or another financial institution ( i.e. opening

an account ) must also be identified according to
Article 3(1 ) of the Directive, regardless of the amount of
the operation .

A derogation was introduced for the identification
requirements with regard to insurance policies where
periodic premium amount(s ) do not exceed ECU 1 000
any given year, or where a single premiym is paid
amounting to ECU 2 000 or less .

In its reexamined proposal, in order to take account of
some amendments proposed by the Parliament in its
second reading, the Commission aimed at facilitating
insurance companies and other financial institutions to
fulfil identification requirements by proposing that
Member States may provide that the identification
requirements are fulfilled once it is established that the
payment for the transaction is to be debited from an
account opened in the customer 's name with a credit
institution .

In adopting the final text of the Directive, the Council
included in its Article 3(8 ) the Commission proposal on
this point, but reduced its scope for the sole benefit of
insurance companies .

So far, four monographs have been almost completed and
20 others are at a very advanced stage . The seven
remaining monographs are either for very old additives
which are only authorized at national level pending the

adoption of their monograph .

As the Honourable Member points out, under Directive

84 / 587 / EEC ( 2 ), a number of monographs should have
been adopted by the Commission before 31 December

1988 . The reason why the Commission has not fulfilled its
obligations are mainly practical ones, leaving aside certain
problems linked to the confidentiality of the information
which, according to the legislation, should be published .

O OJ No L 270, 14 . 12 . 1970 .
O OT No L 319, 8 . 12 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2648 / 91
by Mr Fernando Suárez González ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 November 1 991 )

(') Council Directive 91 / 308 / EEC of 10 June 1991 on ( 92 / C 133 / 44 )
prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose
of money laundering ; OJ No L 166, 28 . 6 . 1991 .

Subject : Cooperation with Central America

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2546 / 91

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

( 8 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 43 )

Subject : Additives in animal feed

Directive 84 / 587 / EEC ( ! ) states that monographs will be
drawn up for all antibiotics, coccidiostats, other medicinal
products and growth promoters added to its Annexes,
before December 1988 . Will the Commission state when it
intends to comply with Article 8 ( and Article 11 ) of
Directive 84 / 587 / EEC ?

O OJ No L 319, 8 . 12 . 1984, p. 13 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 February 1992 )

Under Commission Directive 70 / 524 / EEC ('), the
Commission is to draw up monographs on 31 additives
categorized as antibiotics, coccidiostats, other medicinal
products or growth promoters .

The Commission has contributed ECU 862 000 towards
NTP Project 89 / 960 / 907, entitled Asoexpo Management
Training Course, being carried out by the Spanish
organization TEA .

Can the Commission explain who asked for this project to
be carried out, what exactly it involves and how many
Central Americans will be or have been trained as

managers ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 January 1992 )

The project was proposed by the Cenpro of Costa Rica on
behalf of the Asoexpo countries .

The programme comprises :

— 7 seminars for the selection of candidates (7
countries );

— 1 basic training seminar on business management ;

— 1 seminar on international marketing ;

— 1 trade mission to Europe ;

— 7 extension seminars .

23.5.92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 133 / 25

The aim of the seminars is to train managers from small

and medium-sized businesses and public trade-promotion
bodies in the marketing of non-traditional products
exported to Europe : fresh and processed agricultural
produce, fishery products, ornamental and medicinal
plants .

In addition, the programme aims at boosting the
NTP / 85 / 960 / 946 project which provides training in
trade promotion .

The project will benefit directly 28 private - and
public-sector participants ( four for each country ). A
multiplier effect will be achieved through the extension
seminars which will take place in each Central American
country and will address all private undertakings and
public bodies concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2721 / 91

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 45 )

Subject : The European Economic Area

Does the Commission consider the creation of the

European Economic Area will have a positive or a
negative effect on the economies of the poorer and
peripheral regions of the Community which are already
under threat from the completion of the internal market
and economic and monetary union ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1992 )

The creation of the European Economic Area can be
viewed as an extension of the completion of the internal
market to the EFTA countries . As such, the Community
as a whole is expected to benefit from the EEA .

At the Ministerial meeting between the Community, its
Member States, and countries of the European Free
Trade Association held in Brussels on 19 December 1989,

at which it was decided to commence formal negotiations
for the European Economic Area, Ministers agreed that
the objectives of this new framework for EC-EFTA
relations should include the reduction of economic and
social disparities between their regions .

