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_^ m ^_ / * / * •  - "I "T" "I ISSN 0378-6986
# Orhcial Journal C241

## of the European Communities .6Sep.emb.n991

### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

91/C 241/01 No 1043/90 by Mr Joaquin Sis6 Cruellas to the Commission

Subject: Rules of conduct for misleading advertising (Supplementary answer) 1

91/C 241/02 No 1164/90 by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez to the Commission

Subject: Farm prices 1990-91 1

91/C 241/03 No 1462/90 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo, Mr Mateo Sierra
Bardaji, Mrs Carmen Diez de Rivera Icaza, Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez and
Mr Josep Pons Grau to the Commission
Subject: Modernization of the non-industrial fishing fleet in the Mediterranean 2

91/C 241/04 No 1642/90 by Mr James Janssen van Raay to the Commission
Subject: Milk prices in the United Kingdom 3

91/C 241/05 No 2138/90 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission
Subject: European environmental advertising standards 3

91/C 241/06 No 2203/90 by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra to the Commission

Subject: Forest fires in the Valencia Region (Spain) 4

91 / C 241 /07 No 2732/90 by Mr Paul Lannoye to the Commission
Subject: Contamination controls 5

91 / C 241 /08 No 2759/90 by Mr Christian Rovsing to the Commission
Subject: Regulation of natural gas prices for greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands 5

91 / C 241 /09 No 2779/90 by Mr Dimitrios Nianias to the Commission

Subject: Use of hazardous pesticides 5

91/C 241/10 No 2887/90 by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject: Import of toxic feedingstuffs by Member States of the Community from South
America 6

2 (Continued overleaf)

Notice No

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Contents (continued) age

No 2959/90 by Mr Hemrao Muntingh to the Commission

Subject: The tuna trade and dolphins

No 3041/90 by Mr Elio di Rupo to the Commission
Subject: Reprocessing and recycling of plastic waste

No 34/91 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission

Subject: Natural gas plan for Portugal

No 76/91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject: Applications for funding by British Nuclear Fuels and Cumbria County Council ^
(United Kingdom)

No 94/91 by Mr Proinsias de Rossa to the Commission

Subject: Storm damage in Ireland

No 101/91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes and Mrs Claire Joanny to the

Commission

Subject: Funding of ex _post facto_ studies

No 146/91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and Virginio Bettini to the Commission

Subject: EC funding for the municipality of Como

No 149/91 by Mr Jesus Cabezon Alonso to the Commission
Subject: EC approval for the Torrelavega slaughterhouse (Cantabria) 1

No 155/91 by Mr Max Simeoni to the Commission
Subject: Respect for wildlife and Directive 79/409/EEC - *

No 161 /91 by Mr Bernard Salzer to the Commission

Subject: Use of biodegradable plastics

No 194/91 by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez to the Commission

Subject: Distribution of Structural Funds  

No 205/91 by Mr Heinz Kohler to the Commission
Subject: Objective 5 b area in Bavaria (Germany)

No 230/91 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject: EC Semen Directive

No 236/91 by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: Free movement of animals

No 253/91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Illegal fishing in the Gulf of Naples

No 260/91 by Mr Max Simeoni and Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission

Subject: The Community's islands and island regions

No 269/91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Measurement of inflation rate

No 293/91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission

Subject: Labelling of alcoholic drinks

Notice No

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Contents (continued) Pa e e

No 318/91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject: Reduction of catches in the fishery sector and additional social measures 17

No 324/91 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission

Subject: Lignite mining in Drama in north-eastern Greece 1'

No 349/91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Success of the GATT talks - 18

No 359/91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Water supplies for the municipality of Khios 1 °

No 372/91 by Mrs Dorothee Piermont to the Commission
Subject: Implementation of Parliament's resolution of 13 September 1982 on war toys 19

No 376/91 by the following Members: Francois Guillaume, Henry Chabert, Mark

Killilea and Patrick Lane to the Commission

Subject: Implications of allocating an excessive sugar quota to the territory of the former GDR
for the Uruguay Round talks *"

No 405/91 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject: Transport of hazardous waste to Poland 20

No 456/91 by Mrs Solange Fernex to the Commission
Subject: Waste disposal in Redange (France) 2 ^

No 464/91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject: 'Open-Network' project between regions and East Europe 21

No 468/91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject: Technical assistance regarding the Structural Funds for Ireland 21

No 475/91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject: Threat to the Alaskan walrus ... 22

No 487/91 by Mr Arthur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject: Guide to Community initiatives and programmes 22

No 489/91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject: Directive on the liability of the liberal professions (services) - • • 23

No 490/91 by Mr Luigi Moretti to the Commission
Subject: Aid to the Cave del Predil coalmining area - • - • 23

No 499/91 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Fingerprinting _^_

No 502/91 by Mr lb Christensen to the Commission
Subject: Non-compliance with restructuring programme for the fishing fleet 24

No 587/91 by Mr Niels Kofoed to the Commission
Subject: Multiannual Development Programme 1987-91 — Reduction of catch capacity 24

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 502/91 and 587/91 24

(Continued overleaf)

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,. Page
Contents (continued)

No 509/91 by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Commission
Subject: Withdrawal of aid for the promotion of milk quality in mountain areas

No 520/91 by Mrs Annemarie Goedmakers to the Commission ^

Subject: Observance of human rights in Chad

No 544/91 by Mr Jacques Tauran to the Commission ^

Subject: Maritime transport of animals for slaughter

No 558/91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject- Effective dissemination and optimization of the results of activities in Community ^
research, technological development, and demonstration

No 568/91 by Mrs Nicole Fontaine to the Commission ^
Subject: Establishment of a European school of administration 

No 577/91 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission ^

Subject: Artificial insemination centres

No 584/91 by Mr Gerhard Schmidt to the Commission _^_

Subject: Recycled paper flowerpots

No 599/91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission ^

Subject: An Environment Charter for Europe

No 664/91 by Mrs Maria Santos to the Commission ^

Subject: Situation in East Timor

No 679/91 by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez to the Commission ^

Subject: Table olives

No 681/91 by Mr GijsdeVries to the Commission ^

Subject: Human rights and Bank for Eastern Europe

No 688/91 by Mr Frederic Rosmini to the Commission ^

Subject: Renaval

No 696/91 by Ms Christine Oddy and Mr Alex Smith to the Commission ^

Subject: Resettled people in El Salvador ;

No 706/91 by Mrs Maria Santos to the Commission
Subject: Theplantingof eucalyptusinanareaof ornithologicalinterestinPortugal

No 714/91 by Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech and Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos
Jimenez deTejada to the Commission 3 3

Subject: Senior citizens

No 718/91 by Mr Brian Simpson to the Commission ^
Subject: Discrimination against professional rugby league players   - • •   

No 720/91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission ^
Subject: Promotion of Euromarketing in theory and practice

No 735/91 by Mr Panayotis Lambrias to the Commission
Subject:Computertranslationandprocessingof the less common Community languages

(Continued on page 46)

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Contents (continued) Page

No 748/91 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission

Subject: Uses of the Alqueva dam

No 770/91 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission

35
Subject: Phare programme

No 778/91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject: Health for All 2000 3 6

No 779/91 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission

Subject: Coresponsibility levy in the cereals sector

No 798/91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject: Reorganization of working time in the cleaning industry

No 804/91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission

Subject: Israeli blockade of Gaza port 

No 809/91 by Mr Michel Herve to the Commission
Subject: Harmonization in the construction sector

No 824/91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject: Siemens plans for GPT — Competition policy

No 843/91 by Mr Francesco Speroni to the Commission

Subject: Protection of silkworm farming

No 879/91 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission
Subject: Advance funding of EAGGF (Guarantee Section) assistance 39

No 889/91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission

Subject: State aids to industry

No 915/91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject: Community veto on admissible regional aid in the Madrid area 40

No 919/91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject: Community subsidies for the Euronews consortium

No 945/91 by Mr Michael Welsh tothe Commission
Subject: Regional development agencies in the Community

No 950/91 by Mr Amedee Turner to the Commission
Subject: Statistics for Patents taken out by firms and research establishments in Member States 41

No 979/91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

                           - 42
Subject: Human rights violation in Syria

No 983/91 by Mr Alain Marleix to the Commission
Subject: EEC subsidies for the Auvergne region  

No 989/91 by Mr Paul Howell to the Commission
Subject: Fisheries Agreement with Sierra Leone

(Continued on inside back cover)

Contents (continued) Page

91/C 241/82 No 1003/91 by Mrs Marie Jepsen to the Commission

Subject: Sanctions against EC Member States which fail to comply with EC for objectives to
reduce national fishing fleets 44

91/C 241/83 No 1068/91 by Mr Bartho Pronk and Mr James Janssen van Raay to the Commission

Subject: Supplement for electronic payments 44

91/C 241/84 No 1182/91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Food industry employment statistics 45

91/C 241/85 No 1183/91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Food hygiene certification 45

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1182/91 and 1183/91 45

No C 241/1
16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

###### I

_(Information)_

#### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1043/90

by Mr Joaquin Siso Cruellas (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 May 1990)_

(91/C 241/01)

_Subject:_ Rules of conduct for misleading advertising

The spectacular publicity campaign carried out in France
by the manufacturers of two different brands of
detergent, in which one detergent was contrasted with the
other, ended in court with a ruling that the advertising
campaign had to stop.

This was the first sentence handed down in France against
the abuse of ecological arguments, and it has already been
suggested that the long-term consequence of advertising
campaigns like the one in question will be the outright
rejection of all ecologically-based arguments by the public
due, in the first instance, to over-exposure of the colour

green.

Does the Commission believe, therefore, that the
European Community possesses rules of conduct such as
to prevent advertising which misleads the consumer, and
that such misleading advertising does not constitute
unfair competition, or does the Commission believe that
Community legislation in this area is inadequate and that
appropriate rules of conduct are required?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 May 1991)_

Further to its answer of 21 June 1990 (') the Commission
can now provide the following information.

Community provisions on misleading advertising are laid
down in Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1985
relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States

concerning misleading advertising ( [2] ). This Directive is
general in scope and applies to advertising activities which
affect the public as a whole, i.e. both consumers and
competitors in commercial, industrial, craft or
professional activities within the common market.
However, certain industries or individual products may be
subject to sectoral rules under specific Community
regulations relating to advertising.

As regards the case referred to by the Honourable
Member, a proposal for a Regulation on a Community
award scheme for an eco-label for products which are
environmentally less harmful ( [3] ) is currently before the
Council (see the Commission's answer to Written
Question No 2138/90 by Mr de Vries ( [4] )).

O OJNoC207,20. 8.1990.
O OJNoL250,19.9.1984.
O OJ No C 75, 20. 3.1991.
( [4] ) See page 3 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1164/90

by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez (DR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1990)_

(91/C 241/02)

_Subject:_ Farm prices 1990-91

The Commission has proposed to the Council that farm
prices in 1990-91 should be frozen for the third year
running and even reduced in certain sectors such as citrus
fruit and durum wheat in order, it is claimed, to continue

the reform of the CAP.

1. Why has the Commission not used the ECU 2,3
billion saved on the EAGGF Guarantee budget in
1989-90 to increase farm prices in the most sensitive
sectors?

No C 241/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

2. With the fall in public farm stocks, particularly butter
and milk powder, is the Commission not considering
making proposals to abolish the basic coresponsibility
levy on milk?

3. How does the Commission plan to respond to
emergencies and requests for food aid if public stocks
have been heavily run down and there is no question
of increasing production?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(21_ _June 1990)_

1. Over the past few years the Community has
undertaken a thorough revision of the common
agricultural policy involving, among other things, a
restrictive price policy, measured to make producers more
responsible, more flexible intervention arrangements,
diversification and stronger sociostructural measures.
This reform addresses not only budgetary concerns (the
need to keep down agricultural expenditure and make
rational use of available resources), but also and above all
to the need to reestablish a better balance on agricultural
markets, to encourage an improvement in the
competitiveness of European agriculture and promote its
development on a sound economic basis, since these are
the only ways of ensuring a lasting improvement in the
situation. One of the main conditions for the success of
this reform is coherence and continuity in the action taken
to achieve these objectives. Any reversal in the
implementation of these policies would not only send
contradictory signals to farmers but also jeopardize the
positive results achieved so far.

This is why, the price proposals for 1990-91 demonstrate
both a desire to intensify the measures in support of
structurally weaker farms in less-favoured areas, and a
concern for continuity with regard to the policies set out
in the reform of the CAP and already introduced over the
past few years. This approach is all the more justified in
that the relative improvement in the budgetary situation in
1989 and 1990 is to a large extent temporary, being linked
above all to dollar exchange rate trends and the effects of
weather conditions (in particular drought in North
America in 1988) on stocks and world prices. This
relatively favourable situation for the Community budget
is already deteriorating, as a result of both the pick-up in
world production following two years of dramatic
fluctuation, and the fall in the value of the dollar.

2. The basic coresponsibility levy on milk has been
reduced several times over the past few years, in particular
for small farms and those located in less-favoured or
mountain and hill areas. The funds raised by this levy are
used to finance a number of measures to promote outlets
for milk products which play an essential role in the
development of the domestic consumption of such
products. Furthermore, in spite of the considerable

reduction in butter and skimmed-milk intervention
stocks, it should not be overlooked that support for the
milk sector is still very high, as witnessed by quantities
disposed of through the EAGGF Guarantee Section
(about 50% of annual butter and skimmed-milk
production) and the level of overall expenditure for this
sector (about ECU 4 700 million in 1989).

Under these circumstances the Commission did not
consider it advisable to propose the abolition of the basic
coresponsibility levy on milk.

3. Community food aid has been part of Community
development policy particularly since the adoption of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3972/86 (')• As such it is
mainly a development instrument and not necessarily a
means of disposing of agricultural surpluses. In the
absence of stocks, the products to be supplied are
purchased on the market and in particular on the
Community market, in accordance with Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 2200/87 ( [2] ). It should also be noted
that cereals, stocks, far from being exhausted, currently
exceed 11 million tonnes.

O OJNoL370,30.12.1986.
O OJ No L 204,25. 7.1987.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1462/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz, Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo,
Mr Mateo Sierra Bardaji, Mrs Carmen Diez de Rivera

Icaza, Mr Juan de la Camara Martinez and

Mr Josep Pons Grau (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 June 1990)_

(91/C 241/03)

_Subject:_ Modernization of the non-industrial fishing fleet
in the Mediterranean

Does the Commission consider the need to modernize the
non-industrial fishing fleet and the essential
improvements required in safety and hygiene conditions
on board fishing boats to be among the main criteria to be
borne in mind when the groundwork for a Mediterranean
fisheries policy is laid ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(10_ _September 1990)_

The Commission has recently outlined its common policy
plans for Mediterranean fisheries, indicating that as a
general rule existing and future Community instruments
that are not at present applicable to the Mediterranean
will become so.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/3

As far as the need to improve safety and hygiene
conditions on board is concerned, Regulation (EEC)
No 4028/86 (') makes this a priority, even a requirement
for eligibility.

Furthermore, the Commission in its communication
concerning its action programme relating to the
implementation of the Community charter of basic social
rights for workers ( [2] ) stated that it intended to prepare a
proposal for a Council Directive on minimum safety and
health requirements for fishing vessels. This is also
provided for in the Annex to Directive 89/391/EEC ( [3] ) as
an individual Directive as indicated in Article 16 (1) of
that Directive.

O OJ No L 376, 31.12.1986.
O COM(89) 568 final.
O OJ No L 183, 29.6.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1642/90

by Mr James Janssen van Raay (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 July 1990)_

(91/C 241/04)

_Subject:_ Milk prices in the United Kingdom

Is the Commission aware that milk prices in the United
Kingdom are considerably lower, even taking into
account the green currency rate, than in the other
Member States of the European Community?

Would the Commission be prepared to investigate
whether a cartel of big buyers artificially and in violation
of Article 85 keep the prices low?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 September 1990)_

Calculations for 1989 show that prices in the United
Kingdom for standardized milk (i.e. 3,7% fat, 3,4%
protein) were at 82,3% of the EC target price. In
comparison, average prices for France were at 82,3% of
target price and for Ireland at 89,2%. 1988 producer
prices were lower in France, Ireland and Belgium than in
the United Kingdom. Thus while United Kingdom prices
are at the lower end of the scale, they are not always the
lowest.

Most milk produced within the United Kingdom is
marketed through compulsory producer-controlled Milk
Marketing Boards, whose existence and powers are
regulated under Community legislation ( [x] ). The
Regulations provide that the prices at which the Boards

sell milk to the dairy industry shall be established on the
basis of negotiations at which the Boards and their
purchasers are represented on an equal footing. The
United Kingdom is required to communicate details of
the prices negotiated between the Boards and their
purchasers and the Commission keeps the operation of
the system under close scrutiny to ensure that the
provisions of the Regulation are respected.

O Article 25 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27. 6.
1968 (as amended) - OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968; Council
Regulation (EEC) No 1422/78 - OJ No L 171, 28. 6. 1978;
Council Regulation (EEC) No 1565/79 - OJ No L188,
26.7.1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2138/90

byMrGijsdeVries(LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 September 1990)_

(91/C 241/05)

_Subject:_ European environmental advertising standards

Dutch advertising organizations have recently reached
agreement on a code of environmental advertising
standards. This voluntary code, which contains 11 points,
lays down rules with which all forms of advertising must
comply and refers to the environmental implications of
the production, distribution and consumption of goods
and services and the disposal of waste (*).

