Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

##### C 234
# Official Journal

Volume 37

### of the European Communities

Information and Notices
English edition

22 August 1994

Notice No Contents p age

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

94 / C 234 / 01 E-636 / 93 by Giuseppe Rauti and Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Failure of the Italian Government to implement the Directive on animals for slaughter 1

94 / C 234 / 02 E-738 / 93 by Pierre Bernard-Reymond to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of administrative formalities 1

94 / C 234 / 03 E-749 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Possession of, and trade in, species of wild fauna and flora 2

94 / C 234 / 04 E - 999 / 93 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Project in the region of Prevelis 2

94 / C 234 / 05 E - 1062 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Combined action of plant protection products 3

94 / C 234 / 06 E-l 169 / 93 by David Bowe to the Commission
Subject : Frontier controls 3

94 / C 234 / 07 E-l 202 / 93 by Ingo Friedrich to the Commission
Subject : Trends in the exchange of goods since 1 January 1993 4

94 / C 234 / 08 E-1223 / 93 by Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject : Security for ECSC loans 4

94 / C 234 / 09 E-1233 / 93 by Willem van Velzen to the Commission
Subject : Decision not to grant Flevoland the status of a Regional area 4

Price : ECU 18 ( Continued overleaf )

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94 / C 234 / 10

94 / C 234 / 11

E - 1299 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Road in the village of Velanidia, Lakonia 5

E - 1346 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : International control of drugs 5

94 / C 234 / 12 E-l 352 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission

Subject : Albanian immigrants 6

94 / C 234 / 13

94 / C 234 / 14

94 / C 234 / 15

94 / C 234 / 16

E-1400 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Reprocessing 7

E-1411 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Support for the production of energy from renewable resources 7

E-1517 / 93 by Christopher Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Commission traineeships 8

E-l 543 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission

Subject : Nuclear safety 8

94 / C 234 / 17 E-1560 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Radiation exposure limits 8

94 / C 234 / 18

94 / C 234 / 19

94 / C 234 / 20

94 / C 234 / 21

94 / C 234 / 22

94 / C 234 / 23

94 / C 234 / 24

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E-1568 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Aid for the reconversion of coal mines in Limburg 9

E-l 65 8 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Advisability of creating a reservoir in Chios and way in which this project is being carried
out 10

E-l 678 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : EC subsidies for the Terlamen / Zolder Circuit 10

E-l 679 / 93 by Paul Staes to the Commission
Subject : Transport of radioactive material by air 11

E-1684 / 93 by Enrico Falqui to the Commission
Subject : Danger to local residents from the construction of the Trunk Road No 1, ' Aurelia ', relief
road between Livorno and Grosseto ( Tuscany, Italy ) 12

E-l 694 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Trade in human transplant organs 12

E-l 697 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : 40-tonne maximum weight for freight vehicles 13

E-1698 / 93 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert to the Commission
Subject : Situation in the German textile industry 13

E-l 700 / 93 by Dorothee Piermont to the Commission
Subject : Ban on the export and production of pesticides prohibited in the EC 15

E-l 70 8 / 93 by Heinz Köhler to the Commission
Subject : German Bundestag 's Parliamentary reservation concerning the third phase of EMU . . 16

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

94 / C 234 / 28 E-l 725 / 93 by Klaus Hansen to the Commission
Subject : Destruction of the River Acheloos nature conservation area in Greece as a result of
EC-funded irrigation systems 16

94 / C 234 / 29 E-l 736 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Currency trends and competitiveness of products 17

94 / C 234 / 30 E-l 748 / 93 by Gianfranco Amendola to the Commission
Subject : Transposition into the laws of the Member States of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC on waste and
fulfilment of the Commission 's obligations 17

94 / C 234 / 31 E-1754 / 93 by Jose Apolinário to the Commission
Subject : Bovine spongiform encephalopathy 18

94 / C 234 / 32 E-1759 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Pollution 18

94 / C 234 / 33 E-l 763 / 93 by Ernest Glinne and Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission
Subject : Spread of spongiform encephalopathy in sheep and cattle 19

94 / C 234 / 34 E-l 764 / 93 by Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Interference with the single market 20

94 / C 234 / 35 . E-l 783 / 93 by Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Linking EMU membership to social convergence criteria 20

94 / C 234 / 36 E-1810 / 93 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Elmar Brok, Raphaël Chanterie, Viviane Reding,
Marc Reymann, Pol Marck and Miguel Arias Canete to the Commission
Subject : Enlargement of the EC 21

94 / C 234 / 37 E-l 825 / 93 by Friedrich Merz to the Commission
Subject : Composition of Commission staff 21

94 / C 234 / 38 E-l 827 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Competition rules in the telecommunications sector 21

94 / C 234 / 39 E-l 839 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Irrigation system and use of water from Lake Stymfalia 22

94 / C 234 / 40 E-l 858 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Compliance by Greece with the EC Directive on wild birds 22

94 / C 234 / 41 E-l 860 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Transport of live animals 23

94 / C 234 / 42 E-l 883 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Application for EEC membership by the Republic of Cyprus 23

94 / C 234 / 43 E-l 892 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Movement of goods in the single market 24

94 / C 234 / 44 E-l 898 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The Consumers Consultative Committee 24

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 234 / 45 E-l 902 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Developing the water resources of islands in the Community and in particular the Cyclades
and the Dodecanese

94 / C 234 / 46 E-l 91 1 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : The spread of poverty

94 / C 234 / 47 E-1914 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Animal cruelty and killing for entertainment

94 / C 234 / 48 E-l 9 18 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Compensation for Ambelakia in the prefecture of Larissa

94 / C 234 / 49 E-l 91 9 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Community standards and Greek sausage-makers

94 / C 234 / 50 E-1928 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Mortgages with foreign banks

94 / C 234 / 51 E-1929 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Energy prices

94 / C 234 / 52 E-l 939 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Improving the quality of viticulture

94 / C 234 / 53 E-1958 / 93 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Tax on second-hand cars in Ireland

94 / C 234 / 54 E-l 994 / 93 by Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Withdrawal of the Italian and British railway companies from the European luggage rate
scheme

94 / C 234 / 55 E-2007 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission

Subject : Air transport

94 / C 234 / 56 E-2019 / 93 by Karel Dillen to the Commission
Subject : Languages used by members of the Commission . .

94 / C 234 / 57 E-2035 / 93 by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech to the Commission
Subject : Difficulties experienced by Spanish agri-foodstuffs companies in winning contracts to
supply Community food aid to the Third World

94 / C 234 / 58 E-2039 / 93 by Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Toughened manufactured glasses

94 / C 234 / 59 E-2041 / 93 by Wilhelm Piecyk to the Commission
Subject : EC subsidies for Schleswig-Holstein

94 / C 234 / 60 E-2044 / 93 by Robert Delorozoy to the Commission
Subject : Trade relations between the Community and the countries of central and eastern Europe

( CCEE ) and Russia

94 / C 234 / 61 E-2069 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Increases in air and ferry fares, a severe problem for families

94 / C 234 / 62 E-2072 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Utilization by the Greek National Welfare Organization of funds from expired
Community programmes

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Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 234 / 63 E-2078 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Cases before the courts of irregularities involving organizations distributing and
marketing agricultural produce 34

94 / C 234 / 64 E-2088 / 93 by Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission
Subject : Implementation of Article 4 of the Directive on birds 35

94 / C 234 / 65 E-2092 / 93 by Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : Sickness insurance and the internal market 35

94 / C 234 / 66 E-2100 / 93 by Renzo Imbeni to the Commission
Subject : Peace in the Balkans 36

94 / C 234 / 67 E-2109 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Support for rural communities in the areas around national parks 37

94 / C 234 / 68 E-21 15 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Greek wine production 37

94 / C 234 / 69 E-2120 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : EAGGF grant to battery egg processing centre 37

94 / C 234 / 70 E-21 32 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Bringing Greek environmental law into line with Community law 38

94 / C 234 / 71 E-21 3 9 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Taxation of Greek farmers 38

94 / C 234 / 72 E-2 145 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Olive-oil subsidies 39

94 / C 234 / 73 E-21 5 8 / 93 by Carmen Llorca Vilaplana to the Commission
Subject : Tourist routes for cyclists 39

94 / C 234 / 74 E-21 70 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 39

94 / C 234 / 75 E-21 86 / 93 by Gerardo Fernandez - Albor to the Commission
Subject : The Community 's position on the recent statement by the President of Bolivia 40

94 / C 234 / 76 E-21 90 / 93 by Jose Lafuente Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Community regional tourism promotion stands at world tourism fairs 41

94 / C 234 / 77 E-21 93 / 93 by Victor Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : EC economic aid to the occupied territories 41

94 / C 234 / 78 E-2200 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Training requirements for aircrew 42

94 / C 234 / 79 E-2223 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Tobacco producers in the Prefecture of Rodopi 43

94 / C 234 / 80 E-2239 / 93 by Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Incinerator lorries 43

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 234 / 81 E-2248 / 93 by Yves Frémion to the Commission
Subject : Lack of transparency with regard to the activities of 'A People 's Europe ' units 43

94 / C 234 / 82 E-2265 / 93 by Gordon Adam to the Commission
Subject : Prior notification of programmes to reduce production capacity in the coal sector ... 44

94 / C 234 / 83 E-2287 / 93 by Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Cultural and architectural conservation programmes 45

94 / C 234 / 84 E-2337 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : European Media Code 45

94 / C 234 / 85 E-2418 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Waste storage facilities 45

94 / C 234 / 86 E-2433 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Subsidies for repairs to fishing nets 46

94 / C 234 / 87 E-2499 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Restriction of problematic varieties of tobacco in Greece 46

94 / C 234 / 88 E-2526 / 93 by Mario Melis, Andrea Raggio and Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Abuse of dominant position by the ' Cartiere Burgo ' paper mills 46

94 / C 234 / 89 E-2548 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the River Pinios, region of Larisa 47

94 / C 234 / 90 E-2562 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Detergents 47

94 / C 234 / 91 E-2563 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Zinc mine in Tipperary, Ireland 48

94 / C 234 / 92 E-2580 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Ratification of the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugees 48

94 / C 234 / 93 E-2581 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Defence of human rights in Turkey 49

94 / C 234 / 94 E-2349 / 92 by Francois Guillaume to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of the purity of the gold in jewellery in the EEC 49

94 / C 234 / 95 E-568 / 93 by Christine Oddy to the Commission
Subject : Hallmarking 49

94 / C 234 / 96 E-655 / 93 by Mary Banotti to the Commission
Subject : Directive on precious metals 49

94 / C 234 / 97 E-2590 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : System of hallmarking and quality control of jewellery and other articles made of precious
metals 50

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos E-2349 / 92, E-568 / 93, E-655 / 93 and E-2590 / 93 50

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 234 / 98 E-2593 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : European pharmaceutical code 50

94 / C 234 / 99

94 / C 234 / 100

94 / C 234 / 101

94 / C 234 / 102

94 / C 234 / 103

94 / C 234 / 104

94 / C 234 / 105

94 / C 234 / 106

94 / C 234 / 107

E-2598 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of young people from abuse of stimulants 51

E-2605 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : High incidence of breast cancer among women living in the countryside 52

E-2 130 / 93 by Leen van der Waal to the Commission
Subject : Violation by RTL4 of the EC Directive on television broadcasting activities 52

E-2642 / 93 by Arie Oostlander to the Commission
Subject : Infringement of advertising legislation by RTL4 53

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos E-2 130 / 93 and E-2642 / 93 53

E-2650 / 93 by Luigi Vertemati to the Commission
Subject : European military forces in the world 53

E-2653 / 93 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission
Subject : Industrial policy and recession 54

E-2681 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Funds available for renewable energy and desalination of sea-water 55

E-2687 / 93 by Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Action to combat infanticide in Brazil 55

E-2692 / 93 by James Ford to the Commission

Subject : UK postal charges 56

94 / C 234 / 108 E-2698 / 93 by Ben Visser to the Commission
Subject : Aid for aviation 56

94 / C 234 / 109 E-2709 / 93 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission
Subject : Restructuring of citrus fruit production affected by natural disasters 57

94 / C 234 / 110 E-2718 / 93 by Dieter Rogalla to the Commission

Subject : Internal insurance market 57

94 / C 234 / 111 E-2728 / 93 by Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Lead in the environment 59

94 / C 234 / 112

94 / C 234 / 113

94 / C 234 / 114

94 / C 234 / 115

94 / C 234 / 116

E-2729 / 93 by Christos Papoutsis to the Commission
Subject : Conditions for practising as a chartered accountant in Greece 59

E-2735 / 93 by Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Implementation and extension of European legislation on money laundering 60

E-2739 / 93 by Georgios Zavvos to the Commission
Subject : Significance of ethical issues and the need for a European debate 60

E-2743 / 93 by Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Sender 's address on envelopes 61

E-2748 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission

Subject : EC funding of Bio-Europe 61

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

94 / C 234 / 117 E-2749 / 93 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission
Subject : Human Genome Diversity Project 62

94 / C 234 / 118 E-2763 / 93 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Safety standards on construction sites 63

94 / C 234 / 119 E-2818 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : The objectives of US foreign aid 63

94 / C 234 / 120 E-2826 / 93 by Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Japanese advances in the field of nuclear fusion : improvements in confinement and in the
reduction of impurities in plasma 64

94 / C 234 / 121 E-2838 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Partnership for Change Conference, Manchester 20-22 September 1993 64

94 / C 234 / 122 E-2846 / 93 by Alex Smith to the Commission
Subject : Application of Euratom Treaty Article 34 to Thorp 65

94 / C 234 / 123 E-2853 / 93 by Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Goat farmers in the United Kingdom 65

94 / C 234 / 124 E-2891 / 93 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Cement imports involving dumping by third countries 66

94 / C 234 / 125 E-2893 / 93 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Total financial assistance to Andalusia ( Spain ) 66

94 / C 234 / 126 E-2896 / 93 by John McCartin to the Commission
Subject : Structural Funds spending in Ireland 66

94 / C 234 / 127 E-2902 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Provision of humanitarian aid 67

94 / C 234 / 128 E-2908 / 93 by Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Commission
Subject : Protection of the Louros Missolonghi wetlands 67

94 / C 234 / 129 E-3078 / 93 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Proposed new prison at Fazakerley, Liverpool 68

94 / C 234 / 130 E-3079 / 93 by Kenneth Stewart to the Commission
Subject : Proposed new prison at Fazakerley, Liverpool 68

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos E-3078 / 93 and E-3079 / 93 68

94 / C 234 / 131 E-3477 / 93 by Des Geraghty to the Commission
Subject : Aer Lingus capital injection 68

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-636 / 93 have been breached, the Commission would be grateful to
by Giuseppe Rauti ( NI ) and Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) receive the details .

to the Commission of the European Communities (M OJ No L 316, 26 . 11 . 1974 .
(5 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 01 )

Subject : Failure of the Italian Government to implement the

Directive on animals for slaughter

Mr Antonio Parlato recently claimed before the Chamber of
Deputies that the 1978 EEC Directive on animals for
slaughter was being infringed in Italy . The Directive
specified what stunning methods were permitted using a
pistol, electro-narcosis or carbon dioxide .

Will the Commission take all the necessary steps to ensure
that the Italian Government enforces the Directive on

animals for slaughter ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1993 )

Council Directive 74 / 577 / EEC ( ) on stunning of animals
before slaughter requires cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and
solipeds to be stunned before slaughter by a mechanically
operated instrument, electricity or gas anaesthesia .

Commission veterinary experts make regular inspections in
slaughterhouses in the Community and in third countries
which export meat to the Community . As well as checking
on compliance with Community rules on meat hygiene, they
check on the application of the abovementioned
Directive .

The results of their inspections indicate that the Directive is
being applied in Italy . If the Honourable Members are aware
of specific instances in which the provisions of the Directive

WRITTEN QUESTION E-738 / 93

by Pierre Bernard-Reymond ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 02 )

Subject : Harmonization of administrative formalities

Any non-European national wishing to establish himself in
one of the twelve Member States of the Community is
currently required to complete administrative formalities
which are never the same from one Member State to

another .

Will the Commission consider introducing uniform
formalities in all Member States, similar to those applicable
for a foreigner wishing to establish himself in the United
States and who is required to fill out a single form for entry
into American territory ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 1993 )

The Commission is not planning to introduce a single
document to harmonize administrative formalities which

non-European nationals wishing to establish themselves in
one of the Member States are required to complete .

Nor does such a suggestion appear in the work programme
on immigration adopted at the Maastricht European

No C 234 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Council, which is currently being examined within the
framework of intergovernmental cooperation between the
Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-749 / 93

either because they are endangered or because these
activities are already prohibited under existing Community
legislation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-999 / 93

by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

by Mihail Papayannakis ( NI )

of the European Communities

to the Commission of the European Communities
( 15 April 1993 )
(3 May 1993 )
( 94 / C 234 / 03 )

( 94 / C 234 / 04 )

Subject : Possession of, and trade in, species of wild fauna

and flora

While the proposal for a Council Regulation ( J ), which is
intended to introduce suitable measures to bring to an end
the illegal trade in species in danger of extinction,
undoubtedly contains a number of highly appropriate
provisions, it also has a number of shortcomings, in
particular the lack of logic behind the lists of protected
species and the disproportional increase in bureaucracy
involved .

Can the Commission say how it intends to prevent the
duplication between the Cites and the EC Regulation from
covering the same ground and now it will overcome the lack
of an appeal and consultation procedure for the countries
involved in this trade ? Can the Commission also untangle
the enormous confusion in the lists of animals where the risk

of extinction varies ?

Subject : Project in the region of Prevelis

Further to my previous Question No 3309 / 92 on an
irrigation project in the region of Prevelis in Crete, I would
like to inform the Commission that in a reply to the same
question tabled in the Greek Parliament, the Deputy
Minister for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public
Works, Mr C. Katsiyannis, said that the matter fell within
the remit of the Ministry for Agriculture and that '... to date
no environmental impact study for the project in question
has been submitted to the relevant departments of the
Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public
Works '.

of an appeal and consultation procedure for the countries In view of this ridiculous, albeit official, admission I would
involved in this trade ? Can the Commission also untangle return to this subject and ask the Commission whether it
the enormous confusion in the lists of animals where the risk intends to take any measures and at least suspend funding of
of extinction varies ? the project which, most importantly, is taking place in an

area protected by law which has been earmarked for
0 ) COM ( 91 ) 448 final . improvement under the Envireg programme ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1993 ) (6 December 1993 )

The Commission proposal cited by the Honourable
Member aims to implement Cites and contains a number of
stricter measures, which are allowed under Article XIV of
the Convention . There is therefore no duplication between
the Convention and the proposal .

The draft Regulation, in Article 4, paragraph 6, prescribes
the consultation of countries of origin by the Commission
when restrictions on trade are established .

There should be no confusion about the lists of species, each
of which is based on the criteria for the inclusion of species
contained in Article 3 of the draft Regulation . Confusion, if
any, stems from the idea that Annex A is a list of endangered
species, which it is clearly not . It is merely a list of species,
possession of which or trade wherein is to be prohibited,

The Commission is closely following developments in the
matter to which the question of the Honourable Member
relates . According to the information available, the Ministry
of Agriculture entrusted the environmental impact study on
the Kourtaliotis project in the Preveli area to independent
experts . The study was completed and transmitted to the
relevant Directorate of the Ministry of the Environment on
23 July 1993 . The Directorate in question is evaluating the
study with a view to fixing the environmental terms of the
construction of the Kourtaliotis project .

Pending the results and formal undertakings by the Ministry
of Agriculture to respect the aforementioned environmental
terms, once they have been defined, the Commission
informed the competent authorities by letter of 16 June

1993 of its intention to apply the clauses suspending

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 3

Community aid to the project . The Commission is prepared
to take any necessary step, including suspension of the
EAGGF 's commitment of the 1993 instalment for the
operational programme Crete and all related payments if the
Ministry of Agriculture fails to comply with the
requirements of the aforesaid environmental terms .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1062 / 93

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

(6 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 05 )

Subject : Combined action of plant protection products

On the world market, approximately 10 000
plant-protection products are produced and marketed .
They are derived from combinations of about 1 000 active
substances . According to research carried out by the World
Health Organization, an estimated 1 to 1,5 million people
are poisoned by plant-protection products, and of those,
approximately 20 000 die . Today, about 2 billion kg of
plant - protection products are used world-wide each year . It
is true that various countries have laid down certain limits

on the permitted quantity of toxic residues from
plant-protection products in various foodstuffs . However,
that is not sufficient because it has been ascertained that

certain interactions could take place as a result of the use of
more than one plant-protection product on one plant,
something which is not subject to any control .

In the light of the above, how does the Commission propose
to deal with the whole question of protecting humans and
the environment from the combined action of

plant-protection products ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Research findings indicate that at low dose levels effects are
additive with synergistic effects being rarely reported and at
high doses with an increase of acute toxicity .

Furthermore, even in the unlikely event of synergistic effects
occurring, it should be borne in mind that pesticide intake
arising from food containing residues at the maximum
residue levels are normally several orders of magnitude
lower than the toxicological thresholds established from
experiments on animals .

In conclusion, the Commission would like to draw to the
Honourable Member 's attention Council Directive
91 / 414 / EEC i 1 ) concerning the placing of plant protection
products on the market which provides for a high level of
protection for health and the environment .

(M OJ No L 230, 19 . 8 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 169 / 93

by David Bowe ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 06 )

Subject : Frontier controls

What does the Commission think of the statement made by
British Home Secretary Kenneth Clark with regard to
frontier controls on people travelling between the United
Kingdom and other Member States of the European
Community after January 1993 ?

Does the Commission not think that this is a breach of the

United Kingdom 's obligations under EC Treaties with
regard to the free movement of people ?

on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission
(9 December 1993 )

(2 December 1993 )

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) statistics cited by
the Honourable Member are currently under study by that
organization to establish their accuracy . The Commission
recognizes the problems arising from the use of pesticides
and will continue to collaborate with the international

organizations working in this area, notably the WHO and
the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ), with a view
to finding satisfactory solutions .

Whilst there is no systematic scientific approach at present
for examining possible combined effects of different
pesticide residues, no scientific evidence exists to support
the likelihood of a risk to consumer health because of

synergistic effects of pesticide residues in foodstuffs .

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to

the reply to Oral Question No 54 / 93 by Mr Turner, which it
gave at Parliament 's May 1993 part-session, and to the joint
reply to Oral Questions Nos 118 / 93 by Mr Lataillade and
Mr Lalor, 124 / 83 by Mrs Roth and Mr Taradash, 137 / 93
by Mr Moretti, 141 / 93 by Mr Galland, 142 / 93 by
Mr Van Outrive, Mrs van den Brink and Mrs
Mebrak-Zaidi, 143 / 93 by Mr Le Chevallier, 146 / 93 by
Mr Beazly and Mr Lafuente Lopez, and 156 / 93 by the
Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, which it
gave at Parliament 's July 1993 part-session .

No C 234 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1202 / 93

by Ingo Friedrich ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1223 / 93

by Michael Welsh ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 ) ( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 07 ) ( 94 / C 234 / 08 )

Subject : Trends in the exchange of goods since 1 January

1993

1 . Is it true that, since the internal market became
operational on 1 January 1993, there has been a decline in
trade in goods among small and medium-sized
businesses ?

2 . If there has been such a decline, what are the

reasons ?

3 . What effects are problems involving the VAT
identification number having on Community-wide trade in
goods among small and medium-sized businesses ?

Subject : Security for ECSC loans

ECSC global loans are provided to support industrial
development in coal and steel producing areas and they are
particularly attractive to small firms . The British venture
capital organization, 3i, recently made an offer to a small
firm which required a bank guarantee to be provided as
security for the full amount sought . As the would-be
borrower pointed out, if he had been able to provide that
level of security he would not have needed the loan in the
first place .

small and medium-sized businesses ? At present the Commission gives no guidance to its lending

agents . Does it not consider that guidelines should be issued
in general terms so that the object of the ESCS scheme
should not be frustrated in this way ?
Answer by Mr Vanni Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1993 )

Under the transitional tax arrangements governing trade
between Member States, intra-Community supplies of
goods are exempt from tax in the Member State of the seller .
However, the purchaser in the other Member State must
subject the acquisition of the goods to his country 's turnover
tax at the rates in force there .

In order to be able to effect intra-Community supplies free
of tax, the seller must ensure that the purchaser is a taxable
person within the meaning of the Sixth Directive on the
harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to
turnover taxes . The status of taxable person is evidenced by
the purchaser 's VAT identification number .

In the event of any doubt, particularly where new customers
are concerned, it is in the seller 's interests to ask his central
liaison office to confirm the validity of the identification
number given by the purchaser . The liaison office ascertains
within a matter of seconds, through the VAT Information
Exchange System ( VIES ), whether or not the number is
valid .

Experience gained in the early months of this year has
shown that this verification system is widely used by taxable
persons in the Member States and that it functions very
smoothly .

It was only in connection with trade with Germany that
problems were encountered at the outset on account of the
time taken by the Saarlouis Tax Office to allocate VAT
identification numbers, although most of the firms
concerned were not yet involved in intra-Community trade .
According to the information available to the Commission,
those problems have now been resolved .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1993 )

The Commission does not issue guidelines on the need for
financial intermediaries to take security from the potential
sub-borrowers of the ECSC Global Loan Scheme . The

financial risk is borne completely by such financial
intermediaries and they alone can decide the degree of
security which they wish to obtain .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1233 / 93

by Willem van Velzen ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 18 May 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 09 )

Subject : Decision not to grant Flevoland the status of a

Regional area

On 24 February 1993 the Commission decided against
granting Flevoland the status of a Regional area, although it
is eligible for such status on the basis of the criteria applied
hitherto .

Can the Commission specify the reasons for its decision and
indicate whether regions have previously been excluded
from Regional status on the same grounds ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 5

Is the Commission prepared to review its decision, given If that is the case, the Commission would be ready to
that Flevoland 's relative backwardness, particularly in the respond favourably .
area of infrastructure, has led to a shortage of jobs for local
people and thus to young people, above all, leaving the
region ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1346 / 93

Answer given by Mr Millan by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission of the European Communities
( 21 December 1993 )
(3 June 1993 )

(9 4 / C 234 / 11 )
It is the Council and not the Commission which decides on

the eligibility of Community regions for support under
Objective 1 of the Structural Funds . Subject : International control of drugs

Annex I to Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081 / 93
amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 2052 / 88 lists the regions
concerned by Objective 1 for the period 1994 to 1999 . This
list includes Flevoland .

Both national and international measures to combat the use

of drugs and trafficking have had no visible positive results .
This is one of the conclusions of a report by a UN
commission on international drugs control which has also
found that 70-80 % of heroin entering Austria and Europe
in general originates in Istanbul, passing through Bulgaria
and the territory of the former Yugoslavia .

In view of the UN commission 's conclusions, will the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1299 / 93 Commission consider taking measures to tighten up drugs
control at international level, especially in the Balkans ?

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

(1 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 10 ) Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Road in the village of Velanidia, Lakonia ( IS October 1993 )

Lakonia has more than its fair share of problems . According
to reports in the local press, ' Proia tis Spartis ' of 15-31
January 1993, work on asphalting the road to Velanidia is

progressing extremely slowly and it is unlikely that it will be
completed during 1993 .

