Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal C 209

Volume 38
### of the European Communities 14 August 1995

Information and Notices
English edition

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

95 / C 209 / 01 E-124 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Danger to public health from overhead power lines and pylons 1

95 / C 209 / 02 E - 150 / 95 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Call for tenders for the deepening of the Western Scheldt 1

95 / C 209 / 03 E-245 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Information highways 2

95 / C 209 / 04 E-247 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Europe as an area and Europe as a power 2

95 / C 209 / 05 E-249 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Enlargement of the European Union and the Community budget 2

95 / C 209 / 06 E-252 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Economic and Monetary Union 3

95 / C 209 / 07 E-256 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Extension of the Pesca Programme 3

95 / C 209 / 08 E-271 / 95 by Noel Mamere to the Commission
Subject : Parameters and indicators used to establish standards in the fields of air pollution, water
pollution and noise nuisance 3

95 / C 209 / 09 E-345 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : European Union financing for an agricultural project in Tibet 4

95 / C 209 / 10 E-351 / 95 by W. G. van Velzen to the Commission
Subject : IMS ( Intelligent Manufacturing Systems ) 5

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E-368 / 95 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Plight of street children in Latin America 5

E-401 / 95 by Glenys Kinnock to the Commission
Subject : Eradication 6

P-408 / 95 by Per Gahrton to the Council
Subject : EU aid to developing countries 6

E-4 15 / 95 by Carlos Pimenta to the Commission
Subject : Community financing of the new bridge over the Tagus in Lisbon 7

E-420 / 95 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer to the Commission
Subject : Better access to finance for SMEs 8

E-462 / 95 by Frank Vanhecke to the Commission
Subject : Imports of fish and fish products from countries not belonging to the European
Union 9

E-471 / 95 by Günter Lüttge to the Commission
Subject : Directive 90 / 270 / EEC on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with
display screen equipment ( fifth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 1 6 ( 1 ) of Directive
8 9 / 3 91 / EEC ) 10

E-480 / 95 by Doris Pack to the Commission
Subject : Bureaucratic obstacles in Germany to the use of ultralight motorized aircraft ( leisure
aircraft ) 10

E-486 / 95 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Operational Programme for Transport in Ireland 11

E-492 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Fraud at the expense of the Community budget 11

E-520 / 95 by Jose Barros Moura to the Commission
Subject : Customs agents in Portugal 12

E-537 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Sugar, fruit and vegetables 12

E-540 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Companies in difficulty 13

E-551 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : System of postal charges on arrival 14

E-579 / 95 by Glyn Ford to the Council
Subject : Council measures for staff recruitment 14

E-585 / 95 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Health checks on certain dietary products 15

P-620 / 95 by Fernando Fernandez Martin to the Commission
Subject : Problems affecting customs agents 15

E-628 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Rate of growth and unemployment 16

E-630 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Career of Commission officials 17

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E-660 / 95 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : European Union scientific policy contrasted with the US counterpart 18

E-707 / 95 by Peter Crampton to the Council
Subject : Council proposals in the field of relations with Member States, openness and
communication, 1994 18

E-724 / 95 by Jesus Cabezon Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Projects financed from the Cohesion Fund 19

E-728 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : Cohesion Fund projects in Malaga 19

E-735 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies to Member States which fail to respect their obligations 20

E-745 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : Urban programme — projects in Malaga 20

E-753 / 95 by Honorio Novo to the Commission
Subject : Reduction in aid for the supply of cereal products to the Azores and Madeira 20

E-773 / 95 by Mark Killilea to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination against an EU national as the provider of a service on the grounds of his
nationality 21

E-775 / 95 by Joan Vallvé to the Commission
Subject : Against the promotion of sex tourism in the Balearic Islands 22

E-784 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Community developers 22

E-786 / 9 5 by Johannes Blokland to the Commission
Subject : Free movement of plastic domestic products containing an excess of heavy metals ... 23

E-807 / 95 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Consequences of using lignite as a fuel and possible alternatives 24

E-8 16 / 95 by Philippe-Armand Martin to the Council
Subject : Wine and excise duties 24

E-8 19 / 95 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : New textile industry products 25

E-820 / 95 by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens to the Commission
Subject : Unfair competition 25

E-832 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Development of a European network of local action groups 26

E-834 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : The Union 's Mediterranean policy 27

E-847 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject : Closure of the Tudor company in Zaragoza ( Spain ) 27

E-855 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Telematics services relating to health care 28

E-8 64 / 95 by Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Unsafe nuclear power stations 28

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E-880 / 95 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Transfrontier postal services 28

E-882 / 95 by Carmen Fraga Estevez to the Commission
Subject : Agreement of 22 December 1 994 by the Council of Fisheries Ministers on the exchange of
specific fishing rights 29

E-887 / 95 by Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Disparity in limits on chromium used in tanneries 29

E-890 / 95 by Eryl McNally to the Commission
Subject : Proposed sugar quota cuts 30

E-904 / 95 by Mireille Elmalan to the Commission
Subject : Threat of closure of a sugar factory in Martinique 30

E-909 / 95 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission
Subject : Community eco-label for linen paper 31

E-9 14 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Future direction of the CAP and integration of the countries of eastern Europe 32

E-9 16 / 95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Summer time and energy saving 32

E-9 17 / 95 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Economic and social situation in northern Euboea 32

E-918 / 95 by Yiannis Roubatis to the Commission
Subject : EU-Turkey Association Council and Turkish threats 33

E-920 / 95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Reprocessing in the Slovak Republic 34

E-939 / 95 by Shaun Spiers to the Commission

Subject : Waste incineration 34

E-944 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : Leader II programme 35

E - 946 / 95 by Josu Imaz San Miguel to the Commission
Subject : Liberalization of the Community market in electricity 35

P-951 / 95 by Gerard Collins to the Commission
Subject : GDP per capita 36

E-959 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Import licences 37

E-965 / 95 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission
Subject : Technology transfers 37

E-975 / 95 by Peter Skinner to the Commission
Subject : European Union funding for environmental improvements with trans-European networks

( TENs ) 38

E-982 / 95 by Fausto Bertinotti to the Commission
Subject : Opposition by the WWF of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola to the construction of a road in the
Valle Vigezzo comunità montana, in respect of which an application for Interreg Community
funding has been made 38

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E-990 / 95 by Paul Lannoye to the Commission
Subject : List of ' Article 31 ' experts 39

E-991 / 95 by Paul Lannoye to the Commission
Subject : The continuing extension of irrigation networks around the Ramieres du Val de Drôme

( France ) special protection area 39

E-1010 / 95 by Jose Apolinario to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Pesca Community initiative in the Azores Autonomous Region 40

E-1014 / 95 by Jose Apolinario to the Commission
Subject : Projects supported by the Cohesion Financial Instrument in Portugal 40

E - 1036 / 95 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission

Subject : Hidden transit tax at the Polish border 40

E-1069 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : Malaga as a frontier port 41

E-1070 / 95 by Celia Villalobos Talero to the Commission
Subject : Spanish failure to implement Regulation ( EEC ) No 4055 / 86 on the freedom to provide
marine transport services 41

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1069 / 95 and E-1070 / 95 41

E-1071 / 95 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez, Carlos Carnero Gonzalez, Wolfgang
Kreissl-Dörfler and Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : ' Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1995 ' 41

E-1085 / 95 by Kirsten Jensen to the Commission
Subject : The role of bicycles in overall transport policy 42

E - 1094 / 95 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Labelling of foodstuffs containing aspartame / phenylaline 43

E-1097 / 95 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Transferability of student grants 43

E-1098 / 95 by Mair Morgan to the Commission
Subject : Eating disorders 43

E-l 105 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Health checks on persons at the Union 's frontiers 44

E-l 108 / 95 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : EIB and investment aimed at environmental protection 45

E-l 112 / 95 by Joan Vallvé to the Commission
Subject : ' Son Reus ' solid waste incineration plant ( Majorca ) 45

E-l 124 / 95 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Participation of women in science and technology industry 45

P-l 146 / 95 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission
Subject : European grants to P&OEF companies 46

P-l 148 / 95 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Basle Convention and proposal COM(94 ) 678 46

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E - 11 52 / 95 by Robin Teverson to the Commission
Subject : Illegal State aid to the pig sector by the French Government

E - 1 153 / 95 by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado to the Commission
Subject : Street children in Guatemala and Central America

E-l 164 / 95 by Helwin Peter to the Commission
Subject : Cross-frontier journeys by taxi

E-l 176 / 95 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Competition Advisory Group

E-l 177 / 95 by Eryl McNally to the Commission
Subject : Street children in Guatemala

E-1207 / 95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission
Subject : Ivory smuggled into Germany

P-1212 / 95 by James Provan to the Commission
Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 — leghold traps

E-1247 / 95 by Christine Crawley to the Commission

Subject : Banana imports

E-1262 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Aid to Nicaragua

E-1272 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Social Summit 6 — 12 March 1995, Copenhagen

E-1275 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Pa Nam rural integrated development project

E-1284 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Street children in Guatemala

E-1285 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Social action programme and the elderly

E-1287 / 95 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : UN International Year of the Elderly 1999

P-l 370 / 95 by Peter Skinner to the Commission
Subject : Action taken by the Commission on the monitoring of the treatment of the crew of the
Bulgarian ship ' Rotalia ' on their return to Bulgaria

E-1379 / 95 by Klaus Rehder to the Commission
Subject : Help for the elderly in the European Union

P-1391 / 95 by Yiannis Roubatis to the Commission
Subject : Price of newsprint

E-l 609 / 95 by Eryl McNally to the Commission
Subject : Ban on use of electric-shock batons and leg irons

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14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-124 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-150 / 95

Thomas Megahy ( PSE ) by Nel van Dijk ( V )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(8 February 1995 )

(8 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 01 ) ( 95 / C 209 / 02 )

Subject : Danger to public health from overhead power lines

and pylons

Is the Commission aware of the possible harmful effects on
health of overhead power lines and pylons ? In view of the
current concern in a number of Member States, and having
regard to the responsibilities accorded to the Community
under Article 129(1 ) of the Treaty of Rome, will the
Commission consider carrying out research into this
problem ?

Subject : Call for tenders for the deepening of the Western

Scheldt

A disagreement has arisen between Antwerp Port Authority
and Dutch dredgers concerning the award of the contract to
deepen and widen the fairway in the Western Scheldt .
According to the Port Authority, which is the principal for
the dredging project, worth some NLG 200 million, this
work falls under the multiannual contract between the port
and the three Belgian dredgers which currently maintain the
fairway . The Dutch dredgers, however, believe that they
have a right to tender for it (').

Does European legislation require a public call for tenders
Answer given by Mr Flynn for this dredging project ?
on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 1995 ) f 1 ) De Volkskrant, 11 January 1995 .

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to Written Questions E-2606 / 94 by Mrs
Kinnock ('), E-2156 / 94 by Mr Hughes ( 2 ), E-757 / 93 by Mr
Bird (■*) and to the reply it gave to oral question H-660 / 94 by
Mr Smith during question time at Parliament 's December

1994 part-session ( 4 ).

(') OJ No C 103, 24 . 2 . 1995, p . 23 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 88, 10 . 4 . 1995, p . 4 .
(■') OJ No C 332, 28 . 11 . 1994 .

( 4 ) Debates of the Parliament ( December 1994 ).

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The Commission 's initial enquiries indicate that
procurement contracts for dredging works in Belgium do
not fall within the responsibility of the port authorities, but
are rather a matter for the regional authority, i.e. the Flemish
Community .

The Commission is seeking clarification from the competent
authorities of the following points :

No C 209 / 2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

1 . Which body is the contracting authority or entity for the

purposes of the public procurement Directives in
relation to the contracts in question ?

2 . When is ( or was ) the multiannual contract to be entered
into and between which parties ?

3 . Is ( or was ) the contract award to be preceded by any
publication of a notice to tender, and if so, where and
when ?

The Commission is unable to give an answer to the
Honourable Member until these points are clarified .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-247 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 04 )

Subject : Europe as an area and Europe as a power

Does the Council of Ministers hope that the Cannes
European Council will discuss the proposals set out by Mr
Giscard D'Estaing after those expressed by Mr Schauble and
Mr Lamers with particular regard to the concept of Europe
as an area and Europe as a power ?

Answer

WRITTEN QUESTION E-245 / 95 ( 27 June 1995 )

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 03 )

Subject : Information highways

What financial resources will be released for the

establishment of information highways ?

Such an information policy should facilitate access to
information from the countryside and by individuals .

Answer

( 27 June 1995 )

The information superhighway is part of the
trans-European networks for which Article 129c of the EC
Treaty allows financial support from the Community . The
proposal for a Regulation laying down the rules for the
granting of Community financial aid in the field of
trans-European networks is under discussion by the
Council, which hopes to reach a common position soon .

In the financial statement of the proposal (*), the
Commission put forward an indicative breakdown of
financial resources between transport, energy and
telecommunications .

The proposals to which the Honourable Member refers are
obviously part of the vast debate which is taking place on the

1996 Intergovernmental Conference and the revision of the
Treaty on European Union, and as such are certainly worthy
of attention . However, it is neither for the Council to deal
with proposals from politicians speaking either individually
or on behalf of a political organization rather than from
governments, nor to recommend to the European Council
that it discuss them .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-249 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1 995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 05 )

Subject : Enlargement of the European Union and the

Community budget

Commission projections estimate that enlargement of the
Union to include the countries of central and eastern Europe
will require an increase in agricultural expenditure of ECU

30 billion to ECU 45 billion and for the Structural Funds of

ECU 25 billion to ECU 60 billion .

Individual countries ' budget contributions need to be
reviewed . How does the Council think it will resolve the

problem of re-distribution which will arise with regard to
the East and the South of the Union ?

The final allocation of resources, also taking into account
any Commission proposals on the supplementary financing
suggested by the Essen European Council, will depend on
Answer
the budget authority .

( 27 June 1995 )

(') Doc . 94 / 65 / SYN .

Regarding the conditions to be met for the future accession
of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, I

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 3

would refer the Honourable Member to the reply to his
question to the Council No 196 / 95 .

One of the stipulations is that the Council wishes to have at
its disposal a detailed analysis carried out by the
Commission on the impact of enlargement in the context of
the current policies of the Union and their development .

The Council is unable at this stage to comment on forecasts
which are the results of scientific studies based on different

scenarios and which are not binding on any of the European
institutions .

As for the future contribution of Member States to the

Community budget in the event of the accession of the
different associated countries of central and eastern Europe,
the Council will take a decision in due course .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-252 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 06 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-256 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Council

( 22 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 07 )

Subject : Extension of the Pesca Programme

Will the Council propose to the Commission an extension of
the Pesca Programme in such a way that the European funds
for this programme may involve the entire fisheries
sector ?

Answer

( 27 June 1995 )

1 . The Pesca Programme is a Community initiative
within the meaning of the Regulations governing the
Structural Funds ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081 / 93 O and the
FIFG ( Regulation ( EEC ) No 2080 / 93 ) ( 2 ).

2 . It is thus for the Commission to decide, on the basis of
the funds available, on the content and the scope of this
action .

(') OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993, p . 5 .

Subject : Economic and Monetary Union ( 2 ) OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993, p . 1 .

On 1 January 1994, the second stage of Economic and
Monetary Union was introduced with the establishment of
the European Monetary Institute in Frankfurt and the
re-statement of the convergence criteria .

To date, no Member State of the Union meets the four
criteria required for transition to a single currency in

1997 .

Accordingly, how does the Council intend to establish the
list of countries likely to be able to move to the single
currency ?

Answer

( 27 June 1995 )

The Council will apply the provisions of the Treaty on
achieving Economic and Monetary Union, in particular
those of Article 109 ) ( 2 ) to ( 4 ), and will decide when the time
comes which Member States fulfil the conditions for

adoption of a single currency .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-271 / 95

by Noël Mamère ( ARE )

to the Commission

(9 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 08 )

Subject : Parameters and indicators used to establish
standards in the fields of air pollution, water
pollution and noise nuisance

What systems for information collection and for direct
public access ( databanks, etc .) and what parameters and
main types of indicator ( i.e. types of scientific, legal,
statistical, etc . data ) are taken into account in drawing up air
pollution, water pollution and noise nuisance standards in
the European Union 's Member States, thus making it
possible to assemble the information needed on the state of
the environment in these areas ?

Are there instances where Community standards are not
observed as a result of failure to take adequate account of
such parameters ?

No C 209 / 4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

A number of Directives and Decisions impose an obligation
to submit reports, both on the Member States and on the
Commission .

In this case, the Member States are required to send the
Commission information in the form of data relating to the
technical annexes to the Community measures concerned,
following the timetable set . The Commission in turn
publishes these data with the agreement of the Member
States .

There are two systems for collecting air quality data :

— Directives setting limit values not to be exceeded ( on SO ?

( Directive 80 / 779 / EEC f 1 )), particulates, Pb ( Directive
92 / 884 / EEC ( 2 )) and N0 2 ( Directive 85 / 203 / EEC ( 3 )) or
thresholds for notifying or alerting the population (0 3 )

( Directive 92 / 72 / EEC ( 4 ));

— Decisions establishing exchanges of information on air

pollution within the Member States ( Decision
75 / 441 / EEC ( s ) and Decision 82 / 459 / EEC ( 6 )).

The successive exchanges of information have made it
possible to build up a data base containing daily and hourly
data from selected measurement stations in 163 towns with

a population of over 1 000 . This data base is available in the
Member States .

Implementation of the Directives and Decisions has revealed
a number of shortcomings and defects which limit the scope
and comparability of the results obtained . These mainly
concern the number of pollutants covered and the criteria
for establishment or selection of the measurement stations .

The Commission has submitted two new proposals to solve
these problems ( proposal for a Council Directive on
ambient air quality assessment and management ( 7 );
proposal for a Council Decision establishing a reciprocal
exchange of information and data from networks and
individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within
the Member States ( s ).

The sampling frequency, methods of analysis and the
parameters and indicators for water pollution are stipulated
in the technical annexes to the Directives on water, for
example the Directives on bathing water quality or on the
quality of water intended for human consumption

( Directives 76 / 160 / EEC 0 and 80 / 778 / EEC ( 10 )).

The committees for adaptation of the technical annexes
meet to amend certain points on the basis of the latest
scientific data .

The collection systems are, therefore, national and the
documents concerning the data obtained from these
measurement stations are published and accessible to the
public, either via the national authorities or direct from the
Commission .

Up to now there are no Regulations concerning the
measurement and collection of noise impact data at
European level . The Commission is discussing with the
Member States whether it is possible to agree on a general
unit representing noise impact at a European level and how
those data could be collected and plotted on noise maps . The
collection of noise impact data will be an aid for the
Decisions concerning future noise policy of the Commission
and Community noise measures based on quality
standards .

As regards failure to observe the Community standards, the
Commission takes the measures necessary to check
compliance with the Community obligations .

(M OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 378, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

I 3 ) OJ No L 87, 27 . 3 . 1985 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 210, 19 . 7 . 1982 .

( 7 ) COM(94 ) 109 final — OJ No C 216, 6 . 8 . 1994 .

( 8 ) COM(94 ) 345 final — OJ No C 281, 7 . 10 . 1994 .
H OJ No L 31, 5,2 . 1976 .

H OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-345 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 13 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 09 )

Subject : European Union financing for an agricultural

project in Tibet

The European Union plans to fund an agricultural project in
the Panam district of Tibet . The budget allocated to this
agricultural scheme to develop the cultivation of wheat,
when the Tibetans mainly eat millet and barley, is the largest
amount ever granted to China for a single project .

The scheme will result in serious upheavals in the local
community and the movement of large numbers of Chinese
settlers in Tibet .

Is Europe aware that, through this subsidy it is participating
in the colonization of Tibet and the cultural genocide being
inflicted on this country by China ? Have all the necessary
precautions been taken ? Have reliable studies been carried
out on the scheme 's human and environmental impact ?
Why has the scheme not been preceded by consultation with
the NGOs, the officials responsible, and the population
concerned ?

Can the Commission answer all these questions ?

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 5

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 March 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 94 / 95 by Mr
Vandemeulebroucke (') and No 276 / 95 by Mr Langer and
Mrs Aglietta ( 2 ).

f 1 ) OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 58 .

( 2 ) O J No C 1.39, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 64 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-351 / 95

by W. G. van Velzen ( PPE )

to the Commission

A communication from the Commission to the Council

requesting a negotiation mandate for international
cooperation in the domain of IMS was submitted in
September 1994 .

3 . The Council has given the Commission a mandate to
negotiate a multilateral cooperation agreement between the
Community, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia,
Norway and Switzerland in this promising field . The
Community 's financial contribution to this agreement,
which will come from two specific programmes of the
fourth framework programme (' Information technologies '
and ' Industrial and materials technologies '), will be limited
to ECU 55 million for the duration of the fourth framework

programme ( i.e. until 1998 ).

( 13 February 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-368 / 95

( 95 / C 209 / 10 ) by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

Subject : IMS ( Intelligent Manufacturing Systems )

1 . Is it true that the experimental phase of IMS has been
completed ?

2 . Is it also true that the Commission is divided on the

issue of participation in the main phase of IMS, which is to
last for ten years, whilst other participants in this
programme ( USA, Japan, Australia and Canada ) have
already indicated that they wish to go ahead ?

3 . Will the Commission state when it expects to take part
in the main phase of this programme, particularly in view of
the comments made by Mr Bangemann during his hearing,
at which he stated that, in the case of major strategic
innovations and research, cooperation and / or strategic
alliances with countries outside Europe were in the interests
of employment in Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

1 . The IMS feasibility study began in February 1 992 and
was successfully completed in January 1994 . The
International Steering Committee ( ISC ), which oversaw the
feasibility study, considered that the results were sufficiently
encouraging to recommend continuation of the IMS and
proposed a set of terms of reference . The final report of ISC

became available in June 1994 .

2 . Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States and
Switzerland signalled in the second half of 1994 their
readiness to accept the terms of reference proposed by the
ISC and are taking steps to prepare the implementation of
the main phase of IMS .

