Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

##### C 301
# Official Journal

Volume 36
### of the European Communities 8 November 1993

Volume 36

8 November 1993

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No Contents
Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

93 / C 301 / 01 No 3483 / 92 bv Mr Lode Van Outrive to the Council

Subject : Economic and monetary union and the Member States ' plans for convergence, and their
impact on levels of social protection, income and employment 1

93 / C 301 / 02 No 1784 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Linking EMU membership to social convergence criteria 1

93 / C 301 / 03 No 1785 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Revision of the convergence criteria 1

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3483 / 92, 1784 / 93 and 1785 / 93 1

93 / C 301 / 04 No 821 / 93 by Mr George Patterson to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of simplified procedures for VAT . . .

93 / C 301 / 05 No 829 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Planning and architectural development of the Community 's cities 3

93 / C 301 / 06 No 840 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Fourteenth murder of a journalist in Turkey within a year 3

93 / C 301 / 07 No 859 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Monument of industrial archaeology in Lavrion 3

93 / C 301 / 08 No 860 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : State of agriculture in Crete 4

2 ( Continued overleaf )

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No 867 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Imprisoned trade unionists

No 868 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Water meters installed by EYDAP ( the Athens Water Supply and Sewage
Corporation )

No 871 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : ' Monopoly ' of Elviemek

No 872 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Use of plastic table-cloths in restaurants

No 888 / 93 by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of movement

No 895 / 93 by Mr Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Extension of the Interreg initiative to Hispano-Moroccan projects

No 896 / 93 by Mr Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Administrative procedures for the re-registration of vehicles amongst Member States

No 900 / 93 by Mr Pierre Lataillade to the Commission
Subject : Major crisis in the fisheries sector

No 926 / 93 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Controlling price levels on import and the reference price system

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 900 / 93 and 926 / 93

No 903 / 93 by Mrs Nel van Dijk to the Commission
Subject : Safe transport of fissile material from the High Flux Reactor in Petten ( Netherlands )

No 90 9 / 93 by Mrs Simone Veil to the Commission
Subject : Unavailability of statistics for island regions and the most outlying regions

No 910 / 93 by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac to the Commission
Subject : Excise duties on alcoholic beverages

No 915 / 93 by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Communications problems in the Dodecanese and Cyclades

No 918 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Follow-up to the Phare programme

No 934 / 93 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Multifibre Arrangement

No 935 / 93 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Banana imports to the EC

No 943 / 93 by Mr Jas Gawronski to the Commission
Subject : Access to the profession of skiing instructor : arrangements for application of the Directive
on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training

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93 / C 301 / 26 No 945 / 93 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Approximation of the rates of excise duties on mineral oils 12

93 / C 301 / 27 No 949 / 93 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : ' Puppy world ' travelling show 12

93 / C 301 / 28 No 954 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Situation in Outer Mongolia 13

93 / C 301 / 29 No 959 / 93 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : SAVE energy programme and Community islands 13

93 / C 301 / 30 No 965 / 93 by Mr Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties at internal Community borders 13

93 / C 301 / 31 No 967 / 93 by Mr Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Fisheries policy 14

93 / C 301 / 32 No 968 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Development projects in India 14

93 / C 301 / 33 No 969 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Development projects in India 15

93 / C 301 / 34 No 970 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Development projects in India 15

93 / C 301 / 35 No 971 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Development projects in India 15

93 / C 301 / 36 No 972 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Development projects in India 16

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 968 / 93 to 972 / 93 16

93 / C 301 / 37 No 974 / 93 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Eurocheques 17

93 / C 301 / 38 No 977 / 93 by the following membres : Mr Franco Borgo, Ferruccio Pisoni, Nino Pisoni,
Agostino Mantovani, Giuseppe Mortola and Mauro Chiabrando to the Commission
Subject : Epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in Italy 18

93 / C 301 / 39 No 988 / 93 by Mr Georgios Anastassopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Equal treatment of Commission officials 18

93 / C 301 / 40 No 991 / 93 by Mr Kenneth Coates to the Commission
Subject : Discharges of sewage to surface waters 19

93 / C 301 / 41 No 992 / 93 by Mr Anthony Simpson to the Commission
Subject : Deaths and injuries from fires in motor vehicles 19

93 / C 301 / 42 No 1003 / 93 by Mr Siegbert Alber to the Commission
Subject : Waste disposal by the Thermoselect process . 20

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

93 / C 301 / 43 No 1011 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission
Subject : Transport of live animals 21

93 / C 301 / 44 No 1021 / 93 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Patulin and human health 21

93 / C 301 / 45 No 1026 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Transportation of plutonium nitrate — Security of transport 22

93 / C 301 / 46 No 1034 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Tacis programme 22

93 / C 301 / 47 No 1038 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Inter-institutional European Centre ( IEC ) at 54 Dennenboslaan, B-3090 Overijse .... 22

93 / C 301 / 48 No 1041 / 93 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Recognition in France of German qualifications for teachers and paediatric nurses ... 23

93 / C 301 / 49 No 1045 / 93 by Mr Ingo Friedrich to the Commission
Subject : Commission veterinary service staff 23

93 / C 301 / 50 No 1048 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Additional support for farmers ' early retirement scheme 24

93 / C 301 / 51 No 1049 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Programmes for young farmers 24

93 / C 301 / 52 No 1051 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Register of Greek farmland 25

93 / C 301 / 53 No 1052 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Damage to farms in Achaia and the Peloponnese in general 25

93 / C 301 / 54 No 1059 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Treatment of Mediterranean products in short supply 26

93 / C 301 / 55 No 1061 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Premium for sheep                   - and goat-farming 26

93 / C 301 / 56 No 1089 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the brown bear in Italy 27

93 / C 301 / 57 No 1092 / 93 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject : EEC fructose production 27

93 / C 301 / 58 No 1098 / 93 by the following membres : Mr Luciano Vecchi and Renzo Imbeni to the
Commission

Subject : Export restrictions against Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 28

93 / C 301 / 59 No 1099 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Details of the special programme for South Africa 29

93 / C 301 / 60 No 1104 / 93 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease 29

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

93 / C 301 / 61 No 1115 / 93 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : A broader southern Mediterranean policy 30

93 / C 301 / 62 No 1118 / 93 by Mr Yvan Blot to the Commission
Subject : Obstacles to the free movement of goods within the Community 30

93 / C 301 / 63 No 1122 / 93 by Mr Alexandrοs Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : The drought in Greece 31

93 / C 301 / 64 No 1127 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : European Interinstitutional Centre ( EIC ) at Dennenboslaan 54, Overijse, B-3090 .... 32

93 / C 301 / 65 No 1133 / 93 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : Helios magazine 32

93 / C 301 / 66 No 1141 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Money spent for entertainment 33

93 / C 301 / 67 No 1145 / 93 by Mr John Hume to the Commission
Subject : Special procedures for the sale of beef from intervention for processing not involving
cooking 33

93 / C 301 / 68 No 1149 / 93 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Fax directory — entry for the European Community 33

93 / C 301 / 69 No 1161 / 93 by the following membres : Laura González Alvarez and Alonso Puerta to
the Commission

Subject : Conservation of the church of San Julian de Los Prados ( Oviedo / Spain ) 34

93 / C 301 / 70 No 1162 / 93 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Greek shipyards 34

93 / C 301 / 71 No 1165 / 93 by Mr Fernand Herman to the Commission
Subject : Inspection charges for veterinary checks at the Community 's external frontiers 35

93 / C 301 / 72 No 1173 / 93 by Mr John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Value Added Tax on domestic fuel and power supplies 35

93 / C 301 / 73 No 1184 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : EC funding for nurses ' training 36

93 / C 301 / 74 No 1190 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Gabcikovo dam 36

93 / C 301 / 75 No 1203 / 93 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Grants for roads 36

93 / C 301 / 76 No 1211 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Safe escape of disabled employees in the event of fire or other emergency 37

93 / C 301 / 77 No 1215 / 93 by the following membres : Bartho Pronk, Jan Sonneveld and Ria
Oomen-Ruijten to the Commission
Subject : Environmentally hazardous waste dump in border areas 37

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No

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Contents ( continued ) p age

No 1218 / 93 by Mr Leen van der Waal to the Commission
Subject ; Subsidiarity and Ehlass 38

No 1224 / 93 by Mr Karl-Heinz Florenz to the Commission
Subject : Renewable primary products 38

No 1230 / 93 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Refunding of VAT on vehicle fuel 39

No 1234 / 93 by Mr Francois Froment-Meurice to the Commission
Subject : Environmental protection and free movement of goods 39

No 1255 / 93 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : ' Ethnic cleansing ' and human rights violations in Myanmar ( Burma ) 40

93 / C 301 / 83 No 1258 / 93 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission

Subject : Protection against radiation in the region of Andujar ( Jaen / Andalusia / Spain ) 41

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No 1296 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The state of law courts in the Community 41

No 1310 / 93 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Serbian arms shipments to Somalia 42

No 1323 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The wolf population of Greece 42

No 1349 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Scaramanga shipyards 42

No 1361 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Conclusion of security and defence cooperation agreements with Latin American
countries 43

No 1367 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Human rights in Mexico 43

No 1408 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Council
Subject : Attention paid to the Group of 15 43

No 1420 / 93 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Council
Subject : Peruvian debt repayments 44

No 1422 / 93 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject : Maternal mortality in developing countries 45

No 1446 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Social Fund programmes for women 45

No 1491 / 93 by Mr Alexander Langer to European Political Cooperation
Subject : International Civilian Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building Training Program ( IPT ) .... 46

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

93 / C 301 / 95 No 1494 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Introduction of a framework directive on air quality 46

93 / C 301 / 96 No 1556 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 46

93 / C 301 / 97 No 1649 / 93 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Arms export control to Bosnia 47

93 / C 301 / 98 No 1805 / 93 by Mr Christian de la Malène to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Situation in Cambodia 47

93 / C 301 / 99 No 2281 / 93 by Mr Henri Saby to the Council
Subject : Decentralized cooperation 47

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3483 / 92

by Mr Lode Van Outrive ( S )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 01 )

Subject : Economic and monetary union and the Member

States ' plans for convergence, and their impact
on levels of social protection, income and
employment

Application of the stringent monetary criteria for
membership of EMU may have a serious impact on social
protection, employment and income of the Member
States .

It is, of course, the weakest groups in society which are likely
to be hardest hit by these measures .

What measures does the Council envisage to tackle these
problems ? Does it have a means of establishing the impact
on the population of the application of the ' Maastricht '
standards ?

Have any Member States developed instruments to prevent
social policy and employment from suffering as a result of
compliance with Maastricht standards ?

and, at a time when Europe is in the grip of a recession, are
having a considerable impact on public opinion .

While the ' Growth initiative ' shows that the Community is a
little more aware of the issues of employment and social
security, does the Council not feel that it would be
appropriate to combine the convergence criteria with
' social ' standards and inter alia link EMU membership to a
limited level of unemployment ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1785 / 93

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( PSE )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 12 July 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 03 )

Subject : Revision of the convergence criteria

Europe is in a bad economic situation ( recession, rising
unemployment and turbulence on the money market ). The
convergence criteria laid down in the Maastricht Treaty
impose on all Member States government debt and budget
deficit restrictions which are too stringent .

Given that the average budget deficit in the EC stands at
around 6 % this year — which makes a revision of the

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1784 / 93 criteria absolutely necessary — does the Council intend to

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( PSE ) adjust the Maastricht criteria in the near future, and thus
make an effective response to the current crisis ?
to the Council of the European Communities

( 12 July 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 02 )

Joint answer to Written Questions
Subject : Linking EMU membership to social convergence Nos 3483 / 92, 1784 / 93 and 1785 / 93

criteria

The target of economic and monetary union is making it
necessary for all Member States to adopt extremely strict
budget policies . The austerity measures are very stringent

(8 October 1993 )

1 . The Honourable Members ' attention is drawn not

only to the conditions but also to the procedures set out in

No C 301 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

the Treaty on European Union : in Article 104c as regards
budgetary matters and in Article 109j as regards economic
and monetary union . The Council, for its part, must stress
that it is not empowered to amend the Treaty on European
Union .

2 . Nonetheless, the Council considers that coordination
of the economic, and in particular the budgetary, policies of
the Member States, which it ' scrutinizes regularly in the
context of multilateral surveillance exercises, arid the
strengthening of the process of convergence of European
economies as established by means of the convergence
programmes submitted to it for examination, are essential
factors in ensuring the economic and financial stability
necessary for the recovery of growth and employment in
Europe .

However, the question has still to be examined further in the
context of the White Paper and the broad economic
guidelines which the Commission has been asked to submit
for the December European Council .

3 . Furthermore, the Council believes that the new trust
which should be imparted to economic policies with
implementation of the Edinburgh declaration on the plan of
action by the Member States and the Community to
promote economic recovery in Europe will contribute
simultaneously to higher, non-inflationary growth,
increased employment and fulfilment of the convergence
criteria .

For that reason the Council accords it the highest
priority .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 821 / 93

by Mr George Patterson ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 04

Subject : Implementation of simplified procedures for
VAT

Will the Commission confirm whether the simplified VAT
procedures in the ' nettoyage ' VAT Directive, which amend
Article 21(1 ) ( a ) of t he Sixth VAT Directive, are intended to
be implemented in the same way in all Member States ? In
particular, will it be possible for a taxable person who
supplies goods or services in an EC country in which he is
not established to designate either a tax representative or the
person to whom the goods or services are supplied as the
person liable for payment of the tax in all Member States,
once the simplified procedures are fully implemented ?

Will the Commission please confirm that it was their
intention for this option to be consistently available
througout the EC in order to avoid the need for small
suppliers of goods and services to register separately for
VAT in several different Member States, thus creating an
obstacle to trade across the Community ? Can it please say
what is the current state of play in all other Member States as
regards the implementation of these simplified procedures,
with particular respect to the amendments to Article 21 ( 1 )

( a ) of the Sixth VAT Directive ?

Answer given by Mr Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

Where taxable goods or services are supplied by a taxable
person who is not established within the territory of the
country concerned, Member States may adopt
arrangements whereby the tax is payable by another

person .

Pursuant to Council Directive 92 / 111 / EEC of 14 December

1992 amending Directive 77 / 388 / EEC and introducing
simplification measures with regard to value added tax ( 1 ),
Member States retain the right — already provided for in the
Sixth Council Directive of 17 May 1977 — to designate
either a tax representative or the person for whom the
taxable transaction is carried out as liable to pay the tax to
the authorities .

However, with respect to triangular transactions, the
provisions of Directive 92 / 111 / EEC are designed to
introduce, by way of derogation from the general principles,
arrangements for designating automatically the person for
whom the transaction is carried out as being liable to pay the
tax provided certain precise conditions are fulfilled .

The wording of Directive 92 / 1 1 1 / EEC is more restrictive in
this respect than the Commission 's initial proposal ( 2 ),
which gave traders a greater choice and stipulated that
Member States may authorize a taxable person not
established within the territory of the country to designate
either a tax representative or the person for whom the
transaction was carried out as being liable to pay the tax
due . If not such designation took place, Member States
could take measures to ensure that the tax was payable by
another taxable person or by a non-taxable legal entity
established or registered for value added tax purposes in
that country .

In keeping with the commitments, the Commission is
preparing a report on the arrangements made under
national legislation for the taxation of transactions carried
out by taxable persons not established in the Member State
in which their transactions are liable to tax . It will be certain

to keep Parliament informed of its findings .

(!) OJ No L 384, 30 . 12 . 1992 .

( 2 ) COM(92 ) 448 .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 3

QUESTION No 829 / 93 12 months in Turkey . It has, however, no evidence to

Kostopoulos ( NI ) suggest that the Turkish authorities have been involved in

instigating the killing of any of these journalists or have

of the European Communities failed to give them adequate protection . It should be recalled

21 April 1993 ) that many of the journalists who suffered untimely deaths

( 93 / C 301 / 05 ) were operating in the South Eastern region which is a highly
troubled area .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 829 / 93

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

( 21 April 1993 )

Subject : Planning and architectural development of the

Community 's cities

Since certain authorities in the Member States frequently
permit planning and architectural eyesores, such as in
Athens where the regulations on the proportion of a plot
that may be built on are infringed, will the Commission
introduce a Community Directive to regulate the planning
and architectural development of urban areas by laying
down fixed rules on the use of and respect for such areas on
the basis of the plans of joint committees of experts and
town-planning and environmental officials ?

As the Honourable Member is doubtless aware, the
Commission has on numerous occasions made clear to the

Turkish authorities the importance that the Community and
its Member States attach to the full respect of human rights,
including freedom of expression .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 859 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 April 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
( 93 / C 301 / 07

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 August 1993 )

The Commission would point out that decisions on
planning and the construction of buildings are within the
competence of local, regional or national authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 840 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 06 )

Subject : Fourteenth murder of a journalist in Turkey within

a year

A few days ago Kemal Kili*j, a journalist working for the
newspaper Yeni Ulke and a leading member of the Turkish
Human Rights Association, was assassinated, becoming the

14th journalist to have been killed in Turkey within a year .
Does the Commission intend to express the Community 's
profound displeasure at the Turkish authorities ' repeated
failure to ensure that press employees and human rights
workers are effectively protected in line with their previous
commitment to this effect ?

Subject : Monument of industrial archaeology in Lavrion

A historic well and a mining complex belonging to a French
undertaking in Lavrion, which are covered by a
conservation order issued by the Greek Ministry of Culture,
are being destroyed by the constant tipping of masses of
earth on the site . Does the Commission intend do express its
concern that this exceptional monument of industrial
archaeology should be saved in its entirety ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

Acting on the ' guidelines for Community cultural action '
adopted on 12 November 1992 by the Ministers for Culture
meeting within the Council, the Commission is continuing
its initiatives to raise public awareness of the need to
preserve and develop Europe 's architectural heritage . The
Commission 's role — which will be reinforced once the

Treaty on European Union is ratified and Article 128
thereof comes into force — is primarily to encourage
cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, to
support and supplement any measures they may take .

effectively protected in line with their previous Although Commission the would Lavrion remind site the is Honourable of cultural interest Member, that the
to this effect ?

decisions regarding the management of sites for which
conservation or protection orders have been issued by
national, regional or local authorities is the exclusive
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek responsibility of the relevant public authorities in the

behalf of the Commission Member States .

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )
It is not therefore for the Commission to intervene directly in
this matter .

