Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

ISSN 0378-6986

#### C 2
# Official Journal

Volume 35
### of the Communities 6 January 1992 European

#### C 2

Volume 35

6 January 1992

###### Information and Notices

English edition

Notice No

92 / C2 / 01

92 / C 2 / 02

92 / C 2 / 03

92 / C 2 / 04

92 / C 2 / 05

92 / C 2 / 06

92 / C 2 / 07

92 / C 2 / 08

Contents Page

I Information

European Parliament

Written Questions with answer

No 2293 / 90 by Mr Pol Marck to the Commission
Subject : Advertising for agricultural products 1

No 2920 / 90 by Mr Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission
Subject : Greek Electricity Board and the environment ( Supplementary answer ) 2

No 123 / 91 by Mrs Jessica Larive to the Commission
Subject : European number plate 3

No 1251 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Commission
Subject : European registration plates for vehicles 3

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 123 / 91 and 1251 / 91 3

No 326 / 91 by Mr Hemmo Muntingh to the Commission
Subject : Marble quarrying near the Grotto of Mara, Nomos Drama ( Greece ) 3

No 402 / 91 by Mr João Cravinho to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Further violation of human rights in East Timor 4

No 471 / 91 by Mr Jose Barros Moura to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Joint appropriation of East Timor 's oil by Indonesia and Australia 4

No 1255 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to European Political Cooperation
Subject : East Timor 4

92 / C 2 / 09 No 1905 / 91 by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro to European Political Cooperation

Subject : The situation in East Timor and bilateral agreements with Indonesia 5

2

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 402 / 91, 471 / 91, 1255 / 91 and 1905 / 91 5

92 / C 2 / 10 No 494 / 91 by Mr François-Xavier de Donnea to the Commission
Subject : Application of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the conservation of wild birds 5

92 / C 2 / 11 No 561 / 91 by Mrs Caroline Jackson to the Commission
Subject : Possible EC research in motor vehicle sector 6

92 / C 2 / 12 No 581 / 91 by Mr Reinhold Bocklet to the Commission
Subject : Austrian export subsidies £

92 / C 2 / 13 No 613 / 91 by Mr Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission
Subject : Qualified authorization of medicinal products 7

92 / C 2 / 14 No 651 / 91 by Mr Virginio Bettini to the Commission
Subject : Low road in Piedmont linking Varese and Bergamo — infringement of the EIA
Directive g

92 / C 2 / 15 No 698 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy and Mr Alex Smith to European Political
Cooperation
Subject : Sri Lanka g

92 / C 2 / 16 No 977 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Terrorism in Sri Lanka g

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 698 / 91 and 977 / 91 9

92 / C 2 / 17 No 766 / 91 by Mr Paul Lannoye to the Commission
Subject : Annexes to the proposed habitats Directive 9

92 / C2 / 18 No 822 / 91 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission
Subject : Availability of information on standards 10

92 / C 2 / 19 No 831 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Tibet JQ

92 / C 2 / 20 No 860 / 91 by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete to the Commission
Subject : Funding of an ERDF project \ \

92 / C 2 / 21 No 954 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Radioactive waste 1 1

92 / C 2 / 22 No 958 / 91 by Mr Llewellyn Smith to the Commission
Subject : Radioactive materials 12

92 / C 2 / 23 No 996 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Cyprus 12

92 / C 2 / 24 No 1072 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Increase in Community aid to La Crau 12

92 / C 2 / 25 No 1074 / 91 by Mr James Nicholson to the Commission
Subject : Manufacture of mushroom compost 1 3

? 2 / C 2 / 26 No 1080 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Mercury discharges in the Almaden region ( province of Ciudad Real in Spain ) 13

Notice No Contents ( continued ) p age

92 / C 2 / 27 No 1081 / 91 by Mr Gerard Monnier-Besombes to the Commission
Subject : Mercury discharges in the Almaden Region ( Province of Ciudad Real in Spain ) 13

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1080 / 91 and 1081 / 91 13

92 / C2 / 28 No 1086 / 91 by Mr Madron Seligman to the Commission
Subject : Cruelty to geese 14

92 / C2 / 29 No 1090 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Strategic reserves of gas 15

92 / C 2 / 30 No 1 1 18 / 91 by Mrs Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
Subject : Recovery and recycling of domestic refuse in the Community 15

92 / C 2 / 31 No 1120 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Political prisoners in Tibet 16

92 / C 2 / 32 No 1 156 / 91 by Mr Willy De Clercq to the Commission
Subject : Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Community 16

92 / C 2 / 33 No 1 192 / 91 by Mrs Astrid Lulling to the Commission
Subject : Transfrontier problems of taxis and the single market . 16

92 / C 2 / 34 No 1200 / 91 by Mr Henry McCubbin to the Commission
Subject : Maximum age limits for employment in the Commission . 17

92 / C 2 / 35 No 1210 / 91 by Mrs Raymonde Dury to the Commission
Subject : Road safety : experiment with daytime lighting on cars 17

92 / C 2 / 36 No 1225 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to European Political Cooperation
Subject : ' Disappearances ' in the Philippines 18

92 / C 2 / 37 No 1226 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Imprisonment of a political activist in Taiwan 18

92 / C 2 / 38 No 1232 / 91 by Mr Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission
Subject : Community aid for the Galician gas supply network 18

92 / C 2 / 39 No 1253 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Turkish threats to annex the territory of a Community Member State 19

92 / C 2 / 40 No 1254 / 91 by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos to the Council
Subject : Danger of encirclement of Greece by countries sympathetic to Turkey 19

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1253 / 91 and 1254 / 91 19

92 / C 2 / 41 No 1281 / 91 by Mr Mario Forte to the Commission
Subject : Delay in launching IMPs in Italy, particularly in the Mezzogiorno 20

92 / C 2 / 42 No 1282 / 91 by Mrs Brigitte Langenhagen to the Commission
Subject : Partial suspension of autonomous customs tariffs in resepct of frozen fish fillets of
Alaska pollack and hake from third countries into the EC 20

( Continued overleaf )

Notice No Contents ( continued ) Page

92 / C2 / 43 No 1300 / 91 by Mr Ian White to the Commission
Subject : Value Added Tax » 21

92 / C 2 / 44 No 1 346 / 9 1 by Mr Pavlos Sarlis to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Arson attack on a Greek tourist bus in Istanbul 21

92 / C2 / 45 No 1349 / 91 by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru to the Commission
Subject : Jewish settlements in the West Bank 22

92 / C 2 / 46 No 1437 / 91 by Mr Freddy Blak to the Commission
Subject : Equal pay Directive 22

92 / C 2 / 47 No 1451 / 91 by Mr Karl von Wogau to the Commission
Subject : Licence number for travel advertisements in France 23

92 / C 2 / 48 No 1461 / 91 by Mr Mauro Chiabrando to the Council
Subject : Human rights in Uganda                  - . 23

92 / C 2 / 49 No 1478 / 91 by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete to European Political Cooperation
Subject : EEC-China Agreement and human rights in China 24

92 / C 2 / 50 No 1 5 1 2 / 9 1 by Mr Rolf Linkohr to the Commission
Subject : Taxation in respect of combined heat and power plants 24

92 / C2 / 51 No 1551 / 91 by Mr Anthony Simpson to the Commission
Subject : Crisis levy 25

92 / C 2 / 52 No 1590 / 91 by Mrs Anita Pollack to the Commission
Subject : Land-based fisheries inspectors 25

92 / C 2 / 53 No 1603 / 91 by Mr Claude Desama to the Commission
Subject : Reassignment of customs officials after 1993 26

92 / C 2 / 54 No 1610 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 26

92 / C 2 / 55 No 1627 / 91 by Mr Jesus Cabez6n Alonso to the Commission
Subject : Aid for agriculture 27

92 / C 2 / 56 No 1650 / 91 by the following members : Paul Lannoye, Solange Fernex, Claudia
Roth, Herman Verbeek, Virginio Bettini, Eva-Maria Quistorp, Didier Anger and
Gianfranco Amendola to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Initiatives by the Commission to restrict arms proliferation 27

92 / C 2 / 57 No 1692 / 91 by Mr George Stevenson to the Council
Subject : Celebrations in Tibet — formal anniversary of the annexation of Tibet by China
23 May 1991 29

92 / C 2 / 58 No 1693 / 91 by Mr Jos6 Barros Moura to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Abolition of the death sentence in Africa 29

92 / C 2 / 59 No 1694 / 91 by Mr Jos6 Barros Moura to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Possible reintroduction of the death sentence in Brazil 29

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1693 / 91 and 1694 / 91 29

92 / C 2 / 60 No 1712 / 91 by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin to the Council
Subject : Plan for the non-food utilization of agricultural resources 30

( Continued on inside back cover )

Notice No Contents ( continued )

92 C 2 / 61 No 1729 / 91 by Sir James Scott-Hopkins to the Commission
Subject : Dangerous dogs

92 / C 2 / 62 No 1740 / 91 by Mr William Newton-Dunn to the Commission
Subject : Psychological consequences of monetary union

92 / C 2 / 63 No 1862 / 91 by Mr Henry Chabert to the Commission
Subject : The Euro-Arab University project

Page

. 30

30

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92 / C2 / 64 No 1891 / 91 by Mr Elio Di Rupo to the Council
Subject : Issuing visas to ambassadors accredited to the European Communities 31

92 / C 2 / 65 No 1908 / 91 by the following members : Kenneth Collins, Alan Donnelley, Wayne
Commission David, Alex Smith, Carole Tongue, Alman Metten and Roger Barton to the

Subject : Competition policy in the steel industry

92 / C 2 / 66

No 1920 / 91 by Mr Maxime Verhagen to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Military logistical support to the Ethiopian population

92 / 2 / 67 No 1934 / 91 by Mr James Ford to the Commission
Subject : British overseas nationality

92 / C 2 / 68 No 1949 / 91 by Mrs Concepció Ferrer to the Commission
^"^                and India dumping proceedings in respect of synthetic polyester fibres from South Korea

92 / C 2 / 69 No 1952 / 91 by Mr Barry Desmond to the Council
Subject : Human rights abuses in Chile

92 / C 2 / 70

92 / C 2 / 71

92 / C 2 / 72

No 1964 / 91 by Mrs Winifred Ewing to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Compensation for ex-Japanese prisoners of war

No 1985 / 91 by Mr James Moorhouse to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Mr Kostas Dimitriou, Greek prisoner of conscience

No 2004 / 91 by Mrs Christine Oddy to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Sanctions against South Africa

92 / C 2 / 73 No 2030 / 9 1 by Mrs Patricia Rawlings to the Commission
Subject : Harmonization of the spirits industry

92 / C 2 / 74 No 2064 / 91 by Mrs Dorothee Piermont to European Political Cooperation
Subject : EC relations with Cuba

92 / C 2 / 75 No 208 1 / 91 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to European Political Cooperation
Subject : Breach of human rights                  - imprisonment in the UK for persons refusing to pay the poll
tax as a matter or principle against a vicious anticlass, unjust tax

92 / C 2 / 76 No 2222 / 9 1 by Mr Proinsias De Rossa to the Council
Subject : UN Convention on the elimination of race discrimination

/C 2 / 77 No 2302 / 91 by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer to the Commission
Subject : Nuclear-powered desalination

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6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 1

I

( Information )

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2293 / 90

by Mr Pol Marck ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 October 1 990 )

The funds do not pass through the general budget but are
directly set aside for expenditure incurred in the sectors
where the charges are levied or in other sectors .

( 92 / C2 / 01 ) In accordance with the decisions of the Court of Justice of
the European Communities ('), the financing of a State
aid by a compulsory charge designed for a specific

agricultural products purpose forms an essential aspect of that aid and, when it

is evaluated, both the aid and its financing should be
considered having regard to Community law .

Subject : Advertising for agricultural products

In various countries compulsory levies are collected to
finance advertising and promotion programmes which are
then undertaken by joint government bodies ( CMA,
Sopexa, NDALTP, AIDA, commodity boards, etc .).

The Commission has instituted inquiries and in some
cases infringement proceedings in respect of these
programmes and collection procedures . Can a list of these
inquiries and proceedings be supplied ?

On what basis does it justify these decisions inter alia in
relation to the exemption for imported products ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 20 June 1991 )

The advertising and promotion programmes referred to
by the Honourable Member involve aids for advertising
and promotion granted from State funds obtained from
the collection of financial charges ( parafiscal charges,
compulsory levies, etc .) earmarked for certain specific
purposes . These levies are compulsory pursuant to
ministerial or legislative provisions . They are levied on
products at different production and marketing stages .

Accordingly, even if aids are compatible in both form and
objectives, their financing by parafiscal charges also
affecting imported Community products has a protective
effect extending beyond the aid proper and consequently
renders it incompatible with the common market .

As regards the objective ( advertising ) of the aids
mentioned below, the Member States have undertaken to
observe the guidelines adopted by the Commission and
published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities ( 1 ).

The Commission could accordingly have considered these

aids for advertising to be compatible with the common
market had they not been financed by means of a
parafiscal charge levied on products imported from other
Member States also, either at the import stage or at the
processing and marketing stage subsequent to import . It
has thus decided to initiate the procedure laid down for in
Article 93 ( 2 ) of the EEC Treaty in respect of these
aids ( 3 ). During 1990 it also initiated the said procedure in
respect of the following aids :

Belgium : aids and compulsory charges to finance the
promotion of pigmeat products ( 4 );

No C 2 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

France : aids and parafiscal charges for the benefit of the
Comité National Interprofessionnel de l'Horticulture
Florale, Ornementale et des Pépinières ( CNIH ) ( 5 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2920 / 90

by Mr Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 January 1991 )

At a later stage of the procedure, the Commission decided ( 92 / C 2 / 02 )
to adopt a final negative decision on certain aids which
might also relate to the advertising of agricultural

Subject : Greek Electricity Board and the environment

products ( 6 ).

On 19 December 1990 it also decided to forward a
negative decision to France concerning the aids and
parafiscal charges collected for the benefit of the
abovementioned CNIH .

As regards advertising of agricultural products financed
by parafiscal charges or compulsory levies, the
Commission nevertheless deemed certain national aids to
be compatible with the common market, on the one hand
because the aim of the aids fulfilled the criteria laid down
in the abovementioned Community frameworks and on
the other hand because the financial charges relating
thereto were not levied on products imported from other
Member States ( Germany : Law on the fund for the
marketing of forestry products ; Belgium : aids and
compulsory levies for the promotion of arable crop
products ; France : aids and parafiscal charges collected for
the benefit of the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du
Pruneau, the Comite Interprofessionnel des Vins Doux
Naturels et des Vins de Liqueur a Appellation Controlee,
certain wine-trade associations, the Comit6
Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, the Centre
Technique Interprofessionnel des Oleagineux
Metropolitans ; Luxembourg : aids and parafiscal charges
collected for the benefit of the Fonds de Solidarite
Viticole ; United Kingdom : aids and parafiscal charges
collected for the benefit of the Meat and Livestock

Commission ).

(') In particular Case 47 / 69 France v . Commission ( 1970 ) ECR

487 .

( 2 ) Framework for national aids for the advertising of
agricultural products and certain products n6t listed in Annex
II to the EEC Treaty, excluding fishery products — OJ No
C 302, 12 . 11 . 1987 . Commission communication concerning
State involvement in the promotion of agricultural and
fisheries products — OJ No C 272, 28 . 10 . 1986 .
( 3 ) Netherlands : Sixteenth report on competition policy, p. 302 .