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 11 )

Subject : Plight of street children in Latin America

What steps have been taken by the Commission specifically
to help the plight of street children in Latin America ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

Projects and programmes to attack poverty and help the
most disadvantaged sections of the population are among
the Community 's priorities in cooperation with Latin
America .

Such operations are included in the political dialogue
conducted at regional level ( at the Rio Group and San Jose
ministerial conferences ) and as part of bilateral contacts

( under the cooperation agreements ). Draft projects are
discussed in the joint committee set up under the bilateral
agreements prior to inclusion in programming .

A number of projects were carried out in 1994 as part of
action to help disadvantaged young people, under budget
headings B7-3010, B7-5230 and B7-5047 :

— programme for street children in Guatemala City ( ECU

2,5 million );

— help and protection for children living in difficult

circumstances in Nicaragua ( ECU 857 000 );

— help for street children in Honduras ( ECU 600 000 );

No C 209 / 6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

— programme for disadvantaged children in urban areas of

Brazil ( ECU 8 million );

— protection of male Guatemalan street children 's and

adolescents 1 rights through education and reintegration

( ECU 100 000 );

Commission propose or support to help prevent this
displacement or ' balloon effect '?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

— parallel programme for girls in Guatemala ( ECU ( 21 March 1995 )
100 000 );

— support for vocational training for delinquent minors in

Panama with a view to future social integration ( ECU

192 000 );

— fostering of awareness of children 's rights in Chile ( ECU

91 863 );

— provision of assistance and fostering of awareness of

children 's rights in Chile ( ECU 30 506 );

— improvement of attendance centre for minors in Chile

( ECU 70 000 );

— rehabilitation centre for drug-addicted girls in
Guatemala ( ECU 122 000 );

— hostel for minors with drug-related behaviour problems

in Guatemala ( ECU 150 000 );

— programme to prevent marginalization and
abandonment of minors at risk in Peru ( ECU
47 000 ).

The projects carried out in Brazil and Guatemala ( ECU 8
million and ECU 2,5 million respectively ) are particularly
noteworthy as being on a substantial scale, Innovative and
pioneering, fuller details are being sent direct to the
Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat . On the

basis of the operation of these projects — and subject to
funding being available — it is planned to extend this type of
aid to other countries . Major operations are already
scheduled for 1995 in Colombia and Mexico .

During the period 1987 — 1994, the Community committed
a total of ECU 66,5 million under budget item ' North South
actions in the fight against drugs '. One quarter of this
amount was allocated to the reduction of illicit drugs
production . Some major programmes were initiated in
Bolivia through UNDCP ( United Nations Drug control
Programme ), Colombia through UNDCP, Thailand,
Morocco and Lebanon through UNDCP . In only one case
was there undoubted crop-eradication within the country,
namely Thailand . This was really the result of the strong
commitment of the authorities, with effective backing from
one major bilateral donor . In the case of Bolivia and
Colombia, the UNDCP has unfortunately not been able to
come up with a clear assessment of the long-term effect of
the crop-eradication and re-conversion programme . As for
the supply reduction programme with Morocco, an
assessment is envisaged only in 1 996, the programme having
started in 1993 . The Lebanon programme was started in

1994 .

Experience with voluntary supply reduction or active crop
eradication has not in general been encouraging, for many
reasons . Firstly, supply reduction programmes typically fail
to address the social and economic causes of illicit drug
production . Secondly, when and where crop eradication is
forced upon growers, the result is typically a geographic
displacement in production . Thirdly, the key incentives for
production, which are the substantial profits by drug
traffickers and traders, have remained .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-408 / 95

by Per Gahrton ( V )

to the Council

WRITTEN QUESTION E-401 / 95 (9 February 1995 )

by Glenys Kinnock ( PSE ) ( 95 / C 209 / 13 )

to the Commission

( 15 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 12 )

Subject : Eradication

What is the Commission 's assessment of the net effect of
crop eradication programmes on drug production in
developing countries over the last five years ?

In the light of evidence that a reduction in drug-linked crops
in some countries has been offset by an increase in
neighbouring nations, what measures would the

Subject : EU aid to developing countries

According to the Danish newspaper, Information, of
24 January 1995, the French Presidency 's proposal to
increase the EU 's financial aid to developing countries from
ECU 12 billion to only ECU 14 billion represents a
reduction in aid in real terms . The newspaper concludes that
the additional contributions from the new Member States,
Austria, Finland and Sweden, will in fact ' not go to the
developing countries but into the other EU Member States '
treasuries .'

Does the Council consider that it is in accordance with the

accession agreements if the effect in real terms of the three

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 7

new Member States ' contributions to the aid budget is, at did not even provide an exhaustive list of species protected
least partly, to subsidize the other EU Member States ' by the habitats Directive ?
national finances instead of being an additional
contribution to the EU 's overall aid to developing countries ? (') OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .
Does the Council consider that such a policy is in keeping
with the letter and spirit of Article 130u ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

Answer ( 12 April 1995 )

( 27 June 1995 )

The accession of the three Member States to the Union has

clearly improved the capacity of the Union to assist other
countries and regions . The distribution of the Community 's
assistance between various regions is determined within the
context of budget formulation and, in the case of the
Community 's assistance to the ACP States, in the context of
negotiations of the financial protocols to the Fourth Lome
Convention, financed mainly by the EDF .

The press information referred to by the Honourable
Member concerns the negotiations of the new financial
protocol of the Fourth Lome Convention, the Eighth
European Development Fund . These negotiations are still
under way and the Council has not yet agreed an amount for
the Fund .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4 15 / 95

by Carlos Pimenta ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 14 )

Subject : Community financing of the new bridge over the

Tagus in Lisbon

The Commission is preparing to finance the project for a
new road bridge over the Tagus estuary, i.e. the
Lisbon-Montijo link .

This link would unquestionably have a negative
environmental impact, in particular because it would cross
the Tagus Estuary Special Protection Zone . Article 6 ( 4 ) of
Directive 92 / 43 / EEC (') specifically states that
compensatory measures may only be taken in the absence of
alternative solutions . Given that such solutions do exist in

the form of other routes, such as Lisbon-Barreiro, will the
Commission explain why compensatory measures are being
accepted illegally in this case instead of opting for an
alternative route ?

How can the Commission accept an environmental impact
assessment which was carried out in such a short time and

Following a comparative examination of the various
options for the location of the new bridge over the Tagus
river, the crossing Sacavem / Montijo was approved by the
Portuguese Government through the Order in Council
No 220 / 92 published on 15 October 1992, and
subsequently ratified by the Portuguese Parliament .

An application for Community assistance towards the
financing of this new Tagus crossing was submitted to the
Cohesion Fund on 20 May 1994 .

The project complied with the criteria laid down in
Article 10 / 5 of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1164 / 94 of

16 May 1994 notably the compatibility of projects with
Community Transport and Environment policies .

All of the assessment procedures in Council Directive
85 / 337 / EEC of 27 June 1985 relating to the assessment of
the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment (') were fully complied with .

The Commission analysed the compensation measures
proposed by the Portuguese authorities and concluded that
these measures are appropriate to maintain the conservation
status of the bird populations negatively affected by the
construction of the bridge . The compensation measures
agreed are :

— the purchase and habitat restoration by the national

conservation authorities of an area of 400 ha, called
Salinas do Samouco, as well as building a viaduct over
this area ;

— the enlargement of the special protection area to include

other areas of the estuary important for Annex I and
other migratory bird species protected by Council
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( 2 ).

The Commission also required from the Portuguese
authorities the implementation of additional measures in
order to reduce significant adverse effects, directly or
indirectly related to the construction works . These measures
include :

— carrying out the construction works on the Salinas do

Samouco in such a way as to avoid significant
disturbance during the breeding period of birds . The
same procedure will be applied in the works carried out
on the river, and also in relation to the migration of fish
species within the estuary ;

— monitoring by the environmental authorities and
non-governmental organizations of the implementation

No C 209 / 8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

of mitigation measures identified during the
environmental impact assessment procedures and
during the construction works ;

— establishing ' non-aedificandi ' and urban control zones

in order to avoid and minimise the urban pressure on
and around the special protection area .

The Commission considers that the impacts on the species
protected by the Habitats Directive ( 92 / 43 / EEC ) were
properly assessed . Although the environmental impact
study was carried out over a short period, this was not a
constraint since the information available for the Tagus
estuary is relatively abundant . This is particularly valid in
the case of the biological data concerning ecology and
dynamics data on migratory fish, saltmarshes, and
saltponds .

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

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-420 / 95

by Wolfgang Nufibaumer ( NI )

to the Commission

( 17 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 15 )

Subject : Better access to finance for SMEs

The Commission 's Second Annual Report on the European
Observatory for SMEs provides a wealth of information on
the structures of SMEs, their role in the internal market, the
obstacles to their participation in the internal market, their
potential for creating jobs, their problems in raising capital,

etc .

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and
Industrial Policy has called on the Commission to remove
inter alia the obstacles which hinder SMEs in obtaining
finance across the EU 's internal borders .

1 . Can the Commission quantify the measures which have
been planned to remove these obstacles facing SMEs in
obtaining croSs-border finance ?

2 . Can the Commission establish an action plan and set
dates for the removal of the remaining obstacles to
SMEs ?

3 . Will the Commission submit a plan of action, with
deadlines, setting out the opportunities for improving
innovation and the dissemination of technology,
management capacities and the modernization of
SMEs ?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1995 )

The problems encountered by small and medium-sized
enterprises ( SMEs ) in financing their investment projects or
quite simply in meeting their short-term financing needs are
well known to the Commission and have moreover been the

subject of two recent communications (').

1 . The question of access to cross-border finance concerns
only a few SMEs, partly because these enterprises are
almost exclusively financed on a short-term basis and
hence highly dependent on their local banks, and partly
because of the risks with regard to rates of exchange and
interest . The establishment of the Single Market and the
creation of a European Financial Area have enabled the
removal of some of these obstacles and brought about
an improvement in the availability of cross-border
finance and reduced the cost as a result, in particular, of
increased competition between financial institutions . A
quantitative assessment of the impact of the internal
market on the financial position of SMEs, including
their access to capital and its cost, will be launched by
the Commission in the near future . The achievement of

Monetary Union, together with the Single Currency,
will also be a decisive element in this context .

The objectives of the European Investment Fund include
making it easier for SMEs to obtain capital by providing
guarantees for their medium   - and long-term
borrowings . The EIB, in the framework of its global
loans, grants a large number of loans to SMEs via
national financial intermediaries . A certain number of

these loans, for a total of ECU 1 billion, carrying an
interest subsidy of 2 % drawn from the the
Community 's budget, have been granted for
job-creating investments by SMEs . Mention must also
be made, in this context, of the Community initiatives
designed to improve the access of SMEs to risk capital,
e.g. Seed Capital, Eurotech Capital and Venture
Consort .

The Commission welcomed the creation, in November

1 994, of the EASD ( European Association for Securities
Dealers ) with the aim of making it easier for SMEs to tap
the various sources of equity at both the national and
European levels . In this context, the Directives
concerning the admission of securities to listing on a
stock exchange and the entry into force, on 1 January

1996, of the Directive liberalizing investment services
will militate in favour of the project for the creation of a
European stock exchange for young and rapidly
expanding companies, for which the Commission is
providing advice and assistance .

Finally, the Commission will continue its examination
of the problem of relations between SMF 's and the
financial institutions in the framework of the activities

of the Round T able of Leading Representatives from the
Banking Sector .

14 . 8 . 95 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 9

2 . Although there are no plans for drawing up an action
plan for the elimination of obstacles to access to sources
of finance, the Commission intends to continue its
existing activities in this domain, in particular in the
framework of the Integrated Programme in favour of
SMEs, which provides for concerted action to  - facilitate
exchanges of information and experience between the
Member States, the organisations representing SMEs
and the financial sector .

3 . The Council adopted, on 15 December 1994, Decision

94 / 917 / EC adopting a specific programme for the
dissemination and optimization of the results of
activities in the field of research and technological
development, including demonstration

( 1994 — 1998 ) ( 2 ). The ultimate objective of this
programme is the promotion of innovation in the
industrial sector in general, and in the SME sector in
particular, by actions under the headings of
information, promotion, direct or indirect assistance
and the provision of financial support for the adoption
of new technologies by enterprises . The programme of
work, giving more details of the activities to be launched
with the aim of attaining these objectives, together with
a timetable for their implementation covering the period

1994 — 1998, was adopted by the Commission on
14 March 1995 .

(!) COM(93 ) 528 and COM(94 ) 435 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 361, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-462 / 95

by Frank Vanhecke ( NI )

to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 )

95 / C 209 / 16 )

Subject : Imports of fish and fish products from countries

not belonging to the European Union

Does the Commission have figures for 1 992, 1993 and 1 994
for imports into the various Member States of fish and fish
products from countries not belonging to the European
Union ?

Which countries are the source of most of the imports ?

What import duties or import restrictions are applied ?

Concerning the second part of the question, the principal
countries exporting to the Community of Twelve were, for
the period 1991 —1993 ( averages ): Norway ( 15,38% of
imports by volume and 17,07% by value ) and Iceland

( 9,32% of imports by volume and 9,84% by value ). These
two countries are followed by Chile ( 8,72% ), Peru

( 7,76 % ), Thailand ( 5,55 % ) and the United States ( 5,09 % ).
A table containing all the data for imports into the
Community, broken down by partner country, is also being
transmitted to the Honourable Member as well as to the

Secretariat of Parliament .

Regarding the third part of the question, the customs duties
applicable to imported goods originating in the countries
which are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade or with which the Community has
concluded agreements containing a most-favoured nation
clause are the conventional duties given in column 4 of the
table of duties in the common customs tariff ( Commission
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3115 / 94 (')). Subject to any contrary
provision, these conventional duties are also applicable to
goods other than those referred to above imported from any
third country .

The autonomous customs duties given in column 3 of the
table of duties in the common customs tariff are applicable
when they are lower than the conventional duties or when
no conventional duty exists . However, this does not apply
when special autonomous customs duties are provided for
in the case of goods originating in certain countries, or when
preferential customs duties are applicable under the terms of
an agreement . These arrangements are published in the
Official Journal and are shown in the integrated tariff of the
European Communities ( Taric ), which is published
annually . Taric is thus the basis for the tariff used in practice
and for the implementation of Community measures
regarding imports .

Other limits or conditions on imports of a non-tariff nature
also exist, such as health provisions ( Council Directives
91 / 492 / EEC and 91 / 493 / EEC ) ( 2 ), Commission Decision of
15 March 1993 (- 1 )) and marketing standards ( Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3759 / 92 ( 4 ) and Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 103 of 19 January 1976 ( 5 )), for fishery
products .

t 1 ) OJ No L 345, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991 .
(■') OJ No L 79, 1.4 . 1993 .
Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 ) OJ No L 388, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 20, 28 . 1 . 1976 .
( 28 March 1995 )

With regard to the first part of the question, the detailed

figures are being transmitted directly to the Honourable
Member as well as to the Parliament Secretariat .

No C 209 / 10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-471 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-480 / 95

by Giinter Liittge ( PSE ) by Doris Pack ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 22 February 1995 ) ( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 17 ) ( 95 / C 209 / 18 )

Subject : Directive 90 / 270 / EEC on the minimum safety and

health requirements for work with display screen
equipment ( fifth individual Directive within the
meaning of Article 16 ( 1 ) of Directive
89 / 391 / EEC )

Directive 90 / 270 / EEC ( l ) lays down minimum health and
safety requirements for VDU work . ' Computer systems on
board a means of transport ' are excluded under
Article l(3)(b ), however .

1 . Can the Commission explain why ' computer systems on
board a means of transport ' are excluded ?

2 . Does the definition of ' display screen equipment ' extend
to radar screens ?

3 . Are air traffic control occupations ( controller and
assistant ) affected by this exclusion ?

4 . If so, in answer to question 3, are Commission initiatives
planned in this area ?

Subject : Bureaucratic obstacles in Germany to the use of

ultralight motorized aircraft ( leisure aircraft )

Anyone wishing to use a leisure aircraft weighing 300 kg to
fly from a French border town ( Sarreguemines ) to a German
town ( Zweibriicken ) located 40 km from the border must
request authorization from Bonn two working days in
advance . No such authorization is required for crossing
Europe 's borders by any other means of passenger

transport .

What is the reason for such unequal treatment in a
frontier-free Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )
(') OJ No L 156, 21 . 6 . 1990, p . 14 .

With regard to the crossing of frontiers it is true that,

Answer given by Mr Flynn following the entry into force of the Schengen Convention
on behalf of the Commission on 26 March 1995, the free movement of people between

( 15 March 1995 ) Germany and France has become a reality, though controls

may still take place for reasons of security . With regard to air
traffic, there has been no change to the obligation to submit
1 . Directive 90 / 270 / EEC does not apply to computer a flight plan, for reasons of safety and air traffic
systems on board a means of transport because of the management .
additional constraints which are inherent in means of

transport .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

The need to stabilise equipment and also the cramped nature
of the work place often make it impossible to install these
systems in a way which conforms to all the requirements of
the Directive .

Moreover, the movement of means of transport means that
the environment is constantly changing, especially as
regards reflections and glare .

2 . Yes .

3 and 4 . No .

However, the problem raised here is dominated by the
question of standards and technical specifications for
ultralight aircraft . Existing regulations for such aircraft vary
greatly from one Member State to another and from one
type of aircraft to another . French standards and regulations
are generally more flexible .

The Commission has no plans at present to introduce
harmonized standards for this type of aircraft . It feels that,
given the principle of subsidiarity, the establishment of
harmonized standards cannot be considered a priority
unless there is serious evidence that differences in national

law are giving rise to economic and safety problems .

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION E-486 / 95

by John McCartin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 19 )

Subject : Operational Programme for Transport in
Ireland

Can the Commission confirm that details on individual

funding proposals for particular transport projects under
the Irish Operational Programme for Transport, which has
already been forwarded to the Commission, are not
available from the Department of T ransport and will not be
available until the end of the year ? Can the Commission
explain why the information regarding the financial costings
of individual public transport projects is not available or
why the delay is expected ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

The operational programme for transport in Ireland was
approved by the Commission on 29 July 1994 and is
available from the Government Publications Sales Office in

Dublin . The monitoring committee for the programme will
receive information about projects which have been
approved and will be able to check that the project selection
criteria have been correctly applied . However, decisions on
individual projects are taken by the Department of the
Environment for road projects, the Department of the
Marine for port projects and the Department of Transport
for rail and airport projects . The release of financial
information in respect of individual projects is also a matter
for the relevant department .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-492 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 20 )

Subject : Fraud at the expense of the Community budget

The European press is reporting an ever-increasing number
of cases of fraud at the expense of the Community budget as
a result of the lack of systematic controls and penalties,
enabling the perpetrators to keep their spoils and
encouraing them to commit further offences . Furthermore,
there are no rules to prevent offenders from receiving

European subsidies, with the exception of the EAGGF,
which applies the principle of ' settlement of accounts '.

1 . What is the extent of losses to the Community budget

through fraud ?

2 . Will the Commission systematically and regularly draw

up and publish a ' black-list ' of undertakings guilty of
fraudulent practices at the expense of the Community
budget ?

3 . Will the Commission extend to the other Structural

( regional, social, cohesion, etc .) Funds the principle of
' settlement of accounts ' which applies to the
EAGGF ?

4 . Will the Commission, pursuant to Article 209a of the
Treaty and in accordance with and the principle of
equivalence, take steps to achieve harmonization of the
general principles governing the penal codes of the
Member States, with a view to ensuring that they treat
fraud affecting the financial interests of the Community
as a criminal offence ?

5 . Will the Commission step up its efforts in this area so as
to combat fraud more effectively ?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin
on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 1995 )

The Commission does not agree that the EAGGF Guarantee

Section alone has rules to ensure that a fraud perpetrator
cannot keep sums wrongly acquired . Recovery is possible as
a matter of course in all areas under current rules ; the
Member States are generally responsible for taking
appropriate action . The Commission can proceed to
recovery only in areas where it expends appropriations
direct .

1 . Regarding the impact of fraud on the general budget, the
Honourable Member is referred to the figures given in
the Commission 's answer to Written Question
No 391 / 95 (').

2 . The Commission proposal concerning measures to be
taken in relation to certain beneficiaries of operations
financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Sector ( 2 ) currently
before the Council and Parliament provides for the
routine establishment of black lists . There is no

provision for publication, on grounds of protection of
legitimate business interests .

3 . Clearance of accounts in the common agricultural policy
context is not conceived as an anti-fraud instrument as
such but as a control mechanism in a system where
financing is based on advances for subsequent
settlement . Control of expenditure takes place during
the clearance procedure .

But there are other areas where control of expenditure
takes place after the event . It can be assumed that they

No C 209 / 12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

offer the same assurances as the common agricultural
policy procedures .

4 . The Commission would refer the Honourable Member

to its proposals for a Regulation and a Convention for
the protection of the Community 's financial
interests C ). The Convention 's obvious impact on
national criminal laws is that it provides for definition of
a specific offence of fraud against the Community 's
financial interests .

5 . As Mr Santer told Parliament in his programme address
on 15 February, the Commission has already decided to
place all its anti-fraud activities in the hands of a single,
beefed-up Unit for Coordination of Fraud Prevention

( UCLAF ), and has also been recruiting highly qualified
staff for this work since late-1994 .

(M OJ No C 196, 31 . 7 . 1995 .

( 2 ) COM(94 ) 122 final — OJ No C 151, 2 . 6 . 1994 .
(>) COM(94 ) 214 final — OJ No C 216, 6 . 8 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 20 / 95

by José Barros Moura ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 21 )

Subject : Customs agents in Portugal

activities and job creation, with particular reference to the
introduction of alternative activities to those directly
threatened by the removal of the frontier between Spain and
Portugal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-537 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 22 )

Subject : Sugar, fruit and vegetables

With reference to the reform that the European Community
is to introduce in the sugar and fruit and vegetable sectors,
does the Commission not agree that it would be worthwhile
to consider :

1 . the idea of environmental compatibility, through the

introduction of environmental standards for the

cultivation and processing of sugar-beet or an annual
study of the environmental impact of the sugar-refining
industry ?