The Commission shares the deep concern of the Honourable
Member at the number of journalists killed during the last

No C 301 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

QUESTION No 860 / 93 Korydallos prison on what are manifestly unsubstantiated

Kostopoulos ( NI ) charges . In fact, the two trade unionists are being punished

for their resolute opposition to the dissolution of the Urban

of the European Communities Transport Corporation . Will the Commission therefore

26 April 1993 ) make representations to the Greek authorities to secure the

( 93 / C 301 / 08 ) immediate release of the two men and the decriminalization
of trade union activity ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 860 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 April 1993 )

Subject : State of agriculture in Crete

Agriculture in Crete is in a state of crisis ; early horticultural
products have either been left to rot in greenhouses or are
being sold at rock bottom prices, citrus fruits are being
withdrawn from the market and olive oil remains unsold in

producers ' warehouses . Local cooperative associations owe
the banks more than Drs 25 billion . Will the Community say
whether it intends to take joint measures with the Greek
authorities to support f armers ' incomes in Crete, and unveil
additional measures ? Furthermore, does it intend to provide
financial support for farming restructuring measures in
Crete ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Commission would remind the Flonourable Member

that the vegetable, citrus fruit and olive oil sectors are
governed by the rules of the respective common market
organization providing for appropriate mechanisms from
which the farmers of Crete can benefit .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

In the absence of any Community legislation on freedom of
association and the right to strike, the Commission has no
jurisdiction in the matter of the legitimacy or legality of the
action taken against the two trade unionists working for the
Urban Transport Corporation .

Freedom of association and the right to strike, which are
both included in the 1989 Community Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights for Workers, are established by
the 1961 European Social Charter, and the principle of
freedom of association is recognised in ILO Conventions 87
and 88, which have been ratified by Greece . There is a
specific complaints procedure for all cases of
non-observance of the obligations established by these
Conventions .

Furthermore, restructuring and the conversion of crops can
be financed under the Community support framework for
Greece, an exemple of this being the phylloxera operational
programme already being implemented in Crete .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 868 / 93

The Commission is prepared to examine in partnership with
the Greek authorities whether other restructuring
programmes should be implemented under the new Greek
Community support framework .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 867 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 09 )

Subject : Imprisoned trade unionists

Two trade unionists working for the Athens Urban
Transport Corporation, Tassos Panagopoulos and
Napoleon Kostis, have been held on remand for months in

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

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 10 )

Subject : Water meters installed by EYDAP ( the Athens
Water Supply and Sewage Corporation )

120 000 water meters installed by EYDAP in the Athens
supply system did not receive Ministry of Trade certification
that their degree of accuracy complied with legal
requirements . This allegation has been made by the Piraeus
Brass Foundry Limited which claims that the certification
submitted during the tendering procedure purporting to be a
copy of an EEC type approval was false . The company
points out that the certification did not cover the type of
meter offered or the type required by the invitation to
tender . This is confirmed in a Ministry for Trade document
No F2-1087 of 21 February 1992 . Will the Commission
therefore investigate the matter to protect the interests of
consumers ?

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 5

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

First of all Community powers extend to both
non-military and military sectors and activities provided
that the Member State concerned has not adopted, with
regard to the latter, measures that are needed for the
protection of its essential security interests .

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 30 of the EEC
Treaty, cold-water meters may be subject to the Member The Community therefore adopted on 5 April 1993 a
States ' national metrological regulations . To ensure the free Directive on explosives for civilian use . That Directive
movement 17 December of 1974 water ( J ) guarantees meters, freedom Directive of 75 movement / 33 / EEC for of provides explosives and for on rules the trade concerning in them the . The marketing sole proviso of
meters bearing the EEC pattern approval symbol and the concerning production and storage is that other
with EEC initial the said verification Directive . mark Moreover certifying, meters that which they comply comply operators and authorizations involved must . possess the necessary licences
with this Directive provide suitable protection for
consumers . Apart under from the EEC this Treaty specific and set the of rules secondary the general legislation rules
concerning the right of establishment apply . The

If the responsible Corporation did indeed install in Athens Honourable Member should also send the Commission
water meters which do not comply with metrological more detailed information on this specific instance in
regulations in force in Greece, the Commission would point order that the situation may be examined in Community
out to the Honourable Member that this is a matter for the law terms .

The Community therefore adopted on 5 April 1993 a
Directive on explosives for civilian use . That Directive
provides for rules concerning the marketing of
explosives and on the trade in them . The sole proviso
concerning production and storage is that other
operators involved must possess the necessary licences
and authorizations .

If the responsible Corporation did indeed install in Athens
water meters which do not comply with metrological
regulations in force in Greece, the Commission would point
out to the Honourable Member that this is a matter for the

Greek authorities and that action at Community level is not
justified .

(!) OJ No L 14, 20 . 1 . 1975 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 872 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 871 / 93
( 93 1 C 301 / 12

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 11 )

Subject : ' Monopoly ' of Elviemek

The Elviemek company has a virtual monopoly on the
explosives industry in Greece and, with the authorities
turning a blind eye, does not allow any other company to
engage in similar activity . Elviemek directors are members of
the advisory committee of explosives experts set up by the
Greek Ministry for Industry in its Decision 1308 of
26 January 1993 to decide on issuing permits to companies
for setting up depots . Will the Commission call on the Greek
authorities to ensure that Community law is also applied to
the arms industry .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member gives rise to
the following answers :

Subject : Use of plastic table-cloths in restaurants

On the pretext of saving water, the Greek Ministry for
Trade recently decided to allow the use of plastic
table-cloths in restaurants which according to the
Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises will lead to a
further deterioration in the quality of services and the
environment . Will the Commission call on the Greek

authorities to revoke this decision forthwith ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Community action plan to assist tourism, approved by
a Council Decision of 13 July 1992 (*), sets out the scope of
the Commission 's action in this sector .

It states in particular that such action should entail a
strengthening of the horizontal approach to tourism in
Community and national policies, and implementation of
specific measures for certain types of tourism ( cultural,
rural, social etc .).

No C 301 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Consequently, the various national rules governing the If the level of safety is not equivalent, the competent
tourist industry in each Member State do not fall within the authorities of the host Member State may require approval
Commission 's sphere of competence . to be sought under its national procedure, although it must

recognize any tests or trials already undertaken by the
(M OJ No L 231, 13 . 8 . 1992 . competent bodies in the other Member State .

(M OJ No L 373, 21 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 888 / 93

by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 13 )

Subject : Freedom of movement

Is it permissible for a Russian-made helicopter to be
imported for use in France on the strength of its German
airworthiness certificate ? Does its owner need to have it

approved by the French authorities or is it sufficient for him
to produce the certificates already issued in Germany ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( IS July 1993 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3922 / 91 on the
harmonization of technical requirements and administ rative
procedures in the field of civil aviation 0 ) lays down
Community standards for the certification, operation and
maintenance of aircraft . It provides for the free movement
and mutual recognition of aircraft which have been certified
and are operated and maintained in accordance with
Community standards .

Since similar standards have not yet been introduced for
helicopters, national rules still apply to them .

As a result, in the absence of harmonization, Member States
are free to require approval to be sought, under their own
rules, for helicopters based in their territory ; they must,
however, respect the principle of mutual recognition
flowing directly from Article 30 of the EEC Treaty .

In accordance with this principle, where an aircraft of this
type, whether manufactured in a Member State or a third
country, has already been certified by a competent body in
one Member State, the approval thus obtained must be
recognized by the competent authorities of the other
Member State in which it is primarily used . The latter
authorities are entitled to check whether the certified level of

safety is equivalent to that required under their own
rules .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 895 / 93

by Mr José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 14 )

Subject : Extension of the Interreg initiative to Hispano ­

Moroccan projects

According to communication C(90 ) 1562 / 3 0 ), the main
aim of the Community 's Interreg initiative is to achieve
greater cooperation amongst regions situated on either side
of national frontiers and to revitalize the economies of areas

situated on the Community 's external frontiers .

In view of the fact that the initiative in question is supposed
to cater for new opportunities for cooperation with third
countries adjoining the areas on the Community 's external
borders, the possibility is still being considered of extending
Interreg to Morocco, on account of the fact that this country
shares a border with the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla,
which are included in Annex I to the abovementioned

communication .

Should Interreg be extended, therefore, to Hispano ­
Moroccan projects which have as a frontier reference the
cities of Ceuta and Melilla ?

(!) OJ No C 215, 30 . 8 . 1990, p. 4 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

Annex I to the Interreg notice specifically mentions Ceuta
and Melilla as regions which could benefit under the
Initiative . However, the Spanish authorities did not include
any measures in these regions in the operational
programmes presented for approval under the Initiative .

As to the future, the Commission will shortly present a
Green Paper on Community Initiatives . This will, among
other things, address future policy on cross-border and
interregional cooperation . In this context the question of

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 7

cooperation between the Community and its The Commission has consistently advocated, and taken
along its external borders can be considered . part in, close cooperation between Member States '

administrations . It could look into the possibility of laying
down rules at Community level for cooperation between
national administrations that would relieve individuals of

the obligation to take the necessary steps to cancel
registration in the Member State of origin as soon as the
vehicle has been re-registered in another Member State . At
WRITTEN QUESTION No 896 / 93 present, however, the Commission has no intention of
proposing any legislative measure in this field .

more intensive cooperation between the Community and its
neighbours along its external borders can be considered .

by Mr Jose Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 15

Subject : Administrative procedures for the re - registration

of vehicles amongst Member States

The freedom of movement, of various kinds, which is
required by the Single Market is having a particular effect on
the development of the market in second-hand cars which
are brought across frontiers from one Community Member
State to another, which requires a change of number plate
and, therefore, of the legal status of the vehicle .

However, one of the major concerns of the authorities
which deal with imports of second-hand vehicles from other
Community countries is to ensure that the vehicles in
question have been removed from the register in the country
of origin and that they are not registered in two countries at
the same time .

For this reason the authorities concerned are calling for
the appropriate notification from the corresponding
administration in the country of origin to be sent directly so
that vehicles which they register in their own country are
automatically deregistered in the country of origin .

Does the Commission think that the information contained

in the papers relating to each vehicle, registered in any
Member State, should be monitored at Community level
and that, should the vehicle be registered in another
Community country, a request for the vehicle to be
deregistered should be sent to a specific authority in the
country of origin by the authority of the country of
reception and not by the individual who imports the
vehicle ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Commission has at all times taken steps to ensure the
free movement of vehicles between Member States . More

particularly, in the case of vehicles previously registered in
another Member State, the notice of 4 November 1988 ( x )
sets out the principles to be adhered to with a view to
avoiding any infringement of Community law, and in
particular Article 30 of the EEC Treaty .

0 ) OJ No C 281, 4 . 11 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 900 / 93

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

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 1 6 )

Subject : Major crisis in the fisheries sector

In accordance with Article 22 ( 3 ) of Regulation ( EEC )
No 3759 / 92 0 ) on the common organization of the market
in fishery and aquaculture products, ' Member States shall
notify the Commission regularly of the prices of ( imported
products ) recorded on ( their ) representative markets or at

( their ) representative ports '.

According to certain French press reports ( Le Marin of
26 February 1993 ), certain Member States, including
France, have not apparently complied with the obligation to
provide the Commission with regular information at the
appropriate time on the price of such products .

Can the Commission confirm or deny this information
which, if confirmed, would shed new light on the current
crisis ?

0 ) OJ No L 388, 31 . 12 . 1992, p. 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 926 / 93

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 17 )

Subject : Controlling price levels on import and the
reference price system

For several weeks the French fisheries market has been

completely destabilized . Producer organizations are greatly
contributing to this with auction prices corresponding to the
Community withdrawal prices applied by these groups .

No C 301 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Depending on its market value, most of the merchandise is
either stored or destroyed . French fishermen are voicing
strong accusations concerning massive imports of fisheries
products from third countries .

The basic Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3759 / 92 of
17 December 1992 on the common organization of the
market in fishery and aquaculture products requires
Member States to notify the Commission for each
marketing day of the free-at-frontier price by category or
commercial characteristics of the imported products .

Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 3191 / 82 (') of
29 November 1982 lays down detailed rules for the
application of the reference price system for fishery products
at the minimum amount of information required .

1 . Can the Commission say whether all Member States are
regularly supplying this information ?

2 . If not, what arc the possible reasons for failure to do
so ?

3 . What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that the
Member States comply with the rules ?

(!) OJ No L 338, 30 . 11 . 1982, p. 13 .

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 900 / 93 and 926 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

The Commission monitors Member States ' transmission of

market data in order to ensure that the mechanisms of the

market organization for fishery products are working
satisfactorily and that Member States are discharging their
obligations .

On three occasions in 1990 the Commission was forced to

open infringement procedures against Member States for
failure to respect the rules in force . On all three occasions the
Court of Justice found for the Commission .

The Commission regularly finds certain malfunctions in
Member States ' arrangements for transmission of the
market data required under Community rules, particularly
where imports are concerned .

The Commission is accordingly trying to obtain an
improvement in the quality of the data supplied and the
rapidity of its transmission . Regular meetings have been
held with each of the Member States involved . On 21 April
1993 the Commission organized a meeting in Brussels with
the top fisheries civil servants of the Member States in the
aim of securing a substantial improvement .

The Commission is persuaded that the Member States,
aware of the importance of satisfactory data transmission,
will take every action to put right the deficiencies found .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 903 / 93

by Mrs Nel van Dijk ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 18

Subject : Safe transport of fissile material from the High

Flux Reactor in Petten ( Netherlands )

At the JRC in Petten fissile material from the USA is used in
experiments involving the High Flux Reactor . Until recently
the resulting waste was returned to its place of origin . It is
now reported that the US Administration does not intend to
take back these radioactive materials .

1 . What steps does the Commission intend to take to
ensure that the US Administration respects the
commitments into which it has entered ?

2 . What solutions does the Commission intend to adopt to
resolve the problem ?

3 . What steps has the Commission taken in the past to
ensure the safe transport of US material needed at the
Petten JRC ?

4 . What means of transport were used ?

5 . How many trips were made ?

6 . What was the cost of insuring against the risk of an
accident during transport ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

. ( 12 July 1993 )

1 and 2 . The suspension, in 1988, of the US off-site fuels
policy is a problem for all research and testing reactors . This
question has been addressed several times and at various
levels by the Commission in discussions with the American
authorities .

The Commission has been informed that the new US

administration is reviewing this question and that the
off-site fuels policy may be renewed . An official American
position is awaited .

3 . T ransportation of fissile material to or from the JRC at
Petten is normally carried out be transport firms by order of

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 9

the Commission . The transport firm is responsible for
#### obtaining the necessary licences and effecting the transport ­

in conformity with IAEA transport regulations, relevant
international conventions and national provisions . This was
also the case for the spent fuel transports from Petten to USA
in the past .

4 . The spent fuel was transported by truck and by ­
ship .

5 . During the period that spent fuel was returned to the
USA approximately two shipments per year were
performed .

6 . Transport insurance was obtained by the transport
firm and the premium included in the transport costs .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 909 / 93

by Mrs Simone Veil ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 19 )

Subject : Unavailability of statistics for island regions and

the most outlying regions

Despite the efforts made by the relevant statistical offices,
basic statistics for most island regions and the majority of
most outlying regions are still not available .

This situation is a matter of concern for those regions as the
Community is in the process of reviewing the 1988
regulations on the Structural Funds .

future ( the second volume, which includes the French
overseas departments, was published in June 1993 ).

A similar publication, ' Portrait des îles ', will appear at the
end of 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 910 / 93

by Mr Aymeri de Montesquiou Fezensac ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 20 )

Subject : Excise duties on alcoholic beverages

Aperitif wines are mainly divided into ' natural sweet wines ',
such as port, and ' liqueur wines ', such as Floe de Gascogne,
Pineau des Charentes and Macvin du Jura .

These products, which taste different but are of a similar
kind, are intended for the same type of consumer . As a result
of major efforts of renovation and control, the major
' liqueur wines ' have obtained AOC ( guaranteed origin )
status . However, although they are more difficult to
produce, they incur excise duties of FF 1 200 per hectolitre,
whereas ' natural sweet wines ' pay only FF 300 per
hectolitre, despite receiving Community aid .

Ought not the Commission to correct this 1:4 disparty that
deprives these AOC liqueur wines, which are among the best
wines we produce, of any development potential ?

Does the Commission intend to make good this deficiency
and to disseminate through Eurostat regional statistics on
the island regions and the most outlying regions in order to
enable greater account to be taken of their social and
economic situation ? Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 June 1993 )

For many years Eurostat and the national statistical offices
have been trying to improve the availability and
dissemination of statistics on the most remote regions .

The publication ' Portrait of the regions ', produced jointly
by the Commission and the national statistical offices, will
cover all the NUTS-2 regions, including the island regions
and the most remote regions . It will appear in the very near

Under Article 18 ( 4 ) of Directive 92 / 83 / EEC of 19 October

1992 ( : ) Member States specifically retain the right, subject
to certain conditions, to apply a reduced rate of duty to
natural sweet wines as defined in Article 13 ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4252 / 88 ( 2 ).

This provision was recently adopted by the Council after
long and difficult negociations .

The French reduced rate applied for natural sweet wines
meets the conditions laid down .

No C 301 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

On the question of similarity raised by the Honourable the working methods employed hitherto, or will it take
Member, the Commission will request more information account of initial experience ?
from the French authorities .

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

( 2 ) OJ No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1988 .
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 915 / 93

After the 1992 pilot phase, the Phare democracy

Roumeliotis ( S ) programme will continue and, the Commission hopes,
of the European Communities expand in the years to come . The experience of the pilot

phase, combined with results of monitoring and evaluation,

2.7 April 1993 )

will influence the operation of the programme in the
( 93 / C 301 / 21 future .

by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2.7 April 1993 )

Subject : Communications problems in the Dodecanese and

Cyclades

In the winter the islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese
have serious communications problems both between the
islands themselves and with the capital because sea and air
services are totally inadequate .

How does the Commission intend to tackle this

problem ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( IS July 1993 )

As stated in the Commission report (*) on the Greek islands
in the Aegean Sea, under the Community support
framework for Greece ( 1989 — 93 ) financial assistance from
the Structural Funds is already being provided to help
implement a combination of measures aimed at reducing the
relative isolation of the Aegean islands .

The Commission considers that this relative isolation

continues to hinder the development of the islands and that
steps should be taken henceforth to bolster the measures
currently aimed at improving the situation .

