Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

^ ^ ^ / * / * • - "I T " "I ISSN 0378-6986
# Official Journal C39

_r_ _t_ -•—i   -   - Volume 33
### of the European Communities »February 1990

#### English edition Information and Notices

Notice N o Contents Page

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with_ _answer_

9 0 / C 39/01 N o 177/86 by M r Christopher Jackson to the Commission

Subject: Freedom of movement for workers (Supplementary answer) 1

9 0 / C 39/02 N o 2038/86 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission

Subject: Discrimination against women in Belgium (Supplementary answer) 1

9 0 / C 39/03 N o 1659/87 by M r Kenneth Stewart to the Commission

Subject: Serious delays in arrivals and departures at London Heathrow and Brussels airports,
due to air traffic controls (Supplementary answer) 2

9 0 / C 39/04 N o 2347/87 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject: Exchange of driving licences (Supplementary answer) 2

9 0 / C 39/05 N o 45/88 by M r Alonso Puerta Gutierrez to the Commission

Subject: Request for proceedings against the Luxembourg State for violation of the rights of
EEC workers to equality of treatment (Supplementary answer) 3

9 0 / C 39/06 N o 1375/88 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject: Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the North American company
Cryodynamics on the production in China of helium instead of CFC-producing chlorine motors
(Supplementary answer) 3

9 0 / C 39/07 N o 274/89 by M r James Moorhouse to the Commission

Subject: Age limits for translators 3

9 0 / C 39/08 N o 275/89 by M r Michael Welsh to the Commission

Subject: Water content of frozen poultry 4

9 0 / C 39/09 N o 277/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Phasing-out of CFCs as aerosol propellents 4

_\_ (Continued overleaf)

Notice No

90/C39/10

90/C39/11

90/C39/12

90/C39/13

90/C39/14

90/C39/15

90/C39/16

90/C39/17

90/C39/18

90/C39/19

90/C 39/20

90/C39/21

90/C 39/22

90/C39/23

90/C 39/24

90/C 39/25

90/C39/26

90/C 39/27

Contents (continued) p age

N o 280/89 by M r Gijs de Vries to the Commission

Subject: VAT-free sales to military institutions 5

N o 281/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Banks and Third World debt 5

N o 282/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Facilities for easing the burden of debts owed by Third World countries to Community
countries 5

N o 286/89 by M r Gordon Adam to the Commission

Subject: European coal policy 6

N o 296/89 by Lord O ' H a g a n to the Commission

Subject: Organic farming 6

N o 299/89 by Lord O ' H a g a n to the Commission

Subject: Relations with Eastern Europe 7

N o 307/89 by M r William Newton D u n n to the Commission

Subject: United Kingdom local government and EC grants 7

N o 309/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Exchange risk guarantee scheme for EIB loans 8

N o 310/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Greenhouse effect and damage to soil quality 8

N o 311 /89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Licensed dumping of chemicals in the North Sea 9

N o 315/89 by M r Joan Colom i Naval to the Commission

Subject: Opening of EEC information office in Barcelona 9

N o 318/89 by M r H e m m o Muntingh to the Commission

Subject: Importance of the carob tree 10

N o 321/89 by M r Jose Barros Moura to the Commission

Subject: Abolition of grants to foreign residents' associations by the Rotterdam City Council .. 10

N o 325/89 by M r Arturo Escuder Croft to the Commission

Subject: The Community's external trade in fresh fish in 1988 11

N o 327/89 by M r Arturo Escuder Croft to the Commission

Subject: The Community's external trade in preserved fish in 1988 11

Joint Answer to Written Questions Nos 325/89 and 327/89 11

N o 331/89 by M r Arturo Escuder Croft to the Commission

Subject: Job creation by means of the European Social Fund 11

N o 348/89 by M r Arturo Escuder Croft to the Commission

Subject: Trade with the Republic of South Africa 12

N o 350/89 by M r Miguel Arias Canete to the Commission

Subject: Resumption of financial support for modernization of the fishing fleet 12

Notice N o

90/C 39/28

90/C 39/29

90/C 39/30

90/C39/31

90/C 39/32

90/C39/33

90/C 39/34

90/C 39/35

90/C 39/36

90/C 39/37

90/C 39/38

90/C39/39

90/C 39/40

90/C39/41

90/C 39/42

90/C 39/43

90/C 39/44

90/C39/45

90/C39/46

Contents (continued) p age

N o 351/89 by M r Madron Seligman to the Commission

Subject: Infringement of seal pup skin import ban 13

N o 354/89 by M r Richard Simmonds to the Commission

Subject: Ritual slaughter 14

N o 355/89 by M r Gary Titley to the Commission

Subject: Conservation of the African elephant 14

N o 357/89 by Mrs Dacia Valent to the Commission

Subject: Violations of human rights in Somalia 15

N o 369/89 by'Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Coal-fired power stations 15

N o 370/89 by M r Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Research and development into renewable fuels 16

N o 391/89 by M r James Moorhouse to the Commission

Subject: Observation of the environmental assessment directive 16

N o 394/89 by M r Ernest Glinne to the Commission

Subject: Doubtful quality of anti-wrinkle cosmetic products 17

N o 396/89 by M r Terence Wynn to the Commission

Subject: Newsagents' monopoly to sell newspapers 17

N o 398/89 by M r Terence Wynn to the Commission

Subject: Safety of Cross-Channel ferries 18

N o 408/89 by M r Edward Newman to the Commission

Subject: Liabilities of employers hiring 'immigrants without regularized status' 18

N o 420/89 by Mrs Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission

Subject: An annual report on the environmental situation in the European Community 18

N o 425/89 by M r H e m m o Muntingh to the Commission

Subject: Survey of EC environmental measures 19

N o 430/89 by M r Anthony Simpson to the Commission

Subject: Rabies 19

N o 435/89 by M r Francois de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: Export of toxic wastes to developing countries 20

N o 436/89 by M r Dimitrios Dessylas to the Commission

Subject: Measures to prevent forest fires 20

N o 445/89 by M r Kenneth Stewart to the Commission

Subject: The European fighter aircraft 21

N o 475/89 by M r James Ford to the Commission

Subject: Validity of residence permits in the Federal Republic of Germany 21

N o 478/89 by M r Karl von Wogau to the Council

Subject: Free movement of capital 22

(Continued overleaf)

Notice N o

90/C 39/47

90/C39/48

90/C 39/49

90/C 39/50

90/C39/51

90/C 39/52

90/C 39/53

9 0 / C 39/54

90/C 39/55

90/C 39/56

90/C 39/57

90/C 39/58

90/C 39/59

90/C 39/60

90/C39/61

90/C 39/62

90/C 39/63

90/C 39/64

Contents (continued) p age

N o 479/89 by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini and M r Giuseppe Rauti to the Council

Subject: Setting up Community bodies for fire prevention and control 22

N o 480/89 by M r Jesus Cabezdn Alonso to the Commission

Subject: Procedural guidelines of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe . . . . 23

N o 501 /89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject: Commercial agreement with the USSR 24

N o 550/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Commission

Subject: Marine Science and Technology Committee 24

N o 555/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Council

Subject: Right of abode proposals 24

N o 617/89 by M r Fernand Herman to the Commission

Subject: Tax on business gifts 24

N o 629/89 by M r Mark Killilea to the Council

Subject: Free food for Poland scheme 25

N o 654/89 by M r Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Vaccine-damaged children 25

N o 655/89 by M r Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Parity for vaccine-damaged children 25

N o 656/89 by M r Llewellyn Smith to the Commission

Subject: Compensation for vaccine-damaged children 26

Joint Answer to Written Questions Nos 654/89,655/89 and 656/89 26

N o 701 /89 by M r Bryan Cassidy to the Commission

Subject: 'Ageism' in recruitment to the European Commission 26

N o 717/89 by Mrs Viviane Reding to the Council

Subject: The zero-rating of newspapers and periodicals for VAT purposes 26

N o 733/89 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject: Milk subsidy 27

N o 736/89 by M r Ben Fayot to the Council

Subject: Regular bottlenecks at the Dudelange frontier post on the border between France and
Luxembourg _27_

N o 771/89 by M r James Fitzsimons to the Council

Subject: Cargo-only flights _27_

N o 872/89 by M r Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission

Subject: Demonstration projects 27

N o 900/89 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission

Subject: 1992 and the Channel Islands 28

N o 941/89 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission

Subject: Disabled voters 28

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/1

I

_(Information)_

##### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 177/86

by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _April 1986)_

(90/C 39/01)

_Subject:_ Freedom of movement for workers

A British citizen has been employed since July 1982 as an
officer with a Danish shipping company registered in
Copenhagen. The Danish Government TJirektoratet for
Staten Skibstilsyn' has issued this officer with a permit
to be employed until 19 August 1986. However, on the
certificate it is noted that an extension cannot be expected.
If this is put into effect it means the shipping company can
no longer employ this man after the certificate expires.
Would refusal of extension of the certificate on grounds
of nationality, thus blocking his continued employment,
be contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of Rome or
subsequent legislation? Full details are being supplied
separately to the Commission.

Supplementary answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(3 May 1988)_

To supplement its answer of 25 June 1986 (*), the
Commission is now able to inform the Honourable

Member of the results of its enquiries. Following the
Commission's intervention the Danish authorities

explained that Article 16 (2) of the Danish law on ships'
crews is concerned with the qualifications required of
ships' officers, since it makes it possible to dispense with
the normal requirements. The provisions do not mention
nationality conditions at all and they apply equally to
Danes and others. The Danish authorities have stated that

there is nothing to stop foreign officers being employed

on equal terms with Danish officers, provided that
the requirements for theoretical and practical training
applying to Danish ships are fulfilled.

(') OJNoC290,17. 11. 1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2038/86

by Mrs Raymonde Dury (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 November 1986)_

(90/C 39/02)

_Subject:_ Discrimination against women in Belgium

Last June I tabled Written Question No 1277/86 ( [!] ) on
discrimination against women in Belgium.

In its answer of 21 October, the Commission stated that
until the Val Duchesse agreements were transposed into
specific legal provisions, it could not answer my question.

I would point: out that certain provisions are available and
appeared in _Moniteur_ _Beige_ of 21 and 27 August 1986.

Could the Commission therefore answer my Written
Question No 1277/86?

O OJNoC72,20. 3. 1987.

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 September 1989)_

Further to its earlier answer of 16 January 1987 ('),
the Commission is now able to provide additional
information in response to the Honourable Member's
request.

No C 39/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

The new Belgian legislation concerning unemployment
and sickness/invalidity insurance was deemed by the
Commission to be incompatible with the provisions of
Directive 79/7/EEC ( [2] ).