2 . environmental quality labels, using the system of
agri-food certification ( eco-labelling ) for the main fruit
and vegetable products ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

Given the serious situation in this sector ( undertakings,
employees whose contracts are not being terminated and ( 25 April 1995 )
ex-employees in much greater numbers ), and with the social
aid and reconversion measures being delayed or proving
inefficient under which, can customs the Commission agents throughout indicate Portugal the conditions may have The arrangements reform in of the sugar and the common fruit
access to the Interreg II Programme ? are necessarily centring on an

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The Commission received the proposal concerning Interreg
II submitted by the Spanish and Portuguese authorities on
3 November 1994 .

Negotiations took place between the Commission and the
national authorities and the programme was approved on
31 March 1995 .

Measure 5 of sub-programme 1 ' Stimulation and
cooperation for business and tourism ' includes finance for
an aid scheme to assist small investments in the frontier area .

This scheme concerns the development of productive

The reform of the common market organization
arrangements in the sugar and fruit and vegetables sectors
are necessarily centring on an examination and re-appraisal
of the existing market management instruments covered by
the basic sectoral Regulations concerned ( Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1785 / 81 (') as regards sugar and
Council Regulations ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 ( 2 ) and ( EEC )
No 426 / 86 (*) as regards fruit and vegetables ).

At the same time the important interrelationship which
exists between agricultural production and the protection of
the environment means that environmental considerations

have been borne in mind by the Commission when drafting
these as well as the other common market organization
reforms .

The Commission 's proposal of 16 November 1994 on the
reform of the sugar sector ( 4 ), envisages for the most part the
adjustment of the existing production arrangements over
the coming six years to the new situation created by the
agreement on agriculture resulting from the Uruguay Round
of multilateral trade negotiations . The Commission can
confirm that this proposal does not give rise to effects on the
environment, nor does it interfere with the significant

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 13

investments which producers at both the farm and factory
levels are making to meet the many Community as well as
national environmental standards .

Several environmental preoccupations have been covered in
the Commission 's reflection paper on the evolution and
future of the common policy in the fruit and vegetables
sector C ) notably as regards the use of the rotation fund for
the implemenation of practices that are compatible with the
environment within the framework of producers '
organizations . It should be noted also that most fruit and
vegetables sold on the fresh market must already comply
with quality standards .

The attention of the Honourable Member is furthermore

drawn to the horizontal policy measures in this area such as
those laid down in Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 2092 / 91 ( 6 ) on organic production of agricultural
products and indications referring thereto on agricultural
products and foodstuffs, ( EEC ) No 2078 / 92 ( 7 ) on
agricultural production methods compatible with the
requirements of the protection of the environment and the
maintenance of the countryside, ( EEC ) No 2081 / 92 ( s ) on
the protection of geographical indications and designations
of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs and ( EEC )
No 2082 / 92 ( s ) on certificates of specific character for
agricultural products and foodstuffs . These have
agri-environmental and agri-ecological consequences for
the various products covered by market organization
arrangements, ensuring for example the marketing of fruit
and vegetables products under conditions which respect the
environment .

In addition, within the framework of the implementation of
the fifth environment action programme ( 9 ) the
Commission is continuing with its reflections on a possible
increase in the resources of the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund devoted to measures which

meet environmental requirements .

') OJ No L 177, 1 . 7 . 1981 .
-) OJ No L 118, 20 . 5 . 1972 .

; ) OJ No L 49, 27 . 2 . 1986 .
4 ) COM(94 ) 439 final .

') COM(94 ) 360 final .

h ) OJ No L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991 .
") OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .
") OJ No L 208, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

4 ) COM(94 ) 453 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-540 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 23 )

Subject : Companies in difficulty

The Prodi Law on assistance for companies, under which an
administrator is appointed and the State guarantees their

debts, enables them to be maintained in a state of
pre-bankruptcy .

Does the Commission not agree that this law should be
borne in mind when considering ways of taking action to
help companies in difficulty ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

Having examined the Prodi Law from the point of view of its
compatibility with the rules governing State aid, the
Commission took two decisions on the Law in December

1994 .

Firstly, the Commission invited the Italian authorities — as
appropriate measures to be taken under Article 93 (1 ) of the
EC Treaty relating to its constant review of existing systems
of aid — to notify all cases in which application of the Prodi
Law is proposed . The purpose of notification is to enable the
Commission to check each case for compliance with the
conditions laid down in the guidelines that it adopted in July

1994 on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in
difficulty . Under the guidelines, such aid may be justified in
certain circumstances — for example, on grounds of social
or regional policy, or because it is desirable to maintain
competition where the failure of firms could result in
monopoly or oligopoly, or because the special needs of small
and medium-sized enterprises and their contribution to the
well-being of the economy as a whole have to be taken into
account . However, the Prodi Law applies only to firms with
more than 300 employees — and such firms do not fall
within the definition of small and medium-sized enterprises
adopted for State aid purposes and in respect of which the
guidelines require individual notification .

Secondly, the Commission commenced a detailed
investigation — under Article 93 ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty — of
the measures introduced into the Prodi Law in 1993,
whereby firms whose bankruptcy resulted from the
obligation to pay back to the government aid deemed by the
Commission to be incompatible with the common market
also became eligible to have their debts frozen and to receive
a government guarantee . Such measures result in the
negation of Commission Decisions regarding aid that is
unacceptable not only on account of its effect on
competition, but also because it has been granted in breach
of the rules of procedure — i.e. without prior notification or
before the Commission 's approval has been obtained .

No C 209 / 14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-551 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) by Glyn Ford ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-5 79 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission to the Council

(1 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 24 )

Subject : System of postal charges on arrival

The recent agreement between the European, American and
Canadian post office authorities on the adoption of a new
system of charges on arrival, that is to say payment made by
one post office to another when a package is sent from one
country to another, is seriously detrimental to the
cross-border market in postal services and results in a
considerable increase in charges to individual consumers
and companies .

Is this agreement in accordance with Community
competition rules and internal market rules ?

Can the Commission look into this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 April 1995 )

Concerning the agreement for the remuneration of
mandatory deliveries of cross-border mails ( Reims ), a draft
agreement has been signed by 14 European post offices, 12
of which are from the Community . Due to the complexity of
the problem, negotiations are continuing . A final agreement
is likely to be signed during the next months .

The terminal dues are charges for services rendered in the
cross-border postal exchange and are normally agreed by
the postal operators under the supervision of national
authorities . However, such an agreement may give rise to
competition and internal market issues and, since it is an
agreement between undertakings it will have to be notified
to the Commission, which will have to evaluate it in the light
of the provisions of the EC Treaty competition rules .

Only after the conclusion of the negotiations and the
notification of the agreement the Commission will be able to
assess whether the agreement is compatible with
Community competition rules .

Belgium
Denmark

Germany
Greece

2

1

4

1

( 10 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 25 )

Subject : Council measures for staff recruitment

What measures, if any, does the Council take to ensure that
its staff reflect the multi-cultural make-up of the European
Union ?

Answer

( 27 June 1995 )

In the field of staff recruitment the appointing authority of
the General Secretariat of the Council respects fully the
provisions of Articles 7 and 27 of the Staff Regulations . The
appointing authority recruits, therefore, on the broadest
possible geographic basis, from among nationals of the
Member States of the Union and ensures that the assignment
of officials to posts takes place solely in the interest of the
service and without regard to nationality .

The situation with regard to Council staff in post on 1 / 3 / 95
is as follows :

Country of origin Number in post

Belgium 424

Denmark 146

Germany 216

Greece 163

Spain 171

France 181

Ireland 53

Italy 400

Luxembourg 13

Netherlands 114

Austria 0

Portugal 163

Finland 12

Sweden 10

United Kingdom 146

Others 6

In addition, there are 17 temporary staff in post, as
follows :

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 15

Spain
France

Ireland

Italy
Luxembourg
Austria

Portugal
Sweden

United Kingdom

It is clear that, in respect to the three Member States which
acceeded to the Union on 1 January 1995, these figures
represent a photograph of the current situation which can be
expected to evolve rapidly throughout the period
1995 / 96 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-585 / 95

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )

to the Commission

(6 March 199 5 )

( 95 / C 209 / 26 )

Subject : Health checks on certain dietary products

Various national institutions have decided to launch official

investigations into certain dietary and homeopathic
products and medicinal plants on the market which are
claimed to have therapeutic properties, on the grounds that
there is sufficient evidence of irregularities .

Various consumer and users organizations have also called
for the withdrawal from the market of numerous products
of this type, particularly slimming agents, which they
consider to be ineffective and in some cases hazardous to

health . Moreover, some of these products are sold by
mail-order or over the telephone, a practice prohibited
under various national laws .

Can the Commission say whether there is any European
Union legislation to protect users and consumes from such
practices associated with the manufacture and marketing of
the abovementioned products, which in many cases are not
subject to any health checks ? What measures will it propose
to control the marketing of such products in such a way as to
safeguard the health of consumers and protect them from
certain dietary products which are damaging to health or
simply ineffective ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1995 )

To present a substance or combination of substances as a
means of treating or preventing disease in human beings or

animals is the same as establishing it as a medicinal product,
whether it be a dietary, homeopathic or plant-based
product . The definition of a medicinal product given in
Directive 65 / 65 / EEC (') has two elements : the diagnostic or
therapeutic properties of the product and the way it is
presented .

Community pharmaceuticals legislation prohibits the
placing on the market of unregistered medicinal products
and lays down that, to register a product, the applicant must
demonstrate its efficacy, safety and quality . The legislation
also says that old medicinal products authorized on the basis
of older methods of evaluation should all be reviewed in the

light of current registration criteria by 1990 at the latest,
with five-yearly re-examination of authorization by the
authorities of the Member States . Member States are

therefore equipped with the legal framework they need in
order to rid the national markets of products for which
unsubstantiated therapeutic claims are made .

As for distance selling, whether by mail order or by
telephone, the Commission has sent the Council a proposal
for a Directive on the protection of consumers in respect of
contracts negotiated at a distance ( 2 ). The proposal would
make it possible to apply specific provisions to certain
products covered by other Community provisions, as in the
case of medicinal products .

(') OJ No 22, 9 . 2 . 1965 .

( 2 ) COM ( 92 ) 11 final — OJ No C 156, 23 . 6 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-620 / 95

by Fernando Fernández Martín ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 February 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 27 )

Subject : Problems affecting customs agents

Is the Commission considering measures to alleviate the
serious difficulties facing customs agents following the
accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European
Union ?

Would these measures be applied to the above countries in
the same way as to Spain, bearing in mind that practically no
aid of this type has yet been received ? Does the Commission
envisage the possibility of measures to adapt the work of
customs agents to the requirements of the internal market
and, if so, what kind of measures ?

Will such measures include early retirement or occupational
redeployment schemes, which are of great importance for
this sector ?

No C 209 / 16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Does the Commission envisage the introduction of
re-conversion programmes for the companies affected ? Will
the Commission draw up a specific, vertically structured
programme for customs agents, with a view to distributing
Interreg II funds in a more equitable manner ?

Will the Commission undertake to remedy the problem set
out in the third subparagraph of paragraph 33 of its
communication (' Green Paper ') of 16 June 1993 ( COM(93 )
282 final ), which conceded that a disappointing lack of
priority was being given to customs agents and agencies and
calls in particular for support to be given to those engaged in
this occupation !

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

First of all, the Commission would like to remind the
Honourable Member that the Community Regulations
introduced to assist customs agents following abolition of
fiscal and customs operations at internal borders on
1 January 1993 included measures under the ESF, measures
under the ERDF ( Community initiative Interreg I ) and
special measures set out in Regulation ( EEC )
No 3904 / 92 (')•

Turning to the Honourable Member 's specific questions, it
should be remembered that Spain benefited from aid for
regions particularly affected by the abolition of fiscal and
customs operations at internal borders . An amount of
ECU 3 516 991 was allocated under Regulation

( EEC ) No 3904 / 92 .

The guidelines for operational programmes under Interreg
II as published in the Official Journal (-) emphasise the need
to devote special attention to creating alternative
employment opportunities in areas where job losses may
result from changes in customs and other border-related
activities, e.g. the disappearance of customs agencies . The
Commission expects existing instruments, including the
aforementioned initiative, to be implemented successfully . It
therefore sees no need to introduce an additional

programme with similar objectives or to extend the existing
guidelines .

The Commission feels that the measures introduced under

the 1993 reform of the Structural Fund Regulations are
sufficient to contend with the redeployment problems facing
customs agents in the new Member States .

(') OJ No L . 394, 31 . 12 . 1992 .
C -) OJ No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-628 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 28 )

Subject : Rate of growth and unemployment

The rate of economic growth is lower in Europe than in the
rest of the world and structural unemployment is rising
cyclically every 30 — 40 years because our economies suffer
serious handicaps .

In particular the high level of social contributions and taxes
causes a great deal of unemployment .

Given that difference between unemployment benefit and
the minimum wage should not be made too mall, since in
this way the social security system could harm employment,
does the Commission not see these considerations as valid

and does it intend to take account of them in implementing
the white paper and in general in implementing initiatives on
employment and competitiveness ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The current economic recovery is expected to absorb the
cyclical part of unemployment, estimated at around 2 % of
the labour fource . A further reduction, however, requires
the creation of new jobs by a strong and sustainable
medium-term growth process, supported by employment
creating investment and by efforts to increase the
employment content of growth . Economic policy currently
aims to achieve a sound and sustained medium-term

growth . So far, the present recovery is in line with the overall
macro-economic message of the white paper on growth,
competitiveness and employment (').

Concerning non-wage labour cost and the spread between
social benefits and minimum wages, one major problem is to
strike a balance between employment creative measures,
such as a widening of the wage scale, and the wish to
preserve the fundamentals of the European social model .
One of the white paper suggestions to solve this dilemma is a
budgetary neutral reduction of non-wage labour cost,
particularly for the less skilled workers with the lowest
earnings and — in general — with the highest
unemployment rates . The white paper suggested that the
order of magnitude of these measures should be 1 — 2 % of
gross domestic product and that the budgetary

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 17

compensation should preferably be found within the area of
eco-taxes, like the C0 2 tax proposed by the Commission . In
spite of several efforts in Member States in this field,
progress is slow . One of the problems seems to be the
diversity of taxation and social contribution within the
Community, making it impossible to identify a unique
method to shift the burden of taxation from labour to other

factors of production or consumption .

The concern that social protection systems are too generous
and are creating disincentives to work — or even are abused
— have been on the agenda for several years . The white
paper addresses this issue, e.g. in chapter 8 ( especially 8.2 ),
as several Member States underline the need for an

examination of social protection systems to ensure that they
actually encourage people to work, and for expenditure to
be targeted to concentrate the effort on those in real need .
Accordingly, many Member States have reviewed their
benefit systems and changed or enforced eligibility rules, or
are in the process of doing so . This should be seen in the
context of the ongoing efforts to enhance mobility and
trends towards more pro-active use of public funds, as
opposed to passive support . However, within this area too
progress is still slow .

The white paper on European social policy of July 1994 (-)
deals with the problem of social exclusion . While the
primary responsibility for both policy and action must lie
with Member States, action is also needed at the
Community level in order for the Community not to be
inactive on this issue and to act not only in the interests of
the employed but also of the unemployed and socially
excluded . Moreover, Article 2, point 2 of the agreement on
social policy gives the Community a specific role in
supporting and complementing the activities of the Member
States as regards the integration of those excluded from the
labour market . Consequently the white paper on social
policy points to proposals for further Community action in
this field .

As regards the specific question raised concerning social
benefits and minimum wages, the Essen European Council
requested an examination of the effects of tax and support
systems on the readiness both to create jobs and to take up
jobs . The Commission and the economic policy committee
are currently reviewing this issue in order to produce a
report and recommendations on this for the European
Council in December 1995 .

coherence of macro-economic and structural policy is called
for . Further, the suggested procedure envisages the
involvement of and contributions from, among others, the
Parliament and the social partners . The approach set out in
the communication aims to focus more on employment
issues, and to ensure a well-coordinated process .

(•) COM(93 ) 700 final .

( 2 ) COM(94 ) 333 final .

( ? ) COMÍ95 ) 74 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-630 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

(9 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 29 )

Subject : Career of Commission officials

The Staff Regulations stipulate that to enter a higher grade
an official must pass a competition .

External and internal competitions are held to this end .

Is it true that an official in grade B1 in DG III, on unpaid
leave on personal grounds, has been taken on the staff of the
Agency for Medicinal Products in London as a temporary
official in grade A5 ?

Does this procedure not bypass the provisions of the Staff
Regulations ? In what grade will the official return to his
original Commission service ?

Is it true that the same procedure is to be used to fill a vacant
post of adviser in DG XI ?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen

on behalf of the Commission

In general, new impetus has been given to employment ( 18 April 1995 )
issues, as a follow up to Essen . In its communication of
8 March 1995 ( 3 ), the Commission proposes a procedure
for the surveillance of employment trends and policies, in
order to achieve a coherent approach on employment in the The individual case referred to by the Honourable Member
context of Article 103 of the EC Treaty . This approach does not fall within the Commission 's powers . The official
chould involve both the Ecofin Council and the social affairs was recruited from outside by the European Agency for the
Council, avoiding a two track approach to policies, as Evaluation of Medicinal Products .

No C 209 / 18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

This decision will have no effect on the career of the official
in question " should he return to the Commission, where he
would be reinstated in his original grade .

The Commission has no post of mediator in DC XI .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-660 / 95

by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 10 March 1 995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 30 )

Subject : European Union scientific policy contrasted with

the US counterpart

At the end of 1994, the Washington Post published two
articles by Royce Rensberger which described the current
state of scientific research in the USA . On the one hand,
budgetary restrictions are cutting subsidies for research,
while on the other, the number of researchers based in
universities in receipt of federal subsidies is rising very fast,
at a rate of 5,7 % per annum . Moreover, the trend continues
to be to cut support for basic ( or fundamental ) science in
favour of applied science .

As the new Commission takes up its duties, and having
listened to the new Commissioner for Scientific Research, I
would ask the Commission if it has analyzed these US
developments, which can always be usefully compared with
the state of affairs in Europe ? Does the Commission think
that the Forward Studies Unit directly responsible to
President Santer should investigate this subject ? Does it
know whether the new chairman of the US Congress 's
Technology and Competitiveness Committee, the
Republican Robert S. Walker, will continue to support basic
research as he has done in the past, e.g. in his support for the
now cancelled Superconducting Super Collider project ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 1995 )

The Honourable Member 's question touches on one of the
Commission 's major concerns, namely improvement of
Europe 's competitiveness against the other members of the
Triad .

The Commission is following developments in the USA with
interest . It is difficult as yet to measure the consequences of
the cuts in the direct ( military ) subsidies in favour of
stepping up applied research by universities . The informal
meeting of the ' Carnegie Croup ' of G7 research ministers

and the European Commission member responsible for
research in Washington on 13 May 1995 will provide an
opportunity to clarify this point and the intentions of the
next chairman of the House Committee on Science .

The Forward Studies Unit is collaborating with DC XII and
the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in Seville
on monitoring research trends worldwide and, in particular,
in Europe in response to this competition .

The European report on science and technology indicators
for 1994, a copy of which is being sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General, gives a
good snapshot of the situation :

— After slipping back slightly in the mid-'80s, the USA has

consolidated its position with over 40 % of R&D
expenditure and of all scientific publications worldwide
and slightly over 50 % of the parents lodged in the USA
and 30% of the patents lodged in Europe .

— At the same time the Community 's share of patents

lodged in Europe fell from over 50% 1981 to 45% in

1993 ( Japan lodges more patents in Europe than any
Member State ). Over the same period the Community 's
share of patents lodged in the USA fell from 23% to

17% . On the other hand, Europe 's share of scientific
publications and R&D expenditure has increased .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-707 / 95

by Peter Crampton ( PSE )

to the Council

( 13 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 31 )

Subject : Council proposals in the field of relations with

Member States, openness and communication,

1994

Regarding proposals for legislation and regulation made in

1994 in the field of relations with Member States, openness
and communication, can the Council tell me how many
proposals were brought forward by the Council and which
Member States brought forward the proposals ?

Answer

( 27 lune 1995 )

No proposals for legislation and regulation were made in

1994 in the fields referred to by the Honourable Member .
For the Council 's information policy and transparency

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 19

measures, the Honourable Member should refer to the reply
given by the Council to Written Questions Nos 45 / 95 and
399 / 95 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-724 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-728 / 9 5

by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 199 5 )

( 95 / C 209 / 33 )

Subject : Cohesion Fund projects in Malaga
by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

What projects have been selected in Malaga for financing
( 95 / C 209 / 32 ) from the Cohesion Fund ? Will the Commission specify the
size of the Community contribution and the dates on which
the Member State concerned presented the various projects,

from the Cohesion Fund on which the Commission gave its approval and on which

the Spanish authorities made available Community funding
for each project ?

Subject : Projects financed from the Cohesion Fund

The Court of Auditors of the European Union has made a
number of criticisms of the way in which the countries
which benefited from Cohesion Fund financing in 1993
selected and administered some of the projects
concerned .

Can the Commission list the projects financed in Spain
which have failed to meet Community standards as regards
the award of public funds ?

Can the Commission list the projects financed in Spain
which do not comply with the two general objectives of the
Cohesion Fund ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

All the projects financed from the Cohesion Fund in the four
Member States concerned are required to ^ omply with
Community rules on public contracts and the objectives of
the Fund .

In examining projects, the Commission has paid particular
attention to verifying that the rules on the award of public
contracts are observed where these are relevant . It should be

noted that in Spain, Greece and Portugal some awarding
bodies use special procedures and rules when awarding

contracts .

The Commission has found no reason to doubt the urgency
invoked to justify the award by private treaty of the projects
in Spain to which the Court of Auditors referred . The
Directives explicitly provide for this procedure and set out
the cases in which it mav be invoked .