Is the Commission willing, in collaboration with
European advertising, consumers' and environmental
organizations, to find out whether a voluntary code of
this kind can be created at Community level ?

O Adformatie No 30/31 of 2 August 1990.

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 May 1991)_

In Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 on the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States in respect of misleading
advertising (*), together with its current activities on
comparative advertising, the Commission is working
towards the broad outline of a Community policy on
advertising.

Moreover, a proposal for a Regulation on a Community
award scheme for an Eco-label for products that cause
less harm to the environment ( [2] ) is currently under
discussion within the Council. Article 19 provides for the
Regulation of 'ecological' publicity as follows:

16. 9. 91
No C 241/4 Official Journal of the European Communities

1. References to the Eco-label in advertising shall only
be made once a label has been granted and only in
relation to the specific product for which the label has
been granted.

2. Any advertising or labelling which might lead to
confusion with the Eco-label should be prohibited.

However, the Commission will examine with interest the
efforts to lay down a voluntary code of good conduct on
'Green marketing' of the Dutch 'Milleureclamecode' type
by certain concerned circles.

O OJNoL250,19.9.1984.
O OJ No C 75, 20. 3.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2203/90

by Mrs Teresa Domingo Segarra (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 October 1990)_

(91/C 241/06)

_Subject:_ Forest fires in the Valencia Region (Spain)

It is well known that forest fires are a serious problem in
the countries of southern Europe. There were over
100 000 forest fires in Spain in 1989, which burnt 390 000
hectares and caused considerable material damage.
Recently, in several areas of the Valencia Region, more
land was destroyed in the space of only four days than
over the previous three years, and this year'has already
seen a tenfold increase in the number of hectares affected.

Given that the Commission funds a number of measures

under the following Regulations:

Regulation (EEC) No 1614/89 ( [x] ) on protection of the
Community's forests against fire;

Regulation (EEC) No 1118/88 ( [2] ) on a specific common
measure to encourage the development of agriculture in
certain regions of Spain;

Regulation (EEC) No 1610/89 ( [3] ) on the scheme to
develop and optimally utilize woodlands in rural areas in
the Community,

and provides for financial aid for the re-planting of
woodlands destroyed by fire, and measures to protect
woodlands, can it say:

1. How much aid, if any, the Valencia Region received
under the above Regulations in 1987,1988 and 1989?

2. What preventive measures in the campaign against
forest fires it intends to adopt in collaboration with
the Spanish authorities and the Valencia Region, in
particular those aimed at the restoration of devastated
areas and the regulation of forestry activities ?

O OJNoL165,15.6.1989,p. 10.
O OJ No L 107,28.4.1988, p. 3.
O OJNoL165,15.6.1989, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr MacSharry

on behalf of the Commission

_(7 December 1990)_

1. Under Regulation (EEC) No 3529/86 O, as last
amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1614/89, total aid of
ECU 9 976 609 was granted to 47 Spanish projects,
broken down as follows: ECU 1 254 196 in 1987,, ECU
1 125 353 in 1988, ECU 4 052 114 in 1989 and ECU
3 544 946 in 1990. No specific request under the above
Regulations has been received from the Valencia Region
by the Commission.

Under Regulation (EEC) No 1118/88, the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guidance
Section reimburses 50 % of the cost of the improvement of
woodlands to the Spanish Government up to a maximum
of ECU 2 300 per hectare in the case of afforestation and
ECU 2 000 per hectare in the case of the improvement of
deteriorated woodlands within an overall limit of ECU

194 million including ECU 12,6 million for the Valencia
Region. In 1988, ECU 175 000 were reimbursed for
forestry measures, mainly for the improvement of
deteriorated woodlands. In 1989, ECU 322 000 were
reimbursed for forestry measures, of which ECU 295 000
were for reafforestation and ECU 27 000 were for the

improvement of deteriorated woodlands.

The operational programme submitted for approval by
the Valencia Region provides for a total of ECU 6 million
for reafforestation and the protection of forests against
fires under Regulation (EEC) No 1610/89.

2. The Commission is aware that fires constitute the

principle problems of the forests of southern Europe. The
major fires of the last two years have revealed
considerable shortcomings in measures to protect against
fires which have destroyed several hundred thousand
hectares. The Standing Committee on Forests, set up by a
Council Decision of 29 May 1989, has set up a think tank
on forest fires which is devoting considerable time to a
detailed analysis of the causes of fires and of systems of
protection. The aim is to provide Member States with a
better system for eliminating the causes of fires and for
protecting forests against fire.

(') OJNoL326,21.11.1986.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/5

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2732/90

by Mr Paul Lannoye (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 241/07)

_Subject:_ Contamination controls

Among the national inspection and control procedures to
establish the quality of foodstuffs, the Community
Member States are obliged to monitor contamination of
farm animals and fresh meat (Directive 86/469/EEC (*)),
milk (Directive 85/397/EEC ( [2] )) and eggs (Directive
85/437/EEC ( [3] )) by environmental pollutants such as
pesticides, detergents or any other substance harmful to
health.

Does Belgium respect these Directives, particularly with
regard to chlorinated organic compounds, PCPs, PCBs,
dioxins and furans?

O OJ No L 275,26.9.1986, p. 36.
O OJ No L 226, 24. 8.1985, p. 13.
O OJNoL212,22.7.1989, p. 87.

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 April 1991)_

The annual plan for the examination of fresh meat and
live farm animals for residues, presented to the
Commission by the Belgian authorities, includes
examinations for several contaminants as foreseen by
Directive 86/469/EEC. The Commission is not yet in a
position to give official information on residues in milk
and egg production in the Member States, as annual plans
for the examination for residues in these products are not
yet provided for in Directives 85/397/EEC and
89/437/EEC.

Directives 86/362/EEC _(_ _[l]_ _)_ and 86/363/EEC (') provide
for maximum pesticide residue levels for, _inter alia,_
organochlorine pesticides in cereals and products of
animal origin. The Commission is satisfied that the
maximum levels provided for are being checked by the
Belgian authorities.

O OJ No L 221,7. 8.1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2759/90

by Mr Christian Rovsing (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_ '

(91/C 241/08)

_Subject:_ Regulation of natural gas prices for greenhouse
horticulture in the Netherlands

The crisis in the Middle East has led to considerable price
increases for oil and consequently also in the price of

natural gas, which is regulated on the basis of oil prices.
One result of this will be a significant increase in energy
expenditure during the coming heating season for
greenhouse horticulture in the Community.

This does not, however, apply to greenhouse horticulture
in the Netherlands. Unlike other countries, in which there
is a rapid adjustment, Dutch natural gas prices are
regulated on the basis of the previous 12 months' oil price
changes.

1. What is the Cbmmission's attitude to this situation in

which Dutch greenhouse gardeners are given an
advantage, in the form of lower energy costs, over
their counterparts in other countries for the 1990-91
heating season?

2. What measures does it intend to take to prevent this
distortion of competition in greenhouse horticulture

in the EC?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 May 1991)_

1. and 2. The price tariff for natural gas for
horticulture in the Netherlands, to which the Honourable
Member refers, is based on the trend in the average price
of heavy fuel oil in the 12 months preceding the quarter
for which the gas price is fixed, this tariff having been
introduced from the 1987-88 marketing year on.

The Commission did not object to this tariff; in making
this decision it took into account the extra charges levied
on gas consumption in the horticultural sector compared
to gas consumption in similar industrial sectors (tariff D).

A new pricing system for the horticultural sector was
introduced in 1989, for a period of five years. This new
system also includes a gas price based on the price of
heavy fuel oil during the previous 12 months. A part of
this tariff was the subject of the procedure laid down in
Article 93 (2) of the Treaty ('), which resulted in approval
by the Commission.

O OJNoC 103,25.4.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2779/90

by Mr Dimitrios Nianias (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 December 1990)_

(91/C 241/09)

_Subject:_ Use of hazardous pesticides

According to studies recently published in Athens, a
number of universally banned pesticides are freely
available in Greece.

No C 241/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

Can the Commission tell us what Community and
national legislation applies within the Community to the
marketing, storage, transport and use of pesticides? How
does the Commission explain this alarming situation in
Greece and what steps does it intend to take to ensure
high levels of consumer protection ?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 June 1991)_

The Commission is unaware of the studies referred to by
the Honourable Member.

In the absence of adopted Community legislation
concerning the authorization and use of plant protection
products, such matters remain the responsibility of
Member States in so far as no measures have been taken

under Council Directive 79/117/EEC (*), which prohibits
or severely restricts the marketing and use in the
Community of a number of active substances listed in the
Annex to this Directive. The Commission has taken

action towards the Greek authorities for implementation
of the provisions of this Directive in accordance with the
current state of its Annex ( [2] ).

In February 1989, the Commission proposed a revised
proposal concerning the placing of EEC-accepted plant
protection products on the market ( [3] ), which deals with
harmonization of authorization procedures and
requirements for plant protection products placed on the
market and used in the Community. This proposal is now
in an advanced stage of discussion in the Council. Once
adopted, this Directive will progressively lead to a greater
uniformity of plant protection products circulating in the
different Member States. However, as plant protection
products are complex formulations, finely tuned to the
agricultural, plant health and environmental conditions of
the area of their intended use, certain divergencies will
continue to exist as these conditions vary significantly
throughout the Community.

With regard to the production and storage, it should be
mentioned that certain chemicals, including plant
protection products and pesticides are covered by the
requirements of Council Directive 82/501/EEC ( [4] ), the
so called Seveso Directive, on the Control of Major
Accident Hazards of Certain Industrial Activities. The

Directive applies to certain installations for both the
manufacture and storage of these chemicals where the
total quantity on site is, or is liable to be in excess of a
specified quantity. The Directive is concerned with the

prevention of major accidents and the limitation of their
consequences for man and the environment.

(') OJ No L 33, 8. 2.1979.
O As last amended by Directive 90/533/EEC, OJ No L 296,

27. 10.1990.
O COM(89)34.
O OJ No L 230, 5. 8.1982.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2887/90

by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _January 1991)_

(91/C 241/10)

_Subject:_ Import of toxic feedingstuffs by Member States
of the Community from South America

According to my information Member States of the
European Community have been importing animal
feedstuffs, mainly from South America, containing toxic
substances, and which cause, in human beings eating the
meat of animals fed on them, brain, liver and kidney
damage, and are suspected of causing malformation in
foetuses. The toxic substances are produced by a plant
growing among the soya and passed with it into the final
product imported as feedingstuffs.

Does the Commission intend to take steps on the one
hand to ascertain whether and to what extent the use of

these feedstuffs may affect animals and humans and on
the other to stop imports of these feedstuffs ?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 April 1991)_

Information from the Member States indicates that the

level of contamination by Datura ferox of soya from the
areas where this occurs is acceptable from the point of
view of both human and animal health. No case of acute

poisoning has yet come to the Commission's notice.

Council Directive 74/63/EEC of 17 December 1973 on

undesirable substances and products in animal
nutrition (') sets maximum permitted levels for
contamination of feedingstuffs by weed seed containing
alkaloids or glucosides. For Datura ferox the level is
currently 3 000 mg/kg.

The research services of several Member States are at the

moment cooperating in a study financed by the
Commission of soya contamination by Datura ferox seed.

16.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/7

As soon as the results are available the Commission,
following the procedural rules for adjustment of
standards in line with scientific knowledge, will consult
the Member States and if need be adjust the present
legislation.

(') OJNoL38,11.2.1974.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2959/90

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 241/11)

_Subject:_ The tuna trade and dolphins

Following a judgment handed down by an American
court, the United States imposed a ban on imports of
yellofin tuna from Panama and Mexico because of the
dolphin by-catches in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP).
As of December 1990, the import ban can be extended to
other nations which import yellowfin tuna from Panama
and Mexico, including Spain and Italy. In a recent _Note_
_Verbale,_ the Commission informed the US State
Department that it considered such measures to be out of
proportion with the objective of the legislation. The
United States has, in the meantime, appealed against the
judgment, and the ban has recently been rescinded.

1. What proportion of world catches of yellowfin tuna
involve dolphin by-catches? What percentage of this
figure is imported by the European Community?
What was the percentage over the last three years?

2. Does the Commission maintain the position adopted
in answer to Written Questions Nos 2377/88 ( [l] ) and
352/89 ( [2] ), underlining its support for all measures to
limit the number of dolphins killed during fishing for
yellowfin tuna? How can this be reconciled with its
_Note Verbale_ to the United States?

3. Does not the Commission agree that continued
imports of yellowfin tuna by Italy and Spain from
Panama and Mexico are undermining the
effectiveness of measures to protect dolphins against
tuna fishing activities?

4. What measures has the Commission taken in respect
of the Member States concerned, given that their
importation of yellowfin tuna is not consistent with
the objective of minimizing the incidental killing of
marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing
operations?

5. Is the Commission considering suspending imports of
tuna products to ensure that the countries concerned
use alternative available fishing methods? If not, why

not?

O OJNoC262,16.10.1989, p. 44.
O OJNoC9,15.1.1990, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

The Commission does not at present have any exact
figures available for the quantities of tuna caught in the
world in association with dolphins. The main source of
information is publicly available data supplied by the
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) for
the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, where dolphins are
more abundant than in other areas of the world and where

the Community fleet does not fish.

Community consumption is itself mainly covered by tuna
caught in the Central Eastern Atlantic and the Indian
Ocean, where tuna is not associated with dolphins.

The Community continues to be concerned about the
protection of all marine mammals and maintains its
position as set out in Written Questions No 2377/88 and
352/89. At Community level, legislation exists for the
protection of dolphins in the form of Regulation (EEC)
No 3626/82 ('), which prohibits, within the Community,
commercial trade in all cetaceans as well as effectively
banning all imports thereof. As regards imports of tuna by
Member States from Panama and Mexico, however, the

Commission does not consider — in the absence of

internationally agreed criteria for the most effective
means to protect dolphins — that measures are required
to be taken against those Member States.

The Commission believes that the problem of the
incidental killing of dolphins associated with tuna should
be dealt with internationally on a multilateral basis, both
for the sake of trade and for the protection of particular
species. Any action taken in this field has to be compatible
with international law and its principles. The Commission
believes that measures for the conservation of living
resources, including dolphins, should at all times be based
upon scientific information and advice. To this end, it
believes that the objective of dealing with this problem
would be better achieved through measures taken on a
multilateral level rather than through the unilateral fixing
of conservation and ecological rules. Such an approach
would best be taken within the framework of the IATTC,
with which the Commission is in close collaboration, or in
any other appropriate international forums.

As regards the _Note Verbale_ given to the United States
authorities on 25 October 1990 supplemented by a further
_Note_ _Verbale_ of 28 March 1991, the Commission
expressed,its support of the declared aim of the United

No C 241/8 Official Journal of thi

States legislation in respect of the protection of marine
mammals, but felt that the effects of parts of the
legislation on the so-called 'Intermediary nations'
(including those in the Community) were out of all
proportion to the desired objective. Furthermore, the
Commission felt that the legislation as it stood could have
had a destabilizing effect upon the Community as well as
the world markets for tuna.

Under US legislation, Mexico was embargoed on 20
February 1991 and as a result of this, certain products
originating in Member States of the Community are due
to be the subject of secondary embargoes applied from 24
May 1991. Following a strengthening of the conditions
applied in the US legislation, other countries, including
Venezuela and Vanuatu have also become the subject of
primary embargoes.

O OJ No L 384, 31.12.1982.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3041/90

by Mr Elio di Rupo (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 241/12)

_Subject:_ Reprocessing and recycling of plastic waste

Some 26 million tonnes of plastics are used in Western
Europe each year, producing about 8 million tonnes of
waste, i.e. 7 % of the total weight of urban waste.

Could the Commission state the main lines of Community
policy on the processing of plastics, including separation,
recovery and recycling?

Is the Commission able to predict the market share of
biodegradable plastics within the European Community
in the near future?

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

_(3_ _May 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the problem of plastic waste,
which takes up a large amount of space in waste dumps
and is often processed in ways that are harmful to the
environment. Plastic waste constitutes 7 % of the weight
and 25 _%_ of the volume of household waste.

European Communities

At present there is no specific Community policy relating
to the processing of plastic waste. The Commission's
policy in this field is set out in its communication to the
Council and Parliament of 14 September 1989 (') on a
Community waste management strategy.

The policy includes the following priority areas:

— prevention of waste production by technologies and
by products;

— recycling and re-use;

— optimization of final disposal.

It is specified that recycling and re-use should be
promoted through:

— research and development of techniques;

— optimizing .collection and sorting systems (selective
collection, electromechanical sorting, etc.)

— reducing external costs;

— creating outlets for the products of re-use and
recycling.

Waste plastic containers of liquids for human
consumption are covered by the Council Directive of 27
June 1985 on containers of liquids for human
consumption (85/339/EEC ( [2] ))- This Directive has
obliged Member States to take steps to _inter alia,_

— facilitate the refilling and/or recycling of such

containers;

and, as regards non-refillable containers:

— to promote their collective selection;

— to develop effective processes for retrieving such
containers from household waste;

— to extend the outlets for materials recovered from

such containers.

The Commission is currently working on a proposal for a
Directive on containers in general, which will apply to all
containers (plastic or not), including containers of liquids
for human consumption.

As regards biodegradable plastics, the Commission has
not yet developed an _ad hoc_ policy and is unable to predict
the market share of these materials within the European
Community in the near future.

At first sight, it appears that biodegradability leads to
final elimination, since the waste disappears. However,
there are a number of problems, in particular: influence of
biodegradability on consumer behaviour; level of

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/9

biodegradability in waste dumps; quality of the compost
obtained; definition of biodegradability.