The new measures, which purport to be impartial, in fact
further exacerbate the situation of cohabitants, the
category into which the majority of women fall, whilst
continuing to provide greater assistance to recipients
of allowances or benefits who can prove they have
dependants (ex-heads of household), being calculated not
to ensure them a minimum level of income but worked out

on the basis of variable figures based on previous earnings
and this resulting in a higher level of assistance the greater
the amount of those earnings. The Belgian Government is
therefore in infringement of Articles 4 and 8 of Directive
79/7/EEC. For this reason the Commission has decided

to initiate new infringement proceedings under Article
169 of the Treaty. Since the correspondence exchanged
with the Belgian authorities has not succeeded in
resolving the dispute, the Commission has decided to
bring the matter before the Court of Justice.

O OJ No C 72,20. 3. 1987.
O OJN0L6,10. 1.1979.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1659/87

by Mr Kenneth Stewart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 November 1987)_

(90/C 39/03)

_Subject:_ Serious delays in arrivals and departures at
London Heathrow and Brussels airports, due to
air traffic controls

What proposals if any, has the Commission to bring about
common sense agreements at these airports, to ensure the
return to normal flight schedules?

The delays are becoming more serious each day, with
planes having to circle the skies above Heathrow awaiting
air traffic control landing instructions.

In the interests of air safety, will the Commission
investigate this situation before another major air
catastrophe occurs?

Would the Commission state whether, in its opinion, this
congestion is a result of the recent privatization policies
governing BBA and British Airways? This has not
occurred in the past three years to my knowledge.

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

_(4 October 1989)_

Further to its answer of 11 February 1988 C [1] ), the
Commission can now inform the Honourable Member of

the results of its investigation.

The Commission has published a communication on Air
Traffic System Capacity Problems ( [z] ).

The three proposals attached to this communication
represent a first set of measures which, in the
Commission's opinion, should assist in easing the
congestion problem.

This communication also contains an analysis of the
situation which lists the main factors contributing to the
problem of congestion and delays in the air traffic system.

O OJNoC93,11.4. 1988.
O OJNoC34, 10. 2. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2347/87

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(8 February 1988)_

(90/C 39/04)

_Subject:_ Exchange of driving licences

It appears that, with the apparent exception of the
departement du Var, nationals of other Member States
who took up residence in France before 1982 have not
been informed that they are required to exchange their
driving licences (French Highway Code, second call for
the exchange of driving licences issued prior to 1982).

This means that, with the exception of those living in the
Var, EEC nationals resident in France would be breaking
the law by driving a vehicle or will be forced to take the
necessary tests for the issue of a new driving licence by
their host country.

Will the Commission look into this situation in France

and the other Member States and take whatever steps are
necessary?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Clinton Davis
on behalf of the Commission

_(6 October 1988)_

Further to its answer (') of 18 March 1988, the
Commission is now able to pass on the following
information to the Honourable Member.

The Commission has received from the French authorities

a copy of the circular of 23 March 1988 authorizing the
prefectures to exchange, _for an indenfinite_ _period,_ the
foreign driving licences of holders who had taken up
residence in France before 1 January 1987, providing the
original licences are still valid. This decision has been
taken in response to the approaches made by the
Commission which had learnt of the problems
encountered by many Community citizens who had failed
to submit their applications for an exchange of licences in
time.

(') OJNoC244, 19.9.1988.

19. 2. 90 -• Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/3

WRITTEN QUESTION No 45/88

by Mr Alonso Puerta Gutierrez (COM)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(22 April 1988)_

(90/C 39/05)

_Subject:_ Request for proceedings against the
Luxembourg State for violation of the rights of
EEC workers to equality of treatment

Pursuant to Article 3, first paragraph, of the law of 4 April
1924 of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, all workers
gainfully employed on its territory are considered to be
members of their respective occupational associations,
without distinction as to nationality. Consequently, they
are required to pay contributions to these associations,
deducted at source by their employers.

Foreign workers, despite being subject to this general
obligation, are deprived, pursuant to Article 5 and 6 of the
same law, of the essential advantage of membership
of these associations, viz. the right to vote and stand
for election. As a consequence, they have no means
of ensuring that they are fairly represented in these
associations, which nevertheless benefit substantially
from their contributions and are supposed to stand up for
their interests.

In the opinion of the former judge of the Court of Justice
of the European Communities, Mr Pierre Pescatore,
there can be not doubt that this difference in treatment

constitutes — at least for nationals of Member States of

the Community — a form of discrimination prohibited by
Article 7 of the EEC Treaty and the rules of law derived
therefrom, in particular Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68
concerning the free movement of workers, which applies
the principle of equality of treatment to all 'social
advantages', including membership of workerrepresentation organizations.

Will the Commission consequently be prepared to open
proceedings against the Luxembourg State, requiring the
latter to recognize the legal rights of foreign workers —
or at least of EEC workers — to vote and stand as

candidates in occupational association elections?

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(12 October 1989)_

Further to its reply of 6 December 1988 ('), the
Commission is now in a position to provide the following
information:

The Luxembourg authorities said in reply to the
Commission's letter that they did not accept the viewpoint
expressed, i.e. that to withhold the right to vote was
incompatible with Community law.

The Commission has therefore decided to initiate the

procedure provided for by Article 169 of the EEC Treaty
by serving notice on the Luxembourg authorities.

(') OJNoC36, 13.2. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1375/88

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(20 October 1988)_

(90/C 39/06)

_Subject:_ Agreement between the People's Republic of
China and the North American company
Cryodynamics on the production in China of
helium instead of CFC-producing chlorine

motors

The Chinese Government and Mr Stephen Malaker, head
of Cryodynamics Inc., New Jersey, recently exchanged
letters of intent whereby Chinese companies will
manufacture motors that run on helium rather than

chlorine, which produces CFCs that destroy the ozone
layer protecting the Earth. This joint venture is largely
the outcome of the boycott of Cryodynamics and its
invention by the US industrial establishment. In this way,
China hopes to put nine million 'clean' fridges on the
market by 1990.

Is the Commission following this type of development
and is it considering initiatives to encourage similar
innovation in the Community?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 October 1989)_

Further to its answer of 14 February 1989 ('), the
Commission is now in a position to inform the
Honourable Member that contacts have taken place
between Cryodynamics Inc. and the People's Republic of
China on a novel refrigeration system which uses helium
as a refrigerant.

The Commission is examining how promising
innovations, which may lead to the substitution of CFCs
in refrigeration and in other sectors, can be encouraged.

O OJNoC 104,24.4. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 274/89

by Mr James Moorhouse (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/07)

_Subject:_ Age limits for translators

A recent public advertisement for translators and assistant
translators for employment with the Commission gives
upper age limits of 35 and 32 respectively. How does the
Commission justify imposing such low age limits, which
would appear to amount to serious age discrimination?

No C 39/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

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

_(29 September 1989)_

The Commission's staff policy, like that of most national
public services, is based on a permanent career. As a
result, recruitment takes place in principle only at the start
of an official's career.

The aim of the general open competitions is to recruit
candidates at the start of their career with only a few years
professional experience behind them or none at all. The
age limit is currently set at 35 years for A7/LA7 grades or
32 for A8/LA8 (candidates with little or no professional
experience). For these latter competitions, candidates are
required to have obtained their university degree in the
preceeding 3 years.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 275/89

by Mr Michael Welsh (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/08)

_Subject:_ Water content of frozen poultry

1. Could the Commission confirm that, in default of a
ruling by the European Court of Justice to the contrary,
enforcement authorities are entitled to take whatever

sampling measure they see fit to ensure that water content
standards are complied with and this includes testing
random samples in accordance with the procedures
established under Annex III to Regulations (EEC) No
2967/76 O and (EEC) No 2785/80 ( [2] ), even when the
tests established by Annexes I and II have been carried out
by the exporting country?

2. What progress has the Commission made in
formulating proposals to replace the three Annexes with a
single instrument?

O OJNoL339,8. 12. 1976, p. 1.
O OJNoL288,31. 10. 1980,p. 13.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 September 1989)_

1. In the view of the Commission, within the meaning
of the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2967/76 mentioned by the Honourable Member it is laid
down that the different methods (including the Annex II
method) are authorized for checks and if one of these
methods was applied in an exporting Member State
without detecting an excessive water content, the
importing Member States do not have the right to
question the results on importation. The mutual

recognition of analyses carried out by Member States is
the consequence in particular of the provision contained
in Article 4 (1) (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2967/76.

This does not, however, exclude the right of any Member
State to carry out tests on a random basis to determine the
water content of poultry (including poultry imported
from other Member States) at _any_ marketing stage. In
accordance with provisions of Article 3 (1) of the
Regulation, Member States shall assure that:

— the conditions under which checks are conducted are

such as to safeguard the conditions of the frozen and
deep frozen poultry from which the sample was
taken;

— they do not result in unjustified obstacles being
placed in the way of the marketing of the poultry
concerned;

— poultry checked during transport may proceed
normally to its destination once the appropriate
sample has been taken.

2. The Commission has asked research institutes in six

Member States to re-examine the various control methods

contained in the Annexes to Regulation (EEC) No
2967/76. The first part of that research project has just
been completed, and it is hoped that the second part will
be finalized towards the end of 1989 or beginning of
1990. Only the complete results and final conclusions
drawn by the scientific experts will enable the
Commission to make proposals for amending Regulation
(EEC) No 2967/76.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 277/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/09)

_Subject:_ Phasing-out of CFCs as aerosol propellents

Is the Commission aware that the British aerosol industry
expects to phase out the use of almost all CFCs as aerosol
propellents by the end of the year, which account for over
60% of CFC use in Britain? What is the Commission

doing to endeavour to ensure that other Member States
emulate this example?

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

_(12 October 1989)_

The Commission has concluded a voluntary agreement
with the Federation of European Aerosol Manufacturers

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/5

for the reduction by 90 % of CFCs used in aerosols, to be
achieved by the end of 1990. This agreement has been
adopted as Commission Recommendation 89/349/EEC
of 13 April 1989 ('). This reduction will then be effected in
all the Member States of the Community.

(') OJNoL144,27. 5. 1989, p. 56.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 280/89

by Mr Gijs de Vries (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/10)

_Subject:_ VAT-free sales to military institutions

Can the Commission indicate whether sales to military
establishments and the armed forces which are now

zero-rated for VAT purposes (T-2/single document or
form NL 302 for military goods) will still be able to be
zero-rated after 1992?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 October 1989)_

The Commission is fully aware of the need to study the
problem of the exemptions to be applied after 1992. This
is a complex question, simultaneously involving customs
legislation, VAT legislation and excise-duty legislation.
Consequently, a consistent approach must be worked out
that will cover all three fields without giving rise to
inequalities of treatment. The Commission is currently
studying these matters, and is aware of the concern
aroused.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 281/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/11)

_Subject:_ Banks and Third World debt

What is the Commission doing to encourage Member
States to adopt measures to persuade their domestic banks
to write off debts owed by Third World countries and
against which those banks have made provision?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 October 1989)_

Last April, the international Community endorsed a new
dimension in the debt strategy: the need for debt and debt
service reduction has been recognized and will receive
direct support from public authorities, mainly the IMF
and the World Bank.