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

Decisions on finance for measures under the Cohesion Fund

are taken on the basis of projects and at the level of the
Member State . This means that no data at regional or
provincial level are available . A detailed list of projects
financed in Spain by the Cohesion Fund in 1993 and 1994 is
being sent direct to the Flonourable Member and to
Parliament 's Secretariat .

Projects of indirect benefit to the city of Malaga include the
Bailen-Granada motorway, which will improve access from
Andalusia to major routes and provide a link with the
north-south route, and projects in the Guadalquivir
basin .

As regards procedural time-limits, the Commission
recommends the Member States to submit projects during
the first quarter of the year . As provided for in Regulation

( EC ) No 1164 / 94 ('), projects are approved within three
months of receipt . Payments are made within two months of
receipt of a correctly completed application .

(') OJ No L 130, 25 . 5 . 1994 .

No C 209 / 20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-735 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-745 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 34 ) ( 95 / C 209 / 35 )

Subject : Subsidies to Member States which fail to respect

their obligations

The anti-fraud programme submitted by the Commission
does not ensure changes to legal procedures which would
give the right to suspend unilaterally payments to those
Member States which, by failing to comply with Article 209,
do not protect the Union 's financial interests .

Can the Commission propose changes to the legal
procedures for suspending subsidies to Member States
which fail to respect their obligations and so make possible
an effective campaign against Community fraud ?

Subject : Urban programme — projects in Malaga

Can the Commission tell me what projects have been
decided on for Malaga under the Urban programme,
specifying the size of the Community contribution and the
dates when Spain submitted the projects in question to the
Commission for approval, and the dates of the Spanish
authorities ' making available the Community funding for
each project ? Can the Commission state which Spanish local
authorities have been selected for this programme ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

The Commission is currently considering the proposal for

Answer given by Mrs Gradin
on behalf of the Commission an Urban operational programme submitted by the Spanish

authorities on 3 November 1994 and hopes to adopt the
( 27 April 1995 ) programme before the summer . It is not possible at this stage
to state which towns will be selected for it .

The Commission would point out that it is already possible
for it to reduce or suspend payments . The Guarantee Section
of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
concerns the most substantial part of expenditure . Here,
Article 1 3 of the Council Decision 94 / 729 / EC of 3 1 October

1994 concerning budgetary discipline ( 1 ), permits the
reduction or the temporary suspension of advances granted
to a Member State . This is the case if the information given
on the request of the Commission is unsatisfactory or if it
indicates manifest non-compliance with the rules and a clear
misuse of Community funds . The Commission can continue
to refuse its contribution to national co-financing measures
as long as the benefiting Member State does not fulfil its
obligations .

Structural measures cover another large part of expenditure .
Here assistance can also be reduced or suspended . Thus is
the case if irregularities are found when examining the
comments of the Member State or of the authorities

designated by it ( Structural Funds : Article 24 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 as modified by Regulation

( EEC ) No 2082 / 93 ( 2 ), Article H of Annex II of Council
Regulation ( EC ) No 1164 / 94 ( ? ).

(') OJ No L 293, 12 . 11 . 1994

( 2 ) OJ No L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .

( ! ) O'j No L 130, 25 . 5 . 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-753 / 95

by Honorio Novo ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 15 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 36 )

Subject : Reduction in aid for the supply of cereal products

to the Azores and Madeira

Over the last two and a half years the Commission has
decided on the following reductions in aid for the supply of
certain cereals of Community origin to the Azores and
Madeira ( the figures refer to 1992 and 1994,
respectively )?

Common wheat : from ECU 65 / tonne to ECU 26 / tonne ;
barley : from ECU 74 / tonne to ECU 52 / tonne ; maize : from
ECU 101 / tonne to F1CU 61 / tonne ; durum wheat from ECU

106 / tonne to ECU 0 / tonne ( Regulations ( EEC )
No 1833 / 92 (') and ( EC ) No 3197 / 94 ( 2 ), respectively ).

Given that the Regulation which originally provided this aid

( Regulation ( EEC ) No 1600 / 92 ) (- 1 ) seeks to take into
account the specific characteristics and limitations of these

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 21

island regions, as defined by the Poseima, and that these
disadvantages are being perpetuated ; given also that the
products referred to above are particularly important for the
food supply of the regions in question and are also vital for
certain local processing industries, will the Commission

say :

on what grounds it has decided to make such a substantial
reduction in the aid for these products ? Has provision also
been made for measures to compensate for reductions,
specifically under the Poseima Programme ?

(') OJ No L 185, 4 . 7 . 1992, p . 28 .

( z ) OJ No L 337, 24 . 12 . 1994, p . 19 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 173, 27 . 6 . 1992, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1600 / 92 introduced specific
measures for the supply to the Azores and Madeira of
certain agricultural products listed in annexes up to certain
quantities determined annually in forecast supply balances
to meet needs for human consumption and processing .

No customs duties are levied on these products when they
are imported into the regions in question from non-member
countries . Needs may also be met through the supply of

Community products on terms at least equivalent to the
advantage derived from the exemption from import duties
of products originating in non-member countries .

In managing this Regulation, the Commission has set off the
exemption from import duties on these products from
outside the Community against aid for the supply of
Community products .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 1600 / 92 contains no provision for
measures to provide compensation when the level of aid
falls .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-773 / 95

by Mark Killilea ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 37 )

Subject : Discrimination against an EU national as the

provider of a service on the grounds of his
nationality

In a case now before the German court, an Irish-based
company, Convec Ltd, Galway, has brought action against a

German company, Foron Hausgerate GmbH, for breach of

contract .

The first part of the case took place at the Landgericht

Chemnitz on 15 February 1995, and the court will present
its decision on 8 March 1995 .

The court decided to uphold the demand of Foron GmbH,
that Convec Ltd pay a deposit of DM 9 580 as ' security ', on
the grounds that it is a ' foreign 1 company .

The Preliminary Ruling of the European Court of Justice in
Case C-20 / 92, A. Hubbard v. P. Hamburger ( Equal
Treatment — Freedom to provide services ), has deemed that
it is in fact discriminatory under Articles 59 and 60 of the
EEC Treaty to seek such securities from an EU national, and
that it is also discriminatory to prohibit, on the grounds of
domestic law, the provision of services or carrying out of
normal activity of such a national .

Will the Council agree that the demand for a security
payment on the part of Foron GmbH, supported by the
German court, is in fact in breach of EU rules, and if so, how
it proposes this situation be redressed ?

Answer given by Mr Monti
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 )

The Commission was not aware of the facts set out in the

Honourable Member 's question .

In the light of the Court of Justice 's consistent case-law, and
in particular its Preliminary Ruling to which the
Honourable Member refers, the Commission is of the view
that any Member State requiring companies established in
other Member States to pay securities in cases before
national courts would be in breach of Articles 59 and 60 of

the EC Treaty, if such companies were acting under freedom
to provide services .

Such a requirement would in any event be contrary to
Article 6 of the EC Treaty, which outlaws any
discrimination on grounds of nationality and requires that
all persons in situations covered by Community law be
treated precisely as if they were nationals of the Member
State in question .

This basic principle of equal treatment may be relied on

before national courts against discriminatory provisions of
national law and to obtain the same treatment as
nationals (').

No C 209 / 22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

The Commission will be examining the case to which the
Honourable Member refers very thoroughly indeed and will
make the necessary contacts with the authorities of the
Member State concerned, in order to establish whether there
are grounds for initiating the procedure provided for in
Article 169 of the EC Treaty .

(') See Case 186 / 87 Cowan [ 1989 ] ECR 195 and Joined Cases

C-92 / 92 and C-326 / 92 Phil Collins and Patricia [ 1993 ] ECR

1-5145 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-775 / 95

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1995 )

The issue of ' sex tourism ' is a matter of concern for the

Commission as well as the Parliament . This is why, in
accordance with the wishes expressed by the Parliament, the
Commission intends to look at this issue in greater
detail .

This being the case, it is not within the field of competence of
the Commission to comment on the promotional activities
and any effect that they may have .

by Joan Vallvé ( ELDR )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-784 / 95

to the Commission
by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 38 )

Subject : Against the promotion of sex tourism in the

Balearic Islands

The British tour operator Club 18-30 has launched an
advertising campaign presenting the Balearic Islands as a
destination for sex tourism . The campaign centres around
the slogan ' The Balearics, it 's not all sex ' followed 38 times
by the word sex and closing with the caption '. . . there 's sun
and sand as well '.

This campaign has caused deep dismay in the Balearics
tourist industry because in addition to the unfortunate fact
that the islands are known only as a holiday destination for
the three s 's : sun, sea and sand, even more unfortunately
another ' s ' now has to be added — ' s ' for ' sex '.

European Parliament resolution No A4-80 / 94 calls for the
combating of ' sex tourism ' and defines one of the main
objectives of tourism as acquainting visitors with the
genuine culture of the destination . This type of advertising,
however, gives a false image of the culture of the regions
visited . Moreover, according to Council Decision
92 / 421 / EEC ('), one of the priority aims of tourism should
be cultural exchange and a meeting of communities, peoples
and societies .

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

{9 SIC 209 / 39 )

Subject : Community developers

At the initiative of the European Parliament, a multi-annual
training programme for European project managers in the
regions has been launched .

The relevance of this programme was demonstrated by the
Commission colloquy of 25 November 1994 .

Can the Commission say how the programme can be
followed up under the new Socrates or Leonardo
programmes ?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 April 1995 )

., The training of ' Community developers ', launched by the
however, gives a false image of the culture of the regions Commission at the end of 1993 as a result of active support
visited . Moreover, according to Council Decision

from Parliament, took the form of financing on an

92 / 421 / EEC ('), one of the priority aims of tourism should experimental basis for ten training projects which were
be cultural exchange and a meeting of communities, peoples
and societies . carried initiative out has during been forwarded 1994 . A general directly description to the Honourable of this

Member and the Ceneral Secretariat of the Parliament . This

In view of this, does the Commission consider that this type training, organized by widely differing bodies, was aimed at
of advertising is compatible with the most recent decisions people within a structure ( regions, training institutes, the
on tourism adopted by the EU institutions ? Does it think social partners, etc .) responsible for the administration and
that this type of advertising could damage the image of the implementation of certain Community programmes . This
Balearic Islands as a tourist destination ? Will it intervene in initiative was the subject of an internal Commission

evaluation which concluded with a conference held in

this matter ?

Brussels on 25 November 1994 . At this conference, all
participants stressed the need to continue and develop the
(') OJ No I. 231, 13 . 8 . 1992, p . 26 . initiative . This was to be done in three ways :

In view of this, does the Commission consider that this type
of advertising is compatible with the most recent decisions
on tourism adopted by the EU institutions ? Does it think
that this type of advertising could damage the image of the
Balearic Islands as a tourist destination ? Will it intervene in

this matter ?

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 23

— Integration of the new Member States ; Member States conforms to European legislation ? What
information does it have ?

— Extending the operation : there was a desire to involve

new regions and new partners . During the experimental
phase, the majority of those affected were managers in
the public sector . There was a desire to involve operators
in the private sector ( e.g. Chambers of Commerce );

— Diversification of the subjects dealt with during training .

The accent had hitherto been on the Structural Funds .

There was now a considerable demand for subjects such
as education, training, youth, the environment or
transport policy to be tackled .

On the basis of this positive evaluation, the Commission
intends to pursue the operation under the Leonardo
programme adopted on 6 December 1994 . This programme
makes provision for Commission support for a number of
measures within which ' Community developer ' projects
could be integrated in the future . In particular, support for
these projects could be provided under section I.I.I, devoted
to transnational pilot projects . Those promoting
' Community developer ' projects are asked to reply to the
invitation to tender to be issued in April 1995 for the
implementation of the Leonardo programme . Full
information on the procedure and on the selection criteria
will be provided in a vademecum and a promoter 's guide,
which will be available within the next few weeks .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-786 / 95

by Johannes Blokland ( EDN )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 40 )

Subject : Free movement of plastic domestic products
containing an excess of heavy metals

A study carried out by the Dutch consumers ' association
Consumentenbond reveals that one in every three synthetic
disposable articles, such as washing-up brushes, clothes pegs
and cigarette lighters, contain excessive quantities of heavy
metals, in some cases about 80 times the permitted amount .
The heavy metals most frequently involved are cadmium,
mercury, chrome, antimony and selenium . In a fair number
of cases, PVCs are also found in synthetic products and
packaging .

Many of the items tested were manufactured outside the
Netherlands .

1 . Is the Commission aware of the precise extent to which
the use of heavy metals in synthetic products in Union

2 . Is the Commission aware of the percentage of heavy
metals contained in plastic domestic products
manufactured in countries which export heavily to the
European Union ?

3 . How does the Commission intend to improve
compliance with European legislation in respect of the

use of heavy metals in domestic articles ( Directive
76 / 76 9 / EEC ) (')?

4 . Is a Member State justified in banning products ( from
inside or outside the Union ) which fail to comply with
the EEC Directive ?

(') OJ No L 262, 27 . 9 . 1976, p . 201 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

1 . The Commission, as a matter of policy, checks that
Member States have correctly transposed Directives on
dangerous substances and preparations into their national
laws . National legislation thus normally conforms to
Community legislation and the Commission has full
information on cases of non-conformity .

The Commission does not check whether particular
products circulating in Member States conform to
Community legislation . Such checks fall within the
competence of Member States . The Commission for this
reason does not possess detailed information on the
products mentioned .

2 . The Commission does not check the percentage of
heavy metals in imported plastic articles destined for
domestic use . Member States are responsible for such
checks .

3 . The Commission has begun a review of the limitations
on the use of cadmium as a pigment stabilizer and for plating
provided by Council Directive 91 / 338 / EEC (') ( 10th
amendment to Directive 76 / 769 / EEC ). The Commission is
also active in developing an OECD risk reduction strategy
for cadmium for the Community in preparing with the
United States an OECD Council act on lead .

4 . Member States have a legal obligation to ensure that
products, from whatever source, placed on the Community
market respect the provisions of the relevant Directives .

(') OJ No L 186, 12 . 7 . 1991 .

No C 209 / 24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-807 / 95

by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 20 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 41 )

Subject : Consequences of using lignite as a fuel and possible

alternatives

The thermal power stations in the Prefecture of Kozani
account for some 70% of total electricity production in
Greece . However, they consume vast quantities of lignite
and citizens are seriously concerned at scientific evidence
showing high levels of radioactivity and alarming
atmospheric pollution and indicating that these fuels
contribute considerably to the ' greenhouse effect 1 . The
Greek authorities are currently implementing previous
Decisions and ignoring recent environmental and energy
data and are pressing ahead with the construction of new
lignite-fuelled power stations at Aghios Dimitrios

( Ptolemaida ) and Fiorina . However, the use of natural gas
would improve Greece 's energy balance and the extension of
the network to the region in which the thermal power
stations are located, allow the combined use of natural gas
and lignite, provide a significant development boost for
other plants in the region and facilitate the extension of the
gas pipeline to Albania in future . Will the Commission

say :

1 . Does it agree that the extension of the natural gas
pipeline in the region should be considered from the
outset as an alternative to the construction of new

lignite-fuelled power stations, particularly since this
would facilitate the extension of the pipeline to Albania
in future and the environmental levy on coal will make
the thermal power stations less economically viable ?

2 . Does it agree that account should also be taken of the
benefits to be derived from the extension of the network

to other plants in the Prefecture which has a high
unemployment rate ?

3 . Should account not also be taken of the fact that the use

of natural gas would improve the quality of air in the
region, whereas the construction of new lignite-fuelled
thermal power stations would have the opposite
effect ?

economic conditions and used with due respect to the
environment .

The coexistence of lignite and natural gas and other fuels in
the generation of electricity meets the general principles
outlined in the green paper .

Community lignite is produced and used under fully
competitive conditions . Its use is compatible with existing
environmental standards since the application of Directive
88 / 609 / EEC of 24 November 1988 on the limitation of
emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large
combustion plants ( 2 ) ensures that a high level of
environmental standards is kept throughout the
Community .

In this context, existing technology in the energy sector is
highly efficient and guarantees the possibility of achieving
the emission, levels required . This control of emissions is
particularly efficient with respect to newly constructed
power plants .

With regard to the extension of the existing Greek natural
gas pipeline network, priority has been given to the
successful completion of the North-South link and the other
related works of this project, which constitute a priority
project of the TENs . The future extension of the pipeline
towards west Greece and Albania is being examined by the
Greek authorities .

With regard to the specific questions on the benefits to be
derived from a future extension of the gas pipeline network
in the region, it should be noted that electricity produced
from lignite, which in the case of Greece constitutes a
national resource, is less expensive than electricity produced
from gas .

Furthermore, the consequent benefits in terms of
employment and the increase of economic activity, which
could be expected from such an extension of the gas pipeline
network, would also have to be balanced against any
possible reduction in employment in the coal and lignite
mining sector .

(') COM(94 ) 659 final .

( 2 ) O ) No L . 3.36, 7 . 12 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 16 / 95

by Philippe-Armand Martin ( EDN )
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis

to the Council
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1995 ) ( 27 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 42 )

On 11 January 1995, the Commission adopted a green
paper on energy policy ('). A white paper will be published
by the Commission in 1995 .

The green paper recognizes that one of the elements of any
energy strategy must be the diversification of energy
resources . These should be obtained under satisfactory

Subject : Wine and excise duties

Excise duties are governed by three different Directives :

— Council Directive 92 / 12 / EEC of 25 February 1992 on

the general arrangements for products subject to excise
duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 25

such products ( ), which lays down the rules for
intra-Community trade in products subject to excise
duty ;

— Council Directive 92 / 83 / EEC of 19 October 1992 on the

harmonization of the structure of excise duties on
alcohol and alcoholic beverages ( 2 ), which sets out
product categories and the taxation system ;

— Council Directive 92 / 84 / EEC of 19 October 1992 on the

approximation of the rates of excise duty on alcohol and
alcoholic beverages ('), which lays down rules for
determining the level of taxation .

The main argument put forward in favour of raising the
minimum rate of excise duty ( currently 0 ) is not, as one
might imagine, the difficulty of checking and monitoring
products subject to excise duty ( in this case, wine ), but the
fact that rates are not harmonized, which is an obstacle to
the completion of the single market .

Would it not be possible, in view of the administrative
difficulties encountered by wine producers when trading
within the Community with consumers and non-registered
traders, to modify the ' movement ' Directive

( 92 / 12 / EEC )?

Since the vast majority of traders and cooperatives, as well
as small wine producers, do not have subsidiaries in other
Member States, does the Council not consider that the
principle of fair competition taking into consideration the
size of businesses is being breached ?

Could operators in the wine-producing sector, in cases of
small-scale intra-Community trade ( up to the level of the
exemption provided for in the ' movement ' Directive

WRITTEN QUESTION E-8 19 / 95

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 )

(9 SIC 209 / 43 )

Subject : New textile industry products

For years the textile industry has been working on the
production of yarns capable of providing protection against
all types of pollution made from various fibres such as
carbon fibre or fibres with a metal core .

In Aviano, Italy, the firm ITA, Industrie Tessili Avianesi, has
produced Kind Star, a twisted yarn with a core made from a
particular rust-proof alloy, which is capable of reducing the
intensity of an electromagnetic field by between 80 and 100
per cent within a frequency range of 250 MHz to 18 GHz,
providing an excellent level of protection .

Can the Commission envisage a European Label for
Community textile inventions ?

Can it also, in view of the manifold applications of Kind
Star, award this product a Community Label ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

To date, the Commission has not established a European
label for innovative textile products in the Community .
Therefore the twisted yarn in question cannot benefit from
such a label .

( 92 / 12 / EEC )), not be dispensed from the compulsory use of
tax representatives, who often charge for their services at a
flat rate ? However, the Commission might in the future consider

whether the political, economic and scientific conditions
exist for the introduction of a European label for the
(') OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992, p . 1 . certification of innovative textile products, and if the
(-) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992, p . 21 . Member States would be prepared to support it .

(■') OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992, p . 29 .

Answer

( 27 June 1995 )

Amendments to the legislation referred to by the
Honourable Member can be considered by the Council only
on the basis of a Commission proposal . No such proposal
has been submitted to the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-820 / 95

by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 44 )

Subject : Unfair competition

In March 1994, Aachener Papierverwertung &
Containerdienst Horsch GmbH decided to bring legal

No C 209 / 26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

proceedings against Gemeinniitzige Altstoff Verwertung

( GAV ), likewise of Aachen, for unfair competition .

It is claimed that GAV has received the following aid in

recent years :

1 . Up to the year 2003, it is being allowed to use land for
which it ought officially to pay DM 118 000 per annum,
which sum is however being refunded to it . Over the
period 1991-1994, this saved it a total of DM
472 000 .

2 . Each year GAV receives from the City of Aachen a grant
ranging between DM 400 000 and 700 000 . In 1991 it
received DM 409 353, in 1992 DM 517 219, in 1993
DM 615 145, and for 1994 it has asked for DM

347 000 . The total comes to DM 1 888 717 .

are general measures that apply indiscriminately to any
company that takes on certain categories of unemployed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-832 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 )

95 / C 209 / 45 )

Subject : Development of a European network of local

action groups

3 . Over the period 1991-1994, GAV received DM The Eeader II programme provides for the setting up of a
9 048 000 from the Ministry of Employment, Social European innovation and rural development monitoring
#### Affairs and Health and the Ministry for Youth . system . How will this project incorporate the Atlantic ­ Arc

network of local action groups which is currently being
formed ?
4 . GAV has been granted tax relief .

5 . Cologne District Government has paid GAV DM
2 700 000 to build a new processing complex .

Did not the payment of DM 14 108 717 ( not counting the
tax relief ) by three public authorities — the City of Aachen,
two federal ministries and the District of Cologne — in the
period 1991-1994 distort competition ?

