Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

_^ ~ ^_ / * / * • # _A_ "T" "I ISSN 0378-6986
# Orhcial Journal c&9

_r_ i _^ . . Volume 33
### or the European Communities i.M«hi9»o

#### English edition Information and Notices

Notice No Contents p a g e

I _Information_

European Parliament

_Written Questions with answer_

90/C 69/01 No 281 /87 by Mr Pieter Dankert to the Commission

Subject: Tapioca-related guarantee funds opened in the Netherlands (Supplementary answer) 1

90/C 69/02 No 2220/87 by Mr Stephen Hughes to the Commission

Subject: Limitation of emissions from large combustion plants (Supplementary answer) 2

90/C 69/03 No 138/88 by Mr Michele Columbu, Mr Willy Kuijpers, Mr Juan Garaikoetxea
Urriza and Mrjaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission

Subject: Violation by the United Kingdom authorities of the principle of the free movement of
persons (Supplementary answer) 2

90/C 69/04 No 300/89 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission

Subject: Seed catalogue 3

90/C 69/05 No 347/89 by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft to the Commission

Subject: Community aid for Nicaragua 3

90/C 69/06 No 382/89 by Mrs Concepcio Ferrer i Casals to the Foreign Ministers of the Member
States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation
Subject: European Parliament agreement on Iran 4

90/C 69/07 No 404/89 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States
of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Human rights violations in Turkey 5

90/C 69/08 No 405/89 by Lord O'Hagan to the Commission

Subject: European grants for the construction of new fishing vessels 5

90/C 69/09 No 415/89 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission

Subject: Applications under Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 6

2 (Continued overleaf)

Notice N o Contents (continued)

9 0 / C 69/10 N o 426/89 by M r H e m m o Muntingh to the Commission

Subject: Environmental pollution by Community-funded projects 6

9 0 / C 69/11 N o 427/89 by M r Herman Verbeek to the Commission

Subject: Opening up an agricultural area in Friesland 7

9 0 / C 69/12 N o 428/89 by M r John Iversen to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the

European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Eritrea 7

9 0 / C 69/13 N o 429/89 by M r Bryan Cassidy to the Commission

Subject: Commission Newsletter on the Internal Market 'Target 1992' 8

9 0 / C 69/14 N o 451/89 by M r Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission

Subject: Directive on mortgage credit 9

9 0 / C 69/15 N o 452/89 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Foreign Ministers of the Member

States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Violations of human rights in Nicaragua 10

9 0 / C 69/16 N o 456/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: The Community's Forestry Action Programme 11

9 0 / C 69/17 N o 461/89 by M r Kenneth Stewart to the Commission

Subject: ERDF funding to the Mersey Basin Project, which will benefit private speculators due
to the British Government privatizing the water supply 11

9 0 / C 69/18 N o 472/89 by M r Bouke Beumer to the Commission

Subject: Central government debt 12

9 0 / C 69/19 N o 473/89 by Mrs Nicole Fontaine to the Commission

Subject: Community rules on television broadcasts used for educational purposes 13

9 0 / C 69/20 N o 476/89 by M r James Ford to the Commission

Subject: Drinking water standards 13

9 0 / C 69/21 N o 487/89 by Mrs Mary Banotti to the Commission

Subject: E 111 form 14

9 0 / C 69/22 N o 490/89 by M r Henri Chabert to the Commission

Subject: Community action on employment in the Rhone-Alps region 14

9 0 / C 69/23 N o 502/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject: An active Community presence in the countries of Eastern Europe 14

9 0 / C 69/24 N o 503/89 by M r Victor Manuel Axbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the

Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political

Cooperation

Subject: Attack on the Central American University 15

9 0 / C 69/25 N o 507/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa M u r u to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Demonstrators killed in the USSR 15

Notice No Contents (continued)

90/C 69/26 No 508/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: People imprisoned and killed in Yugoslavia 16

90/C 69/27 No 509/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Release of six members of the Islamic Liberation Party of Libya 16

90/C 69/28 No 510/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa. Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Freedom for Houmphannh Norasing, a former member of the Laos Parliament 16

90/C 69/29 No 512/89 by Mr Domenec Romera i Alcazar to the Council
Subject: Political prisoners in Turkey 17

90/C 69/30 No 515/89 by Mr Domenec Romera i Alcazar to the Commission
Subject: Danger posed by the use of mercury in gold extraction 17

90/C 69/31 No 521/89 by Mr Richard Simmonds to the Commission
Subject: Rights of birth parents of adopted children 17

90/C 69/32 No 525/89 by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor to the Commission
Subject: Protecting the area of Ancares 18

90/C 69/33 No 532/89 by Mr Gary Titley to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation
Subject: The Carmelite convent at Auschwitz 18

90/C 69/34 No 534/89 by Mr James Ford to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation
Subject: Kemal Goyluler, Turkish bookseller 18

90/C 69/35 No 536/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Unconstitutional methods used by the army in Colombia 19

90/C 69/36 No 537/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Compulsory sterilization in Brazil 19

90/C 69/37 No 538/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Death sentences in the Yemen Arab Republic 19

90/C 69/38 No 539/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation
Subject: Conviction of Alaattin Sahin, editor of a Turkish political weekly 20

(Continued overleaf)

Notice N o Contents (continued)

90/C69/39

90/C69/40

90/C69/41

90/C69/42

90/C69/43

90/C 69/44

90/C69/45

90/C69/46

90/C69/47

90/C69/48

90/C69/49

90/C69/50

90/C69/51

90/C69/52

90/C 69/53

N o 540/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Arrest of Julius Mwandawiro in Kenya 20

N o 542/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Detention of Dr Laxmi Narayan in Nepal 20

N o 543/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Two years of solitary confinement for Jack Mapanje 20

N o 545/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Eight-year prison sentence for Ibraim Ismailov Arifov 21

N o 547/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Disappearance of peasants in Guatemala 21

N o 548/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Detention of a Turkish journalist 21

N o 549/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Disappearance of peasants in Peru 22

N o 551/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Council

Subject: Community spending on cultural projects _22_

N o 560/89 by M r Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission

Subject: Community involvement in multilateral initiatives to set up large-scale research
facilities 23

N o 565/89 by M r John McCartin to the Commission

Subject: Social Fund rules 23

N o 572/89 by M r Kenneth Collins to the Commission

Subject: Implementation of directives 24

N o 581 /89 by M r Francois de Donnea to the Commission

Subject: Court action brought by the Commission against the Belgian State 24

N o 583/89 by M r Patrick Lane to the Commission

Subject: Safety railings on heavy goods vehicles 24

N o 584/89 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission

Subject: Composition of the Belgian Committee of the European Bureau for Lesser Used
Languages 25

N o 605/89 by M r Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Infringement of Directive 79/409/EEC 25

90/C69/54

90/C69/55

90/C69/56

90/C69/57

90/C69/58

90/C69/59

90/C69/60

90/C69/61

90/C69/62

90/C69/63

90/C69/64

90/C69/65

90/C69/66

90/C69/67

90/C69/68

90/C69/69

Contents (continued)

N o 607/89 by M r Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission

Subject: Organization of the Olympic Games in Greece 26

N o 609/89 by M r Gijs de Vries to the Commission

Subject: US restrictions on free movement in the audiovisual sector 26

N o 615/89 by M r Francois de Donnea to the Council

Subject: Trade in drug precursor products 26

N o 621/89 by M r James Ford to the Commission

Subject: Archaeological restrictions in Spain 27

N o 634/89 by M r Edward Newman to the Commission

Subject: Dirty drinking water in Greater Manchester 27

N o 644/89 by M r Claude Desama to the Commission

Subject: Compulsory mud flaps to be fitted at the back of heavy vehicles 28

N o 645/89 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission

Subject: Compulsory rear-view mirrors for motor cycles and mopeds in the EEC 28

N o 665/89 by M r Alain Madelin to the Commission

Subject: Community financing of a steel production installation for the Italian Finarvedi Group 28

N o 668/89 by Mrs Barbara Simons to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of
the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: New direct investments in South Africa 29

N o 669/89 by Mrs Barbara Simons to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of
the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Oil exports to the Republic of South Africa 29

N o 670/89 by M r William Newton Dunn to the Foreign Ministers of the Member
States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Bilateral Agreements between Member States and the Socialist Republic of Romania 30

N o 672/89 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to the Council

Subject: Compensation for tourists 30

N o 683/89 by M r Jens-Peter Bonde to the Council

Subject: ILO Convention 30

N o 690/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Foreign Ministers of the Member
States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Help for Poland 31

N o 692/89 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission

Subject: Compliance with the rules governing competitive tendering 31

N o 697/89 by M r Jose Valverde Lopez to the Council

Subject: Recognition of university degrees of the medical professions in Andorra and
professional ethics 31

(Continued overleaf)

Notice N o Contents (continued)

9 0 / C 69/70 N o 702/89 by M r Fernand Herman to the Commission

Subject: Abuse by national administrations impeding freedom of movement 32

9 0 / C 69/71 N o 706/89 by M r Terence Wynn to the Commission

Subject: Getting answers to questions 33

9 0 / C 69/72 N o 715/89 by M r William Newton Dunn to the Foreign Ministers of the Member

States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: The young boy Csaba Szilagyi detained by the Romanian authorities 34

9 0 / C 69/73 N o 724/89 by M r Gerard Deprez to the Council

Subject: Food aid to Ethiopia 34

9 0 / C 69/74 N o 797/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject: Trade union rights in Turkey 34

9 0 / C 69/75 N o 800/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject: Ratification of the European Social Charter 35

9 0 / C 69/76 N o 804/89 by M r Antoni Gutierrez Diaz to the Council

Subject: Imprisonment of the journalist-Jorge Sanchez Garcia in Afghanistan 35

9 0 / C 69/77 N o 817/89 by Mrs Nel van Dijk to the Council

Subject: Decriminalization of prostitution 35

9 0 / C 69/78 N o 865/89 by M r Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Council

Subject: Conference of European regional and local authorities in Munich 35

9 0 / C 69/79 N o 866/89 by M r Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Foreign Ministers of the Member

States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: EPC initiative on the treatment of the Kurds 36

9 0 / C 69/80 N o 906/89 by Mrs Viviane Reding to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of

the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Exit visa for Mikhail Kazachkov 36

9 0 / C 69/81 N o 962/89 by M r Gianfranco Amendola, M r Virginio Bettini and M r Enrico Falqui

to the Council

Subject: Implementation of Council resolution on environmental education 37

9 0 / C 69/82 N o 969/89 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Council

Subject: Effect of tariff preferences granted to Poland and Hungary 37

9 0 / C 69/83 N o 1017/89 by M r Carlos Robles Piquer to the Foreign Ministers of the Member

States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Executions in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone 37

9 0 / C 69/84 N o 1022/89 by M r Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Council

Subject: European university campuses 38

(Continued on inside back cover)

Notice No

90/C69/85

90/C69/86

90/C69/87

90/C69/88

90/C69/89

90/C69/90

90/C69/91

90/C 69/92

90/C 69/93

90/C69/94

90/C69/95

90/C 69/96

Contents (continued) Page

No 1023/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: A person sentenced to death in Swaziland 38

No 1024/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Execution of drug pedlars in Iran 38

No 1025/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Prisoners of Turkish origin in Bulgaria 39

No 1026/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: The Turkish political prisoner ServincTekekeli-Oztas 39

No 1027/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Political detainees in Sudan 39

No 1032/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Political prisoners in Jordan 40

No 1034/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Imprisonment without trial in the Congo 40

No 1035/89 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the European Community meeting in European Political
Cooperation

Subject: Extrajudicial executions in Zaire 40

No 1056/89 by Mrs Maartje van Putten to the Foreign Ministers of the Member
States of the European Community meeting in European Political Cooperation

Subject: Northern Cyprus 41

No 1072/89 by Mr Jose Alvarez de Paz to the Council

Subject: The social dimension and reform of the treaties 41

No 1097/89 by Mr Alfred Lomas to the Council

Subject: Directives concerned with the Single European Act 41

No 1321/89 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission

Subject: The use of high-tech sound devices at race meetings 42

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C69/1

_(Information)_

###### EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 281/87

by Mr Pieter Dankert (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 May 1987)_

(90/C 69/01)

_Subject:_ Tapioca-related guarantee funds opened in the
Netherlands

In its answer to Written Question No 735/86 ('), the
Commission states that funds have been opened in the
Netherlands in order to reimburse tapioca importers
subject to a 'special' levy upon classification of the
product by the authorities responsible, during customs
processing at import, under tariff heading No 23.07 of the
Common Customs Tariff.

1. Can the Commission confirm that these funds have

been opened at, and are managed by, the Principal
Commodity Board for Agricultural products in The
Hague, which comes under the Ministry of
Agriculture?

2. If so, does the Commission regard it a welcome
development that national authorities responsible for
implementing the common agricultural policy should
also act as an insurance company, as it were, providing
compensation for importers as soon as they face levies
under Community legislation?

3. Is it true that departments responsible for own
resources administration have been involved in the

management of these funds in order to determine
which importers qualify for 'compensation'?

4. If so, is it a welcome development that departments
responsible for own resources administration assist
the business community and is compensation for this
obtained by the Netherlands authorities from the
undertakings concerned and deducted from the
compensation granted by the Community to the
Netherlands for the collection of own resources?

(') OJ No C 226, 24. 8. 1986, p. 4.

Supplementary answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(18 October 1989)_

Further to the answer it gave on 5 January 1989 ('), the
Commission is now able to give the results of its
investigations.

1 and 2. According to the information that the
Commission has been given by the Dutch Government,
the guarantee fund in question resulted from a private
agreement between tapioca carriers and importers and
was intended to make the carriers pay part of the extra
levy charged to the importer when the product was
classified with a view to release for free circulation under

heading No 23.07 of the former Common Customs Tariff
by virtue of its true composition. The _Hoofdproduktschap_
_voor Akkerbouwprodukten_ (HPA — Principal Commodity
Board for Agricultural Products) was concerned solely
with the material administration of the guarantee fund in
question, and this activity was unrelated to the tasks and
prerogatives delegated by the Ministry of Agriculture as
regards the implementation of the Community
agricultural policy.

This fund operated from the end of October 1979 until 31
March 1983, when the parties involved decided to
terminate the agreement on the guarantee fund. Since the
fund is now a thing of the past, the Commission does not
consider it appropriate to examine in depth the question
of whether the Dutch Government could be accused of

having interfered improperly in the Community
mechanisms governing trade with non-member countries
in the products in question through the material
involvement of the HPA in the management of the
guarantee fund.

3 and 4. In any case, the importers of the goods in
question paid import duty at the rate laid down by
Community rules and the operation of the guarantee fund
had no financial consequences on the Community budget.

O OJNoC 145,12.6.1989.

No C 69/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2220/87

by Mr Stephen Hughes (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(4 February 1988)_

(90/C 69/02)

_Subject:_ Limitation of emissions from large combustion
plants

In reply to Written Question No 596/87 (*), the
Commission stated that it was currently evaluating
measures adopted under Directive 84/360/EEC which
had a time limit for compliance of 30 June 1987.

Can the Commission advise me when it will be in a

position to make public this evaluation?

0) OJ No C 61, 4. 3. 1988, p. 15.

Supplementary answer given by Mr Ripa de Meana
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 November 1989)_

Further to its answer of 21 April 1988 ('), the Commission
is now able to supply the results of its evaluation.

Having examined the greater part of national legislation
incorporating Directive 84/360/EEC on the combating
of air pollution from industrial plants ( [2] ), the Commission
has at this stage initiated infringement procedures against
the Netherlands and Belgium for failure to comply in full,
and against Luxembourg for misapplication.

In the case of Greece, infringement procedures for failure
to communicate national measures have reached the point
of referral to the Court of Justice.

