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^ /* # _ -g ISSN 0378-6986
# Official J ournal c 20

Volume 35
###### of the European Communities 273^^2

English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

92 / C 20 / 01 No 2565 / 90 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Continuing the European Year of Tourism programme 1

92 / C 20 / 02 No 2890 / 90 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of Lough Foyle 1

92 / C 20 / 03 No 118 / 91 by Mr Alonso Puerta to the Commission
Subject : The plan to build a new highway between Ramacastanas and Candeleda ( Avila, Spain ) 2

92 / C 20 / 04 No 367 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the environmental impact assessment Directive 2

92 / C 20 / 05 No 422 / 91 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : EC subsidy for the St Jan 's Hospital ( Bruges, Belgium ) 3

92 / C 20 / 06 No 619 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Installed capacity of new and renewable sources of energy in each Member State 3

92 / C 20 / 07 No 721 / 91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Establishment of a European monitoring centre for small and medium-sized
undertakings 4

92 / C 20 / 08 No 750 / 91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Discriminatory recruitment practices '5

92 / C 20 / 09 No 769 / 91 by Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy to the Commission
Subject : Bus and coach safety 5

92 / C 20 / 10 No 913 / 91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Tesco 's expansion in Cardiff 6

2 ( Continued overleaf )

Notice No

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Contents ( continued ) Page

No 948 / 91 by Mr Amédée Turner to the Commission
Subject : Fibre optic networks 6

No 1014 / 91 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Research funding for the Fur Institute of Canada 7

No 1021 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Animal experimentation Directive 7

No 1022 / 91 by Mr Marc Galle to the Commission
Subject : Container goods transport 7

No 1047 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Fini to the Commission
Subject : Protection of Italian and European tourist guides 8

No 1048 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola, Mrs Birgit Bjørnvig, Mrs Brigitte Ernst de
la Graete and Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission

Subject : Action taken on a complaint lodged with the Commission in May 1990 9

No 1060 / 91 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : Commission official engaged in outside activity 9

No 1082 / 91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Renewable energy sources — assessment and potential 10

No 1 114 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies to European zoos ; 10

No 1 144 / 91 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Multi-fuel engines 10

92 / C 20 / 21 No 1 160 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject : Harmful effects on public health and the environment of the use of lead-free petrol in
vehicles not equipped with catalytic convertors 11

92 / C 20 / 22

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No 1237 / 91 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : A Community policy for the large-scale recycling of solid waste 12

No 1266 / 91 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Radiation protection of the people of the Ukraine and Iraq 12

No 1313 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Alleged suppression by the Commission of Eurosport 13

No 1324 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Euratom and nuclear safeguards 14

No 1326 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Article 78 of the Euratom Treaty 14

No 1344 / 91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Access to information in the environment for European citizens 15

No 1442 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Desirability of drawing up a new Bretton Woods agreement 15

92 / C 20 / 29 No 1459 / 91 by Mrs Mechthild von Alemann to the Commission
Subject : Phone cards 16

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 20 / 30 No 1469 / 91 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : ERDF support project in Northern Limburg ( Belgium ) 16

92 / C 20 / 31 No 1479 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Standard fire test specification .•                  - • • 16

92 / C 20 / 32 No 1501 / 91 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Inclusion of environmental factors in national accounts                  - 17

92 / C 20 / 33 No 1533 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Transport of spent nuclear fuels 17

92 / C 20 / 34 No 1536 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : International commerce in nuclear materials 18

92 / C 20 / 35 No 1538 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Scientific and technical committees under Article 31 of Euratom Treaty 18

92 / C 20 / 36 No 1540 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Commission review under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty 19

92 / C 20 / 37 No 1542 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

, Subject : Notifications under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty 19

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1540 / 91 and 1542 / 91 19

92 / C 20 / 38 No 1545 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Air transport of plutonium 19

92 / C 20 / 39 No 1546 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste 20

92 / C 20 / 40 No 1563 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Investigations into radon 20

92 / C 20 / 41 No 1581 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Taxing biofuels 21

92 / C 20 / 42 No 1604 / 91 by Mr Claude Desama to the Commission
Subject : Retraining of customs staff following the abolition of frontiers in 1993 21

92 / C 20 / 43 No 1615 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Preservation of cultural diversity in the audiovisual media 22

92 / C 20 / 44 No 1635 / 91 by MrWillem van Velzen to the Commission
Subject : Recognition of the occupation of tourist guide 22

92 / C 20 / 45 No 1638 / 91 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : Promotion of a disease prevention policy in the central and eastern European
countries 23

92 / C 20 / 46 No 1 709 / 9 1 by Mrs Astrid Lulling to the Commission
Subject : Prohibitive delays in the approval of electronic products in Europe . 23

92 / C 20 / 47 No 1717 / 91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Use of ' CE ' European Standards Mark 24

( Continued overleaf )

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92 / C 20 / 66

No 1723 / 91 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Foreign firms recruiting inside the EC 25

No 1748 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination against United Kingdom snails 25

No 1 77 1 /9 1 by Mr Enrique Sapena Granell to the Commission
Subject : Funds for the restructuring of the tourism sector 25

No 1782 / 91 by Mr Jose Happartto the Commission
Subject : Common organization of the market in the agricultural alcohols sector 26

No 1793 / 91 by Mr Gary Titley to the Commission
Subject : Fire precautions in hotels 26

No 1895 / 91 by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasóliba i Bohm to the Commission
Subject : Nuts 27

No 2033 / 91 by Mr Elmar Brok to the Commission
Subject : Information on the total sum of EC subsidies allocated to North Rhine-Westphalia
between 1985 and 1990 27

No 2034 / 91 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Investors and depositors in BCCI 27

No 2183 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : ERDF / ESF : European food industry 28

No 2203 / 91 by Mr Pierre Lataillade to the Commission
Subject : Deferral of payment of VAT in Belgium 28

No 2229 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council,
Subject : Co-responsibility rates for cereals 29

No 2337 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Need for a Community ban on the production, marketing and agricultural use of
Parathion 30

No 2345 / 91 by Mrs Marie Jepsen to the Commission
Subject : Proceedings by the Commission against DSB, among other railway undertakings, for
infringement of Community competition rules 30

No 2353 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Council
Subject : Migrants ' forum 31

No 2359 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Council
Subject : European dimension to education 31

No 2373 / 91 by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Council
Subject : High-speed rail link between Barcelona and Turin via the Durance valley 31

No 2383 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Blackmail by multinational firms . 32

No 2473 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Dying out of the Aral Sea 32

No 2475 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Engineering of food shortages in the USSR 33

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2565 / 90

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

( 16 November 1 990 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2890 / 90

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

(3 January 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 01 ) ( 92 / C 20 / 02 )

Subject : Continuing the European Year of Tourism

programme

As the European Year of Tourism programme of events
has given an added boost to this most important economic
sector, would the Commission be prepared to continue
with a similar annual programme that would promote

different events in the Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

The European Year of Tourism has succeeded in

concentrating the Community 's minds and efforts on the
paramount importance of the European tourist industry .
This success will be vigorously followed up in 1991 and

there will be no let up in the Commission 's efforts in
stimulating the coherent growth of the industry .

This firm commitment to follow up the work already
undertaken is reflected in the Commission 's approval on
26 March 1991 of an Action Plan to assist tourism (').

Within this framework the Commission will also continue

to co-finance projects, particularly of a pan-European
nature, which offer the greatest potential for advancing
the European tourist industry . In addition, the proposed
plan will identify the initiatives to be carried out
thereafter .

O COM(91 ) 97 final .

Subject : Pollution of Lough Foyle

Is the Commission aware of the rising level of pollution in
Lough Foyle, presenting a threat to salmon fisheries and
to the cultivation of shell-fish under natural conditions
which has been revived in County Donegal ?

Does the Commission recognize that since the border
between County Donegal in the Irish Republic and
County Derry, under United Kingdom rule, runs through
Lough Foyle, any steps to cope with the pollution must
necessarily involve joint, cross-frontier action by the two
Member States ?

Flas the Commission been in touch with the governments
concerned, to explore what can be done as a matter of
urgency — and, if not, will it undertake to do so ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(y July 1991 )

The Commission currently has no information
concerning pollution in Lough Foyle . This area does not
appear to have been designated under Council Directive
79 / 923 / EEC on the quality required of shellfish
waters ('), nor has the River Foyle been designated under

Council Directive 78 / 659 / EEC on the quality of
freshwaters needing protection or improvement in order
to support fishlife ( 2 ).

The Commission is aware that this question concerns the

authorities of both the United Kingdom and the Irish

27 . 1 . 92
No C 20 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities

Republic . Article 10 of each Directive provides for
consultation and cooperation between the relevant States
in cases of waters which cross or form national frontiers

between Member States .

The Commission will write to the authorities concerned .

It would, however, be helpful if the Honourable Member
was able to supply the Commission with more detailed

information regarding the alleged sources of pollution
and, if possible, details of pollution levels, so that the
Commission would be in a better position to request
specific action .

o OJ No L 281, 10 . 11 . 1979 .
O OJ No L 222, 14.8 . 1978 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 118 / 91

by Mr Alonso Puerta ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities :

( 11 February 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 03 )

Subject : The plan to build a new highway between

Ramacastanas and Candeleda ( Avila, Spain )

The plan by the Autonomous Community of
Castilla-Leon to build a new highway between the towns
of Ramacastanas and Candeleda entails serious risks to an
area requiring special protection within the meaning of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (') on the conservation of wild
birds . This area of considerable environmental
importance is the home of certain species of Iberian
wildlife threatened with extinction in both Spain and the
rest of Europe ( such as the imperial eagle, black stork,
Iberian lynx, etc .).

Faced with a project of this kind, which will cause
irreparable damage, one alternative would be to improve
the road surface and route of the existing highway in the
region and thereby minimize the effects on the
environment .

1 . Can the Commission ask the competent authorities to

provide as detailed information as possible on the
environmental protection measures they intend to
adopt in the case in question, in particular with the aim
of ensuring the correct application of the following
Directives :

( a ) Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ) on the assessment of

the effects of certain projects on the environment,

( b ) Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of

wild birds ?

2 . Can the Commission state whether this project is to
receive funding from the ERDF ?

(') OJ No L 103,25.4 . 1979, p . 1 .
O OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985, p ." 40 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 July 1991 )

1 . Road projects covered by Annex II to Directive
85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment have to be
assessed if they are likely to have a significant impact on
the environment .

According to the information now available to the

Commission, the projected road between Ramacastanas
and Candeleda is not located in a special protection area
designated by Spain under Article 4 of Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( SFF4 ) or in an area of Community
importance for birds ( SFF3 ).

If the Flonourable Member has other information to
suggest that the Spanish authorities have failed to meet
their obligations in this connection, the Commission
would be grateful if he would supply such information .

2 . The ERDF is not funding the building of this road
either as a project or as part of a programme approved for
the region concerned .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 367 / 91

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

(7 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 04 )

Subject : Implementation of the environmental impact

assessment Directive

Referring to the enclosed correspondence relating to the
A6(M ) Stockport bypass, would the Commission care to
comment on the question of the ( highlighted ) reference to
the unlawful implementation of the Directive in this
particular instance ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 September 1 991 )

The Commission interprets Article 2 ( 1 ) of Directive

85 / 337 / EEC (') on environmental impact assessment to
mean that from 3 July 1988 no consent should have been

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 3

or should be given to projects likely to have significant
effects on the environment without prior environmental
impact assessment . The date of application for
development consent is not relevant to the requirements
of Article 2 .

The United Kingdom Highways ( Assessment of
Environmental Effects ) Regulations 1988 ( SI 1988
No 1241 ), therefore fail to implement the Directive fully
in so far as they provide that an environmental assessment
under the Directive is not required for draft orders or
draft schemes published before 21 July 1988 . The
important date in each case is that of the grant of
development consent, not the date of publication of draft
projects or schemes .

Various complaints are being investigated in relation to
the implementation of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC in the
United Kingdom . The implementation of Article 2 ( 1 ) of
the Directive is one of the points being raised in the
Commission 's investigations .

o OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 422 / 91

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

( 11 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 05 )

Subject : EC subsidy for the St Jan 's Hospital ( Bruges,

Belgium )

On 19 July 1990 the EC agreed to pay a subsidy of ECU

130 000 towards the restoration and renovation project
for the 19th century St Jan 's Hospital in Bruges ( Belgium ).
At that stage the Kunstcentrum St Jan NV, which held the

lease of the St Jan 's Hospital, had not yet obtained
planning permission for this object .

1 . ( a ) Can the Commission indicate if account is taken
of whether or not planning permission has been
granted when EC subsidies are granted for
restoration projects ?

( b ) If so, why did this not happen in the above case ?

