Source: EURLEX
Language: en
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##### /*/*•• 1 - w - " fl ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal C207

Volume 36
#### of the European Communities 30 July 1993

##### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

93 / C 207 / 01 No 1080 / 92 by Mr Friedrich Merz to the Commission
Subject : Taxation of Danish pension payments to German nationals 1

93 / C 207 / 02 No 1579 / 92 by Mr Reimer Böge to the Commission
Subject : Negotiations on the supply to the CIS countries of meat to a value of ECU 500
million 1

93 / C 207 / 03 No 2383 / 92 by Mr Sergio Ribeiro to the Commission
Subject : Absence of measures to ensure the legal use of EC funds 1

93 / C 207 / 04 No 2493 / 92 by Mr Diego de los Santos López to the Commission
Subject : Forest fire in Grazalema ( Cadiz ) . 2

93 / C 207 / 05 No 2505 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : State of coastal vessels operating in the Aegean 3

93 / C 207 / 06 No 2523 / 92 by Mrs Eva-Maria Quistorp to the Commission
Subject : Summer 1992 ozone alarms 4

93 / C 207 / 07 No 2693 / 92 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission
Subject : Lawfulness of national border controls after 1 January 1 993 4

93 / C 207 / 08 No 2745 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Council
Subject : UNCED follow-up / aid to the poorest countries 5

93 / C 207 / 09 No 2763 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Public health threat posed by waste from a pig farm on Chios 5

93 / C 207 / 10 No 2802 / 92 by Mr Klaus Wettig to the Commission
Subject : EC agricultural and internal market rules 6

2 ( Continued overleaf )

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No 2875 / 92 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Wild Birds Directive

No 74 / 93 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject : Enforcement of the rules on the protection of wild birds

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2875 / 92 and 74 / 93

No 2992 / 92 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Recording of information concerning the results of psychological tests

No 3017 / 92 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Conversion of nuclear warheads in the East and West and aid to Russia to prevent a brain
drain

No 3081 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Progress under the Community Support Framework for Greece — railways

No 3091 / 92 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Sectors worst affected by the failure by Spain to comply with the Directive on freedom of
establishment

No 3117 / 92 by Mr Virginio Bettini and Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the
Commission

Subject : Adoption of ' Agenda 21 ' at local level in the Community

No 3118 / 92 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Siting of a plant for the discharge of special toxic and dangerous waste in Montichiari
( Breschia, Italy )

No 3133 / 92 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission
Subject : Development aid for Russian agriculture

No 3147 / 92 by Mr Francois Guillaume to the Commission
Subject : Use of tinned meat as food aid

No 3152 / 92 by Mr Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : DG V conferences

No 3153 / 92 by Mr Bartho Pronk to the Commission
Subject : Directive on regulated professions

No 3163 / 92 by Mrs Eva-Maria Quistorp to the Commission
Subject : EC observers in the former Yugoslavia

No 3188 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Tackling the problems of cities

No 3189 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Tackling the problems of Athens

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3188 / 92 and 3189 / 92

No 3192 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Rights of Greek cooperative organizations

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93 / C 207 / 27 No 3267 / 92 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Carriage of air freight by rail 15

93 / C 207 / 28 No 3316 / 92 by Mr James Moorhouse to the Commission
Subject : Commitology 15

93 / C 207 / 29 No 3319 / 92 by Mrs Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Commission help for Latin America 16

93 / C 207 / 30 No 3334 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the new CAP in Greece 16

93 / C 207 / 31 No 3341 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Benefit to the consumer of the new CAP 17

93 / C 207 / 32 No 3343 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Tobacco quota 17

93 / C 207 / 33 No 3345 / 92 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Hazards posed by Clophen throughout Greece 18

93 / C 207 / 34 No 3429 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The use of Clophen in Greece 18

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3345 / 92 and 3429 / 92 18

93 / C 207 / 35 No 3359 / 92 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Breach of CITES by Taiwan 19

93 / C 207 / 36 No 138 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Illegal trade in rhino horn — Taiwan 19

93 / C 207 / 37 No 213 / 93 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Protection of endangered rhinos 19

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3359 / 92, 138 / 93 and 213 / 93 20

93 / C 207 / 38 No 3372 / 92 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Funding the operation to protect the brown bear under the LIFE Regulation 20

93 / C 207 / 39 No 3379 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Compensatory payments to Greek cereal producers 20

93 / C 207 / 40 No 3386 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Water of Lake Marathon 21

93 / C 207 / 41 No 3507 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Transitional structural measures for fisheries 21

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 207 / 42 No 3415 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Measures to protect European citizens from toxic effluent from plant situated on
rivers 22

93 / C 207 / 43 No 3417 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Domestic purification systems ( filters ) 22

93 / C 207 / 44 No 3430 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Pollution of the River Axios 23

93 / C 207 / 45 No 3445 / 92 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Fund for research into alternatives to experiments involving animals 23

93 / C 207 / 46 No 3454 / 92 by Mrs Lissy Gröner to the Commission
Subject : Cleaning staff employed by the EC institutions 24

93 / C 207 / 47 No 3492 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Farm holdings and VAT in Greece 25

93 / C 207 / 48 No 3496 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : School accommodation in Patras 25

93 / C 207 / 49 No 3505 / 92 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Management of fisheries resources . . 25

93 / C 207 / 50 No 13 / 93 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Need to carry out an environmental impact assessment for the construction of an ENEL

( National Electricity Board ) power station in Montalto di Castro ( Rome ) 26

93 / C 207 / 51 No 27 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : West Athens development programme 26

93 / C 207 / 52 No 32 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Additional funds for Greece 27

93 / C 207 / 53 No 5 1 / 93 by Mr Paul Lannoye, Mrs Marie Isler Béguin, Mrs Birgit Cramon-Daiber, Mr
Virginio Bettini, Mr Nel van Dijk and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin to the Commission
Subject : Waste shipments : discrepancies in legislation 27

93 / C 207 / 54 No 56 / 93 by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez to the Commission
Subject : The CAP reform 28

93 / C 207 / 55 No 73 / 93 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : Broadening of the field of application of IMPs 29

93 / C 207 / 56 No 114 / 93 by Mr John Bird to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Non Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive 29

93 / C 207 / 57 No 116 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Developing forecasting capacity in the information industries 30

93 / C 207 / 58 No 140 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Measures necessary to complete the Single Market 30

93 / C 207 / 59 No 144 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Subsidy from ERDF funds for modernizing Bierset airport ( Liege ) 31

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 207 / 60 No 145 / 93 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to the Commission
Subject : Inspectorate service for development cooperation 32

93 / C 207 / 61 No 158 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Requirements for the admission of securities to official stock exchange listing 32

93 / C 207 / 62 No 161 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Own funds of credit institutions 33

93 / C 207 / 63 No 200 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection from threats posed by information technology in Greece 33

93 / C 207 / 64 No 201 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Scientific research programme 33

93 / C 207 / 65 No 211 / 93 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission
Subject : Protection of whales 34

93 / C 207 / 66 No 241 / 93 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Aluminium in Bahrain 34

93 / C 207 / 67 No 273 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Membership of the committee appointed by the Greek Health Ministry to assess tenders
for setting up a hospital computer system 35

93 / C 207 / 68 No 317 / 93 by Mr Barry Desmond to the Commission
Subject : Transposition and application of agricultural legislation in Ireland 35

93 / C 207 / 69 No 350 / 93 by Mrs Marie Jepsen to the Commission
Subject : Possibilities for research cooperation between EFTA countries and the EC prior to the
entry into force of the EEA agreement 36

93 / C 207 / 70 No 352 / 93 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Fifth Environment Action Programme 36

93 / C 207 / 71 No 367 / 93 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Merger Regulations 37

93 / C 207 / 72 No 368 / 93 by Mrs Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : State aids and multilateral meetings with aid experts 37

93 / C 207 / 73 No 380 / 93 by Mr Barry Seal to the Commission
Subject : Application of the EC 's Acquired Rights Directive concerning public contracts in the
devolution of the management of schools 37

93 / C 207 / 74 No 382 / 93 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Cause of death statistics 38

93 / C 207 / 75 No 383 / 93 by Mrs Ursula Schleicher to the Commission
Subject : Plastic packaging 39

93 / C 207 / 76 No 401 / 93 by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of the Fisheries Agreement between the EEC and the Republic of Cape
Verde 39

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 207 / 77 No 405 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Discarding unwanted fish 40

93 / C 207 / 78 No 414 / 93 by Mr Vincenzo Mattina to the Council
Subject : Completing the internal market : measures to combat money laundering 40

93 / C 207 / 79 No 443 / 93 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty and the Regulation on discrimination on
grounds of nationality ; employment of teaching staff at the University of Barcelona 41

93 / C 207 / 80 No 446 / 93 by Mr John Cushnahan to the Commission
Subject : Draft proposal on psychiatric and paediatric nurse training 41

93 / C 207 / 81 No 461 / 93 by Mr Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Commission staff responsible for implementing the Directive on the conservation of
natural habitats and the Directive on establishing a ' LIFE ' financial instrument 41

93 / C 207 / 82 No 492 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Costs of implementing EC safety regulations for the building industry 42

93 / C 207 / 83 No 493 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of access to information on the environment 42

93 / C 207 / 84 No 501 / 93 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Combined transport 43

93 / C 207 / 85 No 522 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Child adoption 43

93 / C 207 / 86 No 535 / 93 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Racism and xenophobia in Europe 43

93 / C 207 / 87 No 543 / 93 by Mr Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Privatization of the ILVA iron and steel company and its reorganization plan 44

93 / C 207 / 88 No 547 / 93 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission
Subject : Helios 45

93 / C 207 / 89 No 554 / 93 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Non-ionizing radiation from electro-magnetic fields 45

93 / C 207 / 90 No 573 / 93 by Mr Rogério Brito to the Commission
Subject : Democratic representation, partnership, transparency and monitoring of allocations
under, and the application of, the Structural Funds 46

93 / C 207 / 91 No 574 / 93 by Mrs Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Employment of disabled people 46

93 / C 207 / 92 No 628 / 93 by Mr Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Dumping of cement 47

93 / C 207 / 93 No 635 / 93 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission
Subject : Sexual discrimination in pension and superannuation schemes 47

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

93 / C 207 / 94 No 652 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Vaccination of healthcare workers against Hepatitis B 48

93 / C 207 / 95 No 653 / 93 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : US administration 's declaration in favour of an energy tax 48

93 / C 207 / 96 No 683 / 93 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Closure of zoos 49

93 / C 207 / 97 No 712 / 93 by Mr Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Commission investigations into the admissibility or otherwise of Italian Government aid
to the Valtellina region ( Article 92 of the Treaty ) 49

93 / C 207 / 98 No 721 / 93 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Freedom of establishment for lawyers within the Community 49

93 / C 207 / 99 No 774 / 93 by Mr Yves Verwaerde to the Commission
Subject : Proposal for a Directive on the protection of purchasers in contracts relating to the
utilization of immovable property on a time-share basis 50

93 / C 207 / 100 No 797 / 93 by Mrs Maria Izquierdo Rojo to the Commission
Subject : Outcome of President Delors ' visit to Morocco 50

93 / C 207 / 101 No 1112 / 93 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission
Subject : Fake garden gnomes in the internal market 51

93 / C 207 / 102 No 1139 / 93 by Mr Thomas Megahy to the Commission
Subject : Biofuel industry 51

93 / C 207 / 103 No 1241 / 93 by Lord O'Hagan to the Council
Subject : Days-at-sea regimes 51

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1080 / 92

by Mr Friedrich Merz ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 April 1992 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1579 / 92

by Mr Reimer Böge ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 01 ) ( 93 / C 207 / 02 )

Subject : Taxation of Danish pension payments to German

nationals

On what legal basis is a Danish pension acquired through
working in Denmark by a German national living in
Germany subject to Danish income tax ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 1993 )

Assignment of the right of taxation between Denmark and
the Federal Republic of Germany is governed by the
agreement of 30 January 1962 between the two countries
aimed at preventing double taxation .

Article 11 ( 1 ) of that agreement lays down that pensions are,
in principle, taxed in the country of residence of the recipient
of the pension . However, Article 11 ( 2 ) stipulates that
pensions in respect of services previously rendered which are
paid either directly by one of the two countries or by one of
its regional lor local authorities or through an institution
governed by public law are taxable only in the country in
which those authorities are situated .

The Commission assumes that the Danish pension in
question is caught by Article 11 ( 2 ) of the agreement and
hence is taxable in Denmark .

Subject : Negotiations on the supply to the CIS countries of

meat to a value of ECU 500 million

Can the Commission draw up a list of companies which
have been involved in Community aid programmes for
central and eastern European countries, particularly for the
supply of cereals and meat, indicating the amounts supplied
by volume and value ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 June 1993 )

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament 's Secretariat the information in

its possession .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2383 / 92

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 03 )

Subject : Absence of measures to ensure the legal use of EC

funds

In Portugal there are a number of zones classified as
National Agricultural Reserves ; these include the Val do Lis

No C 207 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

hydro-agricultural area in which urban and industrial
building projects are forbidden .

However, some of this land has been bought and exploited
for urban and industrial projects and earthworks have been
undertaken, rendering the soil useless for agriculture,
although this is clearly illegal . The situation has become so
widespread the solution has been to declassify this land from
the national agricultural reserve register since it has lost
many of the qualitities and potential which justified this
classification in the first place .

The Member States are responsible for the selection of the
projects as well as for submitting them to the Commission
and checking their conformity with national legislation .

The application of the legislation concerning the ' national
agricultural reserve ' mentioned by the Honourable Member
falls within the competence of the national authorities .

(!) OJ No L 51, 23 . 2 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 197, 22 . 7 . 1978,
( 3 ) OJ No L 91, 6 . 4 . 1990 .

This is a good example of the cynicism of property
speculators . It is particularly irritating that they seek to
justify the declassification of this land by arguing that a
'
slaughterhouse — the Mapicentro and a ' ETAR enterprise
— have been constructed and expanded with Community
funding . WRITTEN QUESTION No 2493 / 92

by Mr Diego de los Santos López ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of this situation
and whether everything has been done to prevent ( 12 October 1992 )
Community funds being scandalously misused ? What does ( 93 / C 207 / 04 )
it intend to do to prevent similar situations arising in
future ?

( 93 / C 207 / 04 )

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1993 )

The project concerning the slaughterhouse to which the
question refers was submitted in 1987 under Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 355 / 77 f 1 ) in order to receive aid from
the EAGGF Guidance Section .

This project was the subject of Commission Decision C ( 87 )
2000 / 267 of 22 December 1987, granting aid from the
EAGGF Guidance Section for a total amount of ESC

360 000 000 .

Up to now two payments have been made and payment of
the balance will be made shortly .

All the conditions imposed by the Regulation referred to
above and Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 1685 / 78 ( 2 )
and Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 866 / 90 ( 3 ) have been met
and conformity with the national legislative framework was
reconfirmed recently with the Portuguese authorities
( IFADAP ).

Subject : Forest fire in Grazalema ( Cadiz )

On 9 September 1992 a forest fire in the national park of
Grazalema in Andalusia was officially declared to have been
extinguished . In this fire some 900 ha of scrub and pine-trees
were burned and a large area of Spanish firs, a very valuable
species subject to special conservation measures, was
threatened . The most serious consequence was that five
volunteer fire-fighters lost their lives protecting the natural
heritage of Andalusia .

The human losses are irrecoverable ; the natural habitat will
take 15 years to return to something like its former
appearance . What is left is the frustrating awareness that
more infrastructure is needed to fight fires : forest roads,
water supply points, windbreaks, vehicles, planes and, of
course, more professional fire-fighters .

What structural aid has been granted to this park under
Community law for fire prevention and fire-fighting
infrastructure ?

What checks has the Commission made on the destination
and effectiveness of the air, if any ?

Has the Spanish Government submitted its plan for forest
fire prevention and the classification of zones and regions
according to risk ?

What is the assessment of the measures already applied and
what Community funding has been granted for those
measures ?

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 3

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Commission has no figures on the Grazalema National
Park . However, the Community finances forestry measures
in Andalusia involving reafforestation and protection
against fire as part of two programmes covered by the
Structural Funds :

— the specific common measure to encourage the
development of agriculture in Spain defined in
Regulation ( EEC ) No 1118 / 88 ('), under which forestry
investments in Andalusia account for a total of ECU

28,92 million with a contribution amounting to ECU

14,46 million from the EAGGF for the period
1988 — 1993 . By December 1991, 69 % of the funds for
this programme had been spent ;

— the forestry plan for Andalusia, approved by a
Commission decision of 12 December 1990, which
provides for a total investment of ECU 68,4 million for
the period 1990—1993, with contributions amounting
to ECU 23,8 million from the EAGGF and ECU 11,59
million from the ERDF . By 31 December 1991, total
investments amounted to ECU 26,3 million, with a
contribution of ECU 5,4 million from the ERDF and
ECU 11,3 million from the EAGGF .

The forestry measures financed involve reafforestation,
in particular with Spanish firs, water management
works, roads, forest leisure facilities, pasturage
improvement, forest improvement, protection of fauna
and flora, biological balance and protection against
fire .

The Commission considers that the two programmes
involve measures necessary for the development and
conservation of forests in Andalusia .

Implementation of actual projects is the responsibility of the
region . The Commission oversees the use of the funds for the
two programmes through monitoring committees . In
addition, it is sent annual reports on implementation of the

measures .

Lastly, the Spanish Government has not yet forwarded the
list of forest-fire risk areas or the forest-fire plans required
under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2158 / 92 ( 2 ). However, time
limits for presentation have not yet expired .

(!) OJ No L 107, 28 . 4 . 1988 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2505 / 92

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

( 12 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 05

Subject : State of coastal vessels operating in the Aegean

70 % of vessels operating in the Aegean are over 20 years
old . Shipping companies usually buy vessels which are few
years old and start using them after undertaking the
necessary repairs . They claim that they do this because it is
too expensive for them to replace old vessels by modern
ones . Given that current legislation favours the market in
used vessels, does the Commission intend to lower the
maximum age of coastal vessels which is at present 35 years
so as to improve shipping safety ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1993 )

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member 's
concern over improving the safety of coasting vessels, that is,
those operating in the home trade, including Aegean
passenger vessels .

It should first be pointed out that age constraints are not
generally placed on a vessel entering service, as safety is also
determined by its state of repair . The vessel must in any case
have complied with national or international safety
standards . The stringency of these standards is determined
by the year in which the vessel was built . The Commission
notes, however, that Greek legislation prohibits the placing
on the national register of passenger vessels over 20 years
old, thus making it impossible for very old coasting vessels

to operate .

The large number of old vessels found, for economic
reasons, operating on exclusively home routes is also a result
of the fact that international rules requiring strict safety
standards for passenger vessels apply only to those
operating internationally .

( 2 ) OJ No L 217, 31 . 7 . 1992 . Because of this, the Commission is examining the possibility
of adopting common Community safety rules for new
passenger vessels operating on home trade, taking account
wherever possible of the international SOLAS standards .
Proposals are also being drawn up to phase in such

No C 207 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

standards for existing vessels, while remaining conscious of
economic realities ( though these must not displace the aim
of seeking and applying a high level of safety ).

The Community 's plans for maritime safety are set out in the
Commission communication on a common policy for safe
seas ( 1 ).

( x ) COM(93 ) 66 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2523 / 92

by Mrs Eva-Maria Quistorp ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 October 1992 )

93 / C 207 / 06

Subject : Summer 1992 ozone alarms

1 . How uniform are the alarm systems for summer smog
and ozone in Europe ?

2 . In what different ways are workplace health hazards
and damage to health due to build-ups of ozone recorded
and evaluated ?

3 . What action is planned in transport policy, at the
suggestion of the Commission, in view of the heavy ozone
pollution on hot days during the summer of 1992 ?