O SEC(89)934 final, 14. 9.1989.
O OJNoL 176,6.7.1985.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 34/91

by Mr Sergio Ribeiro (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/13)

_Subject:_ Natural gas plan for Portugal

Energy is of crucial importance for the Portuguese
economy, since its vulnerability stems largely from its
dependence on energy supplies, in particular oil products,
and the natural gas plan for Portugal therefore deserves
the utmost consideration. But it also deserves such

consideration in view of the circumstances surrounding
the submission of entries to the competition by means of
which the contract for building the combined heat and
power station will be awarded and the submission of
proposals for the construction and operation of the
natural gas terminal and primary network: certain
'heavyweight' candidates have fostered contacts and
arranged trips which have raised doubts amongst the
public, not to say suspicion. Furthermore, this whole
business has become enmeshed with the announcd

privatization of 'Gas de Portugal' (GDP) in 1991, an
operation in which 'Gas de France', part of a group
competing for the above contracts, is apparently
interested.

Moreover, the natural gas plan will attract funding from
the Regen programme, although this will not be available
after 1993, a factor which will worsen the effects of
delaying the launch of the competition. This may result in
a sudden speeding up of the process or recourse to
unofficial procedures.

In what way is the Commission monitoring the above
process, and does it share our concern?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 May 1991)_

The construction of the natural gas terminal at Setubal
and the Setubal-Braga gas pipeline was the subject of an
international invitation to tender published in the _Official_
_Journal of the European Communities._ The deadline for
presentation of tenders was 7 February 1991 and the
Portuguese Government must reach a decision by 7 May
1991 at the latest. The terms of reference governing the
invitation to tender were transmitted to the Commission

which is in regular contact with the Portuguese
authorities as part of its appraisal of the project which
comes under the Community initiative Regen.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 76/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/14)

_Subject:_ Applications for funding by British Nuclear
Fuels and Cumbria County Council (United
Kingdom)

What applications have been made by

1. British Nuclear Fuels pic,

2. Cumbria County Council

in the United Kingdom for regional development funds in
each year since 1980 and what was the outcome, if any, of
each application?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 May 1991)_

1. The Commission is sending direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a list

of projects part-financed by the European Regional
Development Fund from 1980 to 1990 in response to
applications submitted by the United Kingdom on behalf
of British Nuclear Fuels pic and Cumbria County
Council.

2. For reasons of confidentiality, the Commission is
unable to give specific information on applications in
respect of which no decision has been taken.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 94/91

by Mr Proinsias de Rossa (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/15)

_Subject:_ Storm damage in Ireland

Having regard to the various resolutions adopted by the
EP in January and March 1990 concerning storm damage
along the Community's western seaboard, will the
Commission outline what EC funding options are
available to national and local authorities for damage
repair in such cases, and what steps it has taken to develop
a programme for the protection of coastlines and coastal
infrastructures in the Community which are subject to
erosion and storm damage?

No C 241/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_{24 April_ _1991)_

Community assistance from the Structural Funds is
available for coastal protection measures but only where
they are linked to economic development measures
covered by priorities specified in a Community Support
Framework. There is no specific provisions to this effect
in the Community Support Framework for Ireland. The
only limited possibilities lie within the measures in the
Tourism and Rural Development programmes, which
cover coastal infrastructure, where funding might be
conceivable if linked to an approved project under one or
other of these programmes.

The Commission has transmitted to the Council a
proposal for a Council Regulation (') to tackle protection
of coastal areas and waters of the Irish Sea, North Sea,
Baltic Sea, and the north-east part of the Atlantic Ocean.
This initiative — called Norspa — covers aid to capital
investments _other_ than infrastructure and it will also
contribute to pilot/demonstration projects,
awareness-raising initiatives, research, improved controls,
exchange of information, and technology transfer. A
proposal for a Council Regulation concerning finance for
environmental action (including safeguarding coastal
areas and waters) called LIFE ( [2] ) has also been sent to the
Council. If and when LIFE is adopted by the Council, it
will incorporate existing financial instruments, including
Norspa if already adopted.

The 1991 budget allocation for LIFE is ECU 30 million
and for Norspa an additional ECU 5,5 million.

Finally, a communication from the Commission to the
Council proposing a strategy for a comprehensive coastal
zones policy is also in preparation.

(') COM(90)498.
O COM(91) 28 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 101/91

by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes and
Mrs Claire Joanny (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_{11 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/16)

_Subject:_ Funding of ex _post facto_ studies

On 19 November 1990, the Commission allocated ECU
350 000 of ERDF funds to a project for a tunnel under the
Somport Pass (Pyrenees-Atlantiques) and, notably, for a
geological survey and exploratory work at the French end
of the tunnel.

The public enquiry in France on the tunnel project had
already been concluded by that date, having lasted from 8
October 1990 to 16 November 1990. The preliminary
geological survey funded by the Commission whose
results should have appeared in the enquiry findings will
therefore take place after the decision-making procedure
has begun or even been concluded.

Is it standard practice for the Commission to fund
feasibility studies which those concerned obviously have
no intention of taking into account on an ex _post facto_
basis?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_{14 May 1991)_

The study funded under Article 10 of the ERDF
Regulation to which the Members refer was accepted for
cofinancing by the Commission, following a request from
the French and Spanish authorities concerned. It is the
Commission's understanding that the results of the study
will be taken into account by these authorities, together
with other considerations including the outcome of the
public inquiry, in coming to a final decision on the
technical and economic feasibility of the Somport tunnel
project.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 146/91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and Virginio Bettini (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_{11 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/17)

_Subject:_ EC funding for the municipality of Como

The municipal authorities of Como have obtained
Community funding for the construction of a multistorey
car park in Via Ambrosoli. Subsequent restrictions
imposed by environmental legislation have meant that the
project has in fact been cancelled and the building has
been resited in the area formerly known as Pessina. The 4
billion lire granted by the Community were originally
intended to help boost small and medium-scale industry
and there is now a danger that the funding will be used for
a totally different purpose. The municipal authorities of
Como claim that they have obtained an extension from
the Community for this expenditure.

Is the Commission aware of this and does it not consider
that funding which may be used for a project which has
considerable impact on the environment should be
cancelled?

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/11

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

On 17 March 1989, the Italian authorities asked the

Commission to amend the financial schedule for the

special programme for the assisted zone of the province
of Como approved by the Commission on 22 October
1987 under Regulation (EEC) No 219/84 ( [l] ). A measure
to improve rundown industrial sites no longer eligible for
finance was replaced by assistance for the cleaning up of
the area formerly known as Pessina, involving the
demolition of disused industrial buildings and the
construction of an underground bus station and car park.

The main objective of this assistance, in the context of the
other measures both in the special programme and other
programming instruments, was to improve the
environment and physical layout of the rundown area.

On 11 May 1989, the Commission informed the Italian
authorities responsible for the management of the special
programme that the amendment requested had been
accepted.

No ERDF has as yet been paid towards the Pessina
project. The Commission understands that the commune
of Como has recently launched an environmental impact
assessment of the project.

O OJNoL27,31. 1.1984.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 149/91

by Mr Jesus Cabez6n Alonso (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C241/18)

_Subject:_ EC approval for the Torrelavega slaughterhouse
(Cantabria)

Several months ago, the municipal authorities of
Torrelavega (Cantabria, Spain) applied to have the local
slaughterhouse put on the register of EC-approved
abattoirs.

The Commission has refused to grant this authorization.

Can the Commission state the reasons for its decision?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 June 1991)_

In accordance with Article 9 of Council Directive

64/433/EEC O, each year the Commission inspects a

selection of the establishments approved by the national
authorities for intra-Community trade. Accordingly, the
Torrelavega regional slaughterhouse was inspected by a
Commission veterinary expert on 14 November 1990.

The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact

that, under Article 8 of that Directive, it is the
responsibility of the Member States to draw up a list of
establishments approved by it and, where appropriate,
withdraw approval if the conditions for approval cease to
be fulfilled. This means that the Commission was unable

to withdraw approval from the establishment.

However, as a result of the inspection referred to above,
the Commission informed the Spanish authorities of
serious shortcomings detected in the slaughterhouse. The
Spanish authorities drew appropriate conclusions and
took the necessary steps to prevent meat produced there
from entering intra-Community trade.

The Honourable Member should approach the Spanish
veterinary service for any further information.

O OJ No 121, 29. 7.1964.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 155/91

by Mr Max Simeoni (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/19)

_Subject:_ Respect for wildlife and Directive 79/409/EEC

The public inquiry held by the municipalities of Borce and
Urdos (Pyrenees Atlantiques) concerning the highway
project in Aspe devotes only two lines to wildlife.

The Aspe valley is the home of bears and the nesting
ground for many species of wild birds protected by
Directive 79/409/EEC (*). The 1989 publications by
Grimmet and Jones list the number of such species to be
found in the Aspe valley, which is substantial.

What steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure
that the IMP funding decided on 21 December 1989 is not
used in a manner which is incompatible with the
abovementioned Directive?

Would it not be preferable to rehabilitate the railway,
which is well integrated into the countryside and is
underground in many places?

O OJNoL 103,25.4. 1979, p. 1.

No C 241/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

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

_(21 May 1991)_ _(15 May 1991)_

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's

concern regarding the consideration given to the
safeguarding of Europe's natural heritage on the
implementation of measures financed by the structural
Funds, in particular those forming part of the Integrated
Mediterranean Programmes (IMPs).

It should be noted in connection with the protection of
bears and many species of wild birds in the Aspe valley,
that work carried out on behalf of national authorities to

implement measures receiving IMP funding must comply
with national and Community provisions for the
protection of the environment, especially impact studies.
The text of the IMP for Aquitaine, moreover, contains
specific provisions on the protection of the brown bear.

At the half-yearly meetings of each of the IMP
Monitoring Committees the Commission departments
check that the procedures laid down under national and
Community rules on environmental matters have indeed
been implemented at regional and local level. In 1990 they
formally reminded the Aquitaine regional authorities that
the grant of Community funding was conditional on
compliance with those procedures. The Commission,
furthermore, has helped finance a study of the Somport
pass that will help in the evaluation of the various options
for crossing the Pyrenees.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 161/91

by Mr Bernard Salzer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/20)

_Subject:_ Use of biodegradable plastics

An expert opinion submitted by the Federal Ministry for
Research and Technology has concluded that the use of
biodegradable plastics for packing foodstuffs is contrary
to EEC legislation.

In view of this, is the Commission prepared to amend the
following Directives: 90/128/EEC O, 85/572/EEC ( [2] ),
82/711/EECO?

O OJNoL75,21.3.1990, p. 19.
( [2] ) OJNoL372,31.12. 1985, p. 14.
( [3] ) OJNoL297,23.10.1982, p. 26.

The Directives referred to by the Honourable Member
are specific Directives within the meaning of Article 3 of
Council Directive 89/109/EEC of 21 December 1989 on

the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to materials and articles intended to come into
contact with foodstuffs ('), which replaces Directive
76/893/EEC ( [2] ). As regards plastics, they apply the
principle of inert materials set out in Article 2 of Directive
89/109/EEC, so as to ensure the purity of the foodstuffs
with which these plastics come into contact.

The use of biodegradable plastics in the packaging of
foodstuffs is authorized as long as they meet the general
requirements of the abovementioned Directives.

There are no grounds, therefore, for amending the
Directives in question for the reasons given by the

Honourable Member.

O OJNoL40,11.2.1989.
O OJNoL340,9.12.1976.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 194/91

by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/21)

_Subject:_ Distribution of Structural Funds

With the aim of encouraging the development of
agriculture in the less-favoured regions of Spain with
poorer agricultural structures, the Community set up, by
means of Regulation (EEC) No 1118/88 of 25 April
1988 O, a common measure to help bring about a
significant improvement to the situation of such regions.
To enable the regions to take advantage of the aid
available, the Spanish Government is required to draw up
one or more programmes to which the aid is to be
allocated, and to notify the Commission thereof.

The common measure covers a five-year period and has
received ECU 450 million in funding.

Can the Commission determine how much of the above

Community funds has been earmarked for investment in

Andalusia?

O OJ No L 107, 28. 4.1988, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 April 1991)_

Payments to the Spanish authorities from the EAGGF
Guidance Section for 1988 and 1989, together with the

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/13

advance granted for 1990, for measures undertaken in
Andalusia under Regulation (EEC) No 1118/88 are set

out below:

Measures

Infrastructure

Irrigation networks

Anti-erosion measures

Forestry improvements

Total

Pta (million)

1 359,1

587,7

450,4

257,6

2 654,8

_Note:_ A request for a further advance on the 1990 tranche has
been received. The Commission is not yet in a question, however,
to give a breakdown of the amounts involved for each
Autonomous Community.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 205/91

byMrHeinzKphler(S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/22)

_Subject:_ Objective 5 b area in Bavaria (Germany)

On 6 June 1990, the Commission approved the
Community Objective 5 b development plan for Bavaria
(Germany).

What projects or programmes will be cofinanced in
Bavaria under the provisions laid down in Objective 5 b?

How much will the Community contribute financially to
these projects and programmes?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 April 1991)_

Following the adoption of the Community support
framework for the development of rural areas of Bavaria,
Germany submitted an operational programme to the
Commission. This programme was adopted by the
Commission on 4 December 1990 and covers the areas

mentioned in the Annex to Commission Decision

89/426/EEC of 10 May 1989 (').

Measures under the programme will be part-financed by
the EAGGF, ERDF and ESF.

The measures mainly concern the diversification,
restructuring and adaptation of the agricultural sector

(EAGGF), the development and diversification of
non-agricultural sectors (ERDF), nature, countryside and
environmental protection (EAGGF, ERDF) and the
development of human resources (ESF).

The Community's financial contribution to the
programme amounts to ECU 208 680 million, divided

between the Funds as set out below: EAGGF: ECU 88 805

million, ERDF: ECU 67 102 million, ESF: ECU 52 773

million.

O OJNoL198,12.7.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 230/91

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 February 1991)_

(91/C241/23)

_Subject:_ EC Semen Directive

The Semen Directive (88/407/EEC) O came into force
on 1 January 1990 and it has been asserted that, with the
completion of the Single Market on 1 January 1993, all
semen used after 1 January 1993 domestically or
intra-Community must comply in full with all aspects of
the Directive.

Semen is commonly banked from young bulls with the
intention of using it some years later if progeny test
results are good. The artificial insemination industry
operates on a roughly seven-year cycle. There could thus
be serious consequences for those minority breed societies
which have stored semen as a genetic reserve if the
interpretation given above is correct.

1. Is it the Commission's interpretation of the EC Semen
Directive that, after 1 January 1993 only semen
complying with all aspects of the Directive may be
used within and between Member States?

2. If this is the case, does the Commission agree that
suitable derogations should be considered for a
transitional period, in particular to deal with the
problem of minority breeds societies, etc?

3. Does the Commission believe that any other
amendments to the Directive are necessary?

O OJNoL194,22.7.1988, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 April 1991)_

1. The Commission's objective is that, eventually, all
semen that is used in the Community should meet the

No C 241/14 Official Journal of the

same, high, health standards. This is in line with the stated
objective in Article 18 of the Single European Act, of
establishing a high level of health protection. However,
the Commission recognizes that the full provisions of
Directive 88/407/EEC cannot be applied to all semen
used on the national market after 1 January 1993.

2. The first and most important step will be to regulate
the use of existing stocks, particularly from bulls
vaccinated against foot and mouth disease and infectious
Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR). These stocks could be used
within the country of origin, subject to more stringent
safeguards.

3. The Commission will make proposals to the Council
later this year, to take account of these aspects, as well as
other matters such as semen collected on-farm. Some

technical amendments to take account of new technology
will also be proposed.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 236/91

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 February 1991)_

(91/C 241/24)

_Subject:_ Free movement of animals

What steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure
the free movement of hawking birds in the Community?

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

_(14 May 1991)_

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 on the
implementation in the Community of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (*) lists birds of prey in its Annex C, part 1,
implying that imports, exports, re-exports and movements
within the Community thereof for commercial purposes
are prohibited.

The Regulation provides for a system of permits and
certificates for the activities concerned involving
non-commercial purposes such as falconry.

Birds of prey covered by such documents can circulate
within the Community unless Member States have taken
measures to protect their own populations of birds of prey
on the basis of Article 15 of Regulation (EEC)

European Communities 16. 9. 91

No 3626/82. In such cases imports into the Member
States concerned may be subject to additional restrictions
or prohibitions.

O OJNoL384,31.12.1982.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 253/91

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/25)

_Subject:_ Illegal fishing in the Gulf of Naples

Despite repeated intervention by the authorities, there has
been an upsurge in illegal fishing, particularly in the area
of Nisida in the Bay of Naples. Can the Commission take
action to help combat this phenomenon, which has
serious repercussions for both the environment and the
replenishment of fish stocks in the Mediterranean? Given
that the action taken so far has proved inadequate, can the
Commission ensure that the harbour authorities and

coastguards are involved in surveillance operations?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 April 1991)_

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable

Member regarding the situation described in her question.

The Commission's powers of monitoring, however,
particularly those powers conferred on its inspectors, are
limited to supervising national authorities' the monitoring
of compliance with Community rules on conservation and
monitoring.

The Commission, in its discussion paper outlining a
common fishery system in the Mediterranean ('), has
undertaken to put forward proposals to establish a
common management system for the fishery resources of
the Mediterranean.

Pending the elaboration of these proposals and a Council
Decision thereon, monitoring the application of measures
in force in Italian waters remains the full responsibility of
the coastal State.