2 . Can the Commission indicate the members of the

board dealing with this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

1 . ( a ) and ( b ) Pilot projects funded by the Commission
under the architectural heritage conservation scheme
must satisfy the formal and quality-related conditions laid
down in the notice published every year in the Official
Journal of the European Communities .

This notice stipulates that building work financed by the

Commission must be finished by the autumn of the year
following that in which the grant is awarded . When they
submit their requests for a grant, applicants undertake to
comply with these conditions .

Projects submitted to the Commission are also assessed by
the national or regional body responsible for monuments
and sites, which then informs the Commission of its
opinion .

Should the Commission 's conditions not be met, the
funds allocated to the project are duly recovered .

An international board of experts chose St Jan 's Hospital

Bruges ( Belgium ) from among 1 159 applications
submitted in 1990 for the award of a Commission grant .

Confirmation that the work has been completed should
reach the Commission in September 1991 . As the matter
stands at present, the Commission has no reason to doubt
the probity of the applicants .

2 . To ensure that the board is free to work
independently, the Commission releases only the name of
the chairman when the results of the board 's deliberations

are published .

In 1990, the chairman was Mr Yves Boiret, Chief
Inspector of Historic Monuments and an internationally
renowned expert on architectural heritage conservation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 619 / 91

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 06 )

Subject : Installed capacity of new and renewable sources

of energy in each Member State

Will the Commission tabulate for each Member State the

installed capacity in megawatts for the generation of
electricity from new and renewable sources of energy ?

Answer by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 July 1991 )

The following table shows the installed capacity for the
generation of electricity from new and renewable sources
of energy, as far as presently available to the Commission .

No C 20 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

Estimated non-hydroelec, renewable energy-based electricity generating capacity ( utility and non-utility operated ) installed

in EEC countries at end 1989

( megawatts electric )

Solar thermal

Tidal Wind Total
electric

Solar

photovoltaic

Gas from

sewage or
animal manure

Geother ­

mal

Country Biomass ind. Municipal solid waste +

Ladfill

gas

Belgium N / A N / A N / A — — — — — 5 5

Denmark 5 N / A N / A 0,5 - — — — 253 259

France N / A N / A N / A — 4 — — 240 0 244

Federal Republic \

of Germany N / A 194 9 — 22 0,3 — — 14 239

Greece N / A N / A N / A — 2 0,3 — — 1 3

Ireland N / A N / A N / A — - - — — 0 0

Italy 1 N / A N / A — 521 0,4 — — 2 524

Luxembourg N / A N / A N / A — — — — — — 0

Netherlands N / A 164 N / A — - — — — 40 204

Portugal 201 N / A N / A 0,4 3 0,4 — .— 1 206

Spain N / A N / A N / A — — — 1 — 4 5

United Kingdom N / A N / A 22 — — 0,0 — — 7 29

Total EEC 207 358 31 0,9 559 1,4 1 240 32 7 1 718

Numbers are preliminary and in some cases are based on imcomplete data .
For tidal, wave, photovoltaic, wind figure is for installed capacity, effective capacity is 25 — 40 % of values shown .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 721 / 91

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

( 23 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 07 )

intend to take and what moves should it make in this
direction in the immediate future in order to achieve the

desired results ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

Subject : Establishment of a European monitoring centre on behalf of the

for small and medium-sized undertakings ( 30 September 1 991 )

on behalf of the Commission

for small and medium-sized undertakings

The proposal for a Council Decision on measures to

promote the development of enterprises, in particular
small and medium-sized enterprises ( COM(90 ) 528 final
of 18 December 1990 ), mentions the possibility of setting
up a European monitoring centre for small and
medium-sized undertakings . The centre would have the
task of helping the Commission to evolve the broad lines
of European enterprise policy based on the coordinated
development of a statistical information system . This
would be especially useful to businesses and to the
Commission for monitoring and assessing the impact of
its measures .

Given the approach of the 1992 deadline it is obviously
extremely important to set up this centre as soon as
possible . What specific measures does the Commission

The idea that a European monitoring centre for small and

medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) should be set up was
put forward by the Commission in its proposal for a
Council Decision (') relating to enterprise policy : a new
dimension for SMEs adopted on 27 May 1991 .

The Commission 's staff carried out preliminary studies to

determine the nature, functions and activities of such a
centre, the possible creation of which has aroused
considerable interest among those concerned .

Given the increased need for information on the specific
situation of SMEs at Community level, especially for the
purposes of assessing the impact of the completion of the

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 5

internal market, setting up a research network would help
to form an overall picture of the situation of SMEs at
Community level and of their prospects for
socio-economic development .

Accordingly, and in order to take account of SMEs '

specific requirements as regards training, the monitoring
centre could usefully draw, in particular, on the training
networks set up and the experience of training projects
gained under programmes such as Comett, Eurotecnet,
Lingua and Force .

A monitoring centre is the best means of measuring the
impact of the internal market on SMEs ' situation in the
Member States . It would also bring those national
research organizations closer together which want to
coordinate their activities more fully, incorporating in
them the principal objectives of Community enterprise
policy . Closer ties within a network could also lead to
greater efficiency and better use of the resources available
for SME monitoring and research, especially in the
context of the completion of the internal market .

Since the Council has now adopted the Decision on a new
dimension of Community enterprise policy for small and
medium-sized enterprises, thus making more funds
available to the Commission, the work on establishing the
monitoring centre can be speeded up . The results of the
preliminary studies have been discussed in the group of
representatives of the Member States responsible for
assisting the Commission in the implementation of the
programme to assist SMEs, and will make it possible very
quickly to move on to the phase of a detailed feasibility
study .

O CQM(90 ) 528 final .

me what relevance this ' qualification ' has to the post
concerned ? Could the Commission tell me how
frequently such conditions are applied to posts ? Does the
Commission not agree that such conditions are
discriminatory and should be discontinued forthwith ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1991 )

As the Honourable Member will no doubt be aware,
recruitment to each of the Community institutions is
handled independently by the institution concerned .

The Commission is unable therefore to reply to the
question posed in relation to this competition for typists
in the Court of Justice .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 769 / 91

by Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 09 )

Subject : Bus and coach safety

Can the Commission state whether proposals have been
submitted to extend Community legislation on the
compulsory installation of safety belts in buses and
coaches ?

If so, can it state whether the committee on adaptation to
technical progress has already taken a decision on this
matter ?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 750 / 91

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

( 23 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 08 )

Subject : Discriminatory recruitment practices

Could the Commission confirm that a job advertisement
for typists for the Court of Justice of the European
Communities in Luxembourg appeared in the London
Evening Standard on 3 January 1991 ? Can the
Commission also confirm that one of the ' Conditions to
be satisfied ' was that applicants should be less than 36
years of age on 3 February ? Would the Commission tell

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1991 )

As the Commission explained in reply to a Written

Question from Mr Seligman ( Question No 2041 / 90 ) ('),
this subject was addressed by the Technical Adaptations
Committee on 24 July 1990 .

Following that meeting the seat belt and anchorage
Directives were amended by amending Directives issued
on 30 October 1990 . Their effect is that the installation of
3 - point or lap seat belts will be mandatory on ' exposed

No C 20/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 1. %

forward-facing seats' in coaches and minibuses (that is,
forward-facing seats not immediately behind a
high-backed seat or screen sufficient to restrain a
passenger in a frontal collision).

The Technical Adaptations Committee also considered
making seat belts mandatory on all seats in all passenger
vehicles, except city buses which make frequent stops and
may carry standing passengers. The Committee was
unable to agree to such a proposal on 24 July 1990 due to
possible constructional problems in addition to the
cost-benefit considerations involved. However, the
Commission agreed to re-examine this question with a
view to possible further amendments.

**O** **OJ** **No C 94, 11.4. 1991.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION No 913/91**

**by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)**

**to the Commission of the European Communities**

_(15 May 1991)_

(92/C 20/10)

_Subject:_ Tesco's expansion in Cardiff

Following the excellent news thatTesco has been allotted
an ECSC loan of £ 73,8 million to help finance the
construction of an administration centre in Cardiff and

eight supermarket developments — ail designed to
stimulate investment and create jobs in areas of relatively
high unemployment — what new measures does the
Commission propose to help reduce unemployment,
particularly in rural areas?

**Answer given by Mr Millan**
**on behalf of the Commission**

_(9 July 1991)_

In June 1990 the Commission approved four Community
Support Frameworks (CSFs) in response to the United
Kingdom Government's rural development plans for its
four Objective 5b regions.

The reduction in unemployment in rural areas remains a
priority for the ERDF. In this regard, ERDF measures
will help strengthen the economic potential of Objective
5b regions by contributing to the financing of productive
investment, infrastructure investment and measures
designed to develop the indigenous potential of the

regions (business environment and exploitation of loca
resources).

In regard to the Social Fund, four Operationa
Programmes relating to the Objective 5b regions in the
United Kingdom were recently approved by the
Commission. Measures covered by these programmes wil
be aimed at providing training in those sectors where
skills shortages have been identified and will also provide
Social Fund assistance for newly created stable jobs anc
for new business start-ups.

All these measures are aimed at local needs and should be

additional to nationally organized operationa
programmes funded by Objective 3 and 4, targeting the
long-term unemployed and the integration of young
people into the labour market.

The EAGGF measures under Objective 5b aim to identify
and promote viable income-generating opportunities ir
the rural community for those involved in agriculture
The Integrated Programmes for Objective 5b regions
which comprise these structural Fund elements are being
drawn up in partnership with central, regional and local
authorities.

**WRITTEN QUESTION No 948/91**

**by Mr Amedee Turner (ED)**

**to the Commission of the European Communities**

_(15 May 1991)_

(92/C 20/11)

_Subject:_ Fibre optic networks

Will the Commission tabulate for each Member State

current estimates of the estimated number of subscribers

linked to the telecommunications network by fibre optic
cable?

**Answer given by Mr Pandolfi**
**on behalf of the Commission**

_(3_ _July 1991)_

**1. Trunk long-haul network**

All Members States have a rapidly growing optical fibre
network (mainly trunk and interoffice links). The
European share of the fibre worldmarket is 32% (42%
USA, 19% Japan/Asia) (').

**2. Subscribers loop**

The subscribers loop represents the future worldmarket.
The present penetration is still limited and orientated
more to business users whereas the residential users are

connected mainly in pilot experiments (see table).

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 7

Spain and Portugal ? If so, what action is being taken by
the Commission to ensure this Directive is implemented ?

o OJNoL358, 18 . 12 . 1986, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

Council Directive 86 / 609 / EEC on the protection of
laboratory animals entered into force in November 1989 .

To date, however, the following Member States have not
forwarded to the Commission their legislation
incorporating the Directive into national law : Belgium,
Italy, Portugal and Luxembourg . The Commission has
every reason to believe that these countries have not yet
incorporated the Directive into national law . It has
therefore initiated infringement procedures under
Article 169 of the EEC Treaty .

Greece has forwarded its implementing measures to the
Commission ( Presidential Decree 160 / 91 ).

Business subscribers
Member State

( estimate 1991 )

Residental subscribers

( estimate 1991 )

Belgium 22 0

Denmark 24 9 0

Germany 273 6 0

Spain 20 50

France 100 000 500 000 o

Greece 0 0

Italy 200 10

Ireland 28 1

Luxembourg 12 0

Netherlands 100 200

Portugal 10 0

United Kingdom 15 000 130

(') Excluding fibre / coax combination .
( 2 ) Several hundreds expected in 1991 in OPAL pilot .
( 3 ) Commercial Cable TV .

O 5o«rce:KMI and information gatekeepers studies .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1014 / 91

by Mr Henry McCubbin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 12 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 1022 / 91

Subject : Research funding for the Fur Institute of Canada

Are there any European funds being used by the Fur
Institute of Canada for alleged research into human ways
of snaring wild animals for their furs ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1991 )

There are no European funds being used by the Fur

Institute of Canada .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1021 / 91

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

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 13 )

Subject : Animal experimentation Directive

Is it true that Directive 86 / 609 / EEC (') still has not been
taken into national legislation by Belgium, Greece, Italy,

by Mr Marc Galle ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 14 )

Subject : Container goods transport

Transport by sea and inland waterways accounts for a
growing proportion of goods transport, and in recent
years container transport in this sector has increased

enormously .

Can the Commission say :

1 . how many container ships arrive annually in the ports

of the Community ?

2 . what percentage this represents of the total number of

ships arriving ?

3 . what percentage of containers are then transported by

rail ?

4 . what percentage of containers are transported by

road ?