(!) Doc . COM(92 ) 569 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 918 / 93

by Mrs Raymonde Durv ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 22 )

Criteria and management arrangements are currently being
reviewed by the Commission with a view to its decision on

1993 financing for a new Phare democracy programme with
an increased budget . A new call for proposals is envisaged
for July 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 934 / 93

by Mr Ian White ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 23 )

Subject : Multifibre Arrangement

Would the Commission advise whether the EC is prepared
to remove the possibility of Multifibre Arrangement quotas
from Bangladesh, as the only country on the UN 's list of
' least developed countries ' affected by the MFA ?
Bangladesh has few industries, and the uncertainty of a
steady future market is hampering the development of the
clothing / textiles sector .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member

to its answer to Written Question No 83 / 93 by Mrs
Pollack ( M.

Subject : Follow-up to the Phare programme (M OJ No C 283, 20 . 10 . 1993, p. 36 .

Is the Phare programme to continue ? If so, has its budget
already been established ? Will the decision-making body use

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 11

WRITTEN QUESTION No 935 / 93

by Mr Ian White ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

93 / C 301 / 24

Subject : Banana imports to the EC

Would the Commission advise what monitoring system has
been set up for the recent agreement to allow Caribbean
bananas into Europe duty free, while Latin American
bananas will face import taxes ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the

setting up of the common organization of the market in
bananas requires the adoption of a number of detailed rules,
particularly concerning the management of import
arrangements . These provisions are currently being drawn
up . They will be adopted by the Commission under the
Management Committee procedure and published in the

Official Journal of the European Communities before 1 July
1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 943 / 93

by Mr Jas Gawronski ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 25 )

Subject : Access to the profession of skiing instructor :

arrangements for application of the Directive on a
second general system for the recognition of
professional education and training

Given the geographical similarities between the countries of
the Alpine arc ( Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and
Austria ) their traditional enthusiasm for winter sports and
their comparable experience in this field, the ski instructors '
associations in these countries have adopted a common
position on the application of the principle of mutual
recognition of diplomas in ski instruction . According to this
agreement, anyone with a top level professional diploma

obtained in one of the countries involved may work as an
instructor in any of the other countries . Ski instructors who
have obtained top level diplomas in other Member States
wishing to work in one of the ' Alpine arc ' countries have to
pass the tests set by those countries according to their
training system .

1 . Does the Commission consider this approach to be in
line with Directive 92 / 51 / EEC ( ] ) on a second general
system for the recognition of professional education and
training to supplement Directive 89 / 48 / EEC ( 2 ), in
particular Article 5, Chapter IV ?

2 . If not, how is it possible to safeguard the principle of
freedom to provide services, and to this end the mutual
recognition of diplomas, while ensuring maximum
quality of service for consumers in a sport where safety is
of paramount importance ?

(!) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992, p . 25 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989, p . 19 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

Arrangements between Member States and other Alpine
countries based on their common Alpine traditions and
aimed at aligning training for ski instructors are by no means
contrary to Community law and may, by their very nature,
promote the free movement of such instructors . They must
not :, of course, contain any clauses which discriminate
against Community nationals who hold a diploma in ski
instruction issued by a Member States situated outside the
Alp>ine area .

At Community level, recognition of professional
qualifications is governed by Directive 92 / 51 / EEC, to which
the Honourable Member refers . This Directive must be

incorporated into Member States ' national law by 18 June

1994 . Like Directive 89 / 48 / EEC on a general system, it
purposely disregards the coordination of training . It does
not, therefore, prevent Member States from changing
training standards .

Diplomas in sky instruction most likely fall within the scope
of the defintion of ' attestation of competence ' ( see Articles 1

( c ) and 8 ). A Member State requiring an attestation of
competence may not refuse to authorize a Community
national to take up and pursue a profession if the applicant
holds an attestation of competence for the same profession
issued by another Member State or provides proof of other
qualifications obtained in another Member State . Those
qualifications must, however, give guarantees which are
equivalent to those of the qualifications of the host Member
State . Among the criteria for assessing the equivalence of
guarantees, the Directive mentions in particular health,

No C 301 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

safety, environmental protection and consumer protection .
This should, therefore, allay the Honourable Member 's
fears .

It is also pointed out that discussions are under way with a
view to applying Directive 92 / 51 / EEC to the European
Economic Area under the interim arrangement . Austria
would, therefore, also be covered .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 945 / 93

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

apply levels of duty up to ECU 22 lower in certain defined
geographical areas .

The Directive does not contain any provision for an upper
limit . As long as the actual rates of duty charged are equal to
or above the levels specified, the Commission considers that
the actions of the Member State concerned are in conformity
with Community law . It is entirely a matter for Greece to
decide whether is wishes to apply a reduced rate as
permitted by Article 9.2 of the Directive in question .

( 93 / C 301 / 26 WRITTEN QUESTION No 949 / 93

Subject : Approximation of the rates of excise duties on

mineral oils

Council Directive 92 / 82 / EEC ( ! ) of 19 October 1992 on the
approximation of rates of excise duties on mineral oils
contains a provision on favourable rates of duty ( Article 9 )
on gas oil used as propellant and on petrol consumed in the
departments of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, the Dodecanese and
the Cyclades and on the islands of Thasos, North Sporades,
Samothrace and Skyros . The Greek Parliament has rejected
an amendment which would have allowed such concessions

on the grounds that these islands might thus be turned into
fuel smuggling centres .

Given that :

1 . because of the scattered nature of these outlying island
regions the cost of transporting fuel is higher,

2 . it is possible to allow certain Member States to apply
lower rates of duty to products consumed in particular
regions of their territory, and

3 . the Association of Local Authorities of the Dodecanese

is calling for the application of reduced rates of duty for
economic and development reasons,

does the Commission know or does it intend to ask the

Greek Government what reasons prompted it not to go
ahead with the tax concessions for the Aegean islands, and
does it believe that the argument about possible smuggling is
justified ?

( 1 ) OJ No L 316, . 31 . 10 . 1992, p . 19 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 27 )

Subject : ' Puppy world ' travelling show

Several sources in Italy warn that the travelling show ' Puppy
world ' is to use puppies imported from eastern Europe
without any controls or vaccinations, thus posing a danger
to the lives of the animals and the risk of infection .

What controls are effectively in place to prevent the illegal
trade in animals from eastern Europe into the
Community ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

With the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom
which require a lengthy quarantine period, all Member
States require dogs imported from third countries to be
accompanied by a veterinary health certificate showing,
among other things, that they have had an up to date rabies
vaccination .

The controls under which dogs are currently imported into
the Community are laid down in Commission Decision
93 / 79 / EEC of 22 December 1992 ( M.

(3 August 1993 )
(!) OJ No L 30, 6 . 2 . 1993 .

Council Directive 92 / 82 / EEC sets minimum rates of excise

duty on a range of mineral oils . Article 9.2 permits Greece to

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 13

WRITTEN QUESTION No 954 / 93

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 28 )

Subject : Situation in Outer Mongolia

Unofficially considered the ' sixteenth province ' of the USSR
for 70 years, Outer Mongolia now has to do without the fuel
and spare parts which used to come from beyond the Urals

( this is particularly difficult in winter ); it is also lacking
foreign currency . The country is formally governed by a
reconstituted Communist Party, but real power is wielded
by a motley collection of multiethnic entrepreneurs putting
together bogus contracts and by hack ideologists .

The Mongolian bourgeouis party made a disappointing
showing at the recent polls but its leaders, and notably Mr
Dargalsaikhan, have announced their intention of replacing
local culture by rock'n'roll and having the country colonized
— or perhaps only leased out — for a minimum of 50 years
through the USA and / or the UK . The theories of Mr Milton
Friedman are steadily gaining ground, albeit in a curiously
garbled version .

I should like to say how much I respect the work undertaken
by conscientious international officials who do what they
can in difficult circumstances . Will the Commission give its
views on the volume of aid it has granted and the nature of
this aid, the distribution channels, the scandalous organized
corruption involving national and international crime
networks and the urgent need for a ' code of conduct ' for
investors and pseudo-investors who are EC nationals ?

contribution to the WPF International Emergency Food
Reserve .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 959 / 93

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 29 )

Subject : SAVE energy programme and Community
islands

According to Commission data, Community island regions
have so far failed to receive any funding under the SAVE
programme, an exceptionally important energy
programme . This is particularly unfortunate in view of the
serious energy problems facing Community islands ( poor
energy infrastructures, unstable energy supplies,
disproportionately high energy costs, exceptionally low
energy productivity, etc ). What specific measures does the
Commission intend to take to help Community islands
benefit from the SAVE programme, possibly giving them
priority status ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

To date no energy efficiency projects have been received
which relate to Community islands ( other than Ireland ). Of
course SAVE would be a suitable vehicle for energy
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan efficiency projects from islands and it is to be hoped that in

behalf of the Commission the near future some such projects will be received .

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

The European Commission has approved ECU 2,3 million
over three years for an aid project strengthening veterinarian
services in Mongolia . A small pilot solar panel project
costing ECU 80 000 has been initiated . A seminar on
transforming a centralized economy into a market economy
was organized in June 1992, at Maastricht, for 10 high-level

officials from Mongolia, and a further three officials are
presently visiting Brussels in order to acquaint themselves
with the operation of the Community institutions .

These projects have been selected and managed in
conformity with the normal principles and modalities
applied by the Commission in its aid programme and in line
with the European Parliament 's resolution . The
Commission examines thoroughly all concrete evidence of
efforts to subvert those principles in particular cases .

The Commission has also requested the WFP to make
available 4 000 tonnes of wheat flour under the C ommunity

WRITTEN QUESTION No 965 / 93

by Mr Reimer Boge ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 30 )

Subject : Difficulties at internal Community borders

A German citizen resident in Germany with a second
residence in Denmark, where she studies, was prevented by
the Danish authorities from entering Denmark with a car
registered in Germany .

This German EC citizen was told that she had to drive a

Danish-registered car in Denmark and a German-registered
car in Germany, switching cars at the border .

No C 301 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

She was threatened with a pecuniary fine in the event of a
recurrence . This high-handed manner of behaving discredits
the internal market . The conduct of the Danish authorities is
in clear breach of the judgment of the European Court of
Justice of October 1985 in Case 249 / 84 i 1 ) ( Ministere public

and the Ministry of Finance v. Venceslas Profant ).

How does the Commission assess the conduct of the Danish

authorities against the background of this judgment ?

In the Commission 's opinion, does the conduct of the
Danish authorities breach the desired freedom of movement

within the internal market ?

What action does the Commission propose to take to assist
the citizens concerned as quickly as possible ?

(!) OJ No C 277, 29 . 10 . 1985, p. 9 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that

the general principle of Community fiscal legislation is that
vehicles temporarily imported by students are exempted
from tax in the Member State in which the study takes place,
if the vehicle is registered in the normal country of
residence .

However, under the relevant Directive, Denmark is allowed
to maintain its usual rules in connection with normal

residence according to which any person, including a
student, is regarded as having his normal residence in
Denmark if he lives there for a year or 365 days in a period of
24 months .

On the basis of the information provided by the Honourable
Member the Commission is not in a position to determine
whether or not the student in question is entitled to the tax
exemption . The Commission would therefore request the
Honourable Member to provide more details in order that it
may conduct the necessary examination .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 967 / 93

by Mr Reimer Boge ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

Practical experience of increasing the mesh size for
individual species and particular fishing grounds ( for
example, the 55° limit for sole and the dropping of the
75 mm mesh ) also shows that it is not possible to protect
resources merely by increasing mesh size, unless engine
horsepower is also monitored and reduced .

What action does the Commission propose to ensure that
there is at least a thorough-going check on the horsepower
of engines used at sea ?

Does the Commission see any possibility, for example by
restricting the weight of the boom trawl in relation to the
vessel 's horsepower, thus limiting the trawling speed, of
putting a stop to the current practice of ploughing up the
seabed ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 June 1993 )

At present there are no feasible means of checking the real
power of a ship 's engine during inspections at sea . The
verification of engine power is done using the official
documents or certificates issued by the competent authority .
The Commission intends to contribute financially to the
development of a system to measure torque on the
transmission between engine and propeller . This would
enable continuous monitoring of the real power of the
engine .

The Commission does not plan to regulate the weight of the
beam trawl in relation to the power of the engine . Regarding
technical measures to protect fishing resources, the
restriction of the overall length of the boom for certain types
of fishing in particular fishing zones reduces the weight of
the boom trawl .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 968 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 32 )

( 29 April 1993 )

Subject : Development projects in India
( 93 / C 301 / 31

Subject : Fisheries policy

Fishing boats powered by engines of more than 300 hp

( 221 KW ) and equipped with boom trawls are not allowed
to fish in the ' flat - fish box ' of the German Bay in the second
and third quarters of the year .

In reply to an earlier question to the Commission ( Written
Question No 2209 / 90 ( J )) on whether it shares the opinion
of the World Bank that a ' safety net ' for the poor should be
created in the form of a national employment policy
according to the model implemented in Maharashtra, the
Commission states that ' the right to work is at present a very
burning issue and ... an element in the debate on internal

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 15

policy that should be treated with a certain
cautiousness '.

1 . Is the Commission informed that the majority of the
workers in the Employment Guarantee Scheme in
Maharashtra are women and that the scheme is

increasingly combined with conservation and
regeneration of natural resources, on which the poor

( women ) in particular are dependant for their
survival ?

Is the Commission willing to give a lot of weight to these
factors in taking a decision on possible support to new
employment guarantee schemes ?

2 . A few months ago the central Indian Government
recommended the States to adopt an employment
programme along the lines of the Maharashtra
Employment Guarantee Scheme . Given this unequivocal
position on the part of the Indian Government, what is
the opinion of the Commission on the desirability of EC
support to new employment guarantee programmes, if
requested by one or more States ?

(!) OJ No C 85, 28 . 3 . 1991, p. 31 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 969 / 93

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

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 33 )

Subject : Development projects in India

In letters written to the European Federation of Agricultural
Labourers ( EFA ) and the India Committee of the
Netherlands, ' the Commission welcomes the new Indian
policies to rely more on private sector initiatives for
economic development ' and further states that ' rural
poverty alleviation and the creation of rural employment
opportunities will, in this way, continue to be a priority in
EC-India cooperation '.

1 . Is it correct to infer from these statements that the

Commission holds the opinion that poverty alleviation
and promoting employment in India can only be reached
through reliance on market forces, or does the
Commission instead hold the opinion that, to this end,
strong complementary government policies are also
needed and, in effect, both market forces and
government have a role to play ?

2 . Does the Commission share the opinion that male and
female agricultural labourers ( including marginal
farmers ), who constitute approximately 7.5 % of the
people in India living below the poverty line, should be
the most important target of the European
Community 's development cooperation with India ?

3 . What is the Commission 's opinion of the Employment

Guarantee Scheme in Maharashtra and the considered

opinion of a large number of NGOs, economists, social
scientists and policy makers in India that implementing a
similar programme, with the necessary improvements,
in other parts of the country could alleviate poverty,
create productive assets and regenerate the environment
on a large scale ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 970 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 34 )

Subject : Development projects in India

1 . Is the Commission informed that the Government of

the Netherlands in the beginning of 1992 fielded a joint
Indo-Dutch fact-finding mission to the States of Andhra
Pradesh and Gujarat, which came to the conclusion that
there are possibilities to work towards employment
guarantee in a number of districts, as a first step towards the
introduction of an employment guarantee scheme at State
level ? Is the Commission informed that the Government of

the Netherlands is willing to share the mission report
(' Towards employment guarantee ') with other donors ? If
so, does the Commission have a copy of the report and did it
study it ? If not, is the Commission interested in obtaining a
copy ?

2 . Is the Commission informed that during the Aid India
Consortium of both 1991 and 1992 the Dutch Government

sounded out other donors about their interest in possible
joint financing of employment guarantee programmes ? Is
the Commission willing to positively consider the request of
the Dutch Government with regard to possible multi-donor
support to new employment guarantee programmes ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 971 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 35 )

Subject : Development projects in India

Is the Commission informed :

— that the Government of the State of Tamil Nadu has

announced a new programme for assured employment

No C 301 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

— to start with in four drought-prone districts — which
will be started in April 1993

that the Government of Tamil Nadu might be interested
in foreign donor support to this programme

that around 40 NGOs want this scheme to be extended

to all drought-hit districts in the State

that these NGOs want to be closely involved in the
implementation of the scheme and

that they also welcome foreign support to the
scheme ?

Is the Commission willing to positively consider a possible
request for support to the new employment guarantee
scheme by the Government and NGOs of Tamil Nadu, and
is the Commission willing to ascertain whether such support
would be desirable and feasible ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 972 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 36 )

Subject : Development projects in India

Is the Commission informed that the Government of

Maharashtra might be interested in financial assistance for
innovative sub-schemes of its Employment Guarantee
Scheme, including schemes for water conservation and
watershed development ?

Is the Commission, taking into consideration its present
financial support to several watershed development projects
in India, willing to positively consider a request for support
to these innovative sub-schemes of the Maharashtra

Employment Guarantee Scheme ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

Nos 968 / 93 to 972 / 93

given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

The Honourable Member 's five questions refer to the
Commission 's targeting of development assistance in India
for poverty alleviation through guaranteed employment .

The Commission has received more than a thousand letters

from organizations and individuals in Europe and India,
calling on it to support the extention to other States of the
system of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme .
Most of these letters either ( a ) carry the same text as
proposed in a telexed action by the Reseau-Solidarite of
France in which this organization proposes that its
supporters should write to the French Government and the
Commission asking both to study the Maharashtra
Employment Guarantee Scheme with the objective of
introducing it in the other States, or ( b ) support a campaign
' work against poverty ' by the Indian Committee of the
Netherlands in favour of expanding the Employment
Guarantee Scheme and cancelling interest on external loans
for development . The last point of course does not apply
since Community aid is provided as grants .

The Commission is therefore well aware of the campaigns
by these European organizations for the improvement of the
position of the rural poor and for support of employment
guarantee schemes .

The Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme sets out
to offer a minimum number of days work to certain
categories of rural poor especially in drought prone areas .
This work is used to create or improve capital assets ( e.g.
small scale irrigation, road maintenance ). Several reviews
have been carried out and opinions are divided on the
quality of the works, but important assets have certainly
been created .

Since the scheme was started in Maharashtra in 1974, the
cumulative cost to the government has been Rs 25 billion,
roughly equivalent to ECU 1 billion . The financial
implications of a significant expansion of the scheme are
therefore very large in comparison with the resources
available from the Community 's development aid

programme .

During the course of the scheme in Maharashtra, the
number of days employment generated in the peak
pre-monsoon period ( March — May ) has fallen from a peak
of some 900 000 days to about 350 000 ( 1990 / 91 ). The
reasons for this are not completely clear, though it is in part
due to a decision in 1988 to fix the wage rate at the
minimum agricultural rate which was above the market
rate . As a result the available days had to be reduced and
access to the scheme restricted . However, recent reports
indicate that there may also have been a voluntary decline in
attendance . The scheme is essentially one of supplementary
support to family income . It has provided only 7 % of total
family earnings of participants as compared to 19 % earned
through seasonal migration . Some 40 % of those who had
previously worked on the scheme had discontinued,
choosing to migrate to urban areas instead .

