Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

##### C 112
# Official Journal

Volume 35

### of the European Communities

Information and Notices
English edition

30 April 1992

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

92 / C 112 / 01 No 2609 / 90 by Mr Bernard Antony to the Commission
Subject : Community aid for NGOs in Chile 1

92 / C 1 12 / 02 No 298 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Misappropriation of international aid to Colombia 1

92 / C 1 12 / 03 No 439 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : European Community policy in connection with the Middle East 2

92 / C 1 12 / 04 No 861 / 91 by Mr Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : Improving the Commission procedure for proposals pertaining to social matters 2

92 / C 1 12 / 05 No 1054 / 91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Combined transport in Portugal 2

92 / C 1 12 / 06 No 1091 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Towards an instrument for the development of the Community 's technological
capacity 3

92 / C 1 12 / 07 No 1 150 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Classification of hotels and camp-sites 3

92 / C 1 12 / 08 No 1249 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Export of beef and veal to Brazil 4

92 / C 1 12 / 09 No 1320 / 91 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Independence for Northern Somalia 5

92 / C 112 / 10 No 1328 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear reprocessing activities 5

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No 1454 / 91 by Mr Joan Colom I Naval to the Commission
Subject : INTERREG programmes at the frontier between Spain and France

No 1489 / 91 by Mr Heinz Kohler to the Commission
Subject : Dual financing from the European Regional Development Fund and other EC support

programmes

No 1497 / 91 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck to the Commission
Subject : Improvement of surface water

No 1509 / 91 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck to the Commission
Subject : Posts occupied by women in Commission representations in third countries

No 1576 / 91 by Mr George Patterson to the Commission
Subject : Lotteries in Europe

No 1591 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Spanish toxic oil syndrome of 198 1

No 1605 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission
Subject : Express mail services in the European area

No 1611 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Labelling of dangerous chemicals

No 1621 / 91 by Mr David Bowe to the Commission
Subject : Ports and competition rules

No 1636 / 91 by Mr Willem van Velzen to the Commission
Subject : Problems regarding the Dutch old-age pensions law ( AOW )

No 1647 / 91 by Mr Christian de la Malène, Mr Pierre Lataillade, Mr Gene Fitzgerald
and Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission

Subject : Differences of opinion on Economic and Monetary Union at the meeting of the 12
Ministers of Finance on 25 and 26 February 1991 in Brussels

No 1665 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde L6pez to the Commission
Subject : The development of paper manufacturing by ' neutral process ' in the EC

No 1666 / 91 by Mr Jos6 Valverde L6pez to the Commission
Subject : Estimate of the number of books published in the EC on permanent paper

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1665 / 91 and 1666 / 91

No 1667 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde L6pez to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of EEC Directive on cadmium discharges in Spain

No 1689 / 91 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Geographically-based discrimination against Community citizens

No 1691 / 91 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Social Action Programme

No 1696 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The confining of the peseta to the narrow band of the European Monetary System . . .

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Notice No Contents ( continued )

92 / C 1 12 / 28 No 1698 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Council
Subject : The launching of the Euro-Arab University in Granada ( Spain ) 14

92 / C 1 12 / 29 No 1703 / 91 by Mr Juan Bandrés Molet to the Commission
Subject : Reopening of the Canfranc-Olorón railway line 15

92 / C 1 12 / 30 No 1750 / 91 by Mr Heinz Köhler to the Commission
Subject : The status of the German language in the translation services of the European
Communities 15

92 / C 112 / 31 No 1778 / 91 by Mr Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Danger from nuclear power station in Bulgaria 16

92 / C 112 / 32 No 1871 / 91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation between the Community and Bulgaria on the safety of the nuclear plant at
Kozloduy in Bulgaria 16

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1778 / 91 and 1871 / 91 17

92 / C 112 / 33 No 1827 / 91 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject : Measures to combat atmospheric pollution 17

92 / C 1 12 / 34 No 1829 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Danger of the citrus fruit fair of Reggio di Calabria losing its ' international ' status .... 18

92 / C 112 / 35 No 1836 / 91 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Tropical rain forests and indigenous peoples of Sarawak 18

92 / C 1 12 / 36 No 1857 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community legislation on use of catalytic converters 19

92 / C 112 / 37 No 1873 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Construction of railway track in EC countries 20

92 / C 112 / 38 No 1900 / 91 by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete, Lord Bethell, Mr Elmar Brok, Sir Fred
Catherwood, Mr Patrick Cox, Mr Willy De Clercq, Mr Gijs de Vries, Mr James Elles,
Mr Ingo Friedrich, Mr Klaus Hansch, Mr Geoffrey Hoon, Mr Alain Lamassoure, Mr
Manuel Medina Ortega, Mr Hemmo Muntingh, Mr Luis Planas Puchades, Lord
Plumb, Mr Hans-Gert Poettering, Mr Manuel Porto, Mr Rogalla, Mr Leo
Tindemans, Mr John Tomlinson, Mr Michael Welsh, Mr Karl von Wogau and Mr

Eisso Woltjer to the Commission
Subject : Development of US / EC relations 20

92 / C 1 12 / 39 No 1926 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Planned industrial incinerator at Fos-sur-Mer, Bouches-du-Rhone, France 21

92 / C 112 / 40 No 1930 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Legislation regulating the activities of genuine lotteries 22

92 / C 1 12 / 41 No 1941 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Compliance with the directive on toxic and dangerous waste 22

92 / C 1 12 / 42 No 1944 / 91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Aquaculture and its effects 23

92 / C 112 / 43 No 1960 / 91 by Mr Anthony Simpson to the Commission
Subject : Furniture fire safety Directive — to be or not to be ? 23

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 1 12 / 44 No 1966 / 91 by Mr Wilfried Telkamper to the Commission
Subject : Transposition into German law of the EIA Directive 23

92 / C 1 12 / 45 No 1967 / 91 by Mr Wilfried Telkamper to the Commission
Subject : The definition of expressways with regard to the EIA Directive 24

92 / C 112 / 46 No 1971 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission
Subject : Tax payable by Belgians living abroad 25

92 / C 1 12 / 47 No 1990 / 91 by Mr Alf Lomas to the Commission
Subject : Deprived housing estates in London 25

92 / C 112 / 48 No 1991 / 91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Controls at internal and external frontiers 26

92 / C 112 / 49 No 2005 / 91 by Mr Thomas Maher to the Commission
Subject : Study on part time farming 26

92 / C 1 12 / 50 No 2039 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Employment creation from environmental projects 27

92 / C 112 / 51 No 2046 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Fur trapping 27

92 / C 112 / 52 No 2047 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of recognition of fitness to work and the definition of ' disabled ' 28

92 / C 1 12 / 53 No 2050 / 91 by Mr Detlev Samland to the Commission
Subject : Experts ' report on ' Immigration policies and le social integration of migrants in the
EC ', SEC(90 ) 1812 final 28

92 / C 112 / 54 No 2051 / 91 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Organ doning 29

92 / C 112 / 55 No 2059 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of food and hygiene regulations 29

92 / C 112 / 56 No 2070 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Waste disposal problems with furs and synthetic furs 30

92 / C 1 12 / 57 No 2079 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : United Kingdom Secretary for the Environment 's gimmick ' City Challenge ' 31

92 / C 112 / 58 No 2113 / 91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Animal transport conditions 31

92 / C 112 / 59 No 2120 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Job losses arising from the closure of customs posts 32

92 / C 112 / 60 No 2121 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Regulation of the press in Europe 32

92 / C 112 / 61 No 2127 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Honey production in the Community 32

92 / C 112 / 62 No 2161 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Spain 's failure to comply with Directive 88 / 314 / EEC 33

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Pa s e

92 / C 1 12 / 63 No 2162 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Spain 's failure to comply with Directive 88 / 315 / EEC 33

92 / C 112 / 64 No 2163 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 88 / 449 / EEC 33

92 / C 1 12 / 65 No 2164 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 88 / 658 / EEC 33

92 / C 112 / 66 No 2165 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 1 07 / EEC 33

92 / C 1 12 / 67 No 2166 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 108 / EEC 33

92 / C 112 / 68 No 2167 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 384 / EEC 34

92 / C 112 / 69 No 2168 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 424 / EEC 34

92 / C 1 12 / 70 No 2169 / 91 by Mr Jos6 Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 51 9 / EEC 34

92 / C 1 12 / 71 No 2170 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 89 / 676 / EEC 34

92 / C 1 12 / 72 No 2171 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde L6pez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 90 / 214 / EEC 34

92 / C 1 12 / 73 No 2172 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 90 / 425 / EEC 34

92 / C 1 12 / 74 No 2173 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive 90 / 604 / EEC 35

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2161 / 91 to 2173 / 91 35

92 / C 1 12 / 75 No 2188 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Sale of medicines containing phenothiazines 35

92 / C 112 / 76 No 2201 / 91 by Mr Christian de la Malene to the Commission
Subject : The Commission 's authorization for the plan to set up a motor vehicle factory in
Portugal, in the form of a joint venture 35

92 / C 1 12 / 77 No 221 1 / 91 by Mr Lyndon Harrison to the Commission
Subject : European poverty programme 36

92 / C 1 12 / 78 No 2228 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Co-responsibility rates for cereals 37

92 / C 1 12 / 79 No 2251 / 91 by Mr Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject : Reduction in solid waste and packing 37

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 112 / 80 No 2263 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Decision of the Court of Justice against the prohibition of night work by women ( Case
C-345 / 89 ) 38

92 / C 112 / 81 No 2264 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Police discrimination against foreign drivers 39

92 / C 112 / 82 No 2311 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Planet Earth Summit 39

92 / C 112 / 83 No 2322 / 91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Crisis in the Miramonti tanning company 40

92 / C 1 12 / 84 No 2324 / 91 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission
Subject : Community premium for Indica rice-growers 40

92 / C 112 / 85 No 2343 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Construction projects for hydro-electric power stations on the Danube 41

92 / C 1 12 / 86 No 2356 / 91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Harassment by customs officials 41

92 / C 112 / 87 No 2371 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Council
Subject : Negotiations between the EEC and Poland on the conclusion of an association
agreement 42

92 / C 112 / 88 No 2390 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Social security rights of volunteer development workers employed by NGOs 42

92 / C 112 / 89 No 2407 / 91 by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr José Vazquez Fouz, Mr Pedro Bofill
Abeilhe, Mr Francisco Sanz Fernandez and Mr Eusebio Cano Pinto to the
Commission

Subject : Policy to prevent and combat forest fires in the Mediterranean region 42

92 / C 1 12 / 90 No 2436 / 91 by Mr Alonso Puerta to the Commission
Subject : Pensions for emigrant workers 43

92 / C 1 12 / 91 No 2438 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Administrative obstructiveness 43

92 / C 1 12 / 92 No 2450 / 91 by Mrs Imelda Read to the Commission
Subject : Acute human poisoning 44

92 / C 1 12 / 93 No 2510 / 91 by Mr Antoine Waechter to the Commission
Subject : Obstacles to freedom of movement in France ( Pyrénées-Atlantiques ) 44

92 / C 1 12 / 94 No 2512 / 91 by Mrs Sylvie Mayer to the Commission
Subject : Use of structural funds for the development of ' food patches ' 44

92 / C 1 12 / 95 No 2527 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Maintaining price levels for oleaginous products 45

92 / C 112 / 96 No 2581 / 91 by Mrs Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert to the Commission
Subject : Old-age pension schemes for cross-border workers in the German-Netherlands border
area 45

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No 2589 / 91 by Mr Patrick Lalor, Mr Gene Fitzgerald, Mr Niall Andrews, Mr James
Fitzsimons, Mr Mark Killilea and Mr Patrick Lane to the Council
Subject : EC financial assistance for essential investment in access transport services to / from
Ireland, and other peripheral regions 46

No 2619 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Social integration of the disabled 46

No 2642 / 91 by Mr Virgilio Pereira to the Commission
Subject : Projects to build or modernize fishing boats submitted by the autonomous region of
Madeira 47

No 2647 / 91 by Mr Peter Beazley to the Council
Subject : Chinese imports of bicycles 47

No 2660 / 91 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : European Social Fund 48

No 2695 / 91 by Mr David Martin to the Commission
Subject : Classification of Community Acts 48

No 2701 / 91 by Mr Ben Fayot to the Commission
Subject : Support for the European Management Institute and the proposal on the establishment
of a European Law Academy . 48

No 2751 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : European prison staff 49

No 2798 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : ' Euro-Odyssey ' for young people 49

No 2853 / 91 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Council
Subject : The killing of birds in southern Europe 50

No 3058 / 91 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Council
Subject : Human rights and the right of asylum in Europe 50

No 3187 / 91 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Council
Subject : Sustainability of restructural adjustment programme for Honduras 51

No 3192 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Introduction of the Social Charter 51

92 / C 112 / 110 No 3246 / 91 by Mr José Lafuente López to the Council
Subject : Conditions of internment for illegal immigrants 51

92 / C 112 / 111

No 3256 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Protecting consumers from adulterated olive oil 52

92 / C 112 / 112 No 17 / 92 by Mr Josep Pons Grau, Mr Henry Saby, Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa
Muru, Mrs Maartje van Putten, Mr Luciano Vecchi, Mr Giorgio Rossetti, Mr
Gerardo Fernández-Albor, Mr Antoni Gutiérrez Diaz, Mrs Dacia Valent and Mr Pol
Marck to the Council

Subject : Establishment of Cooperation Councils with the Maghreb and Mashreq countries .... 52

92 / C 112 / 113 No 136 / 92 by Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez to the Council

Subject : European institute to combat desertification 53

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 112 / 114 No 140 / 92 by Mr Juan de la Cámara Martínez to the Council
Subject : Aid for environmental conservation of water reserves within the Community 53

92 / C 112 / 115 No 172 / 92 by Mr Lelio Lagorio, Mrs Maria Magnani Noya and Mr Vincenzo
Mattina to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Yugoslavia — shooting down of a European Community helicopter 53

92 / C 112 / 116 No 182 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Human rights in Saudi Arabia 54

92 / C 112 / 117 No 215 / 92 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Council
Subject : European network of health data on drugs abuse 55

92 / C 112 / 118 No 2 19 / 92 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Council
Subject : Measures taken by the Council and the Member States to reduce demand for illegal
narcotics 55

92 / C 112 / 119 No 241 / 92 by Mr Patrick Cooney, Mr Siegbert Alber, Mrs Karla Peijs, Mr Bryan
Cassidy, Mr Bouke Beumer, Mr Petrus Cornelissen and Mr John Cushnahan to the
Council

Subject : Membership of GATT — Taiwan 55

92 / C 1 12 / 120 No 274 / 92 by Mr Alexander Langer to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Anti-semitic remarks by President Tudjman of Croatia 56

92 / C 112 / 121 No 291 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : The migration of Pontic Greeks 56

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2609 / 90

by Mr Bernard Antony ( DR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 20 November 1 990 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 298 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 01 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 02 )

Subject : Community aid for NGOs in Chile

What NGOs are providing help in Chile and what is the
exact nature of their task ?

What exact amount is entered against budget
Item B7-5073 for each NGO ?

Subject : Misappropriation of international aid to
Colombia

According to a report from the American organization

' American watch ', some of the international aid sent to
Colombia is going to sectors of Colombian society which
are responsible for serious human rights violations .

What measures are in force to monitor aid from the

European Community, particularly aid intended to help
combat the drugs trade, and to ensure that it does not
Answer given by Mr Matutes suffer a similar fate ?

on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 1 991 )

The Commission has been financing projects for Chile
put forward by European NGOs and projects put forward
by Chilean NGOs . Request for funds have come from
NGOs covering a wide cross-section of Chilean society,
and have been considered not only in the light of the
nature of the projects proposed, but also in the light of the
organizations ' ability to implement them successfully .

In 1990, approximately ECU 4,9 million was provided

under Item B7-5073 for a total of 64 projects involving 65
NGOs . The projects focused largely on education and
training, basic economic activities, health-care, protection
of human rights, civics and support for ethnic minorities .
The average level of co-financing from the Community
for such projects was approximately ECU 76 000 .

Commitments for 1991 have not yet been completed .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 February 1992 )

The monitoring procedures and financial controls are the

same as for all the other aid programmes of the
Community .

The Commission is not informed of any diversion of

resources channelled via United Nations Agencies
( UNDCP ), - Government and / or non-governmental
organizations receiving financial support by the EC in
Colombia .

Any information the Honourable Member may impart on
the matter, will be greatly appreciated .

No C 112 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 439 / 91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 03 )

Subject : European Community policy in connection with

the Middle East

Do the various measures taken by the European
Community over the last month in respect of certain
Middle Eastern countries have some connection with the

human rights situation in those countries, or do they
relate solely to their governments ' position on the Gulf
War ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 November 1 991 )

At the beginning of 1991, the Commission approved a
number of measures for the countries and people of the
Middle East .

The main aim of the measures was either to assist in
reducing the economic and financial harm inflicted by the
Gulf War on certain countries in the region ( the frontline
states — Egypt, Jordan and Turkey ) or to go some way to
providing the emergency humanitarian aid needed by the
population groups affected by the war . The fact that the
Community gave funds to Jordan as well as to Egypt and
Turkey as part of a coordinated international effort
demonstrates clearly the manner in which the needs of the
countries were considered . In the same vein, the
Community has since ( July 1991 ) decided as a counterpart
to grant financial assistance to Israel and the Occupied
Territories .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 861 / 91

by Mr Bartho Pronk ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 04 )

Subject : Improving the Commission procedure for
proposals pertaining to social matters

Mr Michael Howard, British Minister of Employment, is
quoted in an article on page 1 1 of Europe ( 28 March 1991 )
as saying that Ms Vasso Papandreou has stated that the
Commission intends to improve the internal Commission
procedure for proposals on social issues by consulting
national experts before social proposals are finalized .

1 . Is this report correct ? If so, what will the
improvements be ?

2 . ( a ) Will the improvements increase the length of the
procedure for drawing up Commission proposals
on social matters ? Within the Commission, will
the procedure for these proposals now be
different from that for proposals on economic
matters ?

( b ) If so, will this not adversely affect the creation of
the social dimension ?

3 . Is it not an obvious step to discuss fundamental
changes in the procedure with the Committee on
Social Affairs of the European Parliament, as well as
Mr Howard ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

The consultation of national experts is a part of the
normal procedures to prepare Community instruments . It
exists in different fields of Community policy and does
not create delays in the preparation of the proposals for
Directives .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1054 / 91

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

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 05 )

Subject : Combined transport in Portugal

Given that the combined, particularly road-rail, transport
of goods provides a possible solution to the current
problems of long-distance goods transport, i.e. congested
roads, environmental pollution, safety problems and
others, together with its obvious benefits, reduction of the
cost per tonne / km, energy saving, etc ., and since this is of
major importance for the peripheral areas, what
combined transport projects are now being financed by
the Commission in Portugal and which of these projects
are also receiving EIB funding ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1 991 )

The Community is not currently financing any
infrastructure project specifically relating to combined
transport in Portugal .

No C 112 / 3
30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

Nevertheless, the importance of multi-modal transport,
especially rail-road-sea, for the outlying regions of the
Community has been acknowledged — the - Commission is
currently drawing up a comprehensive plan for the
definition and conditions of operation of a European
combined transport network . A high-level working
group, including representatives from the Member States,
is assisting in this . One of its workshops is dealing with
the special problems of outlying regions .

Thereafter, and before the end of 1991, the Commission
will put forward a comprehensive plan for combined
transport in Europe, which will include specific proposals
for the outlying regions, including Portugal .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1091 / 91

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

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 06 )

Subject : Towards an instrument for the development of

the Community 's technological capacity

One after another, the various sectors of advanced
technology in Europe have been expressing their concern
at their underdevelopment, which is becoming structural
and seems to be due both to a lack of objectives and an
inability to integrate R&D efforts into the broader
process of innovation . This harsh reality has been
ascertained in biotechnological fields and, more recently,
in the information sector and related industries .

A few days ago Mr Quiles, the French Minister for Posts

and Telecommunications, suggested setting up a
European agency for the electronics industry to set
objectives and take action in certain commercial areas .

Does not the Commission feel that a task of this kind
definitely concerns it throughout the high technology
sector and that it should provide itself with an appropriate
instrument for this purpose ? In this connection, can it give
details of the initiative announced by Mr Bangemann, the
Vice-President involving the setting up of a working

group, consisting of Commissioners, to analyze the
development requirements and possibilities of the
Community 's technological capacity ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1992 )

The Commission has no information other than that

available to the public concerning the Honourable

Member 's first question about the suggestion to set up a
European agency for the electronics industry .

The Commission Select Working Party to which the

Honourable Member refers is an informal group set up on
the adoption by the Commission of its communication to
the Council on industrial policy in an open, competitive
environment . It is chaired by Mr Bangemann and has been
instructed to examine all matters of industrial and
technological interest to the Community .

The following information concerns the particular field

of the electronics and computer industry and is in reply to
the Honourable Member 's second question :

On 29 April 1991, the Council ( Industry ) warmly
welcomed the communication on the European
electronics and information industry (') and asked the
Commission to further analyze the situation and continue
its dialogue with industry, users and investors in close
consultation with a high-level group representing the
Member States .

This group, which consists of the directors of industry

and research in the Member States, met for the first time
on 21 June 1991 .

O SEC(91 ) 565 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1150 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 07 )

Subject : Classification of hotels and camp-sites

Systems for classifying hotels and camp-sites exist in a
number of Community Member States . Would it not be
helpful and valuable for tourism, the economic benefits of
which are now uncontested, to harmonize these systems
throughout the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

The problem of harmonizing at Community level
equipment standards for certain categories of tourist

NoC 112 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

accommodation has already been examined on various
occasions by the Member States and the tourist industry .

It emerged from those discussions that any measure in
this field ought to take specific features into
consideration, in particular the current diversity of
planning standards in the different countries, and even
regions, of the Community, and the wide range of
monitoring arrangements where these exist .

Tourists and travel agencies alike are keen for current

arrangements to be harmonized since this would be a way
of improving and promoting amenities in small and
medium-sized establishments on campsites and caravan
parks .