5 . whether, in the interests of safety and of reducing the

burden on our roads, it would not be better to aim at
establishing inland transit stations from which the

No C 20 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

containers could then be taken to their destination by
lorry ? These stations could be linked to the ports by
rail .

the provision of accurate information and the
preservation of the cultural heritage, and will it review its
position since the inflexible application of the letter of the
law, mistakenly intended to uphold Article 59 of the EEC
Treaty, is undermining the quality of artistic and cultural

information and the scope for understanding and
communicating cultural traditions and identity ?
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 1 August 1 991 )

The Commission does not have information on the

movement-of container ships and containers in the form
requested by the Honourable Member .

The possibilities for developing inland transfer stations,

as referred to in the Honourable Member 's fifth point,
are among the matters being considered by the High Level
Working Group on combined transport, established
following the Council resolution of December 1990 on
this subject . The Group is taking into account maritime
aspects of combined transport .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1047 / 91

by Mr Gianfranco Fini ( Ni )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 15 )

Subject : Protection of Italian and European tourist
guides

Is the Commission aware of the adverse effect on the high
standards of cultural information provided in Europe of
the judgment handed down by the Court of Justice on 22
February 1991, in response to the action brought by the
Commission on 24 May 1989, condemning Italy for
alleged infringement of Article 59 of the EEC Treaty ?
The effect of this judgment will be not to take away

tourist guides ' privileges, as is erroneously supposed, but
to withhold the benefit of their special qualifications
based on diplomas awarded on completion of
comprehensive studies and, for speculative motives, to put
the profession into the hands of persons devoid of
relevant professional qualifications or ethics, thereby
disrupting a highly specialized sector . Ultimately, this will
lead to a reduction in the quality of the service ' offered ' to
tourists, which will no longer be provided by experts in
the culture and background of a people but will take the
form of a superficial and ' textbook ' outline provided by
unqualified ad hoc tour leaders .

Does not the Commission consider that this unfortunate
prospect runs counter to its numerous efforts to ensure

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

The Commission does not share the fears expressed by

the Honourable Member .

It welcomes the Court 's judgments in Cases C - 198 / 89,
C - 154 / 89 and C - 180 / 89 against France, Italy and Greece
in that they mark an important step towards the practical
implementation of freedom to provide services as
guaranteed by Article 59 of the EEC Treaty . The Court
held that the Member States in question failed to meet
their obligations under that Article by making the supply
of services by tourist guides travelling with a group of
tourists from another Member State subject to the
possession of a licence, issued in recognition of a specific
qualification awarded upon the passing of an
examination, when those services involved guiding such
tourists in places other than museums or historical
monuments which may only be visited with a specialized
professional guide . The Court rightly stressed that the
pressure of competition on travel organizers was such that
tourist guides already underwent a degree of selection
and that their services were already subject to quality
control . 0

In response to the argument of the three Member States,
taken up by the Honourable Member, that the national
rules in question are intended to protect general interests
linked to consumer protection, the preservation of the
historical and artistic heritage and the best possible
dissemination of knowledge on that heritage, the Court
ruled that these national requirements went beyond what
was necessary to protect those interests, at least in cases
where the guide travelled with the tourists he was

accompanying on a tour restricted to them . However, the
Court also confirmed that the Member States may take
national protective measures provided these were not
disproportionate to the objective in view and the same
result could not be achieved by less stringent rules .

Finally, the Commission does not see how the Court 's
judgments can be considered to run counter to the
measures it has taken in the cultural field .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 9

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1048 / 91 WRITTEN QUESTION No 1060 / 91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V ), Mrs Birgit Bjørnvig

( ARC ), Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V ) and Mr Gérard

Monnier-Besombes ( V )

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

( 29 May 1991 )

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 92 / C 20 / 17 )

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 16 )
Subject : Commission official engaged in outside activity

Subject : Action taken on a complaint lodged with the

Commission in May 1990

On 30 May 1990 the above Members lodged a complaint
with the Commission ( No 896 / 90 ) for non-compliance by
France with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (').

The above Members are surprised that no action has been
taken almost one year after this complaint was lodged and
request the Commission to remedy this situation and give
the reasons for this suspicious delay .

(') OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1991 )

The Commission would inform the Honourable
Members that complaint No 896 / 90 concerning the
large-scale illegal hunting of turtle doves in the Gironde
region during the month of May was dealt with together
with other complaints received on the subject .

The Commission responded to these complaints in April

1990 by initiating the infringement procedure for failure
to comply with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the
conservation of wild birds .

After receiving a letter of formal notice, the French

authorities announced their intention of putting an end to
this hunting and carrying out on-the-spot checks . The
French Council of State has already repealed the
legislation in question . However, it appears that as the
practice is very well established, a complete remedy of the
situation can only be achieved gradually, by a mixture of
coercion and persuasion .

Depending on whether such action is actually taken and
produces results, the Commission will decide whether to
deliver a reasoned opinion to the French authorities .

A Commission official, Mr Ungerer, is co-editor of a
periodical produced by the German economic service
entitled ' Tel-Com / DV Orga-Brief '.

1 . Are there rules governing Commission officials

engaging in outside activities ? If so, what are these
rules ? If not, why have such rules not been considered
necessary ?

2 . Are Commission officials required to obtain
authorization to engage in outside activities ?

3 . Is the editing of a periodical compatible with the Staff

Regulations of officials of the European
Communities ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1991 )

1 . The exercise of outside activities by officials of the
European Communities is governed by Article 12 ( 3 ) of
the Staff Regulations .

On 21 July 1976, the Commission adopted rules covering
the exercise of an outside activity, both paid and unpaid .
Officials are reminded of the rules from time to time by
administrative notices .

2 . Outside activities require the prior authorization by
the appointing authority .

3 . The compatibility of an official 's outside activity
with his official duties is assessed by the appointing

authority case by case ; his immediate superior and his
Director-General are asked for their opinion . This
procedure is applied as a matter of course to every
application .

Mr Ungerer 's activity consists of contributing articles to a
periodical, and his Director-General took the view that
the Commission stood to gain from dissemination of
information on Community activities in the telecommu ­
nications field .

The appointing authority therefore approved the activity

for 1991 .

No C 20 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1082 / 91

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

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 18 )

Subject : Renewable energy sources — assessment and

potential

In June 1988 the Commission was instructed by the
Council to assess the Community 's real and potential
energy resources by means of a statistical study of
renewable energy sources .

Three years later it has still not been possible to produce
this evaluation since certain renewable energy sources —
biomass, solar energy and wind energy — have not been
or cannot be calculated, and those calculations which
have or will be carried out are based on highly
questionable criteria and are far behind the assessment
methods already being used, for example in the UN and
OECD .

As a result the discrepancies in the calculations and
estimates are causing a total loss of credibility concerning
what should be a fundamental line of action in energy
policy .

What has prevented the Commission until now from
fulfilling its terms of reference in this major sensitive
area ? Who is responsible ? How does the Commission
intend to avoid any further delays in carrying out the
measures which it has a duty to take and which are of vital
importance to us all ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 August 1991 )

The Commission and the Statistical Office of the
European Communities are well aware that the statistical
assessment of renewable energy sources presents a
problem . In view of this, the SOEC has set up a working
party with the statistics offices of the Member States,
whose task is to create a common statistical system for all
renewable energy sources, including those which are not
available commercially and for which no figures exist at
present . Clearly, unless statistics exist at national level, the
international organizations will not have any : this applies
to the UN and the OECD as much as the Commission .

In the absence of hard statistical data, any figures
produced on the subject of renewable energy sources
must inevitably be based on estimates . These are often
published jointly with statistics for other forms of energy,
thus creating the misleading impression that hard
statistics exist for all energy sources .

Eurostat statistics are based on a harmonized
nomenclature and harmonized methods . The creation by
the SOEC of a reliable new statistical system in the field
of renewable energy sources calls for careful preparation
in close cooperation with the national statistics offices . An
initial study of renewable energy sources ., prepared on the
basis of harmonized statistical methods, is to be published
by the Statistical Office towards the end of 1 99 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1114 / 91

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

(5 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 19 )

Subject : Subsidies to European zoos

Can the Commission provide information about the
annual public subsidies to zoos in the different countries
of the European Community ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 October 1 991 )

The Commission does not possess any information on the
annual public subsidies to zoos in the different countries
of the European Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 144 / 91

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

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 20 )

Subject : Multi-fuel engines

Following on from the answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission to my Written Question
No 2531 / 90 (') about the potential of the Elsbett
multi-fuel engine, and the possibility of encouraging its
commercial development :

1 . Does the Commission envisage taking measures, in

the framework of the common agricultural policy, to
ensure ' that sufficient quantities of fuels such as rape
seed oil will be permanently available on the market '?

2 . Does the Commission envisage helping industry to

overcome the ' technical problems ( that ) remain to be
solved before unprocessed vegetable oils such as rape
seed oil can be used '?

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 11

3 . Will the Commission undertake to provide the be submitted for the Elsbett engine under this

relevant committees with a full programme .

relevant parliamentary committees with a full
assessment of the potential of multi-fuel engines, the
obstacles that remain in the way of their development
on a basis competitive with traditional engines, and
the likely timing for a breakthrough to their
widespread use ?

(') OJ No C 81,30.3 . 1990 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 September 1 991 )

1 . Within the framework of the common agricultural
policy, the common organization of the oils and fats
market provides for the support of Community
production of oilseeds .

In addition, trade with third countries is not subject to
any quantitative restrictions and customs duties are low .
This ensures sufficient supplies on the Community

market at prices close to world market levels .

Therefore, supply problems should not normally arise for

these products . In the case of rapeseed oil the Community
has abundant supplies available .

2 . The commercial development of the Elsbett
multi-fuel engine, specifically designed to run on
vegetable oils depends mainly on the following aspects

— the verification of certain technological aspects of

using vegetable oils and their derivatives in engines ;

— the comparative economics of using these oils or their

derivatives in place of competing fossil fuels .

To make a contribution towards the verification of

technological aspects, the Commission has recently
introduced the following measures in the area of
demonstration in addition to the measures referred to in
the reply to Written Question No 2531 / 90 ('):

— conclusion of a contract for the co-financing of

preparatory actions for a demonstration project on the
use of vegetable oils or derivatives in diesel engines ;
full scale demonstration projects may commence
within the framework of the new Research,
Technological Development and Demonstration
programme in the field of Agricultural and
Agro-industry ( 1990—1994 ); the projects to be
financed will be selected on the basis of an invitation
for the submission of proposals which will probably
take place in autumn 1991 . A proposal may of course

—
opening of the possibility for non-food demonstration

projects, including energy projects, to have access to
intervention stocks of oilseeds at favourable prices .

3 . With the present state of technical knowledge and
under present economic conditions vegetable oils are not
competitive vis-a-vis fossil fuels .

In fact, the tax-free prices of these oils on the Community
market which is completely open to vegetable oil imports,
are currently too high to permit any significant
substitution of fossil fuels .

In order to encourage the use of vegetable oils as fuel,
certain Member States apply tax exemptions or more
favourable taxation regimes on such oils . In cases where
vegetable oils are exempt from tax, they would seem to be

competitive, at least when used without modification .
This, however, requires specific engines such as Elsbett
which are more expensive .

The future utilization of vegetable oils for fuel will

depend on the evolution of the principal technical and
economic parameters ( including taxation ) which
determine their competitivity .

The Commission is closely studying all aspects ( including
environmental ) of this subject with a view to
supplementing the present framework with the most
appropriate economic and political measures .

The Commission will provide, when requested, any

further information on the technical subject .

o OJ No C 130,21.5 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1160 / 91

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

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 21 )

Subject : Harmful effects on public health and the

environment of the use of lead-free petrol in
vehicles not equipped with catalytic convertors

According to an official study carried out by the Italian

Health Ministry, the use of lead-free petrol in vehicles not
equipped with catalytic convertors may increase the risk
of cancer and leukaemia because of an increase in other

pollutant emissions .

Member States are required to adopt 'all appropriate steps
to ensure that neither the reduction of the lead content of

No C 20/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 1. 92

petrol nor the introduction of unleaded petrol causes a
significant increase in the quality and/or quantity of
pollutants in the gases emitted from motor vehicles'
(Article 6 of Directive 85/210/EEC) 0).

It is therefore necessary to take immediate measures to
protect public health and prevent the sale of lead-free
petrol for use in vehicles not equipped with catalytic

convertors.

Have the Member States adopted the necessary provisions
and, if not, what urgent measures will it take to ensure
compliance with Article 6 of Directive 85/210/EEC?

**(') OJ No** **L** **96, 3. 8. 1985, p. 25.**

**Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana**
**on behalf of the Commission**

_(9 October 1991)_

The Commission is not aware of the results of an official

study carried out by the Italian Health Ministry which
concluded that the use of lead-free petrol in vehicles not
equipped with catalytic convertors may increase the risk
of cancer and leukaemia because of an increase in other

pollutants emitted. Investigation by the Commission does
not confirm these results. Hence, there is no reason to
prevent the use of unleaded petrol in vehicles not
equipped with catalytic convertors on the basis of this
study.