O OJNoC 317, 12. 12. 1988.
O OJNoL 188, 16.7. 1984, p. 20.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 138/88

by Mr Michele Columbu, Mr Willy Kuijpers, Mr Juan
Garaikoetxea Urriza and Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke

(ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(17 May 1988)_

(90/C 69/03)

_Subject:_ Violation by the United Kingdom authorities of
the principle of the free movement of persons

On 7 February 1988, Mr Labhras O Murchu, an Irish
citizen and chairman of the association of Irish traditional

musicians, was stopped at Leeds airport in England by
passport control officials who demanded that he
'translate' his own name, which appears in Gaelic on his
passport, into English. When he refused, he was insulted
and threatened with arrest under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Given that:

1. Gaelic is an offical language of an EEC Member State
and an official language of the Treaties;

2. Irish citizens have a legal right to have their own
names in Gaelic on their passports and all other
official documents;

3. Mr O Murchu's case is not an isolated episode given
that a great many Irish citizens arriving in the United
Kingdom have suffered the same treatment;

4. the Irish Government has protested to the British
Government against such discrimination on numerous
occasions;

5. under the Treaties, EEC citizens have the right to
move from one State to another without hindrance or

discrimination subject to justified restriction on
grounds of public order, public safety and public
health, which cannot cover the use of Gaelic on a

passport.

is the Commission aware that the United Kingdom
authorities are pursuing such absurd and anti-Community
practices and what steps does it intend taking to put an
end to them once and for all?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(29 November 1989)_

Further to its answer of 17 May 1988 ('), the Commission
is now able to inform the Honourable Members that it has

contacted the United Kingdom authorities who have in
turn informed it that the Home Office has taken steps to
ensure that incidents similar to the one described in the

Honourable Members' question do not occur in future.
By circular dated 15 October 1988, the Home Office has
instructed that an officer checking a person's identity
must in principle accept the name given on a passport; if
he suspects that the person concerned is trying to avoid
being identified, he may ask whether that person has
previously entered the United Kingdom under another
name. If the officer's suspicions are not allayed, he may
call on a central unit to assist him in the identification.

O OJNoC 1,2.1.1989.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/3

WRITTEN QUESTION No 300/89

by Lord O'Hagan (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(11 August 1989)_

(90/C 69/04)

_Subject:_ Seed catalogue

The European Community's seed catalogue has
threatened unusual and local varieties of vegetable and
plant.

1. What is the justification for this catalogue ?

2. Is the Commission satisfied that the objectives
hitherto specified are being carried out in practice?

3. Will the Commission now drop this seed catalogue?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(30 October 1989)_

Production and use of quality seed of improved varieties
has always constituted one of the priorities of the
common agricultural policy.

Official variety catalogues greatly promote agriculture in
the countries concerned by disseminating good varieties
which, for example, have contributed significantly to the
fight against hunger in many parts of the world.
Restrictive lists of varieties are established to prevent the
marketing of unknown or unsuitable material and to
ensure that the purchaser of seeds of a given variety gets
the material he expects to be sold under the variety name.

Official variety catalogues were kept in certain Member
States before Community harmonization took place, as
well as in many third countries, enabling them better to
exploit successes in plant breeding. The principle of an
'official catalogue of varieties' has been given increased
recognition in the last three decades by international
organizations (in particular FAO and OECD) active in
the seed area.

The move towards common catalogues, based on
Member States' national catalogues, was made
particularly to ensure free marketing of quality seed and
vegetative propagating material in intra-Community
trade.

There are many factors which may influence farmers to
choose seed of a new variety in place of seed of traditional
varieties but, so far as the Commission is aware, the
present Community system does not threaten 'unusual
and local varieties' of plants. The Commission does not
consider the common catalogues in themselves as

responsible for the disappearance of old varieties.
Although a reduction in genetic diversity is regrettable,
farmers cannot be prevented from concentrating on new
varieties. To avoid such a reduction, other steps are
needed and the Commission is certainly willing to
consider supporting reasonable proposals to this end.
Furthermore, two elements may be recalled to underline
the great attention already paid by the Commission to
traditional varieties:

— 'local varieties' are explicity allowed under the
Community regime;

— a special programme has been established to allow the
renewal of the acceptance of 111 old vegetable
varieties which no longer properly satisfy the
requirements as to uniformity applicable in respect of
new varieties (Commission Decisions 89/7/EEC (')
and89/138/EEC( [2] ).

In the light of the above, the Commission:

a) considers that the common catalogues of varieties are
justified in order to ensure the marketing of seeds and
vegetative propagating material of improved varieties;
they constitute, furthermore, a fundamental
instrument in removing obstacles to the free
marketing of seeds in the Community;

b) is satisfied that the objective specified at a) is being
achieved in practice. The Commission is making
efforts to enlarge the scope of the present common
catalogues (agriculture and vegetables) to other crops;

c) does not intend to drop the concept of variety
catalogues.

O OJNoL7, 10. 1. 1989, p. 25.
O OJNoL49, 21.2. 1989, p. 39.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 347/89

by Mr Arturo Escuder Croft (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(28 August 1989)_

(90/C 69/05)

_Subject:_ Community aid for Nicaragua

The political situation in Nicaragua calls for monitoring
of European Community aid there, especially in view of
the food aid figures for 1986, when direct aid was in
excess of 11 000 tonnes and aid from NGOs and other

bodies was just below that figure.

1. What aid or subsidies did the Commission grant in
1988 in response to projects and applications
submittted by the Nicaraguan Goverment?

No C 69/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

2. Which projects submitted by NGOs in Nicaragua
received subsidies from the European Communities in
1988, and how much aid was given?

3. What cooperation projects submitted by Member
States did the Commission approve in 1988 and what
is the monetary value of the aid granted for
implementing them in Nicaragua?

Answer given by Mr Matutes
on behalf of the Commission

_(26 October 1989)_

1. Total Community aid to Nicaragua in 1988 was
ECU 42 230 000, broken down as follows:

_(million ecus)_

Food aid

Technical and financial asssistance

Emergency aid (Article 950)

Trade promotion

Aid via NGOs

Aid for displaced persons

(Item 9310)

Total

30,160

1,480

1,170

0,470

5,750

3,200

42,230

2. In 1988 the European Community also financed in
Nicaragua 60 projects and microprojects submitted by
NGOs; the total cost of these was ECU 12 160 000 and
the EEC contribution was ECU 5 750 000.

3. No projects were co-financed with Member States in
Nicaragua in 1988.

Under the heading of financial and technical cooperation
(Item 9310), a further commitment of ECU 1 480 000 was
made for project NA/81 /25 (Development of staple grain
crops) to meet the cost of a factory making farming
equipment using animal traction, together with
nationwide distribution infrastructure and programme
monitoring.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 382/89

by Mrs Concepcio Ferrer i Casals (PPE)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(7 September 1989)_

(90/C 69/06)

_Subject:_ European Parliament agreement on Iran

On 24 May 1989 the European Parliament adopted a
written declaration calling for an embargo on the sale of

arms to, and the purchase of oil from Iran in response to
continuing violation of human rights in that country.

To date the Twelve have taken none of the measures

called for by Parliament, and the subject was not even
mentioned in the statement issued by the European
Council after the summit meeting in Madrid.

Recently _{El Pais,_ 26 June 1989), Spanish diplomatic
sources declared that MEPs were adopting positions on
foreign policy that were 'unrealistic' and damaged the
credibility of the European Parliament, which diplomats
in the Member States 'did not take seriously'.

What are the intentions of the French Presidency
regarding Iran and the measures called for by Parliament?

Does the Presidency of EPC consider statements such as
those quoted in _El_ _Pais_ td be acceptable?

Does the Presidency of EPC believe that Parliament's
positions as regards foreign policy are indeed 'unrealistic'
and not to be taken seriously?

Answer

_(1 February 1990)_

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs meeting within the
framework of European Political Cooperation pay the
greatest attention to the statements of the European
Parliament in its various areas of competence. The French
Presidency for its part takes the utmost account of such

statements.

As regards the policy defined by the Twelve in respect of
Iran, the measure suspending high-level official visits
adopted on 20 February is still in force.

The Madrid European Council (22 to 27 June 1989)
expressed the hope as a precondition for any change in the
European position 'that the Iranian leaders will prove, by
concrete actions, their willingness to develop constructive
relations with the Community and its Member States'.
The position of the Twelve has since been reiterated in the
course of the address made on their behalf by the French
Foreign Minister in New York which expressed 'the hope
that the Iranian leaders will demonstrate their readiness to

contribute to international life in a constructive and

peaceful manner consonant with the norms governing
relations among States so that this country can again take
up its rightful place in its region and in the international
community at large'.

This attitude of firmness and openness has not gone
unheeded. The Twelve note that the Iranian authorities

have agreed to invite the Special Rapporteur of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mr Galindo

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/5

Pohl, to visit Iran and have undertaken to guarantee him
total freedom of contact, both public and private. They
hope that this decision is an indication on Iran's readiness
to return to the strict observance of the relevant

international norms.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 404/89

by Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/07)

_Subject:_ Human rights violations in Turkey

Have the Ministers noted the recent Amnesty
International reports on the ill-treatment of detainees in
Turkey (AI Index, 44/61/89, 44/33/89, 44/54/89)?

Are the Ministers prepared to express to the Turkish
authorities their concern at the treatment of prisoners in
Turkey?

Do the Ministers propose to call upon the Turkish
authorities to release prisoners from whom confessions
have been extracted by torture, such as Mazhan Kara?

Will the Ministers take further action to counter the

continuing violation of human rights in Turkey?

Answer

_(1 February 1990)_

The Honourable Member is referred to the replies to
Questions No 548/89 (') put by Mr Victor Arbeloa Muru
and No 534/89 ( [2] ) put by Mr Ford.

(') See page 21 of this Official Journal.
( [2] ) See page 18 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 405/89

by Lord O'Hagan (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/08)

_Subject:_ European grants for the construction of new
fishing vessels

The European Community has recently required
proposals for the reduction of the fishing fleets of
Member States to be submitted to the Commission.

1. On what date has each Member State submitted its

proposals?

2. How many Member States have not yet submitted
proposals?

3. Could the Commission clarify whether or not there is
discrimination against the United Kingdom in the
administration of these grants?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

In accordance with Title 1 of Regulation (EEC)
No 4028/86 of 18 December 1986 O, Member States
were required to submit to the Commission, before 30
April 1987, Multiannual Guidance Programmes covering
the period 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1991. All
maritime Member States forwarded programmes in due
time and these were subsequently adopted by the
Commission on 11 December 1987, subject to the
limitations and conditions set out in the Decisions.

The Multiannual Guidance Programmes required
Member States to reduce the capacity of the fishing fleet
by 3 % in gross registered tonnage and by 2 % in engine
power from 1986 levels.

Financial aid is provided by the Commission to eligible
projects submitted by Member States, strictly within the
framework of the Regulation, and having particular
regard to the targets on fleet capacity reduction laid down
in the Programmes. In view of this, it would be
inconsistent for the Commission to add to overcapacity in
the fishing fleet by financing new construction projects in
Member States, where fleet capacity continues to
increase.

The fishing fleets of most Member States, including the
United Kingdom, continued to increase in capacity in
1988; therefore, it was not possible for the Commission to
finance projects for new construction in those Member
States.

At the first tranche of Decisions in 1989, finance was
provided for Member States where administrative or legal
steps were undertaken, and also where data submitted
indicated that the capacity of the fleet was aiming in the
direction of achieving the targets on capacity reduction by
1991.

At the second tranche of Decisions for 1989 the

suspension of financing for new construction projects was
continued in Member States, including the United
Kingdom, where fleet capacity failed to reduce in line
with programme target. The Commission, however, in an
attempt to assist these Member States, did provide finance

No C 69/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

for replacement of vessels lost at sea, in accordance with
Article 8 (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86. There
were three such projects, submitted by the United
Kingdom, financed at the second tranche for 1989.
Discussions are in progress with these Member States
with a view to achieving satisfactory progress on fleet
capacity reduction in accordance with the Multiannual
Guidance Programmes which would allow the
Commission to remove the suspension on financing of
other new vessel constructions.

(') OJ No L 376, 31.12. 1986, p. 7.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 415/89

by Mr Henry McCubbin (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/09)

_Subject:_ Applications

No 4028/86

under Regulation (EEC)

The Commission adopted on 5 April 1989 a Decision
which was amended by a Decision of 23 October 1989
fixing for 1989 the maximum eligible expenditure by
Member States in respect of measures to adjust capacity in
the fisheries sector.

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

containing the information requested.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 426/89

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/10)

_Subject:_ Environmental pollution by Community-funded
projects

In Western Ireland, peat bogs, lakes and coastal
grasslands are being damaged by Community-financed
projects. One example of this is the airfield at Clifden in
Connemara, which is likely to seriously disturb the fauna
in the nearby peat bogs. This area is of great importance
as a bird habitat and in particular as an overwintering
place for the Greenland white-fronted goose _(Anser_
_albifrons flavirostris)_ and a breeding ground for the merlin
_(Falco columbarious)_ and golden plover _(Pluvialis_
_apricaria)._ Under the EC Directive on birds, bird habitats
and the species of birds found there must be strictly
protected.

Another example is the proposed fish farm at Murvy on
the Connemara coast, which would be partly funded by
the Community. This will cause irreversible
eutrophication and lead to the spread of antibiotics and
pesticides in the coastal area, thereby posing a threat to
Gorteen Bay and Dog' Bay near Roundstone, which are
of great ecological importance, and to the coral reefs (red
laver embedded in limestone) between Ballyconneely and
Clifden.

1. Is it true that the Commission intends to finance the

above projects? If so, from what funds?

2. Has a thorough environmental impact assessment
been carried out and has the Commission taken the

results into account?

3. Would the Commission consider withholding funds if
the local environment is, in fact, damaged as a result?

4. If the Commission decides to assist these projects,
what conditions will it attach to its assistance to ensure

that damage to the local environment is kept to a
minimum?

Could the Commission please provide Parliament with
the following information with regards to the common
fisheries policy:

1. the estimated amount submitted by each Member
State involved under Regulation (EEC)
No 4028/86 (') for the short-term laying-up of fishing
vessels;

2. a similar statement on de-commissioning?

I believe such figures should have been in the hands of the
Commission by 1 February 1989 in order that the schemes
could be implemented this year.

(') OJNoL376, 31.12. 1986, p. 7.

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

Member States which grant laying-up premiums or final
cessation premiums are required to forward to the
Commission, before 1 February each year, an estimate of
their planned expenditure for the current year.

These submissions were made to the Commission for

1989, except in the case of the United Kingdom and
Ireland where such schemes have not been implemented
within the terms of Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/7

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

_(20 November 1989)_

The Commission is aware of the concern about the

environmental impact of development in Co. Galway. The
Clifden airport proposal is the subject of a complaint
procedure registered under No P 838/88.

Information on the project has now been obtained from
the Irish authorities on this proposal, including the
statement that an environmental impact assessment has
been requested of the applicant by the granting authority
and that this is currently being undertaken.

So far as Commission involvement is concerned, no
Regional Fund money has been granted to Clifden
Airport development.

Future requests for ERDF aid (for example within the
context of a development programme intended to
improve transportation or to assist industrial
development) would be examined for compliance with
_inter alia_ the relevant Community Directives and
Regulations concerning the environment.

As regards the Connemara fish-farming projects, the
Commission has no knowledge of environmentally
sensitive areas located in the Murvy area which would
require special protection under
Directive 79/409/EEC (') concerning the protection of
wild birds. No projects have been submitted for
Community funding under Regulation (EEC)
No 4028/86 ( [2] ) in the current tranche.

O OJNoL 103,25.4. 1979.
O OJNoL376, 31. 12. 1986.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 427/89

by Mr Herman Verbeek (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/11)

_Subject:_ Opening up an agricultural area in Friesland

The Commission has made available Fl 43 million to

improve the road network in north-eastern Friesland.
This project poses a threat to a unique (typically Frisian)
type of varied landscape and to Drogeham, one of the last
remaining Frisian round villages.

In addition, Community assistance in this case is not
promoting regional development but merely the local
development of Achtkarspelen, a project which is likely to
prove a heavy financial burden for this far-from-wealthy
community.

Is the Commission prepared to reconsider the application
for funding for this project, which has provoked a great
deal of protest among the local population, and to freeze
immediately the 1989 appropriations earmarked for it.
Particularly in view of the major environmental issues at
stake, can the Commission give priority, when deciding
on the allocation of funds, to the alternative proposals for
development, such as those put forward by the local
population?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 November 1989)_

The small by-pass of Drogeham forms part of a number
of schemes to improve accessibility in the local
community of Achtkarspelen, especially between the
industrial estate at Kootstertille and the motorway
network.

The principle plan for this road was determined as part of
the discussion on alternative solutions to traffic in 1988 in

the Province Council as part of the Provincial Structural
Plan (Streekplan). This provincial plan has been approved
and also agreed by the local authority of Achtkarspelen.