The scheme has also been criticized because it has not been

absorbed into the local planning process, and visiting
missions have reported that it is resisted in some States . The
reasons include the difficulties in raising the huge sums of
money required in States already in deficit and the problems

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 17

of equity in distribution and organization control and
monitoring .

While the scheme remains a possible additional
development mechanism, the techniques of implementation
are still being developed . The principle of ' guaranteed
work ', if accepted, has financial implications which are large
compared with the resources available and which are too
large for widespread implementation at present .

The Commission is aware of the position of the Netherlands
authorities . The Commission 's understanding is that the
Netherlands is watching development but is not, at present
contemplating leading a multi-national intervention in
support of the scheme .

India is already one of the major beneficiaries of the
Community 's aid, which is mainly provided through
financial and technical cooperation and targeted at the
poorest sections of the population in the rural areas .
Community development projects have funded cyclone and
flood protection, domestic water supply, irrigation, land
reclamation, watershed protection and management,
agricultural development, storage and marketing . These
projects have themselves created many jobs both during
construction and in their continuing operation .

In addition, the Community 's economic cooperation is
aimed at strengthening India 's institutional capacity, and
making its economic environment more favourable to
business and investment . The Community is thereby
supporting, within its means, the new Indian policies to rely
more on private sector initiatives as a vehicle for economic
development . This will lead to better and more sustainable
job opportunities in viable activities which should be the
basis of improving permanently the living conditions of the
poor in India .

Poverty in India is, however, also a problem of numbers and
limited national resources . India 's population of about 860
million people is increasing annually at about 2,1 % or 18
million per year and has to be fed from an already
over-exploited environment . Reliance on short-term
measures such as simple employment schemes to feed and
activate the poor will aggravate future problems unless
accompanied by family planning and education policies .
While the application of welfare-based funds through the

Employment Guarantee Scheme may benefit many, the
present strategy is for development cooperation with India
to be directed to long-lasting projects with a strong element
of sustainability .

Hence, the Commission is paying increasing attention to the
needs of education for the poor, especially women, with the
objective of attacking the poverty problem from the point of
view of demographic constraints .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 974 / 93

by Mr Ian White ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 37

Subject : Eurocheques

Is the Commission aware that in terms of domestic

European transactions certain British banks charge a high
commission for processing Eurocheques, i.e. cheques drawn
on a domestic UK bank in another EC currency ? Whilst it is
understood that each bank may well have its own method of
charging, does the Commission have a particular policy with
regard to Eurocheques in terms of the Single Market and the
necessity to have the fabled level playing field in these
matters ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Commission is not aware of the situation described by
the Honourable Member, namely that British banks are
allegedly charging their customers a high commission when
they issue Eurocheques in other Member States .

In 1980 the system of commissions chargeable on
Eurocheques issued abroad was the subject of a ' package
deal ' Agreement, which covered interbank commissions
only . In its decision of 10 December 1984, the Commission
had exempted this Agreement from the ban in Article 85 ( 1 )
of the EEC Treaty ( 1 ). The Agreement provided, in
particular, for the drawee bank to pay to the payee bank
interbank commission of a maximum of 1,25 % — later
raised to 1,6% . In its decision, the Commission had made it
clear that the extent to which this interbank commission

was passed on to the cheque issuer was left to the discretion
of his bank .

The question of whether the exemption can be renewed is
still being examined by the Commission ( 2 ).

As far as the Commission is aware, there is no agreement
between United Kingdom banks on the level of charges
payable by customers who issue Eurocheques abroad . If
there were such an agreement, it would be caught by the ban
of Article 85 ( 1 ). Such was the case of an agreement between
French banks ( the Helsinki Agreement ) on the amount of
commission which they charged to their commercial
customers paying in foreign Eurocheques for
collection ( 3 ).

(!) OJ No L 35, 7 . 2 . 1985 .

( 2 ) IP(90 ) 765, 26 . 9 . 1990 .

( 3 ) Decision of 25 March 1992, OJ No L 95, 9 . 4 . 1992 .

No C 301 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 977 / 93

by the following membres : Mr Franco Borgo, Ferruccio
Pisoni, Nino Pisoni, Agostino Mantovani, Giuseppe
Mottola and Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 38 )

Subject : Epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in Italy

Having regard to the fact that Italy is suffering from a
large-scale epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, which has
affected much of the country and involves a considerable
number of cattle and farms,

mindful of the serious damage which the infection is causing
in regions in which agriculture is already facing a situation
of great difficulty that is compelling the authorities to order,
inter alia, the slaughter of cattle affected by the disease and
the closure of agricultural markets and fairs where live
animals are present,

whereas it has been established that the disease did not

originate locally but was introduced by cattle from T urkey,
Croatia and other countries of eastern Europe which do not
impose the necessary animal health controls,

Does the Commission

1 . not consider that is should halt imports of cattle from
countries such as those mentioned above which do not

impose the necessary health checks ?

2 . not consider that it should increase veterinary checks at
borders to prevent infected animals from entering
Community territory ?

3 . not intend to reintroduce the mandatory preventive
vaccination of animals in view of the very damaging
effects of abandoning all preventive measures ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

The Commission has carefully followed the events relating
to the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Italy,
first reported on 28 February 1993 .

Initial information suggested that the animals which may
have brought the disease with them had been imported from
Croatia . Pending investigation, the Commission, on
5 March, introduced a prohibition on the importation of
animals and products from the ex Yugoslav Republics, as a
precautionary measure . This was followed on 7 April by a
more general ban covering all east European countries,
made necessary by a lack of confidence in the quality of

veterinary certification there, which had resulted in
unilateral action by several Member States .

After investigation, the origin of the infection is still obscure .
The virus has been found to be of Middle East type, seen in
Oman in 1991 and, more recently, in Israel . It is not the
same as strains found in Turkey .

It has been possible to trace back the consignment of
animals in question to the Czech Republic via Hungary,
Slovakia and Slovenia . It is possible that they did not come
from or even pass through Croatia, although they were
presented at the Italian border with Croatian health
certificates . Community inspection teams have visited these
countries, and are satisfied that the disease is not present
there . The investigation is continuing .

This episode has highlighted the need to reappraise
certification and border controls . This has now been done,
and several eastern European countries have agreed to a
reinforced system, involving quarantine and testing of live
animals and pre-notification of consignments . This system
was introduced, for the countries which agreed, by
Commission Decision 92 / 242 / EEC of 30 April 1993 . The
effectiveness of the new system will be checked by the
Commission 's veterinary inspection service .

Concerning a return to routine revaccination, especially for
foot-and-mouth disease, the cost of the present series of
outbreaks is approximately ECU 4 million, of which 70 %
will be reimbursed by the Community . This is in contrast
with the previous annual cost of vaccination of about ECU

130 million in the Community . Furthermore, experience in
the past did not demonstrate that the number of secondary
outbreaks was reduced by the vaccination policy, where it
was operated . The Italian authorities have demonstrated
convincingly that they are capable of controlling the disease
without recourse to vaccination, and are to be congratulated
on their success . There can be no justification, therefore, for
a return to routine vaccination .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 988 / 93

by Mr Georgios Anastassopoulos ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 )

93 / C 301 / 39

Subject : Equal treatment of Commission officials

The data provided by the Commission in reply to my
Written Question No 2563 / 92 ( x ) would indicate that to

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 19

achieve a geographical balance between the Member States
with populations of 10 million or slightly more such as
Greece, Belgium, Portugal and Holland, approximately 10
officials from each country should have been promoted
from Grade A4 to A3 over the 1 0 - year period between 1982
and 1992 .

In fact, the Commission 's table shows that 49 officials of
these nationalities were promoted but that there were 14
times more Belgians ( 27 ) than Greeks ( 2 ) and seven times
more Belgians than Portuguese ( 4 ). Even though Greece
became a member of the Community in 1981 and Portugal
in 1986, the discrepancy is striking even if we also take into
account the advantage of Belgium being the Commission 's
headquarters . The appointment of two Greeks as temporary
A3 officials does not substantially change the balance, while
it worsens the situation for Greek permanent Commission
officials . If we are to take the Commission at face value

when it says that its officials are employed following
rigorous examinations and that therefore there are no
officials who in terms of nationality are more competent
than others, how does the Commission explain the unequal
treatment of officials of different nationalities which is

contrary to Article 7 of the EEC Treaty ?

What measures will it take to eliminate or at least

appreciably curtail this unacceptable disparity ?

(!) OJ No C 127, 7 . 5 . 1993, p. 21

76 / 464 / EEC (*), concerning discharges of sewage to surface
waters ?

This was being considered under procedure A9 1 / 785
concerning the case, among others, of the pollution of the
River Trent below Stoke Bardolph sewage works .

(!) OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976, p. 23 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

The 10th report on the control of the application of
Community law ( ! ) describes the Commission 's action in
various areas, including the prevention of water
pollution .

The infringement procedure cited by the Honourable
Member has not reached the stage at which publicity is given

( delivery of reasoned opinion ). The Commission informed
the Honourable Member of the existence of this

infringement procedure as it was relevant to a complaint he
submitted about the pollution of the River Trent . The
Commission will keep the Honourable Member informed of
developments concerning his complaint .

0 ) COM(93 ) 320 .
Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

Most A3 posts are filled by transfer or internal promotion
following publication of a vacancy notice for a specific post .
Appointments are made on merit on the basis of the
candidates ' qualifications for the post .

The Commission does not share the Honourable Member 's

view that there has been unequal treatment of officials of
different nationalities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 991 / 93

by Mr Kenneth Coates ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 40

Subject : Discharges of sewage to surface waters

What is there to report on the action by the Com mission
against the UK Government for possible breach of Directive

WRITTEN QUESTION No 992 / 93

by Mr Anthony Simpson ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 41

Subject : Deaths and injuries from fires in motor vehicles

An alarming number of deaths and injuries occur as a result
of motor vehicles, and particularly motor cars and coaches,
catching fire as a result of an impact or though mechanical
or electrical faults .

1 . What steps has the Commission taken, or will it take, to

reduce the causes of motor vehicles catching fire, in
particular, by laying down safety standards in their
construction ?

2 . Will the Commission obtain statistics from the Member

States relating to the incidence of fires in motor vehicles
and to the number of people thereby killed and
injured ?

No C 301 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

1 . The answer to the first part of this question was given
when the Honourable Member tabled it as Question No

H-701 / 92 0 ).

2 . The Commission understands that about 1 % of

vehicle fires leads to loss of life and about 1 % of all fatalities

to car passengers are attributable to fire . It does not plan to
obtain further statistics from the Member States relating to
the incidence of fires in motor vehicles and to the number of

people thereby killed or injured .

( ! ) European Parliament debates No 3-420 ( July 1992 ).

Urban Waste Disposal which Germany is planning to
introduce, for example — that effectively prescribe quite
specific technologies in practice and would make it
impossible for new technologies to be introduced in the
foreseeable future ?

6 . How does the Commission believe the Member States

might be persuaded at present to formulate national
legislation in such a way as to permit the introduction of
unconventional waste disposal technology ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

1 . The Commission 's knowledge of the Thermoselect
process derives exclusively from publications in journals
and newspapers . The company operating the plant using
this process in Italy ( Fondotoce at Lake Maggiore ) has been
asked to provide the Commission with details of the process
and, in particular, of the resulting emissions into the
environment .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1003 / 93

by Mr Siegbert Alber ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

2 . The Joint Research Centre at Ispra has started

of the European Communities technical discussions with the operator of the plant . The

(3 May 1993 ) results examinations of these . discussions may have to be supplemented by

( 93 / C 301 / 42 )

(3 May 1993 )

Subject : Waste disposal by the Thermoselect proces ;

For some time a waste disposal plant in Verbania on Lake
Maggiore in Italy has been using the Thermoselect process .
This new technology combines three conventional processes
— compression, low-temperature carbonization and gas
scrubbing — and findings so far indicate that it produces far
smaller quantities of harmful residues and sulphur dioxide
than conventional incinerators, even where they use the
latest technology .

1 . Does the Commission have any information on the
advantages and disadvantages of this plant ?

2 . Has the Community institution Ispra, which devotes
much ' of its time to environmental research, been
instructed to evaluate this technology ?

3 . Can the Commission say when more accurate
information on harmful emissions during continuous
operation will be available ?

4 . If the results are as positive as currently assumed, will
the Commission recommend or prescribe the use of this
technology in the Member States ?

5 . How does the Commission view the problem raised by
national standards — the Technical Guidelines for

3 . The Commission does not yet have the necessary
information . The operational aspects of this plant

( regarding the nature of emissions and plant performance )
will be examined .

4 . Directives proposed by the Commission and adopted
by the Council set objectives to be achieved, in particular in
the field of environmental protection ; the measures to
achieve the objectives are left to the Member States .
Therefore specific techniques, e . g . to treat waste thermally

(= incineration ) are neither recommended nor imposed by
the Commission . The objectives proposed, however, are
based on use of the Best Available Technology ( BAT ). The
Thermoselect process will be taken into account if it is
considered BAT following the examinations carried out by

experts .

5 . In Germany limits are based on the Best Available
Technology . Since these values are reviewed regularly in the
light of continual technological development, the
Commission feels that the approach referred to does not
pose any problems .

6 . In accordance with a number of directives, national
legislation lays down limits for emissions . Any technology,
even of an unconventional nature, which observes these
limits is therefore implicitly authorized .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1011 / 93

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1 993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 43 )

Subject : Transport of live animals

1 . Is the Commission satisfied that the EC legislation on
this topic is adequate for the task ?

2 . Which categories of live animal may now be
transporte legally between Member States ?

3 . Is the Commission satisfied that this legislation is
sufficiently and thoroughly enforced throughout the
European Community ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July J 993 )

1 . Council Directive 91 / 628 / EEC on the protection of
animals during transport ( 1 ) applies to the transport of
animals between, to and from Member States, with the
exception of journeys of under 50 kilometres, the transport
of pet animals accompanied by their owner and the
transport of animals to and from seasonal grazing . The
Commission will shortly put forward proposals which will
take into account both Internal Market and animal welfare

aspects during transport .

2 . All categories of live animal may be transported legally
between Member States, except in cases where temporary
restrictions may have to be applied for animal health

reasons .

3 . No . The Commission continues to receive reports of
breaches of the legislation . Measures are currently being
considered with a view to providing regulatory authorities
with more effective means of enforcement .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

Patulin is a mycotoxin with antimicrobial effects which is
produced normally by several species of fungi which are
responsible for the spoilage of apples . The primary source of
dietary esposure to patulin is through the consumption of
rotted apples or fruit juice produced with these apples .

Limits for patulin in foodstuffs are not laid down at
Community level at present . The Commission will study
with Member States the need to establish Community
maximum levels for all contaminants including patulin in
foodstuffs, in the framework of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 93 / 315 ( ] ) of 8 February 1993 laying down Community
procedures for contaminants in food .

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 93 / 315 states in its
Article 2(2 ) that contaminant levels should be kept as low as
can reasonably be achieved by following good practices at
all stages of production and processing .

Patulin has not yet been evaluated by the Scientific
Committee for Food . However, the Joint FAO / WHO
Expert Committee on Food Additives ( JECFA ) evaluated
patulin in 1989 . On the basis of a combined
reproduction / long-term carcinogenicity study in rats it
established a provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake ( PTWI )
for patulin of 7 microgram / kg of body weight and
recommended studies be carried out to allow further

evaluation of the substance .

JECFA considered that ' efforts should be made to avoid

breaches of the legislation . Measures are currently being unnecessary exposure to this mycotoxin by adherence to
considered with a view to providing regulatory authorities good manufacturing practices whereby rotted or mouldy
with more effective means of enforcement . fruit is not used . This should reduce dietary exposure to

levels below the PTWI . The Committee urged the
0 ) OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991 . application of such practices '.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1021 / 93

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 44 )

In accordance with Council Directive 75 / 726 / EEC ( 2 ) on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning
fruit juices and certain similar products, all fruit used in the
production of such products must be sound and free from
deterioration . Compliance with this requirement will
minimize the risk of exposure of consumers to this
contaminant .

(') OJ No L 37, 13 . 2 . 1993 .

Subject : Patulin and human health ( 2 ) OJ No L 311, 1 . 12 . 1975 .

Are there any limits laid down at Community level for the
amounts of the poison patulin which may be consumed
before human health is harmed ?

No C 301 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1026 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 45

Subject : Transportation of plutonium nitrate — Security of

transport

Has the Commission sought assurance from the United
Kingdom that the sea transportation option currently
adopted for the carriage of plutonium nitrate is the optimum
choice when all factors are considered, including
environmental impact, acceptable risk to members of the
public, and security of the shipment from malicious acts ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

During the regular meetings of the Commission 's Standing
Working Group on the Transport of Radioactive Materials,
events such as important transports of plutonium are
discussed with the Member States concerned .

Special attention is given to the uniform approach in the
application of international standards .

Environmental impact, risk to members of the public, and
security are considered along with other effects when
deciding the mode of transport .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1034 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 46 )

Subject : Tacis programme

Will the Commission make a full statement updating
activities undertaken since 27 November 1992 on the

Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent
States and Georgia ( TACIS ) programme ? What positive and
negative lessons have been learned to date from the
operation of the Tacis programme ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Tacis activities of the years 1991 and 1 992 are described
in detail in the Tacis annual report, which is being made
available to the Parliament .

Under the new Tacis Regulation, a report of activities will be
made available to the European Parliament every six
months .

This will include the lessons learnt and the adaptation of the
programme to past experiences .

Furthermore, the REX Committee of the European
Parliament held a public hearing on Phare and Tacis on 8
and 9 June 1993, at which all developments were discussed
extensively .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1038 / 93

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 47 )

Subject : Inter-institutional European Centre ( IEC ) at 54

Dennenboslaan, B-3090 Overijse

Since approximately 1972 the Commission has owned a
sports centre at Overijse in the outer Brussels area . The
centre is ' inter-institutional ' as the running costs are shared
between the Commission, the Council, the ESC and
Parliament on an equitable basis .

There are various substantial problems at the centre, the
main results of which have been that it is used less, its debts
have increased, and its staff have become demoralized .

