Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

##### C 66
# Official Journal

Volume 35
### of the European Communities 16 March 1992

ISSN 0378-6986

Volume 35

16 March 1992

Information and Notices
English edition

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

92 / C 66 / 01

92 / C 66 / 02

92 / C 66 / 03

92 / C 66 / 04

92 / C 66 / 05

92 / C 66 / 06

No 2893 / 90 by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasôliba I Bôhm to the Commission
Subject : Special rates for the new fibre factory in Longwy 1

No 160 / 91 by Mr Yves Galland to the Commission
Subject : Prophylactic measures against foot-and-mouth disease 1

No 193 / 91 by Mr Marc Galle to the Council
Subject : European policy on road safety 2

No 213 / 91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : European Community - Vietnam relations 3

No 286 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Fifth Paraplegic Games 3

No 320 / 91 by Mr José Valverde Lôpez to the Commission
Subject : Environmental contamination of foodstuffs 3

92 / C 66 / 07 No 338 / 91 by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva to the Commission
Subject : Dismissal of Arab workers 4

92 / C 66 / 08 No 346 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Tendering procedures for Community Research and Development programmes 5

92 / C 66 / 09 No 570 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Damage caused in the Giugliano-Qualiano-Naples area by toxic waste dangerous to
animal and plant life 6

92 / C 66 / 10 No 730 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Distribution of surplus food 6

2 ( Continued overleaf )

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No 825 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Agricultural loans

No 847 / 91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : The Lamia-Karperrision road and its effects on the environment

No 932 / 91 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Infringement of Community environmental legislation

No 963 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Emigration and immigration of scientists, engineers and doctors from and to the
Twelve

No 1000 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission

Subject : Failure to comply with Community policies in respect of the structural Funds and
termination of payments

No 1052 / 91 by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Amendment to Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild birds

No 1117 / 91 by Mrs Concepciô Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Community emblem on aircraft belonging to European airlines

No 1207 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Slaughter of whitecoat harp seals in the Soviet Union

No 1246 / 91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes to the
Commission

Subject : Imports and exports of chemicals

No 1284 / 91 by Mr Mark Killilea to the Commission
Subject : Export refunds on beef exports to Japan

No 1296 / 91 by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC : poaching of turtle doves ( Streptopelia turtur )
in France

No 1305 / 91 by Mr Alonso Puerta to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the Bay of Algeciras ( Spain )

No 1323 / 91 by Mrs Pauline Green to the Commission
Subject : Sewage disposal in Brussels

No 1341 / 91 by Mr Charles Baur to the Commission
Subject : Comparison of the taxes and other standard charges paid by farmers

No 1448 / 91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Increasing the size of Erasmus

No 1456 / 91 by Mr Jesus Cabezôn Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Impact of milk prices in Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia

No 1462 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to European Politicai Coopération
Subject : Marcela Rodríguez, a prisoner in Chile

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Contents ( continued ) Page

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 66 / 28 No 1468 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council
Subject : Purchase of ' Max Havelaar ' coffee for the Community institutions 15

92 / C 66 / 29 No 1472 / 91 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission
Subject : Pork and derivatives 1 6

92 / C 66 / 30 No 1 502 / 91 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Harmonization of the Member States ' rules governing arms exports 16

92 / C 66 / 31 No 1503 / 91 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Position adopted by the EC at the CSCE expert working party on national minorities 16

92 / C 66 / 32 No 1506 / 91 by Mr Terence Wynn to the Commission
Subject : Food stocks 17

92 / C66 / 33 No 1517 / 91 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Driving periods in road transport 17

92 / C 66 / 34 No 1524 / 91 by Mr Jesus Cabezôn Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Social security and third countries 18

92 / C 66 / 35 No 1537 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Effects on health of nuclear weapons testing 18

92 / C 66 / 36 No 1539 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Article 31 of Euratom Treaty 19

92 / C 66 / 37 No 1541 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Notifications under Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty 20

92 / C 66 / 38 No 1544 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Shipment of nuclear materials by ' ro-ro ' ferries 20

92 / C 66 / 39 No 1558 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : United Kingdom Renaval programme 20

92 / C 66 / 40 No 1559 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Use of Community structural Funds in the United Kingdom 20

92 / C 66 / 41 No 1560 / 91 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : The EC's ' Medspa ' Mediterranean programme 21

92 / C 66 / 42 No 1 57 1 /9 1 by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community aid to the district of Andarax in Almeria, Spain 21

92 / C 66 / 43 No 1583 / 91 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject : Environmental protection aid 22

92 / C 66 / 44 No 1588 / 91 by Mrs Christa Randzio-Plath to the Commission
Subject : Increase of poverty among the female population in the European Community and the
EC programme to combat poverty 22

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 66 / 45 No 1607 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission
Subject : Package leaflets for certain categories of health care staff 23

92 / C 66 / 46 No 1626 / 91 by Mr Jesûs Cabezôn Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Aid for agriculture in Spain                  - • • 24

92 / C 66 / 47 No 1628 / 91 by Mr Antoni Gutiérrez Diaz to the Commission
Subject : Tempus programme 24

92 / C66 / 48 No 1640 / 91 Mr Alonso Puerta to the Commission

Subject : The Picos de Europea and Directive 79 / 409 / EEC 25

92 / C66 / 49 No 1643 / 91 by Mrs Dacia Valent to the Council
Subject : Racism and xenophobia : implementation of the recommendations of the Committees of
Inquiry 25

92 / C 66 / 50 No 1658 / 91 by Mr Jacques Vernier to the Commission
Subject : Fraud involving Community aid to the tobacco industry 26

92 / C 66 / 51 No 1664 / 91 by Mr Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Euronews broadcasts in other languages 26

92 / C 66 / 52 No 1672 / 91 by Mr Louis Lauga to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of mail order regulations 27

92 / C 66 / 53 No 1677 / 91 by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Abuses in the area of advertising and sales by mail order 27

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1672 / 91 and 1677 / 91 27

92 / C 66 / 54 No 1 68 1 /9 1 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Financial aid to consumer organizations in the Member States . 28

92 / C 66 / 55 No 1687 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Levels of lead in the Humber Estuary 28

92 / C 66 / 56 No 1690 / 91 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : European standardization policy 28

92 / C 66 / 57 No 1700 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Risks of a nuclear disaster in Cuba 29

92 / C 66 / 58 No 1708 / 91 by Mr Jean-Claude Pasty to the Commission
Subject : Situation of honey producers in the Community 29

92 / C 66 / 59 No 1938 / 91 by Mr François Musso to the Commission
Subject : Protection of French beekeepers 30

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1708 / 91 and 1938 / 91 30

92 / C 66 / 60 No 1 7 1 9 / 9 1 by Mrs Christine Crawley to the Commission
Subject : CAP reforms 31

92 / C 66 / 61 No 1734 / 91 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission
Subject : Request for the repeal of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1413 / 91 — incalculable harm to the
tobacco-growing sector 31

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No 1737 / 91 by Mr Jacques Vernier to the Commission
Subject : Typewriters fitted with international keyboards 32

No 1742 / 91 by Mr José Torres Couto to the Commission
Subject : Delays in ESF payments 32

No 1743 / 91 by Mr José Barros Moura to the Commission
Subject : Measures in favour of the unemployed in the textile industry 34

No 1759 / 91 by Mr Bouke Beumer to the Commission
Subject : Certificate of approval for tropical hardwood 34

No 1770 / 91 by Mr Miguel Arias Canete to the Commission
Subject : Compensation mechanism for tuna 35

No 1773 / 91 by Mr José Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject : Safety on board a surveillance vessel under contract to the Commission 35

No 1783 / 91 by Mr Christian de la Malène to the Commission
Subject : Retailing of veterinary medicinal products 36

No 1788 / 91 by Mr Anthony Simpson to the Commission
Subject : Trade and availability of various types of insulin in the Community 36

No 1795 / 91 by Mr Friedrich Merz to the Commission
Subject : Anti-dumping procedures 37

No 1831 / 91 by Mr Niels Kofoed to the Commission
Subject : Young eels for consumption and breeding .- 38

No 1855 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community campaign to encourage organ donation 39

No 1856 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community programmes for the rehabilitation of drug addicts 39

92 / C 66 / 74 No 1881 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission

Subject : Internal market and after-sales service guarantees 40

92 / C 66 / 75

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No 1884 / 91 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Barley for brewing 41

No 1886 / 91 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : EEC food surplus 41

92 / C 66 / 77 No 1 890 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission

Subject : Setting up a Community guarantee fund 41

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No 1892 / 91 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the Berlaymont Convent by the European Parliament 42

No 1896 / 91 by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasôliba I Bôhm to the Commission
Subject : Nuts 42

92 / C 66 / 80 No 1897 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission
Subject : Responsibility of automobile concessionaires to their customers 43

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C66 / 81 No 1898 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Need for a common policy in the electronics sector 43

92 / C 66 / 82 No 1927 / 91 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Illegal fishing in Community waters 44

92 / C 66 / 83 No 1931 / 91 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Domestic chemicals and child safety 44

92 / C 66 / 84 No 1936 / 91 by Mr Neil Blaney to the Commission
Subject : Airport at Letterkenny 45

92 / C 66 / 85 No 1947 / 91 by Mrs Concepciô Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Creation of an environmental security council 45

92 / C66 / 86 No 1968 / 91 by Mr WilfriedTelkâmper to the Commission
Subject : Obligatory EIAs and German planning and public enquiry procedures 46

92 / C 66 / 87 No 1969 / 91 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Financing the protection of men and women at work 46

92 / C66 / 88 No 1983 / 91 Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission

Subject : Subcontracting by the Publications Office of the European Communities 47

92 / C 66 / 89 No 1995 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Collins to the Commission
Subject : Replies to parliamentary questions 47

92 / C 66 / 90 No 2018 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Community monitoring of the inspection of the workplace in the Member States 48

92 / C 66 / 91 No 2027 / 91 by Mr Elmar Brok to the Commission
Subject : Transport of bicycles on trains 49

92 / C 66 / 92 No 2037 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission Subject : European Migrants Forum 49

92 / C 66 / 93 No 2041 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Pump-priming for environment projects ; 49

92 / C 66 / 94 No 2044 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Charity laws in Member States 50

92 / C 66 / 95 No 2067 / 91 by Mr Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Exclusive fishing rights in the 0-6 mile belts 50

92 / C 66 / 96 No 2077 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Imprisonment in the United Kingdom, and other Member States, for debt 50

92 / C 66 / 97 No 2080 / 9 1 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Breach of human rights — imprisonment in the United Kingdom for persons refusing
to pay the poll tax as a matter of principle against a vicious anticlass, unjust tax 51

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C 66 / 98 No 2130 / 91 by Mr George Stevenson to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Political situation in Burma 51

92 / C 66 / 99 No 2220 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Council
Subject : Sanctions against South Africa 52

92 / C 66 / 100 No 2241 / 91 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Commission
Subject : Racism and xenophobia 52

92 / C 66 / 101 No 2306 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to European Political Coopération
Subject : Value of a private residence in Managua 52

92 / C 66 / 102 No 2363 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Effectiveness of the CSCE and Western European Union ( WEU ) 53

92 / C 66 / 103 No 2480 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Prisoner of conscience Zhang Yafei in China 53

92 / C 66 / 104 No 2505 / 91 by Mr Gordon Adam to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Human rights in Korea 54

92 / C 66 / 105 No 2560 / 91 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Council
Subject : Writing off ACP debts 54

92 / C 66 / 106 No 2667 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : ' Enterprise for the Americas Initiative ' 55

92 / C 66 / 107 No 2710 / 91 by Mr James Ford to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Burmese refugees in Thailand 56

92 / C 66 / 108 No 2738 / 91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Council
Subject : Construction of an immense monument to Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo 56

92 / C 66 / 109 No 28 / 92 by Mr Riidiger von Wechmar to the Council
Subject : The seat and establishment of the Environmental Agency 57

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the Europèan Communities No C 66 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2893 / 90
by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasôliba I Bôhm ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 January 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 160 / 91

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

( 20 February 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 01 « ) ( 92 / C 66 / 02 )

Subject : Special rates for the new fibre factory in Longwy

In the light of the news that the French public
undertaking ' Electricity de France ' intends to apply
special much-reduced rates to the new factory making
polyester fibres for industrial use in Longwy ( France ),
what measures does the Commission intend to take to
prevent this distortion of competition ?

Subject : Prophylactic measures against foot-and-mouth

disease

With a view of the single European market and the
harmonization of prophylactic measures against
foot-and-mouth disease, with its disastrous effects on
stockbreeding, a Directive of 26 June 1990 established
that non-vaccination would be the rule in the Community
as from 1 January 1992 .

Can the Commission state what prophylactic and
palliative measures will be introduced to prevent the
Answer given by Sir Leon Bnttan spread carried of out this disease in a few and years whether ' time an inquiry to verify will be the

on behalf of the Commission appropriateness of the measures chosen ?

( 13 September 1 991 )

The Commission has received all the information
necessary for its examination of the contract between EdF
and Allied Signal concerning the provision of electricity to
the synthetic fibres plant at Longwy .

The Commission is satisfied that the electricity price fixed
by the contracts reflects a commercial price set according
to economic considerations which would have been
acceptable to a private electricity producer facing a
situation of overcapacity similar to that of EdF .

As in the case of previous contracts negotiated by EdF
with large industrial users of electricity ( Pechiney, Usinor

Sacilor, Exxon Chemicals ), the Commission was
therefore able to decide that no State aid is involved .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

For its report to the Council, submitted in October 1989,
the Commission carried out a full evaluation of the
foot-and-mouth-disease situation in the Community over
the previous 10 years, and of the trade implications of the
alternative policies .

The Commission was assisted by expert virologists,

economists and epidemiologists in its task .

Several key points were made in the report :

— A high percentage of foot-and-mouth disease
outbreaks in the recent past were related in some way
to vaccine production, and not to newly introduced
virus .

                                       

No C 66 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

— Other outbreaks could also be circumstancially linked

to vaccines, although proof is not possible .

— There is no endemic source of foot-and-mouth
disease virus in the Community .

— The cost of a non-vaccination policy is very much less

than vaccination, even if the worst possible scenario is
considered .

— There is a considerable trading advantage in a

non-vaccination policy .

Accordingly, the report concluded that a non-vaccination
policy is cheaper and safer .

This conclusion was accepted by the Council and

Directive 90 / 423 / EEC of 26 June 1990 accordingly
requires cessation of vaccination against foot-and-mouth
disease in all Member States by January 1992 .

However, certain increased risks have been identified,
and solutions have been or will be proposed .

A reinforced importation procedure has been adopted, to
reduce the likelyhood of introduction of virus . The
Community financial measures have been increased to
allow reimbursement of 70% of Member States costs for
compensation of owners . An epidemiology unit has been
established in the Commission, to coordinate disease
control measures and to assist Member States to be fully
prepared for an emergency .

Reserves of vaccine are being established, both at
National and Community level, to ensure a supply for

emergency use .

In this way, the Commission is continuing to take very
strong actions to reduce the chances of disease spread in
the future, while making a major step towards the
completion of the single market .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 193 / 91

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

( 20 February 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 03 )

Subject : European policy on road safety

1 . Is the Council aware that 1986 was ' European Road
Safety Year ' and that since then the Council has

done nothing to develop a European policy on road
safety ?

2 . Does the Council still remember that Belgium, the
Netherlands and Luxembourg pointed out its
responsibility in this area in 1989 and that the EP has
already called for a European road safety policy ?

3 . Does the Council agree that the argument it has put
forward, namely the absence of a firm legal basis for such
a policy, can no longer be used to cover up for the lack of
activity in this area ?

4 . Does the Council agree that the phrase ' the Council
and the transport ministers meeting within the Council '
should be dropped, to avoid creating the impression that
European policy in the area of road safety is to continue
to be a question of mere intergovernmental cooperation .

t Answer

(1 February 1992 )

1 . First of all, the Council would remind the
Honourable Member that 1986 was declared road safety
year in the Community by a resolution of 19 December

1984 adopted by the Council and the representatives of
the Governments of the Member States of the European
Communities meeting within the Council ('). The Council
also noted the resolution adopted in that field by the
European Parliament .

2 . Following the resolutions mentioned above, the
Commission forwarded to the Council a number of
proposals, a general overview of which is given in a 1989
communication to the Council entitled ' Road safety : a
priority for the Community ' ( 2 ). In this connection it
should be pointed out that, apart from a number of
measures in the field of technical specifications for
vehicles, the Council adopted in 1988 a Directive
amending Directive 77 / 143 / EEC on roadworthiness tests
for vehicles ( 3 ) .

3 . In 1991, on 27 March and 21 June respectively, the
Council adopted two Directives relating to
roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their
trailers ("). On 29 July the Council adopted the second
Directive on the driving licence ( 5 ). Most recently, at its
meeting on 7 October 1991, the Council signified its
agreement on the substance of a proposal for a Directive
concerning the compulsory use of safety belts . It may also
be pointed out that the Council, in its resolution of 21
June 1991 ( 6 ), asked the Commission to submit a report to

it by December 1991, accompanied, if necessary, by initial
proposals for a programme of action in this field .

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 3

4 . This shows that the Council has not remained
inactive in the field of road safety .

The Council would also draw the Honourable Member's

attention to the fact that the Court of Justice has ruled
that Article 75 ( 1 ) ( c ) would give the Council the power to
regulate ' matters which concern social policy and road
safety at the same time in so far as they are interlinked '( 7 ).

O OJNoC 341,21 . 12 . 1984, p . 1 .
O COM(88 ) 704 final .
O OJ No L 222, 12 . 8 . 1988, p . 10 .
O OJ No L 103, 23 . 4 . 1991, p . 3, and OJ No L 178, 6 . 7 . 1991,

p . 29 .

o OJ No L 237, 24 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .
(') Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the

Governments of the Member States, meeting within the
Council, on a Community programme of action on road
safety ( OJNoC 178,9.7 . 1991, p . 1 .).
( 7 ) Judgment of 28 . 11 . 1978 in Case 97 / 78 Schumalla . ECR 1978

pp . 2311,2318 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 213 / 91

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

( 18 February 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 04 )

Subject : European Community-Vietnam relations

Following the European Parliament debate on European
Community - Vietnam relations last year and the recent
Commission plan to aid the repatriation of 80 000
Vietnamese boat people could the Commission inform me
how negotiations about renewed diplomatic relations are
at present since the repatriation programme is unlikely to
succeed without such diplomatic relations between the
European Community and Vietnam ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

The Community established diplomatic relations with
Vietnam in November 1990 . A Vietnamese Ambassador to

the Community has taken up his post and the Commission
Head of Delegation in Bangkok has presented his lettre de

créances to the Vietnamese authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 286 / 91

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

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 05 )

Subject : Fifth Paraplegic Games

The Organizing Committee of the Fifth Paraplegic
Winter Games plans to put the games for disabled athletes
on a similar footing to the Olympic Games in 1992 by
having them held at the same venues and at the same time .

These games will involve more than 500 athletes from 25

different countries, including 18 European countries .

Is the Commission prepared to give financial support to
this plan, which is indicative of the desire to integrate
people with disabilities into the world of sport ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

C 17 October 1 991 )

The Commission is already in touch with the organizing
committees of the Albertville and Barcelona Paraplegic
Games, and is currently preparing a concrete proposal for
participation, financial support for which has been
submitted to the budgetary authority for approval in the

1992 budget .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 320 / 91

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

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 06 )

Subject : Environmental contamination of foodstuffs

Consumers and health organizations are daily becoming
increasingly concerned at the growing evidence of
accumulation and persistence of toxic products in the
human food chain . There is growing alarm in some
sectors at how milk and milk products can be
contaminated with pesticides, without appropriate action
being taken during pasteurization and sterilization
procedures . Contamination of foodstuffs by cadmium,
lead and arsenic is increasing, according to analyses and
studies carried out in various European countries .

No C 66 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

Dithiocarbon-based fungicides, nitrosamines derived
from pesticides, etc ., are also causing concern .

How seriously does the Commission view this problem,
with regard to the free movement of goods ? Does the
Commission, in cooperation with national authorities,
intend to take steps to monitor toxic residues in
foodstuffs ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1991 )

Reports from the surveillance organizations of Member
States show a decrease in levels of contamination,
particularly that of lead in food . The decrease of lead can
to a significant extent be attributed to the progressive
introduction of lead free petrol .

The policy of taking preventive measures at source for
environmental contaminants is an appropriate way to deal
with these questions .

At Community level there is in force a wide range of
measures that limit the discharges of this type of
contaminant entering the food chain . Council Directive
of 23 September 1983 on limit values and quality
objectives for cadmium discharges (') is an example of
this .

With regard to the harmonization of the measures taken
at national level, the Community has fixed uniform limits
for pesticide residues in vegetable and animal products
and also for other undesirable substances .

Pesticide residues such as the ones the Honourable

Member of Parliament mentions are dealt with in Council

Directive 90 / 642 / EEC of 27 November 1990 on the
fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on
certain products of plant origin, including fruit and
vegetables ( 2 ) and Council Directive 86 / 363 / EEC of 24
July 1986 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide

residues in and on foodstuffs of animal origin ( 3 ).

Examination of animals and fresh meat for the presence
of residues of contaminants is carried out in accordance
with Council Directive 86 / 469 / EEC of 16 September

1986 O ­

As provided for in that Directive, examination plans have
been submitted by the Member States and approved by
the Commission in Decision 89 / 267 / EEC, 89 / 268 / EEC,
89 / 269 / EEC, 89 / 270 / EEC, 89 / 271 / EEC, 89 / 272 /
EEC, 89 / 273 / EEC, 89 / 274 / EEC, 89 / 275 / EEC and
89 / 276 / EEC ( 5 ). These plans have applied for the last two
years . The reference methods for detecting residues of
heavy metals and arsenic in animals and fresh meat were
adopted in Commission Decision 90 / 515 / EEC of 26
September 1990 ( 6 ).

In addition, specific provisions are contained in Article 1 1
of Council Directive 85 / 397 / EEC of 5 August 1985
concerning heat-treated milk ( 7 ) and Article 5 of Council
Directive 89 / 437 / EEC of 20 June 1989 concerning egg
products ( 8 ).

Lastly, Commission proposals for Regulations are at
present before the Council concerning fishery
products ( 9 ), aquaculture animals and products ( 10 ) and
milk-based products ("). These proposals contain
provisions concerning the detection of residues of
contaminants .

On the basis of Tolerance Daily Intakes ( TDI )
established at Community level and based in particular on
proposals of the Scientific Committee for Food, measures
for food contaminants should take into account all
significant sources in the food chain .