During this decision-making process the economic as well
as the environmental aspects, amongst others, were taken
into account and the environmental advisory board
_(milieuraad)_ gave a positive response to this road plan.

This by-pass is still subject to formal planning procedures,
thus allowing interested parties the opportunity to put
forward their views.

Until now no formal decision has been taken by the
Commission about this project, because the planning
procedures have not yet been fulfilled. When this project
is submitted to the Coordinating Committee — in which
the Commission takes part in the decision-making process
— all the elements will be taken into account, especially
the environmental aspects put forward by the local
population.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 428/89

by Mr John Iversen (GUE)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/12)

_Subject:_ Eritrea

Are the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation prepared to take measures to ensure that the
conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia is placed on the
agenda of the UN General Assembly, so that the first step

No C 69/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

towards a peaceful political solution can be taken? In this
connection, mention could be made of the peace proposal
first put forward by the EPLF (Eritrean People's
Liberation Front) on 22 November 1980.

Answer

_(1 February 1990)_

In the framework of the peace initiative launched by
President Mengistu in June 1989, the Ethiopian
authorities have opened negotiations with the
representatives of the principal Eritrean opposition
movement, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front.

Talks have taken place, under the supervision of Mr
Carter, first in Atlanta and then in Nairobi. They are due
to resume in January 1990.

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Twelve consider
that for the moment both sides should be left to seek

together a negotiated settlement to a conflict which has
gone on for more than 28 years. They support any efforts
to reach a successful conclusion to the current

negotiations between Ethiopians and Eritreans.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 429/89

by Mr Bryan Cassidy (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/13)

_Subject:_ Commission Newsletter on the Internal Market
'Target 1992'

The Commission Directorate-General for Information,
Communication and Culture publishes a newsletter on the
Internal Market, 'Target 1992'. The July-August issue is
replete with references to 'regulations' which are in fact
directives, while Council decisions on common positions
and, even, broad agreements in principle are presented as
final decisions. Throughout the document the role of the
Parliament in the cooperation procedure is ignored, as
typified by an item on fresh draft 'regulations' on the
right of residence, tabled under the cooperation
procedure, where it is stated that 'the ball is back in the
Council's court.'

1. Is the editor of the newsletter within DG X; or has its
production been contracted out to an outside body
and, if so, which?

2. How many copies of this newsletter have been
(a) printed, (b) distributed in each Member State and
what was the method and cost of distribution in each

Member State?

3. What steps will the Commission take to tighten up the
accuracy of this newsletter, and will it ensure that due
regard is given to the role of the Parliament in the
1992 programme?

Answer given by Mr Dondelinger
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

1. The 'Target 1992' newsletter is produced by the
Commission's Directorate-General X (Information,
Communication and Culture) in close collaboration with
Directorate-General XXIII (Enterprise policy,
distributive trades, tourism and cooperatives).

2. The newsletter is distributed through the
Commission's offices in the Member States and in a

number of other countries and is also sent direct to firms

and trade associations which request it. The Honourable
Member will find attached a table with a breakdown by
language and by destination. A stock is also kept available
for the public at the Berlaymont information centre at
Commission headquarters in Brussels. Copies are
dispatched at the normal rate for printed matter.

3. It is the Commission's constant concern to see that

the roles of the Community institutions — the European
Parliament in particular — are properly portrayed in its
publications. The May 1989 issue of the 'Target 1992'
newsletter contains a supplement produced by
Parliament's information department. The June issue
deals with the European elections and a statistical
supplement about Parliament is attached. In the
September issue, the last one published to date,
Parliament's role is mentioned in connection with the

stocktaking of the 1992 programme, the Directive on
television without frontiers and teacher exchanges, to give
just a few examples.

The use of the word 'regulation' in the English version of
the newsletter, which is published in all the official
Community languages, was an unfortunate slip.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/9

Target 1992 — No 8/89 — September 1989

Destination

Athens

Bonn

Berlin

Munich

Copenhagen

Dublin

London

Belfast

Cardiff

The Hague

Lisbon

Luxembourg

Paris

Marseille

Madrid

Rome

Milan

Washington
New York

Beijing

Algiers

Stock Brussels

— public
— group visits
Stock Publications Office

Small Business Task Force

Total print-run

DA

7 000

250

100

50

3 100

10 500

DE

9 500

20

500

20

590

250

170

10 500

21 550

EN

300

300

300

50

2 000

50

10

50

940

250

450

6 500

11 200

ES

1 000

350

150

150

13 000

14 650

GR

5 000

350

50

50

4 000

9 450

FR

50

3 000

1 000

10

10

1 000

300

230

8 000

13 600

IT

500

200

330

150

120

5 600

6 900

NL

1 000

540

100

60

3 000

4 700

FT

5 000

190

100

60

7 000

12 350

Total DG X 42 860

Total Small Business Task Force 60 700

Total Publications Office 1 340

Total print-run 104 900

WRITTEN QUESTION No 451/89

by Mr Floras Wijsenbeek (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/14)

_Subject:_ Directive on mortgage credit

The field of application of the amended proposal for a
directive on mortgage (COM(87) 255 final) is confined to
the credit institutions corresponding to the definition
given in the First Council Directive on the coordination
of provisions governing credit institutions
(77/780/EEC) ('). However, the Commission will surely

admit that credit institutions are not the only institutions
that can provide mortgage loans. It will also agree that in a
number of Member States they are also provided by
insurance companies and special institutions such as
pension funds and building societies in the Netherlands
and 'vehicle companies' in the United Kingdom, which
play an important role on this market. This means that the
draft directive is not applicable to them. Does this not lead
to a distortion of competition?

How does the Commission intend to prevent this from
happening? Does it agree that the directive must be drawn
up in such a way that it hinges on the financial service
provided rather than the institution supplying the service?

O OJ No L 322, 17. 12. 1977, p. 30.

No C 69/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

The Commission is aware of the fact that, by limiting the
scope of application of the amended proposal for a
mortgage credit directive (') to institutions that fulfil the
conditions of the definition of credit institution in the

first banking directive (77/780/EEC), some non-credit
institutions also offering such loans, such as insurance
companies, pension funds and building funds, will not be
covered by the directive. The reason for this limitation is
that the draft directive is based on the principle of
prudential supervision of the institution by the home
Member State. In the present state of Community law,
this is only applicable to credit institutions. Parliament
supported, therefore, this approach in its opinion of 19
February 1987 ( [2] ). This exclusion does not, however,
mean that those companies will be prevented from doing
mortgage business in other Member States. They will be
entitled to undertake such activities in another Member

State in accordance with the general principles of the EEC
Treaty concerning the freedoms of establishment
(Article 52) and of provision of services (Article 59)
applicable to all these economic activities. They would
not, however, be able to benefit from the principles of
mutual recognition and home country control contained
in the Community's banking legislation unless they
wished to become credit institutions.

In this context, the Honourable Member is referred to the
Commission's answer to his Written Question
No 450/89 ( [3] ).

(') OJNoC 161, 19.6. 1987.
O OJNoC76,23.3. 1987.
( [3] ) OJNoC47,27.2. 1990, p. 8.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 452/89

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/15)

_Subject:_ Violations of human rights in Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan pro-human rights association based in
San Jose, Costa Rica (PO Box 292-2120) is constantly
reporting crimes which it says are committed by the
Nicaraguan authorities. For example:

— the farm worker Adolfo Salgado Ruiz, aged 25, was
arrested by a patrol of the Sandinista People's Army

and later hanged in La Guitarra, in the district of
Rama, in the Department of Zelaya on 6 March 1988;

— another farm worker, Samual Saenz was tortured and
murdered in Condega in the Department of Esteli by
a patrol of the Sandinista People's Army on 19 July
1988;

— another farm worker Rafael Martinez Gonzalez,
aged 27, was murdered in the district of Kisaurita in
the Department of Chontales at 3 a.m. on 15 April
1989;

— Mariano Pravia Guillen, Fausto Davila Salgado and
Roger Castellon were captured in Dipinia in the
Department of Zelaya Central on 13 May 1989 and
subsequently disappeared;

— another farm worker, Adolfo Chavarria Blandon,
was captured by members of the State Security forces
and his body was found near the Rio Viejo in
Esquipulas in the Department of Matagalpa on 14
June 1989.

Since the Ministers have access to various embassies in

San Jose and Managua, can they ascertain whether these
allegations are true or false and, more generally, whether
the reports issued by the Nicaraguan pro-human rights
association referred to above should be believed?

Answer

_(1 February 1990)_

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Twelve attach
great importance to the respect of* human rights
everywhere in the world. In particular they consider that
in the current situation in Central America, the respect for
human rights and democratic principles should be the
basis for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the crisis.

As regards the seven cases mentioned, the Presidency has
made enquiries to the competent authorities in Nicaragua.

The Commission on Human Rights in Nicaragua
(CPDH), which is close to the opposition, the
pro-Government Mission (CNPPDH) and a collaborator
of Cardinal Obando have informed us that the seven cases

in question have never been drawn to the attention of
their departments.

Similarly, none of the violations denounced appears in the
latest report (October 1989) of 'American Watch', the
North American organization for the protection of
human rights, which has a presence in Nicaragua.

As regards the Nicaraguan Human Rights Association,
the CPDH has informed us that it was set up in 1986, as a
result of a $ 3 million grant accorded by the United States
Congress to promote the respect of human rights by the

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/11

Contra forces. However, the objectives pursued by this
association quickly changed and devoted its efforts more
and more to denouncing the acts of the Sandinista army as
it lacked, according to CPDH, any independence _vis-a-vis_
the Nicaraguan resistance. It is run by Doctor Marta
Patricia Baltodano, a former CPDH collaborator in exile
in Costa Rica, with whom the CPDH has no longer any
connection. Only the Catholic hierarchy continues to
have contact with the Association.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 456/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/16)

_Subject:_ The Community's Forestry Action Programme

To ask the European Commission what contribution in
due course it expects the Community's Forestry Action
Programme to make in helping to reduce the
Community's reliance on imported timber? Is not a
programme on a much larger scale needed to make a
worthwhile contribution to this end?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 November 1989)_

The Community's Strategy and Action Programme for
the Forestry Sector (') and in particular the resulting
seven Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1609/89 to
1615/89 O and Council Decision 89/367/EEC ( [3] ) aim at
a range of objectives including wood supply,
environmental improvement and rural development.

The aim of ensuring the security of renewable raw
materials in the European Community does not
necessarily imply a reduction of the Community's import
of timber, which indeed is high but which also contributes
to world trade, enabling the exporting countries to buy
other products from the Community.

As forestry can help the Community to achieve a range of
objectives simultaneously, the Commission is keen on
promoting afforestation and forest improvement while
taking account of socio-economical implications and the
effects on the landscape.

The Commission was satisfied that the Council finally
agreed upon substantial forestry measures by approving
the legislation referred to above.

The forestry measures referred to above will of course
have a positive effect on the European Community's
domestic wood production. It is, however, too early to
_assess_ in any detail their effect on afforestation rates,
forest improvement and wood production in the
Community, as in general, Member States have not yet
had time to adapt their national legislation to the new
regulations.

The Commission will continue to carefully monitor the
evaluation of the forest sector to see what further action

needs to be taken. This process will be facilitated by the
European Forestry Information and Communication
System to be set up pursuant to the new regulations
referred to above.

(') COM(88) 225.
O OJNoL 165,15.6. 1989, p. 1.
O OJNoL 165, 15.6. 1989, p. 14.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 461/89

by Mr Kenneth Stewart (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/17)

_Subject:_ ERDF funding to the Mersey Basin Project,
which will benefit private speculators due to the
British Government privatizing the water supply

The Commission is fully aware of the millions of pounds
provided by the ERDF to the Mersey Basin Project, with
the intention of cleaning up the most polluted river in the
UK, the North-West Water Authority being the
responsible body for the administration of the grant.

The Commission being aware of the recent oil slick and
seepage from the Shell refinery, the proposed sale by the
British Government of the water and supply industry to
private speculators, the use of public funds in a massive
advertising campaign to attract speculators to buy shares
in the private water companies, has any European funding
been used to this end?

And will the Commission investigate the extent of damage
caused by the oil slick with a view to claiming
compensation from the Shell Oil Company, and any use
of European funding in the advertising campaign for the
privatization of water?

No C 69/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

The ERDF contribution to the cleaning up of the Mersey
Basin was channelled through the Mersey Basin National
Programme of Community interest Phase I whose
objectives were confined to the improvement of water
quality, reclamation of derelict land and provision of
infrastructure, and which expired in 1987. No further
ERDF grants for water infrastructure in the North West
Mersey Basin have been approved since the end of that
year. The question of ERDF funding for the privatization
campaign does not therefore arise.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 472/89

by Mr Bouke Beumer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/18)

_Subject:_ Central government debt

In each of the years 1979, 1984 and 1989 what was:

(a) the gross national debt ( [x] ),

(b) the net national debt (gross national debt minus
loans outstanding);

(c) the average life of the gross national debt;

(d) the breakdown of the gross national debt into
securities maturing in:

(i) up to three years,

(ii) three to six years,

(iii) six to nine years,

(iv) nine years and over,

for each of the Member States?

(') Central government debt: please give figures for the entire
public debt (central and local government) if consistent
figures are available for all Member States.

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(15 November 1989)_

The only relatively complete figures the Commission has
for gross public debt are those relating to general
government: those figures, set out in Table 1, are from
national sources and are therefore not entirely

comparable because of differences in the definition of the
public sector and in the methods of assessing the debt.

By using those same statistical sources, it is possible to
estimate the net general government debt for six Member
States (Table 2).

In the absence of more precise analytical criteria applied
uniformly in national statistical publications, some
indication of the maturity structure of the debt can be
provided (Table 3) by the breakdown of negotiable public
debt into short-term instruments (mainly Treasury bills)
and medium- and long-term instruments (bonds).

TABLE 1

Gross general government debt (')

_(as_ _a_ _percentage_ _of_ _GDP,_ _end of year)_

1984

109,0

78,0

41,8

49,5

41,9

31,8

102,4

77,2

15,0

66,1

61,4

58,8

54,3

1989*

126,6

61,6

43,1

82,1

43,8

35,4

110,9

98,5

9,1

78,3

75,3

44,1

58,3

Belgium ( [2] )

Denmark

Germany

Greece ( [3] )

Spain

France ( [4] )

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands ( [2] )

Portugal

United Kingdom ( [4] )

EC-12

1979

70,0

29,0

30,8

27,6

16,3

24,2

75,2

61,3

14,2

42,7

—

54,5

40,3

(') Total monetary and financial liabilities.
( [2] ) General government excluding social security.
( [3] ) Central government.
( [4] ) Debt assessed at market value.
(*) Forecasts.

TABLE 2

Net general government debt

_(as a percentage_ _of_ _GDP,_ _end of year)_

1984

36,9

20,1

22,7

6,8

64,8

27,9

1989*

18,9

22,0

30,5

15,0

80,0

20,4

Denmark

Germany

Spain

France (')

Italy

United Kingdom

(') Debt assessed at market value.
(*) Forecasts.

1979

0,1

9,0

5,6

—0,9

51,2

21,6

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/13

TABLE 3

Percentage breakdown of negotiable domestic public
debt O

Treasury bills and
other shon -term debt

Medium- and
long-term bonds

1988

80,5

84,7

98,3

9,7

40,7

57,9

93,3

68,2

95,9

42,7

70,5

1988

19,5

15,3

1,7

90,3

59,3

42,1

6,7

31,8

4,1

57,3

29,5

1984

81,4

88,6

94,9

1,6

38,7

51,4

95,2

60,5

85,3

90,3

64,5

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

United Kingdom

1984

18,6

11,4

5,1

98,4

61,3

48,6

4,8

39,5

14,7.