Additionally, it has to be pointed out that the Directive
for passenger cars (approved by EP in second reading and
adopted by the Council on 26 June 1991) will set tougher
emission limit values resulting in the need to fit three-way
catalytic convertors as well as the mandatory installation
of small carbon canisters in all new cars as from 1 January
1993. Taking into account the renewal of the existing car
fleet, by the year 2000 only a small percentage of cars will
still be in circulation without the new technology.

**WRITTEN QUESTION No 1237/91**

**by Mr Henry Chabert (RDE)**

**to the Commission of the European Communities**

_(11 June 1991)_

(92/C 20/22)

_Subject:_ A Community policy for the large-scale recycling
of solid waste

In the industrialized countries the production of solid
waste is equivalent to 100 kg per inhabitant. The fact that
such waste is largely non-biodegradable means that it
accumulates in enormous quantities.

Confronted with this situation certain countries have

adopted energetic and effective policies. France, for
example, obtains 40% of its copper from recycling and
increasingly high recovery rates for all elements are
expected eventually.

Nevertheless, the twentieth century is in danger of having
to tackle a growing mass of waste without major recycling
industries yet having been developed to enable the waste
to be reused fully.

In a recent study of the subject entitled 'Homo plasticus',
Gerard Bertolini, a doctor of economic science at the
University of Lyons raises the fundamental question of
the approach to be adopted in the coming decade.

Can the Commission say what are its thoughts at present
on the problem of reprocessing solid waste in Europe?
Can it say what global policy it intends to promote on the
subject and what specific programmes it proposes?

Can it also say whether in this context it intends to set up a
'cell' or 'observatory' designed to take into account all the
means which may be employed and to monitor all the
experiments now being carried out, in particular as
regards packaging?

**Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana**
**on behalf of the Commission**

_(25 July 1991)_

In 1989 the Commission forwarded a communication to

the Council and the European Parliament proposing a
Community strategy for waste management (®).

This document outlines the various priorities as regards
waste management, and the possible Community
measures to put them into effect. The Council and the
European Parliament adopted resolutions on the
communication, in 1990 ( [2] ) and 1991 ( [3] ) respectively. The
Commission's proposals were favourably received overall
by the two institutions, and are now in the process of
being implemented.

**(') SEC(89) 934 final.**
**O OJ No C 122,18.5.1990/**
**O OJNoC 72, 18.3. 1990.**

**WRITTEN QUESTION No 1266/91**

**by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete (V)**

**to the Commission of the European Communities**

_(14 June 1991)_

(92/C 20/23)

_Subject:_ Radiation protection of the people of the
Ukraine and Iraq

Five years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, an
estimated 10 000 people have died as a result of exposure
to radiation.

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 13

In Iraq during the Gulf war several nuclear reactors were
bombed, releasing, according to scientific estimates,

16 000 curies of radiation into their immediate vicinity .

As regards the USSR, what concrete measures has the

Commission taken to follow up the resolution adopted by
Parliament on 17 May 1990 on assistance to the victims of
Chernobyl ?

In Iraq, has the Commission tackled this problem through
the Task Force it sent to the region ? Has it assessed the
extent of the problem ? And what radiological protection
measures will it provide for the affected regions ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 September 1 991 )

Concerning the radiological consequences of the
Chernobyl accident in the Soviet Union, the Honourable
Member is referred to the answer given by the
Commission to oral question H-549 / 91 by Mr
Fitzsimons (*).

As regards aid to the populations affected by the accident,
the Commission is preparing a cooperation project with
the Obninsk Center which is being set up by the World
Health Organization ( WHO ) to implement a medical
follow-up of the people and workers irradiated during the
Chernobyl accident . In a related action the Commission
supplied the Soviet Union with dosimeters of high quality
to help obtain reliable measurements of the external
irradiation in the environment . More than 600 dosimeters
were directly supplied to schools, hospitals,
environmental epidemiological stations and local
authorities .

The Commission also cooperates with the Chernobyl

Center for International Research ( 2 ). This cooperation
will enable the obtainment of important information on

environmental and health effects from the Chernobyl
accident . The Commission has appropriated in 1991 from
the Community budget about Ecu 2 million on this
project which will be supplemented by approximately

another million Ecus from participating Community
laboratories .

Furthermore, as regards nuclear safety, the Council
adopted on 17 June 1991 a decision authorizing the
Commission to negotiate three cooperation agreements
with the Soviet Union on nuclear safety, controlled
nuclear fusion and exchange of nuclear materials . The
Commission also recently decided on a coherent
approach to address nuclear safety issues in the Soviet
Union and in the countries of central and eastern Europe .

As regards radiation protection following the bombing of

Iraq 's nuclear facilities, an on-site inspection was carried

out during the period 14— 22 May 1991 by a team of the
International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ). The
objectives of the inspection were essentially to verify the
Iraqi situation regarding nuclear material, facilities and
activities, as well as, wherever possible, to place nuclear
material under IAEA seal . The inspection was not,
therefore, directly aimed at radiation protection .
However, some elements can be drawn confirming the
limited extent of radiation problems on the sites inspected
which included the Al-Tuwaitha site near Bagdad, which
had been subject to bombing, and where are located the
only two nuclear reactors, both research reactors, existing
in Iraq .

The Task Force ' marine pollution ', set-up on the initiative

of the Commission in 1985, intervened in the Gulf region
in relation to combating the oil pollution of the sea and of
the coastal areas, extinguishing burning oil wells and
protecting particularly sensitive local wildlife .

The Commission is permanently in contact with the IAEA

and it will consider supporting any action which will be
decided within the IAEA context, should the necessity of
international cooperation on radiation protection come to
light .

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-406 ( June 1991 ).
O SEC(91 ) 220 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1313 / 91

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 24 )

Subject : Alleged suppression by the Commission of

Eurosport

A constituent has complained that Eurosport on No 4

Channel of the pan-European sports network was taken
off the air on 6 May for the following reason, according
to a statement by SKY TV on 8 May :

' Eurosport (a consortium of 17 members of the
European Broadcasting Union and SKY
Television / News International ) was obliged under a

decision of the European Commission handed down
on 19 February to end its contractual relationship .

Regrettably, despite extensive negotiations, it has not
been possible to make alternative arrangements '.

This seems to smack of Orwellian censorship, quite

incompatible with the freedoms said to be associated
with the single market, but perhaps there has been

No C 20 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

some misunderstanding . Would the Commission
please offer an explanation ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 September 1 991 )

The Commission noted, as did the Honourable Member,
that the Eurosport Channel went off the air on 6 May

1991 .

Earlier this year ( 19 February ) the Commission issued a
decision ruling that the operation of the Eurosport
Channel, as then constituted, was contrary to European
competition rules . In the Commission 's view, the
agreement between the Eurosport Consortium and Sky
Television / News International brought together two
potential competitors for sports programmes so that they
cooperated instead of competing, while at the same time
giving the Eurosport Channel, which included a
non-EBU member, privileged access to the Eurovision

system .

The Commission understands that the decision to go off
the air was taken because Eurosport had not yet
succeeded in obtaining new investors or partners to
replace Sky Television / News International, which
withdrew from the previous arrangements .

The Eurosport Consortium was at the time negotiating
with other potential investors and was in discussion with
the Commission, which made it clear that it had no
objection to Eurosport itself and that it had not required
the Channel to cease broadcasting . Indeed, broadcasts
resumed shortly afterwards .

The Commission welcomes the development of
pan-European satellite TV services, but the achievement
of the single market implies also that they comply with EC
competition rules .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1324 / 91

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

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 25 )

Subject : Euratom and nuclear safeguards

What assistance was afforded by the Commission and
Euratom to Dr Darryl A. Howlett in his preparation of

the book ' Euratom and nuclear safeguards ' published by
Macmillan Press in 1990 ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1991 )

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable

Member that Dr Howlett, in the framework of his
doctoral research work, had requested information about
the Euratom Safeguards System .

Dr Howlett met during 1986 with senior staff of the
Safeguards Directorate to obtain a better insight into the
safeguards work . Since that time no further contacts took
place .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1326 / 91

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

( 24 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 26 )

Subject : Article 78 of the Euratom Treaty

What interim approvals, on what dates, have been issued
under Article 78 of the Euratom Treaty since 1980 ; and
what is the average time period between agreement to
interim approval and full operating approval for nuclear
facilities under Article 78 ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Curiha

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1991 )

Since 1980, one interim approval according to Article 78
has been given by the Commission in January 1991 .

The average time period between interim approval and
final approval was about three to four years . However,
the Commission would like to draw the attention of the
Honourable Member to the fact that this period is
essentially determined by the progress in the construction
and commissioning work of the plan operators involved,
which depends i.a . upon the obtainment of the various
plant licences .

No C 20 / 15
27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1344 / 91

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

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 27 )

Subject : Access to information in the environment for

European citizens

Could the Commission give an initial assessment of the
implementation by the Member States of Directive
90 / 313 / EEC ('), adopted by the Council on 7 June 1990,
on the freedom of access to information on the

environment ?

(') OJ No L 158,23.6 . 1990, p. 56 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 July 1991 )

Article 9 of Directive 90 / 313 / EEC of 7 June 1990 calls
upon Member States to bring into force the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to
comply with the Directive by 31 December 1992 .

It would therefore be premature to give an initial
assessment of the implementation of the Directive at this

stage .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1442 / 91

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

( 12 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 28 )

Subject : Desirability of drawing up a new Bretton Woods

agreement

The economist Antonio Estrany Gendre, President of the
Argentine section of the Inter-American Council of
Commerce and Production ( IACCP ), recently published
a major article in the Buenos Aires periodical ' Dirigencia '
in which he points out that we are approaching the 50th
anniversary of the Bretton Woods Agreements, which
undoubtedly created 'a kind of institutional framework
for post-war international economic relations '. The writer
considers that these agreements, and the institutions set
up since then, such as the GATT, should not be wound
up, but should be subjected to a thorough review in the
light of changes in international relations . For example,
the definite preponderance of the USA in the world
economy has given way to a generally tripartite system
based on North America, the European Community, and
Japan with the Asiatic ' tigers '. And perhaps it would be

appropriate to set up a GAE (' General Agreement on the
Environment ') to respond to current environmental
problems .

Does the Commission not consider that steps should be
taken soon to study this new orientation in world
economic relations, as a contribution to the New
International Order, the need for which has been
demonstrated by the Gulf crisis and war ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

Developments in the world economy in the past decade
have created the right conditions for establishing a new
multipolar international order . This process, which is
already under way, is taking place primarily through the
strengthening of the Bretton Woods organizations ( IMF,
IBRD, GATT ) and of multilateralism . The recent
decisions taken in the IMF to increase quotas in response
to economic developments in certain member countries
( Japan has moved up from fifth to second place in the
international league table ) and to admit new members
point in this direction . The same is true of the EBRD,
which was set up to support reforms in the countries of
central and eastern Europe .

An essential aspect of the embryonic new order is
undoubtedly the importance being attached to the
environmental dimension, as witnessed by developments
in the implementation of the programmes of the World
Bank, which devotes an annual report to this subject .
Discussions have also begun on how to integrate
environmental aspects into both the IMF and the GATT .
The establishment of a general agreement on the

environment dovetails perfectly with current trends . The
outline of such an agreement could be agreed at the
United Nations Conference on the Environment and
Development ( UNCED ) which is to be held in Rio de
Janeiro in June 1992 and which may prepare the ground

for international agreements on global climatic changes
and biological diversity .

The Commission is playing a full part in the studies and

efforts aimed at establishing a more comprehensive and
more balanced world economic system, as demonstrated
by the positions it has adopted at the G7, UNCTAD,
GATT and UNEP summits and by its environmental
proposals ( measures for limiting CO2 emissions, support
for the pilot programme on Brazilian rain forests, and
policy guidelines for regional and bilateral cooperation
with the developing countries ). In particular, it takes the
view that the Community can make a positive
contribution to the creation of a more balanced
international monetary system through the achievement,
between its members, of economic and monetary union
leading to the adoption of a single currency (').

(') See Chapter 7 of the Commission study entitled ' One market,

one money ', published in European Economy, No 44,
October 1990 .

No C 20 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1459 / 91

by Mrs Mechthild von Alemann ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 29 )

Subject : Phone cards

In every Community Member State you need a different
phone card to make a telephone call . When the single
market is - completed the number of business and private
travellers is likely to increase .

Will the Commission endeavour to ensure that the

relevant national organizations produce a standard card,
as in the case of the banks ?

The fact that progress towards European unity proceeds
step by step can be demonstrated on a small scale in an
exemplary way . The Community-wide use of a phone
card would be just such a step and would have a big
impact .