Directive 89 / 397 / EEC on the official control of
foodstuffs ( 12 ), provides for the establishment of a
coordinated annual control programme . This programme
will be laid down following the information on the
national control programmes of the previous year . This
system should be fully running in 1 992 .

C ) OJ No L 291, 24 . 10 . 1983 .
O OJ No L 350, 14 . 12 . 1990 .
O (j OJ OJ No No L L 221 275,, 26 7 . 7 . 9 . 1986 . 1986 . .
O OJ No L 108, 19.4 . 1989 .
(') OJ No L 286, 18 . 10 . 1990 .
O OJ No L 226, 24 . 8 . 1985 .
C ) OJ No L 212, 22 . 7 . 1989 .
O COM(89 ) 645 final .
(,0 ) COM(89 ) 655 final .
(") COM(89 ) 667 final .
( u ) OJ No L 186,30.6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 338 / 91
by Mr Joaquim Miranda da Silva ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 07 )

Subject : Dismissal of Arab workers

According to press reports following statements by trade
unions, seven companies responsible for cleaning services
in the buildings of the Community institutions dismissed
and discriminated against Arab workers following the
outbreak of the Gulf War .

Will the Commission state, as a matter of urgency,
whether it is aware of these incidents and what measures
have been or will be adopted to stop these blatant and
reprehensible violations of those workers ' rights .

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 5

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 November 1 991 )

5 . that the Commission is thus contributing significantly

to the crisis in Community Research and
Development policy ?

In the context of the events associated with the Gulf crisis
the Commission checks on its own Answer Mr Pandolfi
tightened up security given by
staff, contract employees and v.s.tors alike . on bchalfof ( he Commission

There were no dismissals or special measures as a result . ^ ^ October 1991 )

The Commission believes that the implementation of the
Third Framework Programme for Research and
Technological Development can only be accomplished if

WRITTEN QUESTION No 346 / 91

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

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 08 )

Subject : Tendering procedures for Community Research

and Development programmes

Can the Commission confirm that administrative
procedures have been changed within the Commission's
Research Directorates ( DG XII and DG XIII ) so that

( a ) calls for tenders cannot now be published until after
the formal adoption by Council of the relevant
Council Decision for a specific Research and
Technological Development programme
implementing the Third Framework Programme
( 1990 — 1994 ); and

( b ) recourse is no longer taken to calls for expressions of

interest, as was done in some specific programmes of
the Second Framework Programme .

If this is the case, does the Commission not agree :

1, that tendering in this way will cause time delays which

did not occur previously ;

2, that the full implementation of specific programme

appropriations in the 1991 General Budget will be put
in jeopardy ;

3, that publishing a call for expressions of interest, after

the adoption by Council of a common possition,
would be a useful way of speeding up the tendering
procedure ;

4, that, the imposition by Council of slow Regulatory

( Type III ) Committee procedures will hamper the
early and rapid implementation of the Third
Framework Programme and make a nonsense of the
Commission's ' rolling plan ' concept, given that the
Third Framework Programme is now unlikely to be

implemented before the date set for its mid-term
review ;

in full accordance with the rules . This stance is the
outcome of a study which the Commission initiated at the
request of the European Parliament amongst others .

Moreover, the option to publish calls for proposals for
each specific research programme, after the formal
adoption of the Decision, ensures that all the elements of
the programme adopted by the Community are taken
fully into account and is likely to give all applicants an
equal opportunity of success .

However, so as not to cause any delay in the
implementation of the specific research programmes, the
Commission has developed a series of information
programmes for the parties concerned through the
channels of the administrations of the Member States,
scientific journals, scientific and industrial associations
and the publication of a general information memo in the

Official Journal of the European Communities .

This information programme involved the preparatory
work, was informal in nature and had no legal
consequences . This should allow the interested parties, if
regularly informed, to draw up their plans for research
projects .

The calls for proposals for the first specific programmes
which were adopted on 7 June 1991, have already been
published :

— Communication technologies (');

— Development in the field of telematic systems of

general interest ( 2 );

— Marine science and technology ( 3 );

— Environment ( 4 );

— Life science and technologies for developing
countries ( 5 ).

The calls for proposals concerning the specific
programme on ' information technology ', as adopted on 8
July 1991, was published in OJ No C 198 of 27 . 7 . 1991 .

Thé Commission shares the concern of the European

Parliament to prevent the delay in the adoption of the
programmes from causing a loss of funds in 1991 . Already

No C 66 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

it no longer seems realistic to anticipate decisions for at
least three specific programmes before the end of 1991
( Measurements and testing, biotechnology, human
resources and mobility ). The fusion programme will
probably be in the same situation . Therefore, the
possibility of transferring the remaining appropriations to
those programmes which have already been adopted and
are at a much more advanced stage of implementation,
should be considered .

illegal ones and report those responsible to the Court
of Justice ?

4 . Can the Commission grant funding under its own

programmes to compensate for the damage caused in
the Giugliano area and to establish structures for the
management of toxic waste and dangerous
substances ?

O OJ No L 194,25.7 . 1975, p . 47 .

(') OJNoC 154, 12.6 . 1991 . O OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978, p . 43 .

O OJ No C 157, 15.6 . 1991 and OJ No C 184, 16.7 . 1991 . ( 3 ) OJ No L 181,4.7 . 1986, p . 6 .
O OJ No C 169,28.6 . 1991 .
O OJNoC 184, 16.7 . 1991 .
( 5 ) OJ No C 186, 18.7 . 1991 .

                                                                                                                                                                        - Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

WRITTEN QUESTION No 570 / 91

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

( 26 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 09 )

Subject : Damage caused in the Giugliano ­
Qualiano-Naples area by toxic waste dangerous
to animal and plant life

For some time the population of the area surrounding
Giugliano in the province of Naples has had to defend
itself against the appalling state of the environment due to
pollution from the dumping of toxic substances in illegal
or authorized dumps .

These substances are an attack on human, animal and
plant life, and also represent the beginning of a process of
damage and destruction of the ecosystem . In the area
concerned, the dumps do not provide adequate health
guarantees in compliance with Community law .

1 . Can the Commission ascertain whether the following

Community Directives are actually being applied in
the whole of the province of Naples :

( a ) Directive 75 / 442 / EEC (') on waste ;

( b ) Directive 78 / 319 / EEC ( 2 ) on toxic and
dangerous waste ;

( c ) Directive 86 / 278 / EEC ( 3 ) on the protection of
the environment, and in particular of the soil,
when sewage sludge is used in agriculture ?

2 . Can the Commission assure itself that dumps do not
violate Community Regulations on the dumping of
toxic waste ?

3 . Does the Commission not intend to appoint a ' special

commission ' of experts to check on the suitability of
authorized dumps, order the immediate closure of

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

1, and 2 . The Commission can investigate whether the
Directives in question are being applied in part of the
territory of a Member State only if it receives specific
information providing conclusive proof that the
Directives are being infringed .

3 . At present, there are no Community ' standards ' on
landfills . The Commission recently sent to the Council
and Parliament a proposal for a Directive which would
introduce such standards . This proposal also provides for
the closure of ' illegal ' dumps . However, the Community
strategy for a landfill policy does not foresee the setting
up of special expert committees to monitor
implementation of the Directives . The Commission
therefore does not plan to designate a ' special
commission '.

4 . In the âbovementioned proposal for a Directive, the
Commission provides for the creation, at Member State
level, of a landfill aftercare fund for the monitoring of
closed landfills and, within the framework of the fund's
resources, repair of the damage caused .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 730 / 91

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

( 23 April 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 10 )

Subject : Distribution of surplus food

In view of the administrative chaos which has dogged the
annual distribution of surplus food stocks to the needy, at
least in the United Kingdom, leading to the withdrawal
from the scheme of the Salvation Army, many branches of
Age Concern and numerous other bodies, does the

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 7

Commission not consider it necessary to launch an
immediate inquiry into the scheme, leading to its
reorganization along more efficient and effective lines ?

by Mr Sierra Bardaji and Mr Colino Salamànca ('), which
sets out the broad lines of the Community rules on the
conditions in which Member States are authorized to
grant investment aid to agricultural holdings and detailed
rules for Community part-financing of such aids .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry o OJNoC 35, 11.2 . 1991 .

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

The Commission is not aware of any circumstances which

have disrupted the distribution of surplus stocks for the
most deprived in the Community .

With regard to the UK, it is apparent from the reports of
the distribution operation for the last three years that the
work has not been shared out evenly throughout the
whole country .

It indeed seems that the large humanitarian organizations
represented throughout the UK — such as the Salvation
Army — withdrew from the distribution network because
the administrative costs were too high . On the other hand,
the majority of the humanitarian organizations which
have taken part in the scheme are essentially local in

scope .

The Commission is reexamining the question of the

administrative expenses which the organizations charged
with distribution incur and is studying options for making
the system more transparent and more effective .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 825 / 91

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

(3 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 1 1 )

Subject : Agricultural loans

Further to the Commission's answer to Written Question
2472 / 90 O, given by Sir Leon - Brittan on behalf of the
Commission on 19 February 1991, in the penultimate
paragraph, could the Commission expand on what is
meant by capital grant and what is the position in relation
to capital grants in other Member States in Europe ?

O OJNoC 161,20.6 . 1991, p . 13 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 847 / 91

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

(3 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 12 )

Subject : The Lamia-Karpemsion road and its effects on

the environment

Two years ago work began on the new road between

Lamia and Karpemsion but experts and others describe
work on the Timfristôs ridge, designed to shorten the
road, as unacceptable . Objections have been raised by the
prefect of Evritama in his petition to the transport
department in Lârisa, as well as by environmentalists in
Karpemsion and frequent press reports in Karpemsion
and Lamia .

' The absence of environmental studies, the felling of
trees, the very steep gradients, the absence of
protective measures, the opening up of numerous
subsidiary roads and the haphazard dumping of debris
not only testify to the lack of planning and supervision
in carrying out major work, they are also a danger to
the region's environment .'

Before a decision can be taken on projects likely to have a
considerable environmental impact, prior authorization
and approval of the environmental effects are required
under Article 4 of Regulation No 1650 / 86 on the
protection of the environment and Directive
85 / 337 / EEC ('), where provision is made for special
environmental impact assessments . As, however, no such
survey has been carried out on the new road between
Lamia and Karpemsion, where construction has already
begun and where the effects are already being felt, at least
along the section running through the prefecture of
Evritama — an area of outstanding natural beauty — will
the Commission bring pressure to bear to ensure that the
road is built and operates with due and proper regard for
the environment and in compliance with the surveys that
ought to have been carried out earlier ?

I would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the
answer given to Written Question No 1752 / 90 submitted (') OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985, p . 40 .

No C 66 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 November 1 991 )

The Commission regrets that the Greek authorities did

not take the appropriate environmental measures before
the implementation of such a serious project . An
environmental impact assessment study ( according to the
Directive 88 / 337 / EEC ) has not been carried out since the
project was initiated before this Directive came into force
and one part of it has been financed through IMP .

However, the Commission will closely monitor the state
of progress of this project .

An E.I.A. study of the whole area has already been
requested from the Greek authorities to indicate the
corrective measures to be taken in order to compensate
any environmentally negative effects and to ensure the
Commission that the project will continue in compliance
with environmental legislation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 932 / 91

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

( 15 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 13 )

Subject : Infringement of Community environmental
legislation

On 14 January 1990 the Prefect of Ioannina granted
authorization for the operation of a tannery in Serviana in
the municipality of Konitsa, which constitutes an
infringement of Greek and Community law, in particular
Directives :

— 75 / 442 / EEC (*) on waste, since no provision is made

for solid waste as can be seen from the authorization

granted by the Prefecture of Ioannina,

— 78 / 319 / EEC ( 2 ) on toxic and dangerous waste and, in

particular, Article 5 ( 1 ) and Articles 9 and 10,

— 80 / 68 / EEC ( 3 ) on the protection of groundwater

against pollution caused by certain dangerous
substances, since the tannery is situated in an area of
intensive and large-scale agricultural irrigation and in
the vicinity of wells and other sources of drinking
water for neighbouring communities,

— 80 / 778 / EEC ( 4 ) on the quality of water intended for

human consumption and 85 / 337 / EEC ( 5 ) ( failure to
comply with the procedure laid down in Article 6 ).

Given the repeated objections by local residents and their
representatives to the tannery and the existence of an
alternative proposal to relocate the tannery on the
Ioannina industrial estate, can the Commission say what
measures it intends to take to stop the operation of the
tannery in its present location and, more generally, to
ensure that Greece complies with Community legislation ?

O OJ No L 194,25.7 . 1975, p . 39 .
O OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978, p . 43 .
O OJ No L 20, 26 . 1 . 1980, p . 43 .
O OJNo L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 11 .
O OJNo L 175,5.7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 October 1991 )

The Commission has already received a complaint
concerning the matter raised by the Honourable Member .
The Commission followed up this complaint by asking
the Greek authorities on 13 March 1991 to provide
concrete facts on this affair . To date the Commission has
not received a reply from the Greek authorities .

As for the Directives mentioned in the question, the

Commission already has the following reply :

— In accordance with Community law, disposal of waste

from industrial installations must be carried out
without danger to man or the environment ( Directives
45 / 442 / EEC and 78 / 319 / EEC ). As provided for by
the Treaty, the Commission has taken steps to deal
with the breach of these two Directives by Greece .

— Under Directive 80 / 68 / EEC ( on the protection of

groundwater against pollution caused by certain
dangerous substances ), it is for the respective
authorities of the Member States to make any
discharge of dangerous substances on List I ( Articles 4
and 8 ) or on List II ( Articles 5 and 8 ) subject to a
system of authorization . These discharge
authorizations have to comply with the conditions set
out in the Directive ( Articles 9 and 10 ) and abide by
the time periods set for reviews ( Article &1 ).

Obviously the running of the factory must not
compromise compliance with the dispositions of
Directives 80 / 68 / EEC and 80 / 778 / EEC . However,
proper operating of the factory should not necessarily
lead to the problems mentioned by the Honourable
Member .

6 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 9

— As far as the application of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC is

concerned, the construction of a tannery is not subject
to an environmental impact assessment unless its size
or location are likely to have significant effects on the
environment ( Article 2 and Annex II, point 8d ).

— Having examined the ministerial decision of 24

October 1990 ( No 69269 / 5387, as published in OJ
No 678, 25 October 1990 ) on the incorporation of the
Directive into national law, the Commission plans to
initiate infringement proceedings against Greece for
failure to comply with this Directive in full .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 963 / 91

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

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 14 )

Subject : Emigration and immigration of scientists,
engineers and doctors from and to the Twelve

Will the Commission tabulate statistics for the emigration
of scientists, engineers and doctors from each Member
State during the period 1979 — 1989 ? Will the
Commission tabulate statistics for the immigration of
scientists, engineers and doctors to each Member State
during the period 1979 — 1989 ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

The Commission is contemplating initiating, as of 1992, a
project to establish statistical indicators relating to the
emigration and immigration of scientists, engineers and
doctors in cooperation with the principal national and
international organizations concerned with this problem .

At present, there are no official Community statistics on
such exchanges . The report prepared by the NSF
( National Science Foundation, USA ) in 1985 ( Immigrant
Scientists and Engineers — 1985 ) is an interesting source
of information, but needs to be supplemented and
updated . According to tha report, about 6 800 European
research workers emigrated to the United States during
the period 1982 — 1985 . Furthermore, 9% of the scientific
and technical staff employed in American industries over
the abovementioned period are said to be of recent
Community origin .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1000 / 91

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

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 15 )

Subject : Failure to comply with Community policies in

respect of the structural Funds and termination
of payments

In his joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1962 / 90
and 2013 / 90 (') Commissioner Christophersen stated that
' where the Commission possesses proof that, in the case
of one or more measures, Community policies are not
being complied with, and without prejudice to any legal
action, it terminates the payments from the Community
Funds to the measure or measures in question '.

1 . What controls have been carried out by the
Commission under the Structural Funds, particularly
in respect of the environment what procedures have
been followed ?

2 . On how many occasions have payments been
terminated ? In how many cases was the decision to
terminate payments upheld and in how many cases
was it reversed ?

3 . In how many cases were payments terminated in the

Community as a whole ? Can the Commission give
particular details concerning Italy ?

4 . Have requests ever been made for the reimbursement

of funds for projects failing to comply with
Community law and if so in which cases ?

o OJ No C 70, 18 . 3 . 1991, p . 27 .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable

Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament its
three-page reply to the questionnaire on this subject
prepared by his colleague, Mr Lo Giudice, of the
Committee on Budgetary Control .

It would also point out that the provision referred to by
the Honourable Member in his Written Question relates
to Article 7 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 O, under
which measures not in keeping with the provisions of the
Treaties, with the instruments adopted pursuant thereto

and with Community policies may not be financed by the
structural Funds .

Accordingly, if infringement proceedings are initiated

against a measure receiving Community assistance, the
Commission suspends that assistance from the date when
proceedings under Article 169 EEC are initiated until the
Court of Justice has given its judgment .

No C 66 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

Failure to respect Community environmental legislation
with regard to projects in the programmes has in the past

led to the suspension of Community assistance . Examples
include certain projects under the Prodac programme in
Portugal, certain works under the Acheloos project in the
IMP for central and eastern Greece and aquaculture
projects in the Gulf of Amvrakikos under a Greek IMP .
In the cases of Prodac and Acheloos, the problems were
resolved and the suspension lifted . Negotiations on the
third case are continuing .

No Community structural assistance under Objectives 1,
2 and 5(b ) has been suspended in Italy as a result af
infringement proceedings since implementation of the
reform of the structural Funds .

O OJ No L 185, 15.7 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1052 / 91

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

( 22 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 16 )

Subject : Amendment to Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the

conservation of wild birds

In the preamble to its proposed amendment to Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ('), the Commission specifies that several
Member States have requested that Annex II / 2 be
amended .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 17 / 91

by Mrs Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 17 )

Subject : Community emblem on aircraft belonging to

European airlines

Recently some European Community airlines have begun
to display the European flag on their aircraft .

This is clearly a positive development as it helps to
publicize the Community symbol and also to identify
airlines which are based in the EC and therefore subject to
Community standards with regard to civil aviation and
passenger transport . It is also in line with the principles
behind the concept of a citizen's Europe .

Can the Commission say whether it has taken, or will
take, any action with regard to the Member States so as to
encourage all EC airlines by 1 January 1993 to display the
Community flag on the fuselage of their aircraft ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1 991 )

The Commission has conveyed the idea of displaying the

Community emblem on aircraft to airlines based in the
Member States .

Which Member States made this request and what were
the reasons given in respect of each of the species Many have already done so or are looking into the
concerned ? possibility of doing so . The Commission will be following

this up and will do its best to ensure that the Community
o OJ No L 103,25.4 . 1979, p . 1 . emblem is displayed on fuselages by 1 January 1993 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1207 / 91

1 . The Member States which requested that Annex II,
Part 2, be amended are : Belgium, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom .

2 . The scientific arguments of these Member States are
set out in the compilation prepared by the Institut Royal
des Sciences naturelles de Belgique and in a report
forwarded by Italy . Such reports are sent directly to the
Honourable Member and the Secretariat of the European
Parliament . Greece has not yet forwarded any documents .

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

( 11 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 18 )

Subject : Slaughter of whitecoat harp seals in the Soviet

Union

Is the Commission aware of the limitations of the EC ban
on imports of baby seal pelts in stemming the slaughter of
baby seals in the Soviet Union ? Is the Soviet fur trade

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 11

largely dependent on its home market or are there any
imports of Soviet produced fur into the EC ? Is there any
scope for further EC action to stop this practice ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1 991 )

The Commission is aware of the fact that the ban on

imports of baby seal skins into the Community has a
limited effect on the killing of whitecoats in the Soviet
Union . This is caused by the fact that — as suggested by
the Honourable Member — the trade in the skins
concerned is largely internal . The Commission is not
aware of any sealskin trade between the USSR and the
Community .

In the context of the Commission proposal for a Council
Regulation on the possession of and trade in specimens of
wild fauna and flora, trade in all products derived from
harp seals would be monitored as of 1 January 1993 . The
Regulation concerned would further allow for the taking
of more restrictive measures if the conservation status of

the species would warrant it .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 246 / 9 1

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola and
Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 19 )

Subject : Imports and exports of chemicals

The system of notification and information concerning
international trade in chemicals prohibited under Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1734 / 88 ('), which is now being
amended, entered into force almost two years ago . The
Commission receives copies of notifications to which
certain chemicals are subject under Article 4 of the
Regulation, which states that the Commission shall
periodically publish a list of reference numbers in the

Official Journal of the European Communities, stating the
chemical concerned, and the non-Community country of
destination .

1 . Does this scheme work in all Member States and, if

not, where is it failing and why ?

2 . Can the Commission give a list of exports and imports

of the 21 products listed in Annex I to Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1734 / 88 from 1989 to date,
specifying the name, origin and destination of the
exported or imported substances ?

3 . Do the Member States regularly forward to the

Commission information on the operation of the
notification system ?

4 . Can the Commission supply the report or reports
which it is required to compile regularly and forward
to the Council and Parliament under Article 7 of this

Regulation ?

5 . Have cases arisen in which a Member State has
applied an analogous national system for substances
not included in Annex I and, if so, which Member
States and for which substances ?

6 . What action does the Commission take if the presence

of prohibited substances is detected in the EEC,
including residues from pesticides, for example,
contained in agricultural products or industrial
products imported into the European Community ?

o OJ No L 155,22.6 . 1988, p . 2 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1991 )

1 . As far as the Commission is aware, all Member
States are complying with Council Regulation ( EEC )

1734 / 88 . Export notifications have, to date, come from
only four Member States, because the others no longer
manufacture the relevant chemicals .

2 . 26 Export Notifications Forms ( ENFs ) have been
issued for exports of chemicals banned or severely
restricted in the Community . The exporting Member
States were Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and
Italy .

The Official Journal No C 84 of 28 March 1991 lists the
frist 13 Export Reference Numbers allocated, together
with the names of the chemicals and the countries of

destination .

3 . The Member States forward to the Commission
information on the operation of both the export and
import notification systems . However, the number of
import notifications forwarded to the Commission varies
considerably from one Member State to another . Of the
70 import notifications forwarded by the Member States,
most did not deal with marketing and use restrictions as

No C 66 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

specified by the Regulation . However, 20 of the
notifications were used to generate Import Notification
Forms which were sent to all Member States . 4 of these

forms were also sent to a Committee on Classification and
Labelling due to suspicions in the exporting country that
the chemicals were associated with adverse health effects .

4 . The Commission is continuing to collect the
information necessary to produce a report for Council
and Parliament on the import to the Community of
dangerous chemicals .