9,7

35,5

(') DK, F, IRL, P: central government debt.
I: public sector debt.
NL: debt of central government, provinces and
municipalities.
UK: consolidated public sector debt.
B, D, GR, E: general government debt.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 473/89

by Mrs Nicole Fontaine (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/19)

_Subject:_ Community rules on television broadcasts used
for educational purposes

Several centres for educational material are willing to
provide foreign television broadcasts free of charge to
schools wishing to use them for foreign language teaching
purposes. Under existing legislation, it is necessary to
request permission each time from the broadcasting
company concerned. Since the European Community
Member States are by and large reasonably tolerant
concerning the use of such material for educational
purposes, does the Commission intend to draft
Community rules to the effect that all material broadcast
on television may be used free of charge for educational
purposes?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 December 1989)_

The introduction of exceptions to the exclusive rights
conferred by national legislation dealing with copyright

and neighbouring rights in order to permit the use of
protected works free of charge for educational or social
purposes raises questions of principle which are both
complex and sensitive. Although it is aware that the
national legislation of certain Member States permits
some limited exceptions, the Commission is not
convinced that, where differences exist, they are likely to
impede the smooth operation of the internal market or
harm the legitimate interests of authors or other right
holders. Accordingly the Commission does not intend to
introduce at Community level an exception to allow the
use for educational purposes of works protected by
copyright or neighbouring rights free of charge.

The Commission considered the copyright problems
requiring immediate action at Community level in its
Green Paper on Copyright and the Challenge of
Technology ('), adopted in June 1988, and in its
communication on Books and Reading: a Cultural
Challenge for Europe ( [2] ).

Naturally, the Commission has in no way excluded the
possibility of considering problems relating to the
protection and exercise of copyright other than those
raised in these two documents.

O COM(88) 172 final.
O COM(89) 258 final.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 476/89

by Mr James Ford (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/20)

_Subject:_ Drinking water standards

What is the Commission's opinion of the British
Government's decision to embargo prosecution of water
authorities not meeting EC purity standards in order to
render these authorities a more attractive proposition in
their forthcoming privatization.

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

_(31 October 1989)_

Under the terms of Council Directive 80/778/EEC ( [l] ), a
Member State has sole responsibility for ensuring that the
quality of drinking water in its territory meets the
directive's requirements. If the State fails in this task, it
alone can be held in breach of Community law. However,
whether or not the State should in turn prosecute the

No C 69/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

water authorities or companies it allows to operate in its
territory is primarily a domestic question. The
Commission would challenge a Government's decision on
such a matter only if that decision were likely to impede
achievement of compliance with Community law in the
Member State.

The Commission is aware that certain drinking water
supplies in the UK do not comply fully with Community
standards.

Its foremost concern in all such cases is that the Member

State concerned takes the necessary measures to ensure
that compliance is achieved as quickly as technically
possible, thereby minimizing any health risk or
inconvenience to consumers. This requirement would
apply to the Member State even if its water industry is
privately owned.

(') OJNoL229, 30. 8. 1980, p. 11.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 487/89

by Mrs Mary Banotti (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(12 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/21)

_Subject:_ E 111 form

Wide discrepancies exist within the Community for
implementing reciprocal emergency health care with the
E 111 form.

Would the Commission inform me what is being done to
ensure a more uniform implementation to facilitate the
creation of a 'People's Europe'?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 November 1989)_

On 29 September 1989 the 'Social Affairs' Council asked
the Commission to carry out a study with a view to the
introduction of a European first aid card, which would
replace the E 111 form ('), enabling entitled persons who
are temporarily abroad in a Member State other than their
own to benefit from necessary treatment on the spot
under the insurance scheme, pursuant to Article 22 (1) (a)
of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 ( [2] ).

The effective implementation of the Council resolution of
29 May 1986 concerning a European emergency health
card ( [3] ) is currently being discussed within the Council.
One of its chief aims would be to improve the health cover

of citizens travelling in the Community and who may have
particular health problems that should be identified in the
event of an emergency.

0) OJ No L 230, 22. 8. 1983, last amended by Regulation (EEC)

No 3811/86 — OJNoL 355, 16. 12. 1986.
O OJ No L 149, 5. 7. 1971, p. 2.
O OJNoC 184,23.7. 1986, p. 4.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 490/89

by Mr Henri Chabert (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(3 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/22)

_Subject:_ Community action on employment in the
Rhone-Alps region

1. Can the Commission give an estimate broken down
by sector and department of the number of jobs created
and/or safeguarded, directly or indirectly, in the
Rhone-Alps region between 1978 and 1989 as a result of
contributions from the various Community funds (ESF,
ERDF, EAGGF, etc.), the EIB and the ECSC?

2. Can it supply a list including descriptions and
statistical data on the various measures carried out in this

region between 1978 and 1989?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 January 1990)_

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

WRITTEN QUESTION No 502/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/23)

_Subject:_ An active Community presence in the countries
of Eastern Europe

What precisely did the Council have in mind when at its
1324th meeting (in Luxembourg on 24 April 1989) it

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/15

spoke of reinforcing the Community's active presence in
the countries of Eastern Europe, in particular by means of
Community initiatives for the benefit of economic
operators?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

When the Council said it favoured reinforcing 'the
Community's active presence in the countries of Eastern
Europe, in particular by means of Community initiatives
for the benefit of economic operators', it wished in
particular to make use of the framework of trade and
cooperation agreements already concluded or being
negotiated with the Eastern European countries, all of
which contain provisions to facilitate the activities of
Community economic operators in the markets of Eastern
European countries.

With the implementation of these agreements, support for
and the greater effectiveness of business endeavour could
be developed on a Community basis. Thus, for example, a
Community delegation of businessmen visited Budapest
for the first meeting of the Joint EEC-Hungary
Committee in December 1988.

Following this initiative, a forum for EEC and Hungarian
undertakings attended by over 80 businessmen was held
in Budapest on 3 and 4 October, organized jointly by the
Commission and the Hungerian Chamber of Commerce,
with the objective of establishing contacts for the creation
of joint ventures or setting up other forms of economic
and trade cooperation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 503/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/24)

_Subject:_ Attack on the Central American University

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC approached
the government of El Salvador to call for an investigation
into the causes of the attack on the Jose Simeon Canas
Central American University run by the Jesuits in El
Salvador, which destroyed the compositors' office and

other property belonging to the University. Since the
University has accused ultra right-wing groups connected
with various sectors in both government service and
private enterprise can the Ministers also ask the
Salvadorean Government to take steps to control the
vigorous campaign being waged in those sectors against
the Company of Jesus and the Central American
University?;

Answer

_(1 February 1990)_

According to the information obtained by the Presidency,
the Jose Simeon Canas Central American University does
not appear to have lodged a complaint against the attack
which damaged its printing plant during the night of 21 to
22 July.

The incident must be seen in the context of a series of

attacks, the perpetrators of which, for the most part, have
not yet been properly identified.

However, in view of the upsurge in violence in El
Salvador epitomized by the killing of the six Jesuit priests,
the Twelve have made two demarches to President

Cristiani to convey their concern to him. They have called
for the inquiry into the killing to be carried through and
for the guilty parties to be punished in accordance with
the law. The President has expressed his willingness to
proceed along these lines and has promised an exhaustive
inquiry. The Twelve will continue to be particularly
attentive to the follow-up to this tragic event and more
generally to respect for human rights and civil liberties in
El Salvador.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 507/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/25)

_Subject:_ Demonstrators killed in the USSR

Do the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC have
information regarding what really happened during the
demonstration held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 9 April this
year, when at least 19 or, according to other sources,
more than 60 people were killed at the hands of special
units of Georgian troops deployed by the Soviet Ministry
of the Interior?

No C 69/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Answer

_(} February 1990)_

Current developments in the Soviet Union and in
particular the situation in Georgia have been the subject
of close and constant examination within European
Political Cooperation.

Furthermore, the political dialogue initiated at the
beginning of the year with the Soviet Union enables the
Twelve, among other points, to be better informed of the
Soviet authorities' intentions and the proposed reforms
and also to restate the principles and values of the Twelve.
The problem of the various nationalities was raised at the
meeting of the twelve Foreign Ministers with Mr
Shevardnadze in New York on 27 September 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 508/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Axbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/26)

_Subject:_ People imprisoned and killed in Yugoslavia

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC approached
the Yugoslav Federal Government to inquire about the
people killed and arrested during the dramatic events
which occurred in Kosovo in March and April this year?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

The Twelve have acted in the most appropriate manner to
apprise the Yugoslav Government of the concern
occasioned by the situation in Kosovo and the importance
the Twelve attach both to the maintenance of the

country's unity and respect for human rights.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 509/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/27)

_Subject:_ Release of six members of the Islamic Liberation
Party of Libya

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC do anything to
help the six members of the Islamic Liberation Party of

Libya, if they are still alive, who were arrested in April
1973, kept in custody until the beginning of 1977 and
sentenced at a trial held _in camera_ on 19 February of that
year to 15 years imprisonment and then life
imprisonment, and are apparently still serving this
sentence in the military prison of Abu Salim in Tripoli?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

In their statement of 21 July 1986 on human rights, the
Foreign Ministers affirmed that 'respect for human rights
is an important element in relations between third
countries and the Europe of the Twelve'.

The Libyan Government is apprised of the Twelve's
position.

The specific question raised by the Honourable Member
has not been discussed within European Political
Cooperation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 510/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/28)

_Subject:_ Freedom for Houmphannh Norasing, a former
member of the Laos Parliament

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC do anything to
bring about the release of Houmphannh Norasing, a
former member of the Laos Parliament, who has been
confined in a 're-education camp' since 1975 without
being either charged or tried?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

The Laotian authorities are well aware of the position of
the Twelve on respect for human rights. The specific case
of Mr Norasing referred to here has been discussed
within EPC. The Presidency has raised the matter with
the Laotian authorities.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/17

WRITTEN QUESTION No 512/89

by Mr Domenec Romera i Alcazar (PPE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/29)

_Subject:_ Political prisoners in Turkey

According to a report by Amnesty International, a
Turkish citizen Arif Coskunkan, 29 years of age and an
accountant by profession, was arrested on 1 November
1986 simply for being a member of the Turkish
Communist Party. He was immediately tried and
imprisoned under Article 141 of the Turkish Penal Code,
which prohibits membership of associations aiming to
impose the authority of a particular class. He is still in
prison.

In view of the fact that this article is incompatible with the
European Convention on Human Rights, of which
Turkey is a signatory State, and that Turkey has declared
its wish to be admitted to the European institutions, has
the Council considered the need to require the Turkish
Government to immediately release this citizen and any
others imprisoned for the same reasons?

Answer (')

_(5 February 1990)_

The Honourable Member is referred to the replies given
to Written Questions No 548/89 ( [2] ) put by Mr Victor
Manuel Arbeloa Muru and No 534/89 ( [3] ) put by Mr
Ford.

(') This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers
meeting in Political Cooperation, within whose province the
question came.
( [2] ) See page 21 of this Official Journal.
( [3] ) See page 18 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 515/89

by Mr Domenec Romera i Alcazar (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/30)

_Subject:_ Danger posed by the use of mercury in gold
extraction

Recently the President of Brazil specifically prohibited
the use of mercury in gold extraction. Since mercury is
used to amalgamate gold, mainly in powder form, and
that when this amalgam is heated the mercury is

vaporized, a phenomenon which may threaten the
stability of the atmosphere,

1. has the Commission considered the need to adopt
similar measures at Community level, if there is
evidence that such methods are used in the

Community?

2. is the Commission also considering the possibility of
exerting pressure on all non-Community countries
which carry out this process using the same methods,
in order to coordinate action and above all preserve
the stability and salubrity of the atmosphere in which
we live?

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

_(11 December 1989)_

Production of gold in Europe is on a very small scale (the
largest European gold mine produces approximately 2
tonnes of gold each year) and the methods used are
pyrometallurgy or cyaniding which do not involve

mercury.

In view of the above and the minor effect of the method

mentioned on air quality, the Commission does not
currently envisage exerting pressure on non-Community
countries. The World Health Organization may be a
suitable forum for the action proposed by the Honourable
Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 521/89

by Mr Richard Simmonds (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/31)

_Subject:_ Rights of birth parents of adopted children

Will the Commission undertake to draw up proposals
allowing birth parents the same rights as adopted
children, i.e. the right of access to information about their
natural children once such children are over the age of 18 ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(28 November 1989)_

The question posed by the Honourable Member comes
within the sphere of family law. For this reason it raises
problems of competence for the European Communities
and has no priority for action by the Commission.

No C 69/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 525/89

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez Albor (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/32)

_Subject:_ Protecting the area of Ancares

One environmental matter on which no action has yet
been taken is the question of safeguarding the area of
Ancares, which straddles the border between Galicia and
the Province of Leon in Spain, by establishing a nature
reserve so that development activities can be planned with
a view both to improving the lot of the area's highland
inhabitants and to preserving Ancares as an area of
outstanding environmental importance.

Since the European Community has latterly been signally
active in the field of environmental protection and in
encouraging measures to safeguard areas of outstanding
natural beauty — Ancares is one such area — would the
Commission say whether it is prepared to tackle this issue
and to do its utmost to promote action to protect the area
in Galicia referred to?

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

_(11 December 1989)_

While recognizing the ecological and landscape
importance of the area of the Ancares between Galicia
and Leon in Spain, the Commission would point out that
the designation of this area as a special protection area is a
matter for the regional or national authorities.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 532/89

by Mr Gary Titley (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/33)

_Subject:_ The Carmelite convent at Auschwitz

Given the intense anguish the Carmelite convent at
Auschwitz has caused the Community's Jewish
population and given that the Polish Catholic Church has
failed to honour its promise to remove the convent by 22
February 1989, will the Ministers inform me:

1. What view they take of the action of the Polish
Catholic Church?

2. What action they have taken on the matter in the past?

3. If they are prepared to make representations to the
new Polish Government with a view to resolving this
conflict?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

The question put by the Honourable Member has not
been addressed within European Political Cooperation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 534/89

by Mr James Ford (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/34)

_Subject:_ Kemal Goyluler, Turkish bookseller

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC considered
the case of Kemal Goyluler, who at the age of 28 has so
far since 1982 served 13 months' pre-trial detention, and
was subsequently sentenced to 5 years 10 months'
imprisonment, for non-violent political activities, the
charge being membership of the Turkish Communist
Party? Do the Ministers not consider that this and other
detentions under Article 141 of the Turkish Penal Code

are incompatible with Article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a State
party?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

In their statement of 21 July 1986 on human rights, the
Foreign Ministers of the Twelve clearly set out the
principles of their policy in this area. In particular, they
stated that neither a conviction nor an ideology may
justify the refusal of civil and political rights and that
respect for human rights is an important element in
relations between third countries and the Europe of the
Twelve. In this context the Twelve are following closely
the question of human rights in Turkey. The Turkish
authorities are aware of the special importance which the
Twelve attach to strict observance of all undertakings
freely entered into by Turkey through its accession to
international conventions on human rights.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/19

WRITTEN QUESTION No 536/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/35)

_Subject:_ Unconstitutional methods used by the army in
Colombia

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC take steps to
prevent the Colombian army from searching property,
arresting suspects without a warrant and imprisoning
them illegally on army and police premises, practices
which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court of Justice in March 1988?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

Guerilla activities, paramilitary groups and above all drug
dealers constitute a real threat to Colombian democracy.
On 18 August 1989 President Barco adopted 11 decrees
under the state of emergency. The Supreme Court, which
has the responsibility of verifying the constitutionality of
laws and decrees, ratified them on 3 October 1989, with
the exception of one, that referred to by the Honourable
Member, authorizing military judges to carry out
searches on private property.

Despite the upsurge in violence, the Colombian
Government under the authority of President Barco has
always attempted to maintain acts of repression within the
framework of the state of law to which Colombia is

attached. In addition, the activities of the army in the field
in its fight against the guerilla movement have been
subject to close and increased supervision since 1988 by
the Attorney-General of the Nation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 537/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/36)

_Subject:_ Compulsory sterilization in Brazil

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC make
representations to the Brazilian Government to stop
certain large multinational companies from forcing their

female workers to be sterilized in order to avoid having to
grant them the 120 days' maternity leave provided for in
the Constitution?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

The Honourable Member is aware of the importance
which the Twelve attach to respect for human rights, in
accordance with their Declaration of 21 July 1986.

In this connection, the Embassy of the Presidency in
Brasilia has made enquiries regarding the specific case of
the violations mentioned by Mr Arbeloa Muru.

Despite its efforts, the Embassy has found no trace of
accusations made against the multinational companies
suspected of imposing sterilization on their female
workers.