More particularly, is it not true that at least seven businesses
based on the Community — including four in Germany, one
in the Netherlands and one in Belgium — have suffered
unfair competition ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

In January 1995 the Commission received a complaint
concerning aid that had allegedly been granted to
Gemeinniitzige Altstoffverwertung GmbH by the cities of
Aachen and Cologne . Given that this aid did not seem to
have been notified to the Commission pursuant to
Article 93 ( 3 ) EC Treaty, the Commission requested the
German authorities to provide all information necessary for
an assessment of the compatibility of the aid with the
common market . This information has yet to be
received .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

The Leader II Community Initiative ( ) is based on a
European rural development network intended to promote
active solidarity between rural areas through the exchange
of achievements, experience and know-how involving all
concerned : national administrations and their decentralized

bodies, local governments, local development groups, the
socio-economic partners and associations .

Active participation in this network, which is financed by
Community funds, is a condition of receiving assistance
under Leader II .

Paragraph 14 of the notice to the Member States specifically
invites other parties engaged in rural development to give
the network the benefit of their experience, know-how and
projects .

This network, which undertakes a very wide variety of
activities, is managed by the European Observatory for
Innovation and Rural Development, for which a call for
tenders was published in the Official Journal .

As the Honourable Member suggests, there can be no doubt
that local action groups in the eligible territories of the
Atlantic Arc will be members of the European network .

( l ) O ] No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1994 .
The Commission is at present unable to indicate whether the
interventions by the ministries referred to by the
Honourable Member also constitute aid, or whether these

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 27

WRITTEN QUESTION E-847 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-834 / 95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-847 /

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE ) by Josu Imaz San Mfguel ( PPE )

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission to the Commission

( 24 March 1995 ) ( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 46 ) ( 95 / C 209 / 47 )

Subject : The Union 's Mediterranean policy

What are the Commission 's policy guidelines on promoting
the economic development of the Union 's Mediterranean
regions and associating them in the ' great Mediterranean
policy ' which the French Presidency wishes to promote ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

As with the countries of central and eastern Europe, the
Community has stated its intention to strengthen its
Mediterranean policy to make it commensurate with the
development challenges that the region faces . There is an
expressed will to link up policies and instruments in a better
way so as to develop the role of the Mediterranean regions
as an interface between other parts of the Community on the
one hand and the countries of the south and east

Mediterranean on the other .

With regard to the Mediterranean regions of the
Community, and following on from the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes ( IMPs ) adopted in 1985, the
reform of the Community 's Structural Funds has resulted in

g expansion of the resources allocated to these regions,
iy of them eligible under Objective 1 . This policy thrust
has been reinforced for the period 1994 — 1999 .

In order to encourage greater synergy between the structural
assistance of the Community and its external policy, the
Commission plans to step up its efforts to :

— extend to the Mediterranean area the cooperation model

which has been developed recently, on the initiative of
Parliament, between the Interreg and Phare

programmes ;

— systematize transnational cooperation projects
involving the Community and its Mediterranean
partners on problems of common interest, in particular
transport and the environment, by giving priority to a
territory-based approach and cooperation between the
various Community instruments .

Subject : Closure of the Tudor company in Zaragoza

( Spain )

In 1991 the multinational company Ralston Energy Systems
acquired the Pilas Secas Tudor company of Zaragoza

( Spain ).

Pilas Secas Tudor was a direct competitor to Ralston and
was well placed in the market . It was highly profitable, used
state-of-the art technology and enjoyed high productivity
levels .

As soon as they had acquired Tudor the new owners
systematically replaced the company 's usual suppliers with
other ones which were part of the Ralston group but
charged prices in excess of market rates .

As a result of this, combined with the purchase of a company
in Portugal which was charged to Tudor 's account and drew
on other companies owned by Ralston for finance, Tudor
was placed at a competitive disadvantage, which was seized

upon by Ralston as a pretext for closing the company and
selling the factory plant ( which was transferred outside the
European Union ), just retaining Tudor 's market share and
marketing network . Four hundred employees were made
redundant .

Does the Commission not consider that Ralston 's actions

contravene Article 85d of the Maastricht Treaty ?

Can the Commission intervene, pursuant to Articles 1 1 8
and 118b of the Maastricht Treaty, in order to secure an
agreement between the parties involved which will prevent
the tragic loss of 400 jobs ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 )

The Commission does not consider that Ralston 's actions

contravene Article 85(l)(d ) of the EC Treaty . That
provision relates to a form of anti-competitive behaviour in
which an identical service is provided or an identical product

sold to third parties on discriminatory terms, thereby
placing some of them at a competitive disadvantage with
respect to others . If Article 85(l)(d ) is to apply, the
discrimination must result from an agreement or concerted
practice between independent firms which affects trade
between Member States and eliminates competition within a
substantial part of the common market . In the case in point,
we are not dealing with independent firms that have entered

No C 209 / 28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

into an agreement since Pilas Secas Tudor belongs to
Ralston . Without wishing to pass any opinion on them,
Ralston 's decisions concerning the company which is now
its subsidiary would appear instead to be unilateral moves to
organize Tudor 's activities on the Spanish market in a way
that best suits its own interests .

There is no scope whatsoever for the Commission to
intervene in this matter under the Treaty provisions
mentioned by the Honourable Member .

It is moreover quite clear from the information given in the
question that this is a matter exclusively for the Spanish
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-855 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-864 / 95

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 49 )

Subject : Unsafe nuclear power stations

The Commission is well aware of the enormous

environmental and ecological damage that results from
accidents in unsafe nuclear power stations where dangerous
emissions are involved . The Commission will also be aware

that concerns have been raised about the safety of nuclear
power stations, particularly in central and eastern European
countries . What steps can the Commission take to minimise
these risks ?

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission
to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 ) ( 31 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 48 )

Subject : Telematics services relating to health care

The specific programme for telematic systems in areas of
general interest ( Council Decision No 91 / 353 / EEC ('))
contains projects for the establishment of trans-European
networks between administrations for the purpose of setting
up telematic systems relating to health care ( Council
Decision No 88 / 577 / EEC ( 2 )). Could the Commission say
what projects are being financed and whether any studies
have been completed yet ?

(') OJ No L 192, 16 . 7 . 1991, p . 18 .
(-) OJ No L 314, 22 . 11 . 1988, p . 22 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1995 )

In the ' Telematics systems in areas of general interest '
programme ( 1990 — 1994 ), area 1 was dedicated to
trans-European networks between administrations . Under
this sector, two health related projects were financed ( CARE
and TECN ). These two projects have produced a series of
positive results .

In addition, within area 3 ' health telematics ' another
trans-European network project ( Emdis ) was also financed .
More generally, in the health telematics sector, 40 projects,
seven concerted actions and seven accompanying measures
have been financed . The information related to the above
projects is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to
the Secretariat-General of Parliament .

The Commission is taking a number of measures to improve
the safety of nuclear power stations in the countries of
central and eastern Europe . These measures are designed

to :

— promote the setting-up or reinforcement of national

safety authorities with the necessary powers and
independence and with support from the nuclear safety
authorities of the Community ;

— provide cooperation with local organizations in
analysing the safety of nuclear installations and
determining which solutions can be applied, where
appropriate, and implementing them ;

— help power station operators to acquire a ' safety culture '

and to run and maintain their installations in accordance

with standards comparable to those applied in the
Community . This includes supply of equipment .

Funds from the Phare and Tacis programmes are used to
these ends . The Council has also authorized the

Commission to grant loans under the Euratom Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-880 / 95

by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 50 )

Subject : Transfrontier postal services

The associations which represent the major users of
European postal services are opposed to the system of costs

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 29

envisaged by the European, US and Canadian postal
administrations, claiming that the new system gravely
prejudices the transfrontier postal market, involving as it
does a considerable increase in costs ( it would, according to
the associations in question, cost 40 % more to send a 200 g
newspaper from the UK to Germany, and 50 % more to
send a 10 g letter from France to Germany, for
example ).

With regard to these claims, can the Commission state :

— what are the salient characteristics of the new system of

costs envisaged by the postal administrations ?

— who will carry the burden of the increased costs ?

— what is the Commission 's opinion of this system ?

— with regard to the complaints from the users '
associations, is there any possibility of holding an
enquiry which would allow their position to be
examined ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 551 / 95 by Mr
Amadeo (').

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

Like all such exchanges, the exchange of quotas agreed on in
December 1994 was carried out under Article 9 of

Regulation ( EEC ) No 3760 / 92 and is a matter for the
Member States concerned . The Commission is normally
notified of these exchanges and amends the data bases
which monitor the use of quotas .

In the specific case to which the Honourable Member refers,
the Commission amended the Regulation on TACs and
quotas for 1995 in the light of the conclusions of the
December Council . This amendment also covered other

provisions, including the agreement with Norway . It was
transmitted by the Commission on 17 March 1995 and
adopted by the Council on 31 March (').

( ) OJ No L 74, 1 . 4 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-887 / 95

by Karl von Wogau ( PPE )

to the Commission

(') See page 14 of this Official Journal . ( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 52 )

Subject : Disparity in limits on chromium used in
tanneries

WRITTEN QUESTION E-882 / 95

by Carmen Fraga Estévez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 51 )

Subject : Agreement of 22 December 1994 by the Council of

Fisheries Ministers on the exchange of specific
fishing rights

With regard to the agreements reached by the Council of
Fisheries Ministers on 22 December 1994, and particularly
the measures concerning the exchange of specific fishing
rights, which involve significant changes to the annual
Regulation of TACs and quotas, can the Commission state
whether, in accordance with Article 8 of Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 3760 / 92 ( 1 ), it is not the Commission 's
prerogative to make such a proposal ?

(') OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992, p . 1 .

At present, there are different limits in force in individual
Member States of the European Union for tannery works
using chromium .

In Germany, the limits for trivalent and hexavalent
chromium are under 1 mg, whereas in Great Britain they are
in the region of 50 mg .

The reason for this situation is clearly that the Member
States can apply differing methods to determine these limits,
a position which will remain unchanged in the new Directive
on ' Best Available Techniques '.

Does the Commission share my opinion that this disparity in
limits could lead to considerable distortion of competition
in the European Union and that common minimum
standards must therefore be introduced in order to

discourage the relocation of businesses ?

No C 209 / 30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

The primary purpose of environmental legislation is to
protect the environment from pollution and at the same time
bring about improvements in quality . Where there is no
Community legislation Member States may establish their
own national regulations as far as they conform to the rules
of the Treaty .

Under Directive 76 / 464 / EEC on pollution caused by certain
dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic
environment of the Community ('), chromium is classified
as a list II substance and as such is required to be controlled
by means of national pollution and reduction programmes .
List II substances are defined as having deleterious effects
upon the aquatic environment which can, however, be
confined to a given area and with a polluting impact which
depends upon the characteristics and location of the water
into which they are discharged . Thus emission standards set
in permits for discharge should meet the water quality
objectives set for that body of water .

The Commission proposed a Council Directive on water
quality objectives for chromium ( 2 ) but this was withdrawn
since the proposal was considered inconsistent with the
objectives of the framework Directive 76 / 464 / EEC which
foresaw national measures for dealing with so called list II
substances .

(') OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 .

I 1 ) COM(85 ) 733 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-890 / 95

by Eryl McNally ( PSE )

the Community 's sugar sector after 30 June 1995, includes a
mechanism for carrying out a possible reduction of the levels
of production guaranteed by the quotas if this proves to be
necessary to ensure compliance with the Community 's
obligations under the agreement on agriculture resulting
from the Uruguay round of multilateral trade
negotiations .

The proposed mechanism has been devised in such a way
that it carefully respects the existing balance in the
allocation of the marketing guarantees provided by the
production quotas between products ( sugar, isoglucose and
inulin syrup ), between producing regions and between A
and B quotas . Consequently, a reduction decided in the
future for one or more marketing years would have broadly
the same effect on producers ' incomes throughout the
Community, ensuring a fair and balanced treatment
whatever the levels of quotas in a particular Member
State .

Whilst it is true that a B quota equivalent to 10 % of the A
quota has been allocated in respect of the United Kingdom
and several other Member States, the Commission has not
taken the view that such B quotas should be exempted from
the effects of a possible application of the reduction
mechanism . In this way the Commission is being consistent
with the overall approach of not altering the fundamental
allocation of the guarantees provided by the common
market organization in the sugar sector .

(') COM(94 ) 439 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-904 / 95

by Mireille Elmalan ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

to the Commission
( 29 March 1995 )

( 29 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 54 )
( 95 / C 209 / 53

Subject : Proposed sugar quota cuts

Can the Commission confirm that until the ' B ' quotas in
Europe are equalized at 10 % of ' A ' quotas, the UK will not
take a cut in quota ? This would automatically reduce the
volumes for export, without disabling countries from
fulfilling their commitments to sugar customers and ensure
fair play between Member States .

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 April 1995 )

The Commission 's proposal of 16 November 1994 ( ) on
the production quota and other arrangements to apply in

Subject : Threat of closure of a sugar factory in
Martinique

The cane-sugar-rum industry, which is one of the main
economic assets of Martinique, is in decline owing to low
producer prices in relation to production costs, taxation and
unfair competition from third countries on the European
markets . Despite these difficulties, it has been possible to
safeguard this industry, notably by maintaining operations
at the Gallon factory, which is the last sugar processing
factory in Martinique . At present, the factory is under threat
of closure . Such a closure would be an economic and social

disaster for the island .

Is the European Commission aware of the gravity of this
situation and does it intend to propose measures, in
consultation with elected representatives and trade union

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 31

and professional organizations, to prevent the closure and
to assist modernization of production equpiment in order to
ensure the future of sugar production and the
cane-sugar-rum industry in Martinique ?

eco-label for linen paper are environmentally sound, as they
believe these criteria will undermine efforts to achieve

sustainable forestry management in third countries .

What are the new environmental criteria for awarding a
Community eco-label for linen paper ? Is it true that the use
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro of recycled fibre predominates over other criteria ?

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 ) What is the basis of the system of cumulative points used to
assess the environmental impact of products applying for
the label ? Does the system differentiate products derived

received no word from the French from sustainable forestry practices from those which are
financial difficulties not ?

The Commission has received no word from the French

authorities about the recent financial difficulties threatening
the survival of the only sugar factory in Martinique . It is
unable to propose measures other than those already in
force for the marketing of sugar produced in the Overseas
Departments, including those in the context of the Poseidom
Programme . It is, however, aware that efforts should be
made to safeguard the future of the cane-sugar-rum
industry, which is why it decided that investment in the
rationalization of raw sugar production in the Overseas
Departments should be covered by the provisions of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 866 / 90 on improving the processing
and marketing conditions for agricultural products (').

As far as the Structural Funds are concerned, the EAGGF
guidance section provided assistance to the Galion factory
during the period 1989 — 1993 in the framework of the
Regis initiative ( isolated regions ) after a socio-economic
study demonstrated the viability of the project . This is the
last example of assistance to the factory .

In the framework of the new Structural Funds for the period

1994—1999, the EAGGF guidance section is active in the
agri-foodstuffs sector but no assistance has been requested
for the Galion factory . Finally, under Regis II initiative
currently in preparation, the French authorities have
earmarked funding for the cane-sugar-rum sector without,
however, specifying what form this investment will take .

(') OJ No L 91, 6 . 4 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-909 / 95

by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 55 )

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

The ecological criteria for the awarding of an eco-label to
certain tissue paper products can be found in the
Commission Decision 94 / 924 / EC (').

Promotion of recycled fibres is only one of seven criteria in
the ' load points ' approach used . An additional criterion is
that all virgin fibres in the labelled paper products must
come from forests where good forest management practices
are implemented . The criteria so established are based on the
results of three years of work including a life cycle analysis
study, and consultation with experts and Member States to
reach a consensus view .

The Commission does not share the concerns expressed by
the Brazilian producers that the criteria undermine
sustainable forest management in third countries . Pulp is
admitted from forests sustainably managed according to the
principles laid down in the Rio declaration, of which Brazil
is a signatory . The Commission took into account in its
proposal the Brazilian producers ' interests to the extent that
they did not contradict the European environmental
objectives and needs .

The Commission underlines that the criteria for the

eco-labelling of tissue paper products, which favour
recycled pulp, will not set a precedent for future paper
products, which will be examined without prej udice on their
own merits .

Subject : Community eco-label for linen paper (') OJ No L 364, 31 . 12 . 1994 .

Brazilian exporters of papermaking pulp are questioning
whether the new criteria for awarding a Community

No . C 209 / 32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

QUESTION E-914 / 95 On all these various aspects, the Commission will be putting

Raffarin ( PPE ) forth proposals and the Council will be laying down broad

to the Commission guidelines .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-914 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 56 )

Subject : Future direction of the CAP and integration of the

countries of eastern Europe

Two views of agriculture are gradually confronting each
other in Europe . Some people wish to turn agriculture into a
leading sector of the economy, a high-performing industry
primarily geared to export, while others prefer a more
socially-oriented agricultural sector, receiving sufficient
assistance to keep small farmers on their farms, acting to
conserve the landscape and geared to satisfying domestic
requirements . The present CAP will have to be altered as
enlargement towards the East takes place . Which of these
two directions does the Commission intend to take ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-916 / 95

by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 57 )

Subject : Summer time and energy saving

What is the Commission 's view of summer time and what

plans does it have for altering the clocks to save energy in
Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )
Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 April 1995 )

Since the introduction of the common agricultural policy,
several types of agriculture and several conceptions of
agriculture have co-existed in Europe . In particular, the two
approaches cited by the Honourable Member are both
present and have had to be taken into consideration .

Throughout the last 20 years, the CAP has been redefined in
the light of internal changes specific to the Community

( successive enlargements, the changeover from being a net
importer to being a net exporter, etc .) and in line with
changes in the external economic and political context the
Community finds itself in ( the GATT agreement for
example ).

In connection with the countries of central and eastern

Europe, the European Council in Essen confirmed the
strategy of rapprochement by deciding in particular on the
introduction of a ' structured relationship ' with those States .
The Commission has been requested, in particular, to
present in the second half of 1995 'a study on alternative
strategies for the development of relations in the field of
agriculture between the EU and the associated countries
with a view to a future accession of these countries .'

The Commission is currently in the process of preparing this
study . It is not possible at the moment, therefore, either to
anticipate the results of the socio-economic analysis of
agriculture in these countries or to determine at this stage
the strategies for integrating them into the F^uropean Union
and the possible changes that may be needed to the present
CAP .

Following its statement before Parliament and the Council
when the Seventh Directive 94 / 21 / EC (') on summer-time
arrangements was adopted, the Commission decided to
launch a study of the economic and other consequences of
the use of summer-time and the biannual time change ( from
summer-time to winter-time and vice-versa ). The study
concerns the effects of summer-time on the following :
energy, the environment, road safety, agriculture, public
health, working conditions and life style and the tourist and
leisure industries . The results will be available during the
second half of 1995 . The Commission also undertook to

present a report to Parliament and the Council by
31 December 1995 .

(') OJ No I. 164, 30 . 6 . 1994, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-917 / 95

by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 58 )

Subject : Economic and social situation in northern
Euboea

Northern Euboea ( and notably Mandoudi ) used to be a
centre of development and prosperity . After between 45 and
50 years of intensive mining of magnesite, the mines are
facing closure, dozens of undertakings are going bankrupt
and unemployment is running at over 75 % . The region now
faces economic stagnation and workers are forced to seek
work elsewhere in Greece .

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 33

In addition to the development incentives that must be
provided to tackle these problems in northern Euboea, will
the Commission say :

1 . whether there are any provisions for granting special
development aid to northern Euboea, as part of the
Community Support Framework for Greece ?

2 . whether special aid can be provided to tackle these

problems in the form of Community loans and subsidies
under the structural programmes ;

3 . what scale of activities is covered by these
programmes ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

A specific study on the Mandoudi region is currently being
carried out under the ' Industry and services ' operational
programme ( OP ) for Greece . This study should identify a
series of measures to restructure the industrial area of

Mandoudi and direct or indirect measures to combat

long-term unemployment in this region to be implemented
under the ' Continuous training and employment

'
promotion OP .

An initial breakdown suggests that about 30 % of public
expenditure under the OP for central Greece will go to the
island of Euboea .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-918 / 95

by Yiannis Roubatis ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 59 )

Subject : EU-Turkey Association Council and Turkish
threats

During his address to the European Union — Turkey
Association Council, meeting in Brussels on 6 March 1995,
the Turkish Foreign Minister :

— threatened that Turkey would annex the
Turkish-occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, if
negotiations for the accession of Cyprus began before a
solution was found to the Cyprus problem ;

— cast doubt on Cyprus ' right to become a member of the

European Union according to the calendar adopted by
common position of the General Affairs Council of the

15 Member States ;

— stated that Turkey would maintain its political and legal

opposition to Cypriot accession to the European Union,
if efforts were made to achieve this before Turkish

accession ;

— stated that the Council 's Decision on the accession of

Cyprus was a blunder which would lead to the
permanent partitioning of the island .

In view of this, will the Commission say :

1 . What measures does it intend to recommend that the

Council take in response to this Turkish threat ?

2 . What measures does it intend to recommend that the

Council take to avoid disrupting the accession
procedure of the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with
the decisions taken so far ?

3 . What measures does it intend to recommend that the

Council take in its future relations with the Turkish

Government to explain to the Turkish leadership what
we consider to be acceptable behaviour in relations
between the European Union and third countries ?

4 . What actions does it intend to take to put an end to the

flagrant violation of human rights in Turkey ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

(1 6 May 1995 )

Following the meeting of the EU-Turkey Association
Council on 6 March, the President of the Council sent a
letter to his Greek counterpart reaffirming the European
Union 's position concerning Cyprus . This letter states
clearly that the process being pursued by the Council is the
result of an internal decision of the Union, which
accordingly cannot be challenged by a third country, and
that any attempt by a third country to obstruct the process in
hand and interfere in the internal affairs of the Union would

be to no avail .

In response to the conclusions of the Association Council
meeting, the Commission will in due course present a
proposal on a pre-accession strategy for Cyprus .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member,

furthermore, that resolution of the Cyprus problem is a
matter which falls within the political dialogue framework .
In this context, the Commission and the Council Presidency
have already reported to Parliament on the recent
discussions of the ministerial troika in Ankara . During this
visit, the question of human rights in Turkey was discussed .
The Turkish authorities reaffirmed their desire to reform the

constitution in order to bring Turkish laws in line with
international standards .