The recognition that debt write-offs are a necessity in
some particular cases has been an important step forward
in tackling external debt problems. This new approach
has already been welcomed by the European Finance
Ministers at their informal meeting on,13 March 1989.

Debt and debt service reduction will, in many cases,
require waivers by the banks. To facilitate this suspension,
a review of the tax and regulatory rules within creditor
countries may have to be considered. The Member States
have different systems of regulation and taxation.

The question of harmonizing the tax and regulatory rules
relating to such write-offs has been discussed both within
the Community, (e.g. the Monetary Committee) and in
external fora such as the Group of Ten. The Commission
has contributed to these discussions and will continue

to do so. There is as yet no consensus on either the
importance of these factors or the extent to which any
changes in the rules would be helpful.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 282/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/12)

_Subject:_ Facilities for easing the burden of debts owed by
Third World countries to Community countries

What proposal does the Commission intend to bring
forward to facilitate cooperation between Community
Member States in easing the burden of servicing the debts
owed by Third World countries to Community countries?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 October 1989)_

Debt owed to Member States falls outside Community
competence. Debt issues are thus dealt with by the
Member States themselves, when they are creditors. The

No C 39/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

alleviation of the debt burden is negotiated and organized
within specialized fora, such as the Paris Club for debts to
public sector creditors and the London Club for debts to
commercial banks. For debts to private banks, the
Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's

answer to his Written Question No 281/89 (').

As far as debts to public sector creditors are concerned,
the alleviation of the debt burden follows certain

principles, which are aimed both at an acceptable
burden-sharing among creditors and an improvement in
the situation of debtor countries, involving an IMF
adjustment programme. The Paris Club includes the
major public creditors concerned by each particular case.
The Commission has only observer status in the Paris
Club.

A greater cooperation between the Member States would
be useful in helping developing countries to solve their
external debt problems, and the Commission has sought
to stimulate such cooperation with some success. For
instance, a Community initiative contributing to the
elaboration of new guidelines for the alleviation of the
debt burden of the poorest heavily-indebted countries
was agreed at the Toronto Summit.

(') See the preceding Written Question.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 286/89

by Mr Gordon Adam (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1_ _August 1989)_

(90/C 39/13)

_Subject:_ European coal policy

The resolution on European coal policy adopted by the
European Parliament on 14 September 1988 stated that
Community coal policy should be based on sustainable
medium and long term prices.

It has been reported in the Spanish press that the
Commission is now using a reference price of ECU 88 per
tonne in its assessment of Community coal investment
projects.

Can the Commission confirm that a reference price of this
order indicates that international coal prices are likely to
rise substantially in future?

Does the Commission also consider that this price
is economically justified in long term contractual
arrangements between Community coal producers and
major consumers ?

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

_(9 October 1989)_

The Commission agrees with the view expressed in
Parliament's September 1988 Resolution that Community
coal policy should be based on sustainable medium and
long-term prices.

After a period of low prices, international coal prices have
been rising gradually for most of the past two years and
are likely to go on rising over time as a number of
countries demand additional quantities from the world
coal market. In addition, some coal producers have been
forced to close down their operations because of the low
price levels.

The Commission has been doing considerable analytical
work to estimate the world market price, and the
equivalent value for Community coal, which might be
sustainable in the medium and longer term.

These provisional assessments are based on the likely
future production costs of the most established and secure
world market suppliers, and take account of the flexibility
of supply from Community sources and coal quality
considerations. The comparison between Community
coal and imported coal must also reflect the actual sites of
coal use and must therefore include an allowance for the

cost of inland transport.

For internal working purposes, therefore, the
Commission services have been using the range of ECU
80 to 90 per tonne of coal equivalent (tee) estimated on
this provisional basis. But the Commission would not feel
justified in making recommendations on the prices to be
determined as a result of particular long-term contractual
negotiations between Community coal producers and

consumers.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 296/89

by Lord O'Hagan (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/14)

_Subject:_ Organic farming

The Commission will be aware of an increasing interest in
organic farming.

1. What steps is the Commission taking to encourage
farming in an organic manner?

2. Is the Commission satisfied that enough is being done
in each Member State to promote organic farming?

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/7

Answer given by Mr Mac Shany
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 October 1989)_

1. As stated in its communication entitled

'Environment and Agriculture' ('), the Commission is
planning to propose to the Council a Community
legislative framework for organic farming. With a view to
providing satisfactory information for consumers and
ensuring fair competition between producers and the free
movement of the products in question, the framework
would lay down rules governing the production and
labelling of organically-grown products and introduce
measures designed to ensure that their marketing is better
controlled.

Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 ( [2] ) on improving the
efficiency of agricultural structures, as last amended by
Regulation (EEC) No 1137/88 ( [3] ), lays down a number of
measures in favour of holdings which extensify their
production or adopt production methods which are
compatible with the requirements of safeguarding the
natural environment. Organic farming, by its nature, is
well placed to benefit from these measures. Holdings
which convert to this form of production may qualify for
assistance provided that detailed rules for implementing
the measures are adopted by the Member States and that
the farmers concerned meet all the conditions laid dpwn
under the Regulation.

On 18 May 1989 ( [4] ), lastly, the Commission proposed
inserting in Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 a provision
enabling launching aid, part-financed by the EAGGF, to
be granted to recognized producer groups which have as
their object the introduction of alternative cultivation
practices.

2. The Commission can decide whether the Member

States are promoting organic farming sufficiently only in
the context of their obligations under Community rules.

O COM(88)338.
O OJNoL93,30. 3. 1985,p. 1.
(*) OJNoL108,29. 4. 1988, p. 1.
O COM(89)91.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 299/89

byLordO'Hagan(ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/15)

_Subject:_ Relations with Eastern Europe

The Commission knows from its day-to-day experience
that many Eastern European states look forward to closer
relationships with the European Community.

1. Are the present mechanisms adequate for the task?

2. What proposals does the Commission now make?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 October 1989)_

The present mechanisms are fully adequate for the task
of developing economic and trade relations between
the Community and East European countries; the
mechanisms are bilateral trade or trade and cooperation
agreements. In addition, the Commission envisages
opening delegations in Budapest and Warsaw in 1990 and
in Moscow at a later date. This will further facilitate the

development of closer relations between the Community
and its East European neighbours.

A new dimension was added to the Community's relations
with Eastern Europe by the decision of the G 7 Summit of
the Arch on 14 July 1989 to entrust the Commission with
the task of coordinating Western assistance to Poland and
Hungary, in recognition of those countries' political
reforms and economic needs. The Commission has

chaired two meetings of the 24 OECD countries involved
in this process (1 August and 26 September), at the second
of which it presented an action plan for specifically
Community action, covering food aid (Poland only),
access to markets, investments, management and
vocational training, and the environment. These planned
measures are intended to stimulate further response from
the rest of the 24, on the understanding that the whole
programme will only be really effective if it meets with
considerable efforts on the part of Poland and Hungary
themselves.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 307/89

by Mr William Newton Dunn (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/16)

_Subject:_ United Kingdom local government and EC

grants

According to the Local Government and Housing Bill
published in London in February 1989, receipt of capital
grants from EC institutions (for example ERDF grants)
will not permit local government authorities to capitalize
the expenditure which the grants are intended to
reimburse. Such EC grants will have to be applied as

No C 39/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

provision for credit liabilities. This means, in effect, that
they will have to be set aside to pay off local government
loan debt.

Is this proposal in accordance with the intentions of the
Commission?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 October 1989)_

The Commission understands that the United Kingdom
Parliament has not yet completed its consideration of the
Bill mentioned by the Honourable Member.

If there are provisions in the Bill which have implications
for the payment of ERDF grants, that is a matter which
the Commission will consider in due course.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 309/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/17)

_Subject:_ Exchange risk guarantee scheme for EIB loans

Will the Commission state whether an Exchange Risk
Guarantee Scheme, or other similar guarantee scheme,
for EIB loans exists in the Member States and will it

provide information on same?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(10 October 1989)_

As of 1 September 1989, exchange risk cover schemes for
EIB loans exist in:

— Greece for public sector enterprises,

— Ireland for small and medium-sized industrial

investement financed through global loans to the
Industrial Credit Corporation,

— Italy in the Mezzogiorno region for half the loan
amount and in the Central North region for half the
loan if the exchange rate variation is greater than 5 %,

— Portugal on a case-by-case basis,

— The United Kingdom for public sector enterprises
borrowing amounts larger than ECU 26,5 million.

The Honourable Member will note that such schemes

have become less relevant to the extent that the EIB

disburses, depending on demand and availability, a
greater proportion of its loans in borrowers' domestic
currencies.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 310/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/18)

_Subject:_ Greenhouse effect and damage to soil quality

There has been very little attention given to the likely
damage caused to soil quality as a result of the greenhouse
effect. British scientists claim that rising temperatures will
accelerate the breakdown of organic matter, thus
increasing the risk of soil erosion.

Will the Commission initiate research projects
throughout the Community on soil quality and the
damage being caused by the greenhouse effect?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 October 1989)_

Since 1980 the Commission has been carrying out, within
the framework of the Environmental Research
Programme ('), research on climatology ( [2] ), in which the
impact of the greenhouse-gas induced climate change has
been one of the main concerns.

This current programme in particular contains the
following research topic: 'Impact of climate change or
variability on land resources including soil and
ecosystems, with special attention to desertification
problems'.

On 20 June 1989, the Council adopted a common position
on the Commission proposal for a new environmental
programme STEP/EPOC ( [5] ). Final adoption is expected
after the second reading of the European Parliament
before the end of the current year.

This research programme also contains a specific research
topic on the subject as mentioned by the Honourable

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/9

Member: 'Effect of climatic and meteorological factors on
soil erosion, especially in areas within Europe where such
degradation has led to desert-like conditions'.

O OJNoC51,10. 3. 1981,p.2.
( [2] ) Since 1986 under the heading 'Climatological and Natural

Hazards'; OJ No C 54, 4. 3. 1980, p. 2.
O OJ No C 192, 29. 7. 1989, p. 2.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 311/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/19)

_Subject:_ Licensed dumping of chemicals in the North Sea

Will the Commission provide the following information
regarding the granting of licences to dump chemicals and
other toxic substances into the North Sea:

— How many Member States grant licences for the
dumping of liquid chemicals in the North Sea?

— What is the volume of dumping annually per Member
State?

— Do any Member States allow industries to discharge
the following substances into rivers that flow into the
North Sea: mercury, cadmium, TBT, PCBs and
pesticides like DDT and dieldrin.