4 . Does damage to health caused by ozone pollution at
the workplace, or on the way to work, form a basis for legal
action in the United States or the EC ?

5 . What action is the Commission taking to impose speed
limits and traffic restrictions in order to avoid summer smog
throughout the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

1 . A Directive on Air Pollution by Ozone was adopted by
the Council in September 1992 ( Council Directive
92 / 72 / EEC ) ( J ). Among other provisions, this Directive
harmonizes the information, warning and alert systems in
cases of ozone pollution episodes and fixes common
procedures and threshold values at EC level .

2 and 4 . The present legislation does not cover the
problem of ozone pollution at workplace .

3 . The emission standards for motor vehicles laid down
in Directive 91 / 441 / EEC ( 2 ) that have come fully into effect

as of 1 January 1993 will help to reduce significantly the
emissions of the main pollutants that cause the formation of
ozone that is volatile organic compounds and nitrogen
oxides . Commission studies estimate that introduction of

these standards will lead to a reduction of around 75 % of
these two pollutants between now and the year 2010
providing that a strict inspection and maintenance system of
motor vehicles is applied . This latter point is particularly
important and in the recent Transport White Paper
( COM(92 ) 494 ) the Commission took the view that the
existing Community legislation in this field will require
updating and strengthening .

5 . These actions are primarily the responsibility of
Member States . The Transport White Paper sets out a range
of measures that could be taken by Member States to
complement the technical standards contained in Directives,
and help reduce air pollution in cities caused by motor
vehicles . These include traffic demand management schemes
such as parking policies, congestion pricing and use of traffic
lanes for high occupancy vehicles, the promotion of
collective and environmentally friendly transport and in the
long term land-use planning to contribute to changes in
travel patterns .

(') OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 242, 30 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2693 / 92

by Mr Dieter Rogalla ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 October 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 07 )

Subject : Lawfulness of national border controls after

1 January 1993

1 . Is the Commission aware of an article that appeared in
the WAZ ( Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung ) on 30 July

1992 entitled ' Tourists stopped by customs ' and is it
prepared to verify this report ?

2 . Does the Commission agree that spot checks by tax
and customs authorities on goods and persons in the vicinity
of internal borders after 1 January 1993 are incompatible
with Community law ? If not why not ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Commission published its opinion in its
communication to the Council and the Parliament of 8 May

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 5

1 992 on abolition of border controls ( 1 ) and will continue to
use whatever information is available to ensure that

Member States comply with Community law .

(') SEC(92 ) 877 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2745 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )

to the Council of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 08 )

Subject : UNCED follow-up / aid to the poorest countries

At the annual meeting of the World Bank and the IMF, it
emerged that the wealthy industrialized countries are
refusing to provide any further funds for the Global
Environment Facility ( under Agenda 21 ) and for the IDA
' environment component ', thereby breaking the agreements
concluded at the UNCED Conference in Rio .

1 . Was the EC contribution to the IMF and World Bank
annual meeting discussed in advance, with particular
regard to the provision of extra funds ? If so, what was
the outcome and was unanimous agreement reached ?

2 . Does the Council agree with the fears expressed by the
Netherlands Minister of Development Cooperation,
Mr Pronk, that the spirit of Rio is becoming lost, and
with the World Bank Director, Mr Stern, that the
industrialized countries have obviously already
forgetting the agreements reached at the Earth
Summit ?

3 . What steps will the EC take to fulfil promises of extra

funds for rapid and effective implementation of
Agenda 21, and what specific financial contributions
will the various Member States make ?

Answer

(5 July 1993 )

1 . The Community as such is a member of neither the
World Bank nor the International Monetary Fund .

Accordingly, it is for Member States to adopt positions on
matters raised at meetings of those organizations .

2 . The Community and its Member States reaffirm the
undertaking entered into at the United Nations Conference
on the Environment and Development concerning an initial
contribution of ECU 3 billion, including new and additional
resources, by way of participation in early implementation
of certain key sectors of Agenda 21 .

3 . Examination is continuing within the Council 's
subordinate bodies, on the basis of a Commission
communication, of the modalities for implementing
contributions by the Community and its Member States . As
provided for in Chapter 33 of Agenda 21, the Community
and its Member States will, moreover, report to the United
Nations General Assembly on the programmes which
have been prepared to implement UNCED financial
commitments and decisions .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2763 / 92

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

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 09 )

Subject : Public health threat posed by waste from a pig

farm on Chios

The health of the inhabitants of four municipalities on Chios
is under threat from pig-farm waste . The Municipality of
Kambochora is complaining that a pig-farm located in
Vasileoniko is polluting the local environnment, discharging
untreated waste onto land where wells are located
which provide the Municipalities of Chios Vrondadhes,
Kambochora and Anemona with drinking water . Does the
Commission propose to act to protect the health of the
inhabitants of these four Municipalities on Chios ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

There are a number of Directives relating to the quality of
water . It would seem in this case that Council Directive

80 / 68 / EEC ( J ) on the protection of groundwater against
pollution caused by certain dangerous substances and
Council Directive 80 / 778 / EEC ( 2 ) relating to the quality of
water intended for human consumption are applicable .
However, it is for Member States to ensure that water meets
the standards laid down in the Directives . Where water does

not reach the quality standards required, Member States
must take such action as is necessary to ensure compliance
with the Directives .

No C 207 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Health protection and the control of the disposal of pig
farming waste is normally the responsibility of Member
States and the Commission takes action only if Community
legislation is breached .

P ) OJ No L 20, 26 . 1 . 1980, p . 43 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980, p . 11 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2802 / 92

by Mr Klaus Wettig ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 10 )

Subject : EC agricultural and internal market rules

Recently there have been a growing number of reports
in the British media concerning European Community
Regulations and Directives which could be interpreted by
European citizens as excessive interference in their personal
freedom . Some of these complaints were even reported in
the German press for example a complaint by the writer
John Osborne in the Times that the European Community
was banning the sale of his Turkish cigarettes .

One German newspaper ( the Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung ) quotes British sources with regard to a number of
such rules, but does not give any references .

Has the Commission ever issued a Directive or
Regulation :

1 . declaring that certain cigarette brand from European
third countries fail to comply with EC standards,
thereby making it impossible to market them within the
Community,

2 . ruling that a British crab product may no longer be

cooked in seawater but only in freshwater, thereby
causing it to lose its distinctive flavour,

3 . prohibiting the sale of British acorns after 1994 on the
grounds that the oaks growing from them are
excessively gnarled,

4 . making it impossible to manufacture certain traditional
types of cheese or cakes as a result of harmonized
methods of manufacture ?

cigarette as from 31 December 1997 . A derogation is
allowed for Greece .

Products in circulation on those dates which do not comply
with the Directive may continue to be marketed for
two years thereafter . All brands of cigarettes, whether
manufactured within the Community or elsewhere, will
thus have to be brought into line with this measure .

2 . Council Directive 91 / 493 / EEC ( 2 ) lays down the
health conditions for the production and placing on the
market of fishery products . This Directive does not prohibit
the use of seawater, provided that it is clean within the
meaning of Article 2 ( 17 ).

3 . The marketing of forest reproductive material is
subject, as far as quality conditions are concerned, to
Council Directives 66 / 404 / EEC ( 3 ) and 71 / 161 / EEC ( 4 ).
Quercus robur is covered by this legislation, which includes
requirements relating to morphology such as straightness of
stem, branching habit, small size of branches and natural
pruning ; the proportion of forked trees and of those
showing spiral grain must also be as low as possible . This
Community legislation has remained unchanged for the last

15 years . Member States have the responsibility of assessing
whether or not stands or other basic material from which
marketable forest reproductive material must be harvested
comply with the requirements .

4 . The health rules for the production and placing on the
market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based
products are laid down in Council Directive 92 / 46 / EEC ( 5 ).
Article 8 ( 2 ) of the Directive provides that Member States
may be authorized to grant individual or general
derogations in so far as certain requirements of the Directive
are likely to affect the manufacture of milk-based products
with traditional characteristics .

( 1 ) OJ No L 137, 30 . 5 . 1990 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 24 . 9 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No 125, 11 . 7 . 1966 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 87, 17 . 4 . 1971 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 268, 14 . 9 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2875 / 92

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

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi ( 23 November

on behalf of the Commission

( 93 / C 207 / 11 )

( 23 November 1992 )

on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

1 . On 17 May 1990 the Council adopted Directive
90 / 239 / EEC (*) concerning the maximum tar yield of
cigarettes, Article 2 ( 2 ) of which limits the tar yield to 1 5 mg
per cigarette as from 31 December 1992 and to 12 mg per

Subject : Wild Birds Directive

Has the Commission taken any action against France in the
last two years for infringement of the Wild Birds Directive ?

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 7

Will the Commission detail any action which has been taken
in respect of the killing of wild birds each spring in France by
hunters ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 74 / 93

by Mr Michael Welsh ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 12 )

Subject : Enforcement of the rules on the protection of wild

birds

In a recent publication, the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds states that many thousands of turtle doves and other
birds are being shot in the area of Medoc round Pointe de
Grave in contravention of Community regulations . Is the
Commission aware of these allegations ? What steps is it
taking to ensure that the law is obeyed ?

joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2875 / 92

and 74 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 March 1993 )

The Honourable Members are requested to refer to the joint
answer given by the Commission to Written Questions
Nos 1872 / 92 by Mr Seligman and 2056 / 92 by Mr
Kellett-Bowman (*).

f 1 ) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2992 / 92

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 13 )

Subject : Recording of information concerning the results of

psychological tests

According to the Danish Federation of Office Workers

( HK ), the use of psychological tests for the purpose of
recruitment is rapidly spreading .

This is giving cause for concern since candidates are not
always given the results of the test, and in addition it is not
clear whether records of the tests are kept by the company
concerned and if so, for how long . The last point requires

investigation, particularly with regard to multinational
undertakings . The Unions fear that an unsuccessful
applicant for a post in a multinational company will always
be judged on the outcome of the first test .

This could mean that the applicant may never find
employment if he subsequently applies for a post abroad in
the same company, the principle of free movement of
workers notwithstanding .

Does the Commission know whether such information is
transmitted from one country to another ? If so, what steps
will be taken to ensure compliance with rules on datafiles
containing personal information ?

If this information is not available, will the Commission
initiate an inquiry ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( IS April 1993 )

It is obvious, as anyone seeking employment can testify, that
the use of psychological tests in expanding considerably .

However, the Commission does not have any accurate
information on the keeping at international level of records
of the results of psychological tests, in particular in
multinational companies . It has recently commissioned a
study on cross-border flows of personal data, notably in the
social field, and will not fail to notify the Honourable
Member of the results as soon as they are available . In
contrast, the Commission has no way of carrying out an
inquiry on this question .

The amended proposal for a Council Directive on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of
personal data and on the free movement of such data ( J ) is
intented to ensure a high level of protection for individuals
in all the Member States . This concern should be expressed,
with regard to the problems referred to by the Honourable
Member, this concern should lead to a right for individuals
to be informed about data processing following
psychological tests, to be given the results of these tests and
to challenge their use, and to a number of obligations for
those responsible with regard to the possible storage of such
data and its transmission within the company .

Moreover, the Member States will have to ban the transfer
of data to third countries which do not provide an adequate
level of protection, in particular for individual rights, unless
the recipients of the data are able to provide guarantees to
this effect .

(M COM(92 ) 422 final .

No C 207 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3017 / 92

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

( 30 November 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 14 )

Subject : Conversion of nuclear warheads in the East and

West and aid to Russia to prevent a brain drain

According to recent news reports, Japan intends to
contribute US$ 20 million to the International Centre for
Science and Technology, which aims to prevent the flight of
experts trained in the military sector of the former Soviet
Union . Japan 's contribution will be added to those of the
European Community and the United States, which are
currently under consideration .

Furthermore, it has also been reported that the United States
has signed an agreement with Russia to carry out conversion
of highly enriched uranium and plutonium from nuclear
warheads into fuel for nuclear power stations . Between now
and the year 2003, some 17 500 strategic warheads and
28 000 tactical warheads would be thus converted, an
amount which some experts have calculated as equivalent to
some 1 100 tonnes of highly enriched uranium ( 500 from
the US and 600 from Russia ) and some 230 tonnes of
plutonium ( 100 from the US and 130 from Russia ).

Does the Commission consider that the Community should
take some similar form of initiative with regard to
conversion of strategic or tactical nuclear warheads,
alongside its contribution to the running of the International
Centre for Science and Technology ?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the agreement between the
USA and Russia concerning the conversion and further use
of weapon grade nuclear material stemming from the
dismantling of nuclear warheads .

The technical know-how for denaturing military grade
plutonium and its reuse in nuclear power plants is certainly
more developed in the Community than in the USA given the
present experience of plutonium recycling in fast and also
light water reactors .

Concerning highly enriched uranium ( HEU ) it appears that
its dilution by blending with natural uranium ( NU )
and commercial recycling is technically feasible and
economically acceptable . On this point, the USA and the
EC are certainly on the same ground . One should favour,

here too, a fast dismantling with denaturation through
recycling in reactors . However, due to the huge amount of
HEU available, it would not be realistically possible to
consume it over a period of a few years, so long term storage
should be considered in parallel .

These evaluations have to take account of political
unknowns such as the development of the nuclear
programme in Russia and the financial support Western
countries are willing to grant in favour of still undefined
denaturing strategies .

The choice of a strategy requires a thorough evaluation of a
number of factors, not only technical but also political,
economical and social as well as the knowledge on the future
nuclear programmes in Russia including the choice of

reactor types .

The Commission has not yet formulated a proposal for a
Community strategy, but is conscious of the urgency of
finding a solution and providing for adequate support .

Community support might also be envisaged with regard to
the necessary accompanying services like fissile material
control, development of appropriate confinement devices
and acceptable transport conditions .

The Commission will continue to examine all these
possibilities and will forward to the competent Community
institutions any proposal for action which results .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3081 / 92

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 15 )

Subject : Progress under the Community Support
Framework for Greece — railways

A railways programme has been incorporated as part of the
first Community Support Framework for Greece involving
an amount of ECU 324 700 million be utilized by
31 December 1993 .

1 . What has been the annual take-up of Funds and what is

the balance to be covered for 1993 ?

2 . What information can the Commission provide as to

how the above project is progressing ?

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 9

Answer given by Millan WRITTEN QUESTION No 3117 / 92
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 April 1993 )

by Mr Virginio Bettini
and Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

According to the Greek authorities, the amounts utilized in

1989 1990 1991 and 1992 were ECU million ECU ( 93 / C 207 / 17 )

1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 were ECU 3,6 million, ECU
22,7 million, ECU 71,9 million and ECU 92,3 million
respectively . The total remaining to be used in 1993 is thus
ECU 130 million .

Subject : Adoption of ' Agenda 21 ' at local level in the

Community

Studies, property expropriations and purchase of track
material have been completed and half the lines have been
laid . Having the International regard to Chapter Conference 2 8 of on the section the Environment of ' Agenda 2 and 1 ' of

Development in Rio devoted to the local authorities, the
proposal for a research programme into car-free cities
contained in the Commission 's final report of January 1992
and the specific programme for cities contained in the fourth
framework programme of research, will the Commission
promote the adoption of Agenda 21 at local level by 1996
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3091 / 92 within the Community, as recommended in Chapter 28
above and if so how ?

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

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 16

Subject : Sectors worst affected by the failure by Spain

to comply with the Directive on freedom of
establishment

What are the sectors worst affected by Spain 's failure to
comply with Directive 75 / 368 / EEC (*) on freedom of
establishment ?

(') OJ No L 167, 30 . 6 . 1975, p. 22 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1993 )

In reply to a reasoned opinion of the Commission, Spain has
transmitted to it Royal Decree 439 / 1992 of 30 April 1992 .
The Commission has terminated the relevant infringement
proceedings and is currently scrutinizing the legislation to
ensure that it transposes Directive 75 / 368 / EEC correctly .

The Directive deals with measures to facilitate the effective

exercise of freedom of establishment and freedom to

provide services in respect of various activities ( ex ISIC
Division 01 to 85 ). These numerous activities are set out in
the Annex to the Directive and are concentrated in the areas

of fishing, manufacturing, banking, transport, recreation
services and personal services .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 April 1993 )

The Community 's Fifth Environmental Action Programme

( COM(92 ) 23 ) whose main orientations have now been
approved by the European Parliament and the Council of
Ministers is the point of departure for the implementation of
Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on the
Environment and Development within the Community . As
a result, in 1993 the Agenda 21 objectives and activities are
being integrated during the process of making the Fifth
Programme operational .

As far as the promotion of Agenda 21 at local level is
concerned the Commission intends to use a variety of

means .

For the past few years, the Commission has organized
an annual three-day environmental dialogue with
representatives from the Council of European Regions and
Municipalities .

Another means of promotion already in use is through the
Urban Environment Expert Group set up by the Council in

1991 to advise the Commission on the ways in which the
urban environment dimension can be further developed
within Community environment policy . This group includes
representatives from organisations of towns and cities in the
Community .

One new forum for dialogue provided for in The Fifth
Action Programme is a Consultative Forum to provide for

No C 207 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

consultation and information exchange between the
industrial sectors, the business world, regional and local
authorities, professional associations, trade unions,
environmental and consumer organizations . It is envisaged
that this forum will act as an umbrella organization, with
specialist subgroups set up as necessary to deal with specific
topics or issues .

An additional means of promotion that the Commission is
following, involves the support of local initiatives or
initiatives aimed at the local level . For example in 1993 the
Commission is supporting a municipal officers exchange
programme carried out by the International Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives ( ICLEI ). The programme
will offer exchange opportunities for officials dealing with
environmental management tasks and enable local
authorities to seek expert assistance from other European
municipalities .

The Commission is also co-funding the Convention of
European Municipal Leaders on Climate Change
( Amsterdam, 29 — 31 March 1993 ), which will discuss ways
and means to implement the Climate Convention at local
level .

The Commission envisages that research under the
Community 's fourth Framework Programme for Research
and Technological Development should also make a
contribution . For example, research on global change
should include the assessment of impacts on the
environment, a field where cooperative research with
developing countries is particularly relevant .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3118 / 92

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 December 1992 )

( 93 / C 207 / 18

1 . Can the Commission say whether, for the purposes of
siting plants still under discussion, account should be
taken of Directive 91 / 689 / EEC on hazardous waste for

which the deadline for entry into force is 12 December

1993 and which has not yet been implemented under
Italian national law ?

2 . In view of the fact that only an ' environmental impact
survey ' has been carried out for the purposes of siting the
plant, without going through the full environmental
impact assessment procedure, can the Commission say
whether the letter and spirit of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 2 )
on environmental impact assessments have been
respected ?

t 1 ) OJ No L 377, 31 . 12 . 1991, p . 20 .

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

Directive 91 / 689 / EEC on dangerous wastes will enter into
force on 12 December 1993 . The provisions concerning
disposal centre permits will apply from that date . Directive
78 / 319 / EEC on toxic and dangerous wastes will continue in
force until then (*). It requires similar authorization for all
dangerous-waste disposal centres .

It is correct, as regards compliance with Directive
85 / 337 / EEC on environmental assessment that an impact
study must be carried out for all waste processing facilities,
since these are covered by Annex I to the Directive .

H OJ No L 84, 31 . 3 . 1978 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3133 / 92

by Mr Herman Verbeek ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

Subject : Siting of a plant for the discharge of special toxic

and waste in Montichiari Breschia ( 93 / C 207 / 19 )

and dangerous waste in Montichiari ( Breschia,
Italy )

The Lombardy Regional Authorities have built a plant for
the discharge of special toxic and harmful waste in
Montichiari ( Breschia ) without taking account of the future
entry into force of Directive 91 / 689 / EEC ( l ) on hazardous

waste .

Montichiari is an area of very concentrated industrial,
agricultural and infrastructural activity and is a major
crossroads .

