Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 140
# Official Journal

Volume 37

### of the European Communities

###### EngHsh edition Information and Notices

21 May 1994

Notice No Contents
Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 140 / 01 E-2336 / 91 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Need for a Community ban on the production, marketing and agricultural use of
Parathion 1

94 / C 140 / 02 E-1580 / 92 by Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission
Subject : Persistent distortions of competition in the telecommunications sector 2

94 / C 140 / 03 E-1 801 / 92 by José Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Community sponsorship of radio concert broadcasts 2

94 / C 140 / 04 E-1528 / 92 by Klaus Wettig to the Commission
Subject : European Literary Prize — procedure for selecting works nominated for the prize ... 3

94 / C 140 / 05 E-21 81 / 92 by Joaquim Miranda da Silva and António Coimbra Martins to the
Commission

Subject : Censorship in Portugal in the selection of entries for the European Literature Prize 4

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1528 / 92 and E-2181 / 92 4

94 / C 140 / 06 E-2458 / 92 by Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Labelling regulations and organic produce 4

94 / C 140 / 07 E-2548 / 92 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Dissemination of European culture at international level 5

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E-2590 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Annual designation of a European capital of technological innovation

E-2754 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Danger from seafood caught in the Thermaic Gulf

E-2951 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Management of the Community's financial resources

E-3027 / 92 by Georgios Romeos to the Commission
Subject : Contamination of fuels during transport to third country ports

E-3041 / 92 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Aid for Mount Athos

E-3126 / 92 by Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Export of chemical waste to ACP countries

E-3291 / 92 by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to the Commission
Subject : Pregnant workers

E-3358 / 92 by Gerd Müller to the Commission
Subject : Use of German as an official language at the Commission of the European
Community

E-89 / 93 by Panayotis Roumeliotis to the Commission
Subject : Agreement between the EC and the USA on distilled alcoholic beverages

E-99 / 93 by Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Implementation by France of the Directive on environmental impact assessment

E - 1 00 / 93 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : House of Lords report on ship safety

E - 1 62 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : List of experts and consultants for the Comex 1 programme

E - 1 78 / 93 by Diego Santos Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Maritime transport of dangerous or toxic substances

E-205 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : Meningitis vaccine

E-238 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Fulfilment of undertakings made by Fujitsu when it acquired 80 % of the British company
ICL

E-249 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : ' Le Pensec ' recovery plan for the French département of Guadeloupe

E-252 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Lack of cooperation between the French and Dutch authorities on the island of
St Martin

E-299 / 93 by Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Use of hormones by Portuguese beef cattle breeders

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E-300 / 93 by Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Employment impact of grants and loans from Community institutions 15

E-312 / 93 by Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : Safety of oil tankers with double-walled hulls 15

E-335 / 93 by Reimer Boge to the Commission
Subject : EC fisheries agreements 16

E-388 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : European subsidies for Schonberg ( Germany ) 17

E-425 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance with Spain by the Directive on animal health conditions governing
intra-Community trade in and imports from Third countries of fresh poultrymeat 17

E-42 7 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance with Spain by the Directive on animal health conditions governing

intra-Community trade in and imports from Third countries of poultry and hatching eggs ... 17

E-428 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the directive on nutritional labelling for foodstuffs 17

E-429 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with directives on telecommunications, the information
industries and new technology ; . . . 17

E-430 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the directive relating to insurance against civil liability in
respect of the use of motor vehicles 18

E-431 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on agriculture 18

E-432 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on agriculture 18

E-433 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the internal market and industrial
matters 19

E-434 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the internal market and industrial
matters 19

E-435 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the environment, nuclear safety and civil
protection 20

E-436 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on energy 20

E-437 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on financial institutions and company law 20

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 140 / 42 E-438 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive on television broadcasting 20

94 / C 140 / 43 E-439 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive on the coordination of procedures on the
award of public supply contracts 21

94 / C 140 / 44 E-440 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive concerning coordination of procedures for
the award of public works contracts 21

94 / C 140 / 45 E-441 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the Directive on air quality limit values and guide values for
sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates 21

94 / C 140 / 46 E-442 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty and Directives on the right of
establishment of dentists in Spain and Latin American nationals 21

94 / C 140 / 47 E-444 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty, with regard to difficulties for imports of
frozen fresh meat into Spain 21

94 / C 140 / 48 E-445 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Germany with the EEC Treaty and the Directive on sterile clinical
instruments : labelling and preparation of products 21

Joint answer to Written Questions E-425 / 93, E-427 / 93 to E-442 / 93, E-444 / 93 and

E-445 / 93 22

94 / C 140 / 49 E-450 / 93 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Discrimination in Danish law 22

94 / C 140 / 50 E-469 / 93 by Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : Possible locations for the headquarters of European Community and third-country
organizations 22

94 / C 140 / 51 E-605 / 93 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : East of England Community Support Framework 22

94 / C 140 / 52 E-634 / 93 by Alexander Langer to the Commission
Subject : Open competition COM / A / 720 ( general administration ) 23

94 / C 140 / 53 E-666 / 93 by Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Structural funds : programme partnership 24

94 / C 140 / 54 E-783 / 93 by Peter Crampton to the Commission
Subject : Fishing : minimum landing sizes 24

94 / C 140 / 55 E-790 / 93 by Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Priority for high speed railways in the framework of the EC programme of action for
transport infrastructures 24

94 / C 140 / 56 E-824 / 93 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez and Alonso Puerta to the Commission
Subject : Directive on the protection of the Eo estuary ( Galicia-Asturias, Spain ) 25

94 / C 140 / 57 E-837 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Development programmes in the prefecture of Lasithi 26

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94 / C 140 / 58 E-858 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to combat ' smart ' drugs 26

94 / C 140 / 59 E-861 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Industrial plants on the Thriasian Plan 26

94 / C 140 / 60 E-873 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Monitoring the industrial installations at Tsikalaria 27

94 / C 140 / 61 E-883 / 93 by Birgit Cramon Daiber to the Commission
Subject : The German Leader programme 27

94 / C 140 / 62 E-884 / 93 by Birgit Cramon Daiber to the Commission
Subject : Leader programme in Germany 28

94 / C 140 / 63 E-885 / 93 by Birgit Cramon Daiber to the Commission
Subject : The Wallenfels dam project 28

Joint answer to Written Questions E-883 / 93 to E-885 / 93 28

94 / C 140 / 64 E-904 / 93 by Sérgio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Development programmes in Portugal 28

94 / C 140 / 65 E-908 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : EEC régulations on tendering 29

94 / C 140 / 66 E-924 / 93 by Klaus Wettig to the Commission
Subject : Approximation of rules concerning private recordings ( audiovisual and audio works ) 29

94 / C 140 / 67 E-929 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : European Travel Pass 30

94 / C 140 / 68 E-378 / 93 by James Ford to the Commission
Subject : Amendment of the Air Carrier's Liability Act 30

94 / C 140 / 69 E-930 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Practice of airlines to continue to check passports 31

Joint answer to Written Questions E-378 / 93 and E-930 / 93 31

94 / C 140 / 70 E-956 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Impact of mini-mill technology on the European steel industry's production capacity,
markets and profitability 31

94 / C 140 / 71 E-958 / 93 by Filippos Pierros to the Commission
Subject : Specific Community programme to tap renewable sources of energy on Community
islands in very remote or frontier areas 32

94 / C 140 / 72 E-978 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Irresponsible deregulation of the world financial system 32

94 / C 140 / 73 E-986 / 93 by Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : The Newsletter — Commission DG X Publication 33

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 140 / 74 E - 1 00 1 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Abolition of the Stylida — Lianokladi — Athens rail link 34

94 / C 140 / 75 E-1005 / 93 by Nicole Fontaine to the Commission
Subject : The fiscal treatment of leasing contracts relating to movable property 34

94 / C 140 / 76 E-101 8 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Convention on climate change 35

94 / C 140 / 77 E-1036 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Tacis programme 35

94 / C 140 / 78 E-1070 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Development of poor Greek régions 36

94 / C 140 / 79 E-1083 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Removal of tanneries from Tabakika 36

94 / C 140 / 80 E-1 103 / 93 by Virginio Bettini, Maria Santos and Antonio Coimbra Martins to the
Commission

Subject : Hare coursing 36

94 / C 140 / 81 E-1109 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Operational programme for the south-eastern area of the Province of Jaen and the
northern area of the Province of Granada 37

94 / C 140 / 82 E-1114 / 93 by Heinz Köhler to the Commission
Subject : The Commission's attitude towards short-haul flights 37

94 / C 140 / 83 E-l 1 88 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Self-evaluation of veterinary training in the Community — withdrawal of the
Commission's material support for the international system operated by the Advisory Committee
on Veterinary Training 38

94 / C 140 / 84 E-1208 / 93 by Karl-Heinrich Mihr to the Commission
Subject : Association agreements 39

94 / C 140 / 85 E-1235 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : The public's dislike of time changes in the EC 39

94 / C 140 / 86 E-1242 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : The cement industry and pollution of the environment 40

94 / C 140 / 87 E-1251 / 93 by Isidoro Sanchez Garcia to the Commission
Subject : The Canary Islands as a platform for relations between Europe and Latin America 41

94 / C 140 / 88 E-1254 / 93 by Ernest Glinne to the Commission
Subject : Obstacles to the execution of building work in France by non-French undertakings 41

94 / C 140 / 89 E-1262 / 93 by Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission
Subject : The historical and architectural heritage of the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe 42

94 / C 140 / 90 E-1280 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Preservation of the architectural heritage of Syros 43

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 140 / 91 E-1285 / 93 bv George Patterson to the Commission
Subject : Channe ! Tunnel rail link 43

94 / C 140 / 92 E-1286 / 93 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Balance between the Community tuna production and tuna processing sectors 44

94 / C 140 / 93 E-1287 / 93 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : American embargo on European tuna exports 45

94 / C 140 / 94 E-1288 / 93 by Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Community tuna production 45

94 / C 140 / 95 E - 1 29 8 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Sewage system in Monemvasia in the Peloponnese 46

94 / C 140 / 96 E-1301 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Veal exports 46

94 / C 140 / 97 E-1319 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to ensure decent living conditions for children and the elderly 46

94 / C 140 / 98 E-1320 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Incentives for the construction of ' bioclimatic ' buildings 47

94 / C 140 / 99 E - 1 327 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Water distribution 47

94 / C 140 / 100 E-1330 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Need for cooperatives to settle their debts through talks with the Greek authorities 48

94 / C 140 / 101 E-1331 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Announcement that builders can move in on Greek forest areas 48

94 / C 140 / 102 E - 1 340 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Aliakmonas river delta 49

94 / C 140 / 103 E-1351 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus 49

94 / C 140 / 104 E-1368 / 93 by José Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Interpretation of acquiescence by Community administrative authorities 49

94 / C 140 / 105 E-1369 / 93 by José Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Purchase and registration of vehicles in a Community Member State which is not the
purchaser's country of residence 50

94 / C 140 / 106 E-1378 / 93 by Lord Inglewood to the Commission
Subject : Foot and mouth disease 51

94 / C 140 / 107 E-1383 / 93 by Wilfried Telkämper to the Commission
Subject : Structural Fund appropriations for the building of a golf course 51

94 / C 140 / 108 E-1413 / 93 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Retex — Support for textile regions 52

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 1

I

. ( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2336 / 91

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 October 1991 )

( 94 / C 140 / 01 )

Subject : Need for a Community ban on the production,

marketing and agricultural use of Parathion

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

Are the executive institutions of the Community also taking
steps to ensure a drastic reduction in the use of the product,
with a view to a total ban ? Should the stocks which have
accumulated in high-risk factories not be destroyed ? Which
factories are on the list which was drawn up in connection
with the ' Seveso ' directive ? Is it certain that the production

( and not just the storage ) of Parathion, together with the
marketing thereof in the Community and export to third
countries, are to be banned by all appropriate Community,
national and regional means ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1993 )

Insecticides containing parathion are currently authorized
in most Member States of the Community .

The Commission is of the opinion that given the high acute
toxicity of parathion as active substance, the use of plant
protection products containing this substance should be
strictly regulated to ensure that under the authorized
conditions of use, it does not result in harmful effects to
human health .

Currently the authorization of plant protection products is
still subject to national rules . Directive 91 / 414 / EEC (*)
concerning the placing of plant protection products on the
market was however adopted by the Council on 15 July

1991 and comes into force in July 1993 . It provides for a
programme of review of all existing active substances on the
Community market over a period of 10 years concerning
their human and environmental safety aspects . It is the
Commission's intention to propose an early review of
parathion in the framework of this review programme .

The Community legislation concerning classification,
labelling and packaging of dangerous substances Directive
67 / 548 / EEC ( 2 ), and of dangerous preparations ( pesticides )
Directive 78 / 63 1 / EEC ( 3 ), provides for strict labelling and
packaging rules to be respected for parathion as such and for
preparations containing this active substance, mainly in
view of the protection of persons handling this substance
and preparations .

Parathion is one of the dangerous substances listed in
Council Directive 82 / 501 / EEC ( 4 ), the so-called Seveso
Directive . This Directive concerns sites manufacturing or
storing dangerous substances so it covers only provisions
relating to the prevention, preparedness and response to
major accidents at the site concerned .

As parathion is not banned or severely restricted by
Community legislation, it is not subject to the export
notification provisions of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 1734 / 88 ( 5 ). However, parathion ethyl and parathion
methyl are on the list of chemicals subject to the prior
informed consent ( PIC ) scheme set up by United of Nations
Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture
Organization . The Council has adopted a proposal that

No C 140 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

would incorporate the PIC scheme into a new Regulation on
the export and import of dangerous chemicals . The effect of
this would be that chemicals subject to PIC, such as
parathion ethyl and parathion methyl, could not be
exported from the Community without the consent of the
importing country .

(!) OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991 .

( 2 ) OJ No 196, 16 . 8 . 1967 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 206, 29 . 7 . 1978 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 230, 5 . 8 . 1982 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 155, 22 . 6 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1580 / 92

by Ursula Braun-Moser ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 lune 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 02 )

Subject : Persistent distortions of competition in the
telecommunications sector

The existing distortions of competition in the
telecommunications sector will do incalculable harm to

national manufacturers of telecommunications

apparatus / systems after the opening of the market in 1993
initiated by the Commission and the long-term survival of
this industry may be endangered as a result . Although the
Commission has frequently referred to international
distortions of competition, no investigations are being
carried out into the differing degrees of liberalization within
the EC ( in certain countries manufacturers and network
operators or suppliers of services are vertically integrated,
while in other countries, in accordance with EC directives,
links between supplier and manufacturing interests are
illegal ).

" What steps are being taken by the Commission to enforce
the liberalization directives relating to public procurement,
terminal equipment and authorization procedures and to
undertake measures to achieve standardization and prevent
distortions of competition at EC level ?

With regard to public procurement, Council Directive
90 / 531 / EEC of 17 September 1990 on the procurement
procedures of entities operating in the water, energy,
transport and telecommunications sectors (*) applies since
January 1993 ( except in Spain — 1 January 1 996 —
Portugal and Greece — 1 January 1998 ). Four Member
States have already communicated the national measures of
implementation . The Commission has received drafts from
three Member States . Appropriate measures will be taken
concerning the non-implemëntation of the Directive .

As regards terminal equipment, all Member States have now
implemented in national law Commission Directive
88 / 301 / EEC of 16 May 1988 on competition in the
telecommunications terminal markets ( 2 ). Exclusive rights
on the marketing and import of terminal equipment have
been abolished, although further study is still underway in
order to examine the practical situation of specific data
equipment .

Council Directive 91 / 263 / EEC of 29 April 1991 on the
approximation of the laws of Member States concerning
telecommunications terminal equipment ( 3 ) aims at
ensuring the free circulation of terminals and their
connection to the network through the mutual recognition
of type approval . It was to be implemented by the Member
States by 6 November 1992 . At this stage, six Member States
have communicated the implementation measures .

In the meantime, the Commission is involved in a large
standardization programme to be developed mainly by the
European Telecommunications Standards Institute ( ETSI ),
and has given specific mandates for the setting up of
common technical regulations ( CTR ) for the whole
Community .

The Commission is currently taking the appropriate
measures in order to ensure that the situation is regularized
as soon as possible . 

H OJ No L 297, 29 . 10 . 1990 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 131, 27 . 5 . 1988 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 128, 23 . 5 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 801 / 92

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission by José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 September 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 July 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 03 )
The Community has established rules which aim, on the one
hand, at ensuring a competitive and open European market
in telecommunications ( Directives 88 / 301 / EEC,
90 / 388 / EEC, 90 / 531 / EEC ) and, on the other hand, at Subject : Community sponsorship

broadcasts

achieving an effective internal market through
harmonization ( Directive 91 / 263 / EEC, notably ). Moreover,
the Commission is closely monitoring the implementation In all the Member States, certain
of these rules . broadcast classical music and

Subject : Community sponsorship of radio concert
broadcasts

In all the Member States, certain specialized radio stations
broadcast classical music and sometimes live or recorded

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 3

concerts, enabling a wide public to enjoy high-quality music
performances which they would otherwise be unable to
enjoy because of their location or other material factors .

%

Sometimes, the cost of such programmes compels
broadcasters to request sponsorship from institutions or
companies to meet the high copyright fees .

this would not be in keeping with the Community's role as
stipulated in Article 128 of the Treaty on European Union .
This Article specifies inter alia that Community
participation must be confined to non-commercial cultural
exchanges . Moreover, no mention is made of specific
sponsorship initiatives in the guidelines established by
Parliament and the Council ( see in particular the
conclusions of 12 November referred to above ).

In view of the great cultural value of radio concert
broadcasts throughout the Community and beyond, does
the Commission not consider that it should participate more
actively in sponsoring such broadcasts using appropriations
specifically earmarked for the promotion of culture, thereby
giving listeners in general the opportunity to enjoy the
concerts and enhancing the public image of the Commission
itself ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-1528 / 92

by Klaus Wettig ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 04 )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 1993 ) Subject : European Literary Prize — procedure for selecting

works nominated for the prize

The Commission has a clearly defined role in the field of
culture as evidenced inter alia by the conclusions of the
Council and the Ministers for Culture of 12 November

1992 . This role, which will be consolidated by Article 128 of
the Treaty on European Union once the latter is ratified,
consists in encouraging cooperation between Member
States, lending support and supplementing their action
where necessary, while recognizing Member States '
sovereignty in this field and hence the ancillary nature of
Community measures .

Under the Kaleidoscope scheme ( budget heading B3 2001 )
the Community supports cooperation initiatives with a
European dimension, the aim being to encourage artistic
and literary creation . Eligibility is subject to the proviso that
at least three Member States are involved in the planning
and organization of the project in question .

It should also be noted that under the rules of the scheme,
the Community's contribution to these projects is limited to
25 % of the total budget and may not exceed ECU
30 000 .

Provided that all the criteria and conditions for eligibility
have been met, a cooperation project in the artistic field,
particularly one in the field of music, may be considered and
possibly approved for Kaleidoscope funding by the panel of
experts who decide each year on the mertis of the projects
submitted .

According to a Commission notice ( 92 / C 100 / 10 ) (*) the
Member States are responsible for determining the
procedure for selecting works to be considered for the
European Literary Prize .

As the Commission is no doubt aware, the Portuguese
Government has decided to make the final selection of three
works from those proposed by several participating
institutes itself, instead of giving the job to an independent
committee .

According to the Portuguese newspaper Publico of 25 April

1992 and a number of more recent reports in the European
media, a member of the Portuguese ministry of culture has
personally deleted one nomination from the list . This is ' The
Gospel according to Jesus Christ ', by José Saramago .

Since this incident a new jury has evidently been asked to
produce a new shortlist, as other candidates for the prize
have insisted on having their names deleted from the list as
well .

For these reasons any list Portugal submits to the
Commission in future could rightly be regarded as neither
independent nor uncensored .

How does the Commission propose to ensure that literary
criteria, and no others, are used when preparing the national
shortlists, to - that artistic freedom is guaranteed ?

On the other hand, the Commission does not plan at this
stage to undertake any specific sponsorship commitments as (!) OJ No C 100, 22 . 4 . 1992, p . 22 .

No C 140 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2181 / 92

by Joaquim Miranda da Silva ( CG )
and António Coimbra Martins ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 05 )

Subject : Censorship in Portugal in the selection of entries

for the European Literature Prize

Following the series of events which led to the exclusion by
the Portuguese Government of José Samarago's book 'O
Evangelo segundo Jesus Cristo ' ( The Gospel according to
Jesus Christ ) from the list of entries for the European

Literature Prize on publicly declared philosophical and
religious grounds, the State Secretary for Culture, Santana
Lopes, President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers for
Culture of the . European Community, made serious
statements at the end of the Council meeting in Brussels with
regard to the European Parliament and its President, which
were disrespectful of the European Literature Prize and
which gave political support to Under-Secretary of State,
Sousa Lara, responsible for this act of censure .

Bearing in mind that in the second phase of drafting this list,
the express wishes of the author, José Samarago, that his

book should not be included, given the rejection by the
Secretary of State for Culture, censorship and the
irregularities in the first phase of the selection process, were
ignored ; and whereas, since then, the Portuguese Secretary
of State for Culture has continued to make disparaging
remarks about the dignified and understandable attitude of
José Samarago :

1 . What changes should be made to the process of

submitting entries for the European Prizes for Literature
and Translation in order to prevent a recurrence of
situations and interference such as those which led to the

exclusion in the first phase of José Samarago's book 'O
Evangelo segundo Jesus Cristo ' ( The Gospel according
to Jesus Christ )?