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

_(24 October 1989)_

The dumping activities of all North Sea riparian States are
controlled and reported in the framework of the
'Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping from Ships and Aircraft', commonly called the
Oslo Convention. The Commission follows the work of

the Oslo Convention as an observer.

The 13th Annual Report on the Activities of the Oslo
Commission, published in 1989, contains details of
licences issued and amounts dumped in 1986, the latest
date for which information is available.

The Convention Area covers not only the North Sea, but
also the Irish Sea and other parts of the North-East
Atlantic Ocean. Figures for the North Sea exclusively are
not available.

At its meeting in June 1989, the Contracting Parties to the
Oslo Convention agreed that the dumping of industrial
wastes in the North Sea shall cease by 31 December 1989,
and in other parts of Convention waters by 31 December
1995, except for inert materials of natural origin, and
except for those industrial wastes for which it can be
shown to the Commission through the Prior Justification
Procedure (PJP) both that there are no practical
alternatives on land and that the materials cause no harm

in the marine environment.

The discharges of substances into rivers that flow into the
North Sea, and into estuaries and coastal waters, are not
formally covered by the term 'dumping'. These discharges
are controlled by local water authorities; licences have to
fulfil local, national and EEC legislation, which strictly
limits the discharge of mercury and the other substances
mentioned.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 315/89

by Mr Joan Colom i Naval (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/20)

_Subject:_ Opening of EEC information office in Barcelona

The Commission has repeatedly stated its wish to open an
information office in Barcelona, and even taken the
decision to do so; figures supplied by the Commission
show an appropriation of ECU 100 000 earmarked in the
1985 budget for setting up such an office. However, 1989
is now well advanced and it has still not been opened.

In 1986 industrial waste, sewage sludge and dredged
material were dumped in the Convention Area by riparian
States.

The total amount of industrial wastes dumped in the
Convention Area in 1986 was 5,77 million tonnes. This
amount breaks down by Member States as follows:

_('000_ _tonnes)_

Belgium

Germany

Spain

France

Ireland

Netherlands

United Kingdom

614

1070

496

645

785

1

2 157

5 768

No C 39/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

Can the Commission tell me what stage has now been
reached and what date has been set for opening this
office, which everyone agrees is urgently required?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
_on_ behalf of the Commission

_(18 October 1989)_

All the appropriations required for the opening of a
suboffice in Barcelona were granted in the 1989 budget.

Following its decision in December, the Commission is
taking the necessary steps with a view to having the
suboffice opened by the end of 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 318/89

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/21)

_Subject:_ Importance of the carob tree

The fruit of the carob tree grows in pods and can be used
as cattle fodder. The fruit contains seeds, the oil of which
is of value to the chemical industry. The tree produces a
very useful wood.

The carob tree has grown for a very long time in the dry
areas of Europe, including Greece (and Cyprus), Spain
and Italy.

1. Does the Commission know of this tree and does it

recognize its potential economic, agricultural and
ecological importance ?

2. Would the Commission support programmes for the
propagation of the carob tree, with a view to
agricultural diversification? If so, how would it do
this?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 October 1989)_

The EAGGF is able, in the context of the agricultural
structures policy, to finance measures for the conversion
of production to non-surplus products (Article lc of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 on improving the
efficiency of agricultural structures) ('). Certain areas of
the Community could find in the carob tree an attractive
opportunity for diversification.

The Commission would also draw the Honourable

Member's attention to the fact that in 1989 the Council

recognized that the technical conditions under which
locust beans are produced and the conditions under which
they are marketed were out of step with commerical
requirements. In light of the fact that the cultivation of
locust beans is closely linked to orchards producing nuts
in the Mediterranean regions of the Community, on 20
March this year the Council adopted Regulation (EEC)
No 789/89 instituting specific measures for nuts and
locust beans and amending Regulation (EEC) No
1035/72 on the common organization of the market in
fruit and vegetables ( [2] ).

The aim of these measures is to remedy the said structural
deficiencies by promoting:

— the formation of producers' organizations,

— improved product quality (in particular through
varietal conversion) and marketing methods,

— the creation of revolving funds to stagger the release
onto the market by the producers' organizations of
their products,

— the consumption and use of Community-produced
locust beans and nuts.

( [f] ) OJNoL93,30. 3. 1985, p. 1.
O OJNoL85,30. 3. 1989, p. 3.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 321/89

by Mr Jose Barros Moura (COM)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/22)

_Subject:_ Abolition of grants to foreign residents'
associations by the Rotterdam City Council

Is the Commission aware of the decision by the
Rotterdam City Council (as notified in letter CM 89/3587
of 9 May 1989) to phase out the existing grants to foreign
residents' associations (in particular, the Portuguese,
Greek, Italian, Spanish and Yugoslav associations),
whereby only 75 % of current grant would be payable for
1990, 50% for 1991 and 25% for 1992, followed by total
abolition of the grant as of 1993? This would severely
affect the operating conditions of these associations, since
the grants essentially cover rent and other expenses
connected with the association premises.

Given that the foreign residents' associations are
particularly affected by the decision of the Rotterdam
City Council, taken on the grounds of alleged budgetary
problems, does not the Commission consider that these
measures are in breach of the principle of nondiscrimination between nationals and non-nationals

which is inherent to the free movement of persons?

Can the Commission intervene to defend the interests of

these emigrants' associations?

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/11

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 October 1989)_

The Commission is not in a position to intervene
concerning the use of funds for which the city authorities
are responsible.

The Commission encourages financial support by local,
regional and national authorities for foreign residents'
associations and, without acting as a substitute, it
participates in joint financing of schemes to promote the
integration of migrants within the limits of available
financial resources.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 325/89

by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/23)

_Subject:_ The Community's external trade in fresh fish in
1988

The volume of fish caught by the various Community
countries and declared in accordance with Council

Regulation (EEC) No 2057/82 O exceeds 2 500 000

tonnes.

Since it is quite clear that some countries catch far more
than they themselves consume, can the Commission say:

1. How much fresh fish each of the Member States

imported in 1988, specifying the weight and value of
the fish and the countries of origin?

2. How much fresh fish each of the Member States

exported in 1989, specifying the weight and value of
the fish and which countries purchased it?

O OJNoL220,29. 7. 1982, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 327/89

by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/24)

_Subject:_ The Community's external trade in preserved
fish in 1988

Application of Protocol No 2 to the Act of Accession of
Spain, which refers to the Canaries, imposes certain
restrictions on trade in preserved fish processed in the
Canaries when they join the customs union.

With regard to the total volume of the Community's
external trade in preserved fish, can the Commission say:

1. How much preserved fish was imported into each of
the Member States in 1988, specifying the weight and
value of the fish and the countries of origin?

2. How much preserved fish each of the Member States
exported in 1988, specifying the weight and value of
the fish and which countries bought it?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 325/89 and 327/89

given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 October 1989)_

In view of the length of its answer, which includes a
number of tables, the Commission is sending it directly to
the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

As regards the first question, the aggregate 'fresh' covers
live, fresh or chilled fish, as well as fresh or chilled fillets.

Import/export statistics for 1988 are to be considered as
provisional and will later undergo certain modifications.
Finally, the figures for Greece cover only the period
January—September 1988.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 331/89

by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/25)

_Subject:_ Job creation by means of the European Social
Fund

Every year the European Community invests considerable
sums of money to create jobs and ease the unemployment
situation in various regions of the Community.

Can the Commission say:

1. How much was spent by the European Social Fund in
each Member State in 1988?

2. How many jobs were created in each of the Member
States in 1988 as a result of European Social Fund
expenditure?

3. How long, on average, the jobs created as a result of
European Social Fund expenditure in each of the
Member States last?

No C 39712 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 October 1989)_

1. The following amounts were committed by the ESF
in 1988 by country:

_(million ecu)_

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

42,75

28,63

163,90

210,84

445,98

340,57

178,08

527,90

1,63

61,59

303,17

540,98

Total

_(No of persons)_

7 762

5 480

8 395

41 797

119 106

15 685

9 882

34 759

2 702

4 867

36 971

79 006

366 412

2 and 3. It is difficult to assess the number of jobs
created by European Social Fund action since this type of
action is implemented in the context of national
employment policies supplementing the Member States'
action,

In this context, it should be pointed out the Fund rules
have always emphasized the need for direct links with
employment to ensure that Fund action is as effective as
possible.

The number of persons who received ESF assistance in
1988, by country is as follows:

_(No of persons)_

WRITTEN QUESTION No 348/89

by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 39/26)

_Subject:_ Trade with the Republic of South Africa

The problems in the Republic of South Africa have led to
numerous calls for restrictions on Community trade with
that country.

What are the 1988 figures (in tonnes and in ecus) for
imports into and exports from each Community Member
State in trade with the Republic of South Africa?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 October 1989)_

The statistics requested by the Honourable Member are
published regularly in 'External Trade — monthly
statistics' (Eurostat, Theme 6, Series C). They are also
available from Eurostat's Comext database, to which the
relevant department of Parliament is connected.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 350/89

by Mr Miguel Arias Canete (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 198 9)_

(90/C 39/27)

_Subject:_ Resumption of financial support for
modernization of the fishing fleet

With regard to the decisions taken by the Standing
Committee on the Fishing Industry on 24 April 1989,

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

Total

24 890

19 968

78 638

299 147

511 740

210 340

427 748

193 266

2 956

26 857

276 644

653 312

2 725 506

Based on previous years' experience, the placement rate is
about 60 % at the end of training.

This figure includes some people who benefitted from
recruitment incentives or employment in projects in the
public interest and aimed at creating additional jobs. The
number of persons included in such schemes in 1988 by
country is as follows:

19.2.90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/13

what were the criteria for the resumption of financial
support for modernization of the fishing fleet in certain
Member States where it had previously been suspended
because of failure to comply with the multiannual
programmes, and not in others whose situation in this
respect was identical?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(5 October 1989)_

Decisions to grant Community financial support for
individual projects must be in keeping with the
multiannual guidance programmes (MGPs) approved by
the Commission pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No
4028/86 C).

These MGPs, which are designed to reduce, existing
fishing capacity, lay down objectives to be attained and
guidelines to be observed.

In 1988, the Commission, having established from
information sent by the Member States that the
development of the fleets ruled out the possibility of the
objectives being attained, decided to suspend funding of
the shipbuilding projects then under consideration.

In 1989, as part of the first tranche and in the light of the
information available regarding vessels commissioned
and decommissioned in 1987 and 1988, the Commission
was able to contemplate the financing of shipbuilding in
the Federal Republic of Germany, Denmark, Spain,
France, Greece, Italy and Portugal, with due regard for all
aspects of the common fisheries policy, and especially its
structural side.