Thus, in 1986, the Community adopted two
recommendations for existing hotels, one on
standardized information and the other on fire safety (').
The latter recommended that, within five years, hotels
should comply with the minimum compulsory standards
in the Member State concerned or, failing that, with the
technical guidelines set out by the Commission in the
annex to the recommendation . Member States were asked

to report on progress in implementing the
recommendation .

Lastly, as part of the action plan to assist tourism ( 2 ), the
Community has provided for specific measures to support
the expansion of the tourist industry . In this connection,
the Commission has proposed that the coordination of
Community and national policies should be strengthened
and that consultations with the tourist industry should be
stepped up . Where appropriate, it will support joint
initiatives put forward by tourist operators in the
Community, including discussions and measures to align
more closely the different systems of classifying hotels,
campsites and other forms of tourist accommodation .

No 2722 / 90 ( 2 ) on the sale of meat held by certain
intervention agencies intended for export to Brazil was
adopted at a time when demand in Brazil was high as
reflected by direct consumption figures, and that, as
production in Brazil had now peaked, this Regulation had
been repealed as of 31 January 1991 .

Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 910 / 91 ( 3 ) of 11 April

1991 states that a sale shall be organized of 100 000
tonnes of beef, of which 10 000 tonnes is held by France,
in view of ' supply needs in Brazil '.

How can the Commission justify this new operation,
which could be detrimental to European producers of
processed meat, since it is very likely that beef and veal
sold at reduced prices will re-enter the European market
in processed form ?

(') OJ No C 168, 27 . 6 . 1991, p . 10 .
O OJ No L 261, 25 . 9 . 1990, p . 19 .
O OJ No L 91, 12 . 4 . 1991, p . 45 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1991 )

In 1986 the Community sold intervention beef to Brazil .
At the time, the sales took place at the request of the

Brazilian authorities and were intended to cover needs in
Brazil . From 1987 to 1990 the supply situation in Brazil
was such that there was no demand for intervention meat .

o OJNoL384, 31 . 12 . 1986 .
O COM(91 ) 97 final .
During the second half of 1990, i.e. approximately four
years after the first sale, Brazil was once more in need of

meat . This was evident firstly from demand from private
operators, to which the Commission responded by a sale
provided for in Regulation ( EEC ) No 2722 / 90 . However,
there was no positive response from operators as it came
at a time when domestic production in Brazil was reaching
the market, thereby improving supplies in that country .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1249 / 91

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

( 11 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 08 )

Subject : Export of beef and veal to Brazil

In answer to Written Question No 2577 / 90 (') on the
market in processed meat products, the Commission
confirmed that Commission Regulation ( EEC )

However, after disposal of this seasonal production,
supplies grew scarce and in February 1991 the Brazilian
authorities requested the Commission to organize a sale
of 100 000 tonnes of intervention meat, in particular to
build up a buffer stock for the Brazilian market . The
Commission responded to that request by organizing a
sale of 100 000 tonnes under Regulation ( EEC )
No 910 / 91 .

Brazil is an exporter of processed meat products but
Brazil 's exports did not rise during the years concerned

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 5

( 1986-87 ). Likewise, in subsequent years, exports of
processed meat products have remained relatively stable .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1320 / 91

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

( 24 June 1991 ) '

or organizations, those representations made to the
Commission on

1 . current nuclear reprocessing activities at Sellafield,

Dounreay, La Hague and Karlsruhe respectively and

2 . plans to increase reprocessing of nuclear fuels at these

plants in the 1990s ;

and will he set out current Commission policy on
reprocessing of nuclear fuels in the Community ?

( 92 / C 112 / 09 ) O OJ No C 150, 10 . 6 . 1991, p. 29 .

Subject : Independence for Northern Somalia

It has recently been reported in the media that the
Commission has expressed opposition to the
proclamation of independence for Northern Somalia .

How can the Commission justify the inappropriate stance
it has adopted, involving open interference in the affairs
of another people and opposition to their right to
self-determination ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 6 December 1 991 )

The Commission would stress that it has never expressed

an opinion on the proclamation of independence for
Northern Somalia .

The Commission position on the situation in Somalia is

fully in line with that of the Community and its Member
States, and is that set out in the joint statements on
Somalia of 24 May and 2 August .

Both these texts are being sent direct to the Honourable
Member and Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1328 / 91

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

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 10 )

Subject : Nuclear reprocessing activities

Further to the reply to the Written Question No 75 / 91 (')
dated 25 March 1991, will the Commission ( Mr Cardoso
e Cunha ) explain why details of the correspondence
between the Commission and the UK Energy Department
on wave power have been exceptionally made public ; and
will he enumerate by country, without naming individuals

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 February 1 992 )

It would be physically difficult to provide the Honourable
Member with the list of protests received by the
Commission on the two subjects to which he refers .
Furthermore, an enumeration by country would run
counter to the Commission 's principle of confidentiality
regarding the correspondence which it receives .

Since the letters in question were those on wave power
exchanged between the UK Energy Department and the
Commission, they formed part of the file handed over to
the European Parliament in accordance with the
declaration by Vice-President Pandolfi during the plenary
sitting of 24 January 1991 with the aim of dispelling any
misunderstanding between the Commission and the
European Parliament .

The Commission 's current policy continues to be based
on the implementation of the Council resolution of 18
February 1980 on the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear
fuels ('). This policy was developed and subsequently
presented in the document published on completion of the
work of the ad hoc Advisory Committee on reprocessing

( CORECOM ) ( 2 ), the Commission recommendation of 3
February 1982 on the storage and reprocessing of
irradiated nuclear fuels ( J ) and the Illustrative Nuclear
Programme of the Community ( PINC ) ( 4 ) accompanied
by the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
which was published in mid - 198 5 .

As regards the details of this policy, the Honourable

Member should refer to the abovementioned documents .

O OJNoC 51, 29 . 2 . 1980 .
O COM(82 ) 37 final .
O OJ No L 37, 10.2 . 1982 .
( 4 ) COM(85 ) 401 final .

NoC 112 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1454 / 91 million . The ERDF contributed ECU 2,35 million under

Mr I Naval Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4254 / 88 .

by Mr Joan Colom I Naval ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 11 )

Subject : INTERREG programmes at the frontier
between Spain and France

Can the Commission list programmes co-financed by the
EC through the INTERREG programme at the frontier
between Spain and France during 1991, together with
estimates for 1992 and 1993, indicating in each case :

1 . purpose of the programme,

2 . Community contribution ( in ECU ),

3 . this contribution as a percentage of estimated total

expenditure by the programme ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1991 )

Implementation of the Community Interreg initiative is
governed by the Commission 's Notice to the Member
States No 9C / C 215 / 04 (*).

On 30 July 1990 the Commission informed the Spanish
and French authorities that the indicative Community
contribution to the programme on their border was ECU
27 million, of which ECU 20 million would come from
the Interreg initiative itself and ECU 7 million from
measures financed under Article 10 of Council

Regulation ( EEC ) No 4254 / 88 ( 2 ).

On 27 February 1991, the Spanish and French authorities
submitted to the Commission a cross-border operational
programme for 1991-93 .

The Commission and the two Member States are

cooperating in considering this programme . The
Commission takes a positive view of the quality of the
programme and its cross-border nature . Nevertheless, the
financial contribution requested from the structural
Funds ( ECU 62 million ) far exceeds the Commission 's
estimates .

The Commission hopes that the remaining problems can
be resolved rapidly and that the programme will soon be
approved .

Besides the Interreg initiative, in 1990 and 1991 21 studies
on specific problems relating to the border between Spain
and France were carried out at a total cost of ECU 8,14

(') OJ No C 215, 30 . 8 . 1990 .
O OJNoC 375, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1489 / 91

by Mr Heinz Köhler ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 12 )

Subject : Dual financing from the European Regional

Development Fund and other EC support

programmes

Does the term ' Fund ', as used in Article 14 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 (*) of 24 June 1988
( Structural Fund Regulation ), also apply to EC support
programmes ?

For example, is it permissible for a project such as the
renovation of a historic building to be financed by both
the European Development Fund and the programme for
the preservation of historic monuments ?

What view does the Commission take of combined and

overlapping assistance of this kind ?

O OJ No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988, p. 9 .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1 991 )

The word ' Fund ' in Article 14 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 2052 / 88 refers only to the structural Funds, which are
covered by the five Regulations initiating the reform (').

Article 2 of the Regulation refers explicitly to
contributions from other existing financial instruments,
according to their own specific provisions, to any measure
supported by one or more of the structural Funds .
Article 1 4 covers the laying down of provisions governing
the combination of Community assistance ; in the
Commission 's view, this also covers finance from other
budget articles .

If the Honourable Member has information about
combinations which he regards as irregular, the
Commission would be pleased to receive it so that it can
carry out an investigation .

(') Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 referred to above . Regulation

( EEC ) Nos 4253 / 88, 4254 / 88, 4255 / 88 and 4256 / 88, OJ No
L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 7

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1497 / 91

by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 13 )

Subject : Improvement of surface water

Under Article 4 ( 2 ) of the Council Directive
75 / 440 / EEC (') Member States are required to draw up 'a
systematic plan of action ', including a timetable for the
improvement of surface water and implement these
measures in order to achieve ' considerable improvements '
by 1985 in the quality of surface water . This article also
requires the Commission to carry out a thorough
examination of the plans and, if necessary, submit
appropriate proposals to the Council .

1 . Which Member States have drawn up a ' specific plan

of action ' under Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC and

forwarded it to the Commission and when ?

2 . Does the Commission consider that the Member
States have properly fulfilled their obligations under
Article 4 ( 2 ) of Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC and
achieved ' considerable improvements ' in the quality of
surface water ?

                                     

3 . What measures has the Commission taken, where

necessary, in respect of Member States failing to
comply with the above provisions ?

4 . What conclusion has the Commission drawn from its

study of the plans of action and why has it not
considered it necessary to submit appropriate
proposals to the Council ?

reason the Commission is working in cooperation with
the Member States on a proposal for a Directive on the
ecological quality of surface waters in general .

In reply to the Honourable Member 's specific questions :

1 . The Commission has received information from
several Member States on action to improve the
quality of surface waters . Some of the waters were
used for the abstraction of drinking water and were of
A3 quality . Most of these plans were neither sufficient
nor comprehensive and cannot be considered to be
specific action plans as laid down in Article 4 ( 2 ) of
Directive 75 / 440 / EEC .

2 . Due to the lack of information sent by the Member
States the Commission is unable to satisfy itself that
the Member States have fulfilled their obligations
under Article 4 ( 2 ) of Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC .

3 . Infringement procedures for not applying Council

Directive 75 / 440 / EEC correctly have been
commenced by the Commission during the last 13
years against most Member States . Nearly half of
these procedures were started for not complying with
the requirements of Article 4 ( 2 ) of the Directive . The
latest judgment of the European Court of Justice on
this matter is dated 1 1 June 1991 .

In order to complete the information about the
current situation and on the implementation of
Article 4 ( 2 ) of Directive 75 / 440 / EEC, the
Commission intends to send a formal request to all
Member States .

4 . The Commission will not be able to answer this

question until real specific action plans have been
submitted by all Member States .

(') OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p. 26 . (') OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .
O OJ No L 271, 29 . 10 . 1979 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1509 / 91

Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC was the first of a series of
Directives laying down water quality standards in relation
to specific uses of water, in this case surface water
intended for the abstraction of drinking water .

Together with Directive 80 / 778 / EEC (') on the quality of
water intended for human consumption, Directive
75 / 440 / EEC and its complementary Directive
79 / 869 / EEC ( 2 ) constitute a Community legal framework
in respect of drinking water quality, reflecting the
importance which the Community attaches to this matter .

It is nevertheless agreed that slight changes to Directive
75 / 440 / EEC are desirable in order to strengthen its
consistency with Council Directive 89 / 778 / EEC . For this

by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 14 )

Subject : Posts occupied by women in Commission
representations in third countries

1 . How many Commission heads of delegation or
representatives in ACP countries are women ?

2 . How many women employed in Commission
representations in ACP countries hold A-grade posts ?

NoC 112 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.4.92

3 . Why are women so under - represented in bodies
which represent the EC to the outside world ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 December 1 991 )

The situation as regards Commission delegations and

sub-offices in the ACP countries, is as follows :

M F Total

Total number of delegations

and suboffices : 62

Number of delegates / heads of
office 58 1 59 O

Other A staff 169 6 175 O

B staff 25 5 30 O

C staff — 1 1

Total 252 13 265

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 November 1991 )

The information available to the Commission indicates
that the United Kingdom, along with other Member
States, applies strict regulations ' to lotteries and
lottery-type activities . Lottery-based services fall within
the scope of Article 59 of the EEC Treaty which
establishes the fundamental principle of the free
circulation of services . As interpreted and applied by the
Court of Justice, any exception to this fundamental
principle must not be disproportionate to its objective and
must be interpreted in such a way that its effects are
limited to those necessary in order to protect the interests
which it seeks to safeguard . The possibility of applying
measures which achieve the same objective but which are
less restrictive or discriminatory can be considered in
assessing the validity of any claimed exception .

(') 3 vacant posts not included in total .
( 2 ) 25 vacant posts not included in total .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1591 / 91

Posts outside the Community are mainly filled under
arrangements for rotation between staff posted outside
the Community and the staff of DGs I, VIII, X and DAD .
This affects approximately 25% of the staff concerned

each year .

Posts not subject to rotation are published in accordance
with usual Commission procedures .

No sexual discrimination is practised . In 1990 and 1991,
for example, women were posted in the delegations in
Angola, the Central African Republic, Mauritania, Togo
and Uganda . The fact is, however, that the number of
applications from men is normally far higher than the
number received from women .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1576 / 91

by Mr George Patterson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 15 )

Subject : Lotteries in Europe

Since all Member States, except Great Britain, have strict
regulations and licensing of lottery-based services within
their own country, will the Commission endorse, in
principle at least, that on Member State should accept and
trust the safeguard controls of another ?

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 16 )

Subject : Spanish toxic oil syndrome of 198 1

Is the Commission aware of a Yorkshire Television ' Forty
Minutes ' programme of 5 February 1991 alleging that the
death of over 700 Spaniards in 1981, which was attributed
at the time to contaminated cooking oil, had in fact been
caused by consumption of tomatoes which, grown under
canvas in the southern province of Almeriz, had been
poisoned by excessive application of chemicals ?

Has the Commission any information about this and can
it respond to the allegation that there has been a
monumental cover-up and that the problem, based on
tomato farming rather than contaminated cooking oil,
could rear at any time ?

Is there any possibility that tomatoes grown in this way
could be poisoned by application of excessive chemicals ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

As the Commission indicated in its answer to Written

Question No 1933 / 84 by Mrs Piermont and others ('), to

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 9

which it would ask the Honourable Member to refer, it
has proved impossible to accept the theory of poisoning
by pesticides since no plausible explantation has been
advanced to corroborate this .

o OJ NoC 248, 30.9 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1605 / 91

by Mr Elio Di Rupo ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 17 )

Subject : Express mail services in the European area

Express mail services are referred to as ' Taxipost ' in
Belgium, ' Chronopost ' in France and ' Express Mail
Service ' ( EMS ) in international relations, i.e. across
frontiers .

The organization of the EMS is based on a number of

centres located at major airports . The European, and
hence Belgian, centre is situated at Brussels National
Airport and the French centre is Paris Orly .

Although this system is proving increasingly efficient for
the purposes of long-distance mail, it seems unsuited to
the internal needs of a crossfrontier area . For instance, the
fact that express mail from Mouscron ( Belgium ) to
Wattrelos ( France ) transits through Brussels-National
Airport and Orly does not exactly make for maximum

speed .

Will the Commission provide any information it may have
on this subject ?

Has this situation caused delays in mail delivery inside the
aforementioned European area ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1 991 )

Looking at the way in which express mail services operate
worldwide, it can be seen that a hub and spoke
arrangement has been found to be the most effective way
of operating and is the one widely used by companies with
the largest share of the market .

This was initially the way in which the major US and
Australian companies ( TNT, Federal Express, UPS, etc .)
operated, followed, after a certain lag, by Unipost, a
company that brings together the intra-Community mail
services and the international mail departments of the
postal administrations which are most advanced at world
level ( CEPT + USA  - I  - Canada + Japan  - I  - Australia ).
The European headquaters of Unipost is at Zaventem .

Where hubs already existed beforehand, normally in large

countries, for the routing of domestic mail, one of these
hubs had to be chosen as, an international liaison point .

Apart from the basic requirement that postal operators
must be flexibly organized and properly managed, the
profitability of a high-quality international postal service
depends on three main factors :

— transportation and handling must take place at night ;

— it is necessary to use aircraft ;

— the appropriate logistics ( hubs ) must be available

based on airports which are stopping points on major
international routes, e.g. Zaventem and Orly .

Handling of the mail ( large quantities of small items )
requires clear, straightforward organization in which
exceptions are kept to an absolute minimum . From this
viewpoint, postal operators may take the view that it is

incompatible with its overall objectives of giving a high
standard of service to provide specific arrangements
within a trans-frontier area for the collection and delivery
of mail which is Only a small part of the total volume to be
handled .

As express mail services have, however, been liberalized
both in France and Belgium, there is nothing to prevent
other operators from offering the service described within
the area of Europe concerned if they are able to do so
with a higher standard of quality .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1611 / 91

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 18 )

Subject : Labelling of dangerous chemicals

Can the Commission state the speed of progress being
made in the Member States to implement EC regulations
on the classification and labelling of dangerous
substances ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1991 )

The classification and labelling of dangerous substances is

the subject of Council Directive 67 / 548 / EEC on the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions relating to the classification, packaging and

NoC 112 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

labelling of dangerous substances ( ® ) amended for the
sixth time by Directive 79 / 831 / EEC ( 2 ).

The application of this Directive has not raised any major
problems in the Member States and the Commission has
not registered any complaints concerning incorrect
application of Council Directive 79 / 831 / EEC .

Directive 67 / 548 / EEC has been the subject of 13
adaptations to technical progress in the form of
Commission Directives . Several Member States have
found it difficult to keep up to date with these Directives
and have sometimes fallen behind with the transposition
of certain Directives adapting Directive 79 / 831 / EEC to
technical progress . The Commission has issued a
reasoned opinion concerning one Member State 's failure
to communicate national implementing measures for
Directive 88 / 302 / EEC ( J ) and sent a formal notice of
complaint to seven Member States concerning failure to
communicate national implementing measures for
Directive 88 / 490 / EEC ( 4 ).

The Commission has also referred to the Court of Justice
the matter of the partial conformity of the measures
transposing Directive 79 / 831 / EEC in two Member
States .

In order to achieve more effective application of Directive
79 / 831 / EEC, in January 1991 the Commission sent the
Council a proposal amending for the seventh time
Directive 67 / 65 8 / EEC ( s ). The Council adopted a
common position on this proposal on 25 July 1991 .

3 . prevent instances of state aid which would distort

competition in this sector of the transport industry ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 December 1 991 )

The Commission has prepared a general study of state
aids in the port sector . This includes information derived
from a survey of financial flows in ports of different
institutional organizations . The study was sent to
Member States for their comments in May 1989 ; not all
Member States have yet responded . Meanwhile, the
Commission services are considering what amendments
to the study are needed in the light of the comments that
have been received . At the most recent meeting of the EC
Port Working Group, in May 1991, the Commission
representative indicated that it is intended to carry out in
the near future a study of possible measures to improve
the transparency of port accounts . Member States are
obliged, under Article 93, paragraph 3 of the EEC Treaty,
to notify new or amended state aids in the port sector, as
in others, to the Commission for examination .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1636 / 91

by Mr Willem van Velzen ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

') OJ No 196, 16 . 8 . 1967 . ( 25 July 1991 )
J ) OJ No L 259, 15 . 10 . 1979 .

5 ) OJNoLl33, 30 . 5 . 1988 .

4 ) OJNoL259, 19.9 . 1988 .

5 ) OTNoC 33, 13.2 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1621 / 91

by Mr David Bowe ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 19 )

Subject : Ports and competition rules

Since the approval by the European Parliament in 1988 of
the Carrossino report ( A2-251 / 88 ) what action has the
Commission taken to :

1 . ensure that Community ports operate under fair

financial circumstances in accordance with the
Competition rules of the Treaty of Rome ;

2 . obtain information on the financial relationship

between ports and the relevant public authorities ;

Subject : Problems regarding the Dutch old-age pensions

law ( AOW )

As a result of a 1985 amendment to the AOW in the

Netherlands, a woman is not entitled, after the death of
her husband, to continued payment of his AOW pension .
According to my information, this poses financial
problems for a number of German women who were
married to Dutchmen and who have themselves never
worked and lived in the Netherlands, particularly since it
appears that after the death of their husbands they also
have no entitlement to an old age pension in the Federal
Republic of Germany .

Is the Commission aware of these facts and what action
does it intend to take to resolve this problem, which
appears to be particularly acute in frontier regions ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1 991 )

As the Court of Justice of the European Communities has
stressed on several occasions, the aim of Community
Regulations on social security for migrant workers ( l ) is

( 92 / C 112 / 20 )

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 11

not to harmonize the various social security systems in the
Member States but to coordinate them . It is therefore up
to each Member State to determine the conditions for

' '
granting — in this case — widows or widowers pensions .

Under current Dutch legislation, widows ' pensions are
granted only up to the widow 's 65th birthday . Under the
general old-age pensions law (A OW ), women over 65 are
entitled to an old-age pension, which — for widows — is
calculated and granted not on the basis of the amount and
number of contributions paid by the deceased husband,
but only on the basis of periods during which they
themselves contributed . The only condition for receiving
such a pension is that the person concerned must have
lived and worked in the Netherlands between her 15th

and 65th year .

To facilitate the free movement of workers in the

Community, Annex VI to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71
contains provisions which protect wives who live in
another Member State while their husbands are insured in
the Netherlands . These provisions allow such women to
have periods of residence in another Member State before
2 August 1989 taken into account as periods of insurance
under the AOW, provided that they are periods of
marriage which coincide with the periods of insurance
completed by their husbands . Periods of residence in
another Member State after 2 August 1989 may also be
taken into account if the wives pay voluntary pension
contributions under the AOW .