2 . Will the wishes of the author that his book should not be

considered for inclusion be respected or not ?

In accordance with the organizational rules ( ) laid down by
the Committee on Cultural Affairs responsible for preparing
Council decisions, ' each Member State may nominate up to
three separate works for consideration by the European
jury '.

The Member States determine the procedures . Thus it is for
them alone to select works in their respective countries, and
the Commission plays no part in the process .

The Portuguese authorities have withdrawn their decision
to exclude a book by Mr José Saramago from the list to be
proposed to the European jury . This isolated incident,
which has been righted, cannot justify lack of confidence in
the selection procedures laid down by the national
authorities .

With regard to the reform of the prize procedures the
organizational rules provided that : ' Before the end of 1992
the Committee on Cultural Affairs will examine, in the
light of experience gained, any adjustments to these
arrangements that it considers necessary .' The Committee
opened discussions at the end of 1992 and concluded that a
final decision should not be taken until the end of 1993 .

(!) OJ No C 100, 22 . 4 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2458 / 92

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

(8 October 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 06

Subject : Labelling regulations and organic produce

Will the Commission define the use of the word ' organic '
with reference to the new labelling regulations which came
into force on 23 July 1992 ? Will the word ' organic ' be
permissible and recognized in all Membér States or will the
word be self-regulating in its usage ?

Joint E answer - 1 52 8 / to 92 and Written E-2181 Questions / 92 Answer given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

E - 1 52 8 / 92 and E-2181 / 92

Answer given by Mr Steichen

given by Mr Pinheiro
on behalf of the Commission ( 22 September 1993 )

( 11 October 1993 )

The European Literary Prize was established following the
resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for Culture of

18 May 1989 . Its aim is to encourage and promote
European authors .

Regulation ( EEC ) No 2092 / 91 (*) has specific provisions on
the labelling of agricultural products and foodstuffs which
are placed on the market with a labelling suggesting, by any
indications, to the purchaser that the product was produced
according to the organic production method, which is
defined by the Regulation .

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 5

It results from these provisions that there is no obligatory
terminology to be used by the operators for the indications
on the label which refer to the organic production method,
but the indications referring to the organic production
method must be drafted in such a way as to show that they
relate to a method of agricultural production, and, in the
case of a processed product, must be accompanied by an
indication of the agricultural products from which it has
been obtained .

Cultural clauses have been entered in the association

agreements with Central and Eastern European countries
and in cooperation agreements, for example with
Latin-American countries, and joint declarations containing
references to culture were signed in the framework of
political cooperation with Japan, the United States and
Canada .

cooperation with third countries and the competent
international organizations in the sphere of culture .

In the last three years the cultural dimension of Community
relations with third countries — hitherto limited to the

Lomé Convention — has developed significantly .

Consequently operators may, if the abovementioned and in cooperation agreements, for
provisions and the general regulatory provisions on food Latin-American countries, and joint declarations
labelling are respected, choose a terminology, which in the references to culture were signed in the
language of the label, gives the best message to the consumer political cooperation with Japan, the United
that the product has been produced according to the organic Canada .
production method . This message may use the term
specifically mentioned for each language in Article 2 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2092 / 91 (' organic ' in English ) or
alternatively another terminology currently used in the
Member State(s ) where the product is marketed . As far as
the Commission is aware, the term ' organic ', as literally
translated into other Community languages, would not at
present be a term commonly used to define the organic
production method in these other languages . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590 / 92

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
(M OJNo L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991 . to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 08 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2548 / 92

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 October 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 07 )

Subject : Dissemination of European culture at
international level

What plans does the Commission have to promote
European culture at international level, encouraging
cooperation with third countries in accordance with
communication COM(92 ) 149 final ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Annual designation of a European capital of

technological innovation

In view of the vital role played by technological innovation
in making products competitive and the importance of
communications in the development of the new
technologies, does the Commission agree that the annual
designation of a European city as European capital of
technological innovation to host an exihibition on the
achievements of all the Member States and the international

community would help disseminate these technologies ?
How does the Commission view the possibility of setting up
a permanent Community documentation centre to register
technological innovations ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 July 1993 ) (6 September 1993 )

The main purpose of international cultural cooperation is
not to propagate an idea but to promote mutual
understanding between peoples . The Community can
convey a fuller image of itself through the cultural
dimension of external relations .

To this end Article 128 ( 3 ) of the Treaty on European Union
calls on the Community and the Member States to foster

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's view

regarding the importance of technological innovation for
the competitiveness of European companies and believes
that information about new technologies are essential for
the transfer and spread of the technologies throughout these
companies . The Sprint programme ( Strategic Programme
for Innovation and Technology Transfer, 1989-1993 )
( Council Decision 89 / 286 / EEC of 17 April 1989 ) ( 1 ),

No C 140 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

implemented by the Commission is aimed specifically at
strengthening the innovative capacity of European
producers of goods and services with a view to the 1993
single market promoting rapid penetration by new
technologies and the dissemination of innovation
throughout the Community, thus strengthening its
economic and social cohesion, and enhancing the
effectiveness and coherence of existing instruments and
policies, whether regional, national or Community, in the
field of innovation and technology transfer .

In future, Community support for technological innovation
and dissemination is to be amplified under the fourth
framework programme of research and technological
development in line with the importance which the Treaty
on European Union attaches to research, technological
development and innovation for the purpose of promoting
the competitiveness of European industry .

Under the Sprint programme and other Community
measures, the Community provides financial support each
year for a number of international events for the promotion
of innovation and technology transfer in Europe . The
Commission therefore takes the view that the annual

designation of a European capital of innovation should be
considered in the light on its potential impact of existing

events .

With regard to the setting up of a permanent Community
documentation centre for technical innovation, the
Commission would point out that this task is currently
carried out in part, in the case of protected innovations, by
the European Patent Office . Private initiatives also exist in
some Member States to register innovation, e.g . the Science
Policy Research Unit database in the UK, that of the
Maastricht Economic Institute on Innovation and

Technology ( MERIT ) and the work of the Foundation for
Economic Research of Amsterdam University in the
Netherlands . However, these initiatives are complex and
costly and their extension throughout Europe is therefore
not foreseeable in the short term . However, the Commission
has set up a European innovation observatory under the
Sprint programme to provide a better understanding of the
mechanisms and processes involved and to monitor the
activities and trends of companies with regard to
innovation .

Within this framework, national surveys of innovation
carried out in cooperation with the Statistical Office of the
European Communities receive financial support from the
Community to set up a Community innovation database .

(M OJ No L 112, 25 . 4 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754 / 92

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 09

Subject : Danger from seafood caught in the Thermaic

Gulf

According to recent tests carried out by the Greek branch of
Greenpeace in the Gulf of Thessaloniki, seafood caught in
the Gulf contains levels of chlorine beyond WHO limits and
there is therefore a risk that anyone consuming such seafood
over a long period may contract cancer . The Macedonian
capital is the centre of the chlorine industry in Greece and

130 000 tonnes of chlorine products pass through its port
each year . Does the Commission think it should call for an
investigation into this very serious matter ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 September 1993 )

The Commission has contacted the competent authorities to
obtain the necessary information, in particular concerning
the implementation of Directive 76 / 464 / EEC on dangerous
substances discharged into the aquatic environment and
Directive 82 / 176 / EEC on limit values and quality objectives
for mercury discharges by the chlor-alkali electrolysis
industry .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2951 / 92

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 November 1992 )

94 / C 140 / 10

Subject : Management of the Community's financial

resources

The German periodical Spiegel reports that most
consultancies in Athens and Thessaloniki that decide which

Greek companies should receive Community funding —
frequently not used for the purpose intended — are run by
the sons of ministers and by party officials . Spiegel claims
that its article about the mismanagement of Community
financial resources by the Member States is also based on a
report by Court of Auditors ' experts . Does the Commission
intend to respond to this ?

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 7

Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

given by Mr Schmidhuber the IMO deliberations expected in the near future and is not

behalf of the Commission planning to investigate the problem further for the

( 14 September 1993 ) moment .

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission has sent a reply to the editors of Spiegel
and transmitted a detailed note to its national offices,
providing elements for replying to the various press articles
criticizing the Commission's management of the
Community's financial resources .

The documents were distributed at the joint meeting of the
Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on
Regional Policy and the Committee on Social Affairs held in
Parliament on 25 November 1992 as part of the ordinary
working meeting of the first mentioned Committee . The
Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

document PE 203.041 of 11 November 1992 for further

information on this matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041 / 92

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 12 )

Subject : Aid for Mount Athos

on matter . A sum of Dr 1 billion was recently granted to the

monasteries, sketes and monastic cells on Mount Athos as a
contribution towards their upkeep costs . However, monks
have alleged that these State and EC funds were divided
among 20 monasteries only which received Dr 50 million
each, while the monastic cells, many of which are in a
pitiable state, received nothing at all . Does the Commission
intend to look into this matter ? Does it see any possibility of
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3027 / 92 granting aid to the monks inhabiting cells on Mount Athos
in the immediate future ?

by Georgios Romeos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 94 / C 140 / 11 )

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Contamination of fuels during transport to third (2 August 1993 )

country ports

According to shipping associations and the press, various
problems have arisen in ports in Singapore and elsewhere
involving the contamination of fuel during its storage and

transport .

European companies also appear to be partly responsible
for contamination of ships ' bunkers with residues and dirty
fuel . Since the Victims ' are mainly Community vessels and
shipping companies, what steps will the Commission take in
response to this problem ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(2 September 1993 )

The problem of contamination of fuels during storing and
transport by sea-going vessels was put on the agenda of
IMO recently, mainly for reasons of health protection of the
crew . Discussions are going on to establish quality criteria
for bunker fuel and sampling possibilities of the fuel as it is
being stored . The Commission is waiting for the outcome of

The Commission would point out that in 1993 the
Community is to grant ECU 300 000 in subsidies, under
budget heading B3-2000, for conservation and restoration
work on Mount Athos . This financial support will be
granted to Kedak ( Thessaloniki ), the Greek organization
responsible for the work .

The Dr 1 billion referred to by the Honourable Member was
apparently disbursed by the Greek Government as part of its
annual subsidies for restoration work .

It should be added that the Commission has asked a team of

independent experts to carry out an assessment of all aid
granted as a symbolic contribution in support of the
architectural heritage ( Acropolis and Parthenon, Mount
Athos, Chiado and Coimbra ).

The purpose of these assessments is to generate suggestions
as to how the impact and efficiency of Community action
might be improved . Under no circumstances is it the
Commission's intention to interfere with the choices and
priorities established by the competent authorities in the
Member States, who exercise sovereign rights in the field of
conservation and restoration .

No C 140 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 126 / 92

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

(6 January 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 13

Subject : Export of chemical waste to ACP countries

1 . Is the Commission aware of reports that the Nigerian
Company, Precious Consult Universal Ltd, is offering land
for sale or rent to European Community undertakings in the
province of Abia ( Nigeria ) for the dumping of toxic
chemical waste ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that such activities
infringe Article 39 of the Lomé Convention prohibiting the
export of hazardous and radioactive waste from
Community Member States to ACP countries and the
import by ACP countries of ' dangerous waste ' as defined by
the Basle Convention ?

3 . What steps will the Commission take to prevent the
possible export of chemical waste from the EC to Nigeria
and to bring to an end the import of chemical waste by
Nigeria ?

4 . Does the Commission recall, in this connection, the
resolution adopted by the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly on the
ratification of the Basle Convention calling for a reliable
monitoring system to supervise the export by EC Member
States and the import by ACP states of hazardous and
radioactive waste and recommending the creation of a panel "
of experts ( paragraph 3 )?

5 . In view of the activities of Precious Consult Ltd will

the Commission take steps to implement the measures called
for in the above resolution ?

from importing such waste from the Community or from
any other country into their territory .

Furthermore, the Commission has recently been informed
by the Nigerian authorities that, according to 1988
legislation, the import into that country of waste of any
description is banned and punishable by life
imprisonment .

3 . If exports of hazardous waste from Member States to
Nigeria were effected, the Commission would apply the
measures envisaged by Community legislation on the matter
and — if necessary — start an infringement procedure
against the Member State involved .

4 . The Commission is aware of the resolution adopted by
the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly on the ratification of the Basel
Convention, which calls for a monitoring system to
supervise exports by Member States and imports by ACP
states of hazardous waste .

5 . The Commission has the task under Article 1 15 of the

EEC Treaty of monitoring the application of Community
legislation . It will carry out its task in this field, as pointed
out under point 3 .

From 6 May 1994 onwards, Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 259 / 93 on the supervision and control of shipments of
waste within, into and out of the Community will apply .
Article 18 of this Regulation, in accordance with Article 39
of the Lomé IV Convention, states clearly that all exports of
waste to ACP States shall be prohibited . Article 26 obliges
Member States to take appropriate legal action to prohibit
and punish any shipment in contravention of the provisions
of the Regulation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3291 / 92

by Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission ( 94 / C 140 / 14

(3 September 1993 )

1 . The Commission has been informed that the Nigerian
company Precious Consult Universal Ltd offered land in the
province of Abia ( Nigeria ) for sale or rent to Community
undertakings for the disposal of toxic chemical waste .

2 . The Commission agrees with the Honourable
Member that such activities, when resulting in actual
export / import of hazardous waste, infringe Article 39 of the
Lomé Convention which prohibits the export from Member
States to ACP countries of ' dangerous waste ' as defined by
the Basel Convention, as well as prohibiting ACP States

Subject : Pregnant workers

On 19 October 1992 the Council adopted Directive
92 / 85 / EEC O on the introduction of measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant
workers and workers who have recently given birth or are
breastfeeding .

Article 1 ( 3 ) states that the directive ' may not have the effect
of reducing the level of protection afforded to pregnant
workers ' as compared with the situation which exists in
each Member State on the date on which this Directive is

adopted .

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 9

1 . What are the legal implications of this clause ?

2 . Does it create rights which can be exercised directly by
the workers themselves ? Could they bring an action
before the Court of Justice of the European Community
on the basis of this directive ?

3 . Does this mean that Member States may in no case
reduce the level of protection they provide or can they do
so for other reasons ?

(!) OJ No L 348, 28 . 11 . 1992, p . 1 .

are drawn up not only in French and English but also in
German ?

3 . What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that
departments and sections mainly concerned with Eastern
Europe and the CIS do not carry out negotiations
exclusively in English, French and even Russian, but also in
German, which is the most widely spoken language in the
countries concerned ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Delors (4 October 1993 )
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

As the measure cited by the Honourable Member was clear
and without condition, it will create rights for the workers
concerned which can be directly exercised — after the final
date for implementation of the directive — and on which
they can rely in actions before the national courts .

As far as the legal implications are concerned, the

Commission's opinion is that Member States will be
prohibited from reducing the level of social protection
available when the directive comes into force initially . The
Member States could however, in a strictly legal sense,
reduce their level of social protection after the
implementation of the directive, in the framework of their
overall social policy, for justified reasons which have no
direct or indirect connection with the implementation of the
directive .

The Commission nevertheless considers that the Member

States are politically bound to promote the improvement of
conditions in this area having set their harmonization as an
objective in Article 118a of the EEC Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3358 / 92

by Gerd Miiller ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

1 . By agreement with the press, the use of French as the
working language for press briefings given by the
Spokesman's Service was decided on by an Italian
spokesman with the backing of a German President of the
Commission in 1958 .

At press conference given by Members of the Commission,
which are a prime source of official information,
arrangements are made for interpreting into the nine official
languages .

2 . It is not true that the documents referred to by the
Honourable Member are drawn up only in French and
English .

3 . As regards dealings with outside bodies, it is standard
Commission practice to make whatever linguistic
arrangements are best suited in the circumstances .
Pragmatic arrangements are likewise made as regards the
working languages for negotiations, where, in each case, the
language chosen is that which is most readily understood by
all participants and therefore offers the best conditions for
collaboration . In some cases, that language may certainly be
German . The Commission considers that the interests of

smooth cooperation with its outside negotiating partners
would not be served by the unilateral imposition of specific
languages for its dealings with particular partners .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-89 / 93

( 25 January 1993 )

by Panayotis Roumeliotis ( PSE )
( 94 / C 140 / 15 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

Subject : Use of German as an official language at the
( 94 / C 140 / 16

Commission of the European Community

1 . How does the Commission justify the fact that daily
press conferences are held, and questions from journalists
permitted, in French only ? What steps is the Commission
taking to ensure that, in future, English and German receive
equal treatment as working languages ?

2 . What steps will the Commission take to ensure that, in
future, minutes of negotiations and Commission documents

Subject : Agreement between the EC and the USA on

distilled alcoholic beverages

In the agreement shortly to be concluded between the EC
and the USA on distilled alcoholic beverages the US
negotiating team have agreed to protective measures in
respect of five Community products on US territory but has
refused to accord the same treatment to Greek Ouzo ; this is

No C 140 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

expected to lead to a considerable fall in Greek exports of
this product .

How does the Commission intend to tackle this

problem ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The difficulties with the United States of America

concerning ouzo stem from the fact that, according to the US
authorities, ouzo is already being produced in the United
States . However, the Commission would like to reassure the
Honourable Member that every effort will continue to be
made to obtain recognition and protection for all
Community designations, including ouzo .

The draft Exchange of Letters between the Community and
the United States contains an undertaking to continue
negotiations to extend the list of designations covered by the
Agreement .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-99 / 93

by Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

( 3 ) OJFR, 8 . 10 . 1977, p . 4897 .

( 4 ) OJFR, 24 . 4 . 1985, p . 4753 .

— the Nature Protection Act No 76-629 of 10 July

1976 i 1 );

— Decree No 77-1141 of 12 October 1977 implementing

Article 2 of the Nature Protection Act No 76-629 of

10 July 1976 ( 2 );

— Decree No 77-1133 of 21 September 1977
implementing Act No 76-663 of 19 July 1976 on
installations classified with a view to environmental
protection ( 3 );

— Decree No 85-453 of 23 April 1985 implementing Act

No 83-630 of 12 July 1983 on the democratization of
public enquiries and on environmental protection ( 4 );

— Decree No 93-245 of 25 February 1993 on impact

studies and the scope of public enquiries and amending
Decree No 77-1141 of 12 October 1977 implementing
Article 2 of the Nature Protection Act No 76-629 of

10 July 1976 and the Annex to Decree No 83-453 of
23 April 1985 implementing Act No 83-630 of 12 July

1983 on the democratization of public enquiries and on
environmental protection ( 5 ).

The Commission has given the references to these acts in the

Official Journal of the French Republic, in order that the

Honourable Member may consult them .

(!) OJFR, 13 . 7 . 1976, p . 4203 .

( 2 ) OJFR, 13 . 10 . 1977, p . 4948 .

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 4 ) OJFR, 24 . 4 . 1985, p . 4753 .

10 1993 ( 5 ) OJFR, 26 . 2 . 1993, p . 3032 .

( 10 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 17 )

Subject : Implementation by France of the Directive on

environmental impact assessment

Article 12 ( 2 ) of Council Directive 8 5 / 3 3 7 / EEC O on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment states that ' Member States shall
communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions
of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this
Directive '.

Can the Commission forward to the questioner a copy of the
text communicated by France ?

0 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment has
been transposed into French law by the following acts :

WRITTEN QUESTION E-100 / 93

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 18

Subject : House of Lords report on ship safety

What action does the Commission intend to take on the

recommendations of the House of Lords Science and

Technology Committee report on ship safety, from a
European basis ?

Does the Commission share the view of the report
emphatically warning the British Government of the
extinction of the ' Red Ensign ' fleet, and what progress has
been made to encourage a move to Euros ?

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 11

Answer given by Mr Matutes What are the Commission's comments and what steps have

on behalf of the Commission been taken to correct the flaws in the open

( 23 November 1993 ) procedure (*)?

The recommendations of the ' House of Lords select
committee on science and technology report on safety
aspects of ship design and technology ' were examined with
the greatest attention by the Commission . Indeed they ♦
provided valuable contributions to the preparation of the
Commission's policy paper on 'A common policy on safe
seas ' (*), which was discussed with the Council of
ministers .

On 8 June 1993 the Council adopted an action plan to
up-grade safety in shipping and the protection of the
environment . On 13 September 1993 the Council adopted a
directive on minimum requirements for vessels bound for or
leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or
polluting goods ( 2 ). A proposal for the second phase of this
directive, including vessel traffic management systems, is
under preparation . In the meantime the Commission has put
forward proposals on the training of seafarers ( 3 ) and the
inspection of ships ( 4 ), and is preparing proposals on port
State control and segregated ballast tankers .

The Commission is concerned about the continuing decline
of the Community fleet . A proposal to stem this decline was
presented to the Council on 3 August 1989 ( 5 ) and on

(!) OJ No C 328, 17 . 12 . 1991, p . 16 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 October 1993 )

The Commission is not aware of criticisms voiced by
professional circles with regard to the procedure for

drawing up the list of experts and consultants selected by
means of invitation to tender Comex-1 ( 1 ), which was
published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities .

The procedure used to examine and selected tenders
conformed to the Commission's rules of procedure .

The list of the select tenders was submitted to the Committee
for the Value programme ( Specific programme for the
dissemination and utilization of scientific and technological
research results ) made up of representatives of the Member

States, which endorsed it on 27 April 1992 . A report
containing the list of selected tenders was also submitted to
the Advisory Committee on Procurements and Contracts
which delivered a favourable opinion No 379 / 92 at its
meeting on 22 June 1992 .

12 December 1990 ( 6 ). It also aimed at avoiding distortion
of competition between Member States merchant fleets . The
amended proposal, centred around the creation of a
Community ship register ( EUROS ), followed a suggestion
of the Parliament . The Council has not yet been able to
accept the principles laid down in this proposal .

. As the correct procedure was followed and the list of

selected tenders was approved by the competent advisory
(!) COM(93 ) 66 final . bodies, the Commission is not planning to take any steps to

( 2 ) OJ No L 247, 5 . 10 . 1993 . change the outcome of this invitation to tender .

( 2 ) OJ No L 247, 5 . 10 . 1993 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 217 final .

( 4 ) COM(93 ) 218 / 2 final .

( 5 ) COM(89 ) 2 66 final .

( 6 ) COM(9Q ) 483 final .

(!) OJ No C 328, 17 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-178 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-162 / 93 by Diego Santos López ( ARC )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities ( 17 February 1993 )

94 / C 140 / 20
( 17 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 19 )

Subject : Maritime transport of dangerous or toxic
substances

Subject : List of experts and consultants for the Comex 1

programme

Criticism has been voiced in professional circles of the
manner in which the list of experts and consultants for the
Comex 1 programme was drawn up .

The recent tanker disasters which occurred in Galician and
Scottish waters have highlighted the danger of maritime
transport of certain substances . Andalusia is situated in
what is considered as a high-risk area and accidents have
occurred fairly regularly in its waters, for example, in

No C 140 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

August 1990, when its coastline was polluted by over 7 000
tonnes of fuel oil from ' Sea Spirit ' with disastrous economic
and environmental consequences .

The Community is planning to introduce rules governing
the maritime transport of dangerous or toxic substances .
However, the Member States still have 24 months to
implement these provisions .

Can the Commission say how many tankers pass through
the Strait of Gibraltar ?

Does it not consider that it should take a firmer line with

regard to inspection procedures and sanctions in this
sector ?

What urgent measures will it adopt with regard to oil tanker
traffic pending full application of the directive ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1993 )

Approximately 7 600 tankers pass through the Strait of
Gibraltar each year .

In the communication 'A common policy on safe seas ' ( l ) the
Commission outlines a policy, including an action
programme, to enhance safety at sea and prevent pollution
from ships . The communication was presented to the
Parliament .

The Commission is working with Member States to
establish the infrastructure required for the implementation
by Member States of the draft directive concerning
minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving
Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting
goods . The Council is at present reconsulting the Parliament
on the draft directive presented with the communication .

(!) COM(93 ) 66 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-205 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 21 )

Subject : Meningitis vaccine

It is widely known that meningitis, a serious microbial
disease which causes inflammation of the meninges, can be

prevented by vaccination . However, doctors say that the
meningitis vaccine is not available in all Member States of
the Community ( for instance, in Greece ) and this poses a
daily threat to human health and particularly to children .
Does the Commission intend to look into this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1993 )

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which may
be caused by a microbe ( meningococcus, tuberculous
bacillus, syphilitic treponema, etc .), a virus, a toxin ( lead ) or
even a physical agent ( insolation ).

Vaccination is possible only in respect of certain forms of
meningitis caused by infection ; it is too early to say whether
these vaccinations should form part of an official public
health strategy .

On the other hand, there is an effective antibiotic
prophylaxis for use during epidemics of cerebrospinal
meningitis ( due to meningococcus ).

As regards workers, the Commission has submitted to the
Council a proposal for a Council Directive amending
Directive 90 / 679 / EEC (*) on the protection of workers from
risks related to exposure to biological agents at work . An
annex to this proposal contains a list of biological agents for
which effective prophylaxis or treatment is or is not
available .

(!) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-238 / 93

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

( 23 February 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 22 )

Subject : Fulfilment of undertakings made by Fujitsu when

it acquired 80 % of the British company ICL

At its sitting of 26 October 1990 Parliament debated the
consequences of the purchase by the Japanese company
Fujitsu of 80 % of the share capital of the British company
STC International Computers Ltd, otherwise known as ICL .
As the then Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Pandolfi,
explained, the president of Fujitsu had given written
assurances on three points : firstly, that the British company
would continue to be run by a European management
whose areas of responsibility would include the research

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 13

tasks carried out by ICL ; secondly, that at least 25 % of ICL
stock would be offered to European investors through the
London stock exchange ; and thirdly, that ICL would
continue to participate in Community R&D

programmes .

Now that over two years have passed, can the Commission
say whether these guarantees have been totally fulfilled ?
Can the Commission also give an assessment of how the
takeover has affected the impact of the European computer
industry in the sector developed by ICL and Fujitsu ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

— in particular vertical market areas such as retail

ICL is amongst the top three IT suppliers in the
world ;

— personal computers where ICL has significantly

reinforced its position in Europe through the
acquisition of Nokia Data .

Finally ICL has demonstrated an understanding of how to
adapt to the current turbulent market place and remain
comparatively profitable .

on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-249 / 93

( 10 November 19.93 ) by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 February 1993 )
The question consists of four sub-questions :

{ 94 / C 140 / 23 )

— whether ICL would continue to be run by European

management whose responsibilities would include
research tasks . This is fully the case . Thç operational
management of ICL continues to be European and ICL
continues to conduct major programmes of R&D
funded from its own sources and carried out in Europe

( R&D expenditures have been running in excess of
£ 200 million per year since the takeover in 1990 );

— whether at least 25 % of ICL stock would be offered to

European investors through the London Stock
Exchange . The Commission understanding of the
undertaking was that such a flotation would be made
within a period of five years from the date of the
takeover . At this point no flotation has been made but all
public statements from the Company confirm the
intention to fulfil the undertaking subject to satisfactory
market conditions ;

— whether ICL would continue to participate in
Community R&D programmes . This undertaking has
been fulfilled . ICL has continued to participate in such
programmes . R&D awards have been won specifically
in the call of Esprit in 1991 ( Scientific research and
technological development programme in the field of
information technology ), by consortia of which ICL is a
member . In addition ICL has continued work arising
from awards made in previous calls ;

— concerning the assessment of impact . In this regard the

following points can be noted :

— the market share of ICL in Europe is relatively small

(2 — 3% ) although the position particularly in the
market for personal computers, has now been
strengthened by the ICL acquisition of Nokia
Data ;

— ICL has demonstrated a number of valuable

strengths including :

— capabilities in the area of Open Systems where

ICL is comparatively strong ;

Subject : ' Le Pensec ' recovery plan for the French
département of Guadeloupe

In its 31 December 1992 issue, the newspaper France
Antilles published an interesting extract from a letter sent to
the Mayor of Abymes by Mr Le Pensec, the Minister for the
Overseas Départements and Territories . The letter refers to
plans to revive the construction and public works sectors in
Guadeloupe .

I should like to know to what extent the Structural Funds

are involved in this programme or project, not only on vital
socio-economic grounds, but also on political grounds, in
the light of the post-Maastricht call for the département to
be given specific status outside France ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1993 )

The Commission is not acquainted with the intentions
ascribed to the French Government in the newspaper France
Antilles in connection with plans to revive the construction
and public works sectors in Guadeloupe .

As regards Community programmes for structural
assistance to Guadeloupe and in accordance with the
provisions of the reform of the Funds, the Commission is
prepared to examine any request by the French authorities
to adapt the content of such programmes .

The Commission is not moreover aware of the

post-Maastricht call referred to by the Honourable
Member .

No C 140 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-252 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 February 1993 )

94 / C 140 / 24

Subject : Lack of cooperation between the French and

Dutch authorities on the island of St Martin

In the light of my Written Questions Nos 2280 / 90 (*) and
2104 / 91 ( 2 ), can the Commission answer the following

questions :

1 . What progress has been made with the feasibility study

concerning the construction of a water purification
station, in line with the request made by the two
parties ?

2 . What is the situation regarding the projects for the

incineration of refuse ? Have any other projects been
submitted since the answer given to my Written
Question No 2104 / 91 ?

3 . Did the Commission not fail to mention the aid granted
for the reconstruction work on the port of Philipsburg ?
When was this aid supplied, and how much ?

4 . In 1991 the generator block intended for Electricité de
France and offloaded in the deepwater port of
Philipsburg had to be returned to Guadeloupe and then
to Marigot by barge, the Dutch authorities having
refused to allow a French haulage company to transport
the block on the island . In what way is this attitude,
quoted here as an example, consistent with the various
declarations advocating cooperation, for example the
joint text issued on 11 November 1968 by the prefect of
Guadeloupe and the Dutch Governor, or the
inscriptions on monuments such as that erected in 1948
to commemorate three centuries of ' harmonious ' joint
possession of the territory ?

5 . Should the 1648 Treaty not be reviewed in order to take
into account the specific characteristics of the island as a
whole and the principle of reciprocity ?

f 1 ) OJ No C 94, 11 . 4 . 1991, p . 39 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 126, 18 . 5 . 1992, p . 18 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 October 1993 )

1 . The feasibility study concerning the construction of a
water purification plant has not received final approval for
Community funding since, in spite of the meetings held to
discuss the matter, no application in this regard has been
made by the two parties concerned .

2 . With regard to the refuse incineration joint project, a
preliminary study has already been carried out and a

meeting is due to take place shortly between the two parties
concerned to discuss a subsequent application for joint
EDF-ERDF funding in order to implement the project .

Following the answer to Written Question No 2104 / 91, no
other specific application has been made . However, a study
was jointly financed by the EDF and the ERDF to draw up a
list of joint projects in various sectors ( transport,
environment, trade, agriculture, human resources, etc ) of
potential benefit to the OD and OCT alike . Discussions are
currently in hand, the conclusions of which should become
available before the end of this year .

3 . No Community funding has been provided for
reconstruction work on the port of Philipsburg .

4 . The events mentioned do not fall within the

competence of the Commission .

5 . It is not for the Commission to express opinions
regarding the 1648 Treaty or the provisions of the French
and Netherlands constitutions concerning the status of
Guadeloupe and the Netherlands Antilles .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-299 / 93

by Herman Verbeek ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 25 )

Subject : Use of hormones by Portuguese beef cattle
breeders

In December 1992 a number of cattle breeders stated on the
Portuguese television programme ' Report ' that commercial
slaughterhouses in Portugal only accept cattle which have
undergone hormone treatment .

1 . Can the Commission confirm from its own sources

whether these statements are true ?

2 . In a reaction to the programme, the Portuguese Ministry
of Agriculture is alleged to have said that only safe
hormones were involved . Can the Commission state

what hormones are used in Portuguese cattle breeding,
for what purpose, and to what extent they are in fact safe
and permitted ?

3 . The cattle breeders claim that the hormone preparations
are supplied to them by the slaughterhouses . In the same
month, the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture called for
stronger EC measures to counter the use of hormones in
agriculture . Will the Commission take action against the

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 15

slaughterhouses in question, or instruct the national
authorities in Portugal to impose penalties on
slaughterhouses which perpetrate such practices ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 September 1993 )

1 . The Commission is not in a position to confirm the
statements of the cattle breeders on Portuguese television .
According to its own sources, 95 % of the cattle
slaughterhouses in Portugal are simply establishments
providing a service, and there is consequently no benefit to
be derived for them from bovine animals being treated with
hormones .

2 . Following the Portuguese television broadcast of
' Report ', the Portuguese health authorities issued a press
release stating that when controls were carried out as part of
the national plans for monitoring residues, cases were
identified where hormones or substances having a hormonal
action had been used or where residues of authorized

veterinary medical products had been found, and that legal
proceedings were in progress . With the exception of specific
uses for therapeutic or zootechnical purposes provided for
in Community legislation ( Directives 81 / 602 / EEC (*) and

88 / 146 / EEC ( 2 )), all uses of hormonal substances are
prohibited in livestock farming .

with those of the Commission authorities involved in

granting aid under the Structural Funds ?

In this respect will the Commission examine the decision of
the EIB to grant a loan of £200 million to assist the building
of the Enron Gas-Fired Power Station on Teesside ? In this

respect will it take into account the allegation of a rigged
market favouring gas-fired rather than coal-fired capacity in
the UK and the fact that only 100 jobs will be provided at the
Enron plant while 2 500 mining jobs are threatened in East
Durham alone ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1993 )

The Commission confirms that before granting the loan the
European Investment Bank, in keeping with its Statute

( Article 21, 2 ) which is a protocol to the EEC Treaty, asked
the Commission's opinion on the investment concerned .
The Commission's opinion on the Teesside gas-fired power
station was favourable . The EIB's Board of Directors

approved the £ 200 million loan to the power station after
the EIB's staff had carried out a rigorous appraisal of the
economic, technical and environmental merits of the
project .

According to information made available by the EIB to the

3 . In its communication to Parliament and to the Council Commission in the context of the procedure under
of 21 April 1993, the Commission stated clearly that it Article 21 2, the EIB was satisfied that the power station
intended to amend Community legislation so that would contribute to the rational use of energy, having a high
slaughterhouses would have to cooperate without efficiency compared with conventional power stations . It
reservation in the detection of illegal substances, failing will have a low impact on the environment and will help
which they would lose all entitlement to Community or meet the requirements of the large combustion plant
national aids and have their licences suspended by the Directive in terms of emissions . The power station will
Member State's appropriate authorities . provide a competitively priced long-term source of power

and steam, particularly for the cost sensitive local chemical
0 ) OJ No L 222, 7 . 8 . 1981 . industry, which is of major importance to the economy of
( 2 ) OJ No L 70, 16 . 3 . 1988 . North East England .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-300 / 93

by Stephen Hughes ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3 12 / 93

by Barry Desmond ( PSE )

of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities
(1 March 1993 )
(1 March 1993 )
( 94 / C 140 / 26 )

( 94 / C 140 / 27 )

Subject : Employment impact of grants and loans from

Community institutions

Can the Commission confirm that the European Investment
Bank is required to coordinate its activities in granting loans

Subject : Safety of oil tankers with double-walled hulls

In view of the recent ecological disasters following oil spills
off the coasts of Spain and the Shetland Islands, will the

No C 140 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

Commission seek with renewed urgency, a solution to the
problems and environmental hazards posed by vessels ( with
double - walled hulls or otherwise ) transporting known
pollutants by sea ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Commission is concerned at the recent disasters with oil

tankers and other vessels carrying hazardous goods by

sea .

On 8 December 1992 agreement in principle was reached in
the Council of Ministers of Transport on the first phase of
the directive concerning minimum requirements for vessels
bound for or leaving Community ports carrying dangerous
or polluting goods (*). This agreement was confirmed by the
Council on 15 March 1993, but it decided to reconsult the
Parliament . On 13 July 1993, the Parliament agreed on the
draft directive and the Council can now proceed to
adoption . In the communication 'A common policy on safe
seas ', which was adopted by the Commission on
24 February 1993 ( 2 ) and which was discussed both in
Parliament and in the Transport Council, the Commission
puts forward a policy, including an action programme, to
reduce further the threat to the marine environment . At its

meeting of 7 and 8 June 1993 the Transport Council
endorsed the action programme and agreed on priorities to
upgrade maritime safety and prevent pollution .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-335 / 93

by Reimer Bôge ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 28

Subject : EC fisheries agreements

The European Community has concluded a number of
fisheries agreements with third countries .

Can the Commission say :

1, what fisheries agreements currently apply,

2, what the costs were in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992

respectively, and

3, how many additional jobs were secured in the European

fishing fleet as a result of these agreements ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 November 1993 )

1 . There are 21 fishery agreements currently in force :

— 15 agreements with ACP African and Indian Ocean

countries : Angola, Cape Verde, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire,
Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea,
Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sâo
Tomé e Principe, Senegal and Seychelles ;

— five agreements with northern countries : Canada,

The Commission, taking into account the results of the Faeroes, Greenland, Norway, Sweden and the United
recent meetings of the Councils on Environment and States ;
Transport, will when sufficient information has been
received from the Member States, come forward with — the agreement with Morocco .
concrete proposals which will be discussed in the group of
experts on ecologically sensitive areas . An with is due to enter into force

— the agreement with Morocco .

An agreement with Argentina is due to enter into force
before the end of 1993 . An agreement with Canada has yet
to be implemented by the Council .

The Commission has presented to the Council a proposal on
common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey
organizations ( classification societies ( 3 )) and on the
minimum level of training for maritime occupations ( 4 ).
These proposals were welcomed by the Council on 7 and

8 June 1993 and will be further discussed in the autumn .

(!) OJ No C 147, 14 . 6 . 1992 and OJ No C 294, 24 . 11 . 1990 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 66 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 218 final / 2 .

( 4 ) COM(93 ) 217 final .

2 . The actual cost of the agreements to the Community
budget has varied as follows :

( in ECU )

1989 115 876 666

1990 163 396 367

1991 158 135 343

1992 195 621 022

3 . The Commission estimates that approximately
10 000 jobs have been secured for nationals of the Member

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 17

States as a result of the fishery agreements which the
Community has concluded with African and Indian Ocean
countries . The large majority of such jobs derive from the
agreement with Morocco .

intra-Community trade in and imports from Third countries
of fresh poultrymeat . What was the overall situation as at
31 December 1992

H OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p . 35 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-427 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-388 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities (8 March 1993 )

(5 March 1993 ) 94 / C 140 / 31

( 94 / C 140 / 29 )

Subject : Non-compliance with Spain by the Directive on

Subject : European subsidies for Schonberg ( Germany )

With regard to the answer to my Written Question
No 1432 / 92 ( 1 ), I note that a reply was given to the first part
of my question, particularly with reference to the European
Regional Fund and the regional authority .

Would the Commissioner also answer the second question
contained in my question to the Commission, viz .:

' Does Schonberg benefit from, or has it benefited from,
other European funds or subsidies, either directly or
indirectly ?'

animal health conditions governing intra ­
Community trade in and imports from Third
countries of poultry and hatching eggs

The Spanish government is failing to comply with Directive

90 / 539 / EEC i 1 ) on animal health conditions governing
intra-Community trade in and imports from Third countries
of poultry of hatching eggs . What was the situation as at
31 December 1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 303, 31 . 10 . 1990, p . 6 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-428 / 93
(!) OJ No C 317, 3 . 12 . 1992, p . 56 .

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

(8 March 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Delors ( 94 / C 140 / 32 )
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1993 ) Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the directive on

In reply to the second part of the question, the Commission
confirms that Schonberg has not benefited from other funds
or subsidies from the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-425 / 93

nutritional labelling for foodstuffs

The Spanish government is failing to comply with Directive
90 / 496 / EEC O on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs . What
was the situation as at 31 December 1992 ?

( x ) OJ No L 276, 6 . 10 . 1990, p . 40 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-429 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities
(8 March 1993 ) (8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 30 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 33 )

Subject : Non-compliance with Spain by the Directive on

animal health conditions governing intra ­
Community trade in and imports from Third
countries of fresh poultrymeat

The government of Spain is failing to comply with Directive
91 / 494 / EEC C ) on animal health conditions governing

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with directives on

telecommunications, the information industries     and new technology

The Spanish government is failing to comply with a number
of Community directives on telecommunications,
information industries and new technologies including :

No C 140 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

— Directive 90 / 544 / EEC ( ) on the frequency bans
designated for the coordinated introduction of
pan-European land based public radio paging in the
Community .

What was the general situation in this sector at the end of

1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 310, 9 . 11 . 1990, p . 28 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-430 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

— Directive 91 / 357 / EEC ( ) on labelling compound
feedingstuffs for animals other than pet animals,

— Directive 91 / 496 / EEC ( 7 ) on veterinary checks on

animals entering the Community from third
countries,

— Directive 91 / 499 / EEC ( 8 ) on bovine brucellosis and

enzootic bovine leukosis,

— Directive 91 / 681 / EEC ( 9 ) on the marketing of
compound feedingstuffs,

— Directive 91 / 684 / EEC ( 10 ) on the production and the

placing on the market of egg products .

What was the overall position in this sector at the end of

1992 ?
( 94 / C 140 / 34 )

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the directive

relating to insurance against civil liability in respect
of the use of motor vehicles

The Spanish government is failing to comply with Directive
90 / 61 8 / EEC i 1 ) relating to insurance against civil liability in
respect of the use of motor vehicles . What was the situation
as at 31 December 1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 330, 29 . 11 . 1990, p . 44 .

i 1 ) OJ [No] [ L] 224, 18 . 8 . 1990, p. 62 .
( 2 ) OJ [No] [ L] 3 63, 27 . 12 . 1990, p. 51 .

( 3 ) OJ [No] [ L] 85, 5 . 4 . 1991, p. 37 .

( 4 ) OJ [No] [ L] 184, 10 . 7 . 1991, p. 27 .

( 5 ) OJ [No] [ L] 185, 11 . 7 . 1991, p. 31 .
( 6 ) OJ [No] [ L] 193, 17 . 7 . 1991, p. 34 .