Can the Commission say whether, in the context of
subsidiarity and decentralization in the European Union, it
can urge the Greek authorities to grant the necessary
fundingt to ensure that this project is not neglected and is
completed as soon as possible ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

That part of the construction of the road from Velanidia to
Lakonia included in the Integrated Mediterranean
Programme for Western Greece / Peloponnese and which
receives part-financing from the Structural Funds is already
complete .

According to information available to the Commission, the
Greek authorities plan to complete the construction of the
rest of the road under new regional programmes .

The Commission shares the Honorable Member 's concern

about the deterioration of the drug situation throughout
Europe . Political and economic developments in central and
eastern Europe make the region prone to diversified
channels of drug smuggling and different forms of money
laundering . Illicit trafficking of South-West Asian heroin
along the Balkan Route continues to be the major drug
problem for the Community .

Drugs routes are changing and the war in the former
Yugoslavia has resulted in alternatives to the traditional
Balkan Route which previously ran through the country .
Furthermore, the disintegration of the former USSR has
revealed the existence of new production areas, as well as
trafficking networks .

The Commission is therefore stepping up its efforts to
cooperate and to implement technical and financial
assistance for the fight against drugs in central and eastern
Europe .

On the basis of the European Plan to Combat Drugs,

( December 1990 ), the Community is systematically
introducing a drugs clause in the new agreements with the
central and eastern European countries and the New
Independent States ( CIS ). This new cooperation aims at
increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and
measures to counter the supply and illicit traffic of narcotic

No C 234 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

drugs and psychotropic substances, and to promote drug
demand reduction . Moreover, following the conclusions of
the First Pan-European Ministerial Conference on Drugs

( May 1991 ), the Community has committed itself to
develop its cooperation with the countries of central and
eastern European countries in these fields .

The Commission has started to implement a regional Phare
Programme for the Fight against Drugs in Poland, Hungary,
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria . The
Programme consists of a pilot action of 2 million ECU and
offers an initial response to the needs for technical assistance
and training expressed by the six countries during
fact-finding missions carried out by the Commission in

1992 . It is related to four areas : precursors monitoring,
money laundering, data collection, and prevention of drug
abuse . In a second stage, it is envisaged that this Programme
will be strengthened and extended to other countries of the
region, if the Commission disposes of the human resources
needed to prepare and manage such an extension, and if the
appropriate new budget line ( B7-5081 ) is provided with
funds .

As a member of the Dublin Group ( consultative mechanism
on drug policy between UNDCP, USA, Sweden, Japan,
Canada, Australia, Commission and Member States ), the
Commission participates actively in the activities of the
regional meeting on eastern Europe . In this framework, the
German presidency of that regional meeting aims to develop
a masterplan for eastern Europe, combining efforts of the
various donors in the region . A UNDCP ( United Nations
International Drug Control Programme ) mechanism has
been set up with a view to coordinate international drug
control assitance to eastern European countries, the Baltic
States and the CIS, especially in the field of law enforcement .
The Commission participated in the first meeting of the
Task Force ( Vienna, 26-28 April 1993 ) set up under this
UNDCP mechanism in order to identify the further scope
for cooperation and coordination in the countries
concerned .

In general, Community cooperation aims to reduce the
scope of drug trafficking and abuse, and should contribute
to the reinforcement of measures for international drug
control in order to better protect the populations of the
Member States as well as those of the partner countries in
central and eastern Europe .

and emigration at the gates of the Community, and in
particular of Greece, what measures does the Commission
intend to take to help both Albania and Greece cope with
their immigration problem ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )

The Commission has noted with interest the Honourable

Member 's concern at the problem of Albanian
immigrants .

In its communication on immigration of October 1991, the
Commission emphasized the special situation resulting from
the sudden and massive population movements like the
influx from Albania into Greece (*). To show its solidarity, it
granted aid of ECU 500 000 to the Albanian refugees in
Greece, at the request of the Greek Government, in January
1991 .

The measures taken by the Commission to help the
countries in question meet this problem are of two
kinds :

— In the short term, humanitarian aid for the persons

displaced by the tragedy of the Balkan crisis is a first
response to this exceptional situation ;

— In the long term, economic aid provided by the

Community under the Phare programme for Albania
and the Commission 's role, as coordinator within the
G-24, of the various aids from the donor countries, have
also helped prevent massive emigration from these
countries ( 2 ).

eastern Europe . The aim of these measures is to meet the food requirements

of the Albanian people, to restructure and develop
agriculture, to revitalize the economy and to encourage the
return to democracy by helping to support and reintegrate
the Albanian people into the working and social life of the

country .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1352 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) SEC(91 ) 1833 final .

( 2 ) Food aid : ECU 50 million in 1991, ECU 40 million + ECU 45

million in 1992 ; Phare Economic Programme : ECU 25 million

(4 June 1993 ) in 1992, ECU 30 million in 1993 ; Financial assistance to the

( 94 / C 234 / 12 ) balance of payments : ECU 35+35 million in the form of gifts ;

G-24 Programme 1991-92 : ECU 902 million, of which ECU
626 million were gifts, Community 's share : ECU 281
Subject : Albanian immigrants million .

(4 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 12 )

In the light of recent political developments which have
transformed Albania into a country of both immigration

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 7

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1400 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 13 )

Subject : Reprocessing

1 . What quantities of uranium have been produced since
1984 as a result of the reprocessing of spent fuel elements
from European nuclear power stations, and what are the
isotopes concerned ?

2 . Is it true that the uranium produced through
reprocessing is not used for the production of new fuel
elements, as claimed by supporters of the ' fuel cycle ', but
merely increases the quantity of waste produced ?

3 . Where is the uranium produced through
reprocessing ?

4 . What proportion of reprocessed uranium is actually
used to produce new fuel elements ?

5 . In which interim or permanent storage sites is
reprocessed uranium not intended for re-use to be
stored ?

shortages of interim storage capacity are relatively easy to
avoid given the fairly short construction time for storage
facilities and the availability of accurate information about
the likely quantities of uranium to be reprocessed in the
future .

Final storage, i.e. disposal, of reprocessed uranium is not
currently practised in the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1411 / 93

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

(9 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 14 )

Subject : Support for the production of energy from

renewable resources

What is the Commission doing to support the growth in the
production of energy from renewable resources ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Matutes ( 25 October 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 October 1993 )

1 . The Commission does not consider itself authorized to

divulge confidential information notified to it pursuant to
the Euratom Treaty .

2 . No .

3 . Uranium from reprocessing facilities is stored,
pending its subsequent use, in appropriate storage
containers and in accordance with the nuclear safety
regulations in force .

4 . The Commission is unable to state the exact

proportion ofreprocessed uranium which is actually re-used
in the fabrication of new fuel elements . However, given the
quantities of reprocessed fuel elements from natural
uranium-fuelled reactor ( e.g. gas-cooled reactor ) stations
and from enriched uranium reactor ( e.g. light-water reactor )
stations, the quantity of uranium which is both recovered
and actually re-used is considerable .

5 . In the case of prolonged interim storage of reprocessed
uranium pending re-use or a final decision not to re-use it,

For a number of years Community policy for the
development of renewable energy sources has been largely
based on two types of strategy :

— the development of R&D programmes : aid amounting

to ECU 314 million has been allocated in this context

since 1975 ;

— the execution of demonstration programmes for the

promotion and dissemination of new technologies : 1064
projects accounting for ECU 366 million have been
co-financed in this field between 1978 and 1993 .

Both types of action currently form part of the ' Joule II ' and
' Thermie ' programmes .

In addition, the Commission recently launched a new
initiative called ' Alterner '. With an overall budget of
ECU 40 million, this programme will supplement the two
programmes mentioned above and will also pay particular
attention to the environmental dimension .

Finally, it should be pointed out that the Commission has
proposed, as part of its work on limiting C0 2 emissions into
the atmosphere, a number of measures, including the

No C 234 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

introduction of a tax in this field and tax relief for biofuels,
which, if adopted by the Council, should result in renewable
energy sources becoming more competitive .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1543 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 June 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 16 )

Subject : Nuclear safety
WRITTEN QUESTION E-15 17 / 93

by Christopher Jackson ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Jackson ( PPE ) Will the Commission instruct Euratom to evaluate the
of the European Communities relevance to European nuclear safety of the report on vessel

head penetration cracking in nuclear reactors, prepared by

( 14 June 1993 )

Mycle Schneider et al . for Greenpeace International,
( 94 / C 234 / 15 ) published in March 1993 ?

( 14 June 1993 )

Subject : Commission traineeships

I believe that the Commission is concerned to maintain a

reasonable relationship between the number of staff of a
given nationality and the population of their Member State .
This does not appear to be observed in the case of
traineeships in the Commission, where in the period

1 October 1992 to 28 February 1993, there were, for
example, 52 Belgians, 52 British, 37 Greek, 62 French and
63 Spanish . It is to be hoped that traineeships will have a
bearing on subsequent recruitment and, therefore, if
anything, preference should be given to Member States
currently under-represented in the Commission 's A-grade
staff .

Will the Commission agree, on an annual basis, to observe
approximate quotas with respect to the different
nationalities and publish these quotas ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the

fact that there is no link between traineeships and
recruitment to the Commission, which is subject to the rules
on open competitions .

The rules governing in-service training with the Commission
state that ' applicants are selected on the basis of
qualifications ; an appropriate geographical distribution will
be maintained .'

This rule is generally applied, although problems may arise
from time to time, if there is an imbalance in the number of
applicants . This was the case in the period cited by the
Honourable Member .

The Commission will pursue its goal of ensuring an
appropriate geographical balance among trainees from the
different Member States .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The problem mentioned by the Honourable Member,
namely vessel head penetration cracking in certain
pressurized water reactors, has been the subject of
statements and detailed discussions in the Commission 's
standing group of experts, the Working Party on Reactor
Safety, which is made up of Community nuclear safety
specialists from the safety authorities and their technical
support bodies, electricity producers and constructors of
nuclear plants .

The information provided and the discussions have given a
good insight into the problem, its safety implications and the
solutions proposed by the operator . After evaluating these
solutions, the national safety authority decides on the
conditions under which reactors affected by this
phenomenon may continue to be operated .

If new elements came to light, they would certainly be
examined in detail following the same procedure .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-15 60 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 17 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 17

Subject : Radiation exposure limits

Will the Commission request its Scientific Committee on
Atomic Energy Questions to examine the report and
conclusions of the study by G.J. Draper et al on ' Cancer in
Cumbria and in the vicinity of the Sellafield Nuclear
Installation 1963-1990 ', published in the British Medical
Journal, Volume 306, 9 January 1993, pages 89-94, to

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 9

assess its relevance to the setting of standards for radiation
exposure limits for nuclear plants in the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1993 )

All reports such as that mentioned are taken into account in
the preparation of the Recommendations issued by the
International Commission on Radiological Protection .
These Recommendations are subsequently taken into
account in the periodic reviews of the Community Basic
Safety Standards carried out in consultation with the Group
of Experts appointed under the terms of Article 31 of the
Euratom Treaty to advise the Commission on such

matters .

The particular report in question confirms previously
published results already fully recognized on the ' increased
incidence of lymphoid leukaemia and non-Hodgkin
lymphomas among young people in Sellafield '. However,
the authors ' are unable to identify the cause of this increase ';
nor can they state that their ' data and analyses either
support or detract from the conclusions of Garnder et al .'
who had previously suggested, contrary to other evidence,
that childhood leukaemia could result from preconception
exposure of the father . The report, therefore, does not
provide any new evidence which might justify exceptional
examination .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1568 / 93

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

( 17 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 18 )

Subject : Aid for the reconversion of coal mines in
Limburg

1 . How much aid has the EC granted for the
reconversion of coal mines in Limburg ( Belgium )? Was aid
also granted from budget appropriations entered under the
' environment ' heading ?

2 . In the light of current reports and the setting up of a
committee of inquiry by the Flemish Council in cooperation
with the Campine coal mines, is the EC sure that all its
appropriations are being used effectively and properly ?

3 . Is the Commission represented on the committee of
inquiry with observer status ?

4 . Do any funds remain from the EC aid, or have they all
been used ?

5 . If so, has the Commission or the Court of Auditors
drawn up a definitive and detailed report on the purpose for
which they have been used / earmarked ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

1 . The areas affected by the rundown of coal mining in
the Province of Limbourg have been designated as assisted
areas ( Objective 2 ) under the reformed Structural Funds for
the programming period 1989 to 1993 . They benefit from
two operational programmes and a Rechar programme with
European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and
European Social Fund ( ESF ) grant aid totalling some 50,68
MECU and 39,39 MECU respectively .

ERDF aid within these programmes has been granted in
support of industrial expansion and diversification ( SME 's,
tertiary sector, research and technology transfer, tourism ).
Only a fraction of ERDF funding i.e. 0,95 MECU is linked
to Kempische Steenkolenmijnen conversion, viz . the
reclamation and environmental improvement of Kempische
Steenkolenmijnen sites for industrial, service and tourist

use .

On the other hand, from 1987 to 1992, a sum of 67,07
MECU has been granted in favour of the employees of the
Kempense Steenkolenmijnen, for the ECSC readaptation
aid ( early retirement, unemployment benefits, vocational
training and redeployment assistance ).

Under the conversion loan scheme provided under Article
56 ECSC Treaty, 8 MECU in interest relief grant has been
allocated to Limbourg for the period 1992 / 93 . The loan,
associated with an interest subsidy of up to 3 % per annum,
is being made available to jobcreating new investment by
SME 's outside the coal industry .

2 . The rules governing the grant of Community financial
assistance provide for financial control . The primary
responsibility for ensuring the proper use of the funds lies
with the national authorities . The Commission has no

reason to believe that any irregularities that might come to
light are affecting the use of Community funds .

3 . No, but the Commission would contribute to the
proceedings of the fact-finding Parliamentary Committee by
providing information, if requested .

No C 234 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

4 . The Community aid has not yet been fully used . The
Objective 2 operational programmes and the Rechar
initiative mentioned above will expire at the end of this year .
Until then, commitments on the ground can be made by the
implementing authorities . There is also scope for granting
ECSC conversion loans in the Rechar area of Limburg .

5 . The Commission keeps a record of all commitments
and payments made . With regard to individual projects
within programmes, it should, however, be borne in mind
that it is the implementing body in the region which must
keep documentation regarding expenditure on and progress
of the operations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1658 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 19

Subject : Advisability of creating a reservoir in Chios and

way in which this project is being carried out

Plans to create a reservoir of drinking water in Varili on the
Island of Chios, to be co-financed by the Community, have
met with the general opposition of residents . According to
the watchdog committee, the project is being carried out in
the absence of an environmental impact assessment
( Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 1 )), in the face of unanimous
opposition from the local authority and despite the fact that
an alternative project, — also being funded by the
Community — is already under way, ( the
Sklavios-Thimianos water supply network ). Furthermore,
the Anemonas municipal sewage pipeline passes through the
catchment area of the projected reservoir . Finally, the
volume of water supplied by streams flowing into the
reservoir has not been calculated and the value of the project
itself is being questioned .

What steps will the Commission take to ensure the
effectiveness of Community funding for the
Sklavious-Thimianos water supply project which appears to
be under threat from the above project ? Will the
Commission consider the proposal by residents for an
alternative location for the project ?

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that an
environmental impact study of the projected reservoir is
carried out before funding is provided and that the drinking
water is not contaminated by seepage from the sewage
pipeline ?

Is the advisability of the project being called into question, in
view of the fact that the final report itself shows that the
volume of water flowing into the reservoir catchment area
has not been calculated and that readings from nearby
watercourses on which the study was based were too

sporadic to enable a connection to be established with
rainfall in the area ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

Council Directive 75 / 440 / EEC ( ) lays down requirements
to ensure that surface fresh water abstracted for use as

drinking water meets certain standards and is treated
adequately before being introduced into the public supply .
However it is for the Greek authorities to take such action as

is necessary to ensure that the standards of the Directive are

met .

A reservoir to supply drinking water is classified as an annex
II project by Directive 85 / 337 / EEC, and as such it is for the
Member State 's competent authority to examine whether
an environmental impact assessment is required under
Article 4 .

If such an assessment is considered necessary, the authority
will call on the developer in question to take the necessary
measures to carry it out in line with the procedures set down
in the Directive . These include the consultation of the

environmental authority and the public . An outline of
alternatives studied by the developer and the reasons for the
choice will also be included .

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

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1678 / 93

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

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 20

Subject : EC subsidies for the Terlamen / Zolder Circuit

There are reports that the organization behind the
Terlamen / Zolder car racing circuit in Limburg, Belgium,
may have received some Bfrs 15 million in EC subsidies for
the development of tourism in 1992 .

1 . Can the Commission confirm this ?

2 . Were EC subsidies provided in 1992 or in any other
year ?

3 . If so, on the basis of what criteria were such subsidies
granted ?

4 . Is the Commission aware of the problems caused by this
circuit, including noise pollution ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 11

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

1 . It can be confirmed that aid from the European
Regional Development Fund of some Bfrs 12 million will be
granted to the race-circuit of Terlame / Zolder in the
framework of the Rechar programme for Limburg .

2 . The decision was taken on 11 December 1992 by the
monitoring committee established to oversee the
implementation of the programme .

3 . The project fits the development priorities and
measures of the programme, notably the development of
tourism and the provision of appropriate tourist
infrastructure .

4 . In assessing the project, the monitoring committee,
composed of representatives of the Commission, the EIB,
the Member State and the region, took into consideration
the following environmental issues related to the project .

The project supported by ERDF concerns the entrance
tunnel to the circuit . By heightening the ceiling of the
entrance tunnel to allow access for trucks and buses, heavy
traffic will be reduced in the small village near the motor
circuit ( Viversel ). To reduce the noise for the surroundings
of the motor circuit several control points were installed
along the circuit . The monthly measuring results are being
discussed between the mayor of the municipality of
Heusden-Zolder and the director of the department for
environment of the ministry of physical planning and
environment (' het Bestuur voor Leefmilieu van de
Administrate voor Ruimtelijke Ordening en Leefmilieu ' in
Flanders .

Each quarter, the local authorities of Heusden-Zolder are
informed by the company running the circuit ( V.Z.W.
Terlamen-Zolder ) of the results of the noise measurement .

Since the start of the control system on 30 May 1990 the
critical values have not been exceeded .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1679 / 93

by Paul Staes ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 21 )

A number of flights to transport 8 tonnes of plutonium from
Sellafield to Germany are planned for 1994 .

1 . Can the Commission confirm the above ?

2 . The Commission is aware of the problems which arise in

transporting plutonium by road, rail or water . These
problems are even more serious where air transport is
concerned, particularly under the extreme conditions to
which the packaging of such material would be exposed
in the event, for instance, of an aeroplane crash .

Moreover, plutonium is packed in containers designed
to withstand a fall of no more than 9 metres .

Experts say that a crash could make hundreds of square
kilometres uninhabitable and cost millions of Belgian
francs .

The Commission is also aware that Canada and the

United States, for instance, have taken unilateral
decisions to ban such flights from their airspace .

Does the Commission agree that flights carrying
radioactive material should be banned from European
airspace ?

3 . If so, what action will the Commission take to ban
flights carrying radioactive material from European
airspace ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The Commission is informed of the intended shipments and
follows very carefully the decision-making on this subject .
At this moment there is no final decision on the scheduling
and mode of transport . Air and sea transport are both under
consideration . The Honourable Member is referred to the

answer given by the Commission to Written Question No

1559 / 93 of Mr A. Smith (*).

As mentioned in the reply of the Commission on the
resolutions of the Parliament of the 19 November 1992 ( 2 )
concerning the international transport of plutonium, there
is at this moment no ground to support any request to close
the European airspace to the transport of radioactive
materials .

This is also the view of the International Atomic Energy
Agency ( IAEA ) and the International Civil Aviation
Organization ( ICAO ).

Subject : Transport of radioactive material by air

(!) OJ No C 350, 29 . 12 . 1993, p . 26 .

There are reports that seven flights are planned for 1993 for
the transport of 123 plutonium fuel rods (a total load of 1,2
tonnes ) from Hanau in Germany to Dounreay in Scotland
— flying over inter alia densely populated Belgian
territory .

( 2 ) Half-yearly report on action taken by the Commission in

response to Parliament 's own-initiative resolutions ( July to
December 1992 ) — SP(93)1419 / 2 .

No C 234 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1684 / 93

by Enrico Falqui ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 22 )

Subject : Danger to local residents from the construction of

the Trunk Road No 1, ' Aurelia ', relief road
between Livorno and Grosseto ( Tuscany, Italy )

On several occasions the Grosseto Public Prosecutor has

ordered work to be suspended on sites along the proposed
route of the Aurelia relief road for the following reasons :

— firstly, the Etruscan archaeological findings in Poggio

Fornello, which demonstrate that the environmental
impact assessment for the construction of the relief road
was inadequate and, to the say the least, incomplete ;

— secondly, the facts uncovered by the local judiciary

concerning the questionable nature of tendering
procedures for the award of contracts to private
companies for parts of this project .

The suspension of work ordered by the Public Prosecutor 's
Office has not led to any decision by the Italian Ministry of
Public Works concerning a new environmental impact
assessment for the project or, still less, its definitive
abandonment .

On 29 April 1993, an almost-completed tunnel, which was
being built through a hill in the Antignano-Montenero area
( Livorno ) as part of the relief road project, caved in because
of the extremely unstable nature of the terrain, swallowing
up a number of homes, thereby highlighting the extreme
danger to which local residents are being exposed .

In view of this, will the Commission use every instrument it
possesses to end this situation of extreme danger for the
local residents as highlighted by the collapse of the tunnel ?
What progress has been made by its action against Italy
before the Court of Justice for incorrect implementation of
Council Directive 85 / 337 / EEC ( 1 ), and what progress has it
made in its endeavour to amend and strengthen this
legislation ?

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

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 )

The Commission has no powers to intervene in the situation
described by the Honourable Member, which arose as the
result of road infrastructure works . Furthermore, it is not
clear from the description of the case whether the project in
question should have undergone an environmental impact
assessment within the meaning of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC .

More generally, the Commission would point out that it has
already instituted infringement proceedings against the
Italian authorities for failure to comply with
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC . It delivered a reasoned opinion on
the subject in July 1993 .

Finally, the Commission intends to propose a revision of
Directive 85 / 337 / EEC during the coming year .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1694 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 23 )

Subject : Trade in human transplant organs

Allegations of organized trade in human transplant organs
in Greece have caused public outrage in that country
particularly in view of the following :

1 . These allegations have led to considerable doubts as to

the value of the free donation of organs and at the same
time have led to reactions from representatives of
transplant centres .

2 . In view of the serious indications of organ trafficking in
many countries of the world and continuing criminal
activities, the European Parliament has called for
binding legislation in all Member States of the
Community embodying the generally accepted principle
of prohibiting trade in organs for both ethical and health

reasons .

3 . Previous European Parliament resolutions (*) called on
the Commission to draw up a proposal for a Directive
on the transplant of organs and coordination and
cooperation between European organ banks . The
Commission has failed to take the slightest action in
response to these resolutions .

In view of this :

— what steps will the Commission take to introduce

the necessary legislation to put into practice of
prohibiting trade in human organs and tissue, to
protect the quality, safety and rational use of organs,
the availability of sufficient organs and respect for
the rights of donors ( living and deceased ) and
recipients ?

í 1 ) OJ No C 127, 21 . 5 . 1979 and OJ No C 128, 16 . 5 . 1983 .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 13

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

— transporters of containers will be able to transport

only one instead of two containers at a time ?

( 17 December 1993 ) — the maximum net load for tip-up trucks will be

halved ?

As the Commission stated in its answer to Written Question
No 2864 / 92 from Mrs Muscardini ( ] ), organ
transplantation falls within the competence of the Member
States . Therefore the Commission does not intend to take

any steps in this field .

The Commission is prepared however to support exchanges
of information in this field between the Member States . In

this context, the Commission has cooperated with the
Belgian Presidency in the organization of an important
seminar on 6 / 7 December 1993 on organ and tissue
donation .

(*) OJ No C 99, 7 . 4 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1697 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 24

Subject : 40-tonne maximum weight for freight vehicles

There have been reports from various sources that the
Commission is planning to submit a proposal to extend the
limits on authorized maximum dimensions and weights of
freight vehicles to vehicles used for inland transport . This
would mean that the maximum weight of five-axle
articulated lorries would be 40 or possibly 44 tonnes with
correspondingly lower maximum weights applying to
smaller vehicles . The current maximum weight of vehicles
used for inland transport in the Netherlands is 50 tonnes .
The NEA research institute has calculated that reducing the
maximum weight to 40 tonnes in the Netherlands will result
in 500 000 additional journeys and an additional annual
fuel consumption of 55 million litres .

1 . Is it true that the Commission plans to submit proposals
to limit the maximum weight of freight vehicles used for
inland transport operations to 40 or 44 tonnes ?

2 . Does the Commission agree with the NEA that such a
measure would involve 500 000 additional journeys and
an additional fuel consumption of 55 million litres to
transport the same quantity of freight, and does this not
run counter to the policy which the Commission is
attempting to establish in its Green and White
Papers ?

— it will no longer be worth operating six-axle

articulated vehicles ?

4 . Does the Commission consider it acceptable to take

these measures, which will add enormously to costs in
the road transport sector, where returns have already
more or less been reduced to zero ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

The Commission intends to harmonise maximum

authorized total weights for combinations used in
international and national traffic as a logical consequence of
the completion of the internal market where vehicles of
different Member States should be able to compete under
equal conditions .

The Commission has been informed about the results of the
NEA study . This study is based on the assumption that the
weights of solo vehicles will also be fully harmonized .
However, these vehicles do not fall within the scope of the
current discussions . Moreover, there are serious doubts
about the methodology and some calculations in this
study .

In formulating its proposal, the Commission is aiming to
find a balanced compromise between commercial and
environmental considerations taking into account the costs
of infrastructure maintenance .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1698 / 93
by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 25 )

Subject : Situation in the German textile industry

Hundreds of thousands of jobs depend directly and
indirectly on the German textile sector . Despite keen and
increasingly intense international competition, both sides of
industry are prepared to meet the challenge . In order to do
so, however, they must be able to operate in an environment
free from distortion of competition at national, European
and international level .

1 . What steps is the Commission taking at European level

3 . Is it true that : to prevent widespread illegal imports ?

No C 234 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

2 . How will the Commission ensure that, within the

framework of the particularly difficult Uruguay Round
of negotiations in the textile sector, market access in
other industrial and newly industrializing countries,
discipline in respect of subsidies and protection of
designs can be secured with a view to reducing
distortions of competition ?

3 . What possibilities does the Commission see of inducing

countries to Open up their markets and eliminate
distortions of competition ?

4 . What steps is the Commission taking to make it easier to

implement anti-dumping instruments in the textile and
clothing sector ?

5 . What support can be given to the efforts by the German

textile sector to secure a footing on foreign markets by
means of investment or exports on the basis of
instruments meeting GATT or EC requirements ?

6 . What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that no

subsidies distorting competition are paid within the
European textiles sector ?

7 . What monitoring procedures exist to prevent this ?