On the other hand, the Union of Workers of Cleaning
and Health Enterprises of the Federal District has
recently accused 80% of these companies of requiring a
sterilization certificate from female workers on taking up
employment. This claim has been denied by the employers
and no complaint has yet been lodged by the Union.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 538/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/37)

_Subject:_ Death sentences in the Yemen Arab Republic

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC make
representations to the Government of the Yemen Arab
Republic to commute the death sentences recently passed
on six people currently being held in the central prison of
Ta'izz, members of the National Democratic Front
(NDF) who returned to their country in 1983 under a
general amnesty but were then arrested, tried and found
guilty of involvement in the murders alleged to have
occurred in 1982, during confrontations between the
NDF and government forces?

Answer

_(5 February 1990)_

In their statement of 21 July 1986 on human rights, the
Foreign Ministers affirmed that 'respect for human rights
is an important element in relations between third
countries and the Europe of the Twelve'.

No C 69/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

The Government of the Yemen Arab Republic is apprised
of the Twelve's position.

The specific question raised by the Honourable Member
has not been discussed within European Political
Cooperation.

It will be examined at a later meeting, on the
understanding that any action in respect of non-nationals
of the Twelve requires to be particularly discreet if it is to
succeed or to avoid being possibly counter-productive for
the persons concerned.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 539/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muni (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/38)

_Subject:_ Conviction of Alaattin Sahin, editor of a Turkish
political weekly

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC take an
interest in the fate of Alaattin Sahin, editor of a Turkish
political weekly newspaper until 1977, who was sentenced
to 36 years' imprisonment for his journalistic work in
opposition to the regime?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

We would refer the Honourable Member to the reply to
his Written Question No 548/89 ( [1] ).

(') See page 21 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 540/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/39)

_Subject:_ Arrest of Julius Mwandawiro in Kenya

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC take an
interest in the fate of Julius Mwandawiro Mghanga,
headmaster of a secondary school in Kenya, who has been
sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possessing
'subversive literature'?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Twelve are keeping a close watch on the situation in
Kenya and attach great importance to respect for human
rights in that country. The authorities are aware of the
Twelve's position. The specific case raised by the
Honourable Member has not, however, been raised in the
framework of European Political Cooperation.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 542/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/40)

_Subject:_ Detention of Dr Laxmi Narayan in Nepal

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation inquire into the fate of Dr Laxmi Narayan
Jha of Nepal, who was arrested in June 1985 and has not
been heard of since?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

As the Honourable Member is aware, the promotion of
full respect for human rights is one of the cornerstones of
the political action of the Twelve. As regards Doctor
Laxmi Narayan, information obtained on the spot at the
Presidency's request indicates that he died in detention.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 543/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/41)

_Subject:_ Two years of solitary confinement for Jack
Mapanje

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation inquire into the fate of Jack Mapanje,
Director of the Department of Language and Literature at
the University of Malawi and the country's best-known
poet, who has been held in solitary confinement for two
years without charges and without trial?

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/21

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The specific case raised by the Honourable Member has
not been discussed within the framework of European
Political Cooperation. However, the Government of
Malawi is aware of the importance the Twelve attach to
respect for human rights.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 545/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/42)

_Subject:_ Eight-year prison sentence for Ibraim Ismailov
Arifov

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation inquire into the fate of a Bulgarian doctor,
Ibraim Ismailov Arifov, sentenced to eight years'
imprisonment in June 1986 for urging the ethnic group to
boycott the elections in protest against the Bulgarian
Government's policy of forced assimilation?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Twelve are keeping a close watch on the events taking
place in Bulgaria and on developments in human rights.

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Twelve
take whatever measures are most appropriate in the
interest of the persons concerned.

The specific case of Mr Arifov has not been raised in the
framework of EPC. The Presidency's Embassy will
attempt to obtain information concerning his fate.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 547/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 198 9)_

(90/C 69/43)

_Subject:_ Disappearance of peasants in Guatemala

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation inquire into the fate of Luis Ruiz, Macario

Pu Chivalan, Agapito Perez Lucas and Nicolas Mateo,
members of the Council of Ethnic Communities 'Runujel
Junam' (CERJ) in Guatemala, who were abducted in April
1989 by uniformed soldiers with blackened faces, an event
to which President Cerezo promised to respond?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Twelve were alerted some months ago to the threats
to certain members of the CERJ, in particular its
President, and have been at pains to remain in contact
with the people involved to help guarantee their safety.

The Twelve are concerned by the recent upsurge in
violence and attacks carried out in Guatemala against
persons or institutions active on the political scene or
belonging to the press or human rights organizations.

On 29 August 1989 they made representations to the
Vice-President of the Republic, Mr Roberto Carpio
Nicole expressing their concern at these events.
Furthermore, aware of the efforts made by President
Cerezo's Government to re-establish democratic

institutions, the Twelve appealed to the Guatemalan
authorities to take every possible step within the law to
ensure the safety of the people and movements under
threat.

As regards the four members of the CERJ in question, the
Presidency has carried out an enquiry on the spot to no
avail. The missing persons have still not reappeared.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 548/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13_ _October 1989)_

(90/C 69/44)

_Subject:_ Detention of a Turkish journalist

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation inquire into the fate of Abdullah Kubali, a

No C 69/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Turkish journalist, who was detained together with some
50 other persons in Kars (Turkey) at the beginning of July
1989?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Twelve are attentive to the democratization process
and to developments in human rights in Turkey. They
expect the new President of the Republic to honour the
commitments he gave in his inaugural address.
Furthermore, they will not fail to bring to the Turkish
Government's attention cases of violation of human

rights and civil liberties in Turkey.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 549/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Mum (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(13 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/45)

_Subject:_ Disappearance of peasants in Peru

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation request information about the condition and
whereabouts of five members of the peasant communities
of Pucarocco and Quilcaccasa (Peru), among them
Saturnino Arone and Juan Limasca, who were detained by
army patrols in February 1989?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

According to information obtained by the Presidency
from human rights associations in Lima, Mr Saturnino
Arona (38) a farmer, and Mr Juan Limasca Jarhiuas (40)
also a farmer, were arrested by the army on 26 February in
Puca-Orcco (Janayca district, Aymaraes province,
department of the Apurimac). Mr Arona was last seen at
the military base at Chalhuanca and Mr Limasca at the
Abancay garrison.

The human rights associations have had no news of these
two detainees following their arrest and are very
pessimistic as to their fate. They consider there is little
chance of finding them alive.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 551/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/46)

_Subject:_ Community spending on cultural projects

Given the fact that the Commission's plan of priority
actions for supporting cultural projects in the Community
was endorsed by the Council and the Ministers for
Cultural Affairs meeting within the Council on 27 May
1988, why have these plans been hindered through
insufficient funding and what is the present situation with
regard to Community spending on the promotion of
cultural events?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

The Council and the Ministers responsible for cultural
affairs, in conclusions approved at their meeting of 27
May 1988, noted the Commission communication on the
relaunching of cultural action in the European
Community and established four priority areas for future
action.

Since then, action has been taken in three of these areas:

— _promotion_ _of the European audiovisual_ _sector,_ in
conformity with the above-mentioned conclusions,
Commission work on the MEDIA programme has
continued, and following the mandate given by the
European Council in Rhodes, 2 and 3 December
1988, the Commission has been able to play a full part
in the Audiovisual EUREKA project;

— _book_ _sector,_ the Council and the Ministers approved a
resolution on books and reading at their meeting of
18 May 1989. Action is being taken by the
Commission, in conjunction with the Committee on
cultural affairs set up by the Council and the Culture
Ministers in May 1988, on the eight measures
mentioned in the resolution;

—
_business sponsorship:_ in pursuance of the conclusions
of 27 May 1988, the Commission has given assistance
in the foundation of a European secretariat for
business sponsorship.

The fourth priority area, concerned with _training in the_
_cultural_ _sector,_ is currently under examination.

The Council is not aware that these activities have been

hindered through insufficient Community funding.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/23

In regard to spending on the promotion of cultural events,
such promotion is undertaken by the Commission within
the limits of credits for this and other cultural activities

under article 670 of the Community budget.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 560/89

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/47)

_Subject:_ Community involvement in multilateral
initiatives to set up large-scale research facilities

On 16 December 1988, the legal instruments on the
construction and operation of the European Synchrotron
Radiation Facility (ESRF) were signed by the following
Member States: Belgium, the Federal Republic of
Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
In the meantime, Belgium and the Netherlands have
decided to join forces to participate in ESRF by setting up
a consortium, which involves less of a financial risk than if

each were to bear its share of the construction and

operating costs.

Would the Commission say whether it is giving
consideration to arrangements, pursuant to
Articles 130 (m) and 130 (n) of the EEC Treaty, under
which Member States could become involved in

multilateral, supra-Community initiatives to set up and
participate in large-scale research facilities on a
Community basis by setting up consortia instead of
through individual Member States becoming parties to
the undertaking concerned?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 November 1989)_

The Commission proposal for a Council decision
concerning the Framework Programme of Community
activities in the field of research and technological
development 1990—1994 ('), which is presently under
consideration in Parliament and Council, provides for the
possibility of decisions on supplementary programmes
within the meaning of Article 130 (1) of the EEC Treaty as
well as on Community participation in research and
development programmes undertaken by several Member
States within the meaning of Article 130 (m) of the EEC
Treaty. As specified in Article 2 (2) of the Commission
proposal, the utilization of Articles 130 (1) and 130 (m) of
the EEC Treaty will have to be considered for the
implementation of the specific programmes to be
presented after the adoption of the 1990—1994
Framework Programme.

Under the current 1987—1991 Framework Programme,
the Council, in cooperation with the European
Parliament, adopted on 14 March 1989 a plan to support
access to large-scale scientific, technical facilities of
European interest ( [2] ). This plan, which is now being
carried out by the Commission, consists of temporary
financial support measures designed to facilitate access to,
and thereby develop the exploitation of, existing
large-scale scientific facilities situated in the Community.

This plan covers a period of four years, starting 1 January
1989. With a financial volume of ECU 30 million, it
represents an initial step towards better coordination in
the participation of Member States in large-scale scientific
installations and will provide the Community with
valuable information about the needs and capabilities in
this field.

Any other initiative (consortia, etc.) designed to improve
the collaboration between different Member States in the

participation in large scientific projects are considered as
complementing the action of the Community and are
therefore highly welcome.

(') COM(89) 397 final.
O OJNoL98, 11.4. 1989.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 565/89

by Mr John McCartin (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/48)

_Subject:_ Social Fund rules

Can the Commission confirm that Social Fund monies are

payable to the Irish authorities in respect of students
studying for the National Certificate in Agriculture at
agricultural colleges in Ireland? Will the Commission
explain why such students are given no cash contribution
towards maintenance whereas other students do receive a

cash allowance?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 November 1989)_

The ESF is co-financing training courses for young
people in Ireland who wish to enter farming. Parts of
these courses take place at agricultural colleges.

Expenditure for the incomes of persons undergoing
vocational training is eligible for ESF assistance and the

No C 69/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

EST co-finances this expenditure for a number of training
courses carried out by different training bodies in Ireland.

For the above-mentioned farming courses, the ESF
applications included allowances only for board and
lodgings at Teagasc Regional Centres as well as for the
period of placement with host farmers. Consequently no
other cash allowances for the students concerned could be

considered for assistance from the Fund.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 572/89

by Mr Kenneth Collins (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/49)

_Subject:_ Implementation of directives

Will the Commission say which Member States have
enacted necessary national legislation to implement the
following directives and will they further give the dates on
which these were enacted in the various Member States:

— Directive 86/197/EEC (') on alcoholic strength
marking,

— Directive 87/250/EEC ( [2] ) on labelling tolerances for
alcohol strength,

— Directive 88/316/EEC ( [3] ) on prescribed bottle sizes?

(') OJNoL144, 29. 5. 1986, p. 38.
O OJ No LI 13, 30. 4. 1987, p. 57.
O OJNoL143, 10.6. 1988, p. 26.

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

_(22 November 1989)_

Directive 86/197/EEC on the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs was transposed in 1987 by Italy,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in 1988 by Belgium,
Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland and in 1989 by the
United Kingdom.

Directive 87/250/EEC on the indication of alcoholic

strength by volume in the labelling of alcoholic beverages
was transposed in 1987 by Luxembourg, in 1988 by
Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Spain, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands and in 1989 by
the United Kingdom.

Directive 88/316/EEC on the making-up by volume of
certain prepackaged liquids was transposed in 1988 by

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom and in 1989 by the Federal Republic of
Germany, Greece and Luxembourg.

The Commission is in close contact with the Member

States which have not yet notified it of the national
implementing measures for these three directives.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 581/89

by Mr Francois de Donnea (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/50)

_Subject:_ Court action brought by the Commission against
the Belgian State

The Commission recently brought an action before the
Court of Justice against the Belgian State for
discrimination against women in respect of
unemployment and invalidity benefit.

What is the main thrust of the Commission's argument
and what stage has the procedure reached?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 November 1989)_

At this stage, the Commission is unable to make any
statement on the question raised by the Honourable
Member, since the Court of Justice has not yet given its
ruling on the action brought against the Kingdom of
Belgium in June 1989 for poor application of
Directive 79/7/EEC.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 583/89

by Mr Patrick Lane (RDE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/51)

_Subject:_ Safety railings on heavy goods vehicles

Can the Commission indicate what, if any, EEC
legislation refers to the installation of safety railings on
bulk containers fitted on heavy goods vehicles?

Does the Commission plan to table proposals concerning
the standards for such equipment in the near future?

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/25

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(5 December 1989)_

The existing Directive 89/297/EEC (') requires lateral
protection devices for heavy goods vehicles (trucks and
trailers) with a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes. In
principle, this Directive applies also to road vehicles
transporting containers; only vehicles designed and
constructed for special purposes are exempted from this
Directive, where the installation of lateral protective
devices on these vehicles is not possible for practical

reasons.

It is not the intention of the Commission to require the
installation of safety railings on bulk containers, due to
practical considerations such as storage problems.

O OJNoL124, 5.5. 1989, p. 1.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 584/89

by Mrs Raymonde Dury (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(24 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/52)

_Subject:_ Composition of the Belgian Committee of the
European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages

The Belgian Committee of the European Bureau for
Lesser Used Languages is composed of one Flemish
speaker, three German speakers and one French speaker
who specializes in the study of Germanic minorities.

1. Is this not a somewhat unbalanced reflection of the

linguistic situation in Belgium?

2. Why does the committee not include a French speaker
who specializes in the study of northern French?

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 November 1989)_

The Belgian Committee for the Lesser Used Languages is
an independent and autonomous body. The Commission
is not competent to intervene in the composition of the
Bureau or its national Committees.

However, the Commission will communicate the
Honourable Member's request to the European Bureau
for Lesser Used Languages.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 605/89

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/53)

_Subject:_ Infringement of Directive 79/409/EEC

As a result of a scientific study approved and funded by
the Commission and carried out by the Greek Ministry
for the Environment, the Psathotopi area to the North of
Amvrakikos Bay has been classified as a strictly protected
area under Directive 79/409/EEC (') (nesting grounds
for birds listed in Annex I) and under the Ramsar
Convention. A number of large-scale aquacultural
projects have been or are carried out, totally destroying
this sensitive area, which is of great ecological
significance for Europe.

Have Community funds been used to help finance these
disastrous projects, which are of doubtful viability? If so,
which service gave authorization? Has DG XI been
informed and what view does it take of this? What action

was taken in response to the two official complaints
lodged with the Commission by the Greek Ornithological
Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(23 September 1988 and 24 March 1989) in this
connection? What action has the Commission taken

against Greece, in view of the above infringement of
Articles 3 (1), 3 (2) and 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC?

O OJ No L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1.

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

_(15 January 1990)_

The Commission is aware of the aquaculture project at
Psathotopi in the special protected area of Amvrakikos.

The Commission asked the relevant authorities for their

comments following the complaint referred to by the
Honourable Member.

The Commission has decided to institute an infringement
procedure under Article 169 of the Treaty after receiving
their reply.

No C 69/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 607/89

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis (GUE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/54)

_Subject:_ Organization of the Olympic Games in Greece

1. Has the Commission received any requests from
members of the Greek Government concerning possible
Community funding for the organization of the 1996
Olympic Games in Athens?

2. Has it studied or considered the adverse

consequences that the Olympic Games might have on
economic and regional development in Greece, the
environment and the quality of life in Athens and the
development of popular amateur sport?