At the root of these problems lies the lack of a decision on
the future of the centre ( buildings policy ). Consequently the
infrastructure has steadily deteriorated, and any repairs
carried out have only been a temporary patching-up . And,
incredible as it seems, the bar and restaurant of this sports
centre are closed, although every type of management has '
been tried . The furniture is also old and dilapidated . It is
thus hardly surprising that the centre 's deficit is
excessive .

To halt this spiralling deficit, the centre must be thoroughly
renovated and a long-term solution found for running the
bar and restaurant . In addition, the range of services offered
by the centre should be widened, making it available for
conferences ( the Delors cabinet has held several meetings
there ), which would call for some initial investment . In
addition to the prospect of renovation, the management
committee should be revitalized and management methods
updated by introducing administrative and financial
flexibility .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 23

What is the Commission 's view as to the future of the centre,
and the measures to preserve it, including refurbishment as a
leisure centre, for use particularly by MEPs ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The Overijse Centre is managed by the Commission .
Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social
Committee jointly contribute to its financing and operation
under the general control of an Interinstitutional
Committee .

It is true that lately the Centre has been used less than in the
past . But its sports facilities remain available and children
continue to use it as an open-air play centre during the
school holidays .

The Commission has launched a very thorough survey of the
current situation at the Centre and, working closely with the
other institutions, is actively seeking solutions that will
remedy it .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1041 / 93

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

92 / 51 / EEC 0 ) of 18 June 1992 on a second general system
for the recognition of professional education and training to
supplement Directive 89 / 48 / EEC does not apply by virtue of
Article 3, even though the profession of childcare worker
(' Erzieher(in )') is listed in Annex C. However, in so far as
there are common elements in the respective training
courses, these may not be ignored by the host Member State,
and this by analogy with the decisions of the Court of Justice
in Case 222 / 86 ( Unectef v . Heylens ( 1987 ) ECR 4097 ) and
Case C-340 / 89 ( Vlassopoulou ( 1991 ) ECR 1-2357 ).

2 . The German training course for paediatric nurses is
also listed in Annex C to Directive 92 / 51 / EEC . This

Directive will not enter into force until 1 8 June 1994, but in
the meantime migrants may still benefit from the
abovementioned Court decisions, whereby the host
Member State must take into account a migrant 's diploma
and compare it with the relevant national diploma and may
require further training to be undertaken only where there
are deficiencies in terms of course content or length
compared with the national diploma . Directives
77 / 452 / EEC and 77 / 453 / EEC concerning nurses
responsible for general care do not apply to specialist

nurses .

( ] ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992, p. 25 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1045 / 93

by Mr Ingo Friedrich ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 ) (4 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 48 ) ( 93 / C 301 / 49

Subject : Recognition in France of German qualifications

for teachers and paediatric nurses

The educational requirements for teachers in Germany,
which are five years of secondary school and an appropriate
Abitur, are not recognized in France as sufficient
qualification for a kindergarten teacher . What can be done
to bring about recognition of these qualifications ?

No paediatric nurse with German qualifications has yet
been recognized in France . What can the Commission do to
ensure recognition of these qualifications ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 July 1993 )

1 . The profession of childcare worker (' Erzieher(in )') in
Germany is specific to special schools, e.g. for the
handicapped ; it is therefore not the same as the profession of
kindergarten teacher in France . Consequently, the
recognition machinery introduced by Directive

Subject : Commission veterinary service staff

1 . In which newspapers or professional journals in
Germany are notices of vacancies in the Commission 's
veterinary service published ?

2 . What are the requirements in the selection tests for
such posts ? What level of knowledge of which foreign
languages is required ?

3 . What is the legal position and the pay of an official in
the Commission 's veterinary service ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

1 . Competition COM / A / 762 was advertised in the
following German publications : Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung, Wochenpost, Deutsches Tierarzteblatt, Top
Agrar .

I

No C 301 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

2 . Point II . B. 2 of the notice of open competition regulation . The majority of Member States have indicated to
( 93 / C / 60A / 02 of 3 March 1993 ) makes clear that the tests the Commission that they intend to do so .
will cover primarily topics requiring a detailed knowledge of
the fields covered by the competition .
The costs of the early retirement scheme over the five-year
period 1993 — 1997 were estimated at ECU 2 000
Point II . B. 3 of the notice requires candidates to have at least million ( 2 ).
two years graduate level experience since obtaining their
university degree or diploma which is relevant to at least one
of the fields covered by the competition . Examination of the draft programmes submitted by the
Member States suggests that there is no need to revise these
forecasts upwards .
Point II.B.4 of the notice requires candidates to have a
thorough knowledge of one Community language and a ( J ) OJ No L 215, 30 . 7 . 1992 .
satisfactory knowledge of a second Community language, ( 2 ) COM(91 ) 475 final .
which is the minimum requirement set out in Article 28 of
the statute .

3 . This competition is organized to constitute a reserve of
administrators . Those recruited will be remunerated in

accordance with established salary scales . The basis starting
salary for this career bracket ranges from Bfrs 1 54 640

( A7 / 1 ) to Bfrs 170 030 ( A7 / 3 ). WRITTEN QUESTION No 1049 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 51 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1048 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 50 )

Subject : Additional support for farmers ' early retirement

scheme

Subject : Programmes for young farmers

The aid received by young farmers for starting in business or
as improvement grant is, in Greece at least, minimal . During
the period in which the relevant Regulation was in force, i . e .

1986 —1991, only 1667 applications were received from
young farmers and only 512 improvement grants were
approved in the whole of Greece . The programme may be
considered an utter failure and this is mainly attributable to
poor information from the administrative authorities which
is the norm in nearly all the Mediterranean regions . This
programme for young farmers is possibly unique and the
Mediterranean regions are in desperate need of it . What
measures will the Commission therefore take to make it

effective ?

Aid for the farmers ' early retirement scheme could help
modernize Mediterranean agriculture through the Mediterranean measures will the regions Commission are in desperate therefore
expansion of farms and the employment of young farmers . effective ?
However, the minimal amount budgeted for the next
five-year period is insufficient to meet the actual needs of all
the Member States, and particularly the Mediterranean
countries where the need is greatest . Does the Commission
not think that this minimal amount should be increased ?
Answer given by Mr Steichen

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2079 / 92 of 30 June 1992,
instituting a Community aid scheme for early retirement
from farming ( J ), provides for the possibility of Member
States introducing such a scheme . Each Member State is
therefore free to decide whether or not to implement : this

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

Tables containing statistical and budgetary data on the
application of the community systems of aid for investment
in agricultural holdings and setting-up aid for young
farmers, introduced by Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328 / 91 ( a ),
will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat of the European Parliament .

The application of these aid schemes has not been a failure,
but there is room for improvement in certain parts of the

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 25

Community . As a proportion of the number of potential
recipients, the take-up rate for aid for young farmers is
highest in France ( including the Mediterranean regions ),
Luxembourg and Portugal .

Work on establishing the register of olive cultivation in
Greece began recently with the implementation of a
programme of pilot projects . According to the
specifications, this work must be finished by 15 November

1993 at the latest . The establishment of the olive cultivation
Improvement plans for agricultural holdings work well in register proper will not commence until this work is
the Community as a whole, but the system has been difficult completed .
to implement in Italy .

As regards the vineyard register provided for in Regulation

Finally, these aid schemes and, more generally, the entire
body of horizontal structural measures associated with
Objective 5a of the reform of the Structural Funds, could be
the subject of detailed examination within the framework of
the partnership which the Commission proposes
strengthening in the next programme period

( 1994—1999 ) ( 2 ).

( EEC ) No 2392 / 86 ( 2 ), the Community contributes 50 % of
the actual cost of establishing the register and the
data-processing investments required for management of
the register . In compliance with the Regulation and at the
request of the Commission, Greece recently drew up a
programme for establishing the register so that work can

commence soon .

Finally, Regulations ( EEC ) No 1198 / 90 ( 3 ) and ( EEC )

218, 6 . 8 . 1991 . No 3919 / 90 ( 4 ) provide for the establishment of a

) 67 .

Community register of citrus cultivation . It is planned for
the Member States concerned to carry out methodological
tests in certain defined regions for a trial period . So far only
Spain and Portugal have taken part in pilot studies .
Following the Spanish and Portuguese pilot studies, which
will be completed soon, the Commission will put forward
corresponding proposals for the other Member States,
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1051 / 93 taking account of the experience gained during the trial
period .

H OJ No L 218, 6 . 8 . 1991 .

( 2 ) COMÍ93 ) 67 .

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(')

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

(') OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1975 .

(6 May 1993 ) ( 2 ) OJ No L 208, 31 . 7 . 1986 .

93 / C 301 / 52 ) ( 3 ) OJ No L 119, 11 . 5 . 1990 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 375, 31 . 12 . 1990

(6 May 1993 )

Subject : Register of Greek farmland

Greece is the only Community country that does not have a
register of farmland and there is therefore insufficient data
on land under cultivation in each region and the type of crop
grown . Work is expected to start on drawing Up a register
with a survey of vineyards, olive-growers and citrus fruit
producers and there will obviously be a need for
Community aid to complete this . Can the Commission
provide information on the registration of Greek
farmland ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1052 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 53

Subject : Damage to farms in Achaia and the Peloponnese in

general

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

Harsh weather recently hit the Peloponnese, cutting off

on behalf of the Commission

dozens of villages, mainly in the region of Achaia, and

( 12 July 1993 ) destroying crops . Will the Commission assist the farmers of

the Peloponnese whose holdings have been damaged by the
bad weather, and, if so, how ?
As regards the register of olive cultivation, Regulation ( EEC )
No 154 / 75 ( l ) provides that all producer Member States
must establish and keep up to date an olive cultivation
register covering all olive-growing holdings within their Answer given by Mr Steichen
territory . To finance the establishment and updating of the on behalf of the Commission
register, the competent authorities of the producer Member ( 28 June 1993 )
States which are responsible for paying the production aid
retain a percentage of this aid during each marketing year .
This percentage was fixed at 2,4% for the 1992 / 93 to The Commission informs the Honourable Member that it

( 12 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 June 1993 )

1997 / 98 marketing years .

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that it

cannot take over the national agricultural insurance

No C 301 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

system 's function of covering income losses resulting from
bad weather . However, it would be ready to examine in
partnership with the Greek authorities the need for
assistance, within the new Community Support
Framework, in making good the damage to the fixed
agricultural assets of farms and villages .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1059 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 54

Subject : Treatment of Mediterranean products in short

supply

Why are Mediterranean products in short supply on the
Community market treated so badly for the sake of
spending cuts ? Also, why is this neglect not at least offset by
the Community, through its structural developmental
activity ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1061 / 93

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

(6 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 55 )

Subject : Premium for sheep - and goat-farming

The present system of reducing the premium in proportion
to the increase in production (4 % reduction in the premium
for every 1 % increase in production ) is unfair to sheep - and
goat-rearing undertakings and farms in mountainous and
less-favoured regions . In such regions, production is
increasing only very slightly, but the premium is being
reduced because of the increase in production in other
regions . For example, whereas Greek production increased
by 2 % between 1988 and 1990, the premium was reduced
not by 8 % but by 30 % ( in ecus ).

How does the Commission propose to rectify this
situation ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The maximum guaranteed quantity scheme in the
sheepmeat and goatmeat sector established by the Council

Answer given by Mr Steichen at the time of the 1988 reform, resulted in a reduction in

on behalf of the Commission basic prices by the same percentage as the increase in

(9 July 1993 ) existing herds in relation to the maximum guaranteed level .

This basic price reduction entailed a reduction in the
amount of the premium to be paid to sheep and goat
The Commission wishes to stress that significant support is producers in the Community .
given to a wide range of Mediterranean products in the
framework of the common agricultural policy . The loss of income inherent in this stabilizer mechanism
threatened to have extremely negative consequences in
less-favoured areas, where there are hardly any alternatives
The Commission would also remind the Honourable
to sheepmeat and goatmeat production .
Member that the Community produces surpluses of certain
important Mediterranean products . Moreover,
self-sufficiency is not an aim in itself, particularly if it is In order to remedy this situation and prevent desertification
achieved at the expense of rational development and the of large areas of the Community, in 1990 the Council
efficient use of factors of production . introduced, under the initiatives for rural development,

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1993 )

To conclude, the Commission rejects the implicit accusation
that it does not undertake structural development measures
in the European Community . On the contrary, the regional
development programme and other initiatives such as the
Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, which are
specifically aimed at overcoming problems of
under-development and structural weakness, receive an
increasing amount of Community resources, particularly
now that the ' Delors II ' package has been approved .

In order to remedy this situation and prevent desertification
of large areas of the Community, in 1990 the Council
introduced, under the initiatives for rural development,
special aid for sheep and goat breeding in the less-favoured
areas of the Community, the amount of which is as
follows :

( ecu / head )

Special aid Special aid
to producers to producers
of heavy lambs of light lambs

1991 marketing year 4 2,8

1992 marketing year 7 4,9

1993 marketing year 5,5 3,8

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 27

As of this year, the reduction of the basic price due to the WRITTEN QUESTION
application of the maximum guaranteed quantity scheme by Mr Jose
has been frozen at 7% . This is due to the fact that the

to the Commission of the

stabilizer mechanism has been replaced by a new scheme
providing for a ceiling on individual producers ' entitlement ( 10 May 1993
to the premium . ( 93 / C 301 / 57

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1092 / 93

by Mr Jose Happart ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1089 / 93

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 56 )

Subject : Destruction of the brown bear in Italy

Thanks to good management, the Abruzzi national park has
been able to preserve its brown bear population while in
other European countries ( such as France and Greece )
numbers continue to decline .

This success is now being put in jeopardy by poaching just
outside the park . A bear weighing 170 kg has just been
killed . Six bears have already been killed in the recent past

( one in Montenere Val Cocchiara, one in Scontrone and
four in Alfedana ).

Given that the programmes to protect the brown bear in
Italy receive Community funding, can the Commission not
demand that the Italian authorities put a stop to unrestricted
hunting activity in areas frequented by the brown bear ? Can
it not ask that at least hunting be permitted only in the
presence of official wardens ( controlled hunting ), as
practised in certain parts of Spain ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Commission intends to examine the proposal to restrict
hunting in the area around the Abruzzi national park with
the national authorities responsible for the park .

The outcome of the consultations will be communicated to

the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of

the European Parliament .

Subject : EEC fructose production

I have learned that there are plans to issue rules restricting
the production of fructose from inulin .

These restrictions would be based on the actual production
of the companies concerned between 1 July 1992 and
30 June 1993 and on production capacity installed in

1992 .

According to the industrialists in this sector quotas are not
necessary and, in fact, in their present form would lead to
serious distortion of competition .

At present, the fructose market is over-producing and some
producers are selling at a loss to try and get rid of their
stocks . This confirms that the fructose market is too limited

to threaten the sugar market .

The resulting competition seems to be motivated more by
political speculation on the imposition of quotas than by
industrial considerations .

Without quotas, such speculation should subside and
producers should return to levels in line with market
demand .

Quotas will seriously disturb normal competition in the
market by guaranteeing to some a market share they could
not defend economically .

The bases for calculation envisaged are illogical and may
seriously damage certain interests . In effect :

If the reference base is production between 1 July 1992 and
30 June 1993, the Commission is :

— favouring those who entered the fructose market

recently in 1992 —93, artificially boosted production,
speculating on the introduction of quotas, and are
currently selling at a loss, and

— penalising those who, respecting the market
equilibrium, are at the basis of sensible development in
this sector and have formulated a balanced industrial

strategy by refusing to take unfair advantage of
protection under the CAP by playing the
lobbying-speculation game .

If the reference base is the theoretical capacity at 1 October

1992, the technical departments will be unable to check the

No C 301 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

truth of some declarations . It will again favour recent days adopted measures unilaterally restricting imports of
entrants to the market . Besides, one might ask what is the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Italy .
value of production capacity in an over-producing
market ?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to

prevent the artificial sanctioning of overcapacity which
would encourage abnormal speculation and threaten the
investment made to date ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The Commission is able to confirm to the Honourable

Member that it intends putting forward proposals to the
Council and Parliament placing inulin syrup (a syrup with a
high fructose content generally obtained from chicory or
from Jerusalem artichoke ) under a production quota
guarantee from 1 July 1994 insofar a such a regime will still
be applicable to sugar and isoglucose from that date
onwards . The Commission has already published a notice to
this effect in the Official Journal ( ] ).

Moreover, in connection with renewal for the marketing
year 1 993 / 94 of the current sugar and isoglucose production
quota system, the Commission has recently proposed to the
Council and Parliament a Council announcement along
these lines ( 2 ). The Commission is of the opinion that, if
inulin syrup producers were not subject to the constraints of
the quota system as sugar and isoglucose are, profiting from
the fact that they are not burdened by the costs of
self-financing, the entire sugar sector would be disturbed .
This is why, to avoid any speculative activities, the
Commission is proposing to the Council and Parliament not
only to announce this intention but also to determine now
the basic terms and conditions for the future allocation of

production quotas for inulin syrup .

H OJ No C 66, 9 . 3 . 199.3 .

( 2 ) COMÍ92 ) 573 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1098 / 93

by the following membres : Luciano Vecchi

and Renzo Imbeni ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

Such measures are entirely unjustified from the point of view
of health and consumer protection insofar as the methods
used to prepare and mature this cheese undoubtedly render
it safe and, in any event, free of the foot-and-mouth
virus .

The decisions adopted by the EC on 17 March 1993 in order
to prevent the spread of the foot-and-mouth epidemic do
not in any way justify restrictions on exports of Parmigiano
Reggiano cheese .

What steps will the Commission take in order to restore the
free movement of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in the
Community given that the restrictive measures adopted by
various Member States are merely part of a protectionist
policy and an illegal trade war ?

Will it also take steps to compensate the producers and
undertakings which produce and market Parmigiano
Reggiano cheese for the damage they have unjustly
suffered ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Italy forced the
Commission to adopt protective measures by a number of
Decisions, the last of which, Decision 93 / 24 1 / EEC of
30 April 1993, provides for progressive resumption of trade
for the affected provinces from 1 May or 1 June .

It was necessary in the case of milk products to adopt certain
trade restrictions in order to prevent the spread of
foot-and-mouth disease and these were imposed by the first
two Decisions of 17 and 19 March 1993 .

( 93 / C 301 / 58 ) According to the Commission 's information, however,
confinement of the protective measures to certain regions
from 26 March freed the entire Parmigiano Reggiano
Subject : Export restrictions against Parmigiano Reggiano production area from restrictions .

cheese

The public-health authorities and governments of many
Member States of the European Community have in recent

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 29

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1099 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 59 )

Subject : Details of the special programme for South

Africa

1 . Can the Commission give details of expenditure under
the special programme for South Africa ?