Belgium : Seventeenth report, p. 215, point 271, and p. 340 .
Belgium : Eighteenth report, p. 193, point 272, p. 196, point
281 and p. 293 . Belgium and France : Nineteenth report,
p. 199, point 217, first, second and fourth indents, and
pp . 316 and 317 .
O OJ No C 162,3.7 . 1990 .
O OJ No C 170, 12.7 . 1990 .
( 6 ) Belgium : Eighteenth report, p. 196, point 281 and p. 295 .

Belgium : Nineteenth report, p. 204, point 220, third indent,
andOJNoL 179, 12.7 . 1990 .

According to complaints by a number of public bodies

( local council, political parties, associations, etc .) of the
prefecture of Lasithi in Crete, the Greek Electricity Board
has selected the area of Kato Louma in the commune of
Agios Antonios as a site for a new power station .

No comprehensive environmental impact assessment has
been carried out in respect of the pollutant emissions from
this power station which, it is objected, will cause major
problems in the prefecture of Lasithi . Have the Greek
authorities provided the Commission with information
about the Greek Electricity Board 's project ? Moreover,
have they said whether plans for linking Crete to the
national grid have been incorporated in the regional
development programme, and, if so, how ?

Can the Commission ask the Greek Electricity Board
whether proposals have been made to site the new power
station in an area in southern Crete where the
environmental impact of the pollutant emissions can be
kept within acceptable limits ?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 21 June 1991 )

In a letter dated 11 February 1991 the Commission
requested information from the Greek authorities
concerning the project to build a new power station in
Crete, and the measures they planned to take to prevent,
reduce or offset negative effects on the environment .

According to the Greek authorities ' reply of 2 April 1991,

in July 1990 the Greek Electricity Board began a study of
the impact on Kato Louma and the surrounding area, and
two alternative sites north and south of the prefecture of
Lassithi, which appear to meet the basic selection
requirements .

The first phase of the study has already been completed

and the Greek Electricity Board has proposed presenting
it to the authorities and public concerned for
consultation .

The letter also stresses that the Greek Electricity Board
will not build a new power station on a site for which the
results of the impact study are not satisfactory .

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 3

WRITTEN QUESTION No 123 / 91
by Mrs Jessica Larive ( LDR ) and 32 other signatories

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 February 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 03 )

Subject : European number plate

The need for European symbols to strengthen the
Community 's sense of identity was stressed as early as

1985 in the Adonnino report on the People 's Europe,
adopted by the Council in the same year .

Following extensive consultation between experts from
the various Member States, agreement has been reached
regarding the necessary technical specifications for a
standard European number plate, which are laid down in
a draft Directive forwarded to the Member States in
January 1991 . At the 18 December meeting of the
Transport Council, Ireland officially announced its
intention to introduce such a European number plate on 1
January 1991 .

In view of the symbolic value of a standard European
number plate for citizens of the former GDR and the
other citizens of Europe,

1 . Does the Commission intend to submit the draft
Directive on the introduction of a Community model
vehicle registration number plate to the EC Transport
Council ?

2 . If so, when ? If not, why not ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1251 / 91

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

( 11 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 04 )

Subject : European registration plates for vehicles

Does the Commission approve of the principle of
standardized registration plates for vehicles in the
Member States bearing emblems representing the
Community flag on one side and the flag of the Member
State in which the vehicle is registered on the other ?

Can a study be carried out to establish the standardized
dimensions of such a registration plate ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 123 / 91

and 1251 / 91
given by Mr Van Miert
on behalf of the Commission

( 22 November 1 991 )

number plate ' is a working document ( reference
VII / 156 / 89 of 17 August 1990 ) which was sent for
information purposes to government experts participating
in meetings to examine the technical feasibility of a
registration plate incorporating a Community symbol .
Included in the annex and elsewhere in the document are
the group 's findings as regards the technical
specifications .

Before deciding what to do next, the Commission still
needs to consider how such a plate could be introduced,
and the advantages and disadvantages of such a move for
the citizens and authorities involved, taking particular
account of the principal of subsidiarity .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 326 / 91

by Mr Hemmo Muntingh ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(4 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 05 )

Subject : Marble quarrying near the Grotto of Mara,

Nomos Drama ( Greece )

The grotto of Mara in north-eastern Greece is under
threat . No measures are being taken to protect against the
cracks, faults and subsidence that result from the intensive
quarrying of marble in the immediate vicinity of the
grotto .

This grotto is one of the largest in Greece and is a valuable
natural habitat . A river rises in it and many of the animal
species found locally are probably endemic . Complete
skeletons of mammoths have also been found here .

1 . What national and indeed international protection

measures apply to the Grotto of Mara ? How far are
they complied with ? Does the Commission not think
that the grotto currently enjoys insufficient
protection ?

2 . Has an environmental impact assessment been carried

out pursuant to Directive 85 / 337 / EEC (')? If not,
does the Commission intend to inform the Greek

authorities that such an assessment must be carried
out before new authorization can be given for the no
fewer than 130 new applications for permission to
quarry marble in the vicinity of the grotto ?

3 . Does the Grotto of Mara come under any to the types

of endangered habitat given in Annex IV to the
Directive on habitats ? If not, why should it not be
added to this annex ?

The proposal quoted by the Honourable Members on the
' Introduction of a Community model vehicle registration . O OJ No L 175, 5 . 7 . 1985, p. 40 .

No C 2 / 4 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 June 1991 )

1 . There are no restrictive rules at Community level
under which the grotto in question is protected . The
Commission does not have any information on national
and international provisions applying to the grotto, and
would ask the Honourable Member to contact the Greek

authorities .

2 . The Commission would refer the Honourable

Member to its answers to Written Questions Nos
2919 / 90 O and 687 / 89 ( 2 ) by Mr Papayannakis .

3 . Grottos not exploited by tourism are included in
Annex IV to the draft Council Directive on the

conservation of natural and semi-natural habitats and
wild fauna and flora . However, specific sites in which
such grottos are located will have to be selected in
accordance with Annex V to the proposal, which is
currently being discussed within the Council .

o OJ No C 227, 31.8 . 1991 .
O OJ No C 145, 14.6 . 1990 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 402 / 91

by Mr João Cravinho ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 11 March 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 06 )

Subject : Further violation of human rights in East Timor

According to reliable information, Indonesian repression

in East Timor has escalated recently leading to several
cases of human rights violations in the form of
executions, torture and violence of all kinds . Attention
has been drawn to these events by the media and
organizations based in Community countries and other
countries such as Australia . Amnesty International has
just published an alarming condemnation of the extent

and seriousness of documented cases . Since this is one of
the most important subjects on the agenda of the meeting
of the UN 's Commission on Human Rights in Geneva :

What position have the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC

adopted or do they intend to adopt to condemn the
human rights violations committed in East Timor by
Indonesia ? Within the Framework of EPC, the
Portuguese Government has no doubt referred to the
need for Community action against the occupation of
East Timor by Indonesia in flagrant violation of
international law and its resolutions :

When did the Portuguese Government raise this matter

and what measures were proposed - on each of the
occasions when it did so ? Since the Foreign Ministers
obviously do not support the violation of human rights
and territorial annexation, how can they explain the
ineffectiveness to date of the pressures that the
Community has no doubt exerted on Indonesia ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 471 / 91

by Mr Jose Barros Moura ( CG )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 19 March 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 07 )

Subject : Joint appropriation of East Timor 's oil by

Indonesia and Australia

In a letter of 16 November 1990 to the Co-Presidents of
the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly concerning its resolution of
27 September 1990 ('), the Australian Ambassador to
Brussels states : '(• - - ) Australia does not accept that any oil
or gas which may be found in the Timor Gap Treaty
belongs to the people of East Timor '. It appears to follow
that any such oil or gas belongs to Indonesia, the country
which is in illegal and forcible occupation of East Timor

and with which Australia signed the treaty concerned ; in
this case, the treaty would seem to have no purpose .

What action have the Foreign Ministers meeting in

Political Cooperation taken to date, in accordance with
the successive resolutions of Parliament, to put an end to
this scandalous violation of the rights of the people of
East Timor ?

C ) OJ No C 27, 4 . 2 . 1991, p. 45 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1255 / 91

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 08 )

Subject : East Timor

When did the Foreign Ministers meeting in European
Political Cooperation last consider the position of East
Timor ?

Will the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political

Cooperation insist that the UN Secretary-General, in
applying UN General Assembly Resolution 37 / 30 of

1982, involve representatives of the people of East Timor

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 5

in any negotiations and include an act of express the hope that this visit will help to create an
self-determination verifiable by international observers atmosphere conducive to a just, comprehensive and
acceptable to the people of East Timor ? internationally acceptable settlement in line with the

purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including
respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms,
giving full consideration to the legitimate interests and
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1905 / 91 aspirations of the people of East Timor .

by Mr Sérgio Ribeiro ( CG )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 09 )

Subject : The situation in East Timor and bilateral
agreements with Indonesia

In view of UN Resolutions 384, 389 and 688 and the fact
that — as the UN Secretary - General has repeatedly said,

inter alia before the European Parliament — Portugal still
administers the above territory which is occupied by
Indonesia, although the latter is violating international
law and pursuing a policy of genocide, is European
Political Cooperation willing to tolerate the fact that a
Member State, namely Belgium, is party to a bilateral
agreement, one of the provisions of which grants a loan of
Bfrs 500 million to Indonesia ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 402 / 91, 471 / 91,

1255 / 91 and 1905 / 91

( 29 November 1 991 )

It is not within the competence of European Political
Cooperation to dictate one Member State 's bilateral aid
policy in a third country .

The Community and its member States are following
developments in East Timor closely, including the human
rights situation which continues to be a source of concern .
They view favourably the authorization given to a Special

Rapporteur on torture to visit the area .

The Indonesian authorities are well aware of the
importance which the Community and its Member States
attach to scrupulous respect for human rights . The
Community 's views were set out in the Declaration on
Human Rights adopted by the Luxembourg European
Council in June 1991, which argued that the promotion
and safeguarding of human rights is an essential
cornerstone of relations between the Community and its
Member States and Third countries and a legitimate and
permanent duty of the world community and of all States
acting individually or collectively .

The Community and its Member States reiterate their

support for the contacts between Portugal and Indonesia
under the auspices of the Secretary-General and welcome
in this context that the two countries have agreed on the
terms of references of the proposed visit of the
Portuguese parliamentary delegation to East Timor . They

WRITTEN QUESTION No 494 / 91
by Mr François-Xavier de Donnea ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 19 March 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 10 )

Subject : Application of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on the

conservation of wild birds

1 . To date, which Member States have incorporated
the provisions of Directive 79 / 409 / EEC (') on the
conservation of wild birds into their national legislation ?

2 . What stage has been reached in the proceedings
against the United Kingdom ( reference 538 / 89 ) for
violation of Article 7 of the above Directive by the British
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ?

3 . Does the Commission intend to propose any
amendment to this Directive in the near future ?

o OJ No L 103,25.4 . 1979, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 June 1991 )

1 . All the Member States of the Community have
adopted legislation relating to Directive 79 / 409 / EEC on
the conservation of wild birds . However, in several cases,
the legislation fails to comply with the Directive .

2 . The Commission has decided to bring the matter
before the Court of Justice .

3 . Yes . The Commission proposes to amend
Annex II (') and adopted amendments to Annexes I and

III on 6 March 1991 ( 2 ).

0 COM{91 ) 42 final .
O OJNoL 115, 8.5 . 1991 .

No C 2 / 6 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 561 / 91

by Mrs Caroline Jackson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 March 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 11 )

Subject : Possible EC research in motor vehicle sector

Motor vehicles currently account for about 14% of
carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel burning
world-wide . In view of the grave environmental
consequences of this, can the Commission state whether it
is helping to fund research into hydrogen powered or
electricity powered vehicles and if not, why not ?

Answer given by Mr Pandolfi

on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1991 )

The CEC R&D on hydrogen powered or electricity
powered vehicles has been carried out in the following

areas :

ELECTRICAL VEHICLES

Fuel cell driven electrical vehicles

Fuel cell driven electrical vehicles are expected to have
efficiencies of 50-60% ( as compared to 15-20% in petrol
engines ) and will discharge two to three times less CO2 .
Both hydrogen and methanol are envisaged as fuels .

— Research on methanol fuel cells is presently carried

out in the ongoing Joule programme (').

— In the Third Framework Programme ( 2 ) this research

will be extended to the development of hydrogen fuel
cells and to the integration of methanol and hydrogen
fuel cells in electrical vehicles .

Battery driven electrical vehicles

The ongoing CEC Joule programme (') has developed

new polymer batteries which are expected to have a range
of 300 km on one charge ( instead of 60 km for the former
lead-acid batteries ) and a considerable lower cost .

— Upscaling of these batteries to 20-30 kWh and their

integration in electrical vehicles is envisaged in the
Third Framework Programme ( 2 ).

Study on electrical drive systems

With special funds made available on initiative of the
European Parliament, the ' Association Europeenne des
Vehicules Electriques Routiers ' ( AVTRE ) has been

appointed by the Commission to carry out a system study
on : ' Advanced electrical propulsion systems for buses,
lorries and private cars with the aim to reduce the
pollution ' ( 3 ). The results of this study will be available in
December 1991 .

Hydrogen

In the first and second CEC Non Nuclear Energy R&D
programmes ( 1975-1979, 1979-1983 ) hydrogen had been
a central point of research . Due to high costs and a
decrease of interest this research had not been continued
after 1983 . Hydrogen was and is still not competitive with
conventional car fuels .

For environmental reasons aspects of hydrogen return to
be of interest for new technological developments R&D
and it is foreseen in the Third Framework Programme ( 2 ).

Finally, with strong support of the European Parliament
and following a feasibility study for production of
hydrogen from hydropower by electrolysis in Quebec and
its transportation to and utilization in Europe, the
Commission will co-finance, together with industry and
other organizations of the Community, a number of
demonstration and pilot projects which aim to
demonstrate the possibilities of the application of
hydrogen as a clean energy source ( Line B6-8102 of the
general budget for 1991 ) ( 4 ). These projects will also

include the use of hydrogen in vehicles in different
European cities .

(') Joule programme 1989-1992, allocated funds ECU
122 million call for proposals — OJ No L 98, 11.4 . 1989 .
( 2 ) Non Nuclear Energy Programme forming part of the Third

Framework Programme ( 1990-1994 ). The Third Framework
Programme OJ No L98, 11 . 11 . 1989, was adopted by the
Council on 23 April 1990 .
( 3 ) Call for proposals — OJNoS 191, 5 . 10 . 1989 .
( 4 ) Call for expression of interest — OJ No S 35, 20 . 2 . 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 581 / 91

by Mr Reinhold Bocklet ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 26 March 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 12 )

Subject : Austrian export subsidies

The Austrian Republic 's policy of subsidizing beef
exports to the European Community, particularly to Italy,
though also to the FRG, is leading increasingly to
distortions in competition following another 70 lira ( DM
0,12 ) cut in the import levy on Austrian sides of beef and a

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No c in

110 lire ( DM 0,15 ) cut for quarters of beef . The export
subsidy for Austrian beef, which is currently S 27 per kg,
is leading to a distortion in competition on such a scale
that the Community should raise the import levy in order
to counteract the effect .

1 . What is the Commission 's view of the distortion in
competition which has arisen as a result of the actions
of the Austrian Republic ?

2 . What does the Commission intend to do to counteract

Austria 's excessive export subsidies ? In particular, is it
prepared to increase the import levy on beef imports
from Austria ?

3 . Why has the Commission done nothing so far ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1991 )

1 . In an exchange of letters with Austria on 21 July
1972 the Community granted Austria, in return for
certain concessions, preferential import arrangements for
certain products in the beef and veal sector . The
arrangements introduced a specific levy but no
quantitative limits . This solution was justified because the
Community was then a net importer of beef and veal .