O Doc.SEC(90) 1136 final, 10.7. 1990.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/15

WRITTEN QUESTION No 260/91

by Mr Max Simeoni and Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke

(ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/26)

_Subject:_ The Community's islands and island regions

Despite the various resolutions and reports adopted by
Parliament, the Commission has still not published a
complete list of the islands and outlying maritime regions
of the Community together with the relevant physical and
socio-economic data.

The specific problems faced by these islands and regions
have not so far been given sufficient attention.

It is clear from all the reports that after more than ten
years of ERDF activities the gap between rich and poor
regions has widened.

It has not been demonstrated that the initiatives

undertaken to date, such as the Integrated Programmes
and, in particular, the IMPs, IDOs and RDPs have
actually achieved their objectives.

The completion of the internal market on 1 January 1993
should enable all the Community's regions to benefit
from the expected economic expansion.

With regard to the objective of 'economic and social
cohesion', it is the Commission's responsibility to make
proposals and to take action to this end, on the basis,
where appropriate, of specific incentives or derogations as
provided for in Article 8 c of the Single Act.

1. Is the Commission willing to take account of the
island dimension and the specific character of the
island regions in the calculation of the synthetic index
and GDP of these regions ?

2. Is the Commission willing to support, in the context of
interregional cooperation, the efforts of the island
regions to set up a European island documentation
and information centre?

3. Does the Commission intend to submit proposals for
the protection and development of agriculture in the
islands affected by Community measures limiting
agricultural production?

4. Does the Commission intend to submit proposals for
the promotion of a specific sea and air transport policy
for these regions?

5. Would the Commission be willing to consider
introducing specific fiscal measures, with the
agreement of the national and local authorities, aimed
at stimulating the development of these regions in all
sectors of their economy?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 June 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the specific problems of
islands and island regions and has given them
considerable weight in defining the general objectives to
be pursued by the Community's structural measures. The
great majority of such areas are classified under
Objective 1 (regions whose development is lagging
behind).

The Commission has already proposed programmes of
options specific to the most distant Community islands,
which form part of the so-called 'remoter regions'. These
include Poseidom (Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and
Reunion), adopted by the Council in Decision
89/787/EEC of 22 December 1989; Poseican (Canary
Islands) and Poseima (Azores and Madeira). These
multinational and interdisciplinary programmes provide
for adjustments to the various common policies in order
to take account of the specific problems of those areas.
The Commission has also approved the Regis initiative
for the same regions which complements other structural
measures in order to facilitate integration of the islands
into the European economic area as a whole in
preparation for completion of the internal market.

In answer to the various points raised by the Honourable
Members, the Commission can provide the following
information concerning the islands and island regions as a
whole:

1. The GDP of a region is an economic accounting
aggregate representing the final outturn of the
productive activities of production units located in the
region. That definition of GDP remains the same
irrespective of the type of region and whether or not it
is an island.

The insular nature of a region may perhaps induce
statisticians, on the responsibility of the national
statistical institutes, to use special methods of
calculation or sources for the islands but the value, to
be determined always remains the same.

2. Under budget line 5412, cooperation projects between
island regions in relation to energy, environment and
tourism were established in 1990. The inter-regional
cooperation scheme remains open for further
exchange of experience.

N o C 241/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

3. The Commission has helped fund a number of actions
which have been designed to develop agricultural
structures on a number of island groups. In the United
Kingdom there have been two programmes for the
Scottish islands, one of these is currently in operation.
Under Objective 5 b in Denmark an operational
programme was approved at the end of 1990 by the
Commission which is designed in part to develop and
diversify agricultural production. Development of
agricultural structures are intended to improve quality
and diversity of output without increasing production.

The Community initiative Leader recently approved
by the Commission can assist local development in
rural areas including islands areas. Areas located in
Objective 1 and 5 b areas are eligible to apply for
assistance under Leader.

Objective 5 a applies throughout the Community and
measures to develop agricultural structures may be
able to assist the areas in question.

4. In developing its policies in the field of maritime
transport, the Commission recognizes the particular
problems of islands. For example, the proposal for a
Council Regulation applying the principle of freedom
to provide services to maritime transport within
Member States specifically recognizes that Member
States may impose public service obligations where
necessary in order to maintain sufficient maritime
transport services between islands and the mainland,
or between islands.

The liberalization of the air transport market creates
access for carriers on routes to and from islands and

island regions. In cases where these routes cannot be
operated on a profitable basis, governments may apply
a special provision concerning public service
obligations.

5. The Commission does not intend to consider specific
fiscal measures.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 269/91

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/27)

_Subject:_ Measurement of inflation rate

The rate of inflation in Italy is measured by 80 policemen
in 20 cities. It is easy to imagine how reliable the figures
are when measured in such a way.

Given that the economic policy decisions which determine
most of the country's budgets are based on the figures
passed on to the authorities, can the Commission
intervene to ensure that the service which monitors the

inflation rate is improved, not only in the cities concerned
but at national level? Can it also take action to ensure that

the consumer goods price situation is regulated to give a
uniform picture?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 June 1991)_

The official rate of inflation in Italy is established on the
basis of the variation in the consumer price index for the
whole nation, which is derived from the prices of some
900 goods and services recorded at around 26 000
observation points in 93 towns and cities by some 250
municipal inspectors, of whom only 24 in the entire
country are policemen. The price data thus collected are
then checked and processed at the municipal statistics
offices by over 200 people, bringing the total number of
local officials involved in the exercise to over 460.

The rate to which the Honourable Member refers,
however, is based on the variation in the consumer price
index for blue-collar and white-collar households.

Preference is given to this as a rapid indicator of the
inflation trend because it is produced more quickly.

The Commission publishes and uses only the price index
for the whole nation as it is more comparable with that
calculated by the other Member States. In particular, its
main economic policy decisions are taken with reference
to that indicator.

The Commission does not consider it within its

competence to request the Italian Government to change
the way in which the data are gathered, particularly since
the present arrangements are satisfactory.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 293/91

by Mr Thomas Megahy (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/28)

_Subject:_ Labelling of alcoholic drinks

Does the Commission intend to publish proposals which
would end the current state of affairs in many Member
States, where the requirement that foodstuffs carry on
their packaging a list of ingredients is not applied to
alcoholic drinks?

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of th e European Communities No C 241/17

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 May 1991)_

Article 6 (3) of Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18
December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate
consumer (') states that 'in the case of beverages
containing more than 1,2% by volume of alcohol, the
Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission,
shall, before the expiry of a period of four years following
notification of this Directive, determine the rules for
labelling ingredients'.

In accordance with that Article, the Commission
proposed an amendment to the Directive in October 1982
to make it compulsory to provide a list of ingredients in
the labelling of alcoholic beverages. This proposal was
endorsed by the European Parliament but agreement
could not be reached within the Council.

In view of the rulings handed down by the Court, in
particular the judgment of 12 March 1987 (Beer Purity
Law), and, as announced by the Commission in its
communication on the free movement of foodstuffs
within the Community ( [2] ), it was considered advisable to
reconsider this matter within the framework of a new

draft amendment to the Directive on labelling which is
currently being discussed within the Commission.

(') OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, as last amended by Directive

89/395/EEC, OJ No L 186,30.6. 1989.
O OJNoC271,24. 10. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 318/91

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/29)

_Subject:_ Reduction of catches in the fishery sector and
additional social measures

The European Commission's decision to reduce catches
in the fishery sector will entail a reduction in the number
of vessels, and many fishermen will inevitably be put out
of work. To take account of this situation, the
Commission and the national governments will have to
take special social measures. What kind of social security
assistance does the Commission intend to put into effect
to protect fishermen who will lose their jobs as a result of
the revision of fishing quotas?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _June 1991)_

The decision determining the total allowable catches
(TACs) each year falls within the competence of the
Council. Decisions to reduce total allowable catches for

stocks or groups of stocks of fish are made in the light of
the latest scientific advice with a view to preventing an
impoverishment of stocks and do not necessarily imply a
reduction in the number of vessels.

It is the responsibility of each Member State to manage its
own quotas to its best advantage.

The Commission cannot adopt special social protection

measures in the event of a Council decision to reduce a

given TAC.

Nevertheless, the Commission communication to the

Council and the Parliament on the common fisheries

policy highlighted a major imbalance between available
resources and present fishing capacities.

This imbalance, which is due to excess capacity, is leading
to a very rapid deterioration in stocks, thereby
accelerating the decline of the economic and social
conditions of coastal communities dependent on fishing.

In these circumstances, fishing capacity must be adapted
to resources by a reduction.in the Community fleet.

In order to cope with the social consequences of measures
to reduce fishing effort, the Commission will be
conducting an in-depth examination of the foreseeable
regional and social impact of the measures and will
propose the requisite accompanying measures.

Initially it is planned to undertake a series of studies to
identify the regions likely to be most seriously affected by
these measures and the most suitable means of dealing
with the problems which may arise.

This will be carried out under the structural policy on

fisheries within the framework of the reform of the

Funds.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 324/91

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/30)

_Subject:_ Lignite mining in Drama in north-eastern Greece

The Greek State Electricity Company DEH intends to
mine lignite in a 10 000 hectare area near Drama in

16. 9. 91
N o C 241/18 Official Journal of the European Communities

north-eastern Greece in order to supply four power
stations which have not yet been built. 34 000 objections
and a declaration by all the mayors of the region highlight
the grave consequences this will have for the
environment, ranging from acid rain to air and
groundwater pollution. Fourteen important bird areas
will be threatened.

1. Has Greece conducted an environmental impact
assessment pursuant to Directive 85/337/EEC (') for
these projects? If not, what action does the
Commission intend to take?

2. Does the Commission not think that the bird
Directive 79/409/EEC ( [2] ) will be violated if the above
developments are allowed?

3. What action does it intend to take in order to

strengthen its policy for the protection of nature and
the environment in the Community and to make clear
to Greece that the harmful effects for the environment

of the project to mine lignite in Drama are not in
keeping with that policy?

O OJ No L 175, 5. 7.1985, p. 40.
O OJ No L 103, 25. 4.1979, p. 1,

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

_(8 May 1991)_

1. The Commission would refer the Honourable

Member to the answer to Written Question No 127/91 by
Mr Papayannakis (').

2 and 3. There are five areas of Community
importance for the conservation of wild birds within a
30-km radius of Drama.

Given that two of these areas have already been classified
by the Greek authorities as special protection areas in
accordance with Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC ( [2] ),
the Commission will examine more closely the problems
to which the Honourable Member refers and will take the

necessary steps to ensure correct application of
Community legislation on the environment.

O OJ NoC 177, 8.7.1991, p. 28.
O OJ No L 103, 25. 5.1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 349/91

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/31)

_Subject:_ Success of the GATT talks

What new proposals does the Commission intend to put
forward to help make the GATT Uruguay Round of talks
a success?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1991)_

Since the question was asked, the Community has stated
its willingness to make specific restrictive commitments
with regard to internal support and access to markets on
the one hand, and export competition on the other. While
the Community continues to defend its overall approach
to this matter, which is that these commitments must be
consistent with one another, is has nevertheless made an
effective contribution towards reviving the negotiation
process in Geneva by agreeing to the work programme for
agriculture put forward by the Director-General of the
GATT following consultations.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 359/91

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/32)

_Subject:_ Water supplies for the municipality of Khios

In order to solve the problem of water supplies for the
municipality of Khios, the Prefecture of Khios has
decided to channel water from a source in Nagos situated
30 km from the island's main town, using open conduits
lined with coal tar. It has been decided to situate these

conduits beside an extremely narrow road without the
slightest regard for road safety considerations. In
addition, about 20 leaks have already been discovered in
the first 12 km. In view of: the damage caused by the
works to the landscape, scenery and character of the area
of Khios situated between Milinga and Kardhamila; the
report by the Sanitary Engineering Department of the
Ministry of Health, which advise against the use of coal
tar for the lining of drinking-water conduits; EC funding
(Aegean IMP) for the project, the estimated cost of which
is Dr 200 million,

can the Commission say:

1. whether the provisions of Council Directive
85/337/EEC (*) on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment
have been respected,

2. whether the project has been the subject of a
comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and feasibility
study,

3. whether the materials used are acceptable from the
point of view of public health and

4. what rectifications could be made to this particular
project and how this could be done?

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

No C 241/19
16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 June 1991)_

1. The Member State was not obliged under
Community legislation to execute an environmental
impact assessment study since the project started in 1987
and the relevant Directive (85/337/EEC) was applicable
from July 1988.

2. According to information provided to the
Commission services by the Greek authorities, a
feasibility study was carried out prior to the
implementation of the water supply project in the
municipality of Khios.

3. The Greek Government is obliged to comply with all
relevant Community legislation and, in particular, with
Directive 89/778/EEC O relating to the quality of water
intended for human consumption. It will therefore need
to satisfy itself that the use of coal tar lining for pipes is
consistent with the obligation to respect the Maximum
Admissible Concentration for parameter 56, Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons.

4. Concerning remedial action, the Commission, being
aware of the deficiencies of the project in question, will
raise the matter at the next Monitoring Committee in June
1991 and is willing to examine the possibility of financing
any necessary improvement works in the context of the
operational programme for the Northern Aegean,
provided that the Greek authorities submit a request for
assistance for consideration by the Monitoring
Committee for the programme.

O OJ No L 229, 30. 8.1980.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 372/91

by Mrs Dorothee Piermont (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/33)

_Subject:_ Implementation of Parliament's resolution of 13
September 1982 on war toys

On 13 September 1982 the European Parliament adopted
a resolution calling for comprehensive measures to limit
and, in the long term, prevent the circulation and
production of war toys ('). The resolution called for a ban
on the advertising of war toys, the replacement of war
toys with toys which develop an awareness of the
importance of peace and a ban on the production of
replica rifles and pistols.

1. What steps has the Commission taken to implement

this resolution?

2. If the Commission has not yet taken any steps in this
direction, what measures does it intend to take to
implement this resolution ?

O OJNoC267,11.10.1982, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 May 19991)_

1. The Council Directive on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys
was adopted on 3 May 1988. It is the first Directive which
is based on the 'New Approach' to technical
harmonization, i.e. that in the Directive only the essential
safety requirements for toys are stated.

The object of this Directive, which is based on the
Council resolution of 23 June 1986 concerning the future
orientation of EEC policy for the protection and
promotion of consumer interests, is to ensure that toys
which are placed on the market do not jeopardize the
safety and/or health of children or of third parties.
Furthermore, it provides that 'safe toys' trade barriers
within the internal market are eliminated. Considering the
precise objectives of this Directive, it has never been
envisaged to deal with the aspects raised by the
Honourable Member.

2. It is not at present intended to change the Directive
concerning the safety of toys.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 376/91

by the following Members: Francois Guillaume, Henry

Chabert, Mark Killilea and Patrick Lane (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/34)

_Subject:_ Implications of allocating an excessive sugar
quota to the territory of the former GDR for the
Uruguay Round talks

The allocation of 870 000 tonnes of sugar to the former
GDR, which is known to be well in excess of estimated
needs, may very soon result in a surplus of 300 000 tonnes
on the world market, which must be paid for by the sugar
producers.

Can the Commission confirm that the current quota is
only a transitional arrangement and that it will not entail
supplementary costs for the other European producers in
the likely event that an exportable surplus will result?

No C 241/20 Official Journal of th<

Does it not consider that the allocation of an excessive

sugar quota to the former GDR — which will inevitably
result in an increase in support measures — may well have
highly undesirable effects, not least on the Uruguay
Round agricultural talks as a whole at a time when they
have already run into considerable difficulty?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 May 1991)_

The 870 000 tonnes of sugar mentioned by the
Honourable Members were assigned provisionally by
the Commission (Commission Regulation (EEC)
No 2765/90 (*)) to Germany for the region
corresponding to the territory of the former German
Democratic Republic. The final Council Decision on this
matter provides for a global basic quantity of 847 00
tonnes (A + B quotas), which replaced the said 870 000
tonnes with retrospective effect from 1 July 1990 (Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3577/90 _(*))._

When establishing its original proposal of 870 000 tonnes,
the Commission took account of the traditional criterion

of the reference production during a prior determined
period (1984-85 — 1988-89) as well as the new criterion
of ensuring that the basic quantity to be allocated should
not create any increase in the financial burden for the rest
of the Community producers as a consequence of the
principle of full annual self-financing by the producers
that has existed since 1986-87. It is obvious to the

Commission that the quantity of 847 000 tonnes finally
allocated fulfills these conditions.

The exportable surplus of 300 000 tonnes advanced by the
Honourable Members does not now, therefore,
correspond to the Commission's own estimates on the
possible financial consequences of the final decision;
these estimates point to a surplus of less than 140 000

tonnes.

In its offer on reduction of support and protection in the
Uruguay Round the Community has made a reservation
with regard to the quantification of aid in the former
German Democratic Republic. It is evident that the
extension of the common agricultural policy to that
territory will increase the total support in the Community
and the necessary procedure for determining that level
has to be established for all products produced in the
former GDR. The Commission is aware of the fact that

the support level for the Community, including the
former GDR, has to be discussed during the negotiations
but it does not consider that sugar creates specific
problems compared with other products.

O OJ No L 267, 29. 9. 1990.
O OJNoL353,17. 12. 1990.

European Communities 16. 9. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 405/91

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 March_ _199*1)_

(91/C 241/35)

_Subject:_ Transport of hazardous waste to Poland

A shipment of zinc concentrate, bound for Poland, was
recently discovered in the port of Rotterdam. An
inspection revealed that not all the necessary Community
documents were present. While zinc can be recovered
from waste, the concentration is low and a great deal of
polluting material is left over.

1. Did the competent Polish authorities give permission
for transport, as required in Article 3 of Directive

84/631/EECO?