2 . How does the Commission intend to convert the

special programme for victims of apartheid into a
broad-based programme of aid for the disadvantaged
sections of the population of South Africa ( with regard to
housing, education, jobs and health care )?

3 . How does the Commission intend using existing funds
for South Africa as a means of providing additional support
for the process of democratization, without restricting such
funds to one party ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

1 . The budget for the special programme on South Africa
has increased steadily since the inception of the programme
in 1985 . In 1986 ECU 10 million was made available . ECU

20 million was made available in 1987, ECU 25,5 million in

1988, ECU 25 million in 1989, ECU 30 million in 1990,
ECU 60 million in 1991, ECU 80 million in 1992 and ECU
90 million in 1993 .

In the period 1986 — 1991 47% of the funds were used for
education programmes, 43 % for humanitarian assistance,
and 10% for legal assistance .

In the period 1991 — to date the sector distribution is as
follows :

Education and training 45 %
Rural development 29 %
Community development 5 %
Health 5 %

Good governance 4 %
Other areas of support 12%

2 . Between 1986 and 1991, the special programme
focused on projects aimed at assisting the victims of political
repression . These projects included legal assistance and
support for the dependents of people detained by the
authorities . At the same time, the special programme funded
humanitarian initiatives and more development focused
projects such as education and training .

Following the removal of the ban on political organizations
and the repeal of apartheid legislation, the Commission, in
consultation with its South African partners, undertook a
number of measures to render the special programme more
appropriate to the changing political situation in the
country . In October 1991, the Commission and its partners
in South Africa reorientated the programme . Whereas the
early assistance had been aimed at supporting a variety of
projects to alleviate the effects of repression, the new
approach involved creating an integrated, coherent
development programme targeting interventions in key
areas and sectors . The focal areas of support included :
education and training, health and welfare, community
development, agriculture and rural development and good
governance and democratization .

3 . The Community is supporting a number of specific
initiatives aimed at promoting the transition to democracy
under way in South Africa .

These include assistance for legal research on good
governance, including work on a new legal framework for
South Africa, funding of voter education and
democratization initiatives, support for independent
newspapers, conflict resolution efforts and the provision of
observers to monitor conflict situations .

In the period leading up to the elections in South Africa it is
likely that assistance in these important areas, especially
voter education, will increase .

As a matter of principle, the Commission does not provide
support to any particular political party . Projects in that
field are implemented by non-political organizations such as
the independent Forum for Election Education .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1104 / 93

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 60 )

Subject : Epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease

Following the illegal import of animals infected with
foot-and-mouth disease from eastern Europe, in particular
from Croatia, the Commission placed a blanket ban on
exports of Italian meat until 31 March 1993 in order to
eliminate the risk that the epidemic, which has hit a number
of regions in southern Italy in particular, would spread .

Given, in particular, the fact that the Italian processed-meat
industry ( ham and salami ) generates annual foreign sales in
excess of Lit 400 billion and will have to put up with the
Community-decreed ban for a further two months, can the
Commission provide financial assistance not only to farmers

No C 301 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

by way of compensation for their slaughtered livestock but the United Nations Population Fund, whose $238 million
also to the processed-meat industry by way of compensation budget has been frozen ?
for its losses, with due regard for the fact that the
current situation can largely be put down to the
Community-stipulated suspension in 1991 of mandatory
vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease ? Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( IS July 1993 )

The appearance of foot-and-mouth disease in Basilicata in

1993, the first since J 989, has imposed serious difficulties
on the animal industry in Italy . However, the Italian
veterinary authorities have cooperated closely with the
Commission to achieve a speedy and effective control of the
disease, with minimal upset to trade .

However, there is no evidence that the occurrence of the
disease or the evolution of the outbreak was affected in any
way by the non-vaccination policy which was adopted
throughout the Community in 1991, on the basis of a
detailed report from the Commission . During the previous
outbreak, in 1989, for example, a total of 74 outbreaks were
recorded, despite the use of vaccine . In contrast, to date
there have been 54 outbreaks in the current series .

Directive 90 / 424 / EEC ( 1 ), on expenditure in the veterinary
field, provides for reimbursement of Member States '
expenses in compensating owners for slaughter of their
animals, and some related costs . It makes no provision for
compensation for losses in other associated industries, such
as meat and meat product plants . The Community is
therefore unable to provide financial aid to this sector .

(!) OJ No L 224, 18 . 8 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 115 / 93

by Mr Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 61

Subject : A broader southern Mediterranean policy

Secular governments across north Africa are being
undermined by demographic growth, persistent
underdevelopment and Islamic fundamentalism . Does the
Commission 's southern Mediterranean policy include
further trade initiatives, development aid and support for

The Community 's Redirected Mediterranean Policy ( RMP )
was decided by the Council in December 1990 and its
implementation started in 1992 . The components of the
RMP are as follows :

— limited additional concessions for agricultural exports

to the Community ( first tariff exemption within the
existing tariff quotas as from 1993 instead of 1996 as
initially envisaged, and an annual 5 % linear increase in
these tariff quotas, except for sensitive products where
the increase is 3% );

— a renewal of the financial protocols with South-East

Mediterranean countries — the fourth generation
covering 1992 — 1996 — including a new feature i.e. a
special envelope to support economic reform
programmes ( funds total ECU 2,375 million );

— special funds to support actions of interest to all

Mediterranean non-member countries ( determined
annually within the normal budget procedures ). Priority
areas are regional coooperation, environment, support
to demographic programmes and support to actions
underlining the cultural dimension of development, as
well as risk capital operations to foster common
undertakings .

Support to demographic programmes is certainly
considered a priority . The Commission remains in close
contact with UNFPA . The Community budget will
contribute to cover part of the preparatory costs of the Cairo
population conference ( September 1994 ). In addition the
Commission co-finances with UNFPA a programme for
supporting family planning services in Syria .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1118 / 93

by Mr Yvan Blot ( DR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 62 )

Subject : Obstacles to the free movement of goods within

the Community

Wine growers in Alsace wishing to export their wines within
the Community encounter various administrative, fiscal or
banking problems . For example, they have either to use tax

8 . 11 . 93 Official fournal of the European Communities No C 301 / 31

representatives in each country ., who levy taxes and thus
increase the cost of the wines, or to lodge bank guarantees
with each administration .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1122 / 93

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )
What does the European Community intend to do to
( 93 / C 301 / 63 )
simplify intra-Community trade, especially in wines ?

In the absence of fiscal harmonization, VAT and excise
duties are still collected in the country of destination and
exports are thus VAT free . Can the Commission confirm
that this is right ?

By 31 December 1994 the rate of excise duty will be
proportional to the alcoholic strength of wine, which will
cause growers an unfair loss of income . Is there any
Directive or Regulation to this effect ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( IS July 1993 )

The Commission is fully alive to the difficulties being
encountered by small wine producers since any restriction of
trade would be contrary to the objectives of the single
market .

In order to facilitate matters for traders, and in particular
small producers, the Commission is examining, together
with the authorities in the Member States, the possibility of
drawing up a guide listing the various procedures for
payment of excise duties in each Member State .

With regard to the arrangements for guaranteeing payment
of excise duties, the practical details are decided by each
Member State in accordancc with the provisions of Council
Directive 92 / 12 / EEC ( x ).

Intra-Community commercial consignments of goods
subject to excise duty generally take place under
tax-suspension arrangements, with excise duty and VAT
being paid, as the Honourable Member points out, in the
Member State of destination . In the particular case of
distance sales to individuals, the abovementioned Directive
provides for payment of the excise duty of the Member State
of departure, followed by a refund procedure .

With regard to the question of a change in the method of
calculating the excise duty applicable to wine, the
Commission would inform the Honourable Member that

no plans of this kind exist .

t 1 ) OJ No L 76, 23 . 3 . 1992 .

Subject : The drought in Greece

The October 1992 Agriculture Council decided measures
concerning Spanish and Portuguese farmers affected by the
drought . During the European Parliament 's debate on the
basis of resolutions B3-391 / 92 ( ! ) and B3-1029 / 92 ( 2 ),
which it unanimously adopted, on Greek farmers affected
by the drought, Mrs Scrivener ( Member of the Commission )
announced that modification of the Community support
framework might be considered, (...) confirmed by detailed
documentation, the measures to be financed from the
budget allocated .

Volume 1 of the Commission 's proposals to the Council for
farm prices in 1993 — 94 contains no reference to the
drought which affected Greece in 1992 .

What action will the Commission be taking in response to
the problems caused by the drought to Greek
agriculture ?

í 1 ) OJ No C 94, 13 . 4 . 1992, p . 275 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 241, 21 . 9 . 1992, p . 158 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Honourable Member 's question apparently refers to
the problems resulting from the drought which affected
Greek agriculture in 1991 / 92 .

Under the operational programme on the improvement and
development of agricultural structures in Greece, which is
part of the CSF relating to Structural Fund aid measures, in
August 1992 the Commission allocated an amount of ECU
34 million, ECU 22,1 million of which are to be borne by the
EAGGF Guidance Section, intended exclusively to lessen the
impact of the drought by means of structural measures
aimed at improved and more economical water resource
management in those areas susceptible to drought .
Moreover, the CSF Monitoring Committee, at its meeting
on 19 March 1993, decided to allocate an additional
amount of ECU 4 million ( ECU 3 million of which are to be
borne by the EAGGF Guidance Section ) to help farmers
whose crops were damaged by drought to cope with their
difficulties .

No C 301 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

At present the competent Greek authorities and the
Commission are liaising to determine the nature and
amount of this aid and the conditions for granting it .

The size of the 1992 / 93 harvest was completely normal and
the Greek authorities did not repeat their request for the

1992 / 93 marketing year . One the contrary, this harvest
created intervention storage problems for durum wheat and
maize . Indeed, in the case of durum wheat, two special
intervention measures were introduced at the beginning of
the 1992 / 93 marketing year in the form of private storage
aid and a special invitation to tender for the export of durum
wheat produced in Greece . Furthermore, maize was taken
into intervention in Greece during the 1992 / 93 marketing
year for the first time ( 140 000 tonnes ).

As regards the forthcoming harvest ( 1993 / 94 ), no
information on any drought in Greece has been received by
the Commission and no specific request has been submitted
by the Greek authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1127 / 93

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

( 29 April 1993 )

The institutions pay an annual contribution, the amount of
which is based on the number of staff employed by each
institution in Brussels .

The breakdown, in percentages and in absolute terms,
provided for in the 1993 budget is as follows :

— Parliament : 7,11 % ( ECU 23 000 )

— Council : 14,75% ( ECU 65 000 )

— Commision : 74,74% ( ECU 315 000 )

— Economic and Social Committee : 3,40% ( ECU
15 000 ).

The Board of the European Interinstitutional Centre at

Overijse consists of one representative appointed by the
Administration and one appointed by the Staff Committee
of each institution that contributes to the financing of the
Centre . The members have a three-year mandate .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1133 / 93

by Mrs Christine Crawley ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 64 ) ( 93 / C 301 / 65

Subject : European Interinstitutional Centre ( EIC ) at
Dennenboslaan 54, Overijse, B-3090

Following my previous question, No E-1038 / 93 ( J ), on the
same subject, can the Commission say how the scale for the
allocation of running costs mentioned therein is made up,
who are the present members of the Board of Governors and
how they are appointed ?

Subject : Helios magazine

The Commission will be aware that the Helios magazine is a
useful source of information for many people . However,
many blind people find it difficult to access this information .
Would the Commission consider producing Helios in
braille ?

t 1 ) See page 22 of this Official Journal . Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1993 )

The European Interinstitutional Centre at Overijse is the
property of the Commission and is put at the disposal of
Community institutions in Brussels . Parliament, the
Council, the Commission and the Economic and Social
Committee share the financing and the use of the Centre,
while the Commission is responsible for its
administration .

The Commission is sensitive to the problem raised by the
production of documents in braille .

The working documents necessary for the implementation
of the Helios II programme have already been established
and distributed in braille and on diskettes .

With respect to the Helios magazine, a study is currently
being undertaken in order to determine the number of users
who might need a version in braille and in which
languages .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 33

Using the results of this study, the Commission will seek an
appropriate solution to this problem .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1141 / 93

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

( 12 May J 993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 66

Subject : Money spent for entertainment

What amount of money was spent for entertainment by the
European Commission in the years 1990, 1991 and
1992 ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Entertainment expenditure incurred by the Commission
and its staff is charged to Chapter A17 of the Commission
budget . Expenditure for 1990, 1991 and 1992 was as
follows :

( ecus )

1990 1991 1992

A 1700 : Entertainment and

representation expenses for
Members of the Commission 380 000 383 000 385 000

A 1701 : Entertainment and

representation expenses for
members of the staff 359 200 504 500 541 753

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1145 / 93

by Mr John Hume ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 67 )

Subject : Special procedures for the sale of beef from

intervention for processing not involving
cooking

Will the Commission consider extending the existing special
procedures for the sale of beef from intervention for

processing involving cooking, so that intervention beef may
be made available on the same terms, for processing, such as
the production of hamburgers etc, which does not involve
cooking ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

The sales of intervention beef for the processing industry are
in particular designed to assist Community producers of
cooked meat to compete with importers of similar product
which is subject to no levy and only 26 % customs duty .
Production of uncooked burgers, however, is basically just
mincing of fresh meat which already profits from the
Community preference through the levy system .

It is, therefore, difficult to justify any specific, favourable
treatment, in terms of prices, of that segment of the fresh
beef market .

Nevertheless, it should be noted that an exceptional supply
situation of one of the main raw material components in
burger manufacturing has recently led the Commission to
release certain quantities of boneless intervention beef at
prices close to the current market price .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1149 / 93

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 May 1993 )

93 / C 301 / 68 )

Subject : Fax directory — entry for the European
Community

In Belgacom 's fax directory, it is noticeable that there is only
a French entry for the European Communities and no Dutch
translation . Users looking up the Dutch title ' Europese
Gemeenschappen ' are referred to ' Communautés
européennes '.

Would it not be appropriate to follow the example of
Belgium 's legislative chambers in this respect, for example,
which have their entries included in both of the country 's
languages ? Should the Commission not share this view, can
it say why it does not do so and can it say why it chooses
French ?

No C 301 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission is ready to consider changing the two
entries in the fax directory so that each contains only the
data relevant to fax communications in the language of the
entry itself, thus dispensing with complicated references .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1161 / 93
by the following membres : Laura González Alvarez

and Alonso Puerta ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

cultural heritage, are the sole responsibility of the Spanish
authorities, and there is no possibility of the Commission
intervening .

The Commission will be acknowledging the importance of
Europe 's rich heritage of religious architecture by devoting
its entire 1 995 aid programme for heritage conservation
projects to the subject . The monument referred to by the
Honourable Members will have the opportunity to qualify
for this aid, as will any other European monument which
fulfils the conditions laid down in the programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1162 / 93

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 May 1993 )

( 12 May 1993 )
( 93 / C 301 / 69 )

( 93 / C 301 / 70

Subject : Conservation of the church of San Julian de Los

Prados ( Oviedo / Spain ) Subject : Greek shipyards

In February 1993 Parliament adopted a resolution

( A3-0036 / 93 ) on preserving the architectural heritage and
protecting cultural assets .

The church of San Julian de los Prados ( Oviedo, Asturias ) is
unquestionably one of the jewels of Spanish
pre-Romanesque art and is suffering from serious damage as
a result of the heavy traffic on the motorway which runs
close by .

In view of the concern expressed by the Association for the
protection of the Asturian heritage to the Spanish
authorities, requesting them to consider a solution that will
prevent further rapid decline of this valuable history and
cultural monument, and bearing in mind that realignment of
the motorway at a sufficient distance may be the best
solution to prevent further decline of this monument of
special European interest, will the Commission join forces
with the appropriate Spanish authorities to ensure that
suitable steps are considered to safeguard the proper
conservation of the church of San Julian de los Prados,
which is of inestimable importance ?

With the hold-up in the privatization of the Syros Dockyard
and ' Greek Shipyards ' it is highly likely that the process will
not be completed by the stipulated deadline of 31 March

1993 after which date the Greek Government is bound to

close the yards . Under the terms of Article 7 of the Seventh
Shipbuilding Directive, closure would be ' of an . . .
irreversible nature ', and would plunge the island of Syros
into an unprecedented state of decline, leaving thousands of
workers at the ' Greek shipyards ' jobless . In view of this, will
the Commission state whether it has received any requests
from the Greek side for an extension of the deadline

( 31 March 1993 ), and what action it intends to take in order
to facilitate the completion of the relevant procedures ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

importance ? By letter of 18 March 1993 the Greek Government

requested a further prolongation of the deadline of
31 March 1993 till at least 30 September 1993 for the
disposal by sale of the publicly owned shipyards in Greece,
as the process of privatization of the three yards could not be
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro completed satisfactorily by 31 March 1993 .

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 ) The Commission answered by letter of 26 March 1993, that
given the existing legal framework under the Seventh
Directive on aid to shipbuilding and the undertakings of the
Emergency measures for the conservation of the Church of Greek Government, the Commission was not able to review
San Julian de los Prados, or of any part of the Spanish its position .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 35

The Greek Government 's decision to sell or close down the

four yards by 31 March 1993 was a necessary element for
the Commission in resolving the problem of state aids for
shipbuilding in Greece . In the absence of such an
undertaking the Commission would not have been in a
position to approve the aids to the Greek shipbuilding
industry in its decision of 23 December 1992 .

The Greek Government had earlier informed the

Commission that one of the yards, the Elefsis Yard, had
been sold and that the other three yards ( Neorion shipyards
of Syros, Hellenic Shipyard and NAFSI ) were under special
liquidation proceedings according to Greek legislation .

By letter dated 15 April 1993 the Commission asked the
Greek Government to inform the Commission on the final

disposal of the yards .

The Commission has not yet received the answer from the
Greek Government . However, it appears from newspaper
articles that NAFSI has been sold to a private bidder, that
the sale of the Neorion shipyard has been practically
completed, and that negotiations as regards the sale of the
Hellenic shipyard are well advanced .

On this basis the Commission does not consider that any
further initiatives on the matter would be appropriate .

Which countries are in breach of Directive 90 / 675 / EEC and

what will the Commission do to remedy the situation ?

(!) C)J No L 373, 31 . 12 . 1990, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1993 )

It is true that Council Directive 90 / 675 / EEC of 10 December

1 990, laying down the principles governing the organization
of veterinary checks on products entering the Community
from third countries, is not yet transposed by several of the
Member States .