The Commission takes the view that the Dutch

legislation, supplemented by Regulation ( EEC )
No 1408 / 71, complies with Community law .

(') Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72, OJ

No L 230, 22 . 8 . 1983 ( Consolidated texts ), as last amended
by Regulation ( EEC ) No 3427 / 89, OJ No L 331, 16 . 11 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1647 / 91
by Mr Christian de la Malene, Mr Pierre Lataillade, Mr
Gene Fitzgerald and Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck

Domenech ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 21 )

given over to the economic aspect of the Union, which is
the most important for the present given that the first
phase of economic and monetary union should produce a
sufficient level of convergence between the economic
policies of the Twelve before moving on to the second
phase, due to begin on 1 January 1994, when the emphasis
will switch to the monetary aspects .

1 . An advanced level of convergence between the
Member States ' economies remains the essential
condition of any further progress towards monetary
union . Will the Commission outline the main practical
measures it proposes to take ( commitments by
Member States, constraints, supervisory measures and
possible sanctions ) fully to promote a global and
coherent policy of economic convergence between the
Member States ?

2 . Does it not consider that the transition to the second
phase of EMU is of academic interest until a sufficient
level of convergence between the economies of the
Twelve has been achieved ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1 991 )

1 . The Commission has always stressed that the
success of economic and monetary union is intimately
related to the progress made in convergence . For instance,
building on the revised convergence Decision
90 / 141 / EEC ('), the Commission proposed in its
document of 21 August 1990 on economic and monetary
union that Member States would present medium-term
strategies in cases where convergence is jeopardized in the
transition to the final stage of EMU . The importance of
these multiannual convergence programmes was
recognized by the European Council in Luxembourg in
June 1991, and the Ecofin Council of July 1991 agreed

subsequently, in the framework of multilateral
surveillance, to ask Member States to develop, where
necessary, and communicate to the Community partners
medium-term adjustment programmes .

2 . There is now large agreement that the second stage
of economic and monetary union should begin on 1
January 1994, and that, before that date, Member States,

if necessary and as soon as possible, should present
multiannual programmes with a view of obtaining lasting
progress in convergence . This provides, together with an
assessment by the Council of the progress made in
convergence until then, a sufficiently strong mechanism
to start the second stage with all Member States .

Subject : Differences of opinion on Economic and convergence until then,
Monetary Union at the meeting of the 12 to start the second stage
Ministers of Finance on 25 and 26 February 1991
in Brussels O OJ No L 78, 24 . 3 . 1990 .

The third ministerial meeting on EMU held in Brussels
between the Finance Ministers of the Twelve was mainly

No C 112 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1665 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 22 )

Subject : The development of paper manufacturing by

' neutral process ' in the EC

The paper industry has for decades used acid treatment

and washing techniques in paper manufacturing . For
reasons of geographical location, technical progress and
environmental demands, the acid technique is being
progressively abandoned in favour of neutral or ' basic '
treatments of pulp and paper . The development of paper
manufacturing by ' neutral process ' is a necessary
condition for the development of the production of
' permanent paper '. What is the situation as regards
production in this field in the EC and what measures is the
European Commission considering to promote the
development of paper manufacturing by ' neutral process '?

statistics available for the number of books printed on
' permanent paper '. However, there is a worldwide trend
towards the production of writing and printing paper in
the neutral or alkali pH range . This process allows the use
of less-expensive mineral loadings for the sizing of paper
and facilitates effluent treatment .

Within the framework of the research and technological

development activities of the Community, pulp and paper
manufacturing processes are included in the proposal for
a specific programme for R&TD in the field of
agriculture and agro-industry, including fisheries ( 2 ),
( 1990-1994 ) which will allow the continuation of research
and technological development activities for improving
paper manufacture in neutral or alkali conditions .

On a different tack, the Commission raised the question
of permanent paper in its communication ' Books and
reading : a cultural challenge for Europe ' ( 3 ).

In keeping with the resolution of the Council and the
Ministers responsible for cultural affairs concerning the
promotion of books and reading ( 4 ), the Commission
intends to examine this question in greater depth in the
coming months, in cooperation with the Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1666 / 91 (') Sources : FAO . Forest Products Yearbook 1989 .

( 2 ) Common position of 6 May 1990 .

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) O COM(89 ) 258 final .

to the Commission of the European Communities O OJNoC 183,20.7 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1666 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 23 )

Subject : Estimate of the number of books published in

the EC on permanent paper

As the use of permanent paper in European Community
countries appears limited, reliable statistics from public
and private sector bodies on current production of
permanent paper would be welcome . Could the European
Commission provide any relevant estimates or figures ?
What percentage of books published in the EC are printed
on permanent paper ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1665 / 91

and 1666 / 91

given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1667 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 24 )

Subject : Implementation of EEC Directive on cadmium

discharges in Spain

Environmental groups in Spain have repeatedly
denounced the failure by the Spanish government to
comply with Directive 83 / 513 / EEC (') of 26 September

1983, concerning the treatment of cadmium discharges .
The environmental groups point basically to a lack of

monitoring procedures at the point of exit of the waste
waters, the absence of cadmium limit values, and the
failure to maintain the control methods laid down in the

directive and other additional requirements .

According to FAO and CEPAC the production of

directive and other additional

woodfree printing and writing paper in the EC was about
5,1 million tonnes in 1989 (*). As far as ' permanent paper '
is concerned there is no generally accepted definition but What information can the
work is in progress in TC 172 of the European Committee implementation of the directive
for Standardization ( CEN ). For this reason there are no Spain ?
reliable statistics available for paper production in neutral
or alkaline conditions . For the same reason, there are no o OJ No L 291, 24 . 10 . 1983, p. 1 .

What information can the Commission provide on the

implementation of the directive on cadmium discharges in
Spain ?

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 13

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1991 )

Under the terms of Directive 76 / 464 / EEC (') ( discharge
of dangerous substances into the aquatic environment )
the competent authorities in the Member States are
responsible for ensuring that all discharges of dangerous
substances within List I ( Article 3 ) or List II ( Article 7 ( 2 ))
are made subject to prior authorization .

Authorizations to discharge must comply with the
provisions of the Community directives specifically
relating to List I substances and with national
programmes to reduce pollution by List II substances

( Articles 7(1 ) and 7 ( 3 )).

The Commission is still awaiting a reply to the general

request for information it addressed to the Spanish
authorities . The reply should enable the Commission to
assess the overall situation and check whether adequate
measures have been or are going to be taken by the local
authorities responsible .

o OJNoL 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1689 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

the criterion applied by the Centre for Specialized Studies
clearly contravenes Article 48 of the EEC Treaty .

The Court of Justice has ruled on many occasions

( notably in Case 127 / 86 Criminal proceedings v. Ledoux

[ 1988 ] ECR 3741 ) that Article 48 prohibits discrimination
based on residence . Article 1 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 1612 / 68 on freedom of movement for workers within
the Community (') similarly stipulates that there must be
no discrimination based on place of residence . The Court
has further stated that the fact that certain workers who
have exercised their right to freedom of movement may
derive an advantage from the provision in question can
neither eliminate nor compensate for the discrimination
thus arising ( Case 20 / 85 Roviello v. Landesversiche ­
rungsanstalt Schwaben, [ 1988 ] ECR 2805 ).

It should be noted that a similar form of discrimination, in
connection with the free movement of goods, in favour of
undertakings established in the Mezzogiorno has already
been deemed by the Court to be contrary to Article 30 of
the EEC Treaty ( Case C-21 / 88 Du Pont de Nemours
Italiana SpA v. Unita sanitaria locale No 2 di Carrera

[ 1990 ] ECR 1-889 ).

The Commission will consequently be contacting the

Italian authorities to ask them to submit their

observations on the matter .

O OJNoL 257, 19 . 10 . 1968 .

( 92 / C 112 / 25 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 1691 / 91
by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

discrimination against to the Commission of the European Communities

Subject : Geographically-based discrimination against
Community citizens

The Centre of Specialized Studies and Research in
Agricultural Economics for the Mezzogiorno, situated at
96, Via Universita, Portici, has organized a competition
for the award of research and training contracts to young
graduates . By virtue of Presidential Decree No 218 of 6
March 1978 candidates must have been born or be
resident in southern Italy to be eligible .

Are such requirements compatible with Community law

and what measures will be taken to ensure that all
Community citizens receive equal treatment, free of
geographically-based discrimination such as the above ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 January 1992 )

From the information contained in the Honourable
Member 's question the Commission would conclude that

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 26 )

Subject : Implementation of the Social Action Programme

On 5 December 1989, the Commission adopted the action
programme relating to the implementation of the
Community Charter of Basic Social Rights for Workers
( COM(89 ) 568 ).

1 . Can the Commission list all the measures to be taken ?

2 . Can the Commission say what proposals it has

submitted to the Council, giving the COM and ( if it
exists ) SYN reference ?

3 . What progress has been made in the adoption of the

necessary legislation ( consideration by Parliament,
common position of the Council ( possibly ) amended
Commission proposal )?

4 . Can the Commission list the measures already set out
in a definitive Council decision ?

NoC 112 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

The Commission 's staff are currently preparing the first

report on the implementation of the Community Charter
of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers and the
programme associated with it .

All the information requested by the Honourable
Member will be set out in the report, which, once it has
been adopted by the Commission, will be sent to the
Council, Parliament and the Economic and Social
Committee as required by Article 30 of the Charter .

All being well, the report should be finalized by the end of
this year .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1696 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 27 )

Subject : The confining of the peseta to the narrow band

of the European Monetary System

The behaviour of the peseta in the European Monetary

System is still causing concern, in particular to Spanish
exporters, who feel adversely affected by the
overvaluation of the Spanish currency, which undermines
their competitiveness on international markets .

For this reason there is talk of confining the peseta to the
narrow bank of fluctuation in the European Monetary
System in response to the tensions to which international
financial flows are subjecting this currency . Can the
Commission state its views on the possibility of confining
the peseta to the narrow band in the European Monetary
System and say what other arguments in favour of action
to this effect on the part of the Spanish authorities should
be considered ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 February 1992 )

In the light of the Maastricht agreement, the Commission
considers that all Member States should participate in the
exchange-rate mechanism of the European Monetary
System before the start of stage two of EMU, if possible
in the narrow fluctuation band . Indeed, the draft Treaty
on Economic and Monetary Union states that one of the

criteria for evaluating the degree of convergence reached
before the transition to stage three will be compliance for
a minimum of at least two years with the normal
fluctuation margins in the EMS exchange-rate
mechanism, without any devaluation against the
currencies of the other Member States . Consequently,
since the reports on the degree of convergence reached by
each Member State will have to be presented by the end of

1996 at the latest, Member States intending to participate
in the final stage of EMU from the very start, without
being granted any derogation, will have to comply with
the narrow fluctuation band from 1994 .

In recent years, the Spanish economy has made
remarkable, but still inadequate, progress on the
convergence front . The rates of growth of GDP and of
investment have been among the highest in the
Community, and in 1988 inflation actually fell to 5% .
These growth rates have not, however, been matched by

productivity gains, and this, coupled with wage rises and
increases in the price of services, pushed inflation up to
around 7% in 1990 and 6,5% in 1991 .

Yet, on the whole the restrictive monetary policy followed
did contribute to closer convergence and facilitated the
fight against inflation in particular . At the same time,
since it was based on higher interest rates and on
quantitative control instruments, it also contributed to the
strong appreciation of the peseta .

In order to bolster the real catching-up process through
better nominal convergence, thereby facilitating progress
towards EMU, the Spanish economy must succeed in
redressing the deterioration in public finances and
reducing the excessively rapid rise in costs . In the event of
success, Spain could decide to move quite rapidly to the
narrow band of the exchange-rate mechanism, even
before the start of stage two of EMU on 1 January 1994 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1698 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 28 )

Subject : The launching of the Euro-Arab University in

Granada ( Spain )

The Euro-Arab University, based in Granada, Spain, is at

last to begin work with a few seminars paid for by Spain,
without waiting for funds from the international
community and with only one university building, the
rector 's office, handed over to it by the University of
Granada .

The project was backed by a European Parliament

resolution in 1984, but has since been plagued by

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 15

disagreements which have prevented allocation of the
assistance required to establish this meeting-point
between two worlds, which need and want to engage in
dialogue with each other .

Does the Council consider that there is still time to join in
this project which serves the necessary purpose of greater
understanding between Arabs and . Europeans ? What
reasons might there be to justify the lack of agreement on
the European side ?

Answer

( 27 March 1992 )

The Council has been informed at different times about
developments regarding the formation of an Euro-Arab
University, but it has no proposal before it on this subject .
It should nevertheless be borne in mind that, at its sixth
meeting, the General Committee of the Euro-Arab
Dialogue adopted in its final communique '( point 4 ) the
following text :

' The General Committee also requested the Technical
Working Committee, where necessary in consultation
with the Social and Cultural Working Committee, to
study the role and field of activities appropriate to an
Euro-Arab University and whether it would be viable,
taking account of the financial availabilities identified .
The action to be taken would be considered in due
course in the light of this study .'

In this context it is envisaged that a meeting of the
Presidents, Co-Presidents and Rapporteurs of the
Working Committees will take place in Lisbon during the
first half of April .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1703 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 29 )

Subject : Reopening of the Canfranc-Oloron railway line

It would appear that the Commission is willing to
cofinance, with ERDF funds and in accordance with the
Community INTERREG programme, the building of the
Somport tunnel, to link the French region of
Midi-Pyrenees to the Spanish region of Aragon by means
of a trunk road . The cost will be enormous in both
financial ( Ptas 18 000 million ) and ecological terms .

Since the reopening of the international railway line from
Canfranc to Oloron ( closed to traffic since 1970 ) would
achieve the Commission 's purpose in setting up the
INTERREG programme at a lower financial cost and
without damaging the environment, has the Commission
considered including it among the projects to be financed
under the INTERREG programme ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 November 1 991 )

The Commission does not intend to finance construction
of the Somport tunnel under the Interreg initiative . This
eventuality did not form part of the draft programme
which the national and regional authorities concerned
submitted to the Commission .

The Community will, however, support construction of
the tunnel as part of its transport policy from the budget
article for transport infrastructure projects . The ERDF
also financed the feasibility study on the tunnel .

Neither the French nor the Spanish authorities concerned
have so far made any comment or submitted any
application to the Commission concerning the
Canfranc-Oloron railway line .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1750 / 91

by Mr Heinz Köhler ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 30 )

Subject : The status of the German language in the

translation services of the European
Communities

Frequently, EC documents necessary for legislative
purposes are unavailable in German before and even
during meetings of EC bodies . Similarly, I frequently
receive complaints to the effect that German businessmen
and private citizens are not fully apprised of important EC
documents since they have not been translated into
German and some of the correspondence between the
Commission and German-speaking citizens has to be
conducted in French or English .

What criteria apply to the recruitment of EC language

staff ?

Does the establishment plan reflect the fact that 23 % of
EC citizens have German as their mother tongue ?

Is the Commission prepared to make a special effort to
step up the recruitment of German-speaking secretarial
and translation staff ?

No C 112 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 January 1992 )

The clear instructions of the President and the
Secretary-General of the Commission are that
Community citizens communicating with the
Commission in their own language should be answered in
the same language, as provided in Regulation No 1 .

As regards Commission documents, a distinction must be
made between translation and distribution . Flaws in the
distribution system can mean that documents are available
in, for example, German - but do not reach their
destination in time . The Commission 's practice in its
deliberations is to adopt decisions by oral or written
procedure only if the relevant documents are presented in
at least three official languages, including German .

The staff complement of the Commission 's translation

service depends basically on the translation workload .
Because the need for German language texts has increased
steadily over the years, the Commission has taken this
into account by giving priority to the German Translation
Units in the allocation of staff . As a result, there are now
altogether about 160 translators and revisers in Brussels
and Luxembourg, the Commission 's twin headquarters .
In addition, by scheduling its translator competitions
carefully, the Commission makes sure that vacant or new
posts can be filled without delay .

As part of the recent restructuring of its Translation

Service, the Commission has set up a special unit for
freelance translation . At the moment, a tendering
procedure for the translation of documents into all nine
official Community languages is under way . The aim is to
conclude framework contracts with individual freelance
translators and translation agencies . The Commission
hopes this will further improve its capacity to meet the
demand for translation .

It is of course the budgetary authority which decides on
the number of posts for translators and secretaries .
Within the total number allocated to it, the Translation

Service can assign posts among the language units at its
discretion, and thus take account of language
requirements .

There is a severe shortage of secretaries in some
translation units, which the Commission is trying to
overcome by stepping up the use of word-processing and
— so far as the budget allows — by using the services of
secretarial agencies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1778 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 31 )

Subject : Danger from nuclear power station in Bulgaria

Two of the six nuclear reactors of the Kozloduy power

station in northern Bulgaria have recently ceased
operating . Experts from the International Atomic Energy
Agency sent to examine the situation on the spot
discovered design faults, inadequate maintenance and
unsuitable operation and safety procedures and called for
the provisional shut down of the power station for the
purposes of inspection .

Since its continued operation is seriously endangering the
Community Member States, will the Commission bring
pressure to bear on the Bulgarian Government to shut
down the power station and, at the same time take
measures, in cooperation with the neighbouring Member
States, to assist Bulgaria with its energy supply ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1871 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 32 )

Subject : Cooperation between the Community and
Bulgaria on the safety of the nuclear plant at
Kozloduy in Bulgaria

At a recent meeting of international experts held on 9 July

at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna,
Bulgaria announced its intention of closing down its
central reactor in Kozloduy, provided that it received
financial assistance from the Community to meet its
energy shortfall . This nuclear plant, which has extremely
serious safety problems, supplies approximately 40% of
Bulgaria 's electricity requirements .

Energy shortages apart, substantial funding is required
for technical improvements to the other reactors and
proper staff training . The technical improvements to meet
international safety standards will alone cost over DM 2
billion . What financial and other assistance is the
Commission willing to provide in cooperation with
international energy organizations ( International Atomic

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 17

Energy Agency, International Energy Agency ) to help
solve the acute problems facing Bulgaria ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1778 / 91

and 1871 / 91
given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 1992 )

On 31 July, Vice-President Andriessen and the Bulgarian
Vice-Prime Minister Tomov signed at Brussels the
financing agreement concerning aid amounting to ECU

1 1 500 000 under the PHARE Programme for emergency
action relating to the nuclear safety of the Kozloduy
power station in Bulgaria .

" This is the first phase of a reginal programme to assist

Central and Eastern European regions in the energy and
environment sectors .

This action to assist Bulgaria involves inter alia
implementation of the most urgent IAEA
recommendations and an initial improvement programme
prepared by WANO, improvements to the regulations on
safety and determination of the means to be used in order
to cope with the electricity shortfall resulting from the
shutdown of certain reactors .

The Bulgarian Government has stated its willingness to
put into effect the recommendations of the team of
experts set up under Commission coordination . Units 1
and 2 have already been shut down for the winter period .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1827 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 33 )

Subject : Measures to combat atmospheric pollution

With the approach of the twenty-first century,
atmospheric pollution is coming to be considered as a
major threat to the environment .

1 . What measures does the Commission intend to take to

put an end to the public health hazard caused by
photochemical oxidants from vehicle exhauts ( causing
eye and skin irritations, headaches, respiratory
problems, etc .)?

2 . In the light of available information, can it establish

threshold values for ozone concentrations in the

atmosphere ?

3 . How does it monitor the application by Member

States of the general standards ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 October 1 991 )

At Community level, various measures have been taken or

are being prepared to reduce emissions from several
sources of photochemical pollutants or their precursors
( nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds ); these
measures concern both fixed sources ( large combustion
installations ) and mobile sources ( cars / lorries ).

Directive 9 1 / 441 / EEC (') on measures to be taken
against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles,
recently adopted by the Council, provides for a reduction
in emissions of several pollutants, particularly those
contributing to photochemical pollution . In addition,
proposals are being drawn up concerning the reduction of
emissions from light commercial vehicles and lorries .

For all these vehicles, further reductions in emission
threshold values are now planned .

Commission forecasts indicate that, for the transport
sector, the measures taken or planned should lead to a

1 0 % reduction in nitrogen oxides and a 40 % reduction in
volatile organic compounds by the year 2000 ( as against

1985 levels ).

As regards the problem of a threshold value for ozone
concentrations in the atmosphere, current knowledge
enables us to determine the thresholds below which there
is no risk to human health or natural ecosystems ;
however, the phenomena governing the formation,
transport and transformation of the photochemical
pollutants responsible for ozone formation are so
complex that it is impossible to establish a direct link
between emission and immission . At present, it is difficult
to set a restrictive threshold value which both corresponds
to objective criteria and can be reasonably respected in the
Member States .

However, with a view to being able to monitor air quality,
on 24 June the Commission adopted a proposal for a
Directive on air pollution by ozone ( 2 ); this Directive will
ensure that ozone levels are monitored in all Member
States . It sets out guide and alarm values which comply
with WHO recommendations .

O OJ No L 242, 30 . 8 . 1991 .
O COM(91 ) 220 final .

No C 1 12 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1829 / 91

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 34 )

Subject : Danger of the citrus fruit fair of Reggio di

Calabria losing its ' international ' status

The city of Reggio di Calabria has for a long time been

the venue for the ' international ' citrus fruit fair sponsored
by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs . This citrus fruit fair plays a major role in
promoting and publicizing not only the citrus fruits of
southern Italy but of all Mediterranean countries, thereby
stimulating the economic development of this and related
sectors and the employment opportunities may offer .

The exhibition is now in danger of losing its international
status, since the caretaker management of the current
official appointee has deprived it of all dynamism and
sense of purpose .

1 . Can the Commission take measures to avoid the citrus
fruit fair losing its international status and call on the
competent bodies to appoint a new committee capable
of wielding a new broom and breathing new life into
the fair in particular in the citrus fruit sector ?

2 . Can it ensure that due consideration is given to

measures to ensure that the fair regains its
international status with the help of the Structural
Funds ?

3 . Can it appoint a group of experts to assess the

socio-economic importance of the fair as part of a
policy designed to support, upgrade and protect the
citrus fruit sector along the whole of the
Mediterranean coastline ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 January 1992 )

The Commission is well aware of the importance of
promotion and publicity measures in the attempt to
improve traditional outlets or seek out new markets for
agricultural products .