2. As the country of destination, does Poland have the
capacity to dispose of the waste, which is also required
under Directive 84/631/EEC and which must be

carried out in a technically appropriate manner?

3. How can the Commission explain such infringements
of Directive 84/631/EEC and how does it plan to
prevent them?

4. Does not the Commission think that any transport of
hazardous waste should be subject to maximum
restrictions? In its new proposal for a Regulation, is
the Commission willing to consider a ban on all
exports of hazardous waste and the ending of
distinctions between the ACP countries and other

non-Community countries?

O OJNoL326,13.12.1984, p. 31.

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

_(14 May 1991)_

The Commission does not have enough information on
the case to which the Honourable Member refers to be

able to reply to the various questions. In order to be able
to check whether the relevant Community legislation is
being complied with, in particular Directive 84/631/EEC,
the Commission is requesting information from the
competent authorities.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 456/91

by Mrs Solange Fernex (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/36)

_Subject:_ Waste disposal in Redange (France)

After Grosbliederstroff, there is now at Redange, a
commune in Lorraine on the border with Luxembourg, a

No C 241/21
16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

new project for waste storage and treatment. The
enormous figure of 500 000 tonnes eventual capacity, of
which only 25 % would come from France, has been put
forward.

Given that the EEC works on ecological criteria aimed at
the reduction of waste; that the region of Lorraine has
just introduced its 'Regional Plan for the Environment',
including a waste management programme, in particular
for industrial waste; that the Prefect of the Region has
just set up a commission comprising representatives of all
those concerned by the problem of waste in Lorraine, and
that the residents of Lorraine and Luxembourg are
unanimously opposed to this insidious new use of rural
land which could seriously damage water resources and
fine countryside:

Has the Commission granted aid for feasibility studies to
be carried out and/or for this (class 2) waste treatment
complex to be set up? Is this project part of a European
programme (PED-Envireg) ?

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

_(13 May 1991)_

The Commission has not granted aid for the project to
which the Honourable Member refers.

The commune in question is not part of the European
development pole and is not eligible for Envireg.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 464/91

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/37)

_Subject:_ 'Open-Network' project between regions and
East Europe

The Commission has proposed an 'Open Network'
project to link regions and cities in the EC and Eastern
Europe. Could the Commission elaborate on the type of
activities to be funded under this initiative, and will this be
a once-off project, or is the Commission's intention to
continue this programme for a number of years?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

The Ouverture project is an initiative taken by a group of
regional authorities in the Community to promote
cooperation between them in establishing links with
counterparts in Eastern Europe. Cooperation may be
supported in a wide range of areas which come within the
responsibility of regional or local authorities including:

— regional and local government structures,

— local authority finance,

— regional economic development,

— promotion of SMEs,

— environment,

— urban and regional planning

The initiative is assisted as a pilot project under Article 10
of the ERDF Regulation. Ouverture will continue for a
two-year period on a pilot-project basis.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 468/91

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/38)

_Subject:_ Technical assistance regarding the Structural

Funds for Ireland

The Commission has approved ECU 2,3 million for
technical assistance activities in Ireland regarding the
Structural Funds. Could the Commission give a
breakdown of where this money is to be spent, in
particular the amounts allocated for the secretarial and
other expenses of the regional review groups and
monitoring groups?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 May 1991)_

Technical assistance from the amount of ECU 2,3 million
will be available for the following purposes:

— outside evaluations to be undertaken of the Industry
and Peripherality OPs;

— an extra allocation to the Vocational Training
Infrastructure and Training of Trainers OP to
supplement the amount of technical assistance
available already;

No C 241/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

— equipment and training costs related to the
monitoring requirements of operational programmes
in general, which may extend beyond the needs of
'lead' departments to include other departments and
agencies which contribute significantly;

— publicity costs incurred during the lifetime of the CSF
in conformity with Commission requirements in this

area;

— mid-term reviews of programmes;

— evaluations relating to other aspects of the CSF
including preparatory work towards another future
possible CSF.

In addition, the secretariat and other expenses of the
sub-regional Review Committees will be cofinanced from
the amount of ECU 5 million already provided for
technical assistance in the Community Support
Framework.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 475/91

by Mrs Anita Pollack (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/39)

_Subject:_ Threat to the Alaskan walrus

Further to the replies to Oral Questions Nos H-603/90
and H-691/90 (') and Written Question No 1417/90 ( [2] ),
what has emerged from the Commission's monitoring of
authorization for importation of ivory from the Alaskan
walrus?

Has the Commission now been able to study the 1988
report from Professor Fay of Fairbanks University saying
that this species is under threat? Is there now a possibility
of having this species moved from Annex II to Annex I of
Cites?

O Debates of the European Parliament No 3-391 (June 1990).
( [2] ) OJ No C 28, 4. 2. 1991, p. 20.

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

_(3 May 1991)_

Information received from Member States on the basis of

the Commission's request to closely monitor imports of
Walrus ivory under Council Regulation (EEC)
No 3626/82 (') shows no increase of such imports since
the import ban on African elephant ivory.

The Committee on the Convention, established under
Article 19 of the Regulation concerned, will consider
whether the walrus _(Odobenus rosmarus)_ needs protection

under Appendix II to Cites. This may result in a proposal
for such inclusion to the March 1992 Conference of the

Parties to Cites.

The Commission should like to point out that the species
is currently listed in Appendix III to the Convention and
not in Appendix II as suggested by the Honourable
Member.

O OJ No L 384, 31.12.1982.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 487/91

by Mr Arthur da Cunha Oliveira (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/40)

_Subject:_ Guide to Community initiatives and programmes

Given the dozens of Community initiatives and
programmes with widely-known acronyms, and in view of
the recent successful publication of a 'Guide to
Community initiatives' resulting from the reform of the
Structural Funds.

1. Does the Commission support the idea of publishing a
guide incorporating all existing Community initiatives
and programmes, and which would be periodically
updated?

2. If the idea has already been considered, when will this
guide become available in addition to the guide on
initiatives resulting from the reform of the Structural
Funds?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1991)_

1. A number of guides already exist, covering not only
Community initiatives under the structural Funds, as
mentioned by the Honourable Member, but also research,
exchange programmes, measures to assist small
businesses, etc.

Nevertheless, the Commission does recognize the need to
provide the public with a guide to all Community
initiatives and programmes, and will accordingly look
into the matter.

The Commission is also studying the possibility of
bringing out a guide to sources of information about the
Community.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/23

2. It is difficult to say at present when such a general
guide might be available, given the complexity of the
project.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 489/91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C241/41)

_Subject:_ Directive on the liability of the liberal
professions (services)

1. What are the fundamental principles underlying the
Directive on the liability of liberal professions (services),
for example the method of the weighted average or the
requirement of maximum consumer safety?

2. What specific contacts, if any, were made by the
Commission's departments with the relevant professional
associations in the Member States immediately prior to
enactment of this Directive, when and where and with
what technical preparation?

3. Does the Commission agree that the same
guarantees of quality cannot be demanded of the
intellectual services provided by lawyers, tax consultants,
architects, etc. as are required of goods and products?

4. Is it prepared nevertheless to incorporate the
required liability principle into existing legal systems in
the Member States in such a way that there can be no
about-turn in the traditional relations between the

partners in service and work contracts?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1991)_

1. and 3. The proposal for a Directive on the liability of
suppliers of services is horizontal in character in that it
covers all services liable to damage the health or physical
integrity of persons or the physical integrity of private
property. It does not, therefore, deal specifically with the
liberal professions.

The Commission considers that services provided by
lawyers and tax consultants are not as such covered by the
proposal since they cannot result in direct damage
through injury to the physical integrity of persons or

property.

2. and 4. The Commission held numerous meetings
and consultations with those business interests concerned

by the proposal throughout the period when it was being
drafted.

Where the health sector is concerned, it is currently
examining the possible content of a specific Directive.

As regards the building industry, four working parties
dealing with the liability of the various parties involved in
the building process and comprising experts from the
relevant European associations were recently set up for
the purpose of drafting the texts which will serve as the
basis for the proposal for a Directive specific to the
industry.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 490/91

by Mr Luigi Moretti (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/42)

_Subject:_ Aid to the Cave del Predil coalmining area

In the commune of Cave de Predil (Region of Friuli
Venezia Giulia), 32 miners have been on strike for over a
week in protest against the closing of the local mine,
which is the area's only source of employment.

The local community and all the neighbouring villages are
taking part in the strike.

1. Will the Commission state whether the Friuli Venezia

Giulia Region or the other competent Italian
authorities have submitted a plan of aid to the area
under the Community Rechar programme?

2. Does the Commission not consider that it should

reactivate that programme and increase the amount
allocated to it?

3. How has the Commission publicized the Rechar
programme?

4. Does the Commission intend to approve an
emergency aid plan for the community affected by this
crisis?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 May 1991)_

The Notice to Member States concerning Rechar (') lays
down the geographical eligibility criteria for the Rechar
initiative. Paragraph 5 of the Notice provides that eligible
areas should have at least 1 000 coal-mining jobs in 1984
and that they should have lost at least 1 000 coal-mining
jobs since that date (publicly announced future job losses
and jobs at risk could also be taken into account).
Paragraph 12 of the Rechar notice invited Member States
to submit to the Commission their proposals for the
detailed definition of eligible coal-mining areas by

No C 241/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.9.91

_27_ April 1990. The Rechar notice was published in the
_Official Journal of the European Communities_ of 27 January
1990 and sent to the permanent representation of the
Member States concerned.

The Commission did not receive any application from the
Italian authorities to include Cave del Predil in the list of

areas eligible under the Rechar programme.

O OJ No C 20, 27. 1.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 499/91

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/43)

_Subject:_ Fingerprinting

Is the Commission aware that fingerprinting techniques
and requirements affecting the acceptability of
fingerprinting evidence vary from Member State to
Member State?

What action has been taken to standardize rules of

evidence in this area of police work and to bring about
compatibility in other areas of forensic and police work?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the problems posed by the
different technical systems and legal rules for
fingerprinting to which the Honourable Member refers.

However, this matter does not come within the
Community's jurisdiction, but within that of the Member
States.

Questions relating to intergovernmental cooperation on
scientific and technical police matters are discussed within
the Trevi Group II. The Commission does not take part in
the work of this group. Following an invitation received at
the beginning of the year, it has only followed as an
observer the work of the Trevi Group 92, a body set up to
coordinate-the work of Trevi Groups I to III.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 502/91

by Mr lb Christensen (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/44)

_Subject:_ Non-compliance with restructuring programme
for the fishing fleet

According to the Danish periodical _Havfiskeren_ (Sea
Fisherman) of 14 February 1991, only four EC Member
States (Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Denmark) have
complied with the EC decision on the reduction of the
fishing fleet.

Despite this, the EC has granted seven-figure aid to
Spain, Italy and France for the construction of new
vessels.

In comparison with the agreed objectives, France has an
overcapacity of 8 000 GRT, while Spain and the United
Kingdom have overcapacities of 58 000 and at least 40 000
GRT respectively.

What measures does the Commission intend to take in

respect of Member States which fail to comply with the
restructuring programme for the fishing fleet?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 587/91

by Mr Niels Kofoed (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C241/45)

_Subject:_ Multiannual Development Programme 1987-91
— Reduction of catch capacity

In the course of the 1987-91 Multiannual Development
Programme, only four countries, Denmark, Germany,
Ireland and Portugal, succeeded in reducing their catch
capacity in line with the target set out in the Programme.

The other Member States did not comply with the
development programme, either increasing their catch
capacity or not reducing it to the desired level; in the case
of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, insufficient
data is available.

Spain, France and Italy, which have not succeeded in
reducing their catch capacity, have in fact received
support to build new vessels.

What action does the Commission intend to take in

respect of those countries which are not complying with
the development programme?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 502/91 and 587/91

given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 May 1991)_

In circumstances where Member States fail or partially
fail to reach the annual targets on capacity reduction fixed

No C 241/25
16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

in the Multiannual Guidance Programmes adopted for
the fishing fleet, the Commission acts by excluding vessel
construction projects submitted by those Member States
from consideration for financial aid.

The Commission recognizes the need to reinforce this
particular action to ensure that Member States take the
necessary steps to comply with the provisions of the
Regulation and the Multiannual Guidance Programmes.
A review is in progress at present to establish if additional
actions consistent with the constraints of Regulation
(EEC) No 4028/86 ( [!] ) can be taken.

At the second round of decisions in October and

December 1990 within the framework of Regulation
(EEC) No 4028/86 the Commission financed vessel
construction projects in Germany, Portugal and Ireland
only, as these Member States had submitted full
information in sufficient time to establish that they were
in line to reach the programme targets on capacity
reduction by the end of 1990.

With regard to Spain, France and Italy, a decision in
principle only was taken in October 1990, as full
information on the achievement of capacity reduction
targets was not received in sufficient time to permit an
examination of the data submitted.

During November and December 1990 this information
was examined and additional information was submitted

which allowed the Commission to satisfy the Standing
Committee for the Fishing Industry on 11 December 1990
that the targets for 1990 were in line to be achieved by
these Member States. The Commission undertook

therefore to finance vessel construction projects for
Spain, France and Italy on 18 December 1990 on the basis
of the information provided on capacity reduction.

It is also important to note that construction projects
relating to certain types of vessels and zones can be
considered for financial aid outside of the capacity
reduction targets fixed in the Multiannual Guidance
Programmes. At the second round of decisions in 1990,
this applied to France in the case of eight projects for the
Overseas Departments where capacity limits are not fixed.

O OJNoL376,31. 12.1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 509/91

by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/46)

_Subject:_ Withdrawal of aid for the promotion of milk
quality in mountain areas

Has the Commission tried to dissuade the French

Government from withdrawing the aid of 2,9 centimes per

litre of milk intended to promote the production of
quality milk in mountain areas?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 June 1991)_

The Commission has not tried to dissuade the French

Government from discontinuing the aid referred to by the

Honourable Member.

In response to other questions put by Members of the
European Parliament ('), it has requested the French
Government, however, to notify the measure pursuant to
Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty. To date this has not
been done.

The Commission will not fail to adopt a position on the
compatibility of the measure with Article 92 of the EEC
Treaty and to notify the French Government thereof.

(') Written Questions Nos 2832/90 by Mr Marleix and 2856/90
byMrDouste-Blazy.-OJNoC 187,18.7.1991,p.ll.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 520/91

by Mrs Annemarie Goedmakers (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/47)

_Subject:_ Observance of human rights in Chad

During a visit to Chad from 27 April to 12 May 1990, I
met the EC representative in Chad on 12 May 1990 and
raised with him the matter of the findings of an Amnesty
International report on the human rights situation in
Chad (Chad: Political prisoners held in secret — calling
the government to account, 5 February 1990).

One of the most important conclusions of this report was
that during the period from 1985 to 1989, 400 political
prisoners disappeared.

At my meeting with the EC representative the seriousness
of the situation was denied. He saw no reason to take any
formal action regarding EC-Chad relations on the basis
of this report. In informal talks with Habre he had asked
for clarification and to his mind had received sufficient

assurances from the President.

1. Is the Commission aware of the report published by
Amnesty International in February 1990?

No C 241/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

2. Is it aware of the press reports that torture chambers
were discovered within the area of Habre's

presidential palace?

3. Are EC representatives abroad required to make
periodic reports on the social situation in general and
the human rights situation in particular in the country
in which they are posted? In other words, does the EC
operate a systematic reporting system?

4. If so, what was said in the reports by the EC
representatives in Chad about the human rights
situation there in the period 1985-90?

5. Does the Commission consider that its representative
in Chad made an adequate and correct assessment of
the human rights situation there when he spoke to me
on 12 May 1990?

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

_(19 June 1991)_

The Commission is indeed aware of the Amnesty
International report of February 1990 and has seen
reports of the torture chambers in the grounds of the
presidential palace of Hissein Habre.

The Commission's delegates provide diplomatic reports
on a periodic basis for the countries to which they are
accredited. These reports, which are of a confidential
nature, cover the important issue of human rights.

The Commission is not able to comment on the meeting
which took place on 12 May 1990 but has every
confidence in its Delegate in Chad.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 544/91

by Mr Jacques Tauran (DR.)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/48)

_Subject:_ Maritime transport of animals for slaughter

The transport of animals for slaughter by sea leads to a
great number of welfare problems for the animals.
Conditions on the ships bringing live horses from South
America to France are notorious. Overcrowding and heat
have caused the death of thousands of sheep being
transported from Australia or New Zealand to the Middle

East.

Given that the quality of chilled meat is indistinguishable
from freshly killed meat, will the Commission agree that
any application of a limitation on the journey times of live
animals destined for slaughter as referred to in the

proposal for a Directive (COM(89) 322) (either by linking
maximum journey times to feeding and watering times, or
the European Parliament's resolution setting an
eight-hour maximum time) should be extended to all
animals destined for immediate slaughter or for slaughter
within a certain time span after arrival at their destination,
travelling by sea, both in intra-Community trade as in
trade from the Community to third countries or from
third countries to the Community? Will it also extend this
principle to such animals transported by ships registered
in a Community Member State and to ships from third
countries making a stopover in an EC port?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 May 1991)_

Last year, the European Parliament adopted its opinion
on the draft Commission Proposal for a Council
Regulation on the protection of animals during
transport (*). The Commission has accepted a number of
the amendments put forward by the Parliament and has in
consequence amended its Proposal to the Council ( [2] ).