No C 209 / 34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-920 / 95

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 60 )

Subject : Reprocessing in the Slovak Republic

At the hearing on the Mochovce nuclear power station
organized by Parliament 's Energy Committee on 1 March

1995, one of the representatives of the Slovak nuclear
supervisory body mentioned four options for the disposal of
nuclear waste :

( a ) transporting it to Russia ;

( b ) interim storage on the Bohunice power station site ;

( c ) final storage in a storage facility on the Mochovce
site ;

( d ) reprocessing in a reprocessing plant which has yet to be

built .

The bank granting the credit has made safe disposal one of
the necessary conditions for funding the project .

1 . Does the Commission feel that the nuclear waste
produced in the Slovak Republic can be disposed of
safely ?

2 . Is the Commission aware of the ' disposal options '
referred to above ( a . to d .), and what information does it
have concerning feasibility and safety ?

3 . What stages of preparation, planning, construction or

completion have the ' disposal options ' referred to under
a ., b ., c . and d . reached ?

4 . What is the financial involvement of the European
Union or Euratom in the various ' disposal projects '?

facilities for spent fuel as well as a disposal facility for the
final storage of low and medium level radioactive waste
storage at the Mochovce site .

The Commission has conducted research and development
programmes on radioactive waste management and
disposal and cooperation with radioactive waste
management agencies of the Member States in the frame of
an action plan . A huge body of open information on this
activitiy is available .

The Slovak Government has chosen the option of the ' open
fuel cycle '. This means that spent fuel, after being removed
from the reactor and cooled for a period of a few years in the
storage ponds at the reactor, will be stored indefinitely in
away from reactor interim storage facilities prior to disposal

( as in several western countries ).

Disposal of low - and medium-level waste is current practice
in the Community on-surface disposal facilities operated in
France, Spain and Sweden ; Germany practised deep disposal
in deep mines in Asse until 1978 and continues this type of
disposal at Morsleben . All spent fuel and heat-generating
high-level waste is stored safely in interim storage facilities .
Such facilities exist also for low - and medium-level waste in

Member States which have delayed a decision on final
disposal up to now . For Slovakia, an away from reactor
interim storage facility already exists in Bohunice and is used
to store spent fuel from Bohunice VI and V2 .

A consulting firm has been engaged by SE to draft a global
storage programme for all nuclear units, and SE is presently
considering the construction of additional interim storage
facilities which are to be built in Bohunice or in

Mochovce .

The Community at present is not engaged in the financing of
any away from reactor storage projects .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-939 / 95

by Shaun Spiers ( PSE )
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission to the Commission

( 22 May 1995 ) ( 31 March 1995 )
( 95 /C 209 / 61 )

The nuclear waste policy of the Slovak Republic
corresponds to nuclear waste Regulations in the Member Subject : Waste incineration
States . In particular, the Slovak Republic would sign a
guarantee agreement on the loan . In the proposed guarantee
agreement, it is stated ' The guarantor shall procure that SE Would the Commission

( Slovenske Elektrarne ) shall take all necessary measures for
the long-term safe management of the nuclear fuel cycle '.
This long-term safe management includes interim storage

Would the Commission indicate whether it has undertaken

research, or identified any other studies, into the
crossborder impact of waste incineration on the
environment and / or public health ?

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 35

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

WRITTEN QUESTION E-944 / 95

on behalf of the Commission

by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )
( 19 May 1995 ) to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

There have been several studies commissioned on the impact
of waste incineration upon the environment and health .
These have tended to concentrate upon the dioxins and

furans produced during incineration . The more relevant of
these are as follows :

1990 : A risk assessment for emissions from waste

incineration plants including the food chains to man in the
report ' Abfallwirtschaft — Sondergutachten September

1990 ' des Rats von Sachverstandigen fur Umweltfragen .
This provides information on the situation in Germany .

1991 : A study concerning the measurement and control of
dioxins and dibenzofurans, organized by ' Vereniging
Lucht ', Society for clean air in the Netherlands . The report
includes data on :

— the toxic effects of dioxins ;

— sources of dioxins, including municipal waste
incineration ;

— methods to measure dioxins and ;

— methods to reduce the emission of dioxins .

1992 : A study on human exposure to dioxins, called
technical report No 49 issued by the European centre for
ecotoxicology and toxicology of chemicals . This report
includes a discussion of :

( 95 / C 209 / 62 )

Subject : Leader II programme

Can the Commission say what projects have been agreed for
Malaga in the context of the Leader II programme ? What is
the extent of the Community contribution and what dates
have been set for presentation of these projects and their
final approval ?

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

The Leader II programme for Andalusia has not yet been
approved by the Commission .

This means that the allocation of the Community financial
contribution to the Leader II initiative in Andalusia has not

yet taken place and local development groups in the
province of Malaga have not been chosen at this stage .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-946 / 95

by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE )

to the Commission

— air emissions from different combustion sources ; ( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 63 )

— sources of the estimated daily exposure for man in

several Member States and ;

— data on the occurrence of dioxins in different materials,

including nutrition .

1993 : ' incineration of waste ', 17th Report of the Royal
commission on environmental pollution, United
Kingdom .

1994 : Report on ' emissions of dioxins in the Netherlands '
by the National institute of public health and environmental
protection and Institute of environmental and energy
technology .

Recently the United States Environmental protection agency
has undertaken an extensive study on all important aspects
of dioxins and dibenzofurans .

Subject : Liberalization of the Community market in
electricity

In the next few weeks the Commission will submit to the

Council a model for the market in electricity .

In this respect the British organization NERA ( National
Economic Research Associates ) has carried out a study on
the electricity market in Europe in which it criticizes the
so-called ' single buyer model '. The study maintains that this
model consolidates a monopoly situation which is not
subject to market discipline and points out the lack of
advantages in comparison with an open and competitive
system . The NERA institute considers a monopoly system
unsatisfactory in terms of economic efficiency,
unfavourable to the Single Market and lacking in
advantages for consumers .

The NERA institute also notes the risks involved in a single
buyer system co-existing with a system of negotiated access
by third parties . In contrast to the single buyer system and

No C 209 / 36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

the situation of co-existing models, third party access to the
electricity network would enable some consumers to
conclude contracts directly with the producers at more
advantageous prices and conditions, giving them the right to
use the electricity network at a reasonable tariff . This would
create greater competition and reduce electricity prices .

According to the Treaty on European Union, energy may
not be treated differently from any other product or service,
consequently the rules of free movement and free
competition may not be suspended . Because of the lack of
free competition, millions of consumers are paying
exorbitant prices per kilowatt hour as a consequence of the
inefficiencies of a system which is not transparent, and the
price differences generated by this practice have already led
to a steelworks being transferred from Spain to France and
jeopardized the industrial development of some European
border areas .

In view of the results of this study, does the Commission
envisage the possibility of taking a firm decision in favour of
liberalizing the market in electricity and against the
existence of hidden monopolies, in order to generate more
competition in the electricity sector, reduce prices and
promote the competitiveness of European industry ?

The Commission 's proposal on the introduction of
competition in the electricity sector takes account of the
structural differences affecting the ways in which the
electricity sectors are organized within the Member
States .

This being the case the Commission is not inclined to accept
options which do not embody the conditions needed for
liberalization when examining a proposal for a common
position on the Directive . The Commission would like it to
be made clear once and for all that it has only ever awarded a
study on this topic to the Institute for Economic Studies in
Cologne and not to anyone else . Therefore the conclusions
reached by any other study which may have been conducted
on this topic are the responsibility of its own authors and
may in no way be binding upon the Commission,
particularly since in the case mentioned by the Honourable
Member certain of the conclusions do not adequately cover
the situation of the Community electricity sector taken as a
whole .

The Commission paper constitutes a balanced step forward
within the very difficult situation existing within the
Council where, despite constructive alternative
contributions put forward by certain delegations, a political
logjam prevented a solution being reached .

If no binding political solution is able to prevail over the
Council, despite the efforts distilled in the working paper,
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis the Commission will invoke its own powers, as permitted,

on behalf of the Commission for example, under Article 90 ( 3 ) of the EC Treaty .

( 22 May 1995 ) (') SEQ95 ) 464 .

On 22 March 1995 the Commission adopted a working
paper ( ') allowing single-buyer and third party access to the
network systems to be introduced simultaneously in order
to open up electricity supply contracts to competition and
thus, to achieve the single market in electricity .

This paper is the Commission 's response to the Council 's

invitation of 24 November 1 994 to conduct a study aimed at
determining whether in economic terms the two systems
were equivalent as regards reciprocity and compatibility
with the EC Treaty .

This study does not constitute a new proposal for a law since
it forms part of the proposal sent to the Council in December

1993 ( 2 ). As far as the Commission is concerned it is a matter
of crossing the major hurdles within the Council which are
opposed to the adoption of this Directive and, in practical
terms, of reaching a consensus in order to adopt a common
position .

The Commission feels that the two systems may co-exist
provided that a certain number of precautions are applied to
single buyers so as to maintain the principles of
objectiveness, transparency and non-discrimination in order
that the resultant single-buyer system may uphold the
principle of reciprocity and be compatible with the EC
Treaty .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 643 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-951 / 95

by Gerard Collins ( UPE )

to the Commission

( 22 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 64 )

Subject : GDP per capita

Would the Commission state what the GDP per capita
vis-a-vis the EU average was for Ireland, Northern Ireland
and the UK as a whole in the following years : 1960, 1973,

1980, 1986, 1990 and the latest year for which figures are
available for all three ?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

The GDP per capita vis-a-vis the Community average has
been as follows :

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 37

( % )

1960 1973 1980 1986 1990 1992

1 . In ECU ( European Currency Unit )

Ireland NA 55,8 57,5 68,1 68,5 69,9

United Kingdom NA 83,6 97,0 91,1 92,1 89,2

Northern Ireland NA NA 74,3 NA 69,7 72,3

2 . In PPS ( Purchasing power standards
based on GDP and ECU )

Ireland NA 55,3 60,1 62,1 70,7 77,0

United Kingdom NA 103,3 96,2 100,8 100,1 98,8

Northern Ireland NA NA 73,4 NA 75,5 79,7

Note : ' per capita ' is understood as ' per head of total population '.

Sources :

1 . National Accounts ESA / Aggregates 1970-1992, pages 62 and 63 ( derivated ).
2 . Basic Statistics of the Community, 30th edition, 1993, page 67 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-959 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

to the Commission

The case is pending before the Court of First Instance of the
European Communities .

( 31 March 1995 ) OJ No L 333, 22 . 12 . 1994 .

( 95 / C 209 / 65 )

Subject : Import licences WRITTEN QUESTION E-965 / 95

by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI )

A French small business is said to have sought compensation
from the European Commission in excess of FF 2 million for
damages arising from its refusal to grant the firm licences to
import CFC 11 from Russia .

Can the Commission explain its reasons for refusing to
grant licences to import CFC 11, which was to have been

used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 66 )

Subject : Technology transfers

Does the Commission not consider the eight-year period of
validity laid down for the Regulation on exemptions by
category for technology transfer agreements to be too
short ?

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

( 15 May 1995 ) on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1995 )

The Commission refused to issue licences for the
importation of ozone destroyers ( CFC 11 ) from Russia
because the final use of the goods did not correspond to the
terms and conditions of the quota which had been issued to
the company .

The Commission thereby acted as the ' guardian ' of
Community legislation ( Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 594 / 91, replaced since 15 December 1994 by Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3093 / 94 on substances which deplete
the ozone layer (')).

The eight-year period of validity laid down for the new
Regulation can be regarded as corresponding to the average
duration of know-how and patent licensing agreements .

A longer period of validity would not seem to be justified,
particularly since current experience shows that, when new
regulations are adopted, provision is made for lengthy
transitional periods on expiry of the block exemption
regulations pertaining to previous agreements .

No C 209 / 38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-975 / 95

by Peter Skinner ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 31 March 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 67 )

Subject : European Union funding for environmental
improvements with trans-European networks

( TENs )

Can the European Commission please inform Parliament of
the amount of European Union funding which will be
available specifically for environmental improvements in
the planning, building and further development of TENs
and identify these potential resources ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

There are no specific financial amounts made available for
environmental improvements in the planning, building and
further development of trans-European network projects

( TENs ).

The main Community instruments covering the financing of
TENs projects are the Structural Funds ( i.e. European
Regional Development Fund ), the Cohesion Fund, the
proposed Regulation on Community financing and the
Commission 's budget line in the field of TENs and, as
regards loans and loan guarantees, the EIB and the EIF .

Assistance from these funds may be granted for preliminary
studies or technical support measures . This type of
assistance could contribute to environmental improvements
in the planning and further development of TENs .

It is important to note that in accordance with the principles
and objectives of Community environmental policy

( sustainable development and integration ), it would not be
desirable to separate the environmental cost from other
types of costs in a TEN project . Also as stated, at the request
of the Parliament, in the preamble of the Council Regulation

WRITTEN QUESTION E-982 / 95

by Fausto Bertinotti ( GUE / NGL )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 68 )

Subject : Opposition by the WWF of Verbano-Cusio Ossola to the construction of a road in the Valle

Vigezzo comunità montana, in respect of which an
application for Interreg Community funding has
been made

The Valle Vigezzo comunità montana (a local body
comprising several mountain communes ) plans to build a
road between the Valle Vigezzo and the Valle dei Bagni di
Craveggia . The project is among the applications to be
submitted for Interreg funding . Given that a proposal has
already been made for a regional nature reserve to be set up
in this part of Piedmont, that the current Development Plan
makes no provision for such a road ( the Bagni area is not
inhabited and there are no plans for housing to be built ) and
that Article 2 of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') on environmental
impact assessment applies in this case, does the Commission
not agree that the project should be declared inadmissible
because of non-compliance with Community legislation ?

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

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

The project mentioned by the Honourable Member was
earmarked for Structural Funds assistance under the

Italy - Switzerland Interreg operational programme for the
period 1991 — 1993 . As with al projects funded by the
Structural Funds, the national or regional authorities have
to ensure that Community legislation on the environment is
respected .

( EC ) No 11 64 / 94 of 16 May 1994 establishing the cohesion In fact, work on the project has not yet started because inter
fund ('), any calculation of the post of transport alia the environmental impact assessment was not
infrastructure projects must encompass environmental completed . The Commission will, of course, continue to
costs . environment monitor closely in regard respect to of this the project relevant in the Directives context on of the the

Interreg programmes .
(') OJ No L 130, 25 . 5 . 1994 .

( EC ) No 11 64 / 94 of 16 May 1994 establishing the cohesion
fund ('), any calculation of the post of transport
infrastructure projects must encompass environmental

costs .

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 39

WRITTEN QUESTION E-990 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-991 / 95

Paul Lannoye ( V ) by Paul Lannoye ( V )

to the Commission to the Commission

by Paul Lannoye ( V )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 69 ( 95 / C 209 / 70 )

Subject : List of ' Article 31 ' experts

According to Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty, experts are
appointed by the Scientific and Technical Committee to
advise the Commission on radiobiology and protection
against radiation .

Can the Commission provide the names of these experts,
their duties and say when their mandates expire ?

Which criteria are used by the Scientific and Technical
Committee for appointing these experts ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

A list of the members of the group of scientific experts in
public health referred to in Article 3 1 of the Euratom Treaty,
whose current mandate will expire on 31 March 1998, is
being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of Parliament .

The Honourable Member is also asked to refer to the

Commission 's reply to Written Question No 1024 / 93 from
Mr Alex Smith (').

Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty stipulates that the
members of the group of experts who advise the
Commission on basic radiation protection standards are to
be appointed ' from among scientific experts, and in
particular public health experts, in the Member States '.

This mandate is the basis on which the Scientific and

Technical Committee referred to in Article 134 of the

Euratom Treaty has always appointed the members of the
group, which means that they come from all of the Member
States .

(') O ) No C 264, 29 . 9 . 1993 .

Subject : The continuing extension of irrigation networks

around the Ramieres du Val de Drôme ( France )
special protection area

A special protection area ( Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ) (') since

1988 and a nature reserve under French law since 1987,
Ramieres du Val de Drôme has been severely affected by the
extension of irrigation networks, which are threatening the
aquatic fauna and flora in the region .

Since 1989 the natural drought has been compounded by
the effects of drainage of the Drôme and the adjacent ground
water for a new, oversized irrigation network, which has
been a recipient of Community subsidies in the past .

Irrigation associations are currently proposing a project to
build a storage dam at la Baume Cornillane ( Drôme ), under
the pretext of maintaining the minimum water level of the
river Drôme . The project calls for 22 % participation by the
European Union .

This project 's developers claim that it would improve the
existing irrigation networks by providing a source of supply
other than the river Drôme, thereby remaining the minimum
water level compatible with national rules and helping to
ensure that the Ramieres du Val de Drôme special
protection area continues to be respected .

In reality, without a firm commitment from farmers and the
French State to stop extending the networks and to monitor
extraction, there is a danger that public investment intended
for protecting the river Drôme will be used once again to
increase the irrigated surface area in the Drôme valley .

How does the Commission intend to monitor the

consistency between the various policies it supports, in
particular when the Structural Funds are involved ?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 1995 )

The Commission has taken note of the Honourable

Member 's question concerning ' the continuing extension of

No C 209 / 40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

irrigation networks around the Ramieres du Val de Drome

( France ) special protection area .'

to award part of their allocation to measures under Pesca

( point 8.f in the notice to Member States (')).

( l ) OJ No C 180, 1 . 7 . 1995 .

Its initial investigations show that the area affected by the, . . .
planned dam was not eligible under Objective 56b ) of the
Community Structural Funds and so no investment there
could be financed from those Funds . The Rhone-Alpes
regional authorities responsible for implementation of the
Objective 5(b ) SPD have been asked to confirm this WRITTEN QUESTION E-1014 / 95
point .

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1010 / 95

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 71 )

Subject : Implementation of the Pesca Community initiative

in the Azores Autonomous Region

Small-scale and coastal fishing plays a major role in the
economy of the Azores, since 90 % of the 4 596 registered
fishermen are involved in those kinds of fishing . Almost all
the 1 913 registered vessels within the category of 14 865
CRT and 48 473 KW are small units involved in fishing for
small demersal and pelagic species with a high commercial
value . In 1993, demersal species accounted for
approximately 42% of the fresh fish caught, the main
varieties being forked hake, wreckfish and sea bream .
Amongst smaller pelagic species, mackerel is of major
commercial importance, 1 739 tonnes thereof being caught
in 1993 .

In view of the above, could the Commission say whether or
not the support to be granted to the Azores Autonomous
Region under the Pesca Community initiative will take into
account the social and commercial significance of
small-scale coastal fishing and, if so, how much funding will
be allocated to it ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

The Portuguese authorities have provided a regional
breakdown of Portugal 's allocation of ECU 25,6 million
under the Community Pesca Initiative for the period
1994 — 1999 and have awarded ECU 1,28 million to the
autonomous region of the Azores . Under the Community
Regis Initiative, the Portuguese authorities were also entitled

to the Commission

(6 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 72 )

Subject : Projects supported by the Cohesion Financial

Instrument in Portugal

With reference to the projects supported under the
Cohesion Financial Instrument in Portugal in 1993, could
the Commission provide detailed information identifying
the projects and specifying the dates on which the
applications were submitted by the Portuguese authorities
and the decisions taken by the Commission ?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 May 1995 )

Thirty-four projects were approved for Portugal in 1993
under the Cohesion Financial Instrument, of which 14
related to transport and 20 to the environment .

A list of the projects is being sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat-General .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1036 / 95

by Florus Wijsenbeek ( ELDR )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 73 )

Subject : Hidden transit tax at the Polish border

Is the Commission aware that a hidden transit tax is being
levied at the Polish border ?

Does the Commission realize that this tax is paid only by
road haulage operators from the Netherlands ?

What action will the Commission take to stop such
discrimination, and when ?

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 41

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 199.5 )

The Commission was informed on 24 March 1995 of the

introduction by Poland, on 15 March 1995, of a new levy on
foreign road haulage vehicles . It immediately sought further
information from the Polish authorities .

The Commission understands that the levy is applied to all
non-Polish goods vehicles, including those of all Member
States, but not to Polish vehicles .

The Commission has protested in strong terms to the Polish
authorities regarding the introduction, without prior
warning, of a discriminatory levy . It has also underlined the
contradiction thus created between joint efforts, through
the Phare programme, to speed up traffic flows at border
crossings, and the introduction of new delays through the
method of collection of the levy . It intends to pursue the
matter further in the framework of the Community-Poland
association agreement .

Government did not establish any safeguard clauses when
adopting the Regulation in question, the principle of
freedom to provide services should be being applied
unrestrictedly .

The Spanish Government is denying the port of Malaga the
right to qualify as a frontier port, claiming that it possesses
no scheduled shipping line . Nonetheless, on 5 April 1994,
Cenargo informed the Malaga port authority that it
intended to open links from the ports of Malaga and
Almeria on 14 April, running a return ferry service between
Nador and Almeria and Nador and Malaga on alternate
days .

On 7 April 1994, the Civil Governor of Malaga replied that
the Nador service could not be operated because the port of
Malaga did not possess adequate infrastructure and staff .
He further stated that the Spanish Government did not
believe that the port of Malaga was equipped for such a
purpose . This argument is invalid, because the operator
making the proposal has offered to share the infrastructure
costs . The argument that there is no scheduled shipping line
is also invalid, because that its precisely what the
undertaking in question is seeking to establish .