O OJ No L 376, 31. 12. 1986, p. 7.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 351/89

by Mr Madron Seligman (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/28)

_Subject:_ Infringement of seal pup skin import ban

In the Commission's reply to Oral Question
H-771/88 ('), it was said that 'it is possible but highly
unlikely' that a 'maximum of 1640 skins' may have been
imported into the EC since 1983 in contravention
of Directives 83/129/EEC ( [2] ) and 85/444/EEC ( [3] ).
However, in the programme 'Seal Mourning' broadcast

on Britain's Channel 4 on 4 February 1989, Eurostat
figures showing imports of seal pup skins, previously
asserted to be miscoded lambskins, were produced. The
sole Norwegian company handling sealskins, including
pups, was quoted as saying that it considered the EC to be
its major market. A Commission official commented that
the directives cover sealskins with fur on, but not those
without, so that the latter can legally be imported into
the EC.

Could the Commission state unequivocally:

1. how many whitecoat and blueback sealskins have been
imported into the EC since 1983;

2. from which source they derive;

3. what measures have been taken to identify and
penalize traders guilty of committing infringements;

4. whether or not Directives 83/129/EEC and

85/444/EEC allow seal pup skins without fur to be
imported?

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 2-373 (January

1989).
O OJNoL91,9. 4. 1983, p. 30.
O OJNoL259 :, 1.10. 1985, p. 70.

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

_(18 October 1989)_

On the basis of the Eurostat figures on Community
imports of complete raw furskins (heading 4301.22) and
of tanned or dressed furskins (heading 4302.22) or
whitecoat pups of harp seals and blueback pups of hooded
seals for the years 1984 to 1987, the Commission
investigated possible infringements of Directive
83/129/EEC. These investigations have shown, however,
that:

— Denmark imported 8 427 skins from Sweden and
Norway and 810 from Greenland. The skins
concerned were either of Greenland origin, and
therefore exempted from the import ban, or from seal
species not covered by the ban.

— Italy imported 948 skins from Canada, but these were
from seal species not covered by the ban.

— Spain imported 885 skins from Norway for which
documentary evidence has shown that the skins had
been imported before 1986, i.e. before the Directive
became applicable to Spain, and were temporarily
re-exported to Norway for processing and then
re-imported.

— The United Kingdom imported 258 skins of seal
species not covered by the ban.

No C 39/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

— The Federal Republic of Germany imported 1 135
skins from Greenland in 1985 and 1 640 skins from

Norway in 1986 which were also of Greenland origin.

Directive 83/129/EEC only prohibits the import of
products listed in the Annex to it, i.e. of raw furskins and
tanned or dressed furskins, including furskins assembled
in plates, crosses and similar forms of whitecoats and of
articles made of such furskins.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 354/89

by Mr Richard Simmonds (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/29)

_Subject:_ Ritual slaughter

I understand that the firm, Meat and Food International,
intends to build a new slaughterhouse at Gembloux
(Belgium), where up to 7 000 cattle a month will be
slaughtered ritually, without pre-stunning, and that their
meat is to be sold to Muslim communities throughout
Europe and to be exported to Muslim countries outside
the European Community.

1. Will the Commission's services inspect this
slaughterhouse to ascertain whether it complies with
the hygienic and other requirements laid down by
Community law for slaughterhouses producing for
export?

2. In view of the fact that the Federal Republic of
Germany only permits ritual slaughter for the purpose
of supplying local religious communities and does not
permit ritually slaughtered meat to be sold to the
ordinary consumer, are the German authorities — or
the authorities of any Member State, entitled to
prohibit imports of meat from this slaughterhouse,
and, if so, what would the Commission's reaction be?

3. What guarantees can the Commission offer that meat
from the Gembloux slaughterhouse will not enter the
general meat market, in which case non-Muslim
consumers, many of whom are totally opposed to
ritual slaughter, would unwittingly buy
ritually-slaughtered meat?

4. Given the scale of this abattoir, are its operators
entitled to derogation from the requirement of
pre-slaughter stunning under Article 4 of Directive

74/577/EECO?

O OJ No L 316, 26. 11. 1974, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 October 1989)_

1. Under the provisions of Council Directive
64/433/EEC (') on health problems concerning
intra-Community trade in fresh meat, Member States
have the primary obligation to ensure that slaughter
houses producing meat for export to other Member States
comply with the hygenic and other requirements of the
Directive. The Directive does, however, provide for
inspection where necessary by Commission veterinary
experts of slaughter houses falling within the scope of the
Directive. The fact that a slaughter house is producing
ritually slaughtered meat would not in itself necessitate
obligatory control by the Commission.

2. Article 4 of Council Directive 74/577/EEC permits
national authorities to allow slaughter procedures
according with religious rites which would otherwise be
contrary to the Directive. If an animal has been
slaughtered in accordance with this article in one Member
State the Commission would take the view that its meat

should be marketable in other Member States if it

complies with the appropriate Community sanitary
requirements. However, Member States concerned
should ensure that animals that are not intended at the

time of slaughter to be consumed in whole or in part by
members of the religious Community concerned (whether
in their territory or elsewhere) should not be subject to
ritual slaughter.

3. The Commission recognises that according to
certain religious requirements only specific parts of the
carcass of the ritually slaughtered animal are consumed by
the adherents of the religion concerned. In such cases the
remainder of the carcass may be consigned to the general
market. Such a practice is not contrary to existing
Community law.

4. Article 4 of Directive 74/577/EEC applies
irrespective of the capacity of the abbatoir.

(') OJNol21,29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 355/89

by Mr Gary Titley (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/30)

_Subject:_ Conservation of the African elephant

Following the decision of the Environment Council on
9 June 1989 to invite the Commission to ban imports of

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/15

raw and worked ivory, can the Commission tell me what
measures it has taken to implement this decision?

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

_(20 October 1989)_

The conditions for importation into the Community,
amongst others, of raw and worked ivory from the
African elephant are contained in Article 10 (1) (b) of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 (') on the
implementation in the Community of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES).

On 14 June 1989, the Commission informed the CITES
Management Authorities of the Member States of its
opinion that these conditions were no longer met and that
therefore no further import permits should be issued.

The recommendation concerned was immediately
implemented by all Member States, some of which had
already taken a similar decision on a national basis since
the beginning of July 1989.

On 2 August 1989, the Commission formalized this
decision and adopted Regulation (EEC) No 2496/89 ( [2] )
on a prohibition to import raw and worked ivory derived
from the African elephant into the Community.

(*) OJ No L 384, 31. 12. 1982, p. 1.
O OJNoL240,17. 8. 1989, p. 5.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 357/89

by Mrs Dacia Valent (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/31)

_Subject:_ Violations of human rights in Somalia

Having regard to developments in the political situation
in Somalia and, in particular, the systematic and repeated
violations of human rights, and given that Somalia, as one
of the ACP states, benefits from aid under the
Convention of Lome, does not the Commission consider
that it should submit a report to Parliament, not only on
the aid itself, but also on the correlation between
Community funding for projects in Somalia, the real
development needs of the Somali economy, the utilization

of the funds in practice and the basic principles underlying
the Community's development aid policy in respect of
Somalia?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 October 1989)_

Development cooperation between Somalia and the
European Community takes place within the framework
of the Lome Convention and on the basis of the National

Indicative Programme (NIP) agreed upon between
Somalia and the Community. The NIP defines the
priority economic and social needs of the country to be
met by the projects financed by the Community.

The Commission and other Community bodies, notably
the Court of Auditors, monitor closely that Community
funds are used in accordance with guidelines and
principles established in the Lome Convention and the
NIP as efficiently as possible to finance projects that meet
the real economic development needs of Somalia.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 369/89

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/32)

_Subject:_ Coal-fired power stations

Could the Commission give an indication of the extent to
which each of the 12 Member States has utilized clean

burn techniques in their coal-fired power stations?

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

_(20 October 1989)_

The information required by the Honourable Member is
not yet available to the Commission. Nevertheless the
Council, on 24 November 1988, adopted a Directive
(88/609/EEC) (') on the limitation of emissions of
certain pollutants into the air from large combustion
plants.

All new plants, i.e. those authorized from 1 July 1987,
must, in general, comply with emission limits which, in
the case of large sized power stations, imply the use of
flue gas desulphurization devices and burners producing
low NOx emissions.

No C 39/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

Not later than 1 July 1990, Member States shall draw up
appropriate programmes for the progressive reduction of
total annual emissions from existing plants.

In several cases, these programmes will certainly include
the use of desulphurization devices and low NOx burners.
National legislation in force in some Member States
already requires the use of such devices.

The above-mentioned programmes, which no doubt will
include detailed data on all the largest existing power
plants, shall be communicated to the Commission not
later than 31 December 1990.

O OJNoL336,7. 12. 1988, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 370/89

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/33)

_Subject:_ Research and development into renewable fuels

Could the Commission indicate whether any Community
research and development funds are currently being spent
on investigation into the conversion of automobiles to
methanpl-and ethanol-based fuels? If so, could the
Commission indicate the amounts and the research

institutes involved? If not, could the Commission indicate

whether it intends to fund such research in the future?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 November 1989)_

R&D on transportation in the JOULE (') programme is
carried out in the subprogramme Rational Use of Energy.
This research follows three main lines:

— improvement of existing petrol and diesel engines
(higher efficiency, lower pollution),

— development of methanol- or ethanol-fuelled fuel
cells for electrical vehicles,

— development of advanced batteries for electrical
vehicles to provide cost-effective, energy-efficient
and pollution-free short and medium distance
transportation.

The list of laboratories participating in the CEC
programme for the development of methanol-fuelled fuel
cells for transportation (1986—1989) is as follows:

_(ecus)_

Johnson Mathey, UK

Southampton University, UK

CNRS Meudon, F

Poitiers University, F

Bonn University, D

Cork Un iversity, IRL

Energy Res. Lab., DK

Oxford University, UK

Grenoble University, F

SORAPEC, F

Total

340 000

80 000

48 000

64 000

220 000

100 000

230 000

90 000

30 000

225 000

1 427 000

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat-General of the European
Parliament the energy conservation R&D Programme
1985—1988.

O OJNoL98,11.4.1989, p. 13.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 391/89

by Mr James Moorhouse (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/34)

_Subject:_ Observation of the environmental assessment
directive

Can the Commissioner say whether the British
Government has properly observed the requirements of
the European Directive on environmental assessment with
respect to the East London river crossing and Oxleas
Woodland, which is designated under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act (1981) a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSSI) and, if not, what action he is proposing to take?

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

_(30 October 1989)_

The Commission's attention was drawn to the East

London River Crossing and Oxleas Woodland by a
complainant who gave a detailed description of the plans
and the planning procedure in connection with the
decision to establish the East London River Crossing.

Directive 85/337/EEC ('), on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment, was adopted by the Council on 27 June
1985, notified to the Member States on 3 July 1985 and
entered into force three years after its notification; that is,
on 3 July 1988.