The Commission has in its revised proposal now accepted
the principle that it is under present day conditions
unnecessary for live animals for slaughter to be
transported over long distances. The relevant details of
the revised proposal are as follows:

Article 6 of the original proposal was amended by the
insertion of a new paragraph stating:

'Animals for slaughter may not be transported for
periods longer than a maximum laid down in
accordance with Article 15 (1) (a).

Article 15 (1) (a) requires the Commission, in accordance
with the advisory committee procedure, to establish for
each type of animal the appropriate resting, feeding and
watering intervals. Our amending proposal would make
these times the limit on a journey to slaughter.

The Commission is still examining in the framework of
the Scientific Veterinary Committee the elaboration of
these rules taking into account all relevant scientific
information.

The abovementioned proposal and rules when adopted
will cover not only transport of live animals between
Member States and transit across the territories of these

States but also between the Community and third
countries.

There will be no obligation under the text as presently
proposed for ships flying the flag of a Member State but
trading between two third countries to comply with the
new draft Regulation.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/27

The position of a third country ship calling at a
Community port, but not loading or unloading animals
there, needs to be further examined.

O COM(89)322 final, OJ No C 214, 21.8. 1989.
O COM(90) 238 final, OJ No C 154,23.6.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 558/91

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/49)

_Subject:_ Effective dissemination and optimization of the
results of activities in Community research,
technological development, and demonstration

Under Article 130g of the Treaty of Rome, one of the
fundamental aspects of the Community's research and
technological development policy is the dissemination and
optimization of the results of activities in Community
research, technological development and demonstration.

Despite the obvious benefit of this, Community
programmes such as Sprint, Stride, etc. have so far been
highly fragmentary, incomplete, academic and
uncoordinated. The statistical data relating to the transfer
and dissemination of research and technology results
have therefore been very sketchy particularly for the
Community regions thus jeopardizing economic and
social cohesion.

In view of this situation, it is absolutely essential to devise
an effective and practical Community mechanism for
transferring and disseminating the results of research and
technology to cover all Community programmes.

What are the Commission's views on this subject and
what measures does it propose to take to achieve this?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 May 1991)_

The aim of the Value specific programme implemented
under the second framework programme (1987-91) is to
facilitate the dissemination and utilization of the results

of Community research and technological development

programmes.

The four-year programme has been allocated resources
amounting to ECU 18 million. It has already resulted in
the implementation of a number of measures, including in
particular the establishment of an experimental
information service (Cordis) comprising several databases
on programmes, projects and published results, the
carrying out of a considerable number of utilization
projects selected by calls for proposals, the compilation of
a list of European experts and consultants in the field of
utilization of results and the launching of two pilot
operations in Portugal and Greece with a view to creating
relay centres to promote Community RTD. Initiatives
have been taken simultaneously to promote cooperation
between the Value programme, the other RTD
programmes and measures which help to strengthen the
European industrial fabric and improve economic and
social cohesion (Sprint, Stride, initiatives to assist small
and medium-sized enterprises, Eurotech Capital project,
etc.).

These activities should be continued and extended with

the implementation of the centralized action for
dissemination and utilization provided for in the third
framework programme (1990-94), which is the subject of
a proposal for a Council Decision and is currently being
examined by the European Parliament, in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 130q (2) and
which provides for the continuation of the main actions
undertaken under the Value programme as well as the
creation of a veritable network of relay centres within the
Community.

In this way, therefore, Community mechanisms for
technology transfer and the utilization of the results of
RTD are gradually being put into place in order to
optimize the utilization of knowledge resulting from
specific RTD programmes, particularly in peripheral
regions of the Community.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 568/91

by Mrs Nicole Fontaine (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/50)

_Subject:_ Establishment of a European school of
administration

What is the Commission's opinion on the proposal, which
seems to have been discussed and approved by the
Council of the European University Institute, to set up a
European school of administration to prepare special
executive staff for senior posts in the Institutions of the
European Communities?

16. 9. 91
No C 241/28 Official Journal of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 June 1991)_

The High Council of the European University Institute
has neither discussed nor approved any proposal along
the lines referred to by the Honourable Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 577/91

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C241/51)

_Subject:_ Artificial insemination centres

Will the Commission provide some information on

Directive 88/407/EECO?

The issue is whether there will still be trade after 1

February 1993 within individual Member States involving
artificial insemination centres which are not free from

infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR).

It appears that the Member States have different
interpretations as regards IBR-free trade within
individual Member States.

In Belgium, for example, exports to other Member States
will not be allowed but, under Directive 88/407/EEC,

will the two centres which are not free from IBR be able to

continue trading within Belgium after 1993?

O OJNoL194,22.7. 1988, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 May 1991)_

At present, Directive 88/407/EEC applies only to semen
for intra-Community trade. In the context of the internal
market, it is logical that its scope should be extended to
cover national movements in due course.

In respect of IBR-positive bulls, the Commission will
make proposals this year to phase out these animals from
studs which are producing semen for trade to other
Member States. Of course, some time will be allowed for
this to take place, and for existing stocks to be used up.
Eventually, this rule must also apply v to studs producing
only for the national market. It is envisaged that a testing

protocol can be agreed which will allow the stocks to be
used up without further risk of disease spread.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 584/91

by Mr Gerhard Schmidt (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 241/52)

_Subject:_ Recycled paper flowerpots

At the Veitshochheim (FRG) Garden Festival in January
1991, a demonstration was given of 'Flowerpots from
recycled paper'.

1. Is the Commission aware that flowerpots made from
recycled paper instead of polypropylene are already
successfully being marketed by several manufacturers
in the Federal Republic of Germany?

2. What measures does the Commission intend to take to

reduce the politically sensitive waste disposal
problems arising from the use of polypropylene?

3. Are attempts being made in other countries of the EC
to replace polypropylene plastic with more
environmentally acceptable materials, for example in
the manufacture of flowerpots? If so, could the
Commission please supply details ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

_(6 May 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the use of waste paper in the
production of certain products such as flower pots, where
it replaces polypropylene.

In order to diminish the impact on the environment of
mass consumption products — more particularly with a
view to avoiding the use of non-recyclable, non-reusable
and non-biodegradable waste, the Commission has
proposed that a Community system be set up for the
award for ecological labels to products which are less
harmful to the environment and which have on that

environment an overall effect that is much less significant
than that of other products ('). That label is both an
incentive in that it prompts manufacturers to produce
alternatives that are easier on the environment and a

source of information in that it helps consumers to make
their choice.

It is thus conceivable that the commercial machinery thus
instituted will cause a large number of substances and
materials to be replaced by alternatives that are less
harmful to the environment.

These criteria are uniform and shall apply throughout the
Community.

O OJ No C 75, 20. 3. 1991.

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/29

WRITTEN QUESTION No 599/91

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/53)

_Subject:_ An Environment Charter for Europe

Has the Commission received a copy of Fabian Pamphlet
No 543 (author Nick Robins) advocating an Environment
Charter for Europe? Does it intend to bring forward
proposals designed to achieve such an end?

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

_(7 May 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the proposal advocated in
the pamphlet. At present, it has no plans to bring forward
proposals for such a Charter.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 664/91

by Mrs Maria Santos (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(16 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/54)

_Subject:_ Situation in East Timor

As a result of the continual escalation of violence

perpetrated by the Indonesian forces against the
indigenous Maubere people, the situation in East Timor is
giving particular cause for concern.

The illegal occupation of this country whose right of
self-determination has been unequivocally upheld by the
United Nations, has been condemned by a number of
resolutions and constitutes a flagrant violation of the
most basic tenets of international law.

The occupying forces are engaged in nothing less than
genocide, accompanied by systematic violations of human
rights and attempts to eliminate totally the identity of the
people of Timor. In addition, an agreement was recently
reached between Australia and Indonesia for oil

prospecting in the Timor Sea.

This is more than just a plundering of natural resources, it
constitutes a division of the spoils of illegal annexation
and a manifest violation of the tenets of international law,
involving a Member State of the European Communities,
Portugal, which administers the territory.

1. What steps has the Commission taken, or will it take,
to ensure full compliance with UN resolutions on East
Timor?

2. Have any representations been made to the Australian
Government condemning the violation of human
rights which it is in the process of committing?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _July 1991)_

The Commission is following closely the development of
the situation in East Timor, in particular with regard to
human rights. It loses no opportunity to make the
Indonesian Government aware of the importance it
attaches to human rights being scrupulously respected.

The Commission is convinced that the only way to a fair,
lasting and internationally recognized settlement of the
East Timor question lies through peaceful negotiation
involving the parties to the conflict, under the auspices of
the United Nations. It is supporting the efforts made in
this direction by the UN Secretary-General.

The possibility of a Community approach to the
Australian Government, referred to by the Honourable
Member, has not so far been under consideration. The
Commission, in particular, has no legal mandate for such
an initiative.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 679/91

. by Mr Diego de los Santos Lopez (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/55)

_Subject:_ Table olives

The production of table olives, which is of great
socio-economic importance in the province of Seville, is
being affected by a serious crisis, causing a major loss of
income, not only for farmers, but also for the
agro-industrial sector, thereby creating a climate of
uncertainty which may encourage conversion towards
other sectors where Community production is already in
surplus (cereals, etc.). In addition this could have a
particularly serious impact on the employment situation.

In view of the proposal for a Regulation of 22 July 1990
on aid for table olives, for what reasons does the
Commission not propose to extend existing Community
arrangements to this sector on a definitive basis?

Is the Commission prepared to authorize national aid to
this sector until Community support measures are
adopted?

Will the Commission adopt measures to strengthen the
position of Community table olives on the international
markets?

No C 241/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 June 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the problems in the table
olive sector, particularly in Spain; it is closely monitoring
the market situation.

To help solve the problems it envisages the introduction
of common quality standards and has presented to the
Council a proposal for measures to promote the
consumption of table olives in the Community.

The Commission also intends to present to the Council
shortly a proposal for aid to be granted to producers'
organizations which regularize supply. This should
improve marketing conditions.

The Commission believes that this package of measures
will bring about a better market balance.

It would remind the Honourable Member that national

aids, which distort competition between the Member
States, would be incompatible with the Common Market.

With regard to measures on the international market, the
International Olive Oil Council carries out measures to

promote consumption of table olives on the main third
country markets. For its part, the Commission does not
envisage any further support measures, particularly in
view of the current negotiations to liberalize international
trade.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 681/91

by Mr Gijs de Vries (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/56)

_Subject:_ Human rights and Bank for Eastern Europe

The Charter of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, signed on 29 May 1990, commits the
Bank to 'the fundamental principles of multi-party
democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and
market economies'.

1. Does the Commission agree that the Bank should
establish a staff unit to monitor the observance of

human rights?

2. In the view of the Commission, what criteria should
the Bank apply in monitoring the extent to which
human rights are being observed?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 June 1991)_

The Commission attaches great importance to the
development of democratic pluralism, the introduction of
the rule of law, and respect for human rights in the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and regards the
changes that these countries have ushered in as being of
historic significance. When the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development was established, its
Articles of Agreement, in order to underline these
objectives, explicitly stated that Bank financing would be
open to those Central and Eastern European countries
which were proceeding in this direction and encouraging
the market economy.

It is the responsibility of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development to determine, in
agreement with its shareholders, the organizational
structure best suited to its activity.

Under the Bank's Articles of Agreement, the decision to
suspend operations in favour of any country which fails to
respect human rights lies with the Board of Governors.
For its part, the Commission takes the view that the
decisions and criteria involved in ascertaining whether
such a situation existed should take existing international
instruments into account and should refer in particular to
the texts adopted and the assessments made by the
Council of Europe and by the Conference for Security
and Cooperation in Europe.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 688/91

by Mr Frederic Rosmini (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/57)

_Subject:_ Renaval

On 6 July 1988 the Council of the European Communities
adopted a Community programme to assist the
conversion of shipbuilding areas: the Renaval

programme.

By Decision of 19 December 1989 the Community agreed
to consider the employment areas of Aubagne, la Ciotat,
Marseille and the employment area of Toulon, la Seyne as
eligible for assistance under this programme.

16.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/31

What operations have been funded by this programme to
the benefit of France in general and the region of
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in particular?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

Six French areas have been made eligible for the Renaval programme (Toulon-La Seyne/Aubagne-La
Ciotat/Marseille; Dunkirk; Le Havre; La Rochelle;
Cherbourg; Loire-Atlantique).

To date, two operational programmes have been adopted:
for Loire-Atlantique and for Dunkirk on 27 November
1990 and 14 December 1990 respectively.

The measures supported under these two operational

programmes cover:

— material investments by SMEs;

— the setting-up of joint services to SMEs;

— the transfer of technology;

— business premises;

— the setting-up of business parks;

— the rehabilitation of disused shipyards;

— the development of tourist potential (accommodation,
sites, products, the gathering and diffusion of
innovative ideas).

An operational programme only defines the types of
measures to be part-financed by the structural Funds; at
this stage, it is therefore impossible to list the operations
supported under these measures.

The Renaval operational programme for
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur is being studied by the
Commission departments concerned and will be adopted

soon.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 696/91

by Ms Christine Oddy and Mr Alex Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/58)

_Subject:_ Resettled people in El Salvador

What aid and assistance is the Commission giving to
resettled people in El Salvador?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _July 1991)_

Large-scale voluntary operations to resettle Salvadorians
in Honduras have been underway since October 1987.

This resettlement has been promoted by the International
Conference on Central American Refugees (Cirefca, set
up by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees in 1989).

In the early years of the implementation of Article 936 the
Community cofinanced productive activities to promote
the self-sufficiency of displaced people in El Salvador and
contributed to a training programme for Salvadorians in
refugee camps in Honduras designed to prepare them for
their return.

As soon as the first large-scale resettlements started, the
Commission immediately mobilized aid for both the
resettlement process itself (carried out by the UNHCR)
and the resettlement of returnees in their communities of
origin (through European NGOs in partnership with
Salvadorian NGOs).

It should be noted that most of these operations were
carried out in areas of conflict, which made them more
difficult to conduct.

Despite these difficulties the Community's humanitarian
aid has done a great deal for these people in need,
including as it has the financing of crop growing and
livestock production, the building of health centres and
schools, improvements in housing, and training and
technical assistance.

No C 241/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

Projects to promote the Self-Sufficiency of Refugees and Displaced Persons in El Salvador

(Article B7-302, ex 936)

EEC commitments
(ECU '000)

355

371

684

1 000

500

1 000

485

560

Body

Government institution

Fundsal/Cebemo

Christian Aid/Cafod

Christian Aid/UK

ACT/BE

UNHCR

Iepala/Cordes

Intermon/Cordes

Project

85/2/AD/A

85/2/AD/B

85/2/AD/C

88/9/RR

89/4/AD

86/16/RR

90/2/RR

90/3/RR

90/6/RR

90/7/AD

Total

Title

Vocational training in urban
trades for 1 280 displaced persons
in San Salvador

Resettlement of 210 families
in the municipality -of
Tenancingo

Resettlement of 125 families
on two farms (San Jorge and
Aldeita)

Resettlement of 7 000 returnees

from Honduras in the
departments of Chalatenango de
Cuscatian and Cabanas

Income-generating activities for
displaced families in San Salvador

Resettlement of some 11 000
people from Honduras

Development in 6 communities
of returnees in Chalatenango
involving approximately 2 550
people

Development in 8 communities
in Chalatenango involving 3 000
returnees and displaced people

Resettlement of returnees in the
departments of Chalatenango
and Cabanas

Self-sufficiency for communities
of displaced persons, Bahia de
Jiquilisco

10 projects

1 150 Christian Aid/Diaconia

470

6 575

Manitese/Italy

WRITTEN QUESTION No 706/91

by Mrs Maria Santos (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/59)

_Subject:_ The planting of eucalyptus in an area of
ornithological interest in Portugal

In the south of Portugal there is an area defined as an
'area of ornithological interest' (Corine programme —
biotope 156) which has the most important colony of
great bustards in the country.

In Castro Verde firms producing cellulose pulp are
continuing intensive planting of eucalyptus, even in the
classified areas, which definitely constitutes a threat to the
said birds.

Associations of farmers and local environmentalists are

drawing up a study aimed at averting this threat to the
environment in accordance with Article 19 of Council

Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 (*), since the indiscriminate
planting of eucalpytus causes, _inter_ _alia,_ serious damage to
various species, some of which may become extinct.

In view of the commitment of local farmers and

environmentalists to a project which combines
development with conservation, can the Commission say
what measures it has taken or intends to take with regard

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/33

to the planting of eucalyptus trees in areas protected
under Community Directives?

O OJ No L 93, 30. 3.1985, p. 1.

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

_(31 May 1991)_

The Portuguese authorities have not yet classified the
area of Castro Verde as a special protection area pursuant
to Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC (*), even though it is
on the list of areas of Community interest and it is
indispensable to the maintenance of a coherent network
of habitats for steppe and semi-steppe birds.

According to the information which the Commission has,
the Portuguese authorities have not given their agreement
to projects involving the indiscriminate planting of
eucalyptus in the area in question.

The Commission would stress that application of
Directive 79/409/EEC should provide sufficient
protection for this area and will therefore ensure that
Portugal brings into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions enabling the site to be classified
as a special protection area.

O OJ No L 103, 25.4.1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 714/91

by Mr Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech and
Mr Jose Ruiz-Mateos Jimenez de Tejada (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/60)

_Subject:_ Senior citizens

In view of the progressive ageing of the population in the
Community and the rate at which this is taking place, does
the Commission consider the aid granted to senior
citizens to be sufficient in both quantity and quality?

Are there any plans for a substantial increase in funding
for temporary employment programmes involving senior
citizens?

Are there any plans for comprehensive programmes to
facilitate the social integration of senior citizens through
employment opportunities and leisure pursuits?