( 7 ) OJ [No] [ L] 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p. 56 .

( 8 ) OJ [No] [ L] 268, 24 . 9 . 1991, p. 107 .
n OJ [No] [ L] 376, 31 . 12 . 1991, p. 20 .

: 10 ) OJ [No] [ L] 376, 31 . 12 . 1991, p. 38 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-432 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-431 / 93 by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities (8 March 1993 )

(8 March 1993 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 36 )

( 94 / C 140 / 35 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on

agriculture

agriculture

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various Community directives on agriculture, including the
Community directives on agriculture, including the following :
following :

— Directive 90 / 429 / EEC ( ) on intra-Community trade in

and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine
species,

— Directive 90 / 667 / EËC ( 2 ) on the disposal and processing

of animal waste,

— Directive 91 / 174 / EEC ( 3 ) laying down zootechnical and

pedigree requirements for the marketing of pure-bred
animals,

— Directive 91 / 334 / EEC ( 4 ) on labelling compound
feedingstuffs for pet animals,

— Directive 91 / 336 / EEC ( 5 ) concerning additives in
feedingstuffs,

— Directive 90 / 44 / EEC ( ) on compound feedingstuffs,

— Directive 90 / 167 / EEC ( 2 ) on medicated feedingstuffs in

the Community,

— Directive 91 / 132 / EEC ( 3 ) on undesirable substances and

products in animal nutrition,

— Directive 87 / 328 / EEC ( 4 ) on pure-bred breeding animals

of the bovine species,

— Directive 88 / 657 / EEC ( 5 ) on the production of, and

trade in, minced meat,

— Directive 89 / 437 / EEC ( 6 ) on the production and the

placing on the market of egg products,

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 19

— Directive 89 / 608 / EEC ( ) on the correct application of

legislation on veterinary and zootechnical matters,

— Directive 90 / 423 / EEC ( 8 ) on foot-and-mouth disease,

intra-Community and the importation of bovine
animals and swine,

— Directive 90 / 427 / EEC ( 9 ) on intra-Community trade in

equidae,

— Directive 90 / 42 8 / EEC ( 10 ) on trade in equidae intended

for competitions .

What was the situation in this sector at the end of 1992 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-434 / 93

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

(8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 38 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the

internal market and industrial matters

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various
Community directives on the internal market and industrial
matters, including the following :

— Directive 89 / 686 / EEC ( ) on personal protective
0 ) OJ [No] [ L] 27, 31 . 1 . 1990, p. 35 .

( 2 ) OJ [No] [ L] 92, 7 . 4 . 1990, p. 42 . equipment,

( 3 ) OJ [No] [ L] 66, 13 . 3 . 1991, p. 16 .

( 4 ) OJ [No] [ L] 167, 26 . 6 . 1987, p. 54 .

( 5 ) OJ [No] [ L] 382, 31 . 12 . 1988, p. 3 .

( é ) OJ [No] [ L] 212, 22 . 7 . 1989, p. 87 .

( 7 ) OJ [No] [ L] 351, 2 . 12 . 1989, p. 34 .

( 8 ) OJ [No] [ L] 224, 18 . 8 . 1990, p. 13 .

( 9 ) OJ [No] [ L] 224, 18 . 8 . 1990, p. 55 .

( 1° ) OJ [No] [ L] 224, 18 . 8 . 1990, p. 60 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-433 / 93

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

(8 March 1993 )

(9 A!C 140 / 37 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the

internal market and industrial matters

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various
Community directives on the internal market and industrial
matters, including the following :

— Directive 89 / 594 / EEC ( ) on the recognition of
qualifications ( doctors, nurses, dentists and
midwives ),

— Directive 89 / 595 / EEC ( 2 ) on the recognition of
qualifications ( nurses responsible for general care ),

— Directive 90 / 658 / EEC ( 3 ) amending certain Directives

on the recognition of professional qualifications
consequent upon the unification of Germany .

What was the overall situation in this sector at the end of

1992 ?

— Directive 88 / 379 / EEC ( ) on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations,

— Directive 90 / 492 / EEC ( 3 ) on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations,

— Directive 91 / 155 / EEC ( 4 ) on the system of specific

information relating to dangerous preparations,

— Directive 89 / 106 / EEC ( 5 ) on construction products,

— Directive 89 / 392 / EEC ( ) on machinery,

— Directive 8 9 / 6 1 7 / EEC ( 7 ) on units of mesurements,

— Directive 90 / 396 / EEC ( 8 ) on appliances burning gaseous

fuels,

— Directive 91 / 368 / EEC ( 9 ) on machinery,

— Directive 91 / 422 / EEC ( 10 ) on the braking devices of

certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers,

— Directive 91 / 441 / EEC ( n ) on measures to be taken

against air pollution by emissions from motor
vehicles,

— Directive 91 / 542 / EEC ( u ) on the emission of gaseous

pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles .

What was the overall situation in this sector at the end of

1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 399, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 18

( 2 ) OJ No L 187, 16 . 7 . 1988, p . 14 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 275, 7 . 10 . 1990, p . 35 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 76, 22 . 3 . 1991, p . 35 .
( 5 ) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989, p . 12 .
( 6 ) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989, p . 9 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 357, 7 . 12 . 1989, p . 28 .

( 8 ) OJ No L 196, 26 . 7 . 1990, p . 15 .

( 9 ) OJ No L 198, 22 . 7 . 1991, p . 16 .

(!) OJ No L 341, 23 . 11 . 1989, p . 19 . ( 10 ) OJ No L 233, 22 . 8 . 1991, p . 21 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 341, 23 . 11 . 1989, p . 30 . ( n ) OJ No L 242, 30 . 8 . 1991, p . 1 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 353, 17 . 12 . 1990, p . 73 . ( 12 ) OJ No L 295, 25 . 10 . 1991, p . 1 .

No C 140 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-435 / 93 What was the overall situation in this sector at the end of
by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) 1992 ?
to the Commission of the European Communities

1 1 ) OJ No L 147, 12 . 6 . 1991, p . 37 .

March 1993 ) ( 2 ) OJ No L 185, 17 . 7 . 1990, p . 16 .

( 94 / C 140 / 39 ) ( 3 ) OJ No L 313, 13 . 11 . 1990, p . 30 .

(8 March 1993 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on the

environment, nuclear safety and civil protection

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various

Community directives on the environment, nuclear safety
and civil protection, including the following :

— Directive 90 / 219 / EEC (*) on the contained use of

genetically modified micro-organisms,

— Directive 90 / 220 / EEC ( 2 ) on the deliberate release into

the environment of genetically modified organisms,

— Directive 91 / 325 / EEC ( 3 ) on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous substances,

— Directive 90 / 517 / EEC ( 4 ) on the classification,
packaging and labelling of dangerous substances,

What was the overall situation in this sector at the end of

1992 ?

(*) OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990, p . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990, p . 15 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 180, 8 . 7 . 1991, p . 1 .
( 4 ) OJ No L 287, 19 . 10 . 1990, p . 37 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-437 / 93

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

(8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 41 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on

financial institutions and company law

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various

Community directives on financial institutions and
company law, including the following :

— Directive 89 / 298 / EEC ( ) on the requirements governing

prospectuses to be published when transferrable
securities are offered to the public,

— Directive 90 / 21 1 / EEC ( 2 ) on the mutual recognition of

public-offer prospectuses,

— Directive 89 / 667 / EEC ( 3 ) on single-member private

limited-liability companies .

What was the overall situation in this sector at the end of

1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 124, 5 . 5 . 1989, p . 8 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 112, 3 . 5 . 1990, p . 24 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-436 / 93 ( 3 ) OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989, p . 40 .

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 40 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-438 / 93

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with directives on

energy

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with various
directives on energy, including the following :

— Directive 91 / 296 / EEC (*) on the transit of natural gas

through grids,

— Directive 90 / 377 / EEC ( 2 ) on the transparency of gas and

electricity prices charged to industrial end-users,

— Directive 90 / 547 / EEC ( 3 ) on the transit of electricity

through transmission grids .

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

(8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 42 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive on

television broadcasting

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with Directive

89 / 552 / EEC (*) on television broadcasting activities .

What was the situation on 31 December 1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 298, 17 . 10 . 1989, p . 23 .

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-439 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-442 / 93

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 ) (8 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 43 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 46 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive on

the coordination of procedures on the award of
public supply contracts

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with Directive

88 / 295 / EEC i 1 ) on the coordination of procedures on the
award of public supply contracts .

What was the situation on 31 December 1992 ?

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty

and Directives on the right of establishment of
dentists in Spain and Latin American nationals

The Spanish Government is not complying with Directives

78 / 687 / EEC i 1 ) and 78 / 686 / EEC ( 2 ) and Article 5 of the
EEC Treaty on the right of establishment of dentists in Spain
and Latin American nationals . What was the situation at

31 December 1992 ?

(!) OJ No L 127, 20 . 5 . 1988, p . 1 . (!) OJ No L 233, 24 . 8 . 1978, p . 10 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 233, 24 . 8 . 1978, p . 1 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-440 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-444 / 93
by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

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

(8 March 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )
( 94 / C 140 / 44 )

( 94 / C 140 / 47 )

Subject : Failure by Spain to comply with the directive

concerning coordination of procedures for the
award of public works contracts

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with Directive

89 / 440 / EEC (*) concerning coordination of procedures for
the award of public works contracts . What was the situation
on 31 December 1992 ?

H OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989, p . 1 .

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty,

with regard to difficulties for imports of frozen
fresh meat into Spain

The Spanish Government is not complying with Article 30
of the EEC Treaty as it is restricting the import of frozen
fresh meat into Spain . What was the situation at
31 December 1992 ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-445 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-441 / 93 by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE )

by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) to the Commission of the European Communities
to the Commission of the European Communities (8 March 1993 )
(8 March 1993 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 48 )

( 94 / C 140 / 45 )

Subject : Non-compliance by Germany with the EEC Treaty

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the Directive on air

quality limit values and guide values for sulphur
dioxide and suspended particulates

The Spanish Government is not complying with Directive

89 / 427 / EEC (*) on air quality limit values and guide values
for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates . What was
the situation at 31 December 1992 ?

and the Directive on sterile clinical instruments :

labelling and preparation of products

The German Government is not complying with Directive

83 / 189 / EEC ( 1 ) and Articles 30 and 36 of the EEC Treaty
with regard to the labelling and preparation of sterile clinical
instruments . What was the situation at 31 December

1992 ?

H OJ No L 201, 14 . 7 . 1989, p . 53 . (M OJ No L 109, 26 . 4 . 1983, p . 8 .

No C 140 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

Joint answer to Written Questions E-425 / 93, E-427 / 93

to E-442 / 93, E-444 / 93 and E-445 / 93

given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

Tenth annual report on Commission monitoring of the
application of Community law C ), which describes in detail
the situation at 31 December 1992 .

distorting competition and affecting trade between Member
States, the Commission decided on 5 May 1993 that, having
regard to the purpose of this scheme, to the fact that it could
have only limited distortive effect on competition and to the
provisions of Article 92 ( 3 ) ( c ) of the EEC Treaty, it would
not raise any objections to the scheme, cf . state aid case No
NN 93 / B / 92 and SEC(93 ) 676 .

(!) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-469 / 93

by Henry Chabert ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 50
WRITTEN QUESTION E-450 / 93
by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC ) Subject : Possible locations for
to the Commission of the European Communities European Community

( 11 March 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 49 )

Subject : Discrimination in Danish law

In Denmark there is a system known as ' Ivaerksaetterydelse '
under which unemployed people can receive a start-up
allowance to begin a self-employed occupation . This
allowance can amount to Dkr 66 000 per year for three and
a half years .

The provisions of this law are drawn up in such a restrictive
way that it is practically impossible for an EC citizen who is
not Danish to benefit from this allowance .

Does not the Commission think that restrictive provisions of
this kind constitute a distortion of competition ? What
action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that

this measure can be of practical benefit to other EC
citizens ?

Subject : Possible locations for the headquarters of
European Community and third-country
organizations

How many Community or third-country organizations
have yet to be given a permanent seat ?

Can the Commission give details about each of the
Community or third-country organizations concerned
( agencies, bureaus, committees, foundations, institutes,
observatories or offices ) — specifying in each case and for
each country the location envisaged or at least the names of
the countries and towns which have offered to

accommodate one or other of these organizations ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 September 1993 )

The Commission must remind the Honourable Member

that it does not always receive official applications for
headquarters locations . It cannot, therefore, produce an
exhaustive table setting out all the applications received .

It will send the information that it does have direct to the
Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission Honourable Member and the Secretariat of Parliament .

( 15 September 1993 )

The purpose of the scheme to which the Honourable
Member refers is to reduce unemployment in Denmark . It is
available to people with their place of residence in Denmark,
who have been registered as unemployed in Denmark for a
certain period of time . The scheme is available for all
fulfilling these objective conditions ; it does not contain any
conditions of nationality . It is equally available for citizens
from other Member States as well as Danish citizens offering
their services on the Danish labour market .

The Commission has recently examined the scheme under
the state aid rules of the EEC Treaty ( Articles 92— 94 ).
While the scheme could be considered as constituting state
aid within the meaning of Article 92 ( 1 ) and capable of

WRITTEN QUESTION E-605 / 93

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 51 )

Subject : East of England Community Support
Framework

Is the European Commission confident that Article 26 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 (*) has been strictly adhered

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 23

to by the East of England Community Support Framework
Secretariat ?

(!) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 June 1993 )

The operations covered by the Eastern England CSF for the
period 1989 to 1991 have now been completed . The
regional offices of the Department of the Environment and
the Department of Trade and Industry, as the competent
authorities within the region, have informed the
Commission that they are in the process of undertaking
evaluation studies to assess the effectiveness of the

operations . Their initial assessments will be carried out at
the programme level . Thereafter, they will use the
information and findings from this exercise to gauge the
impact of the operations in the context of the CSF .

Six operational programmes are concerned . An interim
evaluation of the Yorkshire and Humberside Steel Area

RESIDER programmes has already been completed . A final
evaluation of both programmes will be undertaken at the
end of this year . The regional authorities are currently
discussing terms of reference with the Commission and
examining bids from potential applicants to undertake the
assessment of the other four operational programmes

( Bradford, Humberside, Mid Yorkshire and East
Midlands ). The assessments are expected to begin shortly
and, when completed, will be discussed within the
framework of the partnership .

The Commission is satisfied that the progress made to date
is consistent with the requirements of Article 26 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No 4253 / 88 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-634 / 93

by Alexander Langer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(S April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 52 )

Subject : Open competition COM / A / 720 ( general
administration )

In the course of the above competition which went on for an
unusually protracted period of about two years after the
publication of the Notice of Competition ( 1 ), a strange
incident occurred . Following the correction of eliminatory
tests ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ), which were held on 13 December 1991,
a number of candidates were admitted to sit the other
written tests, ( d ) and ( e ), on 10 April . Shortly before that
date, the tests were postponed until 19 June 1992 and some
of the candidates previously excluded for having failed to

obtain the minimum marks in the eliminatory tests were
re-admitted to sit tests ( d ) and ( e ).

1 . How many candidates were admitted to sit the tests
scheduled for 10 April 1992 ?

2 . How many candidates were admitted to sit the tests
which took place on 19 June 1992 ?

3 . Why did the Selection Board decide to re-admit

candidates previously excluded ?

4 . What type and what number of candidates should have

been admitted to tests ( d ) and ( e ) according to the Notice
of Competition ?

5 . Was the Selection Board entitled to depart from the

provisions of the Notice of Competition ?

(!) OJ No L 52, 28 . 2 . 1991 .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1993 )

Under Article 3 of Annex III of the Staff Regulations,
recruitment selection boards are composed of an equal
number of elected staff representatives and members
appointed by the administration and their independence
from the Commission must be protected . Although it is not
therefore involved in the working of the selection boards for
the competitions in question, the Commission can supply
the following information which has been provided by the
boards themselves .

1 . 394 candidates were initially admitted to the written
tests for COM / A / 720 and 435 for COM / A / 721 .

2 . 2 405 candidates from COM / A / 720 and 2 522

candidates from COM / A / 721 were finally admitted to
the written tests which took place on 19 June 1992 .

3 . The board's decision to admit candidates who were

initially excluded was founded on its concern to rectify
certain errors of judgement which occurred when the
eliminatory tests were first marked .

4 . The notice of competition did not specify the maximum

number of candidates to be admitted to tests ( d ) and ( e ),
but only the marks needed .

5 . The board is bound by the notice of competition and the

decisions it has taken have been for the purpose of giving
proper effect to it .

No C 140 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-666 / 93

by Thomas Megahy ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 53 )

Subject : Structural funds : programme partnership

Is it the Commission's intention to regionalize the operation
of all structural fund programmes and Community
initiatives ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1993 )

Programmes of structural assistance are initially defined in
regional development plans and Community support
frameworks . The national plans are drawn up by the
Member States at the geographical level deemed to be most
appropriate . Community support frameworks are then
drawn up at the relevant geographical level in agreement
with the Member State concerned within the partnership

structure .

The revised Regulations adopted by the Council on 20 July

minimum landing size for North Sea haddock has been set at
a level compatible with the mesh size legally in use . Both
these measures are complementary in the sense that the
enforcement of one of them ensures that the other is better

observed . Therefore, any increase in minimum landing size
would only lead to an increased discarding of dead fish, and
it would have very little effect on conservation .
Conservation can only be achieved by an improvement of
the selectivity of trawls, allowing undersized fish to escape
through the meshes in good condition to survive, combined
with an appropriate increase in minimum landing size if
required .

Whiting, however, is a slightly different case . The stock of
North Sea whiting is not in a bad state and the mesh in use
for roundfish ( 100 mm ) does not permit its exploitation,
due to the elongated shape of whiting which facilitates its
escape through the meshes . Taking this into account, a
derogation has been set in order to permit fishing for this
species with 90 mm mesh . In addition, as adult whiting is
considered one of the most important predators of young
cod, it was felt that the protection of juvenile whiting was
not required, and the minimum landing size was lowered to
23 cm . No further changes are envisaged so far .

1993 contain no changes to these procedures . WRITTEN QUESTION E-790 / 93

by Enrico Falqui ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 55 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-783 / 93

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

( 19 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 54 )

Subject : Fishing : minimum landing sizes

Given the current surfeit of small haddock and whiting, will
the Commission consider raising the minimum landing size
for haddock to 35 cm and for whiting to 30 cm ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 October 1993 )

The Commission does not intend to propose an increase in
minimum landing sizes for haddock or whiting . The current

Subject : Priority for high speed railways in the framework

of the EC programme of action for transport
infrastructures

Concerning the recent adoption on 1 December 1992 of a
Community regulation on a programme of action for
transport infrastructures for which ECU 280 million have
been earmarked from the current Community budget :

1, what are the real priorities contained in this programme

of action concerning the high speed railway
programme ?

2, what priorities are being given to Italy in particular, is

the Milan-Naples high speed train included in the
programme ?

3, does the amount of ECU 280 million earmarked for
transport infrastructures under the 1993 Community
budget include the new cohesion fund adopted in
Maastricht ?

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 25

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-824 / 93
by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez ( NI ) and Alonso Puerta ( NI )

( 20 December 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

( 21 Aprile 1993 )

1 . The priorities established for High-Speed Rail ( 94 / C 140 / 56 )
Infrastructures are those included in Council Regulation

( EEC ) No 3359 / 90 of 20 November 1990 for an action
programme in the field of transport infrastructure with a
view to the completion of an integrated transport market in
1992 f 1 ).

It has to be noted that the validity of this Regulation expired
on 31 December 1992 . A proposal for its extension has been
adopted by the Council of 7 June . The list of priorities has
not been modified .

2 . The Italian railway lines included in the high-speed rail
priority actions on the grounds of the abovementioned
Regulation are the following :

— Lyons — Torino

— Milano — Venezia

— Venezia — Tarvisio / Trieste

It is worth adding that, besides the action plan, another
exercise is being carried out with a view to establishing a
European network of high speed trains . The Commission
addressed a communication to the Council regarding
a European high speed train network ( 2 ). This
communication included a proposal for a Council decision
concerning the establishing of a network of high speed
trains .

An outline plan for a European High Speed Train Network,
to be realised by the year 2010, is annexed to the proposal
for a Council decision . Several Italian lines, including the
Milan — Naples section, have been integrated in the outline
plan . At the same time, 14 priority actions have also been
identified, consisting in the completion of certain key
links . The Italian lines included in this package are :
( Lyos ) — Modane — Turin ; Milan — Chiasso — ( Basel ); The
Brenner link ; Tarvisio — ( Vienna ).

The Council welcomed this communication but, at the same
time, considered that further study was necessary to ensure a
thorough evaluation of the socio-economic, environmental
and commercial impact of the proposed network . The
Council, in its resolution of 17 December 1990, invited the
Commission to pursue its work in the light of the
abovementioned needs .

3 . The 1993 allocation for transport infrastructures
( ECU 185 million ) does not include the financial
contributions provided by the Cohesion Fund .

(!) OJ No L 326, 24 . 11 . 1990 .
( 2 ) SEC(90 ) 2402 final .