Subject : Development aid for Russian agriculture

There is a lack of money for investments in the
infrastructure and means of production ( both fixed and
moveable ) to develop a healthy agricultural sector in
Russia .

1 . Does the Commission agree that Russia is still importing
too much food whilst too little is invested in the

production and distribution of its own food ?

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 11

2 . As far as this is concerned, is the situation in ( all the )
other CIS republics comparable ?

3 . What EC loans to Russia and other CIS countries are

used for food imports and how much is invested in their
agricultural sector ?

4 . Can the Commission provide an overview of specific
projects ( and of the sums involved ) receiving EC support
intended to develop food production and distribution in
Russia and other CIS republics .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1993 )

1, 2 and 3 . The Commission agrees with the Honourable
Member that the medium-term objective of Russia should
be to reduce its imports of foodstuffs while increasing the
productivity of its agriculture . The same applies to most of
the other CIS republics — even if the imports of some
producer countries, such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan and
Moldova, are relatively small . The aim of the Community in
carrying on with its programme of assistance to the former
USSR is precisely to help in the restructuring of the
distribution and production of agricultural produce
through its technical assistance programme ; because this
form of aid is likely to produce results only in the medium
and long terms, at the same time the Community is now
making credit available to the countries of the former Soviet
Union to buy foodstuffs, agricultural produce ( e.g. fodder )
and medical requisites . This credit is primarily humanitarian
in its aim : to enable the governments concerned to feed their
people pending an improvement in the productivity of their
own agriculture and to alleviate the disastrous
medical-supply situation in these countries . Nothing is
therefore being provided at the moment for investment in
agriculture . The Commission is aware that major
investment in agriculture will be essential for the successful
completion of the restructuring of production and
distribution ; but no decision on macro-economic
intervention of this kind has been reached, either by the
Community or by the industrialized countries as a
whole .

4 . As part of the TACIS Programme the Commission is
implementing a number of technical assistance measures for
the CIS and Georgia ; agriculture and food distribution
account for much of them .

Out of ECU 400 million in the 1991 programme, ECU 75
million was for improving food distribution, where

bottlenecks are one of the chief obstacles to normal supply .
A total of 69 projects were directed to the various links in the
supply chain ( storage, transport, processing, wholesale and
retail trade ) and cover almost all products : meat and meat
products ; milk and milk products ; fruit and vegetables ; and
cereals, flour and bread . Almost all the republics of the
former Soviet Union are to benefit under this programme,
which is now in hand, but the chief beneficiaries will be
Russia and the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg in
particular .

Under the 1992 programme, which has not yet been entirely
approved by the Member States, about ECU 60 million, out
of a total of ECU 450 million, is to be allocated to
agricultural production and food distribution . Considering

1991 projects, the 12 national programmes ( CIS and
Georgia ) emphasize the improvement of agricultural
productivity and aid to private agricultural holdings now
being set up and to private retail trade . It also includes
support for national and local institutions and a number of
pilot projects . In Russia the Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara
and Tyumen regions will be the recipients .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3147 / 92

by Mr Francois Guillaume ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 20 )

Subject : Use of tinned meat as food aid

The change in East-West relations and world events as a
whole suggest that food aid from the European Community
cannot but increase in the coming years .

Intervention stocks of beef and veal currently exceed
600 000 tonnes . So that this meat can be taken into

consideration when products are chosen for food aid, would
it not be possible to create a strategic, immediately available
stock of tinned meat derived from beef and veal placed in
intervention ?

To make this operation financially viable, would it not be
possible to tin a quantity of 50 000 tonnes of meat before it
is added to intervention stocks ?

Would the Commission be prepared to study this proposal
jointly with the European processing industries in order to
decide how it can be implemented ?

No C 207 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Answer given by Steichen
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1993 )

The Commission it at present looking at the possibility of
establishing a stock of tinned beef to be used as needed for
food aid . It would be renewable and the maximum quantity
is still to be determined . The Commission has already been
in contact with the European processing industry in order to
discuss practical aspects .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3152 / 92

by Mr Bartho Pronk ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

2 . Is it permissible for the Member States to debar
migrant professionals who do not appear ( able ) to fulfil
these additional conditions, by prohibiting them from
exercising their activity in the Member States in
question ?

3 . Does the Commission think it necessary to introduce
appropriate supplementary measures for the application of
the Directive ?

4 . If so, what measures does the Commission plan to
take ?

5 . If not, why not ?

(6 January 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi
( 93 / C 207 / 21 ) on behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1993 )

Subject : DG V conferences

1 . In 1991 and 1992 how many conferences have been
organized or are being organized in Greece under the
auspices of DG V ?

2 . How does this figure compare with the number of
conferences organized by DG V in other Community
countries ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 March 1993 )

DG V organized 73 conferences in 1991 and 1992,
including 10 in Greece .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3153 / 92

by Mr Bartho Pronk ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 22 )

Subject : Directive on regulated professions

1 . Which Member States set additional conditions in the
form of a language test in respect of the general Directive
concerning the regulated professions ( 1991 )?

The question apparently refers to Council Directive
89 / 48 / EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the
recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on
completion of professional education and training of at least
three years ' duration ( 1 ). In accordance with Article 12,
Member States were required to take the necessary measures
to comply with the Directive by 4 January 1991 . None of the
measures so far comunicated to the Commission provides
for a specific language test .

The Commission considers that a priori testing of a migrant
professional 's linguistic ability constitutes discrimination, in
contravention of Article 48 and 52 of the EC Treaty . Such
testing is only permissible in the limited circumstances
identified by the Court of Justice in its judgment in the
Groener ( 2 ) case . Linguistic ability is an element which may,
however, be taken into account by the competent
authorities of the host Member State in their assessment of a
migrant 's performance during the adaptation period or in
the aptitude test, in cases where these mechanisms apply as
provided for by Article 4 ( 1 ) ( b ) of the Directive .

Finally the Commission would draw attention to the ethical
considerations associated with the question of a migrant 's
linguistic ability . Professional codes of conduct require
professionals to limit themselves to cases for which they are
adequately qualified, and where they are not so qualified, to
redirect the client to an appropriate colleague . A migrant
professional whose linguistic ability is insufficient to enable
him to deal properly with the client 's affairs should thus
advise his client to go elsewhere . The competent authorities
are entitled to point out to the migrant the need to improve
his linguistic ability and to warn him that he runs the risk
of disciplinary measures for any professional negligence
which results from his inadequate knowledge ( see the

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 13

Commission 's reply to Written Question No 278 / 79 by Mr
Glinne ( 3 )).

(!) OJ No L 19, 24 . 1 . 1989 .

( 2 ) Case 379 / 87, ( 1989 ) ECR 3967 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 183, 21 . 7 . 1980 .

published ? As the world 's press has been referring to them
since 7 August, 1992 if not earlier, the case for ' not wishing
to fan the flames ' has become irrelevant ?

1 1 . How are technical facilities being set up to detect and
stop arms smuggling, particularly from EC countries ?

1 2 . What opportunities are open to EC observers to issue
information countering military propaganda to the civilian
population affected ?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3163 / 92

by Mrs Eva-Maria Quistorp ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 23 )

Subject : EC observers in the former Yugoslavia

1 . On whose instructions and for what purpose ( whereof
please supply full details ) were EC observers in the former
Yugoslavia not allowed — in order, as I am reliably
informed, ' not to fan the flames ' — to supply information
on appalling violations of human rights such as systematic
rape, torture and internment to journalists and
representatives of the European Parliament ?

2 . When were the reports of EC observers on such
human rights violations made known to the Council or the
Commission, and in what manner were these reports then
forwarded to the European Parliament and the general
public ?

3 . How does the Commission assess the work of the EC

observers ?

4 . In what way can EC observers cooperate in
implementing the decisions taken by the London
conference ?

5 . What kind of infrastructure can EC observers provide
for anti-war groups and anti-nationalist journalists to
enable them to communicate with one another within the

crisis and conflict zone ?

6 . What is the Commission 's analysis of reporting by the
mass media on the fighting and atrocities perpetrated by
soldiers and bands of killers in Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina
and Croatia ?

7 . With which aid and refugee organizations are the EC
observers in contact ?

8 . How do you interpret Lord Carrington 's
resignation ?

9 . With which representatives of the democratic
opposition in Belgrade and Zagreb is the Commission
holding talks ?

10 . What reports by EC observers does the Commission
have on mass rapes and torture and where are they

Answer given by Mr Van den Broeck

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1993 )

1 . The ' Community ' observers of the European
Community Monitoring Mission ( ECMM ) were sent to the
former Yugoslavia to carry out a mission decided by the
CSCE . There are thus observers on this mission from

Canada, Poland, Sweden and the former Czechoslovakia as
well as the Commission and the Member States .

2 . The mission is headed by a diplomat from the Member
State holding the presidency of the Council . Reports are
forwarded through the Telex Network of European
Correspondents ( COREU ) in the framework of political
cooperation .

3 . The Commission believes that the observers have

shown great devotion to duty in carrying out their difficult
tasks in often dangerous conditions .

4 . Some decisions of the London conference have been

implemented by UNPROFOR in close cooperation with the
ECMM . For instance, the ECMM was given the job of
monitoring airports in Croatia in implementation of the
no-fly zone . It also played an active part in monitoring the
ceasefire and the withdrawal of JNA troops from the
Prevlaka peninsula .

5 . The Commission believes it is right in saying that the
monitoring mission possesses only the communications
equipment needed for its own purposes .

6 . The Commission receives analyses and reports of the
UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation and
also those of other organizations, private or governmental,
concerning violations of human rights in the former
Yugoslavia .

7 . The ECMM is mainly in contact with the HCR, the
ICRC and Unicef, plus a number of NGOs .

8 . The Commission does not wish to comment on the

reasons for Lord Carrington 's resignation .

No C 207 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

9 . The Commission Delegation in Belgrade is in dialogue
with various political forces in Serbia, including some
democratic opposition movements and parties .

Not having a Delegation in Zagreb, the Commission has not
entered into dialogue with political forces in Croatia .

10 . The main task of observers is to monitor the

ceasefire ; they do not draw up reports on human rights
violations .

1 1 . The Member States and the Community are required
to take steps to ensure compliance with UN Security Council
Resolution 713 .

12 . ECMM observers are not responsible for supplying
information or counter-information .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3188 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 24 )

Subject : Tackling the problems of cities

The mayor of Athens has recently referred to the problems
which generally confront the Community 's cities

( immigration, derelict areas, housing, degradation of the
environment, etc .), remarking that the regional funds, in
their present form, were not capable of providing a complete
solution to those problems . In his view, it is probably
necessary to make changes in funding policy in relation to
cities, while still respecting the principle of subsidiarity .
What position does the Commission take on this issue ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3189 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 25

Subject : Tackling the problems of Athens

The dual importance of Athens, both as a national capital
and as an historic city, underlines the need for it to receive
direct financial aid via the regional funds to enable it to

tackle its pressing major problems, such as the large areas of
the city which are run-down, environmental pollution,
public transport, the promotion of the historic features of
the city and the inclusion of minorities in social and
productive activities . Will the Commission help to solve the
acute problems facing Athens in the immediate future ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3188 / 92

and 3189 / 92

given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

Although the Community does not have a specific remit for
an urban policy, it supports efforts to tackle urban
problems . This is certainly true for the cities which receive
support under the Community Support Frameworks for the
Objective 1 countries . Within this framework, Athens
receives substantial financial support for various objectives
and measures .

It should be possible to continue such support in the next
Structural Fund financing period starting in 1994 . There
will also be opportunities for dealing with certain urban
problems through the Cohesion Fund .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3192 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ).

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 26 )

Subject : Rights of Greek cooperative organizations

According to accusations made recently by representatives
of cooperatives, the Greek authorities are attempting to
evade the overwhelming responsibility they bear for
originating and covering up scandals involving farm
produce by training their fire on agricultural cooperatives .
The numerous legal actions brought in recent days against
secondary and tertiary cooperative organizations,
particularly in the olive oil sector, following repeated and
calculated inspections by the authorities, are an attempt to
play down the Greek Government 's responsibility
politically as well as financially, by offloading it on to the
cooperatives . Tellingly, the representatives of the
cooperatives point out that legal actions are being brought
against them with unusual haste and that the inspectors '
reports were kept in the files of the Agricultural Bank of
Greece for many months . Moreover, the findings of the

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 15

report on the oil cooperative were communicated to the
press — even before they were made known to the
cooperative itself — immediately after allegations had been
made by its president . Mr Manolis Gavalas, of a scandal
concerning the unlawful collection of subsidies by oil
processing companies . Will the Commission protect the
Greek cooperative organizations from defamation and
dissolution ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1993 )

The Commission is aware that since Greek accession to the
Community up to comparatively recent times the
relationship between the Greek authorities and the Greek
agricultural cooperative organizations and their Unions was
to some extent and in some product sectors unsatisfactory
from the Community point of view and contributed to a
number of infringements of Community law and
irregularities involving the utilization of Community funds .
In this connection the Court of Auditors ' report for 1991 i 1 )
highlighted some particular problems in the olive oil

sector .

The Greek Government as the authority having
responsibility for the correct functioning of the cooperative
sector in Greece is obviously entitled to adopt appropriate
legislative and administrative texts to facilitate the proper
operation of these cooperation provided that such measures
respect the general principles of Community Law and in
particular do not distort the operation of the common
agricultural policy .

The Commission is not aware that the Greek Government
has proposed any measures which discriminate against
cooperatives which, incidentally, are protected by the Greek
Constitution . The Commission has requested the Greek
Government to inform it of any new legislative proposals
which it intends to put forward in this domain .

intercontinental air freight, should operate from around

1 November 1992 . This plan failed for a number of reasons .
One of the main problems was delays at borders . At the
Dutch / German border at the weekend, they can be as long as

12 to 14 hours, so that consignments would always reach
airports too late . ATAN regrets the situation which has
arisen but sees no way out of the impasse, and fears that it
will not be possible to launch an air-freight-by-rail .

1 . Is it true that rail freight can be delayed for up to 1 2 or 14
hours at the German / Dutch border at weekends ?

2 . Is the Commission prepared to call upon the Member
States to eliminate such unnecessary disadvantages for
rail transport ?

3 . What possibilities are there for such initiatives to be
incorporated in combined transport systems ?

4 . Will the Commission make proposals at an early date to
improve the chances of success for private initiatives
with regard to rail freight ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

The Commission is not aware of long waiting times at the
Dutch — German border as indicated by the Honourable
Member . The Commission is examining the issues raised by
the Honourable Member and will provide a full reply at a
later date .

(!) OJ No C 330, 15 . 12 . 1992 . WRITTEN QUESTION No 3316 / 92

by Mr James Moorhouse ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 28
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3267 / 92

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

(6 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 27 )

Subject : Carriage of air freight by rail

The Dutch company ATAN ( Air Transport Association of
the Netherlands ) has attempted to organize a service to carry
air freight by rail . It was intended that a daily service
between Italy and the Netherlands, particularly for

Subject : Commitology

Will the Commission publish an updated version of the
tables originally contained on pages 1 and 2 of Annex II of
Commission Document SEC(89 ) 1591 Final ( Report from
the Commission to the European Parliament on ' Delegation
of Executive Powers to the Commission ', Brussels,
28 September 1989 ), showing the commitology procedures
proposed by the Commission and adopted by the Council
for all relevant legislation since the entry into force of the
Single European Act ?

No C 207 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the Commission report to the Council entitled ' Conferment
of implementing powers on the Commission ' ( SEC(90 )
2589, 10 January 1991 ).

The report was drawn up pursuant to Article 5 of the
Council Decision of 13 July 1987 laying down the
procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission ( 1 ), which reads : ' the Council
shall review the procedures provided for in the Decision on
the basis of a report submitted by the Commission before
31 December 1990 '.

The Commission would add that the Council has not yet
adopted a position on this report .

In view of its length, copies of the report have been sent
direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament 's

Secretariat .

— 149,7 for financial and technical cooperation

( B7-3010 );

— 10,9 for trade promotion with Latin American
developing countries ( B7-3011 );

— 6,6 for regional or subregional integration schemes

between Latin American developing countries

( B7-3012 );

— 6,4 for cooperation with Latin American developing

countries on energy ( B7-3013 );

— 14,5 for training operations for nationals of Latin

American developing countries ( B7-3014 );

— 12,55 for Community investment promotion in Latin

American developing countries ( B7-3015 );

— 2,8 for operations under commercial and economic

cooperation agreements with third countries

( B7-5020 );

— for operations to support democracy in Latin America

( B7-5078 ).

Use of these appropriations was 100% .

(') OJ No L 98, 10 . 4 . 1987 . For details by country of how they were used, the
Honourable Member is requested to refer to the answers on
South and Central America to Mrs Ruiz-Giménez Aguilar 's
Written Questions Nos 2913 / 92 ( Mexico ) ( j ), 2914 / 92
( Honduras ) and 2917 / 92 ( Nicaragua ) ( x ), 2915 / 92 ( Costa
Rica ) (*), 2916 / 92 ( El Salvador ) ( 2 ) 2918 / 92 ( Paraguay ) ( 3 ),
2919 / 92 ( Venezuela ) ( 4 ), 2920 / 92 ( Equador ) ( 5 ), 2921 / 92
( Peru ) ( 4 ), 2922 / 92 ( Uruguay ) and 2923 / 92 ( Argentina ) ( 6 ),
2924 / 92 Bolivia ( 4 ), 2925 / 92 ( Brazil ) ( 7 ), 2926 / 92
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3319 / 92 ( Colombia ) ( 8 ), 2927 / 92 ( Chile ) (*) and 2928 / 92 ( Andean

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

(6 January 1993 )

Pact ) I : 4 ).

H OJ [No] [ C] 47, 18 . 2 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ [No] [ C] 61, 3 . 3 . 1993 .

( 3 ) OJ [No] [ C] 99, 7 . 4 . 1993 .

( 93 / C 207 / 29 )

( 4 ) OJ [No] [ C] 106, 16 . 4 . 1993 .
( 5 ) OJ [No] [ C] 155, 7 . 6 . 1993, p. 22 .
( 6 ) OJ [No] [ C] 137, 15 . 5 . 1993, p. 14 .
Subject : Commission help for Latin America ( 7 ) OJ [No] [ C] 127, 7 . 5 . 1993, p. 34 .
( 8 ) OJ [No] [ C] 145, 25 . 5 . 1993, p. 8 .

To what extent has use been made of the EC budget items
earmarked for Latin America ? More specifically, could the
Commission give a breakdown, country by country, of the
various activities backed by the Community in the region
which have been carried out ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3334 / 92

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

Answer given by Mr Marin ( 25 January 1993 )
on behalf of the Commission ( 93 / C 207 / 30 )

(5 March 1993 )

Subject : Implementation of the new CAP in Greece

In 1992, the Community budget for cooperation schemes in
Latin America was ( ECU million ):

Bearing in mind that the new common agricultural policy
will be more costly and complex to implement, entailing

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 17

bureaucratic procedures and monitoring problems, and that
it requires trained personnel, a computer system, a registry
of farmers and a land registry, what action will the
Commission take to assist Greece to acquire the requisite
infrastructure ? Has any provision been made to deal with
the envisaged delays in paying compensation to
Greek farmers due to the abovementioned lack of

infrastructure ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its

answer to his Written Question No 3379 / 92 ( 1 ).

(*) See page 20 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3341 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 31 )

Subject : Benefit to the consumer of the new CAP

The forecasts are that the benefit to the consumer to be

derived from the new CAP will be extremely limited and
possibily non-existent as the reduction in producer prices
will be offset by marketing costs . Moreover, given that in the
last five years producer prices have fallen while consumer
prices have risen considerably, what measures does the
Commission intend to take to avoid this trend undermining
the original aim of the reform to reduce expenditure after

1997 ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 April 1993 )

the Community and from the positive impact on world
prices of lower Community production .