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/17

According to Article 2 of Directive 85/337/EEC, Member
States shall ensure that before consent is given, projects
likely to have significant effects on the environment by
virtue _inter Jilia_ of their nature, size or location, are made
subject to an assessment with regard to their effects.

Article 1 (2) defines development consent at the decision
of the competent authority, which entitles the developer
to proceed with the project.

The complainant originally informed the Commission
that the final decision on the East London River Crossing
was made by the Secretaries of State for Transport and
the Environment in July 1987 when the Directive was not
in force.

However, by letter received in late September, the
complainant informed the Commission that there had
been an error in the original complaint and that the final
decision was taken on 28 September 1988 when the
Directive was in force. Based on this, the Commission will
now write to the United Kingdom authorities to establish
further the facts of the case.

(') OJNoL175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 394/89

by Mr Ernest Glinne (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 39/35)

_Subject:_ Doubtful quality of anti-wrinkle cosmetic
products

Following attempts by the United States Food and Drug
Administration over the last two years to dissuade
producers of expensive cosmetics from making excessive
claims as to the virtues of anti-wrinkle creams, the United
Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry has just
taken action against costly products claiming cellular
renewal of the face, whose effects are very short-lived.
Both in the United States and in the United Kingdom the
producers concerned are obliged to moderate their
pseudo-scientific claims or have their products banned
from sale and to submit their creams to controlled test

procedures: the ravages of the years cannot be repaired
despite pots of Retin-A, etc. Can the Commission state
what measures have been taken pursuant to Directive
76/768/EEC (') as amended (see Mr Vingelio Pereira's
report to the European Parliament, Doc. A 2-0334/88)
with a view not only to approximating the legislation of
the Member States but also to prohibiting misleading
dermatological claims? Is Retin-A authorized on
Community territory? Should not producers at least
indicate the ingredients of their miracle creams so as .not
to delude consumers? Should not special preliminary

testing and control departments be set up in the Member
States along the lines of those which exist in the strictly
pharmaceutical field?

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

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 November 1989)_

Retin-A is one of the substances which cosmetic products
must not contain (substance 375 in the list in Annex II
referred to in Article 4 (a) of Council Directive
76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products).
Moreover, under the Tenth Commission Directive of
2 March 1988 ('), the use of the substance in question was
prohibited in order to protect public health.

The question of misleading claims referred to by the
Honourable Member is covered by Article 6 (2) of the
abovementioned Directive 76/768/EEC and by Council
Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 on the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States concerning misleading
advertising ( [2] ), which confer on the competent authorities
powers enabling them to deal with any irregularities.

The Commission has begun preparatory work on the
listing of ingredients contained in cosmetic products,
marketing procedures and other matters, in particular the
definition of a cosmetic product, with a view to adapting
the abovementioned Directive 76/768/EEC to

developments in modern cosmetology. A proposal to
amend the Directive is due to be published shortly.

O OJNoL105,26. 4. 1988.
O OJ No L 250, 19.9. 1984.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 396/89

by Mr Terence Wynn (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7September 1989)_

(90/C 39/36)

_Subject:_ Newsagents' monopoly to sell newspapers

Will the position in the United Kingdom, where
newsagents are the only shops to sell newspapers, be
changed? Is there any regulation or directive, existing or
planned, that could alter this position?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 October 1989)_

According to the information available to the
Commission, newsagents are not the only shops to sell

Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90
No C 39/18

newspapers in the United Kingdom Newspapers are also
sold by non-traditional retailers like petrol stations,
supermarkets, tobacconists and confectioners although
newsagents represent the majority of the retailers selling

newspapers.

No specific Community regulation or directive altering
the present situation in the United Kingdom is actually
existing or envisaged.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 398/89

by Mr Terence Wynn(S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7SeptrmhrJ989)_

(90/C 39/37)

_Subject:_ Safety of Cross-Channel ferries

What steps can the Commission take to ensure the safety
standards of ships, registered in non-European ports, that
operate on regular Channel crossings.

How can members be assured that safety standards on
two ships, recently purchased by Seahnk and registered in
the Bahamas, do not circumvent current British and

French standards?

How valid are the fears expressed in the SNCF report (the
French rail and ferry operator) about the stability m
rough seas of the two ships concerned, the Fantasia and

the Fiesta?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

_(23 October 1989)_

In the context of the Communication of the Commission

to the Council of August 1989 (') about the future of the
Community shipping industry and taking account of the
proposal of the European Parliament on maritime safety,
the Commission addressed a Recommendation to

Member States on improving the effectiveness of Port
State Control in the Community

As regards fears expressed about their stability in rough
seas, the Commission can only assert that the two ships

j u . ~-. n,iilv w th a the IMO rules on
concerned have to compt) « ' " '
stability.

The Commission has the status of observer within the
international organizations dealing with safety, technical
j i „. „,,.l endeavours to use every
and social aspects, ami t I I U M, _'_
opportunity offered by this status to ensure that the
highest standards of safety in shipping are maintained.

(') Doc. COM(89) 266.

What EEC Member States have laws making it a criminal
offence or otherwise penalizing employers who hire
workers who are 'illegal' or 'overstayers' or whose
immigration status is in anyway irregular?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(25 October 1989)_

The laws of all the Member States, except Ireland,
provide for penalties to be imposed on employers who
knowingly recruit workers in an irregular situation or
who offer illicit employment.

These penalties may be of a pecuniary nature or in some
cases both pecuniary and penal, ranging as far as prison

sentences.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 420/89

by Mrs Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/39)

_Subject:_ An annual report on the environmental situation
in the European Community

Each year the Commission publishes two reports on the
economic and social situation in the European
Community.

Does not the Commission consider that, in addition to
these reports, it would be useful to publish an annual
report on the environmental situation in the European
Community, and that such a report is needed?

If so, when can Parliament except such a report to appear?

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

_(25 October 1989)_

The Action Programme of the European Communities
relating to the environment 1987—1992 provides for the
publication of a Report on the State of the Environment

WRITTEN QUESTION No 408/89

by Mr Edward Newman (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/38)

_Subject:_ Liabilities of employers hiring
without regularized status'

immigrants

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/19

in the Community every three years. The next report
(reference year 1989) is being prepared and will be
published in mid-June 1990.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 425/89

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/40)

_Subject:_ Survey of EC environmental measures

In connection with the European Year of the
Environment, the Commission has published a survey
entitled 'European Community Environment Legislation
1967—1987', Doc. No XI/989/87. Since EC
environmental legislation is in a state of rapid evolution,
this survey is now completely outdated. It would
therefore be highly desirable to publish additions in a
single volume regularly, i.e. at least once a year, and issue
the entire document periodically, preferably once every
three years, in updated form.

One major shortcoming of the survey up to 1987 is that,
in the case of noise pollution, it lists only the titles of the
legislation and omits the texts or even a general summary,
although noise pollution is a major environmental and
public health problem.

1. Can the Commission say whether the omission of
texts and summaries in the case of legislation on noise
reduction reflects the low priority which the
Community attaches to noise pollution, as also
evidenced by the small number of staff assigned to
noise reduction?

2. Would the Commission be willing to provide the
missing texts on noise legislation as soon as possible?

3. Is the Commission prepared to regularly update its
survey on environment legislation?

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

_(30 October 1989)_

1. The decision not to include noise legislation in the
survey entitled 'European Community Environment
Legislation 1967—1987' is totally unrelated to the
priorities of Community policy. Noise legislation was not

included because it is of a highly technical nature. Other
directives of a similarly technical character have not been
included either.

2 and 3. Yes.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 430/89

by Mr Anthony Simpson (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/41)

_Subject:_ Rabies

I refer to Written Question No 2161/88 (') by Mr James
Ford in which you give a table setting out the number of
deaths from rabies in each of the Member States between

1980 and 1987.

1. Can you give similar figures for 1988?

2. Can you state, for each year between 1980 and 1988,
the number of humans who contracted rabies in each

of the Member States but did not die from it?

3. In respect of each case of rabies, whether fatal or not,
between 1980 and 1988, can you state, for each
Member State, whether that case of rabies was
contracted within the European Community or
outside the Community? It is to be noted that in the
United Kingdom three people died, in 1981, 1986 and
1987 and in that Member State rabies is not endemic.

O OJNoC208,14. 8. 1989, p. 26.

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 October 1989)_

1. There was a total of three deaths from rabies in the

Member States in 1988:

— Belgium: 1

— United Kingdom: 2

No deaths were recorded in the other Member States in

1988.

2. There are no reliable Community statistics on the
incidence of rabies but, once declared, the disease has a
mortality rate of 100 %.

By way of example the following figures are available for
France for 1987:

— 14 654 persons reported to one of the 64 anti-rabies

centres;

No C 39/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

— of those, some 7 890, i.e. 53,3 %, were actually treated
for rabies;

— no deaths from rabies were recorded in France in

1987.

3. The geographical breakdown of the cases of death
from rabies, between 1980 and 1988, is as follows:

— 14 cases imported from non-member countries: India,
Rwanda, Zaire, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Zambia.

None of the cases originated in the Member States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 435/89

by Mr Francois de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/42)

_Subject:_ Export of toxic wastes to developing countries

On 8 June 1989, Belgian environmental health inspectors
examined two trucks carrying metallic waste from
Charleroi (Belgium) at the Belgian-Dutch border. Initial
enquiries indicated that the final destination of the cargo
was Produquimica, a Brazilian-based firm which had
already given cause for concern on several occasions for
violating Brazilian law in respect of the environment.

On 5 July 1989, a similar load bound for Luxembourg was
stopped at the same place as the inspectors suspected it
was to be resold in India.

1. Has the Commission been informed of the outcome of

the inquiry undertaken by the Belgian authorities and,
if so, what lessons can it draw therefrom?

2. In particular, does the Commission intend to propose
that the current directive (the post-Seveso directive of
December 1984) be tightened up?

3. Does the Commission intend to propose that the ACP
States introduce in the next Lome Convention

provisions concerning the transfer of waste from
industrialized countries to the developing countries?

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

_(31 October 1989)_

1 and 2. The Commission has been informed that there

have been movements of metallic waste from Denmark,
Italy and Belgium to the Netherlands for collection and

despatch to the firm mentioned by the Honourable
Member.

On examining this matter, the Commission has concluded
that the present Community system for non-ferrous metal
waste, a simplified procedure laid down in Council
Directive 84/631/EEC on the supervision and control
within the European Community of the transfrontier
shipment of hazardous waste (*), should be tightened up.
In any case, the recent Basle Convention of 22 March
1989 on the control of transboundary movements of
hazardous wastes and their disposal has already made it
necessaiy to amend the Community legislation in
important respects. The Commission intends to put
forward proposals to this effect before the summer of
1990.

3. Yes. The Parliament has already been informed of
the Commission's attitude towards the ACP countries by
the communication of ^ 18 September 1989 on a
Community strategy for waste management ( [2] ).