In exchange for the major concessions the Community
obtained, particularly in such sectors as fruit and
vegetables, wine, spirits etc ., the Community granted
concessions in the beef and veal sector alone, a sector
particularly developed in Austria and vital for the country .

Overall, the 1972 agreement worked very favourably for
the Community since Community exports of all the
products covered by the agreement increased twice as
quickly as imports from Austria . In the Community, the
fruit and vegetable, wine, and spirits sectors in particular
saw a significant increase in exports . Austria was able to
increase its beef and veal exports up to 1985 .

2 and 3 . In the beef and veal sector, since the
conclusion of the agreement in 1972, conditions in the
Community have been completely reversed, resulting in
structurally excess production and relatively depressed
prices . In Austria, however, prices remained more stable .
It is obvious that, under such different conditions, the
agreement as concluded in 1972 could no longer operate
normally . Given a state of affairs which found favour with
neither signatory to the agreement, the Community began
negotiations with Austria in 1985 to find an acceptable
solution to the particular problem of the beef and veal

sector, while Austria sought a full renegotiation of the

1972 agreement so as to re-establish a better balance for
all its agricultural trade with the Community .

After lengthy discussions, the Commission was
authorized by the Council to open negotiations with
Austria with a view to adapting the specific import

arrangements for the beef and veal sector . The draft of
the new agreement, presented to the Council by the
Commission on 19 December 1990, includes the
following essential amendments :

( a ) in place of the specific import price arrangements
introduced in 1973 without quantitative limits, the
Community will open for Austria an annual tariff
quota of 63 500 tonnes, expressed in equivalent
carcase weight, with a levy equal to 13% of the
normal levy :

( b ) Austria

— will transmit all the relevant information on

export prices to the Community ;

— will respect an appropriate delivery rate so as to

help stabilize the Community 's internal market .

The Commission intends proposing to Austria that the

agreement should also include a clause requiring Austria
to ensure that the prices applied by its exporters do not
cause problems on the Community market .

The conclusion of this agreement, which would not affect
either concessions or trade volumes recorded over the last
few years, would ensure certainty as to quantities for the
Community and improved transparency in the operation
of the agreement .

The Commission believes that the adoption of this new

agreement by the Council should resolve the difficulties
being experienced in this sector .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 613 / 91

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

( 15 April 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 13 )

Subject : Qualified authorization of medicinal products

Articles 23 and 25 of the bill currently before the Spanish
Parliament concerning medicinal products provide for
authorization under special conditions and for
modifications to the arrangements for authorizing
medicinal products laid down in Chapter III of Part III of
the Annex to Directive 75 / 318 / EEC ( 1 ). Measures have

No C 2 / 8 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

already been applied with a clearly discriminatory end in
view in the case of hepatitis B vaccine obtained by using
recombined DNA techniques, for example . Has the
Commission adopted any measures in this connection, or
does it believe that these provisions are in keeping with
Community law ?

O OJ No L 147,9.6 . 1975, p. 1 .

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 24 June 1991 )

Chapter III of Part 3 of the Annex to Directive
75 / 318 / EEC on the testing of medicinal products
provides that marketing authorization for a medicinal
product for which sufficient information is not yet
available may be granted subject to certain conditions, e.g.
if the product is supplied on medical prescription only or
administered under strict medical supervision, possibly in
a hospital, and if the package leaflet mentions the fact that
the particulars available concerning the medicinal product
in question are as yet inadequate . This applies to
medicinal products for which the person requesting
authorization is unable to provide comprehensive data for
justifiable and well-founded reasons ; these include
medicinal products intended for therapeutic indications
which are encountered rarely or for which it would be
contrary to the principles of medical ethics to collect all
the information .

The Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products set
up under Directive 75 / 318 / EEC, gave a favourable
opinion on hepatitis B vaccines obtained by
biotechnology in September 1988 . However, no
qualifications or special conditions are attached to their

use .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 651 / 91

by Mr Virginio Bettini ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 16 April 1991 ) .

( 92 / C2 / 14 )

Subject : Low road in Piedmont linking Varese and

Bergamo — infringement of the EIA Directive

1 . Is the Commission aware that, of the five possible
routes linking Varese and Bergamo in Lombardy, a route
defined as ' low ' has been selected without making a
comparative assessment of the environmental impact of
the different routes ?

the 62 communes affected by the ' low ' route for this fast
link are not yet known ?

3 . Does the Commission not consider, in the light of
these facts and other infringements of the Directive on
environmental impact assessment, that a radical review of
the EIA Directive is needed to revise the list of schemes,
establish criterion for the methodological assessment
of possible alternatives ( implementation, cancellation,
reduction or relocation of the scheme ) and to introduce
procedures for the participation of the local inhabitants ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 June 1 991 )

1 and 2 . The Commission was unaware of the road
project to which the Honourable Member refers .

3 . The Commission is drawing up the five year
report, provided for in Article 11 ( 3 ) of Directive
85 / 337 / EEC ('), on the application of the latter in the
Member States .

On the basis of the report, the Commission might decide
to propose amendments to the Directive along the lines
indicated by the Honourable Member .

o OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 698 / 91
by Mrs Christine Oddy and Mr Alex Smith ( S )

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 19 April 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 15 )

Subject : Sri Lanka

What steps have the Foreign Ministers meeting in
Political Cooperation taken to ensure that the declaration
of the 12 Member States of 19 October 1990 on violation
of human rights in Sri Lanka has been complied with ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 977 / 91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 16 )

Subject : Terrorism in Sri Lanka

2 . Is the Commission aware that 18 communes are At the meeting of the Committee on Development and
strongly opposed to the ' high ' route and the reactions of Cooperation held from 20 to 22 March 1991 in

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 9

Luxembourg, H.E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka made
clear his disappointment at the lack of understanding
shown by Parliament and the European Community
concerning terrorism in this country .

Does European Political Cooperation consider that, in its
various statements, it has failed to stress sufficiently the
damage done by terrorists in Sri Lanka on the one hand
and the democratic nature of the current regime on the
other ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 698 / 91

and 977 / 91

( 29 November 1 991 )

Questions No 698 / 91 and No 977 / 91 both deal with the
internal " situation in Sri Lanka and with human rights .

The Community and its Member States remain deeply
concerned about the continued reports of killings and
disappearances in Sri Lanka . This concern has been
conveyed to the Sri Lankan authorities on several
occasions since October 1990 . In their dialogue with the
Sri Lankan authorities, the Community and its Member
States have acknowledged the particular difficulties faced
by the democratically elected Sri Lankan Government to
overcome the challenge posed by terrorist activities in the
country . But in combating such activities they have urged
the Sri Lankan Government to observe its international
obligations in the field of human rights .

The Community and its Member States have welcomed as
positive moves the appointment by the Sri Lankan
Government since November 1990 of a special task force
( now retitled ' the Officials Group ') and other bodies to
monitor human rights, and have encouraged the Sri
Lankan Government to ensure that these bodies are
allowed to be effective . So far only limited progress has
been made . They welcome the visit, in June, of
representatives of Amnesty International to Sri Lanka .
They also welcome the recent visit of members of the
Working Group on Disappearances of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights to that country,
and express the hope that the visit of the Special
Rapporteur will soon take place .

The Community and its Member States stress that they
consider human rights to be a fundamental element in
their relations with other countries and that they will
therefore continue to address this topic in their dealings
with the Sri Lankan Government .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 766 / 91

by Mr Paul Lannoye ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 April 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 1 7 )

Subject : Annexes to the proposed habitats Directive

In March 1990 (') the Commission proposed Felis
sylvestris ( wild cat ) to be included in Annex II (' Species of
animals and plants threatened in the Community ') to the
proposed Directive on the protection of natural and
seminatural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ( 2 ). In
February 1991 ( 3 ) the Commission modified its proposal
for this Directive in response to the opinion of the
European Parliament ( 4 ). The modified proposal deletes
Felis sylvestris from the proposed Annex II to the
Directive . This deletion is not recommended in the
opinion of the European Parliament .

Would the Commission :

1 . disclose the information at its disposal to justify

classification of Felis sylvestris as a Community
threatened species in its proposal of March 1990, and

2 . disclose the new information which came into its

possession between March 1990 and February 1991 to
explain why Felis sylvestris no longer fulfils the
proposed criteria for inclusion in Annex II to the
proposed Directive as a threatened species in the
Community ( 5 )?

If the Commission has acquired no new information
during this period, would it indicate clearly the reasons
for its decision to delete Felis sylvestris from Annex II to
the proposed Directive ?

0 ) CC)M(90 ) 59 final — OJ No C 195, 3 . 8 . 1990 .
O COM(88 ) 381 final — OJ No C 247, 2 1.9 . 1988 .
O COM(9 1)27 final of 8 . 2 . 1991 .
( 4 ) European Parliament 1990-1991 . Minutes of proceedings of

the sitting of Monday, 19 November 1990, Doc . PE 146.821

— Debates of the European Parliament No 3-396
( 5 ) COM(88 ) 381 final, Article 3 ( a ).

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 June 1 991 )

On 19 November 1990 the European Parliament adopted
amendment 36 proposing the inclusion of the species Felis
silvestris in Annex III to the proposal for a Council
Directive on the protection of natural and semi-natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora .

This amendment, which was accepted by the
Commission, involves deleting this species from Annex II
and making it subject to a management plan within the
meaning of Article 14 .

No C 2 / 10 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

The acceptance of this amendment by the Commission

and, in all likelihood, its proposal in the Muntingh report
( A3-254 / 90 ), can be attributed to the fact that Felts
silvestris is included in both Annex II and Annex III to the
Berne Convention . However, according to recent
information, it will be included only in Annex II ( strictly
protected species ) following the forthcoming revision of
the Annexes to the Convention . The Commission will
ensure that the entry of Felis silvestris in the Annexes to
the Directive reflects this revision .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 822 / 91

by Mr Michael Welsh ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(3 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 18 )

Subject : Availability of information on standards

The 1992 programme depends crucially on mutual
recognition of standards throughout the single market .
For this to be effective information on standards must be
freely and easily available .

Is the Commission aware that the British Standards
Institution has written to County Libraries demanding
that preferential rate standards must be used for reference
only and not loaned out or photocopied as this affects the
Institution 's ability, to make money from selling the
documents ?

Is the Commission also aware that the Institution has
announced its intention to stop lending important series
of non-British standards from this year ( purchase of these
would cost the County Libraries over £15 000 annually )?

Would the Commission take this up with the British
Standards Institution and see what action can be taken to
make standards freely available ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1991 )

The Commission is not aware of the facts to which the

Honourable Member refers .

The Commission agrees that standards are important for
the functioning of the single European market . For this
reason, information on standards and the text of
standards should be available on reasonable terms for
users and for the public in general .

It should, however, be recalled that standardization is an
activity carried out mainly at the request and for the
benefit of the private sector . Certain standards are
mandated by the Community as a complement to
Community legislation, mainly in the framework of the
so-called new approach . In all cases, however, the
standardization organizations, which are private bodies,
retain the copyright on the standard .

The Commission recognizes the legitimacy of this
copyright and the need for standardization bodies to
support this work by the sale of their completed
standards . Making standards freely available would
actually undermine standardization . However, as
indicated in its Green Paper on the Development of
European Standardization, the Commission recommends
the introduction of more competition between sellers of
European standards, which could reduce the cost to the
users and probably increase the total market, whether for
European or purely national standards .

As regards information on standards, the Commission
publishes in the Official Journal of the European
Communities the references of harmonized European
standards mandated by the Commission . The
responsibility for information of standards lies, however,
with the standardization bodies themselves . In its Green
Paper the Commission has made several suggestions on
how their information policy could be improved .

These questions are currently being discussed with the
European Standardization bodies in the framework of the
follow-up to the Green Paper .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 831 / 91

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

(3 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 19 )

Subject : Tibet

When did the Council of Ministers last discuss the human
rights problems in Tibet ?

Will the Ministers meeting in Political Cooperation make

it a priority to discuss the problems in Tibet as a matter of
urgent debate ?

Answer

(3 December 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States believe it essential
to continue to use dialogue with China to address the

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 11

importance of respect for human rights with the Chinese
authorities, including in Tibet .

The concern of the Community and its Member States on
this question has been expressed in a number of
demarches in Peking and in the relevant international
fora .

The Community and its Member States will continue to
take up violations of human rights with the Chinese
authorities, firmly believing that the promotion and
safeguarding of such rights is an essential cornerstone of
their relations with other countries and a legitimate and
permanent duty of the world community . These views
were elaborated in the Declaration on Human Rights
adopted by the Luxembourg European Council in June

1991 which stressed that no specific provision based on
national, cultural or religious factors could validly be
invoked to detract from the principles established by the
many international instruments on human rights .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 860 / 91

by Mr Miguel Arias Cañete ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(8 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 20 )

Subject : Funding of an ERDF project

In the context of the funding allocated to Spain under the
ERDF in 1990 and 1991, did the Commission approve a
project for the processing of solid urban waste in the
Province of Cadiz ?

If so, what was the total Community subsidy allocated ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 13 June 1991 )

No ERDF projects for the treatment of solid urban waste
in the province of Cadiz were approved by the
Commission during 1990 nor had any been approved by

15 May 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 954 / 91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 21 )

Subject : Radioactive waste

What volume of

1 . radioactive waste

2 . spent nuclear fuel

3 . fresh unirradiated nuclear fuel

4 . natural uranium

5 . enriched uranium and

6 . medical radioisotopes have been :

( a ) transported into the Community each year since

1957 ; and will the Commission name the country
in each case ;

( b ) transported permanently between Member States

in each year since 1957 ; and will the Commission
name the countries involved ;

( c ) transported temporarily between Member States
in each year since 1957 ; and will the Commission
indicate the frequency of such transfers ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1991 )

The second report on the transport of radioactive
materials in the European Community, which was
addressed to the Council and to the European Parliament
together with a communication from the Commission on
the same subject ('), summarizes the data available .

The vast majority of packages of radioactive materials
transported is made up of shipments of radioisotopes and
gammagraphic equipment used for non-destructive
inspection . Of the radioisotope shipments, 90% are made
up of radioactive pharmaceutical products and isotopes
for medical research ; the remainder are composed of
large sources for radiation therapy and radioisotopes for
industrial uses and research .

Less than 5% of all radioactive materials transported
comprise nuclear fuel-cycle materials, including
radioactive waste .

O SEC(89 ) 801 final .

No C 2 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 958 / 91

by Mr Llewellyn Smith ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 15 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 22 )

Subject : Radioactive materials

1 . What communications has the Commission had with
the United Kingdom Government concerning its new
Radioactive Materials Transport bill ?

2 . How much plutonium was

( a ) notified to the Commission ;

( b ) offered for safeguards by the United Kingdom when

it joined the Community on 1 January 1973 ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 23 July 1991 )

1 . Pursuant to Article 33 of the Euratom Treaty,
Member States are required to communicate to the
Commission any draft laws, regulations and
administrative provisions aimed at complying with the
basic radiation protection standards laid down in
Directive 80 / 836 / Euratom of 15 July 1980 ('). That
Directive applies to the transport of radioactive materials .
The United Kingdom legislation currently in force which

incorporates the abovementioned Directive into national
law also covers this sector . However, the Commission has
not yet received any draft legislation on this subject from
the United Kingdom .

2 . The Commission is not authorized to provide
information on stocks of nuclear materials by country or
by installation on account of its confidential nature .

o OJ No L 246, 17 . 9 . 1980 ; OJ No L 265, 5 . 10 . 1984 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 996 / 91

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( ED )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 17 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 23 )

Subject : Cyprus

When will the Foreign Ministers meeting in Political

Cooperation discuss the position of Cyprus and in
particular the implementation of UN resolution relating
to the Turkish invasion ?