That said, the Commission does expect increased demand
for certain agricultural products, in particular cereals and
white meats, as a side effect of the reduced production
achieved through the balancing of supply and demand .

Lower cereal prices will allow parts of the market lost to
substitute products to be regained and this will be a matter
of competition between raw materials, marketing costs
having no influence . Moreover, lower cereal prices will
mean lower feed prices and hence lower production costs for
white meat ( pig and poultry ), largely produced using
cereals .

All studies seen by the Commission confirm that lower
production costs will in time benefit the consumer, although
by a smaller margin than the reductions themselves since
other retail price components such as slaughter and
marketing costs are not directly concerned . This is in fact
what has happened in the past : since 1980 real white meat
prices to the consumer have fallen between 22 % and 38 %
compared with a fall in production prices of between 37 %
and 47 % .

One effect of this eventual reduction in consumer prices will
be to slightly sharpen the trend observed in the past of
increased consumption per head of these meats, and this will
in turn create new outlets for Community cereals .

In conclusion, the Commission considers that the CAP
reform measures will in time afford savings in the
Community budget by reducing the cost of exports,
discouraging overproduction and opening new outlets for
agricultural production .

The impact on consumer prices should also be positive,
though no claim can be made that falls will occur for all
agricultural products .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3343 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 32 )
The Honourable Member appears to be assuming that a
reduction in agricultural expenditure following CAP reform
depends on the trend of consumer prices . The Commission Subject : Tobacco quota
would point out that lower expenditure will depend in the
first place on the success of the measures taken to curb
excess production, and in the second on a reduction in the The Commission has drafted new
volume of export refunds resulting from lower prices within cultivation and marketing of

Subject : Tobacco quota

The Commission has drafted new regulations on the
cultivation and marketing of tobaccos . Does it consider it

No C 207 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

should meet tobacco growers ' demands for the three-year hazardous substances to deal with this particular
period 1990 — 1992 to be taken into account in determining substance ?
the quota ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3429 / 92

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 March 1993 )

The reform of the tobacco market organization foresees the
fixing of production thresholds to be based on a reference
period covering the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 .

1992 has been purposely excluded as a reference year in
order to avoid the inevitable speculative effects on tobacco
production which have taken place in view of the
forthcoming reform .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3345 / 92

by Mr Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 34 )

Subject : The use of Clophen in Greece

In view of the installation of transformers in the electricity
supply network of Mytilene ( Lesbos ) and the use of Clophen
as an impregnant for capacitors at the island 's power plant,
what is the Community assessment of the overall current
situation with regard to the use of Clophen in Greece, and
the observance or otherwise of the procedure laid down for
shipment abroad and the destruction of traces of this
dangerous substance which occasionally appear ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3345 / 92

and 3429 / 92

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 25 January 1993 )

( 15 April 1993 )
( 93 / C 207 / 33 )

Subject : Hazards posed by Clophen throughout Greece

A large number of instances have come to light in Greece in
which Clophen has been incorrectly stored and used ( in 24
transformers which were recently connected into the
electricity grid on Lesbos, in barrels and transformers at the
port of Piraeus, in hundreds of passenger and merchant
vessels, in army transformers etc .). Workers, military
personnel and the environment are at great risk largely
because of the storage methods used, and the dangers of
forest fires and accidents . The total quantity of Clophen in
Greece is unknown but some estimates put it at between
4 000 and 7 000 tonnes . Whenever the issue is raised,
however, there seems to be no concern about this hazardous
substance .

What information does the Commission have concerning
the total quantities of Clophen in Greece, the condition
under which it is stored, used, transported abroad and
certified destroyed ?

How does it view the use of transformers containing
Clophen in the electricity grid on Lesbos which is prone to
forest fires ?

Does it consider that Greece has taken the comprehensive
measures required under Community policies on PCBs and

The Commission has in its possession the 1991 report on the
implementation in Greece of Directive 76 / 403 / EEC { l ) on
the disposal of PCBs . According to this report :

— The quantities present in equipment which is in
operation are estimated at 65 tonnes in capacitors and
68 tonnes in electrical transformers . This equipment all
belongs to the public electricity company DEH .

— The quantities of used PCBs ( in bulk or in equipment no

longer in operation ) are estimated at 600 kg, contained
in 60 capacitors each holding 10 kg . The total quantity
of PCBs existing in Greece can therefore be estimated at
65 + 68 + 0,6 = 133,6 tonnes .

— As regards the general conditions under which these

substances are stored and managed, the report states
that the public electricity company, which is the main
user of PCBs, collects used PCBs and stores them in
barrels together with capacitors which are no longer in

use .

— As regards the use of PCB 's the accompanying
instructions make reference to preventive safety
measures to be taken in the event of an accident, and to
measures to mitigate the effects on the environment .

— As far as the certified destruction of these substances in

concerned, it must be assumed that the case has not yet

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 19

arisen, as no facilities exist in Greece for destroying
PCBs, and the report states that the PCBs to be destroyed
are put in storage in safe places .

— The Commission has no information concerning the

conditions under which PCBs are transported .

As regards the connection of transformers containing PCBs
to the electricity grid of the island of Lesbos, the
Commission feels that, in so far as the transformers were not
new but were already in operation, it would have been
preferable to install equipment which operated using
substances other than PCBs, provided these complied with
the provisions of Directive 91 / 339 / EEC ( 2 ).

Given that no facilities exist in Greece for destroying PCBs,
the Commission assumes that the public electricity company
has only one option, namely that of storing used PCBs
while continuing to use those which still have dielectric
properties .

The 1991 implementation report makes reference to
problems in incorporating the Directive into Greek law .
Problems were also encountered with the administrative

and technical infrastructure, in connection, for instance,
with the drawing up of a plan for the disposal of PCBs at
national and regional level, and with the procedure for
granting licences for disposal .

As a result, as this report makes clear, the Greek authorities
have not yet succeeded in taking the measures required by
Community policy .

With more specific reference to the transport abroad and
destruction of Clophen, it must be assumed that no Clophen
is transported abroad, as the report states that DEH, the
public electricity company, collects and stores the used PCBs
in metal barrels together with capacitors no longer in use . It
further states that Greece is looking into the possibility of
setting up facilities for disposing of this type of waste .

Although many countries respect the convention and have
suppressed the trade in rhino horn, for instance, Taiwan
remains a lucrative market for this and other animal parts,
which are consumed according to the practice of ' JINBU '
based upon a superstitious belief in their magical properties,
unsupported by medical science .

With rhino horn selling for many thousands of dollars a
kilogram, poachers are ruthless in obtaining their prize in
the same way as they or their colleagues attack elephants for
their ivory . Massive stocks are believed to exist in Taiwan,
the value of which increases in proportion to the decline in
the number of surviving animals .

Negotiation and persuasion appear to have failed . Will the
Commission introduce immediate economic measures
against Taiwan until such time as the Taiwanese ban this
appalling trade ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 138 / 93

by Mr Thomas Megahy ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 36

Subject : Illegal trade in rhino horn — Taiwan

Is the Commission aware that the Taiwanese Government

continues in the face of international condemnation, tacitly
to condone a massive illegal trade in rhino horn which
threatens the species with extinction ? Is it also aware that
this represents only the most blatant example of Taiwan 's
blatant disregard of CITES ?

further states that Greece is looking into the possibility of Would the Commission consider punitive action to force a
setting up facilities for disposing of this type of waste . change in these practices, reducing import quotas on

Taiwanese goods until such time as her government acquires
(!) OJ No L 108, 26 . 4 . 1976 . and destroys all stocks of rhino horn and rigorously

( 2 ) OJ No L 186, 12 . 7 . 1991 . implements the CITES regulations ?

( 2 ) OJ No L 186, 12 . 7 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 213 / 93

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3359 / 92
( 18 February 1993 )

by Mr Madron Seligman ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 93 / C 207 / 37

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 35 ) Subject : Protection of endangered rhinos

Subject : Breach of CITES by Taiwan

The Commission is aware that all five species of rhinoceros
are protected by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species .

Although rhino horn has been banned from international
trade by CITES since 1976, Taiwan remains a centre of
illegal trade in Asia . Given that there are only about 10 000
rhinos left in the entire world, and these are under daily
threat from poachers, will the Commission please take
action against Taiwan in the form of trade bans until they

No C 207 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

destroy their vast rhino horn stocks and strictly implement
all CITES regulations ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 3359 / 92, 138 / 93

and 213 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 April 1993 )

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable
Member about the implications of trade in rhinoceros horn
for the conservation of the species . The Commission takes
all opportunities to convey the message that illegal trade in
rhino horn is a matter of serious concern in the Community
and that determined action to prevent such illegal trade is
urgently expected .

As a matter of general policy, the Commission does not
favour the application of trade sanctions on products which
fall outside the scope of a multilateral environment
agreement such as CITES, as a means of compelling other
states or countries to comply with such an agreement . The
Community has recently opened GATT proceeding against
the United States for taking action of this sort ( although not
on the basis of CITES ) to the detriment of EC exporters of
fish products .

Taiwan is not able to become a party of CITES, but has
participated as an observer in recent CITES conferences of
Parties, and liaises on national policy with authorities such
as the World Wildlife Fund 's Trade Record and Analysis of
Fauna and Flora in Commerce Organization ( TRAFFIC ).
Taiwan enacted in 1989 a Wildlife Conservation Law,
under which CITES standards of protection are required for
all CITES-listed species, as well as other species not
protected by CFHiS . All five rhino species have been
protected as endangered species under Taiwan law since

1989 . Infringement of the import / export ban attracts
substantial prison sentences and / or fines . Taiwan police
authorities have cooperated with authorities of other
countries ( including EC Member State authorities ) where
Taiwan-based investigations have revealed smuggling via
other countries involving non-Taiwanese nationals .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3372 / 92

by Mr Jean-Pierre Raff in ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 38

Subject : Funding the operation to protect the brown bear

under the LIFE Regulation

What steps have been taken by the Commission in Spain,
France, Greece and Italy to protect the brown bear, which is

a priority species under Council Directive 92 / 43 / EEC f 1 )?
What funds have been earmarked for this purpose ?

(!) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p. 7 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

In addition to certain projects involving the protection of the
brown bear in France, Greece and Spain that were carried
out earlier as part of the former MEDSPA Regulation, the
Commission of the European Communities granted
financial assistance in 1992 under LIFE, as follows :

1 . ' Protection of the brown bear and its habitat in the
Cantabrian mountains ' ( Spain ): ECU 3 million

2 . ' Alpine and Appenine mammals ' ( Italy ): ECU 0,5
million .

It also received a proposal including measures to protect the
last Pyrenean bears, and another concerning the protection
of bears in Greece . They will be granted financial assistance
where technical examination and the procedure set up for
that purpose under the LIFE Regulation so permit and
demonstrate its suitability .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3379 / 92

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 39 )

Subject : Compensatory payments to Greek cereal
producers

The lack of a register of cereal producers and a national land
register in Greece makes it even more difficult to make
compensatory payments and carry out administrative
checks . Given that it is difficult in the present circumstances
to make compensatory payments to cereal producers within
the first six months of each marketing year, what will the
Commission do to resolve this problem ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 March 1993 )

Regulation ( EEC ) No 1765 / 92 ( ] ) lays down that Member
States must make compensatory payments to producers for

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 21

cereals and protein crops and pay compensation in respect
of the set-aside obligation, between 1 6 October and
31 December following the harvest in respect of which
compensation is granted . In order to ensure effective
administration throughout the Community of aid granted
under the CAP reform, the ' integrated administration and
control system ' was introduced . The EC began putting the
system in place on 1 February 1993 and it will be built up
progressively until 1 January 1996 . It is this system in
particular which is intended to ensure compliance with the
abovementioned payment deadlines .

The Community contributes to payment of the costs
incurred by the Member States in setting up the integrated
system, within the appropriation limits provided for and up
to a maximum of 50% of these costs .

ECU 50 million has been allocated for this measure in the

1993 budget, of which 8,7% or ECU 4,35 million is for
Greece .

f 1 ) OJ No L 181, 1 . 7 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3386 / 92

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 40 )

Subject : Water of Lake Marathon

Some 50 % of the population of Greece lives in Attica which
is supplied with water mainly from Lake Marathon . The
Greek press has recently reported that sewage and animal
carcasses are being dumped in the lake and these claims have
been confirmed by the mayors of the villages in the
vicinity .

1 . Will the Commission urge the Greek authorities to take
immediate steps to protect Lake Marathon in order to
prevent any form of pollution in the future ?

2 . Will it propose that the five communities in the vicinity

of the lake receive Community funding to carry out
infrastructure projects to protect this source of
water ?

3 . Will it recommend that a sewage system be built as a
matter of urgency for the five communities and that the
streams which flow into Lake Marathon be covered as

recommended by the local authorities ?

Answer given by Mr Paieokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

Water abstracted from Lake Marathon for use as drinking
water must meet with the requirements of Council Directive
75 / 440 / EEC C ). It is, however, for the Greek Government
to take such action as is necessary to comply with the
obligations placed upon it by this and other Directives
related to water quality . Where there is sufficient evidence
that a Member State is not complying with a Directive, the
Commission may initiate infringement proceedings .

If the Honourable Member considers that a breach of
Directive 75 / 440 / EEC may be occurring the Commission
would be grateful if specific 75 / 440 / EEC may be occurring
the Commission would be grateful if specific information
could be provided so that the matter may be
investigated .

Council Directive 91 / 271 / EEC ( 2 ) concerns the collection,
treatment and discharge of Waste water from certain
industrial sectors . This Directive, which has to be
implemented by Member States over the next decade, aims
to prevent the environment from being adversely affected by
the disposal of insufficiently treated urban waste water .

As regards financial assistance to infrastructure aimed at
improving the water quality, the Commission is ready to
examine any duly motivated request the Greek authorities
may wish to put to it in the context of the present or future
financial instruments available for this type of work .

(!) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 135, 30 . 5 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3507 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 41 )

Subject : Transitional structural measures for fisheries

The EC Council of Fisheries Ministers takes the view that if

certain regions and population groups in the Community
are adversely affected by cut-back and restructuring
measures which may be taken as part of the Common
Fisheries Policy, certain socio-economic accompanying
measures must be provided to alleviate their plight . Is the
Commission willing to introduce transitional structural

No C 207 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

measures in view of the proposed major modifications of the
common fisheries policy ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

Article 11 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3760 / 92 of
20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for
fisheries and aquaculture (*) requires the Council, acting on
a multiannual basis and for the first time not later than

1 January 1994, to set the objectives and detailed rules for
restructuring the Community fisheries sector with a view to
achieving a balance on a sustainable basis between resources
and their exploitation . Such restructuring is also to take
account on a case-by-case basis of possible economic and
social consequences and of the specificities of the fisheries
regions .

The Edinburgh European Council agreed that due attention
should be paid to the needs of regions dependent on fisheries
under the relevant Objectives . The Commission 's
subsequent work has been designed to include those areas
under the existing Objectives ( 1, 2 or 5 ( b )) which would
give them access to the ERDF and the ESF .

The Commission is continuing its work along these lines .

(!) OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3415 / 92

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 42 )

Subject : Measures to protect European citizens from toxic

effluent from plant situated on rivers

UN teams are Struggling to shore up a dam in Yugoslavia
which is in danger of collapse, which, according to UN
officials, would pollute the Danube and its tributaries with
toxic effluent according to UN officials . In view of this can
the Commission say whether the necessary measures are
being taken to protect European citizens from the dangers
of toxic effluent from similar plant on rivers in the
Community ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

This environmental emergency can be traced back to the
intensive dumping of waste from a nearby mine in the basin
in question . That mine has been abandoned since 1990 but,
owing to local conditions, the physical safety of that basin
has not been secured by appropriate investment . According
to the information in the Commission 's possession this type
of dumping and unacceptable storage does not exist within
the Community, where alternative techniques are
available .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3417 / 92

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

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 43 )

Subject : Domestic purification systems ( filters )

It appears that the use of various domestic purification
systems ( filters ) on househould taps increases the danger of
pollution of drinking water . These recent findings were
given in a lecture on the Athens water supply by a biologist
and sanitation expert at the Athens School of Medicine, Mrs
Athina Mavridou, who stated that the use of domestic
purification systems, at least those using activated charcoal,
actually reduced the microbiological quality of the water .
Quoting findings by the microbiological laboratory of the
Athens School of Medicine Mrs Mavridou said ' so in the

mornings we analyzed unfiltered water from tap A and
found 1 — 40 micro-organisms per ml, while water which
had passed through various types of filter contained
between 1 000 and 100 000 micro-organisms '. The
increased number of micro-organisms is mainly due to the
fact that the water has had removed the chlorine which

neutralizes them . In view of this, what steps will the
Commission take to protect European consumers from the
use of various domestic purification systems which fail to
meet the required specifications ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

It is up to the consumer to decide whether or not to use
domestic water filters . It would not be appropriate for the
Commission to propose legislation .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3445 / 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3430 / 92 WRITTEN QUESTION No

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR )

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

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

( 25 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 44 ) ( 93 / C 207 / 45 )

Subject : Fund for research into alternatives to experiments

Subject : Pollution of the River Axios

According to analyses carried out by the Greek Centre for
Ecological Research ( PAKOE ) which have recently been
made public, the entire length of the River Axios is polluted
with bacteria . The same analyses also show high levels of
phosphates in 45 % of the samples, which means that there
is local pollution from solid and liquid urban waste .
Moroever, other analyses by the Centre revealed the
presence of harmful intestinal bacteria in a sample of
drinking water taken from other samples from the KAPI
( old people 's day hospital ) in Axioupolis and the pumping
station in the town 's pine-forest, which means that the water
is unfit to drink .

Does the Commission intend, in cooperation with the Greek
authorities, to fund a programme to clean up the River
Axios ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 17 May 1993 )

It is for the Greek Government to take such actions as is
necessary to comply with the obligations placed upon it by
the various directives related to water quality . Where there is
evidence that a Member State is not complying with a
directive, the Commission may initiate infraction
proceedings .

If the Honourable Member considers that there may be
breaches of Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC 0 ) concerning
the quality required of surface water intended for the
abstraction of drinking water and Council Directive
80 / 778 / EEC ( 2 ) relating to the quality of water intended for
human consumption, the Commission would be grateful for
specific information so that the matter may be
investigated .

(!) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 229, 30 . 8 . 1980 .

involving animals

On 3 November 1 992 the Council of Ministers agreed in the
context of the sixth amendment of the Community 's
cosmetics directive ( Directive 76 / 768 / EEC ( ] )) to prohibit
the testing of cosmetics on animals from 1 January 1998
provided that adequate alternative methods of testing have
been devised by that time .

1 . Does the Commission share my view that, by adding this
rider, the Council has completely ignored the opinion
delivered by the European Parliament on 13 July 1992
almost unanimously ( 244 votes for, two against ) that
there should be an unconditional ban on the testing of
cosmetics on animals from 1 January 1998, since
Parliament finds such testing unnecessary and morally
unacceptable ?

2 . Does the Commission share my view that it is essential
for a major effort to be made at both national and
European level to develop alternative research methods
before 1 January 1998 ?

3 . Is the Commission prepared to create a separate fund
within the appropriate research programme of the
framework programme of research and technological
development to finance basic research conducted by
existing national research centres on alternatives to
experiments involving animals in research ?

4 . Is the Commission prepared to pool national research in
this field and to forge a cooperative link with ECVAM

( European Centre for the Validation of Alternative
Testing ) through the appointment of national
coordinators, for example, so that no time, energy or
money is wasted as everyone tries to re-invent the
wheel ?

(!) OJ No L 262, 27 . 9 . 1976, p. 169 .

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

1 . As the Honourable Member mentioned in her
question, the Council of Ministers agreed on 3 November
1992 to prohibit the testing of cosmetics on animals from
1 January 1998, provided that adequate alternative
methods of testing had been devised by that time .