Can the Commission confirm whether the Spanish
authorities have given a clear answer with regard to the
legislation in force for defining authorized frontier points or
external frontiers ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1069 / 95 (') Oj No L 378, 31 . 12 . 1986, p . 1 .

by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-1069 / 95 and E-1070 / 95

( 95 / C 209 / 74 ) given by Mr Kinnock
on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1995 )

Subject : Malaga as a frontier port

The infringement procedure mentioned by the Honourable

Can the Commission tell me why the port of Malaga has not Member concerning the refusal to authorize the
been declared a frontier port ? establishment of a regular maritime transport service

between the ports of Almeria and Nador was closed after the
Spanish authorities communicated the official inclusion of
the port of Almeria in the Schengen list of external border
crossing points .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1070 / 95

by Celia Villalobos Talero ( PPE )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1071 / 95

( 95 / C 209 / 75 ) by Laura González Alvarez ( GUE / NGL ), Carlos Carnero
González ( GUE / NGL ), Wolfgang Kreissl-Dorfler ( V ) and

Wilfried Telkamper ( V )

Subject : Spanish failure to implement Regulation ( EEC )
No 4055 / 86 on the freedom to provide marine
transport services

Can the Commission inform me as to the situation regarding
the case which it has brought against the Spanish
Government for infringing Regulation ( EEC )
No 4055 / 86 (') concerning the freedom to provide marine
transport services between Member States and between
Member States and third countries ? As the Spanish

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 76 )

Subject : ' Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of

1995 '

At the instigation of Senator Helms, the American Congress
is at present preparing the ' Cuban Liberty and Democratic

No C 209 / 42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Solidarity Act of 1995 '. The law will, in all probability, be
approved in the coming weeks .

Many provisions of the law are intended seriously to affect
relations between Member States and European citizens and
Cuba and its population .

By attempting to deprive Cuba of its political, cultural and
economic contacts with the EU, the Helms bill aims to
induce the early collapse of the Cuban regime . This
approach stands in direct opposition to the recent
resolutions on Cuba adopted by the EP .

Could the Commission specify the set of measures which it
intends to adopt or to promote in cooperation with the
Member States, in particular to demonstrate firm
opposition to the American legislation ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1995 )

The Commission has already reacted to the proposed Cuban
Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act ( Libertad ). On
15 March 1995, the Commission Vice-President with
special responsibility for relations with North America
wrote to his opposite number, the US Secretary of State, to
express the Commission 's concern at some of the provisions
of this bill and to ask him to take action to change them . The
letter was also copied to the members of the appropriate
Congressional committees .

considers it advisable or necessary . Suitable diplomatic
action will be taken if the bill is adopted as it is or if it is
amended but still contains contentious provisions .

The Commission has conducted a more in-depth analysis of
the bill to determine all the aspects of the European Union 's
relations with Cuba which are likely to be affected and,
where appropriate, to establish what further action to
take .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1085 / 95

by Kirsten Jensen ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 77 )

Subject : The role of bicycles in overall transport policy

It is apparent from the Commission 's answers of
30 September 1993 and, most recently, of 28 October 1994

( to Written Question E-l 836 / 94 ) (') that cyclists are to be
given high priority in the common transport policy over the
next few years, partly because of the contribution made by
cycling to the quality of the urban environment .

This being the case, will the Commission state what specific
measures it intends to take to promote cycling ?

(') OJ No C 36, 13 . 2 . 1995, p . 8 .

Answer given by Mr Kinnock

on behalf of the Commission

On 22 March 1995, the Commission delegation and the ( 19 May 1995 )
French embassy in Washington sent a more detailed letter
on behalf of the European Union to the majority leaders in
the Senate and House of Representatives and to the The promotion of cycling is, and
appropriate Congressional committees . This set out priorities of the common transport
positions on all the contentious issues in the bill and white paper of December 1992 (').
emphasized the European Community 's determination to
protect its legitimate WTO ( World Trade Organization )
rights . The localized nature of cycling

The promotion of cycling is, and remains, one of the
priorities of the common transport policy, as specified in the
white paper of December 1992 (').

The European Union 's political position was officially set
out in a declaration published in Paris and Brussels on
5 April 1995 . The declaration once again pointed out to the
US administration the European Union 's deep concern at
the prospect of Congress adopting the bill in question and
reiterated the EU 's opposition to any measure with
extra-territorial scope .

The Commission is tracking the progress of the bill through
the US 's legislative machinery in order to intervene again if it

The localized nature of cycling means that, under the
subsidiarity principle, Community actions are limited to
general support at the European level . To this end, the
Commission has co-funded a number of studies, most
recently one into cyclists ' safety which will be published in
April 1995, and participated in a number of seminars and
initiatives . It has also recently informed the European
cyclists ' federation that it will be represented at the
Velo-City conference which will be held in Basel in
September this year .

(') COM(92 ) 494 final .

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 43

QUESTION E-1094 / 95 States allow their students to take up places in any EU

John McCartin ( PPE ) university by facilitating the transfer of student grants, and

to the Commission other means of financial assistance, across borders ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1094 / 95

by John McCartin ( PPE )

( 12 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 78 )

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Labelling of foodstuffs containing aspartame / ( 24 May 1995 )

phenylaline

What progress has been made in the Commission 's services
on the project ( amending Directive 94 / 35 / EEC on
sweeteners for use in foodstuffs ( M ) that will provide for the
compulsory indication on labelling of the presence of
phenylaline, a product toxic to individuals with
phenylketonuria ?

(') OJ No L 2.37, 10 . 9 . 1994, p . 3 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

In line with the provisions of Article 8 of Directive 94 / 35 / EC
on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs, the Commission has
drafted a Directive requiring foodstuffs containing
aspartame to state on the label ' contains a source of
phenylalanine '.

The Commission has submitted this draft to the Member

States in preparation for a positive opinion of the Standing
committee for foodstuffs which will permit the Commission
to adopt the Directive definitively .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 097 / 95

by Thomas Megahy ( PPE )

to the Commission

Community competence in the field of education is limited
by the Treaty to encouraging cooperation between the
Member States . However, the Commission shares the
opinion of the Honourable Member on the need for
transferability of student grants in order to develop student
mobility . This issue was included in Parliament 's
resolution (') on the occasion of the discussions which took
place during 1992 / 93 on the Commission 's memorandum
on higher education (-).

A number of studies have been put in hand by the
Commission on the subject of student mobility . The
Commission will examine the feasibility of any initiative to
be taken in this field in the light of the results of these studies,
which are due by the end of the year .

In the framework of the Erasmus and Lingua programmes,
as well as the new programme Socrates, adopted on

14 March 1995 (*), it is provided that ' as the Community 's
contribution covers only part of the cost of a student 's
mobility Member States are invited to help provide the
necessary funds . In this connection grants or loans available
to students in the Member State of origin will continue to be
paid during the period of study in a host Member State '.

(') OJ No C 255, 20 . 9 . 1993 .

( 2 ) COM(91 ) 349 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 87, 20 . 4 . 1995 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 098 / 95

( 12 April 1995 )

by Mair Morgan ( PSE )
( 95 / C 209 / 79 ) to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

Subject : Transferability of student grants ( 95 / C 209 / 80 )

In view of the commitment in the recent White Paper on
Social Policy ' to review all aspects of the operation of the
single market with regard to the free movement of people ',
the specific reference to students in relation to this
commitment as well as the statements made both by the
Commission and the Council which indicate a desire to

increase the mobility of university students and to produce
graduates who have personal experience of the situations in
other Member States of the Community so that the notion
of a ' people 's Europe ' can be strengthened, could the
Commission say whether it has plans to make all Member

Subject : Eating disorders

In view of the increasing incidence and prevalence of eating
disorders throughout the Community how does the
Commission propose to act in this area ?

How does the Commission plan to institute or strengthen
existing codes of practice which govern diet products and
their advertising ?

No C 209 / 44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 105 / 95

on behalf of the Commission

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )
( 30 May 1995 ) to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 81 )

Community policies and activities have always aimed at
ensuring an adequate, varied and safe supply of food . They
have also aimed at providing information to consumers to
enable them to make informed choices for their food

consumption .

The reports of the Scientific committee for food form the

basis of Community legislation in the area of foodstuffs . A
copy of a recent report, on energy and nutrient intakes, is
sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat
general of the Parliament .

Nutritional aspects are also important parts of specific
actions such as the programme Europe against cancer . The
Commission envisages, in the proposed third action plan on
cancer ( 1995 — 1999 ), to continue the ' prospective
investigation on cancer, nutrition and health ' ( EPIC
network ) which includes the monitoring of 350 000 people
from seven European countries over a ten-year period . The
correlation between dietary habits and lifestyle should
permit conclusions which will also contribute to the
provision of nutritional recommendations for consumers .
The results of these epidemiological studies will also
produce information of relevance to cardiovascular
diseases .

Further, the Commission included the subject of nutrition in
its recent communication and proposal for a Parliament and
Council Decision adopting a programme of Community
action on health promotion, information, education and
training within the framework for action in the field of
public health (').

The Honourable Member will be aware of the existence of
Council Directive 89 / 398 / EEC ( 2 ) of 3 May 1989 relating to
foods for particular nutritional uses ( diet foods ). Based on
this Directive, the Commission has adopted a Directive on
infant formulae and follow-on formulae, is about to adopt a
directive on cereal-based foods and baby foods intended for
infants and young children and is at an advanced stage of
elaborating a Directive on foods intended for energy
restricted diets and weight control .

(') COM(94 ) 202 final .
(') OJ No L 186, 30 . 6 . 1989 .

Subject : Health checks on persons at the Union 's
frontiers

By 1 January 1993, under the terms of the Single Act, the
Member States were supposed to have established an area
without internal frontiers in which free movement of goods,
persons, services, and capital would be guaranteed . There
are still obstacles to this freedom of movement, but a more
serious matter is the delays in adopting the Convention on
common external frontiers .

What are the Commission 's predictions, and what steps
does it intend to propose, bearing in mind that the Union
needs to have common health regulations applicable to
persons crossing its external frontiers ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

As far as health checks at the frontiers of Member States are

concerned, a distinction should be made between persons
entitled under Community law and those who are not .
Existing Community provisions, namely Article 56 of the
EC Treaty and Council Directive 64 / 221 / EEC ('), specify
the public health reasons which may justify a refusal by a
Member State to allow entry to the following : citizens of the
European Union, who are entitled under Community law ;
members of their families who are nationals of a third

country ; and, finally, persons entitled under the agreement
establishing the European Economic Area . Now that the
Treaty on European Union has entered into force, the rules
governing crossing of the external frontiers of the Member
States by persons not entitled under Community law
concern matters of common interest . The latter are subject
to title VI of the Treaty on European Union, which covers
cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs . In this
connection, the Commission 's proposal for a Decision
establishing the Convention on controls on persons crossing
external frontiers ( 2 ), submitted to the Council on
10 December 1993, provides ( in Article 7 of the
Convention ) that a national of a third country may be
refused entry in the same circumstances in which a national
of a Member State may be refused entry to another Member
State, in particular on public health grounds .

(') OJ No 56 of 4 . 4 . 1964 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 11 of 15 . 1 . 1994 .

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 45

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 1 1 08 / 95

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 82 )

Subject : EIB and investment aimed at environmental
protection

The Treaty on European Union has stipulated that the EIB
must, as a matter of priority, channel the funds it obtains on
the financial markets into investment to promote the
development of less favoured regions . The Treaty also
indicates a number of priority areas such as setting up
trans-European networks, protecting the environment, and
so forth . Does the Commission consider that EIB loans to

finance environmental protection are in line with the
approach required by the Treaty ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1995 )

The Commission considers that the loaning activities of the
European Investment Bank ( EIB ) in the areas of
environmental protection are in line with the approach
required by the EC Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1112 / 95

by Joan Vallvé ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 12 April 1995 )

priority is to avoid waste and reduce its quantity and
noxiousness by employing clean technologies such as
reclamation and recycling .

Can the Commission say whether the projected ' Son Reus '
incinerator conforms to Community legislation ? Could the
inaccuracies revealed in the EIA relating to the project
proposed constitute grounds for stopping the project ?

(M OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 39 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 1995 )

With regard to the Son Reus incinerator the Commission
would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to

Written Question No 1704 / 94 by Mr Gutierrez Diaz (')•

Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC of 27 June 1985 on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment ( 2 ) does not grant the
Commission power to suspend projects for which the
impact assessment is alleged to be incomplete . Only national
bodies can order work to be interrupted in such cases .

(>) OJ No C 88, 10 . 4 . 1995 .

( 2 ) O ) No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 124 / 95

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

( 95 / C 209 / 83 ) to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

Subject : ' Son Reus ' solid waste incineration plant ( 95 / C 209 / 84 )

( Majorca )

The ' Son Reus ' urban waste incineration plant is being built
in Majorca . Its estimated incineration capacity is 551 150
tonnes a year, corresponding to 390 973 tonnes of slag and
ash a year .

The environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) of the project
did not include the ash and slag dump which is to be located
in the disused Son Nuviet quarry in the town of Petra, about
40 km from the future plant . 271 297 tonnes of ash and slag
a year will thus have to be transported over that
distance .

Directive 75 / 442 / EEC on wsate (*) stipulates that disposal
must not endanger human health or damage the
environment . Furthermore, under the Community waste
management strategy ( adopted on 18 September 1989 ), the

Subject : Participation of women in science and technology

industry

Women are seriously under-represented at decision-making
level ' in the areas of science and technology .

How many women are serving on the European Science and
Technology Assembly ?

The Commission Decision, Article 3 ( 3 ) states that the
' Commission shall assure the desired balance in
geographical terms . . . and in the various fields of scientific
and technological activity '. What measures, if any, will be
taken to ensure a balanced representation of women in this
selection process ?

No C 209 / 46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Answer given by Mrs Cresson

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 199 5 )

The Commission shares the Honourable Member 's concern

at the under-representation of women at decision-making
levels in the field of research and technology .

A greater number of women on the committees responsible,
at European level, for research and technology was one of
the recommendations laid down at the end of the ' Women in

science ' workshop organized by the Commission on 15 and

16 January 1993 in Brussels . The Commission is doing
everything it can to take account of that
recommendation .

The European Science and Technology Assembly now
includes four women, one of whom is a Vice-Chairwoman .
The Commission would have liked to see more women in
the Assembly . However, it had only limited room for
manoeuvre . Twenty-seven of the Assembly 's hundred
members are members of the former Codest ( Committee for
the European Development of Science and Technology ),
which included only one woman . Sixty other members are
appointed by the Commission on the basis of proposals
from the major European research organizations ( European
Science Foundation, Academia europea, Eirma, Irdac, etc .),
in which women are relatively underrepresented, and the
lists put forward by these organizations often failed to
include a single woman . Bound as it was by the terms of the
Decision setting up the Assembly to assure the desired
balance in geographical terms and in the various disciplines,
the Commission endeavoured to choose as many women as
possible from the lists . It will pursue the same line when the
Assembly is renewed in 1997 .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-l 146 / 95

by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE )

to the Commission

P&OEF Larne

Pandora Larne

Larne Harbour Ltd

P&O Road Ferries Ltd

North Sea Ferries Ltd .

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies

on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1995 )

Grants from the European Regional Development Fund

( ERDF ) have been paid to Larne Harbour Limited in the
period 1989 — 1994 ( inclusive ) as follows :

( in t sterling )

Year ERDF

1989 368 848

1990 365 916

1991 176 139

1992 599 362

1993 2 683 162

1994 901 152

Total 5 094 579

These grants were paid to upgrade infrastructure at the port
of Larne in order to reduce the effects of peripherality on the
Northern Ireland economy .

The ports of Felixstowe, Dover, Portsmouth and Aberdeen
are not located in areas eligible to receive Structural Fund
support . As far as the Commission is aware no grants have
been paid to either P&O Road Ferries Limited or North Sea
Ferries Limited . However, the P&O group of companies
may operate from harbours or use harbour related
infrastructure which have received the support of European

grants .

(7 April 1995 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-l 148 / 95

( 95 / C 209 / 85 ) by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission

(7 April 1995 )

Subject : European grants to P&OEF companies 95 / C 209 / 86

Will the Commission please provide details of European
grants to the P&OEF group of companies ?

the P&OEF group incorporates :

P&OEF Felixstowe

P&OEF Dover

P&OEF Portsmouth

P&OEF Aberdeen

Subject : Basle Convention and proposal COM(94 ) 678

1 . When does the Council of Ministers intend to adopt
the proposal, drawn up by Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan,
for a Council Regulation laying down common rules and
implementing provisions for the export of certain waste
towards non-OECD countries ( COM(94 ) 678 )? Which
Council will assume responsibility ? Is the Environment
Council involved ?

14 . 8 . 95 LEN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 47

2 . How does the Commission justify the proposal, which
seeks to evade the Basle Convention by means of bilateral
agreements, after the countries approached have either
failed to react or have made it clear that they do not want to
have a ' green list ', but will continue to support the complete
ban in the Basle Convention ?

3 . How does the Commission justify the proposal despite
confirmation from the ACP and OAU States that any

deviation from the Basle Convention is out of the question
as far as they are concerned and that they also have no
recycling facilities ?

4 . The proposal runs counter to Decision 11 / 12 adopted
by the Basle Convention Contracting States in Geneva on
24 March 1 994, with the support of all the Member States .
Why has the pressure of industry lobbying led the
Commission to accept a watering-down and breach of
international law ?

5 . The ban on the transfer of hazardous waste, even for
recycling, in accordance with Decision 11 / 12 is an
interpretation of the Basle Convention . What is the
Commission 's view of the implications for future
international agreements and the likelihood of bringing
actions for breaches of Treaty obligations if the Council of
Ministers breaches the decisions taken by the Basle
Convention Contracting States by adopting this
proposal ?

6 . Does the Commission share the view of MEPs that the

proposal not only breaches international decisions but is
also an affront to the position of the democratically elected
European Parliament, which has come out in favour of a
complete ban on the transfer of hazardous waste in
accordance with the Basle Convention, and is now to be
excluded by the change in the legal basis from Article 1 30s to
Article 113 ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 May 1995 )

1 . When a proposal of the Commission is forwarded to
the Council, the Presidency decides which formation of the
Council discusses it .

2 . The proposal of the Commission is consistent with the
current provisions of the Basel Convention and is justified
on an approach that is both conservative and responsive to
the wishes expressed by third countries as regards the
imports of ' green list ' wastes for recovery .

3 . There has not been any deviation from the Basel
Convention since the proposed Council Regulation clearly
establishes in its Article 3 that waste transfers towards ACP
countries are authorised only if they are not prohibited by
the Lome IV Convention . The Commission proposal
therefore, is fully consistent with the provisions of the Lome
IV Convention .

4 . The provisions of the Basel Convention, even if
amended in accordance with the proposal submitted to the
third Conference of the parties of the Basel Convention by
the Commission on behalf of the Community will continue
to allow exports of certain wastes from OECD to
non-OECD countries for recycling purposes under certain
conditions . In the case of ' green list ' wastes the Commission
proposes to allow these exports only in the cases when the
non-OECD country has explicitly expressed an interest to
import them . The Commission proposal represents
therefore, neither a watering down of the international
commitments of the Community nor a breach of
international law .

5 . The Commission supports unreservedly all
international agreements to which the Community is a
party . This includes all relevant multilateral trade and
environmental agreements . The Commission is in favour of
clear and internationally agreed rules to establish priorities
when environment and trade agreements may be in
conflict .

6 . The Commission is of the view that the proposal is
consistent with all the international commitments of the

Community that were in force at the time of its adoption .
The Commission will take into account the position of the
Parliament in accordance with the inter-institutional

distributions of competences under the Treaties .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1152 / 95

by Robin Teverson ( ELDR )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 87 )

Subject : Illegal State aid to the pig sector by the French

Government

The issue of the French Government 's illegal subsidies to the
pig sector has been dragging on now since July 1994, when
the Commission officially notified the French
Government .

Eight months later, the Commission is still reviewing the
information supplied, apparently, on an inconsistent basis
by the French Government .

Why does the Commission accept these long-drawn out

delay tactics which could set a precedent for other Member
States to follow if faced with Commission notification over

illegal subsidies ?

What does the Commission intend to do in the long-term to
tackle this problem of illegal subsidies in the agriculture
sector ?

No C 209 / 48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Will it introduce ways for better control over reviews of Answer given by Mr Marin
State aids before they are distributed to the various sectors on behalf of the Commission
rather than after the fact ?
( 17 May 1995 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 May 1995 )

The Commission is currently studying the French
Government 's reply, which reached it by letter dated
31 January 1995, and intends to adopt a Decision on this
subject soon .

On a more general level, in agriculture as for the other
economic sectors the Commission acts on State aid schemes

under Articles 92, 93 and 94 of the EC Treaty using the
powers that the latter confer on it . In particular, if State aid
is granted illegally and the scheme is considered
incompatible with the common market, the Commission
can ask for the recovery of sums paid out . Currently, the
Commission is requiring the recovery of aid of this nature in
the agricultural sector . Furthermore, in agriculture
specifically, the Commission is able to make financial
corrections within the framework of the clearance of the

EAGGF ( European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund ) accounts where a national scheme directly affecting
the operation of agricultural policy mechanisms is involved .
Although such action does not constitute a penalty in and of
itself, it is a factor which strengthens the effectiveness of the
controls on State aids conducted bv the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 153 / 95

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado ( PPE )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 88 )

Subject : Street children in Guatemala and Central
America

There are constant reports concerning the unfortunate
circumstances of street children in Guatemala and Central
America, according to which these children, who have
nowhere to live but the street, are frequently subjected to
mistreatment and abuses of power .

Does the Commission have any evidence that these reports
are true ? If so, has the possibility of granting aid to remedy
this shameful situation been considered, and what means
are at the EU 's disposal to do this ?

Estimates of the number of street children in Guatemala

vary between 1 500 ( official government figure ) and 5 000

( as reckoned by a number of NGOs working in the sector
and Unicef ). The phenomenon is the result of
well-documented social and economic reasons : massive

migration from outlying areas to the capital and other
towns, family breakdown, loss of cultural identity and lack
of prospects, etc .

Until their early teens, street children generally earn their
living by work ( street vending, car watching, shoe cleaning,
etc .) or by begging . From the age of 14, many boys,
especially in the centre of Guatemala City, turn to petty theft
and girls to prostitution . The authorities have attempted to
stamp out such trends with a battery of legal measures
unsuited to the target population .

Things are now getting better although much remains to be
done . The improvements are due mainly to the work of a
number of NGOs which, despite low budgets, have joined
forces with the Guatemalan authorities to set up a network
of drop-in centres and hostels . Over the years, they have
built up an effective approach to the problem .