Answer

( 29 November 1991 )

As the Honourable Member is aware, the question of
Cyprus, including the implementation of the relevant UN

K Resolutions, receives due attention in the framework of

EPC .

In the context of the 46th UNGA, the Community and its
Member States reiterated once again their support for the
unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Cyprus, in accordance with the relevant UN
Resolutions, and explicitly stated their support for the
Secretary-General 's efforts aimed at finding a just and
viable solution to this question .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1072 / 91

by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 24 )

Subject : Increase in Community aid to La Crau

In view of the Community 's interest preserving La Crau
( France ) and France 's restrictive interpretation of
Article 19, and given the considerable damage suffered by
this wildlife area and the attention it attracts, resulting in
the destruction of several hundred hectares per year, does
the Commission not consider that measures should be
taken to increase the amount of aid per hectare, which is
obviously insufficient at present, as an incentive to
maintain and encourage agricultural and rural activities
compatible with the survival of this area ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 13 September 1 991 )

The Commission is aware that the aids per hectare

currently in force for supporting crop farming and stock
grazing in Crau are not high enough to protect the region
effectively .

Furthermore, the Commission indicated this fact to the
French Government during the consultations which
followed France 's presentation of the two projects to
protect the Crau region (' Crau seche ' and ' Crau humide ')
submitted under Article 19 in 1990 .

However, the French Government did not amend the
amount of the premium and on 29 January 1991 the Star
Committee drew up a draft decision on the protection of
the Crau region in line with the initial dossier .

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member
that Article 19 sets an upper limit on aids per hectare of

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 13

ECU 150 with regard to eligibility for Community
part-financing, but that the Member State fixes the
amount of the premiums granted in its own territory .

Has the Commission forgotten that it has the resources to
carry out an on-the-spot investigation in response to such
an emergency situation ?

France fixed the premium at about ECU 57 / ha for the O OJ No C 177, 8 . 7 . 1991, p. 26 .
Crau region .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1081 / 91

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1074 / 91 by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )

by Mr James Nicholson ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Co mmuni ties

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 25 )

Subject : Manufacture of mushroom compost

Would the Commission state what Regulations exist
for controlling the erection of mushroom compost
manufacturing yards, and if any proposals or Regulations
exist to ensure such areas are screened and what
legislation exists to monitor the disagreeable odours that
emanate from the manufacture of mushroom compost ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 26 September 1 991 )

No Community Regulations exist which control
mushroom compost manufacturing yards .

During the second trimester of this year the European
Committee for Standardization created a Technical
Group on this subject and will elaborate emission
standards for animal waste from manufacturing
installations .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1080 / 91

by Mr Gérard Monnier-Besombes ( V )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 26 )

Subject : Mercury discharges in the Almaden region

( province of Ciudad Real in Spain )

In its answer to Written Question No 71 / 91 ('), the
Commission does not seem to appreciate sufficiently the
urgency of the situation .

Despite the fact that the matter came to light in July 1990
and the complaint was lodged on 18 September 1990 the
Commission replied on 4 April 1991 that it had extended
the deadline for the Spanish authorities and was awaiting
information .

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 27 )

Subject : Mercury discharges in the Almaden Region

( Province of Ciudad Real in Spain )

In its answer to Written Question No 71 / 91, the
Commission expressed regret at the lack of mercury
disposal facilities in the Community, concluding that any
measures to facilitate the decontamination of mercury
waste would be welcomed .

1 . Can the Commission provide technical details
concerning the reliable industrial procedures to which
it refers ?

2 . Does this mean that the Commission approves the

project initially envisaged by the Minas de Almaden
undertaking ?

If so, can the Commission justify this, given that the
process was operational for a few months only in 1986-87
and is no longer used, and say whether the project has
received Community funding ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1080 / 91

and 1081 / 91
given by Mr Ripa di Meana
on behalf of the Commission

( 26 July 1991 )

Following several complaints, the Commission asked the
Spanish authorities on 15 October 1990 and 25 February

1991 for information about the storage of mercury waste
( 11 600 tonnes ) by Minas de Almaden y Arrayanes S / A at
Ciudad Real .

On 27 February and 29 April 1991 Spain replied that the
above company was resolving the problem of storage of
waste in two ways :

1 . between 1988 and 1990 300 tonnes of mercury waste

were processed in temporary facilities . In view of the
viability of the waste processing, plans for the creation
of permanent facilities together with an impact

No C 2 / 14 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

assessment were submitted to the licensing authorities
in July 1990 .

2 . Permission for the construction of a high-security
industrial waste storage facility was given on 12
September 1990 . Building has been completed . The
storage capacity varies between 11 000 and 15 000
tonnes of waste . The environmental impact
assessment procedure laid down in Spanish law was
followed .

In its reply to Written Question No 71 / 91 from Mr
Perreau de Pinninck Domenech and others, the
Commission tried to make it clear that no facilities
suitable for processing mercury waste, whether in the
form of contaminated material or products containing
mercury, exist at Community level . Some of this waste is
now being kept in salt mines or put into storage . A number
of more satisfactory ways of processing are currently
being considered . The industrial processes which will be
proposed will have to be analysed by the competent
authorities of the Member States responsible for granting
the authorizations required under Directive 78 / 319 / EEC
on toxic and dangerous waste (') and Directive
85 / 337 / EEC on environmental impact assessments ( 2 ).
With regard to the technological references and
Community funding, the situation until now as regards
the processing of waste containing mercury is that an
operation to recover metals from used batteries has been
funded under a Community research and development
programme . This operation is in progress .

The Commission does not at present have any
information which would suggest, with regard to the two
solutions proposed, that Spain is not complying with
Community law, in particular with Directive
85 / 337 / EEC .

However, the information provided by the Spanish
authorities with regard to the following facts ( 3 ) do not
enable the Commission to ensure that Directives
78 / 319 / EEC and 84 / 631 / EEC on transfrontier shipment
of hazardous and toxic waste ( 4 ), Directive 80 / 68 / EEC
on the protection of groundwater ( 5 ) and Directive
85 / 337 / EEC are being correctly applied . A further
request for information will therefore be sent to the
authorities concerning :

— the importation of hazardous and dangerous waste

(4 390,15 tonnes ) in 1986 and 1987 ;

— the open-air storage directly on the ground of

11 883,998 tonnes of toxic and hazardous waste in
barrels ;

— the experimental processing between 1987 and 1990 of

mercury waste ( 300 tonnes ) in temporary facilities ;

— the possible pollution of the soil, the subsoil, the air

and the water caused by these activities .

With regard to the urgency of the situation, the

Honourable Member is reminded that the facts concerned

date back to 1980 and that complaints and Parliamentary
Questions were not sent to the Commission until 1990,
although this situation had long been public knowledge .

o OJNoL 84, 31.3 . 1978 .
O OJ No L 175,5.7 . 1985 .
( 3 ) The Commission has been informed, under the complaints

investigation procedure, about the situation since 1 January

1986, the date of accession of Spain to the European
Communities .

( 4 ) OJ No L 326, 13 . 12 . 1984 .
O OJ No L 20, 26 . 1.1980 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1086 / 91

by Mr Madron Seligman ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 28 )

Subject : Cruelty to geese

Both the European Parliament arid the European
Commission are agreed that cruelty to animals, tolerated
from medieval times at least right up to the present time, is
no longer acceptable to civilized men and women .

The production of pate de foie gras, entails the close
confinement without exercise of the birds, which are then
force-fed at frequent intervals . In the course of several
weeks the bird adds some 60 % to its body weight but its

liver increases in weight by about 370% ! The process is
now usually mechanized, which does nothing to relieve
the distress of the geese .

Enormous profits are at stake, but this cruelty should not
be allowed to continue unabated . Is the Commission
prepared to take action ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 September 1 991 )

In 1974 a committee of experts, established by the Council
of Europe under the provisions of the European
Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for
Farming Purposes, made a report on this subject to the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe . The
report recommended, taking into account the finding of
visits to establishments involved in the rearing of geese

and the production of foie gras, and the scientific
evidence available, that no further measures in respect of
this practice were necessary . The subject was debated by
the Parliament in 1983, when the Council of Europe
report was taken into consideration, and a similar
conclusion was reached .

In February 1987, the Parliament adopted a resolution on
animals welfare policy . This resolution set out priorities

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 15

for Community action in the field of farm animal welfare,
but did not mention the force-feeding of geese . The
Commission is at present concentrating on the issues
highlighted by the Parliamentary resolution .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1090 / 91

by Mr Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 29 May 1991 )

European grid, the abovementioned analyses show that
the security of supply is assured for about nine months if
one of the supply sources outside the Community is
interrupted .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 1 18 / 91

by Mrs Concepció Ferrer ( PPE )

to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 29 ) ( 92 / C2 / 30 )

Subject : Strategic reserves of gas

On 14 March this year Mr Bias Camacho, a member of
the Spanish Congress of Deputies passed on information
to that assembly to the effect that the gas reserves in the
Barcelona receiving station are never more than enough
to meet three or four days ' demand . The three gas tanks in
Barcelona store gas equivalent to 1440 million therms,
and Spain consumes 300 million therms daily .

Do these figures agree with those in the Commission 's
possession and can it provide figures for the rest of the
Community regarding the Member States ' security of gas
supply ?

Subject : Recovery and recycling of domestic refuse in the

Community

The European Recovery and Recycling Association, a
grouping of about 25 companies from the packaging and
household products sector, has published a working
document on recovery and recycling systems which gives
possible solutions to the Community 's problems in this
area . It is interesting to note how the companies
themselves are putting initiatives of this sort into practice,
and demonstrating that there are solutions which respect
the need to protect the environment and are quite
practicable from the economic point of view .

Is the Commission aware of the concept of this study ?
Has it evaluated its proposals ? In what way could the
Commission work with it to facilitate the implementation
of the measures it proposes ?
Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 91 )

About 75% of the natural gas currently consumed in
Spain is imported via the landing facilities for liquified
natural gas ( LNG ) at Barcelona, Cartagena and Huelva .
The remaining 25% sterns from indigenous production

( Gaviota, Marismas and Palancares Fields ). In addition
Enagas has recently tested the AURIN Reservoir as
storage to a capacity of 250 million cubic meters .

By drawing from the above facilities and boosting
indigenous production, gas consumption could still be
assured for a period between 14 and 21 days, should one
of the external supply sources be interrupted . This is the
result of the latest security of supply analysis which the
Commission has been carrying out at regular intervals
since the early 1980 's .

The Spanish security of supply situation will be
substantially improved once the Spanish pipeline system is
interconnected with the integrated European grid by the
end of 1992 via a pipeline from Calahorra in Spain to Lacq
in France . If the projected pipeline via the Straits of
Gibraltar will be realized, the supply security will be
further enhanced . In this respect, it is worth noting that
for the regions of Europe served by the integrated

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 1991 )

The Commission is aware of ERRA 's activities thanks to

the contacts established between the Association and the
Commission 's departments, contacts similar to those
which the Commission has established with other
associations dealing with waste management .

The Commission invites ERRA representatives to take
part in meetings on waste management and to provide
regular information on ERRA projects, such as the
project now under way in Barcelona concerning the
selective collection of household waste .

The Commission approves of such initiatives even though
it has no powers to implement them itself . When it learns
of a project of this type, the Commission tries to slot it
into a specific programme, or else it provides information
enabling the proposal to find sufficient backing or
funding either from the public authorities or from the
private sector .

No C 2 / 16 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1120 / 91 essential for day-to-day contacts between the two
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S ) organizations, does the Commission intend to appoint a
successor within a reasonable period ?

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C2 / 31 )

Subject : Political prisoners in Tibet

Are the Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting in European
Political Cooperation familiar with the list of 81
non-violent political prisoners in Tibet which was
published in September 1989 by the Tibetan Information
Network in London, and supplemented by Asia Watch ?
How many of these prisoners are still in prison today ?

Answer

( 29 November 1991 )

The Community and its Member States are aware of the

list of 81 non-violent political prisoners in Tibet which
was published in September 1989 by the Tibetan
Information Network in London and supplemented - by
Asia Watch .

In addition, the authorities in Tibet have recently
indicated the figure of 89 prisoners detained for
' counter-revolutionary ' offences . However, no further
details are known .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1 156 / 91

by Mr Willy De Clercq ( LDR )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 June 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 32 )

Subject : Relations between the Council of Europe and

the European Community

Cooperation between Brussels and Strasbourg has
considerably increased following the renewed exchange
of letters between the Council of Europe and the
Community in June 1989 and the decision of the Council
of Ministers of March 1989 . This has also been
encouraged by recent developments in the countries of
Central and Eastern Europe . The European Community
and the Council of Europe are working together to build
the Europe of the future, each of them with its own
instruments . It was agreed in the above exchange of letters
that each body appoint a senior official to be given
responsibility for cooperation between the two
institutions in order to achieve this objective . In February

1988 the Commission appointed Mr Jean Durieux . After
his retirement in October 1989, the Commission did not
replace him . Since the appointment of a senior official is

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 September 1 991 )

On 14 June 1991, the Commission decided to appoint Mr
Luigi Boselli, Chief Adviser in the Directorate-General
for External Relations, as successor to Mr Durieux in the
role of senior official responsible for cooperation with the
Council of Europe, in accordance with the provisions of
the exchange of letters of June 1987 .

In recognition of the considerable strengthening of
relations between the Council of Europe and the
Community, especially since the Council decision of
March 1989, the Commission has also decided to create a
unit for ' Relations with the Council of Europe ' to
facilitate the senior official 's tasks .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1192 / 91

by Mrs Astrid Lulling ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 5 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C2 / 33 )

Subject : Transfrontier problems of taxis and the single

market

The operation of taxi services is subject to major
differences from one Member State to another as regards
both the definition of what is to be considered as a ' taxi '

and conditions of access to the market, fares, social
conditions and, in particular, the arrangements applicable
to transfrontier operation . These differences result in
distortions of competition, in particular in frontier areas .
For example, the Luxembourg Ministry of Transport
informed a French taxi undertaking in 1990 that entry to
the Grand Duchy by unoccupied French taxis to pick up
passengers at the airport would not be subject to any legal
or administrative restrictions, that information then being
passed on in writing to all bordering French departments,
with the result that turnover to a value of millions of
francs is now being lost to Luxembourg taxi operators
who do not enjoy equivalent free-market arrangements in
France .

Does the Commission consider, looking ahead to
completion of the internal market, that there is a case for
harmonizing national taxi operations, not only to avoid
distortions of competition but also to improve access to
taxi services for users travelling in the Community, in
particular as regards price transparency .

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 17

Will the Commission take steps to launch a Community

action with the objective of regulating and facilitating
intra-Community taxi services in the transfrontier regions
most affected, in particular those where citizens of one
Member State are using an airport located in another ?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert

on behalf of the Commission

( 30 September 1 991 )

The Commission recognizes that the provisions
governing the taxi sector vary greatly between Member
States and, indeed, within Member States, since taxis are
regulated by local as well as national authorities .

Taxi journeys consist largely of short-distance, purely
national journeys and, therefore, the administration of
these systems is, in the Commission 's view, most
appropriately left to the Member States, who know their
local circumstances best .

The provisions of the EEC Treaty apply to the taxi sector

as much as to any other economic sector, in particular
those on the freedom of movement of workers and on the

freedom of establishment .

With regard to the freedom to provide services, the
Commission is currently making a proposal that would
introduce this freedom for international taxi services,
thereby enabling taxi operators to pick up customers in
another Member State . This will be especially relevant in
the case of cross-border taxi services .