Only if alternative methods of testing have not, despite all
reasonable efforts, been scientifically shown to offer an

No C 207 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

equivalent degree of protection will the Commission put
forward before 1 January 1997 draft measures to defer this
deadline .

It should be pointed out that the text accepted by the
Commission at the plenary session of the European
Parliament in June 1992 already contained provision for a
possible deferment of the date . However, due to the
technical questions involved in developing alternative
methods, the Commission accepted, at the express request
of the Council and in spite of its own preference, that, if it
had not been possible by that time to develop scientifically
valid alternative methods, the date of 1 January 1998 would
be deferred, if necessary, using the procedure laid down in
Article 10 of Directive 76 / 768 / EEC and not the procedure
laid down in Article 100a of the EEC Treaty ; it would also
be in return for acceptance by the Council of most of the
other amendments put forward by Parliament .

2 . The Commission confirms that it considers the

development of alternative methods to animal testing to be
essential . Not only does the deadline of 1 January 1998
reinforce this commitment, but the Commission would
point out to the Honourable Member that it has subsidised
research in this field for several years now .

3 . Since 1985, the Commission has financed research to
develop new, in vitro alternatives to pharmacotoxicological
testing on animals for the cosmetics industry .

For example, in the earlier biotechnology programme ( BAP
1985 — 1989 ), six contracts totalling ECU 560 000 were
awarded in the in vitro pharmacotoxicology sector .

Under the subsequent biotechnology programme ( BRIDGE

1990 / 1993 ), eight contracts totalling ECU 4,5 million were
awarded for in vitro assessment of the toxicity and
pharmacological activity of molecules .

In the current biotechnology programme ( BIOTECH
1992 — 1994 ), a generic project has begun entitled
' Immunotoxicology of drugs and other products developed
using biotechnology : development of in vitro testing based
on cellular and molecular immunobiology '.

This project, which involves 32 laboratories, has a budget of
ECU 4,697 million and is intended to involve European
pharmaceutical companies .

4 . The ECVAM Advisory Committee acts as a
coordinator for activities at national level . On this subject,
the Commission refers the Honourable Member to its reply
to Written Question No 2454 / 92 from Mr Amendola ( M.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3454 / 92

by Mrs Lissy Groner ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 January 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 46 )

Subject : Cleaning staff employed by the EC institutions

1 . How many cleaners staff are employed by the
individual EC institutions broken down by

— individual institution

— sex ?

2 . What are the terms of employment of the cleaning
staff ? Do they have permanent, full-time contracts,
temporary part-time or hourly contracts or are they
employed through agencies ?

3 . Do they use cleaning agents which could have adverse
effects on their health or on the health of those who work in

the offices ?

4 . When cleaning agents are purchased is absolute
preference given to products which do not constitute an
environmental or health hazard ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 May 1993 )

The work of cleaning the Commission 's offices in and
around Brussels was put out to tender to firms in the
Member States .

The current contract, in operation since 1 February 1988, is
with five specialist companies .

The specifications and other sections of the contract do not
expressly stipulate the number of staff to be employed in
performing the contract : they are confined to stating what is
to be done rather than how it is to be done .

One of the clauses of the contract requires strict compliance
with the law on working conditions and health and safety at
work .

An invitation to tender has recently been issued for the
renewal of this contract from 1 January 1994 . The changes
made in the new specifications include adjustments of a
practical and managerial nature and others designed to
encourage the use of products which are less harmful to the
environment .

(!) OJ No C 141, 19 . 5 . 1993 . The Commission, of course, cannot answer for any of the
other institutions .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 25

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3492 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 47 )

Subject : Farm holdings and VAT in Greece

Committee there are 35 000 children in the district
attending 57 kindergartens, 62 primary schools, 32
gymnasiums and 15 lycées ; they are taught by more than
2 000 teachers in some 1 300 departments and 200 offices .
In order to meet requirements 800 buildings need to be
constructed, i.e. 180 new buildings a year if the school
accommodation problem is to be solved by 1996, the
objective set by the Greek Ministry of Education . Given the
appropriations available, however, it is doubtful whether
even 25 % of requirements will be met to enable all the
schools to function properly . In view of this can the
Commission say whether the Community is able to help
the Greek authorities solve the problem of school
accommodation in Patras by 1996 ?

In view of the fact that the increase in the rate of VAT for Commission say whether the Community
certain products from 8 to 18% in Greece has added to the Greek authorities solve the
existing problems as regards imports of a substantial accommodation in Patras by 1996 ?
number of agricultural supplies, machines, drugs and
services, what scope does the Commission have to persuade
the Greek authorities to implement a policy in favour of
agricultural holdings ? Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 12 May 1993 )

Under the terms of Council Directive 92 / 77 / EEC of
19 October 1992 on the approximation of VAT rates
Member States have the option from 1 January 1993 of
applying one or two reduced VAT rates of a minimum of
5 % to a range of goods and services listed in the Annex to
that Directive . Among the categories of goods and services
mentioned in the Annex is the following :

Category 10 : Supplies of goods and services of a kind
normally intended for use in agricultural production but
excluding capital goods such as machinery or buildings .

The Commission would point out that use of the reduced
rates is optional for Member States . Decisions to tax ( or not
to tax ) certain categories of goods and services at reduced
VAT rates are entirely a matter for each Member State .

(1 April 1993 )

As part of the Structural Funds ' endeavours to develop
human resources in the poorest regions of the Community,
the Commission devotes particular attention to education
and training structures, including the building and
equipping of schools .

The Commission will examine Greek requirements and look
into possible ways of intensifying Community support
on Greece when it prepares the Funds ' 1994 — 1999
operations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 3505 / 92

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 49
(!) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992 .

Subject : Management of fisheries resources

In order to ensure the success of common fisheries policy
measures, mainly in terms of the management of resources,
what means does the Commission intend to use for
professional bodies to raise their standards as high as
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3496 / 92 possible in Member States according to their capabilities at

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI ) the time ?

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 January 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 48 ) Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : School accommodation in Patras

Patras is facing a very serious problem as regards school
accommodation . According to the Municipal Education

( IS April 1993 )

The Commission maintains good relations with the
professional organizations of the fisheries sector both

No C 207 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

directly and through the Advisory Committee on Fisheries .
These relations are of the utmost importance both in
sounding the views in the course of the preparation of
legislation and policy, and for publicizing the measures
adopted by the Community in the interests of the good
management of fishery resources and of the long-term
health of the fishing industry . Officials of the Commission 's
Directorate-General for Fisheries also participate in
numerous seminars and meetings organized by professional
organizations and academic institutions throughout
Europe .

During the debate following the publication of the
Commission 's Report ' 91 on the future of the common
fisheries policy, the Advisory Committee on Fisheries
submitted its formal views to the Commission . Several of the
professional organizations did likewise, notably Europeche
and Cogeca, the organizations representing respectively, the
European fishermens ' federations and the European
cooperatives . These were considered by the Commission in
the preparation of its proposal which led to Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No 3760 / 92 establishing a Community
system for fisheries and aquaculture ( J ).

The Advisory Committee on Fisheries has set up a series of
working groups on the various complicated and difficult
aspects of the common fisheries policy, including the
management of fisheries resources .

The Commission will continue to foster its good relations
with the industry, and to use them as a medium for
publicising the measures adopted by the Community for the
common fisheries policy, and in particular to insist on the
need for a viable conservation policy respected by all who
operate in the sector .

thermal power stations and ports above a certain size . The
ENEL power station in Montalto di Castro in Italy is in the
process of being completed with regard to its thermoelectric
capacity and the port facilities necessary for docking of
vessels transporting fuels for the plant . These works are
causing serious concern not only among environmental
associations but also in the Italian Ministry for the
Environment because of their possible adverse impact on air
quality and the marine environment in particular . To date,
the Italian Electricity Board and the competent authorities,
with the exception of the Ministry of the Environment, have
refused to investigate the overall environmental impact of
the new power station .

1 . Does the Commission consider that this could
subsequently constitute an infringement by Italy of its
obligations under Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ?

2 . Will the Commission take steps with regard to the
Montalto di Castro thermal power station, together
with other procedures already notified to the Italian
authorities, within the framework of the infringement
proceedings already initiated ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

(!) OJ No L 389, 31 . 12 . 1992 .
The facts mentioned by the Honourable Member have been
recorded as a presumed infringement . A letter asking for
information and comments has been sent to Italy .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 13 / 93

by Mr Gianfranco Amendola ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 50 WRITTEN QUESTION No 27 / 93

Subject : Need to carry out an environmental impact

assessment for the construction of an ENEL

( National Electricity Board ) power station in
Montalto di Castro ( Rome )

Italy has not yet properly complied with the obligation to
carry out environmental impact assessments for projects set
out in Annexes I and II of Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC 0 ),
a fact of which the Commission is well aware, since it has
initiated infringements proceedings under Article 169 of the
Treaty . The projects covered by this directive include large

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 51 )

Subject : West Athens development programme

The West Athens Development Association, which is
seeking to attract funding under the new Community

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 27

Support Framework, recently unveiled to the press an
integrated programme for the development of West Athens .
This programme contains basic infrastructure projects,
projects to improve the quality of life and the environment,
productive infrastructures and projects to improve living
standards . These projects include the following : the
completion of the Stavro-Elefsina road axis, the extension of
the underground to west Athens, the cleaning-up of the
Saronic gulf and the relocation of the infantry heavy weapon
training camps and Factory No 301 . Will the Commission
support these initiatives by the West Athens Development
Association ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

It is for the Greek authorities to put proposals to the
Commission for the next round of Structural Fund

support .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 32 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 52 )

Subject : Additional funds for Greece

Greece is claiming additional funds of Dr 250 billion from
the Community from resources earmarked for other
countries which have been unable to utilize the resources to

which they were entitled under the Delors package, the
Community Support Framework ( 1992 — 1993 ). Can the
Commission say ' whether it takes a positive view of this
matter and whether it intends to support a request to this
effect by the Greek authorities ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 51 / 93

by Mr Paul Lannoye, Mrs Marie Isler Béguin, Mrs Birgit
Cramon-Daiber, Mr Virginio Bettini, Mr Nel van Dijk

and Mr Jean-Pierre Raffin ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 53

Subject : Waste shipments : discrepancies in legislation

With only a few months to go before the opening of the
frontiers, the recent upsurge in shipments of household and
industrial waste again raises the problems not only of
consistency between, and harmonization of, Community
and national legislation but also of monitoring travelling
waste . How does the Commission intend to respond to the
argument presented by the Court of Justice in its case C-2 / 90
v. Belgium when it highlighted the inconsistencies in
Community rules by maintaining that a Member State may
not ban transfrontier shipments of dangerous waste ( as it is
covered by Directive 84 / 631 / EEC 0 ) when Directive
75 / 442 / EEC ( 2 ) concerning all other types of waste contains
no provisions in this respect ? Furthermore, European law
on waste consists of a number of very general principles, the
application and interpretation of which leave Member
States a great deal of latitude, and actually encourage
travelling waste . How does the Commission intend to put
matters right ? How does it intend to guarantee the proper
application of the principle of ' proximity '? How does it
intend to resolve the economic disparities resulting, for
example, from social inequalities between Member States
which, as the Commission acknowledges in its
communication 'A Community strategy for waste
management ' ( SEC(89 ) 934 final of 18 September 1989 ),
are the cause of illegal shipments ? Finally, how does the
Commission intend to guarantee proper application of the
directives on the shipment of waste once the frontiers have
disappeared ?

f 1 ) OJ No L 326, 13 . 12 . 1984, p . 31 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 39 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 May 1993 )

The Commission has received no such formal request, nor
would it be in a position to respond to it if it had . The 1984 Community legislation on the control of
shipments of waste dating from 1984 applies only to
hazardous waste . That was one of the reasons why the
Commission in 1990 proposed a Regulation on the

No C 207 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

supervision and control of waste shipments within, into and
out of the Community which covers all types of waste except
non-hazardous waste for recovery . It was adopted by the
Council on 1 February 1993 and will apply fifteen months
after its publication . Possible incoherence between
Community and national law in this field will therefore be
avoided in the future .

The basic principles of proximity and self-sufficiency are
designed to avoid any detrimental ' waste tourism ' as a result
of economical and social disparity were laid down in the
Commission 's Community strategy for waste management
and implemented in Community law by Directive
91 / 156 / EEC amending Directive 75 / 442 / EEC . Member
States are obliged to establish an integrated and adequate
network of disposal installations, taking account of the best
available technology not involving excessive costs . In order
to attain this, competent authorities have to draw up waste
management plans relating to the main requirements of
sound waste management . In addition to this the new
Regulation will enable Member States as well as the
concerned authorities to prohibit shipments of waste for
disposal in order to implement the above mentioned
principles .

With a view to the completion of the Internal Market and
the abolition of border controls, shipments of waste have to
be controlled in the framework of normal checks on the

territory of a Member State as a whole . In addition the
Regulation requires Member States to prohibit and punish
illegal traffic .

The Commission will continue to examine Member States

compliance with Community law on waste .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 56 / 93

by Mr Jean-Claude Martinez ( DR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 54 )

Subject : The CAP reform

On 21 May 1992, eleven of the Community agriculture
ministers came to an agreement on the reform of the CAP,
the main features of which were a sharp reduction in the
price of cereals and beef and the granting of compensatory
aid for set-aside and extensification .

On 1 July, the ministers adopted the implementing
regulations for the reform and agreed on the agricultural
prices for the 1992 — 1993 marketing year .

Since then, some agriculture ministers have called for the
reform to be amended to take account of factors specific to
individual Member States .

Is the European Commission prepared to take up a more
flexible position and clear the way for the adoption of
certain amendments to the reform ?

In view of the statements by President Bush on US export
subsidies for cereals, does the Commission not agree with
the view held by most agricultural experts that the main
beneficiaries of the CAP reform will be the Americans ?

Lastly, is it true that the CAP reform will cost the European
Community ECU 10 billion more than the 1992 agricultural
budget ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 April 1993 )

Amendments to the reform

In proposing the reform of the common agricultural policy
in 1991, the Commission stated from the outset that it
would monitor closely the effects of its implementation,
introducing modifications or submitting proposals for
amendment to the Council where necessary . There have in
fact been numerous such examples since adoption of the
reform on 21 May 1992, e.g. proposals for amendments to
suckler cow premiums for mixed herds and to aid granted to
durum wheat producers .

The United States and the reform of the CAP

The purpose of the CAP reform was to normalize
agricultural markets, increase agricultural competitiveness,
both internally and externally, and to protect the
environment, without compromising farmers ' standards of
living . The reform comes at a moment when it also facilitates
the Community 's external relations in the field of
agriculture . Hence the Commission was able to reach a
preliminary agreement with the United States on the
agricultural part of the GATT negotiations . In the
Commission 's view, this preliminary agreement is
compatible with the reform of the CAP, and it plays an
essential role in safeguarding the CAP internationally . The
Commission considers that it involves balanced

commitments from both sides .

Budget

At the time when the reform was adopted, it was estimated
that agricultural expenditure, which is subject to budget
discipline, would rise from ECU 32 billion in the 1992 to
ECU 39,2 billion in 1997, thus remaining within the
budgetary guidelines . In the absence of reform, going by

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 29

former trends, expenditure would certainly have greatly
exceeded the agricultural budget constraints .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 73 / 93

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

(9 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 55 )

Subject : Broadening of the field of application of IMPs

In 1985 the regional and departmental authorities in the
Integrated Mediterranean programms areas set up a support
service for training and development in the IMPs .

Recent discussions on the Treaty on the European Union
have highlighted the need to enhance the role of the regions
of the Community and have acted as an incentive to them
to increase their own spheres of activity . In the same spirit,
the interregional support unit for the implementation of
the IMP programmes could be extended to include the
regions of Auvergne, Limousin, Poitou-Charentes and
Rhone-Alpes .

Does the Commission agree with this extention and what
form of support could it give to this initiative ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 April 1993 )

On the joint initiative of the Commission, the French
authorities and the regional and general councils concerned
with the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, a support
service for Training and development in those regions was
set up in 1985 . Similar services were set up in Greece and
Italy, which qualified also for the IMPs .

The Commission renewed its financial support until
completion of the work of the service, i.e. the termination of
the IMPs in December 1992 .

The French authorities have submitted a request to the

Commission for the establishment of a support service
modelled on the IMPs support service for all the current
programmes covering nine regions of France, principally the
Objective 2 and 5 ( b ) areas . This ' support service for
Community programmes ' would have three operational
tasks : to assist with implementation, train Community
advisers and arrange exchanges of experience between
regions .

The Commission has examined this request taking into
consideration the circumstances in which the region 's
responsibilities regarding Community regional policy will in
future be exercised .

It considers that the potential already exists for improving
the effectiveness of Community structural assistance,
notably by using, on the initiative of the regional monitoring
committees, the funds earmarked in the Objective 2 and
5 ( b ) programmes for ' implementation and technical
assistance '. It is the job of the partnership, within the
framework of the monitoring committees, to identify the
needs that must be met and the practical means of satisfying
them .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 114 / 93

by Mr John Bird ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 10 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 56

Subject : Implementation of Non Automatic Weighing

Instruments Directive

Having regard to the establishment of the Single Market as
from 1 January 1993, will the Commission please report in
detail, in respect of each Member State, progress in the
adoption, publication and application of laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary in order to comply
with the Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive
90 / 384 / EEC (*), notification of which is required to be given
to the Commission under Article 15 of the Directive ?

( ] ) OJ No L 189, 20 . 7 . 1990, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 April 1993 )

Article 15 ( 1 ) of Directive 90 / 384 / EEC requires Member
States to adopt and publish before 1 July 1992 the laws,
regulations or administrative provisions necessary in order
to comply with it . As at 8 February 1993, ten Member States
have implemented the Directive .

Infringement proceedings under Article 169 EEC Treaty
have been initiated against Greece and Portugal for failure to
communicate their measures .

The Commission is examining the national implementing
measures that have already been received .

No C 207 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 116 / 93

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

( 10 February 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 57

Subject : Developing forecasting capacity in the information

industries

Among the measures adopted in connection with its recent
reorganization, the IBM company announced that it would
be reducing its R&D expenditure by $ 1 000 million ( 17% ).
The President elect, Bill Clinton, voiced his concern at a
reduction in expenditure which was, he said, ' the exact thing
we do n't want them to be cutting '. Moreover, most of the
cutback in R&D expenditure will affect development in the
' mainframe ' sector ( see Time magazine, 28 December
1992 ).

The successive reorganization of the US information
industry giant appear to be caused partly by its inability in
recent times to foresee technological change and, in
particular, the relative world market shares of mainframe
computers and PCs .

Does the Commission believe that Community programmes
in the information industry sector take sufficient account of
developments on the world market which are already
discernible ? In addition, are there plans to study the new
trends which will become increasingly evident in the
medium and long terms ? If specific plans of this kind exist,
can the Commission say to what extent scientists and
industrialists are involved ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1993 )

The present difficulties of the information technology
industry are recognised by analysts as not being just the
result of a cyclical crisis with only short-term effects, but
deriving from a deep structural transformation of the
industry itself . Changes in technologies, volume of
production, product prices, supply structure and users
attitudes, have created a new situation in the IT market and
radically changed the conditions on which the performances
of companies are based .

The companies most affected by this crisis ( such as in the
case mentioned in the question ), while they are forced by
market difficulties to cut costs in all parts of the business,
including R&D, have to face the fact that future
competitiveness is largerly dependent on technology
developments . Reductions in R&D investment could

further weaken their competitive position against other
companies which have built their strength and rapid growth
sometimes to dominant positions, by massive R&D
investments targeting key emerging technologies .

The Commission considers that Community action should
aim at stimulating technological R&D by European
companies, in order to avoid those companies in financial
difficulties making decisions which could have a negative
effect on their technological edge in the long term .