8 . What view does the Commission take of the competitive

disadvantages faced by the German textile sector as a
result of differing environmental standards in the
individual Member States, and what steps does it intend
to take to remedy this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

1 . The Commission is concerned about fraud in the

textiles sector and has recently announced the creation of a
special task force — the Textiles Anti-Fraud Initiative

( TAFI ) — to reinforce its current activities against illegal
textiles imports . This new action benefits from a
supplementary budget voted by the Parliament of 500 000
ECU, and the Commission intends through it to involve the
co-ordinated activities of both the Community textile
industry and authorities in the fight against fraud .

2 . The Commission has always been well aware of the
very close links between the different negotiating dossiers in
the Uruguay Round GATT negotiations . Acceptance of a
textiles package will be forthcoming when the Community
is satisfied that other elements such as market access,
subsidies, intellectual property, strengthened GATT rules
and disciplines, are also acceptable for the Community .
Agreement in all of these areas will certainly represent
progress in the effort to reduce unfair trading practices
among Contracting Parties .

3 . The linkage between the textiles package and the other
elements of the Uruguay Round negotiations, as noted in
paragraph 2 above, serves as an important source of
pressure on third countries to open their own markets and
to abide by GATT rules . Obviously, any final package will
have to be acceptable to all Contracting Parties .

4 . Community policy regarding dumping by third
countries is applied in the textiles sector as in other sectors .
Currently there are 21 anti-dumping measures in force
against 12 third countries in the textiles sector and seven
investigations are ongoing . Community policy in this field
will, of course, evolve in the light of the Uruguay Round
negotiations regarding antidumping .

The Commission has recently tabled new proposals in the
Council to accelerate the deadlines for the Community 's
anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard regulations —
reducing the average time for the imposition of provisional
measures in anti-dumping from 14-18 months to no more
than nine . These proposals, if agreed, will ensure that in
cases where there is unfair trade, the Community will be able
to respond more quickly in the future .

5 . In the context of the GATT Uruguay Round, the
Community gives high priority to negotiating measures to
ensure improved market access to third countries in order to
help the European textile and clothing industries to increase
their exports to overseas markets and to establish a reliable
long-term framework for world trade in textiles .

As a practical way to foster market access for European
firms the Community textiles industry is eligible to
participate in export promotion activities which receive
financial support from the Commission . The programme
for 1993, for which the budget is 680 000 ECU, foresees a
range of market studies and exhibitions in various countries
in central and eastern Europe, southern Africa, the Far-East
and North and South America .

6 . As the Honourable Member is well aware, the
Commission is very attentive to attempts to distort
competition in all sectors, including textiles .

Given the specific situation encountered by the sector,
namely increased international competition, cheap imports,
demand stagnation, and a high volume of intra-Community
trade, the Commission is particularly vigilant when
applying Articles 92 and 93 of the EEC Treaty to measures
in the textile sector .

In 1971, the Commission communicated to the Member
States a specific framework of aids to the textile sector ( J ).
Likewise, in 1977, in a document addressed to the Member
States, the Commission further clarified and completed its
specific orientations in examining State aid projects in the
textile sector ( 2 ).

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 15

In this document, the Commission stressed the need :

( a ) to avoid creating new productive capacity in sectors
where existing overcapacity is of structural and
persistent nature ;

( b ) to facilitate reconversion out of the surplus sectors and

to develop production technologies through R&D .

A specific framework exists at Community level, since 1977,
for the synthetic fibre sector . According to this framework

( 3 ), renewed in December 1992, no State-aid in that sector
will be authorized by the Commission, unless a ' significant
reduction ' of productive capacities can be demonstrated as a
result of the restructuring investment .

7 . Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty are applied in all
cases of examination of State-aids, including in the textile

sector .

Commission policy guidelines, control measures and
systems of operation are designed to ensure that Member
States fulfil their Article 93(3 ) obligations, namely to notify
aids in sufficient time to enable the Commission to give its
opinion on all plans to grant or to alter the grant of aid . In its
examination of such aids the Commission ensures, where it
exercises its powers of derogation from the basic principle of
the incompatibility of State-aids with the common market,
that these contribute to and promote the Community
objectives set out in Article 92 ( 3 ) of the EC Treaty .

In the synthetic fibre sector, the control of State-aids is done
through the application of the specific framework . All
projects, independently of their amount, should be notified
previously to the Commission for verification of the
conditions ensuring compatibility with the common
market .

In the textile and clothing sectors, all state aids related to
projects exceeding 10 MECU should be notified to the
Commission . Evaluation of the conformity of each project
with the common market takes into account its impact on
the global capacity of the sector, on the modernization and
rationalization of the sector, and on the economic and social
situation of the region where it is located .

8 . The Commission has stated in the communication to

the Council and to the Parliament on Industrial
competitiveness and protection of the environment ( 4 ), that
' environmental considerations themselves can improve
the sources of or underlying requirements for
competitiveness .'

" In practice, environmental considerations can promote
competitiveness in a number of ways : either through
so-called ' first mover ' advantages at the time of the
creation of substantial markets for environmental

protection technologies, goods and services or for
ecologically sound consumer products or through
improvements to the organization and management of
the productive system, in particular as a result of the
introduction of clean technologies ."

On the other hand, there are both in Germany and in the
Community a number of initiatives which can help
industries to finance the investment necessary to comply
with the environmental standards . Finally it must be
stressed that upgrading the level of environmental
protection throughout the Community started a few years

ago .

(!) SC(71 ) 363 final .

( 2 ) SG(77 ) D / 1990, 4 . 2 . 1977, and Annex ( SEC(77 ) 317,
25 . 1 . 1977 ).

( 3 ) OJ No C 346, 30 . 12 . 1992 .

( 4 ) SEC(92 ) 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 700 / 93

by Dorothee Piermont ( ARC )
to the Commission of the European Communities

28 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 26 )

Subject : Ban on the export and production of pesticides

prohibited in the EC

99 % of the deaths caused by pesticides, estimated by the
WHO at 220 000, with 3 million cases of poisoning, occur
in the developing countries, which consume 20 % of world
pesticide production .

The list of substances prohibited in the EC but still exported
to the Third World include, among many others, DDT,
Dieldrin, Lindane, HCH, Parathion, Methylparathion,

etc .

Following ratification of the worldwide ban on chemical
weapon production, will the Commission finally adopt a
ban on the production of these highly dangerous pesticides,
which would make it much easier to monitor the ban on

chemical weapon production ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 October 1993 )

In a WHO publication, ' Public Health Impact of Pesticides
Used in Agriculture ' ( 1990 ), of the 220 000 estimated

No C 234 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

deaths caused by pesticides 91 % are attributed to deliberate
poisoning ( chiefly suicides ), 6% to exposure of users and
3 % to other causes, including food poisoning ( Jeyaratham,

1985 ). The WHO estimate of 1 million cases of accidental
poisoning annually assumes six un-reported cases for each
case reported . There are other estimates which are based on
different assumptions .

In view of the worrying number of suspected cases of
accidental poisoning due to improper handling of certain
pesticides, on 16 June 1988 the Council adopted Regulation

( EEC ) No 1734 / 88 concerning export from and import into
the Community of certain dangerous chemicals ( l ). This
Regulation introduced a notification system whereby the
importing third country is informed of the dangerous
properties of a substance that is banned or severely
restricted in the Community for health or environmental
protection reasons, when the substance is first exported .
The Regulation covers certain plant protection products,
industrial chemicals and consumer chemicals .

By Council Directive of 23 July 1992 concerning the export
and import of certain dangerous chemicals ( 2 ), which
entered into force on 29 November 1992, the notification
system was extended by the introduction of the principle of
' prior informed consent ' ( PIC ), worked out jointly by the
United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) and the
Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ), whereby the
importing country decides on the import of chemicals by
weighing the risks against the benefits . The decisions of
countries regarding the import of chemicals subject to the
PIC procedure are entered in Annex II to the above
Regulation and thus made legally binding on Community
exporters . Furthermore, the exporters of dangerous
substances are required to package them in accordance with
the Regulations for placing on the market within the
common market and to label them taking account of the
language ( s ) of the importing country . The Member States
are required to introduce measures to control compliance
with the Regulations .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1708 / 93

by Heinz Köhler ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 27 )

Subject : German Bundestag 's Parliamentary reservation

concerning the third phase of EMU

In its resolution of 2 December 1992 the Bundestag entered
a parliamentary reservation providing for an evaluation by
the Bundestag before the transition to the third stage of
Economic and Monetary Union . The resolution calls upon
the Federal Government to respect the result of the vote in
the Bundestag ( Publication No 12 / 3906 of 2 December

1992 ).

1 . In the Commission 's view, what effect will the
Bundestag 's decision have on the Treaty of
Maastricht ?

2 . What is the Commission 's attitude to the Bundestag 's

decision ?

Answer given by Mr Jacques Delors

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

From a legal standpoint, the Treaty on European Union is
not affected by the reservation entered by the Bundestag so
that it might express its opinion on the position to be
adopted by Germany in the voting provided for under
Article 109j of the EC Treaty .

The domestic process whereby a Member State defines the
position it will take in voting within Community institutions
is a matter for that Member State alone .

are required to measures to compliance Moreover, the Bundestag 's reservation reflects the
with the Regulations . importance that Germany attaches to the fact that the

decision on transition to the third stage of economic and
monetary union should be taken in compliance with the
The Chemical Weapons Convention as such is not intended Treaty provisions on the convergence criteria .
nor equipped to solve the problem of product safety . In
addition, if aims of product safety were to be pursued
through non-proliferation regimes, in this case the Australia
Group would perhaps be more appropriate . On the
inclusion of pesticides in the prohibition list of dual-use WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725 / 93
goods for non-proliferation purposes, the Commission very by Klaus Hänsch ( PSE )
much follows the opinion of its Member States, which are
competent for the establishment of such lists in the relevant to the Commission of the European Communities
national fora . The Parliament therefore correctly discussed ( 29 June 1993 )
the matter with the Presidency on 23 June 1993 . 94 / C 234 / 28

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725 / 93

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

( 29 June 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 28 )

H OJ No L 155, 22 . 6 . 1988 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 251, 29 . 8 . 1992 .

Subject : Destruction of the River Acheloos nature
conservation area in Greece as a result of

EC-funded irrigation systems

1 . Is it true that the EC has decided to provide funding for
dam construction on the River Acheloos ? How much

funding will it provide ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 17

2 . What is the objective of this project ?

3 . Was a comprehensive environmental impact
assessment submitted to the Commission, as required by EC
law, before it approved the funding, and was account taken
of the major objections put forward by the Worldwide Fund
for Nature and others ?

4 . Will the Commission reconsider its decision in view of

protests from those concerned with the protection of nature
and the Community 's obligations arising from international
agreements such as the Berne Convention ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 December 1993 )

The Commission has explained its position on Acheloos on
several occasions . Apart from the works already financed
under the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, no
decision has been taken on the financing of the project
which involved the planned deviation of part of the river
flow to Thessalia . All aspects, including environmental, will
be fully examined before any decision is taken .

Under the IMPs, 55,2 MECU in Community aid has been
drawn down in respect of works at Messochora dam, a
diversion tunnel at Sykia and an experimental gallery at the
point of the proposed diversion .

Assessments were supplied and considered to be sufficient
for the works carried out .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 736 / 93

2 . Does it consider that the recent partial liberalization of
the movement of capital is exposing the Greek drachma
to speculation ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

1 . In the framework of the on-going economic and
monetary analysis that it is making, the Commission
produces estimates on the development of price
competitiveness of the main currencies . These estimates can
only be provisional for recent periods . These indicators
suggest that the level of competitiveness of the Greek
drachma was, in the second quarter of 1993, approximately
at the same level as in the second quarter of 1992 ; thus, the
monetary turmoil of the past 12 months does not seem to
have influenced the competitiveness of Greek products .

2 . The smooth functioning of the internal market
requires the full liberalization of capital movements . The
Treaty on European Union does provide for protective
measures to be taken in the event of a sudden crisis .

The liberalization of capital movements underlines the need
for sound economic fundamentals, to the extent that capital
would, as a rule, only flow out when economic
developments and policies contribute to the creation of
unfavourable expectations . This gives an additional
incentive to governments to conduct economic policy with
prudence in a context of a free market, which forms the base
for a better allocation of resources and future growth .

by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )
to the Commission of the European Communities WRITTEN QUESTION E-1748 / 93

( 29 June 1993 ) by Gianfranco Amendola ( V )

( 94 / C 234 / 29 to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 30
Subject : Currency trends and competitiveness of
products

Following the first currency crisis, a further devaluation
occurred on 13 May 1993, with the Spanish peseta being
devalued by 8 % and the Portuguese escudo by 6,5 % .

Given the Greek Government 's policy of maintaining a
strong drachma, with the result that the drachma is
considered in financial circles to be overvalued :

1 . Does the Commission have any information concerning
the impact of Member States ' currency fluctuations on
the competitiveness of Greek products ?

Subject : Transposition into the laws of the Member States

of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC on waste and fulfilment

of the Commission 's obligations

Given that the Member States should have complied
with Directive 91 / 156 / EEC (*) amending Directive
75 / 442 / EEC ( 2 ) on waste ' not later than 1 April 1993 ';

— given that by that same date the Commission was to

draw up a list of wastes belonging to the categories listed
in Annex I of the Directive ;

No C 234 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

— given that to date virtually all the Member States and the

Commission have failed to respect the above
deadline ;

— given that Article 155 of the Treaty states that ' the

Commission shall ensure that the measures taken by the
institutions pursuant ' to the Treaty ' are applied ';

1 . Will the Commission explain why the submission of the

abovementioned list of wastes has been delayed and
how it intends to remedy this situation in order to ensure
the proper implementation of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC ?

2 . Will the Commission explain how the Member Sates can

be expected to apply Directive 91 / 156 / EEC and the
Commission to monitor this process if the Commission
itself does not respect the deadlines fixed in the
Directive ?

3 . Does the Commission not consider that the Community
has failed to fulfil its obligations by delaying adoption of
the list of wastes referred to in Article 1 of Directive

91 / 156 / EEC ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1754 / 93

by José Apolinârio ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 31 )

Subject : Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Have the Portuguese authorities confirmed the existence of
any cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Portugal

( information by year )?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

The Commission has received information of five suspect
cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Portugal .

These have not been officialy confirmed as yet . The suspect
cases were animals imported from the United Kingdom .
í 1 ) OJ No L 78, 26 . 3 . 1991, p . 32 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 194, 25 . 7 . 1975, p . 39 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 759 / 93

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI )

on behalf of the Commission

to the Commission of the European Communities
( 10 November 1993 )
(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 32 )

The drawing up of the list of wastes known as the European
Waste Catalogue, which the Commission is required to
prepare under the terms of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC, is a
difficult and complex task, one which has occupied the
Commission, assisted by the committee set up under the
Directive, for over 18 months . Several successive versions of
the draft catalogue were put before the Committee, without
agreement being reached on its structure or content .
Moreover, the official comments of the Member States on
the draft were late reaching the Commission, and most of
the remarks from industry were not received until between
February and April 1993, i.e. just a few weeks before the

1 April deadline . Incorporating these comments and
remarks into the draft catalogue involved a considerable
amount of further work .

At its meeting of 18 June 1993 the Committee reached
agreement in principle on the overall structure, and adopted
the catalogue at its meeting of 12 October 1993 .

Implementation of Directive 91 / 156 / EEC is not contingent
upon the establishment by the Commission of the list of
wastes referred to in Article 1, as the definition of waste
given in the first subparagraph of Article 1(a ) is sufficiently
precise to enable the Directive to be transposed by the
Member States .

Subject : Pollution

Given that pollution is a multifaceted danger and that the
results of a recent survey in the streets of Milan have
undermined a number of assumptions in respect of both
noise and air pollution, showing a high concentration of
dangerous pollutants such as benzene and the danger
represented by the night-time hours spent at home, will the
Commission carry out a survey on conventional pollution
detection units in order to ensure that tests are conducted

not only with respect to substances such as carbon dioxide
and nitrogen dioxide but also benzene and aromatic
hydrocarbons ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

At present, only five pollutants are covered by the Directives
on air quality . These are :

— sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates

( Directive 80 / 779 / EEC, as last amended by
Directive 89 / 427 / EEC ) O ;

— lead ( Directive 82 / 884 / EEC ) ( 2 );

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 19

— nitrogen dioxide ( Directive 85 / 203 / EEC ) ( );

— ozone ( Directive 92 / 72 / EEC, applicable from April
1994 ) ( 4 ):

These Directives require Member States to set up measuring
stations to check that the thresholds laid down are not

exceeded .

The concentrations in the atmosphere of the other
pollutants referred to by the Honourable Member ( carbon
dioxide, benzene and aromatic hydrocarbons ) are not at
present monitored under the existing Directives .

(!) OJ No L 201, 14 . 7 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 378, 31 . 12 . 1982 .
H OJ No L 87, 27 . 3 . 1985 .

veterinary medicine centre in July 1981 — do not rule out
the possibility of transmission to human beings, and
research into this matter is continuing .

What is the current attitude of the Commission and the

Member States to the spread of animal diseases which are
resistant to all known remedies ? What results have been

obtained ?

Have any cooperation arrangements been established . with
the FDA and the other US authorities referred to above and,
if so, with what results ?

( 4 ) OJ No L 297, 13 . 10 . 1992 . Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 763 / 93

by Ernest Glinne ( PSE ) and
Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARC )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 33 )

Subject : Spread of spongiform encephalopathy in sheep

and cattle

Spongiform encephalopathy ( scrapie ), a disease first
detected in sheep in Britain in 1755, has spread over the past
few years : the increase in the number of cases of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy, better-known under the
abbreviation BSE or — particularly in the United Kingdom
— the term ' mad cow disease ' ( owing to the animals ' loss of
control over their movements as death approaches ), has led
the British Government to order the slaughter and
incineration of around 100 000 cattle since July 1988 . The
epidemic has spread to herds in Denmark, Germany,
Switzerland, Ireland and France, several of which have
adopted laws and regulations to combat the disease .

The problem has now appeared in the United States and is
serious enough for the Food and Drugs Administration to
have organized a public hearing on the matter on 31 March .
In the States, animals which have contracted the disease do
not perform a macabre death dance, but simply lie down
and die (' downer cows '). The authorities are worried,
particularly by the implications for the food chain ending
with man . Cattle contract the disease by eating powders
containing the remains of slaughtered sheep and cows which
are added to their ordinary fodder in order to increase the
protein content .

Dr Hansen of the Consumers ' Union and Mr Michael

Osborne — in an article published on behalf of the FDA 's

The symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE )
may be confused with other diseases, particularly those
which present serious signs and loss of power of the limbs .
For this reason, BSE was made compulsorily notifiable in the
Community in April 1990 . This means that suspect cases
must be investigated, and reported to the Commission if
found positive .

So-called ' downer cows ' may very well be investigated as
possible cases of BSE, but the more common causes are
metabolic or traumatic disorders sustained during the
period just before and after calving . In the USA, such
animals have become implicated because of anecdotal
evidence that meat from them could be associated with

spongiform encephalopathy in ranched mink . However,
BSE has not been confirmed in the USA .

The Commission 's attitude to the spongiform
encephalopathies must be qualified according to the disease
in question .

With regard to scrapie, which can be transmitted from
animal to animal, Council Directive 91 / 68 / EEC of 28 July

1991 on animal health conditions governing
intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals makes
provisions to give basic guarantees for breeding sheep which
are sold .

With regard to BSE, however, it is recognized that the only
important route of transmission to cattle is via infected,
inadequately-processed meat and bone meal .

The use of ruminant protein in ruminant rations was
discontinued by law in the UK in July 1988 . The use of
material derived from the specified bovine offal was also
banned in the UK in 1990 in all animal diets .

No C 234 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 764 / 93

by Madron Seligman ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(2 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 34 )

Subject : Interference with the single market

The, French, like the British, have reserved the right to
maintain immigration procedures to combat terrorism, drug
traffic and other forms of crime .

The French should not, however, discriminate against
British lorry drivers in demanding documentation, when
they allow their own compatriots in without question —
even when carrying identical goods .

My constituent, who transports fish for his livelihood, has
been stopped 13 times by the authorities in Cherbourg in
recent months .

Does the Commission condone this practice ? If not, what is
it prepared to do about it ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1993 )

The Commission is not aware of the facts referred to by the
Honourable Member . It is seeking additional information
from the competent French authorities before deciding its
position .

With regard to its position on the abolition of
intra-Community border controls, the Commission would
refer the Honourable Member to the answer it gave to Oral
Question No 54 / 93 by Mr Turner at Parliament 's
part-session in May ( J ).

( J ) Debates of the European Parliament, 3-431 ( May 1993 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1783 / 93

by Raymonde Dury ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 July 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 35 )

Subject : Linking EMU membership to social convergence

criteria

The target of Economic and Monetary Union is making it
necessary for all Member States to adopt extremely strict

budget policies . The austerity measures are very stringent
and, at a time when Europe is in the grip of a recession, are
having a considerable impact on public opinion .

While the ' Growth Initiative ' shows that the Community is a
little more aware of the issues of employment and social
security, does the Commission not feel that it would be
appropriate to combine the convergence criteria with
' social ' standards and inter alia link EMU membership to a
limited level of unemployment ?

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

In the course of drafting the Treaty on European Union, the
requirements for participation in monetary union were
discussed in depth . When determining the convergence
criteria, the Council selected the factors it considered to be
most important for the sustainability of the Union . Even
though unemployment is an important aspect of
convergence, it does not have such an immediate impact on
sustainability as budgetary instabilities or highly divergent
inflation rates .

However, a ' social ' criterion is indirectly included .
Article 109j ( 1 ) of the EC Treaty, as inserted by the Union
Treaty, provides that, before the start of stage three, the
Commission and the EMI are to report to the Council on the
progress made in the fulfilment by the Member States of
their obligations regarding the achievement of economic
and monetary union . The reports must include an
examination of Member States ' performance with regard to
the convergence criteria and must take into account several
other factors one of which is ' the results of the integration of
markets '. This, of course, includes the effects of integration
on the functioning of Member States ' labour markets . If
unemployment problems arise in a particular Member State,
the Council will therefore take sufficient account of them .

And so, in the Commission 's opinion, it is not necessary to
add a new ' social ' criterion to the Treaty provisions .

In any case, the fundamental objectives of the
European Union, which are laid down in Article 2 of the EC
Treaty as amended and include a high level of employment
and of social protection, require the Commission to
promote social convergence as defined in Council
recommendation 92 / 442 / EEC of 27 July 1992 on the
convergence of social protection objectives and policies .
Accordingly, the Commission, after establishing the social
objectives, will call upon the Member States to implement
appropriate policies for achieving those objectives and will
monitor the policies by, in particular, assessing in regular
reports the extent to which the objectives have been
achieved .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1810 / 93

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten ( PPE ), Elmar Brok ( PPE ), Raphael
Chanterie ( PPE ), Viviane Reding ( PPE ), Marc Reymann

( PPE ), Pol Marck ( PPE ) and Miguel Arias Cafiete ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 36

Subject : Enlargement of the EC

The need to enlarge the EC and the moves to develop it
further are closely connected and establishing the balance
between deepening and widening is a crucial part of this
process . Would the Council please answer the following
questions :

1 . What conditions must be met in order to open

negotiations on accession with the EFT A countries that
wish to join the Community, and how important to the
process is ratification of the Maastricht Agreement and t
the EEA Treaty ?

2 . What is the timetable ?

3 . What significance does the 1996 intergovernmental

conference have for the accession negotiations that will
follow those with the EFTA countries ?

2 . The European Council in Copenhagen on 21 / 22 June
1993 stated that it was determined that the objective of the
first enlargement of the European Union should become a
reality by 1 January 1995 . This means that negotiations
would need to be completed in time for national ratification
procedures to be completed by that date .

3 . The Intergovernmental Conference scheduled for
1996 is to examine those provisions of the Treaty on
European Union for which revision is provided, in
accordance with the objectives set out in Articles A and B.
An enlargement of the Union after that date will need to be
based on the ' acquis communautaire ' as it stands at that
time, therefore including the decisions taken at the
conference .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 825 / 93

by Friedrich Merz ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 13 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 37 )

Subject : Composition of Commission staff

What was the composition of the staff of the Commission
on 1 April 1993, broken down by nationality, career
Answer on behalf of given by the Mr Commission Van den Broek categories and salary grades ?

( 16 December 1993 )

1 . The Lisbon European Council of June 1992 decided
that official negotiations with the EFTA countries seeking
membership of the Union would be opened immediately
after the Treaty on European Union had been ratified and
agreement had been achieved on future financing .

At its meeting in December 1992, the Edinburgh European
Council decided that, as agreement had been reached on
future financing and with the prospects for early ratification
of the Treaty on European Union by all Member States,
enlargement negotiations would start with Austria, Sweden
and Finland at the beginning of 1993 : they were formally
opened on 1 February . Negotiations with Norway began in
April, following the presentation of the Commission 's
opinion . Enlargement negotiations with these four countries
are now being conducted in parallel .

The Edinburgh European Council noted that the accession
negotiations would be transformed into negotiations under
Article 0 of the Treaty on European Union once it had
entered into force .

Ratification of the EEA Agreement is not a pre-condition for
the enlargement process . However, the agreements already
reached in that context are facilitating progress with those
EFTA countries with which negotiations to join the
European Union have started .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 December 1993 )

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 Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 827 / 93

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

( 13 July 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 38 )

Subject : Competition rules in the telecommunications

sector

The Commission 's Green Paper on Telecommunications in

1987 was followed up by guidelines on the application of
competition rules in the telecommunications sector ( ] ).

No C 234 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Telecom Eireann, the Irish telephone monopoly, has
recently increased its charges by 400% .

Is the Commission prepared to investigate this case as being
contrary to EC competition rules and the stated aims to
introduce more competition in this sector, which certainly is
not the case in Ireland at the present moment ?

0 ) OJ No C 233, 6 . 9 . 1991, p . 2 .

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 October 1993 )

According to the Commission 's Guidelines on the
application of the competition rules in the
telecommunications sector, the ' application of the general
principle of cost-orientation should be the ultimate goal, in
order inter alia to ensure that prices are not inequitable as
between users ' ( section 103 ). At this stage there is no
indication that the tariff increases of Telecom Eireann are

not justified by the underlying costs . The Commission
therefore does not envisage starting formal
investigations .

This having been said, these underlying costs could be
excessive . However, given the absence of competition for
the telephone service in Ireland, it is not possible to assess
the level of the costs by comparing them with those of
similar undertakings .

In other industries, competition has proved to be a powerful
incentive to oblige dominant undertakings to curb costs and
to improve consumer service . In its communication to the
Council of 28 April 1993, the Commission has therefore
proposed to open up voice telephony services to competition
as of January 1998 . The Irish Government has, however,
requested an additional transitional period of up to five
years before allowing the introduction of competition in
Ireland in order to achieve the necessary structural
adjustments, in particular, of tariffs . This request was
acknowledged in the Council 's resolution of 16 June 1993
on the review of the situation in the telecommunications

sector .

On 16 June 1993 the Council also adopted a common
position on the proposal for a Directive on the application of
open network provision ( ONP ) to voice telephony ( J ). This
Directive aims to ensure that a defined minimum telephone
service of specified quality is made available to all users .
Once the Directive enters into force, tariff increases, as those
of Telecom Eireann, should also have to be justified against
the principle of cost orientation set out in Article 12 .