The Commission will continue to monitor the situation in

the taxi sector to see if there are other areas where future
Community action might be appropriate .

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1 991 )

The Commission, like all other Community institutions,
has always set upper age limits for its recruitment
competitions . This is a key aspect of its human resources
policy, whose objective is to recruit staff who will remain
in its service for many years .

In general terms, the issue is one of maintaining a
balanced age structure in services and of offering those
who are recruited reasonable hope of proper career
development . When recruiting a new member of staff, it is
important that an administration not only take into
account levels of experience and knowledge, but also
consider what career opportunities and pension rights
could be made available to successful candidates .
Experience has shown also that the recruitment to junior
levels of experienced people can be a source of frustration
and difficulty .

In relation to experts who come to work in the
Commission, no age limits are applied .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1210 / 91

by Mrs Raymonde Dury ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C2 / 35 )

Subject : Road safety : experiment with daytime lighting

on cars

The three Benelux countries have decided to carry out a
joint experiment in the area of road safety by requiring
cars for a period of one year from October 1992 to drive
on dipped headlights in daytime . According to press
reports, the European Community will monitor this
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1200 / 91 experiment closely . How in specific terms will this
monitoring be carried out ?

by Mr Henry McCubbin ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(5 June 1991 )

Answer given by Mr Van Miert
( 92 / C 2 / 34 ) behalf of the Commission

on behalf of the Commission

Subject : Maximum age limits for employment in the

Commission

Could the Commission please state what their policy is on
the maximum age limits for employment in the
Commission ?

Could the Commission also describe the basis of limiting
ages where experts are required to work within the
Commission ?

(1 October 1991 )

The experiment with daytime running lights as mentioned
by the Honourable Member was prepared by an
independent international group of experts carrying out a
feasibility study . The Commission is co-financing this
project and officials of the Commission are members of
the group .

This international expert group will follow and evaluate
the developments on road safety in the Benelux during the

No C 2 / 18 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

experiment, enabling valuable scientific conclusions to be
drawn .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1225 / 91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 11 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C2 / 36 )

Subject : ' Disappearances ' in the Philippines

Have the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation concerned themselves with the numerous
' disappearances ' which have occurred in the Philippines in
recent months, or with those ' disappeared ' who have
reappeared later in the hands of the police or the military,
some of whom have been tortured and others murdered,
such as Efren Concepcion and Diomedes Abawag, both
of whom were beheaded ?

the release of the Taiwanese political activist and member
of the opposition party PPD, Huang Hua, from his

10-year prison term ?

Answer

( 29 November 1991 )

The Community and its Member States are of the opinion

that the sentence of the Taiwanese political activist
Huang Hua is unduly harsh . However, Ministers meeting
in the framework of European Political Cooperation, due
to the absence of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, are
not in a position to consider an initiative as put forward by
the Honourable Member .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1232 / 91

by Mr Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 11 June 1991 )

Answer ( 92 / C2 / 38 )

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States take note of the
specific cases the Honourable Member refers to which
have not been discussed in the EPC framework .

Nevertheless, the Philippine authorities are fully aware of
the Community and its Member States ' position
concerning the respect for, and promotion and
safeguarding of, human rights, which they consider an
essential cornerstone of their relations with other
countries and a legitimate and permanent duty of the
world community . They will continue to take up these
views with the Philippine authorities, and will address the
general human rights situation in the Philippines in the
framework of the 46th United Nations General Assembly .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1226 / 91

by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 11 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 37 )

Subject : Imprisonment of a political activist in Taiwan

Could the Foreign Ministers meeting in European
Political Cooperation take any initiative towards securing

Subject : Community aid for the Galician gas supply

network

As far as energy in the Community is concerned, one of
the main needs is to develop networks to enhance the
diversification of energy sources and the range they can
cover, so as to improve supply to the largest possible
number of points in each region .

For this reason, and bearing in mind the energy situation
in the Spanish region of Galicia, it will be extremely
important in the future to extend regionally the supply
network for the gas coming from pipelines in the
neighbouring region of Asturias and the neighbouring
country of Portugal .

Can the Commission say what Community parameters
might be used to ensure that Community aid enables the
region of Galicia to have a broad natural gas distribution
network in the near future ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

Firstly, as an Objective 1 Region, Galicia is eligible for
support from the European Regional Development Fund .
The Community Support Framework for Objective 1
Regions in Spain indicates that special attention will be
given to improving the natural gas network in the period

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 19

to 1993 . However, none of the operational programmes
submitted to date by the Spanish authorities for the
implementation of the Framework has covered this

aspect .

Secondly, the Commission launched a special initiative
( Regen ) in December 1990 to accelerate the development
of natural gas networks in certain Objective 1 Regions . In
this context, the Commission has invited the Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to submit joint proposals for a
feasibility study of options for linking their two networks .
These options include the possibility of a link joining

Oviedo, Vigo and Braga .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1253 / 91

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 14 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 39 )

Subject : Turkish threats to annex the territory of a

Community Member State

From time to time in the past official circles in Turkey
have voiced expansionist ambitions in respect of Greece .
In the case of Cyprus, the threats enunciated in the 1960s
finally led to a military invasion in the mid-70s and the
occupation of the island has lasted until the present day . A
few days ago Mr T. Ozal, on a visit to Australia, made
further provocative remarks involving threats against
Greece and in particular the Dodecanese .

What view does the Council take of these new threats to

annex the territory of a Member State of the Community ?
What measures will it take to protect the territorial
integrity of Greece ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1254 / 91

by Mr Sotiris Kostopoulos ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 40 )

Subject : Danger of encirclement of Greece by countries

sympathetic to Turkey

Turkish foreign policy is being conducted so as to cause a
rapid deterioration of the already unsatisfactory situation

in the Balkans with the principal objective of worsening
relations between Greece and its northern neighbours .

The avowed aim of President Ozal is to stir up all the
Moslem minorities of this area in order to turn them
against Greece . He could not have made matters plainer
when he baldly stated a few days ago,

' The 21st century will be the century of Turkey . The
Turks of Bulgaria have won their rights and now
Greece is our opponent . Turkey will become the leader
of Muslim movements in the Balkans .'

1 . Does the Council approve of Turkey 's imperialist

ambitions which are leading to the isolation of one of
the Community Member States and seriously
endangering its territorial integrity ?

2 . Will the Community 's Mediterranean policy of
providing various forms of financial support for
Turkey be continued ?

3 . Will the Council continue to bring pressure to bear on

the Greek Government to agree to the ' unfreezing ' of
the Fourth EEC Financial Protocol, in view of the
chauvinistic and expansionist moves being made
against Greece, which are now more than just threats ?

Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1253 / 91

and 1254 / 91

( 29 November 1 991 )

The European Political Cooperation was kept informed
by the Partner concerned on various statements by the
Turkish leadership .

As the Honourable Parliamentarian is aware, Turkey has
signed the Charter of Paris, having thus committed
herself to refrain from the threat or use of force against
the territorial integrity or political independence of any
state, or from acting in any manner inconsistent with the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United
Nations and the Helsinki Final Act . In this context, it
should be recalled that the Twelve stressed, during the
32nd session of the EC-Turkey Council of Association on
30 September 1991, the importance they attach to
relations of good neighbourliness between all associate
members and Member States of the Community .

As far as other aspects of the questions are concerned,
they do not fall within the competence of the European
Political Cooperation .

No C 2 / 20 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1281 / 91

by Mr Mario Forte ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 41 )

Subject : Delay in launching IMPs in Italy, particularly in

the Mezzogiorno

The launching of IMPs in Italy, particularly in the
Mezzogiorno is being considerably delayed . This is due,
not only to a proven shortage of funds, but also to
difficulties connected with the proper functioning of
regional bodies following the regional elections last year,
together with failure by the national authorities to
implement on time Article 13 of Act No 64 which was
intended to ensure prompt co-financing of projects .

It is reported that, in the next few weeks, the Commission
is planning to redistribute IMP resources to coincide with
the ' second phase ' and the allotment of the ' reserve '
( approximately ECU 300 million ).

The redistribution of the funds and the allocation of the
reserve will be based on spending capacity shown by the
individual regions as at 31 March 1991 . This places many
regions, in particular the Mezzogiorno, at a disadvantage,
since it will lead to the transfer of resources from regions
with greater development problems in the Mezzogiorno
to the richer central regions of Northern Italy and regions
in other countries .

In view of this, will the Commission give the southern
regions a final, limited extension before penalizing them
and make every effort within its competent
Directorate-General, using every available form of
technical assistance, to enable them to make use of the
funds allocated to them and contribute to the

development measures which they so badly need ?

Answer given by Mr Millan
on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

The Commission considered it necessary to carry out,
without delay, the examination of the level of
implementation of Italian and French IMPs, as it had
announced in its letter tp the regions in December 1990,
because it wished to proceed with the final allocation of
the ECU 253,29 million which remained unallocated .

This is to allow national and regional authorities to plan

and implement the measures necessary to absorb the
available credits in the limited time remaining for IMP
implementation .

On 31 July 1991, the Commission taking into account the
considerable progress made in the implementation of
certain Italian IMPs during the last eight to 10 months
decided to allocate ECU 193,29 million from the reserve
to Italy . The precise allocations for each IMP will be
decided at a later stage following discussions between the
Commission and the national and regional authorities
concerned .

However, it is clear that important problems still persist
and that certain Italian IMPs are still lagging behind .

Therefore the Commission also decided to allocate ECU

60 million from the reserve to the French IMPs which are
progressing satisfactorily and could absorb further
Community financing .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1282 / 91

by Mrs Brigitte Langenhagen ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 42 )

Subject : Partial suspension of autonomous customs
tariffs in resepct of frozen fish fillets of Alaska
pollack and hake from third countries into the
EC

1 . Has the partial suspension of customs tariffs on
imports of frozen fillets of Alaska pollack and hake from
third countries had a negative effect on demand for white
fish landed by EC fishermen ?

2 . Is the Commission aware of any negative effects on
the growth in EC fishermen 's imcomes related to the
partial suspension of customs tariffs on the above species ?

3 . The partial suspension of autonomous customs
tariffs for these species is decided upon annually by the
Council on a proposal from the Commission .

Why are the customs tariffs for these two species, which

are important raw materials for deep-frozen fish
processing firms in the EC and are not offered by EC
fishermen,

( a ) partially suspended only from 1 April each year,

( b ) not set at 0% ?

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 21

Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 15 July 1991 )

In the framework of the Community 's general supply
policy for fisheries products meant for the processing
industry, a number of autonomous tariff reductions have
been decided in recent years, mainly for the traditional
whitefish products and their close substitutes such as hake
and Alaska pollack .

The determination of the size of the reductions in
customs duty and of the quantities to benefit from the
reduced rates is based on factors such as the recent
development in the trade, the Community 's own
production possibilities, forecasts of future demand and
the safeguarding of Community preference .

In the present deficit situation, it is the Commission 's
opinion that the duty reduction from 15 to 10% for
frozen fillets of hake and Alaska pollack has no negative
effects on either the demand for traditional whitefish
products or the income of Community producers . A total
elimination of duties for the products in question might,
however, have serious consequences for EEC producers,
both by distorting traditional price relations and by
undermining Community preference .

The first of April has traditionally been chosen as the
opening date for the Community 's autonomous tariff
reductions for fisheries products because a significant
part of the EEC production of whitefish falls within the
first months of the calendar year . The opening date
should therefore be seen as providing a measure of
protection for EEC producers, mainly as an income
stabilizing factor .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1300 / 91

by Mr Ian White ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 14 June 1991 )

State to another . Personal property imported permanently
into one Member State from another Member State by
private individuals in connection with the transfer of their
normal residence is exempted from VAT under the
conditions laid down in Articles 2 to 7 of Directive
83 / 183 / EEC of 28 March 1983 ('), as amended by
Directive 89 / 604 / EEC of 23 November 1989 ( 2 ).

However if any one of these conditions, which concern
prior use of the goods and their tax paid status, is not met,
VAT will be due on the particular goods concerned . But
even then, it is the Commission 's point of view that the
' Schul ' Judgment of the Court of 5 May 1982 ( 3 ) should
be applied . This means that the VAT paid in the Member
State of purchase that is still ' remnant ' in the value of the
goods imported into another Member State should be
deducted from the VAT due in that Member State . Full

details of the Commission 's views are contained in
communication No 86 / C 13 / 02 ( 4 ).

After 1992, no limitations will apply to what private
persons can take across an internal frontier and goods
bought tax paid in one Member State will be able to
circulate freely within the whole Community . This means
that private persons changing their residence from one
Member State to another will no longer have to fulfil any
customs formalities and no VAT will be due on the
personal property they take .

O OJ No L 105,23 . 4 . 1983 .
O OJ No L 348, 29 . 11 . 1989 .
O Court Reports 1982, 1409 .
O OJ No C 13,21 . 1 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1346 / 91

by Mr Pavlos Sarlis ( PPE )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 24 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 43 ) ( 92 / C 2 / 44 )

Subject : Value Added Tax

Why is it necessary to pay VAT in one country upon the
purchase of goods then in another on the importation of
them if a person moves home within Europe ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 8 October 1 991 )

In most cases it is not necessary to pay VAT a second time
On the removal of household goods from one Member

Subject : Arson attack on a Greek tourist bus in Istanbul

On 9 April 1991 a Greek tourist bus was subjected to an
arson attack and burst into flames as it was about to leave
an Istanbul hotel for a tour of the city . 34 tourists were
burnt to death .

The preparator of this monstrous crime was reportedly a
member of a fanatical Turkish religious organization .

Will the Ministers meeting in European Political
Cooperation respond by making appropriate
representations to the Turkish Government, urging it to

No C 2 / 22 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

take the requisite measures to protect the lives of innocent
Community nationals from such criminal acts by fanatics
in Turkey ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1437 / 91

by Mr Freddy Blak ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 July 1991 )

Answer ( 92 / C 2 / 46 )

( 29 November 1991 )

The specific question put forward by the Honourable

Member does not fall within the competence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1349 / 91
by Mr Victor Manuel Arbeloa Muru ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 June 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 45 )

Subject : Jewish settlements in the West Bank

Does the Community plan to make economic assistance
to Israel dependent on developments in the Tel Aviv
Government 's policy of Jewish settlements in the West
Bank ?

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 10 September 1 991 )

The Community position on Israel 's settlement policy has
been the subject of numerous statements and declarations
issued through European political cooperation . In its
most recent declaration, dated 3 May 1991, this position
was formulated as follows :

' The Community and its Member States reaffirmed
their long-standing position that Jewish settlements in
the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including
East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law and
under the 4th Geneva Convention in particular . . .'.
' The Community and its Member States strongly urge
the Israeli Government neither to allow nor encourage
the establishment of settlements in the Occupied
Territories '.

As regards the Community financial assistance to Israel (a
capital market loan of ECU 160 million, and an interest
rate subsidy equivalent to ECU 27,5 million ), which is
part of a package including a ECU 60 million grant aid in
favour of the Palestinian population of the Occupied
Territories, the Commission will ensure that the use of the
funds ( loan proceeds and interest rate subsidy ) is in
conformity with the objective of this operation, which
aims at reducing the socio-economic consequences of the
Gulf conflict on Israel and the Occupied Territories .

Subject : Equal pay Directive

The Directive on equal pay for men and women
performing the same work has now been in force for 15
years . What action does the Commission propose to take
to ensure that the Directive actually takes effect ?

A survey recently carried out by the Danish Employer 's

Federation showed that women 's wages are, on average,
25% less than men 's — a differential that cannot be
explained away by reference to unequal distribution of the
sexes between the various sectors of activity .