At present the Commission has not received notification of
national implementation measures from Greece, Spain,
France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal .

An infringement procedure under Article 169 has been
initiated by the Commission against the above Member
States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1173 / 93

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

( 13 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 72 )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1165 / 93

by Mr Fernand Herman ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

Subject : Value Added Tax on domestic fuel and power

supplies

( 12 May 1993 ) What is the level of Value Added Tax on domestic fuel and

93 / C 301 / 71 ) power supplies in the 12 Member States ?

Subject : Inspection charges for veterinary checks at the

Community 's external frontiers Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )
In answer to a parliamentary question the Belgian Minister
for Public Health has stated that several Community
countries have not yet transposed Directive 90 / 675 / EEC ( J ) According to the information available within the
laying down the principles governing the organization of Commission, the following VAT rates are currently
veterinary checks on products entering the Community applicable to domestic fuel and power supplies in the
from third countries, into national law . Member States :

B D K D E F GR IRL I L NL P UK

Domestic fuel 19,5 25 15 15 18,6 18 12,5 19 12 17,5 5 on

Power 19,5 25 15 15 18,6 18 12,5 9 / 19 6 17,5 5 0 ( 2 )

( 1 ) VAT rate applicable from 1 April 1994 : 8% .

( 2 ) VAT rate applicable from 1 April 1995 : 17,5%

No C 301 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1184 / 93

by Mrs Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 May 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 July 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 73 On 7 April in Brussels, the Hungarian and Slovak foreign
ministers signed the special agreement needed to put the
dispute over the Gabcikovo Dam before the international

nurses ' training Court of Justice in The Hague . At the end of April, both

parliaments approved this agreement, thus enabling
examination of the dispute to begin shortly .

Subject : EC funding for nurses ' training

Has the European Commission any plans to fund further .
professional training for nurses and the allied health
professions ? The Commission believes that the relative speed with which
an agreement of such major political importance to both
countries was signed and ratified is evidence of the genuine
political will for a settlement on either side .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission The Commission, whose good offices, requested by the

( 22 July 1993 ) litigants, helped bring about this state of affairs, has always

maintained close contacts with both parties . It has recently
been informed that they are continuing their joint efforts to
reach agreement on a temporary management regime for the
The Commission does not have any measures or financial Danube, which would remain in force until the date of the
resources specifically for the vocational training of nurses or Court ruling .
of other professions within the medical and allied health

sector .

( 22 July 1993 )

However, where the category of persons concerned falls
within the scope of training actions eligible for ESF funding
and / or Community vocational training programmes, in
particular Force and Petra, the Commission can offer its
support . WRITTEN QUESTION No 1203 / 93

by Mr Neil Blaney ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 75 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1190 / 93 Subject : Grants for roads

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 74 )

Will the Commission confirm that a certain proportion of
appropriations available from the Regional Fund for
improving the network of A class roads may, at the request
of the government of the Member State concerned, be used
for improving the network of ancillary roads ?

Subject : Gabcikovo dam

If this is the case, has the Commission received such requests
from the governments of Member States and, in particular,
According to recent reports from Slovakia it appears that from the Irish Government ?
the government is not fulfilling its commitments with regard
to the Gabcikovo dam . Work is continuing ( at Bodiky for
instance ). Mr Binder, the engineer in charge to the project,
has even stated, at a press conference on 24 March 1993,
that the only law he would recognize was that contained in Answer given by Mr Millan
the 1977 Treaty . As a result, work is continuing apace and on behalf of the Commission
those in charge of the project are deliberately ignoring the ( 24 June 1993 )
terms of the current trilateral negotiations and tyring to
bring about a fait accompli .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1993 )

What action does the Commission propose to take to put a
stop to this blatant flouting of the law ?

The European Regional Development Fund 's assistance for
roadworks in eligible regions is provided in accordance with
the priorities and measures set out in the relevant

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 37

Community Support Frameworks and operational

programmes .

In Ireland, the Operational Programme on Peripherality
contains, in addition to measures relating to National
Primary Roads, measures which provide assistance for
works on roads supporting industrial development ( ERDF
aid ECU 44 million ) and on roads supporting tourism
development ( ERDF aid ECU 27 million .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1211 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 76 )

Subject : Safe escape of disabled employees in the event of

fire or other emergency

The principle that disabled people should have access to a
place of employment has been firmly established in each
Member State and within the Commission itself . However,
what are the Commission 's formal policies for ensuring the
safe escape of its disabled employees in the event of a fire or
other emergency ? In particular, has the Commission
considered developing Personal Emergency Egress Plans for
its disabled employees ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 July 1993 )

There are rules for the evacuation of Commission buildings .
These have been published and brought to the attention of
all occupants (' Consignes en cas d'incendie ou incident
grave ' udapted and re-issued on 22 March 1993 ).

Furthermore, the primary role of the 800 members of staff 1
who have been trained as fire pickets is to help colleagues
evacuate the buildings and get them to safety in the event of

an emergency .

The rules applicable to disabled staff are as follows :

1 . staff with ' slight ' handicap, that is to say, no mobility
problem, are regarded as being in the same position as
other occupants ; where possible, however, they should
be accompanied by an able-bodied colleague in the event
of an evacuation ;

2 . staff with a temporary or permanent disability, that is to
say, a mobility problem that makes it impossible for
them to get down stairs unaided, must be accompanied,
ideally by the fire picket on the same floor to whom they
should have made themselves known . The fire picket in
charge of the evacuation will see them safely out of the
building by a different emergency exit from that being
used by the other occupants .

( a ) The office addresses of disabled staff, then, are
known to fire pickets, who will help them to leave
the building in the event of an evacuation .

( b ) The whereabouts of disabled visitors is recorded as

they enter a building so that they can be located in
the event of an emergency .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1215 / 93

by the following membres : Bartho Pronk, Jan Sonneveld

and Ria Oomen-Ruijten ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 77 )

Subject : Environmentally hazardous waste dump in border

areas

The Munster district authority in Germany intends to
designate a site for a dump for chemical and other
environmentally hazardous waste . The site may be located
in Vreden-Ammelou, on the border between Germany and
the Netherlands, in the immediate vicinty of the municipal
boundary of Eibergen in the Netherlands, and will thus also
have a major impact on public health and living conditions
for residents of the border area of the Netherlands .

1 . To what extent is the Commission aware of this

plan ?

2 . Does this decision by Munster district authority violate
the relevant European environmental directives and if
so, will the Commission take action against it ?

3 . Does the Commission in general monitor environmental
plans in border areas, bearing in mind that in most cases
there are no official complaints procedures for residents
and municipalities in the neighbouring countries, while
these plans often have serious consequences for such
residents ?

4 . Will the Commission submit a proposal for the
establishment of an official European complaints
procedure for such cross-border cases ?

No C 301 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

and assess current proposals in the light of the concept of
subsidiarity .

Why has the proposal for a Council Decision introducing a

Community system of information on home and leisure
1 . The Commission has learned, albeit unofficially, of accidents i 1 ) — the so-called Ehlass project — not been
the German authorities ' intentions with regard to the siting withdrawn on grounds of subsidiarity ?
of the dump referred to by the Honourable Members . It has
no details of this project . (M COM(93 ) 18 final .

2 . It would appear that the authorities proposing to
create this dump do intend to assess its impact on the
environment in accordance with Articles 4 and 7 of

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( M.

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )
3 . The Commission does not specifically monitor border
areas in connection with projects liable to affect the
environment . However, any planned disposal site which is Home and leisure accidents are a
designated to receive hazardous waste is governed both by Community . The setting up of an
the Community legislation on waste ( Article 5 of framework designed to measure the extent and
Directive 91 / 156 / EEC ( 2 ) and Article 2 of Directive and to determine what action, if any,

useful . This was the aim of the

91 / 689 / EEC ( 3 ) on the assessment of the effects of certain
public projects which and private are liable projects to have on a the transfrontier environment impact . As, for it is introducing and leisure accidents a Community which system was of
the for the project authorities is to be of sited the Member to initiate State consultations on whose with territory the January Ehlass project 1993 ( taking 1986 — into 1991 account ). These the

to have a data collection network

authorities of the neighbouring Member State .

4 . The Community has no specific procedure for dealing
with cross-border problems such as that mentioned by the
Honourable Members, but the Commission considers any
complaints submitted to it .

Home and leisure accidents are a real problem in the
Community . The setting up of an information system is
designed to measure the extent and nature of the problem
and to determine what action, if any, would be necessary or
useful . This was the aim of the proposal for a Decision
introducing a Community system of information on home
and leisure accidents which was forwarded to the Council in

January 1993 taking into account the experiences of the

Ehlass project ( 1986 — 1991 ). These showed that it is useful
to have a data collection network with a European
dimension, and that the role and responsibilities of the
Member States in this system must be reinforced .

i 1 )

( 2 )

( 3 )

OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 198.5 .
OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991 .
OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1218 / 93

by Mr Leen van der Waal ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 78

Subject : Subsidiarity and Ehlass

Article 3 of the Maastricht Treaty lays down with regard to
subsidiarity that in areas which do not fall within its
exclusive competence, the Community shall take action only
if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action
cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and
can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the
proposed action, be better achieved by the Community .

At the Edinburgh summit, the Council reaffirmed the
instrument of subsidiarity and placed it even more
emphatically in the context of decentralization . The
Commission has said that it will scrutinize itself critically

As far as the subsidiarity is concerned, Member States will
be responsible for the practical implementation of the
system as well as for the processing of the data . Furthermore
they will produce an annual report containing a summary
and an evaluation at national level of the results obtained .

Moreover specific information with regard to safety of
certain products will be made available to the Commission
at its request .

The Commission will promote the compatibility of the
methodologies applied by the Member States, in particular
with regard to the data collection basis and the national
reports on the processing of the data . Furthermore the
Community will partly finance the implementation of the
system in the different Member States . Without this
financial assistance, it is felt that the maintenance of a
network of data collection systems could be jeopardized .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1224 / 93

by Mr Karl-Heinz Florenz ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 79 )

Subject : Renewable primary products

A basic problem that seriously hinders the marketing of oils
of a type that can be recovered from renewable primary

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 39

products is the ban on mixing vegetable oils with mineral
oils . But this ban only makes sense in relation to mineral oils
that can be put through a second refining process . With oils
of a type that cannot be refined a second time the ban serves

no purpose .

Will the Commission be prepared shortly to support
arrangements to remove the existing economic obstacles to
the use of oils and lubricants derived from renewable

primary products ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

Council Directive 87 / 101 / EEC of 22 December 1986

amending Directive 75 / 439 / EEC on the disposal of waste
oils ( 2 ) covers all industrial or lubricating oils which are
mineral-based, but not vegetable oils . Nevertheless,
according to the provisions of the Directive relating to
combustion there is no ban on mixing mineral oils with
vegetable oils . In fact, Article 8 ( 3 ) actually refers to
mixtures of mineral oils and other fuels intended for

combustion .

However, these mixtures are subject to certain conditions
regarding the control of concentrations of pollutants, taking
account of the technical characteristics of the plant, in order
to ensure observance of the limit values laid down in the

Annex to the Directive .

(!) OJ No L 42, 12 . 2 . 1987 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 194, 16 . 6 . 1975 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member

that the arrangements for the refund of VAT to taxable
persons not established in the territory of the country were
set out in the Eighth Council Directive 79 / 1072 / EEC of
6 December 1979 ( 1 ).

Article 5 of the Directive stipulates that goods and services in
respect of which tax may be refundable must satisfy the
conditions laid down in Article 17 of Council Directive
77 / 388 / EEC of 17 May 1977 ( 2 ), as applicable in the
Member State of refund . Consequently, the same conditions
apply to both national and foreign taxpayers with respect to
the right to obtain a refund .

As regards VAT on fuel in Italy, the Commission has not
been informed of any limitation of, or even exclusion from,
the right to deduct VAT in the case of fuel used by
hauliers .

Although this right to obtain a refund applies in its entirety,
its exercise is not unproblematical since, in Italy, refunds are
subject to considerable delays .

In this connection, on 3 June 1992 the Court of Justice
found against Italy for failure to respect the six-month
deadline prescribed by the Eighth Directive . It must be said
that, since that date, there has been on real improvement in
the time taken to process applications, and that Italy has yet
to give notification of any measures implementing the
Court 's ruling .

The transitional arrangements for VAT introduced in the

Community on 1 January 1993 in no way alter this legal
position .

0 ) OJ No L 331, 27 . 12 . 1979 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 145, 13 . 6 . 1977 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1230 / 93
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1234 / 93

by Mr Henry McCubbin ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

by Mr Francois Froment-Meurice ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 80 ) ( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 81 )

Subject : Refunding of VAT on vehicle fuel

Can the Commission explain why it is that a haulier can
reclaim VAT en fuel in France, the Netherlands, Belgium
and Germany, whilst it is impossible to do so in Italy ?

Is this anomaly permissible under the new VAT regime ?

Subject : Environmental protection and free movement of

goods

According to information provided by the Euro Info Centre
in Strasbourg, it can cometimes take as long as six months to
obtain from ' Duales System Deutschland ' ( DSD ) the ' green
spot ' required to export and distribute goods in
Germany .

No C 301 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

It would also seem that the formalities required to obtain the
DSD are so complex as to discourage enterprises from the
attempt . For instance, an enterprise starting up business in
Germany was recently asked, in a DSD questionnaire, to
analyse the number, type and size of bags it would be using
over the next two years !

Is the Commission aware of this time-lag ?

Without going as far as to say — as some have — that this is

a way of protecting the German market, does it not consider
that such delays are harmful to the economic interests of
enterprises seeking to export goods to Germany ?

Can it indicate what measures it intends to take to remedy
this situation ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

According to the information in the Commission 's
possession, the licensing arrangements under the ' Dual '
system do not distinguish between German and foreign
undertakings . There are currently 10 000 licence holders,
including 350 in France and 550 in Italy . The Commission is
not, however, familiar with the practical arrangements for
obtaining the licence or the time periods involved .

The Commission is currently evaluating the impact of the

' Dual ' system on the free movement of goods with reference
to Articles 30, 85 and 86 of the EEC Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1255 / 93

by Mr Ernest Glinne ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 82

Subject : ' Ethnic cleansing ' and human rights violations in

Myanmar ( Burma )

At the end of February 1993, the UN Commission on
Human Rights completed a report of some 50 pages on the
human rights situation in Myanmar . It covers ruthless
' ethnic cleansing ' of scores of ethnic minorities ; the
dominant role of the military ( the State Law and Order
Restoration Council - SLORC ); the repudiation of
democratic movements, accompanied by great violence

( particularly in 1988 and 1990 and persisting to date ); the
neutralization through house arrest of Mrs Aung San Suu
Kyi, leader of the opposition ; forced labour ; torture ; rape,

etc . The world has remained virtually deaf to the appeals for
help issued in February by seven Nobel prizewinners, the
Dalai Lama and a number of well-known Myanmar citizens

( including the Minister for Foreign Affairs ) who, having met
on the Tibet-Myanmar border, called for the release of
political prisoners ( SLORC has made the gesture of
releasing some 1 700 ordinary prisoners ), the restoration of
her rights to Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, the imposition of an
economic embargo and a halt to arms supplies .

What is the Commission 's stance on a number of the

abovementioned report by the UN Commission and the
appeal made by a number of respected figures to the
international community, particularly as regards the fate of
the main opposition leader, Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, winner
of the European Parliament 's Sakharov Prize ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 July 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have repeatedly
expressed their concern at the persistent refusal of the
Burmese authorities to heed calls for democratization from

the representatives elected by the country at free polls in
May 1990, when the Burmese people expressed the desire
for a democratic, multiparty system . They have condemned
the numerous violations of internationally accepted rules of
behaviour and human rights, the continued harassment,
detention and placing under house arrest of opposition
leaders and the refusal to release political prisoners .

This state of affairs has led to the suspension of all but
humanitarian aid programmes, the reduction to a minimum
of economic and trade relations and an embargo on the sale
to Myanmar of military hardware from Community
Member States . Other members of the international

community have also been asked to show similar restraint
and forgo all arms sales . The defence attaches accredited by
the Member States to the Burmese authorities have also been

withdrawn .

At the last session of the UN Commission on Human Rights,
held in Geneva from 1 February to 12 March, the
Community and its Member States moved a resolution
calling on the government of Myanmar to restore forthwith
full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
protect minorities, put a stop to violations of the right to life
and physical integrity, torture, brutal treatment of women,
forced labour, disappearances and summary executions,
and to release unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of
the Noble Peace Prize, and other imprisoned leaders of the
National League for Democracy .

In response to the UNHCR 's appeals on behalf of tens of
thousands of Muslim ' Rohingya ' refugees fleeing Burma for
Bangladesh, the Community has in the past two years

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 41

granted ECU 5 340 000 tor the supply of urgently needed
food, medicines and emergency equipment through NGO 's
and the HCR and ECU 5 200 000 for welfare work by
NGOs .

The Community and its Member States will continue
keeping a close watch on the situation in Myanmar and
playing an active part in international efforts to bring the
Burmese authorities to improve the human rights situation
and undertake democratic and economic reforms .

on the subject from the Spanish authorities in order to
examine whether an infringement of Community law has
taken place and whether the workers of the former uranium
factory at Andujar may be able to seek redress from the
Member State under Community law .

An environmental impact assessment under Community
law — i.e. under Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (*) — is necessary
only when it is a matter of authorizing a new project or of
making changes to an existing project listed in the Annex to
the Directive .

According to the information received, authorization of a
construction project does not seem to be involved in this
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1258 / 93 case . Consequently, it would appear that Community law
does not apply .
by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities ( ) O J No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985 .

( 19 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 83 )

Subject : Protection against radiation in the region of

Andujar ( Taen / Andalusia / Spain )

Workers at the former Andujar Uranium Factory ( FUA ) are
calling for medical recognition by the Spanish authorities
that they suffered radioactive contamination in the course of
their work . No information was available at the time and the

workers are therefore calling for compensation for having
been subject to a dangerous level of exposure . Some 24
workers have died of similar forms of cancer .

Moreover, some local authorities are constantly calling for
prevention and security measures to protect the local civilian
population against the health risks posed by stored

waste .

Can the Commission ascertain to what extent the provisions
of Article 30 et seq . of the Euratom Treaty and the Directive
of 15 July 1980 on health protection of the public and
workers against the dangers of ionising radiation have been
complied with ?

In the event of non-fulfilment or incorrect application of
such provisions, is the Spanish Government obliged to
compensate the FUA workers ?

Does the Commission have information on what public
health protection measures are being implemented in
Andujar ?