Does the Commission consider that these possible
consequences would be in keeping with the objectives of
the IMP for Attica and, more generally, with the
Community's regional and environmental policy in
respect of Greece?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

_(8_ _January 1990)_

1. The Commission has received no request for
financing the organization of the Olympic Games in
Greece in 1996. However, the possibility that these Games
would be held in Greece in the year in question has been
mentioned in the context of continuing discussion with
the Greek authorities on the Community Support
Framework for the period 1989 to 1993.

2. The Commission has not made any specific
assessment of the impact of the organization of the
Olympic Games in Athens nor has it been asked to do so.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 609/89

by Mr Gijs de Vries (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/55)

_Subject:_ US restrictions on free movement in the
audiovisual sector

It would appear that certain American laws (for example,
the Communication Act, the Immigration and Nationality
Act and the Revenue Act) are impeding the free flow of
people, goods, services and capital in the audiovisual
sector (').

1. Will the Commission produce a survey of these
restrictions?

2. Will the Commission take steps to ensure that these
restrictions are removed, as requested by the
European Parliament ( [2] ).

(') See paragraph 55 of the explanatory statement in the
European Parliament's report on the European film and
television industry, Doc. A2-347/88.
( [2] ) See paragraphs 16 and 17 of the motion for a resolution of 16
February 1989 contained in this report (Doc. A2-347/88).

Answer given by Mr Andriessen
on behalf of the Commission

_(17 November 1989)_

As the Honourable Member is doubtless aware, the
Commission periodically publishes an inventory of US
trade barriers which does include restrictions in the

communications sector (').

The Resolution on the European film and television
industry adopted by Parliament on 16 February ( [2] ) noted
'the cultural and economic importance to the Community
of flourishing film and television industry' and called for
a 'Community programme to meet cultural, industrial,
fiscal, internal market, competition and trade policy
objectives'. Accordingly, in addition to the MEDIA
Programme the Commission presented the proposal for
the Transfrontier Television directive adopted by the
Council on 3 October ( [3] ) and backed the launch of the
Eureka audiovisual programme on 2 October.

The Commission is therefore approaching the
international negotiations on services with the firm
objective of securing international liberalization
consistent with that achieved within the Community. That
means maintaining the cultural identity of the sector and
the Community measures relating to that identity while
securing the removal of barriers encountered by
Community procedures in non-Community countries.

(') EC report on US barriers to trade (3 May 1989)
O O J N o C 6 9, 20.3. 1989, p. 138.
O OJNoL298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 615/89

by Mr Francois de Donnea (LDR)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/56)

_Subject:_ Trade in drug precursor products

The Second UN Conference on Drugs for the first time
called for more stringent controls on trade in precursor

1 9 ^ 9 0 Official journal of the European Communities ^oCD9B2B

products ^chemical products essential for synthesizing
drugs^.

^ h a t action does the Council propose to take in response
tothiscall^

Answer

g ^ g ^ r ^ r ^ ^ ^

The provisions relating to more stringent controls on
trade in precursor products, an important feature of the
ignited nations Contention against illicit traffic in
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances concluded in
Vienna on 20 Mecembert988,areamatter of Community
responsibility.

The Community has now signed that Contention.

It behoves the Commissiontosubmitproposalsfor the
Councils signing of the Contention and the
implementation ofthe aforesaid provisions.

^ ^ r r ^ ^ ^ ^ T i c ^ ^ ^ o D ^ B ^

h y ^ r ] a m e s ^ o r d ^

to the Com^ssion of the ^urope^n Communities

g2BC^c^^r^^^

g ^ O B C ^ B ^

^ ^ c ^ . Archaeological restrictions in ^pain

Is it true that in the Canary Islands, in the field of
archaeology, any non Spanish subiect must employ a
Spanish national asacodirector in any archaeological or
heritage project in^ol^inge^ca^ation, site location or the
examination of materials^ If this is happening, is this not
contrary to the provisions laid down for freedom of
mo^ementundertheLreatyofRomeB

Answer ^iven by ^rtOeiors
on beh^f of the Commission

(On thebasisof theinformationsuppliedinconnection
with the Idonourable^iembePsquestion,it is impossible
to gi^eaprecise answer in respect of the case referred to.

The obligation, to which the fdonourable member refers,
to ^employ a Spanish national as a codirectoP, is
questionable,in thatanationalitycondition is introduced,
under Article^2of the ELCfreaty^ifthe^codirectoP is
consideredaself employed person^or under Article ^t8r^if
he is considered an employed persong In the latter case,
account shouldbe taken, however, whereapplicable, of
the terms of the Treaty of Accession of ^pain and

Rortugal which provide foratransitional period in respect
ofthe freedom ofmo^ementof employed persons.

Cm the other hand, a national measure, applicable
indiscriminately to Spanish nationals and nationals of the
other member states,by which the presence ofa^panish
national or person specially assigned for the purpose by
the competent authorities would be required, for any
archaeological e^ca^ation would not, in the
Commission^s^iew,conflict with the LLCTreaty.

Aside from the reservation expressed in the first
paragraph,an answer to the questionof whether or not
the stipulation in question conflicts with theTreaty of
Rome would require close examination of the Spanish
legislation concerning this issue.

^ K ^ T T L ^ C ^ L l ^ T ^ ^ ^ o D ^ B ^

by l^r Edward l^lewm^n^

to the Commission of the European CommumUes

g 2 B ( 0 ^ ^ e r ^ ^

g^0BCD9B^

^ ^ c ^ . Dirty drinkingwaterin (GreaterManchester

Is the Commission aware that in a recent

(G^^r^^rBPriendsoftheParth report, itwasdisco^ered
that water inCreater^ianchester was pollutedtole^els
abo^e PuropeanCommunity maximum permitted levels
oflead,aluminium and trihalomethanes^TPlAip

^ h a t does the Commission i n t e n d t o d o t o enforce the

cleaning up of water in (Greater Aianchester^

Answer ^ven by Iv^rKipadil^eana
on behalf of the Commission

g 2 ^ A ^ ^ r ^ ^

The Commissions is currently investigating several
complaints regarding breach of drinking water standards
in alltOof the former^ater Authority areas in England
and ^ales, and in a number of the statutory ^ a t e r
Company areas. (One of these complaints includes water
supplied by ^ o r t h ^ e s t ^ a t e r in the (Greater Manchester
Area and concerns levels of lead, aluminium and
trihalomethanesgTfPAPg

The Commission will be seeking information from the
united r^ingdomCo^ernmentoncompliancewiththese
parameters and, where breaches of the directive occur,
will insist that improvement measures be taken, and
compliance regained as quickly as is technically possible.

The Commission considers thatthe supply of drinking
water which does not comply with therequirements of
Directive 80BB^8BPPCg^ constitutes a breach of
Community law.The Commission will take recourse to
infringementprocedure under Articlel^oftheTreaty in
such cases.

No C 69/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Finally, it should be noted however that
Directive 80/778/EEC sets no maximum admissible

concentration for THMs in drinking water, but only a
guide value of 1 (ig/1 for 'Other organochlorine
compounds' (parameter 32) and the comment that
'Haloform concentrations must be as low as possible'.
Failure to comply with this guide value cannot be pursued
by the Commission as a breach of EEC law.

(') OJNoL229, 30. 8. 1980, p. 11.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 644/89

by Mr Claude Desama (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/59)

_Subject:_ Compulsory mud flaps to be fitted at the back of
heavy vehicles

The spray caused by heavy vehicles travelling on wet
roads, which in Belgium, for example, is 15 % of the time,
is a source of danger to vehicles travelling behind since
their visibility is reduced.

A solution would be to fit lorries, tractors, trailers and
semi-trailers of more than 3,5 tonnes on the Community's
roads with mud flaps at the rear.

Can the Commission say whether a directive on the
matter is being considered and, if not, what other plans it
has to reduce the risks of accidents caused by spray from
heavy vehicles?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 November 1989)_

A new draft proposal for a directive was sent to the
Council in July 1989 C).

In order to improve road safety, the Commission is
proposing that vehicles used for goods transport, and
their trailers, which have a weight in excess of 3,5 tonnes
should be equipped with spray suppression devices to
limit the projection of water, mud or gravel caused by the
tyres of these vehicles while moving.

(') OJ No C 263, 16. 10. 1989, p. 6.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 645/89

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(27 October 1989)_

(90/C 69/60)

_Subject:_ Compulsory rear-view mirrors for motor cycles
and mopeds in the EEC

In view of the constantly growing number of vehicles,
driving on the roads of the Community is becoming
increasingly dangerous. The increasing number of
accidents recorded in the last few years is ample proof of
this.

All things considered accidents involving two-wheeled
vehicles cause the most serious injuries. Because of this,
and in order to minimize the risk of accidents caused by
not knowing what the vehicle behind is doing or by the
fact that the driver of a two-wheeled vehicle has to take

his eyes momentarily off the road in order to look behind
him, it would seem to be advisable to draw up a directive
obliging motor cycles and mopeds used on the
Community's roads to be equipped with rear-view
mirrors.

Can the Commission say whether a directive on the
subject is under consideration and, if not, whether it
envisages drawing up rules to that effect?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(24 November 1989)_

Community rules on rear-view mirrors for two-wheeled
motor vehicles were adopted in the form of
Directive 80/780/EEC of 22 July 1980 ( [l] ),

This directive lays down the procedure for the component
type-approval for rear-view mirrors and requirements for
fitting them to two-wheeled vehicles. One mirror must be
fitted to vehicles capable of speeds less than 100 km/h and
two mirrors to vehicles capable of speeds over 100 km/h.

(') OJNoL229, 30. 8. 1980, p. 49.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 665/89

by Mr Alain Madelin (LDR)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/61)

_Subject:_ Community financing of a steel production
installation for the Italian Finarvedi Group

Can the Commission:

1. State the total amount of Community aid - under the
headings of research and energy savings - to which
this project will be entitled?

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/29

2. Confirm that the effective capacity of this facility will
not be in excess of the normal limit for a

demonstration installation?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 December 1989)_

1. The aid granted to the Italian Finarvedi group for
research under the ECSC steel pilot/demonstration
programme (Article 55 (2) (c) of the ECSC Treaty) is
ECU 1 306 000, or 50 % of the project's budget.

2. The pilot/demonstration project adopted is
confined to the study by the Finarvedi group, in
cooperation with Mannesmann-Demag Htittentechnik,
of an original process comprising the construction of a
continuous casting plant for thin slabs and a
homogenizing furnace and to preparations for their
start-up.

This undertaking is extremely difficult from the technical
viewpoint and its success is not guaranteed. The
Commission is not aware of the group's plans with regard
to incorporating such plant, if the project is successful,
into a facility with a potentially significant capacity.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 668/89

by Mrs Barbara Simons (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/62)

_Subject:_ New direct investments in South Africa

Pursuant to the Decision of the Representatives of the
Governments of the Member States meeting within the
Council on 27 October 1986, new direct investments by
natural or legal persons resident within the Community in
the Republic of South Africa are prohibited
(86/517/EEC) 0).

According to data from the _Deutsche Bundesbank,_ total
Federal German direct investment at first or second hand

in the Republic of South Africa rose by DM 303 million to
DM 1 669 million between the end of 1986 (DM 1 366
million) and the end of 1987.

1. What Federal German undertakings have made direct
investments at first or second hand in the Republic of
South Africa since 1986? How much has been invested

by each?

2. Do the Foreign Ministers share the view that the
Federal German undertakings concerned are
infringing the 1986 EC Decision, and that
consequently the steps taken to implement that
Decision in the Federal Republic of Germany must be
regarded as inadequate?

3. Have the Foreign Ministers already drawn up
proposals for amending the EC Decision so as to
require its legally binding implementation in all the
Member States?

_Q)_ OJ No L 305, 31. 10. 1986, p. 45.

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The ban on new direct investment in South Africa is

strictly applied by the Member States. The respective
national authorities have taken appropriate measures to
ensure compliance with this decision and to monitor its
application.

In its Declaration of 9 December the Strasbourg
European Council refers to the decision of the
Community and its Member States to maintain the
pressure that they exert on the South African authorities
in order to promote the profound and irreversible
changes which they have repeatedly stood for and to
reconsider it in the light of clear evidence that these
changes are being obtained.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 669/89

by Mrs Barbara Simons (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/63)

_Subject:_ Oil exports to the Republic of South Africa

The Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation decided at their meeting of 10 September
1985 to suspend oil exports to the Republic of South
Africa.

How do the Foreign Ministers assess the fact that since
September 1985 on instructions from the Federal German
firm _Marimpex Mineralbl-Handelsgesellschaft_ crude oil has
been delivered to South Africa on at least five occasions?

_(Source._ Shipping Research Bureau: Oil to South Africa,
September 1988).

What measures will the Foreign Ministers adopt to
monitor adherence to the oil embargo effectively in
future?

No C 69/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

The ban on oil exports to South Africa is strictly applied
by the Member States. The respective national authorities
have taken appropriate steps to ensure that this decision is
complied with and its application monitored.

In its statement of 9 December, the Strasbourg European
Council noted the decision by the Community and its
Member States to maintain pressure on the South African
authorities in order to foster profound and irreversible
change - as advocated by them on numerous occasions in
the past - and to review such changes once it is clear that
they have taken place.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 670/89

by Mr William Newton Dunn (ED)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/64)

_Subject:_ Bilateral Agreements between Member States
and the Socialist Republic of Romania

Following the suspension of the Community's
Cooperation Agreement with Romania and a recent
parliamentary question concerning the Agreement
between the Kingdom of Spain and Romania on nuclear
technology, will the Foreign Ministers meeting in
European Political Cooperation list all bilateral
agreements between individual Member States on the one
hand and Romania on the other, indicating the date for
scheduled renewal or termination of each agreement?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

European Political Cooperation is not competent in the
area of bilateral agreements.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 672/89

by Mrs Winifred Ewing (ARC)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/65)

_Subject:_ Compensation for tourists

What assurances can the Council give that the draft EC
directive on package travel, due to be adopted by the end

of the year, will give tourists proper legal recourse in the
event of complaints arising from long delays at airports
during the holiday season?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

It is envisaged that the proposed Directive on package
travel should protect the consumer by establishing the
liability of the organizer for non-performance of or a
significant change in the contract, but not if
non-performance of the contract is not due to any fault
on their part or the part of their suppliers.

Long delays at airports during the holiday season
frequently derive from general problems of congestion
and the strain on increasingly inadequate infrastructures
(airport and air traffic control capacity), for which the
package holiday organizer is not directly responsible and
which cannot necessarily be laid at the door of his supplier
either (the airline). Complaints arising from such delays
are therefore unlikely to fall within the scope of the
proposed Directive.

It should be pointed out that the draft Directive on
package travel will, in any event, only give protection in
the context of a package holiday; it will consequently not
cover complaints arising in the context of independent air
travel.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 683/89

by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde (ARC)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/66)

_Subject:_ ILO Convention

ILO Convention No 94 stipulates that central and public
authorities are required to ensure compliance with
national pay and working conditions.

According to a Danish TUC pamphlet, seven of the
twelve Member States of the Community have not yet
ratified the ILO Convention.

Can the Council provide any information as to the seven
remaining Member States' plans for possible ratification?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

The Council has no information which would enable it to

reply to questions concerning the ratification by the
Member States of an ILO Convention.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/31

WRITTEN QUESTION No 690/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/67)

_Subject:_ Help for Poland

What steps are being taken to help facilitate the economic
development of Poland? What assistance has been offered
to the Government of Poland? Does he agree with me that
the Community has a clear moral responsibility to do all it
can to help the new Polish Government in its most
immediate and difficult task - to improve living
standards?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

In a statement on 7 June, the Community and its Member
States indicated the importance which they attach to the
success of the political and economic reforms undertaken
in Poland and welcomed the democratization process
underway.

On 12 September, they again stated their determination to
support the new government's efforts to establish a more
democratic and prosperous society.

The attitude of the Community and its Member States
towards the countries of Eastern Europe, and Poland in
particular, was also discussed at the dinner given for the
Twelve at the Elysee Palace on 18 November. At the close
of that informal meeting, the President of the European
Council stated in particular that 'we are willing to
cooperate in any action which may assist the recovery of
East European countries suffering an economic crisis of
sometimes dramatic proportions. We are willing to
cooperate and to help, by all means available to us, to
bring about this recovery and establish a healthy
economy, subject, naturally, to evidence of a return to
democracy through the observance of human rights and
the holding of universally free and secret elections'.