5 . Under a voluntary export notification scheme set up
by the United Nations Environment Programme, some
Member States notify the export of chemicals which are
banned or severely restricted under their own legislation .
More than 200 chemicals have legislative restrictions in at
least one Member State . The Council is working with
Member States to determine whether proposals should be
made to ban or severely restrict more of these chemicals at
the Community level .

6 . The draft amendment to Regulation ( EEC )
No 1734 / 88 proposes that the Community takes part in
the international PIC scheme as an importer as well as
exporter . This means that chemicals on the PIC list, which
includes all chemicals banned or severely restricted by
Community legislation, will be reviewed by the
Commission in consultation with the Member States .
Import conditions could be placed on certain of these
chemicals to ensure the protection of health and
environment ip the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1284 / 91

by Mr Mark Killilea ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 20 )

Subject : Export refunds on beef exports to Japan

With the Japanese beef import market forecast to become
the largest in the world within the next few years, and
with Denmark and Ireland being the only two EC
Member States whose disease-free status is high enough
for their beef to be accepted into Japan, can the
Commission explain why export refunds are not being
made available to promote such exports, especially in view
of the current situation, where we have huge surpluses of
beef in intervention stores, much of it Irish beef . In 1990
exports of Irish beef to Japan were only 343 tonnes,
compared to 1 583 tonnes in 1989 .

Taking these factors into account, does the Commission

not feel that it should review the situation at this time ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

In recent years the Community has refrained from
applying export refunds in respect of beef exports to
certain Far East destinations, including Japan . In 1985, an
assurance was given to Australia that such refunds would
not be applied in the circumstances prevailing or foreseen
at that time . However, our export policy vis-à-vis these
markets is being kept under review, having particular
regard to Japan's recent liberalization of its beef market
and the prospect that this market may expand
considerably in the years ahead . At the same time, the
possible international implications of modifying the
present arrangements, should be borne in mind,
particularly in the context of the ongoing Uruguay Round
negotiations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1296 / 91

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

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 21 )

Subject : Implementation of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC :
poaching of turtle doves ( Streptopelia turtur ) in
France

One year ago a number of MEPs lodged a complaint with
the Commission ( No 896 / 90 ) concerning infringement by
France of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (*) and restriction of
freedom of movement of persons .

The events leading up to this complaint have recently
reoccurred in the department of Gironde : that is to say
poaching of turtle doves and restriction of freedom of
movement of persons sent to investigate the matter .

What steps will the Commission take in response to the

above complaint and the events which occurred in 1991 ?

O OJ No L 103,25.4 . 1979, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

The complaint concerning the hunting of turtle doves in

Gironde in May was dealt with together with other
complaints made to the Commission on the same subject .

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 13

The Commission followed up these complaints by

initiating infringement proceedings against France for
breach of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the preservation of
wild birds . The French authorities subsequently informed
the Commission of their intention to put an end to this
illegal activity, but did not give the Commission specific
details of what steps they are actually taking to do so .

The Commission is awaiting a reply from the French

authorities to the requests which have been made to them
to provide further information .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1305 / 91

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

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 22 )

Subject : Protection of the Bay of Algeciras ( Spain )

The Gibraltese authorities have decided to fill in
300 000 m 2 of sea in Spanish territorial waters in the Bay
of Algeciras in order to construct a financial and
industrial complex . This project could cause irreversible
harm to the marine environment of this area which is of

great ecological value .

Can the Commission obtain information from the
competent authorities concerning this project ?

What measures can the Commission take to ensure that

the environment of the Bay of Algeciras does not suffer
any damage ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 September 1 991 )

The Commission was not aware of the project referred to
by the Honourable Member to reclaim land from the sea
in the Bay of Algeciras .

Projects for reclamation of land from the sea are covered
by Annex II to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (') and are
therefore subject to an assessment procedure if it is felt
that they will have a considerable impact on the local
environment .

The Commission will obtain information from the

Spanish authorities on this matter .

O OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1323 / 91

by Mrs Pauline Green ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 23 )

Subject : Sewage disposal in Brussels

Is the Commission'aware that 80 % of all sewage from the
City of Brussels is pumped untreated into the River
Senne ?

In view of the reported desire of the City of Brussels to
become the centre of the European Community, is the
Commission concerned that the municipal authorities are
failing to meet EC standards with regard to sewage
treatment and pollution of one of Europe's rivers ?

What action is the Commission taking to ensure that EC
standards are met on their doorstep in Brussels ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 September 1 991 )

The Commission is aware of the sewage disposal situation
in Brussels .

EC standards with regard to sewage treatment were not
adopted until quite recently ( Council Directive
9 1 / 27 1 / EEC (')). In the case of cities the size of Brussels
the EC provisions will not apply until 31 December 1998
if a city is in a sensitive area or 31 December 2000 if it is

not .

However, the Commission does not intend to wait that
long . Through the Committee set up under the
abovementioned Directive, it will monitor the situation
closely and do all that it can to cooperate with the Belgian
authorities so that work on the construction of two
sewage treatment plants is completed on schedule .

O OJ No L 135,30.5 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1341 / 91

by Mr Charles Baur ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 24 )

Subject : Comparison of the taxes and other standard

charges paid by farmers

Could the Commission provide comparative statistics
regarding the taxes and other standard charges paid by
farmers in each of the Community Member States ?

No C 66 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

The following charges should be taken into account :

— land tax,

— estate duty,

— standard pension and family allowance contributions,

— health insurance contribution,

— income tax .

A distinction should be made between farms with and
without paid employees ( so that wage costs can be taken
into account ).

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

The Commission does not have any detailed information
on the taxes and other standard charges paid by farmers in
each of the Community countries, since the Member
States do not draw up separate statistics for this . All it has
is information on ' production-related taxes ' ( EUR 11,
excluding B ), which are only a part of the taxes and
charges paid by farmers .

The FADN cannot provide the required information

either . Since the network receives accounts from farms,
the Commission does not have any information on the

amounts of estate duty or individual income tax paid .
There is no separate indication of land taxes in the
statement of taxes, duties and other charges imposed on
farms ( land and buildings ).

As regards social contributions, i.e . standard pension,
family allowance and health insurance contributions, the
Commission does not have any information on general
schemes for paid employees . In many Member States
farmers and paid farm employees are covered by special
schemes, no information on these being available to the
Commission . The contribution rates for general social
security schemes are available in a publication prepared
on the Commission's initiative on social protection in the
Member States of the Community, which contains
comparative tables on these schemes and which the
Commission will send direct to the Honourable Member
and to the Secretariat of the European Parliament .
Furthermore the European Confederation of Agriculture,
with headquarters in Brugg ( Switzerland ), has precise

information on social security for farmers .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1448 / 91

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 25 )

Subject : Increasing the size of Erasmus

What proposals does it have to increase the size of the

Erasmus programme ? Does the Commission not agree
with me that it is disappointing that less than 4% ( EC
figure ) of all EC students will be eligible for a period of
study abroad in another Member State within Erasmus in

1991 / 92 ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

The budget available for the academic year 1991 / 92 was

74 million ECU including the supplementary budget
adopted for the Five New Lander ( FNL ). With this
budget, the Commission approved 1 661 inter-university
programmes providing mobility for about 59 000 students
in all 12 Member States, thus representing about 4% of
the total student population in higher education at
Community level .

It should be recalled that the budget estimated necessary
by the Council for the implementation of the Erasmus
programme for the first three years ( 1990 — 1992 ) of the
second phase was 192 million ECU .

An external evaluation of the Erasmus programme has
recently started which should provide enough
information about the design of the programme as well as
the areas where Community action should focus in the
future . The evaluation report, which is due in early 1993,
will be submitted to the Council and the European
Parliament and it is expected to provide a good basis for
the financial forecasts for the next years of the Erasmus

programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1456 / 91

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 26 )

Subject : Impact of milk prices in Asturias, Cantabria and

Galicia

How does the Commission think that the adverse
consequences of current milk prices could and should be

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 15

alleviated in Spanish regions with a large number of small
dairy farms, such as Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 September 1 991 )

The fall in milk prices is due to the current imbalance
between the production and consumption of milk . The
2% reduction in the overall guaranteed quantities for

1991 / 92 decided by the Council will lead to a drop in
production and therefore to a price recovery after a
certain time lapse . In the mean time, the compensation of
ECU 10 / 100 kg connected to the reduction in reference
quantities will at least partially offset the fall in milk
prices .

As regards demand, the Commission is using the
co-responsibility fund to promote the consumption of
milk and milk products and considers that the measures
taken have had a positive effect on prices .

In addition, the Commission shares the Honourable
Member's concern for the small milk producers in
Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia in particular . Point 8 of
the proposed objectives in the Commission's
communication to the Council on the development and
future of the CAP of 1 February 1991 (') states that the
agricultural budget should become an instrument of real
financial solidarity with those whose need is greatest . In
its communication to the Council and Parliament of 12
July 1991 ( 2 ), the Commission proposed that direct aid

measures should be integrated into the market
organizations so as to ensure the income of producers .
The Commission believes that regional aspects,
particularly the impact on the less-favoured regions,
could then be taken into account in the context of

additional differentiation in this sector .

(') COM(91 ) 100 final .
O COM(91 ) 258 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1462 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )
to European Political Cooperation

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 27 )

Subject : Marcela Rodríguez, a prisoner in Chile

Is EPC aware of the plight of Ms Marcela Rodriguez, a
prisoner in Chile, who despite being paralysed for life and
generally being in an extremely precarious state of health,
has been moved from hospital, contrary to medical

opinion, and returned to the military-run Santiago Prison
which has none of the medical facilities necessary for the

care of somebody in her condition ?

In view of the grave and immediate threat to her life, will
EPC undertake to make urgent representations to the
political and military authorities in Chile, seeking that she
be returned to hospital and assured of the necessary care
until such time as any legal case against her is processed ?

Answer

( 11 February 1 992 )

The Presidency kindly refers the Honourable Member to
the reply given to his oral question H-615 / 91 on the same
subject .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1468 / 91

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

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 28 )

Subject : Purchase of ' Max Havelaar ' coffee for the

Community institutions

I understand that the Netherlands Parliament has decided
to purchase Max Havelaar coffee . This is not a new brand
of coffee, but a label authorized for use by all coffee
merchants who agree to sell coffee purchased direct from
small-scale producers at a minimum guaranteed price .

This is tangible evidence of cooperation with the Third
World . Would it be possible for the Community
institutions to follow the example, set by the Netherlands
Parliament ?

Answer

(1 February 1992 )

The Council is most interested to learn that the
Netherlands Parliament has decided to purchase ' Max
Havelaar ' coffee .

The Council's General Secretariat is currently studying
the feasibility of taking similar action .

No C 66 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1472 / 91
by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 29 )

Subject : Pork and derivatives

On a recent visit to Seville in Andalusia, the Deputy
Director-General for Agriculture ( DG VI ) of the
Commission, Mr Fernando Mansito, stated that pig
breeding, sherry and olive oil were essential for the future
of agriculture in Andalusia .

Does the Commission agree with this view ?

When does it consider that the pigmeat export ban could
be lifted from areas currently affected by African swine
fever ?

Does it have information on the current volume of

intra-Community trade in pigmeat and other pig
products ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 September 1 991 )

The Commission recognizes the importance for
Andalusian agriculture of the products mentioned by the

Honourable Member . These are traditional quality
products which are appreciated by European consumers .
They also represent a considerable source of income in
the rural areas concerned . In future, both producers and
other operators will have to ensure that the quality of
these products is maintained .

By virtue of Council Decision 89 / 2 1 / EEC (') most of
Spain's territory is authorized to export live swine and
pigmeat .

Since that time, a great effort has been made to eradicate
African swine fever from the infected area . As a result it

can now be considered that the northern part of that area
no longer shows the clinical presence of the disease, which
means that from this year it should be permitted for live
swine to be consigned from this area to the rest of Spain
for the production of ham and pork sides .

The time needed to eradicate African swine fever in the
southern part of the infected area will depend on the
effort made by the authorities responsible . For its part,
the Commission is quite prepared to eradicate the disease
from the remaining pockets of infection before the end of

1992 .

In 1990 the volume of intra-Community trade in ham and
other pig products was 60 000 tonnes for ham ( CN codes
ex 0210 and ex 1602 ) and 554 000 tonnes for other

products ( CN codes ex 0210, ex 1601 and ex 1602 ),
including 91 000 tonnes of sausage and saucisson .

O OTNoL9, 12 . 1.1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1502 / 91

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to European Political Cooperation

(1 6 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 30 )

Subject : Harmonization of the Member States ' rules

governing arms exports

It is reported that, on 16 April 1991, an EPC meeting of
experts was held in an attempt to harmonize rules
governing arms exports from Member States following
the Gulf War . In this context, a definition is being sought
of the concept of ' reasonable sufficiency ' in order to end
supplies of weapons to already overcrowded countries .

What was the result of this meeting and has any progress
since been made ?

Answer

( 11 February 1992 )

The meeting on 16 April 1991 and subsequent meetings of
experts on conventional arms exports had a significant
result with the adoption, by the European Council of
Luxembourg of 28 / 29 June 1991, of a Declaration on
non-proliferation and arms exports, which notably
outlined a list of common criteria with regard to
conventional arms exports .

The EPC Ad Hoc Working Group is continuing its work
on further harmonisation of rules governing the exports
of conventional arms from Member States of the

Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1503 / 91

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to European Political Cooperation

(1 6 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 31 )

Subject : Position adopted by the EC at the CSCE expert

working party on national minorities

From 1 to 19 July 1991, a meeting is being held in Geneva
of the CSCE expert working party on national minorities .

No C 66 / 17
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

Has there already been an EPC coordination meeting on
this issue and what was the outcome . In addition to
individual rights of members of minorities, will the
Community also uphold the rights of minority groups as
such ( self-determination and self-government ) together
with state structures which recognize and guarantee
plurality ?

Answer

( 11 February 1992 )

The Honourable Member is certainly aware of the fact
that it has become standard practice of EPC to convene
coordination meetings with a view to defining common
positions and approaches of the Community and its

Member States at the various meetings of international
fora .

In Geneva, the Netherlands Minister of the Interior, Mrs
I. Dales, delivered an opening speech on behalf of the
Community and its Member States the text of which had
been agreed by Member States in the CSCE working
group . During the same preparatory meetings and
through exchanges on the Coreu network between
capitals and the Presidency, a basic outline had also been
developed for a contribution to a final document at the
Geneva meeting .

Consensus was reached on a common contribution to the
concluding document . This contribution first of all
stressed the need for full involvement of persons
belonging to national minorities in the development of
their societies by ensuring them equal opportunity .

The Community and its Member States also underlined
the necessity for protecting the identity of national
minorities and creating better conditions for the
promotion thereof . They also indicated their support for
the idea of democratic participation within States on
issues relating to the situations of national minorities .

The Community and its Member States advocated the

availability of the mechanism of the human dimension
and of the other CSCE mechanisms for the protection of
the rights of individuals belonging to national minorities .
They also favoured the promotion of the involvement of
individuals in the protection of their rights, including
those rights of persons belonging to national minorities .
Finally, they recommended that the Ministerial Council
of the CSCE take the necessary steps to give effect to
these provisions and that the issue should be kept under
review .

The report which eventually emerged from negotiations

in Geneva was generally felt to be an acceptable
compromise between many divergent views on the
complex issue of national minorities, be it one that
remains below the ambitions of some Member States .
Some delegations made interpretative statements on the
final document . A number of Participating States
underlined the need to address specific questions,
including the rights of minority groups as such, at the

Moscow Meeting of the Conference on the Human
Dimension and more generally within the framework of
further CSCE work on minorities .

The President in office of the EC Council of Ministers,

Mr Hans van den Broek, when addressing the Moscow
meeting of the CHD Conference on 10 September,
expressed his concern that some States still thought that
violence and oppression could solve their problems with
minorities . He pointed out that persons belonging to
minorities should be able to exercise their rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1506 / 91

by Mr Terence Wynn ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 32 )

Subject : Food stocks

Of the 20 million tonnes of cereals in storage, what
proportion is for human consumption and what is for
other purposes ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

The current stocks of cereals intervention consist of 8,4

million tonnes of wheat of bread-making quality, and 0,1
million tonnes of forage wheat . The designation of cereals
according to their suitability for bread making should not,
however, be taken as an absolute indication of the way the
final purchaser will decide to use them as some forage
wheat can be used for bread making, particularly if it is
blended with other wheats .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1517 / 91

by Mr Ben Visser ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 33 )

Subject : Driving periods in road transport

In the Visser report on driving and rest periods in road
transport ( A2-0214 / 88 ) Parliament calls on the
Commission to enquire into the possibility of introducing
at some future date rules governing working hours in

No C 66 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

road transport and making certain systems of
remuneration illegal . The EP requests the Commission to
submit a report to Council and the Parliament by 31
December 1989 .

To date, however, no action appears to have been taken .

1 . Is the Commission taking any steps concerning
driving times in road transport ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that rules on driving

times fit very well into the Community social
dimension ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1 991 )

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's

concern about the importance of its report on the
implementation by the Member States of current
Community legislation relating to driving and rest periods
in road transport ('). The reason why the report has not
been presented until now is that the Member States have
been slow in providing the Commission with information
required for preparation of the report . Steps have been
taken to have the report published as soon as possible .

The Commission believes that rules governing working
hours should be examined in the context of the action

programme relating to the application of the Community
Charter of basic social rights for workers, account being
taken of the specific aspects of road transport, including
the economic and road safety consequences .

O Régulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 ( OJ No L 370, 31.12 . 1985 )

and Council Directive No 88 / 599 / EEC ( OJ No L 325, 29 . 11 .

1988 ).

security contributions, payment of benefits in countries
other than those in which recipients are registered and the
reimbursement of sickness expenses incurred in any of the
signatory countries ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

C 11 October 1991 )

On the basis of Article 51 of the EEC Treaty, which
stipulates that the Council shall adopt such measures in
the field of social security as are necessary to provide
freedom of movement for workers within the

Community, Regulations ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and
No 574 / 72 ( x ) coordinate the different social security
schemes within the Community . They replace, as to the
persons and benefits covered, all existing social security
agreements between two or more Member States, with the
exception of the provisions referred to in Annex III to
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 .

Social security agreements linking one or more Member
States and non-member States remain in force vis-à-vis

the non-Community countries . Moreover, there is
nothing in the Community rules on social security to
prevent the negotiation or conclusion of agreements
between Member States and non-member States .

The negotiations between the Community and EFTA on
the creation of a European Economic Area provide for the
application in full of Community social security
legislation in the future EEA . Consequently, from the
entry into force of any agreement between the
Community and EFTA, the rules governing the
coordination of social security schemes in the twelve
Member States will apply in all the States in the European
Economic Area, replacing, in theory, all social security
agreements between two or more of these States .

The legal situation vis-à-vis other non-member States will
remain unchanged .

(') OJ No L 230, 22 . 8 . 1983, as last amended by Regulation

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1524 / 91 ( EEC ) No 3427 / 89, OJ No L 331, 16 . 11 . 1989 .

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 34 )

Subject : Social security and third countries

Does the Commission consider it possible that, in the near
future, conventions or agreements on social security can
be signed by the European Community and third
countries to replace the current, strictly bilateral
agreement ?

Will it be possible to conclude conventions or agreements
between the Community and third countries on reciprocal

arrangements for the recognition of periods of social

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1537 / 91

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

( 23 July 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 35 )

Subject : Effects on health of nuclear weapons testing

Has the Commission conducted any studies since 1957 as
to the effect on health and safety of the citizens of the

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 19

European Communities and their incorporated overseas
territories of atmospheric and underground nuclear
weapons testing ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 October 1 991 )

The Commission has not conducted any specific studies

on the effect of atmospheric and underground nuclear
weapons testing on the health and safety of the citizens of
the Member States of the European Communities .
However, the Commission's radiation protection research
programme has studied, since 1961, the behaviour of
radioactivity in the environment and the health effects of
low radiation doses as part of its on-going remit under the
Euratom Treaty ( Annex I — VI ) to study the harmful
effects of radiation on living organisms and to provide the
background for establishing and updating the
Community ' Basic Safety Standards for the Health
Protection on the General Public and Workers against
Dangers of Ionizing Radiation '.

In addition, the Commission has published regular
reports ( the latest in 1989 — EUR 12245 ) on the data
received from Member States under the terms of
Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty . These data indicate the

overall levels of radioactive contamination in Member
States and, prior to Chernobyl, such contamination could
be largely attributed to weapons fallout . Population
exposure from this fallout was calculated to be such that
no detectable health effects could be expected ; the reports
did not, however, make any specific reference to overseas
territories .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1539 / 91

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

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 36 )

Subject : Article 31 of Euratom Treaty

What independent studies were commissioned, in
addition to the published work of the international
commission on radiological protection, in drawing up the
basic health and radiological protection standards
required by Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty ; what
resources have been allocated by the Commission to the
pursuance of Article 31 ; and what documents deriving

from implementation of Article 31 have been published by
the Commission since the adoption of the Euratom
Treaty ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1991 )

In drawing up the Basic Safety Standards in radiation
protection (') the Commission bases itself on the
consolidated scientific knowledge in this field as it
appears in the corpus of scientific literature, which is
generally reflected in the recommendations of the
International Commission of Radiological Protection
( ICRP ). In the process of drawing up and revising these
Basic Safety Standards, the Commission calls on the
opinion of the Group of experts referred to in Article 3 1
of the Euratom Treaty, which are appointed from among
scientific experts, and in particular public health experts in
the Member States . Further, the radiation protection
activities required by Chapter III of the Euratom Treaty
are conducted in cooperation with the Commission's
services in charge of the Community research and training
programmes which include, in particular, a radiation
protection programme substantially contributing to
scientific progress in the field .

As regards human resources, within the Commission's

services, Directorate-General XI, Environment, Nuclear
Safety and Civil Protection, is responsible for regulatory
and operational aspects of radiation protection, notably
the application of Chapter III Health and Safety of the
Euratom Treaty, which includes the drawing up of the
Community basic safety standards and ensuring that they
are applied . The unit directly in charge of these duties is
Division XI Al, Radiation Protection which, as of 15 July

1991, comprises ten A-grade officials and three national
experts . All staff of the unit are concerned with the
implementation of the basic safety standards .

Concerning financial resources, the 1991 budget provides
2,2 million ecus for radiation protection . Part of these
funds are utilised for the accomplishment of studies and
contracts in accordance with the procedures in force .

As far as the documents deriving from the application of
Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty are concerned, the

Commission wishes to recall the reports of the three
seminars organized by the Commission in 1979, 1983 and

1988 on the application of the optimization principle, a
key component of the Community basic safety standards .
A list of publications is being sent directly to the

Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat .

O OJ No L 265, 5 . 10 . 1981 .

No C 66 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1541 / 91 use of roll-on-roll-off ferries for the shipment of nuclear

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S ) materials between the Community Member States .
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 37 )

Subject : Notifications under Article 34 of the Euratom

Treaty

On how many occasions since 1957 has a Member State
government or nuclear facility operator in a Member
State of the European Communities sought the assent of
the Commission under Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty
to conduct experiments which are liable to affect the
territories of other Member States ; and will the
Commission list by date and country or organization,
such notifications .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1991 )

The consultation procedure provided for in Article 34 of
the Euratom Treaty has been used only once, in 1960, in
connection with French nuclear tests in the Sahara .

The procedure applies to ' particularly dangerous
experiments ' only, which is why it has been so little used

up to now .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1544 / 91

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1558 / 91

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 39 )

Subject : United Kingdom Renaval programme

In April 1991 Commissioner Millan announced a 5,8
million ECU commitment from the Community's
structural Funds to assist with the economic conversion of
two UK districts which have been hard-hit by industrial
decline . Can the Commissioner state what funds under
the Renaval programme will be proposed to assist the
Dounreay area ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

The Renaval programme is a Community programme to

assist the conversion of shipbuilding areas, in accordance
with Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2506 / 88 ('). Member
States were invited to submit applications in respect of
areas which might qualify under this Community
programme by 30 April 1990 . No such application was
submitted in respect of the Dounreay area .

( 23 July 1991 ) o OJ No L 225, 15.8 . 1988 .

( 92 / C 66 / 38 )

Subject : Shipment of nuclear materials by ' ro-ro ' ferries

Has the Commission responded to the call by the
International Transport Workers Federation that a ban be
instituted upon the use of roll-on-roll-off ' ro-ro ' ferries
for the shipment of nuclear materials into and between
Community Member States ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1559 / 91

by Mrs Winifred     - Ewing ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 40 )

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

The Commission is not aware of any call by the
International Transport Worker's Federation to ban the

Subject : Use of Community structural Funds in the

United Kingdom

Will Commissioner Millan please state the outcome of his
meeting with seven different UK Ministers in London

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 21

recently to discuss the use of Community structural Funds
and the question of additionality ?

Republic of Malta was not informed about the
programme ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to finance Medspa
projects in the Republic of Malta ?

Answer given by Mr Millan (') OJ No C 227, 31.8 . 1991, p . 31 .
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

I met United Kingdom Ministers in London on 25 April to
discuss additionality and other issues relating to the
implementation of the Community structural Funds .

In the meeting I expressed concern that the United
Kingdom authorities had not provided adequate evidence
of the additionality of Community funding . In particular I
was anxious to ensure, in accordance with the
Regulations, that the benefits of Community funding
should pass to the eligible regions, and that total public
expenditure ( Community and national ) should increase
by at least the amount of the increase in structural Fund
contributions . I also drew attention to problems over the
approval by the national authorities for assistance to
certain types of schemes, such as small business
development initiatives and university, charity and
tourism promotion projects .

The United Kingdom Ministers explained how local
authority capital expenditure in Great Britain took
structural fund allocations into account, and untertook to
provide additional information .

We agreed that officials should meet to clarify the issues
and a series of meetings is now being held at official level .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 September 1 991 )

1 . In its reply to Written Question No 583 / 91 put by
the Honourable Member, the Commission indicated that
requests for technical assistance for non-Community
countries were not collected by invitation to submit
proposals . These requests were therefore not submitted
within the three months anticipated by the invitation to
submit proposals published in 1990 for ; projects to be
financed by Medspa .

A distinction has to be made between the preparation of

specific pilot projects and those concerning proposals for
legislation or Community action . The former frequently
involve projects which are at an advanced stage of
preparation and need only to be financed .

In the latter case, measures often have to be developed
from scratch, which can lead to varying preparation times .

2 . The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of
Malta attended the meeting in Nicosia in the course of
which the Medspa programme was presented . It is
therefore inaccurate to claim that the Maltese authorities
did not know of Medspa in June 1990 .

3 . Yes, as long as these projects correspond to the
priorities and criteria laid out by Medspa and that these
projects compare favourably with projects presented by
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1560 / 91 other non-Community countries .

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 41 )

Subject : The EC's ' Medspa ' Mediterranean programme

In answer to my Written Question No 583 / 91 (') the
Commission takes the view that three months is sufficient
for third countries to submit a reasonable proposal for the
Medspa-programme .

1 . In future when requested by the European Parliament
to submit a proposal, will the Commission do so in
three months ? If not, why not ?

2 . If the Commission offered Medspa to third countries
at the ministerial meeting of April 1990 in Nicosia,
why is it that in June 1990 the Government of the

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1571 / 91

by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 42 )

Subject : Community aid to the district of Andarax in

Almeria, Spain

The district of Andarax in Almeria, Spain, has suffered in
this farming year the disastrous consequences of two
million oranges remaining unharvested because of a lack
of marketing opportunities .

No C 66 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

This situation was partly due to the loss of the subsidy of
Ptas 3 per kilo hitherto granted for oranges in the region .
When it was abolished, production costs could not be
covered and the oranges could not be marketed .

In view of the serious economic situation created in this
area, does the Commission not consider that it must help
to solve the problem by taking prompt action to tackle the
reasons behind it, which were explained above ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1 991 )

The information available to the Commission suggests
that the problems concerning oranges in the district of
Andarax in Almeria may arise from two sources : the
failure of producers to grow varieties required by the
market ; most oranges grown there are of the ' castellana '
variety for which there is little demand, and commercial
difficulties . There are no producer's organization or
processing industries in the district .

No subsidy per kilo of oranges was abolished since non
was paid .

Solutions could be found through measures under
existing Community rules . Regulation ( EEC ) No 797 / 85
on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (')
provides for aid for the ' qualitative improvement and
conversion of production in line with market requires '.
The opportunities so offered could permit the
introduction of oranges for which there is greater
demand .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 ( 2 ), on the fruit and
vegetables sector, permits aid for the establishment of
producer's organizations to improve the marketing of
these products .

C ) OJNoL93, 30 . 3 . 1985 .
O OJ No L 118,20.5 . 1972 .

applied for aid under Regulation ( EEC ) No 1760 / 87 (')
to protect the environment and natural resources or to
preserve nature and the countryside in particularly
sensitive areas ?

If so, when did it do so and what was the sum involved ?

O OJ No L 167, 26 . 6 . 1987, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 September 1 991 )

The Commission has never received, via the Portuguese
Government, proposals under Article 19 of Regulation
( EEC ) No 797 / 85 (') ( amendments made to Regulation
( EEC ) No 797 / 85 by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1760 / 87 —
environmental measures in agriculture ) in respect of the
Azores .

(') OJ No L 93, 30 . 3 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1588 / 91

by Mrs Christa Randzio-Plath ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 44 )

Subject : Increase of poverty among the female population

in the European Community and the EC
programme to combat poverty

1 . Poverty among women is increasing in all the areas
named in the final report of the second European
programme to combat poverty ; is this trend continuing ?

Is there any relation between this and the increased
number of people working part-time, on limited contracts
or without contracts ?

2 . Does the Commission intend to draw up its own
programmes to combat female unemployment ?

3 . To what extent does the third programme to combat
poverty in the EC take into account the situation of
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1583 / 91 women ?

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 43 )

Subject : Environmental protection aid

Has the autonomous region of the Azores, acting through
the intermediary of the Portuguese Government, ever

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1 991 )

1 . The statistical analysis of poverty is an extremely
difficult and delicate operation . In the absence of data
specifically collated for the purpose, analysts use statistics
on households rather than individuals, making it difficult

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 23

to distinguish between men and women and hence to
discern trends . That said, under the third poverty action
programme ( Poverty 3 ), the Commission is making every
effort to collect separate data for men and women .

Although no link has been established with poverty, the
number of people employed on limited contracts has
increased, more than doubling for both men and women
since 1983 . However, part-time working, which is
primarily the preserve of women in general and married
women in particular, has remained relatively stable . No
figures are available for people working without
contracts . More women than men are unemployed,
particularly if we take long-term unemployment, which is
a contributory factor in the creation of poverty .

Family structures are also changing, witness the increase
in the number of adults living alone . The repercussions
vary according to sex, with men who live alone accounting
for a larger proportion of the homeless, while the
increasing number of single-parent families — who lead
an extremely precarious existence — are generally made
up of women with children .

2 . On 18 December 1990, the Commission adopted the
NOW programme, a Community initiative designed to
promote equal opportunities for women in the field of
employment and vocational training . This initiative is
implemented through the structural Funds, and
constitutes a significant response to the serious problem
of female unemployment ( women account for 52 % of the
Community's unemployed and 55% of the long-term
unemployed ). A total of ECU 120 million has been
earmarked for the NOW programme over a period of
three years to finance measures taken to encourage
women to set up small businesses and cooperatives and to
help reintroduce them to the labour market by providing
training and careers guidance .

Crèche facilities may also qualify for assistance under the
NOW programme, an important factor in helping
underprivileged women rejoin the labour market . In this
way, NOW can be said to be making an innovative
contribution to the struggle against female poverty .

3 . Under Poverty 3, the Commission is encouraging an
integral approach, giving priority to global operations
involving coherent action adressing the various target

groups .

As part of a number of pilot projects under this specific
programme to combat poverty and social exclusion,
coordinated strategies have been implemented in selected
locations targeting population groups made up
predominantly of women, including single-parent
families and the elderly .

One of the innovatory measures under Poverty 3 focuses
on the specific problems of single-parent families .

In 1990 / 91 the Commission has continued its support for
three poverty groups : the elderly, single-parent families

and women . The idea is to provide greater insight into
and exchange experiences of specific issues affecting
them, for incorporation into an integrated strategy . This
means that further grants for individual operations
targeting specific groups will be awarded by the
Commission only in a very few cases .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1607 / 91

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

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 45 )

Subject : Package leaflets for certain categories of health

care staff

Doctors, pharmacists and dentists have access to scientific
information on medicinal products which they are
authorized to prescribe or administer .

Thanks to the proposal for a Directive ( COM(90 ) 607 ) on
the rational use of medicinal products ( labelling and
package leaflets ), patients will also be provided with a full,
comprehensible and readable package leaflet .

However, certain categories of health care staff, such as
physiotherapists and nurses, whose duties may involve
using medicinal products prescribed by doctors or
keeping a check çn their use, do not always have access to
full, accurate arid up-to-date information on these drugs
( side-effects, contraindications, overdose risks, etc .). In
the case of sprays, for instance, a transcription error or
the misuse of a product may prove extremely harmful to
the patient's health .

Does the Commission not agree that, in addition to
scientific information for doctors, pharmacists and
dentists, the packaging of certain medicinal products
which may be administered by physiotherapists or nurses
should also include specific information, available in all
the Community languages, on the safe use of such
products ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 September 1 991 )

It is true that in addition to doctors, pharmacists and
dentists, other categories of health care staff are called
upon to administer or keep a check on the use of
medicinal products .

No C 66 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

However, the Commission feels that the Community
legislation which is about to be adopted will provide these
categories of staff with adequate information concerning
the products in question .

The proposal for a Directive on the advertising of
medicinal products for human use ( l ) contains provisions
concerning advertising aimed at the health care
professions which encompass advertising and information
for categories of health care staff other than doctors,
pharmacists and dentists .

In addition, the proposal for a Directive on the labelling
of medicinal products for human use and on package
leaflets requires manufacturers to enclose a user
information leaflet ( 2 ). If a particular product is normally
administered by health care workers, they are considered
to be the users, and the leaflet must be so worded as to
provide them with all the information which they require .

(') COM(90 ) 212 final, OJ No C 163,4.7 . 1990 .
O COM(89 ) 607 final, OJ No C 58, 8 . 3 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1626 / 91

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 46 )

Subject : Aid for agriculture in Spain

According to some estimates, a German or Danish farmer
receives six times as much aid from the Community as a
Spanish farmer .

Assuming these estimates are true, what steps does the
Commission intend to take in the near future to put an
end to this serious discrimination ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

Under Regulation ( EEC ) No 729 / 70 ('), the Commission
finances through the CAP agricultural expenditure
incurred by national intervention departments and
agencies .

The current system of financing, which has operated since
January 1988, provides for the EAGGF Guarantee
Section to pay advances in respect of the expenditure
declared each month by those intervention agencies .

Consequently, despite the existence of some
non-discriminatory special prices in Spain which were laid
down by the Act of Accession and which will disappear at
the appointed times, the EAGGF Guarantee section

financing system contains no element of discrimination
with regard either to Spain or any other Member State .

C ) OJ No L 94, 28 . 4 . 1970 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1628 / 91

by Mr Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C66 / 4 7 )

Subject : Tempus programme

The Prometheus Association has published a negative
evaluation of the Tempus programme for East-West
cooperation in the field of training . According to this
evaluation, only three of the 153 projects subsidized in

1990, at a cost of ECU 10 million, have enabled teachers
from the West to receive additional training in eastern
European countries, while the main thrust of the
programme has been the training of teachers from the
East .

On the other hand, according to Prometheus, it is mainly
students from the East who have benefited from grants to
study in the West, with the attendant risk that they will
decide to settle in the West to make use of their ' Western '
training . The inadvertent organization of a ' brain drain '
such as this is not exactly the best way to help economies
which are handicapped precisely by their lack of trained
professionals .

What is the Commission's evaluation of the
implementation of the Tempus programme in 1990 ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

Given the large amount of interest generated by the
setting-up of the Tempus programme and the high
number of applications for the relatively limited funds
earmarked for it, the Commission is aware of the possible
disappointment felt by those whose projects were not
approved . The Commission particularly regrets that the
only project presented by Prometheus as part of the first
round of Tempus selection in 1990 was not eligible in the
form in which it was presented . However, the
Commission feels that the criticisms made by Prometheus
about Tempus are neither justified nor based on an
adequate Knowledge of the programme's aims and
procedures .

The Tempus programme, which was adopted on 7 May

1990 and has been operational since the 1990 / 91
acedemic year, was one of the first schemes developed
under the Phare programme . Thanks to rapid
implementation, aid amounting to a total of ECU

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 25

25 000 000 was granted by the Commission before the
end of 1990 to 153 joint European projects and to over

1 800 teachers and students in the form of mobility grants
enabling 784 students and 420 teachers to study or teach
in the Member States and 563 teachers and 132 students
from the Community to visit Poland, Hungary or
Czechoslovakia .

The success and prompt implementation of the Tempus
programme in 1990 were due mainly to the mobilization
of the inter-university networks set up in the Community
under the Erasmus and Comett programmes and to the
setting-up of national Tempus offices in the eligible
countries, which made it possible to ensure that the needs
and priorities of the eligible countries were taken into
account and to guarantee the quality of the projects from
the viewpoint of their higher education establishments .

During a recent mission by Commission staff to central
and east European countries related to various aspects of
training, the authorities there stressed their satisfaction
with the way Tempus is working, even though the low
level of funding makes it impossible at present to approve
a larger number of projects . In 1991, Tempus is covering
six eligible countries ( Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia,
Bulgaria, Rumania and Yugoslavia ) and has a budget of
ECU 70 000 000 drawn from the Phare budget in
response to requests from the recipient countries .

Under Article 1 1 of Council Decision 90 / 233 / EEC

establishing the Tempus programme ('), a report
assessing the programme has to be submitted to the
Council and Parliament before 31 December 1992 with a

view to its continuation or adaptation . The review
procedure will begin in October 1991 and will be carried
out both in the Member States and in the central and east
European countries, as well as in a number of other G-24
countries taking part in joint European projects .

' special protection areas ' under Article 4 of Directive
79 / 409 / EEC (') on the conservation of wild birds ?

O OJ No L 103,25.4 . 1979, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 September 1991 )

The lists of areas classified as special protection areas
under Article 4 of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC have been

distributed to the Member States and are also available

from the Commission .

Spain has classified one area of the ' Picos de Europa ' as a
special protection area : the Montana de Covadonga
National Park ( 16 925 hectares ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1643 / 91

by Mrs Dacia Valent ( GUE )
' to the Council of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 49 )

Subject : Racism and xenophobia : implementation of the

recommendations of the Committees of Inquiry

The reports of the first and second Committees of Inquiry

into Racism and Xenophobia, drawn up by Mr Evrigenis
and Mr Ford respectively, contained recommendations
addressed to the Council .

1 . Can the Council state which recommendations have

been acted on and what results have been achieved ?

. 2 . Can the Council state which recommendations have

not been implemented and what are the reasons for
(') OJNoL 131,23.5 . 1990 . this ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1640 / 91

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

(2 y July 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 48 )

Subject : The Picos dé Europea and Directive 79 / 409 /

EEC

Can the Commission provide a list of the areas in the
Picos de Europea ( Spain ) which have been designated

Answer

(1 February 1992 )

Following the Evrigenis report, the Council, the
European Parliament, the representatives of the Member
States meeting within the Council, and the Commission
adopted in 1986 a Declaration against racism and
xenophobia .

In 1990 the Council, together with the representatives of
the Governments of the Member States meeting within
the Council, adopted a Declaration on the fight against
racism and xenophobia .

Aside from that, the Council has received no proposals
from the Commission based on the European Parliament
resolution of 10 October 1990 concerning the Committee
of Inquiry on racism and xenophobia (' Ford report ').

No C 66 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1658 / 91

by Mr Jacques Vernier ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 50 )

Subject : Fraud involving Community aid to the tobacco

industry

Recent press reports reveal that certain tobacco
producers, particularly in Italy and Greece, are in receipt
of Community aid for quantities of tobacco greatly in
excess of both the allocated quotas and, it appears,
quantities really produced . This is nothing short of fraud,
made possible by the lack of any Community control and
the inadequacy of national controls .

Furthermore, it is very difficult to find buyers for tobacco
of the quality that is subsidized, which adds to the waste .

This, however, is not the main point of this question :

1 . Does not the Commission think that there is, to say

the least, an inconsistency between its courageous
anti-smoking campaign in the interests of improving
public health and its support for tobacco producers by
means of a policy so lax that it acts as an incentive to
fraud ?

2 . Can the Commission state what sums the Community
allocates firstly to the campaign against the adverse
effects of smoking and secondly to aid for tobacco
producers under the common agricultural policy ?

3 . Does not the Commission think there is a need for a
complete review of aid to tobacco producers with
emphasis on a much more stringent policy ( heavy cuts
in guaranteed prices, plus co-responsibility levies for
the qualities that are systematically over-produced )?

4 . Perhaps the Commission could also state what
measures it plans to take in the immediate future to
prevent any repetition of this kind of fraud ?

where tobacco normally is the only source of income .
More than 200 000 family holdings, growing tobacco on
very small plots of land ( less than 1 hectare ) are involved

( 95 000 in Greece and 71 000 in Italy ).

In 1990, total subsidies to tobacco producers reached
Ecus 1 232 100 000 . It must however be stressed that a cut
in support for European tobacco production ( the level of
self-sufficiency of which is only of the order of 50 % ) will
not reduce smoking in the Community as increased
imports would replace EC production .

The Commission is well aware of the detrimental effects
of smoking on health . For this reason prominence has
been given in the Commission's ' Europe against cancer '
programme of 1987 to measures to convert tobacco
growing where possible to other commidities and to less
toxic tobacco varieties . In the same year of 1990 the
Community spent Ecus 1 107 000 in the fight against
tobacco consumption to support national and European
action in the framework of that programme . However,
the conversion policy has been only partly successful up to
now, despite several measures taken in the past to improve
the market situation .

In February 1990, the Commission appointed a team of
experts to undertake an analysis of the way in which the
tobacco sector functions with a view to making
recommendations for possible reforms . On the basis of
the report presented by this team, containing, an in-depth
analysis of the sector, the Commission presented
appropriate measures to reduce expenditure and to
reform the tobacco market organization in the framework
of the general reform of the CAP, that will undoubtedly
have a deterrent effect on fraud .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1664 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 51 )
Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

Raw tobacco is an integral part of the common
agricultural policy and therefore the Community has to
support the production of this commodity . The obligation
to support tobacco derives from Article 39 of the EEC
Treaty with a view to ensuring a fair standard of living for
the tobacco producers . It should also be noted that
tobacco growing is of great importance to the economy of
certain, mostly less-favoured regions of the Community,

Subject : Euronews broadcasts in other languages

In reply to my previous question, the Commission said it
was in favour of the launching of ' Euronews ' and
promised financial support .

Since the programmes are to be broadcast in only five
Community languages ( French, German, English, Italian
and Spanish ), does the Commission consider that its
financial assistance to the project should be conditional

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 27

upon the gradual inclusion of the other Community
languages ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 October 1991 )

The Commission is not itself the originator of the

Euronews project, which was put before it by the
European Broadcasting Union . The EBU respresentatives
who presented the project to the Commission in February

1991 said that the service would be offered initially in five
Community languages because of the technical problems
involved in satellite broadcasting . They added that it
would nevertheless be possible to include further
languages, provided the additional costs could be borne
without endangering the project's economic viability .

The principle, and the terms and the amount of any
Community aid for Euronews are matters for decision in
the course of the budgetary procedure for 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1672 / 91

by Mr Louis Lauga ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 52 )

Subject : Harmonization of mail order regulations

French consumers have, in a number of cases, instituted
legal proceedings against German mail order companies .
The courts ' verdicts on these cases have not been carried
out and the German courts refuse to prosecute the
companies .

Is the Commission aware of these activities and their

consequences ?

Does it intend to initiate the harmonization of mail order
regulations throughout the EEC countries ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1677 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 53 )

Subject : Abuses in the area of advertising and sales by

mail order

As mail order sales increase, a number of consumers who

are the victims of inferior service or mislead advertising,
are finding they have no means of redress .

As we approach the single market, there are numerous
examples of this problem arising between two countries,
making it even more difficult to uphold the rights of the

consumer .

By way of example, is the Commission aware of
judgments by the courts of Bordeaux, Angoulème and
Périgueux against the Home Vertriebs company which is
said to be based in Munich ?

In a more general sense, can the Commission indicate if it
considers existing legislation to be adequate ? If not, what
steps does it plan to take in order to resolve these
problems ?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 1672 / 91

and No 1677 / 91

given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

The activities to which the Honourable Member refers

seriously undermine consumer interests, in the case in
point through dubious commercial practices which play
on a certain amount of gullibility .

In view of these practices, consumers may experience
difficulties, not in bringing these offences to light or
having them sanctioned, but in having the judgments
delivered by the relevent national courts implemented .
The Commission cannot allow this to go on as it affects
the confidence which consumers legitimately place in the
internal market .

Two additional measures are forseen in order to rectify
this unsatisfactory state of affairs, one dealing with the
information provided and the other guaranteeing the
fairness of transactions .

In publishing the three-year action plan of consumer
policy in the EEC O in May 1990, the Commission has
already announced its intention to step up a gear and
propose measures designed to ensure consumer
protection .

As regards information, local initiatives of pilot projects
on consumer information have been encouraged and
advisory centres for frontier zones have already been set

up .

In terms of Community law currently in force, it would
definitely have been possible to invoke the texts
transposing Directive 84 / 450 / EEC on misleading
advertising ( 2 ). But the limits of the traditional means of
redress, as already mentioned, must be kept in mind .

This is why, as regards the development of new sales
techniques, the Commission is currently preparing — as
announced in the three-year plan — a proposal for a
Directive on distance selling . As it prepares this proposal,

No C 66 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

the Commission will take account of the abovementioned

practices .

O CC>M(90 ) 98 final .
O OJ No L 250, 19.9 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1681 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 54 )

Subject : Financial aid to consumer organizations in the

Member States

Can the Commission provide details of financial aid
granted by the Community to consumer organizations in
the Member States ?

More specifically, which consumer organizations have
received this financial assistance since 2 January 1991 and
what were the sums involved ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

Community financial aid is granted to consumer
organizations under Article B5-101 ( Representation ),
which covers operating subsidies for European consumer
organizations and development aid for consumer
associations in southern Europe and Ireland .

The Commission will send the information requested
directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1687 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 55 )

Subject : Levels of lead in the Humber Estuary

The improvement of product quality in the Community is
fundamental to its economic development . What
measures has the Commission taken to promote
standardization at European level ? Concerning the
implementation of Council Directive 83 / 189 / EEC ('),
does the Commission not consider that the necessary
steps should be taken to ensure full compliance by the
Member States with the provisions of this Directive,
which are of major importance for the functioning of the
single market ?

contained levels of lead which were 28% above the

recommended maximum ?

Can the Commission tell what action it plans in order to
bring lead levels in the Humber Estuary into line with
safety limits set by the Commission ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 October 1991 )

Lead is among the substances mentioned in List II of
Directive 76 / 464 / EEC on the discharge of dangerous
substances into the aquatic environment ('). . This
framework Directive does not itself lay down limit values,
but provides the necessary basis for setting limit values for
dangerous substances . No limit value has so far been set
for lead .

Accordingly, and pursuant to the abovementioned
Directive, it is for the competent authorities in the
Member States to subject all discharges of the dangerous
substances in List II to prior authorization ( Article 7(2 )).

The authorization must comply with the conditions laid
down in the national programmes for reducing the
substances in List II ( Articles 7(1 ) and 7(3 )).

Given that the quality objectives for lead have been in
force in the United Kingdom since 1986, the Commission
will approach the authorities there in order to obtain
more information on this matter .

O OJ No L 129, 18 . 5 . 1976 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1690 / 91

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

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 56 )

Subject : European standardization policy

Is the Commission aware that a recent survey which are of major importance
commissioned by the ' Hull Daily Mail ' newspaper and single market ?
carried out by the County Analyst of Humberside County
Council showed that parts of the Humber Estuary O OJ No L 109, 26 . 4 . 1983, p . 8 .

No C 66 / 29
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's idea
that improvement of product quality in the Community is
fundamental to its economic development . This task is
primarily the responsibility of economic operators . To
enable them to work towards this goal, the public
authorities must create a suitable environment for
industry to improve its competitiveness and the quality of
its products .

For this reason, the Community confines itself, as far as
products are concerned, to laying down rules relating to
safety aspects .

Standarization and compliance with Directive
89 / 189 / EEC are two essential means of enabling industry
to develop in the best manner possible .

The Commission has therefore published a Green Paper
on the development of European standardization, its aim
in doing so being to open up a general debate between all
parties concerned on the creation of an infrastructure and
on working arrangements in standardization that are
capable of rapidly providing high-quality standards .

The purpose of Directive 83 / 189 / EEC is to prevent the
creation of barriers to trade between Member States . Its
proper functioning ensures that industries have access to
the Community-wide market . Its operation is the subject
of a permanent dialogue within the Committee
representing the Member States, which are able to express
any difficulty they encounter in applying the Directive .
The favourable experience with this Directive
furthermore prompted the Commission and the Council
in 1988 to extend its scope to include the important
sectors of foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products .

The Commission is currently looking at ways of
improving the provisions relating to standardization .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1700 / 91

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

the effect that the Cuban Government is concealing the
defects, which it is aware of, because it needs nuclear
energy, following the reduction in imports of Soviet oil .
The geophysicist José Oro also expressed great concern .

Both these experts recently left Cuba and sought asylum
in Canada - and the United States respectively . More
recently the Herald Tribune stated that this topic might be
raised at the Bush-Gorbachev summit and today's edition
of the Madrid daily ABC gave a full report of a solemn
warning on the part of the US .

Does the Commission have any information to confirm or
refute these allegations, in particular in view of the type of
reactor being built, which according to reports is a
WER ? '

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 October 1991 )

According to the information available to the
Commission, the Cuban project comprises two
Soviet-designed reactors of the WER-440 ( i.e . PWR )
type, scheduled to come into operation in 1993 and 1995
respectively .

The Commission, however, is fully conscious of
significant safety inadequacies in Soviet-designed nuclear
reactors ( including VVERs ) in comparison with the
standards adopted by Western technology . As a result it is
already taking major steps as part of its Phare programme
to review and upgrade the safety of such reactors in
Eastern Europe, and this work will be greatly extended in
the context of the programme for Technical Assistance to
the USSR . Coordination of such work across all countries
involved in these programmes is regarded as essential .

While the Commission has no direct contact with the

Cuban project, it is already cooperating with other
international organizations concerned, such as the IAEA,
and will be seeking to ensure that the benefits of the work
carried out under its auspices are made as widely available
as possible .

(6 August 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1708 / 91
( 92 / C 66 / 57 )

Subject : Risks of a nuclear disaster in Cuba

According to the news agencies FP and EFE the US
broadcasting station NBC announced at the end of May
that a number of nuclear power stations being built in
Cuba have serious defects, which could cause a disaster
similar to Chernobyl . Particularly worrying were the
statements made by the nuclear engineer Vladimir
Cervera, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Energy, to

by Mr Jean-Claude Pasty ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 58 )

Subject : Situation of honey producers in the Community

Honey producers in the Community are faced by a
collapse in the market for their product, caused by

No C 66 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

imports from outside the Community at extremely low
prices, below the cost of production in the Community .

Many producers are giving up their occupation, which, in
view of the role played by bees in pollination, is a threat to
various kinds of plant production and to the environment
in general .

What action does the Commission intend to take to give
better protection to the Community market or to help
honey producers in the Community survive by means of
direct aid ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1938 / 91

by Mr François Musso ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 59 )

Subject : Protection of French beekeepers

Will the Commission indicate the action it intends to take

in order to protect French beekeepers facing high
production costs and massive imports of honey from third
countries at prices below French producers ' production
costs ?

Is it prepared to establish a system of aid per beehive and
to apply a levy on honey from third countries in order to
raise the price of imported honey to the EEC domestic
level ?

Joint answer to Written Questions No 1 708 / 91

and No 1938 / 91

given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1991 )

The Commission has answered a great many questions
regarding the economic situation in the beekeeping sector
over the past few years . A list of these will be sent directly
to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament

Secretariat .

The Commission is aware both of the importance of
beekeeping for ecological balance in the rural
environment and of the role of pollination in plant
production .

The Commission would like to point out that honey

imported into the Community from non-member
countries is subject to a customs duty of 27 %, reduced to
zero only for countries party to the Lomé Convention and
for least-developed countries, but maintained at 25 % for
non-ACP developing countries . This is one of the heaviest
charges under the Common Customs Tariff ; the majority

of imports come from countries which have to pay the
maximum rate and not from ACP countries .

In addition, honey being imported into the Community
must comply with the technical and quality standards
applied by the Member States, which will ensure
compliance by means of technical inspections and
appropriate penalties in accordance with Council
Directive 74 / 409 / EEC of 22 July 1974 on the
harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating
to honey ( 1 ). These provisions are, generally speaking,
stricter than those operated internationally under a
Codex Alimentarius standard ( in the form of a
recommendation ).

The Community imports more than 60% of its honey
requirements, in particular for the confectionery,
preserves and related industries . It is true that the prices
prevailing on the international market, dominated by bulk
honey not specific to a particular blossom or in other
ways, have for many years been below the manufacturing
costs which beekeepers in the Community have to cover .

This is the result not only of climatic conditions less

favourable to beekeeping which prevail in many regions
of the Community, but also of the nature of international
trade in this commodity which is entirely free from any
stabilizing or other mechanism . For a number of major
exporting countries this trade constitutes a supplementary
but useful source of foreign exchange, which is all the
more attractive because the investment required at the
production stage and for market preparation can be
modest .

Imports from outside the Community are in general made
by a small number of large specialized firms which are
thus able to operate with the best cost-efficiency ratio on
an international market which is, of course, free from any
constraints .

On the other hand, honey with a specific blossom or other
origin is able to profit more easily from promotional
activities organized from time to time by producer
organizations and be offered to European consumers,
who are increasingly demanding with regard to quality

and origin, at substantially higher prices . By virtue of this,
such products will be able to benefit from the provisions
of future Community Regulations regarding certificates
of specific character, geographical indications and
designations of origin . These Commission proposals,
currently under discussion within the Council, would
facilitate the promotion in particular of varieties of honey
with a specific character resulting from their origin or
special production characteristics .

In a resolution in 1985 ( 2 ), Parliament expressed the wish
that Community promotion of beekeeping be centred on
general measures to assist beekeepers, particularly in the
fields of information and training and the improvement of
production and marketing . Therefore Parliament adopted
the Commission's conclusions presented in its report to
the Council on this subject in 1984, namely that it was not
advisable to continue the direct subsidies applied in the
past, in particular because of their limited economic effect

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 31

having regard to the structural characteristics of this clearly lead to a more natural environment for animals
sector . held on farms .

The Commission is seeking to improve via beekeepers '

professional organizations the level to information
available to them on the possibilities of benefiting from
the various instruments of the reformed structural policy .

In this context certain Member States permit measures for
the promotion of beekeeping as a line of diversification
within the Community Support Frameworks, in particular
with regard to Objectives 1 ( less-developed areas ) and

5(b ) ( rural development ).

O OJ No L 221, 12.8 . 1974 .
O OJ No C 343,21 . 12 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1719 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 60 )

Subject : CAP reforms

What are the Commission's views arising from the

McSharry reflections on the reform of CAP on extending
the definitions of farm management agreements, beyond
the necessary environmental considerations, to include
consideration of farm animal welfare ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(7 October 1991 )

The Commission is well aware of the concerns on farm

animal welfare within the Community, and is already
engaged in legislative work in this field . Proposals for the
protection of calves and pigs, and of animals during
transport, have been made to the Council and are
currently under discussion . As the Community is a
contracting party to the European Convention for the
Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes, further
draft legislation is being prepared to implement this
Convention, and recommendations made under it, on a
Community basis .

In addition, the Commission is convinced that positive
effects towards an improvement of farm animal welfare
will also derive from the reform as proposed in Doc .

COM(91 ) 258 final . It is the Commission's intention to
encourage extensification in animal holding by offering
additional aid to those farms who respect maximum
stocking rates of animals per hectare of land . This will

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1734 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 61 )

Subject : Request for the repeal of Regulation ( EEC )

No 1413 / 91 — incalculable harm to the

tobacco-growing sector

The hasty and untimely adoption of Regulation ( EEC )

No 1413 / 91 O of 29 May 1991, which entered into force
on 3 June 1991, well after the cultivation and marketing
programme had been launched, has once more underlined
the controversy and confusion reigning in the tobacco
sector and totally disrupted the production, processing
and marketing of tobacco for 1991 / 92 .

Many tobacco growers and associations are considering
bringing an action in the European Court of Justice in
Luxembourg since they consider the Regulation to be
' unlawful ' and ' inapplicable '.

1 . Will the Commission consider suspending, as a
precautionary measure, and then repealing Regulation

( EEC ) No 1413 / 91 for technical and legal reasons ?

2 . Does the Commission not consider the measure to be

unlawful, principally because the provision that
' surplus ' tobacco is not eligible for the premium is not
motivated by concern for tobacco quality and there is
no direct correlation between the quantity produced
and its quality ?

3 . Does the Commission not consider that, if this were

the case all the tobacco produced on the relevant plot
would be of poor quality and not only the ' surplus '?

4 . Does the Commission not consider, that on the one

hand, this Regulation infringes the most elementary
legal principles since it takes away acquired rights, and
on the other, totally disregards the most elementary
technical aspects of the tobacco production cycle ?

o OJ No L 135,30.5 . 1991, p . 15 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1991 )

1 . Following the Court of Justice's judgment in case
C-368 / 89 ( Crispoltoni ) on 11 July 1991, application of

No C 66 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

the rule that a European cultivation contract cannot cover
any production in excess of the yield stipulated in the
Annex to Regulation ( EEC ) No 2501 / 87 ( x ) will be
deferred to the 1992 harvest .

The yields at present stipulated in Regulation ( EEC )

No 2501 / 87 will shortly be reviewed to bring them into
line with actual production conditions .

2 . While a low yield does not guarantee high quality,
an increase in the weight per hectare as a result of
fertilization and irrigation frequently results in a drop in
quality .

3 . The production of individual plots is not uniform in
quality and usually ranges over three classes A, B and C,
with the best quality fetching anything up to twice the
price of the poorest .

4 . Deferred application of the yield rule, as referred to
in 1 above, gives producers a substantial period in which
to take it into account in their production plans .

O OJ No L 237, 20 . 8 . 1987 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 September 1 991 )

The Commission is aware that there is an international
standard ( ISO 8884 ) entitled ' information processing —
Text and office systems — Keyboards for multiple
Latin-alphabet layouts — Layout and operation '.

Use of this standard should help solve the problems to
which the Honourable Member refers since it provides
for the representation of 40 recognized European
languages using a Latin-based alphabet . It also makes
provision for a Latin supranational keyboard for use in a
multilingual environment .

These various possibilities should enable manufacturers
to adapt their production to market requirements and
thus ensure that cultural differences are taken into

account .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1742 / 91

by Mr José Torres Couto ( S )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1737 / 91

to the Commission of the European Communities
by Mr Jacques Vernier ( RDE )

(7 July 1991 )

to the Commission of the European Communities
. ( 92 / C 66 / 63 )

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 62 )

Subject : Typewriters fitted with international keyboards

Several types of typewriter / computer keyboard are to be
found on the market . One of these — the international
keyboard — allows the signs ( accent, cédille, umlaut,
tilde, etc .) used by the main European languages
employing a Latin script ( English, Spanish, German,
Italian, French, etc .) to be reproduced . Nevertheless, even
this model makes no provision for certain essential signs
in languages which are admittedly less widespread but
deserve the same consideration ( the Danish o, the
Swedish a, the Polish À, the Portuguese à and the Czech
c ).

Will the Commission :

1, say whether there exists a type of keyboard which
allows languages employing a Latin script to be
reproduced without causing excessive problems for
the user ?

2, if not, will it encourage the development and
marketing of such a keyboard ? This would be a useful
step towards facilitating communication between
nations and engendering mutual respect for cultural
differences .

Subject : Delays in ESF payments

In view of the significant number of complaints made by
the beneficiaries of ESF aid concerning delays in the
payment — or even the non-payment — of approved
Community funding, a state of affairs that raises
questions about the correct implementation of the aid
measures and the reliability of the bodies administering
the aid, will the Commission say :

1 . Has the authorized aid been paid to Member States

per year of approved aid ?

2 . What are reasons for the significant delays in the

payment of aid to organizations promoting vocational
training measures ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that the Member States
withhold — often for long periods of time —
payments to bodies singled out for ESF aid ? What is
the average time in each Member State between the
moment when the Commission processes aid requests
and the date this aid is received by the training bodies ?
What is the Commission doing to counter this trend ?

4 . When applications for payment of the balance are sent

to Brussels, must the Member States already have
made :

No C 66 / 33
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

( a ) all payments to the beneficiary bodies,

( b ) only payments of national contributions,

( c ) no payments at all ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

1 . The situation as regards Social Fund payments
( through all channels, Community support frameworks
included ) broken down by year or commitment period is
as follows :

— On 31 December 1990, ECU 313,7 million of
commitments made in the period 1984 — 1988
remained unpaid . Commitments totalling ECU 130,7
million are in the process of being cancelled . Payments
amounting to ECU 33,3 million had been made by 15
October 1991, leaving ECU 149,4 million relating to
the period still to be paid .

— On 31 December 1990, ECU 968,9 million of
commitments made in 1989 remained unpaid .
Commitments totalling ECU 554,4 million are in the
process of being cancelied . Payments amounting to
ECU 211,5 million had been made by 15 October

1991, leaving ECU 202,4 million relating to 1989 still
to be paid .

— On 31 December 1990, ECU 1 256,9 million of
commitments made in 1990 remained unpaid . No
commitments are expected to be cancelled this year .
Payments amounting to ECU 22 7 million had been
made by 15 October 1991, leaving ECU 1 030 million
still to be paid . Second advance payments and
payments of balances will mainly take place at the end
of 1991 / beginning of 1992, as and when the Member
States submit requests .

— The total committed for 1991 stood at ECU 3 591

million on 15 October 1991, by which date payments
totalling ECU 1 963 million had been made .

2 . As regards the CSF's, the time taken for payments to
pass from the Commission to those actually running the
programmes can be broken down as follows :

— Part of the time is taken up by procedures within the

Commission and all the Member States are affected
equally . The problems here have been ironed out : the
encouraging budget implementation figures at the end
of June ( commitments booked : ECU 2 600 million ;
payments booked : over ECU 1 000 million ) were
confirmed in mid-October ( when the corresponding

figures were ECU 3 260 million and ECU 2 260
million ).

— The time taken for a payment by the Commission to

reach the designated authority and then to be passed
on to the final recipient varies from one country to
another, depending on the financial channels used . As
these differ widely, it is difficult to pinpoint a narrow
range of causes for delays that are common to all
Member States .

The Commission is aware that to ensure genuine
Community co-financing and to maximise its economic
impact, the speed of payments is crucial . An in-depth
review of payment procedures is currently under way both
at the Commission and in the Member States . It will
include a broad assessment of the financial channels used
in the Member States and on-the-spot checks by Financial
Control . Ultimately this should result in practical
proposals for measures to streamline payment procedures
both within the Commission and in the Member States .

3 . The Commission is aware that there are often delays
in transferring payments from the bodies designated by
the Member States to the final recipients . Under
Article 21(5 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88, the
Member States are responsible for ensuring that
beneficiaries receive advances and payments as quickly as
possible . As part of the review described at 2 above, the
Commission and the Member States will be looking at
practical ways of improving efficiency in this area .

4 . The conditions governing requests for the payment
of balances are set out in Article 21(4 ) of Regulation
No 4253 / 88 :

— requests must be made by the designated authority

within six months of the end of the year in question or
of completion in practice of the operation concerned ;

— the reports referred to in Article 25(4 ) must be

submitted to the Commission ;

— the Member States must send a certificate confirming

that the information given in the payment request and
, the reports is accurate .

The implementing rules stipulate that requests for
payment of the balance of each annual tranche must be
based on the actual expenditure incurred by the
beneficiaries, who must produce evidence of this
expenditure .

In other words, there are no conditions linked to whether
or not previous payments have been made by the
Commission or the Member State .

No C 66 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1743 / 91

by Mr José Barros Moura ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 64 )

Subject : Measures in favour of the unemployed in the

textile industry

In her reply to a question by the Committee on Social
Affairs on the budget ( D / 91 / 805-A / 91 / 995, 7 May

1991 ), Mrs Papandreou, Member of the Commission,
stated that information was being compiled with a view to
holding a discussion with the social partners and other
interested circles on the problems in this sector and
possible campaigns under the budget heading set aside by
the Commission for the unemployed in the textile and
clothing industry . Can the Commission say whether this
study has been completed and what campaigns have been
approved ? In particular, what aid has been planned for
Portugal's Vala do Ave textile area ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

The Commission has launched studies in order to provide

an up-to-date assessment of the key employment issues
facing the textile and clothing areas of the Community .

It is also publishing a public tender in order to be able to
organize the wide-ranging discussions with the social
partners and other interested bodies . These consultations
will begin before the end of the year, drawing upon the
results of the research which has been commissioned .

As yet, therefore, no recommendations have been made
regarding the textile region of Vale do Ave in Portugal or
other areas .

of tropical hardwoods unless they come from areas with a
sustainable forest management policy . A certification
scheme is to be introduced . The Netherlands Government
has earmarked approximately 30 million guilders each
year for the tropical rainforest protection policy .
Although the Netherlands is second only to Japan in its
per capita consumption of tropical hardwoods and thus
has particular responsibility for the protection of the
tropical rainforest, the plan to introduce a certification
scheme for tropical hardwoods would be of much more
use and more effective if the other countries of the
Community ( and Japan ) endorsed the proposal and if the
policy of sustainable management of the tropical
rainforest became a generally accepted part of forest
management in the Lomé countries which still have
tropical rainforest .

To what extent does the Commission see new
possibilities, in particular in the framework of the Lomé
Convention to encourage sustainable management of the
tropical rainforest on the basis of a certification scheme
for tropical hardwoods or a similar instrument ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

The Commission believes that sustainable management of
the tropical rainforests is essential in order to combat
deforestation, and is following closely the various
international initiatives in the field . It is participating
actively in the reform of the Tropical Forestry Action
Plan ( TEAP ) and in the work of the HT O ( International
Tropical Timber Organization ); the latter has affirmed its
intention to ensure that exported timber comes from
sustainable forests by the year 2000 .

The Commission is also looking into the possibility of
introducing Community legislation on trade in tropical
hardwoods, and studies on the technical, legal and
economic feasibility of such legislation are being carried
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1759 / 91 out . The Dutch Government's initiative has, in this
context, been of great interest to the Commission .

by Mr Bouke Beumer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 1 September 1 991 ) The introduction of a certification scheme could form

( 92 / C 66 / 65 ) part of future Community legislation on the matter .

However, such a scheme could clearly not apply to wood
from ACP countries only .
Subject : Certificate of approval for tropical hardwood

( 92 / C 66 / 65 )

The Netherlands Government has announced that from

1995, but if possible earlier, it intends to prohibit the use

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1770 / 91

by Mr Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 66 )

Subject : Compensation mechanism for tuna

Compensation payments for tuna caught by the
Community fleet provided for in Regulation ( EEC )
No 3796 / 81 ('), as amended by Regulation ( EEC )
No 3468 / 88 ( 2 ) are proving insufficient to offset the
distortions in the tuna market caused by massive imports
fronl third countries particularly following the entry into
force of Regulation ( EEC ) No 321 1 / 90 ( 3 ).

The large-scale application of the compensatory
mechanism has demonstrated the inadequacies of the
rules in force, chiefly because the amounts eligible for
compensation fall in proportion to the drop in average
prices in the EC and because, once a certain level has been
reached, compensation no longer increases even though
the average EC selling price continues to fall .

In this light, and given that the Commission's policy is
against reintroducing customs tariffs, temporarily closing
borders to third countries and even guaranteeing that the
reference prices are at least respected, does the
Commission not consider it urgently necessary to conduct
at least a thorough revision of the compensatory
mechanism so as to ensure that producers ' organizations
are paid compensation for the impact of the EC's
unilateral dismantling of tariffs, rather than maintaining
the current system which has proved incapable of
offsetting the serious distortions on the tuna market ?

(') OJNo L 379, 31 . 12 . 1981, p . 1 .
O OJNo L 305, 10 . 11 . 1988, p . 1 .
( J ) OJNo L 308, 8 . 11 . 1990, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

During its discussions of the various reforms of the
market organizations for fishery products, and most
recently in November 1988, the Council has decided to
retain the principle of striking a balance between the
interests of tuna producers and those of the processing
industry .

Since 1970, the tuna scheme, which is based on that
balance, has used a mechanism to offset and compensate

Community producers ' organizations for difficulties
which could arise from the imports scheme .

Those arrangements, which entail the total suspension of
customs duties on imported tuna intended for processing,
are intended to ensure that the Community industry has
access to supplies at a competitive price .

The Commission considers that, in view of the high

degree of interdependence on the Community market
between the shipowning sector and the canning industry
and the dependence of the Community industry on
outside sources for supplies of certain species, the basis
for the scheme remains valid .

It will in any case be reconsidered at the next of the
market organization on which discussions in the Council
will begin early next year .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1773 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 67 )

Subject : Safety on board a surveillance vessel under

contract to the Commission

The Commission has recently signed a contract with a
surveillance vessel to carry out monitoring duties in the
NAFO zone . It seems possible that the terms of this
contract contravene the rules in force, particularly as
regards safety on board, since the members of the crew
are required to spend an uninterrupted period of seven
months on board carrying out the tasks laid down in the

contract .

Does the Commission not consider this seven-month
period excessive from the point of view of safety and
efficiency ? Does the Commission not agree that the
imposition of such harsh conditions of work has been
made possible only by the demand for and scarcity of
work in the former GDR ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1991 )

The Commission has chartered a fisheries inspection
vessel for duties in the Northwest Atlantic for a period of

No C 66 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

seven months . During this period it is intended that every
three weeks the vessel shall call into port, where it will
remain for at least two days .

Through reports regularly received from its own fisheries
inspectors on board the vessel, the Commission monitors
the level of safety and the standard of work performed by
the crew and has so far been satisfied with all these

aspects .

It should be noted, however, that under the terms of the
charter agreement the owner of the vessel is responsible
for all crewing arrangements . As the charterer, the
Commission may not interfere with the management of
the operation as long as the vessel and crew perform the
tasks required of them in that agreement .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1783 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 68 )

Subject : Retailing of veterinary medicinal products

Article 50b of Directive 8 1 / 85 1 / EEC ('), as amended by

Council Directive 90 / 676 / EEC ( 2 ) of 13 December 1990,
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to veterinary medical products states that :

' Member States shall take all appropriate measures to
ensure that the retail supply of veterinary medicinal
products is conducted only by persons who are
permitted to carry out such operations by the
legislation of the Member State concerned '.

These ' persons permitted ' are required to keep detailed
records to enable the competent authorities to carry out
the necessary inspections and impose penalties for any
shortcomings or infringements ascertained by its
inspections and checks .

The above Directive therefore irrefutably establishes the

concept of personal responsibility on the part of the
permitted persons, so that only natural persons may be
authorized by the Member States to sell veterinary
medicinal products, and not legal persons .

Does the Commission agree with this interpretation of the
Directive ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 October 1991 )

The Commission does not agree with the interpretation of

Directive 90 / 676 / EEC put forward by the Honourable
Member .

In Community pharmaceutical legislation the word
' person ' is frequently used to refer to either a natural or a
legal person . For example, the English text of Article 5 of
Directive 8 1 / 85 1 / EEC refers to ' the person responsible
for marketing ' a veterinary medicinal product . Although
this may be an individual, it is in practice frequently a

company .

The objective of the new provisions of Directive
8 1 / 85 1 / EEC concerning the distribution of veterinary
medicinal products which are introduced by Directive
90 / 676 / EEC is to ensure that each Member State
provides for a rational and controlled distribution of
veterinary medicinal products, without however
undertaking the detailed substantive harmonization of
the rules or practices of Member States concerning who is
permitted to supply such products to farmers or the
public . The interpretation ' advanced by the Honourable
Member limiting the capacity to supply veterinary
medicinal products to natural persons would be
incompatible with that objective .

It is therefore for each Member State to determine
whether the retail supply of veterinary medicinal products
should be limited to natural persons, or whether supply by
legal persons may also be permitted . Moreover, in cases
where the retail supply of veterinary medicines by legal
persons is permitted, it is for each Member State to
determine whether any sanctions for infringement of the
requirements laid down should be limited to the company
concerned, or whether also to provide for the personal
liability of the directors of the company and / or its
employees .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1788 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 69 )

Subject : Trade and availability of various types of insulin

in the Community

Tens of millions of people in the Community suffer from
diabetes . Recently a new form of insulin has been
developed for diabetic sufferers, created industrially and
called ' human insulin '.

Nevertheless, there are reports of adverse reactions by
(') O OJ OJNo No L L 317 373,, 6 31 . 11 . 12 . 1981 . 1990, p, p . 1 . 15 . . certain animal-based diabetic insulin persons, to the who new form have of previously ' human ' insulin used .

No C 66 / 37
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

In certain Member States, insulin other than the ' human '
type insulin does not appear on the national catalogues,
e.g . Belgium, France, the Netherlands and cannot
therefore be marketed in these countries by pharmacies . It
is not clear that Community rules explicity permit the
import by individual patients of prescription drugs,
including animal-based insulin, required for the needs of
individual persons suffering from this condition and not
intended for resale or subsequent marketing .

Will the Commission take all necessary steps to instruct
the customs authorities of all Member States to admit, for
import, quantities of such drugs necessary for the use of
individual patients from other Member States of the EC
or from outside the Community ? Animal-based insulin is
available in at least two Member States .

The Commission will appreciate that the speed of

availability of these drugs to the persons concerned is
literally a matter of life or death . To avoid any further
difficulties, would the Commission indicate in their reply
the exact wording that should appear on the label of the
import document, including VAT not being required for
an essential life-preserving drug, so as to ensure that the
patient encounters no delay in obtaining the necessary
supplies ?

A comprehensive solution would be a EC-wide catalogue
of drugs . Is it legally permissible for manufacturers of
life-preserving drugs to exclude areas of the Community
from direct availability of such drugs ?

— in Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the

United Kingdom, insulin produced by all of the above
methods is available .

— in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, France, Spain,
Portugal and Germany, insulin produced by
semi-synthetic or by biotechnology methods .

For products which are not authorized in a given Member
State, but are considered medically essential for the
patient, there exists the possibility of the so called ' named
patient ' basis for ordering a medicine . This is a provision
of national law and reference is made to it in Directive

89 / 341 / EEC ( 2 ). Whilst there is no Community
obligation to market a medicine in all Member States,
nonetheless, with the named patient facility, no patient
should be denied access to a medicine which is available in
another Member State and which is medically necessary
for their treatment .

When obtaining a medicine, using a facility such as the

named patient basis, the purchaser must of course pay the
VAT which applies for that purchase, if any .

The establishment of an EC-wide data bank of drugs is a
project already started by the Commission . The feasibility
report has just been completed and Member States are
going to co-operate with the Commission by supplying
information from national data bases . When completed
( probably in 1995 ) this computerised European database
will be accessible by the public as well as by Member

States .

O OJ No L 22, 9 . 2 . 1965 .
O OJ No L 142,25.5 . 1989 .
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(1 5 October 1 991 )

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas which
regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism . Deficiency of
insulin causes diabetes mellitus and must be treated with a
replacement hormone . Initially insulin was extracted from
animals, then a semi-synthetic method was used .
However, with the advent of biotechnology, a copy of
human insulin can now be produced in commercial
quantities .

Being a medicine ( as defined in Directive 65 / 65 / EEC (')),
insulin must be authorized before being marketed, in
accordance with Community legislation . Marketing
authorizations are granted by the competent authorities
of the Member States .

Insulin may be obtained by extraction from animals
( porcine or bovine ), or by a semi-synthetic route using
animal hormone as a starting point or, more recently by
controlled expression of genes i.e . biotechnology . From a
survey conducted in May 1990, the following
manufacturing methods were authorized :

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1795 / 91

by Mr Friedrich Merz ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 70 )

Subject : Anti-dumping procedures

1 . How much time elapses between the filing of a
dumping complaint with the Commission in Brussels and
provisional or definitive action by the Commission ?

2 . Does the Commission consider the staffing of the

- relevant Directorates-General to be adequate and will any
changes be made in the near future ?

No C 66 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

3 . What measures did it intend to take in response to
complaints by undertakings concerned that anti-dumping
procedures take too long ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

1 . Taking the 18 anti-dumping cases completed in the
first half of the year, the time elapsing between the
opening of the proceeding ( publication in the Official
Journal of the European Communities ) and the imposition

of definitive duties was about 18 months .

The time elapsing between the lodging of a complaint and
the formal opening of a proceeding is between three and
six months, depending on the quality of the first draft of
the complaint, the time taken to obtain the opinions of the
Member States in the obligatory consultations and the
time taken to translate the documents for official

publication .

2 . The Commission is aware that these procedures take
too long . As indicated in the question, the time taken to
process an anti-dumping proceeding depends on the
staffing of the departments concerned and thus the
budgetary means available to the Commission to allocate
enough qualified and experienced staff to deal with cases
efficiently .

3 . At present over half of the staff available for
anti-dumping cases are national officials seconded to the
Commission for no longer than three years . This
temporary support from the Member States has certainly
been useful in the short term but the limited period of
time that national officials are available does bring
problems of long-term continuity .

Anti-dumping cases call for a high degree of
specialization that comes only with experience and cannot
be expected of national officials . Induction and training
take up about 12 months, which is obviously an additional
burden for the permanent officials in the anti-dumping
department .

What is more, of the some 40 posts available for

temporary secondments, only 30 were taken up in 1990 .
Of these officials, about 20 will have returned to their
home countries by the end of the year because their
posting cannot be extended any longer . Their replacement
by fresh national experts is uncertain because it is
becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable new staff
for anti-dumping proceedings and to prevail on the
Member States to make such secondments despite their
own budgetary problems .

Even if we manage to fill the vacant posts by the end of
the year, there is no guarantee that this will reduce the
time taken to deal with anti-dumping proceedings in

coming months because the anti-dumping departments
are already working close to capacity, and their load will
be made still heavier by cases already pending and
foreseeable and a further tightening-up of procedures .

Under these conditions the Commission can only conduct
a damage-limitation exercise until a solution is found for
the underlying problems . Much depends on whether the
Council and Parliament, which decide on the
Commission's staffing, tackle these manifest difficulties .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1831 / 91

by Mr Niels Kofoed ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 71 )

Subject : Young eels for consumption and breeding

In view of the fact that young eels for consumption and
breeding are now in short supply, can the Commission
state what quantities of young eels were purchased for
consumption in France and Spain and what quantities
were sold for breeding in aquacultures in 1986, 1987,

1988, 1989 and 1990 respectively ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 9 October 1 991 )

Elver fishing owes its development to the high level of
consumption in Spain and, to a lesser extent, in France .

Recently, the stocking of eastern European nursery ponds
and the development of farms for the European eel in
Japan, and subsequently in eastern Eu'rope, have resulted

in growers of young eels keeping the best of their
prôduction for this new market .

Despite its substantial socio-economic importance, it is
very difficult to obtain reliable statistics on the growth in
elver production . A continuous decline for various
complex reasons is feared in available stocks in European
estuaries .

The quantities bought for Spanish and French
consumption may be put at approximately 200 to 250
tonnes, depending on the year, with a probably steady rise
in sales prices linked to a coorelative reduction in the
quantities sold between 1986 and 1990 .

No C 66 / 39
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

Sales to nursery ponds and farms remain low, of the order
of some tens of tonnes, and will only develop as and when
the rearing of eels is really mastered .

In parallel with the sale of elvers, there is also a young eel
market which traditionally supplies the extensive Italian
breeding stations ( valliculture ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1855 / 91
by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 72 )

Subject : Community campaign to encourage organ
donation

The growing list of patients throughout the Europeari

Community who are waiting anxiously for transplant of a
vital organ makes it increasingly imperative that people
now be made aware of the negative implications of lack of
solidarity, which results from an excessive regard for
one's own body, and prevents the donation of organs
which could save so many human lives .

It is clear that this lack of solidarity, which makes people
refuse to donate any organ after death, requires a
wide-ranging campaign to change attitudes and to raise
social awareness amongst all of the Community's citizens .

Given the success of many campaigns on health matters
conducted by the European Community, does the
Commission consider it would be appropriate to organize
a campaign to sensitize public opinion on this matter, in
order to encourage solidarity with those patients whose
lives depend upon such solidarity being put into practice ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

At present there is no Community-wide scheme to
encourage donation of organs for transplantation, as this
matter is dealt with by the Member States .

However, the Commission will examine this matter in the
future in the light of any decision made at the
intergovernmental Conference to extend Community
competence to health questions .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1856 / 91
by Mr Gerardo Fernândez-Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 73 )

Subject : Community programmes for the rehabilitation

of drug addicts

One of the most important of the package of measures
aimed at fighting the terrible consequences of drug
addiction is the rehabilitation of drug addicts who have
succeeded in coming off drugs .

An essential part of this vital process of rehabilitation is

help from the world of business and industry, in order
that the young people concerned may learn a trade and
live with dignity, having shaken off their earlier
enslavement .

Can the Commission say which Community aid
programmes are designed for rehabilitation of former
drug addicts, and to what extent this aid is available to the
business and industrial sectors to encourage them to
cooperate in this rehabilitation process ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 October 1 991 )

The Council and the Minister for Health have repeatedly

emphasized their interest in occupational rehabilitation of
drug users . On 13 November 1989, conclusions were
adopted O on the implementation of coordinated
measures for preventing drug addiction, with specific
mention of exchanges of practical experience and
coordinated action in social and occupational
reintegration of addicts .

On 3 December 1990, conclusions were adopted ( 2 ) on
reducing the demand for narcotic and psychotropic
substances, inviting . the Commission to promote
Community-wide exchanges of information concerning,
in particular, measures taken on social and occupational
integration .

On 4 June 1991, conclusions were adopted ( 3 ) on the
monitoring of action to reduce drug demand, in particular
with regard to social and occupational rehabilitation of
drug addicts .

In this framework, the Commission has already published
a first report on national programmes for drug demand

No C 66 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

reduction in the European Community ( 4 ), and supported
initiatives in this field, including rehabilitation of drug
users . A second report is currently being prepared which
will include activities undertaken at Community level in
this area .

o OJ No C 31,9.2 . 1990 .
C ) OJ No C 329,31 . 12 . 1990 .
O OJ No C 170,29.6 . 1991 .
( 4 ) COM(9Q ) 527 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1881 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 74 )

Subject : Internal market and after-sales service

guarantees

The completion of the internal market will involve the
conclusion of cross-border contracts, some of them the
result of greater consumer mobility and the desire to
purchase consumer goods in the Member State with the
most advantageous financial conditions .

No European legislation yet exists on guarantees and
after-sales service in the European Community .

This means that a consumer who makes a purchase

abroad has very few safeguards in so far as :

1, the legislation applicable is not necessarily that of this

Member State of residence and may be fundamentally
different,

2, under certain legal systems the consumer has a right of

redress only against the vendor and not the
manufacturer, which makes any guarantee even more
misleading in the case of cross-border purchases .

3, the guarantee does not necessarily cover the costs of
returning the goods if the sales point is situated in
another Member State .

Does the Commission agree that these disadvantages are
inherent in the internal market and that it would be
advisable to take steps to bring national systems of legal
and contractual guarantees more closely into line ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

The Commission partly shares the concern expressed by
the Honourable Member . However, one must remember
that the guarantee usually given by the manufacturer via
the distributer, is a characteristic marketing technique
which developed alongside the right of redress given in
accordance with the relevant civil law, which the
consumer can usually resort to if a product is defective or
other contractual obligations are breached .

This legal guarantee is generally only available against a

direct contractual party, that is to say either the vendor or
the distributor .

The manufacturer's guarantee usually consists of a
voluntary supplement which may or may not be offered
by him, given that in practically all the Member States
there is no obligation to provide one . Even where a
guarantee of this kind is offered, it is not legally clear
whether it creates a direct contractual relationship
between the manufacturer and the end-user .

This relative uncertainty / concerns transactions by
consumers in their countries of residence as well as

cross-border contracts . What the Commission considers
important at the moment is that :

— the contents and range of the contractual guarantees,

even though generally voluntary, be sufficiently clear
to the consumer from the start ; given that this type of
guarantee figures prominently in the advertising, in
particular in the case of consumer durables, Directive
84 / 450 O on misleading advertising and
corresponding national regulations, must be fully
implemented ;

— the offer of a voluntary guarantee, frequently
including certain after-sale services, should not mainly
limit or indeed completely exclude the legal rights of
redress usually available to the consumer ; the
Commission proposal on unfair terms in consumer
contracts ( 2 ) aims to ensure this ;

— so as to ensure the normal development of
intra-Community patterns of trade, the guarantee
offered by the manufacturer should be valid all over
the Community, irrespective of the Member State
where the product was bought .

The Commission is also concerned that major
manufacturers who work on a Community scale
frequently offer a guarantee claiming to be ' European '
which is actually valid in all Member States, but where
contents and scope vary considerably from one country to
another . This situation is very unsatisfactory in a true
internal market and the reasons given to explain these
differences must still be investigated .

There is a need here to increase information for the

consumer who purchases his goods in a neighbouring
country . The competent authorities in each Member State

No C 66 / 41
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

must make sure that the legitimate expectations of
information on the part of consumers who are nationals
of other Member States, are taken into account by a more
Community-oriented interpretation and application of
the existing texts .

o OJ No L 250, 19.9 . 1984 .
O OJ No L 243, 28 . 9 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1884 / 91

by Mr Floras Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 75 )

Subject : Barley for brewing

Can the Commission say why barley for brewing and
organically grown cereals, both of which encourage
extensification, are subject to a co-responsibility levy ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1991 )

The co-responsibility levy is applied at the point of first

sale .

Since barley for brewing and organically grown cereals
may be used for the same purposes as any other cereals
( human or animal consumption or industrial use ), they
too contribute to the creation of surpluses .

There can therefore be no question of their being
exempted from the co-responsibility levy .

In any case, if this were done, the marketing of these
cereals would have to be monitored until final use so that
the administrative cost would considerably outweigh the
financial benefits .

Furthermore, the final stage of the Commission's
proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy
includes abolition of the co-responsibility levy .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1886 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 76 )

Subject : EEC food surplus

Avon Community Council has designated status under

the EEC surplus food scheme . Having been allocated 0,49

tonnes of butter and 0,5 7 tonnes of beef for free
distribution to eligible persons, the Council has decided
to withdraw from this scheme because they take the view
that regulations are restrictive to the point of being
unworkable .

Who was responsible for drawing up the restrictions ? By
what authority were they imposed ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

Under the scheme for the distribution of food from
intervention stocks to the most deprived persons in the
Community, the Commission draws up a plan for the
allocation of appropriations to the Member States for the
products which the latter wish to remove from stocks .

Member States are free to select the organizations
responsible for distribution and the manner in which this
is to take place .

The only restriction contained in the Community rules is
the stipulation that the administrative costs of the
organizations may be reimbursed subject to a limit of 1 %
of the value of the funds made available to the Member

State concerned .

The Commission's report to the Council and the

European Parliament on the first two years of operation
of the scheme gives a good outline of the way it is
functioning (').

o SEC(91 ) 1 190 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1890 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 77 )

Subject : Setting up a Community guarantee fund

There are many cases in which the consumer is obliged to
pay the full price for something before obtaining the
corresponding good or service ( e.g . motor vehicles and
package tours ).

In the light of bankruptcies and / or unfair practices on the
part of certain providers of services, does the Commission
agree that there is a need to set up a European guarantee
fund, covering all twelve Member States, which would
provide compensation for any consumer faced with an
insolvent debtor who was supposed to provide a good or
service, provided that the consumer had fulfilled his
obligations in advance and in accordance with the
regulations ?

No C 66 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1991 )

The Commission is not aware of major problems in cases
where the consumer is obliged to pay something in

advance .

The Commission sees no need to set up a guarantee fund
covering the whole Community .

Nevertheless, special measures have proved necessary in
the area of package tours to provide consumers with
adequate security, as laid down in Article 7 of Directive
90 / 314 / EEC C ).

cannot be held responsible for the conservation of
monuments in areas administered by town planning
authorities . Such buildings are the exclusive responsibility
of the competent local, regional and / or national
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1896 / 91
by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasôliba I Bôhm ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

C ) OJ No L 158,23.6 . 1990 . ( 92 / C 66 / 79 )

Subject : Nuts

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1892 / 91

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 78 )

Subject : Destruction of the Berlaymont Convent by the

European Parliament

The construction of the European Parliament's new van
Maerlant building has resulted in the total destruction of
the Berlaymont Convent, which was previously fully
intact . In other words, an international community of
Christian States, the European Community, one of whose
objectives is to preserve Western culture, is now
responsible for pulling down a convent, allowing the high
altar of the church to be destroyed, the windows and walls
demolished and fires ignited in the shell of the building,
which is now riddled with holes .

The answer to my inquiry ( see letter from the President of
the European Parliament of 26 November 1990, ref .
32467 ) that the city of Brussels is responsible for the
building is totally unsatisfactory . It is the perpetrator, in
this case the European Parliament, who ought to meet the

costs .

Can the Commission take steps to have the building
renovated by the city of Brussels, which is apparently
remaining inactive so as to secure the total demolition of
the destroyed convent ?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 October 1 991 )

The Commission is involved in action to promote the
conservation of monuments within the Community, but

Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 1304 / 91 (') amending
Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 2159 / 89 ( 2 ) laying
down detailed rules for applying the specific measures for
nuts and locust beans as provided for in Title Ha of
Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1035 / 72 ( 3 ) discriminates
directly against Catalan nut producers .

To be eligible for funds under the improvement plan the

Regulation specifies that supporting documents relating
to at least 50 % of the estimated cost must be provided and
that the payment made as an advance on the Community
contribution shall not excéed 50% of the financial

contribution by the Community .

The producers consider that these conditions for payment
of the advance under the improvement plan will mean in
practice that they will have to wait more than 20 months
before receiving the remaining 50% of the annual aid ;
subsequent annual phases are then paid in two equal
instalments .

Given the crisis affecting this sector, aggravated by recent
frosts and the lack of insurance cover, what are the
Commission's reasons for upholding this Regulation,
which discriminates so heavily against the nut producers ?

o OJNo L 123, 18.5 . 1991, p . 27 .
O OJNo L 207, 19.7 . 1989, p . 19 .
O OJNo L 118,20 . 5 . 1972, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 September 1 991 )

In accordance with Regulation ( EEC ) No 2159 / 89, as
amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1304 / 91, advances
amounting to up to 50 % of the financial contribution of
the Member State and the Community may be granted
each year for ten years .

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 43

As the balance of the aid granted on this basis is also paid
each year, only a few months after the advances are paid,
provided that the work executing the quality
improvement plan has been completed, the Commission
takes the view that these terms of payment fully eable
Community producers to benefit from the scheme .

The Commission does not therefore envisage amending

the provisions in force at this stage .

must be found under the relevant national civil or criminal

law . It is not for the Commission to comment on

individual cases like this .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1898 / 91

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1897 / 91
( 92 / C 66 / 81 )

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

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 80 )

Subject : Responsibility of automobile concessionaires to

their customers

On occasion consumers find themselves totally
defenceless when faced with the bankruptcy or dishonest
practices of agents for automobile concessionaires .

In one particular case an agent for an approved Alfa
Romeo concessionaire sold a vehicle under an agreement
concluded between himself and the concessionaire . It was
agreed that the latter would forward the documents to the
agent who would in turn give them to the customer only
after receiving full payment for the vehicle . The customer
was totally unaware of this private agreement between the
concessionaire and his agent .

On purchasing the vehicle, the customer paid for it in full .
When he requested the vehicle documents, he was

informed that the agent had gone bankrupt . The
concessionaire then demanded that the customer return

the vehicle under the terms of a reservation contained in
the agreement between himself and his agent .
Furthermore, the customer who had paid for the vehicle
in full, was unable to use it, since he could not obtain the
necessary documents .

Does the Commission not consider that, in such cases, a
concessionaire who supplies a certain make of vehicle to
an agent is fully liable in so far as he is represented by or
deals officially with that agent or has concluded
agreements and shares the profits with him ?

Subject : Need for a common policy in the electronics

sector

The lack of cooperation in the EEC on research and

industrial applications in the electronics sector has left
Japan and the USA in a very strong competitive position .

At a recent meeting with the Commission President, Mr
Jacques Delors, the heads of the five main European

electronics industries requested a relaxation of
Community competition law in this sector to enable them
to work together to meet the challenge from Japanese and
American companies .

1 . When will the Commission draw up a common policy

in the electronics sector which will be of paramount
importance in the twenty-first century ?

2 . What measures will it take to meet the competition

from Japanese and American companies ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1991 )

The Commission communication (') dated 3 April 1991

entitled ' the European electronics and information
technology industry : state of play, issues at stake and
proposals for action ' proposed a Community approach to
restore the competitiveness of the European electronics
and IT industry . The Communication was given an initial
welcome by the Member States at the Industry Council

meeting on 29 April, who called on the Commission to
develop specific proposals for action . Discussions with the
Member States to take this work forward are now
Answer given by Mr Van Miert
underway .

on behalf of the Commission 

( 27 September 1 991 ) O SEC(91 ) 565 final .

The Honourable Member has referred to the
Commission a highly specific case for which a solution

No C 66 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1927 / 91

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1931 / 91

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

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 82 ) ( 92 / C 66 / 83 )

Subject : Illegal fishing in Community waters

Has the Commission taken any action to prevent the
continuation of illegal fishing in Community waters by
de-registered vessels landing their catches at Spanish
ports ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1991 )

The Commission views with serious concern reports of
unauthorized fishing activities in Community waters . Any
such activity poses a threat to the integrity of the
Community's conservation policy as well as to the
livelihood of Community fishermen . The Commission
has, therefore, in collaboration with the control
authorities of the Member States, developed and
implemented a co-ordinated system of communications
and surveillance covering appropriate Community waters
and ports with the specific aim of detecting and
preventing unlawful incursions into the Community's
fishing zone .

The Commission will closely monitor the effectiveness of
this action . However, it should be underlined that the
inspection and monitoring of the fishing activities in
Community waters remain, in the first instance, the
responsibility of the Member States .

Furthermore, under Council Decision No 89 / 631 /
EEC O the Commission has approved programmes of
expenditure by the Member States for the acquisition or
modernisation of surveillance equipment, including
aircraft, which are eligible for a Community financial
contribution of up to 50 % .

The Spanish authorities have recently adopted national

legislation aimed at controlling the passage through their
waters of fishing vessels flying the flag of a third country .
The new rules inter alia require the skipper to enter in his

logbook, on entering Spanish waters, the species,
quantities and origin of the fish on board ; they also
provide for penalties in case of infringement .

Subject : Domestic chemicals and child safety

A recent very large increase in the number of accidents
involving the poisoning of young children by bleach and
other househould chemicals in the United Kingdom has
given cause for concern . Does the Commission know
whether this problem is shared by other Member States

and does it have any plans to propose legislation
regulating the packaging and presentation of dangerous
substances used in the home ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

1 . Both the Commission and the authorities in the
Member States are aware of the problem of accidents
involving the poisoning of young children by certain
household chemicals, which is a cause for the utmost
concern . Every accident is regarded as a very serious case ;
however, the Commission is not aware that there has been
an increase in the number of accidents of this kind .

2 . As regards ' dangerous chemicals ', Community
legislation distinguishes between substances and
preparations .

Dangerous chemicals intended for use by the general
public ( domestic use, hobby or other ) either as a
substance ( - I - / — 5 % ) or as a preparation, are governed by
the following Directives :

A. Substances

1 . Directive 79 / 831 / EEC amending for the sixth time
Directive 67 / 548 / EEC (') on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous substances ( 2 ).

2 . Directive 91 / 410 / EEC which adapts to technical
progress for the fourteenth time Directive
67 / 548 / EEC, laying down provisions relating to
child-proof fastenings and tactile warning devices ( 3 ).

B. Preparations

1 . Directive 88 / 379 / EEC on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations ( 4 ).

2 . Directive 89 / 178 / EEC which adapts to technical

provide for penalties in case of infringement .

progress Directive 88 / 379 / EEC, introducing special
provisions relating to the labelling of certain
O OJ No L 364, 14 . 12 . 1989 . preparations for sale to the general public ( 5 ).

3 . Directive 90 / 35 / EEC defining, in accordance with

Article 6 of Directive 88 / 379 / EEC, the categories of

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 45

preparations the packaging of which must be fitted
with a child-resistant fastening and / or carry a tactile
warning of danger ( 6 ).

4 . Directive 91 / 442 / EEC which supplements Directive

90 / 35 / EEC, introducing new preparations the
packaging of which must be fitted with a
child-resistant fastening ( 7 ).

5 . As the Honourable Member can see, there is a set of

Community laws which aims to reduce the number of
such accidents as much as possible, and the
Commission is keeping a close eye on the
transposition of Community legislation into national
legislation . However, parents also have an important
role to play and must take on their responsibilities in
the matter .

') OJ No L 196, 16.8 . 1967 .

2 ) OJ No L 259, 15 . 10 . 1979 .

3 ) OJ No L 228, 17 . 8 . 1991 .

J ) OJ No L 187, 16.7 . 1988 .

5 ) OJNoL64, 8.3 . 1989 .
") OJ No L 19,24 . 1 . 1990 .

7 ) OJ No L 238, 27 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1936 / 91

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

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 84 )

Subject : Airport at Letterkenny

Has the Irish Government submitted to the Commission a
request for a grant from the Regional Fund for the
development of an airport at Letterkenny, in County
Donegal ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

Under the Operational Programme on Peripherality, the
existing Irish regional airports will receive ERDF
assistance to bring them up to accepted international
standards in respect of operations and of facilities for

passengers .

In correspondence with the Irish authorities before the
approval of the Operational Programme, the Commission
took the position that it would not be appropriate to
provide ERDF assistance for the establishment of a
proposed airport at Letterkenny .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1947 / 91

by Mrs Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 85 )

Subject : Creation of an environmental security council

The President of the Club of Rome, Ricardo Diez

Hochleitner, recently announced that this organization
would propose at the World Conference on the

Environment and Development to be held in 1992 in Rio
de Janeiro the creation of a United Nations
environmental security council .

The United Nations is apparantly showing great interest

in the creation of a world organization with
decision-making powers, which would propose measures
to combat environmental problems affecting the planet,
lay and down be manned guidelines by ' for green monitoring helmet ' units and implementation to combat the
environmental deterioration of the planet .

Does the Commission intend to participate in the Rio de
Janeiro conferençe ? What position will it adopt and what

contribution will it make to the creation of an
environmental security council ? Has it received or
considered proposals along these lines ?

What role can the European Environment Agency play in
this respect ?

Does it not consider that the delay in setting up the EEA
because of disagreements concerning its location may
unfavourably affect the contribution which the
Çommunity could make to the creation of the above
international organization ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1991 )

The Commission has been participating fully in the series

of Preparatory Committee meetings ( PrepCom ) which
have been called to prepare for Unced 92, and has
therefore been in a position to contribute to the progress
of the preparatory process in all respects .

In addition, the Commission's services have recently
completed drafting a Report for the Conference, and also
a policy paper entitled 'A common platform '.

With regard to the proposal for an Environmental

Security Council, the Commission takes the view that the
establishment of such an organism should be firstly

No C 66 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

evaluated in all its aspects but that the idea might be of
interest provided that any overlapping with existing
structures is avoided .

The Commission, as has already been stated on several
occasions, deeply regrets that as yet no seat has been
established for the European Environment Agency .
However, the fact that it has not yet been possible to make
it fully operational has not, at this stage of Unced
preparation, caused any problems for the Commission in
preparing its position for that Conference .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1968 / 91

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

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 86 )

Subject : Obligatory EIAs and German planning and

public enquiry procedures

This question refers to Appeal No 1011 / 90 by W.
Mecklenburg ( lodged with the Commission on 23 July

1990 ).

Given that road construction projects in Germany involve
a planning procedure and a public enquiry procedure .

1 . If an ELA is obligatory for a road construction project

must it be carried out pursuant to a planning enquiry
procedure ( even if it is optional ) and should the EIA
be designated as such and annexed to the planning
documents laid open to public inspection ?

2 . It is therefore not sufficient to carry out an EIA during

the planning procedure ( or at some prior stage ) ?

3 . Are the documents currently laid open to public

inspection pursuant to the German planning enquiry
procedure ( which do not include an EIA designated as
such ) a substitute for an EIA within the meaning of
the Directive ?

4 . Although the public is involved, pursuant to
Article 15(3 ) of the EIA Act, in the conduct of an EIA
pursuant to the planning procedure, monitoring by
the courts is not permitted . However, the planning
procedure is to a very large degree binding on the
subsequent authorization procedure ( public enquiry );
only at the latter stage is testing by the courts possible .

Does the carrying out of an EIA without the possibility of
monitoring by the courts in the planning procedure reflect
the requirements of the EIA directive on involving the
public ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 November 1 991 )

1, and 2 . The Community requirements of an
environmental impact assessment for a project are set out
in Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ('). This assessment must be
carried out before the authorization decision . The
national authorities decide themselves exactly when to
carry out this assessment . Since Article 3 of Directive
85 / 337 / EEC requires that the direct and indirect effects
of a project must be identified, described and assessed, all
the effects of a project must obviously be assessed . This
usually means that the assessment is made when all these
effects can be taken into account . The aim of public
participation ( Article 6 ) is precisely to allow other
potential effects to be raised so that the authorities can
include them in their assessment .

3 . Article 5(2 ) of the Directive sets out what
documents must always be submitted by the developer .
These documents are to be made public . However, they

do not constitute the assessment itself, this falling, under
Article 3, to the respective authorities, who are obliged to
identify, describe and assess the effects of the project .
These effects may emerge from consultation with other

administrations or the public concerned ( Article 6 ) rather
than from the documents submitted by the developer .

4 . The right to apply to the courts is governed by the
law of the Member States and not Directive 83 / 337 / EEC .

C ) OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1969 / 91

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 87 )

Subject : Financing the protection of men and women at

work

I read with interest the Commission's recommendation
and code of conduct concerning the protection of the
dignity of men and women at work . It is indeed a major
problem, and guidelines for tackling the problem are
useful . However, some of the positive proposals — for
example, concerning the basic information both on
enterprises and within enterprises together with the
courses proposed for experts in questions of sexual
harassment — cost money . The Member States are
reluctant to provide the funds . I therefore assume that the
Commission intends to make available suitable

No C 66 / 47
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

appropriations, for example pursuant to the action
programme on equal opportunities . What level of funding
is involved ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 October 1991 )

The recommendation and Code of Practice on the
protection of the dignity of women and men at work
drawn up by the Commission was adopted on a
provisional basis only on 3 July 1991 . It has now been
submitted to the European Parliament and the Economic
and Social Committee for their opinion and the
Commission will finally adopt the recommendation and
the Code of Practice when it has considered the views of
both . Thus the final form of the practical guidelines
contained in the Code has not yet been agreed .

It should be pointed out, however, that the existing draft
was developed following detailed consultation with the

Member States, national equality agencies, and the social
partners, as requested in the Council resolution of 29 May

1990 on this issue, paragraph 3.2 . It represents best
practice in the Member States on means of ensuring the
protection of the dignity of women and men at work . The
aim is to ensure that sexual harassment does not occur
and, if it does occur, that adequate procedures are readily
available to deal with the problem and prevent its
recurrence . The draft Code encourages employers to
implement the recommendations in a way which is
appropriate to the size and structure of their
organization .

Answer given by Mr Dondehnger

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1991 )

Under the Decision of 16 January 1969 establishing the
Office for Official Publications of the European
Communities, the Office is required to coordinate the
printing of the Official Journal of the European
Communities and other publications by the institutions . It
may do the printing itself, or have it done by outside
companies .

A substantial amount of electronic publishing,
composition and printing work is subcontracted, while
the Publications Office's own print shop produces less
than 5 % of the total volume published .

In 1990 the Office produced :

— 8 721 issues of the Official Journal in the nine

languages, which represents 472 000 pages ;

— 3 242 other titles, amounting to nearly 429 000 pages .

The Office also subcontracts other work for which it

lacks the necessary skills, staff or equipment . In 1989 and

1990 this mainly concerned :

— building and equipment maintenance ;

— data-processing development work ;,•

As recommendations regards the cost, the Commission of implementing has no some plans of to fund the — packaging and distribution, particularly for
individual organizations as a matter of routine . Indeed, periodicals .
taking steps to deal with sexual harassment is likely to be
cost-effective as allowing an atmosphere to prevail in
which sexual harassment occurs can have adverse
consequences for the employer . It can lead to staff taking
sick leave or resigning their posts, for example, and it can
undermine the productivity of the enterprise where the
morale of staff is low because of an uncomfortable

working environment .
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1995 / 91

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

( 15 September 1 991 )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1983 / 91

Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 88 )

Subject : Subcontracting by the Publications Office of the

European Communities

Does the Office for Official Publications of the European
Communities use subcontracting either as standard
practice or in exceptional circumstances ?

If so, what work was subcontracted in 1989 and 1990 ?

( 92 / C 66 / 89 )

Subject : Replies to parliamentary questions

Questions 1618 / 90 and 1942 / 90 were tabled on 2 July

1990 and 1 September 1990 respectively . The joint reply
to these questions was published by the Commission in
the Official Journal of the European Communities on .8 July

1991 . Does the Commission accept that many people take
the view that this is an unacceptable time taken by the
Commission in answering parliamentary questions ? Does
the Commission intend, therefore, to improve its

No C 66 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

performance in the future and what does it consider to be
a reasonable time between the tabling of a question and
the supplying of an answer ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

The Commission always tries to reply promptly to
questions from Members of the European Parliament,
and in the case referred to by the Honourable Member it
replied on 6 September 1990 — that is to say, within a very
short time . The answer was also brought to all Members '
attention in the Report dated 17 September 1990 .

It is true that publication of answers in the Official
Journal is sometimes delayed . The Commission would

point out in this regard that :

— this publication is the responsibility of the European

Parliament,

— the Commission has made a substantial effort in

recent months to help Parliament to reduce delays .
Accordingly, all answers given before June 1991 have
been sent to Parliament for publication, as have most
of the answers given between June and September

1991 .

hygiene and health at work, an area which could be
taken to cover the inspection of the workplace ;

— Council resolution of 21 December 1987 ( 3 ), in which

the Council takes note of the Commission's intention
to carry out a study on the organization by the
Member States of means of control and of sanctions ;

— the Commission's programme of February 1988 in

which it announces that it will give official status to
the regular meetings between workplace inspectorates
at Community level ;

— the framework Directive ( 89 / 391 / EEC ) ( 4 ) of 12 June

1989 on improvements in the safety and health of
workers at work, Article 4 of which states that ' in
particular, Member States shall ensure adequate
controls and supervision ', thus implying supervision at
Community level .

For its part Parliament seems to have no doubt that the
Community has a responsibility in the field of workplace,
inspection . Parliament has always been favourable to a
wide interpretation of Art . 1 1 8 A. Moreover, its resolution
A3-0175 / 90 ( 5 ) of 13 September 1990, on the
implementation of fundamental social rights for workers,
calls upon the Commission ( paragraph 83 ) to monitor the
implementation of Community health and safety policies

inter alia by adopting a directive concerning inspection of
the workplace .

To mitigrate the effects of any delay, the Commission
brings its answers to the notice of Members of Does the Commission intend to promote the
Parliament, the press and its Offices abroad in a Community's responsibility in this area and if so how ?
document circulated each week setting out the answers
given the previous week . o OJ No C 67, 8 . 3 . 1984, p . 2 .
O OJ No L 183, 14.7 . 1988, p . 34 .
O OJ No C 28, 3 . 2 . 1988, p . 1 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 183,29.6 . 1989, p . 1 .
O OJ No C 260, 15 . 10 . 1990, p . 167 .

wRITTEN QUESTION No 2018 / 91

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 90 )

Subject : Community monitoring of the inspection of the

workplace in the Member States

Hitherto, the inspection of the workplace has remained
essentially a matter for national jurisdiction . However,
the following Community texts refer to it :

— Council resolution of 27 February 1984 ( 1 ), which

refers in particular to organizing exchanges of
experience on the methods of organization and
training of the inspection departments ;

— Commission Decision of 24 April 1988 ( 2 ) providing

for the improvement of information on safety,

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 November 1 991 )

Since 1982 the Commission has taken a number of
specific measures to promote the exchange of experience
and information between Member States ' workplace
inspectorates, especially by arranging twice-yearly
meetings of senior officials .

Among the Community instruments referred to by the
Honourable Member, particular attention should be paid
to Council Directive 89 / 391 / EEC of 12 June 1989 .

Article 4 ( 2 ) of the Directive requires Member States to
ensure ' adequate controls and supervision '. The

No C 66 / 49
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

Commission takes this to mean that Member States must
monitor and oversee the effective implementation of
those provisions of their national laws which incorporate
the Directive, and that they have an obligation to provide
adequate means of carrying out the monitoring and
surveillance .

A national workplace inspectorate may be one such

means .

The Commission will continue and step up the measures
referred to, though it does not intend to propose
Community legislation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2027 / 91

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

for railway companies or international groupings of
railway companies in border crossing transport . It is in
this framework of the establishment of a European
railway system that harmonization of transport
conditions will be realized . Concerning the specific case
of bicycle transport the Commission is in contact with the
Community of European Railways in order to examine
whether and how the current situation can be improved .

o OJ No L 237, 26 . 8 . 1983 . 1
O OJ No L 333, 21 . 12 . 1984 .
O OJ No L 237, 24 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2037 / 91

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 23 September 1 991 ) ( 92 / C 66 / 92 )

( 92 / C 66 / 91 )

Subject : European Migrants Forum

Subject : Transport of bicycles on trains

Although the Commission has abolished customs
formalities for the transport of bicycles, there is still a lack
of genuine cooperation among the European railway
companies . For example in Denmark a bicycle from the
Federal Republic of Germany can be deposited and
collected only at Padberg and Copenhagen stations .
Passengers wishing to send bicycles to or from other
Danish stations are required to pay an extra service
charge .

Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs ?

What does the Commission intend to do to derive
common tariffs and conditions of carriage throughout
Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 9 December 1 991 )

The Commission is well aware that cooperation between

European railways — including bicycle transport — can
be improved .

Although Community legislation stipulates the
commercial independence of the railways in the
management of their international passenger and luggage
traffic ( Council Decision 83 / 41 8 / EEC (')) the
Community also recommends strengthening the
cooperation of the national railway companies of the
Member States in international passenger and goods
transport ( Council recommendation 84 / 646 / EEC ( 2 )).
The recently adopted Council Directive 91 / 440 / EEC of
29 July 1991 on the development of the Community's
railways ( 3 ) provides for certain access and transit rights

Further to Oral Question No H - 1 278 / 90 ('), will the
Commission say which ' respected independent agency ' it
used to select the organizations which should participate
in the above forum ?

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-397 ( December

1990 ).

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 November 1 991 )

Further to oral question No H - 1 278 / 90 the Honourable
Member is informed that the ' respected indépendant
agency ' used to recommend the organisations which
might be invited to a preparatory meeting for the
Migrants Forum was the CIEMI, the ' Centre
d'Information et d'Etudes sur les Migrations
Internationales ' of Paris .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2041 / 91

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 93 )

Subject : Pump-priming for environment projects

Given the scope for attracting private investment in
environmental projects and thus creating jobs ( estimated

No C 66 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

by OECD to be as high as 7:1 per monetary unit of
investment ), does the Commission intend to direct
resources into this kind of pump-priming environmental
project ?

Answer given by Mr Ripà di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 31 October 1991 )

Considerable financial resources are assigned to
environmental projects .

The Honourable Member will find details relating to

these resources in the Annex to the proposal for a Council
Regulation establishing a financial instrument for the
environment (').

In addition, several projects — which create jobs — in the
environmental sector are being developed under the
LED A programme ( 2 ).

(') OJ No C 44,20.2 . 1991 .
O OJ No C 161,21.6 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2044 / 9 1

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

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 94 )

Subject : Charity laws in Member States

Does the Commission have information on how the

Member States operate their charity laws ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 December 1 991 )

The Commission departments concerned work in close
collaboration with organizations representing the
cooperative, mutual and non-profit sector, which includes
associations, foundations and other organizations set up
for charitable purposes in Member States . They do,
therefore, possess general information on the subject to
which the Honourable Member refers .

The Commission is also in the process of discussing a
European legal form for associations, something which
would obviously be of interest to charities .

The work on the European association has taken full

account of the ways in which charitable organizations
work in Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2067 / 91

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

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 95 )

Subject : Exclusive fishing rights in the 0-6 mile belts

t

The Commission will be reporting by the end of 1991 on
the economic and social development of coastal areas .

Will the Commission ensure that the 0-6 mile belts are
kept for access for boats from coastal States only ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 October 1991 )

In accordance with Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No

170 / 83 O, the Commission must present to the Council,
before 31 December 1991, a report on the fisheries
situation in the Community, the economic and social
development of the coastal areas and the state of the
stocks and their likely evolution .

In this report the Commission intends to go into the
subject of access to coastal waters . However, it is too early
at this stage to indicate what position it may be called
upon to defend .

O OJ No L 24, 27 . 1 . 1983 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2077 / 91

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

( 26 September 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 96 )

Subject : Imprisonment in the United Kingdom, and other

Member States, for debt

Would the Commission state how many Member States

incarcerate their citizens for debt ?

Does the Commission not consider this practice to be
totally against the best interests of human rights, as it
views the position of imprisonment of conscientious
objectors to military service ?

In view of the overcrowding of Europe's prisons and
outmoded system of law within the Member States who

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 51

still practise imprisonment for debt, will the Commission
introduce legislation to ban this form of punishment to
debtors throughout the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

The question raised by the Honourable Member does not
fall within the competence of the Commission .

The Commission is consequently not in a position to

supply the information requested or to act on his
proposal .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2080 / 91

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

As the actions referred to by the Honourable Member do

not involve a breach of Community law, the Commission,
has no role to play as guardian of the Treaties .

Human rights and fundamental liberties are amply
protected in the Member States by efficient systems of
control, including internal remedies and the external
mechanisms created by the 1950 Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .

In the Commission's view, this tax is of a domestic nature
and there is no question of harmonizing it at Community
level . The imposition of such taxes is therefore within the
exclusive competence of the Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2130 / 91

by Mr George Stevenson ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 98 )
( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 97 )

Subject : Political situation in Burma

Subject : Breach of human rights — imprisonment in the

United Kingdom for persons refusing to pay the
poll tax as a matter of principle against a vicious
anticlass, unjust tax

Is the Commission aware that in the United Kingdom,
political opposition to the pernicious poll tax is
punishable by imprisonment, in England ? Yet in Scotland
the same offence is not punishable by imprisonment — a
Member State divided by its different laws ?

Is the Commission aware that people of seventy and
eighty have been incarcerated for failure to pay this
vicious tax, which surely is a breach of human rights in

any democratic society ?

Does the Commission intend to harmonize this
pernicious tax and its antiquated laws for the European
Community, or will it outlaw such taxes throughout the
European Community in the harmonization process ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1 991 )

The Treaties do not give the Community a general
responsibility for ensuring the respect of basic rights . Its
competence in this area is confined to the application of
Community law, which is based on respect for these
rights .

Are the Ministers aware that the present authorities in
Burma have passed and backdated a law laying down that
any political offence including criticism of the authorities
in Burma should be classified as high treason and attract a
life imprisonment sentence ?

If so, what action are the Ministers proposing to express
the European Community's serious cQncern regarding
this and other actions by the undemocratic authorities in
Burma ?

Answer

( 11 February 1992 )

The Community and its Member States welcomed the
outcome of the May 1990 elections in Burma in which the
Burmese people indicated their desire for a democratic
multi-party system . They called on the military authorities
to transfer power without delay to a government
designated by the newly elected Parliament and by
introducing a democratic multi-party system . Since then,
the Community and its Member States have deeply
regretted the failure of the Burmese authorities to initiate
a democratic process, to respect internationally
acknowledged rules of conduct in the field of human
rights, to cease the harassment, incommunicado detention
and house arrests of the Noble Peace Prize Winner Daw
Aung Suu Kyi and other leaders of the opposition and to

No C 66 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

free political prisoners stressing their right to live freely in
their own country without the menace of exile .

In the light of the Burmese Government's continued
repressive policies the Community and its Member States
have reduced economic and trade relations to a minimum,
suspended all non-humanitarian aid programmes and
agreed upon a total ban on arms sales to Burma .

The Community and its Member States, in their dealings
with the Burmese authorities, will continue to stress that
they are prepared to re-establish constructive relations
with the Burmese Government, including a resumption of
development assistance programmes, on the condition
that Burma fulfils its obligations in the field of human
rights and democracy .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2220 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 4 October 1 991 J

( 92 / C 66 / 99 )

Subject : Sanctions against South Africa

Committee of Enquiry into Racism and Xenophobia
( 1990 ) ( A3-0195 / 90 ) to the effect that a draft Directive be
prepared by 31 March 1991 to harmonize regulations
throughout the Community to prohibit the dissemination
of anti-semitic and racist material ?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1991 )

The Commission has followed the work of the second
Committee of Enquiry into Racism and Xenophobia very
closely and has repeatedly, in Parliamentary debates,
expressed its support for the democratic basis of our
society and its determination to combat all forms of
racism, xenophobia and antisemitism . It has also pointed
out the limits of its competence and the responsibilities of
the Member States in what is essentially a question of
public order .

As for Recommendation No 32 of the Committee of

Enquiry's report, it goes without saying that no sanctions
can be taken against items posted in sealed envelopes
without the introduction of some kind of censorship . The
posting in unsealed envelopes of material constituting an
offence under national law continues to fall within
national jurisdiction on public order . It is a different
matter for audiovisual material, and Article 22 of the
Directive of 3 October 1989 concerning the pursuit of
television broadcasting activities ( 89 / 552 / EEC ) (')
stipulates that ' Member States shall also ensure that
broadcasts do not contain any incitement to hatred on
grounds of race, sex, religion or nationality '.

In view of the revelations in recent months of the matter for audiovisual
involvement of the South African Government at the Directive of 3 October
highest levels in the instigation and the promotion of television broadcasting
violence which led directly to thousands of deaths, will stipulates that ' Member
the Council now reconsider its position with regard to the broadcasts do not contain
relaxation of sanctions and in particular, accept that no grounds of race, sex,
such steps should be taken without the prior
consideration and approval of the European Parliament ? o OJ No L 298, 17 . 10 . 1989 .

Answer

( 11 February 1992 )

The Honourable Parliamentarian is kindly requested to
take note of the answer provided to his oral question No
H-0936 / 91 on the same issue .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2241 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 100 )

Subject : Racism and xenophobia

Will the Commission outline the current position with
regard to Recommendation No 32 of the report of the

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2306 / 91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to European Political Coopération

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 101 )

Subject : Value of a private residence in Managua

Given the symbolic importance attached to the following
matter with regard to restoration of the rule of law in
Nicaragua, do the Ministers have any way of finding out
whether the US $ 1 400 paid by former President Ortega
of Nicaragua for a family home ' purchased ' in the City of
Managua on 24 April 1990 represented the market value
of the property or whether it was in fact worth $ 1 million,
as claimed by its previous owner, Jaime Morales, who was
expropriated by the Sandinist Government led by Mr
Ortega ;

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 53

Answer

(U February 1992 )

The specific issue raised by the Honourable Member falls
outside the scope of European Political Cooperation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2363 / 91

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 22 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 102 )

Subject : Effectiveness of the CSCE and Western
European Union ( WEU )

Events in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia have shown
that Europe is facing security problems which the existing
international bodies ( CSCE, WEU ) effectively, in their
present form, are not equipped to deal with since it is
necessary to identify and analyse the numerous
complicated political, economic, religious and ethnic
factors leading to the violence in the communities
concerned .

Does EPC intend to take measures to improve the
flexibility and effectiveness of these two European
defence and security organizations ?

Answer

( 11 February 1 992 )

The Presidency firstly wishes to draw the Honourable

Member's attention to the fundamental difference in
nature of the two organizations referred to in his
question .

The Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe

( CSCE ) is a gathering of 38 participating States aiming at
setting the basis, in a post-confrontational period between
East and West, for cooperative security in an
inter-governmental environment .

WEU is a common defence organization of, at present,

nine European States which are incidentally all members
of the European Community .

Whereas most CSCE-subjects fall within the competence

of EPC and are thus regularly discussed at the various
levels of this inter-governmental mechanism and given the
necessary follow-up by the Community and its Member
States in the larger framework of the 38, the role and
attributions of the WEU fall outside the range of EPC
topics .

With regard to WEU, the Honourable Member is
doubtless aware of the fact that its role and involvement in
the common foreign and security policy of the future
European Union has been extensively discussed during
the Inter-governmental Conference on Political Union
which found its conclusion on 10 December at the
European Council of Maastricht . In this connection, the
Honourable Member might wish to refer to article D of
that segment of the Treaty on European Union dealing
with a Common Foreign and Security Policy, to the

Declaration of the Member States of Western European
Union which are also part of the European Union on the
role of WEU and its relations with the European Union
and with the Atlantic Alliance and to the Declaration of
the Member States of WEU, on the occasion of the 46th
Meeting of the European Council in Maastricht, on the
accession or the association of new members .

At present, the CSCE is focussing its work on a whole

series of new priorities, such as the peaceful settlement of
disputes, the protection of national minorities ( Geneva ),
and the consolidation of democracy and the rule of Law .
Furthermore, negotiations in the field of military security
are taking place in Vienna, including new confidence and
security-building measures .

The European Community and its Member States have

made a substantial contribution to the elaboration of the
so-called emergency mechanism which allows for the
convening of CSCE Participating States at short notice
for political consultations . The extremely preoccupying
situation in Yugoslavia has made for the convening of five
emergency meetings of the CSO in Prague, proving the
value of the newly created mechanism .

The second meeting of the Ministerial Council to be held

late January 1992 and, the Helsinki Follow-up meeting in
the spring of 1992, are expected to take decisions aimed at
a further strengthening of CSCE structures and
institutions . The Community and its Member States are
intimately involved in the discussions leading up to these
meetings .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2480 / 91

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )
to European Political Cooperation

( 4 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 103 )

Subject : Prisoner of conscience Zhang Yafei in China

Mr Zhang Yafei is a 24-year-old student who was
sentenced to 11 years ' imprisonment on 10 March 1991 .
He was charged with ' counter-revolutionary ' propaganda
and agitation and also ' organizing and leading a
counter-revolutionary group '. He is currently being held
in Quincheng prison .

No C 66 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

Given the fact that blatant human rights violations
continue to be perpetrated by the Chinese authorities and
that students and others are continually denied their right
of freedom of expression, will EPC take up the case of Mr
Yafei and press the Chinese authorities for his immediate

release ?

Answer

( 11 February 1 992 )

The specific case referred to by the Honourable Member

has not been discussed within the EPC .

However, the Community and its Member States have
repeatedly called on the Chinese authorities to respect
human rights . They have raised violations of human
rights in individual cases in confidential démarches to the
Chinese authorities and in high-level meetings . They have
also expressed their deep concerns publicly by way of
declarations .

amendments to the National Security Law on 10 May

1991 . These were apparently designed to eliminate overly
stringent aspects of the past National Security Law and to
ensure that the current law provides for less rigid
restrictions which, according to the South Korean
authorities, are needed to defend South Korea against
external and internal subversion and sabotage .

The Community and its Member States welcome the

reopening of a direct political dialogue between North
and South Korea, which has led to the signing on 13
December 1991 of the ' Agreement on Reconciliation,
Non-aggression and Exchanges and Cooperation
between the South and the North ' containing provisions
for inter alia free inter-Korean travel and contacts, and
express the hope that this will help reduce tension on the
Korean peninsula and encourage the South Korean
authorities in their efforts to further realise the goals of
democracy and respect for human rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2560 / 91

by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )
to the Council of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2505 / 91
( 14 November 1 991 )

by Mr Gordon Adam ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 92 / C 66 / 105 )

( 8 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 104 ) Subject : Writing off ACP debts

Subject : Human rights in Korea

During the European Parliament's delegation visit to
Korea in March 1991 we were informed by the South
Korean Foreign Minister that serious attempts would be
made to ' tone down ' the prevailing national security laws,
which prescribe complicated formalities for relations
between South and North Koreans, failure to conform
with which can be punished with heavy prison sentences .

Could the Foreign Ministers indicate whether they have
been informed of any substantial change to this national
security law ? If no substantial change has taken place will
the Foreign Ministers take any action in their dealings
with the South Korean Government to ensure that this
commitment made to an EC body will be carried out ?

Answer

( 11 February 1 992 )

The subject of South Korea's national security laws has

not been discussed in the framework of EPC .

However, the Community and its Member States are
aware that the Korean National Assembly passed

In April 1991 the Council refused to write off the whole
of the ACP debt, despite the opinions of the Commission
and the European Parliament .

Has the Council since reconsidered the matter ?

If so, can it outline its proposals to Parliament ?

If not, can it say when a decision on this matter may be
expected ?

Answer

(1 February 1992 )

1 . Since the Council meeting in April 1991, intensive
exploratory technical discussions have continued in the
light of the criteria set out by the European Council — in
particular that of complying with the basic principles of
international strategy for debt management — and taking
account of the financial and legal implications of the
various arrangements that might be considered .

2 . After again examining this question at its meeting on
7 October 1991 the Council noted that the only

No C 66 / 55
16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities

arrangement to which the Member States could
unanimously agree was to waive the ACP States '
obligation to replenish the Stabex resources transferred
under the first, second and third Lomé Conventions .

3 . This Community position was put to the ACP States
at the last meeting of the ACP-EEC Committee of
Ambassadors . It will soon be formalized by the Council
with a view to the adoption of a Decision by the
ACP-EEC Council of Ministers as soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2667 / 91

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

( 19 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 106 )

Subject : ' Enterprise for the Americas Initiative '

In June 1990 President Bush launched a programme for
the development of Latin America and the Caribbean
known as the ' Enterprise for the Americas Initiative '
based on free trade schemes, measures to promote foreign
investment and the adjustment ( though on barely
intelligible terms ) of the region's external debt . The
long-term objective is nothing less than the creation of a
single market extending from the north of Canada,
through Mexico, to the south of Chile, despite the fact
that the United States gross national product is no less
than six times that of the Caribbean and Latin America
put together .

1 . Does the Community continue to support the
formation of regional entities in Latin America ( for
example the Andean Pact signed by Venezuela,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, the agreement
between the five Central American countries, which is
potentially promising, particularly with regard to their
relations with the European Community, and the
common market agreement between Brazil, Uruguay
and Argentina ), which will become operational as of
next year, given that the United States obviously
prefers to deal with each of its partners individually,
on a case-by-case basis ?

2 . Is it acceptable for the Americas to belong to the
Americans, Europe to the Europeans and the Far East
to the Japanese, as part of a new international disorder
at the expense of the Third World, which is
continuing to export raw materials and ' tropical
products ' following traditional patterns, in exchange
for manufactures, mainly from the United States in
the case of the Americas ?

3 . Is the investment envisaged by Washington intended
to develop the ' maquiladores ', that is to say marginal

and technically obsolete industries with
behind-the-times conditions of employment in terms
of both wage levels and labour relations, which are
unable to compete with the ' First World '? Should the
Community not reaffirm its relations with the
above-mentioned regional groups, rather than giving
into the temptation of a piecemeal approach ?

Answer

(1 February 1 992 )

1 . In its guidelines for cooperation with the
Latin-American and Asian developing countries, which
were finally adopted on 4 February 1991, the Council
reiterated the importance that it attaches to regional
cooperation with the developing countries . Indeed,
regional cooperation is one of the seven main fields in
which its development aid is implemented .

In this regard the Council stated that :

' Regional cooperation between developing countries
has, from the outset, been a priority field of
application for Community aid, particularly since the
Community has considerable experience in this area .

In view of the increasing use made of regional
cooperation by the ALA developing countries, the
Council considers that it should remain a priority and
that action should be stepped up in at least six areas :
( a ) regional cooperation on the environment ; ( b ) the
development of intra-regional trade wherever
possible ; ( c ) support for regional institutions and
integration and for the implementation of common
policies and activities ; ( d ) regional communications :
standards, networks and services ; ( e ) research ; ( f )
training .'

2 . This position of principle has been reflected more
recently in the conclusion of the first Institutionalized
Ministerial meeting on the dialogue between the EEC and
the Rio Group, held in Luxembourg on 26 and 27 April

1991 . Item 5 of the conclusions states that :

' The Ministers stressed the importance of regional
integration processes for economic and social
development and affirmed that they promote peace,
democracy and closer ties between peoples .

The Ministers welcomed the gradual emergence of

integration processes in Latin America . They
considered that the strengthening of such processes
was an important factor in bringing about a qualitative
change in relations between the countries of the Rio
Group and the European Community in a formal
institutional framework .

No C 66 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 16 . 3 . 92

The Community Ministers resolved to support
integration efforts in Latin America .'

3 . As regards the Honourable Member's second
question, it should be recalled that, for the Community,
greater integration of the developing countries into the
multilateral trade system is a priority aim . To achieve that
aim :

— the agreements concluded by the Community with the

countries or with regions of Latin America make
provision inter alia for trade and industrial
cooperation measures intended to promote the
diversification and enlargement of their production
bases and trade ;

— the abovementioned guidelines for cooperation with

the ALA developing countries make provision, among
economic cooperation objectives, for strengthening
the institutional capabilities of the partner countries so
as to make their economic environment more
favourable for investment and development, as well as
facilitating the transfer of resources ( capital,
technology, know-how, marketing networks,
managerial and organizational capabilities ) from
European firms to local firms .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2710 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to European Political Cooperation

( 21 November 1991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 107 )

Subject : Burmese refugees in Thailand

Will EPC say what measures it has taken or is instituting

against the Thai authorities who have in recent months
pursued a policy of forcibly returning Burmese refugees
from Myanmar, in direct contravention of the
internationally recognized principle of non-refoulement .

Answer

(U February 1992 )

The Community and its Member States understand that
the Thai authorities are checking various groups in
Thailand in order to ascertain which appropriate
arrangements there are for them . The Thai authorities are
aware of international concern that no Burmese should be
forcibly returned to face persecution in Burma . The
UNHCR, through its representative in Bangkok, are
closely watching developments .

The Community and its Member States underline
UNHCR's role in this regard and express their concern
given also the progressively deteriorating situation in
Burma .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2738 / 91

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

( 21 November 1 991 )

( 92 / C 66 / 108 )

Subject : Construction of an immense monument to
Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo

On 14 October 1992 the fifth centenary of Christopher
Columbus's arrival in Santo Domingo will be celebrated
in Seville ( at least with regard to the preservation of the
explorer's remains ) or in Santo Domingo or both . The
construction of an immense beacon, together with a large
cross, casting a light visible over much of the Carribean, is
already well under way in Santo Domingo, together with
the restoration of the former colonial district . While this
cannot be faulted in terms of cultural interest and ( under
certain conditions ) tourism, the unceremonious eviction
and removal of the local residents without proper
compensation ( between $ 0 and $ 50 !) cannot, in my
opinion, be allowed to go unchallenged . Can the Council
therefore answer the following questions :

1 . What is the ( annual or multiannual ) cost of the project

to the national budget of the State concerned, in so far
as it is possible to distinguish between public and
presidential finances ?

2 . Is it true that the project has already cost several
hundred million dollars ? How much public or private
external funding has been provided — particularly by
the Community, by its Member States and within
Lomé IV — for the projected monument ? What
arrangements have been made to provide ( new )
accommodation and facilities for residents who have
been forced to move away so as to remain out of sight
at present or not offend the eye in future ?

3 . Will the situation in respect of domestic electricity

consumption — which is in any event fairly chaotic —
be in any way improved by this grandiose and
spectacular project ?

4 . Are the World Bank and International Monetary

Fund able to accommodate the monumental nature
and proportions of such a project within their general
policy of supporting structural adjustments ?

Are the people less important than the outer facade ?

5 . The Pope will travel to Santo Domingo next year and

a number of leading representatives of the

16 . 3 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 66 / 57

international Spanish-speaking community have to all
intents and purposes, been invited to attend the
festivities on 14 October 1992 . Will the
pre-Columbian natives also be taken into
consideration and how ? What is the position of
UNESCO and the Governments of our Member

States on this particular issue ?

The Council has still not taken a decision on the question

of where the Agency is to be located .

Can the Council say

— why a decision has still not been made, and

— when may a decision be expected ?

Answer o OJ No L 120, 11.5 . 1990, p . 1 .

(1 February 1992 )

The Council can inform the Honourable Member that no

funds have been allocated to the Dominican Republic
either under Community financial and technical
cooperation or under Lomé IV for the construction of the
monument to Christopher Columbus .

The other questions raised by the Honourable Member

do not fall within the Council's sphere of competence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 28 / 92
by Mr Rüdiger von Wechmar ( LDR )
to the Council of the European Communities

(4 February 1992 )

( 92 / C 66 / 109 )

Subject : The seat and establishment of the Environmental

Agency

On 7 May 1990 the Council issued Regulation ( EEC )
No 1210 / 90 ( l ) on the establishment of a European
Environmental Agency .

Answer

( 6 February 1 992 )

As the President of the Council Mr van den Broek pointed

out on 20 November 1991 before Parliament, it has
unfortunately been impossible hitherto to reach a
consensus between Member States on the location of the
seat of the European Environmental Agency, which is,
however, one of the essential conditions for it to begin
operating . This was also emphasized by the Commission
in a statement made to the Council on 13 and 14 June

1991 and noted by it .

The Council is well aware of the urgent need to decide on
the location and can assure the Honourable Member that
it is strongly committed to providing the Community with
an authority for the conservation of the environment .

The Presidency will continue to spare no effort to achieve

the conditions necessary to reach an agreement on the
seat of the Agency, the establishment of which has
meanwhile been linked, as you will be aware, to the
overall problem of the siting of all the institutions .