An urgent appeal from the Member State ambassadors led
to Community financing of ECU 1,8 million between

1991 — 1994 for a number of initiatives to help NGOs and
public bodies . Building on previous initiatives and the
experience they yielded, the Commission last year proposed
ECU 2,5 million in financing for a programme for street
children in Guatemala City . The programme was approved
by the Committee on ALA developing countries in June last
year and the relevant financing agreement was signed by the
human rights ombudsman in Guatemala on 6 April this
year . It will soon be up and running .

It has three main aims :

1 . to strengthen the intake capacities of four NGOs and
develop ways of promoting a consistent approach and
fostering dialogue ;

2 . to improve the intake capacities of public bodies . The

programme will continue refurbishment work on the
centres of the social welfare secretariat ( which looks
after all youth initiatives ) and the provision of training
for staff of all grades who need a sound understanding of
the problems facing marginalized young people ;

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 49

3 . to promote the work of the various government
agencies . This includes greater participation by those
involved in youth protection ( juvenile court, human
rights ombudsman ) and specific instruction in new child
protection laws and how they should be
implemented .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 164 / 95

by Helwin Peter ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 20 April 1995 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E    - 11 76 / 95

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 27 April 1995 )

(9 SIC 209 / 90 )

Subject : Competition Advisory Group

Could the Commission provide details as to the composition
and tasks of the Competition Advisory Group ?

Answer given by Mr Santer
on behalf of the Commission

( 95 / C 209 / 89 )
( 23 May 1995 )

Subject : Cross-frontier journeys by taxi

1 . Is the Commission aware that the French authorities

consider it inadmissible for a taxi belonging to a German
undertaking and ordered from France ( and therefore
travelling empty ) to cross the frontier ? They also consider it
inadmissible for a German taxi to be hired in France after

crossing the frontier to deliver a passenger to a destination in

France .

2 . Is the Commission further aware that the authorities

in Luxembourg take the same view ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that in both cases fines are

imposed if these rules are contravened ?

4 . Does the Commission consider such conduct on the

part of the French and Luxembourg authorities to be
compatible with the EU Treaty ?

The Essen European Council in December 1994 welcomed
the Commission 's plan to set up a high-level group to
consider competitiveness . The Group was established in
February 1995 and the following members were selected :

— C. A. Ciampi, former Prime Minister of Italy, former

Governor of the Bank of Italy, Chairman of the
Group ;

— Prof. F. Maljers, former Chairman, Unilever, Chairman,

Philips Supervisory Board, Vice-Chairman of the
Group ;

— P. Barnevik, President and Chief Executive Officer,

ABB ;

— D. Simon, Deputy Chairman, Group Chief Executive

and Chairman elect, British Petroleum ;

— J. Gandois, President CNPF, former Chairman,
Pechiney and Cockerill-Sambre ;

— C. Solchaga, former Minister of Finance, Spain ;

— P. Cassels, General-Secretary of the Irish Congress of

Answer given by Mr Kinnock — P. Cassels,

on behalf of the Commission Trade Unions ;

on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 1995 ) — Prof . Maria J. Rodrigues, Instituto superior de ciências

do trabalho e da empresa, Lisbon ;

International taxi services are in principle governed by the
rules laid down in Articles 74 to 84 of the Treaty . However,
they are not yet covered by a Regulation agreed at
Community level . It therefore cannot be concluded that, by
imposing restrictions on the freedom to provide
international taxi services, the Member States are infringing
Community law .

The White Paper on the future development of the common
transport policy does, however, provide for the Commission
to put forward a proposal for a Regulation on freedom to
provide taxi services, in particular international services .
This proposal is directly linked to the action which will have
to be taken on the communication to be presented by the
Commission on the citizens ' network .

— J. Ollila, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nokia

Corporation ;

— Birgit Breuel, former President, Treuhand ;

— G. Sapountzoglou, President, Ionian Investments,
former Member of the Board of Directors, EIB ;

— W. Peirens, President ACV, Member of Executive

Committee, ETUC ;

— K. Zwickel, President, IG Metall .

Commission Permanent Representative : Professor Alexis
Jacquemin, Chief Adviser

The members participate in the group 's work in a personal
capacity and not as representatives of any organization .

No C 209 / 50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

Prof. Alexis Jacquemin has been appointed Permanent
Representative of the Commission President and also
participates with observer status .

Every six months, ahead of the meetings of the European
Council, the Group is to produce a report to the
Commission and the members of the European Council on
the competitiveness situation in the Community and will
advise on priorities and appropriate policy charges to
improve this situation .

The Group is currently determining its priorities, which
come under three heads : the large market, enterprise and
human resources .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 177 / 95

by Eryl McNally ( PSE )

charge against a Karlsruhe businessman on whose premises
smuggled ivory valued at about DM 5 million had been
found . The preliminary proceedings, which were initiated
with considerable reluctance, have now dragged on
inconclusively for over 17 months .

1 . Is the Commission aware of this flagrant violation of
current legislation on the protection of endangered
species ?

2 . What is the Commission 's opinion of the German

authorities ' work in this connection ?

3 . How does the Commission believe such smuggling

might be more effectively combated in the future ?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission (9 June 1995 )

( 27 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 91 )

Subject : Street children in Guatemala

Is the Commission aware that Member States are

contributing, through their own taxpayers, to countries
where there is a history of detaining, torturing and murder
of street children and what efforts can be made to stop
this ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(6 lune 1 995 )

The Honourable Member is requested to refer to the answer
given by the Commission to Written Question No 1153 / 95
from Mr Gil Robles Gil Delgado (').

(') See page 48 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1207 / 95
by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V )

to the Commission

( 28 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 92 )

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

The introduction of ivory into the Community is subject to
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 on the
implementation of Cites in the Community (')•

A comprehensive proposal for a Parliament and Council
Regulation to replace Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 ( 2 ) is
currently being discussed by the Council . Its adoption
would greatly enhance Member States ' capabilities to
enforce Community wildlife trade Regulations .

The recent creation of an enforcement working group by the
committee established under Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82
is expected to provide a better basis for the fight against
wildlife smuggling in the short term .

In addition, Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1468 / 81 on
mutual assistance in customs matters ( 3 ) requires Member
States to inform the Commission of established or suspected
irregularities against Community legislation — such as
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3626 / 82 — that is applied by the
customs administrations . The Commission ensures that

enquiries are coordinated at Community level, and has also
introduced electronic messaging systems for the
transmission of enforcement information between more

than 300 major customs offices, ports and airports
throughout the Community . Information transmitted using
these systems has led to the interception of protected species
being smuggled into or across the Community .

(') OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

Subject : Ivory smuggled into Germany ( 2 ) OJ No C 131, 12 . 5 . 1994 .
(') OI No L 144, 2 . 6 . 1981 .

In 1993 Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz, a German
society for the protection of endangered species, brought a

14 . 8 . 95 I EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 51

QUESTION P-1212 / 95 agreement . In the interests of ACP countries what steps can

the Commission take to ensure Member States '

James Provan ( PPE )

compliance ?
to the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1212 / 95

by James Provan ( PPE )

( 20 April 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 93 )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 — leghold traps (1 June 1995 )

A major initiative on leghold traps taken by the European
Parliament was rightly seen as a measure which will
significantly reduce animal cruelty worldwide and created
the opportunity for Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 ( ] ) which
is due tQ . come into force on 1 January 1996 .

It has been rumoured that the Commission could be having
second thoughts about introducing the trade restrictions
contained within the provisions of the Regulation . Is this the
case ?

(') OJ No L 308, 9 . 11 . 1991, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1995 )

Regulation ( EEC ) No 3254 / 91 makes it very clear that the
leghold trap should be abolished .

At the time of its adoption, it was expected that third
countries would be able to comply with the conditions in
time to avoid the import prohibition taking effect . However,
mainly because of the unforeseen delays in the development
of humane trapping standards, this can no longer be the

case .

Certain fur countries have therefore urged the Commission
to consider a suspension of the import prohibition .

Under Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 404 / 93 of 13 February

1993 on the common organization of the market in
bananas ('), certain African, Carribean and Pacific ( ACP )
countries which traditionally supply the Community
market are granted duty free import up to a total annual
quantity of 857 700 tonnes . This quantity is allocated
between the different exporting countries .

One of the principal aims of the Community banana regime
is to honour the commitments under protocol 5 of the Lome
IV Convention, by ensuring that ACP countries which have
traditionally supplied the Community with bananas are not
forced out of the market .

Third country or non traditional ACP bananas can be
imported within an annual tariff quota currently set at
2 200 000 tonnes . Within this tariff quota, 90 000 tonnes
are reserved for non traditional ACP quantities . In practice,
no imports take place outside the traditional ACP quantities
or the tariff quota due to the high customs duties
applicable .

Imports are monitored, as is the case in other agricultural
market organizations, by means of import licences which
importers must obtain before the goods clear customs .

The Commission does not share the view that Member

States are ignoring the legislation applicable in this field .
Should any evidence to this effect be made available, the
Commission would not hesitate to apply the procedure
provided by Article 169 of the EC Treaty .

The Commission is currently considering the consequences
of the situation on the implementation of the Regulation
and will fully inform the Parliament . (!) OJ No L 47, 25 . 2 . 1993, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1247 / 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1262 / 95

by Christine Crawley ( PSE )

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )
to the Commission

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

(5 May 1995 )
( 95 / C 209 / 94 )

( 95 / C 209 / 95 )

Subject : Banana imports

Subject : Aid to Nicaragua

In 1 993 the EU agreed that Member States should reserve an

18 % share of their banana imports for bananas from ACP
suppliers . How does the EU monitor this agreement ? There
are indications that some Member States are ignoring this

Can the Commission give a breakdown of how the ECU
500 000 aid administered by Spanish NGO Acsur Las
Segovias has been expended in the north of Nicaragua ?

No C 209 / 52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

As the aid package is designed to last six months only, what
plans does the Commission have for follow-up aid ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1272 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

Has the introduction of the aid had any effect on preventing
(5 May 1995 )
or reducing fighting in this part of Nicaragua ?

( 95 / C 209 / 96 )

Answer given by Mrs Bonino

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

The 500 000 ECU spent by Acsur Las Segovias are being
distributed the following way :

( ECU )

Staff

expatriate 22 800

local 9 200

Medical

medical material 76 331

medicines 307 792

direct and administrative costs 15 366

Transport

international 30 600

local 12 240

Stockade 12 000

Reserve 13 671

The Commission is considering financing another project
with the same non-governmental organization ( NGO ) that
would also concentrate in medicine supply . The new project
would be devoted to the Cames project, that constituted the
third target of the previous operation . The Cames project is
a medicine fund that provides medicines on a non-profit
making basis to the health projects of a local ( ADIS ) and
three European NGOs ( MDM-F, Oxfam-B, MSF-B ). This
action would ensure the follow up of the aid .

The aim of the project was to cope with the consequences of
the conflicts in this area of the country rather than to have a
direct impact on the fighting . In any case, the provision of
urgently needed medicines should have helped to bring
social stability .

However, beyond strictly humanitarian assistance, a
number of other actions are funded and implemented by the
Commission . Some of them, specifically designed to help
uprooted populations ( returnees, displaced persons,
demobilized persons ) to achieve socio-economic self ­
sufficiency, are implemented in Nicaragua, especially in the
northern regions . The Commission feels that these
interventions have contributed to prevent or reduce tension
in these areas .

Subject : Social Summit 6 — 12 March 1995, Copenhagen

What practical and concrete steps will be taken by the
Commission as a result of the Social Summit in Copenhagen
6—12 March 1995 ?

In particular, will the Commission pressurize Member
States to observe the UN target of 0,7 % of GNP, improve
the quality of aid by reducing the proportion which is tied to
the purchase of goods and services, and release the
ECU 3 billion pledged at Rio for poverty alleviation
policies ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 31 May 1995 )

The subject matter of the Honourable Member 's question
falls within the competence of Vice President Marin and
Mr Pinheiro, who both give the reply on behalf of
the Commission .

The Community attaches great importance to the success of
the United Nations social summit and indeed played a
substantial role in its outcome . Consistent with the political
priority given to the summit, the Commission intends to
launch a two-track follow-up strategy . On one hand, the
present draft medium-term rolling social action programme
of the Commission ( 1995 — 1997 ) will draw on the
conclusions of the summit, in particular its plan of action,
when and where Community competences are involved,
while taking into account the subsidiarity principle . On the
other hand, the Commission intends to draft a specific
communication on the social summit follow-up highlighting
in particular the external dimension of this follow-up .

In relation to the financial resources available for the

implementation of the social summit conclusions, it should
be noted that both the political declaration and plan of
action, when addressing the resource issue, clearly
encompass both internal and external resources of public
and private origin . Reference is made in particular to the
importance of proper domestic resources mobilization,
particularly through effective and progressive domestic tax
systems . Concerning external resources, while the 0,7 % of
GNP target for official development aid ( ODA ) has been
reconfirmed, the social summit conclusions indicate the

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 53

need to mobilize also the resources of the international

financial institutions and of the private sector for social
development . The Commission intends to adhere to this
wide approach and to explore how the Community can
contribute to its implementation, while calling on Member
States to reach as soon as possible the 0,7 % of the GNP
target for ODA . In this context, the Commission is actually
requesting the Member States to make an appropriate effort
to increase their contributions to the next EDF of the Lome

Convention in favour of the ACP countries .

witnesses and investigations by Casa Allianza there have
been no convictions ?

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that the
Guatemalan judicial system is improved ?

What is the latest position on the implementation of the
ECU 2,5 million project for street children in
Guatemala ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION E - 1275 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 97 )

Subject : Pa Nam rural integrated development project

Has the Commission decided to take into account the

concerns of Parliament regarding this project in Tibet ?

Will the Commission suspend indefinitely this project until
China 's human rights record improves and until China
ceases to occupy Tibet ?>

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1995 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answers to Written Question No 94 / 95 by Mr
Vandemeulebroucke ('), No 276 / 95 by Mr Langer and Mrs
Aglietta ( 2 ) and No 1054 / 95 by Mr Watson ( 3 ).

The Commission will take a final decision concerning this
project in the near future .

(') OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 58 .
C -) OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995, p . 64 .
(') OJ No C 179, 13 . 7 . 1995, p . 63 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1284 / 95

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 98 )

Subject : Street children in Guatemala

Is the Commission aware that 13 street children were

murdered in 1994 in Guatemala, that despite proof,

(7 June 1995 )

The Commission has been informed of the events related by
the Honourable Member through the Casa Allianza NGO .
The treatment meted out to some minors in Guatemala is

one of the worst aspects of a serious and difficult situation
recently brought to light by the first report from Minugua,
the UN mission sent to ensure human rights are complied
with .

The report contains a clear denunciation of the frequent
violations of the right to life, including extra-judicial
executions and deaths caused by a disregard for legal
guarantees . The failure of the organization to conduct
thorough investigations into most of these cases is
increasing the level of unaccountability and engendering
widespread feelings of insecurity .

While acknowledging the substance of the Minuga report,
the Guatemalan President, Leon Carpio ( the former human
rights ombudsman ), has put the apparent failure to punish
human rights violators down to the ineffectiveness of State
institutions .

Although the situation is extremely complex, the
Commission believes that continued pressure on the
government to uphold the most basic human right — the
right to life — needs to go hand-in-hand with short-term
support from it and Minuga, for any initiatives which could
change the current state of affairs . Most important among
these are :

— activities to train public and private policing bodies

professionally and psychologically ;

— activities to ensure the judiciary, and particularly the

prosecution service, operates properly .

The Commission would also point out that the agreement
on the ' Guatemala City street children ' project was signed
by the Guatemalan authorities on 6 April and that the staff
responsible for running all planned activities are now being
recruited .

This project, part of which will strengthen the operational
capacities of the various public bodies responsible for
protecting children ( the social welfare secretariat, the

No C 209 / 54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

juvenile court and the human rights ombudsman ) and Answer given by Mr Flynn
provide specific training for bodies interested in becoming on behalf of the Commission
familiar with implementing new laws on child protection ( 14 June 1995 )
constitutes an important step towards resolving he
problems cited by the Honourable Member .

The proposal, adopted by the Commission on 1 March

1995, on Community support for actions in favour of older
people ( ! ) covers the period up to end 1999 in order to
enable the Community to contribute to the United Nations
Year of the Elderly in 1999 . The form which this
contribution is to take will be decided in consultation with
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1285 / 95
the main interested parties in the years leading to 1999 .

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )

to the Commission
(') COM(95 ) 53 final, OJ No C 115, 9 . 5 . 1995 .

(5 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 99 )

Subject : Social action programme and the elderly

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1370 / 95

In the second social action programme will the Commission
include a commitment to a code of good practice on elder
care similar to a code on child care ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 June 1995 )

The Commission adopted, on 1 March 1995, a proposal for
a Council Decision on Community support for actions in
favour of older people .

Care for dependant older people is a priority in the proposal,
which has as its objective the promotion of best practice in
areas of importance to older citizens . The drawing up of a
specific ' code ' is not envisaged at this stage .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1287 / 95

by Peter Skinner ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 101 )

Subject : Action taken by the Commission on the
monitoring of the treatment of the crew of the
Bulgarian ship ' Rotalia ' on their return to
Bulgaria

What action has the Commission taken following the
adoption of the resolution on the crew of the Bulgarian ship
' Rotalia ' ( B4-649, 652 and 680 / 95 ) on 6 April 1995 and, in
particular, action it has taken concerning the monitoring of
the treatment of the crew on their return to Bulgaria which
was requested in the resolution ?

Could the Commission also comment on my proposal in
writing to Mr Hans Van den Broek on the possible use of the
Commission 's office in Sofia as a means of carrying out this
action ?

by Christine Oddy ( PSE ) Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

to the Commission on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1995 ) ( 18 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 100 )

Subject : UN International Year of the Elderly 1999

What plans does the Commission have to prioritize rights
for the elderly in its second social action programme, given
that 1999 has been designated International Year of the
Elderly by the United Nations ?

The Commission is fully aware of the distressing conditions
that the crewmen from the Bulgarian vessel ' Rotalia ' are
facing . It has been informed that credit was granted from the
Bulgarian State budget and written guarantees given to the
seamen assuring them that they will receive the overdue
salaries upon return to their country . Regarding any
criminal prosecution, the shipowners have withdrawn their
claim for payment of the losses resulting from the industrial

14 . 8 . 95 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 209 / 55

action . In seeking to resolve this complex matter, the
Bulgarian authorities have declared their commitment to
respect the fundamental rights of the ' Rotalia ' crewmen .

Concerning possible monitoring, the delegation of the
Commission in Sofia has been asked to keep the
Commission regularly informed on the situation .

The Commission would like to recall that relations of the

Community with the associated countries of central and
eastern Europe are guided by the principle of full respect of
human rights and basic democratic values, to which it
attaches utmost importance .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1379 / 95

bv Klaus Rehder ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 May 1995 )

{9 SIC 209 / 102 )

Subject : Help for the elderly in the European Union

In what ways is help provided to the elderly in the European
Union and how, e.g. under whose responsibility, is such help
organized in the individual Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 June 1995 )

Care and services for older people were the subject of a
comparative report published in 1993 by the Commission 's
observatory on ageing and older people, a copy of which is
sent to the Honourable Member and to the

Secretariat-General of the Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1391 / 95

by Yiannis Roubatis ( PSE )

to the Commission

(3 May 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 103 )

Subject : Price of newsprint

What action will the Commission take in response to the
increase in the price of newsprint, pending completion of the
inquiry announced by the Commissioner responsible for
competition, Mr Van Miert, on the emergence of a trust of
European paper manufacturers ?

How does the Commission intend to counter the effects of

the increase in newsprint on the cost of publishing
newspapers and, consequently, on freedom of the press,
freedom of expression and on democracy in the Member
States of the European Union ?

Does the Commission intend to liberalize imports of paper
from third countries or, at least, increase the quota in line
with the increase in overall consumption ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 May 1995 )

The Commission can do no more than confirm the opening
of a detailed inquiry into the printing paper — particularly
the newsprint — sector, initiated with a view to examining
the conditions of production and sale of the products in the
light of Treaty competition rules . But it cannot pre-empt the
outcome of the investigation . Nevertheless, should it
become clear that the increase in the price of paper noted by
the Honourable Member is the result of a breach of the

competition rules, the Commission will not fail to take
whatever steps are necessary to put an end to the breach of
the rules .

This inquiry demonstrates the Commission 's concern not
just for competition issues but for publishing . The
Commission has always indicated its support for a free and
diverse press .

While there are no plans to increase the amount of
newsprint which is imported duty free under the quota, the
Honourable Member will be aware of the concessions

granted by the Community in the Uruguay Round which
provide for the elimination over a 1 0 year period of all duties
charged on imports of newsprint . The previous 9% and
4,9% duties became 7,8% and 4,7% on 1 January 1995
and by 1 January 1999 will become 3 % . The 3 % rate will
then be progressively reduced to zero so that from 1 January
2004 all newsprint will enter duty free .

In addition to this the Commission has proposed to the
Council in the context of negotiations with third countries
about adverse effects on their trade following enlargement
of the Community that these Uruguay Round reductions
should be accelerated on an autonomous basis . Adoption of
this proposal by the Council would result in the duties
currently applied to newsprint being reduced immediately to

5,3% and 4,2% ; by 1 January 1999 they would become
1,8 % with duty free treatment being achieved in January
2002 .

No C 209 / 56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 14 . 8 . 95

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1609 / 95

by Eryl McNally ( PSE )

to the Commission

( 12 June 1995 )

( 95 / C 209 / 104 )

throughout the European Community, in order to wipe out
this evil method of torture ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1995 )
Subject : Ban on use of electric-shock batons and leg

irons

Can the Commission confirm that all efforts will be made to

outlaw the manufacture and distribution of electric-shock

batons and leg irons, both in the United Kingdom and

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to Written Question No 741 / 95 by Mr
Nicholson f 1 ).

(») OJ No C 139, 5 . 6 . 1995 .