Answer giyen by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(16 May 1991)_

Very much aware of the challenges resulting from the
ageing of the Community's population, the Commission
in 1990 presented its 'Communication on the Elderly'
together with a draft Council Decision for a Community
programme on behalf of older people. This decision was
finally adopted by the Council on 26 November 1990.

The Community programme, which will run from 1991 to
1993, addresses, _inter alia,_ the need to promote the
integration of older people into society. The budget fixed
for the programme by the Council Decision — ECU 2,4
million for the years 1991 and 1992 — represents more
than a doubling of the resources spent annually by the
Community on social measures for older people.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 718/91

by Mr Brian Simpson (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/61)

_Subject:_ Discrimination against professional rugby league
players

Is the policy of the rugby football unions within the EC of
banning for life players who play professional rugby
league a contravention of the Treaty of Rome and a
breach of Community citizens' human rights?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 May 1991)_

Rules governing the eligibility of players are a matter for
sports federations alone.

The Commission is of course competent to examine the
extent to which federation rules conflict with the EEC

Treaty, especially those placing obstacles in the way of
free movement of professional players.

No C 241/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 720/91

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April1991)_

(91/C 241/62)

_Subject:_ Promotion of Euromarketing in theory and
practice

The proposal for a Council Decision for promotion of the
development of enterprises, and in particular small and
medium-sized enterprises, (COM(90) 528 final of 18
December 1990) stresses that the dissemination of
marketing techniques is likely to facilitate access by small
and medium-sized undertakings to the single European
market. The aim of these techniques is to define, design,
promote and manage efficiently in a competitive
environment products and services constantly adapted to
the needs and expectations of the target customers and to
the constraints of the Community-wide market, which
will be opened up even more to imports from third
countries after the Uruguay Round. In view of this, it is
obviously immensely important to establish the principles
and techniques of Euromarketing for the benefit of
undertakings. Can the Commission say what specific
moves it has already made or intends to make in this
direction (seminars, practical guidelines, etc.).

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 May 1991)_

The Commission plans to publish shortly in the _Official_
_Journal of the European Communities_ an invitation to
tender with a view to launching studies relating to
Euromarketing. These studies will then be used in the
preparation of a practical guide for small and
medium-sized enterprises. It is also planned to organize a
seminar at which the findings of these studies will be
presented.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 735/91

by Mr Panayotis Lambrias (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/63)

_Subject:_ Computer translation and processing of the less
common Community languages

The translation needs of the Community and the
increased workload of the institutions in connection with

the completion of the internal market make it increasingly
necessary to overcome the language barrier by developing

the practical applications of information technology
within the administration.

Working with nine official languages means that
translation between 72 language pairs is necessary and,
with this in mind, the Commission launched two research
projects into computer translating, Eurotra and Systran.

However, applications of these programmes, in particular
Systran, which is already in use, are limited to the most
common languages, giving rise to the danger that certain
languages, including Greek, will be relegated to the
sidelines.

1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to

prevent the downgrading and neglect of the less
common Community languages?

2. What stage has been reached by the Eurotra project?

3. How well are the translation requirements of the
institutions covered by present translation staff?

4. When does the Commission consider that it will be

possible to incorporate the Greek language into
Community data banks and electronic filing systems?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _June 1991)_

Looking ahead to when the internal market will be
completed, the Commission is endeavouring to establish
the essential conditions for eliminating existing language
barriers, especially by building up its linguistic
infrastructure, increasing recourse to new linguistic and
computer technologies and running a range of
programmes related to the teaching of foreign languages
(Lingua, Erasmus, Comett).

The Systran machine translation system (already
operational for ten language pairs, with six further pairs
to be added within the next two years) is currency be'ing
developed to accommodate eight target languages,
including Greek. The Commission has been working
closely with the Greek authorities since 1989 to develop
an English-Greek language pair.

1. When the Communities were established, the
Commission set up the machinery necessary for
ensuring translation from and into all the Community
languages.

Its Translation Service is staffed in such a way as to
strike a balance between the various languages and to
enable it to deal with the institution's actual needs in

the field of internal and external communication.

Office and computer equipment technologies have
been provided so that all languages are dealt with on

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/35

an equal footing. The initial problems encountered
with Greek have been gradually overcome.

The Commission has launched a variety of
programmes designed to overcome the language and
geographical impediments to information and
promote the electronic processing of natural language
(multilingual action plan, Eurotra, Esprit). The results
will have to facilitate the transfer of written and oral

information between the Community's languages,
respecting the principles of equality and democracy.

2. The initial Eurotra programme (1982-90) resulted in
the finalization of a prototype with a vocabulary of
some 20 000 lexical units and analysis, transfer and
synthesis modules for all the official Community
languages, including Greek.

On 26 November 1990 the Council adopted a specific
technological research and development programme
designed to prepare an operational Eurotra system.
The aim is to consolidate the research results obtained

and open up participation in the programme to
industrial partners.

3. The Translation Service has been given a new
subject-based structure which has enabled it to cope
more effectively with the growing volume of
translation, especially by increased recourse to outside
help.

A range of office-automation and computer systems
have been introduced in the fields of word processing,
documentary and terminological research, document
transmission and administrative management to
enable it to respond more effectively to all its
obligations.

4. Greek is already on a par with the other Community
languages in the Community's information systems.
More particularly, the following databases, in
conformity with the Greek ELOT 928-ISO 8859/7
standard, are available to Greek users:

— Celex, Community law database;

— INFO 92, database on the completion of the
internal market;

— Eurodicatom, the Commission terminological
database.

The Commission's electronic record filing system can
handle Greek.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 748/91

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/64)

_Subject:_ Uses of the Alqueva dam

In Volume II of the Portuguese Regional Development
Programme for the period 1989-93, which was used as a

basis for the 1989-1993 Community Support Framework
for promoting the development and structural adjustment
of regions whose development is lagging behind
(Objective 1) in Portugal, the following footnote is
contained in File 13A, entitled Various Uses of the
Alqueva Dam: 'Please note that the decision to launch this
project will depend on the findings of the general survey
to be carried out with funding from the Commission of
the European Communities'.

1. Was such a funding requested from the Commission?

2. When was it requested and what was the amount?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

In agreement with the Portuguese Government, the
Commission acknowledged the need for an overall
integrated assessment study on the works relating to the
Alqueva Dam and their impact on the national and
regional economy before taking a decision on carrying
out the project.

The invitation to tender has already been published in the
_Official Journal of the European Communities_ and the
deadline for the receipt of tenders was 15 May 1991.

The Commission expects the study to be completed by the
end of 1991 at a cost not exceeding ECU 800 000, all of
which will be met from Community funds.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 770/91

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/65)

_Subject:_ Phare programme

The Phare programme which has now been extended to
six East-bloc countries, provides enormous
appropriations for restructuring the socialist economies,
investment promotion, economic reconstruction,
transport infrastructures and environment protection.

On the experience of my last visit to Poland, however, the
projects are decided and announced by the national
government departments, and do not appear to be subject
to any final assessment by the Commission.

1. How can the Commission ensure that potentially
conflicting sets of requirements are compatible with
each other?

No C 241/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.9. 91

2. Will the Commission consider associating itself with
on-the-spot decision-making on the different
investment projects through its own local
representatives, and will it also include environmental
considerations in new industrial and transport
investments, so as to ensure rational expenditure of
the first 5,3 million by the end of the year?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 July 1991)_

One of the guiding principles of Operation Phare is that
the recipient countries themselves select priority sectors
and projects for financing under Regulation (EEC) No
3906/89 ('). Although the sums involved may look
'enormous', they are inadequate to satisfy the full extent
of these countries' needs to help with their economic
restructuring. Furthermore, existing forms of
organization are not always capable of ensuring the
viability of projects, however urgent or desirable.

Priorities are adopted in connection with the annual
indicative programming of the aid to which the various
countries are entitled, though the programmes are not
binding. In any case, in this way and in an ongoing
dialogue the Commission, sometimes acting through its
local delegations, ensures that it can play a part in project
identification and formulation. There is a national

coordinator in each country.

Both sides are particularly concerned with environmental
factors, and indeed' a considerable proportion of the
funds is devoted to this aspect.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's

attention to the answer to Written Question No 1587/90
by Mr Deprez ( [2] ) describing the decision-making process
for financing projects.

O OJNoL375,23.12. 1989.
O OJ No C 227, 31. 8. 1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 778/91

by Mrs Anita Pollack (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/66)

_Subject:_ Health for All 2000

Can the Commission give an update on the Health for All
2000 project? What has happened to it?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 June 1991)_

Health for all by the year 2000 is not a Commission
initiative but a programme run by the WHO. Questions
regarding progress made by this programme should be

addressed to the WHO.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 779/91

by Mr Herman Verbeek (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April 1991)_

(91/C 241/67)

_Subject:_ Coresponsibility levy in the cereals sector

Investigations by the European Court of Auditors show
that no effective instrument exists for reducing
production in the cereals sector.

1. Does the Commission conclude from this that neither

levies nor price reductions are an effective means of
reducing the volume of production?

2. What is the Commission's view concerning the idea
that set-aside has led primarily to marginal
agricultural land being taken out of production, and
that, for the purpose of limiting cereal production and
to achieve desired environmental objectives, it is
necessary to introduce more extensive production
methods on all land (in particular land which is now
intensively cultivated, producing large yields) ?

3. The reforms proposed by Commissioner MacSharry
include a sliding scale for the incomes of smaller
producers. Is the Commission prepared to apply this
scale to price and production quotas (per country and
per holding) so that genuinely effective production
control can be achieved?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 June 1991)_

1. The Commission, as it has already stated in its reply
to comments by the Court of Auditors, does not share the
view that the declared objectives of the coresponsibility
system have not been achieved. It finds, moreover, no

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/37

mention in the report that the Court of Auditors rejects
price reductions as an appropriate means of adjusting
cereals production.

2. and 3. In a discussion paper entitled 'The
Development and Future of the CAP', the Commission
stated that the market organizations should encourage
'extensification', with a view to reducing surplus
production and contributing to an environmentally
sustainable form of agricultural production (paragraph
rv.5).

Variations in cereals prices, linked to production quotas,
were not contemplated in the reform. Such an
introduction would be contrary to the principle
underlying the Single Market and would have
discriminatory consequences for cereals consumers.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 798/91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/68)

_Subject:_ Reorganization of working time in the cleaning
industry

The main provisions of the proposal.for a Directive on the
reorganization of working time are for the night-time
working period to begin at 20.00 and end at 09.00 instead
of 22.00 and 05.00 as at present, for the establishment of a
daily rest period of at least 11 hours, and for a compulsory
weekly period of continuous rest of at least 35 hours.

These provisions will impose restrictions on an
occupation such as industrial cleaning which could in the
long term jeopardize its future or increase job insecurity,
since this occupation involves duties generally carried out,
for technical and practical reasons, outside the normal
opening hours of the premises concerned.

Does the Commission intend to take these particular
factors into account in the actual provisions of the
Directive on the reorganization of working time so as to
include clearly defined derogations for the industrial
cleaning industry?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(7June 1991)_

The Commission has taken note of the concern of those
working in the cleaning industry regarding the practical
consequences for their occupation of the proposal for a

Directive on certain aspects of the organization of
working time. It is certainly not the Commission's
intention to prevent the industry from operating
normally.

In drafting a Directive to be addressed to Member States,
it is impossible to cover every situation which may exist in
the wide range of occupations in the Community. The
Commission has therefore made provision for
derogations to be made where the terms of the Directive
are clearly incompatible with the special characteristics of
certain occupations. Derogations will be granted on
condition that compensatory rest periods are guaranteed
during a reference period which must not exceed six
months.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 804/91

by Mr James Ford (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 April_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/69)

_Subject:_ Israeli blockade of Gaza port

Will the Commission say what action is to be taken on the
continuing Israeli blockade of the Port of Gaza,
preventing the export of Palestinian agricultural produce,
which is in breach of trade protocols signed between the
EC and Israel?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(3_ _July 1991)_

There is no mention of Palestinian agricultural produce
from the Occupied Territories in the agreements between
the European Community and the State of Israel, nor
could there be by virtue of the principle of separation
between Israel and the Occupied Territories as far as the
relationship with the Community is concerned.

In the joint conclusions reached between Israel and the
Community on the procedures to be utilized to facilitate
the passage of Palestinian produce through Israeli
territory there is no mention of the Gaza port.

The Gaza Strip does not have at present an operational
port, although there is a Gazan project for building a
fishing port there.

Exports of Palestinian agricultural produce from the
Occupied Territories are shipped through Israeli ports
and airports.

With the exception of occasional problems and the as yet
unresolved question of an excessive Israeli zeal in carrying

No C 241/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

out security checks, which on occasion have damaged the
produce, Israel is honouring its obligations with
Palestinian exporters from the Occupied Territories.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 809/91

by Mr Michel Herve (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _May_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/70)

_Subject:_ Harmonization in the construction sector

The Resolution of Parliament of 12 October 1988 on the
need for Community action in the construction industry
(A2-0188/88) called on the Commission to take action
with a view to harmonizing the rules governing the
liability of house builders and developers.

The modernization of the construction sector, together
with the constant improvements in quality and
competitiveness, imply the need to offer the consumers of
the final product clear and precise guarantees satisfying
the essential requirements for any construction, wherever
it is built.

The completion of the single market of 1993 requires the
parallel existence at Community level of harmonized
legislative provisions governing the construction sector.
In the absence of such provisions, the economic operators
concerned will have to deal with national legislation
which is rarely identical.

Gan the Commission state:

1. whether it shares the view that the completion of the
single market and the protection of the final users of
housing require the adoption, at Community level, of
harmonized legislative provisions, especially as
regards liability and guarantees;

2. the nature of its action programme for this area?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 May_ _1991)_

1. Yes.

In approving the proposal for a Directive on the liability
of suppliers of services (COM(90) 482), which went
before the Council in November 1990, the Commission
decided that a specific Directive should be drawn up for

the building industry, to deal _inter_ _alia_ with liability and
guarantees.

2. The Commission recently set up four working
parties of experts from the relevant European
associations. Their work will provide the basis for the
proposal for a Directive.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's
attention to the deadline for the incorporation into
national law of Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21
December 1988 on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member
States relating to construction products (27 June 1991) (*).

0) OJNoL40,11.2.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 824/91

by Mrs Christine Oddy (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _May 1991)_

(91/C 241/71)

_Subject:_ Siemens plans for GPT — Competition policy

What action is the Commission proposing to take in
relation to the article which appeared in the _Daily_
_Telegraph_ on 25 March 1991 in which it was reported that
Siemens might take a larger stake in GPT?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 June_ _1991)_

The Commission adopted a formal decision on 1
September 1989 (*) dealing with the agreement between
GEC and Siemens to purchase Plessey. It was found at
that time that the proposed arrangements, including the
acquisition by Siemens of 40 % of GPT, which was at that
time jointly owned and controlled by GEC and Plessey,
did not infringe EEC competition rules.

The Commission has contacted the parties, and is not
aware of any plans by GEC and Siemens to change the
present ownership of GPT. On the basis of the
information currently at the Commission's disposal, it is
considered that if Siemens were to acquire sole control of
GPT, Siemens would be required to notify the
Commission under the Merger Regulation ( [2] ). The
implication of a change in control would then be
examined by the Commission under that Regulation to

16. 9. 91 Official Journal of the

establish whether or not this was compatible with the
common market.

O OJ No C 239,25.9.1990.
O Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989

on the control of concentrations between undertakings; OJ
NoL257,21.9.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 843/91

by Mr Francesco Speroni (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/72)

_Subject:_ Protection of silkworm farming

A chemical pesticide called 'Insegar', based on
phenoxycarb, has been on sale in the Community for
several years. Studies and research carried out by
specialized bodies, including the Universities of Padua
and Turin, reveal that it can kill silkworm pupae, even at a
considerable distance from the spraying area.

In view of the economic value of silkworm farming and
the possibility that phenoxycarb is not only harmful to
silkworm pupae but also to other insects apart from those
it is intended to kill, with serious ecological consequences,
are there any plans for action at Community level? What
do these plans entail?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 June 1991)_

Since 1972-73 the Community aid scheme has granted aid
for silkworm rearing in the Community in recognition of
its importance in certain regions, particularly in Italy
where it constitutes an additional source of income for

farmers.

Thanks to this assistance, which represents about 35 % of
the silkfarmer's return and 60 % of the sale price of the
cocoons, and to the rise in the world market price for silk,
Community rearing of silkworms has practically
stabilized in recent years, at about 5 000 boxes of silk
seed.

As for the particular problem of pupa mortality, the
Commission does not envisage any specific measures as
the problem appears to result from pesticide misuse and
inappropriate plant health treatments.

»ean Communities No C 241/39

WRITTEN QUESTION No 879/91

by Mr Jose Happart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/73)

_Subject:_ Advance funding of EAGGF (Guarantee
Section) assistance

The national and regional authorities often wait for
Community funds to be released before committing
themselves to advance funding, which delays the
execution of programmes.

1. In view of these delays in payment, is the Commission
aware that it must eliminate these purely bureaucratic
constraints in order to be able to react with greater
speed and flexibility?

2. How, therefore, does the Commission propose to
adapt the budgetary situation to deal with the
financial impact of the market organizations?

3. Does the Commission exercise control over the

distribution of the funds allocated to the

administration of programmes, and over regional
distribution in particular?

Answer given by Mr MacSharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 June 1991)_

Pursuant to Article 5 (2) (a) of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 729/70 0> the Commission pays advances against the
booking of expenditure incurred by national departments
and agencies, not later than the third working day of the
second month following that in which the expenditure is
effected by these same agencies.