In order to focus Community actions, in particular R&D
programmes, on the technology areas which are most
critical for the future competitiveness of the European IT
industry, the Commission services are making use of
consultation processes with industry and carrying out
substantial analytical work to identify market and
technology trends at world level and evaluate their impact
on the IT industry in the medium and long term . Such
activities include : access to the major technology and market
analyses carried out regularly by specialist industrial
research organisations ; to complement this source of
information, ad hoc specific studies on the IT industry in
general or on critical sectors of it, consultation of advisory
boards established to convey the view and advice of the
industry ; and assessment of the programmes carried out by
panels of eminent personalities from scientific and industrial
bodies ( 1 ).

These activities are now concentrated in preparing the
proposals for the specific programmes in the areas of
information and communication technologies iji the context
of the next framework programme for RTD activities . The
Commission is fully aware that the industrial nature of the
Community R&D programmes in these areas, and the
increasing focus on technologies critical for the
competitiveness of the European industry, requires a
constant review of priorities, and that this involves both
qualified information from the industry itself and
independent analysis .

P ) Copies of the reports concerning the two most recent
assessments of Community programmes in the area of
information and communication technology are sent separately
to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of

the European Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 140 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 58 )

Subject : Measures necessary to complete the Single
Market

Will the Commission list the 282 measures originally
thought to be necessary to create the Single Market, and

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 31

indicate how many of these — Member State by Member
State — are being implemented and enforced ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 May 1993 )

The list of 282 White Paper measures for the completion of
the Single Market is set out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the

seventh report of the Commission to the Council and the
European Parliament concerning the implementation of
the White Paper on the completion of the Internal
Market ( x ).

As at 17 February 1993, 261 measures have been finally
adopted and a further three are the subject of common
positions . 257 measures have entered into force of which
213 require transposition measures . 81 % of the total
number of necessary transposition measures have been
taken by the Member States . The situation by Member State
is as follows :

State of transposition of White Paper measures

Situation by Member State at 17 February 1993

Total number

of required
transposition
measures taken

Transposed

. measures Derogations

Measures not

transposed

Transposition

measures not

necessary

Belgium 177 0 30 6 86%

Denmark 189 0 17 7 92%

Germany 164 0 43 6 79%

Greece 150 0 58 5 72%

Spain 161 0 49 3 77%

France 165 0 43 5 79%

Ireland 153 1 53 6 74%

Italy 182 0 27 4 87%

Luxembourg 153 0 52 8 75%

Netherlands 169 0 38 6 82%

Portugal 160 0 51 2 76%

United Kingdom 177 1 29 6 86%

0 ) COM(92 ) 383 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 144 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 February 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 59 )

Subject : Subsidy from ERDF funds for modernizing Bierset

airport ( Liege )

support the development of one main economic activity in
the region was evidently required ?

3 . Does the Commission intend to nullify the effect of the
considerable investments which have already been made in
Maastricht airport by subsidizing the development of a
second airport in the region ( Bierset )?

4 . Does the Commission share the view that when these
1 . Is it correct that the EC is co-financing, from ERDF ERDF funds were granted it is obvious that no attention was
funds, both the modernization of Bierset airport ( Liege ) and paid to cross-border coordination and harmonization ?
the proposed extension of Maastricht airport ?

2 . Does the Commission share the view that, in the
context of the cross-border cooperation in the region

( including the Maastricht — Heerlen — Aachen — Liege
project ( MHAL )), what was clearly needed was a decision to

5 . In the context of increasing cross-border cooperation,
how does the Commission plan to achieve greater
coordination and harmonization in future when allocating
available ERDF funds ?

No C 207 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1993 )

1, 2 and 3 . Aid from the European Regional
Development Fund towards investment in the airport in
question was decided by the regional partnership
concerned, which include the Member States, the regional
authorities and the Commission .

Regional airports are an important contribution to regional
development .

The two airports mentioned are aiming at different patterns
of development with specialized clienteles . It should also be
mentioned that the catchment area of the airports goes well
beyond the frontiers of the two Member States
concerned .

4 and 5 . As indicated above, the decisions to support two
airports were taken following an assessment of their
regional development merits as seen by the regions and the
Member States concerned and by the Commission .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1993 )

The Commission intends to use the funds available under

budget heading B7-5096 to enable independent consultants
to carry out financial audits and evaluate programmes and
projects .

To ensure the funds are used effectively, these activities will
come under existing evaluation and control departments .
For ACP countries, this means the special evaluation unit
and for ALA / MED countries a project coordination unit
and another dealing with financial control, both reporting
direct to the Director-General .

The new budget will make the relevant departments more
effective by financing action to obtain information from
independent sources on the implementation of projects .

The Commission will draw up a report on how the funds are
used .

By initiating the Interreg programme, the Commission
has provided an incentive for enhanced cross-border
cooperation . It should, however, be borne in mind that it
falls within the competence of the regions themselves to put
cooperation into practice and to establish joint planning
procedures where necessary . WRITTEN QUESTION No 158 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 61

WRITTEN QUESTION No 145 / 93

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 February 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 60 )

Subject : Requirements for the admission of securities to

official stock exchange listing

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with Directive

87 / 345 / EEC ( ] ) on requirements for the admission of
securities to official stock exchange listing . What
detrimental effects is this having on the companies
affected ?

Subject : Inspectorate service for development coope ­
ration (') OJ No L 185, 4 . 7 . 1987, p. 81 .

How does the Commission intend to implement
Parliament 's clearly expressed wish ( Parliament called for
the setting up of an inspectorate service for development
cooperation not only in the discharge for 1989 and 1990,
but also allocated appropriations for it in the 1993 budget

( budget line B7-5096 ) for the establishment of a
semi-autonomous inspectorate service for development
cooperation, which would monitor the effectiveness and
legality of spending in the context of the EC 's development
services in Asia, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the

Lome countries ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that Directive 87 / 345 / EEC has been partly transposed by
Spain . Full transposition will be achieved by means of an

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 33

' Orden Ministerial ' which is in the final stages of
adoption .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 161 / 93

by Mr José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 62 )

Subject : Own funds of credit institutions

The Spanish Government is failing to comply with Directive

89 / 299 / EEC 0 ) on the own funds of credit institutions .
What problems is this situation causing to the financial
system ?

(!) OJ No L 124, 5 . 5 . 1989, p. 16 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 May 1993 )

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that Spain gave notification of the national measures
implementing Directive 89 / 299 / EEC at the end of
January .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 200 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 May 1993 )

Conscious of the increasingly important role that personal
data processing plays in achieving the Community 's
economic and social objectives on the one hand, and the
risks posed by abuses of information technologies, on the
other, the Commission has issued, on 24 September 1990, a
communication ( J ), which includes a proposal for a Council
Directive concerning the protection of individuals in
relation to the processing of personal data — SYN 287 .
Following the opinion adopted by the European Parliament
on 11 March 1992 and discussions with the relevant

Council working group — including Greek Government
representatives, the Commission submitted to the Council a
modified proposal on 15 October 1992 ( 2 ). The main of this
directive is to ensure a high level of protection of the rights
and freedoms of natural persons with respect to the
processing of personal data, and in particular their right to
privacy, in order to allow the free flow of personal data
between Member States . According to the modified
proposal, Member States must bring into force, by 1 July

1994, the legal instruments necessary to comply with this
directive . The final deadline will depend, of course, on the
rate of progress of the cooperation procedure with the
Council and European Parliament pending adoption of this
directive, the Commission does not intend to raise the
matter with the Greek authorities .

(M CC)M(90 ) 314 final .

( 2 ) COM(92 ) 422 final .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 201 / 93

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

( 17 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 64 )

( 93 / C 207 / 63 Subject : Scientific research programme

Subject : Protection from threats posed by information

technology in Greece

Information technology and computers are an integral part
of modern life . They have greatly facilitated our lives but
also pose a number of threats . Given that, particularly in
Greece, citizens are not yet adequately protected by the law,
does the Commission intend to make immediate
representations to the Greek authorities in this
connection ?

European industrial laboratories are devided over the merits
of the Community 's scientific research programme and
conflicts are expected to break out which will probably
seriously jeopardize the future of research and technology in
Western Europe . Over the last few years the Commission
programme has sought to revitalize and develop
high-technology sectors . However, this goal is now being
questioned and doubts are being expressed as to whether
public money should be used to fund what is exclusively
private sector research at the expense of collective and
public research efforts . Does the Commission intend to take

No C 207 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

steps to establish the framework programme on a more
rational basis ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 May 1993 )

Successive independent evaluations of the Community 's
programmes of research and technological development

( RTD ) have confirmed that industrial participants assess the
results positively . These programmes address only research
which is pre-competitive and which therefore it is
appropriate to support at the Community level with the
limited funds which are available . The major responsibility
for meeting the competitive challenge must naturally remain
with private firms, but the Community can endeavour to
assist by helping to strengthen their competitive base,
including in areas of high technology . For the future, the
Commission proposes that Community ( RTD ) programmes
should be even more selective in their approach with the
objective of increasing the benefits both for the economy
and for society . This approach, which is already reflected in
the preparatory communications SEC(92 ) 682 and
COM(92 ) 406, will be further developed in discussion with
the European Parliament and with the Council and in the
subsequent formal Commission proposal for the Fourth
Framework Programme .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 211 / 93

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 65

Subject : Protection of whales

Can the Commission give information on the progress it is
making in its plan to establish a circumpolar sanctuary for
whales throughout the Antarctic ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 April 1993 )

Pursuant to last year 's proposal by France to the 44th
annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission

( IWC ), a Resolution i 1 ) on a whale sanctuary in the
southern hemisphere was adopted . In conformity with this
Resolution, the IWC will consider this proposal at its 45th
annual meeting ( 2 ) taking into account scientific advice and
comments of other international organizations such as the
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine

Living Resources and the Scientific Committee for Antarctic
Research .

(') IWC / 44 / 27 .

( 2 ) 10—14 May 1993, Japan .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 241 / 93

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

( 23 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 66

Subject : Aluminium in Bahrain

Can the Commission give any information on the
production of aluminium in Bahrain, particularly on
whether it competes fairly with Community aluminium
production and whether the conditions governing the
supply of electricity are equivalent to those for plants in the
Community ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1993 )

Aluminium Bahrain ( ALBA ) is the sole producer of
unwrought primary aluminium in Bahrain .

ALBA is owned by the Bahrain Government ( 74,9% ), the
Saudi Arabia Government ( 20,0% ) and by Breton
Investments Inc . ( 5,1% ).

The Company has two smelters : ALBA 1, located in Knuff
and ALBA 2, in Ras Zuwayid .

— ALBA 1 went into operation in 1971 . Its output was

120 000 tonnes a year . The smelter has had several
expansions . In 1993, once the final expansion and
modernization programme has been completed, the
output will be 225 000 tonnes a year . After
modernization, the specific energy consumption will be

14,5 KWh / Kg A1 against 17,5 KWh / Kg A1 in 1971 .

— ALBA 2 was inaugurated in May 1992 . It has an output

of 235 000 tonnes a year . It uses Aluminium Pechiney
technology and is one of the cleanest potlines in the
world . The expected specific energy consumption, in full
operation, is 13,2 KWh / Kg Al .

An 800 megawatt thermal power station ( natural gas )
added to the plant produces the electrical energy needed for
the process .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 35

The energy efficiency of ALBA 's smelters is higher than the
Community aluminium smelter 's average . ALBA 2 is among
the most efficient in the world .

The Commission is not aware of the existence of unfair

competition practices on ALBA electricity prices . The
electricity used in Bahrain 's industry is generated from
natural gas coming from oil wells . According to recent
information, the ALBA energy prices are at the same level as
the lower prices billed to the EC aluminium industry .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 273 / 93

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 February 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 67

Subject : Membership of the committee appointed by the

Greek Health Ministry to assess tenders for setting
up a hospital computer system

There are serious misgivings as to whether the procedure
used by the Greek Health Ministry to appoint members of a
panel to assess tenders for setting up a computer system for

15 major hospitals in Greece was entirely above board . The
five companies tendering to develop applications of the
so-called ' Medical File ' are apparently being assessed by
people who are not considered to be experts in information
technology . The ' Medical File ' project has been allocated a
budget of Dr 760 million towards the development of a pilot
single computer system with a budget of ECU 16 million .
Will the Commission ask the Greek authorities to change
the members of the assessment panel to ensure that the
tendering procedure and that the tenders are properly
assessed ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Commission would point out to the Honourable
Member that the Directives on public supply contracts do
not lay down any rules governing memberships of
assessment panels involved in the award of public contracts .
It does not intend, therefore, to request the Greek

authorities to change the composition of the panel
concerned as long as it does not give rise to any infringement
of Community law .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 317 / 93

by Mr Barry Desmond ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 68 )

Subject : Transposition and application of agricultural

legislation in Ireland

Is the Commission to take action against Ireland with regard
to its failure to implement 32 agricultural Directives by their

1 March 1992 deadline, will the Commission ensure full
compliance by Ireland and other Member States who have
left Directives regarding the Internal Market still
untransposed ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 April 1993 )

The Commission monitors closely the transposition of
Community Directives by Member States, particularly in
the field of agriculture . Generally speaking, once the
transposition deadline has expired, the Commission, in
accordance with Article 169 of the EEC Treaty, institutes
infringement procedures against any Member State which
has failed to communicate details of measures taken at

national level to implement legislation .

In 1992 the Commission brought 29 infringement
procedures against Ireland for that country 's failure to
provide details of implementation measures for agricultural
directives . Later that year the Commission delivered a
reasoned opinion to Ireland and referred its failure to
transpose seven agricultural Directives to the Court of
Justice .

The Commission should like to remind the Honourable
Member that Parliament is provided with details on the
application of Directives each year in the report on the
application of Community law .

No C 207 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 350 / 93

by Mrs Marie Jepsen ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 69 )

Subject : Possibilities for research cooperation between

EFTA countries and the EC prior to the entry into
force of the EEA Agreement

Since it has been necessary to postpone the entry into force
of the EEA Agreement for at least six months, EFTA
countries have been prevented from participating in
research and financing under the EC 's third framework
programme for research and technological development
during and after the first half of 1993 . The conditions for
their participation are laid down in Articles 78 — 85 and
Protocol 31 of the agreement . Researchers in both EC and
EFTA countries are highly critical of the delay, since
experience has shown that a considerable proportion of
research appropriations are allocated in the introductory
phase of the framework programme . It is therefore essential
for the EFTA countries concerned to be able to participate
from the outset . In view of this, will the Commission take
steps to establish a provisional legal basis to make it possible
for EFTA countries to participate in the third framework
programme in the immediate future or, in other words,
before the EEA Agreement enters into force ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 28 May 1993 )

The Commission shares the regrets about the postponement
of the EEA Agreement and the resulting consequences for
the participation of researchers of EFTA countries in RDT
activities under the third framework programme .

After the successful conclusion of the negotiations on
a Protocol adjusting the EEA Agreement to Swiss
non-participation, the Commission expects that the EEA
Agreement will enter into force in time for the 1994 budget
year and the budgeting of corresponding financial
contributions of EEA countries .

Thus EEA countries can participate fully and under equal
conditions in the 3rd framework programme as of 1 January

1994 .

In the meantime and in the absence of specific agreements,
bodies and enterprises established in EFTA countries may,
on the criterion of mutual benefit, continue to be admitted
as partners in projects undertaken within the specific RTD
programmes under the third framework programme . Unlike
the situation under the EEA Agreement, partners from
EFTA countries cannot benefit from Community financing

and shall contribute to the general administrative costs of
such projects . The Commission understands however that
the governments of EFT A countries have made provisions in
their 1993 budgets in order to facilitate such participation in
Community RTD projects .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 352 / 93

by Mrs Anita Pollack ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 70 )

Subject : Fifth Environment Action Programme

What measures is the Commission considering in order to
meet the target set out in the Fifth Action Programme
( Environmental ) for a 50% reduction in the number of
vertebrate animals used for experimental services ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

One of the Commission 's aims under the Fifth

Environmental Action Programme is to reduce by 50% the
number of animals used for experimental purposes .

The Commission hopes to achieve this ambitious objective
mainly through the work of the European Centre for the
Validation of Alternative Methods ( ECVAM ).

Moreover, the harmonization of national, Community and
international laws requiring tests on animals, in which the
Commission has been engaged for many years, should make
it possible in future to avoid many instances of duplication
of experiments and thus reduce the number of animals
used .

As far as research is concerned, since the first Biotechnology
programme in 1985, the Commission has supported
research in the field of development of new ' in
vitro ' alternatives to animal experimentation in
pharmacotoxicology . To give an example of progress made
in the ' in vitro ' sector under the Bridge Programme
( 1990 — 1993 ) a group of European laboratories have
developed an ' in vitro ' human skin model promising
relevant data for the in vivo situation . This model allows

analysis of the effect of toxic and therapeutic agents on skin
physiology and pathophysiology . Furthermore, it seems to
be possible to modulate the ' in vitro ' skin model to mimic
diseased skin ( e.g. psoriasis or healing ). A validation of this

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 37

' in vitro ' model is now necessary before it can be used for
testing cosmetic and pharmaceutical products .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 367 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 368 / 93

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

(3 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 72 )

Subject : State aids and multilateral meetings with aid

experts

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

European Which experts attend the multilateral meetings on State

March 1993 ) aids ? How are the experts appointed, and when will the next

93 / C 207 / 71 ) meeting take place ?

(3 March 1993 )

Subject : Merger Regulations

What steps does the Merger Task Force take to ensure that
workers are not adversely affected by mergers ?

How does it monitor the period after the merger to ensure
that the collective agreements of the workforce are
preserved as required by recital 31 of the Merger
Regulation ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

Regulation ( EEC ) No 4064 / 89 (*) entrusts the Commission
with the task of carrying out prior monitoring of
concentrations between enterprises with a Community
dimension from the point of view of their effects on the
structure of competition in the Community .

As regards the effects of concentrations on employment, the
final recital provides that the Regulation in no way detracts
from the collective rights of workers as recognized in the
enterprises concerned . In accordance with Directive
77 / 187 / EEC ( 2 ), a transfer of enterprises in no way affects
rights and obligations arising from an employment
relationship since the rights and obligations are transferred
from the transferor to the transferee and the transfer does

not in itself constitute grounds for dismissal ( 3 ).

It is not for the Commission to enforce compliance with
such obligations, which come under national law .

(') OJ No L 395, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 61, 5 . 3 . 1977 .

( 3 ) See order of the President of the Court of First Instance of the

European Communities of 15 December 1992 in Case
T-96 / 92 R CEE Grandes Sources and Others v. Commission .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission ­

( 19 May 1993 )

The delegates come from the Member States ' ministries
which deal with the matters under consideration . They are
appointed by the Member States . The next meeting is
scheduled for late June 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 380 / 93

by Mr Barry Seal ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 73 )

Subject : Application of the EC 's Acquired Rights Directive

concerning public contracts in the devolution of
the management of schools

Having regard to the British Government 's acknowledged
failure to apply fully the European Community 's Acquired
Rights Directive :

is the Commission aware of the . effect of other United
Kingdom legislation devolving the management of schools
from local education authorities to individual school
governing bodies, with the consequence that the existing
packaging of contracts for works, supplies and services may
well be broken down into individual school contracts ;
and

does the Commission consider that this may amount to an
infringement of the aggregation rules within the
Procurement Directives relating to the award of public
contracts by the same corporate body ?

No C 207 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Commission is indeed of the opinion that the United
Kingdom has failed to apply fully Council Directive
77 / 187 / EEC on transfer of rights . Infringement proceedings
under Article 169 EEC Treaty are under way against the
United Kingdom, and the matter has been brought before
the European Court of Justice .