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

(8 August 1991 )

The Commission regards the harmonization of personal
subscriber cards and payment cards as a priority area for
the completion of the internal market . In June 1990, it
issued a mandate to the European standards bodies CEN
and ETSI to draw up the European standards required in
order to harmonize the payment cards used in the
telecommunications sector and promote a high degree of
interoperability, so that telephone cards could be used in
different Member States . In particular, the setting-up of a
specialist project team within ETSI should help ensure the
development of appropriate standards . The
standardization work, although delicate, is making

progress .

The Commission is well aware of the role played by these
cards in promoting economic integration within the
Community, and of the impact of practical achievements
in this field, which are appreciated by millions of citizens
on their travels .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1469 / 91

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

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 30 )

Subject : ERDF support project in Northern Limburg

( Belgium )

Bfrs 100 million from the ERDF have been earmarked for
Northern Limburg ( Belgium ) for the purpose of

improving the old industrial areas of Bochelt, Kaulille and
Dilzen-Rothen . These funds must be used before 1

January 1992 . There have been reports that the previous

owners of the property are opposed to this project .

1 . What progress has been made by this project ?

2 . What are the problems which have caused such a long

delay in implementing the project ?

3 . Can the deadline of 1 January 1992 still be met ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

The 1989-91 operational programme for Limburg
provides for a number of initiatives for improving
industrial areas or infrastructures to assist businesses .
This programme includes projects covering the Bochelt

and Rothen ( Dilzen ) areas .

In mid-July 1991 these projects had still not been
submitted to the ERDF Monitoring Committee for
Limburg . It is the responsibility of the competent bodies
of the Member State concerned, in this case the Regional
Development Association for Limburg, to propose
projects and ensure proper implementation of the

programme .

For this purpose the projects must be initiated before the
end of 1991 . Physical implementation of the projects must
have been completed by the end of 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1479 / 91

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 31 )

Subject : Standard fire test specification

With the single market fast approaching, it has been
drawn to my attention that a lack of an agreed
Community standard for the testing of building materials
and the like — and I am not here concerned with textiles
for clothing or furniture — is leading to a serious
distortion of competition and much red tape .

In the interim period to 1 January 1993 it was intended
that the following tests would be regarded as valid :

French : Epiradiateur ( NF P92 / 501 )

German : Brandschacht ( DIN 4102 Part 1 )

British : surface spread of flame ( BS 476 Part 7 )

L No C 20 / 17
27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

If a material passed the three tests, it should be acceptable
throughout the Community . However, some Member
States are insisting on the tests being carried out in their
own country and refusing to recognize even their own test
procedure if carried out in another Member State .

Will the Commission please address this situation as a

matter of urgency ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 September 1 991 )

The construction products Directive 89 / 106 / EEC (')
makes provision for harmonized specifications for
products which are permanently incorporated into
construction works . These technical specifications are
drafted by the competent European standardization
bodies on the basis of mandates from the Commission .
The standards will, however, take a considerable time to

complete .

This Directive also makes provision for a transitional

period which permits Member States to use national
standards within their national territory until harmonized
standards become available . It also provides for the
mutual recognition of tests and other procedures . These
interim procedures do not, however, permit the products
concerned to carry the CE Mark .

During the period when technical specifications for
harmonized standards are being drawn up, an interim
solution ( the conclusions of the Biachere study )
containing a package of three specific tests was proposed
but this was rejected by the Member States .

The Commission is currently investigating other possible

interim solutions which would allow the CE Mark to be
used on products without pre-empting a longer-term
solution along the lines proposed by the Commission .

the ECE follow-up conference on the Brundtland Report,
called for OECD and EC guidelines to ensure that
environmental factors were better reflected in national

accounts .

What moves has the Commission made in this direction ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1991 )

A Eurostat Working Group of Statistics on the
Environment ( sub-group : Economic Data ) has prepared a
manual called SERIEE ( Systeme Europeen de
Rassemblement de l'Information Economique sur
l'Environment ). This is a proposal for a data collection
system on the costs of pollution control policy . It is the
first step to getting internationally comparable economic
macro-data on the environment in accordance with
definitions of national accounts and the basis for
harmonized . statistics on the economic-environmental

field .

The Economic Commission for Europe of the United

Nations is working on the elaboration of " an
Environmental Accounting System . For the revision of the
System of National Accounts ( SNA ), cooperation with
Eurostat has been established in order to ensure that the
SERIEE system can be taken into account in this work on
a draft accounting system .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1533 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )
(') OJ No L 40, 11.2 . 1989 .

( 92 / C 20 / 33 )

Subject : Transport of spent nuclear fuels

What plans has the Commission to produce a new

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1501 / 91 Directive on the transboundary shipment of spent nuclear
by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC ) fuels ?
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 32 ) Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Inclusion of environmental factors in national

accounts

A working meeting on the economics of sustainable

development held last year in Bergen in preparation for

(1 October 1991 )

Shipments of spent nuclear fuel are subject to a number of
controls by the competent national authorities stemming

No C 20 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

from obligation under Community provisions or
international agreements, notably :

— Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom, laying down the basis

safety standards for the health protection of the
general public and workers against the dangers of
ionizing radiation ('), last amended by Directive
84 / 466 / Euratom ( 2 ).

— Regulation ( Euratom ) 3227 / 76 ( 3 ), last amended by

Regulation ( Euratom ) 220 / 90 ( 4 ).

— Convention on the physical protection of nuclear

materials, done in New York on 3 March 1980, signed
by the Community and by all its Member States .

— London Guidelines on the export of nuclear materials,

technologies and equipment, signed by all Member
States of the Community .   

— The major international transport agreements and

conventions listed in Appendix 2 of the Second Report
on the transport of radioactive materials in the
European Community ( 5 ). These agreements and
conventions incorporate the international Atomic
Energy Agency ( IAEA ) Regulations on the safe
transport of radioactive materials .

As regards the IAEA Regulations, these require that each
shipment of radioactive material whose radioactivity
exceeds a certain value, which is always exceeded in the
case of spent fuel, has to be approved by the competent
authorities, both of the country of origin of the shipment
and of each country through or into which the radioactive
material is to be transported .

In the case that no further use is foreseen for the spent
fuel, its shipment would be subject to the system of prior
authorization laid down by the proposal for a Council
Directive amending Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom, laying
down the basic safety standards for the health protection
of the general public and workers against the dangers of
ionizing radiation as regards prior authorization of
shipment of radioactive waste ( 6 ). This proposal is
presently being considered by the European Parliament
and by the Council .

The Commission is not considering, at present, any
further Directive which would specifically apply to
shipments of spent nuclear fuel .

(') OJ No L 246, 17.9 . 1980 .
O OJ No L 265, 5 . 10 . 1984 .
O OJNoL363,31 . 12 . 1976 .
O OJNoL22,27 . 1 . 1990 .
O SEC(89 ) 90 final .
( 6 ) CQM(90 ) 328 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1536 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 34 )

Subject : International commerce in nuclear materials

What studies have been conducted by the Commission
since 1957 on the proliferation implications of the
international commerce in nuclear materials ; how many
of these studies have been published, and will the
Commission list these by title and date ; and what studies
are currently underway but incomplete ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1 991 )

The Commission has approved no study on the subject of
the proliferation implications of commerce in nuclear
materials . No studies are currently underway .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1538 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 35 )

Subject : Scientific and technical committees under
Article 31 of Euratom Treaty

Who are the representatives on the scientific and technical
committees to which reference is made under Article 3 1 of
the Euratom Treaty ? How are the representatives chosen
and on what criteria ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 September 1 991 )

The Scientific and Technical Committee is set up in

accordance with Article 134 of the Euratom Treaty . Its
members are appointed by the Council (') after
consultation with the Commission . The Scientific and
Technical Committee, among its other tasks, has to

appoint the members of the group of experts referred to in
Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty . Article 31 of the

Euratom Treaty stipulates that they have to be appointed
from among scientific experts, and in particular public
health experts, in the Member States .

No C 20 / 19
27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

A list of the Members of the Group of Experts referred to

in Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty is being sent directly
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament 's

Secretariat .

O OJ No C 44,23.2 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1540 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 36 )

Subject : Commission review under Article 37 of the

Euratom Treaty

What Commission resources were devoted to the review
of the notification, under Article 37 of the Euratom
Treaty, of the Sizewell ' B ' PWR nuclear power plant in
July 1987 and the Sellafield high activity radioactive waste

vitrification plant in January 1990 ? Were any expert
opinions from outside Euratom or DGs XI, XII or XVII
sought, if so, where ?

Did British Nuclear Fuels pic ( BNFL ) request of the
Commission that the data on input streams of high
activity wastes arising from military nuclear fuel
reprocessing at Sellafield that would feed into the
vitrification plant be kept confidential on grounds of
national security ?

And what was the outcome of the . Commission review in
each of the two cases cited in the United Kingdom ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1542 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 37 )

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1540 / 91

and 1542 / 91
given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1991 )

The preliminary general data received in July 1987 on the

Sizewell B project were communicated under the terms of
Article 4 of Commission recommendation 82 / 181 /
Euratom ('), now replaced by recommendation
91 / 4 / Euratom ( 2 ). Such data are submitted at the
pre-construction stage for information and are not
subject to an opinion of the Commission .

The full procedures of examination, consultation and the
issuing of an official opinion will be undertaken when the
definitive general data have been submitted, i.e. six to 12
months before the discharge authorization is given .

Regarding the Sellafield Vitrification Plant submission,
no distinction was made between input streams on the
basis of the nature of the fuel which gave rise to the wastes
to be treated . The Commission 's opinion was published in

Official Journal of the European Communities No L 193 of
25 July 1990, to which the Honourable Member is
referred .

As stated in the Article 37 review for the period January

1987 to June 1990 ( 3 ), the exceptional delay in producing
the opinion on Niederaichbach arose not from a lack of
Commission resources but from the time taken to obtain
clarification by written procedure of a number of points
raised in the course of consultation ; nevertheless, written
procedures have operated satisfactorily in previous and
subsequent instances and this single case would not justify
modification of these procedures .

o OJ No L 83, 29 . 3 . 1982 .
O OJ No L 6, 9 . 1 . 1991 .
O SEC(90 ) 2290 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1545 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

Subject : Notifications under Article 37 of the Euratom ( 92 / C 20 / 38 )

Treaty

What concrete steps are being taken by the Commission
to ensure the delays in completing an opinion on a
notification made under Article 37 of the Euratom
Treaty, such as occurred in the case of the
Niederaichbach nuclear plant being decommissioned in
Germany, are minimized in future ? What additional
resources will be required by the Commission to conduct
Article 37 reviews within the six-month time period in
future, without delay ?

Subject : Air transport of plutonium

What is the Commission 's present policy on the air
transport of plutonium into and between Community
Member States ? In particular, has the Commission
conducted an independent safety evaluation of the
International Atomic Energy Agency impact test for
plutonium packages involved in an accident during air
transit ?

No C 20 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 September 1 991 )

The transport of plutonium by air must fully comply with
the national and international regulations governing this
type of transport . These are based on the standards laid
down by the International Atomic Energy Agency
( IAEA ), of which all Community countries are Member
States .

The IAEA is currently undertaking a review of the
transport of large quantities of radioactive materials by
air . Although this has not been finalized, proposals have
been put forward to introduce a more stringent test
regime for packages used for air transport, particularly in
respect of impact and fire tests, than that in the current
IAEA regulations for the safe transport of radioactive
materials . These proposals result largely from safety
evaluations carried out in the two Community Member
States principally concerned with this traffic, namely
France and the United Kingdom .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1546 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 39 )

Subject : Transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste

Will the Commission make a statement on the
effectiveness of implementation of Council Directive
84 / 631 / EEC (') of 6 December 1984, on notification and
supervision of the transfrontier shipment of
non-radioactive hazardous waste and of the amendment

of 12 June 1986 ( 86 / 279 / EEC ) ( 2 ).

o OJNoL 326, 13 . 12 . 1984, p . 31 .
O OJ No L 181,4.7 . 1986, p . 13 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 September 1 991 )

The Commission, based on Article 14 of Council
Directive 84 / 631 / EEC on the supervision and control
within the European Community of the transfrontier
shipment of hazardous waste, is required to submit every
two years to the European Parliament, the Council and
the Economic and Social Committee, a report on the
implementation of this Directive by Member States based
upon information provided by Member States in
accordance with Article 13 .

However, the Directive has only recently been
implemented in all Member States and as yet only three
Member States have made reports . The Commission is
therefore not able to prepare a summary report .