Answer given by Mrs Papandreou

on behalf of the Commission

( 5 September 1 991 )

The Commission is aware of the issue raised by the

Honourable Member namely that in spite of progress
made in the area of equal pay within the legal framework
over the past decade and a half, the differences in average
levels of pay for women and men in the European
Community are still wide .

In the context of its Third Medium-Term Community
Action Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women
and Men ( 1991 — 1995 ), the Commission will adopt a
memorandum to define the scope and concept of equal
pay for work of equal value and provide guidance on the
criteria to be taken into account in job evaluation and job
classification .

The Commission is also carrying out studies on the
characteristics of payment systems and their impact on the
earnings gap, as well as on factors other than
discrimination which may underlie this problem, such as
labour market segregation, access to training and
qualifications, atypical work patterns, etc .

Finally, the Commission will continue to fulfill its role of
ensuring the effective implementation of the provisions of
Article 1 19 of the EEC Treaty and the equal pay Directive
75 / 117 / EEC ('), and where necessary, institute
infringement proceedings .

(') OJ No L 45, 19.2 . 1975 .

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 23

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1451 / 91

by Mr Karl von Wogau ( PPE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 12 July 1991 )

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1461 / 91

by Mr Mauro Chiabrando ( PPE )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 47 ) ( 92 / C 2 / 48 )

Subject : Licence number for travel advertisements in

France

1 . Is the Commission aware that in France, on the basis
of Article 9 of the Law of 11 July 1975, together with
Article 31 of the Decree of 28 March 19 77, an
advertisement for travel agency services can only be
published if a French licence number is given ?

2 . Does the Commission consider that this French
regulation is compatible with the Treaty of Rome as
regards free movement of goods and services, even
though it means that travel agents from other Member
States, particularly from areas near the French border, are
unable to advertise their services in France without setting
up a branch in France ?

3 . What action does the Commission intend to take to
adapt the French regulations on licensing for travel
advertising to the requirements of the free movement of
services in the Community, and to enable travel agents
from other Member States to address French customers
directly through newspaper advertisement ?

Subject : Human rights in Uganda

The political climate in Uganda, which seemed fairly
normal during the period in which the ACP Assembly was
held in Kampala, which I attended, now appears to be
deteriorating . Reports have been received of the arrest of

18 people, including three MPs, a deputy minister, a
woman and 14 Catholics .

These arrests have made a major impact in the country
because they are a sign of the return to an old tendency to
eliminate the Catholic leadership .

After their arrest the prisoners were allegedly flogged
before being brought to court and accused, without
evidence, of high treason .

This event is all the more serious and important since the
current President of Uganda is also President of the
Organization of African Unity and was recently given an
official reception in Strasbourg as the representative of
the entire African continent .

Can the Council ascertain the facts and, if necessary, take
action ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 October 1 991 )

Answer

The Commission was unaware of the situation described
by the Honourable Member .

If French legislation imposes residence in France as a
condition for obtaining a licence number and so prevents
travel agencies in other Member States not established on

French territory from advertising in French newspapers,
that could indeed be contrary to Article 59 of the Treaty
( freedom to provide services ).

Articles 59 and 60 of the Treaty require not only the
elimination of any discrimination against persons
providing services on grounds of nationality but also the
abolition of any restriction on freedom to provide services
which is imposed by reason of the fact that the supplier is
established in a Member State other than that in which the
service is supplied .

The Commission will request further information from
the French authorities in order to be able to assess this
matter in full knowledge of the facts .

( 29 November 1 991 ).

The specific cases mentioned by the Honourable Member
have not been discussed in the EPC framework . However,
the Honourable Member can rest assured that the
authorities of Uganda are fully aware and will always be
reminded of the importance attached by the Community
and its Member States to respect for human rights as one
of the cornerstones of their relations with other countries .
This principle is firmly entrenched in the Luxembourg
European Council Declaration as well as in the Lome
Convention .

From recent information with regard to the human rights
situation in Uganda, it appears that, in spite of an
encouraging improvement since 1986, cases of violations
of human rights continue to be reported .

If there is to be a lasting improvement in the human rights
situation in Uganda this will require the political will of
the Uganda authorities as well as the establishment of
adequate democratic civil institutions to monitor and curb

No C 2 / 24
Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

repressive behaviour . Therefore, the Community and its
Member States are at present examining ways in which
they could support the restructuring and strengthening of
civil institutions in Uganda in order to foster respect and
prevent human rights violations in the future .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1478 / 91

by Mrs Brigitte Ernst de la Graete ( V )

to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 16 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 49 )

Subject : EEC-China Agreement and human rights in

China

At the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European
Community of 2 and 3 June 1991 in Dresden, the Italian
Foreign Minister, Mr de Michelis, proposed a political
agreement between the European Community and China .

How does EPC view this proposal, given the lack of
progress made by this country in respect of human rights
since the crushing of the pro-democracy demonstrations
in Peking and the continued occupation of Tibet ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Italian Foreign Minister 's proposal for an EC-China
Agreement has not been discussed in any detail in the
EPC framework .

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the
Community and its Member States have repeatedly called
on the Chinese authorities to respect human rights in
China and Tibet . Following the brutal repression of
demonstrators in Peking in 1989, the Community and its
Member States took various measures to express their
profound concern at the flagrant violations of human
rights which occurred, including an embargo on arms
trade, the suspension of bilateral ministerial and
high-level contacts, reduction of programmes of cultural,
scientific and technical cooperation and postponement of
new cooperation projects . The Community and its
Member States reaffirmed their position when Troika
Ministers met the Chinese Foreign Minister in September

1990 in the margins of the 45th UNGA . The Chinese
Foreign Minister emphasised then that China was
irreversibly committed to a policy of reform and
openness . He stressed China 's commitment to human

rights and recalled China 's participation in the relevant
UN Commission and accession to the various UN
conventions on human rights .

Following these assurance, and bearing in mind China 's
constructive role during the Gulf crisis and increasingly
on the Cambodian question, the Community and its
Member States agreed on 22 October 1990 to ease
gradually the restrictions imposed in 1989 on ministerial
and high-level contacts, cultural, scientific and technical
cooperation and new cooperation projects, in the belief
that such contacts would offer opportunities to encourage
the Chinese to pursue once again a policy of reform and
openness and to respect human rights . However given
continuing concerns about arrests and trials of political
prisoners in China, the Community and its Member States
decided nevertheless to maintain an embargo on arms
sales and on military cooperation .

The Community and its Member States will continue to
follow closely the human rights situation in China and in
Tibet and to take up vigorously the question of violations
of those rights with the Chinese authorities at a
high-level, as was done when the Ministerial Troika met
the Chinese Foreign Minister in September 1991 in the
margins of the 46th UNGA . They will continue to stress
their firm conviction, enshrined in the Declaration on
Human Rights issued at the Cooperation European
Council in June 1991, that the promotion and
safeguarding of human rights is the legitimate concern of
the whole international community .

The Community and its Member States will conduct a
renewed discussion on cooperation with China including
the democratization and human rights situation before
the end of 1991 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1512 / 91

by Mr Rolf Linkohr ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 50 )

Subject : Taxation in respect of combined heat and power

plants

In the Federal Republic of Germany combined heat and
power plants are placed at a disadvantage for tax purposes
if they do not restrict themselves to providing electricity
and heat, since they are required to pay the full rate of
fuel tax on the gas or oil used to fire them instead of the
lower rate applicable to heating oil or natural gas . This

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 25

takes away the incentive to develop, improve and
commission such plants which should be given a high
priority in terms of energy and environment policy .

1 . Is the Commission aware of this problem ?

2 . What view does it take of the matter ?

3 . Will the Commission take account of this specific

problem in respect of taxation during its deliberations
on energy, the environment and related taxation
systems and, if so, how ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 28 October 1991 )

1 . The Commission is aware of the fact that in

Germany, under Article 8 ( 2 ) of the Law on excise duties
on mineral oils, diesel oil and natural gas used to power
gas turbines or motors in fixed installations which are
solely for the production of heat or electricity are subject
to the lower rates applicable to heating oil and natural gas
used for heating purposes .

2 . Tax concessions such as those described by the
Honourable Member constitute — in some cases at least

— reliefs that the Member States are authorized to
maintain in force provisionally under the Commission
proposal of 7 November 1990 for a Directive on the
harmonization of the structures of excise duties on
mineral oils ('), which is currently before the Council .

3 . The Commission therefore considers that there is no
need at this stage for a Community approach to the
taxation problem referred to by the Honourable Member,
whether from the viewpoint of excise duties or the ways in
which taxes are used for specific policies .

Will the Commission specify, in respect of each year since

1981, the exact purposes to which the crisis levy has been
put ?

Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha

on behalf of the Commission

( 25 September 1991 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the answer given by the Council of the European
Communities to Written Questions No 1991 / 84 by Mr
Glinne, No 2083 / 84 by Mrs Dury (*) and No 2146 / 85 by
Mr Seefeld ( 2 ), as well as the Commission 's answer to
Written Question No 2145 / 85 by Mr Seefeld ( J ).

O OJ No C 135,3.6 . 1985 .
O OJ No C 78, 7 . 4 . 1986 .
O OJNoC 126,26.5 . 1986 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1590 / 91

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

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 52 )

Subject : Land-based fisheries inspectors

It has been estimated by the Commission that it needs 180
land-based fisheries inspectors to cover Spain, yet there
are only 12, and that it needs 100 in Portugal yet there are
only 12 and France needs 120 yet there are only 20 . What
does the Commission propose to do to rectify this
discrepancy ?

(') CC>M(90 ) 434 final . Answer given by Mr Marin
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 September 1 991 )

The figures quoted by the Honourable Member, which

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1551 / 91

by Mr Anthony Simpson ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 51 )

Subject : Crisis levy

The crisis levy, introduced in 1981 to reduce the salaries

of Community officials, was to be paid into a special fund
to combat unemployment in the Community .

are taken from the Commission 's communication to the

Council and Parliament on the common fisheries
policy ('), have unfortunately been wrongly understood .
In that document, the Commission made an estimate of
the number of extra national inspectors that would be
needed to cope with the volume of inspection work, set
against the present number of inspectors .

The Commission was not referring, therefore, to the

number of Community inspectors which it employs itself .

(*) SEC(91 ) 2244 final of 30 November 1990 ; copies are being

sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Parliament
Secretariat .

No C 2 / 26 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1603 / 91

by Mr Claude Desama ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 24 July 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 53 )

Subject : Reassignment of customs officials after 1993

The abolition of intra-Community border checks
following the completion of the internal market in 1993
will have serious professional consequences for many
customs officials . While some will be kept on with
different duties, others will be reassigned to various
administrative services .

Is the Commission aware of any measures taken by the
Member States to accompany this reassignment ?

Does the Commission intend to take Community
measures to ensure that the reassignment of these customs
officials is conducted in a satisfactory manner ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 16 September 1 991 )

The Commission has not been informed of any flanking

measures being drawn up in the Member States with a
view to reassigning customs officials to various
administrative departments .

The Commission would underline that these provisions
fall within the scope of the Member States as part of the
management of their administrative structures . It does
not, therefore, intend to take any Community initiatives
in this field . It would, however, recall that the
Commission has set up the Matthaeus programme for the
exchange of customs officials in order to prepare customs
personnel for their new tasks in 1993 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1610 / 91

by Mr Elio Di Rupo ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 54 )

Subject : Conference on Security and Cooperation in

Europe

Will the Ministers meeting in EPC outline their action
regarding the CSCE process since 1989 and their
assessment of the Community approach to this process ?

Answer

(3 December 1 991 )

Since 1989, new procedural arrangements within the
CSCE have allowed for the presence of the Community,
alongside that of the Member States, to receive formal
recognition from the other Participating States . The
arrangements reflect the practice which has been
developing within the CSCE since Mr Aldo Moro signed
the Helsinki Final Act in 1975 in his capacity as President
of the European Council .

The possibility for the Community and its Member States
to play a leading role in the CSCE process has been
considerably enhanced by the historic changes which have
been taking place in Central and Eastern Europe . Against
this background, the Community, along with the
Participating States, lent its weight to the convening of
the Paris Summit of November 1990 .

This first Summit of the Heads of State and Government
of the CSCE Participating States since the signature of the
Helsinki Final Act is in itself already proof that the CSCE
has to deal with a new phase in its development . The Paris
Summit had as its primary objective to give new direction
to the CSCE process in the changed circumstances of the

1990 's . It adopted the Paris Charter for a New Europe, a
common vision of society and of relations between States
and outlined the principles and guidelines which should
govern the conduct of the Participating States, including
human rights, the rule of Law and democracy . It also
provided for regular political consultations among the
CSCE Participating States, based on the newly
established CSCE Ministerial Council as well as on the
Committee of Senior Officials ( CSO ). The Community
and its Member States were instrumental in setting up
CSCE institutions in Prague, Vienna and Warsaw . The
role of these institutions is currently being reflected upon
among the Participating States, notably the Community
and its Member States, and will be reviewed at the
Helsinki Follow-up Meeting in the light of the experience
gained in the meantime .

There is a major challenge which the CSCE is asked to
deal with, i.e. to ensure the continuation of the dynamics
of the rapprochement between the Participating States at
a time when East-West relations have undergone a change
from confrontation to cooperation . A notable
consequence of this change is that the efforts to conciliate
East and West are no longer the most salient feature of
the CSCE process . As illustrated by the themes of
meetings that have taken place to date, a whole series of
new priorities has emerged from the CSCE process : the
peaceful settlement of disputes ( Valletta ), the protection
of cultural heritage ( Cracow ), the protection of national
minorities ( Geneva ), the defence of human rights and the
consolidation of democracy and the rule of Law
( Moscow ) and the promotion of democratic institutions
( Oslo ). Furthermore, negotiations in the field o-f military
security are being given further thought in Vienna . In
addition, the potential of the CSCE in the current process
of economic and social change in Central and Eastern
European countries will be widely used it - accordance

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 27

with the principles agreed upon at the 1990 CSCE
Conference on Economic Cooperation in Bonn .

It is important, particularly at the present juncture in
international affairs, to stress that the Member States of
the European Community have made a substantial
contribution to the elaboration of the rules of procedure
of the so-called emergency mechanism on the basis of
which political consultations among the CSCE
Participating States can be convened at short notice . It
was to a large extent due to the coordinated efforts of the
European Community and its Member States that at the
Berlin meeting of the CSCE Ministerial Council this
emergency mechanism could be established . The
extremely preoccupying situation in Yugoslavia has since
then necessitated the convening of four emergency
meetings of the Committee of Senior Officials ( CSO ) in
Prague, which have proved the value of the newly created
mechanism .

Through the CSCE, the good will and friendly concern of
other States have been brought to bear on a tense
situation and the actions of those most directly involved
have been placed firmly in the perspective of values and
principles shared in common by all the Participating
States .

Faithful to their ideals, the Community and its Member
States firmly commit themselves to strengthen the CSCE
process . In the light of future venues in CSCE, such as the
Ministerial Council of January 1992 and more particularly
the Helsinki Follow-up meeting in the spring of 1992,
which are called to outline and confirm the future
developments of the Conference for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, the Community and its Member
States will seek a common approach likely to foster the
reinforcement of CSCE structures and institutions in all

relevant fields .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1627 / 91

by Mr Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 55 )

Subject : Aid for agriculture

Some farmers and stockbreeders in the countries of
southern Europe are concerned that they will receive less
aid, as a result of aid being granted to farmers and
stockbreeders in the former German Democratic
Republic .

Does the Commission intend to take steps to ensure that
the aid which needs to be given to farmers in the former
GDR will in no way result in less aid being given to
farmers and stockbreeders in southern Europe ?