The question refers to public contracts awarded by locally
managed schools which, whilst managing their own affairs,
are legally part of the local authority . The Commission is
aware that contracting authorities such as local authorities
have delegated their procurement operations to individual
operational units having a large amount of autonomy . The
question arises whether the value of the supplies, works and
services of all operational units have to be aggregated, or the
value of each operational unit has to be taken separately for
the purpose of determining whether they exceed the
thresholds laid down in the directives on public

procurement .

The Directives relating to public supply contracts ( Council
Directive 77 / 62 / EEC ( x ) on 21 December 1976 as amended
by Council Directive 88 / 295 / EEC ( 2 )) lay down that the
contract value of regular or renewable contracts shall be
calculated by reference to purchases made in the previous
twelve months or anticipated contracts for the following
twelve months or the term of the contract, if longer . They
also provide that contracts may not be split up to avoid the
directives . Council Directive 92 / 50 / EEC ( 3 ) of 18 June 1992
relating to the coordination of procedures for the award of
public services contracts which enters into force on 1 July

1993 contains corresponding provisions . Council Directive
71 / 305 / EEC ( 4 ) of 26 July 1971 concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works
contracts as amended by Council Directive 89 / 440 / EEC ( 5 )
of 1 8 July 1989 also provides that contracts may not be split
up with the intention of avoiding the Directive . These
Directives do not deal expressly with the purchases by
separate operational units of the contracting authority .

The United Kingdom legislation implementing the
Directives on public supply contracts ( The Public Supply
Contracts Regulations, 1991 ) provides that where goods are
purchased for the sole purposes of a discrete operational
unit of a contracting authority which has the power to
purchase such goods and the purchase is made
independently of the contracting authority then the value of
the purchase of the unit is taken for calculating the threshold
above which the Directives apply .

It cannot be excluded that the application of this legislation
might contravene the Directives . At this stage, the
Commission is not however aware of any practices which
are irregular .

As regards services, after the entry into force of Council
Directive 92 / 50 / EEC, the Commission considers that
purchases made by separate operational units, such as
locally managed schools, of the local authority, must be

aggregated to calculate the threshold above which the
Directive applies . Moreover, this aggregation rule also
applies for the purpose of calculating the threshold laid
down in Article 15 ( 1 ) relating to the publication of
indicative notices .

The matters raised by the question are not relevant as
regards works as Council Directive 71 / 305 / EEC of 26 July

1971 as amended by Council Directive 89 / 440 / EEC applies
only where the value of an individual public works contract
exceeds ECU 5 million (£ 3 535 775 ). The Directives on
public procurement apply to opted-out schools . However,
as these are independent autonomous bodies, purchases
made by more than one such body do not have to be
aggregated for the purpose of calculating the threshold
above which the Directives apply .

Local authorities are, of course, subject to all the rules of the
directives when procuring works, supplies and services .

(') OJ No L 13, 15 . 1 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 127, 20 . 5 . 1988 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 209, 24 . 7 . 1992 .

( 4 ) OJ No L 185, 16 . 8 . 1971 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 210, 21 . 7 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 382 / 93

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 74 )

Subject : Cause of death statistics

Some countries of the European Community keep cancer
registers . The assessment of the official cause of death is a
piece of information vital to these registers . In various
countries, for example Austria, cause of death data is
verified .

What information is there on how carefully, if at all, the
cause of death is verified in the Member States ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

The Commission does not have any information on the
policies of the individual Member States concerning
verification of cause of death . Whether or not cause of death
is verified is the responsibility of the Member States .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 39

WRITTEN QUESTION No 383 / 93

by Mrs Ursula Schleicher ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 75 )

Subject : Plastic packaging

Facilities for recycling plastic packaging are far from
adequate, even in Member States considered progressive in
this respect .

Are there, in addition to processes for recycling ' sorted '
plastic packaging, any processes for re-using unsorted
plastic packaging ?

It is for this reason that I should like to ask the following
questions with regard to its first year of implementation
(6 September 1991 to 5 September 1992 ):

1 . How many applications for licences have been made and
dealt with for each category of vessel ?

2 . How much compensation has been paid out to date ?

3 . What financing has been provided under the scientific

and technical programme ?

4 . What amount has been paid out to date in the form of

study and vocational training grants ?

Does the Commission see any possibility of marking plastic
packaging with symbols such as ' PE ' or ' PP ' etc ., or of
introducing a symbol for unsorted plastics ? Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 April 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 April 1993 )

In its proposals for a Council Directive on packaging and
packaging waste (*), the Commission proposes two
alternative identification systems, one of which corresponds
to that referred to by the Honourable Member for single
material packaging .

For multi-material packaging, however, it proposes to make
use of the abbreviations for the various materials used in the

packaging concerned .

As the proposal is based on Article 100a of the EEC Treaty,
Parliament is currently being consulted for its opinion .

The take-up of fishing opportunities ( in number of vessels )
provided for under the Fisheries Agreement between the
European Communities and the Republic of Cape Verde
during the first year of its application was as follows :

Fishing
opportunities

Number of

licences

applied for

Tuna seiners 21 21

Pole-and-line tuna vessels and

surface long-liners 24 9

Bottom long-liners 2 1

Experimental cephalopod
H COM(92 ) 278 final-syn 436 . fishing 2 0

WRITTEN QUESTION No 401 / 93

by Mr Artur da Cunha Oliveira ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(S March 1993 )

93 / C 207 / 76 )

Subject : Implementation of the Fisheries Agreement
between the EEC and the Republic of Cape
Verde

I was the rapporteur on the first fisheries agreement between
the EEC and the Republic of Cape Verde .

As regards implementation of the financial provisions of the
Agreement, the Commission at the end of 1991 paid out the
first instalment of compensation ( ECU 650 000 ), in
accordance with Article 2 of the Protocol annexed to the
Fisheries Agreement, and a third ( ECU 166 666 ) of the
amount earmarked for the financing of a national scientific
or technical programme .

The Commission would also point out that ECU 160 000 is
available for training . The Republic of Cape Verde has
stated its intention of using this sum on short training
courses for middle-rank and senior technical staff who have
already acquired basic experience abroad .

No C 207 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 405 / 93 WRITTEN QUESTION No 414

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE ) by Mr Vincenzo Mattina ( S )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 414 / 93

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

to the Council of the European Communities

(5 March 1993 )

(5 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 77 ) ( 93 / C 207 / 78 )

Subject : Discarding unwanted fish

What new proposals does the Commission have to
discourage the practice of the discarding of unwanted fish in
the Community 's Mediterranean and Atlantic fisheries ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 April 1993 )

The problem of discards arises in a variety of situations
which depend mainly on the methods and gears employed,
fishing zones and seasons, and markets in question . The
quantity of discards generated by a fishing method depends
on its ability to take only fish of marketable size of the target
species, but there are no completely selective fishing
techniques at present .

There are regulatory, scientific, technical and economic
aspects to the development of selective fishing .

On the regulatory aspects, the increase in mesh sizes and the
option of making compulsory certain devices and methods,
such as square mesh sections, are important components
which the Commission has been implementing .

As regards the scientific and technical aspects, the
Commission has been supporting several study projects on
fishing gear as well as on detection and identification
techniques .

A further possibility for reducing discards may be the use of
economic incentives to increase the proportion of catches
which can be sold . Technical improvements in the
preservation and / or processing of certain species, and sales
promotion to develop new markets are also likely to
contribute .

More research is needed on all aspects to find solutions . The
Commission has given high priority to study projects on
discards in its research funding scheme .

Subject : Completing the internal market : measures to

combat money laundering

International organized crime is taking increasingly
aggressive forms and in some countries could act as a
destabilizing factor within the democratic system .

The forthcoming completion of the internal market could
open the floodgates to illicit trafficking unless appropriate
measures are taken to coordinate the fight against crime .

Money laundering, which enables the proceeds of illegal
operations to be reused, is the key to the criminal system and
the main driving force behind the spread of crime and the
resulting corruption of numerous legal activities .

In practice, free movement of capital could make it easier
even now for criminal organizations to channel dirty money
into countries whose laws are less strict when it comes to
investigating the source of the money .

According to reports in the magazine Der Spiegel, as much
as Lit 60 000 billion originating from Colombian, Turkish,
and Italian drugs cartels has flooded into Germany .

In tax havens outside the Community virtually no checks are
carried out to determine where money has come from .

Can the Council therefore say what steps it will take to bring
about closer coordination among the Member States ' police
forces and judicial authorities ?

Answer

(5 July 1993 )

The Ministers for the Interior and for Justice of the Member
States of the Community are very much aware of the
importance of cooperation between police forces and
judicial authorities . The Ministers for the Interior and for
Justice of the Community have taken a number of measures

in this area . A working group was established ( during the
UK Presidency ) to consider and report on the organization
and structures of international criminal organizations, and
regular work continues within the EPC ad hoc Judicial
Cooperation Group and in the TREVI working groups .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 41

Finally, as regards money laundering, the Council would ask
the Honourable Member to refer to Directive 91 / 308 / EEC
of 10 June 1991 on prevention of the use of the financial
system for the purpose of money laundering .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 443 / 93

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

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 79 )

Subject : Non-compliance by Spain with the EEC Treaty

and the Regulation on discrimination on grounds
of nationality ; employment of teaching staff at the
University of Barcelona

The Spanish Government is not complying with Articles 48
and 7 of the EEC Treaty and Regulation ( EEC )
No 1612 / 68 ( 1 ) on discrimination on grounds of nationality,
with regard to the employment of teaching staff at the
University of Barcelona . What was the situation at
31 December 1992 ?

(M OJ No L 257, 19 . 10 . 1968, p. 2 .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1993 )

The problem to which the Honourable Member refers has
already been the subject of an infringement procedure
against Spain under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty .

As a result of this measure, a draft law is being prepared on
the access of EEC nationals to employment in certain sectors
of the Spanish civil service ( i.e. research for non-military
purposes, state education, the postal service, public health
and other sectors of the civil service in which the free
movement of workers applies in accordance with
Community law ).

This text has already been presented to the Cortes by the
Spanish Government for discussion by Congress and the
Senate .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 446 / 93

by Mr John Cushnahan ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 80 )

Subject : Draft proposal on psychiatric and paediatric nurse

training

When does the Commission intend to bring forward its draft
proposal for a Directive on psychiatric and paediatric nurse
training ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 May 1993 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Written Question No 1024 / 92 (*) and to the
replies to Oral Questions H-6 10 / 92 by Mr Geraghty and
H-467 / 92 by Mrs Banotti, which it gave during question
time at Parliament 's July 1992 part-session ( 2 ).

H OJ No C 274, 22 . 10 . 1992 .

( 2 ) Debates of the European Parliament, No 3-420 ( July 1992 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 461 / 93

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

( 11 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 81 )

Subject : Commission staff responsible for implementing

the Directive on the conservation of natural
habitats and the Directive on establishing a ' LIFE '
financial instrument

Given that the implementation of Council Directive
92 / 43 / EEC (N on the conservation of natural habitats and
of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1973 / 92 (' LIFE ') ( 2 ) calls
for qualified staff in the field of natural sciences, and that
over the next few years there will be a considerable increase
in the Commission 's volume of work with regard to the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and

fauna :

1 . Can the Commission say how many permanent staff
responsible for the implementation of the Directive on
the conservation of natural habitats and the relevant
LIFE provisions are employed in DG XI ?

No C 207 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

2 . Are any staff increases in this sector planned and, if so,
how many extra staff will be taken on and what will be
their grade and duties ?

(!) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 206, 22 . 7 . 1992, p . 1 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

Apart from the Head of Unit two principal administrators
are responsible, within DG XI, for dealing with the
problems arising from the conservation of habitats as part of
the implementation of Directives 79 / 409 / EEC (*) and
92 / 43 / EEC, and the nature conservancy section of the ' LIFE '
Regulation ( No 1973 / 92 ). A recently appointed senior
official will shortly take up his duties in order to bolster this

team .

minimum health and safety requirements for the use by
workers of personal protective equipment at the
work-place ( J ) which is the third individual Directive under
Article 16 of the framework Directive 89 / 39 1 / EEC ( 2 ).
Transposition has to include appropriate measures
of enforcement including possible penalties for non ­
compliance . In the UK the requirements are laid down in the

' Personal Protection Equipment at Work Regulations
1992 '.

All the enterprises in the Community are obliged to fulfil
those requirements, including the building industry . The
task of the national labour inspectorates, HSE in the UK, is
to enforce this legislation and to control its application in
the enterprises and at building sites . As no discrimination
between enterprises is likely to arise non of them will be
disadvantaged . Therefore the Commission does not intend
to provide for compensation for those complying . In fact the
reduction of accidents to be expected should be a strong
enough incentive .

Concerning the building industry the Commission draws
attention to the fact that, from the beginning of next year,
the Directive on the implementation of minimum safety and
health requirements at temporary and mobile construction
sites ( 92 / 57 / EEC ) comes into effect ( 3 ).

Any future increase in established staff in this area will
depend on the money provided under the 1994 budget and health requirements at
the conditions attached to the policy on Conversions of sites ( 92 / 57 / EEC ) comes into
Appropriations into Jobs ( CAJ ) in the two or three years
ahead . (') OJ No L 393, 30 . 12 . 1989,

( 2 ) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 .

( 3 ) OJ No L 245, 26 . 8 . 1992 .
( x ) OJ No L 103, 25 . 4 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 493 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 492 / 93

by Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Commission of the European Communities

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

( 12 March 1993 )

( 12 March 1993 ) ( 93 / C 207 / 83 )

( 93 / C 207 / 82 )

Subject : Costs of implementing EC safety regulations for

the building industry

Does the Commission plan to provide any recompense for
companies which implement the requirements of the
Personal Protection Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 ?
There is a danger that responsible companies which abide by
the legislation will be at a disadvantage compared to those
who do not .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1993 )

All Member States had to implement before 31 December

1992 the Council Directive of 30 November on the

Subject : Freedom of access to information on the
environment

Which Member States have transposed into national law the
provisions of Directive 90 / 313 / EEC ( l ) on the freedom of
access to information on the environment by the required
deadline of 31 December 1992, and what explanation has
been given by the United Kingdom Government for its
failure to implement the directive in Northern Ireland ?

0 ) OJ No L 158, 23 . 6 . 1990, p. 56 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Member States had until 31 December 1992 to

incorporate Directive 90 / 313 / EEC into national law .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 43

Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom ( including measures for Northern
Ireland ) have done so . The Commission has sent the other
Member States Article 169 letters concerning their failure to
communicate national implementing measures .

transport should obtain from the railway companies the rail
services needed to give the fullest possible encouragement to
that type of transport .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 522 / 93

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 501 / 93

Mr Florus LDR ( 29 March 1993 )

by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 93 / C 207 / 85 )

( 12 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 84 ) Subject : Child adoption

Subject : Combined transport

Is the Commission aware that the ' Kombiverkehr ', an
organization providing a rail shuttle service between
Rotterdam and Mannheim, has withdrawn from
Eurokombi, an organization involved in the transport of
maritime containers to be promoted by the European
institutions .

Is the Commission aware of the reasons for this, viz :

1 . the refusal of the German railway authorities to

cooperate by providing information concerning
timetables and fares

2 . the preference given to ' Intercontainer ' and
' Transfracht ' by the German railway authorities ?

What measures will the Commission take to prevent such
distortions of competitions ?

Does the Commission not consider that road-rail and
waterway-rail combined transport can only be organized
with the cooperation of the railway companies ?

Does the Commission not also consider that the monopoly
enjoyed by national railway authorities forms an obstacle to
improved combined transport structures ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the changes in the list of firms
taking part in Eurokombi but is not, at this stage, in a
position to offer any comment on the reasons for those
changes .

It will collect the necessary information from the firms
concerned . At all events, it agrees with the Honourable
Member that all those operating in the field of combined

In Greece alone, more and more people have applied to
adopt children in recent years and they are faced with long
and expensive procedures which run counter to the interests
of both the prospective parents and the children . Can the
Commission state whether it supports an initiative at
Community level for the implementation of special
legislation concerning the serious matter of adoption ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

At present the Commission has no right of initiative for the
purpose of introducing new Conventions under Article 220
of the EEC Treaty, which would be the appropriate legal
base . There is no other competence offered under the
Treaty .

Within the framework of the European Political
Cooperation judicial affairs group, the Commission will
encourage Member States which have not yet ratified the

1965 Hague Convention on adoption to do so . In this
framework too, a questionnaire has been sent out to the
delegations regarding the extension to include family law
issues of the Brussels Convention 1968 on the recognition
and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial
affairs . The law of adoption will probably be considered in
the light of this .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 535 / 93

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

( 29 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 86 )

Subject : Racism and xenophobia in Europe

Given the mounting racism and xenophobia in many parts
of Europe not only as a result of economic problems but

No C 207 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

often also because of ignorance and a lack of proper
education, does the Commission intend to help set up a
cultural programme to combat - this problem ? Will it call on
the governments of the Member States to take all possible
measures to tackle the economic problems and forestall and
curb racism and xenophobia by virtue of their own laws and
the CSCE Paris Charter ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

The Commission has already spoken on this subject before
the European Parliament on several occasions, most recently
during the debate on the adoption of resolution B3-1368
and 1393 / 92 on racism, xenophobia and antisemitism .

Having regard to the Community 's current area of
competence, the Commission is currently acting to prevent
and counteract the factors giving rise to racist or
xenophobic actions or attitudes, and is providing financial
and logistic support to associations working in this area .
The European Parliament will shortly receive a comparative
study of the legal resources available in Member States to
combat all forms of racism, xenophobia and incitement to
racial hatred .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 543 / 93

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

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 87 )

Subject : Privatization of the ILVA iron and steel company

and its reorganization plan

At the end of 1990 the Commission asked the Italian
Government for information concerning the measures
planned by the IRI public holding company to reorganize
the ILVA iron and steel company in which the State has
holdings and which ended this year with a Lit 600 billion
deficit .

The IRI reorganization plan submitted to the Commission
provides for an increase in ILVA 's capital by winding up
some of its ancillary plant to a value of Lit 650 billion and by
issuing company shares to a value of Lit 1 000 billion .

The request for information from the Commissioner for
competition was prompted by the fact that the plan was
impracticable because Italian legislation prohibits the
issuing of shares by companies which had failed to show a
profit for at least three consecutive years .

The request was made over a year ago, and no answer has
yet been given . In the meantime the ILVA has finally been
overwhelmed by the European steel crisis, its current deficit
being estimated at Lit 1 800 billion and the substance of the
agreement concerning the purchase of the steel company by
Lucchini S.p.A. is still unknown .

In the meantime, have details been sent to the Commission
concerning the reorganization plan submitted in 1990, and
has the Italian Government respected its obligation to give
notification of the ILVA-Lucchini S.p.A. agreement ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

Plan for the reorganization of ILVA

In July 1992, under the procedure provided for in Article 6
( 4 ) of Decision No 3855 / 91 / ECSC of 27 November 1991 ( J )
and initiated in respect of a capital injection of Lit 650
billion by IRI into ILVA as part of the company 's strategic
plan for 1992 — 1995, the Commission gave notice to the
Italian authorities to submit their comments .

The Italian authorities submitted their comments in a series
of communications and, by letter of 2 March 1992,
informed the Commission that a new plan would replace the
strategic plan referred to above . They also pointed out that
the new plan would include the aforementioned capital
injection and that they did not wish, at that stage, to object
to the Commission 's assessment of the injection as state aid .
Moreover, they reserved the right to submit a request for a
derogation under Article 95 of the ECSC Treaty in respect of
the capital injection and, should the need arise, other
financial measures .