(*) OJ No L 326, 13. 12. 1984, p. 31, as last amended by
Commission Directive 87/112/EEC (OJ No L 48,
17.2. 1987, p. 31).
O SEC(89) 934 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 436/89

by Mr Dimitrios Dessylas (CG)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/43)

_Subject:_ Measures to prevent forest fires

Large-scale forest fires, particularly in the Mediterranean
countries including Greece, have increased dramatically
with devastating environmental effects on the climate,
land, watercourses, flora and fauna, and, generally
speaking, the quality of life of the inhabitants.

1. Given that on average no more than 10% of burnt
woodland benefits from reafforestation in Greece, can
the Commission state what specific programmes have
been submitted by the Greek authorities (broken
down by expenditure, percentage of, funding,
programme development, uptake of appropriations,
specific measures) within the framework of:

a) Regulation (EEC) No 1975/82 0 on the
acceleration of agricultural development in certain
regions of Greece;

b) Regulations (EEC) No 3528/86 and (EEC) No
3529/86 ( [2] ) on the protection of forests against
atmospheric pollution and fires;

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/21

c) the Greek IMPs (together with any amendments
proposed thereto by the IMP monitoring
committees);

d) Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 ( [3] ).

2. What proposals have been submitted in the
environmental development project (EDP) established
by the Greek Government?

3. What compensation has been granted to Greek
regions affected by fires within the framework of the
regulation on natural disasters (broken down by
region and amount of funding) ?

4. Are there any other Community measures in the
forestry sector under which Community aid was
sought before 15 June 1989 (the day on which seven
new EEC regulations on forest fires were issued viz.
1609 — 1615/89 O) or under which it could now be
sought?

O OJNoL214,22.7. 1982, p. 1.
O OJ No L 328,21. 11. 1986, pp. 2 and 5.
(») OJNoL93,30. 3. 1985, p. 1.
O OJNoL165,15.6. 1989,p. 1 _etseq._

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(19 December 1989)_

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

information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 445/89

by Mr Kenneth Stewart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/44)

_Subject:_ The European fighter aircraft

Is the Commission aware of the concern of the workforce

at Lucas Aerospace Netherton Merseyside, about the
possible loss of jobs, depending on future contracts for
constant-speed-drive generating units.

Are they also aware that there have been indications that
these components could be supplied by Bendix/Ferranti
from the US and that this company's component is being
replaced in the USA with the constant-drive type of unit
as supplied by Lucas Aerospace?

Would the Commission confirm that the idea of

providing an aircraft of this nature was a European
project to stop reliability on the United States of America
for such equipment?

Would the Commissioners agree that the technology to
provide such vital parts is contained within Europe, and
the overriding factor should be the best available
equipment, and not the cost factor alone?

Will the Commission bear in mind the very high
unemployment rate within the European Member States,
and alert the appropriate Member States to these facts?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(27 October 1989)_

The Honourable Member's question relates to the
sub-contracting of work by one company to another.
There is no formal obligation to notify the Commission
of negotiations on the award of such a contract,
particularly when it relates to military equipment.

Since the procedure for awarding the contract in question
does not appear to have infringed Community rules, there
is no reason for the Commission to intervene.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 475/89

by Mr James Ford (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/45)

_Subject:_ Validity of residence permits in the Federal
Republic of Germany

Does the Commission consider that the Treaty of Rome's
provision for free movement of labour is being breached
in the Federal Republic of Germany, where non-German
EC citizens have to present both their passport and
residence permit, even though the latter serves as an
adequate substitute for the official identity card, in order
to enter and work in government buildings?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(10 November 198 9)_

The Commission does not consider that the practice
mentioned by the Honourable Member infringes the
Community rules dealing with free movement of workers,
since such checks do not affect the exercise of the right of
free movement (see point 12 of the European Court of
Justice ruling of 27 April 1989 in Case 321/87) ( [l] ).

(') Report of cases 1989, p. 1.

No C 39/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 478/89

by Mr Karl von Wogau (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/46)

_Subject:_ Free movement of capital

Council Directive 88/361/EEC of 24 June 1988 for the

implementation of Article 67 of the Treaty (') mentions
the possibility of particular difficulties arising in certain
Member States in the market for secondary residences.
Accordingly, Article 6 (4) of the Directive provides for
derogations.

When will the Council adopt further provisions in this
area in accordance with Article 69 of the EEC Treaty?
Can the Council thereby ensure that freedom to acquire
secondary residences throughout the Community will be
possible by the set deadline of 1 January 1993?

O OJ No L 178, 8. 7. 1988, p. 5.

Answer

_(31 December 1989)_

It is for the Commission to determine when it might
usefully submit a proposal on freedom to acquire
secondary residences.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 479/89

by Mrs Cristiana Muscardini and Mr Giuseppe Rauti (NI)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/47)

_Subject:_ Setting up Community bodies for fire prevention
and control

In view of the extremely serious fires which have occurred
this summer in several regions of the Member States,
destroying thousands of hectares of woodland and scores
of houses and causing numerous deaths and injuries, and
since, as observed by Haroun Tazieff, a volcanologist of
international renown, only preventive measures are truly
effective, does the Council of Ministers intend to develop
a Community policy of fire prevention and control,
requiring the Member States to set up a Community civil
defence authority, establishing what resources and
manpower should be available in each of the Community
Member States (at present Italy is reported to have 3
operational 'Canadair' fire-fighting aircraft, France 24,
Greece 13, Spain 12 and Yugoslavia 7), so that such

manpower and resources can be pooled where necessary,
providing a Community satellite with the same functions
as the 'Argus' satellite (which should become operational
in Italy in 1990), requiring the national governments to
educate and inform the public about this problem through
the national mass media and in all types of educational
establishment at every level, carrying out preventive
assessments of risk areas (taking account of winter
rainfall levels), studying alternative systems to the
'Canadair' aircraft wherever possible (on a permanent
basis in high-risk areas), since the seawater dropped by
such aircraft frequently renders the soil infertile and, in
any case, they cannot always be used for example if there
are strong winds or unfavourable seas, and providing
adequate funds for the immediate replanting of the
burned areas with suitable vegetation?

Answer

_(31 December 1989)_

1. The Council, which is aware of the situation
referred to by the Honourable Members, approved a
Resolution at its meeting on 19 September 1989 in which
it asked the Commission, in conjunction with the Member
States, to start looking into the prevention of natural
hazards in the Community, particularly those associated
with forest fires.

2. As early as November 1986 the Council, which was
concerned by the increasing number of forest fires in the
Community, adopted Regulation (EEC) No 3529/86 on
protection of the Community's forests against fire. That
Regulation establishes a Community scheme to provide
increased protection for forests in the Community, by
means of the following preventive measures:

(a) encouragement for forestry operations designed to
reduce the risk of fire;

(b) encouragement for the purchase of brush-clearance
equipment where indispensable;

(c) the provision of forest roads, fire belts and water
supplies;

(d) the installation of fixed or mobile look-out

structures;

(e) the organization of information compaigns;

(f) assistance in establishing interdisciplinary
data-gathering centres and assistance for subsequent
analytical surveys of the data gathered.

These measures were supplemented by the following:

— encouragement for the training of highly specialized
personnel;

— encouragement for the harmonization of techniques
and equipment;

t 9 ^ 9 0 COfficial journal of the European Communities N o C ^ 9 B ^

— coordination of the research necessary for
implementing the measures referred to in the first and
second indents.

^ Lender this Regulation, Iviember states have to
submit to the Commission each year their programmes or
nrojects to increase the nrotection of forests against fire.

^ COn ^9 lviay!989 the Council confirmed its concern
at the situation of forests in the Community and in view
of the fact that desnite the preventive measures taken
forest fires each year affect large areas of the
Community^ forests agreed, hy adopting Regulation
(EEC) NolDl^B89,that it was necessary to sunnlement
the measures in Regulation (EEC) No ^ 9 B 8 6 hy
a^^onriate measures to ensure more effective protection
of forests against fires.

Thus, the Community scheme now also covers measures
to encourage nilot nrojects and e^neriments in new
techniques and technologies, and the development of
equir^rnent and products which may increase the
effectiveness ofmeasures to nrotectforests against fires.

^ At the same time,with the adoption of Regulation
(EEC) NolDl^B89, the Council establishedaEuronean
Forestry Information and Communication system
narticularlywithaview to facilitating the imnlementation
of Precisions taken at national and regional level
concerning the forestry sector and thereby improving
knowledgeofthatsectoratall levels.

6. Furthermore, by virtue of the fourth indent of
ArticlelofRegulation(EEC)NolDlOB89concerningthe
scheme to develon and optimally utilize woodlands in
rural areas inthe Community, also adonted on ^9lviay
1989, the Council has now provided for the possibility of
a Community financial contribution towards the
reconstitutionofwoodlanddamaged by fires in regions
whose develonmentis lagging behind.

^. Also on ^9 ^viay 1989,the Council formally set una
standing Forestry Committee which ensures the exchange
of information between ^iembe^r states and the

Commission on the situation of and development in
forestry and onforestrynolicy.

8. Finally,as regards the introduction ofaCommunity
civil nrotection body, referred to by the Flonourable
members in their question, no specific Commission
nronosals are currently before the Council. Flowever, the
Council would draw the Flonourable ^iembers^attention

to theResolution it adopted in 198^,together withthe
Renreseutatives of the Covernments of the member

states meeting withinthe Council.Theydecidedonthe
introduction of a Cuide to Civil R^otection m hte

European Community,includiugalist of liaison officers
f^om the ^viembe^ states and the Commission in the civil

nrotection field so that the information collected will heln

to oroduceaclea^e^nicture of the assistance available in

each member ^tate in the eventof adisaster, enabling
sueh assistance to be better and more swiftly used.

They agreedthat regular meetings of nersons responsible
for civil nrotection in the member states may be held to
ensure that the member states are imnlementing the
various initiatives which they will be responsible for
determining.

They also decided to encourage, in cooperation with the
Commission, e^changesof nersons resnonsibleforcivil
nrotection.

^R^TTEN^tlE^T^CONNo^oB^

hy^r]esusCabezonAlonso(^)

to the Commission of the European Commumties

( ^ C ^ c ^ ^ r ^ ^

(90BC^9B^8)

^ ^ c r . Procedural guidelines of the Foundation for
Environmental Education in Eurone

COn what basis does the Foundation forEnvironmental

Education in Eurone allocate the so-called ^blueflags^ to
different beaches in the Iviember states of the EECB

^hatrelationshin or link does this Foundation have with
the Community Institutions, and with the Commission in
particulars

Answer^ivenhy^rRi^adil^e^na
on behalf of the Commission

( ^ C ^ c ^ ^ r ^ ^

The Blue Flag of Eurone is awarded in three categories^
beaches,norts and nleasureboats.