In Calabria, a region already lagging behind in terms of
economic development, citrus fruit production is one of

the pillars of the agricultural economy . The Commission
therefore feels that a venture like the Reggio di Calabria
International Citrus Fruit Fair must not only continue but
also be revitalized so that it can make an active
contribution to the promotion of agricultural products
both inside and outside the Community .

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member
that this will be most carefully looked into by the
committee responsible for monitoring the region 's
operational programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1836 / 91

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 35 )

Subject : Tropical rain forests and indigenous peoples of

Sarawak

Given that the ITTO mission to Sarawak recommended :

— a significant reduction in logging rates,

— that logging should be interrupted in currently

disputed lands until the satisfactory resolution of
conflicts,

— the establishment of a permanent mechanism for

consultation with indigenous populations affected by
logging,

is the European Commission monitoring the
implementation by the Sarawak Government of these
recommendations, and, if so, could it present the results
of its work ?

Is the Commission going to act in contradiction to the
explicit recommendations of the ITTO, whose work it
usually whole-heartedly supports and continue importing
hardwoods from Sarawak ?

Secondly, at the May part-session in Strasbourg,
Commissioner Ripa di Meana spoke of Malaysia 's
commitment to ITTO to create two reservations for the
Penans and to increase the area of protected forests . Has
the Malaysian Government done this ? What measures
have been decided to make sure it fulfils its obligations if
nothing has been done ?

30.4.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 19

What progress has been made about the creation of
biospheres promised by the Malaysian Government ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 January 1992 )

At the tenth meeting of the ITTO Council, held in Quito

in June 1991, the Commission made an official request on
behalf of the Community for information on the progress
of measures taken by the Malaysian authorities in
Sarawak, in the spirit of the recommendations made by
the ITTO international mission .

In reply, the Malaysian delegation confirmed that :

1 . the Sarawak forestry department is about to recruit a

number of new members of staff, a process which
should be completed by the end of the year . According
to information obtained by a ( Commission team
visiting Sarawak at the beginning of October last year,
the new appointees should number around 400, which
will increase the existing staff by nearly one third .

2 . National parks and nature reserves have been
established in Sarawak and others are planned .
According to information obtained on the spot, the
fully protected areas at present extend to 280 000
hectares ( 105 000 hectares of national parks and
175 000 hectares of nature reserves ). Eight new
national parks covering a total area of 580 000
hectares are planned, together with six new nature
reserves extending to nearly 140 000 hectares .

Information on the scale of logging operations is unclear .
At the ITTO Council meeting it was claimed in some
quarters that the trend is sharply upward . According to
official information supplied on the spot, current total
logging production in Sarawak stands at nearly 19 million
m 3, of which nearly 16 million m 3 is exported, mainly to
Japan ( 45% ) and Taiwan ( 20% ). The Community does

not import logs from Sarawak . Between now and 1995,
average yearly production in Sarawak should be 12
million m 3, falling to 10 million m 3 between 1995 and
2000, which would bring it close to the level regarded as
sustainable by the ITTO ( some 9 million m 3 ).

At the meeting in Quito, the Malaysian representatives
were at pains to point out that the current production
level reflects a temporary phenomenon, since some of the
timber being harvested comes from forest areas which are
earmarked for conversion to farming use . The
Community requested speedy clarification on this point,
referring in this connection to the forthcoming ITTO
Council meeting to be held at the end of November this

year .

Lastly, the ITTO has never adopted decisions nor made
recommendations to its members calling on them to

refrain, from importing timber from Malaysia, and such a
practice would in any case be contrary to the aims of the
International Agreement .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1857 / 91
given by Mr Gerardo Fernandez    - Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 36 )

Subject : Community legislation on use of catalytic

converters

In certain Community countries, the catalytic converter

— which began as a ' cure-all ' which was to eliminate a
large proportion of the polluting elements produced by
motor vehicles — is scarcely in use, largely due to the lack
of interest on the part of the national governments, who
give very little support to those users who are aware of the
benefits of catalytic converters .

This lack of interest also means that no even remotely
comprehensive network has been established for the
distribution of fuel for this type of vehicle .

In view of this neglect, of which certain Community
countries are guilty, can the Commission say which
Community regulations deal with the use of catalytic
converters, and what powers it possesses to enforce these
regulations so that citizens may be protected from the
pollution which is poisoning them, especially in the big
cities ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 October 1991 )

Aware of the problems to which the Honourable Member

refers, the Commission presented, in February 1990, a
proposal for a Directive which lays down stringent limit
values for pollutants emitted by motor vehicles ; in order
to meet the requirements of the Directive, industry will
have to equip cars with regulated three-way catalytic
converters representing the best available technology .

The . Council adopted this Directive ( 91 / 441 / EEC ) on 26
June 1991 ('). It enters into force on 1 January 1992 ; its

provisions relating to component type approval become
mandatory on 1 July ; those relating to the registration of
new cars become mandatory on 31 December 1992 .

O OJ No L 242, 30 . 8 . 1991 .

NoC 112 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1873 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 37 )

Subject : Construction of railway track in EC countries

Could the Commission list for all EC countries the
number of miles of new publicly-funded main-line
railway track constructed over the last 10 years and the
number of miles of such track

1 . actually under construction and

2 . planned ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 December 1 991 )

In accordance with the Council resolution of 4 and 5
December 1989 ('), the Member States have supplied the
Commission with information on projects of Community
interest and programmes prepared by them for the
development of railway infrastructures .

The table below shows the number of kilometres of new

lines either built, under construction or planned per
country . Since some of the routes have not yet been
settled, the number of kilometres of future new lines is
approximate .

( kilometres )

Construction of new lines

Member State

completed in progress planned

Belgium — — 155

Denmark — — —

Germany 410 — 282

Greece — — 360

Spain — 471 917

France 707 560 3 440

Ireland — — —

Italy 248 — 1 078

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1900 / 91
by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE ), Lord Bethell ( ED ), Mr
Elmar Brok ( PPE ), Sir Fred Catherwood ( ED ), Mr Patrick
Cox ( LDR ), Mr Willy De Clercq ( LDR ), Mr Gijs de Vries
( LDR ), Mr James Elles ( ED ), Mr Ingo Friedrich ( PPE ),
Mr Klaus Hansch ( S ), Mr Geoffrey Hoon ( S ), Mr Alan
Lamassoure ( LDR ), Mr Manuel Medina Ortega ( S ), Mr
Hemmo Muntingh ( S ), Mr Luis Planas Puchades ( S ), Lord
Plumb ( ED ), Mr Hans-Gert Poettering ( PPE ), Mr Manuel
Porto ( LDR ), Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S ), Mr Leo Tindemans
( PPE ), Mr John Tomlinson ( S ), Mr Michael Welsh ( ED ),

Mr Karl von Wogau ( PPE ) and Mr Eisso Woltjer ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 38 )

Subject : Development of US / EC relations

How does the Commission consider that the US / EEC
relationship should develop over the next few months,
now that Germany is unified and the Community is
nearing completion of the Single European Market ?

Does the Declaration, now agreed between the EC and
the US, imply that there will be closer cooperation
between the US and the EC in new sectors ?

Does the Commission believe that closer relationships
will lead to the institutionalization of the US / EC

relationship in the longer term ?

What possibilities exist for the Community and the US to
work together within the CSCE with a view to promoting

a new European security order ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 February 1 992 )

1 . Over the past two years there has been an important
change in the relationship between the European
Community and the United States . This has been spurred
on by the recognition within the US Administration of
growing world interdependence, by developments in
Eastern and Central Europe and the USSR, as well as by
the progress of economic integration in the EC and its
developing identity in the sphere of foreign policy .

2 . The strengthening of the relationship has been
marked by the adoption on 23 November 1990 of the
EC / US Transatlantic Declaration .

The Declaration delineates the common goals and
principles shared by the Community and the United
States and sets forth the basis for ongoing bilateral
cooperation . It contains commitments for both sides to
consult with and inform each other on important political

Luxembourg

— — —

Netherlands — — 85

Portugal — — 512

United Kingdom — — 113

o OJ No C 34, 14.2 . 1990 .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 21

and economic matters of common interest, to cooperate
closely in appropriate international bodies, and to support
the GATT and the OECD . They also agreed to further
develop the already active and wide-ranging dialogue on
matters involving trade and investment, and to strengthen
scientific, educational and cultural cooperation .
Moreover, both sides agreed to join forces in combating
terrorism, drug abuse and trafficking, international crime,
and the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons and missile technology . Finally, they are
committed to protecting the environment .

The Declaration sets out an institutional framework for

regular consultations in fields of common interest, in
particular through biannual consultations between the US
President and the Presidents of the EC Council and
Commission . The second meeting of this sort took place
between President Bush, President Delors and Prime
Minister Lubbers on 9 November in the Hague . In
addition, biannual meetings between the EC Foreign
Ministers, the Commission and the US Secretary of State
are foreseen as well as biannual Commission-US

consultations at cabinet level, and ad hoc consultations at

ministerial level .

3 . As regards the last question concerning the CSCE, it
is clear that the Community has an important role to play
in the process of reinforcing peace and security in Europe
through confidence-building mechanisms and pacific
resolution of conflicts, especially at a time when the
security situation in Europe is undergoing radical change .
The Community believes that the CSCE, in which the
United States is one of the major actors, is an appropriate
forum for this process . A close cooperation between the
two parties is all the more valuable since the goals of a
democratic architecture in Europe are common to both
the Community and the US . The CSCE is therefore
explicitly mentioned in this context in the preamble of the
Transatlantic Declaration .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1926 / 91

by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 39 )

Subject : Planned industrial incinerator at Fos-sur-Mer,

Bouches-du-Rhone, France

There are plans to construct an industrial incinerator at

Fos-sur-Mer that will deal with tens of thousands of
tonnes of chemical products each year .

Although the proposed incinerator appears to comply
with European standards, can the Commission state
whether :

1 . In its view it is acceptable to locate such a large plant in

an area where there have already been many incidents
of air pollution exceeding European norms ?

2 . In view of the developers 's desire to make the plant

cost-effective by importing waste from other Member
States or neighbouring countries ( Switzerland, etc .)
the principle of treating waste locally in order to avoid
transport risks is being complied with ?

3 . The measures to reduce the risks to local people and

the environment are satisfactory or should be
improved ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 October 1 991 )

1 . Of the various pollutants discharged into the
atmosphere by incineration plants only sulphur dioxide,
suspended particulates and lead are currently covered by
the ' air quality ' directives .

In pursuance of Article 3 ( 2 ) of Directive 80 / 779 / EEC ( ® )
( SOz-suspended particulates ) France informed the
Commission that the region of Fos-Etang de Berre was an
area where the limit values of the Directive were likely to
be exceeded .

Since the Directive entered into force, the parts of this
region where there is a risk of limit values being exceeded
have gradually reduced in size . In 1987-88 there were only
two instances of SOz levels exceeding the 98 percentile
established in the Directive ; at the end of 1988-89 the
Port-de-Bouc region remained the only area concerned ;
no instances of limit values being exceeded were recorded
during this period .

For lead no instance of the limit value being exceeded was
reported .

Under the terms of the Directive, only instances where
limit values have been exceeded must be officially notified
to the Commission ; the information available is therefore
very incomplete and it is difficult to draw an overall
conclusion on this basis . However, the Commission
believes that it is particularly important to analyse the
impact of pollutants on air quality, especially since the
provisions of the Directive concern only improvement
plans and do not apply to new industries . In the case in
question, it is essential to check that the pressure which
may result does not reverse the trend towards
improvement observed during the last few years .

2 . Directive 84 / 631 / EEC ( 2 ) on the supervision and
control of the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste

NoC 112 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

provides for a control procedure which requires the prior
agreement of the authorities dispatching the waste and
the Member State of destination before a shipment may
be executed . This Directive thus gives the authorities the
means to control the potential impact on the environment
of proposed shipments of waste . Concrete application of
the principle of proximity laid down in Directive
91 / 156 / EEC amending Directive 75 / 442 / EEC on waste
will be ensured by the provisions of the regulation on the

supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into
and out of the Community ( 3 ) which is now being
discussed in Parliament and the Council .

3 . As regards the risks to local people, Article 4 of the
aforementioned Directive on waste obliges the authorities
to ensure that waste is disposed of without endangering
public health or the environment . More detailed
provisions will be set out in the Commission proposal for
a Directive laying down standards for hazardous waste
incineration plants, which is currently being drawn up .

o OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .
O OJ No L 326, 13 . 12 . 1984 .
O CQM(90 ) 415 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1930 / 91

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

( 2 September 1 991 )

Clearly, transfrontier transactions of this type will
increase . None the less, cases of certain firms acting
against consumers ' interests, particularly with raffles or
lotteries offering prizes which are never in fact awarded,
have been brought to the Commission 's attention .

Naturally, Council Directive 84 / 450 / EEC of 10
September 1984 (') and the corresponding national
legislation should provide a means of combating
misleading advertising .

Nevertheless, difficulties have emerged, particularly when
the advertiser exercises no activities in the country in
which the firm is established .

The Commission departments concerned have therefore

already had reason to consider solutions which will
strengthen consumer confidence and keep transactions
fair .

As announced in the three-year action plan of consumer
policy in the EEC, the Commission is drafting a proposal
for a Directive on distance selling, in which it has taken
full account of the practices mentioned by the
Honourable Member .

O OJ No L 250, 19.9 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1941 / 91

by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 92 / C 112 / 40 ) (2 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 41 )

Subject : Legislation regulating the activities of genuine

lotteries

Recent years have seen the development of a sales
technique in which a bogus raffle or prize draw is used as
a means of selling cheap merchandise . This has now
begun to transcend frontier, with individuals in the UK
receiving such material from companies in other Member
States . Does the Commission plan to propose legislation
regulating the activities of genuine lotteries so as to
eliminate these dishonest selling methods ?

Subject : Compliance with the Directive on toxic and

dangerous waste

Will the Commission indicate whether it considers that
the undertakings producing toxic waste located in the
Department of Bouches-du-Rhone ( France ) comply with
Directive 78 / 319 / EEC (')?

If so, can it state, on the basis of the waste production
returns by the undertakings there, what quantities are
involved, giving the names of the undertakings
concerned ?

If not, what action does it intend to take to ensure
Answer given by Mr Van Miert compliance with this Directive ?

on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1991 )

As the Honourable Member points out, sales techniques

are accompanying the free movement of goods and, in the
process, helping to complete the internal market .

As a result, many offers or advertisements are directed at

consumers living in a Member State other than that in
which the firm selling the goods is established .

C ) OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978, p. 43 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

The Commission does not receive information
concerning compliance with Directive 78 / 319 / EEC by

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 23

individual undertakings . Under the terms of the directive
in question, the task of monitoring compliance with its
provisions is left to the competent authorities appointed
by the Member States . Similarly, it has no information on
the production of waste by individual undertakings . The
information required in accordance with Article 14 of the
directive must be supplied on request to the competent
authorities, which are merely obliged to present the
Commission with a summary report . The Commission has
not received any information relating specifically to the
region referred to by the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1944 / 91

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

(2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 42 )

Subject : Aquaculture and its effects

With regard to Written Question No 87 / 90 (') and the

Commission 's answer of 2 February 1990, can the
Commission say to what extent the effects on the incomes
of traditional inshore fishermen ( as opposed to offshore
fishermen ) were assessed before the project was carried
out and whether any studies were carried out afterwards ?
If so what were the findings ?

o OJ No C 136, 27 . 5 . 1991, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 5 November 1 991 )

The Commission does not possess any particular studies

at the moment on the subject referred to by the
Honourable Member . Nevertheless, on the basis of the
incomplete information at its disposal, the Commission is
of the opinion that the impact of aquaculture on the
revenue of traditional fishermen is not significant, even
though there are cases where traditional fishermen have
voluntarily changed over to aquaculture .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1960 / 91

by Mr Anthony Simpson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 43 )

Subject : Furniture fire safety Directive — to be or not to

be ?

In view of the urgency for the European furniture
industry to have common standards of fire safety, will the

Commission state what plans it has to introduce a new
draft Directive ( or to amend the original draft Directive )
to achieve this goal ?

Will the Commission accept the existing United Kingdom

standards as providing adequate protection and ensure
that any future Community standard achieves this high
level of protection ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 1 October 1 991 )

In its press statement of 3 July 1991, the Commission
indicated the steps which it intends to take in order to
propose common essential requirements as soon as
possible, to achieve a high standard of health and safety,
to overcome obstacles to trade within the single market
caused by disparate national regulations and to prevent
further fragmentation of the market .

The existing United Kingdom legislation foresees a series

of ignitability tests in order to eliminate from the market
materials which are considered dangerous . The new
approach on harmonization of legislation implies that the
fire behaviour tests are applied not to separate materials
but to the compound made of fillings and cover .

In spite of this difference, the essential requirements of
any draft directive on this matter will ensure a high level
of protection for consumers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1966 / 91

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

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 44 )

Subject : Transposition into German law of the EIA

Directive

This question refers to Appeal No 1011 / 90 by W.

Mecklenburg ( lodged with the Commission on 23 July

1990 ). Pursuant to Articles 2 and 4 ( 2 ) of the EIA
Directive ( 85 / 337 / EEC ) ('), Member States must define
the projects in the classes listed in Annex II to that
directive which require an environmental impact
assessment ( EIA ). The German Government has not
established criteria or thresholds for defining roads in
Annex II which are n^ithf r expressways nor motorways ; it

has merely ruled that an EIA is obligatory for all main
roads, for the construction of which the Federal
authorities are responsible . The characteristics of a main
road are, therefore, such that an EIA is required . EIAs

NoC 112 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

have not yet been made obligatory for roads which are the
responsibility of subordinate territorial authorities ( rural
roads etc .). A threshold for obligatory EIAs for roads in
Annex II of the Directive is implicitly introduced in the
form of the minimum development standard of a main
road .

1 . Pending an explicit definition of the classes of roads in

Annex II for which an EIA is obligatory, should this

implied threshold be used as the threshold pursuant to
Article 4 ( 2 ) of the Directive for obligatory EIAs for
road construction projects which are the responsibility
of subordinate territorial authorities ?

2 . Is an EIA pursuant to the Directive therefore
obligatory for a road of the same standard as a Federal
road ( given that the Federal government has ruled that
roads of that type require an EIA ):

( a ) following expiry of the deadline for transposing

the Directive (3 July 1988 ), or

( b ) following adoption of the EIA Act by the German

Bundestag on 16 November 1989, or

( c ) following the entry into force of the EIA Act on 1
August 1990 ?

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

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 November 1 991 )

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC entered into force on 3 July 1988 .
Article 2 thereof states that authorization of the projects

listed in Annexes I and II is subject to an environmental
impact assessment . This must be carried out in the case of
all the projects listed in Annex I, and of those projects in
Annex II which are likely to have significant effects on the
environment by virtue of their nature, size or location .

The requirement contained in Article 2 applies to all

competent authorities, including regional and local
authorities . Any Annex II project likely to have significant
effects on the environment must be the subject of an
environmental impact assessment .

In the case of the projects listed under Annex I ( including
motorways and express roads ), these assessments have
been compulsory since the entry into force of the
Directive .

As regards Annex II projects, there is no automatic

requirement, as the Directive has no direct effect in this
regard . However, all the authorities in the Member States
are obliged since 3 July 1988 to ensure that the provisions

of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC are complied with . This
includes the obligation to carry out an environmental
impact assessment where Article 2 so requires .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1967 / 91

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

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 45 )

Subject : The definition of expressways with regard to the

EIA Directive

This question refers to Appeal No 1011 / 90 by W.

Mecklenburg ( lodged with the Commission on 23 July

1990 ) and concerns technical issues in connection with the
transposition into German law by the Bundestag of the
EIA directive ; these issues came to light in the context of
the abovementioned Appeal .

The technical terms used below are taken from German
road construction directive RAS-Q = ' Richtlinien fur die
Anlage von Strassen, Teil : Querschnitte ' ( Directives for
road construction : cross-sections ), published by
Forschungsgesellschaft fur Strassen - und Verkehrswesen
( FGSV ), Cologne 1982 .

Is the Pinneberg western by-pass — a road in category
AIII of design speed V e = 80 km / h and in category Bill
of design speed V e = 60 km / h and normal cross-section
RQ10 / d2, accompanied over its entire length by a cycle
track / footpath, with signal-controlled crossings at grade
and a railway crossing — an expressway within the
meaning of the EC Directive on EIAs ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1991 )

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') requires an environmental
impact study to be carried out for express roads . The
latter are defined in accordance with the European
Agreement of 15 November 1975 on main international
traffic arteries . This agreement provides inter alia that
express roads shall be reserved for motor vehicles only .
According to the information provided by the German

authorities, the Pinneberg by-pass is not reserved for
motor vehicles only . Therefore it is not an express road
within the meaning of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC .

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

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 25

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1971 / 91

which they reside . The Commission will take the

by Mr Elio Di Rupo ( S ) necessary these cases measures . in the light of the Court 's rulings in

to the Commission of the European Communities

by Mr Elio Di Rupo ( S )

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 46 )

Subject : Tax payable by Belgians living abroad

In accordance with a Franco-Belgian convention of 1964,
Belgian taxpayers working in France can pay their tax in
Belgium, thereby avoiding double taxation .

On 22 December 1989 the Belgian Parliament passed an
Act, the fiscal provisions of which would deprive Belgian
taxpayers of a number of advantages ( e.g. separate
taxation of married persons, personal tax allowance,
dependent children 's allowance, tax deductibility for
mortgages etc .). Some people have already worked out
that these measures would cost them an additional Bfrs

100 000 in tax in 1991 .

Assuming that these facts are true, what is the
Commission 's opinion ? Does it believe this Belgian law is
compatible with the Treaty of Rome ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 December 1 991 )

In order to avoid double taxation in Belgium and France,
Article 11(1 ) of the 1964 Convention lays down that
wages, salaries and other similar remuneration are taxable
only in the Contracting State on whose territory the
personal activity giving rise to such income is pursued .
However, paragraph 2c of that Article lays down that
frontier workers holding a frontier worker 's card
attesting to such status may be taxed only in the
Contracting State in which they have their place of
residence .