To this end, in addition to appropriate provisions on
agriculture and fisheries specifically designed for this
purpose, the EEA Agreement also provides for the
establishment by the EFTA States, in the context of the
EEA and in addition to the efforts already deployed by
the Community in this regard, of a financial mechanism
which will provide financial assistance to the development

and structural adjustment of Greece, the Island of
Ireland, Portugal and those regions of Spain eligible
under objective 1 of the Community 's Structural Funds .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2724 / 91

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 46 )

Subject : Community investment in the fishing and
fish-processing industries

Does the Commission recognize the vital importance of
fishing activity to the economies and to the employment
opportunities of the coastal regions in which it is
concentrated ? If so, will the Commission consider
preparing proposals for further Community investment in
the fishing and fish-processing industries in these
regions ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2725 / 91

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 47 )

Subject : Review of the common fisheries policy

In view of the objective of economic and social cohesion,
will the Commission ensure that its proposals in
connection with the review of the common fisheries
policy will take into account the underdeveloped state of
the fishing industry in those coastal regions which are
dependent on it, particularly in Ireland ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2724 / 91

and 2725 / 91

given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 February 1992 )

In accordance with the Hague Resolution of 3 November

1976 the allocation of quotas among Member States is
made taking into account the specific needs of the regions
with a particular dependance on fisheries in which Ireland

is included . Certain structural instruments provide for

NoC 133 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5.92

preferential Community aid, to Ireland, among others
taking into account the specific problems of the fishing
sector in this country ( Council Regulations ( EEC )
No 4028 / 86 and 4042 / 89 (')).

It is the Commission 's view that accompanying
socio-economic measures are also necessary to avoid,
specially in regions dependant on fishing activities, the
social, economic and demographic stresses that might
occur because of the necessary restructuring of certain
segments of the Community fleet . The Commission has
undertaken a number of regional socio-economic studies
on fisheries and acquaculture with a view to possibly
adopting appropriate accompanying social ? nd economic

measures .

In order to ensure that the common fisheries policy
contributes in a coherent manner to overall obligation of
reinforcing the economic and social cohesion of the
Community, the Commission has decided to examine the
integration of all structural instruments of the EFP
alongside the revision of the Reform of the Structural
Funds which should occur within the context of ' Paquet
Delors II '.

(') OJNo L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986 and OJ No L 388, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2744 / 91

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

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 48 )

In view of the unauthorized changes to the
award-winning Kalamata urban development plan, which
formed the basis for the reconstruction and development
of the town, following the 1986 earthquake and since the
local authority is disregarding all the studies carried out
and approved over the last twelve years under the plan,
will the Commission send a team to Kalamata local

authority, to reverse its decision of 25 September 1991
and implement the original plan ? If the authority refuses,
will the Commission take steps to cancel the award or at
least publicly and officially dissociate the original
prize-winning project from the distorted version
produced by the local authority ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1992 )

The planning awards announced by the Commission in

September 1991 were made to recognize good planning
within the Community . The independent panel of judges
decided that the original plans for Kalam&ta and the
extent to which they had already been implemented
merited recognition . The amendment to the local plans is
not a matter for the Commission and it cannot intervene
nor insist that the plans developed from the original study
should be implemented in full . This is a matter for the
appropriate authorities in Greece .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2770 / 91

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 49 )
Subject : Unauthorized changes to the award-winning

Kalamata urban development plan

Subject : EIA report

In an urban development competition organized by the
Commission and the European Council of Town The EIA Directive ( 85 / 337 / EEC ) (*) calls on the
Planners, in which 200 competitors took part, Kalamata Commission to submit a report on the application and
was awarded first prize . On 20 September 1991, the effectiveness of the Directive five years after it was
Mayor of Kalamata went to Brussels, where he received adopted . Why has the Commission not compiled this
the meeting award of from 25 September Commissioner 1991 Millan, the Kalamata . However, town at its would report the, as it Commission is over one year be prepared late ? In to compiling amend the this original report
council increasing then the decided number to of modify buildings the award-winning and removing plan the, guaranteeing Directive in citizens order ' rights to include to participate specific in provisions the EIA
arcades, despite the reasoned objections of the National process ?
Technical Chamber and the Association of Architects and

protests by the local residents . o OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p. 40 .

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133 / 27

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 February 1992 )

With regard to the first part of the question, the

Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its answer to Written Question No 1503 / 90 from Mr
Amendola and others ( 1 ).