The Blue Flag for beaches, the most important category,
isawardedonthebasisof threegrounsof criteria^the
q u a l i t y o f n a ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ d t h e c o a s t l i n e, t h e management
and safety of the bathing areas, and nublic education and
information. Comnliance with the legislation on the
qualityofb^thingwaters is an essential element.

The Blue Flag scheme was an initiative of the Foundation
for Environmental Education in Eurone, which owns the
logo

It was launched asaEuroneannroiect in 198^,European
^ear of the Environment, with the heln of the
Commission.

The^tee^ingCommitteefortheEuronean^eare^nressed
the wish that this nro^ect, among others, should be
continued and the Commission therefore continued its

sunno^t — financialand administrative — inboth 1988

and 1989.Thesubsidiesgrantedby the Commissions
t h e F E E E a n d t o t h e associations which it designates to

No C 39/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

run the Blue Flag campaign in the participating countries
are the subject of agreements setting out the obligations
of the bodies concerned.

The Commission has no other link with the FEEE.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 501/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/49)

_Subject:_ Commercial agreement with the USSR

Can the Council say what stage has been reached in
negotiations for a commercial and economic cooperation
agreement with the USSR which we, the European
Parliament's delegation to that country, continually
talked about during our recent visit there?

Answer

_(10 January 1990)_

Negotiations with the USSR to conclude a trade and
commercial and economic cooperation agreement are
progressing satisfactorily. Following the adoption of
negotiating directives by the Council on 12 June 1989, a
preliminary negotiating meeting was held on 19 and 20
July

At the second negotiating meeting, on 9 and 10 October,
the two parties examined a draft text of an agreement in
greater detail. Progress was made, but several points
remained unresolved. Negotiations were concluded on 27
November 1989 after a third negotiating meeting. The
Agreement was signed on 18 December 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 550/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/50)

_Subject:_ Marine Science and Technology Committee

Will the Commission state what progress has been made
in the formation of the MAST committee and what

response DG XII has received so far from the Permanent
Representatives with regard to the nomination of
delegates to the committee?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(9 November 1989)_

Nominations to the MAST Committee were requested
from the Member States shortly after the adoption of the
Council common position on 14 March 1989 ('). All
nominations were received by early July.

The Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable
Member that the MAST Committee held its first meeting
on 4 October 1989.

(') OJNoC93, 14. 4. 1989, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 555/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/51)

_Subject:_ Right of abode proposals

What progress has been made by the Council in reaching a
joint decision on the right of abode proposals covering
students, pensioners and others in the Community?

Answer

_(19 December 1989)_

The Council held a preliminary exchange of views on the
proposals for Directives concerning right of abode at its
meeting on 10 October.

Discussion of these proposals will be stepped up once the
Council has received the Opinion of the European
Parliament.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 617/89

by Mr Fernand Herman (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/52)

_Subject:_ Tax on business gifts

Under Article 5 (6) of the Sixth Directive of 17 May 1977
on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States

relating to turnover taxes, samples or low-value presents

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/25

given for business purposes are not treated as supplies
made for consideration.

Could the Commission say what is the maximum value of
such presents in each Member State?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 December 1989)_

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to
answer the Honourable Member's questions.

It will inform him of its findings as soon as possible.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 629/89

by Mr Mark Killilea (RDE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 39/53)

_Subject:_ Free food for Poland scheme

The Council has allowed the EAGGF Guarantee Section

Fund the free food for Poland scheme in both 1989 and

1990, in spite of the fact that farmers are already paying
heavy co-responsibility levies, and many farmers,
especially in peripheral areas, suffer from poor incomes.

What proposals have the Council made to refund to that
agricultural sector the amount spent on the free food aid
programme?

Answer

_(19 December 1989)_

Co-responsibility levies and other stabilization measures,
which have had to be introduced to balance the

agricultural markets, undeniably weigh heavily on
farmers' incomes. It was for this reason that the Council

accompanied these stringent measures by a series of
measures to improve the position of the poorest farmers
or to offer them alternatives within or outside farming.

Thus for particularly important sectors such as cereals
and milk products the Council introduced arrangements
for small-scale producers to exempt them from the

consequences of the co-responsibility measures. The
Council is also soon to consider, on the basis of a
forthcoming Commission proposal, the possibility of
extending such exemption arrangements for small-scale
producers to the cotton sector.

Also, Community farmers, in particular those in
peripheral or less-favoured regions, qualify for a range of
structural and social policy measures which, by means of
direct income aid or restructuring aid, enable them to
offset possible loss of income as a result of market
measures. They also qualify for allowances should they
give up farming.

The sums paid by the EAGGF (Guarantee and Guidance
Sections) to cover the above measures are considerable
and do not bear comparison with the aid granted to
Poland. With respect to the latter, the Council is
convinced that, far from contesting that aid, the
Honourable Member recognizes the urgent need for it on
humanitarian, economic and political grounds.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 654/89

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/54)

_Subject:_ Vaccine-damaged children

Will the Commission state how many members of the
EEC have enacted legislation to ensure that
vaccine-damaged children receive compensation?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 655/89

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/55)

_Subject:_ Parity for vaccine-damaged children

Will the Commission request the United Kingdom
Government to upgrade the compensation scheme for
vaccine-damaged children in order to bring some
coordination across Member States and ensure that

victims of such vaccine administered in the UK receive no

less treatment than citizens of other EEC countries?

No C 39/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 656/89

by Mr Llewellyn Smith (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/56)

_Subject:_ Compensation for vaccine-damaged children

Will the Commission report on how many EEC countries
pay compensation to vaccine-damaged children; in
particular giving details of the total compensation paid in
Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 654/89,655/89

and 656/89 given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

_(12 December 1989)_

The Commission does not have the information

requested by the Honourable Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 701/89

by Mr Bryan Cassidy (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/57)

_Subject:_ 'Ageism' in recruitment to the European
Commission

In _Official Journal of the European Communities_ No C 234
of 12 September there is a recruitment notice for clerical
assistants (COM/C/676). Anyone over the age of 35 is
excluded.

In _Official Journal of the European Communities_ No C 237
of 15 September 1989 there are recruitment notices for
administrators and assistant administrators (COM/A/
654 and COM/A/689). Anyone over the age of 35 is
excluded.

1. Why does the Commission, which has a 'recruitment
policy designed to ensure equality of opportunity for men
and women', continue to discriminate on grounds of age?

2. Experience shows that Commissioners who are
often appointed at ages much higher than 35 (the age limit
imposed for the above jobs) have no difficulty in
performing their tasks. Why does the Commission

administration have no such confidence that potential
administrators, assistant administrators and clerical
assistants are incapable of learning new tasks if they are
older than 35?

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

_(20 December 1989)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the replies given to his oral questions H-142/89 and
H-145/89 and H-366/89 by Mr Prag which it gave during
question time at Parliament's September, October and
November 1989 part sessions.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 717/89

by Mrs Vlviane Reding (PPE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/58)

_Subject:_ The zero-rating of newspapers and periodicals
for VAT purposes

The Council is preparing to study new proposals for the
harmonization of VAT rates.

In the interests of public information and the democratic
process in the Member States it is important to give the
greatest possible encouragement to the widespread
distribution of newspapers and periodicals, since they
make a significant contribution to social, cultural and
political life.

As a way of reducing the cost to the reader of newspapers
and periodicals, would it not be appropriate to zero-rate
them for VAT purposes throughout the Community?
Within the Community 0 % is the rating most commonly
applied to newspapers, the average being about 3 % and
the maximum 10%. The VAT rate on periodicals in the
Community varies between 0 and 25 %.

Answer

_(10 January 1990)_

Further to the mandate it received from the Madrid

European Council, the ECOFIN Council has in recent
months been examining the indirect taxation
arrangements to be introduced after 1992.

As a result of this work, it adopted at its meeting on 13
November 1989 conclusions which will give practical

19. 2. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 39/27

shape, for undertakings and private individuals, to the
commitments entered into under the Single Act.

The Council agreed to make a further examination of the
approximation of VAT rates at a future meeting.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 733/89

by Mrs Anita Pollack (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/59)

_Subject:_ Milk subsidy

What is the reason for the removal of the EC milk subsidy
from 1 July 1989?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(8 December 1989)_

Since the Commission does not have the information it

would need to investigate the problem referred to by the
Honourable Member, it is not at the moment in a position
to answer her question.

It would therefore ask the Honourable Member to

provide more details.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 736/89

by Mr Ben Fayot (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/60)

_Subject:_ Regular bottlenecks at the Dudelange frontier
post on the border between France and
Luxembourg

Is the Council aware of the serious inconvenience caused

at the above frontier post?

Even though this is a French problem, could the Council
not help to find a solution which would greatly facilitate
the free movement of goods and persons between Benelux
and France?

Answer

_(31 December 1989)_

Intra-Community border controls are the responsibility
of the Member States, which must act in accordance

with the Treaties and the provisions adopted under
them.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 771/89

by Mr James Fitzsimons (RDE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(23 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/61)

_Subject:_ Cargo-only flights

What assurances can the Council give that cargo-only
flights will be liberalized to the same extent as passenger
services by June 1990?

Answer

_(10 January 1990)_

The Council has not yet received any proposals from the
Commission on the matter raised by the Honourable
Member.

The Council would, however, point out that in the
communicati on on the development of civil aviation in the
Community, which the Commission sent it on
8 September 1989, the Commission stated its intention of
submitting proposals on cargo-only services. Once it
receives the proposals announced by the Commission, the
Council will begin examining them without delay.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 872/89

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(29 November 1989)_

(90/C 39/62)

_Subject:_ Demonstration projects

Further to previous questions in connection with
demonstration projects and projects in the field of the
technological development of hydrocarbons as an energy
source for Belgium, subsidized by the Commission, could
the Commission send me the results for 1988?

More specifically, could it send me a description of each
project, the identity and place of residence of each
applicant and the sum allocated to each project?

No C 39/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 90

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 December 1989)_

The Commission will send direct to the Honourable

Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a computer
print-out containing the information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 900/89

by Lord O'Hagan (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(1 December 1989)_

(90/C 39/63)

_Subject:_ 1992 and the Channel Islands

What action has the Commission taken in response to
Parliament's resolution of 26 May 1989 (Document
A 2-86/89) on the rights of small European states and
territories, in which it called on the Commission to
analyze any possible economic repercussions on them (the
Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) of the completion of
the internal market and to make appropriate proposals?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 December 1989)_

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member

to its answer to Written Question No 837/88 by Mr
Collins 0).

O OJNoCl38,5. 6. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 941/89

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(7 December 1989)_

(90/C 39/64)

_Subject:_ Disabled voters

Is the Commission satisfied that adequate facilities are
available within the Community to enable disabled voters
to exercise the franchise?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(21 December 1989)_

The Commission does not have the information

requested by the Honourable Member.