The Commission assumes that the Honourable Member

is referring to such frontier workers in his question . In
view of the fact that such persons have their residence for
tax purposes in Belgium, the provisions of the Law of 22
December 1989 referred to in the Written Question
concern non-residents only and consequently, in the
Commission 's opinion, do not affect the tax status of the
frontier workers in question .

As regards the compatibility of the Belgian Law of 22

December 1989 with the Treaty of Rome, the
Commission would point out that the Court of Justice of
the European Communities is currently examining several
cases concerning the taxation of certain incomes obtained
by non-residents in a Member State other than that in

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1990 / 91

by Mr Alf Lomas ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 47 )

Subject : Deprived housing estates in London

I tabled a question in July 1988 ( H-392 / 88 ) (') asking
whether there was any way that the European Community
could assist in the refurbishment of housing estates in my
constituency, the East End of London, many of which are
virtually uninhabitable .

The reply stated that the Community was concerned with

finding solutions to urban problems, and that :

1 . studies had been carried out into urban decline and
urban growth and into ways of assessing the social
problems in the Community 's crisis-hit urban areas ;

2 . the second anti-poverty programme basically concerns

the urban environment and also affects certain parts of
the East End of London and there was a possibility
that the Council would decide on new, wider ­
ranging action on the basis of the report on
the implementation of the second anti-poverty

programme ;

3 . the regulation on the reform of the structural Funds

( No 2052 / 88 ) ( 2 ) adopted by the Council on 24 June

1988 stipulated that Community operations under
Objective 2 may inter alia concern urban communities
to be identified on the basis of the criteria laid down in

the regulation .

What is the current position with regard to the above

solutions, and what action is being taken to assist those
living on deprived estates in London ?

( l ) European Parliament debates No 2-369 ( October 1988 ).
O OJ No L 185, 15 . 7 . 1988, p . 9 .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

1 . The Commission is aware of the concentration of
social problems in some urban areas . Within the general
framework of its initiatives to combat social exclusion, it

No C 112 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

has launched in 1990 an exploratory working group on
employment, housing, integration and urban
development and developed through various seminars
and conferences a wide concertation with a number of

key-actors in this area . However, it has not, at this stage,
the competences and the resources which could allow an
ambitious intervention specifically devoted to housing
and urban problems .

2 . The Community supports a limited number of local
projects within the framework of its third poverty
programme ( Community programme to foster the
economic and social integration of the least privileged
groups (')). Planned for a duration of five years
( 1989-1994 ), this programme extends and builds on the
work already carried out during the previous first and
second European poverty programmes ( 1975-1980 ;
1984-1989 ). Its budget is of ECU 53 million for the
duration of the programme . Most of the projects are
located in urban areas and designed to implement
integration of economic and social development .

However, there is no project in London relevant to this

programme .

3 . As far as structural Funds are concerned, the
Commission has launched a series of urban pilot projects
under Article 10 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4254 / 88 ( 2 ) to
explore new paths to assist in the implementation of
Community policies . Included in this series of pilot
projects is action to enhance economic opportunities in
public sector housing estates in London and Marseille .
The London pilot project covers areas to the east and
south of the city namely Brixton, Tower Hamlets,
Deptford, Finsbury Park, Hackney, Kings Cross and
Southwark .

Moreover, the Commission has proposed in the
framework of the intergovernmental conferences to
extend the objective 2 eligible regions to urban areas in
decline which could allow further action to those

described above .

(') Council Decision 89 / 457 / EEC of 18 July 1989 ( OJ No L 224,

2.8 . 1989 ).
O OJNoL 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .

3 . What complaints and criticisms have the
Commission and the Member States received ?

4 . What conclusions does the Commission draw from

the above ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1992 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the reply to his Oral Question H - 8 27 / 91, which it gave
during question time at Parliament 's part-session from 9
to 13 September 1991 ( 1 ).

The following additional information can now be
provided .

The draft Convention on the crossing of external borders,
referred to in the Community action plan to assist
tourism ( 2 ), provides for mutual recognition of national
visas subject to certain conditions and, in the long term,
for a common form for visas . This will enable
third-country nationals to move around within the
Community with much greater ease .

Following the Council Decision of 17 December 1990, a
two-year programme for developing Community tourism
statistics has been launched in response to requests from
the Member States and from the industry itself . Close
cooperation between Member States will, of course, be an
essential feature of this programme .

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-408 ( September

1991 ).
O COM(91 ) 97 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2005 / 91

by Mr Thomas Maher ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 99 1 /9 1
( 23 September 1 991 )

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 92 / C 112 / 49 )

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 48 ) Subject : Study on part-time farming

Subject : Controls at internal ana external frontiers

1 . What does the Commission have to report on the
question of controls and crossings at internal or external
frontiers during the recent holiday season ?

In my report ( A2-146 / 89 ) ( l ), which was adopted by the
European Parliament, I called on the Commission to
carry out a study on part-time farming in the Community .

Can the Commission say if this study is near completion .

2 . What are the figures for the numbers of tourists ? (') OJ No C 158, 26 . 6 . 1989, p. 373 .

30 . 4 . 92 Official V, Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 27

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1991 )

A research project on rural change in Europe covering 24
European regions is being carried out on behalf of the
Commission . Among the policy issues addressed in the
intermediate report submitted in December 1990 were

— the potential for solving problems of low and falling

farm incomes through the stimulation of farm
household pluriactivity ; and

— the development of a typology of pluriactivity which

will help with the formulation and execution of

Community policies concerning farm household
incomes .

The final report is expected to be presented to the
Commission in June 1992 .

The Commission is also carrying out a study on how best
to extend the coverage of the farm accountancy data
network to provide more information on part-time
farming . This study should also be completed in 1992 .

Additional statistical information on the importance of
part-time farming and of farmers ' other gainful activity
outside agriculture will be available after the results of the
Community farm structure surveys ( carried out between

1988 and 1991 ) have been analysed . In parallel, Eurostat
is collecting statistical information on the total income of
agricultural households and their composition, as well as
on agricultural income of non-agricultural households .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2039 / 91

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 50 )

Subject : Employment creation from environmental
projects

1 . Does the Commission agree there is broad scope for
job creation from a range of environmental projects such
as house ' insulation ?

2 . Are any Social Fund schemes based on
environmental projects and if so, where ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 November 1 991 )

1 . The Commission shares the Honourable Member 's
view that environmental projects offer good scope for the
creation of jobs . .

. 2 . Since there is no specific reference to the
environment in the guidelines for the operations of the
European Social Fund ( ESF ), there is no environmefital
element in the Community Support Frameworks for
Objectives 3 and 4, which fall within the competence of
the ESF .

Nevertheless, this does not exclude the possibility of
operations financed by the ESF having a direct or indirect
link with the environment, in particular operational
programmes relating to Objectives 1, 2 and 5 ( b ) and the
Community initiative Envireg (').

(') OJNoC 115, 9 . 5 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2046 / 91

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

( 23 September 1991 )

( 92 /C 112 / 51 )

Subject : Fur trapping

Could the Environment Commissioner advise whether
Council Directive 86 / 609 / EEC (') of 24 November 1986
on the approximation of laws, regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States regarding
the protection of animals used for experimental and other
scientific purposes would permit the use of animals in
humane trap development research and if so under what
basis ?

o OJ No L 358, 18 . 12 . 1986, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1992 )

Article 7 ( 1 ) of Directive 86 / 609 / EEC on the protection
of animals used for experimental purposes states under
what conditions an experiment may take place . Provision
is made for three typical instances :

' Experiments shall be performed solely

1 . by competent authorized persons ( by the
competent national authority ), or

2 . under the direct responsibility of such a person, or

3 . if the experimental or other scientific project

concerned is authorized in accordance with the
provisions of national legislation '.

NoC 112 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

It should therefore be the competent national authority
which authorizes, or not, any experiments aimed at
developing more ' humane ' traps . Any such authority will
naturally check in advance whether ( Article 7 ( 2 )) another
scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result
sought, not entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably
and practicably available . Where this is so no experiment
involving the use of animals can be authorized .

Moreover where any such experiment is authorized all of
the provisions of the directive aimed at minimizing
distress to animals shall naturally be implemented .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2047 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 52 )

Subject : Harmonization of recognition of fitness to work

and the definition of ' disabled '

Will the Commission say how, if an internal market for

labour is to be achieved under the completion of the SEA,
it proposes to legislate for nationals with medical
conditions which render them incapable for work and
who may be eligible for disability benefit in one Member

State, but may be considered de facto fit to work in
another State ?

Will the Commission make its statement in the light of
what evidence it has in the specific instances of state

attitudes to epilepsy, and to drug dependency induced by
negligence or over-prescription ( e.g. tranquillizers ), and
to ME, in each of the Twelve .

In this context, does the Commission intend to harmonize
guidelines in each Member State for dealing with state
support of individuals who offer themselves for work but
due to prejudice are deemed unemployable, and
conversely those who seek benefit because they cannot
work because of a condition which is not recognized ( in

that Member State ) as a disability ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 December 1 991 )

A definition of disability can be found in the World

Health Organization 's international classification of
impairments, disabilities and handicaps . This has been
taken over for the Helios II programme ( 1992-1996 ).

The classification is now being used by a growing number

of Member States . It makes it possible to include all
disabled people, whether their disability is physical,
mental or chronic .

The conditions for recognition as a ' disabled person ' vary

from one Member State to another and within a given
Member State the definition can vary depending on the
type of benefit . Thus the notion of disability is interpreted
differently with reference to capacity to work, transport,
financial resources and so on .

The Commission has no plans for legislation in the area

referred to by the Honourable Member .

As it made quite clear in the action programme relating to

implementation of the Community Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, the Commission
considers that it would be inappropriate to harmonize
social security systems which reflect history, traditions
and social and cultural patterns .

However, on 26 June 1991, the Commission adopted a
proposal (*) for a Council recommendation on the
convergence of social protection objectives and policies to
ensure that differences in the level of social security cover
do no hinder mobility within the single market and that
competition between national systems does not diminish
social protection in the Community .

On 22 May 1990 the Commission adopted a
recommendation to the Member States on the adoption of
a European schedule of occupational diseases ( 2 ). This
urged Member States to align certain laws, regulations
and administrative provisions on the recognition and
notification of occupational diseases, some of which can
lead to disability, and entitlement to compensation .

O COM(91 ) 228 .
O OJNoL 160, 26 . 6 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2050 / 91

by Mr Detlev Samland ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 53 )

Subject : Experts ' report on ' Immigration policies and le

social integration of migrants in the EC ',
SEC(90 ) 1812 final

1 . Why did the report essentially cover only the
integration of nationals from third countries ?

2 . Many Community nationals ( including families )
have changed and are changing their country of residence

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 29

as migrant workers as part of the process of internal
migration . Does the Commission consider that social,
political participation and cultural measures are needed to
assist the integration of such people ? To what extent is the
Commission supporting efforts at integration ?

3 . What plans does the Commission have to support
the social and cultural integration and political
participation of :

— internal migrants

— nationals from third countries ?

4 . To what extent is the Commission supporting social
measures for migrant workers ?

5 . How are the migrants ' own organizations involved
in the development of the Commission 's integration
policies ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 December 1 991 )

Member States ' nationals who exercise or have exercised
their right of freedom of movement benefit from a range
of legal and social measures designed to make it easier for
them to integrate into the country of their choice ; these
are based on the right to equal treatment as defined by the
Treaty of Rome, secondary legislation and a wealth of

case law .

There are, in addition, other measures in areas such as

education, vocational training, social security, combating
poverty and support for migrants ' organizations .

The Commission believes that Parliament, the Economic

and Social Committee, the Advisory Committee on the
Free Movement of Workers, the European Trade Union
Confederation and the establishment of the Migrants '
Forum and of other committees specializing in particular
sectors or groups of people form and adequate and
efficient source of information and channel for
Community nationals ' needs as regards matters of
integration .

Nationals of third countries are not covered by all the
legal instruments and means of action referred to above ;
that is why the Commission welcomed the request by the
Strasbourg European Council of December 1989 that it
commission experts to draw up a report on the social
integration of immigrants from non-member countries, a
group which is in a weaker position as regards integration
and runs a greater risk of social exclusion .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2051 / 91

by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 54 )

Subject : Organ doning

Is the Commission aware of the Netherlands cabinet
proposal to ask the whole population over the age of 18
whether they are prepared to offer their organs for
transplants on their death ?

Does such a system exist in other Member States ? Can the
Commission provide a summary of the legislation on
organ doning in the Member States ?

Will the Commission promote such a system in the
Community, which will undoubtedly have the effect of
increasing the number of organs available for transplants ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 November 1 991 )

The Commission does not have available an overview of

legislation of the Member States with regard to organ
donation .

However, the Commission in collaboration with the
Council of Europe, is examining ways to increase the
availability of donor organs in the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2059 / 91

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

( 26 September 1 991 )

4 ( 92 / C 112 / 55 )

Subject : Implementation of food and hygiene regulations

A poultry processing plant in Humberside ( UK ) has just

announced that it is to close, with the loss of 200 jobs .

A company spokesman said part of the reason for closure
was ' the tremendous amount of legislation being forced
on the UK poultry industry to meet the free market

NoC 112 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

requirements of 1992 ', this had led to an increase in costs WRITTEN QUESTION No 2070 / 91
' which many of its major competitors do not have '. by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

What steps will the Commission be taking to ensure that

all Member States implement the food hygiene
regulations ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1 991 )

The hygiene rules for production of poultry meat have
been established at Community level since 1971,
according to Council Directive of 15 February 1971 on
health problems affecting trade in fresh poultry meat (').
These cover all the production and marketing of fresh
poultry meat in the Community . The Commission has
submitted on February 1990 a proposal for a Council
Regulation laying down health rules for the production
and placing on the market of fresh poultry meat ( 2 ) in
order to bring those rules in line with the new approach at
Community level, mainly in relation to special conditions
for local production and the abolition of the certification .

It is not clear from the question applied what particular
existing or proposed Community rules may be applied in a
more stringent way in the establishment in question, so
the Commission is unable to take position on the
statement referred to by the Honourable Member of the
Parliament .

The following actions have already been undertaken by
the Commission, in collaboration with Member States, in
order to ensure a uniform implementation of veterinary
rules adopted at Community level :

— exchange of officials working in the veterinary sector ;

— organization of refresher courses for personnel in

Member States in charge of veterinary control ;

— on-the-spot inspections of establishments approved

according to Community rules . Due to lack of
personnel, this inspection has been for the moment
limited to establishments authorized for
intra-Community trade of fresh meat . A
reinforcement of the veterinary inspection service of
the Commission is under scrutiny, in order to allow
on-the-spot inspections of other establishments
covered by the Community veterinary rules so that
rules can be applied in a coordinated way in practice
throughout the Community .

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 56 )

Subject : Waste disposal problems with furs and synthetic

furs

The use of ' furs ' as garments is increasingly controversial .

Criticism is voiced not only of the trapping and killing of
animals in the wild but also of the practice of keeping
animals in captivity on so-called farms . The industry and
trade have responded to such criticism by turning
increasingly to the sale of synthetic furs .

1 . What is the method of disposal for natural furs ?

2 . What is the method of disposal for synthetic furs ?

3 . What substances are employed or released in the

manufacture and disposal of synthetic furs ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1 991 )

1 . The Commission has no information available on
ways of disposing of either natural or synthetic furs or of
their production wastes .

2 . The Commission has not been informed of any
problem as regards the disposal of this type of waste by
the methods generally applied to household refuse and
harmless industrial waste .

3 . The Commission has no specific information on the
substances used or released during the production of
synthetic furs .

However, it has had a study carried out on the technical
and economic aspects of the measures taken to reduce
water pollution by the textile industry .

This study points out that the main substances likely to
give rise to water pollution are :

— pesticides and preserving agents which are present in

certain raw materials ( wool, cotton ),

— the COD ( chemical oxygen demand ) arising from the

pretreatment process,

o OJ No L 55, 8 . 3 . 1971 . — the AHC ( absorbable halogen compounds ) forming
O OJ No L 84, 2 . 4 . 1990 . during hypochlorite bleaching,

— the solvents ( petrol, phenols . . .) and heavy metals

used in dying and printing operations,

30.4.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 31

variety of dangerous substances ( mothproofing of that response, could the Commissioner indicate his

, pesticides ) used during finishing . reaction to the suggestion that the following requirements

be included in the Commission 's recommendations to the

Council : that the British Minimum Values Order must be

retained, that vehicles and drivers must earn a certificate
to ensure that animals are properly cared for in transit,
and that a team of properly trained and financed
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2079 / 91 inspectors is set up for the purpose of monitoring and
enforcing the legislation .

— a wide variety of dangerous substances ( mothproofing

products, pesticides ) used during finishing .

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

(') European Parliament Debates No 3-404 ( April 1991 ).
( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 57 )

Subject : United Kingdom Secretary for the
Environment 's gimmick ' City Challenge '

The Commission will be aware of the UK Secretary for
the Environment 's new gimmick called City Challenge,
which was floated for local authorities in Britain to
compete for much needed resources for the regeneration
of the inner cities .

Does the Commission agree that these resources should
be assessed on merit and the need of the area concerned ?
The amount of finance involved is reputed to be £ 410
million .

Will the Commission state if there is any European
funding involved in this controversial handout ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1 991 )

The ' City Challenge ' scheme announced recently in the
United Kingdom by the Secretary of State for the
Environment is a scheme internal to the United Kingdom .

The announcement of this scheme does not affect the

arrangements for disbursing ERDF in the cities in the
United Kingdom . It would be open to a local authority in
a zone eligible for ERDF to submit a City Challenge
project which came within the CSF priorities for ERDF
support on exactly the same basis as it may now seek
ERDF for an urban programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2113 / 91

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

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 58 )

Subject : Animal transport conditions

The member would like to thank the Commissioner for
his helpful reply to Question H-307 / 91 ('). In the light

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1 991 )

In the view of the Commission, its proposal for a Council
Regulation on the protection of animals during
transport ( 1 ), as amended to take account of the opinion
of Parliament ( 2 ), provides a sound basis for safeguarding
the welfare of horses and other animals during transport .
Once the proposal is adopted by the Council it will be
unnecessary, and undesirable in the context of the
internal market, for Member States to impose financial
restrictions on the movement of animals across frontiers .

It could also be detrimental to their welfare if,
for example, it resulted in the animals having to travel
a long distance to a slaughterhouse in their own country
instead of a short distance to one in a neighbouring

country .

The Commission proposal contains a provision for the

approval of vehicles to carry livestock . It also contains
provisions concerning the duties and responsibilities of
drivers, and the possibility for a certification procedure to
be proposed at a later date .

The monitoring and enforcement of the legislation is, in
the first place, the responsibility of the competent
authorities of the Member States . In addition, the
proposal contains provisions for inspection by
Commission veterinary inspectors, to ensure that the rules
are being correctly and uniformly applied across the
Community . The Commission is currently considering
the options available for reinforcing its veterinary
inspectorate in order to cope with this and other
inspection duties necessary for the operation of the
internal market .

O OJNoC214, 21 . 8 . 1989 .
O OJ No C 154,23.6 . 1990 .

NoC 112 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2120 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2121 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG ) by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

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

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 59 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 60 )

Subject : Job losses arising from the closure of customs

posts

In the Dundalk area of the Republic of Ireland in the
region of 300 to 400 Customs Officer and Customs
Clearance jobs will be lost with the removal of customs
controls in January 1993 . What measures will be proposed
by the Commission to compensate those who lose their
jobs in this way and to promote the creation of
replacement employment in areas such a Dundalk whose
local economy is seriously affected by the loss of income
arising from the closure of customs posts ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 November 1991 )

The Commission draws the Honourable Member 's

attention to the fact that the accompanying measures,
which are mainly aimed at redeploying customs officials
to other departments, fall under the Member States '
management of their national administrations .

Moreover, the Commission wishes to emphasize once
again the impact of the Matthaeus programme for the
exchange of customs officials, which was introduced on
its initiative .

As far as the future of customs agents is concerned, the

Honourable Member is referred to the answer to Written

Question No 1797 / 91 by Mr Cravinho ( ® ).

The Commission wishes to point out that, in the context
of the implementation of the Community 's structural
funds, Ireland falls under Objective 1 .

The INTERREG initiative is designed to assist border

areas of the Community to overcome constraints on their
development and to promote cooperation across internal
borders in the context of the completion of the internal
market . In July 1991, the Commission approved the
programme submitted by the United Kingdom and
Ireland for the eligible areas in Northern Ireland and the
Irish Republic . Total expenditure under the programme is
expected to be £ Irl 102 million, of which £ Irl 58 million
will be provided by the Community 's structural Funds . As
Dundalk is situated in an eligible area, assistance will be
available for projects there which meet the criteria for aid
under the INTERREG programme .

o OJ No C 323, 13 . 12 . 1991 .

Subject : Regulation of the press in Europe

Following the forum on the press organized by the
Commission some months ago, what proposals does it
have under consideration to ensure that control of this

news medium is not concentrated in too few hands and to
ensure that individual citizens are protected against abuse
of press power ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 December 1 991 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member refers to

areas of legislation which can touch both Community and
Member State interests and responsibilities . The
Commission has taken note of the views of the European
Conference on the Press held in Luxembourg from 2 — 4
July regarding the specificity of the press and its particular

national and cultural characteristics . At this stage, the
Commission has no specific proposals under
consideration, but is studying the question of the effect of
media concentration on pluralism with a view to a possible
proposal for measures .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2127 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 61 )

Subject : Honey production in the Community

Does the Commission have any proposals under
consideration to encourage and support the development
and expansion of honey production in the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1991 )

The Commission is not currently preparing proposals

aimed at encouraging beekeeping . However it follows
developments in this sector regularly and with interest, as
the Honourable Member will gather from the replies
given to many oral and written questions in recent times,
most recently to the reply to Written Questions

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 33

No 1708 / 91 by Mr Pasty and No 1938 / 91 by Mr
Musso (').

to implement Council Directive 88 / 449 / EEC () on
transport ?

o OJ No C 66, 16 . 3 . 1992, p. 29 . (') OJ No L 222, 12 . 8 . 1988, p. 10 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2164 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2161 / 91 (4 October 1991 )

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) ( 92 / C 112 / 65 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 62 )

Subject : Spain 's failure to comply with Directive
88 / 314 / EEC

Has the Commission sent the Spanish Government a
letter of formal notice for failure to communicate
national measures implementing Council Directive
88 / 314 / EEC O on consumers ?