Would it be possible to carry out an environmental impact
assessment ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 July 1993 )

The Commission has no data on the problem raised by the
Honourable Member . Therefore it will request information

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1296 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 84 )

Subject : The state of law courts in the Community

The appearance of the Patras Law Courts was recently
severely criticized by the local business federation in a
telegram to the Minister for Justice, Mrs Anna
Psarouda-Benaki . In view of this, can the Commission exert
pressure on the authorities of the Member States, in the
context of subsidiarity within the European Union, to make
available the funds necessary to maintain all the courts of
law in the Community in a State befitting a civilized
Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1993 )

The role of the Commission in protecting and safeguarding
the cultural heritage is clearly defined, notably in the
conclusions of the Council and the Ministers for Culture of

12 November 1992 on the ' guidelines for Community
cultural action '.

Once ratified, Article 128 of the Treaty on European Union
will serve to consolidate this role, which is to promote
cooperation between Member States and, where
appropriate, to support and supplement the action they
take, whilst acknowledging the preponderant role played by

No C 301 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

the Member States and the subsidiary nature of Community
action in this sphere .

The Commission is therefore unable to make

representations to the authorities of the Member States
concerning the restoration of all the Community 's law
courts . Any initiative in this area is exclusively a matter for
the relevant national and / or regional authorities of the
Member States .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 1993 )

Under Annex II to Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC (*) on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

Canis lupus is considered to be a species the conservation of
which requires special protection zones to be set up . In
Greece, populations to the south of the 39th parallel are
considered to warrant priority .

Pursuant to this Directive, with which all Member States
must comply as from June 1994, the Greek authorities must
draw up and put into effect measures to protect this
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1310 / 93 species .

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

(1 June 1993 )

{ 93 / C 301 / 85 )

Subject : Serbian arms shipments to Somalia

According to recent press reports a vessel has transported
arms from Serbia to Somalia .

Can the Commission confirm this information ?

What action does it intend to ake ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1993 )

The Commission has no information enabling it to confirm
whether arms have been shipped from Serbia to Somalia .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1323 / 93

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

(3 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 86 )

Subject : The wolf population of Greece

Wolves are to be found throughout Greece except for the
Peloponnese and the islands . According to a preliminary
report forming part of a 1988 University of Athens survey,
the wolf population was estimated to be no more than
300 — 500 . In view of the fact that the main threat to this

animal is the destruction of its natural habitat, can provision
be made for its protection in Greece ?

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1349 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 87 )

Subject : The Scaramanga shipyards

More than 1 200 people currently employed in the
Scaramanga shipyards are to lose their jobs, largely as
aresult of implementing the ' Seventh EEC Directive '. In view
of this, will the Commission request that the Directive
should not apply to the Scaramanga shipyards or that they
should be exempted ? Is there any possibility of the
Commission bringing pressure to bear on the authorities to
withdraw their redundancy plans ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 1993 )

The Commission understands the problems that workers of
the Hellenic Shipyard may be facing in the present situation,
but the Commission is not in a position to review its decision
as regards the Hellenic Yard .

Article 10 of the Seventh Directive provides that no
contract-related operating aid over the ceiling applicable to
other Member States can be given to the Greek yards if
granted for the financial restructuring of these yards in
connection with a systematic and specific restructuring
programme linked to the disposal by sale of the yards . This
process should, in compliance with Article 10, have been
completed before 31 December 1991 . The Commission
was, however, able to approve of aids to the yards, for
Hellenic in the form of a Drs 44 billion debt write-off as the

Greek Government undertook to sell or to close down the

yard by the 31 March 1993 .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 43

The Greek Government 's decision to sell or close down the

Hellenic Shipyard and the other three publicly owned
shipyards in Greece was a necessary element for the
Commission in resolving the problem of State aids for
shipbuilding in Greece . In the absence of such an
undertaking the Commission would not have been in
position to approve the aids to the Greek shipbuilding
industry .

Given the existing legal framework and the undertaking of
the Greek Government, the Commission can not therefore
review its position and does not consider any further
initiatives on the matter possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1361 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Council of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 88

Subject : Conclusion of security and defence cooperation

agreements with Latin American countries

In connection with the request by certain Latin American
countries to conclude security and defence cooperation
agreements with the alliances to which Community Member
States belong, has the Council considered whether such
cooperation will contribute to the consolidation of
democratic movements in Latin America ?

Answer ( 1 )

(6 October 1993 )

Ministers meeting in EPC intend to urge the Mexican
authorities to put an end to such violations in the courts,
prisons and rural areas of Mexico ?

Answer

(6 October 1993 )

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Community
and its Member States have noted with interest the

designation of 1993 as the year of the World 's Indigenous
People and considered that it presented a timely opportunity
for intensifying efforts to protect the rights of indigenous
communities and their cultural heritage . These
considerations were subscribed by Mexico at the third
institutionalized ministerial meeting between the European
Community and the Rio Group, held in Copenhagen on 23
and 24 April 1993 .

At the World Conference on Human Rights, which took
place in Vienna from 14 — 25 June, the plight of indigenous
people has been addressed . The Community and its Member
States express the hope that all Member States of the United
Nations will ensure the full and free participation of
indigenous people in all aspects of society, in particular in
matters of concern to them .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1408 / 93

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Council of the European Communities

(9 June 1993 )

93 / C 301 / 90
The question raised by the Honourable Member has not
been dealt within the EPC framework .

Subject : Attention paid to the Group of 15
( ] ) This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers meeting

in political cooperation, within whose province the question
came . In his speech opening the third G-15 summit in November

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1367 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to European Political Cooperation

(4 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 89 )

Subject : Human rights in Mexico

In view of the fact that the indigenous peoples living in
Mexico are suffering human rights violations, do the

1992, President Abdou Diouf of the Republic of Senegal
stressed that even though the Group of 15 was set up with
the aim of helping developing countries to solve their shared
problems, it should be borne in mind that the countries of
the North had a key role to play in constructing their
common future . The then acting president and now
President Itamar Franco of the Federative Republic of Brazil
stated on the same occasion that the Group of 7, comprising
the main developed countries, recognized the Group of 15 as
a valid partner in discussions, as had been demonstrated by
the letter sent by Chancellor Helmut Kohl to the President of
Senegal at the conclusion of the G-7 summit held in July, of
which he had been chairman .

What is the Community 's position on this platform for
South-South cooperation, which is becoming increasingly
active on the international scene ?

No C 301 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

Answer (')          

(8 October 1993 )

Although the specific question put by the Honourable
Member has not been discussed in the Council, the latter
would point out that, in its policy towards the developing
countries, it has always lent its support to the principle of
greater South-South cooperation .

( J ) This reply has been given by the the Council of the European

Communities, within whose province the question came .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1420 / 93

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )

to the Council of the European Communities

(9 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 91 )

Subject : Peruvian debt repayments

Given the serious economic difficulties being faced'lby Peru
and the constant outflow of badly needed finance to service
foreign debts, will the Council consider advocating the
eventual cancellation of those debt by all Member States of
the European Community ?

Answer

(8 October 1993 )

1 . The Community and its Member States are aware of
the debt problems of the developing countries, and have
always emphasized that the matter was one of concern to the
international community as a whole and that suitable
answers should therefore be sought in the relevant
international fora . They have accordingly played a
constructive part in elaborating an international strategy
directed towards growth and development .

2 . That international strategy is centred on three main
aspects in particular, namely :

— the adoption by the developing countries themselves of

adjustment policies conducive to growth ?

— a favourable international economic and trade

environment ;

financial support from the international community

( public and private sectors ).

The measures to be adopted must take into account the
conditions and needs of each individual developing country
and should continue to include, for example, according to
needs and depending on each case, the granting of further
appropriations, the rescheduling of debt serving and, if
appropriate, the reduction of debts .

3 . Regarding the first aspect, the improvement in the
macro-economic factors in Latin America has to be

welcomed, especially those relating to public finance, GNP
growth, the drop in the inflation indices, trade liberalization
and the increase in capital flow .

The Community and its Member States confirm their
intention to continue to support, in the appropriate fora, the
adjustment and economic reform programmes of the
countries of Latin America, including Peru .

4 . As regards the creation of a favourable international
economic and trade environment, it has to be emphasized
that the Community, for its part, contributes through
various instruments to the process of economic revival in the
countries of Latin America, notably through :

— the cooperation possibilities opened by the new
Framework Cooperation Agreement between the EEC
and the Andean Pact signed in Copenhagen on 23 April

1993 :

— the temporary, exceptional trade concessions granted to

four Andean Pact countries, including Peru, under the
GSP ;

— encouragement of greater European investment in Latin

America, in paricular by extending EIB activities and
action under the European Community Investment
Partners programme .

5 . Lastly, it should be pointed out that Peru has recently
made substantial progress towards its re-integration into the
international financial community ;

— setting its arrears with the IMF and the World Bank in

March 1993, enabling it to benefit anew from loans
from those two financial institutions ;

— concluding an agreement, in early May 1993, with the

Paris Club on the rescheduling of its debts with public
creditors .

These different agreements should facilitate Peru 's
negotiations with its private creditors .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 45

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1422 / 93 programme management ( staff training, number of
by Mrs Maartje van Putten ( S ) operational services, etc .) can also be used to gauge

to the Commission of the European Communities effectiveness .

(9 June 1993 )

In view of their complexity, matters relating to maternal
( 93 / C 301 / 92 ) health are dealt with by the Commission through many
different types of operation ( women and development,
family planning, etc .), which are not confined solely to the
Subject : Maternal mortality in developing countries medical aspects .

According to the World Health Organization the chances of
a woman in Africa dying in pregnancy or childbirth are 1 in
21, compared to just 1 in almost 10 000 in northern
Europe .

1 . How would the Commission assess the effectiveness of

its reproductive health programmes in lowering
maternal mortality rates not just in Africa but
throughout the developing world ?

2 . What measures does the Commission plan to take to

In line with the districts policy formulated by the WHO, one
of the objectives pursued by the Commission as regards the
medical aspects is to incorporate preventive and curative
treatment for mothers in the different levels of basic health

service .

improve maternal health care in developing WRITTEN QUESTION No 1446 / 93
countries ?

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 93 )
Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 July 1993 )

Maternal mortality rates are linked with a complex set of
social, cultural and technical factors with a particular
influence on :

— women 's status in society, fertility rates, the use of

contraception, abortion, etc ;

— physical, cultural and financial accessibility of
preventive and / or curative treatment ( availability of
services, risk perception, motivation to seek help,
confidence in the various services offered, respective
costs, etc .);

— organization of preventive services, sensitivity and

quality of diagnosis of risk and also the quality and
effectiveness of a reference system ;

— organization of curative services, quality and
effectiveness of the treatment techniques offered .

Reproductive health care programmes may be aimed at
changing one or more determining factors in maternal
mortality rates . The Commission bases its evaluation of
these programmes on the recommendations of the WHO
and other recognized scientific authorities . These
programmes ' overall impact is reflected in specific mortality
rates during pregnancy or in the immediate aftermath of
pregnancy ( 42 days ). Other more specific indicators of
impact ( contraceptive utilization rate, abortions, etc .) or of

Subject : Social Fund programmes for women

In view of the fact that women are more affected than men

by unemployment and do not benefit sufficiently from the
current Social Fund programmes, will the Commission
improve the effectiveness of these programmes with respect
to women ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 July 1993 )

As part of the new reform of the Structural Funds, the
Commission has included in the proposed regulations the
promotion of equal opportunities as one of the tasks of the
European Social Fund . Once these proposals are adopted by
the Council, women will be able to take part not only in all
ESF measures but also in operational programmes
specifically for women .

With regard to the NOW initiative, which aims to
implement innovative transnational measures for women, it
should be pointed out that the Commission is currently
drawing up a Green Paper to provide a basis for defining
Community initiatives in the future .

No C 301 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1491 / 93

directive on the quality of air, to be submitted at the end of

1992 or, at the latest, the beginning of 1993 .

by Mr Alexander Langer ( V )

to European Political Cooperation

( 14 June 1993 ) Since, to date, no such framework directive has been

submitted to the European Parliament, can the Commission
( 93 / C 301 / 94 ) say when it will be submitted ?

( 14 June 1993 )

Subject : International Civilian Peace-Keeping and
Peace-Building Training Program ( IPT )

From 13 September to 9 October 1993, the first
International Civilian Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building
Training Program ( IPT ) foundation course is to be held in
the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and the Settlement of
Conflicts ( OSFK ) in Stadtschlaining ( Burgenland ) under the
aegis of the Austrian Government . This is intended to help
to train qualified civilian personnel to be sent on
peace-keeping and peace-building missions as part of UN
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali 's ' Agenda for
peace '. It could also be regarded as a specific and positive
contribution which can be made by neutral or smaller
countries .

(*) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-418 ( May 1992 ).

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 )

The draft framework directive on air quality will be
submitted by the Commission, in conformity with its work
programme, in October 1993 .

Is European Political Cooperation aware of this measure,
and what view does it take of it ? Will it take steps to support
and extend this and other, similar courses ? Will it ensure WRITTEN QUESTION No 1556 / 93
that EC nationals are sent to participate ?

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 June 1993 )

Answer
( 93 / C 301 / 96

(6 October 1993 )

The Community and its Member States are aware of the
International Civilian Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building
Training Programme ( IPT ) organized in Stadtschlaining
under the aegis of the Austrian Government and are in
agreement with the Honourable Member of Parliament that
this course can positively contribute to the implementation
of the ' Agenda for Peace '. It is up to Member States to decide
whether they will send nationals to participate in the

course .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1494 / 93

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 95 )

Subject : Introduction of a framework directive on air

quality

In the debate of 12 May 1992 ( l ) on the Alavanos report

( Doc . A3-0177 / 92 ) on air pollution by ozone,
Commissioner Ripa di Meana said that criteria for the
various pollutants would form part of a general framework

Subject : European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development

Further to the Commission 's reply to Mr Patrick Cox to
Question 1561 / 92 ( J ) on the expenditure priorities of the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

( EBRD ), will it update the answer with an explanation of the
expenditure incurred by the EBRD in the redevelopment of
its London headquarters, including the replacement of
existing marble, and on the use of private aircraft by the
President of the Bank, Mr Attali ?

(!) OJ No C 101, 13 . 4 . 1993, p. 15 .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

The audit committee of the board of directors of the EBRD

has carried out a full enquiry into the matters raised in the
Honourable Member 's question . The Commission is asking
the Bank to forward a copy to the president of Parliament,
so that it can be more generally available .

8 . 11 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301 / 47

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1649 / 93

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 28 June 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 97 )

Subject : Arms export control to Bosnia

Further to the reply by the EPC to Written Question
No 1093 / 92 ( ] ) on Arms Exports and the Commission reply
to Written Question No 1092 / 92 ( 2 ), what further decisions
have been taken by EPC in regard to development of arms
export control to Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and
Croatia ; and to Iraq, Iran and the Gulf States as a result of
the EPC ad-hoc working party ?

(!) OJ No C 202, 10 . 8 . 1992, p . 65 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 95, 5 . 4 . 1993, p . 14 .

Answer

(6 October 1993 )

The Community and its Member States have decided on an
embargo on arms and military material covering the entire
territory of ex - Yugoslavia, effective as of 5 July 1991 . They
have also urged all other third countries who could be
considered as possible arms suppliers to do the same . This
embargo which has been reinforced by the relevant
Resolutions of the UN Security Council has been applied by
Member States on a national basis . The Community and its
Member States have, in the framework of European Political
Cooperation, on a continuous basis monitored all aspects of
the embargo, including its application and surveillance .
Furthermore, the Community and its Member States are
actively contributing to the implementation of the embargo
in the Adriatic, the Danube and the countries neighbouring
Serbia .

In the case of Iraq, an embargo on arms and military
material exists since 6 August 1990 . In the case of Iran and
the Gulf States the European Community and its Member
States apply the common criteria on arms exports agreed by
the European Council on 28— 29 June 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1805 / 93

by Mr Christian de la Malène ( RDE )

to European Political Cooperation

( 13 July 1993 )

Rouge to comply with the Paris Agreements and the
impossible position of the UN troops, theoretically
responsible for preparing the way for elections and
demilitarizing the Khmer Rouge but without the practical
means to do so, does not EPC consider it necessary to
condemn, as a matter of urgency, the unacceptable acts of
the Khmer Rouge and their incomplete and unbalanced
implementation of the Paris Agreements ?

Answer

(6 October 1993 )

The Honourable Member is referred to the answer given to
Written Question No 1433 / 93 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2281 / 93

by Mr Henri Saby ( PSE )
to the Council of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 93 / C 301 / 99 )

Subject : Decentralized cooperation

The purpose of the decentralized cooperation provisions set
out in Articles 20, 21, 22 and 230 of the Lome IV
Convention is to give a whole range of bodies — both
decentralized public bodies ( at regional, local, district and
other levels ) and private concerns ( groups of companies,
chambers of commerce, producers, cooperatives, NGO 's,
media operators, etc .) — a central role in projects and

programmes .

Can the Council make an initial appraisal of the operations
financed from EDF funds and from the appropriations for
regional cooperation with Mediterranean countries ? Can it
say which strategies have been adopted and what steps have
been taken to ensure that they are implemented in a manner
consistent with the priorities set for developing
countries ?

Furthermore, would it not be appropriate to consider
extending this type of initiative to other regions of the world

( Latin America, Asia, etc .) and to the countries of central
and eastern Europe ?

( 93 / C 301 / 98 ) Answer

(8 October 1993 )

Subject : Situation in Cambodia

In view of the deterioration in the political situation in
Cambodia, mainly because of the failure of the Khmer

1 . The Community encourages the development of
decentralized cooperation, i.e. the expansion and

No C 301 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 8 . 11 . 93

mobilization of initiatives on the part of all protagonists in
civilian society in order to promote both wholehearted
participation by the population in economic and social
development and strengthened democracy .

The Fourth ACP-EEC Convention contains the most

specific provisions in that area . However, at its meeting in
May 1991, the Development Council stated that that new
concept might also find an application in the Community 's
cooperation mechanisms in the fields of the new
Mediterranean policy and of the new guidelines for the
developing countries of Asia and Latin America .

2 . At its meeting in November 1992 the Development
Council congratulated the Commission on its efforts to date
to promote such cooperation, as evidenced by the
implementation or identification of several projects, and
called upon it to increase such measures . The Council also
asked the Commission to submit to its December 1993

meeting a progress report on decentralized cooperation and
on the detailed procedures for administering it .

On the basis of that report the Council will be able to carry
out a preliminary survey of the action carried out and to
assess the strategies, principles and priorities laid down for
decentralized cooperation .