Since the entry into force of this provision in January
1988, no delay has ever been recorded in the payment of
these advances.

As it is, in fact, a case of reimbursement of expenditure
already incurred, the Member States are obliged to release
necessary funds as the needs of their paying agencies
require.

Apart from some specific cases in the past, the
Commission is not aware of any delays in payments due to
a lack of available funding in the Member States.

The delays noted by the Honourable Member result
either from slow progress in the national administrations
or from the need to check that expenditure to be covered
is justified.

Since intervention expenditure from the EAGGF
Guarantee Section consists mainly of compensation it is

No C 241/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

not like regionally administered programmes; as a result,
the Commission has no control to exercise over the

regional distribution of funds.

O OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970 amended by Regulation (EEC) No
2048/88, OJ No L 185,15. 7.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 889/91

by Mrs Anita Pollack (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/74)

_Subject:_ State aids to industry

Has the Commission approved the recent French
Government FFfour billion restructuring plan for
Groupe Bull and if so, on what grounds?

Answer by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1991)_

The Commission has recently been informed by the
French Government of its plan to participate in the
restructuring of the capital of Compagnie des Machines
Bull by granting a capital injection of FF two billion in
1991 and FF two billion in 1992.

The capital injection referred to is liable to fall within the
provision of the EEC Treaty concerning state aids, in
particular Article 92, paragraph 1. The Commission has
already requested additional information from the French
authorities in order to determine the nature of the

operation, and, if it involves aid, as to its compatibility
with the Treaty.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 915/91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/75)

_Subject:_ Community veto on admissible regional aid in

the Madrid area

The Autonomous Community of Madrid is under
considerable strain because it is surrounded by regions
encouraging the location of businesses in their area by
means of subsidies. This is inducing many such businesses
based on the outskirts of Madrid to move to the adjoining
regions in search of substantial subsidies.

For this reason there is considerable surprise at the
Commission's opposition to the Spanish decision to step
up admissible regional aid in the Madrid area.

Is the Commission aware that its veto on the proposed
increase will place the Madrid region at a clear
disadvantage in relation to the adjoining regions and that
the Community of Madrid is in danger of losing some of
the businesses now located in the area?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 July 1991)_

The Commission has decided to initiate the procedure
provided for in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty in respect
of aids granted in Spain, these being regional aids with an
aid-intensity ceiling of 45 % net grant equivalent in Sierra
Norte (Province of Madrid), on the ground that such a
ceiling is unacceptable in the case of the Province of
Madrid. Under this procedure, the Commission will take
account of any observations submitted to it and will give a
final decision as to whether or not the aids are compatible
with the common market.

Since the aids at issue are regional aids, their compatibility
with the common market must be assessed in the light of
the derogations from the general prohibition that are
provided for in Article 92 (3) (a) and (c), which specifies
objectives to be pursued in the interests of the Community
and not simply in the interests of Member States and aid
recipients. The Commission applies these derogations to
regional aids in accordance with methods that take
account of the socio-economic situation in the regions
concerned (').

In the case in point, the Commission's decision will
depend on the socio-economic situation in the region. At
all events, it does not seem possible to justify the granting
of regional aids in the Province of Madrid solely on the
ground that the Province is surrounded by regions in
which regional aids are authorized. This might prompt
regions to try and outbid one another in regional aid
matters, a prospect which does not seem desirable.

O OJ No C 212,12. 8.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 919/91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/76)

_Subject:_ Community subsidies for the Euronews
consortium

The Euronews consortium which has just been presented
to the world in Brussels and claims to be Europe's answer

16.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/41

to the American CNN television channel has succeeded in

bringing together ten public television channels and the
European Broadcasting Union.

If this initiative comes off it will involve costs of Ptas

6 500 million a year, which the Euronews consortium
claims will be financed by the European Community,
while not involving it in being controlled by the
Community institutions.

Has the Commission received any application in this
regard and what is the European Community's attitude
likely to be to providing finance for the Euronews project
on the terms described by its promoters?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 June 1991)_

As the Honourable Member says, a delegation of the
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) presented
Euronews to the Commission in Brussels last February. At
that time, the EBU delegation made it clear that
Euronews would need a decision on a subsidy of the order
of ECU 10 million per annum over 5—6 years in order to
be able to begin full-scale operations. The EBU hoped
such operations would commence at the beginning of
1992. The EBU also stated that it hoped to obtain the
subsidy from 'public sources in Europe'. The Commission
welcomed the EBU's plans, as it is in principle in favour of
the development of Pan-European Satellite TV services.

However, with regard to the requested subsidy, the
Commission does not currently dispose of the necessary
financial ressources within rubric 4 of the Financial

Perspective. It has therefore proposed in the 1992
Preliminary Draft Budget the creation of an appropriate
budget line (No B 33001) with a 'PM' ('pour memoire').
In the meantime, the Commission is pursuing contacts
with other interested partners within the framework of
Audiovisual Eureka.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 945/91

by Mr Michael Welsh (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/77)

_Subject:_ Regional development agencies in the
Community

Regional development agencies, such as Anvar in France
and the Steinberg Foundation in Germany, are

operational in a number of Member States. Will the
Commission indicate for each Member State the methods

using to finance such agencies e.g. central government
funding, local or regional funding, a levy on local
industry, a charge for services rendered?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 June 1991)_

The Commission does not have the information

requested regarding the agencies mentioned by the
Honourable Member.

Given the comprehensive data needed to reply to the
question, a detailed Community-wide investigation would
be required.

The Commission will consider in the context of its work

programme priorities the possibility of carrying out such
an investigation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 950/91

by Mr Amedee Turner (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/78)

_Subject:_ Statistics for Patents taken out by firms and
research establishments in Member States

Will the Commission tabulate for each Member State the

number of patents taken out by firms and research
establishments in each Member State during the period
1 January 1980 to 31 December 1989, and state the
corresponding statistics for Japan and the USA?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 June 1991)_

1. The Commission does not compile or tabulate
statistics on patents for the Member States.

2. The OECD compiles and tabulates statistics on
patents for its Member States which include the EC
Member States. The data are compiled by the OECD
Secretariat from reports published by World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva and the
European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich.

No C 241/42 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 91

This is contained in its annual publication — _Main_ _Science_
_and_ _Technology_ _Indicators._

3. The OECD does not compile statistics on patents
taken out as requested by Written Questions reference
950/91.

4. Four different tables on patent applications are
produced by OECD. The data concern the number of
patents applied for as opposed to the number finally
granted or taken out.

5. The four tables are:

(a) National Patent Applications — The sum of
domestic and foreign patent applications in each
Member State.

(b) Domestic Patent Applications — Applications in a
Member State by citizens or residents of that
Member State.

(c) Foreign Patent Applications — Applications in a
Member State by citizens or residents of other
countries.

(d) External Patent Applications — Applications by
citizens or residents of a Member State in other

countries.

Applications in each of these groups are from individuals,
firms and research establishments both in the private and
public sectors.

6. The table below is a defined in note 5b above.

7. Data on domestic patent applications are only
available for Italy once in five years.

8. 1980 and 1981 data for Luxembourg contained in
the table are from WIPO and not tabulated by OECD.

Domestic Patents Applications

```
 1989

  894

 1 120

 12 792

,31 888

  404

  736

  —

```

_77_

```
 2 776

  86

 2118

 19 932

 82 370

317 353

```

```
 1988

  857

 1 197

 12 587

32 575

  374

  727

  —

  87

 2 585

  54

 1 841

20 692

75 192

308 775

```

```
 1987

  771

 1007

 12 815

32 187

 1 540

  719

  —

  91

 2 337

  61

 1 741

 20 102

68 315

310 908

```

```
 1986

  975

  958

 12 256

32 741

 1222

  743

  —

  95

 2 157

```

_77_

```
 1652

 20 195

65 195

290 132

```

```
 1985

  935

  856

 12 158

32 708

 1 123

  726

 2 063

  97

 2 206

  85

 2 149

 19 797

 63 673

274 948

```

```
 1984

 1 010

  966

 11441

32 438

 1 339

  651

  —

  79

 2 127

  96

 1 784

 19 230

 61 841

256 195

```

```
 1983

  929

 1 167

 11 278

32 094

 1 251

  567

  —

  99

 2 118

  91

 1498

 19 977

 59 391

227 708

```

```
 1982

 1 022

 1 095

 10 821

31 111

 1 291

  434

  —

  99

 2 093

  92

 1 646

 20 640

 63 316

210 897

```

```
 1981

  919

 1 085

 11057

30 251

 1 273

  461

  —

  109

 2 073

  90

 1 718

 20 898

 62 404

191 621

```

```
     Countries

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

United Kingdom

United States

Japan

```

```
 1980

  992

  964

 11086

30 582

 1 308

  394

 6 375

  97

 1 995

  92

 1 876

 19 710

 62 098

165 730

```

WRITTEN QUESTION No 979/91

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/79)

_Subject:_ Human rights violation in Syria

In view of the current discussion relating to the financial
and technical protocol of the EC-Syria Cooperation
Agreement, is the Commission taking into consideration
the present political situation in the country where
thousands of suspected opponents of the Government
continue to be detained under state-of-emergency
legislation in force since 1963?

Under what basis is EC aid and technical assistance given
to undemocratic and repressive governments?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 July 1991)_

The policy followed by the Commission has been
presented to the Parliamentary Committee on External
Relations and Development several times as well as to the
Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Policy
Committee.

16.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/43

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Third Financial
Protocol with Syria has been signed on 5 February 1991,
by the Council. The assent has been requested from the
Parliament which will thus have to decide whether it
considers the 'undemocratic and repressive nature of the
Government' to be such as to warrant a discontinuation of
Community development assistance to the Syrian people.
Whatever that decision, the Commission believes that the
Community's position on human rights and democracy
should be made very clear, through formal or informal
dialogue, to all those politically responsible in Syria.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 983/91

by Mr Alain Marleix (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May_ _1991)_

(91/C 241/80)

_Subject:_ EEC subsidies for the Auvergne region

1. What was the total amount of EEC subsidies to the
Auvergne region from the ERDF, the EAGGF and the
ESF under the new programme 5B?

2. What was the total amount of aid paid to the Issoire
and Montlucon area of Auvergne under programme 2B?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 June 1991)_

1. Community grants to the Auvergne region under
Objective 5 (b) for the period 1989-93 total ECU
64 680 000 (at 1989 prices). This amount may be broken
down as follows:

 - EAGGF Guidance Section: ECU 32 260 000.

 - ERDF: ECU 12 260 000

 - ESF: ECU 20 160 000.

The programmes involving assistance from the EAGGF
Guidance Section and the ERDF were approved by the
Commission on 6 December 1990 and 5 February 1991
respectively. The programme for ESF assistance is under
appraisal and should be approved shortly.

2. Community grants to the Issoire and Montlucon
areas of Auvergne under Objective 2 for 1989-91 total

ECU 12 million (at 1989 prices). This amount may be
broken down as follows:

- ERDF: ECU 9,6 million

- ESF: ECU 2,4 million.

ECU 8,3 million is for new measures, of which the ERDF
will provide ECU 6,5 million and the ESF ECU 1,8
million.

The ERDF and ESF operational programmes were
approved by the Commission on 20 March and 26
October 1990 respectively.

The list of areas eligible under Objective 2 has been kept
unchanged for 1992 and 1993 and the new CSFs and
operational programmes should be adopted in the

autumn.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 989/91

by Mr Paul Howell (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C241/81)

_Subject:_ Fisheries Agreement with Sierra Leone

1. In view of the fact that the European Parliament was
asked to give an urgent opinion in April 1990 on the
proposed agreement with Sierra Leone, can the
Commission state whether or not the Government of
Sierra Leone has signed and ratified an agreement with
the Community?

2. Can the Commission confirm that a Community
vessel, the Marsouin, was recently arrested for fishing
without a licence in Sierra Leone waters and that a fine
has been paid?

3. If the proposed agreement is not yet in operation,
can the Commission state what steps it intends to take to
establish an agreement which would be satisfactory to
both the Community and Sierra Leone?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 June 1991)_

1. The fisheries agreement signed on 16 November
1989 by the Community and Sierra Leone will come into
force when it has been signed by both parties. While the
Community has completed, its internal procedure for
ratifying the agreement (Regulation (EEC) No
1237/90) O and is in a position to sign it, Sierra Leone
officially notified the Commission on 26 February 1991 of

No C 241/44 Official Journal of the

its desire to reconsider several technical and financial

provisions agreed to and requested that further
negotiations be undertaken to that end.

The Community has informed the Sierra Leone
authorities of its refusal to undertake further

negotiations. It has proposed that the agreement be
signed in its present wording as soon as possible and that
any amendments be considered when it is first renewed,
that is after two years of application.

Accordingly, the fisheries agreement signed in November
1989 is not currently operative.

2. A Community vessel, the Marsouin, was arrested on
1 March 1991 in Sierra Leone waters and was released

following payment of a fine. As no fisheries agreement
operates between the Community and Sierra Leone, that
vessel was undertaking fishing on an exclusively private
basis. Accordingly the Community cannot be appealed to
as regards that arrest.

O OJNoL125,15.5.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1003/91

by Mrs Marie Jepsen (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/82)

_Subject:_ Sanctions against EC Member States which fail
to comply with EC for objectives to reduce
national fishing fleets

The Commission's latest study of national fishing fleets
shows that, as at 30 June 1990, several Member States,
including France, Italy and Spain had failed to make
sufficient fleet capacity reductions in accordance with the
Community programme. Despite this, these very
countries have received financial support from the
Community for the construction of a total of 90 new
vessels. A number of other Member States have actually
increased their capacity in direct defiance of fleet
limitation objectives.

Since the Commission is purportedly envisaging further
extensive cutbacks in total Community fleet capacity,
does it consider it reasonable to subsidize the

construction of new fishing vessels in EC countries before
they have reduced their national fleet capacity to the
required level, and what measures will the Commission
take in respect of Member States which have actually
increased their fleet capacity in recent years, in defiance
of the common fisheries policy?

ropean Communities 16. 9. 91

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(27June 1991)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

its answer (') to Written Questions No 502/91 by Mr
Christensen and No 587/91 by Mr Kofoed.

O See page 24 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1068-/91

by Mr Bartho Pronk and Mr James Janssen van Raay
(PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 May 1991)_

(91/C 241/83)

_Subject:_ Supplement for electronic payments

In point 5 of the answer to Written Question No
290/91 O the Commission states that the competent
Dutch authorities, the Competition Department for the
Ministry for Economic Affairs, have been consulted on
the question of whether the decision by the Bovag might
have any effect on trade between the Member States.

1. Did the discussion include plans by those concerned
to extend the electronic payment system used by
Bovag members to the holders of non-Dutch debt
cards with PIN codes. Is the Commission aware that

negotiations between the banks concerned and
Eurocheque International established in Belgium have
already commenced and that the Dutch network is
expected to commence in one year?

2. If so, how could the Commission provisionally decide
that this matter fell within the competence of the
national authorities?

3. If not, does the prospect of the opening of the Dutch
market prompt the Commission to review its
provisional decision?

(') OJNoC 161,20.6.1991, p. 27.

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(5_ _July 1991)_

The point whether the electronic payments system, as in
use by Members of Bovag, is open to bankcards, issued by
foreign undertakings has been raised at the event of
consultations with the competent Dutch authorities, the

16.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 241/45

Directorate for Competition of the Ministry of Economic
Affairs.

From these consultations it became apparent that at
present, the use of such cards is not possible although in
future this may be possible.

The Commission is unaware of negotiations with
Eurocheque International on the opening up of this
payments system.

Opening up of this payments system for cards issued by
foreign enterprises will give rise to a reconsideration of
the elements that have led the Commission to the
conclusion that this case is within the competence of the
national authorities.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1182/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 June 1991)_

(91/C 241/84)

_Subject:_ Food industry employment statistics

What is the estimated number of persons directly
handling food employed in each member country in 1980,
1990 and 2000 in

1. farming,

2. food processing,

3. catering,

4. distribution,

5. retailing?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1183/91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(5 June 1991)_

(91/C 241/85)

_Subject:_ Food hygiene certification

What is the estimated number of persons directly
handling food with a basic food hygiene qualification in
1980,1990 in the following sectors:

1. food processing,

2. catering,

3. distribution,

4. retailing?

Joint answer to Written Question Nos 1182/91

and 1183/91
given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(1_ _July 1991)_

Persons handling food cannot be identified from the
available harmonized statistical data from the
Community, nor from national data. They are probably
mainly concentrated in the 'Hotel and catering' (NACE
66) and 'Food, drink and tobacco industry' (NACE
41+42) activities although the number of persons
preparing and serving meals in the canteens (in schools,
hospitals, etc.) may be rather large.

The number of employees in the NAC 66 and 41+42
activities for 1980 and 1988 is indicated in the following
table. The Commission is not aware of forecasts that have
been made for the year 2000.

_(data_ _in_ _thousands)_

Hotels and catering

Food, drink and
tobacco industry

1988

93,0

95,3

704,0

—

330,9

527,2

47,9

—

3,3

160,0

87,5

558,2

2 607

1980

99,6

88,8

742,4

—

232,7

520,8

57,5

—

3,2

165,0

—

727,1

2 828 O

1988

46,2

54,3

458,8

—

323,9

463,4

35,0

—

6,0

110,0

96,5

1 097,9

2 692

Belgium

Denmark

Germany (West)

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

EUR

(excluding Italy
and Greece)

(') Estimate.

1980

34,9

43,7

403,6

—

235,9

382,4

—

—

—

60,8

—

895,8

2 168 O