Subject : Directive on the protection of the Eo estuary

( Galicia-Asturias, Spain )

The Eo estuary, which forms the border between the
Autonomous Communities of Galicia and Asturias, was
designated a special protection area under Directive
79 / 409 / EEC ( 1 ) on the conservation of wild birds . The
people living near to the estuary are currently concerned at
the fact that a breakwater is being built in Ribadeo, which,
because of its nature, is having a detrimental effect on this
very beautiful and ecologically important place .

Under Directive 79 / 409 / EEC, the Spanish authorities are
responsible for the preservation of this protected area and
are required, in particular, to take appropriate steps to avoid
pollution or deterioration of this habitat or disturbances
affecting its ecosystem .

In view of the harmful environmental effects of these works

the developers presumably carried out an environmental
impact assessment before they were carried out, as required
in such cases by Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ).

1 . Can the Commission guarantee that the Regional
Government of Galicia will correctly apply the
abovementioned directives ?

2 . Has the Regional Government of Galicia received any
financial aid from Community funds for the
construction of this breakwater ?

(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979, p . 1 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

Within the framework of the first operational programme
for Galicia, approved by Commission Decision of
27 February 1990, aid was granted to the ' Muelle MirasoP
project referred to by the Honourable Members . The project
will cost a total of PTA 1 84 million, the ERDF contribution
being PTA 92,1 million .

No C 140 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

The Commission has asked the Spanish authorities for mainly from plant substances and consist of grape juice and

information so that it can check that the jetty construction vitamins, proteins, amino acids, zinc and a whole range of
project conforms to Community law . other substances combined in various ways so as to produce

the ' right ' effect . Given that the US Food and Drug
Administration has banned the sale of such substances on

the grounds that mixing proteins and amino-acids may pose
a health threat, what measures does the Commission intend
to adopt to prevent the health of young people being
WRITTEN QUESTION E-837 / 93 damaged by ' smart ' drugs ?

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 57 ) on Answer behalf given of the by Commission Mr Flynn

( 12 October 1993 )
Subject : Development programmes in the prefecture of

Lasithi

Will the Commission say what programmes the Greek
Government has submitted for approval in respect of the
development of the prefecture of Lasithi in Crete, and
whether the Prefecture in question has been included in the
INTERREG ( 1991 — 1993 ) Community programme ? Can it
also say what amounts the other prefectures in Crete have
received as part of this INTERREG programme ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1993 )

The Regional Programme for Crete which is financed in the
context of the Community Support Framework ( 1989 — 93 )
for Greece covers the area in question . A copy of this
programme should be available on request from the General
Secretary of the Region .

The Community initiative INTERREG is not organized on a
regional basis in the sense of specific amounts being reserved
for specific regions within Member States . Individual
projects in eligible regions are selected within the limits of
the programme . To date 12 projects have been selected for
co-financement in Crete with a total cost of ECU 41 million .

None of these is located in the nomos of Lassithi .

There is no evidence available to the Commission that

would allow it to conclude that beverages legally placed on
the market and properly consumed constitute a health risk
for the consumer . Ingredients such as those mentioned by
the Honourable Member, i.e . herbal extracts, proteins,
aminoacids, vitamins and metals, can be found in various
foodstuffs and beverages legally placed on the market . As
regards pre-packaged foodstuffs and beverages, such
placing on the market is governed by Community or
national provisions .

Measures against the illicit preparation and sale of
beverages, such as the ' smart narcotic drinks ' referred to by
the Honourable Member, are dealt with by the Member
States concerned . The Commission does not have

information available to it on measures taken by the
Member States to prohibit such drinks .

However, in the case where beverages legally placed on the
market in certain Member States are prohibited in others,
the Commission may, upon consideration of all relevant
factors, propose measures deemed necessary for the
approximation of the provisions laid down in Member
States, taking as a base a high level of protection .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-861 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-858 / 93 ( 26 April 1993 )

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 94 / C 140 / 59 )

( 26 April 1993 )

Subject : Industrial plants on the Thriasian Plan
(9 AIC 140 / 58 )

Subject : Measures to combat ' smart ' drugs

The fashion for ' smart ' drugs has now reached Europe from
the USA . Some bars in Athens are already offering these new
products alongside the usual cocktails : they are prepared

Given that the environment of the Thriasian Plan is being
badly damaged by the presence of a large number of ' dirty '
industrial plants and that the agricultural sector in the
region had shrunk over the last few years, can the
Commission say whether the Community can provide
financial support for a policy seeking to replace some of the

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 27

plants in question with agricultural holdings ( especially
those using environmentally friendly methods )?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1993 )

It is the responsibility of the Member States to make
proposals for assistance from the structural funds to
projects or programmes designed to deal with regional
problems such as those described by the Honourable
Member . The Commission is willing to examine any such
proposal for the Thriasian plain made by the Greek
authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-873 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 60 )

Subject : Monitoring the industrial installations at
Tsikalaria

Further to my Question No 1016 / 92 (*) and the
Commission's answer requesting that it be kept informed of
progress with the construction of the industrial complex in
Tsikalaria, I would provide the following information :

1 . Experts have submitted a document to the Ministry for
the Environment Regional Planning and Public Works
containing their views and observations as to whether
the industrial complex at Chania complies with the
provisions of Directive 86 / 337 / EEC ( 2 ); no answer has
yet been received .

2 . All the measures taken to date by the Greek authorities
have been without the participation or expression of an
opinion by the local authority or the public, in breach of
Article 6 ( 2 ) of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC which stipulates
that the Member States shall ensure that

( a ) any request for development consent and any
information gathered pursuant to Article 5 are
made available to the public and

( b ) the public concerned is given the opportunity to

express an opinion before the project is initiated .

3 . Consent has already been granted in the area for major
industrial installations, e.g . building permit No 817 of

15 November 1990 for the construction of a chemicals

and distilling plant .

4 . It is therefore clear that the project is undermining rather
than improving the quality of life in the area and does

not conform to the principle of sustainable development
i.e . that development should satisfy present needs
without restricting future generations ' ability to satisfy
their own needs . ( Recommendation 1130, text of the
European Charter and European Treaty on the
environment and sustainable development ).

In view of this, will the Commission act to enforce
Community law ?

i 1 ) OJ No C 289, 5 . 11 . 1992, p . 38 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p . 40 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

The Commission would thank the Honourable Member for
the information on possible procedural irregularities in the
application of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC on the assessment of
the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment, in respect of the construction of an industrial
park at Tsikalaria, Crete .

On the basis of this data, the Commission has approached
the Greek authorities for further information .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-883 / 93

by Birgit Cramon Daiber ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 61 )

Subject : The German Leader programme

Has the Commission received from the German authorities

a request for approval under the Leader programme to
co-finance for DM 3,8 million an extensive DM 10 million
water project in Wallenfels and has this request been
accompanied by the results of the EIA, the opinion of the
local authority on the modified proposal and the 2000
signatures of local opponents to this scheme ?

If not, would it not in future be more efficient to transfer
directly the total sum to which this region is entitled, due to
the lack of proper information on which decisions should be
based ?

No C 140 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-884 / 93 For its part, the Commission reserves the right to ask the

by Birgit Cramon Daiber ( V ) Bavarian authorities for any information which will enable

it to judge whether the Community legislation has been
to the Commission of the European Communities complied with .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-884 / 93

by Birgit Cramon Daiber ( V )

( 23 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 62 )

Subject : Leader programme in Germany

One of the Leader programme's aims is to promote and
co-finance environmentally friendly projects .

Does the Commission agree that in approving projects
under this programme based on other targets, these projects
should, at least, not be to the detriment of the environment
as is the case in the proposed dam project in Wallenfels,
Germany ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-885 / 93

by Birgit Cramon Daiber ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 63 )

Subject : The Wallenfels dam project

Does the directive on obligatory EIA apply to major
infrastructural projects within the area of a nature reserve
partly paid for under the Leader programme, like for
example in Wallenfels, Germany ? If not, why not ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-883 / 93 to E-885 / 93

given by Mr Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1993 )

Under the Community Leader initiative, which aims to
promote rural development, Community financing can be
granted for rural tourism and the encouragement of tourist
centres in rural areas .

The Wallenfels project which is included in the Bavarian
programme for Kronach is in keeping with these
objectives .

In accordance with the programming principle governing
the Community Leader initiative, a first tranche of
Community financing for the Bavarian programme was
freed after the programme had been adopted . Whether
projects are financed in full depends on whether they
comply with Community legislation, including legislation
on the environment .

According to the information received from the Bavarian
authorities,- the environmental impact assessment carried
out for the Wallenfels project is the subject of legal action .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-904 / 93

by Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 64

Subject : Development programmes in Portugal

Whereas the Portuguese Government has just announced
two ' development programmes ' estimated to cost ESC 600
billion, one for the construction of the Alqueva ( 290 billion )
and the other for council housing ( 310 billion ).

whereas these ' programmes ' are only viable with
Community support, which has in fact been promised in the
case of the Alqueva,

whereas this announcement was made with a great fanfare
at a time when the government's popularity was clearly
slipping and on the eve of the local elections campaign,

mindful of the absolute need for social measures, in the
housing area by dealing with the causes of the problem,

whereas, despite the size of the amounts mentioned, there is
nothing really new in the measures announced and whereas,
it should be stressed, they were adopted without any
discussion with the local authorities that will have to take

the lead in carrying them out and with a disregard for the
proclaimed ( and vaunted ) principle of subsidiarity,

whereas those who are ' not ' Portuguese may not benefit
from these programmes and in view of the fact that many, if
not the majority, of citizens who live on the outskirts of
cities and in makeshift accommodation, can the
Commission say whether it had prior knowledge of these
programmes, to what extent it has been involved and what
Community resources will be allocated to them ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

A study on the Alqueva multi-purpose investment project
was financed by the Commission in 1 992 . The report on this
study provided basic information enabling the Portuguese
authorities to take a decision .

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 29

The said authorities presented the regional development The following procedures were applied :
plan ( RDP ) for 1994 —99 in July 1993 . The plan indicates
the lines of development, the priorities for development and 1 . Invitation to tender published in the
the applications for financing by the Funds . The application the Varese area and in a national
for part-financing of the Alqueva dam was included .

1 . Invitation to tender published in the local newspaper of

the Varese area and in a national newspaper .

The RDP also includes an urban renewal chapter which
contains actions to renovate areas of makeshift

accommodation, rehabilitation of areas in decline and
infrastructure linked with EXPO 98 .

Under the new regulations, housing as such is not eligible for
Structural Fund assistance .

The Commission is currently examining the plan . The final
decision will be taken in six months time under the

partnership provided for in the legislation on the Structural
Funds .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-908 / 93

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 65 )

Subject : EEC regulations on tendering

According to some of those who tendered, the normal
procedures were not followed in the case of tender
No 599-93 - 01 TD ISP concerning the contract for managing
the club house at the Joint Research Centre in Ispra and
consequently they have felt compelled to contest it . This is
because they believe that the EEC regulations on tenders
were not followed .

Can the Commission say what supervisory measures it is
adopting to ensure that this kind of tender is in accordance
with the regulations it has drawn up and whether it does not
consider, leaving aside the outcome of this particular tender,
that these regulations are not sufficiently clear ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The invitation to tender in question, which in no way
involves Community funds, was the subject of the normal
procedures and controls already applied to all previous
contracts relating to the clubhouse of the Joint Research
Centre in Ispra .

2 . Compliance with the principle of confidentiality
ensured through the obligation to reply in one sealed
envelope placed inside another .

3 . Additional technical information provided
simultaneously to all enterprises that had expressed an
interest in the tender .

4 . Tenders received opened and the following particulars

checked by an ad hoc committee made up of
representatives of the service concerned, the contracts
unit of the Joint Research Centre and staff
representatives :

— the financial terms proposed,

— experience in the business sector in question,

— bank references .

5 . The successful tenderer was selected on the basis of the

criteria in the invitation to tender, in accordance with
the principles of the Financial Regulation, with due
regard to sound management practice and in the desire
to open up this type of contract as far as possible to
competition .

The Commission therefore considers that the procedures
applied guarantee the possibility of widespread
participation in the invitation to tender and that the latter
was conducted in accordance with the principles of
confidentiality, fairness and transparency .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-924 / 93

by Klaus Wettig ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 27 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 66 )

Subject : Approximation of rules concerning private
recordings ( audiovisual and audio works )

In its 1 977 Green Paper on copyright the Commission called
for a uniform levy system on recordings in the form of a
percentage supplement on the sale price of equipment and
material, together with a user fee on copying equipment for
public use . Such a system is already operational in France,
Italy and Germany with the proceeds from the levy being
paid to the authors . In 1990, proceeds amounted to
approximately DM 136 million in Germany and, in 1989,
FF 438 million in France .

With the completion of the internal market and the removal
of borders, these systems can no longer be guaranteed to

No C 140 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

operate . Distortion of competition occurs between those
Member States which operate such a levy system and those
which do not .

Objections expressed until recently in the Council of
Ministers on grounds of subsidiarity have been officially
lifted .

In its legislative programme for 1993 the Commission has
accordingly announced plans to propose rules in this area,
without stating exactly when .

1 . Is the Commission aware that further delays in
introducing such an arrangement could result in
considerable financial losses for authors ?

2 . In which quarter does the Commission plan to make
such a proposal ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1993 )

As the Commission stated in its 1988 Green Paper on
Copyright and the Challenge of New Technology (*), the
Member States remain free to maintain or introduce levies

on the sale of recording equipment or media in the audio and
audiovisual sectors ( paragraph 3.12.1 ). This situation
continues to apply pending any action by the Community
which might limit the existing discretion of the Member
States in this area .

The Commission is still examining the extent to which the
introduction of harmonization at Community level in the
area of national levies on the sale of recording equipment
and media in the audiovisual and audio sectors could affect

the sums received by authors .

No decision has yet been taken on the timing of any possible
Commission action on private copying .

(M COM(88 ) 172 final .

Pass for the Elderly ? Does the Commission not believe that
the introduction of such a pass would be a good example of
a concrete measure emerging from the Year of the Elderly

1993 ?

Could the Commission inform me whether, in the context of
travel concessions for the elderly, they are aware of the fact
that French, German and Irish transport companies ( SNCF,
Deutsche Bundesbahn and CIE ) are restricting travel
concessions for former workers in their companies, in the
same year as the Year of the Elderly 1993 ? Would the
Commission be prepared to ensure that these companies
maintain as many concessions as possible for the elderly as a
major gesture for the Year of the Elderly 1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 12 October 1993 )

The Commission considers that the question of travel
concessions granted by employers to their workers should

be dealt with directly by the parties concerned .

The Commission will, however, continue to pursue
the matter of the European Over-Sixties ' Card
( recommendation 89 / 350 / EEC of 10 May 1989 ) (*) in order
to increase awareness in the field of concessions to older
people travelling to other Member States . The planned
Travel Guide showing special advantages available to older
people travelling in Europe has been prepared ; a first edition
of the Guide was issued at the beginning of May . At the same
time, a report on ' Travel and culture : access to concessions
by older people in Europe ' was also issued .

0 ) OJ No L 144 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-378 / 93

by James Ford ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-929 / 93
(3 March 1993 )

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities ( 94 / C 140 / 68

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 67 )

Subject : Amendment of the Air Carrier's Liability Act

Subi eet : European Travel Pass Since the opening of internal frontiers this year, does the

Commission agree that the Air Carrier's Liability Act must
Could the Commission inform me what is the present be amended so that it does not apply to internal travel within
situation regarding the introduction of a European Travel the EC ?

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 31

QUESTION E-930 / 93 intra-Community travel . Since the checks referred to impede

Banotti ( PPE ) the free movement of individuals, the Commission is

looking into the problem in the context of the measures to be

of the European Communities taken to ensure that Article 8 a of the Treaty is fully

( 29 April 1993 ) implemented .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-930 / 93

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

( 94 / C 140 / 69 )

Subject : Practice of airlines to continue to check

passports

On a recent flight between Brussels and London, the British
Midland staff informed me that they continue to check
passports because the British Immigration authorities will
charge them £ 2 000 if they were to allow someone travel on
their flights who subsequently sought asylum in the UK . As
the flight is within the EC, such a third country national
obviously would have had to originally deal with the Belgian
authorities . Could the Commission inform me whether they
are aware of this practice by airlines to continue to check
passports ? Are the airlines not hiding behind the cloak of the
British immigration authorities ? Is the practice of the British
immigration authorities not contrary to the SEA and should
they not find ways of their own to stop people seeking
asylum in the UK without ultimately denying EC citizens
freedom of movement in the Single Market ? Could the
Commission inform the UK authorities that their practices
are contrary to the articles of the SEA ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-3 78 / 93 and E-930 / 93

given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 November 1993 )

A number of Member States impose penalties on transport
operators carrying passengers who are not in possession of
the travel documents required for entering their territory .
Since these rules date from before 1 January 1993, it is only
natural that they should apply to all travellers, whether they
come from inside or outside the Community .

As far as the situation after 1 January 1993 regarding
penalties for carriers is concerned, the logic of the single
market would seem to preclude carriers from continuing to
carry out embarkation checks on intra-Community
travellers at a time when public authorities should no longer
be carrying out checks at internal borders .

In line with that logic, both the draft convention between the
Member States on the crossing of external frontiers and the
Convention implementing the Schengen Agreements require
the adoption of national measures concerning transport
operators only in respect of travellers coming from
non-member countries .

The Member States have not so far made any official
comment on the matter of penalties for carriers in the case of

WRITTEN QUESTION E-956 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(. 29 April 1993 )

94 / C 140 / 70

Subject : Impact of mini-mill technology on the European

steel industry's production capacity, markets and
profitability

A new technological revolution is under way in the USA ( in
the NUCOR company in Charlotte in North Carolina, for
instance ) which allows steel to be produced in works which
are a quarter of the size of normal steelworks and uses
different methods of supply and production . This represents
a very serious threat to steel production elsewhere .

Japan is currently switching to this new technology but in

the Community only northern Italy seem to be taking this
threat seriously ; meanwhile, the Community steel industry
is planning to reduce capacity by 30 million tonnes ( one a
total of 190 million tonnes ) and to axe some 100 000 jobs
( out of a total of 370 000 ).

By comparison, imports from the East represent ' only ' 5
million tonnes, i.e . 4 % of total EC production .

Will the Commission express its views on the problem of
mini-mills ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The thin slab casting technology is a new process which has
been developed separately by three European groups . The
Community has participated in the finance of one of these
processes in its R&D phase .

At the present time there are only three plants — two in the
USA and one in northern Italy — in existence using this
technology but these have already demonstrated that they
are capable of producing coil of a quality sufficient to meet
the demands of approximately one-third of the coil
market .

A further dozen projects including expansions of two of the
existing plants are at various stages of development . Most of

No C 140 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

these projects are in the USA but there are also projects in
several Member States .

The US has a large deficit in coil both nationally and
regionally due to the concentration of the steel industry in
the North East of the country . The thin slab process is the
ideal technology to fill this deficit, both because of its
smaller dimension and because these local markets do not

require such high quality .

In contrast the Community is a large exporter of coil with a
few regional deficits . The existing integrated mills in the
Community are, although almost all fully depreciated,
highly efficient and modern and capable of meeting the
highest quality standards . Further it has been estimated by
the steel producers themselves that there is an excess of 4— 8
million tonnes of capacity for coil production in the
Community .

Thus, in the short term, there has been less interest in the
thin slab process in the Community but there is little doubt
that in the longer term this technology could play an
important role in the restructuring of the Community steel
industry, in particular if the present quality constraints of
the process are reduced or eliminated .

If the 15 or more thin slab process plants currently planned,
each with a capacity in the region of 1 million tonnes, were
to be constructed over the next few years the impact on the
scrap market could by quite significant . The consequent
increase in the price of its primary raw material could reduce
the economic attraction of the thin slab process . NUCOR,
the first producer in the field, have just announced the
construction of a direct reduction plant to produce iron
carbide as an alternative high quality raw material in order
to avoid the vagaries of the scrap market . The Commission
will follow closely the development of the situation in
respect of raw materials and in particular of scrap .

of energy but only relatively limited funding is provided .
Under these conditions, and in view of the serious energy
problems affecting the Community islands, what is needed
is a generous Community initiative aimed at exploiting
renewable sources of energy on Community Islands, and
particularly on frontier and very remote islands . What view
does the Commission take of this proposal ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The Community initiative Valoren has provided substantial
funds for the development of renewable energy sources in
the regions of the Community lagging behind in their
development ( Objective 1 ), including the islands which are
part of them . Regis appropriations for the most remote
regions have been added to these funds, as in the case of

Guadeloupe .

For 1994 — 99 the Commission considers that the

promotion of renewable energy may be financed under
Community support frameworks if Member States apply
for this . With regard to Community initiatives the
Honourable Member should refer to the Commission
communication of 16 June 1993 ( J ) presenting the
Commission's thoughts on the subject, which are being
debated by Parliament .