On 30 April 1993 IRI representatives informed the
Commission of the new plan for restructuring Italy 's
state-owned steel industry . The Commission is scrutinizing
this plan, in particular with regard to state aids, the aim
being to verify the viability of the new company, to
determine exactly how much state aid is involved and to
calculate the contribution ( in the form of a reduction in
production capacity in the case of hot-rolled finished
products ) which the Italian Government would, as matters
stand, have to propose under the Article 95 ECSC procedure
before the state aids for which the plan would qualify could
be authorized .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 45

ILVA-Lucchini agreement

By letter of 2 December 1992 ILVA notified the
Commission of a transaction involving inter alia the
acquisition by the Lucchini group of a stake in the ILVA
subsidiary A.F. Piombino .

On 4 March 1993, after scrutinizing the transaction, the
Commission decided not to object to the agreement .

(!) OJ No L 362, 31 . 12 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 547 / 93

by Mr Hugh McMahon ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 88 )

Subject : Helios

posed by non-ionizing radiation from electro-magnetic
fields generated by power transmission lines ; will the
Commission evaluate the relevance to health and safety in
the Community of the 1992 report by Oak Ridge Associated
Universities on the health effects of low frequency electric
and magnetic fields .

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 1993 )

The issue of risks from non-ionizing radiation and in
particular those posed by electromagnetic fields generated
by power transmission lines has been raised by several
Members of the European Parliament . The Honourable
Member is referred to Written Questions Nos 1733 / 90 (*),

1956 / 91 ( 2 ), 2132 / 91 ( 3 ), 1932 / 92 ( 4 ), 2129 / 92 ( 5 ) and
3272 / 92 ( 6 ), oral questions Nos H-1012 / 90 ( 7 ) and
H-53 / 91 ( 8 ) as well as to petition No 471 / 90 .

Can the Commission inform Parliament how many staff
were employed ( a ) part-time and ( b ) full-time on the Helios The Commission wishes to restate that the study of the
and Handynet Programmes on 1 January 1993, and what health effects caused by electrical and magnetic fields
were the relative numbers for 1992 and 1991 ? generated by power transmission lines is not part of the

research programmes carried out at Community level . The
Commission thus has no plans to investigate the potential
effects of power transmission lines on the health of the
Answer given by Mr Flynn population .
on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

The staff employed on the Helios programme has practically
been the same during the three years .

The detailed figures have been directly communicated to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of

European Parliament .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 554 / 93

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

( 30 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 89 )

Subject : Non-ionizing radiation from electro-magnetic
fields

What studies have been conducted or placed with
consultants by the Commission into the potential risks

However, the Commission endeavours to keep abreast of
the progress in this field . Its services follow the research and
try to keep informed on the evaluation of scientific data . In
this context, the Commission makes use of the expertise of
the International Non-Ionizing Radiation Committee,
where several Member States are represented, and receives
its critical analysis of the scientific work in this field . This
scientific body, which the Commission has supported
financially since 1984, operates at world level in liaison with
the World Health Organization and the International
Labour Organization and is a prime source of scientifically
acceptable objective data that is considered when assessing
health risks and preparing legislative actions, e.g. the
Commission proposal for a Council Directive on the
minimum health and safety requirements regarding the
exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical
agents ( 9 ), which includes the electric and electromagnetic
fields .

For the preparation of the abovementioned proposal three
complementary studies on the health effects of
electromagnetic fields were placed with three institutions,
the Bundesamt fur Strahlenschutz, the Istituto Superiore di
Sanita and the National Radiation Protection Board . These
studies covered the risks due to exposure to electromagnetic
fields in the frequency range from OHz to 3PHz .

No C 207 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

The Commission has not yet evaluated the 1992 Report by
Oak Ridge Associated Universities on the health effects of
low frequency electric and magnetic fields . However, the
Honourable Member can be assured that the scientific
literature on the possible biological effects of non-ionising
radiation is systematically followed to asses any link
between exposure and health impairments . However such
studies must be carried out under controlled conditions to
yield conclusive evidence and many suffer from
methodological flaws, so careful analysis of the research
results and the methodology used is needed before it can be
concluded that a given risk is confirmed according to criteria
used by the scientific community .

(!) OJ No C 70, 18 . 3 . 1991 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 202, 10 . 8 . 1992 .
( 3 ) OJ No C 183, 20 . 7 . 1992 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 6, 11 . 1 . 1993 .
( 5 ) OJ No C 86, 26 . 3 . 1993 .

( 6 ) OJ No C 145, 25 . 5 . 1993 .

( 7 ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-394 ( October
1990 .

( 8 ) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-401 ( February
1991 .

( CONFAGRI ). These bodies have not been consulted nor
have they delegated their representative powers or their
rights . Apart from the institutional problems and lack of
democracy this measure entails, it is rendered even more
unacceptable by the fact that the CAP faces serious
accusations of involvement in the incorrect use and
misappropriation of Community funds and subsidies as well
as involvement in cellulose factories from which it has
received large amounts of money, and the use and abuse of
privileges granted by the government to the clear detriment
of its sister organizations .

In the light of the above, does the Commission believe this
situation to be compatible with the principles it upholds of
democratic representation and participation, partnership
and transparency in the channelling, application and
monitoring of the Structural Funds ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 9 ) COM(92 ) 560 final . ( 14 June 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 573 / 93

by Mr Rogerio Brito ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 90 )

Subject : Democratic representation, partnership, trans ­

parency and monitoring of allocations under, and
the application of, the Structural Funds

On 12 January 1993, on the basis of the EC Structural
Funds, a financial support scheme was set up in Portugal to
channel funds to socio-professional organizations involved
in measures and projects relating to agricultural training
infrastructure .

The legislation establishing the scheme states that
applications from organizations must be submitted to the
Portuguese Farmers ' Confederation ( CAP ). The latter will
then forward the documents, together with an opinion and a
reasoned proposal, to the Institute for Employment and
Professional Training ( IEFP ). Investments will be monitored
and supervised by a representative of the IEFP and one from
the CAP .

The government is thus unilaterally subordinating to the
CAP the other national confederation — the CNA — all
socio-professional organizations not affiliated to the
CAP and the Confederation of Farm Cooperatives

With regard to the European Social Fund, the 1988 reform
of the Structural Funds made it possible to switch
from project-based management to programme-based
management and included the delegation of managerial
activities to the Member States in accordance with the
principle of subsidiarity .

Project selection procedures and the development of
agricultural training infrastructure are therefore the
responsibility of the Member States . The Commission is
notified of the results of the selection procedures at the
meetings of the programme monitoring committee .

The Commission is not familiar with the case in question
and will request additional information from the Member
State concerned . The outcome of these investigations will be
forwarded to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat
General of the European Parliament as soon as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 574 / 93

by Mrs Hiltrud Breyer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 31 March 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 91 )

Subject : Employment of disabled people

1 . What is the percentage of disabled people on the
Commission 's permanent staff ?

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 47

2 . What work is carried out by these members of their trading position, can the Commission give details of
staff ? any action being taken to resolve this problem ?

3 . What type or degree of disability do they have ?

4 . Does the Commission plan to create further jobs for
disabled people ? Have specific decisions been taken and, if
so, when are they to be implemented ?

5 . Is there a joint employment policy among the EC
institutions for disabled people and, if so, what does it
consist of ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

1, 2 and 3 . The Commission does not collect specific
statistics concerning the jobs and the types of disability of
disabled people working in its services .

It should however be stressed that the fact of being disabled
is no obstacle to the exercise of a wide range of functions
within the European Public Service and the Commission
does all it can to facilitate the recruitment and employment
of the disabled .

4 . The Commission requested in its draft preliminary
budget for 1993 the allocation of 25 posts to be specifically
reserved for the recruitment of disabled persons . In view of
this, a small working group was constituted to establish
practical guidelines on how these posts should be filled .
Unfortunately, following restrictions imposed by the
budgetary authorities these posts did not figure in the final
version of the budget . The guidelines will be put into effect
when budgetary means permit .

5 . The Commission participates in the work of the
Interinstitutional Group mandated by the College of the
Heads of Administration to examine the recruitment of the
disabled people in the Community institutions . The report
of this group is yet to be completed .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 628 / 93

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

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 92 )

Subject : Dumping of cement

Following complaints from companies in my constituency
about the import of subsized cement from Greece, distorting

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

The problem of Greek export subsidies to the cement
industry and to other sectors was resolved in 1989 by the
Commission 's Decision dated 3 May 1989 (*).

The Commission has also dealt with specific aid measures in
favour of two Greek manufacturers of cement, Halkis
Cement Company ( 2 ) and Heracles General Cement
Company ( 3 ). The latter decision, which approves aid
granted to Heracles in 1986, has been challenged before the
Court of Justice ( 4 ).

(M OJ No L 394, 30 . 12 . 1989 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 73, 20 . 3 . 1991 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 1, 4 . 1 . 1992 .
( 4 ) Cases C-97 / 92, C-105 / 92 and C-106 / 92 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 635 / 93

by Mr Stephen Hughes ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 93 )

Subject : Sexual discrimination in pension and
superannuation schemes

I have been contacted by men in my North East of England
constituency of Durham concerning benefits which can be
obtained from the UK State pension scheme which are
discriminatory towards males . They point out that if a
husband dies and the widow is under 70 years of age, she can
claim certain benefits, but if the wife dies these benefits are
not available to the husband . As a consequence it would
appear that the system discriminates against males .

I note that a proposal for a Council Directive of 23 October

1987 ( COM(87 ) 494 final ) deals among other things with
equality of treatment in survivors benefits .

In a reply received from Commissioner Papandreou on
30 July 1991, she indicated that this proposal was still under
discussion by the Council of Ministers and that a final
decision had not yet been taken for its adoption at that
time .

No C 207 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Could the Commission indicate the current state of play of
this proposal as well as indicating a likely date when it will
be adopted ?

90 / 679 / EEC on the protection of workers from risks related
to exposure to biological agents at work (*), the
Commission has included the recommended code of
conduct for vaccination proposed by the European
Parliament on first reading .

Answer given by Mr Flynn (M OJ No C 217, 24 . 8 . 1992 .
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 May 1993 )

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that
its proposal for a Directive completing the implementation
of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in
social security schemes, submitted on 27 October 1987 (*),
is still pending before the Council . The last time the Council
examined this proposal was on 12 June 1989, the Spanish
Presidency .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 653 / 93

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

(5 April 1993 )

(!) COM(87 ) 494 final . ( 93 / C 207 / 95 )

Subject : US administration 's declaration in favour of an

energy tax

WRITTEN QUESTION No 652 / 93

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

(5 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 94 )

Subject : Vaccination of healthcare workers against
Hepatitis B

Following the debate in the European Parliament on the
Hughes report on the vaccination of healthcare workers
against Hepatitis B ( Doc . A3-0027 / 93 ) and the news from
the UK that healthcare workers in a number of cases have
been worried about the spread of Hepatitis B in the
workplace, does the Commission intend to persuade the
Member States to amend a present Directive in order that
vaccination might be compulsory in all Member States and
healthcare workers would not be asked to pay for this
vaccination ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1993 )

The Commission is well aware of the high risk of
contamination by the hepatitis B virus, particularly among
healthcare workers . It is also concerned at the lack of
vaccination cover for these people, although a genetically
engineered vaccine of proven effectiveness has been
available for some years . For this reason, in its amended
proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive

Could the Commission inform me of their attitude to the US
Declaration on an Energy Tax ? Does the Commission not
believe that this move will give further impetus to the plans
of the EC to introduce an energy tax so as to fulfil pledges
made at the Rio Summit ? In introducing such an Energy Tax
does the Commission have any plans to compensate
peripheral countries like Ireland whose economies are
heavily dependent on reasonable energy prices ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 May 1993 )

The Commission regards the United States administration 's
proposal for an energy tax as an important advance in the
tax treatment of energy and the limitation of C0 2 emissions .
This new factor was taken into account by the Council at its
meetings on 15 and 22 —23 March 1993, when its agenda
covered among other things the strategy for combating the
greenhouse effect, including the proposal for a Directive
introducing a C0 2 / energy tax .

As regards those Member States whose economic
development is lagging behind the rest of the Community,
emphasis should be placed on the substantial support which
they receive or will receive through programmes financed by
the Community 's Structural Funds or the Cohesion Fund . It
should also be noted that increased energy efficiency and the
resulting rationalization process will have a beneficial effect
in those countries .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 49

WRITTEN QUESTION No 683 / 93

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(6 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 96

Subject : Closure of zoos

Zoos and aquariums no longer have any justification and
are nothing more than places of imprisonment, frequently
under deplorable conditions, of animals which can be
better appreciated from magazine photographs and
documentaries showing the animals in their natural habitat
and without harming them .

What will the Commission do to limit the suffering caused
to animals in captivity ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 May 1993 )

The Commission cannot agree that the existence of zoos and
aquaria is no longer justified . On the contrary, they play an
important role in areas of environment and conservation
education and research and contribute to the conservation
of endangered species through breeding programmes .

The Commission does agree, however, that many zoos do
not meet the standards allowing them to play that role
effectively .

It therefore, in 1991, made a proposal for a Council
Directive on the keeping of animals in zoos ( x ), which
is currently being considered by the Community
institutions .

(!) OJ No C 249, 24 . 9 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 712 / 93

by Mr Enrico Falqui ( V )

The request related to aid granted under Italian Law
No 102 / 90 on recovery projects in the Valtellina region,
which had been hit by natural disasters .

1 . Has the Italian Government presented its own
conclusions concerning the doubts surrounding the
admissibility of the aid which had been raised by Sir
Leon Brittan, who was at the time the Commissioner
responsible for competition ?

2 . If so, what is the nature of these conclusions and what
decision is the Commission likely to adopt on this
basis ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 May 1993 )

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that on 28 January 1993 the Italian Government submitted
comments in response to some of the doubts as to the
compatibility of the aid measures in question that the
Commission had raised in the context of the procedure it
initiated on 30 September 1992 under Article 93 ( 2 ) of the
EEC Treaty .

These comments and, in particular, the clarifications
provided by the Italian authorities at a meeting held on
29 January 1993 made it possible to shed some light on the
nature of a number of the aid measures .

As a follow-up to that meeting, the Italian authorities are
currently preparing amendments which could enable a
different view to be taken of the entire scheme .

The Commission will be sure to keep the Honourable
Member informed of future developments .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 721 / 93

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

to the Commission of the European Communities
( 14 April 1993 )

(7 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 98 )
( 93 / C 207 / 97 )

Subject : Commission investigations into the admissibility

or otherwise of Italian Government aid to the
Valtellina region ( Article 92 of the Treaty )

What was the response to the request for information by the
Commissioner responsible for competition on 14 October
1992 to Mr E. Colombo who was then Foreign
Minister ?

Subject : Freedom of establishment for lawyers within the

Community

Further to the answer given by Mr Martin Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission to Written Question
No 1608 / 92 ( ! ) on freedom of establishment of lawyers in
the Community does the Commission not consider that it
would be a good idea to consult the French National Bar

f

No C 207 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 93

Council for its expert opinion in connection with the basic
preparations for a Directive specifically relating to the
establishment of lawyers ?

0 ) OJ No C 309, 26 . 11 . 1992, p. 54 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 May 1993 )

The Commission has included in its programme of work
for 1993 the elaboration of a proposal for a Directive
improving the rules on freedom of establishment currently
applicable to lawyers . For this purpose, the Commission will
engage in all the consultations it considers appropriate .

that the purchaser can terminate the loan contract when
exercising his right to withdraw ;

— legal protecton for the consumer, for example, whether

the question of the choice of legislation applicable to
timeshare contracts should be dealt with in this Directive
and whether the protection afforded by the Directive
could be extended to contracts covering properties in
third countries .

The Economic and Social Committee issued an opinion on
the proposal on 24 February 1993 ( 1 ).

(') Document CES 206 / 93 — SYN 419 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 797 / 93

WRITTEN QUESTION No 774 / 93

Mr Yves Verwaerde LDR by Mrs María Izquierdo Rojo ( S )

by Mr Yves Verwaerde ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 April 1993 )

( IS April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 99 ( 93 / C 207 / 100 )

Subject : Proposal for a Directive on the protection of

purchasers in contracts relating to the utilization of
immovable property on a time-share basis

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in the
procedure for adopting the proposal for a Directive on the
protection of purchasers in contracts relating to the
utilization of immovable property on a time-share basis ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 1993 )

Pending the opinion of the European Parliament after the
first reading, the Consumers Council of 3 March 1993
debated the proposal for a Directive, with particular
reference to four key questions :

— guarantees and sanctions, with particular reference to

the extent to which the Directive should lay down, for
example, the guarantees to be given by the vendor
concerning completion of construction of the
immovable property, the right of the purchaser to use
certain services or installations, the refunding of advance
payments and the sanction to be imposed on the vendor
if he / she does not supply in good time the information
provided for in the Directive ;

— advance payments to ensure, for example, that the

purchaser is not penalized for exercising his right to
withdraw and is liable only for specific clearly
determined costs ;

— the right to terminate the loan contract, with particular

reference to the conditions to be complied with to ensure

Subject : Outcome of President Delors ' visit to Morocco

Concerning the visit by the Commission President to
Morocco at the end of February 1993, could the outcome be
considered favourable ? What specific measures and what
aspects of the political dialogue were particularly
encouraged by meetings held during the visit ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 May 1993 )

On his visit to Morocco at the end of February 1993, Mr
Delors held discussions with King Hassan II and the
Government of Morocco on the future EEC-Morocco
Association Agreement and on various issues connected
with development of the Rif area of northern Morocco, as
part of a campaign to eradicate canna bis-growing there .

Mr Delors also had talks with the King on human rights and
the fundamental importance to be ascribed to the human
rights dimension of EEC-Moroccan relations in the
Association Agreement .

For the Moroccan authorities, the visit constituted an
acknowledgement of the special ties between their country
and the Community .

On the agricultural chapter of the future Agreement,
however, Mr Delors stressed the problems which European
farmers are facing .

30 . 7 . 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 207 / 51

In all, the outcome of the visit was very encouraging, Answer given by Mr Christophersen
providing fresh impetus as regards the major current on behalf of the Commission
issues - ( 22 June 1993 )

The Commission does not have the information requested
by the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1112 / 93

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

( 29 April 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 101 ) WRITTEN QUESTION No 1241 / 93

Subject : Fake garden gnomes in the internal market

In its answer to Written Question No 2470 / 92 ( l ) by Lord
O'Hagan, the Commission states that there is no need to
regulate intra-Community trade in garden gnomes in the
internal market .

1 . Does the Commission realize that, in the meantime,
anyone seems able to pose as a garden gnome ? ( See Der
Spiegel, 7 / 93, p. 247 .)

2 . Does not the Commission take the view that, in view of
such alarming reports, such a Directive is necessary after
all ?

(!) OJ No C 345, 30 . 12 . 1992, p . 36 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 June 1993 )

1 . Yes .

2 . No .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1139 / 93

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

( 12 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 102 )

Subject : Biofuel industry

by Lord O'Hagan ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 93 / C 207 / 103 )

Subject : Days-at-sea regimes

1 . Is it true that only The Netherlands, Belgium and the
United Kingdom are operating days-at-sea regimes ?

2 . When will these regimes be in force in all Member
States ?

3 . Is the Council aware that unfair advantages may be
conferred on those Member States who do not implement
days-at-sea regimes as a consequence of the Multiannual
Guidance Programmes ?

Answer

(5 July 1993 )

1 . The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have
national legislation which establish ' days-at-sea regimes '.
Spain has a ' fishing days ' regime imposed by the Act of
Accession and Regulation ( EEC ) No 3531 / 85 . Belgium has
no ' days-at-sea regime '.

2 . The Council is unaware of the intention of other
Member States with regard to the introduction of such
regimes .

3 . The Council would recall that the objectives laid down
in the Multi - Annual Guidance Programmes permitting the
limitation of fishing activity as well as fishing capacity are
designed to maintain the balanced exploitation of fishery
resources ( Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 3946 / 92 ( l ).

How many people are employed in the biofuel industry
within the various Member States ?: (!) OJ No L 401, 31 . 12 . 1992, p. 1 .