With regard to participation by members of the public in
the assessment process, the Commission would point out
that Article 6 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC provides that
' Member States shall ensure that the public concerned is
given the opportunity to express an opinion before the
project is initiated '. Furthermore, Article 8 lays down that
' information gathered pursuant to Articles 5, 6 and 7 must
be taken into consideration in the development consent
procedure '.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2805 / 91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

C 5 December 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 51 )

Subject : 1992 training programme in the Directorate ­

General for the Internal Market and Industrial

Affairs

' Member States shall ensure that the public concerned is With reference to the Commission 's reply to Written
given the opportunity to express an opinion before the Questions Nos 1271 / 91 ( x ) and 1680 / 91 ( x ) on continuing
project is initiated '. Furthermore, Article 8 lays down that professional training for European Community officials
' information gathered pursuant to Articles 5, 6 and 7 must and other servants, and in the context of preparations for
be taken into consideration in the development consent the European single market, can the Commission state
procedure '. what guidelines have been adopted for the 1992 training

programme for officials and other servants in the
Directorate-General for the Internal Market and
O OJ No C 312, 12 . 12 . 1990 . Industrial Affairs ( DG III )?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2775 / 91

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 50 )

Subject : Retex programme

The Commission is presently preparing a programme,

Retex, to avoid areas affected by the crisis in the textiles
sector . Will regions within Objective 1 areas like Ireland
be treated as priority areas for such funding and how does
the Commission envisage such funding helping these
regions ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1992 )

The Commission agreed in principle the Retex
programme on 1 8 December and now awaits the views of
the European Parliament, the Economic and Social
Committee and the Advisory Committee of Member
States before final approval .

The purpose of Retex is to accelerate the diversification of

economic activities in regions heavily dependent on the
textiles and clothing sector so as to render them less
dependent on this sector and to encourage the adjustment
of commercially viable businesses in all sectors of
industrial activity .

80 % of the assistance provided by the Community will go
to regions dependent on the textile and clothing sector
within Objective 1 areas .

O OJ No C 327, 16 . 12 . 1991, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 February 1992 )

The Commission has recently introduced a new
continuing training policy, one of the main features of
which is the tailoring of training plans to the specific

needs of each Directorate-General . The Commission 's
training departments have already been in touch with
several Directorates-General, including DG III, with a
view to finalizing some plans early in 1992 .

DG III will also be closely involved in developing training
measures for all staff in 1992 ; these include a course on
the internal market to familiarize officials with this crucial
aspect of the Community 's activities in the final run-up to

1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2819 / 91

by Mr Michael Welsh ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 December 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 52 )

Subject : Grants to Lancashire County Council and
associated bodies

Lancashire County Council, Lancashire County
Enterprises, Lancashire Enterprises pic and its various
affiliates have been extremely active in applying for grants

NoC 133 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5.92

and other forms of support from different Community
programmes, in spite of the fact that much of the County
does not qualify for help from the Regional Fund .

Could the Commission list for 1989, 1990 and 1991 the
projects submitted by these bodies which have received
Community support, showing the total value of the
project and the amount of the Community contribution in
each case ?

Further, would the Commission give details of all
contracts awarded to Lancashire Enterprises pic and its
associated companies for carrying out studies and other
work on its behalf . Would it include the title of the

project, its duration and the total of fees or other amounts
payable by the Commission on completion ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1992 )

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2877 / 91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 December 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 53 )

Subject : Break-down by nationality of Community staff

serving in the Commission 's directorates and
services

Further to its reply to Written Question No 1634 / 91 (')
on Community staff employed in Commission
directorates and services, does the Commission consider
the break-down of its permanent and temporary staff to
be fair ?

o OJ NoC 286, 4 . 11 . 1991, p. 30 .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 February 1 992 )

Recruitment must be directed to securing for the
Commission the services of officials and temporary staff
of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity,

recruited on the broadest possible geographical basis
from among nationals of the Member States .

The Commission attaches major importance to avoiding

excessive nationality imbalances and embarked some
years ago on measures aimed at improving the situation,
particularly in the recruitment of A officials .

However, these endeavours to achieve an improved
nationality balance are a medium-term undertaking and
continue to be dependent on the posts available ( new
posts, posts released by retirements, etc ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2888 / 91

by Mr Francesco Speroni ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 December 1 991 )

( 92 / C 133 / 54 )

Subject : Public finance for industrial plant in southern

Italy at the expense of workers in northern Italy

Public funding is to be provided for the Italian company
Fiat to open industrial plant in Melfi and Pratola Serra in
southern Italy .

At the same time, Fiat is closing or restructuring industrial
plant in northern Italy, for example at Desio, Arese and
Lambrate, resulting in job losses, which means that the
net result of opening plant in southern Italy is job
substitution rather than job creation . In view of this, does
the Commission consider that funding for these plants is
compatible with Community rules ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 February 1992 )

On 15 April 1991, the Italian Government notified the
Commission of its intention to award State aid to the Fiat
Group to assist it in realising its Second Mezzogiorno
Plan over the period 1991 to 1995 . The Plan covers a wide
range of projects including new car and engine
production plants at Melfi and Pratola Serra respectively .
In tandem with these two greenfield projects, Fiat will
undertake a whole complex of related projects covering
assembly and components production, research and
development activities, a major new training programme
and investment in new energy facilities .