What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to

avoid this ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 18 September 1 991 )

The amounts of structural aid intended for farmers in the
least-favoured areas of the Community, in particular the
countries of the south, are fixed in the Community
Support Frameworks for the Objective 1 and 5 ( b )
regions .

The Community 's commitments to these regions,
expressed in the Community Support Frameworks, are
being respected scrupulously . Therefore, in no way does
the aid granted to farmers in eastern Germany represent a
reduction in aid earmarked - for other less-favoured
regions of the Community .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1650 / 91
by the following members : Paul Lannoye, Solange Fernex,

Claudia Roth, Herman Verbeek, Virginio Bettini,
Eva-Maria Quistorp, Didier Anger, Gianfranco Amendola

( V )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 25 July 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 56 )

Subject : Initiatives by the Commission to restrict arms

proliferation

The events in the Middle East have once again
highlighted the problem of the proliferation of nuclear,
chemical and bacteriological weapons . Iraq is not an
isolated case, and international treaties and conventions
have so far failed to curb generalized proliferation which
constitutes a major threat to international security .

Several European States bear considerable responsibility
in this area, which is a reason why the Community should
take effective action without delay, pending revision of
such treaties and conventions .

1 . Has not the time come for the Community as a body

to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty ?

2 . Does the revision of the Euratom Treaty include any

plans to strengthen controls on the sale of nuclear
technology ?

3 . Is Council Regulation No 428 / 89 (') on the export of
certain chemical products to be amended so that, in
particular, the list of products subject to prior
authorization is extended and the regulation itself
made applicable to the technology and ' know-how '
which would enable chemical weapons to be
manufactured ?

4 . Is any action due to be taken on Parliament 's
resolution of 16 March 1989, paragraphs 43 and 44 of

No C 2 / 28 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

which are aimed at imposing strict controls on the
possible military applications of genetic engineering ?

5 . What action does EPC intend to take to monitor and,

where necessary, restrict or ban the use within the
territory of the Community of products and
technology which could be used for military purposes ?

1 . equipment covered by Infcirc / 209, Rev. 1 is
actually located in a safeguard facility, and that

2 . all nuclear materials processed in that facility are
effectively safeguarded,

— an obligation to notify the Board of Governors of any

application for exemption under the terms of
O OJ No L 50, 22 . 2 . 1989, p. 1 . articles 36 and 37 of Infcirc / 153, before accepting
such an application .

The Community and its Member States recognise that in

Answer

(3 December 1 991 )

Initiatives by the Community and its Member States
within the EPC framework have been carried both
internally, through efforts to harmonize present national
export policies on arms, nuclear materials and chemicals,
and externally, by proposing and promoting concerted
international measures .

As to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the
Community and its Member States stated in the
Declaration on Non-Proliferation and arms exports,
adopted by the European Council in Luxembourg, in June

1991 their strong support for the strengthening of the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

and of the IAEA 's safeguards system . In the context of the
46th UNGA, they commended those States which had
recently acceded to the Treaty and at the same time called
upon all States which had not yet done so to become
parties to the Treaty as well . In the meantime, they also
proposed to the recent meeting of the IAEA Board of
Governors, as well as to the IAEA General Conference
( Vienna, 16 — 20 September 1991 ) the adoption of a first
set of measures which will be relatively straightforward to
implement but which will nevertheless make an immediate
contribution to the effectiveness of safeguards, namely :

— an obligation for States to declare any new facilities to

the Agency at least 180 days before construction work
begins ; in the case of any facilities already under
construction or complete, but not yet in use,
immediate declaration ;

— an obligation to declare all civilian nuclear materials,

including uranium or concentrate ( yellow cake )
produced in the territory of a State ;

— effective use by the Agency of special inspections,

including the use of such inspections in relation to
undeclared nuclear facilities ;

— setting up by the IAEA of a universal register of

exports and imports of equipment covered by
Infcirc / 209, Rev. 1, and at the discretion of the IAEA,
verification that :

addition to these initial measures more radical proposals
for improving the effectiveness, efficiency and credibility
of the international safeguards regime will also need
urgent consideration . Therefore, they have indicated that
they hope to have proposals submitted by the appropriate
organs of the IAEA by 1 January 1 992 .

As far as chemical weapons proliferation is concerned, the

Gulf war has imparted a new sense of urgency to reaching
the long-sought goal of a global, verifiable and
comprehensive ban on chemical weapons by the middle of

1992 . The Twelve therefore called for the successful
completion of the multilateral negotiations ii \ the
framework of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament
on a Chemical Weapons Convention . They reaffirmed
their intention to be among the first signatories of the
Convention and invite other States to do likewise .

The Convention on the Biological and Toxin Weapons
remains a very important arms control agreement . It is the
only one which stipulates the eradication of an entire
category of weapons .

In the context of the recent third review Conference of
the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the
Community and its Member States stressed the need to
strengthen the authority and effectiveness of the
Convention, orienting efforts in the three main directions
which correspond to the areas where the Convention
has proven to be still deficient : universality,
confidence-building and verification . They proposed
concrete measures aimed at achieving such objectives .
Significant progress was made in the field of CDM 's,
which were improved and expanded, as well as in the field

. of verification, for which an ad hoc expert group will be

established .

The Community and its Member States believe that
far-reaching international action is needed immediately to
promote restraint and transparency in the transfers of
conventional weapons and of technologies for military
use, in particular towards areas of tension . The Twelve
have already identified a number of common criteria on
which their national policies on conventional arms
exports are based . They hope that on the basis of criteria

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 29

of this nature a common approach will be made possible,
leading to a harmonization of national policies in the
perspective of European Political Union .

that dialogue to address the importance of respect for
human rights, including in Tibet .

The concern of the Community and its Member States on

The Twelve are convinced th£t effective efforts in this this question has been expressed in a number of
field will have to be based on concerted international demarches in Peking and in the relevant international
action . In that spirit the Twelve will table a draft fora .
resolution at the current 46th UNGA which, while
explicitly recognizing every State 's right to ensure its own
security in accordance with article 5 1 of the UN Charter,
aims at achieving restraint and transparency in the
transfers of conventional weapons by means of a universal
and non-discriminatory Register . WRITTEN QUESTION No 1693 / 91

by Mr Jose Barros Moura ( CG )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C2 / 58 )
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1692 / 91

by Mr George Stevenson ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 57 )

Subject : Celebrations in Tibet — formal anniversary of

the annexation of Tibet by China — 23 May

1991

Is the Council aware that, prior to the celebrations in
Lhasa, a succession of stringent security measures were
enacted . Monks and nuns were reported to have been
confined in monasteries since 5 May and at least 140
people were arrested during the three-week campaign to
provide a so-called clean, social environment for the
celebrations . Several western sources have reported that
extra forces were moved into the area . Although some
EEC Member State Governments and the United States
Government had decided that they would not send
representatives to Lhasa for the anniversary and the
Chinese appear to be avoiding any foreign involvement in
the celebrations .

In view of the continued repression by the Chinese forces
and their illegal occupation of Tibet, would the Council
consider making a joint statement to the effect that the
European Community - condemns the continued
occupation of Tibet by China ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States are aware of the
security measures in Tibet mentioned by the Honourable
Member .

In view of the on-going repression in Tibet, the
Community and its Member States will continue to
pursue a dialogue with the Chinese authorities, and to use

Subject : Abolition of the death sentence in Africa

Does European Political Cooperation intend to take
measures to encourage the abolition of the death sentence
in African countries following the example of
Mozambique, Sao Tome e Principe and Cape Verde ?

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1694 / 91

by Mr Jos6 Barros Moura ( CG )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

(6 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 59 )

Subject : Possible reintroduction of the death sentence in

Brazil

In view of the proposal tabled in the Brazilian Chamber of
Deputies for a referendum on the reintroduction of the
death sentence, what measures will European Political
Cooperation take to promote respect for human rights in
this country ?

Joint answer to Written Question Nos 1693 / 91

and 1694 / 91

(3 December 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States were active in
securing adoption at the 44th UN General Assembly in

1989 of a Second Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the
abolition of the death penalty . As its title suggests,
however, the impact of this Protocol depends on the
political will of States parties to the Convenant to ratify or
accede to the Protocol . There was no disposition to force
States, which applied the death penalty . As its title
suggests, however, the impact of this Protocol depends on
the political will of States parties to the Covenant to ratify
or accede to the Protocol . There was no disposition to

No C 2 / 30 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

force States, which applied the death penalty to abolish it .
Rather, the Protocol was designed to give those countries
which had decided to abolish the death penalty an
opportunity to declare this fact publicly and solemnly .

The Community and its Member States are concerned to
ensure that in countries where the death penalty continues
to exist, the rights of those facing the death penalty
should be safeguarded in line with legal guarantees laid
down in the International Convenant on Civil and
Political Rights and other international instruments .

On a second reading, the European Parliament did not
adopt any amendments to the rate of financial
participation by the Community in demonstration
projects or the call for proposals procedure relating to
them .

The Council gave its opinion on the basis of the

Commission 's re-examined proposal . A re-examination of
the Council 's position on these points on second reading
would have presupposed appropriate proposals for
amendment .

A departure from the usual tendering procedure for
Community research and development programmes was
not advocated within the Council in the case of
demonstration projects . Calls for tender guarantee the
transparency of the awards and meet a basic requirement
of all Member States which want fair competition for
WRITTEN QUESTION No 1712 / 91
Community aid .

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 60 )

Subject : Plan for the non-food utilization of agricultural

resources

After the Council 's decision on a specific research

and technological development programme and
demonstration measures in the field of agriculture
and agro-industry, Community participation in
demonstration projects will now not exceed 30 % ( rather
than the 50 % originally laid down ) and such projects will
be subject to the call for proposal procedure .

The reduction in the rate of subsidy, to 30%, raises
problems of funding for the EEIGs that were set up to
carry out these projects .

The call for proposals procedure also penalizes small

intermediate undertakings in the agricultural sector which
are unable to comply with the requirements of a scientific
call for proposals procedure .

Would the Council therefore reconsider its position and
increase Community participation to 50 %, and introduce
a procedure without a call for proposals for the EEIGs ?

Answer

( 9 December 1 991 )

The Council adopted the specific research programme on

agricultural and agro-industry ( 1990—1994 ) on 9
September 1991 .

The Council 's common position, established on 6 May

1991, introduced the concept of demonstration projects
following an amendment by the European Parliament (*)
which the Commission incorporated in its amended
proposal ( 2 ).

(') OJ No C 48, 25 . 2 . 1991, p . 131 .
O OJ No C 77, 22 . 3 . 1991, p . 6 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1729 / 91

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

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 61 )

Subject : Dangerous dogs

What proposal does the Commission have for the future
of dangerous breeds of dogs, such as the pit bull terrier
and the tosa, within the EC ?

Answer given by Mr Mac Sharry

on behalf of the Commission

( 11 September 1 991 )

The Commission has no plans to bring forward proposals
on the matter referred to by the Honourable Member,
which it considers can be best dealt with by those Member

States in which the problem arises .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1740 / 91

by Mr William Newton-Dunn ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

(7 August 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 62 )

Subject : Psychological consequences of monetary union

The national currency which each citizen is accustomed to
using at present has a deep emotional meaning to him / her

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 31

as well as its superficial face value : it helps to satisfy the
psychological human need for security . If a familiar
aspect of one 's security is suddenly removed and replaced
by something unknown — such as a single European
currency — deep emotional feelings can be disturbed .
Does the Commission have any plans to calm citizens '
anxieties throughout the Community when Monetary
Union takes tangible form ?

Answer given by Mr Delors
on behalf of the Commission

( 17 October 1 991 )

The final stage of economic and monetary union will
indeed involve the introduction of a single currency in the
Community . The psychological consequences of
transition to the single currency, and the feelings of
insecurity to which the Honourable Member refers, will
in all likelihood be tempered by a number of factors .

Firstly, several very basic transactions are carried out via
means of payment in which a physical use of money plays
no part : cheques, automatic banking cards, standing order
payments, etc . are just a few examples . Furthermore,
many European citizens are already accustomed to using
currencies different from their own as a result of travel
abroad . Finally, the ECU will not appear suddenly : the
transition period before the introduction of a single
currency should be used to familiarize individuals with
the ECU . This is already taking place, and the ECU in its
present basket form has for some time enjoyed substantial
success with private operators . The Commission
continues to promote the use of the ECU and to
familiarize European citizens with the future currency . In
this context, it will be important to remove legal and other
obstacles which stand in the way of a more general use . At
the time of its introduction as the single currency,
therefore, the ECU would not be something unknown .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1862 / 91

by Mr Henry Chabert ( RDE )
to the Commission of the European Communities

In view of the Gulf war and its short and long-term
consequences, such a project is now more necessary than

ever .

This project must be promoted for the reasons already set
out in Written Question No 516 / 91 but also because such
a step would show that the European Community and the
Arab countries are resolutely optimistic about the future,

despite the impasse reached by the Middle East peace
process and the difficult domestic situation obtaining in
countries such as Algeria and Iraq .

Will the Commission therefore say what initiatives it
intends to take to enable committees of experts in
Euro-Arab relations to meet as soon as possible so that
progress can be made with this university project, and can
it say in particular :

1 . What timetable is envisaged ?

2 . What sort of funds would the Community intend to

make available for the Euro  - Arab University ?

3 . What site has been chosen ?

O OJ No C 315, 5 . 12 . 1991, p. 9 .

Answer given by Mr Matutes

on behalf of the Commission

( 7 November 1 991 )

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
the reply to the oral question H - 8 30 / 91 by Mr Arbeloa
Muru, which it gave during question time at Parliament 's
September 1991 part-session (').

(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-408 ( September

1991 ).

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1891 / 91

by Mr Elio Di Rupo ( S )
to the Council of the European Communities

( 1 September 1 991 )

( 1 September 1 991 ) ( 92 / C2 / 64 )

( 92 / C 2 / 63 )

Subject : Issuing visas to ambassadors accredited to the

Subject : The Euro-Arab University project

The answer given by the Commission on 27 May 1991 to
my Written Question No 516 / 91 (') on the Euro-Arab
University project is very disappointing .

European Communities

Certain ambassadors accredited to the European
Communities are obliged to apply to the French
Government for a visa when they go to Strasbourg to
attend a European Parliament part-session .

No C 2 / 32 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

When these ambassadors are called on to take part in an
urgent debate, their visas are issued in accordance with
the normal administrative formalities .

Certain ambassadors are sometimes prevented — despite
making every effort to attend — from participating in
debates to which they have been invited, because their
visas are not issued in time .

At a time when certain governments are claiming the

status of Capital of Europe for Strasbourg, does the
Council agree that it is, to say the least, inappropriate to
apply deadlines for the issue of visas which may prevent
the official representatives af states accredited to the
Communities from carrying out their duties ?

What is the Council 's position on this matter ?

Answer

( 9 December 1 991 )

Article 17 of the Protocol on the privileges and
immunities of the European Communities lays down that
the Member State in whose territory the Communities
have their seat shall accord the customary diplomatic
immunities and privileges to missions of third countries
accredited to the Communities .

Article 1 of the Decision of the representatives of the
Governments of the Member States on the provisional
location of certain Community institutions and
departments stipulates that ' Luxembourg, Brussels and
Strasbourg shall remain the provisional places of work of
the institutions of the European Communities '.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that
it is quite customary for a State to require a visa for
diplomatic staff accredited to that State .