The Commission has started legal action against those

Member States which have not yet complied with their
reporting obligations . Subject to these actions, the
Commission intends to present " a report on the
implementation of Directive 84 / 631 / EEC as soon as
possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1563 / 91

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 40 )

Subject : Investigations into radon

Radon, a natural radioactive gas produced by the
disintegration of uranium and thorium, could be
responsible for half of the annual human dose of
radioactivity . It is possible to reduce the effects of radon
by making structural alterations to buildings .

Has the Commission considered this problem and have
measures been envisaged to cope with it ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

oh behalf of the Commission

( 1 October 1 991 )

A Commission recommendation on the protection of the
public against indoor exposure to radon
( recommendation 90 / 143 / Euratom of 21 February 1990 )
establishes a reference framework for the development of
measures to cope with this problem .

The recommendation specifies inter alia a reference level

above which simple measures should be considered for
the purpose of reducing concentrations in existing
buildings ( radon gas concentration in air of 400 Bq / m 3 )
and a design level of 200 Bq / m 3 to be used for the
construction of new buildings .

The recommendation is addressed to the Member States,
which are responsible for defining the appropriate
measures within their territories .

Although the recommendation is not binding, the
Commission intends to, hold regular meetings with the
representatives of the Member States in order to assess
the action taken in response to the recommendation . An
initial meeting was held in May 1991 .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 21

Furthermore, the ' Construction products ' Directive
( 89 / 106 / EEC ) ( 1 ), which entered into force on 27 January

1991, is based on compliance in respect of construction
works with six essential safety and health requirements .

One of these requirements concerns hygiene, health and
the environment and covers inter alia the threat to the
occupants of the construction work resulting from the
emission of dangerous radiation .

In order to stipulate the essential requirements clearly, the
Commission provides for the preparation of interpretative
documents . The document concerning the
abovementioned requirement, which is now ready for
final adoption, provides in the case of radon for a
restriction on the use of construction materials which emit
that pollutant . Future harmonized technical
specifications, to be drawn up on the basis of mandates
given by the Commission, will set out the details
regarding that restriction .

It should, however, be noted that construction materials,
generally speaking, add relatively little to radon
concentrations, which are chiefly attributable to inflow
from the ground .

O OJNoL40, 11.2 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1581 / 91

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 41 )

Subject : Taxing biofuels

From the point of view of energy, environment and social
policy renewable fuels are obviously preferable to fossil
fuels, the only disadvantage being that production costs
are currently higher .

In order partially to offset this price difference and
thereby enable them to compete with other fuels, is the
Commission willing to consider imposing a different level
of taxation on biofuels ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 October 1991 )

The Commission has already indicated its agreement with
the views expressed by the Parliament on this subject .

Provision is being made within the proposal for a Council
Directive harmonizing the structure of excise duty on

mineral oils (') allowing for tax reductions on pilot
programmes for the development of biofuels .

The Commission is also examining the wider role of fiscal

measures in their spread and will be making specific
proposals in the near future .

o COM(90 ) 434 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1604 / 91

by Mr Claude Desama ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 42 )

Subject : Retraining of customs staff following the
abolition of frontiers in 1993

One result of the completion of the internal market will be
the abolition of the Community 's internal frontiers as
from 1 January 1993 . Customs offices currently
responsible for intra-Community border checks will close
down . Appropriate measures must therefore be taken to
retrain those employed in this sector .

Does the Commission plan to set up training programmes
to facilitate the professional redeployment of these people
and does it intend to take measures for this purpose in
cooperation with the Member States ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

Under the reform of the European Social Fund, the
Commission co-finances along with the Member States
training programmes which address certain problems and
defined priorities set out under the Community Support
Frameworks and Community initiatives . Therefore, the
possibility does exist for the Member States to present
training programmes for this category of persons to be
co-financed by the Commission . However, in the case of
regions outside of objectives 1, 2 and 5b of the reform of
the Structural Funds, only the training for long-term
unemployed and young people can, according to the
rules, be financed .

Furthermore, the Commission has received a request
from the Belgian authorities on behalf of Clecat — the
European Liaison Committee of Common Market
Forwarders — for a study of the effects of abolishing
frontiers on the freight forwarding community across the
twelve Member States . Discussions have taken place

No C 20 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

between Clecat and the European Social Fund services on
the proposal for the study and a final submission from
Clecat is awaited .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1615 / 91

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

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 43 )

Subject : Preservation of cultural diversity in the
audiovisual media

Cultural diversity is an invaluable asset of the European
Community . Use of the creative and broadcasting role of
the audiovisual media constitutes a major factor in the
protection and promotion of this cultural diversity .
However the latter is in danger of being eroded and
whittled down by market forces, particularly if the larger
broadcasting undertakings are able to corner the
advertising market and thereby eliminate their weaker
competitors, whose policy of promoting and broadcasting
creative works as an expression of cultural identity is
contributing to the enrichment of the European identity .
Public broadcasting undertakings in smaller Community
Member States constitute a particularly significant
example of this danger .

Will the Council take action to prevent the situation being
excessively influenced by the laws of the market-place and
competition ?

Answer

( 23 December 1 991 )

The Ministers of Culture of the European Community
have several times expressed the view that cultural goods
and services cannot be treated in the Community without
taking into account their specific nature .

The Council Directive ( 89 / 552 / EEC ) of 3 October
1989 (') concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting
activities and the Council Decision ( 90 / 685 / EEC ) of 21
December 1990 ( 2 ) on the media programme reflect in
several places the Community legislator 's resolve to
promote measures to encourage richness in the diversity
of European culture and to take appropriate account of
the needs of countries in Europe with smaller audiovisual
production capacities and / or with a limited geographical
and linguistic area .

These measures should help strengthen television
organizations in these countries so that they are in a
position to attract the advertizing revenue which they
need .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1635 / 91

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

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 44 )

Subject : Recognition of the occupation of tourist guide

In 1988 the Commission considered the possibility of a
Directive on the occupations of tourist guide and tourist
manager . Why has this Directive not been drawn up ?
Does the Commission still intend to try to introduce
European measures covering these occupations and what
progress has it made in this field so far ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

Now that the Commission has adopted a new approach to
this matter, it no longer intends to make a specific
proposal for a Directive concerning the profession of
tourist guide .

As for the recognition of professional qualifications, this
will be guaranteed, assuming that the profession of tourist
guide is regulated in the host country, j

— either by Directive 89 / 48 / EEC on a general system

for the recognition of higher-education diplomas
awarded on completion of professional education and
training of at least three years ' duration ( 4 ), which
entered into force on 4 January 1991,

— or by the Directive, currently at the proposal stage, on

a second general system for the recognition of
professional education and training which
complements Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 2 ), at present
being discussed within the Council . A common
position is expected to be adopted at the end of the

year .

The Directive, like the proposal, is general in nature and

embodies a new approach by the Commission in the area
of the recognition of diplomas . Both have been
deliberately formulated in such a way as to avoid any
coordination of training or fields of activity .

The Commission 's aims in this area are to facilitate

freedom of movement and of establishment by persons
pursuing a profession in the Community by making
regulated professions accessible to persons who have
obtained their qualification in other Member States . The
Commission considers that the two Directives referred to
should allow these aims to be achieved in a satisfactory

manner .

(') O OJ OJ No No L L 298 380,, 17 31 . . 10 12 . . 1989 1990,, p p .. 23 37 . . (') ( 2 ) Amended OJ No L 19,24 proposal . 1 . 1989 — OJNoC . 217, 1.9 . 1990 .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1638 / 91

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

, ( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 45 )

Subject : Promotion of a disease prevention policy in the

central and eastern European countries

The EC 's aid policy in respect of the central European
countries may be subject to criticism in that its activities
are obviously not guided by a clearly defined strategy .

The assistance provided under the Phare programmes

should involve definite projects which provide a real
impetus and maximum benefit and make maximum use of
the know-how and technologies of EEC undertakings .

In this connection, the field of health care, in particular
prevention through vaccination, could be a priority action

area .

This would meet the abovementioned criteria and would,

moreover, amount to a form of humanitarian action
particularly favoured by Community citizens .

Can the Commission state what steps it intends to take to
support this policy of preventive health care in the context
of real cooperation with the States concerned ?

population during the recent period of extreme
scarcity of foreign exchange .

In the context of Phare economic aid in 1991 in addition
to action to support core areas of economic and industrial
reform, some of the recipient countries have also chosen
to give high priority to policy reform and restructuring in
the health sector . Major programmes of assistance are
being prepared with the health authorities in Romania
( Ecu 25 million ) and in Poland ( Ecu 20 million ) where the
emphasis is on establishing a more efficient use of
resources and manpower in order to improve on a
sustainable basis the quality of primary health care in
particular .

Significant aid for the health sector has also been foreseen
by the Bulgarian government . A smaller project of
technical assistance is being set up with the Czech and
Slovak Health Ministries . In each case the policy priorities
and specific measures are defined by the national
authorities concerned with the assistance of the
Commission services and independent experts, working in
liaison with the WHO and the World Bank and any other
major donor agency concerned .

o OJ No L 375, 23 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1709 / 91

by Mrs Astrid Lulling ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission (7 August 1991 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 ) ( 92 / C 20 / 46 )

The objectives of the Phare programme referred to,

according to Council Regulation 3906 / 89 ('), are to
support the process of reform by financing projects aimed
in particular at economic restructuring . A maximum of

5% of the total resources available may be used for
humanitarian aid .

In 1991, the humanitarian aid measures that have been
financed have been of two kinds :

— a two phase programme of support totalling Ecu 20

million for children in Romania, particularly those in
care, where the emphasis has been on refurbishment
of orphanages, staff training, policy development and
provision of baby food and,

— medical import programmes for Romania and for

Bulgaria ( also totalling Ecu 20 million ) designed to
maintain a supply of basic drugs for the whole

Subject : Prohibitive delays in the approval of electronic

products in Europe

A Luxembourgish firm wishing to export dish aerials to

Spain has seen its Spanish importer pull out because the
approval procedures were so prolonged and expensive .

Does the Commission not consider that these hold-ups
( eight or nine months ) are tantamount to protection of
the national market, especially as other countries do
everything in their power to facilitate similar imports and
thus create competition for their own manufacturers ?

What action does the Commission intend to take to

counter such practices by the authorities of a Member
State which have tended to remove competitors from its
market ?

No C 20 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 September 1991 )

In the Commission 's view, requiring approval for the
import into a Member State of dish aerials for receiving
broadcasts may constitute an infringement of Article 30
of the EEC Treaty, if the aerials in question have been
lawfully manufactured and marketed in another Member
State .

The Commission takes the view that these products must

be allowed free access to the markets of all the Member

States if they are accompanied by a certificate of
conformity with the applicable manufacturing standards,
or even by a declaration of conformity by the
manufacturer . It bases its position on the fact that aerials
of this kind are not normally liable to cause
electromagnetic disturbance on a scale which would
justify a further approval procedure in the country of
import in order to safeguard the proper functioning of the
radio communications network .

In view of the above, the question of the length of
approval procedures should be examined only in relation
to aerials for which no certificate of conformity or
declaration of conformity has been issued in the country
of origin or consignment . In the case of equipment whose
conformity with the technical standards or specifications
recognized in a Member State has not been established,
the Commission sees nc - obstacle in Community law to
Member States ' requiring a technical inspection as a prior
condition for the marketing of the equipment on their
territory . Having said this, it is important that the
procedure applied should be completed within a
reasonable period of time .

The Commission will contact the Spanish authorities to

draw their attention to the problems referred to by the
Honourable Member and to request their comments on
the matter . It will of course inform the Honourable
Member of the outcome of its enquiries .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1717 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 47 )

Subject ; Use of ' CE ' European Standards Mark

Birmingham City Council 's Environmental Health
Department carried out a monitoring exercise into the
safety of children 's toys ; this exercise was completed in
October 1990 . A recent report to the City Council on this
exercise contains the following statement : ' The results of

the exercise would appear to indicate that some
manufacturers in the Far East are applying the mark
without regard to the standard . When manufacturers
misuse this mark, it undermines the effectiveness of the
CE marking system and renders the system valueless . . .
This is viewed as a very serious matter . ... If this

standard mark cannot be relied on, authorities such as
Birmingham must, regardless of whether br not items
carry the mark, test them anyway for safety . Could the
Commission comment on this, in particular on whether or
not the Commission considers it should take any
responsibility for monitoring and safeguarding the use of
this European Standard ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

According to the Directive 88 / 378 / EEC (*) on safety of
toys, the CE mark gives a presumption of conformity of a
toy with the essential safety requirements of the Directive .

The manufacturer can either apply himself the
harmonized standards on safety of toys published in the

Official Journal of the European Communities or send a
model of the toy to one of the approved bodies published
in the Official Journal when he cannot apply himself these
standards, or has applied them only in part ( EC type
examination procedure ).