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
88 / 658 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure
to implement Council Directive 88 / 658 / EEC ( ® ) on
agriculture ?

O OJ No L 382, 31 . 12 . 1988, p . 15 .

(') OJ No L 142, 9 . 6 . 1988, p. 19 .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2165 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2162 / 91 (4 October 1991 )

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) ( 92 / C 112 / 66 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 63 )

Subject : Spain 's failure to comply with Directive
88 / 315 / EEC

Has the Commission sent the Spanish Government a
letter of formal notice for failure to communicate
national measures implementing Council Directive
88 / 315 / EEC (') on consumers ?

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
89 / 107 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure
to implement Council Directive 89 / 107 / EEC (*) on the
internal market ?

o OJ No L 40, 1 1 . 2 . 1989, p. 27 .

O OJ No L 142, 9 . 6 . 1988, p. 23 .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2166 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2163 / 91 (4 October 1991 )

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) ( 92 / C 112 / 67 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 64 )

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
88 / 449 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
89 / 108 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure to
implement Council Directive 89 / 108 / EEC (') on the
internal market ?

o OJ No L 40, 1 1 . 2 . 1989, p. 34 .

NoC 112 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2167 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2170 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 4 October 1 991 )

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 68 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 71 )

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
89 / 384 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the

Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure
to implement Council Directive 89 / 384 / EEC (') on
agriculture ?

o OJ No L 181, 28 . 6 . 1989, p. 50 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2168 / 91

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
89 / 676 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure to
implement Council Directive 89 / 676 / EEC (') on the
internal market ?

(') OJ No L 398, 30 . 12 . 1989, p. 18 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2171 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

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

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 69 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 72 )

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
88 / 424 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure to
implement Commission Directive 89 / 424 / EEC ( J ) on
agriculture ?

o OJ No L 196, 12 . 7 . 1989, p. 50 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2169 / 91

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
90 / 214 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure to
implement Commission Directive 90 / 214 / EEC (') on
agriculture ?

o OJ No LI 13, 4 . 5 . 1990, p. 39 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2172 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by Mr José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )    
to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 4 October 1 991 )

( 4 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 70 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 73 )

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
89 / 519 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure to
implement Commission Directive 89 / 519 / EEC (') on the
internal market ?

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
90 / 425 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure
to implement Council Directive 90 / 425 / EEC (') on
agriculture ?

(') - OJ No L 265, 12 . 9 . 1989, p. 30 . (') OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990, p. 29 .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2173 / 91

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 74 )

Subject : Failure of Spain to implement Directive
90 / 604 / EEC

Has the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the
Spanish Government for failure to notify it of national
implementing measures, in connection with failure
to implement Council Directive 90 / 604 / EEC Q ) on
financial entities and company law ?

o OJ No L 317, 16 . 11 . 1990, p. 57 .

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2161 / 91

to 2173 / 91

given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 January 1992 )

All the Directives referred to by the Honourable Member

have been the subject of letters of formal notice for failure
to communicate national implementing measures .

In the mean time, the Commission has terminated two
of these proceedings ( Directives 89 / 108 / EEC and
89 / 519 / EEC, referred to in Written Questions
Nos 2166 / 91 and 2169 / 91 ) following communication of
the national implementing measures . In another caise
( Directive 89 / 676 / EEC, referred to in Written Question
No 2170 / 91 ), the Commission has sent a reasoned
opinion . »

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2188 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 75 )

Subject : Sale of medicines containing phenothiazines

Belgium has just banned the free sale, without medical
prescription, of medicines containing phenothiazines
intended for children . Will the Commission state what the
position is in the other Community countries and whether
it is considering standardizing the condition under which
these medicines can be put on sale in the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 November 1 991 )

In February 1990 Belgium informed the Committee for
Proprietary Medicinal Products of its intention to make
medicines containing phenothiazines intended for
children available only on medical prescription . The
Committee, set up by the Commission to help the
Member States coordinate their position on marketing
authorizations, instructed its working party on
pharmacovigilance to look into the matter .

During 1990 the Belgian rapporteur carried out a
Community-wide survey of the situation with regard to
these medicines, and forwarded a final report to the
CPMP in February 1991 . This revealed that, while the
legal status for the supply of phenothiazines differed
between Member States, in practice either the medicines
were not recommended for children or they were

available only on prescription .

The Commission, conscious of the differences in legal

status, forwarded to the Council in January 1990 a
proposal for a directive harmonizing the basic principles
applied to the legal status for the supply of medicinal
products ( ® ). The Council recently adopted a common
position on the proposal .

O COM(89 ) 607 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2201 / 91

by Mr Christian de la Malène ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 76 )

Subject : The Commission 's authorization for the plan to

set up a motor vehicle factory in Portugal, in the
form of a joint venture

Recently the Commission gave the official go-ahead for
the financial arrangements to fund the establishment of a
production line for Ford-Volkswagen single-box vehicles
in the Setubal region of Portugal .

Can the Commission say on which criteria and legal basis
it based its consideration of this project, and through
which funds and programmes, with which financial
resources, its aid will be channelled ?

How does the Commission intend to ascertain and check
that investments in infrastructure and other aspects of this
project which are not linked with the various types of
Community aid will not lead to considerable distortions
in competition ?

NoC 112 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.4 . 92

Can the Commission also show that future decentralized
projects on a similar scale will not substantially affect the
traditional motor vehicle production sites in the other EC
Member States ?

Does it not consider that there is a risk that large-scale
Community aid for such projects, channelled through
public funds, will create an over-capacity which will have
a serious impact on employment in the motor-vehicle
sectors and those sectors which supply them or make
direct use of their products ?

Finally, does it consider that it is acceptable to grant
public subsidies to a project which, according to plans,
should — in the long term — account for 50% of
single-box vehicles produced in the EC, at the very time
when a number of countries are receiving a lesson in

liberalism from the Commission, given that such a project
may, in order to create employment in certain regions of
the Community, lead to unemployment in the traditional
motor - vehicle producing regions ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan

on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 1 991 )

On the State aid aspect of this project, the Member is
referred to the summary of the Commission Decision of 3
July 1991 which has been published in the Official
Journal ('). This describes the motivations which underlie

the Commission 's Decision and addresses the State aid
issues raised by the Honourable - Member in his question .
On the general issue concerning the effect of the siting of
plants in greenfield locations on traditional car producing
regions, raised in the fourth paragraph of the question,
the Honourable Member is referred to the Community
framework on State aid to the motor vehicle industry
adopted in 1989 ( 2 ) and extended in December 1990 ( 3 ).
The framework is designed to establish full transparency
in State aid flow to the industry and to impose a stricter
discipline in the granting of aids to the industry . A
fundamental criterion in the assessment of aid proposals
under the framework is that such aid should be in
proportion to the problems it seeks to resolve . In the case
of Community regional aid, the Commission must assess
the regional development benefits of individual projects
against possible adverse effects on the sector as a whole .
This is in order to ensure that other aspects of
Community interest such as the development of the
Community 's industry are taken into account . In the
present project the Commission was satisfied that the
level of aid authorized was reasonably commensurate
with the net cost disadvantages to the promoters of

locating the project in Setubal and with the need to give
some additional incentive to attract investment to this
disadvantaged region . The possible dislocating effects on

other centres of production would, therefore, be kept
within reasonable limits .

Concerning the Community co-financing of this project,
the investment will receive direct public aid of ECU 500
million . During the period of the present Community
support framework until 1993, ECU 375 million will be
paid ; the share of the European Regional Development
Fund will be 70% or ECU 263 million . In 1994, a further
ECU 125 million will be granted, the exact Community
share of which will be negotiated later . The ERDF share
will be taken from the investment incentive scheme for
Portugal, PNICIAP . Infrastructure projects linked to the
investment will also be included in the integrated
development operation for the Peninsula of Setubal .

Training measures linked to the project will be
co-financed by the European Social fund . According to
provisional estimates this could involve up to ECU 50 to
60 million of ESF financing before the end of 1993 . The
greater part of the professional training activities will be
carried out within the context of the integrated
development operation for the Peninsula de Setubal .

(') OJNoC 257, 3 . 10 . 1991 .
O OJNoC 123, 18 . 5 . 1989 .
O OJNoC 81, 26 . 3 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2211 / 91

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

( 4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 77 )

Subject : European poverty programme

With reference to the Commission 's background report

ISEC / B24 / 91 of 19 August 1991, reporting on the
European poverty programme, will the Commission
consider, in the third poverty programme, adding to the
list of action-research projects a category to include youth
homelessness ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1 991 )

The choice of projects of the third Community poverty
programme has been made for its whole five-year period .
There are no plans to add further projects except two or

three projects in the new German Lander following
unification . These will be chosen in line with the same
criteria as those set up for the 39 other projects already
selected .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 37

As regards the Commission 's initiatives on behalf of
homeless young people, the Honourable Member is
referred to the Commission 's answer to his oral question
No H-889 / 91 0 ).

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-409 ( October I,

1990 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2228 / 91
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 78 )

Subject : Co-responsibility rates for cereals

What short and convincing explanation are we to give our

farmers for the decision of the Council of Agriculture
Ministers to raise the co-responsibility rates for cereals
from 3 to 5 % ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1 991 )

The purpose of the cereals coresponsibility levy is to help
to finance the disposal of surplus cereals . Surplus, in this
case, is defined as the quantity which cannot be used
without budgetary expense, minus the quantity of certain
cereals substitutes which are imported .

Since the levy was introduced at a rate of 3% in 1986 the
surplus has practically doubled from 12 million tonnes to
21,5 million tonnes . Furthermore, the decision to increase
the levy to 5 % was accompanied by a decision to
exonerate from the whole levy any producer who was
prepared to help limiting the surplus by agreeing to set
aside 15% of his arable land .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2251 / 91

by Mr Luigi Vertemati ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 79 )

Subject : Reduction in solid waste and packing

It is a matter of increasing urgency that the policies of the
EC Member States should be harmonized as regards the

reduction, recycling and disposal of solid municipal
waste, in particular as regards the packaging sector . In
view of the above, can the Commission answer the
following questions :

1 . What approach and specific measures does it intend to

take in respect of the new legislative provisions
introduced by Germany, France and the Netherlands
on packaging, which may restrict the free movement
of goods and penalize separate tvaste collection
schemes in other Member States ?

2 . What progress has been made on the proposal for a

directive on waste resulting from packaging, when is
this proposal likely to be adopted and when does the
Commission intend to consult Parliament ?

3 . Does it intend to impose conditions on the production
of waste from packaging without restricting economic
development and the growth of industrial sectors and,
if so, what would these conditions be ?

4 . Is the Commission taking into account the different
systems for disposing of solid municipal waste in the
various Member States and, if so, how ?

5 . How does it intend to encourage recycling rather than

incineration involving energy recovery by promoting
and developing further existing separate waste
collection and recycling schemes and by assisting the
development of such schemes in those countries which
are less advanced in this sector ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 January 1992 )

1 . As far as the Commission knows, France has not yet
adopted new provisions dealing with packaging waste . It
seems that a draft decree on the utilization of domestic
packaging waste is being drawn up in that country . In the
Netherlands negotiations with the government have
resulted in a voluntary agreement .

Until now only Germany has adopted legislative
provisions ( decree of 12 June 1991 ). The Commission is
currently examining the German situation in the light of
allegations made in certain complaints . The Commission
has decided to raise certain questions about this decree in
- a letter to the German authorities .

2 . The services of the Commission are working with
the Member States and trade, industry, consumer and
environmental protection organizations in drawing up a
proposal for a Council directive on all type of packaging .
Considering the stage the work is at currently, the
Commission will be able to examine a proposal at the start

NoC 112 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

of 1992 ; the other Community institutions will be able to
discuss this proposal during the course of 1992 .

3 . A preventive policy is the first priority in a
Community strategy on the management of waste . The
services of the Commission are examining the question of
common objectives and the appropriate measures to be
proposed . The administration of packaging waste
operates at three levels : reduction and prevention,
refilling and reuse, recycling of materials and energy

recovery .

4 . Notwithstanding the fact that the current situation
as regards the methods of disposing of waste may be very
different in the Member States, it is important that the
same objectives be sought so as to ensure a high level of
environmental protection . Realistic time limits will
therefore be set for attaining the objectives .

5 . It is not a matter of encouraging energy recovery
alone . All methods of waste utilization must be

encouraged, paying particular attention to the ecological
and economically viable recycling of materials . Incentives
must be given to improve recycling capacities and waste
utilization in general . Specific instruments must therefore
be called upon, such as the liability of economic
operators, economic instruments, etc .

authorization flanked by measures to protect women who
are pregnant or have recently given birth as laid down in
the Commission 's proposal for a Directive ('), by
providing for paid maternity leave ( 14 weeks, two before
the predicted term and two after it )?

1 . The Government of one Member State opposed the

adoption of the Commission proposal in Council
because it would involve an increase in production
costs . How can this ' argument ' be sustained ? Did it
come before or after the Court 's ruling of 25 July ?
What is to become of the proposal which was thus
blocked ? Is a new proposal for a Directive taking into
account the Court 's decision now required ?

2 . On 4 July 1991 the Belgian Government passed a

Royal Decree ( see Moniteur Beige of 28 August

1991 ), making compulsory collective labour
agreement No 49 of 21 May 1991, concluded within
the National Labour Council, guaranteeing a specific
financial allowance for workers of either sex
employed on shift work involving duties at night
( between 1 1 p.m . and 6 a.m .) or other forms of work
involving duties at night . Does the granting of an
allowance, apparently on an asexual basis, of 30 or 36
francs, and linked to the price index, mean that
Belgium is abandoning the prohibition on night work
by women ?

3 . Which Member States ban and which allow night

work by women at present ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2263 / 91 (') CC>M(90 ) 406 final — SYN 303 .

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

( 18 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 80 )

Answer

Subject : Decision of the Court of Justice against the ( 31 March 1992 )

prohibition of night work by women ( Case
C-345 / 89 )

On 25 July 1991 the Luxembourg Court ruled that there
would no longer appear to be grounds for the concern for
protection which originally inspired the prohibition of the
principle of night work by women, stating that such a
prohibition contravenes the directive, on the equality of
men and women . The Court thus found in favour of Mr

Stoeckel, head of a French undertaking, who had been
prosecuted by the Ilkirch ( Bas-Rhin ) police court for
having decided in 1988, with the agreement of his female
staff and the trade unions, to employ 77 female workers at
night in his cassette factory . The French and Italian
Governments had claimed to the Court that women could
not work at night because of their family obligations and
the risks of attack .

It is a matter of public knowledge that the ban on night
work by women is subject to many derogations which rob
the principle of its validity . What is the actual difference
between a ban accompanied by exceptions and

1 . At its meeting on 6 November 1991 the Council
agreed to a common position on the proposal for a
Directive on the protection of pregnant women and
women who have recently given birth or are
breastfeeding, which includes inter alia provisions on
night work and maternity leave .

2 . It is not for the Council to comment on the
legislation of a specific Member State .

3 . The Council has no appropriate information on
which Member States ban and which allow night work by

women .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 39

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2264 / 91

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 81 )

Subject : Police discrimination against foreign drivers

As the Commission is well aware, the Preamble to the
Treaty upholds the principle of improving the living and
working conditions of the peoples of the EC . Indeed
much of Community legislation — including freedom of
movement of citizens, of the Member States — derives
from that important principle .

It is therefore a source of profound concern to me that
some of my constituents report anti-British discrimination
on the part of traffic police in both France and Spain .
Details of alleged offences and the penalties exacted on
the spot have been supplied to me . What has caused
general consternation is that nationals in the country
concerned ( even in the same file of vehicles moving at the
same speed ) are not arrested .

I understand that similar discrimination is experienced by
German and Dutch drivers in the Member States
mentioned above, so that it is not just a matter of
penalizing those with the steering wheel on the right,

It is appreciated that the Commission does not have
competence to intervene in the running of national police
forces . They nevertheless have powers of persuasion

vis-a-vis national governments .

With 1992 and the single market in view, will the
Commission consider issuing a communication to the
Council on the need for even-handed treatment of all

Community citizens by the police of each country ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1 991 )

The incidents referred to by the Honourable Member
were not previously brought to the attention of the
Commission .

Article 7 of the EEC Treaty stipulates that there must be

no discrimination on grounds of nationality . If, in the
opinion of the Honourable Member, there is reason to
believe that the incidents reported to him constitute a
breach of that principle, he should notify the precise
details to the Commission, which will then, if necessary,
contact the Member States concerned .

The Commission takes the view that there is no
justification for issuing a communication to the Council
on a guarantee of equal treatment of all Community
citizens by the police of each Member State .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2311 / 91

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

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 82 )

Subject : Planet Earth Summit

The failure of the draft convention for the protection of
forests in connection with the UN Planet Earth Summit to
be held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 is a cause for great
concern since it reflects the continuing lack of
understanding between the industrialized countries and
the Third World with regard to the environmental aspects
of development . What action can the European
Community institutions take to ensure that the protection
of forests is included on the agenda of this international
environmental summit conference ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member must be
seen in the twofold context of the measures taken or
planned by the Community to protect forests — signals of
the Community 's real commitment in this area — and the
positions adopted by the Community and its Member
States in the course of the preparations for the United
Nations Conference on the Environment and
Development .

As regards the first, the following should be noted :

— the Communities ' participation in the International

Agreement on Tropical Timber, which should
contribute to inter alia the conservation of forestry

assets ;

— the Communities ' collaboration with the World Bank

on the preparation of the pilot programme for the
preservation of Brazil 's tropical forests, the guidelines
for which were drawn up at te G7 Summit in July

1991 ;

— the Communities 's participation in the execution and

review of the plan of action on tropical forestry ;

— the tropical forest research projects in the
STEP / EPOCH programmes ;

NoC 112 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

— the inclusion of the protection of tropical forests as

one of the five priority areas for environmental aid
under Lome IV . As regards cooperation with the
DCLAA, a percentage of 10% constituting the
weighted average of the necessary financial resources

of aid for the period 1991 to 1995 is reserved for
projects aimed specifically at the protection of the
environment and particularly at the protection of
tropical forests .

As regards the second, the Community stated from the
outset that it regarded the threat to and the destruction of
forests as one of the three most important global
environmental problems together with climatic change
and the loss of biological diversity . Accordingly, at the

1992 Rio Conference in particular, the Community wants
to develop instruments of international law that will
ensure the proper long-term management, use and
development of forests as the Commission has once again
stated in its communication entitled 'A common platform .
Guidelines for the Community for UNCED 1992 '.

In view of the multiple ecological roles of forests, such
instruments may take the form of :

— a protocol to the Convention on climatic change,

reflecting the function of carbon reservoirs and
climate stabilizers performed by forests ;

— a specific protocol in the context of the negotiations

for a Convention on biodiversity ;

— a convention on the protection, management and

development of forests, the drafting of which would
start with a declaration of principle to be adopted at
the Rio Conference, closely followed by international
negotiations on a binding legal instrument .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2322 / 91

tanning industry, can the Commission intervene to have
the redundancies affecting more than 100 workers
suspended ?

What measures will the Commission take to bring about
the restructuring so urgently required ? What action does
the Commission intend to take in the tanning industry
which is going through a crisis which is now affecting the

Community as a whole ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

The Commission is unable to take measures such as those

referred to by the Honourable Member in the first part of
his question .

As outlined in the Commission Communication on
' Industrial Policy in an open and competitive
environment ' of 16 November 1990, the main initiative
and responsibility for structural adjustment must lie with
economic operators .

The role of the Commission and public authorities is

mainly to stimulate synergies in order to improve the
necessary environment for industrial development by
means of accompanying measures which are of a
horizontal nature, and not reserved for specific sectors . In
this context, major efforts in close contact with industry
are being made, e.g. to open up the multilateral trading
system for leather, to develop Community R&D and
training and education programmes which are of
particular interest to the leather industry .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2324 / 91
( 21 October 1991 )

by Mr Francesco Speroni ( ARC )
( 92 / C 112 / 83 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

Subject : Crisis in the Miramonti tanning company
( 92 / C 112 / 84 )

The Miramonti tanning company in Castano Primo,
which is one of the four leaders in this sector in Italy, is
facing a serious employment and production crisis .

Having failed to carry out the restructuring undertaken
by other firms in this sector, Miramonti has been forced
to make half its workforce redundant thus slowing down
the production cycle which will inevitably soon affect, all
its workers .

In view of the already critical employment situation in the
area, which has been severely hit by the crisis in the

Subject : Community premium for Indica rice-growers

A number of Italian Indica rice-growers are complaining
that the granting of the Community production premium
is conditional upon the use of seeds from Spain .

What is the reason for this requirement and will it be

abolished to promote free competition between
Community seed producers and give growers real
freedom of choice ?

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 41

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 December 1 991 )

The Community premium for the production of indica
rice is not conditional upon the use of seed from Spain,
but rather on seed which corresponds to specific
morphological characteristics .

It is true that Thaibonnet is the most widely used variety
currently on the market and that it is grown particularly in
Spain . This variety meets the stipulated quality criteria
perfectly and was available when the aid for indica rice
was introduced in 1988 . Since then, as a result of the

development of eligible seeds, the possibilities open to
Italian producers to use other seed varieties have
increased considerably . Among the 12 indica rice varieties
currently listed as eligible for production aid ( Annex B to
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3878 / 87 ) ('), seven were proposed
by Italy ( Artiglio, Dedalo, Graldo, Icaro, Idra, Pegaso
and Star ).