We have dealt more especially with Poland and Hungary,
two countries which have made the greatest advances in
this area and have already given an earnest of their
commitment to the direction which they have chosen to
follow. A series of practical measures has been examined
in connection with these countries. We noted in passing
that the cooperation of 24 countries agreed on at the
'Arche' Summit of the industrialized countries had left it

to the President and the European Commission to
arrange a whole series of measures. What should be a
decisive meeting on the subject will take place on 13
December. Already, however, decisions on food aid,

investment, aid for training and environmental measures
have been taken.

Details of these measures and of decisions taken at the

Ministerial Meeting on 13 December can be provided by
the Commission.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 692/89

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins (ED)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(6 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/68)

_Subject:_ Compliance with the rules governing competitive
tendering

What arrangements has the Commission made to ensure
that local authorities observe the new rules governing
competitive tendering Community-wide for the provision
of services such as refuse collection, street cleansing and
public sector contrasts?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(13 December 1989)_

The procurement of the services mentioned by the
Honourable Member is not at present covered by specific
Community procurement rules. However, proposals will
be made shortly for introducing EC-wide tendering in
this area.

Irrespective of the existence of specific procurement rules,
the Commission can take the necessary action in specific
cases if EEC Treaty provisions ensuring the principle of
free movement of services are violated.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 697/89

by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/69)

_Subject:_ Recognition of university degrees of the medical
professions in Andorra and professional ethics

Holders of French and Spanish university degrees have
traditionally been allowed to practise their profession in

No C 69/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Andorra. Andorra has international social security
agreements with Spain, France and other Community
countries. However, in recent years, there have been
various reports of violations of medical and
pharmaceutical ethics affecting not only Andorrans and
resident foreigners but also millions of European visitors
to that country.

In the current negotiations with Andorra for a
cooperation agreement, it would be extremely important
to consider the problems associated with the medical
professions with a view to achieving agreement with the
Andorran authorities that they will enforce disciplinary
and ethical standards equivalent to those applying in the
Community, and make it easier for Andorran nationals to
obtain university degrees at universities in the
Community. Does the Council intend to advocate this
type of agreement in the negotiations with Andorra?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

As the President of the Council stated in reply to an oral
question from Mrs Squarcialupi ('), the agreement under
negotiation between the Community and the Principality
of Andorra is based on the Joint declaration on Future

Trade Arrangements with Andorra annexed to the Act of
Accession of Spain and Portugal. This Agreement will
therefore simply establish a system governing trade
relations between the Community and Andorra, intended
to replace the national systems at present in force. An
agreement of this nature does not include unrelated
provisions such as those referred to by the Honourable
Member regarding the medical professions.

(') See debates of the European Parliament No 2-378, page 62
(23.5. 1989).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 702/89

by Mr Fernand Herman (PPE)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/70)

_Subject:_ Abuse by national administrations impeding
freedom of movement

Does the Commission consider it normal that the French

Government:

1. should require Belgian nationals wishing to settle in
France for their retirement to pass a medical
examination when the person in question has provided
evidence of having sufficient financial resources to
maintain himself and to cover medical care?

2. should require these nationals to hold a residence
permit valid for one year and renewable each year,
subject to the same certificates and medical
examinations?

3. should require, for the importation of a car, a
certificate of conformity which can only be obtained if
the plate embedded in the body states the weight of
the vehicle (an ordinary plate is not enough) and is
made of the same metal as that used on French cars?

Can the Commission say what steps it intends to take to
put an end to such abusive practices which are contrary to
the formal undertakings given in the context of Europe
and 1992?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(11 December 1989)_

1 and 2. The Commission would remind the

Honourable Member that Community law at the moment
only gives right of residence to nationals of a Member
State who wish to settle in another Member State to

pursue an economic activity. As far as pensioners are
concerned, Community law as it stands only covers the
right of pensioners to remain in the Member State in
which they pursued an economic activity (Regulation
(EEC) No 1251/70 ( [l] ) and Directive 75/34/EEC ( [2] )).
The situation with regard to Belgian nationals who wish
to settle in France on retirement is therefore governed
exclusively by national law. The conditions to be met to
obtain a residence permit (medical examination, evidence
of resources) and the length of validity of the permit are
therefore, in this case, subject to French law.

The Commission is aware of the inconvenience resulting
from the fact that some sectors of the general public are
still outside the scope of Community law with regard to
right of residence and, on 26 June 1989, it therefore
submitted three proposals for directives to the Council,
one of them concerning the right of residence of
pensioners, which are now before the European
Parliament and the Council ( [3] ).

3. Motor vehicles must generally satisfy certain
technical requirements that are laid down in the form of
mandatory provisions. At the moment, these provisions
are largely, but not fully, harmonized at Community
level. As the Commission stated in point III.A of its
'Notice on procedures for the type-approval and

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/33

registration of vehicles previously registered in another
Member State' ( [4] ) manufacturers are therefore only able
to carry out 'national type-approval' of their products
although this does cover some aspects of 'EEC
type-approval'. Furthermore, any Member State may still
have a system of type-approval for vehicles imported from
another Member State in which they have already been
type-approved. Under this system, the national
authorities check for compliance with the harmonized or
national requirements, as the case may be, as regards the
technical characteristics of the vehicle to ensure that it will

be safe on the road.

However, for this system to be compatible with
Articles 30 and 36 of the EEC Treaty it must in particular
be possible, as the Commission stated in point III.A.2 of
the abovementioned notice, for the importer, as an
alternative to the checking procedure in the importing
Member State, to be able to produce documents
(certificate of conformity and documents t;o which it
refers, registration certificate) issued in the exporting
Member State where those documents provide the
necessary information to enable the authorities in the
importing Member State to gain information about the
technical characteristics of the imported vehicle.

The French authorities' requirement that the weight of
the vehicle appear on a plate affixed to the body may, in
the light _of_ the above conditions, be regarded as
compatible with Articles 30 and 36 of the EEC Treaty
provided it applies to both vehicles to be imported
definitively into France and to national vehicles. If it is not
mandatory for the weight of a vehicle type-approved and
registered in France to appear in one of the documents
that permanently accompany the vehicle, the inclusion of
the vehicle's weight on a plate affixed to the body would
constitute a suitable and appropriate means of enabling
the French authorities, in particular those responsible for
road safety, to find out what the weight is and to check it
at any time. The Council furthermore provided for a
similar requirement when it adopted
Directive 76/114/EEC on statutory plates and
inspections for motor vehicles ( [5] ).

The Honourable Member also referred to another

requirement of the French authorities that the above plate
must be made of the same metal as that used on French

cars. If this is found to be the case, such a requirement
would infringe Articles 30 and 36 of the EEC Treaty. It
derives from the judgment delivered by the Court of
Justice on 28 January 1986 in Case 118/84 (Commission
v. France) ( [6] ) that it would be contrary to the principle of
proportionality for the French authorities to require that
plates affixed to the bodies of vehicles imported from
other Member States be made of the same metal as those

affixed to the body of French cars if the quality of the
former is equivalent to that of the latter.

The Commission will contact the French authorities

forthwith on the matters raised by the Honourable
Member regarding the importation of vehicles from other

Member States and will inform him of the outcome of its

enquiries.

(') OJNoL142, 30.6. 1970, p. 24.
O OJNoLl4,20. 1.1975, p. 10.
O OJNoC291,28.7. 1989, p. 3.
O OJNoC281,4. 11. 1988,p. 9.
( [5] ) OJNoL24, 30. 1.1976.
(*) ECR (1986) 419.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 706/89

by Mr Terence Wynn (S)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/71)

_Subject:_ Getting answers to questions

Since becoming an MEP on 25 July 1989 I have submitted:

— 6 questions for written reply pursuant to Rule 62;

— 1 question for written reply pursuant to Rule 60.

I have not as yet had replies to any of the above.

How long does it take to get answers to such questions?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(20 November 1989)_

The Honourable Member has put one oral question
(H-297-89) to the Commission; this was answered during
the part-session from 9 to 13 October, as scheduled.

The situation with regard to the written questions is as
follows:

Question number, 396/89, 397/89, 398/89, 431/89,
432/89, Date received by Commission, 7 September 1989,
7 September 1989, 7 September 1989, 3 October 1989,
3 October 1989, Date of answer, 24 October 1989,
16 October 1989, 23 October 1989, 6 November 1989,

20 October 1989.

The average reply time is thus 25 working days.

Written Question No 595/89 was received by the
Commission on 24 October 1989. It will be answered as

quickly as possible.

The Commission is already making every effort to answer
as many of the numerous written questions as possible
within the 30-day limit set in Parliament's Rules of
Procedure. The Honourable Member may rest assured
that the Commission will keep up this effort.

No C 69/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 715/89

by Mr William Newton Dunn (ED)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/72)

_Subject:_ The young boy Csaba Szilagyi detained by the
Romanian authorities

The young boy Csaba Szilagyi was detained in a
psychiatric clinic in Oradea, Romania, following an
unsuccessful attempt to rejoin his parents and brother,
refugees now living in Hungary, who left Romania with
exit visas but were obliged to leave Csaba as a hostage.
Csaba Szilagyi is now living at Strada Slatinei 27, Blac D,
41 —42 ap. 55, Oradea 3700, Romania. His father, Elemer
Szilagyi, has appealed for help in reuniting his family.

Will the French Presidency take this case up urgently with
the Romanian authorities so that the family Szilagyi can
be reunited before Christmas 1989?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Twelve are
seriously concerned over the human rights situation in
Romania.

Despite the continuing negative attitude adopted by the
Romanian authorities, particularly in the context of
implementing the mechanism on the human dimension
provided for in paragraph 9 of the 3rd basket of the
Vienna Closing Document, the Twelve are pursuing their
efforts to ensure that the Romanian authorities honour in

full all undertakings entered into by them under the
CSCE.

The particular case of the young boy Csaba Szilagyi has
not been discussed within EPC. The Presidency will,
however, endeavour to obtain information on this case so

as to enable the Twelve to decide on their attitude with a

view to a possible demarche.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 724/89

by Mr Gerard Deprez (PPE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(14 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/73)

_Subject:_ Food aid to Ethiopia

The latest FAO report forecasts a bad harvest in Ethiopia:
over one million people are threatened with famine.

Given that the Commission has no further appropriations
at its disposal for food aid, what attitude does the Council
intend to take with regard to Ethiopia?

Has it considered releasing the necessary appropriations
for food aid to be sent to Ethiopia?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

The Council has been following the food situation in
Ethiopia with especial attention. The situation is
particularly worrying in the Northern regions (Eritrea,
Tigre and North Wollo) affected by fighting, where there
are also transport problems.

In cooperation with other donors and international
organizations the Community is endeavouring to find a
solution to the problem. For its part, the Community has
granted food aid of around 70 000 tonnes of cereals and
500 tonnes of milk powder; 64 000 tonnes of cereals and
800 tonnes of vegetable oil have been allocated. In
budgetary terms, the Council has approved a transfer of
appropriations within the 1989 budget of ECU U6,7
million, to enable the Commission to implement in its
entirety its 1989 programme of food aid, including that
for Ethiopia.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 797/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(28 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/74)

_Subject:_ Trade union rights in Turkey

Has the Council taken note of the observations by Mr
Breit, President of the European Trade Union
Confederation (ETUC), to the Council of Europe
Secretariat (3 October 1989), condemning the Turkish
Government's failure to respect human rights and the
rights of trade unions in Turkey?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

Turkey is well aware of the importance which the
Community and the Member States attach to respect for
human rights, and every appropriate opportunity is taken
to remind Turkey thereof, particularly in the context of
the political dialogue between the Twelve and that
country.

A further appeal was made for respect for human rights
and trade union rights in Turkey at the meeting of the
EEC-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee from 27 to
29 November 1989. The Council wishes to endorse that

appeal.

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/35

WRITTEN QUESTION No 800/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(29 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/75)

_Subject:_ Ratification of the European Social Charter

Which EEC Member States have not yet ratified the
Council of Europe's Social Charter? What has the
Council done and what can it do to ensure that this

Charter is ratified?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

Nine Member States have ratified the European Social
Charter. Subject to compliance with the Treaties
establishing the European Communities and the acts
adopted pursuant thereto, it is a matter solely for the
Member States to decide whether to sign and ratify
international conventions.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 804/89

by Mr Antoni Gutierrez Diaz (GUE)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(28 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/76)

_Subject:_ Imprisonment of the journalist Jorge Sanchez
Garcia in Afghanistan

The Spanish journalist Jorge Sanchez Garcia, who was
arrested on 1 August 1989 in Kandahar on the charge of
illegal residence, has received a five-year prison sentence
from the Kabul special court. Since there is no Spanish
embassy in the Afghan capital, is the Council prepared to
make representations to the President of the Afghan
Republic with a view to securing the journalist's release?

Answer (')

_(8 February 1990)_

The Afghan authorities are well aware of the Twelve's
position on human rights. Following approaches by the
Spanish authorities, the Spanish journalist Jorge Sanchez
Garcia was released on 12 November 1989 and

immediately left Afghanistan.

(') This reply has been provided by the Foreign Ministers
meeting in European Political Cooperation, within whose
province the question came.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 817/89

by Mrs Nel van Dijk (V)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(28 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/77)

_Subject:_ Decriminalization of prostitution

In June 1986 (Doc. A 2-44/86) the European Parliament
asked the governments of the Member States to take the
necessary legal steps to decriminalize prostitution as a
profession and to take legal measures to improve
prostitutes' working conditions. The EP also asked for
prostitutes to be guaranteed the same rights as those
enjoyed by other citizens and workers. Can the Council
state whether the Member States have reacted to this

request and if so what progress has been made on the
decriminalization of prostitution and what measures have
been taken or are in preparation to guarantee prostitutes
the same rights (e.g. sickness and unemployment
insurance) as other citizens?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

It is not for the Council to comment on the action taken

by Member States on requests from the European
Parliament.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 865/89

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(29 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/78)

_Subject:_ Conference of European regional and local
authorities in Munich

The Council is undoubtedly aware of the substance of the
resolution adopted at the conference of European
regional and local authorities in Munich.

What is the Council's response to the two main points of
the resolution, namely:

1. insistence that the Commission should involve the
regions in policy-making;

2. the fact that the regions want the right to appeal to the
Court of Justice of the European Communities against
the Council of Ministers and the Commission where

the latter infringe the rights of the regions?

No C 69/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

1. The points in the resolution quoted by the
Honourable Member would, to be implemented, entail
revising the Treaties establishing the European Economic
Communities.

2. It is of course for each Member State, where internal
regulations so provide, to involve the regions in
establishing the positions it adopts in the Council on
Community issues which concern the regions, as certain
Community States have, indeed, already done.

3. The Council has received no proposals in this
connection further to the resolution adopted by the
Conference of European regional and local authorities in
Munich.

4. The rules concerning the right of appeal to the
Court of Justice are those laid down by the Treaty as
interpreted by Court of Justice case law.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 866/89

by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(29 November 1989)_

(90/C 69/79)

_Subject:_ EPC initiative on the treatment of the Kurds

Belgium has taken the initiative of making representations
to the Bulgarian Government referring it to the Helsinki
accords and calling for fair treatment of the Turkish
minority in Bulgaria. Will a parallel initiative be taken
within the framework of EPC to refer Turkey to the
Helsinki Final Act and to urge it to ensure fair treatment
of the Kurdish minority in Turkey?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

As the Presidency has stated in replies to other questions,
the Twelve are very mindful of the human rights situation
in Turkey. The Ankara authorities are aware of the
importance which the Twelve attach to strict compliance
with all the undertakings freely entered into by Turkey
through its accession to international human rights
conventions.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 906/89

by Mrs Viviane Reding (PPE)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(1 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/80)

_Subject:_ Exit visa for Mikhail Kazachkov

Mr Mikhail Kazachkov, a Soviet physicist, was arrested
when he applied for an immigration visa for the United
States.

He was accused of treason and sentenced to 15 years'
hard labour.

In early August 1989 two representatives of the US
Administration visited Mr Kazachkov. Shortly before
their visit he had been charged under Article 188
(infringement of prison regulations) because he had tried
to set up a group to monitor the Helsinki agreements and
because he had refused to have his head shaved. After a

trial inside the prison on 15 August 1989 when he was
sentenced to a 'change of regime' he was transferred to
Chistopol prison where conditions are known to be
particularly severe. It is understood that he has been
punished by the authorities for talking to a journalist
from the _New_ _York Times_ who visited the camp in
February 1989.