(!) COM(93 ) 282 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-978 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-958 / 93 ( 94 / C 140 / 72 )

by Filippos Pierros ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 71 )

Subject : Specific Community programme to tap renewable

sources of energy on Community islands in very
remote or frontier areas

One of the Community's principal energy policy objectives
is to exploit and market renewable sources of energy and the
Community islands have a considerable potential for
development in this respect . Of course, the Thermie and
Altener programmes deal, inter alia, with renewable sources

Subject : Irresponsible deregulation of the world financial

system

In November the International Federation of Commercial,
Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees ( FIET ) sent
the Commission a letter which said :

' The volume of short-term capital which passes through
the exchange markets every day far exceeds the
industrialized world's monetary reserves . The constant
search for improved yields has now reached a point
where it is sapping the effort made in the real economy by
governments, employers and workers to meet real needs
by producing goods and services . . . As a result of the

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 33

events of recent weeks the European Commission should
urgently carry out an examination into the operation of
the international capital markets in the light of the
transition to monetary union . . . Accordingly, it is
essential to look critically at the effects of the free
movement of capital, to see how this freedom of
movement is distorting economic policy and to
determine what reforms would make it possible to
maximize the advantages of capital movements while at
the same time minimizing the costs and the opportunities
for speculation '.

As the Commission has announced its intention of carrying
out a study into the problem, could it give a progress report
and indicate the conclusions — provisional or otherwise —
of the work which it has begun ?

Can the Commission clarify what the object and the
circulation of this Newsletter are ? The Newsletter is not sent

to members of the European Parliament's Committee on
Culture as I myself can testify .

Can the Commission explain why this very lavish
publication, funded from the EC budget, does not report on
European Parliament cultural activities ? The report
promoting books and reading which had already been
adopted by the Committee on Culture in April, was totally
ignored in the December issue in an article on books and
reading ( page 9 ).

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission ( 14 Tuly 1993 )

( 18 November 1993 )

The free circulation of capital is one of the fundamental
freedoms enshrined in the EEC Treaty . It is a necessary
condition for the completion of the single market and in
particular for the creation of an integrated European
Financial Area . This simply reflects the overwhelming and
growing importance of investment decisions and banking
activity in the optimal allocation of scarce resources .

Without full capital mobility, neither the liberalization of
financial services nor the establishment of conditions for an
effective monetary policy at Community level is possible .
The Commission is not therefore of the opinion that
restrictions on the free movement of capital, which came
into effect for the majority of Member States well before the
currency crises last year and this year, are the appropriate
measures to deal with difficulties on the foreign exchange
markets . The various safeguard clauses included in
Community legislation are intended to provide against
different risks in the form of serious difficulties for the

balance of payments or for the functioning of the Economic
and Monetary Union .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-986 / 93

by Jessica Larive ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 73 )

Subject : The Newsletter — Commission DG X
Publication

Can the Commission specify exactly what the budget for
' The Newsletter ' is ?

The special issue of the Newsletter ' Culture ' was published
at the end of 1992 to inform those responsible for culture
and the general public of the Community's activities and
discussions in the cultural sphere, and notably of the
statement of 29 April 1992 and the conclusions of the
Council and the Ministers on guidelines for cultural
activities in the Community adopted on 12 November 1992 .
It does not conceal the fact that Parliament was the first

institution to call upon the Community to commit itself in
the cultural sphere .

Parlament is also mentioned as the initiator of various

cultural activities in the Community such as the Youth
Orchestra and protection of the cultural heritage . But work
done in January and February 1993 ( Mr Barzanti's report
on new perspectives for Community activities in the cultural
sphere ; Mrs Larive's report on the promotion of books and
reading in Europe ; Mr Galle's report on the return of
cultural goods unlawfully removed from a Member State ;
and Mr Laroni's report on preserving the architectural
heritage and protecting cultural assets ) was not mentioned
in the December 1992 issue . It will feature in the next

issue .

5 000 copies of the December edition of the Newsletter were
published in three languages ( French, English and German ).
The total cost amounted to approximately ECU 30 000 .
Distribution was based on a mailing list comprising the
Ministers for Culture of the Member States, various cultural
organizations, professionals and individuals . Within the
Commission itself the Newsletter was also distributed to

Members, to Directors-General and to all departments
concerned . And in January it was sent to the President of
Parliament and to all Member of the Committee on

Culture .

No C 140 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1001 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1005 / 93

by Mihail Papayannakis ( NI ) by Nicole Fontaine ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1993 ) (3 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 74 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 75 )

Subject : Abolition of the Stylida — Lianokladi — Athens rail

link

Many of the residents and political and professional
organizations in Stylida, together with the mayor of the
town, are protesting strongly against plans to abolish the
Stylida — Lianokladi — Athens rail link, as the Transmark
Surveying Company is proposing .

The European Community is financing the modernization
of the rail network in Greece . Would the Commission

therefore say :

1, whether there is a plan to abolish the line in question,

which is in fact profitable ?

2 . what exactly the company involved surveys and with

what objective ?

3 . how exactly it interprets the term ' modernization ' of the

Greek rail network ? Is it possible, for example, to
interpret the direct line between Athens and
Thessaloniki alone as the ' network '?

4, whether it has approved or intends to approve any such

proposals, and on precisely what economic and
environmental grounds ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 November 1993 )

The Commission understands that the study referred to by
the Honourable Member concerns the efficiency of the
Greek railway system as a whole . The Commission has not
been involved with the work and is not in a position to make
any detailed comments .

It is understood that the closure of the Stylida — Lianokladi
route was among the proposals put forward by the
consultants . However, in line with the principle of
subsidiarity, it is for the Greek authorities to decide whether
any particular route should continue to be operated .

As regards the overall Greek rail system, the Commission is
working on the basis of a network which represents a
component of the Trans-European networks called for by
Article 129 of the Treaty on European Union . This network
involves the Athens — Thessaloniki line as well as certain

other rail routes in Greece .

Subject : The fiscal treatment of leasing contracts relating to

movable property

Leasing contracts relating to movable tangible property
other than means of transport are governed by
Article 9 ( 2 ) ( e ) of the Sixth Council Directive and are liable
to VAT in the Community country where the lessee liable to
tax is established .

Such long-term leasing contracts generally include a clause
requiring the lessee to pay compensation if the property
leased is stolen or destroyed .

1 . Can the Commission confirm that, if the compensation
paid to the lessor is equal to the value of the property at
the time it is stolen or destroyed, it is not liable to VAT as
defined in Article 4 of the Directive ?

As such compensation makes good the damage suffered
as a result of the loss of the property leased, it cannot be
construed as consideration for a service rendered by the
lessor ( see the judgment of the European Court of
Justice of 1 July 1982, Case 222 / 81, Reports, 1982 — 7,

page 2527 ).

2 . Assuming that the compensation is fixed at a flat rate

and at an amount higher than the value of the property
at the time of its loss :

— is the lessor required to give a breakdown of the

compensation, VAT liability being limited to the
amount of compensation in excess of the current
value of the property,

— what happens if the lessor does not make this

breakdown,

— is the territoriality criterion still as defined in

Article 9 ( 2 ) ( e ) of the directive, or is this an
operation that can be dissociated from the initial
contract and is therefore governed by Article 9 ( 1 ) of
the directive ( VAT liability in the country where the
supplier is established )?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 November 1993 )

In the example given by the Honourable Member, it is likely
that the leasing contract will be cancelled if the property

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 35

being leased is stolen or destroyed . Article 1 1 . C of the Sixth would not be a problem to prepare the instruments of
Directive ( 77 / 388 / EEC i 1 )) stipulates that the taxable ratification or approval by 31 December 1993 .
amount is reduced accordingly in such circumstances . This
is because payments of rental or, even more so,
compensation no longer constitute consideration for a
service rendered .

However, the Directive allows the Member States in the
circumstances referred to in Article 20 ( 1 ) ( b ) to ask the
lessor of the stolen property to pay an amount of tax
equivalent to the tax deducted when the property in
question was purchased .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1036 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 May 1993 )
(M OJ No L 145, 13 . 6 . 1977 .

( 94 / C 140 / 77 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1018 / 93

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

(4 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 76 )

Subject : Convention on climate change

Following publication of the Rio de Janeiro Framework
Convention on Climate Change (*) Article 3 of the relevant
proposal for a Council decision lays down two deadlines for
action by the Member States .

On the date on which this question is answered, what is the
state of ratification of the Framework Convention by the
Member States and what information have they forwarded
to the Commission on their plans and expectations in this
regard ?

(!) OJ No C 44, 16 . 2 . 1993, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 October 1993 )

The Commission proposal for a Council decision on the
conclusion of the Framework Convention on Climate

Change by the Community has been agreed in principle at
the Environment Council of 23 March 1993 . As part of this
decision it has been agreed that the Member States will take
measures necessary to permit as far as possible
simultaneously and not later than 31 December 1993 the
deposit of the instruments of ratification or approval of the
Member States and the Community . The formal adoption of
the Decision by the Council is expected to take place during
the course of the year .

Ministers generally indicated at the above mentioned
Environment Council that, from a legal point of view it

Subi eet : Tacis programme

What progress has been made in the establishment of energy
advice centres to develop energy savings, energy efficiency
and energy conservation in the New Independent States
under the Tacis programme ? What has been the cost of
establishing the energy centres ? What library and
documentation resources will be made available by the
Commission to assist their operation ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1993 )

In the field of energy saving, Tacis has allocated ECU 10
million to strengthen the four Energy Centres in Moscow, St
Petersburg, Kiev and Minsk, established under the
Community's Thermie programme . The centres form the
initial nucleus of an NIS-wide network . They will stimulate
energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy and facilitate
the transfer of European energy technology . Consultants are
already at work in the field and have been engaged for a
period of three years .

The main tasks of these Energy Centres are to participate in
market and technology assessments carried out in industrial
energy efficiency, to provide advice and assistance in the
preparation of technical assistance actions in energy
efficiency, to organize and implement industrial energy
audits, to prepare and implement a general information
campaign, to prepare training programmes for NIS experts
in all energy efficiency matters, to prepare and implement
energy planning in cities and regions and implement fuel
management for transport fleets, to establish reliable
statistics on energy consumption and to assist in gathering
data .

The documentation of the Commission is at the disposal of
the consultants in charge of these projects .

No C 140 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1070 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1083 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 May 1993 ) ( 10 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 78 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 79 )

Subject : Development of poor Greek régions Subject : Removal of tanneries from Tabakika

Community data show that Upper Bavaria in Germany was
the most prosperous region in the Community in 1990, with
a GNP of 46 % higher than the Community average . It is
clear that the prosperous regions have become more
prosperous since in 1988 the figure was 37% higher than
the Community average . However, over the same period the
poor regions of the Community have become poorer,
notably in Greece : in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the
GNP is only 43% of the Community average compared
with 56 % previously . The same trend can be observed on
the Aegean islands .

What means does the Commission have to persuade the
Greek authorities that these poor regions urgently need to be
incorporated in the development programmes ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1993 )

The Commission recognizes that the forthcoming CSF for
Greece must give special priority to the two Aegean Sea
regions and to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace .

This particular priority has already been recognized in the
CSF in progress, which incorporates a special development
programme for Thrace, and in December 1992 the
Commission adopted a report on the Aegean islands (*) in
which it informed the Community institutions of a work
programme it had established for these islands . This
includes a component entitled ' Reinforcement of structural
measures ' in two stages, the present period and the next
programming period, 1994 to 1999 .

Under the present CSF appropriations have been transferred
from the national to the regional side to help the Aegean
islands and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace .

The Commission's report was accompanied by a proposal
for a Council Regulation on specific measures covering
certain agricultural products . These measures are
threefold :

— aid for the supply of certain basic goods,

— aid in support of certain local agricultural
production,

— waivers from restrictions in the structural aid

provisions .

(!) COM(92 ) 569 .

The residents of Palaia Kokkinia, Kaminia and Rendi are
protesting that tanneries still continue to operate in
Tabakika in residential areas . The firms in question have
been ' in the process of relocating ' since 1976, while since

1986 the EEC has approved the allocation of many millions
of drachma for their ' relocation and modernization '. Is it

possible for the Commission to look into this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 October 1993 )

Although it is true that the Commission under Greek Law

1892 / 90 is part - financing an aid scheme to help move
polluting industries outside Attica, it is for potential
investors to make the necessary applications to obtain such
aid and for the Greek authorities to grant it .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 103 / 93

by Virginio Bettini ( V ), Maria Santos ( PSE ) and Antonio

Coimbra Martins ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 80 )

Subject : Hare coursing

In various Community countries, including Portugal, the
United Kingdom and Ireland, hare coursing is still organized
for recreational purposes . The hare has virtually no chance
of escaping and is killed in a barbaric fashion — a source of
sick fun for the lovers of this ' sport '.

What action does the Commission propose to take to put an
end to this barbaric practice, which has already been
condemned by animal welfare organizations ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1993 )

The Commission is aware that hare coursing takes place in
several Member States . The Commission deplores all forms

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 37

of cruelty to animals and has, in its proposals concerning the
welfare of animals, consistently sought to provide for the
highest possible standards of welfare .

While the Community has introduced common rules on
animal welfare pursuant to agricultural and environmental
policy, there are no plans to introduce such rules in the area
of hare coursing .

2 . How would the Commission react towards a national

ban on short-haul flights ?

3 . What is the Commission's view of the relationship
between the rules on competition ( Article 85 EEC Treaty )
and Article 1 3 Or ( Community objectives in respect of the
environment ) in this context ?

4 . Does the Commission give any priority to encouraging
short-haul means of transport ? If so, why ? If not, why
not ?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1 109 / 93

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

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 81 ) Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Operational programme for the south-eastern area ( 14 December 1993 )

of the Province of Jaen and the northern area of the

Province of Granada

What stage has been reached in implementing the
operational programme for the south-eastern area of the
Province of Jaen and the northern area of the Province of
Granada, which is scheduled to be completed at the end of
1993 ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1993 )

On 31 December 1992, the operational programme to
which the Honourable Member refers had been

implemented to the extent of 23% .

The Commission would point out that the decision to grant
Community aid to this programme was taken in December

1991 . That decision stated that financial commitments

would be made no later than 31 December 1993 and that
payments in respect of those commitments could be made
up to the end of 1995 .

The Commission hopes that this programme will be fully
implemented by these deadlines .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1114 / 93

by Heinz Köhler ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 82 )

Subject : The Commission's attitude towards short-haul

flights

1 . Does the Commission consider that short-haul air

traffic in the Community presents environmental problems,
and can it provide figures on the subject ?

1 . In its Green Paper on the impact of transport on the
environment : A Community strategy for ' sustainable
mobility ' ( 1 ) the Commission drew the conclusion that
transport, in its different forms, is never environmentally
neutral and hence emphasized the need to opt for a strategy
based on a global approach aimed at the different impacts of
all modes of transport on the environment .

This strategy was endorsed by the White Paper on the future
development of the Common Transport Policy : A global
approach to the construction of a Community framework
for sustainable mobility ( 2 ). Moreover, such a strategy
should also ensure that transport continues to fulfil social
and economic functions under the most favourable

environmental conditions, while safeguarding the freedom
of choice for the user .

At the moment, the available environmental and transport
statistics do not allow the Commission to present reliable
statistical data on the environmental impact of short haul
flights .

2 . Short haul flights fall within the scope of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2408 / 92 ( 3 ) which provides for the
general principle of free access for Community air carriers to
intra-Community air routes . Any restriction of such flights
for - reason of environmental protection would be
compatible with that principle only if it complied with one
of the safeguard clauses contained in Articles 8 ( 2 ) and 9 of
the Regulation . Article 8 ( 2 ) opens the possibility for
Member States to introduce at national, regional and local
level operational rules in order to meet environmental
concerns . Article 9 allows Member States temporarily to
limit or refuse the exercise of traffic rights in case of serious
environmental problems, in particular when other modes of
transport can provide satisfactory levels of service . Both
provisions explicitly empower the Commission to verify
whether the conditions for their application are fulfilled
and, if necessary, to take a formal decision on the
subject .

No C 140 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

3 . Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 2408 / 92 reflect the objective of environmental
protection enshrined in Article 1 3 Or of the EC Treaty . In
particular, the conditions attached to Article 9 require that
any action under this provision shall be non-discriminatory
and shall not unduly distort competition between air
carriers . With the insertion of those conditions, Article 9
reflects the general policy principle that different
Community objectives shall be balanced and no objective
shall be pursued at the expense of any other objective .

In this context, it should be recalled that Article 85 of the EC
Treaty prohibits agreements between undertakings which
restrict competition, subject to the possibility of an
exemption pursuant to paragraph 3 of that provision . For
an exemption to be granted the agreement must offer certain
objective economic benefits and allow consumers a fair
share of those benefits . In that context Article 130r is

relevant, in that it confirms that environmental protection is
a component of the Community's other policies . Protection
of the environment would therefore be likely to qualify as a
benefit warranting an exemption . However, it should be
kept in mind that an exemption also requires that the
agreement does not include restrictions which are not
indispensable for the stated benefits and that it does not
eliminate competition .

4 . In its abovementioned Green Paper the Commission
indicated that high speed train services could serve as an
alternative to short haul flights . However, this will require a
case-by-case approach taking into account all aspects of
transport demand and supply .

a permanent system of self-evaluation at EC level . The
Commission readily accepted this recommendation .

The system began in 1992 . It is a unique and voluntary
development . It involves visits to faculties by veterinarians
from different Member States to evaluate the training given
and to suggest changes . It unites schools, the committee and
the Commission in a collective exercise of improvement .
The first cycle extends to 1999, by when every school in the
Community, and possibly the EEA, will have been
evaluated . It will achieve international comparability which
could not possibly be achieved by purely national measures,
i.e . by subsidiarity .

In March 1991 the Commission formally told Member
States that it would assist substantially with the cost of the
first cycle . On 11 March 1993, in a brief letter to the
committee chairman, the Commission said that its support
would cease at the end of 1993 . There was neither warning
nor consultation . The Commission is being unrealistic if it
thinks that the profession can take over the system entirely
by 1994 .

Will the Commission please make a statement on this whole
matter, to explain the principles behind the decision, its
abruptness and lack of consultation, and whether the
Commission will continue its support for, say, four years to
allow the profession a proper chance to take over ? The
goodwill of this profession should be harnessed, not
destroyed .

(!) OJ No L 362, 23 . 12 . 1978, p . 10 .
I 1 ) COM(92 ) 46 final of 20 February 1992 .

( 2 ) COM(92 ) 464 final of 2 December 1992 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 240, 24 . 8 . 1992 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 188 / 93

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

( 13 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 83 )

Subject : Self-evaluation of veterinary training in the
Community — withdrawal of the Commission's
material support for the international system
operated by the Advisory Committee on
Veterinary Training

The Advisory Committee was set up by Community law in

1978 ( Council Decision 78 / 1028 / EEC (*)) with the task of
helping the Commission to achieve a comparably high
standard of training throughout the Community . After a
detailed pilot study, 1986 — 89, the committee
recommended that this task could only really be fulfilled by

The Commission fully acknowledges the contribution made
by the voluntary system of visitation of veterinary schools
towards ensuring comparably high standards of training .
However, the Commission's involvement can no longer
continue in view of an increase in its tasks, budgetary
constraints and the decision taken at the Edinburgh Council
to simplify the functioning of the older directives concerning
the mutual recognition of professional qualifications . All of
these led to the Commission's decision to withdraw
financial and administrative support for the system of
visitation earlier than originally envisaged .

The Honourable Member correctly refers to Council
Decision 78 / 1028 / EEC which set up the Advisory
Committee on Veterinary Training . There are six other
similar Advisory Committees . It should be borne in mind
that these Committees perform an advisory function and
were set up as expert bodies to advise the Commission in
relation to the quality of training concerning the respective

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 39

professions . The Commission endeavours, as far as is
possible, to provide the necessary secretariat services, due
regard being had to all its priorities, including those arising
from the new general systems for the recognition of
qualifications .

The Commission has received representations from
members of the Advisory Committee on Veterinary
Training and is examining the help ( referred to in the letter
of 11 March 1993 ) which it may extend, in order to enable
the veterinary profession at the European level to take over
visitations to veterinary schools, after the end of 1993 . The
Advisory Committee may, of course, in the interests of
helping to ensure comparably high standards of veterinary
training in the Community, continue to be informed of any
results of such future visitations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1208 / 93

by Karl-Heinrich Mihr ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 84 )

Subi e et : Association agreements

Can it be consistent with the spirit of association agreements
and fair competition between the Community and Eastern
European countries that such a country can be defined as
one ' where the standard of living is a bnormally low or where
there is serious underemployment ' pursuant to
Article 92 ( 3 ) ( a ) of the EEC Treaty, but at the same time
offer Western investors incentives such as

— long-term tax exemption

— free land on which to build

— the building of motorways near factories,

particularly since labour costs in these countries are so low
that such practices can be equated with social dumping ?

The situation is only made worse by the lack of
environmental and safety requirements such as those laid
down in the Community .

These incentives prompt EC firms to switch production and
planned investments to Eastern Europe and close plants in
Member States .

This is financially viable only because the Community
grants millions of ECU in restructuring aid .

Should the Community not, in its own interests, take note of
these distortions of competition and incorporate suitable
guarantees into its agreements with these countries ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1993 )

The Europe Agreements signed with Poland, Hungary, the
then Czechoslovak Federal Republic, Romania and Bulgaria
include rules on competition and commitments by these
countries on approximating their legislation to that of the
Community . The environment is one of the areas explicitly
mentioned for approximation of laws . Anti-dumping and
safeguard rules are also included . The agreements further
provide for co-operation in the areas areas of social security
in order to help adapt these countries to the new economic
and social context .