(') OJ No L 365, 24 . 12 . 1987 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2343 / 91

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

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 85 )

Subject : Construction projects for hydro-electric power

stations on the Danube

It has been confirmed that projects dating back 13 years
are in full swing in Gabcikovo-Nagymaros ( Slovakia ),
where hydro-electric power stations are being built as part
of the Hydro-Stas complex which is run by Mr
Carnogursky, the brother of the Prime Minister and the
Vice-President of the Slovak Parliament . Because of the

harmful effects it would have on the Danube, the
programme has in the past been the subject of hostile
demonstrations and has given rise to concern in the
countries through which the river flows and / or those
affected .

A country 's sense of national sovereignty is of course a
delicate matter in such questions, but it would nonetheless
be helpful to know what the opinion of the Community 's
executive institutions is in view of the importance of the
Danube basin and the involvement in the projects by
western European companies .

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Council has taken due note of the information

submitted by the Honourable Member concerning
developments in the field of hydro-electric power in the
Danube valley .

It is not for the Council to intervene in this matter which
concerns the energy supplies of third countries, as well as
the possible consequences for the physical environment of
those countries .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2356 / 91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 86 )

Subject : Harassment by customs officials

1 . At the end of December 1989 a Strasbourg
handyman asked a friend from Kehl to fetch him some
building materials ( plaster board ) from across the border .
The French customs authorities required the friend to

declare the materials, which were valued at DM 123, since
he did not own them but was supplying them . Moreover,
he was not entitled to act as a supplier and was required to
use the services of a forwarding agent . The entire
proceedings at the customs post took over two hours and
involved an additional cost of DM 96,60 on materials
valued at DM 123 . Matters were made worse by the
overbearing attitude of the French customs officials .

2 . Is the Commission aware of this incident ? Is it
prepared to hold up this behaviour as an example to be
avoided in the Member States ?

3 . What steps is the Commission taking in cooperation
with the Member States to inform the public about the
rights of citizens in the single market ?

4 . Is the Commission prepared to make representations
to the French authorities with a view to securing the
repayment of the monies paid ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1 991 )

The Commission was not informed of the incident
referred to by the Honourable Member but would point
out that goods in travellers ' personal luggage are exempt
from duty as laid down in Council Directive 69 / 169 / EEC
of 28 May 1969 ('). However, this Directive also lays
down implementation rules which, if not complied with,
may lead to such exemption being withdrawn .

It is not clear from this case in what capacity or under
what conditions the goods were presented to the French

NoC 112 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

authorities for import . The case can only be examined
more thoroughly if extra information is submitted .

The Commission is prepared to examine any evidence put
before it and to take any necessary steps against the
relevant French authorities if this evidence reveals that
Community law was wrongfully applied .

have been published within two years . Is there any
prospect of this report now being published as soon as
possible ? Are the Community authorities fully aware that
any further delay on the matter will create anxiety and
discouragement for Community citizens who have
expressed their wish to contribute practically and in
person to the development process ?

o OJ No L 133,4.6 . 1969 . (') OJ No L 163, 22 . 6 . 1985, p. 48 .

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2371 / 91

( 19 November 1 991 )

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

the European Communities The Commission will present the report on the

October 1991 ) application in the Member States of the Council

recommendation of 13 June 1985 on social protection for
( 92 / C 112 / 87 )
volunteer development workers in the first half of 1992 .

( 22 October 1991 )

Subject : Negotiations between the EEC and Poland on

the conclusion of an association agreement

Can the Council report on the state of progress in the
talks between the EEC and Poland with regard to the
conclusion of an association agreement on the basis of
Article 238 of the EEC Treaty ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

Following the negotiations with Poland, and with
Hungary and Czechoslovakia, on European association
agreements, the Council signed the Agreements on 16
December 1991 .

Under the procedures in force the Council has provided
the relevant Parliament committees with detailed

confidential information on the content of the

Agreements .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2390 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 88 )

Subject : Social security rights of volunteer development

workers employed by NGOs

The Commission and Council have stated their
willingness to speed up action on the question of social
protection for volunteer development workers
( recommendation EC 85 / 308 ) ('). A report by the
Commission evaluating the situation was originally to

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2407 / 91

by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr José Vazquez Fouz, Mr

Pedro Bofill Abeilhe, Mr Francisco Sanz Fernández and

Mr Eusébio Cano Pinto ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 89 )

Subject : Policy to prevent and combat forest fires in the

Mediterranean region

In the light of the Council Decisions of 29 May 1989 on a
Community forests policy and Regulation ( EEC )
No 1614 / 89 O on protection of the Community 's forests
against fires, which provides funding for preventive
measures, but only until the end of 1991, does the
Commission intend to continue or indeed increase the
provision of funds for such measures in the future ?

O OJ No L 165, 15 . 6 . 1989, p. 10 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1 991 )

As the Honourable Member points out, Regulation

( EEC ) No 3529 / 86 ('), as amended by Regulation ( EEC )
No 1614 / 89, expires at the end of 1991 .

During the five years that these Regulations have been in
force, they have permitted the financing of 244 projects
submitted by Member States to the Commission for the
protection of forests against fires involving Community
aid of ECU 43 million .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 43

Moreover, to help coordinate the measures decided upon,
the Standing Forestry Committee, established by Council
Decision 89 / 367 / EEC ( 2 ), created a working party on the
protection of forests against fire to study the causes of
fires and ways of combating them and to look into ways
of improving protection systems .

Their work has resulted in proposals for the renewal and
reinforcement of the two Regulations .

The Commission will propose that existing measures be
extended and that Community action be concentrated in
high fire-risk zones by requesting Member States to
submit cmprehensive fire protection plans therefore
permitting projects covered by such plans to be financed,
with the Community contribution based on the degree of
risk involved . Community measures could also help
establish a decentralized Community information system
on forest fires to enable managers on the ground to
analyze the causes of fires and thereby combat them more
effectively and to improve fire protection systems .

2 . When are the amendments to Regulations ( EEC )

No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72 expected to enter
into force ?

O OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971, p . 2 .
O OJ No L 74, 27 . 3 . 1972, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

1 . The Commission 's positiqn is reflected in its
proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations
( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72, which was
presented on 26 July 1989 ('). The proposal includes
provisions relating to the application of the Spanish
legislation along the lines sought by the Honourable
Member .

to systems . 2 . These provisions will come into force once the

Regulation is adopted by the Council, where the proposal
o OJ No L 326, 31 . 11 . 1986 . is still pending .
O OJNoL 165, 15.6 . 1989 .

O OJN0C2O6, 11.8 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2438 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2436 / 91 by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )

by Mr Alonso Puerto ( GUE ) to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 30 October 1 991 )

( 30 October 1991 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 91 )

( 92 / C 112 / 90 )
Subject : Administrative obstructiveness

Subject : Pensions for emigrant workers

Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 ( x ) and ( EEC ) No
574 / 72 ( 2 ) on the payment and calculation of old age
pensions are currently being amended .

Spain has proposed that, for pensions of the same type,
the basis for calculations should be determined by
reference to the last contributions actually paid by the
beneficiary in Spain and that, having obtained the amount
of the pension, reviews carried out in subsequent years
should be applied, up to the year preceding the date when
the pension falls due .

This would remedy discrimination against emigrant
workers for whom the minimum contribution relating to
the last occupational category paid up by the worker
concerned in Spain is then taken as the basis for
calculation .

1 . What view does the Commission take of this ?

Does the Commission consider it acceptable for a French
Prefect to refuse to provide details enabling a Member of
the European Parliament to forward a document to him ?

On 26 September 1991 the questioner attempted to
forward a document concerning the Somport road-tunnel
project being financed by the EEC to the Prefect of the
Pyrenees-Atlantiques department . He wished to fax the
document but the Prefecture refused to give him the fax
number .

Is such administrative obstructiveness compatible with
accepted practice in the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1 991 )

The Commission has no power to intervene in the matter

raised by the Honourable Member, which is the sole
responsibility of the national authorities .

No C 112 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

The Commission 's own practise, of course, is to supply
the appropriate departmental addresses, with telephone
and fax numbers, to all enquirers .

Individual departments too will be sure to provide
correspondents with the relevant particulars in the
interests of a smooth working relationship .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2450 / 91

by Mrs Imelda Read ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 October 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 92 )

Subject : Acute human poisoning

Could the Commission indicate whether it has under
active consideration proposals to establish Community ­
wide methods of categorization of deaths due to acute

human poisoning, both by primary and secondary causes ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

There is no specific proposal to establish community-wide

categorization of deaths due to acute human poisoning .

However, the Council resolution of 1990 (') on improving
the prevention and treatment of acute human poisoning,
as well as the Council Decision 86 / 138 / EEC ( J ) on a
Community system of information on accidents involving
consumer products, could serve as a basis for obtaining
information in this area .

In some Member States such information can be retrieved
from national registries of causes of death .

o OJNoC 329, 31 . 12 . 1990 .
O OJNoL 109, 26 . 4 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2510 / 91

by Mr Antoine Waechter ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

order to inspect the work being carried out on the
Somport tunnel project being financed by the
Commission . They were unable to reach their destination,
where the Departmental Director of Utilities was awaiting
them, since the Aspe Valley approach was blocked by an
extremely aggressive crowd containing a number of local
councillors with a reputation for violence .

The police officers present at the scene made no attempt

to clear the way and left the visitors trapped in their car
for over two hours while insults, obscenities and various
missiles including liquid manure, were hurled at them .

The Prefect of Pyrenees-Atlantique who has, on
other occasions, taken vigorous measures against
demonstrators peacefully occupying the tunnel site in
order to restore order, on this occasion allowed a violent
mob to block a major road without making any effort to
clear the way .

Does the Commission consider it normal for a Member of
the European Parliament to be prevented from travelling
freely on a major road in France ? What measures will it
take to penalize agitation of this kind ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 January 1992 )

The Commission considers that the events related by the

Honourable Member do not infringe the provisions of the
Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the
European Communities concerning Members of the
European Parliament, nor any other provisions of the
EEC Treaty .

More specifically, the Commission takes the view that
measures governing public order on the territory of a
Member States are the responsibility of the authorities of
the Member State concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2512 / 91

by Mrs Sylvie Mayer ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 8 November 1 991 )

C 8 November 1 991 ) ( 92 / C 112 / 94 )
( 92 / C 112 / 93 )

Subject : Obstacles to freedom of movement in France

( Pyrénées-Atlantiques )

Subject : Use of structural funds for the development of

' food patches '

On P. Raffin 1 October, a fellow 1991 member the questioner, travelled, accompanied to the Aspe Valley by Mr in J. In associations order devote to protect some of wildlife their members effectively ' subscriptions, hunters '

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 45

to the protection of wildlife habitats and, consequently,
the environment .

Does the Commission not consider that these measures
should be encouraged by Community financing, for
example Objective 5(b ) structural Fund appropriations
for the development of food patches in areas where
farmers practise fallowing ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 January 1992 )

The development of wildlife-related measures could be an

interesting way of diversifying economic activities in rural
areas and of contributing to new uses of the countryside .
For this reason, the Commission included this principle in
most of the operational programmes receiving a
Community contribution under Objective 5(b ).

The methods put forward by the Commission aim to

develop a full-time economic activity, on the same lines as
agritourism or crafts, for example . They are therefore of
the same type as the two examples cited : preliminary
studies, promotion, training, investment and marketing .
The Commission believes that these operations should

not be confined to areas lying fallow, but should be
conceived as an economic ' product ' in their own right,
applicable to set-aside land and to any other types of land .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2527 / 91

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

( 8 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 95 )

Subject ': Maintaining price levels for oleaginous products

Despite the large EEC protein deficit, the Commission is
preparing to bring down the price of oleaginous products
for the coming year .

This measure, which will encourage imports from the
United States, could also force producers, particularly
sunflower growers in Poitou-Charentes, to abandon their
activities .

Given the difficulties that this price reduction will cause
for the growers of oleaginous plants, could the

Commission review its decision and maintain the
sunflower producer price at the previous level, set at three
times that of wheat ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 December 1 991 )

The Honourable Member is probably referring to the new
support system for oilseed producers, to be introduced
with effect from the 1992 harvest, and its consequences
for producer prices for these seeds, and sunflower seeds
in particular .

If the Commission proposal (') is approved by the
Council, subsequent to Parliament delivering its opinion,
the producer price of oilseeds will be determined by the
trend in world prices . Producers will, however, receive a
direct aid calculated at regional level on the basis of
cultivated land area .

The level of aid is intended to maintain the existing
balance of incentive between the cultivation of cereals and

oilseeds .

O COM(91 ) 318 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2581 / 91
by Mrs Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 96 )

Subject : Old-age pension schemes for cross-border
workers in the German-Netherlands border area

Working on the other side of a border is not always a
voluntary choice ; in some cases employment simply
cannot be found in the country of residence .

1 . Does the Commission not agree that a Dutch
cross-border worker taking early retirement is being
unfairly treated if he is obliged to pay 23% of the
amount of old-age pension received from Germany by
way of social insurance premiums, with the result that

his income falls below the minimum subsistence level ?

2 . Is the Commission aware that, in Germany, no
account is taken of the years spent by the wife of a
Dutch cross-border worker in bringing up her
children, on the grounds that the children were
brought up abroad ( in the Netherlands ).

3 . What measures will the Commission take to resolve

these problems ?

NoC 112 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 January 1992 )

The first problem to which the Honourable Member

refers has been cleared up by Article 17a of Regulation
( EEC ) No 1408 / 71, as amended by Regulation ( EEC )
No 2195 / 91 of 25 June 1991 ('). This new provision
is designed to avoid unnecessary social security
contributions . It ensures that a retired person who is
entitled to an adequate pension under the law of one
Member State, but who lives in another Member State
with an insurance scheme based on residence, does not
have to pay contributions in the latter Member State
which do not bring him corresponding benefits .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2195 / 91 also inserted, with
retroactive effect as from 1 January 1986, a new point 19
in Annex VI to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71, Section
' C. Germany ' This deals with the second problem raised
by the Honourable Member .

and lift-on / lift-off ( Lo / Lo ), financed from within
Ireland 's allocation of Structural Funds ;

3 . a significant ( up to 50% ) EC aid rate for such
investments ;

4 . an allocation of EC funds for future further

investment in access transport services ?

Answer

( 31 March 1991 )

The Council is aware of the particular problems
concerning the link between Ireland and the rest of
the Community . However, a possible Community
contribution under the ERDF in the area of transport
services is a matter falling within the Commission 's
competence as manager of the Fund .

Germany problem Consequently, having been informed that the
by the Honourable Member . Honourable Member has put the same question to the

Commission, the Council would refer him to the reply he
o OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1991 . receives from that institution .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2619 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2589 / 91

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

by Mr Patrick Lalor, Mr Gene Fitzgerald, Mr Niall to the Commission of the European
Andrews, Mr James Fitzsimons, Mr Mark Kiliilea and ( 19 November 1 991 )

Mr Patrick Lane ( LDR )
( 92 / C 112 / 98 )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 14 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 97 )

Subject : EC financial assistance for essential investment

in access transport services to / from Ireland, and
other peripheral regions

Once the Channel Tunnel has been opened in 1993,
Ireland will be the only EC Member State without a land
link to mainland Europe . Furthermore, Ireland has
unique transport needs because it is the only island nation
and one of the most peripheral regions in the Community .
It is also one of the most open economies in Europe and
relies very heavily on foreign trade for sustainable
economic growth and employment creation .

In the light of the above factors and the study carried out
by KPMG / SKC on access transport for Ireland, will the
Council now indicate its position with regard to the
following issues :

1 . the principle of EC funding for essential investment in

transport services to and from Ireland ;

2 . initial specific priority investments on direct services
to mainland Europe, both roll-on / roll-off ( Ro / Ro )

Subject : Social integration of the disabled

Further to the Commission 's answer to Written Question
No 1269 / 91 (') on the second Community action
programme for the social integration of disabled people

( Helios ), can the Commission give further information on
the Handynet data system on the problems of the
disabled ?

Can this system help to improve the circulation of
information available for the disabled ?

O OJ No C 31 1, 2 . 12 . 1991, p. 28 .

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

Handynet, a computerized European information system,
was set up following a Council Decision adopted on 18
April 1988 .

The Handynet system concentrated at the outset on

technical aids and relies on data collected in the Member

States in the nine Community languages .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 47

It is now in a position to keep users informed about more
than 7 000 technical aids manufactured in Europe and
some 5 000 Community manufacturers and distributors .

To simplify and widen the dissemination of information

to handicapped people, a compact disc version of
Handynet is being prepared and will be available by the
end of 1991 .

Handynet 's multilingual database provides individual
users with information of consistent quality throughout
the Community .

Member States ' representatives on the Advisory
Committee ( Helios ) have been asked to consider making
this information more widely available .

Alongside the database, Handynet has developed an
electronic newspaper and mailing system to enable users
to transmit and receive information quickly on events,
new developments and experience acquired in all areas
affecting the disabled .

The Handynet system, by its content, structure, range of

languages and operation based on a European network of
information collection and distribution centres, helps to
improve the supply of information to handicapped
people .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2642 / 91

by Mr Virgilio Pereira ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 99 )

Subject : Projects to build or modernize fishing boats

submitted by the autonomous region of Madeira

Can the Commission say how many projects for the
building or modernization of fishing boats have been
submitted by the autonomous region of Madeira since
January 1986 and how many of them have been approved ?

What were the total amounts invested and what was the

rate of Community participation ?

Projects to construct or modernize fishing boats submitted

by the autonomous region of Madeira

( in Escuaos )

Year Numbers Investments EEC contribution

1986 1 const. 64 899 017 22 714 655

1987 4 const. 275 593 262 102 453 021

I 1 mod. 17 570 630 6 149 720

1988 / 02 1 mod. 21 273 600 7 445 760

1989 / 01 1 mod. 11 610 000 4 063 500

I 5 const. 419 951 813 152 745 455

1989 / 02 1 const. 59 098 324 22 9 77 162

1990 / 02 4 const. 433 264 170 163 601 852

2 mod. 43 402 998 15 191 049

1991 / 02 — — —

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2647 / 91

by Mr Peter Beazley ( ED )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 19 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 100 )

Subject : Chinese imports of bicycles

Considering that one of the central aims of the European
single market is the strengthening of European industry 's
competitiveness both in Europe and on the world market
can the Council explain :

1 . Why — in relation to bicycle manufacture — the

import duty on Chinese bicycles was reinstated only as
last as 10 September 1991 whilst the import reference
point on Chinese bicycles ( ECU 9,3 million ) nas been
exceeded as early as February 1991 ?

2 . What action the Council intends to take to achieve the

agreement on the 10-year GSP provisions with the
Chinese, which should have been achieved in 1991 and
has now been extended until 1992 ?

Answer

Answer given by Mr Marin ( 31 March 1992 )
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 January 1992 )

     

The Honourable Member will find in the table provided
below the information in reply to his question concerning
the construction and modernization of fishing boats in
Madeira .

1 . The Commission has responsibility for management
of the generalized system of preferences ( GSP ), including
provisions on the re-introduction of duty for
non-sensitive industrial goods ( Article 8 of Regulation
( EEC ) No 3831 / 90 ). Consequently, parti of this
question falls within the competence of the Commission .

NoC 112 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

2 . It is envisaged that the revision of the GSP as a
whole will be discussed in depth by the Council in 1992

subject to the transmission of appropriate proposals by
the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2660 / 91

by Mr Hugh McMahon ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 101 )

Subject : European Social Fund

Can the Commission inform the House if it intents to
propose, in the next revision of the ESF regulations, the
full participation of social partners at all levels of the
decision-making procedure, including the Monitoring
Committees ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

The Commission is aware that Community structural
measures depend for their success not only on the efforts
made by the Commission and the national and regional
authorities but also on the involvement of the various

actors on the economic and social scenes .

Despite the limits that current rules place on the
representativeness of regional and socio-economic
partners, the Commission has endeavoured to devise
formulae with the Member States to ensure that the social
partners receive regular information and can be
associated with the monitoring committees .

An open, constructive dialogue has been put in place for
this purpose .

Would the Commission now please answer :

1 . whether there are any instances in which the
Commission has adopted a Regulation in order to
implement a Council Directive,

2 . how frequently the Commission adopts Decisions to

implement Council Directives,

3 . whether the Commission has ever adopted a Directive

to implement a Council Regulation ?

Does the Commission still intend to pursue the issue of
the classification and hierarchy of Community Acts in the
IGCs ? If so is its reluctance to answer my previous
question due to an intention to quietly abandon this issue ?

o OJ No C 259, 4 . 10 . 1991, p . 32 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 January 1992 )

1 and 3 . The Commission is not aware of ever having
adopted a Regulation to implement a Council Directive or
a Directive to implement a Council Regulation .

2 . The Commission will send direct to the Honourable

Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat-General an

illustrative list of Commission decisions adopted under
the implementing powers conferred upon it by Council
Directives .

The Commission is determined to promote real
involvement of the social partners . It will act in the same
spirit when presenting new proposals to the Council for WRITTEN QUESTION No 2701 / 91
revision bf the structural Funds rules . by Mr Ben Fayot ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 103 )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2695 / 91

by Mr David Martin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 102 )

Subject : Classification of Community Acts

Why has the Commission failed to answer my Written

Question No 940 / 91 (') as regards the last three out of
my four questions ?

Subject : Support for the European Management Institute

and the proposal on the establishment of a
European Law Academy

Following the report by Mr Janssen van iCay on the
establishment of a European Law Academy ( A3 ­
198 / 91 ), and in view of the already well advanced
plan of the European Management Institute in Maastricht
to set up a branch in Luxembourg near the Court of

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 49

Justice and the European Investment Bank, can the

Commission state what policy it intends to follow in this
matter ?

In particular, is it not necessary to avoid duplication and
the proliferation of institutions with similar or indeed
identical aims and instead to channel resources into an
institution such as the European Management Institute
whose usefulness has been proven ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 January 1992 )

The Commission 's policy is to encourage the
development of genuinely European initiatives that are
most likely to have a direct and positive impact on the
quality of public administration and the implementation
of Community law in the Member States .

In so doing, it aims to prevent duplication, while at the
same time guarding against over-centralization . It is the
Commission 's view that the diversity of complementary
expertise that exists within the Member States should be
encouraged to serve the interests of the Community as a
whole .