I 1 ) COM(92 ) 247 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1839 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 39 )

Subject : Irrigation system and use of water from Lake

Stymfalia

The association of local authorities of Korinthia has

requested the inclusion of a major irrigation project using
water from Lake Stymfalia in the supplementary proposal
for the 1994-1997 Community support framework ( Delors
II ). Given that the proposal for the Peloponnese area is not
yet definitive since the precise budget for the programme has
not yet been fixed and the national authorities responsible
have not completed the procedure for finalizing the
proposal, will the Commission provide funding for the work
at Stymfalia to retain the large quantities of water which
have accumulated over the winter months and the work to

improve the central irrigation pipeline ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The Commission cannot yet say whether the Stymfalia
irrigation project referred to by the Honourable Member
will be financed under the new CSF for Greece .

After the new development programme for 1994-1999 has
been introduced and the approval procedure completed, the
Commission will examine with the Greek authorities the

possibility of financing the project as part of the OPs
proposed by Greece . The project must be proposed by the
Member State and must be such that upon its completion
agricultural production affected by it will comply with the
new CAP and with rules on the environment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1858 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 40

Subject : Compliance by Greece with the EC Directive on

wild birds

How many complaints have been lodged with the
Commission regarding the special protection areas for wild

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 23

birds declared in Greece in application of the EC Directive
on wild birds ? What is the substance of these complaints,
who has made them and what stage has been reached in
investigating them ? What is the Commission 's opinion on
the level of compliance with this Directive by the Member
States, and by Greece in particular ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 November 1993 )

as provisions requiring transporters to take account of all
relevant factors, including the weather, when planning
journeys .

The Commission has recently made a communication to the
Council ( 2 ) on certain aspects of the transport of animals,
including the feeding, watering and resting periods
necessary for certain types of animal, accompanied by a
proposal to amend the Directive to incorporate these
requirements .

The adoption of the Commission proposal will facilitate
enforcement of the Directive by the Member States .

( J ) OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991 .

The Commission is prevented by confidentiality rules from ( 2 ) COM(93 ) 330 final .
providing information about complaints addressed to it .
However, if he wishes to obtain the information requested
concerning the application of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the
conservation of wild birds in the Member States and in

particular in Greece, the Honourable Member may refer to
the ' Tenth annual report on monitoring of the application of
Community law ' presented by the Commission for 1992 i 1 ) WRITTEN
and in particular Part G which deals with the

by

environment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1883 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(!) OJ No C 233, 30 . 8 . 1993 . ( IS July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 42

Subject : Application for EEC membership by the Republic

of Cyprus

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1860 / 93

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

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 41

Subject : Transport of live animals

Live animals are sometimes transported by sea, rail or other
means when the facilities for doing so and the weather are
unsuitable . In order to ensure, therefore, that animals do not
suffer extreme distress in transit, will the Commission take
steps to improve this situation ?

The newspaper ' Pondiki ' reported on 6 May 1993 that the

Commission 's opinion on Cyprus 's application for
membership of the EEC will describe the progress made by
the Republic of Cyprus as unsatisfactory . However, the
newspaper also claims that the Commission 's view that it is
not possible to bring Cyprus into the Community as long as
its internal problem remains open-ended and unresolved
will be recorded in the opinion .

Will the Commission give its true opinion on this issue and
will it say, in particular, whether it is possible to make the
accession of the Republic of Cyprus into the EEC contingent
upon the future activities of the Turkish occupying forces
and the Denktash regime in the northern sector of the
island ?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission ( 11 November 1993 )

(1 December 1993 )

The Council has adopted Directive 91 / 628 / EEC on the
protection of animals during transport ( J ), which applies to
the transport of animals within, to and from the Member
States . The Directive includes requirements for the facilities
which must be provided for the transport of animals, as well

The Commission gave its opinion on the application by
Cyprus ( J ) for Community membership on 30 June 1993 .

(M COM(93 ) 313 final / 2 .

No C 234 / 24 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-l 892 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 43 )

Subject : Movement of goods in the single market

From 1 January 1993 the barriers to the free movement of
goods in the single Community market should have been
removed . However the national authorities concerned are

still, at least in some cases, able to adopt various
administrative ruses at the expense of companies seeking to
import products competing with their own industries from
other Member States of the Community, with the aim of
discouraging these transactions or even pushing up the cost
of those products .

Has the Commission looked into this matter, and how does
it intend to deal with such obstacles to the free movement of

goods within the single Community market ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Under Article 30 of the EC Treaty quantitative restrictions
on imports and all measures having equivalent effect are
prohibited between Member States .

The Court of Justice has ruled that this article may be relied
upon directly by individuals before national administrative
authorities and courts, which must refrain from applying
provisions of national law which are inconsistent with it ( see
the judgments in Case 74 / 76 Iannelli v Meroni [ 1977 ] ECR
557 and Case 103 / 88 Fratelli Costanzo v Comune di Milano

[ 1989 ] ECR 1861 ).

The Court has also laid down that a Member State is in

principle bound to make good damage sustained by
individuals where a public authority commits a breach of a
rule of Community law ( see t"he judgment in Francovich,
Joined Cases C-6 / 90 and C-9 / 90 [ 1991 ] ECR 1-5357 ).

Every year the Commission, as guardian of the EC Treaty,
investigates a considerable number of complaints and cases
which it discovers itself . If it considers that the national

provisions it has examined are contrary to the Treaty, it
takes all appropriate steps to induce the Member State
concerned to remove the barrier to intra-Community trade,
including, in appropriate cases, the institution of
proceedings before the Court of Justice .

The Commission invites the Honourable Member to inform

it of all laws, regulations or administrative practices which
he suspects are contrary to the rules on the free movement of

goods, so that it may verify their conformity with the EC
Treaty .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1898 / 93

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

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 44 )

Subject : The Consumers Consultative Committee

When does the Commission intend to reform the

Consumers Consultative Committee so that it directly
represents the interests of European consumers in the single
market ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )

The Commission is currently consulting the various
consumer organizations represented in the Consumers
Consultative Council ( CCC ) on a possible reform of the
structure of that body . The CCC will not be renewed until
this consultation process has been completed and a decision
On its outcome has been taken .

In the meantime, the out-going CCC continues in office, in
accordance with Article 5(2 ) of the Commission Decision of

17 December 1989, setting up the CCC 0 ). The interests of
the European consumer therefore continue to be directly
represented in the single Community market .

(!) OJ No L 38, 10 . 2 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1902 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 45 )

Subject : Developing the water resources of islands in the

Community and in particular the Cyclades and the
Dodecanese

Developing their water resources is a great problem for
many of the Community 's islands and in particular the
Cyclades and the Dodecanese .

Has the Commission received for its approval any Greek
Government programme for developing the water resources
of these islands ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 25

How does the Commission intend to resolve the general
problem of developing the water resources of the islands of
the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

                    

At present, there is no overall programme to develop water
resources on the islands of the Cyclades and the
Dodecanese .

However, the Community has part-financed several studies
on the matter, including a detailed study in 1990 and a large
number of measures aiming to develop water resources on
some of the islands, in particular under the IMP for the
Aegean and the operational programme for the southern
Aegean . Such initiatives are expected to continue in the
future .

Studies and measures of this kind could qualify for funding
from the Cohesion Financial Instrument (*).

0 ) OJ No L 79, 1 . 4 . 1993 .

the Poverty 3 programme ( 1989-1994 ) ( 2 ), the Commission
has undertaken various studies and statistical work

designed to provide a clearer picture of the extent and
development of these phenomena, and to gauge the
situation vis-a-vis the different groups concerned . This
statistical work requires considerable effort in terms of
ensuring comparability of existing national data and
resolving numerous methodological problems . The first
results are described in the interim report on the
implementation of the programme, published by the
Commission on 22 September 1993 ( 3 ).

With regard to the elderly, reports by the European
Observatory place emphasis on the standard of living of
older people in the different Member States .

Moreover, the Commission intends to do more research into
social exclusion in the course of its next framework research

programme .

(!) COM(92 ) 542 final .

( 2 ) OJ No L 224, 2 . 8 . 1989 .

( 3 ) COM(93 ) 435 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1914 / 93

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

( IS July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1911 / 93
( 94 / C 234 / 47 )

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

( 15 July 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 46

Subject : The spread of poverty

With the spread of poverty among families, especially
single-parent families, people with special needs and the
aged in Europe, research and statistical data on this serious
problem are needed . What is the Commission 's view ?

Subject : Animal cruelty and killing for entertainment

Thousands of animals are still tortured and killed for the

purpose of organized public entertainment, contests and
' sports ' in various Community countries . Bullfights,
dogfights, cockfights and the public parading of chained
bears and apes for example still take place . Will the
Commission therefore take steps to have such barbaric
practices abolished throughout Europe ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission
on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1993 )
( 17 December 1993 )

Mindful of the spread of poverty and social exclusion in the
Community, the Commission adopted, on 23 December

1992, a communication entitled ' Towards a Europe of
solidarity : intensifying the fight against social exclusion,
fostering integration ' ( J ), which looks at the possible
direction of Community action in this field . As part of its
medium-term programme for the economic and social
integration of the least privileged groups, known as

As it has stated in previous replies ( ) to questions on this
subject, while the Commission deplores the staging of
bloodthirsty and cruel spectacles, such activities fall outside
the sphere of Community competence . In its proposals
concerning the protection of animals pursuant to
agricultural and environmental policy, the Commission has
always sought to obtain the best possible standards of
welfare . There are no plans to introduce such rules in the
area of the use of animals for fighting purposes . The

No C 234 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Commission can only repeat its earlier call upon the
governments of the Member States to discourage these
practices .

As far as the public exhibition of chained animals is
concerned, the Commission has taken action in the past
where animals have been traded for this purpose in
contravention of Council Regulation ( EEC ) 3626 / 82, as
amended, on the implementation in the Community of the
Convention on international trade in endangered species of
wild fauna and flora ( 2 ). Otherwise, where the animals
concerned are not protected under the provisions of this
Regulation, the Commission is unable to intervene .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1919 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 49

Subject : Community standards and Greek sausage ­
makers

concerned are not protected under the provisions of this According to the general manager of Messrs Edesma —
Regulation, the Commission is unable to intervene . Titan, sausage makers, Mr Dimitris Hadjigiorgiou, only two

of the 40 Greek sausage-making firms meet Community
(*) See, for example, the joint answer to Written Questions standards . What action is the Commission going to take ?

Nos 2536 / 87 and 2547 / 87, OJ No C 303, 28 . 11 . 1988 and the
answer to Written Question No 1914 / 92, OJ No C 16,
21 . 1 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 384, 31 . 12 . 1982 .
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1918 / 93

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

( 15 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 48

Subject : Compensation for Ambelakia in the prefecture of

Larissa

Throughout the winter the vineyards and olive groves of the
inhabitants of the traditional community of Ambelakia in
the prefecture of Larissa have suffered extensive damage,
mainly through frost . The people of this community
naturally expect an assessment of the damage and some
compensation . The Greek authorities have however
answered that the EEC compensation programme ended in

1992 . Could the Commission find a solution to this

problem, and the growers of Ambelakia be granted some
compensation for the damage to their crops ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1993 )

Meat products must be produced in accordance with the
requirements laid down in Council Directive 77 / 99 / EEC on
health problems affecting the production and marketing of
meat products and certain other products of animal
origin j 1 ).

These requirements have been in force since 1977, as far as
meat products produced for intra-Community trade are
concerned . With Directive 92 / 5 / EEC ( 2 ) the scope of
Directive 77 / 99 / EEC has been extended to the national

market . This was necessary in view of the imperatives of the
internal market . In order to ensure the smooth transition of

this operation, temporary and permanent derogations are
foreseen .

The temporary derogations allow establishments until 1
January 1996 to carry out the necessary structural
improvements in order to satisfy the criteria of the
Directive .

f 1 ) OJ No L 26, 31 . 1 . 1977 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 57, 2 . 3 . 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1928 / 93

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

( 19 July 1993 )

The Commission is currently examining the possibility of 94 / C 234 / 50
extending the scheme for repairing damage caused to
perenniel crops by natural disasters under the Greek
operational programme for agricultural structures in order Subject : Mortgages with foreign
to include damage caused in 1993, subject to available
funding under the current CSF .

Subject : Mortgages with foreign banks

After 1 January 1993 there are still no Community rules to
protect consumers who wish to take out a mortgage with a
foreign bank, so consumers remain in a situation of

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 27

uncertainty . When are measures expected to be taken to
improve this situation ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi Natural gas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

( 14 December 1993 )

It is correct that, with effect from 1 January 1993, the
Second Banking Coordination Directive ( 89 / 646 / EEC ) i 1 )
lifted the obstacles preventing a Community national from
taking out a mortgage with a bank not established in the
territory of his Member State of residence .

There are two possible scenarios :

1 . The loan is granted for the purchase or building of a

residential property located in the territory of the
Member State of residence of the person concerned . In
this case, the position is quite clear since the mortgage
law applicable is that of the Member State in question,
and can be ascertained by the consumer without
difficulty .

2 . The loan is granted for the purchase or construction of a

residential property located in the territory of a Member
State other than that in which the person concerned is
resident . In this case, too, the mortgage law applicable is
that of the Member State where the property is located

( lex rei sitae ). The consumer can easily find out about
the tenor of this law, and in any case he will receive the
same protection as consumers resident in the Member
State concerned .

In these circumstances, the Commission does not feel there
is a need, having regard in particular to the principle of
subsidiarity, for measures designed to harmonize mortgage
laws at Community level .

On the other hand, the Commission announced in its
three-year action plan on consumer policy ( 2 ) that it would
investigate how to make mortgage interest rates
comparable .

(!) OJ No L 386, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 378 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1929 / 93

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

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 51 )

Subject : Energy prices

Will the Commission endeavour to ensure affordable prices
throughout the Community for energy for heating and
agricultural uses ?

Council recommendation 83 / 230 / EEC of 21 April 1983 (*),
recommended to the Member States that natural gas prices
and tariffs in the Community should be based on a set of
common principles .

The formation of natural gas prices should make it possible
to ensure the best possible use of available supplies and
optimum allocation of these resources, taking into account
production, acquisition and distribution costs . In forming
prices, the rational use of energy and the market value of
natural gas in relation to the price of other forms of energy
with which it is in competition must be taken into

account .

Accordingly, consumer prices for natural gas should reflect
as closely as possible its market value in relation to the price
of alternative forms of energy, and should guarantee a level
of revenue which enables the costs of supplying customers to
be met .

Prices which are artificially low in relation to the market and
costs, thereby having the effect of subsidizing certain
categories of consumption or certain uses, and / or
encouraging waste, should be avoided .

The recommendation is by and large adhered to, and the
Commission has seen no need to question the competence of
the Member States to determine prices and tariffs for natural

gas .

Petroleum products

As part of its price transparency policy, the Commission
monitors the prices charged to end users for petroleum
products on a weekly basis . Given that the pricing
arrangements in all the Member States are compatible with
the EEC Treaty, the Commission has had no need to
intervene in price setting .

As regards prices including tax, Directive 92 / 82 / EEC ( 2 )
provides for minimal excise duties on petroleum products .
In addition, Directive 92 / 82 / EEC allows Member States to
apply exemptions or total or partial reductions to the rates
of excise duty applied to petroleum products used inter alia
for agricultural or horticultural activities .

Electricity

Where domestic heating is concerned, the price of the
electricity used varies very substantially . The decisive factors
are national tariffs and the type of equipment used

( conventional ' 9-hour ' accumulator, ' 2-hour ' accumulator
or direct heating ) which may or may not make it possible to
take advantage of night-time rates and / or low-load hours . It
is therefore not possible to give a definitive answer to the
Honourable Member 's question . To give some idea, a table
of electricity prices ( including tax ) charged to domestic users

No C 234 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

at the beginning of 1992 ( 1200 kWh / year ) is shown below .
This shows a variation in prices ranging from
ECU 9,07 / 100 kWh ( Italy ) to ECU 19,46 / 100 kWh

( Germany ):

Electricity prices ( including tax ) charged to domestic
consumers (1 200 kWh / year — 2 / 92 )

( in ECU / 100 kWh )

Belgium 19,11

Denmark 16,44

Germany 19,46

Greece 9,54

Spain 17,35

France 14,71

Ireland 12,33

Italy 9,07

Luxembourg 15,19

Netherlands 12,28

Portugal 15,93

United Kingdom 16,22

(M OJ No L 123, 11 . 5 . 1983 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 316, 31 . 10 . 1992 .

This Directive attributed great importance to the quality of
the propagating material marketed in the Community . It has
been amended several times in order to take into account the

scientific knowledge and developments in the field, as well
as to ensure coherence with the Community policy on the
common organization of the market in wine ( Council
Regulation EEC / 822 / 87 ) ( 2 ).

However, the Commission is aware that further
improvement is necessary and particular attention is
currently being paid to viruses and other graft-transmissible
harmful organisms ( viroids, mycoplasmas, bacteria ) which
induce severe deterioration of the vine . Scientists and vine

experts suggest that it is absolutely necessary for official
authorities as well as farmers ' organizations to convince
vine growers to use vine propagated material which has been
produced under certification schemes .

Furthermore, the Commission resumed in 1993 the
Community comparative trials which are intended to
monitor the quality of the propagating material marketed
throughout the Community .

0 ) OJ No L 93, 17 . 4 . 1978 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 84, 27 . 3 . 1987 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1958 / 93

by John McCartin ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 July 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1939 / 93 ( 94 / C 234 / 53 )

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

( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 52

Subject : Improving the quality of viticulture

Possibly the most serious plant health problem in Greece is
diseases of vines, especially viruses . The future of viticulture
in Greece is fundamentally dependent on the production
and use of resistant propagative material . In view of this,
does the Commission intend to take additional measures to

improve the quality of Greek viticulture ?

Subject : Tax on second-hand cars in Ireland

In its reply to my Question H-0406 / 93 ( l ) the Commission
stated that it was considering the legality of the artificial
value placed on second-hand cars by the Irish Government .
Has the Commission completed its investigations and does
it deem this tax regime to be in violation of Community
law ?

(!) Debates of the European Parliament No 3-430 ( April 1993 ).

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 ) According to the information currently at the Commission 's
disposal concerning Irish registration tax on motor vehicles,
it would appear that the imposition of this tax on new

Council Directive 68 / 193 / EEC (*) on the marketing of vehicles cannot be deemed to infringe Article 95 of the EEC
vegetatively propagated material of the vine applies to the Treaty, since, as the Court of Justice ruled on
production, with a view to the marketing of propagating 11 December 1990 in Case 47 / 88 Commission v. Denmark,
material, but it does not cover the use of material produced in the absence of a national product, there can be no
by the vine growers themselves . protective effect .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 29

As regards used vehicles, Community law does not require
the Member States to apply the real value of the vehicle as
the taxable amount for this type of tax, which is not
harmonized at Community level .

The use of scales for assessing the value of vehicles will
always be somewhat arbitrary, but it is often a simple
method of determining the taxable amount given the wide
variety of taxable goods . An assessment of this nature is
based on an average value for vehicles . Only by examining
taxable values in relation to selling prices on a
model-by-model, indeed vehicle-by-vehicle, basis can it be
determined whether, overall, the assessment criteria are in
line with this average value .

It should be noted that, for the purposes of the Irish tax, a
sliding scale is nevertheless used to assess the value of used
vehicles, while, under the Danish system, the sliding scale
was subject to a cut-off point applicable whatever the age of
the vehicle . In these circumstances, it seems difficult to
conclude that the Irish system leads to overtaxation and
discrimination against used vehicles from other Member
States in a manner contrary to Article 95 of the EEC Treaty .
Such discrimination might exist, however, in specific cases if
it were demonstrated that a particular vehicle or category of
vehicles was subject to higher taxation than that applicable
to similar vehicles already on the Irish market .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1994 / 93

penalizing the provision of the service by the European
railway system as a whole and is discouraging passengers
from travelling by train .

Can the Commission state whether it has decided to

intervene and, if so, how, to reintroduce a common
European tariff system for luggage carried by rail, which is
still a convenient and attractive service for European
passengers ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The Commission has noted the points made by the
Honourable Member concerning the transport of baggage
by rail .

The responsibility for arrangements concerning the
transport of passengers ' baggage by rail lies with the railway
authorities of the Member States and the Commission does

not intend to propose legislation concerning these

matters .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2007 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

by Virginio Bettini ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 July 1993 )
( 19 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 55
( 94 / C 234 / 54

Subject : Withdrawal of the Italian and British railway

companies from the European luggage rate
scheme

Since spring 1992, the Italian State railway company and
British Rail have ceased to apply the European luggage rate
scheme which provides luggage transport services for
European travellers within Europe at a uniform rate .

One of these services is, for example, the transport of
unaccompanied bicycles upon presentation of a rail ticket,
which is an extremely useful service for European citizens
who frequently travel away from home for work, study or
family reasons .

It is no longer possible for people leaving from or travelling
to Italy and Britain to enjoy the services guaranteed by the
European luggage rate ; instead, they now have to pay
excessive prices .

The withdrawal from the European luggage rate scheme by
Italy and Britain for cost-cutting reasons is seriously

Subject : Air transport

Iberia International Airlines of Spain is the only airline
operating services between London and Santiago de
Compostela, Spain, and the cheapest fully-flexible fare
available in May 1993 is £450 .

1 . Does the Commission regard this fare as justifiable and
related to costs ?

2 . Is the Commission satisfied that Iberia is not taking
advantage of its monopoly to maintain fares at a high
level in order to cross-subsidize other services ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

On the basis of Commission Regulations ( EEC ) 2408 / 92
and ( EEC ) No 2409 / 92 ( 1 ) Community carriers have free

No C 234 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

access to intra-Community routes and may set their tariffs
freely . Even though Iberia may have a defacto monopoly on
the route London-Santiago de Compostella the Commission
is not aware of any obstacles which would prevent
competitors from entering this route and from competing
with Iberia on price and service .

Article 6 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2409 / 92 establishes a
safeguard allowing Member States to withdraw fares which
are excessive in relation to the long-term fully allocated
relevant costs . With regard to the Iberia fare on the route
London-Santiago de Compostella the Member States
concerned have so far not made use of this safeguard, nor
has the Commission been requested to examine the matter .
Only if it was seised under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2408 / 92,
would the Commission examine the case in detail and make

a judgement on the appropriateness of the particular fare . In
that context the volume of the route in question may be of
relevance ; for thin routes, the interest of consumers may be
better served by the survival of the service than the
withdrawal of a high fare which might put that service at
risk .

0 ) OJ No L 240, 24 . 8 . 1992 .

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1993 )

The Commission feels that it should remind the Honourable

Member that, when its Members address another
Community institution, their only obligation is to use one of
the official languages of the Community .

When he visits Parliament, Mr Van Miert is in the habit of

speaking the language of the person he is addressing or the
language which he believes that person knows best .

At the sitting of 28 May 1993, to which the Honourable
Member refers, Mr Van Miert was called upon at the last
minute to stand in for other Members of the Commission
for whom briefs had been prepared in either English or
French .

These documents contained mainly technical data which Mr
Van Miert could not translate instantaneously while
speaking .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2035 / 93

by Carlos Perreau de Pinninck Domenech ( RDE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-20 19 / 93 ( 23 July 1993 )

by Karel Dillen ( DR ) ( 94 / C 234 / 57 )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 56

Subject : Languages used by members of the Commission

It will not have escaped the Commission 's notice that many
representatives of the numerically smaller language groups
in the European Parliament are concerned to see a
continuation of, and respect for, the strict equality of
languages as provided for in Rule 79 of Parliament 's own
Rules of Procedure .

The fact that members of the Commission belonging to
these smaller language groups often express themselves in a
different language in Parliament is curious, to say the least .
To quote one of many examples : during the plenary sitting
of 28 May 1993 Commissioner Karel van Miert, who is
Flemish and a Dutch speaker, spoke only in French and
English, even in replying to Dutch-speaking Members .

Would it not be appropriate — as a sign of respect for
linguistic diversity in Europe — for members of the
Commission to speak their own language, as a matter of
principle, in the course of the European Parliament 's
business ?

Subject : Difficulties experienced by Spanish agri-foodstuffs

companies in winning contracts to supply
Community food aid to the Third World

The foodstuffs supplied by the Community to the Third
World as food aid have to comply with certain regulatory
requirements and often do not include products habitually
produced in Spain .

Can the Commission confirm that, of the invitations to
tender for food aid issued by the EC 's management body in

1992 ( totalling 33 331 million ), Spanish agri-foodstuffs
companies won only 0,28 % of the contracts, i.e. 210 times
less than France, the main beneficiary, or almost nine times
less than Ireland ?

If so, does it intend to take steps to rectify these
imbalances ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

The agricultural products sent by the Commission as food
aid are purchased exclusively by means of open invitations

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 31

to tender published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities, a document given to the Spanish postal
service on the day of publication for distribution throughout
the country .

The quality and packaging requirements for these products
are laid down by the Commission . (*) These requirements
are known to all Community suppliers, including
Spain 's .

It is only for emergency programmes that the Commission
uses a restricted tender procedure, under which, in the
interests of broad competition, it directly contacts firms that
have regularly taken part in tender procedures, and any
other firm established in the Community that has asked to
be put on the list for tender procedures of this type . As a rule,
this system attracts more tenders than the normal
procedure .

Save in exceptional cases ( such as a proven lack of
competence on the part of the supplier ), the best tender
always wins the contract .

Some 15 % of purchases are made in developing countries .
These are products not normally available on the European
market or products which at a particular time of year are
either unavailable in sufficient quantities or too
expensive .

The Commission takes note of Spain 's low level of
participation in invitations to tender for food aid and will do
all it can to remedy this situation . On the other hand, it is
obvious that the Commission cannot permit itself to deviate
from the principle of a competitive, neutral, transparent
tender procedure open to all suppliers .

The Commission is preparing a publication on food-aid and
related procedures, which will be sent in due course to all
interested organizations . It is also planning in the near
future to join forces with the Chambers of Commerce and
Industry and other organizations with a view to giving a
direct and detailed explanation of tender procedures .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The field of health and safety is one where the principle of
subsidiarity is most appropriate, and Member States should
take the lead . The Commission would only become involved
if it proved impossible for a European standard to be
adopted because of the existence of a wide range of national
regulations .

However, the Commission understands that the glass
industry in general has reservations about the use of
toughened glass in areas where food is present or where
there are likely to be a lot of people . Toughened glass may be
more dangerous in such situations, in that it may break into
flying splinters . The traditional glass used for the
manufacture of drinking glasses is less likely to break into
flying splinters . More detail of the security aspects of glass
performance would be necessary before any standard could
be adopted .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2041 / 93

by Wilhelm Piecyk ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 59 )

Subject : EC subsidies for Schleswig-Holstein

How much was allocated to Schleswig-Holstein in subsidies
in 1991 and 1992, and for what individual
measures / projects, from :

f 1 ) OJ No C 114, 29 . 4 . 1991 . 1 . the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF )?

2 . the European Social Fund ( ESF )?

3 . the European Agricultural Guidance Guarantee Fund

( EAGGF ):

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039 / 93 — Guarantee Section,

by Ian White ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

— Guidance Section, including restructuring /

of the European Communities promotion of fisheries and aquaculture ?