The competition rules are basically the same as those
applying in the Community, even though implementing
rules are to be defined within a period of three years .
Moreover, for an initial period of five years, the Central
European Countries are considered as areas described under
Article 92.3 ( a ) of the EEC Treaty, i.e . ' areas where the
standard of living is abnormally low or where there is
serious underemployment '. State aid to promote economic
development in these areas is however subject to strict
conditions .

It should be noted that the Europe Agreements are meant to
support the Central European Countries in their political
and economic reforms and that they aim at bringing these
countries gradually closer to the Community so that they
can eventually be integrated .

The Honourable Member is also invited to refer to the reply
to Written Question No 3073 / 92 by Mr Mitolo 0 ).

(!) OJ No C 145, 25 . 5 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1235 / 93

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

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 85 )

Subject : The public's dislike of time changes in the EC .

Community measures should be evaluated in depth and
detail before implementation . They must then be explained
to the general public . Failure to do this results in total
rejection of the Community and its institutions . A good
example of this is the change from winter to summer time
and vice-versa . The general public does not understand why
this should be regulated by the EC . Opposing arguments, as
voiced in the media, take the following form :

' As citizens of the European Community, we have had to
put our clocks forward for the umpteenth time early this

No C 140 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

morning, although many experts have shown that such a
change in biorhythms is harmful to health . But the most
exasperating aspect is that bureaucrats — particularly
those residing in Brussels — should believe themselves
entitled to govern time, play around with people's lives
and even change the pace of history itself . Moreover,
specialists have admitted that there is no proof that this

twice-yearly change actually saves any energy at all . Yet
we are saddled with this nuisance every six months,
owing to the obstinacy of the Eurocrats, and it leaves all
of us disconcerted and-perplexed . How much longer do
we have to allow a few bossy civil servants even to lay
down the law on how we should set our clocks ?'

Can the Commission justify this decision on the part of the
EC ? I should like to make it clear that I intend to forward the
reply in full to the media .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The Commission does not as a rule comment on press
reports, but agrees with the Honourable Member that it is
important for the Community to explain the reasons for its
actions . With regard to summertime, it would point out that
the decision to apply these arrangements is one for the
Member States themselves . Most Member States introduced

summertime in the 1970s ; today the system is applied by all
of them . The point of the Community legislation, which
came into force in 1981, was to bring about a gradual
alignment of the dates on which the clocks were moved
forward and back throughout the Community .

Community legislation was needed to remove any barriers
to the free movement of goods, services and people arising
from discrepancies in national summertime arrangements .
The Commission organized a hearing in January 1993 with
representatives of the various interest groups affected by this
question, including transport, agriculture and industry
federations, consumer associations and various pro - and
anti-summertime lobbies . The great majority of those taking
part in the hearing accepted the principle of summertime
and favoured complete alignment of the dates .

In view of the Member States ' intention to continue with

summertime arrangements at the national level and their
desire to have the clocks moved forward and back on the
same dates, the Commission adopted a proposal on
27 September 1993 for a seventh directive, covering the
years 1995 to 1998, which it will submit to the Council and
to Parliament (*).

(*) OJ No C 278, 16 . 10 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1242 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 86 )

Subject : The cement industry and pollution of the
environment

In the United States, firms such as the Lafarge Corporation,
French ( notably in Algena, Michigan ; in Fredonia, Kansas,
and in Demopolis, Alabama ); River Cement's Festus ( thirty
miles south of Saint Louis and owned by the Agnelli family );
Ash Grove Cement in Chanute, Kansas ; Southdown Cement
in Lyons, Colorado ; Holman, controlled by Holderbank
Financier Glaris, Switzerland, in Tijeras in New Mexico ;
Blue Circle, under British control in Harleyville, South
Carolina, etc ., are the subject of complex and embarrassing
investigations by the Environment Protection Agency

( EPA ).

The reason for this is that they are making enormous profits,
not only through cement production but also through the
disposal of industrial and other waste, Lafarge having been
fined £ 1,8 million in September 1992 for having violated
safety regulations at its Demopolis factory . The common
reason for complaints brought at federal and state level was :
dangerous pollution caused by incineration of waste

( including plastic substances, used oil and solvents etc .) in
the production of cement and cement powder etc . that the
temperature of 200° associated with iron, aluminium and
other materials does not render free from polluting residues
such as the toxic product known as furan and even
plutonium . The EPA and other services suspect 114 cement
factories of producing impure cement and ' fertilizer ' dust
which is unsuitable for use in agriculture and which is
dangerous to the food chain and to its final consumer .

1 . Is the same waste disposal technique used in the
Community, notably by European holding
companies ?

2 . If so, is it permissible ?

3 . Has any cooperation with the EPA been implemented,

and with what results ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 October 1993 )

The incineration of hazardous waste to provide fuel may be
advantageous in every energy consuming process and in
particular for cement works . As far as the Commission
knows cement works are very selective in choosing these
wastes because they require a high calorific value and lower

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 41

chlorine contents . This implies that not all hazardous waste
is accepted by these plants because it cannot be used as a fuel
in an appropriate manner .

The Commission forwarded a proposal for a directive on the
incineration of hazardous waste to Council and Parliament

in early 1992 . The Parliament has given its opinion in
March, and the June 1993 Environment Council reached an
agreement . As a matter of principle the draft directive does
not exclude other plants e.g . cement works from
incinerating hazardous waste on condition that the exhaust
gas volume resulting from sûch incineration meets the
stringent emission limit values as set out therein . The
limitation also covers dioxin and furan emissions . The

Commission does not know whether hazardous waste

containing radioactive material is being incinerated in
cement works in the United States . Radioactive waste is

subject to special Community legislation and therefore
excluded from the scope of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC on waste
on which the draft incineration directive is based .

Any co-incineration of radioactive waste in cement kilns
would constitute a clear infringement of Community law .
No such case as yet been brought to the attention of the
Commission .

There is no specific cooperation with the Environment
Protection Agency in the field of incineration of hazardous

waste .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1251 / 93

by Isidoro Sánchez García ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 87 )

Subject : The Canary Islands as a platform for relations

between Europe and Latin America

As the Canaries have played and continue to play an
important role in relations between Europe and America,
particularly the Spanish-speaking countries, has the
Commission considered using them as a platform for
cultural, political and economic relations between the
Community and Latin America ? If so, what action could, in
its view, be taken ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the traditional links between

the Canary Islands and some Latin American countries . It

has not as yet contemplated using such links in any specific
way for the purposes of the Community's own relations
with its latin American partners . Any consideration of this
matter would be facilitated by practical suggestions from the
various parties involved .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1254 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 88 )

Subject : Obstacles to the execution of building work in

France by non-French undertakings

Belgian contractors wishing to carry out building work in
France are meeting with refusals based on what is known as
the ' qualification system '. Belgium, on the other hand,
where the ' approval system ' is the rule, complies with the
spirit which should prevail in the Community, without any
dirty tricks indeed, on the presumption that such a system is
a right .

In Belgium, approval is granted by the minister responsible
on the recommendation of a committee on which

administrative bodies and the two sides of industry are
represented, on the basis of legal texts and regulations to
which everyone has access .

In France, on the other hand, ' qualification ' is granted by the
Professional Organization for the Qualification and
Classification of Buildings ( OPQCB ), a body set up by the
construction sector, whose operation is supervised by the
state under a protocol dating back to 3 November 1949
( well before the Treaty of Rome ). It is extremely difficult to
bring an action against the OPQCB, a private body . As far as
the OPQCB is concerned, Belgian candidates aspiring to a
' qualification ' must have a head office in France, be listed in
the French Register of Commerce and register their staff
with the company insuring paid holidays for the
construction sector and pension funds, and take out an
insurance policy for liability over a ten-year period and civil
liability .

The rule on the head office, which is exasperating and, in my
view, in contravention of EC law, clearly imposes the
greatest constraint, since social conditions should be
consistent with freedom of movement for EC workers . The
OPQCB goes as far as to claim that this is not a hindrance
because ' qualification ' is merely ' recommended ' rather than
compulsory as far as the public authorities are concerned .
The reality is that ' qualification ' is practically inaccessible to
non-French EC contractors, who are thus excluded from the
public markets in the widest sense and even from very
considerable private markets . The Belgian ' approval

No C 140 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

system ', on the other hand, does not discriminate in any way
against non-Belgian undertakings, not even against French
enterprises .

What is the Commission's position on this matter ?

Member to report to it any conduct on the part of
contracting authorities which might prevent firms from
other Member States from taking part fairly in public
contract award procedures .

by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi WRITTEN QUESTION E-1262 / 93

of the Commission by Barbara Diihrkop Diihrkop ( PSE )

( 29 October 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

The Commission would like to make it clear at the outset
that it is still studying the new system of approval operating
in Belgium in order to establish whether it is compatible
with Article 28 of Directive 71 / 305 / EEC concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works
contracts, as amended by Directive 89 / 440 / EEC, and with
Article 59 of the EEC Treaty .

As the Honourable Member says, there is no official system
of approval or qualification for contractors in France . The
certificat de qualification which may be issued by the
OPQCB to interested contractors merely records their
situation for the benefit of clients both private and public . A
French contracting authority is entitled to ask for OPQCB
certificates only on the express condition that it makes it
clear that it will accept any certificate delivered by an
equivalent body and any other proof of the contractor's
technical knowledge or ability of the kind specified in
Articles 23 to 26 of Directive 71 / 305 / EEC as amended by
Directive 89 / 440 / EEC . The forms of proof which are
acceptable are in fact set out in full in model tender notices
which must be followed by all French contracting
authorities ; these were laid down by an order ( arrêté ) of

12 June 1992 ( published in the Journal officiel de la
République Française, 28 July 1992 ).

Article 28 ( 3 ) of the Directive stipulates that certified
registration by the competent bodies in official lists of
recognized contractors is, for the authorities of other
Member States awarding contracts, to constitute a
presumption of suitability only as regards Articles 23 to 26
of the Directive .

The Commission is aware of the potential danger of
discrimination, and of the differences which currently exist
between qualification procedures both official and
unofficial ; acting through the Standing Committee set up by
Directive 83 / 189 / EEC on technical standards and
regulations, it has asked the European Committee for
Standardization ( CEN ) to carry out a study of the
recognition of public works contractors ( M / 009 ), in order
to provide a basis for standardized recognition requirements
in the Community .

The Commission will be drawing the French Government's
attention to the OPQCB requirements to which the
Honourable Member refers . It would ask the Honourable

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 89 )

Subject : The historical and architectural heritage of the

countries of Central and Eastern Europe

On 12 February 1993 the European Parliament adopted a
report drawn up by its Committee on Culture on preserving
the architectural heritage and protecting cultural assets

( A3-0036 / 93 ).

In the resolution contained in the report, the European
Parliament expressed concern at the particularly critical
situation facing the historical and architectural heritage of
the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and called on
the Commission to launch as a matter of urgency, in
cooperation with other countries and with Unesco and the
Council of Europe, a series of measures to remedy the
situation .

Can the Commission state which Community measures
have been carried out so far, what kind of cooperation is
being undertaken with Unesco and the Council of Europe
and what are the prospects for future action ?

Can it also list, where appropriate, the projects that have
been financed, the framework used and the amounts of aid
allocated thereto ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the critical state of the cultural
and architectural heritage in Central and Eastern European
countries .

The Commission has a special budget item ( B3-2003 in

1993, formerly B3-2020 ) to finance cultural cooperation
with non-member countries . However the allocation is very
small ; this item was reduced from ECU 1,5 million to ECU 1
million in 1993 .

The Commission uses the funds available to give Central
and Eastern European countries which have signed Europe

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 43

agreements access to the existing programmes on cultural
action by the Community . In 1992 it granted a total of ECU
240 000 to three preservation projects in three Central
European countries .

The countries in question could use the Phare programme by
granting priority status to projects for the preservation of
the cultural and architectural heritage where these
contribute to the restructuring of their economy .

It should be noted that the Council of Europe and Unesco
not only have their own role but also specific commitments .
The Council of Europe gives priority to technical assistance
to Central and Eastern European countries but it does not
have any means of funding preservation work . In the
communication on the cultural heritage which it intends to
submit to Parliament and Council in 1994, the Commission
will make proposals designed to strengthen cooperation
between international institutions . In doing so it will pay
due regard to their mandates and commitments and
endeavour to make projects complementary .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1280 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 90 )

Subject : Preservation of the architectural heritage of
Syros

On the island of Syros, and particularly in Ermoupolis, an
important town in the 19th century, there are hundreds of
buildings erected between 1830 and 1870 which are a
unique combination in both Greece and Europe of the
architecture, sculpture and art of that period . It is extremely
expensive to maintain these neo-classical buildings and the
owners cannot afford to do so, with the result that many are
falling into disrepair .

1, whether it intends to approve the proposal by the south

Aegean region and incorporate it within the Delors II
package ?

2, whether it intends to provide additional funding for

maintaining these buildings from the Community's
budget appropriations for the preservation and
promotion of the European cultural heritage ?

3, what other measures it intends to take to restructure the
economic and manufacturing base of the island and to
tackle the problem of industrial decline which is
threatening Syros ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the problems referred to
concerning the island of Syros .

It is ready to examine any proposal by the Greek authorities
likely to improve the situation through possible
part-financing in the context of the future Community
Support Framework .

Budget Item B3-2000, currently designated for the funding
of Community initiatives for cultural heritage conservation,
does not, however, permit ad hoc assistance other than the
measures already embarked upon following initiatives by
the European Parliament, except where the historical and
cultural integrity of the monuments concerned is
endangered ( for example, as a result of a natural disaster or
comparable occurrence ). There is, therefore, no scope for
additional assistance in 1993 to safeguard neo-classical
buildings on Syros .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1285 / 93

. by George Patterson ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities
Given :
( 19 May 1993 )

— that the plans for the shipyards at Neorion, and the

Piraiki-Patraiki company will create surplus labour,

— that the work of maintaining the buildings will create

new jobs and aid tourism on the island, and

— that the region of the south Aegean has submitted a

proposal for a study into surveying and restoring the
neo-classical buildings on Syros to be included in the
Delors II package,

will the Commission say :

(9 AIC 140 / 91 )

Subi eet : Channel Tunnel rail link

Could the Commission state what its general view is of the
proposals recently made by Union Railways for a high-speed
rail link between the Channel Tunnel and London, and in
particular :

1, whether it considers the proposal to be in full accord

with the Community's strategy for a European
high-speed rail network ;

No C 140 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

2, whether it is satisfied that adequate provision is being line ), guarantees for loans ( the future European Investment

made for rail freight ; Fund ) and loans ( EIB and ECSC ).

3, whether the proposal and consultation procedures

announced are in conformity with Community
environmental objectives, and with Community law ;

4, what possibilities exist for Community finance for the

link, either from the Community budget, or the EIB or
from other loan facilities ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 November 1993 )

In its outline plan for a European High Speed Rail Network,
welcomed by the Council of December 1990, the
Commission showed the Channel Tunnel rail link as a key
link in the high-speed rail system, and pointed out the
interest of this link not only for the United Kingdom but for
the Community as a whole .

The proposal made by Union Railways to build a new line

between London and the Channel Tunnel is in accord with

the outline plan of the Commission .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1286 / 93

by Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 92

Subject : Balance between the Community tuna production

and tuna processing sectors

The Commission has repeatedly stated that, as regards the
market policy for tuna, it has always sought to strike a
balance between the production sector and the processing
sector . However, while the Community genuinely applies a
system of absolute freedom of trade as regards imports of
whole tuna and tuna slices, involving a total suspension of
the duties of the Common Customs Tariff, canned tuna
from third countries is subject to quotas and customs
duties .

Can the Commission therefore state :

Why the arrangements laid down for the canning sector are
not applied to the production sector ?

If this is related to the GATT, can it explain the reasons and,

The intended use of this line for both passengers and freight where appropriate, suggest what alternative system should
conforms to the Commission's views . Some countries like be established to prevent such discrimination ?

Germany have already such lines in service .

As far as the environmental aspect is concerned in this
project, the UK authorities are in phase with Directive

85 / 337 / EEC concerning the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment . An
environmental appraisal of the Union Railway project has
been conducted by a reputable firm . As far as the
Commission is aware, development consent has not yet been
granted for the project, and there can therefore be no breach
of the Directive .

Finally, the Commission expressed its interest by giving
assistance ( budget line B5-700 ) for feasibility studies in

1991 and 1992 ( ECU 5 and 12 million respectively ). Further
assistance ( ECU 10 million ) will be given this year to finalize
the feasibility studies .

When the final project has been defined and if the United
Kingdom makes a request, the Commission will examine the
possibility of helping to complete the financial package
using interest subsidies ( Trans European Network budget

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 October 1993 )

1 . The balance between the tuna production and
processing sectors results from Council decisions, in
particular the decision at the end of 1992 to :

( a ) maintain the unilateral suspension of customs duties on
tuna as a raw material intended for processing ;

( b ) compensate for the inconvenience caused to producers

by maintaining the compensatory allowance

arrangements .

2 . There is no suspension of tariff duty on loins of tuna
imported into the Community . However, under agreements
such as the Lomé Convention or the GSP, these products are
subject on a generalized basis to the application of tariff
reduction measures .

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 45

3 . The customs duties on canned tuna ( 24 % ) are bound
under GATT . As from 1 January 1993 and for a transitional
period of four years, canned tuna originating in countries
that have not concluded a preferential agreement with the
Community are subject to a quota rule which replaces
existing national rules, which are to be abolished in due
course . The quota rule may not be transformed into a
definitive measure without contravening international
obligations contracted by the Community .

The Commission would point out that numerous measures
taken by non-member countries support the Community's

arguments .

It is expected that the conclusions of the Panel will be made
public during autumn 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1288 / 93

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

(1 June 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1287 / 93 ( 94 / C 140 / 94 )

by Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 June 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 93 )

Subject : American embargo on European tuna exports

The US administration applied a secondary embargo with
effect from 1 February 1992 on tuna exports from 40
countries, including some Community Member States ( UK,
Italy, France and Spain ), as a result of those countries having
purchased and imported tuna from countries subject to the
primary embargo which captured dolphins along with
yellowfin tuna . At the same time, the US penalized
Community shipowners whose vessels fish in the Atlantic
and Indian oceans where tuna-fishing does not involve the
capture of dolphins .

As the measures implemented by the US administration are
unfair and unlawful and are seriously penalizing
Community producers, can the Commission state what
representations the Community has made to the
appropriate GATT panel to resolve this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Community tuna production

Regulation ( EEC ) No 3759 / 92 of 12 December 1992 on the
common organization of the market in fishery products (*)
lays down in the 26th recital and subsequent articles that
application of Common Customs Tariff duties should be
totally suspended for tuna since Community production of
tuna is inadequate . The aim is to maintain a sufficient supply
for food-processing industries .

Figures supplied by the sector show that Community tuna
production totalled 380 000 tonnes in 1991, while the tuna
canning industry's requirements for that year totalled
335 224 tonnes ( 164 761 tonnes caught by the Community
fishing fleet and 170 463 tonnes by third countries ).

Can the Commission state whether it agrees with the
abovementioned figures ?

In view of the crisis which has afflicted the sector for over 48

months, does the Commission not agree that the report
requested by the Council on 19 October 1992 on the market
situation for tuna should be presented as soon as possible,
that is to say, before the deadline of 30 June 1994 and, if so,
when does the Commission intend to complete it ?

H OJ No L 388, 31 . 12 . 1992, p . 1 .

( 12 October 1993 ) Answer on behalf given of by the Mr Commission Paleokrassas

After fruitless bilateral consultations with the United States

on this issue, the Community has initiated a proceeding with
the competent GATT authorities, challenging the validity of
the embargo measures arising from the Marine Mammal
Protection Act and certain provisions of the Dolphin
Conservation Act of October 1992 .

The Community's action is based both on the rules laid
down by the General Agreement and on certain principles of
international law .

( 19 October 1993 )

In 1991, supplies to the Community tuna canning industry
amounted to about 290 000 tonnes ( approximately
190 000 tonnes from the Community fleet and 100 000
tonnes from imports ).

The Commission does not intend to make an early reply to
the Council's request .

No C 140 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1298 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 95 )

Subject : Sewage system in Monemvasia in the
Peloponnese

According to newspaper reports in the Peloponnese, e.g .
' Proia tis Spartis ' of 15 — 31 January 1993, the sewage
system in Monemvasia has been built on a makeshift basis .
Can the Commission say whether the entire project was
funded by the Community and whether it intends to
investigate the matter ?

Total exports in 1992 ( live animals, meat, preparations and
preserves ) were of the same order of magnitude as in 1991,
working out during the two years to 1 323 million tonnes
expressed as carcase weight .

The Commission closely monitors the trend of exports to
third countries . It is true that exports of frozen beef from
intervention fell off in the first few months of 1993 but it is
too early to draw conclusions for the whole year .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1319 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
Answer given by Mr Millan to the Commission of the European Communities
on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1993 )

( 21 October 1993 ) ( 94 / C 140 / 97 )

The sewer construction project in Monemvassia is indeed

financed by the Community under the integrated
Mediterranean programme for western Greece and the
Peloponnese .

According to the information available to the Commission
the project is nearing completion and until now no problem
has occurred or been announced officially . The Commission
will not fail to verify the matter on the spot at one of the next
meetings of the monitoring committee for the

programme .