In this context, the Honourable Member is referred to Mr
Dondelinger 's statement to the Parliament on 9
November 1991, when he emphasized that initiatives such
as the Academy of European Law at Trier would not be
developed at the cost of other institutions of comparable
merit .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2751 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 104 )

Subject : European prison staff

Will the Commission state whether it has any proposals
under consideration with regard to the rights, extent of
authority and duties of prison staff in the European
Community ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

The Commission is not considering proposals for
measures governing the rights and obligations of prison
staff in the Community .

In the absence of specific Community rules, their terms of
employment remain subject to national legislation and to
such general provisions of Community law as are
applicable here .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2798 / 91

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

( 22 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 112 / 105 )

Subject : ' Euro-Odyssey ' for young people

The European initiative, now known as ' Euro-Odyssey ',
enables young Europeans to attent continuing education
and further training courses in a linguistic, human and
social environment different from their own .

Over the five years of the scheme 's existence it has
emerged that the large majority of the 3 000 young people
who have already completed four - or five-month courses

' abroad ' have easily found permanent employment
afterwards .

However, the main problem encountered by those
responsible for organizing ' Euro-Odyssey ' is caused by
national procedures for issuing visas, work and residence
permits, etc .

In order to remove national legal restrictions in this area,
would the Commission be prepared to take appropriate
measures to secure recognition of the status of
' Euro-Odyssey ' trainees in Europe without delay ?

Answer

( 27 March 1992 )

The Council does not have authority to recommend

recognition of the status of ' Euro-Odyssey ' trainees in
Europe, as suggested by the Honourable Member .

No C 112 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2853 / 91

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( ii ) the ACNAT Regulation on action relating to

nature conservation, which makes explicit
reference to Directive 79 / 409 / EEC in its title ;

( iii ) the LIFE Regulation, which is also concerned

( 5 December 1 991 )

with the financing of action to protect species of
( 92 / C 112 / 106 ) wild birds and theirhabitats (').

Subject : The killing of birds in southern Europe (') The ACNAT Regulation will be incorporated into the LIFE
Regulation as soon as the latter enters into force .

Millions of birds including robins, chaffinches,
nightingales, wagtails, songthrushes, harriers and many
others, including protected species, are being killed in
southern Europe . This is a matter which concerns us all .

What steps will the Council take to put an end to such

cruelty ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

As the Honourable Member will be aware, it is the
responsibility of the Commission under the terms of the
Treaty to ensure Member States ' compliance with their
obligations under Community law in general and the
provisions concerning protection of wild birds in
particular .

With regard to its specific action on this matter, the

Council has consistently endeavoured to strengthen the
Community legislation in force .

It should be emphasized that in addition to the
amendments made to Directive 79 / 409 / EEC upon the
accession of new Member States, and the amendments
designed to adapt the Annexes to that Directive to
developments in scientific and technical knowledge
( Article 10 and 15 ), at the request in particular of one
Member State, the Council has continued to add to the
protection of wild birds :

— by deciding that the Community should accede to

various conventions, such as the ' Convention on

international trade in endangered species of wild
fauna and flora ' ( 1982 ), the ' Convention on the
conservation of migratory species of wild animals '
( 1982 ) and the ' Convention on the conservation of
European wild life and natural habitats ' ( 1982 );

— by systematically including in Community
environmental action programmes a section on the
protection of animals and their habitats which covers
species of wild birds ;

— by giving its agreement to a number of texts which

specifically include among their objectives the
protection of wild birds and their habitats, viz :

( i ) the HABITATS Directive on the protection of

natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild

fauna and flora ;

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3058 / 91

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

( 13 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 107 )

Subject : Human rights and the right of asylum in Europe

1 . Does the Council agree with the criticism levelled at
the asylum policies of European governments by Amnesty
International ( AI ) in the report entitled ' Europe —
Human rights and asylum policy '?

2 . Does the Council agree that it is absurd to demand
that asylum seekers be in possession of a valid visa and
will it take steps to ensure that such demands are no
longer made in the EC ?

3 . What steps will the Council take to ensure that
asylum seekers are better informed of their rights ?

4 . Does the Council agree with AI that asylum
procedures in Italy and Ireland are totally inadequate and
will it call on both countries to remedy matters concerning
the right of asylum as soon as possible ?

5 . Does the Council envisage drawing up a list of ' safe
countries ' in the foreseeable future, which will make it
extremely difficult if not impossible for asylum-seekers
from these countries to be recognized as refugees in the
EC ?

6 . Will the Council reply to AI 's allegations in the
above report that the criteria used in drawing up such a
list will not be unaffected by political considerations ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Council is not required either to examine or to adopt

a position on the report to which the Honourable
Member refers .

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 51

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3187 / 91 sustainable development of forests, as a basis for an
international legally binding convention '.

by Mrs Maartje van Putten ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

(') On this point the Honourable Member may refer to the

( 24 January 1992 ) Council 's replies to Questions Nos 231 1 / 91 put Mr Raffarin

( 92 / C 112 / 108 ) and 2525 / 9 1 put by Mr Arbeloa Muru .

Subject : Sustainability of restructural adjustment
programme for Honduras

Is the Council aware that the Government of Honduras
has been advised by a delegation from the World Bank
and IMF to privatize its forests on the international
market by means of a tendering procedure, as part of a
structural adjustment programme ?

Does the Council agree that such an approach to balance
of payments problems is detrimental to the natural
environment in countries with financial problems and
therefore cannot be regarded as sustainable ?

What steps can and will the Council take to ensure that
the World Bank and IMF adopt a more sustainable
approach, particularly in respect of Honduras ?

Answer

( 27 March 1992 )

The Council has not been informed in detail of the project
concerning the forests of Honduras to which the
Honourable Member refers ; furthermore, it is not for the
Council to comment on recommendations made by the
Bretton Woods institutions .

In addition, the European Communities are not members
of the Bretton Woods institutions and as such could not,
therefore, influence the approaches they adopt in the
performance of their functions .

In any case, in the light of the European Communities '
many commitments in favour of the protection of
forests ('), confirmed yet again in the conclusions of the
Council meeting on the Environment on 12 December

1991 on the ' Guidelines for the Community for UNCED
1992 ', the Honourable Member should not doubt that the
Council seeks above all to encourage the long-term
management of such forests .

Finally, in the appropriate international fora and in
particular in connection with UNCED 1992 the
Community and its Member States stress that sustainable
development is important to all countries, whatever the
present state of their economies, and ' commit themselves
to promoting the Directive and adoption of a declaration
by UNCED on the management, conservation and

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3192 / 91

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

( 24 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 109 )

Subject : Introduction of the Social Charter

The Social Charter, which was adopted in 1989, is an

integral part of the internal market . Consequently, should
the Council not decide to implement immediately the
Commission 's programme for the introduction of the
Social Charter in order to bring national social security
policies into line with each other ?

Answer

( 27 March 1992 )

The Council is systematically implementing the
Commission action programme to which the Honourable
Member refers .

In addition, the proposal for a Council recommendation
on the convergence of social protection objectives and
policies is under consideration by the appropriate Council
Working Party, and the Council will take a decision on it
at a forthcoming meeting after receiving the opinion of
the European Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3246 / 91

by Mr José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 28 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 110 )

Subject : Conditions of internment for illegal immigrants

Community provisions concerning the movement of
non-Community nationals within the Member States of
the Community include the issue of the type of
establishment in which foreign citizens whose papers are

NoC 112 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

not in order and are awaiting deportation should be
interned .

In certain Member States it is becoming common practice
to hold such persons in penal establishments prior to
deportation, whereas the provisions regarding such
persons lay down that their internment should not be
punitive in character . This therefore excludes the use of
prisons or jails .

In order to ensure that the Community authorities
involved observe these provisions in full, does the Council
not consider that it should make an unequivocal
declaration concerning the non-penal nature of the
establishments in which foreign nationals awaiting
deportation are to be held, and state that the excuse that
such establishments do not exist is unacceptable ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The conditions in which third country nationals whose

informed of the quality of products . It is therefore
prepared to give favourable consideration to any
Commission proposal to achieve this objective .

Regarding the olive oil sector, the Council adopted at its
meeting on 10 and 11 February 1992 a Regulation
amending basic Regulation No 136 / 66 / EEC to improve
the precision and clarity of the descriptions and
definitions of olive oils and olive residue oils .

There is a Commission proposal before the Council for a

specific regulation for the protection of designations of
origin for olive oil . It will be recalled, however, that the
Council is currently examining framework proposals
from the Commission concerning certificates of specific
character for foodstuffs and the protection of
geographical indications and designations of origin for
agricultural products and foodstuffs, on both of which
the European Parliament delivered an opinion in
November 1991 .

papers are not in order are held in Member States is a
matter for the authorities of those States . WRITTEN QUESTION No 17 / 92
by Mr Josep Pons Grau, Mr Henry Saby, Mr Victor

Manuel Arbeloa Muru, Mrs Maartje van Putten ( S ), Mr
Luciano Vecchi, Mr Giorgio Rossetti ( GUE ), Mr Gerardo
Fernàndez-Albor ( PPE ), Mr Antoni Gutiérrez Diaz, Mrs

Dacia Valent ( GUE ) and Mr Pol Marck ( PPE )

to the Council of the European Communities

(4 February 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3256 / 91 (4 February 1992

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S ) ( 92 / C 112 / 112 )

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

( 29 January 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 111 )

Subject : Protecting consumers from adulterated olive oil

Does the Council of Ministers agree with consumer
organizations that labelling should immediately be made
compulsory to inform consumers when Community olive
oil has been adulterated with inferior quality olive oil,
especially when it comes from non-EEC Member States,
so as to avoid misleading them ? Will the Council say when
it intends to vote on the Regulation establishing
declarations of origin for this product and whether it
favours the idea of classifying olive oil according to
standardized types ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Council is in favour of any measure which will

protect consumers by ensuring that they are properly

Subject : Establishment of Cooperation Councils with the

Maghreb and Mashreq countries

Having regard to the specific importance that the
European Community attaches to the promotion of
respect for human rights and to the democratization of
society in the developing countries, as referred to in
Commission document SEC(91 ) 61 and with a view to the
European Parliament 's consideration of financial
protocols with the Maghreb and Mashreq countries under
the assent procedure :

1 . Does not the Council feel that, under the cooperation
agreements with the Maghreb and Mashreq countries,
a new role should be given to an instrument provided
for in those agreements, namely the Cooperation
Council, which has not been used in the cases of Syria
and Jordan ?

2 . Does the Council not think that the Cooperation
Councils should meet at least once a year for an
assessment for how cooperation policies are working,
not only from the economic but also from the political
point of view, since this would enable both a regular
in-depth analysis of such cooperation to be made and
would also provide the urgently required opportunity

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112 / 53

to suspend the financial protocols temporarily on the
basis of a deterioration specifically in the field of
respect for human rights ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Council begs the Honourable Member to refer to the

Council 's reply to Written Question No 237 / 92 and
No 242 / 92, and to the reply which the President of the
Council gave on 12 February 1992 to Oral Question No
H-54 / 92 put by Mrs Belo .

measures, in particular measures aimed at the protection
of soil threatened or degraded by fire or desertification
and the protection of land against coastal erosion .

3 . With particular regard to the reference to the setting
up of a European institute to combat desertification,
mentioned in the Honourable Member 's question, the
Commission has not submitted any specific proposals on
this matter to the Council .

O OJ No L 63, 9 . 3 . 1991, p. 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 140 / 92

by Mr Juan de la Cámara Martínez ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 136 / 92 (7 February 1992 )
by Mr Juan de la Cámara Martínez ( S ) ( 92 / C 112 / 114 )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 7 February 1 992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 113 )

Subject : European institute to combat desertification

Does the Council not believe it should consider setting up
a European institute to combat desertification, to
underpin an effective protection policy in those countries
in the south of the Community which are gravely
threatened by ongoing desertification and erosion ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

1 . As it has already stated in its reply to a previous
question from the Honourable Member ( No 453 / 90 ), the
Council is perfectly aware of the need to fight
desertification .

For example, it recently reaffirmed this in its conclusion
of 12 December 1991 concerning guidelines for the
Community for the United Nations Conference on the
Environment and Development to be held in Rio in June

1992 .

2 . At Community level, in the context of the reform of
the common agricultural policy, the Council is continuing
its efforts to integrate environmental concerns into
farming, in particular by ensuring that fundamental
balances as regards soil, water, climate, fauna and flora
are maintained .

With more specific reference to the Mediterranean

region, the Council has in Regulation ( EEC ) No 563 / 91
on the MEDSPA action ( l ) provided for the possibility of
Community financial support for a number of priority

Subject : Aid for environmental conservation of water

reserves within the Community

What does the Council intend to do with regard to setting

up a support policy for the environmental conservation of
current water reserves in the Community ? How does it
propose to regulate the rational and responsible use of
these resources and potential financial aid for such a
policy ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to point 2 of
the Council 's reply to Written Question No 1 12 / 92 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 172 / 92

by Mr Lelio Lagorio, Mrs Maria Magnani Noya and

Mr Vincenzo Mattina ( S )

to European Political Cooperation

( 10 Februa ry 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 115 )

Subject : Yugoslavia — shooting down of a European

Community helicopter

In Croatia on 7 January 1992 a jet fighter belonging to the
Yugoslav federal airforce shot down an Italian helicopter
bearing the EC emblem . The weather conditions and the

NoC 112 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.4.92

place of the attack rule out any possibility of a tragic
mistake .

1 . What action will the European Community take with

regard to the political authorities in Belgrade ?

2 . Will the Community suggest that the Member
State . Governments immediately withdraw their
ambassadors from Belgrade ?

3 . Does the Community consider that the obvious

disintegration of the Yugoslav Federal Republic calls
for a dual response :

( a ) the immediate recognition of the former
Yugoslav states which have proclaimed their

independence ;

( b ) all possible international pressure to be brought
to bear on the Belgrade authorities to force Serbia
to give up its ambiguous ' federal ' role and present
itself to the world as an independent state capable
of assuming full responsibility for its actions ?

Answer

( 25 March 1992 )

The shooting down of a helicopter causing the death of
five members of the European Community Monitor
Mission to Yugoslavia has been condemned by the
Community and its Member States in their statement on 7
January 1992 . They also demanded a thorough
investigation of the circumstances which led to this grave
incident in order to determine responsibilities to the
fullest extent . To this end, the Head of the Monitor
Mission was instructed to organize immediately a
tripartite commission of inquiry, while the Presidency 's
representative in Belgrade received instructions to meet
the local authorities with a view to securing their complete
cooperation with the abovementioned investigation . The
Community and its Member States also recalled the
commitments accepted by all parties involved in the
present crisis to ensure the security of all members of the
Monitor Mission, and strongly urged them to abstain
from any act which might jeopardize the present
cease-fire which constitutes the key element in the search
for a peaceful and negotiated solution . Following the
incident, the Head of the Monitor Mission decided to
temporarily suspend the activities of the monitors on the
ground . No decision was taken by the Community and its
Member States to collectively withdraw their
Ambassadors from Belgrade .

The ECMM inquiry is still in progress . Following press

reports about the findings of a separate federal
commission of inquiry appointed by the authorities in

Belgrade, alleging that the ECMM helicopters did not
have the necessary authorization to use the route they
were taking at the time of the incident nor the appropriate
EC markings, the Presidency 's Ambassador has requested
that a copy of the report be made available as soon as
possible . The ECMM will comment on the findings once
its own inquiries have been concluded .

In their declaration on 16 December 1991, Ministers
agreed to recognize the independence of all the Yugoslav
Republics fulfilling all the conditions enumerated in that
declaration . In conformity with this declaration, and in
the light of the advice of the Arbitration Commission, the
Community and its Member States decided on the 15
January 1992, in accordance with these provisions and in

accordance with their respective procedures, to proceed
with the recognition of Slovenia and Croatia . With regard
to the other two Republics which have expressed the wish
to become independent, there are still important matters
to be addressed before a similar step by the Community
and its Member States will be taken .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 182 / 92

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

( 10 February 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 116 )

Subject : Human rights in Saudi Arabia

The International Committee for the Defence of
Mohammed Al Fasi recently published a full-page appeal
in the International Herald Tribune calling for his release
from prison in Saudia Arabia . His crime had been to call
for democratic reforms in Saudi Arabia and to assist with
the sending of food to children in Iraq . Will the
Community call on the Saudi authorities to respect
human rights and to release Mohammed Al Fasi as
requested by dozens of prominent figures throughout the
world ?

Answer

( 25 March 1992 )

The specific case mentioned by the Honourable Member

has not been ^ discussed in the framework of EPC .
Nevertheless the Saudi Arabian authorities are fully aware
of the importance which the Community and its Member
States attach to respect for human rights, including
freedom of speech . The Community and its Member

30 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112 / 55

WRITTEN QUESTION No 219 / 92

States have repeatedly stressed that the protection of WRITTEN QUESTION No 219 /
human rights is the legitimate concern of the world by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )
community and of States individually and that respect for

to the Council of the European

human rights will continue to be an important element in
their relations with third countries . ( 13 February 1992 )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 13 February 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 215 / 92

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 13 February 1 992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 117 )

( 92 / C 112 / 118 )

Subject : Measures taken by the Council and the Member

States to reduce demand for illegal narcotics

The conclusions of the Council of 3 December 1990 on
reducing the demand for narcotic and psychotropic (')
substances contain an undertaking by the Member States
to intensify measures to prevent and treat drug addiction,
reintegrate addicts, train qualified staff and to draw up
regular reports on demand reduction policies . What
progress has been made in those areas ?

O OJ No C 329, 31.12 . 1990, p. 20 .
Subject : European network of health data on drugs abuse

t

The resolution of the Council of 16 May 1989 provides
for a European network of health data on drug abuse (').

What progress has been made in achieving cooperation
between the Member States and how effectively is this
network now functioning ?

o OJ No C 185, 22 . 7 . 1989, p. 1 .

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

1 . The work performed by the Member States in
particular with a view to ensuring the collection,
processing and distribution of socio-health data on drug
abuse at national level has formed the subject of a first
Commission periodic report on national programmes for
drug demand reduction in the European Community (').
The Honourable Member will be able to draw any

information from it that is of interest to him .

2 . Moreover, the Commission — following the
Council resolution of 16 May 1989 and the conclusions of
the European Council of 28 and 29 June 1991 —
submitted to the Council, on 3 December 1991, a proposal
for a Regulation on the establishment of a European
Drugs Monitoring Centre and a European Information
Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction ( 2 ).

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

1 . Since the adoption of the conclusion of 3 December
1990 on reducing the demand for narcotic and
psychotropic substances, the Council has received no
further periodic report on measures to reduce the demand
for drugs in the European Community .

2 . It is furthermore planned that when being
forwarded to the Council, such reports will also be sent to
the European Parliament for information .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 241 / 92

by Mr Patrick Cooney, Mr Siegbert Alber, Mrs Karla Peijs,
Mr Bryan Cassidy, Mr Bouke Beumer, Mr Petrus
Cornelissen and Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 13 February 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 119 )

Subject : Membership of GAIT — Taiwan

As an important trading partner Taiwan ( Republic of

The Council 's subordinate bodies are currently examining China on Taiwan ) applied for GAIT membership in
this proposal for a Regulation . January 1990 . Given the importance of Taiwan 's

programme of investment in the European Community
o CC>M(90 ) 527 final . and bearing in mind that GATT membership rules allow
O COM(91 ) 463 final . for the seating of ' non-sovereign ' territorial delegates,

1 . What consideration has been given by the Council to

supporting Taiwan 's request for GATT membership ?

No C 112 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 4 . 92

2 . Is the Council prepared to sponsor Taiwan 's
application for membership and furthermore is it
ready to make a case for the setting up of a working
group within GATT to consider its application
without further delay ?

Answer

( 31 March 1992 )

The Council recognizes the economic importance of
Taiwan for Community trade and investment . The

Council is currently examining the various problems
raised by Taiwan 's application for GATT membership .

Government that there is little likelihood of the European
Community placing its trust in anyone who distinguishes
himself by such remarks ?

Answer

( 25 March 1992 )

Publications espousing the views outlined by the
Honourable Member deserve nothing but contempt . The
unequivocal position of the Community and its Member
States in that respect, has once again been clearly stated in
the Declaration against racism and xenophobia adopted
at the Community Council on 9 and 10 December 1991 in
Maastricht .

The Declaration on Yugoslavia, issued on 16 December

1991, furthermore, clearly points out that the principle of
respect for human rights and dignity, which has long been
the cornerstone of relations of the Community and its
WRITTEN QUESTION No 274 / 92 Member States with third countries, does equally apply to

by Mr Alexander Langer ( V ) Croatia .

to European Political Cooperation

( 24 February 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 120 )

Subject : Anti-semitic remarks by President Tudjman of

Croatia

According to press reports, a book entitled Bespuca

Povijesne Zbiljnosti ( The truth of history confounded )
was published in Zagreb ( Croatia ) in 1990, the author of
which is supposedly Franjo Tudjman, President of the

Republic of Croatia . The book reportedly contains very
serious and incredible claims concerning the Holocaust
perpetrated against the Jews by the Nazis ( understating
their responsibility for the Holocaust, and the scale
thereof ), all but denies Croatian involvement in the
extermination process and shifts the blame onto the
victims .

Although the book has apparently been taken off the

market, the fact remains that the president of a newly
independent state whose existence is so contingent on
European Community recognition is drawing attention to
himself through views and attitudes which, without a
shadow of a doubt, are highly dangerous in the ' new
Europe ' that is taking shape in so laborious a fashion .

How do Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation view this situation, and what steps do they
propose to take to point out to the Croatian President and

WRITTEN QUESTION No 291 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 24 February 1992 )

( 92 / C 112 / 121 )

Subject : The migration of Pontic Greeks

In view of the fact that conditions are steadily
deteriorating in many democracies of the former Soviet
Union, where many thousands of Pontic Greeks live, can
EPC take steps to allow these Greeks to emigrate with
their households as happened previously ?

Answer

( 25 March 1992 )

The Honourable Member will recall the answer to his oral

question No H-32 / 92, which concluded that there can be
no doubt that the principle of respect for human rights
and dignity, which has long been the cornerstone of
relations of the Community and its Member States with
third countries, will remain so in the future .