( 23 July 1993 )

4 . EC research programmes ?
( 94 / C 234 / 58 )

Subject : Toughened manufactured glasses

Would the Commission consider the introduction of a

European standard to ensure that the toughened qualities
which have been in existence for many years in certain
manufactured glasses be recognized and a uniform safety
standard established as a positive measure to persons using
and servicing such glasses ?

5 . EC programmes in the field of :

— energy

— the environment ?

6 . the ECSC and EIB ?

7 . EC programmes to promote education, training and
youth exchanges ?

No C 234 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

8 . EC programmes in the social and cultural fields ?

9 . other Community programmes or budget headings ( e.g.

A large free trade area in Europe including the Community,
EFTA and the CCEE is even being envisaged .

assistance to women, linguistic / cultural minorities,
etc )? Without questioning the principle of opening our markets to

CCEE products, it appears necessary, however, for the
economies of central and eastern Europe to be progressively
brought into line with those of western Europe, taking
account of the industrial and social situation in the
Answer given by Mr Delors Community .
on behalf of the Commission

( 16 December 1993 ) What steps have been taken :

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 Parliament 's Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2044 / 93

by Robert Delorozoy ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 60 )

Subject : Trade relations between the Community and the

countries of central and eastern Europe ( CCEE )
and Russia

Over the last year, the Community has been replacing its
trade agreements with the countries of central and eastern
Europe ( Hungary, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics,
Romania and Bulgaria ) with association agreements .

Several sectors of French industry ( telecommunications,
cables, steel and chemicals ) have begun to provide these
countries with active assistance to enable them to produce

and sell within the framework of a market economy .

Unfortunately, a number of serious problems have arisen as
a result of disregard for cost prices and market mechanisms
on the part of certain industrial units in these countries,
particularly in the steel, fertilizer, aluminium and natural
uranium sectors .

Similar developments are starting to affect mechanical
engineering on a contract basis and the smelting, timber and
paper manufacturing sectors .

Moreover, in response to the Commission 's
recommendation to the Council for the Edinburgh Summit
to achieve as much flexibility as possible in fixing quotas for
imports from the CCEE and to reduce customs levies and
duties, Member States are being called upon to increase their
imports from these countries into the Community, and a
removal of tariffs and quotas on sensitive products is being
envisaged .

1 . to analyze in advance the implications of each decision

in the industrial sectors concerned in the Member

States,

2 . to avoid distortions of competition during the time

required by the eastern European countries to complete
their actual transition to a market economy and
restructure their networks,

3 . to monitor products before and after import,

4 . to update regularly the basic import prices of products

from the CCEE,

5 . to renegotiate with the CCEE the maintenance of
provisional quotas for certain sensitive imports, for
example steel ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1993 )

By concluding the Europe and Interim Agreements, the
Community has undertaken to establish free trade
arrangements with six central and eastern European
countries ( Hungary, Poland, the Czech and Slovak
Republics, Romania and Bulgaria ).

1 . In order to uphold the reforms underway in these
countries, it was decided at the Copenhagen Summit to
bring forward the timetable provided for in the
Agreements for the elimination or reduction of customs
duties on imports into the Community . It should be
pointed out that, in its resolution of 26 / 27 May,
Parliament endorsed the Commission 's proposals on
this matter .

The measures adopted basically shorten the dismantling
tariff process for imported industrial products by one or
two years, and bring forward by six months ( without
modifying ) the concessions envisaged for the
agricultural sector . Though these measures are of great
political importance, they are intended to take account
of the economic situation within the Community .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 33

2 . The Europe and Interim Agreements contain provisions
enabling the Community to take safeguard measures, or
act in accordance with the rules of GATT in case of

dumping . As a result of the Agreements, the six
countries involved are committed to applying rules of
competition similar to those applied in the
Community .

however, allow rapid and effective action to be taken in
case of disturbance on the Community market, and it
was used to negotiate a tariff quota arrangement in 1993
with the Czech and Slovak Republics for importation
into the Community of certain ECSC products,
imposing increased customs duties on consignments
exceeding the fixed amounts .

0 ) OJ No L 383, 29 . 12 . 1992 .

The Commission is convinced that improving access to ( 2 ) OJ No L 410, 31 . 12 . 1992 .
the Community market is essential for the success of the
difficult transition process in central Europe . It is also
determined to counter any unfair competition .
Anti-dumping measures are currently in force for 12
products coming from one or more of these countries,
while other cases are under consideration .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2069 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
3 . Prior surveillance of steel imports was renewed for 1993

recommendation 3772 / 92 / ECSC to the Commission of the European Communities

by recommendation 3772 / 92 / ECSC ( ] ) Retrospective
surveillance of these imports was renewed by
Commission Decision 3773 / 92 / ECSC .

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 61 )

Subject : Increases in air and ferry fares, a severe problem

for families

Increases in air fares, and sometimes ferry fares, are a serious
problem for families wishing to travel . In particular, large
families, single-parent families and families of under-age
children without parents are not normally able to use these
forms of transport . The only solution is a low-budget fare, at
least for so-called ' disadvantaged ' families . Has the
Commission looked into this matter and how does it intend

to resolve it ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

In answering the Honourable Member 's question, a
distinction must be made between air and maritime

transport .

With respect to air transport, Council Regulation ( EEC ) No
2409 / 92 ( ! ), in force since 1 January 1993, introduced an
arrangement allowing air carriers operating within the
Community, including domestic routes, to set air fares
freely . The sole exception to this arrangement is those air
fares established by the public service obligation imposed
under Article 4 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No
2408 / 92 ( x ), which also entered into force on
1 January 1993 .

The freedom of access to the market provided for by
Regulation ( EEC ) No 2408 / 92 should result in new carriers

The Additional Protocols to the Europe Agreements on
trade in textiles ( Council Decision 92 / 625 / EEC ( 2 ))
provide for specific measures for products no longer
subject to quantitative restrictions, allowing use of a
surveillance system and a possible reintroduction of
appropriate quantitative limits on a temporary basis .

For sensitive industrial products other than steel and
textiles, a system has been set up on the basis of two
different degrees of sensitivity :

— products covered by tariff quotas are subject to

automatic restoration of customs duties once the

preferential amount is reached . The extensively
computerized daily management of the system is
carried out jointly by the Commission and the
Member States ;

— products covered by tariff ceilings may be subject to

a non-automatic restoration of customs duties on

the basis of the Commission 's case-by-case
evaluation of the import statistics communicated to
it each month by the Member States .

4 . Updated basic prices for steel imports were published in

Official Journal of the European Communities No C 98
of 7 April 1993 and will be amended whenever the price
situation dictates .

5 . The Interim Agreements with central European
countries, concluded with the European Parliament 's
approval, provide for the immediate abolition of
quantitative restrictions on steel and all other industrial
products except textiles . The safeguard clause does,

No C 234 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

operating on routes where fares seem excessive in relation to
costs . Moreover, Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 2409 / 92 allow the Member States and, in some cases,
the Commission to withdraw basic air fares which are

excessively high to the disadvantage of users in relation to
the total long term costs of the carriers concerned . The
Commission has as yet received no complaints regarding
specific air fares in Greece .

As regards maritime transport, Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 3577 / 92 ( 2 ) applying the principle of freedom to provide
services to maritime transport within the Member States

( maritime cabotage ) should also lead to greater competition
on national markets and, as a result, lower prices . It should,
however, be stressed that the Regulation provides that
existing public service contracts shall remain in force until
their expiry date, and that the five southern Member States
shall be temporarily exempted from implementing the
Regulation . Article 6 of the Regulation provides that regular
passenger and ferry services shall be exempted until

1 January 1999 with respect to mainland and island
cabotage in these countries . For reasons of socio-economic
cohesion, the abovementioned derogation will, in the case
of island cabotage, be extended for Greece until
1 January 2004 for regular passenger and ferry services and
services provided by vessels less than 650 gt . Such
derogations will delay market access for other operators,
but will allow Member States with protected cabotage
markets to adapt to liberalization more easily .

The Regulation makes no reference to the the subject of
fares .

(!) OJ No L 240, 24 . 8 . 1992 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 364, 12 . 12 . 1992 .

the programmes expired . Will the Commission investigate
this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

The Commission knows of no measures financed by the Structural Funds for the Greek National Welfare

Organization ( IKA ) expiring on 31 December 1991 .

However, the IKA is benefiting from a whole series of
measures, particularly under the Integrated Mediterranean
Programme on information technology and under certain
regional programmes, in which the final date for legal
undertakings by the Greek authorities is after 31 December

1991 ( in general 31 December 19 93 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2078 / 93

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

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 63 )

Subject : Cases before the courts of irregularities involving

organizations distributing and marketing
agricultural produce

How many cases of irregularities involving organizations
distributing and marketing agricultural produce have been
brought to court in recent times ? How many of these
occurred in Greece and which agricultural products were
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072 / 93 involved ?

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

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 62 Answer given by Mr Schmidhuber

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )

Subject : Utilization by the Greek National Welfare
Organization of funds from expired Community

programmes

In its issue of 20 May 1993, the newspaper ' Pondiki ' claims
that the Greek National Welfare Organization procured
equipment worth millions of drachmas by using funds under
Community programmes which had expired on
31 December 1991 and that, in order to formalize the
transaction, invoices were made out for the date on which

Article 5 of Regulation 591 / 91 (') requires the Member
States to inform the Commission of the procedures
instituted following the irregularities notified under Article
3, or of any administrative or judicial decisions concerning
such irregularities and the termination of these procedures .
Since the entry into force of this Regulation, the
Commission has been notified of 31 cases which have been

the subject of legal proceedings ( all Member States
combined ).

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 35

The two cases in Greece concern the wine-growing and the
cereals sectors .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2092 / 93

. by Jessica Larive ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities
(!) Regulation of 4 March 1991 concerning irregularities and the

recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing
of the CAP and the organization of the information system in
this field ( OJ No L 67, 13 . 3 . 1991 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2088 / 93

by Floras Wijsenbeek ( LDR )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 64 )

Subject : Implementation of Article 4 of the Directive on

birds

Is the Commission aware of an article in the ' Nederlandse

Jager ' No 11, 1993, which clearly sets out the harm caused

by the ban on hunting lapwings, black-tailed godwits and
oystercatchers in nature reserves ?

Can the Commission also say, in the light of its detailed
answers of 27 May 1993 to my Written Questions Nos

1710 / 92 (*) and 3135 / 92 ( 2 ), whether it agrees with the
article 's conclusions ?

Would the Commission not agree that this ban on hunting

by the Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves is
having an adverse effect on these birds in the Community as
a whole, since the Netherlands is an important breeding
ground for them, perhaps even the most important breeding
ground in Europe ?

Would the Commission be willing to take the matter up with
the Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves, to
prevent a further decline in the bird population and to get
the ban on hunting lifted ?

(!) OJ No C 258, 22 . 9 . 1993, p . 7 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 185, 7 . 7 . 1993, p . 29 .

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on the behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

According to the Dutch authorities, the decrease of
lapwings, black-tailed godwits and oystercatchers in the
agricultural area adjoining the Fochteloerveen is attributed
to the intensification of agriculture and there is no proof of a
relationship between this decrease and the fact that foxes are
not hunted in the nature reserve .

( 94 / C 234 / 65 )

Subject : Sickness insurance and the internal market

Having regard to the internal market which came into effect
on 1 January 1993 and which has facilitated the free
movement of services between the Member States,

Whereas an increase may be expected in the number of
people who go to live in another Member State either
permanently or temporarily ( for instance the number of
older people who go to live in a warmer country after they
retire ),

Does the Commission agree :

1 . that sickness insurance schemes and private insurance

companies should cover their clients ' medical expenses
throughout Europe ?

2 . that restrictions such as reimbursement within a radius

of 40 kilometres or the condition that the required
expertise is not available in the country where the
insurance contract is concluded impede the free
movement of services and thus are contrary to European
legislation ?

3 . If so, is the Commission planning to take action ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

Private insurance companies cannot be forced to cover
medical expenses throughout the Community . Insurance
companies and their clients may therefore, in the contract of
insurance, limit reimbursement to treatment given by
certain parties established in a given country .

The Commission does not consider that freedom to provide
services is hampered by such restrictions ; this freedom
should give insured persons greater scope for selecting a
policy covering all the Member States .

The Commission is, however, looking into the implications
of private sickness insurance as regards the free movement
of persons within the Community . The Regulations ( EEC )
No 1408 / 71 and ( EEC ) No 574 / 72 on the application of
social security schemes to employed persons, to
self-employed persons and to members of their families
moving within the Community already include rules

( 23 July 1993 )

No C 234 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

whereby pensioners may receive sickness benefits in kind

( health care ) in the Member State where they reside, in
accordance with the provisions laid down by that State, and
cash benefits from either the competent State or the State of
residence ( Section 5 of Chapter 1, Title III, of Regulation

( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 ).

These coordinating provisions nevertheless relate only to
statutory social security schemes, excluding private
schemes, industrial agreements and private insurance . The
need to obtain new private sickness insurance cover upon
changing one 's country of residence may, in some cases,
constitute an obstacle to the free movement of persons . The
Commission intends to present a communication on this
problem to the Council, the European Parliament and the
Economic and Social Committee .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2100 / 93

by Renzo Imbeni ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 66 )

Subject : Peace in the Balkans

Three years ago, before and after the collapse of the Berlin
wall, the President of the Commission summarized the
Community 's strategic objectives as follows : unification and
integration in the West, democratization in the East .

The follow-up to Maastricht and the armed conflicts in the
former Yugoslavia and USSR are obvious signs of the crisis
besetting those objectives . If European Union is to regain
credibility, the priority of priorities must be peace in the
Balkans . The future of Europe — not only the Community
but the whole continent — and its relations with the USA

and the other continents depend on its ability to put an end
to the war in the Balkans .

The Commission must be explicit in its criticism of the
governments of the countries that have put national
interests before international ones . It is absurd and pointless
to threaten armed intervention when there is no will or even

ability to guarantee a serious embargo on arms supplies to
the warring Balkan countries .

If the Commission is determined and open in its support for
that priority it will be in tune with the European Parliament

and public opinion in Europe and its policies on social
matters and democracy will become more credible .

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The Commission entirely agrees with the Honourable
Member 's assessment that peace in the Balkans is necessary
for stability and peace throughout the continent of
Europe .

The Commission is constantly working to achieve the aims
set out by Mr Delors after the fall of the Berlin wall . Since
that event, the Community has negotiated and signed
Europe Agreements with Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia and Cooperation
Agreements with Albania and Slovenia . Also, the European
Council held in Copenhagen on 21 and 22 June last year
issued a statement making it clear that the countries of
central and eastern Europe with associate status wishing to
join the European Union would be welcome as members
once they fulfilled the conditions .

All these Agreements, together with the aid the Community
has granted through Phare and in the form of
macro-financial aid, are helping to transform economic
structures and democratise the countries concerned . The

Community is therefore making its contribution towards
peace and stability in the Balkans .

Furthermore, the Europe Agreements with the six central
and eastern European countries require a political dialogue
and the Community began this even before the Agreements
came into force . The countries concerned were therefore

able to set out their views on how bilateral relations should

develop and on the various international problems of
concern to both parties .

Like the Honourable Member, the Commission deplores the
armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia and erstwhile USSR
and, under the heading of European political cooperation, is
helping to ensure that certain governments do not put
national interests before international concerns .

On the question of sanctions against Serbia and
Montenegro, the Commission is helping to ensure
compliance by providing accommodation for the sanctions
coordinator and budget and human resources to help the
Sanctions Communications Centre ( Samcomm ) carry out its
duties .

Subject to the availability of resources, the Commission will
continue to contribute towards efforts to bring about peace,
stability and unification in Europe in general and the
Balkans in particular . It hopes thereby to remain in tune
with Parliamentary and European public opinion .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 37

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2109 / 93

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

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 67 )

Subject : Support for rural communities in the areas around

national parks

In view of the contribution rural communities living in the
peripheral areas around the Member States national parks
make to the protection and improvement of their
environment, could the Commission come forward with
specific Community measures to support these communities
with a view to raising their standards of living ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The Commission considers that assistance for rural

communities as referred to by the Honourable Member
could, where appropriate, be provided on the basis of
structural aid proposals to be submitted by the Member
States with a view to the establishment, under the
partnership arrangement, of the Community Support
Frameworks and programmes planned for the next period
of the Structural Funds ( 1994-1999 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2115 / 93

In view of the foregoing, will the Commission take action to
deal with the problems facing the Greek wine industry and
what form will this action take ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The intervention measures for the wine sector are adopted at
the beginning of the wine year on the basis of the supply
forecast established from the official communications of the

Member States .

Thus, for the 1992 / 93 wine year, the figures communicated

by the Greek authorities, which have not yet been corrected,
show a fall in stocks of almost 600 000 hectolitres on the

basis of production, existing stocks, and foreseeable
consumption . This would not appear to be an accurate
reflection of reality .

Nevertheless, regardless of these figures, the Commission is
aware that the wine sector throughout the Community
suffers from an important structural surplus and that the
short-term measures called for, some of which exist already
( preventive and support distillation, export refunds ), are not
enough to solve the problem and achieve a lasting balance in
the sector .

This is why the Commission has produced, as it promised, a
discussion paper on the future of the wine policy (*). It
recommends that the reform of the sector should be based

on an ordered adjustment of production potential by means
of multiannual regional adjustment programmes .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities (M COM(93 ) 380 final .

( 26 July 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 68

Subject : Greek wine production

The Greek wine market is facing considerable problems,
such as the high level of stocks ( nearly half last year 's Greek
production, over 240 000 tonnes, remains unsold ),
depressing prices and creating new problems for this year 's
crop which is expected to be larger .

Greek wine producers have called for a number of measures
to cope with the situation . For example, the Greek wine
industry 's central cooperative association, Keosoe, is calling
for

1 . Financial support for Greek wine exports,

2 . An extension of the Community subsidy for wine

exports to non-Community countries, and

3 . financial support for wine for distillation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 120 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 69 )

Subject : EAGGF grant to battery egg processing centre

Is it the case that a sum in the region of ECU 200 000 has
been granted from the EAGGF to a battery farm and egg
processing centre for Horizon Poultry Farms on a site
designated as a special landscape area at Corby,
Northamptonshire ( UK )?

No C 234 / 38 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

How can this be justified first on a special landscape area
site, and second in the light of the EC Scientific Veterinary
Committee 's condemnation of battery egg farms ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

environmental law needs to be codified immediately and a
special brochure should be published listing the rights of
citizens as regards environmental protection . How does the
Commission intend to express its concern that Greece
should not fall behind the rest of the Community in the field
of environmental protection ?

( 29 October 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

The United Kingdom Authorities have submitted a proposal ( 29 November 1993 )
for EAGGF aid under Regulation ( EEC ) No 866 / 90 which
includes an ' egg grading and packing facility at Corby,
Northamptonshire '. As guardian of the Treaties the

It is the responsibility of the Member State 's planning
authorities to consider environmental and landscape aspects
of a particular site and to enforce any specific condition
linked to these aspects .

No EAGGF aid is involved in the egg production facilities at
the site . Moreover the Commission is informed that around

35 % of the egg throughput of the packing plant will come
from non-battery production systems .

As to the report from the Scientific Veterinary Committee,
the issues are more complex than is suggested by the
Honourable Member 's question, since the Committee
pointed out that some alternative production systems also
have drawbacks . The Commission is considering their
report carefully before deciding what further measures may
be appropriate .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 132 / 93

As guardian of the Treaties the Commission sees to the
correct transposition of Community Directives within the
time-limits prescribed in the same .

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

Where a Member State fails to communicate its

implementing measures in good time the Commission
initiates the procedure provided for in Article 169 of the EC
Treaty, which can lead to the Court of Justice ruling that
Member State to have failed to fulfil its obligations under
the Treaty . The same procedure is followed in the case of
incorrect transposition .

By exercising where necessary its powers under Article 169
in the area of the transposition of Directives, the
Commission ensures their due and correct transposition
into the legislation of all Member States .

These provisions and powers apply equally in respect of the
environment .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) to the Commission of the
to the Commission of the European Communities
( 26 July 1993 )
( 26 July 1993 ) ( 94 / C 234 / 71 )
( 94 / C 234 / 70 )

Subject : Taxation of Greek farmers
Subject : Bringing Greek environmental law into line with

Community law

Efforts to bring Greek environmental law into line with
Community law have encountered a large number of major
obstacles, in particular there have been delays in
promulgating the necessary regulatory acts and the
necessary measures have not been fully adopted . This is the
basic conclusion reached by a congress held recently by the
Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration of the
University of Athens in cooperation with the Greek section
of the World Wildlife Fund and sponsored by the
Commission of the European Communities . According to
the conclusions of this congress, national and Community

Tax measures can only be successfully implemented if all
citizens are treated equally . The Greek Government 's plans
to impose further taxation on farmers will not contribute to
a more equitable distribution of the burden of taxation
between citizens, since, on the one hand, professionals on
high incomes are able to avoid taxation ( or are exempted
from taxation ) with the tacit approval of the Greek
authorities, while 91 % of the agricultural community in
Greece does not even earn enough to survive . In view of the
above, and the fact that Greek farmers are taxed on the basis
of their gross incomes, does the Commission intend to ask
the Greek authorities to tax Greek farmers on the same basis

as the self-employed and wage-earners ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 39

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2158 / 93

on behalf of the Commission

by Carmen Llorca Vilaplana ( PPE )
( 14 December 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 July 1993 )

Income tax is governed by national rules .

As it stands, Community legislation does not prevent the
application of Member States tax laws in the personal
income tax field provided that those laws guarantee
compliance with the fundamental principles and freedoms
enshrined in the EC Treaty .

Accordingly, the Commission takes the view that the Greek
authorities are free to introduce the arrangements they deem
necessary in order to determine the taxation of farmers .

( 94 / C 234 / 73 )

Subject : Tourist routes for cyclists

In view of current proposals in various areas of Spain
concerning the demarcation and use of tourist routes for
cyclists ( affecting such aspects as road surface type, repairs
and designated tourist areas ), can the Commission state
whether any procedural rules exist on the matter, or provide
examples of rules and standards applying in other Member
States ?

It does not possess any information to suggest that the
imposition of income tax on Greek farmers could be in
breach of the provisions of the EC Treaty . Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1993 )

The provision of tourist routes for cyclists is a matter best
handled at a regional or local level . National rules and
standards are the responsibility of the authorities in the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 145 / 93 Member States . The Commission has no plans for

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE ) Regulations on this issue .
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 72 )

Subject : Olive-oil subsidies

Producers of Melivoia ( Larissa ) have requested a change in
the way in which olive-oil production is subsidized . They
want subsidies to be granted on the basis of the real
production weight, the distinction between small and large
producers to be abolished and the denomination of olive
oil-growing areas to play less of a role in determining
subsidies . Given that under the present system, olive oil
producers are only subsidized for between 30% and 50%
of production — meaning a heavy loss of income — will the
Commission say whether it intends to amend the rules
governing olive oil subsidies ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 70 / 93

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 74 )

Subject : Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro

What practical steps has the European Commission taken to
follow up the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June

1992 ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

Answer given by Mr Steichen (1 December 1993 )

on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1993 )

The Commission is studying the question of a uniform basis
for the calculation of olive-oil production subsidies . The
results of this study will enable it to make proposals to the
Council .

The implementation of the outcome of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development ( Unced ) —
Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, the Statement of Forest Principles and the
Conventions on Climate Change and Biological Diversity —
has to be seen as a long-term, cross-sectoral endeavour
which affects almost every single aspect of the Community 's
internal and external policies, including development
cooperation policy .

No C 234 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Some information on this subject was provided in the reply
given by the Commission to oral question H-0593-93 (*).
Further to that, a comprehensive progress report on the
initial follow-up to Unced was submitted by the Community
at the first substantive session of the Commission on

Sustainable Development ( CSD ), held in New York in
June 1993 . A copy of this report is sent direct to the

Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of the

Parliament .

(*) Debates of the European Parliament, 3-432 ( June 1993 ).

relations with Latin America and has taken steps to this end,
pursuing an increasingly active policy with the countries of
Latin America .

Political relations have been stepped up via the San Jose and
the Rio Group dialogue :

— Mutual recognition agreements have been signed with

regional bodies such as LAIA, Mercosur, Tunac, LAES
and the OAS .

A Directorate has been set up in the Commission with
sole responsibility for relations with Latin America .
Delegations have also been opened in several South
WRITTEN QUESTION E-21 86 / 93 American capitals ( four in the past three years in

by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE ) Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Lima and Bogota ).
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 75 ) Trade relations have been strengthened :

Subject : The Community 's position on the recent statement

by the President of Bolivia

The President of Bolivia, Jaime Paz Zamora, has, in a recent
statement, drawn attention to the lack of interest in Latin
America exhibited by the new Administration in
Washington . Such a posture is clearly diametrically opposed
to the Community 's real and objective interests with regard
to Latin America .

In view of the more prominent role now being played by
Latin America in world geopolitical terms, there is a need to
assess and determine the potential degree of interest of the
region for the Community 's external policy with a view to
developing suitable instruments for consolidating and
structuring the new Community dimension as far as
relations with Latin America are concerned, in full
awareness that the failure of the new US Administration to

interest itself in the region may be counterbalanced by more
decided action on the Community 's part .

Can the Commission state whether it has been informed, via
its DG for External Relations, of the statement by the
President of Bolivia, and whether this has impelled it to
re-examine the Community 's degree of commitment to
Latin America, on the basis of an assessment of the possible
impact of greater Community involvement in the region ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

The Commission has been aware for some years of the
importance of consolidating political and economic

— Under the Uruguay Round certain concessions were

granted for tropical products, of particular importance
for Latin American exports . In addition, the agricultural
concessions decided in the last GATT negotiations will
help Latin American exports to Europe and the rest of
the world .

— The Community has extended the GSP ( Generalized

System of Preferences ) to the poorest Andean Pact and
Central American countries to help them in the fight
against drugs and with reconstruction respectively .

Development cooperation has been stepped up :

— Financial and technical cooperation in the form of grants

totalled ECU 1 000 million between 1991 and 1995, a

100% increase over the previous five years . Food-aid
and humanitarian aid amounted to ECU 300 million .

— Cooperation agreements have been signed with
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay . Existing
cooperation agreements have been renewed ( third
generation agreements ) with the focus on promoting the
private sector, attracting European investment to the
region and facilitating technology transfers .

— An agreement was recently concluded, for the first time

allowing the EIB to operate in Latin America, with an
annual budget of ECU 250 million .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 41

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2190 / 93 However, if several Community regions were to join forces

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE ) to organize a single stand at a tourism fair, the Commission

could consider supporting such an initiative .
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2190 / 93

by José Lafuente Lopez ( PPE )

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 76 )

Subject : Community regional tourism promotion stands at

world tourism fairs

Participation in tourism promotion fairs remains a highly
profitable activity for tourism professionals wishing to
attract visitors to the areas promoted by them, thus
increasing the benefits obtained from tourism by the
Community region concerned .

Such participation can, however, involve considerable
expense ; for this reason, participation in tourism fairs
within and outside the Community is funded only where it is
considered essential . Several tourism promoters from a
number of Community regions have, accordingly, proposed
that their regions should be represented at the main tourism
fairs worldwide under the umbrella of a ( temporary )
association . They could thus carry out their activities at a
single stand, substantially reducing costs and attracting
more potential visitors from all over the world .