Subject : Measures to ensure decent living conditions for

children and the elderly

Given the need for measures to ensure that children and the
elderly are able to live under decent conditions, especially
since the austerity measures practised by a number of
Community countries bring hardship to many people in
these age groups, what does the Commission intend to do to
ensure that necessary measures are taken ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1301 / 93 on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 June 1993 )

94 / C 140 / 96

Subject : Veal exports

Last year Community exports of veal fell by 12 % compared
with 1991 . It is estimated that exports will also fall in 1993
by 22% . What measures will the Commission therefore
take to support the Member States ' exports of veal to third
countries ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1993 )

Veal accounts for only a very small proportion ( 0,2% ) of
the Community's bovine meat sector ekports to third
countries .

(8 November 1993 )

The Commission is concerned about the phenomena of
social exclusion which affect or threaten a large number of
European citizens, including elderly people and children .

In its communication of 23 December 1992 ' Towards a
Europe of solidarity : intensifying the campaign against
social exclusion and promoting integration ' ( 1 ), the
Commission emphasized that the policies and measures to
be implemented in this domain are first and foremost the
responsibility of the Member States, but that the
Community could and should contribute, within the limits
of its powers and resources, to the endeavour . Hence it
proposed perspectives for Community action which are
currently being discussed .

In line with the subsidiarity principle, Community action in
this domain is designed to supplement and support
initiatives in the Member States . The measures adopted in
the context of the Poverty 3 programme ( Council Decision
of 18 July 1989 ) ( 2 ) and the support provided to the

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 47

non-governmental organizations involved in the campaign
against social exclusion contribute to stimulating public
debate and the policies implemented .

It should also be noted that on 24 June 1992 the Council
adopted a recommendation on common criteria concerning
sufficient resources and social assistance in social protection
systems ( 3 ), which invites the Member States to recognize
the basic right of a person to sufficient resources and social
assistance to live in a manner compatible with human
dignity . Clearly the scope of this recommendation extends
to the elderly . Children are also concerned, because the
recommendation recognizes that this right applies to
everybody . Moreover, the Council recommendation of
27 July 1992, on the convergence of social protection
objectives and policies requires the Member States, in its
' family ' section, to develop benefits paid to families with the
greatest child-related costs, for example because of the
number of children, and the most disadvantaged families .

The first Community action programme in favour of the
elderly and solidarity between generations was established
by Council Decision of 26 November 1990 . It culminated in

1993, which was declared the European Year of the Elderly
and of Solidarity between Generations . The objective of this
programme, through awareness campaigns and the
promotion of measures designed to encourage the exchange
of information and experience, is to contribute to a better
strategy for dealing with all the challenges resulting from
population ageing and in particular those concerning the
purchasing power of the elderly and their living
conditions .

(!) COM(92 ) 542 final .

( 2 ) OJ No L 224, 2 . 8 . 1989 .
( 3 ) OJ No L 245, 26 . 8 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1320 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 lune 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 98 )

Subject : Incentives for the construction of ' bioclimatic '

buildings

If measures were taken to promote the construction and
purchase ' bioclimatic ' buildings, this could contribute
towards saving a large part of the energy costs needed to
regulate the temperature as desired . In view of this, does the
Commission tend to prevail on the Member States to
approve incentives, mainly financial and tax incentives,
regarding the implementation of ' bioclimatic ' technologies
in buildings ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

For a number of years the Commission has been
encouraging technologies designed to promote a bioclimatic
approach to architecture . R&D activities have been carried
out under the various non-nuclear energy programmes, and
are continuing under the Joule programme . In addition,
Community demonstration programmes and the Thermie
programme have invested not inconsiderable sums ( around
ECU 15 million since 1989 ) into developing bioclimatic
architecture . Finally, the Altener programme will enable the
Commission to adopt measures to complement these
tchnological programmes . Particular attention will be paid
to training and informing architects with regard to the use of
passive solar energy in construction .

Given the wide range of climatic conditions which exist
within the Community, the Commission feels that tax
incentives for bioclimatic architecture should be a matter for

the national authorities . Moreover, the technological
know-how is not yet sufficiently advanced to enable precise
architectural and climatic parameters to be laid down which
could be used as a reference for applying a system of energy
or environmental labelling for buildings .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1327 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 99 )

Subiect : Water distribution

It is important to ensure that available water supplies are
distributed carefully and fairly, especially for the purposes
of irrigation, particularly now that the consequences of the
drought are making themselves felt . In view of the many
disputes that have arisen between both individuals and areas
of the same country over the distribution of water, for
example water from Etolia-Akarnania to Thessalia and
Attica, what view does the Commission take of the

situation ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 October 1993 )

The Commission is fully aware of the importance of
ensuring the availability of water for all users on a

No C 140 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

sustainable basis . Its position is set out in the Community's
fifth action programme for the environment entitled
' Towards sustainability ' (*).

(!) OJNo C 138, 17 . 5 . 1993 .

a request for financing of a study by Paseges on the subject of
the reorganization of Greek agricultural cooperatives .

Financial involvement of the Greek authorities in the
restructuring of agricultural cooperatives would need to be
notified to and examined by the Commission under the
provisions of the EEC Treaty governing state aids .

To nhe extent that the problems of the cooperatives
concerned relate to accumulated debts or lack of working
capital the Commission does not see any basis for direct

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1 330 / 93 financial assistance being granted by the Community .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

(!) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 .
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 100 )

Subject : Need for cooperatives to settle their debts through

talks with the Greek authorities

The Greek Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives

( PASEGES ), the principal body representing Greek
agricultural cooperatives, is seeking to achieve the economic
rationalization and development of cooperatives in Greece
and has criticized the Greek authorities for their
' inflexibility ' concerning settlement of cooperative debts . It
takes the view that, in this connection, the following
conditions must apply :

— the need to start at zéro,

— a programme of modernization and adaptation with the

participation of the cooperation and,

— flexible and effective procedures .

Can the Commission help to initiate the necessary talks
between the Greek authorities and the cooperatives on the
above questions, since, in the absence of effective dialogue,
no solution to the problems facing the Greek agricultural
sector, now represented by 72 55 cooperatives, will be
found ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 October 1993 )

The Commission has not up to the present time received any
formal request for assistance in this domain from the Greek
Government .

The Commission in formulating its policies is generally
supportive of the development of agricultural cooperation
throughout the Community .

In the context of the present developments in Greece the
Commission is indeed presently examining within the
framework of Article 8 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 4256 / 88 ( l )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1331 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 101 )

Subject : Announcement that builders can move in on Greek

forest areas

The Greek newspaper Pondiki reported on 24 March 1993
that the Greek Prime Minister had announced that hundreds

of hectares of Greek forest or forest areas would cease to be
classified as forestry land so that dozens of building
companies could start work and buildings in those areas
could be legalized . The newspaper is particularly concerned
at the Greek Prime Minister's references to rapid procedures
for building in Greek forest areas without making provision
for :

— public amenitities ( streets, squares, parks, etc. ),

— studies and plans to ensure that the towns and

neighbourhoods thus created will comply with basic
standards and constitute a pleasant environment to live
in,

— the necessary sewerage systems, water and electricity

supplies, telephone networks, etc .

What steps will the Commission take on this important
matter in order to avoid environmental disasters and

wholesale criminal destruction of forests which have

practically disappeared ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1993 )

Forested areas are protected by Community law if they are
classified as special protection areas under Article 4 of
Directive 79 / 409 / EEC ( M.

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 49

In the absence of more detailed information as regards the benefits of the internal market and the European economic
location of the forested areas referred to in the area to Cyprus, will the Commission state whether it intends
announcement by the Greek Government, the Commission to devise machinery for cooperation by which Cyprus will
is at this stage unable to conclude that Community law has be enabled to benefit as soon and as fully as possible from
been infringed . the new legislative framework set up with the

implementation of the Single European Act and the
(!) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 . establishment of the European Economic Area ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1340 / 93 on behalf of the Commission

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 June 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 102 )

Subject : The Aliakmonas river delta

The ' Movement for the Protection of Olympos ' has
expressed concern about ecological disaster in the
Aliakmonas river delta . The movement claims that the

Greek authorities are failing to comply with the
International Ramsar Convention and Directive
79 / 409 / EEC (*), and are allowing the abovementioned river
delta to be destroyed by the ' motor-racing track ' built by
speculators . Does the Commission intend to take any steps
to protect the Aliakmonas river delta ?

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

(1 October 1993 )

Relations between the Community and Cyprus are
governed by the 1973 Association Agreement and the 1987
Protocol providing for the establishment of a complete
customs union for manufactured products by 1998 .
Progress towards this objective is satisfactory .

In the field of cooperation, the third EEC-Cyprus Protocol is
due to expire at the end of 1993 ; thus the Community and
Cyprus will be required to define and implement an
appropriate cooperation policy for the five-year period
1994—1 999 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1368 / 93

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas by José Lafuente Lôpez ( PPE )

on behalf of the Commission
to the Commission of the European Communities
( 15 November 1993 )
(4 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 104 )
Greece has classified the Aliakmonas delta as a special
protection area in accordance with Directive 79 / 409 / EEC
on the conservation of wild birds . Subject : Interpretation of acquiescence by Community

On the basis of the information available to it, the
Commission is of the opinion that the full and effective
application of the abovementioned Directive in the delta
raises certain problems . It is currently discussing these with
the Greek authorities .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1351 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 103 )

Subject : Cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus

In view of the desire of the Republic of Cyprus for accession
to the Community, and wishing gradually to extend the

administrative authorities

Acquiescence by administrative authorities is interpreted
differently in the various legal systems of the Community
Member States, being deemed to have positive or adverse
effects depending on circumstances and the different results
which ensue .

There is now an astonishing change of attitude in some
Member States with the result that, from being deemed to be
negative, and hence damaging to the interests of citizens,
acquiescence on the part of administrative authorities is
now felt to have a positive impact and hence to be
favourable for citizens .

Given that acquiescence on the part of the Community
administrative authorities also occurs, can the Commission
specify what interpretation should be given to such
acquiescence in respect of actions which concern
Community citizens and whether it should be deemed to
have negative or positive effects and hence to be

No C 140 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

unfavourable or favourable for the person involved ? Can it
also specify the legal basis for the Community's position on
this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1993 )

1 . Under Article 214 of the EEC Treaty, members of the
institutions and officials and other staff of the Communities
are bound not to divulge any information which, by its
nature, is covered by professional secrecy .

This requirement is clearly of particular importance in the
case of the Commission . For one thing it often has to deal
with individual cases ; for another, its activities in relation to
generally applicable legislation lie both upstream and
downstream of the actual decision-making process

( upstream as regards its preparatory work on proposals and
downstream in monitoring Member States ' implementation
of Community rules ).

2 . However, there is a real need for transparency and
access to administrative documents . It is part of the
increasingly widespread concern for more democracy in the
Community process . The Treaty on European Union
accordingly contains a declaration on the right of access to
information recommending that, by the end of 1 993 at the
latest, the Commission present a report to the Council on
measures to increase public access to information held by
the institutions .

It is for this reason that, in its communication to the
Council, Parliament and the ESC of 2 June 1993 on
openness in the Community O, the Commission not only
details action taken further to its communication of

2 December 1992 on increased transparency in the work of
the Commission ( 2 ) but also refers to its communication of
5 May 1993 ( 3 ) on public access to the institutions '
documents . In this communication, the Commission states
that, in the light of a comparative survey of the laws of the
Member States and non-member countries, the accessibility
of documents should be the rule and classified documents

should be the exception, only permissible on grounds of
confidentiality . The Commission also considers that the
other institutions should share this approach in their own
areas and conclude an interinstitutional agreement to this
effect .

3 . An approach of this type would ensure that the
concept of administrative secrecy works essentially to the
benefit of the citizen in that the requirements of
confidentiality should be invoked only in order to protect
legitimate interests, i.e . individual and personal privacy and
business secrets and the Community public interest .

4 . The Copenhagen European Council ( 21 and 22 June
1993 ) called on the Council and the Commission to

continue their work in the matter of public access to
information so that all the necessary measures could be
introduced by the end of 1993 .

H COM(93 ) 258 final .

( 2 ) OJ No C 63, 5 . 3 . 1993 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 191 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1369 / 93

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

(4 J une 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 105 )

Subject : Purchase and registration of vehicles in a
Community Member State which is not the
purchaser's country of residence

The provisions on the entry into force of the single European
market are continuing to puzzle Community citizens — and
certain administrative authorities — who are still uncertain
about the identity of and objectives pursued by the single
European market .

At the risk of being repetitive, I should like to raise the

question of the rights of Community citizens as regards the
possibility of buying a motor vehicle in a Community
Member State which is not the country of residence and
registering it in the country of purchase .

Can the Commission indicate which Community provisions
allow for the possibility of a Community citizen purchasing
a motor vehicle in a Community Member State which is not
his country of residence and registering it in the country of
purchase and which legal provision can oblige the purchaser
to re-register that vehicle when he returns with it to his
normal country of residence, that is to say, the country in
which he lives for at least 182 days a year ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1993 )

By virtue of the principle of the free movement of goods,
which is enshrined in the EEC Treaty, a citizen may purchase
a vehicle in the Member State of his choice .

With regard to registration of that vehicle, it follows in
particular from the Commission notice on procedures for
the type-approval and registration of vehicles previously
registered in another Member State (*) that the vehicle must,
in principle, be registered in the Member State in which the
owner has his normal residence, registration being regarded,

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 51

under the tax laws applicable, as the chargeable event for
taxes on motor vehicles .

This does not, however, rule out the possibility of registering
a vehicle in a Member State other than that of normal

residence . In the absence of harmonization at Community
level, reference should in this respect be made to the national
provisions governing the various types of registration since
the provisions allowing a vehicle to be registered by a
non-resident may differ from one Member State to another .
Registration is, of course, not always of the ' standard ' type ;
it may, for instance, be temporary for tourism purposes .

The Commission is not at this stage planning to harmonize
national legislation on registration ; it does, however, take
care to ensure that the procedures in force in Member States
are in keeping with the rules on the freedom of movement of
goods ( Article 30 of the EEC Treaty ).

(!) OJ No C 281, 4 . 11 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1378 / 93

by Lord Ingle wood ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 8 June 1993 )

(9 AIC 140 / 106 )

Subject : Foot and mouth disease

Could the Commission reaffirm its intent to prevent the
import of live cloven foot animals which have been
vaccinated against foot and mouth disease ?

Could they also state what further measures they intend to
take :

1, to prevent the seemingly widespread practice of
incorrect certification of non-vaccination in animals

imported from third countries,

2, to ensure that importers are fully recompensed by the
exporting country which has incorrectly issued such
certificates, for any consequential liability incurred ?

Could the Commission also give an undertaking that if
adequate compensation is not directly forthcoming, the
Commission will make equivalent deductions from

- legitimate Community aids paid to these third countries ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1993 )

The Commission can confirm that it is currently against
Community rules to import animals which have been

vaccinated against foot and mouth disease ( see Article 6.2 of
Directive 72 / 462 / EEC ). In this respect, transitional
measures laid down by Commission Decision
92 / 105 / EEC 0 ) ended on 31 December 1992 . Furthermore,
the Commission does not intend to propose any relaxation
of this rule, which is important for the maintenance of the
disease-free status of the Community .

In general, the Commission attaches great importance to
checks on imported animals, as laid down by Council
Directive 91 / 496 / EEC ( 2 ). Additionally, the Commission
has adopted Decision 93 / 242 / EEC of 30 April 1993
concerning the importation into the Community of certain
live animals and their products originating in certain
countries of Eastern Europe, in relation to foot and mouth
disease ( 3 ). Under its provisions, countries authorized to
export to the Community must carry out pre-export testing,
which will eliminate animals which have been vaccinated .

Other measures, involving pre-notification of
consignments, have been introduced to help prevent false or
incorrect certification .

Directive 91 / 496 / EEC lays down in Article 11.2 that

' Member States shall take the appropriate administrative
or penal measures to penalize any infringement of
veterinary legislation by natural or legal persons where it
is found that Community rules have been infringed, in
particular where it is found that the certificates or
documents drawn up do not correspond to the actual
state of the animals '.

The question of responsibility of those involved falls within
national rules, adapted to correspond with this general
provision .

0 ) OJ No L 41, 18 . 2 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991

( 3 ) OJ No L 110, 4 . 5 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1383 / 93

by Wilfried Telkàmper ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 J une 1993 )

94 / C 140 / 107 )

Subject : Structural Fund appropriations for the building of

a golf course

There are plans to build a golf course, together with a large
hotel complex, at a cost of about DM 160 million in
Schônborn ( Buch am Wald, Bavaria, Germany ). The
27-hole golf course, together with the hotel and other
buildings will cover an area of about 170 hectares . It appears
that an application has been made for Community funding
for the project under Objective 5b .

No C 140 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 5 . 94

1 . What amount was requested by the Bavarian Land

Government for the Schônborn project from EC
Structural Funds earmarked for the development of
rural ( 5b ) areas ? Are these funds to be provided as
grants, loans or in some other form ?

2 . In the Commission's view, to what extent and how does
this project contribute to improving the economic
situation of the local residents ? Does the Commission

consider the creation of 250 — 280 new jobs to be a
realistic prospect ? Does the siting of a golf course of the
planned dimensions, together with such an ambitious
hotel and holiday apartment complex in this relatively
remote area constitute a sound and sustainable

investment ? Do other, comparable projects exist in
Europe ? Are there precedents which provide a reliable
basis for assessment of the financial risks ?

3 . To what extent has the Commission taken account of

environmental factors, in particular :

— Does the Commission consider the siting of a golf

course in this area to be a sound and justifiable
decision from the climatic and ecological point of
view ( sprinkling required all year round since the
area has little water )?

— Does the Commission consider the resulting
encroachment on the natural landscape, for example
the creation of an artificial wetland and lake

landscape, to be ecologically acceptable ?

— What does the Commission estimate will be the

impact on the region of the drastic increase in the
number of private vehicles, for example the
inevitable covering of the landscape with large
carparks and additional roads and the effect on the
population of rising levels of noise and pollution
caused by exhaust gas ?

— Is the Commission concerned at the impact of the

project on fauna and flora in the region and the
additional pollution of groundwater ?

4 . When can a decision be expected on the granting of
appropriations from Structural Funds earmarked for the
development of rural ( 5b ) areas ?

agricultural products, handicrafts, catering for leisure
activities to complement the golf ( horse riding, angling,
bicycle hire etc .) and the hotel industry .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1413 / 93

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 140 / 108

Subject : Retex — Support for textile regions

1 . Is it the case that the relevant directives in the Retex

programme ( IV / 6 ' Notice to the Member States laying down
guidelines, etc .', 92 / C 142 (*)) do not give scope for
independent support for textiles but only for support linked
to or as an appendix to Objective 2 support ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that this is contradictory,
since needy regions will have to forego support in the textiles
sector because, in accordance with the concentration
principle ( Objective 2 — Regional ), they are ineligible for
support ?

3 . Does the Commission agree that the textiles sector's
own measures to convert factories and production, which at
times have been quite impressive, will, because of this
contradiction, be unreasonably curtailed in all Member
States ?

4 . Can the Commission indicate ways in which to
promote industrial changes in the textiles sector if the last
two indents of point IV / 6 mentioned above are fulfilled ( at
least 2 000 jobs in the textiles and clothing industries and
greater than 10% of overall industrial employment in a
local authority )?

5 . Is the Commission prepared to take over these
initiatives from the EP, so as to facilitate the new admission
of local authorities concerned in accordance with point 4
above ? If so, when might it do so and under which existing
or future Community programme ?
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission
(!) OJ No C 142, 4 . 6 . 1992, p . 5 .
( 18 October 1993 )

It is not accurate to say that Community funding under
Objective 5b will be used to build a golf course and a hotel .
Should the project referred to by the Honourable Member
go ahead, the Community funding will go towards the
creation of approximately 250 jobs in the vicinity of the
complex and economically linked to it . These jobs, which
will go to inhabitants of the rural area, and in particular to
farmers, will be related to the direct marketing of

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1993 )

The Commission notice concerning the Retex initiative
states that from 1 January 1994 zones heavily dependent on

21 . 5 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 140 / 53

the textile and clothing sector which are not eligible under
Objectives 1, 2 or 5(b ) of the Structural Funds could become
eligible for that initiative if flexibility for the Community
Initiatives were extended by the new legislation governing
those Funds .

Since the new regulations i 1 ) contain the flexibility
requested by the Commission, it will give its decision on the
extension of Retex following the debate on its
communication on the future of Community initiatives

under the Structural Funds ( 2 ), which will include
Parliament and take place early in autumn 1993 . This
flexibility is intended to make limited ERDF assistance
available to ineligible but fragile regions .

The Commission would point out to the Honourable
Member that, as it stated in its Notice, the aim of the Retex
programme is ' to accelerate the diversification of economic
activities in regions heavily dependent on the textiles and
clothing sector so as to render them less dependent on this
sector and to encourage the adjustment of commercially
viable businesses in all sectors of industrial activity .'

The Commission would also point out that the Parliament
was consulted on the Retex programme prior to its final
adoption and that the Parliament expressed its views in a
resolution adopted in the April 1992 part-session .

(!) OJNo L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 282 final .