In both cases, it is the manufacturer or his authorized
representative established within the Community who
affixes the CE mark on the toy or its packaging, before it
can be placed on the CE market .

It should be pointed out that the CE mark only gives a
presumption of conformity with the provisions of the
Directive and is aimed at the national authorities .

The control of the safety of toys on the United Kingdom

market is the responsibility of the national authorities of
the United Kingdom .

The Commission, through the safeguards clause ( article 7

of Directive 88 / 378 / EEC ), is monitoring if enforcement
actions taken by national authorities against toys bearing
the CE mark are justified .

The Commission has no evidence from other EC

countries that toys originating from the Far East bearing
the CE mark are more dangerous than other toys,
particularly when considering the total of imports of toys
into the EC market .

o OJNoL 187, 16.7 . 1988 .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 25

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1723 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 48 )

Subject : Foreign firms recruiting inside the EC

Are foreign firms which recruit inside the EC required to
register a ' place of business ' within the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1 991 )

Under Article 58 of the EEC Treaty, companies or firms
formed in accordance with the law of a Member State and
having their registered office, central administration or
principal place of business within the Community are free
to provide services in the other Member States as
provided for in Article 59 of the Treaty . Employment and
recruitment agencies enjoy the same right .

Companies or firms which are established outside the
Community and which have not set up a subsidiary in a
Member State satisfying the conditions of Article 58 are
not free to provide services under Article 59 . The
possibility for such companies or firms to do business in a
Member State depends solely on the law of the Member
State concerned or on any international conventions
which it has signed .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1748 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 49 )

Subject : Discrimination against United Kingdom snails

The UK snail industry has complained about
discriminatory French legislation placing obstacles to the
export of Achatina snails to France . The European
Commission has ruled that such discriminatory legislation
is in breach of the Treaty of Rome and has issued a
reasoned opinion on the matter under Article 169 of the
Treaty to the French Government . Can the Commission

state whether the French Government has accepted its
reasoned opinion and, further, can it give an indication, in
the event of it . not responding, what action will be taken to
secure compliance with EC rules ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

As the Honourable Member has indicated, the
Commission has sent to the French Government a
reasoned opinion pursuant to Article 169 of the EEC
Treaty, concerning the French legislation relating to the

use of the trade name ' escargot '.

The Commission is at present examining, with the French

authorities responsible, the possibility of arriving at a
mutually agreed solution .

If this proves impossible, the Commission will consider
whether to bring the question before the Court of Justice
under Article 169 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1771 / 91

by Mr Enrique Sapena Granell ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 50 )

Subject : Funds for the restructuring of the tourism sector

Much attention has been paid in the press recently to the
need for restructuring in the tourism sector, particularly
in Spain .

What are the Commission 's views on this subject ? Does

the Commission consider that appropriations from the
Structural Funds could be allocated to the restructuring of
the tourism sector ? What priority action should be taken ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

The Commission is aware that there are regions in the

Community in which tourism facilities are failing to meet
the expectations and needs of tourists .

It is with this in mind that the Community action plan to
assist tourism ('), adopted by the Commission and

27 . 1 . 92
No C 20 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities

currently being discussed by Parliament and the Council,
provides for measures aimed at diversifying tourism
services ( for example, by encouraging cultural tourism,
rural tourism and environment-friendly tourism ) and at
supporting Member States ' initiatives in this direction .
The Commission hopes in this way to promote the

long-term development of tourism by helping to create a
favourable environment for tourist enterprises and to
ensure that supply better satisfies demand . This
Community action plan should contribute to the
long-term conversion of the tourist industry .

It should also be pointed out that, as part of the reform of
the structural Funds, more than Ecu 2 billion have been
earmarked for Community assistance for tourism in
eligible regions under Objectives 1, 2 and 5b .

Partnership between the Commission, the Member States
and the regions should provide the framework for the
necessary discussion of the content of tourism measures
and programmes — discussion which should take account
of the problem raised by the Honourable Member .

Initial adjustments could be made right now in the
negotiations on the new CSFs and operational
programmes for Objective 2 ( 1991 / 93 ), and very much
more could be done when it comes to considering the
future of the Structural Funds after 1993 .

O COM(91 ) 97 .

referred to in the first paragraph which is severely
hampering the development of the industries concerned ?

3 . Will the Commission allow other Member States
( Greece or Portugal for example ) to introduce similar
arrangements to Italy, which in fact would provide
protection for specific types of agricultural production

( fig - or grape-based alcohols for example ) thereby
infringing the principle of free movement ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1991 )

1 . Pursuant to the Law of 22 December 1990, adopted
as a result of infringement proceedings brought by the
Commission on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty,
Italy put an end to the discrimination in the alcohol sector
described by the Honourable Member .

2 . The proposal for a Directive on the harmonization
of the structure of excise duties on alcoholic beverages
and on the alcohol contained in other products ('), which
was sent to the Council in November 1990, treats alcohol

obtained by distillation as a single category for purposes
of taxation, with no distinction being made between
alcohol distilled from wine, cider, other fermented
beverages, grain, fruit or other commodities .

3 . The proposal was drafted with a view to the
harmonization of indirect taxes, the abolition of tax
frontiers and freedom of movement between Member

States from 1 January 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1782 / 91

o COM(90 ) 432 .
by Mr José Happart ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 51 )

Subject : Common organization of the market in the

agricultural alcohols sector

1 . By applying excessively high taxes to non-denatured
alcohols based on certain raw materials ( molasses for
example ) and synthetic alcohols, the Italian Government
is, to all intents and purposes, preventing the marketing of
these alcohols on Italian territory in certain major sectors .

Does the Commission intend to take effective measures to
eliminate this obstacle to the free marketing of a product ?
More generally, does the Commission consider this
situation in the Italian alcohol sector compatible with the
single market ?

2 . What measures does the Commission envisage
taking in the near future, in parallel with the long-term
fiscal harmonization programme commenced in 1972, to
bring to an end by 1993 at the latest the situation in Italy

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1793 / 91

by Mr Gary Titley ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 52 )

Subject : Fire precautions in hotels

The Commission will be aware that, on 22 December

1986, the Council of the European Community adopted a
recommendation on fire safety standards in hotels and, by
their agreement, Member States indicated an intention to
work towards complying with its provisions .

Can the Commission provide details of the number of
fires which have occurred in hotels in each Member State
since 1986, their cause and injuries suffered, including
fatalities ?

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 27

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 September 1991 )

Council recommendation 86 / 666 / EEC (') of 22
December 1986 on fire safety in existing hotels
recommends that Member States take all appropriate
measures, in so far as existing laws are not already
sufficient to meet the requirements of the
recommendation, to ensure that fire precautions in
existing hotels are subject to provisions based upon the
principles set out in the said recommendation .

While the recommendation refers to fire precautions and

the notification to the Commission of measures taken, it
does not require the notification of the number of fires
occurring on an individual or an annual basis .

The Commission is not therefore in a position to provide
details of the number of fires which have occurred in

hotels in each Member State since 1986 .

(') OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1895 / 91
by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasoliba i Bohm ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 53 )

Subject : Nuts

As a result of hurricane winds in the early morning on 8
June 1991, bringing down many hazelnut branches and

tearing off the leaves of the treetops, one quarter of the
hazelnut crop of the Catalan regions of Tarragones and
Alt Camp was lost .

Since insurance against high winds does not cover the
month of June, the producers affected are in an extremely
serious situation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2033 / 91

by Mr Elmar Brok ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 54 ).

Subject : Information on the total sum of EC subsidies

allocated to North Rhine-Westphalia between

1985 and 1990

How much EC money was allocated to North
Rhine-Westphalia over the 1985 — 1990 period from the
following sources, and for what measures was it
earmarked ?

1 . European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF )

2 . European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund

( EAGGF ), Guidance Section

3 . European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund

( EAGGF ), Guarantee Section

4 . European Social Fund ( ESF )

5 . EC research programmes

6 . EC programmes in the energy sector

7 . EC programmes in the environmental sector

8 . Other EC programmes

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1 991 )

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

What measures will the Commission take to help nut
producers affected by the gales ?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2034 / 91

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

Community rules on the common organization of
markets and, in particular the fruit and vegetables sector
do not provide for a fund to compensate for damage
resulting from natural disasters .

It is therefore not possible to envisage compensatory
payments for the damage caused by wind to the hazelnut
orchards referred to by the Honourable Member .

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 55 )

Subject : Investors and depositors in BCCI

Following BCCI 's ceasing to trade, would the
Commissioner explain in what ways, in the light of the
Second Banking Directive and new legislation, the
Commission will be able to assist the large number of
individuals and businesses in my Birmingham East
constituency who are now facing financial hardship, not
to say ruin .

No C 20 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 October 1991 )

The question of compensation for depositors is one for

the competent authorities in the United Kingdom . If the
bank has to be wound up then the deposit guarantee
scheme set up under the UK 's Banking Act will provide
some compensation for depositors with Bank of Credit
and Commerce International ( BCCI ). No
Community-wide provision is presently in force in the
matters related to the BCCI affair .

The implementation of the Second Banking Directive ( x )

and related EC legislation will only come into effect from

1 January 1993 . It will strengthen cooperation between
supervisors which should help to prevent cases such as
BCCI arising in the future .

Legislation as such cannot prevent crime but the
Community will examine closely the lessons to be learnt
from the BCCI affair and the Commission will not
hesitate to suggest new Community measures if this
proves to be necessary .

With regard, in particular, to Deposit Protection
Schemes, the Commission considers that there should be
a minimum level of cover for all depositors in the
Community and that responsibility for such schemes
should rest with the authorities ( Home Member State ),
which are responsible for supervising the financial

institution in question . Such arrangement would have the
additional merit of strengthening the incentive for
supervisors to have a full exchange of information on
institutions operating in their respective territories and,
more generally, underpin the principle of home country
control .

The Commission has the intention to forward a proposal

in this respect to the Council, in the first half of 1992 .

(') Council Directive 89 / 646 / EEC of 15 . 12 . 1989, OJ No L 386,

30 . 12 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2183 / 91

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

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 56 )

Subject : ERDF / ESF : European food industry

In what circumstances is the Commission able to decide

whether structural funds will be made available to relocate

the production, processing, manufacture, packaging,
storing, transporting, distribution and handling of food
to low wage-cost regions, where companies have
rationalized or closed down existing operations in other
parts of the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1991 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its answer to Written Question No 1572 / 90 by Messrs.
Sierra Bardaii and Colino Salamanca ( 1 ).

O OJ No C 35, 11.2 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2203 / 91

by Mr Pierre Lataillade ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 57 )

Subject : Deferral of payment of VAT in Belgium

The arrangements governing the deferral of VAT
payments in Belgium vary according to the provenance of
imports concerned : imports across the
Belgian-Luxembourgish or Belgian-Dutch border are
treated differently from imports across other borders .

In the latter case, payment of the tax due on imports may
be made within Belgium, pursuant to Article 4 ( 3 ) of
Royal Decree No 7, subject to the following conditions :

— the importer must be a taxable person and make

periodic declarations ;

— the deferral of goods must apply to imports of goods

for which taxes are payable when the certificate of
entry for consumption is made .

These requirements presuppose :

1 . That special prior authorization has been obtained

from the VAT Centre of Administration and the VAT
exemption office ;

2 . That an advance is paid as VAT to the post office

account of the relevant VAT revenue office . This sum
must amount to one-twelfth of the taxation annually
due on imports ; if this is the tax-payer 's first financial
year it must be assessed as accurately as possible .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities - No C 20 / 29

This provision of Belgian law imposes a very heavy should put an end to the existing differential
financial burden on many importers . arrangements .

Does the Commission not consider that the existence of
two different arrangements applicable to the deferral of
VAT, depending on the provenance of the goods
concerned, constitutes a form of discrimination and, if so,
does it intend to ask the State concerned to abolish this
practice ? WRITTEN QUESTION No 2229 / 91
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1 991 )

The sixth VAT Directive allows Member States to lay
down the procedures governing the declaration and
payment of VAT in respect of imports of goods .

As the Honourable Member indicates, the Belgian Royal

Decree No 7 of 27 December 1977 does indeed provide
for different arrangements depending on whether goods
are imported across the Belgian-Luxembourg /
Belgian-Dutch frontier or across another frontier .

The Commission considers that the more favourable

measures laid down for transactions carried out within
the Benelux countries must be examined in the light of
Article 233 of the Treaty, which states that :

' The provisions of this Treaty shall not preclude the
existence or completion of regional unions between
Belgium and Luxembourg, or between Belgium,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to the extent that
the objectives of these regional unions are not attained
by application of this Treaty .'

In its judgment of 16 May 1984, the Court of Justice
defined the scope of these provisions, in particular by
ruling that the aim of Article 233 is :

' to prevent the application of Community law from
causing the disintegration of the regional union
established between those three Member States or
from hindering its development . It therefore enables
the three Member States concerned to apply, in
derogation from the Community rules, the rules in
force within their union in as far as it is further

advanced than the common market .'