The aim is, accordingly, that the tourism promotion
departments of various regions of the Member States should
be represented jointly at a single stand under Community
auspices ; the stand would be officially authorized by the
Community and would be supported under the
Commission 's policy of promoting tourism in the
Community .

Is the Commission willing to consider the possibility of
organizing the promotion of tourism in various regions of
the Community at world tourism fairs on the basis of a
single Community stand ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 December 1993 )

Under the Community action plan to assist tourism H, the
Community is able to support pilot projects aimed at
promoting Europe as a whole as a tourist destination on the
markets of distant countries whose economies are

expanding .

However, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
the Commission is not competent to promote individual
European regions as tourist centres .

( ! ) Council Decision of 13 July 1992 ( 92 / 42 1 / EEC, OJ No L 231,

13 . 8 . 1992 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2193 / 93

by Victor Arbeloa Muru ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 28 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 77 )

Subject : EC economic aid to the occupied territories

Following Commission Vice-President Marin 's statement
during the Strasbourg part-session ( on 27 May 1993 )
concerning EC economic aid to the Israeli-occupied
territories, can the Commission provide further information
on the main areas covered by this aid ( exports, housing
reconstruction, refugees, etc .), with a view to wider
publicization of the facts, which are all but unknown to
public opinion in the Community ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

1 . EC assistance to the Occupied Territories ( OT ) has
four main headings :

( a ) Aid to refugees through UNRWA . This takes place
mostly through contributions to the regular UNRWA
budget, which are spent on education, health and
food-aid programmes . In the years 1971 to 1992 this
aid amounted to about 518 MECU . It is for all refugees,
even those who are not living in the OT . Since the latter
represent approximately 62 percent of the total, under
this heading aid to the OT amounted to about 197
MECU for 1971-1992 .

A new convention for 1993-1995 is presently under
negotiation . It is due to be concluded in the course of

1993 and will increase Community contributions
towards this agency .

( b ) Aid through co-financing with European NGOs . In

1979-1992 the total amount contributed by the
Community was 12,6 MECU . This was equivalent to a
38,4 percent contribution to projects for a total value of
over 32 MECU .

( c ) Direct development aid under budget lines B7-406 and
B7-701 amounted in 1991 to 70 MECU ( including 60
MECU exceptional aid ) and in 1992 to 17 MECU

No C 234 / 42 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

( including 5 MECU exceptional aid ). The figure for
1993 will be 15 MECU . The total amount devoted to

these lines from 1987 up to 1993 is 119 MECU .

Under these headings the following main areas receive

support :

— small-scale employment-generating projects or
measures in the agricultural and industrial sectors,
in particular by giving support to measures in the
agricultural sector which would increase food
self-sufficiency

— education / training, particularly in the vocational

and technical fields ;

— upgrading of local Palestinian institutions, such as

Arab-run municipalities, universities and colleges,
professional organizations, etc . particularly
through linkages with similar institutions in the
Community, in-country training, seminars .

— private Palestinian health sector .

( d ) Aid to promote direct Palestinian exports from the OT

to Community markets . These were made possible in

1988 thanks to pressure from the European Parliament,
following an initiative from the Commission . The
Community is financing two agricultural experts, one
for the Gaza Strip and one for the West Bank . Exports
increased fivefold by volume from the first to the
second season . The third season was characterized by a
decrease due to the Gulf war . Exports in the fourth
season were equally low due to severe winter
conditions . The prospects for the fifth season ( 1992 / 93 )
are no better even though the Community has
considerably increased the volume of short-term export
loans . So far there are still logistical problems due to
which exports are less competitive and therefore the
level of exports has also remained low in the last

season .

The Community has reduced to zero import levies for
certain Palestinian agricultural products from January

1993 .

2 . In addition to the above there are emergency and
exceptional aid interventions :

— ECU 370 000 was granted in February 1990 for

intifadah-related injuries through UNRWA ; ECU
500 000 was allocated in May 1990 through MSF and
UNRWA to relieve medical needs as a consequence of
the Rishon Lezion massacre and subsequent incidents ;
just in 1991 and 1992 13,79 MECU were approved for
exceptional food aid ( Total : 14,47 MECU ) through
UNRWA . In December 1990 4,5 MECU emergency aid
were approved by the Community to support the
running costs of private Palestinian hospitals through
the Dutch Red Cross .

— in 1992 the Community approved a contribution of 5

MECU towards running costs of Palestinian hospitals .
They will be disbursed in 1993 / 1994 . In December 1992
the Community approved 6 000 tons ( ECU 936 000 ) of
wheat flour for the Gazan refugees through UNRWA
and in June 1993 an additional amount of 6 000 tons of
wheat flour, 600 tons of rice and 600 tons of sugar were
approved for refugees and non-refugees of the Gaza
Strip ( 2,45 MECU for exceptional food aid in 1993 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2200 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 78 )

Subject : Training requirements for aircrew

No agreement has yet been reached on JAR 65 ( certification
of aircrew ), which is a very important requirement in this
connection . AEI considers that good staff training is the first
step towards achieving proper safety standards .

— AEI calls for the introduction of a uniform maintenance

certificate which will be the same for all countries,
monitored by the State 's JAA or the RLD ( Netherlands
Airline Authority ). Only in this way can there be proper
supervision and the guarantee of a good standard of
training . If this training is left to authorized firms,
training requirements will be adapted in line with
economic considerations, and will become a mechanism
for regulating the numbers of new staff entering the
profession .

— AEI calls for training courses to be allocated to

state-authorized — COM(90 ) 442, p. 24 — training
schools ( JAR 147 )

— AEI also calls for guarantees for existing technical staff

and their training requirements, as well as a basic level of
training for all categories of technical staff .

There must be more government monitoring of training
standards . A government-approved examination is the best
way to achieve this . However, at present the JAA seems
increasingly inclined to leave this responsibility to private
firms . Does the Commission think this is right ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1993 )

The proper training of maintenance personnel is an essential
element in ensuring the safety of air transport . In this respect
the Commission considers the standards under development
in the JAR 65 to be appropriate .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 43

The question of monitoring these standards to ensure they
continue to meet the required levels is very important, and
ultimately this task will be the responsibility of the national
civil aviation authorities of the Member States, either
directly in the case of national training programmes or
training organizations, or indirectly through the
surveillance of approved maintenance organizations in the
case of company training schemes . In either case the training
will have to comply with the requirements in JAR 65 .

Ensuring the consistency of standards between Member
States will be the role of the JAA supported, where
necessary, by the legal instruments of the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2223 / 93

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

( 29 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 79 )

Subject : Tobacco producers in the Prefecture of Rodopi

The Prefecture of Rodopi is situated in Thrace, one of the
most disadvantaged and underdeveloped regions of the
Community, and is facing particularly severe economic and
social problems, since its only source of income is tobacco
production on small parcels of land .

In view of complaints that 250 tonnes of tobacco, the sole
crop and only source of revenue of 167 producers in the
prefecture of Rodopi, has remained unsold since 1991 :

In addition, the Commission is prepared in the context of
the next programming period for the Structural Funds, as
part of the partnership phase, to examine arty proposals for
operational schemes from the Member State and the region
concerned which are designed to encourage the
restructuring of production .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2239 / 93

by Virginio Bettini ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 80 )

Subject : Incinerator lorries

The Spanish company Seguridad Ecologica has begun to use
mobile incinerators to dispose of hospital waste . The lorries
in question are equipped with combustion and
post-combustion chambers, and the process destroys waste
at a temperature of 1 000° and, in theory, causes dioxin to
decompose by means of chemical oxidation . It is said that
viruses and bacteria can be destroyed by incineration in ten
minutes .

Bearing in mind that incinerator ships have been banned,
what form of checks will the Commission carry out on
mobile incinerators mounted on road vehicles ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

What steps will the Commission take by way of income
support for this large group of producers in this particularly There is no specific Community legislation dealing with
vulnerable and underdeveloped region of the mobile incinerators mounted on lorries carrying hospital
Community ? waste . At present, equipment of this kind is subject solely to

national legislation . Should these mobile incinerators
become more widespread in the Community in the future,
the Commission might have cause to reconsider the

matter .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

Since the 1991 harvest the common organization of the
market in tobacco has included the obligation to sign a
growing contract with a first-stage processor in order to
qualify for the benefits of this market organization . This
requirement was introduced into the Community legislation
in order to better adapt Community output to market
demand .

It should also be noted that, under the operational
programme for eastern Macedonia / Thrace, a conversion
scheme for certain areas under tobacco has existed for

which growers could apply .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2248 / 93

by Yves Frémion ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 30 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 81 )

Subject : Lack of transparency with regard to the activities

of 'A People 's Europe ' units

1 . Can the Commission set out in detail the priorities for
1993 and 1994 of the following units in Directorate C of

No C 234 / 44 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

DG X : Unit 2 : ' People 's Europe : coordination and youth
activities ', Unit 3 : ' People 's Europe : information for
women ', Unit 4 : ' People 's Europe : information campaigns,
public awareness and sport ' and Unit 5 : ' People 's Europe :
rural society and the environment '?

2 . Can the Commission give a comprehensive list of
events and activities ( including conferences and studies )
supported by these units in 1991 and 1992 and, if possible,
in 1993, together with the exact amounts earmarked for
each activity ?

What were the total subsidies provided by these units ?

Under which budgetary headings were they entered ?

3 . Why is the availability of such funding never
advertised in the Official Journal of the European
Communities f Does it not consider that this practice of
providing funds for those who have managed to learn about
them through personal contacts, or who are able to afford a
consultant, runs counter to the principles of transparency
and democracy and aggravates the public 's distrust of the
Community ?

Have reports on these activities been drawn up ?

Does the Commission have plans to increase transparency in
future ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The People 's Europe Units of DG X are responsible for
familiarizing the public with the implications of European
unification, the operation of the Community institutions,
and the content and importance of Community policies .
Their priority task is to provide Community citizens with
the information necessary to enable and encourage them to
assume their political responsibilities, notably as electors
and taxpayers, when it comes to European as well as
national, regional and local elections .

The activities of the Units referred to by the Honourable
Member target different segments of the public . The files on
these operations are available for consultation by the
Honourable Member . Publication is not practicable because
of the very large number of operations involved and their
diversity and heterogeneity ( public events, lectures,
seminars, studies etc .). It is often at the instigation of
members of Parliament that the Commission gives its
support to these activities ( generally in the form of
patronage and / or small subsidies ).

The Commission would point out that its Offices in the
Member States spend 20 to 25 % of their budget on people 's
Europe projects and are closely associated with the carrying
out of these programmes . The overall allocations for these
activities come from Chapter 30 of the budget and totalled
ECU 6 750 804 in 1991, ECU 6 719 239 in 1992 and
ECU 6 661 000 in 1993 .

The Commission does not agree with the Honourable
Member that there is a lack of transparency in the
administration of its activities . As is the case for the public
relations expenditure of the other institutions, including
Parliament, also in view of the relatively small amounts
involved in individual projects, advertising in the Official
Journal of the European Communities is not appropriate . It

should be noted that decisions on the Community 's main
framework programmes and the Community budget are
published in the Official Journal .

The reorganization of DG X is currently being looked at .
The Commission 's concern is to satisfy the information
requirements of the European citizen and to ensure that the
best possible use is always made of the funds available .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2265 / 93

by Gordon Adam ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 82 )

Subject : Prior notification of programmes to reduce
production capacity in the coal sector

Can the Commission confirm that ECSC Decision No 22 / 66
of 16 November 1966 ( J ) on information to be furnished by
coal and steel undertakings about their investments still
applies ?

Regarding recent pit closures in the United Kingdom, can
the Commission confirm that all information and prior
notification of the closures was provided, as required by the
abovementioned Decision ?

(!) OJ No 219, 29 . 11 . 1966, p . 3728 .

Answer given by Mr Christophersen

on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1993 )

The Commission confirms that ECSC Decision No 22-66 is

still in force, Article 6 of which states that ' the coal and steel

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 45

undertakings of the Community shall notify the High
Authority of programmes involving a reduction in
production capacity in respect of one or more of the
products listed in Annex I to the Treaty '.

In the case of the recent closures referred to by the
Honourable Member, the Commission has contacted the
undertakings concerned in order to obtain fuller
information .

Under the architectural heritage programme Spanish
projects received ECU 330 000 in 1992 and ECU 286 800 in

1993 . In the case of the Kaleidoscope programme it should
be emphasized that the projects selected involve at least
three Member States as participants and as organizers . This
means that the figures quoted can only be approximate .
With this qualification the amount granted to projects
submitted by Spanish organizations was around ECU

145 000 in 1992 and ECU 300 000 in 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2337 / 93

v by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2287 / 93

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

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

( 94 / C 234 / 84 )
(1 September 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 83

Subject : Cultural and architectural conservation

programmes

Given the importance of our cultural and architectural
heritage in defining our cultural identity and in view of the
fact that existing action programmes are inadequate and
have little real impact owing to their lack of coordination,
can the Commission supply a list of all projects adopted in
Spain on the basis of the Kaleidoscope cultural conservation
scheme, together with details of the funding
arrangements ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

The Commission is aware of the need to establish a new

reference framework in order to structure Community
cultural action more efficiently and develop it more
coherently .

On 12 November 1992 with the same end in view the

Ministers for Culture adopted the guidelines for common
action which will serve as the basis for a policy aimed
primarily at the European citizen and designed to encourage
dialogue between the Community and all those involved in
culture .

The Commission publishes annual press releases giving the
results of the programme for conservation of the
architectural heritage and the Kaleidoscope programme and
the list of projects supported . The press releases for 1992
and 1993 are being sent direct to the Honourable Member
and to Parliament 's Secretariat .

Subject : European Media Code

Is there any possibility that a European Media Code setting
out the basic principles of professional ethics for private
individuals, media owners and journalists, will be adopted
in the near future ?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

Taking into account the principle of freedom of expression
and the differences in national approaches to the question of
the ethics of journalism, the Commission is of the view that
this question must be handled first by the journalists
themselves or, if necessary, by the Member States .

At Community level, taking into account Community
competences and the principle of subsidiarity, the
Commission does not intend to propose action on this

matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-24 18 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 85

Subject : Waste storage facilities

Waste storage facilities, particularly those used by factories
in the chemicals industry, for example, are tremendously

No C 234 / 46 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

harmful to public health in that they contaminate water
sources and wildlife in the surrounding areas . Does the
Commission believe there is an immediate need for

Community action in this area and will it take any initiative
in this matter itself ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

Can the Commission say why the Greek authorities have not
radically restricted the problematic varieties of tobacco and
replaced them with other varieties which are more in
demand, using the opportunities afforded by Community
Regulations 1096 / 88 768 / 89 ( 2 ) and the GATT
compensatory facilities ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2499 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 87

Subject : Restriction of problematic varieties of tobacco in

Greece

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to Regulations 1096 / 88 768
the proposal for a Directive on the landfill of waste ( 1 ), compensatory facilities ?
amended in the light of Parliament 's opinion ( 2 ) and now
being examined in the Council . (!) OJ No L 110, 29 . 4 . 1988, p . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 84, 29 . 3 . 1989, p . 8 .
H OJ No C 190, 22 . 7 . 1991 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 212, 5 . 8 . 1993 .

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1993 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2433 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 86 )

Subject : Subsidies for repairs to fishing nets

The Commission is hardly qualified to answer a question
which is of direct concern to the Greek authorities .

In its view, the two Regulations mentioned by the
Honourable Member had different aims, only offering
incidentally the possibility of directing tobacco production
towards less problematic varieties .

Will the Commission consider supporting fishermen by
subsidizing the repair of nets damaged by dolphins, seals,
turtles and protected species in general ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-2526 / 93

by Mario Melis ( ARC ), Andrea Raggio ( PSE ) and Virginio

Bettini ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission ( 94 / C 234 / 88 )

( 23 November 1993 )

Subject : Abuse of dominant position by the ' Cartiere

Burgo ' paper mills

The Commission does not consider that repairs to fishing
nets qualify for Community assistance within the
framework of the structural aid granted under Regulation

( EEC ) No 4028 / 86 of 18 December 1986 on Community
measures to improve and adapt structures in the fisheries
and aquaculture sector (').

0 ) OJ No L 376, 31 . 12 . 1986, p . 7 .

Having regard to Article 86 of the Treaty establishing the
EEC,

— given that the production and marketing of white paper

for telephone directories is dominated in Italy by the
' Cartiere di Burgo ' firm 's de facto monopoly,

— given that, as the sole telephone concessionary service,

SEAT-STET ( in which the State has a majority holding )
is the only purchaser of this paper,

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 47

— given that the ' Cartiere Burgo ' company has achieved

this monopoly through abuse of an economically and
legally dominant position by taking over the Arbatax
paper mills ' share of production for supplies to
SEAT-STET at a time when both paper mills were run by
the same board of directors,

— given that this monopoly is disrupting a significant part

of the common market ( i.e. the Italian market for the
entire sector ), to the detriment of consumers ( Lit 100 per
kg above the Arbatax price ) and the economic and social
resources of a vast area in a region coming under
Objective No 1 ( redundancy payments and prospect of
dismissal of workers at the Arbatax paper mills due to
shutdown ),

— given that the limited purchase of paper for yellow pages

( not produced on the Italian market ) does not lessen the
abuse of dominant position by the ' Cartiere di Burgo '
firm,

does the Commission not intend to make appropriate
representations to the Italian Government to ensure that
free market conditions are restored by allowing the Arbatax
papermills and any other interested company to offer the
SEAT-STET company, in which the State has a majority
interest, the supplies which it currently purchases from the
Burgo monopoly ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

town of Larisa were cut off and 5 000 farms in the area only
just managed to obtain a little water for their crops .

Since there is a great danger that the crop will be lost, the
Pinios Land Improvement Organization proposes that dams
should be built but this has so far met with no response from
the Greek authorities . Can the Commission provide
financial assistance to combat pollution of the River Pinios
and protect it in general ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 November 1993 )

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member

that it falls first and foremost to the Member States, in line
with the principle of subsidiarity and the principle that the
polluter pays, to finance the necessary installations to
combat pollution and preserve natural resources .

The prefecture of Larisa being an area eligible for funding
from the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, the
Commission will examine with particular attention any
project submitted by the Greek authorities within the
framework of these financial instruments .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2562 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

The Commission has taken note of the situation in Italy with
( 94 / C 234 / 90 ) .
regard to the production and marketing of white paper for
telephone directories and is investigating the matter in order
to ascertain whether there is any abuse of a dominant Subject : Detergents
position and, if so, to decide at which level — Community or
national — the competition authorities should take 1 . How many detergents
action . there the

Subject : Detergents

1 . How many detergents containing genetically
engineered enzymes are there on the EC market ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2548 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 89

Subject : Protection of the River Pinios, region of Larisa

The river Pinios is no longer a source of life for Larisa .
Pollution by urban and industrial sewage and a drastic
reduction in the volume of water have transformed the river

into a source of contamination . Last year supplies to the

2 . What guarantees are there to ensure that these
detergents comply with the provisions of Directive
90 / 220 / EEC on deliberate release into the environment ?

3 . Were environmental impact studies carried out for the
products concerned ?

Does the Commission have any data on the detergents '
short, medium and long term effects on humans and the
environment ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

Many different types of enzymes, including those added to
detergents, are produced by using genetically modified

No C 234 / 48 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

micro-organisms in the manufacturing process . However,
since the enzymes produced do not contain or consist of
living organisms, they do not fall within the scope of
Council Directive 90 / 220 / EEC on the deliberate release into
the environment of genetically modified organisms (*).

The Commission does not have information on the number

of detergents on the Community market containing
enzymes produced with the use of genetically modified
micro-organisms .

The Commission has data on the environmental impact of
detergents in general, focussing on certain detergent
components that give rise to environmental concerns, such
as phosphates . The Commission does not have any data
concerning the environmental impact of enzymes produced
by genetically modified organisms and used in detergents, as
this has not been an area of environmental concern .

(!) OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2563 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 91 )

Subject : Zinc mine in Tipperary, Ireland

1 . Is the Commission aware of a US company 's plans for
a large zinc mine in Tipperary ( Ireland )?

2 . If so, what is its exact location ?

3 . How specific are these plans in terms of the type of
installation, infrastructural measures and processing
plants ?

4 . When is the mine to become operational ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1993 )

1 . and 2 . The project in question is for a lead / zinc mine at
Lisheen, Co . Tipperary . The shareholders are the Chevron
Mineral Corporation, with 52,5 %, and Ivernia West pic,
with 47,5 % . The licences are operated by Chevron .

3 . The feasibility study was launched in April 1992, and
is not due to be completed until the end of 1994 . As a result,
no information is available as regards the installations,
infrastructure and treatment facilities .

4 . No date has been announced .

5 . No precise information is available . There is talk,
however, of annual production in the region of 1,2 million
tonnes of lead / zinc ore, leading to the production of 250 000
tonnes of zinc and 40 000 tonnes of lead .

6 . This question is covered by the feasibility study .

7 and 8 . An environmental impact assessment is
approaching completion, and should be available by the end
of 1993 . The companies concerned will then be able to
request local planning permission and State mining
concessions . However, before planning permission can be
granted, the applicant must agree to all the conditions which
it lays down . Before granting a mining concession, the Irish
authorities must be satisfied, from the results of the
environmental impact assessment, that the project is
compatible with the needs of the environment .

9 . At full production, the project should employ over
500 people .

10 . So far, to the best of the Commission 's knowledge,
no objections have been raised to this project .

5 . What are its vital statistics ( production capacity, water
consumption, etc .)? WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 80 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
6 . How are the water needs to be met ? to the Commission of the European Communities

( 1 September 1993 )

7 . What special conditions and measures are planned ( 94 / C 234 / 92 )
with regard to the environment ( e.g. water pollution )?

8 . Are there plans for a hearing or similar procedure ?

9 . How many jobs will be created ?

10 . Is the Commission already aware of any objections to
this project ?

Subject : Ratification of the 1951 Geneva Convention on

refugees

Can the Commission say whether all the Member States of
the Community have ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention
on refugees ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 49

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2349 / 92

by François Guillaume ( RDE )
(2 December 1993 ) to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1992 )

All Member States of the Community have ratified the 1951 ( 94 / C 234 / 94 )
Geneva Convention and its 1967 New York Protocol .

Subject : Harmonization of the purity of the gold in

jewellery in the EEC

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2581 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 93 )

Subject : Defence of human rights in Turkey

With regard to the motion for a resolution by Mrs Roth

Gold jewellery manufactured and sold in France is
guaranteed to be 18-carat and is hallmarked with an eagle 's
head following strict and effective State controls .

In other EC Member States 9 - or 14-carat gold jewellery
may be manufactured and sold .

Are there any plans for harmonizing standards for the
manufacture and sale of gold jewellery on the basis of either
a Community decision or agreements within the
profession ?

What guarantees will consumers have as to the purity of the
gold ?

( B3-0469 / 93 ) on the assassination of representatives of the gold ?
Association for the Defence of Human Rights in Turkey, can
the Commission say what the findings were of the
Committee of Inquiry set up to investigate the assassinations
and whether representatives of the human rights movement
are now given special protection by the Turkish WRITTEN QUESTION E-568 / 93
authorities ?

by Christine Oddy ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 31 March 1993 )

Answer given by Mr van den Broek ( 94 / C 234 / 95 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 ) Subject : Hallmarking

It is not for the Commission to undertake enquiries of the
type referred to by the Honourable Member .

The Turkish authorities are fully aware of the importance
the Community and its Member States attach to the rule of
law, full respect for human rights and the commitments
made by Turkey in regard to the CSCE, the Council of
Europe and the UN conventions .

The Commission will continue to monitor the situation

closely in light of the Turkish Government 's pledges to
improve its human rights record, and hopes the country will
do everything possible to uphold such pledges .

The invaluable and courageous efforts made by
non-governmental organizations have done much to
safeguard individual liberties and promote human rights
generally . The Commission is therefore saddened that, all
too often, it is the defenders of such rights who are the first
to suffer from the abuses they condemn .

How does the Commission propose to ensure a proper
quality assurance system in respect of the harmonization of
hallmarks on gold, silver and platinum in the EC ?

Will it ensure that the high quality of the UK hallmarking
system will not be undermined ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-655 / 93

by Mary Banotti ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 April 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 96 )

Subject : Directive on precious metals

Concerning a proposed Directive on precious metals, could
the Commission inform me whether they will be making
provision in the Directive for a quality assurance system or

No C 234 / 50 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

adequate test methods ? Does the Commission not believe
that without such a system hallmarkers in Europe will be
under threat ? Could the Commission tell me when they
intend to introduce this Directive and will they be consulting
the European Parliament on this issue ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

Three alternative certification procedures are proposed :
declaration of conformity by manufacturers applying an
approved quality assurance system, declaration of
conformity by the manufacturer with monitoring by a
certification body, and unit or statistical verification of
articles by a third party . Member States are not required to
set up all these procedures in their territory . They must
notify the other Member States and the Commission of the
bodies responsible for carrying out the procedures in force
in their territory . The manufacturer may choose among
these procedures, which are equivalent in effect and which
take account of the control methods applied in the Member
States .

( 94 / C 234 / 97 ) t 1 ) COM(93 ) 322 final .

( 2 ) OJ No C 136, 4 . 6 . 1985 .

Subject : System of hallmarking and quality control of

jewellery and other articles made of precious
metals

In view of the fact that :

1 . the British Hallmarking Council and the Edinburgh
Assay Office are not satisfied with the Commission 's
proposal for a Directive on the harmonization of the system
of hallmarking articles made of precious metals, and

2 . some experts fear that the system proposed will not
provide for any guarantee of quality, an official hallmark of
a competent body or set out the conditions for supervision
by technical experts and quality control by authorized
bodies,

WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 93 / 93

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 98 )

Subject : European pharmaceutical code

, The European Community has undertaken in the Council of

Europe to set up a European pharmaceutical code . In view

the Commission intend to review the proposal for a of this, when will the Commission adopt the necessary
, taking into account the criticisms referred to in measures to implement this code and, in particular, to
2 above ? ensure that its provisions take priority over any technical

rules and when will it determine, jointly with the committee
responsible for drawing up the European pharmaceutical
code, the agreements required for drafting the technical
rules to implement the new Directives in the medical
sector ?
Joint answer to Written Questions
E-2349 / 92, E-0568 / 93, E-0655 / 93 and E-2590 / 93

Does the Commission intend to review the proposal for a
Directive, taking into account the criticisms referred to in
point 2 above ?

given by Mr Bangemann
on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

In September 1993 the Commission adopted the proposal (8 December 1993 )
for a Directive on articles of precious metal (*) for
communication to the Council, Parliament and the
Economic and Social Committee . The criteria and for

The aim of the proposal is to ensure fair trading and a high
level of protection for consumers .

To this end it harmonizes the essential requirements justified
in respect of Article 36 of the EEC Treaty on the basis of the
resolution of 7 May 1985 on a new approach to technical
harmonization and standardization ( 2 ). These requirements
concern standards of fineness, certification procedures and
marking .

The criteria and procedures for authorizing medicines for
human and veterinary use, together with several other
important aspects of pharmaceutical legislation, have been
harmonized within the Community . The rules on
pharmaceuticals cover all industrially manufactured
medicines, including vaccines, products derived from blood
and radiopharmaceuticals . The Commission has
endeavoured to codify informally not only the binding
provisions ( Regulations and Directives ) but also guidelines
on pre-marketing tests, a notice to applicants for
authorization and a detailed guide to good manufacturing
practice, contained in a compendium of several volumes

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 51

under the title ' The rules governing medicinal products in
the European Community '.

The Commission may consider more formal codification at
a later stage, in the light of the experience acquired in other

sectors .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2598 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 99 )

( 1987-1989 and 1990-1994 ) of the ' Europe against Cancer '
programme, which is conducted in partnership with the
authorities and non-governmental organizations of the
Member States . Young people are an important target
group for such actions .

The Community also tries to create an environment which
supports smoke-free behaviour, e.g. the resolution of the
Council and the Ministers of Health meeting within the
Council on banning smoking in places open to the public (*)
which invites Member States to introduce legislation or
other methods to ban smoking in ' schools and other
premises where children or young people are received or
housed ' and in ' establishments where higher education and
vocational training are given '.

The Commission for its part forwarded to the Council in

1989 a proposal for a Directive on banning the advertising
Subject : Protection of young people from abuse of of tobacco ( 2 ). Discussions continue under the Belgian
stimulants Presidency ( 3 ).

Young people in general tend to smoke a great deal and
consume large quantities of alcohol and coffee . Many of
them take drugs . According to the Drugs Centre and the
medical faculty health unit of the Aristotle University at
Thessaloniki, whose findings were taken from a sample of

1 600 children in their final upper secondary school year in
Thessaloniki and Athens, 28,8 % of boys and 26,7 % of girls
smoke regularly ( more than one packet a day ). In addition,
they consume large quantities of caffeine ( more than two
cups of coffee a day ); 35,1 % of boys and 17,5 % of girls
consume more than two glasses of alcohol at least three
times a week . Finally, 14,1 % of adolescent boys and 3,4 %
of adolescent girls take drugs .

In view of these and many other similar findings, what steps
are being taken by the Member States and the Community
to protect young people from abuse of the above
stimulants ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1993 )

The Member States, mindful of the need to protect young
people against the abuse of harmful substances, have
defined national policies or programmes to promote health
and prevent the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs . Member
States are gradually showing greater interest in cooperating
and coordinating their efforts, which has made it possible
for measures to be introduced at Community level to
encourage young people not to consume harmful
substances .

As regards tobacco, actions against tobacco dependence
represent a key area of activity in the two action plans

As far as drugs are concerned, in addition to the measures
taken by the Member States at national level, in 1986 the
Council and the Ministers of Health meeting within the
Council adopted a resolution on concerted action to tackle
the various aspects of the drugs problem ( 4 ) and the
European Committee for Drug Prevention helped draw up a
comprehensive, consistent European plan aimed at
coordinating measures taken in the Member States . The
Commission is trying to encourage the exchange of
experience and information and is focussing attention on
prevention, health education and training as well as on the
rehabilitation of drug addicts . One of the measures aimed at
coordinating national efforts was the European Drug
Prevention Week ( 16-22 November 1992 ), during which
some 2 000 operations targeted at young people were
launched throughout the Community .

As far as alcohol abuse is concerned, most Member States
have developed policies which aim primarily at information
and education of the general public as well as specific and
vulnerable target groups, for example young people . Similar
activities have been carried out at Community level by the
Commission and by various organizations supported
financially by the Commission . These activities are all based
on the resolution on prevention of alcohol abuse adopted by
the Council on 29 May 1986 ( 5 ).

(!) OJ No C 189, 26 . 7 . 1989 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 124, 19 . 5 . 1993 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 129, 21 . 5 . 1992 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 283, 10 . 11 . 1986 .

( 5 ) OJ No C 184, 29 . 5 . 1986 .

No C 234 / 52 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 100 )

Subject : High incidence of breast cancer among women

living in the countryside

In Greece at least, there is a particularly high incidence of
breast cancer among women living in the countryside .
Research has shown that, because of a lack of information
concerning the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease,
there is a higher incidence of breast cancer among women
living in the countryside than among those who live in urban
or suburban areas of Greece .

According to the findings of the Patras General Hospital
Research Unit, 37% of female cancer victims live in the
countryside, 27 % women live in urban areas and 36 % live
in surburban areas . This information was released at the

20th National Medical Conference held in Porto Karras in

Khalkidiki where it was observed that much of the
responsibility for the lack of knowledge and information in
rural society lies with the public health authorities .

In view of these findings, will the Commission make
representations to the Greek authorities concerning this
serious matter ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn
on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The attention of the Honourable Member is respectfully
drawn to the Commission 's reply to his earlier Written
Question No 1890 / 93 (*).

It is true that the incidence of cancer varies between rural
and urban areas . No satisfactory scientific explanation for
these differences has, however, yet been found . It is
therefore difficult to recommend specific measures on this
subject .

Nevertheless, as part of its programme against cancer, the
Commission has set up integrated action against breast
cancer, which has included public information campaigns
via the European code and breast cancer screening projects .
Two pilot projects are currently under way in rural areas in
Greece .

The Commission regularly and systematically informs the
national authorities about publicity, information and

screening campaigns run under the programme via the
Advisory Committee, whose members include
representatives of the Greek Health Ministry . Furthermore,
these campaigns are coordinated by the Greek National
Coordination Committee which brings together all parties
potentially in a position to step up the fight against breast
cancer in Greece .

(!) OJ No C 226, 16 . 8 . 1994, p . 18 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2130 / 93

by Leen van der Waal ( NI )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 July 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 101 )

Subject : Violation by RTL4 of the EC Directive on

television broadcasting activities

Broadcasters in the EC are required to comply with rules on
advertising in order inter alia to combat distortion of
competition . (*)

In reply to questions from the Lower House of the
Netherlands Parliament, the Netherlands Minister, Ms H.
d'Ancona, has said that the Netherlands Media Authority
has established that the commercial station RTL4 regularly
violates the provisions of the above Community Directive .
The Netherlands Radio and Television Advertising
Association ( STER ) has likewise drawn attention to the
infringements by RTL4 .

RTL4 has failed to comply with the requirement in the
Directive that the amount of time devoted to advertising
must not exceed 20 % within a given one-hour period . The
station also does not leave a long enough gap between two
advertising slots in a programme . Moreover, it frequently
engages in surreptitious advertising .

These infringements give RTL4 a competitive advantage
over Netherlands public-service broadcasters .
Consultations between the Netherlands Media Authority
and RTL4 about compliance with the Directive have
produced no results .

As a Community Directive is being disregarded, what
measures will the Commission take to put an end to the
infringements by RTL4 ?

H Directive 89 / 552 / EEC, Article 18 ( OJ No L 298, 17 . 10 . 1989,

p . 23 ).

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 53

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2642 / 93

by Arie Oostlander ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 102 )

Subject : Infringement of advertising legislation by RTL4

1 . Is the Commission aware that the office of the

Commissioner for the Media in the Netherlands has ruled
that the advertisements broadcast by the commercial station
RTL4 infringe the Netherlands ' rules on advertising with
regard to broadcasting which are based on EC Directive

89 / 552 / EEC on ' Television without frontiers '?

2 . If a Member State neglects to monitor compliance
with legal requirements will the Commission remind that
Member State of its responsibility ? If so, what action is the
Commission taking ?

3 . Given the evaluation of the Directive planned for
1994, is the Commission considering putting an end to the
opportunities enjoyed by commercial enterprises of getting
round national legislation, thereby counteracting
discrimination against public broadcasting organizations
which, because of their location, are under the direct control
of the Member States ? If so, what are the Commission 's
plans ?

Joint answer to Written Questions

E-2130 / 93 and E-2642 / 93

given by Mr Pinheiro
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 November 1993 )

1 . The Commission has not been informed of the

comments by the Commissariaat voor de Media

( Netherlands Media Authority ) quoted by the Honourable
Members .

2 . Article 3(2 ) of Directive 89 / 552 / EEC requires Member
States to ensure that television broadcasters under their

jurisdiction comply with the terms of that Directive .

Under Article 155 of the EEC Treaty, it is the duty of the
Commission to invigilate over the application of
Community law . Failure by a Member State to fulfil its
obligation to ensure that broadcasters under its jurisdiction
comply with Directive 89 / 552 / EEC constitutes an
infringement of Community law and could lead the
Commission to commence proceedings under Article 169 of
the EEC Treaty .

3 . Directive 89 / 552 / EEC does not exempt commercial
enterprises from compliance with national laws, since
Article 2(1 ) of the Directive provides that each Member
State shall ensure that all television programmes broadcast
by broadcasters under its jurisdiction comply with the law
applicable to broadcasts to the public in that Member State .
Commercial television stations must therefore obey the law

of the Member State in which they are established .
Furthermore, according to the rulings of the Court of
Justice i 1 ), each Member State has the right to take measures

to prevent the freedom afforded by the provisions on free
movement of services from being used by a provider of
services whose activities are entirely or mainly focused on its
territory in order to evade the professional rules to which he
would be subject were he to be established on its territory .
The issues raised by such case law in the television sector
were recently referred to the Court of Justice for a
preliminary ruling ( Case C-23 / 93 TV10 v Commissariaat
voor de Media ).

(*) See Case 33 / 74 Van Binsbergen [ 19741 ECR 1299 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650 / 93

by Luigi Vertemati ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 103 )

Subject : European military forces in the world

Given that peace is in danger in many parts of the
world ;

given that the UN does not have the necessary structures to
intervene directly ;

in view of the European military presence in various
countries ;

in view of the need to prevent violent clashes and
conflicts ;

Will the Commission state :

whether there are European proposals to reform the UN in
order to bring it into line with its role as guarantor of peace
and security ;

the exact number of European soldiers involved in peace
missions or the protection of world security, and in which
countries ;

what has been the outcome so far of these decisions to send

military forces to the different areas ?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

1 . In June 1992, at the request of the United Nations
Security Council, the United Nations Secretary-General
presented a report entitled ' Agenda for Peace ' which
included recommendations for stepping up United Nations
activities in preventive diplomacy, peace-making,
peace-keeping and buildung peace after a conflict .

No C 234 / 54 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

The Community and its Member States contributed to the
preparation of the report through the processes of European
political cooperation and, in April 1993, communicated to
the United Nations their analysis of, and observations on,
the ' Agenda for Peace '. A statement by the Community and
its Member States on the question of cooperation in this
field between the United Nations and regional organizations
was also submitted .

On the ground, the Community and its Member States
cooperate actively with the United Nations, particularly
over humanitarian aid and sending observers, e.g. to the
former Yugoslavia, South Africa and El Salvador .

2 . The Commission has no precise figures on the number
of European soldiers involved in peace missions or the
protection of world security .

3 . It is unable to evaluate the outcome of sending these
soldiers to the world 's various trouble spots .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2653 / 93

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

(1 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 104 )

Subject : Industrial policy and recession

In view of Mr Delors ' statement that, over the last decade,
the Community has surrendered 4 % of its exports to the
USA and that only 39 out of 1 000 Community workers
work in the advanced technologies sector, as opposed to 75
in Japan and the USA ;

— given that GATT has only worked to the disadvantage of

Community production ;

— given that European industrial companies are
increasingly opening plants and promoting production
in eastern European countries and the Third and Fourth
Worlds, thus leaving thousands of people jobless in
Europe, without reducing the price to be paid by
European consumers for products which are
considerably cheaper in their countries of origin ;

Calls on the Commission to carry out a survey and analysis
in order to assess the impact on unemployment and the
present recession in Europe of this type of industrial policy,
which is still being pursued, and to introduce measures to
revitalize the European economy and review existing
agreements with non-Community States and the GATT
negotiations as a whole .

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 December 1993 )

The displacement of industrial activities to countries with

lower production costs has to be seen in the context of the
phenomenon of economic globalization as it developed
during the 1980s, and of the growing interdependence
between such activities . The movement is a large-scale one,
with numerous implications .

The adverse impact on employment currently being
experienced is certainly worrying . It is important, however,
to identify the real, long-term causes of the phenomenon,
and that is what the Commission endeavoured to do when
drawing up the White Paper on employment .

Broadly speaking, job losses in the Community, whether
linked to industrial displacement or not, stem from reduced
competitiveness on the part of Community producers .
Competitiveness has to be assessed in the light of a number
of factors : labour costs, which are distinctly higher in the
Community, although it has to be remembered that their
weight in the production process is a relative one ( 20-25 %
on average of production costs, according to the OECD );
macroeconomic balances, notably the substantial impact of
exchange rates ; the cost of capital ; the level of skill of the
labour force ; and the material and technical infrastructure
of the economy . It is worth pointing out that the impact of
exchange rates can counteract the influence of the other
factors . The mainly structural nature of current
unemployment in Europe calls for strategic thinking and a
pro-active policy for the introduction of structural measures
in all the areas mentioned .

The following could serve as guidelines for a response by
Community economies :

— opting for activities in which they have comparative

advantages, i.e. activities with a high-technology
content . This would entail reshaping education systems
to produce more highly skilled workers at all levels ;

— reviewing their competitiveness, which would entail —

assuming current exchange rates — concerted action on
social costs, taxation, the cost of capital, training and the
effectiveness of research and development .

Trade protection measures going beyond what is already in
place could not provide a long-term solution to the
phenomenon of job losses and would carry the danger of
setting off chain reactions jeopardizing international free
trade . It must be remembered in this connection that the
Community benefits from the GATT-guaranteed freedom
of world trade, and that international trade provides many
jobs in the Community . Together with the eastern European
countries, the new industrial countries in particular
represent the markets where purchases of Community
products are rising most rapidly .

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 55

But although free trade is essential for economic growth, it is
obviously not sufficient by itself . It is essential to review the
full range of possible back-up and internal restructuring
measures that will enable the Community economies to
derive full benefit from free trade, while ensuring that the
human cost remains tolerable .

Assuming a comprehensive and balanced outcome to the
Uruguay Round, the unavoidable structural adjustments in
the Community could take place at lower cost, in a world
context of more open markets and improved conditions of
competition . Failure in the Uruguay Round, on the other
hand, would inevitably trigger a crisis that would strike hard
at a European Community still heavily dependent on
external trade, and hence would exacerbate the difficulties
caused by the world economic recession .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2681 / 93

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

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 105 )

Subject : Funds available for renewable energy and
desalination of sea-water

on the experience and results obtained in this area in the
course of previous framework programmes .

It is however too early at this stage of the discussions on the
Fourth Framework Programme to determine exactly how
much will be earmarked for future Community RTD
activities in this specific area . The appropriations set aside
for research activities in this particular field will be
determined when the specific programmes are drawn up .
The only details available at the moment are contained in the
proposal for a Fourth Framework Programme and in the
recent Commission working document concerning the S and
T content of the specific programmes implementing the
Fourth Framework Programme ( 2 ). The overall budget for

( non-nuclear ) energy contained in the Commission proposal
is ECU 1 005 million, 45-55 % of which is for ' renewable
energies ', the remainder being set aside to improve energy
conversion and use .

The contribution of renewable sources to the Community 's
energy balance is destined to increase substantially given
that medium and long term timescales are being considered .
Depending on who is doing the analysing, the prospects are
either good or bad . The Council Decision of
13 September 1993 concerning Altener indicates that
renewable energies will cover 8 % of total energy demand by
2005 . In practical terms, such a contribution involves a
tripling of electricity production from renewable energy
sources and a 5 % contribution by biofuels to total motor
vehicle consumption . Moreover, studies carried out by or
for the Commission indicate that renewable energy sources

( including hydroelectric power ) will contribute from 6 % to
13 % by the year 2010 . The World Energy Conference, for
its part, forecasts a 7-11% share for Europe by 2020
( 21-30% at world level ). These differences are due to the
assumptions made regarding energy prices, environmental
or institutional constraints, the costs of technologies and
accounting methods for renewable energy sources .

What funds will be available under the Fourth Framework or institutional
Programme for renewable energy sources ( wind, solar, etc .) accounting
and for desalination of sea-water and what percentage of the
total Community energy balance are these sources expected i 1 ) COM(93 ) 276 .
to cover ?

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 459 .

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687 / 93

Renewable energy sources are one of the main areas for
research in the energy field, which moreover figures in the
title of action I in the proposal for a Fourth Framework
Programme on research and technological development ( 1 ).
Following up activities currently in progress, the objective is
to stimulate research and technological development
projects and develop networks in promising areas ( e.g. solar
energy, space heating and natural lighting, wind power,
biomass and on an exploratory basis, wave power,
geothermal energy, solar hydrogen etc .) while ensuring
greater harmony between energy systems and the
environment . This work will be based among other things

by Henry McCubbin ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 September 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 106

Subject : Action to combat infanticide in Brazil

In an answer given earlier in the year to Written Question
No 2392 / 91 (*) the Commission stated that child murder
demands a fitting response both from the international
community and the European Community .

No C 234 / 56 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

At that time the Commission indicated that to help combat
infanticide in Brazil it was developing action in conjunction
with NGOs in support of specific, preventive anti-drugs
projects . The establishment of educational and health
facilities was also mentioned .

How are these projects progressing and, to date, what
resources have been made available ?

In the light of the recent reported murders of 25 Rio street
children, what additional actions does the Commission
deem necessary to combat the organized execution of
Brazilian children ?

(!) OJ No C 132, 11 . 5 . 1993, p . 3 .

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 December 1993 )

For several years the Commission has been very concerned
with the serious problem of street children and has
endeavoured to play its part in finding a solution . In Brazil, it
has set up a pilot programme with a budget of ECU 6 million
which covers a whole series of projects to provide aid and
protection for abandoned, ill-treated street children . These
projects, which are gradually becoming operational, are to
be developed and improved in the years to come .

The Commission also intends to try to combine and
coordinate related projects in various areas, including drugs,
to eventually make projects more integrated and
coherent .

Furthermore, several Member States are providing bilateral
support for the Brazilian Government 's efforts to put a stop
to violence against children and young people .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2692 / 93

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

(3 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 107 )

Subject : UK postal charges

In the United Kingdom, despite the fact that first-class
postage is the same domestically and within the European

Community, magazines and periodicals generally charge
higher subscriptions for those living in the Community
outside the UK, than those living within the UK .

Does the Commission agree this is a clear breach of the
competition Directives ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

In the absence of anti-competitive activity in price setting,
the decisions by publishers concerning the subscription rates
they charge for their publications are in principle
commercial or marketing decisions for them to make . This
could include the charging of varying rates in respect of
different parts of the Community . European competition
rules would thus not come into play .

A different situation might exist in the case of the abuse of a
dominant position by a publisher of an authoritative
specialized publication which constituted essential reading .
Likewise European competition rules could become relevant
where parallel imports from one Member State into another
were being hindered .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2698 / 93

by Ben Visser ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 108 )

Subject : Aid for aviation

According to press reports in the Netherlands, in early July

1993 the Irish Government promised Aer Lingus State-aid
of £lrl 175 million ( approximately ECU 220 million ) to
ensure, in the words of Brian Cowen, Minister of Transport,
' that the national airline would not only survive, but would
also have a solid basis for sound progress in the future '.

State aid to airlines is very common nowadays . Sabena,
Iberia, TAP, Air France and Alitalia have all recently
received substantial sums of money from Member States .

In April 1993 the European Parliament adopted the De
Vitto report ( A3-0071 / 93 ) calling for aid to be kept to a
minimum, for healthy competition to be generated and for

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 57

consideration to be given to the special interests of the
peripheral regions .

1 . Are the press reports about aid to Aer Lingus true

( including reports of the sum involved )?

2 . What is the Commission 's view of the Irish minister 's

argument that the aid is intended partly for the
future ?

3 . Does the Commission feel that the current aid packages
in a number of Member States reflect the philosophy of a
common transport policy in the EC ?

4 . What action has the EC taken, or is intending to take,

with regard to aid to Aer Lingus ?

5 . When is the Commission going to submit proposals for

rules to make the granting of aid transparent and to
restrict such aid to a minimum ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 22 December 1993 )

1 ., 2 . & 4 . The Honourable Member is referred to the
answer to Written Question No 3477 / 93 by Mr
Geraghty i 1 ).

3 . The Commission is at present examining, under the
relevant rules of the EC Treaty, all the aid schemes set out by
the Member States . The Commission considers as

compatible with the common market those aid schemes
which fall within one of the hypotheses provided for under
Article 92(3 ). As regards sectoral aids, the Commission may
consider an aid compatible with the common market
provided that it is linked to a credible restructuring plan
aimed at restoring the airline 's commercial viability without
affecting trading conditions to an extent contrary to the
common interest . On the other hand the Commission is in

principle opposed to operating aids, that is, aids aimed
merely at covering the company 's losses .

5 . The Commission is preparing a communication on the
evaluation of State-aids in the aviation sector which will

explain in some detail the criteria for the assessment of State
aids taking account of the changes which have occurred in
the air transport market as a consequence of liberalization
from 1 January 1993 .

( J ) See page 68 of this Official Journal .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709 / 93

by Alexandros Alavanos ( CG )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 109 )

Subject : Restructuring of citrus fruit production affected by

natural disasters

The restructuring programme for citrus fruit production
affected by natural disasters is totally inadequate as it
provides for a mere Drs 3 000 per tree . What measures does
the Commission therefore intend to take to provide
appropriate incentives for a complete restructuring of citrus
fruit production ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1993 )

The restructuring programme for citrus fruit production
affected by natural disasters O included in the Greek
Operational Programme for agricultural structures provides
for the following maximum amounts for total restructuring

( grubbing and replanting ):

— restructuring aid : Drs 3 400 per tree ;

— additional compensation for loss of income : Drs 5 000

per tree .

These amounts are scaled according to the extent of the
damage and therefore the restructuring methods applied .
Thus, in cases of partial restructuring ( cutting the trunk or

branches ) the abovementioned amounts are reduced
proportionately .

In view of the above, the Commission believes that the aid
provided for under the arrangements to implement the
measure in question is adequate .

( J ) Joint Decisions 4 / 27 . 7 . 92 and 54 / 26 . 11 . 92 of the Ministers

of Agriculture and Finance .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2718 / 93

by Dieter Rogalla ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 110 )

Subject : Internal insurance market

1 . Does the Commission know which insurance

No C 234 / 58 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

companies in various Member States have extended their
commercial activities to other Member States ?

2 . To what extent is motor vehicle insurance as a whole

involved ? Can the Commission give any details ?

3 . Is the Commission aware that insurance companies in
the Federal Republic, for example, vary their rates and other
terms according to the nationality of the insured party on
the grounds that certain nations cause more damage and
therefore represent an additional risk which has to be
covered financially ?

4 . Is the Commission prepared to investigate the
situation described in point 3 on its own initiative and report
to me on its findings and, if so, when ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

1 ., 2 . The scale of activities of insurance companies in
other Member States than that in which they are
incorporated can be found in the tables below . These have
been drawn up on the basis of information provided by the
national supervisory authorities .

Non-life insurance, 1990 Premium income

( in MECU )

Incorporated Not incorporated Of which EC                            - companies
Total companies companies

(D ( 2 ) (% of ( 1 ))

Belgium 5 012,0 4 536,6 475,4 282,6 ( 5,6 )
Denmark 2 747,4 2 211,3 536,1 216,9 ( 7,9 )

Germany 43 339,6 35 840,4 7 499,2 3 452,4 ( 8,0 )

Greece

Spain 9 473,8 8 743,3 730,4 235,0 ( 2,5 )

France 30 656,2 25 839,4 4 816,8 3 467,8 ( 11,3 )
Ireland 1 295,8 417,8 878,0 794,6 ( 61,3 )
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands 8 106,8 5 868,8 2 238,2 1 424,2 ( 17,6 )
Portugal 1 220,5 938,0 282,5 198,0 ( 16,2 )
United Kingdom 23 772,7 22 216,9 1 555,7 n.a .

EC 125 624,8 106 612,4 19 012,4

Life insurance, 1990 Premium income

( in MECU )

Incorporated Not incorporated Of which EC-companies
Total companies companies

(D ( 2 ) (% of ( 1 ))

Belgium 2 475,7 2 287,7 188,0 29,3 ( 1,2 )
Denmark 1 911,8 1 737,8 174,0 103,4 ( 5,4 )

Germany 24 984,1 1 689,3 3 692,8 1 689,3 ( 6,8 )

Greece

Spain 3 938,4 3 938,4

France 28 484,9 25 531,3 2 953,8 2 414,8 ( 8,5 )

Ireland 1 882,0 803,6 1 078,4 1 004,2 ( 53,4 )
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands 9 108,5 6 977,1 2 131,4 1 540,6 ( 16,9 )
Portugal 382,2 216,9 165,3 121,3 ( 31,7 )
United Kingdom 53 530,4 51 015,7 2 514,6 n.a .

EC 126 698,0 94 197,8 12 898,3

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 59

The third column of the first table shows the market shares

in total non-life business on the basis of the freedom of

establishment and free provision of services . It should be
noted however, first, that in 1990 free provision of services,
except for large risks, had not yet been implemented
Community - wide . The figures thus mainly represent
establishment business . Second, free provision of services
for third party motor insurance liability insurance, including
large risks, is the subject of Directive 90 / 61 8 / EEC which
entered into force on 8 November 1992 . So as regards this
class of business the table only refers to establishment

business . More detailed figures are not available as to the
precise share of third party motor insurance liability, but
particularly in Ireland it might be substantial .

3 ., 4 . The Commission is looking into the possible
application of Article 7 of the EC Treaty ( non
discrimination clause ) in this situation .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2728 / 93

by Anita Pollack ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 111

Subject : Lead in the environment

Has the Commission conducted any recent surveys on the
amount of lead in the environment and if so will it list them ;
and if not, does it have any plans to do so ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 November 1993 )

The Commission has not carried out an exhaustive study on
concentrations of lead in the atmosphere . The information
available is that provided by the Member States under
Directive 82 / 884 / EEC on a limit value for lead in the
air ( 1 ).

This information indicates that concentrations of lead in the
air have fallen considerably over the last ten years and that in

1991 ( the most recent data available ) the limit value set by

the Directive ( 2|ig / m expressed as an annual mean ) was
achieved throughout the Community .

(!) OJ No L 378, 31 . 12 . 1982 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2729 / 93

by Christos Papoutsis ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 112 )

Subject : Conditions for practising as a chartered
accountant in Greece

In response to a letter from the Director-General of the
Commission 's DG XV, the Greek authorities issued a
Presidential Decree, No 121 / 93, replacing certain provisions
of Decree No 226 / 92 on the formation, organization and
operation of the Association of Chartered Accountants in
Greece .

The aim of the new decree was to bring Greek provisions
into line with Community rules ( Eighth Directive ).

However, the Professional Association of Chartered
Accountants claims that even the new provisions of Decree
No 123 / 93 continue to breach the rules of the Eighth
Community Directive .

In view of this, can the Commission say whether the
provisions of Article 2(7 ) and ( 8 ) of Presidential Decree
No 121 / 93 have been brought into line with the Eighth
Community Directive or not ?

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 December 1993 )

The provisions in the Presidential Decree No 121 / 93 ( x ) to
which the Honourable Member refers, concern transitional
measures . They are based upon Articles 13, 15, 16 and 18 of
the Eighth Council Directive ( 84 / 253 / EEC ) of 10 April
1984 ( 2 ) on the approval of persons responsible for carrying
out the statutory audits of accounting documents .

The Commission has no reason to believe that these Articles
have not been correctly implemented by Article 2 of the
Presidential Decree No 121 / 93 .

(!) Greek legislative bulletin No 53, 12 . 4 . 1993 .

( 2 ) OJ No L 126, 12 . 5 . 1984 .

No C 234 / 60 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2735 / 93

by Raymonde Dury ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

transposing the Directive respect the scope of this
Community text by including bureaux de change among
financial institutions .

( 16 September 1993 ) (!) OJ No L 386, 30 . 12 . 1989 .

( 94 / C 234 / 113 )

Subject : Implementation and extension of European
legislation on money laundering

Since the transposition and entry into force of Directive
91 / 308 / EEC ( ! ) on the prevention of the use of the financial
system for the purpose of money laundering in the Member
States, many criminals no longer deposit their money in
banks, which are required to inform the competent
authorities of any suspect transaction, but in foreign
exchange offices, which are not subject to this legislation .
Once these offices have changed the funds into foreign
currencies in the banks, it becomes impossible to check the
source of these illicit funds . This practice is part of the
money laundering process .

Is the Commission aware of this ? Will it endeavour to

remedy matters by proposing to the Council that Directive
91 / 308 / EEC be extended to foreign exchange offices in
order to combat this type of money laundering ? Are other
measures possible ?

(!) OJ No L 166, 28 . 6 . 1991, p . 77 .

Answer given by Mr Vanni d'Archirafi

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

Directive 91 / 308 / EEC applies to ' credit institutions ' and
' financial institutions ' ( Article 1 ) as well as other
' professions and categories of undertakings which engage in
activities which are particularly likely to be used for
money-laundering purposes ' ( Article 12 ).

The definition of ' financial institution ' in the second indent

of Article 1 includes, in addition to life assurance companies,
any undertaking other than a credit institution whose
principal activity is to carry out one or more of the
operations included in the list annexed to the Second
Banking Coordination Directive 89 / 646 / EEC ( J ). This list
includes almost all traditional and non-traditional financial

activities, including transactions ' in foreign exchange ' and
in particular those concerning ' exchange rate instruments '
( points 7(b ) and ( d ) of the Annex ).

Accordingly, bureaux de change are clearly covered by the
scope of the money laundering Directive and are subject to
the same obligations as banks and other financial
institutions .

The Commission will ensure that the national measures

adopted by the Member States for the purposes of

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2739 / 93

by Georgios Zavvos ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 114 )

Subject : Significance of ethical issues and the need for a

European debate

Ethical questions are becoming increasingly important in
European policy making, for example in the field of
bioethics and the more general field of applied science and
technology . The creation by the Commission of a working
party on the bioethical aspects of the human genome ( ESLA )
within DG 12 and the Bioethics Committee under President

Delors are therefore a source of satisfaction .

Since it is necessary to launch a democratic debate on these
essential issues, an institutional solution would appear to be

necessary .

Does the Commission envisage such a solution ? Would it be
in favour of creating, in collaboration with the European
Parliament, a democratic procedure for public debate and
the consultation of the European citizens on ethical
problems ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 14 December 1993 )

In response to the concerns expressed by Parliament and,
more generally, by the scientific world and the public at
large on the subject of bioethics, and in a bid to construct a
dialogue covering the various ethical issues involved, the
Commission has created a number of fora for discussion .

In addition to the two bodies mentioned by the
Honourable Member ( ESLA and the working party of
advisers on the ethics of biotechnology ), mention should
also be made of the working party on HER ( Human Embryo
Research ).

Questions relating to bioethics also feature in the
' Eurobarometer ' opinion polls .

Furthermore, the Community research programmes on
biomedicine and biotechnology make express provision for
research into ethical issues . Ethical considerations also make
up part of the work carried out on the socio-economic

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 61

impact of research and technological hazards . In the
proposal for the Fourth RTD Framework Programme (*)
and the recent paper on the scientific and technological
content of the specific programmes contained within it ( 2 ),
the Commission makes provision for the continuation of
these activities . In the latter, it states that ' in order to
improve dialogue and understanding between the main
national and socio-political bioethical positions, whilst
recognizing the cultural differences which exist in
Member States, working groups will be organized to
prepare reports and surveys for the European Parliament
and Council .'

With more particular reference to the organization of a
public debate on ethical issues, Parliament is the ideal forum
for holding such a discussion . It has, moreover, already
produced several initiatives on the subject, relating for
instance to genetic manipulation ( Rothley report ) and
artificial reproduction ( Casini report ), as well as the recent
Science Summit organized by Parliament on
14-15 October 1993, which included a session on science,
culture, ethics and society .

(!) COM(93 ) 27 6 .

( 2 ) COM(93 ) 459 .

However, it must be said that a return address written on the
envelope is useful, particularly if the address of the addressee
is illegible, incomplete or incorrect, or if the addressee no
longer lives at that address .

Furthermore, the Member States are signatories to the
instruments of the Universal Postal Union, a United Nations
body, which contain provisions relating to the address of the
sender . These provisions, which apply to all categories of
postal items, are set out in the detailed regulations of the
Universal Postal Convention . Article 1 13 ( 1 )( g ) states that :

' Administrations shall recommend users : to show the name

and address, with the postcode number or delivery zone
number, if any, of the sender . When they appear on the
address side of the envelope, these indications shall be
placed in the top left-hand corner .' Paragraph 2 of the same
article states that : ' The envelope or wrapping may bear only
one sender 's address, which, in the case of bulk postings,
must be located in the country of posting of the item .'

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2748 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 116 )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743 / 93

by Ian White ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities Subject : EC funding of Bio-Europe

( 16 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 115 )

Subject : Sender's address on envelopes

Is the Commission aware of any proposal by which personal
envelopes shall be required to bear the name and address of
the sender or return address ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1993 )

The Commission has not been informed of any recent
proposals from Member States making it compulsory to
write the name and address of the sender or a return address

on envelopes sent through the post .

The Commission itself has no plans to propose legislation
on this subject .

The ' Bio-Europe 93 ' Conference and Exhibition, which
took place in Brussels on June 1-2 1993, was organized by
the Senior Advisory Group on Biotechnology in conjunction
with the International Bio-Industry Forum, and with the
support of the European Commission .

1 . What was the amount of the Commission 's financial

contribution to this event, in cash and / or in-kind
services, and from which budget line was it drawn ?

2 . What percentage of the overall budget for this
conference did the Commission 's contribution

represent ?

3 . Can the Commission provide a clear breakdown of how
the Community funding on this conference was
spent ?

4 . The primary aim of this event, which I attended,

appeared to be an attack on EC Regulation of
biotechnology and a push for deregulation of EC
Directives 90 / 219 and 90 / 220 (*) on the contained use
and deliberate release of genetically modified organisms .
How does the Commission justify expending public
funds to assist a private industry group which Der
Spiegel has called the most powerful lobby organization

No C 234 / 62 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

in the world in the promotion of one particular
technology at the expense of other technologies in the
European Community and in the effort to undermine
existing Community law ?

5 . Given that any Community funding of this kind must
either buy a service that the Community requires or
accrue a direct benefit for Community policy or
activities, can the Commission explain what the direct
or indirect benefits to the Community of this
expenditure have been ?

biotechnology and to contribute to the climate for public
perception . Measures to enhance public acceptability were
also recommended by the communication .

(M SEC(91 ) 629 .

H OJ No L 117, 8 . 5 . 1990, p . 1 and 15 .
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749 / 93

by Hiltrud Breyer ( V )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 September 1993 )

Answer given by Mr Bangemann ( 94 / C 234 / 117 )

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

Subject : Human Genome Diversity Project

The Commission contributed 80 000 ECU to the

' Bio-Europe 93' Conference and Exhibition from budget
line B5-4110 . This contribution represents 23,6% of the
total expenditure for the conference and exhibitions . The
Community funding was used for the setting up of the
exhibition, the editing of the proceedings as well as for travel
expenses of the speakers from the United States and
Japan .

The aim of the Conference, which was attended by over 200
participants, was to bring together regulators, industrialists,
scientists and others from Europe, North America and
Japan to exchange views and compare approaches on a

variety of issues of relevance for the bio-industries ranging
from the industrial management of technological
innovation to regulatory and policy questions as well as
issues like research priorities and sustainable
development .

During the Conference a large variety of views were
expressed, including, of course, critical statements on a
number of issues . The Commission considers that it is not

only normal but also highly desirable that such a conference
provides the opportunity for an open exchange of views
with the regulated industries, including the opportunity for
those who are subject to Community legislation to voice
their difficulties and criticism .

The Conference therefore also contributed to the

implementation of one of the recommendations made in the
Commission 's 1991 communication on the competitiveness
of the industrial activities based on biotechnology (*),
namely the strengthening of international contacts and the
work towards a more harmonized approach at international
level .

Furthermore, the exhibition which was attended by some
4 000 people among others many school children, was an
opportunity to enhance the public 's understanding of

The Human Genome Diversity Project ( HGD ) is an
international effort to collect and store genetic material
from indigenous human populations .

1 . What research projects in this field are currently being

funded by the European Community ?

2 . What applications for research projects in this field are

currently being reviewed for possible EC funding ?

Please specify for each project above the following
information :

( a ) Amount of grant,

( b ) Name and institution of chief investigator,

( c ) Name of collaborating institutions, including
cooperative agreements with non-EC institutions,

( d ) Duration of project,

( e ) Targeted populations .

Is there any overall coordination of the different projects at
EC and international level ? If so, please describe the
character, mandate, location, and membership of the
coordination / planning bodies .

Have the ethical aspects of this research been evaluated ? If
so, please cite references for studies and summarize
results . „

How are intellectual property rights to be handled in
connection with genetic material collected by the Human
Genome Diversity Project and products eventually derived
from it ?

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 63

Are representatives of indigenous peoples ' organizations Answer given by Mr Flynn
involved in the planning and implementation of the HGD on behalf of the Commission
project ? Is informed consent of the individuals and groups ( IS December 1993 )
sampled required prior to collection of their tissue ? If so,
how is it obtained ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 December 1993 )

As part of the specific research programmes of the
Commission the calls for proposals in the field of Human
Genome Analysis place emphasis on ( genetic ) linkage and
physical mapping, therefore nor proposal which can be
directly attributed to a Human Genome Diversity project is
supported .

Support from the Commission is limited to a grant for
establishing a training network under the programme
' Human Capital and Mobility '. This grant brings together
12 European laboratories and is seen by one of the initiators
of the Human Genome Diversity Project, Professor Piazza,
as a starting point for a European activity in the field of
Human Genetic Diversity .

The Commission has no further direct involvement as the

Human Genome Diversity Project is a private initiative of a
group of scientists who promote the idea of this project . A
series of workshops has been held, three in the United States
and a fourth from 9-12 September 1993 in Porto Conte,
Sardinia . A full report on the last workshop will be available
from : Dr L. Evans, HUGO Europe, 1 Park Square West,
London .

At the occasion of this meeting Sir Walter Bodmer, the
former President of HUGO ( Human Genome Organization,
a private organization created by scientists world-wide ),
announced that at the next HUGO Council meeting a
HUGO committee for the Human Genome Diversity Project
will be established .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2763 / 93

by Sir James Scott-Hopkins ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 September 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 118 )

Subject : Safety standards on construction sites

What is the Commission doing to ensure that safety
standards on construction sites within the Community are
based on the ' level playing field ' principle and that such
standards are rigorously enforced ?

Directive 92 / 57 / EEC ( ) of 24 June 1992 on the
implementation of minimum safety and health requirements
at temporary or mobile construction sites ( eighth individual
Directive within the meaning of Article 16 of Directive

89 / 391 / EEC ) ( 2 ), lays down minimum safety and health
requirements for temporary or mobile construction sites .
This Directive is based on Article 118A of the EEC Treaty
which foresees the adoption of minimum requirements to
ensure a better level of protection of the safety and health of
workers . These minimum requirements can be strengthened
by Member States if they so wish . However, the
requirements of Directive 92 / 57 / EEC are such that
distortions of competition are not likely to arise .

It is the responsibility of the Member States to enforce the
national legislation implementing the Directive
requirements . However, the Commission is encouraging
close cooperation between the national enforcement bodies
with a view to common enforcement principles .

(!) OJ No L 245, 26 . 8 . 1992 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 183, 29 . 6 . 1989 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2818 / 93

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

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 119 )

Subject : The objectives of US foreign aid

A recent document ( Agenda ' 93 . Policy Action Papers, by
the Centre for Strategic Studies, Washington D.C.,
November 1992 ) suggested that the time had come for the
new US Administration to redefine the objectives of US
foreign aid as it considered it to be structurally out of date
and less effective as an instrument of foreign policy than
during the Cold War . This document, signed by Mr Ernest
Graves, considered that the conditions were right for a
dialogue to be initiated between the legislative and executive
powers in the United States .

Can the Commission say whether such a dialogue has been
initiated and whether it has borne fruit ? Would the

Commission consider a similar evaluation of Community
foreign aid appropriate ?

No C 234 / 64 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

The Commission is aware of a draft report on US

development policy circulated by Deputy Secretary of State
Clifford Wharton to key Congress sub-committees . The
report deals with a review of US development policy . Given
that the report is only a draft, the Commission considers it
inappropriate to comment on its contents .

The Commission is keeping an interested eye on
developments in other donors ' cooperation policies, and, of
course, developments in US policy . There are frequent
meetings between the Commission and the US
administration on this subject .

With regard to the setting of new priorities for US foreign
aid, the Commission awaits statements to be made by US
representatives at the high-level meeting of the Development
Assistance Committee to be held in Paris in December

1993 .

As regards the review of Community foreign assistance we
would point out that the Commission opened a dialogue
with the Member States on this subject by sending the
Council a communication on development cooperation
policy to the year 2000 .

This dialogue, aimed at coordinating Community and
Member States ' policies, is under way and appears
particularly promising .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826 / 93

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

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 120 )

Subject : Japanese advances in the field of nuclear fusion :

improvements in confinement and in the reduction
of impurities in plasma

What can the Commission say as regards the announcement
by the JAERI ( Japanese Atomic Energy Research Institute )
that its Tokamak JT-60U has achieved a ' triple product '
representing a 20 % improvement on the record achieved by
the European JET ? Are there any plans to improve the
Community installations as regards the level of impurities in
plasma ?

Does the Commission think that the assessment functions of

the EFFET group should include the monitoring and

evaluation of advances made by the large international
groups participating in the ITER project ?

Answer given by Mr Ruberti
on behalf of the Commission

( 30 November 1993 )

The Japanese Tokamak JT-60-U is a modified version of JT
60 which gives it parameters close to those of the
Community JET experimental installation ( particularly as
regards the volume and form of plasma ). It is therefore not
surprising that the JT-60-U has equalled and even slightly
surpassed the ' triple product ' record previously held by JET .
It should be noted, however, that, unlike in the case of JET,
the JT-60-U record value was obtained at a temperature
which is not the optimum for a reactor operating with a

deuterium-tritium ( d-t ) mixture . JET remains ( only just ) the
apparatus in which the conditions closest to
deuterium-tritium ignition have been achieved . In addition,
whereas JT-60-U is not designed to operate with tritium,
JET already used the latter at the time of its record

production of fusion energy in 1991, and will use it again
before the end of its programme .

When it resumes its experimental programme in 1994, JET
will have a new system, a ' pumped divertor ', not available in
JT-60-U, which should make for better control of the

plasma impurity content . In the Community, the ASDEX-U
experimental device at Max Planck — IPP, Garching
specializes in the study of the control of impurities by
divertor . An improvement to the existing system is
undergoing technical examination .

Observation and evaluation of the progress made by the
Community partners in the ITER project are an integral part
of the ' Next Step ' activities being pursued in the context of
the Community fusion programme . The EFET ( European
Fusion Engineering Technology ) European economic
interest grouping, which has been proposed following a
European call for tenders to carry out Next Step design
tasks, could well participate in such observation and
evaluation work .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 121 )

Subject : Partnership for Change Conference, Manchester

20-22 September 1993

What involvement has the Commission had / does the

Commission intend to have in the Partnership for Change

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 65

Conference on sustainable development projects organized Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas
by the United Kingdom Government in Manchester on on behalf of the Commission
20-22 September 1993 as a follow-up to the Unced Earth ( 18 November 1993 )
Summit in Rio in June ?

Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

( 18 November 1993 )

Thorp is based on proven technology and hence does not
constitute an experiment . Moreover, experience of existing
plants does not suggest that Thorp could be ' particularly
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas dangerous '.

on behalf of the Commission

( 29 November 1993 )

The primary aim of this conference, which was announced
by the United Kingdom Prime Minister at the Rio Earth
Summit, was to enable non-governmental organizations
from around the world to exchange first hand experiences in
building up effective partnerships for sustainable
development involving different social, political and
economic actors . More than 300 delegates, including
environmental activists, city planners and industrialists,
took part in the conference .

Several representatives from governments and international
organizations, including the Commission, were also invited .
However, since the Conference was designed as a
non-governmental meeting, no specific contribution was
expected from them .

In the Commission 's view the various case studies presented
at the Conference reveal in clear terms that, as advocated in
Agenda 21 and in the Fifth Action Programme, the
transition towards sustainable development requires the
active involvement of all relevant actors in a spirit of shared
responsibility . Such an involvement is also a necessary
precondition for the successful implementation of local
initiatives and projects .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2846 / 93

by Alex Smith ( PSE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 122

Subject : Application of Euratom Treaty Article 34 to

Thorp

On what basis did the Commission conclude in its reply to
25 June 1992 to Written Question No 341 / 92 ( J ) by Mr
Llewellyn Smith, that Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty on
particularly dangerous experiments is not applicable to the
new Thorp nuclear reprocessing facility at Sellafield in
Cumbria in the United Kingdom ?

(!) OJ No C 281, 29 . 10 . 1992, p . 23 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2853 / 93

by Henry McCubbin ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 October 1993 )

( 9.4 / C 234 / 123 )

Subject : Goat farmers in the United Kingdom

UK sheep farmers rely for their income on selling both the
meat and fibre of the sheep . Goat farmers similarly rely on
the sale of meat and fibre .

Does the Commission believe it is correct for UK goat
farmers to receive no support from the UK Government or
European Community, whilst sheep farmers receive support
under the sheepmeat regime ?

Answer given by Mr Steichen

on behalf of the Commission

( 15 November 1993 )

The United Kingdom sheep industry is the largest in the
Community with approximately 100 000 sheep farmers
maintaining almost 30 million sheep and producing almost
400 000 tonnes of sheepmeat annually .

In line with the remainder of the Community, British
producers are supported through the various Community
support measures and, in particular, by the ewe
premium .

In contrast, total goat numbers in the United Kingdom are
less than 100 000 and total goatmeat production is
approximately 500 tonnes annually . The number of
producers is small and goats are kept for milk rather than
meat production . Goat producers derive their incomes
principally from the sale of milk and milk products .
Therefore it would be inappropriate to extend ewe premium
type payments to them .

No C 234 / 66 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2891 / 93 give the exporter an opportunity to offer undertakings in

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) respect of the region concerned or, in the absence of such

offer, may impose a provisional anti-dumping duty .
to the Commission of the European Communities

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2891 / 93

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE )

( 11 October 1993 )

94 / C 234 / 124

Subject : Cement imports involving dumping by third

countries

In January 1992 the association of Spanish cement
producers submitted a complaint to the Commission
concerning imports of cement from third countries, such as
Romania, Tunisia and Turkey, at below-market prices .

This practice is causing extremely serious damage to Spanish
cement producers and affecting their staffing levels .

Has the investigation into this clear case of unfair
competition been completed ?

Does the cement imported from these countries meet the
quality standards required of cement produced in
Community countries ?

If any of these imports are in accordance with existing
conventions or agreements, are they also distributed fairly
among all the EC Member States ?

What measures has the Community taken or is it planning to
take to prevent dumping of this kind ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 November 1993 )

The Commission is finalising its assessment of the large
volume of information gathered during its investigation and
intends to consult Member States at an early date on both its
conclusions on dumping and injury and on its proposal for
action .

A preliminary assessment indicates that cement imported
from the countries concerned by the anti-dumping
proceedings is a like product to the cement produced by the
complaining industry .

There are no conventions with third countries that call for

exports to the Community to be distributed between all
Member States of the Community .

Should the Commission conclude that the imports
concerned are dumped and thereby causing injury, it will

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2893 / 93

by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 125 )

Subject : Total financial assistance to Andalusia ( Spain )

How much of the total financial assistance granted to
Andalusia under the Structural Funds and administered by
the Andalusian Development Institute has so far been
disbursed ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 24 November 1993 )

The global grant to which the Honourable Member refers
was the subject of a Commission Decision ( C(91 ) 3006 ) of

16 December 1991 granting ERDF aid to the region . This
Decision specifies that the financial commitments relating to
this global grant must be entered into not later than 31
December 1993 and authorizes the Member State to make

the corresponding payments not later than 31 December

1994, unless, giving good reasons, it applies to have the
deadline changed . According to the information at the
Commission 's disposal regarding the implementation of this
global grant, which was provided by the competent
authorities at a Monitoring Committee meeting, 43 % of the
planned total public expenditure and 46,5 % of the total
cost ( including private expenditure ) had been implemented
on 31 December 1992 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2896 / 93

by John McCartin ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 126 )

Subject : Structural Funds spending in Ireland

Will the Commission undertake to give serious
consideration to the Irish Government 's plan for
development under the new round of Structural Funds, to
ensure that the spirit of Community regional policy is fully

22 . 8 . 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234 / 67

met and that the disadvantaged areas of Ireland, ( including
the islands ) receive full benefit from the Community 's
Structural Funds ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 11 November 1993 )

Article 5(2 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) 2082 / 93 ( ) provides that
development plans for Objective 1 Regions ' shall include
measures for the conversion of declining industrial areas and
for rural development ...'. The proposals contained in the
national development plan submitted by Ireland will be
carefully examined with a view to ensuring that appropriate
provision for such areas is included in the priorities for joint

Community and national action in the period
1994-1999 .

( x ) OJNo L 193, 31 . 7 . 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2902 / 93

2 . To strengthen such coordination was one of the
reasons for establishing the European Community
Humanitarian Office ( ECHO ) in 1992 .

The Council has adopted a number of resolutions on the
coordination of humanitarian aid . In accordance with the

Council 's latest resolution on the subject, of 26 May 1993,
the Commission is now endeavouring to improve
coordination with the Member States by holding quarterly
meetings between it and their directors of humanitarian
services . Within international organizations, and
particularly the UN ( where the Community has only
observer status ), the Commission contributes to efforts to
achieve progress with coordination practices .

With the framework partnership contract, the Community
is strengthening and improving relations with the NGOs,
which are essential partners .

3 . The Commission is to publish the first report on its
work in relation to humanitarian aid early in 1994 . A
considerable part of the report will be devoted to the
coordination of humanitarian aid .

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2908 / 93
to the Commission of the European Communities

by Sotiris Kostopoulos ( PSE )
( 11 October 1993 )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 94 / C 234 / 127 )
( 11 October 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 128 )
Subject : Provision of humanitarian aid

Given that the Community provides humanitarian aid to
various regions such as Somalia, Kurdistan and the former
Yugoslavia, will the Commission say whether :

1 . It considers that the Community 's humanitarian aid is

adequately coordinated ?

2 . It intends to strengthen and coordinate more effectively

its aid efforts ?

3 . It intends to submit a report on this matter ?

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Protection of the Louros Missolonghi wetlands

Although unauthorized buildings are being constructed on
the wetlands of Louros in the region of Neochorion
( Missolonghi ) and, in particular, at Louronisida which
separates the lagoon of Messolonghi from the Gulf of
Patras, the relevant Greek authorities are turning a blind
eye . Given that the wetlands of Louros ( Missolonghi ) are
protected under the Ramsar Convention and that they
provide a nesting ground for scores of rare species of bird
and also that fishing in the region generates some Drs 2
billion a year, does the Commission intend to consider how
to protect these wetlands ?

( 23 November 1993 )
Answer given by Mr Paleokrassas

on behalf of the Commission

1 . Coordination of humanitarian aid is never easy owing ( 26 November 1993 )
to the complex situations in which, by definition, it takes t
place .

The Commission does its best to foster coherence in the
conduct of Community operators and their main partners

( international organizations, NGOs, etc ).

A ministerial decree adopted on 20 July 1993 designated the
Missolonghi wetlands ecosystem as a special protection area
pursuant to Council Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the
conservation of wild birds .

No C 234 / 68 Official Journal of the European Communities 22 . 8 . 94

Accordingly, it is for the Greek authorities to take the
necessary steps to ensure the sound and rational
management of the wetlands .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3078 / 93

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 129 )

Subject : Proposed new prison at Fazakerley, Liverpool

Has an environmental impact assessment been carried out
for this development ?

If so when was this assessment made, and with what result ?
If none has been made, will the Commission ensure the rule
is complied with ?

— provision for public order and citizens ' safety,

— possible compensation measures following
expropriation or loss of value of property,

are competences of local, regional or national
authorities .

As the construction of this prison building is not part of an
urban development project, the Commission considers it is
not subject to the provisions of Directive 85 / 337 / EEC .

The Commission therefore has no means to intervene in the

matter .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3477 / 93

by Des Geraghty ( NI )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 131 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3079 / 93 Subject : Aer Lingus capital injection

by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

Precisely what evaluation of the above proposal did the

to the Commission of the European Communities Commission carry out with regard to the distinction

(5 November 1993 ) between State-aid and a normal commercial transaction and

( 94 / C 234 / 130 ) on what grounds did it conclude that a private investor

under similar conditions would not have taken a similar
decision to improve the company 's capital base ?
Subject : Proposed new prison at Fazakerley, Liverpool

(5 November 1993 )

( 94 / C 234 / 130 )

Is the Commission aware of the petition submitted to the
Petitions Committee of the European Parliament by the
people of Fazakerley, which has been accepted by the
committee for investigation ?

As a matter of urgency will the Commission state the result
of its enquiries ?

Jomt answer to Written Questions

E-3078 / 93 and E-3079 / 93

given by Mr Paleokrassas
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 November 1993 )

As already indicated in the commiinication concerning
petition 722 / 92, the Commission would point out that :

— decisions on the construction of public buildings and

their location,

— management and use of ' green areas ' except those

designated as special protection areas under Directive
79 / 409 / EEC on the protection of wild birds,

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1993 )

On 13 October 1993, the Commission decided to open the
Article 93 ( 2 ) procedure with regard to the plan, notified to
the Commission by the Irish Government under Article 93

( 3 ) of the Treaty, to inject £Irl 175 million equity into the
Aer Lingus group . The equity injection, which should be
carried out over a three-year period, forms part of a strategic
programme aimed at restructuring the core airline
business .

The Commission, in the light of the difficult financial
situation of Aer Lingus, considered the planned capital
injection as aid under Article 92 of the Treaty . The aid, given
the strong competition existing on some of the routes
operated by Aer Lingus ( specifically the Ireland-UK routes ),
affects competition and trade within the common market .
The Commission decided to open the Article 93 ( 2 )
procedure because it has at this stage to verify the viability of
the plan and the possible adverse effects of the aid on
Community trade and competition .