23 . 5 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 133 / 29

On 2 October 1991, the Commission decided to open a
procedure under Article 93(2 ) EEC in respect of the
proposed aid measures ( 1 ). In opening the procedure, the
Commission recognized that the Mezzogiorno 's Plan
would entail a significant shift in Fiat Group activities
from the north to the south of Italy .

In examining the proposed State aid under the
Article 93(2 ) procedure, the Commission is taking into

account, among other things, the relationship between the
Mezzogiorno Plan and the overal future plan of the Fiat
Group in order to assess the full likely impact on the
automobile sector . The Commission 's overriding concern
is that State aid awarded to the Mezzogiorno Plan is
compatible with the Common Market under the terms of
Article 93(2 ) EEC . In particular, the level and structure of
aid must conform to the criteria for aid to the automobile
sector as set out in the Community Framework for State
aid to the industry .

Subject to receiving some outstanding information from
the Italian Government shortly, the Commission expects
to be in a position to take a final decision on the case in
early 1992 .

(') OJNoC299, 20 . 11 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2894 / 91
by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 December 1 991 )

whether it intends, under Article 169 of the Treaty, to
take out an infringement procedure against the Italian
Government for failure to respect Directives
7 1 / 305 / /EE and 85 / 337 / EEC ?

O OJNoL 185, 16 . 8 . 1971, p . 5 .
O OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 February 1992 )

The Honourable Members are asked to refer to the
written answer given by the Commission to oral question

H-l 110 / 91 from Mr Bettini during the European
Parliament November question hour (').

On the public contracts aspect, the Commission recently
took out an infringement procedure as provided for under
Article 169 of the EEC Treaty .

(') European Parliament Debates No 3-411 ( November 1991 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3109 / 91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 133 / 56 )

( 92 / C 133 / 55 ) Subject : Negotiations between the European Economic

Subject : The ' Colombiane ' 92 ' event in Genoa ( Italy ) and

respect for the Community legislation on public
contracts and the environment

In 1992, Genoa is to host ' Colombiane ' 92 ', an event
publicizing the fifth centenary of the European discovery
of the American continent . The preparations for this
event — as was also the case with the 1990 football World
Cup — raise the problem of respect for the Community
legislation on public contracts and the environment, with
regard to the construction of infrastructures linked to the
event . There is strong reason to believe that the Italian
government has failed to respect Directive 71 / 305 / EEC
on public contracts (*) and Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on
environmental impact assessment ( 2 ).

Can the Commission obtain the necessary information
from the Italian Government and verify the correctness of
the decisions taken regarding the award of public
contracts and the environmental impact assessment
proposals in respect of ' Colombiane ' 92 '? Can it also state

Community and Poland on the drawing up of an
association agreement

Could the Commission outline progress in the
negotiations between the European Economic
Community and Poland to draw up an association
agreement, as provided for under amended Article 238 of
the EEC Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 February 1 992 )

The agreement establishing an association between the
European Community and Poland was signed on 16
December 1991 . It will be submitted to Parliament for
approval in accordance with institutional procedure .

NoC 133 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 23 . 5 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3138 / 91

by Mrs Caroline Jackson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 January 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3139 / 91

by Mrs Caroline Jackson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 133 / 57 ) ( 92 / C 133 / 58 )

Subject : Evidence of sustainability of wildlife trade

Does the Commission agree that in accordance with the
precautionary principle and to comply with Article IV of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species, sound scientific data demonstrating that wildlife
trade is not detrimental to the species concerned should
be available before such trade is allowed ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1992 )

The Commission attaches great importance to the proper
implementation of Article IV of the Convention . The
provisions concerned can, however, only be implemented
if there are appropriate monitoring activities concerning
the status of exploited populations and the impact of trade
thereon . Many developing countries of origin of Cites
Appendix II species are not currently in a position to fulfil
their obligations under Article IV, a situation which calls
for increased assistance from importing countries .

Trade which is not in accordance with Article IV of the
Convention is one of the main issues of the 8th meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to Cites, to be held in Kyoto
from 2 to 13 March 1992 .

Subject : Trade in wild birds

What scientific information is available to demonstrate

that trade in Banded pitta, Pitta guaiana, is not
detrimental to the survival of that species and that
the requirements of Article 4 of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species are therefore
being met ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1992 )

According to the Community 's annual reports on Cites
trade, no trade in the species Pitta guajana took place in

1988 and 1989 .

Further the species does not occur in Annex C of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 (') nor in the Cites list of
Appendix II species subject to significant international
trade .

The Commission has no information available
demonstrating that trade, if any, meets the requirements
of Article IV of the Convention .

o OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .