Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

^ . ^ / * / * • - _A_ T " "1 ISSN 0378-6986
# Orncial Journal cm

_ # # Volume 34
## of the European Communities awim

### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

91/C 195/01 No 149/90 by Mr Yves Verwaerde and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission

Subject: New construction standards for tankers 1

91/C 195/02 No 1487/90 by Mr George Stevenson and Mr Alan Donnelly to the Commission
Subject: Effect of Council Regulation COM(89) 671 final on mincemeat and sausage products
in the UK 1

91/C 195/03 No 1932/90 by Mr Jose Montero Zabala to the Commission
Subject: Plans to turn the autonomous port of Bilbao into a superport 2

91/C 195/04 No 2286/90 by Mr Jose Mendes Bota to the Commission
Subject: The 'Via do Infante', or trans-Algarve highway 2

91/C 195/05 No 2334/90 by Mr Pedro Canavarro to the Commission
Subject: Threat to Elvas Plains, Portugal 3

91/C 195/06 No 2344/90 by Mrs Mechthild von Alemann to the Commission
Subject: Discontinuation of duty-free shopping for travellers in Europe, following completion
of the internal market 4

91 / C 195/07 No 2347/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: Mid-term adjustment of the Common Fisheries Policy 4

91 / C 195/08 No 2349/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: The fisheries situation in the Community and the economic and social development of
the coastal areas 4

91/C 195/09 No 2350/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: The fisheries situation in the Community 4

2 (Continued overleaf)

Notice No Contents (continued)

91/C195/10

91/C195/11

91/C195/12

91/C195/13

91/C195/14

91/C195/15

91/C195/16

91/C195/17

91/C195/18

91/C195/19

91/C195/20

91/C195/21

91/C195/22

91/C195/23

91/C195/24

91/C195/25

91/C195/26

No 2351/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Provisions relating to the 'Orkney and Shetland Box' 5

No 2352/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: The possible establishment of a fisheries box around the Western Isles of Scotland . . . . 5

No 2353/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Economic and social development of coastal areas of the Community? 5

No 2355/90 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject: Mid-term adjustments of Articles 6 and 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of
25January 1983 5

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2347/90, 2349/90, 2350/90, 2351/90,
2352/90,2353/90 and 2355/90 5

No 2402/90 by Mr Jose Happart to the Commission

Subject: Community contribution to the process of democratization in Chile 6

No 2448/90 by Mr Giuseppe Mottola to the Commission

Subject: Protection and promotion of the tanning industry 6

No 2455/90 by Mr Max Simeoni to the Commission
Subject: Improvement of the RN 164 as part of the integrated development project in central
Brittany 7

No 2465/90 by Mr Nino Pisoni, Mr Franco Borgo and Mr Mauro Chiabrando to the
Commission

Subject: Community regulations concerning the slaughter of pigs affected by classical swine
fever in Belgium 8

No 2517/90 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject: Problems of wine growing in the EC 9

No 2604/90 by Mr Manuel Medina Ortega to the Commission

Subject: Imports from the Canary Islands 10

No 2612/90 by Mr Bernard Antony to the Commission
Subject: Support for front-line states 10

No 2638/90 by Mr David Bowe to the Commission
Subject: Guatemala 10

No 2639/90 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject: Urban development policy of the Community institutions 12

No 2661/90 by Mr Heinz Kohler to the Commission
Subject: Information provided by Member States in support of Structural Fund applications ... 12

No 2667/90 by Mrs Mechtild Rothe to the Commission
Subject: Danger to human health posed by Olaquindox and Chlorpromazine 13

No 2675/90 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject: Agriculture — Pollution control grants 14

No 2707/90 by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject: Creation of a special urban affairs unit at the Commission 15

Notice No

91/C195/27

91/C195/28

91/C195/29

91/C195/30

91/C195/31

91/C195/32

91/C195/33

91/C195/34

91/C195/35

91/C195/36

91/C195/37

91/C195/38

91/C195/39

91/C195/40

91/C195/41

91/C195/42

91/C195/43

Contents (continued) Pa s e

No 2740/90 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission
Subject: Trade relations between the Member States and overseas territories 15

No 2804/90 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission

Subject: Migraine *"

No 2819/90 by Mr Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject: Problems in Greek and European sardine canning plants 16

No 2858/90 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject: Harassment of German coach operators 1 7

No 2859/90 by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz to the Commission
Subject: Supplying of the fish processing industry

No 2867/90 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor to the Commission
Subject: ERDF support for the Hispano-Portuguese transfrontier plan 18

No 2877/90 by Mr Barry Seal to the Commission

Subject: State aid infringements

No 2878/90 by Mr Barry Seal to the Commission

Subject: Breach of competition law

No 2884/90 by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: Compliance with competition rules

No 2945/90 by Sir Christopher Prout to the Commission

1 9
Subject: State aids — gaming and horse race betting

No 3001 /90 by Mr Brian Cassidy to the Commission

19
Subject: State aids 

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2877/90, 2878/90, 2884/90, 2945/90 and
3001/90 - - 1 9

No 2914/90 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Commission

Subject: Modernization of hotels in Tanzania 20

No 2918/90 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject: Destruction of the environment on the island of Nisiros 20

No 2944/90 by Mr James Elles to the Commission
Subject: European institutes or agencies and their financial support from the EC budget 21

No 2955/90 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission

Subject: Structural Fund Regulations 

No 2972/90 by Mr Jose Barros Moura to the Commission
Subject: Preservation of the 'Quinta do Barao' estate in Carcavelos 21

No 2981 /90 by Mr Arias Canete to the Commission

Subject: Exploratory fishing

(Continued overleaf)

Notice No

91/C195/44

91/C195/45

91/C195/46

91/C195/47

91/C195/48

91/C195/49

91/C195/50

91/C195/51

91/C195/52

91/C195/53

91/C195/54

91/C195/55

91/C195/56

91/C195/57

91/C195/58

91/C195/59

91/C195/60

91/C195/61

Contents (continued) Page

No 2982/90 by Mr Arias Canete to the Commission

Subject: Spanish aquaculture projects 22

No 2998/90 by Mr Pedro Canavarro to the Commission

Subject: Border areas between Spain and Portugal

No 3018/90 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor to the Commission

Subject: Sale offish by computerized auction 23

No 19/91 by Mrs Michele Alliot-Marie to the Commission
Subject: Participation of professional fishermen in the work of the Community's working

committees 

No 29/91 by Mr George Patterson to the Commission
Subject: Varroatosis: Movement of bees after 1992 24

No 86/91 by Mr Nialle Andrews to the Commission

Subject: Mr Lorrain Osman' - 23

No 140/91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject: The need to maintain aid for sugar cane growing in Granada 25

No 143/91 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject: Disciplinary powers of medical associations 26

No 147/91 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject: Inclusion of the municipalities of Livigno and Campione d'ltalia in the Community's
customs territory

No 153/91 by Mrs Solange Fernex to the Commission
Subject: The price of edible crab from the United Kingdom . 27

No 168/91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission

Subject: ERDF (Supplementary answer) 28

No 179/91 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject: Cruelty to animals used to test medicines (Supplementary answer) 28

No 189/91 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject: Cyprus

No 247/91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject: Customs signs and opening of internal borders 29

No 248/91 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject: Preferential customs treatment of coffee imports 29

No 282/91 by Mrs Christa Randzio-Plath to the Commission

Subject: EC embargo on Iraq _^_

No 302/91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Efficiency standards for manufactured domestic goods 31

No 321/91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject: Compatibility between the statutes of the European economic interest group ORPHIE
and Community legislation on distribution of medicines '. 31

(Continued on inside back cover)

Notice No Contents (continued)

91/C 195/62 No 325/91 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject: Overview of environmental legislation (Supplementary answer) 31

91 / C 195/63 No 355/91 by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman to the Commission

Subject: Commission buildings 32

91/C 195/64 No 356/91 by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman to the Commission

Subject: Commission buildings 34

91/C 195/65 No 357/91 by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman to the Commission

Subject: Commission buildings 34

91/C 195/66 No 385/91 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject: Policy vacuum in Belgium concerning implementation of the directives on the
environment _J_ _^_

91/C 195/67 No 403/91 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject: False declarations concerning the origin of textile products falling under the Lome
agreements 35

91/C 195/68 No 445/91 by Mr Fritz Pirkl to the Commission

Subject: Nursing insurance 36

91/C 195/69 No 452/91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Commission
Subject: Employment following Commission open competitions 36

91/C 195/70 No 463/91 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission

Subject: Birds Directive : 36

91/C 195/71 No 478/91 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject: Commission proposal on setting up a European Centre for Alternative Animal
Experimentation Methods 36

91/C 195/72 No 506/91 by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Commission
Subject: Measures to clean up the Mediterranean 37

91 / C 195/73 No 510/91 by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Commission
Subject: Town twinning arrangements (Supplementary answer) 38

91/C 195/74 No 580/91 by MrJaakVandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject: The impact of VAT harmonization in the EC on the humanitarian activities of NGOs
for the benefit of the Third World 38

91/C 195/75 No 826/91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject: Arms conversion assitance 39

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

#### I

_(Information)_

### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 149/90

by Mr Yves Verwaerde and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin

(LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 February_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/01)

_Subject:_ New construction standards for tankers

A Norwegian company is currently preparing a new
classification system for tankers which would make it
possible to reduce the risk of accident. Does the
Commission intend to draw up rules with a view to
establishing specific construction standards for tankers,
and to forbid access to Community territorial waters for
vessels which do not fulfil these requirements?

Answer by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 April_ _1990)_

The Norwegian Classification Society 'Det Norske
Veritas' has introduced new rules for an Environmental
Class of Oil Tanker. These tentative rules anticipate
possible United States legislation that is expected in the
wake of the Exxon Valdez disaster. The Norwegian rules
are not mandatory but voluntary and only apply to vessels
classified by the Norwegian Classification Society.

Any new means of reducing the risk of marine pollution is
to be encouraged and the new Norwegian rules deserve to
be given due consideration by international maritime
experts. Until such time as the Norwegian rules have been
considered by the International Maritime Organization, it
would be premature to consider new rules for oil tankers
having access to Community waters.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1487/90

by Mr George Stevenson and Mr Alan Donnelly (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 June 1990)_

(91/C 195/02)

_Subject:_ Effect of Council Regulation COM(89) 671 final
on mincemeat and sausage products in the UK

Will the Commission indicate clearly whether the
provisions of Council Regulation COM(89) 671 final will
have adverse effects on the present way of preparation of
mincemeat and sausage products in the United Kingdom,
and further indicate if there has been any representation
on this matter made to the Commission by the
government of the United Kingdom?

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 January 1991)_

The proposal for a Council Regulation laying down the
health rules for the production and placing on the market
of minced meat, meat preparations and comminuted meat
for industrial use (COM(89) 671 final) ( [l] ) extends to the
national market, the rules already adopted for
intra-Community trade for this kind of meat (Council
Directive 88/657/EEC of 16 December 1988 laying down
the requirements for the production of, and trade in,
minced meat, meat in minces of less than 100 grams and
meat preparations and amending Directives 64/433/EEC,
71/118/EEC and72/462/EEC (*)).

The Commission services have been informed by
representatives of government and industry in the United
Kingdom of the problems that may arise in implementing
these rules.

No C 195/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

The Commission would emphasize however that these
rules guarantee a high level of public health protection.

Article 1 of the proposed regulation excludes from its
field of application the operations performed in retail
shops. Furthermore derogations from the rules of the
Annexes can be granted for establishments with small
production capacity

O OJNoC84,2.4.1990, p. 120.
O OJ No L 382, 31.12.1988, p. 3.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1932/90

by Mr Jose Montero Zabala (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1990)_

(91/C 195/03)

_Subject:_ Plans to turn the autonomous port of Bilbao into

a superport

Is the Commission aware of plans (involving the
enlargement of the outer bay) to turn the autonomous
port of Bilbao into a superport?

Does it consider that this is a project of interest within the
framework of European policy for the ports ?

If so, what useful functions could it fulfil for the
Community, what type of cargo could it handle and what
activities could be developed?

Is any form of Community funding available for the
realization of this project?

Answer by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 January 1991)_

The Commission is aware of the project for enlargement
of the port of Bilbao referred to by the Honourable
Member. The project is being considered for financial
support from the European Regional Development Fund
within the framework of the Operational Programme for
the Basque Country. This would involve a Community
financial contribution of ECU 12.345 million, in
recognition of the project's contribution to the regional
development of the area.

As regards the interest of this project in terms of the
Community transport policy, the concept of Community
interest has not yet been developed in the ports sector,
given the lack of a decision by the Council on the

Commission's proposal for a Council Decision, extending
Decision 78/174/EEC O to the field of sea and air
transport infrastructure ( [2] ).

O OJ No L 54, 25. 2.1978.
O OJNoC34,10.2.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2286/90

by Mr Jose Mendes Bota (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 October 1990)_

(91/C 195/04)

_Subject:_ The 'Via do Infante', or trans-Algarve highway

Owing to the passage of time and the prolonged public
debate, as well as the dispute between the Portuguese
Government and the Commission which has prevented
the release of Community funds for the trans-Algarve
highway, or 'Via do Infante', there is now serious
uncertainty with regard to the completion of the stretch of
road planned to link up the Guadiana bridge with the
existing IP 1 road.

Can the Commission state how the matter stands at

present, and specify in as much detail as possible the legal
conditions or regulations which still have to be fulfilled by
the Portuguese Government in order for the matter to be
resolved?

Is the Commission aware of the possible disastrous
consequences for road traffic in the Algarve in 1992, when
the road link with Spain will be ready and supposing that
some of the thousands of visitors to the Seville World Fair

and the Barcelona Olympics decide to enter Spain via
southern Portugal, if the trans-Algarve highway is unable
to absorb this increase in traffic?

Answer by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 March 1991)_

The Portuguese authorities have informed the
Commission that an environmental impact study relating
to the planned construction of the 'Via do Infante' has
been carried out, and public consultations undertaken as
required under Directive 85/337/EEC ('). In the light of
the impact study, the Portuguese authorities have adopted
a broadly favourable opinion on the project. The Junta
Autonoma das Estradas has undertaken to take all

necessary measures to limit the adverse environmental
consequences of the project, in line with the
recommendations of the impact study. The Portuguese

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/3

authorities have also given an undertaking that in future
they will ensure that the procedure under that Directive is
followed in Portugal. In addition, they have given a
formal commitment that the provisions of Directive
79/409/EEC ( [2] ) will be fully observed in the case of the
Castro Marim nature reserve, which is a protected area
under that Directive.

The Commission has therefore decided to terminate the

infringement proceedings which it had initiated and to
reincorporate the project in the PRODAC programme. It
will ensure that the project is carried out with due regard
to the environmental considerations listed above.

O OJ No L 175, 5. 7.1985.
O OJ No L 103,25.4.1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2334/90

by Mr Pedro Canavarro (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 October 1990)_

(91/C 195/05)

_Subject:_ Threat to Elvas Plains, Portugal

Cellulose companies are buying up large tracts of the
Elvas plains for afforestation with eucalyptus.

The area is one of the most important in the Community
for threatened bird species dependent on traditional
wheat/dry pasture systems. At particular risk are
internationally important populations of Tetrax tetrax
and Otis tarda as well as other birds on Annex 1 to

Directive 79/409/EEC. Lutra lutra, which the
Community is obliged to protect under the Berne
Convention, is common.

1. Is the Commission aware of this threat and what are

its plans for dealing with it?

2. Has the Community, either through the Commission
or the European Investment Bank, been approached
to help finance the purchase of plots, the planting of
trees, processing or other activities associated with
cellulose, pulp or paper production in the Elvas Plains;
and if so, has it done, or will it do so?

3. Are the areas which are regarded as important for
birds adequately protected under Portuguese and
Community law?

4. Is the area eligible for Community support for
traditional agricultural practices, such as envisaged
under Article 19 of Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 O ?

5. Is the area eligible for support for modernising
agricultural practices?

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

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 March 1991)_

1. The Commission has been informed of this problem
and has begun discussions with the Portuguese authorities
with a view to examining possible solutions, given that
this- area is among those of particular Community
importance.

2. No eucalyptus plantation has been financed on the
Plain of Elvas as part of the Specific programme for the
development of Portuguese agriculture (Regulation
(EEC) No 3828/85 O). Furthermore, beneficiaries of
loans from the European Investment Bank have not
planted and will not plant new parcels of eucalyptus on
the Plain of Elvas, which is protected under the
Community's CORINE programme.

3. Observance of Community regulations (Directive
79/409/EEC ( [2] ) concerning the conservation of wild
birds) should ensure sufficient protection for areas
considered important from an ornithological point of
view. It is for Portugal to bring into force the relevant
laws, regulations and administrative provisions, including
the classification of the site as a specially protected area.
The Commission will ensure that the Community
legislation concerned is applied.

4. Any environmentally sensitive area may be
designated by a Member State, on its own initiative, for
presentation to the Commission with a view to requesting
part-financing under Article 19 of Regulation (EEC) No
797/85. The Commission is open to any reasoned
proposal.

5. With regard to aids for the modernization of
agriculture, the region may benefit under all those
schemes for improving the efficiency of agricultural
structures, including aids for investments in agricultural
holdings and aids for the installation of young farmers,
pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 797/85. Furthermore,
the region may qualify for specific regional measures
under Objective 1 of the reform of the Funds, which
concerns regions whose development is lagging behind.

0) OJ No L 372, 31.12.1985.
O OJ No L 103,25.4.1979.

N o C r ^ t Official Journal of the European Communities ^5.7.91

wERITTENC^IE^TI^NNo^^O

byM^rsMechtmldvonAiema^n^LL^R^

to theCommissionofthe European Communities

^ C ^ c ^ ^ r ^ ^

^ I B C r ^ B O ^

^ ^ c r, L^iscontinuation of duty-free shopping for
travellers in Europe^ following completion of the
internal market

It is recognized that the effect of discontinuing duty-free
shoppingfortravellers inEurope^villbeaECH^^billion
drop in turnover in duty-free goods ^the figure for
intra-Communitytravel^illbePClll^billion^.

1. In the light of this^ ^vhat increase does the
Commission e^pectto see in thecost of European
travels

^. ^hat effect does the Commission expect this to have
on the employment markets and ^hich regions of the
Community^illbeparticularly affected^

Ans^erby Mrs scrivener
on behalf ofthe Commission

The Commission^ouldreferthe Honourable Memberto
its joint answer to^ritten questions No D0^B90 by Mr
Ver^raerde and Mr Raffarin and No 780B90 by Mr
Boge^ and written question No ^89B90 by Mr
Pattersons.

The Commissiondoes not accept the figures being put
forward as these estimates are based on a set of
assumptions ^hich the Commission does not necessarily
share. The effects on fares of the ending of ta^ and
duty-free shopping in intra-Community travel should not
be estimated in isolation. Account should be taken of the
dynamic effect that the introduction of an integrated
internal market ^vill have and of the general development
of transport infrastructure.

C ^ j ^ o ^ n t ^ D m ^ n D m .

w T ^ T T E N ^ L ^ T I O N N o ^ B B ^

byMrsWmifredE^vmg^C^

to theCommissio^ofthe European Communities

^ C ^ c ^ ^ r ^ ^

^ I B C l ^ B O ^

^ ^ c r . Mid-term adjustment of the Common Eisheries
Policy

The oSommission has been mandated under Council
Regulation^EEC^Nol70B8o^tosubmitareportto

Councils before the end of 1991^on the fisheries situation
in the Community^the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution

In vie^v of the Commission^sstated intention to initiate an
^opendialogue^ith the European Parliament in the field
of fisheries^ ^ill the Commission give an undertaking that
it v^ill seek a formal opinion from the European
Parliament onthisreport prior totheDecember 1991
deadlines

^ e o j ^ o L ^ ^ m m ^ ^ ^ n

w^^ITTEN^E^TI^NNo^^B90

byM^s^mifredE^mg^ARC^

to the Commission ofthe European Communities

^91BC19^B0^

^^crBThe fisheries situation in the Community and the
economic and social development of the coastal

areas

The Commission has been mandated under Council
Regulation ^EEC^ No 170B^ to submit a report to
Councils before the end of!991^on the fisheries situation
in the Community^the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution.

1. Does the Commission propose toinvitefishermen^s
organizations from the various Member States to
contribute towards the compilation of this reports

^. ^ill fishermen^s organizations from the various
Member states be invited to produce submissions —
to be included in the final report-^-giving their vie^vs
onthe current and future operationof the common
fisheries policy^

^. ^ill the Commission state whether locals regional or
national authorities have been invited to provide
statistics on the fishing industryforthe compilation of
this reports

w^^ITTEN^llE^TI^NNo^30B^

byMrsW^mifredEwmg^ARC^

to the Commissiouofthe European Communities

^ C ^ c ^ ^ r ^ ^

^91BC19^B09^

^ ^ c r . T h e fisheries situation in the Community

The Commission has been mandated under Council
Regulation ^EEC^ No 170B8^ to submit a report to
Councils before the end of 1991^on the fisheries situation
in the Community^the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution.

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/5

Does the Commission intend to include the following
information in its report:

1. statistics on the ownership of different categories of
fishing vessels registered in the various coastal areas
of the different Member States ?

2. statistics on infringements of the CFP by fishermen
from the various Member States and on the penalties
imposed by the courts of the different countries
concerned?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2351/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18_ _October 1990)_

(91/C 195/10)

_Subject:_ Provisions relating to the 'Orkney and Shetland
Box'

The Commission has been mandated under Council
Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 to submit a report to
Council, before the end of 1991, on the fisheries situation
in the Community, the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution.

In producing its report, will the Commission formally
seek evidence from the Orkney and Shetland Islands
Councils and from representatives of fisheries
organizations based in Orkney and Shetland on the
implementation and future of CFP provisions relating to
the 'Orkney and Shetland Box'?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2352/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18_ _October_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/11)

_Subject:_ The possible establishment of a fisheries box
around the Western Isles of Scotland

The Commission has been mandated under Council
Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 to submit a report to
Council, before the end of 1991, on the fisheries situation
in the Community, the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution.

In the context of drafting this report, has the Commission
considered, or does the Commission intend to consider,
the possibility of 'adjusting' Article 7 of the Council
Regulation to create a new fisheries box around the
Western Isles of Scotland ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2353/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18_ _October_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/12)

_Subject:_ Economic and social development of coastal
areas of the Community?

The Commission has been mandated under Council
Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 to submit a report to
Council, before the end of 1991, on the fisheries situation
in the Community, the economic and social development
of the coastal areas and the state of stocks and their likely
evolution.

In drawing up this report, will the Commission:

1. make adjustments for the distorting effects of low
population density, high costs of living and artificial
'bonuses' (such as the statistical 'landing' of offshore
oil earnings) in any GDP/capita statistics it uses for
comparisons between coastal areas?

2. examine the impact of the UK's failure to
implement EEC structural provisions relating to
decommissioning and temporary lay-up schemes on
the UK's fishing and fishing boat building industries?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2355/90

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18_ _October_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/13)

_Subject:_ Mid-term adjustments of Articles 6 and 7 of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of 25
January 1983

Has the Commission considered what adjustments it
intends to propose to Articles 6 and 7 of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 when it submits its report to
the Council on the fisheries situation in the Community,
the economic and social development of coastal areas and
the state of the stocks and their evolution by the end of
1991 and, if so, can the Commission give any details of
the adjustments it has under consideration ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2347/90, 2349/90,

2350/90, 2351/90, 2352/90,2353/90 and 2355/90

given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 February_ _1991)_

The Commission has organized two seminars for the
members of Parliament's Subcommittee on Fisheries:

No C 195/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

— the first to be held on 21 and 22 June 1990 on the

conservation and monitoring of fishery resources, and

— the second on 8 and 9 November 1990 on the

structural policy for fisheries.

A third seminar on international fisheries agreements will
be held in spring 1991.

The purpose of the seminars is to discuss with the
Members of Parliament the fisheries situation in the

European Community.

Consequently, the report which the Commission is
required under Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of 25
January 1983 to present to the Council before 31
December 1991 will reflect the interests of the sectors

directly concerned and the opinions of MEPs.

The Commission, furthermore, having already started
work on its report for 1991, recently adopted a
Commission to the Council and Parliament on the

common fisheries policy.

The object of the Communication is to launch a policy
debate in the European Parliament and hence to be able to
take account of the views of MEPs on the common

fisheries policy before the 1991 report is drawn up. The
Commission hopes that there will be a far reaching debate
in Parliament on the subject.

On the question of seeking a formal opinion from the
European Parliament, the Commission will consider
carefully the many requests made by it concerning the
improvement of the consultation procedure.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2402/90

by Mr Jose Happart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(25 October 1990)_

(91/C 195/14)

_Subject:_ Community contribution to the process of
democratization in Chile

The European Parliament has entered Item 3021 in the
budget to support the process of democratization in
Chile.

1. What level of priority will be given to development
projects intended to combat illiteracy and achieve the
reintegration of political exiles ?

2. To what extent will this aid be channelled towards

NGO-sponsored projects?

3. What are the effective criteria for access to the

programme and how are application procedures
organized?

Answer by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(4 January 1991)_

1. In view of the high level of literacy of the population
of Chile (92,5% in 1988), operations to combat illiteracy
in Chile do not appear worthy of priority. No project to
combat illiteracy has been presented by either the
European or the Chilean side.

The operations which the Chilean authorities proposed
for financing under budget item 3021 in 1990, the first
year of its existence, did not include projects for the
reintegration of political exiles. However, it is proposed
to finance such a project in 1990 from heading 936.

2. In 1990 priority was given to operations proposed by
the Chilean Government and Parliament. Nevertheless, a
number of projects by non-governmental institutions
were also accepted, in so far as they were the result of
initiatives by official Chilean bodies or enjoyed their

express support.

3. The Honourable Member is advised to contact the

Chilean Ministry of Planning and Cooperation
(MIDEPLAN), the appropriate Commission departments
in Brussels (Directorate-General for External Relations)
or the Commission's delegation in Santiago.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2448/90

by Mr Giuseppe Mottola (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/15)

_Subject:_ Protection and promotion of the tanning
industry

In view of the productive, economic and employment
aspects of the European tanning industry and its
unfavourable prospects in the context of GATT and in
view of the completion of the single market in 1993:

1. How will the Commission protect and promote the
tanning industry which is being threatened by tariff
barriers to exports and the dual price system?

2. How does it intend to ensure that the problem of
tariffs concerning the EEC and Japan receives priority
during Uruguay Round negotiations?

3. If it is unable to do so, Can it follow the example of the
United States and set up a tariff barrier to keep out
Japanese leather products?

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/7

4. Can it suspend the generalized system of tariff
preferences and countervailing duties to provide at
least some measure of internal protection?

Answer by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 February_ _1991)_

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's
preoccupations concerning the various export restrictions
and double-pricing arrangements applied by certain third
countries to trade in raw hides and skins. The
Commission's view is that trade in these products needs to
be opened up and put on a fairer and more transparent
basis/ to the mutual benefit of both exporting and
importing countries. This problem is being dealt with in
the Uruguay Round negotiations, where the Commission
has taken the position that these prohibitions and
restrictions are not in conformity with the spirit of GATT
and should therefore be abolished. In spite of the
derogations for development purposes that LDCs enjoy
in respect of general GATT obligations, the Commission
has argued forcefully that developing countries should
now assume more GATT obligations, notably concerning
the rules on access to raw materials and markets.

As far as the import regime for leather in Japan is
concerned, the Commission has been pressing strongly,
both in the Uruguay Round and in bilateral discussions,
for a more satisfactory degree of market opening for
leather imports. It seems likely that the Japanese will
introduce only a small improvement in market access for
1991 which would be strictly speaking in conformity with
their GATT obligations in this field. The Commission
considers that Japan should make a more substantial
effort to open up its market for leather, particularly in the
light of the stated commitment of the Japanese
Government to international trade liberalization. The
Commission will accordingly maintain this issue as one of
the top priorities for further discussion with the Japanese.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2455/90

by Mr Max Simeoni (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/16)

_Subject:_ Improvement of the RN 164 as part of the
integrated development project in central
Brittany

As part of the integrated development project covering 36
cantons in central Brittany and in particular the
improvement of the RN 164, 3 km of rocks overlooking
the commune of Caurel are to be destroyed.

These rocks (Devonian quartzite schist) are very hard and
their destruction would be a very costly operation.
Moreover, they contain all the springs which provide the
commune of Caurel with drinking water and they
constitute one of the most beautiful sights of central
Brittany.

Does not the Commission consider that such destruction
runs counter to its recent landscape conservation
initiatives designed to promote rural tourism (for example
'Leader')? Is it prepared to consider alternatives to the
route currently proposed, in consultation with the local
inhabitants and their elected representatives ?

Answer by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 February_ _1991)_

At the meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the
Central Brittany Integrated Development Operation in
Rennes on 19 October 1990, the Prefect of Brittany
informed the Commission representative of the
reservations expressed by some local residents about the
rerouting of RN 164 at Caurel. The project had been
approved by Caurel town council on 8 December 1988
and by the Conseil General of Cotes d'Armor.

In accordance with national legislation, the Prefect of
Cotes d'Armor decided on 5 September 1990 to carry out
an inquiry before the project was declared as of public
interest; this took place from 8 October to 14 November.
The information provided for the public included an
environmental impact study, as well as technical, financial
and administrative details.

Of the possible bypasses around the town of Caurel, the
selected one emerged as the best compromise from a
broad-based analysis which took account of human,
aesthetic and physical considerations. The main
environmental impact related to the natural setting and
the water catchment area on the Caurel slope. Special
measures are being taken to mitigate the effect on the
landscape (special treatment for excavated and infill areas:
natural appearance, turfing, planting, etc.). The project is
at the lower limit of the catchment area for drinking water
and water quality will not be affected. Only one
catchment point will be lost as a result of the project and
its contribution is slight. The other catchment points will
be improved to increase their productivity.

At the request of the major of Caurel, the head of the
inquiry (Commissaire enqueteur) arranged a meeting
between representatives of the town of Caurel and of the
Comite de defense at which all points of view were
expressed. The Commissaire submitted his report on 4
December, together with a favourable opinion which

No C 195/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

stressed the importance of the compensatory measures to
be taken. The Prefect of Cotes d"Armor also referred the
matter to the Commission des sites, which issued a
favourable opinion on 17 December, while requesting
some further measures (reafforestation of moorland and
provision of hiking paths). The Prefect of Cotes d'Armor
is expected to declare official approval of the project very
shortly.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2465/90

by Mr Nino Pisoni, Mr Franco Borgo and
Mr Mauro Chiabrando (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/17)

_Subject:_ Community regulations concerning the
slaughter of pigs affected by classical swine fever
in Belgium

Regulations (EEC) No 906/90 ('), (EEC) No 1626/90 ( [2] )
and (EEC) No 2351/90 ( [J] ) contain a series of support
measures for the market in pigmeat in Belgium, including
health regulations concerning the slaughter of pigs
originating in 'buffer zones'.

Given that these measures provide for heat treatment for
products processed and sold outside Belgium whether or
not subject to private storage, there are grounds for
supposing that the present system of surveillance to
ensure the destruction of the animals is inadequate,
especially as regards the methods and procedures
employed (i.e. slaughter of animals, refrigeration
laboratory analysis of sections of carcass, packaging in
cardboard containers, re-refrigeration and destruction).

There are also grounds for believing that a number of
carcasses are being processed and marketed rather than
destroyed.

1. How does the Commission ensure that all these
complex and expensive operations, aimed at removing
contaminated pigmeat from the sphere of human
consumption and transferring it to other uses, are
carried out correctly and transparently without risk of
fraud or of endangering public health?

2. Does not the Commission consider that the services
responsible for these operations — which are subject
only to the control of the Belgian veterinary
authorities — should be reinforced or placed under
the strict control of an EEC veterinary committee, in
view of the serious risk of the epidemic spreading to
regions of the Community which have hitherto not
been affected?

O OJNoL93,10.4.1990, p. 27.
O OJ No LI 52,16.6.1990, p. 57.
O OJNoL215,10.8.1990, p. 9.

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 March_ _1991)_

1. In order to ensure that complex and expensive
operations such as those related to the situation in
Belgium are carried out correctly and transparently, the
Commission relies on the following administrative
procedures:

(a) Adoption of a legal text

The conditions for carrying out operations
concerning exceptional market support measures are
laid down in a Commission Regulation. The
Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly
applicable in the Member States; that is, it is the
responsibility of the Member State to ensure proper
implementation of the operations foreseen in the
Regulation.

(b) Consultation

The measures provided for in the Commission
Regulations on exceptional market support measures
in relation to Classical Swine Fever in Belgium have
all been in accordance with the opinion of the
Management Committee for Pigmeat.

(c) Control

In accordance with Article 9 of Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 O, the Commission
can make a request to a Member State for an
investigation into the control of the implementation
of Commission Regulations. This procedure can
relate to an investigation carried out under the
auspices of the Member State itself or by the
Commission.

The procedures indicated — namely adoption of the legal
text, consultations and control arrangements — have all
been applied in relation to the exceptional support
measures taken in this case.

A request for an investigation into the control of the
implementation of the regulations adopted for Belgium
was made by the Commission in August 1990. This
investigation has not yet been completed.

2. The Commission was kept informed by the Belgian
veterinary authorities about the disease and eradication
situation throughout the epidemic. Control measures
were reinforced on a number of occasions as a result of
Commission Decisions adopted in relation to protection
measures for the affected area. The Commission has been
assisted in this work by the Standing Veterinary
Committee, meeting regularly to review the situation.
Furthermore, a number of experts from Member States
and from the Commission have visited the crisis centre for
directing operations, farms affected by the disease,
diagnostic laboratories and the rendering plant
concerned. At a more general level, in order to ensure an
effective and rapid response to eradication of disease in
the Community, the Commission is evaluating all twelve
national veterinary administrations. The intention is to
assist Member States in equipping themselves for the
effective performance of the measures foreseen in

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/9

Community legislation. All Member States will be
requested to prepare a contingency plan in the case of
Classical Swine Fever.

O OJ No L 94, 28. 4.1970.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2517/90

by Mr Gerhard Schmid (S)

to the Commission of the European-Communities

_(16_ _November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/18)

_Subject:_ Problems of wine growing in the EC

1. What area is under vine in each indivudual Member

States?

Germany total

of which in production

France total

of which in production

Italy total

of which in production

Belgium total

of which in production

Luxembourg total

of which in production

Greece total ( [l] )

of which in production

United Kingdom total
of which in production

EUR 10 total

of which in production

Spain total

of which in production

Portugal total

of which in production

EUR 12 total

of which in production

_Source:_ Communications from the Member States — Eurostat.
(') International Vine and Wine Office.

3. 57 515 000 hectolitres of wine were distilled during
the 1987/88 wine year, out of a total production of
208 732 110 hectolitres.

For the period from the beginning of 1989 to the third
quarter of 1990, the sale of alcohol to non-Community
countries for use as fuel under Regulation (EEC)
No 1780/89 O, from stocks resulting from distillation
under Articles 35, 36, and 39 of Regulation (EEC) No
822/87 O and held by the Spanish, French and Italian

2. What is the production level in each individual
Member State?

3. How much wine is processed into fuel or industrial
alcohol?

4. What has been the cost of this measure?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 March_ _1991)_

1. and 2. The area devoted to wine-grape vines and the
yields by Member State for the 1987/88 wine year are as
follows:

ha

101 000

93 276

994 000

983 000

1 003 530

978 048

7

6

1 326

1 196

86 500 
85 000

480

350

2 185 853

2 140 876

1 445 834

1 395 965

379 000

372 000

4 041 841

3 908 841

hl/ha

104,1

70,5

74,4

118,7

47,1

73

29,7

29,7

53,4

intervention agencies, reached 8 500 000 hectolitres at

100% vol.

4. The disposal cost of these 8 500 000 hectolitres of
alcohol stocks either by way of depreciation on purchase
or through below-cost selling, is currently estimated to be
ECU 754 million.

O OJ No L 178, 24.6.1989.
O OJ No L 84, 27. 3.1987.

No C 195/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2604/90

by Mr Manuel Medina Ortega (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/19)

_Subject:_ Imports from the Canary Islands

Within the established quota framework, certain national
customs authorities, notably those of Italy and Portugal,
are applying the maximum CCT (13%), applicable to
third countries, to imported plants, flowers and cuttings
from the Canary Islands.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to
make these national authorities comply with the
regulations governing imports of products from the
Canaries?

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 February_ _1991)_

The customs departments of the Commission have asked
the Italian and Portuguese authorities to report back as
soon as possible on their on-the-spot investigations into
the customs duties actually charged on products imported
from the Canary Islands.

The Commission is monitoring the matter and will take
any further steps required to ensure that duties are
correctly applied on goods from the Canary Islands.

Since the Community tariff quotas for 1990 for the
Canary Island products in question are not yet used up,
the rates of duty to be applied should be as shown in the
table in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 3211/89
opening and providing for the administration of
Community tariff quotas for some products originating in
the Canary Islands (1990) (').

The rate of 13 % referred to by the Honourable Member
is the rate currently applied by the Community to
non-member countries.

O OJNo312,27.10.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2612/90

by Mr Bernard Antony (DR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20_ _November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/20)

_Subject:_ Support for front-line states

What countries, movements or political parties receive
appropriations entered against budget item B7-5071 ?

What criteria must be met by the countries or political
movements concerned for eligibility for these
appropriations and how are the latter allocated?

Answer by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 January_ _1991)_

Projects financed under budget item B7-5071 assist
neither movements, political parties nor countries, instead
they are designed to support the local population affected
by destabilization measures.

The projects are generally presented to the Commission
by NGOs and cover areas such as medical assistance for
the victims of fighting, particularly the disabled;
assistance for displaced persons, especially orphans and
children separated from their families; training
programmes for refugees from South Africa and for
Namibians.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2638/90

by Mr David Bowe (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November_ _1990)_

(91/C 195/21)

_Subject:_ Guatemala

The International Conference for Guatemalan Refugees
(CIREFCA), of which the European Community is a part,
has granted 6,8 million to the Guatemalan Government to
assist in the repatriation of refugees. The Guatemalan
Government has now asked for a further 10 million.
Given that reports from Guatemala indicate that food
aid has not been supplied by the Guatemalan State
Commission for repatriation as promised, and that the
same State Commission has presented misleading figures
on the number of refugees returning, should the
Commission reconsider the continuation of aid to the

Guatemalan Government?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(7_ _February_ _1991)_

At the first international follow-up conference to
CIREFCA in New York at the end of June last year the
Commission did not pledge any further aid to the
Guatemalan Government for the repatriation of refugees.

The figure of ECU 6,8 million is in fact slightly higher
than the cost of all the operations carried out since 1987

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 195/11

tp assist refugees in Guatemala, namely ECU 6,4 million.
These operations are listed in the table below.

With regard to reports from Guatemala about the
Guatemalan State Commission (CEAR) (') the
Commission would like to provide the following
clarifications:

The Commission does not maintain direct relations with
the CEAR. The only two projects in which the CEAR
participates are project Nos 87/5/AR (ECU 800 000) and
88/18/RR (ECU 1 250 000), which are shown in the table
below.

These projects for the voluntary repatriation of
Guatemalan refugees in Mexico were financed by the
Commission at the request of the UNHCR ( [2] ). The
UNHCR asked the CEAR to carry out these projects. The

first project has been completed and the second is still
under way. In all, some 5 000 refugees have already been
repatriated, 80 % of them to the Huehuetenango area and
20 % to the Ixcan area, where it proved difficult to bring in
supplies of food and equipment because of the distance,
the lack of roads and clashes between guerrillas and the
armed forces. The second project does not for the time
being require further Community financing.

The Commission will reconsider giving aid for the
repatriation of refugees to Guatemala in the light of
developments in the political situation, particularly the
attitude of the new government brought in by the
presidential election of November 1990 and January 1991
and the circumstances in which these repatriations could
be carried out.

( [1] ) Comisi6n Especial de Atenci6n a los Refugiados.
( [2] ) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Aid projects for Guatemala towards self-sufficiency for refugees and displaced persons (Item 9360)

EEC commitments

ECU million

290

300

800.

2 550

180

300

1 250

280

450

6 400

600

Organization

MSF/FR

ERM/FR

UNHCR/CEAR

MINDES

VSF/FR

MdM/FR

UNHCR/CEAR

ESF/FR

VSF/FR

UNHCR

Project

87/1 /AD

87/2/AD

87/5/AR

88/7/RR

88/8/RR

88/17/RR

88/18/RR

89/7/AD

AC/RR/4/90

Total

_token entry:_
88/20/AR

Title

Health and sewage system in 'El
Mezquital' neighbourhood

Health and education of displaced
orphans in Quiche region

Repatriation and resettlement of
Guatemalan refugees

Development resettlement areas
northern Huehuetenango

Assistance in livestock production and
training of livestock farming promoters

Educational and preventive health
programme for Guatemalan returnees
and displaced persons in Ixcan

Repatriation and rehabilitation of
Guatemalan returnees

Aid for education of displaced children

in Ixcan

Development of small livestock farming
and training of livestock farming
promoters in Nenton and Barillas

9 projects

Contribution to the preparation of the
conference on Central American

refugees

25. 7. 91
No C 195/12 Official Journal of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2639/90

by Mr Henry Chabert (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November 1990)_

(91/C 195/22)

_Subject:_ Urban development policy of the Community

institutions

The dramatic events which occurred in October in

Vaux-en-Velin have once more drawn attention to the

shortcomings of certain large urban areas caused by many
different factors: accommodation and a culmination of

problems relating to employment, immigration, the lack
of social and cultural amenities, etc. which require a
concerted effort by all concerned.

What are the main sectors in which the Community
should take action in order to promote such a policy?

Can the Commission give a comprehensive and detailed
breakdown of the budget headings and structural funds
directly or indirectly earmarked for the major urban
development projects, particularly in the poorest areas?

By the end of the century, more than 80% of the
Community's population will be concentrated in urban
areas and the formulation of a genuine European urban
development policy is therefore a matter of urgency.

Does the Commission not therefore consider that a

genuine urban development policy should be proposed
without delay?

Answer by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(23 January 1991)_ .

The Commission is aware of the events in Vaux-en-Velin

and also the various problems of an economic and social

- nature which exist in many cities of the Community.

The responsibility for combatting social exclusion in cities
rests largely with Member States.

Nevertheless, the Commission in its pursuit of .regional
and social objectives takes account of the need to improve
the position of disadvantaged areas and groups of people.
This has led to actions through the structural funds
directed at cities in eligible areas.

Additionally, through Article 10 of the ERDF regulation
and in association with support from the ESF, pilot
projects for parts of London and Marseille were launched

in 1990. These pilot projects target on disadvantaged
groups in housing estates with economic and social
problems with a view to developing economic
opportunities for the residents. Other Article 10 projects
have recently been announced.

Furthermore, on 18 July 1989 the Council adopted a
'Programme for the economic and social integration of
less-favoured groups' and on 29 September 1989 adopted
a resolution on tackling social exclusion. Further action is
envisaged through a Community initiative 'HORIZON'
which was approved by the Commission in December
1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2661/90

byMrHeinzKohlef(S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November 1990)_

(91/C 195/23)

_Subject:_ Information provided by Member States in
support of Structural Fund applications

Annex 2 to the 'Guide to the Elaboration of Operational
Programme for Regions included under Objective 5b'
states that Member States should provide the Commission
with information on any 'zones importantes . . . (zones
sensibles)' in the region concerned.

1. What is the definition of the term 'zones importantes
(zones sensibles)'?

2. Are Member States required to indicate to the
Commission whether the region contains sites
registered on CORINE or on the SFF3 list of
important bird areas?

3. Does the Commission scrutinize all Operational
programmes to identify Special Protection Areas and
CORINE and SFF3 sites within the region?

4. If not, how can the Commission be sure that
Structural Fund projects will not damage areas of
conservation importance?

5. Is the Commission prepared to institute such routine
and comprehensive screening of Operational
programmes and individual project applications?

Answer by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 February 1991)_

1. In December 1988 the Member States were

informed of the definition of 'zones which are important
for conservation (sensitive zones)' and given information

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/13

on assessing the environmental impact of plans,
programmes and projects submitted under the structural

instruments. Sensitive areas are defined as those which

are:

(a) protected by national legislation;

(b) included in lists of zones notified by the Member
States in accordance with Community legislation or
defined by the Commission.

2. The inventory of sites of major importance for
nature conservation (CORINE-Biotopes), which includes
important bird areas (SFF3), constitutes a scientific base
which the Commission is currently using to assess
regional operational programmes.

3. The Commission checks that measures under the

operational programmes are compatible with
environmental requirements. To this end, the Member
States must confirm that investments comply with
Community directives on environmental impact and
provide the information the Commission requires.

4. The Commission scrutinizes the implementation of
operational programmes through the Monitoring
Committees set up by the regions concerned under the
Community support frameworks. This includes
monitoring of the various phases of implementation of
investments in accordance with the rules laid down in the

general implementing provisions for operational
programmes. These provisions are an integral part of the
Commission decisions on the granting of assistance from
the structural Funds.

5. In general, the procedure for monitoring the
compatibility of measures financed by the structural
Funds is set out in detail in the joint answer to Written
Questions Nos 1962/90 by Mr Monnier-Besombes and
2013/90 by Mr Papayannakis (*), which should answer
the concerns of the Honourable Member.

O OJNoC70, 18.3.1991, p. 27.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2667/90

by Mrs Mechtild Rothe (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(23 November 1990)_

(91/C 195/24)

_Subject:_ Danger to human health posed by Olaquindox
and Chlorpromazine

Studies at the Gottingen University Dermatological
Clinic have shown that the handling of both Olaquindox,
an antibiotic growth promoter used to improve food
utilization in piglet rearing, and Chlorpromazine, a
substance administered by injection and used to

tranquilize pigs and piglets, may cause serious skin
diseases in humans. Photoallergic contact eczema and
chronic photosensitive dermatitis with increased UVA
and UVB sensitivity have been diagnosed.

Olaquindox is added to self-mixed feed, which is usually
cheaper. The dust produced when the feed is mixed and
distributed can cause allergic reactions in unprotected
human skin. Although both Olaquindox and
Chlorpromazine carry a recommendation — or warning
— regarding their safe use, I consider this measure to be
quite insufficient.

Was the Commission aware of the effects on health

described above when Olaquindox was authorized
throughout the Community (Directive 87/317/EEC ('))?

Is the Commission aware of the studies undertaken at the

Gottingen Dermatological Clinic?

Does the Commission consider that is would be right to
ban these extremely dangerous substances, which may
even force people to give up their occupation?

O OJ No L 160,20.6. 1987.

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 March 1991)_

The addition of Olaquindox to piglet feed by the farmer is
a totally illegal practice.

Under Article 13 (2) of Council Directive 70/524/EEC
concerning additives in feedingstuffs ('), substances like
Olaquindox which belong to the group of growth
promoters or fall within the category of antibiotics, may
be delivered — exclusively — to manufacturers of
premixtures and, in the form of premixtures, to
manufacturers of compound feedingstuffs who fulfil
certain conditions regarding facilities, equipment, skill
and records.

The actual labels of additives and premixtures made from
the additives in question must bear the words 'to be used
exclusively by manufacturers of premixtures for
compound feedingstuffs' or 'to be used exclusively in the
manufacture of compound feedingstuffs' in order to
prevent improper use of the substances in question.

In the particular case of Olaquindox, the Council
authorized on a proposal from the Commission the use of
the substance solely in the form of an oily preparation and
limited the quantity of dust which may be given out on
handling. In addition, Council Directive 87/317/EEC
lays down safety instructions and warnings relating to
labelling to protect the health of operators and in
particular to prevent any exposure to the aditive in
particular by contact or inhaling.

No C 195/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

At the 135th meeting of the Committee of Experts on
Additives of 18 and 19 April 1990, the Commission and
the Member States were informed of the paper entitled
'Gefahren durch Olaquindox' presented by S. Schauder
on the basis of work carried out by the Abteilung
Dermato (Dermatosen 37, Heft 5 (1989)). In the German
view, it involved an isolated case of allergy.

Since the original authorization of Olaquindox in 1976,
the Commission has no knowledge of any incident of
allergy apart from the case referred to by the Honourable
Member.

It should be stressed that the paper from the University of
Gottingen does not state whether the preparation used by
the farmer suffering from allergy complied with the
composition rules set out in Directive 70/524/EEC.

Having regard to the particular circumstances in which
the incident took place, the Commission does not
consider that Olaquindox should be prohibited.

Chlorpromazine is used in human medicine as a
neuroleptic and in certain Member States in veterinary
medicine as a tranquillizer for pigs. The secondary effects
of this molecule in human beings are well known and have
been described in medical literature and in the

instructions for branded pharmaceuticals containing the
substance.

In veterinary medicine, branded pharmaceuticals based
on Chlorpromazine are normally administered on a
veterinary prescription by injection.

Under present Community legislation, a decision to
authorize a particular veterinary medicinal product is
taken by the Member State after assessing the benefits
and risks of the product on the basis of Community
criteria harmonized by Directive 81/851/EEC ( [2] ) and
81/852/EEC( [3] ).

The Commission is aware of the studies undertaken at the

Gottingen Dermatological Clinic.

Council Directive 89/391 /EEC ( [4] ) on the introduction of
measures to encourage improvement in the safety and
health of workers at work and the provisions of Directive
80/1107/EEC on chemical, physical and biological agents
set out the global strategy for the protection of workers
at the workplace and require that employers fully assess
the health risks to workers at the workplace and
t a k e _,_ appropriate measures on the basis of the
general principles of avoiding risks and replacing

dangerous substances by non-dangerous or less
dangerous ones.

Council Directive 88/364/EEC ( [5] ) bans certain work
activities and the production and use of specific agents at
the workplace in certain cases, such as when there are
serious health and safety risks for which sufficient
precautions cannot be taken; however, the Commission
has not considered it necessary to propose an amendment
to include Olaquindox or Chlorpromazine in the Annex
to the Directive.

The Comission believes that the obligations laid down in
Directive 80/1107/EEC ( [6] ) and 89/391/EEC are fully
applicable to the situation.

However the Commission will keep under review the need
for further initiatives within the framework of these

Directives.

O OJNoL270,14.12.1970.
O OJNoL317, 6.11.1981.
O OJNoL317,6.11.1981.
O OJ No LI 83, 29. 6.1989.
(') OJ No L 179,9. 7.1988.
(') OJNoL327,3.12.1980.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2675/90

by Mr John Cushnahan (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_{4 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/25)

_Subject:_ Agriculture — Pollution control grants

Is the maximum level of income (from non- agricultural
sources) for eligibility for pollution control grants the
same in each Member State of the Community? If not,
what is the level in each Member State?

Answer by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 January 1991)_

(a) Annual premium

The maximum amount of the annual premium per
hectare, covered by the aid scheme referred to in Article
19 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 of 12 March
1985 (^ and eligible under the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund, is the same in each
Member State of the Community, i.e. ECU, 150 (Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3808/89 of 12 December 1989) ( [2] ).

In its recent proposal for a Council Regulation, on the
introduction and the maintenance of agricultural
production methods compatible with the requirements of
the protection of the environment and the maintenance of
the countryside ( [3] ), the Commission is providing for a

No C 195/15
25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

range of maximum eligible amounts of the annual
premium according to crop category:

— ECU 180 for annual crops and pasture

— ECU 300 for specialized olive groves

— ECU 900 for citrus fruits

— ECU 600 for other perennial crops and wine.

(b) Reimbursement rates

The rates of Community part-financing vary as follows,
according to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 223/90
of 28 January 1990 ( [4] ).

_Regions covered by Objective 1 as defined in Article 1 of_
_Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88_ ( [5] )

— Greece, Ireland, Portugal: 65 %

— France

— Overseas department (DOM): 60 %

— Corsica: 50 %

— Spain, Italy: 50%

— United Kingdom

— Northern Ireland: 50 %

_Regions not covered by Objective 1 as defined in Article 1 of_
_Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88_ ( [5] )

— All: 25%

O OJNoL93, 30. 3.1985.
O OJNoL371,20.12.1989.
O OJNoC267,23.10.1990.
O OJ No L 22, 27.1.1990.
O OJNoLl85,15.7.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2707/90

by Mr Panayotis Roumeliotis (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/26)

_Subject:_ Creation of a special urban affairs unit at the
Commission

On 24 October 1989, at a meeting with mayors of
European cities, Mr Delors, the President of the
Commission, proposed the creation of a special urban
affairs unit at the Commission. What progress has been
made concerning this proposal and what are its prospects?

Answer by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 March 1991)_

Increasingly, the Commission is concerned with urban
issues through the structural funds and other policies
(environment, energy, transport, etc.).

Following the meeting with mayors representing
'Eurocities' on 24 October 1989, the Commission has
helped 'Eurocities' to establish networks of economic and
technological cooperation with co-financing from budget
line 5412 and Article 10 of the ERDF regulation. These
actions come together within a unit established at the
Directorate-General for Regional Policies which deals
also with urban pilot projects, other networks of cities and
studies concerning the urbanization and the functions of
cities.

Since 1990, DG XI has also got an Urban Environment
unit (B3). This unit drew up the Green Paper on the
Environment adopted by the Commission in June 1990
and which was the subject of a Resolution at the
Environment Council of 21 December 1990. The Urban

Environment unit is studying the setting-up of the expert
group suggested by the Council and which will include
representatives from academic and scientific circles as well
as representatives from voluntary associations.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2740/90

by Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(10 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/27)

_Subject:_ Trade relations between the Member States and

overseas territories

What differences apply to exports and trade between
Member States and between Member States and overseas

territories?

To what does the Commission attribute any differences
and according to what time-scale and by what means does
it intend to eliminate them, in the light of Article 132 (12)
of the EEC Treaty?

Answer by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 April 1991)_

Relations between the overseas countries and territories

(OCT) are the subject of regular Council Decisions laying
down, on the basis of Article 136 of the Treaty, the details
of and procedure for the association of the OCT with the
Community. The Council is currently discussing a
Commission proposal establishing these arrangements for
a further period.

With regard to trade, the Commission has proposed free
access for virtually all products originating in the OCT

No C 195/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

without asking the authorities of the OCT to grant the
same treatment for products originating in the
Community.

It would therefore appear that generally speaking
products from the OCT enjoy similar arrangements to
those for Member States' products, the few exceptions
arising from the constraints of the common agricultural
policy, which does not apply to the OCT.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2804/90

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/28)

_Subject:_ Migraine

Cases of migraine in Europe are currently on the increase.
Given that several million Europeans are affected and the
direct and indirect costs place a very heavy burden on the
Member States' health and welfare budgets, what steps
will the Commission take to promote a campaign to
combat the disease?

Does the Commission not believe that it should take
immediate action to step up and harmonize all the
measures directed towards public education and the
prevention and cure of migraine?

Answer by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 May_ _1991)_

The Commission is well aware of the increase in the
number of migraine sufferers but unfortunately it
currently has no powers to take action.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2819/90

by Mr Filippos Pierros (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17_ _December 1990)_

(91/C 195/29)

_Subject:_ Problems in Greek and European sardine
canning plants

Detailed, reliable statistics reveal the serious problems
faced by Greek and other European sardine canning
companies. To a large extent the problems are due to the

exceptionally disadvantageous conditions for the
Community created by the common tariff regime applied
to similar products from Morocco (EEC-Morocco trade
agreement 427/76). The situation is getting worse, owing
to fluctuations in the economic situation and production
conditions in Morocco (labour costs, health insurance,
insurance and bonuses, etc.) compared with those that
apply in the Community.

Because of this, the Greek sardine canning industry has
particular difficulty in disposing of its products. Exports
to the rest of the Community have shrunk, particularly in
the last decade, leading to the collapse of a traditional
domestic industry, despite the fact that the best quality
raw materials abound in Greece.

The Commission's measures to support the industry are
deemed inadequate and thus need strengthening. Will the
Commission state what measures it intends to take
(possibly the reduction of the Moroccan quota, the
introduction of tariff quotas or a readjustment of
subsidies to the Community's sardine ^ processing
industry) to assist a major Community industry?

Answer by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 February_ _1991)_

The opening on 1 January 1989 of an annual tariff quota
of 17 500 tonnes subject to zero duty provided for in the
framework of the fisheries agreement initialled on 25
February 1988 by the Community and Morocco
constitutes one of the benefits granted by the Community
on the basis of the principle of access to resources against
access to markets.

These arrangements replace the autonomous quotas
existing since 1 January 1978 in the framework of the
1976 commercial cooperation agreement. The latter in
turn replaced previous national arrangements.

The Commission considers that these new arrangements
do not alter the conditions of competition previously
obtaining on the Community market.

Within the framework of the latest enlargement, in order
to ensure the competitiveness of the processing industry
in the Community of Ten, a system of compensatory
allowances together with arrangements for aligning prices
and structural aids for the conversion of sardine-canning
plants, including support measures for commercial
promotion, have been introduced.

In the context of the report from the Commission to the
Council on the situation and outlook for the sardine
market in the Community and on a proposal from the
Commission, in June 1989 the Council set marketing

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/17

standards for tinned sardines with a view to enhancing the
profitability of Community sardine production and
ensuring the market transparency by improving the
quality of the products and harmonizing the existing
national standards.

Within the reform of the structural Funds, Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4042/89 (') offers the possibility of
Community financial aid to improve the conditions under
which fishery products are processed and marketed.

In this context and in partnership with the authorities of
the Member States concerned, the Commission is
working to promote investments to rationalize and
modernize the sardine-canning industry while preventing
the creation of surplus production capacity. It should be
emphasized that the rate of Community financial aid may
be as high as 50 % of the cost of the investments in regions
covered by Objective 1 of the reform of the structural
Funds, which is the case of Greek territory as a whole.

O OJNoL388,30.12.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2858/90

by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/30)

_Subject:_ Harassment of German coach operators

There have been an increasing number of cases in recent
months where the French police has harassed German
coach operators who, as a result of the easing of border
formalities under the internal market, no longer receive
stamped ASOR log sheets when crossing the border and
are therefore unable to produce them inside France.
However, police patrols impose significant fines in such
cases (up to DM 1 000), and failure to pay can lead to the
coaches being impounded and prevented from continuing
their journey.

Is the Commission aware of this harassment, which has
been notified to the authorities by the Federal Association
of German Coach Operators (BDO) in many letters and
press releases?

What steps does it intend to take in this connection?

Answer by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(16 May 1991)_

The Commission was not aware of the problems
described by the Honourable Member. If she provides
details of specific cases, the Commission will examine
them further.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2859/90

by Mr Jose Vazquez Fouz (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 December 1990)_

(91/C 195/31)

_Subject:_ Supplying of the fish processing industry

The aim set out in Regulation (EEC) No 4042/89 (')on
the supply of raw materials for the fish processing
industry, that 'the bulk of the raw materials' should be of
'Community origin', is doubtless of great importance for
the Community fishing industry and also has significant
implications for the Community fleet.

What are the Commission's views on the supply of
markets and the Community fleet?

Does the Commission not consider that the future of a

significant section of the fleet is safeguarded by the above

aim?

O OJNoL388,30.12.1989, p. 1.

Answer by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 January 1991)_

The Commission is aware that fleet capacity exceeds
available resources, i.e. both internal resources, which are
subject to restrictions for the sake of their own
conservation; and external resources, which are
dependent upon access to the waters of third countries.
The Community fleet's catch does not satisfy market
requirements, leading to an increasing imbalance in
fishery product supply and demand, and thus a large trade
deficit.

The Commission is also aware of the need to develop and
improve the fishery and aquaculture product processing
and marketing sector. This need is the basis for Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4042/89 on the improvement of the
conditions under which fishery and aquaculture products
are processed and marketed, within the framework of the
reform of the structural Funds. The Commission is

drawing up the Community support frameworks together
with the Member States at present.

One of the conditions laid down by Regulation (EEC) No
4042/89 for investments to qualify for Community aid is
that the major part of the raw materials must be of
Community origin. This requirement will contribute to an
increase in fishery productivity to the benefit of the
majority of the Community fleet.

No C 195/18 Official Journal of

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2867/90

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/32)

_Subject:_ ERDF support for the Hispano-Portuguese
transfrontier plan

In 1989 the Spanish Government adopted the
Hispano-Portuguese transfrontier plan. The plan [1 ]

includes major infrastructure projects of general interest
to the state as well as to regional and local concerns. As a
general rule it is 70 % financed by the ERDF and 30 % by
the relevant local administrations.

What support from the ERDF is proposed for the plan in
1990, and for which projects?

Does the European Community have criteria for giving
priority to certain projects? If so, which?

What is the total period proposed for completion of the
plan?

Answer by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 February_ _1991)_

The cross-border plan for Spain and Portugal approved
by the Spanish Government has not been adopted by the
Commission. Instead, as part of the Community Interreg
initiative, assistance could be provided from the structural
Funds, not exclusively the ERDF.

The Spanish and Portuguese Governments have still not
officially submitted an operational programme for the
common border area under the Interreg initiative, which
was published in the _Official Journal of the European_
_Communities_ on 30 August 1990, and so the Commission
is not yet able to take a decision on the type of measures to
be financed by that programme.

Community financial assistance will be determined once
the joint proposals of the Spanish and Portuguese
Governments have been assessed.

The priority of the works to be financed under Interreg
will be determined in accordance with Notice C(90)

European Communities 25. 7. 91

1562/3 published in Official Journal No C 215 of 30
August 1990, and in particular paragraphs 16 and 17.

The Interreg programme will run from 1991 to 1993.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2877/90

by Mr Barry Seal (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 January_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/33)

_Subject:_ State aid infringements

What action is currently being taken by _%he_ Commission
to deal with allegations of state aid infringement affecting
the PMU in France ?

Why has there been such a lengthy delay in processing the
complaint?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2878/90

by Mr Barry Seal (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 January_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/34)

_Subject:_ Breach of competition law

What action is being taken by the Commission to deal
with allegations which have been submitted to it
concerning serious breaches of competition law on the
part of the PMU in France, relating to betting on horse
racing?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2884/90

by Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _January_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/35)

_Subject:_ Compliance with competition rules

Can the Commission confirm that it will soon open the
procedure for obtaining information in respect of the
granting of state aids to the Pari Mutuel Urbain company
(France) ?

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/19

On what basis is the Commission opening this procedure
and what is the schedule for further action?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2945/90

by Sir Christopher Prout (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/36)

_Subject:_ State aids — gaming and horse race betting

What action is currently being taken by the Commission
to deal with allegations of state aid infringements
affecting PMUs in France? Why has there been such a
lengthy delay in processing the complaint?

What action is being taken by the Commission to deal
with allegations which have been submitted to it
concerning serious breaches of competition law on the
part of PMUs in France relating to betting on horse
racing?

When does the Commission expect to receive the report
of Coopers & Lybrand on their study on gaming laws in
the Member States?

When does the Commission anticipate that it will be in a
position to report to Parliament on the action that it
proposes to take consequent upon the Coopers &
Lybrand report into gaming laws in the Member States?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3001/90

by Mr Brian Cassidy (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/37)

_Subject:_ State aids

1. What action is currently being taken by the
Commission to deal with allegations of state aid
infringements affecting the PMU in France? Why has
there been such a lengthy delay in processing the
complaint?

2. What action is being taken by the Commission to
deal with allegations which have been submitted to them
concerning serious breaches of competition law on the
part of the PMU in France relating to betting on horse
racing?

3. When does the Commission expect to receive the
report of Coopers & Lybrands on their study on gaming
laws in the Member States?

4. When does the Commission anticipate that it will be
in a position to report to Parliament on the action that it
proposes to take consequent upon the Coopers and
Lybrands report into gaming laws in the Member States?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2877/90, 2878/90,

2884/90, 2945/90 and 3001/90

given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 March 1991)_

The Commission has received complaints regarding the
alleged awarding of State aid to the Pari Mutuel Urbain
(PMU) in France and the effective monopoly position of
the PMU in relation to off-course horse race betting in
France.

The Commission has taken these complaints seriously
and it has therefore conducted an extensive examination
into the alleged State assistance granted and the PMU's
monopoly position. The application of the Community's
competition rules to horse race betting in particular, and
to gambling in general, requires careful consideration
since it relates to an activity that is not purely commercial
in nature. Aspects of public order and morality also arise
and for this reason the authorization and organization of
horse race betting is subject to special legal and regulatory
frameworks in the Member States. These complications
have necessarily meant that it has taken longer than
normal to examine and process the complaint.

As regards the alleged State assistance provided, the
Commission has recently concluded that State aid has in
fact been, and is being, awarded to the PMU and that this
aid falls under the application of Articles 92—93 of the
EEC Treaty. The Commission has certain doubts as to the
compatibility of this aid with the common market. It has
therefore decided (') to initiate an enquiry under the
procedure foreseen in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty. In
particular, the Commission is investigating the lack of
transparency relating to the financial resources of the
PMU used on the one hand for the provision of
commercial betting services in intra-Community markets,
and those resources on the other hand made available to
the members of the PMU for the improvement of the
horsing stock in France.

As regards the monopoly aspects, the Commission is
examining the compatibility of the arrangements under
French law governing off-course betting on horse races —
administered exclusively by the PMU in France — with
the provisions of Article 90 (1) of the EEC Treaty in
conjunction with Articles 52, 59 and 86.

In conducting its examinations, the Commission has made
use of information deriving from a variety of sources
including the relevant French authorities, official French
reports and the complainant.

At this stage, the Commission cannot of course give a
precise date by which it will complete the above
proceedings. Given the complexity of the issues raised this
may take longer than usual. Nevertheless, the
Commission will endeavour to complete these

No C 195/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

proceedings as quickly as possible, consistent with a
proper and full enquiry.

The Commission expects to receive the final report of the
study that it has commissioned on betting, gaming, lottery
and similar activities in the Member States, by the end of
March 1991.

It is only in the light of the results that the Commission
will be able to take a decision on what, if any, action it
may take on this study and to programme its work
accordingly.

O OJNoC38,14.2.1991.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2914/90

by. Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3_ _January_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/38)

_Subject:_ Modernization of hotels in Tanzania

Is it correct that the European Investment Bank has
advanced a loan of ECU 3 million under the Third Lome

Convention to Tanzania Hotels Investment Limited?

Can the Commission state whether, or to what extent, this
loan will help create new jobs locally?

Does this loan also cover education and training? If so,
what specific activities?

As far as the Commission is aware, was special attention
paid to training female managers to run these hotels?

If the Commission is only able to answer the first question
in the affirmative, would it then state why development
funds have been allocated to this project?

Answer by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 February_ _1991)_

The ECU 3 million loan to Tanzania Hotels Investment

Ltd (TAHI), referred to by the Honourable Member, was
granted from risk capital provided under the Third Lome
Convention and managed by the EIB, for the
rehabilitation and modernization of hotel

accommodation in Tanzania.

As this project intends to rehabilitate and modernize hotel
accommodation, it will help to stabilize existing
employment rather than create new jobs. The project is
expected to secure employment for approximately 500
staff.

The investment is designed to improve quality of
management and service in six hotels, as well as efficiency

of marketing abroad. The European partner who is
responsible for managing the hotels, plans to undertake
extensive professional training, in particular for local
staff, to ensure improved service. One of the hotels will
serve as a training centre for all hotels.

Recruitment of staff and advancement to supervisory
functions will be open to local candidates irrespective of

sex.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2918/90

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 November_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/39)

_Subject:_ Destruction of the environment on the island of

Nisiros

Nisiros, a small Aegean island is renowned for its
traditional and very beautiful architecture. Over the last
few years in particular its economy has been mainly based
on tourism.

The Greek Government has now decided to issue a licence

for the quarrying of minerals and marble on the island,
despite the fact that this will have disastrous repercussions
on the tourist industry and the environment given the
limited size of the island and the absence of any of the
infrastructures needed for quarrying activities.

Does the issuing of the above licence in the absence of a
prior environmental impact assessment constitute an
infringement of Directive 85/337/EEC (')?

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

Answer by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(5 April_ _1991)_

The Commission was unaware of the project to which the

Honourable Member refers.

Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the impact of
certain public and private projects on the environment
makes provision for projects likely to have significant
effects on the environment to be subjected to an
environmental assessment before authorization is

granted.

Since marble quarries are listed in Annex II to the
Directive and are therefore subjected to an assessment
where the Member State considers that their

characteristics so require, the Commission will ask the

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/21

Greek authorities what measures they intend to take to
ensure that the working of the quarry does not have any
significant effect on the natural environment of Nisiros.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2944/90

by Mr James Elles (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/40)

_Subject:_ European institutes or agencies and their
financial support from the EC budget

1. Will the Commission list all the European institutes,
agencies, centres and foundations which are financed, in
whole or in part, by the EC budget, with the amounts
which each received in terms of financial support in 1989
from the EC budget?

2. Which of these institutes, agencies, centres and
foundations have EC countries only as active members?
Do they have to be based on an EC structure to qualify
for financial support? Can they be called an EC institute
without prior authorization from the European
Commission? Or is it sufficient for any such organization
to be called European to be financed if it appears to have
valid objectives?

Answer by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 March 1991)_

A final list of grants made to 'European institutes,
agencies, centres and foundations' is forwarded to the
President of the European Parliament every year. The
Honourable Member is referred to this list.

Since all of the abovementioned bodies are private
organizations, none of them have 'countries' as members;
otherwise membership is overwhelmingly Community
based, although activities may extend to non-Member
States where this is deemed to contribute to the cause of

European integration in a wider sense.

Beneficiaries of these Commission grants do not
necessarily have to be 'based on an EC structure' to
qualify for support. None of the beneficiaries in 1989
claimed to be an 'EC institute'.

For a body or organization to be eligible for a
Commission grant its objectives have to correspond to the

comments set out in the EC budget in respect of the
budget line under which its activities might be supported,
regardless of whether it calls itself 'European' or not.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2955/90

by Lord Inglewood (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/41)

_Subject:_ Structural Fund Regulations

Can the Commission confirm that tourism is not included

within the definition of 'declining industry', for the
purposes of the Structural Fund regulations?

Bearing in mind the problems currently faced in many
Lancashire resorts whose traditional industry is tourism,
would it not be desirable to extend the definition to

include tourism?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 March 1991)_

The Commission can confirm that the term 'industrial

employment', as used in the criteria for determining
declining industrial areas covered by Objective 2 of the
Structural Funds, does not include employment in
tourism.

'Industrial employment' is taken to refer to NACEcategories 1 to 5 (mining and quarrying and utilities,
manufacturing and building and civil engineering). No
'service' industries, such as tourism, are taken into

account.

There are no plans at present to propose any change in

these criteria.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2972/90

by Mr Jose Barros Moura (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/42)

_Subject:_ Preservation of the 'Quinta do Barao' estate in

Carcavelos

The 'Quinta do Barao' estate, which consists of a manor
house, gardens, vaults and a surrounding wall, was
officially designated as a classified building by the State

No C 195/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

Secretary for Culture on 16 May 1990. In addition to its
historical and architectural value, the estate is of great
environmental and agricultural value since it contains one
of the (few) remaining vineyards in the Carcavelos area,
most of them having succumbed to the voracious appetite
of property developers.

Despite this, plans have been made to build a road across
Carcavelos linking the Estadio Nacional — Cascais
section of Motorway No 5 to the Estrada Marginal,
crossing the classified and protected Quinta do Barao

estate.

Possibilities exist for an alternative route which would

preserve the Quinta do Barao estate.

Given that this measure is being partly financed by the
ERDF, will the Commission take measures to prevent
projects receiving Community funding from causing
damage to the environment directly (road construction)
and indirectly (property, speculation) in a protected area
of great cultural and environmental value?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 March 1991)_

The Commission confirms that it is contributing towards
the financing of the Auto-Estrada No 5. The extension of
an access route (n6 de ligacao de Carcavelos) in the
direction of the coast road (Estrada Marginal) is not
however part of the project being financed. The extension
ends two kilometers from the Auto-Estrada in front of the

Quinta do Barao.

According to information available to the Commission a
possible further extension up to the coast road itself,
which would lead it across part of the Quinta do Barao, is
at present under discussion locally. No request for
Community funding has been'received.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2981/90

by Mr Arias Canete (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/43)

_Subject:_ Exploratory fishing

In the light of the figures given by the Commission on
Community aid granted under Regulation (EEC) No
4028/86 O for exploratory fishing, can the Commission

state what projects in each Member State have received
Community aid and indicate the purpose and cost of each
project for 1987,1988 and 1989?

O OJ No L 376, 31.12.1986, p. 7.

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(1 February 1991)_

Acting under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86,
between 1987 and 1989 the Commission granted
assistance totalling ECU 15,58 million for 42 exploratory
fishing projects covering a large number of zones and
species. The species most sought after in these were:

— argentine, hake, redfish, tuna;

— cephalopods, mainly squid and flying squid;

— crustaceans.

Exploratory fishing projects financed under Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 between 1987 and 1989.

Assistance granted
(ECU million)

0,35

0,85

1,07

8,13

0,57

1,87

2,06

0,68

15,58

Member State

Denmark

France

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain
United Kingdom [ v ]

Total

Number of projects
financed

2

2

4

15

1

8

9

1

42

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2982/90

by Mr Arias Canete (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/44)

_Subject:_ Spanish aquaculture projects

In the light of the figures given by the Commission for
1987, 1988 and 1989 concerning projects and Community
aid in the field of Spanish aquaculture under Regulation
(EEC) No 4028/86 (*), could the Commission indicate

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/23

the Spanish beneficiaries of aquaculture projects, the
amount of Community aid granted and the location and
purpose of the projects?

O Oj No L 376, 31.12.1986, p. 7.

Answer given by Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 February_ _1991)_

In 1987,1988 and 1989 a total of 197 aquaculture projects
in Spain received Community assistance of ECU 26,2
million in all.

Community assistance
(ECU million)

8,9

10,9

6,4

26,2

Year

1987

1988

1989

Tojal

No of projects
financed

44

106

47

197

During those three years, the Community financed
projects in 11 Autonomous Communities; 75% of the
projects were located in Galicia and that region received
49 % of Community asssistance. The regions next in order
were Andalusia (8 % of projects and 24 % of assistance)
and Catalonia (6 % of projects and 8 % of assistance).

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament computer
print-outs giving details of the aquaculture and artificial
reef projects financed in each Autonomous Community.

During the period in question, there were only two
artificial reef projects, both in the Autonomous
Community of Valencia. They received ECU 70 000 in
Community assistance.

All the projects financed were in accordance with the
guidelines of the multiannual guidance programme
prepared by the Spanish authorities for the period 1987 to
1991,

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2998/90

by Mr Pedro Canavarro (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(18 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/45)

v
_Subject:_ Border areas between Spain and Portugal

What is the present state of application of the Interreg
programme in the border areas of Portugal and Spain

following the decision to send funds to the countries of
Eastern Europe?

How much funding may be allocated to the development
programme for the border areas of Portugal and Spain,
and what work is being carried out there regarding
infrastructure?

Does the Commission think that this allocation is
sufficient to ensure that the programme has a significant
economic impact in an area which is regarded as one of
the most under-developed in the Community and which
the European Parliament has already targeted as a
priority?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 February_ _1991)_

The Commission adopted a notice on the Interreg
Community initiative on 30 August 1990.

Between 1990 and 1993 the structural Funds will
contribute ECU 800 million to this initiative, in addition
to Community assistance for eastern Europe. The border
areas of Spain and Portugal are expected to receive ECU
344,5 million.

The Commission will decide the final amount for the
Spain/Portugal operational programme on the basis of
the quality of the programmes submitted and in
accordance with the quality criteria set out in
paragraph 17 of its Notice C(90) 1562/3 0).

The Commission has not yet received the final version of
the Spain/Portugal operational programme and so is
unable to state which infrastructure works could be

financed under this initiative.

O OJ No C 215, 30. 8.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3018/90

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 January 1991)_

(91/C 195/46)

_Subject:_ Sale of fish by computerized auction

The traditional system of selling fish at live auctions is
gradually being replaced by computerized auctions in
most fish-markets in the Community. The new type of
auction, while bringing certain advantages, requires new
measures to be introduced to make it operative and
practical. These include a new Community system for the
classification of fish.

In the light of the new dimensions opened up to the
fisheries sector by this development, what steps does the
Commission believe should be planned to ensure that

No C 195/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

computerized auction sales of fish can assist the
marketing of fishery products by using all the telecommunications networks available?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 February_ _1991)_

The Commission is aware that both the facilities and the
selling systems available at many fish markets are
becoming outdated. Accordingly, one of the priorities for
improving the marketing structures for fish is the
modernization of auctions, and in particular the
computerization of sales to improve transparency in
determining prices.

A large number of projects to modernize fish markets
have been financed under Council Regulation (EEC)
No 355/77 on common measures to improve the
conditions under which agricultural and .fishery products
are processed and marketed ( [l] ).

Regulation (EEC) No 4042/89 on the improvement of
processing and marketing facilities for fishery and
aquaculture products ( [2] ), which replaces Regulation
(EEC) No 355/77 and forms part of the reform of the
structural Funds, makes express mention of measures
relating to auctions and facilities for first marketing. This
includes the computerization of fish sales which already
forms part of the Community support frameworks in a
number of Member States.

O OJ No L 51, 23. 2.1977.
O OJNoL388,30.12.1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 19/91

by Mrs Michele Alliot-Marie (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/47)

_Subject:_ Participation of professional fishermen in the
work of the Community's working committees

The economic, technical and financial problems of the
fishing industry are proliferating.

Recent demands by fishermen have related to species,
quotas, fishing zones, tonnage of vessels, the removal of
specific bans, modification of various Community
regulations, the negotiation of agreements between
countries and the review of technical restrictions.

European fishermen justifiably feel that existing
arrangements for consultation are inadequate to cope
with the whole range of problems and needs.

What proposals is the Commission intending to make for
the greater and more effective technical and advisory
involvement of professional fishermen in the work of the
Community's committees?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 February_ _1991)_

The Commission is particularly careful to involve people
working in the fisheries sector in the planning and
implementation of the common fisheries policy and to this
end has set up a number of bodies for informing and
consulting the sector, including the Advisory Committee
on Fisheries, which may be consulted on all matters in
connection with application of the common fisheries
policy Regulations and in the last year has seen the
number of its meetings very substantially raised to 15. The
Committee notifies the outcome of its deliberations to the
Commission in the form of opinions.

The Commission has further shown its intention of
developing and improving provision of information and
consultation by setting up, as part of the restructuring of
the Directorate-General for Fisheries effective from June
1990, a unit responsible for relations with the sectoral
organizations, which is at the moment studying how
consultation should be improved to provide the most
effective involvement of the different parts of the sector in
the work of framing and managing the common policy.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 29/91

by Mr George Patterson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/48)

_Subject:_ Varroatosis: Movement of bees after 1992

Since the endemic bee disease varroatosis exists in all
Member States except for the United Kingdom and
Ireland, will the Commission state what progress has been
made in the discussions on the proposals for animal health
and free movement of animals after 1992, to safeguard
these two Member States from infection of their bee
populations? In particular, will the Commission comment
on the proposed revision put forward by the UK and
Ireland to Annex D of Commission proposal COM(89)
658 final (') of free movement of animals? Can the

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/25

Commission foresee any circumstances under which the
UK would be allowed to continue its prohibition on the
imports of honey bees from infected countries, in order to
protect the native bee population from varroatosis, for
which there is no known cure or treatment at present?

O OJNoC84,2.4.1990, p. 102.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 March 1991)_

The Commission has presented to the Council on
February 1990 _Q)_ a proposal for a Regulation laying
down animal health requirements for the placing on the
market in the Community of animals and products of
animal origin not covered in this respect by specific
Community rules which lays down in particular common
animal health rules governing the placing on the market
of bees.

As already mentioned in reply to Written Question
No 1287/90 by Mr Megahy ( [2] ), the requirements
specified in the proposal will ensure that bees will not
spread diseases throughout the Community.

It has not yet been discussed in the Council in the light of
the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee and
the European Parliament but it is considered by the
Commission as part of the White Book, as a priority in the
framework of the internal market.

The Commission has received several observations from

the United Kingdom and Irish Apiculture and beekeepers
organizations. Their suggestions have been carefully
examined by the Commission.

The Commission considers that there are various ways to
ensure the health protection of bees in the Community
and that a complete ban on trade is not justified. The
requirements contained in the Commission's proposal are
designed to avoid the spread of Varroatosis in the
Community.

O COM(89) 658 final.
O OJNoC63,11.3.1991, p. 16.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 86/91

by Mr Nialle Andrews (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 February 1991)_

(91/C 195/49)

_Subject:_ Mr Lorrain Osman

Will the Commission investigate the circumstances
surrounding the case of Mr Lorrain Osman, currently

held on remand in the UK and holding European
Community citizen rights, who is wanted by the Hong
Kong authorities for extradition to a territory outside the
Community?

Will the Commission state what protection the
Community can afford to persons who are sought by
foreign countries, particularly when there is evidence to
support the view that they will not receive a fair trial
within those countries?

Would the Commission agree, without specific reference
to the case of Mr Osman, that the protection of persons
residing in the Community against extradition to
jurisdictions where doubt of a fair hearing exists, is of
sufficient Community interest and too important a matter
to be left to individual Member States?

Will the Commission state, therefore, what initiatives
exist or are planned to coordinate Community policy in
this important area?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 April 1991)_

Whether a person can be extradited from a Member State
to a non-member country, and the procedures for so
doing, come under the national law of the States in
question and/or bilateral agreements between them.

The Commission does not intend to take action in this

field at present. It would point out that the Member States
made a joint commitment, in the preamble to the Single
European Act, to promote democracy in common on the
basis of the fundamental rights conferred by their
constitutions and statutes and by the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 140/91

by Mr Jose Valverde L6pez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 February 1991)_

(91/C 195/50)

_Subject:_ The need to maintain aid for sugar cane growing

in Granada

The Spanish provinces of Granada and Malaga are
traditional sugar cane growing areas, with annual output
of over 165 000 tonnes. The crop is only grown in this
region of the European Community and has social
importance. It is also grown on land with specific soil
characteristics and therefore makes an important
contribution to the surrounding ecosystem. The

No C 195/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

continuation of this crop is essential for the region, since
an industry dating back over a hundred years has grown
up around sugar cane growing. What special measures
does the Commission intend to take in order to safeguard
the future of this agricultural and industrial sector within
the EEC?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 February_ _1991)_

Since accession the whole of the Spanish sugar sector has
fallen within the scope of the common organization of the
market. Production of sugar cane and of cane sugar
therefore benefits from the price and disposal guarantees.

Under the Accession Treaty prices for sugar beet and beet
or cane sugar are respectively 17,7% and 16,2% higher
than the corresponding common prices. This is still the
case after five marketing years and will remain so at least
until price alignment. These prices are, under agreements
within the sector, made applicable to sugar cane.

Moreover, sugar cane is processed directly into white
sugar in Spain without going through the raw sugar stage,
i.e. without being refined. The benefit of the substantially
higher prices mentioned above is therefore direct. There
is also special treatment for Spanish sugar cane in the
compensation arrangements for storage costs.

The Commission accordingly considers that the
safeguards extended to sugar cane and cane sugar
producers in Spain under the market organization
arrangements are a more than adequate response to the
concern expressed by the Honourable Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 143/91

by Mr Ernest Glume (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/51)

_Subject:_ Disciplinary powers of medical associations

On 12 September 1988 the European Parliament adopted
the motion for a resolution contained in the report drawn
up by Mr Ulburghs, on behalf of the Committee on Legal
Affairs and Citizen's Rights, on European harmonization
on medicoethical questions (A2-78/88).

Paragraph 4 of the motion for a resolution 'considers that
medical associations with specific responsibility for
disciplinary proceedings should be able to issue cautions
or warnings but that more severe penalties, such as a
temporary suspension, should be a matter for the
ordinary courts'.

In Belgium, the provincial council of the Hainaut Medical
Association has recently decided to suspend Dr Colette
Moulaert, a paediatrician, for one year because she does
not recognize the Association and therefore does not pay
her contributions.

Does the Commission not agree that she has been
penalized for daring to express independent views ?

What steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure
that Member States apply the abovementioned EP
resolution, in particular paragraph 4?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 April_ _1991)_

The rules of professional discipline which apply in a
Member State together with any mechanisms for their
supervision and enforcement, are currently a matter for
national law, except in so far as the bodies concerned are
required to comply with Community law.

The Commission has no authority to put forward
proposals aimed at altering the jurisdiction of national
courts or tribunals as they are defined in national law.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 147/91

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/52)

_Subject:_ Inclusion of the municipalities of Livigno and
Campione d'ltalia in the Community's customs
territory

Under Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2151/84 0
the Community's customs territory excludes the
municipalities of Livigno and Campione d'ltalia.
However, the social and economic development of those
two areas has been such as to invalidate the original
reasons which prompted this provision under national law
81 years ago. The particular conditions applying to areas
lying outside the Community's customs territory are now
leading to clear disparities in treatment, which mean that
such regions enjoy considerable privileges compared with
similar areas which are genuinely underdeveloped.

The situation has led to the creation of an abnormal
market, in particular for luxury items, which has turned
these regions into a tourist shopping area frequented by
those sections of society which are certainly not the most
underprivileged. In view of the huge amount of goods
confiscated by the Customs Service, does the Commission
not agree that it should review Regulation (EEC)
No 2151/84 so as to include the territories of Livigno and
Campione d'ltalia in the Community's customs area?

O OJ No L 197,27. 7.1984, p. 1.

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/27

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 March 1991)_

The Commission is not planning to take up the
Honourable Member's suggestion.

The municipalities of Livigno and Campione d'ltalia form
an integral part of the Italian Republic. The municipality
of Campione d'ltalia is nevertheless completely
surrounded by Swiss territory and communications
between Livigno and Switzerland are good and highly
developed.

For historical and geographical reasons, the Community
has recognized these territories' special situation by
excluding them from the Community's customs territory
and from Italian territory for the purpose of applying the
Sixth Council Directive establishing a common system of
value added tax.

The Commission does not see any justification at present
for changing the status enjoyed by these territories.

Firstly, this status has only minimal consequences for the
Community's own resources.

Secondly, the Commission is not aware that there are any
significant distortions of competition.

On no occasion has the Italian Government, which
requested these exclusion arrangements, notified any
difficulties in this respect.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's
attention to the fact that trade in goods between these
territories and Italy is in accordance with Community
legislation on trade with non-Community countries, in
particular as regards travellers' allowances.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 153/91

by Mrs Solange Fernex (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/53)

_Subject:_ The price of edible crab from the. United
Kingdom

The price of edible crab from the United Kingdom was
excessively low last autumn, falling to a level below that of
the Community selling price. There is a danger that this
may happen again as from next summer, for three main

reasons:

— the 'discovery' of large, high-yield crab beds in the
North Sea;

— the presence on the Community market of substantial
quantities of small Crustacea of this kind;

— the lack of organization of crab producers in the
United Kingdom on the one hand and the difficulty in
applying Community selling prices on the other hand.

Can the Commission state whether this situation is
compatible with Community regulations on common
marketing standards, according to which only edible
crabs having a carapace at least 13 cm wide may be
marketed in principle within the Community?

How does the Commission explain the presence on the
Community market, in particular in France, of edible
crabs of less than 13 cm given that the only derogation
authorized as regards size grading of this species
(11,5 cm) was decided on purely in order to ensure the
local or regional supply of crabs for certain coastal
regions of the United Kingdom?

Can the Commission provide a specific legal and
commercial definition of the expression 'local or regional
supply'?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 March 1991)_

In response to the three reasons put forward by the
Honourable Member to explain the low price of edible
crab last autumn, the Commission would like first of all to
point out that, as the provisions relating to the setting up
of producers' organizations are not binding but are
designed as an incentive, it is not for the Commission to
do more than take due note.

It is for producers themselves to draw their own
conclusions as to the possible shortcomings in the
organization of their production.

The fact remains that the common marketing standards
laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 104/76 O,
for edible crab and other products, including specification
of a minimum size for the species mentioned by the
Honourable Member still apply, independently of the
organization of production, except for 'small quantities of
products disposed of by inshore fishermen direct to
retailers or to consumers' Under Article 3 (2) of that
Regulation.

Furthermore, under Article 4 of Council Regulation
(EEC) No 3796/81 of 29 December 1981 on the common
organization of the market in fishery products, the task of
inspecting products for conformity with common
marketing standards falls to the Member States; this
inspection may take place at all marketing stages and
during transport, and appropriate measures must be taken
to penalise infringements of these provisions.

No C 195/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

With regard to the exceptional arrangements introduced
to take into account the production structure of certain
coastal zones of the United Kingdom under Article 7 (5)
of Regulation (EEC) No 104/76, the Commission, while
stressing that the above inspection procedures should be
particularly carefully applied in strict accordance with the
rules, informs the Honourable Member that it will shortly
be submitting a proposal to the Council for adjusting
these exceptional arrangements.

Finally, with regard to the notion of 'local or regional
supply', this expression should be read in the context of
the Regulation in which it appears and the Commission
would invite the Honourable Member to look at

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1048/86 of 10 April
1982 O, which defines the coastal zones of the United
Kingdom to which a minimum marketing size for crab is
to apply and clearly spells out the coastal zones included
to ensure local or regional supplies of edible crabs.

O OJ No L 20, 28.1.1976.
O OJNoL96,11.4. 1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 168/91

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 195/54)

_Subject:_ ERDF

Where a Member State fails to respect the timetable for
the implementation of a project funded by the
Community under the ERDF, what measures does the
Commission take to oblige it to complete the project at a
later date?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 March 1991)_

Under existing regulations, in particular Council
Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 on the coordination of the
activities of the different structural funds (*), all grants of
assistance from the Funds, including those under the
ERDF, contain binding provisions which fix final dates
both for the start of works and for the closure of

payments by the Member States and the Commission.
Beyond these dates expenditure incurred is no longer
eligible for Community assistance. These dates can be
changed if necessary at the request of the Member State,
duly substantiated and received in good time before the
final dates concerned.

The regulations were less strict with regard to earlier
ERDF projects. As a general rule, Member States are
requested to explain cases of delayed projects for which
no payment application has been received for four years
and notice is served which can, where appropriate, lead to
the closure of a file. Moreover, the Commission
periodically draws the attention of the Member States to
all old projects whose implementation has been delayed,
and in particular those relating to the earliest years. In this
way the commitments entered into for these years can be
progressively cleared.

O OJ No L 374, 31.12.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 179/91

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini (NI)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(21 February 1991)_

(91/C 195/55)

_Subject:_ Cruelty to animals used to test medicines

In a search they carried out at the headquarters of a
medical research laboratory (RBM), the NAS, the animal
welfare wardens, and the carabinieri of the Ivrea
Operational Squad discovered eight beagles with their
vocal cords cut, the remains of a monkey eaten alive by
the other animals, and 150 other dogs forced to undergo
six months of experiments confined in tiny cages.

In the light of these revelations, what will the Commission
do to help establish the truth as regards the irregularities
uncovered by the judicial authorities at the RBM Ivrea
laboratory and hence pave the way both for long-overdue
amendments to the law on vivisection and for machinery
to ensure compliance with animal welfare legislation in
the Member States, providing for appropriate penalties
for offenders?

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

_(15 March 1991)_

The protection of animals used for experimental purposes
is an important measure which must be achieved through
the proper application of Directive 86/609/EEC (*).

The Commission is pleased to note that Italy is now
implementing this directive, which came into force in
November 1989. Its application in practice should resolve
all problems of the type mentioned by the Honourable
Member in her question.

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/29

Furthermore, the efforts undertaken by the Commission
regarding experimentation methods which do not involve
animals will eventually reduce the number of animals
used, as well as suffering involved.

O OJNoL358,18.12.1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 189/91

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 February 1991)_

(91/C 195/56)

_Subject:_ Cyprus

Having regard to the fact that an applicant state to the
European Community, namely Turkey, is occupying part
of Cyprus contrary to various United Nations resolutions,
does the Commission think the time has come for the

Community to use it good offices to help obtain a
settlement which reunites the two sides of the island?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 April 1991)_

The Commission continues to support the search for a
just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue through the
good offices of the United Nations Secretary-General.

With regard to the possibility of a Community initiative,
the Commission would like to point out that Mr Poos, in
his capacity as President of the Council and of European
Political Cooperation, intends at the appropriate time to
put forward an initiative based on the relevant United
Nations resolutions, in order to seek a solution to the

conflict.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 247/91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/57)

_Subject:_ Customs signs and opening of internal borders

1. Is the Commission aware that big blue and white
motorway signs bearing the word 'Douane' are still
displayed on the Antwerp — Venlo motorway at the
border between Belgium and the Netherlands? It is
prepared to ask the governments concerned to remove
these signs as soon as possible?

2. Does it also agree that the continued existence of
these signs is incompatible with the Council decision
regarding the erection of European signs (blue signs with
the European ring of stars around the name of the
Member State in question)?

3. Why has it not yet taken steps, on its own initiative,
to ensure that signs which are incompatible with the
process of European cooperation are removed?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 May 1991)_

1. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to

refer to the answer that it gave to his Written Question
No 1302/90 0).

2. Yes.

3. Because of the legal choice made by the Council —
in the case in point it adopted a resolution — it is not
possible for the Commission to take legal steps _vis-a-vis_
the Member States. It would, however, point out that
once the internal market is completed the offending signs
will serve no purpose.

(') OJNoC272,29.10.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 248/91

by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/58)

_Subject:_ Preferential customs treatment of coffee imports

1. What considerations or special interests underly the
Commission's decision to set preferential customer rates
for imports of coffee from certain countries ?

2. Which countries enjoy such preferential treatment?

3. Do development aid or drugs policy considerations
justify this measure?

4. What other factors have influenced this decision?

5. How is it that the manifest discrimination against
coffee exports from Costa Rica resulting from this
measures is accepted by the Community or even sought by
the other interested parties? What considerations have led
the Commission to such a result?

6. Is the Commission prepared, in response to my
initiative, to review the measures concerned and extend

No C 195/30 Official Journal of the

preferential treatment to Costa Rica and Guatemala
without delay? If so, what timescale can be envisaged?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(16 May 1991)_

The Commission has not made preferential arrangements
for coffee. A Community Regulation was adopted in the
GSP context, designed to open up the market to a number
of industrial, textile and agricultural products from four
Andean countries. The Regulation — exceptional and
temporary in nature — concerned Bolivia, Colombia,
Ecuador and Peru, countries severely affected by cocaine
production and trafficking. In the case of Colombia, the
Regulation formed part of an integrated development

programme.

The Commission considers that drug abuse control is part
of development aid policy. The scale of cocaine
production and trafficking is such that it could
jeopardize, if not undermine the social and economic
development of the countries concerned. These measures
were an attempt by the Community to express its
solidarity with the regions hardest hit by drugs abuse,
which affects the countries of Central America to a lesser

degree.

The Commission will examine future cooperation
between the Community and Central America in the light
of the San Jose VII ministerial conference, which took
place in Managua in March.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 282/91

by Mrs Christa Randzio-Plath (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/59)

_Subject:_ EC embargo on Iraq

According to press reports, the embargo imposed by the
EC on 9 August 1990 by Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2340/90 O and tightened up in November 1990 has
not been fully observed. This may be partly due to the fact
that the sanctions set out in the regulation did not have
sufficient deterrent effect.

1. Is the Commission aware of any violations of the
embargo? How many? By whom? How is cooperation
in this field conducted between the Member States?

European Communities 25. 7. 91

2. Has the Commission received any notification from
Member States or third countries of any such
violations? What sort of violations?

3. What sanctions have been taken or are proposed by
the Commission and/or the Member States, and how

does the Commission assess their effect?

4. On the basis of its own observations, what view does
the Commission take of the effects of an embargo ?

O OJNoL213,9.8.1990,p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 May 1991)_

1. The Commission is aware of the press reports on
alleged violations of the embargo imposed by Council
Regulations (EEC) No 2340/90 and (EEC) No 3155/90.
According to the Member States, however, not all of the
suspected violations have been confirmed and, according
to the Commission's information, enquiries have been
formally opened in no more than approximately 5—10%
of the cases mentioned in the press, although the
Commission does not have exact figures.

Cooperation with the Member States takes the form of
informal and voluntary exchanges of information. Given
that there is no Community monitoring authority, the
authorities in the Member States are responsible for
implementing the two regulations on embargoes.

The Commission is unable to reveal to Parliament the

names of the firms in respect of which enquiries have been
opened, so as not to anticipate the results of the enquiry
and not, at the same time, to cast firms which are merely
under suspicion in an unfavourable light, as the suspicion
may not be confirmed during the enquiry.

2. The Commission has received no information from

Member States or third countries other than the

information mentioned in point 1. In this connection, it
must be pointed out that, since the exchange of
information between Member States and third countries

takes place at the level of intelligence agencies and within
the framework of NATO, the Commission has no direct

access to such information.

3. The competence of the Community to impose
measures setting up an embargo does not enable it to
impose sanctions. As one of the steps towards
implementing the Community measures setting up an
embargo, the Member States have made violation of the
embargo a criminal offence, and have made provision for
a scale of fines for minor violations and possible prison
sentences of between six months and five years for more
serious violations.

4. In view of the available information on the effect of

the embargo against Iraq (particularly with regard to the

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/31

shortage of industrial goods and spare parts), the
Commission considers this form of economic sanction to
be a basically effective instrument, at least, when used
against economies which depend heavily on imports.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 302/91

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/60)

_Subject:_ Efficiency standards for manufactured domestic
goods

What proposals does the Commission intend to bring
forward to require minimum energy efficiency standards
in newly manufactured domestic goods, such as
refrigerators?

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

_(3 May_ _1991)_

Following a workshop held in Brussels last November, the
Commission has commissioned a study on the possibilities
for setting minimum energy efficiency standards for
domestic appliances, such as refrigerators. When the
results of this study are available, the Commission intends
to begin consultations with the appliance manufacturing
industry and other interested parties, with a view to
concluding voluntary agreements on minimum standards
for appropriate appliances. In the light of its experience
with this approach, the Commission will consider making
proposals for mandatory efficiency standards.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 321/91

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/61)

_Subject:_ Compatibility between the statutes of the
European economic interest group ORPHIE
and Community legislation on distribution of
medicines

The Commission has accepted by letter the statutes of the
European economic interest group ORPHIE, which
distributes pharmaceutical products. These statutes may

contain certain restrictions on competence which are not
justified by virtue of Article 85 (3) of the EEC Treaty.
Conversely, Community legislation on pharmaceuticals
does not, in practice, allow the free movement of
medicines. Is this a question of upholding the practice of
'parallel imports', or does this authorization have a
general character?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 April 1991)_

The statutes of European Economic Interest Grouping
ORPHE were cleared by comfort letter, it being
considered unnecessary to proceed to the adoption of a
formal decision under Article 85 (3) of the EEC Treaty.

Examination of the statutes had not revealed the existence
of any factors ruling out exemption under Article 85 (3).
The requirements of that provision were deemed to be
fulfilled inasmuch as the statutes promote trade between
the members of the grouping and contribute to better
interpenetration,of national markets.

The Commission is seeking to facilitate the free
movement of medicinal products both at the level of
wholesale distribution and at that of market access. It has
sent the Council and Parliament two sets of proposals on
the subject, one relating specifically to wholesale trade (')
and the other to the future system for the authorization of
medicinal products in the Community ( [2] ).

O OJNoC58,8.3.1990, p. 16.
O OJ No C 330, 31.12.1990, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 325/91

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 March_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/62)

_Subject:_ Overview of environmental legislation

EC legislation on the environment is updated on a regular
basis. In many cases this results in a large number of
amendments to an initial law, each of which becomes as
separate law. Any single subject may thus be covered by
many different pieces of legislation. For example, a ninth

No C 195/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

amendment to Directive 76/769/EEC (') is currently
being negotiated. All previous amendments have become
separate directives.

1. Is it not possible for the original version of a law
which has to be adapted to be incorporated into the
new law, so that there continues to be only a single law
covering the subject in question?

2. Has the Commission given thought to the possibility
of devising and making available to members of
parliaments, officials and subscribers a loose-leaf
binder system for environmental legislation which
makes laws easy to consult and into which both new
and amended texts can be inserted without difficulty?

O OJNoL262,27.9.1976, p. 201.

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(7 May_ _1991)_

On 1 April the Commission instructed its departments to
carry out the legislative consolidation of legal instruments
after no more than ten amendments. It stressed that this
was a minimum rule and that in the interests of clarity and
ease of understanding departments should make every
effort to consolidate the legislation for which they were
responsible at more regular intervals.

As consolidation taking the form of a Commission
proposal to the Council combining successive
amendments and the original text in a single instrument is
often held up by the frequency of amendments, the
institutions have on occasion used a casting procedure
incorporating earlier amendments in the substantive
provisions (and in the annexes) when new amendments
are made; this procedure was used, for instance, in
Directive 89/398/EEC on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for
particular nutritional uses (Directive 77/94/EEC) and in
Regulation (EEC) No 2726/90 on Community transit
(Regulation (EEC) No 222/87).

1. In the case referred to by the Honourable Member
draft proposal for a Directive on the approximation of
the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of

the Member States relating to restrictions on the
marketing and use of certain dangerous substances
and preparations (consolidation of Directive
76/769/EEC) incorporating all the Directives to
which he refers, has been prepared by the
Commission. The tenth set of amendments (COM(90)
545 final) (') will be inserted as soon as they have been
adopted by the Council and the consolidation
procedure can then start. Any further amendments
under way would be incorporated by the Council.
This procedure was used successfully when the wine
legislation was consolidated.

2. The Commission does not intend for the time being to
publish Community legislation in loose-leaf form as
suggested by the Honourable Member. However, the
Publications Office is currently preparing the ground
for setting up a computerized system which will carry
out declaratory consolidation using the Office's
digital optical archive.

O OJNoC304,4. 12.1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 355/91

by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/63)

_Subject:_ Commission buildings

Please will the Commission list the buildings occupied by
the Commission in Brussels, giving details of the number
of officials who work there, the type of occupancy, and
when any non-purchased properties are due to be
renegotiated?

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

_(23_ _April 1991)_

A table setting out the information requested by the
Honourable Member is given below.

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/33

Commission buildings, Brussels

Details of office space and buildings in Brussels and occupancy

I. ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS

Overall total

space

11 135

2 927

6 340

1 810

7 834

5 710

31 566

8 562

199 450

55 000

13 357

23 093

24 675

18 346

14 785

10 315

79 500

6 438

5 254

13 520

13 660

20 545

43 000

26 830

11 800

12 195

22 459

12 350

3 965

24 107

6 445

15 610

752 583

Space
underground

1725

0

1050

618

1 363

1 453

11407

2 204

79 680

24 095

4 497

7 654

8 315

6 269

3 365

2 530

11230

2 360

998

5 070,

4 508

6 995

16 020

8 860

4 365

1 480

9 364

3 054

650

5 507

0

1 810

238 496

Space
overground

9 410

2 927

5 290

1 192

6 471

4 257

20 159

6 358

119 770

30 905

8 860

15 439

16 360

12 077

11420

7 785

68 270

4 078

4 256

8 450

9 152

13 550

26 980

17 970

7 435

10 715

13 095

9 296

3 315

18 600

6 445

13 800

514 087

Lease ends

1998

1997

Sep.1991

2010

1995

1995

1999

Sep.1992

2003

1999

1994

Oct. 1993

1997

1995

May 1993

1997

1995

April 1993

2005

1995

June 1992

1996

1997

Dec. 1991

1995

June 1991

1997

Dec. 1991

1996

Oct. 1993

Building

Archimede 1/2

Archimede 17

Archimede 25

Archimede 73

Arlon

Arts/Luxembourg

Beaulieu

Belliard 34

Berlaymont (')

Breydel

Cortenberg 100

Complexe
C 150/158

CCAB

Cours St. Michel

Guimard

IMCO (Cort. 6)

Complexe
JECL/TRIA 0

Joseph II—37

Joseph 11—70

Joseph 11—99

Complexe Loi .
53—59

Complexe Loi
84—86

Loi — 120

Marie de Bourgogne

Montoyer 75

Nerviens

Orban

Complexe Rond
Point 3/6

Science 41

Square de Meeus

Treves 61

Tervueren Plaza

Totals

Others ( [J] )

Staff to be
accommodated ( [4] )

Number occup.

358

126

  - 116

0

217

115

0

171

2 875

945

249

399

524

301

260

320

1 849

155

137

236

162

338

873

383

226

249

263

346

52

567

149

266

13 227

1 149

14 376

Ownership

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

Belg. St.

CEC prop.

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

CEC prop.

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

rented

(') Berlaymont: 2 625 staff from first to 13th floors (47 996 m [2] ), 250 staff ground/—1/—2 (restaurant, Economat, etc.).
O JECL: 1 709 staff from ground to eight floors (33 785 m [2] ), 140 staff —1/—2.
O 'Others': also includes staff for whom accommodation is provided but not in any particular place; occupancy numbers

are based on distribution by place as per telephone directory of 13 February 1991.
(*) The number of staff to be accommodated was calculated from the December survey reflecting the situation as at

30 November 1990.

No C 195/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

II. SPECIAL BUILDINGS

Overall total

space

1 870

720

1 377

4 963

1500

18 058

28 488

Space
underground

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Space
overground

1 870

720

1 377

4 963

1 500

18 058

28 488

Use

Social

Garage

Social

Creche

Nursery

Warehouse

Lease ends

1994

annual

1998

2000

Sep.1992

Building

Cortenberg 66

Markelbach

Overijse

Palmerston

Philippe le Bon

Zaventem

Totals

Ownership

rented

rented

CEC prop.

rented

rented

rented

Total space overground (I + II): 542 575
Total space overground and underground (I + II): 781 071

Buildings used for offices ('):

Other buildings:

Total:

32

6

38

O Buildings used for offices = site, e.g.: Loi 84/86 and JECL/TRIA are single sites but each has two buildings.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 356/91

by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/64)

_Subject:_ Commission buildings

Please will the Commission list the buildings occupied by
the Commission outside Brussels, Strasbourg and
Luxembourg, giving details of the number of officials
who work there, the type of occupancy, and when any
non-purchased properties are due to be renegotiated?

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

_(12 June 1991)_

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament the

information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 357/91

by Mr Edward Kellett-Bowman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/65)

_Subject:_ Commission buildings

Please will the Commission list the buildings occupied by
the Commission in Luxembourg, giving details of the

number of officials who work there, the type of
occupancy, and when any non-purchased properties are
due to be renegotiated?

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

_(13 June 1991)_

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a table

containing the information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 385/91

by Mr Paul Staes (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/66)

_Subject:_ Policy vacuum in Belgium concerning
implementation of the directives on the
environment

As the result of the administrative reorganization which
has been carried out for the purpose of regionalizing
policy making in Belgium a policy vacuum has occurred in
Flanders. Between 21 December 1990 and 10 January
1991 —and possibly later — there has been no legal basis
for official monitoring of soil and surface water pollution
and no measurements have in fact been made. The

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/35

competent government bodies (OVAM and VMZ) have
been unable to issue licences or deliver opinions.

This policy vacuum, which could give rise to major risks
and have far-reaching consequences is, in any event,
contradictory with the principle of consistency.

Does the Commissioner responsible for the environment
take the view that Belgium, an EC Member State, is guilty
of failing to implement Community directives and
distorting competition?

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

_(6 May 1991)_

The Commission has yet to be informed of any instance in
which the inability of OVAM or VMZ to issue licences or
deliver opinions has resulted in an infringement of
Community law.

It will be investigating whether any such infringement has
in fact occurred.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 403/91

by Mr Yves Verwaerde (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/67)

_Subject:_ False declarations concerning the origin of
textile products falling under the Lome

agreements

In its reply to an earlier written question (No 2326/90 ('))
on fraud in Mauritius involving certificates EUR. 1, the
Commission stated that:

— the Commission's fact-finding mission to Mauritius
had uncovered frauds involving 144 consignments of
products imported into Mauritius from various Asian
countries and re-exported without further processing
and products made locally from material imported
from third countries.

— the Commission has sent the Member States the

information needed for an analysis of imports of
textile products, in order to improve inspections.

In an effort to combat dumping and subsidies, the
regulations published in the Official Journal of the

European Communities expressly name the foreign firms
involved. Consequently, among the defensive measures
against illicit trading practices set out in Community
regulations, could not the Commission consider
circulating information in the form of a black list similar
to the American COCOM black list, to counter the
activities of the guilty parties ?

O OJNoC70,18.3.1991, p. 36.

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 May 1991)_

The Commission takes note of the Honourable Member's

suggestion that firms that have perpetrated fraud or
irregularities in connection with preferential origin
should be blacklisted along the lines of the anti-dumping
regulations.

The anti-dumping regulations apply in a different legal
context and can be invoked against firms only after it has
been established that dumping has taken place on the
basis of an investigation of a complaint and measures can
then be taken concerning the import of specific products
into the Community.

Under the legislation, preferential treatment applies
across the board, being granted by the customs authorities
when a certificate of preferential origin is properly drawn
up by the authorities of the country concerned. In case of
doubt, or when random checks are made, the certificates
are verified. The methods of administrative cooperation
between the Community and the ACP countries are under
regular review, witness the new provisions adopted under
the Lom6 IV Convention, whereby the Community can
take part in inspections.

Technically, a blacklist would have little or no effect if
names were changed or front companies were included, or
if the activities were relocated.

The Commission has adopted an alternative solution, the
effectiveness of which has already been demonstrated. It
is based on the frequent exchange of information and
analysis concerning flows of sensitive imports and traders
between the relevant departments at the Commission and
in Member States with a view to improving the selection
criteria for inspections and their quality.

The information given the Honourable Member in the
third paragraph of the Commission's answer to his earlier
question (No 2326/90) is an example of this method of
work.

No C 195/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 445/91

byMrFritzPirkl(PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 March_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/68)

_Subject:_ Nursing insurance

Are nursing insurance schemes in operation in the
Member States of the European Community?

If so, what schemes apply in each Member State?

If some countries do not have such schemes, does the
Commission consider that they should be introduced in
all Member States?

What does it consider that these schemes should consist

of?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(23_ _April_ _1991)_

The Commission has not been informed of private
insurance policies offering care insurance of the type to
which the Honourable Member makes reference.

The Commission is aware of the debate on the matter in
Germany and of the fact that such care insurance could be
provided within the framework of either public insurance
or private insurance agreements.

It is not the intention of the Commission to prescribe the
contents of such care insurance arrangements.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 452/91

by Mr Elio Di Rupo (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/69)

_Subject:_ Employment following Commission open
competitions

For each of the open competitions held in 1989 and 1990,
can the Commission give the breakdown by Member State
of those who passed and the breakdown by Member State
of those actually taken on by the Commission?

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

_(12 June 1991)_

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a table
containing the information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 463/91

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/70)

_Subject:_ Birds Directive

Following on my question 2194/90 ('), could the
Commission inform me what is the present position
concerning Ireland's proper implementation of the Birds
Directive 79/409/EEC ( [2] ).

O OJNoC70,18.3.1991, p. 34.
O OJ No L 103,25.4.1979, p. 1.

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

_(2 May 1991)_

The present position is that the Commission has sent a
formal letter to Ireland pursuant to Article 169 of the
EEC Treaty, stating its belief that Ireland has not
properly implemented Article 4 of Directive
79/409/EEC.

The Commission is awaiting a response.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 478/91

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(19 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/71)

_Subject:_ Commission proposal on setting up a European
Centre for Alternative Animal Experimentation
Methods

The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the
Commission to act to substitute experiments on live
animals as far as possible, and as quickly as possible, by

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 195/37

other research and test methods. To achieve this
objective, alternative and additional animalexperimentation methods must be documented and
assessed. The Commission is reportedly planning to set
up, for this purpose, a European Centre for Alternative
Animal Experimentation Methods. In one Member State
(Germany) a Central Agency for Documentation and
Assessment of Alternative Animal Experimentation
Methods (ZEBET) is already in existence.

1. When is a European Centre for Alternative Animal
Experimentation Methods likely to be set up?

2. Has the Commission earmarked appropriations for
this in the 1991 budget?

3. In what Community Member States do equivalent
facilities already exist?

4. What is the projected site for the European Centre? Is
the Commission considering attaching the European
Centre to an existing establishment in one of the
Member States? Are negotiations on this already
under way with existing establishments?

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

_(13_ _May_ _1991)_

After careful examination of all possible options, the
Commission intends to set up a Centre of this kind at the
Joint Research Centre's Institute for the Environment in
Ispra, Italy. It could therefore commence operations in
the near future. It would be the Centre's responsibility to
establish close links with similar facilities in the Member

States to coordinate work on the validation of alternative

methods.

For 1991 the budgetary authority has allocated ECU 1
million to the Commission for this measure (budget
heading B4-3081).

As far as the Commission is aware, the ZEBET in Berlin is
the only agency of this kind in existence in the Member
States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 506/91

by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/72)

_Subject:_ Measures to clean up the Mediterranean

What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that the
Council finally implements its proposal to the Directive
on the discharge of waste at sea?

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

_(13_ _May 1991)_

The Commission takes the view that the proposal for a
directive on the dumping of waste at sea (*) has been
superseded by the Ministerial Declarations adopted at the
Second and Third International Conferences for the
Protection of the North Sea (London 1985 and The
Hague 1989). It therefore intends to withdraw the
proposal.

These declarations constituted an agreement in principle
by the Ministers to put an end as soon as possible to the
dumping of pollutants in the North Sea.

The Ministers welcomed the fact that almost all the North
Sea countries have stopped the dumping at sea of sewage
sludge and of the industrial waste covered by
paragraph 22 (a) of the 1989 Ministerial Declaration.

As regards the Mediterranean, which is covered by the
Barcelona Convention and the protocols thereto, the
dumping of waste at sea is the subject of a protocol on the
prevention of pollution by dumping from ships and
aircraft, which prohibits the dumping of certain wastes
and other substances. Where the latter are concerned,
the national authorities issue a specific permit in each

case.

Furthermore, at their sixth meeting held in Athens from 3
to 6 October 1989, the contracting parties to the
Barcelona Convention, in the context of implementation
of the protocol on dumping, recommended:

— authorizing the secretariat to send out an appeal to the
contracting parties urging them to become signatories
to the Basle Convention on transboundary movements
of hazardous waste and to speed up the ratification
process; requesting the secretariat to carry out an
assessment within six months of the nature of such
shipments in the Mediterranean, including the
transport of hazardous waste by ships in transit;
requesting the secretariat to propose a mechanism for
helping the contracting parties to supervise
movements of hazardous waste in the Mediterranean
and in transit through the Mediterranean, and the
disposal of such waste, and in the light of its
assessment, to prepare a draft legal instrument or a
protocol on the subject.

— agreeing to amend the protocol on dumping to
expressly prohibit incineration operations at sea in the

No C 195/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 7. 91

area covered by the Convention, and to request the
secretariat to devise the necessary procedures.

O COM(85) 373, as amended by COM(88) 8 — OJ No C 245,
26.9.1985; OJ No C 72,18. 3.1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 510/91

by Mr Pierre Bernard-Reymond (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/73)

_Subject:_ Town twinning arrangements

Can the Commission list the towns and cities which

received Community aid to promote twinning
arrangements in 1990?

Can the Commission also indicate the number of

inhabitants in each of these towns or cities and the

amounts of aid received?

What percentage of the appropriations earmarked in the
budget of the European Community has actually been
used for this purpose?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 May 1991)_

Parliament's General Secretariat has already received a
list of towns which received assistance under the twinning
scheme in 1990. The list specifies the amounts given.

Unfortunately it is not possible to give a breakdown by
population levels, as the necessary statistical materials are
not available. In fact, however, most of the towns were

small or medium-sized.

Community assistance for exchanges between towns
already or about to be twinned accounted for around two
thirds of the total ECU 3 million entered in the budget.
The balance was used to cover general promotion
measures (information, publications and seminars) and
administrative support activities.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 580/91

, by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(26 March 1991)_

(91/C 195/74)

_Subject:_ The impact of VAT harmonization in the EC on
the humanitarian activities of NGOs for the

benefit of the Third World

As things stand, the sale of second-hand goods by
recognized charities and the sale of fundraising materials
(picture postcards, calendars, etc.) by NGOs are
exempted from VAT in the Member States. However,
NGOs fear that the harmonization of VAT in the single
market could lead to the levying of tax on the efforts of
the people of Europe to help the Third World through
voluntary NGO activities.

Can the Commission say whether the harmonization of
VAT throughout the Community will include provisions
for the exemption of humanitarian activities analogous to
those now operating in the Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 May 1991)_

Article 13 of the Sixth Directive of 17 May 1977 lays
down a series of exemptions for the transactions of bodies
recognized as being of a social nature. The supply of
services and the sale of goods by those bodies at
fund-raising events are also exempt, provided such
exemption is not likely to create distortions of
competition. In contrast, sales carried out on a permanent
basis in shops which compete directly with commercial
undertakings subject to VAT may not in principle qualify
for exemption. However, some Member States
temporarily apply a zero rate to such operations by
exempting sales and allowing the body concerned to
recover the VAT paid on its purchases.

The proposals which the Commission has presented to
the Council with a view to completing the internal market
do not envisage amending the exemption arrangements
laid down by Article 13 for the social bodies in question.

As regards the zero rate, the Commission proposed in its
Communication of June 1989 ('), as part of an overall
compromise on the alignment of VAT rates, that Member
States who so wished be authorized to maintain

zero-rating for a very limited number of products

25. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities

provides this would not pose any risk of distorting
competition for the other Member States.

O COM(89) 260 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 826/91

by Mrs Christine Oddy (S) r

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 May_ _1991)_

(91/C 195/75)

_Subject:_ Arms conversion assitance

What steps is the Commission taking or proposes to take
to assist firms which are encountering financial

and economic difficulties as a result of the ending of the
cold war and the reduction in the demand for military
equipment?

In particular, what assistance is the Commission giving to
the aeronautics industry in the European Community?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(14 June 1991)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the reply to the oral question H-360/91 by Mr Ford,
which it gave during question time at Parliament's April
1991 part-session (').

O Debates of the European Parliament No 3-404 (April 1991).