The Commission would stress that the measures taken by
Belgium in the Benelux context are aimed at the
implementation of a common market and are, therefore,
covered by Article 233 .

It would also draw attention to the fact that the concept of
importation with regard to VAT will disappear with the
completion of the large internal market and that this

( 92 / C 20 / 58 )

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

( 23 December 1 991 )

The Council introduced the co-responsibility levy during
the 1986 / 87 price-fixing exercise to make farmers
contribute to the costs engendered by production in
excess of a level corresponding to cereals use on the
non-subsidized domestic market, adjusted by imports of
cereals substitutes . Small producers are exempt .

The amount of the levy is set annually before the
beginning of the marketing year, in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 43 ( 2 ) of the Treaty . It is
determined on the basis of cereals production, quantities
of cereals used in the Community without financial
intervention, and imports of cereals substitutes .

In its 1991 / 92 farm prices proposal, the Commission felt
that it could no longer keep the co-responsibility levy at
3 % of the intervention price for common wheat of bread
making quality, because of the increase in the structural
surplus during the 1990 / 91 marketing year and the
likelihood of this growing further in 1991 / 92, together
with the ensuing increase in budgetary costs .

In view of the state of the cereals sector, the continuation
of a restrictive prices policy for 1991 / 92 and its impact on
farmers ' incomes, the Commission proposed that the
co-responsibility levy should be 6% of the intervention
price although it held that strict application of the relevant
criteria would have given a rate of approximately 12 % .

The Council decided to set the levy at 5 % of the
intervention price .

No C 20 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2337 / 91

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

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 59 )

Subject : Need for a Community ban on the production,

marketing and agricultural use of Parathion

The US Environmental Protection Agency will, later this
year, impose a drastic limit on ( and, next year, completely
ban ) the production, marketing and use, both on
smallholdings and in commercial farming, of Parathion,
an organic phosphorous product which is extremely
dangerous in the event of prolonged spraying or repeated
absorption in small doses : over one hundred agricultural
workers in the USA have died as a result of such contact
with the product, having suffered convulsions or
respiratory failure, whilst its carcinogenic effects have yet
to be precisely evaluated .

Are the executive institutions of the Community also
taking steps to ensure a drastic reduction in the use of the
product, with a view to a total ban ? Should the stocks
which have accumulated in high-risk factories not be
destroyed ? Which factories are on the list, which was
drawn up in connection with the ' Seveso ' Directive ? Is it
certain that the production ( and not just the storage ) of
Parathion, together with the marketing thereof in the
Community and export to third countries, are to be
banned by all appropriate Community, national and
regional means ?

Answer

( 16 December 1 991 )

The various questions raised by the Honourable Member
refer to implementation of a whole series of Community
law provisions and in particular Directive 76 / 769 / EEC on
the approximation of the provisions relating to
restrictions on the marketing and use of dangerous
substances and preparations, Directive 82 / 501 / EEC on
the major-accident hazards of certain industrial activities
and Council Regulation No 1734 / 88 concerning export
from an import into the Community of certain dangerous
chemicals .

As it reiterated in its fourth action programme on the

environment ( 1988 — 1992 ), the Council is aware of the
priority nature of pollution prevention and in particular
the control of chemical substances and preparations
which such prevention involves . It has thus on a number

of occasions introduced changes in order to adapt the
existing provisions of Community law to technical and
scientific developments, and it envisages the adoption
shortly of a Regulation on the assessment and control of

risks to man and the environment posed by existing
chemical substances .

As for any residues of the pesticide Parathion which may
be found on or in fruits and vegetables, a maximum
parathion content of 0,5 mg / kg ( ppm ) including
paraoxon, and a maximum methyl-parathion content of
0,2 mg / kg ( ppm ) including methyl-paraoxon have been
set by Directive 76 / 895 / EEC .

Under that Directive, the free movement of fruit and
vegetables complying with those content levels is ensured .

The executive powers relating to these provisions of

Community law have, however, been conferred upon the
Commission, which has responsibility, on the basis of the
information provided by the Member States, for
proposing application of the provisions in question to the
substance referred to by the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2345 / 91

by Mrs Marie Jepsen ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 60 )

Subject : Proceedings by the Commission against DSB,

among other railway undertakings, for
infringement of Community competition rules

It has long been a major objective of Community
transport policy to promote combined transport through
cooperation between road hauliers and forwarding
agents, on the one hand, and European railway
undertakings, on the other, not least because of the desire
to ease the strain on Europe 's road network, in terms of
pollution and road safety, resulting from what are very
extensive haulage operations . In line with this transport
policy objective, many railway undertakings in Europe,
including DSB in Denmark, have in recent years entered
into combined-transport agreements with hauliers and
forwarding agents .

That practice would appear to have fallen foul of the

Commission, however, since it is supposedly preparing
proceedings against a number of European railway
undertakings for infringement of Community
competition rules . The Commission seems to believe that,
by entering into the agreements referred to, the European
railway undertakings concerned have distorted
competition, though they deny this and have pointed out
to the Commission that the wish to promote combined
transport is at variance with its criticism of the
collaborative arrangements that exist with regard to
combined transport .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 31

Does the Commission acknowledge that discrepancy ? If
not, can it prove that the existence of combined-transport
agreements has actually acted as a curb on competition ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1 991 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the reply to the oral question H-979 / 91 by Mrs Ronn,
which it gave during question time at Parliament 's
October 1 1991 part-session ( 1 ).

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

1991 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2353 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 61 )

Subject : Migrants ' forum

Will the Council outline the current position with regard

to the proposal to establish a migrants ' forum with the
object of facilitating a dialogue between migrant circles
and Community institutions ?

Answer

( 16 December 1 991 )

During the discussion which the Community held on 4
December 1990 on immigration the President of the
Commission put forward the idea of an immigration
monitoring body .

As the Council has not so far received any proposal from
the Commission, it has not taken any decision on the

matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2359 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 62 )

Subject : European dimension to education

In May 1988 the Council adopted a resolution on the
European dimension to education, whereby they resolved

to launch a series of measures, in concert, during the
period 1988 to 1992 in order ' to strengthen in young
people a sense of European identity and make clear to
them the value of European civilization and of the
foundations on which the European peoples intend to
base their development today, such as, in particular, the
safeguarding of the principles of democracy, social justice
and respect for human rights '.

These are worthwhile and impressive-sounding
objectives .

Can the Council outline the extent of progress with
regard to their achievement ?

Answer

( 16 December 1 991 )

In implementation of the resolution of the Council and
the Ministers of Education of 24 May 1988 on the
European dimension in education the Commission
forwarded to the Council on 23 September 1991 a first
progress report on action undertaken by the Member
States with a view to strengthening the European
dimension in education .

This first report, which is still under examination by the

Council, has also been sent to the European Parliament .
The Honourable Member will therefore be able to judge
for himself the progress made in this area, pending any
comments on the report by the Council .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2373 / 91
by Mr Pierre Bernard     - Reymond ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 63 )

Subject : High-speed rail link between Barcelona arjd

Turin via the Durance valley

In the high-speed rail link scheme presented by Francp,
the proposed Barcelona-Turin route runs via the city of
Lyon .

This would make the journey between the capitals of

Catalonia and Piedmont excessively long when a line
along the Durance valley, extended by a tunnel in the
Hautes-Alpes at the Franco-Italian border, would provide
a much more appropriate solution .

This would also have the advantage of opening up the

southern alpine massif, in particular the towns bf
Manosque, Sisteron, Gap, Embrun and Brianfon .

Is the Council prepared to commission a study of a
high-speed rail link following the route Barcelona ­
Avignon — Pertuis — Gap — Brianfon — T urin ?

No C 20 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 1 . 92

Answer

( 23 December 1 991 )

Under Article 3 of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 3359 / 90 of 20 November 1990 for an action
programme in the field of transport infrastructure with a
view to the completion of an integrated transport market
in 1992 ('), the Community 's contribution to the
high-speed rail network is restricted to the links referred
to in the Regulation ( which expires on 31 December 1992 )
and in this specific case to the link :

Seville — Madrid — Barcelona — Lyons — Turin — Mi ­
lan — Venice and from there to Tarvisio and Trieste .

With regard to the specific financial support in the
three-year action programme ( 1990, 1991 and 1992
financial years ) forming the subject of the Regulation,
Article 6 provides for grant applications to be sent to the

Commission via the Member States .

The Commission, assisted by the Transport
Infrastructure Committee, decides whether or not to
grant the financial support in accordance with the
procedure set out in Article 9 of the Regulation .

On 17 December 1990, the Council adopted a resolution
on the development of a European high-speed rail
network ( 2 ). The Council welcomed the discussions held
within the Commission to draw up an outline plan
specifying the priority measures for establishing this
European network . This plan is given in Annex I to the
resolution .

Annex II lists the 14 key links of the network inter alia
the Lyons — Turin link .

In this resolution the Council requested the Commission
to continue studying the key links and to consider how
the development of the Community 's relations with the
EFTA countries and the Central and Eastern European
countries will affect the network .

The Commission is in the process of carrying out this

study, the results of which are not likely to be available
until the second half of 1992 .

The Council has grounds to believe that before the end of

1992 the Commission intends to submit to the Council
new proposals fleshing out the outline plan submitted in

1990 by completing those routes left unspecified so far .

The Council will examine closely any proposal on the

matter submitted to it by the Commission .

o OJ No L 326, 24 . 11 . 1990, p. 1 .
O Resolution 91 / C 33 / 01 ( OJ No C 33, 8 . 2 . 1991, p . 1 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2383 / 91

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

( 23 December 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 64 )

Subject : Blackmail by multinational firms

According to the newspaper ' Le Soir ' ( 20 September 1991,
p. 8 ), seven multinational firms have sent a message to the
Dutch Government threatening to transfer their
investments elsewhere if it goes ahead with its plan to
apply tax measures to cover the costs of environmental
protection . How does the Council view this type of
threat ?

What measures should be proposed to the Commission

( Article 152 of the EEC Treaty ) to offset the impact of
such practices on the Community 's cohesion and
industrial potential and the coherence and effectiveness of
Community industrial policy ?

Answer

( 23 December 1 991 )

The Member State mentioned by the Honourable
Member has not informed the Council in any connection
of the ' threat ' to which she refers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2473 / 91

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

(4 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 65 )

Subject : Dying out of the Aral Sea 

The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world,

has since 1960 lost 60% of its volume, the water level
having dropped by 35 cm per year, resulting in a total
drop of about 15 metres . Aralst, formerly a port on this
lake, is now situated 100 km from the shore . This is a
major ecological disaster .

Competition between the neighbouring republics to
obtain the necessary water for irrigation to ensure the
precarious survival of certain crops,. mainly cotton, jute
and tobacco, is spiralling rapidly and the danger of
further escalation is serious .

27 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 20 / 33

What measures would the Community institutions be

prepared to take, specially within the framework of
properly organized international cooperation, in order to :

— review the advantages and disadvantages of the 1986

plan to draw water from the Siberian rivers, despite
the distances involved ;

—
prevent the increasing salinity of the irrigated land ;

— promote substitute crops, excluding opium ;

— replenish the Aral Sea as far as possible ;

— encourage cooperation between the republics
concerned in order to avoid increasingly dangerous
aggravation of their conflicting interests ?

Answer

( 16 December 1 991 )

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Council

adopted Regulation ( EEC, Euratom ) No 2157 / 91 on
technical assistance to the Soviet Union (') on 15 July

1991 . The relevant implementing powers have however
been conferred on the Commission .

This Regulation provides for overall support of Ecu 400

million in 1991 for specific projects implemented on a
decentralized basis .

Part of the budget may be reserved for projects
concerning inter alia the environment . The financing of
projects such as those mentioned by the Honourable

Member by means of this budget is possible, however,

only if the recipients of this assistance choose to
implement such projects .

o OJ No L 201, 24 . 7 . 1991,p . 2 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2475 / 91

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

( 4 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 20 / 66 )

Subject : Engineering of food shortages in the USSR

At the public meeting held on 21 August 1991 by the

Chamber of Representatives Committee on External
Relations, it was pointed out that ships containing
foodstuffs, including considerable quantities of meat, for
the Soviet Union had been held up in the port of Antwerp .
These allegations made in Parliament were not denied by

the Minister, Mr Eyskens .

Will the Community institutions carry out a full
investigation into the possible engineering in European
ports of a situation favourable to the attempted coup
d'etat of 1 9 August 1 99 1 ?

Answer

( 16 December 1 991 )

The Council does not have the information necessary for

it to be able to reply to the Honourable Member 's
question .