Can the Foreign Ministers make representations to the
authorities with the aim of reviewing Mikhail
Kazachkov's case and allowing him to emigrate to a
country of his choice?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

On many occasions, particularly in the CSCE, the Twelve
have emphasized the need for the undertakings entered
into the USSR in the field of human rights to be honoured
in full. The Twelve, both individually and collectively, are
carefully monitoring current developments in the Soviet
Union. They note with satisfaction that the Soviet
authorities have recently applied positive solutions in
many humanitarian cases.

The specific case referred to by the Honourable Member
has not been discussed within EPC. One or more

members of the Twelve have, however, more than once
already requested further information from the Soviet
authorities on Mikhail Kazachkov. Thus far, no
satisfactory reply has been received. The Presidency will
endeavour to obtain fresh information on Mr

Kazachkov's case so that the Twelve can decide on their

approach.

r^.^o COfficial journal of the European Communities N o C ^ B ^

^ ^ T E t - E N ^ E ^ T t C O N N o ^ ^ B ^

by^rC^ianf^ncoA^iendola^rV^inioBetUniand^r
Er^dcoEal^ui^

to the Council ofthe European Communities

^ O B C D ^ B ^

^ ^ c ^ . Implementation of Council resolution on
environmental education

Bearing in mind that eighteen months have elapsed since
the adoption of the resolution of ^ ^iay l ^ g E on
environmental education, which recommended that
various measures be taken by the member states, can the
Council stated

t. whether the member states have introduced or are

about to introduce the study of the environment in all
sectors of educations

^. whether, at the very least, the pilot and research
projects proposed at the end of section N^A^b^of the
resolution in question have been implemented^ and

^. whether the member states have acted on the

proposal concerning the provision of advanced
vocational trainingfacilities for specialists^

^oo]^oCt^,DBBm^^,n^

Answer

g ^ ^ r ^ ^

section IV of the Resolution of ^ ^viay P ^ ^ on
environmental education stipulates that^

^The Council and the ministers of Education meeting
within the Council invite the Education Committee to

make an initial report to them withinaperiod of two
years following the adoption of this Resolution on the
progress of action undertaken in the field of
environmental education at Aiember ^tate and

Community levelB

The Education Committee will draw up the above report
within the period laid down by the Resolution.

In the light of this report, the Council will be able to
assess the measures taken in the Aiember states as a

follow-up to the Resolution.

^ R ^ T T E N ^ E ^ T l C O N N o ^ ^ B ^

b y ^ r s R a y m o n d e O u r y ^

to the Council of the European Communities

^ O B C ^ B ^

^ ^ c ^ . Effect of tariff preferences granted to Roland
and Hungary

At its meeting of D November, the Council of Foreign
ministers decided to extend to imports from Roland and

Hungary the preference system applied to the developing
countries.

^iightnotsuch ameasurecompromise the special and
privileged nature of the relations which the European
Community wishes to maintain with the developing
countries^

Answer

g ^ ^ r ^ n ^ ^

The Honourable member will remember that the Arche

summit, held in R a r i s o n t ^ a n d r ^ ] u l y t ^ ^, a d o p t e d an
action plan to assist Roland and Hungary.

Inviewof the political importance of thismatter,at its
meeting on ^ COctober t ^ ^, the Council agreed in
principle to assist these two countries in several areas, in
particular, in increasing their exports to the Community
market by means of better access to that market for their
products.In this content, the Council,at its meeting onD
Novembert^^,agreed to extend the Cenerali^ed system
of preferences ^C^R^ to include Roland and Hungary
while they proceed with economic restructuring,which is
estimatedtotakefiveyears^ theCouncilconsidersthat
these two countries face problems similar to those of the
developing countries.

At its meeting o n ^ N o v e m b e r t ^ ^, t h e Council agreed
in principle ^ pending the COpinion of the European
Rarliament which it had requested asamatter of urgency
^ t o the provision of further concessions for agricultural
products under the t ^ O C^R to assist Roland and
Hungary and other beneficiaries of the C^R.

Cinder these circumstances the Council Precision should

not compromise the special and privileged nature of the
relations which theEECmaintains with the developing
countries.

^ R I T T E N ^ E ^ T l C O N N o t O t ^ B ^

by^rCar^osRoblesRiquer^RRE^

to the Eore^n^imstersofthe member states ofthe

European Community meetin^inpolitical cooperation

^ O B C D ^ B ^

^ ^ c ^ . Executions in Burkina Paso and sierra Leone

COnt^^eptembert^^ it was announced that an alleged
military coup in Burkina Easo had failed. ^Phe government
immediately had two ministers who it considered
responsible shot, one of them a ma^or and the other a
captain in the armed forces.

No C 69/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

On 10 October 1989 it was announced in Sierra Leone

that six people responsible for an attempted coup d'etat in
1987 had been hanged. The government did not state
where the bodies of those executed had been buried.

Mr Albert Tevoedjre, a former Director-General of the
ILO, recalled in connection with the first of these cases
the international community's 'right to intervene' _(Le_
_Monde,_ 27 September 1989) — a right which it would
undoubtedly have exercised had similar cases occurred
elsewhere.

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC expressed
any view on these events to the governments concerned?
Do they feel it would be appropriate in this context to
invoke the principle of respect for human rights, or even
to make the benefits which both governments receive
under the Lome Convention conditional upon respect for
these rights?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

1. The Twelve have given sustained attention to the
cases of the twelve people who were tried and condemned
to death in Sierra Leone in November 1987 for their

involvement in the attempted assassination of President
Momoh on 23 March 1987. After the death sentences

were upheld by the Supreme Court on 30 September 1989,
the Troika of the Ambassadors of the Twelve in Freetown

asked the President of Sierra Leone on 5 October 1989 to

exercise clemency towards the condemned persons on
humanitarian grounds. Several partners also made direct
representations to the President to this end. The death
sentence on six of the condemmned persons was
commuted to a prison sentence.

2. The Twelve are continuing to give close attention to
the situation in Burkina Faso following the latest events.

3. As regards the Lome Convention, the Honourable
Member may wish to note that the new Convention
signed on 15 December 1989 contains specific provisions
on respect for human rights.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1022/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/84)

_Subject:_ European university campuses

What is the Council's view of the proposal made by
President Mitterrand at the University of Bologna on 6
October 1989 that a European university campus should
be established in at least one city in each Member State?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

It is not for the Council to comment on the proposal
mentioned by the Honourable Member.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1023/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/85)

_Subject:_ A person sentenced to death in Swaziland

In view of the fact that no executions have been carried

out in Swaziland for the last five years, and pending the
total abolition of the death penalty, could the Foreign
Ministers meeting in European Political Cooperation
make representations to secure the commutation of the
sentence passed on Bernard Rennie, a young man
condemned to death on the basis of the 'common

purpose' shared in committing the crime with another
person who has in fact been acquitted?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

The specific case raised by the Honourable Member has
not been discussed in European Political Cooperation.
However, the Government of Swaziland is aware of the
importance which the Twelve attach to respect for human
rights.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1024/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/86)

_Subject:_ Execution of drug pedlars in Iran

Having regard to the resolutions adopted recently by the
European Parliament, have the Foreign Ministers meeting
in European Political Cooperation made any
representations to the government of-*he Islamic Republic
of Iran following the large-scale (and in some cases
public) executions for drug-related crimes — to enquire,
for example, whether the defendants were allowed to call

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/39

witnesses in their defence, whether they were legally
represented and whether the verdicts and sentences were
reviewed by a higher court?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

For several years the Twelve have been keeping a close
watch on the human rights situation in Iran. They were
thus particularly alert to the information concerning the
many executions carried out under the law against drug
trafficking which came into force on 21 January 1989.

The Twelve have associated themselves with the calls

from the international community for Iran to return,
especially in this matter, to rigorous observance of
universal standards. Since 1985 they have co-sponsored
all the UN General Assembly Resolutions denouncing
human rights violations in Iran and reminding the
authorities of that country of their obligations. The
Twelve have also made good use of their bilateral
contacts, which still exclude high-level official visits, to
emphasize to Iran that the normalization of their relations
with it cannot be fully guaranteed unless that country
complies with the rules governing international relations.

Although the human rights situation in Iran continues to
be a source of concern, it would appear that the efforts of
the international community have begun to bear fruit,
since the Iranian Government has agreed to invite the
special rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human
Rights, Mr Galindo Pohl, to visit Iran and has promised
to allow him total freedom in his public or private

contacts.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1025/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/87)

_Subject:_ Prisoners of Turkish origin in Bulgaria

Will the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation enquire into the fate of a group of people of
Turkish origin possibly held in Plovdiv prison on account
of their non-violent opposition to the policy of forced
assimilation of the minority of Turkish origin in
contravention of Article 27 of the International Pact on

Civil and Political Rights ratified by Bulgaria in 1970?
Will they seek information regarding the possible death in
that prison of Mustafa Aliev following his participation in
a hunger strike?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Twelve are following closely the current changes in
Bulgaria and the developments in the sphere of human
rights.

As the Honourable Member will be aware, they are acting
in the most appropriate manner in the interests of the
persons concerned.

The particular cases mentioned have not been discussed in
European Political Cooperation. However, the Embassy
of the Presidency will endeavour to obtain information on
their fate.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1026/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/88)

_Subject:_ The Turkish political prisoner ServincTekekeli-Oztas

Will the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation take an interest in the case of the Turkish
political prisoner, Servinc Tekekeli-Oztas, 41, who is
serving a four-year sentence in the closed-regime
provincial prison of Yozgat for belonging to the illegal
Communist Party of Turkey?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Honourable Member is referred to the replies given
to Written Questions No 534/89 (») and No 548/89 ( [2] ).

(') See page 18 of this Official Journal.
( [2] ) See page 21 of this Official Journal.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1027/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/89)

_Subject:_ Political detainees in Sudan

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation been taking a close interest in the fate of

No C 69/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

political detainees in Sudan following the _coup d'etat_ of 30
June, which overthrew the government of Prime Minister
Sadiz al-Mahdi and following which the new regime
banned all political parties and trade unions, dissolved the
National Assembly and suspended the constitution?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

The Twelve have followed with concern recent events in

Sudan, and in particular the _coup d'etat_ of 30 June 1989
which brought General Bechir to power.

In their frequent discussions on the situation in Sudan,
the Twelve pay very special attention to the human rights
policy pursued by the Khartoum authorities. The
declaration of 10 November 1989, in which the Twelve
called for the observance of human rights in Sudan,
particularly in the case of displaced persons, prisonersof-war and other detainees, together with the demarche
by the Troika of Ambassadors in Khartoum on 19
December in favour of those condemned to death, are

evidence of this concern.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1032/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Mum (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/90)

_Subject:_ Political prisoners in Jordan

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation enquire about the fate of a number of
prisoners of conscience, accused of belonging to illegal
organizations, being held without charge or trial in
al-Swaqa prison, under the state of emergency in force
since 1939, following the riots in protest at the
government's economic measures?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Jordanian authorities are aware of the Twelve's

position on human rights and, in particular, of the
importance they attach to respect for them in relations
with third countries. However, the specific case
mentioned by the Honourable Member has not been
discussed in the context of European Political

Cooperation. It should be noted that on 10 December
1989 the new Prime Minister, Mr Badrane, announced his
intention of studying with the Parliament ways of putting
an end to martial law. He also undertook to free all

political detainees. 48 political prisoners were freed on 2
December 1989. Other similar measures should be taken

soon.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1034/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/91)

_Subject:_ Imprisonment without trial in the Congo

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation enquire about Atondi Mormondjo Lecas,
former director of the _Office national des librairies_
_populaires,_ who has been imprisoned without trial since 1
August 1987, possibly as a result of his criticism of
government policy?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The specific case raised by the Honourable Member has
not been discussed in the context of European Political
Cooperation. However, the Congolese Government is
aware of the importance which the Twelve attach to
respect for human rights. Indeed, France has made
approaches to the Congolese authorities about the
situation of Mr Atondi Momondjo Lecas and there might
be developments in the near future.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1035/89

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/92)

_Subject:_ Extrajudicial executions in Zaire

Can the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation make representations to the authorities of

19. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 69/41

the Republic of Zaire to prevent the public execution of 20
people, including soldiers and civilians, who were
sentenced to death on 19 September 1989?

Answer

_(8 February 1990)_

The cases mentioned by the Honourable Member have
not been discussed in the context of European Political
Cooperation. However, the Zairian Government is aware
of the importance which the Twelve attach to respect for
human rights.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1056/89

by Mrs Maartje van Putten (S)

to the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the
European Community meeting in political cooperation

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/93)

_Subject:_ Northern Cyprus

Do the Ministers agree with the statement made by the
Spanish Prime Minister in his talks with the Turkish
Prime Minister Ozal to the effect that no violations of

human rights are taking place in Northern Cyprus _(El_
_Pais,_ 16 September 1989), despite reports by various
human rights organizations?

Answer

_(2 February 1990)_

The Question put by the Honourable Member has not
been discussed in the context of European Political
Cooperation. However, it must be emphasized that the
well-known and firm stance adopted by the Twelve on the
Cyprus problem is fully shared by all partners.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1072/89

by Mr Jose Alvarez de Paz (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(18 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/94)

_Subject:_ The social dimension and reform of the treaties

Does the Council believe that a reform of the Treaty of
Rome is desirable and necessary in order to ensure the full

and effective completion of the social dimension of the
internal market?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

The EEC Treaty, as amended by the Single Act, contains
provisions which make it possible to complete the social
dimension of the Internal Market. Take, for instance, the
provisions concerning the social field, in particular
Article 118a, and those relating to economic and social
cohesion (Articles 130a to 130e).

To date, the Council has adopted all the acts proposed to
it for the purpose of implementing these provisions.

It is not for the Council to adopt any amendments to be
made to the Treaty, but rather for a Conference of the
Representatives of the Governments of the Member
States.

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1097/89

by Mr Alfred Lomas (S)

to the Council of the European Communities

_(19 December 1989)_

(90/C 69/95)

_Subject:_ Directives concerned with the Single European
Act

How many directives have now been accepted by the
Council in connection with implementing the Single
European Act? How many of such directives have been
concerned with improving workers' rights and social
conditions and how many directives are left still to be
adopted by the Council?

Answer

_(9 February 1990)_

The Council does not keep statistics of the kind requested
by the Honourable Member.

The Honourable Member's attention is drawn, however,
to the fact that in July 1989 the Commission of the
European Communities forwarded to the Council and the
European Parliament the Fourth Commission Progress
Report concerning the implementation of the
Commission's White Paper on the completion of the
internal market ('). He will find the information he is
seeking in that report.

O COM(89)311 final.

No C 69/42 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 3. 90

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1321/89

by Mr Herman Verbeek (V)

to the Commission of the European Communities

_(15 January 1990)_

(90/C 69/96)

_Subject:_ The use of high-tech sound devices at race
meetings

The British racing world has recently been alarmed by
reports that races can be influences by devices emitting a
beam of high frequency sound at one of the horses,
knocking it completely out of its stride.

What measures does the Commission think might be
taken to combat this trend and does it intend to give
(financial) support for research into and the introduction
of such countermeasures?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

_(31 January 1990)_

The Honourable Member's question does not come
within the Commission's jurisdiction.

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### REPORT ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

This publication includes the "Report on economic and monetary union in the European Community" by
the Committee for the Study of Economic and Monetary Union, chaired by Jacques Delors, first
published in April 1989. The report is combined with the Collection of Papers by individual members of
this Committee, published here for the first time. These papers were submitted to the Committee for
discussion as background information. They provide an important insight into the discussions of the
Committee and the opinions of its members. The topics covered vary widely and show the extensive
background research presented to the Committee. The full list of contents is reproduced below.

1. The Report
Chapter I - Past and present developments in economic and monetary integration in the Community
Chapter II - The final stage of economic and monetary union
Chapter III - Steps towards economic and monetary union
Annex - Excerpts from the Conclusions of the Presidency presented after the meeting of the
European Council in Hanover on 27 and 28 June 1988

2. Collection of papers
I - Introductory note
II - The Werner Report
III - Papers relating to economic union
IV - Papers relating to monetary union
V - List of members of the Committee

1989 - 235 pages - ISBN 92-826-0655-4 - Catalogue No: CB-56-89-401-EN-C
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