The Council notes that in practice Member States try to
find appropriate solutions for the persons involved .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1908 / 91
by the following members : Kenneth Collins, Alan
Donnelley, Wayne David, Alex Smith, Carole Tongue,

Alman Metten and Roger Barton ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 65 )

Subject : Competition policy in the steel industry

In view of the fact that since 26 July 1990, when they
received a complaint from the Scottish Steel Campaign
Trust about the anti-competitive behaviour of British
Steel in closing the hot strip mill at Ravenscraig, the

Commission has been investigating the matter, will they
now say what action they propose to take ?

Will they further say whether, in the light of the
announcement that the Clydesdale Tubeworks are also to
close, bringing terrible social and economic problems to
the area, there might be even clearer evidence of British
Steel 's involvement in practices that could constitute
distorsions of competition and restraints in trade ?

Will they agree that the right time to have raised this with
the Commission was when the closures were announced,
as was done by the Scottish Steel Campaign Trust, and
not at the eleventh hour when most of the investigative
work had been done ?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan

on behalf of the Commission

( 19 September 1 991 )

As the Honourable Members are aware, the Commission
has made a thorough investigation of the formal
complaint made by the Scottish Steel Campaign Trust on
26 October 1990 . A Commission decision rejecting the
complaint was taken on 5 June 1991 and communicated to
the complainant . A copy of the press release is being sent
directly to the Honourable Member and to the
Secretariat-General of Parliament .

The closure of the Clydesdale tube works has not been the
subject of any complaint . The evidence given to the Trade
and Industry Select Committee of the House of
Commons by both British Steel and the Trades Unions
indicates that :

— the works had been operating unprofitably for a

number of years,

— the world market for its products suffers from 44%

overcapacity,

— the tube making equipment at Clydesdale is obsolete

and substantial capital investment would be required
to replace it with competitive equipment .

Furthermore, British Steel pic . has made very serious
efforts to find joint venture partners for the works and to
sell its tube operations, without success .

Therefore, the closure of the Clydesdale works does not
suggest that British Steel pic . is engaged in practices which
distort competition or restrain trade .

The sooner matters are brought to the Commission 's

attention, the sooner they can be investigated . For this

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 33

reason, complaints and information concerning possible
breaches of Community law should be brought to the
Commission 's attention as quickly as possible .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1920 / 91

by Mr Maxime Verhagen ( PPE )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 66 )

Subject : Military logistical support to the Ethiopian

population

On 13 June 1991 Parliament appealed to EPC to take
initiatives at UN and EC level to counteract the disastrous
consequences of the power vacuum in Ethiopia .

The conditions governing the acquisition or loss of
citizenship are matters coming under the sovereignty of
each Member State and are outside the Community 's
jurisdiction . I would refer the Honourable Member to the

answer given by the Commission to his Written Question
No 448 / 86 0 .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1934 / 91

by Mr James Ford ( S )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 67 )

Subject : British overseas nationality

Will the Commission say why a British Overseas Citizen
living in a Member State can enjoy neither the rights of a
British National nor those of the nationals of that

Member State ?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann

on behalf of the Commission

( 6 November 1 991 )

What initiatives has the EPC taken since then ? Is it jurisdiction . I would refer
considering offering military logistical support at UN or answer given by the
protection EC level for of the refugees purposes, the civilian of food population distribution and and former the No 448 / 86 0 .
belligerents ? (') OJ No C 270, 27 . 10 . 1986 .

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States have been
following very closely recent developments in Ethiopia .
Since 13 June, the situation in the country has changed
dramatically .

Peace has been restored as a result of substantive talks
between those involved in the hostilities and a Charter has
been adopted which explicitly guarantees individual
human rights, including freedom of expression and
association . In accordance with the Charter 's provisions
the Council of Representatives of Ethiopia recently
elected Mr Meles Zenawi as Head of State . In August a
Council of Ministers was appointed . A series of
Ministerial visits have been mounted to many countries
including EC Member States, in which Ethiopian
Ministers have taken the opportunity to explain further
their policies and discuss future aid needs .

The Community and its Member States have expressed on

several occasions their satisfaction with these encouraging
developments which they hope will lead Ethiopia to a new
era of peace, democracy and development . They have
repeatedly reiterated their readiness to support this
process . In the meantime they will continue to provide
humanitarian relief for the Ethiopian people who
continue to suffer the effects of the 30 years ' civil war it
has endured .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1949 / 91

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

( 2 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 68 )

Subject : Anti-dumping proceedings in respect of
synthetic polyester fibres from South Korea and
India

In view of the anti-dumping proceedings initiated by the
Commission in respect of synthetic polyester fibre
imports ( CN code 55032000 ) from South Korea and
India, it can be deduced that the European industry has
suffered major losses .

Given the importance of this question for the Community
textile industry and the losses suffered by European
producers, what measures will the Commission take to
remedy the situation and avoid any recurrence thereof ?

Answer given by Mr Andriessen

on behalf of the Commission

( 14 October 1991 )

The anti-dumping proceeding in respect of polyester fibre
imports from South Korea and India has not yet been

No C 2 / 34 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

completed . However, if the initial indications contained in
the complaint concerning dumping and injury are
confirmed by the investigation, the Commission will
impose a provisional anti-dumping duty to offset the
injury suffered by European industry .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1952 / 91

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

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 69 )

Subject : Human rights abuses in Chile

Mr Rolando Cartagena, a Chilean national, has been
detained in prison in Santiago for the past 1 1 years and
has not been accorded the rights of due process in a fair,
completed trial . Mr Cartagena is one of many persons in
Chile, arrested by the former Pinochet Government,
whose human rights have been abused . These abuses have
been acknowledged by President Patricio Aylwin in a
recent address to the nation in which he stated inter alia
that 'I have sent a letter to the Supreme Court that they
may act speedily on all cases now held by them on human
rights abuses '.

Will the Council make representations to the Chilean
Government concerning the detention without a
completed trial of Mr Cartagena as a test case to measure
the seriousness with which the Chilean authorities are
addressing the human rights abuses which President
Aylwin has acknowledged ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The specific case raised by the Honourable Member has
not been discussed in the framework of European
Political Cooperation .

The Presidency nevertheless wishes to underline that all
the countries which are members of the Rio Group,
including Chile, subscribed to the terms of the Rome
Declaration of 20 December 1990 and participated in the
first institutionalized Ministerial meeting between the EC
and the Rio Group in Luxembourg on 26 and 27 April

1991 .

Furthermore the EC Ministers and their Rio Group
counterparts met informally in the margin of the 46th
United Nations General Assembly on 26 September last .
On that occasion, the Presidency, while acknowledging

the fact that there was a growing tendency towards
broader cooperation of an open and democratic kind and
that democratically elected governments had replaced all
but a few remaining dictatorial regimes in Latin America,
underlined that human rights, the rule of law, political
pluralism and responsible and efficient governments were
prerequisites for a flourishing economy and that,
conversely, a flourishing economy was vital for a stable
democracy . The Community and its Member States
therefore conveyed their belief that it was important to
ensure that the benefits of these new developments could
be enjoyed by all sections of the population .

It is evident that the members of the Rio Group, when
entering the commitments contained in the Rome
Declaration, pledged themselves to contribute to the
reinforcement of the EC-Rio relationship notably
through the respect for human rights, the promotion of
social justice and the defence of the purposes and
principles of the UN Charter . The Honourable Member
may be assured that the link between democracy, human
rights and sustained development will be taken up by the
EC side at each institutionalized Ministerial meeting and
that democracy and respect for human rights will remain
key factors in the process of strengthening international
cooperation and inter-State confidence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1964 / 91

by Mrs Winifred Ewing ( ARC )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 70 )

Subject : Compensation for ex-Japanese prisoners of war

What action will the Foreign Ministers meeting in
Political Cooperation take to raise the issue of financial
compensation for ex - Japanese prisoners of war ? Do they
know of any international fund that can be availed of to
assist ex-prisoners of war ?

. Answer

( 29 November 1991 )

The specific question raised by the Honourable Member
does not fall within the competence of Foreign Ministers
meeting in Political Cooperation .

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 35

WRITTEN QUESTION No 1985 / 91

by Mr James Moorhouse ( ED )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 15 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 71 )

Subject : Mr Kostas Dimitriou, Greek prisoner of
conscience

The Foreign Ministers have been asked to exert pressure
on the Greek authorities to reassess their human rights
record .

Could they, in particular, press the case of Kostas
Dimitriou and approximately 400 other Jehovah
Witnesses who have been given sentences of four years '
imprisonment because of their refusal on religious
grounds to perform military service ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Honourable Member 's question does not fall within
EPC 's competence .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2004 / 91

by Mrs Christine Oddy ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 72 )

Subject : Sanctions against South Africa

Will the Foreign Ministers meeting in Foreign
Cooperation accept the principle that sanctions against
South Africa need to be maintained ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

As the Honourable Member of Parliament is fully aware,
in the light of the positive developments which had taken
place at that stage in South Africa, the European Council
in Rome, 14 — 15 December 1990, decided to encourage
the process aimed at the complete abolition of apartheid
through a gradual review of the existing restrictive
measures along the lines decided upon by the European
Council in Dublin, 25 — 26 June 1990 . Desiring to
contribute to combating unemployment and improving
the economic and social situation in South Africa, the
European Council decided to lift with immediate effect
the ban on new investment .

It also declared that as soon as legislative action was be
taken by the South African Government to repeal the
' Group Areas Act ' and the ' Land Acts ', the Community
and its Member States would proceed to a further easing
of the restrictive measures of 1986 ( import bans on gold
coins and iron and steel products ).

After the tabling of the bills to repeal the abovementioned

acts, the Twelve agreed to lift the remaining restrictive
measures decided upon in 1986, subject to the waiting
reserve entered by one Member State .

The European Council of Luxembourg, 28 — 29 June

1991, noting with satisfaction the progress achieved in
de-segregation in the field of sports, decided to support
the principle of renewing sporting contacts with South
Africa at the international level on a case by case basis,
whenever unified and non-racial sporting bodies have
been set up .

Restrictive measures decided upon in 1985 remain,
however, still in force .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2030 / 91

by Mrs Patricia Rawlings ( ED )
to the Commission of the European Communities

( 23 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 73 )

Subject : Harmonization of the spirits industry

Is the Commission aware that the EC spirits industry,
while strongly supporting Commission efforts to abolish
internal trade barriers from 1993, is deeply concerned that
it will be unable to benefit fully from the improved free
trade that this will bring unless the EC establishes a fiscal
framework which provides fair competition with other
alcoholic drinks ? Does the Commission realize that the
proposal for a zero minimum rate for wine and a
minimum of ECU 1 118,5 per hectolitre for spirits will not
only considerably increase the existing level of
discrimination in favour of wine and against spirits in
several southern European countries, but also at the same
time institutionalize the distortion of competition
between the EC alcoholic drinks sectors ?

Answer given by Mrs Scrivener

on behalf of the Commission

( 4 November 1 991 )

In accordance with the declaration made at the Council
' Finance and Economic Affairs ' of 24 June 1991, the

No C 2 / 36 Official Journal of the European Communities 6 . 1 . 92

Commission is currently examining the question of
potential distortions of competition in relation to those
alcoholic beverages which are competing products in the
context of further discussion of the rates of excise duty
which should apply after 1992, specially in connection
with a zero minimum rate applied to wine .

The Commission recalls also that distorsion of
competition was a major preoccupation when the
Commission made its proposal in 1989 and 1990, on
which negotiations are in progress with the Member
States .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2064 / 91

by Mrs Dorothee Piermont ( ARC )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 74 )

Subject : EC relations with Cuba

On 18 and 19 July 1991 the first Iberian - American summit
took place in Guadalajara, Mexico, attended by 19 Latin
American countries and the EC Member States Spain and
Portugal . At this summit Colombia and Chile announced
that they were setting up consular relations with Cuba .
Mexico and others recommended that Cuba should once

more become a member of the OAS and the Cuban
Foreign Minister expressed his country 's readiness to do
so . The second Iberian-American summit is planned for
July 1992, this time in Spain ; Cuba 's head of state Fidel

Castro has been invited and has already accepted .

1 . Do the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC consider

that the participation of Spain and Portugal in this
summit offers an opportunity to make progress
towards normalizing relations with Cuba ?

2 . Does EPC consider the development of normal

relations to be a useful contribution to defusing
tensions, particularly those between the Latin
American countries ?

3 . Does EPC see in these relations a means of increasing

the potential for developments in Cuba, without
infringing the principle of non-interference in internal
matters which was underlined at the Iberian-American

summit ?

Answer

(3 December 1 991 )

The Community and its Member States are well aware of
the holding of the first Ibero-American Summit of 1 8 and

19 July and its outcome . They have not, however,
specifically taken up the matter among themselves .

They assume that the meeting referred to by the

Honourable Member, bringing together a large number
of Latin American countries and two EC Member States,
has offered good opportunities for useful and
constructive exchanges of views and ideas . The
announcements made by some participants and the
intentions and wishes expressed by others are proof of the
good will and sense of initiative which have been
increasingly characterising the Latin American world over
the last few years .

The Community and its Member States consider the

attendance of EC countries who share a common heritage
of history and culture with Latin America a welcome and
positive feature and are in a position to confirm that the
representatives of both Spain and Portugal outlined the
position of the Community and its Member States
towards Cuba in the course of the Ibero-American

Summit .

Concerning progress in the establishment of normal
relations with Cuba and a potential for development in
that country as suggested by the Honourable Member,
the Presidency wishes to recall the answers given to oral
questions Nos H-0661 / 91 and H-0850 / 91 on the same
subject which clearly stated that the unsatisfying human
rights situation in Cuba could not but negatively affect the
relations between the European Community and Cuba in
general . Pending substantive changes in both the internal
and external policy of Fidel Castro and his regime, the
European Community will reserve its position on possible
contributions to that country 's economic and social
development .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2081 / 91

by Mr Kenneth Stewart ( S )
to the Foreign Ministers meeting in

European Political Cooperation

( 26 September 1 991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 75 )

Subject : Breach of human rights — imprisonment in the

UK for persons refusing to pay the poll tax as a
matter of principle against a vicious anticlass,
unjust tax

Are the Foreign Ministers meeting in Political
Cooperation aware that in the United Kingdom, political
opposition to the pernicious poll tax is punishable by
imprisonment, in England ? Yet in Scotland the same
offence is not punishable by imprisonment — a Member
State divided by its different laws ?

Are the Ministers aware that people of seventy and eighty
have been incarcerated for failure to pay this vicious tax,

6 . 1 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 2 / 37

which surely is a breach of human rights in any
democratic society ?

Do the Ministers intend to harmonize this pernicious tax
and its antiquated laws for the European Community, or
will it outlaw such taxes throughout the European

Community in the harmonization process ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The issue raised by the Honourable Member is not within
the competence of European Political Cooperation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2222 / 91

by Mr Proinsias De Rossa ( CG )

to the Council of the European Communities

(4 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 76 )

Subject : UN Convention on the elimination of race

discrimination

Will the Council state its view on the failure of the Irish
Government to sign the UN Convention on the
elimination of all forms of race discrimination, the only
Member State to fail to do so, and whether the issue has
been raised with the Irish Government ?

Answer

( 29 November 1 991 )

The Irish Government signed the International
Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
on 21 March 1968 . Enabling legislation for ratification of
the Convention is currently under consideration .

This issue does not fall within the competence of
European Political Cooperation .

WRITTEN QUESTION No 2302 / 91

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

( 21 October 1991 )

( 92 / C 2 / 77 )

Subject : Nuclear-powered desalination

What information does the Commission possess
regarding the plans of the North African States to set up a
chain of nuclear plants designed to desalinate water from
the Mediterranean, in accordance with a decision taken at
a conference in Cairo in May this year ?

Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana

on behalf of the Commission

( 27 November 1 991 )

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

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